Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Police Arrest Suspected Islamic State-linked Militant in Southern Philippines

From BenarNews (Sep 18, 2019): Police Arrest Suspected Islamic State-linked Militant in Southern Philippines



Suspected Filipino militant Jomar Maan signs police documents on a table draped with an Islamic State flag after his arrest in the southern Philippine city of General Santos, Sept. 17, 2019.
Joseph Jubelag/BenarNews

Philippine police arrested a suspected member of a Filipino militant group with alleged links to the Islamic State and prevented what could have been another bomb attack in the southern Philippines, police said Wednesday.

The suspect, identified as
Jomar Maan, 23, was arrested after police stormed his home Tuesday in the village of Bawing in the southern city of General Santos, city police chief Col. Alden Lagradante said.

Police seized “an improvised explosive device, a rifle grenade, a .38 revolver and an ISIS flag” from the suspect, said Lagradante, who identified the suspect as a bomber for the local group
Ansar Khilafa Philippines (AKP), which is also called Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines or Ansarul Khilafa Philippines.


The AKP is a small homegrown network of Filipino militants in Mindanao, the country’s main southern island. Its leader, Mohammad Jaafar Maguid (alias Commander Tokboy), was slain in a clash with government forces in January 2017, although its members have remained active.

Security analysts say AKP has been involved in IS-style beheadings and in arms transfers to militants in Indonesia. Originally based in the southern province of Sarangani, AKP “may be the group with the closest links” to IS in Syria, according to a 2016 report of the Jakarta-based think tank Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict.

Last year, a bomb attack that injured eight people in General Santos was blamed on AKP.

Maan served as Maguid’s aide and personal cook, Lagradante said.

Police have filed charges of illegal possession of explosives and a firearm against Maan who is detained at a local police station.

Authorities had interrogated Maan to determine his involvement in recent terror attacks that occurred in the city and nearby areas, officials said.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/philippines-militants-09182019093652.html

Wanted Sayyaf member surrenders to P’pine military

From the Daily Express (Sep 19, 2019): Wanted Sayyaf member surrenders to P’pine military

KOTA KINABALU: An Abu Sayyaf member believed involved in a series of hijackings and kidnappings in waters off Sabah, has returned to the fold of the law.

A Philippine military report reaching here said
Nassae Lokbao, No. 7 on the military’s periodic status report watchlist of the Abu Sayyaf, surrendered to Marines in an island village off Languyan town in Tawi-Tawi.

“Lokbao surenderred to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 6 at Tahaw Island in Barangay Darul Akram last week but information was only made public recently due to the-up operations, “
2nd Marine Brigade Deputy Commander Col. Hermanie Songano stationed in Bongao said.

He said the rebel returnee is a native of Indanan town in Sulu province and a former follower of slain Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom leader Abraham Hamid.


“Hamid’s group was behind hijackings in waters off Lahad Datu-Semporna in 2016,” he revealed adding that Lokbao surrendered his M1 Garland rifle with a clip of ammunition.

In a related development, Philippine security forces have killed a Abu Sayyaf bomb expert in a clash in a remote village in southern Philippine province Sulu, a military spokesman said last Wednesday.

Maj. Arvin Encinas, the spokesperson of the Philippine military’s Western Mindanao Command, identified the slain terrorist as Nanz Sawadjaan, the younger brother of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

“He was one of the Abu Sayyaf bomb experts who produced the improvised explosive devices used in the recent suicide bombing incidents in Sulu,” Encinas said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Corleto Vinluan said the killing of Sawadjaan on Tuesday (Sept 10) “is a great loss” to the group, adding his death “will debilitate the current strategy employed by the group in creating havoc in the province.”

Two soldiers were wounded in Tuesday’s clash between Philippine security forces and around 40 Abu Sayyaf fighters in a remote village in Patikul town of Sulu province.

Group says evidence on arrested NDFP officer was ‘planted’, charges ‘fabricated’

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 19, 2019): Group says evidence on arrested NDFP officer was ‘planted’, charges ‘fabricated’

A group has claimed that the murder charges and the evidence gathered against National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) officer Antonia Setias Dizon were “fabricated” and “planted” on her by state forces.

According to a statement from the
Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), a union of government employees of which Dizon is part of, this ‘desperate’ measure is still part of the government’s crackdown on labor unions.


“COURAGE calls on the immediate release of Dizon, as we believe this is a direct attack not just to her but to whole essence of unionism. As we all know, the state has been aggressive in witch-hunting its critics primarily in the government sector,” COURAGE said on Tuesday.

Dizon, who was wanted for murder was arrested by the Laguna police on Tuesday in Barangay Rosario, San Pedro City.

The arrest order was issued by Acting Executive Judge Lou Nueva of the Bayugan City Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Agusan Del Sur.

Police officers also served search warrants issued by Executive Judge Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca of the Santa Cruz Regional Trial Court in Laguna.

During the search, police said a .38 caliber pistol, two cellphones, and various documents were seized. The documents police said, linked Dizon to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

READ: NDFP officer arrested in Laguna

However, COURAGE noted that this is not the first time that Dizon and other members have been harassed by the police and the military.

“Many of our leaders who are government workers, have been receiving threats and intimidation, and even given trumped-up charges as well as suspension from their work only because of their assertion of their rights for a national minimum wage and ending contractualization,” the group said.

“Way back in 2015 Dizon had already experienced military harassment, wherein she had to spend the night and take refuge in the office of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, because she may get abducted, or worse killed by agents surrounding the building,” they recalled.

Dizon, NDFP’s National Organizing Department, is one of the several left-leaning leaders accused facing murder charges in relation to their supposed involvement with the NPA. Just in August 2018, a warrant of arrest for murder was issued against former Makabayan lawmakers, who were then forced to go into hiding.

Recently, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo supported moves to revive Republic Act No. 1700 or the Anti Subversion Act.

READ: After court junks murder cases, ‘Makabayan 4’ says fight continues

READ: AFP: CPP, NDF, NPA can’t be treated ‘differently, separately’ from the other

President Rodrigo Duterte also canceled the ceasefire agreement with the NPA.

READ: Duterte: I’m a socialist, not a communist; last card

READ: Duterte closes door for permanent truce – Sison

Philippines: Mindanao Humanitarian Situation as of 18 September 2019

Posted to the Relief Web (Sep 18, 2019): Philippines: Mindanao Humanitarian Situation as of 18 September 2019

INFOGRAPHICfrom UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Published on 18 Sep 2019


Download PDF (3.35 MB)


TROPICAL DEPRESSION MARILYN

6,000 displaced population

As of 15 September, TD Marilyn affected more than 1,700 families/8,412 people from 25 barangays of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Davao del Sur and South Cotabato provinces. Around 6,000 people are displaced in which 5,500 people are staying in 10 ECs while 500 people are taking shelter with host families. There are over 30 damaged houses of which 16 are totally damaged. Local authorities provided food and relief assistance.

