Philippines brings war against communists to cities

MANILA, Mar 7 (Reuters) Since before Christmas last year, Philippine army Lieutenant Richard Lito has been leading a team of nine soldiers on patrols down narrow alleys in one of Manila's most crowded slums.

Eight other teams of troops are also in the area, patrolling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

News of the patrols have made headlines in recent weeks, stoking memories of strongman President Ferdinand Marcos who imposed martial law from 1972 to 1981. Marcos was ousted in 1986.

Critics say the presence of soldiers ahead of congressional elections in May is aimed at frightening off left-wing activists from areas where they would find considerable support.

They said an anti-terror law, signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday, would help authorities clamp down on opposition political activities.

''The building blocks of martial law are here,'' Renato Reyes, secretary-general of left-wing umbrella group Bayan, said in a statement.

''Widespread political killings, the militarization of Metro Manila, and now a law that can violate people's right to privacy, movement, security of person and political affiliation.'' Senior army officials said the deployment was not election-related but to help check infiltration of communist rebels.

''Stop connecting it to the elections,'' military spokesman Major-General Jose Angel Honrado told reporters. ''It's part of our job of protecting communities from rebels and other anti-government forces.'' SOCIAL INVESTIGATION Police said the presence of soldiers is not a problem and they are encouraging people to cooperate with the patrols.

Lito, the army lieutenant on patrol, said his role was clearly defined.

''We're doing our own social investigation to prepare us on how to deal with problems on street gang riots, drugs and petty crimes, like mobile phone snatching,'' he said, puffing on a cigarette.

''Our job is to help the local police and village officials maintain law and order and win the people's hearts and minds.'' Leonila Piamonte, a retail store owner, said the community had begun to accept the presence of soldiers in the neighbourhood although many could not understand the logic of uniformed men carrying rifles walking around.

''They have never bothered us,'' Piamonte said. ''They would like to drop by and start a friendly conversation with us because some of them come from the provinces where we grew up.'' But not all residents welcomed the presence of soldiers, and especially the questions they have asked about opposition to a government plan to relocate the shanties.

For 65-year-old Rosalina Domingo, the presence of armed men in camouflage fatigues evoked memories of the early days of martial law.

''We fear that those dark days might happen again,'' Domingo told Reuters.

''We only want to voice our concern over the government's plan to demolish our shanties and relocate us to communities outside Manila, away from our work and source of income. We're afraid of being labelled as 'enemies of the state'.'' Yuwen Abella, a third year psychology student and spokesman of left-wing student group Anakbayan, said most of the residents in the shanties feared the soldiers but were too scared to speak out.

''The presence of these soldiers has a chilling effect on the people, especially when they start asking people some questions about groups opposing the relocation of the slum community.'' Abella also accused the soldiers of violating election laws by campaigning against left-wing groups, telling the people not to entertain and not to vote for these organisations.

But Lito, the lieutenant, said: ''We're not campaigning against them. We're not allowed to do that, but we're only helping people learn on how to discern the good from the evil.'' Reuters SY DB0955