MILITARIZATION IN METRO MANILA

HUNGER TERRORIZED. Residents from urban poor communities in Tondo are calling out for food, jobs, and education, instead of military deployment. In full battle gear, soldiers go house to house especially during the night, practically enforcing curfew. The Armed Forces of the Philippines says that the presence of heavily armed soldiers in Metro Manila is part of the government's counter-insurgency program because communist rebels have allegedly infiltrated the cities. But residents say that the deployment is election-related, with the military demonizing and looking for members and leaders of progressive party-lists. For many of the urban poor, progressive party-lists such as Bayan Muna, Gabriela, and Anakpawis help fight demolition and assist in livelihood projects.