The military yesterday said there is an "alliance" between some candidates in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan synchronized elections, and the New People's Army, in the hinterlands of central Negros.

Lt. Col. Jess Manangquil, 11th Infantry Battalion commander, however, said these barangay officials and candidates are not necessarily members of the rebel movement, but were only forced to support the New People's Army because of intimidation and threats.

Manangquil admitted that there are some sitios in the hinterlands of central Negros, which have been either infiltrated or are under the influence of the underground movement.

Military records show that three barangay captains and two barangay kagawads in the hinterlands of Guihulngan and La Libertad in central Negros, were separately gunned down by rebel hitmen since last year, because of their anti-NPA activities. Lt. Col. Felicisimo Budiongan, Task Force North commander, said they are set to deploy Army's Special Operations Team operators in five hinterland barangays of Calatrava, where the presence of insurgents have been frequently monitored.

Budiongan, however, said he has not monitored reports that the CPP-NPA in northern Negros will field candidates in the SK and barangay elections on Oct. 29.

He said the deployment of SOT operators in 12 far-flung barangays of Escalante City and Toboso, led to the destruction of "shadow government" established by the CPP-NPA.

With this development, Budiongan said basic services were delivered unhampered by local government units and national agencies, to remote areas of northern Negros.

In Negros Occidental, the police have classified two hinterland barangays of Escalante as "immediate areas of concern" because of election-related incidents in the May 14 polls, and sightings of armed rebels in those areas.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, said the Bacolod City Police Office has committed to provide him with 120 policemen for the maintenance of peace and order during the elections.*GPB

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