BRP-Emilio Jacinto departs Tawi-Tawi to undergo upgrade

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Oct 5, 2021): BRP-Emilio Jacinto departs Tawi-Tawi to undergo upgrade

SEND-OFF CEREMONY. Colonel Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi, lauds the crew of the BRP-Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) for the hard work and dedication in securing the country’s waters in southern Philippines. Racadio led the send-off ceremony Friday, October 1, as PS-35 is set to undergo an upgrade. (SunStar Zamboanga)

COLONEL Romeo Racadio, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Tawi-Tawi, lauded the crew of the BRP-Emilio Jacinto (PS-35) for their hard work and dedication in securing the country’s waters in southern Philippines.

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https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1909111/Zamboanga/Local-News/BRP-Emilio-Jacinto-departs-Tawi-Tawi-to-undergo-upgrade

Marine troops sent off for re-training

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Oct 5, 2021): Marine troops sent off for re-training

SEND-OFF CEREMONY. The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) renders a send-off ceremony Sunday, October 3, to the troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6, which is scheduled to undergo retraining program in Cavite. A photo handout shows Brigadier General Arturo Rojas, Westmincom deputy commander for operations (right), pins a Military Merit Medal to one of the Marine soldiers during the ceremony aboard BRP-Tarlac anchored at the Ensign Majini Pier of the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City. (SunStar Zamboanga)

THE Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) rendered a send-off ceremony to the troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6 (MBLT-6), which is scheduled to undergo retraining program in Cavite.

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https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1909351/Zamboanga/Local-News/Marine-troops-sent-off-for-re-training

Gorero to cops: Keep eye on Reds

 From Panay News (Oct 6, 2021): Gorero to cops: Keep eye on Reds (By Ruby Silubrico)

Cops must stay alert, too, and step up their security measures following the recent skirmishes between government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Western Visayas.

“Don’t be complacent,” said Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, director of Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

Gorero said several areas in the following towns were deemed “high risks” for rebels: Janiuay, Miag-ao, San Joaquin, Guimbal, Calinog, Lambunao, Igbaras, Leon, Tubungan, Maasin, Alimodian, San Enrique, San Rafael, and several others in the 5th District.

“The police should know the people around them. I don’t want them to leave their police stations unmanned,” Gorero told Panay News.

https://www.panaynews.net/gorero-to-cops-keep-eye-on-reds/

BARMM empowers youth for peace-building initiatives

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): BARMM empowers youth for peace-building initiatives (By Edwin Fernandez)

YOUNG PEACE-BUILDERS. Some of the participants of the training workshop for peace promotion organized by the BARMM Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) present a stage play depicting how they can help build peace in communities. In the stage play, they highlighted “pintakasi” (Bayanihan/Tulong-tulong) as an important factor in peace-building. (Photo courtesy of MPOS-BARMM)

The youth in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are making their presence felt as they vowed to actively participate in peace-building activities in the region.

On Tuesday, lawyer Al-Rashid Balt, director-general of the BARMM Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), said his agency believed the youth can be an effective sector to help bring about peace in Moro communities.

“The youth activities shall have a coordinative function with law enforcement agencies such as military and police, among others, to maintain public order and safety. We have a lot of joint programs with them on peace-building,” Balt said.

He said the training workshop for peace promotion in the region for the second batch of participants has just ended on October 2 in Datu Odin Sinsuat and the youth have returned to their respective communities “armed with desires and knowledge on the value of peace-building.”

He said providing space for the youth to actively participate in peace-building also aimed at actualizing the mandates of the MPOS as an institution of peace-building, reconciliation, and unification.

“Most of the participants were youths and university students,” he said.

Sittie Janine M. Gamao, peacebuilding program officer, said after the training, the MPOS learned that the youth who attended the workshop were all from conflict-affected communities across the region.

“They (youth) were victims of atrocities. Some were sons and daughters of Abu Sayyaf surrenderers,” Gamao said of the youth from the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, and Special Geographical Area of North Cotabato composed of 63 villages that are now part of BARMM.

She said the workshop also provided the youth with strategies on how to end the cycle of violence.

“At a young age, they have learned how to help resolve the conflict and a peaceful and collaborative manner,” Gamao added.

Thankful youth peace-builders

“I am so thankful as one of the fellows. It is so helpful to improve myself as a youth leader and bring something to my community as I get back,” said Fadwa Mohammad, a 19-year-old youth leader from Basilan.

“We want to educate and promote peace to the youths by providing learning materials to the madrasah in our municipality. It is written in our planning as immediate intervention,” she added.

Niman P. Datu, another fellow from a remote village of Tapocan Piagapo, Lanao del Sur, said partaking in the peace-building activity was a huge opportunity for him so he can effectively help build harmony among communities in his province.

“What I learned will be used to help educate my town mates, majority of whom have no formal education,” Datu added.

Amila I. Panulong of Lanao del Sur said for her, “peace is not just the absence of war but a time when everyone is free to do what he or she wants without fear.”

The youth were asked to submit proposals for their information dissemination program that the MPOS will fund in the amount of PHP20,000 per province.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155624

Aurora’s Dingalan town declared insurgency-free

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): Aurora’s Dingalan town declared insurgency-free (By Jason De Asis)

INSURGENCY-FREE. Col. Joseph Norwin Pasamonte (center), commander of the 703rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, holds the document declaring Dingalan town in Aurora province insurgency-free on Monday (Oct. 4, 2021). The declaration by virtue of Municipal Resolution No. 2021-976 was passed by the members of the Sangguniang Bayan and witnessed by local officials, department heads, police, and the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion. (Photo courtesy of the 91IB)

The town of Dingalan, which used to be known as a hotbed of insurgency, has been declared free from rebel presence and atrocities.

Dingalan is the second local government unit in this province declared insurgency-free.

San Luis was first declared as an area with stable internal peace and security in August.

The documents supporting the declaration were signed on Monday by Mayor Shierwin Taay at the Dingalan Municipal Hall, together with Vice Mayor Edgardo Galvez and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, and handed over to Col. Joseph Norwin Pasamonte, commander of the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade of the Philippine Army.

Taay thanked the Philippine Army, which he said are committed to its mandate of helping his townmates and the province achieve peace and prosperity.

He said development will always depend on the attainment of peace as a result of the whole-of-nation approach of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We, in the local government unit of Dingalan, strengthen our partnership with the Philippine Army in doing social services such as the Serbisyo Caravan. Our soldiers are more consistent in doing services in the Caravan,” Taay said in an interview on Tuesday.

Pasamonte recalled that the insurgency problem in Dingalan started in 1993.

“Sa ngayon ay napakalayo ng pagkakai-ba ng serbisyo ngayon at noon dahil makikita mo kung gaano gumanda ang bayan ng Dingalan na nagpapakita na hindi na sila tumatanggap ng makakaliwang grupo na tanging dahilan ng hindi pagiging mapayapa at malaya ng isang bayan (There is a big difference between the services then and now because you can see how Dingalan transformed. They no longer accept the leftist group which is the only reason why the town was not peaceful and free,” he said in another interview.

