![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/by-sinag-staff.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe persistent struggle of local colleges and universities against campus militarization is in no way detached from the masses\u2019 fight against police and military intervention. For the longest time, the clamor of schools has always transcended the corners and walls of campuses; from defending academic freedom to demanding accountability to ousting the tyrant Duterte, the ultimate goal has always been genuine change and inclusive development at a societal level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The unilateral abrogation of the UP-DND Accord and the intensifying campus militarization in UP provides a dangerous precedent for the \u201cwhole-of-the-nation\u201d militarization of the country. With the Duterte regime\u2019s tired maneuvers to prove its\u201cNPA breeding ground\u201d point, it attempts to save face amidst a deluge of controversies and blunders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FRIENDS OF THE PEOPLE?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana wrote in a letter addressed to UP President Danilo Concepcion that the UP – DND Accord was considered a hindrance in \u201cproviding effective security, safety, and welfare of the students, faculty, and employees of U.P.\u201d He also added: \u201cWe want them to see their armed forces and police as protectors worthy of trust, not fear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right after the Accord\u2019s termination, armed and uniformed military personnel were sighted immediately inside the UP Diliman campus, allegedly visiting their \u201curban gardening project.\u201d The military\u2019s unwarranted presence drew the ire not only of the students, but also UP professors, alumni, workers, and residents of Barangay U.P. Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Maj. General Edgard Arevalo quickly defended the military\u2019s antics, saying \u201cthis is proof that the armed forces is not an enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately for Arevalo, these \u201cfor-show\u201d projects could never heal the tarnished image of the police and military as protectors of the elite. Persistent state attacks against the masses have created immense distrust and disgust against these \u201crotten-to-the-core\u201d institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, state forces have been busy cultivating their online presence to target critical media outlets. SINAG, the official student publication of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy of UP Diliman, had to begin anew on Facebook after its page suffered from sustained attacks from paid online trolls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And here are three main reasons why the police and military came to exist as such:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. LONG LIST OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracing the reasons why and how the UP-DND accord materialized supports the point that state attacks have persisted since time immemorial. According to UP Journalism Professor Danilo Arao, the UP-DND Accord was signed due to an abduction incident inside UP premises. Last June 16, 1989, Philippine Collegian writer Donato Continente was abducted by state forces and was eventually tortured and forced to confess to the killing of Col. James Rowe. Fourteen days since the incident, the UP-DND Accord was signed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To this day, cases of state-led attacks continue to increase. Human rights defenders along with the masses are consigned to terrorist attacks carried out by the police and the military. Dissent and the legitimate airing of concerns are equated to rebellion and terrorism. Human rights violations are defended as \u201clegitimate\u201d operations. Counter-insurgency is utilized to pave the entry of multinational corporations into the lands of peasants and National Minorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such was the case for the unarmed Tumandoks who perished at the hands of state elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On December 30, 2020, nine (9) Tumandoks were brutally killed by joint forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Among those killed were respected leaders of the various Tumandok communities in Panay, such as village councilor and former village captain Roy Giganto and village councilor Reynaldo Katipunan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sixteen (16) Tumandoks were also arrested in the same operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Tumandok massacre is now incuded in the long list of massacres under the Duterte regime. Five (5) unarmed mango farm workers were gunned down by the PNP-CIDG last December 17, 2020 (Baras 5 Massacre); fourteen (14) farmers were killed by state forces in Negros Oriental on March 30, 2019 (Negros Oriental 14 Massacre); and six (6) farmers were murdered by police operations in Guihulungan, Negros Oriental way back in March 30, 2019 (Guihulngan Massacre).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. TO SERVE AND PROTECT THE ELITE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The PNP and AFP are perpetual slaves to the self-serving interests of a State utterly dominated by landlords, corrupt politicians, and capitalists. To consolidate economic and political power, the police and military act as agents of the preservation of the status quo \u2014 elite dominance and abuse of the masses \u2014 through violence and force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The movement for national democracy is only growing stronger. As price hikes, salary decreases, and other free-market schemes were being implemented, workers, peasants, national minorities, women, and the rest of the masses have united, organized, and mobilized to condemn anti-people policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Workers launched picket lines to demand for better working conditions and just wages. Farmers launched \u201cbungkalans\u201d to assert their right to land. And for the other sectors, rallies amplified the calls of the oppressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In such instances, which side do the police and military take? Do they side with the exploited masses or the exploitative capitalists?