From the Cebu Daily News (Jun 17): NPA slammed for strafing Guihulngan brgy chief’s house
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (AFP Centcom) has criticized the New People’s Army for strafing the house of a barangay captain of Barangay Humay Humay, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental last June 12, which led to the death of a civilian and the wounding of a barangay captain.
The NPA through a statement sent by Ka JB Regalado of the Leonardo Panaligan Command NPA Central Negros Guerrilla Front claimed responsibility for the attack and cited the reason for their attack.
They accused the barangay captain of being responsible for killing three times, abusing women, involved in a robbery and involved in a drug syndicate.
They said that were reason for raiding the barangay captain’s house.
Col. Medel Aguilar, a Centcom spokesman, said the NPA had no authority to take the law into their own hands.
http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/180090/npa-slammed-strafing-guihulngan-brgy-chiefs-house
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Dureza flies to Oslo peace forum; will update Norway on peace talks with Reds
UNTV News and Rescue (Jun 18): Dureza flies to Oslo peace forum; will update Norway on peace talks with Reds
https://www.untvweb.com/news/dureza-flies-to-oslo-peace-forum-will-update-norway-on-peace-talks-with-reds/
Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza has left for Oslo, Norway on Monday, June 18.
Dureza will attend a peace forum which will be participated by peace negotiators from various countries.
The presidential adviser’s trip aims to share the Philippines’ experiences on peace negotiations and to learn from the experiences of other countries too.
“They try and gather together all the people who are involved in peace negotiations in different countries in the world. That will be a location for us to share experiences, share also mistakes so that we learn from them,” Dureza said.
He is also set to meet with the new Norwegian foreign minister to report the state of the peace negotiations in the Philippines.
He said this is also a chance to thank Norway for its strong support in the Philippines’ efforts in promoting peace between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Norway serves as the mediator for peace negotiations between the government and the CPP-NPA.
Before returning to the country, Dureza will visit and meet the Filipino community in Norway to report the situation of the nation under the Duterte administration.
Dureza will attend a peace forum which will be participated by peace negotiators from various countries.
The presidential adviser’s trip aims to share the Philippines’ experiences on peace negotiations and to learn from the experiences of other countries too.
“They try and gather together all the people who are involved in peace negotiations in different countries in the world. That will be a location for us to share experiences, share also mistakes so that we learn from them,” Dureza said.
He is also set to meet with the new Norwegian foreign minister to report the state of the peace negotiations in the Philippines.
He said this is also a chance to thank Norway for its strong support in the Philippines’ efforts in promoting peace between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Norway serves as the mediator for peace negotiations between the government and the CPP-NPA.
Before returning to the country, Dureza will visit and meet the Filipino community in Norway to report the situation of the nation under the Duterte administration.
https://www.untvweb.com/news/dureza-flies-to-oslo-peace-forum-will-update-norway-on-peace-talks-with-reds/
36 villages declared insurgency-free
From the Sun Star-Davao (Jun 18): 36 villages declared insurgency-free
A TOTAL of 36 insurgency-affected barangays of Davao City and Davao Del Norte were declared as cleared, peaceful and conflict-resilient communities successively on June 13 and 15, Wednesday and Friday.
The 21 barangays declared clear of insurgency in Davao City are: Alambre, Bangkas Heights, Bato, Bayabas, Eden, Marapangi, Mulig, Sirawan and Tagurano of Toril; Riverside and Sirib of Calinan; Carmen, Tawan-tawan and Baguio Proper of Baguio; Bantol, Buda and Marilog Proper of Marilog; and, Angalan, Manambulan, New Carmen and Tagakpan of Tugbok, all in Davao City.
In Davao del Norte, the barangays are: Buenavista, Consolacion, Katipunan, Katualan, Kauswagan, Kiotoy, Upper Licanan, Little Panay, Mabunao, Malativas, San Nicholas, San Roque, Sta. Cruz, Tagpore, and Waterfalls, all in Panabo City.
Philippine Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Ernesto Torres Jr. said the successful clearing was finally reached following an eight-month community support team deployment of the military in these areas.
Torres said all of these were made possible by close collaboration with the police, barangay officials and the city government both of Davao City and Panabo City in addressing the issues that gave rise to insurgency.
The Area Clearing Validation Board (ACBV) composed of officers from the Philippine Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade, 10th Infantry Division, Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Davao Del Norte Provincial Police Office, local government executives and barangay captains from 36 barangays convened to validate the recommendation of the Evaluation Board for the clearing of said barangays during the two separate occasions.
The ACVB unanimously declared and signed through a resolution that the 36 barangays have all met the parameters for the clearing of insurgency-affected barangays to include the dismantling of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the area, NPA politico-military structure; the denial of NPA access to the area, resources, and manpower; and the establishment of a functioning barangays information net and integrated community public safety system, among others.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1748490/Davao/Local-News/36-villages-declared-insurgency-free
A TOTAL of 36 insurgency-affected barangays of Davao City and Davao Del Norte were declared as cleared, peaceful and conflict-resilient communities successively on June 13 and 15, Wednesday and Friday.
The 21 barangays declared clear of insurgency in Davao City are: Alambre, Bangkas Heights, Bato, Bayabas, Eden, Marapangi, Mulig, Sirawan and Tagurano of Toril; Riverside and Sirib of Calinan; Carmen, Tawan-tawan and Baguio Proper of Baguio; Bantol, Buda and Marilog Proper of Marilog; and, Angalan, Manambulan, New Carmen and Tagakpan of Tugbok, all in Davao City.
In Davao del Norte, the barangays are: Buenavista, Consolacion, Katipunan, Katualan, Kauswagan, Kiotoy, Upper Licanan, Little Panay, Mabunao, Malativas, San Nicholas, San Roque, Sta. Cruz, Tagpore, and Waterfalls, all in Panabo City.
Philippine Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Ernesto Torres Jr. said the successful clearing was finally reached following an eight-month community support team deployment of the military in these areas.
Torres said all of these were made possible by close collaboration with the police, barangay officials and the city government both of Davao City and Panabo City in addressing the issues that gave rise to insurgency.
The Area Clearing Validation Board (ACBV) composed of officers from the Philippine Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade, 10th Infantry Division, Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Davao Del Norte Provincial Police Office, local government executives and barangay captains from 36 barangays convened to validate the recommendation of the Evaluation Board for the clearing of said barangays during the two separate occasions.
The ACVB unanimously declared and signed through a resolution that the 36 barangays have all met the parameters for the clearing of insurgency-affected barangays to include the dismantling of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the area, NPA politico-military structure; the denial of NPA access to the area, resources, and manpower; and the establishment of a functioning barangays information net and integrated community public safety system, among others.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1748490/Davao/Local-News/36-villages-declared-insurgency-free
Government forms three consultative teams on peace
From the Manila Standard (Jun 18): Government forms three consultative teams on peace
The government panel negotiating a peace accord with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front has created three teams to conduct consultations with local government units, Congress and the Supreme Court.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who is also the government chief negotiator for the peace talks, said this was in accordance with the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to postpone the resumption of formal negotiations to allow the government to engage a “bigger peace table.”
“The President does not want us to sign a final peace agreement that would just get rejected by Congress and the Supreme Court,” Bello said in a phone interview from Doha.
The government and the CPP-NDF peace panels, Bello said, have already drafted an interim peace agreement, which once signed will form the meat of the final peace pact.
Both panels were supposed to meet on June 28 in Oslo, but Duterte decided to scrap the resumption of the peace talks Wednesday last week.
The President was reportedly irked with the media pronouncements of CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison where he announced the date of the negotiations as well as the June 21 date for a stand-down order for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and New People’s Army to take effect.
Bello admitted that while he signed the stand-down order together with his NDF counterpart, Fidel Agcaoili, it was agreed that they would jointly announce it in Manila on June 21.
He said Sison should have been “more prudent” instead of prematurely announcing the dates.
A well-placed source privy to the Joint AFP-PNP Command Conference held in Malacañang where Duterte announced his decision said the media blitz of the exiled communist leader did not sit well with the President.
“The President reviewed the recent statements of Joma because it was Joma who was announcing that there will be a week-long ‘stand down order’ between the NDF and the government that will begin on June 21 and that the formal peace talks will resume on June 28. Is he the spokesman of the government? Baka akala niya nanalo na sila sa giyera (Perhaps he thought they already won the war),” the source said.
“How can Joma say there will be a ceasefire effective June 21? Sinong kausap niya? (Who is he talking to?) There are backchannel talks but nothing has been approved by the principal yet. Is he trying to preempt the government?” the source added.
Bello admitted that Duterte has yet to see a copy of the stand-down agreement and the draft interim peace agreement.
“We will move forward with the consultations. The President just wants to make sure that whatever document we sign will be acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.
With the President’s decision to postpone the peace negotiations, five of six rebel leaders with standing arrest warrants who were supposed in the talks have gone underground.
Sison, however, said Duterte is to blame for the situation. “Duterte has made it impossible for our consultants to present themselves before the proper courts. Duterte removed the safe environment for them to face the court again.”
A Manila court earlier allowed CPP chairman Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Randall Echanis, Vicente Ladlad and Rafael Baylosis to leave for Norway for the peace negotiations.
A separate court in Taguig also allowed communist leader Alan Jazmines to join the five as NDF consultants.
Defense lawyer Rachel Pastores of the Public Interest Law Center said it would not come as a surprise if her clients, except for Baylosis who is still under detention, would jump bail and refuse to surrender.
“With the exception of Baylosis, the others are not in police custody. Who can blame them [if they have gone underground]? There is a clear threat to their security and lives. This government has branded them, terrorists,” Pastores said.
“The security and freedom of the NDF consultants should not be based on whimsical decisions of the government,” she added.
Baylosis posted a bail of P150,000 but he has yet to be released while Silva paid P100,000 in bail.
Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday backed the recommendation of the President to conduct the resumption of peace talks with the communist rebels in the Philippines.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, who served as a peace process adviser in the past administrations, also threw his support to this call of the President.
While the Norwegian government has played a valuable role in the country’s peace process, Drilon said that “the time has come for the Philippines and the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to talk among themselves.”
Drilon said previous talks in third-party countries have not worked.
In an interview on DZBB, Gordon said bringing the negotiations to the Philippines would save the government money.
http://www.thestandard.com.ph/news/top-stories/268330/government-forms-three-consultative-teams-on-peace.html
The government panel negotiating a peace accord with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front has created three teams to conduct consultations with local government units, Congress and the Supreme Court.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who is also the government chief negotiator for the peace talks, said this was in accordance with the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to postpone the resumption of formal negotiations to allow the government to engage a “bigger peace table.”
“The President does not want us to sign a final peace agreement that would just get rejected by Congress and the Supreme Court,” Bello said in a phone interview from Doha.
The government and the CPP-NDF peace panels, Bello said, have already drafted an interim peace agreement, which once signed will form the meat of the final peace pact.
Both panels were supposed to meet on June 28 in Oslo, but Duterte decided to scrap the resumption of the peace talks Wednesday last week.
The President was reportedly irked with the media pronouncements of CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison where he announced the date of the negotiations as well as the June 21 date for a stand-down order for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and New People’s Army to take effect.
Bello admitted that while he signed the stand-down order together with his NDF counterpart, Fidel Agcaoili, it was agreed that they would jointly announce it in Manila on June 21.
He said Sison should have been “more prudent” instead of prematurely announcing the dates.
A well-placed source privy to the Joint AFP-PNP Command Conference held in Malacañang where Duterte announced his decision said the media blitz of the exiled communist leader did not sit well with the President.
“The President reviewed the recent statements of Joma because it was Joma who was announcing that there will be a week-long ‘stand down order’ between the NDF and the government that will begin on June 21 and that the formal peace talks will resume on June 28. Is he the spokesman of the government? Baka akala niya nanalo na sila sa giyera (Perhaps he thought they already won the war),” the source said.
“How can Joma say there will be a ceasefire effective June 21? Sinong kausap niya? (Who is he talking to?) There are backchannel talks but nothing has been approved by the principal yet. Is he trying to preempt the government?” the source added.
Bello admitted that Duterte has yet to see a copy of the stand-down agreement and the draft interim peace agreement.
“We will move forward with the consultations. The President just wants to make sure that whatever document we sign will be acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.
With the President’s decision to postpone the peace negotiations, five of six rebel leaders with standing arrest warrants who were supposed in the talks have gone underground.
Sison, however, said Duterte is to blame for the situation. “Duterte has made it impossible for our consultants to present themselves before the proper courts. Duterte removed the safe environment for them to face the court again.”
A Manila court earlier allowed CPP chairman Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Randall Echanis, Vicente Ladlad and Rafael Baylosis to leave for Norway for the peace negotiations.
A separate court in Taguig also allowed communist leader Alan Jazmines to join the five as NDF consultants.
Defense lawyer Rachel Pastores of the Public Interest Law Center said it would not come as a surprise if her clients, except for Baylosis who is still under detention, would jump bail and refuse to surrender.
“With the exception of Baylosis, the others are not in police custody. Who can blame them [if they have gone underground]? There is a clear threat to their security and lives. This government has branded them, terrorists,” Pastores said.
“The security and freedom of the NDF consultants should not be based on whimsical decisions of the government,” she added.
Baylosis posted a bail of P150,000 but he has yet to be released while Silva paid P100,000 in bail.
Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday backed the recommendation of the President to conduct the resumption of peace talks with the communist rebels in the Philippines.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, who served as a peace process adviser in the past administrations, also threw his support to this call of the President.
While the Norwegian government has played a valuable role in the country’s peace process, Drilon said that “the time has come for the Philippines and the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to talk among themselves.”
Drilon said previous talks in third-party countries have not worked.
