Military denies fielding spies
Posted July 28, 2009 18:25:00(Mla Time)
INQUIRER.net
Katherine Evangelista
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has denied it fielded infiltrators during Monday’s anti-government rally of leftwing activists.
But AFP spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, Jr. admitted Tuesday three of the six men allegedly mugged by protesters have affiliation with the military.
Two were retired military servicemen while the other was a reservist, he said without naming them.
At the same time, Brawner condemned the alleged attack on the six, saying the protesters have no right to harm them on mere suspicion they were government spies.
“The rally participants have no right to mug them, maul them because it was a rally that’s open to everyone. Anybody can attend these rallies so it is the right of every Filipino to join them and they should not be mugged on the suspicion they’re soldiers,” Brawner said.
He said the AFP would assist police in identifying the attackers in case the victims would decide to press charges.
Brawer admitted plainclothes security forces were at the vicinity during Monday’s protest near the Batasang Pambansa, where President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered her final state of the nation address.
But he said the plainclothes police and military personnel were only at the periphery to guard the protesters against “terrorist infiltration.”
“There is always that possibility that the ranks of the protesters would be infiltrated,” he said.
Brawner cited the case of the Hacienda Luisita farmers whose protest action turned violent because armed New People’s Army rebels infiltrated it.
“Because of our experience, we have to take precautionary measures, and that include fielding plainclothes policemen and military officials,” he said.
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