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Friday, March 10, 2006
Group seeks mayors' help on military abuses
By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Members of Karapatan Human Rights (Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights) on Thursday sought the help of the Pampanga Mayors' League (PML) to find possible solutions in addressing the human rights violations allegedly committed by the military.
The group issued the appeal directly to the PML during a special session convened at the Capitol Executive House here.
According to Bayan chairman for Central Luzon Roman Polintan, the cause-oriented group is seeking the support of the local government officials here to address human rights violations, which are not being reported.
Polintan said for 2005, there were 11 individuals killed through summary executions, two victims of enforced disappearances, one victim of frustrated killing and three victims of illegal arrests.
PML president Dennis Pineda assured that the league, through a special committee, will look into the complaints and submit their findings to the general membership of the PML.
Pineda said the PML is thankful for Karapatan for airing their complaints and grievances, even as he added that the league will help find solutions to their problems in order to attain peace and order.
Earlier, Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang asked for the removal of the military detachment in Mexico, saying the recent killings involving some barangay officials and the presence of soldiers in the villages do not speak well of the peace and order condition of the town, which is being groomed as the next capital town of Pampanga.
The Philippine Army's (PA) 69th Infantry Battalion headed by Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Bisaya entered the town several months ago to conduct Special Operations Team (SOT) operations in various barangays.
But according to Bisaya, the SOTs are not for combat operations but for studies on how to free the barangay residents from the grasp of insurgency.
However, Major General Jovito Palparan of the Seventh Infantry Division said the military will not leave the town until it has been totally cleared of rebel groups.
Palparan said the military is also aware that rebel groups are allegedly conducting propaganda to discredit the government troops among the residents.
(March 10, 2006 issue)
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