Philippine Navy To Receive 3 More Missile-Ready Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts Under Horizon 1 Phase

Posted to Update Philippines (Jun 26): Philippine Navy To Receive 3 More Missile-Ready Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts Under Horizon 1 Phase

The Philippine Navy (PN) has quietly moved ahead and implemented the acquisition of another project under the Horizon 1 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program.

Based on the Philippine Navy’s recent publicly-released documents the Philippine Navy has pushed through with the Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (Series 2018) acquisition project, which is a “2nd List of Horizon 1” project that was approved for acquisition.



The MPAC Mk. III built by Propmech-Lung Teh JV. The same design, with probably minor changes, will be used for the 4th batch of MPACs to be acquired by the Philippine Navy.

To avoid confusion, here is how it goes:

The Philippine Navy’s Horizon 1 phase, which was approved for implementation in 2014, previously had a Multi-Purpose Attack Craft (MPAC) Acquisition Project with an Approved Budget for Contract (ABC) worth Php270 million. This was also called the “MPAC 3” during its pre-delivery phase. This was awarded to a Joint Venture of Propmech Corporation and Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. The former is a Filipino-owned company while the latter is a boatbuilder from Taiwan.

The boats acquired from this project, now known as the MPAC Mk. III Series 2014 (specifically the BA-488, BA-489, and BA-491) were delivered mid 2017, and are now being installed with weapon systems acquired from Rafael Advanced Systems Ltd. of Israel as they are scheduled to conduct the Philippine Navy’s first ever test firing of a surface-to-surface missile this coming July, as revealed by PN FOIC VAdm. Robert Empedrad recently.

Now…

This project we are discussing is part of the Philippine Navy’s “2nd List of Horizon 1”, an extension program of the Horizon 1 phase that was approved for implementation only in early 2016, has an acquisition project for another batch of MPACs. The Philippine Navy, based on new bid documents, appears to call this project the MPAC Mk. III Series 2018, to differentiate it from the MPAC Mk. III Series 2014 project. For convenience, let’s call it as how the PN does.

AFP, DND now lining up wishlist for AFP Modernization 2nd horizon

This project has an ABC of Php270 million (similar to all other MPAC acquisition projects), and involves the acquisition of three (3) brand new MPACs that can be armed with missile systems similar to those of MPAC Mk. III Series 2014.

It was only several weeks ago that confirmation of who bagged the MPAC4 contract, which is the Joint Venture of Propmech Corporation and Lung Teh Shipbuilding. The Department of National Defense (DND) did not release a Letter of Award (LOA) in their website, but based on the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) made by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) under SARO-BMB-D-17-0024343 approved on 15 December 2017, the value is expected to be at Php269,799,999.99. This amount was released on 18 December 2017 based on the DBM’s SARO release records.

https://www.update.ph/2018/06/u-s-navy-pilot-pronounced-dead-29-super-tucano-crash-white-sands-missile-range/24965

Interesting Take By Aviation Week On The Recently Announced Horizon 2 Modernization Program Of The AFP.

Posted to Update Philippines (Jun 27): Interesting Take By Aviation Week On The Recently Announced Horizon 2 Modernization Program Of The AFP.

The Philippines has enlarged its 2018-23 defense modernization program by 44%, budgeting for multirole fighters and the first of at least two planned submarines.

Other equipment being sought from the $5.46 billion allocation are attack and utility helicopters, transport and patrol aircraft and anti-tank, anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles. The three services have previously signaled their interest in that equipment.

The navy will get $1.4 billion and the air force and army the rest.



Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the projects for the 2018-23 plan, known as Horizon 2, defense department spokesperson Arsenio Andolong says. Based on the amount announced by Andolong, the allocation has been increased by about $1.68 billion from Horizon 1.

The Department of Budget and Management is working with the defense department to determine the details of the allocation, Andolong says.

The Philippines has said it will buy multirole fighters once the air force has enough experience with 12 Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 light attack jets, the last of which was delivered in May 2017.

Companies that have proposed fighters to the Philippines include Saab, with the JAS-39C/D or JAS-39E/F Gripen, and RAC MIG, with the MiG-35. Lockheed Martin is also expected to offer the latest variant of the Fighting Falcon, the F-16V. The Philippines will not consider buying used aircraft.

Duterte said in 2017 that the country would buy another 12 FA-50s; Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reiterated the plan this month.

The Horizon modernization program is divided into three phases, each five years long. Horizon 1 started in 2013 and ended in 2018. Horizon 2 starts this year and goes until 2023, while Horizon 3 will be from 2023 to 2028.

Like most Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines has for many decades structured its armed forces mainly for internal security—keeping order and preventing insurrections—rather than defending itself against other countries. This is intended to change under the three Horizon plans.

“The second Horizon is supposed to be our transition period from internal security operations to territorial defense, so we’re somewhere in between,” Andolong told the Philippines News Agency.

An air force modernization time line shows multirole fighter acquisition beginning in 2021 with four aircraft, followed by eight in 2022. Then 12 more would be sought from 2023.

The first diesel-electric submarine was initially earmarked for Horizon 3 but has been brought forward because the navy is worried it will be left behind by regional neighbors.

Four countries in Southeast Asia—Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore—have submarines. Thailand said in 2017 it would acquire two; one has been ordered from China.

Andolong declined to say how many submarines will be bought, but said it will be more than one.

“Yes, it won’t just be one because having only one would be useless,” he said. The navy has already created a submarine group under its command to prepare for the eventual purchase.

Philippine Navy To Receive 3 More Missile-Ready Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts Under Horizon 1 Phase

Under the second phase of the modernization program, the army wish list included towed and self-propelled howitzers, multiple launch rocket systems, light tanks, armored recovery vehicles, fire support vehicles, tactical radios, ground mobility equipment, individual weapons, heavy machine-guns and grenade launchers, and night fighting systems.

The air force also wants more air defense radars, light utility aircraft, medium transport aircraft, heavy transport helicopters, unmanned aircraft, attack and combat utility helicopters, special mission and long-range patrol aircraft, and trainer aircraft.

The navy has asked for more frigates, corvettes, amphibious assault vehicles, anti-submarine helicopters, fast attack craft, medium helicopters and a multirole vessel.

https://www.update.ph/2018/06/aviation-week-announced-horizon-2-modernization-program-afp/24990

ASG kidnaps merchant’s daughter in Tawi-Tawi

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 27): ASG kidnaps merchant’s daughter in Tawi-Tawi

A seven-year old daughter of a local merchant in Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi was reportedly abducted by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Monday night, according to a military report.

The report said the victim, a resident of sitio Pinang in the village of Himbah in Tandubas town was kidnapped at around 9:30 p.m. Monday from her home by seven armed men, believed to be ASG members, and whisked away onboard a green “jungkung”, or water craft that was docked in a nearby coastal area.

It added that the armed men pretended to buy gasoline from the victim’s father Rahis Asta to refuel their “jungkung”.

The young victim was then playing when the suspects snatched her.

Rahis was still able to take out his weapon and fired several shots at the suspects but failed to hit any of them.

However, as an exchange of gunfire also ensued, his wife Rahsa Malyun was hit in the leg.

The suspects were able to successfully take the victim with them on their “jungkung” and fled towards the direction of Sulu.

Rahsa Malyn was immediately brought to Sapa-Sapa town for treatment.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/27/asg-kidnaps-merchants-daughter-in-tawi-tawi/

2 NPA commanders yield in Surigao del Sur

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 27): 2 NPA commanders yield in Surigao del Sur

Camp Bancasi, Butuan City – Two alleged commanders and a medical staff of the New People’s Army (NPA) have left their mountain lair in Andap Complex in Surigao del Sur to surrender to Army and local government officials in Tandag City this week.

Capt. Al Anthony Pueblas, Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade said the two commanders and a medical officer officially made their intention to surrender during rites held at the Tandag City Police Station (TCPS) on Tuesday.

Their surrender was also witnessed by local officials led by Tandag City Mayor Alexander T. Pimentel who welcomed the three surrenderers back to society.

Pimentel immediately extended his personal cash assistance of P20,000 to each of the surrenderers.

While refusing to reveal their identities, Pueblas nevertheless said the surrenderers were the commanding officer of the SDG Platoon, Guerilla Front Committee 30 of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA Northeastern Regional Committee (NEMRC), his wife, and a team leader of the medical staff of NEMRC.

“It will be for their initial expenses as they finally reunite with their respective families,” Pueblas told The Manila Bulletin on Wednesday.

He said the surrenderers are now currently being assisted by the local government unit, the military and other concerned line agencies of the government for their formal enrollment into the Comprehensive Local Intervention Program (CLIP) so that they may be able to avail of more cash and livelihood support from the government.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/06/27/2-npa-commanders-yield-in-surigao-del-sur/

AFP disarms 16 soldiers in Samar 'misencounter'

From the Philippine Star (Jun 28): AFP disarms 16 soldiers in Samar 'misencounter'



“For now, our soldiers involved, they are now disarmed and there is ballistics to be undertaken,” Galvez told Camp Aguinaldo reporters over the phone.

The military has disarmed and recalled for investigation the 16 soldiers involved in a deadly misencounter with police commandos in Samar last Monday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. said the soldiers are now at the headquarters of the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion in Calbiga town after being pulled out of their anti-insurgency duties. Their firearms – M4 assault rifles and a sniper rifle – will be subjected to ballistic tests.

Galvez was in Samar yesterday with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde for a joint closed door conference. After the conference, the officials visited the site of the encounter in Barangay San Roque, Sta. Rita town.

“For now, our soldiers involved, they are now disarmed and there is ballistics to be undertaken,” Galvez told Camp Aguinaldo reporters over the phone.

“Let us just wait for the result of the investigation. Our joint investigation team, the board of inquiry will be the first know. We don’t want to speculate on something that we don’t know what really happened,” Galvez said.

But he said the military and the police have committed to further strengthen coordination to avoid a similar incident in the future.

“Once we have established or have identified that operational lapses have been committed, justice will be done,” Galvez said.

He visited the wake for the six policemen at the gymnasium of the PNP’s regional headquarters in Palo, Leyte.

As initially gathered, the soldiers were conducting an operation in the mountainous area near the boundaries of Sta. Rita and Villareal towns when they spotted three armed men, who turned out to be members of the 805th Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), approaching the soldiers’ position in Barangay San Roque Monday morning.

Both forces were apparently pursuing the same group of heavily armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels earlier sighted in the area.




Sensing danger, the soldiers immediately moved to higher ground and opened fire. The soldiers said they were still not aware that their targets had companions when the gunbattle erupted.

“It was not an ambush as there was no volume of gunfire involved in the initial stage of the misencounter,” said Maj. Gen. Raul Farnacio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in the island province.

The AFP, meanwhile, said it fully agreed with President Duterte’s attributing the incident to Murphy’s Law.

“That’s why it’s called Murphy’s Law. It’s a natural law. It is bound to happen, it will happen,” Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief, said.

Albayalde for his part said the joint investigation is not meant to find fault but to ensure such incident will not happen again.

He stressed there will be no whitewash in the investigation.

“There is no reason to whitewash this investigation. As the AFP chief said, nobody wanted this to happen,” Albayalde told reporters at the wake for the fallen rookie policemen.

But he said that based on initial reports, the policemen made some coordination with their counterparts in the AFP before the operations.

“We are not here to find fault. What we need to find out is what went wrong so that it will not happen in the future. In terms of coordination, probably we will improve the coordination between the AFP and the PNP, especially our operating units,” Albayalde said.

“Maybe the coordination was in the higher-ups and not in the ranks,” he said in Filipino.

The police fatalities, he said, sustained multiple gunshot wounds. At least two of them had bullet wounds in the head. He said it could not be established yet if some of the hits were from sniper fire.

The PNP chief said there were reports that the victims’ bodies were some 20 to 30 meters apart from one another when found.

He said the site was “highly vegetated and there is no way probably to identify them at that time.”

In any field operation, it’s always very hard to identify whether a group or individuals from afar are friends or foes. He stressed that even rebels wear camouflage outfit.

“You know the enemies wear the same uniform. People should understand that’s part of the diversionary tactics, they wear the same uniform, especially in places like this,” he said. Soldiers and policemen usually have similar weapons in operations, he pointed out.

“We are trying to strengthen the existing coordination and looking for loose coordination and collaboration in the campaign plan to avoid unfortunate incident in the future,” he said.

“What we are trying to determine is the level of coordination,” Albayalde said.

Reports said the military personnel had been in the area for about five to six days. Albayalde said operatives of the PNP patrol the area about three times a month.

“We are open for any investigation but as far as we know this is an internal matter between the AFP and the PNP,” he added.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/28/1828639/afp-disarms-16-soldiers-samar-misencounter

Peace panel starts public consultation

From the Philippine Star (Jun 28): Peace panel starts public consultation

Within the next two weeks, the government is set to start public consultations on the draft peace agreement with communist rebels.

