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Friday, August 25, 2006
Maxey: Paranoia II
By Ram Maxey
Bar None
WHY are some sectors of society -- the so-called "militants", who else? -- so agitated by the fact that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has split the Southern Command (Southcom) into two -- the Eastern Command based in Davao City and the Western Command based in Zamboanga City?
It's none of their business how the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shuffles its units in the field. The AFP's mission should be pretty obvious to anyone with a modicum of intelligence. It exists to defend the country against foreign invaders as well as against enemies of the state within its borders.
The militants call the latest reshuffling of AFP units another example of "militarization" of the cities and the countryside. It doesn't take a genius to realize that the military assigns its units to areas where the enemy operates -- in cities and in the countryside. That's simple logic. Unless the militants would rather that the AFP lay down its arms and surrender to the enemies of the state?
During the latest Kadayawan sa Dabaw celebration, it was reassuring to see elements of the military and the Philippine National Police (PNP) doing their best to see to it that the fiesta atmosphere would not be ruined by troublemakers out to spoil the fun.
And to think that, even as people were enjoying the sights and sounds of Kadayawan 2006, the soldiers and policemen assigned to protect them from harm were themselves on duty, not relaxing, and far from having a good time like the rest of us.
As for this thing called "militarization" of the countryside. It takes two to tango, you know. Why don't the militants rile against the armed communist insurgents roaming about in the countryside and demanding revolutionary taxes from the poor farmers, destroying heavy equipment meant for development, toppling transmission lines that serve the people, putting up roadblocks to harass travelers and scaring people out of their wits by just showing up in their midst. Isn't that a form of militarization, too?
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 25, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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