Philippines invites China to 'formal discussions'

From Rappler (Aug 12): Philippines invites China to 'formal discussions'

Former Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos, special envoy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, invited China to "formal discussions" after Beijing lost in a case filed by Manila over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Ramos extended this invitation during his informal talks in Hong Kong with former Chinese ambassador to Manila Fu Ying and Professor Wu Shicun, president of China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

 

Ramos, Fu, and Wu issued a joint statement on Friday, August 12, about their meeting from Wednesday to Thursday, August 10 to 11.

 

"Former President Ramos, as an ice breaker, expressed the Philippine government’s desire to hold formal discussions with the Chinese government on issues of mutual concern and interest at the appropriate time to explore pathways to peace and cooperation," said Ramos, Fu, and Wu in their joint statement.

 

They also said, "China has welcomed former President Ramos to come to Beijing as special envoy of Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte."

 

Ramos, Fu, and Wu said they held discussions from Wednesday to Thursday "in a friendly atmosphere." The 3 of them discussed, in their private capacity, "the way forward in the spirit of universal brotherhood and sisterhood for peace and cooperation."

 

"They expressed the hope to find common ground for mutual benefit, especially for the poverty-stricken sectors of their societies," their statement said.

 

Talks eyed in Manila, Beijing

 

They said possible points of cooperation include the following:

• encouraging marine preservation
• avoiding tension and promoting fishing cooperation
• anti-drug and anti-smuggling cooperation
• anti-crime and anti-corruption cooperation
• improving tourism opportunities
• encouraging trade and investment facilitation
• encouraging track II (think tank) exchanges on relevant issues of mutual concern and interest

Ramos, Wu, and Fu "stressed that building trust is very important to the long-term beneficial relationship between the Philippines and China." They also said they "value the long history of friendship" between the two countries.

 

The 3 of them said they "looked forward to the beginning of a process of formal discussions which will be continued in Beijing and Manila and other possible venues."

Their statement was also signed by former Philippine interior secretary Rafael Alunan III and Filipino journalist Chito Sta. Romana.

 

Alunan was eyed as envoy to China if Ramos refused the position, while Sta. Romana was the former Beijing bureau chief of the US news group ABC News.

 

Ramos earlier said he is "just the icebreaker to rekindle, to warm up again our good, friendly, neighborly relations with China."

 

The talks in Hong Kong come after the Philippines won a historic case against China over the West Philippine Sea. Duterte refuses to "flaunt" this ruling as he aims to boost ties with Beijing for practical reasons, including China’s offer to build a railway in two years.

 

http://www.rappler.com/nation/142808-philippines-china-formal-discussions-ramos

Duterte on 'fragile' Misuari: 'I don’t want him detained'

From Rappler (Aug 12): Duterte on 'fragile' Misuari: 'I don’t want him detained'

President Rodrigo Duterte says there will be a big problem if something happens to Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari while under government custody



OLD AGE. President Rodrigo Duterte says there will be a big problem if something bad happens to Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari under government custody.

President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday night, August 11, that he does not want Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari to be pursued and detained anymore due to his “fragile condition.”

“Misuari is getting old and I’m not saying he’s sick,” he explained during a press conference. “But with his fragile condition, he does not need to be pursued. I don’t want him detained.”

 

Duterte said that 77-year-old Misuari, who has a warrant of arrest in relation to the Zamboanga siege in 2013, knows that “he’s supposed to stay there.”

 

Misuari has been charged with inciting rebellion and crimes against humanity for his key role in the Zamboanga siege that claimed nearly 200 casualties and displaced thousands of families.

 

It will be a problem, he added, if something bad happens to the former governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) while under government custody.

 

“If something happens to Misuari while he’s under our control or detained by us, you can never have talks again,” Duterte said. “Kapag may nangyari sa kanya, malaking problema yan (If something happens to him, it will be a big problem).”

 

Aside from Misuari, Duterte also does not want anything bad to happen to Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison.

 

“You lose the chance, even if it is a small one, to have peace talks with anybody there so delikado iyan (it’s dangerous),” he said. “And even Sison, ayoko na may mangyari (I don’t want something to happen).”

 

Duterte made the comment on Sison a week after they exchanged tirades sparked by the government's unreciprocated unilateral ceasefire with communist rebels. (READ: Duterte calls Joma Sison 'arrogant')

 

Leadership of ‘good number of Filipinos’

 

Misuari and Sison, according to Duterte, lead “a good number of Filipinos” pursuing an ideology.

 

“They might not really be a big number but still, they command respect for what they believe in,” he said. “They’re fighting because they want a better chance for the people. That’s what they believe.”

 

The problem Duterte sees is that they want to achieve their goals through armed struggle, which has already claimed a lot of lives from both sides throughout the years.

 

“When the guy is driven by a purified principle to do better or to give a better set of things than what they are experiencing now, somehow it invites respect,” he said. “But they want to take over through force of arms and that is the problem.”

 

The peace road map approved by Duterte seeks to finally end armed struggle in the Philippines.

 

According to Chief Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, the roadmap aims to provide peace and development by addressing the issue on the Bangsamoro and resumption of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

 

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government are set to “relaunch” formal meetings as they enter the implementation phase of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) on August 13 to 14.

 

Meanwhile, the peace negotiations between the government and communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF) are scheduled on August 20 to 27.

 

http://www.rappler.com/nation/142812-nur-misuari-fragile-not-detain-duterte

Jihadists targetting more beauty pageants

From the Manila Times (Aug 11): Jihadists targetting more beauty pageants

LOCAL affiliates of the Islamic State (IS) group are eyeing more targets in Min­danao to “cast fear” in the heart of their enemies, aside from the 2017 Miss Universe pageant to be held in the Philippines.

