Senate panel OKs bill dividing Maguindanao into 2 provinces

From the Mindanao Examiner (Mar 12, 2021): Senate panel OKs bill dividing Maguindanao into 2 provinces

A SENATE panel approved a measure that seeks to divide Maguindanao into 2 provinces, to help the area better manage its resources.

Under House Bill No. 6413, Northern Maguindanao will have 12 municipalities, while 24 municipalities will be part of Southern Maguindanao. Under the law, all bills about local concerns - including the creation of new provinces and legislative districts - must originate from the House of Representatives before it can be tackled by the Senate.

“We want to finalize, to crystalize a long-promised bill,” said Sen. Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local Government.

If passed into law, the 36 towns currently of Maguindanao will be divided as follows:

Northern Maguindanao: Datu Odin Sinsuat (proposed capital), Datu Blah Sinsuat, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Upi, Kabuntalan Mother, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, Buldon, Matanog, Barira and Datu Sumagka (formerly Talitay).

And Southern Maguindanao: Ampatuan, Buluan (proposed capital), Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Pagalungan, Shariff Aguak, South Upi, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, General S. K. Pendatun, Mamasapano, Datu Montawal (Pagagawan), Paglat, Guindulungan, Datu Saudi-Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Rajah Buayan, Pandag, Mangudadatu, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Salibo and Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

“The minor details will be threshed out in a technical working group,” Tolentino said, referring to several contentious provisions in the bill, including the transfer of Southern Maguindanao's provincial capitol to Buluan town from Shariff Aguak.

Of the 24 municipalities in the proposed Southern Maguindanao province, only 3 areas are close to Buluan, while 18 others need to cross regional boundaries to reach it, said incumbent Maguindanao Gov. Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu.

“Shariff Aguak remains to be the nearest to the center of the province,” she said at the Senate's hearing.

But Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu rejected the proposal of the governor, who is the wife of his cousin, to retain the seat of power in Shariff Aguak, saying the area is too close to strongholds of armed groups. “Napakaraming baril diyan sa lugar na 'yan kung saan naglulungga yung napakaraming extremist groups,” he said.

Mangudadatu - the author of the House bill - is the former vice mayor of Buluan town, where he is pushing to have the capitol located. But the incumbent governor said that Mangudadatu's concern about armed groups near Shariff Aguak gives them more reason to retain the seat of power there.

“Yung sinasabi niya na doon namumuga, 'yun po ang dahilan na dapat makita ng sambayanan, lalo na sa lalawigan, na may gobyerno. Wag natin ilayo ang gobyerno sa tao,” she said.

The governor also flagged a provision that would allow Congress to recommend temporary local government officials to supervise the new provinces, while leaders have yet to be elected.

Under the measure, if the law is approved at least a year before the 2022 presidential elections, the President may appoint members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, upon the recommendation of the acting provincial governor and the incumbent representative of the first legislative district of Maguindanao.

Maguindanao First District Rep. Roonie Sinsuat Sr. is a co-author of the bill.

“It is inappropriate, improper and baseless that representatives in the House have the prerogative to recommend to the President nominees for the vacancies,” the governor said.

The Commission on Elections is asking lawmakers to extend the 60-day period of preparations for the plebiscite in relation to the measure, saying the Covid-19 pandemic may affect the government’s capacity to mount the polls.

The 5,691-square-kilometer Maguindanao passes all the law's requirements for it to be divided into 2 provinces, Tolentino said.

Under the law, an area may only be declared as a new province if it is at least 2,000-square kilometers in size, has at least 250,000 in terms of population, and receives a certification from the Department of Finance that it is capable of generating sufficient income to provide for its constituents. (Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News)

http://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2021/03/senate-panel-oks-bill-dividing.html

4 NPA rebels yield to Army in S. Kudarat

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 11, 2021): 4 NPA rebels yield to Army in S. Kudarat (By Edwin Fernandez)

LONGING FOR HOME. Former NPA rebels turned over their rifles to the military in their desire to live normal lives away from the influence of communism. They surrendered to the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat province, on Wednesday (March 10, 2021). (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

Four communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Sultan Kudarat province yielded to the military on Wednesday afternoon, an official said Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said the four NPA fighters turned over firearms and ammunition to the Army’s 6th Infantry Battalion in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

“They pledged allegiance to the government during a simple rite at the headquarters of the 7th Infantry Battalion,” Uy said.

Uy, concurrent commander of Joint Task Force Central, said the four NPA rebels agreed to surrender through the intervention of Brig. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade.

Uy also lauded the local officials of Sultan Kudarat for their support of the Army’s reconciliation program.

“We are tired, really tired of running away from government forces; we wanted to live normal lives like any other people in our province,” Ka Blanco, one of the surrenders, told reporters in the vernacular during a phone interview.

At least 137 NPAs have already surrendered this year to the 6ID, which has jurisdiction over the provinces of Maguindanao, parts of Lanao del Sur, and North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133278

Nothing wrong with Parlade as NTF ELCAC spox: Lorenzana

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 11, 2021): Nothing wrong with Parlade as NTF ELCAC spox: Lorenzana (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left) and Southern Luzon Command chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., (right) (File photos)

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Thursday came to the defense of Southern Luzon Command chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., after senators called for his removal as spokesperson of the government's anti-insurgency task force.

In a Laging Handa briefing, Lorenzana said the military and the police are obliged to take the lead in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which was created by President Rodrigo R. Duterte's Executive 70 calling for a whole-of-nation approach in defeating the security threat posed by the local communist terrorist groups and their allies.

"The main effort is being led by the PNP and the AFP, and Gen. Parlade is part of the AFP and so his expertise is being utilized as spokesman of the NTF ELCAC so ang, wala akong nakikitang (I don't see any) violation of the Constitution," Lorenzana said.

This came after lawmakers from the upper chamber called for Parlade's removal from the post, citing that his designation violates the Constitution which states that no member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in active service shall be appointed at any time to a civilian post in the government.

He also added that the security forces are the primary implementers of NTF ELCAC, with other government agencies only in a supporting role.

"So kami ang nandyan (we are involved there), kung tanggalin mo yan si Gen. Parlade ay tanggalin mo na rin kami dyan sa (NTF ELCAC), yung Armed Forces. Ibig sabihin yung Armed Forces walang pakialam dyan sa NTF ELCAC (if you remove Gen. Parlade from the NTF ELCAC, then remove us too. It only means the Armed Forces does not have anything to do with the NTF ELCAC), which is not true," Lorenzana said.

Parlade assumed his role much like the leading role of the military and police in task forces created to pursue terrorists and criminals, Lorenzana added.

"We are the ones who implement the main function of the task force. Other agencies are only supporting us, the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), lahat na (all of them), DOE (Department of Energy), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), support lang yan sa (they are just supporting the) main effort," he said.

Up to Lorenzana

Malacañang on Thursday said it will leave to Lorenzana to decide on calls to remove or relieve Parlade.

“Hinahayaan na po natin yung desisyon na ‘yan kay Secretary Lorenzana ng Department of National Defense (We leave the decision to Secretary Lorenzana of the Department of National Defense),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing in Dumaguete City.

Earlier, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said Parlade may stay as NTF-ELCAC spokesperson, insisting that the AFP is an "integral part" of the said task force.

"We support Parlade's statements and there's no way we have to overrule such pronouncements," he said.

He, however, admitted that the NTF-ELCAC has a civilian component.

In its amended committee report, the Senate said the designation of Parlade is a violation of the constitution.

Article 16, Section 5, Paragraph 4 of the Constitution states that “no member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in active service shall at any time be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the government.”

