MM barangay captains seek redeployment of troops

By Ronron
June 12, 2007

Now that the elections is over, depressed barangays in Metro Manila are asking for the redeployment of military troops, saying that the six-month stint of some 260 officers and soldiers in 19 villages since November of last year proved to be very fruitful.

In a letter to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., officials of 19 barangays from Caloocan, Taguig, Manila and Quezon cities said: “We are earnestly inviting them (soldiers) to come back to our barangays, with your permission.”

The letter, dated June 4, 2007, said the deployment of troops from November 2006 until May of this year “brought goodness and peace” in the barangays since crime rate went down and people felt secure while out at night.

“The command is happy to learn that barangay officials are requesting the return of the CODE (Community Development) teams in the community. It only means that they appreciated whatever deeds the team have done to them,” said 1Lt. Garysande Mamaludin, spokesman of the AFP National Capital Region Command.

“But while we are very much willing to return, it is the decision of the Chief of Staff, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. that will be followed on whether or not the teams will be sent back to the communities,” he added.

Esperon is still currently reviewing the report submitted to him by NCRCOM chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino about the previous deployment of 260 military personnel to the 19 barangays in the capital.

While he did not disclose his recommendation to Esperon, Dolorfino had said he is for the redeployment of the troops since they are doing a great service to the people.

The barangay officials said that if the officers and soldiers are deployed back to their communities, they can work together for the continuance of what they have started in the last six months.

“We hope you can act favorably on our request,” the officials wrote.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.

It can be recalled that the deployment of troops prior to the May 14 polls was met with a lot of criticisms from various sectors, including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Militants said the troops were campaigning against Left-leaning party-list groups, while the CHR said the deployment reeks of Martial Law symptoms where civil rights are at risk of being violated.

But the AFP maintained that the deployment was in connection with its civil-military operations in the region, and to train their personnel for peacekeeping missions./DMS