Women's Group to 'Humiliate' US Troops
Published in Today
(February 25, 2000)
OLONGAPO CITY- Skimpily dressed women will loiter around this city to hunt American servicemen. But, nope, they're not the typical men-hunting hookers of the city's red light district.
They are women whirls-hungry men have to be wary of: former-prostitutes-trued-activists, who will be acting as secret marshals of some sort.
The men-hunting drive -- which specifically targets US participants to the ongoing Balikatan 2000 exercises -- is part of a women organization's campaign "to humiliate them for exploiting the Filipino women."
On Tuesday, US military authorities lifted the "R&R" restrictions imposed on Sunday on US servicemen, allowing them now to go bar-hopping in the city during war game breaks.
Pearlie Bulawan, coordinator for the women's Buklod Center, said the organization will deploy former bar workers and entertainers who will serve as "baits."
Buklod Center is an organization for the rehabilitation of former bar girls.
These former sex workers used to hunt American sailors for dollars; now they
are hunting these men for a cause, Bulawan said.
The "men-hunting expedition," according to Bulawan, is aimed at identifying
"women exploiters" and monitoring the activities of the American soldiers during
war game breaks. These activities will be documented, Bulawan said.
Exploiting Filipino women, Bulawan said, is the American soldiers' idea of "R&R."
"Our women will once again be exposed to health hazards such as the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, sexually transmitted diseases, physical harm and unwanted pregnancies," Bulawan said.
The Balikatan 2000 exercises, a component of the US-RP Visiting Forces Agreement, commenced Monday amid protests from,militant groups.
A local group, Nagkakaisang Biktima ng mga Kalamidad sa Zambales (Nabigkis), reported yesterday that the ongoing war games have displaced some 2,000 residents from their villages along the Zambales mountain range.
Derek Cabe of Nabigkis said Aetas in Botolan town villages have been forced out of their homes by members of the Army's 68th Infantry Batallion.
Cabe said the military has put up blockades in areas leading to the Aetas villages in Poong Bato, Magisgis, Palis, Villar and Cabanaum.
Cabe said the displaced Aetas were just starting a new, life in their villages after being evacuated from their homes as a result of the 1991 Pinatubo eruption.
The villages have thousands of hectares of farmland planted with banana, jackfruit and mango trees. The natives are also raising livestock here.
"But because of the VFA, they [Aetas] were once again forced out by the military, prompting them to return to the evacuation center," Cabe lamented.
Cabe appealed to the government to send relief goods to the displaced Aetas are now facing starvation. Capt. Joy Sanchez, head of the host Unit of visiting forces in Clark said there are no explosive war games in the areas.
T. Dimaano Jr. and J. Due
