Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has scuttled a plan to deploy government troops to prevent riots or disturbances over a water shortage in the capital.
“You only bring out troops, you know, to suppress” armed groups, Aquino said yesterday.
Many in the sprawling metropolis of about 12 million people have been left with limited supplies or no water at all this week after water levels at the Angat Dam, the main source for Manila, fell to a critically low point following a prolonged drought.
Although the situation was improving with the onset of the rainy season, Philippine Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson told reporters that the government had mobilized trucks and tankers to provide water to the worst-hit areas.
He said he asked the country’s defense secretary to lend troops to ensure orderly water distribution. The local media said in some cases people muscled into long lines at water pumps or scrambled to get to water tanks.
Military spokesman Brigadier General Jose Mabanta said earlier that about 2,000 soldiers will be deployed, but the president put a quash on that.
Aquino told reporters he had not been informed about the plan to use soldiers, and that police should be called out instead to deal with law and order issues.
“I talked to the parties concerned as to whose decision this was and I reminded them that they should consult with me before doing so,” he said. “There are certain members of the government that, shall we say, a little bit overreacted or were preparing for the worst case scenario.”
Activists blame the government for the recurring water problem, complaining that though the water sector was privatized in the 1990s, authorities have not pushed for better services.
“In spite of poor services by these water concessionaires, the consumers are subjected to ever increasing water rates,” said Giovanni Tapang of the activist group AGHAM.
In other news from Manila, Aquino said political connections would no longer be the route to promotion in the army, as he named Major-General Arturo Ortiz as the new head of ground forces.
Despite making several top military appointments, Aquino said he had ended political patronage as part of his government’s efforts to restore trust and confidence in the military.
He has replaced several generals who were closely identified with his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, notably General Delfin Bangit, who she made head of the 130,000-strong military in the final months of her term.
“The assumption of command of General Ortiz is a concrete step to show the end of political patronage in the army,” Aquino said during his fourth visit to an army base since taking office on June 30.
“He will be our partner in the reforms we will undertake in the army, including the modernisation of equipment, and make sure our people continue to trust our soldiers,” Aquino said.
Ortiz said he would uphold civilian supremacy and resist military intervention in politics.
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