Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 7, 2020): #SolidarityAmidCovid on #36th Cordillera Day
The Cordillera People’s Alliance (CPA) marked the 36th Cordillera Day commemoration last April 24 by distributing food packs and personal protective equipment (PPE) to the poor and heath workers.
It enjoined the people to make the Cordillera Day celebration meaningful by continuing to unite and defend the Cordillera people’s rights and and ancestral lands.
The Health for the People Brigade spearheaded the conduct of the ub-ubbo, innabuyog and binnadang to raise PPEs and other donations for the poor.
The ub-ubbo, innabuyog and binnadang are indigenous systems of labor exchange to support those in need which highligh the value of collective effort and mutual aid.
For years, the Cordillera Day also served as a venue to commemorate the Cordillera people’s struggle against dictatorship, fascism and human rights violations. Macli-ing Dulag, leader of Butbut tribue in Tinglayan, Kalinga was killed by the military on the same day in 1980. Dulag was among the tribal leaders who led the struggle against the Chico Dam Project. Dulag’s death was commemorated from 1981 to 1984 and was dubbed Macliing Memorials. From that time on, the CPA launched the Cordillera Peoples’ Day which was annually celebrated in various provinces in Cordillera and in Baguio City.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/solidarityamidcovid-on-36th-cordillera-day/
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
CPP/Ang Bayan: CPP-NPA ends unilateral ceasefire
Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 7, 2020): CPP-NPA ends unilateral ceasefire
On April 30, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared that it will no longer extend its unilateral ceasefire. “As the Covid-19 pandemc continues to worsen, the CPP and the New People’s Army (NPA) will give highest priority to fight the disease despite Duterte and the AFP’s order to intensify offensives and other military operations against the NPA. However, the CPP can no longer extend the humanitarian ceasefire of the NPA after April 30. This widespread attacks and military operations of the AFP-PNP will only result in worse atrocities against the NPA and the masses,” said the CPP.
From March 16 to April 30, the military and police have continued to conduct intense and sustained counterinsurgency operations in 159 towns, covering at least 432 barangays. This resulted in at least 54 armed encounters, 39 of which were raids against NPA encampments. Last of which was a raid by the 4th IB against an encampment of Red fighters in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on April 30.
The clashes resulted in at least 31 killed and 27 wounded on the side of the AFP-PNP. On the side of the NPA, 20 Red fighters were martyred while eight others were wounded.
During the same period, Ang Bayan was also able to record 39 incidents of human rights violations that were perpetrated by state forces under the guise of the regime’s counterinsurgency campaign. Four civilians were killed, two of whom were peasants. Sixty others were illegally arrested, 54 of whom or 90% are peasants.
The most recent violation was the arbitrary against of 9-month pregnant Lumad woman in Butuan City. Elements of the 23rd IB accosted Mayet Ambason at Sitio Bankaling, Purok 8, Barangay Nong-Nong on Abril 30 at around 4 p.m. They accused her of being a member of the NPA who was involved in an encounter in the same barangay on April 24.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/cpp-npa-ends-unilateral-ceasefire/
On April 30, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) declared that it will no longer extend its unilateral ceasefire. “As the Covid-19 pandemc continues to worsen, the CPP and the New People’s Army (NPA) will give highest priority to fight the disease despite Duterte and the AFP’s order to intensify offensives and other military operations against the NPA. However, the CPP can no longer extend the humanitarian ceasefire of the NPA after April 30. This widespread attacks and military operations of the AFP-PNP will only result in worse atrocities against the NPA and the masses,” said the CPP.
From March 16 to April 30, the military and police have continued to conduct intense and sustained counterinsurgency operations in 159 towns, covering at least 432 barangays. This resulted in at least 54 armed encounters, 39 of which were raids against NPA encampments. Last of which was a raid by the 4th IB against an encampment of Red fighters in Rizal, Occidental Mindoro on April 30.
The clashes resulted in at least 31 killed and 27 wounded on the side of the AFP-PNP. On the side of the NPA, 20 Red fighters were martyred while eight others were wounded.
During the same period, Ang Bayan was also able to record 39 incidents of human rights violations that were perpetrated by state forces under the guise of the regime’s counterinsurgency campaign. Four civilians were killed, two of whom were peasants. Sixty others were illegally arrested, 54 of whom or 90% are peasants.
The most recent violation was the arbitrary against of 9-month pregnant Lumad woman in Butuan City. Elements of the 23rd IB accosted Mayet Ambason at Sitio Bankaling, Purok 8, Barangay Nong-Nong on Abril 30 at around 4 p.m. They accused her of being a member of the NPA who was involved in an encounter in the same barangay on April 24.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/cpp-npa-ends-unilateral-ceasefire/
CPP/Ang Bayan: Police arrests 76 activists, volunteers on Labor Day
Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 7, 2020): Police arrests 76 activists, volunteers on Labor Day
Elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) successively arrested 76 activists and relief volunteers in Metro Manila, Rizal and Iloilo on Labor Day, May 1.
Ten volunteers were arrested in Marikina while conducting a feeding program for urban poor residents. Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro ordered the release of the victims asserting that they have not violated any law.
In Quezon City, four youth volunteers and 14 residents were arrested while conducting a feeding program in Barangay Central. Four activists were also arrested in Valenzuela City for protesting at home and posting their demands on social media. Two workers were also arrested in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Forty-two individuals were arrested in Jaro District, Iloilo City while preparing for a caravan to condemn the recent killing of Bayan Muna coordinator Jose Reynaldo “Ka Jory” Porquia. The police filed criminal charges against Porquia’s daughter, colleagues and seven journalists. The 42 were only released after paying a bail of P12,000 each or a total of more than half a million pesos.
Porquia, 59, sustained nine bullet wounds after being shot by four unidentified male assailants in Barangay Santo Niño Norte, Iloilo City on April 30.
On the same day, elements of the 202nd Infantry Brigade illegally arrested 16 Coca-Cola workers in Santa Rosa, Laguna. The victims were brought to Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City and were then presented before the media as “surrendered” members of the New People’s Army on Labor Day.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/police-arrests-76-activists-volunteers-on-labor-day/
Elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) successively arrested 76 activists and relief volunteers in Metro Manila, Rizal and Iloilo on Labor Day, May 1.
Ten volunteers were arrested in Marikina while conducting a feeding program for urban poor residents. Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro ordered the release of the victims asserting that they have not violated any law.
In Quezon City, four youth volunteers and 14 residents were arrested while conducting a feeding program in Barangay Central. Four activists were also arrested in Valenzuela City for protesting at home and posting their demands on social media. Two workers were also arrested in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Forty-two individuals were arrested in Jaro District, Iloilo City while preparing for a caravan to condemn the recent killing of Bayan Muna coordinator Jose Reynaldo “Ka Jory” Porquia. The police filed criminal charges against Porquia’s daughter, colleagues and seven journalists. The 42 were only released after paying a bail of P12,000 each or a total of more than half a million pesos.
Porquia, 59, sustained nine bullet wounds after being shot by four unidentified male assailants in Barangay Santo Niño Norte, Iloilo City on April 30.
On the same day, elements of the 202nd Infantry Brigade illegally arrested 16 Coca-Cola workers in Santa Rosa, Laguna. The victims were brought to Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City and were then presented before the media as “surrendered” members of the New People’s Army on Labor Day.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/police-arrests-76-activists-volunteers-on-labor-day/
CPP/Ang Bayan: Impact of lockdowns on the children and the youth
Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 7, 2020): Impact of lockdowns on the children and the youth
Measures implemented by countries to purportedly contain Covid-19 has resulted in unprecedented school closures. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), around 190 countries have been closed down, affecting more than 1.5 billion students worldwide and forcing them to stay at home. This aggravated child hunger in various parts of the world.
Due to school closures, “370 million children are missing out on school meals,” stated UNICEF. Most of these children are from countries that are torn by war or military interventions. Children in evacuation centers dislocated by calamities and militarization are also vulnerable.
The closures intensified inequality among students. Most poor students have no means to continue their studies, unlike students from well-off families who have internet access and computers at home. The lockdown decreased learning opportunities for poor students, especially as most of them live in congested homes that are not conducive to learning, do not have books and other school supplies, and have no outdoor spaces where children can go out and play. There is a strong clamor to end the semester or academic school year and give all students a passing grade.
Researches indicate that school children are less vulnerable to Covid-19 infection. There is no strong evidence to prove that school closures can stop the spread of the infection. Scientists recommend that instead of closing down schools, governments should prioritize efforts in isolating and putting those who are sick in quarantine. In March, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and UNESCO issued a set of guidelines providing a roadmap for the safe reopening of schools amid the pandemic.
This includes the use of schools for information dissemination and proper health care, continuation of appropriate activities and ensuring essential services and supplies. The groups insisted that school closures must be time-bound.
In countries most affected by the pandemic, school closures result in income loss for education workers, while aggravating the burden shouldered by parents performing crucial duties in hospitals including nurses and doctors.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/impact-of-lockdowns-on-the-children-and-the-youth/
Measures implemented by countries to purportedly contain Covid-19 has resulted in unprecedented school closures. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), around 190 countries have been closed down, affecting more than 1.5 billion students worldwide and forcing them to stay at home. This aggravated child hunger in various parts of the world.
Due to school closures, “370 million children are missing out on school meals,” stated UNICEF. Most of these children are from countries that are torn by war or military interventions. Children in evacuation centers dislocated by calamities and militarization are also vulnerable.
The closures intensified inequality among students. Most poor students have no means to continue their studies, unlike students from well-off families who have internet access and computers at home. The lockdown decreased learning opportunities for poor students, especially as most of them live in congested homes that are not conducive to learning, do not have books and other school supplies, and have no outdoor spaces where children can go out and play. There is a strong clamor to end the semester or academic school year and give all students a passing grade.
Researches indicate that school children are less vulnerable to Covid-19 infection. There is no strong evidence to prove that school closures can stop the spread of the infection. Scientists recommend that instead of closing down schools, governments should prioritize efforts in isolating and putting those who are sick in quarantine. In March, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and UNESCO issued a set of guidelines providing a roadmap for the safe reopening of schools amid the pandemic.
This includes the use of schools for information dissemination and proper health care, continuation of appropriate activities and ensuring essential services and supplies. The groups insisted that school closures must be time-bound.
In countries most affected by the pandemic, school closures result in income loss for education workers, while aggravating the burden shouldered by parents performing crucial duties in hospitals including nurses and doctors.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/impact-of-lockdowns-on-the-children-and-the-youth/
CPP/Ang Bayan: Fascism in the time of a pandemic in 7 steps
Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 7, 2020): Fascism in the time of a pandemic in 7 steps
First, disregard the threat posed by the Covid-19 against the people’s health and livelihood. For more than two months, until the first week of March, Duterte and his Inter-Agency Task Force shrugged aside information that the virus was already in the country and was probably spreading in provinces, particularly in Central Visayas.
