Tuesday, September 24, 2019

AFP-CRS: Six New People's Army surrender to 75th Infantry Battalion, yields firearms in Surigao del Sur

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 24, 2019): Six New People's Army surrender to 75th Infantry Battalion, yields firearms in Surigao del Sur

Image may contain: text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2721617141190326/?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/

AFP-CRS: 53 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, Out of School Youth in AgNor graduate from Army’s Mobile Computer Literacy Training

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 24, 2019): 153 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, Out of School Youth in AgNor graduate from Army’s Mobile Computer Literacy Training

Image may contain: 4 people, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2721605394524834/?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/

AFP-CRS: AFP holds airfield seizure, urban operations in Nueva Ecija

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 24, 2019): AFP holds airfield seizure, urban operations in Nueva Ecija

Image may contain: text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2721590907859616/?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/

AFP-CRS: Task force negros to wipe out rebel groups in Negros by yearend

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 24, 2019): Task force negros to wipe out rebel groups in Negros by yearend



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2719401214745252/?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/

AFP-CRS: Hazing not tolerated

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 24, 2019): AFP: Hazing not tolerated

Image may contain: 1 person, text

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2719389324746441/?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/

AFP-CRS: 3 Abu Sayyaf members surrender to government forces

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 24, 2019): 3 Abu Sayyaf members surrender to government forces



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2719385944746779/?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/

Kalinaw News: Maguindanao students receive aid from outreach program

From Kalinaw News (Sep 25, 2019): Maguindanao students receive aid from outreach program





CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – A school in Maguindanao town received aid from military troops and non-government organizations yesterday, September 20, 2019.

The Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion under Joint Task Force Central, Social Climbers, Inc. (SCI), and Taga-Cotabato Ka Kung, Inc. (TCKKI) organized a gift giving and feeding program to the students of Capiton Primary School of Datu Odin Sinsuat town as their chosen beneficiary.

During the program, the students prepared a cultural and modern dance number to welcome the organizers of the activity.

The outreach program catered to 74 students from Grades 1 to 4 who received slippers, free haircut service, and supplementary feeding.

The program aimed to provide assistance and uplift the morale of the students who rarely receive aid from the government and non-government institutions.

Ms Cathleya Diocolano of TCKK said that it is their aspiration to provide basic help to the community especially the students who are inspiration to their respective families.

She also thanked the members of TCKK, SCI, Datu Odin Sinsuat Tourism Office, and 90th IB led by Lt. Col. Michael Maquilan for their cooperation and continuous support to their endeavours for the less fortunate communities.

“We will continue to extend assistance to organizations working for youth empowerment and community development in the bangsamoro region,” said Col. Jose Narciso, 601st Infantry Brigade Commander that holds jurisdiction over 90th IB.

“The Joint Task Force Central will strengthen this collaboration for the common aspiration of the Bangsamoro people. We will work with the local government and different sectors to achieve genuine peace and development in the region,” said Maj. Gen. Diosdado C Carreon, Joint Task Force Central Commander.



Division Public Affairs Office 6th Infantry Division Philippine Army
Maj Arvin G Encinas
Chief, Public Affairs Office, 6ID, PA
Camp Siongco, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao
+6391775226469

[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: Enlightened Populace March For Peace in Arakan

From Kalinaw News (Sep 25, 2019): Enlightened Populace March For Peace in Arakan



MAGPET, North Cotabato—One hundred twenty three former NPA supporters and sympathizers denounced the deceitful tactics and strategies of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) through the peace rally held at Poblacion, Arakan, North Cotabato, Sunday morning, September 22.

The said event was part of the Peace Building Seminar conducted by the Local Government Unit of Arakan and 19th Infantry (Commando) Battalion to promote awareness and enlighten the public about the agitation, organization and mobilization scheme being conducted by the CTG against their vulnerable targets.

Hoisting banners and placards, the participants who were ex-members of underground mass organization (UGMO) of the CTG marched through the main thoroughfares of the town center to campaign for peace and express their support to end the decade long insurgency.

It can be recalled the said participants came all the way from different barangays namely; Datu Ladayon, Lanao Kuran, Tumanding, Sitio Katindu, Badiangon, Kabalantian, San Miguel, Salasang, Sto Nino, Kinawayan, Kulaman Valley, Sumalili, Gambodes and Binoongan all of Arakan town.

Hoping for brighter future, “Mang Rommel” conveyed his gratitude to the local government and soldiers for exerting efforts and extending their helping hands for those who were victimized and deceived by the communists. In his testimony he said that, many opportunities gone wasted because of the CTG. He also renounced the violence being carried out by the NPA, stating that he was able to witnessed the abuses of the CTG against the people.

In the message of Hon. Rene V. Rubino, Mayor of Arakan, he said that LGU-Arakan will always be supportive to this kind of peace building effort so that peace and progress will be achieved. He further encouraged his constituents to cooperate in all government undertakings and never support the terrorists again.

Meanwhile, Col. Gabriel C. Viray III, Commander of 901 st Infantry Brigade, lauded the actions of the participants and told them that this is best time to rebuild their communities free from the influence of the CTG. He also gave assurance that soldiers will collaborate with the local government and different agencies to help the communities to be resilient against the threats being brought by the peace spoilers.

In addition, the commander said that the “call” of the people manifested their genuine intent to disprove any form of the armed violence.

Among the highlights of the activity were the oath taking of the reoriented UGMO members who sworn to be peace builders and the torching of the CPP-NPA-NDF flags denoting their rejection on CTG’s twisted ideology.

Towards the end of program, a peace covenant was signed for unity towards progressive.




901st Infantry Brigade 9th Infantry Division Philippine Army
2LT JENNYMOR C AMOD (AGS) PA
Civil-Military Operations Officer, 901stBde, 9ID, PA
ARAKAN, Cotabato
s7cmo_901bde@yahoo.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]

WESTMINCOM: Basilan-based Sayyaf nabbed in Zambo ops

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Website (Sep 24, 2019): Basilan-based Sayyaf nabbed in Zambo ops



Government forces nabbed a follower of Abu Sayyaf militant leader Furuji Indama in a joint operation in Zamboanga City on September 23.

Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf member Amran Dala was arrested by elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team-11 and Police Station 4 in Barangay Mercedes at 9:30pm yesterday.

“Government troops launched the operation against Dala who has a standing arrest warrant for murder,” said Col. Antonio John Divinagracia, Task Force Zamboanga Commander.

“We are firm in pursuing Abu Sayyaf militants and in encouraging other rebels to surrender to quell terrorism and deliver peace and progress in Mindanao,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Western Mindanao Command.

WESTMINCOM: Gov’t forces apprehend suspects linked to Isulan market bombing

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Website (Sep 24, 2019): Gov’t forces apprehend suspects linked to Isulan market bombing



Four Isulan public market bombing suspects were apprehended in a joint law enforcement operation launched by the government forces in Sitio Nakan, Barangay Kapaya, Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat yesterday, September 23, 2019.



Apprehended were Hassan Akgun, a Swedish national; Abedin Camsa; Normia Camsa; and Norshiya Camsa.

The successful operation also resulted in the seizure of one M16 rifle with magazine containing 27 ammunitions; 1 Caliber .45 colt with magazine containing 11 ammunitions; 1 Caliber .38 revolver; 1 shotgun; 1 improvised explosive device; 13 cellular phones; 2 gallons powder substance; 2 machine timers; 4 9-bolts battery; 1 yellow bulb; 1 switch; and a backpack containing an ISIS flag, 3 led bulbs, 2 USBs, 1 resistor, and 5 assorted wires.



“I commend the troops of the Joint Task Force Central and our friends from the for this accomplishment. Strong inter-agency collaboration and cooperation is what we need for a successful operational activity to be attained,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana.

“Let us remain vigilant for there are still enemies out there who will always try to inflict havoc in the communities,” added Lt. Gen. Sobejana.

The apprehended personalities and seized items were brought to Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police Office for documentation and filing appropriate charges.

‘Military sabotaged Escam anniversary’

From the Visayan Daily Star (Sep 24, 2019): ‘Military sabotaged Escam anniversary’

The National Democratic Front-Negros issued a statement condemning what it calls the sabotage by the military of the commemoration of the Escalante massacre (Escam) on September 20.

Ka Bayani Obrero, NDF-Negros spokesperson, said the implementation of what he called a “hoax” peace summit, the “fabrication” of an encounter in Escalante City and filing of charges against members of progressive groups all came from Brig. Gen. Benedict Arevalo.


The three-day Northern Negros Peace Summit on Sept. 19 to 21 in Escalante City, was hosted by Mayor Melecio Yap. During the event, 2,510 former New People Army members and allies, who surrendered, also pledged their allegiance to the government.

The former rebels also surrendered 41 assorted firearms.