DISPLACEMENT IN MAGUINDANAO

8,500 displaced population

As of 4 September 2019, more than 1,700 families/8,500 people remain displaced due to 25 July armed conflict between government armed forces and non-state armed group in Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Datu Salibo municipalities and the 19 August IED explosion in Barangay Bakat, Rajah Buayan municipality. Most of the families are staying in host communities. Local authorities and the Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (READI-BARMM) continue to provide food assistance to the displaced families.

DISPLACEMENT IN SULU

11,000 displaced population

Law enforcement operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the Abu Sayyaf group (ASG) displaced more than 11,000 people in Patikul municipality in Sulu Province in 2017 and January 2019. Displaced families are mobile, and tend to their crops during harvest season and return to the host communities after. Due to high risk of kidnapping and ongoing military operation, access remains limited. UNHCR working with local NGOs will conduct an IDP profiling in the island provinces including Sulu to ensure the real IDPs are counted and receiving immediate assistance from the government and humanitarian agencies.

MARAWI CONFLICT

66,000 displaced population

An estimated 66,000 people continue to be displaced from the Marawi conflict with most staying with host families while others are either in evacuation centres or temporary shelters. Of these, 3,270 people are in evacuation centres (ECs) and 11,000 people are in temporary shelters (TSs). The government plans to transfer all families in ECs to TSs before end of the year. Water and sanitation remain a priority in various sites as water supply is insufficient given the limited actors providing water interventions.

DISPLACEMENT IN NORTH COTABATO

1,000 displaced population

Nearly 200 families are displaced due to a rido or clan feud on 9 September in Barangay Damatulan, municipality of Midsayap. Most of the displaced families are staying with host families in nearby barangay. Meanwhile, the police and military personnel have been deployed to prevent further conflict between the warring families. Local authorities are providing relief assistance to the displaced families and verifying the number of displaced people.

NORTHEASTERN MINDANAO DISPLACEMENT

2,000 displaced population

As of 12 September, more than 400 families remain displaced in Loreto and Veruela municipalities of Agusan del Sur province, and in Laak municipality of Compostela Valley province as the law enforcement operations between Government armed forces and the New People’s Army (NPA) continue. Local authorities continue to provide relief assistance and verify number of displaced people.

BOMBING INCIDENT IN SULTAN KUDARAT AND SULU

On 8 September, a suspected female suicide bomber was killed in an explosion when she allegedly attacked a checkpoint of a military camp in Indanan, Sulu province. No casulties were reported.

On 7 September, an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a public market in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat province wounding at least seven people. An Islamic State-aligned group claimed responsibility for the explosion.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-mindanao-humanitarian-situation-18-september-2019

Army releases affidavit of jailed activist confessing to being NPA member

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 19, 2019): Army releases affidavit of jailed activist confessing to being NPA member

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines — An affidavit released by the military said a rights activist now in government custody admitted being a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) and surrendering because she wanted to “live a normal life” in a case that appeared to support a rant made by President Rodrigo Duterte about supposedly communist fronts.

The affidavit, signed by
Alexandrea Pacalda, also a former campus journalist, was executed on Sept. 17 and notarized by lawyer Meyrick Andrew Osena in the town of Lopez, Quezon province.


A copy of her affidavit was sent to the Inquirer on Wednesday, September 18, by Capt. Benedick Alfonso Cagatin, a civil-military officer of the Army’s 201st Infantry Brigade based in Calauag, Quezon.

The affidavit said Pacalda confessed to being an NPA member “freely and voluntarily without being forced, threatened, harassed, coerced, and/or promised of (sic) any form of reward.”

She said she turned herself in to soldiers from the 85th Infantry Battalion and policemen in General Luna on Sept. 15. She also surrendered a revolver with six bullets.

Pacalda admitted she was a “political officer” of NPA and adopted the alias Cossette/Cris.

According to her affidavit, Pacalda belonged to the NPA unit operating in the Bondoc Peninsula.

She also named Cecilia Modia alias “Mitch,” Philip Enteria alias “Cyrus,” and one “Darwin” as her recruiters to the rebel movement in 2017.


The affidavit said Pacalda “realized the futility of our struggle and I decided to leave the organization but could not just find the right opportunity to do so.”

Pacalda said her fear of retaliation by her comrades prompted her to seek safety and protection in military hands.

The human rights group Karapatan and other leftist groups have been demanding the immediate release of Pacalda.

The group claimed that she was being held against her will and without any charge.

Karapatan said Pacalda was an active member of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and Gabriela Youth.

Duterte ended talks with the rebels and ordered an all-out war that also targets what he said were communist sympathizers and supporters. Since that order, lawyers, members of leftist organizations and militant activists had been killed in assassinations being blamed on the government.

PH envoy to European states: Stop funding CPP-NPA-linked groups

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 18, 2019): PH envoy to European states: Stop funding CPP-NPA-linked groups



Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations Ambassador Evan Garcia

The Philippines has reiterated its call on Europe, the European Union, and the international community to cease giving financial support to groups linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples' Army (CPP-NPA).

The renewed call was made by Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organizations Ambassador Evan Garcia at the general debate on human rights situations during the 42nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday.


"We call on the European Union, European states, and the international community to stop enabling these groups by strengthening due diligence mechanisms for their relevant agencies," he said.

Garcia said the spread of the communist armed movement now needs attention from the UNHRC.

Concerned on the "unsubstantiated information or reports which are detached from realities on the ground" the UN body may get, Garcia cited official reports that the group has effectively used funding from development partners.

"In our side events during this Session, the Philippines drew attention to how the CPP-NPA, a terrorist group, and its front organizations, have abused the good faith of the UN system and development partners to run fictitious social programs while financing their criminal activities and peddling false claims on the human rights situation in the Philippines, even as it has perpetuated systemic and unspeakable atrocities to its followers and indigenous communities across the country for decades," he said.

Garcia cited government information, as well as a personal account of the indigenous peoples affected by the communist movement themselves.

He said the Philippines "pays careful attention" to the agenda item tackling human rights situations in UN member states and highlighted its importance to the work of the Council.

"We call on all states to uphold the integrity of the Council by observing due diligence and ensuring that our discourse is based on facts and does not disintegrate to a level that credits purveyors of fake news," he said.

On Monday, some members of the indigenous peoples’ community, together with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), faced the Council in Geneva, Switzerland to report the atrocities committed by the CPP-NPA in the country.

Among them was Datu Panuliman James Binayao from the Manobo-Talaandig Tribe of Maramag, Bukidnon, who personally appealed for help.

"We need your help because, for the past 50 years, the CPP-NPA has come to our ancestral domains to steal the peace and development that we have. They destroy our families, they destroy our cultures, and they destroy the future of our next generation," Binayao said.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1080828

AFP-CRS: Abra youth leaders conducted Peace Rally

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 18, 2019): Abra youth leaders conducted Peace Rally

Image may contain: text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2708678589150848/?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: Philippine Army bags "Silver Standard Trophy" in Australia's International Military Skills competition

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 18, 2019): Philippine Army bags "Silver Standard Trophy" in Australia's International Military Skills competition

Image may contain: text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2708679992484041/?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: Statement of the Commander of Southern Luzon Command, AFP on the arrest of Antonia Tonog Setias-Dizon aka TONET, Secretary, National Organizing Department of CPP-NPA-NDF

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 18, 2019): Statement of the Commander of Southern Luzon Command, AFP on the arrest of Antonia Tonog Setias-Dizon aka TONET, Secretary, National Organizing Department of CPP-NPA-NDF

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2708857972466243/?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

CPP: Fascism under the Duterte regime

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 19, 2019): Fascism under the Duterte regime



The Duterte regime is a thinly disguised fascist state. Duterte exercises near absolute powers, employing the military and police as his armed agents to carry out his dictates. He uses anticommunism and anti-terrorism as his overarching ideology to justify his relentless attacks against civilians, his political opponents and all other democratic forces.

