Cecilia Diocson
Chairperson, National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada

Response to “Guns for hire in the Philippines,” Vancouver Sun, pg. A5, Nov. 14, 2005

November 17, 2005

I find your article highly offensive, particularly
considering the recent gang rape of a 22-year old
Filipina in Subic Bay, Philippines by five US Marines
last Nov. 1, 2005.

Writer Pugliese does not analyze the historical
reasons why foreign troops and private mercenaries are
in the Philippines. As the writer admits, Mindanao
island, “is home to much of the Philippines’ mineral
wealth and produces most of the nation’s food.”
Foreign soldiers are there to protect the interests of
multinational corporations at the expense of the
Filipino people. Increasing militarization in the
countryside in the name of “war on terror” has
resulted in vast numbers of human rights abuses.

I also take offense to the lumping of the New People’s
Army along with, “a variety of guerilla groups and
bandits” like the Abu Sayyaf. The 2005 Philippine
Human Development Report (PHDR 2005) commissioned by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) refutes the categorizing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and New People’s Army as terrorist organizations. The report stated: “In fairness to the CPP-NPA, it has not engaged in terrorism or acts of terrorism by deliberately targeting civilians.”

Sensationalizing the work of Canadian mercenaries in
the Philippines does nothing to help solve the roots
causes of war in the Philippines, namely widespread
poverty.

Cecilia Diocson
Chairperson, National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada