Camp Evangelista

Coordinates: 8°29′20.7″N 124°37′23.4″E / 8.489083°N 124.623167°E / 8.489083; 124.623167
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Camp Evangelista
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
Camp Evangelista is located in Mindanao
Camp Evangelista
Camp Evangelista
Location in Mindanao
Camp Evangelista is located in Philippines
Camp Evangelista
Camp Evangelista
Camp Evangelista (Philippines)
Coordinates8°29′20.7″N 124°37′23.4″E / 8.489083°N 124.623167°E / 8.489083; 124.623167
TypeMilitary base
Site information
Owner Philippines
Controlled byPhilippine Army
Site history
Battles/warsWorld War II
1990 Mindanao crisis
Moro conflict
Garrison information
Garrison4th Infantry Division

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

Background[edit]

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 129 hectares (320 acres) 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Recent history[edit]

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

In 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]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Renaming of 4ID camp pushed". BusinessWeek Mindanao. 26 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Renaming of military camp proposed". SunStar Cagayan de Oro. 8 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Gallardo, Froilan (15 July 2022). "Councilor urges transfer of 4th Infantry Division". MindaNews. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Proclamation No. 265, s. 1938". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  5. ^ "G.R. No. 182913 - Republic Of The Philippines vs. Antonio, Feliza, et al". The LawPhil Project. Supreme Court of the Philippines - Third Division. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  6. ^ Banos, Rene Michael (10 May 2021). "Maj. Jose Manuel Corrales Montalvan, 1st Camp Commander of the 'Kampo'". Cagayan de Oro Times. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. ^ de Villa, Kathleen (September 22, 2018). "Remnants of a dark era". Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  8. ^ "Report of an Amnesty International Mission to the Republic of the Philippines 11-28 November 1981" (PDF).
  9. ^ Branigin, William (6 October 1990). "Mutineers Surrender In The Philippines". Washington Post. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Fire hits ammunition depot at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro". GMA News. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.