Golan Heights peacekeeping veteran is new Visayas military chief

From Rappler (Oct 31, 2019): Golan Heights peacekeeping veteran is new Visayas military chief
Major General Roberto Ancan takes the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Central Command in Cebu City after its former commander was appointed AFP chief of staff



NEW CHIEF. Major General Roberto Ancan takes helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Central Command in Cebu City. File photo from Army 1st Infantry Division's Facebook page

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Major General Roberto Ancan will take over the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Central Command (Centcom) in Cebu City on Thursday morning, October 31.


Ancan will be at the helm of Centcom beginning Thursday, replacing General Noel Clement who assumed the post of AFP chief of staff on September 20. (READ: Central Visayas commander Noel Clement is new armed forces chief)

Clement confirmed Ancan's appointment as Centcom chief to Rappler in a text message on Wednesday, October 30.

He most recently led the 1st Infantry Division in southern Mindanao, which specializes in counterterrorism and guerrilla warfare. 


As Centcom chief, Ancan will be responsible for supervising the Philippine Army, Navy, and Air Force units in the Visayas region.


In 2014, Ancan was the commander of the 80th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army who joined a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Golan Heights. In August that year, the Filipino troops figured in an encounter where they engaged Syrian rebels in a 7-hour firefight.

Under Ancan's leadership and with orders from then AFP chief of staff General Gregorio Catapang Jr, the FIlipino battalion was able to fend off Syrian rebels before being able to safely escape. 

(READ: Golan standoff over; Filipino troops safe)

According to his profile on the Philippine Army's website, Ancan is a member of the Philippine Military Academy's Hinirang Class of 1987. He also holds a master's degree in management from the Philippine Christian University.


In March, the 1st Infantry Division was able to kill the last Maute leader Benito Marohombsar or "Abu Dar," who was one of those responsible for the 2017 Marawi siege.

The death was a result of clashes in Tuburan town in Lanao del Sur. The military confirmed the death through a DNA test a month after the encounter.

Clement, who remained Centcom's officer-in-charge concurrently with his post as AFP chief, is expected to be in Cebu City to turn over his old post.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/243796-ancan-new-visayas-military-chief-october-2019

US Coast Guard churns South China Sea tensions

Posted to the Asia Times (Oct 30, 2019): US Coast Guard churns South China Sea tensions (By Richard Javad Heydarian)

Coastal defense force is increasingly being deployed to counter and contain China’s assertiveness in the contested waterway

A US Coast Guard ship plies the South China Sea in a file photo. Photo: Wikimedia

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, the US Coast Guard (USCG) is actively joining the US Navy to constrain the maritime ambitions of a rival superpower in the Indo-Pacific, broadening America’s reach in disputed waterways.

China’s deployment of increasingly sophisticated naval forces to the South China Sea has driven the US to reassess its strategy, a recalibration of force that could tilt the contested maritime region towards more near-term instability.

In recent weeks the USCG has rapidly expanded its deployment to joint exercises with regional partners, aimed at deterring China’s “gray zone” provocations by using paramilitary and coast guard vessels to push its claims.

“There are ongoing discussions, ongoing planning efforts” to support the US Indo-Pacific Command’s (INDO-PACOM) operations in the South China Sea, Admiral Karl Leo Schultz, commandant of the USCG, told the author in a recent interview.

“We have partnered up in training [allies] to enhance security in the region,” the USCG chief added, reiterating the need for capacity-building among Indo-Pacific partners, including among China’s rivals in the South China Sea. “We are keenly focused on those likeminded partners…building [a] regional approach.”

The USCG’s sense of urgency derives from Beijing’s systematic efforts to dominate adjacent waters and intimidate rival claimant states through its increasingly powerful China Coast Guard (CCG), a “white hull” fleet deployed reputedly for purely civilian law enforcement purposes.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship at sea. Photo: AFP

The CCG boasts the world’s largest coast guard vessels, notably its “monster” 12,000-ton cutter 3901, which dwarfs in size neighboring countries’ naval warships.

“Our warships are a lot smaller than those from China’s Coast Guard,” Malaysian Foreign Affairs Minister Saifuddin Abdullah recently said, underscoring concerns among the sea’s rival claimants.

Based on the so-called “People’s War at Sea” strategy, China is relying not only on its rapidly modernizing People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), but also coast guard and fishermen-cum-militia coast guard vessels to occupy disputed land features and resources in the sea.

Unwilling to risk military confrontation with a more powerful China, rival claimant states such as the Philippines and Malaysia have struggled to respond to aggressive maneuvers by Chinese militia and coast guard forces.

Indeed, the CCG played a crucial role during the recent months-long standoff between China and Vietnam over the Vanguard Bank, at which Beijing deployed its 2,200-tonne Chinese coastguard ship 37111 and the 12,000-tonne coastguard vessel 3901, which hosts a helicopter and large number of troops.

