Villar denies paying permit-to-campaign fees to NPA

By Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star) Updated March 10, 2010 12:00 AM

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday said he has no reason to pay permit-to-campaign fees to the New People’s Army (NPA), as alleged by some of his detractors.

In fact, Villar implied that he, among all the presidential bets, has the least reason to pay such a fee, denounced by the government as an extortion scheme by the insurgents.

Villar said he has his “friends” in the party, referring to NP senatorial candidates Reps. Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza of Bayan Muna and Gabriela, respectively.

Both Bayan Muna and Gabriela have been associated with the communist movement but are legal entities and recognized as legitimate party-list groups.

“I’m not paying anything and why should I pay when we have our friends here with us,” Villar said in Filipino.

“On my part, I know they (NPA) believe that we have the same objectives when it comes to helping the poor, so why should I pay?” he added.

Immediately after making this statement, Villar clarified that both Ocampo and Maza belong to organizations that are above ground and are part of the system of government.

“Let us make it clear that our allies are Bayan Muna and (Gabriela). We don’t have anyone with us who is violating the law,” Villar said in Filipino.

“The groups with us are those that are within our system of government and who are also fighting for the rights of the people, especially the poor,” he added.

Villar said the allegations that he is paying permit–to-campaign fees to the NPA are all part of the black propaganda being spread against him by his opponents.

“I don’t get bothered by this anymore. They are hoping that people will believe them and in effect take away my votes,” he said.

“But my good performance in the surveys only proves that people do not easily believe these things,” he added.

Ocampo jumps on Villar slip, denies link to NPA

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:23:00 03/11/2010

Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, insurgency, Manny Villar, Joseph Estrada

MANILA, Philippines—Senatorial candidate Satur Ocampo, a party-list representative of the militant Bayan Muna, Wednesday denied having any “organizational links” with the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Ocampo said he could not understand why Sen. Manuel Villar, the presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party (NP) under which Ocampo is running as a “guest” candidate, had mentioned his name in relation to the “permit to campaign” issue.

“We categorically deny having organizational links with the NPA. We deny that we are among the parties paying the PTC (permit to campaign),” Ocampo said.

In denying military allegations that he was among the candidates paying the NPA to be “allowed” to campaign in NPA-controlled areas, Villar told reporters in Davao City the other day: “Why should I still pay when they are already with us, they are our friends.”

Villar explained that he was referring to Ocampo and Liza Maza of the militant Gabriela party-list group, who are both NP guest senatorial candidates.

Invoking Satur’s name

Ocampo said he wondered why Villar would “invoke [his] name” in relation to the permit to campaign issue.

“I don’t know what he meant. Maybe we can trace it from where I came from but he also made it clear that I am not part of the armed group,” Ocampo laughingly said.

Ocampo was a business journalist in the 1960s who became one of the founding members of the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) and later spokesperson of the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Categorized as Left

He was one of the many activists who went underground after the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972. He was arrested in 1976 and detained for nine years.

A leftist leader declined to comment on Villar’s “slip-up,” while another activist noted that the politician with the rags-to-riches campaign line was simply “not an activist.”

While admitting that Bayan Muna was under the “general category of the Left,” Ocampo lamented that the military continued to accuse him of being a leader of the CPP.

“They [the military] say I am an officer and member of the CPP. Then I’ll pay them the PTC? They are themselves confused,” Ocampo said.

Deposed President Joseph Estrada Wednesday started his campaign in the reputed NPA stronghold of Bicol, and rejected the idea of paying the communist rebels.

Illegal

“That’s illegal per se. Are you recognizing them as a government? There’s only one government as far as I’m concerned,” Estrada told reporters.

“Even in 1998, when I was campaigning, I went to all the areas that are supposedly infested by the NPA. (I paid) not a single cent,” he said, referring to his first and successful presidential campaign in 1998.

Estrada will be campaigning through the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon until Friday.

He said he expects to win in the vote-rich region that has almost three million voters. With Norman Bordadora.

NPA Asked 2.2M for Permit to Campaign

From Catanduanes Tribune
Salamat Fernan sa dai ko pag paallam sa saimo. Pag abot ko na dian ang bayad.

