‘Insurgency-free’ province?

Officials of Southern Leyte declared my province “insurgency-free” for the last three years. (Inquirer, 10/5/11) This statement is very misleading. I know for a fact that such a declaration for my province was made in 2005 by officers of the 43rd Infantry Battalion then stationed in Sogod, Southern Leyte. As a result of that declaration, the battalion was pulled out and sent to other areas in the country.

A little over two years ago, the Charlie Company of the 78th Infantry Battalion was sent to my province. Does that mean we were “insurgency-infested” once again? If so, no one ever told us. It is ironic that the story was published a day after a mining company operating in our next door neighbor, Surigao del Norte, was raided and pillaged. Only two things come to my mind. The troops now stationed in my province are either erroneously assigned there or someone isn’t telling the truth.

I have had the privilege of working closely with the officers and enlisted men of the Philippine Army in various humanitarian activities in the past year because of my active involvement in civil society organizations. I have seen the high level of professionalism among many of them, which has earned my utmost respect and deep admiration. That is why I am saddened when I hear some of them allowing themselves to be used by politicians. Soldiers should learn their lesson and stop getting entangled in civilian politics. It is not necessary to sing accolades to local officials. A community does not need to be told that it is peaceful because the stakeholders themselves will feel it. In fact, I believe communities facing a potential threat should be warned accordingly so that the people can be alerted and be made more vigilant.

I can only hope and pray that the declaration that Southern Leyte is insurgent-free will not be proven wrong.

—MARISA LERIAS, Lalawigan Mo, Kinabuhi Mo! (Your Province, Your Life!), Southern Leyte, deet0918@yahoo.com