Army general says half of candidates in some areas in Visayas paying NPA fees

(Updated 5:17 p.m.) A top Army commander in the Visayas said Sunday that about half of the candidates campaigning in his area of responsibility have paid or are paying “permit to campaign” (PTC) and “permit to win” (PTW) fees to the New People's Army. “I have complete data” on those paying extortion fees to the NPA, said 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, but said he could not divulge names involved in this “very touchy” situation. Mabanta said that the military and the police are planning to file charges against the candidates in question, but that it will be difficult. “We will have to file charges, 'di ba, but it's really very hard to build legal charges or build cases against yung nagbibigay sa PTC, kasi ang daming affidavits, sworn statements,” he said. “We need people to go out in the open, which is really very hard.” All positions When asked if the payers were candidates for city council, mayoral, gubernatorial or congressional posts, Mabanta replied, “All positions... Siguro ang estimate ko half of all political contenders are paying." He added, "And dito 'yan sa area ko. That is also true in other areas, 'yan ang palagay ko." The 3rd ID's area of responsibility includes Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo on the island of Panay, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Guimaras. Mabanta, however, said that he is not aware if senatorial candidates were paying the NPA as well. 'Making a killing' "This is when the NPAs really make a killing out of their extortion, this is when they get the most amount," said Mabanta of the campaign period. "This is more than [the amounts extorted from] businesses, against mining, logging, ito ang pinakamalaki." The general said that the fees paid by local candidates range from “P50,000 to P5 million.” He added that the NPA is aiming to raise P150 million from their extortion activities in his area, but could immediately say how much the rebels have collected so far. Mabanta also said that the military has been trying to discourage politicians from giving in to the NPA's demands. "[The rebels] will be buying arms and ammunition and these may be fired and used against them some other time, not necessarily now," he said. — BM/HS, GMA News