Second, scare and shock millions of people. Duterte put the entire Metro Manila under lockdown on March 12, and Luzon on March 16. He did this without prior research, local preparation or even warning. Within 24 hours, Duterte swamped the cities with thousands of police and soldiers under the guise of checking the body temperature of travelers. Factories and other workplaces were shutdown, aside from what they deemed “essential” and businesses that cater to foreign clients. Local officials in almost all cities and provinces scrambled to declare their respective lockdowns. Checkpoints were put up across the country where millions are hailed on their way home, to work, to buy essentials, to hospitals or anywhere they would go to. Those who defied the police and military were arrested, detained, punished, and on some instances, gunned down.
Third, paint an image of a “war” and put the police and military on top of the government’s response to the pandemic. People are held at gunpoint by Duterte even when the enemy is “invisible.” He bombarded and confused people through daily, many and often conflicting press conferences to condition them to “just follow” his regime’s measures. He calls “undisciplined” those who defy his lockdown to earn income, look for food or escape extreme boredom. They are brutally punished and humiliated. Duterte earlier ordered the military and police to shoot-dead anyone who will defy his lockdown. The declaration came after a protest of urban poor residents to demand aid. The marching order emboldened the police, military and even local officials to abuse and disregard people’s rights. Twelve- and 24-hour curfews, 48-hour barangay and sitio lockdowns and other arbitrary and anti-people ordinances and resolutions were imposed.
Fourth, give the AFP and its generals command over the daily implementation of the lockdown. Duterte assigned Delfin Lorenzana as chief of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, Eduardo Año as second in command, Carlito Galvez as chief implementor and Rolando Bautista as head of aid distribution. All of them are trained in counterinsurgency but not one has a background on public health matters. Duterte assigned the Office of the Civil Defense to lead regional task forces, and most controversially, the authority to buy and distribute medical equipment to health workers and hospitals.
Fifth, grab emergency powers for additional authority. This includes the power to realign billions of funds to the office of the president, takeover private companies who refuse to render service or allow use of its facilities, and silence critics under the guise of stopping the spread of “false information.”
Sixth, starve the people and have them line up for limited aid. To cover up the shortage in funds, Duterte puts the blame on local officials who are struggling to address their constituents’ plight including unemployment and loss of income, lack of sanitation and public services, hunger and other socio-economic damages caused by the lockdown. Duterte then used the anarchic aid distribution to push for the implementation of the National ID System.
Seventh, make fascism palatable as the “new normal” where restrictions on people’s mobility and other rights are maintained. The said system is not different to the old one, but with worse forms of exploitation and oppression against the people. This includes intensified surveillance on meetings and gatherings in the name of monitoring the resurgence of the virus.
Second, scare and shock millions of people. Duterte put the entire Metro Manila under lockdown on March 12, and Luzon on March 16. He did this without prior research, local preparation or even warning. Within 24 hours, Duterte swamped the cities with thousands of police and soldiers under the guise of checking the body temperature of travelers. Factories and other workplaces were shutdown, aside from what they deemed “essential” and businesses that cater to foreign clients. Local officials in almost all cities and provinces scrambled to declare their respective lockdowns. Checkpoints were put up across the country where millions are hailed on their way home, to work, to buy essentials, to hospitals or anywhere they would go to. Those who defied the police and military were arrested, detained, punished, and on some instances, gunned down.
Third, paint an image of a “war” and put the police and military on top of the government’s response to the pandemic. People are held at gunpoint by Duterte even when the enemy is “invisible.” He bombarded and confused people through daily, many and often conflicting press conferences to condition them to “just follow” his regime’s measures. He calls “undisciplined” those who defy his lockdown to earn income, look for food or escape extreme boredom. They are brutally punished and humiliated. Duterte earlier ordered the military and police to shoot-dead anyone who will defy his lockdown. The declaration came after a protest of urban poor residents to demand aid. The marching order emboldened the police, military and even local officials to abuse and disregard people’s rights. Twelve- and 24-hour curfews, 48-hour barangay and sitio lockdowns and other arbitrary and anti-people ordinances and resolutions were imposed.
Fourth, give the AFP and its generals command over the daily implementation of the lockdown. Duterte assigned Delfin Lorenzana as chief of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, Eduardo Año as second in command, Carlito Galvez as chief implementor and Rolando Bautista as head of aid distribution. All of them are trained in counterinsurgency but not one has a background on public health matters. Duterte assigned the Office of the Civil Defense to lead regional task forces, and most controversially, the authority to buy and distribute medical equipment to health workers and hospitals.
Fifth, grab emergency powers for additional authority. This includes the power to realign billions of funds to the office of the president, takeover private companies who refuse to render service or allow use of its facilities, and silence critics under the guise of stopping the spread of “false information.”
Sixth, starve the people and have them line up for limited aid. To cover up the shortage in funds, Duterte puts the blame on local officials who are struggling to address their constituents’ plight including unemployment and loss of income, lack of sanitation and public services, hunger and other socio-economic damages caused by the lockdown. Duterte then used the anarchic aid distribution to push for the implementation of the National ID System.
Seventh, make fascism palatable as the “new normal” where restrictions on people’s mobility and other rights are maintained. The said system is not different to the old one, but with worse forms of exploitation and oppression against the people. This includes intensified surveillance on meetings and gatherings in the name of monitoring the resurgence of the virus.
[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and 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/2020/05/07/fascism-in-the-time-of-a-pandemic-in-7-steps/
https://cpp.ph/2020/05/07/fascism-in-the-time-of-a-pandemic-in-7-steps/
CPP/NDF-ST: Palayain ang 6 na mga inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas!
Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 13, 2020): Palayain ang 6 na mga inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas!
PATNUBAY DE GUIA
NDF-SOUTHERN TAGALOG
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES
MAY 13, 2020
Palayain ang 6 na mga inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas na iligal na inaresto ng AFP at PNP! Tutulan at labanan ang patuloy at tumitinding karahasang militar sa Timog Katagalugan! Ibagsak ang pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte!
Mariing kinokondena ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Southern Tagalog (NDF-ST) ang panibago na namang karahasan at terorismo ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Philippine National Police (PNP) sa pag-aresto sa anim (6) na inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas nuong madaling araw ng Mayo 10, 2020. Hindi bababa sa 45 sasakyan ang ginamit sa pag-atake ng pinagsanib na pwersa ng Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) ng PNP at yunit ng 202nd Brigade ng AFP na tipikal na halimbawa ng kanilang notoryus na Synchronized Enhanced Military and Police Operation (SEMPO). Ang pag-atake ay ginawa sa dis-oras ng gabi habang mahimbing na natutulog ang mga mamamayan ng barangay. Sabayan at sapilitang pinasok ng mga operatiba ng AFP at PNP ang mga bahay ng mga di umano’y target ng search warrant. Tinutukan ng baril ang mga taong dinatnan sa bahay, agad silang pinalabas ng bahay upang malayang makapagtanim ng mga ebidensya ang mga operatiba ng PNP at AFP laban sa mga magsasaka.
Mariing pinabubulaanan ng NDFP-ST ang malisyosong paratang ng AFP at PNP na mga magsasaka sa umaga at NPA sa gabi ang kanilang mga dinakip sa barangay Coral ni Lopez. Kailanman hindi naging mga NPA ang 6 na iligal na inaresto ng PNP at AFP. Sila ay mga lehitimong kasapi ng Samahang Magsasaka ng Coral ni Lopez (SAMACOLO) na aktibong nagtatanggol sa kanilang mga karapatan lalo na sa pagtatanggol sa lupang kanilang sinasaka mula sa pagtatangka ng panginoong maylupa na si Luis Lopez na mabawi ang Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) na hawak ng mga magsasaka batay sa mga butas na laman ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) ng dating rehimeng Cory Aquino.
Kabilang sa mga 6 na hinuli at ngayon kasalukuyang nakakulong sa Camp Vicente Lim sa Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna ay sina Leovino Julongbayan, lider-magsasaka at kagawad ng barangay at Virgilio Vidal, barangay secretary at lider ng SAMACOLO. Ang iba ay sina Marcelo Vidal, Doroteo Bautista, July Julongbayan at Roilan Tenorio pawang mga aktibong kasapi ng SAMACOLO.
Labis ang pinapakitang desperasyon ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte. Sa kabiguan nitong durugin ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan sa probinsya, mga inosente at kawawang magsasaka ang kanilang pinagbabalingan. Hindi ito naiba sa nangyaring iligal na pag-aresto sa magsasakang si Lamberto Asinas ng Bundukin, Nasugbu, Batangas nuong Abril 16, 2020. Tulad ng ginawa nila kay Asinas, pinalalabas nilang mga NPA ang 6 na magsasaka ng Coral ni Lopez na kanilang hinuli dahil sa diumanong mga armas at eksplosibo na kanilang natagpuan sa mga bahay ng mga ito. Pero ang katotohanan ay mga armas at eksplosibo na sadyang itinanim ng AFP at PNP bilang ebidensya laban sa mga kawawa at inosenteng magsasaka.
Walang matinong indibidwal ang basta na lamang maniniwala sa akusasyong ito ng AFP at PNP dahil batid ng taumbayan na mga pangkaraniwang magsasaka at kailanman hindi naging mga kasapi ng NPA ang 6 na magsasakang hinuli ng AFP at PNP sa barangay Coral ni Lopez. Batid din ng taumbayan ang talamak na modus na pagtatanim ebidensya ng AFP at PNP para bigyan katwiran ang kanilang mga iligal na pag-aresto at pagpapakulong sa mga pinaghihinalaan at inaakusahan nilang kaaway ng estado.
Dapat mariing kondenahin ng taumbayan ang mga katulad na pag-atakeng ito ng AFP at PNP sa mga magsasaka na ginawa sa panahon na ang buong bayan ay nakatuon sa pagharap at paglaban sa Covid-19. Malinaw na sinasamantala ng AFP at PNP ang kamay-na-bakal na pagpapatupad ng lockdown para isagawa nila ang kanilang maiitim na balak na supilin at atakehin ang mga mamamayang kritikal sa mga katiwalian ng administrasyong Duterte.
Patuloy na dumaranas ang mga magsasaka at mga katutubo ng rehiyong Timog Katagalugan ng walang kapantay na kalupitan at terorismo mula sa AFP at PNP lalo nang maluklok sa Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) ang berdugong si General Antonio G. Parlade Jr. Mula nang pumutok ang isyu ng Covid-19 sa bansa, nagpatuloy at walang patlang ang mga pag-atake ng AFP at PNP sa mga magsasaka at katutubo sa rehiyon kahit sa panahon na mayroon silang “pinapatupad” na unilateral ceasefire sa NPA. Walang lubay ito ang paghahasik ng karahasang militar at pag-atake ng AFP at PNP sa batayang karapatan ng mamamayan sa hibang na layunin nitong durugin sa loob ng natitirang panahon ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan.
Ang kabiguang ganap na pinsalain ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan ay patuloy nitong ibinabaling sa pag-atake sa mga sibilyang komunidad at inosenteng mamamayan, upang bigyan ng hugis ang kanilang delusyon na nagtatagumpay ang kanilang anti-mamamayan at kontra-rebolusyonaryong kampanya..