Infrastructures, providing goods and services, and cooperation of the people ended the influence of leftist groups, Pasamonte said.

“The declaration is a testament of the desire of the people of Dingalan to liberate themselves from the clutches of terrorism and instead harness their economic potentials by ensuring peace in their communities,” Pasamonte added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155627

NorMin police, Army ready forces vs. poll-related violence

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): NorMin police, Army ready forces vs. poll-related violence (By Nef Luczon)

Both the Police Regional Office (PRO) 10 (Northern Mindanao) and the Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) have started readying their forces to monitor areas in the region that are prone to election-related violence.

Lt. Col. Fermin Armandarez III, chief of the PRO-10's Operations Division, said via Zoom conference on Tuesday since the third quarter of 2021, regional officials have been in talks with provincial police directors and city police directors here and in Iligan City about the matter.

"As of now, we are gathering intelligence information as to the (possible) hotspots (in the region), to preempt election-related incidence," he said.

Col. Michel Anayron, 4ID assistant commander, said when election season draws near, normally a strategic conference between the Army and police takes place to identify areas that need security support.

"We usually divide areas where the PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) establish their presence. There will be areas led by the police, which will be supported by the Army (vice versa)," he said.

Anayron said Maj. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., 4ID commander, has instructed Army field units in its area of responsibility to organize task forces to address the security concerns of the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, Manuel Orduña, director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency -10, said President Rodrigo Duterte has issued a stern warning against political warlords, including the communist New People’s Army (NPA) with regards to election-related violence.

"The President wants a fair and honest election; groups like NPA who tend to meddle during elections (in the hinterland communities) are included, and should they continue (to cause disorder), they are warned to face the full force of the law," he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155703

PNP probes Bicol University twin blasts

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): PNP probes Bicol University twin blasts (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

Photo from Bicol University Facebook page

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Tuesday directed the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) to look into the two explosions that rocked the Bicol University campus in Legazpi City, Albay on Sunday night.

“Nagbaba ng ako ng kautusan sa RD (Regional Director), PRO5, Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo na tutukan ang imbestigasyon at tiyakin na mapapanagot ang may gawa nito lalo na at ang Bicol University Legazpi campus kung saan naganap ito ay nasa tapat lamang ng Regional Headquarters ng PRO 5 (I have issued an order to RD, PRO5 Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo to focus on the investigation on the incident and ensure that the perpetrator will be held accountable, especially that the Bicol University Legazpi campus where the blasts occurred is just in front of the Regional Headquarters of the PRO 5),” Eleazar said in a statement.

No casualty was reported from the explosions that occurred at 6:30 p.m. The PRO 5's Explosives and Ordnance Group immediately responded to the incident.

Eleazar also directed the PRO 5 to coordinate with the university officials to discuss security measures in order to prevent a repeat of this incident.

“Wala mang masyadong aktibidad ng mga estudyante at mga guro sa loob ng campus dahil sa pandemya, kailangang alerto pa rin ang ating kapulisan laban sa mga ganitong uri ng pag-atake (Even though there are no major activities of students and teachers on campus due to the pandemic, our police still need to be alert against these types of attacks),” he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155636

House voids approval of UP Security Bill

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): House voids approval of UP Security Bill (By Filane Mikee Cervantes)

Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla

The House of Representatives has reconsidered its third reading approval of the House Bill 10171 or UP Security Bill institutionalizing the 1989 University of the Philippines (UP) -Department of National Defense (DND) agreement into the UP Charter.

Cavite Representative Jesus Crispin Remulla made the motion to rescind the approval of House Bill 10171 on September 30 and it was carried by the plenary.

The lower chamber overwhelmingly approved the bill on final reading with 179 affirmative votes on September 21.

In a virtual press conference of the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Monday, Remulla noted that the passage of the bill at the House was done during the budgetary process, which was a very busy season for the chamber.

"Kapag budget na kasi ang pinag-uusapan, sabay-sabay ang hearings niyan eh sa iba-ibang hearing rooms at pagdating ng session, parang pagod na lahat (If budget is the topic, all the hearings would be synchronous at different hearing rooms. And once the session starts, everyone is tired)," he said. "So kapag magsisimula na ang plenary, abalang-abala lahat kung paano ginagawa ang mga budget (So once the plenary starts, everyone is busy about the budget)."

Remulla said he believes the legislative process for the UP Security Bill rushed, and did not undergo much scrutiny and deliberations.

"Minsan iyong floor, may nangyayari na hindi dapat at ito nga ang sitwasyon naman dito (There are times that some things happen that shouldn't happen on the floor, and this is such situation)," he said.

He said the "corrective action" was the motion to reconsider the approval of such an important measure.

The UP-DND accord, he said, is an "executive agreement that should be left alone and left to the Executive", stressing that lawmakers should not meddle with the affairs of another branch of government.

With the motion to reconsider approved by the plenary, Remulla said the bill would be brought back to the House Rules Committee for its disposition.

"Kami [House Rules Committee] na ngayon ang magsasabi kung iyan ay mabubuhay pa o palulusutin pa rin namin (We now have the say if we will still let it live or let it through)," he said.

The bill seeks to prevent state security forces, such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), from entering and enforcing its operations in all UP campuses without prior notice to “the President or the Chancellor of the constituent university or the dean of the regional unit concerned” except “in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions or emergencies.”

It mandates university officials, whenever requested by law enforcers, to extend the necessary assistance in law enforcement within the premises of the UP campuses.

The bill shall prohibit subjecting any student, faculty member, or employee to custodial investigation without prior notice to the university president or chancellor of the constituent university or dean of the regional unit concerned.

Members of law enforcement agencies shall be prohibited from interfering with peaceful protest actions by individuals or groups within university premises.

The DND-UP Agreement, signed on June 30, 1989, prohibits the military and the police from entering all UP campuses without prior notice to its administration.

The agency decided to terminate the agreement effective Jan. 15, 2021, with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana calling the arrangement "obsolete".

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155643

UP Security Bill will 'tie hands' of executive dep’t, enforcers

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): UP Security Bill will 'tie hands' of executive dep’t, enforcers (By Filane Mikee Cervantes)

Photo courtesy of UP Diliman

A lawmaker said House Bill 10171 or UP Security Bill should never be legislated because it will "tie the hands" of the executive branch in matters that should be left to their own discretion.

In a radio interview on Oct. 3, Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said the 1989 University of the Philippine - Department of National Defense accord is an executive agreement that must be left to the discretion of the Executive.

"Ang ginawa kasi dito sa amin ni-legislate nila na yung terms ng UP Accord gagawing batas, so tatalian nila yung kamay ng executive through a law (What was done here is that they are legislating the terms of the UP Accord, so they would basically tie the hands of the executive through a law)," Remulla said.

