From the Sun Star-Manila (Jun 1): Palace confirms diplomatic protest vs China
THE Philippines has filed a diplomatic note against China over Beijing’s aggressive military actions on its artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), Malacañang confirmed Thursday, May 31.
“We did,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a text message to Palace reporters, when asked whether the Philippine government has lodged a diplomatic protest against China.
“The current administration has acted on incidents, which occurred in the disputed areas over the West Philippine Sea by taking diplomatic actions with China,” he added.
The filing of protest was part of the Philippine government’s bid to pursue all diplomatic avenues to address China’s massive land reclamation of the resource-rich South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday said the Duterte administration is protecting the country's territory and sovereignty by filing diplomatic protests against China.
Read: Cayetano says PH asserting rights over disputed sea quietly
China, which has expansive claims over the South China Sea, has reportedly continued to boost its war capabilities by “quietly” installing missile systems on Fiery Cross (Kagitingan), Subi (Zamora), and Mischief (Panganiban) reefs in the Spratly Islands.
It has also allegedly carried out take-off and landing drills of its strategic bombers on Woody Island, Beijing’s largest base in the Paracel Islands.
Roque assured that President Rodrigo Duterte was not giving up the Philippines’ sovereign rights to its territories in the contested waters.
“The President, who is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy, will not sit on our rights and will never give away even an inch of territory,” the Palace official said.
“We will resort to all diplomatic initiatives, including filing of diplomatic protests, when warranted but without (fanfare),” he added.
On May 22, Duterte said he also wanted to deal with China in a “stronger” and “more violent” approach, but stressed that he could not yet afford to do so as the Philippines is not capable of waging war against Beijing.
The President said that all he could do for now is to befriend China, saying the Philippines might suffer from a “great loss” if it takes an adversarial stance with regard to the South China Sea disputes.
"I really want to do something to assert, but you know when I assume the presidency, there was already a ruckus in the West Philippine Sea... In every common sense that's available to me -- I would have taken a stronger but probably a more violent way of doing it," Duterte said.
"In my own estimation, it would be a great loss to the nation and probably end up losing a war. And all of these things, I would have wanted to made known to you whether you accept it or not, that is the reality on the ground. Ir's geopolitics. You well know what are at stake," he added.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1745807/Manila/Local-News/Palace-confirms-diplomatic-protest-vs-China
Friday, June 1, 2018
Massacre of 8 MILF fighters condemned
From the often pro-Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) online publication the Davao Today (Jun1): Massacre of 8 MILF fighters condemned
http://davaotoday.com/main/human-rights/massacre-of-8-milf-fighters-condemned/
Photo taken at the house where eight members of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) and a civilian was killed at Barangay Kilada, Matalam town, Cotabato. (Photo courtesy of Kawagib Moro Human Rights)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The KAWAGIB Moro human rights group condemned the “massacre” of eight members of the 105th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) and one civilian by the Matalam Provincial Police and the 7th IB of the Philippine Army in an anti-drug operation in Matalam, North Cotabato.
The group identified the fatalities as Dadting M. Hassan, Muhamidin A. Hassan, Konne A. Hassan, Burrah S. Salping, Muhalidin S. Salping, Tiyo Mantik, Orom Mantis, Deng Malunok and a certain Abu.
In the documentation made by KAWAGIB on Tuesday, residents of Purok Biao, Barangay Kilada said the victims were not drug pushers or criminals.
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The KAWAGIB Moro human rights group condemned the “massacre” of eight members of the 105th Base Command of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) and one civilian by the Matalam Provincial Police and the 7th IB of the Philippine Army in an anti-drug operation in Matalam, North Cotabato.
The group identified the fatalities as Dadting M. Hassan, Muhamidin A. Hassan, Konne A. Hassan, Burrah S. Salping, Muhalidin S. Salping, Tiyo Mantik, Orom Mantis, Deng Malunok and a certain Abu.
In the documentation made by KAWAGIB on Tuesday, residents of Purok Biao, Barangay Kilada said the victims were not drug pushers or criminals.
They said that 70 police and army authorities first conducted the raid on May 25 and followed it up with another operation conducted the next day, composed of 11 police and army vehicles.
“They are emboldened to commit such act because of the Martial Law in Mindanao,” said Jun Naga, spokesperson of KAWAGIB.
KAWAGIB pointed out that the authorities committed procedural lapses during the drug operation such as the fact that they served the warrants of arrest during midnight.
The victims were shot at close range, the group lamented.
Residents of Sitio Biao, Brgy Kilada Matalam North Cotabato evacuated to a nearby government space. The evacuees were not given any relief assistance, Kawagib said.
Kawagib took note of an Agreement of Cooperation and Coordination between the Philippine government and the MILF in the Campaign against Illegal Drugs in MILF areas.
The agreement, signed on July 2016, provided the mechanics and procedures in the conduct of law enforcement operation against criminality in MILF-controlled areas.
Government units were mandated to coordinate with the MILF and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) as protocol for anti-drug operations.
Butch Malang, head of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities(CCCH) in a letter to Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel said that the BIAF members were disarmed and deliberately shot by the operatives resulting to instant death.
“No shabu was found during the raid,” Malang said.
“We would like to express our deepest sorrow and disappointment to those inhuman acts that were done to our MILF comrades despite (of) series of joint coordination, cooperation and collaboration meetings such as the meeting held at IMT HQ Friday, 25 May 2018 and stakeholders’ meeting held at IMT TS1 last 11 May which was also attended by PSupt Leo T. Ajero, Deputy (Police Director) of North Cotabato,” Malang said.
Malang called the incident a grave human rights abuse and a violation to the provisions of the implementing Operational Guidelines of the Government of the Philippines and the MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities.
“They are emboldened to commit such act because of the Martial Law in Mindanao,” said Jun Naga, spokesperson of KAWAGIB.
KAWAGIB pointed out that the authorities committed procedural lapses during the drug operation such as the fact that they served the warrants of arrest during midnight.
The victims were shot at close range, the group lamented.
Residents of Sitio Biao, Brgy Kilada Matalam North Cotabato evacuated to a nearby government space. The evacuees were not given any relief assistance, Kawagib said.
Kawagib took note of an Agreement of Cooperation and Coordination between the Philippine government and the MILF in the Campaign against Illegal Drugs in MILF areas.
The agreement, signed on July 2016, provided the mechanics and procedures in the conduct of law enforcement operation against criminality in MILF-controlled areas.
Government units were mandated to coordinate with the MILF and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) as protocol for anti-drug operations.
Butch Malang, head of the MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities(CCCH) in a letter to Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel said that the BIAF members were disarmed and deliberately shot by the operatives resulting to instant death.
“No shabu was found during the raid,” Malang said.
“We would like to express our deepest sorrow and disappointment to those inhuman acts that were done to our MILF comrades despite (of) series of joint coordination, cooperation and collaboration meetings such as the meeting held at IMT HQ Friday, 25 May 2018 and stakeholders’ meeting held at IMT TS1 last 11 May which was also attended by PSupt Leo T. Ajero, Deputy (Police Director) of North Cotabato,” Malang said.
Malang called the incident a grave human rights abuse and a violation to the provisions of the implementing Operational Guidelines of the Government of the Philippines and the MILF Agreement on the General Cessation of Hostilities.
For its part, the Suara Bangsamoro said the Matalam incident was not an isolated case of massacre and extra-judicial killings.
On December 8, 2017, three (3) members of the MILF were killed by the joint anti-drug operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Brgy. Koronadal Proper, Polomolok, South Cotabato.
On May 19, 2018, Mindatu Aminola, another MILF member from Brgy. Olonoling, Tupi, South Cotabato was also killed by state forces under the same pretext– anti-drug operation.
Jerome Succor Aba, national chairperson of Suara Bangsamoro said that while the Congress is discussing the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law , the military and the police are killing its primary stakeholders in the guise of anti-drug operations.
He sees the same pattern with the peace negotiations with communists, saying that while the government is talking peace, covert military operations resulting to grave human violations are occurring on the ground.
“We urge the Moro people and the MILF to demand justice for their fallen comrades. We also urge the Filipino people to demand justice for the human rights defenders, activists, and community leaders who were killed in pursuing a just and lasting peace in the country,” he added.
On December 8, 2017, three (3) members of the MILF were killed by the joint anti-drug operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Brgy. Koronadal Proper, Polomolok, South Cotabato.
On May 19, 2018, Mindatu Aminola, another MILF member from Brgy. Olonoling, Tupi, South Cotabato was also killed by state forces under the same pretext– anti-drug operation.
Jerome Succor Aba, national chairperson of Suara Bangsamoro said that while the Congress is discussing the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law , the military and the police are killing its primary stakeholders in the guise of anti-drug operations.
He sees the same pattern with the peace negotiations with communists, saying that while the government is talking peace, covert military operations resulting to grave human violations are occurring on the ground.
“We urge the Moro people and the MILF to demand justice for their fallen comrades. We also urge the Filipino people to demand justice for the human rights defenders, activists, and community leaders who were killed in pursuing a just and lasting peace in the country,” he added.
http://davaotoday.com/main/human-rights/massacre-of-8-milf-fighters-condemned/
On passage of BBL: no celebration but caution as MILF’s Murad says “struggle is not over”
From MindaNews (Jun 1): On passage of BBL: no celebration but caution as MILF’s Murad says “struggle is not over”
The two houses of Congress passed on Wednesday afternoon and in the early hours of Thursday their versions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to pave the way for the abolition of the 28-year old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in favor of a new political entity that the House of Representatives wants to call “Autonomous Region in the Bangsamoro” and the Senate wants to name “Autonomous Region of the Bangsamoro.”
No celebration greeted the passage of the two versions of what is supposed to be a historic legislation, just words of caution from Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the revolutionary front that signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the government in the Kalayaan Gardens of Malacanang on March 27, 2014.
“We celebrate today the shared victory of the Bangsamoro and the Filipino people,” Murad said that day, noting that the CAB “finally brings with it the restoration of the identity, powers and resources of the Bangsamoro. These three things which have been ours since time immemorial, unjustly taken through colonization and occupation, are now returned to us.”
How much of what was returned to them through the peace agreement — the “restoration of the identity, powers and resources of the Bangsamoro” — was lost in the approved BBL versions?
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte receives a copy of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) from Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) chair Ghazali Jaafar in a turnover ceremony at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace on July 17, 2017, witnessed by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Murad acknowledged that substantive provisions have either been amended or deleted.
“The struggle is not yet over. We are still hoping to correct those substantial issues either amended or deleted by both houses. We are still hoping improvements could still be done during the BiCam (Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations),” he told MindaNews on Thursday.
In the Senate version, there is no reference at all to “right to self determination,” the essence of the Bangsamoro struggle, as this was deleted from the Preamble. Also deleted were what the Moro have been fighting for and supposedly have won through the CAB: “asymmetrical political relationship”, “principles of subsidiarity and parity of esteem.”
The two versions provide for the abolition of the ARMM upon the ratification of the BBL in a plebiscite likely before the end of the year.
Voting
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author of SB 1717, told ANC’s Headstart on Thursday morning that the plebiscite will likely be held “November or December this year.”
Zubiri is principal author of SB 1646 which was drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), the body composed of 11 members nominated by the MILF and 10 members nominated by the government, including three from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction under Yusoph Jikiri and Muslimin Sema.
Before Congress took a break in March, SB 1646 was substituted by SB 1717 which finally passed on second reading at 12:55 a.m. on Thursday and the third and final reading at 12:58 a.m. after a page-by-page, line-by-line process of amending since Tuesday.
All 21 senators present, from the majority and minority blocs, voted in favor of the BBL. Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao was reportedly abroad while Senator Leila de Lima remains in detention.
The House of Representatives passed on second and third reading the amended HB 6475, the substitute bill to the BTC-drafted BBL bearing the same number, at around 5 p.m Wednesday, some eight hours earlier than the Senate, with 226 voting yes, 11 voting no and two abstentions.
The 11 who voted against are party-list representatives of the Makabayan bloc — Arlene Brosas, Ariel Casilao, France Castro, Emmi de Jesus, Sarah Elago, Antonio Tinio, and Carlos Isagani Zarate, the group claiming the House version has substantially changed the essence of autonomy and self-determination with the deletion or amendment of key provisions — and Representatives Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st district), Maximo Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City, 2nd), Manuel Jose Dalipe (Zamboanga City, 2nd) and Isagani Amatong (Zamboanga del Norte, 3rd).
Of the 11, five are Mindanawons: Casilao, Zarate, Rodriguez, Dalipe and Amatong. Moro representatives voted ‘Yes’ while two Mindanawon representatives abstained — Abdullah Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte, 2nd) and Celso Lobregat (Zamboanga City, 1st). Both had expressed major reservations about the measure and introduced several amendments to the bill.
Under House rules, those who vote ‘No’ cannot be part of the House contingent to the Bicameral Conference Committee that will meet during the break to reconcile the House and Senate versions.
The two houses are supposed to ratify the Bicameral Conference Committee report when they resume sessions on July 23, 2018 before handing this over to President Rodrigo Duterte for signing delivering his third State of the Nation Address on the same day.
Test of constitutionality
On Tuesday night, the deletion or amendment of substantive provisions during the page-by-page, line-by-line deliberations on the Senate floor generated adverse reactions aired through various platforms on social media, that the BBL was “massacred,” “heavily watered down,” “slaughtered,” “chop-chopped.”
Zubiri himself acknowledged in the ANC interview that in the last three days they were “heavily amending” the bill and that this is the reason why he is confident that “it will stand the test of constitutionality.” He explained that the senators inserted several times phrases like “within the framework of the Constitution” or “within the laws and decrees” of the country.
But in the House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez told reporters on Wednesday that he shared Lagman’s view that the BBL is unconstitutional because there is already an ARMM and that mere legislation cannot abolish the ARMM because it is a creation of the Constitution.
“I share that doubt,” said Alvarez, a principal author of the bill, adding Congress should let the Supreme Court decide on the BBL’s constitutionality.
“Struggle not over”
“We can salvage lost ground at the right time. God willing,” said Mohagher Iqbal, currently chair of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel and concurrent member of the BTC.
“There is still the bicameral conference,” Iqbal said early evening on Wednesday after the House passed its version which also amended or deleted several substantive provisions.
“Our struggle will continue in the Bicameral,” Ghazali Jaafar, MILF 1st vice chair and concurrent chair of the BTC told MindaNews on Wednesday.
On Thursday, MindaNews asked MILF leaders if the versions passed by the House and Senate comply with the CAB, address the historical injustices committed against the Bangsamoro, give them a political entity more than the ARMM, are not ‘watered down’ as feared. How far away is the BTC version from the Senate and House versions? Can these versions help prevent violent extremism as they said the BTC draft would?
Murad said they “do not want to conclude for now” as he explained that “the struggle is not yet over,” that they still hope the substantial issues deleted or amended be corrected, and that “improvements could still be done during the Bicam.
MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim says the MILF supports federalism but “there are issues which are peculiar to the Bangsamoro government so we also reiterate our belief that the (peace) agreement is still the best solution to the Bangsamoro problem.” He said Bangsamoro and Federalism can strengthen each other. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
“No comment muna ako sa mga tanong mo. Hindi pa tapos ang process” (No comment on your questions. The process is not over), Jaafar replied.
Iqbal’s initial assessment is it is “definitely more than ARMM,” that “both versions are not bad” but added, “we have to wait for the final version before we can fully evaluate.”
“Epitome of real autonomy”
In her sponsorship speech on May 29, Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sema, Deputy Speaker for Mindanao, said their version of the BBL “will be the epitome of real autonomy in this country… the precursor of the regional autonomy or federal states that we may consider in the future … the proof that when the government negotiates with its people, it is honest, serious, and committed to carry out its promises.”
BTC Commissioner Mussolini Lidasan thanked members of Congress for passing the BBL, describing it as a “way forward to achieving lasting peace in Mindanao.”
Lidasan acknowledged “it’s still a long way to go” but “I am happy that the BBL version is not a ‘diluted’ one.”
In a statement, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman welcomed the passage of the BBL and expressed hope that its final version “will remain true—both to the spirit and the letter—of earlier frameworks and agreements with the stakeholders of the Bangsamoro narrative.”
Hataman said the ARMM will “continue to push for a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is compliant with the previously signed Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro as the passed measure is brought to the table of the bicameral conference scheduled next month.”
“The BBL should bring forth an institution that is capable of responding to the challenge of the times and to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro, unimpaired and free of the maladies that have afflicted the ARMM,” Hataman said.
Between Quezon City and Pasay
While the MILF leadership hopes the bicameral conference could “correct those substantial issues either amended or deleted by both houses,” it may be an uphill battle given the composition of the House and Senate contingents, a number of whom are expected to ensure that what they had amended or deleted from the BTC draft will not be restored in the “reconciled” version that the President will sign into law on July 23. (see Bicam Committee composition)
A MindaNews source describes the gap between the Senate and House versions as “like the distance between Batasan (in Quezon City, where the House of Representatives is located) and Pasay City (where the Senate is located) on the worst traffic days in Manila.”
A matrix of the Senate and House versions compared with the BTC-drafted BBL has yet to be completed but based on the deliberations in the House and the Senate, several proposed “exclusive” powers of the Bangsamoro have been made “concurrent” with the national government, including a number of the powers already exercised by the ARMM.
WAR-WEARY. A story often told in evacuation centers in conflict-affected areas like Datu Piang in Maguindanao: women can’t remember how many times they have had to flee the war. It’s like a cycle. They fled when they were little, their children fled with them, now their grandchildren are fleeing with them. Photo taken in early October 2008 by Ruby Thursday More / MindaNews
The two versions ruled out possible expansion of the Bangsamoro, deleting the proposed opt-in plebiscites every five years within a period of 25 years, and in the House version, the six municipalities and 39 barangays that had voted to be included in the expanded ARMM in 2001, can opt to join the Bangsamoro only if their mother units — Lanao del Norte and the towns of the barangays — agree.
On the proposed annual block grant of 6% share (estimated at PhP 72 billion) of the Bangsamoro from the National Internal Revenue of the National Government and collections of the Bureau of Customs the two houses agreed on 5% (around PhP 62 billion) but instead of automatic appropriation, the House wants it released “based on development plans and programs and performance- based criteria as may be prescribed by the Inter-Governmental Fiscal Policy Board.
Maguindanaon lawyer Zainudin Malang, former executive director of the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center described the Senate deliberations as “really painful to watch” and noted how it was a “truly humiliating experience” for members of the BTC to be there.
“It must have been humiliating for the BTC members to sit there, spend hours watching their BBL draft get mangled, page by page, and be powerless and not be able to do anything about it,” he said.
But even as it was painful to watch the proceedings, Malang urged fellow Moros to watch it livestreamed from the Senate because “it is part of Bangsamoro history unfolding right before our eyes. If this still does not convince them of the futility of leaving their fate in the hands of Filipino legislators, then perhaps we deserve to permanently lose what was taken from us,” he said.
Adel Ditucalan, President of the Ranao Watch for Empowerment Network, watched the proceedings at the Senate Tuesday night, “pinned on my chair watching the slaughter.”
“We always knew it would end like this. But even so, the pain is unexpectedly so fierce. It is like watching a horde of ruthless savage men stabbing and stabbing even more an already stillborn babe that refuse to die as fate conspires to keep its soul alive, as meant to be…as willed by God, Himself,” Ditucalan said.
“BBL dies without seeing light of day…,” she lamented.
No celebration but
Fatima Pir Allian, program manager of the Nisa Ul Haqq Fi Bangsamoro (Women for Truth and Justice in the Bangsamoro) wrote there is “no celebration but more work to be done.”
“Let us not be entangled with this gullible feeling of ‘romanticising’ the bills passed last night (House of Rep) and earlier in the senate as a CAB-compliant BBL. NO, it is NOT. It has changed in form and substance. Let us READ before we are jubilant,” Allian said.
Rosslaini Alonto, a member of the Internal Mediation Group, likened the BBL to a patient in critical condition.
“Maraming importanteng parte ang nabawas. Kung ikumpara natin sa pasyente, sa nais nating maitawid sa maliit na butas, malaking parte ng kanyang mga buto at mangilan-ngilang laman loob ang ating tinanggal” (So many important parts were taken out. If we compare it to a patient, in our desire to let him pass through a small hole, we took out a huge part of his bones and internal parts).
“Nasa kritikal na kalagayan ang BBL maski na naitawid na natin. Ito ang sitwasyon na hindi pwedeng magsaya dahil unti-unting namamatay ang pasyente at hindi naman pwedeng ilibing ang pasyente dahil buhay pa ito,” (The BBL is in a critical condition even if we made it pass through. This is a situation where you cannot celebrate because the patient is slowly dying and you cannot bury him because he is still alive.”
“Everyone of us has a role in this most critical stage of the BBL. Everyone must be on guard more than ever, otherwise, patay or forever paralyzed si pasyente” (the patient will die or will forever be paralyzed), Alonto said as she urged fellow Bangsamoro to unite and make everyone understand the current situation.
Alonto is a member of the Internal Mediation Group, a platform for Bangasmoro men and women from various sectors who try to work within their respective organizations to achieve a wider consensus on major Moro issues such as the BBL, federalism and Marawi rehabilitation.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2018/06/on-passage-of-bbl-no-celebration-but-caution-as-milfs-murad-says-struggle-is-not-over/
The two houses of Congress passed on Wednesday afternoon and in the early hours of Thursday their versions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) to pave the way for the abolition of the 28-year old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in favor of a new political entity that the House of Representatives wants to call “Autonomous Region in the Bangsamoro” and the Senate wants to name “Autonomous Region of the Bangsamoro.”
No celebration greeted the passage of the two versions of what is supposed to be a historic legislation, just words of caution from Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the revolutionary front that signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) with the government in the Kalayaan Gardens of Malacanang on March 27, 2014.
“We celebrate today the shared victory of the Bangsamoro and the Filipino people,” Murad said that day, noting that the CAB “finally brings with it the restoration of the identity, powers and resources of the Bangsamoro. These three things which have been ours since time immemorial, unjustly taken through colonization and occupation, are now returned to us.”
How much of what was returned to them through the peace agreement — the “restoration of the identity, powers and resources of the Bangsamoro” — was lost in the approved BBL versions?
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte receives a copy of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) from Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) chair Ghazali Jaafar in a turnover ceremony at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace on July 17, 2017, witnessed by Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Murad acknowledged that substantive provisions have either been amended or deleted.
“The struggle is not yet over. We are still hoping to correct those substantial issues either amended or deleted by both houses. We are still hoping improvements could still be done during the BiCam (Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations),” he told MindaNews on Thursday.
In the Senate version, there is no reference at all to “right to self determination,” the essence of the Bangsamoro struggle, as this was deleted from the Preamble. Also deleted were what the Moro have been fighting for and supposedly have won through the CAB: “asymmetrical political relationship”, “principles of subsidiarity and parity of esteem.”
The two versions provide for the abolition of the ARMM upon the ratification of the BBL in a plebiscite likely before the end of the year.
Voting
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, principal author of SB 1717, told ANC’s Headstart on Thursday morning that the plebiscite will likely be held “November or December this year.”
Zubiri is principal author of SB 1646 which was drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), the body composed of 11 members nominated by the MILF and 10 members nominated by the government, including three from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction under Yusoph Jikiri and Muslimin Sema.
Before Congress took a break in March, SB 1646 was substituted by SB 1717 which finally passed on second reading at 12:55 a.m. on Thursday and the third and final reading at 12:58 a.m. after a page-by-page, line-by-line process of amending since Tuesday.
All 21 senators present, from the majority and minority blocs, voted in favor of the BBL. Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao was reportedly abroad while Senator Leila de Lima remains in detention.
The House of Representatives passed on second and third reading the amended HB 6475, the substitute bill to the BTC-drafted BBL bearing the same number, at around 5 p.m Wednesday, some eight hours earlier than the Senate, with 226 voting yes, 11 voting no and two abstentions.
The 11 who voted against are party-list representatives of the Makabayan bloc — Arlene Brosas, Ariel Casilao, France Castro, Emmi de Jesus, Sarah Elago, Antonio Tinio, and Carlos Isagani Zarate, the group claiming the House version has substantially changed the essence of autonomy and self-determination with the deletion or amendment of key provisions — and Representatives Edcel Lagman (Albay, 1st district), Maximo Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City, 2nd), Manuel Jose Dalipe (Zamboanga City, 2nd) and Isagani Amatong (Zamboanga del Norte, 3rd).
Of the 11, five are Mindanawons: Casilao, Zarate, Rodriguez, Dalipe and Amatong. Moro representatives voted ‘Yes’ while two Mindanawon representatives abstained — Abdullah Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte, 2nd) and Celso Lobregat (Zamboanga City, 1st). Both had expressed major reservations about the measure and introduced several amendments to the bill.
Under House rules, those who vote ‘No’ cannot be part of the House contingent to the Bicameral Conference Committee that will meet during the break to reconcile the House and Senate versions.
The two houses are supposed to ratify the Bicameral Conference Committee report when they resume sessions on July 23, 2018 before handing this over to President Rodrigo Duterte for signing delivering his third State of the Nation Address on the same day.
Test of constitutionality
On Tuesday night, the deletion or amendment of substantive provisions during the page-by-page, line-by-line deliberations on the Senate floor generated adverse reactions aired through various platforms on social media, that the BBL was “massacred,” “heavily watered down,” “slaughtered,” “chop-chopped.”
Zubiri himself acknowledged in the ANC interview that in the last three days they were “heavily amending” the bill and that this is the reason why he is confident that “it will stand the test of constitutionality.” He explained that the senators inserted several times phrases like “within the framework of the Constitution” or “within the laws and decrees” of the country.
But in the House of Representatives, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez told reporters on Wednesday that he shared Lagman’s view that the BBL is unconstitutional because there is already an ARMM and that mere legislation cannot abolish the ARMM because it is a creation of the Constitution.
“I share that doubt,” said Alvarez, a principal author of the bill, adding Congress should let the Supreme Court decide on the BBL’s constitutionality.
“Struggle not over”
“We can salvage lost ground at the right time. God willing,” said Mohagher Iqbal, currently chair of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel and concurrent member of the BTC.
“There is still the bicameral conference,” Iqbal said early evening on Wednesday after the House passed its version which also amended or deleted several substantive provisions.
“Our struggle will continue in the Bicameral,” Ghazali Jaafar, MILF 1st vice chair and concurrent chair of the BTC told MindaNews on Wednesday.
On Thursday, MindaNews asked MILF leaders if the versions passed by the House and Senate comply with the CAB, address the historical injustices committed against the Bangsamoro, give them a political entity more than the ARMM, are not ‘watered down’ as feared. How far away is the BTC version from the Senate and House versions? Can these versions help prevent violent extremism as they said the BTC draft would?
Murad said they “do not want to conclude for now” as he explained that “the struggle is not yet over,” that they still hope the substantial issues deleted or amended be corrected, and that “improvements could still be done during the Bicam.
MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim says the MILF supports federalism but “there are issues which are peculiar to the Bangsamoro government so we also reiterate our belief that the (peace) agreement is still the best solution to the Bangsamoro problem.” He said Bangsamoro and Federalism can strengthen each other. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO
“No comment muna ako sa mga tanong mo. Hindi pa tapos ang process” (No comment on your questions. The process is not over), Jaafar replied.
Iqbal’s initial assessment is it is “definitely more than ARMM,” that “both versions are not bad” but added, “we have to wait for the final version before we can fully evaluate.”
“Epitome of real autonomy”
In her sponsorship speech on May 29, Maguindanao Rep. Bai Sandra Sema, Deputy Speaker for Mindanao, said their version of the BBL “will be the epitome of real autonomy in this country… the precursor of the regional autonomy or federal states that we may consider in the future … the proof that when the government negotiates with its people, it is honest, serious, and committed to carry out its promises.”
BTC Commissioner Mussolini Lidasan thanked members of Congress for passing the BBL, describing it as a “way forward to achieving lasting peace in Mindanao.”
Lidasan acknowledged “it’s still a long way to go” but “I am happy that the BBL version is not a ‘diluted’ one.”
In a statement, ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman welcomed the passage of the BBL and expressed hope that its final version “will remain true—both to the spirit and the letter—of earlier frameworks and agreements with the stakeholders of the Bangsamoro narrative.”
Hataman said the ARMM will “continue to push for a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is compliant with the previously signed Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro as the passed measure is brought to the table of the bicameral conference scheduled next month.”
“The BBL should bring forth an institution that is capable of responding to the challenge of the times and to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro, unimpaired and free of the maladies that have afflicted the ARMM,” Hataman said.
Between Quezon City and Pasay
While the MILF leadership hopes the bicameral conference could “correct those substantial issues either amended or deleted by both houses,” it may be an uphill battle given the composition of the House and Senate contingents, a number of whom are expected to ensure that what they had amended or deleted from the BTC draft will not be restored in the “reconciled” version that the President will sign into law on July 23. (see Bicam Committee composition)
A MindaNews source describes the gap between the Senate and House versions as “like the distance between Batasan (in Quezon City, where the House of Representatives is located) and Pasay City (where the Senate is located) on the worst traffic days in Manila.”
A matrix of the Senate and House versions compared with the BTC-drafted BBL has yet to be completed but based on the deliberations in the House and the Senate, several proposed “exclusive” powers of the Bangsamoro have been made “concurrent” with the national government, including a number of the powers already exercised by the ARMM.
WAR-WEARY. A story often told in evacuation centers in conflict-affected areas like Datu Piang in Maguindanao: women can’t remember how many times they have had to flee the war. It’s like a cycle. They fled when they were little, their children fled with them, now their grandchildren are fleeing with them. Photo taken in early October 2008 by Ruby Thursday More / MindaNews
The two versions ruled out possible expansion of the Bangsamoro, deleting the proposed opt-in plebiscites every five years within a period of 25 years, and in the House version, the six municipalities and 39 barangays that had voted to be included in the expanded ARMM in 2001, can opt to join the Bangsamoro only if their mother units — Lanao del Norte and the towns of the barangays — agree.
On the proposed annual block grant of 6% share (estimated at PhP 72 billion) of the Bangsamoro from the National Internal Revenue of the National Government and collections of the Bureau of Customs the two houses agreed on 5% (around PhP 62 billion) but instead of automatic appropriation, the House wants it released “based on development plans and programs and performance- based criteria as may be prescribed by the Inter-Governmental Fiscal Policy Board.
Maguindanaon lawyer Zainudin Malang, former executive director of the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center described the Senate deliberations as “really painful to watch” and noted how it was a “truly humiliating experience” for members of the BTC to be there.
“It must have been humiliating for the BTC members to sit there, spend hours watching their BBL draft get mangled, page by page, and be powerless and not be able to do anything about it,” he said.
But even as it was painful to watch the proceedings, Malang urged fellow Moros to watch it livestreamed from the Senate because “it is part of Bangsamoro history unfolding right before our eyes. If this still does not convince them of the futility of leaving their fate in the hands of Filipino legislators, then perhaps we deserve to permanently lose what was taken from us,” he said.
Adel Ditucalan, President of the Ranao Watch for Empowerment Network, watched the proceedings at the Senate Tuesday night, “pinned on my chair watching the slaughter.”
“We always knew it would end like this. But even so, the pain is unexpectedly so fierce. It is like watching a horde of ruthless savage men stabbing and stabbing even more an already stillborn babe that refuse to die as fate conspires to keep its soul alive, as meant to be…as willed by God, Himself,” Ditucalan said.
“BBL dies without seeing light of day…,” she lamented.
No celebration but
Fatima Pir Allian, program manager of the Nisa Ul Haqq Fi Bangsamoro (Women for Truth and Justice in the Bangsamoro) wrote there is “no celebration but more work to be done.”
“Let us not be entangled with this gullible feeling of ‘romanticising’ the bills passed last night (House of Rep) and earlier in the senate as a CAB-compliant BBL. NO, it is NOT. It has changed in form and substance. Let us READ before we are jubilant,” Allian said.
Rosslaini Alonto, a member of the Internal Mediation Group, likened the BBL to a patient in critical condition.
“Maraming importanteng parte ang nabawas. Kung ikumpara natin sa pasyente, sa nais nating maitawid sa maliit na butas, malaking parte ng kanyang mga buto at mangilan-ngilang laman loob ang ating tinanggal” (So many important parts were taken out. If we compare it to a patient, in our desire to let him pass through a small hole, we took out a huge part of his bones and internal parts).
“Nasa kritikal na kalagayan ang BBL maski na naitawid na natin. Ito ang sitwasyon na hindi pwedeng magsaya dahil unti-unting namamatay ang pasyente at hindi naman pwedeng ilibing ang pasyente dahil buhay pa ito,” (The BBL is in a critical condition even if we made it pass through. This is a situation where you cannot celebrate because the patient is slowly dying and you cannot bury him because he is still alive.”
“Everyone of us has a role in this most critical stage of the BBL. Everyone must be on guard more than ever, otherwise, patay or forever paralyzed si pasyente” (the patient will die or will forever be paralyzed), Alonto said as she urged fellow Bangsamoro to unite and make everyone understand the current situation.
Alonto is a member of the Internal Mediation Group, a platform for Bangasmoro men and women from various sectors who try to work within their respective organizations to achieve a wider consensus on major Moro issues such as the BBL, federalism and Marawi rehabilitation.
http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2018/06/on-passage-of-bbl-no-celebration-but-caution-as-milfs-murad-says-struggle-is-not-over/
2 Zambo Norte cops disarmed by NPA rebels
From the Philippine News Agency (May 31): 2 Zambo Norte cops disarmed by NPA rebels
ZAMBOANGA CITY--Two policemen were disarmed and their vehicle taken by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the town of Godod, Zamboanga del Norte, an official disclosed Thursday.
Chief Supt. Edwin De Ocampo, deputy regional director for administration, identified the two policemen as SPO1 Oscias Gomez and PO1 Rey Lismis, all of Godod Municipal Police Station.
De Ocampo said they were disarmed around 9 a.m. Wednesday in Sitio Rebe, Barangay Mauswagon, Godod, Zamboanga del Norte.
De Ocampo said the two policemen were aboard a police vehicle traveling from the town of Salug to Godod municipality when 15 heavily armed men, including a woman, believed to be NPA rebels, waylaid them.
He said the NPA rebels fled aboard the Mahindra vehicle and carted away three M-16 Armalite rifles of the policemen.
Nancy Piañar and her companion, Bayani Galleposo, reported to the Godod police station around 10:30 a.m. that they saw the Mahindra vehicle with bullet holes on its windshield.
Domingo Tuyac, a militiaman, also appeared at the police station around 11:35 a.m. and turned over improvised tire fin and rounded steel bar recovered a few meters from where the two policemen were disarmed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037070
ZAMBOANGA CITY--Two policemen were disarmed and their vehicle taken by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the town of Godod, Zamboanga del Norte, an official disclosed Thursday.
Chief Supt. Edwin De Ocampo, deputy regional director for administration, identified the two policemen as SPO1 Oscias Gomez and PO1 Rey Lismis, all of Godod Municipal Police Station.
De Ocampo said they were disarmed around 9 a.m. Wednesday in Sitio Rebe, Barangay Mauswagon, Godod, Zamboanga del Norte.
De Ocampo said the two policemen were aboard a police vehicle traveling from the town of Salug to Godod municipality when 15 heavily armed men, including a woman, believed to be NPA rebels, waylaid them.
He said the NPA rebels fled aboard the Mahindra vehicle and carted away three M-16 Armalite rifles of the policemen.
Nancy Piañar and her companion, Bayani Galleposo, reported to the Godod police station around 10:30 a.m. that they saw the Mahindra vehicle with bullet holes on its windshield.
Domingo Tuyac, a militiaman, also appeared at the police station around 11:35 a.m. and turned over improvised tire fin and rounded steel bar recovered a few meters from where the two policemen were disarmed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037070
Moro rebel, pal yield P1-M ‘shabu’ in anti-drug ops
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): Moro rebel, pal yield P1-M ‘shabu’ in anti-drug ops
DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao--Backed by soldiers and policemen, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday arrested two people, including an alleged Moro rebel, and seized more than PHP1-million worth of illegal drugs in an anti-drug operation here.
Juvenal Azurin, PDEA regional director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), identified the suspects as Thor Dalundong Sela, 35, and Mael Guiamad Kamid alias Mayon, 43.
Sela is an alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while Kamid, a farmer, is listed as a high-value target (HVT) drug personality in this province.
Azurin on Friday said the suspects were arrested after they sold suspected “shabu” to a PDEA-ARMM informant along the national highway in Barangay Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat.
“We have been on their trail in the past two weeks. They were very elusive, but they cannot evade the law forever,” Azurin said.
Seized from the suspects were 175 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as “shabu”, packed in four sachets with an estimated worth of PHP1.2 million, marked money, and a cellular phone containing text messages involving the suspects’ drug transactions.
The suspects were arrested by joint PDEA-ARMM operatives, backed by soldiers of the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion, Datu Odin Sinsuat policemen, and the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
Charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspects, who are detained at the lockup of PDEA-ARMM.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037194
DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao--Backed by soldiers and policemen, agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday arrested two people, including an alleged Moro rebel, and seized more than PHP1-million worth of illegal drugs in an anti-drug operation here.
Juvenal Azurin, PDEA regional director in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-ARMM), identified the suspects as Thor Dalundong Sela, 35, and Mael Guiamad Kamid alias Mayon, 43.
Sela is an alleged member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), while Kamid, a farmer, is listed as a high-value target (HVT) drug personality in this province.
Azurin on Friday said the suspects were arrested after they sold suspected “shabu” to a PDEA-ARMM informant along the national highway in Barangay Dalican, Datu Odin Sinsuat.
“We have been on their trail in the past two weeks. They were very elusive, but they cannot evade the law forever,” Azurin said.
Seized from the suspects were 175 grams of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as “shabu”, packed in four sachets with an estimated worth of PHP1.2 million, marked money, and a cellular phone containing text messages involving the suspects’ drug transactions.
The suspects were arrested by joint PDEA-ARMM operatives, backed by soldiers of the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion, Datu Odin Sinsuat policemen, and the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
Charges for violation of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the suspects, who are detained at the lockup of PDEA-ARMM.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037194
Police on alert vs. bombing plot by IS-linked rebels in NoCot
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): Police on alert vs. bombing plot by IS-linked rebels in NoCot
Police units have been placed on heightened alert following an intelligence report that an Islamic State-linked rebel group is set to carry out bombings in North Cotabato, an official said Friday.
North Cotabato Police director, Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan, issued the order after police and military forces have thwarted a shipment of improvised bombs in Carmen town.
Layugan said police and military checkpoints have been set up in areas where previous bomb attacks have transpired, specifically in the city of Kidapawan and the towns of Midsayap, Kabacan, Carmen, Matalam and Tulunan.
“We are not taking this lightly. This is very serious that we need to be one step ahead of lawless armed groups,” Layugan said.
Joint elements of the police and the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade on Tuesday discovered a bag containing five improvised bombs by the roadside in Kibayao, Carmen town.
“It (the bag) was hastily left by its courier a few meters from where the Army and police put up checkpoints,” said Chief Insp. Julius Malcontento, Carmen Police chief.
Malcontento said a tipster alerted them about an impending transport of explosives by suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) from Carmen to other North Cotabato towns.
No one has claimed ownership of the explosives, but Layugan lauded the civilians who alerted the police about its transport.
Earlier, the Army foiled a bombing attempt when they discovered and detonated a powerful bomb in front of the Grino Elementary School in Tacurong City.
Police and Army intelligence officials said the bomb was intended for the launch of Brigada Eskwela.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037214
Police units have been placed on heightened alert following an intelligence report that an Islamic State-linked rebel group is set to carry out bombings in North Cotabato, an official said Friday.
North Cotabato Police director, Senior Supt. Maximo Layugan, issued the order after police and military forces have thwarted a shipment of improvised bombs in Carmen town.
Layugan said police and military checkpoints have been set up in areas where previous bomb attacks have transpired, specifically in the city of Kidapawan and the towns of Midsayap, Kabacan, Carmen, Matalam and Tulunan.
“We are not taking this lightly. This is very serious that we need to be one step ahead of lawless armed groups,” Layugan said.
Joint elements of the police and the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade on Tuesday discovered a bag containing five improvised bombs by the roadside in Kibayao, Carmen town.
“It (the bag) was hastily left by its courier a few meters from where the Army and police put up checkpoints,” said Chief Insp. Julius Malcontento, Carmen Police chief.
