Manila, March 3 -- The Philippine Army's 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) has vowed to support the initiatives of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to deter election-related threats and violence in northern Negros ahead of the May 12 national and local elections.

1Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, 79IB civil-military operations officer, made the assurance following the clash between government troops and New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Cadiz City last month.

"The 79IB continues to monitor the rebels' extortion and permit to campaign activities in their area of operation," Samoza said in an interview on Monday.

"There is always be a possibility that these will happen. They have extended their extortion activities by dividing their ranks to much...