Permit to campaign fees

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The move of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stop any effort from rebel groups to use the election period to generate funds has been hailed both by Oriental Negros officials and candidates.

The New People's Army has been known to collect fees from politicians who want to campaign in areas where they hold sway in past elections and is expected to do so again as the May 2007 polls approach.

Dialogs with the candidates have been made during the past elections to stop this scheme of the NPA for generating funds to finance their activities from candidates.

An intelligence officer in Oriental Negros has disclosed that the NPA rebels use the election period, not just to generate funds, but also to maximize their efforts against the government. They use the election period for their electoral struggle that includes positioning members of their movement in government, and in gathering intelligence materials.

The provincial command is doing the routine talk with the politicians here in Oriental Negros and will not allow the NPA to collect campaign fees from potential candidates in this coming election.

The police plans to give protection or bodyguards to every candidate, but due to the limited number of police and military personnel in the province, they may not be able to provide adequate support.

Everybody knows that the act of collecting such fees is an illegal one. It is not allowed by our laws, and more so because it is intended to be used against the government itself. It is therefore the duty, not only of the police and the concerned authorities to discourage and prevent it, but also of civilians themselves to make known their stand against it, by helping to protect the candidates who come to their areas. This way they will enable the people to meet and size up those who are seeking public office, and make the right choices.*