MAYOR Evelio Leonardia Friday clarified that there is no militarization happening in Bacolod.

He said “it just so happened that there was a project implemented by the Philippine Army and the Peace and Development Assistance Group in Barangay Banago.”

For updates from around the country, follow Sun.Star on Twitter

“Why should I prevent that? What’s wrong with that? That’s social service by the people who go to the barangays and puroks wanting to help our constituents in said barangays; if the military offers that to the public, why should we stop that?” the mayor stressed.

He cited that the issue on militarization came out similar to the time when the city started its “no waste segregation, no collection” policy, saying that they received some feedbacks that there was someone trying to sabotage the program.

Leonardia said since “the police and our enforcers help the City Government somehow guard against saboteurs, they also asked concerned entities who are there in the area to help them implement the programs, including waste management concerns.”

“If we would ask the Army to help in the waste management program, in implementing our no waste segregation, no collection policy, I don’t think that it would mean that there’s militarization; it’s actually far from what they are talking about,” he added.

Meanwhile, 303rd Brigade Commander, Colonel Maximo Caro, said the group also asked the permission of the mayor to help the Peace and Development Assistance Group in Banago.

He said they are just trying to make their selves relevant, adding that they are offering their services to the people. He explained that the Philippine Army is a unique organization, claiming they have the manpower, communications and transportation as well as the capability to help.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 4, 2009.