Duterte is presiding over a pseudo-democratic government. He professes to be bound by law but takes actions unbound by it. His strongman tactics have rendered the parliamentary and judicial branches of government ineffective, spineless and powerless. All democratic forces are being silenced, intimidated, neutralized and vanquished in a war of all-out suppression.

The entire country is now under a state of undeclared martial law. Military and police forces have been unleashed to invade the civil spheres of society in the name of counterinsurgency.

Duterte’s fascism aims to intensify the oppression and exploitation of the Filipino people through a campaign of extrajudicial killings and suppression of their democratic rights. He aims to destroy the people’s capability to defend and advance their interests. The Filipino people must unite and fight Duterte’s reign of fascist terror and resist his perpetuation scheme.

Elements of Duterte’s fascism

Duterte has imposed his reign of fascist terror through a combination of the following elements:

a. Demagoguery and promotion of lies and the most putrid ideology and culture

Duterte is a fascist demagogue. He plays on the broad masses’ popular sentiments and grievances, sense of social justice, patriotism, revolutionary traditions, and aspirations for a better life in order to misrepresent himself as one of the people. He wants to attract the support of the people, exert influence on the masses, while at the same time impose policies which oppress and burden them.

He made claims at the outset of being a “socialist” even if his program had nothing remotely in common with socialism, not even a tinge of promoting the people’s welfare. Duterte’s demagoguery, however, has been thoroughly exposed by his own actions.

He continues to claim he “hates corruption” yet he is in bed with the Marcoses and Arroyos and freed them from jail, has retained the detested pork barrel system and has pocketed billions of pesos from lopsided foreign loan and contracts. He falsely dresses himself up as someone with simple tastes to dissemble his penchant for private jets in official and personal travels and high-living for himself and his family. He has repeatedly railed against the oligarchs but is publicly known to favor certain big businessmen such as Lucio Tan, Ramon Ang, the Villars, Cojuangcos and others. He builds himself up as a champion of “land reform” to draw the peasants’ support away from the NPA, but is distributing not land but worthless pieces of paper obliging “beneficiaries” to amortize. He promised workers to end “endo” or job contractualization but refused to sign into law a bill that the capitalist employers do not approve of.

Duterte promotes the most putrid of ideologies and culture, reflective of the rottenness of the ruling semicolonial and semifeudal system. Using his presidential platform, he is infecting the people with his sick ideas contaminated with contempt for human rights, misogyny, prejudice against the poor, religious bigotry and anticommunist zealotry. Duterte has spewed the vilest condemnation of victims of drug addiction as “unhuman,” only to hide the protection of the illegal drug trade that worsened the despondency of the broad masses of unemployed.

He has made atrocious distortions of history, promoting Marcos as a hero and glorifying authoritarianism in a self-serving effort to justify his tyranny and bid to establish a dictatorship. To rationalize his appointment of large numbers of former officials of the AFP, he acclaims the military and military officers as disciplined and trustworthy, obscuring its long history of rights abuses, involvement in criminal syndicates and corruption.

A relentless information war promoting fake news, outright falsities and contrived public surveys is being carried out under Duterte’s fascism. Mouthpieces of Malacañang, the military, economic and other agencies daily spew brazen lies to paint a picture of “change” to conceal how things have worsened under Duterte. Independent and critical journalists and media organizations are being attacked, intimidated or browbeaten to compel them to self-censor and toe the government line.

b. Brazen killings, rights abuses and strongman tactics

Duterte has established himself a strongman by mounting a campaign of mass killings, primarily under the guise of the “drug war” under which the police officially acknowledged having killed more than 6,000 suspects since 2016, and where more than 25,000 other murders are “under investigation.” He followed this through with the war of destruction of Marawi which claimed thousands of deaths and destroyed the lives and livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people.

Publicly and otherwise, Duterte has made it clear that he is the ultimate mastermind behind the mass murder in order to demonstrate the extent to which he is capable of using his position for both legal and illegal acts. In conjunction with the killings, he has verbally attacked judges, local politicians, church officers and media personalities. He has dangled his “narcolist” as a weapon to make everyone kneel and bow to his power.

Duterte has directed his campaign of killings against social activists, especially among the peasant masses where more than 100 have been killed. The Tokhang-style of killings have been applied in Negros under the AFP and PNP’s “Oplan Sauron.”

Duterte has openly abetted and emboldened the military and police to carry out extrajudicial killings and rape. He has encouraged state security forces to disregard human rights, urging soldiers to “shoot (female rebels) in the vagina.” He has spoken brusquely against the United Nations Human Rights Commission, UN rapporteurs and against various international stalwarts of human rights.

c. Suppressing democratic organizations to impose fascist-type groups on the masses.

Duterte and his officials aim to deny the people of their right to form democratic organizations and impose fascist-type groups on the masses. Duterte wants to have a semblance of mass support for his despicable regime and use these “pro-Duterte” organizations to attack the various democratic mass organizations both politically and physically.

Duterte and key military and police officers are openly and unapologetically red-tagging various patriotic and democratic organizations. These organizations are falsely being accused of being fronts for NPA recruitment. They want to make these organizations susceptible to a mass crackdown either through the revival of the Anti-Subversion Law; or by pushing for the proscription of the CPP and NPA as terrorist organizations under the Human Security Act; or by a mere Duterte fiat.

The fascists have employed red-tagging as well against entire peasant villages. Community residents have been rounded up and paraded as “surrenderees.” Regional, provincial and village councils have been compelled by the AFP to issue so-called “persona non grata” against the NPA as well as against red-tagged legal peasant organizations.

The ultimate aim of the fascist red-tagging is to destroy the militant trade unions and workers organizations, patriotic student groups, peasant associations demanding land reform and various democratic organizations. These organizations are being subjected to surveillance and intimidation. The Duterte fascists are vainly exerting extra effort to crush the youth and students organizations.

Duterte wants to force the people into fascist organizations. Such type of organizations are fanatically anticommunist and are openly and secretly established and supported by the military and police and composed mainly of lumpen and antisocial elements from among the politically and culturally backward segment of the masses.

These include the AFP and PNP-formed armed vigilante groups such as those in Negros and Northern Mindanao which publicly threaten to attack and are believed to be behind the murder of activists, human rights lawyers, civic-minded religious people and others. There is also the League of Parents which was initiated by the AFP and PNP to vilify youth activism. A group calling itself the Pagkakaisa Mamamayan Tungo sa Kaayusan recently ransacked and vandalized the office of the urban poor group Kadamay as military and police forces provided them security.

d. Martial law, declared and undeclared

The Philippines is under Duterte’s undeclared martial law. Duterte has put the entire island of Mindanao under martial law since May 2017. Through Memorandum Order 32, Duterte placed the Bicol region, Negros and Samar islands under military rule. The rest of the country is under undeclared martial law where the military imposes its authority in the name of counterinsurgency.