“Consistent with the aforementioned constitutional provision and as a matter of policy, we recommend that Lt. Gen. Parlade be immediately relieved of his duties as spokesperson of the NTF-Elcac,” the amendment read.

It also emphasized the need to prevent “potential conflict” between the policies of the NTF-ELCAC and the mandate of the security sector by engaging a spokesperson who does not hold concurrent mandates in the security forces.

Sobejana said he already talked to Parlade on the red-tagging issue.

“I called the attention of General Parlade. I told him that we should be very deliberate with all the things that we do, may it be in speech or in words, and we should exercise due diligence,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133282

PNP chief Sinas tests positive for Covid-19

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 11, 2021): PNP chief Sinas tests positive for Covid-19 (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

Philippine National Police Chief, Gen. Debold Sinas (File photo)

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, has tested positive for Covid-19, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Ildebrandi Usana said on Thursday.

Usana said the results of Sinas’ latest reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test indicated that he is positive for the coronavirus.

“We just asked the Health Service (HS), Gen. Sinas is asymptomatic and will wait for the confirmatory test a little bit later. Supposedly may mga activities pa siya pero if may findings yung doctor niya, isolate na siya kaagad (he still has activities but if his doctor has findings, he will be immediately isolated),” he said in a phone interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Sinas took a swab test as a requirement for his trip to Palawan on Friday.

“It will release a medical bulletin within an hour for a confirmatory test from HS,” Usana said.

PNP deputy chief for administration, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, will be officer-in-charge once Sinas is quarantined for 14 days.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133360

NTF ELCAC throws full support for Parlade vs. ouster call

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 11, 2021): NTF ELCAC throws full support for Parlade vs. ouster call (By Priam Nepomuceno)

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) expressed its full support to one of its spokespersons, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., after some members of the Senate called for his removal from the government's anti-insurgency body.

"The NTF ELCAC stands solidly behind Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade and rejects calls for him to step down as spokesperson of the task force," Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Marie T. Badoy said in a statement forwarded to the Philippine News Agency Thursday.

Badoy, who is also a spokesperson of NTF ELCAC, said Sen. Panfilo Lacson's claims that the NTF ELCAC is a civilian task force is wrong.

"Senator Lacson is wrong when he says that the NTF ELCAC is a civilian task force. It is a task force that enlists each and every member of the government in the battle to end this 52-year communist scourge that has brought so much grievous harm and endless suffering to the Filipino people," she added.

She added that it is only fitting that members of the military who carried the burden of the more than 50 years insurgency, to be part of the NTF ELCAC that is tasked to neutralize for good communist terrorists.

"And it is but right that those who have borne this problem on their own for over five decades- our men and women in uniform- be in the forefront of this fight," she added.

Parlade, she said, is a "shining light" as he serves to enlighten and protect the Filipino people on the dangers and deceptions being committed by the communist terrorists and their allies.

"Not only is he supremely qualified to be the voice of a task force committed to ending this scourge that has brought our country untold pain, and headed by a President singular too in his great love for country, Lt. Gen. Parlade brings inspiration and nobility to lead this charge against these violent extremists that have stolen so much of what is precious to us: our children, our indigenous peoples, our country," she added.

Badoy also called Parlade a "living hero" and the country is very lucky to have him in the thick of the fight against communist terrorists.

"Lt. Gen. Parlade is a living hero and this country is so lucky to have him at the front and center of a war that asks the best of us," she said.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Joel M. Sy Egco, Executive Director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, said Parlade, who is Southern Luzon Command chief, does not speak only for himself or the office he represents but for all freedom and peace-loving Filipinos, including esteemed senators, who have been victims of this communist terrorist group for more than 50 years.

“Most importantly, General Parlade speaks for every Juan and Juana he swore to protect at the cost of his life when he embraced the profession of arms,” he said. “As a true soldier, a patriot, a father, a son, and true defender of our democracy.”

Some senators earlier called for Parlade's removal from the post, citing that his designation violates the Constitution which states that no member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in active service shall be appointed at any time to a civilian post in the government.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1133367

NDF/Sison: On the friend-and-foe relationship of Duterte and the legal national democratic forces in 2016-2017

Posted to the National Democratic Front Philippines (NDFP or NDF) Website (Mar 7, 2021): On the friend-and-foe relationship of Duterte and the legal national democratic forces in 2016-2017

By Jose Maria Sison
NDFP Chief Political Consultant
March 6, 2021

This longish abstract of the paper, “Friends and Foes: Human Rights, the Philippine Left and Duterte, 2016-2017” by Jayson Lamchek and Emerson Sanchez describes accurately and adequately, in general and in the main, the “friend-and-foe” relationship (dual tactics) between Duterte and the legal national democratic forces (BAYAN and the Makabayan Bloc). It is far superior to the rubbish output of the so-called soc-dems and Trotskyites obsessed with misrepresenting the relationship of Duterte and the CPP in 2016-2017 and holding the CPP responsible for Duterte.

BAYAN as a “friend” to Duterte was such only insofar as it made friendly gestures to encourage him to adopt its people’s agenda and to engage in peace negotiations with the NDFP, without giving up its condemnation of Duterte’s neoliberal economic policy and violations of human rights. There was never a formal alliance between BAYAN and Duterte. The abstract correctly states that BAYAN made its first mass protest against Duterte on the issue of burying Marcos as a hero as early as November 25, 2016 and big street protests on December 10, 2016 against human rights violations.

There was an alliance between the MAKABAYAN Bloc with the pro-Duterte supermajority in the Lower House of Congress. And the abstract correctly points out that said bloc bolted out of the supermajority as early as September 15, 2017 and denounced the Duterte regime as a fascist, pro-imperialist and anti-people government.

In 2016 Duterte wanted to appoint three cabinet members as CPP representatives but the CPP and NDFP told him to appoint them on their own individual merits as legal personalities and not to prejudice the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations by appointing cabinet members as CPP representatives. The abstract falls short of explicitly noticing how the CPP and NDFP frustrated the attempt of Duterte to compromise them with the cabinet appointments.

The abstract abundantly presents the legal and political integrity and autonomy of the legal national democratic forces but sometimes lets the term ”Left” cover both the armed people’s democratic revolution led by the CPP and the legal democratic forces and at no instance does it state categorically that the CPP, NPA and NDFP never had an alliance with the Duterte regime. The civil war never stopped despite the temporary reciprocal unilateral ceasefires and the glowing remarks and gestures of the NDFP, the legal democratic forces and the peace advocates to encourage Duterte to engage in peace negotiations with the NDFP.

The best evidence that there was never an alliance between the Duterte regime and the armed revolutionary movement is that that there had to be peace negotiations between two parties contending in a civil war, that these negotiations had rough sailing from the beginning because of Duterte’s failure to fulfill his promise to amnesty and release all political prisoners and that Duterte eventually terminated the peace negotiations on November 23, 2017 and went further by designating the CPP and NPA as “terrorist” organizations on December 5, 2017.


https://ndfp.org/on-the-friend-and-foe-relationship-of-duterte-and-the-legal-national-democratic-forces-in-2016-2017/

Kalinaw News: Joint Task Group Kutawato Facilitated a Rido Settlement in Cotabato City

From Kalinaw News (Mar 11, 2021): Joint Task Group Kutawato Facilitated a Rido Settlement in Cotabato City

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Camp Siongco, Maguindanao – The Joint Task Group Kutawato facilitated the settlement of a family dispute in Barangay Tamontaka 3, Cotabato City on March 8, 2021.

