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CPP issues guidelines for candidates going in ‘Red areas’

• GILBERT P. BAYORAN

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ordered its armed wing, the New People’s Army, to enforce a set of policies for politicians entering into what it claims are “revolutionary areas.”

In a statement, the CPP said “candidates and their supporters will be allowed to conduct their election campaigns in accordance with established guidelines.”

Politicians are prohibited from bringing armed goons and police and military escorts, which the CPP claimed usually serve to intimidate the people. It also said that the NPA has standing orders to seize the weapons of candidates and their armed goons.

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, has however said that the NPA in Western Visayas is incapable of influencing the outcome of the May 12 midterm elections.

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID commander, said the neutralization of top NPA leaders and the group’s defeat in a series of armed encounters made the rebels powerless to influence voters in the region.

In Negros Island, the NPA no longer poses a threat to the conduct of May 12 elections, according to Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, the commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade.

Escanillas said all the guerilla fronts of the NPA in Negros Island have been dismantled and “we see no serious threat from the CTGs (communist terrorist groups).”

Although certain areas in Negros Oriental were previously classified under code orange due to the presence of CTGs, Escanillas clarified that they were associated with past elections when the guerilla fronts were yet to be dismantled.

Escanillas said the Army has not detected extortion activities targeting candidates in the region’s upcoming elections.

Meanwhile, the CPP also ordered the NPA to target AFP and PNP units, as well as armed goons of reactionary politicians, who will use the election campaign in the guerrilla zones as cover for conducting surveillance operations.

Before conducting their campaigns in the revolutionary areas, politicians are required to inform and coordinate with local NPA units. This coordination is crucial to avoid any incidents, including confrontations between armed goons of rival politicians, the CPP added.* with PNA reports

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