From GMA News Online (Mar 23): Satur Ocampo wants out of DOJ ‘terror’ list
Former Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Satur Ocampo has asked a Manila court to dismiss his inclusion in the petition that seeks a terrorist tag for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's Army (NPA).
In a 40-page motion to dismiss filed Tuesday, Ocampo said the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 has no jurisdiction over his person and that the Department of Justice's (DOJ) proscription plea failed to state a cause of action against him.
Ocampo argued that he is not impleaded as a party respondent in the the DOJ's petition, assailing the "invalid and defective" summons he had received in relation to the plea.
Ocampo's name sits next to those of a United Nations special rapporteur, four former Catholic priests, and CPP founding chair Jose Maria Sison on the DOJ's list of more than 600 suspected communist guerrillas.
"Movant vehemently denounces the inclusion of his name as one of the alleged 'known officers' of the CPP and NPA in this petition and will continue to challenge and refute any allegation against him and his labeling as a 'terrorist,'" his motion states.
The petition contains no information that would show he has personal knowledge of, engaged in, committed, or participated in any of the alleged terror attacks cited in the pleading, Ocampo said.
He said a "terrorist" tag will "stigmatize" and "villify" his person, as a "journalist of long standing and former popularly elected member and official (Deputy Minority Leader) of the House of Representatives."
Echoing the common criticism of the sitting administration's actions against the Left by mass organizations, Ocampo cried "political persecution."
"This is clearly another case of political persecution targeting leaders of progressive organizations. Recycling an old tactic, the petitioner lumps together names of mass leaders, peace negotiators and consultants with the names of alleged underground revolutionary leaders of the CPP and the NPA, collectively labeling them in the petition as terrorists," the motion states.
President Rodrigo Duterte cut peace talks with the communist rebels last year and subsequently slapped a terror tag on the CPP-NPA, which has been waging one of Asia's longest running insurgencies.
In February, a senior prosecutor formally filed the proscription petition in behalf of the DOJ, in accordance with a provision of the Human Security Act of 2007 that requires the department to first apply with an RTC before an organization or group of persons can be declared as terrorist or outlawed organization.
"The delegitimization that results from the labeling of an opposition group as a terrorist justifies violent reprisal actions against its alleged members," Ocampo's motion states.
"They will most likely be treated as [an] extraordinary kind of criminals, who cannot be granted human rights that even common criminals are entitled to and who are not covered by international humanitarian law."
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/16251e3119187d05
Friday, March 23, 2018
Thousands of NPA rebels yield in Mindanao
From the Mindanao Examiner (Mar 23): Thousands of NPA rebels yield in Mindanao
Thousands of communist rebels and their supporters have surrendered to the military in the first quarter of this year in southern Philippines and more are expected to yield in the coming months to take advantage of the government’s amnesty offer, officials said Friday.
Army Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Garcia, chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Public Affairs Office, said more than 4,350 New People’s Army rebels and communist supporters have actually surrendered to the military and that majority of those who yielded were from the regions of Davao and CARAGA, which are all known NPA strongholds in Mindanao.
“The massive surrenders of NPAs and their supporters were attributed to the combined focused military operations, intelligence efforts, civil-military operations, re-integration efforts, peace and development programs of the military and police; and the intense campaign of local governments in convincing their constituents who are members and supporters of the NPA to go back to mainstream society,” Garcia said.
“The AFP expects more surrenders as former rebels and supporters divulge corruption and deception inside the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the NPA. Revelations from former rebels during investigations disclosed that most of them were deceived into believing the propaganda and false promises of their leaders,” he added.
Major Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City, said over 300 rebels, including 17 commanders, had surrendered to them during the first quarter as the government continues its campaign to lure insurgents to return to the fold of the law. Aside from those who yielded to the military, at least three dozen New People’s Army leaders and fighters have also been arrested in separate operations.
He said some 240 assorted rebel weapons were also recovered by soldiers in the first three months of the year. “We are expecting more to surrender in the region,” Balagtey said.
Army Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal Jr, the regional military commander, has attributed the mass surrender of rebels to the extensive combat operations and intensified community support programs, and also the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for insurgents to return to the fold of the law and live peacefully with their family.
“We attribute this to the extensive security operations being conducted by our units to protect the communities. Furthermore, being popular in all strata and sectors of the country, the call of the President for the NPA to surrender reverberates and continuously sinks into the minds of the rebels which greatly contributes to the snowball of surrender including some of their leaders,” he said.
The NPA has been fighting for nearly 5 decades now in an effort to overthrow the democratic government and install a Maoist state in the country.
https://mindanaoexaminer.com/thousands-of-npa-rebels-yield-in-mindanao/
Thousands of communist rebels and their supporters have surrendered to the military in the first quarter of this year in southern Philippines and more are expected to yield in the coming months to take advantage of the government’s amnesty offer, officials said Friday.
Army Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Garcia, chief of Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Public Affairs Office, said more than 4,350 New People’s Army rebels and communist supporters have actually surrendered to the military and that majority of those who yielded were from the regions of Davao and CARAGA, which are all known NPA strongholds in Mindanao.
“The massive surrenders of NPAs and their supporters were attributed to the combined focused military operations, intelligence efforts, civil-military operations, re-integration efforts, peace and development programs of the military and police; and the intense campaign of local governments in convincing their constituents who are members and supporters of the NPA to go back to mainstream society,” Garcia said.
“The AFP expects more surrenders as former rebels and supporters divulge corruption and deception inside the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the NPA. Revelations from former rebels during investigations disclosed that most of them were deceived into believing the propaganda and false promises of their leaders,” he added.
Major Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City, said over 300 rebels, including 17 commanders, had surrendered to them during the first quarter as the government continues its campaign to lure insurgents to return to the fold of the law. Aside from those who yielded to the military, at least three dozen New People’s Army leaders and fighters have also been arrested in separate operations.
He said some 240 assorted rebel weapons were also recovered by soldiers in the first three months of the year. “We are expecting more to surrender in the region,” Balagtey said.
Army Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal Jr, the regional military commander, has attributed the mass surrender of rebels to the extensive combat operations and intensified community support programs, and also the call of President Rodrigo Duterte for insurgents to return to the fold of the law and live peacefully with their family.
“We attribute this to the extensive security operations being conducted by our units to protect the communities. Furthermore, being popular in all strata and sectors of the country, the call of the President for the NPA to surrender reverberates and continuously sinks into the minds of the rebels which greatly contributes to the snowball of surrender including some of their leaders,” he said.
The NPA has been fighting for nearly 5 decades now in an effort to overthrow the democratic government and install a Maoist state in the country.
https://mindanaoexaminer.com/thousands-of-npa-rebels-yield-in-mindanao/
AFP EastMinCom: 17 NPA leaders surrender 5 arrested during 1st quarter of 2018
From the Manila Bulletin (Mar 23): AFP EastMinCom: 17 NPA leaders surrender 5 arrested during 1st quarter of 2018
The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Eastern Mindanao Command (AFP-EastMinCom) today said it has recorded 17 NPA leaders out of the 315 NPAs who surrendered to the different subordinate units of the command, while five other leaders were arrested during the first quarter of 2018.
(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, the EastMinCom said the positions held by the said NPA leaders range from Front political officer, commander and vice commander of armed unit, supply officer, deputy Front secretary of a regional committee, to the highest position of being a Front secretary.
Aside from the 315 surrenderers, 33 NPAs were also apprehended and captured during law enforcement operations and combat operations including Leonida Guiao, finance officer of the NPA terrorists in Mindanao.
As of this date, EastMinCom has accounted 421 surrenderers who were members of the Militiang Bayan, 229 members of the Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad, and 2,216 members of the underground mass organization who withdraw their support to the NPA organization.
Meanwhile, in addition to the 219 firearms recovered during the first quarter of 2018, a total of 19 high-powered firearms (HPFA) were also recovered earlier this week by the different units under the Eastern Mindanao Command.
Some of those firearms were surrendered by former rebels while others were recovered during the conduct of combat and law enforcement operations. The firearms included six AK47 rifles, eight M16 rifles, three Garand rifles and two cal. 45 pistols.
Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., attributed the mass surrender and voluntary turnover of firearms to the extensive combat operations executed by the different units of the command, intensified community support programs and most importantly, the call of President Duterte for the NPAs to live normal lives with the government.
“We attribute this to the extensive security operations being conducted by our units to protect the communities. Along with this is the purposive community support program being implemented in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantageous Areas (GIDA) being implemented by our troops with the different local government units which are strongly supported by the different national government agencies and other stakeholders,” Madrigal said.
“Further, being popular in all strata and sectors of the country, the call of the President for the NPA to surrender reverberates [in] and continuously sinks [deep] into the minds of the rebels which greatly contributes to the snowball of surrender including some of their leaders,” he added.
The EastMinCom commander also highlighted that the results positively affect the security situation of the area and allow the government instrumentalities to pursue and implement socioeconomic transformation in the different GIDA communities.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/23/afp-eastmincom-17-npa-leaders-surrender-5-arrested-during-1st-quarter-of-2018/
The Armed Forces of the Philippines-Eastern Mindanao Command (AFP-EastMinCom) today said it has recorded 17 NPA leaders out of the 315 NPAs who surrendered to the different subordinate units of the command, while five other leaders were arrested during the first quarter of 2018.
(Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a statement, the EastMinCom said the positions held by the said NPA leaders range from Front political officer, commander and vice commander of armed unit, supply officer, deputy Front secretary of a regional committee, to the highest position of being a Front secretary.
Aside from the 315 surrenderers, 33 NPAs were also apprehended and captured during law enforcement operations and combat operations including Leonida Guiao, finance officer of the NPA terrorists in Mindanao.
As of this date, EastMinCom has accounted 421 surrenderers who were members of the Militiang Bayan, 229 members of the Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad, and 2,216 members of the underground mass organization who withdraw their support to the NPA organization.
Meanwhile, in addition to the 219 firearms recovered during the first quarter of 2018, a total of 19 high-powered firearms (HPFA) were also recovered earlier this week by the different units under the Eastern Mindanao Command.
Some of those firearms were surrendered by former rebels while others were recovered during the conduct of combat and law enforcement operations. The firearms included six AK47 rifles, eight M16 rifles, three Garand rifles and two cal. 45 pistols.
Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., attributed the mass surrender and voluntary turnover of firearms to the extensive combat operations executed by the different units of the command, intensified community support programs and most importantly, the call of President Duterte for the NPAs to live normal lives with the government.
“We attribute this to the extensive security operations being conducted by our units to protect the communities. Along with this is the purposive community support program being implemented in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantageous Areas (GIDA) being implemented by our troops with the different local government units which are strongly supported by the different national government agencies and other stakeholders,” Madrigal said.
“Further, being popular in all strata and sectors of the country, the call of the President for the NPA to surrender reverberates [in] and continuously sinks [deep] into the minds of the rebels which greatly contributes to the snowball of surrender including some of their leaders,” he added.
The EastMinCom commander also highlighted that the results positively affect the security situation of the area and allow the government instrumentalities to pursue and implement socioeconomic transformation in the different GIDA communities.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/23/afp-eastmincom-17-npa-leaders-surrender-5-arrested-during-1st-quarter-of-2018/
Protect your children from terrorist groups, AFP general tells Dumagueteños
From GMA News (Mar 23): Protect your children from terrorist groups, AFP general tells Dumagueteños
DUMAGUETE CITY -A general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday urged Dumagueteños to be on the lookout for their children and the youth, as they are the primary targets of terrorist groups, particularly for recruitment into their organization.
"We want you to be vigilant to prevent another Marawi (siege)," said Brigadier General Ramiro Manuel Rey, who was in Dumaguete City for an information caravan recounting the facts of last year's Battle of Marawi.
Rey was among the top officials during the Marawi siege, being the commander of Joint Task Force Lanao. In his talk here in the city, he retold the experiences of the locals in Marawi who suffered during the siege, and how Dumagueteños can learn from them.
Rey said he hopes that through the caravan, citizens will properly report possible terrorist threats to authorities, so these can be addressed properly to avoid another major attack like what the ISIS-inspired Maute group did in Marawi City last year.
"It's not waiting for your leaders to help you. Dapat mayroon ka ring mai-share para sa ikabubuti ng inyong bayan," Rey said, adding that the AFP is not only monitoring Muslim terrorist groups, but is also addressing the insurgency problem particularly with the New People's Army.
"Nasa korte na po 'yung kaso. We will follow what the court decides," Rey said, commenting on the case filed against the "Mabinay 6," or the six suspected NPA members who were captured in an operation in Mabinay town on March 3. Those arrested are young people, including 21-year-old Myles Albasin, a mass communication graduate from the University of the Philippines-Cebu.
Rey also told reporters that the AFP is doing civil-military operations to educate citizens, especially students, from various communities on terrorism and insurgency.
Dumaguete is one of the AFP's latest stops in its information drive on the Marawi siege, after Mayor Felipe Remollo and Councilor Alan Gel Cordova invited the AFP to include it in its campaign.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/647606/protect-your-children-from-terrorist-groups-afp-general-tells-dumaguete-ntilde-os/story/
DUMAGUETE CITY -A general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday urged Dumagueteños to be on the lookout for their children and the youth, as they are the primary targets of terrorist groups, particularly for recruitment into their organization.
"We want you to be vigilant to prevent another Marawi (siege)," said Brigadier General Ramiro Manuel Rey, who was in Dumaguete City for an information caravan recounting the facts of last year's Battle of Marawi.
Rey was among the top officials during the Marawi siege, being the commander of Joint Task Force Lanao. In his talk here in the city, he retold the experiences of the locals in Marawi who suffered during the siege, and how Dumagueteños can learn from them.
Rey said he hopes that through the caravan, citizens will properly report possible terrorist threats to authorities, so these can be addressed properly to avoid another major attack like what the ISIS-inspired Maute group did in Marawi City last year.
"It's not waiting for your leaders to help you. Dapat mayroon ka ring mai-share para sa ikabubuti ng inyong bayan," Rey said, adding that the AFP is not only monitoring Muslim terrorist groups, but is also addressing the insurgency problem particularly with the New People's Army.
"Nasa korte na po 'yung kaso. We will follow what the court decides," Rey said, commenting on the case filed against the "Mabinay 6," or the six suspected NPA members who were captured in an operation in Mabinay town on March 3. Those arrested are young people, including 21-year-old Myles Albasin, a mass communication graduate from the University of the Philippines-Cebu.
Rey also told reporters that the AFP is doing civil-military operations to educate citizens, especially students, from various communities on terrorism and insurgency.
Dumaguete is one of the AFP's latest stops in its information drive on the Marawi siege, after Mayor Felipe Remollo and Councilor Alan Gel Cordova invited the AFP to include it in its campaign.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/647606/protect-your-children-from-terrorist-groups-afp-general-tells-dumaguete-ntilde-os/story/
US destroyer sails close to contested island in South China Sea
From WTVA (Mar 23): US destroyer sails close to contested island in South China Sea
A US destroyer has sailed within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese-claimed island in the South China Sea, a highly-contested stretch of water where China's been reclaiming land and building islands, the US Navy confirmed in a statement Friday.
In its own statement late Friday, China's defense ministry said two Chinese Navy ships "took immediate action to identify and verify the US ship, and warned and dispelled it."
