CPP-NDF raises P1 billion for senatorial candidates

MANILA, Philippines – Rebel documents seized by the military showed that the communist rebels have formed a new political party and raised P1 billion to field national and local candidates in the coming May 2010 elections.

This information was contained in the communist documents captured by government troops after a recent encounter in Quezon province. Military sources showed the documents to The STAR.

The documents, which are still being evaluated also include how the P1-billion fund would be spent by the People’s Democratic Coalition (PDC), the newly established political party of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF).

CPP Central Committee conceptualized the creation of the PDC on Sept. 15, 2008 and it was approved during a party meeting held in Southern Tagalog on Dec. 21, 2008.

PDC was officially launched at the University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni in Diliman, Quezon City on April 16, 2009 by key politicians and leaders that included Maita Gomez.

The P1-billion fund pooled was allegedly raised from alleged monthly revolutionary tax collection by the NPA and extortion activities from mining, transportation and communication companies.

Captured documents also showed the list of expenditures of the new party that include P14 million for machinery buildup, P385 million for the election campaign, P50 million each for Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño, Liza Masa and Rafael Mariano in support for their respective senatorial bids, P1 million for alliances and linkages with other political parties, and P600 million for a nationwide poll watch during the actual conduct of next year’s elections.

The documents showed that the Central Committee of the CPP/NPA/NDF expects additional funds to come in from politicians whom they would support in the polls.

The CPP/NPA/NDF leadership is expecting a huge donation from a lady politician whom rebels have picked as their presidential standard-bearer.

The lady politician, who was not identified, has recently declared her intention to run for President in next year’s national elections after a series of meetings with the CPP/NPA/NDF.

Aside from this the CPP-NPA-NDF members are now conducting discreet dialogues with other political groups to form possible political alliances nationwide. –Jaime Laude (The Philippine Star)