Statement - Election as pillar of democracy should be free from State terror

CEBU, Philippines - Election is a civilian affair. Elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippines National Police (PNP) should be prohibited to enter any polling place or stay within a radius of 50 meters, except to cast their votes. The Commission on Elections noted this earlier this year.

The prohibition include any armed person belonging to any extra-legal police agency, special forces, reaction forces, strike forces, Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU), barangay tanods or other similar forces or para-military forces, including security guards, special policemen, and all other kinds of armed or unarmed extra-legal police forces.

The Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) members and their support staff, authorized poll watchers, technical support staff, voters casting their votes, Comelec representatives are the only persons allowed inside the polling precincts.

But Department of Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales tried to expand the role of the military to further suppress progressive candidates and party lists, perceived as enemies of the state, which are vying seats in congress and senate. To legitimatize such scheme, a memorandum of agreement between the AFP and PNP and the Comelec was signed prior to the election.

In result, Karapatan Central Visayas documented various cases of military and police presence inside polling centers. In extreme cases, they were even inside the precinct trying to control the line of the unruly voters. Worse, almost all polling centers were manned by military men in full battle gear equipped with appointment papers from the Comelec.

Lapu-Lapu City Central School, Gun-ob Elementary School, and Basak Lapu-Lapu City School were among the many schools in Metro Cebu where military presence were documented and verified.

On another case, police officers detailed at Pasil Elementary School were manning the distribution of priority numbers and give special treatment on some voters and personalities.

deployment at polling precincts is undemocratic. It creates an intimidating aura among the voters. Thus, we urge all freedom-loving Filipinos to expose and oppose these incidents and assert our right to suffrage free from fear and intimidation.

Rev. Rey Gelloagan

Chaiperson

Karapatan Central Visayas