Nakatutok sa kontra rebolusyonaryong digma ang malaking pwersa ng AFP at PNP sa rehiyong Timog Katagalugan. Ginagamit nilang kober ang di umanong paglaban sa Covid-19 para atakehin ang mga pwersang rebolusyonaryo at hindi upang maghatid ng anumang ayuda o tulong sa mga magsasakang labis na naapektuhan ng lockdown sa rehiyon. Ang mga mamamayang Pilipino ang kinakalaban ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte at hindi ang komon na banta sa pampublikong kalusugang hatid ng pandemikong Covid-19.
Dapat nating ilantad at labanan ang imbing pakanang ito ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte. Covid-19 ang kalaban at hindi ang mga inosenteng sibilyan. Dapat nating igiit ang sapat at mabilis at napapanahong pagdating ng ayuda mula sa gubyerno at labanan ang anumang uri ng karahasang militar lalo na ngayong humaharap ang taumbayan sa krisis na dulot ng pandemikong Covid-19 at kainutilan ng rehimeng Duterte.
Patuloy na ipanawagan ang pagsasagawa ng mass testing para mabilis na matukoy ang mga mayroong Covid-19 at agad na maisagawa ang pagkwarantina at contact tracing sa mga nakaugnayan ng mga nagpositibo sa Covid-19. Igiit na ipatupad ang mga kaparaanang medikal bilang mabisang hakbang sa paglaban sa Covid-19. Tutulan ang mga anti-demokratiko, anti-mamayan at militaristang paraan sa pagpapatupad ng lockdown.
Palayain ang 6 na mga inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas na iligal na inaresto ng AFP at PNP!
Tutulan at labanan ang patuloy at tumitinding karahasang militar sa Timog Katagalugan!
Ibagsak ang pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte!
https://cpp.ph/statement/palayain-ang-6-na-mga-inosenteng-magsasaka-ng-barangay-coral-ni-lopez-calaca-batangas/
Palayain ang 6 na mga inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas na iligal na inaresto ng AFP at PNP! Tutulan at labanan ang patuloy at tumitinding karahasang militar sa Timog Katagalugan! Ibagsak ang pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte!
Mariing kinokondena ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Southern Tagalog (NDF-ST) ang panibago na namang karahasan at terorismo ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Philippine National Police (PNP) sa pag-aresto sa anim (6) na inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas nuong madaling araw ng Mayo 10, 2020. Hindi bababa sa 45 sasakyan ang ginamit sa pag-atake ng pinagsanib na pwersa ng Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) ng PNP at yunit ng 202nd Brigade ng AFP na tipikal na halimbawa ng kanilang notoryus na Synchronized Enhanced Military and Police Operation (SEMPO). Ang pag-atake ay ginawa sa dis-oras ng gabi habang mahimbing na natutulog ang mga mamamayan ng barangay. Sabayan at sapilitang pinasok ng mga operatiba ng AFP at PNP ang mga bahay ng mga di umano’y target ng search warrant. Tinutukan ng baril ang mga taong dinatnan sa bahay, agad silang pinalabas ng bahay upang malayang makapagtanim ng mga ebidensya ang mga operatiba ng PNP at AFP laban sa mga magsasaka.
Mariing pinabubulaanan ng NDFP-ST ang malisyosong paratang ng AFP at PNP na mga magsasaka sa umaga at NPA sa gabi ang kanilang mga dinakip sa barangay Coral ni Lopez. Kailanman hindi naging mga NPA ang 6 na iligal na inaresto ng PNP at AFP. Sila ay mga lehitimong kasapi ng Samahang Magsasaka ng Coral ni Lopez (SAMACOLO) na aktibong nagtatanggol sa kanilang mga karapatan lalo na sa pagtatanggol sa lupang kanilang sinasaka mula sa pagtatangka ng panginoong maylupa na si Luis Lopez na mabawi ang Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) na hawak ng mga magsasaka batay sa mga butas na laman ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) ng dating rehimeng Cory Aquino.
Kabilang sa mga 6 na hinuli at ngayon kasalukuyang nakakulong sa Camp Vicente Lim sa Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna ay sina Leovino Julongbayan, lider-magsasaka at kagawad ng barangay at Virgilio Vidal, barangay secretary at lider ng SAMACOLO. Ang iba ay sina Marcelo Vidal, Doroteo Bautista, July Julongbayan at Roilan Tenorio pawang mga aktibong kasapi ng SAMACOLO.
Labis ang pinapakitang desperasyon ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte. Sa kabiguan nitong durugin ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan sa probinsya, mga inosente at kawawang magsasaka ang kanilang pinagbabalingan. Hindi ito naiba sa nangyaring iligal na pag-aresto sa magsasakang si Lamberto Asinas ng Bundukin, Nasugbu, Batangas nuong Abril 16, 2020. Tulad ng ginawa nila kay Asinas, pinalalabas nilang mga NPA ang 6 na magsasaka ng Coral ni Lopez na kanilang hinuli dahil sa diumanong mga armas at eksplosibo na kanilang natagpuan sa mga bahay ng mga ito. Pero ang katotohanan ay mga armas at eksplosibo na sadyang itinanim ng AFP at PNP bilang ebidensya laban sa mga kawawa at inosenteng magsasaka.
Walang matinong indibidwal ang basta na lamang maniniwala sa akusasyong ito ng AFP at PNP dahil batid ng taumbayan na mga pangkaraniwang magsasaka at kailanman hindi naging mga kasapi ng NPA ang 6 na magsasakang hinuli ng AFP at PNP sa barangay Coral ni Lopez. Batid din ng taumbayan ang talamak na modus na pagtatanim ebidensya ng AFP at PNP para bigyan katwiran ang kanilang mga iligal na pag-aresto at pagpapakulong sa mga pinaghihinalaan at inaakusahan nilang kaaway ng estado.
Dapat mariing kondenahin ng taumbayan ang mga katulad na pag-atakeng ito ng AFP at PNP sa mga magsasaka na ginawa sa panahon na ang buong bayan ay nakatuon sa pagharap at paglaban sa Covid-19. Malinaw na sinasamantala ng AFP at PNP ang kamay-na-bakal na pagpapatupad ng lockdown para isagawa nila ang kanilang maiitim na balak na supilin at atakehin ang mga mamamayang kritikal sa mga katiwalian ng administrasyong Duterte.
Patuloy na dumaranas ang mga magsasaka at mga katutubo ng rehiyong Timog Katagalugan ng walang kapantay na kalupitan at terorismo mula sa AFP at PNP lalo nang maluklok sa Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) ang berdugong si General Antonio G. Parlade Jr. Mula nang pumutok ang isyu ng Covid-19 sa bansa, nagpatuloy at walang patlang ang mga pag-atake ng AFP at PNP sa mga magsasaka at katutubo sa rehiyon kahit sa panahon na mayroon silang “pinapatupad” na unilateral ceasefire sa NPA. Walang lubay ito ang paghahasik ng karahasang militar at pag-atake ng AFP at PNP sa batayang karapatan ng mamamayan sa hibang na layunin nitong durugin sa loob ng natitirang panahon ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan.
Ang kabiguang ganap na pinsalain ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan ay patuloy nitong ibinabaling sa pag-atake sa mga sibilyang komunidad at inosenteng mamamayan, upang bigyan ng hugis ang kanilang delusyon na nagtatagumpay ang kanilang anti-mamamayan at kontra-rebolusyonaryong kampanya..
Nakatutok sa kontra rebolusyonaryong digma ang malaking pwersa ng AFP at PNP sa rehiyong Timog Katagalugan. Ginagamit nilang kober ang di umanong paglaban sa Covid-19 para atakehin ang mga pwersang rebolusyonaryo at hindi upang maghatid ng anumang ayuda o tulong sa mga magsasakang labis na naapektuhan ng lockdown sa rehiyon. Ang mga mamamayang Pilipino ang kinakalaban ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte at hindi ang komon na banta sa pampublikong kalusugang hatid ng pandemikong Covid-19.
Dapat nating ilantad at labanan ang imbing pakanang ito ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte. Covid-19 ang kalaban at hindi ang mga inosenteng sibilyan. Dapat nating igiit ang sapat at mabilis at napapanahong pagdating ng ayuda mula sa gubyerno at labanan ang anumang uri ng karahasang militar lalo na ngayong humaharap ang taumbayan sa krisis na dulot ng pandemikong Covid-19 at kainutilan ng rehimeng Duterte.
Patuloy na ipanawagan ang pagsasagawa ng mass testing para mabilis na matukoy ang mga mayroong Covid-19 at agad na maisagawa ang pagkwarantina at contact tracing sa mga nakaugnayan ng mga nagpositibo sa Covid-19. Igiit na ipatupad ang mga kaparaanang medikal bilang mabisang hakbang sa paglaban sa Covid-19. Tutulan ang mga anti-demokratiko, anti-mamayan at militaristang paraan sa pagpapatupad ng lockdown.
Palayain ang 6 na mga inosenteng magsasaka ng Barangay Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas na iligal na inaresto ng AFP at PNP!
Tutulan at labanan ang patuloy at tumitinding karahasang militar sa Timog Katagalugan!
Ibagsak ang pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte!
https://cpp.ph/statement/palayain-ang-6-na-mga-inosenteng-magsasaka-ng-barangay-coral-ni-lopez-calaca-batangas/
CPP/NPA-Negros: The military is depriving the people of much needed resources in the fight against Covid-19
Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 13, 2020): NPA-Negros: The military is depriving the people of much needed resources in the fight against Covid-19
JUANITO MAGBANUA
JUANITO MAGBANUA
NPA-NEGROS ISLAND
APOLINARIO GATMAITAN COMMAND
NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY
MAY 13, 2020
The Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (AGC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island said in a statement today that it is the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), not the NPA, that has been depriving the people “bigtime” of much needed resources amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is in response to the 303rd Infantry Brigades’s seeming nonstop tirades of late against the NPA’s alleged exacting of hefty cuts from government cash aids distributed to the rural poor of Negros.
“It is the 303rd Bde chief Col. Inocencio Pasaporte together with the entire rotten military bureaucracy in fact who has a lot of explaining to do as to why the government appears now to be scrimping on funds in the middle of a humanitarian emergency, or why, for example, the Department of Social Work and Welfare is discontinuing disbursement of social amelioration to areas where community quarantine has already been lifted but whose populace continues to suffer the debilitating effects of the two-month long lockdown,” said Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the AGC.
According to Magbanua, the Duterte government’s obstinate refusal to deprioritize its all out counterrevolutionary war in the countryside to better focus on the Covid-19 situation has meant the unfortunate withholding as well of billions of pesos of public funds from being spent on much more urgent and essential medical and socioeconomic demands of the current crisis.
