Friday, May 3, 2019

AFP-CRS: AFP operations to continue

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook page (May 3, 2019): AFP operations to continue

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https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2445934555425254/?type=3&theater

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AFP-CRS: Training hideout ng CPP-NPA, nakubkob

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook page (May 3, 2019): Training hideout ng CPP-NPA, nakubkob

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AFP-CRS: Army condemns CNTs murder of two children

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook page (May 3, 2019): Army condemns CNTs murder of two children

FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – The Philippine Army condemns the murder of two children as a result of CPP-NPA-Terrorists’ (CNTs) atrocities in Northern Samar and Bukidnon last April 2019 and November 2017, respectively.

According to the reports of 20th Infantry Battalion, 9-year-old Armando Remolde was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device thrown by the rebels while the said battalion was conducting security patrol in barangay San Miguel, Las Navas. On the other hand, the 4th Infantry Division who responded in the killing of 4-month-old Machorao Walysha in Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag was caused by the terrorists’ ambush attempt against the police.

The CNTs are also responsible for the numerous reports about the destruction and arson of civilian properties, forced displacement of communities, rape, torture, kidnapping, recruitment of minors, use of civilians as human shields and attacks during humanitarian assistance. The murder case of Remolde and Walysha are among the many violations of the CNTs against human rights and there are others who have not yet reported due to fear and harassment of the NPA.

The Army encourages all Filipinos to immediately report the CNTs through documenting the identities of these violators and the offenses they have made, the place, time and date where the incident occurred and how the rebels committed the crime. Photos, videos and other documents are also important as it may support report.

After documenting all the necessary information, victims and their families must report to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as they will prepare the legal documents such as the Judicial Affidavit, PNP report or blotter, photo or video evidence, scene of the crime operatives report and medical certificate.

Afterwards, file a complaint to the state’s respective agencies such as Commission on Human Rights and Department of Justice; and seek legal assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office.

Under the Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes Against Humanity, the state adopts the International Humanitarian Law wherein the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 3 provides, “everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”

The Philippine Army calls on the Filipino populace to remain vigilant from the atrocities of these law-less groups. The Philippine Army assures to continue its fight in attaining lasting peace, free the people from the threats of the perpetrators and safeguard the innocent lives of the peace-loving nation.

PH, Indonesia launch joint patrol

From Malaya Business Insight (May 3, 2019): PH, Indonesia launch joint patrol

PHILIPPINE and Indonesian warships yesterday launched joint patrol at the common boarders of the two countries to deter piracy, smuggling, and other maritime crimes.

Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, spokesman of the AFP’s Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City, said the 10-day joint patrol mission at the Celebes Sea will start on Saturday.

Numerous kidnapping activities have been conducted by the Abu Sayyaf, a group notorious for beheading its captives, in the waters of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia over the few years. The group keeps its hostages in Sulu.

Balagtey said the joint patrol was launched in Davao City yesterday during a ceremony graced by Commodore Ramil Roberto Enriquez, chief of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Command, and Indonesian First Admiral Jonias Mozes Sipasulta.

Roberto and Sipasulta are vice chairmen of the boarder committee of Philippines and Indonesia.
Balagtey said the formal joint patrol will start tomorrow because the two sides will have tabletop exercises and goodwill games today.

Participating in the joint patrol are BRP Ramon Alcaraz from the Philippines and Kri Pandrong from Indonesia. The ships will be sent off during rites at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City tomorrow morning.

Balagtey said the joint patrol between the two countries is sanctioned by the 1975 Border Patrol and Border Crossing Agreement. He said the two countries conduct such joint patrols four times a year.
“The main mission is to secure the common border, to curtail maritime crimes, and stop various sea crimes like smuggling and piracy,” said Balagtey.

“Aside from its security purpose, the patrol will likewise provide the naval forces of both countries an opportunity to improve their interoperability and capability in furtherance of a safe and secure common border, through a naval exercise simulating different scenarios,” added Balagtey.

https://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/ph-indonesia-launch-joint-patrol

5 NPA rebels, 39 supporters surrender in Ilocos Sur

From Malaya Business Insight (May 3, 2019): 5 NPA rebels, 39 supporters surrender in Ilocos Sur

FIVE New People’s Army rebels and 39 supporters surrendered to Army officials in Candon City, Ilocos Sur on Wednesday due to continuing intensified operations against the communists.

Capt. Catherine Hapin, spokeswoman of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division, said the 44 will be presented to Candon City Mayor Ericson Gacula Singson today and will be asked to pledge their allegiance to government.

Hapin said the 44 yielded to officials of the Army’s 81st Infantry Battalion in the presence of barangay officials in Barangay Tablac.

Hapin said the 44 surrendered due to “pressure from government forces,” referring to the relentless combat operations against the NPA and the province’s declaration of the rebel group as “persona non grata.”

Maj. Gen. Lenard Agustin, 7th ID commander, said the military will sustain the counter-insurgency operations to convince those “who have been led astray to surrender to the government and lead peaceful lives.”

“They now have the opportunity to live in peace and be with their families. The government will capacitate them to earn and start anew, and ensure that they will never go hungry again through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” said Agustin.

“We will welcome all those who choose to embrace peace but will consider an enemy those who will continue to back violence and insurgency,” Agustin added.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said about 1,800 NPA rebels and supporters have surrendered to the military during the first four months of the year.

https://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/5-npa-rebels-39-supporters-surrender-ilocos-sur

Kalinaw News: Farmer accidentally discovered Land Mine

From Kalinaw News (May 3, 2019): Farmer accidentally discovered Land Mine



Headquarters 56th Infantry (TATAG) Battalion, Philippine Army, Brgy Sto NiƱo, Talaingod, Davao del Norte − Initial information reported to this unit that at around 4:20AM, May 2, 2019 a certain Mr Sammy Sacolabon, a resident of Sitio New Bugni, Brgy Palma Gil, Talaingod, Davao del Norte accidentally discovered a piece of cylindrical material while on his way to his farmland approximately 1.5 kilometers away from his house.

The cylindrical material weighing approximately 5 kilograms has at least 100 meters long electrical wire attached to it.

