From the Manila Times (Jan 2): Army troops track BIFF
SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao: Troops have been deployed to hunt down the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who attacked several Philippine Army posts in Maguindanao and North Cotabato last week.
The deployment came about as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Midsayap, North Cotabato retained their red alert status over threats of harassment from lawless elements, including the BIFF, and drug syndicates.
It was made after a huge group of BIFF attacked military detachments and outposts in Datu Salibo town, sparking fierce fighting that lasted until daybreak on New Year’s Eve.
The terrorists also raided military posts in Midsayap and Pigcawayan towns in North Cotabato.
The Army fired artilleries at rebel positions while Air Force planes provided cover for troops battling the BIFF on the ground.
The military said at least four terrorists were killed in the fighting but it did not say whether soldiers recovered the bodies of the slain BIFF members.
The latest attack struck fear among villagers living near the Army bases along the Datu Saudi Ampatuan-Datu Salibo-Datu Piang highway in Maguindanao.
Supt. Bernard Tayong, Midsayap town police chief, on Monday said soldiers from the 34th Infantry Battalion (34th IB) and Midsayap PNP will continue to enforce checkpoints in areas identified to be conflict-affected and crime-prone, especially in the boundaries of Midsayap and municipality of Datu Piang.
Since Friday night up to dawn on Saturday, suspected members of the outlawed BIFF harassed an Army base in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap, wounding Norcel Bulay-Bulay, wife of an Army soldier. Tayong said about 30 BIFF rebels, led by Commander Tato Pauya and Commander Tong, exchanged gunshots with elements of the 34th IB until about 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve.
Bulay-Bulay was hit by a shrapnel in the head that was apparently fired from a grenade launcher.
She was brought to Amado Diaz Hospital in Poblacion Midsayap but was later transferred to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.
Nabalawag is the last barangay (village) of Midsayap before the boundary with Datu Piang.
Midsayap hasdbeen repeatedly attacked by BIFF and drug syndicates the past months, the latest of which was the Christmas Eve grenade attack on a police patrol car that left 17 people injured, including a police officer identified as Senior Police Officer 4 Johnny Caballero.
Police believed the attack was not directed at the Santo Niño Parish Church but at law enforcers in retaliation against their successful anti-illegal drug campaign.
From Tempo (Jan 3): 5 bandits dead as BIFF attacks outpost
At least five members of the militant group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed while a number of others were wounded following a clash with government troops Friday night in Maguindanao province.
Philippine Army spokesman Col. Benjamin Hao said that based on information provided by the Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Datu Salibo, there were about more or less led by Commander Ikay and Commander Saga that attacked the Szopad Detachment, 23rd Mechanized Company stationed at Brgy. Sambulawan in Datu Salibo.
Despite the bandits carrying high-powered weapons, the soldiers were able to position themselves strategically to retaliate and kill five of the bandits while wounding several more.
No one among the soldiers was hurt or wounded.
Recently, President Duterte announced a cessation of hostilities between government forces and rebel groups which will last until today.
The president, however, made it clear that the government truce does not extend to criminals, such as the Maute group in Mindanao.
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 3): AFP says it has successfully fended off ASG, Maute Group, BIFF threats
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has successfully fended off security threats coming from the Abu Sayyaf Group, Maute Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters during the recently-concluded year.
This was stressed by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla in an interview Monday.
"The AFP has shown its determined efforts to deal with these groups so as to secure our municipalities and major cities, so 2016 showed and proved that the AFP forces is effectively performing and doing its job following the successful arrests of many of the Davao City bombing suspects," he added.
The AFP spokesperson also said the military performed well in eliminating the threats poised by the three lawless groups.
During the last two months of 2016, the AFP together with the Philippine National Police (PNP) has successfully arrested nine out of the 12 suspects involved in the Sept. 2 bombing in Davao City.
The incident killed 15 persons and wounded 70 others.
The suspects have professed affiliation with the Lanao Del Sur-based Maute Group.
Padilla said the AFP will continue cooperating with the PNP regarding law enforcement operations until threats posed by the ASG, Maute Group and the BIFF are totally neutralized.
"Definitely the AFP rates itself as having successfully dealt with all these local terrorist groups and these efforts of the Armed Forces prevented many violent activities from being conducted within these communities," he added.
"We will continue to conduct focused military operations but at the same time we will work with local government units so that they can effectively reach out to these individuals and perhaps convince them to have a change of heart so that as one nation we can work together for the upliftment of the lives of our citizens instead of having these conflicts," Padilla stressed.
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 3): AFP hopeful 2017 will be the year of real peace
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) strongly supports President Rodrigo Duterte's agenda for a just and lasting peace and is hopeful that 2017 will be the year where it will finally start.
This was disclosed by AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla who said the entire military is hoping that something positive, concrete, and definite will be announced this year regarding the ongoing peace talks with the New People's Army (NPA) rebels.
"We are all supportive of the President's agenda to have a long lasting and justice with the group and we are looking forward, the year 2016 was a pioneering year for the resumption, it was a good year for the resumption of the peace talks and hopefully year 2017 will start with a good joint declaration," he added.
Armed confrontation between the AFP and the NPA finally ceased after Duterte restored the declaration of ceasefire on Aug. 21 after noting violations from the rebel group.
The President's gesture in restoring the erstwhile unilateral ceasefire declaration effectively reimposed the suspension of military operations earlier issued by the AFP to its field units.
"Further, peace-building efforts were exerted to ensure that line units are aware of the advocacy of the Commander-in-Chief, including the dissemination of the proposed reconstituted JASIG (Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees) list and the release of detained alleged political prisoners. The original JASIG list was meant to identify communist members who will figure in the peace negotiations with the CPP-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front) and will aid in the implementation of the ceasefire with the rebels," the AFP earlier said.
From GMA News (Jan 2): Diokno: Cops, soldiers to receive pay hike this year
President Rodrigo Duterte has fulfilled his promise to increase the salary of cops and soldiers.
On Monday, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno confirmed the inclusion of the hike in the 2017 national budget.
"The answer is yes," Diokno replied when asked about the increase of both base pay and allowance of soldiers and policemen.
But Diokno did not disclose any more details as he would announce the figures during a press conference in Malacañang on Tuesday.
In his Budget Action Message, Duterte said that the military, the police, and other uniformed personnel will receive rice subsidy in 2017. But this is put under conditional implementation.
In his many camp visits, Duterte promised the police and the soldiers that he will double their salary by yearend.
In his yearend video report, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Duterte kept his word to the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
"Kumikilos sa salita at gawa, tinupad ng Pangulo ang pangakong dagdag sahod sa mga sundalo at pulis," he said.
From GMA News (Jan 2): Envoy says PHL studying joint exploration with China in disputed waters
[Video report]
The Philippine government is “seriously studying” the possibility of conducting joint exploration of natural resources with China in the West Philippine Sea, Ambassador to China Jose Santiago "Chito" Sta. Romana has said.
In a report by GMA News' Jam Sisante, Romana said the Department of Energy and Department of Foreign Affairs had been studying the prospect of jointly exploring with Beijing the disputed waters.
"The basic challenge here is how to do it, whether with a US company or a British company or a Chinese company, so that you can have a joint venture or a joint development, whatever you want to call it, that is in line our constitutional requirements," Sta. Romana said at a news forum.
Sta. Romana said the government needed to know what natural resources could be extracted from the West Philippine Sea, especially with the chance that the energy supply from the Malampaya gas fields would be depleted in 10 years.
"The problem is more urgent for the Philippines rather than China because Malampata may be depleted in 10 years. So we have to find a way to deal with it," Sta. Romana said.
The West Philippine Sea refers to portions of the South China Sea that are claimed by the Philippines as part of its territory and exclusive economic zone.
China is claiming almost the entire South China Sea despite a recent arbitration ruling that invalidated its historical claims.
President Rodrigo Duterte last week said he was open to having joint oil exploration with China in disputed maritime territories, even as he reiterated that he would eventually bring up with Beijing the ruling of the Hague-based tribunal invalidating its claim over large swaths of the South China Sea.
"Kung gusto ninyo, let's just develop what's the oil there, hati-hati nalang tayo," Duterte said.
"What will I do with the Scarborough Shoal? Swim there everyday? For what? To send my soldiers there to die? Nakalutang lahat? Susmaryosep. I will just have to start with the domestic problems," he added.
In an interview with GMA News' Jessica Soho in Malacañang, Duterte said the Philippines would not be at a disadvantage if it would pursue joint exploration with China in the disputed areas.
"Hindi tayo dehado. Wala talaga tayong magawa because gusto ko man mag-giyera ngayon... maybe you can ask the ambassador... I'm willing to declare war against China tomorrow, provided 'yung entire 7th Fleet, ilagay mo diyan sa, pati yung mga eroplano mo, transfer all the missiles para sigurado tayong manalo," Duterte said.
"E kung mabugbog lang din ako, do you think that we will win? We'll just, we're in the fantasy, do you think we will win in a war? I will not but I will make a noise, certainly because I'm the owner but this is not the time," he added.
Sta. Romana said that any joint exploration agreement with China had to be in accordance with the Constitution.
Aside from being constitutional, University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal said the terms of any joint exploration agreement between the two countries should be transparent.
The Philippine government must also ensure the deal will not be misconstrued as an acknowledgement of China's sweeping claims over the entirety of West Philippine Sea.
"How do you ensure that a joint exploration, joint development with China is transparent and will result in a fair and equitable allocation of resources, while at the same time avoiding the possibility that it will be used at a later time against you as being proof that you recognized for example the other side's claims," Batongbacal said.
Political analyst and De La Salle University professor Richard Heydarian said the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) must form part of the legal basis for any joint exploration agreement the Philippine government will enter into with China.
Heydarian said the government must not allow China to dictate the terms of the joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea.
"You have to have a legal reference point that is mutually acceptable for you to move forward. The problem with China so far is their tendency to go with joint development but on their terms, and this is something I don't find acceptable," Heydarian said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed openness to sharing the natural gas resources in the West Philippine Sea with China although Malacañang has clarified there is no official policy yet on the possible joint exploration with Beijing.
From GMA News (Jan 2): AFP to take war on drugs to BIFF, other bandit groups
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday vowed to take apart the drug apparatus of the country's lawless armed groups days after President Rodrigo Duterte said linked the Maute group to the illegal drug trade.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP Public Affairs Office, said the AFP and the Philippine National Police would destroy the terrorist groups' "machinery for the illegal drug trade."
Arevalo in an interview made special mention of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
"We will relentlessly pursue the BIFF focusing on its organization and support systems that enables them to resist government operations to neutralize them," Arevalo said.
"We will, together with the PNP, dismantle their machinery for illegal drugs trade and destroy their links with like-minded terrorist groups," he added.
Arevalo said the line of effort would be also be employed against the Abu Sayaff Group and the Maute groups"that have been monitored and reported to be engaged in such nefarious activities."
Arevalo said the AFP would conduct "focused military operations to dislodge" the ASG and the Maute in their known lairs.
"We will endeavor to confine them in areas where they cannot capitalize on their supporters and sympathizers," Arevalo said.
"We will continue to build cooperation and partnerships with other agencies, government and private, for non-kinetic means of defeating terrorists threats," he added.
The military earlier said that its troops had driven the Maute Group members out of Butig, Lanao del Sur.
