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Lim OKs troop deployment but cautions soldiers vs abuse

07/12/2007

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim yesterday said he would let military men go back to the squatter areas in the city because it would benefit residents of the communities.

National Capital Region commander Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, who saw the mayor last Monday, vowed to continue the soldiers’ medical and dental mission in the city’s depressed areas.

“Ok ‘yan if it would be for the benefit of the people. It would be good if they would provide medical and dental services since I am still looking for funds to buy medicines,” Lim said.

But the mayor emphasized he would not condone any illegal act or cruelty that might be committed by the military men and vowed to take immediate action against them.

Army troops are being redeployed in slum areas, not only in the city, but in the whole Metro Manila area.

This is part of the military’s effort to counter recruitment and propaganda by communist guerrillas.

Malacañang said the renewed troop deployment is part of security preparations for President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) and the upcoming implementation of the Human Security Act (HSA).

Meanwhile, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) slammed the deployment of military men, saying it was part of the implementation of the controversial HSA.

Bayan said the return of the military to urban communities could be used as another intimidation tactic against critics of the Arroyo government.

Renato Reyes, Bayan secretary-general, branded the military’s claim of conducting anti-communist lectures to counter alleged recruitment activities by communist rebels as “a lame excuse” to justify the military’s presence in the cities.

“The Arroyo regime is setting up a very dangerous scenario here. The troops are back and the terror law is set to take effect,” Reyes said.

Bayan, which planned to conduct a rally against the HSA implementation on Mendiola Bridge tomorrow, decided to bring the mass action to Plaza Miranda instead as Lim emphasized he would strictly implement his policy that Mendiola would be open to rallies on weekends and on holidays only.

Rommel C. Lontayao