Bayan, Karapatan list achievements, challenges of Duterte’s first 100 days

From InterAksyon (Oct 8): Bayan, Karapatan list achievements, challenges of Duterte’s first 100 days

President Rodrigo Duterte has always billed himself as a “leftist” and, soon after assuming office, went about trying to prove this, appointing a number of them to government, inviting them for intimate meetings and, most notably, resuming formal peace negotiations with communist rebels.

For its part, the left has not been stingy in praising Duterte’s “nationalist” and “pro-people” statements and initiatives but has also criticized him on a number of issues, particularly economic policy and human rights.

As Duterte marked his first 100 days in office, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and the human rights group Karapatan released their lists of what they see as the administration’s achievements and the major challenges it faces.

BAYAN’S LIST:

10 Major achievements

1. Historic assertion of national sovereignty and an independent foreign policy against US intervention. Ending US war games in the Philippines, ending joint patrols in disputed waters, reviewing the EDCA and opening PH doors for equal and mutually beneficial relations with countries not aligned with the US.
2. Resumption of peace talks with the NDFP, the release of some political prisoners, affirmation of previous agreements, acceleration of discussions on substantive agenda and the historic indefinite unilateral ceasefires by both sides of the armed conflict.
3. Inclusiveness in government and the appointments of progressives to key cabinet posts such as DSWD, DAR, NAPC, as well as officials in DOLE and the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor.
4. Distribution of 358 hectares in Hacienda Luisita and a nationwide freeze in land conversion as ordered by the Presidential Agrarian Reform Commission.
5. Mining audit and the suspension of 20 companies engaged in destructive mining operations.
6. And end to the "tanim-bala" scam and the scrapping of the Overseas Employment Certificate for returning OFW's. Speedy repatriation of stranded and displaced OFW's in the Middle East.
7. DSWD Memorandum Circular 9 which upholds the Supreme Court ruling against pork barrel funds by members of Congress, and gives the DSWD the final say in determining what kind of assistance will be given to requests endorsed by lawmakers.
8. Creating favorable conditions for the return of the displaced Lumad to their communities. Official acknowledgement that paramilitary groups sowing terror in the countryside are government-backed and must be stopped.
9. Exposing the gravity and extent of problem of illegal drugs and its connection to corruption in the police, local government units and other agencies of the executive.
10. Freedom of Information Executive Order during its first month in office, covering all agencies under the executive branch.

10 issues and challenges

1. Increased US intervention and other counter actions aimed at undermining the Duterte government amid its strong assertion of national sovereignty. Resistance from within government by pro-US cabinet and military officials.
2. Resistance by rightist, militarist and pro-imperialist groups to peace efforts. Continuing militarization and operation of paramilitary groups. The need to address the socio-economic roots of the armed conflict as well as the need to pass a general amnesty proclamation for political prisoners.
3. The rising death toll in the war on drugs and the worsening climate of impunity involving state security forces. Continuing and worsening violations of due process and human rights.
4. The continuing adoption of the neoliberal economic framework by Duterte's economic team, relying heavily on foreign investments, foreign debt, overseas remittances and public-private partnership projects.
5. Resistance by big business to efforts to end contractualization and for the passage of a national minimum wage. The lack of clear guidelines and steps by the DOLE to end contractualization.
6. The persistence of the neoliberal, anti-student K-12 program in the service of global manpower needs and of private profits in the education sector.
7. Continuing corporatization of health services and the adoption of neoliberal programs in the health sector by the DOH.
8. Transportation and traffic woes and questions regarding emergency powers for the transportation department.
9. DOF's anti-people tax reforms that seek to remove  VAT exemptions to senior citizens and PWD's and raise excise taxes on petroleum products.
10. Intensifying contradictions among different political factions of the reactionary ruling elite, exposing the rottenness of the ruling system.

KARAPATAN’S LIST:

Positive developments: 

1. One of President Duterte’s most significant achievements in his first 100 days in office is the resumption of formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and his stated openness to a substantial and meaningful peace process with the Moro revolutionary groups.
2. The GPH declaration of unilateral ceasefire, an initial positive outcome in the peace talks, and verbal pronouncements by President Duterte were key to the decision of the lumad evacuees to return home. 
3. The Justice Department’s withdrawal of charges against activists and human rights defenders in Mindanao is also a welcome development. Under the Aquino administration, trumped-up charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention and human trafficking were filed to harass advocates and activists who supported the lumad evacuees in the UCCP-Haran compound in Davao City.
4. Duterte’s pronouncements indicate that government-backed paramilitary groups like Alamara and Magahat-Bagani, among many others, are supported, armed and funded by the government. He has threatened to disband and disarm them after reports of ceasefire violations were reported in media.
5. Duterte’s critique of US military presence in the Philippines and the US government’s hypocrisy insofar as human rights is concerned resonates with all patriotic Filipinos and peoples who are at the receiving end of US interventionist wars and plunder in underdeveloped countries. US foreign military aid to the AFP and the previous regimes have fueled counter-insurgency programs such as Oplan Bayanihan victimizing thousands of Filipinos.

Persisting challenges:

1. Despite the GPH’s declared unilateral ceasefire with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-NDFP, the implementation of Oplan Bayanihan continues, in the guise of civil-military operations and ‘peace and development programs’ by the AFP. Civilians continue to be targetted in the AFP’s mad attempt to employ deception and military solution to the armed conflict and to safeguard interests of large-scale mining and agricultural corporations raking in profits for foreign and local big business. … During the 100 days, Karapatan documented at least 16 victims of political killings, 16 frustrated killings, two cases of torture, and nine victims of illegal arrest and detention. Most of the victims of political killings were from the peasantry and indigenous peoples. They were killed defending their land and ancestral domain. Among these are the massacres of farmers in Laur, Nueva Ecija and in Sumilao, Bukidnon.
2. The filing of trumped-up charges against activists and the criminalization of political acts still continue. Lumad teacher-researcher Amelia Pond was charged with double murder and frustrated murder; while peace advocate John Maniquez with illegal possession of firearms during Duterte’s first 100 days.
3. Justice remains elusive in the cases of human rights violations which were committed as far back as in the Arroyo and Aquino regimes. Perpetrators of human rights violations are yet to be arrested and punished, despite warrants of arrests and solid evidence against them. Examples are the perpetrators of the Lianga massacre, the murderers of Fernando Baldomero, Romeo Capalla, Fr. Fausto Tentorio, Leonard Co, Juvy Capion and her two children, and many others.
4. Retired Major General Jovito “The Butcher” Palparan continues to enjoy army custody instead of regular civilian detention.  Charges for plunder against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have all been dismissed. Disappeared Jonas Burgos, Karen Empeno and Sherlyn Cadapan and many more movement activists and leaders remain missing.
5. Martial law victims and their families are disgusted with the utter failure of the Aquino-appointed Claims Board to indemnify them, despite more than three years of the Martial Law Victims Reparations Act. Duterte’s proposal for a hero’s burial for the dictator Ferdinand Marcos was also met with strong opposition by the ML victims and their relatives.
6. The rapid rise in the incidence of drug-related killings marred the first 100 days of Duterte’s presidency. Purely law enforcement actions against suspected drug users and pushers are done with disregard for their right to life and to due process. More of the victims are from the vulnerable and marginalized sectors of Philippine society.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133104/bayan-karapatan-list-achievements-challenges-of-dutertes-first-100-days

Socio-economic talks face delays over differences in outline - NDFP

From InterAksyon (Oct 7): Socio-economic talks face delays over differences in outline - NDFP

Communist rebels engaged in peace talks with the government saw delays in negotiations on social and economic reforms over differences on the outline of a potential agreement.