It said that at least 60 members of the group were killed during the offensive in December.
The group has at least 200 remaining members, believed to be hiding in forested areas in the outskirts of Butig, the AFP said.
Formed by former Moro Islamic Liberation Front members Omar and Abdullah Maute, the Maute Group has been linked to the Davao City blast in September and the improvised explosive device found near the US Embassy in Manila last month.
The group has gained enough attention for President Rodrigo Duterte to consider befriending its members while saying he was not ready to negotiate with them.
Meanwhile, the AFP said it would continue to support Duterte's initiative to clinch a peace agrement with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Frontr.
"This year, we will continue to uphold the primacy of the peace process in dealing with the CNN," said Arevalo, referring to the CPP-NPA-NDF.
"We will adhere to, as we have since the declaration, the Suspension Of Military Operations; abide by the provisions of Joint Ceasefire Declarations between the parties when one is signed," he added.
From the often pro-CPP online publication Northern Dispatch Weekly (NORDIS) (Jan 1): New People’s Army hail CPP on its 48th year
BAGUIO CITY — “With utmost respect, we give our highest salute to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) as it celebrates its 48th founding anniversary,” says Ka Oris, spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a statement furnished to local media.
This year on, December 26, marks another victorious year for the CPP as the Christmas holidays take a backseat for these revolutionaries to give way for a resounding celebration of their resilient stand against state oppression. Up to this time, the Party and its armed wing thrives in their noble struggle for a classless society.
Drawing the majority of their members from the proletariat, the Communist led revolution in the country is considered one of the longest. Since its re-establishment in 1968, the Party went on to organize its armed force the following year, the NPA. The following years witnessed how the Party waged their agrarian revolution designed to wipe out the fascist state’s oppressive economic programs that plunders the nation’s wealth for the benefit of imperialist foreigners leading to the abuse of social and political rights of the masses.
With the guidance of the CPP and together with Party cadres, the NPA applied the line of protracted people’s war, its strategy of encircling the cities from the countryside both in actual combat and in the over all conduct of waging war.
On its 48th year, the Party celebrates with a stronger and ever growing mass base from all over the Philippines. From its initial mass base in the first district of Tarlac, it now operates in thousands of barangays in more than 70 provinces nationwide and has taken root among the peasant masses.
In their statement, the NPA express their gratitude for the unwavering guidance of the Party in establishing an ever deepening mass support.
“The NPA adheres to and consciously upholds the absolute leadership of the CPP over the people’s army. The NPA owes it to the CPP for what it is now and what it has achieved,” says Ka Oris.
The CPP taught the NPA how to do mass work through class analysis and social investigation. It has guided the NPA in arousing the masses in the countryside and helping them mobilize and carry out antifeudal struggles and agrarian revolution, build their organizations and militias, and establish the people’s government from one level to another.
In the Cordilleras, revolutionary organizations for all sectors continue to expand and multiply. In Ifugao, considered one of the provinces under threat and targeted for imperialist plunder and exploitation of its rich natural resources by local bourgeois-compradors, the revolutionary arm wages a daily struggle to consolidate the toiling masses for campaigns against destructive energy projects forced onto them by monopoly capitalists aided by state forces.
Despite the unilateral ceasefire declared by President Duterte, in some parts of Ifugao as in other provinces, communities still experience brutality and harrassment from wayward and aggressive military operations by the notorious Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“The AFP’s Oplan Bayanihan is designed to wipe out the revolutionary forces that constitute the primary opposition to the designs of the monopoly-capitalists and their local partners,” says Ka Wigan Moncontad of the Nona del Rosario Command in Ifugao.
Unfazed by all these deceitful tactics, the NPA looks to the Party for correct analysis and estimate in fulfilling their duty to strike at the provocative combat operations of the AFP as well as to defend the rights and interest of the people.
In the region and all over the country, the Communist revolutionaries continue to build a wide range of mass bases by organizing and mobilizing a national campaign to eradicate the root causes of the ills of society and break away from imperialist initiated neoliberal policies.
“Only through the armed revolution that the CPP leads can we end imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism,’ added Moncontad.
At present, the CPP is engaged in peace talks with the Duterte Administration to forge a just and lasting peace. With their armed wing to protect and lay the foundation for social and economic reforms, the Communist party endeavors to advance the people’s interest in the ongoing negotiations with the government through the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). However, the people’s army are skeptic of the advantage of a ceasefire after the AFP refuses to heed the ceasefire and continue with their combat operations.
“In the event that the Party terminates the unilateral ceasefire declaration and orders to carry out offensives, all units of the NPA are ever ready to respond and carry out the order with full force,” says Ka Oris.
The NPA reinforces their trust on the guidance of the CPP to carry out their tasks as champions of the people’s cause.
From the often pro-CPP online publication Northern Dispatch Weekly (NORDIS) (Jan 1): From the families of slain rebels to Lacub folk
LACUB, Abra — It was not just another a medical mission. To the families of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in the military operation of the 41st IB of the Philippine Army in September of 2014, it was their way of honoring their rebel kin.
SERVE THE PEOPLE. Dr. Melindres Jaramillo-Lim, sister of Arnold “Ka Mando” Jaramillo, a New People’s Army rebel killed in 2014 joined a medical mission in Lacub, Abra where her brother spent his last years. Photo by Divine Loraine Peñaflor Dr. Melindres Jaramillo, sister of Arnold “Ka Mando” Jaramillo an NPA rebel killed in a military operation in Guinguinabang, Lacub in September of 2014, just wanted to visit Lacub to see the place and meet the people her brother has spent most of the last 14 years of his life with.
