Anakbayan-UP Mindanao condemned the 11th Regional Community Defense Group (RCDG) for conducting war games inside the University of the Philippines (UP)-Mindanao campus yesterday, October 24. According to the group, six personnel of the 11th RCDG practiced military positions in front of the campus’ cultural complex.
The war games and the 11th RCDG’s mere presence on campus are clearly illegal and a blatant violation of the UP-DND Accord, according to the group. The accord prohibits the entry of military or police personnel into UP campuses without prior notice and permission from the administration, in order to protect the freedom and security of students and faculty.
The group also believes that this violates the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law of 1998, specifically Article 4(7), which aims to protect institutions such as schools from any attack or military operation. This also violates the Children’s Welfare Code of Davao City (1994) which prohibits the use of schools as military camps or bases.
“The photos clearly show the military personnel carrying firearms, which clearly violates the principles that safeguard the rights of students to study in a safe and peaceful environment,” the group stated.
Anakbayan-UPMin called on the campus administration to immediately expel the 11th RCDG from the campus. UP Mindanao students hold the current administration under Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao to its promise to remove the 11th RCDG from the campus. Led by Col. Josue Caberto, the military unit is based in Camp San Gabriel, Mintal Tugbok District, Davao City.
Anakbayan-UPMin reminded the students of the achievement of the previous council, led by former USC Chairperson Fauzhea Guiani, in forming a committee for the relocation of the 11th RCDG. “The Murao administration seems to have breached its promise as no concrete steps have been taken to remove the 11th RCDG until now,” the group added.
Anakbayan-UPMin demanded that the campus administration be true to its promises and not be subservient to the military. “These incidents of blatant military intervention and the 11th RCDG’s presence on campus are not just mere data and news, but require immediate action and resistance to fascism in our academic spaces,” the group emphasized.
The military unit is also reportedly the source and training for Duterte ally Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s private armed forces. The private armed force is accused of killing those who oppose Quiboloy and using force to grab land.”