AFP insists in using falsities to bolster their propanda

Posted by Belarmino Dabalos Saguing
Rome, Italy 27032014

The villagers reporterd to the city council that the military is forcing them to sign an statements saying that they admit being NPAs surrendering to the military.

Celso Bughao, the village chief of Barangay Lumiad, Paquibato District, Davao city told members of the City Council during its regular session Tuesday that the 69th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army was responsible for the distribution of certificates.

A copy of the “certification” obtained by Davao Today

Council Victorio U. Advincula of Davao City’s Third District said that the barangay could record “actual complaints of the people” on their logbook and even call for dialog with the military. He also said that they should execute an affidavit before the Council’s committee on human rights.

 “We can tell the military that they stop it,” said Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang of the Second District where Paquibato belongs proposed that they may take action immediately by means of a resolution pending an investigation. “(This will serve as a lesson for the military that they cannot do this, this is very wrong.” Dayanghirang said.

This practice of the military is not new.  First District Councilor Leah Librado-Yap revealed that for the past few years, there have been several complaints against actions of the military especially in the areas in Paquibato District.”

“In fact in 2011, we passed a resolution urging the military to remove their encampment (as) there was a (military) camp near a day care center and school. A year after, there’s (the) use of the military of the barangay hall (and public) buildings as their camps,” said Librado-Yap who is also a member of the council’s human rights committee.

Bello, chairperson of the Council’s committee on human rights, noted that that the fact that Bughao, a village chieftain, made the report “goes to show that there is something going on in the area and this is not a mere personal endeavour but an exercise of his function. Bello also said to be an NPA sympathizer is not a violation of the law “I am sure the military has a legal division that can guide those people requiring those filling-up of this application form, I would invite the military personnel to explain,” he said adding that “maybe this part already of their existing program, Oplan Bayanihan or something, if this is true, there’s a possibility that they will make such claim that it is voluntary.”

- See more at: http://davaotoday.com/main/2014/03/27/villagers-accuse-military-of-npa-surrenderee-certificates/