From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 25, 2019): Don’t back leftist partylist groups, brgy officials urged
The 700 barangays captains in Negros Occidental were enjoined yesterday by a former leader of the United Front Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines not to extend support to what she called “leftist party-list groups”.
Evelyn Bustamante, former CPP-NPA-NDF United Front Committee member and National Party List coordinator in Luzon, who spoke at the Barangay Summit on Good Governance at the SMX Convention in Bacolod City, organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government, exposed the direct connection of the CPP and NDF as the source of manpower, financial and logistics support of the NPA.
"Do not support the leftist party list groups because directly or indirectly, they will support the armed struggle of the NPA", Bustamante was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the 303rd Infantry Brigade, as she mentioned party-list groups allegedly with links to the rebel movement.
Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, who also spoke at the barangay leaders assembly, backed the statement of Bustamante, as he stressed that the CPP-NPA-NDF had been fooling and causing the misery of Filipinos for 50 years now.
Arevalo also reminded the barangay leaders of Memorandum Circular 2018-211 issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government that prohibits the local chief executives from giving support to the left-wing rebel groups.
"Even before the DILG memorandum was issued, the local residents of Brgy Washington, Escalante City, already resolved to present a petition to the city government to stop providing funds and material support to leftist organizations supporting the NPA, and condemned their presence after the government forces clashed with NPA rebels in their barangay in November 16 last year, said Arevalo, who discussed the evils and deception of the CPP- NPA-NDF.
The discussion was also highlighted by a film showing of "Pindoy", an animated video showing the modus of the NPAs in the recruitment of minors.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory2.htm
Friday, January 25, 2019
Army to beef up NegOr troops
From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 25, 2019): Army to beef up NegOr troops
The 3rd Infantry Division is sending one company of soldiers to beef up the manpower of the newly-activated 94th Infantry Battalion in Negros Island.
The company-size Army unit, composed of about 120 soldiers, was left to the 61st Infantry Battalion in Panay, when the 94IB was shipped to Negros last year, Capt. Eduardo Precioso, 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, said yesterday.
With the imminent arrival of a company-size infantry unit, the 94IB stationed in Brgy. McKinley, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, will soon have three companies, Precioso said.
The sending of 94IB remaining troops from Panay to Negros was in the wake of the activation of the Delta Company of 61IB, that is expected to give more teeth to the 3ID anti-insurgency campaign in the region.
There are two Army battalions, 94IB and 62IB, stationed in Negros Oriental, supervised by the 302nd Infantry Brigade under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga.
Precioso said the recruitment of 200 additional soldiers by the 3ID is now ongoing.
But he said there is no news yet as to the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to deploy more Army troops in Negros, as stipulated in memorandum circular number 32, to suppress lawless violence and acts of terror perpetrated by the New People’s Army.
With or without more troops in Negros Occidental, Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said they have adequate personnel to address NPA threats, although additional Army soldiers will be a welcome development for them.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory4.htm
The 3rd Infantry Division is sending one company of soldiers to beef up the manpower of the newly-activated 94th Infantry Battalion in Negros Island.
The company-size Army unit, composed of about 120 soldiers, was left to the 61st Infantry Battalion in Panay, when the 94IB was shipped to Negros last year, Capt. Eduardo Precioso, 3ID Public Affairs Office chief, said yesterday.
With the imminent arrival of a company-size infantry unit, the 94IB stationed in Brgy. McKinley, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, will soon have three companies, Precioso said.
The sending of 94IB remaining troops from Panay to Negros was in the wake of the activation of the Delta Company of 61IB, that is expected to give more teeth to the 3ID anti-insurgency campaign in the region.
There are two Army battalions, 94IB and 62IB, stationed in Negros Oriental, supervised by the 302nd Infantry Brigade under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga.
Precioso said the recruitment of 200 additional soldiers by the 3ID is now ongoing.
But he said there is no news yet as to the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to deploy more Army troops in Negros, as stipulated in memorandum circular number 32, to suppress lawless violence and acts of terror perpetrated by the New People’s Army.
With or without more troops in Negros Occidental, Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said they have adequate personnel to address NPA threats, although additional Army soldiers will be a welcome development for them.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory4.htm
NPA: Tactical offensives staged to obtain justice
From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 25, 2019): NPA: Tactical offensives staged to obtain justice
The New People’s Army Apolinario Gatmaitan Command yesterday said that their successive tactical offensives launched this month, were in answer to the demand for justice of Negrenses due to the series of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests and detention, and human rights violations perpetrated by government forces.
The rebel group claimed to have killed 27 government troopers in their tactical offensives and punished a mining firm by burning its heavy equipment, with damage estimated at P120 million, especially in central Negros. But that was dismissed as very cheap propaganda by Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.
This was also their response to the call of the Communist Party of the Philippines “to mount tactical offensives across the country” and “exert all possible effort to punish AFP officers who have committed grave crimes against the people,” the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (AGC) said in a press statement.
On January 2, the NPA Mt. Cansermon Command punished Pilipinas Eco-Friendly Mining Corp. allegedly for its harmful open-pit mining operations in Ayungon, Negros Oriental, by destroying eight backhoes, four payloaders and dump trucks, two generator sets and a rock crusher.
The AGC said that this was followed by simultaneous attacks against two detachments in Barangay Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental and Barangay Sikatuna, Isabela, Negros Occidental on Jan 6.
The rebel group also claimed responsibility for the killing of CAFGU member Joseph Gabia, also in Brgy. Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, harassment of a military outpost in Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, launching of sniping operations in Brgy. Banwage, and twin attacks against Army soldiers, all in Guihulngan City.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory5.htm
The New People’s Army Apolinario Gatmaitan Command yesterday said that their successive tactical offensives launched this month, were in answer to the demand for justice of Negrenses due to the series of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests and detention, and human rights violations perpetrated by government forces.
The rebel group claimed to have killed 27 government troopers in their tactical offensives and punished a mining firm by burning its heavy equipment, with damage estimated at P120 million, especially in central Negros. But that was dismissed as very cheap propaganda by Col. Benedict Arevalo, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander.
This was also their response to the call of the Communist Party of the Philippines “to mount tactical offensives across the country” and “exert all possible effort to punish AFP officers who have committed grave crimes against the people,” the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (AGC) said in a press statement.
On January 2, the NPA Mt. Cansermon Command punished Pilipinas Eco-Friendly Mining Corp. allegedly for its harmful open-pit mining operations in Ayungon, Negros Oriental, by destroying eight backhoes, four payloaders and dump trucks, two generator sets and a rock crusher.
The AGC said that this was followed by simultaneous attacks against two detachments in Barangay Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental and Barangay Sikatuna, Isabela, Negros Occidental on Jan 6.
The rebel group also claimed responsibility for the killing of CAFGU member Joseph Gabia, also in Brgy. Linantuyan, Guihulngan City, harassment of a military outpost in Brgy. Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, launching of sniping operations in Brgy. Banwage, and twin attacks against Army soldiers, all in Guihulngan City.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/January/25/topstory5.htm
MILF to initially decommission1,800 to 2,100 weapons; 9K to 12K forces
From MindaNews (Jan 25, 2019): MILF to initially decommission1,800 to 2,100 weapons; 9K to 12K forces
With the plebiscite results showing the certainty of ratification of RA 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the decommissioning of the weapons and combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) is also a certainty: immediately after ratification, it has to decommission 30% of its weapons and forces.
But how to reckon 30%? What is the base number?
Decommissioning is a four-phase process under the Annex on Normalization in accordance with the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the peace agreement signed by government and the MILF.
Government Peace Panel chair Miriam Coronel Ferrer inspects decommissioned firearms of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front during a ceremony at the old Maguindanao provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat town on June 16, 2015. Seventy five firearms are being turned over to the Independent Decommissioning Body by the MILF. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO
Under Phase 1, a ceremonial turnover of 20 crew-served weapons and 55 high-powered firearms to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) was done on June 16, 2015 at the gymnasium of the old provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, in the presence of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. On the same day, 145 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF’s armed wing, were also decommissioned.
The first phase involved only a small number of weapons and forces decommissioned — “bonus” as MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told reporters that day of the symbolic turnover in 2015.
Under Phase 2, the Annex provides that when the Bangsamoro law is ratified, 30% of the forces and weapons would be decommissioned. Under Phase 3, 35% more would be decommissioned, and in Phase 4, the last 30%.
Government had estimated the armed strength of the MILF at 10,000.
MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said they have “30,000 to 40,000” regular members of the BIAF that “will be subject for decommissioning.” He said they are “not necessarily all armed but all are under the official roster of the BIAF.”
Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters raise their firearms in jubilation in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province as soon as their leaders signed the Framework agreement on the bangsamoro Malacanang on Oct. 15, 2012. MindaNews photo by BONG SARMIENTO
Murad said the MILF-owned weapons are only 6,000 to 7,000 and they are reckoning the 30% to be decommissioned after the ratification from this number. Thirty per cent of “6,000 to 7,000” is 1,800 to 2,100 weapons.
“Automatic, ide-decommission yan, pati forces” (Automatically, they would be decommissioned, including the forces), he told MindaNews on January 18, after the Peace Assembly attended by President Rodrigo Duterte.
A member of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces watches from a distance from under the shade of a banana plant the arrival of the Philippine National Police’s Board of Inquiry on Tuesday (24 February 2015), at the cornfields where the bodies of 35 of the 44 slain SAF members were found. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO
Ebrahim explained their three categories: 6,000 to 7,000 weapons owned by the MILF itself; weapons owned by individual members and they are presently conducting a survey on it; and weapons of sympathizers.
He said there are weapons that are “pag-aari ng combatants. Binili nila yun” (they bought those).
“Yung weapons owned by the combatants and civilians, pag-uusapan pa kung paano ma compensate ang may-ari” (we are still discussing how to compensate the owners), Murad told MindaNews Thursday.
Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stand at attention at the end of the four-day Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly inside Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on 9 July 2012. MindaNews file photo by ERWIN MASCARINAS
The 30% of forces to be decommissioned, he said, would be reckoned from “30,000 to 40,000” on the BIAF roster – or 9,000 to 12,000 of them.
All together, after ratification, 30% of weapons and forces would be 1,800 to 2,100 weapons and 9,000 to 12,000 forces, Murad said.
The date for the 30% decommissioning has yet to be discussed but it will be after the proclamation that RA 11054 has been ratified by a majority of the people in its proposed core territory.
The plebiscite was held on Janurary 21 in the five-province, two-city Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the cities of Cotabato and Isablea. On February 6, voters in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato will also troop to the polls to ratify the law that would pave the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the new autonomous political entity that will replace the ARMM.
Four phases
Phase 1 of the Normalization process is “from the signing of the Annex on Normalization up to the completion of the verification and validation conducted by the IDB.”
The Annex was signed on January 25, 2014.
GPH-MILF Annex on Normalizattion
Phase 1 included the ceremonial turn over of 20 crew-served weapons and 55 high-powered firearms in June 2015. Phase 1 also included starting the process of redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from former conflict areas and the submission of the report of the Independent Commission on Policing, among others.
It should also have established the National Agency Task Force for the Disbandment of the PAGs (private armed groups) and Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission. These two bodies have not been set up.
Phase 2 is “from the completion of validation of MILF forces up to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)” which will then involve the decommissioning of 30% of MILF forces and weapons; Phase 3 is “from the ratification of (RA 11054) up to the establishment and operationalization of the police force for the Bangsamoro,” which will lead to the decommissioning of 35% more of MILF forces and weapons or a total of 65% by then.
Phase 4 is “from the operationalization of the police force for the Bangsamoro up to two months prior to the signing of the Exit Agreement, provided that the evaluation of the panels with the participation of the Third Party Monitoring Team and Facilitator that all the commitments of the parties, except the remaining stage of decommissioning, has been completed.” This last phase involves the decommissioning of the remaining MILF forces and weapons or a total of 100% by then.
Normalization does not involve only the decommissioning of the MILF but also the redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from the conflict areas.
DECOMMISSIONED. President Aquino with Ambassador Haydar Berk of Turkey, chair of the Independent Decommissioning Body, pass by the area of processing the decommissioning of 145 combatants of the MILF, inside the gymnasium of the old Maguindanoa provincial captiol in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
In Phase 1, the Joint Normalization Committee recommends criteria for AFP redeployment, with the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) and Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) initiating work on disbandment of PAGs.
Phase 2, which ends with the ratification of (RA11054) marks the start of the implementation of AFP redeployment; deactivation of the S/CAAs or the Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit; actions against PAGs; firearms control and management.
Phase 3 continues with the implementation of AFP redeployment; continuing actions against PAGs; firearms control and management while Phase 4 involves continuing redeployment; continuing actions against PAGs; firearms control and management.
January 25, 2019 is exactly five years to the day the Annex on Normalization was signed in Kuala Lumpur by then government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF peace panel chair Iqbal.
https://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2019/01/milf-to-initially-decommission1800-to-2100-weapons-9k-to-12k-forces/
With the plebiscite results showing the certainty of ratification of RA 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the decommissioning of the weapons and combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) is also a certainty: immediately after ratification, it has to decommission 30% of its weapons and forces.
But how to reckon 30%? What is the base number?