The bill seeks to prevent state security forces, such as the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), from entering and enforcing its operations in all UP campuses without prior notice to “the President or the Chancellor of the constituent university or the dean of the regional unit concerned” except “in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions or emergencies.”

Remulla said House Bill 10171 violates the equal protection of the law, especially for students who want police presence for campus safety.

"Kasi may mga estudyante gusto nila nandyan 'yung pulis eh. Doon sila nagtitiwala e... Eh ang nangyayari dito kailangan magpaalam ang pulis para pumasok sa UP (Some students want the police there. They trust them... But what happens here [when the bill is passed into law], the policemen need to ask for permission before they could enter UP)," he said.

Remulla said the measure is "really not in consonance" with the Constitution as it would also tie the hands of the law enforcement, which are considered the "protectors of the people".

On Sept. 30, Remulla moved to reconsider the third reading approval of the bill and his motion was subsequently approved by the plenary.

He said the Makabayan bloc "smuggled" the bill by pushing for its passage during the budgetary process, which was a very busy season for the chamber.

With the motion to reconsider approved by the plenary, Remulla said the bill would be brought back to the House Rules Committee for its disposition.

In January 2021, the Duterte administration scrapped the accord due to allegations of in-campus communist recruitment. The accord was signed in June 1989 to protect UP students and faculty members from possible abuses from the military and police.

To be enacted into law, the bill also needs to be passed by the Senate, then proceeds to the Office of the President, who would either sign or veto the proposed measure.

In August 2021, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the accord would not be restored under the Duterte administration after "much scrutiny and study" of defense officials.

He said the accord only covers the Philippine Constabulary, and not the entire military and police.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155662

Army chief cites Armor Division's vital role in security goals

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): Army chief cites Armor Division's vital role in security goals (By Priam Nepomuceno)

ARMOR DIVISION VISIT. Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Andres Centino (2nd from right), visits the Army's Armor Division in Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac on Monday (Oct. 4, 2021). Established in 1976, the Armor Division is a combined arms organization composed of tank, cavalry, and mechanized infantry. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

The Armor Division is very important in helping maneuver Army units achieve their peace and orders missions.

PA chief Lt. Gen. Andres Centino made this statement during his visit to the troops of the Armor Division at Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac on Monday.

"The PA recognizes the importance of the Armor Division in supporting the maneuver units and in maintaining the peace and order in the operational environment. I believe that your efforts will lead us towards a better nation, and we will support you every step of the way," he said in a statement Tuesday.

Established in 1976, the Armor Division is a combined arms organization composed of tank, cavalry, and mechanized infantry.

During his visit to the Armor Division, Centino was briefed on the unit's capability development programs, deployment, and status of their assets.

On the same day, the PA chief visited the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) which is also based in Camp O'Donnell.

He lauded TRADOC for its effort in implementing the PA's training programs that will enhance the knowledge and skills of soldiers to deal with all types of security threats and challenges.

"I commend TRADOC for developing and implementing training programs that suit the Army's needs, especially in today's fluid and dynamic security environment. Let these training programs develop our troops into professional, skilled, and capable soldiers in joint and combined-arms operations," Centino said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155655

Lorenzana won’t join 2022 senatorial race

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 5, 2021): Lorenzana won’t join 2022 senatorial race (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (Presidential photo)

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said he will not run in the May 2022 elections despite calls for him to run as senator.

"Earlier this year, a number of friends, heads of political parties, local governments, businesses, and campaign volunteers have urged me to go for it, citing my good government service track record," he said in a Facebook post late Tuesday.

Lorenzana said he did an honest-to-goodness assessment two months ago and used a decision grid, a useful decision-making in weighing his chance.

"After much thought and a serious talk with my family (who is against it), I have decided not to run," he added.

Lorenzana, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1973, is a retired major general and diplomat.

He served the country in uniform from 1973 to 2004.

Lorenzana apologized to those who reached out and expressed their for support him.

"I thank them for their support and vote of confidence. I shall continue with my present job and strive to finish it on a high note," he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1155712

“Bangsamoro Youth cannot afford a half-baked transition” – BYC Comm. Dunding

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Website (Oct 5, 2021): “Bangsamoro Youth cannot afford a half-baked transition” – BYC Comm. Dunding (By Muhammad Musa, Luwaran)



COTABATO CITY - “Bangsamoro Youth cannot afford a half-baked transition and the Bangsamoro people deserve an established, strong government for the next generation,” said Nasserudin D. Dunding, Commissioner of Cotabato City, Maguindanao and Special Geographic Areas of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission in Kaunlaran sa Bangsamoro talk show of the Bangsamoro Multimedia Network (BMN).
Dunding was invited on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, to guest the talk show to discuss BYC’s contributions in the development of the Bangsamoro Government and its efforts in extending Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) extension bills.

He explained that the Commission was created based on the RA 11054 also known as Bangsamoro Organic Law. “This is one of the priority legislations of BTA, to establish an office that will cater the issues, concerns, and perspective of the Bangsamoro Youth,” Dunding added.

“Ang Bangsamoro Youth Commission is an attached agency to the Office of Chief Minister. Kasama po ito sa opisina ng ating mahal na Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. Ang mandato po ng ating opisina ay dalawa, una tayo po ay isang policy making agency, pangalawa ay tayo po ay coordinating body,” the youth commissioner explained. [The Bangsamoro Youth Commission is an attached agency to the office of Chief Minister. It is included in the office of our dear Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. The mandate of our office is two, first we are a policy making agency, second is we are a coordinating body.]

“Pagdating sa mga polisiya ay tinawatag na policy recommendation, and policy formulation ito po ay kay Bangsamoro Youth Commission. Pangalawa sa coordinating mechanism ang BYC ay not an implementing agency, tayo po ay coordinating agency,” Dunding elaborated. [When it comes to policies, it is called policy recommendation, and policy formulation is with the Bangsamoro Youth Commission. Second in the coordinating mechanism, BYC is not an implementing agency, we are a coordinating agency,” Dunding elaborated.]

He clarified the age of those to be considered belonging to youth sector, as it was stated in the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 10, and manifested in the Bangsamoro Act No. 13, otherwise known as Bangsamoro Administrative code of the BARMM.

“Dito po sa BARMM ang definition ng mga kabataan ay 15 to 30. Maraming hikma, wisdom tayong tinangnan dito, may wisdom ang mga leaders natin.” ["Here at BARMM, the definition of young people is 15 to 30. We have a lot of wisdom, we have wisdom here, our leaders have wisdom."]

