Zambales Gov said to have paid campaign fee to NPA

GMA’s son paid campaign fee to NPA–military

Written by Rene Acosta / businessmirror.com.ph Reporter

AT least 89 local and national politicians, including President Arroyo’s son, Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo of Camarines Sur, paid the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), “permit to win” fees that ensured their victories in the 2007 elections, a military intelligence report said.

The report, which named at least 10 congressmen, including Arroyo and left-leaning Party-list Reps. Satur Ocampo and Liza Masa of Bayan Muna and Gabriela, respectively, nine governors and 31 mayors from four regions around the country, said that the officials continue to support the rebels with money or various supplies.

The communist movement is not only supporting some members of the House of Representatives down to barangay officials, but even Sen. Manny Villar, who is seeking the presidency under the Nacionalista Party (NP), the report said.

Ocampo and Maza are on Villar’s senatorial slate.

According to the report, a copy of which was secured by some reporters covering the defense beat, Villar’s backing from the CPP was discussed during the CPP’s anniversary meeting at barangay Aguid, Sagada, Mountain Province, on December 28, 2009.

Aside from Arroyo, Maza and Ocampo, the other congressmen named in the report are NP Rep. Crispin Remulla and Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, both of Cavite; NP Rep. Al Francis Bichara of Albay; Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) Rep. Reno Lim of Albay; NPC Rep. Antonio Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur; Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Cecilia Jalosjos of Zamboanga del Norte; and Matoy Barinaga.

The intelligence report said that the young Arroyo paid a P5-million “permit to run” fee, which was collected for the rebels by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who was also named by the report as among the local officials supporting the rebels.

The report said that the money collected by Salceda from Arroyo was delivered to a certain Christopher Flores at the headquarters of Rene Quiapon in Ligao City, Albay.

“Flores delivered the money to Nep Morada…the amount of P4.8 million, which later learned, was delivered to Veronica Paje, wife of Glecernio Pernia, alias Choy,” it said.

Pernia is a ranking rebel leader in the Bicol region.

The same report said that Remulla and Barzaga were paying the underground movement P1,000 monthly.

Bichara allegedly paid the NPA P1 million for a campaign permit, which was given to a certain Mario de la Cruz by Ramir Navas, while Lim gave the rebels P15 million.

“The P5 million was paid for the withdrawal of his opponent, Jesap Salceda, while another P5 million was his contribution to the NPA, remitted to Mario de la Cruz and the other P5 million was for his party, through Nep Morada, which was also remitted to Mario de la Cruz,” the report said of Lim.

On the other hand, Cerilles reportedly gave the rebels “undetermined amount of money and office supplies such as laptop computers.”

Meanwhile, the governors who are supporting the rebels were identified as Amor Deloso of Zambales, Bellaflor Angara Castillo of Aurora, Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija, Victor Yap of Tarlac, Eddie Panlilio of Pampanga, Aurora Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur, Joel Reyes of Palawan, Joseph Cua of Catanduanes and Salceda.

Salceda reportedly paid the guerrillas a P35-million “permit to campaign” fee in 2007, which was remitted to Flores, who is a member of the National Democratic Front in Bicol.

The “P5 million [was] remitted to Rene Quiapon for safekeeping the 2007 elections,” the military report said.

The same report named the mayors as Cesar Barona, Lacub, Abra; Edwin Crisologo, Tineg, Abra; Garde Cardenas, Sallapadan, Abra; Mario Baawa, Malibcong, Abra; Benjie Serrano, Orani, Bataan; Rolando Tigas, Samal, Bataan;

Josie Cuento, Sta Maria, Laguna; Marlo Barrera, Magsaysay, Mindoro Occidental; Celsa Adier, Aborlan, Palawan; Roberto Rodriguez, Taytay, Palawan; Edgardo Tayam, Gigmoto, Catanduanes; Romeo Moreno, Paracale, Camarines Norte; Santos Zafe, Virac, Catanduanes;

Tito Sarion, Daet, Camarines Norte; Esteban Coscolluela, Murcia, Negros Occidental; Eric Saratan, Talisay City, Negros Occidental; Carlos de la Cruz, Matuguinao, Samar; Daylinda Sulong, Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur;

Efren Loquias, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur; Edmundo Dalid, Tigbao, Zamboanga del Sur; Allan Damas, Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur; Mary Ann Cartalla, Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur; Nestor Corvera, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur;

Carl Lademora, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur; Romeo Magadan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur; Enrico Corvera, Nasipit, Agusan del Sur; Ramie Rosit, Boston, Davao Oriental; Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City; and certain Mayors Chua, Calo, Elorde and Rodriguez of Agusan, Carmen, Bunawan and Rosario, Agusan del Sur, respectively.

The intelligence report added that some provincial board members, vice mayors, councilors and barangay chairmen, also in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Central Luzon; Southern Luzon; Bicol region and Regions 6, 8 and 11 are also supporting the rebels.

It said that the board members, mayors, vice mayors, councilors and barangay chairmen are paying the rebels from P2,000 to P300,000 monthly.

Some were also paying quarterly dues since 2007, while others had given the rebels firearms, including Minimi squad automatic rifles and M-203 grenade launchers, rice and other food stuff.