LTC EDWIN M PAREDES INF (GSC) Commanding Officer 56IB disclosed that Mr Sacolabon immediately reported his discovery to the nearest Community Support Program (CSP) Team of 56IB, Philippine Army led by Sgt Bahia who subsequently proceeded to the area to verify the suspicious items which they confirmed as Anti-personnel Land Mine.

Anti-personnel landmines are designed by the enemies primarily to reroute or push back foot patrol soldiers from a given geographic area. These mines can kill or disable their victims, and are activated by pressure, tripwire or remote detonation.

The Communist Terrorist Group intentionally emplaced the land mine to inflict casualty to the government troops operating within the area, Ltc Paredes added.

The Recovered items were then turned over to this unit for safe keeping and for proper disposition.



56th Infantry Battalion 7th Infantry Division
CPT John Louie Dema-ala (INF)
Public Information Officer
56th Infantry (TATAG) Battalion
Cellphone No: 09673514403
E Mail Address: cmotatag56@gmail.com

https://www.kalinawnews.com/farmer-accidentally-discovered-land-mine

CPP: Workers, unite and lead the Filipino people in the struggle against the fascist, rotten and treasonous US-Duterte regime!

CPP propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 2, 2019): Workers, unite and lead the Filipino people in the struggle against the fascist, rotten and treasonous US-Duterte regime!



The Party extends its militant greetings to all Filipino workers and the broad toiling masses as we mark this year’s May First. On this day, the working class in the Philippines and across the world manifest their unity and militance, especially in the face of rapidly worsening conditions of oppression and exploitation.

On this day, the Communist Party of the Philippines, the political party of the Filipino working class, calls on all workers and toiling people in the country to resist fiercely and advance their interests amid intolerable socio-economic conditions as well as intensifying political repression and state terrorism perpetrated by the Duterte regime’s agents of death.

Over the past years under Duterte, the problems of the working class have grown worse by the day. More than 11 million Filipinos are unemployed or underemployed and very few jobs are being created amid the economic crisis. Duterte and his technocrats are falsely hyping the supposed lack of skilled workers to cover up the acute jobs crisis and justify the mass entry of lowly-paid workers from China to comply with secret loan agreements.

Big business is taking advantage of the oversupply of labor in the country by forcing workers to accept extremely low wages and oppressive employment schemes. Minimum wages are not enough to cover even the cost of food and other basic necessities which have risen as a result of tax impositions. The Duterte regime justifies low wages by claiming ludicrously low cost of living.

Short-term job contractualization and other forms of flexible employment schemes continue to bedevil workers. Contractual workers receive less wages, do not receive benefits and are prevented from forming unions to defend their rights. Filipino workers are extremely incensed by Duterte’s false promises to end contractualization.

In contrast to conditions of Filipino workers and toiling masses who suffer from low wages and lack of jobs, the ruling big bureaucrat capitalists and big bourgeois compradors continue to accumulate large amounts of wealth. While working-class families try their hardest to make ends meet, Duterte and his family have inexplicably amassed millions of pesos since 2016 in declared wealth. Big business operations in public utilities, as well as other large enterprises, continue to gain billions of pesos in annual profits by expliting workers.

The Duterte regime is currently the most concentrated expression of the problems of Filipino workers and toiling masses. Duterte is anti-worker and anti-poor as shown by his policy of wage depression, refusal to heed the clamor against contractualization, imposition of taxes, failure to act against rising prices of fuel and others and so on.

Political repression against workers is intensifying. There is a rising number of workers activists being killed, imprisoned on trumped up charges, surveiled and harassed. Police and military forces are being used to violently break up strikes and workers mass actions. Workers organizations are being tagged as “communist fronts” to justify the repressive measures against them. These attacks against workers are carried out alongside the vicious attacks against the peasant masses in the countryside, as well as sectors critical of the policies of the regime.

Amid worsening conditions, Filipino workers are compelled to fight in order to carry forward their struggles. They must build more, bigger and stronger unions and organizations in order to represent the interests of workers (including those of contractuals) in collective bargaining with their employers. Widespread strikes are bound to be mounted as the big capitalists zealously defend their own selfish interests.

Political education and propaganda must be conducted tirelessly and extensively among workers through their unions and other forms of organizations. Workers must be roused to be concerned not only with their own sectoral interests, but with the broader interests of the Filipino people as well. The workers movement must perform its role as the biggest component, most militant core and vanguard of the democratic mass movement.

The Filipino workers must be at the forefront of the struggle against the US-Duterte regime. They must help build the broadest possible united front against the regime’s fascism, corruption and treachery. This is the key to defeating Duterte and his plans to establish an open fascist dictatorship.

The working class movement must exercise leadership by exhibiting militance, linking-up with the different sectors, reaching out to other workplaces, campuses and communities, and by rousing millions of workers and other groups to stand up against Duterte and mount demonstrations to exercise their power.

The Party enjoins the workers to join the armed struggle in the countryside. Become Red fighters and commanders and help lead the New People’s Army in waging protracted people’s war. The NPA is mounting tactical offensives against the fascists, helping the peasant masses carry out land reform and build their mass organizations and organs political power. By having more and more workers, the NPA is further strengthened as a peasant army and as the most concentrated expression of the worker-peasant alliance.

The most militant and politically-conscious workers are enjoined to become members of the Communist Party of Philippines. The Party is guided by Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, the ideology of the proletariat. The class interests of the workers are concentrated in the Party.

The Party is carrying forward the people’s democratic revolution that seek the overthrow the neocolonial regime of big bourgeois compradors, big landlords and bureaucrat capitalists, put an end to the semicolonial and semifeudal system, establish a people’s democratic government and set the stage for the socialist revolution.

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/2019/05/01/workers-unite-and-lead-the-filipino-people-in-the-struggle-against-the-fascist-rotten-and-treasonous-us-duterte-regime/

CPP/NPA-Quezon: NPA-Quezon: No training camp was overran by AFP troops

NPA-Quezon propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 2, 2019): NPA-Quezon: No training camp was overran by AFP troops

ELIZA “KA ELI” DE LA GUERRA
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON
APOLONIO MENDOZA COMMAND
NPA-QUEZON
NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY
MAY 02, 2019

The military is once again lying through their teeth. They claim, as reported in Philippine Daily Inquirer yesterday, that they overran an alleged training camp of the NPA rebels in Sierra Madre mountain ranges yesterday morning, May 1, 2019, in Canaway, Gen. Nakar, Quezon.