Col. Jose Ambrosio F. Rustia, Commander of Joint Task Group “Kutawato” said that the two feuding groups belong to Ansari Kadatwan, Brgy. Chairman of Tamontaka 3 and the group of Theng Salik, former Brgy. Tanod of the said barangay.

“The settlement was made possible through the combined efforts of JTG Kutawato and Cotabato City PNP in close coordination with Cotabato City Mayor’s Office. Both families agreed to surrender their firearms and committed to end their conflict”, said Col. Rustia.

The surrendered firearms comprised of an M16 Rifle, a Carbine Rifle, and two (2) Cal.45 pistols.

Major General Juvymax R. Uy, Commander of Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division lauded the efforts of the JTG Kutawato and Cotabato City PNP with the help of the local government officials to selflessly reach-out to both parties in reaching a peaceful settlement of their differences and conflict.

“I commend our troops in facilitating the settlement and promoting peace and unity to the families who made the realization to bring an end on their differences”, the JTFC Commander in his statement.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/joint-task-group-kutawato-facilitated-a-rido-settlement-in-cotabato-city/

Kalinaw News: PNU-Mindanao supports TF-ELCAC peace efforts

From Kalinaw News (Mar 11, 2021): PNU-Mindanao supports TF-ELCAC peace efforts



TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur- The Philippine Normal University (PNU)-Mindanao, one of the prestigious schools in Agusan del Sur, firmly expressed its support to the peace efforts of the Task-Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) during an Information Drive Towards Sustainable Peace Symposium held yesterday, March 10, 2021.

The said symposium was themed, “Protect the Youth. Protect the Future.’, which aimed to spread awareness to the youth sector about the recruitment schemes and deceptive lies of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), officially designated by the Philippine Government, United States and European Union as a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).

The symposium was made possible through the joint efforts of the 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion, 42 CMO Company and 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade all of Philippine Army in collaboration with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) -CARAGA Region and POINTY Inc.-Agusan del Norte. In observance of the COVID-19 health protocols, it was conducted thru video teleconferencing (VTC) via ZOOM.

A total of 93 students participated in the symposium which composed of 72 student leaders from the PNU-Mindanao Student Government headed by Mr. Alexis Q. Sebote, Student Regent, and 21 campus writers from The Torch Publication, the official publication of PNU-Mindanao headed by its Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Herminigildo Genon.

Mr. Manuel M. Orduña, Regional Director of NICA- CARAGA, lectured about the CTG Recruitment to the Youth and Student Sector . “The terrorist group had already infiltrated schools conducting recruitment of students and involving them to all forms of violence and terrorism-related activities.”, he said.

Also, Mr. Glynmer A. Jamito, POINTY Board of Trustee, encouraged the youth to become family-oriented individuals, responsible social-media users, disciplined and law-abiding citizens during his lecture on Youth Empowerment.

An open forum after the lectures paved way to the questions of the participants. “This symposium opened our eyes and minds about the activities of the leftist organizatons, as a student leader, I realized that involving yourself in the armed revolution is a worst decision that might end your life. To my fellow leaders and to the youth sector, let’s focus on our studies and make our parents proud by using our talents and skills in a right way.”, Mr. Sebote said.

“As mandated by the EO70, we in the State, Colleges and Univeristies (SUCs) are directed to render necessary support to the TF-ELCAC. As the second parents of the students, it is necessary for us to protect them from these leftist organizations.”, Professor Jeanette T. Gongora, Director, Office of Students Services (OSS), stated.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, Commanding Officer of 26IB expressed his appreciation to all the participants and active partners for rendering invaluable support and cooperation with the unit that made the symposium significant and successful. “Thank you for your cooperation and we are looking forward for a more enhanced partnership with you in our peace campaign.” he said.

Further, Lt. Col. Goce gave emphasis on the symposium’s theme. “The theme protect the youth, protect the future is a challenge to all of us, the threats of terrorism and violent extrimism will destroy the future of our youth. Thus, it is our duty to protect the young generations from the recruitment schemes of the CPP-NPA.”, he added.

“The youth is our future and they play a significant role in nation and peace building. Let’s protect and empower them to be advocates of peace. Let’s be part of this campaign and help the government in achieving sustainable peace. “, Lt. Col. Goce ended.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/pnu-mindanao-supports-tf-elcac-peace-efforts/

Kalinaw News: Defense officials convene for 11th ASEAN Military Operations Meeting

From Kalinaw News (Mar 11, 2021): Defense officials convene for 11th ASEAN Military Operations Meeting



CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines participated in the 11th ASEAN Military Operations Meeting (AMOM-11) held virtually on March 10.

AMOM – 11 was chaired by Brigadier General Haji Abdul Razak Bin Abdul, Royal Brunei Armed Forces Joint Force Commander. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3 Major General Edgardo De Leon represented the AFP in the said meeting.

With the theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”, the meeting centred on cooperation among ASEAN militaries to address common security concerns in the region. It also aims to review and assess the progress of AMOM as it seeks opportunities towards a future-ready ASEAN.

“The Philippines renews its commitment and support to the attainment of the ASEAN Community Vision of 2025 and one of its undertakings, which is a region that resolves differences and disputes by peaceful means, including refraining from the threat or use of force and adopting peaceful dispute settlement mechanisms while strengthening confidence-building measures, promoting preventive diplomacy activities and conflict resolution initiatives,” Major General De Leon said.

During the meeting, military members from ASEAN member states exchanged views on various security issues such as terrorism, cyber security, and the existing COVID-19 global health crisis.

MGen De Leon reported that the numbers of the reported incidents in Sulu-Celebes Sea significantly decreased from 12 incidents in 2016 to one (1) Incident in 2020. Thus, the AFP encouraged members to sustain collaboration among ASEAN member-states militaries and proposed for the increase in maritime patrol operations.

Also among the various recommendations was the establishment of an ASEAN level strategic communication framework to counter violent extremists’ propaganda through social media platforms.

The delegates agreed on the continuance of immense discussions on security issues of shared concern, while building mutual understanding and trust.

“The Philippines’ views towards an integrated ASEAN Military cooperation is to remove all the barriers and partitions, and resolve probable contravention by exploring mutual interest and sharing best practices,” Major General De Leon said.

Brunei handed over the AMOM Chairmanship to Cambodia towards the end of the conference.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/defense-officials-convene-for-11th-asean-military-operations-meeting/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Protests

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): Protests

EDSA 35. More than 500 individuals converged at Camp Aguinaldo in Cubao, Quezon City on February 25 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the EDSA uprising. The program was spearheaded by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and other national democratic organizations. Similar protest actions were mounted in Laguna, Angeles City, Baguio City, and Naga City.

BakwitSchool7. Members of the Save Our Schools Network protested in Quezon City on February 22, and in Cebu City on February 28 to demand the immediate release of three Lumad students, two teachers and two datus who were arrested at a Bakwit School in Cebu last month. They also condemned the regime for forcing seven Lumad children to go back to their homes, and the transfer of detainees without the knowledge of their lawyers and relatives.

DuterTUTA. Members of the League of Filipino Students held a lightning rally in front of the US Embassy in Manila on March 5 to oppose continuing US intervention in the country.

[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/2021/03/07/21132/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Successive killing of 5 civilians in Bicol

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): Successive killing of 5 civilians in Bicol

Five civilians were killed by the military and police in separate incidents since March 1 in Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. The military claimed that all of the victims were killed after attempting to “fight back,” and that they were all members or supporters of the New People’s Army.

Three were massacred in Barangay Lanot, Mercedes, Camarines Norte on March 3. The fascists gunned down the victims who were identified as Enrique Cabilles, Arnel Candelaria and Nomer Peda.

