Soldiers in Barangay Ermita: Not just to protect, but to win hearts – Osmeña

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from cleaning up the barangay of illegal drug trade, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel deployed in Barangay Ermita will also assist the Cebu City government in strengthening its medical assistance program and to “win the hearts” of residents, said Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“Their job is not strictly policing but just giving an assurance that the people there will be safe, they are not there to run people, they are there to protect the people and they will be part of the program that the soldiers will help facilitating the distribution of daily medication to the residents since they are there already, they will also be trained to win the hearts and souls of the residents,” Osmeña told reporters yesterday.

Yesterday was the first day of the AFP personnel’s deployment to the barangay. They will be stationed there for not more than six months along with agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) - 7.

The eight AFP personnel will work hand in hand with the assigned PDEA- 7 agents who are at the forefront of the anti-illegal drug campaign after the Philippine National Police suspended its anti-illegal drug operations.

The AFP and PDEA personnel will also be working with Senior Police Office 1 Adonis Dumpit who was earlier tasked to work with lawyer Winefredo Orcullo, City Market Administrator and current caretaker of Barangay Ermita.

Osmeña then said suspended Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta doesn’t have the good intention to clean the barangay of illegal drugs.

“He doesn’t have noble intention as far as I am concerned and he is not sincere. The reason why he is suspended, apparently, it boils down to the drug situation in Ermita,” he said.

This was after Rupinta asked the mayor last Sunday to not deploy AFP personnel to avoid misconception among residents as these personnel carry long firearms.

“His recommendation to not deploy AFP is counterproductive to our thrust because these policemen are not allowed to make drug arrests because of this abnormal order from Manila; it’s the PDEA now who are in charge in anti-illegal drug campaigns,” Osmeña added.

Meanwhile, Osmeña set aside P1 million from his intelligence fund to provide for the needs of AFP personnel and PDEA agents deployed in Ermita.

PDEA-7 Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz said he welcomed the development.

"That is a very welcome move, it will surely help on the anti-drug campaign sa PDEA kay aside from limited atong manpower, limited pud ang atong resources so mas matabangan ta. So ang atong resources mas ma-focus nato sa high valued targets," he said last Sunday. (FREEMAN)