WE vehemently deny such incident happened yesterday. The truth is that there is no NPA training camp in the said area and no encounter took place between the NPA forces and government soldiers and policemen. Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Burgos of 202nd Infantry Brigade and Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Parayno of 2nd ID-PA together with their public affairs chief,Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban, are spewing lies to deceive the people into beleiving that thery are winning in their war against the NPA forces in Southern Tagalog Region when in fact they are losing in every engagament with NPA forces in Mt. Sierra Madre Mountain ranges. They are daydreaming or just haluccinating in their wish to defeat the NPA forces. Every month since February 2019, they suffered casualty in every engagement with the NPA forces. Last month alone, they suffer two casualties in sniping operation against them by NPA forces. One soldier was killed in Sitio Pulang Lupa, Umiray, Gen. Nakar Quezon last April 18, 2019. Another soldier was killed in Sitio Sumag, Umiray, Gen. Nakar, Quezon last April 26, 2019. Both soldiers belonged to the 80th Infantry Battalion-PA.

To compensate for their battlefield losses, they are propagating fake news. To hide the truth, they presented to the media and to the public a rehash discovery of blasting caps, improvised explosive devices, radio equipment, other war materials, and documents with their usual preposterous claim that bloodstain is present in the withdrawal route and that NPA suffeered casualties without presenting any credible evidence.

The truth shall set us free! Let us condemn the fake news propagated by the AFP-PNP. We are also calling on the PDI reporters and journalist of other media outlets to confirm with us first any AFP-PNP releases to ensure balance and fair reporting. Let us continue seeking truth from facts to avoid spreading fake news.

LONG LIVE THE NEW PEOPLES ARMY!

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statement/no-npa-training-camp-was-over-ran-by-afp-troops-in-north-quezon/

CPP/NDF-EV: Leyte currently under de facto martial law because of Gen. Dagoy’s fascist terror

NDF-Eastern Visayas propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 2, 2019): Leyte currently under de facto martial law because of Gen. Dagoy’s fascist terror

FR. SANTIAGO “KA SANNY” SALAS 
SPOKESPERSON NDF-EV 
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES
MAY 02, 2019

The National Democratic Front in Eastern Visayas today said that the people of Leyte are currently suffering martial law conditions under Philippine Army brigade commander Lope Dagoy by way of forced surrenders, blatant disinformation and fake news, and psychological warfare against the masses. “Gen. Dagoy has maliciously twisted facts of their ‘NPA surrenderees’ and ‘peace caravan’ to make it appear the revolutionary movement has weakened in Leyte, when in fact he and his fascist troops had frightened and terrorized them into surrendering and doing his bidding,” NDF-EV spokesperson Fr. Santiago “Ka Sanny” Salas said.

Fr. Salas refuted Gen. Dagoy’s claim of the surrender of alleged NPA leader Rolando Tarong last March and stressed he was actually arrested. “Tarong is thus currently under duress and without access to legal counsel of his own choice in violation of his basic rights. The guns attributed to him were planted by the military. There are other fake surrenders as well in Biliran.”

Fr. Salas added, “The touted 1,000-strong attendees of their ‘peace caravan’ in San Isidro is in reality people who had been coerced into attending out of fear for their lives. In Calubian and San Isidro towns, for instance, soldiers explicitly told the masses that if they make any contact with Red fighters, they will be executed. Scores of civilians are arbitrarily brought to military camps to be illegally detained and interrogated, such as the case of Felipe Monteclabo, Jr. and his entire family, who were accused of harboring arms for the NPA, and a separate incident of up to 20 individuals labeled as NPA supporters. Gen. Dagoy’s method is clear: violate human rights and international humanitarian law, generate a climate of fear among the masses, and silence their legitimate struggle for land and other democratic demands.”

Fr. Salas observed that such was the style of fascist terror Gen. Dagoy employed as then commanding officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion and as Palparan’s running dog during the Arroyo regime’s Oplan Bantay Laya II, masterminding the mass murder, arbitrary arrests and forced disappearances of several CPP-NPA cadres and progressive activists. “Fascist dogs such as Gen. Dagoy only show that the ruling classes are growing desperate and hence resorting to lying and targeting civilians to finish the revolutionary movement. But on the contrary, these only fan the flames of the people’s hatred towards the military and the US-Duterte regime. All the more that the Leytehanons desire to pursue people’s war and topple the reactionary system which oppresses them.”

Fr. Salas called on all peace-loving people to expose and oppose the de facto martial law in Leyte. “Let us gather all support for the peasant masses, and join them in their call for the troops to pull out of their communities and adhere to the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, international instrumentalities and the 1987 constitution. We call on the media, lawyers, church people and other human rights and peace advocates to stand with the masses of the people. The people of Leyte and the entire region must persevere and resist the US-Duterte regime and its butchers like Gen. Dagoy by forming the broad united front and actively waging struggle through armed and unarmed means to oust the hated regime,” he ended.#

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statement/leyte-currently-under-de-facto-martial-law-because-of-gen-dagoys-fascist-terror/

CPP/NDF-EV: NDF-EV twits police general: Election candidates defer to the People’s Democratic Government and the growing strength of the NPA

NDF-Eastern Visayas propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 2, 2019): NDF-EV twits police general: Election candidates defer to the People’s Democratic Government and the growing strength of the NPA

FR. SANTIAGO “KA SANNY” SALAS
SPOKESPERSON NDF-EV
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES
MAY 02, 2019

The National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas dismissed Philippine National Police Gen. Ariel Arcinas’s claims the New People’s Army is inconsequential and only revives during reactionary elections as “desperate bluffing.” Arcinas, the police regional deputy director, made the claims to attack the issuance of the misnomer “permit to campaign/permit to win.”

Fr. Santiago “Ka Sanny” Salas, NDF-EV spokesperson, said, “The NPA will never be a has-been but the Duterte regime is bound to be one. In fact, the NPA is growing even faster today because of the Duterte regime’s mass murder, greed, narcopolitics, subservience to China and the US, Red-baiting and other attacks on the political opposition, and neoliberal regimen that is causing inflation and other sufferings for the poor. The NPA’s advance attests to the people’s defiant resistance, both armed and unarmed, to the brutal and immoral Duterte regime.

