Sunday, August 18, 2019

PNP: Reds infiltrating schools, religious sector

From the Philippine Star (Aug 19, 2019): PNP: Reds infiltrating schools, religious sector



These groups, according to PNP – Police Community Relations Group director Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana Jr., are not only recruiting students but also teachers and religious workers.
Edd Gumban/File


Even teachers and members of religious groups are being recruited by communist fronts, a police official said yesterday.

Philippine National Police – Police Community Relations Group director Maj. Gen. Benigno Durana Jr. said front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) such as the League of Filipino Students, College Editors Guild of the Philippines and Anakbayan have infiltrated not only schools but also the religious sector.

These groups, according to Durana, are not only recruiting students but also teachers and religious workers.

He cited the Rural Missionary of the Philippines, which, he claimed, is being used by the CPP to “poison” the minds of lumads by setting up schools to brainwash students.

Durana said these groups have been infiltrating schools and asking teachers to recruit students to become either militant leaders or fighters who will go up against the government together with the New People’s Army (NPA).

“Hindi ko dini-discount na ang infiltration ng CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) and their front organizations ay sa lahat ng sektor ng ating lipunan (I’m not discounting that the infiltration of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations are in all sectors of our society),” he said in an interview over radio station dzBB.

Durana added that the groups are also taking advantage of students as young as 13 years to join the local communist movement.

“Their purpose is to agitate and radicalize the students to hate and rebel against the government,” he said.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/08/19/1944662/pnp-reds-infiltrating-schools-religious-sector

Opinion: Lifestyles of the Left and famous, and their ‘princelings’

Commentary by Rigoberto D. Tiglao posted to the Manila Times (Aug 19, 2019): Lifestyles of the Left and famous, and their ‘princelings’

SOCIAL media was abuzz in the past several days, with netizens cheering on as Krizette Laureta Chu, an ordinary but very active and audacious blogger, take on — and shame — the leftist Bayan Muna leader Teodoro Casiño, a three-term party-list congressman, for threatening her with a libel suit.

Casiño claimed that Chu’s posting of a photo in her timeline (that went viral) of him and his son (his face blocked out of course) in a La Salle school activity was a violation of their right to privacy.

Chu had posted the photo to show the hypocrisy of the Left who recruit — brainwash, really — students from schools that cater mostly to the lower middle class to join the New People’s Army and die in some jungle, while their leaders like Casiño put their children in expensive schools like La Salle, cloistered from the real world.

There were also posts that claimed another Bayan Muna leader, Carlos Zarate, had his son studying in Europe. Zarate though has not confirmed nor denied the report.

Casiño, however, confirmed that his son was studying at La Salle, where the yearly tuition is at least P200,000. The Bayan Muna leader, however, claimed that a “benefactor” he didn’t identify was paying for his son’s tuition.

Foolish

It was rather foolish of him to disclose such a detail, for two reasons. First, unless the funds for his son’s tuition were coursed through La Salle’s scholarship program, the money given to Casiño was a gift. That is subject to a 20 percent donation tax, and I doubt if he reported it to the BIR. Second, a 200,000 “gift” isn’t chicken feed. This raises the question whether some tycoon has cleverly maneuvered to have a ranking Leftist leader under his payroll, in exchange for his “protection.”

To be fair to Casiño and Zarate, nearly all of the famous leaders of the Communist Party fronts actually live lives of comfort. A long-time Bayan Muna chair is married to a corporate lawyer, who can afford to have an upper-class lifestyle with even a country resthouse; their son is studying at the Ateneo to become a well-known broadcaster.


Communist guru Sison living it up in The Netherlands. (PHOTO FROM INDYBAY.ORG)

Where the sons of leftist leaders are studying has became such a raging issue because of the timing of the disclosure. There has been in recent days front-page stories showing mothers crying before a Senate hearing while they related the how their daughters — teen-age girls for Christ sake! — were convinced by the leftists to abandon their families and join the NPA.

The outrage therefore was over the thought that while the Left cadres were sending teenagers to a life of hardship and even death fighting for the communist cause, their leaders’ children were enjoying comfortable, bourgeois lives.

The disparity between the lifestyles of Filipino communist leaders and those of their rank-and-file has been one of the most scandalous features of this now anachronistic movement.

Dear Leader

Start with the communists’ “Dear Leader” Jose Ma. Sison. In his 52 years waging revolution, the only time he really lived a spartan life was in the nine years that he was imprisoned — on murder charges — during the martial law regime. Freed by Corazon Aquino in 1986, he apparently couldn’t stand a life with his comrades in some jungle, and moved in 1987 to Europe, ending up in Utrecht.

Before that, what we cadres in the 1970s thought was a selfless “Amado Guerrero” issuing directives from a guerrilla base in an Isabela redoubt, was actually living in a well-appointed house in Parañaque, and moving around in the latest-model cars. His acolytes of course justified this, that living so and moving around in such cars, ensured his security, as the “fascists” fear the rich.

I have never in my days as a ranking communist cadre heard anyone tell stories of Sison spending time with the NPA in some jungle. In the first years after the founding of the Communist Party in 1967, he did undertake indoctrination sessions with the first NPA leaders in the middle of rice fields in Tarlac — but mostly in Hacienda Luisita, where at night he would be accommodated in some Cojuangco mansion.

Sison is a very prolific writer. He even wrote a poem that romanticized the revolution, titled “The guerilla is like a poet.” But in his many interviews and writings, he has never related any period in this revolutionary life, of spending months with the NPA, nor in a Red base in some jungle that his followers are asking teenagers to spend time in, so they would “awaken to the reality of class society.”

Three decades

I cannot really understand why communists even listen to him, when he has been living among the comforts and luxuries of an advanced capitalist country for three decades now.

With Sison having such a lifestyle, most of his inner core of leadership, which they call the Executive Committee of the Central Committee, of course followed suit.

In fact, once when we were called to a meeting (in the 1970s) in one of their “safe-houses,” my comrade from a Tondo slum sarcastically remarked how much he enjoyed that meeting since he could eat good food there that he only had heard about and in a kind of house he has never been to.

