By Aaron Recuenco

Soldiers seized campaign materials of partylist groups in a raid in an alleged encampment of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a remote area of Rizal town in Palawan, with the military saying it was a proof of these groups’ links with the Communist rebels.

Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said that aside from campaign materials for partylist groups Bayan Muna and Kabataan, military intelligence operatives also seized a sniper rifle, several bullets and suppressor for an M14 rifle.

He said the operation was conducted in Barangay Culasian in Rizal town over the weekend.

“This could indicate the truth that some people are helping them in the New People’s Army,” said Arevalo.

The military has been accusing militant partylist groups as front legal organizations of the NPA.

The military has already sought the assistance of the Commission on Elections on this allegation, saying it is a violation of existing election rules.

Militant partylist groups representatives, for their part, assailed the AFP for Red-tagging them.

“We should remember that the AFP has been warning candidates and partylist groups to refrain from paying to the NPA,” said Arevalo.

Recently, the military also revealed that they also recovered campaign materials after a brief gun battle with communist rebels in Negros Occidental.

The military, according to Arevalo, is still in normal alert.