Father claims body of NPA leader

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 25, 2021): Father claims body of NPA leader (BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

The cadaver of New People’s Army leader, Kerima Lorena Tariman, alias Ka Ella, will be on its way home to Daraga, Albay soon.

Her father, Pablo Tariman, accompanied by her son and an unidentified woman, arrived Monday in Negros Occidental, and claimed her remains to be brought to her hometown in Albay, 1Lt. Dansan Camua, 79IB Civil Military Operations officer, said.

The Philippine Army tagged Ka Ella, 42, as the secretary of the NPA Northern Negros Front.

Camua said the cadaver was claimed yesterday from the Manapla Funeral Parlor in Silay City, and will reportedly be cremated.

Ka Ella and a certain Ka Pabling, whose identity was later established by the 79IB, as Joery Dato-on Cocuba, 38, of Brgy. Consing, EB Magalona, died in an encounter in Hacienda Raymunda, Brgy. Kapitan Ramon, Silay City Friday.

The identity of Cocuba was confirmed by his two neighbors in the barangay, although his family has yet to claim his cadaver, the 79IB said.

Cocuba was also linked by the military to the burning of three heavy equipment in Brgy. San Isidro, EB Magalona, in April this year.

Aside from Tariman and Cocuba, an Army soldier also died in the recent gun-battle.

Mayor Mark Golez said the Silay City government mourned the passing of PFC Christopher Alada, whom he described in his Facebook account, as a great soldier who embodied bravery, selflessness, and heroism.

The body of Alada, a father of two, was brought to his home in Badiangan, Iloilo Saturday.

Aside from war materials, the 79IB also recovered copies of extortion letters reportedly being readied for distribution by the group of Ka Ella to sugar planters and businessmen, among others, in the areas of Silay, Victorias, and EB Magalona, Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said.

https://news.visayandailystar.com/father-claims-body-of-npa-leader/

Senate OKs Bangsamoro transition extension; next President to appoint BTA members serving until 2021

Posted to MindaNews (Aug 26, 2021): Senate OKs Bangsamoro transition extension; next President to appoint BTA members serving until 2021 (By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS)

With one ‘no’ vote and two abstentions, the Senate late Wednesday afternoon passed on second reading Senate Bill 2214 extending the transition period of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) until June 30, 2025 by resetting the date of the first election of the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament from May 2022 to May 2025.

As amended, the bill will now allow the next President to appoint the 80-member Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) when the terms of the incumbent BTA members expire on June 30, 2022. The next President will assume his post at noon of June 30, 2022.

“With one dissent and two abstention, Senate Bill 2214 is approved on 2nd reading,” Senate President Vicente Sotto said as he banged the gavel at 5:43 p.m.

Senate President Vicente Sotto bangs the gavel at 5:43 p.m. on Wednesday,25 August 2021, after announcing that with one dissent and two abstentions, Senate Bill 2214 is passed don second reading (Screenshot from livestreamed Senate session)

Wednesday’s approval came 37 days before October 1, the first day of the week-long filing of certificates of candidacy. The House has yet to deliberate on the substitute bill crafted by the three committees that acted on the proposed bills.

But Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author of RA 11054 or the Organic Law for the BARMM, said President Rodrigo Duterte will certify their bill as urgent. “The certificate of urgency is forthcoming,” he said, adding this was relayed to him in a telephone conversation with Senator Christopher Lawrence Go and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Tuesday.

A certificate of urgency means SB 2214 can be passed on third reading immediately after its approval on second reading, without having to wait for three days. Bills certified as urgent do not follow the three-day rule between the second and third reading.

Sotto said he spoke with House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco about three or four weeks ago and was told the measure was still with the committee but would be reported to the plenary soon. “Now what I gathered was that they are looking at the Senate version which we insisted is to merely postpone and no frills on the other side,” Sotto said, adding the House version is, “very complex,” Zubiri interjected.

Dissent and Abstention

Senator Panfilo Lacson, who said on Tuesday that the people of the Bangsamoro region should be consulted through a plebiscite if they approve of the proposed postponement of the May 2022 polls to 2025, voted against the bill while Senator Imee Marcos, immediately after Lacson registered his ‘no’ vote, declared she would abstain. Senator Ralph Recto also abstained.

Marcos on Tuesday said she would agree to an extension of the Bangsmoro transition period but only for one year.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon proposed and the senators agreed, to delete the “controversial line” on appointing new BTA members “upon effectivity of the law” as that would, in effect, cut short the three-year term of the BTA members which is to expire on June 30, 2022.

He proposed that “upon the expiration of the terms of the incumber members of the BTA, the President shall appoint the 80 members of the BTA who shall serve up to June 30, 2025 or until their successors shall have been elected.”