I myself was shocked when the party’s finance officer, once visited our safe-house — driving a top-down sports car. We had to ride buses, jeeps, and tricycles for our revolutionary work. I was told though that the officer, who is today a well-known leader of the National Democratic Front, was after all the son of a a prominent lawyer — Marcos’ personal attorney to boot.

The couple who are the present leaders of the NDF are both scions of well-known, very rich sugar landlords of Negros, whose parents — or their inheritance in recent years, I’m not sure — had been subsidizing their lifestyles in the Netherlands, one of the most expensive countries to live in. Another well-known NDF leader has lived in an expensive Quezon City compound he inherited from his parents, and had managed to get his children into UP, who all are living petty-bourgeois lives far from the Revolution, one even living in Sweden.

Disparity

This disparity in lifestyles is not unique to the Philippine communist movement. Communist parties that have seized control of the state eventually become the social and economic elite.

Some accounts claim that widespread resentment among lower party cadres — especially those from the KGB — over the lifestyles of ranking officials of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union precipitated its fall.

Even in the People’s Republic of China, where its Communist Party has regularly undertaken anti-corruption campaigns that resulted in the almost immediate execution of those found corrupt, there has been “princelings,” descendants of prominent and influential senior communist officials who have privileged, comfortable lives much better than children of ordinary party officials.

That probably is a good term used for Casiño’s and Zarate’s children.

Email: tiglao.manilatimes@gmail.com
Facebook: Rigoberto Tiglao
Twitter: @bobitiglao
Book orders: www.rigobertotiglao.com/debunked

A fighting chance through education

From the Philippine Star (Aug 18, 2019): A fighting chance through education

[THIS WEEK ON PEOPLE ASIA - Babe Romualdez (The Philippine Star) - August 18, 2019 - 12:00am]


Memorandum of agreement signing between the Armed Forces of the Philippines Educational Benefit System represented by Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Brig. Gen. Marlo Guloy (left) and Military Order of the Carabao (MOC) represented by retired US Navy Capt. Charles Dixon. Also with me in photo are David Graling and retired US Navy Capt. David Jackson.

Education is the great equalizer. It empowers people, giving them the hope and courage to dream of a better life. However, poverty prevents children, especially those in the countryside, from obtaining education. What makes the situation even worse is when their fathers are soldiers who are killed in action, leaving them helpless with no means to support their studies.



With (from left) Assistant Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Capt. Jesus Portiz, retired US Navy Captains Brian Buzzell and Charles Dixon, David Graling, Capt. David Jackson, Brig. Gen. Marlo Guloy and Col. Amado dela Paz.

It is this kind of reality that prompted the establishment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Educational Benefit System (AFPEBS) in 2000 to provide educational scholarships and other forms of assistance to dependents of military personnel, especially soldiers who were killed in action.

The morale and welfare unit of the Philippine military, the AFPEBS’ main source of funding for scholarships and other programs for beneficiaries comes from the percentage allocated from firearms and licensing fees. It also partners with various academic institutions, private organizations, corporations and business groups all over the country — numbering 292 — that support the AFP’s objective to subsidize the education of soldiers’ children.

To date, there are close to 4,000 AFPEBS beneficiaries all over the country. About 2,500 of them are dependents of soldiers killed in action such as the heroes of Marawi who died during the five-month battle against the ISIS-affiliated Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorist groups from May to October 2017.



Minister Gunther Sales and David Graling.

Last Tuesday, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, DC arranged the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the AFPEBS and the Military Order of the Carabao (MOC) for an Educational Benefit Program for qualified dependents of Philippine military personnel — giving these kids a fighting chance to break the chains of poverty through education.

Under the MOA, the MOC would grant $2,000 annually starting school year 2019-2020 and every school year thereafter for tuition, stipend and other educational expenses of the beneficiaries. The agreement was signed by retired US Navy Capt. Charles Dixon, representing the MOC, and Armed Forces Attaché Brig. Gen. Mario Guloy on behalf of the AFPEBS.



Brig. Gen. Guloy extends his gratitude for the financial grant from MOC.

Also with us during the signing ceremony were Assistant Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Capt. Jesus Portiz, retired US Navy Captains Brian Buzzell and David Jackson, David Graling, Col. Amado dela Paz, Office of Veterans Affairs head retired Commodore Elson Aguilar and the Philippine Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Chuasoto, Economic Minister Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, Consul Shirley Flores and Public Diplomacy officer Darell Artates. Minister Gunther Sales emceed the short program.

The Military Order of the Carabao is a social club open to US military officers who served in the Philippines or on overseas military campaigns, and war correspondents. The MOC was founded at the Army-Navy Club in Manila in 1900 by US Army officers as some sort of satirical response to the grandiose-sounding Military Order of the Dragon founded by those who defeated the Boxer Rebellion in China also in 1900.



Capt. Dixon delivering his remarks during the brief program.

What started out in jest, however, soon became a serious undertaking with prominent members over the years such as Maj. Gen. Ulysses Grant, Gen. John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing, congressmen and senators. Honorary membership is conferred on the President of the United States as well as the Philippine Ambassador to the US. *

https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/allure/2019/08/18/1944221/fighting-chance-through-education?fbclid=IwAR265TDZD6g8kYWHB_OX9O4lSDkdVX_c5uyxRGdbAjfy4UJInje3tDgEDms

AFP-CRS: Army, Sagip Kapamilya, LGU turn-over water system

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Army, Sagip Kapamilya, LGU turn-over water system

Image may contain: one or more people and text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645780662107308/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: DILG - Revival of Anti-Subversion Law Urgent, Critical, Inevitable

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): DILG: Revival of Anti-Subversion Law Urgent, Critical, Inevitable

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645789205439787/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: IP representatives fear for their lives for telling the truth

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): IP representatives fear for their lives for telling the truth



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645795225439185/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: China warships trespassing in Philippine waters

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): China warships trespassing in Philippine waters



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645797878772253/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: Military seeks tougher anti-terror law, supports criminalizing subversion

