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Pampanga, Bulacan governors pressed to recall Palparan troops in Central Luzon urban areas

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday urged Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid and Bulacan Gov. Josie dela Cruz to block the plan of controversial army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan to deploy government troops in the provinces’ urban areas.

Palparan, commander of the 7th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the deployment of troops in Central Luzon urban areas was to clear urban centers of communists, adding that the approach, which he first used as commander of the 24th Infantry Battalion in Pampanga and Bataan in 1985 was coordinated with the PNP-Central Luzon command.

Assailing the repositioning of troops as “urban militarization to the highest level”, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap asserted that both governors are constitutionally and legally mandated to recall the deployment of government soldiers in urban areas in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces.

“ Governors Lapid and dela Cruz must add their voice against growing political repression and physical elimination of activists by security forces of the state. They must exercise their political authority to stop Palparan’s roaring rampage of mass murder in the region,” said Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“ What they will do in these urban areas? Dress as soldiers at day, wear bonnets to assassinate their targets at night? This seems to be overall objective of Palparan,” Hicap added.

Hicap appealed to Gov. Lapid to order the pullout of Palparan troops in San Fernando City, Angeles City and Mabalacat town in Pampanga, saying the situation does not warrant the heavy presence of military in abovementioned areas.

“Gov. Lapid is politically obligated to dismantle Palparan’s 17 detachments in the province for the sake of civil liberties, human rights and peace and order in Pampanga. The same demand applies to Bulacan Gov. dela Cruz. If they want to save lives and uphold constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties, they must stop Palparan boys from performing their job as terrorists and violators of human rights in the region,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya also urged Bulacan Gov. dela Cruz to push the dismantling of 40 military detachments set up by Palparan in Malolos City, Bulacan, Obando, Hagonoy, Pandi and Sta.Maria towns.

The controversial army major general, however said the number of his urban-based soldiers was still small compared to the density of the population in identified cities and towns in Pampanga and Bulacan. Palparan said a nine-man team for every 5,000 population was still small.

But Pamalakaya said, Palparan’s statement was preparation for the justification of massive deployment of troops in the region, both in rural and urban areas. “ He wants to hamlet the entire provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan. Sooner he would request the Northern Luzon command to add more troops for his revived campaign of terror in Metro Central Luzon,” the group said.

Pamalakaya is set to bring the matter before the House of Representatives this week, saying they would ask the six militant lawmakers- Bayan Muna party list representatives Satur Ocampo, Joel Virador and Teddy Casiño, Anakpawis congressmen Rafael Mariano and Crispin Beltran and Gabriela Women Party list Rep. Liza Maza to immediately pursue a full-blown inquiry on deployment of troops in Pampanga and Bulacan provinces.

“ This plot to convert Pampanga and Bulacan towns into an urban jungle for state-backed terrorists and mercenaries should be exposed and opposed. Mr. Palparan must be compelled to stop his project of political assassination and repression,” Pamalakaya added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:52 | link | comments |

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