CPP/Ang Bayan: Ma­la­ga­nap na mga ak­syong mi­li­tar ng BHB

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Feb 21): Ma­la­ga­nap na mga ak­syong mi­li­tar ng BHB (Extensive military actions of the NPA)

Ma­sig­lang ipi­nag­tang­gol ng mga yu­nit ng Ba­gong Huk­bong Ba­yan (BHB) ang mga re­bo­lu­syo­nar­yong ba­se at mga so­nang ge­ril­ya sa pa­na­na­la­kay ng AFP, PNP at iba pang gru­pong mi­li­tar. Ito ay mu­la nang iatas ng Pambansang Kumand sa Operasyon ng BHB na mag­lun­sad ng ak­ti­bong de­pen­sa hang­gat hin­di pa na­ta­ta­pos ang ti­gil-pu­tu­kan, at ng mga tak­ti­kal na open­si­ba oras na lu­bu­san na itong ma­wa­lan nang bi­sa.

Mu­la Peb­re­ro 1 hang­gang 10, hin­di ba­ba­ba sa 15 ak­syong ak­ti­bong de­pen­sa ang nai­lun­sad ng mga yu­nit ng BHB sa buong ban­sa. (Ting­nan sa Ang Ba­yan, Peb­re­ro 7.) Nang mag­ta­pos na ang ti­gil-pu­tu­kan, nag­ta­la na­man ng di-ba­ba­ba sa wa­long tak­ti­kal na open­si­ba sa iba’t ibang da­ko ng ka­pu­lu­an. Dalawam­pung armas ang nasamsam mula sa mga ito.

Ilan sa mga ak­syong mi­li­tar ang su­mu­su­nod:

Sout­hern Min­da­nao Re­gi­on. Isang kum­pan­ya ng mga Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma ang su­ma­la­kay sa de­tatsment ng 72nd IB sa Sit­yo Bi­na­ton, Brgy. Ma­la­bog sa Paqui­ba­to District, Davao City, ban­dang alas-5:30 ng uma­ga noong Peb­re­ro 16. Tu­gon ang open­si­bang ito sa ka­hi­li­ngan ng mga re­si­den­te na pa­ru­sa­han ang mga ba­ya­rang tro­pa na nag­sil­bing ta­ga­pag­pa­da­loy at ta­ga­pag­tang­gol sa bentahan ng ili­gal na dro­ga sa distri­to at pa­li­bot na lu­gar. Bi­nig­yang se­gu­ri­dad ni­la noon si Nep­ta­li Alfre­do Pon­doc, kilalang ope­rey­tor ng ne­go­syo sa dro­ga na pi­na­ru­sa­han ng BHB noong Ene­ro 23. Isang sun­da­lo ng 72nd IB ang na­ma­tay sa la­ba­nan at ilan ang na­su­ga­tan. Isang Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma na­man ang na­mar­tir.

Ban­dang alas-4 ng ha­pon, ti­nam­ba­ngan ng BHB ang ru­me­res­pon­deng kom­boy ng li­mang trak na KM450 ng 3rd IB. Bu­ma­lig­tad ang tat­lo sa trak nang pasabugan ang mga ito sa Brgy. La­ma­nan sa Ca­li­nan District. Hin­di ba­ba­ba sa pi­tong sun­da­lo ang na­ma­tay at ma­hi­git sam­pu ang su­ga­tan. Pag­ka­li­pas ng ka­la­ha­ting oras, da­la­wang trak ng ru­me­res­pon­deng tro­pa ng 3rd IB ang mu­ling pi­na­sa­bu­gan sa Brgy. Lacson, Ca­li­nan District, kung saan da­la­wa sa tro­pang AFP ang pa­tay at 17 ang su­ga­tan.

Na­gu­lan­tang na­man ang isang nag-oo­pe­ra­syong pla­tun ng 28th IB, nang tam­ba­ngan ito ng mga Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma ng ComVal–Davao Gulf Sub­re­gio­nal Ope­ra­ti­ons Com­mand sa Brgy. New Vi­sa­yas, Lu­pon, Davao Ori­en­tal ban­dang alas-8 nang uma­ga ng Peb­re­ro 14. Li­ma ang kum­pir­ma­dong pa­tay at ma­ra­mi ang su­ga­tan. Ilang oras ma­ta­pos ni­to, sa isang tsek­poynt sa Pu­rok Upper Way­wa­yan, Brgy. Don Ma­ria­no Marcos sa pa­re­hong ba­yan, da­la­wang pa­ra­mi­li­tar ang naa­res­to ng isa pang yu­nit ng BHB. Si­na Re­ne Dol­ler, 34, at Carl Mark Nucos, 24, kap­wa myembro ng 1st Pla­to­on, 4th CAAC sa ila­lim ng 72nd IB, ay na­kum­pis­ka­han ng ka­ni-ka­ni­lang is­yung ka­lib­re .45 pis­to­la at na­sa kus­to­di­ya nga­yon ng BHB bi­lang mga bi­hag sa dig­ma.

Alas-9 na­man nang uma­ga, sa Ma­tu­pe, Ki­tao­tao, Bu­kid­non, si­na­lu­bong ng pu­tok ng mga Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma ang pi­nag­sa­nib na ope­ra­syon ng 72nd CAFGU at Ala­ma­ra.

Bago ni­to, bi­lang ba­ha­gi ng pag­tang­gol sa sa­ri­li la­ban sa pa­na­na­la­kay ng kaa­way noong pa­na­hon ng ti­gil-pu­tu­kan, ini­lun­sad ng mga yu­nit ng BHB ang mga ope­ra­syon pa­ra sa ak­ti­bong de­pen­sa. Noong Peb­re­ro 9, apat sa nag-oo­pe­ra­syong sun­da­lo ng 60th IB ang ma­lub­hang na­su­ga­tan nang pa­pu­tu­kan sila ng isang tim ng Pu­lang Ba­ga­ni Com­pany (PBC) sa ka­bun­du­kan ng Sit­yo Pa­tong, Brgy. Lang­tud, Laak, Com­pos­te­la Val­ley.

Noong Peb­re­ro 6, ti­nam­ba­ngan at napatay si Edwin Hija­ra, isang ka­sa­pi ng CAFGU ng 39IB ha­bang na­ngu­ngu­na si­ya sa ope­ra­syong pa­nik­tik sa Brgy. Ba­li­te, Mag­pet, North Co­ta­ba­to. Ba­ha­gi ito ng ope­ra­syong kom­bat ng mga tro­pa ng 39th IB. Pi­na­pu­tu­kan na­man ng mga tim ng pan­la­ra­ngang yu­nit ng BHB ang mga nag-oo­pe­ra­syong tro­pa ng 71st IB sa Sit­yo San Roque, Brgy. New Cor­tez, New Co­rel­la, Davao del Nor­te, kung saan isang sun­da­lo ang pa­tay at pi­to ang ma­lub­hang na­su­ga­tan.

Noong Peb­re­ro 9, tat­long KM450 trak ng mga tro­pa ng 67th IB na nag­res­pon­de sa nau­nang engkwentro ang pi­na­sa­bu­gan ng isang tim ng PBC sa Sit­yo Daw-an, Brgy. San Jo­se, Ca­ra­ga, Davao Ori­en­tal.

Pa­nay. Noong Peb­re­ro 7, ban­dang alas-6 ng uma­ga, inam­bus ng isang pla­tun ng BHB-Pa­nay sa ila­lim ng Jo­se Percival Estoca­da Jr. Com­mand (JPEC) ang 16-ka­ta­ong nag-oo­pe­ra­syong tro­pa ng 61st IB sa Sit­yo Ti­na, Brgy. Acu­ña, Ta­paz, Ca­piz. Da­la­wa ang kum­pir­ma­dong na­ma­tay at apat ang na­su­ga­tan sa kaa­way, ha­bang lig­tas na na­ka­ma­ni­ob­ra ang mga Pu­lang mandirigma. Na­sam­sam ng BHB ang isang M4 na may M203 gre­na­de launcher.

Noong Peb­re­ro 4, ban­dang alas-11 nang uma­ga, inis­nayp ng isang yu­nit ng JPEC ang mga tro­pa ng 61st IB na na­ka­kam­po sa ba­ra­ngay hall ng Brgy. Ca­ba­ta­ngan, Lam­bu­nao, Iloi­lo. Lig­tas ding na­ka­at­ras ang yu­nit ng BHB ma­ta­pos ang ak­syo­n.

North Central Min­da­nao. Ina­res­to ng isang yu­nit ng BHB si PO2 Je­ro­me Anthony Na­tivi­dad sa isang tsek­poynt sa Ti­ka­la­an, Ta­la­kag, Bu­kid­non noong Peb­re­ro 9, alas-6 ng uma­ga. Na­ku­ha sa kan­ya ang isang pis­to­lang Glock, isang kar­bin, at tat­long shot­gun.

Sa ngayon ay umaabot na sa anim ang kabuuang bilang ng mga bihag ng digma na nasa kustodiya ng BHB sa iba't ibang rehiyon ng Mindanao.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170221-maxadlaxadgaxadnap-na-mga-akxadsyong-mixadlixadtar-ng-bhb/

CPP/Ang Bayan: AFP, nam­bom­ba sa mga ko­mu­ni­dad

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Feb 21): AFP, nam­bom­ba sa mga ko­mu­ni­dad (AFP bombs communities)

MALALALANG KRIMEN la­ban sa buu-bu­ong mga si­bil­yang ko­mu­ni­dad ang sunud-sunod na ginawa matapos ang idi­nek­la­rang “to­do-ge­ra” ng Armed Forces of the Phi­lip­pi­nes (AFP) la­ban sa mga re­bo­lu­syo­nar­yong pwer­sa.

Sa Far South Min­da­nao, ma­hi­git 200 pa­mil­yang Lu­mad, na ka­ra­mi­ha’y B’la­an at Kaolo, ang na­pa­la­yas sa ka­ni­lang mga ko­mu­ni­dad ma­ta­pos mag­sa­ga­wa ng ae­ri­al bom­bing ang AFP sa mga sit­yo ng Ta­ngis at Kin­dag ng Ba­ra­ngay Da­tal Ang­gas sa Ala­bel, Sa­ra­nga­ni. Mu­la Peb­re­ro 11, anim na ulit nang nam­bom­ba ang AFP. Matapos nito ay ini­straping nila ang lugar. Pinigilan sila ng mga sundalo ng 73rd IB na umalis sa lugar. Nagpataw sila ng food blockade at pinigilang pumasok sa lugar ang mga relief worker kahit ng gubyerno.

Ina­res­to ng mga sundalo ang apat na si­bil­yan, ti­nortyur at pi­ni­lit na mag­gi­ya sa kanilang mga ope­ra­syon. Ki­ni­la­la ng gru­pong Ka­hug­po­ngan sa Lu­mad sa Ha­la­yong Ha­ba­ga­tang Min­da­nao (Ka­luh­ha­min) ang mga si­bil­yan na si­na Re­ne Mancal, Meon Sal­da, Faus­to Bar­ro at Gar­son Bar­ro.

Ki­na­bu­ka­san, nang-a­res­to mu­li ang 73rd IB ng ka­la­la­ki­han at ip­ri­ni­sin­ta ng 10th ID sa pub­li­ko bi­lang mga “ba­gong rek­rut” ng BHB. Ang anim na mga ina­res­to ay si­na Si­me­on Sal­da, Jun Mo­da, Clau­de Pal­be, Garzon Pal­be, Re­ne Ompao and Sa­be­lo Co­la­no.

Sa Sout­hern Min­da­nao, aa­bot sa 1,000 pa­mil­ya (ma­hi­git 5,000 in­di­bid­wal) ang bik­ti­ma ng sa­pi­li­tang pag­li­kas re­sul­ta ng pam­bo­bom­ba ng AFP ng 105mm Ho­witzer noong Peb­re­ro 11 sa mga ba­ra­ngay ng Maco­pa, Ki­bag­yo at Bul­lucan sa Laak sa Com­pos­te­la Val­ley. Sa Davao Ori­en­tal, bi­nom­ba rin ang mga ba­ra­ngay sa Ma­nay noong Peb­re­ro 1, at nam­bom­ba mu­la sa him­pa­pa­wid ang AFP sa Lu­pon, Davao Ori­en­tal noong Peb­re­ro 14.

Ang mga pam­bo­bom­bang ito, na wa­lang pag­ta­ta­ngi sa ka­ni­lang mga tar­get, ay nag­re­sul­ta sa ma­ra­ming ulat ng pag­ka­ka­su­gat ng mga si­bil­yan at pin­sa­la sa mga ka­ba­ha­yan at ka­bu­ha­yan ng mga ko­mu­ni­dad ng mag­sa­sa­ka at Lu­mad. Pi­na­lub­ha ni­to ang ma­ta­gal nang pa­ki­ki­pag­bu­no ng mga ko­mu­ni­dad sa ka­hi­ra­pan at sa ka­ta­ta­pos pa la­mang na mga pag­ba­ha at ma­la­la­kas na ulan.
[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170221-afp-namxadbomxadba-sa-mga-koxadmuxadnixaddad/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Ang kontra-ka­pa­ya­pa­ang to­do-ge­ra ng AFP

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Feb 21): Ang kontra-ka­pa­ya­pa­ang to­do-ge­ra ng AFP (The anti-peace all-out war of the AFP)

Ma­ta­pos ipa­ha­yag ni Pres. Rod­ri­go Du­ter­te ng GRP noong Pebrero 8 ang kan­yang de­si­syong ta­pu­sin ang usa­pang pang­ka­pa­ya­pa­ang NDFP-GRP, na­ngu­na si Defen­se Secre­tary Delfin Lo­renza­na sa pag-a­nun­syo ng to­do-ge­ra la­ban sa Ba­gong Huk­bong Ba­yan (BHB). Si­na­bi ni­yang ma­la­king ban­ta sa se­gu­ri­dad ng Pi­li­pi­nas ang BHB, at ni­tong hu­li ay inud­yu­kan ang ma­ma­ma­yan na tu­lu­ngan uma­no ang AFP sa to­do-ge­ra ni­to.

Ti­na­pos na rin ng GRP ang JASIG na nag­bi­bi­gay se­gu­ri­dad sa mga kon­sul­tant ng NDFP. Si­nu­ha­yan na­man ito ng AFP at PNP ng dek­la­ra­syong tu­tu­gi­sin ni­la at mu­ling aa­res­tu­hin ang mga kon­sul­tant.

Ka­sa­ma ni Lo­renza­na sa pag­tu­tu­lak ng to­do-ge­ra si­na Na­tio­nal Secu­rity Advi­ser Her­mo­ge­nes Espe­ron at AFP Chief Ge­ne­ral Edu­ar­do Año, na kap­wa ki­la­lang mga pa­sis­tang pa­na­ti­ko at su­sing mga ta­ga­pag­pa­tu­pad ng ma­ru­ming ge­ra ng nag­da­ang US-Arro­yo la­ban sa ti­nu­ring ni­tong mga kaa­way ng es­ta­do.

Mang­ya­ri pa, ang “to­do-ge­ra” ay bum­wel­ta sa AFP na hi­na­rap ng BHB ng ma­gi­ting na ak­ti­bong de­pen­sa at mga tak­ti­kal na open­si­ba.

Sa ka­bi­lang ban­da, umig­ting ang mga pag-a­ta­ke ng AFP at PNP la­ban sa mga ak­ti­bis­ta at si­bil­yan. Sa loob la­mang ng hu­mi­git-ku­mu­lang da­la­wang ling­go, hin­di ba­ba­ba sa 20 ak­ti­bis­ta at si­bil­yan ang ina­res­to, 12 ang pi­na­tay sa pa­ma­ma­ril at ma­hi­git 12 ang kaso ng bigong pagpaslang, at ha­los 1,300 pa­mil­yang mag­sa­sa­ka at ka­tu­tu­bo ang na­pa­la­yas sa ka­ni­lang mga ko­mu­ni­dad.

Pi­na­ka­hu­li sa mga ina­res­to ng mga pwer­sa ng es­ta­do ay si Fer­di­nand Cas­til­lo, cam­pa­ign officer ng Ba­yan-Met­ro Ma­ni­la. Si­ya ay ina­res­to noong Peb­re­ro 12 sa Sta. Qui­te­ria, Ca­loocan City at si­nam­pa­han ng gawa-gawang mga ka­so ng doub­le mur­der at mul­tip­le at­tempted mur­der. Sa na­ka­ra­ang mga araw, ina­res­to rin ng mga ope­ra­ti­ba ng pu­lis at mi­li­tar ang tumutulong sa mga nasalanta na si Ro­gi­na Qui­lop sa Baco­lod City (Peb­re­ro 7); Sa­rah Abel­lon-Ali­kes ka­sa­ma si­na Pro­mencio Cor­tez at Marcia­no Sa­gun sa Ito­gon, Be­ngu­et (Peb­re­ro 9); Edi­son Vil­la­nueva ng Gab­rie­la-Sout­hern Ta­ga­log sa Sta. Cruz, Occi­den­tal Min­do­ro (Peb­re­ro 4); at Jacin­to Fa­ro­den sa La Tri­ni­dad, Be­ngu­et (Peb­re­ro 8).

Sa pa­nig ng mga kon­sul­tant ng NDFP, ha­ya­gan nang inia­nun­syo ng AFP at PNP ang ka­ni­lang pag­tu­gis ki­na Ped­ro Co­das­te at Alfre­do Ma­pa­no, at Concha Ara­ne­ta-Bocala. Bi­na­ba­le­wa­la rin ng PNP-CIDG ang pa­nga­ngai­la­ngan ng utos mu­la sa mga kor­te, at si­na­bing pi­nag­ha­han­da­an ni­lang "man­la­ban" ang mga kon­sultant na target ng pag-a­res­to.

Sa Pantukan, Com­pos­te­la Val­ley, na­ma­tay ang ak­ti­bis­tang mag­sa­sa­ka na si Edwe­no Ca­tog nang ba­ri­lin si­ya nang ma­la­pitan sa kan­yang ba­hay ni­tong Peb­re­ro 16. Ma­su­gid na su­mu­por­ta si Ca­tog sa pa­ki­ki­ba­ka ng or­ga­ni­sa­syong MARBAI la­ban sa pa­nga­ngam­kam ng La­pan­day Foods Cor­po­ra­ti­on sa lu­pa­ ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka.

Ala-Tok­hang na­man na pi­na­tay ng PNP-CIDG XI at SWAT noong Peb­re­ro 6 si Glenn Ra­mos, da­ting koordinador ng Ba­yan Mu­na at ka­sa­lu­ku­yang nag­tat­ra­ba­ho bi­lang manggagawa sa konstruksyon. Pi­na­la­bas ng PNP na nan­la­ban si Ra­mos sa mga uma­res­to sa kan­ya. Ayon sa mga ka­mag-a­nak ni Ra­mos, pi­na­sok ng mga ope­ra­ti­ba ang ka­ni­lang ba­hay sa Brgy. Maa, ti­nam­nan ng ba­ril, at sa­ka pi­na­tay si Ra­mos.

Sa Bobon, Northern Samar, pinatay noong Pebrero 14 ng mga sundalo ng 43rd IB si Bernadette Lutao, isang lider-masa sa naturang barangay. Matapos nito'y pinalabas si Lutao sa midya bilang Pulang mandi­rigma na namatay diumano sa isang labanan. Ayon sa mga residente, walang naganap na labanan sa lugar at nasa komunidad lamang si Lutao nang siya ay binaril.

Sa­man­ta­la, noong Peb­re­ro 4 sa Brgy. Ma­nga­od, Ca­bang­la­san, Bu­kid­non, pi­na­tay ng Ala­ma­ra ang da­tu na si Lo­ren­do Pocoan. No­tor­yus na gru­pong pa­ra­mi­li­tar ang Ala­ma­ra na su­por­ta­do ng AFP. Isang araw ba­go ni­to, isa pang li­der-ka­tu­tu­bo sa Bu­kid­non, si Re­na­to Anglao, ang pi­na­tay ng mga pwer­sa ng es­ta­do. Si Anglao ay ak­ti­bong myembro ng Tri­bal Indi­ge­no­us Oppres­sed Gro­up Associa­ti­on (TINDOGA), na lu­ma­la­ban sa pa­nga­ngam­kam sa ka­ni­lang lu­pa­ing ni­nu­no.