In their online fora, the jihadists said they are gathering information on schedules of “beauty pageants in the country” that they apparently plan to attack.

Among the other targets that they cited are this year’s festivals in the region, including Kada­yawan and Kalivungan held in the cities of Davao and Kidapawan, respectively.

The Mutya ng Cotabato pageant in Kidapawan City for the Kalivungan Festival will highlight the 102nd founding anniversary celebrations of North Cotabato province.

There are no scheduled beauty contests for this month’s Kada­yawan Festival but Davao is among the proposed cities that candidates of the 2017 Miss Universe contest would be visiting for their pre-pageant activities.

The others are the cities of Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Vigan, and tourist spots in the Visayas such as Palawan and Boracay, the Department of Tourism department had said.

The international beauty pa­geant is scheduled to begin on January 30, 2017 but organizers are yet to determine the venue for the event.

Authorities said security measures are being prepared for the pageant while imminent threats from radicals are being monitored.

SITE Intel Group, an international agency that tracks online activities of jihadist organizations, recently named those behind the online fora as “IS Philippines supporters” and the fora as a platform for “Commentary of the Ummah.” Ummah are Muslim clerics.

The fora were carried by a Telegram app where audiences are asked to create home-made bombs—through the help of video and manual tutorials—that will be lobbed at beauty pageants.

The intelligence group said the online materials are “old production of Sawt al-Jihad (Voice of Jihad) showing the preparation and demonstration of an explosive belt for suicide operations.

The timed hand grenade manual is from Issue 14 of Inspired magazine of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), according to the group.

The jihadists said lone wolf attacks were ordered by a certain Abdul Rahman, who is in Al-Raqqah province in Syria and fighting alongside the IS.

“Cast fear in their heart,” Abdul Rahman was quoted by the group as saying.

The only identified Filipino in Syria with the name Abdul Rahman was the one who ordered last month all IS supporters in the Philippines and nearby countries—Malaysia and Indonesia—to wage war in the Philippines if they could not travel to Syria.

Abdul Rahman, known to Phi­lippine authorities as among the remnant senior leaders of the Khilafah Islamiyah Movement (KIM), remains at large.

His order came a few days after the IS official media outlet called Dabiq distributed its 15th issue naming the Philippines as among their “wilayat” or provinces.

In the recent issue, the magazine recalled their “successful operations” in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Lanao del Sur.

Last Monday, the group claimed to have “hit” a warplane in ongoing clashes with government troops in Basilan.

http://www.manilatimes.net/jihadists-targetting-more-beauty-pageants/279325/

PH military: Most Abu Sayyaf bandits are drug users

From Coconuts Manila (Aug 12): PH military: Most Abu Sayyaf bandits are drug users

How many of them are allegedly addicted to shabu? PHOTO: YouTube screengrab

News flash: Most Abu Sayyaf bandits are drug users.

That's according to military commanders who have been dealing with the terrorist group for years. In fact, they recently caught the man who is said to be the shabu supplier of the terrorist group.

Sidimar Abduhadi, the man who is allegedly the provider of shabu to Abu Sayyaf bandits,  was arrested in Talipao, Sulu, last week. He was collared after a shootout with military and police operatives.

According to Maj. Filemon Tan Jr, spokesman for Philippine Army's Western Mindanao Command, a police officer was wounded in the encounter.

"Abduhadi was carrying seven sachets of shabu, a .38-caliber revolver, and drug paraphernalia," reports Roel Pareño in The Philippine Star.

In light of this detail, doesn't this make the Abu Sayyaf Group prime targets in President Rodrigo Duterte's war against drugs?

http://manila.coconuts.co/2016/08/12/ph-military-most-abu-sayyaf-bandits-drug-users

REPLY TO DUTERT: Leftist party-list solon admits funding ‘NPA’

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Aug 12): REPLY TO DUTERT: Leftist party-list solon admits funding ‘NPA’

Yes, we fund the NPA, a militant party-list group admitted on Thursday, “the No Permanent Address folks.”

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said President Duterte’s accusation the other night that militant party-list groups were giving financial aid to the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was an “old” one meant to discredit the progressive bloc in Congress.

Zarate said the bloc—dubbed Makabayan and composed of activist party-list groups—indeed supported the NPA but these were those with “no permanent address” or the homeless.

Zarate pointed to the fact that the Commission on Audit (COA) had never taken issue with any member of the Makabayan bloc over the use of their Priority Development Allocation Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel since the party-list groups took part in elections in 2001.

He said that after the PDAF was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013, they relied on their office funds to help the homeless.

“During the time we had the PDAF, we used it for the NPA, the no permanent address people. These are the homeless whom we provide care for through health facilities and education in schools,” Zarate said.

“Without the PDAF, the fund our offices receive [for expenses] is what we use to fund projects for our chapters. We do not fund rebel groups. This accusation is just the military and antipeace groups trying to malign us,” he said.

“We call on President Duterte not to believe such accusations. Since we were elected we have never misused a single centavo,” he added. “We have always been transparent with our funds, we are not funding the New People’s Army.”

Mr. Duterte on Wednesday, addressing the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, told the soldiers that militant party-list groups were funneling government funds to the communist rebels.

His tirade came after he threatened to call off the scheduled peace talks with the communist National Democratic Front of the Philippines if the NPA, the rebels’ armed wing, continued to use land mines in its war with the government.

The President said the use of land mines violated the Geneva Convention and caused death and injury not only to soldiers but to civilians as well.

He also said he wanted the party-list system abolished because it had been taken over by militant groups funding rebels and political clans representing groups they had no real connection to, like tricycle drivers and security guards.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/805490/leftist-party-list-solon-admits-funding-npa

Court grants NDF consultant bail to join peace talks

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Aug 12): Court grants NDF consultant bail to join peace talks
National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Rafael Baylosis  accused of multiple murder over the discovery of a mass grave in Leyte on Friday “surfaced” at the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 32 and was granted bail.

