Arevalo warns politicians against paying permit-to-campaign to NPA as Eleksyon 2022 nears

“Sila ay lalabag sa batas (They will violate the law).”

This was the warning Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo issued to candidates who will give money to the New People’s Army (NPA) to allow them to campaign.

In a Laging Handa press briefing, Arevalo said they are expecting terrorist groups to seek out candidates and ask them for money in exchange for a permit to campaign or to win.

“Unang-una, ipinararating natin sa kanila at binibigyang-linaw na hindi sila dapat gagawa ng ganito sapagkat ito ay tuwirang pagsuporta sa isang teroristang grupo,” he said.

(First of all, I’m making it clear that they should not do this because this is a direct show of support for a terrorist group.)

Arevalo said the AFP will coordinate with local government units as well as the Philippine National Police to monitor the situation.

?“[U]pang sa ganoon ay patuloy nating mamanmanan ang mga development na ito doon sa mga lugar kung saan lalung-lalo na identified natin na mayroon pa ring mangilan-ngilan o grupo na kumikilos na ganito ang hangarin,” he said.

(So we can monitor the developments in areas where these groups operate.)

“At higit sa lahat, ipagpapatuloy po natin ito, lahat ng mga paghahandang ito lalung-lalo na sabi nga natin parating na po at palapit na ang eleksyon,” he added.

(Most of all, we will continue all these in preparation for the coming elections.) 

The 2022 elections will be held on May 9.—AOL, GMA News