From Malaysia Business Insight (Jan 16): No ransom paid for Korean, Pinoy
THE Armed Forces yesterday dismissed talks ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf for the release of a Korean ship captain and a Filipino crew member in Indanan town, Sulu last Saturday.
The two had been in captivity for nearly three months.
Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP public affairs office, said ongoing military operations against the Abu Sayyaf forced the lawless group to release Korean boat captain Park Chulhong and Filipino seafarer Glenn Alindajao.
The two were released Saturday morning in Barangay Kagay with the help of the Moro National Liberation Front headed by Nur Misuari.
Reports said P25 million was paid to the group which is engaged mainly in kidnapping for ransom and is notorious for beheading victims whose families could not pay ransom.
Chulhong and Alindajao were seized off Tawi-Tawi last October 21 by Abu Sayyaf men who intercepted the victims’ ship Dong Bang Giant 2. The suspects let go the other crewmembers and the ship.
Arevalo said the group could not hold hostages for so long because they compromise the mobility of the kidnappers. The group is still holding 25 foreign and Filipino hostages in Sulu, including a Dutch photographer abducted in Tawi-Tawi in 2012.
“They were saying that they were very tired, they seldom ate. They are liability to the movement (of the Abu Sayyaf),” Arevalo said citing statements of victims earlier released by the Abu Sayyaf.
“With the conduct of this operation, we expect that that this (release of hostages) will continue, for one reason or another, they would have to release their hostages,” said Arevalo.
Asked why the Abu Sayyaf is not releasing the other hostages, Arevalo said, “They know that if they do not have kidnap victims, there will be no one to slow down soldiers. At present, our operations are calibrated to take into account the safety (of the hostages).”
The release of the two kidnap victims came eight days after AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año issued a new deadline of six months to defeat the Abu Sayyaf, the Maute Group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
“Make no mistake, General Año is very determined to crush the Abu Sayyaf menace... That is his direction, that is his intention -- to finish this in six months,” he said.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/no-ransom-paid-korean-pinoy
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Army 2nd Infantry Division sends off 192 new soldiers
From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 16): Army 2nd Infantry Division sends off 192 new soldiers
Philippine Army 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division recently deployed 192 new soldiers to several units at the 2ID Headquarters Grandstand, Tanay, Rizal this January 10.
The new troops consist of 174 males and 18 females 52 of which were deployed to the 16th Infantry Battalion, 68th Infantry Battalion, and 74th Infantry Battalion to improve their operational capabilities. Said 2ID units are currently based in Mindanao.
140 others were sent to other maneuver units based in the Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions under the 2ID's Area of Responsibility.
BGen. Rhoderick M Parayno, Commander, 2ID expressed his gratitude to the 2nd Division Training School headed by Col. Rogelio Percol for molding the new soldiers to become professional servant leaders and defenders of the nation.
Commander Parayno also urged the new soldiers to keep-up to the standards and add to the glory of 2ID during the sendoff ceremony. Maj. Pablo R de Guzman, Division Chaplain, officiated a blessing and giving of scapulars to the new soldiers as part of the program.
The said activity was also attended by BGen. Amador T. Tabuga Jr., AFP, Assistant Division Commander, 2ID; Col. Dante R. Barotilla, Assistant Division Commander for Reservist and Retirees Affairs, 2ID; and; Col. Marceliano V. Teofilo, Chief of Staff, 2ID along with other Officers, Enlisted Personnel, and Civilian Employees.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2261484121647/army-2nd-infantry-division-sends-off-192-new-soldiers
Philippine Army 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division recently deployed 192 new soldiers to several units at the 2ID Headquarters Grandstand, Tanay, Rizal this January 10.
The new troops consist of 174 males and 18 females 52 of which were deployed to the 16th Infantry Battalion, 68th Infantry Battalion, and 74th Infantry Battalion to improve their operational capabilities. Said 2ID units are currently based in Mindanao.
140 others were sent to other maneuver units based in the Calabarzon and Mimaropa regions under the 2ID's Area of Responsibility.
BGen. Rhoderick M Parayno, Commander, 2ID expressed his gratitude to the 2nd Division Training School headed by Col. Rogelio Percol for molding the new soldiers to become professional servant leaders and defenders of the nation.
Commander Parayno also urged the new soldiers to keep-up to the standards and add to the glory of 2ID during the sendoff ceremony. Maj. Pablo R de Guzman, Division Chaplain, officiated a blessing and giving of scapulars to the new soldiers as part of the program.
The said activity was also attended by BGen. Amador T. Tabuga Jr., AFP, Assistant Division Commander, 2ID; Col. Dante R. Barotilla, Assistant Division Commander for Reservist and Retirees Affairs, 2ID; and; Col. Marceliano V. Teofilo, Chief of Staff, 2ID along with other Officers, Enlisted Personnel, and Civilian Employees.
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2261484121647/army-2nd-infantry-division-sends-off-192-new-soldiers
6th Infantry Division commander named Westmincom chief
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 16): 6th Infantry Division commander named Westmincom chief
Major General Carlito Galvez Jr. barely warmed his seat as division commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division when he was designated by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
Galvez, a known peace advocate who earned the respect of non-government organizations and political leaders in Central Mindanao, will soon leave the “Kampilan” division based here to lead a bigger military organization tasked to ensure security in the most troubled region.
On Tuesday, Galvez will replace Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz as Westmincom chief.
Dela Cruz was designated as the new Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Taking Galvez’s post at 6th ID is Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, a peace advocate and environmentalist too. For the officers and men of the 6th ID, Galvez was known as “peace advocate in and out.”
He is also set to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, a three star rank in the AFP.
Galvez told reporters he is heading to a bigger task with bigger challenges, especially with the directive of the President to crush the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group, contain kidnapping, piracy and the Maute Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Westmincom covers half of Mindanao, specifically from Lanao Sur to Sultan Kudarat and from Zamboanga del Norte to Tawi-Tawi. Eastmincom covers the other half of the island.
Who is Gen. Galvez?
In its website, the Philippine Army said Gen. Galvez was the Battalion Commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion which was engaged in a series of bloody gun battles with Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Basilan and Sulu from 2000-2002.
Under his leadership, the unit was adjudged as the Best Scout Ranger Battalion for two consecutive years.
The unit is known for having three Medal for Valor awardees and five awardees of The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers coming from its ranks.
Galvez earned his first Gold Cross award and Wounded Personnel Medal as a junior officer, while fighting communist bandits in Davao in mid 1980s. He is also a fellow of Eisenhower Fellowships, USA.
He attended courses at the Asian Institute of Management and Harvard University. He is a member of PMA ‘Sandiwa’ Class of 1985.
Having seen the ugly face of armed conflicts, Gen. Galvez is also a peace advocate. He once served as a chairperson of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) that monitors the GRP-MILF Peace Process.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=955410
Major General Carlito Galvez Jr. barely warmed his seat as division commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division when he was designated by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom).
Galvez, a known peace advocate who earned the respect of non-government organizations and political leaders in Central Mindanao, will soon leave the “Kampilan” division based here to lead a bigger military organization tasked to ensure security in the most troubled region.
On Tuesday, Galvez will replace Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz as Westmincom chief.
Dela Cruz was designated as the new Inspector General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Taking Galvez’s post at 6th ID is Brig. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, a peace advocate and environmentalist too. For the officers and men of the 6th ID, Galvez was known as “peace advocate in and out.”
He is also set to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, a three star rank in the AFP.
Galvez told reporters he is heading to a bigger task with bigger challenges, especially with the directive of the President to crush the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group, contain kidnapping, piracy and the Maute Group and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Westmincom covers half of Mindanao, specifically from Lanao Sur to Sultan Kudarat and from Zamboanga del Norte to Tawi-Tawi. Eastmincom covers the other half of the island.
Who is Gen. Galvez?
In its website, the Philippine Army said Gen. Galvez was the Battalion Commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion which was engaged in a series of bloody gun battles with Abu Sayyaf terrorists in Basilan and Sulu from 2000-2002.
Under his leadership, the unit was adjudged as the Best Scout Ranger Battalion for two consecutive years.
The unit is known for having three Medal for Valor awardees and five awardees of The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers coming from its ranks.
Galvez earned his first Gold Cross award and Wounded Personnel Medal as a junior officer, while fighting communist bandits in Davao in mid 1980s. He is also a fellow of Eisenhower Fellowships, USA.
He attended courses at the Asian Institute of Management and Harvard University. He is a member of PMA ‘Sandiwa’ Class of 1985.
Having seen the ugly face of armed conflicts, Gen. Galvez is also a peace advocate. He once served as a chairperson of the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) that monitors the GRP-MILF Peace Process.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=955410
AFP to constantly adjust tactics to curb ASG threat
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 16): AFP to constantly adjust tactics to curb ASG threat
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it will constantly adjust its tactics in fighting the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
This was disclosed by AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo in an interview late Sunday.
He added adjustment in tactics will be done after six months which is in line with the self-imposed time frame set by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año on eliminating the ASG threat.
"And if within six months, the ASG threat is still present or existing, after six months, then, we will have an assessment of the experiences, lessons made in fighting the ASGs and, we will come out with an adjustment (in tactics) that will be based on the previous semester," Arevalo said in Filipino.
He also said the AFP chief's commitment to crush the bandit group in six months is not ambitious as changes are now ongoing on operational commitments, procedures, leadership and compositions of the fighting teams.
Arevalo declined to comment on whether new forces will be deployed in the ongoing anti-ASG operations due to security reasons.
"I just cannot tell you about that yet, as of yet, but you can expect that, " he added.
Año earlier said that while Development Support Security Plan "Kapayapaan" is focused on the primacy primacy of the peace process, terror groups like the ASG, Maute Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines and other lawless groups will feel the full brunt of the military's combat power.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=955408
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it will constantly adjust its tactics in fighting the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
This was disclosed by AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo in an interview late Sunday.
He added adjustment in tactics will be done after six months which is in line with the self-imposed time frame set by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año on eliminating the ASG threat.
"And if within six months, the ASG threat is still present or existing, after six months, then, we will have an assessment of the experiences, lessons made in fighting the ASGs and, we will come out with an adjustment (in tactics) that will be based on the previous semester," Arevalo said in Filipino.
He also said the AFP chief's commitment to crush the bandit group in six months is not ambitious as changes are now ongoing on operational commitments, procedures, leadership and compositions of the fighting teams.
Arevalo declined to comment on whether new forces will be deployed in the ongoing anti-ASG operations due to security reasons.
"I just cannot tell you about that yet, as of yet, but you can expect that, " he added.
Año earlier said that while Development Support Security Plan "Kapayapaan" is focused on the primacy primacy of the peace process, terror groups like the ASG, Maute Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines and other lawless groups will feel the full brunt of the military's combat power.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=955408
Defence Minister: South Philippines may become IS magnet if peace process delayed
From the New Straits Times (Jan 15): Defence Minister: South Philippines may become IS magnet if peace process delayed
The peace process in southern Philippines must be expedited to avoid the region from becoming a magnet for Islamic State (IS) militants fleeing West Asia.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said with the successful offensive by western powers in Syria and Iraq, displaced IS militants could seek refuge in volatile Southeast Asian Muslim regions such as southern Philippines and southern Thailand.
“That is why it is important for the peace process to be concluded, whatever it takes," said Hishammuddin after opening Sekolah Agama Bukit Paloh in Paloh, near here today.
Also present was Kahang assemblyman R Vidyananthan.
Hishammuddin said all parties in the negotiations, including Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are committed to the peace process.
He added that Duterte, during his state visit here last year, had also asked Malaysia to continue playing a lead role in the International Monitoring Team (IMT), which oversees the implementation of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF, as well as monitors aspects of civilian protection and humanitarian rehabilitation.
The peace process in southern Philippines must be expedited to avoid the region from becoming a magnet for Islamic State (IS) militants fleeing West Asia.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said with the successful offensive by western powers in Syria and Iraq, displaced IS militants could seek refuge in volatile Southeast Asian Muslim regions such as southern Philippines and southern Thailand.
"With the Abu Sayyaf militants having already taken an oath of allegiance to IS, they would definitely welcome the fleeing IS militants.
Also present was Kahang assemblyman R Vidyananthan.
Hishammuddin said all parties in the negotiations, including Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are committed to the peace process.