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Military seeks tougher anti-terror law, supports criminalizing subversion

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645799015438806/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: Decommissioning of 40K MILF combatants to encourage other groups

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Decommissioning of 40K MILF combatants to encourage other groups

Image may contain: 1 person, meme and text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645802638771777/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: Mass organizer, 2 fellow CPP-NPA members yield

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Mass organizer, 2 fellow CPP-NPA members yield

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645803918771649/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: Joining militant groups waste of time

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Joining militant groups waste of time

Image may contain: 4 people, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645781862107188/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: A member of CPP-NPA invaded the Senate

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): A member of CPP-NPA invaded the Senate

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645789598773081/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: Navy vows support for development of IP communities

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Navy vows support for development of IP communities



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645796052105769/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: AFP wants acts glorifying terrorism penalized

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): AFP wants acts glorifying terrorism penalized

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645798432105531/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: Army to Samar residents: Be brave in fight vs. CPP-NPA

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Army to Samar residents: Be brave in fight vs. CPP-NPA



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645800552105319/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: Chinese warships off Sibutu could be for surveillance

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): Chinese warships off Sibutu could be for surveillance



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645801452105229/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: No halt in exposing Reds front groups' true colors

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): No halt in exposing Reds front groups' true colors

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645803255438382/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: North Cotabato former CPP-NPA complete TESDA training

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): North Cotabato former CPP-NPA complete TESDA training

Image may contain: text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2645804735438234/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

AFP-CRS: DND wants to ban MAKABAYAN Bloc organs of CPP-NPA with Anti-Subversion Law

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Aug 18, 2019): DND wants to ban MAKABAYAN Bloc organs of CPP-NPA with Anti-Subversion Law

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/pcb.2645973652088009/2645972055421502/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

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

U.S. Air Force vows ‘no let up’ in South China Sea patrols

From Rappler (Aug 18, 2019): U.S. Air Force vows ‘no let up’ in South China Sea patrols

General David Goldfein, US Air Force Chief of Staff, restates the US commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines as China pushes to dominate the Indo-Pacific region



AIR DEFENSE. Filipino-US Sailors onboard the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier as it anchored in Manila Bay on 7 August 2019. Photo by Lito Borras/Rappler

The United States military will keep patrolling the disputed South China Sea to deter China from having strategic control of the region, said the US Air Force chief as he restated the US commitment to defend the Philippines in case of an armed attack.

“I’ll just tell you that there’s no let up in our willingness or our ability to fly or sail where we need to and when we need to, and there will be no let up in the future. That’s our commitment to the region,”
General David Goldfein, US Air Force Chief of Staff, said when asked about the degree of deterrence US air and naval patrols are able to provide against China’s expansionist actions.


Goldfein and General Charles Brown Jr., US Pacific Air Forces Commander, were in Manila on Friday, August 16, and spoke with an international group of reporters through a telephone briefing.

Top of mind among the Filipino journalists in the teleconference was the series of incursions by Chinese Navy vessels into Philippine territorial waters from February all through early August, as reported by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Goldfein said any violation of "international rules of order" is "concerning".

"I think quite frankly any activity that we see both at sea and in the air, and increasingly now, we’re also having the same conversation in space and in cyber, has got to adhere to some international rules of order that we all live by. So, anybody in the region that violates those, it’s concerning," Goldstein said, adding:

"So part of our engagement here, and our presence here, is to make sure that we keep the global commons open for all. And everybody benefits when we can have freedom of navigation, to include China."

Brown reiterated that the regular US freedom of navigation and overflight operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea are meant to be a deterrence against any attempt to bend the rules and to keep the sealanes open to international vessels and aircraft.

“We have to highlight the facts when those that don’t follow rules-based international order, no matter who that might be, we do highlight that. So, part of our operations are to deter, or also prove the fact that you should be able to fly, sail, and operate no matter what nation you are, where international law allows,” Brown said.

In recent years, China has reclaimed and militarized reefs in the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and the West Philippine Sea. With it came an increase in Chinese military aircraft and vessels plying the strategic sea route, which China considers as its territory despite an international arbitral ruling that invalidated its claim.

On August 7, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its flotilla of other warships, called a “strike group,” visited Manila for a friendly port call in between FONOPs through the South China Sea.

US naval visits to allies in the region are seen as a warning to China, which has repeatedly criticized America as an outsider that must stay out of the region’s affairs.

US security officials, meanwhile, have emphasized alliances and strategic partnerships with countries like the Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia during such visits.

While in Manila, Goldfein met with Lieutenant General Rozzano Briguez, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), and discussed the PAF Flight Plan 2028 to build a credible air defense capability.

“This is a longstanding alliance between the United States and the Philippines, and it really has contributed to peace, stability, prosperity in this region for over 60 years. And we look to the Philippines and its desire to build a more credible defense,” Goldfein said.

In March, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on a visit to Manila, stated that the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the US covers the South China Sea. This means any armed attack on Filipinos in the area would trigger a military response from the US. It dispelled longstanding apprehensions from Manila over Washington’s earlier noncommittal statements.

In July, top US diplomats reiterated the MDT’s coverage of the South China Sea during the US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila.

On Friday, Goldfein said, “One of my messages is to just re-emphasize, as Secretary Pompeo did, our commitment to the Mutual Defense Treaty.”

https://www.rappler.com/nation/237981-united-states-air-force-vows-no-let-up-south-china-sea-patrols

4 Reds yield to military in Agusan del Sur

From Politiko Mindanao (Aug 18, 2019): 4 Reds yield to military in Agusan del Sur



Four alleged members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) have surrendered to the military in Agusan del Sur Saturday, August 17.

Those who surredered to the 60th Infantry (MEDIATOR) Battalion specifically
came from Pulang Bagani Command 4 (PBC 4), said 60IB commander Lt. Col. Gilbert Ombos.

The four surrenderees are all members of the Umayamnon-Manobo tribe and are residents of Agusan del Sur.