“At a time when what’s in dire need of funding are the setting up of mass testing and contact tracing systems, the hiring of an army of medical personnel, the purchase of protective equipment, the construction of quarantine centers, Duterte and his mad military dogs are shopping for choppers and bombs,” Magbanua said, referring to the P75-billion worth of attack helicopters, missiles and other war materiel the government is currently trying to procure from the United States.
Magbanua also chided Duterte’s recent announcement that Malacanang and the AFP are offering a reward of P2-million, land and a new identity to anyone who could either kill an NPA commander or inform the military where NPA units are holding camp.
“Duterte is so hardfisted when it comes to providing ample and expedient financial and food relief to millions whose meager livelihoods had been ruined by his own miserably incompetent and heartlessly repressive Covid response, but he is now quick to offer them generous sums when he wants to deprave them into becoming helpless accomplices to his self-serving and evil plans,” Magbanua said.
The AGC said that Duterte is desperate to intensify the AFP’s attacks on the NPA because he is well aware that it is the armed revolutionary movement that poses the greatest challenge to an out-and-out fascist dictatorship that he ultimately intends to impose and to which his Covid-19 lockdown measures has so far served as immediate prelude,” Magbanua said.
Magbanua, however, pointed out that the AFP is incurring one fatal setback after another against the NPA owing to the latter’s perseverance in employing guerilla tactics and because it continues to genuinely and selflessly serve the democratic interests of the people who in turn give it extensive support.
“The patent tyranny of the US-Duterte regime and the onslaught of its neoliberal policies are causing a deluge of toiling masses to join the NPA while the AFP could only orchestrate the fake surrender of an outrageously massive number of Red fighters,” Magbanua said.
According to Magbanua, the more or less 30,000 NPA fighters who the AFP claims to have surrendered in Negros over the last year alone are either ordinary civilians coerced to attend highly publicized surrender ceremonies or simply a fictitious list.
The AFP is said to have earmarked at least P50,000 worth of so-called livelihood assistance for each surrenderee, an amount legally pooled together from its existing budget and those of a cluster of other national agencies including the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the DSWD, consistent with the government’s whole-of-nation approach to “counterinsurgency.” On top of this, according to Magbanua, the AFP has also been arm-twisting local government units to spare the amount of P15,000 for each surrenderee identified to belong juridically to their respective municipalities or cities.
“But those who had been forced to falsely present themselves as rebels returning to the fold were lucky enough to get P10,000 with many receiving just the token amount of P1,000 or the customary package of a few kilos of rice, instant noodles and sardines. By our estimate, the AFP in Negros could have easily pocketed P150 million from its NPA surrender scam from September last year up to around the time that the lockdown started in March,” said Magbanua.
“The history of bureaucrat capitalism in the Philippines is the history as well of bigtime military corruption, a sort of resident evil in the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system that manifests itself most viciously during dark times of fascist dictatorship,” Magbanua said.###
https://cpp.ph/statement/npa-negros-the-military-is-depriving-the-people-of-much-needed-resources-in-the-fight-against-covid-19/
The Apolinario Gatmaitan Command (AGC) of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Island said in a statement today that it is the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), not the NPA, that has been depriving the people “bigtime” of much needed resources amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is in response to the 303rd Infantry Brigades’s seeming nonstop tirades of late against the NPA’s alleged exacting of hefty cuts from government cash aids distributed to the rural poor of Negros.
“It is the 303rd Bde chief Col. Inocencio Pasaporte together with the entire rotten military bureaucracy in fact who has a lot of explaining to do as to why the government appears now to be scrimping on funds in the middle of a humanitarian emergency, or why, for example, the Department of Social Work and Welfare is discontinuing disbursement of social amelioration to areas where community quarantine has already been lifted but whose populace continues to suffer the debilitating effects of the two-month long lockdown,” said Ka Juanito Magbanua, spokesperson of the AGC.
According to Magbanua, the Duterte government’s obstinate refusal to deprioritize its all out counterrevolutionary war in the countryside to better focus on the Covid-19 situation has meant the unfortunate withholding as well of billions of pesos of public funds from being spent on much more urgent and essential medical and socioeconomic demands of the current crisis.
“At a time when what’s in dire need of funding are the setting up of mass testing and contact tracing systems, the hiring of an army of medical personnel, the purchase of protective equipment, the construction of quarantine centers, Duterte and his mad military dogs are shopping for choppers and bombs,” Magbanua said, referring to the P75-billion worth of attack helicopters, missiles and other war materiel the government is currently trying to procure from the United States.
Magbanua also chided Duterte’s recent announcement that Malacanang and the AFP are offering a reward of P2-million, land and a new identity to anyone who could either kill an NPA commander or inform the military where NPA units are holding camp.
“Duterte is so hardfisted when it comes to providing ample and expedient financial and food relief to millions whose meager livelihoods had been ruined by his own miserably incompetent and heartlessly repressive Covid response, but he is now quick to offer them generous sums when he wants to deprave them into becoming helpless accomplices to his self-serving and evil plans,” Magbanua said.
The AGC said that Duterte is desperate to intensify the AFP’s attacks on the NPA because he is well aware that it is the armed revolutionary movement that poses the greatest challenge to an out-and-out fascist dictatorship that he ultimately intends to impose and to which his Covid-19 lockdown measures has so far served as immediate prelude,” Magbanua said.
Magbanua, however, pointed out that the AFP is incurring one fatal setback after another against the NPA owing to the latter’s perseverance in employing guerilla tactics and because it continues to genuinely and selflessly serve the democratic interests of the people who in turn give it extensive support.
“The patent tyranny of the US-Duterte regime and the onslaught of its neoliberal policies are causing a deluge of toiling masses to join the NPA while the AFP could only orchestrate the fake surrender of an outrageously massive number of Red fighters,” Magbanua said.
According to Magbanua, the more or less 30,000 NPA fighters who the AFP claims to have surrendered in Negros over the last year alone are either ordinary civilians coerced to attend highly publicized surrender ceremonies or simply a fictitious list.
The AFP is said to have earmarked at least P50,000 worth of so-called livelihood assistance for each surrenderee, an amount legally pooled together from its existing budget and those of a cluster of other national agencies including the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the DSWD, consistent with the government’s whole-of-nation approach to “counterinsurgency.” On top of this, according to Magbanua, the AFP has also been arm-twisting local government units to spare the amount of P15,000 for each surrenderee identified to belong juridically to their respective municipalities or cities.
“But those who had been forced to falsely present themselves as rebels returning to the fold were lucky enough to get P10,000 with many receiving just the token amount of P1,000 or the customary package of a few kilos of rice, instant noodles and sardines. By our estimate, the AFP in Negros could have easily pocketed P150 million from its NPA surrender scam from September last year up to around the time that the lockdown started in March,” said Magbanua.
“The history of bureaucrat capitalism in the Philippines is the history as well of bigtime military corruption, a sort of resident evil in the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system that manifests itself most viciously during dark times of fascist dictatorship,” Magbanua said.###
https://cpp.ph/statement/npa-negros-the-military-is-depriving-the-people-of-much-needed-resources-in-the-fight-against-covid-19/
CPP-IB: CPP condemns Duterte’s purchase of P2.4-B artillery systems amid Covid-19 crisis
Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 13, 2020): CPP condemns Duterte’s purchase of P2.4-B artillery systems amid Covid-19 crisis
COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES
INFORMATION BUREAU
MAY 12, 2020
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today condemned the Duterte regime for formally placing its order of P2.4 billion worth of artillery systems from Israeli company Elbit Systems amid the Covid-19 crisis. The Department of National Defense (DND) issued a Notice to Proceed with the purchase early last month.
“The Duterte regime’s plan to squander public funds through this extravagant arms procurement program is a flagrant insult to the Filipino majority who are suffering and urgently demanding adequate public health response and immediate economic relief amid the Covid-19 crisis,” said Marco Valbuena, Chief Information Officer of the CPP.
The P2.4-billion arms deal covers the procurement of two ATMOS 2000 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled howitzer systems, including two batteries with six mobile firing units each and associated support systems.
The said system has a maximum range of 41 kilometers and a fire rate of 3 rounds/15 seconds on burst mode, 5 rounds/minute on rapid mode, and more than 80 rounds per hour on sustained mode.
The procurement program, which was made under the AFP modernization program, primarily aims to boost the Duterte’s arsenal in a vain attempt to fulfill his promise to decimate the armed revolutionary movement before the end of his term.
Valbuena pointed out that conducting artillery shelling is ineffective against highly mobile guerrilla units. He noted, however, that “the use of oversized cannons and helicopter gunships will only result in indiscriminate destruction of communities and the environment, endanger people’s lives and livelihood, and cause psychological trauma especially on children.”
The completion of the delivery of the aforementioned war materiel is set on April 2022 based on a 24-month contract. The first set of artillery system is expected to be delivered next year.
Earlier on Sunday, the CPP also condemned the US State Department’s issuance of a certification last April 30 approving the Duterte government’s request to buy P75 billion worth of attack helicopters, missiles and other war materiel and services.
“The Filipino people demand the cancellation of these procurement contracts and the realignment of the budget intended for these to fund much needed heath services and economic measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people,” reiterated Valbuena.
https://cpp.ph/statement/cpp-condemns-dutertes-purchase-of-p2-4-b-artillery-systems-amid-covid-19-crisis/
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today condemned the Duterte regime for formally placing its order of P2.4 billion worth of artillery systems from Israeli company Elbit Systems amid the Covid-19 crisis. The Department of National Defense (DND) issued a Notice to Proceed with the purchase early last month.
“The Duterte regime’s plan to squander public funds through this extravagant arms procurement program is a flagrant insult to the Filipino majority who are suffering and urgently demanding adequate public health response and immediate economic relief amid the Covid-19 crisis,” said Marco Valbuena, Chief Information Officer of the CPP.
The P2.4-billion arms deal covers the procurement of two ATMOS 2000 155mm/52 calibre self-propelled howitzer systems, including two batteries with six mobile firing units each and associated support systems.
The said system has a maximum range of 41 kilometers and a fire rate of 3 rounds/15 seconds on burst mode, 5 rounds/minute on rapid mode, and more than 80 rounds per hour on sustained mode.
The procurement program, which was made under the AFP modernization program, primarily aims to boost the Duterte’s arsenal in a vain attempt to fulfill his promise to decimate the armed revolutionary movement before the end of his term.
Valbuena pointed out that conducting artillery shelling is ineffective against highly mobile guerrilla units. He noted, however, that “the use of oversized cannons and helicopter gunships will only result in indiscriminate destruction of communities and the environment, endanger people’s lives and livelihood, and cause psychological trauma especially on children.”
The completion of the delivery of the aforementioned war materiel is set on April 2022 based on a 24-month contract. The first set of artillery system is expected to be delivered next year.
Earlier on Sunday, the CPP also condemned the US State Department’s issuance of a certification last April 30 approving the Duterte government’s request to buy P75 billion worth of attack helicopters, missiles and other war materiel and services.