According to him, the Office of the Chief Minister never failed in supervising and supporting the Youth,

“Isa sa pinaka mahalaga po ang opisina ng Bangsamoro Youth Commission, because as we see, one of the most powerful sector in our society is the youth, the most active sector. In terms of political movement, kailangan ma empower natin ang mga kabataan according kung papaano natin sila ma develop. Kaya ang office of Chief Minister ay hindi po pinabayaan ang atin kabataan,” Dunding said [“The office of the Bangsamoro Youth Commission is one of the most important offices, because as we see, one of the most powerful sectors in our society is the youth, the most active sector. In terms of political movement, we need to empower the youth according to how we develop them. That is why the office of Chief minister has not neglected our youth,” Dunding said.]

The discussant said peace building is one the advocacy program of BYC for the youth.

“They closely monitor the mechanism to strengthen and sustain the peace process. For a decade long struggle ng mga Mujahideen at we have the BARMM ito po yung opportunity na mapatunayan natin na kaya ng Bangsamoro mag sustain at mag govern ng kanilang sariling paggogobyerno,” Dunding underscored. [They closely monitor the mechanism to strengthen and sustain the peace process. For a decade long struggle of the Mujahideen and we have the BARMM this is the opportunity for us to prove that the Bangsamoro can sustain and govern their own government,” Dunding underscored.]

The youth commissioner said there are 187 accredited youth organizations specifically in Maguindanao, Cotabato City and 63 Barangay in North Cotabato and less than one (1) thousand organizations all over BARMM Region.

“At least this 2021, the Bangsamoro government allocated 76 million for its operation. Approximately there are around 76 million approved budget this year for Bangsamoro Youth Commission intended for personal services, MOOE and capital outlay,” Dunding said.

He also shared some of the program they have partnered with Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) called ESKEY Program or Engaging the Sangguninag Kabataan, Empowering the Youth Program.

“We’ve been sitting together with the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government sa MILG kasi sila po yung may direct mandate po na mag engage sa Sanggunihang Kabataan natin. Si BYC naman sa youth po as a whole. Marami po tayong pag-uusap hangga’t sa dumating po yung panahon, itong taon na ‘to ay pormal na pong gumalaw yung ating programang SK engaging,” Dunding related.
[“We’ve been sitting together with the Ministry of Interior and Local Government at MILG because they have a direct mandate to engage with our Sanggunihang Kabataan. BYC is for the youth as a whole. We have a lot of conversations until the time comes, this year our SK engaging program has formally moved,” Dunding related.]

He said that the program aims to ensure that youth leaders in the localities and barangay communities are meaningfully engaged, connected, informed and capacitated.
“Our youth institutions, the Sangguniang Kabataan, the Local Youth Development Offices (LYDO), the Local Youth Development Councils (LYDC), and their member youth organizations and youth serving organizations are functional and performing,” Dunding added.

For the 10% share of the SK to their respective Barangays, Dunding said: “Kailangan aksyunan ng gobyerno at palakasin ng BTA kung paano ma in order ang pondo ng SK sa bawat Barangay, pag check and balance nung pagpapasa ng 10% fiscal autonomy ng mg SK’s na mabigay sa kanila at ma-manage at pagpapa igting ng ibat ibang religious intervention sa mga kabataan whether Muslim, Christian or Lumad. [Dunding said: “The government needs to take action and strengthen the BTA on how to order SK funds in each barangay, check and balance when passing 10% fiscal autonomy of SK's to be given to them and manage and tighten of various religious interventions on young people whether Muslim, Christian or Lumad.]

He said the BARMM leadership provides wider space for the youth to become part of the governance, become part of the transition and molded to become prime movers in the upcoming regular government.
Dunding ended his message urging the youth to continue to refresh their skills. He assured them that the BYC is always present to accompany the young Bangsamoro. “We will have many more paths to follow and many more problems to solve,” he said.

[Luwaran is the official online publication of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Committee on Information, MILF Central Committee]

https://www.luwaran.com/news/article/2393/---bangsamoro-youth-cannot-afford-a-half-baked-transition--------byc-comm--dunding--

NDF/Sison: Bien Lumbera: resolute and militant servant of the Filipino proletariat and people

Propaganda tribute posted to the National Democratic Front Philippines (NDF or NDF) Website (Oct 6. 2021): Bien Lumbera: resolute and militant servant of the Filipino proletariat and people

TRIBUTE TO PROF. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA,
NATIONAL ARTIST AND REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT
By Jose Maria Sison and Julie de Lima
October 5, 2021

Dear Comrades and Friends,

Julie and I wish to convey the most heartfelt condolences over the demise of Comrade Bienvenido Lumbera to his beloved wife, Cynthia, and their entire family. We share their grief and their joy at what his grandchild has precisely described as a great life that he lived. All of us are here to celebrate his great achievements as national artist, as a professor of literature, as a creative writer and most of important of all as a resolute and militant servant of the Filipino proletariat and people.

I became aware of Ka Bien because of our common interest in Philippine literature, especially poetry, aesthetic theory and literary criticism, and in the advancement of the people’s democratic revolution. We agreed that art and literature must serve the people and must reflect their conditions, needs,demands and aspirations within the frame of a culture that is national,scientific and mass oriented. He stressed the vital importance of the national language and literature in the revolutionary process.

Even as I was already in the underground, I came to know him through mutual friends in 1969 after he came back from his doctoral studies in comparative literature in Indiana University. He was already working with comrades among literary colleagues in the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University and in the Cultural Bureau of Kabataang Makabayan and that of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

In 1971, he was so highly respected by his literary colleagues that he was elected Chairman of the Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (PAKSA). I delivered the keynote address at the founding of PAKSA and became one of the charter members. Due to his being PAKSA chairman and his patriotic and progressive works, he caught the attention of the snoops of the reactionary state.

After Marcos proclaimed nationwide martial law in 1972, he was arrested and detained other with other outstanding creative writers in 1974. There was no legal basis for arresting them and they were eventually released. In 1976, he started to teach at the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, U.P. College of Arts and Letters.

His arrest and detention did not cow him but moved him to fight back. His lectures pointed to the aggravation of the ills of Philippine society under the Marcos fascist dictatorship. He spelled out his own views and published articles against the Marcos dictatorship when he was editor of the Diliman Review from 1977 onwards.

When I was still in prison in 1983 and Julie went to his U.P. office, he readily agreed to write an introduction to my book of poems, Prison and Beyond. His introduction, “Beyond Autobiography”, made a comprehensive and profound evaluation of my poems. He was also proud to show to Julie the pamphlet of my series of articles on social and cultural themes in Philippine poetry which he used as study text in his course on Philippine poetry for his masteral students.

Ka Bien was visiting professor of Philippine Studies at Osaka University of Foreign Studies in Japan from 1985 to 1988. He therefore regretted that he was not in the Philippines to participate physically in the mass uprising that brought down the Marcos fascist dictatorship in February 1986. When I visited him in Osaka in November 1986, I comforted him by reminding him that I myself was still in prison when Marcos fell and could not do much except to listen to the radio and urge my guards to side with the masses.

