Leftist group demands end to military ops in slums

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on the government to “immediately end...saturation drives" in the slums of Metro Manila. Bayan warned that the “widespread" human rights violations in the provinces “may soon spill over" the city following the military's deployment of soldiers in slum areas. Leftist groups on Friday said soldiers were seen roaming in several Metro Manila slums, even telling residents not to vote for leftist candidates. The Armed Forces confirmed last week that it has deployed 250 soldiers in 27 villages in Metro Manila. AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr said the soldiers would be unarmed. He said they would be going after criminals, drug dealers and communist rebels. Bayan said the deployment of the soldiers “are starkly reminiscent of the saturation drives by (retired major general Jovito) Palparan in Central Luzon." The group accused Palparan of being the brain behind the spate of political killings in the countryside. The general denied the allegations. The group assailed a statement made by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino that the deployment of soldiers is meant to prevent rebellion. “The explanation given by Dolorfino is totally unacceptable. He is ignorant of the rights of the people" said Bayan secretary general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. “It is not within the mandate of the AFP to tell the people not to protest," he added. Bayan called on the government to issue a "clear" directive to stop military operations in Metro Manila. “The President has been warned. If she fails to act, based on the principle of command responsibility, she will be equally liable for any human rights abuses that may happen as a result of the presence of troops in Metro communities," Reyes said. Bayan plans to bring the issue of "urban militarization" to the Commission on Human Rights. “Election or no election, the military has no business patrolling the Metro communities," Reyes said. -GMANews.TV