Third party eyed behind threats versus activists

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The issue of alleged military threats or harassments against so-called activists was the focus in the dialogue, held recently at the Iloilo Capitol, between military and police officials and members of various militant groups.

The activists said they were not communists, and they should not be subjected to threats and intimidations via vilification campaign and Reds-tagging, as they sought for the upholding of their rights to be secured while pursuing their respective advocacies.

The military and the police however denied tagging these progressive groups as communists or linking them to the armed insurgency.

This denial raised the possibility that these acts could have come from a third party that is neither from the activists or the police or the military.

Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, who was present in the dialogue, said this third party might have wanted to scuttle the peaceful atmosphere in the area.

Bayan-Panay chairperson Hope Hervilla also did not discount this possibility that some sector could be sowing conflict between the activists and the government forces, a matter that must be investigated.

The dialogue, which lasted for more than an hour, was hosted by Governor Arthur Defensor Sr and attended by Mabilog, Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, commander of the Philippine Army's 3rd Infantry Division, Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, director of the Police Regional Office-6, David Bermudo, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights, and representatives from Bayan-Panay, Bayan Muna, and AnakBayan.

Bautista and Querol assured the activists that the government respects the ideology of any group for as long as they do not promote armed struggle.

"Akala nila (the threats and vilification campaign) came from military. So, we assured them na hindi galing sa military. In fact, we also want to know where the threat is coming from. Gaya ng sabi ko sa kanila, we are the protector of the people and the state and the people includes them," Bautista said.

Querol said the police have the duty to protect the rights of the people to ensure the security of any citizen from all walks of life or any sector that they represent. "We are human rights advocates," he said, citing a program of the PNP where every police station has a human rights desk to attend to any individual.

Hervilla said she and other leaders of militant groups have been victims of these threats, which came in the forms of text messages, calls, letters and personal presence of some persons, claiming to be military intelligence assets.

"All of these started with the accusation that we are insurgents or working with insurgents or fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army," she said.

After the meeting, Defensor told reporters the talks came out very fruitful. "The AFP, PNP, and progressive organizations had a very clear understanding that we want as early as possible the complete and absolute linking of hands together to prevent any misunderstanding on the causes, objectives and mission of each institution," he said.

He added that both parties vowed "to continue to pursue peaceful avenues in resolving controversies, and to talk to each other as civilized Filipinos." Defensor said, adding that "communism is not illegal and should not be an issue unless it promotes armed struggle."

CHR-7's Bermudo, for his part, said all sides have agreed to "help in investigating the alleged threats against members of militant organizations." All parties have also agreed to have a continuing dialogue to resolve issues and to prevent more conflict, he added. - THE FREEMAN