Dr. Jaramillo said she wanted to visit Lacub to thank the people for welcoming Ka Mando into their community. “It so surreal, to meet the people whom my brother spent his last years with,” she said. She said that people young and old, men and women came to her to tell her about their encounters with Ka Mando. “They have nothing but good words for my brother, they all said that he was a good man and it made me proud,” she said.
“I actually came home for the 30 year reunion of my medical school batch and asked my sister in law if we could visit Lacub, it just so happened that there is a medical mission,” she said.
Dr. Jaramillo said their visit to Lacub became more meaningful with the medical mission. She said providing free medical check up is nothing compared to the sacrifices of her brother.
“We may have not gone to the mountains like him, but we could also serve the people in our own little way,” she said.
According to Cynthia Jaramillo, the wife of Ka Mando, the medical mission held at Poblacion, Lacub, Abra last December 17 to 18 was organized by non-government organizations in coordination with the local government as part of the Justice for Lacub campaign.
She said that families of the seven NPA rebels and two civilians killed during a military operation in Guinguinabang, Lacub in September of 2014 continue to seek justice for their kin. She said that the remains of their kin bore signs of torture and were desecrated by operating government troops.
Dr. Jaramillo said she saw the autopsy report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the bodies of the NPA rebels and civilians killed in the Guinguinabang military operation. “The photos alone showed broken skulls and limbs, and the only explanation I could think of is that it was an act of rage or maybe the perpetrators were under the influence of drugs because nobody in their right mind could do such an inhumane act,” she said.
“My brother’s body including all of his fingers were riddled with bullets, his jawbone broken and rammed into his throat, Recca another rebel had broken limbs and the top of her head blown off, how could somebody in his right mind do these to a fellow human being?” she reiterated.
Jang Monte, the sister of Recca Noel Monte killed with Ka Mando, also joined the medical mission. Together with Gabriela Women’s Partylist Representative Arlene Brosas, they facilitated a children’s workshop while the medical check up was ongoing.
“I would like to thank the people of Lacub for ensuring that the mutilated bodies of our loved ones would reach us amid the threat to their safety and lives,” she said.
Monte reiterated that according to the autopsy report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Recca did not sustain a single gunshot but her limbs were broken and the top of her head blown off.
“What happened to my sister is unacceptable because even wars have rules but we were able to draw strength from the people of Lacub’s continuing defiance amid injustice and impunity,” she said.
Kennedy Bangibang, consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) for Cordillera and National Minority Affairs, also thanked the people of Lacud for their help in retrieving the body of his wife Recca.
“There is no better way to honor them than to remember the lessons they have imparted with us when they were alive. Do not let their death discourage us but rather let us see it as a challenge to advance our quest for just and lasting peace,” Bangibang said.
From the often pro-CPP online publication Northern Dispatch Weekly (NORDIS) (Jan 1): Elders closely monitoring GRP-NDFP peace talks
LACUB, Abra — An elder of the Binongan tribe here said they are closely monitoring the peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and hope its outcome would truly benefit the people.
“Whatever the outcome of the peace talks, it will directly impact on our communities, that is why we are closely monitoring its development since it started,” Ama Bansilan Sawadan, a Binongan elder said in an interview.
Ama Bansilan said the Binongan communities have been among the poorest and most neglected in the country since he could remember. He added that their communities have been militarized since the Martial Law period.
The Binongan people territories are found within Lacub and Licuan-Baay towns of Abra.
According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Cordillera, 13 out of the 20 poorest towns in the region are found in Abra that include Lacub and Licuan-Baay. Lacub is the second poorest with 67.2% poverty incidence while Licuan Baay registered 46.7%. The Cordillera has 75 towns and two cities in its six provinces.
Ama Bansilan said that the people of Lacub live on farming and small scale mining. He explained that ever since, traditional pocket mining and gold panning augment their limited rice produce and other agriculture produce.
“We have limited areas for rice terraces along the mountain slopes so we need other sources of livelihood to augment our food needs, send our children to school and buy medicine if we get sick,” Ama Bansilan said.
Ama Bansilan said they have been deprived of a proper irrigation system and new technologies to increase the yield of their rice terraces. He added that they also engage in kaingin and gather bounties from the forest and river sources for additional food and livelihood.
“Since I was a kid we have relied on the rain and limited irrigation for our rice paddies. We have several good water sources here but an irrigation system has to be built to distribute the water to the rice paddies to allow us to at least have two rice croppings,” he said.
Ama Bansilan also pointed out that the roads in Lacub have not improved for a very long time. “We still have one trip going in and out of our town in a day due to the poor road condition, no bridges. It is still that vehicles must literally cross the river granting it is not swollen,” he said.
According to Ama Bansilan, their communities have been militarized since the Martial Law period up to the present. He said that military units deployed to their communities have left a long list of human rights violation ranging from harassment to torture and extrajudicial killings. He said soldiers have also abused their women.
He said their communities have been militarized because the Philippine Army has identified these as “red areas” or New People’s Army (NPA) strongholds.
Ama Bansilan said that it all started during Martial Law in the 1970s, when many of the youth then decided to take up arms to defend their homeland from massive environmental destruction brought about by the Cellophil Resources Corporation’s large scale logging operation and from human rights violations perpetrated against their people.
He added that their resistance stopped the Cellophil operations and foiled the proposed Binongan river dam.
“We cannot deny that some of our people chose to join the NPA because they believe that it is the solution to the continuing poverty, human rights violations and government neglect that we continue to suffer from,” Ama Bansilan said.
“But even those who have not taken up arms are being targeted by military operations which is a human rights violation,” Ama Bansilan said.
Ama Bansilan said that the peace negotiation is supposed to address these problems. “We are closely monitoring and are actively pushing for the peace talks because it will be instrumental in bringing peace to our communities and will answer our quest for justice,” he said.