In an interview on DZBB, Gordon said bringing the negotiations to the Philippines would save the government money.
http://www.thestandard.com.ph/news/top-stories/268330/government-forms-three-consultative-teams-on-peace.html
Powerful improvised explosive device found abandoned in Cotabato
From GMA News (Jun 18): Powerful improvised explosive device found abandoned in Cotabato
Authorities recovered an abandoned powerful improvised explosive device (IED) in Arakan, Cotabato on Friday morning.
The IED was found by North Cotabato Police safety personnel within the boundaries of Barangays Sto. Niño and Tumanding, according to a police report.
The explosive weighed 15 kilos and had batteries but was missing a switch box. It was placed inside a trolley when it was found, Police Senior Inspector Jun Napat, Arakan chief of police, said.
Police found the IED by the roadside a few hours before a military convoy was to pass by, Napat said.
“Should the explosive went off it could possibly damage the military vehicle and can even kill or hurt those riding in said vehicle,” he said.
Police Senior Superintendent Maximo Layugan, Cotabato Philippine National Police acting provincial director, said the Arakan Municipal Police Office got a tip that an IED would be transported from Barangay Datu Ladayun to Barangay Tumanding.
Another call was received by intelligence operatives saying that a suspicious-looking bag was found abandoned by the roadside near the boundary of Barangays Sto. Niño and Tumanding.
Layugan pointed to the New People's Army as the one behind the IED.
He said the NPA operates in Arakan and is known for using wired command-detonated IEDs similar to the one recovered on Friday.
Layugan lauded the Arakan Municipal Police Office for its quick and decisive action which may have prevented an explosion that could have harmed innocent civilians.
The New People's Army has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/657212/powerful-improvised-explosive-device-found-abandoned-in-cotabato/story/
Authorities recovered an abandoned powerful improvised explosive device (IED) in Arakan, Cotabato on Friday morning.
The IED was found by North Cotabato Police safety personnel within the boundaries of Barangays Sto. Niño and Tumanding, according to a police report.
The explosive weighed 15 kilos and had batteries but was missing a switch box. It was placed inside a trolley when it was found, Police Senior Inspector Jun Napat, Arakan chief of police, said.
Police found the IED by the roadside a few hours before a military convoy was to pass by, Napat said.
“Should the explosive went off it could possibly damage the military vehicle and can even kill or hurt those riding in said vehicle,” he said.
Police Senior Superintendent Maximo Layugan, Cotabato Philippine National Police acting provincial director, said the Arakan Municipal Police Office got a tip that an IED would be transported from Barangay Datu Ladayun to Barangay Tumanding.
Another call was received by intelligence operatives saying that a suspicious-looking bag was found abandoned by the roadside near the boundary of Barangays Sto. Niño and Tumanding.
Layugan pointed to the New People's Army as the one behind the IED.
He said the NPA operates in Arakan and is known for using wired command-detonated IEDs similar to the one recovered on Friday.
Layugan lauded the Arakan Municipal Police Office for its quick and decisive action which may have prevented an explosion that could have harmed innocent civilians.
The New People's Army has yet to issue a statement regarding the incident.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/657212/powerful-improvised-explosive-device-found-abandoned-in-cotabato/story/
Suspected NPA members attack development firm in Bulacan
From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 18): Suspected NPA members attack development firm in Bulacan
CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan – Suspected members of the New People’s Army attacked a development corporation in Barangay Ciudad Real recently in the mountainous part of this city, bordering Rodriguez, Rizal.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Nine security firearms of the Monte Grande Development Corp. were confirmed taken by an armed group.
Police operatives led by Supt. Fitz Macariola, chief of police here, said they were able to reach the site on Saturday to conduct patrol, inspection and investigation on the said company that was allegedly raided by an armed group with at least 30 members wearing police vest and uniforms who allegedly introduced themselves as members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Macariola said the armed group raided the said company around 11 a.m. and took the service firearms of the company’s security personnel that include five SAS 12 gauge shotguns, two M30 shotguns and two 9mm Armscor pistols and fled toward Rodriguez, Rizal around 3 p.m. the same day.
Immediate investigation on the incident was hampered as the company’s security officers failed to report the incident to the police, Macariola said.
Chief Supt. Amador V. Corpus, Central Luzon police regional director, said they are still validating if the armed men are really members of the NPA.
On the other hand, the Communist Party of the Philippines posted on their web site identifying the armed group as belonging to the NPA forces in Mt. Sierra Madre-Southern Tagalog under Rosario Lodronio Rosal Command (RLRC-NPA-Mt. Sierra Madre-Southern Tagalog Sub-regional Command) and congratulated them “ in their successful raid against the armed goons of Chinese tycoon Lucio Tan in Barangay Ciudad Real, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.”
The CPP said, the company was “ involved in the land grabbing of 77 hectares of land owned by the farmers in the said barangay.”
It added, “ This action should serve as warning to other big landlords and oligarchs that the NPA won’t let them oppress the farmers and the Filipino people.”
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/18/suspected-npa-members-attack-development-firm-in-bulacan/
CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, Bulacan – Suspected members of the New People’s Army attacked a development corporation in Barangay Ciudad Real recently in the mountainous part of this city, bordering Rodriguez, Rizal.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
Nine security firearms of the Monte Grande Development Corp. were confirmed taken by an armed group.
Police operatives led by Supt. Fitz Macariola, chief of police here, said they were able to reach the site on Saturday to conduct patrol, inspection and investigation on the said company that was allegedly raided by an armed group with at least 30 members wearing police vest and uniforms who allegedly introduced themselves as members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Macariola said the armed group raided the said company around 11 a.m. and took the service firearms of the company’s security personnel that include five SAS 12 gauge shotguns, two M30 shotguns and two 9mm Armscor pistols and fled toward Rodriguez, Rizal around 3 p.m. the same day.
Immediate investigation on the incident was hampered as the company’s security officers failed to report the incident to the police, Macariola said.
Chief Supt. Amador V. Corpus, Central Luzon police regional director, said they are still validating if the armed men are really members of the NPA.
On the other hand, the Communist Party of the Philippines posted on their web site identifying the armed group as belonging to the NPA forces in Mt. Sierra Madre-Southern Tagalog under Rosario Lodronio Rosal Command (RLRC-NPA-Mt. Sierra Madre-Southern Tagalog Sub-regional Command) and congratulated them “ in their successful raid against the armed goons of Chinese tycoon Lucio Tan in Barangay Ciudad Real, San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan.”
The CPP said, the company was “ involved in the land grabbing of 77 hectares of land owned by the farmers in the said barangay.”
It added, “ This action should serve as warning to other big landlords and oligarchs that the NPA won’t let them oppress the farmers and the Filipino people.”
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/18/suspected-npa-members-attack-development-firm-in-bulacan/
Duterte to MILF: what cannot be included in the BBL, add them via federalism
From MindaNews (Jun 17): Duterte to MILF: what cannot be included in the BBL, add them via federalism
Reiterating his camapign for federalism, President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night urged leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to wait for the passage of the final version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and whatever is not included there can be “added in the federal scheme of things.”
At the start of his 36-minute speech, Duterte told a predominantly Muslim audience gathered at the SMX Convention Center for the Eid’l Fitr celebration marking the end of Ramadan: “The time for federalism has come to our country. We have to move away from the style of unitary form of government.”
President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the predominantly Muslim audience at the EId’l Fitr celebration on Saturday night, 16 June 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
In the latter part of his speech, he said: “I am for federalism. I am for peace. Kayo Chairman Murad (MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim), yung ano ninyo,” apparently referring to the creation of a new autonomous region under the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), “we can do it now, I said, we’ll just wait for the passage of the law. And we can have the draft already, there existing, to be added in the federal scheme of things,” he said.
It is not clear what “draft” Duterte was referring to. Did he mean the significant provisions that the two houses of Congress deleted or amended be “added in the federal scheme of things” or was he referring to the draft Bangsamoro State Constitution (BSC) for the future Federal Philippines which was handed over to him earlier in the program by Datu Michael Mastura, President of the All Moro Convention?
Mastura, a senior member of the MILF peace panel that negotiated the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in 2012, headed the team of volunteers that drafted the BSC in partnership and collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as part of the latter’s mandate to provide strategic direction for Mindanao, which under the Duterte administration, includes the shift to federalism.
On June 13, Duterte told a crowd of state university and college presidents during a memorandum of agreement signing with the Commission on Higher Education in Malacanang that he hopes the BBL, “however fractured it may be to the others, will see the light of day and just maybe reserve the portion that are with issues, during the constitutional convention” to amend the1987 Constitution to pave the way for the shift to a federal form of government.
He cited “constitutional convention” as mode of amending, amid reports convening Congress into a constituent assembly may be abandoned as there is not enough numbers in the Senate to agree to the House of Representatives’ stand that the two houses should vote together, not separately.
As early as July 22, 2016, Duterte declared in Buluan, Maguindanao, that he wanted the BBL passed and implemented “bukas kaagad” (literally: immediately, tomorrow), but minus the provisions where constitutionality issues are being raised.
“Then maybe someday, if we go federal, eh yun na idagdag, ibalik doon sa Constitution ng federal, ibalik na natin yung .. ayaw ng gobyerno tapos yung gusto ninyo (let’s add those, let’s incorporate them into the Federal Constitution, let’s restore what government does not like but what you like (into the new Constitution), he said nearly two years ago.
“We will try to pass the BBL”
In the earlier part of Duterte’s speech on Saturday night, he acknowledged the historical injustices committed against the Moro people and the need to address these peacefully.
“Allow me to ask this question: are we ready to fight just like in the Middle East,” he asked, adding a “communal war is more cruel” and an internecine war “really very deadly.”
“We will try to pass the BBL,” he vowed, describing it as “the very least” that the MILF is asking for.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) delegation that attended the Eid’l Fitr celebration Saturday night, 16 June 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City was led by chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (center), 1st vice chair Ghazali Jaafar, chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (L) and Mohagher Iqbal (R), chair of the peace implementing panel. MIndaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
“As I was about to greet Chairman Murad — I reserved this moment for you, Sir — we will try to pass the BBL,” Duterte said. But he quickly added, “I hope Chairman (Nur) Misuari (founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front) can be convinced to join the talks so that if there are corrections or maybe additions or provisions that do not sit well with the Taosug and the rest of the southern part of Mindanao, then maybe we can realize altogether the friction of the MI, MN and the rest of Mindanao.”
“Pero … if we kind of adopt an intransigen(t) behavior – magpatigasan – it will result in war. Kindly, if you want, do not do it on my term,” the President said, adding he would find it difficult to be in the middle. “Sinong barilin ko? Sundalo ng Republika or sundalo ng MI(LF) pati MN (LF) and the rest of the revolutionary forces?” (Who will I shoot? Soldiers of the republic or soldiers of the MILF, MNLF and the rest of the revolutionary forces?)
The Moro revolutionary forces were all represented Saturday night although MNLF founding chair Nur Misuari was conspicuously absent. His faction, however, was represented by his vice chair, his son Abdulkarim and Rolando Olamit, city state chair of the MNLF in Davao City, among others.
Various factions of the Moro National Liberation Front were “reunited,” albeit briefly, onstage with President Rodrigo Duterte for a souvenir photo at the end of the Eid’l Fitr celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on 16 June 2018. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
The MNLF under Jikiri was represented by Muslimin Sema and Hatimil Hassan, among others.
The MILF was represented by Murad, 1st vice chair and BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar, information chief Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace implementing panel, and other members of the Central Committee.
Duterte said it is important to “get together” to thwart attempts of the Islamic State (IS) to take over “because if we allow the ISIS to take over, my God, it’s going to be bloody and for the Christians and Muslims who are already here established, there will be chaos and total dysfunction.”
Briefly, the faction-ridden MNLF “reunited” on stage during a photo opportunity with the President, as the emcee called on members of the MNLF to come to the stage. Also with them was MinDA chair, Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto, a forrmer vice chair of the MNLF who in March 2014, declared the MNLF had reorganized and that he had taken over from Misuari as chair.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman was in Basilan celebrating Eid’l Fitr with soldiers and Abu Sayyaf surrenderers. He told MindaNews the invitation to Davao reached him on Friday.
“No cuts”
In another part of his speech, Duterte said, “We will try to pass BBL with no cuts. I am sure the Speaker would agree with me,” referring to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Jr. who also attended the celebration.
Duterte is expected to have known how the BBL versions passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 30 and 31 have been described to have “mangled,” “massacred,” “watered down” the BBL drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) which based it on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the peace agreement signed by the governemnt adn MILF on March 27, 2014.
The BTC was expanded from 15 to 21 to be “more inclusive” and ensure participation of the MNLF factions. The 21-member body is composed of 11 nominees from the MILF and 10 from government, three of them from the MNLF faction under Yusoph Jikiri and Muslimin Sema. Misuari’s faction declined government’s invitation to nominate members to the BTC.
MILF chair Murad described the Senate and House versions of the BBL as “very diluted” although he hopes the provisions they lost on the floor of the two houses can still be restored in the Bicameral Conference Committee meeting on July 9 to 13. The bicam is composed of 18 members from the House and 10 from the Senate. The bicam will meet on July 9 to 13.
Duterte said it is important to “get together” to thwart attempts of the Islamic State (IS) to take over “because if we allow the ISIS to take over, my God, it’s going to be bloody and for the Christians and Muslims who are already here established, there will be chaos and total dysfunction.”
“Perchance, if nothing really works out dito sa BBL, then give us time because I do not want to fight. I do not want to wage war against my own countrymen,” he said before proceeding to his proposal to add to the “federal scheme of things”
Towards the end of the speech, he called on the Moro revolutionary fronts to look into the federalism option.