Ni­to la­mang Peb­re­ro 19, bi­na­ril na­man si Wil­ler­me Agor­de, 64 taong gu­lang, ng mga pi­na­ni­ni­wa­la­ang myembro ng pa­ra­mi­li­tar na Ba­ga­ni Force. Si Agor­de ay li­der ng Mai­lu­mi­na­do Far­mers Associa­ti­on Incor­po­ra­ted na lu­ma­la­ban pa­ra maang­kin ang lu­pa­in na ilang de­ka­da na ni­lang bi­nu­bung­kal.

Ang to­do-ge­ra at Oplan Ka­pa­ya­pa­an ng AFP, ang ba­gong kam­pan­yang panunupil, ay kapwa nakabatay sa doktrinang kontra­in­sur­hen­sya ng US. Di­to, ipi­na­ha­yag ni­na Lo­renza­na at Año na na­ngu­ngu­na ang “ge­ra kontra-te­ro­ris­mo” ng AFP. Ma­li­naw na ang to­do-ge­ra ay na­ka­tu­on sa mga ak­ti­bis­ta at si­bil­yan.

Ma­ta­pos mag­ta­mo ng ma­la­king pin­sa­la mu­la sa tat­long koor­di­na­dong tak­ti­kal na open­si­ba ng BHB noong Peb­re­ro 16 sa Paqui­ba­to at Ca­li­nan sa Davao City, da­la­wang si­bil­yan ang pi­na­tay ng mga sun­da­lo. Si­na Roel Sa­ti­nga­sin at Ari­el Gel­be­ro ay mga or­di­nar­yong mga pa­sa­he­ro la­mang na hi­na­rang ng mga sun­da­lo sa iti­na­yong tsekpoynt. Ipri­ni­sin­ta si­la sa pub­li­ko bi­lang mga na­sa­wi uma­nong Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma.

Sa Agu­san del Nor­te, da­la­wang ma­lii­tang mi­ne­ro ang na­ma­tay nang pi­nag­ba­ba­ril ang ka­ni­lang gru­po ng mga ar­ma­dong ka­la­la­ki­hang ka­sa­ma ng 29th IB at PNP-SAF sa ope­ra­syon noong Peb­re­ro 11 sa Sit­yo Sa­rog, Brgy. San Isid­ro, San­tia­go. Pi­tong iba pang mi­ne­ro ang su­ga­tan sa pa­ma­ma­ril. Ayon sa BHB-NEMR, ma­ha­bang pa­na­hong nang inaa­gaw ng 29th IB at mga pa­ra­mi­li­tar ni­to ang mga tun­nel ng mga mi­ne­ro upang angki­nin ang high-gra­de o magandang klaseng gin­to.

Sa­man­ta­la, sa Pres. Roxas City, Ca­piz, na­ma­tay ang isang mag­sa­sa­ka, ha­bang su­ga­tan ang li­mang iba pa nang pag­ba­ba­ri­lin noong Peb­re­ro 11 ng mga tau­han ng Hacien­da Mon­tecar­ba ang kam­pu­hang iti­na­yo ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka. (Ba­sa­hin ang kaug­nay na ba­li­ta sa pa­hi­na 7.)

Aa­bot na­man sa 100 pa­mil­yang ka­tu­tu­bo ang na­pa­la­yas ng pi­na­ig­ting na mga ope­ra­syon ng 54th IB sa Ba­ra­ngay Na­mal, Asi­pu­lo, Ifu­gao at mga ka­ra­tig-po­ok ni­to. Iniulat din ng taumbaryo ang pwersahang pagpasok ng mga sundalo sa bahay ng residenteng si Patrick Pugong at pagkumpiska ng kanyang generator. Inakusahan ng mga sundalo si Pugong na nagtatago ng generator ng BHB.

Ang mga bak­wit ay na­ma­ma­la­gi nga­yon sa Na­mal Ele­men­tary Scho­ol at iba pang pa­si­li­dad sa mga sit­yo. Sang­ka­pat sa kanila ay mga ba­ta. Ma­hig­pit si­lang na­nga­ngai­la­ngan ng pag­ka­in, tu­big at mga ku­mot da­hil sa na­pa­ka­la­mig na pa­na­hon. Isang ma­tan­dang la­la­ki na ang na­ma­tay da­hil dito.

Ka­ha­lin­tu­lad di­to ang nang­ya­ri sa Mad­de­la, pru­bin­sya ng Qui­ri­no, noong Peb­re­ro 13. Daang taum­bar­yo mu­la sa mga ko­mu­ni­dad ang lu­mi­kas du­lot ng ope­ra­syong ini­lun­sad ng 86th IB sa Brgy. San Mar­tin. Ayon sa gru­pong Dang­ga­yan-Ca­ga­yan Val­ley, tinakot ng mga sun­da­lo ang mga taum­bar­yo ng San Mar­tin, Vil­la Garcia at Vil­la Yla­nan na bobombahin nila ang mga baryo at pinuwersang lumikas ang mga tao.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170221-ang-kontra-kaxadpaxadyaxadpaxadang-toxaddo-gexadra-ng-afp/

CPP/Ang Bayan: OBR para sa ka­pa­ya­pa­an

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Feb 21): OBR para sa ka­pa­ya­pa­an  (On Billion Rising - OBR for peace)

IPINANAWAGAN NG li­bu-li­bong ka­ba­bai­hang nag­ti­pon sa Li­wa­sang Bo­nifacio noong Peb­re­ro 14 pa­ra sa tau­nang One Bil­li­on Ri­sing (OBR) ang pag­pa­pa­tu­loy sa usa­pang pang­ka­pa­ya­pa­an sa pa­gi­tan ng NDFP at GRP.

Ang OBR ay ma­la­wa­kang kam­pan­ya pa­ra wa­ka­san ang sis­te­ma­ti­kong ka­ra­ha­san sa ka­ba­bai­han at ba­ta sa buong mun­do. Taun-ta­on ay sa­bay-sa­bay na nag­sa­sa­yaw ang mil­yong ka­ba­bai­han sa iba’t ibang ba­ha­gi ng mun­do. Pa­ra sa Pi­li­pi­nas, ang te­ma nga­yong taon ay “Ka­ba­bai­han tu­min­dig pa­ra sa ka­bu­ha­yan, lu­pa, hus­ti­sya at ka­pa­ya­pa­an.”

Sa pa­ngu­ngu­na ng Gab­rie­la at Glo­bal Di­rector ng OBR na si Mo­nique Wil­son, ki­nun­de­na ng mga raliyista ang “all-out-war” ng Armed Forces of the Phi­lip­pi­nes sa ka­na­yu­nan.

Ani Joms Salva­dor, pang­ka­la­ha­tang ka­li­him ng Gab­rie­la, ang mga ko­mu­ni­dad sa ka­na­yu­nan ang pa­ngu­na­hing bik­ti­ma ng mga ata­ke ng mi­li­tar. Ha­bang isa-i­sang pi­na­pas­lang at inaa­res­to ang mga mang­ga­ga­wa at li­der sa komu­nidad, lan­sa­kan na­mang bi­nu­bom­ba at sa­pi­li­tang pi­na­li­li­kas ang mga mag­sa­sa­ka sa ka­ni­lang ko­mu­ni­dad.

Ka­sa­bay rin ng prog­ra­ma, su­ma­yaw ang mga ka­ba­bai­han mu­la sa iba’t ibang sek­tor sa tema ng OBR. Lu­ma­hok di­to si­na Ma­ria Isa­bel Lo­pez, di­rek­tor na si Bi­beth Orteza, Mae Pa­ner at Sr. Mary John Ma­nanzan. Na­kii­sa rin ang mga mag-aa­ral mu­la sa iba’t ibang pa­man­ta­san. Du­ma­ting din sa ak­ti­bi­dad ang ka­li­him ng De­partment of Social Welfa­re and Deve­lop­ment na si Sec. Judy Ta­gui­wa­lo at Usec. Ma­ri­on Tan, un­der­secre­tary ng Na­tio­nal Anti-Poverty Com­mis­si­on (NAPC).

Nag­lun­sad din ng OBR sa Rizal Park, Davao City kung saan ma­hi­git 1,000 ang du­ma­lo mu­la sa mga insti­tu­syon at ko­mu­ni­dad sa pro­bin­sya. Du­ma­lo sa prog­ra­ma si Counci­lor Leah Lib­ra­do-Yap.

“Sa git­na ng na­ka­ka­hin­dik na all-out-war at ma­tin­ding ope­ra­syong mi­li­tar, tu­lad ng na­ga­ga­nap sa Com­pos­te­la Val­ley at Davao Ori­en­tal, ang ka­ba­bai­han at ba­ta ang pi­na­ka­bul­ne­rab­leng bik­ti­ma ni­to,” ani Lib­ra­do.

Ayon na­man kay Luzvi­min­da Ila­gan, pam­ban­sang ta­ga­pa­ngu­lo ng Gab­rie­la, ang pag­wa­wa­kas ng ka­hi­ra­pan, ka­ra­ha­san, lu­pa, se­gu­ri­dad sa tra­ba­ho, ka­ra­pa­tan sa lu­pang ni­nu­no, ito ang pi­na­ka­ma­ti­bay na da­hi­lan pa­ra ipag­pa­tu­loy ang usa­pang pang­ka­pa­ya­pa­an.

Na­kii­sa rin sa OBR ang mga mag-aa­ral ng St. Scho­las­tica’s Col­le­ge, Polytechnic Univer­sity of the Phi­lip­pi­nes, San Jo­se High Scho­ol, Mi­sa­mis Ori­en­tal Insti­tu­te of Science and Techno­logy, Holy Angel Univer­sity, UP Vi­sa­yas at UP Ma­ni­la.

Nag­ka­ro­on din ng ka­tu­lad na mga programa sa Ce­bu, Aklan, Ca­piz, Pam­pa­nga, Hong­kong at Macau.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170221-obr-para-sa-kaxadpaxadyaxadpaxadan/

CPP/Ang Bayan: #Peace­talksItu­loy

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Feb 21): #Peace­talksItu­loy (Resume the Peace Talks)

DAAN-DAANG ESTUDYANTE, ta­ong sim­ba­han, aka­de­mi­ko, mga mang­ga­ga­wang pang­kul­tu­ra at mga ta­ga­pag­ta­gu­yod ng ka­ra­pa­tang-tao ang tuluy-tuloy na nag­pa­ha­yag ng su­por­ta pa­ra sa pag­pa­pa­tu­loy ng usa­pang pang­ka­pa­ya­pa­an sa pa­gi­tan ng NDFP at GRP matapos ipa­hin­to ni Pres. Rodrigo Du­ter­te ng GRP ang ne­go­sa­syo­n.

