Saturday, May 4, 2019

We’re apolitical, Arevalo assures

From the Visayan Daily Star (May 4, 2019): We’re apolitical, Arevalo assures

Don’t drag the military into politics.

The statement was made yesterday by Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, in response to reports and claims of some politicians, or candidates in the May 13 elections, that they are taking sides, or favoring candidates.

“Our mandate is always remain to be apolitical,” Arevalo stressed, as he again reminded Army commanders to ensure that nobody among their personnel must engage in partisan politics.

He advised candidates to stop using the military for their political vested interest, stressing also that the job of the Philippine Army during the midterm elections is to protect everybody against any threats from lawless elements.

Arevalo has not been spared by some politicians, who have been using some civic groups to malign him, to advance their political interest.

The 303rd Infantry Brigade has already started to deploy Army personnel in election hotspot areas, especially in Moises Padilla and Himamaylan City, categorized as areas of grave concerns.

Arevalo said that the peace and order situation in Moises Padilla is back to normal, following the deployment of 150 Army soldiers backed up by three armored personnel carriers, which will also cover the areas of La Castellana and Isabela in their visibility operations.

The deployment of forces in the area implies that only the security forces of the government must be recognized as armed group in the area “and not the New People’s Army or any private armed groups,” he stressed.

Arevalo said there are politicians who use the services of the rebels and the PAGS, but did not elaborate. “What’s important is these politicians are aware that the army is also aware of what they are doing so they better stop,” he added.

The Department of the Interior of Local Government (DILG) will be filing charges against local government officials providing financial support to communist rebels after the May 13 elections, its spokesperson, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, disclosed.

Malaya said the DILG, together with the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, will continue to monitor all candidates during the final days of the election campaign season.

“The AFP and PNP are now closely monitoring them and they will be held liable even after the election, if we are able to gather evidence that they are aiding, financing, supporting or conniving with these communist terrorist groups and their allies who are out to trample on our democracy and oust our duly constituted authorities,” Malaya said.

PNP spokesman Col. Bernard Banac warned those who donate to communist rebels that they will face criminal liability for violation of Republic Act 10168 or The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

Aside from the crime of financing terrorism, he said the act of giving any amount or item of value to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is tantamount to disloyalty, punishable under the Revised Penal Code.

Malaya reiterated the warning to all local candidates and officials not to fall prey to the modus operandi of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/May/04/topstory10.htm

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