"China holds indisputable sovereignty over the islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea," ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said in a statement. "By repeatedly sending military ships into these areas without authorization, the US has seriously harmed Chinese sovereignty and security, violated basic rules of international relations, and harmed regional peace and stability," the spokesman said.
China's defense ministry claimed that by carrying out these so-called infringements, the US had "damaged the atmosphere of military-to-military relations between the two countries, caused close encounters by air and naval forces, which could easily trigger miscalculation or even accidents at sea or in air."
The defense ministry called the American behavior a "serious political and military provocation against China. The Chinese military is firmly opposed to it."
The US Navy conducts regular Freedom of Navigation operations in the region with the unstated goal of challenging China's huge, disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea.
On Friday, the USS Mustin sailed close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, an island chain also claimed by the Philippines, the US Navy said.
"All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," Nicole Schwegman, US Pacific Fleet spokeswoman, said.
The Chinese government has laid claim a large swathe of territory in the region, overlapping areas claimed by other countries including Vietnam and the Philippines.
To reinforce its position, Beijing has reclaimed land and constructed military assets on a series of reefs in the Spratly and Paracel island chains in the South China Sea.
In October 2017, the US Navy destroyer USS Chafee also sailed close to the Paracels, provoking a stern reaction from the Chinese Defense Ministry. "(We are) firmly opposed to such flaunting of force and promotion of militarization in the region by the US, which could easily trigger accidents at sea and in the air," it said in a statement at the time.
On Friday, the Chinese Navy announced it would hold live fire drills in the South China Sea at an undisclosed date and location.
According to state media, the navy will hold the drills "in the near future" but didn't elaborate further on their timing or what they would entail.
"The purpose is to test and improve the training level of the troops and comprehensively improve the ability to win," state media said.
The drills do "not target any particular country," the report added.
For many years the South China Sea has been considered an international flashpoint, as the US and China attempt to assert their influence in the region.
But the ongoing nuclear crisis in North Korea and a distracted US government under President Donald Trump has diverted attention from the area, allowing the Chinese government to tighten its hold.
"The Chinese continue to pace with their long-term strategy to gain de facto control over the sea lanes in the South China Sea. And what changed is the United States stopped paying attention," Michael Fuchs, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, told CNN in December.
http://www.wtva.com/content/national/477724303.html?ref=303
A US destroyer has sailed within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese-claimed island in the South China Sea, a highly-contested stretch of water where China's been reclaiming land and building islands, the US Navy confirmed in a statement Friday.
In its own statement late Friday, China's defense ministry said two Chinese Navy ships "took immediate action to identify and verify the US ship, and warned and dispelled it."
"China holds indisputable sovereignty over the islands and their surrounding waters in the South China Sea," ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said in a statement. "By repeatedly sending military ships into these areas without authorization, the US has seriously harmed Chinese sovereignty and security, violated basic rules of international relations, and harmed regional peace and stability," the spokesman said.
China's defense ministry claimed that by carrying out these so-called infringements, the US had "damaged the atmosphere of military-to-military relations between the two countries, caused close encounters by air and naval forces, which could easily trigger miscalculation or even accidents at sea or in air."
The defense ministry called the American behavior a "serious political and military provocation against China. The Chinese military is firmly opposed to it."
The US Navy conducts regular Freedom of Navigation operations in the region with the unstated goal of challenging China's huge, disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea.
On Friday, the USS Mustin sailed close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, an island chain also claimed by the Philippines, the US Navy said.
"All operations are designed in accordance with international law and demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," Nicole Schwegman, US Pacific Fleet spokeswoman, said.
The Chinese government has laid claim a large swathe of territory in the region, overlapping areas claimed by other countries including Vietnam and the Philippines.
To reinforce its position, Beijing has reclaimed land and constructed military assets on a series of reefs in the Spratly and Paracel island chains in the South China Sea.
In October 2017, the US Navy destroyer USS Chafee also sailed close to the Paracels, provoking a stern reaction from the Chinese Defense Ministry. "(We are) firmly opposed to such flaunting of force and promotion of militarization in the region by the US, which could easily trigger accidents at sea and in the air," it said in a statement at the time.
On Friday, the Chinese Navy announced it would hold live fire drills in the South China Sea at an undisclosed date and location.
According to state media, the navy will hold the drills "in the near future" but didn't elaborate further on their timing or what they would entail.
"The purpose is to test and improve the training level of the troops and comprehensively improve the ability to win," state media said.
The drills do "not target any particular country," the report added.
For many years the South China Sea has been considered an international flashpoint, as the US and China attempt to assert their influence in the region.
But the ongoing nuclear crisis in North Korea and a distracted US government under President Donald Trump has diverted attention from the area, allowing the Chinese government to tighten its hold.
"The Chinese continue to pace with their long-term strategy to gain de facto control over the sea lanes in the South China Sea. And what changed is the United States stopped paying attention," Michael Fuchs, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, told CNN in December.
http://www.wtva.com/content/national/477724303.html?ref=303
Suspected BIFF members kill farmer in North Cotabato
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Mar 23): Suspected BIFF members kill farmer in North Cotabato
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato–A farmer was killed while his wife and two children, were injured when suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) fired toward their house in Barangay Tumbras in Midsayap town, North Cotabato province on Thursday evening.
Franco Mantikayan, 40, a rice farmer and resident of Tumbras, was hit in the head and body when about five men fired on the family’s house around 8 p.m., town police chief Supt. Gilbert Tuzon said.
Injured were Mantikayan’s wife, Badria, 42; and the couple’s two children, aged 7 and 3. The wounded victims were now recuperating at a private hospital in Barangay Poblacion here.
Police investigators and soldiers who responded to the incident learned that all the victims were watching television when the attack took place, Tuzon said.
The perpetrators were led by Haron Mama Guiamalo, a sub-leader of the BIFF, who operated in the borders of Midsayap and Datu Piang in Maguindanao, Tuzon said, quoting a witness.
Mantikayan was a trusted aide of the late Tumbras chairman Mama Taha, whom Guimalo had a grudge with, the police chief said.
“The motive was personal grudge between the suspects and the victim,” Tuzon added.
He said charges of murder and frustrated murder were being prepared against Guimalo and his men, who have yet to be identified.
Guimalo acted on his own and the incident had no blessing from the BIFF leadership, Abu Misri Mama, speaking for the BIFF, said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/977532/suspected-biff-members-kill-farmer-in-north-cotabato
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato–A farmer was killed while his wife and two children, were injured when suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) fired toward their house in Barangay Tumbras in Midsayap town, North Cotabato province on Thursday evening.
Franco Mantikayan, 40, a rice farmer and resident of Tumbras, was hit in the head and body when about five men fired on the family’s house around 8 p.m., town police chief Supt. Gilbert Tuzon said.
Injured were Mantikayan’s wife, Badria, 42; and the couple’s two children, aged 7 and 3. The wounded victims were now recuperating at a private hospital in Barangay Poblacion here.
Police investigators and soldiers who responded to the incident learned that all the victims were watching television when the attack took place, Tuzon said.
The perpetrators were led by Haron Mama Guiamalo, a sub-leader of the BIFF, who operated in the borders of Midsayap and Datu Piang in Maguindanao, Tuzon said, quoting a witness.
Mantikayan was a trusted aide of the late Tumbras chairman Mama Taha, whom Guimalo had a grudge with, the police chief said.
“The motive was personal grudge between the suspects and the victim,” Tuzon added.
He said charges of murder and frustrated murder were being prepared against Guimalo and his men, who have yet to be identified.
Guimalo acted on his own and the incident had no blessing from the BIFF leadership, Abu Misri Mama, speaking for the BIFF, said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/977532/suspected-biff-members-kill-farmer-in-north-cotabato
MNLF-IIO: Photos -- MNLF Elite Forces - Jolo, Sulu
Posted to the Moro National Liberation Front (Misuari) International Information Office Facebook page (Mar 20): Photos -- MNLF Elite Forces - Jolo, Sulu
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132223190338/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132229857004/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132239857003/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132256523668/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132309856996/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132316523662/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132383190322/?type=3&theater
Ma Sha Allah.. MNLF Elite Forces getting ready for arrival of several VIPs in Jolo, Sulu
#Peace #Process #Federalism
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132223190338/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132229857004/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132239857003/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132256523668/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132309856996/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132316523662/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1902132503190310/1902132383190322/?type=3&theater
Ma Sha Allah.. MNLF Elite Forces getting ready for arrival of several VIPs in Jolo, Sulu
#Peace #Process #Federalism
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/
MNLF-IIO: Photos - MNLF #50th Anniversary
Posted to the Moro National Liberation Front (Misuari) International Information Office Facebook page (Mar 20): Photos -- MNLF #50th Anniversary
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977016639192/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977013305859/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977019972525/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977023305858/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977136639180/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977119972515/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977133305847/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977246639169/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977243305836/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977253305835/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977016639192/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977013305859/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977019972525/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977023305858/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977136639180/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977119972515/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977133305847/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977246639169/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977243305836/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/MNLFINFO/photos/pcb.1900977363305824/1900977253305835/?type=3&theater
MNLF #50th Anniversary
Glorious Celebration of half-a-century of the Foundation Day of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Bangsamoro Republik (BMR), and, forthwith, the historic proclamation of the Bangsamoro National Freedom Day!
Jolo, Sulu
...
Glorious Celebration of half-a-century of the Foundation Day of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Bangsamoro Republik (BMR), and, forthwith, the historic proclamation of the Bangsamoro National Freedom Day!
Jolo, Sulu
...
CPP/NPA-Central Negros: Masupog nga Intel Asset sang AFP kag PNP sa Guihulngan Ginsilotan
NPA-Central Negros propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 21): Masupog nga Intel Asset sang AFP kag PNP sa Guihulngan Ginsilotan
JB Regalado, Spokesperson
NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command)
21 March 2018
Press Release
Ang LPC-NPA lubos naga-angkon sang madinalag-on nga pagpatuman sang silot-kamatayon kay Rene Torres sang Brgy. Buenavista, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Natigayon ang pagsilot kay Rene sadtong Marso 21, 2018 alas 4:00 sa kaagahon sa Brgy. Basak, Guihulngan matapos nga napamatbatan sang rebolusyonaryong korte sang pumuluyo.
Si Rene Torres masupog nga intel asset sang AFP kag PNP nga masami nagapanilag sa mga hulag sang NPA. Sekreto ini nga nagareport sa mga malapit nga detachment sa ila lugar labi na gid sadto sa 11th IBPA nga nadestino sa Brgy. McKinley kag Brgy. Buenavista. Nagareport man ini sa mga kapulisan sa Guihulngan.
Sa mga ulihi nga bahin pa sang dekada ‘90 nga ginasundan na sang NPA si Rene sa iya mga hulag. Ang iya pagnegosyo ukon pagbaligya sang mga kasapatan isa lamang ka pamaagi agud makatikma kag makapatay sang NPA.
Sugod tuig 2000-2017, madamo na nga tion nga naistorya sang NPA si Rene kag ginpa-andaman. Apang sa gihapon padayon siya sa iya mga hulag bilang intel asset sang AFP kag PNP. Si Rene Torres isa sa mga makinaryas sang AFP kag PNP Guihulngan nga may kahilabtanan sa nagkalatabo nga serye sang pagpamatay sang mga inosenteng sibilyan sa Guihulngan.
Gani, ang LPC padayon nagapanawagan sa mga suspek kag may kahilabtanan sa serye sang pagpamatay sa Guihulngan. Sa madali nga panahon, magsurender sang inyo kaugalingon sa malapit nga yunit sang NPA diin kamo nahamtang, bukas kag tampad sa pagkooperar agud klaruhon ang inyo mga kaso. Segurado, ang NPA padayon gid maglagas sa inyo matapos nga mapamatud-an sang rebolusyonaryong korte sang pumuluyo.
JB Regalado, Spokesperson
NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command)
21 March 2018
Press Release
Ang LPC-NPA lubos naga-angkon sang madinalag-on nga pagpatuman sang silot-kamatayon kay Rene Torres sang Brgy. Buenavista, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Natigayon ang pagsilot kay Rene sadtong Marso 21, 2018 alas 4:00 sa kaagahon sa Brgy. Basak, Guihulngan matapos nga napamatbatan sang rebolusyonaryong korte sang pumuluyo.
Si Rene Torres masupog nga intel asset sang AFP kag PNP nga masami nagapanilag sa mga hulag sang NPA. Sekreto ini nga nagareport sa mga malapit nga detachment sa ila lugar labi na gid sadto sa 11th IBPA nga nadestino sa Brgy. McKinley kag Brgy. Buenavista. Nagareport man ini sa mga kapulisan sa Guihulngan.
Sa mga ulihi nga bahin pa sang dekada ‘90 nga ginasundan na sang NPA si Rene sa iya mga hulag. Ang iya pagnegosyo ukon pagbaligya sang mga kasapatan isa lamang ka pamaagi agud makatikma kag makapatay sang NPA.
Sugod tuig 2000-2017, madamo na nga tion nga naistorya sang NPA si Rene kag ginpa-andaman. Apang sa gihapon padayon siya sa iya mga hulag bilang intel asset sang AFP kag PNP. Si Rene Torres isa sa mga makinaryas sang AFP kag PNP Guihulngan nga may kahilabtanan sa nagkalatabo nga serye sang pagpamatay sang mga inosenteng sibilyan sa Guihulngan.
Gani, ang LPC padayon nagapanawagan sa mga suspek kag may kahilabtanan sa serye sang pagpamatay sa Guihulngan. Sa madali nga panahon, magsurender sang inyo kaugalingon sa malapit nga yunit sang NPA diin kamo nahamtang, bukas kag tampad sa pagkooperar agud klaruhon ang inyo mga kaso. Segurado, ang NPA padayon gid maglagas sa inyo matapos nga mapamatud-an sang rebolusyonaryong korte sang pumuluyo.
CPP/PKM-Bicol Region: Pagpupugay kay Kasamang Owen, Bayani ng Uring Magsasaka
PKM-Bicol Region propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 22): Pagpupugay kay Kasamang Owen, Bayani ng Uring Magsasaka
PKM Bicol Region (Region V)
22 March 2018
Ang Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid – Bikol ay taas kamaong nagpupugay kay Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos dahil sa kanyang naging malaking ambag sa pagsusulong ng interes ng uring magsasaka sa Kabikulan. Si Ka Owen ay nagmula sa uring petiburges pero hindi ito naging hadlang sa pagyakap niya sa interes ng uring anakpawis. Siya ay nakapagtapos ng kurso sa pagiging inhenyero sa isang unibersidad sa Bikol pero hindi ang pagpapaandar ng makina ng uring kapitalista ang kanyang piniling landas, kundi ang pambansa demokratikong rebolusyon na may sosyalistang perspektiba. Sa murang edad ay naunawaan ni Ka Owen ang pangangailangan ng pambansang indutriyalisasyon at tunay na reporma sa lupa upang maging makabuluhan ang pagiging alagad ng syensya sa bansa. Sapagkat hanggang nanatiling malakolonyal at malapyudal ang bansang Pilipinas, mananatiling mura at kimi ang lakas-paggawa at habang buhay na magiging alipin ng mga burgesyang kumprador at dayuhang kapitalista, kung hindi man ay mapipilitang mangibang bansa.
