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Campuses Converted into Military Garrisons - NUSP
Reggie (not his real
name) admitted during a convention of students that he works for the
military intelligence, receiving P2,000 a month to spy on activists and
work with school administrations to prevent militants from winning in
student council elections.
BY
RONALYN OLEA
Bulatlat
TOLEDO CITY, Cebu —
The National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), during its 2nd
National Students Convention held last Dec. 7 this city (570 kms. from
Manila), condemned the Macapagal-Arroyo government’s war on terror
claiming that it has caused the conversion of campuses into virtual
military garrisons. The NUSP has documented numerous cases of
surveillance, harassment and red-baiting by government agents directed
against students.
As if on cue, a
member of the Anti-Terrorism Unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP)
“visited” Spring Park Resort where the convention was being held.
Sally Alilao, front
desk officer of the resort, told Bulatlat that the man presented an
identification card. Alilao, however, failed to get the name of the
visitor. “Tinanong niya ako anong ginagawa ng NUSP dito. Alam ko raw
ba na mga aktibista sila? Alam ko raw ba na may ipinasang resolution para
patalsikin si GMA” (He asked me what the NUSP is doing here. He also
asked if I knew that they were activists, that the NUSP adopted a
resolution to oust GMA).
Alilao further
related, “Tinanong niya ako hanggang kailan kayo rito. Sabi ko, aalis
na kayo after lunch. Sabi niya, ‘Nahuli na pala ako”’ (He asked me
how long will the delegates stay here. I told him you are leaving after
lunch. He said, ‘I’m late.’).
Intelligence
agents
Reggie (not his real
name), a delegate at the NUSP convention, confessed he works for the
Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). He
said he receives P2,000 (US$35.71) a month to spy on activists.
Reggie said he was
recruited as a member of the National Alliance for Democracy (NAD, now
ANAD) by Pastor Jun Alcover. “Sabi niya sa amin, dati siyang aktibista.
Iniwan siya ng mga kasama niya. (He told us he used to be an activist
and that his comrades left him.) He said there were attempts to
assassinate him.”
Reggie said they were
told that Abu Sayyaf is no different from the Communist Party of the
Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA), National Democratic Front of
the Philippines (NDFP), Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New
Patriotic Alliance), Ibon Foundation, NUSP and other organizations. “Lahat
sila terorista” (All of them are terrorists), he was told.
He was also told that
the CPP, NPA and NDFP are underground organizations. Bayan, Ibon
Foundation and NUSP are legal alliances and institutions.
Reggie related how he
and other NAD members collaborated with school authorities against student
activists. “Nagmaniobra kami ng student council elections. Gumawa
kami ng paraan para hindi makatakbo ang presidente ng partido ng mga
aktibista.” (We manipulated student council elections. We found ways
to disqualify the presidential candidate of the activists’ party).
Reggie said they were
told that activists use democracy to destroy democracy. “Wala silang
ibang layunin kundi guluhin ang university.” (They have no other
objective but to sow chaos in the university.)
Reggie revealed that
he gets orders from Hermie Pava, an agent of the Military Intelligence
Group (MIG) who works as an instructor at their university. Reggie said
Pava carries a gun inside the campus. “Nagpapaputok pa siya ng baril
sa oval.” (He even fires his gun at the oval).
The student
intelligence agent also said they were taught psychological warfare and
how to used a small camera and recorder. “Nire-record naming
conversations with student activists, lalo na yung mga phrase na ‘ ibagsak
ang gobyerno.’” (We record our conversations with student activists,
especially taking note of phrases like ‘down with the government.’)
Other cases
Meanwhile, the 4th
Civil Relations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines held an
anti-insurgency forum last Sept.11 at the University of the Philippines-Cebu
College. Pictures of student council officers and editors of Tug-ani,
the UP-Cebu student publication, were shown. The
military alleged the student leaders are “communists” and “terrorists.”
In August, students
from the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) called for the eviction of
American troops billeted at the university hostel. The hostel is located
right in front of the USM Annex Elementary School. Some 30 American and
153 Filipino soldiers were taking part in the military exercise in Carmen,
North Cotabato (950 kms. south of Manila).
Military detachments
were also set up inside the campuses of Central Mindanao University (CMU)
and Mindanao State University-Marawi campus.
Rally
The NUSP convention
culminated in a rally held by the delegates in front of the Central
Command Headquarters in Cebu City. Rizza Ramirez, NUSP national president,
said, “The AFP’s counter-insurgency campaign has victimized students from
different colleges and universities. While we assert our right to
education and other democratic rights, we are tagged as terrorists and
communists. Paranoia has made them stupid.”
Ramirez further said,
“Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as AFP’s commander-in-chief, must be held
accountable. Without declaring martial law, she has transformed
universities into military garrisons.” Bulatlat
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