Obrero, who replaced captured Frank Fernandez as NDF-Negros spokesman, claimed that the AFP and PNP will not succeed in continually exploiting the Negrosanons.

He said he will continue what Fernandez had started, claiming that the revolutionary movement in Negros is on the right track and described it as a strong force that cannot be subdued by any bloody ”counter-insurgency” operations of the AFP and PNP.

He also slammed the military and police of using local government units to declare the NPA as persona non-grata and launched “ delusive localized peace talks”.

The local government units of San Carlos, Calatrava, Toboso and Escalante had declared earlier the NPA as persona non grata.*

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/September/24/topstory9.htm

CPP/Ang Bayan: Editorial - Puspusang labanan ang pasismo ng rehimeng Duterte

Propaganda editorial from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Puspusang labanan ang pasismo ng rehimeng Duterte




Halos limang dekada na ang nakalipas nang ipinailalim ni Ferdinand Marcos ang buong bansa sa batas militar na nagbunsod ng kanyang brutal na paghaharing diktadura. Sa loob ng 14 na taon, matapang na lumaban ang mamamayang Pilipino sa lahat ng larangan ng pakikibaka.

Napapailalim ngayon ang sambayanang Pilipino sa katulad na pasistang brutalidad at kabangisan sa harap ng hindi-deklaradong batas militar ng rehimeng Duterte. Ang mga atake laban sa bayan ay mas walang-habas at mas malawakan, partikular sa dami ng pagpatay na kagagawan ng mga pwersa ng estado.

Ang rehimeng Duterte ay isang pasistang estadong may manipis na tabing. Ginagamit ni Duterte ang halos absolutong kapangyarihan, gamit ang militar at pulis bilang mga armadong ahente na tagapagpatupad ng lahat ng kanyang dikta. Gamit niya ang antikomunismo at antiterorismo bilang nakapangingibabaw na ideolohiya para bigyang-matwid ang walang-habas na atake laban sa mga sibilyan, sa mga kaaway niya sa pulitika at lahat ng demokratikong pwersa. Binibigyan ng buong kontrol ang militar sa ngalan ng “whole of nation approach” o “buong bayan na kaparaanan” sa kontra-insurhensya.

Namumuno si Duterte sa isang huwad na demokratikong gubyerno. Dahil sa kanyang mga paraang tiraniko, halos nawalan na ng saysay ang kongreso at mga korte. Lahat ng demokratikong pwersa ay pinatatahimik, tinatakot, pilit pinanawawalangsaysay, ginagawang pasibo at ginagapi sa isang todong gera ng panunupil.

Isang pasistang demagogo o manloloko si Duterte. Ginagamit niya ang popular na sentimyento at hinaing ng malawak na masa upang palabasing kabilang siya sa kanila. Nais niyang kunin ang suporta ng mamamayan at impluwensyahan ang masa habang ipinapataw ang mga patakaran na nang-aapi at nagpapahirap sa kanila.

Sobrang sama ng ginawa niyang pambabaluktot sa kasaysayan, itinanghal si Marcos bilang bayani at pinapupurihan ang awtoritaryanismo sa makasariling layuning bigyang-matwid ang kanyang tiraniya at ambisyong diktadura. Sa paghirang sa malaking bilang ng mga dating upisyal ng AFP, pinapupurihan niya bilang disiplinado at mapagkakatiwalaan ang mga upisyal ng militar, at pinagtatakpan ang mahaba nilang kasaysayan ng pag-abuso sa mga karapatang-tao at pagkasangkot sa mga sindikatong kriminal at korapsyon.

Hayagang hinikayat ni Duterte ang militar at pulis na isagawa ang mga ekstrahudisyal na pagpatay at panggagahasa. Tahasan niyang inutusan ang mga pwersang panseguridad ng estado na balewalain ang mga karapatang-tao.

Ang pasismo ni Duterte ay hindi-nahahangganang teroristang paghahari ng pinakareaksyunaryo sa hanay ng mga naghaharing uri ng malalaking burgesyang kumprador, panginoong maylupa at burukrata-kapitalista sa bansa. Kinakatawan ni Duterte ang pinakasakim at pinakahayop na bahagi ng naghaharing mga reaksyunaryo. Iisang balitok ang pinagmulan nila ng mga Marcos, Arroyo at iba pang pinakamasahol sa korapsyon at pang-aapi. Nasa tugatog siya ngayon ng burukrata-kapitalistang hagdan at ginagamit ngayon ang pasismo upang puksain lahat ng hahamon at lalaban.

Ang mga pwersang nagsusulong ng demokratikong interes ng masang api ay pinagkakaitan ng puwang ng pasismo ni Duterte. Target wasakin ang mga militanteng unyon at organisasyong manggagawa, patriyotikong grupong mag-aaral, mga asosasyong magsasaka na sumisigaw ng tunay na reporma sa lupa at iba pang demokratikong organisasyon. Layunin nitong hadlangan ang pag-alsa ng masa sa isang demokratikong pagbabangon. Itinatayo ang pasistang-tipo ng mga organisasyong “maka-Duterte” para atakehin ang iba’t ibang demokratikong organisasyon at palabasing mayroong suportang masa ang kanyang kamuhi-muhing rehimen.

Ang paggamit ng pasismo ng naghaharing pangkating Duterte ay tanda ng kawalang kakayahan ng reaksyunaryong mga uri na maghari sa dating paraan na tinatabingan ng mga prosesong burges-demokratiko ang lantarang terorismo ng estado. Bunga ito kapwa ng malalim at mabagsik na ribalan sa hanay ng mga naghaharing uri, at ng patuloy na lumalakas na hamon sa kanilang paghahari ng organisadong paglaban ng mga uring api at pinagsasamantalahan. Gayunman, lalong pinahihina ng pasismo ang naghaharing estado dahil pinasisidhi nito ang mga kontradiksyon hindi lamang sa pagitan ng masang api at ng naghaharing estado, kundi maging sa pagitan ng magkakaribal na paksyon ng mga naghaharing uri.

Noong 1972, idineklara ni Marcos ang batas militar, winasak sa isang dekreto ang buong naghaharing sistemang pampulitika at itinatag ang kanyang diktadura. Nang bumagsak si Marcos, ang ibinasura niyang burges-demokratikong mga gayak ng naghaharing sistema ay ibinalik sa ilalim ng Konstitusyong 1987. Ang mga ito ay mabilis ngayong naagnas sa pasistang kaayusang itinatatag ni Duterte.

Dapat mahigpit na labanan at sikaping wakasan ng sambayanang Pilipino ang paghahari ng pasistang terorismo. Dapat nilang ipaglaban ang kanilang mga demokratikong karapatan at isigaw ang katarungan. Puspusang makibaka upang pigilan ang plano ni Duterte na palawigin ang kanyang paghahari, at igiit na siya’y managot sa lahat ng kanyang krimen.

Ilunsad ang walang kapagurang kilusang propaganda sa hanay ng masa laban sa pasistang panloloko at mga kasinungalingan ni Duterte. Tuligsain ang paggamit ni Duterte ng absolutong kapangyarihan, ang kanyang pagtataksil sa bayan at korapsyon. Ilantad ang kalokohan at korapsyon sa likod ng mga pekeng “surender” at deklarasyong “persona non grata.”

Palawakin at patatagin ang mga demokratikong organisasyon sa kalunsuran at kanayunan. Huwag pabayaang maging pasibo sa harap ng pananakot. Aktibong pasiglahin ang mga ito bilang sandata para sa pagtatanggol at pagsulong ng interes ng masa. Lipusin ng tapang ang buong bayan para isulong ang kanilang mga pakikibakang pangkabuhayan, ang pagtatanggol sa mga karapatan, at ang mahirap na pakikibaka laban sa pasistang tiraniya ni Duterte.

Patuloy na nagsasama-sama ang lahat ng demokratikong pwersa at ibayong pinalalawak ang anti-pasistang nagkakaisang prente laban sa rehimeng Duterte. Nagtitipon-tipon ang mga api at pinagsasamantalahan, ang mga intelektwal at propesyunal, mga akademiko, taong-simbahan, manggagawang pangkultura, mga taong-midya, kababaihan, kabataan at ang anti-Duterteng oposisyong pulitikal. Samantalahin ang ribalan sa hanay ng naghaharing pangkatin. Maging mulat sa mga pihit ng sitwasyon upang ibwelo ang pagpukaw at pagpapakilos sa masa. Ibayo pang magsikhay upang tipunin ang daan-daang libo at milyong mamamayan sa iba’t ibang anyo at larangan ng paglaban para wakasan ang rehimeng US-Duterte.

