Esperon spills beans behind Metro troop deployment - KMU

Militarization of Metro Manila to intensify

Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno today said that the statements of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. citing that ‘communist cells' are allegedly present in urban poor communities and schools spilled the beans on the real reason behind the troop deployment and confirmed initial suspicion of the human rights group.

“Esperon contradicts the statement made by Gen. Ben Dolorfino, AFP National Capital Region Chief that the supposed deployment of soldiers is for civilian-military operations (CMO) and this clash of explanations brings to fore the real motive which is to target organizations and people who are strong critics of the Arroyo regime whom the military freely tags and vilify as communist fronts and communist,” said Elmer Labog, National Chairperson of the KMU.

“The recent case of attempted abduction of KMU National Capital Region Chairperson and Anakpawis nominee Roy Velez last May 21 is already a ‘feeler’ that the next operations will target activists based in NCR. The AFP’s intelligence and militarization campaign in Metro Manila are disguised as civic-military operations (CMO), but the public knows otherwise,” said Labog.

The labor leader said the continuous harassment and vilification campaign against KMU and Anakpawis Party List is done to distract the groups from the ongoing canvassing of votes. “We are not letting our guards down. Despite the threats and incidents of harassments, we remain focused on the canvassing of votes and documentation of massive fraud and cheating in election hot spots all over the country.”

Indie film against KMU circulating in Central Luzon

Labog also revealed that CD copies of an ‘indie film’ containing libelous statements against KMU and other progressive groups is now circulating in the provinces, particularly in Central Luzon. The CD was distributed in Tarlac City last May 1 and the untitled film which runs for more than one hour starred veteran actors like Bembol Roco, Jograd Dela Torre and other theater actors.

"The content of the film is entirely derogatory and malicious. Aesthetically, the production is professional and budgeted. Clearly, the motive of the film is to malign and portray KMU as an ‘evil’ organization. We will conduct investigations to probe who are the producers and financiers of this film. We already sought the help of our friends in the entertainment industry to help us identify the makers of the film.”

The labor leader also indicated that they have contacted their lawyer and is pondering on filing appropriate criminal case on the producer and financier of the film.