Army camp retention in Aurora sought

BALER, Aurora – Amid the snowballing clamor of a militant non-government organization for the Army to pull out its military camp in this capital town over alleged human rights violations, residents of a barangay here where the military unit is housed have pressed for its retention.

A barangay assembly called to feel the people’s pulse in Barangay Calabuanan which houses the controversial 48th Infantry Battalion had showed overwhelming support for the retention of the Army unit.

David Orolfo, barangay chairman, said 99 percent of participants in a barangay assembly had opposed attempts to have it dismantled.

“The people of Calabuanan are overwhelmingly for the continued presence of the 48th IB in our place. They have spoken and we should respect that,” he said.

Earlier, the Multi-Sectoral Action Group sought the closure of the battalion allegedly over a string of human rights violations, including the forcible evacuation of upland residents, massive militarization and an alleged attempt to discredit the Catholic Church and its clergy who it suspected of being sympathetic to the New People’s Army.     – Manny Galvez