Manila : Communist insurgents seized a campaign vehicle used by a politician in a remote locality in Davao City, in a gesture of authority in the areas they hold.
Reports reaching Manila said heavily armed guerrillas flagged down a Nissan pick-up owned by a supporter of House Speaker Prospero Nograles at around 2.30pm on Friday in Upper Pandaitan, Paquibato district in Davao City, Northern Mindanao.
The insurgents temporarily held two of Nograles' campaign staff riding in the vehicle and confiscated the posters they had with them.
Later on, the hostages were released but with a warning from the local political director of the New Peoples' Army (NPA) Simon Santiago that all candidates entering their territory must pay "campaign fees".
Nograles is running for mayor in Davao City against Sara Duterte, daughter of incumbent top executive Rodrigo Duterte.
Government operations to pursue the group that waylaid Nograles' staff yesterday were held off after a roadside bomb exploded near Pandaitan.
The blast killed a soldier.
Presence felt
Communist rebels, whose strength was perceived to be waning as a result of government and military operations, are making their presence felt during the elections.
Priest-turned-rebel spokesman Santiago Salas of the National Democratic Front in Eastern Visayas said they are trying to prove that a shadow government exists in the country.
"There [are] already two governments in the country and the revolutionary movement does not simply accept bribes to let reactionary politicians win in the election," he was quoted as saying by the rebel website philippinerevolution.net.
"If the reactionaries want to campaign in the areas controlled by the revolutionary movement, they must recognise the revolutionary government."
Traditionally, communist rebels had used elections as a means to raise funds for the cash-strapped insurgency. Saddled with a lack of foreign support, the insurgents had turned to local sources such as politicians and businessmen.
Commissioner Rene Sarmiento of the Commission on Elections earlier said that they had expected the NPA to step up "extortion" activities against politicians in the run up to the May 10 elections.
Rich source of funds
"The elections turned out to be ... a rich source for funds for the communist underground movement especially during the campaign period as the insurgents exact money from politicians by charging candidates so-called permit to campaign and permit to win fees," Sarmiento said.
Quoting information provided by the military, Sarmiento said the rebels are projected to generate about 2 billion pesos (Dh161 million) to 5 billion pesos from politicians during this election period.