Headline story:

NPA asked P2.2M from Congress bet
Laptop seized in clash
to yield rebels’ secrets

The Philippine Army expects the laptop, three USBs and compact discs seized in the Feb. 19 encounter in Maysuram, Caramoran to contain the secrets of the New People’s Army command in Catanduanes.

Lt. Col. Romeo Basco, commanding officer of the 83rd Infantry Battalion based in Lictin, San Andres, told the media last Friday that the computer equipment as well as subversive documents would contain the secrets of the Nerissa San Juan Command and that it would uncover the true face and character of the NPA in the island province.

“The recovered documents are being analyzed to extract the names of the personalities who provided extortion money to the bandit group,” Major Harold Cabunoc of the 9th Infantry Division told the Tribune in a separate report.

Also uncovered in the wake of the encounter was the alleged extortion attempt by the CPP-NPA-NDF against an aspiring lawmaker. “Based on the recovered documents taken from the combat pack of the dead rebel commander, I found out that the NPA bandits have demanded P2.2M from an aspiring Congressman as his PTC/PTW fees during this upcoming national and local elections,” Lt. Col. Basco said. He did not identify the candidate.

A comprehensive report that Basco submitted to Major General Ruperto Pabustan, commanding officer of the 9th Infantry Division, also revealed that the Nerissa San Juan Command was distributing color-coded Permit-to-CampaignPermit-to-Win (PTC/PTW) cards to politicians who are running for local posts in the island province.
According to Basco, based on the color-coding scheme, a blue PTC is for aspiring congressmen with a price tag of as high as P2 million. Yellow, green and red PTC cards for other elective positions were being sold for amounts ranging from P10,000.00 to P500,000.00depending on the position being sought. Around 500 PTC cards, most them signed by one Ka Apol and bearing serial numbers, were recovered during the Maysuram clash. An Army source told the Tribune that a notebook listing the cards and its politician-recipients, including those who have already paid for the cards, is in their possession and that about 200 PTCs have already been distributed by the NPA command.

The numbered PTC states that “the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) through the New People’s Army, allows the bearer to campaign within the PRG/NPA guerilla territories in accordance with the provisions stated at the back.”

The Army said the CPP-NPA-NDF’s rampant extortion activities targeting politicians this year was first documented after an encounter with the 49th Infantry Battalion in Bgy Ginangra, Magallanes, Sorsogon on January 10, 2010, which netted 7 high-powered firearms and voluminous documents stating the extortion demands on politicians who are running for local posts.

Meanwhile, one of the documents in the intelligence treasure trove taken from the Caramoran clash included a Jan. 22, 2010 letter to one “Ka Mando” from “STP/STR”, presumably a high-ranking CPP-NPA official.

The letter reminded the local NPA of the amount of the PTC decided upon by the “KTR” in August 2009. “Nais ko ring ipaalaala na dapat direktang sa pulitiko ang pakikipagsara ng usapan. Hindi dapat sa emissary o tagapamagitan lamang ang pag-uusap. Sa sona dapat ang usapan at hindi sa labas o siyudad. Ito ang mga patakaran na hindi puwedeng balewalain at dapat kilalanin ng pulitiko,” the letter stressed, adding that two NPA members should join the negotiations.

“Dapat diinan din ang matinding pakikipaggitgitan sa military upang mapahina ang lakas electoral natin sa mga sonang gerilya. Sa pamamagitan ng anti-milit at anti-pasistang kampanya ay dapat mabura ang pakikialam sa eleksyon ng AFP,” it added.

“Sa NP na pala ang alyansa natin para sa kandidatura pagkasenador,” the letter-writer informed, acknowledging the alliance forged by partylist Reps. Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza with the Nacionalista Party of Manny Villar. Ocampo and Maza visited Catanduanes last Feb. 3 to campaign with local NP leaders headed by Governor Joseph C. Cua and Araceli T. Wong.
“Nakapagpadala pala kayo ng lider masa ninyo sa Abaka sa Lakbayan ng Magsasaka ngayong Enero,” it said in closing, advising the local command to communicate via text messages as the courier system has yet to be reorganized by a certain Ka Anton.