Noong Peb­re­ro 10, daang estudyante ang nag­lun­sad ng pagkilos sa ka­ha­ba­an ng Taft Ave­nue hang­gang Ped­ro Gil St., May­ni­la. Nagtipun-tipon din ang mga mag-aa­ral at or­ga­ni­sa­syon sa University of the Philippines-Diliman, sa Freedom Park sa Davao City at sa Peop­le’s Park sa Ba­guio City. Pa­na­wa­gan ni­la na itu­loy pa rin ang mga na­ka­tak­dang pu­long sa Peb­re­ro 22 at Abril 2 at pa­la­ya­in ang mga bi­lang­gong pu­li­ti­kal.

Sa kongreso, naghain ang blokeng Makabayan ng resolusyon para muling ituloy ang usapan. Na­ka­li­kom ito ng ma­hi­git 103 pir­ma ng mga mam­ba­ba­tas. Na­ka­sa­ad rito na kum­pa­ra sa mga na­ka­ra­ang ad­mi­nistra­syo­n, ang ne­go­sa­syon sa ila­lim ng re­hi­meng Du­ter­te ay na­ka­pag­ka­mit ng sus­tan­ti­bo at po­si­ti­bong pag­su­long, at ma­sa­sa­yang ang mga ito kung bas­ta na la­mang ihi­hin­to ang ne­go­sa­syo­n.

Noong Pebrero 17, pinangu­nahan ng Kapayapaan, organi­sas­­­yon na nagsusulong ng kapa­yapaang nakabatay sa hus­tisya, ang Stand For Peace. Ginanap ito sa harap ng Bonifacio Shrine, Maynila.

Ayon sa pinag-isang pahayag ng Kapayapaan, ang terminasyon ng usapan ay magpapatindi lamang sa tunggalian habang hindi natutugunan ang mga ugat ng armadong labanan.

Sumuporta rin sa pagkilos ang mga kinatawan ng ACT Teachers Partylist, Antonio Tinio at France Castro. Sa Davao City, isang konsultasyon naman hinggil sa kapayapaan ang inilunsad ng mga progresibong organisasyon noong Pebrero 18 sa Ateneo de Davao.

Nag­pa­ha­yag din ng pa­ki­kii­sa ang mga pro­pe­sor at ad­mi­nistra­dor ng University of the Philippines, Ate­neo de Ma­ni­la, De La Sal­le Univer­sity, Si­li­man Univer­sity, Univer­sity of Ma­ka­ti at Phi­lip­pi­ne Nor­mal Univer­sity. Su­mu­por­ta rin sa pa­na­wa­gan si­na Sen. Lo­ren Le­gar­da, Sen. Chiz Escu­de­ro at Na­tio­nal Youth Commissioner Aiza Se­gu­er­ra.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170221-peacexadtalksituxadloy/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Editorial -- Mag­tang­gol la­ban sa to­do-ge­ra ng AFP

Propaganda editorial from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Feb 21): Mag­tang­gol la­ban sa to­do-ge­ra ng AFP (Defend against the all-out war of the AFP)



Da­pat tu­luy-tu­loy at pus­pu­sang mag­tang­gol ang buong sam­ba­ya­nang Pi­li­pi­no la­ban sa wa­lang-ha­bas na "all-out war" o to­do-ge­ra na ini­lun­sad ng pa­sis­tang AFP sa ila­lim ng re­hi­meng Du­ter­te.

Ma­ta­pos tu­lu­yang isi­nai­san­ta­bi kap­wa ng GRP at ng PKP at BHB ang mag­ka­tu­gong dek­la­ra­syong ti­gil-pu­tu­kan noong unang ling­go ng Peb­re­ro, la­lo pang su­mid­hi ang mga ata­ke at mga pang-aa­bu­so ng AFP.

Tam­pok ang mga ka­so ng pag­hu­hu­log ng bom­ba at pa­nga­ngan­yon. Buo-bu­ong ko­mu­ni­dad ang di­na­da­has, na­pup­wer­sa o pi­nup­wer­sang lu­mi­kas at pi­na­la­la­bas na mga bik­ti­mang na­pa­git­na sa ar­ma­dong sa­gu­pa­an ng AFP at BHB, sa­man­ta­lang ang totoo'y si­la mis­mo ang tar­get ng pa­sis­tang pa­nu­nu­pil ng AFP. Tar­get ang mga ba­ra­ngay kung saan ma­la­kas ang pag­la­ban ng taum­bar­yo sa pan­da­ram­bong at pang-aa­gaw ng lu­pa.

Ti­nu­tu­gis at ti­na­tar­get ng mga pa­sis­tang sun­da­lo ang mga li­der ma­sa at ak­ti­bis­ta sa ka­na­yu­nan at ka­lun­su­ran. May ka­so ng ma­ra­mi­hang pag-a­res­to. Ilan nang mga ak­ti­bis­ta sa ha­yag na ki­lu­sang ma­sa ang di­na­kip at pi­na­la­la­bas na mga li­der o upi­syal ng BHB. Asa­hang la­lo pang ti­tin­di ang mga ka­so ng pang-aa­bu­song mi­li­tar ma­ta­pos ia­nun­syong ang AFP na ang ga­ga­mi­tin sa ti­na­gu­ri­ang "ge­ra kontra-dro­ga."

Nang ilun­sad ang to­do-ge­ra ng AFP la­ban sa BHB, idi­nek­la­ra ng mga upi­syal ni­to na "pa­ta­ta­ma­an na­min si­la nang ma­la­kas." Ta­la­gang ma­la­kas ang big­was ng AFP su­ba­lit ang "pi­na­ta­ta­ma­an" ay hin­di ang BHB kun­di ang di ar­ma­dong ma­ma­ma­yang lu­ma­la­ban. Buu-bu­ong ko­mu­ni­dad ang ka­ni­lang si­na­sa­lan­ta. Ang pi­na­pa­tay ni­lang mga si­bil­yan ay ipi­nip­ri­sin­ta bi­lang ka­sa­pi ng BHB upang pa­la­ba­sing nag­ta­ta­gum­pay si­la sa ka­ni­lang dek­la­ra­syo­n.

Ang tak­ti­ka ng to­do-ge­ra ay mai­ha­ha­lin­tu­lad sa mga tak­ti­kang ipi­na­tu­pad noong una't ika­la­wang Oplan Ban­tay La­ya (2001-2009) na kam­pan­ya ng re­hi­meng Arro­yo. Ang ilang su­sing upi­syal pan­se­gu­ri­dad noon ni Arro­yo ay ka­bi­lang nga­yon sa na­mu­mu­nong upi­syal ni Du­ter­te. Ang da­ting he­pe ma­yor ng AFP na si Gen. Her­mo­ge­nes Espe­ron ay Na­tio­nal Secu­rity Advi­ser ngayon. Ang ka­sa­lu­ku­yang he­pe ma­yor ng AFP na si Gen. Edu­ar­do Año ay isa sa mga upi­syal sa li­kod ng pag­du­kot sa ak­ti­bis­tang si Jo­nas Bur­gos noong 2006.

Ang to­do-ge­ra ng AFP ay isang ma­ru­ming ge­ra la­ban sa ba­yan. Na­ka­ba­lang­kas ito sa doktri­nang coun­te­rin­sur­gency ng im­per­ya­lis­mong US. Ma­su­gid itong ti­nu­tu­lak ni Sec. Delfin Lo­renza­na ng De­partment of Na­tio­nal Defen­se, da­ting mi­li­tary at­tache na na­ka­ba­se sa Was­hing­ton D.C., at nga­yo'y isa sa pi­nag­ka­ka­ti­wa­la­ang ahen­te ng im­per­ya­lis­mong US sa gub­yer­nong Du­ter­te.

Sa tu­lak ni Lo­renza­na at ng AFP, ng mga ta­ga­pag­ta­gu­yod ng neo­li­be­ra­lis­mo at iba pang mga ahen­te ng US, inat­ras o bi­na­wa­san ni Du­ter­te ang da­ti ni­yang mga dek­la­ra­syong an­ti-US at ma­pag­kai­bi­gang tindig sa re­bo­lu­syo­nar­yong ki­lu­san. Sa ila­lim ng aw­to­ri­dad ni Du­ter­te bi­lang pi­nu­no ng reak­syu­nar­yong es­ta­do, lar­ga­do nga­yon ang AFP sa to­dong ge­ra la­ban sa ba­yan. Kung pa­tu­loy ang to­dong ge­ra ng AFP, si­ya na rin ang si­si­ngi­lin ng sam­ba­ya­nan sa mga pang-aa­bu­so, pag­la­bag sa ka­ra­pa­tang-tao at kri­men ng AFP.

Da­pat pus­pu­sang la­ba­nan ng sam­ba­ya­nang Pi­li­pi­no ang to­dong ge­ra ng AFP sa ila­lim ng re­hi­meng Du­ter­te. Ang pag­la­ban na ito ay pag­ta­tang­gol sa mga ka­ra­pa­tang na­ka­sa­ad sa Compre­hen­sive Agree­ment on Res­pect for Hu­man Rights and Inter­na­tio­nal Hu­ma­ni­ta­ri­an Law o CARHRIHL. Pag­ta­tang­gol din ito sa na­ka­mit na mga ta­gum­pay ng ma­sa sa pa­ki­ki­ba­ka la­ban sa da­yu­hang pan­da­ram­bong, la­lu­na la­ban sa mga ope­ra­syon ng mga mi­na at plan­ta­syo­n, at sa lu­pa­ing ni­nu­no, at sa pag­su­su­long ng pa­ki­ki­ba­ka pa­ra sa tu­nay na re­por­ma sa lu­pa.

Ang pag­la­ban sa to­dong ge­ra ng AFP ay pag­ta­tang­gol sa mga ipi­nun­dar na mga ka­bu­ha­yan, mga paa­ra­lan, ser­bi­syong me­di­kal at iba pang ser­bi­syong sa­ma-sa­mang iti­na­tag ng ma­sa sa pa­ma­ma­gi­tan ng ka­ni­lang mga or­ga­ni­sa­syo­n. Ang mga ito ang pi­lit na wi­na­wa­sak ng AFP sa ka­ni­lang nagdedeliryong pag­gi­gi­it na si­la lang ang ka­pang­ya­ri­han.