“Now for the Moro rebels, the main line, let us talk. Why don’t you just also go there and see how we are developing or crafting the system that you want if you want federalism,” he said, but noted he cannot talk about what the final form would be.
He repeated previous pronouncements of wanting to have a federal system with a strong President but reiterated he will step down even before his term ends on June 30, 2022 if the new Constitution would provide for that in the transition period.
The MILF and MNLF factions are supporting moves to shift to federalism although they have different approaches. The MILF has repeatedly said they prefer that the BBL be passed ahead of the shift to federalism.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2018/06/duterte-to-milf-what-cannot-be-included-in-the-bbl-add-them-via-federalism/
Reiterating his camapign for federalism, President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday night urged leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to wait for the passage of the final version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and whatever is not included there can be “added in the federal scheme of things.”
At the start of his 36-minute speech, Duterte told a predominantly Muslim audience gathered at the SMX Convention Center for the Eid’l Fitr celebration marking the end of Ramadan: “The time for federalism has come to our country. We have to move away from the style of unitary form of government.”
President Rodrigo Duterte addresses the predominantly Muslim audience at the EId’l Fitr celebration on Saturday night, 16 June 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
In the latter part of his speech, he said: “I am for federalism. I am for peace. Kayo Chairman Murad (MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim), yung ano ninyo,” apparently referring to the creation of a new autonomous region under the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), “we can do it now, I said, we’ll just wait for the passage of the law. And we can have the draft already, there existing, to be added in the federal scheme of things,” he said.
It is not clear what “draft” Duterte was referring to. Did he mean the significant provisions that the two houses of Congress deleted or amended be “added in the federal scheme of things” or was he referring to the draft Bangsamoro State Constitution (BSC) for the future Federal Philippines which was handed over to him earlier in the program by Datu Michael Mastura, President of the All Moro Convention?
Mastura, a senior member of the MILF peace panel that negotiated the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed in 2012, headed the team of volunteers that drafted the BSC in partnership and collaboration with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) as part of the latter’s mandate to provide strategic direction for Mindanao, which under the Duterte administration, includes the shift to federalism.
On June 13, Duterte told a crowd of state university and college presidents during a memorandum of agreement signing with the Commission on Higher Education in Malacanang that he hopes the BBL, “however fractured it may be to the others, will see the light of day and just maybe reserve the portion that are with issues, during the constitutional convention” to amend the1987 Constitution to pave the way for the shift to a federal form of government.
He cited “constitutional convention” as mode of amending, amid reports convening Congress into a constituent assembly may be abandoned as there is not enough numbers in the Senate to agree to the House of Representatives’ stand that the two houses should vote together, not separately.
As early as July 22, 2016, Duterte declared in Buluan, Maguindanao, that he wanted the BBL passed and implemented “bukas kaagad” (literally: immediately, tomorrow), but minus the provisions where constitutionality issues are being raised.
“Then maybe someday, if we go federal, eh yun na idagdag, ibalik doon sa Constitution ng federal, ibalik na natin yung .. ayaw ng gobyerno tapos yung gusto ninyo (let’s add those, let’s incorporate them into the Federal Constitution, let’s restore what government does not like but what you like (into the new Constitution), he said nearly two years ago.
“We will try to pass the BBL”
In the earlier part of Duterte’s speech on Saturday night, he acknowledged the historical injustices committed against the Moro people and the need to address these peacefully.
“Allow me to ask this question: are we ready to fight just like in the Middle East,” he asked, adding a “communal war is more cruel” and an internecine war “really very deadly.”
“We will try to pass the BBL,” he vowed, describing it as “the very least” that the MILF is asking for.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) delegation that attended the Eid’l Fitr celebration Saturday night, 16 June 2018 at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City was led by chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim (center), 1st vice chair Ghazali Jaafar, chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (L) and Mohagher Iqbal (R), chair of the peace implementing panel. MIndaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
“As I was about to greet Chairman Murad — I reserved this moment for you, Sir — we will try to pass the BBL,” Duterte said. But he quickly added, “I hope Chairman (Nur) Misuari (founding chair of the Moro National Liberation Front) can be convinced to join the talks so that if there are corrections or maybe additions or provisions that do not sit well with the Taosug and the rest of the southern part of Mindanao, then maybe we can realize altogether the friction of the MI, MN and the rest of Mindanao.”
“Pero … if we kind of adopt an intransigen(t) behavior – magpatigasan – it will result in war. Kindly, if you want, do not do it on my term,” the President said, adding he would find it difficult to be in the middle. “Sinong barilin ko? Sundalo ng Republika or sundalo ng MI(LF) pati MN (LF) and the rest of the revolutionary forces?” (Who will I shoot? Soldiers of the republic or soldiers of the MILF, MNLF and the rest of the revolutionary forces?)
The Moro revolutionary forces were all represented Saturday night although MNLF founding chair Nur Misuari was conspicuously absent. His faction, however, was represented by his vice chair, his son Abdulkarim and Rolando Olamit, city state chair of the MNLF in Davao City, among others.
Various factions of the Moro National Liberation Front were “reunited,” albeit briefly, onstage with President Rodrigo Duterte for a souvenir photo at the end of the Eid’l Fitr celebration at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on 16 June 2018. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
The MNLF under Jikiri was represented by Muslimin Sema and Hatimil Hassan, among others.
The MILF was represented by Murad, 1st vice chair and BTC chair Ghazali Jaafar, information chief Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MILF peace implementing panel, and other members of the Central Committee.
Duterte said it is important to “get together” to thwart attempts of the Islamic State (IS) to take over “because if we allow the ISIS to take over, my God, it’s going to be bloody and for the Christians and Muslims who are already here established, there will be chaos and total dysfunction.”
Briefly, the faction-ridden MNLF “reunited” on stage during a photo opportunity with the President, as the emcee called on members of the MNLF to come to the stage. Also with them was MinDA chair, Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto, a forrmer vice chair of the MNLF who in March 2014, declared the MNLF had reorganized and that he had taken over from Misuari as chair.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman was in Basilan celebrating Eid’l Fitr with soldiers and Abu Sayyaf surrenderers. He told MindaNews the invitation to Davao reached him on Friday.
“No cuts”
In another part of his speech, Duterte said, “We will try to pass BBL with no cuts. I am sure the Speaker would agree with me,” referring to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Jr. who also attended the celebration.
Duterte is expected to have known how the BBL versions passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on May 30 and 31 have been described to have “mangled,” “massacred,” “watered down” the BBL drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) which based it on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the peace agreement signed by the governemnt adn MILF on March 27, 2014.
The BTC was expanded from 15 to 21 to be “more inclusive” and ensure participation of the MNLF factions. The 21-member body is composed of 11 nominees from the MILF and 10 from government, three of them from the MNLF faction under Yusoph Jikiri and Muslimin Sema. Misuari’s faction declined government’s invitation to nominate members to the BTC.
MILF chair Murad described the Senate and House versions of the BBL as “very diluted” although he hopes the provisions they lost on the floor of the two houses can still be restored in the Bicameral Conference Committee meeting on July 9 to 13. The bicam is composed of 18 members from the House and 10 from the Senate. The bicam will meet on July 9 to 13.
Duterte said it is important to “get together” to thwart attempts of the Islamic State (IS) to take over “because if we allow the ISIS to take over, my God, it’s going to be bloody and for the Christians and Muslims who are already here established, there will be chaos and total dysfunction.”
“Perchance, if nothing really works out dito sa BBL, then give us time because I do not want to fight. I do not want to wage war against my own countrymen,” he said before proceeding to his proposal to add to the “federal scheme of things”
Towards the end of the speech, he called on the Moro revolutionary fronts to look into the federalism option.
“Now for the Moro rebels, the main line, let us talk. Why don’t you just also go there and see how we are developing or crafting the system that you want if you want federalism,” he said, but noted he cannot talk about what the final form would be.
He repeated previous pronouncements of wanting to have a federal system with a strong President but reiterated he will step down even before his term ends on June 30, 2022 if the new Constitution would provide for that in the transition period.
The MILF and MNLF factions are supporting moves to shift to federalism although they have different approaches. The MILF has repeatedly said they prefer that the BBL be passed ahead of the shift to federalism.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2018/06/duterte-to-milf-what-cannot-be-included-in-the-bbl-add-them-via-federalism/
Drive vs. NPA stepped up
From the Visayan Daily Star (Jun 16): Drive vs. NPA stepped up
The military operations against New People’s Army rebels behind the recent series of atrocities, especially in central Negros, are being conducted without any let-up, Army spokesman Capt. Eduardo Precioso yesterday said.
The newly-arrived 94th Infantry Battalion is joining three other Army battalions in the conduct of internal security operations in Negros Island, under the supervision of the 303rd Infantry Brigade.
President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier ordered the cancellation of the resumption of peace talks between the government and communist rebels scheduled on June 28, to allow a more thorough engagement with the public on the issue.
This prompted exiled CPP leader Jose Maria Sison to call for a continuing people’s war against the government.
Because Duterte is obviously not interested in serious peace negotiations, Sison said the revolutionary forces and the people have no choice but to single mindedly wage a people’s war to achieve the national and social liberation of the Filipino people.
While the back channeling talks were ongoing in Europe, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported that communist rebels also stepped up their attacks against civilians and government projects in Negros, by burning heavy equipment among others, for failure of the contractors to comply with their extortion demands.
The 303rd Infantry Brigade condemned the recent killing of a civilian and the attempt to liquidate a newly-elected barangay chairman of a remote barangay in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate also expressed his dismay over the delay in the resumption of the stalled talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
“The longer it takes for the talks to restart, the peace spoilers and saboteurs will also have a longer time to sabotage the process,” Zarate said.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/June/16/topstory4.htm
The military operations against New People’s Army rebels behind the recent series of atrocities, especially in central Negros, are being conducted without any let-up, Army spokesman Capt. Eduardo Precioso yesterday said.
The newly-arrived 94th Infantry Battalion is joining three other Army battalions in the conduct of internal security operations in Negros Island, under the supervision of the 303rd Infantry Brigade.
President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier ordered the cancellation of the resumption of peace talks between the government and communist rebels scheduled on June 28, to allow a more thorough engagement with the public on the issue.
This prompted exiled CPP leader Jose Maria Sison to call for a continuing people’s war against the government.
Because Duterte is obviously not interested in serious peace negotiations, Sison said the revolutionary forces and the people have no choice but to single mindedly wage a people’s war to achieve the national and social liberation of the Filipino people.
While the back channeling talks were ongoing in Europe, the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division reported that communist rebels also stepped up their attacks against civilians and government projects in Negros, by burning heavy equipment among others, for failure of the contractors to comply with their extortion demands.
The 303rd Infantry Brigade condemned the recent killing of a civilian and the attempt to liquidate a newly-elected barangay chairman of a remote barangay in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate also expressed his dismay over the delay in the resumption of the stalled talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.
“The longer it takes for the talks to restart, the peace spoilers and saboteurs will also have a longer time to sabotage the process,” Zarate said.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/June/16/topstory4.htm
5 years after Zamboanga siege, Muslim community picks up pieces
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 13): 5 years after Zamboanga siege, Muslim community picks up pieces
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Some five barangays located in ground zero of the so-called September 2013 Zamboanga Siege that saw fierce fighting between government troops and a few hundred rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) still try to pick up the pieces they had left.
One of these barangays is Mariki, which lies at the outermost edge of conflict zone, and was the hardest hit in the siege, with all of its hundreds of houses on stilts razed to the sea.
Fast forward five years later, the government, through the National Housing Authority (NHA), has built some 642 hardiplex houses in stilts, with wooden floors and G.I. sheets roofing.
According to 65-year old barangay captain Palma M. Hasim, some 1,945 of the community’s over 6,000 families that lived there before the war have returned to live in the houses or have built one on their own resources.
Along with the houses, the NHA also built concrete 2.5-meter wide boardwalks through the center of the village and along its perimeters, including narrower wooden walkways in between the rows of houses.
It was, in fact, one of those walkways that recently collapsed while a Zamboanga City mayor and two other Congressmen were inspecting the village and fell ingloriously into the littered seawater below.
“Normality has somewhat returned to my barangay”, Hasim, who has been barangay captain since 2010, said. “I could have run again in the coming elections, but I am too old already. My younger sister is instead running unopposed.”
This passing-down of village power from generation to generation is typical in a tradition-clad culture of Muslim communities. All of its residents are Muslims.
“There are still hundreds of Badjao families who were displaced and then resettled in other coastal barangays in the city who want to return here,” she laments.
The shallow sea beneath the community makes it much easier for typical Badjao fishermen to ply their bancas out to and from the nearby sea right up to their houses.
The returnees operate sari-sari stores, while others go out to the sea daily to catch fish, usually just enough for their family’s daily food need.
Other residents are employed, while some run small businesses elsewhere in the city.
Only one NGO-supported livelihood seems to exist in the village, a sewing shop funded by Australian Aid.
The local Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA) regularly conducts relief and humanitarian activities, Hasim said, which include feeding programs and day-care classes of children.
The considerable reduction of Mariki’s population has also resulted in a much-reduced Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for Mariki, she said.
“Our personnel’s allowances are now smaller than before.”
The elementary school was re-opened in 2015, but a part of its damaged classrooms has yet to be repaired.
Its health center was also burned, and a corner of the barangay office now serves as a health center.
The southern boundary of Mariki is lined with mangroves, and Hasim hopes to build an eco-tourism facility there that could serve as livelihood source for her constituents.
But before these dreams could happen, the village needs more basic utilities. It does not have piped-in potable water, and residents fetch water from the nearby barangay of Rio Hondo. There is no power supply, and houses rely on solar power donated by the government.
Hasim is still awaiting the establishment of a police outpost there, although the military has a permanent checkpoint in its center. Included in the wish list, of couse, is a new health center building and the repair of the school building.