Lt. Col. Basco told the media that he sent the 83rd IB platoon led by one Lt. Lebelo to Maysuram after receiving intelligence reports on the rebel band’s presence as well as complaints from residents who said the NPA were pestering abaca farmers to give food or buy rice for them.
The team reportedly found the NPA camp along a mountain ridge at sitio Tacad, with the more or less 15 guerillas resting amidst six tents. However, as they were closing in, one of the perimeter guards heard one soldier slip on the steep slope and fired four times before being gunned down. The rest of the rebels, including Catanduanes NPA leader Daniel “Ka Niel/Tabs” Frias, scampered down the mountainside to escape the hail of bullets from the government troops.
“We cannot discount that there were other casualties during the 25-minute firefight who may have been dragged away by their comrades down the ravines,” Lt. Col. Basco said, adding that the guerillas escaped only with their guns and the clothes they were wearing. There were no casualties among the government troops.

The slain guerilla was identified as Ka Lito, vice commander of the Sentro de Gravidad (SDG) of the Nerissa San Juan Command and reportedly a resident of Naga City. One of the biographical data sheets personally written by the rebels for submission to higher officials matched that of Ka Lito, who may have been 54 when he died. A cellphone recovered in his possession allegedly contained a text message from his wife who was asking for money as she was confined in a hospital due to a serious ailment. The notebook containing lists of money expended by the NPA unit, including an entry that indicated it has P763,100 as of April 5, 2009, was also found in his backpack. His body was buried in Caramoran, although the PNP is awaiting his family to claim his remains.

Recovered from the NPA temporary camp were: an Elisco M-16 rifle with serial number 131319, Colt M653 rifle with serial number 488856, a Fujitsu laptop computer, three USBs, several CDs, two ICOM handheld radios, an ICOM battery charger, medical and dental equipment including medicines, 182 rounds of M-16 ammo, 34 rounds of AK-47 ammo, five bandoliers, 14 AA batteries, 10 combat backpacks, voluminous subversive documents, 10 reams of Fortune cigarettes, six tents and 10 hammocks.

Only two of the backpacks have been inventoried, with the rest still in Caramoran. The documents also included a sketch of the Globe cellsite at Batong Paluway, San Andres, which the Army said indicated that the NPA was preparing to bomb the communications facility. The notebook containing the list of money received and spent also showed that the NPA got P1.1 million during a period from 2008 to 2009, with a certain Ka Arman, reportedly a barangay chairman, as the one who handled the cash. The recovered backpacks likewise contained personal effects of the rebels, including photos of the family of NPA commander Frias.
During the presscon last Saturday, 901st Brigade Commander Col. Magno Salazar called on the NPA rebels to go down the mountains and surrender for the sake of their families and for the peace and progress of Catanduanes.

“We will do everything for the rebels to return to the fold of the government,” he said. He likewise appealed to the people to vote for leaders who can persuade the communist guerillas to join and help the people attain security.

On the other hand, Catanduanes PNP provincial director Senior Supt. Rodegelio Gerero said the encounter proves the continuous criminal activity of the CPP-NPA. He said he has already declared a heightened alert in all police stations and units upon learning of the encounter. As to the possibility that the wounded guerillas may be treated by private doctors, he said the police cannot do anything about it.

NPA rate for campaign: P250,000 for local bet

Philippine Daily Inquirer

March 11, 2010

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Communist guerrillas have started demanding up to P250,000 from candidates to allow them to campaign in insurgency areas without being harassed.

One candidate for mayor, who refused to be identified for fear of retaliation, said he was approached by a rebel demanding P250,000 from him as permit to campaign payment.

The payment, the candidate said, would allow him and other candidates in his ticket to campaign in insurgency areas.

“We’re willing to pay but the demand is too big. We will negotiate for a lesser amount,” said the candidate.

“Last time, I only paid around P30,000 plus some canned goods, medicines and cell phone cards,” he said.

Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, head of the military’s Southern Luzon Command based in Camp Nakar, appealed to candidates to reject rebel demands.

“These terrorists no longer enjoy the capability to frighten the people or the candidates,” Detabali said.

The Army said the number of guerrillas in Quezon has been reduced to 262 as of 1998.

Detabali said candidate could always request for security from the Army. “We can stop this extortion,” he said.

The campaign period for local elections starts on March 26.