At the height of the standoff, as many as 20-armed vessels squared off against each other, the closest two rival South China Sea claimants have come to an armed exchange in recent years.



Following a months-long naval stand-off between the Philippines and China at the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, the CCG was also deployed to enforce Beijing’s de facto occupation of the disputed land feature, which lies just 100 nautical miles from Manila’s shores.

Cognizant of regional states’ increasing helplessness vis-à-vis China’s armada of coast guard and paramilitary forces, US President Donald Trump’s administration has made two key policy changes for the South China Sea.

Aside from granting greater policy autonomy to the US Navy to regularly conduct freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) against China’s expansive claims, the Pentagon has also started to treat China’s paramilitary and coast guard vessels as arms of the PLAN.

This policy shift was confirmed earlier this year by Admiral John Richardson, chief of US naval operations, when he warned Beijing against “obstructing one another, driving our ships in front of one another, throwing obstacles in front of the ship”, and promised a “more muscular” response to China’s sea provocations.

The upshot has been the application of military rules of engagement to more aggressively counter and maneuver against Chinese coast guard and militia forces.

Washington has also openly warned that China’s “gray zone” aggression, meaning operations that do not clearly constitute war, could nonetheless fall under its mutual defense treaty obligation with its treaty ally the Philippines. The announcement came after the sinking of a Filipino vessel by a suspected Chinese militia boat earlier this year.

The US Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf moored at Hong Kong on April 15, 2019, from where it made a high-profile transit of the Taiwan Strait. Photo: AFP

In another major shift in American regional policy, the USCG has also joined the Pentagon’s FONOPs in the region, including in the Taiwan Straits, amid rising tensions with China in the past year.

Moreover, the USCG is also regularizing and expanding the deployment of expeditionary missions to the Indo-Pacific, including placement of three fast-response cutters in Guam, as well as ramped up joint exercises with allies and partners in the Western Pacific.

In October, the USCG’s fast response cutter USCGC Joseph Gerczak (WPC-1126) and Walnut (WLB-205) conducted joint missions with Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Otago, Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules and South Pacific partners. The same month also saw the USCG join the US-Japan-Philippines trilateral Sama-Sama naval exercises in the Philippines.

The exercises were nominally designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability but were clearly pointed at China.

The USCG is also helping regional partners to develop and improve their own coast guard capabilities. That has been seen in USCG assistance with the maintenance of the decommissioned USCG Morgenthau (WHEC-722), which was transferred to the Vietnam Coast Guard along with 24 so-called Metal Shark patrol boats as part of a 2017 strategic aid package.

US-Vietnam naval cooperation is blossoming, with speculation the two sides may upgrade their relations to a “strategic partnership” later this year, amid shared concerns vis-à-vis China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

A Philippine naval officer stands guard during the arrival of a US naval vessel before US-Philippine joint naval exercises in a file photo. Photo: AFP/Noel Celis

“In the face of coercive and antagonistic behavior from China in disputed waters, the US Coast Guard offers transparent engagement and partnership at both the professional and personal levels,” US Admiral Shultz said during his visit to Manila in October to oversee the Sama-Sama exercises.

“That’s about almost 2,400 miles distance, so it demonstrated our expeditionary capabilities of these new fast response cutters.” he said in response to a question about the USCG’s deployment in the Western Pacific.

When asked about threats posed by China’s militarization of the sea disputes, the admiral said: “We see man-made islands where there weren’t islands before, we see runways on those islands, we see anti-ship cruise missiles and other military capabilities that don’t match [China’s peaceful] rhetoric.”

https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/10/article/us-coast-guard-churns-south-china-sea-tensions/

US Speaker Pelosi urges probe into shooting of American rights worker in Ifugao

From the Philippine Star (Oct 30, 2019): US Speaker Pelosi urges probe into shooting of American rights worker in Ifugao

In this Aug.7, 2019 file photo, members of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance hold a rally to condemn the shooting in Lagawe, Ifugao that seriously injured Cordillera Human Rights Alliance paralegal volunteer and provincial human rights officer Brandon Lee   The STAR/Andy Zapata Jr.

United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she has called on the Philippine government to investigate the attempted murder of a Chinese-American human rights and environmental defender who was shot in Lagawe, Ifugao in August.

Brandon Lee, an American volunteer of the Baguio City-based Cordillera Human Rights Alliance was shot in front of his house on August 6.

"Grateful that Brandon Lee has returned home to San Francisco for refuge and care after being brutally shot in the Philippines, where he was fighting for environmental and indigenous peoples’ rights," Pelosi said on her Twitter account.

She added: "I have encouraged the Philippine government to investigate this disturbing crime."

Lee, a California native, is back in his home city. He and his mother Louise arrived in San Francisco on a medical transport last Saturday, according to social media posts of Mar Gordon and Matty Haney, district supervisors of San Francisco City and County.

"It took a movement—here in the Bay Area and US-wide, in the Philippines and internationally to bring him back to safety," Haney wrote on Facebook.