He added that Duterte, during his state visit here last year, had also asked Malaysia to continue playing a lead role in the International Monitoring Team (IMT), which oversees the implementation of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the MILF, as well as monitors aspects of civilian protection and humanitarian rehabilitation.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (2nd from left) says the peace process in the Philippines must be hasten to ensure the country deosn’t become a magnet for Islamic State (IS) militants fleeing West Asia. Pix by ADNAN IBRAHIM
Hishammuddin: Philippines wants Malaysia to continue helping peace process in Mindanao
From the Malay Mail Online (Jan 15): Hishammuddin: Philippines wants Malaysia to continue helping peace process in Mindanao
The Philippines wants Malaysia to continue playing an important role in helping resolve the peace process in Mindanao towards ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the request was made by Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself at a bilateral discussion during his maiden official visit to Malaysia early last November.
“The peace process (in Mindanao) is important in the context of regional stability and peace, and our (Malaysia’s) contribution to this peace process and our leadership in the International Monitoring Team (IMT).
“Duterte had asked that we continue playing our role in the peace process and in leading the IMT,” he told reporters after officially opening Sekolah Agama Bukit Paloh, here, today.
Hishammuddin said the request was repeated by the Philippine government to Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum and members of the IMT during Mohd Johari’s visit to the 11th IMT-Malaysia (IMT-M 11) headquarters in Mindanao on January 12.
“The Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had asked that we continue leading the IMT in the peace process in Mindanao together with Brunei, Japan and the European Union to ensure that the southern Philippines would not become a hotspot or location for those (militants) who fled from Syria and Iraq,” he said.
The minister said he wanted the peace process to be smooth and be resolved soon so that the militants would not see Mindanao and southern Philippines as a potential base for them.
“Let us together pray that we will find a solution and ensure that no threats can be exploited by irresponsible parties, specifically in this region,” said Hishammuddin, who is also the MP for Sembrong.
Hishammuddin said with help of Duterte’s leadership, he could see a new injection in seeking a solution to the conflict while the MILF and MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) were also directly involved, hence facilitating the IMT mission.
The Malaysia-led IMT is headed by Major General Datuk Zamrose Mohd Zain.
The IMT was established on August 24, 2004 to ensure that both sides abide by the ceasefire agreement.
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/hishammuddin-philippines-wants-malaysia-to-continue-helping-peace-process-i
The Philippines wants Malaysia to continue playing an important role in helping resolve the peace process in Mindanao towards ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the request was made by Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself at a bilateral discussion during his maiden official visit to Malaysia early last November.
“The peace process (in Mindanao) is important in the context of regional stability and peace, and our (Malaysia’s) contribution to this peace process and our leadership in the International Monitoring Team (IMT).
“Duterte had asked that we continue playing our role in the peace process and in leading the IMT,” he told reporters after officially opening Sekolah Agama Bukit Paloh, here, today.
Hishammuddin said the request was repeated by the Philippine government to Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum and members of the IMT during Mohd Johari’s visit to the 11th IMT-Malaysia (IMT-M 11) headquarters in Mindanao on January 12.
“The Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had asked that we continue leading the IMT in the peace process in Mindanao together with Brunei, Japan and the European Union to ensure that the southern Philippines would not become a hotspot or location for those (militants) who fled from Syria and Iraq,” he said.
The minister said he wanted the peace process to be smooth and be resolved soon so that the militants would not see Mindanao and southern Philippines as a potential base for them.
“Let us together pray that we will find a solution and ensure that no threats can be exploited by irresponsible parties, specifically in this region,” said Hishammuddin, who is also the MP for Sembrong.
Hishammuddin said with help of Duterte’s leadership, he could see a new injection in seeking a solution to the conflict while the MILF and MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) were also directly involved, hence facilitating the IMT mission.
The Malaysia-led IMT is headed by Major General Datuk Zamrose Mohd Zain.
The IMT was established on August 24, 2004 to ensure that both sides abide by the ceasefire agreement.
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/hishammuddin-philippines-wants-malaysia-to-continue-helping-peace-process-i
Drones help nab suspect in deadly Davao bombing
From the Journal Online (Jan 15): Drones help nab suspect in deadly Davao bombing
DRONES using American technology aided in the arrest in Malaysia of the son of two Mindanao political leaders who is linked to the September blast that killed 15 people in Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed.
Duterte was referring to a son of former Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Maguindanao lawmaker Rep. Bai Sandra Sema.
“He is now detained in Malaysia,” Duterte told the Davao City business community Saturday night.
Duterte did not identify who among Sema’s sons was in Malaysian custody, although reports said that Datu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema, 26, was arrested on Nov. 24 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport upon his arrival from Bangkok.
Duterte did not elaborate on the involvement of the young Sema, reportedly an Islamic scholar, in the Davao blast.
Duterte, in his speech before the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, cited the close security cooperation the Philippines enjoys with Malaysia.
Duterte also disclosed that American drone technology provided crucial assistance in the investigation.
“Aside from my camera, iyong sa siyudad natin, may ibang camera pa so ‘yung mukha mo nakikita talaga,” Duterte shared. (Aside from the city’s, there are other cameras so your face is easily seen.)
He explained that drones can take high-resolution photographs even from a high altitude.
“You know one thing with this drone…They can take pictures. So we have their faces. So it was very easy for us to catch them,” Duterte said.
“Sa gabi, hindi mo makita, nandiyan lang pala sa tuktok ng Marco Polo (You won’t see it at night but it could just be at the top of Marco Polo),” the President said referring to the hotel where the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its induction ceremony Saturday night.
He said “almost all kinds of tao dito nakunan na ng picture (We’ve taken the pictures of almost all kinds of people).”
The President has been openly indignant of the presence and involvement of the United States’ military in Mindanao, but he nonetheless thanked the Americans for assistance they provided in the Davao bombing investigation.
“There are imperialism days. It’s different from this one,” Duterte said.
“Nahuli ko na lahat yan (I’ve captured all of them),” the President said.
Three men were arrested on Oct. 4 and another four more on Oct. 29 inside the Southern Philippine Development Authority Compound in Cotabato City.
The area where the second batch of suspects was arrested is within the jurisdiction of Rosary Heights 7 where the older Sema, who heads the largest faction within the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was elected barangay chairman in 2013.
The seven men are believed to be operatives of the Maute Group, a radical Islamist group composed of former Moro rebels based in Lanao del Sur where they founded an Islamic state or Dawlah Islamiyah.
The Maute Group is dubbed the biggest threat to peace and security in southern Philippines since the Duterte government has been able to secure the cooperation of the major armed rebel groups such as the MILF and the communist New People’s Army.
http://www.journal.com.ph/news/top-stories/drones-help-nab-suspect-in-deadly-davao-bombing
DRONES using American technology aided in the arrest in Malaysia of the son of two Mindanao political leaders who is linked to the September blast that killed 15 people in Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte has confirmed.
Duterte was referring to a son of former Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema and Maguindanao lawmaker Rep. Bai Sandra Sema.
“He is now detained in Malaysia,” Duterte told the Davao City business community Saturday night.
Duterte did not identify who among Sema’s sons was in Malaysian custody, although reports said that Datu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema, 26, was arrested on Nov. 24 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport upon his arrival from Bangkok.
Duterte did not elaborate on the involvement of the young Sema, reportedly an Islamic scholar, in the Davao blast.
Duterte, in his speech before the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, cited the close security cooperation the Philippines enjoys with Malaysia.
Duterte also disclosed that American drone technology provided crucial assistance in the investigation.
“Aside from my camera, iyong sa siyudad natin, may ibang camera pa so ‘yung mukha mo nakikita talaga,” Duterte shared. (Aside from the city’s, there are other cameras so your face is easily seen.)
He explained that drones can take high-resolution photographs even from a high altitude.
“You know one thing with this drone…They can take pictures. So we have their faces. So it was very easy for us to catch them,” Duterte said.
“Sa gabi, hindi mo makita, nandiyan lang pala sa tuktok ng Marco Polo (You won’t see it at night but it could just be at the top of Marco Polo),” the President said referring to the hotel where the Davao Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its induction ceremony Saturday night.
He said “almost all kinds of tao dito nakunan na ng picture (We’ve taken the pictures of almost all kinds of people).”
The President has been openly indignant of the presence and involvement of the United States’ military in Mindanao, but he nonetheless thanked the Americans for assistance they provided in the Davao bombing investigation.
“There are imperialism days. It’s different from this one,” Duterte said.
“Nahuli ko na lahat yan (I’ve captured all of them),” the President said.
Three men were arrested on Oct. 4 and another four more on Oct. 29 inside the Southern Philippine Development Authority Compound in Cotabato City.
The area where the second batch of suspects was arrested is within the jurisdiction of Rosary Heights 7 where the older Sema, who heads the largest faction within the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), was elected barangay chairman in 2013.
The seven men are believed to be operatives of the Maute Group, a radical Islamist group composed of former Moro rebels based in Lanao del Sur where they founded an Islamic state or Dawlah Islamiyah.
The Maute Group is dubbed the biggest threat to peace and security in southern Philippines since the Duterte government has been able to secure the cooperation of the major armed rebel groups such as the MILF and the communist New People’s Army.
http://www.journal.com.ph/news/top-stories/drones-help-nab-suspect-in-deadly-davao-bombing
PCG seeks new boats vs pirates
From the Philippine Star (Jan 14): PCG seeks new boats vs pirates
Commodore Joel Garcia, PCG officer-in-charge, made the proposal in a meeting with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Friday. File photo
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has proposed the purchase of high-speed boats armed with two .30 caliber machine guns each to beef up security patrols and fight off pirates plaguing the waters off Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces in Mindanao.
Commodore Joel Garcia, PCG officer-in-charge, made the proposal in a meeting with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Friday.
PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said Tugade was “appreciative” of the anti-piracy measures and promised to help the agency in the acquisition.
Although the PCG operates as a civilian maritime unit, Balilo said arming the boats would not violate any rules since one of the agency’s functions is law enforcement.
He added that both DOTr and PCG are aware of the urgency to secure the southern seas and agreed to have the units by March this year.
Just last week, armed men killed eight fishermen off Zamboanga, while seven others managed to escape and swam to Siroman Island.
To make monitoring easier, Garcia also proposed the registration of all fishing boats and the issuance of a number plate or, at least, to have them painted for free on either side of the boat.
He said this proposal can be coordinated with the Maritime Industry Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the local government units since all fishing boats that are three gross tons or below are registered with them.
Garcia also proposed the assignment of some police or military men as marshals for passenger and cargo ships that ply the western Mindanao area.
Presently, the PCG provides sea marshals for passenger ships that use the Manila-Visayas-Mindanao routes.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662723/pcg-seeks-new-boats-vs-pirates
Commodore Joel Garcia, PCG officer-in-charge, made the proposal in a meeting with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Friday. File photo
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has proposed the purchase of high-speed boats armed with two .30 caliber machine guns each to beef up security patrols and fight off pirates plaguing the waters off Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces in Mindanao.
Commodore Joel Garcia, PCG officer-in-charge, made the proposal in a meeting with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Friday.
PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said Tugade was “appreciative” of the anti-piracy measures and promised to help the agency in the acquisition.
Although the PCG operates as a civilian maritime unit, Balilo said arming the boats would not violate any rules since one of the agency’s functions is law enforcement.
He added that both DOTr and PCG are aware of the urgency to secure the southern seas and agreed to have the units by March this year.
Just last week, armed men killed eight fishermen off Zamboanga, while seven others managed to escape and swam to Siroman Island.
To make monitoring easier, Garcia also proposed the registration of all fishing boats and the issuance of a number plate or, at least, to have them painted for free on either side of the boat.
He said this proposal can be coordinated with the Maritime Industry Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the local government units since all fishing boats that are three gross tons or below are registered with them.
Garcia also proposed the assignment of some police or military men as marshals for passenger and cargo ships that ply the western Mindanao area.
Presently, the PCG provides sea marshals for passenger ships that use the Manila-Visayas-Mindanao routes.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662723/pcg-seeks-new-boats-vs-pirates
Govt delegation all set for Rome peace talks
From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 14): Govt delegation all set for Rome peace talks
The Philippine government on Monday will submit to President Rodrigo Duterte the draft documents that will be tabled for discussion during the third round of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) when negotiations resume on January 19-25, 2017 in Rome, Italy.
