Correspondence Reports:
American soldiers in Central Panay

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

The military has been focusing on Central Panay not only because the revolutionary movement has made advances in this area. Central Panay is likewise one of the possible places where American troops may be deployed under the framework of deepening and expanding US armed intervention in the country.

On March 5, 2003, a contingent of American soldiers arrived from Sulu allegedly to provide medical training to Filipino soldiers. Noticeably, there was not a single doctor with the contingent.

Central Panay is composed of 24 barrios in the towns of Tapaz and Jamindan, and comprises 12% of the territory of Capiz. It is where the 33,310- hectare ancestral lands of the Tumanduk tribe is located, and which the AFP has long been grabbing for use as a site for war games.

Also located in the area is Camp Macario Peralta, which aside from being the 3rd ID's headquarters, has become one of the biggest training grounds ever since Sangley Point in Cavite was converted to civilian use. It is here where soldiers conduct various training exercises and where weapons and bombs are tested.

Since 1994, the 3rd ID has been attempting to eject residents, calling them squatters. In December 1995, four persons, including two children, were wounded when a bomb that was being tested fell short of its target and hit a group of houses. In October 1994, the Balikatan series held an extension training exercise in the area joined by about 250 American soldiers with various kinds of warplanes and bombs.

22 March 2003
English Edition

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