He appeared before the court a few days before the start of the formal peace talks in Oslo, Norway on Aug. 20.

The high court earlier revoked his P100,000 bail posted in 2007 after he jumped bail.

National Union of People’s Lawyers secretary general Edre Olalia, in a text message said Judge Thelma Bunyi-Media has allowed Baylosis to post P150,000 bail.

READ: Reds want more comrades freed for talks

Olalia said Baylosis was assisted by NDFP Legal Consultant Atty. Rache Pastores from the Public Interest Law Center.

Baylosis is part of the Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms of the NDFP.

Baylosis is one of the 50 accused with multiple murder following the discovery of a mass grave in Leyte containing remains of those believed to be victims of “Operation Venereal Disease” to purge the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army of suspected military informers.

His co-accused former partylist Representative Satur Ocampo, Randall Echanis and Vicente Ladlad have been allowed by the Supreme Court to attend the peace talks.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/805546/court-grants-ndf-consultant-bail-to-join-peace-talks

Here’s how the South China Sea ruling affects U.S. interests

From the Washington Post (Aug 11): Here’s how the South China Sea ruling affects U.S. interests (By Eric Hyer)



Former president Fidel Ramos, 88, the Philippines’ envoy for talks with Beijing, speaks to the press after his arrival in Hong Kong on Monday. Ramos hopes to improve ties with Beijing that have soured over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty

On July 12, an International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ruling dismissed much of China’s claim to the South China Sea. Since then, there has been a great deal of discussion on the legal ramifications, China’s response and public opinion.

But where does this ruling leave the U.S. alliance with the Philippines — the country that challenged China’s claims in the first place?

[Here’s what China’s people really think about the South China Sea]

 

The United States signed a Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines in 1951, making a commitment to come to Manila’s aid if the Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft are attacked. The treaty excludes the shoals and rocks of the South China Sea, specifically mentioning only help to defend the “metropolitan territory” of the Philippines and the “Pacific Area” — but the July ruling leaves the United States with an alliance security dilemma.

Specifically, the dilemma is how resolutely a state should commit to an ally and the cost this incurs with adversaries. A strong commitment can result in entrapment in an unwanted conflict with an alliance adversary, but a weak commitment engenders feelings of abandonment on the part of the ally and a weakened alliance. In this case, a stronger U.S. commitment to Manila angers Beijing, but a weaker commitment leaves Manila feeling unsupported.

Alliances leave both partners with less room to maneuver

The problem is that alliances can be costly. If the United States shows a strong commitment to the Philippines, there’s a risk of being drawn into an unwanted conflict with China. If the Philippines feels overly confident about the U.S. commitment to the alliance, Manila may be more intransigent in its relations with China — and more willing to engage in riskier behavior, which could lead to a militarized conflict in the South China Sea. The U.S.-Japan alliance and the Japan-China dispute over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea presents a similar alliance dilemma, but in this case Washington has clearly stated its support for Japan.

Conversely, if Manila doubts the U.S. commitment to the alliance, the Philippines may feel abandoned by the United States. But this might constrain any risky behavior by Manila and encourage compromise — and this would reduce Washington’s concerns about becoming trapped in a South China Sea conflict.

The United States has been reticent to militarily support the Philippines

Here’s how the U.S. willingness to support the Philippines militarily in its territorial dispute with China has been playing out:

1) In 2010, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted, “While the United States does not take sides on the competing territorial disputes over land features in the South China Sea, we believe claimants should pursue their territorial claims and accompanying rights to maritime space in accordance with the UN convention on the law of the sea.”

2) In 2011, Clinton did make a reference to U.S. treaty obligations when she underlined the U.S. commitment to the Philippines, saying, “We are making sure that our collective defense capabilities and communications infrastructure are operationally and materially capable of deterring provocation from the full spectrum of state and non-state actors.”

3) As tensions began to spike in 2012 over Scarborough Shoal, the State Department declared, “We are concerned by the increase in tensions in the South China Sea and are monitoring the situation closely. . . .The United States urges all parties to take steps to lower tensions in keeping with the spirit of the 1992 ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea and the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.”

Washington again showed a clear reluctance to invoke the mutual security treaty and risk being entrapped in a China-Philippines militarized conflict over rocks and shoals in the South China Sea. In 2012, a senior U.S. military official spoke frankly. He said, “I don’t think that we’d allow the U.S. to get dragged into a conflict over fish or over a rock. Having allies that we have defense treaties with, not allowing them to drag us into a situation over a rock dispute, is something I think we’re pretty all well-aligned on.”

[Why the South China Sea ruling matters]

 

Philippine officials view the alliance somewhat differently

Manila hoped to explicitly include the disputed South China Sea features in the Mutual Defense Treaty, but the April 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement left this ambiguous.

The agreement enhances the defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United States and aids the Philippines in developing its defense capacities and strengthening its maritime domain awareness. The agreement allows the rotation of U.S. armed forces to the Philippines to facilitate the U.S. rebalance to the Asia-Pacific. But there is no menion of the South China Sea.

Nevertheless, the Philippines’ then-president, Benigno Aquino III, asserted in May 2016 that the United States “has to maintain . . . the confidence of one of its allies” and “would be obligated to take military action in the South China Sea if China moved to reclaim a hotly contested reef directly off the Philippine shore.”

Although no U.S. official has explicitly committed to come to the Philippines’ defense if it is embroiled in a militarized conflict over disputed islands, some analysts suggest that Washington should strengthen the alliance with the Philippines by making clear that the Mutual Defense Treaty includes features in the South China Sea.

