PNP Eastern Visayas officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Ariel Arcinas
said in a press briefing on Monday that fighting human rights abuses is part of
their job as they prevent the loss of innocent lives.
“The very reason why we have to augment forces in Samar is to protect
human rights. We can assure the public that there is no violation of human
rights. This is our guide in the implementation of law enforcement program,”
Arcinas told reporters.
The official said they are still waiting for specific guidelines
on Memorandum Order (MO) No. 32 signed on Nov. 22 by Executive Secretary
Salvador Medialdea.
Malacañang issued the directive amid the "sporadic acts of
violence allegedly committed by lawless groups, particularly in the provinces
of Samar, Negros Oriental and Occidental, and Bicol Region.”
Major General Raul Farnacio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry
Division, reminded soldiers to “religiously” live the principles of human
rights, international humanitarian law, and the rule of law.
“To the general public, rest assured that your Army will strictly
adhere to the rules and procedures set forth by higher headquarters in the
conduct of internal security operations in Eastern Visayas,” said Farnacio in a
statement issued on Saturday.
“I urged the communities to be extra vigilant in reporting to the
proper authorities the presence of suspected armed groups or individuals that
will sow terror in their respective communities,” he added.
The memorandum, titled “Reinforcing the guidelines for the Armed
Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police in the
implementation of measures to suppress and prevent lawless violence,” has
ordered the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior
and Local Government to coordinate with each other in deploying the troops.
Arcinas expects that Samar will get augmentation force from the
PNP national headquarters and the regional mobile force battalion.
“Everything is normal and manageable. The deployment of more
personnel is part of the PNP’s regular program. The President wants to
reinforce police and military presence to sustain peace in Samar,” he added.
The decision to supress lawless violence is justified, since it is
based on intelligence reports received by the Office of the President from
various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, Arcinas said.
Samar province has been a stronghold of the New People’s Army
(NPA) due to the place's densely-forested mountainous areas, high poverty
incidence, and issue of widespread landlessness based on a 2013 study of
William Norman Holden of the University of Calgary in Canada.
The NPA launched its first tactical operation in the country in
Calbiga, Samar in 1974, when its members ambushed an Army scout patrol and
seized a number of weapons. In 1976, the NPA gained popular support among the
inhabitants of Samar, following its actions against cattle rustling gangs.
The most recent encounter between the military and the NPA was on
the night of Nov. 20 in Paranas, Samar. No one was hurt in the 10-minute gun
battle. Soldiers recovered from the encounter site two improvised explosive
devices, one rifle grenade, empty magazines, and empty shells.
Some areas in Samar province are threatened not only by the NPAs,
but also by the presence of private armed groups allegedly supported by
politicians. (SQM/PNA)
No comments:
Post a Comment