U.S. Pentagon runs AFP – fisherfolk group
Manila, Philippines – With the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continuation of its hostilities in the countryside despite the ongoing peace negotiations with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), it is crystal clear that President Rodrigo Duterte is out of hand with his armed troops, said the militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA-Pilipinas) on Wednesday.
The fisherfolk group slams the AFP for its ongoing presence in Brgy. Patungan, a 602-hectare coastal community in Maragondon, Cavite where 353 fisherfolk families have been facing a threat of demolition since last year to pave way for private beach resort of the Maria Teresa Virata (MTV) Corp.
On Friday, the regional chapter of PAMALAKAYA in Southern Tagalog reported the presence of around 80 combination of Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Air Force (PAF) in the community. The residents feared the presence of the armed troops might lead to another violent demolition attempt like what happened last year.
“The AFP and PNP always inflict threat to the peaceful lives of the rural people in the countryside. With or without ceasefire declaration, they continue to launch attacks against innocent farmers and fisherfolk in relation to their all-out-war offensive versus ordinary civilians. President Duterte’s claim that he walks an extra mile to achieve peace in the country does not correspond with the maneuver of his troops in the ground,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA Chairperson said in a statement.
The fisherfolk group said the AFP and PNP may be taking orders from their master in the United States through the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG), a U.S. military assistance agreement that dictates and decides on the country’s counter-insurgency campaign, buying of arms, military training and even indoctrination and orientation of the AFP.
“We challenge President Duterte to seize control of his forces and order them return to their barracks while the peace talks is in progress. Duterte should also expose and condemn the peace-spoilers high ranking AFP Generals who take direct orders from their American puppeteers, namely, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP Chief Eduardo Año. Those Generals are the real enemy of the people,” Hicap ended. ###