“We are all set and ready to engage the NDF in the discussion of all substantive agenda including supplemental agreements needed to proceed and arrive at a peaceful negotiated political settlement to end the armed conflict in the country,” chief government negotiator Silvestre Bebot III said.
Among the documents to be submitted to the President are the draft agreements and principles for social and economic reforms, comprehensive agreement on political and constitutional reforms and comprehensive agreement on end of hostilities and disposition of forces.
“We are doing this in the spirit of true reconciliation and genuine quest for just and lasting peace,” Bello explained.
Bello said he is confident major breakthroughs will again be achieved in the Rome leg of talks. “We are prepared to sign side and other agreements while we are discussing contents and provisions of the major substantive agenda.”
Bello, who is also Labor secretary, explained that government is all set to sign a supplemental agreement on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law which will include an expanded role of the a Joint Monitoring Committee. “And we are challenging the NDF to formalize the unilateral ceasefire with a bilateral ceasefire agreement to give our communities and combatants a more secure environment for the peace process,” Bello added.
The main group of the government delegation leaves for Rome on January 17, 2017 for the opening round of talks on January 19.
Peace negotiations with the NDF were resumed in August after more than five years of impasse following the election of President Duterte.
In the August round when the negotiations were reopened, both panels agreed to reaffirm all previous signed agreements and reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Agreements and release of NDF leaders and members.
In the second round also in Oslo, Norway, negotiators exchanges outlines and agreed to accelerate the negotiations.
The government is confident it can strike a peace deal with the communist-led NDF, which counts among its member organization the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/14/govt-delegation-all-set-for-rome-peace-talks/
The Philippine government on Monday will submit to President Rodrigo Duterte the draft documents that will be tabled for discussion during the third round of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) when negotiations resume on January 19-25, 2017 in Rome, Italy.
MB FILE – Face-to-face for the first day of peace talks in Oslo, Norway are Government of the Philippines peace panel members (left side, from left) Antonio Arellano, Angela Trinidad, Rene Sarmiento, Hernani Braganza, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza and their counterparts in the communist party (right side, from left) Jose Maria Sison, Luis Jalandoni, Fidel Acgaoili, Connie Ledesma, Antero Palima, and Sison’s wife Julie de Lima. (Rocky Nazareno | Manila Bulletin)
Among the documents to be submitted to the President are the draft agreements and principles for social and economic reforms, comprehensive agreement on political and constitutional reforms and comprehensive agreement on end of hostilities and disposition of forces.
“We are doing this in the spirit of true reconciliation and genuine quest for just and lasting peace,” Bello explained.
Bello said he is confident major breakthroughs will again be achieved in the Rome leg of talks. “We are prepared to sign side and other agreements while we are discussing contents and provisions of the major substantive agenda.”
Bello, who is also Labor secretary, explained that government is all set to sign a supplemental agreement on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law which will include an expanded role of the a Joint Monitoring Committee. “And we are challenging the NDF to formalize the unilateral ceasefire with a bilateral ceasefire agreement to give our communities and combatants a more secure environment for the peace process,” Bello added.
The main group of the government delegation leaves for Rome on January 17, 2017 for the opening round of talks on January 19.
Peace negotiations with the NDF were resumed in August after more than five years of impasse following the election of President Duterte.
In the August round when the negotiations were reopened, both panels agreed to reaffirm all previous signed agreements and reconstitution of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Agreements and release of NDF leaders and members.
In the second round also in Oslo, Norway, negotiators exchanges outlines and agreed to accelerate the negotiations.
The government is confident it can strike a peace deal with the communist-led NDF, which counts among its member organization the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/14/govt-delegation-all-set-for-rome-peace-talks/
Duterte open to talk with Sison ‘in neutral third country’
From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 15): Duterte open to talk with Sison ‘in neutral third country’
President to wait for the outcome of the Rome peace talks
President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to meet Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison in a neutral third country to advance the government’s peace initiatives.
The president said he would wait for the results of the peace talks between the government and the communist rebel group in Rome before finalizing a meeting with Sison.
“Dureza and [Silvestre] Bebot Bello are there, nasa Rome sila ngayon. I don’t know why they transferred venue. Siguro magpalapit doon sa Pope para magrasyahan,” Duterte said in a forum with businessmen in Davao City, referring to presidential adviser on the peace process Jesus Dureza and labor secretary and chief government negotiator Silvestre Bello III.
“But I said, sige, I will just wait for a while. And when you’re ready, it’s either I will go to somewhere in a Third World country—not really a Third World country in terms of finances but a third country where I can talk to Sison.”
Duterte assured that he would announce any substantial outcome of his meeting with Sison afterwards. “And after that, if there’s something that is really official and substantial, then we can announce to the world that we have this agreement.”
Peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines panels will resume in Rome this month. Government negotiators reportedly hope to sign a joint bilateral ceasefire pact during the third round of negotiations.
Last December, the president had a telephone conversation with Sison and pressed for a ceasefire agreement before allowing the release of more political prisoners. The Palace described the conversation between Duterte and Sison as friendly and warm.
Sison, an asylum seeker in the Netherlands, was the former teacher of Duterte at the Lyceum of the Philippines University.
In his speech before the Davao business community, the president said the communist rebels “gave us a lot of trouble” but he persuaded them to return to the negotiating table.
He disclosed that he even went to the mountains to encourage the rebels to lay off vital public installations.
“We go some tête-à-tête in the mountains and we got to agree on so many things and one of that is really how to help the people and for them not to destroy equipment of government,” he said.
“I was able to get also the word of the NDF that they would be willing to talk about peace and when Norway provided their good offices for us to talk with the [MILF], we grabbed the chance.”
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/15/duterte-open-to-talk-with-sison-in-neutral-third-country/
President to wait for the outcome of the Rome peace talks
President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to meet Communist Party of the Philippines founding chair Jose Maria Sison in a neutral third country to advance the government’s peace initiatives.
The president said he would wait for the results of the peace talks between the government and the communist rebel group in Rome before finalizing a meeting with Sison.
President Rodrigo Duterte explains that his hatred for illegal drugs is born out of his genuine love for the country and his fellow Filipinos in his speech during the the 49th Installation of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCII) at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City on January 14, 2017. (Simeon Celi Jr./Presidential Photo) | mb.com.ph
“But I said, sige, I will just wait for a while. And when you’re ready, it’s either I will go to somewhere in a Third World country—not really a Third World country in terms of finances but a third country where I can talk to Sison.”
Duterte assured that he would announce any substantial outcome of his meeting with Sison afterwards. “And after that, if there’s something that is really official and substantial, then we can announce to the world that we have this agreement.”
Peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines panels will resume in Rome this month. Government negotiators reportedly hope to sign a joint bilateral ceasefire pact during the third round of negotiations.
Last December, the president had a telephone conversation with Sison and pressed for a ceasefire agreement before allowing the release of more political prisoners. The Palace described the conversation between Duterte and Sison as friendly and warm.
Sison, an asylum seeker in the Netherlands, was the former teacher of Duterte at the Lyceum of the Philippines University.
In his speech before the Davao business community, the president said the communist rebels “gave us a lot of trouble” but he persuaded them to return to the negotiating table.
He disclosed that he even went to the mountains to encourage the rebels to lay off vital public installations.
“We go some tête-à-tête in the mountains and we got to agree on so many things and one of that is really how to help the people and for them not to destroy equipment of government,” he said.
“I was able to get also the word of the NDF that they would be willing to talk about peace and when Norway provided their good offices for us to talk with the [MILF], we grabbed the chance.”
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/01/15/duterte-open-to-talk-with-sison-in-neutral-third-country/
AFP hopeful for signing of ceasefire accord
From the Philippine Star (Jan 15): AFP hopeful for signing of ceasefire accord
With a rebellion that is now nearly half a century old, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) hopes that the third round of peace negotiations between the government and the Communist rebels will finally result in the signing of an indefinite ceasefire agreement.
The government panel and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will meet in Rome on Jan. 18 to 25 to thresh out issues like social and economic reforms, rebel taxation, extortion and militarization, among others.
“We hope everything will be finalized to ensure the success of the peace talks,” said Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs Office chief.
While the AFP is not a party to the peace negotiations, he said the government panel is also asking for inputs from the military.
Some observers see the Rome round of talks as a make or break stage that could determine if the peace efforts are still to be pursued.
“In the third round of peace talks, we are hoping that we will already have a joint ceasefire declaration,” Arevalo said.
Among the concerns the AFP wants tackled and resolved are the accusations by some in the business sector that the New People’s (NPA) is still continuing in its extortion activities through threat and intimidation.
It cited the burning of several passenger buses, which run the South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City routes, as an example of these activities.
“While these extortion activities and burning (of buses) could not be considered violations in the peace talks, it’s very clear that they violate the existing laws of the land,” Arevalo said.
http://beta.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662397/afp-hopeful-signing-ceasefire-accord
The government panel and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will meet in Rome on Jan. 18 to 25 to thresh out issues like social and economic reforms, rebel taxation, extortion and militarization, among others.
“We hope everything will be finalized to ensure the success of the peace talks,” said Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs Office chief.
While the AFP is not a party to the peace negotiations, he said the government panel is also asking for inputs from the military.
Some observers see the Rome round of talks as a make or break stage that could determine if the peace efforts are still to be pursued.
“In the third round of peace talks, we are hoping that we will already have a joint ceasefire declaration,” Arevalo said.
It cited the burning of several passenger buses, which run the South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City routes, as an example of these activities.
“While these extortion activities and burning (of buses) could not be considered violations in the peace talks, it’s very clear that they violate the existing laws of the land,” Arevalo said.
http://beta.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662397/afp-hopeful-signing-ceasefire-accord
Defense chief to visit Pag-Asa
From the Philippine Star (Jan 15): Defense chief to visit Pag-Asa
With the improving relations between the Philippines and China, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is planning to visit Pag-Asa Island in the disputed Spratlys archipelago in the South China Sea.
While no specific date has been set for the trip, Camp Aguinaldo insiders revealed the visit is now being arranged.
Lorenzana himself confirmed his planned trip to the island town, saying Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Ano will accompany him.
“We are planning to go there with the chief of staff,” Lorenzana said, adding that some members of media can join the trip.
Formerly a military garrison, Pag-Asa Island is now home to around 300 civilian residents and is the seat of Kalayaan town, a fifth class municipality of Palawan province.
Lorenzana has yet to specify the purpose of his planned visit to Pag-Asa Island, which is central to the maritime dispute among six Spratlys-claimant states – the Phllippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and China.
China lays claim to the entire archipelago while the remaining five claimant-states have overlapping maritime claims in the disputed region.
Camp Aguinaldo insiders said Lorenzana, aside from visiting the soldiers in the island town, also wanted to get a feel of the real situation there following improved relations with China.
Aside from Pag-Asa Island, the AFP through Palawan-based Western Command also maintains eight other military detachments on seven islets and two reefs in the region.
http://beta.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662396/defense-chief-visit-pag-asa
While no specific date has been set for the trip, Camp Aguinaldo insiders revealed the visit is now being arranged.
Lorenzana himself confirmed his planned trip to the island town, saying Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Ano will accompany him.
“We are planning to go there with the chief of staff,” Lorenzana said, adding that some members of media can join the trip.
Formerly a military garrison, Pag-Asa Island is now home to around 300 civilian residents and is the seat of Kalayaan town, a fifth class municipality of Palawan province.
Lorenzana has yet to specify the purpose of his planned visit to Pag-Asa Island, which is central to the maritime dispute among six Spratlys-claimant states – the Phllippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and China.
Camp Aguinaldo insiders said Lorenzana, aside from visiting the soldiers in the island town, also wanted to get a feel of the real situation there following improved relations with China.
Aside from Pag-Asa Island, the AFP through Palawan-based Western Command also maintains eight other military detachments on seven islets and two reefs in the region.
http://beta.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/15/1662396/defense-chief-visit-pag-asa
DWDD: AFP has new Deputy Chief, Mison moves to 2nd Highest Post
Posted to DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Jan 13): AFP has new Deputy Chief, Mison moves to 2nd Highest Post
CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomes Rear Admiral Narciso A Vingson Jr as the new Deputy Chief of Staff and Lieutenant General Salvador Melchor B Mison Jr as the new Vice Chief of Staff in a ceremony held at the General Headquarters Building, Thursday, 12 January 2017.
CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomes Rear Admiral Narciso A Vingson Jr as the new Deputy Chief of Staff and Lieutenant General Salvador Melchor B Mison Jr as the new Vice Chief of Staff in a ceremony held at the General Headquarters Building, Thursday, 12 January 2017.
“Rear Admiral Vingson is the concurrent The Inspector General, AFP. He will still head the office until the assumption of a new Inspector General,” Marine Colonel Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs Chief disclosed.
Rear Admiral Vingson is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandiwa” Class of 1985. Prior to his assumption as the Inspector General in December 2016, he held the positions of Commander, Naval Education and Training Command and Deputy Commander, Philippine Fleet.
“Considered a seasoned sea-dog, Radm Vingson spent almost twelve years of sea duty aboard various Philippine Navy commissioned vessels. Among the vessels he commandeered were BRP Alberto Navarette (PG-394), BRP Iloilo (PS32) and BRP Ang Pangulo (AT25), the Presidential Yacht,” Colonel Arevalo said.
As a dedicated Surface Warfare Officer, RAdm Vingson took various foreign courses in the United States of America such as Anti-Sub Warfare Course, Amphibious Indoctrination Course, Naval Gunfire Liaison Officer Course, Combat Information Center Course and Instructor Training Course. He also took his Master of Science in Systems Engineering at Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California, USA.
RAdm Vingson is also a recipient of various awards; among them are Distinguished Service Stars, Military Merit Medals, Military Commendation Medals and numerous campaign medals and commendations.
“As the new Deputy Chief of Staff of the AFP, RAdm Vingson will now become the principal conductor of all activities of the AFP Joint, Personal and Special Staff. He is now the nominal Commander of the Technical and Administrative Service, and will also sit as Council Chairman of various board and committees in the AFP,” said Colonel Arevalo.
The Deputy Chief of Staff automatically assumes as the Chairman of the AFP Educational Benefit System, AFP Commissary and Exchange Service, AFP Commissioned Officers Club, AFP Golf Club, and AFP Provident Fund.
On the other hand, Lt Gen Mison has moved up to the second highest post in the AFP taking over as the military’s Vice Chief of Staff. He took over the position left by former Deputy Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Glorioso V Miranda who is now the Commanding General of the Philippine Army.
“As the new Vice Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Mison not only takes over the daunting role of being next in Command of the AFP, he will also act as an important link between the Chief of Staff and the Area Commanders,” Colonel Arevalo said.
Aiding the Chief of Staff in the administration and management of the AFP organization, the Vice Chief of Staff will also sit as the Chairman of various AFP Boards such as the Office of the Ethical Standard and Public Accountability, Selection of Medal for Valor, Housing, Legislative Affairs, and Gender and Development.
“The positions of the Vice Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff are vital in influencing the success of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. They may be working out of the public’s sight but their duties are equally crucial in ensuring that our efforts as one organization are unified and in line with our overall mission of protecting the people and the nation,” General Eduardo M Año, AFP Chief of Staff said.
DWDD: JTF Haribon deploys troops for ASEAN
Posted to DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Jan 13): JTF Haribon deploys troops for ASEAN
Panacan, Davao City – Task Force Haribon of the Eastern Mindanao Command held a send-off ceremony in the morning of January 13, 2017 at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City.
Panacan, Davao City – Task Force Haribon of the Eastern Mindanao Command held a send-off ceremony in the morning of January 13, 2017 at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City.
The forces will support the Philippine National Police in securing the launching and other related activities of ASEAN ‘17 in Davao City.
The forces deployed comprises of troops and equipment coming from air force, navy and army. It includes Explosive Ordnance Demolition Teams, K-9, Medical Teams and Quick Reaction Forces.
Other AFP assets deployed were armored vehicles, helicopters, ambulances and military trucks necessary in case of emergency.
BGen Gilbert I. Gapay Commander Joint Task Force Haribon led the send off and encourage the troops to give their best in this critical mission.
“Sa mission na to ibigay natin ang dedikasyon natin na syang tunay na marka ng isang kawal, mandirigma at manlalayag”.
The Task Force Haribon is expected to employ about 2000 personnel during the ASEAN.
CPP/CPPNCMR: Thoroughly Accomplish Rectification, Further Advance in All Round-Way to Contribute to the Nationwide Endeavor of Raising the Level of the People's War
Propaganda statement from the CPP-North Central Mindanao Region posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Jan 26*): Thoroughly Accomplish Rectification, Further Advance in All Round-Way to Contribute to the Nationwide Endeavor of Raising the Level of the People's War
Ka. Norcen Mangubat
Spokesperson
CPP-NCMR
26 January 2017
Ka. Norcen Mangubat
Spokesperson
CPP-NCMR
26 January 2017
Press Release
We, the CPP-Regional Committee of North Central Mindanao Region (NCMR), ecstatically commemorate today the anniversary of the rebuilding of the Communist Party of the Philippines and render our salute and cheerful greetings to all the Cadres and members of the Party, all the Red Commanders and fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA), all activists and members of various revolutionary mass organizations, and all the friends of the revolution for another year of success in gaining advances to our continuous people’s democratic revolution.
We have achieved these advances due to the sacrifices and persistent labor of all those affirmed in achieving the realization of this year’s plan. And we also consider these victories worth to be offered into all of our revolutionary martyrs whose sacrifices have brought us into this stage of our struggle. To the four who fell during a nasty raid in Sitio Kihinggay, Brgy. San Pedro, San Luis, Agusan del Sur last August 20 of the current year, we give our highest salute and offer a few moments of silence…
On the one hand, with more than a hundred days since the CPP and National Operations Command of the NPA declared its unilateral ceasefire in response to the unilateral ceasefire ordered by Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), this has been the longest in the history of the Philippine peace negotiations. This, in spite of the fact that the AFP, the PNP, the CAFGU and the military-backed bandit groups relentlessly launches brutal combat, intelligence and psywar operations under the banner of Oplan Bayanihan that the Duterte regime perpetuates after replacing BS Aquino’s regime. The CPP-NCMR is commending the NPA in strictly abiding its unilateral ceasefire despite the provocative acts of the enemy. Up to this very day, no record of ceasefire violation was committed by the NPA not only in the region but throughout the Philippines. The NPA is clear-headed enough in providing an adequate atmosphere so that the GRP-NDFP talks would succeed in Norway.
With the continuing peace negotiations and unilateral ceasefires, we must be vigilant and we must alert all revolutionary forces in NCMR of the alternating provocations of the enemy in the war field as they attempt to bait the NPA into retaliatory attacks and thus annulling the ceasefire. Since August 22 up to this date, no less than 80 remote villages from 22 towns within the four provinces of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon have been infiltrated, encamped and operated by the AFP combat troops.
The protest actions launched by the residents of the said communities are gaining ground after they suffered harassments and their rights violated and abused with the military in full battle gear and into encampments that lasts more than just weeks, treading their barrios and communities. More residents are jointly and bravely conducting dialogues-confrontations against enemy troops through petition signing, lobbying the LGUs, exposing to the public and other forms of struggles in order to ward them off from living on the villages. These efforts by the people also manifest their vibrancy in supporting for the success of the struggles by the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels in their pursuit for the realization of a just and lasting peace on the negotiation table. The people are well aware that if the enemy troops are unimpeded in trampling the rural villages and in scouring jungle areas they believe where the NPA are positioned, a resurgence in armed skirmishes between the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU could most likely arise and could possibly derail the ongoing peace talks.
On the other hand, the CPP in NCMR is proud to dispatch to its constituency in the region the all-round advance it has achieved for the entire year 2016 in launching the protracted people’s war. In the ideological field, for the three-level Party courses, 1,032 members and potential Party members have graduated from the 44 batches of the Basic Party Course while nine batches consisting of 295 cadres and members of the Party have completed the Intermediate Course. The third batch of cadres tackling up the Advanced Party Course in on its way.
Due to these sustained ideological studies, our putting of Marxist-Leninist-Maoist theories into concrete revolutionary practice in NCMR have been relatively adept and precise. We have sharply pointed out the errors and correctly revealed and applied the 15-year lessons [since 2001 till 2016] of the summing-up of the region’s revolutionary practice. Successive conferences and meetings of the various fields of work have also been a big help in pinpointing and resolving problems and obstacles to accomplishing many tasks. These also comprehensively shed light to the regional situation and has materialized the plans for various fields such as handling of bourgeois elections, in the military arena, the open mass movements and campaigns, among others.
The Ang Bayan (AB) fortnightly and the national and regional Party and NPA statements downloaded from time to time from the Philippine Revolution Web Central [PRWC] are translated and/or relayed to Party and NPA units as supplemental study materials. We have also embedded lessons and theories derived from practice into Party cadres residing and leading the platoons by launching batches of the Basic Platoon Officers Course [BPOC]. Ideological struggles are also very much alive making the Party life vibrant and struggling for correctness.
In the organizational field, Party members are still on the increase especially with their Party branches in the locality rising up by 31 percent. Promotion of Party cadres are also sped up and they are assigned into a number of territorial Party committees, into the broadening and increasing units of the people’s army, into the organic staff, into the established organs of political powers and into the mass organizations. Quoting Stalin: “After setting out the correct political line, the work of the organization would now be decisive to all, even the direction of that political line— either its victory or defeat.” Accordingly, Party units and individuals are continuously and consciously striving how to combat bureaucratism, ultra-democracy and liberalism within the organization.
In the political field, there is a consistent 16 percent gain in the number of full-time Red fighters corresponding to a 13% increase in new platoon formations. They inter-operate with the much-increasing flanks and formation of the People’s Militias up by 41 percent. They have successfully launched 109 tactical offensives even before their unilateral ceasefire was declared August 21 of this year. As a response to the increase to platoon formations, the number of barrios within its operation has gained a 7 percent increase, now being favorable to the maneuvers of our people’s army.
Within this ceasefire period, our people’s army continues to keep up with the tasks mandated to them such as doing mass work, maintaining peace and order in the vicinity of its territory, implementing tax policies by the revolutionary government, cultural work, food production and continuous politico-military training. For maximizing the ceasefire, seven batches of the Basic Politico-Military Training [BKPM] had been launched, participated by their Red commanders and fighters and by the People’s Militia.
The urban revolutionary mass movement is all the more striving for its contribution to the advance of the region’s armed struggle. It has broadened its ranks among the workers, the urban poor and the petty-bourgeoisie while it caters their sectoral and class demands. It has also contributed to the strengthening of the armed struggle in the countryside through the recruitment of the youth into the People’s Army.
The mass base has also widened and deepened. Our organized masses have risen by 26 percent. This also corresponds to a 53 percent increase in the number of organs of political power while sectoral chapters have been increasing at 36 percent.
This year, anti-feudal mass movements got invigorated. Seventy-one events in total had been launched. This number excludes anti-plantation, anti-demolition and anti-drought mass movements in their thousands. It encompasses 264 barrios within 26 towns and six cities from the four provinces of the region. It is joined by 60,000 peasants and farm workers wherein 200,000 have directly benefited. From barrio up to the provincial and regional levels, we have witnessed mass movements widely being launched.
In the fight to counter the drought, more than 15,000 sacks of NFA rice were received by the masses in protest to demand the food ration by the NFA, DA, and the LGU in several towns, cities and provinces of the region. The aftermath of the Kidapawan massacre last summer has primed the masses’ resolve to be militant in demanding food aid from government agencies. Add to this the 1,364 sacks of rice confiscated by the guerilla people’s army in South-Central Bukidnon from the warehouse of a landlord-merchant-usurer in Valencia City last April 18.
Organized evacuations of barrio and Lumad community residents occur during military operations and harassments by the bandits they are supporting. Keeping with the lessons of the previous experiences, seven instances of organized mass evacuations have been undertaken for the year 2016. These evacuations and the matching attacks against peasant and Lumad communities have caught the attention not only of the local and national, but also the international arena of public opinion.
Successive Lakbayans to the national capital was launched since last year and still this year. In Mindanao and in our region in particular, a swelling number of Lumad and peasant masses have gone down there. This year, the Moro masses have joined since they also have been victimized by land-grabbing of their ancestral lands, state fascism and discrimination.
Study-instructors are enjoining in providing PADEPA themes, Ang Bayan articles, national and regional CPP and NPA statements to the locality. Audio-visual aids using high-tech amenities are providing mass educations ease in understanding. The mass lectures are becoming integral in the rapid arousal, organizing and mobilization of the masses among their ranks.
