NCR military chief for redeployment of troops in capital

By Ronron
May 30, 2007

The chief of the military unit in Metro Manila is for the redeployment of troops in the capital for the conduct of civil-military operations despite criticisms thrown at it by various sectors in society, including no less the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino disclosed this to reporters a day after he submitted his report on Tuesday to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esepron, Jr. regarding the six-month stint starting November 2006 of some 260 soldiers all over Metro Manila.

“I cannot disclose my recommendations but as far as we are concerned in the NCRCOM (National Capital Region Command), our view is that we need to continue pursuing our role, the peacekeeping role, as an active partner of the local government units, national government agencies, as well as NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) and the communities in the task of nation building,” Dolorfino told reporters yesterday in Filipino.

Dolorfino said his report to Esperon contained the accomplishments of the Army troops who were deployed in 19 barangays in the Caloocan, Manila, Taguig and Quezon cities, the lessons learned, their assessment of everything, and recommendations.

He refused, however, to categorically say if he recommended the return of troops to depressed and Muslim areas in Metro Manila, saying he does not want to preempt the decision of Esperon.

But Dolorfino went on to explain that the deployment of troops in the capital is compliant with the AFP’s Constitutional mandate as protectors of the people and the State.

“In that regard, we are tasked with the primary responsibility in the internal security operations. And the National Capital Region is not spared from the threats of insurgency, terrorism. So we have to do something proactive in confronting the threats,” he said.

He said what they are applying in Metro Manila is the “gunless approach,” which he described as “purely civil military operations characterized by productive, informative and persuasive activities in the communities.”

Dolorfino said one of the lessons they learned from the six-month experience is to match the media mileage of their critics. If they get to return, Dolorfino said they will definitely launch counter-propaganda to their critics, and also employ partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Dolorfino said among their accomplishments in the first six months are the successful medical missions they conducted, their infrastructure projects, the successful training of their men on peacekeeping missions, and most importantly, the surrender of the eight members of a terrorist sleeper cell in Tondo last May 1.

The troops were pulled out a few days before the May 14 national elections to prove that they were not out there to engage in partisan politics, Esperon had said./DMS