The second round of resumed formal negotiations, which opened in Oslo, Norway Friday, are meant to forge a Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, capping the second of the four so-called “substantive agenda” of the peace talks.

Both sides are also expected to work out and agree to an indefinite bilateral ceasefire.

The first agenda, respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, was completed in early 1998, during the final days of the presidency of Fidel Ramos. The last two agenda are political and constitutional reforms, and cessation of hostilities and disposition of forces.

Julie de Lima, who chairs the Reciprocal Working Committee-Social and Economic Reforms of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, welcomed government’s “acceptance of the NDFP draft as the working draft of the discussions on social and economic reforms.”

At the same time, she said, both sides had exchanged “an outline of a comprehensive draft on social and economic reforms that includes agrarian reform, national industrialization, environmental protection, environmental protection, rights of the working people, foreign economic and trade relations, and, monetary and fiscal policies.”

De Lima is the wife of Communist Party of the Philippines founder and NDFP chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison.

She said while both parties agreed to adopt the preamble and declaration of principles of the NDFP, the government “wants the ‘bases, scope and applicability’ to be deferred until they have exchanged a more detailed outline of the nine-point outcome.”

The NDFP maintains the outline “should be based on addressing the roots of the armed conflict while the GRP wants an outcomes-based outline,” she added.

De Lima said it was the government that requested “the postponement of discussions on the CASER for them to elaborate on their nine-point outcomes-based proposal,” which the NDFP described as “mere generalizations,” and promised to present a more detailed version during their Saturday discussions.

“The main purpose of the peace negotiations is to address the roots of the armed conflict which, among others, includes poverty, landlessness, joblessness, hunger, and inequality,” De Lima stressed.

“Placing the outcome ahead in an outline of an agreement on social and economic reforms is like putting the cart before the horse,” she added.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133106/socio-economic-talks-face-delays-over-differences-in-outline---ndfp

Philippines tells US: No more joint sea patrols

From InterAksyon (Oct 7): Philippines tells US: No more joint sea patrols



Exercises involving American carrier groups in the South China Sea. Reuters file photograph

The Philippines announced Friday it had officially informed the United States it had suspended South China Sea patrols with its longtime ally, following orders from President Rodrigo Duterte.

"They have been suspended for the time being. They (Washington) know it already," Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters, adding he had relayed the decision to the commander of the US Pacific Command when he was in Hawaii at the start of this month.

Still, Lorenzana indicated he was still not 100 percent sure of Duterte's final plans.

"They will not be conducted anymore until we clarify if he (Duterte) means what he says," Lorenzana said.

The allies began planning joint patrols under the previous Philippine government, which had sought to attract a greater US military presence in the region to counter Chinese efforts to take control of the South China Sea.

China claims nearly all of the sea, even waters close to the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, and has in recent years built artificial islands in the disputed areas capable of hosting military bases.

Duterte, who began his six-year term on June 30, quickly changed course, seeking co-operation and dialogue with China.

Duterte also revealed a deep dislike of the United States, and railed against the Philippines' former colonial ruler for criticizing his war on crime, which has claimed more than 3,300 lives and raised concerns about extrajudicial killings.

"I have lost my respect for America," Duterte said on Tuesday, as he threatened to break ties completely with the United States.

Duterte had previously branded US President Barack Obama a "son of a whore".

He had also said he wanted US Special Forces out of the southern region of Mindanao, where they have been helping to quell Islamic militants, and threatened to scrap a 2014 agreement granting American troops increased access to Philippine bases.

Duterte also said he would cancel all 28 military exercises the two sides hold annually.

However, until Friday, officials from both sides had said Duterte's pronouncements were not necessarily policy.

US officials had repeatedly said they had not been officially informed of Duterte's comments.

So the announcement that the joint patrols had been suspended was the first official confirmation that one of Duterte's anti-US comments had become policy.

Lorenzana said none of the other Duterte pronouncements had been officially delivered to the Americans.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133085/philippines-tells-us-no-more-joint-sea-patrols

As PH seeks more independence from US, offers of military hardware pour in

From InterAksyon (Oct 7): As PH seeks more independence from US, offers of military hardware pour in

The Philippines can do without a defense cooperation treaty and the military aid coming from the United States, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, as the two countries experience “bumps on the road” that call for a “reassessment” of their ties.

He acknowledged, though, that the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) that President Duterte wants reviewed has "advantages" for the Philippines.

Lorenzana said the windfall of the US military aid to the country was “not that much,” estimated to only between US$50 to 100 million a year, which Congress could later on augment with a bigger allocation in the annual budget.

“I think we can live without [such aid]," he told the regular forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Friday.

He said the US’s assistance to the country’s military capabilities “has not advanced” through the years, echoing the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte that the US has failed the Filipino people.

“I think there’s truth to that statement.  We have been an ally of the US since 1951 . . .  and all we got from that time until the bases left in 1991 were all hand-me-downs,” he said.

Through the years, he said the Philippines received used helicopters and ships that were about to be decommissioned from the US.

“What we are thinking is that the Americans failed to beef up our capabilities that would be [on a] par with what’s happening in this region,” he said.

The Defense chief added that the Philippine government has also “failed to provide enough funds” to bolster the country’s defense capabilities.

He said the budget of the Department of National Defense represents only 1.2 percent of the gross domestic product, while the Philippines’s neighbor countries allot around 20 percent of their GDP for defense.

Fallout

Various groups and individuals have warned of a fallout on long-standing relations between the Philippines and the US following President Duterte’s steady stream of verbal attacks against the latter and the United Nations, which warned that the administration’s war on drugs could be violating human rights and due process.

“We tried to assure them the alliance is still there, it’s just the President is so sensitive on comments on his war on terrorism and especially drugs,” he said.

“Every time the US comments about human rights violations, he gets very sensitive to that and he lashes back.   . . . He takes it very personally,” he added.

Instead of criticism, Lorenzana said the President needs offers of assistance in curbing the illegal drug menace.

“With China, when some of the Chinese offered in the rehabilitation of addicts, he appreciated that because instead of criticizing him they offered to help and he’s expecting that from allies,” he said.

The President had threatened to revoke the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and had announced that he wanted joint military operations with American forces halted.

Lorenzana said that scrapping the EDCA, which allows access to the Americans in five military camps, is “always an option.”

‘It depends on the decision of the higher-ups.  If they say they don’t want it anymore, then we scrap it,” he said.

The Defense chief backed Duterte’s stance of pursuing an independent foreign policy, one which is not too reliant on the US.

“Maybe, we should reassess what we should be getting from our alliances, maybe it is time to go to other sources for our materials; we should not depend on only one country,” he said.