The bill’s principal sponsor, Senator Francis Tolentino, chair of the Committee on Local Government, accepted Drilon’s amendment, subject to styling.

Sotto said BTA members “will remain” until June 30, 2022 and “the new President may be able to appoint” the 80-member BTA, subject to the provisions of RA 11054. Under the Bangsamoro law, the enabling act of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) — the peace agreement signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) — the 80-member BTA shall be MILF-led. After the ratification of the Bangsamoro law in early 2019, President Duterte appointed 80 members of the BTA, 41 of them nominated by the MILF and 39 nominated by the government.

The law provides that the BTA should include representatives from the non-Moro indigenous communities, youth, women, settler communities, and traditional leaders, among others.

Zubiri emphasized that representation in the BTA should be “respected by the next President.”

“If it’s in the BARMM law, the next president will follow that,” Sotto said.

“Is it our understanding that the present members of BTA will hold office until June 30, 2022?” Drilon asked. Sotto replied, “yes” while Tolentino said “yes, unless for cause there are reasons for their removal, subject to due process.”

Deleted

The Senate had agreed in May to “simplify” the bill by taking out the controversial Section 2 which listed down the seat allocation, including those to be nominated by governors of the Bangsamoro provinces (one province that was not even part of BARMM was included) — opting instead to return to the formula prescribed by RA 11054 whose basis was the peace agreement.

On Wednesday, the Senate deleted the proposed section on the creation of a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee “to aid the BTA in the performance of its functions and priorities.”

RA 11054 provides for a Philippine Congress – Bangsamoro Parliament Forum “for purposes of cooperation and coordination of legislative initiatives.”

Senator Francis Tolentino, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government. Screenshot from live-streamed Senate session on 25 August 2021

Tolentino admitted to having “some misgivings” about taking out the oversight provision but “we have deleted this provision.”

Gordon, author of one of two Senate bills seeking the extension of the Bangsamoro transition period, expressed a “misgiving” that the “new President will now be able to appoint” members of the BTA for the three-year period 2022 to 2025.

“Cannot this spark hostility or divisiveness,” Gordon asked, adding his “countrymen in Mindanao might think here again is Manila intervening.”

Tolentino allayed Gordon’s fears. He pointed to the Bangsamoro law for guidelines and the listing of sectors that should be represented in the Parliament.

“Pursue, consummate, accomplish the CAB”

“One of the rationales here is really to pursue, consummate, accomplish the CAB which would result in the normalization in pursuit of peace and from our engagements with the MILF, they are in need of time to accomplish all the watershed requirements that would sustain the peace … we here would now be affording the peace process to continue and proceed as started,” Tolentino explained.

“In layman’s terms, this President or even the next President, nakakahon” (is boxed in) by the provisions of the Bangsamoro law on the appointments.

“Am done,” Tolentino said at 4:55 p.m., signalling the end of the period of amendments.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri. Screenshot from live-streamed Senate session on 25 August 2021

Zubiri said “we simplified (the bill) as much as we can … limit it to number, date of extension, and that’s all.”

“No matter who the president will be,” Zubiri stressed, that President will have to “honor the criteria set forth” by the Bangsamoro law.

Zubiri sought a suspension of the session before voting on second reading. The session resumed at 5:37 p.m. with Lacson casting a negative vote, followed by an abstention from Marcos and later from Recto who asked if SB 2214 is certified urgent by the President.

“No,” Sotto said, adding, “not at the moment.”

Zubiri replied that “all the Cabinet members are requesting this,” especially the Defense cluster – Defense, Interior and Local Government Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process – and Finance, “to maintain the peace in this area.”

He said a certificate of urgency was forthcoming as relayed by Go on Tuesday.

Zubiri said he had just spoken with Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, who reiterated the Defense cluster’s support for the bill. He said President Duterte took a neutral stance.

Galvez in November last year told a House Committee hearing that the President wanted an extension of the Bangsamoro transition period. Days later, bills were filed to extend the transition.

“Most logical decision”

Bangsamoro Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, concurrent chair of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel, told MindaNews that the passage of the bill on second reading is “highly appreciated.”

“That is the most logical decision. The Senate should be commended for that,” Iqbal said.

For Member of Parliament (MP) Zia alonto Adiong, the bill’s passage “is a good sign that the Senate sees this issue based on the practicalities of extending he transition period to fulfill the requirements of RA 110t54 which is essentially to organize regional bureaucracy while we pursue the completion of the normalization process.”

MP Omar Sema, Deputy Speaker at the interim Bangsamoro Parliament, who was with five Members of Parliament and the BARMM Cabinet Secretary at the Senate on Wednesday, welcomed the passage of the bill. “At least there is some progress in the call for extension of the transition period,” he told MindaNews.

