THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is preparing to file charges against politicians who supported the collection of “permit-to-campaign” fees by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples’ Army (CPP-NPA). “We need to gather the evidences…. Pagkatapos ng eleksyon (After the elections), once we have the evidences ready, once the AFP (military), PNP (police) submitted them to us, we will file the necessary charges against them….we can remove them from office, once they assume office,” said DILG Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Jonathan E. Malaya in a press conference on Thursday. Mr. Malaya noted, however, that the number of candidates who were giving extortion money to communist rebels for this coming election have decreased compared with previous polls. He declined to disclose the figures as investigation and validation is still ongoing. Based on the last report of DILG early this year, 349 local government officials were allegedly giving fees to the communist rebels. The DILG spokesperson said the officials may be charged for violating Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act. PNP Spokesperson Col. Bernard M. Banac added: “Aside from Republic Act 10168, the act of giving amount or any item to the CPP-NPA is tantamount to disloyalty and punishable under the revised penal code. If the fee is proven part of a conspiracy to overthrow the government, the donor may be held liable as co-conspirator in the crime of rebellion.” — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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