Hasim said her constituents are badly in need of livelihood opportunities within Mariki as well.
She recalls that during the first five days of the siege, she remained in the barangay hall to assist her constituents to seek safety and relief, amid flying bombs and bullets and their burning houses.
Mariki, a young barangay which was officially proclaimed as a village only in 1987, grew out of a “policy of attraction” program of the Marcos government, when hundreds of MNLF leaders and members were enticed to “return to the fold of the law” after the signing of the 1974 Tripoli Agreement.
Since 1975, many rebel returnees were resettled in Mariki, in a village then called “Sahaya”, which was formerly a sitio of the old Rio Hondo barangay.
Hence it is somewhat ironic that the village was burned down in an MNLF attack in 2013. Yet the fact that it is now rising again shows that its former rebel families are resilient and their cause for peace will never perish.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038116
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Some five barangays located in ground zero of the so-called September 2013 Zamboanga Siege that saw fierce fighting between government troops and a few hundred rebels of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) still try to pick up the pieces they had left.
One of these barangays is Mariki, which lies at the outermost edge of conflict zone, and was the hardest hit in the siege, with all of its hundreds of houses on stilts razed to the sea.
Fast forward five years later, the government, through the National Housing Authority (NHA), has built some 642 hardiplex houses in stilts, with wooden floors and G.I. sheets roofing.
According to 65-year old barangay captain Palma M. Hasim, some 1,945 of the community’s over 6,000 families that lived there before the war have returned to live in the houses or have built one on their own resources.
Along with the houses, the NHA also built concrete 2.5-meter wide boardwalks through the center of the village and along its perimeters, including narrower wooden walkways in between the rows of houses.
It was, in fact, one of those walkways that recently collapsed while a Zamboanga City mayor and two other Congressmen were inspecting the village and fell ingloriously into the littered seawater below.
“Normality has somewhat returned to my barangay”, Hasim, who has been barangay captain since 2010, said. “I could have run again in the coming elections, but I am too old already. My younger sister is instead running unopposed.”
This passing-down of village power from generation to generation is typical in a tradition-clad culture of Muslim communities. All of its residents are Muslims.
“There are still hundreds of Badjao families who were displaced and then resettled in other coastal barangays in the city who want to return here,” she laments.
The shallow sea beneath the community makes it much easier for typical Badjao fishermen to ply their bancas out to and from the nearby sea right up to their houses.
The returnees operate sari-sari stores, while others go out to the sea daily to catch fish, usually just enough for their family’s daily food need.
Other residents are employed, while some run small businesses elsewhere in the city.
Only one NGO-supported livelihood seems to exist in the village, a sewing shop funded by Australian Aid.
The local Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA) regularly conducts relief and humanitarian activities, Hasim said, which include feeding programs and day-care classes of children.
The considerable reduction of Mariki’s population has also resulted in a much-reduced Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for Mariki, she said.
“Our personnel’s allowances are now smaller than before.”
The elementary school was re-opened in 2015, but a part of its damaged classrooms has yet to be repaired.
Its health center was also burned, and a corner of the barangay office now serves as a health center.
The southern boundary of Mariki is lined with mangroves, and Hasim hopes to build an eco-tourism facility there that could serve as livelihood source for her constituents.
But before these dreams could happen, the village needs more basic utilities. It does not have piped-in potable water, and residents fetch water from the nearby barangay of Rio Hondo. There is no power supply, and houses rely on solar power donated by the government.
Hasim is still awaiting the establishment of a police outpost there, although the military has a permanent checkpoint in its center. Included in the wish list, of couse, is a new health center building and the repair of the school building.
Hasim said her constituents are badly in need of livelihood opportunities within Mariki as well.
She recalls that during the first five days of the siege, she remained in the barangay hall to assist her constituents to seek safety and relief, amid flying bombs and bullets and their burning houses.
Mariki, a young barangay which was officially proclaimed as a village only in 1987, grew out of a “policy of attraction” program of the Marcos government, when hundreds of MNLF leaders and members were enticed to “return to the fold of the law” after the signing of the 1974 Tripoli Agreement.
Since 1975, many rebel returnees were resettled in Mariki, in a village then called “Sahaya”, which was formerly a sitio of the old Rio Hondo barangay.
Hence it is somewhat ironic that the village was burned down in an MNLF attack in 2013. Yet the fact that it is now rising again shows that its former rebel families are resilient and their cause for peace will never perish.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038116
FVR recalls sterling feat of PH combat forces in Korean War
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 17): FVR recalls sterling feat of PH combat forces in Korean War
Filipino soldiers in combat during the Korean War. (Photo courtesy: PETFOK)
As the 68th anniversary of the Korean War on June 25 nears, former President Fidel V. Ramos, a Korean War veteran, vividly recalled the sterling performance of the 7,420 combat forces sent by the Philippine government to help stave off a communist invasion in South Korea.
The Philippine was one of the 16 Asia-Pacific countries led by the United States that responded to the urgent call by the United Nations (UN) to deploy combat troops to Korea when war broke out on June 25, 1950.
Ramos, who was just 22 years old with the rank of second lieutenant of the Philippine Army, had just graduated from the US West Point Academy (Class 1950) when he volunteered for combat duty in Korea.
In his diary, then President Elpidio Quirino with the approval of Congress authorized the sending of a Filipino combat contingent -- the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) when the war broke out.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on June 27, 1950 or two days after the Korean War erupted calling UN member countries to help South Korea which was invaded by communist Chinese and North Korean forces.
“In response to the UN’s call for assistance, the Philippines decided to send troops to the Korean peninsula, despite the fact that contributing a significant part of our Armed Forces was inopportune at that time. In 1950, the Philippines was just a new four-year old Republic, having become independent in July 1946 and still recovering from World War II. In view of the unfavorable post-war conditions then obtaining, our people were initially not entirely sold to the idea of deploying our troops to fight abroad,” Ramos wrote in the weekly Manila Bulletin column of June 10, 2018.
However, Ramos said, it was Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, who was the President of the UN General Assembly at that time, interceded by explaining in detail to President Quirino and the Philippine Senate, “that to participate in the Korean War was not only in the Philippines’ national interest buy a duty it had to perform as a UN member-nation.”
Romulo explained that the UN Security Council Resolution ‘did not tear asunder’ the war renunciation provisions of the Philippine Constitution. Why? Because -- Philippine participation was not an act of aggression, it was merely in response to the UN’s call for assistance.”
The Philippines was the first Asian country to respond to the urgent call by the UN Security Council to send combat forces to the beleaguered South Korea during the Korean War.
Ramos said that the PEFTOK was composed of five Battalion Combat Teams (BCTs) commanded by outstanding officers namely: Col. Mariano Azurin and Col. Dionisio Ojeada, 10th BCT; Col. Salvador Abcede, 20th BCT; Col. Ramon Aguirre, 19th BCT; Col. Nicanor Jimenez, 14th BCT; and Col. Antonio de Veyra and Col. Reynaldo Mendoza, 2nd BCT.
Then 2nd Lt. Ramos was a member of the 20th BCT that captured the strategic Eerie Hill.
During the departure ceremony of the PEFTOK held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, President Quirino said: “Today we write a wonderful page in our history. Many of you have fought on our soil to secure freedom. You now go forth to a foreign land to fight for the preservation of that freedom…what you will do…will prove to the world that this republic and all of you who are part of it have the will and power to make own lives as we want them to be, and to keep them that way.”
It was during the Korean War that the Filipino soldiers showed again their combat proficiency against all odds.
Ramos, who rose to become the 12th President of the Philippines, said that of the 7,420 officers and men who fought in the Korean War, 114 were killed in action, 299 wounded, and 51 missing but 41 of whom were repatriated during the exchange of prisoners of war.
Ramos and other Korean War veterans who are still alive will commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Korean War to be held at the PEFTOK Korean War Memorial Hall, Philippine-Korea Friendship Center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on June 25.
Ramos said PEFTOK has invited President Rodrigo R. Duterte to be the guest of honor and speaker.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038478
Filipino soldiers in combat during the Korean War. (Photo courtesy: PETFOK)
As the 68th anniversary of the Korean War on June 25 nears, former President Fidel V. Ramos, a Korean War veteran, vividly recalled the sterling performance of the 7,420 combat forces sent by the Philippine government to help stave off a communist invasion in South Korea.
The Philippine was one of the 16 Asia-Pacific countries led by the United States that responded to the urgent call by the United Nations (UN) to deploy combat troops to Korea when war broke out on June 25, 1950.
Ramos, who was just 22 years old with the rank of second lieutenant of the Philippine Army, had just graduated from the US West Point Academy (Class 1950) when he volunteered for combat duty in Korea.
In his diary, then President Elpidio Quirino with the approval of Congress authorized the sending of a Filipino combat contingent -- the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea (PEFTOK) when the war broke out.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on June 27, 1950 or two days after the Korean War erupted calling UN member countries to help South Korea which was invaded by communist Chinese and North Korean forces.
“In response to the UN’s call for assistance, the Philippines decided to send troops to the Korean peninsula, despite the fact that contributing a significant part of our Armed Forces was inopportune at that time. In 1950, the Philippines was just a new four-year old Republic, having become independent in July 1946 and still recovering from World War II. In view of the unfavorable post-war conditions then obtaining, our people were initially not entirely sold to the idea of deploying our troops to fight abroad,” Ramos wrote in the weekly Manila Bulletin column of June 10, 2018.
However, Ramos said, it was Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, who was the President of the UN General Assembly at that time, interceded by explaining in detail to President Quirino and the Philippine Senate, “that to participate in the Korean War was not only in the Philippines’ national interest buy a duty it had to perform as a UN member-nation.”
Romulo explained that the UN Security Council Resolution ‘did not tear asunder’ the war renunciation provisions of the Philippine Constitution. Why? Because -- Philippine participation was not an act of aggression, it was merely in response to the UN’s call for assistance.”
The Philippines was the first Asian country to respond to the urgent call by the UN Security Council to send combat forces to the beleaguered South Korea during the Korean War.
Ramos said that the PEFTOK was composed of five Battalion Combat Teams (BCTs) commanded by outstanding officers namely: Col. Mariano Azurin and Col. Dionisio Ojeada, 10th BCT; Col. Salvador Abcede, 20th BCT; Col. Ramon Aguirre, 19th BCT; Col. Nicanor Jimenez, 14th BCT; and Col. Antonio de Veyra and Col. Reynaldo Mendoza, 2nd BCT.
Then 2nd Lt. Ramos was a member of the 20th BCT that captured the strategic Eerie Hill.
During the departure ceremony of the PEFTOK held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, President Quirino said: “Today we write a wonderful page in our history. Many of you have fought on our soil to secure freedom. You now go forth to a foreign land to fight for the preservation of that freedom…what you will do…will prove to the world that this republic and all of you who are part of it have the will and power to make own lives as we want them to be, and to keep them that way.”
It was during the Korean War that the Filipino soldiers showed again their combat proficiency against all odds.
Ramos, who rose to become the 12th President of the Philippines, said that of the 7,420 officers and men who fought in the Korean War, 114 were killed in action, 299 wounded, and 51 missing but 41 of whom were repatriated during the exchange of prisoners of war.
Ramos and other Korean War veterans who are still alive will commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Korean War to be held at the PEFTOK Korean War Memorial Hall, Philippine-Korea Friendship Center in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on June 25.
Ramos said PEFTOK has invited President Rodrigo R. Duterte to be the guest of honor and speaker.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038478
Navy needs more technically-skilled people for new assets
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 17): Navy needs more technically-skilled people for new assets
With more modern assets arriving, the Philippine Navy (PN) said it is now in need of highly-qualified computer experts and engineers to man these platforms.
"Sa (In terms of) personnel, in my command guidance, ang sinabi ko is specialized tayo (what I said is we are specialized). Technical ang kailangan (We need technical people) so we want engineers, we want computer experts and we want people who can operate and maintain weapon system na first time lang tayo magkakaroon ng ganito katulad ng (which we acquired for the first time such as) surface-to-air missile, torpedoes," Navy flag-officer-in-command, Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, in a recent interview with the military-run DWDD.
The PN is expected to take delivery of its first modern frigate, which is capable of neutralizing air, surface and sub-surface threats by 2020, with the second being delivered by 2021.
However, the PN is expected to receive its first two anti-submarine helicopters, which are armed with torpedoes and missiles, by 2019.
Empedrad stressed that equipment modernization should be parallel with the upgrade of personnel and they will be tasked to man and operate it.
“Dapat parallel ung preparation (The preparation must be parallel). What we have been doing in the past is kuha lang tayo ng kuha ng equipment and then sinisira din natin (we just acquire equipment and then we ruin it),” he added.
In line with this, the PN chief said that they need a lot of money now for base development to house these incoming assets.
“We need a lot of budget to fund our programs like base support development, one of our bases in Sangley (Cavite City), we need around PHP11 million for its renovation. These cost millions and we need storage for our missiles and torpedoes and the study that we made shows that developing these sites requires PHP7 billion. So we need a lot of funds to support the upgrade of our capabilities,” he added.
Some of the possible missiles and torpedoes sites for the PN includes Caballo Island near Corregidor in Manila Bay, Subic Bay in Zambales, and Cebu.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038469
With more modern assets arriving, the Philippine Navy (PN) said it is now in need of highly-qualified computer experts and engineers to man these platforms.
"Sa (In terms of) personnel, in my command guidance, ang sinabi ko is specialized tayo (what I said is we are specialized). Technical ang kailangan (We need technical people) so we want engineers, we want computer experts and we want people who can operate and maintain weapon system na first time lang tayo magkakaroon ng ganito katulad ng (which we acquired for the first time such as) surface-to-air missile, torpedoes," Navy flag-officer-in-command, Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, in a recent interview with the military-run DWDD.
