Army soldiers turns kids, civvy centers to barracks

"Public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and rural health units shall not be utilized for military purposes such as command posts, barracks, detachments, and supply depots;" Article X (22) (e) of RA 7610 

Is it proper for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and paramilitary groups to occupy and convert schools, day care centers, clinics, social welfare offices, barangay halls and playgrounds, into barracks?

That is happening right now at Cabatangan, mountainous barangay 25 km. from the poblacion of Lambunao town, Iloilo. This forested barangay of some 900 Tumandok families, perhaps, is one of the few places in the Philippines where the Army reigns supreme as a rule. thus, ditching the Constitution's precept of  “civilian authority over the military”.

Photos here shows adults and children of this village engaging in workshop discussions under a parachute tent organized by various cause-oriented groups October 7, 2017 at Brgy. Tingig, about an hour’s hike from the barangay center.

Staff members of the Children Rehabilitation Center (CRC), one of the delegates from Iloilo City, some 50 km. south of Lambunao, have prepared songs, dances, recitations and color pencils for the kids Only energizer song-dances were for adults though, just to keep them awake throughout the activity.  

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Background 

Some 21 soldiers from the 61^st IB began occupying the village since July 2016, after the newly installed Duterte administration declared a unilateral ceasefire. They occupied the barangay center which clusters the barangay officd and session hall, basketball court, the elementary school, day care center, clinic, and Social Welfare office.

Army presence, residents summed up during the plenary session, placed them "in constant state of fear" after the soldiers imposed a 6 am to 6 pm curfew, prohibited the carrying of “ginunting” (a blade which, unlike the common bolo, is long and with sharp, pointed tip). The soldiers are wont to issue threats, subject residents to questioning, threaten them and label them “NPAs” or “supporters” of the guerillas.

Before the Army encampment, residents enjoyed freedom of movement: they set out to their farms before dawn and return home at dusk. Their farms can take an hour's walk. The curfew shortened their work and reduce their income. It’s common for them to scour for crabs and “banag” mollusks at night on their paddies, creeks and river, something they cannot do now. 

The soldiers do not categorically say curfew violators will be shot on sight but their veiled threat that you-might-be-mistaken-for-rebels and could be shot, succeeds in sending home the message anyway for farmers to observe the curfew.

The Army soldiers have no desire of setting up detachment base outside the barangay center: neither do they go on patrol at night though they solve that by according themselves the power of judges or public prosecutors to summon or subpoena individuals, groups or even the entire village for questioning and indoctrination.

They say their presence is aimed to promote peace and unity among villagers but the opposite happens because of their habit of sowing intrigues like informing one of being an NPA or its supporter; and the source: “according to” another villager who is not actually the source of that gossip. Mutual mistrust and ill-feelings are thus instilled among residents.

The presence of soldiers at the barrio center worries residents as it may serve as magnet for NPA attacks, which did happen February 4, this year. Fifteen residents returning to Cabatangan were held by some 20 soldiers resting at a store at Brgy. Cabongbong. The soldiers ordered them to join their marched at about 9 am to Cabatangan. Towards noon, as they just arrived some 20 meters to the barangay hall, a hail of gunfire greeted them from the north. The rebels quickly withdrew; the government troopers continued firing for about two hours. None from the Army soldiers and their civilian shield were injured.

 

That left a scar on residents, though.

The kids’ workshop, on the other hand, is similar to play therapy. They sing, dance, recite, describe themselves and share what they would be in the future as adults. They  draw images with color pencils that symbolize their emotions -- happiness and fears. They share common concept of happiness -- a family, happy together and safe.

Interestingly, they have common fear: fully armed soldiers, instructing them to be good, “to keep their (soldiers’) presence confidential and report on the NPAs’ whereabouts”.

They cap their play therapy by burning the paper bearing their illustrations of fear.

Their visitors who organized the "peace mission" explain to them, insum,  that they protected by the Constitution that ensures them due process and protect them from State abuses. 

Their plight already reached the attention of Iloilo Gov. Arthur D. Defensor and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Defensor scheduled a dialogue with them April 19 at the Provincial Capitol in Iloilo City.

Are residents of Brgy. Cabatangan correct in insisting that their barangay complex be considered “Zone of Peace”?

Below is the Section 22,  Article X, RA 7610 or

"Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act."

ARTICLE XChildren in Situations of Armed Conflict 

Section 22. Children as Zones of Peace. – Children are hereby declared as Zones of Peace. It shall be the responsibility of the State and all other sectors concerned to resolve armed conflicts in order to promote the goal of children as zones of peace. To attain this objective, the following policies shall be observed. 

(a) Children shall not be the object of attack and shall be entitled to special respect. They shall be protected from any form of threat, assault, torture or other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; 

(b) Children shall not be recruited to become members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines of its civilian units or other armed groups, nor be allowed to take part in the fighting, or used as guides, couriers, or spies; 

(c) Delivery of basic social services such as education, primary health and emergency relief services shall be kept unhampered; 

(d) The safety and protection of those who provide services including those involved in fact-finding missions from both government and non-government institutions shall be ensured. They shall not be subjected to undue harassment in the performance of their work; 

(e) Public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and rural health units shall not be utilized for military purposes such as command posts, barracks, detachments, and supply depots; and 

(f) All appropriate steps shall be taken to facilitate the reunion of families temporarily separated due to armed conflict.