Encouraged by Duterte’s open fascist exhortation, soldiers and police personnel are brazenly abusing their powers in the conduct of its war of suppression. Cases of killings, torture, illegal arrests, abductions and other military and police abuses are on the rise. Military forces occupy communities, erect military detachments inside villages, imposing food and economic blockades, restricting the movement of residents and maintaining their intimidating presence to cow and silence the masses.

Duterte continues to harbor ambitions of imposing open fascist dictatorship ala Marcos or through charter change that will centralize powers under a pseudo-federal setup. He aims to perpetuate his treacherous and corrupt rule and his bureaucrat capitalist dynasty. He is ever fearful of ending his term in 2022 and face the people’s demands to make him accountable the mass killings, sell-out of sovereign rights and other innumerable crimes.

e. Anticommunism and counterinsurgency as cover for military invasion of the civil aspects of society aka “whole-of-nation” approach

Fascism under the Duterte regime is being strengthened and generalized with the military organization’s invasion of the civil spheres of society in the name of its “whole-of-nation” approach to anticommunism and counterinsurgency.

Under Duterte’s NTF-ELCAC, the entire government bureaucracy is being subsumed under the operational control of the AFP. Every national and local agency is now tasked by the AFP and the NTF to play its part in counterinsurgency. The AFP even wants to put universities and campuses under its influence.

With the NTF-ELCAC, the country is now under a virtual civil-military junta.

There remains the trappings of bourgeois-democratic processes such as the parliament and the courts, but these are practically under the thumb of Duterte. The lower house and senate are controlled by Duterte’s minions. Local government officials have long been intimidated. Uncooperative elements are under constant pressure to cooperate with the AFP’s counterinsurgency under pain of being accused as “rebel sympathizers.” Democratic organizations continue to be allowed to exist but only under decreasing degrees of legality and are under threat of being illegalized.

Anticommunism and counterinsurgency have become the central task of the Duterte regime with the AFP and PNP serving as his principal agents. Duterte has alloted a bigger budget for the AFP and for his own “intelligence” operations. He has appointed his favorite and most trusted military and police officers to head agencies and other key positions in the government. In addition to leading these agencies to perform their roles in counterinsurgency, they ensure that corruption including smuggling is centralized under Duterte.

The class character and social basis of Duterte’s fascism

Duterte’s fascism is the unbridled terrorist rule of the most reactionary elements of the ruling classes of big bourgeois compradors, landlords and bureaucrat capitalists in the country. Duterte represents the vilest and most bestial segment of the ruling reactionaries. He is from the same vein as the Marcoses and Arroyos and other Philippine icons of corruption and oppression. He is a megalomaniac with an avaricious appetite for power. He has risen to the top of the bureaucrat capitalist ladder and has resorted to fascism to eliminate all challengers and opponents.

The rise of Duterte’s fascism is deeply rooted in the basic problems of US imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism in the Philippines. The overall aim of Duterte’s fascism is to salvage the ruling system in the face of continuing economic downtrend and threats of a sharp downturn amid continuing depression of the global capitalist system.

Duterte’s fascism seeks to destroy the democratic mass movement, the legal progressive parties and armed resistance of the oppressed masses demanding an end to the rotten semicolonial and semifeudal system. It seeks to crush the CPP and the NPA which comprise the most advanced, the strongest and most disciplined section of the broad masses of the Filipino people who stand for national liberation and social justice.

The specific aim of Duterte’s fascism is to corner for himself and his clique the decreasing amount of bureaucrat capitalist loot in the form of kickbacks from foreign loans, government contracts, pork barrel, discriminatory funds and others.

US imperialism is the principal purveyor of the Duterte fascist regime. The US government provides the AFP with funds and surplus materiél under the cover of its “war against terror” and the Operation Pacific Eagle-Philippines (OPE-P). The AFP is the main pillar of US imperialist rule in the country and serves as the principal agent of Duterte’s fascist rule. The US imperialists support the AFP in its fascist invasion of civil society as it helps expand US influence and domination in the country, amid its rising superpower conflict with China.

By supporting the Duterte regime with loans and government contracts, in exchange for unprecedented access to Philippine resources and territory, imperialist China is also buttressing the Duterte fascist regime. In fact, it is to China’s favor that the kowtowing Duterte regime will perpetuate its rule through fascist measures as it will help advance and secure its strategic economic and politico-diplomatic interests in the country.

The rise of fascism in the Philippines indicates the increasing inability of the ruling classes to perpetuate their class rule in the old way. In 1972, Marcos declared martial law, abolished the ruling political system in one fell swoop and established a one-man dictatorship. The bourgeois-democratic and liberal trappings of the ruling political system were re-established under the post-Marcos 1987 constitution. These, however, are now fast being eroded by the fascist order being established by Duterte.

This inability to rule in the old way is a result both of the deep and virulent divisions within the ruling classes, and the rising challenge to the class rule by the organized resistance of the oppressed and exploited classes.

The economic crisis and production slowdown has made the pie of bureaucratic loot too small to be shared peaceably between the rapacious bureaucrat capitalists. Having only three more years in power, Duterte is in a hurry and desperate to secure his kickbacks from foreign loans and contracts from China. He is pushing hard to secure the joint contract with China for exploiting oil resources in the West Philippine Sea. His repeated threats of establishing a “revolutionary government” and unleashing his full fascist wrath if anyone will attempt to question these agreements has rendered the “checks and balances” of the political system ineffective.

The ruling state is now in the hands of a fascist clique that is intolerant of the democratic forces of the oppressed masses which challenge the exploitative and oppressive system. They fear that the socio-economic crisis marked by higher taxes, rising prices, low wages, joblessness, rural dispossession, reduction in social spending and so on, will incite the broad masses of peasants, workers, semiproletariat and pettybourgeoisie in unprecedentedly large numbers. The imposition of fascist terror seeks to prevent the masses from rising up in widespread democratic upheavals. The legal existence of their organizations under the reactionary constitution is being undermined by degrees.

Furthermore, over the past several decades, the ruling classes and the state security forces have failed to crush the revolutionary armed struggle despite one oplan and all-out military offensive after another. The resort to all-out fascism is a vain attempt to boost the AFP’s ability to wage a war to defeat the NPA. Under Marcos, the personnel of the AFP increased several times over from a few tens of thousands to a few hundred thousands. Similarly, Duterte has stepped up recruitment of new combat troops to form new military divisions and battalions.

Resist and end Duterte’s fascist regime

Almost five decades ago, Ferdinand Marcos placed the entire country under martial law which launched his brutal dictatorial rule. For 14 years, the Filipino people resisted valiantly and fought on all arenas of struggle. Serving as the strongest bulwark of anti-fascist resistance, the Party and the New People’s Army waged underground and armed struggle, inspiring and militating the Filipino people to unite and struggle for democracy. Culminating long years of anti-fascist resistance, the Filipino people rose up in their millions in 1986 causing the overthrow of the US-Marcos dictatorship.