Lee, also a paralegal volunteer of the Ifugao Peasant Movement and a contributor to online paper Northern Dispatch was among the activists tagged by the military as alleged supporters of the New People’s Army in 2015.

"Weeks and days before this incident, the 54th [Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army] frequented the Ifugao Peasant Movement office as well as the residences of Brandon and other officers of the Justice and Peace Advocates of Ifugao conversing with them, gathering data, and intimidating them," CHRA said in a report on the shooting by reogional weekly Northern Dispatch.

The Philippines was the deadliest country for environmental and land activists in 2018, with at least 30 recorded deaths, according to watchdog Global Witness.

READ: Attack vs activist in Ifugao underscores need for passage of rights defenders bill

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/10/30/1964669/us-speaker-pelosi-urges-probe-shooting-american-rights-worker-ifugao

Police: Disgruntled NPA sowing fake news

From the Sun Star-Baguio (Oct 30, 2019): Police: Disgruntled NPA sowing fake news

THE Cordillera's top police officer believes the New People's Army (NPA) rebels under the Lejo Cawilan Command that is operating in Kalinga are now disgruntled and are sowing intrigues through fake news.

Ka Tipon Gil-Ayab, spokesman of the Lejo Cawilan Command-NPA Kalinga, accused the military and police of fabricating NPA surrenderers for the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).

But Police Brigadier General Israel Ephraim Dickson, director of the Police Regional Office-Cordillera, cited the surrender of 65 personalities in Lubuagan who were accused as Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) pretending to be NPA rebels.

The police regional command clarified that the 65 Lubuagan residents surrendered to authorities to clear their involvement with the Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL), or underground committees organized by the NPA to provide them with intelligence and logistical support.
"To claim them as civilians is a desperate NPA damage control effort to deny the exposure of their underground community organizing. In making the conflicting claim that they are disguised Cafgus is seen by Lubuagan residents as a threat to the SPL members who had the courage to reveal their involvement to the authorities. It is not possible for Cafgus to pretend to be NPA surrenderees since validation for E-Clip is not undertaken by the military but by the LGUs and other government line agencies," Dickson said.

Dickson also dispelled NPA's statement that Alex Tongdo alias Ka Diwa is a recycled surrenderer who surrendered in 2017.

"This appears to be another form of threat, as no mention is made of the arms cache that the former NPA commander surrendered, but instead laid the foundation for NPA deniability when it conducts any reprisal against Tongdo," Dickson added.


https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1829943

NPA rebel surrenders in Zambo Sur

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Oct 30, 2019): NPA rebel surrenders in Zambo Sur

A MEMBER of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to authorities in Molave town, Zamboanga del Sur on Tuesday, October 29.

Police Brigadier General Froilan Quidilla, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula director, identified the surrenderer as Cindo Castanyos Estacoja, alias Ka Langgam, 22.

Quidilla said Estacoja surrendered following a series of negotiations initiated by policemen of Molave and officials of Alicia village of the same town.

Quidilla said Estacoja is a member of Team Abe of Front Committee of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.

He said Estacoja surrendered through the government’s National Task Force-Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict.

He lauded all the concerned individuals who worked for the surrender of Estacoja.

“This mission won’t be possible without the cooperation and support of the community. Ending local communist is a battle of everyone and not a responsibility of one organization alone,” headded.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1829868/Zamboanga/Local-News/NPA-rebel-surrenders-in-Zambo-Sur

ACLED Regional Overview – Asia (20 - 26 October 2019)

Posted to the Relief Web (Oct 26, 2019): ACLED Regional Overview – Asia (20 - 26 October 2019)

REPORTfrom Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project
Published on 26 Oct 2019 —View Original

Download PDF (544.54 KB)


In South and Southeast Asia last week, key trends include: continued armed clashes between state forces and domestic rebel groups in Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Philippines; ongoing cross-border violence between Indian and Pakistani forces in Kashmir; and an attack on civilians by the separatist West Papua National Liberation Army in Indonesia.

Armed clashes continued last week in Afghanistan as the government reclaimed Dahana i Ghuri and Darqad districts in the northern provinces of Baghlan and Takhar from the Taliban. In recent years, the Taliban has gained ground in northern Afghanistan as it has expanded its insurgent activities from its traditional strongholds in southern and eastern Afghanistan to once peaceful regions in the north. Darqad district was seized by Taliban forces in September 2019, while Dahana i Ghuri had been under Taliban control since August 2016. Heavy clashes in Afghanistan’s northern provinces have been ongoing for months as both the Taliban and the US-backed Afghan military have stepped up efforts to gain the upper hand in peace negotiations. US-Taliban talks in Doha were abruptly halted by US President Trump last month following the death of a US soldier and 11 other people in a Taliban bomb attack in Kabul. However, renewed international diplomatic efforts in recent days have raised hopes about the resumption of talks (VOA, 27 October 2019). Amidst official confirmation that the United States has been reducing the number of its troops in Afghanistan by 2,000 over the last year, some experts have voiced concern about the reduced US leverage over the terms of any potential settlement with the Taliban (New York Times, 21 October 2019).

