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NOLCOM admits order of battle for NL activists

Rights group hit systematic violations

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 22) — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hierarchy in Northern Luzon revealed the existence of a military order of battle (OB) not only against terrorists or communists organizations but including legal organizations allegedly “infiltrated” by said organizations.

Atty. Randy Kinaud, secretary-general of the Cordillera Human Rights Allaince (CHRA) and other human rights groups in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions hit the military listing as dangerous as it openly declares these individuals and legal organizations as enemies of the state and render them vulnerable to attacks by the state’s military and police.

The Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the AFP admitted that an administrative order exists which allows the declaration of an order of battle (OB) against probable organizations of terrorists and communists.

But not only alleged terrorist or communist organizations or individuals can be put in the order of battle.

NOLCOM spokesperson Lt. Col. Preme Monta explained in a telephone interview with NORDIS that legal organizations can be subjected to this OB watch list if they are infiltrated by communists or terrorists regardless of whether or not they are aware of such alleged infiltration. “This is for the interests of the greater majority,” he added.

Monta said that “the burden of proof is on the side of this people listed in the OB to clear their names with the proper authorities.” Understandingly, proper authorities refer to the military hierarchy in the region or areas where these people’s organizations, NGOs, or individuals exist or reside.

He failed however to mention how a leader can verify if his name is under the OB. He advised a visit to the military offices in their area.

Dangerous policy

Kinaud tagged the AFP’s order of battle as dangerous. The state and the military insitutions openly declare actions by legitimate organizations and individuals which are protected by the bill of rights as acts of the enemy of the state.

“In this case, these people or organizations exercising legitimate actions become open targets of the state’s agents like the military,” adds Kinaud.

Kinaud added that the OB violates the processes of determining the innocense of an alleged accused as provided by law. These dissenters are already declared guilty as they are classified as enemy of the state without undergoing the judicial processes.

Ilocos leaders under order of battle

A day before the burial of Jose “Pepe” Manegdeg on December 7, his widow claimed that the military disclosed to her that her husband had been under the OB by the military in Ilocos. Manegdeg had 22 gunshot wounds from alleged military assasins who shot him on November 27 at Apatot, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur.

Pepe’s widow Dom-an and the different leaders in the Ilocos region hit the listing as it poses threats to the life and liberty of these legitimate NGO workers. NORDIS verified that most of these multi-sectoral and sectoral leaders are under the military’s OB.

With this trend of events, it can be surmised that the listing is the basis of killing these leaders, as they reminded that three of their leaders had been killed this year: Romy Sanchez of Bayan and Bayan Muna; Pepe Manegdeg of the Rural Missionaries in the Philippines; and Albert Terredano of DINTEG and COURAGE. “Only the military knew these people through their OB,” a leader in Ilocos added.

Harrasment

The leaders in the Ilocos region have been receiving threats in various forms.

Julian Daoa, chairman of the peasant alliance called STOP-Ex, noticed that he had been under surveillance by motrocycle men in the past. He was accused as one among the NPA who allegedly raided the police station in Santa Lucia, Ilocos Sur. He continuously receives text messages harrasing him with his involvement in peasant issues.

Abe Dacanay, another leader of the STOP-Ex, shared various harrasments he received from the military. Along with other 14 NGO and PO leaders, they were included in the murder case against former priest Conrado Balweg. Together with his co-accused, he was dropped from the case after undergoing various froms of torture. Sanchez was his co-accused and was killed in March this year.

Legitimate issues

Dacanay claims that this form of state terrorism will not serve to weaken his involvement in legitimate peasant and other issues.

Pastor Billy Austin of Bayan-Ilocos asserts moreover that the death of their fellow workers for genuine social change furthered their spirit to continue the cause that they died for.

They are actively campaigning for the opposition to the passage of the anti-terror bills which will outlaw political dissent. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS

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