In Labo, soldiers killed village watchman Melandro Verso in Barangay Talobatib on March 1. Around 70 soldiers raided his house. On the same day, another resident was killed in Barangay Balogo, Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

Arrest. In Sorsogon, the 22nd IB arrested farmer Salvador Magas in Barangay Marinab, Bulan on February 23. The victim sustained a gunshot wound during the operation.

In December 2020, the military also arrested Enriqueta Guelas, 62, and Elizabeth Estilon, 41 in Barangay Lalud, Bulusan. Estilon was pregnant during the arrest. They are the second batch of victims charged with violating the Anti-Terror Law.

In Negros Occidental, joint forces of the 94th IB and police raided three houses in Barangay San Antonio, Himamaylan City on March 3. Arrested during the operation were farmers Salvador Carpentero and Jillian Delfin.

[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/2021/03/07/successive-killing-of-5-civilians-in-bicol/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Violence against Moros under the guise of “counterterrorism”

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): Violence against Moros under the guise of “counterterrorism”

Even amid the pandemic, the Duterte regime continues to unleash violent attacks against Moro communities under the pretext of “war on terror.” Since December 2020, thousands of families have evacuated due to the attacks perpetrated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their communities purportedly to go after “remaining forces” of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Abu Sayyaf and small bandit groups linked by the regime and the US to “ISIS.” At least six minors and a pregnant woman were killed in these operations.

Lanao del Sur. Three children were killed and a pregnant woman was wounded in an attack carried out by the 5th IB at the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Extension Camp in Amai Manabilang on February 20. The soldiers also shelled and strafed the community for 15 minutes.

On February 4, the 55th IB bombed communities in Alonganan and Buayan, Datu Piang after supposedly “sighting” BIFF and Dawlah Islamiyah elements in the area.

Basilan. On January 29, more than 40 families evacuated from their community in Barangay Bohebaca, Tipo-tipo after being attacked by AFP troops. One civilian was killed and another was wounded.

In Barangay Seronggonon, around 200 families evacuated on January 12 after their community was attacked by the Joint Task Force Basilan.

Maguindanao. Two children were seriously wounded when the 57th IB bombed communities in Sambulawan, Datu Salibo on December 13, 2020. One of the victims died last February 14.

The 57th IB and 2nd Mechanized Battalion also bombed and strafed Barangay Pusaw in Shariff Saydona Mustapha on December 15, 2020. Rabea Damada Lakim, who was then 7-months pregnant, was killed during the attack. The bombing resulted in the evacuation of around 1,500 families.

On January 30, more than 600 families evacuated from Tapatan, Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan after an encounter between the AFP and BIFF in the area.

Sulu. In Patikul and Jolo, at least 12 Moro women were arrested in two raids on October 10, 2020 and February 19 on the pretext that they are “potential suicide bombers.” Several of the arrested women were nursing their infant babies. The military identified them as wives and children of Abu Sayyaf leaders.

[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/2021/03/07/violence-against-moros-under-the-guise-of-counterterrorism/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Attacks against Tumandok defenders

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): Attacks against Tumandok defenders

State agents brutally attacked two Tumandok defenders in the past week.

Julie Catamin, captain of Barangay Roosevelt in Tapaz, Capiz, was gunned down by policemen on February 28 in Malitbog in the same town. Catamin earlier exposed that firearms and explosives were planted by the police in the houses of her constituents who were arrested in December 2020. The arrests took place in conjuction with the massacre of nine farmers known as the Tumandok 9.

On March 3, two unidentified male assailants stabbed Atty. Angelo Karlo Guillen in the head and back in Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City. Guillen serves as lawyer of the Tumandoks and farmers who were arrested in Capiz and Iloilo in December 2020. He is also one the lawyers of groups who petitioned against the Anti-Terror Law (ATL). He is the secretary general of the National Union of People’s Lawyers-Panay.

[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/2021/03/07/attacks-against-tumandok-defenders/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Crackdown in Southern Tagalog: 5 killed, 8 arrested

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): Crackdown in Southern Tagalog: 5 killed, 8 arrested

Five were killed and eight others were arrested in Tokhang-style operations perpetrated by the police and military in Southern Tagalog since March 4. These operations were carried out in the early morning.

The police killed Emmanuel Asuncion, leader of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Cavite, at a labor group’s headquarters in Dasmariñas, Cavite on March 7.

Simultaneously, the police nabbed couple Ariel and Chai Evangelista, staff of UMALPAS KA, along with their 10-year old son in Nasugbu, Batangas. The couple were killed while their son managed to escape. The police also killed activists Michael Dasigao and Mark Lee Bacasno of Sikkad-K3 in Montalban, Rizal.

On the same day, the police successively arrested Steve Mendoza of Olalia-KMU and Elizabeth Camoral of Bayan-Laguna in Cabuyao, Laguna; and Nimfa Lanzanas of Kapatid-Southern Tagalog in Calamba.

Two peasant leaders were also arrested in Montalban, Rizal, and another Dumagat in Tanay. The police also raided the house of Lino Baez of Bayan-Batangas in Sto. Tomas. The police failed to arrest him because he was not at home.

On March 4, the police successively arrested Ramir Corcolon, national council member of Courage, in San Pablo, Laguna; and Arnel Laguinas, former unionist at the Honda plant, in Sta. Rosa.

The warrants used in these operations were issued by Laguna RTC Judge Divinagracia Bustos-Ongkeko, Manila RTC Judge Jose dela Rosa, and Manila RTC Judge Jason Zapanta. Dela Rosa was also the judge who issued the warrants that were used by the police who massacred nine Tumandok leaders in Panay in December 2020.

[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/2021/03/07/crackdown-in-southern-tagalog-5-killed-8-arrested/

CPP/Ang Bayan: NPA-EV confident that AFP deadline in Samar will not be met

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): NPA-EV confident that AFP deadline in Samar will not be met

The New People’s Army-Eastern Visayas (NPA-EV) declared that the 8th ID is once again bound to fail in meeting its new deadline to “decimate” three guerrilla fronts in the region by the end of the second quarter of 2021, and another front before Rodrigo Duterte’s term ends.

In a report this month, the NPA-EV said that 18 combat battalions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) are currently operating in the region. This is the largest concentration of state forces deployed in the area in history. At least 15 towns are under focused combat operations, including those in Southern Leyte, Leyte and Biliran which were previously declared “insurgency-free.”

In February, 226 elements of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) were also deployed in the region. In addition, 86 CAFGU detachments are also dispersed across the region. In its operations, the AFP utilizes attack planes, helicopters and drones.

Despite this, the AFP and PNP continues to sustain casualties. On February 13, two PNP-SAF troops were killed in an active defense maneuver by the Rodante Urtal Command in Ginagdanan, San Roque, Northern Samar. After two days, the same NPA unit ambushed the 43rd IB in Barangay Cagbigajo, Pambujan in the same province.

In February, at least four offensives were mounted by the NPA against operating AFP troops along the boundary of Samar and Eastern Samar.

The forced surrender campaign of the AFP is also futile. The 19th IB itself admitted that “surrenderees” actually end up returning to the NPA as full-time fighters. This was declared by the commander of the said military unit during a forced surrender ceremony in Matuguinao in February.

[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/2021/03/07/npa-ev-confident-that-afp-deadline-in-samar-will-not-be-met/

CPP/Ang Bayan: NPA-Sorsogon ambushes PNP

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): NPA-Sorsogon ambushes PNP

Three policemen were wounded in an ambush mounted by the New People’s Army (NPA)-Sorsogon in Barangay Putiao, Pilar on February 22. The casualties include MSgt. Osmer Edwin Apa.