It can be recalled that the Binongan people hosted a Cordillera region wide peace consultation in 2011 at Buneg, Lacub, Abra where representatives of the GRP and NDFP reciprocal working groups came and listened to the people’s demands.
Ama Bansilan said they have raised the same issues on poverty, human rights violations and government neglect during the 2011 consultation but there had been no concrete actions taken to address these. “What is worse is that the peace negotiations under the Aquino government broke down, we hope that this time under the Duterte administration it will prosper,” he said.
Kennedy Bangibang, the NDFP consultant for Cordillera and National Minority affairs said in an interview that he has been going around the Cordillera provinces to consult with the people about the issues they want to be addressed by the peace talks. “It is important for us to know too, what the people want and need especially now that the negotiation will tackle the comprehensive agreement on socio-economic reforms (CASER),” he said.
Bangibang said that aside from consulting about their demands, he also shares with them recent developments in the peace talks.
“We have to inform and educate the people about the recent agreements of both panels and how these would affect or impact them,” he said.
According to Bangibang, the leading issues raised by Cordillera communities involves the protection of their right to their ancestral lands and the right to manage their own resources. He added that the people also raised issues on militarization and the human rights violations perpetrated by soldiers deployed to indigenous communities.
“We will be raising these issues in the third round of talks this January for the panels to consider in the drafting of the CASER,” he said.
Posted to the often pro-CPP online publication Manila Today (Jan 1): CPP holds peace rally, celebrates 48th anniversary in Quezon
Despite suffering typhoon Nina that hit Southern Tagalog on December 26, the date of the re-establishment of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) 48 years ago, the peace rally and celebration pushed through on December 28. More than a thousand people hiked for two hours to a peasant community in a guerilla zone in the mountains of Sierra Madre in Quezon to attend the peace assembly organized by the New People’s Army (NPA) Melito Glor Command.
According to Ka Diego Padilla, spokesperson of the Melito Glor Command, the red fighters helped in the rebuilding of homes and crops of the masses that were affected by typhoon Nina. It was what kept them busy during the actual date of the CPP anniversary.
The peace assembly and anniversary celebration was attended by different organizations from Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog provinces.
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Ernesto Lorenzo criticized the non-compliance of the Government of the Philippines (GRP) to its commitment to release the remaining 400 political prisoners and the continuing military operations in civilian communities despite the GRP’s unilateral ceasefire declaration.
The third round of peace talks between the GRP and the NDFP under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is set to resume on January 18 to 25 in Rome, Italy. A major agenda of the talks is threshing out the draft and contents of the Comprehensive Agreement for Social and Economic Reforms. One of the NPA fighters paints on the face of one of the performers for the CPP’s 48th anniversary celebration in a guerilla zone in Quezon. Manila Today photo.A member of New People’s Army stands guarded during the anniversary celebration of Communist Party of the Philippines. A thousand people, even the old ones, endured a 2-hour walk in the mountains just to attend the program. Manila Today photoKa Katryn, 24, who serves as media liaison for the Melito Glor Command, scans her Macbook Pro for files needed for the program. Manila Today photoMembers of the NPA Melito Glor Command march into formation during the 48th anniversary of the CPP in a guerilla zone in Quezon. Manila Today photo.Red Fighters present arms in a military formation by New People’s Army’s Melito Glor Command in a guerilla zone in Sierra Madre, Quezon. Manila Today photoNational Democratic Front peace consultant Ernesto Lorenzo gives an update on the on-going peace negotiation between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines at the 48th anniversary celebration of the longest-running communist insurgency in Asia. Manila Today photoA cultural group performs a short skit about social injustice during the celebration of CPP’s 48th founding anniversary in a guerilla zone in Quezon. Manila Today photo.Ka Diego Padilla, spokesperson of Melito Glor Command walks along NPA fighters to the stage to deliver his speech during CPP’s 48th anniversary celebration in a mountain in Quezon. Manila Today photo.Melito Glor Command spokesperson Ka Diego Padilla shares to crowd the expectations of Communist Party of the Philippines from the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. He reiterated that the current administration is still reactionary, but the movement is not closing its doors.A choral group performs revolutionary songs in between speeches during the anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines in Southern Tagalog. Manila Today photoA guerilla fighter lists the name of the revolutionaries who enlisted for the New People’s Army during the celebration of the CPP’s 48th anniversary in Quezon. Manila Today photo. http://www.manilatoday.net/cpp-celebrates-48th-anniversary-quezon/
From the often pro-CPP online publication the Davao Today (Jan 2): 2016: A YEAR IN REVIEW//Rocky road to peace: Feats, defaults in talks with Reds
MOMENT OF PEACE. A member of the New People’s Army and a police escort shake hands as they meet during the NPAs release of its captured soldiers in San Luis, Agusan del Sur in May 2016. The photo was taken by Ace Morandante and was awarded during the Globe Media Excellence Awards in 2016. (davaotoday.com file photo)
Ahead of the third round of talks between the Duterte government and the communists this month, 2016 ended with a bumpy but fruitful peace negotiations.
Both parties agreed that more have been accomplished in the last six months under the new administration of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte than in the last decade of the previous Arroyo and Aquino governments.
The GRP recognized that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)’s declaration of a ceasefire was “unprecedented and historic.”
For its part, the CPP said upon the inauguration of President Rodrigo Duterte that it greatly anticipated the advancement of the peace negotiations.
Nearly 30 political prisoners, including the National Democratic Front consultants were freed. Two rounds of peace talks were held with a commitment to hold the third round to discuss the meat and most substantive part of the talks: the socio-economic reforms seen to alleviate the suffering of the millions of the country’s poor Filipino farmers and workers.
But rampant human rights abuses, ceasefire violations, and failure to honor commitments to the peace talks marred the achievements of the peace talks last year.