Malcontento said a tipster alerted them about an impending transport of explosives by suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) from Carmen to other North Cotabato towns.
No one has claimed ownership of the explosives, but Layugan lauded the civilians who alerted the police about its transport.
Earlier, the Army foiled a bombing attempt when they discovered and detonated a powerful bomb in front of the Grino Elementary School in Tacurong City.
Police and Army intelligence officials said the bomb was intended for the launch of Brigada Eskwela.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037214
NPA rebels torch DavOr resort equipment
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): NPA rebels torch DavOr resort equipment
Some 26 members of the New People's Army (NPA) raided and burned down several equipment of a resort in Davao Oriental for supposedly failing to pay revolutionary taxes, police said.
Police Regional Office 11 (Davao) spokesperson, Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, said the rebels were looking for the owner of Adam’s Haven Mountain Resort in Barangay Ompao in the town of Tarragona at about 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Driz said upon learning that the owner, identified as engineer Ariel Mosquera, was not around, the rebels told the staff the establishment owed the NPA an unspecified amount of taxes.
The rebels then proceeded to burn several equipment of the resort, such as a power generator, an electric steel cutter, and a multicab vehicle.
Driz said the armed men were led by commanders Jeckol and Jegs, and a certain Boyaks, who are under the NPA's Pulang Bagani Command 8.
Police estimated the cost of the damage at PHP600,000.
Driz said Mosquera, the resort owner who is also a government employee in the province's capital city of Mati, had received a letter directing the latter to pay revolutionary taxes to the group.
PRO-11 condemned the incident, describing it as a "desperate act" on the part of the communist rebels.
"If they need help for their survival, they can seek help from the government by means of surrendering and to lay down their arms so that they can be a recipient of the government's livelihood program," the PRO-11 spokeswoman said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037235
Some 26 members of the New People's Army (NPA) raided and burned down several equipment of a resort in Davao Oriental for supposedly failing to pay revolutionary taxes, police said.
Police Regional Office 11 (Davao) spokesperson, Chief Insp. Milgrace Driz, said the rebels were looking for the owner of Adam’s Haven Mountain Resort in Barangay Ompao in the town of Tarragona at about 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Driz said upon learning that the owner, identified as engineer Ariel Mosquera, was not around, the rebels told the staff the establishment owed the NPA an unspecified amount of taxes.
The rebels then proceeded to burn several equipment of the resort, such as a power generator, an electric steel cutter, and a multicab vehicle.
Driz said the armed men were led by commanders Jeckol and Jegs, and a certain Boyaks, who are under the NPA's Pulang Bagani Command 8.
Police estimated the cost of the damage at PHP600,000.
Driz said Mosquera, the resort owner who is also a government employee in the province's capital city of Mati, had received a letter directing the latter to pay revolutionary taxes to the group.
PRO-11 condemned the incident, describing it as a "desperate act" on the part of the communist rebels.
"If they need help for their survival, they can seek help from the government by means of surrendering and to lay down their arms so that they can be a recipient of the government's livelihood program," the PRO-11 spokeswoman said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037235
‘Tabak’ Division hosts educational tour for 21 JAGS officers
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): ‘Tabak’ Division hosts educational tour for 21 JAGS officers
A total of 21 newly-commissioned Judge Advocate General Service (JAGS) officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) underwent an educational tour in the Army's area of responsibility in Western Mindanao.
The educational tour from May 28 to June 1, was facilitated by the Army’s 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division.
Maj. Ronald Suscano, Army’s 1st Infantry Division information officer, said the activity aims to familiarize the participants on the real situation in the field and the peculiar characteristics of battlefield conditions.
“This is very timely as today’s engagement of the different enemies of the state is not only through armed confrontation but also on legal battles and offensives, especially in urban centers,” Suscano said.
He said JAGS officers' primary function is to provide legal assistance and services to the military personnel relative to the AFP's rules of engagement in times of armed conflict.
Should there be violations committed by either party in an ongoing armed conflict, these officers will be responsible in the case build-up until the final verdict or resolution of the case, he said.
In terms of the administrative aspect, JAGS officers serve as legal adviser of the Commander and also the administrator of the military justice system.
Suscano underscored the importance of the educational tour in providing JAGS officers insight for them to be effective in their duties once they are deployed to their respective assignments in the AFP.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037234
A total of 21 newly-commissioned Judge Advocate General Service (JAGS) officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) underwent an educational tour in the Army's area of responsibility in Western Mindanao.
The educational tour from May 28 to June 1, was facilitated by the Army’s 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division.
Maj. Ronald Suscano, Army’s 1st Infantry Division information officer, said the activity aims to familiarize the participants on the real situation in the field and the peculiar characteristics of battlefield conditions.
“This is very timely as today’s engagement of the different enemies of the state is not only through armed confrontation but also on legal battles and offensives, especially in urban centers,” Suscano said.
He said JAGS officers' primary function is to provide legal assistance and services to the military personnel relative to the AFP's rules of engagement in times of armed conflict.
Should there be violations committed by either party in an ongoing armed conflict, these officers will be responsible in the case build-up until the final verdict or resolution of the case, he said.
In terms of the administrative aspect, JAGS officers serve as legal adviser of the Commander and also the administrator of the military justice system.
Suscano underscored the importance of the educational tour in providing JAGS officers insight for them to be effective in their duties once they are deployed to their respective assignments in the AFP.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037234
Palace hopes bicam would agree on BBL acceptable to all
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): Palace hopes bicam would agree on BBL acceptable to all
As the bicameral conference committee meets for the final version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Malacañang is hoping that lawmakers would approve a BBL that is acceptable to everyone.
“It’s no longer at the hands of Malacañang. So I can only express the hope that there would be an agreement that will be acceptable to all,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing on Thursday.
A day after President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified the BBL as urgent, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed on second and third reading on Wednesday the bill which aims to hopefully end decades of conflict in Mindanao.
“We are pleased that both Houses passed the respective versions of the BBL,” Roque said.
He said the certification was a signal that Duterte considers BBL as absolutely indispensable in the search for peace in Mindanao.
Roque said the decision of both houses of Congress to come up with a final version of the bill during the sine die adjournment of Congress.
“We are hoping that you know, Congressmen will also exert all efforts to make sure that this BBL will withstand judicial scrutiny, having learned already from the lessons of the earlier MOA-AD,” Roque said.
Roque was referring to the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional.
“That’s why the bicam has to review it. That’s the last chance to make sure that it will withstand the test of judicial scrutiny,” he said.
A day after he certified the BBL as urgent, Duterte met with the Bangsamoro Transition Committee and members of both Senate and the House.
“He (Duterte) basically told everyone, ‘People, we need to work together’. So it’s really a process of give and take,” Roque said.
“The appeal of the President: ‘we have our own interest, let’s find common ground and let’s agreed on that’ and we are moving towards that direction,” he added.
Roque, a former lawmaker, said there is no need for the President to call for a special session since lawmakers will just be working in the bicameral committee itself “which does not require a special session”.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037132
As the bicameral conference committee meets for the final version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Malacañang is hoping that lawmakers would approve a BBL that is acceptable to everyone.
“It’s no longer at the hands of Malacañang. So I can only express the hope that there would be an agreement that will be acceptable to all,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing on Thursday.
A day after President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified the BBL as urgent, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed on second and third reading on Wednesday the bill which aims to hopefully end decades of conflict in Mindanao.
“We are pleased that both Houses passed the respective versions of the BBL,” Roque said.
He said the certification was a signal that Duterte considers BBL as absolutely indispensable in the search for peace in Mindanao.
Roque said the decision of both houses of Congress to come up with a final version of the bill during the sine die adjournment of Congress.
“We are hoping that you know, Congressmen will also exert all efforts to make sure that this BBL will withstand judicial scrutiny, having learned already from the lessons of the earlier MOA-AD,” Roque said.
Roque was referring to the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) which the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional.
“That’s why the bicam has to review it. That’s the last chance to make sure that it will withstand the test of judicial scrutiny,” he said.
A day after he certified the BBL as urgent, Duterte met with the Bangsamoro Transition Committee and members of both Senate and the House.
“He (Duterte) basically told everyone, ‘People, we need to work together’. So it’s really a process of give and take,” Roque said.
“The appeal of the President: ‘we have our own interest, let’s find common ground and let’s agreed on that’ and we are moving towards that direction,” he added.
Roque, a former lawmaker, said there is no need for the President to call for a special session since lawmakers will just be working in the bicameral committee itself “which does not require a special session”.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037132
BBL to help defeat terror threat: AFP chief
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): BBL to help defeat terror threat: AFP chief
Once enacted, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would be a tool to quell terrorism threats, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff General Carlito Galvez, Jr. said.
"I was informed that the third reading and final reading was already approved by the (House of Representatives and Senate), we're so happy, as I have said that the BBL is one of the antidotes (to) the terrorism (problem)," he said Thursday.
A day after President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified the BBL as urgent, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed on second and third reading the bill which aims to hopefully end decades of conflict in Mindanao.
"I believe they (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) are very happy with the passage, this is a long way negotiation since 1997 and we had a ceasefire and i believe this is a very positive milestone," Galvez said.
Once the BBL is passed into law, it would serve as the enabling law of the 2014 landmark peace deal between the government and the MILF, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro aims to grant greater autonomy to the Bangsamoro region.
The proposed act would establish a new autonomous political entity known as the Autonomous Region of the Bangsamoro that would replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The bicameral conference committee is expected to tackle the conflicting versions during the 6-week recess with the aim of ratifying the final version of the BBL on July 23 -- the first session day of the 3rd Regular Session of the current Congress and the same day when President Rodrigo R. Duterte will deliver his third state-of-the-nation address.
The final version of the bill would be ratified in plenary by both chambers before being sent to the Office of the President for Duterte’s signature.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037148
Once enacted, the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would be a tool to quell terrorism threats, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff General Carlito Galvez, Jr. said.
"I was informed that the third reading and final reading was already approved by the (House of Representatives and Senate), we're so happy, as I have said that the BBL is one of the antidotes (to) the terrorism (problem)," he said Thursday.
A day after President Rodrigo R. Duterte certified the BBL as urgent, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed on second and third reading the bill which aims to hopefully end decades of conflict in Mindanao.
"I believe they (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) are very happy with the passage, this is a long way negotiation since 1997 and we had a ceasefire and i believe this is a very positive milestone," Galvez said.