The said action was a response to the crimes perpetrated by the PNP against the Sorsoganon masses. The starkest of these include the massacre of five farmers in Dolos, Bulan last year and the killing of Michael Bagasala, a former Red fighter. These operations were conducted in line with the local counterinsurgency program of the Regional Task Force Katoninongan asin Kauswagan.

Misamis Occidental. The NPA ambushed 10th IB troopers in Barangay Lampasan, Don Victoriano on Enero 30. Five soldiers were killed.

Surigao del Sur. Darwin Suazo, an active CAFGU element, was killed in an NPA ambush at Hitaob, Barangay Awasian, Tandag City on February 3.

[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/2021/03/07/npa-sorsogon-ambushes-pnp/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Recovery work amid Covid-19 and enemy attacks

Propaganda article from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 7, 2021): Recovery work amid Covid-19 and enemy attacks

Amid all-out enemy deployment and focused military operations at a guerrilla front in Southern Tagalog, the New People’s Army (NPA) was able to conduct recovery work in Maro.

For nearly a decade, comrades have not been able to conduct revolutionary work in Maro. This is where the seed of the revolution was first sown in the area. It has served as a wellspring of members of revolutionary mass organizations, as well as Red fighters and commanders. As a result, the enemy focused its attacks on Maro to destroy the residents’ unity. The military put up a CAFGU detachment and unleashed paramilitary and vigilante groups in the area. Checkpoints were also mounted along roads during the Covid-19 pandemic.

There have been efforts to reach out to the residents of Maro. However, for a long time, the area only served as a passageway of the NPA to other areas. In compliance with the rectification movement and to address the need to expand guerrilla bases, the NPA determinedly returned to Maro.

The NPA unit that was deployed in the area lacked knowledge about the area and its terrain, as well as mass support. They, however, held on to the rich revolutionary history of Maro and bravely reached out to the masses despite massive enemy deployment.

The unit immediately investigated the condition of the masses. Residents were facing severe hardships and loss of livelihood due to the crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many poor peasants and farm workers could not travel to look for additional work due to the militarist lockdown. Majority of the farmers are landless and work under a 60-40 sharing scheme in favor of the landlord.

During its first months in Maro, the NPA unit conducted a sanitation and education campaign on Covid-19. They conducted check-ups and other medical services. They helped farmers’ children answer their modules, and taught them how to use cellphones and the internet for flexible learning. The unit also helped in production activities in the area.

With the help of the NPA in their day-to-day activities, the barriofolks’ hardships amid the pandemic somehow eased. In turn, the masses now have time to help the NPA unit, such as assisting it to avoid enemy attacks and guiding Red fighters to safe areas.

The unit’s mass work immediately bore fruit when the unit was directed to launch a military action. With the help of the masses, the presence of the NPA unit was concealed from operating soldiers. The unit was also able to mount a successful offensive just two kilometers away from a military and police checkpoint.

Neither heavy military presence nor their lack of knowledge about the area hindered the NPA unit in reaching out to masses in recovery areas. A month after Maro’s reco­very, the residents held a gathering to celebrate their reunion with the NPA.

[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/2021/03/07/recovery-work-amid-covid-19-and-enemy-attacks/

CPP/News: CPP to NPA: fight and frustrate enemy’s offensives

Posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 11, 2021): CPP to NPA: fight and frustrate enemy’s offensives

NEWS STORIES
MARCH 11, 2021

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) issued a call to the New People’s Army (NPA) “to fight and frustrate” the offensives being mounted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police launched. The CPP said, this all-out offensive of combat, psywar, suppression operations against peasant villages and aerial bombardment aim to prevent the revolutionary forces from celebrating the upcoming 52nd anniversary of the NPA on March 29.

The editorial of the March 7 issue of Ang Bayan noted how the NPA largely frustrated the nationwide offensives of the AFP last December, where NPA units in most of the regions were able to avoid defensive battles. In several regions, NPA units were able to take the initiative and mount tactical offensives “against tired enemy troops who were running short of supply and set to return to camp after failed offensive operations.”

The Party said the NPA must uphold a high degree of military discipline and continually improve guerilla methods to surmount enemy attacks and seize the initiative for mounting tactical offensives. They must closely monitor the movement of enemy units and analyze its offensive plans. The CPP reminded NPA units to be always ready to defend itself and effectively fight the battles initiated by the enemy.

At the same time, the NPA must plan to mount tactical offensives against the isolated enemy troops, tactical outposts, supply lines and other soft targets. “The NPA must choose the most appropriate place, time and opportunity to mount tactical offensives,” the Party told.

In the face of relentless and prolonged enemy operations, the CPP, called on the NPA to strengthen the support of the peasant masses and fight the suppression drive of the AFP. The CPP denounced the AFP’s Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) under which villages are placed under military garrison rules. Red fighters must ensure that links between them and the masses are not broken. There must be untiring effort to consolidate and strengthen the revolutionary mass organizations and wage agrarian struggles to rouse the peasant masses.

“Mass struggles must be expanded, new organizations built and new guerrilla fronts established,” said the CPP. By tirelessly expanding the NPA’s area of operations, the enemy will be denied of focus areas and will be forced to stretch its forces thinly and widen opportunities for the NPA’s offensive initiatives.

Ang Bayan noted that the Duterte regime and the AFP have repeatedly failed to meet their yearly declaration of crushing the NPA. Their psywar and “surrender” campaigns have been exposed as farce, it declared. The editorial pointed out that the NPA continues to enjoy deep and wide support among the masses because it advances struggle for genuine land reform and against all forms of oppression and exploitation.

On celebrations marking the 52nd anniversary of the people’s army, the CPP said that various forms of activities can be mounted depending on the prevailing situation. Big or small, these activities serve as an opportunity to remember the people’s heroes and martyrs, celebrate achievements, point out weaknesses and strengthen the determination of the NPA and its Red fighters to shoulder the difficult tasks in advancing the people’s war.

“The current situation of the war require the NPA to make great sacrifices. These are needed to preserve the strength of the revolutionary forces, deepen mass support and defend the mass organizations and expand area of operations,” the editorial ended.

https://cpp.ph/2021/03/11/cpp-to-npa-fight-and-frustrate-enemys-offensives/

CPP/News: NPA-Panay armed offensive shows CDEx precision

Posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 10, 2021): NPA-Panay armed offensive shows CDEx precision

NEWS STORIES
MARCH 10, 2021

“At all times, the NPA upholds the discipline not to harm civilians in its operations as it abides by the Geneva Conventions on the Rules of War,” said Ka Julio Montana, spokesperson of the New People’s Army Panay Regional Operational Command (Coronacion “Waling-Waling” Chiva Command.)

The NPA-Panay said in its statement, “Wala sang intensyon ang NPA nga atakehon o halitan si Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor kag iban pa nga sibilyan. (The NPA has no intentions to attack nor harm Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor and other civilians.)”

Last March 3, Red fighters of the NPA in Panay fired off a command-detonated explovise against a moving police patrol car transporting troops of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Force Battalion 6 (RFMB-6) in Barangay Canawili, Janiuay, Iloilo.

Another vehicle which carried Department of Environment and Natural Resoures (DENR) officials was allowed to pass. Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. did not show up at the scheduled activity at Barangay Panuran in the same town.

Ka Julio Montana urged civilian agencies to avoid using military or police vehicles or being escorted by military and police when entering areas of operation of the NPA. “This is to avoid being caught in the middle of a firefight,” he added.