Da­pat pag-i­ba­yu­hin ang mga pa­ki­ki­ba­kang an­ti-pa­sis­ta sa ka­na­yu­nan at ka­lun­su­ran. Sa ka­na­yu­nan, da­pat pa­la­ka­sin ang mga ko­mi­te pa­ra sa ka­ra­pa­tang-tao na ma­hig­pit na na­kaug­nay sa mga ka­tu­lad na or­ga­ni­sa­syon at insti­tu­syon sa ibang ba­ra­ngay, sa sentrong ba­yan hang­gang sa pru­bin­sya at re­hi­yon. Da­pat ma­hig­pit na nag­tu­tu­lu­ngan ang mga magka­ka­ka­pit-ba­ra­ngay sa pag­ta­tang­gol sa isa't isa la­ban sa pang­ha­ha­li­haw ng AFP sa ka­ni­lang lu­gar.

Ma­bi­lis na ilan­tad ang "peace and deve­lop­ment," "de­livery of service" at kung anu-a­no pang mas­ka­ra na gi­na­ga­mit ng AFP pa­ra ita­go ang pa­ngil ng pa­nu­nu­pil. Ma­bi­lis na ku­nin ang su­por­ta at pa­ki­lu­sin ang sim­ba­han at iba't ibang or­ga­ni­sa­syon at per­so­na­he sa mga sentrong ba­yan. Pa­ki­lu­sin ang mga ka­ba­ta­an upang ku­mu­ha ng mga lit­ra­to at bid­yo na nag­pa­pa­ki­ta ng pang-aa­bu­so ng mga sun­da­lo at ma­bi­lis itong ika­lat sa social me­dia.

Sa ka­lun­su­ran, da­pat ilu­wal ang ma­la­wak at ma­la­kas na an­ti-pa­sis­tang ki­lu­san na may ma­la­pad na su­por­ta sa mga paa­ra­lan, sim­ba­han at sir­ku­long pang­kul­tu­ra. Da­pat ma­la­kas na su­por­ta­han ng ki­lu­sang ma­sa sa ka­lun­su­ran ang mga pa­ki­ki­ba­kang an­ti-pa­sis­ta sa ka­na­yu­nan. Ang mga ka­so ng pa­nu­nu­pil sa ka­lun­su­ran ay da­pat ma­hig­pit na iug­nay sa mga ka­so ng pa­nu­nu­pil sa ka­na­yu­nan. Ipa­ki­ta na ang pa­sis­tang pa­nu­nu­pil ay na­ka­tu­on pa­ngu­na­hin sa pag­su­pil sa an­ti-im­per­ya­lis­ta at an­ti-pyu­dal na pa­ki­ki­ba­ka ng sam­ba­ya­nan. Ba­ti­ku­sin ang pag­ga­mit ng da­has ng es­ta­do kap­wa sa pam­pu­li­ti­kang pa­nu­nu­pil at sa ge­rang kontra-dro­ga. La­ba­nan ang pag­ga­mit sa ge­ra kontra-dro­ga sa pam­pu­li­ti­kang pa­nu­nu­pil.

Da­pat pa­la­ka­sin ang pa­na­wa­gan pa­ra ipag­pa­tu­loy ang usa­pang pang­ka­pa­ya­pa­an sa pa­gi­tan ng GRP at ng NDFP upang pag-i­ba­yu­hin ang mga po­si­ti­bong na­ga­wa na sa unang tat­long pag-uu­sap. Bu­kas ang Par­ti­do na pag-u­sa­pan ang ka­sun­du­an sa ti­gil-pu­tu­kan. Inaa­sa­hang igi­gi­it di­to ng NDFP ang prin­sip­ya­dong pa­ni­nin­di­gan na iat­ras ang la­hat ng mga yu­nit ng AFP na su­ma­sa­kop sa mga si­bil­yang ko­mu­ni­dad, la­lu­na yaong na­sa loob ng mga so­nang ge­ril­ya.

Sa ha­rap ng to­dong open­si­bong ope­ra­syon ng AFP, da­pat pag-i­ba­yu­hin ng BHB ang dig­mang pag­ta­tang­gol sa ba­yan. Da­pat pa­ta­ma­an ang mga ar­ma­dong yu­nit ng AFP na na­na­na­la­sa sa ma­ma­ma­yan, la­lu­na sa mga bar­yo. Pa­ki­lu­sin ang mga mi­li­syang ba­yan sa pag­ta­tang­gol sa ka­pa­ka­nan at ka­ra­pa­tan ng taum­bar­yo. Ga­mi­tin ang la­hat ng san­da­ta pa­ra pa­ru­sa­han ang ma­pa­na­kop na mga tro­pa ng AFP.

Da­pat tu­luy-tu­loy na pa­la­ka­sin ang BHB. Da­pat ma­bi­lis na mag­rek­rut at ar­ma­san at sa­na­yin ang mga ba­gong Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma. Da­pat ha­wa­kan ng BHB ang buong ini­sya­ti­ba sa pag­lu­lun­sad ng mga kam­pan­yang mi­li­tar at tak­ti­kal na open­si­ba sa buong ban­sa upang la­ba­nan at idis­ka­ril ang to­dong ge­ra ng kaa­way, mag­ka­mit ng mga ta­gum­pay at tu­luy-tu­loy na pa­la­ka­sin ang dig­mang ba­yan.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20170221-magxadtangxadgol-laxadban-sa-toxaddo-gexadra-ng-afp/

CPP/NDF: Negotiations for bilateral ceasefire can proceed

Communist Party of the Philippines propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (Feb 18): Negotiations for bilateral ceasefire can proceed 

Communist Party of the Philippines | February 18, 2017


If GRP President Durterte decides to send his negotiating panel and emissaries to the upcoming scheduled talks between the ceasefire committees, negotiations for a bilateral ceasefire agreement can proceed as scheduled on February 22-27 in The Netherlands. To ensure success of the negotiations, the GRP can help facilitate the travel of the NDFP’s ceasefire committee member and consultants.

The Party and the New People’s Army (NPA) reiterate their support for efforts to forge a bilateral ceasefire agreement. The revolutionary forces are encouraged by the previous statements of GRP President Duterte that all political prisoners will be released within 48 hours once the bilateral ceasefire agreement is signed.

We anticipate that negotiations concerning the terms of reference of a bilateral ceasefire agreement will be most difficult. The revolutionary forces are bound by principle to assert the withdrawal of the AFP’s operating troops from areas under the sway of the revolutionary government.

However difficult, the revolutionary forces are willing to work with the GRP negotiators to hammer out a bilateral ceasefire agreement that will be mutually acceptable and enforceable.

As a positive gesture, the Party calls on all concerned NPA units to expedite the release of the six prisoners of war (POWs) captured over the past days. (See list below.) The NPA commands in charge of the custodial units can work closely with third party facilitators. The AFP can cooperate by withdrawing all troops in and around the area where the POWs will be released to pave the way for their safe and orderly release.

Assuming the cooperation of local AFP commands, all POWs can return to their families before or during the scheduled negotiations in The Netherlands.

According to the GRP peace panel chair, GRP President Duterte is “obsessed with peace”. If so, he can heed the people’s clamor and reverse his earlier pronouncements terminating peace negotiations.

The CPP earnestly encourages him to do so. He would surely not want to set aside the achievements attained during the first three rounds of GRP-NDFP peace talks and waste the opportunity to leave a legacy of peace.
——————————————————————————–
Prisoners of war currently under NPA custody:

1. PFC Edwin Salan, captured in Alegria, Surigao del Norte on January 29
2. Sgt. Solaiman Calucop and
3. Pfc Samuel Garay, captured in Columbio, Sultan Kudarat on February 2
4. PO2 Jerome Natividad, captured in Talakag, Bukidnon on February 9
5. Paramilitary Rene Doller and
6. Paramilitary Carl Mark, captured in Lupon, Davao Oriental on February 14

https://www.ndfp.org/negotiations-for-bilateral-ceasefire-can-proceed/

NDF/NPA: AFP troops bear heavy casualties in NPA triple TO, retaliate with 2 civilian kills in Davao City

New People's Army propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (Feb 18): AFP troops bear heavy casualties in NPA triple TO, retaliate with 2 civilian kills in Davao City  

New People’s Army, Regional Operations Command
Southern Mindanao Region
Press Statement

February 18, 2017

The Regional Operations Command of the New People’s Army in Southern Mindanao commends the 1stPulang Bagani Battalion forcarrying out revolutionary justice and inflicting heavy casualties against AFP troops following three coordinated tactical offensives in Paquibato and Calinan Districts, Davao City on February 16.At least 12 AFP soldiers were killed while more than 20 more were wounded. In unrestrained fury over the toll, AFP troops manning the checkpoints after the successful NPA attacks retaliated by taking aside two civilians and summarily killing both of them.

A company of Red fighters attacked the detachment of the 72IBin Sitio Binaton, Brgy. Malabog in Paquibato District at around 5:30 in the morning. The military action was in response to the masses’ demand to punish the mercenaryenemy troops, especially in perpetuating and protecting the illegal drug trade in the district and in neighboring areas. In exchange for monthly payola,the detachment ensured unhindered traffic of drugs between the city’s districts and provided security for notorious drug operator Neptali AlfredoPondoc, who was executed by the NPA on January 23. A Red fighter was martyred in the engagement. One enemy was killed whileseveral others were wounded.

At around 4:00 in the afternoon, the 5-truck reinforcement of the 3IBwas hit in Brgy. Lamanan in Calinan District. Three of the five KM450 trucks were blasted and upturned when several command-detonated explosives were triggered by Red fighters, killing at least 7 and severely wounding more than 10 enemy troops. Thirty minutes later, another 3IB reinforcement onboard 2 military truckswasagain blocked down by command-detonated explosives in Brgy. Lacson, Calinan District, killing 2 and wounding 17 AFP troopers.