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the motto of the PNP is to \u201cserve and protect\u201d the Filipino people, why is it that they are always stationed right in front of any stronghold of the abusive government, holding riot shields and batons, ready to defend to death their capitalist bosses during protests or mobilizations? If the motto of the AFP is \u201csecuring the people, securing the land,\u201d why is it that they kill the very people who struggle for genuine freedom and national democracy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the longest time, this rotten tradition of state forces continues to be taken advantage of by politicians, especially the President, to advance political pursuits. As the Commander-in-Chief, the police and the military have always been indebted to serve the President\u2019s interests. Similar to local warlords who possess private goons for power, the President has a \u201cprivate\u201d army which they strive to satisfy, with the goal of increasing their level of indebtedness to the Presidency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A clear example is the Duterte regime\u2019s shtick to endow retired military generals with civilian positions and the prevalence of the \u201crevolving door\u201d policy, which, according to political scientist Dr. Aries Arugay, refers to the quick transition of key police and military positions to serve the interests of top officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. COLONIAL CHARACTER; DIVIDE AND CONQUER<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final reason why the police and military are abhorred is due to their colonial character. Throughout the country\u2019s history, all colonizers made use of the \u201cdivide and conquer\u201d strategy to usurp the country. Locals were commissioned by foreign invaders to wage a war against their fellow Filipinos and ensure the supremacy of imperialists. A glaring example is seen in the formation and subsequent use of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) to extinguish the remaining forces of Emilio Aguinaldo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under American occupation, the Philippine military fell to the guidance of the military of the United States of America (USA) which greatly influenced its strategies and operations. During the postwar era, US dominance was still felt after the country agreed to dubious military deals such as the US-RP Military Bases Agreement, Mutual Defense Treaty, and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) even if the Filipino people were put to a great disadvantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sphere of US military control spills over as well to the internal orientation of the Philippine military. Given the US\u2019 aim to preserve capitalism and its dominance over satellite countries, the local military is guided by Uncle Sam\u2019s goal to crush a just and humane economic system for the world. Since then, the \u201cnational liberation\u201d principle of the military has been inherently distorted towards \u201cfreedom\u201d achieved via cahoots with imperialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To this day, divide and conquer is a pervading reality in Philippine society. State forces continue to target the national democratic forces whose principle lies in dismantling the three ills of Philippine society \u2014 imperialism, bureaucrat-capitalism, and feudalism \u2014 and fight for true freedom and democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PEOPLE\u2019S ARMY<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With murderers, elite slaves, and imperial puppets at the helm of \u201cprotecting\u201d the masses, the Filipino people are always in danger of harm and fighting one another for scraps. And without people to valiantly protect them, the masses may eventually take up arms to not only defend themselves but also wrest political power. Thus, revolutionaries, along with the masses, created the New People\u2019s Army (NPA) to demand genuine change in society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Armed struggle is a necessary instrument for the unheard to make their voices heard; it is a legitimate undertaking of the oppressed to fight for a society that is just and humane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The protracted people\u2019s war waged in the Philippine countryside is no different from the battles led by Andres Bonifacio and Filipino revolutionaries. Similar to the present national-democratic movement, they had the goal of national liberation for the country from the shackles of imperialist control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ever since the Philippines was granted faux post-war independence, the countryside revolution has always been part of our nation\u2019s history. It is a no-brainer and a given notion that abusive conditions force the masses to take up arms and wage a revolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, the point of inquiry must not stagnate on the questions of who, what, when, and how? The inquiry must focus on the why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why did they take up arms? Why did they choose the road less traveled? Why did they sacrifice everything for their lives?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is high time to know the real picture and legitimacy of the insurgency \u2014 they are not terrorists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The featured image is from Philippine Star<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [FROM THE ARCHIVE] The persistent struggle of local colleges and universities against campus militarization is in no way detached from the masses\u2019 fight against police and military intervention. For the longest time, the clamor of schools has always transcended the corners and walls of campuses; from defending academic freedom to demanding accountability to ousting the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":6043,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[122],"class_list":["post-6039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/us-embassy-arrest_2023-04-11_10-51-29-1.jpeg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4201,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/03\/29\/reds-wish-dutertes-last-birthday-outside-prison-cell\/","url_meta":{"origin":6039,"position":0},"title":"Reds wish Duterte’s “last birthday outside prison cell”","author":"Staff","date":"29 March 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"President Rodrigo Duterte celebrated his 77th birthday yesterday with a message from the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP): to enjoy his birthday as this might be his last outside of a prison cell.