Ka Bien was not just a professor, an art theorist, a literary critic and creative writer of prize-winning poems and plays. He was able to participate in mass work and mass protests before and during the gigantic mass actions of hundreds of thousands of people that started with the Aquino funeral procession in August 1983. He participated in person in the mass actions of 1983 to 1985 that led to the downfall of Marcos in 1986.

After the end of the Marcos fascist dictatorship, he continued to serve the people and participate in their mass struggles against the continuing conditions of oppression and exploitation during the pseudo-democratic regimes from Aquino the mother to Aquino the son and down to the traitorous, tyrannical, genocidal, plundering and swindling Duterte regime, which is so far the worst of the post-Marcos regimes and the reincarnation of the Marcos fascist dictatorship. Up to the last decade of his life, he was an outstanding figure in mass meetings and protest actions.

Ka Bien has bequeathed to us his patriotic and revolutionary musical dramas under the title, Sa Sariling Bayan: Apat na Dulang May Musika and Gerilya’y Makata, Makata’y Gerilya; and numerous books, anthologies and textbooks such as: Revaluation; Pedagogy; Philippine Literature: A History and Anthology; Rediscovery: Essays in Philippine Life and Culture; Filipinos Writing: Philippine Literature from the Regions; and Paano Magbasa ng Panitikang Filipino: Mga Babasahing Pangkolehiyo.

Ka Bien has also bequeathed to us his record of leadership and activism. Together with other Filipino writers, artists and critics, he co-founded cultural organizations such as the Philippine Comparative Literature Association (1969); Pamana ng Panitikan ng Pilipinas (1970); Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (1971), Kalipunan para sa mga Literatura ng Pilipinas (1975); Philippine Studies Association of the Philippines (1984) and Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino (1976).

He was editor of Sanghaya (National Commission on Culture and the Arts), Professor at the Department of English in the School of Humanities of the Ateneo de Manila University, Professor at the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature, College of Arts and Letters at UP Diliman, and Professor of Literature at De La Salle University. He served as president of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

As creative writer, he received the 1975 Palanca Award for Literature; several National Book Awards from the Manila Critics Circle; the 1998 Philippine Centennial Literary Prize for Drama; and the 1999 Cultural Center of the Philippines Centennial Honors for the Arts. He was proclaimed National Artist in April 2006.

By word and deed, Ka Bien made great contributions to upholding, defending and advancing the just cause and just struggle of the Filipino people for national and social liberation within his own lifetime. He is immortalized by his writings and record of deeds, by the continuance of the Philippine revolution which he has served so well and by the inspiration that he casts upon new generations.

Long live the memory of Ka Bien Lumbera!
Advance the Philippine Revolution!
Long live the Filipino people!

https://ndfp.org/bien-lumbera-resolute-and-militant-servant-of-the-filipino-proletariat-and-people/

CPP/CIO: Denounce profit-making spree of oil companies amid the pandemic and crisis

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Oct 5, 2021): Denounce profit-making spree of oil companies amid the pandemic and crisis

MARCO VALBUENA

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES

OCTOBER 05, 2021

The Filipino people must denounce the greed for profit of oil companies which are set to jack up the prices of petroleum products, including a hefty ₱2.04 per liter of diesel and ₱1.45 per liter of gasoline. This is on top of the increases of ₱5.65 per liter of diesel and ₱4.10 per liter of gasoline after almost weekly increases since the start of the year.

This oil price increase will surely add to the burden of millions of people who are already suffering from low wages and salaries, incessant increases in the price of food and other basic commodities, widespread unemployment and loss of income.

The people are doubly enraged that oil companies are going on a profit-making spree amid the pandemic and economic crisis. The Filipino people must strongly oppose the imposition of oil price increases and demand a rollback in prices and increases in salaries and wages.

The multibillionaire capitalist owners and executives of Petron, Shell Philippines, Chevron, Phoenix and other big oil companies are wallowing in money and luxury at the expense of the broad masses who have no other choice but to shoulder the rising costs for transportation, cooking fuel, electricity, production and so on.

The Duterte regime must be condemned for remaining inutile in the face of the onerous oil price increases. Hiding behind the oil industry deregulation law, it has allowed oil companies to fleece the people and make large amounts of profits.

https://cpp.ph/statements/denounce-profit-making-spree-of-oil-companies-amid-the-pandemic-and-crisis/

CPP/Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis: Pambobomba, pagbabawal magsaka, utos ng 803rd Brigade sa Northern Samar

Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis (Tagalog edition) posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Oct 5, 2021): Pambobomba, pagbabawal magsaka, utos ng 803rd Brigade sa Northern Samar

ANG BAYAN | OCTOBER 05, 2021

Tatlong buwan nang nagdurusa ang mga magsasaka ng Northern Samar sa ipinatutupad na patakaran ng 803rd Infantry Brigade na nagbabawal sa mga magbubukid na magsaka sa kanilang lupa. Ang utos ay inilabas ng kumander ng 803rd IBde na si Brig. Gen. Lowell Tan.

Ipinataw ang patakarang ito partikular sa mga residente ng Barangay E. Duran, Bobon, Northern Samar. Kaugnay nito, iniulat ng mga residente na noong Setyembre 17 ay tatlong beses na naghulog ng bomba sa erya at sinundan ng 30 minutong istraping.

Katwiran ng AFP, nagkaroon ng engkwentro sa pagitan ng isang yunit ng BHB sa lugar at mga nagpapatrulyang tropa ng 803rd IBde noong Setyembre 16 kung saan isa diumanong Pulang mandirigma ang nasawi. Ang pambobomba ay bahagi ng kanilang “clearing operations,” ayon sa AFP.

Nagdulot ng matinding troma sa mga residente ang isinagawang pambobomba at pagraratrat ng AFP. Dahil dito, napilitan ang may 2,000 residente na pansamantalang magbakwit sa sentro ng Bobon.

Bago nito, nagkaroon rin ng pambobomba sa Barangay San Francisco, Las Navas, Northern Samar noong Setyembre 16. Noong nakaraang buwan ay naghulog rin ng bomba sa Dolores, Eastern Samar.

[In the face of the rapidly changing political and economic situation in the Philippines, as well as around the world, the newspaper Ang Bayan publishes daily news and analysis on key issues facing the proletariat and the Filipino people, as well as the oppressed people among others. t other corners of the world. Here you will find the latest news and articles of Ang Bayan.]

https://cpp.ph/angbayan/pambobomba-pagbabawal-magsaka-utos-ng-803rd-brigade-sa-northern-samar/

CPP/Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis: Lupa, di pabahay, ang kailangan ng mga magsasaka

Ang Bayan Daily News & Analysis (Tagalog edition) posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Oct 5, 2021): Lupa, di pabahay, ang kailangan ng mga magsasaka

ANG BAYAN | OCTOBER 05, 2021

“Real estate o agrarian ba ang trabaho ng DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform)?” ang tanong ng isang magsasakang inagawan ng pamilyang Villar ng lupa para  tayuan ng low-cost housing sa Bulacan. Ito ay matapos ianunsyo ng ahensya ang pamamahagi ng mga bahay sa 600,000 magsasaka noong Setyembre 26.

