Anticrime leaflet warns vs rallies

SAN PEDRO CITY — A propaganda campaign by police and military in Batangas against criminality appeared to lump protest organizers with hardened criminals, as shown by leaflets distributed in villages in several towns in the province.

The printing and distribution of the leaflets was part of community support program for Task Force Ugnay, a project of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the police’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion.

The task force holds “immersions” and disseminates information on crime prevention measures in the towns of Lian, Lemery, Balayan and Calaca.

These were areas where communist rebels continued to be active despite military and police operations, according to the regional police office.

No crime, no worry

A Philippine Air Force (PAF) official in Batangas, with jurisdiction in those areas, sought to dismiss criticisms hurled against the information campaign by a group of farm workers.

Maj. Engelberto Nioda, of the PAF’s 730th Combat Group, said ordinary citizens had nothing to worry about if they were not involved in crimes.

“What should they be worried about if they were not doing anything wrong?” Nioda said.

The two-page leaflet, printed back to back, was titled “Paalala at Gabay sa Ligtas at Mapayapang Pamumuhay (Reminders and Guidance for a Safe and Peaceful Living).”

It listed several phone numbers to call and the task force’s Facebook page address.

It also asked people to provide information to authorities against “persons or groups organizing rallies or strikes.”

Gi Estrada, media officer of the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, in a phone interview on Sunday, said the leaflet was being distributed by soldiers and policemen in parts of Lian since late last month.

He said some people also received the same material in the town of Nasugbu.