But Sema said he is worried over the provision on the next President appointing BTA members from 2022 to 2025. He said it is “totally not in accord with reason for extension which is completion of normalization and ensuring complete implementation of all signed agreements.”

“That provision puts more stress on the political aspect of the CAB. The power to appoint and to remove for cause should not be clipped or compelled from the power holder. Meaning, both the current President and the next President must be able to wield that power but this need not be stated in the law as the power to appoint and remove is fully secured in the hands of the executive, guaranteed in the 1987 Constitution,” he said.

Lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, Secretary-General of the Mindanao Peoples Caucus, thanked the Senate for passing the bill on second reading “but the momentum needed in the House of Representatives will obviously require the issuance of certificate of urgency.”

“As a son of Mindanao, we know that you know what is best for Mindanao. Let peace in the Bangsamoro and the entire Mindanao be your best and lasting legacy. Please do not fail us. Certify the extension bill as urgent now.” (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

https://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2021/08/senate-oks-bangsamoro-transition-extension-next-president-to-appoint-bta-members-serving-until-2025/

Army uncovers CPP-NPA-NDF Kangaroo Court in Carigara

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 25, 2021): Army uncovers CPP-NPA-NDF Kangaroo Court in Carigara (By 802Bde, 8ID, PA)

CAMP DOWNES, Ormoc City -- The Philippine (PA) Army progresses the dismantling of the remaining politico-military structure of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the Municipality of Carigara, Leyte with the recent surrender of two self-confessed members of the so-called “Kangaroo Court” and a courier-spotter of its liquidation squad to the 93rd Infantry (Bantay Kapayapaan) Battalion of the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division.

They surrendered each a .45 caliber pistol with a magazine loaded with several ammunitions.

When interviewed, alias Jun and alias Kakay willingly confessed their membership with the CPP-NPA-NDF “Kangaroo Court,” while alias Tor freely admitted his past association with the Special Operation Group/Special Partisan Unit (SOG/SPARU) of the dismantled Guerrilla Front 41, Island Committee Levox, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

Both Jun and Kakay claimed that the late Boy Caliwan alias Kumander Apoy, the late alias Santoy, alias Maan/Biyong, and alias Jay/Tibor, all of the defunct Platoon Agila, GF 41, IC Levox, designated them and several others to the Kangaroo Court without the benefit of any training and specific guidance on how to conduct the so-called “revolutionary justice system.”

They also identified the other members of the Kangaroo Court, four of whom are still alive today including one who earlier surrendered to the 93rd IB but merely as a mass member.

Kakay identified an employee of the Leyte Electric Cooperative III (LEYECO III) as one of the deceased members of the Kangaroo Court who was frequenting his house along with other motorcycle-riding LEYECO III worker-union members.

Kakay bared that he handed down the death sentence on a certain Tonyo who was executed by the NPA regulars – a certain alias Wally, alias Tikboy, and alias Joey. A barangay captain whose husband was a relative of Tonyo and a brother of the victim reportedly served as principal complainants.

For his part, Tor, a habal-habal driver, admitted his involvement with the CTG in Carigara and adjacent areas as a courier, spotter and driver for members of the local SOG/SPARU members. He revealed that he drove the SOG/SPARU members to a place in Carigara where they assassinated Cpl Erwin V. Niegas of the 8ID sometime in 2015.

Jun and Kakay admitted membership with the CTG-established Municipal Upland Farmers Association in Carigara (MUFAC) before they were designated as Kangaroo Court members, who identified, recommended, and imposed punishment on the so-called “Kontra Rebolusyonaryo Dautang Elemento” or KRDE.

Brigadier General Zosimo A. Oliveros, commander of the 802nd Brigade, condemns the summary execution of victims without the benefit of a thorough and just investigation similar to the purging of their own members in the gruesome Inopacan massacre.

“I am calling on our fellow Filipinos to unite and demand justice for the victims of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s baseless, cruel, and inhuman so-called revolutionary justice system,” Oliveros concluded. (802Bde, 8ID, PA)

https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/2021/08/25/army-uncovers-cpp-npa-ndf-kangaroo-court-in-carigara

JTF Bicolandia condemns killing of vendors in Masbate

From the Philippine Information Agency (Aug 26, 2021): JTF Bicolandia condemns killing of vendors in Masbate (By DPAO, 9ID)

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur --The Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia condemned in the strongest term the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) for perpetrating the wicked killing of three innocent vendors in Brgy. Miabas, Palanas, Masbate.

The victims were identified as Jose Lalaguna- 51, Joey Lalaguna – 30, and Jestoni Lalaguna, 22.

According to the report, on August 14 at around 7 o'clock in the morning, the victims were on board their motorcycles together with two others to sell mirrors, floormats, and speakers when they were flagged down by at least 20 heavily armed communist NPA terrorists (CNTs).

