NPAs roaming freely in Kidapawan

COTABATO CITY — Members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have been roaming freely in 12 of the 40 barangays in Kidapawan City, the local police said.

The Mindanao Cross, a weekly Catholic newspaper here, quoted Kidapawan City police chief Inspector Benjamin Mauricio as saying that the barangays where the NPAs were sighted are located at the city’s border with the towns of Magpet, Makilala, Mlang and President Roxas, all in North Cotabato.

Mauricio, according to the Mindanao Cross, first revealed his security assessment during last week’s meeting of the Kidapawan City Council, where he was asked to brief councilors on peace and order issues.

Mauricio identified the NPA-infested barangays as Kalaisan, Fatima, Macebolig, Sumbac, Amacion, Balabag, Perez, Manongol, Linangkob, Sto. Niño, Gayola and Junction, all in the hinterlands surrounding Kidapawan City.

Local officials were apprehensive of the NPAs’ presence in the 12 barangays as they might impose excessive "campaign fees" from politicians to allow them to visit their areas during the campaign period.

The NPAs in the 12 areas were reportedly led by Commanders Tao-tao and Ibyong of Guerrilla Front 74 and 71, respectively.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmanuel Piñol earlier warned candidates in the May polls that they will be prosecuted if proven to have paid "permits to campaign" in NPA areas.