The Executive Department distanced itself from the deployment of troops through Sec. Ignacio Bunye who, instead of explaining the deployment, stated that the Armed Forces are in the best position to give details of these deployments and was quoted as admitting that I dont have the details. I am not privy to how this was executed thats why it would be better if the AFP officials themselves explain the situation how this came about [Attached as Annex E is a copy of the article AFP asked to explain deployment of troops in Metropolis slums written by Tess Bedico, Peoples Tonight, March 6, 2007].
The Armed Forces of the Philippines and respondents were forced to explain their presence in the capital, but the justifications were conflicting and confusing.
Conducting civil-military operations is one of the often repeated justifications for the deployment of troops. Respondent Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino admitted that the 250 soldiers in 27 villages in Metro Manila who have been deployed in these areas are non-combatants and unarmed and undertaking purely civil military operations. [Attached as Annex F is a copy of the article by Aris Ilagan Soldiers to Stay in Slum Areas dated March 5, 2007, Manila Bulletin]. According to the respondents, one of the functions of the Army is to help maintain peace and order by battling criminality in the area.
The AFP, however, also publicly stated that the deployment was part of the soldiers training denying that the troops are engaging in partisan politics. This justification was accepted by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who stated that the training is being conducted at the Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio and part of it includes the fielding of 27 teams of 10 men in rural areas as immersion so that by the time they are deployed outside they will know how to go about dealing with civilians. (Attached as Annex G is a copy the article Palace Orders military: Finish MM Training ASAP, written by Paolo Romero of the Philippine Star cited at the ABS CBN Website on May 2, 2007]. In that same article, Pres. Gloria Arroyo was quoted as ordering the AFP to explain the necessity of deploying troops in the nations capital x x .
The most surprising justification (and possibly the most fatal and damaging to the cause of respondents) was the public and careless admission of respondent Gen. Dolorfino who declared in an AFP Press Conference in Camp Aguinaldo, that the deployment of troops in the capital was meant to stamp out the culture of rebelling and fighting the government. [ Attached as Annex H is the article Troops in Metro AFPs approach to stamp out culture of rebellion written by Jaime Laude and Pia Lee Brago dated March 4, 2007]. In the same article, Respondent Dolorfino, who was probably unaware that his statements constitute a blatant violation of the Constitution, brashly declared that if we continue fighting the government, airing our complaints in the streets, we are like termites. Respondent even proudly cited South Africa as a model for the said approach.
It was during this press conference that the scope of militarization was officially admitted by Respondent Lt. Col. Visaya who admitted deploying 26 Army teams composed of 250 personnel in Caloocan, Quezon City, Taguig City and Tondo. [Please see Annex H]
Public mistrust grew not only because of the conflicting justifications for deployment but the evasiveness of the respondents as exemplified by the statement of the AFP Spokesman himself, Maj. Gen. Angel Honrado who when asked what the purpose of the deployment is if it is not election related, answered that he is reserving comment until the AFP has replied to the Commission on Elections [Attached as Annex I is a copy of the article Militants score Palparan Tactics in Metro Manila, written by Reiner Padua, Malaya, 6 March 2007]. Col. Honrado was quoted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) itself as saying I dont want to answer that. Lets wait for our reply to the Comelec [Attached as Annex J is a copy of PIA Press Release dated March 5, 2007 entitled AFP not Pulling out Troops from Metro Manila]. That same PIA Press Release included the statement of Respondent Dolorfino that the the soldiers though armed, are holding dialogues with poor residents to stop the culture of rebellion. The AFP also declared in that Press Release that the deployment will stay.
Even the Philippine National Police was reportedly not convinced of the justifications. Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, claimed that the PNP was on top of the situation countering claims that said deployment is necessary, saying that the statements of Gen. Dolorfino is wrong and inaccurate [Attached as Annex K is a copy of the article PNP exec bucks AFP Claim on Urban Militarization written by Gina Peralta-Elorde and Angie Rosales, The Daily Tribune, dated March 7, 2007]
Complaints have been filed by Petitioners Gabriela and Alberto Corbes with the Commission on Election in March 2007 [Attached as Annex L is a copy of the complaint of Gabriela, Annex M complaint of Anakpawis, and Annex N complaint of Alberto Corbes].
Petitioners allege that the soldiers are campaigning against them. This stems from the perception of the AFP that Bayan Muna is a communist front, possibly because Satur Ocampo is its President. National Security Adviser Sec. Norberto Gonzalez, was quoted in the AFP website itself admitting that he wants party list groups which he believes are fronts for the communist movement voted out by the people in the May 14 midterm elections [Attached as Annex O is a copy of the article Party List Groups should be voted out dated January 16, 2007 from the website of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, URL http://www.afp.mil.ph/0/news/plgs.php]
Petitioners did not get the speedy and timely remedy it needs from the Commission on Elections. The Comelec merely asked the respondents to please explain their presence [Attached as Annex P is a copy of the article COMELEC orders probe of campaigning soldiers written by Nikko Dizon and Christine Avendano, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 3, 2007]. Hearings have been conducted but these have gone nowhere. As of the filing of this Petition, the Comelec has not issued any decision on whether the troops should pull out or stay in the National Capital Region.
2007 Elections