Decommissioning is a four-phase process under the Annex on Normalization in accordance with the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the peace agreement signed by government and the MILF.
Government Peace Panel chair Miriam Coronel Ferrer inspects decommissioned firearms of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front during a ceremony at the old Maguindanao provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat town on June 16, 2015. Seventy five firearms are being turned over to the Independent Decommissioning Body by the MILF. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO
Under Phase 1, a ceremonial turnover of 20 crew-served weapons and 55 high-powered firearms to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) was done on June 16, 2015 at the gymnasium of the old provincial capitol in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, in the presence of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. On the same day, 145 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF’s armed wing, were also decommissioned.
The first phase involved only a small number of weapons and forces decommissioned — “bonus” as MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal told reporters that day of the symbolic turnover in 2015.
Under Phase 2, the Annex provides that when the Bangsamoro law is ratified, 30% of the forces and weapons would be decommissioned. Under Phase 3, 35% more would be decommissioned, and in Phase 4, the last 30%.
Government had estimated the armed strength of the MILF at 10,000.
MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said they have “30,000 to 40,000” regular members of the BIAF that “will be subject for decommissioning.” He said they are “not necessarily all armed but all are under the official roster of the BIAF.”
Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters raise their firearms in jubilation in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao province as soon as their leaders signed the Framework agreement on the bangsamoro Malacanang on Oct. 15, 2012. MindaNews photo by BONG SARMIENTO
Murad said the MILF-owned weapons are only 6,000 to 7,000 and they are reckoning the 30% to be decommissioned after the ratification from this number. Thirty per cent of “6,000 to 7,000” is 1,800 to 2,100 weapons.
“Automatic, ide-decommission yan, pati forces” (Automatically, they would be decommissioned, including the forces), he told MindaNews on January 18, after the Peace Assembly attended by President Rodrigo Duterte.
A member of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces watches from a distance from under the shade of a banana plant the arrival of the Philippine National Police’s Board of Inquiry on Tuesday (24 February 2015), at the cornfields where the bodies of 35 of the 44 slain SAF members were found. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO
Ebrahim explained their three categories: 6,000 to 7,000 weapons owned by the MILF itself; weapons owned by individual members and they are presently conducting a survey on it; and weapons of sympathizers.
He said there are weapons that are “pag-aari ng combatants. Binili nila yun” (they bought those).
“Yung weapons owned by the combatants and civilians, pag-uusapan pa kung paano ma compensate ang may-ari” (we are still discussing how to compensate the owners), Murad told MindaNews Thursday.
Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) stand at attention at the end of the four-day Bangsamoro Leaders Assembly inside Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on 9 July 2012. MindaNews file photo by ERWIN MASCARINAS
The 30% of forces to be decommissioned, he said, would be reckoned from “30,000 to 40,000” on the BIAF roster – or 9,000 to 12,000 of them.
All together, after ratification, 30% of weapons and forces would be 1,800 to 2,100 weapons and 9,000 to 12,000 forces, Murad said.
The date for the 30% decommissioning has yet to be discussed but it will be after the proclamation that RA 11054 has been ratified by a majority of the people in its proposed core territory.
The plebiscite was held on Janurary 21 in the five-province, two-city Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the cities of Cotabato and Isablea. On February 6, voters in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato will also troop to the polls to ratify the law that would pave the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the new autonomous political entity that will replace the ARMM.
Four phases
Phase 1 of the Normalization process is “from the signing of the Annex on Normalization up to the completion of the verification and validation conducted by the IDB.”
The Annex was signed on January 25, 2014.
GPH-MILF Annex on Normalizattion
Phase 1 included the ceremonial turn over of 20 crew-served weapons and 55 high-powered firearms in June 2015. Phase 1 also included starting the process of redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) from former conflict areas and the submission of the report of the Independent Commission on Policing, among others.
It should also have established the National Agency Task Force for the Disbandment of the PAGs (private armed groups) and Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission. These two bodies have not been set up.
Phase 2 is “from the completion of validation of MILF forces up to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL)” which will then involve the decommissioning of 30% of MILF forces and weapons; Phase 3 is “from the ratification of (RA 11054) up to the establishment and operationalization of the police force for the Bangsamoro,” which will lead to the decommissioning of 35% more of MILF forces and weapons or a total of 65% by then.
Phase 4 is “from the operationalization of the police force for the Bangsamoro up to two months prior to the signing of the Exit Agreement, provided that the evaluation of the panels with the participation of the Third Party Monitoring Team and Facilitator that all the commitments of the parties, except the remaining stage of decommissioning, has been completed.” This last phase involves the decommissioning of the remaining MILF forces and weapons or a total of 100% by then.
Normalization does not involve only the decommissioning of the MILF but also the redeployment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from the conflict areas.
DECOMMISSIONED. President Aquino with Ambassador Haydar Berk of Turkey, chair of the Independent Decommissioning Body, pass by the area of processing the decommissioning of 145 combatants of the MILF, inside the gymnasium of the old Maguindanoa provincial captiol in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. MindaNews photo by CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS
In Phase 1, the Joint Normalization Committee recommends criteria for AFP redeployment, with the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) and Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) initiating work on disbandment of PAGs.
Phase 2, which ends with the ratification of (RA11054) marks the start of the implementation of AFP redeployment; deactivation of the S/CAAs or the Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit; actions against PAGs; firearms control and management.
Phase 3 continues with the implementation of AFP redeployment; continuing actions against PAGs; firearms control and management while Phase 4 involves continuing redeployment; continuing actions against PAGs; firearms control and management.
January 25, 2019 is exactly five years to the day the Annex on Normalization was signed in Kuala Lumpur by then government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF peace panel chair Iqbal.
https://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2019/01/milf-to-initially-decommission1800-to-2100-weapons-9k-to-12k-forces/
51st IB encounters communist terrorist group
From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 24): 51st IB encounters communist terrorist group
Elements of Bravo Company of 51stInfantry Battalion encountered more or less THIRTY (30) Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) with unidentified leader in Sitio Bukana, Brgy. Mainit, Iligan City. (2nd Mech, 51st Infantry Brigade)
Elements of Bravo Company of 51st Infantry Battalion encountered around 30 Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) with unidentified leader in Sitio Bukana, Brgy. Mainit, Iligan City around 7:30AM in the morning of January 15, 2019.
The government forces were conducting combat clearing operations at said vicinity when they encountered unidentified numbers of CTGs. The fire fight lasted for almost forty five (45) minutes. Meanwhile, [there were] no reported casualties from the government forces while the CTGs suffered an undetermined casualties, based on blood evidence found in the encounter site.
The government forces were still on pursuit operations to hunt down the aforesaid terrorist groups.
BGen. Thomas R. Sedano Jr, Commander of 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade (2ndMech Bde) extended his whole-hearted thanks to the local populace and local chief executives for their cooperation and support to the government forces.
The encounter was a manifestation that the local populace are now aware and already awaken from the deception and treachery of the CTGs and they are now after in attaining peace and development in their community.
BGen Sedano also congratulated the members of 51stIB under the leadership for LTC Jasper Edward D. Obar especially the members of the Bravo Company for their untiring efforts and commitment to go after these terrorist groups.
The 2ndMech Bde together with its subordinate units will always relentless in their mandate to protect the people and the state from the hands of these terrorists to achieve a peaceful and developed community.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017541
Elements of Bravo Company of 51stInfantry Battalion encountered more or less THIRTY (30) Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) with unidentified leader in Sitio Bukana, Brgy. Mainit, Iligan City. (2nd Mech, 51st Infantry Brigade)
Elements of Bravo Company of 51st Infantry Battalion encountered around 30 Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) with unidentified leader in Sitio Bukana, Brgy. Mainit, Iligan City around 7:30AM in the morning of January 15, 2019.
The government forces were conducting combat clearing operations at said vicinity when they encountered unidentified numbers of CTGs. The fire fight lasted for almost forty five (45) minutes. Meanwhile, [there were] no reported casualties from the government forces while the CTGs suffered an undetermined casualties, based on blood evidence found in the encounter site.
The government forces were still on pursuit operations to hunt down the aforesaid terrorist groups.
BGen. Thomas R. Sedano Jr, Commander of 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade (2ndMech Bde) extended his whole-hearted thanks to the local populace and local chief executives for their cooperation and support to the government forces.
The encounter was a manifestation that the local populace are now aware and already awaken from the deception and treachery of the CTGs and they are now after in attaining peace and development in their community.
BGen Sedano also congratulated the members of 51stIB under the leadership for LTC Jasper Edward D. Obar especially the members of the Bravo Company for their untiring efforts and commitment to go after these terrorist groups.
The 2ndMech Bde together with its subordinate units will always relentless in their mandate to protect the people and the state from the hands of these terrorists to achieve a peaceful and developed community.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017541
2nd Mech Brigade holds youth camp in Iligan City
From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 24): 2nd Mech Brigade holds youth camp in Iligan City
Fifty students (50) students under the Citizenship Training Program from Iligan City East National High School, Sta. Filomena, Iligan City participated in the 2019 Youth Camp Activity initiated by 2ndMechanized Infantry Brigade at their headquarters in Maria Cristina, Iligan City on January 12, 2019.
A total of 50 students under the Citizenship Training Program from Iligan City East National High School, Sta. Filomena, Iligan City participated in the 2019 Youth Camp Activity initiated by 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade at their headquarters in Maria Cristina, Iligan City on January 12, 2019.
This is to promote unique venue for growth and information, allowing the youth to become aware on the security situation and peace and order in the area, and for them to be closer to the government forces.
During the opening ceremony, Col Alex T Aduca, the Deputy Brigade Commander of 2ndMech Bde gave his inspiring message by sharing his personal experiences.
He said, “Ang Kabtaan and Pag-asa ng Bayan - The youth are the future of the nation."
Good leaders are made, not born and if you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader, he said.
As youth leader himself, Col Aduca urged the participants to improve themselves.
"Maging laging aktibo sa pakikilahok sa mga gawaing pang komunidad. That is why, may mga ganitong training, o mga seminars upang mahubog ang inyung abilidad at kaalaman dahil ito’y mga paghahanda para sa hinaharap ng ating bansa - Become active to join community events. That is why, there are trainings or seminars like these to hone your abilities and knowledge because this is in preparation for the future of our country," he told the participants.
The students were given situation briefing and lectures on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) recruitment and drug addiction.
During the opening ceremony, Col Alex T Aduca, the Deputy Brigade Commander of 2ndMech Bde gave his inspiring message by sharing his personal experiences. (2nd Mech Brigade)
They were also provided a film showing regarding the Army today, showcasing the capability of the Army.
As part of their team building activity, the participants were given a chance to ride in a Simba Fighting Vehicle (Armored Vehicle).
BGen Thomas R Sedano Jr, the Brigade Commander, expressed his congratulations for the success of the activity and emphasized the importance of the youth in preventing terrorism.
During their sharing of impression, one of the students said, “First time po naming aka experience na kumain sa boodle fight..masarap po pala ang pagkain ng sundalo. Naappreciate po namin yung mga activity naki-nonduct sa amin at nag-enjoy po kaming sumakay sa tangke..hindi po matutumbasan ang experience na naranasan naming ngayong araw na ito - This is the first time we have experienced boodle fight... the food of soldiers are delicious. We appreciate the activity bestowed to us and we enjoyed riding the tank.. nothing can top this experience we had today.”
The 2ndMech Bde will continue to reach out for the support of all stakeholders especially the youth sector to end the decades of conflict in the region and to prevent the threat of terrorism.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017542
Fifty students (50) students under the Citizenship Training Program from Iligan City East National High School, Sta. Filomena, Iligan City participated in the 2019 Youth Camp Activity initiated by 2ndMechanized Infantry Brigade at their headquarters in Maria Cristina, Iligan City on January 12, 2019.
A total of 50 students under the Citizenship Training Program from Iligan City East National High School, Sta. Filomena, Iligan City participated in the 2019 Youth Camp Activity initiated by 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade at their headquarters in Maria Cristina, Iligan City on January 12, 2019.
This is to promote unique venue for growth and information, allowing the youth to become aware on the security situation and peace and order in the area, and for them to be closer to the government forces.
During the opening ceremony, Col Alex T Aduca, the Deputy Brigade Commander of 2ndMech Bde gave his inspiring message by sharing his personal experiences.
He said, “Ang Kabtaan and Pag-asa ng Bayan - The youth are the future of the nation."
Good leaders are made, not born and if you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader, he said.
As youth leader himself, Col Aduca urged the participants to improve themselves.
"Maging laging aktibo sa pakikilahok sa mga gawaing pang komunidad. That is why, may mga ganitong training, o mga seminars upang mahubog ang inyung abilidad at kaalaman dahil ito’y mga paghahanda para sa hinaharap ng ating bansa - Become active to join community events. That is why, there are trainings or seminars like these to hone your abilities and knowledge because this is in preparation for the future of our country," he told the participants.
The students were given situation briefing and lectures on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE), Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) recruitment and drug addiction.
During the opening ceremony, Col Alex T Aduca, the Deputy Brigade Commander of 2ndMech Bde gave his inspiring message by sharing his personal experiences. (2nd Mech Brigade)
They were also provided a film showing regarding the Army today, showcasing the capability of the Army.