“The main task of the of the NPA during the present reactionary elections is to intensify tactical offensives against the military and police who carry out the fascist “counterinsurgency” Oplan Kapayapaan, Memo 32 and Executive Order 70. Such decrees by Duterte imposes virtual martial law in Eastern Visayas, leading to extrajudicial killings, harassments, mass evacuations and other violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.”

Ka Sanny also said the election candidates are obliged to recognize the existence of two governments in the country. “Election candidates recognize the existence of the People’s Democratic Government and the role of the NPA in enforcing revolutionary authority. They are obliged to ask for the direct permission to campaign and meet with the revolutionary authorities to discuss their programs and explore unities beneficial to the people. They are required to pay the appropriate electoral access fee to campaign in the revolutionary territory and to follow the rules against using the military, police and goons to intimidate the people and influence the election.”

Fr. Salas stressed, “There is thus no such thing as a “permit to campaign/permit to win” because the electoral access fee is not about buying votes, but obtaining the right to campaign according to the guidelines set by the revolutionary government. In reality, the revolutionary mass organizations under the People’s Democratic Government are educated about the reactionary elections as a form of struggle and individual voters make their choices freely.

“The deference shown by the majority of election candidates in Eastern Visayas to the People’s Democratic Government attest to the growing strength, moral high ground, prestige and open-mindedness of the revolutionary movement. This cannot be accepted only by narrow-minded, fascist idiots like Arcinas who spin the psywar the NPA has become a flash in the pan election phenomenon.”

The NDF-EV spokesperson thus concluded, “The armed revolutionary forces do not participate in the bourgeois or reactionary election as a matter of principle and because the ruling state prevents them. As far as the revolutionary movement is concerned, the reactionary election is characterized by mass cheating and terrorism as an instrument of the landlords, big businesspersons and big bureaucrats to take turns who will next oppress and exploit the people. There are of course revolutionary elections in the mass organizations and organs of political power where the people exercise their democratic right to nominate and elect through secret balloting leaders who are accountable and subject to recall. In the final analysis, revolution and not the reactionary election is the way to genuine change.”#

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statement/ndf-ev-twits-police-general-election-candidates-defer-to-the-peoples-democratic-government-and-the-growing-strength-of-the-npa/

CPP/NPA-Negros Island: Panabotahe sang 15th IBPA sa Mayo Uno nga Hublag Protesta sa Kabankalan City, Ginakondenar sang MCC-NPA

NPA-Negros Island propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 2, 2019): Panabotahe sang 15th IBPA sa Mayo Uno nga Hublag Protesta sa Kabankalan City, Ginakondenar sang MCC-NPA

DIONESIO MAGBUELAS
NPA-NEGROS ISLAND (MT. CANSERMON COMMAND)
NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY
MAY 02, 2019

Lubos nga ginakondenar sang MCC-NPA ang garapalan nga pagpanabotahe sang nagpakilala nga katapo sang 15th IBPA nga si PFC Jonard Verga armado sang 45 cal pistol sang nadakpan ini nga nagapanguha sang mga litrato sa mga delegado sang nasambit nga hublag protesta sa Kabankalan City kahapon sang udto.

Maathag ini nga Human Rights Violation nga ginakomiter direkta sang AFP partikular na ang 15th IBPA sa pagpamuno ni Col. Tumalis sa pagsupreher sang dunang kinamatarung sang katawhan.

Ang malisyuso nga pagpanglitrato sa mga delegado nga wala sang kasugot sang mga natungdan isa ka klaro nga bayolasyon. Samtang, diin man ang matawhay nga naga-asembleya, redress of grievances kag pagpahayag sang ila mga demokratikong demanda isa ka pag-ehersisyo sang legal demokratikong kinamatarung upod ang maximum tolerance sa bahin sang authorities kag state security forces.

Segurado gid ang MCC nga gamiton naman ini sang AFP kag PNP ang mga nakuha sini nga litrato bilang ebidensya sa mga patu-pato nga kaso kriminal batok sa mga aktibista, lider masa kag iban pa nga demokratikong pwersa kag i-angot naman sa CPP-NPA-NDF kag iladlad sa mga lugar-publiko. Gamiton ini sa pagkondisyon sa huna-huna sang publiko sa pag-justify sang kampanyang red-tagging, political killings kag iban pa nga mga pakana tubtob sa pagpatuman sang extra judicial killings sang mapintas nga estado idalum sa kampanyang militar Oplan Kapayapaan sang US-Duterte nga rehimen.

Nadumduman si Atty. Benjamin Ramos sang NUPL ang kongkreto nga biktima sang extra judicial killings sa Kabankalan sang ginapatihan mga katapo sang state security forces sang nagligad nga tuig. Nadumduman man nga 2 ka enlisted personnels ang nagkaladakpan nga nagsunud-sunod sa mga katapo sang NUPL antis ginlubong si Atty Ben Ramos.

Bangud kay nabuking ang mga pakana ni Col. Tumalis, diversionary kag psywar ang pagpasibangud sa mga delegado nga kuno nagkastigo sa nagpakilala nga si PFC Jonard Verga sang 15th IBPA.

Wala sang iban pa ang nagasugid sang mga binutig kag pakana sang AFP ilabe na ni B/Gen. Benedict Arevalo sang 303rd BdePA kag daw mga idu-buang nga BATCOM sini kaangay ni Col. Tumalis sang 15th IBPA kundi ang ila lamang mga tinawo nga nagakaladakpan sa tion sang ila mga intel operations.

Padayon nga maghimakas kag indi magkahadlok! Hublasan ang mga tanan nga padugi kag pakana sang AFP kag US-Duterte nga rehimen! Isulong ang inaway banwa tubtob sa kadalag-an!

