Sunday, May 12, 2019

AFP-CRS: WATCH: Former Rebels who surrendered bares how they were recruited and deceived by CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook page (May 12, 2019): WATCH: Former Rebels who surrendered bares how they were recruited and deceived by CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations

WATCH: Former Rebels who surrendered bares how they were recruited and deceived by CPP-NPA-NDF front organizations and leading them to join the NPAs.



WATCH l Major General Antonio Parlade, Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, presents couple Bert and Seth, former News People's Army members. Seth, a former student activist, exposed the recruitment activities of above ground organizations into the communist terrorist group.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=f8af_JBW7do

Philippine Army in Leyte apprehends 30 men, links Codilla clan

From Rappler (May 12, 2019): Philippine Army in Leyte apprehends 30 men, links Codilla clan

A former village guard who was said to have held a .45 pistol is among those who were apprehended by the Philippine Army.

VERIFYING. Camp of Rowena Codilla verifies informations about the incident at Kananga Municipal Police Station. Photo from Rowena Codilla's Facebook Page

VERIFYING. Camp of Rowena Codilla verifies informations about the incident at Kananga Municipal Police Station. Photo from Rowena Codilla's Facebook Page
LEYTE, Philippines – The Philippine military apprehended about 30 men and arrested at least one of them in Kananga town, Leyte at 1 am on Sunday, May 12.

This was confirmed by 802nd Brigade General Lope Dagoy in a phone interview with Rappler.

“Kaduda-duda na gabing-gabi, nandoon sila sa isang lugar. Now what is revealing, ay yung kasamahan nila na may baril. Alam naman nila na eleksyon period tayo. So, yung isang kasama ng mga tauhan ng kabilang partido, sa mga Codilla, nakunan ito ng .45 pistol,” Dagoy said.

(It’s suspicious that they were all in one place in the middle of the night. Now, what was revealing, was their companion who had a pistol. They knew that we are in the middle of the election period. So, one of the men of the other party, those of the Codillas, were found out to be in possession of a .45 caliber pistol.)

The man in possession of a pistol was identified by the Kananga Police as Aurelio Dumlanos, 55, a former village tanod in Brgy. Rizal of Kananga town. Dumlanos is now under the custody of Kananga police.

Gen. Dagoy told Rappler the other men were released due to lack of evidence.

In a Facebook post, the Gomez camp alleged that the Army arrested “38 armed goons of Eming and Winnie Codilla.”

Ormoc City mayoral reelectionist Richard Gomez told Rappler that he "spoke to Gen. Dagoy at 3 am" to confirm the content of the post.

Winnie Codilla is running for the congressional post against incumbent 4thDistrict Representative Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez while Eming Codilla is a vice mayoral reelectionist in Kananga, Leyte. (READ: Leyte's 4th district: Will the Torres-Gomez clan take the last Codilla bailiwick?)

Kananga, Leyte Mayoral reelectionist Rowena “Weng” Codilla is the wife of Eming Codilla.

Responding to the post, Rowena Codilla debunked Gomez camp's claim on social media and said that only one has been arrested.

“So the people of Kananga and the 4th District of Leyte will not be misled by fake news, I would like to clarify what really happened during the alleged arrest…. The real story, based on the police record and with the presence of Gen. Lope Dagoy is that only 1 man was arrested and not 38 as is being falsely circulated in social media…”

Gen. Dagoy confirmed Gomez’s claim that the group is connected to Codilla's camp, “Oo. Confirmed yun. Kasi pumunta sila sa, kinakausap nila ako. Sabi ko, ‘Doon na lang sa presinto.’… Si Weng at si Eming, doon kami nagkita sa presinto ng Albuera… Mga tao nila, precisely, nandoon sila. Tinitingnan nila, syempre, kung ano ang sitwasyon ng mga tao nila.”

(Yes. That’s confirmed. Because they went to, they spoke to me. I told them, “Let’s do this at the police station.”… It was Weng and Eming, we met at the Albuera police station… Those were their men, precisely, they were there. They were chekcing, of course, what the situation was for their men.)

3 rebels surrender, 7 rifles turned over

From the Mindanao Times (May 12, 2019): 3 rebels surrender, 7 rifles turned over

A high-ranking political NPA cadre surrendered, along with two others, to soldiers of the 89th Infantry Battalion, under the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, in Bukidnon on Wednesday.
Col. Nolasco Mempin, the commander 1003rd IB,  identified them alias Junjun, 29; alias Garry, 20; and alias Kinkin, 24, all from Barangay Digongan, Kitaotao, Bukidnon.
In his revelation to the soldiers, Junjun said he was the head of the NPA’s political wing, Komiteng Rebolusyonaryo sa Baryo, while Garry was a guerrilla unit squad leader. Meanwhile, Kinkin was a member of the Milisyang Bayan.
“All of them  belonged to the Guerilla Front 55, Sub-Regional Committee 5, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, the terrorist arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines under Joma Sison conducting extortion, killings, sabotage of government equipment recruitment of minors and many more atrocities in the Bukidnon province,” Mempin said
The trio also pointed where they stashed their firearms. Soldiers recovered two Garand rifles, two  Carbine rifles, and an M14 rifle, along with subversive documents.
On April 29, 22 firearms were also recovered by the unit from surrenderrers in Paquibato District, making the recovery total of 27 high-powered firearms in a span of two weeks.
The three will be enrolled in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or ECLIP where livelihood benefits and firearms remuneration, among others, await them.

