AMID protests from militant groups, the Commission on Elections yesterday said it will not order the Armed Forces to pull out at least 240 soldiers deployed in urban communities since November.

Chairman Benjamin Abalos said the poll body cannot interfere in the deployment which he said is a military activity.

Abalos said he has been informed by Maj. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, chief of the National Capital Region Command which deployed the troops, that the military presence in several urban poor communities in Metro Manila is part of the soldiers’ training, particularly barangay immersion activities.

Abalos has previously said the poll body can interfere in cases that involve the elections but not in "purely military" activities.

The military has said the deployment is part of the soldiers’ training preparatory to peacekeeping assignments abroad. The training involves medical and dental missions, "limited engineering works" and cleanliness drives.

Abalos, asked how long the military’s presence will be allowed, said, "as long as they are needed."

Last week, several party list groups such as Bayan Muna, Gabriella, and Anakpawis filed complaints saying the deployed soldiers were engaging in political activities. They alleged that the soldiers, who were in full battle uniform, were telling residents not to vote for party-list groups associated with the Left.

This prompted Abalos to seek an explanation from the Armed Forces.

Abalos defended the military presence, saying the streets are safer with them around.

Abalos said he does not see any problem with the presence of military personnel as long as they are there to protect the people from crimes and acts of terrorism.

"Aren’t you happy they are here? I mean… it is much safer these days… Compared to other countries, I think we are much safer because terrorism in the Philippines is controlled. Not like before during the LRT bombing and others… We should really commend our law enforcement people," he said.

"Why should we stop the military (in their operations) after their intelligence reports showed that there is possible presence of terrorists in these areas," Abalos also said.

Defense Undersecretary Ernesto Carolina said he sees no reason to pull out the soldiers.

He said the soldiers "are doing the right thing."

"The training is effective. They have been there since last year. They have been there even before the election period," he said.

Militant organizations are saying the soldiers have gone as far as campaigning for administration candidates.

"If you are going to listen to all the barks of the dogs, you will never reach your destination," said Carolina, quoting former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, who handled the defense portfolio during the Estrada government.

On the reported order of Malacañang to pull out the soldiers from the 27 Metro Manila barangays, Carolina said: "None that I know of. In the first place, they do not meddle in the deployment of forces. That’s the call of the military commander."

Carolina said the deployment is in line with Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.’s "defense for development program" which calls for touching base with the people.

"We are seeing that CMO (civil military operations) is a defense for development approach, meaning more on the soft approach rather than the hard approach, soldiers joining hand in hand with local leaders," Carolina said.

Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, chief of the AFP public information office, said the deployed soldiers have been ordered to wear the general office attire (GOA), instead of their battle dress or camouflage uniform, "because there are many questions why the soldiers are in camouflage uniform."

Dolorfino said he ordered the soldiers to change to office attire "because we don’t want them (soldiers) to be looking too mean." Referring to leftist groups, he added: "They are reacting (to the deployment)."

"It’s (soldiers going on office attire) one of the modifications that we are making so that the people would not be scared when we patrol the streets," Dolorfino also said.

He added the some of the soldiers would remain armed with handguns. – Gerard Anthony Naval and Victor Reyes