As part of their team building activity, the participants were given a chance to ride in a Simba Fighting Vehicle (Armored Vehicle).
BGen Thomas R Sedano Jr, the Brigade Commander, expressed his congratulations for the success of the activity and emphasized the importance of the youth in preventing terrorism.
During their sharing of impression, one of the students said, “First time po naming aka experience na kumain sa boodle fight..masarap po pala ang pagkain ng sundalo. Naappreciate po namin yung mga activity naki-nonduct sa amin at nag-enjoy po kaming sumakay sa tangke..hindi po matutumbasan ang experience na naranasan naming ngayong araw na ito - This is the first time we have experienced boodle fight... the food of soldiers are delicious. We appreciate the activity bestowed to us and we enjoyed riding the tank.. nothing can top this experience we had today.”
The 2ndMech Bde will continue to reach out for the support of all stakeholders especially the youth sector to end the decades of conflict in the region and to prevent the threat of terrorism.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017542
Army nag-awhag sa mga LGUs alang sa “Halfway house”
From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 24): Army nag-awhag sa mga LGUs alang sa “Halfway house”
Tungod sa kadaghan sa mga misurender nga rebeldeng “New People’s Army (NPA),” sukad gipatuman sa gobyerno ang programang E-CLIP kon “Enhanced Local Integration Program,” gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan nga madugangan ang mga gitukod nga “Half-way House.” (PIA Bukidnon)
Tungod sa kadaghan sa mga misurender nga rebeldeng “New People’s Army (NPA),” sukad gipatuman sa gobyerno ang programang E-CLIP kon “Enhanced Local Integration Program,” gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan nga madugangan ang mga gitukod nga “Half-way House.”
Ang “Half-way House” usa ka pasilidad nga temporaryong puy-an sa mga rebeldeng misurender samtang kamulong gi-proseso ang uban pa nilang mga benepisyo nga gihatag sa E-CLIP.
Diri sa “half-way house” ginatabangan sila (mga misurender) nga magbag-o ug makalikay sa kakuyaw ug kabangis sa ilang mga gipangbiyaan nga mga bandido ug aron magpuyo sila sa malinawon nga komunidad.
Dinhi ginahimo ang ‘orientation, seminar, ug skills training,’ uban sa tabang sa mga ahensya sa kagamhanan, alang sa panginabuhi ug edukasyon sa mga misurender.
Miingon si Col. De Leon nga ang 403rd Brigade naay gitigum nga mikabat na karon sa P100,000 para idugang sa natukod na nga “half-way to half-way house” diin kamulo na karon gipuy-an sa mga misurender.
“Busa akong gi-awhag ang mga Mayor nga matabangan ang kasundalohan aron makatukod pa ug daghang “half-way houses” ug dugang yuta nga matukuran niini tungod sa nagka daghan pa nga mga rebeldeng nag-surender.
Ang DILG naay gi-andam nga pondo alang sa “halfway houses,” apan tungod sa dagsang sa mga mi-surender, mas maayo nga madugangan kini, dugang ni Col. De Leon.
Ang mga rebeldeng misurender nga nakahuman sa “pagbalik-loob” nga programa sulod sa “half-way house” bisitahan kini sila sa DSWD human sa unom (6) ka bulan gikan sa ilang pag-lantad. Bisitahan kini sila sa lokal nga DSWD kada unom ka bulan sulod sa tulo (3) ka tuig.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017578
Tungod sa kadaghan sa mga misurender nga rebeldeng “New People’s Army (NPA),” sukad gipatuman sa gobyerno ang programang E-CLIP kon “Enhanced Local Integration Program,” gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan nga madugangan ang mga gitukod nga “Half-way House.” (PIA Bukidnon)
Tungod sa kadaghan sa mga misurender nga rebeldeng “New People’s Army (NPA),” sukad gipatuman sa gobyerno ang programang E-CLIP kon “Enhanced Local Integration Program,” gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan nga madugangan ang mga gitukod nga “Half-way House.”
Ang “Half-way House” usa ka pasilidad nga temporaryong puy-an sa mga rebeldeng misurender samtang kamulong gi-proseso ang uban pa nilang mga benepisyo nga gihatag sa E-CLIP.
Diri sa “half-way house” ginatabangan sila (mga misurender) nga magbag-o ug makalikay sa kakuyaw ug kabangis sa ilang mga gipangbiyaan nga mga bandido ug aron magpuyo sila sa malinawon nga komunidad.
Dinhi ginahimo ang ‘orientation, seminar, ug skills training,’ uban sa tabang sa mga ahensya sa kagamhanan, alang sa panginabuhi ug edukasyon sa mga misurender.
Miingon si Col. De Leon nga ang 403rd Brigade naay gitigum nga mikabat na karon sa P100,000 para idugang sa natukod na nga “half-way to half-way house” diin kamulo na karon gipuy-an sa mga misurender.
“Busa akong gi-awhag ang mga Mayor nga matabangan ang kasundalohan aron makatukod pa ug daghang “half-way houses” ug dugang yuta nga matukuran niini tungod sa nagka daghan pa nga mga rebeldeng nag-surender.
Ang DILG naay gi-andam nga pondo alang sa “halfway houses,” apan tungod sa dagsang sa mga mi-surender, mas maayo nga madugangan kini, dugang ni Col. De Leon.
Ang mga rebeldeng misurender nga nakahuman sa “pagbalik-loob” nga programa sulod sa “half-way house” bisitahan kini sila sa DSWD human sa unom (6) ka bulan gikan sa ilang pag-lantad. Bisitahan kini sila sa lokal nga DSWD kada unom ka bulan sulod sa tulo (3) ka tuig.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017578
Cebuano News: 403rd Brigade mipahimangno sa mga Mayor kalabot sa “Con-AAs”
From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 25): Cebuano News: 403rd Brigade mipahimangno sa mga Mayor kalabot sa “Con-AAs”
Tungod sa kadaghan sa mga misurender nga rebeldeng “New People’s Army, (NPA)” sukad gipatuman sa gobyerno ang programang E-CLIP kon “Enhanced Local Integration Program,” gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan nga madugangan ang mga gitukod nga “Half-way House.”
Gipahimangno-an ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo Y. De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon kabahin sa “Conflict-Affected Areas (Con-AAs)” kon mga lugar nga apektado sa kagubot.
Tipik sa kasayuran nga gihatag ni Col. De Leon atol sa miting sa ‘League of Mayors of the Philippines-Bukidnon Chapter,’ mao ang pagkamahinungdanon nga masayran sa lokal nga kagamhanan ug mga Mayor ang kabahin sa “Con-AAs” tungod kay matud niya, mao kini ang usa sa mga basehan sa mga Mayor diha sa ilang alokasyon alang sa “socio-economic intervention” kon ekonomikanhong mga proyekto ug programa para sa katawhan sa tibuok komunidad.
“Ang Army ug ang Pulis naay mga pamaagi kung unsa-on pagkahibalo nga ang usa ka lugar o barangay nasakop na sa listahan sa ‘Con-AAs.’ Naay mga ‘parameter’ nga mahibaw-an nato kung kini nga mga lugara ubay-ubay na ang mga gisakop o ba kaha gi-recruit sa mga New People’s Army (NPA). Mahibaw-an pud nato kung kana nga mga barangay daghan na ang gapuyo nga mga rebeldeng NPA,” matud ni Col. De Leon.
Sukad gisugdan ang E-CLIP kon Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program sa gobyerno, daghan na ang mi-surender, dugang ni De Leon.
Iyang giklaro nga ang E-CLIP nakatabang kaayo diha sa pag-aghat sa mga rebeldeng NPA nga mo-surender tungod kay dagko nga mga kantidad ang itunol sa gobyerno panahon sa ilang pag-surender ug bayaran pa gyod ang mga armas nga ilang i-surender.
“Sa miaging tuig, kapin 2,000 na ka mga rebelde ang misurender. Dako ang among pasalamat sa mga misurender tungod kay nadugangan ang among nakuha nga mga impormasyon ug direkta namo nakuha ang importanteng mga kasayuran kalabot sa mga pamaagi sa rebeldeng kalihokan,” dugang ni De Leon.
Nasayran sa mga militar gikan sa mga rebeldeng misurender kung gi-unsa pag-proseso sa mga NPA ang ilang “radicalization” nga mga taktika diha sa mga barangay labi na ang paghatag sa kagubot pinaagi sa pag-tanom sa pakigbatok ug kasuko sa gobyerno.
Tungod niini, gihangyo sa 403rd Brigade Commander ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga tabangan ang Philippine Army diha sa pag-pakisayod kabahin sa “Con-AAs” kon mga lugar nga apektado sa kagubot aron makatabang usab ang Army pinaagi sa pag-‘deploy’ ug mga sundalo isip kabahin sa “Community Support Program (CSP).”
Ang CSP kabahin sa programa sa army nga “Bayanihan para sa Kapayapaan.”
Tumong niini nga matabangan ang komunidad aron makab-ot ang mga kasulbaran sa panagbangi, aron ang katawhan magpuyo nga malinawon ug produktibo.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017568
Tungod sa kadaghan sa mga misurender nga rebeldeng “New People’s Army, (NPA)” sukad gipatuman sa gobyerno ang programang E-CLIP kon “Enhanced Local Integration Program,” gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan nga madugangan ang mga gitukod nga “Half-way House.”
Gipahimangno-an ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo Y. De Leon ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon kabahin sa “Conflict-Affected Areas (Con-AAs)” kon mga lugar nga apektado sa kagubot.
Tipik sa kasayuran nga gihatag ni Col. De Leon atol sa miting sa ‘League of Mayors of the Philippines-Bukidnon Chapter,’ mao ang pagkamahinungdanon nga masayran sa lokal nga kagamhanan ug mga Mayor ang kabahin sa “Con-AAs” tungod kay matud niya, mao kini ang usa sa mga basehan sa mga Mayor diha sa ilang alokasyon alang sa “socio-economic intervention” kon ekonomikanhong mga proyekto ug programa para sa katawhan sa tibuok komunidad.
“Ang Army ug ang Pulis naay mga pamaagi kung unsa-on pagkahibalo nga ang usa ka lugar o barangay nasakop na sa listahan sa ‘Con-AAs.’ Naay mga ‘parameter’ nga mahibaw-an nato kung kini nga mga lugara ubay-ubay na ang mga gisakop o ba kaha gi-recruit sa mga New People’s Army (NPA). Mahibaw-an pud nato kung kana nga mga barangay daghan na ang gapuyo nga mga rebeldeng NPA,” matud ni Col. De Leon.
Sukad gisugdan ang E-CLIP kon Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program sa gobyerno, daghan na ang mi-surender, dugang ni De Leon.
Iyang giklaro nga ang E-CLIP nakatabang kaayo diha sa pag-aghat sa mga rebeldeng NPA nga mo-surender tungod kay dagko nga mga kantidad ang itunol sa gobyerno panahon sa ilang pag-surender ug bayaran pa gyod ang mga armas nga ilang i-surender.
“Sa miaging tuig, kapin 2,000 na ka mga rebelde ang misurender. Dako ang among pasalamat sa mga misurender tungod kay nadugangan ang among nakuha nga mga impormasyon ug direkta namo nakuha ang importanteng mga kasayuran kalabot sa mga pamaagi sa rebeldeng kalihokan,” dugang ni De Leon.
Nasayran sa mga militar gikan sa mga rebeldeng misurender kung gi-unsa pag-proseso sa mga NPA ang ilang “radicalization” nga mga taktika diha sa mga barangay labi na ang paghatag sa kagubot pinaagi sa pag-tanom sa pakigbatok ug kasuko sa gobyerno.
Tungod niini, gihangyo sa 403rd Brigade Commander ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon nga tabangan ang Philippine Army diha sa pag-pakisayod kabahin sa “Con-AAs” kon mga lugar nga apektado sa kagubot aron makatabang usab ang Army pinaagi sa pag-‘deploy’ ug mga sundalo isip kabahin sa “Community Support Program (CSP).”
Ang CSP kabahin sa programa sa army nga “Bayanihan para sa Kapayapaan.”
Tumong niini nga matabangan ang komunidad aron makab-ot ang mga kasulbaran sa panagbangi, aron ang katawhan magpuyo nga malinawon ug produktibo.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017568
Cebuano News: Army nag-awhag sa CPP-NPA nga tahuron ang gipirmahan sa CARHRIHL
From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 25): Cebuano News: Army nag-awhag sa CPP-NPA nga tahuron ang gipirmahan sa CARHRIHL
Gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo Y. De Leon ang CPP-NPA-NDF nga tahuron ang gipirmahan niini nga kasabutan nga naa sa Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law kon “CARHRIHL.”
Kini tungod sa padayon nga pagpanghadlok ug pagpatay sa mga sibilyan nga gihimo sa teroristang CPP-NPA.
“Mipirma ang CPP-NPA-NDF sa CARHRIHL nga kasabutan nga ginadili ang pagpatay, pagpanghadlok, ug pagpanakit sa mga sibilyan nga walay labot sa armadong kagubot. Mipirma usab sila nga dili manghilabot sa mga kabtangan nga gipanag-iya sa mga sibilyan. Pero gikasubo nato tungod kay ang mga NPA wala gayod mituman niini nga kasabutan tungod kay padayon sila sa pagpamatay ug paghulga sa mga sibilyan,” sulti ni De Leon.
