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Friday, August 18, 2006
Troops build-up in city slammed
By Nelson C. Bagaforo and Ben O. Tesiorna
MILITANTS staged Thursday a protest rally against what they called the troops build-up in Davao Region, following the activation of the Army's 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City.
While the newly created Army command was formally presented to the public during the activation ceremony inside Panacan naval headquarters, a number of protesters gathered outside, asking the government to stop "militarization of cities and the countryside."
Reports have it that the Armed Forces would make "some redeployment of troops from other parts of the country to Mindanao to fill up the new area command." It was not known how many troops would be involved.
"While cases of human rights violations continue to escalate with the deaths of ordinary civilians, activists, and journalists in the country, the Arroyo government and the military establishment unabashedly continue to pursue militarizing the cities and countryside," said Bayan-Southern Mindanao acting secretary general Ariel Casilao.
Bayan feared "more human rights violations and reprisals as military troops build-up remains as a top priority of the Arroyo government."
Casilao said, "For as long as poverty, inequity, social injustices, and a corrupt government continue to exist, more and more people will rise up and use constitutionally guaranteed rights to protest and the inherent right to rebel. No rebellion can be easily snuffed out by militarism."
Leading the activation ceremony was Philippine Army chief Rogelio Tolentino.
The Army's 10th ID is the latest addition to a big number of Army contingents in Southeastern Mindanao.
Its creation followed after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced last month the division of the Zamboanga City-based Southern Command (Southcom), which is the military's biggest regional command that comprises about 60 percent, or 70,000 troops, of the 120,000-strong Armed Forces.
The 10th ID is headed by Major General Ernesto Boac, former commander of the Army Support Command. His area of responsibility will be Southeastern Mindanao.
They are now stationed at the SPDA complex in Catalunan Pequeno in Davao City.
In a major move aimed at removing the two biggest threats to the country's security, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon Jr. announced last month the split of Southcom into two forces: One would go after the New People's Army (NPA) and the other would hunt down the Abu Sayyaf and their allies.
He said Southcom's area of responsibility would be divided between eastern Mindanao and western Mindanao. The Abu Sayyaf and the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist groups are generally based in western Mindanao while the NPA rebels are generally concentrated in the east.
"Southcom is characterized by the strong presence of secessionist movements, which are now under control, but we have some terrorists that we have to address. We will divide Southcom for better control and to put more focus in the fight against the communist terrorists in the eastern part of Mindanao," Esperon said.
"One unified command will cover the western area, and then another area will focus on the communist terrorists, so the split could be east and west," he added.
Southcom is currently headed by Lieutenant General Gabriel Habacon.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 18, 2006 issue)
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