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statement/panabotahe-sang-15th-ibpa-sa-mayo-uno-nga-hublag-protesta-sa-kabankalan-city-ginakondenar-sang-mcc-npa/

MILF: Philippines Peace Processes seek to address Historical Rights, Injustices

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Website (May 2, 2019): Philippines Peace Processes seek to address Historical Rights, Injustices


The new adviser on the peace process former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. of the renamed Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), and Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermoso, member of the government Peace Implementing Panel for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace accord and co-chair of the Joint Normalization Committee spokes on Philippines peace processes along with Professor Rufa Guiam, and Irene Santiago in “Wining the Peace” multi-stakeholders dialogue held recently in Davao City.

The multi-stakeholders dialogue was organized by the Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID) and the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) under the auspices of the Office of the University President, in coordination with the Madaris Volunteer Program and the University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC).

This policy dialogue sought to shed light on the Philippine peace process discussing both the status of the political transition in the Bangsamoro and updates on the terminated GRP-NDFP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines-National Democratic Front Philippines) peace talks including the much-debated Executive Order No. 70 (Institutionalizing the Whole-of-nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and Directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework).

Sec. Galvez said that Executive Order No. 70 was essentially a shift of government’s efforts in addressing the communist-led insurgency through localized peace efforts.

Some participant in the forum clarified what they consider a potentially divisive policy, EO NO. 07 that needed the buy-in and participation of all stakeholders in the peace process in its crafting and implementation.

Said dialogue likewise highlighted the concerns and views of the Indigenous Peoples leaders particularly in Mindanao on how the E.O. 70 will affect the past peace agreements and contribute to the escalation of armed hostilities in their ancestral domains resulting to more internally displaced Lumads.

Sec. Galvez contended that the government is currently conducting consultations so that all agreements will be in the purview of the constitution, thereby scrapping back-channel agreements that did not go through a constitutional process.

ASec. Hermoso, on the Normalization deal of the government with the MILF combatants, said that there is economic package assistance for the decommissioned armed forces of MILF and their families.

The 3-year program for decommissioned combatants includes social protection, capacity development, livelihood deployment assistance, housing assistance, and assistance to DC families or beneficiaries for 2 years.

In the first phase of decommissioning, there are 145 MILF combatants and 75 high-powered fire arms and crew-served weapons of MILF was turned-over to Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) in a symbolic decommissioning program on June 16, 2015 at Crossing Simuay, Old Maguindanao Provincial Capitol, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

After the establishment of Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), a Muslim autonomous government led and ran by the MILF for at least 3 Years before the regular 2022 elections, about 30% or 12,000 combatants are to be decommissioned this year for the phase 2 program of decommissioning.

Another for the phase 3, 35% or 14,000 of combatants is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2020, and another 5% or equivalent to 14,000 combatants are to be decommissioned in 2021-2022, the signing of the exit agreement is set in the phase 4 of decommissioning program.

It is expected that 30,000 to 40,000 combatants of MILF will go to the process of decommissioning.

The remaining decommissioning program under the Normalization aspect of the peace process, however, will be observed if the Philippine government will also comply to help the Moro Government in the disbandment of PAGs, elimination of UXOs and Landmines, redeployment of government forces back to their camps, to work for the program on Transitional Justice and Reconciliation, implement the socio-economic assistance, and the Law and maintenance of peace and order in the Bangsamoro though Policing, among others.

To galvanize the Normalization for the Bangsamoro, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed EO No. 79 on April 24 this year to have full implementation of the Normalization track, particularly its various mechanisms and components that have initially been established on the ground.

Sec. Galvez said that by affixing his signature to EO 79, the Chief Executive is sending a strong message that his administration is determined to sustain the gains and push forward the Bangsamoro peace process to its successful conclusion.

“This is the moment we have been waiting for. It is another testament of the President’s firm commitment to fulfill all signed agreements with the various Moro fronts and finally bring genuine and enduring peace to the Bangsamoro,” Galvez said.

Gus Miclat, Executive Director of the IID committed to consolidating the outputs of the forum and workshops for participants to share them with relevant actors and agencies including government, non-state actors, civil society and their respective networks for further discussions, analysis, and action.

http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1791/philippines-peace-processes-seek-to-address-historical-rights--injustices-

AFP-CRS: Former NPA members, MBs, supporters and LGUs join the fight against CPP-NPA-NDF terrorism

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook page (May 3, 2019): Former NPA members, MBs, supporters and LGUs join the fight against CPP-NPA-NDF terrorism

"I am very glad that the former NPA members are the ones actively helping us win over the NPAs in our area. You (FRs) are the best persons to convince the active NPA members, as their comrades who were enlightened and have embraced the true path of peace and prosperity. I am appealing to all remaining NPAs to heed the call of peace and join our government to end terrorism."

- LTC NARCISO B NABULNEG, JR., PA
Commanding Officer, 54th Infantry Battalion

#ECLIP
#BalikLoob
#BalikPamilya
#UniteForPeace
#AFPYouCanTrust
#FRSLeadTheFightAgainstTheCPPNPANDF

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PAF-CMOG: Activation of PAF Civil Military Operations Group

Posted to Civil Military Operations Group-Philippine Air Force (CMOG-PAF) Facebook page (Apr 30, 2019): Activation of PAF Civil Military Operations Group

The CMOG, PAF will be guided by the principle of LOVE, RESPECT and FEAR. We will perform CMO for the people to feel that we the Philippine Air Force LOVE and RESPECT them, in return they would LOVE, RESPECT and SUPPORT us and for our enemies to JUSTLY FEAR us.

"Guardians of Our Precious Skies, Bearers of Hope"

#WarriorDiplomat
#PADAYONPAF
#YourPhilippineAirforce

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AFP-CRS: Mass surrender of CPP-NPA-NDF members highlights renewed trust in government

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook page (May 3, 2019): Mass surrender of CPP-NPA-NDF members highlights renewed trust in government



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2445928442092532/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/?fref=photo

AFP-CRS: Militant groups dared to condemn CPP-NPA-NDF atrocities

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook page (May 3, 2019): Militant groups dared to condemn CPP-NPA-ndf atrocities

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Lawyers score SC victories vs army harassment, West PH Sea neglect

From Rappler (May 3, 2019): Lawyers score SC victories vs army harassment, West PH Sea neglect

Writs of amparo and kalikasan are issued on the same day in favor of human rights groups which sued the Duterte administration in two separate petitions

HUMAN RIGHTS WIN. The Supreme Court issues two protective writs to two groups which sued the Duterte administration in separate petitions. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

HUMAN RIGHTS WIN. The Supreme Court issues two protective writs to two groups which sued the Duterte administration in separate petitions. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

The Supreme Court (SC) gave back-to-back victories to human rights groups on Friday, May 3, after it issued writs of amparo and kalikasan against military harassment and environmental neglect in the West Philippine Sea.