The Filipino people today are subjected to the same fascist brutalities and cruelties under Duterte as the crisis of the ruling semicolonial and semifeudal system worsen ever more rapidly. The attacks against the people are far more brazen and are on a greater scale, particularly in terms of killings perpetrated by state forces.

The resort to fascism of the Duterte ruling reactionary clique indicates the overall crisis of the ruling system and its inability to perpetuate itself without using barefaced state terrorism. It further weakens the ruling state because it intensifies the contradictions not only between the oppressed masses and the ruling state, but also that between the different rival factions of the ruling classes.

The Filipino people must firmly resist and seek to end Duterte’s reign of fascist terror. They must fight for their democratic rights. They must vigorously struggle to prevent Duterte from perpetuating his rule, and demand that he be made accountable for all the crimes perpetrated by state forces under his regime.

Duterte’s fascist demagoguery and lies must be thoroughly exposed and repudiated. All its crimes must be roundly and widely condemned. The demand for justice must resound across the country. Duterte’s exercise of absolute power, his treachery and corruption must be denounced. The aggrandizement of the military into the civil spheres of society must be opposed. The people should be infused with courage in the difficult fight against Duterte’s fascist tyranny.

All democratic forces must come together in a broad anti-fascist united front against the Duterte regime. This must bring together the oppressed and exploited classes, the intellectuals and professionals, the academics, church, media workers, women, the youth and the anti-Duterte political opposition. They must be able to bring together millions of people in various forms and arenas of struggle.

The CPP and NPA remains the most consolidated bastion of the Filipino people’s anti-fascist resistance. All cadres and members of the CPP and Red fighters of the NPA must strengthen and steel themselves ideologically, politically and organizationally in order to be at the vanguard and core of the people’s struggle against the fascist Duterte regime.

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/19/fascism-under-the-duterte-regime/

CPP/NDF-Bicol: Sa Harap ng Pasistang Paghahari ni Duterte, Tungkulin ng Mamamayan ang Alalahanin ang Bangungot ng Batas Militar

NDF-Bicol propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 19, 2019): Sa Harap ng Pasistang Paghahari ni Duterte, Tungkulin ng Mamamayan ang Alalahanin ang Bangungot ng Batas Militar

MARIA ROJA BANUA
SPOKESPERSON
NDF-BICOL
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

Sa panahong namamayani ang pasismo, kagutuman at kahirapan, isang krimen ang lumimot. Sa okasyon ng paggunita ng ika-47 anibersaryo ng deklarasyon ng Batas Militar sa panahon ng diktador na si Marcos, ipinapaabot ng NDF-Bikol ang mahigpit na pakikiisa sa mamamayang patuloy na naninindigan para sa karapatan at kalayaan at nagtatakwil sa muling paglukob ng bangungot ng pasistang diktadura sa bansa.

Mahigit apat na dekada mula nang unang maideklara ang batas militar sa bansa, nananatiling mailap ang katarungan para sa daan libong mamamayang naging biktima ng karahasan ng estado. Pinipilit baguhin ng naghaharing-uri ang kasaysayan. Matapos tumakbo ni Bongbong Marcos para sa pagka-bise presidente noong 2016, nahalal naman ngayong taon bilang Senador si Imee Marcos sa bisa ng isa sa mga pinakamaruruming eleksyon sa kasaysayan ng bansa.

Ang masahol pa, umuulit ang kasaysayan sa ilalim ng rehimeng US-Duterte at higit pang pinatindi ang lantarang pagyurak sa karapatang-tao. Pilit na ipinatatanggap sa masang Pilipino ang normalisasyon ng pasismo at terorismo ng estado. Habang nag-uulol ang reaksyunaryong gubyerno sa pagtugis sa mga makabayan at tunay na nagtataguyod ng karapatan at kalayaan ay pinagpupugayan naman ng kanyang mga alagad ang kamay na bakal ni Duterte. Pinapalakpakan ang lumulobong bilang ng mga kaso ng ekstrahudisyal na pamamaslang habang tinuturing na krimen ang paglaban. Kamakailan lang, inamin mismo ni Duterte na siya ang utak sa isang ambus laban sa isang pulitiko sa Visayas. Ngunit sa halip na imbestigahan ang kriminal na pangulo, pinipili ng militar at pulis na pagtuunan ng pansin ang pagtugis, pandarahas at pagpatay sa daan libong kabataan-aktibista, taong-simbahan, abugado, guro, tagapagtaguyod ng karapatang-tao, masang sibilyan sa kanayunan at kalunsuran.

Ngunit hindi pa tapos ang laban. Sa panahong pilit na lumulukob ang kadiliman sa buong bansa at pinamumugaran ang gubyerno ng mga taksil sa bayan, tungkulin ng mamamayan ang magbalikwas. Tungkulin ang magngalit at tumindig para sa tunay na kalayaan at katarungan. Isang kolektibong tungkulin ang balikan ang mga aral ng kasaysayan at sumulong nang may paninindigang pabagsakin ang kaaway ng mamamayan. May araw ding papanagutin ng sambayanan ang naghahari-hariang si Duterte at ang kanyang pinakamasusugid na kawal. May araw ding magbabayad sa kanilang mga krimen ang mga burukrata kapitalistang nagtataguyod ng neoliberalismo at naglulublob sa masa sa kumunoy ng kahirapan, ang mga militar at pulis na pinatatahimik ng bala ang nag-aalab na diwa ng mamamayan, ang lokal at dayuhang naghaharing-uri na nagpapakasasa sa bunga ng pawis at dugo ng mamamayan. Tulad ng diktadura ni Marcos, walang ibang patutunguhan ang pasistang paghahari ni Duterte kung hindi ang tuluyang pagguho. Hanggat hindi nasisilayan ng masang Pilipino ang silahis ng umaga, kasama ng sambayanang Pilipino ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan sa kanilang patuloy na pagpunit sa dilim.

Gunitain ang Ika-47 Anibersaryo ng Batas Militar ni Marcos! Balikan ang Aral ng Kasaysayan, Manindigan, Labanan ang Pasismo at Terorismo ng Estado! Pabagsakin ang Rehimeng US-Duterte! Katarungan para sa mga Biktima ng Karahasan ng Estado mula Noon Hanggang sa Kasalukuyan!

https://cpp.ph/statement/sa-harap-ng-pasistang-paghahari-ni-duterte-tungkulin-ng-mamamayan-ang-alalahanin-ang-bangungot-ng-batas-militar/

CPP: Kalatas | Hunyo 2019

Propaganda publication posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 19, 2019): Kalatas | Hunyo 2019


2019 Kalatas Publications

Download PDF

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/19/kalatas-hunyo-2019/

Kalinaw News: Another 3 New Peoples Army Surrender in Surigao Sur

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 18, 2019): Another 3 New Peoples Army Surrender in Surigao Sur






BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur- Camp Jaime N Ferrer Sr, Brgy Maharlika, Bislig City (Station) – Two (2) Militia ng Bayan and a regular member of the Weakened Guerilla Front 14, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (WGF14,NEMRC) voluntarily surrender to the Philippine Army at 75IB Headquarters, today at 8:00 in the morning, September 18, 2019.