\u00a0 CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena stated Duterte only has a few months left in his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-13-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-13-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-13-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-13-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-13-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sinag-web-banner-13-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1417,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/06\/20\/military-kills-three-farmers-in-masbate-to-avenge-absalons-death-from-npa-blast\/","url_meta":{"origin":6039,"position":1},"title":"Military kills three farmers in Masbate to “avenge” Absalons’ death from NPA blast","author":"emdeborja","date":"20 June 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-Bicol spokesperson Ma. Roja Banua denied that an encounter between NPA and Army soldiers happened during the wee hours of June 8 in Sitio Porang, Brgy. Anas, Masbate City.\u00a0 Military forces killed three farmers in Masbate and accused them of being members of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/lopj-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/lopj-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/lopj-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/lopj-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/lopj-1.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/lopj-1.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5763,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2023\/01\/24\/anti-student-anti-youth-bato-is-afraid-of-being-exposed-nusp\/","url_meta":{"origin":6039,"position":2},"title":"\u201cAnti-student, anti-youth Bato is afraid of being exposed\u201d \u2013 NUSP","author":"Staff","date":"24 January 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The National Union of Students of the Philippines condemned the lack of youth representation in the discussions on the Mandatory ROTC bill being railroaded in the Senate, saying Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, head of the subcommittee handling the bill is \u201csimply afraid of being exposed\u2013again\u2013as anti-student and anti-youth as he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/news\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/screen-shot-2017-09-05-at-1.18.51-pm-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/screen-shot-2017-09-05-at-1.18.51-pm-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/screen-shot-2017-09-05-at-1.18.51-pm-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1213,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2021\/05\/15\/kailan-naging-mali-ang-mag-aral-lumad-student\/","url_meta":{"origin":6039,"position":3},"title":"‘Kailan naging mali ang mag-aral?’ \u2014 Lumad student","author":"emdeborja","date":"15 May 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Jomar Benag says they are not criminals, but the Duterte regime, through the military, is hell-bent on prosecuting and persecuting them anyway. After Tagum City prosecutors dropped the fabricated charges against the Lumad students, volunteer teachers, and elders collectively known as \"Bakwit School 7\", Jomar Benag, decried the harrowing experiences\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quick Pops"","block_context":{"text":"Quick Pops","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/quick-pops\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/xs-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/xs-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/xs-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/xs-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/xs-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/xs-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3532,"url":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/2022\/01\/24\/false-nationalism-kpls-raoul-manuel-on-mandatory-military-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":6039,"position":4},"title":"\u2018False Nationalism\u2019: KPL\u2019s Raoul Manuel on mandatory military service","author":"Staff","date":"24 January 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"In this time of pandemic, Manuel stresses that government efforts should center on healthcare, livelihood, and public services instead of militarization programs. 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As a community joining the broad ranks of the masses, this should be our noble contribution to \u201cweeks where a decade happens.\u201d To defend UP is to launch many offensives against the Duterte regime. The unilateral abrogation of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/category\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/klop-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/klop-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/klop-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/klop-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/klop-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/klop-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":122,"user_id":9,"is_guest":0,"slug":"csspsinag","display_name":"Staff","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/194807626fee183640d3de57e788ba7c8c0d40bd86bfc1237bed56bcd3832c1b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6039"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6039\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6039"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sinag.press\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=6039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}