“They cannot protect you,” he added, “How can they protect you, if they are perpetrators of human rights violations like the bloody Tumandok 9 massacre and murder of Barangay Captain Julie Catamin in February?”

https://cpp.ph/2021/03/10/npa-panay-armed-offensive-shows-cdex-precision/

CPP/NDF-KM-ST: Depensahan ang Timog Katagalugan! Hustisya para sa mga biktima ng Bloody Sunday massacre!

Posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 11, 2021): Depensahan ang Timog Katagalugan! Hustisya para sa mga biktima ng Bloody Sunday massacre!

KARINA MABINI | SPOKESPERSON | KABATAANG MAKABAYAN-SOUTHERN TAGALOG | NDF-SOUTHERN TAGALOG | NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES
MARCH 11, 2021

Isang karumaldumal na krimen kontra sa mamamayan ang kinasangkutan ng pasistang PNP sa araw ng Marso 7, 2021. Sa loob lamang ng isang araw, pinatay ng mga pasista ang 9 na aktibista habang 6 naman ang inaresto sa rehiyon ng Timog Katagalugan. Dagdag lamang ang ‘Bloody Sunday’ sa mahabang listahan ng inutang na dugo sa kamay ng kapulisan at ng diktador na si Duterte.

Madaling araw pa lamang ng Marso 7 ay sinimulan na ng PNP ang kanilang krimen. Sa isinagawang mga raid ng kapulisan iligal nilang inaresto at tinaniman ng mga armas at granada ang mga di-armadong aktibista. Bigla-biglang binulabog ng kapulisan ang mga tahanan, opisina at pati na din ang isang workers assistance center upang halughugin ang mga ito. Kasabay ng mga pang-aaresto, walang awang pinagpapatay ang mga aktibista sa kanilang mga tahanan. Sa ginawang opensiba ng mga pasista kanilang pinatay sina:

Manny Asuncion
Chai Evangelista
Ariel Evangelista
Makmak Bacasno
Michael Dasigao
Abner Esto
Edward Esto
Puroy dela Cruz
Randy dela Cruz

Walang awa at tunay na mga traydor sa masang Pilipino ang kapulisan. Ang isinagawang massacre ay napapasailalim sa EO 70 o Whole of Nation Approach ng rehimeng duterte na siyang madami nang pinaslang na mga progresibo. Naganap din ang ‘Bloody Sunday’ matapos ang pagbitaw ng diktador na si Duterte sa kaniyang linya na “Kill, Kill, Kill”. Malinaw sa nangyayaring pang-tokhang sa mga aktibista na hindi kayang tapatan ng pasistang estado ang armadong pakikibaka sa kanayunan. Ang mga duwag sa Crame, Aguinaldo at Malacañang ay ngayo’y tinatarget ang kanilang mga sariling mamamayan na kanilang binabansagan na lamang bilang mga komunista. Hindi mga armado ang pinatay na mga aktibista; sila’y mga sibilyan!

Maigting ang pagkundena ng KABATAANG MAKABAYAN – TK sa walang habas na pagpaslang ng rehimeng Duterte sa mahabang listahan ng mga aktibista nitong mga nakaraang araw! Patunay ang Bloody Sunday Crackdown na walang ligtas sa kamay ng berdugong estadong halang ang sikmura — may kapangyarihan man o wala, may armas mang tangan o di armadong sibilyan, mapa-siyudad man o sa kanayunan. Walang palya ang rehimeng ito sa patuloy na pambubusabos at pang-aabuso sa karapatang pantao ng mga mamamayang Pilipino.

Ang patuloy na pagyurak ng rehimeng Duterte at ng mga kapulisan at militar sa karapatan at kinabukasan ng masang Pilipino ang siyang mas nagpapa-alab sa bitbit na laban ng pambansa-demokratikong rebolusyon. Hindi kailanman lapastangan ang pagsulong ng armadong pakikibaka kung ang estado na mismo ang nagpapadanak ng dugo at umuubos sa mga mamamayan nito!

Kabataan, ngayon na ang tamang panahon upang kumilos at sumapi sa rebolusyon! Malaki ang ating ginagampanang papel bilang mga Anak ng Bayan sa pagsupil sa ugat ng paghihirap ng mga Pilipino.

Atin lamang itong mapagtatagumpayan kung tayo’y tutungo sa kanayunan at sasapi sa pinakamataas na antas ng pakikibaka, bitbit ang armas at ang mga panawagan para sa hustisya at luha ng mga naiwan ng ating mga kasamang nilunod ng rehimeng Duterte sa sarili nilang dugo.

Kabataan, sumama sa Bagong Hukbong Bayan!

https://cpp.ph/statements/depensahan-ang-timog-katagalugan-hustisya-para-sa-mga-biktima-ng-bloody-sunday-massacre/

CPP/NPA-Cagayan Valley ROC: Nagdurusa ang mamamayan ng Cagayan Valley sa mga patakarang pang-ekonomya ng rehimeng Duterte

Posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 11, 2021): Nagdurusa ang mamamayan ng Cagayan Valley sa mga patakarang pang-ekonomya ng rehimeng Duterte

GUILLERMO ALCALA

SPOKESPERSON

CAGAYAN VALLEY REGIONAL OPERATIONAL COMMAND (FORTUNATO CAMUS COMMAND)

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

MARCH 11, 2021

FEBRUARY 28 | “Dagdag na pahirap at panloloko lamang!” Ito ang reaksyon ng mga magsasaka at iba pang sektor sa agrikultura sa Cagayan Valley sa mga pinakahuling anunsyo at buladas ng rehimeng Duterte kaugnay ng mga hakbanging pang-ekonomya nito.

Hindi na nga sila makagulapay mula sa dati nang kalagayan ng krisis at sa epekto ng pandemyang COVID-19 at matinding kalamidad noong Nobyembre, eto na naman ang mga pinakahuling hakbang ng rehimen na lalong maglulugmok sa kanila sa kahirapan.

Una, kaugnay ng inianunsyo ng Department of Agriculture (DA) na muling pagpapababa ng taripa sa mga ini-import na bigas mula sa ibang bansa. Kailangan daw gawin ito para maengganyo pa ang mga dayuhang mangangalakal ng bigas na magpasok nito sa bansa at sa gayo’y mapunuan ang kakulangan ng Pilipinas sa bigas.

Maugong na inangalan ito ng mga magsasakang nagtatanim ng palay sa rehiyon, na dati nang tumutol sa pagkakapasa ng Rice Tarrification Law. Dahil ang epekto nito’y lalong pagbaha ng mga inangkat na bigas mula sa iba’t ibang bansa at pagbebenta ng mga ito sa Pilipinas sa mas murang presyo. Sa ganya’y malulunod at matatalo sa kumpetisyon sa pamilihan ang mga bigas na tanim ng mga magsasaka, kabilang ang mga taga-Cagayan Valley.

Ayon sa mga magsasaka, lantay na kasinungalingan ang rason ng DA na kulang ang suplay na bigas ang bansa. Paanong kulang samantalang kaunting palay lang naman ang nasira sa mga nagdaang bagyo at pagbaha noong 2020 at sa katunaya’y malaki ang suplay na bigas ang bansa.

Umalma din ang mga rice trader sa rehiyon. Ayon sa Rice Millers Association sa Cagayan Valley, ang epekto ng pagpapababa ng taripa at pagluluwag sa importasyon ng bigas ay pagkabangkrap hindi lamang ng mga nagtatanim ng palay kundi maging ng mga rice miller.