Both petitions sued the Duterte administration.

The SC announced on Friday that after its special en banc session, the justices decided to grant the petitions of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) which complained of harassment from the military and MalacaƱang; and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) with senatorial bet Chel Diokno which complained of neglect in enforcing environmental laws in the West Philippine Sea.

"It also sends a strong and clear signal to the military and government officials alike, as well as their proxies or agents, that there are certain well-defined rules of evidence not incompatible with basic fairness, decency, common sense and logic that must be observed," NUPL president Edre Olalia said in a statement on Friday.

Writ of Amparo

The NUPL requested for writs of amparo and habeas data after army generals linked them to communist rebels. The lawyers filed a supplemental petitionafter MalacaƱang included them in a matrix that tagged media groups in a supposed ouster plot.

A writ of Amparo is a legal remedy seeking a protection order, while a Writ of Habeas Data asks the Court to compel the respondent to delete or destroy damaging information.

"The Supreme Court, in a special en banc session held on Friday, issued a writ of amparo and habeas data in favor of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL)," the Court's Public Information Office said on Friday.

A Writ of Amparo usually comes with a protection order which will restrain the respondents from going near the petitioners. That was not issued yet, as the SC referred it to the Court of Appeals (CA) for the protection order.

The SC set the CA hearing for May 14.

"The Court also ordered respondents President Rodrigo Duterte, who was impleaded in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Security Adviser (Ret.) Gen. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr., et al. to make a verified return of the writ of amparo and habeas data on or before May 8, 2019, and to comment on NUPL, et al.'s petition before the said date," the SC said.

For the Writ of Habeas Data, the SC compelled the military to turn over to the Court "copies of all the facts, information, statements, records, photographs, and other evidence, documentary or otherwise, pertaining to each of them in the respondents' files and records."

"While this is just a start of an intense judicial battle and tedious procedure, we are grateful that the Court heeded our supplication to be given judicial shield and a potential relief from reckless accusations, malicious labeling and vicious attacks in different forms and guises," Olalia said.

Writ of Kalikasan

In the second petition, fishermen from Palawan and Zambales were assisted by the IBP and Diokno in suing the Duterte cabinet for for their "neglect" in enforcing Philippine laws to protect the maritime environments in West Philippine Sea territories.

"The Supreme Court, in a special en banc session held on Friday, issued a writ of kalikasan to protect, preserve, rehabilitate, and to restore the marine environment in Scarborough Shoal (also known as Panatag Shoal), Ayungin Shoal, and Panganiban Reef (also known as Mischief Reef)," the SC said.

"This affirms, at this juncture, the Philippine position made before the international arbitral body that the disputed islands fall within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, and must therefore be protected by Philippine authorities as required by the Constitution and domestic environmental laws. Also that the Philippines, at least thru the judiciary, is not waiving its rights over them by acquiescing to the unilateral actions of another State," IBP outgoing president Abdiel Dan Fajardo said.

The petition asked the SC to "direct respondents to permanently cease and desist from neglecting the performance of their duties in violation of environmental laws resulting in environmental destruction or damage."

The respondents were Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Agriculture Secretary Manny PiƱol, Fisheries Director Eduardo Gongona, Navy Flag Officer Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, Coast Guard Admiral Elson Hermogino, Police General Oscar Albayalde, Police Maritime Group Director Chief Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

The above mentioned secretaries head agencies which are specifically tasked by the fisheries code to protect maritime environment.

A separate communication has been lodged against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court on this same issue, filed by former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario and former ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/229619-supreme-court-issues-writs-amparo-kalikasan-human-rights-groups-may-2019

Sayyaf fighter captured in Zamboanga

From the Mindanao Examiner (May 3, 2019): Sayyaf fighter captured in Zamboanga

Police are holding an Abu Sayyaf fighter, who is also a hired killer, following his capture in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said Friday, adding the militant is currently being interrogated.

Officials said Uring Akil, a follower of notorious Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama, was captured Thursday at Our Lady of Fatima Subdivision in the village of Boalan where policemen tracked down his hideout.


Uring Akil.

Akil, a native of Basilan province, is facing a string of criminal charges and also in the wanted list of the police. Initial interrogation report said Akil was also involved in the selling of illegal drugs and a member of the “Anjawani guns-for-hire group” operating in Basilan and Zamboanga.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, the regional police commander, lauded the capture of Akil and praised those involved in the operation. “There is no place for terrorists to hide in Zamboanga. We will get you and put you behind bars,” he said.

It was not immediately known whether Akil’s group was planning a terror attack here or how he managed to flee Basilan despite ongoing operation against the Abu Sayyaf in the restive region.

https://mindanaoexaminer.com/sayyaf-fighter-captured-in-zamboanga/

Agusan’s Manobo tribe seeks justice; declares CPP-NPA persona non-grata

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 3, 2019): Agusan’s Manobo tribe seeks justice; declares CPP-NPA persona non-grata

Featured Image

TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur – The Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Amry (CPP-NPA) suffered yet another setback after an entire tribe of lumad (Indigenous Peoples) declared the communist-terrorist group (CTG) persona non-grata in their territory.

Following the lead of the local government unit of Loreto, Agusan del Sur, tribal chieftains and members of the Council of Elders of the Manobo Tribe residing in Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) No. 090, passed a tribal resolution declaring the notorious terror group “undesirable” starting April 28.

Enough is enough

The leaders decried decades of atrocities, crimes, and human rights violations perpetrated by CPP-NPA elements against their fellow lumads. They also cited the deception employed by the CTG and its front organizations to recruit members from the tribe and use them as armed combatants against government forces.

“We want these terrorists to pay for their crimes and abuses against us. We have suffered for so long. We can not take it anymore. We needed to do something about them or else they will continue exploiting us for their selfish interests,” a tribesman said.

