Lorenzana backs DQ vs candidates paying Reds for campaign permits

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday said he favors filing disqualification petition against candidates paying “permits to campaign and win” to communist rebel groups.

At the Laging Handa public briefing, Lorenzana was asked about the warning of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) that candidates paying these fees can be disqualified.

“Sang-ayon ako kasi hindi fair 'yung labanan kung ganun e, kasi ang ginagawa ng mga NPA ay kinokotongan nila 'yung mga papasok para magkampanya sa lugar nila,” he said.

(I agree with that because it is not fair, the NPAs are extorting money from candidates who wanted to enter their areas to campaign.)

According to Lorenzana, the armed rebel group also has bias toward some candidates.

Due to this, the DND chief said the police and military are working together to monitor and report these illegal activities to the Commission on Elections for the filing of charges.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 22-0179, the payment of permit-to-win and permit-to-campaign (PTW) to the CPP-NPA-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its allied organizations are prohibited.

Candidates who pay for these fees may be prosecuted under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code.—AOL, GMA News