They brought with them their NPA-issued firearms upon surrendering.


https://mindanao.politics.com.ph/4-reds-yield-to-military-in-agusan-del-sur/

Investors want to explore for oil in Bangsa region

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 18, 2019): Investors want to explore for oil in Bangsa region

COTABATO CITY – Local and foreign investors interested in natural gas and oil exploration in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have increased since the region’s interim government was established last March.



BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim, Army’s Western Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana and Energy World Group Executive Director Graham Stewart Elliot [facing back camera] in a Cotabato City meeting Friday on oil exploration proposal (photo via Ali Macabalang/MANILA BULLETIN)

“Actually, many groups have one after another expressed interest in exploring and developing energy sources in our region in a fashion elating us,” Abdullah Cusain, deputy executive director at BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim’s office, told Manila Bulletin over the phone on Saturday.

Cusain said officials or representatives of different investment groups have sounded off Ebrahim and other BARMM officials on their proposals.

He said most of the proposals focused on the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Marsh, while others targeted the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, all BARMM component areas.

The Liguasan Delta lies on the border of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato. But the largest portion of the marsh is located in Maguindanao, a component province of BARMM. Contemporary studies showed the Marsh is replete with vast natural gas deposits estimated at trillions of barrels.

In some online posts, former Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu had presented video footage showing samples of natural gas being used for “unlimited” cooking by hundreds of residents in the delta.

In two or three public pronouncements, President Duterte urged BARMM officials to fully harness the potentials of the marsh. “That’s yours, nobody with meddle with you,” Duterte said in Cebuano dialect.

Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, ratified in plebiscites early this year, empowers the BARMM government to manage and exploit natural gas deposits within its domain in accordance with laws on promotion and sustenance of balanced ecology, environment and culture in the communities involved.

“We are evaluating proposals received from influx of investment groups to ensure compliance to the letter and intent of laws,” Cusain said.

The latest proposal, he said, was presented by Energy World Group (EWG) Executive Director Graham Stewart Elliot in a meeting with Ebrahim at the BARMM complex here on Friday.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, who accompanied Elliot to the meeting, said EWG is a player in the energy industry in Asia focused on delivering clear energy.

Sobejana said Elliot conveyed his intention to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the BARMM leadership for an exploration project in Sulu.

He viewed the project as a potential opportunity “to create more employment opportunities for residents and former terrorists in Mindanao,” particularly in Sulu where the outlawed Abu Sayyaf group maintains enclaves.

“The military is ready to support any joint venture, co-production, and sharing agreements that comply with the legal requirements and redound to the benefits of the Bangsamoro people. We are for peace and development in the Bangsamoro region, and we remain committed to support any development initiatives in the operational area,”
said Sobejana.

Bid to arrest MILF ‘rejects’ leads to clash, escape of suspects

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Aug 18, 2019): Bid to arrest MILF ‘rejects’ leads to clash, escape of suspects

A group of soldiers and policemen clashed with at least 12 armed men at the outskirts of Sapad town of Lanao del Norte when the lawmen tried to arrest the leader of an alleged crime group composed of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rejects.

Lt. Col. Rolando Orenga, head of the 5th Mehanized Infantry Battalion, said the la enforcement group was out to arrest Narjamal Tamarompong when the suspect and his followers opened fire at the arresting team.

No one was hurt in the clash but soldiers recovered high powered firearms—Armalite assault rifles and a Garand—and bullets after a 35-minute gunfight. Tamarompong fled.

Maj. Victor Leopoldo, civil military officer of 5th Mechanized Brigade, said the armed group had been rejected by the MILF when it tried to join the rebel group which now has a peace agreement with the government.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1154932/bid-to-arrest-milf-rejects-leads-to-clash-escape-of-suspects

Basilan village chieftain shot in Zamboanga City

From the Mindanao Examiner (Aug 18, 2019): Basilan village chieftain shot in Zamboanga City

Motorcycle gunmen shot and seriously wounded a village chieftain of Basilan province in an attack outside a coffee shop in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, police said Sunday.

Police said Sufian Unggas Hadis was with Saddam Pacio, a professor at the Basilan State College, when he was attacked.

The 40-year old Hadis, village chieftain of Pisak-Pisak in the town of Tabuan Lasa, just boarded his car parked outside the Dennis Tea Garden in the village of Baliwasan when he was shot several times by one of the attackers.Pacio was unhurt from the shooting which occurred near the police station and village hall.

“Based on the statement of witnesses, after having dinner at Dennis Tea Garden together with his companion identified as Professor Saddam L. Pacio of Basilan State College, the victim boarded his automobile, but suddenly, two unidentified male suspects approached the victim and shot him several times using a .45 caliber pistol based on the empty shells recovered,” said Major Helen Galvez, a regional police spokesperson.

She said the assailants escaped on a motorcycle after the shooting.

“The suspects immediately escaped and boarded a black and white XRM motorcycle towards the west coast area. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of his body,” she said.

Galvez said the police were investigating the motive of the attack. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the shooting and Hadis’ family did not release any statement to the press. 

Opinion: Tightening US-Philippines relations

Opinion piece from the Babe's Eye View from Washington, D.C. column by Babe Romualdez posted to the Philippine Star (Aug 18, 2019): Tightening US-Philippines relations

[Jose Manuel “Babe” del Gallego Romualdez was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United States of America in July 2017 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. On 29 November 2017, he presented his credentials to US President Donald J. Trump and formally assumed office as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Additionally, as the head of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Romualdez is concurrently the Philippines’ emissary to the Commonwealth of Jamaica, Republic of Haiti; Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; Antigua and Barbuda; Bahamas; Barbados; Dominica; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and Saint Lucia.]

The recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and the Philippines to establish a state-of-the art Regional Counterterrorism Training Center in Cavite City is another example of how our relationship with the US continues to get stronger. As I have said on many occasions, the relationship between the two nations has never been better than it is today because of mutual respect, with both sides recognizing each other’s sovereignty and cooperating closely on many issues especially on the fight against terrorism.