Sa mahigit 30 dekadang buong-panahong paglilingkod ni Ka Bendoy, mula sa pagiging kabataang aktibista hanggang tuluyang yakapin ang armadong pakikibaka, kailanman ay hindi siya kinakitaan ng panghihina sa rebolusyon. Ayon sa kanya , “Hindi naging usapin ang kahirapan at sakripisyo kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang mga bagay na nadaanan na at naranasan; ang laging pinaghahandaan ay ang mga kakaharapin pa.” Kahit nitong mga huling taon, kung saan madalas na rin siyang inaatake ng kanyang karamdaman, hindi siya naglubay sa kagustuhang gumampan ng gawain.
Malaking bahagi ng buhay ni Ka owen ay inilaan sa pagsusulong ng interes ng masang magsasaka sa kanayunan. Nagpultaym siya sa hukbo noong ikalawang hati ng 1985. Mula noon, napaloob siya sa iba’t ibang yunit ng hukbo at nakaambag sa pagsusulong ng rebolusyong magsasaka sa malawak na bahagi ng Kabikulan, partikular sa Donsol, Irosin, Barcelona at Bulusan sa Sorsogon, Pio Duran sa Albay, Camarines Sur at Camarines Norte. Sa mga lugar na ito may naipong mga tagumpay ang paglulunsad ng rebolusyong agraryo mula sa minimum na programa tulad ng pagpababago ng partihan, pagkontrol sa usura, pagpapaunlad ng produksyon hanggang sa maksimum na kumpiskasyon at libreng pamamahagi ng lupa sa magsasakang mga wala at kulang sa lupa.
Tiniyak niya rin lagi na ipinapatupad ng hukbong bayan ang linyang masa – ang pagsalig at pagtiwala sa malawak na masang magsasaka sa kanayunan, at mulatin , organisahin at pakilusin sila para sa rebolusyong agraryo na pangunahing nilalaman ng demokratikong rebolusyong bayan. Napaloob din siya sa pangrehiyunal na istap sa Instruksyon (Regional Instruction Bureau), na mahalagang gawain para pandayin ang mga pwersa, na mayorya ay mula sa uring magsasaka, upang maging mga proletaryong kadreng gagap ang Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo.
Sa lahat ng ito, nararapat lamang na kilalanin natin at pagpugayan ang buong-puso at walang pag-iimbot na pag-aalay ni Ka Bendoy ng kanyang buong lakas at talino para sa kapakanan ng masang magbubukid. Siya’y isang huwaran ng mga bagong henerasyon ng kabataan dahil sa walang pag-alinlangang pagyakap sa armadong pakikibaka, na siyang tanging kalutasan sa daan-taon nang pagkaalipin ng masang magsasaka at iba pang inaaping uri sa lipunang Pilipino.
Nararapat ding patuloy na magpalawak at magpalakas ang kilusang magsasaka, mula sa mga unang binhi ng naitayong mga grupong magsasaka, hanggang sa mga ganap ng samahan ng Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid, na paalon-along naitayo sa malawak na saklaw ng kanayunan sa buong Kabikulan. Naitayo na natin ang mga organo ng kapangyarihang pampulitika na pangunahing nakabatay sa lakas ng kilusang magsasaka. Dapat nating panghawakan ang mga naipong tagumpay sa pagsusulong ng digmang magsasaka. Nasimulan nang hawanin ni Kasamang Bendoy, at iba pang naunang nagbuwis ng buhay, ang daan patungo sa maaliwas na kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Tungkulin naman natin ngayon na ipagpatuloy at higit pang palakasin ang ating hanay dahil ito ang pinakamahusay na pagpaparangal sa ating mga bayani.
Mananatili kang buhay sa aming puso, Ka Bendoy!
PKM Bicol Region (Region V)
22 March 2018
Ang Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid – Bikol ay taas kamaong nagpupugay kay Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos dahil sa kanyang naging malaking ambag sa pagsusulong ng interes ng uring magsasaka sa Kabikulan. Si Ka Owen ay nagmula sa uring petiburges pero hindi ito naging hadlang sa pagyakap niya sa interes ng uring anakpawis. Siya ay nakapagtapos ng kurso sa pagiging inhenyero sa isang unibersidad sa Bikol pero hindi ang pagpapaandar ng makina ng uring kapitalista ang kanyang piniling landas, kundi ang pambansa demokratikong rebolusyon na may sosyalistang perspektiba. Sa murang edad ay naunawaan ni Ka Owen ang pangangailangan ng pambansang indutriyalisasyon at tunay na reporma sa lupa upang maging makabuluhan ang pagiging alagad ng syensya sa bansa. Sapagkat hanggang nanatiling malakolonyal at malapyudal ang bansang Pilipinas, mananatiling mura at kimi ang lakas-paggawa at habang buhay na magiging alipin ng mga burgesyang kumprador at dayuhang kapitalista, kung hindi man ay mapipilitang mangibang bansa.
Sa mahigit 30 dekadang buong-panahong paglilingkod ni Ka Bendoy, mula sa pagiging kabataang aktibista hanggang tuluyang yakapin ang armadong pakikibaka, kailanman ay hindi siya kinakitaan ng panghihina sa rebolusyon. Ayon sa kanya , “Hindi naging usapin ang kahirapan at sakripisyo kung ang pag-uusapan ay ang mga bagay na nadaanan na at naranasan; ang laging pinaghahandaan ay ang mga kakaharapin pa.” Kahit nitong mga huling taon, kung saan madalas na rin siyang inaatake ng kanyang karamdaman, hindi siya naglubay sa kagustuhang gumampan ng gawain.
Malaking bahagi ng buhay ni Ka owen ay inilaan sa pagsusulong ng interes ng masang magsasaka sa kanayunan. Nagpultaym siya sa hukbo noong ikalawang hati ng 1985. Mula noon, napaloob siya sa iba’t ibang yunit ng hukbo at nakaambag sa pagsusulong ng rebolusyong magsasaka sa malawak na bahagi ng Kabikulan, partikular sa Donsol, Irosin, Barcelona at Bulusan sa Sorsogon, Pio Duran sa Albay, Camarines Sur at Camarines Norte. Sa mga lugar na ito may naipong mga tagumpay ang paglulunsad ng rebolusyong agraryo mula sa minimum na programa tulad ng pagpababago ng partihan, pagkontrol sa usura, pagpapaunlad ng produksyon hanggang sa maksimum na kumpiskasyon at libreng pamamahagi ng lupa sa magsasakang mga wala at kulang sa lupa.
Tiniyak niya rin lagi na ipinapatupad ng hukbong bayan ang linyang masa – ang pagsalig at pagtiwala sa malawak na masang magsasaka sa kanayunan, at mulatin , organisahin at pakilusin sila para sa rebolusyong agraryo na pangunahing nilalaman ng demokratikong rebolusyong bayan. Napaloob din siya sa pangrehiyunal na istap sa Instruksyon (Regional Instruction Bureau), na mahalagang gawain para pandayin ang mga pwersa, na mayorya ay mula sa uring magsasaka, upang maging mga proletaryong kadreng gagap ang Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo.
Sa lahat ng ito, nararapat lamang na kilalanin natin at pagpugayan ang buong-puso at walang pag-iimbot na pag-aalay ni Ka Bendoy ng kanyang buong lakas at talino para sa kapakanan ng masang magbubukid. Siya’y isang huwaran ng mga bagong henerasyon ng kabataan dahil sa walang pag-alinlangang pagyakap sa armadong pakikibaka, na siyang tanging kalutasan sa daan-taon nang pagkaalipin ng masang magsasaka at iba pang inaaping uri sa lipunang Pilipino.
Nararapat ding patuloy na magpalawak at magpalakas ang kilusang magsasaka, mula sa mga unang binhi ng naitayong mga grupong magsasaka, hanggang sa mga ganap ng samahan ng Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid, na paalon-along naitayo sa malawak na saklaw ng kanayunan sa buong Kabikulan. Naitayo na natin ang mga organo ng kapangyarihang pampulitika na pangunahing nakabatay sa lakas ng kilusang magsasaka. Dapat nating panghawakan ang mga naipong tagumpay sa pagsusulong ng digmang magsasaka. Nasimulan nang hawanin ni Kasamang Bendoy, at iba pang naunang nagbuwis ng buhay, ang daan patungo sa maaliwas na kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Tungkulin naman natin ngayon na ipagpatuloy at higit pang palakasin ang ating hanay dahil ito ang pinakamahusay na pagpaparangal sa ating mga bayani.
Mananatili kang buhay sa aming puso, Ka Bendoy!
CPP/NPA-Catanduanes: Hinggil sa Pagkakapaslang kay Ka Bendoy, Isang Tunay na Lingkod ng Sambayanan
NPA-Catanduanes propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 22): Hinggil sa Pagkakapaslang kay Ka Bendoy, Isang Tunay na Lingkod ng Sambayanan
NPA-Catanduanes (Nerissa San Juan Command)
22 March 2018
Mahirap gamiting panukat ng pag-iral ni Ka Bendoy ang mga salita. Siya ay isang kasamang tahimik kung pagmamasdan ngunit sa totoo’y nag-uumapaw sa buhay at kasiyahan. Magaling siyang makisama at walang pinipiling gawain – mula sa paglilinis ng mga kaldero hanggang sa pamumuno ng tropa sa isang labanan. Siya ang kasamang mababaw ang kaligayahan ngunit napakalalim ng pagmamahal sa bayan.
Lagi siyang bukas sa mga bagong bagay at ibang palagay. Para sa kanya, hindi dapat tumitigil ang pag-unlad ng paggawa. Kaya una sa lahat, kinakailangang maging bukas upang matuto at sumulong. Dahil sa likas niyang katangian na simple, mabait, mahinahon at makwelang kadre, bihira ang pagkakataong may mag-alangan sa kanyang kasama, kahit yaon pang mga bagong sampa sa hukbo. Abala man sa iba’t-ibang gawaing ginagampanan, nakahahanap siya ng panahon upang makipagtalakayan sa mga kasama. Lagi siyang may panahong makinig at magpayo – personal mang usapin o mga problema ng mga kasama sa kani-kanilang gawain. Kaya niyang makipagsabayan mula sa pinakabago at batang kasama hanggang sa mga pinakamatatagal nang kadre ng kilusan. ‘Tatay na tatay,’ ‘ika nga ng mga kasama.
Larawan ng kasimplehan at mapagkumbabang kahusayan si Ka Bendoy. Sa kabila ng kanyang mga sakit, na nagiging dahilan para mahirapan siya sa matatarik na lakarin at mahahabang lakbayin, hindi kailanman iniwanan ni Ka Bendoy ang rebolusyon at ang masa. Sa kabila ng napakaraming mga pagkakataong ihinahapag sa kanya upang magkaroon ng maalwang buhay, pinili niyang paglingkuran ang sambayanan. Hanggang sa kanyang huling hininga, mahigpit pa ring pinanghawakan ni Ka Bendoy ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo ng buung-buong pagmamahal sa masa buhay man ang ialay.
Taglay ni Ka Bendoy ang walang sinlalim na pagmamahal sa bayan – na wala ni anumang ninanais kundi ang ipagtagumpay ang rebolusyong magpapalaya sa mga uring inaapi at pinagsasamantalahan. Kung kaya isang pambihirang pagkakataon para sa mga kasama at masa na makasalamuha si Ka Bendoy. Isang pambihirang pagkakataon para sa mga kasama ang ubos-kayang pagbabahagi ni Ka Bendoy ng mga karanasan at ang kanyang pagsasanay sa mga susunod na henerasyon na magdadala ng rebolusyon. Isang pambihirang pagkakataon na nag-iwan ng malalim na bakas sa puso’t isapan ng mga nakasama niya sa pakikibaka. Ang pambihirang pagkakataong iyon ang patuloy na bumubuhay sa dugo’t kalamnan ng malawak na sambayanan. Ang nasimulan ni Ka Bendoy ay hindi matatapos – patuloy itong madurugtungan at habambuhay na isusulong ng mga kasama nang walang pagdadalawang isip, nang buong husay at nang buong katatagan.
Hindi kailanman nabawasan ang nagkakaisang lakas ng sambayanan sa buong rehiyon. Napaslang man ng mga berdugo ang katawan ni Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos ngunit ang kanyang mga naiambag at ang marka ng lalim ng pagmamahal niya sa sambayanan at sa rebolusyon ay hindi mananakaw ng mga kaaway sapagkat ipinunla ito ni Ka Bendoy sa kaibuturan ng bawat puso at isipan ng mga kasama at masa.
NPA-Catanduanes (Nerissa San Juan Command)
22 March 2018
Mahirap gamiting panukat ng pag-iral ni Ka Bendoy ang mga salita. Siya ay isang kasamang tahimik kung pagmamasdan ngunit sa totoo’y nag-uumapaw sa buhay at kasiyahan. Magaling siyang makisama at walang pinipiling gawain – mula sa paglilinis ng mga kaldero hanggang sa pamumuno ng tropa sa isang labanan. Siya ang kasamang mababaw ang kaligayahan ngunit napakalalim ng pagmamahal sa bayan.
Lagi siyang bukas sa mga bagong bagay at ibang palagay. Para sa kanya, hindi dapat tumitigil ang pag-unlad ng paggawa. Kaya una sa lahat, kinakailangang maging bukas upang matuto at sumulong. Dahil sa likas niyang katangian na simple, mabait, mahinahon at makwelang kadre, bihira ang pagkakataong may mag-alangan sa kanyang kasama, kahit yaon pang mga bagong sampa sa hukbo. Abala man sa iba’t-ibang gawaing ginagampanan, nakahahanap siya ng panahon upang makipagtalakayan sa mga kasama. Lagi siyang may panahong makinig at magpayo – personal mang usapin o mga problema ng mga kasama sa kani-kanilang gawain. Kaya niyang makipagsabayan mula sa pinakabago at batang kasama hanggang sa mga pinakamatatagal nang kadre ng kilusan. ‘Tatay na tatay,’ ‘ika nga ng mga kasama.
Larawan ng kasimplehan at mapagkumbabang kahusayan si Ka Bendoy. Sa kabila ng kanyang mga sakit, na nagiging dahilan para mahirapan siya sa matatarik na lakarin at mahahabang lakbayin, hindi kailanman iniwanan ni Ka Bendoy ang rebolusyon at ang masa. Sa kabila ng napakaraming mga pagkakataong ihinahapag sa kanya upang magkaroon ng maalwang buhay, pinili niyang paglingkuran ang sambayanan. Hanggang sa kanyang huling hininga, mahigpit pa ring pinanghawakan ni Ka Bendoy ang pagkapit sa prinsipyo ng buung-buong pagmamahal sa masa buhay man ang ialay.
Taglay ni Ka Bendoy ang walang sinlalim na pagmamahal sa bayan – na wala ni anumang ninanais kundi ang ipagtagumpay ang rebolusyong magpapalaya sa mga uring inaapi at pinagsasamantalahan. Kung kaya isang pambihirang pagkakataon para sa mga kasama at masa na makasalamuha si Ka Bendoy. Isang pambihirang pagkakataon para sa mga kasama ang ubos-kayang pagbabahagi ni Ka Bendoy ng mga karanasan at ang kanyang pagsasanay sa mga susunod na henerasyon na magdadala ng rebolusyon. Isang pambihirang pagkakataon na nag-iwan ng malalim na bakas sa puso’t isapan ng mga nakasama niya sa pakikibaka. Ang pambihirang pagkakataong iyon ang patuloy na bumubuhay sa dugo’t kalamnan ng malawak na sambayanan. Ang nasimulan ni Ka Bendoy ay hindi matatapos – patuloy itong madurugtungan at habambuhay na isusulong ng mga kasama nang walang pagdadalawang isip, nang buong husay at nang buong katatagan.
