PACUTE isn't cute

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Military men have been found roaming in the depressed areas and select schools of Metro Manila, in areas that communist groups have traditionally found to be rich fishing grounds in their recruitment activities. They are reported to be engaged in a campaign against communism and the groups that are suspected to be affiliated with communism, trying to win the people to their side as they engage in a head-to-head propaganda war with the communist groups in the fight for hearts and minds of the urban poor and the highly impressionable student population.

At first glance, this operation which is cutely called PACUTE or Philippine Army Community, Unity, Teamwork Enhancement, an operation aimed at developing soldier's skills on civil-military operations under the AFP's Community Development training programs, could be seen as a creative solution in the fight against insurgency. What leaves a bad taste in the mouth is the fact that this is an election year and by doing this, the military is allowing itself to be politicized yet again.

This is bolstered by reports that the soldiers have been actively campaigning against certain party list groups who they allege to have communist roots or leanings, groups who currently have candidates running for the House of Representatives under the Party List system, candidates whose love (or lack thereof) for the sitting administration is public knowledge.

One of the reforms that the last Civilian head of the DND fought for was an MOA between the defense department and the COMELEC committing to keep the military out of poll duties and partisan political activities during the election season. PACUTE violates this agreement the minute soldiers are sent out and start saying things about any political group, no matter how true those things may be. The fight against insurgency cannot be made an excuse to violate this agreement. While the people of the Philippines support the fight against the age-old insurgency problem, we cannot find any reason to condone this questionable practice by the AFP.*