The U.S. response to the July ruling has been low-key and cautious, taking no victory lap despite the welcome outcome of the tribunal. The ruling pleases the United States, especially because of its concerns over freedom of navigation in this strategic waterway. But some are unhappy with what they characterize as an “anemic” response and call for a more assertive policy by Washington.

So here is Washington’s strategic dilemma. The tribunal’s ruling provides Manila legal and political leverage to press for more resolute U.S. support if the Philippines seeks to enforce the tribunal’s decision by confronting the Chinese at Scarborough Shoal or other features occupied by China. But this is just what the United States does not want: being forced to take a stand and possibly becoming embroiled in a military conflict over a “rock dispute.”

If Washington makes a clearer commitment to Manila, does that encourage the Philippines to stand tall against China? In this scenario, it’s possible the United States would be at risk of becoming entrapped in a Philippines-China militarized conflict in the South China Sea. At the same time, a stronger U.S. commitment to the Philippines would do little for U.S.-China relations but may encourage Beijing to seek a compromise solution with the Philippines.

Research has shown that conditional deterrent alliances — which means only promising assistance in case of an attack — reduce the likelihood that a minor power allied to a major power will provoke a conflict. Mindful of Washington’s reluctance to get dragged into a military conflict with China, newly installed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has taken a conciliatory position, expressing a desire to seek negotiations with Beijing, despite the favorable decision by the tribunal.

Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos was dispatched to Hong Kong earlier this week to break the ice and hopefully set the state for negotiations.  Although China rejected the tribunal’s decision, Beijing has also expressed a willingness to negotiate. Washington will welcome this because it reduces the chances of becoming entrapped in a Beijing-Manila conflict. But closer Philippines-China relations may introduce new tensions in the U.S.-Philippines alliance if it appears that Manila is distancing itself from Washington.

[Eric Hyer is an associate professor of political science and the coordinator for Asian studies at Brigham Young University. His most recent book is “The Pragmatic Dragon: China’s Grand Strategy and Boundary Settlements.”]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/08/11/heres-how-the-south-china-sea-ruling-affects-u-s-interests/

Suspected NPA rebels seize shuttle van in southern Palawan

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): Suspected NPA rebels seize shuttle van in southern Palawan

Government forces are pursuing three suspected New People's Army rebels in a remote area of Brooke’s Point in southern Palawan after they forcibly took a shuttle van.

A firefight ensued between joint military and police during the operations before midnight in a dam area at Sitio Raboc, Barangay Salogon on Wednesday.

Initial reports from the Brooke’s Point Municipal Police Station and the Marine Battalion Landing Team 12 (MBLT), authorities were on hot pursuit operations against the suspects after the van was forcibly taken from driver Jesus Taban Jr. at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Bachelor Transport operator Rosalyn Taban told police that the Toyota Grandia van with two passengers were commandeered by the armed men, who introduced themselves as NPA members.

Taban thought the armed men were passengers trying to get a ride so he stopped to accommodate them. Upon boarding, the three introduced themselves as NPA rebels.

The driver was able to escape, leaving behind three passengers, including a wife of the barangay chairman of Malis, Brooke’s Point. The two other passengers were not immediately identified.

At around 10 p.m. Wednesday night, the operation was carried out when the joint police and military team got wind of where the van was taken by the armed men.

Upon reaching Raboc and seeing them, the armed men allegedly started firing at them.

No one was reported injured in the incident, according to Lt. Col. Nepthali Padua of the MBLT 12.

Meanwhile, Col. Nestor Herrico of the 3rd Marine Brigade said armed men flagging down vehicles along the main highway may not be the work of the NPA, particularly in Palawan.

“Has there been a similar incident? This could be an isolated case… we can make assumptions if this was done by the NPA or carnapping or holdup,” he said, adding they remain conducting their investigation through MBLT 12.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=912659

Japan beefs up aid to Phl to enhance maritime capability

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): Japan beefs up aid to Phl to enhance maritime capability

The Japanese government will beef up its assistance to the Philippines on maritime security as both countries commit to continue partnership especially on enhancing the maritime capability of the Philippine Coast Guard.

This was revealed by Japan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Fumio Kishida, who is paying a courtesy call to President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao Thursday where he was set to discuss with the Chief Executive enhancing the maritime capabilities of the Philippines, improving transportation and business climate.

Kishida’s announcement came as the Philippine government is working on peaceful resolution with China on the West Philippine Sea issue after the international arbitral tribunal came out with its resolution favoring the Philippines.

Kishida said Japan will be giving 10 patrol vessels (one of which will arrive towards the end of the month) through the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) aimed at enhancing law enforcement on the law of the sea.

The assistance for maritime security is over and above the current total ODA assistance to the country for development and infrastructure projects amounting to US US$ 7 billion.

The assistance came as the Philippines and Japan celebrate the 60th year of the normalization of their diplomatic ties. “The visit will be an important opportunity to develop relationship strongly under Duterte administration built on strategic partnership,” Kishida said.

Japan also has its own issue with China on the East China Sea. Kishida, however, underscored respect of rule of law and resolving the issue by not using force and coercion.

Japan’s offer was welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay, who said that the Philippines shares the same concern. “We are one in articulating and invoking and urge China to make sure maritime security and rule of law are strictly and uncompromisingly respected.

He said intimidation and use of force are not within the concept of respect of the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Minister Kishida said that during his visit, he expects to further develop cooperation in broad areas including political, economic, infrastructure and cultural, aside from maritime concerns.

Kishida also committed to “continue to support concentrated assistance for Mindanao especially on infrastructure development for agriculture activity and projects in Metro Manila.

According to Yasay, the Philippines is grateful for Japan’s development assistance which is about 35 percent of all ODA to the Philippines. He praised Japan’s unprecedented work in bringing economic and development works to the Philippines, not to mention the durability and longevity of partnership.