In India, Block Development Council (BDC) elections were held for the first time in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) on 24 October. The BDC constitutes the second tier of the system of local self-government in J&K. The elections were held amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the security lockdown and communication blackout following the Indian government’s revocation of Article 370 since 5 August 2019. Additionally, following the abrogation of Article 370, opposition party leaders in J&K were detained or placed under house arrest, preventing them from participating in political activities in the build-up to the elections. With the exception of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), major parties in J&K had boycotted the elections, citing the revocation of Article 370 and the detention of their leaders (Times of India, 25 October 2019). This thus raised questions about the legitimacy of the elections (Hindustan Times, 30 September 2019).

Whilst the elections passed mostly without violence, several schools, chosen as BDC polling stations, were reportedly targeted in arson attacks by suspected militants. A high voter turnout (98%) was reported and independent candidates unexpectedly won 19 of 22 districts across J&K, despite the BJP’s ability to campaign across the state and avoid mainstream political leadership (The Wire, 26 October 2019). The BJP, who had expected to win 90% of the BDC seats (The Hindu, 7 October 2019), failed to significantly extend their power in the political hierarchy of the Kashmir valley. Meanwhile, in other developments, already heightened levels of cross-border violence between Indian and Pakistani forces escalated further with at least 12 fatalities reported along the Line of Control.

In Myanmar, heavy clashes were reported in Rakhine state between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) and in Shan state between the Myanmar military and the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA). Both the AA and PSLF/TNLA are members of the Northern Alliance; peace talks between the military and Northern Alliance have been delayed until November (Irrawaddy, 23 October 2019). For the second week in a row, despite negotiations between the two groups, clashes between the New Mon State Party/Mon National Liberation Army (NMSP/MNLA) and Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (KNU/KNLA) occurred over contested territories near Three Pagodas Pass.

Clashes between the New People’s Army (NPA) and Philippine state forces continued last week in the Philippines. The clashes come as efforts against the communist rebels have stepped up in recent months. Notably, one of the clashes occurred in Bohol which had been declared free of communist rebels in 2010 (The Philippine Star, 25 October 2019).

Finally, in addition to continued clashes in the region, in Indonesia, the separatist West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) killed three taxi drivers who they accused of being soldiers. Elsewhere in the country, students in several cities protested as President Joko Widodo was sworn in for a second term on 20 October. After being sworn in, the President appointed his election rival, Prabowo Subianto, to be Minister of Defense. Subianto’s loss in the presidential elections earlier in the year had led to deadly riots (BBC, 27 October 2019). Known for his involvement in human rights violations in the past, Subianto’s appointment comes at a time when unrest in the country is at a high and many are doubting Widodo’s commitment to liberal reforms (The Diplomat, 24 October 2019).

https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/acled-regional-overview-asia-20-26-october-2019

DVIDS: NMCB 5 Seabees Begin Malatgao Elementary School Construction with Ground Breaking Ceremony

Posted to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) (Oct 17, 2019): NMCB 5 Seabees Begin Malatgao Elementary School Construction with Ground Breaking Ceremony



Courtesy Photo | 191015-N-QR336-1001 PALAWAN, Philippines (Oct. 15, 2019) Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5’s Detail Palawan and the Seabees from Armed Forces of the Philippines 2nd NMCB pose for a photograph after the Sama Sama Children's Learning Center groundbreaking ceremony at Kamuing Elementary School in Palawan, Philippines. NMCB-5 is deployed across the Indo-Pacific region conducting high-quality construction to support U.S. and partner nations to strengthen partnerships, deter aggression, and enable expeditionary logistics and naval power projection. (U.S. Navy photo by Builder 2nd Class Colt Hawkins/Released)

PHILIPPINES
10.17.2019
Courtesy Story
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5
Story by Steelworker 3rd Class Taylor Myers

NARRA, Palawan -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 began construction at Malatgao Elementary School with a ground breaking ceremony Oct. 17.

Seabees from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 2nd NMCB, 360 students, and 40 teachers and staff attended the ceremony.

The two-room school house is being constructed in Narra, Palawan in support of the Philippines Department of Education as well as the Malatgao Elementary School. Malatgao Elementary School will be demolishing two of their classrooms, which the new construction will replace. The new construction will provide a much-needed upgraded schoolhouse for the elementary school, which is currently in deteriorated conditions.

Along with the support from the local Malatgao Elementary school and surrounding community, NMCB 5 will be supported by Seabees from the AFP 2nd NMCB providing construction support, and the Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 providing security on site.

The classroom construction will include a concrete slab with concrete columns and concrete masonry unit blocks as the walls. They will construct steel trusses and have metal roofing. The inside will have fluorescent lighting, electrical outlets, and wood doors. To finish, they will stucco and paint the outside of the building.