Sa pahayag ng Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) noong Oktubre 4, sinabi nitong dapat unahin ng DAR ang pamamahagi ng lupa sa mga marami pang magsasakang walang lupa at pagresolba sa mga usapin sa lupa. Anito, hindi ang pagtatayo ng pabahay ang pangunahing mandato at dapat atupagin ngayon ng DAR. “Napakarami pang dapat gawin ng DAR para makuha ang malalawak na lupaing pribado at maisailalim sa reporma sa lupa. Kung para ito sa mga ARBs, bakit hindi na lang libre at may bayad?”

Nakatakdang bayaran ang naturang mga bahay   na P1,475 kada buwan sa loob ng 30 taon. Tulad ng ibang ari-arian, mareremata ang bahay kapag hindi nabayaran. Ang pabahay ay nakapailaim sa   BALAI o Building Adequate Livable, Affordable and Inclusive Farmers’ Housing Program ay proyekto ng DAR kasama ang Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DSHUD). May mga nakatayo nang kabahayan sa Umingan, Pangasinan; Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya; Gabaldon or San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; Basey, Samar; Argao, Cebu; Daet, Camarines Norte and Calinan, Davao.

“Kung lupa ang ipamamahagi ng DAR, pwede naman kaming magtayo ng kubo. Lupang taniman ang hinihingi ng mga magsasaka para tuloy-tuloy na magkararoon ng kabuhayan ang mga magbubukid,” ayon kay Gemma, isang magsaka sa Bulacan.

Ayon pa sa lider ng KMP na si Danilo Ramos, “gusto natin ng serbisyo at pag-alwan ng buhay ng ating mga Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries pero nagkakaroon kami ng agam-agam sa proyektong ito ng DAR. Una, karaniwan sa mga housing projects ng gobyerno ay may ‘tongpats’ o overpricing. Ikalawa, may interes sa pulitika si Secretary John Castriciones na napapabalitang tatakbo sa pagka-Senador.”

Imbes na pabahay, dapat unahin ng DAR ang pag-sasaayos sa libu-libong agrarian disputes o sigalot sa bansa, aniya.

[In the face of the rapidly changing political and economic situation in the Philippines, as well as around the world, the newspaper Ang Bayan publishes daily news and analysis on key issues facing the proletariat and the Filipino people, as well as the oppressed people among others. t other corners of the world. Here you will find the latest news and articles of Ang Bayan.]

https://cpp.ph/angbayan/lupa-di-pabahay-ang-kailangan-ng-mga-magsasaka/

Kalinaw News: Army and PNP Strike Back, Seize Volumes of CTG’s War Materiel in Sorsogon

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 5, 2021): Army and PNP Strike Back, Seize Volumes of CTG’s War Materiel in Sorsogon

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur-Report from vigilant residents who despise communist terrorism led to the seizure of arms cache owned by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in Barangay San Bartolome, Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon at around 10:55 in the morning, Tuesday, October 5.

An M16 rifle, three sacks containing 212 brand new magazines for M16 rifles, two anti-personnel mines, three sacks, and one large can contain 5,245 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 34 blasting caps (two of them with detonating cord) were seized by the combined elements of 22nd Infantry Battalion (22IB), 31st Infantry Battalion (31IB), 903rd Infantry Brigade, 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company (93DRC), R2, PRO5; RMFB5; Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (SPPO), Sta. Magdalena Municipal Police Station, 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company (2PMFC), and different intelligence units of Army and PNP.

Lt. Col. Nelson Mico, Battalion Commander of 22IB said that the eagerness of the residents to help the authorities hunt down CTG members and locate their war materiel is a manifestation of their utter disgust with the nuisances caused by communist insurgents.

It was learned that prior to this, communist NPA terrorists (CNTs) conducted indiscriminate firing that annoyed the locals of Barangays where there are CAA detachments.

Col. Aldwine Almase, Brigade Commander of 903rd Brigade, said that if these war materiels were not seized, the CTG can use them in their atrocities against the government troops and innocent civilians.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga Sorsoganon dahil ang kanilang ibinigay na impormasyon ay napakalaking tulong upang mapigilan natin ang anumang pinaplanong terorismo at karahasan ng CTG sa kabikolan. Akala siguro nila matatakot nila tayo o ang mga residente sa pamamagitan ng isinasagawa nilang indiscriminate firing. Binubulabog lang nila ang mga komunidad na lalo lang nagdudulot ng pagkamuhi ng mga mamamayan at nagiging sanhi ng pag-aalsa laban sa kanilang kasamaan,” Col. Almase said.

PBGEN JONNEL C ESTOMO, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5), emphasized that the effective interoperability of Army and PNP coupled with the support of the Bicolanos make one formidable force that the CTG can never bring down.

“Ito ang panlaban natin sa CTG: ang pagkakaisa natin tungo sa iisang layuning tapusin na ang mahigit limang dekadang armadong tunggalian,” PBGen. Estomo said.

Furthermore, MGEN HENRY A ROBINSON JR PA, Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Bicolandia, commended the troops for their persistence not just in the campaign of the government to wipe out CTG but in their efforts to gain the trust and support of the local populace.

“Maliban sa sunod-sunod na pagkakasamsam natin ng mga armas ng kalaban, mga successful operations at paglobo ng bilang ng mga surrenderers, ang isa sa pinakamalaki nating tagumpay ang nakukuha nating suporta mula sa mga Bicolano. Isa itong patunay na nakikita nila ang kagandahan ng isinusulong na kampanya ng ating pamahalaan at ang positibong resulta sa oras na tuluyan nang mawala ang insurhensya,” MGen. Robinson said.

It can be recalled that just last September 30, government troops also seized 292 pcs. of blasting caps which can be used in manufacturing anti-personnel mines and 64 pcs. of disposable needles in Barangay Cawayan, Irosin, and the next day, another M16 rifle was also seized in the same area. These continuing successful government operations also came after numerous neutralizations of high-ranking CTG personalities in Sorsogon and Masbate provinces.

[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/army-and-pnp-strike-back-seize-volumes-of-ctgs-war-materiel-in-sorsogon/

Kalinaw News: CTGs continue to recruit minors and Exploit Indigenous People in Bukidnon

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 5, 2021): CTGs continue to recruit minors and Exploit Indigenous People in Bukidnon



Maramag Bukidnon – Three (3) NPA regular members including one (1) child-soldier of HQ Loader Sub-Regional Committee 2 (SRC2) of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) voluntarily surrendered to the elements of Alfa Company of 88th Infantry Battalion bringing along with them one (1) Carbine Rifle with One (1) magazine and nine (9) live ammunitions at Sitio Malantao, Barangay Halapitan, San Fernando Bukidnon on October 04, 2021. The said surrender came as a result of the unit’s continued campaign against the said terrorist group in the mountainous areas of Pantaron Mountain Ranges, covering Malaybalay City, San Fernando and Cabanglasan Bukidnon.