“I look forward to enhancing collaboration with Japan on health, defense, international security, disaster management,” Yasay said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=912853

Air Force general assumes as new AFP Centcom chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 12): Air Force general assumes as new AFP Centcom chief

A general from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has assumed as the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command (AFP-Centcom) based in Camp Lapu-Lapu in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Major Gen. Raul del Rosario, the newly-installed Centcom commander, vowed to support the government’s drive against illegal drugs and also keep the peace and stability in the Visayas.

“I promise I will not destroy the trust you have placed in me,” he said in his speech after his installation on Thursday.

Del Rosario replaced Lt. Gen. Nicanor Vivar, who retired Thursday after 38 years of military service. Vivar turned 56 Friday.

Gen. Ricardo Visaya, the Armed Forced of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, presided over the change of command.

Visaya said their role is to support the drive against illegal drugs.

He said a task force was created in the AFP to help police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Law enforcers can also tap the military for additional forces when they have operations.

“Aside from that, the role of the armed forces is to give intelligence reports, so they can collate the information well,” said Visaya, an underclassman of Vivar.

Two active members of the AFP are being investigated after they were named by President Rodrigo Duterte as drug protectors.

They will be discharged from the service if proven guilty.

Del Rosario thanked Vivar, who is his upperclassman in the Philippine Military Academy, for his guidance and promised to continue the latter’s best practices.

During his stint as Centcom commander in the past year and 11 months, Vivar said they conducted more than 47,000 operations against rebels and other lawless elements.

He said 121 rebels surrendered, while 34 were either killed or arrested during this period.

The Centcom’s engineering unit also helped build infrastructures like roads in remote areas in the Visayas.

Vivar said they were also involved in humanitarian missions in places ravaged by typhoons in the past years.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=913014

F-27 transport plane in NAIA mishap still flyable

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): F-27 transport plane in NAIA mishap still flyable

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) Fokker F-27 "Friendship" transport aircraft, whose tires went flat at the runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City Wednesday night, is still flyable.

This was stressed by PAF spokesperson Col. Araus Robert Musico in a message to the PNA Thursday.

"The aircraft (with tail number 10620) is flyable," he added.

But Musico declined to comment further on the mishap as it is still being investigated as part of the PAF standard accident operating procedure.

"We can't further comment until (the investigation) is completed except for the flat tire, the aircraft did not sustain any damage so it absolutely flyable," he added.

A PAF F-27 got disabled in NAIA at 8:40 p.m. Wednesday after its landing gears sustained two flat tires.

It was towed clear at 9:37 p.m. resuming normal operations in the airport.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912672

S-211 jet engine up for repair

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 12): S-211 jet engine up for repair

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has allocated the sum of Php30 million for the acquisition of spares and services needed for the repairs of the JT15D-4C engine of its SIAI-Marchetti S-211 jet trainers.

Pre-bid conference is scheduled for Aug. 17, 9 a.m. at the PAF Procurement Center Conference Room, Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.

Submission and opening of bids is on Aug. 30, 9 a.m. at the same venue.

The S-211 is one of the PAF's two jet-powered aircraft after the Korea Aerospace Industries FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle."

It is primarily used for air-to-ground and surveillance missions.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=913031

August is International Humanitarian Law Month

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): August is International Humanitarian Law Month

In observance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Month, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), along with the Department of National Defense, Department of Foreign Affairs, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, and the Commission on Human Rights will hold a series of activities aimed at heightening public awareness and respect for IHL.

The IHL or Geneva Conventions of 1949 is a set of rules which place restrictions on the use of weapons and methods of warfare. It protects people who or are no longer participating in hostilities such as the wounded combatants, shipwrecked members at sea, prisoners of war, and civilians.

All activities for this year’s IHL Month are geared to promote the principles of IHL and are anchored on the theme, “Mga Aral ng Nakaraan at Hamon sa Kasalukuyan (“IHL: Lessons of the Past, Challenges of the Present”).

During the official IHL Day, Aug. 12, IHL Fun Run, Blood letting activity, and IHL Human Formation will be held at Camp Aguinaldo where 1,500 personnel from DND, DFA, PNP, CHR, ICRC, Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Philippine Coast Guard, and Philippine Navy are expected to participate.

The PRC NHQ and its chapters will also hold various activities such as:

IHL Rescue Day: Aug. 13, Comembo Makati hosted by Rizal Chapter

IHL Training: Aug. 16-17, DND Office

Symposium: Aug. 18, Lyceum of the Philippines Manila

Photo exhibit: Aug. 31- Starmall, Alabang

PRC chapters in Alaminos, La Union, Masbate, Agusan Del Sur, and Zamboanga City will hold a “Run/Walk/Zumba for Humanity,” while the Laguna Chapter will facilitate “Ride for Red: Bike for Humanity.”

A series of dissemination sessions in universities, government agencies and various organizations will be integrated by Quezon City, Caloocan, Camarines Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Bohol, Capiz, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Agusan Del Norte-Butuan City, Bukidnon, Davao Del Sur, and Misamis Oriental.

PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon, a staunch advocate of IHL and the author of Republic Act No. 9851 which defines and penalizes violations of International Humanitarian Law and other crimes against humanity, said that the commemoration of the international humanitarian rules also honors Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross Movement and main initiator of the Geneva Conventions.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912759

PVAO hoping 17th Congress will prioritize bills pushing for veterans' pension hike, creation of real veterans agency

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): PVAO hoping 17th Congress will prioritize bills pushing for veterans' pension hike, creation of real veterans agency

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) is hoping that the 17th Congress will prioritize the passage of bills mandating the increase of old age pensions of Filipino veterans and the creation of an agency dedicated to their well-being.

