Activists say it's an insult to victims, families

MANILA, Philippines - Despite criticisms from activist groups over the arrest of the so-called Morong 43, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that medals will be conferred on the 2 Philippine Army officers who led the operation to arrest the 43 alleged health workers which the military claims are high-ranking members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Col. Aurelio Baladad, Army’s 202nd Brigade commander, and Lt. Col Jaime Abauag, 16th Infantry Battalion commander, are set to each be given the Bronze Cross Medal. The medals will be conferred during the flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday at the Southern Luzon Command headquarters in Lucena City.

The Bronze Cross Medal is the fourth highest award given by the AFP, and it is given to military officers and men whose performance or acts of heroism involve risk of life under conditions other than those of conflict with the enemy.

The medal is a cross in gold, with two tendrils of green laurel leaves tied at the center base as a wreath. The word “bravery” is engraved on the cross, a symbol of risk of life and sacrifice.

Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP public affairs office chief, said the arrest of the 43 was significant because many of the suspects had pending warrants of arrests and are high-ranking NPA members.

Brawner said that the AFP believes that the capture of the 43 was a strategic and significant victory for the military, and was a big blow against the insurgency.

“This is not a tactical victory of the Armed Forces but more of a strategic victory for the whole country because we were able to neutralize some of their members,” Brawner said.

Brawner said the operation contributed greatly to the order by President Arroyo to the AFP to defeat the Communit rebels before her term ends on June 30.

“We have to recognize this feat because we are serious in our mission of defeating the Communist insurgency by June 2010. When we say defeating, it doesn’t mean necessarily wiping them out but bringing down to a level where they are insignificant, that they become not a national issue anymore,” Brawner said.

The 2 Army officers led their respective troops, along with members of the police, in a raid in a farm house in Morong, Rizal last February 6 which resulted to the arrest of 43 who the military alleged were engaged in bomb-making training.

“It is very definite that they are members of the New People’s Army,” said Brawner of the 43. The military spokesman said the medals will be given to the two officers “because of the successful raid that they made in arresting these people.”

Brawner said that some of the arrested people have warrants of arrest for murder, multiple murder, arson, robbery in band, destruction of property and other crimes. Some of them were involved in raids and ambuscades in Rizal, said the armed forces’ spokesman.

Brawner also said that more officers may be given similar medals in the future for the accomplishment. Military Merit Medals may also be conferred on enlisted personnel who participated in the operation, he said.

The military said that seized during the raid were several firearrms including a .45 pistol, a .38 revolver, 3 grenades, a 10x12 improvised land mine, two pieces of improvised Claymore land mines, two kilograms of ammonium nitrate, 7 blasting caps, 36 pieces of improvised dynamite sticks, cellular phones, and backpacks.

“Rewarding impunity”

Meanwhile, an activist group of health professionals and workers, meanwhile, quickly condemned the move of the military to confer the award on the 2 Army officers.

Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), in a statement Monday, said that the move showed the “intransigence” and “arrogance of the military, especially with regards to human rights violations.

“Rewarding human rights violators is not only insulting to the victims and their families but also an affront to basic decency in a country that is supposedly a democracy,” said Dr. Darby Santiago, HEAD chairperson.

The activist group again reiterated its position that the February 6 raid was illegal, and condemned the treatment of the 42 whowere arrested in “flagrant disregard of due process and basic human rights.”

“Are these the alleged feats that the AFP now honors?” decried Dr. Santiago.

The Court of Appeals, in compliance with the writ of habeas corpus issued by the Supreme Court, is expected to issue its resolution on the charges of illegal arrest and detention filed by relatives of “Morong 43” and activist groups. With a report from Jay Ruiz, ABS-CBN News