Don’t camp out in schools, Davao troops told

DAVAO CITY – The city council passed a resolution this week declaring school campuses as “zones of peace” where the military should refrain from camping out.

The city councilors acted on several complaints that elements of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion have allegedly used public schools in hinterland areas as their base while conducting military operations.

“The presence of any armed group poses a danger to the lives and limbs of the students in (these) schools in case an encounter would take place,” the resolution states.

Councilors Mabel Acosta, Samuel Bangoy, Nilo Abellera, Karlo Bello and Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz sponsored the resolution, saying the presence of military personnel in school campuses distracts students from their classes.

However, in a statement, officials of the 10th Infantry Division based here denied allegations that its men have used these elementary schools as shelters during their operations – Mulig in Piedad district; Binowag and Malamboon in Malabog district; and Atan-Owe, Baracatan and Catigan in Binugao district.

Lt. Col. Joselito Bautista, 10th ID spokesman, said all their field commanders and men have been advised to refrain from putting up temporary patrol bases in school premises and houses of worship, as embodied in the Geneva Convention.

“Military troops bring nothing more but peace in the region. Be assured that the 10th ID strictly adheres to the rules of engagement and respect for human rights in all its undertakings,” Bautista said.

Aside from the 73rd IB, elements of Task Force Davao, who are deployed in the city’s far-flung areas to render community services, also need to coordinate with village officials.