While cordoning off the highway to the clash sites, AFP soldier stook aside for no reason civilian commuters Roel Satingasin of Brgy. Tamugan and Ariel Gelbero of Brgy. Lamanan and summarily killed both of them in Calinan. AFP troops, by their very disposition, are incapable of resisting the fascist nature sto take it out on hapless civilians when they suffer heavy casualties in the battle field.The NPA assures the families that revolutionary justice will be meted out against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

The tactical offensives were carried out by the NPA as fitting punishment for the AFP’s numerous human rights violations of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, harassments and artillery bombardments that resulted to thousands of displaced Lumads and peasants during and after their so-called unilateral ceasefire. The heavy casualties inflicted against these fascist troops serve as revolutionary justice long demanded by the masses who continue to fall victim to state-sponsored terrorism.

Despite their supposed millions in intelligence resources, the top honchos at the 10ID are beside themselves in rage that a series of tactical offensives have been successfully carried out by the NPA in broad daylight in Davao City. They are fuming at the mouth that the all-out war they so bullheadedly declared has completely backfired and is costing them men and means in the face of coordinated NPA offensives not only in the region but across the country.

RIGOBERTO F. SANCHEZ
Spokesperson
Regional Operations Command
NPA-Southern Mindanao

https://www.ndfp.org/afp-troops-bear-heavy-casualties-in-npa-triple-to-retaliate-with-2-civilian-kills-in-davao-city/

MILF releases partial 69 ‘Child Warriors’ in ceremony at BLMI

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Feb 21): MILF releases partial 69 ‘Child Warriors’ in ceremony at BLMI



In adherence to international law and the BIAF’s Code of Conduct, otherwise known as General Order No. 01, approved on December 14, 2005, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) released a partial 69 children identified as “Child Warriors’ in a ceremony at Bangsamaoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) ground, Crossing Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on February 18.

The MILF has about 1000 plus child soldiers, some of whom are orphans, children of displaced persons, out-of-school youth and children of civilians supportive of the Moro struggle for right to self-determination. The released children are members of the BIAF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Women’s Auxiliary brigade (BIWAB).

This act of the MILF is in accordance with United Nations-MILF Action Plan signed in 2009 and extended until 2009.

MILF-BIAF Chief of Staff Sammy Al-Mansour in his opening statement assured the protection of children from effects of war.

He said that, “BIAF’s commitments to U.N. Laws where children who are associated with the military arm of MILF are separated from the Moro Front”.

He said that the MILF ceased to recruit children below eighteen (18) years of age for quite sometimes.

He even raised a copy of the Code of Conduct to show proof that such actually exist and adhered to by the BIAF.

In his message, MILF 1st Vice Chairman and Chairman of the reconstituted Bangsamoro Transition Commission Ghazali Jaafar congratulated the UNICEF for their efforts and successful mission.

He said that in line with the international law, part of military policies and Code of Conduct of the BIAF includes the commitment to ensure that no child ‘below eighteen’ is used as a child soldier.

Such a commitment, according to Jaafar reflects the instruction of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) of not harming the women, children, the elderly, the religious individuals and their churches or temples, and the animals, as well as of not destroying the source of living, the source of water, and the source of food of the people.

Jaafar told the audience that the MILF Central Committee has directed its military organs, through its Chief of Staff, to directly observe such policy and commitment and to consistently abide and uphold the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Declaration of Commitment to the Action Plan Policy on the Non- recruitment of Children under Article 3 of the UN Declaration signed by the MILF leadership.

Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF Country representative to the Philippines stressed in her message that “children are the most important of all and should not be allowed to suffer from ravages of war”.

“Children pay the hardest price caught in conflict that decision makers hold the key in their hands. They should be going to school, playing, rejoin with other children”, she said. Sylwander considered children affected by conflict are some of most vulnerable children in the world.

She told the audience that there is a commitment from the MILF High Command to abide with U.N. law. The MILF, she said is the only armed group that identified and separated children from war, who ensures that children are disengaged, educated, and ensure their rights.

Sylwander considered children affected by conflict are some of most vulnerable children in the world.

OPAPP secretary Jess Dureza urged everyone to ‘shoot for peace’.

“We should not shoot each other”. It is time to unite, that there should be love among the AFP, MILF, MNLF, etc, Dureza emphasized.

Dureza said, “We are going towards peace, stressing that there is peace forever under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration”. 

Major Gen. Datuk Wira Zambrose Bin Mohd. Zain , Head of IMT-Mission 11, OPAPP Officials, AFP high ranking officials, Officers of the BIAF, Heads of BDA, BLMI and representatives of non-government organizations (NGO’s) attended the historic ceremony.
http://www.luwaran.net/home/index.php/news/20-central-mindanao/1078-milf-releases-partial-69-child-warriors-in-ceremony-at-blmi

MILF: UBJP-Datu Paglas holds Assembly

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Feb 21): UBJP-Datu Paglas holds Assembly



United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP)-Datu Paglas Chapter held an assembly last February 16, 2017.

“UBJP is the political party of the MILF organized in 2013. This party is an avenue to achieve long lasting peace in Mindanao. We must support this party because it is our party towards self-governance in the Bangsamoro”, Ustadz Khalifa Nando said.

“UBJP can help curb corruption, injustice and violence that are rampant in our midst”, Nando emphasized.

BIAF 109th Base Commander Abas Bukol said that people must learn and understand the history of Bangsamoro so that they can be motivated to support this party. They should be invited to join the party.

“We should exert efforts to strengthen this party through our resources, knowledge and skills”, Bukol further said.

Nando Sultan of UBJP-Datu Pagla said that UBJP is a people’s party. It should be mobilized and strengthened through collective efforts and wisdom of the people.

“We need to build trust and confidence to work together in realizing the UBJP objectives”, Sultan emphasized.

Other sectors invited were from the academe, women, LGU Datu Paglas, religious leaders and youth organizations like United Youth Action Group, Muslim Youth Brotherhood and Student Body Council of Datu Ibrahim Paglas Memorial College.

http://www.luwaran.net/home/index.php/news/20-central-mindanao/1079-ubjp-datu-paglas-holds-assembly

DWDD: NPA Terrorists sow fear in Madella

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Feb 20): NPA Terrorists sow fear in Madella

 

Camp Melchor F Dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – Around 2:10 PM, February 18, 2017, residents of Brgy Cabua-An and Brgy Sto Nino, both of Madella, Quirino were terrorized by the presence of armed men believed to be members of the NPA. They forced the people to leave their respective homes and be moved temporarily to the barangay proper where they can be safe.

It can recalled that last Monday, February 13, 2017, fifty-four (54) families from Brgy San Martin, Madella, Quirino were also forced to evacuate their homes due to more or less one hundred fully armed NPA who occupied a school in the area, causing trauma, fear and panic to the residents, particularly the children.

Meanwhile, the troops of 86IB assigned in the area had already addressed the problem and are currently conducting security patrols to secure the area occupied by the NPA so that the residents who fled can now return to their homes and live normal lives.

“The 5ID troops will continue to provide security to the people of Madella who are being harassed and intimidated by this armed group, As for the NPA, I encourage you to lay down your firearms and live peaceful lives,” said MGen Atal, Commander, 5ID, PA.

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/02/20/npa-terrorists-sow-fear-in-madella/

DWDD: Army facilitates Feeding Program in Bukidnon

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Feb 20): Army facilitates Feeding Program in Bukidnon



Malaybalay City – Soldiers under 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade, in collaboration with Malaybalay City LGU, CSWDO of Malaybalay City, DepEd, and the teachers, faculty, and staff of the beneficiary school, conducted a Feeding Program at BCT Elementary School in Brgy. Impalambong, Malaybalay City around 9:00 am, February 17, 2017.

A total of 456 children of said school composed of Kindergarten to Grade 6 pupils benefitted from the program, which is aimed at assisting the Department of Education in combatting malnourishment among its pupils. As of this date, there is a total of 16 pupils of said school who are undernourished.

The 403rd Infantry Brigade of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division together with the different local government units and agencies regularly conduct the Feeding Program in different schools in support to the Department of Education’s “Adopt a School” Program. The program is also part of the Community Support Program “Kalayaan” of the AFP, which is aimed at facilitating the resolution of local issues in the community. It is regularly conducted in far-flung barangays where the Community Support Teams of the brigade through its line units are deployed.

Among which are Barangays Manalog and Kibalabag of Malaybalay City, where only recently, three (3) soldiers of the Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion facilitating the program were brutally murdered by the NPA terrorists. It can be recalled that among those soldiers who were brutally murdered last February 1, 2017, around 3:00 pm, was Sgt Owen B. Yee. He was an advocate of the Feeding Program of the 8th Infantry Battalion and was able to serve hundreds of Lumad children in the municipality of Impasugong and Malaybalay City in Bukidnon.

The Feeding Program is a testament to the Philippine Army’s commitment to contribute to addressing the concerns of the people through collaboration with other government agencies. In a statement, COL ERIC C VINOYA INF (GSC) PA, Commander, 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4ID, PA, commended the troops for their service and urged the people to work together in finding peaceful solutions to local issues instead of using terroristic and violent acts.

“I congratulate our troops who, despite NPA attacks, still continue to fulfill the Army’s commitment to serving the people through our Community Support Program. BCT Elementary School is only one of our beneficiary schools under this program. Our line units, particularly the 1st Special Forces Battalion, the 8th Infantry Battalion and the 58th Infantry Battalion, are also conducting the same program in various IP dominated areas in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental Provinces in collaboration with local government units and government agencies.

Contrary to the false accusations of the NPA leaders that our troops are doing psywar and intimidation, we do this program and many other activities that are beneficial to the community. We now challenge the NPA, especially their leaders, that if they are truly for the people, then they should join us in this undertaking. Otherwise, their intentions would be very clear – they would just victimize our people by capitalizing on local issues and using these things in order to agitate the people, arm them, and let them fight the government for their ill causes of extortion and intimidation.” – says COL VINOYA.

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/02/20/army-facilitates-feeding-program-in-bukidnon/

DWDD: AFP will assist PDEA vs. Illegal drugs

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Feb 20): AFP will assist PDEA vs. Illegal drugs

Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City -Armed Forces of the Philippines affirmed that they will not join the forces of the Philippine National Police with regards to the campaign for illegal drugs called Oplan Tokhang.
In accordance to that, AFP is planning to set up their own operation to support the campaign for illegal drugs.

