The military's Central Command (Centcom) said rebels are supporting the bids of certain candidates in the Oct. 29 elections. Lt. Col. Oscar Lasangue, commander of the Army's 3rd Civil Relations Group based in Centcom in Cebu said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) are supporting candidates in no less than 20 barangays in Cebu and Bohol. In a statement sent to Sun*Star Cebu, Lasangue said the rebels are backing bets in 17 Bohol barangays and three barangays in Cebu. Lasangue's statement, which was published by Sun*Star, however did not identify the 17 Bohol barangays. he Army officer declined to identify the candidates enjoying the support of the underground saying they are “still validating the reports from the ground”. Lasangue's statement came even as government officials continue making claims that the rebels have been licked in Bohol.

During his brief stop at the Bayongan dam Friday, Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo lauded the government's success in the fight against insurgency in Bohol. Several years back, Bohol was considered the rebel base in the region with as many as four active rebel fronts operating in the province. Lasangue said the announcement was intended to make the people aware of the rebel involvement for them to be wary of candidates who are accompanied by armed people in their campaign sorties. As this developed, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales issued a warning that the government would take action against candidates who are backed by communist rebels. Gonzales said they expected the NPA and its political wing, the National Democratic Front, to support candidates who are members of rebel organizations or supportive of their cause. He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other government agencies have a plan to prevent the execution of the alleged plan of the rebels but he declined to give details, saying this could preempt their efforts.