Bayan Muna asks Tomas not to deploy CAFGU men at SRP

Militant group Bayan Muna is asking Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to reconsider his plan to use members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit to secure the South Road Properties.

Bayan Muna provincial coordinator Armand Perez is apprehensive that the deployment of CAFGU members at the SRP will cause for more deployments of military troops in urban areas.

Perez said it is “improbable” to deploy members of CAFGU at the SRP because they are needed in fight against insurgency in the countryside.

Perez said the SRP should be manned by the barangay tanods, police and members of the Barangay Intelligence Network.

“Awkward man nga butangan nato of CAFGU ang SRP, maayo tingali nga mo-recruit og dugang tanods ug personnel guards,” Perez told The Freeman. 

Perez said Osmeña should pool the resources of barangays near the SRP in his effort to secure the area rather than hiring CAFGU personnel.

“Ang primary objective ni Tomas is to secure the SRP pero nganong ang iyang pa securon ang CAFGU? Ang CAFGU man gud they are trained to counter the insurgency,” he added.

Perez, however, admitted that they are afraid that if CAFGU personnel will be deployed at the SRP it will become a precedent for subsequent military deployment in barangays where there are people’s organizations.

“We cannot afford to bring this CAFGU to our communities kay basin mao pa ni magdala sa kagubot,” Perez said.

Perez said they are planning to talk to the mayor about the matter and convince him that using members of CAFGU to secure the SRP is not necessary.

Osmeña said last week that he has requested authorities in Manila for the deployment of CAFGU members and Marine reservists at the SRP.

According to the mayor, CAFGU personnel will patrol the 295-hectare property while the Marine reservists will patrol its shoreline. — Fred P. Languido/LPM