The signing of the MOU – which President Duterte recently approved – will enable law enforcement units and operatives not only from the Philippines but other nations in the region to enhance their training on counterterrorism through the center (to be located within the Philippine National Police Academy in Silang, Cavite), which will be jointly managed and operated by the PNP and the US Department of State. As mentioned by PNP Chief General Oscar Albayalde, who represented the Philippine government, the initiative will boost our counterterrorism capabilities, underscoring our thorough and strengthened partnership with the US.

Our friend Ambassador Sung Kim – who unfortunately will be leaving the Philippines soon for his new posting – worked hard for the establishment of the center, and the signing of the MOU brings this a step closer to its fulfillment. The center will be one of the legacies of Ambassador Kim. Suffice it to say, I found it fruitful and rewarding to work closely with a professional career diplomat like him.

Undoubtedly the problem of terrorism and violent extremism has reached global proportions, with no less than the UN Security Council adopting a resolution to address the relationship between terrorism and organized crime, with the latter becoming a funding source for extremist groups. Whether local or transnational, organized crimes – such as trafficking in arms, illegal drugs, trafficking in persons, illicit trade in natural resources, kidnapping for ransom, extortion, bank robbery, piracy and other criminal activities – have become intertwined with terrorism. Which is why now more than ever, cooperation between nations, especially our neighbors, is important since the Philippines is right at the crossroads in Southeast Asia.

As Malacañang noted much earlier following the pledge by the US to boost the intelligence capability of the Philippines, “terrorism knows no boundaries, politics, religion and creed. It is the new evil in the world that strikes at every country and every continent. We need all the help as every member-country in the United Nations needs the assistance and cooperation of each member to combat and crush terrorism.”

Just recently, the Philippines and Indonesia gave their commitment to collaborate in the area of counterterrorism, recognizing the shared threat that both nations face particularly from the ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) terrorist group. For instance, increased collaboration in maritime security covering such areas as the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas through trilateral patrols involving Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia which is also being eyed by foreign militants as another safe haven transit and logistics center.

Counterterrorism experts are warning that the defeat of ISIS in the Middle East does not necessarily mean the organization has been crushed. On the contrary, ISIS operatives are looking at Asia as their new wilayat (province), with the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka by suicide bombers last May putting the global spotlight on the unrelenting terror activities perpetrated by ISIS and its converts.

In fact, the terrorist group is now bent on global expansion, and this was explicit in the recent video message of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declaring new provinces in Central Africa and Turkey, with claims that they have also established footholds in such countries as Yemen and Somalia.

No less than General Joe Dunford – the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – said that while the caliphate in Syria and Iraq has been defeated, the threat continues as there is “still a fairly vibrant insurgency that has reverted to guerrilla tactics,” compounded by the fact that the ideology remains alive.

Experts are also warning about the “Asia pivot” of the terrorist group. Based on reports, an estimated 1,000 Southeast Asians joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq during the height of conflict, but these are now returning to their home countries following the defeat of the caliphate early this year. Following a “hibernation period,” remnants of the group will move to “rise from the ashes of their defeat,” experts said, with Asia now on the crosshairs.

The game plan is for these foreign terrorists to integrate into the community by marrying local women, entering educational institutions either as students or resource persons/lecturers, or putting up businesses to establish legitimacy. According to Indonesia’s National Counter-Terrorism Agency chief, the influence of ISIS continues to be an “eminent threat,” which is why they have embarked on a national action plan to prevent radicalization and counter violent extremism, which is also in accordance with a UN resolution asking nations to have their own plans to fight terrorism.

National Security Adviser Jun Esperon himself spoke of a possible “chilling escalation in tactics, damage and barbarity” of these extremists to further their agenda, citing the recent suicide bombings in Basilan and Sulu. That a Filipino – Norman Lasuca – took on a suicide bombing mission in Indanan, Sulu last June highlights the growing threat of radicalization in the Philippines and the growing alliance between local terrorist groups and ISIS.

Now more than ever, countries must collaborate and cooperate to counter the continued threat of terrorism. Clearly, the MOU for the regional counterterrorism center is a step toward the right direction.

* * *

Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2019/08/18/1944274/tightening-us-philippines-relations

Basilan opens ‘House of Peace’ to help ex-Abus start anew

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Aug 18, 2019): Basilan opens ‘House of Peace’ to help ex-Abus start anew



LIFE AFTER BANDITRY Recently inaugurated in Isabela City, Basilan, the Baithus Salam—or “House of Peace” in the Yakan dialect—is intended for the reformation of some 200 Abu Sayyaf fighters who have surrendered to the government since 2016. —JULIE ALIPALA

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Inside the sprawling camp of the Philippine Army’s 4th Special Forces Battalion in Isabela City, Basilan, stands a newly built one-story facility.

There is nothing extraordinary about the building that houses an office, sleeping quarters and a prayer room, among others. But its name — Baithus Salam, or “House of Peace” — makes it stand out in a land that has known violence and strife for decades.

Inaugurated last week, the facility is
dedicated to the reformation of former members of the Abu Sayyaf, a group of bandits that has bedeviled Basilan’s growth and progress since its inception almost 30 years ago.


The presence of the facility inside the Army camp demonstrates how the military has been using a noncombat approach in dealing with the group — some factions of which have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and laid siege on Marawi City in 2017.

In previous years, Basilan has endured massive military assaults to quash the Abu Sayyaf, which had been behind high-profile crimes targeting both local and foreign victims.

In neighboring Sulu, military operations continue against the group, as it has been linked to the bombing of the Jolo cathedral in January this year.

Nerve center

Army Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, said the House of Peace will be the nerve center for the collaboration of the Army, the Basilan provincial government and Cagayan de Oro-based Balay Mindanaw in helping reform Abu Sayyaf surrenderers.

The operation of the new facility is part of the Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE), which was launched by the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and is now continued by the provincial government.

Since 2016, the program has facilitated the surrender of some 214 former Abu Sayyaf fighters who were driven to the hills by the thought that banditry would improve their social and economic lot.

Many of them have been largely unschooled as they had joined the group when they were in their early teens.

Under PAVE beneficiaries are given assistance for livelihood, education and housing. They are also offered continuous values formation interventions.