But with the all-round achievements we garnered this year comes our appraisal of our capacities and potentialities in striding and leaping forward; we have not yet been out-and-out. In several instances, we can still witness some who have been at ease with what we have accomplished – still attaching to the old practice of organizing the people at a slow pace which was long been debunked as snail-paced advance and has been proven ineffective. The CPP-NCMR hopes that with doing away with empiricism and holding fast the key concepts of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the masses in all fields, we could hurdle several-folds in upturns as results to our fervent work, skills training and potency in the coming year and the next few more. Combat and do away with the erroneous tendencies of empiricism, conservatism, localism, guerrilla-ism, bureaucratism, ultra-democracy, and liberalism within the organization and our slack in keeping with our points of discipline. Let us thoroughly launch rectification, advance the all-round development of the revolutionary situation of the region in order to take part in the nationwide endeavor of raising the level of our people’s war.
Finally, with months already the Duterte regime is sitting in power and with the persisting unilateral ceasefire, the revolutionary mass movement in NCMR is vibrantly carrying its banner forward and continues to rise in the field of armed revolution. To whatever we will be attaining from the peace negotiations, if the negotiating table fails to resolve the social and economic roots of the Philippine civil war, our struggling people in NCMR led by their Communist Party of the Philippines will maintain the call to arms to further its agenda.
Long live the 48th anniversary of the rebuilding of the Communist Party of the Philippines!
Long live the New People’s Army!
Long live the National United Front!
Realize a just and lasting peace!
Long live the people’s struggles!
(*The statement was posted on Jan 16 but was dated Jan 26.)
[The Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) is the official website of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The PRWC serves as platform to promote the views of the CPP and other revolutionary organizations concerning the key issues being confronted by the Filipino people and their revolutionary movement.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/95/
We have achieved these advances due to the sacrifices and persistent labor of all those affirmed in achieving the realization of this year’s plan. And we also consider these victories worth to be offered into all of our revolutionary martyrs whose sacrifices have brought us into this stage of our struggle. To the four who fell during a nasty raid in Sitio Kihinggay, Brgy. San Pedro, San Luis, Agusan del Sur last August 20 of the current year, we give our highest salute and offer a few moments of silence…
On the one hand, with more than a hundred days since the CPP and National Operations Command of the NPA declared its unilateral ceasefire in response to the unilateral ceasefire ordered by Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), this has been the longest in the history of the Philippine peace negotiations. This, in spite of the fact that the AFP, the PNP, the CAFGU and the military-backed bandit groups relentlessly launches brutal combat, intelligence and psywar operations under the banner of Oplan Bayanihan that the Duterte regime perpetuates after replacing BS Aquino’s regime. The CPP-NCMR is commending the NPA in strictly abiding its unilateral ceasefire despite the provocative acts of the enemy. Up to this very day, no record of ceasefire violation was committed by the NPA not only in the region but throughout the Philippines. The NPA is clear-headed enough in providing an adequate atmosphere so that the GRP-NDFP talks would succeed in Norway.
With the continuing peace negotiations and unilateral ceasefires, we must be vigilant and we must alert all revolutionary forces in NCMR of the alternating provocations of the enemy in the war field as they attempt to bait the NPA into retaliatory attacks and thus annulling the ceasefire. Since August 22 up to this date, no less than 80 remote villages from 22 towns within the four provinces of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon have been infiltrated, encamped and operated by the AFP combat troops.
The protest actions launched by the residents of the said communities are gaining ground after they suffered harassments and their rights violated and abused with the military in full battle gear and into encampments that lasts more than just weeks, treading their barrios and communities. More residents are jointly and bravely conducting dialogues-confrontations against enemy troops through petition signing, lobbying the LGUs, exposing to the public and other forms of struggles in order to ward them off from living on the villages. These efforts by the people also manifest their vibrancy in supporting for the success of the struggles by the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels in their pursuit for the realization of a just and lasting peace on the negotiation table. The people are well aware that if the enemy troops are unimpeded in trampling the rural villages and in scouring jungle areas they believe where the NPA are positioned, a resurgence in armed skirmishes between the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU could most likely arise and could possibly derail the ongoing peace talks.
On the other hand, the CPP in NCMR is proud to dispatch to its constituency in the region the all-round advance it has achieved for the entire year 2016 in launching the protracted people’s war. In the ideological field, for the three-level Party courses, 1,032 members and potential Party members have graduated from the 44 batches of the Basic Party Course while nine batches consisting of 295 cadres and members of the Party have completed the Intermediate Course. The third batch of cadres tackling up the Advanced Party Course in on its way.
Due to these sustained ideological studies, our putting of Marxist-Leninist-Maoist theories into concrete revolutionary practice in NCMR have been relatively adept and precise. We have sharply pointed out the errors and correctly revealed and applied the 15-year lessons [since 2001 till 2016] of the summing-up of the region’s revolutionary practice. Successive conferences and meetings of the various fields of work have also been a big help in pinpointing and resolving problems and obstacles to accomplishing many tasks. These also comprehensively shed light to the regional situation and has materialized the plans for various fields such as handling of bourgeois elections, in the military arena, the open mass movements and campaigns, among others.
The Ang Bayan (AB) fortnightly and the national and regional Party and NPA statements downloaded from time to time from the Philippine Revolution Web Central [PRWC] are translated and/or relayed to Party and NPA units as supplemental study materials. We have also embedded lessons and theories derived from practice into Party cadres residing and leading the platoons by launching batches of the Basic Platoon Officers Course [BPOC]. Ideological struggles are also very much alive making the Party life vibrant and struggling for correctness.
In the organizational field, Party members are still on the increase especially with their Party branches in the locality rising up by 31 percent. Promotion of Party cadres are also sped up and they are assigned into a number of territorial Party committees, into the broadening and increasing units of the people’s army, into the organic staff, into the established organs of political powers and into the mass organizations. Quoting Stalin: “After setting out the correct political line, the work of the organization would now be decisive to all, even the direction of that political line— either its victory or defeat.” Accordingly, Party units and individuals are continuously and consciously striving how to combat bureaucratism, ultra-democracy and liberalism within the organization.
In the political field, there is a consistent 16 percent gain in the number of full-time Red fighters corresponding to a 13% increase in new platoon formations. They inter-operate with the much-increasing flanks and formation of the People’s Militias up by 41 percent. They have successfully launched 109 tactical offensives even before their unilateral ceasefire was declared August 21 of this year. As a response to the increase to platoon formations, the number of barrios within its operation has gained a 7 percent increase, now being favorable to the maneuvers of our people’s army.
Within this ceasefire period, our people’s army continues to keep up with the tasks mandated to them such as doing mass work, maintaining peace and order in the vicinity of its territory, implementing tax policies by the revolutionary government, cultural work, food production and continuous politico-military training. For maximizing the ceasefire, seven batches of the Basic Politico-Military Training [BKPM] had been launched, participated by their Red commanders and fighters and by the People’s Militia.
The urban revolutionary mass movement is all the more striving for its contribution to the advance of the region’s armed struggle. It has broadened its ranks among the workers, the urban poor and the petty-bourgeoisie while it caters their sectoral and class demands. It has also contributed to the strengthening of the armed struggle in the countryside through the recruitment of the youth into the People’s Army.
The mass base has also widened and deepened. Our organized masses have risen by 26 percent. This also corresponds to a 53 percent increase in the number of organs of political power while sectoral chapters have been increasing at 36 percent.
This year, anti-feudal mass movements got invigorated. Seventy-one events in total had been launched. This number excludes anti-plantation, anti-demolition and anti-drought mass movements in their thousands. It encompasses 264 barrios within 26 towns and six cities from the four provinces of the region. It is joined by 60,000 peasants and farm workers wherein 200,000 have directly benefited. From barrio up to the provincial and regional levels, we have witnessed mass movements widely being launched.
In the fight to counter the drought, more than 15,000 sacks of NFA rice were received by the masses in protest to demand the food ration by the NFA, DA, and the LGU in several towns, cities and provinces of the region. The aftermath of the Kidapawan massacre last summer has primed the masses’ resolve to be militant in demanding food aid from government agencies. Add to this the 1,364 sacks of rice confiscated by the guerilla people’s army in South-Central Bukidnon from the warehouse of a landlord-merchant-usurer in Valencia City last April 18.
Organized evacuations of barrio and Lumad community residents occur during military operations and harassments by the bandits they are supporting. Keeping with the lessons of the previous experiences, seven instances of organized mass evacuations have been undertaken for the year 2016. These evacuations and the matching attacks against peasant and Lumad communities have caught the attention not only of the local and national, but also the international arena of public opinion.
Successive Lakbayans to the national capital was launched since last year and still this year. In Mindanao and in our region in particular, a swelling number of Lumad and peasant masses have gone down there. This year, the Moro masses have joined since they also have been victimized by land-grabbing of their ancestral lands, state fascism and discrimination.
Study-instructors are enjoining in providing PADEPA themes, Ang Bayan articles, national and regional CPP and NPA statements to the locality. Audio-visual aids using high-tech amenities are providing mass educations ease in understanding. The mass lectures are becoming integral in the rapid arousal, organizing and mobilization of the masses among their ranks.
But with the all-round achievements we garnered this year comes our appraisal of our capacities and potentialities in striding and leaping forward; we have not yet been out-and-out. In several instances, we can still witness some who have been at ease with what we have accomplished – still attaching to the old practice of organizing the people at a slow pace which was long been debunked as snail-paced advance and has been proven ineffective. The CPP-NCMR hopes that with doing away with empiricism and holding fast the key concepts of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the masses in all fields, we could hurdle several-folds in upturns as results to our fervent work, skills training and potency in the coming year and the next few more. Combat and do away with the erroneous tendencies of empiricism, conservatism, localism, guerrilla-ism, bureaucratism, ultra-democracy, and liberalism within the organization and our slack in keeping with our points of discipline. Let us thoroughly launch rectification, advance the all-round development of the revolutionary situation of the region in order to take part in the nationwide endeavor of raising the level of our people’s war.
Finally, with months already the Duterte regime is sitting in power and with the persisting unilateral ceasefire, the revolutionary mass movement in NCMR is vibrantly carrying its banner forward and continues to rise in the field of armed revolution. To whatever we will be attaining from the peace negotiations, if the negotiating table fails to resolve the social and economic roots of the Philippine civil war, our struggling people in NCMR led by their Communist Party of the Philippines will maintain the call to arms to further its agenda.
Long live the 48th anniversary of the rebuilding of the Communist Party of the Philippines!
Long live the New People’s Army!
Long live the National United Front!
Realize a just and lasting peace!
Long live the people’s struggles!
(*The statement was posted on Jan 16 but was dated Jan 26.)
[The Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) is the official website of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). The PRWC serves as platform to promote the views of the CPP and other revolutionary organizations concerning the key issues being confronted by the Filipino people and their revolutionary movement.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/95/
Sema not mastermind but helped plan Davao bombing – AFP chief
From Rappler (Jan 15): Sema not mastermind but helped plan Davao bombing – AFP chief
General Eduardo Año says he wants Datu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema back in the Philippines to answer accusations that he is behind the deadly blast
AFP IN ASEAN. General Eduardo Año (middle) attends the launch of the Philippines' chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Davao City on January 15, 2017. Photo by Pia Ranada/Rappler
Datu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema, son of a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader now detained in Malaysia, was not the mastermind of the Davao City bombing, but was closely involved in its planning, said the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Last year, 7 suspects of the Davao City bombing were nabbed by authorities. They were tagged as members of the Maute terror group.
Fifteen people died in the blast while more than 60 others were injured.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/158426-datu-mohammad-abduljabbar-sema-planning-davao-bombing-afp-chief
General Eduardo Año says he wants Datu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema back in the Philippines to answer accusations that he is behind the deadly blast
AFP IN ASEAN. General Eduardo Año (middle) attends the launch of the Philippines' chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Davao City on January 15, 2017. Photo by Pia Ranada/Rappler
Datu Mohammad Abduljabbar Sema, son of a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader now detained in Malaysia, was not the mastermind of the Davao City bombing, but was closely involved in its planning, said the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"We have information. [He is] not really [the] mastermind but somehow, he has participated during the planning, especially the planning," AFP chief General Eduardo Año told Rappler on Sunday, January 15.