“The Filipino people demand the cancellation of these procurement contracts and the realignment of the budget intended for these to fund much needed heath services and economic measures to alleviate the sufferings of the people,” reiterated Valbuena.
https://cpp.ph/statement/cpp-condemns-dutertes-purchase-of-p2-4-b-artillery-systems-amid-covid-19-crisis/
CPP/NDF-CNL: Protect Fr. Raymond Ambray, Denounce Duterte’s Barbarity — CNL-Negros
Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 13, 2020): Protect Fr. Raymond Ambray, Denounce Duterte’s Barbarity — CNL-Negros
CHRISTIANS FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION - NEGROS
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES
MAY 13, 2020
The Duterte Government continues to employ the barbarity of the state forces to address the pandemic; manifested by the killings of ordinary citizens and activists during the crisis, continued harassment on far-flung communities; the unfounded accusations of NPA attacks, the red-tagging on legal pro-people organizations, the criminal pricing of rebel leaders and just recently the threat and red-tagging of Rev. Fr. Raymond Ambray, a priest of the Diocese of Tandag; and active in his ministry working for the self-determination and education rights of the Lumads.
His dedication to his ministry, is summarized in his statement for his red-tagging: “My involvement with these Lumads is beyond anthropological but more evangelical than theological. As a priest, I consider it my duty to bring about the integral salvation, bought by Christ on the cross, among the Lumads. It means leading them to their full potential as people or persons. It means dialoguing with them or learning also from them. Knowing their oppressive situation, I consider them as the least, according to the gospel-imperative. Hence, it is so unchristian to leave them in their sufferings.”
This threat of the state forces, of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is serious; we call our people to protect Fr. Raymond Ambray; and boldly denounce the malicious propaganda and barbaric atrocities of the AFP.
Aware that after the release of the propaganda poster against Fr. Ambray in social media last May 10, 2020; a day after, President Rodrigo Duterte announced during his COVID briefing the reward of ₱2 Million for anyone who can kill or capture a communist leader. This type of warning, is an automatic death sentence issued by the despotic president in coordination with the state forces. Thus, we seriously call for the protection of Fr. Ambray. In the words of Fr. Ambray himself: “Only the military would do this.. blame AFP for my death…”
The ultimate logic of this barbaric threat is the person running the government, Rodrigo Duterte himself. ###
https://cpp.ph/statement/protect-fr-raymond-ambray-denounce-dutertes-barbarity-cnl-negros/
The Duterte Government continues to employ the barbarity of the state forces to address the pandemic; manifested by the killings of ordinary citizens and activists during the crisis, continued harassment on far-flung communities; the unfounded accusations of NPA attacks, the red-tagging on legal pro-people organizations, the criminal pricing of rebel leaders and just recently the threat and red-tagging of Rev. Fr. Raymond Ambray, a priest of the Diocese of Tandag; and active in his ministry working for the self-determination and education rights of the Lumads.
His dedication to his ministry, is summarized in his statement for his red-tagging: “My involvement with these Lumads is beyond anthropological but more evangelical than theological. As a priest, I consider it my duty to bring about the integral salvation, bought by Christ on the cross, among the Lumads. It means leading them to their full potential as people or persons. It means dialoguing with them or learning also from them. Knowing their oppressive situation, I consider them as the least, according to the gospel-imperative. Hence, it is so unchristian to leave them in their sufferings.”
This threat of the state forces, of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is serious; we call our people to protect Fr. Raymond Ambray; and boldly denounce the malicious propaganda and barbaric atrocities of the AFP.
Aware that after the release of the propaganda poster against Fr. Ambray in social media last May 10, 2020; a day after, President Rodrigo Duterte announced during his COVID briefing the reward of ₱2 Million for anyone who can kill or capture a communist leader. This type of warning, is an automatic death sentence issued by the despotic president in coordination with the state forces. Thus, we seriously call for the protection of Fr. Ambray. In the words of Fr. Ambray himself: “Only the military would do this.. blame AFP for my death…”
The ultimate logic of this barbaric threat is the person running the government, Rodrigo Duterte himself. ###
https://cpp.ph/statement/protect-fr-raymond-ambray-denounce-dutertes-barbarity-cnl-negros/
CPP: Condemn Duterte government for lack of mass testing, tracing and isolation after two-month lockdown
Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (May 12, 2020): Condemn Duterte government for lack of mass testing, tracing and isolation after two-month lockdown
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the Filipino people condemn the Duterte regime for its failure to put into place a comprehensive plan to undertake mass testing, tracing and isolation as the key strategy to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Duterte placed large parts of the country under two months of military lockdown and made people suffer intolerable conditions. But it wasted all the people’s effort because it utterly failed in its obligation as the government to conduct mass testing, tracing and isolation of Covid-19 cases. Until now, the government is mostly blind as to the actual extent of infections. Its numbers are at best incomplete.
Under conditions of a public health emergency such as the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the responsibility of the state to detect and trace the spread of the virus in order to isolate or quarantine the infected, treat the sick and protect the uninfected. In such times, the government is responsible to raise the capacity of the public health system to conduct mass testing, tracing and isolation, treat the sick and protect the vulnerable.
But the Duterte regime failed to carry out any emergency state investments in public health. It failed to lead in the procurement of testing kits and reagents, in strengthening the machinery for mass testing and tracing, in hiring more nurses, doctors and health workers, in building enough quarantine centers and other necessary public health measures. It continues to prioritize debt servicing and counterinsurgency, buying new attack helicopters, cannons and missiles. It is utterly reprehensible that only now are some of Duterte’s officials talking about hiring people to conduct contact tracing, but only as an afterthought amid the grave unemployment problem.
To fight the pandemic, the key measure is to undertake mass testing. At the outset, officials of the World Health Organization stated unequivocally that “(m)any countries are in a situation where the disease is recognizable, cases can be detected, contacts can be identified, quarantined and it is a more cost-effective intervention to separate some individuals from society than separate everybody in society from each other.”
The Duterte government, however, failed to carry out urgent testing and tracing after the first case of Covid-19 infection in the country was reported on January 30. Duterte instead downplayed the threat of the pandemic, refused to stop the influx of potentially infected tourists from China and failed to undertake preparations to strengthen and ramp up the capacity of the public health system to detect, trace and isolate the virus in the country.
Thus, WHO officials also warned: “Where enough has not been invested in core public health interventions such as case finding and contact tracing then social distancing measures may be our only option to create distance between individuals.” They cautioned, however, that measures to keep people apart “are very costly interventions in terms of societal acceptance (and) in economic terms and they have to be used in a time-limited fashion.”
The state of testing in the country is dismal. According to the May 11 dataset provided by the Department of Health, only 137,136 tests have been conducted in the Philippines, or an average of 3,608 tests conducted daily. The average has risen to 5,686 tests a day in the past ten days which, however, is still grossly low. In per capita terms, the country has conducted only 1,247 tests per million (tpm), which is below Vietnam’s 2,681 tpm, Cuba’s 5,783 tpm and South Korea’s 12,249 tpm, countries which are among those largely successful in carrying out tracing and isolation of cases.
There are pockets of mass testing, but are small-scale and mostly carried out on the initiative of some local government units whose officials are highly conscious of the need to be proactive and to be a step ahead of the virus. They have mobilized their limited resources in the right direction, also receiving assistance from companies and private individuals. These local efforts, however, are not enough and may prove futile if there is no nationwide effort led by the national government.
For two months, the Duterte regime relied on lockdowns and “ECQs” and “GCQs” as public health measures because it was blind to the real situation of the spread of the Covid-19 having failed to carry out the necessary steps to detect, trace and isolate cases. Instead of performing its task of detecting the cases, it made the people solely responsible for stopping the spread of the virus by staying at home.
Duterte’s “ECQ/GCQ” has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the National Capital Region as well as other parts of the country. People were forced out of work and prevented from earning an income. There was no public transportation for necessary travel. Close to 4 million families have yet to receive the promised social amelioration. Tens of thousands are forced to line up for days on end to wait for their money. Millions of families in the NCR and other parts of the country are literally on the verge of dying of hunger. The prolonged “ECQs” have resulted in widespread economic as well as psychosocial problems.
Worse, the regime has further reinforced state fascism. People were forced to follow “stay-at-home” orders by police and soldiers who used increasingly brutal methods of coercion. Repressive measures adopted by the Duterte regime are among the worst across the world. Fascist-minded power-tripping local officials imposed cruel total lockdowns forcing people to stay in their cramped shanties. The regime is using state fascism to “change the mindset” of people to treat and make them act like a herd of animals. Duterte continues to use the crisis to pursue his scheme of establishing a fascist dictatorship.
As the WHO stated, “social distancing is based on a principle that you don’t know who’s infected and you’re separating, putting social distance between everyone.” By relying on the ECQs, the Duterte regime has, in fact, covered up its failure to perform its state duty to conduct mass testing, tracing and isolation. To wash its hands of responsibility, it has passed on the blame on the people for the continuing spread of the Covid-19. Because it remains blind and unable to act proactively to defeat the Covid-19, the Duterte government has embarked on a media campaign of “Takot ako sa Covid-19” to instill fear on the people and leave them with no choice but “to follow” what Duterte tells them to do.
After two months of economic and social devastation caused by the lockdown, Malacañang has announced today that it will continue to place the NCR under “modified ECQ” but has ordered the lifting of the “ECQs” in other places of the country. It is prioritizing the resumption of business and production of export-oriented enterprises, corruption-laden Build, Build, Build infrastructure projects, POGO operations, mining and plantations and the economic interests of its favored cronies and big bourgeois compradors to allow them to resume making profits. People, desperate for jobs, will now be made to work “under minimum health precautions,” still blind to the actual extent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, it yet has to order any state-wide coordinated campaign to test, trace and isolate. Instead of doing so, the Duterte government insists on keeping the assumption that everyone is a possible carrier of the virus, and that the spread of the virus is the responsibility of everyone. Without mass testing, tracing and isolation, there are well-grounded fears that the relaxation of ECQs in many places across the country will result in a resurgence in Covid-19 infections in the coming weeks and months.
Without reliable information that can only be drawn from mass testing, the claims of the DOH of having “flattened the curve” are all but empty assurances. Without a mass campaign of detection and tracing, the Covid-19 pandemic will continue to plague the country and threaten the lives of millions of Filipinos.
The Filipino people, all democratic forces, scientists and health professionals, the workers and semiproletariat, students and their professors must unite and demand the Duterte regime to immediately carry out state-wide mass testing, tracing and isolation of the infected in order to end the nearly two-month long lockdown in the National Capital Region and other parts of the country and effectively fight Covid-19. If the regime continues to refuse to heed their demand, the Filipino people are fully justified to demand Duterte’s resignation or ouster as the ultimate means of defeating the pandemic.
https://cpp.ph/statement/condemn-duterte-government-for-lack-of-mass-testing-tracing-and-isolation-after-two-month-lockdown/
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the Filipino people condemn the Duterte regime for its failure to put into place a comprehensive plan to undertake mass testing, tracing and isolation as the key strategy to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Duterte placed large parts of the country under two months of military lockdown and made people suffer intolerable conditions. But it wasted all the people’s effort because it utterly failed in its obligation as the government to conduct mass testing, tracing and isolation of Covid-19 cases. Until now, the government is mostly blind as to the actual extent of infections. Its numbers are at best incomplete.