More than half of the Abu Sayyaf surrenderers have enrolled in the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) program. To date, 49 of them have successfully completed the 10-month school work that qualified them for higher studies.

The others opted for technical and vocational training and are now either employed or running their own small businesses using their newfound skills.

The 300-square-meter House of Peace is run by Balay Mindanaw. According to Reyeg, it will be used mainly for livelihood training sessions and personality development activities for the former bandits.

Reyeg said he expected more Abu Sayyaf members to turn their backs on crime, as shown by the response of the communities in Basilan to PAVE. Likewise, he said some members may surrender after seeing how the lives of their former colleagues have changed for the better.

‘Place to gather’

The facility will also serve as a halfway home for the former bandits before they are fully reintegrated into their respective communities, Reyeg said.

Motong Indama, a former Abu Sayyaf subleader in Basilan, said the opening of the House of Peace “cemented their trust in the security forces and local government units in the province.”

“We now have a place to gather,” said Indama, citing the importance of exchanging views and experiences with fellow ex-combatants as they learn the ropes of a life outside banditry.

Indama has just completed the ALS and is looking forward to pursuing a college degree.

Former ARMM governor and now Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman underscored the need for the government to win the trust of the people, especially the Abus, and show that government will make a difference in their lives so that they will shun activities such as banditry.

“The presence of government has to be felt by the people. We have to show them that government is sincere in providing basic services,” Hataman said.

“These people would have not been in the jungle if there was a strong government here in the past,” he said.

Basilan is now enjoying relative peace, Hataman said, with “hardly any report of military encounter in the mountains. We see growth in tourism and an increasing number of people visiting the province.”

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command chief, commended the accomplishments of the program in stemming radicalism and violent extremism in Basilan.

“We are harvesting the fruits of peace and these efforts should not only be attributed to the Armed Forces but to the local government units and the populace,” Sobejana said.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1154814/basilan-opens-house-of-peace-to-help-ex-abus-start-anew

Lorenzana backs proposal to ban NPA 'front organizations'

From ABS-CBN (Aug 18, 2019): Lorenzana backs proposal to ban NPA 'front organizations'

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Sunday he supports the call of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to revive the expanded version of the Anti-Subversion Act and ban organizations with links to rebel groups.

Año, who is also a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, earlier said banning communism and declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its “front organizations” as subversive groups would fulfill President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal of ending the communist insurgency within his term.

“If a legal front is fronting for an illegal organization, they should be illegal, di ba? Simple lang naman 'yan eh (It's that simple),”
said Lorenzana.


The defense chief said he agreed that the revival of the Anti-Subversion Act would end the communist insurgency.

Lorenzana clarified that he has no issue with communism as an ideology but is against armed struggle.

“Communism, per se, is not illegal sa akin (not illegal for me),” Lorenzana said.

“They can make their own communist party there, na basta lang they will denounce, renounce. But when these people who believe in communism also believe in an armed struggle to overthrow a duly constituted government, masama na 'yan, iba na 'yan (that's crossing the line).”

The Anti-Subversion Act was first implemented in 1957 during the administration of President Carlos P. Garcia. It criminalized membership in the communist party as well as its armed wing, Hukbong Magpapalaya sa Bayan.

During the time of President Ferdinand Marcos, the law was further expanded to criminalize organizations associated to the CPP as well.

All versions of the anti-subversion law were repealed in 1991, when President Fidel Ramos attempted to broker a peace deal with the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Malacañang has said that proposals to revive the law "require study" as there is nothing wrong with the youth joining organizations to "express legitimate grievance against government."

The Department of Justice has also said that mere membership in the Communist Party of the Philippines is "not a crime," unless overt criminal acts are committed.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/18/19/lorenzana-backs-proposal-to-ban-npa-front-organizations

NPAs may soon be unwelcome in Iloilo City. Here’s why

From Politiko Visayas (Aug 18, 2019): NPAs may soon be unwelcome in Iloilo City. Here’s why



New People’s Army rebels may soon be declared unwelcome in Iloilo City, with an initiative from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).

City police chief P/Col. Martin Defensor Jr. said he will again ask the city government through Mayor Jerry Treñas to pass a resolution to declare the NPA an undesirable group.

“It’s high time that we expressed our abhorrence against the NPA and their actions,” he said

Other areas in Iloilo such as Maasin and Janiuay towns had declared the CPP-NPA as persona non grata.

Defensor cited the NPA’s recruitment of minors and students, whom they allegedly trained and brainwashed to turn against the government and even their own families.

Earlier, Treñas said he will support the request of the ICPO in declaring CPP-NPA as persona non grata.

Defensor said that while there are no activities directly linked to the rebel group here in the city, their financial transaction activities are in the city.

Last year, the ICPO asked then mayor Jose Espinosa III and the city council to declare the NPAs unwelcome, but the move was rejected as there were no reports on the presence of rebels in the city.

https://visayas.politics.com.ph/npas-may-soon-be-unwelcome-in-iloilo-city-heres-why/

Pacification plan for Muslim extremists eyed

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 18, 2019): Pacification plan for Muslim extremists eyed

COTABATO CITY — Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim and House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman agreed in a meeting here to formulate a program to entice Islamist or extremist militants into the social mainstream.



Meeting of Cotabato City Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim and House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, who reportedly discussed a concept on pacifying local IS-inspired militants operating in the autonomous region. (photo Via Ali Macabalang/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Hataman, former governor of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), visited here last Friday and conveyed to Ebrahim his plan to introduce in the 18thCongress a bill creating a program to entice Moro guerillas back to the folds of law with rehabilitation and life-enhancing assistance.

The proposal would focus on hardcore ideologues and combatants of the outlawed Abu Sayyaf Group, the Dawla Islamiya known as Maute group, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)
, said Hataman, who serves as lone congressman of Basilan.


As ARMM governor, Hataman launched in Basilan in 2017 the Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE), through which more than 200 Abu Sayyaf fighters surrendered and were provided with skills trainings and livelihood startup assistance.

