CPP/Ang Bayan: Siege and military attacks in civilian communities

Propaganda article from the English language edition of the CPP online publication Ang Bayan (Jun  21): Siege and military attacks in civilian communities

Duterte’s armed minions continue to sow terror throughout the country. Using massive swarm tactics, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deployed battalions upon battalions of troops in target communities and areas where projects favoring foreigners are to be built, in an effort to subjugate the people and drive them away from their farmlands and ancestral lands. This is most prevalent in Mindanao, where 75% of the Philippine Army’s combat battalions are deployed.

Initial data from Ang Bayan show that eight battalions of the AFP are deployed in Caraga, six are focused in Marawi, while three battalions are deployed in the three barangays of Talaingod, Davao del Norte. In Maguindanao, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur and in the whole Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), there are as many as 27 battalions focused on Moro communities.

Outside Mindanao, troops have also occupied many barangays in Quezon province, Southern Tagalog. Military and police forces are also pouring into Boracay Island after it was closed to the public to give way to the construction of casinos, hotels and other tourism infrastructures that will be built by Duterte’s favored foreign businessmen.

 In cities, violence is also Duterte’s response to striking workers and urban poor who are asserting their right to affordable housing.

Talaingod attack

 The AFP is currently employing Marawi-style tactics to forcibly displace farmers and Lumad people. In the small town of Talaingod, Davao del Norte, which has a population of only around 30,000, three AFP battalions are deployed—56th IB, 72nd IB and 88th IB, besides the paramilitary group Alamara. Already, hundreds have become victims of human rights violations, with the troops camping on Lumad schools and forbidding these schools to open. Due to the military’s strict control of the residents’ movements, the life and livelihood of the communities have been adversely affected.
Leaders and residents are also being harassed and intimidated by the AFP, and many are being forced to surrender as members of the NPA. One of the starkest cases recorded involves the forcible surrender of Lumad leader Datu Guibang Apoga, who is now frail and sickly. He was made to appear in a public assembly and was portrayed as a surrenderee.

 The datus of Salupungan Ta ‘Tanu Igkanugon strongly condemned the public assembly organized by the military in Sitio Nasilaban, Batangay Palma Gil, explaining that even in Apoga’s remarks during the assembly, the leader called for the continued campaign to protect Lumad schools. Apoga even apologized for his limitations as leader of their tribe largely due to his ailments and advanced age. The datus also emphasized that there was no mention whatsoever in Apoga’s short speech about giving up their struggle.

Widespread bombing in Maguindanao

 After the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in both chambers of Congress, the military launched clearing operations through airstrikes and combat operations in towns of Maguindanao and Cotabato to force residents to flee and leave areas within and near Liguasan Marsh.

Last June 10, the AFP Joint Task Force Central launched an offensive at the southern part of Liguasan Marsh, which includes the towns of Pagalungan, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Datu Montawal, and Rajah Buayan, even reaching some communities in Pikit, North Cotabato. The attacks happened during the period of Eid’l Fitr, the conclusion of Ramadan. These offensives pave the way for foreign capitalists and local burgeois compradors of the regime to freely plunder the riches of Liguasan Marsh.

Forcible eviction in La­nao del Sur

 Under the guise of running after remaining members of the Maute group, troops of Joint Task Force Ranao viciously rained bullets and bombs last June 14-17 in the towns of Tubaran, Pagayawan and Binidayan in Lanao del Sur. This prompted the mass evacuation of some 11,000 individuals. Meanwhile, some families residing in Barangay Padas and Diampaca in the town of Pagayawan were caught in the middle of the bombing as they were prevented by soldiers to evacuate.

 The AFP is making it appear that the Maute-ISIS group has already reached the farthest parts of Tubaran and Pagayawan, even claiming that an encounter occured between their troops and Maute. Such claims disguise their ultimate goal of tightening control over Lake Lanao and allowing foreign busineses to further exploit the natural resources of the region.

 After besieging Marawi, the AFP next targeted the communities south of Lake Lanao. This lake is the main source of electricity in Mindanao through the Agus Hydro-Electric Power Plant Complex. In 2017, the regime offered the power plants to Chinese businesses who allegedly pledged P20.35 billion for their rehabilitation.

Militarization in Quezon

 Since January, the 80th IB has been conducting intensive combat operations in Barangay Umiray, General Nakar and along its coast. Each sitio was covered by a platoon of soldiers. Residents, primarily indigenous Dumagat and Remontados, are being harassed and intimidated. One of Umiray’s sitios—Sitio Dadiangao—has been completely abandoned by residents out of fear from militarization.

Some 18 barangays in three towns in South Quezon-Bondoc Peninsula are also being militarized in an effort to undermine the peasants’ struggle for genuine land reform and campaign against the low price of copra.

 South Quezon is being targeted for widescale land use conversion to give way to the construction of power plants, mega dam, and ports. Some 475 farm workers of Hacienda Uy, San Andres, South Quezon are currently experiencing extreme hunger ever since their landlords and their hired goons enforced a four-year prohibition preventing them from tilling the land. Meanwhile, General Nakar is also the planned location of the New Centennial Dam Project, and will also be part of the areas that will be developed under the Pacific Coast City Project—a reclamation project that spans Marikina, Manila and will run up to Infanta, Quezon.

Treachery in Bo­racay

 In the name of rehabilitating Boracay island, Duterte poured no less than 700 elements of the PNP and the AFP to supposedly maintain security in the island. Last April 24, two days before the island’s closure, Joint Task Force Boracay launched exercises on how to handle protests, terrorist attacks, and hostage-taking situations. While this was happening, the media was forbidden from entering the island and even residents of the island were required to show identification. Martial law is virtually being enforced by the regime in the island.

In the six months that Boracay will be closed, no less than 36,000 workers will be retrenched and will be left without livelihood, including thousands of residents who depend on the island’s tourism. Demolition of houses is also rampant presently.

 Duterte boasts of his plan to “distribute” land to the indigenous Ati of the island but only to attach titles to their land to make it easier for big business to legally grab land in the island. Two foreign-owned casinos are expected to be built on the island.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20180621-siege-and-military-attacks-in-civilian-communities/