Lorenzana said he has been instructed by the President to visit China and Russia and see the possibility of getting some of the country’s defense equipment from the two countries.

“We will go there just to check them out.  According to them, they have everything we need,” he said.

Offers from India, Russia, Israel

He said that ambassadors of India, Russia and Israel have also offered some of their sophisticated equipment, but added that these are not for free.
The Department of National Defense will get P134.5 billion in the annual budget for 2017.

“Is it time for us to look for others for our military defense materials? It’s time. Many ambassadors already came to me, offering a lot of equipment. I see this as a healthy development with our relationship with other countries. They are offering to sell to us, not for free,” Lorenzana said.

“We can also buy missiles from other countries like Germany, Israel and South Korea. We can also buy from France,” Lorenzana said.

But, he acknowledged, US-made materials and technology remain well-known world-wide.

Earlier, Duterte ordered the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to look for other military markets for sophisticated weapons - with China and Russia for starters. Duterte also revealed that in a one-on-one with Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings in Laos, the latter had sounded sympathetic and said Russia could supply much of what the Philippines might need, materiél-wise.

As for the EDCA's possible scrapping, Lorenzana said, “Well, it’s an option because there is one year notice to terminate it (EDCA). But it’s the decision of higher-ups. I’m not saying we’ve to scrap it.”

Asked if the military modernization will suffer without EDCA, Lorenzana replied, “I don’t think so” adding that if Congress would only respond to the needs of our military “our modernization will roll” in the next 10 to 15 years.

“Whatever the decision of the government, we will follow. I was not part of the people who crafted EDCA and I would love to study it myself. The implementation of EDCA started this year,” he said.

Gains from EDCA

Lorenzana said, meanwhile, EDCA can also give more things and advantages to the AFP.

"Looking at EDCA, there are many things that we can get such as facilities and development of our camps. EDCA is to our benefit,” Lorenzana said.

He said China and Russia have a lot to offer also.

“These two countries are very eager to deal with us. Let’s see what those things are,” said Lorenzana, as they have yet to come up with a shopping list.

He saw no complication in buying Chinese military equipment, despite the festering row between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea - a dispute decided in Manila's favor by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which rejected China’s “9-dash line”.

“I think we should separate this problem of the South China Sea. Trade is different,” Lorenzana said.

Meanwhile, buying sophisticated arms from China and Russia has its “limitations” as the Philippines has no military relations with these two countries. “It would be a problem," he said, but if only "small arms [were involved], it would not be a problem."
It would be "complicated" if sophisticated equipment like aircraft and ships are involved, he added..

"Sometimes the technology is the problem. We would check it out, we will find out,” he said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133082/as-ph-seeks-more-independence-from-us-offers-of-military-hardware-pour-in

WATCH | DND chief tags 3 members of Maute Terrorist Group in Davao City blast

From InterAksyon (Oct 8): WATCH | DND chief tags 3 members of Maute Terrorist Group in Davao City blast

The military has arrested three of more than 10 terrorists who participated in the actual implementation of the deadly September 2 Davao City bombing that killed 15 people and injured more than 60 others, which confirms an earlier report that the bombers were from the Maute group, a group based in Butig, Lanao del Sur.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced that they are now under custody of authorities.

In a press briefing, the DND chief said the three were arrested in a mobile checkpoint set up by joint elements of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police on Oct. 4 in Cotabato City.

The three were identified as TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha.

All three were arrested after attempting to evade the checkpoint on board a motorcycle with no license plate, Lorenzana said.

"We have recovered solid pieces of evidence showing that they are indeed the terrorists who bombed Davao City on September 2," he stressed,

Confiscated from the suspects were various components for improvised explosive devices, a sub-machine gun, a .45 caliber pistol, their motorcycle, and various cellular phones.

Based on initial investigation and debriefing, it was found that Macabalang detonated the bomb that was placed in position by Facturan.

Mustapha, meanwhile, took a video of the incident using his cellular phone.

The video, along with the other photos of the incident were recovered from the cellular phones and were supposed to be used for propaganda.

A 20-second propaganda video showing Facturan and a photo showing a bomb manual were also recovered from the suspects.

"There are indications that the Maute Group is trying to align themselves with the ISIS [terrorist organization] as can be gleaned in the recovered video. We have also established their link with the Abu Sayyaf Group as they revealed their intention to disrupt the government's massive military operations in Sulu," said Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo M. Año.

The Maute Group's plan to bomb Davao City was said to have been conceived about two weeks before the actual incident.

The plan was conceptualized to disrupt and divert the government's massive military operations in Sulu that started in July and in Central Mindanao, which started in August.

Moreover, the attack was conducted in retaliation for the heavy casualties suffered by the terror group in Butig, Lanao Del Sur in February.

The operations in August also resulted in the capture of eight Maute members at a checkpoint on Aug. 22. The arrested members later bolted out of prison on Aug. 27.

Further investigation also revealed that there were more or less 10 members of the Maute Group who participated in the Davao City bombing.

Aside from the three arrested suspects, it was found that another plan to use hand grenades was in play in case the original bomb failed to explode or inflict more casualties.

Meanwhile, Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Cotabato City Police and elements from the 6th Infantry Division conducted a raid, backed by a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court 12 Branch 13, on the residence of Teng Macabalang, father of TJ Macabalang.

The search was conducted at Barangay Rosary Height 6, Cotabato City at 2 a.m. Friday and resulted in the arrest of Macabalang and the recovery of numerous high-powered and short firearms, ammunition, and improvised explosive device components.

Macabalang and the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the local police office for proper documentation and disposition.

"The AFP and the PNP continue to conduct follow-up operations in pursuit of the remaining suspects and other members of the Maute Group in Cotabato City," said AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya.

He added that the AFP and the PNP have already informed President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on this latest development.

HERE'S NEWS5 VIDEO REPORT BY MON GUALVEZ:

[Video report]

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133086/watch--dnd-chief-tags-3-members-of-maute-terrorist-group-in-davao-city-blast

Police say arrest of 2 ASG suspects in Zamboanga City foiled bomb plot

From InterAksyon (Oct 8): Police say arrest of 2 ASG suspects in Zamboanga City foiled bomb plot



Police arrested two alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf, including one with a P5.3-million bounty on his head, in Zamboanga City Friday night, saying this foiled a planned bomb attack there.

The capture of Abdul-latip Talanghati y Suwaling, alias “Latip Sihata” and “Tatang”, 64, and Albashrie Talanghati y Sata, alias “Tagalog” and “Abu Tarik”, both natives of Luuk, Tungkil, Sulu also led to the seizure of one pound of high-explosive TNT, detonating cords and a time fuse, confirming an intelligence report the Abu Sayyaf was “planning to conduct atrocities in the City of Zamboanga,” Superintendent Rogelio Alabata, public information officer of Police Regional Office 9, said.

Alabata said the bounty was for the capture of Talanghati, who is wanted for his alleged participation in the 2000 kidnapping of tourists and resort workers from Sipadan, Malaysia.

On receiving the information about the bomb plot, Alabata said a team led by Superintendent Ferjen Torred mounted a hunt for the suspects, tracing them to Barangay Sta. Barbara, just beside the office of the Land Transportation Office, and arresting them around 9:30 p.m. Friday.

