“WE stand by personnel who perform their duties professionally and lawfully, and we remain committed to constructive engagement with the local government.”
Pointedly dismissive on one hand, tactfully receptive on the other is the official statement of the Philippine Air Force in defense of the commander of the Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB) in Tarlac who has come under fire from the Sangguniang Bayan of Capas.
Lt. Col. Owen Avenido “in her capacity as the base commander, was only performing her lawful duty to protect” the facility and nearby communities. So declared PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco on July 28.
Avenido, commander of the PAF 790th Air Base Group at CERAB, was declared persona non grata (PNG) by the Capas SB via Municipal Resolution No. 112-2026 unanimously approved during its special session on July 27.
The resolution clarified that the PNG declaration “is adopted not out of hostility toward the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the PAF but out of the municipality’s continuing commitment to protect and preserve the dignity of local government, and uphold the principles of mutual respect, courtesy, accountability and cooperation among all public institutions.”
The dignity of the LGU sullied with Avenido allegedly twice rejecting requests of Mayor Roseller “Boots” Rodriguez for a dialogue over the simmering issues his constituents had been raising against the CERAB contingent, principally of its personnel imposing restrictions impacting on the day-to-day affairs of both “unat” and “kulot” communities in Barangays Sta. Juliana, O’Donnell, Maruglo, Buena, and Sta. Lucia, all within the 17,000-hectare military reservation.
Issues ultimately ventilated at the Capas session hall resulting to Avenido being declared persona non grata, to wit:
With military checkpoints, bringing into the communities basic necessities like rice, drinking water, groceries, and the like became an ordeal for the residents.
Before the SB, an Aeta resident articulated their situation verily bordering on violation of indigenous peoples’ rights: “If they say we have rights as IPs, why are we not allowed to bring construction materials into our community? What the military says is not reflected in what we experience. We want the freedom to improve our homes and to enter with our materials through an agreement that respects our rights.”
No red-tagging but allegations of PAF personnel reportedly referring to Aeta residents as “illegal settlers” smack of discrimination, if not outright racism.
The municipal social welfare and development office was deterred from its bound duty to conduct validation activities for IPs and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program as its personnel were denied entry.
Even assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the communities were not allowed. Barangay Maruglo chair Lota Guanla told the SB: “They asked us to move outside the checkpoint. We had to bring tables and chairs under a mango tree instead of using our barangay covered court. Residents had to receive their assistance outside under the heat.”
Personnel from the municipal civil registrar’s office were forced to cancel a scheduled late birth registration outreach for IPs after they were reportedly denied entry.
In like manner, the municipal agriculture office was prevented to distribute vegetable seedlings intended for IP communities when its personnel allegedly were barred from entering the reservation.
Tarlac Electric Cooperative II director Eliseo Rivera cited an instance when personnel were allegedly prevented from responding to a reported electrical emergency of a burning electric meter and an energized power line inside the reservation.
Mayor Rodriguez himself recalled being “put on hold for an unreasonable amount of time,” on his way to Barangay Sta. Juliana to officiate a wedding.
No relief
Calling for Avenido’s relief from her post, Capas SB asked PAF for the designation of a replacement “who will strengthen cooperation, mutual respect, constructive dialogue and partnership.”
Just as quick, spokesman Basco said there is no need at this time to relieve Avenido from her post, stressing that the service will review the allegations through established procedures and equally emphasizing PAF remains open to dialogue with local officials, but said “actions taken in good faith to secure military property should be viewed in the context of official duty.”
In the face of all the issues raised at the Capas session hall. Notwithstanding the PNG declaration against its commander, PAF maintained that the security protocols enforced at CERAB are “essential and standard procedures to safeguard military readiness, protect national defense infrastructure, and ensure public safety within the military reservation.”
Hence, Mayor Rodriguez’s quip during the session stands out all the more: “We are not happy with what’s going on.”
Standstill. An irresistible force impacting an immovable object to break the stalemate. In all appearances, for now.
Pax Silica
What can properly be discerned as an affront to local government dignity, curtailment of freedom of movement, and infringement of IP rights vis-à-vis draconian security protocols is fast impinging on the dilemma that is Pax Silica.
Already, there are Capas locals seeing the current PAF-Capas controversy as portentous of the AI phantom poised to take over their land, if not a security dry run, indeed, already the commencement of what, in Cold War parlance, is called “softening the ground.”
It does not take a conspiracy theorist to unravel this.
