A statement to clarify the public in response to the misconception/mis-information disseminated by the military throughout Region VIII via print and broadcast media relative to the nature, character, objectives, programs and activities of the Tabang - Sinirangan Bisayas

By TABANG - SINIRANGAN BISAYAS
February 21, 2012

We are compelled to take responsibility of informing the public as a matter of clarifying the issue brought into the public by the military, particularly the 19th IB PA through Lt. Col. Alejandro Nacnac, C.O., 19th IB, PA based in Kananga, Leyte relative to the nature, character, objectives, programs and/or activities of the TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS.

Simultaneous over three local broadcast media (DYBR, DYVL and DYDW radio stations) in Tacloban City yesterday, February 20, 2012, Lt. Col. Nacnac made mention that, “last year they had a plan to conduct a ‘Cluster Medical Mission’ in cooperation or partnership with the MUFAC (for Municipal United Farmers Association of Carigara) in Carigara, Leyte but TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS prevented them from doing such.”

We would like to strongly and categorically deny such malicious allegation based on the fact that since its creation couple of years now, TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS has never establish any relationship or communication line with the officers and men belonging to the 19th IB, PA based in Kananga, Leyte. Neither did we intend to prevent them in any manner from establishing relationship with MUFAC.

Also in February 16, 2012 issue of The Freeman newspaper, in its intentional campaign to implement the “Oplan Bayanihan” of the present Aquino regime, Lt. Col. Nacnac was quoted, “urging MUFAC not to be deceived and utilized by NPA-allied organizations.”

With the above statement, it is our considered suspicion, that the army officer was implicating TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS. Because last October 25-26, 2011, in response to the appeal of the MUFAC (whose members have been experiencing hardship and difficult situation resulting from both natural and man-made disasters), with the permission of the Local Government Unit of municipality of Carigara, Leyte, TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS conducted its second major project extending Relief and Mercy Mission in Carigara by distributing relief goods to around nine hundred (904) households in twenty one (21) barangays and extended medical services to six hundred fifty (650) individuals including seventy four (74) dental and forty (40) minor surgical operations like circumcision.

Once again, we would like to categorically deny the same malicious implication candidly clarifying that TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS is not an NPA-allied organization. The TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS exists with Mission Objectives aiming at: 1) Responding to the urgent appeal for assistance to the mission areas by delivering relief, medical, dental and psycho-social services; 2) Witnessing and documenting the poverty situation in the area and exploring ways to help in the rehabilitation in terms of livelihood; 3) Further encouraging cooperation among farmers to enhance livelihood and general well-being, and; 4) Maximizing the information gathered as lobbying points and guides for congress and other government agencies in the formulation of laws and policies that are beneficial to the citizens in Eastern Visayas.

Its mission is principled-based emulating that of Good Samaritan responding in compassion prioritizing those people in the far-flung communities regardless of who they are who lack with the accessibility to basic social services of the present government.

If it is the allegation of the men in uniform (military and/or police) that TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS mission of “helping the poor, feeding the hungry, aiming at a true change” as its slogan states, is an NPA-allied activity, then they are free to judge according to their perspective.

But the moral question that TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS stands are as follows: Is helping the poor, feeding the hungry and healing the sick among others regardless of their religion and/or ideology an evil act? We do not believe it is! Is doing such humanitarian act would mean that TABANG-SINIRANGAN BISAYAS an ally of the NPA? We vehemently and categorically deny that we are!

Such irresponsible and malicious labelling of the military to TABANG-SB reminds us when Bishop Dom Helder Camara of Latin America, in his ministry in solidarity with the struggle for social justice and national liberation of his poor countrymen once said, “When I give food to the hungry, they called me a Saint; But when I asked them why they are poor, they called me a Communist.”

We, therefore, strongly condemn the above-mentioned malicious allegations and implications or labelling by the military officer, Lt. Col. Alejandro Nacnac!