Man Oloron alias BRIGHT, 56 years old a Political Guide and his party wife Nili Salobo alias AYA, 55 years old together with their 11 year old son alias POWER became CTG members because of the promises that their living condition will be uplifted and that they will have a prosperous life if they become members of the CTG.

Over fatigue, hunger, lack of sleep and realizing that everything is just a deception are among the reasons why they finally decided to return to the folds of law and abandon the armed struggle. They further disclosed that continuous focused military operation by the Philippine Army in their known guerilla bases had caused them to be always on the run which prevented them from doing organizing works in their target barangays.

The 11 year old minor was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of San Fernando, Bukidnon to undergo interview and stress debriefing. The continuous recruitment of our youth to be child-soldier and exploiting IP communities is a proof of CTG’s disrespect to Human Rights and a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law.

Lieutenant Colonel CHRISTIAN JAMES P VINGNO, Commanding Officer of 88IB in his statement said: “The comprehensive conduct of Community Support Program (CSP) and the focused military operation of government troops have been instrumental in the rapid disintegration of the NPA formation. This is a clear indicator that we are near in ending this 52-year of local communist armed conflict.” I strongly deplore the NPA’s act of recruiting minors to be combatants and exploiting our IPs. This is a clear violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The unit in close coordination with the PNP will be filing IHL case against the CTG for recruiting minors. I am also calling the attention of all the parents, let us monitor our children from being recruited by the NPAs, Vingno added.

It can be recalled that the government troops figured in a series of encounter with the members of GF Malayag, SRC2, NCMRC in the municipality of San Fernando and Valencia City on 08 September and 10 September 2021, which resulted to four (4) CNTs Killed and 12 Captured including four (4) minors had been rescued. Since 2018 on the data gathered of 88IB, a total of twenty-one (21) minors had been rescued by government troops from the CTG.

[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/ctgs-continue-to-recruit-minors-and-exploit-indigenous-people-in-bukidnon/

Kalinaw News: People’s Organization in Mabini Received Services and QIP Materials thru Hiniusang Tunol Serbisyo Caravan

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 5, 2021): People’s Organization in Mabini Received Services and QIP Materials thru Hiniusang Tunol Serbisyo Caravan



Pantukan Davao de Oro – Pursuant to the goal of bringing Government Services closer to the people specifically responding to the basic social needs and services of the People’s Organization, the Office of the Municipal Mayor headed by Hon Raynaldo L Dayanghirang, Provincial Governor’s Office headed by Hon. Jayvee Tyron Uy, Hon. Brigida Minguito, Brgy Chairman of Brgy Pangibiran and Hon. Romeo Aban, Brgy Chairman of Brgy Cabuyoan supported the 48 Infantry (Guardians) Battalion’s initiative of facilitating the conduct of “Serbisyo Caravan” with the theme “Hiniusang Tunol Serbisyo Caravan” last 29 and 30 September 2021 in Sitio Magpalusong, Brgy Cabuyoan and Brgy Pangibiran Mabini Davao de Oro.

The People’s Organization in Mabini named Tagbalaobao Riverside Farmers Association (TARIFA); Magpalusong-Patawon Farmers Association (MAGPA); Dagpang Dalikatan Womens Association (DADAWAN); Small Kopiat Farmers Association (SKFA); Pangibiran Motor Drivers Association (PAMODA); and, Lower Upper Cabuyoan Association (LUCAF) were the subjects of Serbisyo Caravan.

One of the activities was the conduct of pulong-pulong and peace rally by the former leaders and members of Hugpong Mag-Uuma sa Mabini (HUMABIN), a white area organization organized by CPP-NPA-NDF that was co-opted, unearthed and re-oriented.
This was to prove and to showcase the denouncement of their support to the CPP-NPA-NDF.

The 1-day activity offered free haircut, medicine and vitamins distribution, vegetables seeds distribution, civil registration assistance, food pack distribution, and COVID 19 vaccination which benefited more or less 300 beneficiaries. The 10ID Dental Dispensary led by Lt. Col Roy P. Abad and 10ID Station Hospital led by Lt. Col. Raul Sasuca also participated offering free tuli and info drive on oral health awareness and distribution of dental leaflets.

Aside from five (5) jetmatics, two (2) drums, and five (5) meter hose, Hon. Reynaldo Dayanghirang said that he will do his best to work-out and give the remaining materials requested for the Quick Impact Projects like road rehabilitation (graveling) steel pipes, solar electrification and water reservoir to include the livelihood of the said PO.

Hon. Jayvee Tyron Uy urged to stop supporting the NPA. He urged the Brgy Kagawads to convince the rebel they knew to sincerely surrender and go back to the folds of the law. He also shared that 70% of the FRs already given livelihood and financial assistance.

“I hope that the remaining CTG members in Davao de Oro will wake up from being blinded by the false ideologies of their leaders. They will not be victorious unless there is still support coming from the communities.” said Lt. Col. Rafael.

It can be recalled that Sitio Magpalusong, Brgy Cabuyoan and Brgy Pangibiran were the mobility corridor of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) where they conducted their IPO works in the communities around and it served also as its staging area prior to the conduct of their tactical offensive against the government troops.

Many years had passed that the CTGs took control the situation in the area and also its adjacent barangays that enabled them to execute their plans against the government forces and its efforts to ruin the lives of the people in the community through their lies and black propaganda.

The conduct of Serbisyo Caravan is one of the culmination activities of our MCSP Team that is currently deployed within the conflict-affected areas particularly in Sitio Magpalusong, Brgy Cabuyoan and Brgy Pangibiran, Mabini Davao de Oro.

[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/peoples-organization-in-mabini-received-services-and-qip-materials-thru-hiniusang-tunol-serbisyo-caravan/

Kalinaw News: Dingalan town declared insurgency free municipality

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 5, 2021): Dingalan town declared insurgency free municipality



BALER, Aurora-The town of Dingalan has been hailed as the 2nd to be declared as “insurgency-free municipality,” or an area with stable internal peace and security (SIPS), here on Monday, October 04, 2021.

Documents supporting the declaration were signed by Mayor Shierwin H. Taay at the Dingalan Municipal Hall, together with his Vice Mayor Edgardo R. Galvez and the whole Sangguniang Bayan members which was hand-over to Colonel Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte-Commander of 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade, 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army.

The Resolution number 2021-976 from Taay declaring the Municipality of Dingalan as Insurgency-free municipality was witnessed by local officials, Department Heads, Barangay Chairmen, PNP personnel and SINAGTALA troopers led by Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio-commanding officer of Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion.