This came as President Duterte again said on Tuesday that the government was ready to crush the communist rebels following the cancellation of peace talks with them.

In another development, three soldiers were wounded in a roadside bombing launched by the New People’s Army in Samar while another trooper was injured in last Tuesday’s fighting between government forces and NPA guerrillas in Ormoc, Leyte, the Army reported yesterday.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who also serves as the administration’s chief peace negotiator, said the government will undertake a three-month consultation with the public and other stakeholders.

“We will go to Mindanao. Our focus is on Mindanao because that is their stronghold. But we will also go to the Visayas and Luzon,” Bello said in Filipino over radio station dzMM.

Bello said they will also meet with members of Congress, the Supreme Court and local government units regarding the agreement.

According to Bello, the peace panel will gather inputs from all stakeholders before going back to the negotiating table with the National Democratic Front (NDF).

Bello said the only remaining contentious issue between the government and the peace panel is the provision on national industrialization.

Contrary to the Constitution, which allows foreigners to own 40 percent of local firms, Bello said the communist party wants all industries to be entirely Filipino-owned.

   

The government earlier suspended peace negotiations with the NDF in preparation for the review of all deals between the two parties, including a proposed interim peace agreement (IPA).

President Duterte also wants the peace talks to be held in the country and no longer in Norway, which has been serving as third party facilitator for the talks.

Bello said the government is holding a nationwide consultation to ensure that the peace agreement will get the approval of both houses of Congress and the SC.

“We don’t want that the final agreement we’ll sign will again be scuttled by a ruling of the Supreme Court as unconstitutional or illegal,” Bello said in a previous interview with The STAR.

Certain provisions of the IPA like on agrarian reform and national industrialization, Bello said, may require legislation or constitutional amendments.

Bello said the government and NDF panels were supposed to sign at the end of the month an IPA that includes provisions on coordinated unilateral ceasefire and Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reform.

Cessation of hostilities

Bello also disclosed the NDF signed on June 8 a stand down agreement with the government because it trusted the sincerity of Duterte.

Bello said the stand down deal, which was signed in the Netherlands, provides for a temporary cessation of hostilities.

He said the deal entails that the two sides should not commit offensive action or operation against combatants and civilians.

Bello cited that communist rebels refused, during previous administrations, to even discuss a cessation of hostilities, fearing this would weaken their force.

Inconsistent?

As Bello announced cessation of hostilities, however, the Army reported two NPA attacks against its troopers on Tuesday.

1Lt. Allan Jay Buerano, spokesman for the Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion based in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar, identified the wounded soldiers as Pfc. Jeremy Rizal, Pfc. Marvin Rivera and Pfc. Noriel Guarte, all of the battalion’s Bravo Company.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/28/1828631/peace-panel-starts-public-consultation

Army troopers seize NPA arms cache in Isabela

From GMA News (Jun 27): Army troopers seize NPA arms cache in Isabela

Army troopers of the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) have recovered various firearms and ammunition from an alleged arms cache of the New People's Army in Isabela.

Lieutenant Colonel Isagani Nato, NOLCOM spokesman, said that the arms cache was uncovered at 12 midnight of June 26 at Barangay Sta. Isabel in Jones town after they acted upon the information tipped by the residents at around 8:30 p.m.

Soldiers from the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Joint Task Force "Tala" under the 5th Infantry Division based at Barangay Uno, also in Jones town, were immediately sent to the area to validate the report.

Nato said that both residents and soldiers dugged the area where they recovered an M16 5.56 mm rifle, attached with an M653 grenade launcher, as well as long and short magazines for an M16 rifle and 24 live ammunition for an M16.

The recovered firearms and ammunition were turned over to the headquarters of the 86th Infantry Battalion for "proper documentation and safe keeping."

