AFP ready to pull out troops in MM this week; PNP to go on full alert two days ahead of election day

By Ronron
May 8, 2007

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is prepared to pull out its troops deployed in Metro Manila for the conduct of civil-military operations (CMO) anytime this week, before the election day this coming Monday.

National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said the 260 military personnel currently on CMO mission in the capital have already completed their engineering activities and may already be brought back to their barracks.

“We have completed as of today all our engineering projects. In fact, tomorrow, we are inaugurating one in Quezon City. So tomorrow, we are already ready for pull-out but the final decision will be made by the Chief of Staff,” Dolorfino said.

Also, the pull out is in relation to the upcoming May 14 polls, he said. “We want to show that the deployment is not really related to any election duties because we are not deputized by the Comelec.”

The presence of military troops in Metro Manila was criticized not just by militant groups but some sectors in government as well, like the Commission on Human Rights.

Militant groups alleged that the troops are being used by government to campaign against Left-leaning party-list groups, while the CHR said the deployment reeks of Martial Law.

In earlier interviews, Dolorfino admitted that the deployment is also in support to the AFP’s anti-insurgency campaign because the troops are tasked to encourage the people not to join street demonstrations and reject calls of some sectors to criticize and pull down the government.

Dolorfino said that the deployment of another batch of troops after the election will have to be determined by the military leadership, based on its assessment on the performance of those deployed since November of last year.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) will go on full alert starting this Saturday in preparation for the May 14 polls.

Director Wilfredo Garcia, chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, said the highest alert level will take effect at 6am of May 12.

Garcia maintained that the AFP, PNP and Comelec have “worked hard” together and made “pro-active measures” to ensure a peaceful and orderly elections.

He said that the 133 election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) recorded by the PNP since January 14 until May 7 is still much lower than the 249 ERVI’s in 2004, and 269 in 2001.

The 133 ERVI’s have resulted in 98 deaths, mostly local politicians, and wounding of 98 persons.

“I am optimistic that this coming elections will be peaceful and orderly,” Garcia said./DMS