The PN is expected to take delivery of its first modern frigate, which is capable of neutralizing air, surface and sub-surface threats by 2020, with the second being delivered by 2021.
However, the PN is expected to receive its first two anti-submarine helicopters, which are armed with torpedoes and missiles, by 2019.
Empedrad stressed that equipment modernization should be parallel with the upgrade of personnel and they will be tasked to man and operate it.
“Dapat parallel ung preparation (The preparation must be parallel). What we have been doing in the past is kuha lang tayo ng kuha ng equipment and then sinisira din natin (we just acquire equipment and then we ruin it),” he added.
In line with this, the PN chief said that they need a lot of money now for base development to house these incoming assets.
“We need a lot of budget to fund our programs like base support development, one of our bases in Sangley (Cavite City), we need around PHP11 million for its renovation. These cost millions and we need storage for our missiles and torpedoes and the study that we made shows that developing these sites requires PHP7 billion. So we need a lot of funds to support the upgrade of our capabilities,” he added.
Some of the possible missiles and torpedoes sites for the PN includes Caballo Island near Corregidor in Manila Bay, Subic Bay in Zambales, and Cebu.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038469
PAF earmarks P110.9-M for attack helicopter parts
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 17): PAF earmarks P110.9-M for attack helicopter parts
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is setting aside the sum of PHP110,917,000 for the acquisition of spare parts needed for the maintenance of its AgustaWestland AW-109 attack helicopters.
Pre-bid conference, as per the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, is scheduled for Wednesday, 10 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
While submission and opening of bids is on July 4, 9 a.m. at the same venue.
"The Philippine Air Force reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders," PAF Bids and Awards Committee chair Brig. Gen. Ferynl Buca said in the same bid bulletin.
The first two PAF attack AW-109s were commissioned last Aug. 17, 2015 while the remaining six were formally accepted for PAF service on Dec. 5 of that year.
The Philippines signed an eight-unit attack AW-109E order with AgustaWestland in 2013 for PHP3.44 billion.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038471
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is setting aside the sum of PHP110,917,000 for the acquisition of spare parts needed for the maintenance of its AgustaWestland AW-109 attack helicopters.
Pre-bid conference, as per the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, is scheduled for Wednesday, 10 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
While submission and opening of bids is on July 4, 9 a.m. at the same venue.
"The Philippine Air Force reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders," PAF Bids and Awards Committee chair Brig. Gen. Ferynl Buca said in the same bid bulletin.
The first two PAF attack AW-109s were commissioned last Aug. 17, 2015 while the remaining six were formally accepted for PAF service on Dec. 5 of that year.
The Philippines signed an eight-unit attack AW-109E order with AgustaWestland in 2013 for PHP3.44 billion.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1038471
Ordnance teams foil roadside bombings in central Mindanao
From the Philippine Star (Jun 16): Ordnance teams foil roadside bombings in central Mindanao
Captain Arvin Encinas, public affairs officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Saturday bomb experts were able to promptly deactivate the improvised explosive device found by motorists along a thoroughfare in the town proper of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.
The IED was packed with metal fragments with jagged edges and rigged with a detonating contraption that can be activated from a distance.
It was the second roadside bomb found and defused by Army ordnance men in the same town in a span of three weeks.
The police and Army intelligence units in Sultan Kudarat said the brigand Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which boasts of allegiance to the Islamic State, was behind the pre-empted bombing plots.
“The 6th ID is thankful to the patriotic residents of Esperanza who helped prevent what could have been a deadly IED incident there,” Encinas said.
About two hours later, passersby found a powerful roadside bomb along a road in Barangay Tomanding in Arakan, North Cotabato, where there is strong presence of the New People’s Army.
Responding police and Army bomb disposal teams safely dismantled the IED, weighing about 15 kilos.
Superintendent Aldrin Gonzalez, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-12, said personnel of the Arakan municipal police are certain the powerful IED was planted by NPAs to retaliate for losses in recent encounters with Army units in North Cotabato.
“No doubt the NPA was behind that thwarted bombing because the IED found there was identical with those recovered in NPA camps in North Cotabato that were overran by government forces recently,” Gonzalez said
The IED, placed inside a large bag, was left ready for detonation on a grassy side of a road in Barangay Tomanding.
The explosive was attached to a blasting mechanism that can be activated using a mobile phone.
The improvised explosive device was packed with metal fragments with jagged edges and rigged with a detonating contraption that can be activated from a distance.
MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Authorities foiled on Friday attempts by communist rebels and Islamic State-inspired militants to set off roadside bombs in Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato provinces.Captain Arvin Encinas, public affairs officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Saturday bomb experts were able to promptly deactivate the improvised explosive device found by motorists along a thoroughfare in the town proper of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.
The IED was packed with metal fragments with jagged edges and rigged with a detonating contraption that can be activated from a distance.
It was the second roadside bomb found and defused by Army ordnance men in the same town in a span of three weeks.
The police and Army intelligence units in Sultan Kudarat said the brigand Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which boasts of allegiance to the Islamic State, was behind the pre-empted bombing plots.
“The 6th ID is thankful to the patriotic residents of Esperanza who helped prevent what could have been a deadly IED incident there,” Encinas said.
About two hours later, passersby found a powerful roadside bomb along a road in Barangay Tomanding in Arakan, North Cotabato, where there is strong presence of the New People’s Army.
Responding police and Army bomb disposal teams safely dismantled the IED, weighing about 15 kilos.
Superintendent Aldrin Gonzalez, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-12, said personnel of the Arakan municipal police are certain the powerful IED was planted by NPAs to retaliate for losses in recent encounters with Army units in North Cotabato.
“No doubt the NPA was behind that thwarted bombing because the IED found there was identical with those recovered in NPA camps in North Cotabato that were overran by government forces recently,” Gonzalez said
The IED, placed inside a large bag, was left ready for detonation on a grassy side of a road in Barangay Tomanding.
The explosive was attached to a blasting mechanism that can be activated using a mobile phone.
Philippines - New displacements in Mindanao (DG ECHO, Protection Cluster Philippines, UN) (ECHO Daily Flash of 15 June 2018)
Posted to the Relief Web (Jun 15): Philippines - New displacements in Mindanao (DG ECHO, Protection Cluster Philippines, UN) (ECHO Daily Flash of 15 June 2018)
Report from European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations
Published on 15 Jun 2018 — View Original
On 10 June 2018, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) carried out airstrikes against positions of militia groups in Pikit, North Cotabato in southern Philippines.
This resulted in the displacement of over 20 000 people to safer locations in the vicinity of Pikit. Two civilians were killed and three were wounded. A number of combatants were reportedly killed but the count remains uncertain as of 15 June. At least 1 500 school children have stopped schooling for a indefinite period.
The number of affected people is expected to rise as military operations continue and as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is anticipated to retaliate.
Humanitarian partners are monitoring the situation in the area. Based on findings, they will carry out a potential response to the needs of affected population. DG ECHO is carefully following the situation and remains ready to intervene if needed.
Published on 15 Jun 2018 — View Original
On 10 June 2018, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) carried out airstrikes against positions of militia groups in Pikit, North Cotabato in southern Philippines.
This resulted in the displacement of over 20 000 people to safer locations in the vicinity of Pikit. Two civilians were killed and three were wounded. A number of combatants were reportedly killed but the count remains uncertain as of 15 June. At least 1 500 school children have stopped schooling for a indefinite period.
The number of affected people is expected to rise as military operations continue and as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is anticipated to retaliate.
Humanitarian partners are monitoring the situation in the area. Based on findings, they will carry out a potential response to the needs of affected population. DG ECHO is carefully following the situation and remains ready to intervene if needed.
IS harasses marsh fishermen
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun 16): IS harasses marsh fishermen
ARMY OFFENSIVE Soldiers navigate the 220,000-square-kilometer Liguasan Marsh during recent operations against terrorists. —PHOTO FROM 33RD INFANTRY BATTALION
CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO—The military operation against Islamic State (IS) followers operating in Liguasan Marsh had freed fishing areas from the control of terrorists, including foreigners, according to the military.
The operation, which killed at least 23 of the gunmen, was prompted by pleas for help from fishermen who reported being driven away at gunpoint from the marsh by IS gunmen.
One of them was a fisherman who identified himself only as Jamadel, 40, who said he and his fellow fishermen were unable to fish for months in the SK Pendatun portion of the marsh because terrorists had been driving them away.
Different tormentor
“We’re like the Filipino fishermen turned away from the West Philippine Sea,” Jamadel said.
“This time, not by the Chinese but by Indonesians,” Jamadel told reporters here on Friday.
He said he and his sons tried to catch fish in an area in the marsh near their village of Midpandacan but “there were Indong-Indong (Indonesian) armed men who did not want us there.”
“Me and the other local fishermen are angry,” Jamadel said. “Our livelihood depended on catching fish,” he added.
Fishermen usually catch mudfish and catfish in Liguasan Marsh, which has an area of at least 220,000 square kilometers that straddles 29 towns in two provinces—Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
Suspicion confirmed
So what Jamadel and the other fishermen did was report to the military about the presence of the gunmen, some of whom were foreigners.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, head of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the fishermen’s and residents’ accounts confirmed military suspicion that the group, led by local terror leader Esmail Abdulmalik, had been harboring foreign terrorists.
Abdulmalik, also known as Abu Toraife, bolted Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) along with another local terror leader, Esmail Abubakar, alias Commander Bungos, to pledge allegiance to IS, the military said.
The BIFF is a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas who split from MILF over disagreements on peace talks with the government.
The BIFF had been insisting on a separate Islamic state, not just an autonomous region for Muslims, in Mindanao.
IS camp destroyed
Cabunoc said the military, prompted by the fishermen’s reports, launched massive operations starting on June 10 that saw an IS camp in Liguasan destroyed by aerial strikes and artillery fire.
Cabunoc said the destruction of the IS camp and bomb-making facility had elated fishermen like Jamadel.
“They are now free to do what they used to do—fish in the vast Liguasan,” Cabunoc said.
“The gunmen had been making life difficult for fishermen when they were prevented from fishing in the area,” Cabunoc said.
He said a soldier paid dearly with his life to make sure that fishermen in the Liguasan area were not harassed by terrorists.
Cabunoc said the military continued to hunt the remaining IS gunmen to prevent their return to the marsh and to protect fishermen.
“We have three enemies here—armed men, mosquitoes and man-eating crocodiles that abound in the area,” he said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1001269/is-harasses-marsh-fishermen
ARMY OFFENSIVE Soldiers navigate the 220,000-square-kilometer Liguasan Marsh during recent operations against terrorists. —PHOTO FROM 33RD INFANTRY BATTALION
CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO—The military operation against Islamic State (IS) followers operating in Liguasan Marsh had freed fishing areas from the control of terrorists, including foreigners, according to the military.
The operation, which killed at least 23 of the gunmen, was prompted by pleas for help from fishermen who reported being driven away at gunpoint from the marsh by IS gunmen.
One of them was a fisherman who identified himself only as Jamadel, 40, who said he and his fellow fishermen were unable to fish for months in the SK Pendatun portion of the marsh because terrorists had been driving them away.
Different tormentor
“We’re like the Filipino fishermen turned away from the West Philippine Sea,” Jamadel said.
“This time, not by the Chinese but by Indonesians,” Jamadel told reporters here on Friday.
He said he and his sons tried to catch fish in an area in the marsh near their village of Midpandacan but “there were Indong-Indong (Indonesian) armed men who did not want us there.”
“Me and the other local fishermen are angry,” Jamadel said. “Our livelihood depended on catching fish,” he added.
Fishermen usually catch mudfish and catfish in Liguasan Marsh, which has an area of at least 220,000 square kilometers that straddles 29 towns in two provinces—Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
Suspicion confirmed
So what Jamadel and the other fishermen did was report to the military about the presence of the gunmen, some of whom were foreigners.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, head of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the fishermen’s and residents’ accounts confirmed military suspicion that the group, led by local terror leader Esmail Abdulmalik, had been harboring foreign terrorists.
Abdulmalik, also known as Abu Toraife, bolted Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) along with another local terror leader, Esmail Abubakar, alias Commander Bungos, to pledge allegiance to IS, the military said.
The BIFF is a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas who split from MILF over disagreements on peace talks with the government.
The BIFF had been insisting on a separate Islamic state, not just an autonomous region for Muslims, in Mindanao.
IS camp destroyed
Cabunoc said the military, prompted by the fishermen’s reports, launched massive operations starting on June 10 that saw an IS camp in Liguasan destroyed by aerial strikes and artillery fire.
Cabunoc said the destruction of the IS camp and bomb-making facility had elated fishermen like Jamadel.
“They are now free to do what they used to do—fish in the vast Liguasan,” Cabunoc said.
“The gunmen had been making life difficult for fishermen when they were prevented from fishing in the area,” Cabunoc said.
He said a soldier paid dearly with his life to make sure that fishermen in the Liguasan area were not harassed by terrorists.
Cabunoc said the military continued to hunt the remaining IS gunmen to prevent their return to the marsh and to protect fishermen.
“We have three enemies here—armed men, mosquitoes and man-eating crocodiles that abound in the area,” he said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1001269/is-harasses-marsh-fishermen
Soldiers kill Abu Sayyaf bandit in Sulu encounter
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun17): Soldiers kill Abu Sayyaf bandit in Sulu encounter
Patikul (outlined in red) in Sulu (Image from Google Maps)
ZAMBOANGA CITY — An Abu Sayyaf bandit was killed in one of two clashes that took place in Sitio Salih in Barangay Panglahayan in Patikul, Sulu on Saturday.
