Vendors to challenge MMDA-AFP ‘alliance’ before CHR

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/64375/news/nation/vendors-to-challenge-mmda-afp-alliance-before-chr

Vendors to challenge MMDA-AFP ‘alliance’ before CHR

October 14, 2007 8:14pm

Vendors’ groups in Metro Manila will question before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) a plan to tap 15,000 soldiers to clear Metro Manila of vendors and squatters.

Radio DZBB reported Sunday that the Metro Manila Vendors Alliance branded as terrorism the plan of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s cleanup plan.

Sanlakas information officer Don Pangan said taking part in clearing operations is not part of the socio-civic activities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He also said past “encounters" with the MMDA alone had resulted in human rights violations when authorities dispersed vendors who tried to resist the clearing operations.

Pangan added the “real intention" of the MMDA in tapping the soldiers is to intimidate vendors into leaving their territories.

Earlier, the MMDA unveiled plans to tap some 15,000 soldiers to help clean the metropolis of illegal vendors, illegally parked cars and squatters.

Radio DZBB reported Sunday that the MMDA will get the soldiers from the National Capital Region command under Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa.

MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando said he expects the soldiers to help in cleaning up rivers and clearing riverbank areas of squatters.

Fernando, who attended the soldiers’ disaster preparedness exercise in Camp Aguinaldo, said he also expects the soldiers to do these as part of their civil-military operations.

The military earlier deployed soldiers to various parts of Metro Manila to conduct socio-civic activities. Militant groups claimed this was part of efforts to spy on and harass them. - GMANews.TV