The surrenderees were identified as AKA Bernabe, AKA Loy and AKA Jun, all from the Weaken Guerilla Front (WGF) 14, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).

The former rebels brought with them the following war materials: one (1) M2 Carbine with one (1) magazine loaded of ten (10) live ammunition, two (2) gallons of Improvised Explosive Device (IED), one hundred fifty (150) meters flat cord # 22, three pieces (3) blasting cup with five (5) meters detonating cords, one (1) shotgun rifle (homemade), one (1) shotgun pistol (homemade), six (6) magazines of AK 47, one (1) 7.62MM M14 Rifle with one (1) magazine loaded with twenty (20) rounds of live ammunition and two (2) pieces of subversive books. They are all residents of Sitio (So) 1K (San Isidro), Brgy Bunawan Brook, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

Naka desisyon me nga musurender tungod sa kahadlok ug kakapoy sigeg dagan, tago palayo sa operasyon sa militar ug kapulisan ug dugang pa ang NPA wala ni tuman sa ilang saad sa amoa nga sila (NPA) musuporta sa among pamilya gani gigatungan pa meg sakto nga masuko ug mokontra sa gobyerno. Dugang pa nga rason sa among pag surrender, gusto namo nga manginabuhig malinawon kauban sa matag namo nga pamilya, said Cabakungan in their colloquial dialect.

In addition, the surrenderees will receive assistance from the government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP). Further, Lieutenant Colonel Warren C Munda, Acting Commanding Officer of 75IB said, “With the support of our government, stakeholders and people in the community, together we’ll resolve and act as one to this campaign in eradicating the Communist NPA Terrorsits (CNTs).” Lt. Col. Munda ended.




75th Infantry Battalion 4th Infantry Division Philippine Army
Cpt Edwin Leo Francisco
CMO Officer, 75IB, 4ID, PA
Bislig City, Surgao del Sur
09778474763

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]


https://www.kalinawnews.com/another-3-new-peoples-army-surrender-in-surigao-sur/

Kalinaw News: Army reservist Matteo Guidicelli talks to Basilan youth

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 18, 2019): Army reservist Matteo Guidicelli talks to Basilan youth






FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – Army Reservist 2nd Lt. Matteo Guidicelli on Tuesday, Sept. 17, encouraged around 5,000 youth of Basilan State College to be active players in peace-promoting activities and development programs of the province, as part of the Army’s continuous efforts in instilling patriotism among the youth.

Prior to the engagement, Guidicelli and First Scout Ranger Regiment Commander Brig. Gen. William Gonzales visited the 101st Infantry Brigade in Isabela and the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion in Lamitan, Basilan to boost the morale of the troops.

“As long as you study hard and follow your teachers, mangyayari ‘yang mga pangarap mo,” said Guidicelli to one of the students who shared her dreams for herself and for the province.

During the forum, Guidicelli encouraged the students to use their potential to serve and showcase the beauty of Basilan and counter the public’s negative perception about the island province. He added that the students will play an important role in promoting Basilan’s tourism that will lead to more opportunities for its development.

He also reminded them to respect their parents, love God and country, persevere for their aspirations, and be responsible in exercising their freedom especially in using social media.

“We need to constantly remind our youth about the value of patriotism and selfless service. We want to give them all the opportunities for growth and development being our country’s hope for the future,” said Army Spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon P. Zagala.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]

Kalinaw News: PNP-AFP Operatives Nab NDF Secretary in Laguna

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 18, 2019): PNP-AFP Operatives Nab NDF Secretary in Laguna







LAGUNA – A joint PNP-AFP Law Enforcement Operations composed of operatives from Laguna Police Provincial Office, Joint Task Force-NCR, and the Philippine Army’s 202nd Infantry Bde, 2MIB, and CMO Regiment conducted OPLAN Manhunt Charlie to serve the arrest warrant against Antonia Tonog Sietas Dizon, aka “Tonet”, the Secretary of CPP-NPA-NDF’s national organizing department (NOD), at Villa Olympia Subdivision, San Pedro City, here, September 17, 2019.

Dizon’s capture was made by virtue of the warrant of arrest for the crime of murder issued by Acting Executive Judge Lou A Nueva of RTC Branch 7, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

Similarly, the conduct of search was effected under the search warrant issued by Santa Cruz, Laguna RTC Executive Judge Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca.

Recovered during the operations are the following: one (1) Tanfoglio Cal. 380 pistol, one (1) magazine with seven (7) live ammunition, 48 pieces of live ammunition for Cal. 380, Two (2) Blasting Caps with wirings, 10 pieces Blasting Caps, two (2) mobile phones, two (2) pieces hard disk drives, one (1) USB flash drive, one (1) CPP/NPA flag, one (1) green Cap with CPP logo and several subversive materials.

The unlicensed firearms and ammunition found in her place is a violation of R.A. 10591 or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition.




Kalinaw News

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]


https://www.kalinawnews.com/pnp-afp-operatives-nab-ndf-secretary-in-laguna/

Kalinaw News: Former NPA Supporters/Sympathizers Pledge To Become Peace Builders

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 18, 2019): Former NPA Supporters/Sympathizers Pledge To Become Peace Builders









Former NPA Supporters/Sympathizers Pledge To Become Peace Builders MAGPET, North Cotabato— Former NPA supporters and sympathizers successfully completed the Peace Building and Disaster Preparedness Seminar initiated by the 72nd Infantry Battalion and LGU-Magpet here, Monday morning, September 16.

With the theme “Pagkakaisa ng Mamayan Susi sa Kaunlaran”, the four-day seminar was attended by 175 former members of underground mass organizations and Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad in the nine barangays where Community Support Program (CSP) immersed.

It can be recalled that CSP were undertaken at Barangays Temporan, Balite, Basak, Bagumbayan, Doles, Inac, Alibayon, Binay, and Del Pilar all of Magpet to address the lingering issues being capitalized by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and to clear the said area from the influence of the said terrorist group.

The activity was initiated as part of the continuing program of the government to build up awareness among these affected residents and to purge the communist ideology from their minds. . During the seminar, resource speakers from the different line agencies were invited to share right information and updates on their respected programs in order clarify the propaganda used by the CTG and give the participants better understanding on the services they can provide to the localities. On the other hand, the Disaster Preparedness was also incorporated to hone their skills and capacitate them with the knowledge to develop their disaster resiliency. This was spearheaded by the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

In his speech, Mayor Florenito Gonzaga said that the local government of Magpet fully supported the activity because it is geared towards having a peaceful and develop community. He further said that everyone must give their utmost support and cooperation so that the quest for the permanent closure of conflict will be achieved. He also gave the assurance that the LGU will actively partake in the implementation of the programs so that the issues being exploited will be addressed. In his testimony, Hon. Edgar Hantoc, Barangay Captain of Balete, said that they are now enlightened that they were just fooled by the communists. “It is very clear now that we were just used for their personal interest. We became victims and I call on the NPA to stay away from the people. We want peace, give us peace”, he revealed.