The CNTs under Rogelio Suson AKA Manong, terrorist leader of Platoon 1, Larangan 2, Komiteng Probinsya 4, forcibly conducted body search before dragging the victims to a secluded area where they were ruthlessly executed.

Two of them, on the other hand, managed to escape.

Lt. Col. Siegfried Felipe Awichen, Battalion Commander of 2nd Infantry Battalion (2IB), said that they are now in close coordination with the PNP to hunt down the fleeing communist insurgents.

One of the slain vendors in Masbate believed to be perpetrated by the CTG. (Photo credits: 9ID)

"Hindi tayo titigil hangga't hindi natin nahuhuli at napaparusahan ang mga walang kaluluwang gumawa ng karumal-dumal na krimeng ito (We will not stop until we put those responsible for the killing behind bars)," Lt. Col. Awichen added.

Col. Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of 903rd Infantry Brigade, warned the CTG members responsible for the killing to surrender as they can never hide from the security forces' on-going pursuit operations.

"There is no way you can run from us. Maliban sa mga otoridad na humahabol sa inyo, tiyak na ituturo kayo ng mga Masbateño upang mabigyang hustisya ang ginawa ninyo sa kanilang mga kababayan (Except for the authorities who are running after you, we are certain that Masbatenos will show us where you are to give justice to their townmates)," Col. Almase said.

Meanwhile, MGEN HENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, Commander of JTF Bicolandia rebuked the CTG for its terroristic attack against the innocent civilians who, unlike them, were making a living legally for their families.

"Hindi pa nga humuhupa ang galit ng sambayanang Pilipino lalo na ng mga Masbateño sa CTG dahil sa pamamaslang nila sa football player na si Kieth at sa tiyuhin niyang si Nolven Absalon, may tatlong inosenteng sibilyan na naman na walang awang pinatay ng mga teroristang ito. These crimes are purely desperate acts to threaten


the people using terrorism. Pero hindi nila basta-basta matatakot ang mga Pilipino, sapagkat gising na tayo sa katotohanan at hindi na natin hahayaan na manaig uli ang mga terroristang ito at magpatuloy ang mahigit limang dekadang pananamantala nila sa atin. To all Masbateños, let us continue the fight. Huwag ninyong hayaang bastusin ang inyong lugar ng mga kriminal na ito. Hahanapin natin sila kahit saan man sila magtago (The anger that the Filipinos felt towards the CTG when they killed Kieth, the football player and his cousin Nolven Absalon has not subsided yet and now, the CTG killed another 3 innocent civilians. These crimes are purely desperate acts to threaten the people using terrorism, but this will not intimidate the Filipino people. We will not allow them to continue their five-decade exploitation and atrocities. To all Masbatenos, let us continue the fight. Let us not allow these criminals to malign this place. We will look for them in all nooks and corners, and will not allow them to hide)," MGen. Robinson said.

JTF Bicolandia emphasized that with the recent incident, the CTG again violated the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and RA 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity. (Source:Division Public Affairs Office/Cpt. JP Belleza)

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4004111469161356591/7117791853940261096

US military donates ICU beds to Tuguegarao hospital

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25, 2021): US military donates ICU beds to Tuguegarao hospital (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)

AID. US military personnel with Indo-Pacific Command’s Civil-Military Support Element–Philippines delivered ICU beds to the Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City last week. The hospital is the primary center for severe Covid-19 cases in the area, currently operating at full capacity. (Photo by US Embassy in Manila)

The United States Indo-Pacific Command donated intensive care unit (ICU) beds valued at PHP83,000 to Cagayan Valley Medical Center in Tuguegarao City to support Cagayan in battling the pandemic.

The US Embassy in Manila on Wednesday said the donation was delivered last Aug. 18 by American troops and was part of larger US assistance that would provide ICU beds and essential protective equipment to the Department of Health (DOH).

Cagayan Valley Medical Center is the primary center for severe Covid-19 cases in the area, currently operating at full capacity.

Additional ICU beds and protective equipment, such as disposable gloves, goggles, face shields, disinfectant spray, and other items to support frontline workers, will be delivered in coordination with Philippine partners in the coming months, the Embassy said.

“This generous donation came at a very critical time in our fight against Covid-19,” Cagayan Valley Medical Center chief Dr. Glenn Mathew Baggao said. “The US civil military support element members that helped facilitate this donation worked tirelessly to get us the equipment that we needed to help our patients and help mitigate further spread of Covid-19 in the local area."

The donation came ahead of the two-day Manila trip of US Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John Aquilino from Aug. 23 to 24, who reaffirmed America's commitment to its alliance with the Philippines.