The ceremony consisted of multiple performances done by students ranging from kindergarten through the sixth grade.

Students and teachers spoke about the appreciation that they had for the Seabees and what they were doing for the community. 2nd Lt. Cabang, from AFP Western command, talked about the influence of the Seabees on the future of the students.

“Seabees will inspire our youth here at Malatgao Elementary School to dream big and study harder so they will be the ones to help others also to reach their dreams," said Cabang.

The ceremony closed with a time capsule being buried on the site, in the capsule was a photo of the Seabees that will construct the school house, and a list of the students that will be able to enjoy it when it is completed.

"This moment is a start in history. This moment will never be forgotten, it is part of the history of this school,” said Marcial A. Alili, Malatgao Elementary School’s principal. “We are excited to start and very much excited for what we are going to construct. This is for our kids because two of our buildings are subject to demolition. Of course, we need classrooms for our kids. On behalf of the 360 pupils and 40 teachers, we would like to welcome you to our school."

NMCB-5 is deployed across the Indo-Pacific region conducting high-quality construction to support U.S. and partner nations to strengthen partnerships, deter aggression, and enable expeditionary logistics and naval power projection. The battalion stands ready to support Humanitarian Aid/Disaster Relief and Major Combat Operations throughout the region.

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/349630/nmcb-5-seabees-begin-malatgao-elementary-school-construction-with-ground-breaking-ceremony

Southeast Asian Leaders Seen Siding with China’s Despite Maritime Dispute

From the Voice of America (Oct 30, 2019): Southeast Asian Leaders Seen Siding with China’s Despite Maritime Dispute

Left to right, Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, China's FM Wang Yi, Philippines' FM Teodoro Locsin Jr., and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi launch the ASEAN-China Young Leadership meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, July 31, 2019.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Ten Southeast Asian heads of state will hold their landmark annual meeting next week, and four are enmeshed in a maritime sovereignty dispute with their more powerful neighbor China. But the event is widely expected to produce a statement that avoids condemning Beijing.

That’s because those leaders, even in Vietnam and the Philippines where frustration is running high this year after a series of incidents, hope China will eventually sign a code of conduct aimed at preventing maritime accidents and because some of the 10 countries need Chinese economic aid, scholars say.

Heads of state from the 10 countries, who will convene October 31-November 4 at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, will probably issue a statement that avoids fingering China directly and instead plays up common values, the experts believe.

“The summit itself is very cautious,” said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor of politics at The University of New South Wales in Australia. “I expect a boilerplate, ‘freedom of navigation, settle matters peacefully.’”

Spirit of cooperation despite hostilities

ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam dispute with Beijing’s Communist leadership parts of the South China Sea, a 3.5 million-square-kilometer waterway that’s rich in fisheries and fossil fuel reserves. China has taken a lead over the past decade by landfilling small islets for military use.

A Chinese survey ship spent months this year in waters where Vietnam is looking fuel under the sea. Chinese coast guard ships patrolled Malaysian-claimed waters for 258 days over the year ending in September, one think tank found. In early 2019, hundreds of Chinese boats surrounded disputed islets occupied by the Philippines.

But ASEAN’s 2019 chair Thailand hopes to “disarm” China, Thayer said. Thai officials may have worked behind the scenes to pick friendly wording for any summit statements next week, he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his ASEAN counterparts attend the 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok, Thailand Aug. 2, 2019.

Beijing, if feeling welcome, might push harder for an ASEAN-China code of conduct covering the contested sea. China has suggested it could be finished by 2021 despite past fears that the code would weaken its sovereignty claims. China had stalled talks on a code before 2016. Analysts say sovereignty disputes still make it hard to craft a legally binding document.

A code might use vague language, for example, on the scope of the sea in question and discourage involvement from neutral states outside Asia, Thayer said.

This year’s summit statement may note concern about recent events in the sea and reiterate intent to keep working on the code of conduct, Thayer said.

Outspoken Vietnam

Vietnam probably wants sterner language in the 2019 summit statement, said Trung Nguyen, international relations dean at Ho Chi Minh University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Vietnam speaks out regularly against China due to deep historical differences over territory.

“I think that Vietnam is pushing the multilateral framework as the battlefront for Vietnam to exert sovereignty in the South China Sea and to denounce or to condemn any behavior that can go against Vietnam’s sovereignty.” Nguyen said.

Cambodia could block ASEAN from blaming China, he said. Three years ago, the longtime friend of Beijing stopped ASEAN from mentioning that year’s international arbitration court ruling against China, over the legal basis of its maritime claims. Cambodia lacks a South China Sea claim and accepts Chinese development aid.

Vietnam will have more sway over ASEAN next year when it becomes the chair. China will find it harder at that point to avoid criticism, Thayer said.

