‘Rebels’ send extort letter to town mayoralty bet, allies
A group identifying themselves as New People’s Army (NPA) recently manifested their desire to participate in the May 2010 polls.
But their participation is not something that a mayoralty candidate and his party mates want.
Recently, mayorable Joselito Ballaret of San Enrique, Iloilo revealed to have received a letter allegedly coming from the New People’s Army (NPA)’ Eastern Front Committee (EFC).
The letter, sent through mail by a certain Nestor Aragon of No. 25 Delgado St., Iloilo City, had an NPA logo and was signed by a certain Ka Pancho Obrero, finance officer of the NPA-EFC’s Nonito Aguirre Command.
The gist of the letter stated that the group wanted to talk to Ballaret, as well as his party mates, about the group’s payment for access permit.
It was surmised that the letter sender wanted Ballaret and his group to pay the NPA for their permit-to-campaign fee in San Enrique town.
The sender also put the mobile phone number in case Ballaret would like to further discuss their “proposal.”
On top of that, the mayoralty candidate was advised to treat the letter in confidence.
But in an interview over GMA TV-6, Ballaret has reservations if the letter indeed came from the NPA.
He was sure, though, that it is a money-making scheme.
“Diri lang ni guro sa local nga propaganda sa amon para nga ma-paralyze ang amon kampanya,” he said explaining that a group might have wanted them to immobilize by threatening them with such letter.
Ballaret claimed that he already referred the said concern to 5th district Cong. Niel “Jun-Jun” Tupas, Jr. to act on the matter.
Meanwhile, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) provincial officer Atty. Elizabeth Doronila said that there have been similar reports during the 2007 elections in San Enrique town, which is considered a rebel-affected area.
“But we have yet to verify if the allegations of the candidate is true or not,” she added.
Doronila said that they could not just jump into conclusion that the letter was a handiwork of the NPA.
However, “if the allegations are true, we have the PNP and Philippine Army to provide security, since election nears.”
She added that she would confer the matter with the Provincial Joint Security Control Center (PJSCC).
“After making some verifications, we will send augmentation in San Enrique,” Doronila said adding that appropriate counter-security measures will be made to stop that scheme.
