From the leftist Davao Today (Oct 11): Peace group calls for military pull out in Paquibato district
The peace advocacy group Exodus for Justice and Peace is calling for the immediate pull-out of military troops staying inside the community in Paquibato District as it has caused fear among residents. The group presented in a press briefing their peace mission in Barangay Pandaitan where they found soldiers belonging to the 69th IB of the Philippine Army using the barangay hall as post and detachment. Bishop Modesto Villasanta of the United Church of Christ in the
Philippines (UCCP) and EJP convener said this is endangering the lives of civilians especially children. “This purposeful and witting act by the military to undermine the local government functions and civilian supremacy and the gross violation of the rights of women and children go beyond what is humane, Christian-like and what is mandated in the International Humanitarian Law (IHL),” Villasanta said.The group’s peace mission was able to document the 69th IB encamping and using of the second floor of the barangay hall in Pandaitan where a day-care school is using the first floor....
http://davaotoday.com/main/2012/10/11/peace-group-calls-for-military-pull-out-in-paquibato-district/
The Philippine military believes Exodus for Peace is a CPP-influenced organization. Looks like another typical "fact-finding"/peace mission used for front group propaganda purposes to accuse the AFP of human rights abuses and thereby discredit the military in the eyes of civilian audiences and the media.
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