In an interview by DWDD to the spokesperson of Armed Forces of the Philippines, Brigadier General Restituto Padilla on the preparedness of the AFP to “Laban sa ilegal na droga”: he stated that before instructions were made is that they’re ready to collaborate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

He also said that The Philippine National Police should also avoid getting in touch with the operation of the said advocacy due to the misconduct of fight against illegal drugs.

The Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force are also willing to work with PDEA but they’re just a support role and they will not lead the said operation as what General Eduardo Año ordered.

The task force also said that there are chosen number of police to participate in the said operation. He also added that the mass should worry less for the AFP will be continuing to do their job especially for the safety of the youth.

They will also deploy an estimated number of 500 to 5000 personnel depending on the situation of a certain place.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Ańo stated that they are in the process of creating a special task force with the help of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency or PDEA.

Ańo also confirmed that they will not adhere with the ongoing operations of Oplan Tokhang because they do not just plan to arrest a low profile pusher instead, they will prioritize a high profile drug lords that are the cause of the ongoing battle for illegal drugs here in the Philippines.

AFP elucidate that it will not be a bloody war, and they will do the best they can to avoid such. – KE/ KJB

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/02/20/afp-will-assist-pdea-vs-illegal-drugs/

DWDD: Government plans new pension scheme for uniformed personnel

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Feb 20): Government plans new pension scheme for uniformed personnel

The government is planning on a new pension scheme for uniformed personnel to mitigate the costs of benefits for retired military and policemen.

According to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, that paying for the pension of military personnel from the annual budget is “not sustainable”.

Diokno also added that there will come a time that 70 percent of the budget allotted for the uniformed personnel will go to pension instead of those in active service.

 He also said that the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council agreed that there should be a review of the pension and thus, Diokno said that they will legislate a new plan for them.

 Diokno explained that only the new entrants to the service will be covered by the new pension scheme and those paid in the past will continue to be paid the same way.

 He also admitted that he had to address the transfer of police pension to Government Service Insurance System since the Constitution states that the Philippine National Police is considered as ‘civilian’. – EPJA

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/02/20/government-plans-new-pension-scheme-for-uniformed-personnel/

DWDD: Resume Negotiations || Government Requires Compelling Reasons to NPA

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Feb 21): Resume Negotiations || Government Requires Compelling Reasons to NPA



As the government finally revealed the ‘four compelling reasons’ required to the National Democratic Front for the resumption of the peace talks after President Rodrigo Duterte had canceled the talks due to the atrocities done by the rebel groups.

According to presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, there should be a sensible reason provided by the National Democratic Front (NDF) in order to resume peace negotiations with the government after Pres. Duterte rejected their demand. NDF’s demand is said to be similar to the grant of amnesty. Insisting that the government must free the 400 rebels whom they are claiming to be political prisoners. This has also become the main reason why peace negotiations between both parties are scrapped.

Last February 4 when Duterte terminated the peace talks and has ordered for the arrest of all members of NDF who joined the negotiations. He then described the NDF, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and their armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) as “terrorists”.

Abella also added that the communist should agree to a bilateral ceasefire and also put an end to the ambushes, the arson incidents, their revolutionary tax collection and other provocative and violent actions.

On the other hand, the CPP stated that their revolutionary forces are encouraged by the previous statements of President Duterte about freeing political prisoners within 48 hours once the requested bilateral ceasefire agreement is signed. Thus, the CPP had ordered for the release of the 6 prisoners of war as a gesture of their support with the bilateral ceasefire. – CAT

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/02/21/resume-negotiations-government-requires-compelling-reasons-to-npa/

DWDD: Gov’t, CPP bilateral ceasefire possible in presence of ‘compelling reasons’

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Feb 21): Gov’t, CPP bilateral ceasefire possible in presence of ‘compelling reasons’

 

The Duterte administration stated their condition to resume peace talks a day after the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) expressed its eagerness for a bilateral ceasefire agreement.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said on Monday that the government would allow the resumption of peace talks only if the CPP would discontinue obliging its members to pay revolutionary taxes. This tax, which Abella said to be a form of “extortion”, has to be stopped as one of the “compelling reasons” set to benefit the interest of the nation.

“When ‘compelling reasons,’ as President Duterte earlier announced, are present, then we in government shall take the next necessary steps,” Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said in a separate statement.

Other conditions that the government posed for CPP are: to release the three soldiers, two military men and policemen they have abducted immediately without any restriction, to stop mounting attacks on uniformed men, burning of property and from carrying out provocative atrocities.

President Duterte ordered to end the talks with the communist group two weeks ago when hostilities broke between the military and the CPP’s armed unit, New People’s Army (NPA), and brought casualties.

“While it is understandable that suspicions linger about the motives of the parties on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum, some ‘compelling reasons’ need to be provided for talks to resume,” he said.

“Considering the unprecedented goodwill the President has shown, these actions from (the NDFP) may provide compelling reason and could put at ease, to some extent, the apprehension of the military and the (Duterte) administration,” Abella furthermore said.

On the other hand, Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, told the press that the NPA should first corroborate the CPP’s will for a bilateral ceasefire with the government, this time, not through propaganda but with sincere actions. – AGA

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/02/21/govt-cpp-bilateral-ceasefire-possible-in-presence-of-compelling-reasons/

DWDD: Third Batch of FA-50PH to arrive at Clark Air Base, Wednesday

From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Feb 21): Third Batch of FA-50PH to arrive at Clark Air Base, Wednesday



The third batch of the twelve units of FA-50PH Fighter Aircrafts ordered by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, February 22 in Clark, Pampanga.

Bearing the tail numbers 005 and 006, the said fighter planes are two of the remaining eight to be delivered this year from Korea and are expected to land on Haribon Hangar, Air Force City in Clark Air Base at around eleven o’ clock in the evening.

Air Logistics Command Major General Arnold A. Mancita from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be present in the event as the welcoming Commander, accompanied by Commanding General, PAF Lieutenant General Edgar R. Fallorina of AFP as the guest of honor.

According to Air Force Spokesman Col. Antonio Francisco, they have plans to order new bathes of FA-50 after completing the twelve since Korea offered a markdown for further sale transactions, but these are still under the process of deliberation.

Francisco explained that these aircrafts will not only be for a boost in training and skills for supersonic jets in the forthcoming years but also for strengthening the air assets as a “force provider” when unified commanders call for their utilization.

In fact, Francisco told DWDD, the first batches of FA-50s have been used for operations not allowed to be revealed.

http://dwdd.com.ph/2017/02/21/third-batch-of-fa-50ph-to-arrive-at-clark-air-base-wednesday/

Maguindanao cop chief raises alert vs BIFF liquidation squad

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): Maguindanao cop chief raises alert vs BIFF liquidation squad

Police authorities here placed their forces under alert Tuesday following the resurgence of an alleged liquidation squad of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao provincial police director, said the ambush Monday of an Army officer and his wife in the national highway in Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao was a case of liquidation by BIFF members.

Killed was Sgt. Zaldy Caliman of 57th Infantry Battalion. His wife Mimi was injured but their 12-year-old son escaped unhurt.

Tello said the couple with their son were from Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao on board a motorbike and heading for Cotabato City when two men on board separate opened fire on them at 9 a.m.

Tello said the suspects tailed the victims from somewhere in Ampatuan or in Shariff Aguak towns until they reached a secluded portion of the highway in Barangay Meta.

According to the police director, threats from the BIFF remain in Maguindanao and uniformed government forces are reminded to take precautionary measures.The ragtag BIFF is composed of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels after revolutionary struggle disagreements.

The BIFF was blamed for the rash of attacks against soldiers and civilians in Maguindanao's second district.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=966046

NPA squad leader in Compostela Valley yields

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): NPA squad leader in Compostela Valley yields

A squad leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley voluntarily surrendered to the local government unit (LGU) in the area.

Captain Rhyan Batchar, 10th Infantry (Agila) Division chief information officer, on Tuesday reported that alias Mar, 22, voluntarily surrendered to Monkayo Mayor Ramil Gentugaya last February 18 and sought the chief executive’s help to facilitate his formal surrender to the Philippine Army.

Mar is now under the custody of 25th Infantry Battalion after he was formally turned over by Mayor Gentugaya on Tuesday, Batchar added.

“We need to hide the true identity of Mar as of now for his security,” Batchar said, adding that Mar served as a squad leader of the NPA’s Pulang Bagani Company (PBC) 8.

He is a native of Agusan del Sur province.

“Hardships and fear within the communist organization following the relentless combat operations of the military pushed Mar to abandon the movement to live a new life,” Batchar pointed out.

What Mar feared of is the warning of death given by their leaders once a member of the movement decides to leave.

“Mar now feels more secure in the custody of the military,” Batchar said, pointing out that a number of Mar’s comrades are also planning to bolt the movement at any opportune time.

Batchar added that Mar is now undergoing custodial debriefing and validation for enrolment to the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) for rebel returnees.

Brig. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto, commander of 1001st Infantry Brigade, lauded the decision of Mar to go back to the fold of the law.

Alberto also aired an appeal to the misguided terrorists to come down and return to their families and live a productive life rather one of violence.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=965955

Quirino villagers displaced by Army-NPA fight return home

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): Quirino villagers displaced by Army-NPA fight return home

Some 100 families, composed of 410 people, who fled their homes amid the military operations in Barangay Cabua-an, Maddela, Quirino, have returned to their homes Monday night after a two-night stay at the Maddela gymnasium and other evacuation centers in the said province.

1st Lt. James Teaño, Philippine Army's 86th Infantry Battalion spokesperson, on Tuesday said the families went back to their homes after they have been assured of their security as the village has already been reportedly cleared of communist guerrillas.

Most of the villagers, especially senior citizens and children, have been medically checked and were given medications, he said.

The families left their homes Saturday to avoid being caught in a crossfire between the Philippine Army soldiers and New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the said village.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=965939

AFP to operate only vs high-level drug dealers, syndicates

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): AFP to operate only vs high-level drug dealers, syndicates

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año said only high-level drug dealers and syndicates will be targeted by the military once its partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is finalized.

He made this statement when asked on whether the task force mobilized by the AFP for the illegal drugs campaign will be also conducting "Tokhang" operations in the streets.

"No, the AFP will not do that, we will not be involved in the street, we'll not be involved in running after street pushers, the Armed Forces will help PDEA in running after high-level drug syndicates," he added.

