BRGY. MINOYAN, Murcia - The military yesterday called on candidates in the May 14 synchronized elections not to accede to "extortion demands" of the communist New People's Army.

Col. Gregorio Fajardo, Negros island military commander, said he expects that the CPP-NPA in Negros may again circulate copies of permit-to-campaign fees to candidates who campaign in areas where insurgents are operating. "Just coordinate with us and we will do the rest," Fajardo said referring to politicians.

Shortly before the May 2004 elections, soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion arrested three rebels in Cauayan with permit-to-campaign demands fees addressed to some local politicians, military records show.

Fajardo said the Komiteng Rehiyonal- Negros is having a hard time in their extortion activities, and they are again resorting to collection of campaign fees from politicians.

However, the military has not determined how much the KR- Negros had collected from local politicians in the previous election.

Both the police and military have already been placed under Comelec control as the election period started yesterday.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director has ordered police chiefs to exert more efforts in the campaign against proliferation of loose firearms and to conduct random checkpoints.

LIMITED ROLE

Fajardo said the role of the military in this year's election, is now limited to the conduct of patrols in the hinterland areas where armed insurgents are present and intense political rivalries exist unless requested by the police. "No more election duties near polling precincts, transport of ballots on board military vehicles, clustering of barangays or counting of election returns in military camps," he added.

Fajardo, however, said they are allowed to conduct checkpoints if requested by the Comelec.

The limitations in the military's role in the election are contained in the recommendations of then Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, which were approved by the government, following the alleged involvement of several top military officials in the alleged May poll irregularities, especially in the Mindanao areas.

"Our only duty in the election is to vote," Fajardo, who co-hosted the New Year's party of the Negros Defense Press Corps on Saturday also said.

After the implementation of gun ban yesterday, Fajardo and Franco said they have applied for exemptions for several of their personnel.

Military and police personnel who are on duty and are wearing uniforms are exempted from the ban, Franco said.*GPB

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