Under conditions of a public health emergency such as the Covid-19 pandemic, it is the responsibility of the state to detect and trace the spread of the virus in order to isolate or quarantine the infected, treat the sick and protect the uninfected. In such times, the government is responsible to raise the capacity of the public health system to conduct mass testing, tracing and isolation, treat the sick and protect the vulnerable.
But the Duterte regime failed to carry out any emergency state investments in public health. It failed to lead in the procurement of testing kits and reagents, in strengthening the machinery for mass testing and tracing, in hiring more nurses, doctors and health workers, in building enough quarantine centers and other necessary public health measures. It continues to prioritize debt servicing and counterinsurgency, buying new attack helicopters, cannons and missiles. It is utterly reprehensible that only now are some of Duterte’s officials talking about hiring people to conduct contact tracing, but only as an afterthought amid the grave unemployment problem.
To fight the pandemic, the key measure is to undertake mass testing. At the outset, officials of the World Health Organization stated unequivocally that “(m)any countries are in a situation where the disease is recognizable, cases can be detected, contacts can be identified, quarantined and it is a more cost-effective intervention to separate some individuals from society than separate everybody in society from each other.”
The Duterte government, however, failed to carry out urgent testing and tracing after the first case of Covid-19 infection in the country was reported on January 30. Duterte instead downplayed the threat of the pandemic, refused to stop the influx of potentially infected tourists from China and failed to undertake preparations to strengthen and ramp up the capacity of the public health system to detect, trace and isolate the virus in the country.
Thus, WHO officials also warned: “Where enough has not been invested in core public health interventions such as case finding and contact tracing then social distancing measures may be our only option to create distance between individuals.” They cautioned, however, that measures to keep people apart “are very costly interventions in terms of societal acceptance (and) in economic terms and they have to be used in a time-limited fashion.”
The state of testing in the country is dismal. According to the May 11 dataset provided by the Department of Health, only 137,136 tests have been conducted in the Philippines, or an average of 3,608 tests conducted daily. The average has risen to 5,686 tests a day in the past ten days which, however, is still grossly low. In per capita terms, the country has conducted only 1,247 tests per million (tpm), which is below Vietnam’s 2,681 tpm, Cuba’s 5,783 tpm and South Korea’s 12,249 tpm, countries which are among those largely successful in carrying out tracing and isolation of cases.
There are pockets of mass testing, but are small-scale and mostly carried out on the initiative of some local government units whose officials are highly conscious of the need to be proactive and to be a step ahead of the virus. They have mobilized their limited resources in the right direction, also receiving assistance from companies and private individuals. These local efforts, however, are not enough and may prove futile if there is no nationwide effort led by the national government.
For two months, the Duterte regime relied on lockdowns and “ECQs” and “GCQs” as public health measures because it was blind to the real situation of the spread of the Covid-19 having failed to carry out the necessary steps to detect, trace and isolate cases. Instead of performing its task of detecting the cases, it made the people solely responsible for stopping the spread of the virus by staying at home.
Duterte’s “ECQ/GCQ” has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the National Capital Region as well as other parts of the country. People were forced out of work and prevented from earning an income. There was no public transportation for necessary travel. Close to 4 million families have yet to receive the promised social amelioration. Tens of thousands are forced to line up for days on end to wait for their money. Millions of families in the NCR and other parts of the country are literally on the verge of dying of hunger. The prolonged “ECQs” have resulted in widespread economic as well as psychosocial problems.
Worse, the regime has further reinforced state fascism. People were forced to follow “stay-at-home” orders by police and soldiers who used increasingly brutal methods of coercion. Repressive measures adopted by the Duterte regime are among the worst across the world. Fascist-minded power-tripping local officials imposed cruel total lockdowns forcing people to stay in their cramped shanties. The regime is using state fascism to “change the mindset” of people to treat and make them act like a herd of animals. Duterte continues to use the crisis to pursue his scheme of establishing a fascist dictatorship.
As the WHO stated, “social distancing is based on a principle that you don’t know who’s infected and you’re separating, putting social distance between everyone.” By relying on the ECQs, the Duterte regime has, in fact, covered up its failure to perform its state duty to conduct mass testing, tracing and isolation. To wash its hands of responsibility, it has passed on the blame on the people for the continuing spread of the Covid-19. Because it remains blind and unable to act proactively to defeat the Covid-19, the Duterte government has embarked on a media campaign of “Takot ako sa Covid-19” to instill fear on the people and leave them with no choice but “to follow” what Duterte tells them to do.
After two months of economic and social devastation caused by the lockdown, Malacañang has announced today that it will continue to place the NCR under “modified ECQ” but has ordered the lifting of the “ECQs” in other places of the country. It is prioritizing the resumption of business and production of export-oriented enterprises, corruption-laden Build, Build, Build infrastructure projects, POGO operations, mining and plantations and the economic interests of its favored cronies and big bourgeois compradors to allow them to resume making profits. People, desperate for jobs, will now be made to work “under minimum health precautions,” still blind to the actual extent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, it yet has to order any state-wide coordinated campaign to test, trace and isolate. Instead of doing so, the Duterte government insists on keeping the assumption that everyone is a possible carrier of the virus, and that the spread of the virus is the responsibility of everyone. Without mass testing, tracing and isolation, there are well-grounded fears that the relaxation of ECQs in many places across the country will result in a resurgence in Covid-19 infections in the coming weeks and months.
Without reliable information that can only be drawn from mass testing, the claims of the DOH of having “flattened the curve” are all but empty assurances. Without a mass campaign of detection and tracing, the Covid-19 pandemic will continue to plague the country and threaten the lives of millions of Filipinos.
The Filipino people, all democratic forces, scientists and health professionals, the workers and semiproletariat, students and their professors must unite and demand the Duterte regime to immediately carry out state-wide mass testing, tracing and isolation of the infected in order to end the nearly two-month long lockdown in the National Capital Region and other parts of the country and effectively fight Covid-19. If the regime continues to refuse to heed their demand, the Filipino people are fully justified to demand Duterte’s resignation or ouster as the ultimate means of defeating the pandemic.
https://cpp.ph/statement/condemn-duterte-government-for-lack-of-mass-testing-tracing-and-isolation-after-two-month-lockdown/
WESTMINCOM: Sayyaf neutralized, war materiel seized in Basilan
Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (May 12, 2020): Sayyaf neutralized, war materiel seized in Basilan
While conducting strike operation, troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion encountered more or less four Abu Sayyaf Group members in Bohe Selangan, Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan at 11:30pm, May 8, 2020.
The encounter lasted for three minutes after which the enemy scampered to different direction.
While scouring the area of engagement, troops recovered one enemy cadaver, one fragmentary grenade, three rounds of 40mm Grenade Launcher ammunition, one harris Handheld radio, four cellphones, one power bank, two backpacks, one jungle hammock, food items, and enemy personal belongings.
The neutralized ASG member was identified as Pau Geh.
“As we perform our roles as frontliners against the COVID-19 pandemic, 18IB remains committed in pursuing peace and security throughout its area of operations. We will continue to conduct focused military operations against the already dwindling ranks of ASG in Basilan who continue to evade the government forces in small groups,” said Lt. Col. Egverr Jonathan Abutin, Commanding Officer, 18IB.
It was also reported that another bandit identified as Adzuan Kajing, a.k.a. Kawwang, involved in vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) explosion in Lamitan City on July 31, 2018, and with standing warrant of arrest for multiple frustrated murder in Judicial Region Branch 2, Isabela Basilan, was severely wounded in the encounter.
"I commend the troops of the 18th Infantry (Deo et Patria) Battalion for their remarkable accomplishments amid the health crisis," said Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, Commander, Joint Task Force Basilan.
"Rest assured that we will pursue with our operation in tracking down the remaining threat groups in the province to attain lasting peace and development in Basilan," Brig. Gen. Reyeg added.
No casualties were reported on the government side.
"While our soldiers brave the danger brought about by the corona virus, they also continue to risk their lives fighting for peace and security in their area of operations," said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom Commander.
"Let us continue to pray for their safety and protection as they continue to spare us from the rudeness of the different threat groups," Lt. Gen. Sobejana added.
#afpyoucantrust
#teamwmc
#teamkapayapaan
#wmcyourprotector
#wmcyourpartner
6th Infantry Division - Kampilan 601 Infantry - Unifier Brigade 602nd "Liberator" Brigade 603 Persuader Brigade 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade Unang Marinong Brigada Team Tabak Joint Task Force Basilan HARIBON TEAM Magbalantay Cmo 11 Infantry Division "Alakdan Troopers" 2MBde Red Shield Gagandilan Siete 1102 Infantry "ganarul" Brigade 1st BCT Aegis Kwatromarinobrigada Sulu Jtf Tawi Tawi Indomalphi Joint Task Force Zamboanga Joint Task Force Zamboanga Virtual Center Unbeatable Ranger Battalion Matatag Battalion Tow Westmin Cmo Tow Westmin Pio Naval Forces Western Mindanao Cmou Western Mindanao Katapatan Pangkatihan-Dagatan 33rd Infantry Makabayan Battalion 57th Infantry Masikap Battalion 1st Mechanized Lakan Battalion 90th Infantry Bigkis Lahi Battalion Seventh Infantry Tapat Battalion Reliablecmo R Section 6IB Redskin 37IB - Conqueror Battalion 40 Infantry "Magiting" Battalion 2nd Mechanized Infantry-MAKASAGBattalion OnlyOurBest MbltFive 38th Infantry We Clear Battalion Arvin John Gullos Encinas Breathe Heart Ruel Casanes Ar-ar Galvez Afman Rosales Jr. Antriosanjh Espenida Nenea Sancus Princy Necessitas La Independencia Filipinas
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom/posts/1732332006908848?__tn__=K-R
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom/photos/pcb.1732332006908848/1732331716908877/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom/photos/pcb.1732332006908848/1732331740242208/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom
While conducting strike operation, troops of the 18th Infantry Battalion encountered more or less four Abu Sayyaf Group members in Bohe Selangan, Barangay Baguindan, Tipo-Tipo, Basilan at 11:30pm, May 8, 2020.
The encounter lasted for three minutes after which the enemy scampered to different direction.
While scouring the area of engagement, troops recovered one enemy cadaver, one fragmentary grenade, three rounds of 40mm Grenade Launcher ammunition, one harris Handheld radio, four cellphones, one power bank, two backpacks, one jungle hammock, food items, and enemy personal belongings.
The neutralized ASG member was identified as Pau Geh.
“As we perform our roles as frontliners against the COVID-19 pandemic, 18IB remains committed in pursuing peace and security throughout its area of operations. We will continue to conduct focused military operations against the already dwindling ranks of ASG in Basilan who continue to evade the government forces in small groups,” said Lt. Col. Egverr Jonathan Abutin, Commanding Officer, 18IB.