Ayon pa sa presidente ng asosasyon na si Ernesto Subia, kaya iniiwasan na ng ibang mga rice trader ang mamuhunan sa pagbili ng palay ng mga magsasaka dahil dumarami ang nalulugi o lumiliit ang kita sa kanila. Sa katunaya’y dalawampung rice mill sa Isabela ang nanganganib magsara dahil sa pagkalugi bunga ng pagbulusok ng benta sa bigas sanhi kapwa ng importasyon at epekto ng pandemyang COVID-19.

Ngayong taon, nagsimula nang mag-angkat rehimeng Duterte ng 250,000 metriko toneladang bigas, na dagdag sa inangkat na 325,000 metriko toneladang bigas noong 2020. Itinago ng mga sindikato sa bigas, na mga may koneksyon sa o sila-sila rin ang mga opisyal ng reaksyunaryong gubyerno, ang tone-toneladang bigas at iniulat na wala na diumanong mabentang bigas sa Cagayan Valley. Ito’y upang bigyang-katwiran ang panibago na namang pagpapababa ng taripa sa bigas at pagbaha sa bansa ng mga angkat na bigas.

Ikalawa, kaugnay ng ipinaghambog kamakaylan ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) na ipinapatupad na daw ng rehimeng Duterte ang pagpapamahagi ng lupa. May kabuuang lawak daw itong 6,406.6 ektarya ng lupa sa iba’t ibang rehiyon kabilang ang Cagayan Valley.

Ang totoo ay hindi libreng pamamahagi ito kundi pagkakaloob lamang ng Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA). Hindi pa ito para sa tapat na hangaring wakasan ang monopolyo sa lupa ng malalaking panginoong maylupa, kundi para sa buktot na layuning kontra-insurhensya. Pero siguradong babawiin din sa mga magsasaka ang “iginawad” sa kanilang mga lupa dahil hindi nila makakayanang bayaran ang amortisasyon niyon sa loob ng mahabang panahon, at maipapasakamay muli sa mga maykaya sa paraan ng “voluntary offer to sell.”

Dati nang ginagawa ito panahon pa ng rehimen ni Corazon Aquino, pero hanggang ngayo’y kakaramput na kaso lamang sa Cagayan Valley ang magsasakang nakakuha ng Titulo sa Lupa matapos magbayad ng amortisasyon sa loob ng itinakdang 15 taon ng pagbabayad. Napakaraming pangyayari na kapag nahinto lamang ang “benepisaryong” magsasaka ng ilang taunang pagbabayad sa iba’t ibang dahilan (nasira ang mga pananim dulot ng bagyo, nagastos sa pagpapaospital o pagpapaaral sa anak, atbp), kahit pa nakabayad na ito sa maraming taon ay eembarguhin pa rin ng DAR ang lupa.

Dahil sa mga ganyang naging problema, ang solusyon ng mga nagdaang rehimen (na ipinapatupad lang naman uli ni Duterte) ay hindi pa para tiyaking huwag mabawi sa mga magsasaka ang “naipamahaging” lupa sa kanila, kundi para maibalik sa kamay ng mga panginoong maylupa at iba pang maykaya ang lupang ipinailalim sa sistemang CLOA – sa pamamagitan ng patakarang Voluntary Offer to Sell (VOS). “Boluntaryo” daw pero napilitan lamang sa “pag-alok na ibenta” ng magsasaka ang lupang ito na dahil hindi niya nababayaran at eembarguhin na sa kanya ng rehimen! Mga sindikato sa DAR ang malaking nagpakinabang sa VOS sa nakaraan.

Sa gitna ng walang kaparis na krisis sa ekonomya, pandemya at matinding kalamidad, eto lamang ang mabibigay ng rehimeng Duterte sa masang magsasaka at iba pang mamamayan sa Cagayan Valley – pagsakal pa sa lokal na industriya ng bigas pabor sa mga dayuhang produkto at huwad na reporma sa lupa! Dagdag na patunay na ang rehimeng Duterte ay salungat sa interes ng masang magsasaka at iba pang mamamayan at pabor sa interes ng mga malalaking kapitalistang dayuhan, burgesya kumprador at uring panginoong maylupa.

Panay buhos ng bilyun-bilyong pondo sa imbi nitong kampanyang kontra-insurhensya upang diumanong sugpuin ang armadong paglaban ng masang magsasaka at iba pang mamamayan. Pero ang mismo nitong mga patakaran sa ekonomya at ang kabuuang sistemang ipinagtatanggol nito ang pinakamahusay na batayan ng hindi pagkagapi at patuloy na paglakas ng armadong rebolusyonaryong kilusan ng mamamayan. #

https://cpp.ph/statements/nagdurusa-ang-mamamayan-ng-cagayan-valley-sa-mga-patakarang-pang-ekonomya-ng-rehimeng-duterte/

CPP/NDF-ST: Usigin sina Duterte, General Antonio Parlade, Jr, General Debold Sinas at ang kriminal at mamamatay-taong PNP at AFP sa nangyaring Bloody Sunday noong Marso 7!

Posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Mar 10, 2021): Usigin sina Duterte, General Antonio Parlade, Jr, General Debold Sinas at ang kriminal at mamamatay-taong PNP at AFP sa nangyaring Bloody Sunday noong Marso 7!

PATNUBAY DE GUIA

SPOKESPERSON

NDF-SOUTHERN TAGALOG

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

MARCH 10, 2021

Tigmak ng dugo ng mga inosenteng sibilyan ang mga kamay ni Duterte, General Antonio Parlade, Jr. at General Debold Sinas sampu ng mga mamamatay-tao sa AFP at PNP sa madugong reyd na isinagawa noong madaling araw ng Marso 7, 2021 sa Cavite, Laguna, Batangas at Rizal (Calabar). Inilunsad ng kriminal at mersenaryong militar at pulis ang sabayang reyd sa mga opisina at bahay ng mga kilalang lider-aktibista at mga sibilyang tinatakan ng militar at pulis na kalaban ng estado.

Ang madugong araw ng Linggo ay nagresulta sa pagpaslang sa siyam (9) na mga aktibista at pag-aresto sa anim (6) na iba pa sa paraang ala-Tokhang at Synchronized Enhanced Military and Police Operation (SEMPO) tulad ng ginawa sa Negros, Sorsogon, Masbate at Iloilo. Mga kilalang lider masa, unyonista, organisador at tagapagtanggol sa karapatang pantao sa rehiyong Timog Katagalugan at mga ordinaryong kasapi ng mga progresibong organisasyon ang mga biktima ng inisponsor-ng-estado na mga pagpatay at panunugis. At tulad ng gasgas nang kwento ng PNP, pinalalabas na nanlaban ang lahat ng napatay.

Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na sangkot at may kinalaman sa nangyaring Bloody Sunday sina General Parlade at Debold Sinas. Mismong sinabi ni Brigadier General Felipe Natividad, hepe ng PNP IV-A (CALABARZON) na mahigpit nilang katuwang sa kanilang isinagawang mga operasyon na nagresulta ng Bloody Sunday ang Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC). Ang joint operation ng PNP at AFP ay tinagurian nilang COPLAN ASVAL. Si General “Berdugo” Parlade ay myembro ng RTF-ECLAC bilang punong komander ng Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) ng AFP at isa sa mga tagapagsalita ng NTF-ELCAC. Inamin din ni General Natividad sa panayam ng midya na 24 search warrants ang kanilang nakuha para ipatupad ang COPLAN ASVAL dalawang araw matapos panibagong ipag-utos ni Duterte ang mga pagpatay sa mga kasapi ng NPA at inuudyukan ang PNP at AFP na huwag kilalanin at balewalain ang usapin sa pagrespeto sa karapatang pantao.

