‘Undeclared martial law’ reigns in Nueva Ecija?

CABANATUAN CITY — Nueva Ecija is now under a state of "undeclared martial law," so claimed a flood of text messages circulating in the province.

Texters painted this grim scenario after residents of Muñoz town and the cities of San Jose and Muñoz complained that soldiers were harassing them by demanding that they show their cedulas (community tax certificates) when accosted.

"GMA and Palparan declared a silent martial law in Nueva Ecija. They started in the northern part of Nueva Ecija going to Bulacan, Tarlac and Manila," stated one of the text messages, referring to President Arroyo and Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division.

According to the text message, soldiers in four Army trucks have allegedly been going from house to house every night to ask residents to show their cedulas.

In doing so, the military allegedly would be able to flush out communist guerrillas from local communities.

This has reportedly triggered a mad rush for cedulas, with at least 32,000 people in San Jose City alone, including students below 18 years ago, trying to secure one from their barangays. A cedula reportedly costs P5, although some locals claimed to have paid P11.

Reports said cedula forms have run out in the affected places, forcing some residents to go to Cabanatuan City to obtain one.

Palparan, however, denied that the move was a step toward "martial rule," saying that people are supposed to carry with them identification cards or cedulas.

If they don’t have any cedulas, he said they could present passports or endorsements from their respective barangay chairmen.

Lt. Col. Joselito Kakilala, commander of the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion based in Ma. Aurora, Aurora which has jurisdiction over the two northern Nueva Ecija cities and Lupao town, said possession of a cedula is proof that the holder is a resident of the area and is known to barangay officials.

For his part, Capt. Wilfredo Martin, 7th ID spokesman, denied that their men were asking for cedulas as part of the government’s all-out war against the communist insurgency.

Martin said the "enemies of the government" could be foisting such "propaganda" to "instill fear among the people in areas where there is military presence."

"Besides, a community tax certificate should be obtained by every citizen because this is a duty that all of us should do for the government," he added.

Gregorio Rosal, spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, branded the cedula requirement a part of "martial rule."

"Gen. Palparan may be gloating now at the sight of terrified barrio folk scrambling for cedulas in the cities," he said. — With James Mananghaya and Katherine Adraneda