Since the pandemic started, the US has so far provided at least PHP1.38 billion (approximately USD27.5 million) to support the Philippines’ Covid-19 response.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151562

DND monitoring events in Afghanistan

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25, 2021): DND monitoring events in Afghanistan (By Priam Nepomuceno)

PNA file photo

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said they are constantly monitoring events happening in Afghanistan which was earlier overrun and captured by the Taliban early this month.

"Ang mga nangyayari sa Afghanistan ay tinututukan natin, concerned tayo diyan dahil yun dalawang taong nagtatag ng Abu Sayyaf (in 1991) ay galing [at] nagtrain sa Afghanistan nung mga 1980s. Si Janjalani (Abdujarak Abukakar) at iyong kanyang kapatid [Khadaffy], nag-umpisa ng Abu Sayyaf. The threat ay nandiyan (We are monitoring the events happening in Afghanistan, we are concerned because the two people who established the Abu Sayyaf, both came and trained in Afghanistan in the 1980s. [Abdujarak Abukakar] Janjalani and his brother, started the Abu Sayyaf. The threat is there)," he said during an interview with SMNI News Channel Wednesday.

Lorenzana said he also asked US Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral John Aquilino during his meeting with the American military official on Monday whether there are substantial numbers of Southeast Asian fighters within the Taliban ranks in Afghanistan who can sneak in and return to Malaysia, Indonesia, and even the Philippines.

"Ang tingin namin ay walang Filipino nandun nagte- training sa Taliban, pero ang nakikita ko diyan baka meron Malaysians at Indonesians. Concerned tayo diyan, minamanmanan natin yun nangyayari. Eto namang ginagawa natin rito, nakikipagtulungan tayo sa Malaysia at Indonesia upang mapigilan ang pag-uwi ng probable terrorists at mapigilan sila sa kanilang lugar at hindi maglipat-lipat sa ibang bansa (We think that there are no Filipinos training with the Taliban, but there could be Malaysians and Indonesians. We are concerned about that and we are constantly monitoring the events. We are coordinating with Malaysia and Indonesia to stop the return of these probable terrorists so that they no longer go from country to country [and conduct attacks]," he added.

Asked if he is in favor of accepting Afghan refugees, the Defense chief said President Rodrigo R. Duterte is willing to accept "limited" number of refugees in the country.

"Sabi niya [Duterte], he is willing to accept limited [number], hindi naman lahat siguro ng Afghan na gustong tumakas ay tatangapin, pero nag-offer siya as President of the Republic that we are open to accept limited refugees from Afghanistan (The President said he is willing to accept limited Afghan refugees, but not all those fleeing Afghans will be accepted, but as President of the Republic we are open to accept limited [number of] refugees from Afghanistan)," he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151551

Solons told to explain objection to fund village dev't

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25, 2021): Solons told to explain objection to fund village dev't (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana (Presidential Photo)

Lawmakers have "misplaced" objections to the proposed PHP28.1 billion budget for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in 2022 which are intended to fund development projects in conflict-affected barangays, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday.

Lorenzana said the solons should explain the reason for their call to defund the anti-insurgency task force.

"Ang masasabi ko lang ay mukhang misplaced naman 'yung kanilang mga objection. Kung mag-object sila, then they are objecting development ng mga barangays na kailangang kailangan nating tulungan, so sila ay magpapaliwanag sa mga tao kung bakit nila gustong itigil 'yun (I can say that their objections are misplaced, if they are objecting, then they are objecting to the development of barangays that need help, they better explain that to the residents on why they want to stop their development)," he said in an interview with SMNI News Channel.

The Makabayan bloc in Congress and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon are among those calling to trim the proposed NTF-ELCAC budget.

Under the proposed 2022 national budget, the NTF-ELCAC’s Barangay Development Project (BDP) will rehabilitate around 1,406 barangays in conflict-hit areas located mostly in New People's Army (NPA) infested areas of Samar and Bicol Region.

Lorenzana called the proposal a "good one" and said that local government officials were in favor of the development projects in their communities.

"Kailangan ipaliwanag ng mga mambabatas na 'yan kung bakit nila gustong itigil 'yun (the lawmakers need to explain why they want it stopped). Are they against development, they do not want the barangays to prosper kaya gusto nilang matigil 'yung (that's why they want to stop) ELCAC fund," he added.

The BDP is the NTF-ELCAC hallmark program to bring government projects development projects in conflict-afflicted and geographically isolated villages that have been considered "cleared" from the influence of communist rebels.

