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Activist
group Bagong Alyansang Bayan (Bayan-Bohol) has seriously accused
the military assigned in Bohol of actively participating in
the partisan politics despite the call of its officials to
distance themselves in electoral exercises and politics.
In
its press statement sent to Chronicle last week, Bayan said
that 15th Infantry Battalion under the 302nd Brigade of the
Philippine Army is campaigning not to vote for party-lists
identified with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New
People's Army.
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National
AFP top brass warned military personnel in actively
involving themselves or taking part in the political
activities and those found guilty will be dealt with
accordingly.
These
military groups under Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) have been conducting "pulong-pulong"
in the barangays and public schools. The barangay "pulong-pulong"
has been led by a certain M/Sgt Valencia, said the statement
signed by Bayan-Bohol secretary-general John Ruiz III.
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The
military, the statement said, urged the barangay folks not
to vote for the left-leaning Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela
Women's Party. The three party-lists have been successful
in launching their election bids by winning in the last two
elections enabling them to send their representatives to the
House of Representatives, Bayan said.
Bayan
also said that the military "used" a certain Adelina
Membrillos, a former volunteer organizer for Bayan Muna of
the Danao town in 2004. She was also an organizer for Hugpong
sa Mag-uumang Bol-anon (Humabol) until 2006.
The
military's line of campaign also was to destroy and discredit
legitimate people's organizations and urged Humabol members
to stop being members.
Bayan
said that the military used government resources in the "red
scare tactics" activity (pulong-pulong) and it was clear
the 302nd Brigade and 15th IB are campaigning against the
three party-lists.
It
said that in advancing the people's interest and their rights,
Bayan will not be cowed by this tactic because it has the
trust and support of the people and they cannot be swayed
by these form of harassment and those paid by the military
in the likes of Membrillos. (RVO)
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