It was also reported that another bandit identified as Adzuan Kajing, a.k.a. Kawwang, involved in vehicle borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) explosion in Lamitan City on July 31, 2018, and with standing warrant of arrest for multiple frustrated murder in Judicial Region Branch 2, Isabela Basilan, was severely wounded in the encounter.
"I commend the troops of the 18th Infantry (Deo et Patria) Battalion for their remarkable accomplishments amid the health crisis," said Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, Commander, Joint Task Force Basilan.
"Rest assured that we will pursue with our operation in tracking down the remaining threat groups in the province to attain lasting peace and development in Basilan," Brig. Gen. Reyeg added.
No casualties were reported on the government side.
"While our soldiers brave the danger brought about by the corona virus, they also continue to risk their lives fighting for peace and security in their area of operations," said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom Commander.
"Let us continue to pray for their safety and protection as they continue to spare us from the rudeness of the different threat groups," Lt. Gen. Sobejana added.
#afpyoucantrust
#teamwmc
#teamkapayapaan
#wmcyourprotector
#wmcyourpartner
6th Infantry Division - Kampilan 601 Infantry - Unifier Brigade 602nd "Liberator" Brigade 603 Persuader Brigade 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade Unang Marinong Brigada Team Tabak Joint Task Force Basilan HARIBON TEAM Magbalantay Cmo 11 Infantry Division "Alakdan Troopers" 2MBde Red Shield Gagandilan Siete 1102 Infantry "ganarul" Brigade 1st BCT Aegis Kwatromarinobrigada Sulu Jtf Tawi Tawi Indomalphi Joint Task Force Zamboanga Joint Task Force Zamboanga Virtual Center Unbeatable Ranger Battalion Matatag Battalion Tow Westmin Cmo Tow Westmin Pio Naval Forces Western Mindanao Cmou Western Mindanao Katapatan Pangkatihan-Dagatan 33rd Infantry Makabayan Battalion 57th Infantry Masikap Battalion 1st Mechanized Lakan Battalion 90th Infantry Bigkis Lahi Battalion Seventh Infantry Tapat Battalion Reliablecmo R Section 6IB Redskin 37IB - Conqueror Battalion 40 Infantry "Magiting" Battalion 2nd Mechanized Infantry-MAKASAGBattalion OnlyOurBest MbltFive 38th Infantry We Clear Battalion Arvin John Gullos Encinas Breathe Heart Ruel Casanes Ar-ar Galvez Afman Rosales Jr. Antriosanjh Espenida Nenea Sancus Princy Necessitas La Independencia Filipinas
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom/posts/1732332006908848?__tn__=K-R
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom/photos/pcb.1732332006908848/1732331716908877/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom/photos/pcb.1732332006908848/1732331740242208/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/afpwestmincom
Rebels deny extortion activities
From the Visayan Daily Star (May 12, 2020): Rebels deny extortion activities
The New People’s Army Leonardo Panaligan Command strongly debunked military claims that they are extorting P2,000 each from beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program in Negros.
Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the Leonardo Panaligan Command, claimed in a statement that the Armed Forces of the Philippines was desperately making up stories to hide their fatal setback in their focused and sustained military operations against the NPA.
Regalado also accused Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, of discrediting the efforts of the NPA to provide medical and production services to beleaguered communities in the countryside, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
He alleged that Pasaporte only wants to get the people’s sympathy away from the NPA.
Soldiers of the 11th, 15th, 62nd, 79th and 94th Infantry Battalions being supervised by the 302nd and 303rd Infantry Brigades had been dispatched to various areas of Negros Island to secure beneficiaries of the Special Amelioration Program.
In other areas of the country, Capt. Raymond Jamisal, 62IB Civil Military Operations officer, said that NPA rebels staged attacks against COVID-19 front liners and seized goods intended for needy families.
These terrorists are just waiting for any opportune time to disrupt government programs to advance their twisted ideologies, Jamisal said.
The 62nd and 94th IBs recently secured SAP and Unconditional Cash Transfer beneficiaries in different areas of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, who received P90.7 million in cash assistance.On May 9, the 79th Infantry Battalion and the local police also extended security assistance to 124 senior citizens in the hinterland barangays of Malasibog, Paitan and Libertad in Escalante City.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2020/May/12/topstory16.htm
Ka JB Regalado, spokesman of the Leonardo Panaligan Command, claimed in a statement that the Armed Forces of the Philippines was desperately making up stories to hide their fatal setback in their focused and sustained military operations against the NPA.
Regalado also accused Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, of discrediting the efforts of the NPA to provide medical and production services to beleaguered communities in the countryside, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
He alleged that Pasaporte only wants to get the people’s sympathy away from the NPA.
Soldiers of the 11th, 15th, 62nd, 79th and 94th Infantry Battalions being supervised by the 302nd and 303rd Infantry Brigades had been dispatched to various areas of Negros Island to secure beneficiaries of the Special Amelioration Program.
In other areas of the country, Capt. Raymond Jamisal, 62IB Civil Military Operations officer, said that NPA rebels staged attacks against COVID-19 front liners and seized goods intended for needy families.
These terrorists are just waiting for any opportune time to disrupt government programs to advance their twisted ideologies, Jamisal said.
The 62nd and 94th IBs recently secured SAP and Unconditional Cash Transfer beneficiaries in different areas of Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, who received P90.7 million in cash assistance.On May 9, the 79th Infantry Battalion and the local police also extended security assistance to 124 senior citizens in the hinterland barangays of Malasibog, Paitan and Libertad in Escalante City.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2020/May/12/topstory16.htm
Rebel killed in Surigao clash
From the Mindanao Times (May 13, 2020): Rebel killed in Surigao clash (BY RHODA GRACE SARON)
A New People’s Army guerilla was killed in an encounter in an uninhabited area in Katarugan, Sitio Avelino, Barangay Cabangahan, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on Monday morning.
Capt. Jonald Romorosa, the civil-military operations officer of 36th IB, said troops recovered the body of the rebel, along with his AK-47 rifle and some subversive documents.
Romorosa said soldiers clashed with around 10 fully armed rebels, believed to be members of Sandatahang Unit Pampropaganda 16C1, Guerilla Front of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, under Alias Jacob.
Accordingly, the soldiers received a tip by locals on the presence of the rebels. The exchange of gunfires only lasted for about five minutes before the enemy escaped.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Jezreel Diagmel, commanding officer of the 36IB, commended the residents for their help to track down the rebels.
A New People’s Army guerilla was killed in an encounter in an uninhabited area in Katarugan, Sitio Avelino, Barangay Cabangahan, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur on Monday morning.
Capt. Jonald Romorosa, the civil-military operations officer of 36th IB, said troops recovered the body of the rebel, along with his AK-47 rifle and some subversive documents.
Romorosa said soldiers clashed with around 10 fully armed rebels, believed to be members of Sandatahang Unit Pampropaganda 16C1, Guerilla Front of the Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, under Alias Jacob.
Accordingly, the soldiers received a tip by locals on the presence of the rebels. The exchange of gunfires only lasted for about five minutes before the enemy escaped.
In a statement, Lt. Col. Jezreel Diagmel, commanding officer of the 36IB, commended the residents for their help to track down the rebels.
NPAs raid another tribal community
From the Mindanao Times (May 13, 2020): NPAs raid another tribal community (BY RHODA GRACE SARON)
Barely two months after the attack in Sitio Tapayanon, Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte, communist guerrillas again raided an isolated Ata-Manobo in the same town.
1Lt. Amadeuz Vj Celestial, the civil-military operations officer of the 60th Infantry battalion, said the attack transpired Monday morning while soldiers were conducting outreach activities to the people in the community.
He said rebels fired on the soldiers who retaliated, resulting in a 10-minute clash. The Philippine Air Force provided close air support, which forced the New People’s Army fighters to escape. No one was hurt in the encounter.
Since the last attack in Tapayanon, the military and the villagers have become more vigilant. The 60th IB has since leveled up the village’s defense system.
Kapalong Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol condemned the NPA’s “total disregard for human life” and “traitorous act of cowardice and treason.”
She said that the local government and the military will continue to safeguard the communities against harassment and attacks from the NPA.
The Tribal Council of Sitio Tapayanon, through the Office of the Municipal Tribal Affairs of Kapalong, also issued Resolution 01-2020, which called for “legal action and justice … for the innocent inhabitants of the sitio.
The Army described the attack as a “nuisance harassment” to instill fear in the villagers.
Lt. Col. Ronaldo Sarmiento, 60th IB commander, said soldiers will continue to empower residents of far-flung villages so they would be less vulnerable to NPA recruitment.
“We are doing good and this is certainly hurting them [CPP-NPA]. Because as we slowly but surely get rid of Tapayanon’s social, cultural, and economic poverty, we are also ripping the CPP-NPA off an entire community and some generations of potential communist-terrorist recruits,” Sarmiento said.
1Lt. Amadeuz Vj Celestial, the civil-military operations officer of the 60th Infantry battalion, said the attack transpired Monday morning while soldiers were conducting outreach activities to the people in the community.
He said rebels fired on the soldiers who retaliated, resulting in a 10-minute clash. The Philippine Air Force provided close air support, which forced the New People’s Army fighters to escape. No one was hurt in the encounter.
Since the last attack in Tapayanon, the military and the villagers have become more vigilant. The 60th IB has since leveled up the village’s defense system.
Kapalong Mayor Maria Theresa Timbol condemned the NPA’s “total disregard for human life” and “traitorous act of cowardice and treason.”
She said that the local government and the military will continue to safeguard the communities against harassment and attacks from the NPA.
The Tribal Council of Sitio Tapayanon, through the Office of the Municipal Tribal Affairs of Kapalong, also issued Resolution 01-2020, which called for “legal action and justice … for the innocent inhabitants of the sitio.
The Army described the attack as a “nuisance harassment” to instill fear in the villagers.
Lt. Col. Ronaldo Sarmiento, 60th IB commander, said soldiers will continue to empower residents of far-flung villages so they would be less vulnerable to NPA recruitment.
“We are doing good and this is certainly hurting them [CPP-NPA]. Because as we slowly but surely get rid of Tapayanon’s social, cultural, and economic poverty, we are also ripping the CPP-NPA off an entire community and some generations of potential communist-terrorist recruits,” Sarmiento said.
Troops kill 2 NPA rebels in Zambo town
Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (May 12, 2020): Troops kill 2 NPA rebels in Zambo town
Government troops killed 2 communist rebels in a clash in the southern Filipino province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said Tuesday.
Officials said the fighting erupted in the village of Balonai in Midsalip town after patrolling soldiers ran into a group of New People’s Army gunmen on Monday sparking a 25-minute firefight.
“Our troops killed two communist terrorists in the fighting that lasted 25 minutes. Pursuit and blockade are being conducted by our troops to track down the fleeing terrorists,” said Col. Leonel Nicolas, commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade.
Government troops killed 2 communist rebels in a clash in the southern Filipino province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said Tuesday.