Hindi kailanman nabawasan ang nagkakaisang lakas ng sambayanan sa buong rehiyon. Napaslang man ng mga berdugo ang katawan ni Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos ngunit ang kanyang mga naiambag at ang marka ng lalim ng pagmamahal niya sa sambayanan at sa rebolusyon ay hindi mananakaw ng mga kaaway sapagkat ipinunla ito ni Ka Bendoy sa kaibuturan ng bawat puso at isipan ng mga kasama at masa.
CPP/CPP-IB: End the hoax of Duterte’s “NPA surrender” shows
CPP-Information Bureau propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 22): End the hoax of Duterte’s “NPA surrender” shows
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
22 March 2018
In a television interview a few days ago, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana claimed there are now around 4,000 “NPA surrenderees”. If we are to believe claims made by officials of the AFP at the end of 2017 that the NPA is down to 3,700 members, then by simple subtraction, one can conclude that the AFP under Duterte has already accomplished what all previous regimes have failed to do: defeat the NPA.
Much more, perhaps, considering that there are now more NPA surrenderers than the original number of NPA members. Based on these figures, the NPA now has to have 300 more members to make up for the differential in the AFP’s surrender numbers. And this is where all the deception is revealed, with the help of some simple arithmetic, which the AFP publicists seem to have forgotten.
And as with most other things under Duterte, reality is the complete opposite of what he declares the truth to be. That there are thousands of “NPA surrenderees” is a complete hoax. That there are are one or several who have surrendered is of course something that happens. But “4,000 surrenderees” is just beyond credible propaganda.
Over the past few months, Duterte himself and the entire military and defense establishment have spent hundreds of millions of pesos to stage Malacañang dinners with the president, tours around Luneta and other cheap gimmickry. The bigger portion of the monies, of course, line-up the pockets of AFP field officials. According to our sources, funds from Duterte’s discretionary and intelligence funds are automatically downloaded to the ATM accounts of brigade and battalion commanders depending on the number of “NPA surrenderees” they report. Thus, military field units are in a frenzy of conducting psywar operations to hold “surrender activities.”
Of course, there are few former members of the NPA such as Noel Legazpi who have surrendered to Duterte after losing grip of their principles and no longer able to sacrifice for the people. But as much as 99% of the 4,000 “NPA surrenderees” are actually civilian residents of barrios which the AFP insists are part of the NPA’s mass base.
If the AFP will acknowledge that most of the “surrenderees” are not actually NPA fighters but NPA “supporters”, then they will have to make a public apology for deceiving the people. They must end this practice of Red-tagging and making people pose as NPA members in violation of their rights. Such practice endangers the lives of people by deliberately blurring the lines between armed combatants and civilians.
Deceiving and forcing people to pose as NPA surrenderees.
To come up with big numbers, the AFP employs deception, threats and violence to force people pose as surrenderees. Under pain of being accused of NPA supporters, and for fear of being subjected to Marawi-like bombardment, civilians are compelled to “cooperate” with the “surrender” shows of the AFP.
Last March 12, a teacher and staff members of the Misfi Academy in Barangay Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur were brought together with 70 other members of the community to the Trento town center. They were made to sign a blank sheet of paper to supposedly record their attendance. Facing threats of being further detained, they were then made to speak before a camera saying they “voluntarily surrendered” to the 25th IB.
AFP paramilitaries posing as “NPA surrenderes”. Among the “NPA surrenderees” presented by the 4th ID are at least 16 members of the Magahat-Bagani, a paramilitary group long employed by the AFP in counter-insurgency. This group of “surrenderees” is responsible for the September 1, 2015 killing of school principal Emerito Samarca and Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. These include Calpito Egua, Oscar Egua, Jojo Acebedo, Ploto Acebedo, Ramil Pedroso, Rommy Acebedo, Benjie Martinez, Along Salinas, Ramsy Salinas and others facing criminal charges over the Lianga massacre. By making them pose as NPA surrenderers and given amnesty, they are being let off the hook by Duterte.
Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines
22 March 2018
In a television interview a few days ago, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana claimed there are now around 4,000 “NPA surrenderees”. If we are to believe claims made by officials of the AFP at the end of 2017 that the NPA is down to 3,700 members, then by simple subtraction, one can conclude that the AFP under Duterte has already accomplished what all previous regimes have failed to do: defeat the NPA.
Much more, perhaps, considering that there are now more NPA surrenderers than the original number of NPA members. Based on these figures, the NPA now has to have 300 more members to make up for the differential in the AFP’s surrender numbers. And this is where all the deception is revealed, with the help of some simple arithmetic, which the AFP publicists seem to have forgotten.
And as with most other things under Duterte, reality is the complete opposite of what he declares the truth to be. That there are thousands of “NPA surrenderees” is a complete hoax. That there are are one or several who have surrendered is of course something that happens. But “4,000 surrenderees” is just beyond credible propaganda.
Over the past few months, Duterte himself and the entire military and defense establishment have spent hundreds of millions of pesos to stage Malacañang dinners with the president, tours around Luneta and other cheap gimmickry. The bigger portion of the monies, of course, line-up the pockets of AFP field officials. According to our sources, funds from Duterte’s discretionary and intelligence funds are automatically downloaded to the ATM accounts of brigade and battalion commanders depending on the number of “NPA surrenderees” they report. Thus, military field units are in a frenzy of conducting psywar operations to hold “surrender activities.”
Of course, there are few former members of the NPA such as Noel Legazpi who have surrendered to Duterte after losing grip of their principles and no longer able to sacrifice for the people. But as much as 99% of the 4,000 “NPA surrenderees” are actually civilian residents of barrios which the AFP insists are part of the NPA’s mass base.
If the AFP will acknowledge that most of the “surrenderees” are not actually NPA fighters but NPA “supporters”, then they will have to make a public apology for deceiving the people. They must end this practice of Red-tagging and making people pose as NPA members in violation of their rights. Such practice endangers the lives of people by deliberately blurring the lines between armed combatants and civilians.
Deceiving and forcing people to pose as NPA surrenderees.
To come up with big numbers, the AFP employs deception, threats and violence to force people pose as surrenderees. Under pain of being accused of NPA supporters, and for fear of being subjected to Marawi-like bombardment, civilians are compelled to “cooperate” with the “surrender” shows of the AFP.
Last March 12, a teacher and staff members of the Misfi Academy in Barangay Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur were brought together with 70 other members of the community to the Trento town center. They were made to sign a blank sheet of paper to supposedly record their attendance. Facing threats of being further detained, they were then made to speak before a camera saying they “voluntarily surrendered” to the 25th IB.
AFP paramilitaries posing as “NPA surrenderes”. Among the “NPA surrenderees” presented by the 4th ID are at least 16 members of the Magahat-Bagani, a paramilitary group long employed by the AFP in counter-insurgency. This group of “surrenderees” is responsible for the September 1, 2015 killing of school principal Emerito Samarca and Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. These include Calpito Egua, Oscar Egua, Jojo Acebedo, Ploto Acebedo, Ramil Pedroso, Rommy Acebedo, Benjie Martinez, Along Salinas, Ramsy Salinas and others facing criminal charges over the Lianga massacre. By making them pose as NPA surrenderers and given amnesty, they are being let off the hook by Duterte.
CPP/NPA-Camarines Sur: Hinggil sa Pagpaslang kina Alfredo Merilos at Liz Ocampo
NPA-Canmarines Sur propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 22): Hinggil sa Pagpaslang kina Alfredo Merilos at Liz Ocampo
Baldomero Arcanghel, Spokesperson
NPA-Camarines Sur (Tomas Pilapil Command)
22 March 2018
Mariing kinokondena ng Tomas Pilapil Command ang karumaldumal na pagpaslang kay Alfredo Merilos at Liz Ocampo na naganap noong nakaraang Marso 15, 2017 sa oras na mahigit 9 ng gabi sa Camella Heights Subdivision Naga City. Si Alfredo Merilos ay nasa lugar dahil nasa proseso nang pagpapagamot ng kanyang karamdaman. Isang patunay ito ng nagpapatuloy na desperasyon at kawalang pagkilala sa karapatang pantao ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte mula ng ideklara nito ang Proklamasyon 360 na tumatarget sa rebolusyonaryong mamamayan.
Ang pagbibigay ng katarungan sa buhay na inutang kay Alfredo at Liz at sa marami pang bayani ng rebolusyon ay ang ibayong pagpupunyagi sa armadong pakikibaka upang tiyakin na bantayan at itaguyod ang demokratikong karapatan at kagalingan ng mamamayan. Ito ay dahil walang maaasahang proseso ng hustisya ang sinumang mamamayan lalo pa at patuloy na pinapalawak at pinasasaklaw ng rehimeng ito ang pang-aapi at pandarahas sa mamamayan.
Marapat lamang na manawagan tayo sa sambayang Pilipino na higit tayong magpunyagi sa pagsusulong ng Demokratikong Rebolusyong Bayan sa pamamagitan ng pagtangan ng armas dahil sa ganitong paraan lamang natin matitiyak na nababantayan at naitataguyod ang ating mga demokratikong interes at karapatan.
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20180322-hinggil-sa-pagpaslang-kina-alfredo-merilos-at-liz-ocampo
Baldomero Arcanghel, Spokesperson
NPA-Camarines Sur (Tomas Pilapil Command)
22 March 2018
Mariing kinokondena ng Tomas Pilapil Command ang karumaldumal na pagpaslang kay Alfredo Merilos at Liz Ocampo na naganap noong nakaraang Marso 15, 2017 sa oras na mahigit 9 ng gabi sa Camella Heights Subdivision Naga City. Si Alfredo Merilos ay nasa lugar dahil nasa proseso nang pagpapagamot ng kanyang karamdaman. Isang patunay ito ng nagpapatuloy na desperasyon at kawalang pagkilala sa karapatang pantao ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte mula ng ideklara nito ang Proklamasyon 360 na tumatarget sa rebolusyonaryong mamamayan.
Ang pagbibigay ng katarungan sa buhay na inutang kay Alfredo at Liz at sa marami pang bayani ng rebolusyon ay ang ibayong pagpupunyagi sa armadong pakikibaka upang tiyakin na bantayan at itaguyod ang demokratikong karapatan at kagalingan ng mamamayan. Ito ay dahil walang maaasahang proseso ng hustisya ang sinumang mamamayan lalo pa at patuloy na pinapalawak at pinasasaklaw ng rehimeng ito ang pang-aapi at pandarahas sa mamamayan.
Marapat lamang na manawagan tayo sa sambayang Pilipino na higit tayong magpunyagi sa pagsusulong ng Demokratikong Rebolusyong Bayan sa pamamagitan ng pagtangan ng armas dahil sa ganitong paraan lamang natin matitiyak na nababantayan at naitataguyod ang ating mga demokratikong interes at karapatan.
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20180322-hinggil-sa-pagpaslang-kina-alfredo-merilos-at-liz-ocampo
CPP/Ang Bayan: Editorial -- Itaguyod ang karapatang-tao laban sa terorismong estado
Propaganda editorial posted to the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 21): Editorial -- Itaguyod ang karapatang-tao laban sa terorismong estado
Communist Party of the Philippine
21 March 2018
Ginugunita ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP), kasabay ng sambayanang Pilipino, mga lokal at internasyunal na organisasyon para sa karapatang-tao at para sa kapayapaan, ang ika-20 anibersaryo ng pagpirma sa Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). Muling pinagtitibay ng Partido ang paninindigan nitong itaguyod ang mga probisyon ng CARHRIHL at tuparin ang mga responsibilidad nitong nakasaad dito. Upang gunitain ang ika-20 anibersaryo ng kasunduan, rerepasuhin ito ng lahat ng yunit ng BHB at gagamitin ang pagkakataon na tasahin ang kanilang praktika.
Mula 1998, ang pag-aaral sa CARHRIHL ay naging bahagi na ng saligang kurikulum sa programa sa edukasyon ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB), gayundin ng mga rebolusyonaryong organisasyong masa. Sa BHB, ang CARHRIHL ay itinuturing na pagpapalawig ng mas pundamental na Tatlong Pangunahing Alituntunin sa Disiplina at Walong Bagay na Dapat Tandaan na naglalahad ng rebolusyonaryong pamantayan para sa lahat ng Pulang mandirigma.
Napapanahon ang paggunitang ito sa CARHRIHL sa harap ng pagtatangka ng rehimeng US-Duterte na siraan at ipitin ang mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa at mga tagasuporta nito sa pamamagitan ng deklarasyon nitong mga terorista ang PKP at BHB. Ang mahigpit na pagtalima ng BHB at PKP sa CARHRIHL, gayundin sa internasyunal na mga tuntunin sa digma at mahahalagang protokol, ang patunay na malayo sa pagiging terorista ang mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa.
Kabaliktaran ito sa gawi ng rehimeng US-Duterte na nagmamalaki pa sa pagsuway sa batayang mga tuntunin sa paggalang sa karapatang-tao at internasyunal na mga batas sa digma sa kanyang mga kampanyang panunupil sa mamamayan. Paulit-ulit na pinatunayan ni Rodrigo Duterte, kapwa sa kanyang salita at gawa, na ang kanyang rehimen ang numero unong terorista sa bansa.
Binibigyan ng CARHRIHL ang sambayanang Pilipino ng karagdagang suson ng proteksyong ligal sa pagsusulong nila ng kanilang mga demokratikong layunin. Ang CARHRIHL ay nagbibigay din ng dagdag na batayan sa pagtatanggol at pagsusulong ng kanilang mga karapatan sa larangang sosyo-ekonomiko, pampulitika at pangkultura.
Dumoble ang kabuluhan ng pagsusulong ng CARHRIHL sa pagdeklara ni Presidente Duterte ng GRP ng tahasang pagkamuhi sa karapatang-tao. Noong Nobyembre 2017, winakasan ni Duterte ang negosasyong pangkapayapaan sa NDFP at harap-harapang sinuway ang lahat ng naunang kasunduan, kasama ang CARHRIHL.
Bilang commander-in-chief, inutusan niya ang kanyang mga tropa na lubos na balewalain ang mga karapatang-tao at huwag pansinin ang mga patawag o pagsusumamo ng mga lokal o internasyunal na upisyal sa karapatang-tao. Hinahamak niya ang mga karapatang-tao at itinuturing iyon na sagka sa pag-unlad. Tahasan niyang isinusulong ang diktadura at paghaharing militar. Nagpataw siya ng batas militar sa Mindanao at pinulbos ang Marawi City para bigyan-daan ang komersyal at pangmilitar na interes ng US at mga kasosyo niyang burgesyang kumprador sa syudad.
