Quezon folk rally vs ‘militarization’

Residents of Quezon province trooped to President Benigno Aquino’s personal residence on Times Street in Quezon City Monday to protest the growing military presence in their communities.

The protesters belonged to the “Save Bondoc Peninsula Movement,” families who had fled the Bondoc Peninsula.

The protesters said people in the peninsula feared for their safety because of the increasing military presence.

Calling themselves “bakwet” (slang for evacuees), they said they were forced to leave their homes not because of storms and floods, but because of the presence of soldiers in their communities.

“Battalions of soldiers are now in Quezon province, even surpassing the storms Gener and Ondoy in disturbing the lives and safety of the families,” said their spokesperson, Orly Marcellana.

According to Supt. Pedro Sanchez of the Masambong police station, the protesters stayed on Times Street for an hour and left at around noon.

The protesters voluntarily dispersed, he added. Julie M. Aurelio