Kining CARHRIHL nga kasabutan wala kaayo mahibaw-i sa katawhan. Ang NPA ug ang Philippine Army dapat pareho nga mosunod ug motuman niini nga kasabutan, dugang niya.
Tungod niini, gihangyo sa 403rd Brigade Commander ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon, mga trabahante sa lokal nga kagamhanan—ubos sa pag-abag sa media—nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan sa pagpakaylap niini nga ‘Agreement’ aron masigurado ang proteksyon sa mga sibilyan batok sa mga pagpatay ug pagpanghulga sa teroristang CPP-NPA.
“Para sa mga rebeldeng CPP-NPA nga hangtud karon wala pa misurender ug naa gatago-tago sa kabukiran, tahuron nato ang mga sibilyan pinaagi sa pagtuman sa inyong gipirmahan nga kasabutan sa CARHRIHL,” matud ni Col. De Leon.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017594
Gi-awhag ni 403rd Brigade Commander Col. Edgardo Y. De Leon ang CPP-NPA-NDF nga tahuron ang gipirmahan niini nga kasabutan nga naa sa Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law kon “CARHRIHL.”
Kini tungod sa padayon nga pagpanghadlok ug pagpatay sa mga sibilyan nga gihimo sa teroristang CPP-NPA.
“Mipirma ang CPP-NPA-NDF sa CARHRIHL nga kasabutan nga ginadili ang pagpatay, pagpanghadlok, ug pagpanakit sa mga sibilyan nga walay labot sa armadong kagubot. Mipirma usab sila nga dili manghilabot sa mga kabtangan nga gipanag-iya sa mga sibilyan. Pero gikasubo nato tungod kay ang mga NPA wala gayod mituman niini nga kasabutan tungod kay padayon sila sa pagpamatay ug paghulga sa mga sibilyan,” sulti ni De Leon.
Kining CARHRIHL nga kasabutan wala kaayo mahibaw-i sa katawhan. Ang NPA ug ang Philippine Army dapat pareho nga mosunod ug motuman niini nga kasabutan, dugang niya.
Tungod niini, gihangyo sa 403rd Brigade Commander ang 22 ka mga Mayor sa Bukidnon, mga trabahante sa lokal nga kagamhanan—ubos sa pag-abag sa media—nga unta tabangan ang kasundalohan sa pagpakaylap niini nga ‘Agreement’ aron masigurado ang proteksyon sa mga sibilyan batok sa mga pagpatay ug pagpanghulga sa teroristang CPP-NPA.
“Para sa mga rebeldeng CPP-NPA nga hangtud karon wala pa misurender ug naa gatago-tago sa kabukiran, tahuron nato ang mga sibilyan pinaagi sa pagtuman sa inyong gipirmahan nga kasabutan sa CARHRIHL,” matud ni Col. De Leon.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017594
Military ops vs Maute no sensible effect in Marawi, says AFP
From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 25): Military ops vs Maute no sensible effect in Marawi, says AFP
Military forces heighten security in Marawi City. (AFP)
Following a firefight between the military troops and the Maute-ISIS remnants in the town of Sultan Dumalondong in Lanao del Sur, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has ensured the safety of the residents here against violent terrorism.
Col. Romeo Brawner Jr, commander of the 103rd "Haribon" Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army reassured the general public that “the recent deliberate military operations will not affect the current tranquility of the city.”
“This will not have any sensible effect in the Islamic City of Marawi,” Brawner said.
He added that the security sector is “keeping their eye against the remaining members of Maute-ISIS” to protect the people of Lanao del Sur from the spread of violent extremism.
“Our security forces from the AFP, PNP and the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) are well postured to secure Marawi City,” Brawner assured.
The military vowed to thwart any attempt of the Maute-ISIS to spread its wrong ideologies again especially that the rehabilitation of the conflict-affected city is now going on.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017670
Military forces heighten security in Marawi City. (AFP)
Following a firefight between the military troops and the Maute-ISIS remnants in the town of Sultan Dumalondong in Lanao del Sur, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has ensured the safety of the residents here against violent terrorism.
Col. Romeo Brawner Jr, commander of the 103rd "Haribon" Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army reassured the general public that “the recent deliberate military operations will not affect the current tranquility of the city.”
“This will not have any sensible effect in the Islamic City of Marawi,” Brawner said.
He added that the security sector is “keeping their eye against the remaining members of Maute-ISIS” to protect the people of Lanao del Sur from the spread of violent extremism.
“Our security forces from the AFP, PNP and the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) are well postured to secure Marawi City,” Brawner assured.
The military vowed to thwart any attempt of the Maute-ISIS to spread its wrong ideologies again especially that the rehabilitation of the conflict-affected city is now going on.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017670
Marines hunt down NPAs in Sultan Kudarat ambush
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): Marines hunt down NPAs in Sultan Kudarat ambush
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- The military, backed by police, has launched a manhunt against communist rebels who ambushed government forces in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday morning.
Major. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said two soldiers of the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-2), were slightly injured in the 8:30 a.m. ambush in Sitio Ugangawon, Barangay Datu Ito Andong of Kalamansig town.
“The ambush displayed the New People's Army’s (NPA) insincerity in talking peace with the Duterte administration,” Sobejana said.
The Marines are working under the area of responsibility of the 6ID in Sultan Kudarat with the two injured soldiers being part of the Marine unit conducting a patrol in Barangay Datu Ito Andong.
Sobejana, citing reports from MBLT-2 of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Kalamansig, said the Marines were on board a KM-450 military truck passing by Sitio Ugangawon, Barangay Datu Ito when an anti-personnel mine exploded.
The blast was followed by a series of gun bursts from communist rebels positioned at an elevated portion of the highway. As the Marines returned fire, the terrorists quickly fled deep into the forest.
A follow-up operation led to the recovery of an anti-personnel mine at the blast site.
Sobejana, also chief of the military-led Task Force Central, has directed troops to intensify operations against NPA rebels who repeatedly tried to harass government forces.
Recently, the rebels torched several heavy equipment of a construction firm on road projects in Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig, for refusal to pay revolutionary taxes. Destruction of civilian-owned equipment has nothing to do with AFP operations.
“These terrorist acts must be stopped, the military will not allow this to continue,” Sobejana said.
The US and EU have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060024
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- The military, backed by police, has launched a manhunt against communist rebels who ambushed government forces in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat on Thursday morning.
Major. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said two soldiers of the 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT-2), were slightly injured in the 8:30 a.m. ambush in Sitio Ugangawon, Barangay Datu Ito Andong of Kalamansig town.
“The ambush displayed the New People's Army’s (NPA) insincerity in talking peace with the Duterte administration,” Sobejana said.
The Marines are working under the area of responsibility of the 6ID in Sultan Kudarat with the two injured soldiers being part of the Marine unit conducting a patrol in Barangay Datu Ito Andong.
Sobejana, citing reports from MBLT-2 of the 1st Marine Brigade based in Kalamansig, said the Marines were on board a KM-450 military truck passing by Sitio Ugangawon, Barangay Datu Ito when an anti-personnel mine exploded.
The blast was followed by a series of gun bursts from communist rebels positioned at an elevated portion of the highway. As the Marines returned fire, the terrorists quickly fled deep into the forest.
A follow-up operation led to the recovery of an anti-personnel mine at the blast site.
Sobejana, also chief of the military-led Task Force Central, has directed troops to intensify operations against NPA rebels who repeatedly tried to harass government forces.
Recently, the rebels torched several heavy equipment of a construction firm on road projects in Barangay Hinalaan, Kalamansig, for refusal to pay revolutionary taxes. Destruction of civilian-owned equipment has nothing to do with AFP operations.
“These terrorist acts must be stopped, the military will not allow this to continue,” Sobejana said.
The US and EU have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060024
2 Maute remnants yield in Lanao Sur
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): 2 Maute remnants yield in Lanao Sur
Two members of the Islamic State-linked Maute Group surrendered to government troops in the Lanao del Sur town of Butig on Thursday, an Army official said.
Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva, commanding officer of the Army's 49th Infantry Battalion, said the two Maute remnants, one of whom was a minor, surrendered following the military's "focused-military operations" in the adjacent municipality of Sultan Dumalandong.
Villanueva was referring to Thursday's encounter in Sultan Dumalandong that killed three Maute members and wounded three soldiers.
He identified the surrenderers only as Ashlani, 34, and Hussein, 17, who were reportedly recruited and trained by the Maute Group in Butig sometime in 2013.
He quoted Ashlani as saying in the dialect, "We were afraid we will get caught in the next (military) operation. We have nowhere to run so we opted to surrender."
Ashlani and Hussein's surrender was facilitated with the help of the local community, the Army official said.
“We have intensified our civil-military operations to build a good rapport with the populace in the area,” Villanueva said.
“Out here, it is not just about fighting the enemy, but also how to win communities – and that truly makes a big impact when it comes to the accomplishing our mission,” he added.
Col. Romeo Brawner, commander of the Army's 103rd Brigade based in Marawi City, said the influx of Maute returnees -- now numbering more than a hundred -- has prompted the military to "initiate a special program" for Maute remnants.
The Maute Group launched a five-month siege on Marawi City last year that ended with its top leaders being wiped out by government forces.
Brawner said the integration program for former Maute members "will start with comprehensive profiling of our returnees to know their background, identify their needs and vulnerabilities. It also includes interviews as to why they joined the movement.”
He said the program "will serve as a definitive basis on projects that will be implemented to vulnerable communities and prevent them to be dragged to violent extremism."
“We will use the data as a definitive reference to give us access to the psychology of local Maute-IS (Islamic State) returnees. So far, we have been adapting foreign literature on how to combat violent extremism, and it may not necessarily apply to our country due to cultural differences,” he added.
Brawner also warned other Maute remnants who remain at-large that "if they choose to resist, then they will be at the lethal end of our focused military operations.”
“We are giving them a chance to live a peaceful and meaningful life. We are calling on the remaining Maute-IS fighters to surrender peacefully to the nearest military installation before the next combat operations fall into your doorsteps. Take this offer now before it’s too late,” the military official said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060001
Two members of the Islamic State-linked Maute Group surrendered to government troops in the Lanao del Sur town of Butig on Thursday, an Army official said.
Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva, commanding officer of the Army's 49th Infantry Battalion, said the two Maute remnants, one of whom was a minor, surrendered following the military's "focused-military operations" in the adjacent municipality of Sultan Dumalandong.
Villanueva was referring to Thursday's encounter in Sultan Dumalandong that killed three Maute members and wounded three soldiers.
He identified the surrenderers only as Ashlani, 34, and Hussein, 17, who were reportedly recruited and trained by the Maute Group in Butig sometime in 2013.
He quoted Ashlani as saying in the dialect, "We were afraid we will get caught in the next (military) operation. We have nowhere to run so we opted to surrender."
Ashlani and Hussein's surrender was facilitated with the help of the local community, the Army official said.
“We have intensified our civil-military operations to build a good rapport with the populace in the area,” Villanueva said.
“Out here, it is not just about fighting the enemy, but also how to win communities – and that truly makes a big impact when it comes to the accomplishing our mission,” he added.
Col. Romeo Brawner, commander of the Army's 103rd Brigade based in Marawi City, said the influx of Maute returnees -- now numbering more than a hundred -- has prompted the military to "initiate a special program" for Maute remnants.
The Maute Group launched a five-month siege on Marawi City last year that ended with its top leaders being wiped out by government forces.
Brawner said the integration program for former Maute members "will start with comprehensive profiling of our returnees to know their background, identify their needs and vulnerabilities. It also includes interviews as to why they joined the movement.”
He said the program "will serve as a definitive basis on projects that will be implemented to vulnerable communities and prevent them to be dragged to violent extremism."
“We will use the data as a definitive reference to give us access to the psychology of local Maute-IS (Islamic State) returnees. So far, we have been adapting foreign literature on how to combat violent extremism, and it may not necessarily apply to our country due to cultural differences,” he added.
Brawner also warned other Maute remnants who remain at-large that "if they choose to resist, then they will be at the lethal end of our focused military operations.”
“We are giving them a chance to live a peaceful and meaningful life. We are calling on the remaining Maute-IS fighters to surrender peacefully to the nearest military installation before the next combat operations fall into your doorsteps. Take this offer now before it’s too late,” the military official said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060001
4 NPA rebels yield in Sarangani, DavOcc
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): 4 NPA rebels yield in Sarangani, DavOcc
Frustrated with the “uncertainty of their cause,” four more members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to government troops in Sarangani and Davao Occidental provinces.
Col. Marion Angcao, commander of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion (73IB), said in a report released on Friday morning the rebels yielded voluntarily along with their firearms in Malapatan, Sarangani and in Malita, Davao Occidental last weekend.
Angcao said two of the returnees, who were identified only as alias Klawag and alias Rebreb, surrendered to the 73IB during a field operation in Barangay Upper Suyan, Malapatan on January 19.
The two, who were listed as members of the NPA’s Front 71, handed over an M16 Armalite rifle and a caliber .38 pistol, he said.