Once the BBL is passed into law, it would serve as the enabling law of the 2014 landmark peace deal between the government and the MILF, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro aims to grant greater autonomy to the Bangsamoro region.
The proposed act would establish a new autonomous political entity known as the Autonomous Region of the Bangsamoro that would replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The bicameral conference committee is expected to tackle the conflicting versions during the 6-week recess with the aim of ratifying the final version of the BBL on July 23 -- the first session day of the 3rd Regular Session of the current Congress and the same day when President Rodrigo R. Duterte will deliver his third state-of-the-nation address.
The final version of the bill would be ratified in plenary by both chambers before being sent to the Office of the President for Duterte’s signature.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037148
Gov’t taking ‘very serious’ steps on WPS concerns: DFA
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): Gov’t taking ‘very serious’ steps on WPS concerns: DFA
An official of the Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured Friday that “very serious” steps are being done amid China’s alleged militarization in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
DFA Undersecretary for Strategic Communications Ernesto Abella made this assurance in a media interview at Malacanang after a pre-departure briefing on President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to South Korea from June 3 to 5 this year.
“We would like to assure them (public) that there’s a lot of very serious engagements going on,” Abella, a former Palace spokesperson, said.
Abella, however, said the government cannot grant the call of the Senate and some critics to reveal “classified details” of the diplomatic actions.
“We would like to encourage the public to trust us and rest assured that the government especially the DFA is addressing this issue,” he said.
He also ensured that cooperation on the safety of the seas, travels, fisheries and environmental concerns are being made especially with China.
“What we really wanted to underline is the safety of the sea that there will be no interruption along that line,” Abella said.
On Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte will not sit on the country’s sovereign rights in the WPS.
“The President, who is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy, will not sit on our rights and will never give away even an inch of territory,” Roque said in a press statement.
Roque said the Philippines “will resort to all diplomatic initiatives including filing of diplomatic protest when warranted but without fanfare.”
China, the world’s second largest economy, had reportedly deployed anti-ship cruise missile and surface-to-air missile systems on three artificial islands the Chinese built within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
China’s air force has also reportedly landed a long-range H-6K bomber in Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands being claimed by Vietnam.
China has been claiming nearly the entire of South China Sea using the 9-dash line map which, according to UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), has no legal basis.
The Hague-based arbitral ruled in favor of the Philippines’ arbitration case against China’s demarcation line in July 2016.
China had refused to recognize the arbitral tribunal’s verdict, claiming it did not participate in the arbitration proceeding.
This prompted Duterte to temporarily shelve the PCA decision to give way friendly and diplomatic approach to the territorial dispute.
The Philippines has in fact opted to use a two-pronged approach, with one dealing the non-contentious issues such trade and investment as well as people-to-people exchanges, and the other method on contentious matters like the overlapping claims in the WPS.
The diplomatic approach has resulted in the creation of the Bicameral Consultative Committee (BCM) between the Philippines and China.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037172
An official of the Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) assured Friday that “very serious” steps are being done amid China’s alleged militarization in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
DFA Undersecretary for Strategic Communications Ernesto Abella made this assurance in a media interview at Malacanang after a pre-departure briefing on President Rodrigo Duterte’s official visit to South Korea from June 3 to 5 this year.
“We would like to assure them (public) that there’s a lot of very serious engagements going on,” Abella, a former Palace spokesperson, said.
Abella, however, said the government cannot grant the call of the Senate and some critics to reveal “classified details” of the diplomatic actions.
“We would like to encourage the public to trust us and rest assured that the government especially the DFA is addressing this issue,” he said.
He also ensured that cooperation on the safety of the seas, travels, fisheries and environmental concerns are being made especially with China.
“What we really wanted to underline is the safety of the sea that there will be no interruption along that line,” Abella said.
On Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte will not sit on the country’s sovereign rights in the WPS.
“The President, who is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy, will not sit on our rights and will never give away even an inch of territory,” Roque said in a press statement.
Roque said the Philippines “will resort to all diplomatic initiatives including filing of diplomatic protest when warranted but without fanfare.”
China, the world’s second largest economy, had reportedly deployed anti-ship cruise missile and surface-to-air missile systems on three artificial islands the Chinese built within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
China’s air force has also reportedly landed a long-range H-6K bomber in Woody Island, the largest of the Paracel Islands being claimed by Vietnam.
China has been claiming nearly the entire of South China Sea using the 9-dash line map which, according to UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), has no legal basis.
The Hague-based arbitral ruled in favor of the Philippines’ arbitration case against China’s demarcation line in July 2016.
China had refused to recognize the arbitral tribunal’s verdict, claiming it did not participate in the arbitration proceeding.
This prompted Duterte to temporarily shelve the PCA decision to give way friendly and diplomatic approach to the territorial dispute.
The Philippines has in fact opted to use a two-pronged approach, with one dealing the non-contentious issues such trade and investment as well as people-to-people exchanges, and the other method on contentious matters like the overlapping claims in the WPS.
The diplomatic approach has resulted in the creation of the Bicameral Consultative Committee (BCM) between the Philippines and China.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037172
PNP announces top brass revamp
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): PNP announces top brass revamp
The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Friday that there will be a reorganization of its top brass prompted by the recent retirement of police generals.
PNP Spokesperson, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, said the reshuffle by the organization's oversight committee was also due to the rule to keep regional director posts for a maximum of two years.
"Sinabi nga ni (As the) Chief PNP (said) during his speech na (that) we should be hitting the ground running and everybody should tow the line and dapat magampanan ang dapat gampanan para ma-sustain ang (we should do our tasks to sustain the) effort that was laid down by the former CPNP," said Bulacao, who will be appointed as officer-in-charge of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas).
Senior Supt. Benigno Durana was named acting chief of the PNP Public Information Office.
PNP Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) chief Senior Supt. Chiquito Malayo has been named as new Executive Officer and Directorate for Human Resources and Development (DHRD).
National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan will be taking over as director of the PNP Civil Security Group.
PRO 4A (Calabarzon) director and former Quezon City Police District director Guillermo Eleazar will be taking over as officer-in-charge of NCRPO while Police Director Napoleon Taas of the Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management (DICTM) has been moved to the Office of the PNP Chief.
Taking over Eleazar's post at the PRO 4A is Chief Supt. Eduard Carranza.
Also named in the reshuffle were Chief Supt. Rolando Nana - OIC, PRO-Cordillera; Chief Supt. Mariel Maniego Magaway - OIC, PRO 8 (Eastern Visayas); Chief Supt. Debold Sinas - OIC, PRO 7 (Central Visayas); Chief Supt. Ceasar Hawthorn Binag - Acting Director, DICTM ; Chief Supt. Rolando Hinanay - Acting Director PNP Crime Lab;
Chief Supt. Lurimer Detran - Acting Director, Directorate for Research and Development; Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo - Acting Director, Highway Patrol Group; Chief Supt. Edmund Gonzales- Acting Director, Intelligence Group; Chief Supt. Rolando Andutan- District Director, Manila Police District; Chief Supt. Joel Coronel - Deputy Reginal Director for Administration, NCRPO;
Chief Supt. Robert Quenery - Deputy Director, Directorate for Comptrollership; Chief Supt. Amador Corpus - Deputy Director, Directorate for Intelligence; Senior Supt. Allan Cuevillas - Deputy Director, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM); Chief Supt. Gilbert Cruz - Deputy Director, Directorate for Intelligence and Police Operations - Eastern Mindanao; Chief Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas- Deputy Director, Directorate for Operations;
Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor - Deputy Director, Directorate for Police Community Relations; Senior Supt. Celso Pestaño - Deputy Director, DICTM; Senior Supt. John Luglug - Deputy Director for Administration, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; Chief Supt. Norberto Solomon - Executive Officer, DICTM; Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal - Acting Regional Chief Directorial Staff, NCRPO; Senior Supt. Madid Paitao - Deputy Regional Director for Administration - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin- Executive Officer, DPRM.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037206
The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced Friday that there will be a reorganization of its top brass prompted by the recent retirement of police generals.
PNP Spokesperson, Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, said the reshuffle by the organization's oversight committee was also due to the rule to keep regional director posts for a maximum of two years.
"Sinabi nga ni (As the) Chief PNP (said) during his speech na (that) we should be hitting the ground running and everybody should tow the line and dapat magampanan ang dapat gampanan para ma-sustain ang (we should do our tasks to sustain the) effort that was laid down by the former CPNP," said Bulacao, who will be appointed as officer-in-charge of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas).
Senior Supt. Benigno Durana was named acting chief of the PNP Public Information Office.
PNP Counter Intelligence Task Force (CITF) chief Senior Supt. Chiquito Malayo has been named as new Executive Officer and Directorate for Human Resources and Development (DHRD).
National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan will be taking over as director of the PNP Civil Security Group.
PRO 4A (Calabarzon) director and former Quezon City Police District director Guillermo Eleazar will be taking over as officer-in-charge of NCRPO while Police Director Napoleon Taas of the Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management (DICTM) has been moved to the Office of the PNP Chief.
Taking over Eleazar's post at the PRO 4A is Chief Supt. Eduard Carranza.
Also named in the reshuffle were Chief Supt. Rolando Nana - OIC, PRO-Cordillera; Chief Supt. Mariel Maniego Magaway - OIC, PRO 8 (Eastern Visayas); Chief Supt. Debold Sinas - OIC, PRO 7 (Central Visayas); Chief Supt. Ceasar Hawthorn Binag - Acting Director, DICTM ; Chief Supt. Rolando Hinanay - Acting Director PNP Crime Lab;
Chief Supt. Lurimer Detran - Acting Director, Directorate for Research and Development; Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo - Acting Director, Highway Patrol Group; Chief Supt. Edmund Gonzales- Acting Director, Intelligence Group; Chief Supt. Rolando Andutan- District Director, Manila Police District; Chief Supt. Joel Coronel - Deputy Reginal Director for Administration, NCRPO;
Chief Supt. Robert Quenery - Deputy Director, Directorate for Comptrollership; Chief Supt. Amador Corpus - Deputy Director, Directorate for Intelligence; Senior Supt. Allan Cuevillas - Deputy Director, Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM); Chief Supt. Gilbert Cruz - Deputy Director, Directorate for Intelligence and Police Operations - Eastern Mindanao; Chief Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas- Deputy Director, Directorate for Operations;
Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor - Deputy Director, Directorate for Police Community Relations; Senior Supt. Celso Pestaño - Deputy Director, DICTM; Senior Supt. John Luglug - Deputy Director for Administration, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group; Chief Supt. Norberto Solomon - Executive Officer, DICTM; Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal - Acting Regional Chief Directorial Staff, NCRPO; Senior Supt. Madid Paitao - Deputy Regional Director for Administration - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao; and Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin- Executive Officer, DPRM.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037206
USAID, PH biz group launch P1.7-B project for youth
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 1): USAID, PH biz group launch P1.7-B project for youth
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) on Friday launched YouthWorks PH, a five-year PHP1.7 billion workforce development project which aims to connect out-of-school youth with training and employment opportunities.
