MAZA decries recent harassments vs Partylist leaders, calls for pull-out of Military troops in NCR and other communities

Senatorial Candidate Rep. Liza Maza today denounced the recent spate of harassments and threats against leaders of progressive partylists and organizations in the National Capital Region as indicators of heightened militarization, especially of urban areas for the 2010 elections.

Cesar L. Dionido, Vice President of Bayan Muna-NCR, and Allan Monterde, Vice President, Samahan ng mga Mamayan ng BASECO, were allegedly harassed and threatened by elements of the 1st Community Development Company, Philippine Army (PA) and intelligence operatives f the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the first week of January this year in Manila.

“Their brazen intimidation of and threats against the two leaders violate their right to freely organize and participate in the electoral process. All talk of the AFP’s non-partisan role in the elections are once again proven wrong by these incidents of their partisan activities against progressives leaders and organizations,” Maza said.

Maza called for the pull-out of military personnel and elements in Metro Manila and communities nationwide, citing their role in the political harassment, abductions and killings during the last 2004 and 2007 elections.

Maza, together with militant partylist lawmakers, filed petitions in the Commission on Elections and Supreme Court in 2007 against the deployment of elements of the AFP in Metro Manila following incidents similar to Dionido and Monterde’s accounts. ###