On January 20, Angcao said two more rebels identified as alias Jason and alias Rusi, yielded to the Delta Company of the 73IB in Barangay Little Baguio, Malita town.
He said the two, who were residents of Barangay Kihan in Malapatan, surrendered a Carbine rifle and caliber .357 pistol.
One of the returnees, alias Jason, said they decided to yield as they were already feeling "uncertain" about their situation in the mountains.
Jason said the leaders of their former unit had promised various support and assistance to their families, but these never materialized.
“All we experienced were hardships, hunger, and fear," he said.
Angcao credited the surrender of the four rebels to the troops' intensive security operations and collaboration with barangays officials in the area.
Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, urged other NPA rebels in the area to surrender and avail of the government’s livelihood assistance programs.
“The continuous armed struggle will only bring death, misery, anger,, and poverty. The people of Sarangani deserve to have a peaceful environment,” Ancan said.
The United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060035
Frustrated with the “uncertainty of their cause,” four more members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to government troops in Sarangani and Davao Occidental provinces.
Col. Marion Angcao, commander of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion (73IB), said in a report released on Friday morning the rebels yielded voluntarily along with their firearms in Malapatan, Sarangani and in Malita, Davao Occidental last weekend.
Angcao said two of the returnees, who were identified only as alias Klawag and alias Rebreb, surrendered to the 73IB during a field operation in Barangay Upper Suyan, Malapatan on January 19.
The two, who were listed as members of the NPA’s Front 71, handed over an M16 Armalite rifle and a caliber .38 pistol, he said.
On January 20, Angcao said two more rebels identified as alias Jason and alias Rusi, yielded to the Delta Company of the 73IB in Barangay Little Baguio, Malita town.
He said the two, who were residents of Barangay Kihan in Malapatan, surrendered a Carbine rifle and caliber .357 pistol.
One of the returnees, alias Jason, said they decided to yield as they were already feeling "uncertain" about their situation in the mountains.
Jason said the leaders of their former unit had promised various support and assistance to their families, but these never materialized.
“All we experienced were hardships, hunger, and fear," he said.
Angcao credited the surrender of the four rebels to the troops' intensive security operations and collaboration with barangays officials in the area.
Brig. Gen. Roberto Ancan, commander of the Army’s 1002nd Brigade, urged other NPA rebels in the area to surrender and avail of the government’s livelihood assistance programs.
“The continuous armed struggle will only bring death, misery, anger,, and poverty. The people of Sarangani deserve to have a peaceful environment,” Ancan said.
The United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060035
Army steps up fight vs. Reds’ extortion in Samar
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): Army steps up fight vs. Reds’ extortion in Samar
The Philippine Army has stepped up its fight against the New People’s Army’s (NPA) extortion activities in the Samar provinces following a recent gun battle that stalled the rebel’s illicit activities in remote communities.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Major Gen. Raul Farnacio, chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said they are more committed to protect communities from extortion activities of the NPA in upland Samar and Northern Samar villages.
“The ongoing military operations against the communist NPA terrorist will be steadfast. However, foremost consideration will always be the strict observance of human rights and International Humanitarian Law and the development of conflict-affected communities,” Farnacio said.
The army official made the statement after two separate encounters with NPA fighters in Las Navas, Northern Samar and San Jorge, Samar on January 21.
The gun battle happened after soldiers responded to distress calls of residents regarding the activities of armed rebels, who were asking for food and money from civilians through force or threats.
The first encounter occurred noontime of January 21 in San Isidro village, Las Navas town where soldiers engaged 10 armed rebels.
After an hour, soldiers encountered 20 rebels in Calundan village in San Jorge town.
Rebels fled the heavily forested area, leaving behind documents and personal belongings. No one was reportedly hurt in these two clashes, according to a military report.
Calundan village is just 5 km. away from Bay-ang village where soldiers discovered the rebels’ hideout last week after a clash that slightly injured nine soldiers.
The military said rebels have been planning to launch tactical offensives in Leyte and Samar provinces, prompting them to step up their combat operations in the northern part of Samar Island, considered as an NPA stronghold in the region.
The Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. The communist rebels have been battling government forces for 50 years. The communist rebellion in the Philippines is one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060059
The Philippine Army has stepped up its fight against the New People’s Army’s (NPA) extortion activities in the Samar provinces following a recent gun battle that stalled the rebel’s illicit activities in remote communities.
In a statement issued Thursday night, Major Gen. Raul Farnacio, chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said they are more committed to protect communities from extortion activities of the NPA in upland Samar and Northern Samar villages.
“The ongoing military operations against the communist NPA terrorist will be steadfast. However, foremost consideration will always be the strict observance of human rights and International Humanitarian Law and the development of conflict-affected communities,” Farnacio said.
The army official made the statement after two separate encounters with NPA fighters in Las Navas, Northern Samar and San Jorge, Samar on January 21.
The gun battle happened after soldiers responded to distress calls of residents regarding the activities of armed rebels, who were asking for food and money from civilians through force or threats.
The first encounter occurred noontime of January 21 in San Isidro village, Las Navas town where soldiers engaged 10 armed rebels.
After an hour, soldiers encountered 20 rebels in Calundan village in San Jorge town.
Rebels fled the heavily forested area, leaving behind documents and personal belongings. No one was reportedly hurt in these two clashes, according to a military report.
Calundan village is just 5 km. away from Bay-ang village where soldiers discovered the rebels’ hideout last week after a clash that slightly injured nine soldiers.
The military said rebels have been planning to launch tactical offensives in Leyte and Samar provinces, prompting them to step up their combat operations in the northern part of Samar Island, considered as an NPA stronghold in the region.
The Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. The communist rebels have been battling government forces for 50 years. The communist rebellion in the Philippines is one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060059
PMA to recognize 315 plebe cadets in traditional rites
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): PMA to recognize 315 plebe cadets in traditional rites
MILITARY CORE VALUES. The Philippine Military Academy Rampart’ bearing the academy’s core values of 'Courage, Integrity and Loyalty' behind the Borromeo Field at Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City. (PNA file photo)
BAGUIO CITY -- A total of 253 male and 62 female cadets will be recognized by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Corps of Cadets on Sunday, the academy’s chief information officer has said.
“Recognition rites signifies the acceptance of the fourth-class cadets by the upper-class corps, how these new cadets behave and act, including the posture of having a straight back, after being subjected to pressures from the upper-class corps, academics, military and physical aspect for more than six months,” Col. Harry Baliaga said Friday.
Class BAGSIK DIWA, which stands for “Bagong Sibol sa Kinabukasan Mandirigma Hanggang Wakas”, formally joined the military service during their reception as plebes in June 2018.
Prior to their acceptance, a total of 15,502 took the entrance exam on August 20, 2017. A total of 1,015 took the complete qualifying test and 450 reported during the reception. They will graduate in 2022, joining the three branches of service -- Army, Air Force or Navy.
Baliaga said that after being recognized, the plebes will no longer be subjected to rigid scrutiny and the rules will loosen up a little.
“They have been tested and have proven that they can be members of the cadet corps of the country’s premier military institution,” he said, adding that the cadet has understood and imbibed the PMA’s motto of “Courage, Integrity and Loyalty”.
As a tradition, the cadet is given stricter rules upon entering the academy, which they call the “reception”. Over three months, the plebe cadets go through a rigid process of adapting to the system and the life of a cadet and a military, including changing their posture from slouching to having a good “bearing” (cadet term for having a straight back) to look more dignified.
They will then be incorporated as members of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) in rites called “incorporation”.
Six months after comes “recognition”, the conferment of them having adapted to the life, allowing them to go through the four years of rigorous training to complete their military studies.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060065
MILITARY CORE VALUES. The Philippine Military Academy Rampart’ bearing the academy’s core values of 'Courage, Integrity and Loyalty' behind the Borromeo Field at Fort Del Pilar in Baguio City. (PNA file photo)
BAGUIO CITY -- A total of 253 male and 62 female cadets will be recognized by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Corps of Cadets on Sunday, the academy’s chief information officer has said.
“Recognition rites signifies the acceptance of the fourth-class cadets by the upper-class corps, how these new cadets behave and act, including the posture of having a straight back, after being subjected to pressures from the upper-class corps, academics, military and physical aspect for more than six months,” Col. Harry Baliaga said Friday.
Class BAGSIK DIWA, which stands for “Bagong Sibol sa Kinabukasan Mandirigma Hanggang Wakas”, formally joined the military service during their reception as plebes in June 2018.
Prior to their acceptance, a total of 15,502 took the entrance exam on August 20, 2017. A total of 1,015 took the complete qualifying test and 450 reported during the reception. They will graduate in 2022, joining the three branches of service -- Army, Air Force or Navy.
Baliaga said that after being recognized, the plebes will no longer be subjected to rigid scrutiny and the rules will loosen up a little.
“They have been tested and have proven that they can be members of the cadet corps of the country’s premier military institution,” he said, adding that the cadet has understood and imbibed the PMA’s motto of “Courage, Integrity and Loyalty”.
As a tradition, the cadet is given stricter rules upon entering the academy, which they call the “reception”. Over three months, the plebe cadets go through a rigid process of adapting to the system and the life of a cadet and a military, including changing their posture from slouching to having a good “bearing” (cadet term for having a straight back) to look more dignified.
They will then be incorporated as members of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) in rites called “incorporation”.
Six months after comes “recognition”, the conferment of them having adapted to the life, allowing them to go through the four years of rigorous training to complete their military studies.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060065
Maute lair overrun, 3 killed in Lanao Sur clash aftermath
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): Maute lair overrun, 3 killed in Lanao Sur clash aftermath
After a 10-hour firefight that began at about 8 a.m. Thursday, government forces seized a hideout of the Islamic State-linked Maute remnants in Sultan Dumalondong, Lanao del Sur.
Three Maute remnants were killed and three government troopers were wounded, said Lt. Col Ian Ignes, commanding officer of the Army's 55th Infantry Battalion (55IB).
Ignes said 55IB troopers engaged more than 20 Maute members as government troops approached the lair of the terrorist group, believed to be led by Abu Dhar.
“We acted on the information as reported by the residents and the local chief executive," he said.
“The enemy was completely taken by surprise as evident from the direction of their initial gunfire. We met fierce resistance as soon as we hit their final defensive lines," he added.
Maute remnants under Dar have reportedly been hiding in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur after government troops expelled them from Marawi City during a five-month siege last year that saw its leadership wiped out.
Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, said the assault received immediate fire support through artillery and attack helicopters, sending the Maute remnants deep into their bunkers.
Brawners said the splintered group then scattered for survival and abandoned their stronghold, which featured running trenches and fortified bunkers.
He said a training camp was also found some 100 meters from the hideout.
Major Gen. Roseller Murillo, the Army's 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan commander, called on local residents to trust the military, asking them for "support and prayers for our troops who are still in the area to neutralize the remaining Maute IS remnants who continuously threaten the safety and well-being of Maranaos."
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060057
After a 10-hour firefight that began at about 8 a.m. Thursday, government forces seized a hideout of the Islamic State-linked Maute remnants in Sultan Dumalondong, Lanao del Sur.
Three Maute remnants were killed and three government troopers were wounded, said Lt. Col Ian Ignes, commanding officer of the Army's 55th Infantry Battalion (55IB).
Ignes said 55IB troopers engaged more than 20 Maute members as government troops approached the lair of the terrorist group, believed to be led by Abu Dhar.
“We acted on the information as reported by the residents and the local chief executive," he said.
“The enemy was completely taken by surprise as evident from the direction of their initial gunfire. We met fierce resistance as soon as we hit their final defensive lines," he added.
Maute remnants under Dar have reportedly been hiding in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur after government troops expelled them from Marawi City during a five-month siege last year that saw its leadership wiped out.
Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the Army's 103rd Infantry Brigade, said the assault received immediate fire support through artillery and attack helicopters, sending the Maute remnants deep into their bunkers.
Brawners said the splintered group then scattered for survival and abandoned their stronghold, which featured running trenches and fortified bunkers.
He said a training camp was also found some 100 meters from the hideout.
Major Gen. Roseller Murillo, the Army's 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan commander, called on local residents to trust the military, asking them for "support and prayers for our troops who are still in the area to neutralize the remaining Maute IS remnants who continuously threaten the safety and well-being of Maranaos."
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060057
Abu Sayyaf 'member' nabbed in Zamboanga City
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): Abu Sayyaf 'member' nabbed in Zamboanga City
Operatives of the Regional Anti-Criminality Task Group and Police Station 6 personnel on Friday arrested Daud Isnani alias Umbra, 33, an alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group, in Barangay Talon-Talon, Zamboanga City. (Photo courtesy: Police Regional Office-9 PIO)
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- An alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was arrested in a coastal barangay here Friday, a top police official said.
Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga) director, identified the alleged ASG member as Daud Isnani, 33, a resident of Barangay Arena Blanco, this city.
Licup said Isnani was arrested by operatives of the Regional Anti-Criminality Task Group and Police Station 6 personnel in Barangay Talon-Talon at about 7 a.m.
He said Isnani has a standing seven-count warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with no bail recommended issued by a court in Isabela City, Basilan province on January 28, 2008.
Isnani, who was detained at Police Station 6 headquarters, has allegedly taken part in ASG's kidnapping activities and other atrocities in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu.