Alabata said the suspects would be transferred to Pasig City for trial.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133112/police-say-arrest-of-2-asg-suspects-in-zamboanga-city-foiled-bomb-plot

Cops nab informants who leaked Sabah security secrets

From The Star (Oct 8): Cops nab informants who leaked Sabah security secrets

More than 10 people in east coast Sabah have been arrested for allegedly leaking classified intelligence on security operations to enemies of the state.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the individuals were arrested in an ongoing operation to nab informants who were believed to have leaked the information to kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) groups, such as Abu Sayyaf.

He said the operation was carried out by the authorities in Sabah and the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).

“Those arrested were civilians, residents of Sabah and individuals from southern Philippines. We will continue to identify these informants and act against them,” he said, adding that the involvement of security officers could not be ruled out.

He said those arrested will be investigated under the Immigration Act, Penal Code and the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012. He also added that the authorities in Malaysia and the Philippines were constantly monitoring movements between the two countries.

“We will stay alert to prevent elements of Abu Sayyaf and other KFR groups from slipping into the country. We know that they have many informants here. These informants help them once they slip into the country. We will always be ready,” he told reporters after the handing-over-of-duties between outgoing Bukit Aman Strategic Source and Technology Department director Comm Datuk Seri Fatimah Ghazali and her successor Comm Datuk Abd Manan Mhd Hassan.

Comm Fatimah is retiring after serving 29 years in the police force.

Khalid also said that stern action would be taken against individuals exploiting the police to gain political mileage.

He said those guilty of lodging politically motivated reports will be subject to action under Section 182 of the Penal Code for making a false police report.

“After observing an increase in the trend of lodging police reports, we decided that anyone found using the police for their own political benefits will be penalised under Section 182,” he added.

Khalid denied allegations that the police practised double-standards when investigating reports.

“There are those who want to politicise the matter to gain political mileage. I’ve said it many times before. We will take action against those who break the law. Sometimes you don’t even have to make a report; we will take action whenever the law is violated.

“It is standard operating procedure for us to investigate every report we receive,” he added.

On another matter, Khalid said police will investigate the organisers of both the Red Shirts and Bersih rallies for violating the Peaceful Assembly Act.

He said both parties had violated the law by failing to notify the police about their gatherings which were held in several locations nationwide last weekend.

“They did not submit a notice before the rallies, yet they expect police to give them protection.

The convoys will only disrupt traffic flow. What’s so difficult about notifying us in advance about the gatherings?” he asked.

The IGP said police were investigating a report lodged by Red Shirts leader Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, who alleged that Bersih 2.0 has been infiltrated by the Islamic State militant group.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/10/08/cops-nab-informants-who-leaked-sabah-security-secrets/

Davao mayor says arrest of suspected Night Market bombers must lead to distmantling of terror group

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7): Davao mayor says arrest of suspected Night Market bombers must lead to distmantling of terror group

Presidential daughter Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio commended the authorities for the arrest of four suspects in the Roxas Night Market explosion but stressed that "their arrest must lead to the distmantling of the terror group."

The mayor issued the statement following the arrest of three alleged members of the Maute terrorist group based in Lanao Del Sur, and reportedly aligned with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

The three are among the suspects in the September 2 explosion at the Roxas night market that killed 15 persons and wounded 69 others.

The three suspects were presented at Camp Aguinaldo Friday. They were arrested during a checkpoint operation last October 4 in Cotabato City, reports said.

Military authorities seized from them a machine gun, a .45 caliber pistol, assorted bomb-making components, cellular phones and a video clip of the actual bombing attack which he claims the terrorists are turning into a propaganda video to get support from the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) terrorists in the Middle East.

"The arrest of the suspected perpetrator of the September 2 bombing in Davao City is a welcome development to the operations of our law enforcers for their immediate capture," Sara said in a statement released to the members of the media.

While such development is commendable, the mayor vowed to expeditiously give justice to the 15 victims who died and the 69 others who were wounded in the blast.

Sara, however, emphasized on the importance of the arrest in leading to the dismantling of terror groups or result in the failure of more senseless acts of violence and extremism.

"We also need to remember that this does not end our desire to give justice to the victims and those whose lives were forever changed by that horrendous act of terrorism on the night of September 2 in our beloved city," the mayor added.

She asked the people to be vigilant and "show the world that we do not surrender to fear nor do we allow terrorism to cripple our humanity and undermine our values."

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=929592

5,000 militants to hold march showing support to President Duterte

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7): 5,000 militants to hold march showing support to President Duterte

About 5,000 farmers and members of the tribal community would hold a march-rally here Saturday as President Rodrigo Duterte marked his 100 days in office, the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Friday.

However, contrary to past march-rallies where the militant groups took turns in lambasting the administration, the scheduled march-rally here would be to dramatize support to Mr. Duterte’s accomplishments in his first 100 days in office.

Wildon Barros, chair of Bayan in Northern Mindanao, said that the marchers would demonstrate support to the President’s peace initiatives, national sovereignty, and social justice programs.

The occasion was timely as the government panel and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines enter their second round of peace talks in Oslo, Norway, Barros said.

He said that the second round of peace talk would focus on land reform problems, national industrialization, and the root causes of the insurgency, and Socioeconomic Reforms (SER).

Barros said that the militant and progressive groups that include the indigenous peoples would also bring to President Duterte’s attention the alleged failure of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in Northern Mindanao.

According to Barros, more than 100,000 hectares of land under the CARP had remained undistributed in the region and many more CARP beneficiaries have no land titles until now.

Barros said that the participants to the march-rally include the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (Farmers’ Movement of the Philippines), the IPs and the urban poor.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=929574

Military, police, MILF join forces in hunting down North Cotabato's most wanted man

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8): Military, police, MILF join forces in hunting down North Cotabato's most wanted man

The world of North Cotabato's most wanted man is getting smaller by the day as government forces and Moro rebels have joined hands in hunting him down, an Army general said Friday.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said the military, police and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are jointly pursuing Moks Masgal alias Commander Magbrox, a big time illegal drug pusher in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

During the joint operation Thursday, Mabrox managed to escape but two of his men, his personal driver and a relative, were arrested.

Chief Inspector Reylan Mamon, Midsayap town police chief, identified the arrested close-in bodyguards of Mabrox as Salahudin Halil Lumilis, 26 and Kamarudin Madidis Masdal, his relative.

Both are now detained at Midsayap town police chief.

Mabrox was the subject of an arrest warrant in August but the serving of warrants turned bloody when the armed group engaged arresting team in a four hour firefight which led to the death of three government forces.

Galvez said the help of the MILF will increase the chances of getting Mabrox who is also facing various charges ranging from kidnapping, bombing, robbery and extortion.

"It is better for him to surrender to avoid bloody confrontation," Galvez said of Mabrox, a former leader of the MILF, who bolted the organization and engaged in illegal activities in the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

His group was blamed for extortion activities against farmers in the boundary of Midsayap and Aleosan towns in North Cotabato and in Datu Piang and Datu Salibo in Maguindanao.

Lt. Col. Noly Samarita, commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, said involved in the operation are members of the 7th Infantry Battalion and 108th base command of the MILF.

