Camp Evangelista Explained

Camp Evangelista
Location:Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
Type:Military base
Controlledby:Philippine Army
Coordinates:8.4891°N 124.6232°W
Pushpin Map:Mindanao#Philippines
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Mindanao
Pushpin Label:Camp Evangelista
Pushpin Relief:1
Garrison:4th Infantry Division
Battles:World War II
1990 Mindanao crisis
Moro conflict

Camp Edilberto Evangelista is a military installation of the Philippine Army in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.

Background

Camp Edilberto Evangelista is a military base of the Philippine Army, and houses the 4th Infantry Division. It is situated in Barangay Patag in Cagayan de Oro and with an area of 129ha is the largest military camp in Mindanao. Its scope includes Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.[1] [2] The camp hosts the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital.[3] The camp is named after Manila-native and civil engineer Edilberto Evangelista.[1] [2]

Establishment

The land where Camp Evangelista stands would be reserved for use of the Philippine Army way back on March 31, 1938, when President Manuel L. Quezon through Proclamation No. 265.[4] [5] The camp was initially referred to as Camp Bulua and adopted its current name in 1940.[6]

During the Marcos dictatorship

See also: Human rights abuses of the Marcos dictatorship.

During the Marcos dictatorship, Camp Evangelista was designated as one of the four provincial camps to become a Regional Command for Detainees (RECAD). It was designated RECAD IV, housing prisoners from throughout Mindanao.[7]

Amnesty International, which documented human rights violations cases and the situation of political detainees during the time, called particular attention to the case of Pastor Romeo O. Buenavidez, a United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) minister, who was beaten up in various safehouses in August 1981 and then brought to Camp Evangelista where he was forced to sign a waiver indicating he had been "well treated" during his "questioning." Results of later medical examinations showed medical findings matching the beatings he described. A case was filed against the officer and soldiers involved but there had been no updates by the time Amnesty International filed its report.[8]

1990 Mindanao crisis

Camp Evangelista was seized by Col. Alexander Noble, a mutineer, during the 1990 Mindanao crisis.[9]

Recent history

In the 2017 Marawi siege, the camp would serve as a hub for munitions and equipment sourced from Manila.[3]

On July 12, 2022, a fire and explosion hit the ammunition depot at the camp injuring three civilians[10] The incident renewed calls to move the camp.[3]

2023 shooting

On February 11, 2023, a mass shooting occurred inside Camp Evangelista. Five people died in the incident, including the perpetrator, Private Johmar Villabito. One other was injured. The shooting occurred at around 1:10 am (UTC+8) at the barracks of the 4th Infantry Division's (4ID) Service Support Battalion (SSBn) in Camp Edilberto Evangelista.[11] Villabito, using his own government-issued M16A2, opened fire on his fellow soldiers. He engaged with two other personnel in a gunfight, and one of the two killed Villabito in an act of self defense.[12] [13] [14] The victims held the rank of sergeant, corporal, private first class, and private.[15]

Philippine Army chief Romeo Brawner Jr. had visited the camp earlier in the month expressing concern on the rising incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among soldiers. The Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police opened a joint investigation to figure the motive of the shooter. The 4ID also conducted its own internal investigation.[16] The Army also is looking into possible deficiencies in its recruitment and training process to avoid a similar incident in the future.[17]

Notes and References

  1. News: Renaming of 4ID camp pushed . 24 February 2023 . BusinessWeek Mindanao . 26 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120502170243/https://businessweekmindanao.com/2011/07/26/renaming-of-4id-camp-pushed-2/ . 2 May 2012.
  2. News: Renaming of military camp proposed . 24 February 2023 . SunStar Cagayan de Oro . 8 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110907010714/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2011/06/08/renaming-military-camp-proposed-160028. 7 September 2011.
  3. News: Gallardo . Froilan . Councilor urges transfer of 4th Infantry Division . 24 February 2023 . MindaNews . 15 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Proclamation No. 265, s. 1938 . Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines . 24 February 2023.
  5. Web site: G.R. No. 182913 - Republic Of The Philippines vs. Antonio, Feliza, et al. . The LawPhil Project . Supreme Court of the Philippines - Third Division . 24 February 2023.
  6. News: Banos . Rene Michael . Maj. Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan, 1st Camp Commander of the ‘Kampo’ . 24 February 2023 . Cagayan de Oro Times . 10 May 2021.
  7. News: de Villa . Kathleen . September 22, 2018 . Remnants of a dark era . en . October 19, 2022.
  8. Web site: Report of an Amnesty International Mission to the Republic of the Philippines 11-28 November 1981 .
  9. News: Branigin . William . Mutineers Surrender In The Philippines . 24 February 2023 . Washington Post . 6 October 1990.
  10. News: Fire hits ammunition depot at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro . 24 February 2023 . GMA News . 12 July 2022 . en.
  11. News: Lagsa . Bobby . 5 soldiers killed in camp shooting . 12 February 2023 . Manila Standard . 12 February 2023.
  12. News: Gallardo . Froilan . Soldier runs amok in CDO barracks, kills four and is killed, too . 12 February 2023 . MindaNews . 11 February 2023.
  13. News: Sablad . Jo Ann . 5 dead, 1 wounded in shooting incident in Camp Evangelista . 12 February 2023 . Sunstar . 11 February 2023 . en.
  14. News: Unson . John . Relativo . James . 5 soldiers dead after 'mass shooting' in Cagayan de Oro military camp . 12 February 2023 . The Philippine Star.
  15. News: Sadongdong . Martin . 11 February 2023 . Soldier runs amuck at barracks in Cagayan de Oro camp, 5 dead . 12 February 2023 . Manila Bulletin.
  16. News: Echeminada . Perseus . 11 February 2023 . Shooting rampage kills 5 soldiers inside army camp . Daily Tribune . 12 February 2023.
  17. News: Ombay . Gisselle . February 12, 2023 . Philippine Army to look into gaps in recruitment, training process after Camp Evangelista shooting . en . GMA News . 12 February 2023.