Along this line, the nine barangays declared the CTG ‘persona non grata’ in their respective places. Through their resolutions, they permanently cut the allegiance with the said group making them unwelcomed in their communities. As per record, the provincial government of North Cotabato together with its city, four municipalities and 22 barangays had their own persona non grata declaration against the CTG.

Lt. Col. Rey Alvarado, Commanding Officer of 72IB, committed that they will continue to provide assistance to said barangays. “We are your Army. We will continue to give our selfless service to you. It is our mandate to protect you from this group”

Meanwhile, Col. Gabriel C Viray III, Commander 901st Bde, conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the people who always extend help to make every community free from the threats of the CTG. He stated that the primary reason why the soldiers are being deployed to the localities is to ensure peace and order in the area. He also called for unity so that the peace spoilers will no longer have the opportunity to exploit the situation.

“Ang 901st Bde andam mi kanunay mu tabang kaninyo ug mag suporta sa tanan na programa sa gobyerno para sa kalinaw ug kalamboan”, he added.

Among the highlights of the event were the oath-taking ceremony and the signing of peace covenant presided by Mayor Gonzaga. The said momentous occasion signified that they will no longer be supporters and sympathizers of the communist but rather peace builders who will help in building a better and resilient community.




Division Public Affairs Office 9th Infantry Division Philippine Army
Cpt Joash Pramis
Chief, Division Public Affairs Office, 9ID
Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur, Philippines
Cell number: 09151434816
email: dpao.9id.pa@gmail.com

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]


https://www.kalinawnews.com/former-npa-supporters-sympathizers-pledge-to-become-peace-builders/

Kalinaw News: Action Against Hunger commit ties with the Military

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 19, 2019): Action Against Hunger commit ties with the Military





TAGO, Surigao del Sur – the Action Against Hunger Philippines based at Tandag City commit ties with the army’s 36IB during their call held at H36IB, Brgy Dayoan, Tago, this province.

Ruel Fegarido, DRR Program Manager and Leonard Talipan, Base Logistics Officers and Security Focal Person of Action Against Hunger Philippine personally visited and conducted courtesy call to Ltc Xerxes Trinidad, Commander, 36IB, PA.

During their call, Ltc Xerxes Trinidad introduced the later to the officers and personnel of the said unit and formally inform the troops about the organization. Ruel Fegarido, DRR Program Manager discussed the vision, mission and the charter principles of their organization.

Also, the unit presented a video presentation entitled; Sa Likod ng Pulang Bandila a 44 mins documentary film and the Madugong Singkwenta, for them to know and an eye-opener on how the CTGs deceived the people through their propaganda and lies.

Based on the reports, the said NGO was tagged as a left-leaning organization because of their involvement and participation in supporting the CTGs during some of their immersions and their conduct of community-based outreach program in Conflict Affected Areas. Wherein, there are some issues arises that fuel the fire in tagging their organization as left-leaning.

In his statement, Ruel Fegarido, DRR Program Manager, AAH said that the organization is maintaining its neutrality, the issues of the red-tagging against their organization is just an isolated case and it is a lesson learned from their part without knowing that they are just one of the victim of the CTGs propaganda and deceptive strategy.

“We will be more cautious in helping the community, we will be more aware of identifying our beneficiaries and what our next step and action in order not to support this CTGs,” said Fegarido.

He also added that they will be more committed to the Armed Forces and the government to be a partner in achieving its mission by building resilient communities and the vision of a world without hunger.

Meanwhile, Ltc Xerxes Trinidad, Commander, 36IB lauded the bold move and the sincere gesture of the Action Against Hunger Philippines is showing their commitment and respect as a Non-Government Organization to the Philippine Army.

“You are just one of the so many organizations that became a victim of the propaganda and lies of the CTG, your action is a stepping stone to deliver your services in a right way and a right person,” army official said.

He also added that the partnership will be the start of working in unison and to recognize the organization to achieve the vision and mission of everyone to have a disaster and conflict resilient communities.

The Action Against Hunger Philippines is a Non-Government Organization aims to save lives by eliminating hunger through the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations of conflict, war and natural disaster. (1Lt Jonald Romorosa, CMO,36IB)




36th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division PA
1LT Jonald D Romorosa
CMO Officer, 36th Infantry Battalion
Sitio Upper Mambago, Dayo-an, Tago, Surigao del Sur
valor_36@yahoo.com
0917-1466-326/09491243886

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]

Kalinaw News: War Materiels Recovered as Army Hit NPAs in Agusan del Norte

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 19, 2019): War Materiels Recovered as Army Hit NPAs in Agusan del Norte





BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, September 16 – Troops of 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion recovered two high powered firearms and NPA personal belongings after the series of encounter in the hinterlands of Barangay Sangay, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte from September 15-16, 2019.

The encounter transpired while the troops were responding to the information from the local populace regarding the presence of armed men in the area. The series of firefight resulted in the recovery of the following items:

• two (2) M1 Garand rifle
• one (1) Magazine of AK47
• twenty (20) rounds of 7.62mm M14 (serviceable)
• three (3) clips of Garand loaded with twenty-four rounds
• one (1) Cellular Phone
• two (2) clips of Cal 30, M1 Garand
• two (2) civilian bag with assorted clothing.

The said group of terrorists are believed to be members of SYP SIKOP, GFC 4A, NCMRC under unknown leader.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Francisco L Molina Jr, Commanding Officer, 23IB expressed his gratitude to the concerned citizens of Barangay Sangay, Buenavista ADN for their cooperation and for providing timely and positive information about the presence of CNTs in the area.

“Through the help of the residents and the commitment of the troops to the mandated task in serving the people and securing the land, we prevented again the senseless CNTs from conducting extortion, recruitment and manipulation to the vulnerable residents. Let us continue our partnership to finally End Local Communist Armed Conflict in our area and create a peaceful environment. We will never get tired of pursuing the enemies.”

“To the remaining members of CNTs, now is the right time to go back to the folds of the law. Don’t waste your life being victimized by their false ideologies. Stand for what is right and open your eyes for the truth. Go back to the government and contribute in maintaining peace in our area” -Lieutenant Colonel Molina Jr added.




23rd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army
1LT ROEL T MAGLALANG
CMO Officer, 23IB, 4ID, PA
Mobile Nr. 09171440972
Facebook Page: 23rd Infantry Battalion @ TeamMasigasig23
http://m.me/TeamMasigasig23

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]

Kalinaw News: Bayugan City rewards NPA surrenderees, includes one who disclosed Arms Cache

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 19, 2019): Bayugan City rewards NPA surrenderees, includes one who disclosed Arms Cache





Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur (ADS) — Lieutenant Colonel Joey B Baybayan INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Officer of 3RD Special Forces (ARROWHEAD) Battalion (3SFBn) presented surrenderees, including @Sion, a rebel surrenderee who disclosed last August the arms cache in Sitio Hugmakan, Barangay San Juan, Bayugan City to Mayor Kirk A. Asis, Bayugan City Mayor and Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) Chairman on Social Welfare on September 18, 2019 at the Mayor’s Office, Bayugan City Hall, Bayugan City, ADS. The City Government of Bayugan immediately handed cash assistance to surrenderees aside from the support and interventions from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Presented to the Mayor are two (2) surrenderees who are both residents of Barangay San Juan, Bayugan City with one (1) m16 rifle and three (3) caliber 30 Garand rifles disclosed by @Sion last August.