Año was attending the launch of the Philippines' chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Davao City.
The Philippine government plans to seek custody of Sema from Malaysia.
"We have to coordinate first with our counterparts in Malaysia. Of course, what we [want] is to bring him inside," said Año.
"[Sema] has to answer some of these charges related to the Davao bombing," added Año.
Sema's return to the Philippines and possible prosecution would be spearheaded by the Philippine National Police (PNP), he added.
The AFP chief also confirmed statements made by President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night, January 14, that United States intelligence helped track down suspects in the Davao bombing.
"What the US provides us is information-sharing, the way they get information through scientific and technical equipment, they have that capability so they share it with us," said Año in a mix of English and Filipino.
The other night, Duterte said American drones took images that helped track down the Davao bombing suspects. Año clarified that such use of drones may have happened, not during the bombing itself, but while it was being planned.
"What the President meant was not the actual bombing but including the planning, the process. Remember, the planning was done in Cotabato. It's part of the coverage. So somehow, that also helped," the AFP chief said.
Fifteen people died in the blast while more than 60 others were injured.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/158426-datu-mohammad-abduljabbar-sema-planning-davao-bombing-afp-chief
Mother injured, daughter dead in Lamitan blast
From Rappler (Jan 15): Mother injured, daughter dead in Lamitan blast
Witnesses say the mother and her 11-year-old daughter were gathering coconuts for dinner when an improvised explosive device went off
A mother was critically wounded and her daughter killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in Lamitan City, Basilan on Sunday afternoon, January 15.
Witnesses say the mother and her 11-year-old daughter were gathering coconuts for dinner when an improvised explosive device went off
A mother was critically wounded and her daughter killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) went off in Lamitan City, Basilan on Sunday afternoon, January 15.
According to witnesses, 37-year-old Neneng Asdali Haddalun and her 11-year-old daughter were gathering coconuts for dinner when the IED exploded.
The blast occurred in Barangay Sabong, just a few meters away from previous bombing sites in Lamitan City.
The Philippine Army's 104th Infantry Brigade identified Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-leader Nur Hassan Lahaman as the one behind the attack.
Government troops are now hunting down local groups which have terrorized Lamitan City in the past months.
In 2016, two soldiers were killed during route security operations, while about 5 clashes occurred between the military and the ASG in Lamitan City.
The military is coordinating with barangay officials and urging residents to report suspicious individuals in the area. Soldiers also continue to conduct regular patrols.
Duterte has 'productive' meeting with US ambassador – Palace
From Rappler (Jan 15): Duterte has 'productive' meeting with US ambassador – Palace
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and US Ambassador Sung Kim meet for 45 minutes in Davao City, discussing military and law enforcement cooperation, among others
'PRODUCTIVE.' President Rodrigo Duterte meets with US Ambassador Sung Kim at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City on January 15, 2017. Photo by Simeon Celi Jr/Presidential Photo
Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte had a "productive 45-minute meeting" with US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim in Davao City on Sunday, January 15.
Duterte and Kim met after the Philippine leader launched the country's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2017. They also previously met last December when Kim presented his credentials to Duterte.
"The US ambassador congratulated the Philippines on its assumption of the ASEAN hosting and looked forward to a successful leadership," said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a statement on Sunday.
Duterte and Kim also discussed military and law enforcement cooperation, according to the Palace.
"Furthermore, he also discussed [US-Philippine] military cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism, and the extent of US assistance to Mindanao," said Abella.
"Citing cooperation in law enforcement, Ambassador Sung Kim stressed that the US will continue to provide support, including intelligence exchange and in maritime security. It was a very productive meeting marked by an open exchange of ideas," he added.
'Solid' relationship
Abella also said Kim affirmed the long-standing ties between Manila and Washington. Those ties were called into question when Duterte assumed power last year, as the President launched one tirade after another against the US, President Barack Obama, and then US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
But the relationship between the Philippines and the US is expected to warm up once Obama's successor, President-elect Donald Trump, takes office on January 20.
Duterte has been cordial toward Trump, even inviting him to visit Manila this year.
"[Kim] reiterated the commitment of the US to the bilateral relationship with the [Philippines] which he described as 'solid,'" said Abella.
Earlier, too, Abella hailed the US for naming an ambassador to Manila who has Asian roots.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim previously served as special representative for North Korea policy and deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the US State Department.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and US Ambassador Sung Kim meet for 45 minutes in Davao City, discussing military and law enforcement cooperation, among others
'PRODUCTIVE.' President Rodrigo Duterte meets with US Ambassador Sung Kim at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City on January 15, 2017. Photo by Simeon Celi Jr/Presidential Photo
Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte had a "productive 45-minute meeting" with US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim in Davao City on Sunday, January 15.
Duterte and Kim met after the Philippine leader launched the country's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2017. They also previously met last December when Kim presented his credentials to Duterte.
"The US ambassador congratulated the Philippines on its assumption of the ASEAN hosting and looked forward to a successful leadership," said Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella in a statement on Sunday.
Duterte and Kim also discussed military and law enforcement cooperation, according to the Palace.
"Furthermore, he also discussed [US-Philippine] military cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism, and the extent of US assistance to Mindanao," said Abella.
"Citing cooperation in law enforcement, Ambassador Sung Kim stressed that the US will continue to provide support, including intelligence exchange and in maritime security. It was a very productive meeting marked by an open exchange of ideas," he added.
'Solid' relationship
Abella also said Kim affirmed the long-standing ties between Manila and Washington. Those ties were called into question when Duterte assumed power last year, as the President launched one tirade after another against the US, President Barack Obama, and then US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.
But the relationship between the Philippines and the US is expected to warm up once Obama's successor, President-elect Donald Trump, takes office on January 20.
Duterte has been cordial toward Trump, even inviting him to visit Manila this year.
"[Kim] reiterated the commitment of the US to the bilateral relationship with the [Philippines] which he described as 'solid,'" said Abella.
Earlier, too, Abella hailed the US for naming an ambassador to Manila who has Asian roots.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim previously served as special representative for North Korea policy and deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the US State Department.
He also worked as US ambassador to Korea from 2011 to 2014.
Militant, church groups: Rome round of peace talks with Left must tackle hard issues
From InterAksyon (Jan 15): Militant, church groups: Rome round of peace talks with Left must tackle hard issues
The government and NDF panels face each other in an earlier round of the peace talks in Oslo.
Militant and church groups expressed support at the weekend for the third round of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) in Rome.
The talks starting January 19 will center on socio-economic reforms, considered the "meat" of the peace talks.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said it hopes there will be serious negotiations on issues as poverty, underdevelopment, inequality, economic sovereignty and other social and historical factors at the root causes of the armed conflict.
More than the ceasefire declarations, negotiations on substantive agenda, such as economic reforms, will be the real indicator of sincerity in the peace talks, the alliance said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) has urged the Filipino people and the global community to support the forthcoming third round of formal peace talks.
One of the country’s largest religious alliances, PEPP brings together Roman Catholic priests and nuns, United Methodist ministers and deaconesses, and bishops from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and bishops and pastors of a number of evangelical churches are also part of the alliance.
Signatories to the PEPP statement were: Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S. J. of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and co-chairperson of the PEPP; Rev. Fr. Rex RB Reyes Jr. of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and co-chairperson of PEPP; Bishop Deogracias S. Iniguez Jr. of the Ecumencial Bishops Forum (EBF) and head of PEPP Secretariat; Bishop Noel A. Pantoja of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), and; Sr. Mary John D. Mananzan, OSB, of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP.)
“The third round of the GRP-NDFP formal peace talks will be held on January 18-23, 2017 in Rome, Italy. May the Holy Spirit guide all those involved as they discern ways to end the decades-old armed conflict in our country. We pray that the positive atmosphere that was present in the first two rounds of talks continue and that both panels put the interests of the people, especially the most vulnerable, at the center of the discussions. Our prayer goes with the hope that the negotiations on the second substantive agenda on social and economic reforms that aims to address the roots of the armed conflict, redound to a peaceful future where all the basic requirements for all Filipinos to live an abundant life, as the Lord promised, is fulfilled,” PEPP said.
It urged both parties "to show their fidelity to previously signed agreements especially on the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). May this fidelity also manifest as the two parties work on a possible bilateral ceasefire agreement.”
Release of prisoners
Meanwhile, the alliance of religious leaders from various sects supported the call for the release of political prisoners, especially the sick and the elderly. "This is a very important confidence boosting measure that prepares the ground for even more progress to be made on reaching common understanding between the two sides," PEPP stressed.
For its part, Bayan through Renato Reyes Jr. said it supports "the draft agreement on socio-economic reforms being advanced by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines panel which takes into account the People's Agenda for Change that was submitted to both the GRP and NDF panels last year.”
Bayan supported as well the NDF's prioritization of land reform, rural development, national Industrialization, economic sovereignty, environmental protection, the rights of the working people, social services and pro-people fiscal reforms as submitted in the People's Agenda. "We also appreciate the extensive consultations that were conducted to ensure that the interests of the oppressed and exploited would be included in the proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER),” he added.
Bayan said the Rome talks should also be an opportunity to address several outstanding issues that continue to undermine the peace talks.
“Political prisoners should be released as a matter of justice and compliance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) as well as the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig),” Reyes stressed.
He sought a stop to "militarization of the countryside, especially civilian communities," whether it's called Oplan Bayanihan (OPB) or Development Support Plan Kapayapaan (DSPK) or OPK.
"Operating troops of the AFP must leave the civilian communities and discontinue psywar and intelligence activities disguised as development activities. The continuing military operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) undermine the Duterte government's own ceasefire declaration,” Reyes noted.
“The Duterte government must move to create a favorable climate for the advance of the talks. The rising body count in the war on drugs, continuing threats of Martial Law, violations of sovereignty and neoliberal economic impositions all undermine the peace process,” Reyes said.
http://interaksyon.com/article/136200/militant-church-groups-rome-round-of-peace-talks-with-left-must-tackle-hard-issues
The government and NDF panels face each other in an earlier round of the peace talks in Oslo.
Militant and church groups expressed support at the weekend for the third round of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDF) in Rome.
The talks starting January 19 will center on socio-economic reforms, considered the "meat" of the peace talks.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said it hopes there will be serious negotiations on issues as poverty, underdevelopment, inequality, economic sovereignty and other social and historical factors at the root causes of the armed conflict.
More than the ceasefire declarations, negotiations on substantive agenda, such as economic reforms, will be the real indicator of sincerity in the peace talks, the alliance said.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) has urged the Filipino people and the global community to support the forthcoming third round of formal peace talks.
One of the country’s largest religious alliances, PEPP brings together Roman Catholic priests and nuns, United Methodist ministers and deaconesses, and bishops from the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and bishops and pastors of a number of evangelical churches are also part of the alliance.
Signatories to the PEPP statement were: Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S. J. of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and co-chairperson of the PEPP; Rev. Fr. Rex RB Reyes Jr. of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and co-chairperson of PEPP; Bishop Deogracias S. Iniguez Jr. of the Ecumencial Bishops Forum (EBF) and head of PEPP Secretariat; Bishop Noel A. Pantoja of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), and; Sr. Mary John D. Mananzan, OSB, of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP.)
“The third round of the GRP-NDFP formal peace talks will be held on January 18-23, 2017 in Rome, Italy. May the Holy Spirit guide all those involved as they discern ways to end the decades-old armed conflict in our country. We pray that the positive atmosphere that was present in the first two rounds of talks continue and that both panels put the interests of the people, especially the most vulnerable, at the center of the discussions. Our prayer goes with the hope that the negotiations on the second substantive agenda on social and economic reforms that aims to address the roots of the armed conflict, redound to a peaceful future where all the basic requirements for all Filipinos to live an abundant life, as the Lord promised, is fulfilled,” PEPP said.
It urged both parties "to show their fidelity to previously signed agreements especially on the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). May this fidelity also manifest as the two parties work on a possible bilateral ceasefire agreement.”
Release of prisoners
Meanwhile, the alliance of religious leaders from various sects supported the call for the release of political prisoners, especially the sick and the elderly. "This is a very important confidence boosting measure that prepares the ground for even more progress to be made on reaching common understanding between the two sides," PEPP stressed.