Officials said the fighting erupted in the village of Balonai in Midsalip town after patrolling soldiers ran into a group of New People’s Army gunmen on Monday sparking a 25-minute firefight.
“Our troops killed two communist terrorists in the fighting that lasted 25 minutes. Pursuit and blockade are being conducted by our troops to track down the fleeing terrorists,” said Col. Leonel Nicolas, commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade.
Military photos released to the Zamboanga Post newspaper show the bodies of the slain NPA rebels in Zamboanga del Sur's Midsalip town.
Nicolas said there were no reports of casualties on the side of the soldiers, who are members of the 53rd Infantry Battalion. “Troops recovered the bodies (of the slain rebels) and two AK-47 assault rifles, and a backpack,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to kill the rebels and previously threatened to declare martial law if the NPA continues its violent campaign in the country.
The NPA has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a communist state. (Zamboanga Post)
https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2020/05/troops-kill-2-npa-rebels-in-zambo-town.html
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to kill the rebels and previously threatened to declare martial law if the NPA continues its violent campaign in the country.
The NPA has been fighting for many decades now for the establishment of a communist state. (Zamboanga Post)
https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2020/05/troops-kill-2-npa-rebels-in-zambo-town.html
Philippine Army needs para-military forces to fight insurgents
From the Philippine Information Agency (May 12, 2020): Philippine Army needs para-military forces to fight insurgents (By Samuel D. Candido)
BORONGAN CITY, May 11 (PIA) -- The 78th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army (PA) based in Brgy. Dao, Oras, Eastern Samar is now accepting para-military forces to serve as Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA) to assist the army in its fight against insurgents.
Lt. Col. Jay Pascua, an army officer said that the new SCAA were formerly known as CAFGUs. Their primary mission is to perform the mandate of protecting the interest of Local Government Units (LGUs) and counter the threats of terrorism.
The SCAA will receive P6,500 allowance from the government as an incentive for their services in securing peace in the community.
During the meeting called by Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda, the army officer announced that they are in need of civilian volunteers to serve like the military.
Applicants must be 18-54 years old, preferably residents of Brgy. Amantacop, Canyopay and San Mateo and nearby barangays.
They must also be willing to be trained for 45 days.
Qualified applicants should accomplish the following, a properly filled up Personal Data Sheet with 1x1 photo, barangay clearance, police clearance, PSA Birth Certificate, diploma from the highest educational attainment, and a recommendation from the Mayor.
Applicants may submit their requirements at the barangay hall or the office of the City Mayor.
The army officer added that the SCAA force is really a big help because they have knowledge of the terrain, and they are the direct contacts in the community.
SCAAs have also the advantage in protecting their barangays from outside threats as they are more familiar with their own community.
“We need SCAAs in disseminating information especially the programs of the government for the development of the people, so that these innocent people are more informed, if these innocent civilian do not have the proper knowledge and information, they can be easily recruited by the terrorist groups,” Lt. Col. Pascua said.
City Mayor Agda proposed to the City Peace and Order Council that SCAAs be given benefits after serving for 15 years or after retirement. (nbq/SDC/PIA-E. Samar)
BORONGAN CITY, May 11 (PIA) -- The 78th Infantry Battalion of Philippine Army (PA) based in Brgy. Dao, Oras, Eastern Samar is now accepting para-military forces to serve as Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA) to assist the army in its fight against insurgents.
Lt. Col. Jay Pascua, an army officer said that the new SCAA were formerly known as CAFGUs. Their primary mission is to perform the mandate of protecting the interest of Local Government Units (LGUs) and counter the threats of terrorism.
The SCAA will receive P6,500 allowance from the government as an incentive for their services in securing peace in the community.
During the meeting called by Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan C. Agda, the army officer announced that they are in need of civilian volunteers to serve like the military.
Applicants must be 18-54 years old, preferably residents of Brgy. Amantacop, Canyopay and San Mateo and nearby barangays.
They must also be willing to be trained for 45 days.
Qualified applicants should accomplish the following, a properly filled up Personal Data Sheet with 1x1 photo, barangay clearance, police clearance, PSA Birth Certificate, diploma from the highest educational attainment, and a recommendation from the Mayor.
Applicants may submit their requirements at the barangay hall or the office of the City Mayor.
The army officer added that the SCAA force is really a big help because they have knowledge of the terrain, and they are the direct contacts in the community.
SCAAs have also the advantage in protecting their barangays from outside threats as they are more familiar with their own community.
“We need SCAAs in disseminating information especially the programs of the government for the development of the people, so that these innocent people are more informed, if these innocent civilian do not have the proper knowledge and information, they can be easily recruited by the terrorist groups,” Lt. Col. Pascua said.
City Mayor Agda proposed to the City Peace and Order Council that SCAAs be given benefits after serving for 15 years or after retirement. (nbq/SDC/PIA-E. Samar)
4ID engages in a new battle
From the Philippine Information Agency (May 12, 2020): 4ID engages in a new battle (By Jan Albert K. Araña)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 12 (PIA) -- The Fourth Infantry Division Battalion is now engaged in a new fight against an invisible enemy to people, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Usually armed with a long high-powered firearms, the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army has set aside the weapons and exchanged these with loud speakers to inform the townspeople of the ways to protect themselves of COVID-19.
The men and women in uniform are now helping educate the community with regard to the risks of COVID-19.
The community information drive undertaken by the 4ID is designed to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases in the area.
True to their sworn duties, the 4ID keeps defending and protecting the community, not just from terrorist threat but from pandemic threat as well. (JAKA/PIA10)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1041663
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 12 (PIA) -- The Fourth Infantry Division Battalion is now engaged in a new fight against an invisible enemy to people, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Usually armed with a long high-powered firearms, the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) of the Philippine Army has set aside the weapons and exchanged these with loud speakers to inform the townspeople of the ways to protect themselves of COVID-19.
The men and women in uniform are now helping educate the community with regard to the risks of COVID-19.
The community information drive undertaken by the 4ID is designed to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases in the area.
True to their sworn duties, the 4ID keeps defending and protecting the community, not just from terrorist threat but from pandemic threat as well. (JAKA/PIA10)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1041663
JTFB, PNP denounce CTGs statement on Sorsogon encounter’s legitimacy
From the Philippine Information Agency (May 12, 2020): JTFB, PNP denounce CTGs statement on Sorsogon encounter’s legitimacy (By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay)
PILI, Camarines Sur, May 12 (PIA)—In a press statement issued by the 9th Infantry “Spear” Division Public Information Office (DPAO), Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) and 9ID Commander MGEN Fernando T. Trinidad categorically denied the statement released by the New People’s Army-Romulo Jallores Command (NPA-RJC) describing the illegitimacy of the recent Sorsogon encounter.
On May 8, JTFB announced the successful joint operation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers in Brgy. Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon while conducting Law Enforcement Security Operations (LESO).
PILI, Camarines Sur, May 12 (PIA)—In a press statement issued by the 9th Infantry “Spear” Division Public Information Office (DPAO), Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB) and 9ID Commander MGEN Fernando T. Trinidad categorically denied the statement released by the New People’s Army-Romulo Jallores Command (NPA-RJC) describing the illegitimacy of the recent Sorsogon encounter.
On May 8, JTFB announced the successful joint operation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers in Brgy. Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon while conducting Law Enforcement Security Operations (LESO).
Some of the items recovered at the encounter scene on May 8, 2020 at Brgy. Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon. (Photo courtesy of PNP ROV Spokerson PMaj Malu Calubaquib)
Five (5) members of the CTG were killed while several high powered firearms and subversive supplies were recovered from the encounter scene.
Evidently affected by their loss, the CTG retaliated by stating that the said operation was a massacre and not a legitimate encounter.
Trinidad said that Bicolanos should be wary of the misinformation being spread by the CTG to purposely discredit the police and the military.
“The recovered high-powered firearms and subversive supplies are proofs of their continuous lawless activities that have affected lives of innocent civilians and surrounding communities,” Trinidad added.
Police Major Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) spokesperson said that PNP Bicol also censured the CTG’s use of the word “massacre” referring to the May 8 Sorsogon encounter.
“This is another attempt of the NDF to mislead the public on what really transpired during the joint police-military operation in Brgy. Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon. The operatives were legitimately in the area purposely to serve a warrant of arrest to a notorious member of the CTG known as Recto Golimlim for murder when they were fired upon by an undetermined number of armed men later identified as CTG members,” Calubaquib said.
She added that after the firefight, the dead bodies of CTG members are wearing bandoliers which belies the NDF's claim that that they were civilians. She said that they also have guns and found in their possession were subversive documents and various other materials for indoctrination.
More so, the casualties were positively identified by rebel returnees as former comrades.
She called on the community to be wary and be critical of any information to avoid being misled by the CTGs who capitalize on the people to advance their nefarious deeds.
Trinidad also assured the communities that the JTFB will continue to ensure that peace will reign in the region by tightly coordinating with other law enforcers.
“The JTFB is full coordination with the AFP’s counterpart in the PNP as we intensify the security operations in the region to prevent the CTG from performing desperate and treacherous attacks as form of retaliation due to the significant losses they have suffered in the recent armed clash.
Five (5) members of the CTG were killed while several high powered firearms and subversive supplies were recovered from the encounter scene.
Evidently affected by their loss, the CTG retaliated by stating that the said operation was a massacre and not a legitimate encounter.
Trinidad said that Bicolanos should be wary of the misinformation being spread by the CTG to purposely discredit the police and the military.
“The recovered high-powered firearms and subversive supplies are proofs of their continuous lawless activities that have affected lives of innocent civilians and surrounding communities,” Trinidad added.
Police Major Malu Calubaquib, Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) spokesperson said that PNP Bicol also censured the CTG’s use of the word “massacre” referring to the May 8 Sorsogon encounter.
“This is another attempt of the NDF to mislead the public on what really transpired during the joint police-military operation in Brgy. Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon. The operatives were legitimately in the area purposely to serve a warrant of arrest to a notorious member of the CTG known as Recto Golimlim for murder when they were fired upon by an undetermined number of armed men later identified as CTG members,” Calubaquib said.
She added that after the firefight, the dead bodies of CTG members are wearing bandoliers which belies the NDF's claim that that they were civilians. She said that they also have guns and found in their possession were subversive documents and various other materials for indoctrination.
More so, the casualties were positively identified by rebel returnees as former comrades.
She called on the community to be wary and be critical of any information to avoid being misled by the CTGs who capitalize on the people to advance their nefarious deeds.
Trinidad also assured the communities that the JTFB will continue to ensure that peace will reign in the region by tightly coordinating with other law enforcers.
“The JTFB is full coordination with the AFP’s counterpart in the PNP as we intensify the security operations in the region to prevent the CTG from performing desperate and treacherous attacks as form of retaliation due to the significant losses they have suffered in the recent armed clash.
(LSMacatangay, with reports from JPBelleza, DPAO,MCalubaquib, AFP/PNP-PIAV/Camarines Sur)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1041674
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1041674