PVAO, in a statement Thursday, noted that it is more than two decades already since Republic Act 7696 was enacted and mandated the increase of old age pension (OAP) from PHP1,000 to the PHP5,000.

"Hence, the veterans have been really clamoring for the government to finally increase their old age pension," PVAO administrator Ernesto Carolina said.

The following bills are filed for the increase in OAP:

1. House Bill No. 270 – An Act Increasing the Monthly Pension of Senior Veterans Thereby Amending Republic Act 6948, As Amended (filed by Cong. Geraldine Roman)

-This seeks to increase to PHP20,000 the OAP of senior veterans (World War II veterans and Korean/Vietnam war veterans who are not receiving retirement pension from the AFP.

2. Senate Bill No. 246 – An Act Providing for a Three Thousand Peso (PHP3,000) Increase in the Monthly Pension of War Veterans and Their Dependents, Appropriating Funds Thereof and for Other Purposes (filed by Sen. Loren Legarda)

-This bill seeks to increase the monthly pension of all Filipino War Veterans across the board by PHP3,000.

The monthly pension shall be granted directly to the war veterans as long as he/she is still alive. Upon the death of the war veteran, the surviving spouse shall continue to receive the pension.

3. Senate Bill No. 97 — An Act to Increase the Old-Age Pension of Military Veterans Amending for the Purpose Section 10 of Republic Act 6948 (filed by Sen. Sonny F. Trillanes IV)

-This bill seeks to increase the monthly Old Age Pension of Veterans from PHP5,000 to PHP8,000.

Seeing the need to have a dedicated agency that caters to the welfare and well-being of the veterans, PVAO is pushing for the creation of Philippine Veterans Authority that is separate from the Department of National Defense.

Carolina said PVAO is drawing inspiration from the fact that all developed countries have a separate agency on veterans’ administration.

As an example, the United States established its own Veterans Affairs (VA) system to oversee the medical care and other benefits for its veterans. Two same versions of this initiative are filed in both Senate and House of Representatives:

1. House Bill No. 109 – An Act Integrating All Agencies and Offices on Veterans Welfare, Creating for the Purpose the Philippine Veterans Authority (filed by Cong. Gary Alejano)

2. Senate Bill No. 529—An Act Integrating All Agencies and Offices on Veterans Welfare, Creating for the Purpose the Philippine Veterans Authority (filed by Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes).

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912805

Military: No truth to hamletting, food blockade reports in Compostela Valley

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 12): Military: No truth to hamletting, food blockade reports in Compostela Valley

The 10th Infantry Division on Friday strongly denied reports claiming that its 25th, 71st and 66th Infantry Battalions are blocking food supplies and hamletting communities in Compostela Valley.

"These unfounded and malicious allegations of the National Democratic Front (NDF)-allied organizations are designed to distract our units and soldiers who are conducting Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP)," 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief Capt. Rhyan Batchar said.

PDOP aims to bring the people closer to government and assist in facilitating the government’s delivery of basic needs and services to communities in far flung areas of Compostela Valley.

Such programs are against the efforts of the New People's Army to drive the people further away from government by agitating them into resorting to violence, he added.

"The 10th Infantry Division and all its units are open to investigation by any duly constituted authorities. We will support and fully cooperate in any investigation to ferret out misfits, scalawags and misbehaving member of the military organization," Batchar said.

"We, therefore, encourage these NDF-allied groups to file appropriate charges against officers and soldiers of units responsible for committing the said allegations. We urge them to go beyond mere propaganda aimed at only besmirching the good image of our soldiers," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=913020

10th ID condemns mutilation done by rebels to fallen troops

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): 10th ID condemns mutilation done by rebels to fallen troops

The Compostela Valley-based 10th Infantry Division strongly condemns New People's Army (NPA) rebels for mutilating the bodies of three of its soldiers killed during a clash in Barangay Rizal, Monkayo town last Aug. 5.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said the cadavers of Cpl. Jimmy Bayta, Cpl. Gilmar Mapa and Pfc. Rolen Roy Sarmiento, all members of the 25th Infantry Battalion were mutilated by the rebels shortly after the firefight at Km 56, Barangay Rizal, of the above-mentioned town.

"The Regional Crime Laboratory Office (RCLO) 11 of the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted an autopsy on the cadavers of Cpl. Bayta and Pfc. Sarmiento. The family of Pfc. Mapa did not submit his cadaver for autopsy.

As per the autopsy report of RCLO 11, the cadavers of Cpl. Bayta and Pfc. Sarmiento sustained multiple gunshot wounds and hack wounds on different parts of the head and neck.

"The cadaver of Cpl. Bayta has an incised wound transecting and fracturing the larynx and the thyroid cartilage at the anterior neck. The cadaver of Pfc. Sarmiento has hacked wounds in the head and neck," he added.

Batchar said autopsy reports showed that the rebels used sharp-edge tools to slash the neck of Bayta and Sarmiento.

"We are deeply saddened that our hero soldiers were subjected to barbaric and inhumane acts by the NPAs in complete violation of International Humanitarian Law.

With this, the AFP is determined to use legitimate force against any armed threats in accordance with the principles of human rights and other war conventions on the protection of the combatants and non-combatants, he added.

"We will endeavor on bringing this barbaric acts committed by the NPA on the dead bodies of our soldiers to the attention of the Government of the Philippines Panel as these are clear violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and the International Humanitarian Law," Batchar stressed.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912818

Carpio: PHL can sue China for damages on WPS

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): Carpio: PHL can sue China for damages on WPS

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Thursday called on rival South China Sea claimants to declare the Spratlys a marine protected park to shield it from further destruction following China’s massive island construction binge in the contested waters.