NPA leaders said civilians in the communities are clamoring for the guerillas to resume its combat stance in order to defend them from the presence and “abusive” operations of the AFP soldiers in their communities. Human rights advocates decried the suffering of more than 400 political prisoners who have not been freed.
Indeed, peace negotiations under the Duterte administration were a ride with humps and bumps.
Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said so during the second round of talks with the NDFP in Oslo, Norway in October this year, almost four months after both panels signed the Joint Statement where it was agreed to resume the formal talks.
Starting it right
The historic resumption of peace talks between the government and the NDFP followed after President Rodrigo Duterte, a self-proclaimed Leftist and Socialist, won in the elections.
The peace talks with the Communists have been stalled for five years.
During the 2016 Presidential campaign, then frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte promised that he would revolt from within the government should he win in the elections.
“We will change this government. If I’m there, I will revolt from the inside because this is not a government for the people, so you should join me,” he said when he received a political prisoner detained by the New People’s Army somewhere in North Cotabato on April 26.
If he wins, Duterte said he would immediately declare a ceasefire.
Duterte also declared that he is the President who is supposed to bring peace in the country.
“I cannot stop talking about peace. I am a President who is supposed to bring this to his land. Whether it’s Sison or not, whether I like to talk to Sison or not, it’s not important. It’s not relevant at all,” Duterte said.
Jose Maria Sison is Duterte’s former professor whom he talked to in a Skype conversation on April. Duterte told Sison that he is against the oligarchs and will follow “the pattern of Socialism in governance.”
Sison also believed that he is “the most open to cooperation” among Presidential candidates.
In his inaugural speech, Duterte said his administration is committed to implement all signed peace agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms.
Leftists in Duterte’s cabinet
After winning the elections in May, Duterte offered four Cabinet posts to the Communist Party of the Philippines.
The NDF, the political wing of the CPP, submitted a list of names of progressive individuals who they recommended to be appointed in Cabinet positions.
Leaders from the Left appointed to the Cabinet were Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Labor Undersecretary Joel Maglungsod, Social Welfare Undersecretary Mae Fe Templa, National Anti-Poverty Commission Chair Liza Maza, and Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor Chair Terry Ridon.
“And I’m ready to give more. I can accommodate all of them,” Duterte said.
Duterte also promised to grant general amnesty to political prisoners.
Roadblocks to peace
The openness of the new administration paved the way for the talks to resume.
But the scheduled talks on July 27 was moved to August following the request of the Office on the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process to ensure “technical details” particularly regarding the nationwide ceasefire and the release of the political prisoners.
July 27 was two days after President Rodrigo Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address where he declared a unilateral ceasefire with the Communists.
After five days, Duterte lifted the ceasefire following the reported NPA attack against government troops in Kapalong, Davao del Norte onJuly 27.
One Cafgu Armed Auxiliary died while three other troops were hurt in what the NPA described as an engagement due to “unrelenting military operations.”
Duterte also demanded the NPA to stop the use of command-detonated explosives.
The unilateral ceasefire was lifted on July 30.
‘No ceasefire’
The New People’s Army said there was no ceasefire in Southern Mindanao.
“The July 27 engagement of Red fighters against members of CAFGU of 72nd IB and the paramilitary Alamara in Kapalong, Davao del Norte only highlighted the unrelenting military operations of AFP troops. Worse still, the fabricated lies they spin to their commander-in-chief and the media to smokescreen their palpable violation demonstrate their outright disdain for the peace process,” NPA spokesman Rigoberto Sanchez said.
Ka Oris, spokesperson of the National Operations Command of the NPA said in statement that prior to the unilateral ceasefire declaration by Duterte, they have observed that the AFP has “extended and intensified military offensives under the Oplan Bayanihan in complete disregard of the avowed policy of engaging the revolutionary forces in peace talks.”
Oris cited the killings of civilians by government troops.
On June 9, the NPA said two of their fighters were tortured and killed.
Oris also cited the alleged desecration of the cadaver of NPA fighter Noel Gulmatico in Magpet on July 1 and the alleged abduction of 16 members of an Aggay clan on June 17 in Cagayan province by the government forces.
The Army denied the allegations and said that they adhere to the International Humanitarian Law.
Clashes between government troops and the NPA continued.
On July 6, an Ata Manobo tribe leader was killed by the NPA in Panabo City. The NPA said Ruben Labawan “was guilty of blood debts and thereby meted with death penalty for serious crimes against the people.”
On July 8 and 9, the Army launched an airstrike against the NPA in Caraga town, Davao Oriental. The evacuees reached to at least 399 families said Army information officer, Capt. Eliseo Marcolino of the 67th IB. He said the residents evacuated since July 6 because of their fear of the NPA.
But the NDF said the Army’s attack caused the displacement of the Mandaya people.
In early August, four soldiers died in a series of NPA attacks in Compostela Valley province.
The Army criticized the NPA for allegedly mutilating the soldiers who died in the gunbattle.
The issue on the use of command-detonated explosives was again brought up.
More bumps
Dureza was not wrong.
Tensions are still on the rise because of what the NDF claimed as “ceasefire violations” by the government troops.
On Oct. 10, anti-mining farmer Jimmy Saypan was shot in Compostela Valley. He died the next day.
Ka Oris said “not a few NPA units are having difficulty holding back offensives amid threats of armed troops of the AFP which continue to conduct Oplan Bayanihan counter-insurgency intelligence, psywar and combat operations in the guerrilla zones of the NPA.”
“There are reports of continuing AFP operations across the country, from North Luzon to Southern Mindanao. There are even reports that military units are telling civilian residents that the ceasefire is no longer in effect to justify their operations and presence in their communities,” he said.
Ka Oris said even the anti-drug war is used to conduct anti-NPA operations.