But the candidate, who revealed he was approached by rebels, said some candidates have no choice.

“That’s an accepted norm in all elections here to avoid trouble,” he said.

On Tuesday, Rolando Hontiveros, a retired policeman and candidate for councilor, was killed in the crossfire between guerrillas and soldiers as he allegedly negotiated to obtain a permit to campaign with a certain Gilberto Esguerra, allegedly a New People’s Army collector.

Police said Esguerra fought it out with soldiers and was killed in a five-minute clash. Hontiveros and an unidentified companion were killed in the crossfire.

Col. Nestor Añonuevo, head of the 201st Infantry Battalion, said Hontiveros was not an innocent bystander but was actually negotiating with Esguerra to obtain a permit to campaign.

The military said guerrillas generate as much as P5 billion from candidates every year. Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon.

Analysts: Rise in killings portent of RP’s most violent election yet

Philippine Daily Inquirer

March 12, 2010

MANILA, Philippines—A series of killings since the massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao province in November last year has set the stage for the country’s most violent election in recent history, experts warn.

Politicians defying a government crackdown and running their own small armies are one of the key trends behind the political murders, according to independent monitors and officials trying to stem the bloodshed.

“There are just too many private armies, goons for hire and entrepreneurs of violence,” said Rommel Banlaoi, executive director of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research.

“The government must urgently find ways to deter armed groups and ensure they are not used for election-related purposes,” Banlaoi added.

Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa underlined the government concern over campaign violence when he flew to Cotabato City Thursday and urged politicians to eschew the use of force in pursuing their political ambitions.

“It’s time for us to forget the violence that has marred the past elections,” Verzosa said in Filipino.

Fear of more killings

More than 90 people have already been killed in the run-up to the national elections in May, according to the institute.

This includes the 57 people who were killed last Nov. 23 in Maguindanao allegedly by followers of the Ampatuans, a Muslim clan then closely allied to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in order to wipe out a rival politician’s challenge. More than 30 media workers caught in the middle of the political conflict were among those massacred.

With the political tensions still to peak, Banlaoi said the Philippines was on track to surpass the 189 people killed in the last presidential election six years ago, which was regarded as the most violent in recent memory. [The Inquirer Archives list 148 dead in the 2004 elections.]

“Based on current pre-election trends we are monitoring, 2010 may see the most violent elections in recent history,” Banlaoi said.

People kill for power

Dante Jimenez, a member of a presidential commission created to dismantle private armies following the Maguindanao massacre, offered an equally gloomy scenario.

“There are really expectations that this will turn out to be a very bloody election,” Jimenez said.

“People will kill each other because of interests involved. A politician’s salary is not that big, but it’s not easy to let go of influence and power and the huge business interests that come with it. That includes illegal activities.”

Love for guns

Jimenez said the commission knew of at least 117 so-called private armies being run by politicians across the country.

The Ampatuan clan accused of the Maguindanao massacre allegedly had about 100 members of its private army carry out those murders, with the victims part of a convoy of people traveling to the provincial capitol where the clan’s rival was to file his certificate of candidacy for governor.

Analysts say the culture of political violence in the Philippines can be partly blamed on rampant gun ownership.

There are more than 1.2 million unlicensed firearms and 1.8 million registered ones, according to police estimates. This means there is an average of roughly one gun for every three Filipinos.

‘Easy as buying candy’

A weak gun control law that allows civilians to carry licensed firearms with special permits has perpetuated the culture of violence, according to Nandy Pacheco, founder of the lobby group Gunless Society.

“Buying firearms in the Philippines is like buying candy, it’s very easy. And for a certain fee, stores will actually help you process your permit-to-carry license even without checking backgrounds,” Pacheco said.

Among the dozens of victims in recent months was Joen Caniete, 36, whose death at the hands of anonymous gunmen in December last year was typical of the way politicians are killed in the Philippines.

Caniete, a member of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and running for town councilor in Ilocos Norte, and about 40 colleagues were ambushed as they returned from a Christmas gathering.

Two other NP candidates running for local posts elsewhere in the country were also killed that same week, while a fourth was felled in January.