Nagsilbing pinakamatibay na muog ng antipasistang paglaban ang Partido at BHB laban sa diktadurang Marcos, nagsulong ng kilusang lihim at hayag, at ng armadong pakikibaka, binigyang-inspirasyon at pinukaw ang mamamayang Pilipino na magkaisa at makibaka para sa demokrasya. Rumurok ang ilang taong antipasistang pakikibaka sa pag-aalsa ng milyun-milyong Pilipino noong 1986 na nagpabagsak sa diktadurang US- Marcos.

Ang Partido at ang BHB pa rin ang pinakamatibay na muog ng antipasistang paglaban ng sambayanang Pilipino. Dapat ibayong magpakatatag ang lahat ng kadre at kasapi ng PKP at Pulang mandirigma ng BHB at magpanday sa sarili sa ideolohiya, pulitika at organisasyon upang makapamuno at magsilbing ubod ng pakikibaka laban sa pasistang rehimeng Duterte.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/puspusang-labanan-ang-pasismo-ng-rehimeng-duterte/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Tigil pasada sa Valenzuela

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Tigil pasada sa Valenzuela

SA PANGUNGUNA NG PISTON, ikinasa ng may 500 tsuper sa Valenzuela City ang kanilang tigil-pasada laban sa programang “no contact apprehension” ng lokal na pamahalaan noong Setyembre 16. Layunin ng patakaran na itaas ang multa sa mga paglabag ng batas trapiko mula sa dating minimum na ₱150 para sa unang paglabag tungong ₱1,000 hanggang ₱3,000.

Iginiit ng mga tsuper na lubhang mataas ang halagang ito sa kakayanan ng mga drayber, opereytor, at maging motorista. Binatikos din nila ang lokal na pamahalaan sa pagpapatupad ng ordinansa nang hindi man lang nagsasagawa ng pampublikong konsultasyon. Panawagan nila na ibaba ang minimum tungong ₱500. Imbis na tugunan ang kanilang kahilingan, nagbanta ang meyor ng Valenzuela na si Rex Gatchalian na kakasuhan ang lumahok sa tigil-pasada dahil umano “paglabag” ito sa kanilang prangkisa.

Sa Bacolod City, dalawang oras na nagtigil pasada at nagprotesta ang mga tsuper noong Setyembre 11 upang tutulan ang eksperimentong 45-60 araw na pagbabago ng kanilang mga ruta. Inireklamo nilang hindi na sila kumikita dahil sa layo ng kinakailangan nilang ikutan.

Nanawagan naman ang PISTON, Stop and Go at Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations ng malawakang tigil-pasada sa Setyembre 30 para tutulan ang nakaambang pagtanggal ng mga dyip sa kalsada sa tabing ng “jeepney modernization program.”

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/tigil-pasada-sa-valenzuela/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Protesta laban sa panunupil

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Protesta laban sa panunupil

ISANG “ROGUE GALLERY” o koleksyon ng larawan ng mga pangunahing suspek sa mga paglabag sa karapatang tao ang ipinaskil ng mga nagpoprotestang aktibista sa himpilan ng Commission of Human Rights (CHR) noong Setyembre 12. Isinabay ang pagkilos sa pagdinig ng CHR hinggil sa mga atake ng estado sa mga mamamayan.

Dumalo sa nasabing pagdinig ang mga upisyal ng AFP at PNP. Para bigyang katwiran ang kanilang mga krimen, maging dito ay lantaran nilang binansagan ang mga progresibong grupo bilang ligal na prente ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) at Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB).

Ayon kay Roneo Clamor ng Karapatan, ang pagpapalaganap ng malisyosong propaganda ng AFP ay bahagi ng kampanya ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Insurgency. Patuloy silang nagpapakalat ng disimpormasyon upang isapanganib ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mga tagapagtanggol ng karapatang tao, aktibista, magsasaka, abugado at iba pa.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/protesta-laban-sa-panunupil/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Resolusyon para sa mga magsasaka ng palay

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Resolusyon para sa mga magsasaka ng palay

BILANG TUGON SA sumisidhing krisis sa bigas, naghain ng resolusyon ang 53 kongresista sa pangunguna ng Makabayan Bloc noong Setyembre 19 sa Kongreso upang ipanukalang dagdagan ng ₱15 bilyon ang badyet ng National Food Authority (NFA). Gagamitin ito para sa pagbili ng 750,000 metriko-toneladang (MT) palay mula sa mga lokal na magsasaka sa halagang P20/kilo. Iginiit nila na lubhang kulang ang ipinanukalang ₱7-bilyong alokasyon ng rehimen para sa pagbili ng Palay. Anila, makakabili lamang ng 350,000 MT palay ang halagang ito.

Para makaagapay ang sektor sa harap ng pananalasa ng Rice Liberalization Law, ipinanukala din sa resolusyon na ibenta ang bigas ng NFA sa halagang ₱27/kilo.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/resolusyon-para-sa-mga-magsasaka-ng-palay/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Sa ika-47 taon ng batas militar: Protestang bayan laban sa diktadura, inilunsad

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Sa ika-47 taon ng batas militar: Protestang bayan laban sa diktadura, inilunsad

NAGPROTESTA ANG LIBU-LIBONG mamamayan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa ang noong Setyembre 20 bilang paggunita sa ika-47 taon ng deklarasyon ng batas militar ng diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos. Sa pangunguna ng mga kabataan, mariing kinundena ng mga nagprotesta ang tiraniya at tangkang magtatag ng isang diktadura ng rehimeng Duterte.

Sa Maynila, libu-libo ang nagmartsa mula Mendiola tungong Luneta Park kung saan inilunsad ang mayor na bahagi ng programa. Dumalo sa pagkilos ang iba’t ibang sektor bitbit ang kanilang mga panawagan laban sa panunupil ng rehimen. Pangunahin nilang kinundena ang malawakang pagbansag nito sa mga mag-aaral, mamamahayag, magsasaka at iba pa bilang mga komunista. Tinuligsa rin nila ang tumitinding presensyang militar sa mga kampus at komunidad.

Lumahok sa pagkilos ang may 400 magsasaka at aktibista sa pangunguna ng BAYAN-Bicol. Kinundena ng grupo ang pagpapatupad sa Memorandum Order (MO) 32 at Executive Order 70 na nag-institusyonalisa sa “whole of nation” approach ng rehimen na epektibong nagpailalim sa bansa sa hindi-deklaradong batas militar. Nagreresulta ito sa walang puknat na paglabag sa karapatang-tao at pagsidhi ng krisis sa kabuhayan.

Iginiit ni Raoul Manuel ng Youth Act Now against Tyranny na hindi na dapat pang manumbalik ang lagim ng diktadura sa bansa.

Dumalo rin at nakiisa sa protesta ang iba’t ibang grupo na kasapi ng United People’s Coalition. Mariin nilang kinundena ang pagtugis at pamamaslang sa mga relihiyoso, manggagawa at tagapagtaguyod ng karapatang tao dahil lamang sa kanilang pampulitikang paninindigan at pagpapahayag ng disgusto sa mga patakaran ni Duterte.

Samantala, naglunsad din ng magkakahiwalay na protesta sa iba’t ibang sentrong bayan sa buong bansa kabilang ang Los Baños, Baguio, Angeles, Tarlac, Cebu, Iloilo at Davao City.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/sa-ika-47-taon-ng-batas-militar-protestang-bayan-laban-sa-diktadura-inilunsad/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Kadete ng PMA, patay sa hazing

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Kadete ng PMA, patay sa hazing

NOONG SETYEMBRE 18, naiulat na namatay dahil sa tinamong pambubugbog sa hazing ang isang kadete ng Philippine Military Academy (PMA) na si Darwin Dormitorio, 20, mula sa Cagayan de Oro. Ayon sa awtopsy, nawasak ang lamang loob ng biktima at posibleng kinuryente.

Isasailalim din sa imbestigasyon ang ilang upisyal ng PMA dahil sa tangkang pagtakpan ang tunay ng dahilan ng pagkamatay ng biktima. Unang pinalabas ng PMA na urinary tract infection ang sanhi ng pagsusuka ng dugo at pananakit ng tiyan ng biktima na kalauna’y ikinamatay niya. Nasa kostudiya pa rin ng PMA ang tatlong kadeteng pinaghihinalaang nanguna sa hazing.

Ang hazing ay isang pasistang tradisyon sa PMA kung saan pisikal at mental na tinotortyur ang bagong mga kadete bilang paghahanda umano sa kahirapan na maaari nilang maranasan sa panahong sila’y maging ganap nang mga sundalo. Ibinatay ito sa “initiation ritual” ng United States Military Academy West Point.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/kadete-ng-pma-patay-sa-hazing/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Nagpapatuloy na pagdanak ng dugo sa Bukidnon

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Nagpapatuloy na pagdanak ng dugo sa Bukidnon

Dalawang magkasunod na pagpaslang sa mga aktibistang magsasaka ang naitala sa Bukidnon nitong nagdaang mga linggo.