Lt. Col. Ronaldo Mateo, commanding officer of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, said soldiers and Abu Sayyaf bandits clashed aty around 3:20 p.m. but no casualty were reported.
At 6:30 p.m., another encounter took place, where the still unidentified bandit was killed.
Several improvised explosive devices and personal belongings were also recovered in the aftermath of the second clash.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1001498/soldiers-kill-abu-sayyaf-bandit-in-sulu-encounter
Patikul (outlined in red) in Sulu (Image from Google Maps)
ZAMBOANGA CITY — An Abu Sayyaf bandit was killed in one of two clashes that took place in Sitio Salih in Barangay Panglahayan in Patikul, Sulu on Saturday.
Lt. Col. Ronaldo Mateo, commanding officer of the 32nd Infantry Battalion, said soldiers and Abu Sayyaf bandits clashed aty around 3:20 p.m. but no casualty were reported.
At 6:30 p.m., another encounter took place, where the still unidentified bandit was killed.
Several improvised explosive devices and personal belongings were also recovered in the aftermath of the second clash.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1001498/soldiers-kill-abu-sayyaf-bandit-in-sulu-encounter
Duterte wants Nur Misuari to join BBL talks with rival group
From CNN-Philippines (Jun 17): Duterte wants Nur Misuari to join BBL talks with rival group
President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chair Nur Misuari would join the discussions in formulating the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
But that would mean joining the talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a splinter group of the MNLF.
"We will try to pass the BBL. I hope chairman Misuari can be convinced to join the talks so that if there are corrections or maybe additions or provisions that could not sit well with the Tausug and the rest of the southern part of Mindanao then maybe we can realize altogether the friction of MI (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), MN and the rest of Mindanao," said Duterte during the Eid'l Fitr celebration in Davao City.
Duterte said he would rather see the conflict between the two rival groups resolved as Mindanao faces the threat of ISIS.
"Pero kung sabihan mo na [But if you would say], if you do not think about it, if you kind of adopt intransigence behavior, magpatigasan [if nobody will give way], it will result in war. Kindly, if you want, do not do it on my term. 'Pag di tayo magka-aregulan, ako nasa gitna mahirapan ako. Sino'ng barilin ko? Sundalo ng republika or sundalo ng MI pati MN? [If we do not reach an agreement, I will be in the middle of the fight. Who should I shoot? The republic’s soldier or soldiers MI and MN?] " he said.
Duterte appealed to the Moro groups to give the government time to work on another peace accord if the BBL does not work out. He insisted he does not want to wage war against his own countrymen.
He added that he is aiming to have BBL aligned with the proposed federalism and the Constitution, saying that the MILF version of the BBL can even be implemented already. But he said he would rather wait for the final version of BBL.
During his campaign, Duterte promised to bring peace in the south through the passage of the BBL. It aims to provide a basic structure of government focusing on the rights of the Bangsamoro people, described as "natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and its adjacent islands including Palawan."
The measure paves the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro, the successor to the ARMM established in 1989 through Republic Act 6734. It also delineates authority in the region by assigning jurisdiction of reserved powers for the Central government, exclusive powers for the Bangsamoro government, and concurrent powers for both the Central and the Bangsamoro governments.
BBL had been both approved on third and final reading by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Lawmakers will reconcile their BBL versions in meetings scheduled on July 9 -13.
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas has said that Duterte is expected to enact BBL on the day of his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/06/17/duterte-nur-misuari-bbl.html
President Rodrigo Duterte is hoping Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chair Nur Misuari would join the discussions in formulating the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
But that would mean joining the talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a splinter group of the MNLF.
"We will try to pass the BBL. I hope chairman Misuari can be convinced to join the talks so that if there are corrections or maybe additions or provisions that could not sit well with the Tausug and the rest of the southern part of Mindanao then maybe we can realize altogether the friction of MI (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), MN and the rest of Mindanao," said Duterte during the Eid'l Fitr celebration in Davao City.
Duterte said he would rather see the conflict between the two rival groups resolved as Mindanao faces the threat of ISIS.
"Pero kung sabihan mo na [But if you would say], if you do not think about it, if you kind of adopt intransigence behavior, magpatigasan [if nobody will give way], it will result in war. Kindly, if you want, do not do it on my term. 'Pag di tayo magka-aregulan, ako nasa gitna mahirapan ako. Sino'ng barilin ko? Sundalo ng republika or sundalo ng MI pati MN? [If we do not reach an agreement, I will be in the middle of the fight. Who should I shoot? The republic’s soldier or soldiers MI and MN?] " he said.
Duterte appealed to the Moro groups to give the government time to work on another peace accord if the BBL does not work out. He insisted he does not want to wage war against his own countrymen.
He added that he is aiming to have BBL aligned with the proposed federalism and the Constitution, saying that the MILF version of the BBL can even be implemented already. But he said he would rather wait for the final version of BBL.
During his campaign, Duterte promised to bring peace in the south through the passage of the BBL. It aims to provide a basic structure of government focusing on the rights of the Bangsamoro people, described as "natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and its adjacent islands including Palawan."
The measure paves the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro, the successor to the ARMM established in 1989 through Republic Act 6734. It also delineates authority in the region by assigning jurisdiction of reserved powers for the Central government, exclusive powers for the Bangsamoro government, and concurrent powers for both the Central and the Bangsamoro governments.
BBL had been both approved on third and final reading by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Lawmakers will reconcile their BBL versions in meetings scheduled on July 9 -13.
House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas has said that Duterte is expected to enact BBL on the day of his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 23.
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/06/17/duterte-nur-misuari-bbl.html
Another armed NPA member surrenders to Army in Bukidnon
From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 17): Another armed NPA member surrenders to Army in Bukidnon
CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Another heavily armed Communist New People’s Army Terrorist (CNT) voluntarily surrendered to Lt. Col. Ronald Illana, commanding officer of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8th IB) in Bukidnon province, regional Army spokesperson Lt. Tere Ingente told The Manila Bulletin today.
(Ali Vicoy/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Ingente said the former CNT, known in the underground movement as “Ka Tikboy” (identity temporarily withheld for security reason), turned over yesterday his M16 Armalite rifle and assorted live ammunitions to the 8th IB commander.
Ingente added that the former CNT, who was a regular fighter of the CPP-NPA North-Central Mindanao regional committee, is being assisted by Illana for his formal enrollment in the Comprehensive Local Intervention Program (CLIP) in an effort to avail of cash and livelihood support from the government.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/17/another-armed-npa-member-surrenders-to-army-in-bukidnon/
CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Another heavily armed Communist New People’s Army Terrorist (CNT) voluntarily surrendered to Lt. Col. Ronald Illana, commanding officer of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion (8th IB) in Bukidnon province, regional Army spokesperson Lt. Tere Ingente told The Manila Bulletin today.
(Ali Vicoy/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Ingente said the former CNT, known in the underground movement as “Ka Tikboy” (identity temporarily withheld for security reason), turned over yesterday his M16 Armalite rifle and assorted live ammunitions to the 8th IB commander.
Ingente added that the former CNT, who was a regular fighter of the CPP-NPA North-Central Mindanao regional committee, is being assisted by Illana for his formal enrollment in the Comprehensive Local Intervention Program (CLIP) in an effort to avail of cash and livelihood support from the government.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/17/another-armed-npa-member-surrenders-to-army-in-bukidnon/
Reds reveal backchannel deals to show Duterte ‘insincerity’
From ABS-CBN (Jun 17): Reds reveal backchannel deals to show Duterte ‘insincerity’
Communist rebels have released key documents agreed upon during backchannel negotiations to pressure the government to resume formal talks, which were postponed by President Rodrigo Duterte following concerns raised by the military.
A draft proclamation prepared by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) seeks amnesty for political prisoners in connection with the decades-old communist insurgency, a copy of the document showed.
If granted, the amnesty would benefit more than 800 people, including top communist leader Jose Maria Sison, said NDFP peace panel consultant Rey Casambre, in a list to be provided by the group.
Sison himself released a copy of the signed stand-down agreement, which was supposed to be announced by the government and the NDFP a week before the resumption of formal talks on June 28.
Duterte, who earlier sought to revive negotiations within a 60-day window, later announced he was not ready to resume formal discussions yet.
Security officials were concerned that the New People’s Army might make use of the stand-down deal, which was expected to lead to a coordinated unilateral ceasefire, to beef up its forces and capture villages previously recovered by the military.
DIRTY WAR
Sison on Saturday said his group opted to make the documents public “at least to expose the insincerity and lack of seriousness” of the government and “prepare everyone against the anti-peace and fascist scheme of Duterte and hope for the best.”
“Dirty war ang main strategy ni Duterte, palamuti lamang ang peace pretenses,” he told ABS-CBN News Saturday night.
Based on the NDFP draft, the president was to certify the amnesty proclamation as urgent with Congress concurring within 3 months.
“Amnesty under this proclamation shall extinguish any criminal liability for acts or ommisions punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special laws,” it said, in connection with the communist rebellion.
The amnesty will restore the civil and political rights of those in the NDFP list.
“We recognize that the issuance of such a proclamation is the prerogative of (Duterte) as well as its certification to Congress as an urgent measure,” chief NDFP negotiator Fidel Agcaoili told ABS-CBN News Saturday night.
“Our is just a proposal, you might say a recommendation, and the GRP sought clarification on some points, which our legal counsel provided.”
The amnesty proclamation, whose draft was provided by Agcaoili to ABS-CBN News, was supposed to be part of an interim peace agreement to be signed by both parties if formal talks resumed at the end of the month.
CEASEFIRE
In the preliminary accord, the two sides agree to undertake “effective measures” to “do away with all obstacles and hindrances inconsistent with the agreements and to the continuation of peace negotiations.”
They also commit to continue formal talks to “resolve the armed conflict for the attainment of a just and lasting peace.”
Duterte earlier cancelled formal negotiations, questioning the sincerity of the rebels, who continued to attack government forces despite ongoing talks.
The president demanded a bilateral ceasefire deal, which the NDFP considered premature in the absence of more substantial agreement in the talks.
A coordinated unilateral ceasefire was supposed to form part of the interim peace deal, which would include preliminary agreements on land reform and nationalization of particular industries.
Under the interim accord, a bilateral preparatory committee would be created to facilitate the return of Sison, who was eyeing a homecoming within the year.
The agreement acknowledges that negotiations “may now successfully culminate in substantive agreements with the demonstrated commitment of the present leadership” of the government and the NDFP.
Read More: NDFP peace talks Rodrigo Duterte CPP-NPA
Communist rebels have released key documents agreed upon during backchannel negotiations to pressure the government to resume formal talks, which were postponed by President Rodrigo Duterte following concerns raised by the military.
A draft proclamation prepared by the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) seeks amnesty for political prisoners in connection with the decades-old communist insurgency, a copy of the document showed.
If granted, the amnesty would benefit more than 800 people, including top communist leader Jose Maria Sison, said NDFP peace panel consultant Rey Casambre, in a list to be provided by the group.
Sison himself released a copy of the signed stand-down agreement, which was supposed to be announced by the government and the NDFP a week before the resumption of formal talks on June 28.
Duterte, who earlier sought to revive negotiations within a 60-day window, later announced he was not ready to resume formal discussions yet.
Security officials were concerned that the New People’s Army might make use of the stand-down deal, which was expected to lead to a coordinated unilateral ceasefire, to beef up its forces and capture villages previously recovered by the military.
DIRTY WAR
Sison on Saturday said his group opted to make the documents public “at least to expose the insincerity and lack of seriousness” of the government and “prepare everyone against the anti-peace and fascist scheme of Duterte and hope for the best.”
“Dirty war ang main strategy ni Duterte, palamuti lamang ang peace pretenses,” he told ABS-CBN News Saturday night.
Based on the NDFP draft, the president was to certify the amnesty proclamation as urgent with Congress concurring within 3 months.
“Amnesty under this proclamation shall extinguish any criminal liability for acts or ommisions punishable under the Revised Penal Code or special laws,” it said, in connection with the communist rebellion.
The amnesty will restore the civil and political rights of those in the NDFP list.
“We recognize that the issuance of such a proclamation is the prerogative of (Duterte) as well as its certification to Congress as an urgent measure,” chief NDFP negotiator Fidel Agcaoili told ABS-CBN News Saturday night.
“Our is just a proposal, you might say a recommendation, and the GRP sought clarification on some points, which our legal counsel provided.”
The amnesty proclamation, whose draft was provided by Agcaoili to ABS-CBN News, was supposed to be part of an interim peace agreement to be signed by both parties if formal talks resumed at the end of the month.
CEASEFIRE
In the preliminary accord, the two sides agree to undertake “effective measures” to “do away with all obstacles and hindrances inconsistent with the agreements and to the continuation of peace negotiations.”
They also commit to continue formal talks to “resolve the armed conflict for the attainment of a just and lasting peace.”
Duterte earlier cancelled formal negotiations, questioning the sincerity of the rebels, who continued to attack government forces despite ongoing talks.
The president demanded a bilateral ceasefire deal, which the NDFP considered premature in the absence of more substantial agreement in the talks.
A coordinated unilateral ceasefire was supposed to form part of the interim peace deal, which would include preliminary agreements on land reform and nationalization of particular industries.
Under the interim accord, a bilateral preparatory committee would be created to facilitate the return of Sison, who was eyeing a homecoming within the year.
The agreement acknowledges that negotiations “may now successfully culminate in substantive agreements with the demonstrated commitment of the present leadership” of the government and the NDFP.
Read More: NDFP peace talks Rodrigo Duterte CPP-NPA
NDF bares documents to show progress before Duterte halted talks
From Rappler (Jun 17): NDF bares documents to show progress before Duterte halted talks
The National Democratic Front (NDF) representing communist rebels in talks with the Philippine government released documents that showed the progress of negotiations before President Rodrigo Duterte suddenly announced a postponement.
