790 upland folks flee villages, town’s dad rescues

By ALICE NICART (PIA Eastern Samar)
June 29, 2008

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar  –  More or less 790 persons ran for their lives to the General MacArthur poblacion this province last Monday, June 23 due to alleged military abuses within their upland  neighborhood which are reachable thru foot trails.

The affected persons were all coming from the seven barangays: Roxas, Alang-alang, San Isidro, Osmeña, Tandang Sora and Pinggan, all of this town and all sought for Mayor Jaime Ty’s refuge.

“Each had a sad story to tell”, Mayor Ty said in an interview.  “Here is this man who was picked up in the morning and was returned toward dusk after he was subjected to several interrogations,” he added.  “A mother of two young boys, claimed his children who were just peddling bananas in the neighborhood were accosted by a man in uniformed believed to be a soldier, only to be punched in the belly… this is not supposed to be happening to my people,” the mayor appeared emotional.  “Not only because I am their Mayor will I fight back if I need to, but also because just like any citizen, they are persons who deserve protection of their lives and properties,” he concluded.

However, asked about the veracity of the story, Col. Jonathan Ponce, Commander of 62nd Infantry Battalion has this to say.

“I don’t tolerate any abusive act of any of my men.  May I tell you that in my previous Basey assignment, I recommended four soldiers for dismissal for violation of the Code of Ethics, and because they had been proven guilty of the act, the four were dismissed.” Ponce said.

He also said that he might do the same thing if he will find out any wrong doing in any of his men.  He also clarified that the barangay being referred to where some abuses had been committed were not yet visited by the Army soldiers.