Binaril at napatay ng hindi-nakilalang mga suspek si Leonides Bacong, kilalang lider ng KASAMA-Bukidnon, sa harap ng kanyang bahay sa Barangay Little Baguio, San Fernando Bukidnon noong Setyembre 11.

Binaril at napatay din ng pinaghihinalaang mga elemento ng 88th IB si Angelito Marivao, kasapi ng parehong organisasyon, sa Barangay Mabuhay sa parehong bayan. Si Marivao na ang ika-16 biktima ng pampulitikang pamamaslang sa Bukidnon ngayong taon.
Aktibong tinututulan ng KASAMA-Bukidnon ang pagpasok ng mga kumpanyang mina sa Pantaron Range.

Sa Isabela, pinaslang din ng hindi-nakilalang mga suspek si Sammy Pahayon, organisador sa komunidad, sa loob ng kanyang bahay sa San Mariano, Isabela noong Setyembre 11.

Iligal na pag-aresto at detensyon

Dinakip noong Setyembre 18 ng PNP San Pedro si Antonieta Setias-Dizon, dating upisyal ng Overseas Workers Welfare Administration at isa sa pinakamatagal nang organisador ng Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) sa kanyang bahay sa San Pedro, Laguna. Inaresto siya batay sa itinanim na ebidensyang baril, pasabog at subersibong mga dokumento. Pinaratangan din siyang sangkot sa kaso ng pagpaslang sa Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. Kasalukuyan siyang nakadetine sa istasyon ng pulis sa San Pedro.

Una nang nakaranas ng pandarahas si Dizon noong 2015 at natulak na magsangtwaryo at magsampa ng writ of amparo at habeas data dahil sa mga banta sa kanyang kalayaan at buhay.

Sa Quezon, dinakip at pilit na pinapirma bilang sumurender na kasapi ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB) si Alexandrea Pacalda, aktibista sa karapatang-tao at dating kasapi ng College Editors Guild of the Philippines, ng mga elemento ng 85th IB noong Setyembre 14. Idinetine siya nang halos 30 oras sa kampo-militar sa Barangay San Miguel Dao, Lopez bago ipasa sa kostudiya ng pulisya. Tinamnan siya ng mga sundalo ng .38 kalibreng pistola at mga bala, at pinalabas na isinuko umano niya ang mga ito.

Mariing pinasinungalingan ni Pacalda ang pahayag ng militar at pulisya na boluntaryo siyang sumurender. Aniya, habang nasa detensyon ay pinagkaitan siya ng pagkain at tulog, at pinagbawalan na kumuha ng sarili niyang abugado.

Sa Negros Occidental, siyam na kasapi naman ng Teatro Obrero at National Federation of Sugar Workers ang iligal na inaresto ng mga pulis at elemento ng 79th IB sa Sityo Barca, Barangay Jonob-Jonob, Escalante City noong Setyembre 18. Tinamnan ang sinasakyan nilang dyip ng .38 at .9mm kalibreng mga pistola at mga boteng gagawin umanong mga pasabog. Kinumpiska din ang kanilang mga selpon.

Noong Setyembre 11, dinakip naman sa Sityo Pisok, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City ng mga pulis si Joel Casusa, tagapangulo ng Kauswagan ng Mangunguma. Inakusahan siyang kasapi ng BHB at sinampahan ng gawa-gawang kasong bigong pagpaslang.

Pagdukot

Dinukot ng mga elemento ng 20th IB si Argentina Madeja, noong Setyembre 13 sa Barangay Burabod, Gamay, Northern Samar. Hindi pa rin siya nakikita at pinaniniwalaang idinetine sa kalapit na detatsment sa Barangay Guibuangan. Isang linggo bago nito, dinukot din ang magsasakang si Nario Lagrimas, residente ng Barangay E. Duran, Bobon.

Pandarahas
Bilang bahagi ng kampanyang saywar ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), naglunsad ito ng “awareness drive” sa iba’t ibang unibersidad sa buong bansa nitong nagdaang mga linggo. Kabilang sa kanilang binisita ang Bicol University, University of San Carlos sa Cebu at Don Honorio Ventura State University sa Pampanga. Sa mga porum na ito malisyosong iniuugnay ng militar ang mga progresibong organisasyon ng mga kabataan-estudyante sa rebolusyonaryong kilusan.

Samantala, pinagbantaan din ng isang pulis si Noe Santillan, propesor sa University of the Philippines Cebu at bise-presidente ng All UP-Academic Employees Union, dahil lamang sa pagsusuot ng Mao cap (pulang sumbrero na may pulang bituin sa gitna).

Militarisasyon at pagbabakwit

Nagbakwit ang 93 pamilya mula sa Barangay Roxas, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar noong Setyembre 20 dulot ng pananalakay ng mga tropa ng 43rd IB sa kanilang baryo. Sapilitang hinalughog ng mga berdugo ang mga kabahayan, pinagbantaan at ginipit ang mga residente.
Noong 2018, lumikas din ang mga residente dulot ng matinding militarisasyon sa kanilang komunidad.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/nagpapatuloy-na-pagdanak-ng-dugo-sa-bukidnon/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Pekeng mga palabas ng AFP

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Pekeng mga palabas ng AFP

Desperadong nagpakana ng mga palabas at naghabi ng mga kasinungalingan ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) nitong nagdaang mga araw upang palabasing nagagapi na ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan. Ginagamit din nila ang mga ito para makakubra ng dambong mula sa programang E-CLIP ng rehimen. Kabilang sa mga ito ang pagparada sa mga pwersa ng estado bilang mga kasapi umano ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB), at mga pekeng engkwentro.

Pekeng pagsurender

Mariing binatikos ng BHB-Negros ang ipinakana ng 3rd ID na pagsurender umano ng may 310 kasapi ng Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) bitbit ang kanilang mga armas noong Setyembre 8. Lubhang kakatwa ang palabas na ito sapagkat matapos magsurender ng mga armas, sila ay pinangakuan ng hambog na si Duterte na muling aarmasan at “bibigyan ng tangke de gera” pagkatapos sumailim sa 45-araw na pagsasanay bilang mga elemento ng Community Defense Unit. Malinaw na larawan ito ng kapitulasyon at kolaborasyon.

Ang RPA-ABB ay notoryus na kasapakat ng AFP sa pagpapatupad ng kampanyang kontra-insurhensiya sa isla ng Negros mula pa noong dekada 1990s. Ang mga tropa nito ay mga armadong mersenaryong sangkot sa mga krimen at kontra-mamamayang aktibidad, at kinakanlong at inaarmasan ng despotikong mga panginoong maylupa at kapitalistang nangangamkam sa lupa ng maralitang mga magsasaka. Pinakahuling krimen nila ang masaker sa siyam na magsasaka sa Sagay noong Oktubre 2018.

Nalantad din ang palabas na pagdakip ng PNP sa Pasig City noong Setyembre 7 sa sundalong si Joselito Novelo Naag na ipinresenta bilang mataas na upisyal ng BHB sa Bikol at may patong na P100,000 sa ulo; at palabas na pagsurender ni Jasmen Acevedo at mga kasapi ng kanyang grupong bandido sa 36th IB bilang mga kasapi ng BHB sa Surigao del Sur noong Setyembre 4.

Pekeng engkwentro

“Walang engkwentrong naganap sa pagitan ng BHB at 79th IB.” Ito ang pahayag ng BHB-Negros matapos ibalita ng 303rd IBde na nakadakip umano sila ng mga kasapi ng BHB sa isang engkwentro noong Setyembre 17 sa Sityo Maitom, Old Poblacion, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Ang pakanang ito ay desperadong naglalayong magpakalat ng pasistang takot ngayong buwan para isabotahe ang paggunita ng mamamayan sa ika-34 taon ng Escalante Massacre, at pilitin silang padaluhin sa magaganap na kontra-mamamayang “peace summit” na itinaon sa parehong araw. Ginamit ng 79th IB ang engkwentro para bigyang katwiran ang operasyon at pagsikil nito sa karapatan ng mga residente ng Sityo Maitom, Barangay Old Poblacion na nagresulta sa sapilitang paglikas ng 145 residente noong Setyembre 17.

Pinasinungalingan din ng BHB-Eastern Visayas ang umano’y engkwentro sa Barangay Olera, Calbayog City, Samar noong Agosto 23 na ikinasawi ni 2Lt. Geroe Jade Nicor, Cpl. Joelito Canico at dalawa pang tropa ng 43rd IB. Anito, ang totoong naka-engkwentro ng mga sundalo ay mga armadong maton ng meyor ng Calbayog City na si Ronald Aquino. Dagdag pa nito, walang yunit ng BHB sa nasabing lugar noong panahong iyon.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/pekeng-mga-palabas-ng-afp/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Patuloy na atake sa mga maralita ng Pandi

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Patuloy na atake sa mga maralita ng Pandi

Nilusob ang upisina ng Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) noong Setyembre 9 sa Barangay Mapulang Lupa, Pandi, Bulacan ng mga myembro ng grupong tinatawag ang sarili bilang Pagkakaisa Mamamayan Tungo sa Kaayusan. Matapos halughugin ang upisina, sinunog ng grupo ang ilan sa mga kagamitan ng Kadamay at ninakaw ang iba pa kabilang ang mahahalagang dokumento.