For its part, Bayan through Renato Reyes Jr. said it supports "the draft agreement on socio-economic reforms being advanced by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines panel which takes into account the People's Agenda for Change that was submitted to both the GRP and NDF panels last year.”
Bayan supported as well the NDF's prioritization of land reform, rural development, national Industrialization, economic sovereignty, environmental protection, the rights of the working people, social services and pro-people fiscal reforms as submitted in the People's Agenda. "We also appreciate the extensive consultations that were conducted to ensure that the interests of the oppressed and exploited would be included in the proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER),” he added.
Bayan said the Rome talks should also be an opportunity to address several outstanding issues that continue to undermine the peace talks.
“Political prisoners should be released as a matter of justice and compliance with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) as well as the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig),” Reyes stressed.
He sought a stop to "militarization of the countryside, especially civilian communities," whether it's called Oplan Bayanihan (OPB) or Development Support Plan Kapayapaan (DSPK) or OPK.
"Operating troops of the AFP must leave the civilian communities and discontinue psywar and intelligence activities disguised as development activities. The continuing military operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) undermine the Duterte government's own ceasefire declaration,” Reyes noted.
“The Duterte government must move to create a favorable climate for the advance of the talks. The rising body count in the war on drugs, continuing threats of Martial Law, violations of sovereignty and neoliberal economic impositions all undermine the peace process,” Reyes said.
http://interaksyon.com/article/136200/militant-church-groups-rome-round-of-peace-talks-with-left-must-tackle-hard-issues
Indonesia, Japan to deepen defense ties amid China challenge
From InterAksyon (Jan 16): Indonesia, Japan to deepen defense ties amid China challenge
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sundayreaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on maritime security and deepen defence ties, as both nations feud with China over sea territory.
Abe -- in Indonesia on a regional tour that has taken in Australia and the Philippines and will include Vietnam -- said their two island nations gave maritime cooperation the “highest priority”.
“Japan will actively encourage cooperation on maritime security and encourage the development of the remote islands of Indonesia,” he said through a translator at the presidential palace in Bogor.
Last month Tokyo and Jakarta unveiled an agreement aimed in part at strengthening Indonesia’s ability to defend its vast marine borders.
Indonesia has no argument with China over ownership of reefs or islets in the disputed South China Sea. But Beijing’s expansive claims overlap with Indonesia's exclusive economic zone -- waters where a state has the right to exploit resources -- around the Natuna islands.
Indonesia has vowed to protect its sovereignty from intrusions by fishing vessels, and has blown up foreign boats in a show of force, including some from China.
Japan, which has a territorial row with China over disputed islands in the East China Sea, has worked to strengthen ties with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations such as Indonesia.
It has repeatedly stressed that maritime disputes should be addressed according to law.
The defence and foreign ministers of Japan and Indonesia will meet this year to discuss deepening “cooperation in the fields of defence and security”, Abe added.
Widodo said Japanese investment in Indonesia had nearly doubled from 2015 to almost $5 billion last year. The two leaders discussed opportunities centred on large infrastructure projects including a medium-speed rail line and key port.
Widodo is trying to spur growth in Southeast Asia’s largest economy by increasing infrastructure spending, particularly on the country’s creaking roads, ports and railways.
Japan has won bids to construct Indonesia’s largest coal-fired power plant and a mass rapid transit system for Jakarta. But it lost a lucrative contract to China to build the country’s first high-speed rail network.
http://interaksyon.com/article/136207/indonesia-japan-to-deepen-defense-ties-amid-china-challenge
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sundayreaffirmed their commitment to cooperate on maritime security and deepen defence ties, as both nations feud with China over sea territory.
Abe -- in Indonesia on a regional tour that has taken in Australia and the Philippines and will include Vietnam -- said their two island nations gave maritime cooperation the “highest priority”.
“Japan will actively encourage cooperation on maritime security and encourage the development of the remote islands of Indonesia,” he said through a translator at the presidential palace in Bogor.
Last month Tokyo and Jakarta unveiled an agreement aimed in part at strengthening Indonesia’s ability to defend its vast marine borders.
Indonesia has no argument with China over ownership of reefs or islets in the disputed South China Sea. But Beijing’s expansive claims overlap with Indonesia's exclusive economic zone -- waters where a state has the right to exploit resources -- around the Natuna islands.
Indonesia has vowed to protect its sovereignty from intrusions by fishing vessels, and has blown up foreign boats in a show of force, including some from China.
Japan, which has a territorial row with China over disputed islands in the East China Sea, has worked to strengthen ties with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations such as Indonesia.
It has repeatedly stressed that maritime disputes should be addressed according to law.
The defence and foreign ministers of Japan and Indonesia will meet this year to discuss deepening “cooperation in the fields of defence and security”, Abe added.
Widodo said Japanese investment in Indonesia had nearly doubled from 2015 to almost $5 billion last year. The two leaders discussed opportunities centred on large infrastructure projects including a medium-speed rail line and key port.
Widodo is trying to spur growth in Southeast Asia’s largest economy by increasing infrastructure spending, particularly on the country’s creaking roads, ports and railways.
Japan has won bids to construct Indonesia’s largest coal-fired power plant and a mass rapid transit system for Jakarta. But it lost a lucrative contract to China to build the country’s first high-speed rail network.
http://interaksyon.com/article/136207/indonesia-japan-to-deepen-defense-ties-amid-china-challenge
60 Higaonon families flee as suspected NPA rebels arrive in village
From MindaNews (Jan 15): 60 Higaonon families flee as suspected NPA rebels arrive in village
The sight of heavily armed men was enough for some 60 Higaonon families to flee their homes in Sitio Bulahan, Barangay Dansolihon here on Saturday night.
Dansolihon Barangay Chairman Gilbert Nacalaban said the evacuation started Saturday night after residents heard of persistent reports of the presence of suspected communist rebels.
A Higaonon family squeezed themsels inside a small nipa hut at their tribal meeting hall in Barangay Dansoliho, Cagayan de Oro City Saturday, July 14, 2017. Higanon villagers fled their homes in Sitio Bulahan after the rebels arrived in their village. MindaNews photo by FROILAN O. GALLARDO
“I had to make four trips to the village on my pickup and Isuzu truck to ferry the residents. They all look very terrified Nacalaban said.
Two teams from the 58th Infantry Brigade and Cagayan de Oro Police Special Weapons Action Team were on standby at the police station in Barangay Lumbia awaiting orders to go to Sitio Bulahan.
Senior Inspector Dennis Ebsolo, Lumbia police station chief said they are still checking whether the armed men were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) as reported by some villagers.
“We have a ceasefire with this group. It is not easy just to confront them because we may violate any standing agreements,” he said.
The government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have yet to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement but each declared a unilateral ceasefire shortly before the first round of formal peace talks under the Duterte administration in August. The two parties will hold their third round of formal talks in Rome next week, where they are hope to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement.
Joel Manuel, a farmer from Sitio Bulahan, said he was walking along a creek when he heard one of the armed men whistle at him and ask for directions.
“They told me their group is the army of the poor and they do not want to harm me or the villagers,” Manuel narrated.
After talking with the armed men, Manuel said he returned to his house and gathered his family to flee, fearing for their safety.
Along the way, he told his neighbors of the presence of the armed men.
“We were scared that we maybe caught in a crossfire between government troops and the rebels. The armed men numbered around 60,” Manuel said.
Capt Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the Army’s 4thInfantry Division said it is highly unlikely that there will be a gun battle between soldiers and the suspected rebels.
He said under the ceasefire agreement, the instruction on incidents like will fall under the jurisdiction of the Philippine National Police.
Martinez said Army units will be on standby and will just provide support to the police.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2017/01/60-higaonon-families-flee-as-suspected-npa-rebels-arrive-in-village/
The sight of heavily armed men was enough for some 60 Higaonon families to flee their homes in Sitio Bulahan, Barangay Dansolihon here on Saturday night.
Dansolihon Barangay Chairman Gilbert Nacalaban said the evacuation started Saturday night after residents heard of persistent reports of the presence of suspected communist rebels.
“I had to make four trips to the village on my pickup and Isuzu truck to ferry the residents. They all look very terrified Nacalaban said.
Two teams from the 58th Infantry Brigade and Cagayan de Oro Police Special Weapons Action Team were on standby at the police station in Barangay Lumbia awaiting orders to go to Sitio Bulahan.
Senior Inspector Dennis Ebsolo, Lumbia police station chief said they are still checking whether the armed men were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) as reported by some villagers.
“We have a ceasefire with this group. It is not easy just to confront them because we may violate any standing agreements,” he said.
The government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have yet to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement but each declared a unilateral ceasefire shortly before the first round of formal peace talks under the Duterte administration in August. The two parties will hold their third round of formal talks in Rome next week, where they are hope to sign a bilateral ceasefire agreement.
Joel Manuel, a farmer from Sitio Bulahan, said he was walking along a creek when he heard one of the armed men whistle at him and ask for directions.
“They told me their group is the army of the poor and they do not want to harm me or the villagers,” Manuel narrated.
After talking with the armed men, Manuel said he returned to his house and gathered his family to flee, fearing for their safety.
Along the way, he told his neighbors of the presence of the armed men.
“We were scared that we maybe caught in a crossfire between government troops and the rebels. The armed men numbered around 60,” Manuel said.
Capt Patrick Martinez, spokesperson of the Army’s 4thInfantry Division said it is highly unlikely that there will be a gun battle between soldiers and the suspected rebels.
He said under the ceasefire agreement, the instruction on incidents like will fall under the jurisdiction of the Philippine National Police.
Martinez said Army units will be on standby and will just provide support to the police.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2017/01/60-higaonon-families-flee-as-suspected-npa-rebels-arrive-in-village/
Bello hopes bilateral ceasefire agreement signed in 3rd round of talks
From MindaNews (Jan 16): Bello hopes bilateral ceasefire agreement signed in 3rd round of talks
The government (GRP) peace panel will “strive hard” to have the bilateral ceasefire agreement with the National Democratic Front (NDF) signed during the third round of formal peace negotiations on January 19 to 25 in Rome, Italy, its chief negotiator said.
GRP peace panel chair and concurrent Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told reporters at the launch of the Philippine chairmanship of the ASEAN 2017 at the SMX Convention Center Davao Sunday that they hope to settle with the NDF the “definition of terms,” for acts considered as hostile and violative of the ceasefire.
Two panels each declared a unilateral ceasefire shortly before the start of the first round of formal pace talks in Oslo, Norway in late August. They gave themselves 60 days from the end of the first round to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement but no agreement was signed within 60 days or even during the second round of formal peace talks in October.
“The problem with unilateral ceasefire is that it lacks the definition of terms. You do not know what constitutes the hostile act, you do not know what constitutes a violation of the ceasefire. In bilateral agreement, there is definition of terms to know what hostile act will constitute a violation,” he said.
The two peace panels will also tackle the Comprehensive Agreement on Socioeconomic Reforms (CASER) in the third round of talks.
But he said they are not rushing on the signing of CASER because it is the most contentious among the agreements that will be signed by the GRP and NDFP.
Described as the “heart and soul” of the peace negotiations, the CASER contains the most contentious issues such as agrarian reform, national industrialization, and foreign policy.
In a press release issued by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) on Saturday, Bello expressed optimism that major breakthroughs will take place next week.
“We are prepared to sign side and other agreements while we are discussing contents and provisions of the major substantive agenda,” Bello.
He added that draft documents will be submitted on Monday to President Rodrigo Duterte.. The government panel will leave for Rome, Italy on Tuesday, he said.
Among these draft documents are the draft CASER, comprehensive agreement on political and constitutional reforms (CAPCR) and comprehensive agreement on end of hostilities and disposition of forces (EOHDOF).
“We are all set and ready to engage the NDF in the discussion of all substantive agenda including supplemental agreements needed to proceed and arrive at a peaceful negotiated political settlement to end the armed conflict in the country,” Bello said.
He emphasized that the GRP panel is doing all it can “in the spirit of true reconciliation and genuine quest for just and lasting peace.”
He said t the GRP panel is ready to sign side and other agreements while discussing contents and provisions of rhe major substantive agenda.
Bello explained that government is all set to sign a supplemental agreement on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which will include an expanded role for the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC).