On Oct. 13, environment activist Joselito Pasaporte was gunned down.
But Chief Insp. Andrea dela Cerna, PRO-Davao spokesperson, said they received an information that Joselito Pasaporte’s name was among the people enlisted on drug watch list.
Similar instances were reported by human rights group Karapatan.
The arrest of activists were also brought as an issue by the NDF.
On Aug. 19, Amelia Pond, a researcher for Salugpungan Learning Center was arrested in Cebu for allegedly being an NPA member.
Release of political prisoners
During the second round of talks in Oslo on Oct. 6 to 9, the GRP and the NDF approved a common framework and outline on the three substantive agenda.
It was also agreed that the government panel would recommend the release of the political prisoners before being signed by the President and concurred by Congress.
However, the release of more than 400 political prisoners was taking time. Much so, that a political prisoner has died in the hospital.
Bernabe Ocasla, 66, a farmer who was detained in the Manila City Jail after his third cardiac arrest on Nov. 25. Ocasla was charged of 15 counts of multiple murders in relation to the mass graves allegedly discovered by the military in 2006.
According to Karapatan, there were 12 other political prisoners died while under detention because of lack of proper medical attention and inhuman jail conditions. The group blamed Ocasla’s death on the GRP.
But the GRP panel said that the release should undergo judicial processes.
GRP panel Atty. Angela Librado-Trinidad said there are 200 political prisoners who are on the process of clearing pending cases from different offices.
She said there are 21 political prisoners who have clearances, 18 of whom are eligible for pardon.
Currently, Duterte’s promise of granting amnesty and releasing all elderly and ailing prisoners before Christmas remains unfulfilled.
Even as the leaders of the NDF met with Duterte here in December, Duterte he will not release the 130 political prisoners requested by the NDF as he has given “too much, too soon.”
He said the release of the political prisoners is his “last ace” in the peace process.
The last release of political prisoners in 2016 were the four political prisoners whom Duterte granted pardon.
Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao said the release of the political prisoners should be seen as not just about complying with the previous agreement between the GRP and NDF.
“It is also about untying the years of unjust deeds perpetrated by the state of the political prisoners by slapping them with trumped-up charges,” he said.
Davao City Councilors also supported the call to release all political prisoners through a resolution on Dec. 9.
Third round of talks
The next round of talks is scheduled on January 18 to 25 in Rome, Italy, an achievement listed by the Duterte administration among its accomplishments in the year 2016.
But what are the prospects on the peace negotiations?
During the celebration of the 48th anniversary of the CPP, the NPA took the opportunity to score President Duterte for failing to fulfill its promise in releasing political prisoners. The NPA said that its unilateral ceasefire is “becoming untenable” because Duterte failed to “tame” the Army from committing ceasefire violations and human rights abuses.
GRP chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III maintained that they have not received any reports on the said violations.
Speaking before a press conference during the CPP’s anniversary here, NDF peace panel member Connie Ledesma said this is the longest ceasefire for the administration.
“If you read newspapers, the GRP is boasting that the ceasefire agreement is the longest ceasefire in the history of peace talks. But we are saying that there are many violations,” Ledesma said.
“But the Royal Norwegian Government was shocked when we told them that it is the people who wants to stop the ceasefire,” she said.
Despite these, Duterte and Sison shared a “productive” phone conversation before the year ended.
The two issues on the release of prisoners and the bilateral ceasefire will remain at hand on the third round of talks.
Both panels will also discuss the drafts of the more substantial agenda particularly the social and economic reforms, which is described as the “meat” and “heart and soul” of the peace talks.
Ledesma said the NDF said they would continue to engage the government in the peace talks to reach the agreements.
Editorial posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF): Editorial -- Extremely urgent matter
The crafting of the new Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is extremely an urgent matter. Time is of essence. The proposed law should be submitted to Congress on or before July this year, so that Congress should have ample time to deliberate and pass it immediately.
In order to speed up the process, both government and MILF have to submit their nominees to the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) without delay. The BTC should have been reconstituted long time ago, preferably as early as September.
We are not faulting anyone. Perhaps, the delay was caused by the unforeseen complexities of the whole peace process. Compared to the previous administration, the peace process under the current administration falls into place as early as August 13 when the two peace implementing panels were launched in Kuala Lumpur. But the difference is that during the Aquino dispensation the two parties were yet to negotiate the hardest part of the agenda of the negotiation; this time, every imaginable hard issues are settled; they are already in signed documents. The process is already in implementation mode. This is the reason the panels’ nomenclature was changed from peace negotiating panel to peace implementing panel.
On December 13, the MILF submitted its list of nominees to the BTC during the meeting of the government and MILF peace implementing panels in Davao City. The government also named its nominees to the BTC, five of whom are lawyers, last December 23.
The incoming BTC commissioners should be appointed by the president immediately so that they buckle to work immediately. They are several preliminary issues that they have to attain to which could fast-track the crafting of the new proposed law. We are sure that their appointment is only a matter of time, maybe days only. We trust the commitment of the president in ensuring the enactment of the BBL. If we see the urgency of this issue, we are sure he is more aware of this urgency.
On the lighter side, as a compliment, crafting this new BBL is expected to be not as difficult as the previous one, which virtually started from scratch. Many of the previous commissioners virtually have no knowledge about legislation.
If there are no obstructionists to the process, the July timeline for submission is not so difficult to beat. We hope that all members of the BTC should have one agenda in mind: Craft the best BBL for the Bangsamoro people and finish it on time. They should work as one unit, as one body, and guided only by the higher interest of our people.
The previous BTC had acted as one solid body. They have never decided anything including major issues by resorting to the division of the house; they always settled matters either by consensus or the body authorized the chairman of the BTC to decide on matters at issue.