The BDP aims to bring farm-to-market roads, classrooms, water and sanitation systems, health stations, and livelihood to these barangays.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151579

AFP confers military awards on Hidilyn, Eumir for Olympic feats

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25, 2021): AFP confers military awards on Hidilyn, Eumir for Olympic feats (By Priam Nepomuceno)

MILITARY AWARDS. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz (right) and boxer Eumir Felix Marcial show their Olympic gold and bronze medals, respectively, and the military medals they received from the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the awarding rites at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Wednesday (Aug. 25, 2021). Diaz and Marcial are members of the Philippine Air Force with the ranks of Staff Sargent and Sargent, respectively. (Photo courtesy of AFP)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday conferred military awards on Olympic medalists and soldier-athletes, Air Force Staff Sgt. Hidilyn Diaz and Sgt. Eumir Felix Marcial during ceremonies held in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Diaz, the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo Olympics, received the Outstanding Achievement Medal with Second Bronze Anahaw Leaf for her triumphant performance in the women's weightlifting (55kg category) competition.

She also received a plaque of recognition, the Philippine flag and a simple token from the military leadership.

“What Staff Sgt. Diaz has done was to bring hope and inspiration to millions of our fellow Filipinos, who up until this day continue to battle against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic,” AFP deputy chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Erickson Gloria, who represented AFP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr., during the recognition ceremony at the General Headquarters canopy area in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Faustino is now in self-isolation after testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) last Monday.

Marcial, a bronze medal winner in the men's boxing middleweight division, received the Chief of Staff, AFP Commendation Medal and Ribbon.

The military also acknowledged boxers Nesty Petecio and Carlo Paalam for winning silver medal in Tokyo.

“We hope that through this simple yet meaningful ceremony, we would be able to inspire our soldiers and civilian human resource, not only to be more active in sports, but also in the performance of their respective duties in protecting and securing the peace and stability of our country,” Gloria said.

The AFP has a program of direct enlistment that enables athletes to join its ranks.

This provides them access to training facilities as well as includes them in the AFP payroll for their regular salaries.

As of July year, there are a total of 128 military athletes and coaches who compete in various sport events. Of which, 23 are from the Philippine Army, 64 from the Philippine Air Force and 41 from the Philippine Navy.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151617

10 more BIFF extremists yield in Maguindanao

 From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25, 2021): 10 more BIFF extremists yield in Maguindanao (By Edwin Fernandez)

NEW LIFE. Military and local officials of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao accept the surrender of 10 BIFF extremists during simple ceremonies held at the camp of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade in Ampatuan town on Tuesday (Aug. 24, 2021). The surrenderers, who also yielded assorted firearms, are assured of livelihood packages under the AGILA-HAVEN program of the provincial government. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Ten more extremists of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) yielded to military and local officials in Maguindanao, bringing to 130 the total number of surrenderers in Central Mindanao since January.

Col. Pedro Balisi, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, and Mayor Edris Sindatok of Datu Saudi Ampatuan welcomed the returnees during simple surrender rites held at the military unit’s headquarters in Barangay Kamasi of Ampatuan town on Tuesday afternoon.

The surrenderers turned in six assorted firearms – a caliber .50 Barrett sniper rifle, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, one M16 rifle, one M1 Carbine rifle, two Garand rifles – and ammunition.

Balisi said the surrenderers belonged to the BIFF-Karialan faction operating in the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, all in Maguindanao.

“The latest batch of surrenderers was convinced to lay down their arms by former comrades who earlier yielded and are now living normal lives with their families,” he said.

For security reasons, Balisi declined to disclose the identities of the surrenderers.

In a phone patch interview with reporters here, a certain alias Ahmad, one of the surrenderers, said they surrendered after they grew tired of fighting a lost cause and to be with their families.

“We saw the benefits of the government programs that were being enjoyed by our comrades who earlier yielded, prompting us to abandon the BIFF struggle to be reunited with our loved ones,” Ahmad said in the vernacular.

Records of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division here showed that since January, 130 BIFF extremists have surrendered to military and police authorities in Central Mindanao.

Initially, the latest batch of surrenderers is set to undergo the required process to avail of livelihood packages under the AGILA-HAVEN (Anak na may GInintuang LAyunin upang Hintuan Ang Violent Extremism Ngayon) program of the provincial government.

Since its introduction in 2019, a total of 211 former violent extremists have received various assistance from the AGILA-HAVEN program.

The province of Maguindanao, led by Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, earlier declared the BIFF as “persona non grata”, prompting communities and their leaders to condemn the atrocities and presence of the extremist group in the area.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151528

Security beefed up in Maguindanao town after foiled bomb try

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25, 2021): Security beefed up in Maguindanao town after foiled bomb try (By Edwin Fernandez)

CLEARING OPERATION. Police and soldiers secure a portion of the highway in Barangay Pura, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao, where three hand grenades were found on Tuesday (Aug. 24, 2021) afternoon. Additional military-police checkpoints were set up in the municipality following the foiled bombing attempt. (Photo courtesy of Datu Blah Sinsuat LGU)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – More military-police checkpoints have been set up in Datu Blah Sinsuat (DBS) in this province after a foiled roadside bombing attempt by alleged saboteurs in the area Tuesday afternoon.