Through YouthWorks PH, USAID and PBEd will engage the government and private sector partners to provide the youth with work-based training positions.
According to the US Embassy in Manila, universities and training institutions will complement these positions with classroom-based skills training and competency certifications.
Under the program, youth participants will also receive life skills training to prepare them for the workplace.
During the launch, US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Michael Klecheski said the partnership will further boost the capacities of young Filipinos who may not have the opportunity to pursue education, training, or a career.
He said the project is essentially a tool for youth to "realize their full potential while positively contributing to their communities.”
PBEd chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. echoed the same sentiments, saying the partnership will surely elevate Filipino youth "to greater heights of global competitiveness, industry relevance, and social responsiveness.”
USAID and PBEd will implement the project in six cities in the Philippines – Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga, General Santos, Iloilo, Cebu -- and in the National Capital Region.
The project will train 4,100 youth and enhance the skill sets of at least 40,000 Filipino youth over five years, so that they better match with workforce needs.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037252
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) on Friday launched YouthWorks PH, a five-year PHP1.7 billion workforce development project which aims to connect out-of-school youth with training and employment opportunities.
Through YouthWorks PH, USAID and PBEd will engage the government and private sector partners to provide the youth with work-based training positions.
According to the US Embassy in Manila, universities and training institutions will complement these positions with classroom-based skills training and competency certifications.
Under the program, youth participants will also receive life skills training to prepare them for the workplace.
During the launch, US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Michael Klecheski said the partnership will further boost the capacities of young Filipinos who may not have the opportunity to pursue education, training, or a career.
He said the project is essentially a tool for youth to "realize their full potential while positively contributing to their communities.”
PBEd chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. echoed the same sentiments, saying the partnership will surely elevate Filipino youth "to greater heights of global competitiveness, industry relevance, and social responsiveness.”
USAID and PBEd will implement the project in six cities in the Philippines – Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Zamboanga, General Santos, Iloilo, Cebu -- and in the National Capital Region.
The project will train 4,100 youth and enhance the skill sets of at least 40,000 Filipino youth over five years, so that they better match with workforce needs.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037252
MILF: “More work needed to make BBL comply with GPH-MILF Peace Agreement“- RG Hataman
Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (Jun 1): “More work needed to make BBL comply with GPH-MILF Peace Agreement“- RG Hataman
Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao welcomed the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by congress last May 30.
However, he said more works needed to be done to make the BBL comply with the peace deal signed by the Government of the Philippines (GPH), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed in 2014.
“The final version of the BBL should comply with the peace agreement,” Hataman said.
In a statement, Hataman said, "We in the ARMM continue to push for a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is compliant with the previously signed Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, as the passed measure is brought to the table of the bicameral conference scheduled next month."
Hereunder are salient portions of Gov. Hataman’s statement posted on Rappler:
We welcome the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. This recent development, and the processes that have brought us to this point, had been sustained by the strength of generations and the faith of millions.
We express our gratitude to the 17th Congress, and to the men and women who stayed the course to pass this law. We have every confidence that the final version of BBL will remain true—both to the spirit and the letter—of earlier frameworks and agreements with the stakeholders of the Bangsamoro narrative.
We in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao continue to push for a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is compliant with the previously signed Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, as the passed measure is brought to the table of the bicameral conference scheduled next month.
The BBL should bring forth an institution that is capable of responding to the challenge of the times and to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro, unimpaired and free of the maladies that have afflicted the ARMM.
The BBL is envisioned to codify not only a law, but a history of struggle and sacrifice—by countless Mujahideen, their families, and fellow Moros, as well as all of the Filipino people who were unwavering in their hope and their actions for peace, social justice, inclusiveness, and progress.
A law finds life in the commitment of our leaders—leaders from the halls of the national government all the way to our communities. It needs to be upheld constantly.
While the passage of the BBL on third and final reading is a step forward towards the realization of our hopes for the Bangsamoro, we recognize that the BBL will remain a piece of paper if we cease putting in the hard work it takes to implement the law.
Let us not cease being vigilant. Let us ensure that this law works for our people, so we will not reopen old wounds, or old fears and despairs that can be exploited by those who wish to take us from the path of solidarity and moderation.
This passage is not the end. Rather it is an encouraging milestone on our journey to peace, our unfolding story of self-determination. Our goal as we move forward is to redouble our efforts to accurately translate the words of the BBL into actions and decisions. We owe this to those who came before us. Even more so, we owe this to the coming generations of Moros and our fellow Filipinos. (Source: Rappler)
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1359/---more-works-needed-to-make-bbl-comply-with-gph-milf-peace-agreement-----rg-hataman
Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao welcomed the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by congress last May 30.
However, he said more works needed to be done to make the BBL comply with the peace deal signed by the Government of the Philippines (GPH), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed in 2014.
“The final version of the BBL should comply with the peace agreement,” Hataman said.
In a statement, Hataman said, "We in the ARMM continue to push for a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is compliant with the previously signed Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, as the passed measure is brought to the table of the bicameral conference scheduled next month."
Hereunder are salient portions of Gov. Hataman’s statement posted on Rappler:
We welcome the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. This recent development, and the processes that have brought us to this point, had been sustained by the strength of generations and the faith of millions.
We express our gratitude to the 17th Congress, and to the men and women who stayed the course to pass this law. We have every confidence that the final version of BBL will remain true—both to the spirit and the letter—of earlier frameworks and agreements with the stakeholders of the Bangsamoro narrative.
We in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao continue to push for a Bangsamoro Basic Law that is compliant with the previously signed Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro, as the passed measure is brought to the table of the bicameral conference scheduled next month.
The BBL should bring forth an institution that is capable of responding to the challenge of the times and to the aspirations of the Bangsamoro, unimpaired and free of the maladies that have afflicted the ARMM.
The BBL is envisioned to codify not only a law, but a history of struggle and sacrifice—by countless Mujahideen, their families, and fellow Moros, as well as all of the Filipino people who were unwavering in their hope and their actions for peace, social justice, inclusiveness, and progress.
A law finds life in the commitment of our leaders—leaders from the halls of the national government all the way to our communities. It needs to be upheld constantly.
While the passage of the BBL on third and final reading is a step forward towards the realization of our hopes for the Bangsamoro, we recognize that the BBL will remain a piece of paper if we cease putting in the hard work it takes to implement the law.
Let us not cease being vigilant. Let us ensure that this law works for our people, so we will not reopen old wounds, or old fears and despairs that can be exploited by those who wish to take us from the path of solidarity and moderation.
This passage is not the end. Rather it is an encouraging milestone on our journey to peace, our unfolding story of self-determination. Our goal as we move forward is to redouble our efforts to accurately translate the words of the BBL into actions and decisions. We owe this to those who came before us. Even more so, we owe this to the coming generations of Moros and our fellow Filipinos. (Source: Rappler)
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1359/---more-works-needed-to-make-bbl-comply-with-gph-milf-peace-agreement-----rg-hataman
MILF: Senate Passes BBL way different from BTC-drafted Version
Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (May 31): Senate Passes BBL way different from BTC-drafted Version
Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao- Senators voted unanimously to approve the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a version way different from the original proposal of the Bangsamoro Transition (BTC).
The passage of BBL by the Senate was made hours after the House of Representatives did the same.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte certified the BBL as urgent measure that prompted both Houses of Congress to hastily pass their own versions of the bill on 2nd and 3rd readings one after another.
The House approved its version on final reading Wednesday, May 30; the Senate, past midnight of Thursday, May 31, said a report by Rappler.
With this, a bicameral conference committee is expected to be bloody due to the major differences of the two versions, Rappler also said in its report.
Both House of Congress will ratify the reconciled version on the morning of July 23, during the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 17th Congress.
Once ratified by congress, President Rodrigo Duterte sign it into law before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address in the afternoon of July 23.
Under the House version a provision states that only one plebiscite would be held between 90 and 120 days upon the BBL's effectivity. The House bill thus only gives one chance for cities and provinces sharing a common border with the Bangsamoro to join the plebiscite. (Source: Rappler)
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1357/senate-passes-bbl-way-different-from-btc-drafted-version
Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao- Senators voted unanimously to approve the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a version way different from the original proposal of the Bangsamoro Transition (BTC).
The passage of BBL by the Senate was made hours after the House of Representatives did the same.
Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte certified the BBL as urgent measure that prompted both Houses of Congress to hastily pass their own versions of the bill on 2nd and 3rd readings one after another.
The House approved its version on final reading Wednesday, May 30; the Senate, past midnight of Thursday, May 31, said a report by Rappler.
With this, a bicameral conference committee is expected to be bloody due to the major differences of the two versions, Rappler also said in its report.
Both House of Congress will ratify the reconciled version on the morning of July 23, during the opening of the 3rd regular session of the 17th Congress.
Once ratified by congress, President Rodrigo Duterte sign it into law before he delivers his third State of the Nation Address in the afternoon of July 23.
Under the House version a provision states that only one plebiscite would be held between 90 and 120 days upon the BBL's effectivity. The House bill thus only gives one chance for cities and provinces sharing a common border with the Bangsamoro to join the plebiscite. (Source: Rappler)
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1357/senate-passes-bbl-way-different-from-btc-drafted-version
MILF: Congress approves BBL in 3rd and final reading
Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (May 31): Congress approves BBL in 3rd and final reading
Photo courtesy of Khalid Esmail /BTC secretariat
Both Houses of Congress (Senate and HoR) passed in third and final reading SB 1717, and HB 6475, respectively, known as Bangsamoro Basic Law on May 30, 2018.
