MM barangay captains ask CHR for continued deployment of troops

By Ronron
March 27, 2007

Nineteen barangay captains in Metro Manila have jointly asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to allow the retention of government soldiers deployed in their areas of responsibility, saying it is doing good to the communities they are serving.

In a three-page letter dated March 25, 2007, the local leaders from the cities of Taguig, Manila, Caloocan, and Quezon said that contrary to claims of militant groups, the soldiers are not violating the civil liberties of their constituent, nor are they engaged in electioneering activities.

Written in Filipino, a part of the letter reads: “We are praying that those calling for the recall of the troops from our places be stopped. They (soldiers) have helped us a lot already, and they have a lot of good projects that they hope to finish for the betterment of our places.”

The signatories on the letter are the following: Ely Saluib of Barangay 20, Tondo, Manila; Atty. Henry Dueñas, Sr. of Signal Village, Taguig City; Benjamin Cruz of Lower Bicutan, Taguig City; Teresita Lumactud of Barangay 649, Tondo; Justo dela Cruz of Barangay 275, Binondo; Dorothea Mabanan of Barangay 630, Manila; Arturo dela Cruz of Barangay 865, Pandacan, Manila; Bonifacio Aragona, Jr. of Barangay 592, Manila; Andrea Paraiso of Barangay 591, Manila; Luisito Yumang of Barangay 593, Manila; Carmen Espino of Barangay 581, Sampaloc, Manila; Mario Dauz, Sr. of Barangay 590, Manila; Philip Manabat of Barangay 621, Manila; Rolito Inocencio of Barangay 629, Manila; Andres Mabagos of Barangay 176, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; Sabino Apo of Barangay Banlat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Jose Gaviola, Sr. of Barangay Unit 5, Commonwealth, Quezon City; Rosario Dadulo of Barangay Lupang Pangako, Payatas, Quezon City; and, Rolando Olazo of Barangay Hagonoy, Taguig City.

Copies of the letter were furnished to Camp Aguinaldo reporters yesterday by the Civil Relations Service (CRS) office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The CHR had earlier asked the AFP, in a letter dated March 16, 2007, to pull out its troops of 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, saying the peace and order situation in the capital does not call for the presence of the military.

CHR Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing addressed the letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.

But the barangay captains pointed out that in the first place, they were the ones who requested for the immersion of the soldiers in their respective communities.

And when the soldiers already arrived, not only did the peace and order situation improve, they also contributed to various developmental projects in their areas of responsibilities.

“Their stay in our places fostered peace in our respective community, and our constituent have slept soundly at night because we are aware that there are people watching for us. They are the ones who prevented criminals from doing anything bad in our communities,” the barangay captains said.

“We are very happy with the projects of our soldiers in our communities. Although not all of us received these developmental projects, we are sure that the time will come when we our communities will also benefit from their beautiful projects like Medical Missions, cleaning of our surroundings, and building and rehabilitation of Day Care Centers,” they added.

The local leaders also expressed elation about how the youth in their communities look upon the soldiers, especially with what they have done.

“Because of our interaction with the soldiers, our eyes were opened to the reality that there are groups that are inviting our youth to rebel against our government and overthrow it… through rallies and other protest actions. We realized that our people are only being used by these groups in advancing their personal interests,” they said.

The barangay captains denied allegations that the soldiers were telling people not to vote for any party-list organizations, saying that in fact, the soldiers were the ones avoiding issues related to the upcoming elections.

The same is true on allegations that the soldiers were curtailing the civil liberties of the people.

“They are not barring us from doing our daily activities. There is no truth to reports that our constituent is afraid of leaving their houses already because of the presence of the soldiers. If fact, before, our constituent could no longer leave their houses when evening sets in. Now, even at any time you leave your house, you know you are safe because there are soldiers watching for us, together with the village watchmen and policemen,” the barangay captains said.

They appealed that the CHR also hear their request as it did with the complaints against the troops deployment.

The barangay captains said they are prepared to face the CHR and meet with its officials to respond to the complaints.

In a separate interview yesterday, Ebdane said those complaining should be the ones leaving the community, and not the soldiers.

He surmised that the complaints against the troops deployment came about because the complainants like Bayan Muna and Gabriela are suffering out of it.

“This is actually a war for the hears and minds. Now, it is the moral obligation of the government to take care of its people. Now, it is not to the interest of the Leftist that the people will really support, fully support the government,” Ebdane said.

Earlier, the AFP leadership admitted that in a way, the troops deployment in Metro Manila is a part of the Oplan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom Watch II) anti-insurgency campaign of the military following reports that the communist movement is moving towards the urban communities from the countryside.

The deployment in Metro Manila of the troops, who come from the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations Battalion, began in November 2006./DMS