Verzosa’s appeal

“The best measure for safety is to really have as few enemies as possible, but there really is no guarantee,” said NP spokesperson Gilbert Remulla.

“If somebody really wants to kill you, they will find a way to do so,” Remulla added

In Cotabato City, Verzosa called on religious leaders to actively participate in guarding the ballots and ensuring credible elections in May.

“We are seeking the help of our religious leaders because we know that they would guide us [in our efforts] to attain peaceful elections,” Verzosa told local candidates who gathered for a peace covenant.

He said religious groups could help in the voters’ education campaign and also influence their flock, including the candidates, to “embrace our advocacy for credible elections.”

Together with other senior PNP officials, Verzosa flew to Cotabato City to oversee the peace covenant and check on election security preparations.

Verzosa was expected to meet with Muslim and tribal leaders and representatives of civil society groups in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Reports from Agence France-Presse and Marlon Ramos.

Arroyo declares state of calamity in South

TJ Burgonio Jeffrey M. Tupas Inquirer Mindanao
Philippine Daily Inquirer

March 12, 2010

MANILA, Philippines — Here’s good news and bad news.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared a state of calamity in Mindanao, a move that will allow cities, towns and provinces on the island to release 5 percent of their budgets so they can quickly procure generators to address the acute power shortage.

The total amount can easily run into billions of pesos, a possible source of kickbacks for officials running in the May elections, especially because the procurement process is exempted from bidding.

In Cagayan de Oro City, Mayor Constantino Jaraula said “although there is a chance for abuse,” people should “assume good faith” in the President.

The government was banking on Ms Arroyo to declare a state of calamity to help solve the worsening power problem on the island, which has been hit daily by rotating brownouts lasting 8-10 hours.

Secretary Ricardo Saludo, presidential spokesperson, Thursday said by phone that Ms Arroyo “has declared” a state of calamity in Mindanao.

Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. said Ms Arroyo signed the declaration on Wednesday.

Mindanao’s internal revenue allotment (IRA) amounted to P68.9 billion in 2009. The IRA is an LGU share of the national government’s tax revenues and one of its sources of income.

P5.5B for generators

Gary Olivar, deputy presidential spokesperson, said the calamity funds would be used to purchase generating sets that were initially estimated to cost P5.5 billion.

“The importation of gensets, maybe even power barges, which have much higher mega wattage will require calamity funds that will be mobilized by the declaration of a state of calamity,” Olivar said.

The House committee on energy, chaired by Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, a son of the President, has placed the national government’s calamity fund at P10 billion.

At a public hearing at the Apo View Hotel in Davao City, the committee Thursday came up with a resolution urging Ms Arroyo to allocate P5.5 billion to address the power deficiency in Mindanao and to use the remaining P4.5 billion for the agriculture sector.

The fund will come from the budget of the Office of the President and from the calamity fund that will be available upon the declaration of a state of calamity by the President.

Trip to Tawi-Tawi

The resolution was passed before Ms Arroyo declared a state of calamity.

Ms Arroyo flew to Tawi-Tawi to inspect the construction of three bridges, inauguration of a water supply improvement project, and then to Zamboanga del Norte to inspect a road project.

She was accompanied by Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and Secretary Jesus Dureza of the Mindanao Development Authority, who confirmed to reporters by text that she had approved the recommendation to declare a state of calamity on the island.

The government had backtracked on a move to declare an emergency in Mindanao and call for a special session after Congress leaders said it would be difficult to muster a quorum in the heat of the campaign season.

Declaring an emergency would have allowed state-owned National Power Corp. to purchase or lease generating sets needed to produce 160 megawatts (MW) in additional capacity for Mindanao.

Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said it would take 2-4 months to purchase and set up the generating sets.

The rotating brownouts in Mindanao is a result of a huge shortfall in power supply on the island. Because of the dry spell, the generating capacity of hydroelectric power plants, Mindanao’s main sources of electricity, has dropped to less than 10 percent, according to Reyes.

Boosting LGU efforts

Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez said Ms Arroyo’s declaration “will just reinforce moves of local government units to mitigate the impact of El Niño.”

“We’ve been going around town to see the actual effects on farmers, etc. We’ll declare state of calamity in the province next week after completion of the report. We can’t declare without basis,” Dominguez said.

