Military going after us, says youth partylist
AFP sending letters to parents of Kabataan Partylist members, student activists
The Kabataan Partylist today expressed fear and condemnation over recent reports that the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been sending out letters to parents and guardians of its members and coordinators.
Kabataan Partylist President and 1st nominee Raymond Palatino said the letter, dated March 13, 2007, came from the headquarters of the Civic Military Operations Batallion of the Philippine Army and was signed by a certain Colonel Ricardo R. Visaya who heads the said division.
“No less than the father of our second nominee and Metro Manila Chairperson Enrico Almonguerra received a letter from the AFP summoning him and our nominee to appear at the Civic Military Operations headquarters in Fort Bonifacio on March 22 because of the younger Almonguerra’s membership and participation in ‘leftist’ organizations and activities,” Palatino said in a press conference in Quezon City today.
He added that one of Kabataan Partylist’s nominees, Angela Colmenares, was also subjected to harassment by military elements on her way home more than a week ago.
“This creates a chilling effect among our members and their families intended to frighten students who are contemplating of joining groups which are critical of government policies,” he pointed out.
“What is more alarming is how the AFP is actively pursuing our coordinators and members even to their homes. The military already has a list of the addresses of our coordinators and members. We fear that our homes will be the next targets of troop deployment and military surveillance.”
“This makes our members and leaders vulnerable targets of harassment and even more severe forms of human rights violations.”
Meanwhile, Kabataan Partylist also presented its own list of election hotspots in Metro Manila where there were sightings and reported deployment of military troops.
Apparently, Palatino said, the areas where troops have been deployed are also the vote-rich areas in Metro Manila and communities where there are established chapters of progressive partylist groups and organizations.
He expressed concern that military presence and electioneering in vote-rich areas in Metro Manila could adversely affect the result of the 2007 elections.
“Voters might be strained to vote for candidates supported by the military out of fear or outright coercion. What we’ll be having is another set of election victors whose legitimacy is questionable similar to the last presidential elections.”
”These are not ordinary times. The military is accused of abetting human rights violations. Both the Melo Commission and Alston Report identified the culpability of the military in the high number of extrajudicial killings in the country. Instead of instituting measures to restore public trust in our electoral system and government, the military continues to be insensitive and arrogant by deploying soldiers in depressed communities and campuses.
”Our message to the military hierarchy is simple: Send your soldiers to the barracks now! Use the Lenten Season as an occasion to reflect on the sufferings you have inflicted on our people.”