221 Caraga villages eyed as poll hot spots

BUTUAN CITY- The Philippine National Police in Caraga Region and the Commission on Elections said Saturday that at least 221 villages in the region have been identified as probable hot spots in the May 14 elections. Caraga Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Antonio Dator Nañas noted that these areas were also categorized as trouble spots in the 2004 national elections. “This is due to the presence of communist [rebels] collecting campaign fees, the intense political rivalry and the occurrence of election-related violence in those areas experienced in the last 2004 elections," Nañas said. The Comelec regional office here said its final recommendation would depend on the assessment of the PNP, which is identifying areas under immediate concern and areas of concern. Nañas identified two barangays in two Agusan del Sur towns and three barangays (villages) in three Surigao del Norte towns as under areas of immediate concern. These are Barangay Sta. Teresa, Loreto, Agusan del Sur and Barangay Kaimpogan, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. The other three are Barangay Magtanggali, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte, Barangay Cansayong, Malimono, Surigao del Norte and Mahanob,Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte. Under areas of concern are eight barangays of Butuan City, 24 barangays in Agusan del Norte, 63 barangays in Agusan del Sur, 45 in Surigao del Norte and 43 barangays in Surigao del Sur. The Philippine Army said that New People’s Army’s extortion operations could run up to the millions of pesos, adding the funds will likely go to bankrolling further guerrilla operations. The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division, which is based in Cagayan de Oro but holds jurisdiction in areas around Caraga Region, also said at least two municipal mayors in Agusan del Sur had admitted receiving demand letters from the NPA as part of its so-called “revolutionary taxation" program. Army officials claimed NPA rebels are also exacting “Permit to Campaign" and “Permit to Win" fees from any prospective candidate or incumbent official running for re-election in Mindanao. Rosario, Agusan del Sur Mayor Emiliano Rodriguez said he received a demand letter from the NPA rebels for payment of the “Permit to Campaign (PTC)" fee. Around 14 communist NPA fronts are operating in Mindanao, with nine designated at the northeastern front and five at the north-central front. “Right now they are raising their demands. They are now requiring folks in the countryside to give them seven-tonner high quality rice instead of the usual NFA (National Food Authority) government rice and ‘sapsap’ instead of ‘tamban’ (fish)," 4th Infantry Division chief Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto said. Barbieto also said they have submitted to Camp Crame and concerned national government offices a list of political figures who had paid extortion money to the NPA. - Alvin Guanzon, GMANews.TV