For short-term solution, the national government should buy generators to meet Mindanao’s power demand, according to the governor.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan, however, questioned the declaration.

Why not in Isabela?

“Why this declaration when there is a bigger crisis in Isabela or Tuguegarao, which are hardest hit by El Niño? Why in Mindanao when sectors are moving to solve the problem? Is she experimenting with Mindanao again, testing the waters for a nationwide declaration?” Ilagan asked.

Earlier in Davao City, Vicente Lao, chair of the Mindanao Business Council, said the Agus and Pulangi (hydroelectric) complex was in a very critical state that even the rain expected to come in June would not be able to remedy it.

No power on May 10

“With the way things are going now, the whole Agus plant will shut down and it will cause the whole of the Mindanao grid to collapse. And that will be 45 days from now. And if that happens, there will be no power during the election,” Lao said.

Lao, vice chair of the Mindanao Energy Power Alliance, belied the claim that the energy problem in Mindanao would be over once the rain comes in June.

He said the problem that Mindanao was facing was worse than what it encountered in 1990 and 1998. With reports from Amy Remo in Manila; and Judy Quiros, Aquiles Z. Zonio and JB Deveza Inquirer Mindanao.

Cloud seeding brings rain to Bicol provinces

Juan Escandor Jr.
Inquirer Southern Luzon

March 11, 2010

NAGA CITY, Philippines – The cloud-seeding operation undertaken by the Department of Agriculture appears to have brought rains to Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon provinces in Bicol.

“It seems that the cloud-seeding operation is already bringing rains but we have to fully determine yet if it is also brought about by some atmospheric factors,” Marilyn Sta. Catalina, acting agriculture department regional executive director, told the Inquirer over the phone Thursday.

Sta. Catalina said they started the cloud-seeding operation on March 6 and so far they have already done 18 airplane sorties in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Masbate.

She said they targeted 70 hours of flight seed the clouds with salt, with an estimated cost of P2.5 million.

Sta. Catalina said they would assess the situation as to whether to continue or not or fully implement the target number of hours of seeding after 30 hours of flight time.

She said the cloud-seeding operation was only a mitigating measure to limit the damage of the dry spell that has dried up hundreds of hectares of rice and corn farms.

Bernardo Alejandro, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, said in an interview here that the dry spell has already brought P250 million in crop damages all over Bicol, with Camarines Sur as the biggest loser with P124 million damages recorded.
Alejandro said the OCD could only undertake information dissemination campaign and monitor the developments.

For the past three days, gentle rains have wet parched dry lands here and this Thursday heavier rain drenched Camarines Sur and Albay in the morning.

Sta. Catalina said they hoped that the coming of rain could still save farms that are not yet totally damaged and that they were ready to help the farmers recover.

Get your passports by appointment—DFA

THE Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that passports would be issued by appointment starting Monday to speed up the process.

The new system, wherein applicants for new passports and renewals can make an appointment using the appointment system hotline or on the DFA Web site, brings the service on a par with world class consular services, Assistant Foreign Affairs Secretary for Consular Affairs Rene Villapando said.

The new appointment system is available for free 24 hours a day and may be accessed by calling 737-1000 or by logging on to www.passport.com.ph.

The department said in a statement the system could eliminate long queues formed with the old walk-in system, as the applicants would be pre-processed using information given online.

Davao City mayor endorses Ocampo, Maza

Jeffrey M. Tupas
Inquirer Mindanao

March 07, 2010

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The politics of Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza, senatorial bets of Makabayan Coalition, has earned them the respect and admiration of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who has publicly endorsed them.

Ocampo and Maza, guest candidates of Sen. Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party, were in the city with Villar and other members of the slate as they went around for their regional sortie.

Duterte on Friday night presented Ocampo, who represents the Bayan Muna partylist in the House of Representatives to barangay chairmen and a number of his supporters who were gathered in a meeting in a downtown hotel. Ocampo got Duterte’s endorsement a few minutes before he was to fly back to Manila,

“Leaders like him will stand and fight for the rights of the people, especially the poor and the oppressed. We need leaders like Satur in the national government,” Duterte told his supporters.