Inutusan niya ang AFP na gamitin ang lahat ng sandatang panghimpapawid nito para “patagin ang mga bundok” at “bombahin ang mga eskwelahang Lumad.” Binabantaang maging mini-Marawi ang mga komunidad sa kanayunan. Sinasabihan niya ang mga magsasaka at minorya na iwan ang kanilang mga bahay para bigyang-daan ang mga plantasyon, mina at reserbasyong militar. Sinusulsulan niya ang brutalidad at kalupitan sa pag-utos sa kanila na “barilin ang ari” ng mga babaeng mandirigma ng BHB at paghikayat sa mga sundalo na “dalhin ang ulo ng mga BHB sa timbang may yelo” para makuha ang P25,000 gantimpala.
Napakabangis ng gerang mapanupil na Oplan Kapayapaan, gera laban sa mga Moro at “gera sa droga.” Mahigit kalahating milyong tao na ang napalayas sa kanilang tahanan, higit sa lahat ng rehimeng pagkatapos ni Marcos. Ang mga pwersa ng estado ang nasa likod ng ekstrahudisyal na pagpatay sa halos isandaang lider magsasaka, mahigit 20 unyonista at laksang mga aktibista.
Halos araw-araw na nadaragdagan ang listahang ito ng mga pasistang krimen sa pagsakop ng AFP sa mga baryo sa kanayunan sa ngalan ng “kapayapaan” na layong sindakin at patahimikin ang paglaban ng mga magsasaka at minoryang mamamayan.
Sa harap ng lahat ng kabangisan ng AFP sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Duterte, napakabigat ng pangangailangang ipaglaban ang paggalang sa karapatang-tao at pagkilala sa internasyunal na makataong batas. Katarungan ang sigaw ng mamamayang Pilipino sa lahat ng pasistang krimen ng AFP sa panahong nakalipas.
Tungo rito, magagamit ng sambayanang Pilipino ang CARHRIHL para palakasin ang kanilang pusisyon at mga kahilingan. Sa gitna ng madugong pasismo at kabi-kabilang pagpatay ng rehimeng US-Duterte, dapat igiit nilang tumalima ang GRP sa CARHRIHL at papanagutin si Duterte at lahat niyang upisyal sa malalang mga paglabag sa karapatang-tao tulad ng nakasaad sa kasunduan.
[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20180321-itaguyod-ang-karapatang-tao-laban-sa-terorismong-estado
Communist Party of the Philippine
21 March 2018
Ginugunita ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP), kasabay ng sambayanang Pilipino, mga lokal at internasyunal na organisasyon para sa karapatang-tao at para sa kapayapaan, ang ika-20 anibersaryo ng pagpirma sa Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). Muling pinagtitibay ng Partido ang paninindigan nitong itaguyod ang mga probisyon ng CARHRIHL at tuparin ang mga responsibilidad nitong nakasaad dito. Upang gunitain ang ika-20 anibersaryo ng kasunduan, rerepasuhin ito ng lahat ng yunit ng BHB at gagamitin ang pagkakataon na tasahin ang kanilang praktika.
Mula 1998, ang pag-aaral sa CARHRIHL ay naging bahagi na ng saligang kurikulum sa programa sa edukasyon ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB), gayundin ng mga rebolusyonaryong organisasyong masa. Sa BHB, ang CARHRIHL ay itinuturing na pagpapalawig ng mas pundamental na Tatlong Pangunahing Alituntunin sa Disiplina at Walong Bagay na Dapat Tandaan na naglalahad ng rebolusyonaryong pamantayan para sa lahat ng Pulang mandirigma.
Napapanahon ang paggunitang ito sa CARHRIHL sa harap ng pagtatangka ng rehimeng US-Duterte na siraan at ipitin ang mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa at mga tagasuporta nito sa pamamagitan ng deklarasyon nitong mga terorista ang PKP at BHB. Ang mahigpit na pagtalima ng BHB at PKP sa CARHRIHL, gayundin sa internasyunal na mga tuntunin sa digma at mahahalagang protokol, ang patunay na malayo sa pagiging terorista ang mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa.
Kabaliktaran ito sa gawi ng rehimeng US-Duterte na nagmamalaki pa sa pagsuway sa batayang mga tuntunin sa paggalang sa karapatang-tao at internasyunal na mga batas sa digma sa kanyang mga kampanyang panunupil sa mamamayan. Paulit-ulit na pinatunayan ni Rodrigo Duterte, kapwa sa kanyang salita at gawa, na ang kanyang rehimen ang numero unong terorista sa bansa.
Binibigyan ng CARHRIHL ang sambayanang Pilipino ng karagdagang suson ng proteksyong ligal sa pagsusulong nila ng kanilang mga demokratikong layunin. Ang CARHRIHL ay nagbibigay din ng dagdag na batayan sa pagtatanggol at pagsusulong ng kanilang mga karapatan sa larangang sosyo-ekonomiko, pampulitika at pangkultura.
Dumoble ang kabuluhan ng pagsusulong ng CARHRIHL sa pagdeklara ni Presidente Duterte ng GRP ng tahasang pagkamuhi sa karapatang-tao. Noong Nobyembre 2017, winakasan ni Duterte ang negosasyong pangkapayapaan sa NDFP at harap-harapang sinuway ang lahat ng naunang kasunduan, kasama ang CARHRIHL.
Bilang commander-in-chief, inutusan niya ang kanyang mga tropa na lubos na balewalain ang mga karapatang-tao at huwag pansinin ang mga patawag o pagsusumamo ng mga lokal o internasyunal na upisyal sa karapatang-tao. Hinahamak niya ang mga karapatang-tao at itinuturing iyon na sagka sa pag-unlad. Tahasan niyang isinusulong ang diktadura at paghaharing militar. Nagpataw siya ng batas militar sa Mindanao at pinulbos ang Marawi City para bigyan-daan ang komersyal at pangmilitar na interes ng US at mga kasosyo niyang burgesyang kumprador sa syudad.
Inutusan niya ang AFP na gamitin ang lahat ng sandatang panghimpapawid nito para “patagin ang mga bundok” at “bombahin ang mga eskwelahang Lumad.” Binabantaang maging mini-Marawi ang mga komunidad sa kanayunan. Sinasabihan niya ang mga magsasaka at minorya na iwan ang kanilang mga bahay para bigyang-daan ang mga plantasyon, mina at reserbasyong militar. Sinusulsulan niya ang brutalidad at kalupitan sa pag-utos sa kanila na “barilin ang ari” ng mga babaeng mandirigma ng BHB at paghikayat sa mga sundalo na “dalhin ang ulo ng mga BHB sa timbang may yelo” para makuha ang P25,000 gantimpala.
Napakabangis ng gerang mapanupil na Oplan Kapayapaan, gera laban sa mga Moro at “gera sa droga.” Mahigit kalahating milyong tao na ang napalayas sa kanilang tahanan, higit sa lahat ng rehimeng pagkatapos ni Marcos. Ang mga pwersa ng estado ang nasa likod ng ekstrahudisyal na pagpatay sa halos isandaang lider magsasaka, mahigit 20 unyonista at laksang mga aktibista.
Halos araw-araw na nadaragdagan ang listahang ito ng mga pasistang krimen sa pagsakop ng AFP sa mga baryo sa kanayunan sa ngalan ng “kapayapaan” na layong sindakin at patahimikin ang paglaban ng mga magsasaka at minoryang mamamayan.
Sa harap ng lahat ng kabangisan ng AFP sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Duterte, napakabigat ng pangangailangang ipaglaban ang paggalang sa karapatang-tao at pagkilala sa internasyunal na makataong batas. Katarungan ang sigaw ng mamamayang Pilipino sa lahat ng pasistang krimen ng AFP sa panahong nakalipas.
Tungo rito, magagamit ng sambayanang Pilipino ang CARHRIHL para palakasin ang kanilang pusisyon at mga kahilingan. Sa gitna ng madugong pasismo at kabi-kabilang pagpatay ng rehimeng US-Duterte, dapat igiit nilang tumalima ang GRP sa CARHRIHL at papanagutin si Duterte at lahat niyang upisyal sa malalang mga paglabag sa karapatang-tao tulad ng nakasaad sa kasunduan.
[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20180321-itaguyod-ang-karapatang-tao-laban-sa-terorismong-estado
NDF: BHB-NEMR temporaryong ihunong ang paglunsad sa mga opensiba panahon sa semana santa, apan ipatunay ang moda sa aktibong depensa
Propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (Mar 18): BHB-NEMR temporaryong ihunong ang paglunsad sa mga opensiba panahon sa semana santa, apan ipatunay ang moda sa aktibong depensa
Pamahayag sa Midya
Marso 18, 2018
Ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB) uban sa tanang rebolusyonaryong pwersa sa North Eastern Mindanao Region (NEMR) kinasingkasing nga nagasuporta sa katawhang kristohanon sa rehiyon alang sa malinawon ug malampusong pagsaulog sa Semana Santa. Subay niini, ang Regional Operational Command (ROC) sa BHB–NEMR nagmando sa tanang yunit sa BHB ug Milisyang Bayan sa rehiyon nga temporaryong ihunong ang paglunsad og mga taktikal nga opensiba batok sa mga pwersa sa Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police ((AFP/PNP) sugod sa Marso 28 hangtud Abril 1, 2018.
Atol niini nga panahon, isaulog usab sa rebolusyonaryong pwersa ang ika-49 nga anibersaryo sa pagkatukod sa BHB niadtong Marso 29, 1969.
Sa pikas bahin, sayod kita nga ang organisasyon sa AFP/PNP reaksyonaryo ug kontra-rebolusyonaryo busa sa kanunay kining bangis ug malinglahon. Tungod niini, dugang nagmando ang ROC nga ipabilin sa BHB ug Milisyang Bayan ang pagkaalerto ug moda sa aktibong depensa batok sa pagpangatake sa mga pwersa sa AFP/PNP. Sa kasinatian, kunohay naga-uyon o nagasuporta ang AFP/PNP sa kasabutan alang sa kaayuhan sa katawhan apan luyo niini hugaw kining nagamaniobra ug nagapangatake sa katawhan ug mga rebolusyonaryo. Busa, kun padayon nga magpahigayon og operisyong militar ang mga pwersa sa AFP/PNP sulod sa mga teritoryo sa BHB sa rehiyon, aktibo kining suklan sa mga Pulang manggugubat aron panalipdan ang kaugalingon ug katawhan.
Angayang magmabinantayon ang katawhan sa pagkamalimbungon ug kahanas sa AFP/PNP ug rehimeng US-Duterte sa pagmugna og mga ginamagamang panghitabo aron dauton ang dungog sa rebolusyonaryong kalihukan, ilabina karon nga todong nanghingusog kini nga ilhong “teroristang” grupo ang BHB ug PKP. Labaw na karon nga labihang nag-alindasay pag-ayo ang AFP/PNP sa pagsabwag og makalumos nga mga peke ug makahilong balita ug itom nga mga propaganda batok sa BHB.
Atong dumdumon ang nahitabo niadtong Marso 29, 2013, atol sa Panaad 2013 sa Butuan City, nga usa ka tinuig nga relihiyosong aktibidad ug natunong sa ika-44 nga anibersaryo sa BHB, diin tinuyong gipusil sa mga pwersa sa 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine Army ug Regional Public Safety Battalion-PNP ang duha ka membro sa CAFGU nga naggwardya sa mga tawo nga nagprosesyon didto sa Sityo Iyao, Butuan City. Malisyoso dayon kining gipasumangil sa AFP/PNP ngadto sa BHB aron ipakita sa katawhan nga wala morespeto ang rebolusyonaryong kalihukan sa pagbalaan sa mga kristyanos sa Byernes Santo. Gihimo nila kini bisan tataw kaayo nga gipalibutan ang erya sa dakung pwersa sa AFP/PNP ug walay BHB sa maong lugar niini nga panahon tungod kay hugot kining nituman sa mando sa ROC nga dili molunsad og mga taktikal nga opensiba atol sa Semana Santa. Ang nahitabo nga panagsangka tali sa mga Pulang manggugubat sa BHB-21C ug mga pwersa sa 3rd SFB niini nga adlaw didto nahitabo sa layong Bukid sa Ilong-ilong tungod kay sekretong nag-operisyong militar ang kaaway.
Ang BHB isip tinuod nga kasundalohan sa katawhan hugot nga nagarespeto niining relihiyosong kasaulugan isip pagtamod sa unod sa programa sa Demokratikong Rebolusyon sa Katawhan kalambigit sa katungod sa kolektibo ug indibidwal nga pagtuo.
Ibutyag ug batukan ang mga hugaw nga pakana sa AFP/PNP ug rehimeng US-Duterte batok sa katawhan ug rebolusyonaryong kalihukan!
Ka Ariel Montero
Tigpamaba
Regional Operational Command
https://www.ndfp.org/bhb-nemr-temporaryong-ihunong-ang-paglunsad-sa-mga-opensiba-panahon-sa-semana-santa-apan-ipatunay-ang-moda-sa-aktibong-depensa/
Pamahayag sa Midya
Marso 18, 2018
Ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB) uban sa tanang rebolusyonaryong pwersa sa North Eastern Mindanao Region (NEMR) kinasingkasing nga nagasuporta sa katawhang kristohanon sa rehiyon alang sa malinawon ug malampusong pagsaulog sa Semana Santa. Subay niini, ang Regional Operational Command (ROC) sa BHB–NEMR nagmando sa tanang yunit sa BHB ug Milisyang Bayan sa rehiyon nga temporaryong ihunong ang paglunsad og mga taktikal nga opensiba batok sa mga pwersa sa Armed Forces of the Philippines/Philippine National Police ((AFP/PNP) sugod sa Marso 28 hangtud Abril 1, 2018.
Atol niini nga panahon, isaulog usab sa rebolusyonaryong pwersa ang ika-49 nga anibersaryo sa pagkatukod sa BHB niadtong Marso 29, 1969.
Sa pikas bahin, sayod kita nga ang organisasyon sa AFP/PNP reaksyonaryo ug kontra-rebolusyonaryo busa sa kanunay kining bangis ug malinglahon. Tungod niini, dugang nagmando ang ROC nga ipabilin sa BHB ug Milisyang Bayan ang pagkaalerto ug moda sa aktibong depensa batok sa pagpangatake sa mga pwersa sa AFP/PNP. Sa kasinatian, kunohay naga-uyon o nagasuporta ang AFP/PNP sa kasabutan alang sa kaayuhan sa katawhan apan luyo niini hugaw kining nagamaniobra ug nagapangatake sa katawhan ug mga rebolusyonaryo. Busa, kun padayon nga magpahigayon og operisyong militar ang mga pwersa sa AFP/PNP sulod sa mga teritoryo sa BHB sa rehiyon, aktibo kining suklan sa mga Pulang manggugubat aron panalipdan ang kaugalingon ug katawhan.
Angayang magmabinantayon ang katawhan sa pagkamalimbungon ug kahanas sa AFP/PNP ug rehimeng US-Duterte sa pagmugna og mga ginamagamang panghitabo aron dauton ang dungog sa rebolusyonaryong kalihukan, ilabina karon nga todong nanghingusog kini nga ilhong “teroristang” grupo ang BHB ug PKP. Labaw na karon nga labihang nag-alindasay pag-ayo ang AFP/PNP sa pagsabwag og makalumos nga mga peke ug makahilong balita ug itom nga mga propaganda batok sa BHB.
