Militant groups hold protest outside Camp Aguinaldo

MANILA, Philippines — About 100 members of militant groups held a protest Tuesday morning outside the gates of Camp Aguinaldo along EDSA decrying alleged militarization in Southern Tagalog.

Military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the protesters were from Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Karapatan and Gabriela.

The rally stemmed from the complaints on alleged human rights violations in Quezon province.

Militant group Karapatan in Southern Tagalog claimed that most of Quezon province were under military control and has at least eight combat battalions of police and military.

It added that soldiers were committing human rights violations as well as engaging in drinking and gambling.

“Karapatan nilang mag rally pero baseless naman yung issues nila (It’s their right to protest but their issues are baseless),” Burgos said adding that there was no truth to the allegations of the militant groups.