Alert soldiers and bomb experts of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division safely deactivated three hand grenades planted beside the highway in the coastal town, its spokesperson Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar said Wednesday.

“Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the attempt,” Baldomar said.

In a separate interview, DBS Mayor Marshall Sinsuat said three fragmentation grenades were found beside the national highway in Barangay Pura at past 2 p.m.

“The police and military are still determining who could be behind the foiled grenade attack,” he said, adding that alert civilians tipped off the police and military about the explosives.

Following the incident, Sinsuat appealed to the residents to remain vigilant in helping authorities thwart attempts to disrupt peace.

“We have a peaceful town, please help us maintain this," he said.

Sinsuat said it remained unclear as to who is being targeted by the bombing attempt, and the brains behind it.

Lt. Pasigan Abas, DBS police chief, said investigation on the incident is ongoing.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151529

2 NPA ‘kangaroo court’ members, spotter yield in Leyte

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 25, 2021): 2 NPA ‘kangaroo court’ members, spotter yield in Leyte (By Sarwell Meniano)

FIGHTING THE NPA. The Philippine Army dismantled the New People’s Army (NPA) "kangaroo court" in Carigara, Leyte following the recent surrender of its two members and its courier-spotter, Capt. Kaharudin Cadil, the spokesman of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said on Wednesday (Aug. 25, 2021). Photo shows a .45 caliber pistol turned over by one of the surrenderers. (Photo courtesy of 802nd Infantry Brigade, 8ID, Philippine Army)

The Philippine Army (PA) has dismantled a New People’s Army (NPA) "kangaroo court" in Carigara, Leyte following the recent surrender of its two members and the rebels' courier-spotter.

Capt. Kaharudin Cadil, the spokesman of Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said on Wednesday the three surrendered to soldiers last week during the conduct of retooled Community Support Program (CSP) in the upland villages of Carigara town.

CSP is the PA's people-centered program to bring peace and development in conflict-affected barangays and an initiative to bring the government closer to the people through immediate delivery of basic services.

“They have been under the custody of the Philippine Army. We just completed the interview Tuesday night. Since they confessed to killing soldiers, we are coordinating with the Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on appropriate actions for them,” Cadil said in a phone interview.

Each of the surrenderers turned over a .45 caliber pistol with a loaded magazine.

Alias Jun and alias Kakay admitted their membership with the NPA’s "kangaroo court", ignoring due process and come to a predetermined conclusion.

The court kills people on mere suspicion that they are against the insurgents, Cadil said, adding the court also sentenced a soldier to death in 2017.

Alias Tor, now a motorcycle driver, claimed of his past association with the special operations group of the dismantled NPA Guerrilla Front 41 in Leyte.

Both Jun and Kakay claimed the late Boy Caliwan alias Kumander Apoy, the late alias Santoy, alias Biyong, and alias Tibor, all of the defunct Platoon Agila of Guerrilla Front 41 designated them and several others to the kangaroo court without any training and specific guidance on how to conduct the so-called “revolutionary justice system.”

“They also identified the other members of the 'kangaroo court', four of whom are still alive today, including one who earlier surrendered to Army’s 93rd Infantry Battalion as a mass member,” the army said in a statement sent to reporters.

Kakay recalled handing down the death sentence to a certain Tonyo executed by three NPA members. A village chief and a brother of the victim reportedly served as principal complainants.

The NPA recruited the two by organizing Municipal Upland Farmers Association in Carigara.

Troops of the Army’s 93rd Infantry Battalion found more evidence linking the farmer’s group to NPA when they discovered documents at the house of a suspected NPA member on Nov. 13, 2020 in upland Canlampay village in Carigara town.

For his part, Tor admitted his ties with the NPA in Carigara town and nearby towns as a courier, spotter, and driver for members of the rebel’s liquidation group.

He recalled driving NPA members to a remote place in Carigara where they assassinated Cpl. Erwin Niegas of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division in 2015.

The three surrenderers belong to the remaining politico-military structure of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in Carigara town.

There are still less than 20 NPA remnants hiding in the town’s thick forest, according to Cadil.

Brig. Gen. Zosimo A. Oliveros, Commander, 802nd Brigade, condemned the summary execution of victims without the benefit of a thorough and just investigation similar to the purging of their own members in the gruesome Inopacan massacre.

“I am calling on our fellow Filipinos to unite and demand justice for the victims of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s baseless, cruel, and inhuman so-called revolutionary justice system”, he said.

