Leaders of four partylist groups yesterday filed a complaint before Commission on Elections provincial superintendent Jessie Suarez against the Philippine Army and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade for alleged harassment of their leaders and members in Negros Occidental.

The complaint was filed by Alejandro Deoma, Bayan Muna Negros Occidental chairperson; Allen Mirasol - Anakpawis Negros Occidental coordinator; Nenita Cherniguin, GABRIELA Women's Party vice president for Visayas; and Joan Diamante, Kabataan Party Negros Occidental secretary general.

In their complaint, the partylist leaders said that, even before the campaign period for senators and party-list groups started, some elements had been harassing their members and leaders and they expect this to intensify in the coming days.

They said there have been house-to-house campaigns by elements of the Philippine Army belonging to 61st Infantry Battalion in barangays Orong and Hilamonan in Kabankalan City, in Himamaylan City and lately in Hinobaa-an for residents to withdraw membership from partylist groups.

These elements are also campaigning for residents not to vote for their partylist groups, the complainants added.

They also claimed that Archilles Yonson, a resident of Brgy. Orong, was harassed by a certain Sgt. Abay of the 61st IB last January 26, 2007. Yonson, a National Federation of Sugarcane Workers organizer, was threatened by the Army not to continue his involvement in progressive organizations, they added.

We don't want unfair red-labeling tactics designed to malign our organizations to happen again, the complainants said, noting that in 2004 their posters were painted with words "do not vote for communist fronts". We were accused of being "terrorists" and "state enemies", which put the lives of our members in grave danger, they said.

The complainants said they are also vehemently opposing the proposal to exempt the RPA-ABB from the COMELEC gun ban.

They said the RPA-ABB is not a government unit or agency and it is clearly dangerous to allow them to carry firearms during election period, since it is highly probable for this group to be used as armed goons of politicians.

In 2004, numerous complaints were lodged against the members of the RPA-ABB for violating the gun ban, displaying firearms in public places and even conducting checkpoints of their own, the complainants added.

They asked the COMELEC to investigate their concerns and file the necessary administrative and criminal cases.

But Suarez yesterday said the partylist groups should back their complaints with affidavits, specifically identifying the people who harassed their members.

He said they should substantiate their complaints, and file them before the police or the prosecutor's office so appropriate action can be taken on them.*CPG

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