@Sion’s disclosure of the arms cache is a clear manifestation that Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) forcibly exploit indigenous peoples in hinterlands for their logistical support. “Indigenous Peoples cannot say NO when tasked to become couriers because they will be killed. The IPs are threatened and forced. Lumad killings are part of the Communist NPA Terrorists’ way to gain support from the masses,” @Sion said

LTC Baybayan expressed his gratitude to the Bayugan City LGU, “We express our sincerest gratitude to the Bayugan City LGU under Honorable Mayor Kirk A. Asis, who also leads the RDC-RPOC Social Welfare sector for his support in the attainment of the EO 70’s Whole-of-Nation Approach in ending insurgency.”

“With this gesture of providing assistance to surrenderees, it will greatly help in boosting the influx of surrenderees because they will see the government’s sincerity to attain lasting peace through ending the local communist armed conflict in this city,” he added.

The E-CLIP and Amnesty program is one of the 12 clusters of EO 70 wherein the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is the lead agency. This cluster shall orchestrate the inter-agency operations to implement necessary assistance and interventions to surrenderees and their families. Further, it aims to reintegrate surrenderees into mainstream society and become productive citizens of the country.

Source: 3rd Special Forces Battalion Philippine Army

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]

Kalinaw News: Another High-Ranking Terrorist Falls in Laguna

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 19, 2019): Another High-Ranking Terrorist Falls in Laguna






CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – Combined elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) served a warrant of arrest for a top NPA leader during a joint law enforcement operation in San Pedro, Laguna at around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Per the military’s record, Antonia Tonog Setias-Dizon alias Tonet was designated as Head of the Communist Party of the Philippine’s National Organizing Department (NOD) after Adelberto Silva was arrested last year in Sta Cruz, Laguna.

According to Col Alex Rillera, Commander of the 202nd Brigade which has operational jurisdiction in the area, the arrest of alias Tonet was “by virtue of a warrant for the crime of Murder with Criminal Case # 5965 issued by Acting Executive Judge Lou A Nueva of RTC Branch 7, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.”

He added that the government’s security forces “recovered a Cal .380 pistol, 48 pieces of live ammunition, 12 blasting caps and wires, mobile phones, hard disk drives, USB flash drive, other war materiel and enemy documents with high intelligence value” from alias Tonet’s safe house at B2, L12, Artemis Street, Villa Olympia Subdivision, San Pedro through a warrant issued by Santa Cruz, Laguna RTC Executive Judge Cynthia Mariño-Ricablanca.

Brigadier General Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr, Commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division which covers Southern Tagalog, said that “the arrest of alias Tonet is another major blow to the NPA terrorists’ movement for it will create leadership vacuum that will further speed up their imminent defeat.”

General Burgos attributed the series of NPA leaders’ apprehension to the “whole of nation approach which PRRD is advocating through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict” which eroded “the mass base support that the terrorists used to enjoy in the past.”

He ended his statement by congratulating the combined operating troops for their “collaboration and synergy in attaining our common aspirations of prosperity and development in this part of the country” as he vowed the military’s commitment to be relentless in finally ending NPA insurgency “so that we may finally achieve peace which our people truly deserve.”




Division Public Affairs Office 2nd Infantry Division Philippine Army
CPT JAYROLD TERNIO
Chief, DPAO, 2ID, PA
Camp General Mateo Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal
09175047068

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]


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Kalinaw News: On the run NPAs clash with army; 1 NPA killed, war materials seized

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 19, 2019): On the run NPAs clash with army; 1 NPA killed, war materials seized





Bancasi, Butuan City – Government troops clashed anew with CPP-NPA Terrorist (CNTs) at the outskirts of Sitio Mandalayag, Brgy Pianing, Butuan City on September 13, 2019 around 7:45 in the morning which resulted to the killing of one (1) NPA and the seizure of war materials.

Troops under the 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade composed of students of the Combat Optical Gun Sight Marksmanship Training clashed against an undetermined number of CNTs believed to be members of Guerilla Front 21C of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under an unknown leader while the troops were conducting operational testing of their acquired skills and preempt CNTs planned conduct of Tactical Offensives (TOs) and atrocities towards innocent civilians and government troops at Sitio Mandalayag, Brgy Pianing, Butuan City . Firefight lasted for about ten (10) minutes after the enemies scampered towards different directions to run for their lives.

Upon clearing and thorough search of the area, the troops were able to recover one (1) dead NPA and seized war materials including one (1) M16A1 Rifle (Defaced Serial Number); One (1) Anti-personnel mine; and Fifteen (15) meters electrical wire. Meanwhile, the cadaver of the killed CNT member was brought down and appropriately turned over to the barangay local government unit and the nearest PNP station for proper disposition.

Since the start of this month, the said CNTs are on the run after the 402nd Brigade launched series of combat operations upon receipt of reliable information from the residents on the presence of fully armed men in the area believed to be CNT members which they have already declared as Persona Non Grata.

Troops on the ground have tirelessly followed CNTs’ tracks. They almost caught up with them on September 11, 2019 around 2 o’clock in the afternoon when the same troops discovered a CNT hideout at Sitio Mandalayag, Barangay Pianing, Butuan City with a dimension of 30 x 70 meters. It can accommodate more or less twenty (20) CNTs and believed to be abandoned a day prior to its discovery. “The discovery of the camp is a significant development of our operation and a strong indication of the presence of enemy in the area. Hence, I ordered the troops to push further and pursue CNTs tracks”, Col Maurito L Licudine, 402nd Brigade Commander said.

Col Licudine emphasized further that the CNTs has no other option but to surrender as they will not stop in pursuing them. He hoped that they will heed the government’s call for reconciliation by availing the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) in order to go back to mainstream society and return to their families.

“According to the operating troops, they were able to catch up with the CNTs after cautiously following their tracks. The encounter was another victory for the peace loving people of Butuan City and Caraganons as a whole. CNTs who always instill threat and terror to communities was met with their own violence resulting to an untimely and unfortunate demise. Said violence could have been avoided if these CNTs chose the path of peace rather than kill soldiers, CAFGUs and policemen; sabotage development; and prey on the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of innocent civilians”, Col Licudine added.

Since, January 2019, the 402nd Infantry Brigade recorded a total of sixty-five (65) encounters against the CPP-NPA Terrorist resulting to the seizure and recovery offorty – one (41) High Powered Fire Arms, nine (9) Low Powered Fire Arms and nineteen (19) CNTs killed which significantly contributed to the whole peace and development efforts in ending local communist armed conflict in Caraga region.




402nd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division Philippine Army
CPT FRANCISCO P GARELLO JR (INF) PA
402nd Bde Civil Military Operations Officer
Contact Number:0915-054-3439/0948-641-6783
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[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]