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

The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151538

NPA’s senseless fight brings grief overload to Leyte mom

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 26, 2021): NPA’s senseless fight brings grief overload to Leyte mom (By Sarwell Meniano and Elvie Roa)

IN MOURNING. Jocelyn Romadora stands beside the coffin of her husband, Ambrosio, who died in a clash with soldiers on Aug. 18 in Southern Leyte in this Aug. 22, 2021 photo. The mother is also worried about the fate of her son hiding in the mountains fleeing from government forces. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

For a mother in Leyte, the grief seems unbearable as she mourns the death of her husband during a clash with soldiers, at the same time worries about the fate of her son hiding in the mountains running from the government forces.

Jocelyn Romadora, 48, a mother of 10, said life could have been better despite financial woes had no one in their family joined the senseless armed struggle of the New People’s Army (NPA).

In an interview with soldiers of 802nd Infantry Brigade on Wednesday, Jocelyn said she is afraid of what fate awaits her 26-year-old son, John, who joined the NPA with his father, Ambrosio, in 2019.

On Aug. 18, Ambrosio was one of the two NPA leaders killed in a clash with the military in the upland village of Lawgawan in Bontoc, Southern Leyte.

He was in a company of 11 other rebels belonging to the remnants of NPA’s Island Committee Levox, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.

Villagers reported that John was one of the 11 rebels who engaged soldiers in the firefight.

The NPA fighters were hiding in the jungles of Bontoc as government forces intensified their combat operations in Leyte.

The military managed to locate the small NPA lair based on tips from villagers. The hideout is about 16 kilometers upland from Bontoc’s town center.

A soldier died and another was wounded during the hour-long gun battle.

“I am begging my son to come down from the mountains and surrender so he won’t die fighting like what happened to his father,” Jocelyn pleaded.

The widow recalled that Ambrosio joined the NPA after shooting a village official in 2018. He later joined the rebels with his son and completely left his family in January 2019.

Jocelyn repeatedly condemns the terroristic acts committed by her husband, but she said there is nothing she can do to turn back time.

“I never stopped longing for my son. I never saw him again since he joined the NPA more than two years ago. I am deeply hoping for him to surrender before death takes him,” she said.

The mother wrote a personal letter to her son, urging him to surrender and return home.

The Philippine Army believes that John has been hiding in the mountains of Mahaplag and nearby towns. They are optimistic that his family’s call and his father’s death will convince John to abandon the armed struggle.

Meanwhile, Ambrosio was laid to rest on Aug. 22, 2021 at the Mahaplag public cemetery.

Mahaplag Mayor Daisy Lleve disclosed that Ambrosio is a beneficiary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program for poor households and individuals.

The local government recently found that he has unclaimed cash aids. It will be released to the wife.

“Once John surrenders, the local government will assist him in claiming the assistance intended to the returning NPA based on the guidelines provided by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict,” Lleve said.

The local governments of Bontoc and Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte, Hilongos in Leyte, and the Philippine Army have provided cash and goods to the Romadora family.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151592

6 more BIFF extremists surrender in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 26, 2021): 6 more BIFF extremists surrender in Maguindanao (By Noel Punzalan)

FED UP WITH LIES. One of the six Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) hands over one of the firearms they gave up at the headquarters of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Wednesday (Aug. 25, 2021). The surrenderers said they were fed up with the lies of their BIFF leaders. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Six more members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) yielded to the military in this province on Wednesday afternoon.

The latest batch of surrenderers came barely a day after10 of their comrades also gave up to the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade (1MBde) headquarters in Barangay Kamasi of Ampatuan town on Tuesday.

In an interview, Lt. Col. Charlie Banaag, Army’s 6th Infantry Battalion commander, said on Thursday he presented the six surrenderers to Col. Pedro Balisi, the 1MBde commander.

He identified the six surrenderers as Aratok Silongan, Aladin Kuntong, Haime Guinaid, Ton-Ton Guinaid, Pagal Sape, and Datu Ali Kalagyo, all members of the BIFF-Bungos faction in the so-called SPMS box.

The SPMS-box is a military term referring to the contiguous towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan town), Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, where the BIFF operates.

“The succession of surrender by the BIFF extremists simply means the security landscape in the province is changing for the better,” Banaag told reporters here.

The group also turned in nine assorted war materiel comprising one mortar launching pad, three M16 rifles, one M1 Garand rifle, one Springfield rifle, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher, one homemade .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle, and one shoulder-fired M79 grenade launcher.

“We are fed up with our situation and with the lies to us by our BIFF commanders. We are already tired and we want to live a normal life with our families,” Silongan said.

Balisi, for his part, thanked Mayor Solaiman M. Sandigan of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao; and to Datu Renz Tukuran, a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front commander for facilitating the voluntary surrender of the six BIFF extremists.

“What just transpired is a clear manifestation that the partnership of the security forces, local government units, and the members of the community is crucial in attaining the long-aspired peace in Central Mindanao,” Balisi said in a statement.

With the capitulation of the six, the total number of BIFF surrenderers increased to 136 since January this year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1151657