"[The] NOLCOM will continue to engage all stakeholders to raise awareness among the populace on the evils of communism and the hostilities the NPA brings to the community and eventually become partners in attaining lasting peace and sustainable development," Nato said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/658432/army-troopers-seize-npa-arms-cache-in-isabela/story/

Army admits they shot first in Samar misencounter

From the Sun Star-Tacloban (Jun 28): Army admits they shot first in Samar misencounter           

TACLOBAN. Chief Superintendent Mariel Magaway, Police Regional Office-Eastern Visayas director, welcomes PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde in Tacloban City on Tuesday, June 26, 2018. Albayalde is in Leyte to monitor the situation after Monday's misencounter in Sta. Rita, Samar that resulted in the death of six policemen and the injury of nine others. (Photo by Nette Marti)
                   

(UPDATED) -- Top officials of the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police (PNP) faced the media on Tuesday, June 26, with a visible expression of pain and loss over Monday’s misencounter between the two forces in Sta. Rita, Samar, that resulted in the death of six young police officers and the injury of nine others.

Major General Raul Farnacio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, and Chief Superintendent Mariel Magaway, director of the Police Regional Office in Eastern Visayas, along with other officials, took the turn in answering the question of the reporters to shed light over the incident.

“Normally, we really have coordination. We created a special task force group to look into the aspect of cooperation. This afternoon (of Tuesday), the independent fact-finding body from Manila will arrive,” said Magaway said, as he explained on whether coordination between the two security forces was at fault.

“If we go to the nitty-gritty of the investigation, then we’ll find it,” said Farnacio, as he tried to illustrate on the difference between the “culture” of the police and the Army, this despite saying that they have been undergoing training together.

“But on the nitty-gritty, we’ll still have to talk more. Coordination is very important,” he added.

READ: Police, military protocols up for review after misencounter

The Army commander said that “when you’re in a hostile area, you have to be alert at all times,” knowing that the enemies are not known.

He said that New People’s Army, the guerrilla front of the Communist Party of the Philippines, also used government-issued uniforms when they would infiltrate local government units.

These are the decisions that cannot be avoided, which resulted in accidents, sometimes, he added.

Based on the information of the Army’s platoon leader, the terrain was “vegetated,” adding that the police were in a lower ground while the Army troops were in the higher ground.

The Army said they could not clearly recognize the uniform of the leading element because their combat shirts were “already muddy.”

As they found out that the other party had their rifles, the Army troopers from Charlie Company, 87th Infantry Battalion led by First Lieutenant Orlando Casipit Jr. and his 16 enlisted personnel decided to fire their guns.

With the distance of 75 to 100 meters, the firefight between the two forces lasted for 20 minutes, the official said.

“The troops fired first,” Farnacio admitted during the press conference. “But the return fire was strong,” he added.

Farnacio, however, reacted when the skirmishes in Samar was compared to the infamous “Mamasapano” tragedy in 2015 where 44 members of the PNP elite Special Action Force (SAF) were waylaid by Moro rebel groups in Maguindanao.

“We’ll just wait for the investigation to check on where the problem was. Let’s not exaggerate the situation. It’s very tragic,” he said.

The Army commander also admitted that one of their radio was their “handicap,” saying it was not compatible.

“We have a different radio,” he said.

For his part, Magaway said that of the nine wounded police, two already returned to their battalion as they only suffered a minor injury.

The others are still in the hospital, with three of them still in the operating room, he said.

“But the doctor assured me that they’re in a stable condition,” said Magaway, adding he is due to visit them later Tuesday, June 26.

The police director assured that they will give immediate financial assistance to the affected police officers and their bereaved families.

The slain officers were mostly in between their 20s and 30s.

The police official said they will fast-track the initial release of P250,000 to the police.

Operations sanctioned

Magaway said the operation of the PNP officers in Sta. Rita, Samar, is based on the command’s memorandum circular.

“It is stipulated in the concept of operation that there should be two minor and one major (operations), but intelligence-driven,” he said.

“We got the operation planned out, every time they moved,” the official said.

Meanwhile, Magaway maintained that the incident was “very tragic” and assured that they are going to look for the lapses to correct it.

He said they would arrange all the necessary assistance on the burial of the fallen police officers.

The whole Army of Eastern Visayas extend sympathy to the bereaved families, Farnacio added.

“We will commit financial assistance to the personnel. Although we know there are some accidents that we cannot really avoid. Hopefully, we can personally deliver all our assistance that they needed,” he added.

The Army official also assured that the incident will not happen again in the future.

He said they will ensure transparency in the investigation.

“We will not cover anything,” he said.

He said they will give “sanction” on whoever side is at fault.

Yet he said that the relation between the Army and the police remains intact.