Atong dumdumon ang nahitabo niadtong Marso 29, 2013, atol sa Panaad 2013 sa Butuan City, nga usa ka tinuig nga relihiyosong aktibidad ug natunong sa ika-44 nga anibersaryo sa BHB, diin tinuyong gipusil sa mga pwersa sa 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine Army ug Regional Public Safety Battalion-PNP ang duha ka membro sa CAFGU nga naggwardya sa mga tawo nga nagprosesyon didto sa Sityo Iyao, Butuan City. Malisyoso dayon kining gipasumangil sa AFP/PNP ngadto sa BHB aron ipakita sa katawhan nga wala morespeto ang rebolusyonaryong kalihukan sa pagbalaan sa mga kristyanos sa Byernes Santo. Gihimo nila kini bisan tataw kaayo nga gipalibutan ang erya sa dakung pwersa sa AFP/PNP ug walay BHB sa maong lugar niini nga panahon tungod kay hugot kining nituman sa mando sa ROC nga dili molunsad og mga taktikal nga opensiba atol sa Semana Santa. Ang nahitabo nga panagsangka tali sa mga Pulang manggugubat sa BHB-21C ug mga pwersa sa 3rd SFB niini nga adlaw didto nahitabo sa layong Bukid sa Ilong-ilong tungod kay sekretong nag-operisyong militar ang kaaway.
Ang BHB isip tinuod nga kasundalohan sa katawhan hugot nga nagarespeto niining relihiyosong kasaulugan isip pagtamod sa unod sa programa sa Demokratikong Rebolusyon sa Katawhan kalambigit sa katungod sa kolektibo ug indibidwal nga pagtuo.
Ibutyag ug batukan ang mga hugaw nga pakana sa AFP/PNP ug rehimeng US-Duterte batok sa katawhan ug rebolusyonaryong kalihukan!
Ka Ariel Montero
Tigpamaba
Regional Operational Command
https://www.ndfp.org/bhb-nemr-temporaryong-ihunong-ang-paglunsad-sa-mga-opensiba-panahon-sa-semana-santa-apan-ipatunay-ang-moda-sa-aktibong-depensa/
NDF: The Bangsamoro must never, under any circumstance, give up its armed resistance against the Duterte regime
Propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (Mar 18): The Bangsamoro must never, under any circumstance, give up its armed resistance against the Duterte regime
Press Statement
18 March 2018
In the 50th year commemoration of the Jabidah massacre:
THE BANGSAMORO MUST NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, GIVE UP ITS ARMED RESISTANCE AGAINST THE US-DUTERTE REGIME
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-Mindanao joins the Bangsamoro in remembering the sixty-eight young Moro soldiers who, five decades ago, were conscripted by the AFP to train as operatives for Operation Merdeka, a diabolical Marcos-instigated adventure to invade Sabah. On March 18, 1968, they fell as victims to a horrific mass slaughter perpetrated by the US-Marcos regime and the AFP, which is now infamously known as the Jabidah massacre.
When the young Moro trainees found out that they were secretly training in Corregidor to invade Sabah and inflict harm to other Muslims in the said island, they stood their ground to vehemently defy Marcos’s directive. Sensing that the plan of invasion was about to crash, Marcos ordered the AFP to murder the young Moro trainees to avoid the operation from being exposed. All of the young Moro died, save for one, Joven Arula, who managed to escape to tell his story.
The Jabidah massacre has taught the Filipino people that under a semifeudal, semicolonial social system that is perpetuated by a state, which was then held by the iron grip of the dictator Marcos, under the aegis of the ruling classes of landlords, big comprador bourgeoisie and US imperialism, the Moro people’s general welfare and their genuine right to self-determination is completely disregarded. In the long history of Bangsamoro oppression, the state employs low-intensity conflict to keep the Moro people divided and prevent them from uniting in the name of their right to self-determination.
The systemic oppression of the Bangsamoro continues to this day, fifty years after the Marcos-instigated Jabidah massacre, under the reign of the US-Duterte regime. The most devastating manifestation of the oppression of the Bangsamoro to date is the US-Duterte-instigated Marawi seige, where hundreds of thousands of Moro civilians evacuated from their homes as livelihood and businesses were flattened by incessant bombings and shelling for five months.
Duterte conveniently used “terrorism” as a pretext and painted the Maute family, which was locked in a rido against the ruling Gandamra clan, as “terrorists” to justify not just his horrendous attacks against Marawi but also his declaration of martial law in the whole of Mindanao in order to extend his suppression against the Moro outside of Marawi.
Any Moro who does not prostrate himself to the plans of Duterte are persecuted and labeled as “terrorists.” Duterte also dangles as a tool to pacify the Moro people the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which he promised to be passed by January this year. But the BBL, for which the version pending before Congress is highly diluted, is clearly not a priority of Duterte’s supermajority in Congress and appears headed towards the backburner.
Should the BBL fail to be enacted into law, many among the MILF, the BIAF and other Moro armed groups professed that they will resume the armed resistance against the reactionary government. Thus, a resurgence of a Bangsamoro armed struggle of an even wider scale is in the offing. However, even if the BBL is enacted into law, it will entail an even worse impact on the Moro people as it will make the Bangsamoro completely beholden to the powers, whims and continued oppression of the ruling classes and the reactionary government.
Despite bragging about his Moro blood, Duterte is virtually at war against the Moro people by way of Martial Law in Mindanao. After the devastation of Marawi City, part of Duterte’ continuing war is targeting the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and other Moro armed groups, as well as legitimate progressive Moro groups that mount protests against Duterte’s intrinsically anti-Moro schemes.
Duterte’s spin doctors also flood the media with deceptive news of BIFF members “surrendering and laying down their arms,” which are obviously meant to confuse and further divide the Moro people.
These continuing combat and deceptive schemes are meant to take control of the ancestral lands of the Moro on Mindanao, which are known to be rich sources of energy and minerals, such as the Liguasan Marsh in the Cotabato basin.
The intensified war against the Bangsamoro is part of the Asia-pivot design of US imperialism to buttress its hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region, where China is also increasing its hold. The US Armed Forces has launched Operation Pacific Eagle–Philippines, an all-out US counterinsurgency operation in the country that allows them to directly operate against “terrorists,” establish new military bases of which 6,000 hectares of land is granted to them as military reservation, and, use it as springboard for its war against China and North Korea, and establish its claim over the South China Sea.
In this context, The NDFP-Mindanao calls on the Moro people to remain steadfast in their unity and press the Duterte regime to end the long-standing oppression of the Bangsamoro and truly respect their right to self-determination.
In the face of the AFP’s/PNP’s continuing attacks, the Bangsamoro must steel its resolve to further strengthen its armed resistance and never under any circumstance, must Moro fighters lay down their arms and surrender before a rampaging common enemy. It is only by way of armed revolution can oppression such as the Jabidah massacre end, and the most basic problems of the Moro people be resolved.
The NDFP-Mindanao, together with its allied organization, the Moro Resistance and Liberation Organization (MRLO), is one with you in your continuing struggle for your genuine right for self-determination, and just and lasting peace for Mindanao and the country.#
Ka Joaquin Jacinto
Spokesperson
NDFP-Mindanao
https://www.ndfp.org/the-bangsamoro-must-never-under-any-circumstance-give-up-its-armed-resistance-against-the-duterte-regime/
Press Statement
18 March 2018
In the 50th year commemoration of the Jabidah massacre:
THE BANGSAMORO MUST NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, GIVE UP ITS ARMED RESISTANCE AGAINST THE US-DUTERTE REGIME
The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)-Mindanao joins the Bangsamoro in remembering the sixty-eight young Moro soldiers who, five decades ago, were conscripted by the AFP to train as operatives for Operation Merdeka, a diabolical Marcos-instigated adventure to invade Sabah. On March 18, 1968, they fell as victims to a horrific mass slaughter perpetrated by the US-Marcos regime and the AFP, which is now infamously known as the Jabidah massacre.
When the young Moro trainees found out that they were secretly training in Corregidor to invade Sabah and inflict harm to other Muslims in the said island, they stood their ground to vehemently defy Marcos’s directive. Sensing that the plan of invasion was about to crash, Marcos ordered the AFP to murder the young Moro trainees to avoid the operation from being exposed. All of the young Moro died, save for one, Joven Arula, who managed to escape to tell his story.
The Jabidah massacre has taught the Filipino people that under a semifeudal, semicolonial social system that is perpetuated by a state, which was then held by the iron grip of the dictator Marcos, under the aegis of the ruling classes of landlords, big comprador bourgeoisie and US imperialism, the Moro people’s general welfare and their genuine right to self-determination is completely disregarded. In the long history of Bangsamoro oppression, the state employs low-intensity conflict to keep the Moro people divided and prevent them from uniting in the name of their right to self-determination.
The systemic oppression of the Bangsamoro continues to this day, fifty years after the Marcos-instigated Jabidah massacre, under the reign of the US-Duterte regime. The most devastating manifestation of the oppression of the Bangsamoro to date is the US-Duterte-instigated Marawi seige, where hundreds of thousands of Moro civilians evacuated from their homes as livelihood and businesses were flattened by incessant bombings and shelling for five months.
Duterte conveniently used “terrorism” as a pretext and painted the Maute family, which was locked in a rido against the ruling Gandamra clan, as “terrorists” to justify not just his horrendous attacks against Marawi but also his declaration of martial law in the whole of Mindanao in order to extend his suppression against the Moro outside of Marawi.
Any Moro who does not prostrate himself to the plans of Duterte are persecuted and labeled as “terrorists.” Duterte also dangles as a tool to pacify the Moro people the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which he promised to be passed by January this year. But the BBL, for which the version pending before Congress is highly diluted, is clearly not a priority of Duterte’s supermajority in Congress and appears headed towards the backburner.
Should the BBL fail to be enacted into law, many among the MILF, the BIAF and other Moro armed groups professed that they will resume the armed resistance against the reactionary government. Thus, a resurgence of a Bangsamoro armed struggle of an even wider scale is in the offing. However, even if the BBL is enacted into law, it will entail an even worse impact on the Moro people as it will make the Bangsamoro completely beholden to the powers, whims and continued oppression of the ruling classes and the reactionary government.
Despite bragging about his Moro blood, Duterte is virtually at war against the Moro people by way of Martial Law in Mindanao. After the devastation of Marawi City, part of Duterte’ continuing war is targeting the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and other Moro armed groups, as well as legitimate progressive Moro groups that mount protests against Duterte’s intrinsically anti-Moro schemes.
Duterte’s spin doctors also flood the media with deceptive news of BIFF members “surrendering and laying down their arms,” which are obviously meant to confuse and further divide the Moro people.
These continuing combat and deceptive schemes are meant to take control of the ancestral lands of the Moro on Mindanao, which are known to be rich sources of energy and minerals, such as the Liguasan Marsh in the Cotabato basin.
The intensified war against the Bangsamoro is part of the Asia-pivot design of US imperialism to buttress its hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region, where China is also increasing its hold. The US Armed Forces has launched Operation Pacific Eagle–Philippines, an all-out US counterinsurgency operation in the country that allows them to directly operate against “terrorists,” establish new military bases of which 6,000 hectares of land is granted to them as military reservation, and, use it as springboard for its war against China and North Korea, and establish its claim over the South China Sea.
In this context, The NDFP-Mindanao calls on the Moro people to remain steadfast in their unity and press the Duterte regime to end the long-standing oppression of the Bangsamoro and truly respect their right to self-determination.
In the face of the AFP’s/PNP’s continuing attacks, the Bangsamoro must steel its resolve to further strengthen its armed resistance and never under any circumstance, must Moro fighters lay down their arms and surrender before a rampaging common enemy. It is only by way of armed revolution can oppression such as the Jabidah massacre end, and the most basic problems of the Moro people be resolved.
The NDFP-Mindanao, together with its allied organization, the Moro Resistance and Liberation Organization (MRLO), is one with you in your continuing struggle for your genuine right for self-determination, and just and lasting peace for Mindanao and the country.#
Ka Joaquin Jacinto
Spokesperson
NDFP-Mindanao
https://www.ndfp.org/the-bangsamoro-must-never-under-any-circumstance-give-up-its-armed-resistance-against-the-duterte-regime/
NDF: NDFP Renders Highest Honors to Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos
Propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (Mar 22): NDFP Renders Highest Honors to Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos
An outstanding revolutionary cadre who served the Filipino people with boundless warmheartedness, Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos advanced the Philippine revolution since the time of the Marcos dictatorship until the Duterte regime’s troops murdered him a few days ago.
A graduate of Mechanical Engineering, he passed the Board Exams. Lucratic job opportunities did not entice him. He decided to work as a fulltime organizer in schools and communities. After a few years, he decided to toil and build among the masses in the countryside as a Red fighter.
He became a valuable party cadre in the Regional Instruction Bureau, using his talents for ensuring the political development of Red fighters and commanders. His humor helped make the regional party publication, Silyab, acquire an effective and youthful character.
Through the years, his cadre quality saw him rise to higher responsibilities, until he was elected a regular member of the Regional Party Executive Committee. He attended the Second Party National Congress in 2016 and was elected a regular member of the Central Committee.
His extensive experience in party building, troop leadership and immersing himself with the basic masses enabled him to understand their needs and deepest aspirations. This made him a veritable fountain of practical guide for the next generation of party cadres.
We render the highest honors to Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos!
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and kin, his comrades and the masses whose hearts he touched. We grieve his untimely martyrdom, but we turn our grief into revolutionary courage.
We strongly condemn the Duterte regime and its fascist troopers for the murder of Comrade Bendoy and their many crimes against the people!
Long live the inspiration and revolutionary legacy of Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos!
Long live People’s Democratic Revolution!
Luis G. Jalandoni
Member, National Executive Committee
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
https://www.ndfp.org/ndfp-renders-highest-honors-to-comrade-alfredo-ka-bendoy-merilos/
An outstanding revolutionary cadre who served the Filipino people with boundless warmheartedness, Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos advanced the Philippine revolution since the time of the Marcos dictatorship until the Duterte regime’s troops murdered him a few days ago.
A graduate of Mechanical Engineering, he passed the Board Exams. Lucratic job opportunities did not entice him. He decided to work as a fulltime organizer in schools and communities. After a few years, he decided to toil and build among the masses in the countryside as a Red fighter.
He became a valuable party cadre in the Regional Instruction Bureau, using his talents for ensuring the political development of Red fighters and commanders. His humor helped make the regional party publication, Silyab, acquire an effective and youthful character.
Through the years, his cadre quality saw him rise to higher responsibilities, until he was elected a regular member of the Regional Party Executive Committee. He attended the Second Party National Congress in 2016 and was elected a regular member of the Central Committee.
His extensive experience in party building, troop leadership and immersing himself with the basic masses enabled him to understand their needs and deepest aspirations. This made him a veritable fountain of practical guide for the next generation of party cadres.
We render the highest honors to Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos!
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and kin, his comrades and the masses whose hearts he touched. We grieve his untimely martyrdom, but we turn our grief into revolutionary courage.
We strongly condemn the Duterte regime and its fascist troopers for the murder of Comrade Bendoy and their many crimes against the people!
Long live the inspiration and revolutionary legacy of Comrade Alfredo “Ka Bendoy” Merilos!
Long live People’s Democratic Revolution!
Luis G. Jalandoni
Member, National Executive Committee
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
https://www.ndfp.org/ndfp-renders-highest-honors-to-comrade-alfredo-ka-bendoy-merilos/
MILF: Editorial -- CAB’s 4th Anniversary
Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Mar 23): Editorial -- CAB’s 4th Anniversary
On 27 March 2018, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as well as countless peace advocates, citizens closely following the peace process and Muslim communities in the Bangsamoro homeland, will commemorate the 4th year anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), signed in 2014.