Taay lauded the leadership of Rubio and Pasamonte who remained committed to their mandate of helping his town mates and this province to achieve peace, prosperity and development.

He said development will always rely on the attainment of peace as a result of the whole-of-nation-approach of President Duterte.

“We in the local government unit (LGU) of Dingalan strengthen our partnership within the Philippine Army in doing social services such as the Serbisyo Caravan all over Dingalan. Our soldiers are more consistent in doing services in the Caravan,” Taay said.

He also added that LGU Dingalan and 91st IB desire to end insurgency through the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC is now in reality as insurgency free.

He also cited the efforts of Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Commander Lt. General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., who tied up with GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc. in the Construction of Footbridge at Sitio Malacauyan Barangay Umiray, here which will be soon completed and to be inaugurated within this year.

“Pakiusap ko po sa ating kasundaluhan na huwag po ninyo kaming iwan,” Taay said.
He lauded and admired the assistance of the Philippine Army for the continuous support and guidance to the troops and the people of Dingalan.

“Due to our continuous effort and partnership, we come up in this Resolution Declaring this town as Free Insurgency Municipality. The community attained this on-going progress and peaceful living community in our respective home,” Taay said.
On the other hand, Pasamonte said that the insurgency problem way back 5 decades ago, the year 1993 to be specific, the town of Dingalan was influenced by the terrorist organization due to their propaganda.

“Sa ngayon ay napakalayo ng pagkakaiba ng serbisyo ngayon at noon, dahil makikita mo kung gaano gumanda ang bayan ng Dingalan na nagpapakita na hindi na sila tumatanggap ng makakaliwang grupo na tanging dahilan ng hindi pagiging mapayapa at malaya ng isang bayan. Ang pagdeklara ng isang insurgency free na bayan ay masasabi natin na naisakatuparan sa pamamagitan ng sunod-sunod na paggawa ng istruktura, maayos na pagbibigay na serbisyo at ang pagkakaisa ng mga tao para tugunan at tuldokan ang pananakop ng mga makakaliwang grupo,” Pasamonte said.

He added that he is very thankful to the general public for their support to the Philippine Army especially to Mayor Taay, the whole sangguniang bayan members headed by Vice Mayor Galvez wherein such declaration is a testament of Dingalan’s peace-loving people’s desire to liberate themselves from the clutches of terrorism and instead harness their economic potentials by ensuring peace in their community.

“Salamat sa inyong initiatives sa pagdeklara ng insurgency free, maging sa facebook na tayo dito sa Dingalan ay hindi na tinatanggap ang kahit anong uri ng terrorismo, hindi na sumusuporta at tinuldukan na ang insurhensiya,” Pasamonte said.

He pointed out that the town of Dingalan will now be able to further enhance commerce, tourism and other development opportunities that will benefit the people.

[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/dingalan-town-declared-insurgency-free-municipality/

Kalinaw News: Balik Pamayanan Program Orients to Airport Chapter Eagle Fraternal

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 5, 2021): Balik Pamayanan Program Orients to Airport Chapter Eagle Fraternal



Barangay Mahayag, Davao City- The group of Fraternal Order of Eagles, Davao Midtown-Airport Eagles Club prepares for the intervention Program, “Balik Pamayanan” that will launch to its constituents in the hinterlands of Paquibato this coming Saturday, October 9, 2021.

A new intervention program of the 1003rd Brigade, “Balik Pamayanan” Program in partnership with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Davao Midtown-Airport Eagles Club focus its target towards the family of the slain rebels to have a healing and reconciliation between the troops and supported by the third party or partner NGOs. The concept is a social cohesion and reconciliation for the families of the slain rebel.

It can be recalled that most of the NPA slain has a family, through which if one NPA is killed, expectedly there are ten of his relatives and family members become potential recruits. Through the CNN’s “arouse, organize and mobilize”, they are easily recruited and become members of the CNN.

The member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Davao Midtown-Airport Eagles Club had their orientation of the program at Headquarters ,1003rd Brigade presenting the concept, intervention and commitment of the group as the third party in the reconciliation process that later co-owned the program. They commit to support the program in a duration until the family of the former rebels can adapt and affiliate to the mainstream of the society.

From the heart of the applicant of the Eagles Fraternal it’s a small item giving to their target audience but for the receiver a big start for the education and a day to day survival. The items consist of backpack, 5 kls rice, 4 sardines and safety and health materials for the targeted 100 families of slain rebels in Paquibato District, Davao City.

COLONEL CONSOLITO P YECLA MNSA PA, Commander, 1003rd Brigade said that as our call to help for the families of the slain rebels, we have seen that there are groups and organizations that are ready to help them so that they can feel the sincere love of our countrymen for them behind the mistakes made by their relatives. “There are many ways to solve our problems aside from fighting. Let us participate and help in peacefully solving our problems” he added.

[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/balik-pamayanan-program-orients-to-airport-chapter-eagle-fraternal/

Kalinaw News: Ranking NPA Member from Mindoro Surrenders

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 5, 2021): Ranking NPA Member from Mindoro Surrenders



CAMP CAPINPIN, Tanay, Rizal – Another ranking New People’s Army rebel surrendered to the local authorities of Bansud, Oriental Mindoro on the evening of October 2, 2021, with the support of the military assigned in the area.

The logistics officer of Squad Uno of Guerilla Front ICM under Sub-Regional Military Area – 4D of the Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee surrendered through the Barangay Task Force-ELCAC of Barangay Malo in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro at 10:30 p.m. Saturday, of the said date. The actual surrender of the said NPA rebel was also supported by the Community Support Program Team of 76th Infantry Battalion under the 2nd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

According to the surrenderer, she made the decision to return to the folds of the law primarily because of the longingness she felt for her family and secondly because of the lies that she has discovered, that they were made to believe and embrace in their ranks. According also to the former rebel, she was often scolded and rebuked by her superiors for questioning and going against the dogma of their organization, which further strengthened her conviction to surrender and rejoin the mainstream of society.

Major General Rowen S Tolentino the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division lauded the officials of the said barangay and expressed appreciation for the efforts of the CSP team that paved the way for the surrender of the mentioned NPA cadre saying “To the officials and the Task Force -ELCAC of Barangay Malo of Bansud, Oriental Mindoro I salute you for your contribution to our government’s peace effort. As for the CSP team deployed in the barangay, I commend you for a job well done. I hope that you will not falter from our objective of winning the peace, let us continue this noble effort until our goal is realized”.

The recent developments manifested the effectiveness of the task force to end local communist armed conflict up to the barangay level of the municipality of Bansud in the province of Oriental Mindoro. The recent achievement of the local government unit is a welcomed and important contribution to the attainment of peace and security situation in the area, that if continued could pave way for future developments.

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