No to unconfirmed reports

As this developed, both sides urged the public against disseminating irrelevant and unconfirmed information on social media and other platforms.

“This kind of information may affect the conduct of the investigation. An official statement will be printed again as soon as collective information be enough to establish the concreteness of the facts of the case,” the police said.

The police are currently in a thorough and critical investigation as to what really happened in the said firefight.

On Tuesday afternoon, June 26, PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde also arrived in Tacloban City to personally monitor the situation.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1749851/Tacloban/Local-News/Army-admits-they-shot-first-in-Samar-misencounter-vows-aid-justice-to-6-slain-policemen

Maute leader’s bounty raised to P6 million

From the Philippine Star (Jun 27): Maute leader’s bounty raised to P6 million



From P3 million, the city and provincial governments of Marawi and Lanao del Sur, respectively, as well as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao raised the amount to P6 million for the capture of Owaida Benito Marohombsar, alias Abu Dhar, Col. Romeo Brawner of the Joint Task Force Ranao said in a recent media briefing.

Authorities have raised the reward money for the capture of a Maute leader who is believed to have survived the recent military air strikes in the towns of Tubaran and Pagayawan in Lanao del Sur.

From P3 million, the city and provincial governments of Marawi and Lanao del Sur, respectively, as well as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao raised the amount to P6 million for the capture of Owaida Benito Marohombsar, alias Abu Dhar, Col. Romeo Brawner of the Joint Task Force Ranao said in a recent media briefing.

The militants escaped in different directions after their bomb-making facilities and bunkers were destroyed during the air strikes on Sunday.

The military offensive forced some 10,000 people to flee to evacuation centers.

The military said that on Monday, some of the evacuees have returned home.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/06/27/1828156/maute-leaders-bounty-raised-p6-million

ConCom gets Cadets’ view on federalism, Constitution

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 27): ConCom gets Cadets’ view on federalism, Constitution

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON FEDERALISM. Cadet First Class Kenny Dacuba of PMA Class 2019 asks a question during the regional federalism public consultation conducted by the Constitutional Committee (ConCom) in Baguio City on Monday (June 25, 2018). The views of PMAers were sought on the first day of the two-day public consultation that ended on Tuesday (June 26, 2018). (Photo by Primo Agatep)

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City -- About 500 cadets of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and dozens of senior officials and professors of the Academy attended the Regional Consultation on Federalism held at the Lopez Heroes Hall here on Monday.

Consultative Committee (ConCom) member Ferdinand Bocobo led the consultation with the PMA, along with other ConCom members, Professor Eddie Alih, Dr. Virgilio Bautista, and lawyers Jose Martin Loon and Susan Ubalde-Ordinario.

Bocobo, an alumni of the Academy, opened the consultation, which started late in the afternoon, by presenting the overview of the consultation, covering the political, economic, and social reforms embodied in a draft Constitution that the committee intends to hand to President Rodrigo Duterte in early July, before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Cadet First Class Kenny Dacuba broke the ice in the open forum, asking members of the ConCom whether the national government and federated regions will be sustained once the country shifts to a federal form of government.

Each of the ConCom members explained that in a federal form of government, local government units will have more powers.

They said the "economic disparity” among the regions under the present form of government would be eliminated under federalism.

The commissioners said federated regions would be given more share in the “wealth” of the nation, and more powers to manage such wealth.

Captain Noah Hernandez, member of the Academy’s Corps of Professor, suggested that a provision on the obligation and duties of citizens should also be included in the draft Constitution.

The duties, which were not specifically stated in the 1987 Constitution, Hernandez opined, must be included in the new Consitution. These, he said, include loyalty to the flag, upholding the Constitution, and obeying the laws.

The ConCom was on a two-day public consultation activity in Baguio City to get the insights of the residents of Cordillera on federalism.

Brigadier General Jose Faustino, Commandant of Cadets, and Colonel Claro Unson, Deputy Dean of Academics, and Lt. Col Reynaldo Balido, the Academy Spokesperson, led the other PMA officials who attended the consultation.

Cadet First Class John Leden Tubongbanau, Brigade Commander, led the members of the Cadet Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippine (CCAFP) during the consultation.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1039440

Suspected Sayyaf gunmen seize child in Tawi-Tawi

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 27): Suspected Sayyaf gunmen seize child in Tawi-Tawi

Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen abducted a child following a brief shootout late Monday in an island town in Tawi-Tawi, police said.