Eventually progress on a code may fall to meetings between China and individual ASEAN countries, Thayer said.

Philippine wildcard

Suspicion among Filipinos is mounting this year over China’s growing presence in the disputed sea’s Spratly Islands where Manila controls 10 features. The Philippine foreign minister called this month for a formal protest against China for making “multiple passes” near one Philippine-held islet, Second Thomas Shoal.

FILE - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, meet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Aug. 29, 2019.

However, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte takes a friendly view toward China, landing his country pledges of $24 billion in Chinese aid and investment. China agreed this year to explore jointly with the Philippines for undersea oil and take just 40% of any discoveries.

“For the Philippines, there’s already agreement to go ahead with a joint exploration, so I don’t think the Philippines would want to be seen as an unfriendly country towards China,” said Eduardo Araral, associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s public policy school.

The Philippines will instead hope ASEAN focuses its 2019 statement on speeding up the code of conduct, Araral said. A June 9 collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels added impetus to signing the code.

Elsewhere around the sea, China with the world’s second largest economy is helping Brunei’s economy diversify away from selling oil. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad joined a Chinese Belt and Road Initiative summit earlier this year, meaning his country would be in line for Chinese infrastructure aid.

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/southeast-asian-leaders-seen-siding-chinas-despite-maritime-dispute

ELCAC finds partners with former AFP servicemen in Eastern Samar

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31, 2019): ELCAC finds partners with former AFP servicemen in Eastern Samar



BORONGAN CITY --The 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, (8th ID), Philippine Army found partners to push End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) with former army servicemen.

In the Former AFP Servicemen Summit held recently, the 14th IB gathered some 130 former AFP servicemen.

Under the leadership of LTC Jasper Justito M. Pecson, commanding officer of the battalion, the 130 former AFP Servicemen(Retired/Discharged/Separated) committed to help their former organization to support the fight to end insurgency.

LTC Jasper Justito M. Pecson, commanding officer of the battalion urged the 130 former AFP Servicemen(Retired/Discharged/Separated) to help their former organization to support the fight to end insurgency. (14th IB/ Phil. Army)

"We updated them on the current thrust of the AFP and the government as a whole to end the local communist armed conflict," said Pecson in a text message.

They were also reminded of their roles on peace and development in the province as former member of the AFP and also on nation building activities.

The organizers also invited the different financial Institutions from Philippine Army Finance Center Producers Integrated Cooperative(PAFCPIC), Armed Forces of the Philippines Savings and Loan Association (AFPSLAI) and ACDI Multi-Purpose Cooperative to update them on the policies and services offered for the former servicemen to support their finances.

The financial institutions also distributed early Christmas gifts to the attendees.

The activity also enhanced the camaraderie between the former AFP member and the active personnel through exchange of ideas, experiences and lessons learned.

"We thank them for their cooperation and commitment as they continue to support the AFP in attaining peace and security in the province of Eastern Samar," said Pecson. (PIA–Eastern Samar with reports from the 14th IB, PA)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029513

Families, relatives of Inopacan massacre victims feel gov't support

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31, 2019): Families, relatives of Inopacan massacre victims feel gov't support

Surviving families and relatives of the Inopacan purging victims of the NPAs were in tears as they lighted candles and offer prayers at the concrete slab carved with a list of the victims' names near the Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church in Baybay City after a Holy Mass and a Peace Walk, Oct. 29. (PIA-8)

BAYBAY CITY -- Rolando Malasaga, 54, a resident of barangay San Juan, Mahaplag, Leyte, still remembered how he lost his elder brother and father-in-law way back in the 1980s, in the hands of the enemies of the state, on the mere suspicion they are government spies.

Jenefer Ejoc, of Barangay Kabungaan, this city, had a similar experience, as his elder brother, Restituto, was among those who perished in the infamous Inopacan massacre, a result of mass purging of suspected informers within the ranks of CPP-NPAs.

Wives became widows, mothers longed for a lost nephews and children -- the ordeal was refreshed in a gathering at the municipal gym here Tuesday, October 29, an event preceded by a Holy Mass, a Walk for Peace around the city, with placards bearing messages of disgust on the summary executions.

The walk ended with the lighting of candles for all the dead, in a concrete slab carved with a list of their names, and a reminder, like a headline, was printed on top in bold letters, NEVER AGAIN.

They are the 135 surviving families and close relatives, each one having the same stories to tell in the dark chapter of the country’s history hereabout more than thirty years ago.

Government agencies provide financial assistance and basic services to the surviving families thru the "Halad ug Panaghiusa" Convergence Caravan of the RTF8 ELCAC held at the Baybay City Gym, Oct. 29. (PIA-8)

And they were gathered here to attend the special convergence mission spearheaded by the task forces to end local communist armed conflict (TF-ELCAC) from the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels.

In the program that followed, the messages expressed by government officials and functionaries were re-assuring and comforting, for they, too, felt the pain and empathized with the victims on the savagery of it all.