The ASG gained international notoriety when they seized 21 people, including Europeans, in an island dive resort in Malaysia in April 2000.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060074
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- An alleged member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was arrested in a coastal barangay here Friday, a top police official said.
Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office 9 (Zamboanga) director, identified the alleged ASG member as Daud Isnani, 33, a resident of Barangay Arena Blanco, this city.
Licup said Isnani was arrested by operatives of the Regional Anti-Criminality Task Group and Police Station 6 personnel in Barangay Talon-Talon at about 7 a.m.
He said Isnani has a standing seven-count warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping and serious illegal detention with no bail recommended issued by a court in Isabela City, Basilan province on January 28, 2008.
Isnani, who was detained at Police Station 6 headquarters, has allegedly taken part in ASG's kidnapping activities and other atrocities in the provinces of Basilan and Sulu.
The ASG gained international notoriety when they seized 21 people, including Europeans, in an island dive resort in Malaysia in April 2000.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060074
AFP sees no security threat for Feb. 6 plebiscite
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 24): AFP sees no security threat for Feb. 6 plebiscite
There are no security threats detected so far for the second plebiscite of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on February 6, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato said Thursday.
Detoyato, however, said this does not mean that the military is taking things lightly despite the generally peaceful conduct of the first BOL plebiscite on January 21.
"No reports (on any security threats for February 6 polls) but just the mere fact that we have a security plan, it means that we are not discounting any perceived threat," he said when asked by the Philippine News Agency on whether they have received reports that "spoilers" are planning hard to disrupt the coming polls.
On Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) conducted the plebiscite for the ratification of the BOL, which seeks to create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The provinces included are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi; as well in Cotabato City; and Isabela City. Another plebiscite will be held on February 6 in the province of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City; the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigkawayan in the province of North Cotabato and the 28 barangays that sought to be included in the region.
"Since it will be relatively smaller, concentration of troops will be higher. AFP troops are predeployed so there will be minimal movement to secure the plebiscite on February 6," Detoyato said.
The military has deployed more than 10,000 troops and support units to help secure the BOL plebiscite along with the Philippine National Police.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059898
There are no security threats detected so far for the second plebiscite of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on February 6, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato said Thursday.
Detoyato, however, said this does not mean that the military is taking things lightly despite the generally peaceful conduct of the first BOL plebiscite on January 21.
"No reports (on any security threats for February 6 polls) but just the mere fact that we have a security plan, it means that we are not discounting any perceived threat," he said when asked by the Philippine News Agency on whether they have received reports that "spoilers" are planning hard to disrupt the coming polls.
On Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) conducted the plebiscite for the ratification of the BOL, which seeks to create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The provinces included are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi; as well in Cotabato City; and Isabela City. Another plebiscite will be held on February 6 in the province of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City; the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigkawayan in the province of North Cotabato and the 28 barangays that sought to be included in the region.
"Since it will be relatively smaller, concentration of troops will be higher. AFP troops are predeployed so there will be minimal movement to secure the plebiscite on February 6," Detoyato said.
The military has deployed more than 10,000 troops and support units to help secure the BOL plebiscite along with the Philippine National Police.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059898
PH to acquire SPYDER missiles from Israel: Lorenzana
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 24): PH to acquire SPYDER missiles from Israel: Lorenzana
The Department of National Defense (DND) will acquire a SPYDER missile system from Israel.
"Yes, we are. (However), I do not know (yet) the exact number of (batteries we will be getting)," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday when sought for an update on the military's modernization efforts.
Battery refers to the grouping of missile launchers. A normal battery consists of three or more missile launchers.
SPYDER is short for Surface-to-air Python and Derby mobile-air defense system that was developed by the Israeli defense technology firm, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries.
The DND has earlier acquired surface-to-surface Spike-ER missiles which were installed on the Philippine Navy's multi-purpose assault craft from the same Israeli company.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059924
The Department of National Defense (DND) will acquire a SPYDER missile system from Israel.
"Yes, we are. (However), I do not know (yet) the exact number of (batteries we will be getting)," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Thursday when sought for an update on the military's modernization efforts.
Battery refers to the grouping of missile launchers. A normal battery consists of three or more missile launchers.
SPYDER is short for Surface-to-air Python and Derby mobile-air defense system that was developed by the Israeli defense technology firm, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries.
The DND has earlier acquired surface-to-surface Spike-ER missiles which were installed on the Philippine Navy's multi-purpose assault craft from the same Israeli company.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059924
NPAs recruit minors to avoid criminal liability: ex-rebels
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 24): NPAs recruit minors to avoid criminal liability: ex-rebels
Former rebels who claimed to have witness how the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)- New People’s Army (NPA) recruited minors to fight in wars expressed support to a bill lowering the minimum age of criminal liability.
In a private forum called by former rebels in Quezon City Thursday, the group, who requested anonymity, expressed their views on how the proposed bill would stop the long-standing activity of the CPP-NPA of abusing juvenile exemption from criminal liability.
“Bilang teacher, nakikita ko po yung sinasapit ng isang bata na sumasama sa grupo na 'yun. Gagawin po silang terrorist (As their teacher, I witnessed what becomes of a child who goes with the rebel group. They are bound to become terrorists),” a certain "Ka Jamie", former member of the movement who teaches in a school built by rebels to “brainwash their vulnerable minds,” said in an interview.
Ka Jamie, a teacher by profession, said she worked in the Pambansang Demokratikong Paaralan during her time with the movement.
She said the school is intentionally designed to ignite rebellious spirit among the students, adding that Marxism–Leninism–Maoism philosophy is encouraged.
She also shared that the parents themselves have pushed their children to join these movements.
“Madali lang po kasing malinlang yung mga nakatira sa bundok, nakakaawa po, sinasabihan po silang bibigyan ng pera ganon (People who live in the countryside get easily deceived. The rebels will sway them into joining through compensation),” she added.
Another former rebel, who surfaced by the name of "Ka Mario", corroborated this claim and urged other people to support the proposed bill as well.
“Halos pabata nang pabata ang mga child combatants at pagdating ng araw sila ding mga bata ang gagawing human bomb ng ilang extremist group gaya ng nakikita sa Iraq at Afghanistan (As the year goes by, the child combatants they train get younger and younger. Eventually, these kids will be used as human bombs by extremist groups like what we see in Iraq and Afghanistan),” bared Ka Mario, a former leader of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Front.
“Ang pagbaba ng minimum age para sa criminal liability ang magiging solusyong para dito. Para ma-save po yung mga bata (To lower the minimum age of criminal liability will solve these problems. We can also save these unfortunate kids),” he added.
Under the proposed law, children aged nine to 18, who commit serious crimes like murder, homicide, rape and violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, would be committed to an Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (IJISC), a special facility within the youth care facility called "Bahay Pag-asa”.
Children in the IJISC would be required to undergo a "more intensive multi-disciplinary intervention program."
Children aged nine to 18, who have repeatedly committed criminal offenses and have undergone a community-based intervention program, would be committed to a Bahay Pag-asa, upon written authorization of their parents or foster parents, or by petition for involuntary commitment by the Social Welfare department.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059931
Former rebels who claimed to have witness how the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)- New People’s Army (NPA) recruited minors to fight in wars expressed support to a bill lowering the minimum age of criminal liability.
In a private forum called by former rebels in Quezon City Thursday, the group, who requested anonymity, expressed their views on how the proposed bill would stop the long-standing activity of the CPP-NPA of abusing juvenile exemption from criminal liability.
“Bilang teacher, nakikita ko po yung sinasapit ng isang bata na sumasama sa grupo na 'yun. Gagawin po silang terrorist (As their teacher, I witnessed what becomes of a child who goes with the rebel group. They are bound to become terrorists),” a certain "Ka Jamie", former member of the movement who teaches in a school built by rebels to “brainwash their vulnerable minds,” said in an interview.
Ka Jamie, a teacher by profession, said she worked in the Pambansang Demokratikong Paaralan during her time with the movement.
She said the school is intentionally designed to ignite rebellious spirit among the students, adding that Marxism–Leninism–Maoism philosophy is encouraged.
She also shared that the parents themselves have pushed their children to join these movements.
“Madali lang po kasing malinlang yung mga nakatira sa bundok, nakakaawa po, sinasabihan po silang bibigyan ng pera ganon (People who live in the countryside get easily deceived. The rebels will sway them into joining through compensation),” she added.
Another former rebel, who surfaced by the name of "Ka Mario", corroborated this claim and urged other people to support the proposed bill as well.
“Halos pabata nang pabata ang mga child combatants at pagdating ng araw sila ding mga bata ang gagawing human bomb ng ilang extremist group gaya ng nakikita sa Iraq at Afghanistan (As the year goes by, the child combatants they train get younger and younger. Eventually, these kids will be used as human bombs by extremist groups like what we see in Iraq and Afghanistan),” bared Ka Mario, a former leader of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Front.
“Ang pagbaba ng minimum age para sa criminal liability ang magiging solusyong para dito. Para ma-save po yung mga bata (To lower the minimum age of criminal liability will solve these problems. We can also save these unfortunate kids),” he added.
Under the proposed law, children aged nine to 18, who commit serious crimes like murder, homicide, rape and violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, would be committed to an Intensive Juvenile Intervention and Support Center (IJISC), a special facility within the youth care facility called "Bahay Pag-asa”.
Children in the IJISC would be required to undergo a "more intensive multi-disciplinary intervention program."
Children aged nine to 18, who have repeatedly committed criminal offenses and have undergone a community-based intervention program, would be committed to a Bahay Pag-asa, upon written authorization of their parents or foster parents, or by petition for involuntary commitment by the Social Welfare department.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059931
DND ready to submit martial law reports to SC
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 24): DND ready to submit martial law reports to SC
The Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday assured compliance with the Supreme Court (SC) order asking it to submit periodic reports regarding the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.
"We respect the SC’s mandate to ensure the legality of issues pertaining to our country especially with the issue of martial law and we will comply with their guidance to submit the periodic reports," said Arsenio Andolong, DND spokesperson, in an interview with reporters.
In a separate message, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the agency is more than ready to submit the requested documents.
"Yes, we are prepared," the defense chief said.
In its resolution dated Jan. 22, the SC ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to submit the DND's "Monthly/Periodic Reports addressed to the Congress on the implementation of Martial Law from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 which involve highly sensitive and confidential matters affecting the security of the State", not later than Friday noon.
The SC also explained that members of the Court will then "make a preliminary assessment whether or not the said reports may only be appropriately discussed and deliberated upon in an executive session".
The High Court is set to hold an oral argument on the three other consolidated petitions that were filed earlier by various groups also seeking to declare as unconstitutional the third extension of martial law in Mindanao on January 29.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059952
The Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday assured compliance with the Supreme Court (SC) order asking it to submit periodic reports regarding the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.
"We respect the SC’s mandate to ensure the legality of issues pertaining to our country especially with the issue of martial law and we will comply with their guidance to submit the periodic reports," said Arsenio Andolong, DND spokesperson, in an interview with reporters.
In a separate message, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the agency is more than ready to submit the requested documents.
"Yes, we are prepared," the defense chief said.
In its resolution dated Jan. 22, the SC ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to submit the DND's "Monthly/Periodic Reports addressed to the Congress on the implementation of Martial Law from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 which involve highly sensitive and confidential matters affecting the security of the State", not later than Friday noon.
The SC also explained that members of the Court will then "make a preliminary assessment whether or not the said reports may only be appropriately discussed and deliberated upon in an executive session".
The High Court is set to hold an oral argument on the three other consolidated petitions that were filed earlier by various groups also seeking to declare as unconstitutional the third extension of martial law in Mindanao on January 29.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059952
PRRD to seek Misuari’s help to end conflict in Mindanao
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): PRRD to seek Misuari’s help to end conflict in Mindanao
President Rodrigo R. Duterte considers Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari as someone who can help in resolving the conflict in Mindanao, Malacañang said on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, in a Palace media briefing, was reaponding to a question if the President counts Misuari as a threat to the success of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Not really a threat. He (Duterte) considers Nur Misuari as someone -- with his group -- who can help in ending the conflict in Mindanao," Panelo said.
Panelo said Misuari had told him that the MNLF leader wanted to talk with the President to share many ideas that he can contribute for the peace, prosperity and progress in Mindanao.
“I relayed that to the President. And so, the President is wanting or open to talking to him with respect to whatever suggestions he has in mind,” Panelo said.
Asked to comment on Sulu’s ‘no’ votes in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite, Panelo clarified that other leaders in Sulu prefer federalism than the BOL.
"The President will respect the sovereign will of a particular electorate. But winning doesn’t mean that they will go against the law,” Panelo said.
“I talked with [Sulu governor] Abdusakur Tan and he said he is not really against Bangsamoro Organic Law. They want, just like Nur Misuari, they want federalism better. Oh, ibig sabihin (which means), if federalism is better, Bangsamoro Organic Law is good; kaya lang may (but there is something) better," he said.
Reports said about 163,500 voted against the BOL while 137,630 supported the measure in Sulu during last Monday’s plebiscite for the BOL ratification.