Government forces are combing the North Cotabato side of Mabroxes area of operation while the MILF is operating in the side of the Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao.

While the Army is ready to use its might against Mabrox, Galvez is also exploring other means to avoid bloodshed, that is, diplomatic approach to the problem.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=929346

21 ranking military officers in Isabela undergo surprise drug test

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8): 21 ranking military officers in Isabela undergo surprise drug test

Twenty-one ranking officers of the 5th Infantry Division in Isabela province, including its commander Brig. Gen. Paul T. Atal, participated in a surprise drug test Friday afternoon.

Capt. Evelyn Audencial, 5th Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said the drug test took place at the Division Conference Room, Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz in Upi, Gamu town.

She said it was the second leg of the surprise test conducted by the Division's medical staff.

Atal and the 20 other ranking officers readily submitted themselves to the drug test and provided urine samples to medical personnel assigned to conduct the test.

"Let us do our part as a leader to set a good example to our soldiers for them to see that we are clean and free from illegal drugs," he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=929631

7 killed, 263 arrested, including alleged BIAF commander, in drug operation in Quiapo

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7): 7 killed, 263 arrested, including alleged BIAF commander, in drug operation in Quiapo

An anti-drug operation at the Islamic Center in Quiapo Friday led to the death of seven suspected drug pushers and the arrest of 263 suspected drug users, including an alleged commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada oversaw the early morning operation conducted by members of Stations 3 and 8 of the Manila Police District (MPD), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

“This shows that we are serious in our fight against illegal drugs,” Estrada said as he called on Muslim leaders at the Islamic Center to support the government’s war on drugs.

“This is just the second time that the Islamic Center has been raided. The first was during Marcos’ administration. Let's cooperate in making your community clean, peaceful and drug-free," he said.

One of the seven fatalities in the operation was a high-value target, a certain Faiz Macabato, reportedly the chairman of Barangay 648, who has a PHP1 million bounty on his head.

According to the MPD, he fought back when policemen stormed the barangay hall.

“Walang sini-sino ang kampanya natin na ‘to. Basta may atraso ka sa batas, kailangan mong pagbayaran but unfortunately, nanlaban siya kaya napilitan na rin ang MPD (This anti-illegal drug campaign does not recognize anyone. If you broke the law, you have to be held accountable.

Unfortunately, he resisted arrest so the MPD was forced to fight back),” Estrada said.

Dozens of high-powered firearms and grenades and at least 60 sachets of suspected shabu were confiscated during the operation, MPD director, Sr. Supt. Joel Coronel said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=929481

3 suspects in Davao City blast arrested, case now closed says DND chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7): 3 suspects in Davao City blast arrested, case now closed says DND chief

Three suspects, reportedly behind the Sept. 2 blast in Davao City which claimed the lives of 15 persons and resulted in the wounding of 70 others, are now under the custody of authorities.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, in a press briefing on Friday, said all three suspects were arrested during a checkpoint operation last Oct. 4 in Cotabato City.

All three are allegedly members of the Maute Terrorist Group which is based in Lanao Del Sur, and reportedly aligned with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).

Lorenzana said the attack was in retaliation for the February government offensive which caused heavy casualties against the brigand, and the Aug. 22 operation which resulted in the arrest of several bandits.

Military units in Lanao Del Sur conducted an offensive against members of the Maute Terrorist Group after it attacked a detachment in Butig last February.

Seized from the latter were a machine gun, a .45 caliber pistol, assorted bomb-making components, cellular phones and a video clip of the actual bombing attack which he claims the terrorists are turning into a propaganda video to get support from the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) terrorists in the Middle East.

Lorenzana said 10 members of the terrorists planned and participated in the Davao City bombing.

And while he considers the case close with the arrest of the three, the DND chief said hunt will go on for the remaining seven suspects.

Earlier, the ASG took responsibility for the bombing which hit the Roxas Night Market in Davao City.

The bloody incident prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to a "State of National Emergency on Account of the Lawless Violence in Mindanao".

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=929540

Self-proclaimed ISIS sympathizer in Cotabato found with bombs, firearms

From the Philippine Star (Oct 7): Self-proclaimed ISIS sympathizer in Cotabato found with bombs, firearms

Lawmen found improvised explosive devices and firearms in the house here of a self-proclaimed Islamic militant believed to have links with the Independent State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The cache were seized by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM), who raided before dawn Friday the residence here of Tea-Jae Macabalang, owner of a computer-generated graphics publications establishment here.

Macabalang was “arrested” two days before by unidentified law enforcement operatives at the uptown area here.

Macabalang reputedly has a shady personality that relatives and friends have long been suspecting he was engaged in illegal activities.

He was said to have earlier proclaimed himself as a sympathizer of the ISIS and boasted of his having friends in the Middle East whom he is helping to connect with religious extremists in Lanao del Sur and in Maguindanao.

CIDG-ARMM operatives are now in custody of the IEDs and firearms they collected from the house of Macabalang.   

Macabalang’s father, Teng, an ethnic Maguindanaon, who was inside the suspect’s house when the agents arrived to conduct the search, is now clamped down at the CIDG-ARMM’s detention facility.

Also recovered from the scene were a vintage World War II carbine .30 caliber rifle, a .45 caliber pistol and a bolt-action rim-fire .22 caliber hunting rifle mounted with a sniping scope.

Relatives of Macabalang said they have been hearing stories about his connection with Middle Eastern jihadist groups, but did not mind owing to lack of corroborating proofs.

His detained father had told reporters that he, too, heard of his son’s alleged linkages with religious extremists in the Middle East.

Neighbors are convinced the gunmen who snatched Macabalang two days before his house was raided by CIDG-ARMM operatives could be military intelligence agents.

Talks are circulating here since Thursday, purporting that he was brought to Metro Manila by his captors for tactical interrogation.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/10/07/1631271/self-proclaimed-isis-sympathizer-cotabato-found-bombs-firearms

(Update) DND chief identifies 3 members of Maute Terrorist Group in Davao City blast

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7): (Update) DND chief identifies 3 members of Maute Terrorist Group in Davao City blast

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana announced Friday that three members of the Maute Terrorist Group, who allegedly took part in the Davao City blast last Sept. 2, are now under custody of authorities.

In a press briefing, the DND chief said the three were arrested in a mobile checkpoint by joint elements of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police last Oct. 4 in Cotabato City.

The three were identified as TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan, and Musali Mustapha, members of the Maute Group.

All three were arrested after attempting to evade the checkpoint on board a motorcycle with no license plate, Lorenzana said.

“We have recovered solid pieces of evidence showing that they are indeed the terrorists who bombed Davao City on September 2,” he stressed.

Confiscated from the suspects were various components for improvised explosive devices, a sub-machine gun, a .45 caliber pistol, their motorcycle, and various cellular phones.

Based on initial investigations and debriefing, it was found that Macabalang detonated the bomb that was placed in position by Facturan.

Mustapha, meanwhile, took a video of the incident using his cellular phone.

The said video, along with the other photos of the incident were recovered from the cellular phones and were supposed to be used for propaganda.

A 20-second propaganda video showing Facturan and a photo showing a bomb manual were also recovered from the suspects.

