4ID PA troops are violating the ceasefire*
Maria Malaya
NDF-Northeast Mindanao
February 15, 2011
Troops from the 4ID launching military operations in the barrios of Claver and Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte did not leave and return to their barracks. In Brgy. Sapa in Claver, Brgy. Lahi and Camam-onan in Gigaquit, military troops remain and are currently staying at the barangay halls. Troops carrying out military operation are from the 30th IBPA, 26th IBPA, 75th IB and other troops that have not been unidentified.
The military operations started last January 12, 2011. On January 31, two soldiers from the 29th IB PA were killed by a sniper's fire from the NPA. Military troops pursuing the NPA clashed with each other resulting to more military casualties.
This military operation aggravated the destitution of the farmers burdened by hardships brought about by the floods and continues rain. The farmers are mired in poverty and are being harassed during military operations and their human rights violated.
The AFP/PNP are frauds. They are the violators but the AFP spokesperson constantly proclaim that the NPA are violating the ceasefire when it launched an ambush in barangay Libaylibay, Mabini, Davao del Norte, last February 12, 2011. How can it be covered by the ceasefire when the ceasefire started just last February 15, 201? In the earlier Christmas 2010 ceasefire, the AFP also accused the NPA in Samar of violating the ceasefire by the successful December 14, 2010 ambush when the ceasefire started on December 16.
More than ever, the AFP/PNP forces are claiming that they are “peace and development” forces. A corrupt army can never bring about development. The budget intended for development are being pocketed amongsr themselves.
What have the officials of the 401st Brigade been doing with the allowances or salaries of the CAA/CAFGU which usually takes 3 months to be released because it has been invested by the officials and are being apportioned for different reasons? What happened to their 1.5 million construction of the road in the barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur who they said were for development as the lumad-farmers use it to transport their products? The roads were merely bulldozed, using machineries of private companies for free. Who pocketed the budget of said road when it was the 401st brigade and 58th IBPA forces that implemented the project?
It is not surprising that billions of AFP funds have been stolen by their own officials. The AFP/PNP are not free from bureaucrat capitalism, which is one of the three basic problems of our country. Bureaucrat capitalism inside the AFP/PNP is the use of military/police funds for the personal gains of the officials to enrich themselves while thousands of families of soldiers experience difficulties in merely claiming the benefits of the ordinary soldier killed in action, lack of budget for the basic needs of the soldiers and other financial anomalies inside the AFP/PNP.
The massive corruption inside the AFP/PNP can never be resolved. This can only be resolved upon their dissolution and replacement by the true soldiers of the people which is the New People’s Army. It will always fail to defend and respect human rights. Moreover, they will not be able to observe their own ceasefire declaration. The violations of the AFP/PNP are being concealed by the constant pronouncement of violations done by the NPA even if said events are not covered by the ceasefire.
* Url:http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2011/02/41id-troops-are-violating-ceasefire.html