Ancestral land

Aside from the atrocities, the tribal leaders also slammed the CPP-NPA for being behind the disintegration of their families due to their intense and forcible, recruitment among the natives. “They have been trying to destroy our culture and our way of life by undermining our leaders. This is our land and we do not want them here,” one of the leaders said.

CADT No. 090 lies in the boundaries of the Municipalities of Loreto, Bunawan and La Paz, and some parts of the Agusan Marsh in Agusan del Sur. It is considered rich in natural resources because of the vast species of flora and fauna, as well as mineral deposits said to be found in the area. Its thick vegetation and terrain made it a favorite hideout of the CPP-NPA until recently after local tribesmen started resisting and reporting their presence to authorities.

Landmark resolution

The declaration, the first of its kind among IP tribes in the region, was signed during the Peace and Development Forum facilitated by the LGU of Loreto in partnership with the Tribal Chieftains and Council of Elders of CADT 090, 26th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police. Hawudon Marcos Gonzales, the Municipal Tribal Chieftain of Loreto who also serves as Agusan del Sur Provincial Tribal Chieftain said the forum’s objective was the “creation and signing of covenant between the government and the tribal leaders declaring unity for peace and development, and the formal declaration of CPP-NPA as persona non grata in their areas.” Around 40 members of the Manobo Tribe attended the forum and witnessed the resolution signing.

Gonzales said that as lumads, it is their indigenous right and responsibility to protect their human rights at all cost. “We need to make bold steps to fight for our right to self-determination in our own territory. These communists-terrorists are freely roaming around our ancestral domains, committing numerous crimes and human rights violations against our helpless and innocent fellow Lumads. They have wantonly disregarded our customs and traditions and even murdered our own tribesmen. They must be held accountable and liable for the injustices they have committed upon us,” he added.

Taktikang bakwit

Records show that in 2014, hundreds of lumads were displaced from their ancestral lands in Loreto after CPP-NPA legal fronts penetrated IP communities in the guise of teachers and religious workers. Former NPAs and captured documents revealed that schools were being used by CPP-NPA cadres as training grounds for new recruits, as well as sanctuaries for armed members. Using deception, lies and intrigues, they were able to successfully agitate the natives to fight against each other, forcing scores of them to evacuate to the lowlands in what they call as “taktikang bakwit”.

In 2015, the LGU of Loreto successfully implemented peace, security and development initiatives which prompted the weakening of CPP-NPA influence and support in the municipality and its surrounding areas. Mass surrender of NPA members followed while the delivery of social services to far-flung areas was enhanced. This, however, resulted in the abduction and brutal killing of then Mayor Dario Otaza, a Manobo Tribal Leader known as Datu Malampuson, and his son in Butuan City by NPA terrorists.

Whole-of-nation

Lt. Col. Romeo Jimenea, 26th IB Commander who was one of the attendees during the forum said “It is about time we listen to the voices of our brothers and sisters from the IP communities. They have been at the receiving end of CPP-NPA’s abuses and crimes for a long time. They deserve to live normal and peaceful lives.” The battalion commander noted that the declaration was the first time an entire IP tribe declared the terrorist organization as Persona Non-Grata. He said other groups and LGUs have also signified their intention to follow suit.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Andres Centino, lauded the Manobo Tribe and the LGU of Loreto for its move. He said the declaration was significant in light of the national government’s thrust to finally end the local communist armed insurgency over the next few years through a “whole-of-nation approach”. He encouraged all other IP communities in the region to do the same. “We are one with you in your call for justice against these terrorists. These terrorist groups do not deserve a place in our communities,” Centino said. He further emphasized that the lumads deserve to enjoy the dividends of peace and development which the NPAs deprived them of for a long time.

Army records show that from 2015 to date, 94 out of 102 NPA who surrendered to 26th IB belong to different IP tribes in Agusan del Sur. 63 of them came from the Manobo tribe. The former rebels have since received their financial and livelihood assistance through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP). Others opted to join the Philippine Army either as regular soldiers or CAFGU Active Auxiliaries (CAA). (26IB/401st Brigade/ PIA-Agusan del Sur)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1021567

Gov't forces bust Reds training site in Quezon town

From the Philippine News Agency (May 3, 2019): Gov't forces bust Reds training site in Quezon town



CAMP GEN. VICENTE LIM, Calamba City -- Police and military troops busted on Wednesday a training site for new recruits of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) terrorist group in Barangay Canaway, General Nakar town in Quezon province.

Prior to the discovery of the training ground, government troops clashed with some 30 rebels belonging to Platoon 4A2, Sub-Region Military Area (SRMA) 4-A led by Jordan Mopon alias “Boyong.”

Joint forces of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 4-A (Calabarzon) and the Army's 80th Brigade led the troops in crushing the site and wounding rebel forces who fled the area.

The government troops also discovered the newly-constructed structures in the area and believe the rebels just began their training for their new recruits last April.

They also recovered five sacks of rice, containers of rice, anti-personnel mine (APM) components, 10 blasting caps, six 1.5-volt batteries, a 9-volt battery, three pounds of powder believed to be ammonium nitrate, a bandolier with four 5.56 long magazines and three 5.56 short magazines; 120 rounds for 7.62-mm ammos, 90 rounds of ammos for 5.56, a Baofeng radio, a 15-foot radio cable wire, two radio chargers, and subversive documents.

Lt. Col. Christopher Diaz, commander of the 80th Brigade, ordered government troops to conduct their joint AFP-PNP checkpoints along the Maligaya to San Marcelino access road in General Nakar.

The Philippine Navy is also conducting its naval blockade and blocking operations at possible exit points of the fleeing terrorist rebels.

Both police and military forces are hunting down the rebels by tracking their escape routes or exit points and are also searching for other possible lairs.

“We are continuing our efforts together with our friendly forces from the AFP to address the issues of insurgency and internal security in our area,” Police Regional Office 4-A Director, Brig. Gen. Edward E. Carranza, said.

Carranza also assured intensified operations, as well as in reaching those remaining members of the communist terrorist group, convincing them to surrender to authorities and avail of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP).

