Letter to the Editor - AFP troops can not keep polls peaceful

Former Congressman Celestino Martinez Jr. is right to call for military pullout in areas with possible "intense political rivalries." It is doubly right as he suggested for Comelec to send instead independent electoral watchdogs to ease tension in these areas in the run up to May elections.

His call should be endorsed by the Comelec and pursued by civil groups as the AFP has time and again demonstrated its incapacity at maintaining peace even in so-called "hot spots".

More often than not, troop presence worsens tension as Martinez clearly pointed out in shooting incidents in Madridejos and Daanbantayan in last polls. It causes tension in areas there are none like in peaceful mountain barangays.

The problem stems from the mercenary character of the AFP whose officers and men become beholden to certain political personalities, blocs, and interest that serve its fascist agenda in the course of their counter-insurgency operations. They readily sell loyalty to political patrons who are most supportive of their campaign of terror. Thus, they are transformed into security guards and goons of elitist politicians, notably the President.

It is an alarming fact that is best demonstrated in allegations of widespread cheating in 2004 polls involving entire military units especially in Mindanao. It is one of the thorniest issues that so enraged some junior commanders that they plotted to withdraw support from the President early last year. Make no mistake about it: The AFP is never a neutral, non-political bunch of armed men. It is one huge private army that can never be trusted to keep the polls peaceful and clean.

Atty. Poch Cinco
Chairperson
KARAPATAN Central Visayas
Alliance for the Advancement of People's Rights