From the Office of Rep. Crispin Beltran

South Wing Room 602 House of Representatives

Constitution Hills 1126 Quezon City, Philippines

Reference: Rep.Crispin Beltran (+63)9278711080

Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff  931.6615, 09195065269

 

 News Release   Wednesday, January 24, 2007

 

Pull-out AFP troops from electoral hotspots as violence often comes from abusive AFP elements during elections

 

 Anakpawis Representative and political detainee  Crispin Beltran today said that Malacanang's order to the   Philippine National Police to map out a detailed plan to deal with the electoral 'hotspots' and disarm all private armies would be useless so long as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) remains partisan and involves in the polls. Beltran challenged the Commission on Elections and Malacanang to lay down an order pulling out all AFP troops from all pinpointed election hotspots.

Beltran said that there have been numerous incidents in previous elections wherein members of the PNP clashed with soldiers who were blatantly abusing their authority.  "The PNP becomes useless and powerless in the face of the abuses of the AFP. In the regions and provinces during the elections, AFP troops act as virtual private armies of incumbent and re-electionist candidates. The more corrupt elements of the AFP also blatantly campaign for some candidates or against some others for money."

"Many of the private armies of politicians are composed of former members of the AFP and the PNP, and their arms and other weapons also come from illegal or shady sources. Does the PNP have the power to go against these private armies? Can Malacanang compel its allied politicians to dismantle their private armies and surrender their arms or at least have them registered?"

"We can see that the AFP will take an even more active and more partisan role this coming elections given how National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales has taken to proselytizing among their ranks against the progressive party-lists Anakpawis, Gabriela Women's Party and Bayan Muna and their sister party-lists. The AFP is being directed to pinpoint, target and attack campaign officers, members and sympathizers of our party-lists. We fear that the number of extra-judicial killings will have a steep increase as the elections near," he said.