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068786

Abu Sayyaf 'member' nabbed in Zamboanga City

From the Philippine News Agency (May 3, 2019): Abu Sayyaf 'member' nabbed in Zamboanga City


Policemen arrested Uring Akil, a member of the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf Group, Thursday in a subdivision in Barangay Boalan, Zamboanga City. (Photo courtesy of Police Regional Office-9 PIO)

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- An alleged member of the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was arrested in a law enforcement operation in this city, a top police official said Friday.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) director, identified the alleged ASG bandit as Uring Akil, who is also listed as the "top most wanted person" in Isabela City, Basilan.

Licup said Akil was arrested through a warrant of arrest around 11:45 a.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Fatima subdivision, Barangay Boalan.

Licup said Akil has a standing warrant of arrest for drug-related charges with no recommended bail.

He said that Akil, a resident of Menzi, Isabela City, Basilan, is a follower of Basilan-based ASG leader Furuji Indama and member of the Anjawani “gun for hire group”.

Akil was taken to the office of the Regional Intelligence Unit-9 for proper disposition.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068841

SC issues Kalikasan writ on Scarborough, Mischief

From the Philippine News Agency (May 3, 2019): SC issues Kalikasan writ on Scarborough, Mischief

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday issued a writ of kalikasan directing concerned government agencies to protect, preserve, rehabilitate, and to restore the marine environment in Scarborough Shoal (also known as Panatag Shoal), Ayungin Shoal, and Panganiban Reef (also known as Mischief Reef).

In a statement, the SC Public Information Office (PIO) said the Court granted the petition for a writ filed by the members of the Kalayaan Palawan Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (KPFAFA) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

Named as respondents are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, the PNP Maritime Group, and the Department of Justice.

Panatag Shoal is located in the municipality of Masinloc, Province of Zambales, while Ayungin Shoal and Panganiban Reef are located in the municipality of Kalayaan, province of Palawan.

In their petition, the groups cited as basis the documents submitted by the Philippine government in the inter-state arbitration proceedings under Annex VII to the 1982 United National Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the 2016 award by the tribunal in the South China Sea Arbitration, which established that foreign poachers, foreign construction and land reclamation entities have caused massive environmental damage in Philippine waters and the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068869

Salugpongan schools closure, a moral issue: AFP exec

From the Philippine News Agency (May 3, 2019): Salugpongan schools closure, a moral issue: AFP exec


Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations.

A ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday all Salugpongan schools must be immediately shut down especially now that they have been known to recruit children to become radicals and subversives, and have caused the deaths of tribal leaders opposing their operation.

Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said this is regardless whether these schools have acquired the necessary permits from the Department of Education (DepEd).

"The issue here is not the validity of the documents. This is about morality in allowing the continuation of these schools, now that we know that the community itself do not want them to operate anymore," Parlade said.

Parlade, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, was reacting to a statement of DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones in a story posted on Mindanao Times on May 2.

In the article, Briones said all alternative educational institutions, including the Salugpongan schools, comply with strict regulations before being given permits to operate.

Briones admitted that these schools are difficult to supervise and monitor because of the remoteness of their locations.

Parlade said it is pointless to discuss whether these Salugpongan schools comply with procedures because the issue is more of a moral one, considering that the communities they are claiming as their niche are rejecting them.

“It's like a faucet with poisoned water flowing out of it. Do we need to argue whether to close the valve or not?,” he said.

He said Briones, according to DepEd sources, was misquoted when she said in Davao City that the Salugpongan schools will stay.

“That's fake news and twisting the facts to deceive the readers. That's another angle we need the people to understand,” he added.

Earlier, Parlade said the military is collecting pieces of evidence against organizations involved in the operation of Salugpongan schools.

Tribal leaders call

Last April, tribal leaders in Davao Del Norte urged the government to shut down these Salugpongan schools as the DepEd is too slow in addressing their demands to close down these educational institutions that the military links to Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), a terrorist-listed organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Parlade chided militant groups affiliated with the Makabayan bloc for not attending two of three legs of a Congressional inquiry and ocular inspections in Davao City on April 16 and in Surigao Del Sur on April 28-29, to validate claims that they are used by the CPP-NPA to turn the youths against the government.

"These Kamatayan (Makabayan) bloc never attended the inquiries. Now they want their allies belonging to MAPASU (The Maluhutayong Pakigbisog Alang Sumusunod) to tell the world that the inquiry was a sham. Why can't the 'Kamatayan bloc' release those statements themselves? Why use these poor IPs (indigenous people) they have exploited to parrot the lies they have been shouting? Because they have no face to show as the two ALCADEV(Alternative Learning Center for Agriculture and Livelihood) teachers exposed their modus vivendi in these schools," Parlade added.

The purpose of the inquiry, he said, was to determine the circumstances of its operations and why these have caused the killings of tribal members, rather than educate the students into becoming productive and peace-loving members of the community.

Manipulation, radicalization

He added that ALCADEV teachers told their story on how they manipulated the children through a curriculum designed to produce cadres and fighters of the CPP-NPA.

“We already have former rebels admitting to being products of these communist schools. What else do we need? Do we need witnesses, more killings by the NPAs because the tribal leaders will no longer allow them to operate the school?” he said.

He noted that the recent hearings, which included those of the ALCADEV in Lianga, Surigao Sur, revealed that a boy, who was radicalized by teachers of these institutions, allegedly killed his own grandfather.

He also cited the statements of educators in these alternative learning centers that the curriculum is designed to produce fighters and cadres for the communist rebels.

He said it is high time Filipinos see the deception and lies being perpetuated by the CPP-NPA and its allies publicly.

“This deception by the CPP is being orchestrated almost daily right under our noses. These lies and propaganda have caused these peaceful indigenous peoples to become violent,” he said adding that fake IP leaders like Datu Kaylo Bontulan of CPP-front organization PASAKA, whom Zarate identifies as a member of a legal organization of Bayan, was killed in a bloody encounter.

He went on to say that no genuine IP wears a dyed hair because their culture doesn’t allow them to.

“But at the expense of these poor IPs, the CPP continues to draw donations from organizations they have duped for their fake advocacies,” he added. “Your time is up Kamatayan (Makabayan) bloc. The nation is awake. The IPs you have been killing are ready to fight back.”

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068871