Tuesday, February 26, 2008 Gabriela hits forum by 73rd IB in school
THE Gabriela Women's Party List is raising a howl against an alleged "social awareness forum" that the Philippine Army's 73rd Infantry Battalion held in two schools in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte last February 18 where the soldiers allegedly branded several militant organizations as communist fronts.
For this the Gabriela condemned the Army for its "active malicious campaign against various progressive groups".
In a statement, Gabriela claimed that the Army's "Social Awareness Forum" in Bukidnon State University-Sto. Tomas External Studies Center and Maryknoll High School of Sto. Tomas last February 18 was in grave violation to an academic atmosphere of freedom and democracy in academic institutions where civilian supremacy must be upheld.
"We believe that the school is an independent institution with integrity and should not have any room for the malicious slandering of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) against the progressive groups," said Inday Redillas, chairperson of Gabriela- Sto. Tomas.
Gabriela said in the Army's forum, the military discussed the so-called infiltration of "front organizations" especially on various progressive youth and party list groups and told the students who participated in the forum that they should avoid these groups.
The Army reportedly identified the communist front organizations as the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, League of the Filipino Students and Anakbayan.
"The AFP even tagged Bayan, ACT, KMU, KMP Gabriela, Anakpawis and Karapatan as masters of deceit as the group is known, according to them to exploit social, economic and political issues," the Gabriela statement said.
Redillas expressed fears that the students "psycho-social" aspects might get affected with the Army's actions. The militant group said the AFP is simply desperate to win sympathy from the people and attempt to justify the killings of activists.
"Dili man hinuon ingon ana ka bugo ang mga tao (People are not that stupid). Undeniably, they are into sowing an atmosphere of fear among the people," Redillas said.
Last February 20, the 73rd IB allegedly hosted the 1st Student Summit targeting key student officers from various colleges in Sto. Tomas, which turned out to be an "awareness program about the infiltration of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New Peoples Army and the National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF).
The Student Summit was participated by more or less 60 students from Davao Winchester College, Bukidnon State University, Estella College Incorporated, Holy Child of Butuan and ABA Technical School of Sto. Tomas.
Gabriela reiterated that the democratic rights of the people and the right to involve and participate in any political or social organizations should at all times be defended and promoted as it is enshrined in the Philippine constitution.
In a telephone interview Monday morning, Lieutenant Colonel Ambal admitted having identified militant organizations as fronts of the communist group after some students asked them to do so.
Ambal said it was only when the students asked that they identified the militant organizations. He said there's nothing wrong with what he did, as he believes that it is true and that the public has the right to know it.
Ambal said the awareness forum they conducted was made upon the request of the principals of the various colleges in Sto. Tomas as part of their information campaign on the security situation in the country particularly in their area of responsibility. (BOT)