“We can overcome the challenge of the Inopacan massacre much like the way we overcome the challenge of Yolanda,” Leyte Gov. Leopoldo Dominico Petilla intoned, adding that in his visit last week to two hinterland barangays of Caolisihan, Inopacan and Monterico, Baybay, a budget of P10 million and P20 million, respectively, were already set aside for road improvement.

Eduardo Del Rosario, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) who doubles as Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Eastern Visayas, said that in ELCAC, national agencies and the local government units work hand in hand in extending help.

Indeed, host Mayor Jose Cari of Baybay, Inopacan Mayor Azucena Mirambel, Mahaplag Mayor Daisy Lleve, and 5th District Representative Carl Nicolas Cari all vowed support to the whole-of-nation approach in ending insurgency, an idea initiated by President Duterte in November last year.

But Del Rosario has a special message for the students, the youth -- that they should not be swayed into joining the NPAs.

“Pag wala silang nare-recruit, the CPP-NPA will die,” he emphasized.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., the vice-chair of the national task force-ELCAC, narrated that he had visited the gravesites in 2006 while he was still AFP Chief of Staff, and consequently, he filed a case of multiple murder against the leaders of the communist movement in a Hilongos trial court, which was later transferred in a Manila court.

“Ang kasong 'yon ay nagbunga ng pag-issue ng warrant of arrest for the more than 38 leaders of CPP-NPA, including Sison, Jalandoni, and others,” Esperon reported.

That was a giant leap of support for the 135 surviving families crying for justice for a crime committed over the past three decades, a howl reflected in the placard carried by Rolando Malasaga: “Joma Sison paulion para panubagon sa Inopacan Masaker.” (Joma Sison should be sent home for retribution. (LDL/MMP/PIA-8, Southern Leyte)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029453

Locals condemn communist terrorists’ use of IED

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31, 2019): Locals condemn communist terrorists’ use of IED (By 8CMOBN, 8ID, PA)



CAMP DAZA, Hinabangan, Samar -- A PNP patrol car bound for Tacloban City was attacked by a group of NPA terrorists using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Lale, Pinabacdao, Samar on October 29, 2019, 11:30 in the evening.

The police vehicle was for delivery to LGU Surigao City when the IED bombing transpired.

Toyota Bicutan, Taguig employees Mr. Rustom Patagan and Mr. Lauri Silesa Miravilles who survived the attack with no sustained injury, reported the incident to Sta. Rita Municipal Police Station, Samar.

Minor damages were recorded by the police from the procured LGU Surigao vehicle.

Fedencio Manucay Camamhot, the Barangay Chairman of Lale, Pinabacdao, Samar strongly condemned the act perpetrated by the communists while the locals seek the immediate arrest of the suspected terrorists.

Col. Camilo Z. Ligayo, commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army in the Province of Samar vows to use the full force of the law to bring into justice the perpetrators of the IED attack. (8CMOBN, 8ID, PA)

Source: 8th Civil Military Operations Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029550

36 Butuan SK chairpersons complete basic citizen’s military training

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31, 2019): 36 Butuan SK chairpersons complete basic citizen’s military training

BUTUAN CITY -- Some 36 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons in this city are now among the enlisted army reservists after passing the Basic Citizens Military Training under the 15th Regional Community Defense Group, Army Reserve Command, which was also in time with the conduct of the three-day 1st SK Butuan City Leadership Development Training held recently in Brgy. Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.The program was aimed to enhance the leadership and organizational skills of the youth particularly the SK chairpersons, as they have the potential to become future political leaders of the country.

This also forms part of the government's initiative to help the youth by keeping them involved in nation-building, as they play a vital role in curbing the insurgency problem in the region, and preventing them from being lured and recruited by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

According to Engr. Wen Kok Chiang, SK Federation president of Butuan City, the SK officials are considered as duty-bearers, hence, they should serve as a good example of being a leader to other youths and should give their best in serving the people.

He also encouraged other youths to be vigilant not to be recruited and exploited by the communist NPA group. “Let us support the Duterte administration in its fight against criminality and insurgency. We, as youths have a big role to play in our society. Let’s be responsible citizens of this country,” he said.

Chiang further emphasized that the Philippine Army is always ready to protect the nation, and they deserve people’s trust and confidence.

Brigadier General Maurito Licudine, commander of 402nd Brigade, Philippine Army also underlined the value of capacitating the youth with the leadership skills and enhancing their capabilities. He hopes that more youths would volunteer themselves and become part of the said training. (JCM/JPG/PIA-Caraga)



https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029293

DILG USec calls for convergence to end communist armed conflict

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31, 2019): DILG USec calls for convergence to end communist armed conflict

MAASIN CITY -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Marivel C. Sacendoncillo has called for a convergence of local and national governments to address insurgency problem not only in the province but at the regional and national level as well.
The call was made during the recent recognition and stakeholders forum to end the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in connection with the local government month celebration.

