This was the appeal to Central Luzon folk yesterday of Lt. Col. Ricardo Visaya, commander of the Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion, which is under the 7th Infantry Division led by Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan, whom militants have blamed for the summary executions and disappearances of known activists in Central Luzon.
Visaya called up The STAR and issued the plea amid reports that Aeta residents of Barangay Sapang Bato here were allegedly compelled by his men to admit being members of the New People’s Army (NPA) and wear tags with the words "Sumuko na ako (I have surrendered)" for all to see.
"That could be mere propaganda (of the NPA), but I would like to assure (residents of) areas where we operate that we vow to respect their request for the presence of any barangay official if there is a need for them to be questioned by the military," Visaya said.
"They should not fear us. I myself have seen military abuses when I was young and because of this, I initially did not want to enter the military," said Visaya, a 1983 alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy.
He said he nevertheless joined the military "because I want to be an instrument of change (in the military)."
Palparan has fielded the 69th IB to conduct an anti-insurgency drive in the capital city of San Fernando, Angeles City, and Mabalacat, three of Pampanga’s most urbanized areas where the NPA reportedly derive much of its funding from "revolutionary taxes."
"Compared with other areas in Central Luzon, the (places) under my coverage are not as controversial because I am sensitive to the issue of human rights," Visaya said.
He, however, justified strong military presence in Barangay Sapang Bato, dubbed as "Little Baguio" for its hilly terrain and winding roads, saying that the NPA is using the area as an entry point into Angeles and Mabalacat.
He said Sapang Bato is close to the Pinatubo mountain ranges and hills frequented by the NPA. He said 30 of his men from the Charlie Company, headed by Lt. Joel Banatao, are based in the barangay.
Visaya and his men have also been focusing their efforts on Barangays Pampang, Pulung Bulu, Pulong Cacutud, Sapa Libutad, Sto. Cristo, Kuayan, Anunas, Lourdes Northwest, Capaya, and Margot in this city.
Palparan has commended Visaya for his operations here, noting that local NPA presence and influence has been reduced by as much as 90 percent since the 69th IB moved in some two months ago.
Visaya said military presence in his areas of operation has also deterred illegal drugs and other criminal activities.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) said it scored anew against the NPA after residents of San Jose City in Nueva Ecija surrendered their firearms, including those allegedly entrusted to them by communist rebels.
"The all-out war of the government against communist terrorists and other lawless elements continues to gain headway even in areas where the propaganda machinery of leftist groups is working inexhaustibly to discredit military and police forces," Nolcom said.
Last weekend, at least 34 residents of Barangays Manicla, Tayabo and Malasin in San Jose City voluntarily surrendered their firearms to the Nolcom’s Special Operations Team under the 48th Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Joselito Kilala.
The firearms were mostly caliber .38 revolvers, homemade shotguns and caliber .22 Magnum.
"Some of the firearms surrendered could be loose or unlicensed firearms, while the rest were likely entrusted by NPA rebels to the barrio folk for safekeeping for the use later of the Militia ng Bayan, an underground organization synonymous to the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU)," Nolcom said.