Mr. Santiago Salas,
the dismissed priest turned spokesman of the political arm of the
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in
Eastern Visayas kept on barking the development assistance of the 8ID to be
“militarization” which is a usual tactics of the CPP-NPA-NDF to create
wedges between the collaboration of stakeholders and the soldiers in
the area.
“Militarization” is
described when there is a pursuit of military aims with a strong
influence of military government and the government policy is invested
in the military”. This is not what is happening here in Eastern
Visayas.
What the 8ID is doing
in partnership with the local leaders of the three provinces is the
conduct of routine security operations in order to preempt the enemy’s
illegal activities such as liquidation, extortion and brutal violation
of human rights that sow terror in the local communities which
definitely hinders the desired development particularly in the
countryside.
The decision of the
MCC to partner with other relevant stakeholders such as the local
government to ultimately realize its cause to bring-forth development
in Samar is an intelligent choice because development could never be
attained with the absence of harmony. More so, peace and security is
an essential pre-requisite to attain development.
The MCC compact
project provides funds amounting to $214.4 million to construct and
repair 220 kilometers of Samar Road. This road, which passes through
15 municipalities, will improve access to markets and services for
farmers, fishers, and small businesses in some of the poorest
provinces in the island that will greatly improve the lives of our
people.
Who among our people
is not favor for these projects? Who among our people still wants to
remain stagnant to their barrios without any dreams to be progressive
someday? And who among our people does not want to be progressive and
competitive not only in their neighboring barrios or towns but to the
other nation as well?
The answer is obvious,
only the CPP-NPA-NDF desires that the people and our country to remain
impoverished and poor. Why? Because when people progresses, all
propaganda lines and issues that they frequently recycle to brainwash
these people will be proven to be lies.
Summary executions,
tortures, harassment, indiscriminate firing, robbery, destruction of
property and other human rights violations are all activities of the
CPP-NPA-NDF that they finger pointed to be allegedly being practiced
by the soldiers.
Who will forget the so
called “Catarman incident” where eight (8) policemen were mercilessly
killed last August 21, 2010?
The “Matuguinao
massacre” that robbed two (2) lives and left one (1) in a critical
condition last
March 21, 2010? In this incident, Mylene dela Cruz who endured gun
shots at her right leg and still under medication through the
assistance of the 8ID. Also, the killing of an innocent farmer known
as Arman Diaz of Brgy Madoroto of same municipality who was
mercilessly slain by the terrorist in front of his children and wife
and afterwards dragged and exhibited at the center of barangay plaza
last February?
The torture of Luis
Durico, brgy Chairman of Genaronagan, Lope de Vega in Northern Samar
and was also brutally slaughtered by the terrorist with his body also
dragged at the center of brgy and beheaded in front of family and
constituents in March 2010?
The nation-wide anti-DPA
campaign named “Oplan Ahos-Zombie”, “Operation Missing Link”, “Kadena
de Amor, “Takip Silim, “Purga” and “Paglilinis-hanay”; Digos Massacre,
use of landmines and countless burning of buses, destruction of cell
sites, extortion, permit-to-campaign fees, etc. are all perpetrated by
these organization.
These inhumane,
barbaric and animalistic acts of NPA in terrorizing the civilians are
already well known tricks of soliciting support, following the Sun
Tzu’s dictum, “Kill one to terrorize one thousand”.
History speaks that
countless violation of human rights were recorded but as if the NDF
who shouts for a genuine human rights were voiceless and effortless.
Meanwhile, the 8ID as
well as the Army units in the area remain steadfast in their mandated
mission and continuously upholding the programs that promotes peace
and development.
Major General Mario
Chan, the 8ID’s commander assured the public that the forthcoming
projects of the MCC will be properly supported and secured as well as
the other NGO’s who desire to help Samar to become a developed and
competitive province.
“We are appealing to
the public to work hand-in-hand with the authorities to include media
entities, various religious and people’s organization to take account
our moral obligations to maintain harmony in the province”, Major
General Chan adds.
“Mr. Salas must
apologize to the people for persecuting the common good of the people
and for mocking the long desired development of the island. He is
depriving the people of things that they supposed to deserve long
before time.
“It is therefore
incumbent upon him (Salas) being the former priest to be responsible
in everything he say and do, to correct his erroneous statement and
apologize for the wrongdoings to the Samareňos”
In his concluding
statement, Major General Chan explained to the people that development
and security must go hand in hand. “Development could never be
achieved if we will continue to allow these armed bandits to terrorize
our people and hinder the economic growth and developed of our three
(3) Samar provinces”.
