FPJ not exempt from PTC fee — CPP

Presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. has not been exempted from paying so-called permit-to-campaign (PTC) fees, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said yesterday.

Gregorio Rosal, CPP spokesman, has denied the claim of retired Gen. Jaime Echeverria, one of Poe’s security advisers, that the rebel movement has allowed the standard-bearer of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) to campaign without any "fees" in rebel-controlled areas.

"All candidates and political parties, including party-list organizations, are required by the laws and regulations of the revolutionary government to acquire PTCs before being allowed to conduct election campaign sorties in revolutionary areas," he said.

However, Rosal pointed out that the CPP "takes merit" of a candidate’s stand on social issues and his track record, and if he has been deemed as "pro-people (or) anti-people," meaning one who exploits the people.

"Pro-people, nationalist and progressive candidates and political parties with proven track records of service to the people, who do not belong to the upper classes and do not exploit or rob the people, are granted PTCs with no or minimal fees," he said.

"The CPP-NPA has only taken positive note of Poe’s statement to immediately reach out to all groups that have taken up arms against the government and engage in a genuine dialogue to end insurgencies."

Rosal said New People’s Army (NPA) units have orders to "exercise leniency" when collecting "permit-to-campaign" fees from candidates.

"Distinctions are made in regard to the political stand and economic status of politicos and political parties who seek permission to campaign in areas under the control and influence of revolutionary political authorities," he said.

Rosal said "permit-to-campaign" fees are imposed as part of the exercise and recognition of the "political authority of the CPP," the willingness of candidates and political parties to abide by policies of the revolutionary movement, and the "possibilities of cooperation" in the interest and welfare of the people.

As for the targets of NPA hit squads, Rosal said that these are candidates deemed by the rebel movement as "persona non grata."

These politicians have been accused and "found guilty" before the "people’s court" of "(the crimes of) fascism and hostility towards the revolutionary movement and the people," and for having acquired "blood debts" and committed "other big crimes" against the rebel movement.

"They are barred from revolutionary areas and are automatically denied PTCs," he said.

Earlier, several town mayors have asked National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales to urge communist rebel leaders to "at least lower" the amount being collected as "permit-to-campaign" fees.

Gonzales will be meeting with representatives of the National Democratic Front (NDF) when peace talks between the government and communist rebels are resumed.

The mayors complained the NPA has threatened to kill them if they failed to pay the permit to campaign fees.

Echeverria has claimed NPA guerrillas have been attending Poe’s campaign sorties. –Benjie Villa