Ang grupong nanloob ay nagpapakilalang mga “maka-Duterte” at “anti-Kadamay. Binuo ng mga ahente ng gubyerno ang naturang grupo at nang-uudyok sa mga residente na tumiwalag sa Kadamay. Nag-aasta rin itong awtoridad sa pamamahagi ng mga “entry pass” gamit ang pangalan ng National Housing Authority. Nang maganap ang panloloob, sinamahan at guwardyado pa sila ng mga sundalo ng 48th IB at mga pulis mula sa Malolos, Angat at Pandi kasama ang hepe nito na kinilalang Placido. Nasa komunidad na ang mga sundalo mula pa noong Setyembre 4 at nanggigipit ng mga residente. Dalawang lider ng Kadamay, sina Pat Tupaz at Obet Lunzaga, ang pinagbantaang papatayin.

Ayon sa Kadamay, ang mga insidenteng ito ay bahagi ng kabuuang atake ng rehimen upang buwagin ang kanilang organisasyon at palayasin sila sa dating tiwangwang na pabahay na kanilang inokupa noong 2017. Mula noon, kaliwa’t kanang paninira at pang-aalipusta ang ipinukol sa Kadamay. Pinaratangan ang organisasyon bilang “prenteng komunista,” tinatakot sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaputok ng baril, at noong Mayo, iligal na dinakip ang kanilang mga myembro.

Walang pinag-iba ang mga taktikang ginamit ng rehimen sa Pandi sa madugong mga maniobra nito sa Negros, Bukidnon, Davao at iba pang lugar kung saan ginamit ang mga “anti-komunistang grupo” na hindi kaiba sa mga paramilitar na katuwang ng AFP at PNP. Pinalalabas nito na walang kaugnayan ang estado sa gayong mga grupo, pero sa katotohanan ay binuo at pinopondohan nito ang mga myembro.

Maging ang kanilang makatwirang panawagan para sa serbisyong tubig at kuryente ay ipinagkakait ng mga kaukulang ahensya. Kasabay nito ang pagpapakilos ng rehimen sa mga bayarang troll sa social media para dustain ang mga manggagawa’t mala-manggagawa ng Pandi. Sa kabila ng matinding panggigipit sa kanilang kabuhayan, nag-inisyatiba ang Kadamay na magpatakbo ng programang pangkabuhayan, dangan lamang at pinahihirapan ng mas mataas na presyo ng kuryente at tubig.

Inokupa ng Kadamay ang tiwangwang na mga pabahay matapos ang ilang bigong pakikipagdayologo sa gubyerno na tugunan ang kanilang karapatan. Nitong huli, maging ang mga myembro ng grupong nanloob ay umookupa na rin ng tiwangwang na mga pabahay gamit ang pangalan ng Kadamay. Patunay ito ng kalubhaan ng kawalan ng pabahay para sa mga maralita.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/patuloy-na-atake-sa-mga-maralita-ng-pandi/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Pinatinding pagsupil sa mga maralita ng Kamaynilaan

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Pinatinding pagsupil sa mga maralita ng Kamaynilaan

Sa kauna-unahang pulong ng bagong buong National Capital Region Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NCRTF-ELCAC) ng rehimeng Duterte noong Setyembre 10, walang batayang ipinahayag ng hepe ng pulisya sa rehiyon na si Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar na pugad umano ng armadong rebolusyonaryong kilusan ang Kamaynilan, lalo na ang mga lunsod ng Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas at Valenzuela (CAMANAVA).

Kahit pa wala namang nagaganap na armadong paglaban sa rehiyon, pinalalabas niya na baseng masa umano ng kilusan ang malalawak na maralitang komunidad sa CAMANAVA. Kunwa’y iginigiit niyang kinakailangan itong pakatan ng mas marami pang pwersa ng estado sa ngalan ng pagpapanatili ng “kapayapaan at kaayusan.” Subalit malinaw na hangad lamang niyang bigyang matwid ang imbing kampanyang kontra-insurhensiya na naglalayong supilin ang demokratikong mga paglaban ng mga residente para sa pabahay at regular na hanapbuhay.

Imbis na tugunan ang demokratikong mga kahilingan ng mga residente para sa disenteng pamumuhay, ginagamit ng rehimen ang NCRTF-ELCAC para maghasik ng pasistang teror hindi lamang sa nasabing mga lugar kundi pati na rin sa iba pang bahagi ng Metro Manila para sindakin at patahimikin ang mga maralita.

Ayon sa BAYAN Metro Manila, madami nang residente at aktibista sa CAMANAVA ang nag-ulat ng pandarahas sa kanila ng mga pulis at sundalo mula nang itatag ang NCRTF-ECLAC. Iniulat ng Defend the Defenders Network (DDN) na kasalukuyang pinamumunuan ni Major Jeoffrey Braganza ang pandarahas at paninindak ng mga pwersa ng estado sa mga kasapi ng KADAMAY sa Caloocan.
Bilang tugon, pinangunahan ng DDN ang protesta ng mga residente ng CAMANAVA noong Setyembre 18 sa Monumento Circle, Caloocan City para kundenahin ang tumitinding pagsupil sa kanila ng rehimen.

Kalagayan ng mga maralita sa Metro Manila

Bantog ang Metro Manila bilang pinakamasikip na rehiyon sa buong mundo. Sa abereyds, tinatayang nagsisiksikan sa kada kilometro-kwadrado (km2) nito ang 19,988 katao. Ang Maynila naman ang pinakamasikip na lunsod na may 41,515 katao/km2. Kabilang rin sa mga pinakamasikip ang Caloocan (27,915/ km2), Malabon (22,419/km2) at Navotas (21,674/km2).

Konsentrado sa mga lugar na ito ang pinakamalalawak na maralitang mga komunidad sa bansa.

Dahil sa napakalaking populasyon at kawalan ng abot-kaya at disenteng pabahay, natutulak ang mga maralitang pamilya na magtayo ng mga barung-barong at makipagsiksikan sa mga estero, tabing ilog at riles, eskinita at maging sa mga tambakan ng basura. Ayon sa datos ng reaksyunaryong gubyerno noong 2014, aabot na sa 32% ng populasyon sa NCR (4.64 milyong residente) ang nagtitiis sa mga komunidad na ito, na karamihan ay walang maayos na patubig, sanitasyon at kuryente. Tinatayang papalo na ito sa 36.7% (6.3 milyong residente) pagsapit ng 2020.

Karamihan sa mga residente rito ay mula sa uring malaproletaryado na walang hanapbuhay o regular na mapagkakakitaan. Sa kabila ng patuloy na paglawak ng kanilang mga komunidad, walang kaakibat na mga programa ang rehimen para tugunan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan at nananatiling kaunti ang oportunidad sa hanapbuhay.

Krisis sa pabahay

Batay sa konserbatibong taya ng reaksyunaryong estado, aabot na sa 6.8 milyon ang maralitang mga pamilya sa buong bansa na mangangailangan ng pabahay pagsapit ng 2022. Sa kabuuan, kailangan ng ₱3.4-trilyong badyet para sa konstruksyon ng mga ito.

Gayunpaman, nagbubulag-bulagan ang rehimen at ipinanukala na maglaan lamang ng ₱6.2-bilyong badyet sa bagong buong Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) para sa susunod na taon. Ang ahensyang ito ang nakatalagang mangasiwa sa mga programang pabahay ng rehimen. Ang alokasyong ito ay wala pa sa 1% ng kabuuang kinakailangang badyet.

Samantala, naglaan lamang ang ng ₱3.2 bilyon sa National Housing Authority at ₱1.3 bilyon sa Social Housing Finance Corporation na nakatalagang kumatuwang sa DHSUD.
Ang kalunus-lunos na kalagayang ito at kasabay na pananalasa ng pahirap at pasistang mga patakarang gaya ng batas na TRAIN at Oplan Tokhang ng rehimen ang nagtutulak sa milyun-milyong maralita, hindi lamang sa Kamaynilaan kung hindi pati na rin sa buong bansa, na makibaka para sa kanilang mga karapatan.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/pinatinding-pagsupil-sa-mga-maralita-ng-kamaynilaan/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Kagamitang militar, nakumpiska ng BHB-Negros

Propaganda article from the Tagalog language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 21, 2019): Kagamitang militar, nakumpiska ng BHB-Negros

NAGLUNSAD NG MATAGUMPAY na taktikal na opensiba ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB)-Negros bilang tugon sa tumitinding panunupil ng reaksyunaryong rehimen sa rehiyon.

