Bacolod Progressive Groups, City Council Oppose P16 M Anti-Insurgency Fund

The Bacolod police are using militant groups as a convenient excuse to get more funding from the government, even to the point of making them fair game to assassins by labeling them “enemies of the state.”

By Karl G. Ombion and Ryan Lachica
Bulatlat

BACOLOD City – Progressive organizations and members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod (SP or city council) here are opposed to a proposed ordinance seeking to provide the local police with P16.2 million ($330,511.07, based on an exchange rate of P49.015 per US dollar) additional funding for counter-insurgency.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, however, supports the ordinance and even marked it as urgent in his official correspondence to the SP. For his part, Councilor Lyndon Cana said that the proposed ordinance is an attempt “to muzzle freedom and civil liberties, undermine the rule of law, and turn the city into a militarized zone similar to Baghdad where what would govern is might (and) not rationality and fairness.”

Enemy of the State

SP Correspondence 06-1160, also known as “The Internal Security Operation Component of the City Integrated Area Community Public Safety Plan,” was prepared by Bacolod City Police Office Director (BCPO) Sr. Supt. Ronilo Quebrar.

The ordinance labels progressive groups in the city like the Negros chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN or New Patriotic Alliance) as “fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).”

It states that BAYAN-Negros and its allies conduct ideological, political and organizational (IPO) work to infiltrate different groups and sectors. According to the ordinance, there had been six baranggays (villages) in the city where BAYAN Negros conducts IPO work. These are Baranggays Bata, Banago, Granada, Vista, Alegre and Sum-ag.

The requested additional funding of P16.2 million ($330,511.07) is meant to destroy the “legal fronts” of the CPP-NPA in the city. The local police said that the money will be used for additional artillery and other police operations.

Auxiliary members will to be recruited for this purpose. Local baranggay tanods (village guards) will be given the authority to carry guns.

In the same way that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs), the PNP will have Police Auxiliary Units (PAUs).

Part of Demonization of Cause-Oriented Groups

BAYAN-Negros said that the ordinance is inherently repressive and part of the government’s demonization of cause-oriented groups.

It said that the police made unfounded accusations against BAYAN-Negros which is very dangerous given the spate of political killings nationwide.

Felipe Gelle, secretary-general of BAYAN-Negros, said that the local police are trying the get the P16.2-million ($330,511.07) supplementary budget at the his organization’s expense. The ordinance, he said, deprives them of due process since they are directly labeled an enemy of the state.

He added that aside from militarizing the entire city, the ordinance would legitimize “physical attacks” against BAYAN as the military and police claim that their actions merely neutralize the enemy.

Risky and Unconstitutional 

In an SP hearing last January 11, members of the city council were not in favor of SP Correspondence 06-1160. According to them, it could bring “disorder in the city as the tanods (guards) would be given extra powers. They feel that there is so much room for abuse of authority. 

Councilor Cana said that the correspondence is “patently risky and dangerous for it could result in curtailment of civil liberties, subjecting people to repression without respect for their rights and the due process of law.” He added that it is also unconstitutional because it makes war an “instrument of governance.”

Members of the city council also found the requested P16.2-million ($330,511.07) supplementary fund excessive.

For its part, the Negros chapter of human rights group KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights) said that such a huge amount should be given instead to basic services. “Bacolodnons need more social services such as housing, land, jobs, health and education, not arms and bullets,” said Fred Cana of Karapatan.

He said that the creation of PAUs and deputization of baranggay tanods to aid the police in counter-insurgency within the suburban areas is not a solution and cannot stabilize the peace and order situation in the city.  According to him, the PAUs could become “loose cannons,” making them the top human rights violator.

He said that the creation of the PAUs and Barangay Intelligence Network will just cater to the interest of a few police officers and local officials who would take advantage of the paramilitary groups which can serve as private armies especially with the upcoming May 2007 elections.

Good Track Record of Cause-Oriented Groups

Most city councilors have vouched for the track record of the Negros chapters of BAYAN and Bayan Muna (People First) party-list group in helping the city government protect and uphold the rights of marginalized sectors.

Councilor Jocelle Batapa said that BAYAN-allied organizations like Gabriela, Migrante and Kadamay closely coordinate with the local government in implementing various projects. “These groups are doing good for the people of Bacolod, and we are working together in certain developmental projects of the city, like women victims of exploitation, health and infrastructure.”

Councilor Thaddeus Sayson said that the groups accused by the police as enemies of the state have been very active in helping the city inform and educate the different communities and sectors on their rights and welfare needs. According to him, the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center-PISTON and urban poor group KADAMAY assisted the local government in addressing the concerns of the urban poor like housing and social services, as well as the drivers and operators with regard to traffic and communication problems. “They even seek and attend public hearings, and proposed legislations, resolutions and ordinances that have been very helpful to our people.”

What About Police Track Record?

Councilor Anne Marie Palermo, chair of SP Committee on Laws, said that the BCPO show should good performance first before the SP can act on any request for more funds.

Palermo said that the city has been struck by a wave of crimes since Quebrar assumed the BCPO top post, and most of these have not been solved yet. “Aside from the numerous crimes hitting the city, there are still unsolved cases. The BCPO police officers allegedly involved in the crime remain at large.”

Palermo said that the SP is even willing to go around every police station and personnel to assess their actual capability, performance and problems if only to get a more objective basis of the proposal. Bulatlat

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