A product of more than seventeen (17) years of hard and harsh peace negotiations, the CAB covers all agreements signed by the parties, from the Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities in 18 July 1997, which was instrumental in jumpstarting the peace negotiations, to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro of 15 October 2012, which defined the crucial elements and mechanisms that would facilitate the establishment of a new autonomous political entity referred to as Bangsamoro.
It is understood that peace processes, which often entails a series of activities that aims to solve a conflict through peaceful means, do not reach their goals overnight.
Nevertheless, stakeholders of the process anticipated that an important milestone in the post-CAB scenario would have been already achieved by now: the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the legal instrument that would create the envisioned Bangsamoro government. Tied to the peace process, the BBL is no ordinary piece of legislation as it carries the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people enshrined in the negotiated peace agreements. It is meant to solve an enduring problem: the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination, defined by MILF peace implementing panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal as the Bangsamoro’s capability to “freely establish their political status and pursue their economic, cultural and social development.” And with the creation of new political institutions, the BBL hopes to create an enabling environment for overdue structural reforms and socio-economic development in conflict-affected areas.
The BBL did not make it during the 16th Congress. The main reason probably was the Mamasapano incident on January 25, 2015 where 44 Police Special Action Force (SAF), 17 MILF fighters, and five civilians died. Truly, a game changer that outright snuffed out the life of the proposed law.
At present, the BBL remains in the 17th Philippine Congress wherein the upper and lower chambers have their respective versions and in different phase of the legislative process. The Senate committee tasked to deliberate on the BBL has finalized its report.
The result was Senate Bill 1717, filed by its main author, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Meanwhile, the House of Representative BBL sub-committee has concluded its public consultations and is expected to finish its own committee report in due time.
Congress hopes to pass the law by May, well before President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address. Congress should have a sense of urgency vis-à-vis the BBL. For outstanding questions on the law, the GPH and the MILF, through the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, are more than willing to engage in constructive dialogue to help move the process forward. While peace process can be political, supporters of the BBL call upon bureaucrats and legislators to set-aside personal interests to give way to a higher purpose of improving the lives of the Bangsamoro who have long been marginalized in their own homeland.
The Bangsamoro peace process is not happening in a vacuum and is affected by Mindanao’s security situation, now exacerbated by the presence of ISIS followers with their intolerance for others’ beliefs and penchant for unrestrained violence. The delays in the implementation of the CAB has unfortunately provided an opening for these extremist groups, allowing them to feed on Bangsamoro people’s frustrations over the BBL’s current state. ISIS sympathizers were able to brazenly push their agenda in the City of Marawi, which has trodden the dignity of its residents and caused significant damages to a once vibrant city.
The Marawi crisis was indeed a challenge for both government and the MILF, whose own brethren were severely affected by the fighting and the airstrikes. But the partnership between government and MILF was further strengthened with the creation of a peace corridor, now called Joint Coordinating, Monitoring and Assistance Centers (JCMAC), to assist fleeing civilians at the height of the hostilities, eventually saving 255 lives. While it remains as a revolutionary organization, the MILF respects the principles of international humanitarian law and safeguard of noncombatants and vulnerable groups is paramount in times of crisis.
For the CAB’s 4th anniversary, the MILF leadership and supporters of the Bangsamoro peace process hope for the passage of the BBL in Congress. A breakthrough in the peace process is long overdue and seriously needed, especially by Bangsamoro communities growing weary of waiting. Deferments in completing what the Bangsamoro peace process set to do, as well as the complications in Marawi’s reconstruction and rehabilitation, would create new cycle of grievances that can be manipulated by spoilers. The government, MILF and other key actors have come so far, and it would be a disservice to the Bangsamoro people and the Philippines to allow another four years pass by before the commitments in the negotiated peace settlement are fully implemented.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1262/cab---s-4th-anniversary
On 27 March 2018, the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, as well as countless peace advocates, citizens closely following the peace process and Muslim communities in the Bangsamoro homeland, will commemorate the 4th year anniversary of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), signed in 2014.
A product of more than seventeen (17) years of hard and harsh peace negotiations, the CAB covers all agreements signed by the parties, from the Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities in 18 July 1997, which was instrumental in jumpstarting the peace negotiations, to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro of 15 October 2012, which defined the crucial elements and mechanisms that would facilitate the establishment of a new autonomous political entity referred to as Bangsamoro.
It is understood that peace processes, which often entails a series of activities that aims to solve a conflict through peaceful means, do not reach their goals overnight.
Nevertheless, stakeholders of the process anticipated that an important milestone in the post-CAB scenario would have been already achieved by now: the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), the legal instrument that would create the envisioned Bangsamoro government. Tied to the peace process, the BBL is no ordinary piece of legislation as it carries the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people enshrined in the negotiated peace agreements. It is meant to solve an enduring problem: the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination, defined by MILF peace implementing panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal as the Bangsamoro’s capability to “freely establish their political status and pursue their economic, cultural and social development.” And with the creation of new political institutions, the BBL hopes to create an enabling environment for overdue structural reforms and socio-economic development in conflict-affected areas.
The BBL did not make it during the 16th Congress. The main reason probably was the Mamasapano incident on January 25, 2015 where 44 Police Special Action Force (SAF), 17 MILF fighters, and five civilians died. Truly, a game changer that outright snuffed out the life of the proposed law.
At present, the BBL remains in the 17th Philippine Congress wherein the upper and lower chambers have their respective versions and in different phase of the legislative process. The Senate committee tasked to deliberate on the BBL has finalized its report.
The result was Senate Bill 1717, filed by its main author, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. Meanwhile, the House of Representative BBL sub-committee has concluded its public consultations and is expected to finish its own committee report in due time.
Congress hopes to pass the law by May, well before President Duterte’s State of the Nation Address. Congress should have a sense of urgency vis-à-vis the BBL. For outstanding questions on the law, the GPH and the MILF, through the Bangsamoro Transition Commission, are more than willing to engage in constructive dialogue to help move the process forward. While peace process can be political, supporters of the BBL call upon bureaucrats and legislators to set-aside personal interests to give way to a higher purpose of improving the lives of the Bangsamoro who have long been marginalized in their own homeland.
The Bangsamoro peace process is not happening in a vacuum and is affected by Mindanao’s security situation, now exacerbated by the presence of ISIS followers with their intolerance for others’ beliefs and penchant for unrestrained violence. The delays in the implementation of the CAB has unfortunately provided an opening for these extremist groups, allowing them to feed on Bangsamoro people’s frustrations over the BBL’s current state. ISIS sympathizers were able to brazenly push their agenda in the City of Marawi, which has trodden the dignity of its residents and caused significant damages to a once vibrant city.
The Marawi crisis was indeed a challenge for both government and the MILF, whose own brethren were severely affected by the fighting and the airstrikes. But the partnership between government and MILF was further strengthened with the creation of a peace corridor, now called Joint Coordinating, Monitoring and Assistance Centers (JCMAC), to assist fleeing civilians at the height of the hostilities, eventually saving 255 lives. While it remains as a revolutionary organization, the MILF respects the principles of international humanitarian law and safeguard of noncombatants and vulnerable groups is paramount in times of crisis.
For the CAB’s 4th anniversary, the MILF leadership and supporters of the Bangsamoro peace process hope for the passage of the BBL in Congress. A breakthrough in the peace process is long overdue and seriously needed, especially by Bangsamoro communities growing weary of waiting. Deferments in completing what the Bangsamoro peace process set to do, as well as the complications in Marawi’s reconstruction and rehabilitation, would create new cycle of grievances that can be manipulated by spoilers. The government, MILF and other key actors have come so far, and it would be a disservice to the Bangsamoro people and the Philippines to allow another four years pass by before the commitments in the negotiated peace settlement are fully implemented.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1262/cab---s-4th-anniversary
MILF: Passing the BBL is easier than shifting to federalism: Iqbal
Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Mar 22): Passing the BBL is easier than shifting to federalism: Iqbal
Photo: Screenshot from ANC Early Edition Facebook page
“It’s easier really to pass the BBL rather than the shift of the system of government from unitary to federalism,” said Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panel during an interview at the Early Edition TV program of ANC on Tuesday (March 20).
Iqbal reiterated the position of the MILF that BBL should be passed first before federalism considering that the Bangsamoro law is a commitment of the government in the signed peace agreement while federalism is not.
In 2014, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which stipulates that the state will deliver the BBL to provide the Bangsamoro people an autonomous political entity that will replace the current Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The said agreement was inked during the stint of President Benigno Aquino III who stated that the ARMM is a failed experiment.
Iqbal further said in the interview that the President Rodrigo Duterte before, during and even after the elections has committed to deliver the BBL and make it as a template for federalism.
He explained further that federalism is designed to address a national concern while the BBL is designed to address the Bangsamoro problem.
The new BBL which was already submitted to the Philippine Congress was drafted by the 21-man members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) inclusive of representatives from the Moro National Liberation Front, Indigenous Peoples and Christian Settlers.
The Senate and the House of Representatives had already conducted their respective public hearings and consultations for the draft Bangsamoro law in different regions of Mindanao and the island provinces.
During the said gatherings, various peace advocate groups reiterated the need to pass the BBL that adheres to the signed peace accord.
The MILF leadership, which believes that the BBL is constitutional, is confident that the lawmakers will pass a Bangsamoro law that is compliant with the CAB for it is designed to address the Bangsamoro quest for self-determination and current major concerns.
The Front is hopeful for a swift passage of the Bangsamoro law. It had warned that some extremist groups may use the non-passage of the BBL to draw frustrated Moro youth to join them.
[Video: Iqbal: Problems that will arise if BBL will be passed post-federalism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5za2lUyS9ds]
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1260/passing-the-bbl-is-easier-than-shifting-to-federalism--iqbal
Photo: Screenshot from ANC Early Edition Facebook page
“It’s easier really to pass the BBL rather than the shift of the system of government from unitary to federalism,” said Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Implementing Panel during an interview at the Early Edition TV program of ANC on Tuesday (March 20).
Iqbal reiterated the position of the MILF that BBL should be passed first before federalism considering that the Bangsamoro law is a commitment of the government in the signed peace agreement while federalism is not.
In 2014, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) which stipulates that the state will deliver the BBL to provide the Bangsamoro people an autonomous political entity that will replace the current Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The said agreement was inked during the stint of President Benigno Aquino III who stated that the ARMM is a failed experiment.
Iqbal further said in the interview that the President Rodrigo Duterte before, during and even after the elections has committed to deliver the BBL and make it as a template for federalism.
He explained further that federalism is designed to address a national concern while the BBL is designed to address the Bangsamoro problem.
The new BBL which was already submitted to the Philippine Congress was drafted by the 21-man members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) inclusive of representatives from the Moro National Liberation Front, Indigenous Peoples and Christian Settlers.
The Senate and the House of Representatives had already conducted their respective public hearings and consultations for the draft Bangsamoro law in different regions of Mindanao and the island provinces.
During the said gatherings, various peace advocate groups reiterated the need to pass the BBL that adheres to the signed peace accord.
The MILF leadership, which believes that the BBL is constitutional, is confident that the lawmakers will pass a Bangsamoro law that is compliant with the CAB for it is designed to address the Bangsamoro quest for self-determination and current major concerns.
The Front is hopeful for a swift passage of the Bangsamoro law. It had warned that some extremist groups may use the non-passage of the BBL to draw frustrated Moro youth to join them.
[Video: Iqbal: Problems that will arise if BBL will be passed post-federalism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5za2lUyS9ds]
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1260/passing-the-bbl-is-easier-than-shifting-to-federalism--iqbal
MILF: Jaafar enlightens University of Mindanao’s Students on BBL, Extremism
Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Mar 23): Jaafar enlightens University of Mindanao’s Students on BBL, Extremism
Photo by Margany R. Gumander
“There’s no extremists group in Mindanao because they are fighting for a cause,” and principles.
This was the opening statement of Ghazali Jaafar, Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) Chairman, and 1ST Vice Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the First Public Forum on BBL, and Islamic Social Awareness held at the University of Mindanao (UM) Campus, Bolton Street, Davao City on March 21, 2018.
Jaafar stressed that the leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the late Ustadz Umbra Kato was the former Commander of 105th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF-MILF), but due to his frustrations on the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), he bolted from the mainstream MILF.
In can be recalled that when some unscrupulous political leaders questioned the legality of the MOA-AD, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional due to lack of consultations.
“The MILF then was still honoring the signed peace agreement with the government, and they continued to resolve the Bangsamoro issues through the peace process, but Ustadz Kato rather chose to separate from the MILF, and they continued fighting against the government to establish an independent state,” Jaafar emphasized.
“The Maute Brothers who laid siege on Marawi City were also former members of the MILF in Lanao del Sur. But due to the failure of the Philippine’s 16th Congress to pass the previous BBL, they become frustrated, and totally lost their trust and confidence on the government, thus, they continued fighting to establish their own government to govern themselves,” Jaafar added.
“There’s no existing extremism in Mindanao. It is a product of big frustration of some members of the Moro Front who negotiated for almost 40 years, and the political solutions was already identified but remained in deaf ears,” lamented Jaafar.
Some 40 Muslims students, 18 non-Muslim students, and youth leaders, members of the University of Mindanao Muslim Association for Regency attended the forum.
The youth participants were enlightened on the salient provisions of the BBL, and its inclusivity.
After the enactment of BBL by congress, a plebiscite will be held in the core territory, and the localities in Lanao Del Norte, and said villages in North Cotabato to determine the coverage of the new political entity Bangsamoro.
Once the Bangsamoro Region is established, infrastructure projects, livelihood assistance, other forms of development programs, and educational scholarships will be enjoyed by residents of Bangsamoro communities, inside, and outside of the region where Moro people reside.
Aside from Jaafar, three (3) well-known experts on Islamic Theology gave clear insights on what is extremism, and how to counter radical extremism.
The non-Muslim students were also given an opportunity to share their ideas how they understand the issue on extremism before, and after they heard the fruitful explanation of the resource speakers.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1263/jaafar-enlightens-university-of-mindanao---s-students-on-bbl--extremism
Photo by Margany R. Gumander
“There’s no extremists group in Mindanao because they are fighting for a cause,” and principles.
This was the opening statement of Ghazali Jaafar, Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) Chairman, and 1ST Vice Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) during the First Public Forum on BBL, and Islamic Social Awareness held at the University of Mindanao (UM) Campus, Bolton Street, Davao City on March 21, 2018.
Jaafar stressed that the leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the late Ustadz Umbra Kato was the former Commander of 105th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF-MILF), but due to his frustrations on the aborted signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD), he bolted from the mainstream MILF.
In can be recalled that when some unscrupulous political leaders questioned the legality of the MOA-AD, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional due to lack of consultations.
“The MILF then was still honoring the signed peace agreement with the government, and they continued to resolve the Bangsamoro issues through the peace process, but Ustadz Kato rather chose to separate from the MILF, and they continued fighting against the government to establish an independent state,” Jaafar emphasized.
“The Maute Brothers who laid siege on Marawi City were also former members of the MILF in Lanao del Sur. But due to the failure of the Philippine’s 16th Congress to pass the previous BBL, they become frustrated, and totally lost their trust and confidence on the government, thus, they continued fighting to establish their own government to govern themselves,” Jaafar added.