The shootout resulted in the injury of the child’s mother, identified as Rahsa Malyn Asta, said Insp. Albert Carillo, Tandubas town police chief.

Carillo said the gunmen seized the seven-year-old victim at around 9:30 p.m. Monday in Sitio Polao Pinang, Barangay Himba, Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi.

Carillo said investigation showed that the Abu Sayyaf bandits aboard a motorboat arrived and docked at the establishment of Rahim Asta, the victim’s father, to buy gasoline.

He said the bandits suddenly seized the child, prompting Rahim to put up a fight, thus, the brief shootout.

He said the bandits, bringing along with them the child, sped off towards the direction of the province of Sulu.

Rahsa, the victim’s mother, who was hit in her left thigh was rushed to a medical clinic in Sapa-Sapa, a nearby island town of Tandubas.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1039641

PNP temporarily halts fight vs. Reds after Samar ‘misencounter’

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 27): PNP temporarily halts fight vs. Reds after Samar ‘misencounter’



PINNING OF MEDAL. Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde pins the medal to a wounded soldier confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban City on Wednesday (June 27, 2018). (Photo by Roel Amazona)

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has announced the temporary suspension of their anti-insurgency operations after the tragic “misencounter” between soldiers and policemen in Sta. Rita, Samar.

“It’s only temporary as we figure out the lapses. After finding out the problems and lapses, we will correct them and operate again,” Albayalde told reporters after visiting the wounded policemen confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center here Wednesday.

Six policemen under the 805th Mobile Company of the PNP Regional Mobile Force Battalion were killed while nine others were wounded after they figured in a firefight with soldiers of the Army’s 87th Infantry Battalion in San Roque village, Sta. Rita town on Monday morning.

The firefight took place in the middle of a heavily forested area.

The soldiers were already in the area for six days to hunt 20 members of the New People’s Army reportedly sighted on the outskirts of Sta. Rita and Pinabacdao towns.

Albayalde said the PNP sets no timeline to complete the thorough investigation on the misencounter, but they want results to come out soon.

“We are not forcing the task force to immediately provide investigation results, but we want to have the result as soon as possible since the family deserves to know what really happened,” he said.

Junior police officers Wyndell Noromor, Edwin Ebrado, Phil Rey Mendigo, Julius Suarez, Rowell Reyes and Julie Escalo were killed in action during a 20-minute gun battle with soldiers.

Wounded were rookie police officers Elmer Pan, Cris Angelo Pialago, Romulo Cordero, Joenel Gonzaga, Rey Barbosa, Roden Goden, Jaime Galoy, Rommel Bagunas, and Jonmark Adones.

The PNP presented a posthumous award and financial assistance to the family of each slain policemen while the wounded were pinned with recognition medal and given financial assistance by Albayalde.

“This was a tragic moment but this will not affect our relationship with the military,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1039730

No regional security force for Cordillera: Domogan

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 27): No regional security force for Cordillera: Domogan

Both the draft Constitution that the Consultative Committee (ConCom) and House Bill 5343 or the Cordillera autonomy bill have the same stand that there shall be no regional peacekeeping force.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC) in a late afternoon press conference on Wednesday, reiterated that the bill now pending before the committee in the House of Representatives does not provide for the creation of a regional peacekeeping force.

He said this to belie information that once the region becomes an autonomous region or a federal region upon the ratification of the Constitution giving way for a shift to federalism, the peace and order as well as the security of the Cordillera will be handled by a regional security force.

He explained that what is embodied in the House bill is for the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to handle the matter. This, he said, conforms to the draft Constitution that the ConCom will transmit to President Duterte before he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the third Monday of July.

Domogan said: “I am sorry if there were those who were deceived by some groups promoting themselves, recruiting members enticing people to join and will become the regional security force but it is not true.”

He said the RDC did not ask for it, nor is it sought in the draft Constitution.

The mayor relayed what Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya of the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) Center for Federalism and Constitutional Reform said that “this is an issue that President Duterte made clear even to Bangsamoro, that there shall be no regional peacekeeping force”.

He reiterated that when he was congressman, together with ConCom member lawyer Laurence Wacnang, the House had set aside PHP94 million for the integration of the qualified members of the Cordillera People's Liberation Army into the AFP as well as a livelihood fund for the members of the group who cannot be integrated.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1039716