Noong Agosto 8, 2019, inambus ng BHB-Central Negros ang mga elemento ng 62nd IB sa Sityo Buyuron, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City. Patay sa opensiba si PFC Joel Parenas habang sugatan naman ang ilan sa kanyang mga upisyal at tropa. Pinagtatakpan naman ng mga berdugong AFP ang tunay na bilang ng kaswalti sa kanilang hanay. Nakumpiska mula sa kanila ang siyam na magasin, mga bala, bakpak at iba pang kagamitang militar.

Bago nito, hinaras ng mga Pulang mandirigma ang detatsment ng AFP sa Barangay Mahalang, Himamaylan noong Agosto 1. Dalawa ang naitalang kaswalti sa hanay ng militar. Sinalakay din ng mga kasapi ng BHB ang detatsment sa Sityo Kabangahan, Barangay Hilamunan, Kabankalan City noong Hulyo 31, 2019. Hindi bababa sa tatlo ang kaswalti sa mga berdugo.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippinesand is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/21/kagamitang-militar-nakumpiska-ng-bhb-negros/

CPP/NPA-East Camarines Sur: Pirata sa bayan ng Garchitorena, dinis-armahan ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan-East Cam Sur

NPA-East Camarines Sur propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Pirata sa bayan ng Garchitorena, dinis-armahan ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan-East Cam Sur

BALDOMERO ARCANGHEL
NPA-EAST CAMARINES SUR
TOMAS PILAPIL COMMAND
NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

Setyembre 23, alas-7 ng umaga nang isinagawa ng BHB-Caramoan sa ilalim ng Tomas Pilapil Command ang pag-disarma kay Jose Cordial, sa Sityo Mantopo, baryo ng Binagasbasan, Garchitorena. Nakumpiska ang dalawang kalibre 45, dalawang KG9, apat na mga magasin ng 45, apat na magasin ng KG9, at mga bala ng nasabing baril.

Si Jose Cordial ay inirereklamo ng mga tao dahil sa kanyang pang- aabuso, pananakot at pagpapaputok ng baril bilang isang pirata, imbwelto rin ito sa pagtutulak ng iligal na droga “shabu” at pang- aagaw ng lupa sa mga katabing parsela ng lupa na pag-aari ng ibang magsasaka.

Ang nasabing matagumpay na aksyon ay tugon ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan sa mga hinaing ng mga tao sa naturang lugar . Pagpapatunay ito na handa ang BHB na ipagtanggol ang mamamayan laban sa mga nagwawasiwas ng karahasan at anti- mamamayang mga aksyon katulad ng mga ginagawa ng mga berdugong AFP, PNP at mga paramilitar. Sa gitna ng madugong kampanya ng rehimeng US- Duterte sa buong kapuluan, at pag-uudyok ng pasistang pangulo sa mga pwersa armadang reaksyunaryo na patuloy na labagin ang mga karapatang tao ng mamamayan dahil sa kanilang pagkadesperado na lusawin ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan. Handa ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan kaisa ang sambayanan na harapin ang mga hakbang ng teroristang estado na sumasalungat sa nagkakaisang agos ng rebolusyon tungo sa tunay na demokrasya, tunay na kalayaan, at ganap na pagbabago. Hindi mapipigil ang patuloy na paglakas ng rebolusyon tulad ng rumaragasang agos at malalaking alon na siyang magpapabagsak sa daang-taon ng mapang-aping sistemang naglilingkod lamang dayuhan at iilang naghahari.

‘Spotters’ for kidnappers are now abductors themselves, says ESSCom chief

Posted to the Malay Mail (Sep 24, 2019): ‘Spotters’ for kidnappers are now abductors themselves, says ESSCom chief


ESSCom commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali addresses a press conference in Sandakan February 23, 2019. — Bernama pic

LAHAD DATU — They used to be spotters for kidnappers, but now they themselves have become the abductors in the eastern waters of Sabah.

These spotters were detected last June and, up to now, 11 of them have been shot dead by the security forces in Kunak, Lahad Datu, and Semporna.

“The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) is on the hunt for the remnants of these spotters still on the prowl to abduct people and demand ransom,”
ESSCom commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali told Bernama in an interview.


Spotters and a kidnapping for ransom group (KFRG) are suspected to have been involved in the abduction of three Indonesian fishermen in the waters of Tambisan, Tungku, yesterday.

“We have identified the KFRG from Tawi-Tawi. Spotters were seen during the incident,” he said. In the incident, which occurred at 11.50am, the three fishermen — Maharudi Lunani, 48, Muhammad Farhan, 27, and Samiun Maneu, 27 — went missing and were believed to have been kidnapped by an armed and masked group in the waters of Tambisan.

The group of kidnappers, aboard two pump boats, reportedly fled to the waters of Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines.

Hazani said the spotters, who have hitherto been passing information to the KFRG in the waters of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), have themselves turned kidnappers.

“These spotters are Filipino illegal immigrants in Sabah and are adept at moving around in the waters of the ESSZone. These spotters will hand over the kidnap victims to the KFRG in Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines,” he said.

Hazani said there are four categories of kidnappers in the ESSZone, namely the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) from Jolo, southern Philippines; ASG and KFRG from Tawi-Tawi who enter the ESSZone and resort to abductions; KFRG from Tawi-Tawi who enter the ESSZone and resort to abductions with the help of spotters and spotters who themselves who resort to abductions.

He said two Filipino men who were spotters for a KFRG from Sitangkai, southern Philippines, were shot dead by Malaysian security forces in the waters off Felda Sahabat 2, Tungku, near here on September 3.

“They were on board a vessel during the abduction of 11 Suluk and Pala’u men from Semporna who were abducted on June 18 in the waters of Tambisan near Tawi-Tawi in the southern Philippines. — Bernama

Abu Sayyaf Abducts Three Indonesian Seafarers

From the Maritime Executive (Sep 24, 2019): Abu Sayyaf Abducts Three Indonesian Seafarers



ReCAAP ISC has issued a warning stating that on September 23 at about 1200 hrs, seven masked-men armed with high powered firearms such as M16, RPG and pistols abducted three Indonesian crew from a Malaysian fishing boat. The perpetrators are believed to be members of the Kidnap for Ransom Group (KFRG) in Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The fishing boat was in the vicinity waters of Tambisan Island, Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia when the perpetrators boarded the fishing boat from two pump boats. The perpetrators then fled towards Tawi-tawi Island, Philippines. Local media reports indicate that the men were taken after a pair of trawlers were boarded. Seafarers were only taken from one vessel, but documents and mobile phones were taken from the other.

The Malaysia and Philippine authorities are stepping up patrol efforts and intensifying military operations to rescue the abducted crew and “neutralize” the militant group.

The risk of the abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah is high, says the ReCAAP ISC, noting the abduction of nine crew on June 18 this year. All ships are advised to reroute from the area, where possible. Otherwise, ship masters and crew are strongly urged to exercise extra vigilance while transiting the area, and report immediately to the Operation Centres of Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) of Malaysia.

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/abu-sayyaf-abducts-three-indonesian-seafarers

Kidnapping deja vu in the east coast of Sabah

From The Star Online (Sep 25, 2019): Kidnapping deja vu in the east coast of Sabah



IT WAS deja vu for La Utu Raali when the Indonesian fisherman who three years ago came face to face with gunmen who held him hostage in Jolo island.

At around noon on Monday (Sept 22) seven masked men, travelling in two pump boats, boarded a Malaysian-registered fishing trawler off Lahad Datu in the east coast of Sabah close to the southern Philippines.

They rounded up the four crew, including La Utu, who is the skipper.

The 54-year-old from Sulawesi, according to a Philippines intelligence officer, told the men not to abduct him as he had previously been kidnapped by them. This was in 2016.

At around noon on Nov 5 of that year, five masked gunmen snatched two Indonesian fishermen, including La Utu, in the waters off Kretam in the east coast of Sabah. The kidnappers demanded RM1mil for each kidnap victim.

After a fraction of the ransom was paid, the Abu Sayyaf gunmen released them.

During this latest incident, a gunman recognised him as the hostage held for 460 days in Jolo island and agreed to release La Utu as they were afraid that their leader, Salip Mura, would scold them.

Salip is a notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-leader responsible for several cross-border kidnappings.

The KFR (kidnap for ransom) gunmen spoke in fluent Malay and Tausug (in the Philippines; Suluk in Sabah). The kidnappers are believed to be Suluk who spoke Malay fluently as they lived in Sabah.

