Army poised to demolish 200 houses inside
“Military Reservation Area”
The Philippine Army is giving the so called “illegal settlers,” of the 36.6 hectares “Military Reservation Area” inside Bancasi Army Camp until August 31, this year to voluntarily dismantle their structures or face demolition.
Lt. Col. Efrain S. Oropel, the camp commander sternly warned during a press conference held at the Public Information Agency 13 Office yesterday.
Lt. Col. Oropel came to the press forum accompanied by Major Eduardo T. Abaño, chief Division of Real Estate, 4ID PA, based at Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City and Capt. (Atty.) Aldrich M. Uayan of the Judge Advocate General Office (JAGO).
Oropel pointed out that the scheduled demolition had been long overdue and that the residents had already stretched the time extension for its non-implementation. He said that the basis for the declaration of some 48.6 hectares of “Military Reservation Area,” was the Presidential Decree 113 of then President Manuel L. Quezon sometimes in April, 1936. “Only another Presidential Decree can alter the existing law declaring the area as such, and as long as there will be none, plus the command from our higher headquarters to implement such an order, we are bound to obey,” Oropel said.
He said that of the 48.6 hectares, 12 hectares had been donated to the Air Transportation Office (ATO) thus making the area under the so called military reservation area to only 36.6 hectares.
He pointed out that the wisdom of the law was such that any military camp entails a risk on the part of the civilians as it is always considered a military target by the enemy in any case of an attack. Furthermore, the area has been reserved for military use and some planned projects and development cannot be implemented as long as the area will not be cleared of its settlers. The problem started, according to him, when some previous commanders had accomodated some settlers “on mere tolerance,” for humanitarian reasons. He even learned, according to him, that sometime, a memorandum of agreement had been signed where the settlers and the side of the army agreed for the settlers to stay, as long as their structures will be made of light and temporary materials. This is so that when the time to clear the area comes, it will not be hard for the settlers to just dismantle their own structures, Oropel said.
What turned out, as it can be seen today is that most of the structures were already made of permanent materials such as hard woods, steels and concrete. Reports had even been circulating that some residents are now processing the place where they are for ownership, he said.
He said that he hoped that the settlers will eventually volunteer to dismantle their houses and the Philippine Army will even offer the transport of their materials and things free of charge to the places where they want to resettle.
Meanwhile, Capt. Aldrich Uayan said that he just hoped no associations or any non-governmental organizations may oppose or intervene when the army will start to implement the demolition order from their higher headquarters against the “illegal settlers.” If they will resist and it will result into commotion, we can opt to file a case of “resisting lawful order” against them. And if there will be injuries or loss of lives, we can file “Physical Injuries,” or even “Homicide,” as the case may be against the perpetrators.
He said that the extension of eight months is too much and the settlers should be thankful to the army for allowing them the years of stay in their areas just for free.
“I just hope everything will just turn out peacfully,” he said.
Lt. Col. Efrain S. Oropel, the camp commander sternly warned during a press conference held at the Public Information Agency 13 Office yesterday.
Lt. Col. Oropel came to the press forum accompanied by Major Eduardo T. Abaño, chief Division of Real Estate, 4ID PA, based at Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City and Capt. (Atty.) Aldrich M. Uayan of the Judge Advocate General Office (JAGO).
Oropel pointed out that the scheduled demolition had been long overdue and that the residents had already stretched the time extension for its non-implementation. He said that the basis for the declaration of some 48.6 hectares of “Military Reservation Area,” was the Presidential Decree 113 of then President Manuel L. Quezon sometimes in April, 1936. “Only another Presidential Decree can alter the existing law declaring the area as such, and as long as there will be none, plus the command from our higher headquarters to implement such an order, we are bound to obey,” Oropel said.
He said that of the 48.6 hectares, 12 hectares had been donated to the Air Transportation Office (ATO) thus making the area under the so called military reservation area to only 36.6 hectares.
He pointed out that the wisdom of the law was such that any military camp entails a risk on the part of the civilians as it is always considered a military target by the enemy in any case of an attack. Furthermore, the area has been reserved for military use and some planned projects and development cannot be implemented as long as the area will not be cleared of its settlers. The problem started, according to him, when some previous commanders had accomodated some settlers “on mere tolerance,” for humanitarian reasons. He even learned, according to him, that sometime, a memorandum of agreement had been signed where the settlers and the side of the army agreed for the settlers to stay, as long as their structures will be made of light and temporary materials. This is so that when the time to clear the area comes, it will not be hard for the settlers to just dismantle their own structures, Oropel said.
What turned out, as it can be seen today is that most of the structures were already made of permanent materials such as hard woods, steels and concrete. Reports had even been circulating that some residents are now processing the place where they are for ownership, he said.
He said that he hoped that the settlers will eventually volunteer to dismantle their houses and the Philippine Army will even offer the transport of their materials and things free of charge to the places where they want to resettle.
Meanwhile, Capt. Aldrich Uayan said that he just hoped no associations or any non-governmental organizations may oppose or intervene when the army will start to implement the demolition order from their higher headquarters against the “illegal settlers.” If they will resist and it will result into commotion, we can opt to file a case of “resisting lawful order” against them. And if there will be injuries or loss of lives, we can file “Physical Injuries,” or even “Homicide,” as the case may be against the perpetrators.
He said that the extension of eight months is too much and the settlers should be thankful to the army for allowing them the years of stay in their areas just for free.
“I just hope everything will just turn out peacfully,” he said.
(Herne N. Bagaslao/Correspondent)
JULY 15 - 21, 2009 VOLUME 1 NO 10 BUTUAN CITY PHILIPPINES
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