Carpio sees the move as a “way forward” and a “win-win” solution to the territorial disputes that involves the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

An international tribunal on July 12 had invalidated China’s massive claim over the resource-rich South China Sea and declared its reclamation activities as illegal in response to a complaint filed by the Philippines in January 2013.

Beijing refused to honor the ruling and discredited the The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that operates under a United Nations convention, of which it is a signatory, along with the Philippines and more than 160 other states.

China, according to Carpio, has the “legal obligation” to comply with the ruling, but admitted that there is no marine policeman to enforce the decision, making the waters’ uninhabited feature vulnerable to future destructive reclamation activities by China.

“We are not moving at all so the Philippines should talk to Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia to declare Spratlys as a protected area on our own. We can do that,” Carpio said at a forum organized by think-tank ADR Institute for Strategic and International Studies at De La Salle University in Manila.

Indonesia is not officially regarded as a South China Sea claimant, but China’s nine-dash line territorial claim is widely believed to be eating up a portion of Indonesia’s Natuna Sea.

Carpio said the initiative could be done collectively through a convention or a treaty or even individually if it failed to get the cooperation of all other claimants.

“We have to move, otherwise, we are stuck here,” he said, noting that a collective declaration will “isolate” China if it will continue to defy the tribunal’s ruling and resume the reclamation of features.

Backing a proposal by renowned marine biologist Dr. John McManus for the creation of a Spratlys International Marine Peace Park, Carpio said the move would enable all claimants to suspend for 100 years their territorial claims.

They should also declare all the low-tide and high-tide features in the Spratlys, and an area of 3-nautical miles around each feature, a preserved marine area, for the benefit of all coastal states in the South China Sea.

Carpio said this ensured that the Spratlys will remain the South China Sea’s nursery where fish spawn.

“The eggs and larvae of fish that spawn in the Spratlys are carried by the currents to the coasts of China, Vietnam, Luzon, Palawan, Malaysia, Brunei, Natuna Islands, as well as the Sulu seas,” he said.

Prof. Carmen Lagman of the De La Salle University’s College of Science claimants may also opt for joint, bilateral, or trilateral agreement for reefs that have been identified by scientists in four areas in the Spratlys as very important.

“What it does is that its resources will be put in the area for policing and the area will be monitored,” Lagman said.

Meanwhile, claimant states, under the peace park proposal, will hold on to whatever islands or structures they now possess, but only coast guard personnel and vessels can be stationed in the Spratlys, said Carpio.

Existing structures can only be used for marine scientific research and eco-tourism, he said, citing a similar model such as the 1994 peace agreement between Israel and Jordan that created the Red Sea Marine Peace Park in the Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea.

Former Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Manila should act now to save South China Sea’s ecosystem, lamenting that the highly destructive practice by China is now “very widespread” across the Spratly area.

“These realities are not just unsustainable, but unacceptable,” he said at the same forum. “If you can see the gravities of these activities, the incidents they sparked showed us that marine destruction is not simply collateral damage but it is at the heart of the problem to be resolved.”

Del Rosario urged the Philippine government to look for ways to cooperate with its neighbors to preserve marine ecosystems in the South China Sea and to ensure the sustainability of fishing resources for everyone.

“Some things we can not reverse, but at least we should not aggravate the destruction,” Del Rosario said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912915

DOE taps USAID to review current energy mix

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): DOE taps USAID to review current energy mix

The Department of Energy (DOE) has tapped technical experts for possible collaboration in drawing up an optimal energy mix policy for the country.

In a statement on Thursday, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the department will be coordinating with members of the USAID’s Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability (B-LEADERS) to form a team that will conduct a review of the current energy mix.

The study will focus on the energy requirements for economic growth trends, load consumption profiles for energy consumers, emerging energy technologies and local industry readiness, transmission configurations and network development.

The team will also look into the availability of indigenous energy for ensuring stable pricing to lessen dependence on energy that is dependent on international market prices.

During his meeting with the B-LEADERS, Cusi stressed the need for a reliable power supply to sustain the country’s economic growth, as well as sufficient contingency reserves.

“Our main concern now is to increase the availability of quality, reliable, secure and affordable supply,” said Cusi, alluding to the fluctuating power supply situation of the country.

“We are also looking at establishing an “army of reserves” so that when there is lack of supply, we have something to rely on,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912849

GPH, MILF to formally re-launch its peace engagements in KL meeting

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): GPH, MILF to formally re-launch its peace engagements in KL meeting

Members of the government’s newly-created implementing panel and representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are scheduled to meet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Aug. 13-14 to formally re-launch the two parties’ engagements for the implementation of the two-year-old Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

The formal meeting between the Philippine government and the MILF is the first under the Duterte administration. President Rodrigo Duterte, who won in a platform to correct the historical injustices committed against the Moros in Mindanao, vowed to implement all signed peace agreements in the country.

In a press briefing, presidential peace adviser Jesus G. Dureza said the scheduled meeting was crucial as the two sides were entering the implementation phase of the peace agreement.

“This [meeting] is actually to launch the implementation stage of what we envisioned to be a Bangsamoro enabling law. It is to implement the CAB that was signed between the government and the MILF in 2014,” he told journalists here.

“We have already gotten the consensus of all sectors in the Bangsamoro that the period of the negotiations is over. We are now in the process of implementing all these signed agreements,” he added.

The guidance of the government implementing panel is hinged on the Peace and Development Roadmap that was recently approved by President Duterte. Under the said roadmap, all Bangsamoro peace agreements—MILF’s CAB and the 1996 Final Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), as well the key results of the 10-year-old GPH-Organization of Islamic Cooperation-MNLF Tripartite Review Process—will be integrated into the new enabling law that will create a new Bangsamoro government unit; thus, replacing the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The implementation of the peace agreement with the MILF largely depends on its political track since the Bangsamoro Basic Law — the supposed implementing mechanism of the CAB — failed to pass in the previous Congress.