A second plebiscite is set on February 6 in six Lanao del Norte towns and in 67 villages in North Cotabato.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059996
President Rodrigo R. Duterte considers Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari as someone who can help in resolving the conflict in Mindanao, Malacañang said on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, in a Palace media briefing, was reaponding to a question if the President counts Misuari as a threat to the success of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Not really a threat. He (Duterte) considers Nur Misuari as someone -- with his group -- who can help in ending the conflict in Mindanao," Panelo said.
Panelo said Misuari had told him that the MNLF leader wanted to talk with the President to share many ideas that he can contribute for the peace, prosperity and progress in Mindanao.
“I relayed that to the President. And so, the President is wanting or open to talking to him with respect to whatever suggestions he has in mind,” Panelo said.
Asked to comment on Sulu’s ‘no’ votes in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite, Panelo clarified that other leaders in Sulu prefer federalism than the BOL.
"The President will respect the sovereign will of a particular electorate. But winning doesn’t mean that they will go against the law,” Panelo said.
“I talked with [Sulu governor] Abdusakur Tan and he said he is not really against Bangsamoro Organic Law. They want, just like Nur Misuari, they want federalism better. Oh, ibig sabihin (which means), if federalism is better, Bangsamoro Organic Law is good; kaya lang may (but there is something) better," he said.
Reports said about 163,500 voted against the BOL while 137,630 supported the measure in Sulu during last Monday’s plebiscite for the BOL ratification.
A second plebiscite is set on February 6 in six Lanao del Norte towns and in 67 villages in North Cotabato.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059996
Ex-rebels bare ACT, NUJP alleged links to Reds
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 25): Ex-rebels bare ACT, NUJP alleged links to Reds
Two organizations have been actively engaged in activities supporting the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), former communist rebels disclosed Thursday.
On the sidelines of a press conference by former rebels supporting a bill that seeks to lower the minimum age of criminal liability, the names of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) surfaced in the discussion exposing their linkages to the rebel group.
"Ka Jamie", a teacher who claims to be witness to the struggle of various public school teachers in the country, said the CPP-NPA-NDF used the ACT in pushing for the communist group's agenda.
"Noong una ay issues lang ng mga guro ang topic namin sa mga group discussion kung paano itaas ang aming karampot na sahod (At first, we were only fighting for the low wage of educators),” she said.
She added that she became an organizer of the Manila Public School Teachers Association (MPSTA).
Ka Jamie said she became a regular street demonstrator along with the Public School Teachers Association, calling for the salary increase of public school teachers.
Her involvements, she said, became deeper in the communist organization until she found herself teaching in the Pambansang Demokratikong Paaralan, an educational institution built by the communists, which she refers to as “intentionally designed to foster a rebellious spirit within the students”.
The communist group, she said, has been recruiting minors and deceiving their families of the true cause of the organization.
“Mabilis lang kasi malinlang ang mga tao sa bundok (They can easily deceive people who live in the countryside),” she added.
“Umalis ako kasi gusto ko nang bumalik at buwagin ang ilegal activities, paano naman ang issues naming mga guro (I left because I want to go back and get rid of the illegal activities. What happens to the legitimate concerns of teachers?),” Ka Jamie added.
Meanwhile, “Ka Ernesto", another former rebel who claimed to have observed anomalies in the NUJP, also bared allegations against the group.
“Ginagamit nila (CPP-NPA-NDF) ang NUJP bilang shield, panangga para ipagpatuloy ang pagsusulong sa digmaang bayan (They are using the NUJP as a shield to continue the protracted war),” he said.
Ka Ernesto, who claims to be an editor-in-chief in his time in college but had to stop because of his involvement in the communist group, said the journalists' organization “sympathizes with the leftist group”.
“Witness ako kung paanong kino-control nila ang mga balitang lumalabas para sa media giants. Hindi nila nilalabas yung totoo, mga masasamang nangyayari (I am a witness as to how they control news on illegal activities happening within the CPP-NPA-NDF. They exclude the bad details),” he said.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy earlier challenged the head of the NUJP to condemn the atrocities of the CPP-NPA as she denied the media organization's accusation of PCOO "red-tagging" NUJP members.
"I just want to ask the chairman of the NUJP: will you issue an official statement? Could you do that as a challenge -- denouncing the activities, the atrocities of the CPP-NPA? As simple as that," Badoy told the NUJP, particularly its chairman Nonoy Espina, in a radio interview.
The Philippine News Agency has reached out to both the NUJP and ACT twice on the same day prior to this posting, but the organizations have yet to comment on the issue.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059967
Two organizations have been actively engaged in activities supporting the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), former communist rebels disclosed Thursday.
On the sidelines of a press conference by former rebels supporting a bill that seeks to lower the minimum age of criminal liability, the names of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) surfaced in the discussion exposing their linkages to the rebel group.
"Ka Jamie", a teacher who claims to be witness to the struggle of various public school teachers in the country, said the CPP-NPA-NDF used the ACT in pushing for the communist group's agenda.
"Noong una ay issues lang ng mga guro ang topic namin sa mga group discussion kung paano itaas ang aming karampot na sahod (At first, we were only fighting for the low wage of educators),” she said.
She added that she became an organizer of the Manila Public School Teachers Association (MPSTA).
Ka Jamie said she became a regular street demonstrator along with the Public School Teachers Association, calling for the salary increase of public school teachers.
Her involvements, she said, became deeper in the communist organization until she found herself teaching in the Pambansang Demokratikong Paaralan, an educational institution built by the communists, which she refers to as “intentionally designed to foster a rebellious spirit within the students”.
The communist group, she said, has been recruiting minors and deceiving their families of the true cause of the organization.
“Mabilis lang kasi malinlang ang mga tao sa bundok (They can easily deceive people who live in the countryside),” she added.
“Umalis ako kasi gusto ko nang bumalik at buwagin ang ilegal activities, paano naman ang issues naming mga guro (I left because I want to go back and get rid of the illegal activities. What happens to the legitimate concerns of teachers?),” Ka Jamie added.
Meanwhile, “Ka Ernesto", another former rebel who claimed to have observed anomalies in the NUJP, also bared allegations against the group.
“Ginagamit nila (CPP-NPA-NDF) ang NUJP bilang shield, panangga para ipagpatuloy ang pagsusulong sa digmaang bayan (They are using the NUJP as a shield to continue the protracted war),” he said.
Ka Ernesto, who claims to be an editor-in-chief in his time in college but had to stop because of his involvement in the communist group, said the journalists' organization “sympathizes with the leftist group”.
“Witness ako kung paanong kino-control nila ang mga balitang lumalabas para sa media giants. Hindi nila nilalabas yung totoo, mga masasamang nangyayari (I am a witness as to how they control news on illegal activities happening within the CPP-NPA-NDF. They exclude the bad details),” he said.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy earlier challenged the head of the NUJP to condemn the atrocities of the CPP-NPA as she denied the media organization's accusation of PCOO "red-tagging" NUJP members.
"I just want to ask the chairman of the NUJP: will you issue an official statement? Could you do that as a challenge -- denouncing the activities, the atrocities of the CPP-NPA? As simple as that," Badoy told the NUJP, particularly its chairman Nonoy Espina, in a radio interview.
The Philippine News Agency has reached out to both the NUJP and ACT twice on the same day prior to this posting, but the organizations have yet to comment on the issue.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059967
Gov't can secure surrendering NPA rebels: Lorenzana
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): Gov't can secure surrendering NPA rebels: Lorenzana
The government and the military are more than ready to secure members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) who are ready to surrender and rejoin their loved ones and families in mainstream society.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana made this pronouncement Friday when asked if the government and the military are capable of protecting NPA members who want to surrender but are afraid to go ahead with their plan due to threats from their comrades.
"Sure we can. We have people in all areas ready to help them: the local elected officials, police, military, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), in fact the whole government machinery," he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The NPA, the CPP's armed wing, is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States and the European Union.
Earlier, the defense chief said the threat posed by the CPP-NPA is waning, due to the localized peace talks and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
These strategies are responsible for the surrender of NPA regular members and supporters last year.
Lorenzana earlier said that the NPA is no longer a formidable force as its numbers have been greatly reduced.
"They are not that strong because their number is only about less than 6,000. About 1,000 armed rebels (have) already surrendered, so the remaining is 4,000. But their militia is big -- those who support them. If we reckon, we estimate that there are about 50,000 nationwide militia who support them. These militia are what we want to get," he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060022
The government and the military are more than ready to secure members of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) who are ready to surrender and rejoin their loved ones and families in mainstream society.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana made this pronouncement Friday when asked if the government and the military are capable of protecting NPA members who want to surrender but are afraid to go ahead with their plan due to threats from their comrades.
"Sure we can. We have people in all areas ready to help them: the local elected officials, police, military, DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), in fact the whole government machinery," he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The NPA, the CPP's armed wing, is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States and the European Union.
Earlier, the defense chief said the threat posed by the CPP-NPA is waning, due to the localized peace talks and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
These strategies are responsible for the surrender of NPA regular members and supporters last year.
Lorenzana earlier said that the NPA is no longer a formidable force as its numbers have been greatly reduced.
"They are not that strong because their number is only about less than 6,000. About 1,000 armed rebels (have) already surrendered, so the remaining is 4,000. But their militia is big -- those who support them. If we reckon, we estimate that there are about 50,000 nationwide militia who support them. These militia are what we want to get," he added.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060022
Time to surrender, AFP tells wavering Reds
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): Time to surrender, AFP tells wavering Reds
With the government's localized peace talks and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) going full blast, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said now is the proper time for dissatisfied New People's Army (NPA) communist rebels to surrender.
This, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato, when sought for comment Friday to reports that many rebel fighters are interested in surrendering but are afraid to do so due to threats from their erstwhile comrades.
"Our advice is for them to get out and surrender while they can and avail of the government's E-CLIP. They will be accorded the relocation and security for their safety. It's the best time to change the course of their lives. Abandon the armed struggle and take charge of your future," Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
He added that the NPAs are known to deal harshly with those thinking to surrender to government forces.
"They are always being guarded and watched. They are also threatened. This was the same scenario when they conducted 'Oplan Ahos', which resulted in countless deaths, which was done to get rid of those who were suspected to be spies," he added.
"Oplan Ahos" was implememted from 1985 to 1986 and resulted in the death of an estimated 600 rebels in Mindanao.
The E-CLIP is the flagship program of the Duterte administration that seeks to effect social healing and national unity through a whole-of-nation approach towards the higher objective of having just and lasting peace.
It provides social equity to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA – National Democratic Front and the Militia ng Bayan by devising a different mode of providing benefits and services to the former rebels (FRs), to reintegrate them into mainstream society.
These benefits do not serve as an end, but rather a means to aid the FRs in securing a foothold in restarting their lives.
The NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines' (CPP) armed wing, is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States and the European Union.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060030
With the government's localized peace talks and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) going full blast, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said now is the proper time for dissatisfied New People's Army (NPA) communist rebels to surrender.
This, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief, Col. Noel Detoyato, when sought for comment Friday to reports that many rebel fighters are interested in surrendering but are afraid to do so due to threats from their erstwhile comrades.
"Our advice is for them to get out and surrender while they can and avail of the government's E-CLIP. They will be accorded the relocation and security for their safety. It's the best time to change the course of their lives. Abandon the armed struggle and take charge of your future," Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
He added that the NPAs are known to deal harshly with those thinking to surrender to government forces.
"They are always being guarded and watched. They are also threatened. This was the same scenario when they conducted 'Oplan Ahos', which resulted in countless deaths, which was done to get rid of those who were suspected to be spies," he added.
"Oplan Ahos" was implememted from 1985 to 1986 and resulted in the death of an estimated 600 rebels in Mindanao.
The E-CLIP is the flagship program of the Duterte administration that seeks to effect social healing and national unity through a whole-of-nation approach towards the higher objective of having just and lasting peace.
It provides social equity to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA – National Democratic Front and the Militia ng Bayan by devising a different mode of providing benefits and services to the former rebels (FRs), to reintegrate them into mainstream society.
These benefits do not serve as an end, but rather a means to aid the FRs in securing a foothold in restarting their lives.
The NPA, the Communist Party of the Philippines' (CPP) armed wing, is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States and the European Union.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060030
Make great sacrifices for PH, Albayalde to SAF troops
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): Make great sacrifices for PH, Albayalde to SAF troops
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, called on members of the Special Action Force (SAF) to make great sacrifices to effectively perform their mandate of serving and protecting the country.
“I was once a SAF (Special Action Force) trooper like the rest of you and I know what lies in the heart of every trooper. For us, no mission is too dangerous to undertake. No trooper ever backs out from an operation, however risky and dangerous it might be,” the PNP chief said in his speech during the Day of National Remembrance in honor of the “SAF 44” at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday.
Albayalde also paid tribute to the families of the fallen members of the police’s elite force.
“While no amount of words or tributes may ease the pain in their hearts, we want them to know that the sacrifice of their loved ones will never be in vain. Our gratitude is immense and our prayers remain fervent as we move forward to carry on with mission to serve and protect our nation,” he said.
Albayalde also urged SAF members to manifest valor and core values in executing every mission.
“Let our police ideals of service, honor and justice guide your way as you serve and protect our countrymen,” he said.
