Leftist Philippine rebels are raking in millions of dollars extorting money from candidates in next month’s elections and will likely use this to buy guns, a senior military official said on Sunday.
Each candidate illegally pays between 50,000 and US$1,210-121,000 to buy protection from the New People’s Army (NPA), said Major-General Jose Mabanta, commander of one of the country’s army divisions.
“My estimate is that half of all political contenders are paying, half in my area. That is also true in other areas,” he told reporters.
Some 18,000 posts are up for grabs in the May 13 elections, from the current crop of town and city mayors, provincial governors and members of parliament.
“With the amounts involved, they (NPA) will be buying arms and ammunition and these may be fired and used against them [politicians],” Mabanta said, warning that giving money to the rebels is illegal.
The money raised dwarfs the amounts regularly extorted from mining, logging and other businesses based in the rural areas where the 4,000-member guerrilla force operates, he added.
