(Eagle News) – The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned all governors, mayors, as well as candidates not to pay “permit to campaign fees” to communist rebels.
DILG chief Eduardo Año reminded all local chief executives and local government officials that giving any form of support to communist rebels is a violation of existing laws.
The DILG said that those paying such fees to the New People’s Army rebels means they are supporting terrorism, and will be penalized.
DILG Spokesperson Asst. Secretary Jonathan Malaya said that Año has already issued “Memorandum Circular 2018-211 which reminded all local chief executives and LGU officials that giving any form of support to communist rebels is a violation not only of Executive Order 733 but also of Republic Act 10168.”
R.A 10168 is also known as the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act.
Many reelectionists are in the heat of campaign mood, whether discreetly or openly, as the May 2019 midterm elections near. Paalala lang po na huwag magpaloko at magbayad ng ‘permit to campaign’ or ‘permit to win’ sa mga komunistang grupo na itinuturing ng gobyerno na mga terorista,” said Malaya.
In the cited Memorandum Circular, Año directed all Regional, Provincial, City and Municipal Peace and Order Councils to apply moral suasion or to recommend sanctions against Local Chief Executives who are known to have supported communist rebels.
“Matagal na pong modus operandi ng mga rebelde ang mga permits na ito. Under this scheme, they demand money from candidates in exchange to allowing them to enter and campaign freely in the hinterland that are within their area of operations,” Malaya said.
This scheme is clearly a form of extortion and is repugnant to the right of suffrage not only of the candidates but of the individual voters as well, a DILG release said.
“Furthermore, this practice becomes an opportunity to these non-state actors to raise funds to fuel their campaign against the government they wish to overthrow,” it said.
Section 4 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 10168 otherwise known as “The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012,” states that: “Any person who, directly or indirectly, willfully and without lawful excuse, possesses, provides, collects or uses property or funds or makes available property, funds or financial service or other related services, by any means, with the unlawful and willful intention that they should be used or with the knowledge that they are to be used, in full or in part: (a) to carry out or facilitate the commission of any terrorist act; (b) by a terrorist organization, association or group; or (c) by an individual terrorist, shall be guilty of the crime of financing of terrorism.”
Those found guilty of committing the said provision of RA 10168 shall suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua and a fine of not less than P500,000 nor more than P1-million.
“The DILG may also file other charges pursuant to the Revised Penal Code and other pertinent laws and seek the disqualification of all those candidates who shall be proved to have cooperated with said non-state actors in accordance with the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code,” he said.
“The same course of action shall be undertaken against those incumbent local government officials or employees who shall cooperate or give aid in any form or manner– material or otherwise, to non-state actors without prejudice to the administrative cases that shall be filed against them,” added Malaya
The DILG also called on all LGUs to law enforcement agencies to “ensure that all candidates and political parties are allowed unhampered entrance in every LGU and to ensure the peace and order in all areas, including those considered as hotbeds of insurgency.”
It said it is important that “all candidates and political parties are given access to the electorate during the campaign period without intimidation or manipulation by any group.”