Dureza said that the KL meeting would zero-in on the mechanism that determines how the new enabling law will be crafted, as well as to discuss key provisions in the CAB that can already be implemented, including the delivery of socio-economic development programs in Mindanao.

Moro convergence

The presidential peace adviser also explained that the composition of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), a body tasked to draft the new enabling law, would be among the agenda of the upcoming meeting.

He said the possible idea was to expand the representations of the BTC to include leaders of the MNLF, officials of the ARMM, and other sectors in Mindanao for it to be inclusive.

“If everything goes well, and it is acceptable in their convergence, that can be very well be the mechanism to start of the groups to already come together and craft of the enabling law,” Dureza hoped.

BTC is now composed of eight representatives from the MILF and seven appointees of the government.

“There must be a convergence of all sectors among the Bangsamoro and in the forthcoming crafting of the enabling law that will establish the Bangsamoro governance unit. We’d like to see inclusivity in this work, meaning all sectors in the Bangsamoro must be adequately represented,” Dureza pointed out.

Dureza, who have touched-based with Moro leaders earlier, including MILF Chairman Murad Ebrahim, said there is a collective understanding of the willingness of all Moro leaders to be part in crafting of the enabling law.

On Tuesday (Aug. 9), Dureza met with MNLF’s Muslim in Sema, who expressed his commitment to join the BTC.

Dureza said they are also looking forward to have a meeting with MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari “but he is still under legal constraint because of the pending case against him.” However, there are “direct engagements with him through other channels.”

Misuari is facing charges following the so-called Zamboanga Siege, where more than 200 people were killed in a three-week battle.

“This is part of our continuing efforts to reach out to all the key players in the work for the sustainable peace with the Bangsamoro,” Dureza said.

Continuing engagement

Meanwhile, the KL meeting will also serve as a venue for the Duterte administration to brief the Malaysian facilitators on its peace agenda in Mindanao.

“We would like to brief the Malaysians on our peace and development roadmap under the Duterte administration. Remember, the Malaysians have contributed enormously in the negotiation stage. Therefore, we thought it’s fitting to give them that due recognition for their contributions to our peace efforts by launching the implementation stage in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

The government delegation will be headed by Dureza, along with the chair of the implementing panel Irene Santiago, and its members, namely: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretaries Diosita Andot and Nabil Tan, and Assistant Secretaries Dickson Hermoso and Rolando Asuncion.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912857

Palace says PHL-US alliance remains strong despite gay remark

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): Palace says PHL-US alliance remains strong despite gay remark

Malacanang on Thursday said the alliance between the Philippines and the United States will remain strong despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark calling US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg a gay.

”Regarding Goldberg statements, this is to assure each and every one that the Philippine-US alliance remains strong,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing.

Abella said President Duterte has just made a statement affirming that the relationship between the Philippines and the US remains strong.

He said Philippine Charge d’Affaires to Washington D.C. Patrick Chuasoto had made representation for President.

”They have already explained their situation. The explanations have been properly made” Abella said.

When asked if everything has been settled, Abella answered: ‘I assume.’

In his speech before the military soldiers in Cebu City last Friday, President Duterte called Goldberg gay for supposedly meddling in Philippine politics.

”First and foremost, it was not meant to be a public statement. It was addressed to a certain audience and the comments are confined specifically to that audience,” Abella explained.

US State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Tradeau found President Duterte’s remark “inappropriate.”

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(Update):GPH, MILF to formally launch CAB implementation stage in KL

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 11): (Update):GPH, MILF to formally launch CAB implementation stage in KL

Both panels of the Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will meet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Saturday to Sunday to formally signify the start of the implementation stage of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

“This (meeting) is actually to launch the implementation stage of what we envisioned to be a Bangsamoro enabling law. It is to implement the CAB that was signed between the government and the MILF in 2014,” Dureza said in a press briefing.

“We have already gotten the consensus of all sectors in the Bangsamoro that the period of the negotiations is over. We are now in the process of implementing all these signed agreements,” he added.

The formal meeting between the GPH and the MILF is the first under the Duterte administration.

The new phase of peace engagement is also aligned with President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncement to implement all signed agreements in the country.

Among the agenda of the upcoming meeting include the mechanism that will determine the crafting of a new enabling law in lieu of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), as well as key provisions in the CAB that can already be implemented, such as the delivery of socio-economic development programs in Mindanao.

The presidential peace adviser added that the meeting would also cover the composition of the members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), a body tasked to draft the new enabling law.

He stressed the need to expand the representations of the BTC to include leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), officials of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and other sectors in Mindanao for it to be inclusive.

“If everything goes well, and it is acceptable in their convergence, that can be very well be the mechanism to start of the groups to already come together and craft of the enabling law,” Dureza said, noting that all sectors in the Bangsamoro must be adequately represented.

The current setup of the BTC is composed of eight representatives from the MILF and seven appointees of the government.

Meanwhile, the KL meeting will also serve as a venue for the Duterte administration to brief the Malaysian facilitators on its peace agenda in Mindanao dubbed as “Peace and Development Roadmap”.

Dureza recognized the contribution of Malaysia in the negotiation stage as the third party facilitator in the government’s peace talks with the MILF.

“We would like to brief the Malaysians on our peace and development roadmap under the Duterte administration. Therefore, we thought it’s fitting to give them that due recognition for their contributions to our peace efforts by launching the implementation stage in Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

The government delegation will be headed by Dureza, along with the chair of the implementing panel Irene Santiago, and its members, namely: Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretaries Diosita Andot and Nabil Tan, and Assistant Secretaries Dickson Hermoso and Rolando Asuncion.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=912901