“There are indications that the Maute Group is trying to align themselves with the ISIS as seen in the recovered video. We have also established their link with the ASG as they revealed their intention to disrupt the government’s massive military operations in Sulu,” said Army chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo M. Ano.

The Maute Group’s plan to bomb Davao City was conceived more or less two weeks before the actual incident.

Accordingly, the plan was conceptualized to disrupt and divert the government’s massive military operations in Sulu that started in July and in Central Mindanao that started in August.

Moreover, the attack was conducted in retaliation for the heavy casualties suffered by the terror group in Butig, Lanao Del Sur last February.

The operations in August also resulted in the capture of eight Maute members in a checkpoint on Aug. 22. The arrested members later bolted out of prison on Aug. 27.

Further investigations also revealed that there were more or less 10 members of the Maute Group that participated in the Davao City bombing.

Aside from the three arrested suspects, it was found that another plan to use hand grenades was in play in case the original bomb failed to explode and to inflict more casualties.

Meanwhile, Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Cotabato City Police and elements from the 6th Infantry Division conducted a raid, backed by a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court 12 Branch 13, on the residence of Teng Macabalang, father of TJ Macabalang.

The search was conducted at Barangay Rosary Height 6, Cotabato City at 2 a.m. Friday and resulted to the arrest of Macabalang and the recovery of numerous high-powered and short firearms, ammunition, and improvised explosive device components.

Macabalang and the confiscated pieces of evidence were brought to the local police office for proper documentation and disposition.

“The AFP and the PNP continue to conduct follow-up operations in pursuit of the remaining suspects and other members of the Maute Group in Cotabato City,” said AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya.

He added that the AFP and the PNP have already informed President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on this major development.

“Once again, your Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have shown their firm resolve and joint capabilities to stop this bunch of extremists," Lorenzana said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=929558

Palace clarifies President Duterte’s dare to US to withdraw aid to PHL

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7): Palace clarifies President Duterte’s dare to US to withdraw aid to PHL

Malacanang on Friday clarified the challenge of President Rodrigo Duterte to the United States and foreign institutions to withdraw aid to the Philippines if they cannot understand his war on drugs.

”It is merely saying that the President is saying that we have a reform policy, we have our own problems, internal problems in the country that instead of criticizing us unfairly, help us solve our problems,” Presidential Communications Operations (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said in a radio interview with DWFM.

Andanar said the US and other international critics of the President should stop talking if they have nothing good to say for the Philippines.

”If they have nothing to help, they better keep silent. That’s how simple it is,” he said.

He said the Philippines is not interfering with the problems of other countries.

Last Thursday, President Duterte told the US, human rights groups and the international institutions to put their money to “somewhere else” if they are unhappy with his strong campaign against drugs.

President Duterte said the Philippines will survive “but we will never, never compromise our dignity.”

”The President knows what he is saying and the President is standing for the right of every Filipino, independent foreign policy and about opening our doors to other countries also if they want to -- who may want to work with the Philippines in a mutually beneficial ways,” Andanar explained.

The US, European Union, United Nations and other human rights groups have questioned the alleged extrajudicial killings of drug suspects in the Philippines.

President Duterte has said he might break up with US and would rather go to China and Russia.
The President is set to visit China and later Japan within this month.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=929572

First 100 days: Youth solon lauds peace process, independent foreign policy under Duterte admin

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7): First 100 days: Youth solon lauds peace process, independent foreign policy under Duterte admin

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago on Friday lauded the significant advances of President Rodrigo Duterte for his first 100 days in the peace process and the pursuit of an independent foreign policy.

In a statement, Elago said that while many of the President’s campaign promises were still in the “early phase”, great strides had been made in rekindling the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

”It is a quantum leap that his predecessors failed to do. Now, the peace process is advancing towards discussing fundamental socio-economic reforms, reforms that will benefit not only the rebels but all Filipinos. This achievement is the saving grace of the President’s 100-day performance,” Elago said.

The Philippine government resumed its formal peace talks with the NDFP back in August, while the second round of the talks has already started this week.

Elago, however, still considers the peace process as “incomplete” since there are hundreds of political prisoners awaiting amnesty.

”However, we still consider the President’s achievements in the peace process as ‘incomplete’, given the fact that most political prisoners still languish in jail, and that despite the declaration of unilateral ceasefire from both the government and the NDFP, there are still many violations,” she explained.

The lawmaker also lauded Duterte’s intensified call against United States meddling in Philippine affairs, clearly delineating his independent foreign policy.

”We laud the President’s nationalist stance, and his bravery in calling out the empty promises of the US, especially when it comes to military support,” said Elago.

The youth solon said the main criticism of the President’s performance comes from his lack of focus on issues concerning education and human rights.

“There were no significant advances or even pronouncement as regards tuition and other school fee increases, the high cost of education, commercialization, and even privatization of educational institutions,” Elago said.

Elago also noted that the administration’s relentless war against illegal drugs has left a rising toll of extrajudicial killings.

”While there are significant strides, there are also areas for improvement, especially when it comes to education and human rights,” Elago said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=929625

NDF presses general amnesty grant to 432 political prisoners

From Rappler (Oct 7): NDF presses general amnesty grant to 432 political prisoners

Government statements that the general amnesty will depend on the progress of the talks are tantamount to holding political prisoners hostage 'to secure advantage across the negotiating table,' say communist rebels   

The National Democratic Front (NDF) has pressed for the immediate release of 432 "political prisoners," reminding government negotiators that it was President Rodrigo Duterte himself who thought of a general amnesty grant to expedite the process. (READ: PH, NDF back in Oslo to tackle 'root cause of conflict')

The NDF, the political wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, made the call as it slammed recent government statements that the general amnesty will depend on the progress of the talks. It said such pronouncement is tantamount to holding political prisoners "hostage to secure advantage across the negotiating table."

 

"The NDFP stands firm in calling for the release through amnesty of the 432 political prisoners not only as a matter of justice but also in basic compliance of the CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law)," newly-appointed NDF panel chairman Fidel Agcaoili said at the opening ceremony of the 2nd round of peace talks in Oslo, Norway.

 

"The release of all political prisoners through amnesty was offered by President Duterte during my first meeting with him on 16 May 2016 in connection with the resumption of the peace negotiations," Agcaoili added on Thursday, October 6 (Friday, October 7 in Manila).

A general amnesty was among the commitments signed during the first round of talks in August.
"The proffered amnesty proclamation pertains to the political prisoners and not to a general amnesty that is mutually extended to the forces of both Parties in the final settlement of an armed conflict," Agcaoili said.

The last time the government granted general amnesty was after the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos dictatorship. Previous amnesty proclamations for prisoners after that covered military rebels and Muslim guerillas, as well as communist rebels who wish to avail of the government social integration program.

But a general amnesty proclamation will not be Duterte's decision alone, as it will require Congress approval.

CPP founder Jose Maria Sison said the release of the prisoners will "serve as very big incentive for a stable kind of ceasefire."

The military and the New People's Army declared separate unilateral ceasefires, meaning there are not rules of procedures on the ground to avoid possible misencounters. A bilateral ceasefire agreement to establish such rules is among the agenda in Oslo.