PAVE projects eventually made Abu Sayyaf guerillas “irrelevant” in Basilan, with the remaining hardcore leaders shifting to other areas, notably in the hinterlands of Sulu province, according to the Western Mindanao Command.

Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman-Salliman, elder brother of the former ARMM chief executive, announced early this month the completion of housing units called “baituus salaam” (house of peace) for surrendered Abu Sayyaf members.

At the Friday meeting here, sources said, Ebrahim concurred with Hataman’s plan to introduce an enabling bill that will expand conciliatory efforts for IS-inspired militants of the Abu Sayyaf, BIFF and Dawla Islamia (Maute group) that still operate in remote villages of Sulu, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

“If the government has a program for members of the New People’s Army, why not extend a hand of reconciliation to these religious extremists, too? Some officials of our national security organizations also call the NPA a terror group,” Hataman was quoted as telling Murad during their hour-long meeting.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana and former governor-turned-Congressman Esmael G. Mangudadatu of Maguindanao are said to support Hataman’s proposal.

Mangudadatu and Sobejana had jointly carried out pacification efforts that led to the surrender of at least 24 BIFF fighters in three batches from 2018 up to early this year, published reports said.

“Extremist militants are wrongly indoctrinated about religion…If they will realize that they can still have second lease of life, in harmony with all people around them, surely they will come out and reform,” Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu, a former three-term governor, said he would readily co-sponsor Hataman’s bill.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/08/18/pacification-plan-for-muslim-extremists-eyed/

Mayor adopts ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to achieve peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 18, 2019): Mayor adopts ‘whole-of-nation’ approach to achieve peace



BRINGING GOV'T TO THE PEOPLE. Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo (2nd from right) of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, and Vice Mayor Ian Villaflor (3rd from right), lead the distribution of certificates of land ownership award to agrarian reform beneficiaries of the Sitio Santos-Santos Farmers Association in Barangay Quintin Remo on Friday (Aug. 16, 2019). Yulo said she is adopting the “whole-of-nation” approach by bringing government services closer to the people. (Photo courtesy of Raquel Gariando)

Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo of Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental said she is adopting the “whole-of-nation” approach advocated by President Rodrigo Duterte to achieve peace and development in her municipality.

“Sa tanan nga pumuluyo sang Moises Padilla, ari diri subong ang aton nga gobyerno kag kanami, katahum sang whole-of-nation approach ni Presidente Duterte (To the people of Moises Padilla, our government is here now, and President Duterte’s whole-of-nation approach is nice, good),”
the mayor announced in an interview with visiting reporters on Friday.

On that day, for the first time since she assumed the mayoral post on July 1, Yulo visited the remote Barangay Quintin Remo, some 11 kilometers from the town proper, which is considered as a New People’s Army (NPA)-influenced area.


During her visit, she distributed some 150 certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) to agrarian reform beneficiaries of the Sitio Santos-Santos Farmers Association led by Magdalena Dagohoy.

“Ang gobyerno ang mapalapit sa tawo (The government should go to the people) so that’s what we’re doing. Sa iban nga mga sitios, kung mag okay lang sitwasyon kay may security issue ako gusto ko gid magkadto gid ko sa inyo (I also want to visit other sitios, but I still have security issues. Once the situation is okay, I will also visit you),” the mayor said.

Yulo, who defeated reelectionist Mayor Magdaleno Peña, said she wants a consultative governance that will allow her constituents to ask for necessities to be able to improve their living condition.

“That is the whole-of-nation approach stated by the President, that the government should go to the people. They need to feel the government is with them, that the government will respond when they ask for help. My administration is always there for them,” she added.

The mayor was joined by Capt. Hancel Lumandaz, chief of Moises Padilla Police Station; Capt. Harold Rendora, head of police Task Force Moises Padilla, La Castellana and Isabela; and Maj. Michael Victoria, executive officer of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion.

In December last year, President Duterte issued Executive Order 70 that institutionalizes a “whole-of-nation” approach in ending local communist armed conflict through the creation of a national task force that will take the lead in institutionalizing a national peace framework to attain “inclusive and sustainable peace.”

On April 25, the mayor’s brother Marcelino “Marc” Garcia and nephew Jose Antonio “Michael” Garcia, were killed in an ambush in Barangay Inolingan while they were campaigning for the May 13 elections.

The election-related violence prompted President Duterte to visit the central Negros town on May 8, two days after Moises Padilla was placed under the control of the Commission on Elections.

Meanwhile, the police are still investigating the latest killing in Moises Padilla, which claimed the life of Macagahay village councilman Raul Fat on August 15.

Fat was gunned down by two unidentified men who approached him in a nipa hut beside the barangay clinic.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078106

I’ll move heaven, earth to expose your hypocrisy, Casiño told

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 17, 2019): I’ll move heaven, earth to expose your hypocrisy, Casiño told



Krizette Laureta Chu (left) and former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño (right)

A Filipino writer and radio host has blamed former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño for agitating many young people, especially students, to rebel against the government.

In an open letter posted on her Facebook page on Friday, Krizette Laureta Chu described Casiño as an "incendiary figure who has caused many mothers grief by inflaming their children with wrong ideologies" amid reports of recruitment of minors into the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

"Huwag ako (Not me). Huwag ako ang takutin mo (Don't threaten me) because I will move heaven and earth to expose you. Maybe by filing a case against me, your hypocrisies will be revealed. I’m willing to be sacrificed at the altar of your fake agendas so that no more mothers will lose children to hypocrites like you. Open the Pandora’s box, I dare you,"
she added, challenging the former legislator to file a case against her.

Chu also lashed back at Casiño for being indignant without any basis and validation.

"Ikaw pwede mag criticize ng iba at pwedeng mandamay ng pamilya, Pero kaming regular na mamamayan, hindi? Mananakot ka ng kaso? Kayo pwede abusado at walang validation ang claims pero pag kayo ang kino-call out may kaso? (You can criticize others and drag their families but us ordinary citizens can't? You threaten to sue? You can be abusive and make claims without validation but when you're called out, there's already the threat of a case?), "
she said.