“There’s no existing extremism in Mindanao. It is a product of big frustration of some members of the Moro Front who negotiated for almost 40 years, and the political solutions was already identified but remained in deaf ears,” lamented Jaafar.
Some 40 Muslims students, 18 non-Muslim students, and youth leaders, members of the University of Mindanao Muslim Association for Regency attended the forum.
The youth participants were enlightened on the salient provisions of the BBL, and its inclusivity.
After the enactment of BBL by congress, a plebiscite will be held in the core territory, and the localities in Lanao Del Norte, and said villages in North Cotabato to determine the coverage of the new political entity Bangsamoro.
Once the Bangsamoro Region is established, infrastructure projects, livelihood assistance, other forms of development programs, and educational scholarships will be enjoyed by residents of Bangsamoro communities, inside, and outside of the region where Moro people reside.
Aside from Jaafar, three (3) well-known experts on Islamic Theology gave clear insights on what is extremism, and how to counter radical extremism.
The non-Muslim students were also given an opportunity to share their ideas how they understand the issue on extremism before, and after they heard the fruitful explanation of the resource speakers.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1263/jaafar-enlightens-university-of-mindanao---s-students-on-bbl--extremism
DWDD: MASSIVE SURRENDER | 4,356 NPA, supporters yield to government
From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Mar 23): MASSIVE SURRENDER | 4,356 NPA, supporters yield to government
CAMP GEN EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City (DWDD) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has recorded 4,356 regular members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) who surrendered nationwide from 01 January to 15 March 2018.
The figure is composed of 626 NPA regulars and Sangay sa Partido Lokal (SPL) or local party members and 3,730 Militia ng Bayan (MB), Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) members and mass supporters. Majority of surrenders happened in eastern Mindanao particularly in the regions of Davao and CARAGA totalling 96% or 4,194.
This includes the 1,265 NPA supporters and residents of nine barangays of Monkayo town in Compostela Valley on 07 March 2018 and the recent defection of 115 supporters in Trento, Agusan del Sur.
The massive surrenders of NPAs and their supporters were attributed to the combined focused military operations, intelligence efforts, civil-military operations, re-integration efforts, peace and development programs of the AFP and PNP; and the intense campaign of Local Government Units in convincing their constituents who are members and supporters of the NPA to go back to mainstream society.
The AFP expects more surrenders as former rebels and supporters divulge corruption and deception inside the CPP-NPA. Revelations from former rebels disclosed that most of them were deceived into believing the propaganda and false promises of their leaders.
The former rebels warn would be recruits not to fall on the pattern of deception being done by the NPA terrorists and call on their former comrades to take the peaceful path to change.
The AFP assures the public that focused military operations against communist terrorists will continue to protect the people and vulnerable communities from terrorist atrocities. AFP PAO / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/03/23/massive-surrender-4356-npa-supporters-yield-to-government/
CAMP GEN EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City (DWDD) – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has recorded 4,356 regular members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) who surrendered nationwide from 01 January to 15 March 2018.
The figure is composed of 626 NPA regulars and Sangay sa Partido Lokal (SPL) or local party members and 3,730 Militia ng Bayan (MB), Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) members and mass supporters. Majority of surrenders happened in eastern Mindanao particularly in the regions of Davao and CARAGA totalling 96% or 4,194.
This includes the 1,265 NPA supporters and residents of nine barangays of Monkayo town in Compostela Valley on 07 March 2018 and the recent defection of 115 supporters in Trento, Agusan del Sur.
The massive surrenders of NPAs and their supporters were attributed to the combined focused military operations, intelligence efforts, civil-military operations, re-integration efforts, peace and development programs of the AFP and PNP; and the intense campaign of Local Government Units in convincing their constituents who are members and supporters of the NPA to go back to mainstream society.
The AFP expects more surrenders as former rebels and supporters divulge corruption and deception inside the CPP-NPA. Revelations from former rebels disclosed that most of them were deceived into believing the propaganda and false promises of their leaders.
The former rebels warn would be recruits not to fall on the pattern of deception being done by the NPA terrorists and call on their former comrades to take the peaceful path to change.
The AFP assures the public that focused military operations against communist terrorists will continue to protect the people and vulnerable communities from terrorist atrocities. AFP PAO / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/03/23/massive-surrender-4356-npa-supporters-yield-to-government/
PH, China agree on 'prudent' cooperation on joint sea exploration
From Rappler (Mar 22): PH, China agree on 'prudent' cooperation on joint sea exploration
The countries will 'in a prudent and steady way advance cooperation on offshore oil and gas exploration,' says Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi
LETTER. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (L) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister and State Counselor Wang Yi after he passed on a hand-written letter from President Rodrigo Duterte to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 21, 2018. Photo by Parker Song/AFP
Philippines and China said Wednesday, March 21, they will cautiously proceed with discussions on joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, further reversing years of tensions over their competing claims to the region.
The two states have long been embroiled in a bitter dispute over the waterway – with China claiming nearly the entire sea – but Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has in recent years softened his predecessors' policy of opposing Beijing's claims.
The countries will "in a prudent and steady way advance cooperation on offshore oil and gas exploration", Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told reporters after meeting Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
"The South China Sea disputes will no longer be a source of negative energy blocking the development of bilateral ties," he added.
The Philippines said earlier this month it was in talks with a Chinese state firm over joint exploration and extraction in the strategic and supposedly resource-rich sea.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim all or part of the sea, and proposed cooperation between Manila and Beijing has caused alarm among neighboring Southeast Asian countries in the past.
Cayetano said at the press conference that China and the Philippines "are finding a common legal framework to conduct joint exploration and surveys".
"Our relationship... is in a golden period, and with very positive momentum," he said, adding that the countries "are now ready to face more challenges together".
However no further details on the nature of the agreed cooperation were given.
Cayetano said last month that Manila would consult legal experts to make sure any accord would not infringe Philippine sovereign rights.
Duterte has described a proposed deal as akin to "co-ownership" of contested areas, saying this was preferable to the "massacre" of Filipino troops in a war with China.
Duterte's willingness to cooperate with China marks a turnaround from the stance of predecessor Benigno Aquino III who accused Beijing of encroaching, occupying, and building structures on reefs and rocks that Manila claims as part of its exclusive economic zone.
Aquino won an international arbitration tribunal ruling in 2016 invalidating Beijing's claims, but Duterte set aside the ruling while courting investments and trade from the Philippines' giant neighbor, the world's second-largest economy.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/198708-philippines-china-agree-cooperation-joint-sea-exploration
The countries will 'in a prudent and steady way advance cooperation on offshore oil and gas exploration,' says Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi
LETTER. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano (L) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister and State Counselor Wang Yi after he passed on a hand-written letter from President Rodrigo Duterte to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 21, 2018. Photo by Parker Song/AFP
Philippines and China said Wednesday, March 21, they will cautiously proceed with discussions on joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, further reversing years of tensions over their competing claims to the region.
The two states have long been embroiled in a bitter dispute over the waterway – with China claiming nearly the entire sea – but Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has in recent years softened his predecessors' policy of opposing Beijing's claims.
The countries will "in a prudent and steady way advance cooperation on offshore oil and gas exploration", Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told reporters after meeting Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.
"The South China Sea disputes will no longer be a source of negative energy blocking the development of bilateral ties," he added.
The Philippines said earlier this month it was in talks with a Chinese state firm over joint exploration and extraction in the strategic and supposedly resource-rich sea.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim all or part of the sea, and proposed cooperation between Manila and Beijing has caused alarm among neighboring Southeast Asian countries in the past.
Cayetano said at the press conference that China and the Philippines "are finding a common legal framework to conduct joint exploration and surveys".
"Our relationship... is in a golden period, and with very positive momentum," he said, adding that the countries "are now ready to face more challenges together".
However no further details on the nature of the agreed cooperation were given.
Cayetano said last month that Manila would consult legal experts to make sure any accord would not infringe Philippine sovereign rights.
Duterte has described a proposed deal as akin to "co-ownership" of contested areas, saying this was preferable to the "massacre" of Filipino troops in a war with China.
Duterte's willingness to cooperate with China marks a turnaround from the stance of predecessor Benigno Aquino III who accused Beijing of encroaching, occupying, and building structures on reefs and rocks that Manila claims as part of its exclusive economic zone.
Aquino won an international arbitration tribunal ruling in 2016 invalidating Beijing's claims, but Duterte set aside the ruling while courting investments and trade from the Philippines' giant neighbor, the world's second-largest economy.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/198708-philippines-china-agree-cooperation-joint-sea-exploration
Lorenzana gives top PH economists security briefing
From Rappler (Mar 22): Lorenzana gives top PH economists security briefing
Former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo gives a glowing assessment of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's performance as defense chief
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana briefed some of the country's top economists on the national security situation on Wednesday night, March 21.
Lorenzana gave an off-the-record security briefing to members of the Foundation for Economic Freedom, a group of economists chaired by former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo, and boasted about the military's successes on the ground.
Lorenzana discussed the threat of terrorism and the communist insurgency, giving them a broad view of the status of military operations against these threats.
He also discussed the situation in Mindanao, where martial law was declared.
PH Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday night spoke with members of the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) about the national security situation. FEF is composed of the country's top economists. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/95QHQjkb5N— Carmela Fonbuena (@carmelafonbuena) March 22, 2018
De Ocampo, who gave a glowing assessment of Lorenzana's performance as defense chief, said the FEF members welcomed the briefing especially as they look into the administration's economic policies.
"How can you pursue a Build Build Build, for example, if there is instability. This, I think, is a major part of looking at the overall situation, both locally and globally," De Ocampo told Rappler.
De Ocampo stressed the importance of Lorenzana's job. "National defense usually commands a very large part of the budget of an economy for the simple reason that without the stability that national defense is supposed to introduce, then economics becomes largely theoretical," he said.
"We were happy to be able to listen. I think many issues such as those that were brought out today including the South China Sea strategy, the military strategy in Mindanao, and NPAs are all very important to the economy," he added.
Ocampo served as finance secretary during the Ramos administration. Former National Economic and Development Authority chief Romulo Neri was also present at the briefing.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/198742-lorenzana-top-ph-economists-security-briefing
Former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo gives a glowing assessment of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana's performance as defense chief
BRIEFING ECONOMISTS. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana gives the Foundation for Economic Freedom a briefing on the national security situation. Rappler photo
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana briefed some of the country's top economists on the national security situation on Wednesday night, March 21.
Lorenzana gave an off-the-record security briefing to members of the Foundation for Economic Freedom, a group of economists chaired by former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo, and boasted about the military's successes on the ground.
Lorenzana discussed the threat of terrorism and the communist insurgency, giving them a broad view of the status of military operations against these threats.
He also discussed the situation in Mindanao, where martial law was declared.
PH Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday night spoke with members of the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF) about the national security situation. FEF is composed of the country's top economists. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/95QHQjkb5N— Carmela Fonbuena (@carmelafonbuena) March 22, 2018
De Ocampo, who gave a glowing assessment of Lorenzana's performance as defense chief, said the FEF members welcomed the briefing especially as they look into the administration's economic policies.
"How can you pursue a Build Build Build, for example, if there is instability. This, I think, is a major part of looking at the overall situation, both locally and globally," De Ocampo told Rappler.
De Ocampo stressed the importance of Lorenzana's job. "National defense usually commands a very large part of the budget of an economy for the simple reason that without the stability that national defense is supposed to introduce, then economics becomes largely theoretical," he said.
"We were happy to be able to listen. I think many issues such as those that were brought out today including the South China Sea strategy, the military strategy in Mindanao, and NPAs are all very important to the economy," he added.
Ocampo served as finance secretary during the Ramos administration. Former National Economic and Development Authority chief Romulo Neri was also present at the briefing.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/198742-lorenzana-top-ph-economists-security-briefing
CPP slams AFP for parading hoax NPA surrenderees
From the often pro-CPP online publication the Davao Today (Mar 23): CPP slams AFP for parading hoax NPA surrenderees
http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/cpp-slams-afp-for-parading-hoax-npa-surrenderees/
The New People’s Army (FILE PHOTO by Medel V. Hernani / davaotoday.com)
The military’s latest number of surrendered persons from the New Peoples Army is “a complete hoax.”
In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines said 99% of the so-called “NPA surrenderees” were not actually NPA fighters but were victims of the series of red tagging and psywar activities launched by the AFP-PNP.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that 4,356 NPA regular members and supporters surrendered to them from January 1 to March 15 this year. Around 626 NPA regulars and Sangay sa Partido Lokal and 3,730 Militia ng Bayan, UGMO members and mass supporters surrendered, 97% of which came from Caraga and Davao regions in Mindanao.
The state forces attributed the surrenders due to the combined focused military, civil-military, re-integration and peace and development programs.
The CPP cited incidents reported by human rights groups such as the forced surrender of a teacher and of the MISFI Academy, an institution operating several schools for indigenous peoples in Mindanao. The teacher was brought together with 70 other members of the community in Trento, Agusan del Sur on March 12 where they were forced to sign a blank sheet of paper.
The victims were also said to be threatened with detention and forced to speak in front of a camera that they have voluntarily surrendered to the 25th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
The military’s latest number of surrendered persons from the New Peoples Army is “a complete hoax.”
In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines said 99% of the so-called “NPA surrenderees” were not actually NPA fighters but were victims of the series of red tagging and psywar activities launched by the AFP-PNP.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that 4,356 NPA regular members and supporters surrendered to them from January 1 to March 15 this year. Around 626 NPA regulars and Sangay sa Partido Lokal and 3,730 Militia ng Bayan, UGMO members and mass supporters surrendered, 97% of which came from Caraga and Davao regions in Mindanao.
The state forces attributed the surrenders due to the combined focused military, civil-military, re-integration and peace and development programs.
The CPP cited incidents reported by human rights groups such as the forced surrender of a teacher and of the MISFI Academy, an institution operating several schools for indigenous peoples in Mindanao. The teacher was brought together with 70 other members of the community in Trento, Agusan del Sur on March 12 where they were forced to sign a blank sheet of paper.
The victims were also said to be threatened with detention and forced to speak in front of a camera that they have voluntarily surrendered to the 25th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
The CPP added that among the surrenderee statistics included AFP paramilitaries like the 16 members of the Magahat-Bagani, who were presented by the 4th ID. The Magahat-bagani members were responsible for the massacre of Emerito Samarca, executive director of Alcadev school, and Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Juvello Sinzo in Lianga, Surigao del Sur in 2015.
The CPP also slammed the use of the discretionary and intelligence funds which were automatically handed over to the bank accounts of brigade and battalion commanders.
The CPP challenged the AFP to make a public apology for forcing people to pose as NPA surrenderees.
The CPP slammed the AFP report saying this just beyond credible propaganda and a deception that the Duterte government has succeeded in defeating the NPA.
The CPP also slammed the use of the discretionary and intelligence funds which were automatically handed over to the bank accounts of brigade and battalion commanders.
The CPP challenged the AFP to make a public apology for forcing people to pose as NPA surrenderees.
The CPP slammed the AFP report saying this just beyond credible propaganda and a deception that the Duterte government has succeeded in defeating the NPA.
http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/cpp-slams-afp-for-parading-hoax-npa-surrenderees/