TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The military in Bohol province had started bracing for possible presence of armed civilians in the run-up to the election season.
Bohol Vice-Governor Concepcion Lim earlier disclosed that there had been reports from her town in Valencia and neighboring areas where residents saw some persons posing as military men carrying firearms.
With presence of what residents believed to be impostors, fear gripped the areas where these armed persons had been spotted.
Other actions that the military suggested are the crafting of an ordinance that prohibits the unauthorized use of AFP-PNP uniform and another ordinance prohibiting ambulant vendors selling AFP-PNP uniforms without authorization or clearance from the concerned LGUs.
PENRO Nestor Canda reported that a certain master sergeant was illegally soliciting some amount of money in Loay and Loboc towns, and this man and his companions were wearing the military uniform and were even using the name of the military.
Colonel Romeo Brawner Jr., who used to lead the 2nd Special Forces Battalion here, observed that there is no control as to the proper situation on when to wear the uniforms. He said there are those who pose as soldiers, even copying the standard posture.
It had also been observed that some habal-habal drivers wear the uniforms considering the rampant selling and easy access to purchase the uniforms. On the other hand, the ROTC students are only authorized to wear similar uniform during trainings, authorities said.
For the meantime, the Provincial Legal Office is still reviewing if there’s a national policy regarding the strict wearing of the AFP-PNP uniform and is revisiting the Revised Penal Code if any existing provision will not run counter with the proposed ordinance.
In response, provincial officials encouraged concerned citizens to dial 117 to ask for the assistance of Tarsier 117—the quick response unit of the provincial government, in case they see armed men in military uniforms.
Governor Edgar Chatto said that by maintaining an open communication channel, the public and the government agencies can promptly respond to similar concerns and deter whatever these suspicious individuals are up to.
Meanwhile, Josefina Cemine, representative of Fr. Francisco Estepa of the Holy Name University-Center for Local Governance in the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), explained that civilians have limited idea about the insurgency problems.
She suggested that the LGUs should come up with ordinances to address this concern; and while waiting for the ordinance, the PPOC can start moving by initiating an information, education and communication campaign on insurgency with the help of the media to keep the civilians abreast of the insurgency problem and other concerns. – THE FREEMAN