On Thursday night, Duterte also asked his supporters who gathered at the gymnasium of Barangay (Village) Vicente Duterte in Agdao District to support Maza, a representative of the Gabriela partylist in Congress.

“This is a rare chance that you will hear me this serious…let us support Liza Maza. Leaders like her do not have money but they have principles…To the women present here tonight, you, too, are mothers, sisters, wives— you can count on Liza Maza to protect your rights,” Duterte said.

Ocampo said the open support that he and Maza received from people like Duterte was a vindication over the attacks they got from the government.

“We have no doubt that such endorsement and our established following will carry us to victory in Davao against the black propaganda and dirty tricks of sinister forces serving the Arroyo government and vested interests,” Ocampo said.

“I heartily thank Mayor Duterte for making public his personal commitment to me and Rep. Liza Maza to support our senatorial candidacies under Makabayan,” he added.

Maza said she appreciated the way Duterte recognized her contribution to the women’s rights movement.

“I highly welcome the support of Mayor Duterte and his belief that I will be able to continue the battle for women equality in the Senate. I will continue to further the interest of the people of Davao, particularly the city’s legacy of enacting local legislation on women’s rights and welfare,” Maza said.

Ocampo said he and Maza may be limited in funds but not in people’s support.

“Everywhere we go we are greeted by throngs of people and this kind of support keeps us going. We have a limited fund unlike other candidates but the support of the people is very valuable to us,” Ocampo said.

Villar, he said, was even surprised to see how organized their supporters have been as shown during their sorties. In Mati City— as in their visits in Davao City and the provinces of Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur— the Makabayan senatoriables were greeted by their supporters warmly.

“Manny Villar told me that he was impressed by how organized our supporters are. That proves one thing— that we may not have the money but we have the people backing us,” Ocampo said.

Before his meeting with Duterte, the Satur for Senator Movement in Davao City hosted “Lugaw para kay Satur” fundraising event for the candidacy of Ocampo.

“What we will be able to get here would be of great help to our campaign. But I am happier to see all of you gathering here tonight with the objective of pushing for reforms in the government,” Ocampo said.

Supporters of Ocampo and Maza come from the sectors of urban poor, lumad, women, fisherfolk, workers, lawyers, artists, human rights advocates and students who share the same view with them.

In a caravan of posh vehicles during sorties, the Makabayan supporters are the only ones using passenger jeepneys and multicabs.

Their supporters render their services and time to the campaign voluntarily.

NPA poll extortion may reach P5 billion

By Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) Updated March 06, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – The New People’s Army (NPA) may generate as much as P5 billion from its extortion activities this year mainly from permits that would allow candidates to campaign within areas considered as their strongholds, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

“According to the reports we received, the NPA (rebels) in 2004 raised P1.5 billion; in 2007 they raised P2 billion; for 2010, according to the reports, it will range from P2 billion to P5 billion,” Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said at the sidelines of an election forum organized by the Philippine Army yesterday.

“These are serious reports because these have repercussions on our elections and democracy. I hope our institutions will address the serious character of these PTCs (permits to campaign) and PTWs (permits to win),” he added.

The report cited by Sarmiento was prepared by think tank Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research and presented in yesterday’s forum.

“If (the report) is true, that is alarming,” Sarmiento said.

He said he would support initiatives to strengthen the Election Code and to impose harsher penalties against politicians who contribute funds to communist insurgents.

“We have received suggestions from the generals to improve on the Election Code and the bill to penalize those conniving or perpetrating the PTCs and PTWs. I think these are good suggestions,” he said.

Sarmiento admitted that so far, no one has been punished for paying rebels in exchange for campaign permits.

“Complaints should be filed with us because these are serious offenses. I think we need persons who can testify, who can affirm their statements that this is ongoing, and identify the parties involved in this exercise,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, said NPA rebels in Bicol are charging candidates as much as P2 million for color-coded permits.

He said rebels are asking P2 million for national candidates, P1 million for governors and vice governors, P500,000 for congressmen, P150,000 to P250,000 for mayors and vice mayors, and P50,000 for councilors.

“I’m sure the money collected in the whole Bicol region will be sent to the national level of the NPA and a certain percentage will remain with them in the province to buy their firearms, ammunition, and their provisions for future tactical operations against government troops,” Pabustan said.

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