Kapwa may pananagutan sa madugong araw ng Linggo ang mga mersenaryong huwes na tagamanupaktura ng search warrant upang balutan ng “ligalidad at pagiging lehitimo” ng mga isinasagawang maramihang pag-aresto at state-sponsored killings. At tulad ng naging kalakaran ng mga pulis at militar sa mga isinasagawang paghahalughog, tinaniman ng ebidensya ng mga baril, bala, granada, mga subersibong dokumento, bandila at iba pang mga gamit diumano ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan ang mga suspek. Siyam (9) pang bahay ang pinasok at hinalughog sa ganoon ding kaparaanan sa itaas subalit wala sa kanilang mga tahanan ang 9 na mga lider at aktibista na hinainan din ng minapakturang search warrants mula sa mga mersenaryo at kriminal na huwes. Kung nagkataon na naroon sila sa kanilang mga tahanan, hindi malayo na ang marami sa kanila ay malamig nang bangkay.
Ang nangyaring Bloody Sunday ay ang rurok ng nagpapatuloy na red-tagging ng NTF-ELCAC sa mga aktibista, kritiko at oposisyon sa tiraniko at kamay-na-bakal na paghahari ng rehimeng Duterte kung saan pangunahin at masugid na pasimuno si General Parlade at tagapagpatupad naman ang mataderong si General Sinas sa mga inilulunsad na SEMPO at ala-Tokhang na pagpatay. Kailangan na silang sibakin, usigin at papanagutin sa kanilang madugong kampanya ng panunupil sa mga walang kalaban-laban at mga inosenteng sibilyan. Dahil tinatamasa nila ang basbas at proteksyon ni Duterte, ang patron ng mga utak-kriminal sa AFP at PNP, buong laya at walang-pananagutan nilang naipatutupad ang mga karumal-dumal na krimen at terorismo ng estado laban sa mamamayan.

Buong laya namang ginagamit ni Parlade ang pondo ng NTF-ELCAC sa walang patumanggang red-tagging at paninira sa mga pinararatangan nitong mga kaaway ng estado. Wala nang ginagawang pag-iiba si General Parlade sa mga armado’t kombatant at sa mga di-armado’t sibilyan.

Tulad ng amo niyang si Duterte, hindi na rin kinikilala at nirerespeto ni General Parlade ang karapatang pantao, sa CARHRIHL at internasyunal na makataong batas sa digma. Bilang masugid na tagapagpatupad ng madugong “gera kontra-insurhensya” ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte, para kay General Parlade, lahat ng mga mamamayang pumupuna, bumabatikos at nagpaparating ng kanilang hinaing at kahilingan sa gubyerno ay pinararatangang mga kaaway ng estado at kung ganun ay target ng red-tagging, demonisasyon, pagpapakulong at sa pinakamasahol, ng mga pagpaslang.

Sa ganitong kalagayan, walang ibang dapat gawin ang taumbayan kundi ang ibayong pahigpitin ang pagkakaisa, at labanan ang pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte hanggang sa ito’y maibagsak sa pamamagitan ng lakas at kapangyarihan ng mamamayang Pilipino. Walang nagaganap na kahit pansamantalang paghupa ang mga pag-atake ng rehimen laban sa taumbayan sa kabila ng mga nagdudumilat na katotohanan na paparami ang nawawalan ng hanapbuhay at nagugutom na mamamayang Pilipino dahil sa pandemya. Walang tigil at patuloy ang pagtaas ng mga pangunahing bilihin at serbisyo, paglobo ng utang at depisito sa budget at kalakalan at higit sa lahat ang di masawa-sawatang pagdami ng bilang ng mga nahahawa, nagkakasakit at namamatay sa Covid-19. Sa halip na pag-ukulan ng matamang pansin ng gubyernong Duterte ang mga hinaing at problema ng sambayanang Pilipino, nakatuon ang kanyang pansin sa pagbira at pag-atake sa mga lehitimong grupo at organisasyon na bumabatikos sa kanyang mga katiwalian at maling pamamalakad sa gubyerno.

Hindi pa huhupa ang terorismo ni Duterte at NTF-ELCAC laban sa mga lider, aktibista, organisador, enbayronmentalista at mga tagapagtaguyod sa karapatang pantao na kabilang sa ligal na kilusang demokratiko. Papatindi pa ang mga gagawing pag-atake at pamamaslang ni Duterte, kasama ng de facto civilian-military junta na nakakubli sa NTF-ELCAC. Buong akala ni Duterte na sa ginagawa niyang pananakot, pagpapakulong at pamamaslang sa mga lider at kasapi ng mga ligal at progresibong organisasyon ay kanyang mapapaatras at mapapahina ang buong hanay ng nagkakaisang prente na nabubuklod laban sa kanyang tiraniko at pasistang paghahari. Lalo lamang itinutulak ng gubyernong Duterte ang taumbayan at iba pang mga patriotiko at makabayang organisasyon, mga civil libertarians at organisasyong sibiko na sumama at lumahok sa lumalakas na kilusang anti-pasista at anti-terorismo ng estado na nagkakaisang prente sa bansa. Ang dating pasibo at walang pakialam na aktitud sa nangyayari sa bansa mula sa ilan nating mga kababayan ay nagsisimula nang mapukaw, halinhan ng poot ang takot at magprotesta sa pasismo ni Duterte.

Walang kapatawaran ang mga nagawang karumal-dumal na krimen, pagpatay at terorismo ni General Antonio Parlade, General Debold Sinas at ng amo nitong si Rodrigo Roa Duterte sa mamamayang Pilipino. Sa tamang panahon ay pananagutin ng taumbayan at ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan ang lahat ng mga may kinalaman at sangkot sa Bloody Sunday sa partikular at sa mga nagawang krimen ng pasistang rehimeng Duterte laban sa sangkatauhan, mga paglabag sa karapatang pantao, internasyunal na makataong batas at iba pang batas ng digma sa kabuuan.

Samantala, bukas ang pintuan ng mga sona’t larangang gerilya sa Timog Katagalugan para kupkupin at pagkalooban ng proteksyon ang mga lider at myembro ng ligal na kilusang demokratiko na tinatarget ng madugong gyera at terorismo ni Duterte. Maraming lugar na nakahanda sa loob ng mga sona’t larangang gerilya sa rehiyon na inyong ligtas na matitigilan mula sa pagtugis ng mga mersenaryo at pasistang tropa ng AFP at PNP. Sa kabilang banda, lalong bukas ang pintuan ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan sa pagtanggap sa mga nagnanais sumapi sa NPA at magsulong ng armadong pakikibaka. Ang paglahok sa armadong pakikibaka ng mamamayan ang tanging paraan para palakasin ang paglaban sa terorismo ng estado at biguin ang inisponsor ni Duterte na mga pagpatay at karahasan sa taumbayan. Makakamit lamang ng nakikibakang mamamayan at mga biktima ng terorismo ng estado ang katarungan sa pamamagitan ng paglahok sa armadong pakikibaka at pagsapi sa hukbong bayan.

Katarungan para sa mga biktima ng Bloody Sunday at iba pang karumal-dumal na krimen ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte sa sangkatauhan!
Usigin at papanagutin si Duterte, General Antonio Parlade, Jr., General Debold Sinas, NTF-ELCAC at iba pang matataas na opisyal ng PNP at AFP sa rehiyon sa nangyaring Bloody Sunday!
Sumapi sa New People’s Army at Isulong ang Demokratikong Rebolusyon ng Bayan!
https://cpp.ph/statements/usigin-sina-duterte-general-antonio-parlade-jr-general-debold-sinas-at-ang-kriminal-at-mamamatay-taong-pnp-at-afp-sa-nangyaring-bloody-sunday-noong-marso-7/