He also commended the SAF members for their unwavering commitment to serve, especially in helping secure important events in the country.
“We cannot relax our guard nor take it easy. There is never an end to the work that we do and we are not letting our guard down. A few months from now, our competence on law enforcement and security will once again be put to a test with the conduct of mid-term national and local elections. The Filipino people thinks highly of the Special Action Force, so let's not fail them,” Albayalde said.
He also assured that justice would be given to the bereaved families of the SAF 44.
Also gracing the event were newly-installed SAF Acting Director, Chief Supt. Amando Clifton Empiso and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head, Director Guillermo Eleazar.
The occasion was also marked with a Mass celebrated by PNP Chaplain, Supt. Ronie Arong, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the SAF 44 monument.
On Feb. 21, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164 declaring January 25 as National Day of Remembrance in honor of the heroic death of the 44 SAF commandos who were killed in an operation against local and foreign terrorists, including Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.
This year’s commemoration culminates on Sunday with a 44-km. bike ride from Luneta Park in Manila to Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060046
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, called on members of the Special Action Force (SAF) to make great sacrifices to effectively perform their mandate of serving and protecting the country.
“I was once a SAF (Special Action Force) trooper like the rest of you and I know what lies in the heart of every trooper. For us, no mission is too dangerous to undertake. No trooper ever backs out from an operation, however risky and dangerous it might be,” the PNP chief said in his speech during the Day of National Remembrance in honor of the “SAF 44” at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City on Friday.
Albayalde also paid tribute to the families of the fallen members of the police’s elite force.
“While no amount of words or tributes may ease the pain in their hearts, we want them to know that the sacrifice of their loved ones will never be in vain. Our gratitude is immense and our prayers remain fervent as we move forward to carry on with mission to serve and protect our nation,” he said.
Albayalde also urged SAF members to manifest valor and core values in executing every mission.
“Let our police ideals of service, honor and justice guide your way as you serve and protect our countrymen,” he said.
He also commended the SAF members for their unwavering commitment to serve, especially in helping secure important events in the country.
“We cannot relax our guard nor take it easy. There is never an end to the work that we do and we are not letting our guard down. A few months from now, our competence on law enforcement and security will once again be put to a test with the conduct of mid-term national and local elections. The Filipino people thinks highly of the Special Action Force, so let's not fail them,” Albayalde said.
He also assured that justice would be given to the bereaved families of the SAF 44.
Also gracing the event were newly-installed SAF Acting Director, Chief Supt. Amando Clifton Empiso and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) head, Director Guillermo Eleazar.
The occasion was also marked with a Mass celebrated by PNP Chaplain, Supt. Ronie Arong, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the SAF 44 monument.
On Feb. 21, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164 declaring January 25 as National Day of Remembrance in honor of the heroic death of the 44 SAF commandos who were killed in an operation against local and foreign terrorists, including Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.
This year’s commemoration culminates on Sunday with a 44-km. bike ride from Luneta Park in Manila to Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060046
PNP assures continuous aid for SAF 44 kin
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): PNP assures continuous aid for SAF 44 kin
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured continuous aid for the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who died in an encounter with local and foreign terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao four years ago.
"As so far as the PNP is concerned, we believe that we have already complied with their concern. We believe that we already gave their respective benefits but we are open to any complaint," Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, told reporters on Friday.
Banac also noted that the government remains committed to addressing the concerns of the bereaved families.
“Hindi natin pababayaan ang mga pamilya ng SAF 44. Committed diyan ang ating pamunuan lalo na ang ating Pangulo at chief PNP. Nariyan pa rin tayo para umalalay sa kanila. Tutulong tayo sa pakikipag-koordinasyon sa iba’t-ibang mga ahensya ng gobyerno, baka sakali may benepisyo pa na maibibigay sa kanila (We will not abandon the families of the SAF 44. This is the commitment of the leadership, especially the President and the PNP chief. We are still here to aid them. We will help them coordinate with various government agencies, just in case there are still benefits to be given to them),” he said.
Banac made the statement after Helen Ramacula, mother of slain PO2 Rodel Ramacula, said she has yet to fully receive the financial livelihood program that was promised to them, four years after the tragic incident.
Ramacula claimed that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has yet to give the remaining 30 percent of the livelihood assistance worth PHP300,000.
"It has been four years and we still haven't received the second grant. We only got the first grant," Ramacula said in Filipino.
She said other beneficiaries are experiencing the same problem, noting that she has already complied with the requirements of DSWD, such as submitting documents and other necessary papers for the grant.
"There's no fixed date on when we will receive the money. We previously received the money unexpectedly. It's up to them (DSWD) because they have the money and we are just waiting to receive it. We are still expecting because we have papers," she said.
The Jan. 25, 2015 operation, where the SAF 44 were killed, aimed to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was also killed.
On Feb. 21, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164 declaring January 25 as National Day of Remembrance in honor of the heroic death of the SAF 44.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060062
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has assured continuous aid for the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos who died in an encounter with local and foreign terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao four years ago.
"As so far as the PNP is concerned, we believe that we have already complied with their concern. We believe that we already gave their respective benefits but we are open to any complaint," Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, told reporters on Friday.
Banac also noted that the government remains committed to addressing the concerns of the bereaved families.
“Hindi natin pababayaan ang mga pamilya ng SAF 44. Committed diyan ang ating pamunuan lalo na ang ating Pangulo at chief PNP. Nariyan pa rin tayo para umalalay sa kanila. Tutulong tayo sa pakikipag-koordinasyon sa iba’t-ibang mga ahensya ng gobyerno, baka sakali may benepisyo pa na maibibigay sa kanila (We will not abandon the families of the SAF 44. This is the commitment of the leadership, especially the President and the PNP chief. We are still here to aid them. We will help them coordinate with various government agencies, just in case there are still benefits to be given to them),” he said.
Banac made the statement after Helen Ramacula, mother of slain PO2 Rodel Ramacula, said she has yet to fully receive the financial livelihood program that was promised to them, four years after the tragic incident.
Ramacula claimed that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has yet to give the remaining 30 percent of the livelihood assistance worth PHP300,000.
"It has been four years and we still haven't received the second grant. We only got the first grant," Ramacula said in Filipino.
She said other beneficiaries are experiencing the same problem, noting that she has already complied with the requirements of DSWD, such as submitting documents and other necessary papers for the grant.
"There's no fixed date on when we will receive the money. We previously received the money unexpectedly. It's up to them (DSWD) because they have the money and we are just waiting to receive it. We are still expecting because we have papers," she said.
The Jan. 25, 2015 operation, where the SAF 44 were killed, aimed to neutralize Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was also killed.
On Feb. 21, 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Proclamation No. 164 declaring January 25 as National Day of Remembrance in honor of the heroic death of the SAF 44.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060062
Palace honors SAF 44; calls for faster action from Ombudsman
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): Palace honors SAF 44; calls for faster action from Ombudsman
Malacañang on Friday paid tribute to the gallantry of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were slain in a botched operation against local and foreign terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao four years ago.
"We pay homage to the bravery and heroism of the 44 uniformed personnel of the Special Action Force known as the Fallen SAF 44. They offered and gave their lives for the country and the people," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to fast-track the cases in relation to the death of 44 SAF commandos.
"We urge the Office of the Ombudsman to resolve with dispatch the case filed against those who recklessly placed them in mortal peril. The nation demands justice for them, as well as the prosecution of those responsible for the botched police operation," he said.
Panelo vowed the incident would never happen again under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
"Never again will we allow a recurrence of such tragic event. Those in authority must learn from the mistakes of the past, otherwise those valorous men in uniform would have died in vain," he said.
Running after those liable
Meanwhile, an anti-crime group called on the government to stop the arraignment of former president Benigno Aquino III on downgraded charges in connection with the SAF 44's death.
In a demonstration held in line with the Day of National Remembrance in honor of the SAF 44 in Manila, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, along with members of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption (VACC) representing parents of the slain lawmen, said they are still awaiting Supreme Court (SC) action on a petition they filed to stop the arraignment of Aquino on lesser charges of graft and usurpation of authority.
The group wants the Ombudsman to have Aquino and his co-accused charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, a position echoed by the Office of the Solicitor General in a manifestation last year before the high court.
"We are waiting for an order by the SC for us to file a memorandum on the case. It is a question of law. We laud that under the law, the OSG, which is tasked to represent the government, including the Ombudsman, has ruled that in this case they could not take up the position of the Ombudsman and said we, petitioners, are correct in demanding that the 44 counts of homicide are proper," Topacio said in Filipino.
He also expressed hope that the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, will look into the case and move it along.
"We are not coercing or browbeating anyone. We are respectfully urging for the case to proceed," Topacio said, adding that they will no longer file a motion to expedite the case and reiterated their trust in the judiciary.
"The quest for justice is always impressed with a certain sense of urgency," he said.
On Jan. 25, 2015, the 44 SAF troopers died in an operation to neutralize wanted terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias "Marwan", and Abdul Basit Usman.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060084
Malacañang on Friday paid tribute to the gallantry of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) troopers who were slain in a botched operation against local and foreign terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao four years ago.
"We pay homage to the bravery and heroism of the 44 uniformed personnel of the Special Action Force known as the Fallen SAF 44. They offered and gave their lives for the country and the people," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
Panelo also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to fast-track the cases in relation to the death of 44 SAF commandos.
"We urge the Office of the Ombudsman to resolve with dispatch the case filed against those who recklessly placed them in mortal peril. The nation demands justice for them, as well as the prosecution of those responsible for the botched police operation," he said.
Panelo vowed the incident would never happen again under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
"Never again will we allow a recurrence of such tragic event. Those in authority must learn from the mistakes of the past, otherwise those valorous men in uniform would have died in vain," he said.
Running after those liable
Meanwhile, an anti-crime group called on the government to stop the arraignment of former president Benigno Aquino III on downgraded charges in connection with the SAF 44's death.
In a demonstration held in line with the Day of National Remembrance in honor of the SAF 44 in Manila, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, along with members of the Volunteers against Crime and Corruption (VACC) representing parents of the slain lawmen, said they are still awaiting Supreme Court (SC) action on a petition they filed to stop the arraignment of Aquino on lesser charges of graft and usurpation of authority.
The group wants the Ombudsman to have Aquino and his co-accused charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, a position echoed by the Office of the Solicitor General in a manifestation last year before the high court.
"We are waiting for an order by the SC for us to file a memorandum on the case. It is a question of law. We laud that under the law, the OSG, which is tasked to represent the government, including the Ombudsman, has ruled that in this case they could not take up the position of the Ombudsman and said we, petitioners, are correct in demanding that the 44 counts of homicide are proper," Topacio said in Filipino.
He also expressed hope that the Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, will look into the case and move it along.
"We are not coercing or browbeating anyone. We are respectfully urging for the case to proceed," Topacio said, adding that they will no longer file a motion to expedite the case and reiterated their trust in the judiciary.
"The quest for justice is always impressed with a certain sense of urgency," he said.
On Jan. 25, 2015, the 44 SAF troopers died in an operation to neutralize wanted terrorists Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias "Marwan", and Abdul Basit Usman.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060084
Comelec ratifies BOL as canvassing ends
From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 26): Comelec ratifies BOL as canvassing ends
The National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC) on Friday proclaimed the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This, after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc, sitting as the NPBOC, canvassed all four Certificates of Canvass of Monday's plebiscite.
In a resolution, the poll body said majority of the areas participated in the plebiscite, namely Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Basilan, and Cotabato City voted 'Yes' while voters in Isabela City voted 'No'.
The votes garnered in the following areas are as follows:
* ARMM: Yes - 1,540,017; No - 198,750;
* Cotabato: Yes - 36,682; No - 24,994;
* Isabela City: Yes - 19,032; No - 22,441
* Basilan: Yes - 144,640; No - 8,487.
“The Comelec sitting en banc proclaims Republic Act 11054, Organic Law for BARMM as deemed ratified, majority of votes cast of present ARMM is in favor of approval of Organic Law,” said the resolution read by Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas.
Due to the victory of “No” votes in Isabela City, it will not be a part of the BARMM.
At the same time, the NPBOC ordered the Committee to furnish a copy of the resolution to the Office of the President, Senate and House of Representatives.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060114
The National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC) on Friday proclaimed the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
This, after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc, sitting as the NPBOC, canvassed all four Certificates of Canvass of Monday's plebiscite.
In a resolution, the poll body said majority of the areas participated in the plebiscite, namely Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Basilan, and Cotabato City voted 'Yes' while voters in Isabela City voted 'No'.
The votes garnered in the following areas are as follows:
* ARMM: Yes - 1,540,017; No - 198,750;
* Cotabato: Yes - 36,682; No - 24,994;
* Isabela City: Yes - 19,032; No - 22,441
* Basilan: Yes - 144,640; No - 8,487.
“The Comelec sitting en banc proclaims Republic Act 11054, Organic Law for BARMM as deemed ratified, majority of votes cast of present ARMM is in favor of approval of Organic Law,” said the resolution read by Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas.
Due to the victory of “No” votes in Isabela City, it will not be a part of the BARMM.
At the same time, the NPBOC ordered the Committee to furnish a copy of the resolution to the Office of the President, Senate and House of Representatives.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060114