TAGBINA, Surigao del Sur - Thirty suspected members of the New People's Army seized firearms and demanded money from mayoralty candidate Jessie Callano in Sitio Kilayan, Barangay Malixi, Tagbina, Surigao del Sur Saturday afternoon.
 
A report from the 401st Infantry Brigade said the rebels from the NPA Front Committee-14 led by a certain Tata confiscated two caliber 45 pistols from Callano's bodyguard and demanded P50,000 in "permit to campaign" fees from the candidate.

After a 30-minute negotiation, the armed group released the campaign party.  The report said the incident happened at 4:20 p.m.
 
A military spokesman earlier said the 4,500- strong rebel group charges "permit to campaign" fees of as high as P20 million from candidates who are running for various elective positions.

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has scored the NPA's "permit-to-campaign scheme" as a violation of the rights of the candidates.

"The 'Permit to Campaign Scheme' which, in plain language, is a form of extortion being perpetrated by the New People's Army and other non-state actors, is repugnant in all possible ways to valued human rights principles and standards, not only of candidates and political parties, but of the individual voters as well," it said in an advisory.

"This practice arrogates to the requiring group the powers rightfully belonging to the people and lawfully designated authorities. It disregards the rule of law, and scoffs at the principles of free, fair and genuine elections," it added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines, meanwhile, defended its guidelines and policies, which it said is required in areas controlled by the rebels.

In a statement posted on its website, the CPP-NPA said genuine democratic elections are conducted in the revolutionary areas "where the masses are able to freely select their officials who serve them under a truly democratic system."

"The principal objective in issuing these guidelines is to ensure that election-related campaign activities do not violate the people's rights and interests, and are conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner. Many political parties and candidates who have sincerely abided by these guidelines have in fact become allies of the revolutionary movement and have been helpful in practical cooperative undertakings beneficial to the masses," the group said.

It added: "Political parties and their candidates voluntarily meet with representatives of the revolutionary authorities in order to discuss these guidelines and forge commitments to respect and uphold the policies and measures contained therein. These meetings are freely, even if secretly, conducted at the national, regional, provincial and local levels."

The CPP said the guidelines forbid the entry of armed thugs, including military and police escorts as well as private armies accompanying candidates. They also prohibit the exercise of dirty election tactics including the use of bribe money to buy votes.