NPA warns politicians about ‘illegal’ campaign funds

Politicians deriving their campaign funds from illegal activities will be the target of "tactical offensives" by the New People’s Army, a rebel spokesperson said.

Jorge Madlos of the National Democratic Front in Mindanao did not say specify the nature of the "tactical offensives," only that they will be applied against politicians “whose source of funds is illegal drugs, illegal logging and illegal mining.”

He did not say how the NPA will determine which politicians are engaged in illegal activities.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines, Madlos said the party was so serious about its campaign against illegal activities that even his brother, who is running for an elective post in Siargao, “would not be spared from retribution if he too will be caught getting... funds derived from illicit trade.”

He said the communist movement has heightened its campaign against illegal logging and illegal mining to help address environmental degradation, especially in many areas of Mindanao.

“Global warming is going to be worse in 10 years. We have to act to put a stop to illegal logging,” he said.

Madlos said the NPA’s anti-drugs campaign was also intensified.

He said last year, they raided a police station on Siargao Island because authorities were not doing anything against drugs there.

Madlos said the NPA will also “fight all private armies this election.”

He said atroocities such as the Maguindanao massacre in which at least 57 people, mostly journalists, were slaughtered in the municipality of Ampatuan in Maguindanao last Nov. 23.

The killings were triggered by the political rivalry between the family of the Ampatuan and Mangudadatu families.

Meanwhile, Madlos claimed many politicians have started seeing him to ask for “permit to campaign” in rebel-influenced areas. He did not identify any of the politicians. (inquirer.net)

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