The next day, Esscom (Eastern Sabah Security Command) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali told the media that spotters, who passed information to the KFR group, had become kidnappers.

"These spotters are Filipino illegal immigrants in Sabah and are adept at moving around in the waters of the Esszone (Eastern Sabah Security Zone)," he said.

According to a Philippines intel source, a gunman asked the other three fishermen "Unu bangsmu yan? (What is your race?)", and a victim answered,"Tausug Bajau aku "I'm Tausug Bajau)". Fearing that he would be a kidnap victim, a fisherman also claimed he was a Suluk.

The gunmen told them that if they managed to kidnap fishermen in a nearby trawler, they would release all four of the crew in the first boat.

Some of the gunmen headed to the second trawler. They abducted all three Indonesian fishermen on board. They then headed towards the chain of Tawi Tawi islands in the southern Philippines that straddles Sabah waters.

The Philippines intel officer joked with me that probably the KFR (kidnap for ransom) gunmen released La Utu because they did not want to repeat a similar mistake.

On June 18, KFR gunmen abducted nine fishermen, who were mostly sea gypsies, in a Malaysian-registered trawler in waters off Lahad Datu. They were brought to Jolo island. After four days, the nine were released without any ransom paid.

The KFR had kidnapped people from their own community.

It was like balik kampung (a Malay phrase for returning home) or balik bayan (a Filipino visiting or returning to the Philippines) for the nine. The nine are believed to be still stuck in their home country. They are not allowed to return to Sabah as they have been living in the state illegally.

It is not the first time the KFR group kidnapped the wrong target.

On Sept 11,2018, men armed with M16s boarded a fishing trawler with a Malaysian flag near Pulau Gaya in Semporna. They assumed that the fishing crew were Malaysian as the boat flew a Malaysia flag.

However, they got it wrong and kidnapped Indonesian crew members who fetched lower ransom.

For many Malaysians, news of the kidnapping of three Indonesians on Monday was deja vu. Not again, they groaned on social media. Some questioned why such cross-border abduction still happened in the new Malaysia.

The threat of kidnapping like what the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador told the media in June is still high. Attacks by the KFR groups, Hamid said, could happen any day and at any time.

Hamid is right.

As long as there is no law and order and prosperity in our southern Philippines neighbour, the threat will always be there.

But to be fair to our police force, the last kidnapping of a tourist in the east coast of Sabah was when Chinese tourist Gao Hua Yuan was abducted in Semporna waters on April 2,2014.

That was five years ago. Since then our security forces have tightened security at our island resorts, and tourists are safe.

However, the threat is still there.

We're lucky a Malaysian did not become part of the statistic during Monday's kidnapping. If not, it would have been deja vu.

4 NPA rebels surrender in Ecija

From the Journal Online (Sep 24, 2019): 4 NPA rebels surrender in Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY -- Exactly a week after Nueva Ecija declared the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, persona non-grata, four members of the terrorist organization surrendered to the Nueva Ecija police on Monday.

Col. Leon Victor Z. Rosete, provincial police director, said the four rebels who were identified by their aliases as Ka Billy, 70; Ka Igor/Ka Rey, 56, Ka Boy/Ka Blacky, 75 and Ka Boy Basa, 57, all of San Jose City, gave themselves up to the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company under its commander, Lt. Col. Norman C. Cacho.


Rosete said they are now under police custody and undergoing tactical debriefing procedure at the 2nd PMFC.

He said Cacho and his men facilitated the surrender of the four rebels in Bgy. Pinili at 5 p.m. Monday.

https://journal.com.ph/news/provincial/4-npa-rebels-surrender-ecija

NPA ambush wounds 3 cops in Oriental Mindoro

From the Business Mirror (Sep 25, 2019): NPA ambush wounds 3 cops in Oriental Mindoro

Three policemen were wounded after the police vehicle that was carrying them was ambushed on Tuesday by suspected members of the New People’s Army in Oriental Mindoro.

Two other policemen, including the deputy chief of police of Pinamalayan Municipal Police Station, and a civilian who is a village leader, escaped unhurt during the ambush.

Lt. Col. Socrates Faltado, spokesman of the Mimaropa regional police, said the police vehicle of Pinamalayan was on its way to Calapan City when it was waylaid by armed men at around 7:45 a.m. along the national highway at Barangay Pasi 2, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro.


The police mobile, driven by Pat. Raquel Generoso, was bearing Capt. Ruelito Magtibay, deputy police chief of Pinamalayan, and three other members of the station identified as Master Sgt. Ivan Fortus, Senior Master Sgt. Irene Lazo and Cpl. Ivy Carmona.

The policemen were joined by barangay Chairman Noli dela Cruz of Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro.

During the ambush, Fortus, Lazo and Carmona were wounded. They were brought to Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital.

Faltado said that based on the information provided by barangay Chairman Danilo Caspe of Barangay Pasi 2, a loud explosion was heard from the ambush site followed by burst of gunfire against the policemen who were aboard the mobile car.

At the time of the reported ambush, the policemen were on their way to Calapan to attend a radio program.

“During the incident, mobile patrol of Pinamalayan MPS was able to evade the ambush and continuously drove away from the killing zone,” Faltado said in a report. Still, three of the policemen were wounded.

Philippines: Mindanao Displacement Dashboard, August 2019 - Issue No. 61

Posted to the Relief Web (Sep 19, 2019): Philippines: Mindanao Displacement Dashboard, August 2019 - Issue No. 61

REPORT from UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Protection Cluster
Published on 19 Sep 2019 —View Original


Download PDF (6.69 MB)

In August 2019, a total number of 327 families (1,583 individuals) were displaced in Mindanao due to crime and violence (250 individuals), armed conflict (149 individuals), clan feuds (1,075 individuals) and natural disaster (109 individuals). Out of 1,583 individuals displaced throughout the month, 82% (1,305 individuals) have returned to their homes by the end of August, leaving 18% (278 individuals) still displaced by the end of the reporting period.

As of 31 August, a total number of 37,011 families (183,877 individuals) are currently displaced in Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Regional Government has launched a new emergency and disaster response office — the Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi-BARMM). The launch took place during the first organization meeting of the BARMM – Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC), following the release of Executive Order No. 12 signed by BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim on July 29, 2019.

E.O. No. 12 provides for the establishment of the BDRRMC and a disaster risk reduction management operation center, the READI-BARMM, which shall be managed by the Ministry on Interior and Local Government (MILG). The new office replaces the ARMM Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ARDRRMO) previously known as the Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (ARMM-HEART).

Military and police operations against local terror groups across Mindanao are ongoing, with state forces looking to quell the Abu Sayyaf Group by yearend, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana. Martial Law remains in place since its initial declaration on May 2017, followed by three extensions on July 2017, December 2017, and December 2018.

https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-mindanao-displacement-dashboard-august-2019-issue-no-61

The Marawi siege and after: Managing NGO-military relations

Posted to The Interpreter//Lowy Institute (Sep 24, 2019): The Marawi siege and after: Managing NGO-military relations

Soldiers check identity documents of residents allowed to visit their destroyed houses at the main battle area in Marawi City (Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images)

Soldiers check identity documents of residents allowed to visit their destroyed houses at the main battle area in Marawi City (Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images)
Soldiers check identity documents of residents allowed to visit their destroyed houses at the main battle area in Marawi City (Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images)
Tension between civil society groups and the armed forces built during the 2017 crisis – but it need not stay that way.

Mindanao has always been a militarised zone due to the combined influence of insurgency, high criminality, and clan violence. Yet the five-month Marawi siege in 2017 and the aftermath has further amplified what can be best described as a “securitised” state. More than 12,000 troops were deployed to fight and remove at least 500 heavily armed militants belonging to the Abu Sayyaf Group, Maute Group, as well as foreign and local fighters that had pledged their allegiance to ISIS. The whole region is still under martial law until the end of this year, which gives the military enormous power to quell any rebellion, as well as to arrest and detain suspected insurgents.

This makes for a challenging environment for NGOs to operate. Yet strengthening a harmonious and engaged civil society and military relationship is vital to securing peace and stability in Bangsamoro.

The intense fighting and aerial bombing of the city has led to a massive humanitarian crisis, displacing approximately 300,000 people leaving many of them homeless and without property. About 200,000 of those displaced went to evacuation centres, while the rest opted to be home-based. The Asian Development Bank has estimated the total damages and losses from the siege to be about $348 million, while at least $1.5 billion is needed to rehabilitate Marawi.