"Tokhang" (also known as knock and plead) is an anti-drug operations which aims to convince drug dealers and users to turn over a new leaf or face legal consequences for their actions.

Año earlier said that a battalion-sized formation will be tasked to help the PDEA in its ongoing anti-drug operations.

The unit will provided additional manpower and intelligence support to PDEA agents.

An initial 500 troopers are expected to be mobilized for this task.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965850

2 more FA-50 jet fighters to arrive Wednesday

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): 2 more FA-50 jet fighters to arrive Wednesday

Two more South Korean-made FA-50PH "Fighting Eagle" jet fighters will be arriving in Clark Air Base, Pampanga Wednesday, raising the number of the country's Mach 1.5 capable aircraft to six.

This was confirmed by Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesperson Col. Antonio Z. Francisco in a statement Tuesday.

He said that these FA-50PHs, with tail numbers 005 and 006, will be landing at Clark Air Base Wednesday around 11 a.m. after their flight from from South Korea.

Francisco said the two jet planes will be welcomed by Air Logistics Command head Major Gen. Arnold A. Mancita and PAF commander Lt. Gen. Edgar R. Fallorina.

With the impending delivery of the pair, only six more FA-50PHs remain to be delivered to the PAF.

The PAF's 12-plane order from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is worth PHP18.9 billion.

The FA-50PHs has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 "Sidewinder" air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles aside from light automatic cannons.

It will act as the country's interim fighter until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.

The FA-50PH design is largely derived from the F-16 "Fighting Falcon", and they have many similarities: use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons.

KAI's previous engineering experience in license-producing the KF-16 was a starting point for the development of the FA-50PHs.

The aircraft can carry two pilots in tandem seating. The high-mounted canopy developed by Hankuk Fiber is applied with stretched acrylic, providing the pilots with good visibility, and has been tested to offer the canopy with ballistic protection against four-pound objects impacting at 400 knots.

The altitude limit is 14,600 meters (48,000 feet), and airframe is designed to last 8,000 hours of service.

There are seven internal fuel tanks with capacity of 2,655 liters (701 US gallons), five in the fuselage and two in the wings.

An additional 1,710 liters (452 US gallons) of fuel can be carried in the three external fuel tanks.

Trainer variants have a paint scheme of white and red, and aerobatic variants white, black, and yellow.

The FA-50PHs uses a single General Electric F404-102 turbofan engine license-produced by Samsung Techwin, upgraded with a full authority digital engine control system jointly developed by General Electric and KAI.

The engine consists of three-staged fans, seven axial stage arrangement, and an afterburner.

Its engine produces a maximum of 78.7 kN (17,700 lbf) of thrust with afterburner.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965861

4 cops slain, 3 others injured in police operation in Kalinga

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): 4 cops slain, 3 others injured in police operation in Kalinga

Four policemen were killed while three others were severely injured in a police operation in Lubuangan, Kalinga on Tuesday.

Philippine National Police Public Information Office (PNP PIO) chief and spokesman Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos on Tuesday disclosed that based on a report from PRO-Cordillera (Police Regional Office-Cordillera Administrative Region), the policemen attempted to serve a warrant of arrest against a suspect identified as Wally Sagasag at 7:30 this morning, which resulted in an exchange of fire.

The four policemen, who were killed during the gunfight, were identified as Police Officer 3 (PO3) Cruzaldo Lawagan, PO2 Juvenal Aguinaldo, PO1 Vincent Tay-od and PO1 Charles Ryan Compas.

Three other policemen, who were severely injured, were identified as Police Senior Insp. Eduard Liclic, PO1 Ferdinand Asuncion and PO1 Ferdie Diwag.

Elements of the PNP-Cordillera and the Philippine Army (PA) are now conducting pursuit operations against Sagasag, who is one of the top most wanted persons in the country.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965885

Uy appointed as new Joint Task Force Basilan commander

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): Uy appointed as new Joint Task Force Basilan commander

The Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Col. Juvymax Uy as the new Joint Task Force Basilan commander replacing Col. Cirilo Donato.

Joint Task Force Basilan is one of the units tasked to eliminate the Abu Sayyaf Group and terror groups in the province.

Uy will also retain command of the 104th Infantry Brigade, PA spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said.

Uy is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1989 and was the head of the Intelligence Security Group (ISG) before his appointment to Task Force Zamboanga in January last year.

He then assumed command of the 104th Infantry Brigade.

"(Uy) is a member of PMA Class of 1989, he was instrumental in the transformation of the ISG, he was a good resource manager and a true leader. In fact, he is the most junior brigade commander now," Hao added.

Uy is also instrumental in the capture of ranking rebel and terrorist leaders during his stint as ISG.

Some of the insurgents captured whom he helped captured include NPA leader Tirso Alcantara.

"He is also a firm and compassionate leader," Hao added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965902

AFP to spare no efforts in rescuing German ASG captive

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 21): AFP to spare no efforts in rescuing German ASG captive

No efforts will be spared to rescue alive Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) captive Juergen Kantner whom the bandits threatened to behead this coming Feb. 26 if their PHP30 million ransom demand is not paid.

This was disclosed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo in Tuesday's briefing.

He also said that troops on Monday have started conducting intensified operations in a bid to locate and rescue the German captive.

Arevalo declined to give the locations on where the operations are being conducted for security and operational reasons.

The AFP official also said these operations are also aimed at recovery other hostages still in the hands of the terrorist group.

"We are still confident that we will be able to do it, rescue Kantner alive, and we doing all level best to do this," he added.

Kantner was kidnapped by the ASG bandits while his yacht "Rockall" was cruising off Sulu waters last November.

His companion, 56-year-old Sabine Mertz, was allegedly raped and killed by the bandits.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965953

No destab plots vs Duterte administration -- AFP

From the Philippine Star (Feb 21): No destab plots vs Duterte administration -- AFP

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday announced that it is still to detect any destabilization movements against the Duterte administration.

This was disclosed by AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo in a press briefing Tuesday.

"We are still to detect any destabilization attempts against the Duterte administration," he added.

This is despite earlier claims by Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar who said that revelations made by SPO3 Arturo Lascañas, claiming he and other police officers were paid to do vigilante killings in Davao City, are part of this plot.

Arevalo said that they might not have yet the information possessed by the government official but stressed that the AFP is ready to respond decisively against such threats.

In the same vein, the AFP official said that these groups will get no support from the military as troops appreciate the support being provided to them by the Chief Executive especially in terms of equipment they need in their operations.

Also, the gestures made the President, which include visiting wounded troops in hospital, personally condoling with the families of slain soldiers, and dropping by in faraway camps and bases, despite his hectic schedule, are all appreciated by military personnel.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965941

President Duterte determined to attain peace- Dureza

From the Philippine Star (Feb 21): President Duterte determined to attain peace- Dureza

President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his "desire and passion" of achieving sustainable peace.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Jesus Dureza said members of the government peace panel met with the President Duterte Monday night and discussed the directions and possible next steps in the government's peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF), the Bangsamoro, the Cordillerans, and the other stakeholders.

Dureza said the President gave specific instructions on how to deal with recent developments in talking peace with the CPP/NDF/NPA, including possible next steps after the peace talks and the unilateral ceasefire declarations were cancelled.

According to Dureza, the President vowed to work for a strategic shift to finally achieve peace with the communist rebels.

As to the Bangsamoro peace table, Dureza said the President "viewed with positive note" the launch of the renewed effort to implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on Friday in Davao City, where the President will preside over the big event.

"He also stressed the need for convergence and the coming together of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Moro National Liberation Front, and other different factions of the Bangsamoro in a single road map for peace," Dureza said.

Dureza also said the President supports the creation of an autonomous region for the Cordillera and "called on the people there to unite as one in making a final try at entrenching it as mandated by the constitution."

Dureza added that the President instructed that inputs from the different stakeholders must be gathered so an inclusive reform agenda will be achieved, "which must eventually lead to the final goal of installing a federal system throughout the country."

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ASEAN FMs see need to sustain South China Sea dialogue

From the Philippine Star (Feb 21): ASEAN FMs see need to sustain South China Sea dialogue

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers saw the need for continuous dialogue in easing the tensions in the disputed South China Sea.

In a press briefing after the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat at the Shangri-La Hotel here, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said a number of his counterparts expressed concern overrecent developments and escalation of activities in the area which may further raise tensions and erode trust and confidence in the region.

"They reaffirmed the importance of the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities, and avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes, including through full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS," Yasay said.

The Ministers also underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and efforts within theASEAN-China process to complete a framework of the Code of Conduct (COC), in order to facilitate the early adoption of the COC.

The ministers noted that the code of conduct must be legally binding and must cover areas of how disputes will be resolved for it to be effective.

Yasay added that the ASEAN foreign ministers respect the July 12, 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the Philippines' protest against China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters.

However, Yasay said the Philippines will pursue its bilateral talks with China to resolve the maritime dispute.

The retreat in Boracay was the first gathering of the ASEAN foreign ministers under the Philippines' chairmanship with the theme,"Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

During the retreat, the ministers discussed the organization's six priorities: a people-oriented ASEAN, peace and stability, maritime security and cooperation, inclusive innovation-led growth, resiliency, and the ASEAN as a model of regionalism and a global player.

They also discussed the way forward for ASEANCommunity building, including the implementation of the ASEANCommunity Vision 2025, especially the ASEAN Political-SecurityCommunity Blueprint, and strengthening of ASEAN’s external relations and maintaining ASEAN centrality in the evolving regionalarchitecture.

Yasay also said the Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern and discussed ways of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond including non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism, piracy and armed robbery at sea, cybersecurity, natural disasters, climate change, irregular migration, trafficking in persons and illicit drugs, maritime security and cooperation, and developments in various regions, including the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, among others, as well as sustainable development.

Yasay also said the Ministers agreed on the need to maintain ASEAN centrality and unity, including having a credible, collective and cohesive ASEAN response in addressing domestic and regional challenges.

Recalling the February 14, 2017 Statement of the ASEAN ForeignMinisters on the Ballistic Missile Launch by the Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea (DPRK), ASEAN expressed its grave concern over thisdevelopment and urged the DPRK to comply with relevant UNSCresolutions in the interest of maintaining regional peace, securityand stability.

Established on Aug. 8, 1967, the ASEAN is composed of 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It aims to promote regional cooperation on economic, political and security concerns.

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