The NDF released these documents on Saturday evening, June 16.
Both sides signed a stand-down agreement on June 8 binding the military, the police, and the communist New People's Army as a "confidence-building measure" in consideration of the "forthcoming formal peace talks."
The document "Agreement on a Stand-down for the Resumption of Formal Peace Talks" and other documents are uploaded below this article.
It was signed by panel chiefs Secretary Silvestre Bello III on the part of the government, Fidel Agcaoili on the part of the NDF, and third party facilitator Norwegian Ambassador Idun Tvedt.
The agreement didn't specify a date but preparations were underway for it to take effect on June 21, or a week before the supposed resumption of the 5th round of talks on June 28.
The NDF also released a proposed timetable for the talks and a draft of an interim peace agreement that details plans for CPP founding chairman and NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison to come home to the Philippines to personally talk to Duterte.
The NDF also submitted a draft document on granting amnesty to all those who were arrested in connection with communist rebellion, one of its key demands since the beginning of the talks.
The panels worked to meet Duterte's 60-day deadline for "last chance" peace talks. But on June 14, Duterte announcement a postponement following meeting with the military.
The generals asked for a 3-month postponement of the talks. Negotiators from both sides were already in Europe for backchannel talks.
The CPP called the latest development "unacceptable." It said it was ready to issue a stand-down order to the NPA.
The CPP called the latest development "unacceptable." It said it was ready to issue a stand-down order to the NPA.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/205115-documents-stand-down-order-npa-military-peace-talks
SIGNED AGREEMENT. Government chief negotiator Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed a stand-down agreement with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. File photo by Edwin Espejo/OPAPP
The National Democratic Front (NDF) representing communist rebels in talks with the Philippine government released documents that showed the progress of negotiations before President Rodrigo Duterte suddenly announced a postponement.
The NDF released these documents on Saturday evening, June 16.
Both sides signed a stand-down agreement on June 8 binding the military, the police, and the communist New People's Army as a "confidence-building measure" in consideration of the "forthcoming formal peace talks."
The document "Agreement on a Stand-down for the Resumption of Formal Peace Talks" and other documents are uploaded below this article.
It was signed by panel chiefs Secretary Silvestre Bello III on the part of the government, Fidel Agcaoili on the part of the NDF, and third party facilitator Norwegian Ambassador Idun Tvedt.
The agreement didn't specify a date but preparations were underway for it to take effect on June 21, or a week before the supposed resumption of the 5th round of talks on June 28.
The NDF also released a proposed timetable for the talks and a draft of an interim peace agreement that details plans for CPP founding chairman and NDF chief political consultant Jose Maria Sison to come home to the Philippines to personally talk to Duterte.
The NDF also submitted a draft document on granting amnesty to all those who were arrested in connection with communist rebellion, one of its key demands since the beginning of the talks.
The panels worked to meet Duterte's 60-day deadline for "last chance" peace talks. But on June 14, Duterte announcement a postponement following meeting with the military.
The generals asked for a 3-month postponement of the talks. Negotiators from both sides were already in Europe for backchannel talks.
The CPP called the latest development "unacceptable." It said it was ready to issue a stand-down order to the NPA.
The CPP called the latest development "unacceptable." It said it was ready to issue a stand-down order to the NPA.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/205115-documents-stand-down-order-npa-military-peace-talks
Philippines Delays Resuming Peace Talks With Rebels
From the Eurasia Review (Jun 17): Philippines Delays Resuming Peace Talks With Rebels (By UNCAN-Jose Torres, Jr.)
The Philippine government has announced it is pushing back peace negotiations with communist rebels that were scheduled to start on June 28.
Government negotiator Jesus Dureza said President Rodrigo Duterte wanted a wider public consultation before restarting formal talks with the rebels.
He said the president wanted “stakeholders on the ground” to be engaged through consultations. “Lasting peace will only happen when people understand these peace efforts,” Dureza said.
No date has been given as to when negotiations would resume.
“The president said let’s reset. Give us time to work some more,” said Dureza, adding that Duterte wanted an “implementable” peace agreement.
Rebel negotiator Fidel Agcaoili called the delay “a setback.”
He said the rebel panel will meet a government team on June 16 to discuss the timetable.
Exiled rebel leader Jose Maria Sison expressed disappointment over the cancellation.
“It is starkly clear the [Philippine government] under Duterte is not interested in serious peace negotiations,” Sison said in a statement from the Netherlands.
Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said “the revolutionary forces … have no choice but to single-mindedly wage [a] people’s war.”
The exile leader sits as adviser of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, an alliance of revolutionary groups negotiating peace with the government.
Church leaders and peace advocates called the postponement “quite frustrating.”
“As church leaders, we were looking forward to the reported ‘stand-down’ ceasefire agreement which means that both sides will cease offensive military operations,” said Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro.
The prelate heads the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, which has been facilitating peace efforts among grassroots communities around the country.
Archbishop Ledesma said a “stand-down” deal and interim peace agreements could result in “lesser violence” and further loss of life.
A “stand-down agreement” requiring the forces of both sides not to commit any offensive military operations has already been drafted.
In a statement on June 15, peace group Kapayapaan said the sudden suspension of talks was “irrational [and] unjustifiable” and put the peace process in peril.
The suspension of the talks came on the heels of a conference this week where top police and military officials aired concerns over the rebels’ “tendency to regroup” during peace talks.
Government and rebel negotiators had been holding unofficial talks since early this year after Duterte ordered a stop to formal negotiations in November.
The president ended the on-and-off negotiations after both sides accused each other of violating their ceasefire agreement.
The Duterte administration is the sixth to hold peace talks with the communist movement, which has been waging nearly five decades of insurgency against the government.
[UNCAN: UCA News reports about the Catholic Church and subjects of interest to the Church in Asia. Through a daily service, UCA News covers lay activities, social work, protests, conflicts and stories on the faith lives of the millions of Catholics in Asia.]
https://www.eurasiareview.com/17062018-philippines-delays-resuming-peace-talks-with-rebels/
The Philippine government has announced it is pushing back peace negotiations with communist rebels that were scheduled to start on June 28.
Government negotiator Jesus Dureza said President Rodrigo Duterte wanted a wider public consultation before restarting formal talks with the rebels.
He said the president wanted “stakeholders on the ground” to be engaged through consultations. “Lasting peace will only happen when people understand these peace efforts,” Dureza said.
No date has been given as to when negotiations would resume.
“The president said let’s reset. Give us time to work some more,” said Dureza, adding that Duterte wanted an “implementable” peace agreement.
Rebel negotiator Fidel Agcaoili called the delay “a setback.”
He said the rebel panel will meet a government team on June 16 to discuss the timetable.
Exiled rebel leader Jose Maria Sison expressed disappointment over the cancellation.
“It is starkly clear the [Philippine government] under Duterte is not interested in serious peace negotiations,” Sison said in a statement from the Netherlands.
Sison, founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines, said “the revolutionary forces … have no choice but to single-mindedly wage [a] people’s war.”
The exile leader sits as adviser of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, an alliance of revolutionary groups negotiating peace with the government.
Church leaders and peace advocates called the postponement “quite frustrating.”
“As church leaders, we were looking forward to the reported ‘stand-down’ ceasefire agreement which means that both sides will cease offensive military operations,” said Archbishop Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro.
The prelate heads the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, which has been facilitating peace efforts among grassroots communities around the country.
Archbishop Ledesma said a “stand-down” deal and interim peace agreements could result in “lesser violence” and further loss of life.
A “stand-down agreement” requiring the forces of both sides not to commit any offensive military operations has already been drafted.
In a statement on June 15, peace group Kapayapaan said the sudden suspension of talks was “irrational [and] unjustifiable” and put the peace process in peril.
The suspension of the talks came on the heels of a conference this week where top police and military officials aired concerns over the rebels’ “tendency to regroup” during peace talks.
Government and rebel negotiators had been holding unofficial talks since early this year after Duterte ordered a stop to formal negotiations in November.
The president ended the on-and-off negotiations after both sides accused each other of violating their ceasefire agreement.
The Duterte administration is the sixth to hold peace talks with the communist movement, which has been waging nearly five decades of insurgency against the government.
[UNCAN: UCA News reports about the Catholic Church and subjects of interest to the Church in Asia. Through a daily service, UCA News covers lay activities, social work, protests, conflicts and stories on the faith lives of the millions of Catholics in Asia.]
https://www.eurasiareview.com/17062018-philippines-delays-resuming-peace-talks-with-rebels/
Dureza defends move to reset talks with Reds
From the Philippine Star (Jun 17): Dureza defends move to reset talks with Reds
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza stressed the peace talks with the NDF, the umbrella organization representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), was “reset.”
The “resetting” of the peace talks with the communist rebels was intended to protect what the government peace panel and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have gained during its back channel talks, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said.
In a statement on Friday, Dureza said the government is planning to invite resource persons who participated in the recent back channel talks to engage with the public.
Dureza stressed the peace talks with the NDF, the umbrella organization representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), was “reset.”
“The resetting of the planned peace talks is exactly for the purpose of protecting the gains achieved in the backchannel talks prior to formal resumption of peace negotiations,” Dureza said.
He said history shows many peace deals that suffered setbacks due to lack of public support.
“And this is precisely why we have decided to engage the public and have consultations with various sectors to protect those gains,” Dureza said.
He said the public’s support and participation has greatly helped the government’s peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) and the government wants to use that as a pattern.
“We have even planned on inviting resource persons who participated in the recent back channel talks from both sides to engage the stakeholders together. We have already witnessed how this helped in the Bangsamoro peace efforts where leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front participated actively in the effort,” Dureza said.
He said the public must not be kept in the dark about the peace talks.
“Getting public support and goodwill even while still in the course of peace negotiations is truly indispensable. Suddenly springing finished peace agreements upon a public who have been kept in the dark during the negotiations can certainly undermine those efforts,” Dureza said.
CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison slammed President Duterte for the cancellation of the peace talks scheduled on June 28.
Sison said it was “disappointing and frustrating” that Duterte decided to cancel the peace talks at the last minute as preparations are underway for the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the government and the NDF in Oslo, Norway.
Sison urged both panels to make public the stand down agreement signed on June 9.
“The press and the public have the right to know the content of the stand down agreement that was signed on June 9, 2018. This agreement has been unilaterally scrapped by the (government). And the press and public wish to know why. They also want to know the contents of agreements signed on June 10, 2018 pertinent to the June 28-30 resumption of formal peace talks and the interim peace agreement which have been unilaterally cancelled by the (government),” Sison said.
A report from ANC said the government and NDF were supposed to sign an interim peace agreement on June 28 which included the formation of a “bilateral preparatory committee” to lay the groundwork for Sison’s homecoming and a one-on-one meeting with President Duterte.
The CPP also issued a statement saying the cancellation of the peace talks is “totally unacceptable.”
The CPP said Malacañang made the announcement withdrawing from the scheduled talks after consulting with national security officials.
Dureza, however, said “both sides of the negotiating table must be hand in hand in this effort, and we truly hope that the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines will join us in this crucial endeavor as any negative reaction can only further jeopardize the gains so far jointly achieved.”
“While we do respect whatever stand they may have on the matter, we do hope our peace partners in the CPP-NPA-NDF will view all these developments in this light,”
Dureza said.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon aired his support for the decision to hold the next round of peace talks with the communist rebels in the Philippines.
Drilon said the decision of the President to hold the peace talks in the country is very significant because if the communist rebels agree to this, then it could go a long way in moving the process forward.
“By agreeing to hold the peace talks in the country, the communist group will be able to show that it has truly agreed to recognize the legitimacy of the government as the duly-constituted authority,” Drilon said.
He said the change in venue would provide the CPP-NPA the opportunity to demonstrate its sincerity in pursuing peace with the government after several decades of armed conflict.
The peace talks fell through in November last year following clashes between government troops and communist rebels.
Duterte then moved to have the CPP-NPA declared a terrorist group.
The President, however, had a change of heart, saying he would like to give peace another chance.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/17/1825376/dureza-defends-move-reset-talks-reds
In a statement on Friday, Dureza said the government is planning to invite resource persons who participated in the recent back channel talks to engage with the public.
Dureza stressed the peace talks with the NDF, the umbrella organization representing the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), was “reset.”
“The resetting of the planned peace talks is exactly for the purpose of protecting the gains achieved in the backchannel talks prior to formal resumption of peace negotiations,” Dureza said.
He said history shows many peace deals that suffered setbacks due to lack of public support.
“And this is precisely why we have decided to engage the public and have consultations with various sectors to protect those gains,” Dureza said.
He said the public’s support and participation has greatly helped the government’s peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) and the government wants to use that as a pattern.
“We have even planned on inviting resource persons who participated in the recent back channel talks from both sides to engage the stakeholders together. We have already witnessed how this helped in the Bangsamoro peace efforts where leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front participated actively in the effort,” Dureza said.
He said the public must not be kept in the dark about the peace talks.
“Getting public support and goodwill even while still in the course of peace negotiations is truly indispensable. Suddenly springing finished peace agreements upon a public who have been kept in the dark during the negotiations can certainly undermine those efforts,” Dureza said.
CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison slammed President Duterte for the cancellation of the peace talks scheduled on June 28.
Sison said it was “disappointing and frustrating” that Duterte decided to cancel the peace talks at the last minute as preparations are underway for the resumption of formal peace negotiations between the government and the NDF in Oslo, Norway.
Sison urged both panels to make public the stand down agreement signed on June 9.
“The press and the public have the right to know the content of the stand down agreement that was signed on June 9, 2018. This agreement has been unilaterally scrapped by the (government). And the press and public wish to know why. They also want to know the contents of agreements signed on June 10, 2018 pertinent to the June 28-30 resumption of formal peace talks and the interim peace agreement which have been unilaterally cancelled by the (government),” Sison said.