“The key to the solution of this conflict is the local government, by way of responding to legitimate issues at the local level and by way of bringing people together to address these issues and by these we can bring back the confidence and trust of the people to the government,” the lady Usec said.

She said,“There is no issue that cannot be solved by the government and the key to the solution of this conflict is the local government.”

“This is not a fight against anyone, but this is about winning unity and winning prosperity for the Filipinos without firing a single shot,” she said referring to solve the battle through good governance wherein the local government is at the forefront.

She said that good governance is a responsibility of the whole community wherein we can bring back the confidence and trust of the people, because after all, “we are all Filipinos.”

Sacendoncillo who was the guest speaker during the activity held at Lourdes Convention Center.

“A programmatic approach from the national line agencies must be followed like a chain.”

She demonstrated an example such as a lot, if it is needed at the barangay level, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will come in and so with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); then afterward the Department of Agriculture will support for their agricultural needs or livelihood training with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for educational needs.

“These agencies are only some of those that can assist the barangay constituents so that they will not feel that they are left behind,” Sacendoncillo said.

The convergence of the local and national government should come in to ensure that the communities will also be safeguarded and will no longer be infiltrated, she said.

The leaders of the National Task Force on ELCAC is confident that it will succeed, “by putting our minds and hearts together and hoping that the government will be able to end this before President Duterte’s term ends.”

She was grateful for Southern Leyte because there are no identified communist rebels, “the effects of insurgency cannot be determined since the province is not yet free from recruitment. ” (rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029442

SurSur FRs surrender firearms; receive cash assistance from gov't

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31, 2019): SurSur FRs surrender firearms; receive cash assistance from gov't

BUTUAN CITY -- More than 40 former rebels (FRs) from the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered their firearms as part of their commitment to support the government towards sustainable peace and development.

This was in time with the conduct of the 3rd Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) held in Tandag City, which was witnessed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, together with other officials.These former rebels vowed to fully support the government and to live peacefully in their respective communities.

Each of them received financial assistance and firearms remuneration with a total amount of P1.6-million.

They all expressed their gratitude to the government for the assistance extended to them.

“I’m happy that they (government) still accepted us despite our mistakes for joining the NPAs with the wrong ideology. We also thanked them for giving us livelihood assistance,” a former rebel from Bislig City said.

“We chose to surrender to the government’s fold because we knew and realized that joining the NPA does nothing good for us,” added former rebel from Bunawan, Agusan del Sur.

CabSec. Nograles also thanked the FRs as they voluntarily surrendered. He stressed that the government is serious in implementing Executive Order 70 of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“This battle against the local communist armed conflict is a whole-of-nation approach. All sectors from the national down to the local levels are united in doing different strategies to solve the insurgency,” cited Nograles.

Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel also assured that the locals would continue to experience the services from various government agencies through the conduct of Serbisyo Caravan and immersion in the areas affected by insurgency.

This is to show the local populace that the government is sincere in addressing their basic needs. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)



https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029289

Over 400 youths join Junior Police Boot Camp in Butuan City

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31, 2019): Over 400 youths join Junior Police Boot Camp in Butuan City

BUTUAN CITY -- As part of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) effort in promoting the whole-of-nation approach in solving local communist armed conflict, the agency has gathered more than 400 youths from 31 national high schools in this city and involved them in the three-day Junior Police Boot Camp 2019 from October 23-25, 2019 held at Taligaman National High School.

The PNP personnel inculcated in the minds of the youths the importance of being disciplined and responsible and keeping the spirit of volunteerism.

With the conduct of such activity, the PNP and Philippine Army believe that the young people would not be easily deceived and recruited by the communist terrorist groups.

Ivan Pepito was delighted to be among the participating individuals and considered it a great opportunity of learning a lot from the resource persons and facilitators. He stressed that causing fear and chaos to the communities would not help any country to progress.

“We should be able to take this activity as part of our training, for us to become better citizens and proactive youths in our respective communities,” said Pepito.

Wenna Joy Culibra also reminded her peers not to support and join the terrorist NPA group, as it would only cause them harm and destroy their lives.

She said the youths should give an account of the sacrifices of their parents in raising them well and providing their needs.

“We should never allow ourselves to be fooled by the programs and ideology of the NPAs because all of these are not real,” added Culibra.

According to Police Colonel Albert Magno, city director of Butuan City Police Office (BCPO), the Junior Police Boot Camp is just one of the many significant initiatives of their office in curbing the insurgency problem.

The official added that this forms part of the implementation of the Executive Order 70 of President Rodrigo Duterte, with the aim to achieve lasting peace and development in the country.

“This would help the youths become responsible especially in their decisions and plans in life. The PNP would continue to mold them so they become agents of change in the society,” Magno said.

Meanwhile, the participating youths also expressed their support to the government through a pledge of commitment in its fight against illegal drugs and terrorism. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)



https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029527