Binibining Pilipinas

Karapatan: PNP, AFP SONA deployment ‘alarming’

Rappler.com

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'We are warning the PNP and AFP against their intolerance and violence against the people’s exercise of our rights to free speech and freedom of assembly,' says Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay

SONA 2013. Police clash with protestors who attempt to break the line in Commonwealth Avenue as President Beningo S. Aquino III delivered his SONA in 2013. File photo by David Lozada/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Leftist group Karapatan on Friday, July 25, expressed alarm over the “paranoia” of President Benigno Aquino III in the lead up to his 5th State of the Nation Address (SONA).

In a statement sent to reporters, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay called the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s planned deployment of over 10,000 cops and 400 military as personnel evidence of “the paranoia of a beleaguered president.”

Aquino is set to deliver his SONA on Monday, July 28.

His 5th SONA comes after the Supreme Court (SC) declared 3 schemes under the government’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional. A few weeks later, the president in a televised address defended the DAP and assailed the SC.

The government has since asked the SC to reconsider its unanimous decision. Results of surveys conducted by independent pollsters  have also shown Aquino’s lowest ratings thus far in this presidency, although he still enjoys much higher ratings compared to past presidents at the same point in their terms.

“The additional deployment of AFP personnel for street protests is especially alarming. It appears that the streets and communities in Metro Manila are not increasingly militarized to prepare for violent dispersals on Monday,” added Palabay.

DAP beneficiaries?

Various government agencies have benefited from the DAP – the PNP and AFP included.

The PNP earlier said they had gotten more than P3 billion in funds through the program, but only spent less than 12% of it. The creation and rehabilitation of police stations, an increase in budget for police field units, and the acquisition of new equipment for the police force were funded under the DAP.

The  AFP had building repairs and additional operating expenses under the DAP.

“Come to think of it, the PNP and the AFP are both beneficiaries of DAP. Kaya siguro talaga togo-bigay ang kanilang depensa sa kanilang pangulo,” said Palabay. (Maybe that’s why they’re all-out in defending the president.)

He added, “We are warning the PNP and AFP against their intolerance and violence against the people’s exercise of our rights to free speech and freedom of assembly.”

The DAP is a program introduced by government to spur public spending, and thus economic growth, by reallocating funds from slow-moving projects to fast-moving projects. Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, the man behind the controversial program, said at a Senate hearing on the DAP that the SC’s decision would undermine the economic gains achieved through the program.

Abad himself offered to resign from his post, but this was rejected by the President, who insisted that doing so would mean accepting the DAP is wrong.

Maximum tolerance, freedom of expression 

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said Karapatan’s worries were unfounded.

“There’s no case for alarm and concern because these are relatively the same numbers we have been deploying the past years during the SONA,” he said in a phone interview with Rappler. 

“We understand where they’re coming from but last year, the Commission on Human Rights even commented the PNP’s actions during that year’s SONA protests,” added Sindac. The CHR came to the PNP’s defense last year following a clash between police and protesters along Commonwealth Avenue.  

AFP spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala echoed Sindac’s statement, saying “there’s nothing new” with the 400 AFP personnel deployment.

“They should not look at the deployment as not good or alarming because we’re only there to provide security and order,” Zagala told Rappler. 

Zagal denied allegations by Bayan Muna that AFP personnel were going around Quezon city barangays, asking for the names of protest organizers.

“What would we gain by doing that? It’s just a waste of our resources. Our role is not just to protect the president and those attending the SONA but also citizens. We will never deploy troops to suppress people,” he said.

Both the police and armed forces promised they would allow protesters to hold demonstrations, so long as they follow the rule of the law. Sindac said the policy is in line with PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima’s instructions to “prevent the occurrence of violent incidents that may disrupt the conduct of SONA.” 

“We will toe the line, we will employ maximum tolerance,” said Zagala. – Bea Cupin/Rappler.com

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