Extortion, armed groups still persist in village polls – military

Extortion activities and the presence of armed groups still persist in the 2013 barangay elections, a military spokesperson said on Thursday.

"The extortionist are the ones who would like to disrupt the electoral process,” said Armed Forces spokesperson Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan at a press briefing. “We have intelligence operations to determine who these groups are.”

Tutaan said armed groups are also present in some barangays included on the election watch-list, although he did provide details.

"These are more on areas where the armed groups want to control the results of the elections, and also to make an illegal source of money," he said.

He said among these groups is the New People's Army, which collects “permits-to-campaign” fees from candidates campaigning in areas under its control.

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, earned P26 million in the May 2013 midterm elections, short of its P500 million target, the military earlier reported.

Tutaan assured the public that the extortion activities would not affect the preparations for the village polls.

The police and military have been deputized by the Commission on Elections to ensure peaceful, safe and orderly barangay elections.

Around 54 million voters are expected to vote in the Oct. 28 barangay polls. With 42,028 barangays in 80 provinces across the country, the Comelec has set aside 170,603 clustered precincts for the elections. — KBK, GMA News