Letter to the Editor - Walking time bombs in our midst

The recent altercation between a police officer of Lapu-Lapu City and soldiers of the 2nd Light Reaction Company should prod the governor and other hawks in government from further militarizing Cebu.

Far from deterring lawlessness and violence from messing up the coming ASEAN Ministerial Summit, these soldiers are fast becoming the cause of chaos. For now, it is just a fistfight between, ironically, so-called "law enforcers" ending up with bruised egos. But what about the next time? Do we have to wait for a gunfight claiming civilian casualties before we cry foul?

In the first place, there is no need for intensifying the militarization of Cebu even in the guise of securing the Summit. The local police and their augmentation units from Mindanao could very well do the job. Military units like the US-trained 2nd LRC are programmed to wage war or seek one in areas there are none. They are brainwashed into thinking that might is right and everything is settled by shooting it out. No wonder the AFP is the worst perpetrator of human rights violations. As it is, the 78th IB are responsible for 73% of the documented 53 cases human rights violations in Cebu since January this year. It is also suspected to be involved in two cases of political killings in the province this year.

More cases of abuses are expected to intensify with the deployment of the notorious 46th IB from Basey, Western Samar, to Southern Cebu last week.

These soldiers are walking time bombs. It is just a matter of time before they sent this island into a howling conflagration of mayhem.

Atty. Poch Cinco
Chairperson
Tel. No.: 0915-556-5454