Davao council asks Army to leave civilian areas

DAVAO CITY—The Sangguniang Panlungsod on Friday approved a resolution calling for the pullout of military detachments from civilian communities in the city.

In a special session, the city council said the resolution was aimed at protecting civilians from getting caught in the cross fire in gunfights between government troops and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

In September, at least 30 civilians were injured when a grenade thrown by NPA rebels missed a military detachment and exploded at the village gym of Barangay Fatima in Paquibato district. The military detachment was set up outside the gym.

The NPA, while indemnifying the victims, had said the explosion would not have happened if soldiers did not set up camp in civilian communities.

Councilor Jimmy Dureza said he saw soldiers using the second floor of a village hall in Barangay Pandaitan as a detachment.

On the ground floor, children hold classes in a day care center, said the councilor.

In the resolution, the city council asked the military to relocate detachments, especially those set up in barangay halls and other public buildings, and to refrain from using civilian structures for military purposes.

“Such detachments have to be pulled out,” the resolution said. Paquibato is among the hinterland districts of the city where the NPA operates.

“The situation in Paquibato is a cause for alarm since the mere presence of armed men in uniform threatens and even endangers the lives of many people,” said Councilor Leah Librado. Germelina Lacorte, Inquirer Mindanao