The government wants to complete negotiatins within a year, or by August 2017, which government chief negotiator Silvestre Bello III stressed in his opening speech.

"Let us also recognize the need to complete the negotiations in the next 12 months. This will provide ample time for the Duterte administration to efficiently implement the agreements we reached," he said.

The NDF reshuffled its panel on the eve of the second round of talks in Oslo, Norway to begin negotiatons on socio-economic reforms, the most contentious issue in the peace process.

 

Agcaoili replaced longtime NDF panel chairman Luis Jalandoni who will now serve as senior adviser to the NDF panel. Alleged New People's Army (NPA) leader Benito Tiamzon also joined the NDF panel.

 

http://www.rappler.com/nation/148500-ndf-general-amnesty-osl

 

Filed under:Fidel Agcaoili•National Democratic Front•Norway•Philippines•Rodrigo Duterte•Silvestre Bello III•communist insurgency•Oslo talks

 

Army says peace talks, a recruitment ops for reds

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 7): Army says peace talks, a recruitment ops for reds

A Philippine Army (PA) official here said the government’s peace process and ceasefire agreement with the New People’s Army (NPA) pave the way for recruitment activities by the rebels.

Lt. Colonel Rolando Mangigil, commander of the army’s 54th Infantry Batallion based at barangay Bagumbayan in Dupax del Sur town, said rebels who only frequented the villages near the tri-boundary of the province also pushed their recruitment efforts in Nueva Vizcaya’s central towns.

“It is good that as of this moment, no new members were recruited yet. We are encouraging our local officials to be more vigilant and report these activities to us,” he said during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council(PPOC) meeting at the Nueva Vizcaya Pasalubong Center (NVPC) here.

Before the  government’s peace offer to the NPA, Mangigil said their remnants were only concentrated within the tri-boundary provinces of Nueva Vizcaya such as Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Ifugao.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/491475799686/army-says-peace-talks-a-recruitment-ops-for-reds-

Peace talks resume between Philippines gov't, Maoists

From Anadolu Agency (Oct 7): Peace talks resume between Philippines gov't, Maoists

Negotiations asked to be completed in next 12 months, so president can implement any agreements reached

A second round of peace talks between the Philippines government and the country's communist rebels has formally resumed in Norway.

 

The two sides declared indefinite unilateral ceasefires in first round talks in Oslo in September as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's efforts to end a conflict that has lasted almost 50 years and killed around 40,000 people.

 

In a statement emailed to Anadolu Agency on Friday night, government peace negotiator Silvestre Bello expressed confidence that the steadfastness of both parties in resuming the talks -- which began in Oslo on Thursday -- would continue to animate the task ahead.

 

Bello, presidential adviser on the process Jesus Dureza, and the National Democratic Front (NDF), the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), are tasked with harmonizing the exchange of draft frameworks and outlines of respective working committees, and agreeing on a common draft agreement for a joint ceasefire.

 

"The significant impact of the indefinite ceasefire declared by the parties cannot be overemphasized, including the confidence of our peace constituency on the peace process," Bello said.

 

He noted that the ceasefire is holding to this day, with no major violations reported by either party.

 

"This is an unparalleled achievement of the table, which should inspire us to advance the negotiations," he underlined.

 

He added that both parties should recognize the need to complete negotiations in the next 12 months, as this will provide ample time for Duterte's administration to efficiently implement agreements reached.

 

"We trust the NDF will still be with us in the implementation of these agreements," Bello stressed.

Fidel Agcaoili, the new chairman of the NDF panel, has called on Duterte to make good on his earlier offer to declare amnesty for more than 400 communist party-affiliated prisoners.

 

The second round will also see the rebels and government peace panels discussing social and economic reforms, the second of the four "substantive agendas" of the negotiations.

 

Peace talks between the two have been on and off for around 30 years, with over 40 rounds of formal and informal talks taking place.

 

Past negotiations, however, have been scuttled due to hard line demands from either side.

 

In July, Duterte ordered the release of 22 detained NDF consultants, 16 of whom later joined the initial Aug. 22-28 Oslo talks, to fulfill a campaign promise and jumpstart negotiations.

 

He also declared a unilateral ceasefire, only to later lift it after communist rebels ambushed an army patrol, and then reinstate it on the eve of the Oslo talks, which the NDF reciprocated with an indefinite and unilateral ceasefire of its own.

 

The CPP, NDF and New People’s Army -- the armed wing of the CPP -- have waged one of the longest insurgencies in Asia in an effort for agrarian reform, national industrialization and an independent foreign policy.

 

http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/peace-talks-resume-between-philippines-govt-maoists/660460

In towns where war defined child’s play, toys find their place

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 7): In towns where war defined child’s play, toys find their place

 

Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor (kneeling), a former street child, greets a Yakan child who turned over a toy gun in Lamitan, Basilan, a town that had become site of some of the fiercest clashes between government soldiers and members of the Abu Sayyaf. —Julie S. Alipala

 

LAMITAN CITY, Basilan—Brothers Gajer and Haiser Bendonillo live in a village here where war has changed the way people live, including how children play.

So when the brothers gave up their toy guns, it was with a heavy heart.

“I am giving away my toy gun because I am looking forward to a bicycle,” said Gajer, 10, son of a slain soldier from the 10th Infantry Battalion.

His elder brother, Haiser, wished for something costlier. “A basketball court, basketballs,” said Haiser.

On Tuesday, Gajer and Haiser were among at least 700 Yakan children from the war-torn towns of Ungkaya Pukan, Tipo-tipo and Al-barka, who marched on the city streets carrying their toy guns made of either metal, coco lumber, bamboo or plastic. Some of the toys resembled assault rifles.

Their parents escorted the children along with their “big brothers,” government soldiers who took part in a ceremony for peace during which toy guns were turned over in exchange for other toys.

Ezra, mother of the Bendonillo brothers, said it was the first time the children were asked to surrender their toy guns for replacement with bicycles and other toys like dolls, scooters, board games, basketballs and educational stuff.

“I don’t object to the idea,” said Ezra. “My son grew up with his toy gun. He never had other toys,” she said of Haiser.

Haiser got a basketball but Gajer didn’t get his bicycle.

Thousands of pieces of toys and other items, like food, school supplies and sports equipment, had been shipped to the city for the children, who are beneficiaries of the Festival of Love and Peace initiated by Dr. Arlyn Jawad Jumao-as’ Save the Children of Basilan.

“We see great transformation in these children,” said Jumao-as.

In 2014, Save the Children reached out to a total of 250 children. Of the number, only one has not returned to school.

“The rest are back to school,” said Jumao-as.

It was a different story three years ago.

“It was so emotionally charged,’ said Jumao-as, recalling stories told by children about surviving war “and how war stole their youth.”

“These have changed,” said the child rights’ advocate.

Lt. Col. Eliglen Villaflor, Special Forces Regiment chief of staff who once headed the 4th Special Forces Battalion in Basilan province, recalled his encounter with children when Save the Children was launched.

“When we asked kids to draw soldiers, they drew soldiers shooting their mothers, fathers and themselves,” said Villaflor.

“One child drew an aircraft diving toward their home and dropping bombs,” Villaflor said.