“And we are challenging the NDF to formalize the unilateral ceasefire with a bilateral ceasefire agreement to give our communities and combatants a more secure environment for the peace process,” Bello added.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2017/01/bello-hopes-bilateral-ceasefire-agreement-signed-in-3rd-round-of-talks/
The government (GRP) peace panel will “strive hard” to have the bilateral ceasefire agreement with the National Democratic Front (NDF) signed during the third round of formal peace negotiations on January 19 to 25 in Rome, Italy, its chief negotiator said.
GRP peace panel chair and concurrent Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III told reporters at the launch of the Philippine chairmanship of the ASEAN 2017 at the SMX Convention Center Davao Sunday that they hope to settle with the NDF the “definition of terms,” for acts considered as hostile and violative of the ceasefire.
Two panels each declared a unilateral ceasefire shortly before the start of the first round of formal pace talks in Oslo, Norway in late August. They gave themselves 60 days from the end of the first round to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement but no agreement was signed within 60 days or even during the second round of formal peace talks in October.
“The problem with unilateral ceasefire is that it lacks the definition of terms. You do not know what constitutes the hostile act, you do not know what constitutes a violation of the ceasefire. In bilateral agreement, there is definition of terms to know what hostile act will constitute a violation,” he said.
The two peace panels will also tackle the Comprehensive Agreement on Socioeconomic Reforms (CASER) in the third round of talks.
But he said they are not rushing on the signing of CASER because it is the most contentious among the agreements that will be signed by the GRP and NDFP.
Described as the “heart and soul” of the peace negotiations, the CASER contains the most contentious issues such as agrarian reform, national industrialization, and foreign policy.
In a press release issued by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) on Saturday, Bello expressed optimism that major breakthroughs will take place next week.
“We are prepared to sign side and other agreements while we are discussing contents and provisions of the major substantive agenda,” Bello.
He added that draft documents will be submitted on Monday to President Rodrigo Duterte.. The government panel will leave for Rome, Italy on Tuesday, he said.
Among these draft documents are the draft CASER, comprehensive agreement on political and constitutional reforms (CAPCR) and comprehensive agreement on end of hostilities and disposition of forces (EOHDOF).
“We are all set and ready to engage the NDF in the discussion of all substantive agenda including supplemental agreements needed to proceed and arrive at a peaceful negotiated political settlement to end the armed conflict in the country,” Bello said.
He emphasized that the GRP panel is doing all it can “in the spirit of true reconciliation and genuine quest for just and lasting peace.”
He said t the GRP panel is ready to sign side and other agreements while discussing contents and provisions of rhe major substantive agenda.
Bello explained that government is all set to sign a supplemental agreement on the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which will include an expanded role for the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC).
“And we are challenging the NDF to formalize the unilateral ceasefire with a bilateral ceasefire agreement to give our communities and combatants a more secure environment for the peace process,” Bello added.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2017/01/bello-hopes-bilateral-ceasefire-agreement-signed-in-3rd-round-of-talks/
Angeles City exec to attend 3rd round of peace talks in Rome
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 15): Angeles City exec to attend 3rd round of peace talks in Rome
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan will attend the third round of peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the umbrella alliance of the Communist Party, the New People's Army and other revolutionary national democratic organizations.
The peace talks with the Reds, which was revived in Oslo, Norway immediately after the assumption of President Rodrigo Duterte after a hiatus of six years, will be held in Rome, the capital city of Italy in southern Europe on January 18 to 25.
"Both panels -- the Philippine Government and the NDFP -- mutually agreed to the change of venue because of the harsh winter weather in Oslo, Norway. Although the winter weather in Rome is at near freezing of 2 to 6 degrees centigrade, it is much better than the frigid temperature of -10 to -17 degrees centigrade in Northern Europe," Pamintuan said.
"European winter will never be a hindrance to the peace warriors from both sides. The desire to pursue the talks for a just and lasting peace in our beloved country will keep us warm during the negotiations," he added.
Pamintuan, who is also the chairman of the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC) and national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, is the adviser of the Philippine Government panel.
"Hopes are high that there will be major agreements on substantial issues like social and economic reforms, and political and constitutional reforms. The matters concerning joint/bilateral ceasefire will also be taken up and I am very optimistic that there will be meeting points on this, if not a formal agreement," Pamintuan noted.
The ceasefire between the AFP and the NPA has been holding even if it is only covered by unilateral declarations from both sides. A formal joint/bilateral ceasefire agreement will make it more stable.
"So far, so good. The staccato of gunfire has been replaced by singing of songs and conduct of peace fora throughout the country. The Christmas season even paved the way for joint events punctuated by joint singing of AFP soldiers and NPA guerillas, and boodle fights," he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=955346
Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan will attend the third round of peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the umbrella alliance of the Communist Party, the New People's Army and other revolutionary national democratic organizations.
The peace talks with the Reds, which was revived in Oslo, Norway immediately after the assumption of President Rodrigo Duterte after a hiatus of six years, will be held in Rome, the capital city of Italy in southern Europe on January 18 to 25.
"Both panels -- the Philippine Government and the NDFP -- mutually agreed to the change of venue because of the harsh winter weather in Oslo, Norway. Although the winter weather in Rome is at near freezing of 2 to 6 degrees centigrade, it is much better than the frigid temperature of -10 to -17 degrees centigrade in Northern Europe," Pamintuan said.
"European winter will never be a hindrance to the peace warriors from both sides. The desire to pursue the talks for a just and lasting peace in our beloved country will keep us warm during the negotiations," he added.
Pamintuan, who is also the chairman of the Central Luzon Regional Development Council (RDC) and national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, is the adviser of the Philippine Government panel.
"Hopes are high that there will be major agreements on substantial issues like social and economic reforms, and political and constitutional reforms. The matters concerning joint/bilateral ceasefire will also be taken up and I am very optimistic that there will be meeting points on this, if not a formal agreement," Pamintuan noted.
The ceasefire between the AFP and the NPA has been holding even if it is only covered by unilateral declarations from both sides. A formal joint/bilateral ceasefire agreement will make it more stable.
"So far, so good. The staccato of gunfire has been replaced by singing of songs and conduct of peace fora throughout the country. The Christmas season even paved the way for joint events punctuated by joint singing of AFP soldiers and NPA guerillas, and boodle fights," he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=955346
Professionals, students urged to join AFP reservist programs
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 15): Professionals, students urged to join AFP reservist programs
As the Armed Forces of the Philippines goes beyond its traditional role of defending the nation against internal and external threats, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año on Sunday urged professionals and students alike to join the various military reservist programs.
The AFP chief's call came in wake of the promotion of 11 senior officers in the Reservist Corps where six senior colonels were promoted to the rank of brigadier general and five lieutenant colonels promoted a step higher to colonel on Friday.
“The AFP regards highly the role that the Reservists play in the accomplishment of its mission. They are not simply force multipliers; they are important component and partners in various non-lethal military operations and activities. It is admirable that, despite the fact that they receive no compensation and leaves the practice of their professions for the period that they serve the AFP, they remain committed, dependable, and ready to be deployed to serve on call with due notice," Año added.
“These are the qualities of citizen army that the country needs especially in this stage of our country at the threshold of change. We need professionals who shall put premium on national interest and well-being," he further said.
These attributes of prospective reservists are not easy to come by but not impossible to find. Hence, the call to serve the nation from among the citizenry to be commissioned as Officers or be enlisted in the Reservist Corps.
“The preservation of the state is an obligation of every citizen. The AFP believes that military reservist programs are good training platforms and opportunities for our citizens, particularly the youth to prepare them in a shared role in nationhood and nation building,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.
The AFP Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM) is one of the military’s major support commands established for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.
Founded in 1993, the AFPRESCOM’s major task is to train potential military reservists through different training courses.
The AFPRESCOM’s enlistment is through the Military Orientation Training Course (MOTC) and the Basic Citizens Military Training (BCMT).
Reserve Officers on the other hand are directly commissioned based on AFP Policy Circular 30. Those who are commissioned through this method subsequently undergo an Officer Orientation Program.
Elected officials and Presidential Appointees also undergo commissioning to the AFP’s reserve force through AFP Circular Number 03. Incumbent politicians such as Davao City Mayor and Presidential Daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, Senator Manny Paquiao, and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (who was among those promoted to Colonel) are among notable Reserve Officers of the AFP.
The AFPRESCOM’s recruitment is supported by the Reserve Commands of the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Navy. All of which are also conducting training programs and courses for potential AFP Reservists.
“At present, the AFP has a total of 385,116-strong Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine reservists. Of which, 78,735 are Ready Reserve or on constant alert and training, 292, 427 are Standby Reserve or the base for expansion, support and augmentation for the Ready Reserve, and 13,954 are Affiliated Reserve,” Arevalo said.
The AFP is also keen on supporting the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and its drive to instill discipline among the youth.
Currently, there are 1,520,704 ROTC cadets in the Philippines. There are 1,258,32 Army ROTC cadets, 831,520 from the Air Force, and 563,352 from the Navy.
“The AFP actively supports the ROTC Program that promotes nationalism and patriotism among the youth. It develops their sense of willingness to render active military and civic duties, during peacetime and national emergency,” Arevalo stated.
“We need to train men and women physically, mentally, and psychologically, by instilling discipline and nurturing the values of nationalism and patriotism making them ready to take on the challenge of being in the forefront of nationhood and national well-being,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=955334
As the Armed Forces of the Philippines goes beyond its traditional role of defending the nation against internal and external threats, AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año on Sunday urged professionals and students alike to join the various military reservist programs.
The AFP chief's call came in wake of the promotion of 11 senior officers in the Reservist Corps where six senior colonels were promoted to the rank of brigadier general and five lieutenant colonels promoted a step higher to colonel on Friday.
“The AFP regards highly the role that the Reservists play in the accomplishment of its mission. They are not simply force multipliers; they are important component and partners in various non-lethal military operations and activities. It is admirable that, despite the fact that they receive no compensation and leaves the practice of their professions for the period that they serve the AFP, they remain committed, dependable, and ready to be deployed to serve on call with due notice," Año added.
“These are the qualities of citizen army that the country needs especially in this stage of our country at the threshold of change. We need professionals who shall put premium on national interest and well-being," he further said.
These attributes of prospective reservists are not easy to come by but not impossible to find. Hence, the call to serve the nation from among the citizenry to be commissioned as Officers or be enlisted in the Reservist Corps.
“The preservation of the state is an obligation of every citizen. The AFP believes that military reservist programs are good training platforms and opportunities for our citizens, particularly the youth to prepare them in a shared role in nationhood and nation building,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.
The AFP Reserve Command (AFPRESCOM) is one of the military’s major support commands established for the sole purpose of Reserve Force management, procurement, and organization.
Founded in 1993, the AFPRESCOM’s major task is to train potential military reservists through different training courses.
The AFPRESCOM’s enlistment is through the Military Orientation Training Course (MOTC) and the Basic Citizens Military Training (BCMT).
Reserve Officers on the other hand are directly commissioned based on AFP Policy Circular 30. Those who are commissioned through this method subsequently undergo an Officer Orientation Program.
Elected officials and Presidential Appointees also undergo commissioning to the AFP’s reserve force through AFP Circular Number 03. Incumbent politicians such as Davao City Mayor and Presidential Daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, Senator Manny Paquiao, and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (who was among those promoted to Colonel) are among notable Reserve Officers of the AFP.
The AFPRESCOM’s recruitment is supported by the Reserve Commands of the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Navy. All of which are also conducting training programs and courses for potential AFP Reservists.
“At present, the AFP has a total of 385,116-strong Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine reservists. Of which, 78,735 are Ready Reserve or on constant alert and training, 292, 427 are Standby Reserve or the base for expansion, support and augmentation for the Ready Reserve, and 13,954 are Affiliated Reserve,” Arevalo said.
The AFP is also keen on supporting the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and its drive to instill discipline among the youth.
Currently, there are 1,520,704 ROTC cadets in the Philippines. There are 1,258,32 Army ROTC cadets, 831,520 from the Air Force, and 563,352 from the Navy.
“The AFP actively supports the ROTC Program that promotes nationalism and patriotism among the youth. It develops their sense of willingness to render active military and civic duties, during peacetime and national emergency,” Arevalo stated.
“We need to train men and women physically, mentally, and psychologically, by instilling discipline and nurturing the values of nationalism and patriotism making them ready to take on the challenge of being in the forefront of nationhood and national well-being,” he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=955334