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.
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Background
Some 21 soldiers from the 61st 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.
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.
That left a scar on residents, though.
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 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.
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.
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