Three years after that, Villaflor said he sees the transformation.

“They now have the drive to go to school, to join sports, to play,” he said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/822642/in-towns-where-war-defined-childs-play-toys-find-their-place

Lorenzana tells Duterte: US troops in Mindanao are safe 3

From GMA News (Oct 7): Lorenzana tells Duterte: US troops in Mindanao are safe 3

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday said the small number of US troops in Mindanao, whom President Rodrigo Duterte wants to leave, are not in danger and can protect themselves against terrorist attacks.

Speaking before foreign correspondents at a briefing, Lorenzana said he explained to the President that the U.S. special forces are safely housed in the Philippine military’s Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City.

“I clarified that with him and I told him that the US troops are not in danger because there are just very few of them, just about 107 people, who are actually housed in Camp Navarro in Calarian in Zamboanga City,” Lorenza told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines.

“All they do is operate their drones and some intelligence equipment to help our troops in the south and I told him they are not in danger of being harmed by any terrorist. At same time they are actually combatants, they are not civilians so they can protect themselves,” he added.

Duterte, who has issued hostile remarks against the US government following its criticisms of his bloody crackdown against illegal drugs and perceived human rights violations, last month said US forces, which has a temporary presence in Zamboanga, should leave because they could become a target of Islamic militants.

Later on, Duterte, according to Lorenzana, said he does not want the Americans to leave immediately “but maybe in the future.”

Lorenzana said such policy coincides with the Philippine military's plan for the US forces to stay until such time the Philippines has upgraded its intelligence capabilities and equipment in the South.

“In the meantime, US forces are being used to provide us some intelligence information like the product of their drone that are flying over Basilan, Sulu and in central Mindanao. When we acquire our own drones in the near future then we can go without the help of the Americans in the south,” he said.

The small group of military experts in Southern Philippines provides counter-terrorism training and advice to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Foreign troops are barred by the Constitution to engage in combat mission in the country.

In 2015, Washington scaled down the number of its rotating troop presence in Mindanao, 13 years since the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines or JSOTF-P was activated.

Under the JSOTF-P, around 500 US soldiers were deployed in the south on a rotation basis.

US and Philippine military cooperation in Mindanao has led to the capture and death of top leaders of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and other foreign terrorists.

The ASG, which is included in the US government’s foreign terrorist organization list, has claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in the country and is notorious for kidnapping foreigners in exchange for huge ransom or beheading them if there is no payoff.

Washington maintained that American troops are not involved in combat operations, but said they can retaliate if attacked.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/584199/news/nation/lorenzana-tells-duterte-us-troops-in-mindanao-are-safe

Davao bombing: Philippine security officials arrest 3 suspects likely linked to ISIS

From the Straits Times (Oct 7): Davao bombing: Philippine security officials arrest 3 suspects likely linked to ISIS



Three members of a Muslim extremist group (from left) TJ Tagadaya Mcabalang, Musali Mustapha and Wendel Apostol Facturan are presented during a press conference at the Department of National Defence (DND) headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Manila on October 7, 2015. Three members of a Muslim extremist group have been arrested for a bombing in the home town of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte last month that left 15 people dead, authorities said on October 7.PHOTO: AFP



President Rodrigo Duterte looks at the belongings of victims during his visit of a blast site at a market in Davao City, Philippines on Sept 3, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Philippine security officials have arrested three suspects in the Sept 2 bombing of a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte's home city of Davao that left 15 people dead.

In a news conference on Friday (Oct 7), Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana said the three were likely part of the Maute group of Islamist militants, and the bombing was an attempt to win support from the Islamist State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

It was also meant to derail military offensives against another ISIS-linked group, the small but brutal Abu Sayyaf, in Sulu and Basilan provinces, 1,000km south of the capital Manila.

 

The suspects, identified as TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Apostol Facturan and Musali Mustapha, were arrested on Tuesday (Oct 4).

Mr Lorenzana said the three were all schooled on bomb making by the Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was killed in a police raid in January last year.

Among the evidence gathered was a video of the bombing saved on a mobile phone seized from one of the suspects, who could be heard shouting: "Allahu Akbar!"

 

Fifteen people were killed, and dozens injured in the attack.

Initial investigations showed the perpetrators used an improvised explosive device made from 60mm and 80mm mortar shells.

The incident prompted Mr Duterte to declare a "state of national emergency on account of lawless violence".
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippine-security-officials-arrest-3-suspects-in-davao-bombing-they-are-said-to-have

ARMM LGUs urged to allocate budget for curbing extremism

From the Philippine Star (Oct 7): ARMM LGUs urged to allocate budget for curbing extremism



In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016, soldiers pose with an Islamic State militant flag in Fallujah, Iraq after forces re-took the city center after two years of IS control. Thousands of civilians are fleeing Fallujah after the city was declared liberated from the Islamic State group, the United Nations said, while an Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining militants. Iraq Counterterrorism Service via AP

Officials on Friday urged local government units in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to spend some amount from internal revenues for special programs meant to curb Islamic militancy in remote ARMM towns.

Lawyer Kirby Abdullah, regional secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government-ARMM (DILG), said LGUs have autonomy to allocate amount for such projects from the 20 percent allocation for domestic development thrusts from the monthly Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Abdullah said ARMM Gov. Mujiv Hataman, presiding chairman of the inter-agency regional peace and order council, is helping address religious extremism via massive implementation of infrastructure projects in impoverished areas to generate livelihood opportunities for unemployed residents militants can easily recruit into radical groups fashioned like the Independent State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Major Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao province, on Friday said they would need the support of mayors and provincial governors in preventing the rise of local groups claiming allegiance to ISIS.

“Good governance, cooperation among political leaders, the local religious communities, the police and the military will solve the problem,” he said.

Galvez cited as example how the office of Hataman, the local government units and security authorities in Basilan, a component province of ARMM, are gaining headway now in their peace and security programs. 

While still colonel, Galvez served as a brigade commander in Basilan, a beneficiary of more than 200 infrastructure projects, bankrolled by the ARMM government, in the past four years.

Among the areas the ARMM shall provide with more infrastructure projects from this year up to 2019 is the hostile Sulu island province, known all over the world as the bastion of the Abu Sayyaf.

The Abu Sayyaf, which is using the black ISIS flag as its revolutionary banner, is capitalizing on the grinding poverty, underdevelopment and poor governance in Sulu’s 18 towns to foment public hatred to Malacañang.

The Abu Sayyaf has been using Sulu as harboring site for captives kidnapped abroad and in nearby Mindanao provinces. The group is feared for its practice of beheading captives if ransom demands are not met.

Hataman said the LGUs in conflict-stricken ARMM towns need to regularly convene the multi-sectoral municipal peace and order councils to formulate domestic projects that can hasten the restoration of normalcy in oft-troubled areas where there are religious extremists.

“We in the regional government can provide some interventions but the bulk of the work lies on the shoulders of local executives and their respective LGUs,” Hataman said.

Abdullah said one of the main concerns now of DILG-ARMM is for LGUs in far-flung areas to participate extensively in peace-building activities that can help boost the peace efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/10/07/1631267/armm-lgus-urged-allocate-budget-curbing-extremism