PAF airlifts poll paraphernalia, personnel to Tapaz, Capiz

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 11, 2019): PAF airlifts poll paraphernalia, personnel to Tapaz, Capiz



AIR SUPPORT. Personnel of the Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group 6 (PAF-TOG 6) and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) on Saturday (May 11, 2019) pose before boarding the helicopter that will take them to the three upland barangays of Tapaz, Capiz for their election assignment on May 13. Barangay Hilwan, the farthest town from the Poblacion, can be reached after a 16 hour travel by foot or motorcycle ride for a two-and-a-half hour. (Photo courtesy of PAF-TOG 6)
Two days before the mid-term elections, members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) and election paraphernalia for the three far-flung villages of Tapaz, Capiz were flown to their respective assignments by the Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group 6 (PAF-TOG 6) on Saturday.

In a phone interview, Lt. Col Dennis A. Alcarde, Group Commander of the PAF-TOG 6, said around 24 personnel who will be serving Barangays Rizal Sur, Rizal Norte and Hilwan, were airlifted by two helicopters.

A total of 10 personnel of the TOG 6 were tasked for the three sorties back and forth to complete the deployment, he said.

After being dropped off at Rizal Norte, the members of the board proceeded to their respective assignments in the barangays.

Meanwhile, Tapaz election officer Lene Sausa said Rizal Sur has 283 registered voters, Rizal Norte has 208 while Hilwan has 334 voters. The polling center will be at the primary schools of each barangay.

Of the three barangays, Hilwan is at 80 kilometers from the town Poblacion. Traveling by foot takes about 16 hours while it is a two and a half hours ride on motorcycle.

Barangay Rizal Norte is 30 kilometers away from the town proper and can be reached after an eight-hour walk or a two-hour motorcycle ride.

Barangay Rizal Sur is 25 kilometers away from the Poblacion and can be reached after a seven-hour walk and a two-hour motorcycle trip.

Going to these areas also entail crossing rivers. In case of heavy rains, the water level has a tendency to rise, rendering river crossing dangerous.

“Some of the members of the board are from the Poblacion but they teach in those areas,” she said.
She added that they just tapped residents of the place and from neighboring barangays to be members of the board.

After the elections, she said there is a possibility that the transmission will be done at the Poblacion due to lack of cellular phone signal in the barangays. Barangay Rizal has a weak signal but there is no assurance that it is capable to transmit the result, she said.

With close to 1,000 voters, Sausa said their votes still matter, especially at the local level, where vote counts could be close.

Sausa said security is also provided to the election personnel because it is situated in the upland areas of Tapaz.

While there were no reported sightings of communist rebels in the areas in the past days, she advised them to keep safe.

“Looking at how far their assignment and they still have to cross a river, we always advise them that their safety is paramount,” she said.

Nonetheless, she said they are ready; they brought with them provisions such as their food.

She added that while their honorarium is not commensurate with their tasks, they are still committed to serve.

Meanwhile, Alcarde said they will just wait for instruction as to whether or not election personnel and paraphernalia will be airlifted during the retrieval of the results.

“Our helicopter is now on standby and we are just waiting for the directive tomorrow as regard to other requests of the Comelec. As far as our government is concerned, we give our all-out support to help in this election at the same time remaining apolitical,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1069567

MILF, MNLF, village chiefs’ help sought to ensure peaceful polls

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 12, 2019): MILF, MNLF, village chiefs’ help sought to ensure peaceful polls


UNITY FOR POLLS. Lieutenant Colonel Elmer Boongaling, the commander of the Army's 33rd Infantry Battalion, speaks before barangay officials of six adjoining Maguindanao towns and two local government units in Sultan Kudarat as part of the Army’s aspiration for a peaceful and orderly balloting Monday. The military has sought the help of village officials, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Moro National Liberation Front in the two provinces on Saturday (May 11) to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections. (Photo courtesy of 33rd IB)

Military authorities in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces have sought the assistance of village officials, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as front-liners to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections (HOPE) on Monday.

Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling, the commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB), has met with village officials of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, and reminded them of their vital role in assuring that elections in their respective communities are orderly and peaceful.

“Your Philippine Army is your peace partner in every village and your cooperation is needed so that all of us are successful,” Boongaling told them on Saturday.

The activity, which was held at the headquarters of the 33IB in Barangay Tual, Pres. Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, was attended by village officials of Tacurong City, Pres. Quirino town, and the municipalities of Buluan, Paglat, Mangudadatu, Gen. S. K. Pendatun, Datu Paglas, and Pandag in Maguindanao.

The Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, headed by Lt. Col. James Fernando, also separately met with former leaders of Moro rebel group and MILF, and head of MNLF, in Datu Salibo and Datu Piang, both in Maguindanao, Saturday.

Fernando said since the Army, MILF and MNLF groups are advocating for peace, they all agreed to support each other, respect and adhere on the signed mutual understanding on troop deployment.

He stressed there is unity in strength and through teamwork and collaboration “something great” is expected to happen in the locality.

Both Fernando and Boongaling expect peaceful elections after laying down and implementing the mechanics that would ensure orderly balloting.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1069581

Groups out to sabotage polls will not succeed: AFP spox

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 12, 2019): Groups out to sabotage polls will not succeed: AFP spox

AFP spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo

Groups that might be out to sabotage the May 13 mid-term elections will never succeed, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said Sunday.

He made this comment as he assured the public that those planning to disrupt Monday's polls at the last minute will never succeed in their dastardly plans as coordination between the AFP, Philippine National Police, the Commission on Elections and other government agencies tasked to secure the mid-term elections are going well.

"They will never succeed. The degree of preparation, the degree of planning, as well as execution and coordination between the AFP, PNP, Comelec, and other agencies as very encouraging," the AFP spokesperson said.

He added that this coordination will help ensure that the May 13 elections will be orderly, peaceful and credible aside from giving voters the opportunity to cast their ballots for their desired candidates.

Arevalo also encouraged all Filipinos to go out and vote as doing so will determine not only the security of their areas but also peace in the entire country, national security and nationwide sustainable progress.

The AFP spokesperson reiterated the order of Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., to remain non-partisan at all times. Arevalo added that commanders of units or troops who fail to observe this order will be held liable.

Aside from securing Monday's elections, air, naval, and land transport units of the AFP were utilized to transport election paraphernalia in various areas of the country with the various Unified Commands tasked to bring these items in various voting precincts.

Arevalo said the Tarlac-based Northern Luzon Command has 100 percent successfully completed its election material transport mission as well as the Puerto Princesa-headquartered Western Command.

This was followed by the Zamboanga-based Western Mindanao Command with 98 percent, Lucena-headquartered Southern Luzon Command also with 98 as deliveries are still ongoing as of this posting.

Meanwhile, Central Command, which is in Cebu, has delivered 85 percent of the election materials entrusted to it and expects delivery of the remaining 15 percent within the day.

Likewise, the Eastern Mindanao Command, which is located in Davao City, has delivered 90 percent of all election paraphernalia and expects completion of all deliveries also within the day (Sunday).

The AFP spokesperson added that Comelec personnel are escorting these items which are undergoing transport by the military.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1069596

Sison to Duterte: Reopen peace talks to ‘escape hell’

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (May 12, 2019): Sison to Duterte: Reopen peace talks to ‘escape hell’

LUCENA CITY, Philippines – Exiled Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria “Joma” Sison on Sunday advised President Rodrigo Duterte to resume the peace negotiation between government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to “escape the wrath of hell.”

“I absolutely have no intention to accompany Duterte in his trip to hell, whether this be a medieval religious presumption or a figure of speech for historical infamy,” Sison said in a statement from his base in Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Sison made the statement after the President declared that both he and Sison had nowhere else to go but hell after their death.

“I’d be happy to go with him hand in hand to the mouth of hell. We won’t go to heaven. It’s really hell for us,” the President said in his speech on Saturday during the mitíng de avance of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) in Pasig City.

Sison maintained that the President “is destined for historical damnation for being treasonous, tyrannical, murderous, corrupt and swindling.”

However, Sison said the Chief Executive, who was his former student in college, could still save himself from eternal damnation by reopening the stalled peace talks with the communist rebels.

“I invite Duterte to change course from the direction of hell, mend his ways and resume serious and sincere peace negotiations with the NDFP through duly-authorized negotiating panels within the framework of The Hague Joint Declaration,” Sison said.

“Then we can work together to respond to the demands of the Filipino people for social, economic and political reforms,” Sison said.

He added: “I am not blinking but I am winking at my former student to indicate to him that he can avoid getting hell from the Filipino people and their revolutionary forces by acceding to the reforms needed for a just peace”.

The peace talks between the government and the NDFP first broke down in November 2017 as the administration cited the continued attacks by fighters of the New People’s Army (NPA), the NDFP’s armed wing on state forces despite ongoing negotiations.

The NDFP is the umbrella group of all communist-led underground organizations in the country that has been conducting on-and-off peace talks with the government since 1986.

Consequently, the President signed Proclamation No. 360 formally terminating the peace discussions with the communist rebels.

The President also terminated the appointment of all government peace negotiators.

The government earlier planned to create a new five-member government peace panel to be composed of two civilians and three military representatives to pursue localized peace talks.

However, the rebels rejected the local peace talks.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1117091/sison-to-duterte-reopen-peace-talks-to-escape-hell