Partylist solons seek probe on 'US troop presence' in Luisita

(Updated 8:06 p.m.) Three partylist lawmakers have asked for a congressional inquiry into the alleged presence of US troops in Hacienda Luisita. Gabriela Reps. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus and Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano said they have been receiving reports that American military personnel were seen making rounds at the Aquino-owned sugar plantation, which allegedly will be among the venues for the upcoming Balikatan US-RP military exercises. In filing House Resolution 605, the legislators wanted the House committees on foreign affairs and national security and defense to probe the veracity of the reports, know the role of US troops in counter-insurgency operations, and their possible impact on the farm workers’ safety and continuing struggle for land. The three partylist members of the House also asked the committees to recommend measures towards the immediate suspension of joint US-RP military exercises in the area and the abrogation of the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement that allows such exercises involving foreign troops. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a text message to GMANews.TV, said they have yet to confirm the report that Tarlac will be one of the forthcoming Balikatan’s venues. In a separate phone interview, Secretary Herminio Coloma quoted Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin as saying the US troops were in Tarlac for a joint civic action project with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). “Yung mga US troops nag-hotel lang sila sa Microtel na nasa loob ng Hacienda Luisita. [Those US troops merely stayed at the Microtel hotel inside Hacienda Luisita.] That is the only reason why they are inside the Luisita, they are billeted in Microtel," Coloma said, citing Gazmin. The lawmakers said that sometime in September 2010, residents confirmed that they saw US troops arrive in Barangay Bantog in Hacienda Luisita and ask a barangay official, Greg Gardanoso, about the barangay captain’s identity. “Residents have since then heard of supposed plans for the construction of an evacuation center and the conduct of humanitarian missions in the area," the resolution read. 2011 Balikatan areas identified HR 605 also cited an article by Major Nathan Rausch posted last month on the official website of the US Army, where the USARPAC Medical Logistics Planner confirmed that an Operations Planning Team composed of USARPAC and Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) elements had been convened last September to plan Balikatan activities. In another article dated September 14, 2010 published in the US News Las Vegas website, NOLCOM Chief Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan confirmed that the 2011 Joint US-RP Balikatan will be held in selected Central Luzon areas. NOLCOM spokesperson Major Rosendo Armas also confirmed that a US Survey Team paid a courtesy call to Pangilinan to discuss scheduled ocular site inspections in selected areas in Central and Northern Luzon. The US News Las Vegas article however did not specifically mention Hacienda Luisita as a Balikatan venue. Instead, it identified the following areas: “Aside from Crow Valley and Mayantoc, Tarlac, the team targets San Marcelino, San Antonio and Subic, Zambales, Guagua and Angeles City in Pampanga, and Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City." Luisita workers’ and farmers’ concerns The Aquino-owned plantation remains highly contested as the Hacienda Luisita Inc. management repeatedly pushed for schemes that would exempt the 6,453-hectare plantation from land reform or reduce its coverage. United Luisita Workers’ Union acting president Lito Bais expressed fears that the US-RP Balikatan will be used to intensify counter-insurgency operations in the area and sow terror especially among protesting farmers and members of legitimate organizations. Leonor Nabal, Nagkakaisang Kababaihan ng Hacienda Luisita president, also said she fears that US troop presence will spawn cases of sexual abuse similar to the Subic rape case that involved US Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, and lead to proliferation of prostitution in the area, especially since most women in Hacienda Luisita are poor. In a press statement, Ilagan said US troops have no business in Hacienda Luisita except to join the AFP in stepping up militarization and a climate of fear, while protesting farm workers persist in their demands for land. She also said that the continued military presence in the area, as well as alleged plans to include Hacienda Luisita among the venues of US-RP Balikatan exercises is the height of intervention, and may be taken as an indication that the Aquino government has no plans to subject the sugar plantation to land reform. Ilagan and De Jesus are set to join farm workers in a caravan on Tuesday to commemorate the Hacienda Luisita massacre.—JV, GMANews.TV