The New People’s Army will not only collect permits to campaign fees in the hinterland barangays, but will also ask for other concessions from candidates.

The warning was issued by Maj. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, commander of the Central Command in the Visayas, after awarding medals to army troopers in Negros Oriental for gallantry in action during the encounter with 40 armed insurgents in Sitio Tuyopan, Barangay Talalak, Sta. Catalina.

Villanueva cautioned candidates against giving in to the demands of the NPA who may oblige or force  them to hire relatives of insurgents, and even members of the rebel movement as their employees.

During the recent national security council meeting in Malacañang,  President Gloria Arroyo has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stop the NPA from collecting permits to campaign fees in their areas.

Villanueva, however, admitted difficulty in determining if such activity exists in a locality unless the candidates themselves,  report it.  

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will wrap up its campaign against the NPA in June this year, Villanueva said.

He added that the army will continue to render the insurgents insignificant in this part of the country and  reminded the troops not to be complacent.

He said the army has to maintain the momentum of its internal security operation, and preserve the gains it has achieved while maintaining the highest level of discipline and respect for human rights.

Villanueva said the central command is on track in achieving the goal of bringing the rebel movement to an insignificant level by June 2010.

He attributed this to the cooperation and support of local government units that, he said,  changed the perception of the people.*JG

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