A report from ANC said the government and NDF were supposed to sign an interim peace agreement on June 28 which included the formation of a “bilateral preparatory committee” to lay the groundwork for Sison’s homecoming and a one-on-one meeting with President Duterte.
The CPP also issued a statement saying the cancellation of the peace talks is “totally unacceptable.”
The CPP said Malacañang made the announcement withdrawing from the scheduled talks after consulting with national security officials.
Dureza, however, said “both sides of the negotiating table must be hand in hand in this effort, and we truly hope that the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines will join us in this crucial endeavor as any negative reaction can only further jeopardize the gains so far jointly achieved.”
“While we do respect whatever stand they may have on the matter, we do hope our peace partners in the CPP-NPA-NDF will view all these developments in this light,”
Dureza said.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon aired his support for the decision to hold the next round of peace talks with the communist rebels in the Philippines.
Drilon said the decision of the President to hold the peace talks in the country is very significant because if the communist rebels agree to this, then it could go a long way in moving the process forward.
“By agreeing to hold the peace talks in the country, the communist group will be able to show that it has truly agreed to recognize the legitimacy of the government as the duly-constituted authority,” Drilon said.
He said the change in venue would provide the CPP-NPA the opportunity to demonstrate its sincerity in pursuing peace with the government after several decades of armed conflict.
The peace talks fell through in November last year following clashes between government troops and communist rebels.
Duterte then moved to have the CPP-NPA declared a terrorist group.
The President, however, had a change of heart, saying he would like to give peace another chance.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/17/1825376/dureza-defends-move-reset-talks-reds
Drilon says Duterte is right, peace talks should be in PH
From Rappler (Jun 16): Drilon says Duterte is right, peace talks should be in PH
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says holding the peace talks here will show the government's sincerity and confidence in both parties, and the communists' recognition of the legitimacy of the Philippine government
PEACE TALKS. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says 'it's about time' that the peace talks are held on Philippine soil. File photo by Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon agreed with President Rodrigo Duterte that the next round of peace talks with the communists should be held in the Philippines.
"I support the President's decision. The venue of the next round of peace negotiations with the rebel groups should be the Philippines," Drilon said in a statement on Saturday, June 16.
He added: "It's about time that we change the venue of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), and it is about time that it takes place on Philippine soil."
Drilon, who once served as a peace process adviser during the Ramos administration, said the change in venue will not affect the peace process.
Instead, Drilon said that conducting the talks without an international third party may be able to "accelerate the discussion."
"The peace talks have always been held in an international ground but it did not seem to accelerate discussion. Let the real peace talks begin in a local arena. No third party this time," Drilon said.
It will also convey a strong message from both parties, Drilon said. It will show the government's sincerity and confidence in both parties, and the communists' recognition of the legitimacy of the Philippine government.
"We will never achieve a true and lasting peace if the CPP-NPA-NDF, after a series of peace negotations that took place, would still say they do not recognize the legitimacy of the government," Drilon said.
He added: "It is about time that they show they really do. Go to the Philippines and let's talk peace."
The next round of talks was supposed to take place on June 28 in Oslo, Norway, but Duterte postponed it to give the military time to assess ceasefire implications.
While the military wants to postpone the talks for 3 months, Duterte said it is still possible that the talks will be held in July.
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison is not keen on returning to the Philippines without clear legal guarantees, he told the Inquirer in an online interview from the Netherlands.
Duterte had been trying to induce Sison to come home with a verbal promise that if nothing is resolved in their meeting in the Philippines, the exiled communist leader can return to the Netherlands "unfettered" and "unbridled."
https://www.rappler.com/nation/205084-drilon-duterte-correct-peace-talks-philippines
PEACE TALKS. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says 'it's about time' that the peace talks are held on Philippine soil. File photo by Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon agreed with President Rodrigo Duterte that the next round of peace talks with the communists should be held in the Philippines.
"I support the President's decision. The venue of the next round of peace negotiations with the rebel groups should be the Philippines," Drilon said in a statement on Saturday, June 16.
He added: "It's about time that we change the venue of peace talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF), and it is about time that it takes place on Philippine soil."
Drilon, who once served as a peace process adviser during the Ramos administration, said the change in venue will not affect the peace process.
Instead, Drilon said that conducting the talks without an international third party may be able to "accelerate the discussion."
"The peace talks have always been held in an international ground but it did not seem to accelerate discussion. Let the real peace talks begin in a local arena. No third party this time," Drilon said.
It will also convey a strong message from both parties, Drilon said. It will show the government's sincerity and confidence in both parties, and the communists' recognition of the legitimacy of the Philippine government.
"We will never achieve a true and lasting peace if the CPP-NPA-NDF, after a series of peace negotations that took place, would still say they do not recognize the legitimacy of the government," Drilon said.
He added: "It is about time that they show they really do. Go to the Philippines and let's talk peace."
The next round of talks was supposed to take place on June 28 in Oslo, Norway, but Duterte postponed it to give the military time to assess ceasefire implications.
While the military wants to postpone the talks for 3 months, Duterte said it is still possible that the talks will be held in July.
Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chair Jose Maria Sison is not keen on returning to the Philippines without clear legal guarantees, he told the Inquirer in an online interview from the Netherlands.
Duterte had been trying to induce Sison to come home with a verbal promise that if nothing is resolved in their meeting in the Philippines, the exiled communist leader can return to the Netherlands "unfettered" and "unbridled."
'5 top Reds go into hiding'
From the Manila Standard (Jun 17): '5 top Reds go into hiding'
FIVE of six rebel leaders with standing arrest warrants who were supposed to participate in the now canceled peace talks in Oslo have gone underground, a military source said, even as Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison blamed President Rodrigo Duterte for the situation.
“Duterte has made it impossible for our consultants to present themselves before the proper courts. Duterte removed the safe environment for them to face the court again,” Sison told Manila Standard in an interview during the weekend.
“In deciding to cancel the June 28 resumption of the formal peace talks, Duterte has killed the possibility of our six consultants to join the negotiations. It is difficult to talk to someone who acts crazy and flipflops like Duterte,” Sison added.
A Manila court earlier allowed CPP chairman Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Randall Echanis, Vicente Ladlad and Rafael Baylosis to leave for Norway for the peace negotiations.
From left - right: Tiamzon, Baylosis, Echavis, Silva, and Ladlad
A separate court in Taguig also allowed communist leader Alan Jazmines to join the five as consultants of the CPP-National Democratic Front.
Defense lawyer Rachel Pastores of the Public Interest Law Center said it would not come as a surprise if her clients, except for Baylosis who is still under detention, would jump bail and refuse to surrender.
“With the exception of Baylosis, the others are not in police custody. Who can blame them [if they have gone underground]? There is a clear threat to their security and lives. This government has branded them terrorists,” Pastores said in a phone interview.
“The decision of the government to postpone the peace talks was so unfair. It was a waste of time and money. Lokohan ba yan? [Are they trying to pull a fast one on us?] The security and freedom of the NDF consultants should not be based on whimsical decisions of the government,” she added.
Baylosis posted a bail of P150,000 but he has yet to be released while Silva paid P100,000 in bail.
“If they do not surface, I don’t think anyone can blame them. I can’t do anything about that,” Pastores said.
On Friday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the safety and immunity guarantees extended to the NDF consultants no longer stood.
“Since the peace talks were deferred upon orders of the President, the basis for the court order [for their release] no longer exists and the prosecution will consequently move for the revocation of said orders,” Guevarra said.
“The NDF consultants should thus present themselves to the courts for proper disposition as a sign of good faith,” he added.
Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said it would be “problematic” if the communist leaders refused to present themselves before the proper court.
“If they do that, not only the PNP but the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well are ready to hunt them down again,” Albayalde said.
http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/268234/-5-top-reds-go-into-hiding-.html
“Duterte has made it impossible for our consultants to present themselves before the proper courts. Duterte removed the safe environment for them to face the court again,” Sison told Manila Standard in an interview during the weekend.
“In deciding to cancel the June 28 resumption of the formal peace talks, Duterte has killed the possibility of our six consultants to join the negotiations. It is difficult to talk to someone who acts crazy and flipflops like Duterte,” Sison added.
A Manila court earlier allowed CPP chairman Benito Tiamzon, Adelberto Silva, Randall Echanis, Vicente Ladlad and Rafael Baylosis to leave for Norway for the peace negotiations.
From left - right: Tiamzon, Baylosis, Echavis, Silva, and Ladlad
A separate court in Taguig also allowed communist leader Alan Jazmines to join the five as consultants of the CPP-National Democratic Front.
Defense lawyer Rachel Pastores of the Public Interest Law Center said it would not come as a surprise if her clients, except for Baylosis who is still under detention, would jump bail and refuse to surrender.
“With the exception of Baylosis, the others are not in police custody. Who can blame them [if they have gone underground]? There is a clear threat to their security and lives. This government has branded them terrorists,” Pastores said in a phone interview.
“The decision of the government to postpone the peace talks was so unfair. It was a waste of time and money. Lokohan ba yan? [Are they trying to pull a fast one on us?] The security and freedom of the NDF consultants should not be based on whimsical decisions of the government,” she added.
Baylosis posted a bail of P150,000 but he has yet to be released while Silva paid P100,000 in bail.
“If they do not surface, I don’t think anyone can blame them. I can’t do anything about that,” Pastores said.
On Friday, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the safety and immunity guarantees extended to the NDF consultants no longer stood.
“Since the peace talks were deferred upon orders of the President, the basis for the court order [for their release] no longer exists and the prosecution will consequently move for the revocation of said orders,” Guevarra said.
“The NDF consultants should thus present themselves to the courts for proper disposition as a sign of good faith,” he added.
Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said it would be “problematic” if the communist leaders refused to present themselves before the proper court.
“If they do that, not only the PNP but the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well are ready to hunt them down again,” Albayalde said.
http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/268234/-5-top-reds-go-into-hiding-.html
Military rids Mindanao fishing area of terrorists
From The Gulf Today (Jun 17): Military rids Mindanao fishing area of terrorists
A senior military officer reported that continuing operations, highlighted by air strikes, succeeded in driving away Daesh-linked terrorists, including Indonesians, who have been harassing and preventing hundreds of residents from fishing at the vast Liguasuan Marsh in Mindanao.
“They are now free to do what they have to do — fish in the vast Liguasan. The terrorists have been making life difficult for the hundreds of residents whose main livelihood was fishing,” said Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, the commander of an Army Infantry battalion.
Cabunoc explained the 220,000-square kilometre Liguasan March that straddles 29 towns in two neighboring provinces — Maguindanao and North Cotabato — where members of a “rogue” Moro rebel group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have set up camps as well as improvised bomb factories to sow violence in the area..
The BIFF, which pledged allegiance to the Daesh extremists, was founded by the late veteran field commander Ameril Umbra Kato of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who seceded due to major policy differences with the front leaders over the conduct of their peace talks with the government.
Cabunoc disclosed the military decided to launch the operations following alarming reports that the terrorists have set up camps in the marsh and threatened hundreds of residents who depended on fishing as the main source of livelihood by catching especially mudfish and catfish.
Even more alarming were reports from residents who said they saw “foreign-looking” militants with the group, who were suspected to be Indonesia bomb experts, according to Cabunoc.
Based on the reports, Cabunoc said the military decided to launch an operation against the terrorists on June 10, highlighted by coordinated air strikes and artillery fire to help the ground forces.
Since then, at least 23 terrorists have been killed with the military still confirming reports that among the fatalities were four “foreign” militants, Cabunoc said.
He added a soldier was also killed in what he considered as the “supreme sacrifice by giving up his own life” to help ensure that terrorists would no long threaten and harass the Liguasan Marsh fishermen.
http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/ad13ec7d-b23a-4dcf-9f0f-34c8d0dfcfed.aspx
A senior military officer reported that continuing operations, highlighted by air strikes, succeeded in driving away Daesh-linked terrorists, including Indonesians, who have been harassing and preventing hundreds of residents from fishing at the vast Liguasuan Marsh in Mindanao.
“They are now free to do what they have to do — fish in the vast Liguasan. The terrorists have been making life difficult for the hundreds of residents whose main livelihood was fishing,” said Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, the commander of an Army Infantry battalion.
Cabunoc explained the 220,000-square kilometre Liguasan March that straddles 29 towns in two neighboring provinces — Maguindanao and North Cotabato — where members of a “rogue” Moro rebel group called the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have set up camps as well as improvised bomb factories to sow violence in the area..
The BIFF, which pledged allegiance to the Daesh extremists, was founded by the late veteran field commander Ameril Umbra Kato of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), who seceded due to major policy differences with the front leaders over the conduct of their peace talks with the government.
Cabunoc disclosed the military decided to launch the operations following alarming reports that the terrorists have set up camps in the marsh and threatened hundreds of residents who depended on fishing as the main source of livelihood by catching especially mudfish and catfish.
Even more alarming were reports from residents who said they saw “foreign-looking” militants with the group, who were suspected to be Indonesia bomb experts, according to Cabunoc.
Based on the reports, Cabunoc said the military decided to launch an operation against the terrorists on June 10, highlighted by coordinated air strikes and artillery fire to help the ground forces.
Since then, at least 23 terrorists have been killed with the military still confirming reports that among the fatalities were four “foreign” militants, Cabunoc said.
He added a soldier was also killed in what he considered as the “supreme sacrifice by giving up his own life” to help ensure that terrorists would no long threaten and harass the Liguasan Marsh fishermen.
http://www.gulftoday.ae/portal/ad13ec7d-b23a-4dcf-9f0f-34c8d0dfcfed.aspx