Casiño earlier called out Chu, who has over 100,000 followers on her social media page, for including the photo of his family on one of the latter's post against him.

In a recent post, the former lawmaker said he is mulling to sue Chu for her "malicious accusations" against him and for using his child's private photos.

Hypocrisy

Chu also said Casiño is “not being crucified for being an activist, but for being a hypocrite.”

“Hindi masama maging activist, lalo na pag totoong may pinaglalaban ka. Ang masama maging hypocrite (It’s not wrong to be an activist, more so if you’re really fighting for something. What’s wrong is being hypocrite),” she said.

Chu said Casiño has a lavish lifestyle, a far picture than the children being indoctrinated into the communist movement.

“Kumusta ang pakape kape sa Makati Sports Club? Kumusta and buhay pa travel travel habang yung ibang bata pa travel travel papuntang bundok? (How’s your coffee sessions in Makati Sports Club? How’s your life full of travels while other kids are travelling to the mountains?),” she said.

More effort

In a message of support to Chu, Drei Toledo, a daughter of a rebel leader whom she referred to as an “untouchable NPA Supremo”, said the public “should not fall into the trap of differentiating communist-terrorists from one another by idealizing the motive of others.”

They are after all, she said, all the same, “hypocrites and liars.”

Toledo also asked the government to exert more effort to end the communist movement.

She also asked the public to avoid romanticizing the story of communist leaders Benito Tiamzon and his wife Wilma.

"It is absolutely not accurate to say that the Tiamzon couple is 'true full-blooded communist revolutionaries who sacrificed so much for the ideology they embraced' or that they are 'really committed revolutionaries, principled and willing to sacrifice everything for their belief," she said.

"There are over 50 bank accounts filled with millions of dollars from NPA 'revolutionary tax' collections saved in their personal offshore accounts," she added.

Earlier, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict hit Casiño for defending and justifying efforts by progressive groups allegedly linked to the CPP-NPA to recruit students and minors to boost their ranks.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078086

Anti-insurgency drive gains support from local council newbies

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 18, 2019): Anti-insurgency drive gains support from local council newbies



Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Bernardo Florece Jr.

The government sees a positive reinforcing role for neophyte local chief executives in the national government's efforts to wipe out local communist armed conflict.

Speaking during the Usapang Pangkapayapaan, Usapang Pangkaunlaran Pilipinas Program of the Philippine Air Force, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Bernardo Florece Jr. said newly-elected Local Government Unit (LGU) officials extended very robust cooperation to the national government's whole-of-nation approach to eliminate local communist threats.

"Very positive dun sa mga newly voted (officials), bata pa sila, walang takot na nagsasalita at nakikita na very positive yung signs (The support from newly-voted officials is very positive. They are young and fearless in speaking their mind and see the positive signs about government's efforts) and very enthusiastic about Executive Order 70,"
Florece said.


EO 70 institutionalized the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace and created a national task force to end local communist armed conflict.

Florece underscored that former New People's Army (NPA) rebels who opt to return to the folds of law are entitled to a number of benefits in terms of funds and training to jumpstart their family's reintegration into society, which include basic vocational education from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

"We evaluate where they would want to settle. We see some interested in the mechanical training courses of the TESDA," Florece said.

The official underscored that local executives also see the need to complement the effort to eliminate local insurgent efforts by working to wipe out the usual sources of resentment to the government such as those arising from red tape.

"We also underscore the need to emphasize comprehensive whole-of-nation approach to eliminate red tape and to promote the ease of doing business (with the government)," Florece added.

Philippine Air Force Col. Gerardo M. Zamudio Jr., assistant chief of Air Staff for Civil Military Operations, for his part, said they are likewise conducting numerous community-based civic programs in such areas as Batangas province to assist the government in promoting its efforts to stop the recruitment of young students for the Communist Party of the Philippines New People's Army (CPP-NPA).

"The government's whole-of-nation approach addresses the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, facilitating societal inclusivity, and ensuring active participation of all sectors of the society in the pursuit of the country's peace agenda," he said.

EO 70 amplifies EO 16 adopting the National Security Policy 2017-2022, which calls for the end of all armed threats in the Philippines and recognizes that internal socio-political stability rests and calls on promoting participatory governance, a synergy of government development efforts and enhanced participation and responsibilities of LGUs.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078107

Claims on OFWs spying in China 'preposterous'

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 18, 2019): Claims on OFWs spying in China 'preposterous'



National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana

Claims that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in China are conducting spying operations against their host country is "preposterous", Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Sunday.

This in response to Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua's statement that Filipinos working in China could also be accused of spying in wake of the DND chief's concerns over the operation of Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) centers near military camps and facilities, adding that its employees could easily shift to spying.

"That’s the most preposterous statement I heard in a long while. POGO workers here are not comparable to OFWs in China. POGO workers came over for a different purpose, e.g., likely just tourism, but eventually got visas to work in an activity at the POGO centers operating gambling operations which is prohibited in China,"
Lorenzana said in a message to reporters.


Also, he pointed out that Chinese companies are mandated by their government to assist in intelligence collection and it is not far-fetched to think that individuals could be compelled to do so.

Meanwhile, OFWs in China, Lorenzana said, went there for specific work that is legitimate with Chinese visas.

"Our OFWs are more like Chinese workers here in the Philippines in construction projects mutually agreed upon by both countries. There are no POGO-like centers in China operated purely by Filipinos near Chinese military camps," the DND chief stressed.

And besides, he said OFWs in China are widely dispersed, working in homes and schools away from military camps unlike Chinese POGO centers in the Philippines which are very near military camps and naval bases.

"It could be just coincidental because these were the only facilities offered for POGO operations and I believe that the POGO workers are here only just for work only. What I am alarmed is the potential that they could be tapped for info gathering purposes," Lorenzana added.

For this reason, the DND chief said he is supporting proposals to place these Chinese POGO centers in hubs.

"That is why I support the relocation of the POGO centers to eco-zones that are not proximate to military camps," he emphasized.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1078109