During the CHR dialogue, Sulayaw said Visaya told them that the soldiers were just conducting population census, voters’ count and survey of health conditions of the children in Isla. But for Sulayaw and the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF), the fellowship of bishops from the United Church of Christ (UCCP), United Methodist (UMC), Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP), Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI or Philippine Independent Church) and the Roman Catholic Church, there are appropriate government agencies and non-government organizations that could best do these.

Meanwhile, Reyes said it was ironic that the inauguration of the AFP’s day care center, attended by Esperon and Dolorfino, happened in the same area, in Commonwealth, Quezon City where activist Jonas Burgos, son of press freedom icon Jose Burgos, was abducted allegedly by elements of the Philippine Army. Burgos was believed to be abducted by elements of the 56th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in a restaurant in Ever Gotesco Mall along Commonwealth Avenue.

“The military can build as many day care centers as it wants, but this cannot change the fact that they have been campaigning for administration candidates and abducting and killing activists,” Reyes said.

Church alarmed

Several Catholic and Protestant bishops denounced the so-called urban militarization which they described as a “nail hammered on the flailing limbs of freedom in this country.”

On May 9, the day EBF Bishops Broderick Pabillo, Auxillary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, Deogracias Iñiguez of the Diocese of Caloocan, Eliezer Pascua and Elmer Bolocon of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines called for the pull-out of military troops in urban communities, Gen. Esperon announced that the soldiers would be pulled out. The Inter-Faith Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Network spearheaded the press conference at Sto. Niño Parish in Tondo and the People’s Caravan dubbed “Solidarity Mission for Human Rights” that visited communities in Tondo where soldiers have been deployed.

The EBF statement warmed, “The people have the right to hold you accountable, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for the gross violations of citizens’ rights brought about by urban militarization, just as the people hold you accountable for the numerous cases of extra-judicial killings, abductions and other abuses perpetrated by the AFP. We see urban militarization, together with the forthcoming implementation of the government’s anti-terror bill, as part of the state policy directed against critics of the administration.”

Pabillo also said that the presence of the military in urban poor communities was “an insult” to the police force, implying that they are not doing their jobs. He also said that local government units (LGUs) are “inutile” for its failure to act on this matter, saying that military troops are infringing on the functions and authority of LGUs.

He also said that addressing the roots of poverty is the answer to peace and order problems confronting the city and the country, not increased military presence.

“Kung talagang kulang ng kapulisan, Comelec dapat ang mag-request. Wala pa ngang request nand’yan na sila,” (If the police really needed assistance, the Comelec should formally request the augmentation of troops from the military. There is still no request yet but they are already there) he said. He added that he has received reports of election-related harassments. The cases of harassments were documented by the fact-finding mission of the IF-JPIC held on March 6 in Sta. Mesa, March 12 in Tondo, and March 23 in Payatas, Quezon City.

Sister Becky Pasete, of the Medical Mission sisters, reported that during the IF-JPIC mission in Sta. Mesa, they learned that the people were not complaining about the soldiers’ presence because they feared that the military might retaliate if they did.

Fr. Dave Bitos, former parish priest of the IFI Sto. Niño Parish in Tondo, and now assigned at the IFI Paco Parish, said he interviewed a man living in Area H in Tondo who told him he was hit on the arm with a soldier’s rifle. He also said that soldiers allegedly entered houses in Tondo and asked what party-list they were supporting.

“These are vestiges of martial law, a state President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo wanted to impose were it not for the vigilance of the citizenry,” said the EBF statement, signed by Iñiguez and United Methodist Church Bishop Solito Toquero.

Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo earlier said that Catholic bishops are behind the Archdiocese of Manila in expressing special concern on the continuing presence of soldiers who are allegedly harassing residents supporting progressive groups.

Vigilance

Despite the reported threats and harassment, the bishops called on the people to be vigilant in exercising their rights and policing their votes.

Bolocon stressed that the “essence of democracy is the presence of various beliefs,” noting that this will not be practiced if people live in fear. He added that people exercising their right to vote should not be coerced or influenced by anyone with vested interests.

Although the EBF did not endorse any senatorial candidates, Iñiguez called on the people to discern those candidates not worthy of their votes. The bishop said people should not vote for candidates who do not keep their promises and who buy votes. (Bulatlat.com)

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