Get rid of peace-saboteurs in the AFP – fisherfolk to President Duterte
Manila, Philippines – The militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas) slams the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on its continues military operations in peasant communities in the countryside, saying it poses threat to livelihood and security of the farmers and other rural people.
Amid peace negotiations between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the GRP’s armed forces have been vehemently attacking active members of mass organizations in the countryside including peasant leaders.
“It seems that AFP has its own regime. The continuous military operation in the countryside amidst GRP’s unilateral ceasefire is a clear indication that the Duterte administration loses its control over its armed forces. The AFP may be obeying orders from different commander-in-chief,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA Chairperson said in a statement.
PAMALAKAYA assailed the continuing military operations in coastal communities that inflict harassments and harming ordinary civilians. The fisherfolk group cited the 3rd Infantry Division that operates in Barangays Culasi and Dumolog in Roxas City, the 9th and 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in the coastal towns of Masbate while the elements of the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Marines in Brgy. Patungan, Maragondon, Cavite.
“Military presence in the peasant and coastal communities is affiliated with human rights abuses against ordinary civilians. The hands of the AFP are already tainted with blood by attacking the political, economic and civil rights of the people,” Hicap said.
The fisherfolk group said while they support the peace negotiations between the two parties, the AFP’s hostile actions towards the ordinary civilians is a flaw to the GRP’s sincerity to address the roots of the decades-old civil war and attain the just and lasting peace in the country.
PAMALAKAYA said President Rodrigo Duterte should get rid of some hard-line militarist generals in the AFP that are unresolved on the GRP’s peaceful negotiation with the communists and want to address the roots of the armed rebellion in a fascist and brutal manner instead. ###