The other reason for this optimism is that while the reconstituted BTC has to make a new BBL but the reality is that it is not really new, because the letter and spirit of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) will still be the guiding parameter. The principle of inclusivity applies in so far as enhancing and improving the new proposed law by culling from other agreements, documents, or laws, say the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement on 1996, R.A. 9054, Indigenous Peoples’ Right Act, so on and so forth in order to produce a law that answers the need of everybody and addresses the aspiration of the Bangsamoro people for a genuine self-governing entity.
From InterAksyon (Jan 2): AFP New Year's wish: Joint cease-fire with Reds
The National Democratic Front's peace negotiating panel during the early rounds of the talks in Oslo, Norway. Photographed by Raymund Villanueva, InterAksyon.
A bilateral cease-fire declaration by the Duterte administration and the communist rebels this year would be a good start to building a solid ground for a long and lasting peace, military spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said. "Year 2017 will start, we hope, with a good joint declaration."
Both the government and rebel negotiating panels are keen to ink a bilateral cease fire despite hurdles on the issue of the release of more than 400 political prisoners, which President Rodrigo Duterte had in principle promised to do.
But Duterte later choked the throttle after realizing the magnitude of the issue, and vowed to have first a bilateral cease fire signed before making his final move to grant amnesty for all detained communist rebels.
Brig. Gen. Padilla said the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is confident that what had been started last year between the negotiating panels of the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the negotiating arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), will continue to prosper this year.
The positive peace outlook had resulted to the declaration unilateral cease fire late last year by the government and communist rebels.
"From the Armed Forces' perspective, we are all supportive of the President's agenda to have a long lasting (peace) and justice with the group (CPP-NPA-NDF) and we are looking forward (to more positive steps this year). The year 2016 was a pioneering year for the resumption (of peace talks). It was a good year for the resumption of the peace talks and hopefully year 2017 will start with a good joint declaration (of a cease fire)," Padilla said.
The CPP-NPA-NDF's 48-year armed struggle is the longest communist rebellion in Asia. This ideology of violent overthrow of the government started during the martial law regime of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.
Marcos got his final resting place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani recently after the Supreme Court (SC) junked all the petitions praying to bar the Marcos family to bury the remains of the strongman at the heroes' burial place.
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 2): Soldiers, cops remain on alert in N. Cotabato as threats from lawless groups continue
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato -- Police and military forces here remain on alert even after the holidays as threats of harassment from lawless elements including drug syndicates persist, a police official on Monday said.
Superintendent Bernard Tayong, town police chief, said soldiers from the 34th Infantry Battalion and Midsayap PNP will continue to implement checkpoints in areas identified to be crime and conflict prone areas, particularly in the borders of Midsayap and Datu Piang in Maguindanao.
On New Year's Eve, suspected members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) harassed an Army base in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap which left one woman slightly injured.
Tayong said about 30 BIFF members, led by Commander Tato Pauya and Commander Tong, traded shots with elements of the 34th IB until about 1 a.m. on New Year's Day.
Tayong said the wife of the soldier, identified as Norcel Bulay-Bulay, was hit by shrapnel in her heard.
When the soldiers retaliated, the gunmen fled back to Datu Piang. Nabalawag is the last barangay of Midsayap before the boundary with Datu Piang.
Bulay-Bulay was rushed by to Amado Diaz hospital in Poblacion Midsayap and later transferred to Cotabato Regional and Medical Center in Cotabato City.
It was not clear if the BIFF suffered casualties during the two-hour long sporadic exchange of gunfire.
Midsayap has been repeatedly attacked by BIFF and drug syndicates the past months, the latest of which was the Christmas Eve grenade attack on a police patrol car that left 17 injured, including a police officer.
Police believed the attack was not directed at the Church but for the police in retaliation to its successful anti-illegal drug campaign.
Another band of BIFF also harassed an Army base in nearby Barangay Elian in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao. No casualty was reported.
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 2): AFP says campaigns vs lawless groups successful but different steps are needed to neutralize them totally Military efforts to neutralize the various security threats and lawless elements in the country have proven quite successful but different steps must be taken to fully neutralize them.
This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo Monday.
He admitted that New People’s Army, Abu Sayyaf Group, Maute Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are “not similarly situated and thus the approaches necessary to defeat them are dissimilar.”
Since there are ongoing peace negotiations with the communist rebels, the AFP remains committed to continue to uphold the primacy of the peace process in dealing with the former.
The ceasefire took effect last Aug. 21.
”We will adhere to, as we have since the declaration, the suspension of military operations; abide by the provisions of Joint Ceasefire Declarations between the parties when one is signed. Meanwhile, the AFP will readily assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) in law enforcement operations when so requested,” Arevalo said.
He also said the AFP will continue to respond to the call to help capacitate local government in engendering progress and development that people in the countryside yearn for.
In regards to the ASG and Maute Group, Arevalo said the military will continue to conduct operations against the bandit elements are all neutralized.
”The AFP will sustain the momentum and capitalize on the gains that we have achieved in the campaign against these terrorists groups especially on the conduct of focused military operations to dislodge them in their known lairs,” he added.
”We will endeavor to confine them in areas where they cannot capitalize on their supporters and sympathizers. We will continue to build cooperations and partnerships with other agencies-- government & private --for non-kinetic means of defeating terrorists threats,” the military official emphasized.
Meanwhile, in the case of the BIFF, Arevalo said the AFP will relentlessly pursue the separatist group, focusing on its organization and support systems, that enables them to resist government operations to neutralize them.
”We will, together with the PNP, dismantle their machinery for illegal drugs trade and destroy their links with like-minded terrorist groups (this line of effort will be employed against the Abu Sayaff & Maute Groups that have been monitored and reported to be engaged in such nefarious activities),” he added.