Almost two years after the siege, a view in May 2019 of destroyed buildings in Marawi on the southern island of Mindanao (Photo: Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images)

While the Philippine government, through its social welfare units and local authorities, provided humanitarian assistance to Marawi evacuees, the crisis spawned a civil society renaissance in the Bangsamoro area. A total of 128 organisations provided food, cash, health, water, sanitation and other services during and in the aftermath of the siege, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

For the first time, many home-grown NGOs, faith-based organisations, and rights-advocacy groups provided direct relief to evacuees and engaged in search and rescue activities, outnumbering national or Manila-based players. The NGO community during the siege was diverse. Some such as the Ranaw Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Assistance Center (RDRRAC), Maradeca, and Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (ECOWEB) are old-hands in the humanitarian business. These organisations have been around since the 2000 “all-out” war between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and in the years following.

Other NGOs active during the siege came from backgrounds with prior extensive work on peacebuilding, such as Balay Mindanaw, or psychological health intervention, such as the Center of Psychological Extension and Research Services of the Ateneo de Davao University (COPERS). There were also many faith-based organisations – Catholic diocesan and Protestant church-arms, for example – and relative novices among Moro professional and youth groups.

[When links are based on interpersonal ties between NGO workers and commanders, they often prove unsustainable.]

Many NGOs were also ideologically-linked either with MILF or Moro National Liberation Front, or drew from religious roots. In the course of research we have conducted, it is clear that NGOs have learned a lot from this experience and had to be innovative in delivering help, as well as coordinating activities with various stakeholders. This has reduced instances where efforts might have otherwise been duplicated, while also addressing underserved areas where fewer evacuees may have gone.

None of this sprang from a vacuum. Various peace agreements over the years created mechanisms which allowed NGOs to monitor and report combatant violations of ceasefire terms. This showed the importance of NGOs to the parties in the conflict. Many military units with forward-looking commanders have also incorporated peace building programs, including the skills of negotiation and dialogue for conflict resolution by conducting training co-designed by NGOs for deployed officers and soldiers on the frontlines.

But the Marawi response also pointed to the tenuousness of peace time institutional linkages between the NGO community and the military. As military units rotate between different insurgency fronts, many prejudiced ideas about NGOs persist, including “red tagging” – the practice of identifying and targeting NGOs as fronts for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army – or simply because they are seen as partisan to Moro groups. NGOs monitor and report on military violations of ceasefire agreements, but lack leverage in pressuring military units against paramilitary recruitment or checking militia abuses. When links are based on interpersonal ties between NGO workers and commanders, they often prove unsustainable. And the military has also displayed a preference for Manila-based NGOs connected to headquarters and deep pocket charities attached to big corporations.

During the siege, the military ran its own civil-military coordination platform for receiving and delivering humanitarian aid for soldiers, while NGOs worked to deliver aid to displaced civilians. It was a case of loose coordination, rather than collaboration and communication, which mostly characterised civil society and military engagement during the siege. The interface was limited to securing permits and passes that allowed access to highways and corridors strictly controlled by military checkpoints and patrols. This didn’t amount to substantive collaboration on the ground.

Communication between NGOs and military was also highly contested. Tensions spiked around allegations of looting by military personnel, violation of rights of those rescued from the main battle area, and unchecked proliferation of firearms. Despite years of prior engagements between local NGOs and the military in disaster response and peace-building work, none of these historical connections or stores of trust were drawn upon by the authorities during the Marawi response.

This also resulted in divisions within the local NGO community. Humanitarian service-focused entities were differential to the securitised space controlled by the military, while the rights-based advocacy groups were suspicious of the military citing lack of transparency and action on human rights complaints.

Tensions persist. A shift in focus from humanitarian to reconstruction has accentuated a delicate relationship between the military and civil society in Mindanao. The recent announcement about the opening of a 10-hectare military base in Marawi and the slow pace of rehabilitation efforts hasn’t helped either.

There is an urgent need to revitalise the platforms used successfully in peacetime in the past to thrash out issues between civil society and military in an open and transparent manner. This will also help build trust and could pave the way for more collaborative relationships in future crisis or emergency challenges in Bangsamoro.

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/marawi-siege-and-after-managing-ngo-military-relations

NPA in Southern Tagalog downplays AFP’s ‘modern weapons’

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 24, 2019): NPA in Southern Tagalog downplays AFP’s ‘modern weapons’

LUCENA CITY –– The spokesman of the communist insurgents in Southern Tagalog scoffed at the military’s threat of using modern war weapons to annihilate the Maoist-inspired guerrillas.

Patnubay de Guia, the spokesman of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Southern Tagalog,
said the leadership of the military’s Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) was “daydreaming” if the government forces believed that modern weapons could crush the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the region.


He said even the strongest and most modern weapons in the military arsenal would not defeat the rebels whose source of power and strength were provided by the people.

“And this was proven in China and Vietnam revolutions,”
he said.


Last week, Lt. Col. Dennis Cana, Solcom information officer, revealed that state security forces were now armed with modern war equipment like night capable helicopters, signal equipment like drones, range finders, thermal imagers, and additional naval assets.

He said the government forces in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions would “not hesitate to use the upgraded military might in our arsenal against the few CT (communist terrorists) who still refuse to abandon their arms.”

Guv's inaction on military pullout angers tribesmen

From the Mindanao Daily News (Sep 20, 2019): Guv's inaction on military pullout angers tribesmen



A dialogue at Km 9, a hinterland community in Lianga, Surigao del Sur in September 11 when local officials refused to intervene on the lumads call for total military pull out within the civilian populace. Mapasu photo


A government soldier checking the blood pressure of Mapasu resident during their medical mission. 3rd Special Forces Battalion photo

A snap shot by a resident of Army soldiers entering the Km. 9 lumad community. Mapasu supplied photo

LIANGA, Surigao del Sur--Lumad residents (indigenous peoples) in Km. 9 sub village expressed dismay over the inaction of Gov. Alexander Pimentel on their plea for the pullout of Army soldiers in their communities.

In a statement,the
Malahutayong Pakigbisog Alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu) which supports the plight of the lumads, said the presence of Army soldiers in Km. 9 since August 16 have disturbed anew their peaceful living and disrupted their already productive farming activities.

Mapasu said the deployment of some 60 Army soldiers of 3rg Special Forces Battalion an, 75th Infantry Battalion and 26th Infantry Battalion is a clear violation of an agreement reached in July 30, 2018 that the military will no longer set up detachments within the neighbouring lumad communities and that soldiers are not allowed to live in civilian homes and community centers.


The agreement which were signed by provincial and local officials, lumad leaders, priests, nuns, pastors and military officials at the Sanggunian Bayan session hall in San Agustin town was settled to appease hundreds of lumad evacuees who were poised to stage a long walk towards the Provincial Sports Complex in Tandag City.

But Pimentel told some 100 lumad leaders during the dialogue at the town hall here in September 11 that he could not interfere with their request to prohibit the presence of Army soldiers in their communities since Mindanao is still under martial law and the implementation of Executive Order 70 by President Rodrigo Duterte, institutionalizing a “whole of nation” approach with the creation of national task force to end the communist armed conflict.

1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan, civil military officer of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, said Km. 9 community is one of the most affected by the New Peoples Army led “taktikang bakwit” where they use the lumads as human shields to evade government forces.

Punsalan, citing an admission from a Km. 9 when he interviewed him, said “taktikang bakwit” is an orchestrated strategy organized by Mapasu to gain sympathy from international funding organizations which are potential donors who would provide cash donations to the group as part of international solidarity works.

The lumads firm call for a total military pull out in their communities was spark from their disdain when they were told by Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, commanding officer of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion, that they should move on from their sad ordeals in the past on the killings of their leaders and harassments from the constant evacuations almost every year since 2011.

“The statement of Col. Baybayan is a manifestation of his disrespect to the lumads,” said a Mapasu statement.

Mapasu will be also sending a petition to local and provincial officials to heed their call to end militarization of their communities of whom farmers have become productive on their produce for more than a year with the absence of the government soldiers.

Mapasu noted production of the lumad farmers have increased by threefold since 2016 while living in a peaceful and quiet environment that they already sell their produce in the neighbouring towns and even reaching the progressive town of San Francisco in Agusan del Sur.

http://mindanaodailynews.com/news/front-page/latest-headlines/guvs-inaction-on-military-pullout-angers-tribesmen

Abu Sayyaf bandit arrested in Zamboanga City

From Politiko Mindanao (Sep 24, 2019): Abu Sayyaf bandit arrested in Zamboanga City



The government forces have arrested a follower of Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama in Zamboanga City.
Basilan-based bandit Amran Dala was nabbed by elements of Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 and Police Station 4 in Barangay Mercedes Monday night, September 23.

“Government troops launched the operation against Dala who has a standing arrest warrant for murder,” said Col. Antonio John Divinagracia, Task Force Zamboanga Commander.


“We are firm in pursuing Abu Sayyaf militants and in encouraging other rebels to surrender to quell terrorism and deliver peace and progress in Mindanao,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Western Mindanao Command.

https://mindanao.politics.com.ph/abu-sayyaf-bandit-arrested-in-zamboanga-city/