EDITORIAL - Blatant disregard for the law

New People’s Army extortionists are raking it in this election season, according to the military, with candidates paying from P100,000 to P5 million to be able to campaign in peace. If security forces are so knowledgeable about the shakedown activities, why don’t they stop the extortionists? Politicians yield to extortion because the state is unable or unwilling to stop the NPA’s collection of “permit-to-campaign fees.”

The formal peace negotiations are indefinitely suspended so state forces are free to go after any member of the insurgency. Even when formal talks are on, insurgents who are accorded immunity from arrest are identified to the government panel. Nothing stops security forces from going after anyone who commits murder, burns down private property, and engages in extortion and kidnapping. The use of armed force to disrupt the electoral process should be classified as electoral sabotage warranting the stiffest penalty.

After killing two civilians in an ambush on the campaign convoy of Gingoog Mayor Ruth Guingona, the NPA struck again late Sunday afternoon, blocking the eight-vehicle convoy of Compostela Valley Gov. Arthur Uy and seizing his police escort in the town of Maco. The bandits reportedly wore military uniforms, giving the impression that they were manning a government checkpoint. The harassment at the boundary of Barangays Malamodao and Golden Valley was perpetrated just days after President Aquino ordered the military and police to dismantle NPA “checkpoints.”

Military and police personnel are supposed to familiarize themselves with their areas of assignment and where their checkpoints are being set up for the day. Candidates, particularly those who intend to pass through isolated roads, should be able to obtain this information for their campaign planning. In the age of mobile phones, there should also be a fairly easy system of alerting state forces if candidates and their supporters are harassed along the way.

Even if NPA bandits manage to get away, surely it’s not impossible to track down at least some of them. They use getaway vehicles and they rarely conceal their faces. Some of them may be locals with known relatives or friends who can be questioned. Law enforcers are supposed to know the drill in pursuing crime suspects.

Murder, extortion and kidnapping are not in pursuit of any ideology. Those who commit these crimes must be caught and brought to justice. State security forces should stop twiddling their thumbs in the face of blatant disregard for the law.