Amor is a member of SMTH and a resident of Aroma Temporary Housing. She also filed a complaint with the CHR about the soldiers’ presence and activities in Brgy. 105.
“The soldiers told me ‘you can return to the fold of the law (magbalik-loob).’ I asked them, ‘why would I do that? ‘ I have done nothing wrong. I am not a criminal. They answered that the government will give you some incentives if I return to the fold of the law. Even if they give me something, why will I do that? It’s like I am guilty,” Amor shared this when they had dialogue with the 11th CMO at the CHR.
The soldiers deployed in the communities did not join the meeting.
An officer of the 11th CMO said he was not aware of any wrongdoing by their troops deployed in Metro Manila.
The soldiers on the ground echoed this statement.
“They told the residents here that we complained to the CHR about them even if they were not doing anything,” said Amor.
Amor recalled a time when the soldiers went around the community to tell residents that there were no complaints about their presence.
“That is only because the people don’t know what they are really doing here. The truth is that the soldiers threaten and intimidate the residents or use them to get what they want,” said Amor.
She recalled that in the first month of the soldiers’ arrival, they came to her building morning, day, and night.
The soldiers also offered her ‘ayuda’ as a way to start a conversation.
“One time, the soldiers came here and called me. I didn’t budge, so they approached me. They asked me what my medicines were. I told them I could buy my own, and I have other donors,” she shared.
The soldiers would also go to the building and talk to the residents every night at eight o’clock.
“One time they said they would build us a toilet. Sure, do it, I said. They brought someone at night to do measurements and estimate costs. Shouldn’t they do the estimates during the day?” she said.
The soldiers also told the residents they were in Tondo to search for a ‘wanted’ person who had returned from the mountains.
“We told them, if you’re looking for someone, post that person’s photo in each building so it will be easier to find that person. But the truth is that they were looking for Gabriela members. If they find out you are a member of Gabriela, they’ll visit you over and again until they can make you ‘return to the fold of the law’,” said Amor.
Amor was the former president of a Gabriela Women’s Partylist local chapter.
“When I watch TV and hear Gabriela members speak, they say what I think and what’s in my heart. I thought for a long time about how I could be part of that. I dreamt of joining Gabriela even before I became a member. I want to be able to voice my grievances,” she recalled.
Amor said SMTH members used to go to all the soldiers’ activities in their community. The soldiers asked SMTH members to join their activities. That is why she was surprised when she found out from her relatives that the soldiers were telling neighbors that she was a member of the NPA.
“My neighbors told me they were asking for me even at odd hours in the night. In all my years here, I have never experienced anything like that. So I was alarmed. I asked my group for help,” shared Amor.
After the meeting at the CHR, the soldiers did not visit her building for three weeks.
Amor said she found a bit of courage after the meeting, despite still being worried.
“When they finally came to our activity after the CHR meeting, one of the soldiers took out his phone. I told him to put his phone down and not take photos, so there’d be no trouble. He was flustered. He said he was not doing anything,” she recalled.
Following the dialogue at the CHR, the rights body released a statement on May 4 last year.
“The Commission recognizes the efforts of the task force to ensure peace, order, and security in the said community. However, ensuring collective good must not breach human rights, such as the rights to privacy and safety, which are guaranteed under the Constitution. Genuine work towards peace and security should enhance the safety and dignity of all individuals, regardless of socio-political affiliation, ideological belief, or sector, among others,” said a part of the statement.
The CHR has yet to release the results of its investigation into the complaints of those red-tagged and profiled by soldiers deployed in poor communities in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, the commission will hold a “Public Inquiry on Red-Tagging” on July 29 and 30.
Like Amor, Ma’am Fe felt the soldiers bothered her less after going to the CHR.
They seemed to have turned their attention elsewhere. Ma’am Fe said the soldiers began forming new groups in the community with former members of SMTH.
In December last year, the 12th CMO posted online that members of the group Alyansa ng mga Residente sa Katuparan (ARK) pledged their allegiance to the government and their support to the NTF-ELCAC.
“At first, the residents did not realize what they were being asked to do. They just knew if they needed to hold placards denouncing the CPP and NPA to get the relief goods that would be distributed that day,” said Ma’am Fe.
On February 24, the 12th CMO posted on their Facebook page that the Aroma para sa Kapayapaan, Kalusugan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran (A4K) pledged their allegiance to the government. The A4K is a new group that the soldiers formed during their deployment in Tondo. In the 12th CMO’s Facebook post, they identified A4K as the ‘former SMTH.’
However, SMTH’s activities continue under Ma’am Fe’s leadership.