The House of Representatives (HoR) approved the proposed law with significant amendments with a vote of 227 for Yes, 11 for No and 2 abstentions.
It was learned that the Makabayan Block voted for no, while Reps. Abdullah Dimaporo and Celso Lobregat abstained.
The young Rep. Dimaporo (Khalid) voted yes. In previous public hearings and congressional proceedings Khalid Dimaporo was very vocal against the BBL.
The Senate also made very substantive amendments on the proposed law in its 3rd and Final Reading with a vote of 21 for yes, and none voted for no.
Based on the pronouncement of both leaders of Congress there will be a Bicameral Conference considering that both Houses have their own separate version of the bill.
Bicameral Conference is necessary to reconcile the provisions of the two versions of the approved BBL.
The expected Bicameral Conference will be on July before the State of the Nation Address ( SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1358/congress_approves_bbl_in_3rd_and_final_reading
Photo courtesy of Khalid Esmail /BTC secretariat
Both Houses of Congress (Senate and HoR) passed in third and final reading SB 1717, and HB 6475, respectively, known as Bangsamoro Basic Law on May 30, 2018.
The House of Representatives (HoR) approved the proposed law with significant amendments with a vote of 227 for Yes, 11 for No and 2 abstentions.
It was learned that the Makabayan Block voted for no, while Reps. Abdullah Dimaporo and Celso Lobregat abstained.
The young Rep. Dimaporo (Khalid) voted yes. In previous public hearings and congressional proceedings Khalid Dimaporo was very vocal against the BBL.
The Senate also made very substantive amendments on the proposed law in its 3rd and Final Reading with a vote of 21 for yes, and none voted for no.
Based on the pronouncement of both leaders of Congress there will be a Bicameral Conference considering that both Houses have their own separate version of the bill.
Bicameral Conference is necessary to reconcile the provisions of the two versions of the approved BBL.
The expected Bicameral Conference will be on July before the State of the Nation Address ( SONA) of President Rodrigo Duterte.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1358/congress_approves_bbl_in_3rd_and_final_reading
MILF: President Duterte certifies BBL as urgent
Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (May 30): President Duterte certifies BBL as urgent
Photo courtesy of BTC
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has certified the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as urgent, a report of Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 29 afternoon says.
The report also stated that Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Sec. Adelino Sitoy on Tuesday afternoon told reporters the BBL certification has already been transmitted to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
The leaders of Senate and House of Representatives last week sent communication to Malacanan asking President Duterte to certify the Bangsamoro law as urgent.
Yesterday, members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), the body mandated to craft the BBL met with lawmakers from both Senate and House of Representatives to discuss contentious issues of the measure.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Jesus Dureza said in a statement that the President held meeting with the leaders and members of the two chambers of Philippine Congress and a separate meeting the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“The meeting adjourned with a general consensus that the two chambers conclude their work at the earliest possible time and if there are varying versions, that the mandated bicameral committees of both chambers meet to come up with a joint reconciled and accepted version,” Dureza said in a statement posted at the OPAPP Facebook page.
Dureza added that the President shall sign BBL into law on time for its announcement during the State of the Nation Address in July, this year.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1356/president_duterte_certifies_bbl_as_urgent_
Photo courtesy of BTC
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has certified the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as urgent, a report of Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 29 afternoon says.
The report also stated that Presidential Legislative Liaison Office head Sec. Adelino Sitoy on Tuesday afternoon told reporters the BBL certification has already been transmitted to Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
The leaders of Senate and House of Representatives last week sent communication to Malacanan asking President Duterte to certify the Bangsamoro law as urgent.
Yesterday, members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), the body mandated to craft the BBL met with lawmakers from both Senate and House of Representatives to discuss contentious issues of the measure.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Sec. Jesus Dureza said in a statement that the President held meeting with the leaders and members of the two chambers of Philippine Congress and a separate meeting the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“The meeting adjourned with a general consensus that the two chambers conclude their work at the earliest possible time and if there are varying versions, that the mandated bicameral committees of both chambers meet to come up with a joint reconciled and accepted version,” Dureza said in a statement posted at the OPAPP Facebook page.
Dureza added that the President shall sign BBL into law on time for its announcement during the State of the Nation Address in July, this year.
http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1356/president_duterte_certifies_bbl_as_urgent_
NDF/NPA-FSMR: NPA-FSMR thwarts AFP attacks, inflicts heavy casualties on the enemy forces
NPA-Far South Mindanao Region propaganda statement posted to the National Democratic Front Website (May 31): NPA-FSMR thwarts AFP attacks, inflicts heavy casualties on the enemy forces
Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command
Far South Mindanao Region | NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY
Press statement
31 May 2018
Military forces under the 10th ID and 6th ID-AFP conducted extensive operations against the revolutionary forces in the different areas of Far South Mindanao that started early last month. All NPA units in the region remain in active defense while the military operations were prolonged.
On April 18, 2018, a platoon unit of the Mt. Alip Subregional Operations Command faced a defensive fight against 39th IB troops in Brgy. Upper Bala, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. Two Red fighters were martyred at the battle.
On May 8, 2018, another armed confrontation between the MASROC-NPA and the 39th IB forces took place in Sitio Kapatagan, Brgy. Luayon, Makilala town in North Cotabato. The government troops plotted to raid the NPA encampment at around 10:30 in the morning, but the Red fighters were able to put up a fight and foil their attackers.
Reliable sources confirmed that at least 9 soldiers and paramilitary members were killed in the firefight that lasted for over 30 minutes. Several wounded soldiers were treated in local hospitals while those who were seriously injured were taken to Davao City.
The 10th ID-PA immediately put out fabrications to shroud their embarrassment. The 39th IB cunningly declared that the NPA sustained undetermined number of casualties and it claimed that only two infantrymen were slightly injured.
Some military casualties were airlifted, while the others were taken by ambulances. Roads leading to the area were closed by the military until the rescue operation was completed. The 39th IB reportedly used an ambulance vehicle to haul the firearms and military equipments recovered from the casualties.
In Sitio Lemteneneg, Barangay Kematu, T’boli, South Cotabato, an armed encounter between NPA fighters under the Mt. Musa Subregional Operations Command and the 27th IB-PA troops also erupted at around 11:00 o’clock in the morning on the same day.
The NPA was able to detect the movements of the military troops who were conducting operations in the area. They promptly set up a position for ambush against one of the enemy columns. Command detonated explosives were employed by the NPA, causing many casualties to the enemy forces.
The 27th IB claimed there was undetermined number of casualties on the NPA’s side while they have none. But witnesses affirmed that 10 soldiers were killed in the gun battle and 16 others were injured.
The AFP desperately carried out retaliatory shelling and air strikes in the areas where the respective encounters took place. The indiscriminate bombardments forced hundreds of families from Brgy. Luayon, Makilala and Brgy. Kematu, T’boli to evacuate their communities.
The masses were delighted by the triumph of the Red fighters against the fascists while they strongly condemn the bombardment of civilian communities.
The NPA’s recent victory against enemy offensives in FSMR is an attestation that so long as the Duterte regime goes on with its war of suppression, the NPA will pursue its armed struggle to defend the people against state terror and fascist violence.
Ka Dencio Madrigal
Spokesperson, VPROC-NPA
https://www.ndfp.org/npa-fsmr-thwarts-afp-attacks-inflicts-heavy-casualties-on-the-enemy-forces/
Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command
Far South Mindanao Region | NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY
Press statement
31 May 2018
Military forces under the 10th ID and 6th ID-AFP conducted extensive operations against the revolutionary forces in the different areas of Far South Mindanao that started early last month. All NPA units in the region remain in active defense while the military operations were prolonged.
On April 18, 2018, a platoon unit of the Mt. Alip Subregional Operations Command faced a defensive fight against 39th IB troops in Brgy. Upper Bala, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur. Two Red fighters were martyred at the battle.
On May 8, 2018, another armed confrontation between the MASROC-NPA and the 39th IB forces took place in Sitio Kapatagan, Brgy. Luayon, Makilala town in North Cotabato. The government troops plotted to raid the NPA encampment at around 10:30 in the morning, but the Red fighters were able to put up a fight and foil their attackers.
Reliable sources confirmed that at least 9 soldiers and paramilitary members were killed in the firefight that lasted for over 30 minutes. Several wounded soldiers were treated in local hospitals while those who were seriously injured were taken to Davao City.
The 10th ID-PA immediately put out fabrications to shroud their embarrassment. The 39th IB cunningly declared that the NPA sustained undetermined number of casualties and it claimed that only two infantrymen were slightly injured.
Some military casualties were airlifted, while the others were taken by ambulances. Roads leading to the area were closed by the military until the rescue operation was completed. The 39th IB reportedly used an ambulance vehicle to haul the firearms and military equipments recovered from the casualties.
In Sitio Lemteneneg, Barangay Kematu, T’boli, South Cotabato, an armed encounter between NPA fighters under the Mt. Musa Subregional Operations Command and the 27th IB-PA troops also erupted at around 11:00 o’clock in the morning on the same day.
The NPA was able to detect the movements of the military troops who were conducting operations in the area. They promptly set up a position for ambush against one of the enemy columns. Command detonated explosives were employed by the NPA, causing many casualties to the enemy forces.
The 27th IB claimed there was undetermined number of casualties on the NPA’s side while they have none. But witnesses affirmed that 10 soldiers were killed in the gun battle and 16 others were injured.
The AFP desperately carried out retaliatory shelling and air strikes in the areas where the respective encounters took place. The indiscriminate bombardments forced hundreds of families from Brgy. Luayon, Makilala and Brgy. Kematu, T’boli to evacuate their communities.
The masses were delighted by the triumph of the Red fighters against the fascists while they strongly condemn the bombardment of civilian communities.
The NPA’s recent victory against enemy offensives in FSMR is an attestation that so long as the Duterte regime goes on with its war of suppression, the NPA will pursue its armed struggle to defend the people against state terror and fascist violence.
Ka Dencio Madrigal
Spokesperson, VPROC-NPA
https://www.ndfp.org/npa-fsmr-thwarts-afp-attacks-inflicts-heavy-casualties-on-the-enemy-forces/
CPP/NPA-Central Negros: Militarisasyon sa Central Negros Ginakondenar sang NPA
NPA-Central Negros propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (May 30): Militarisasyon sa Central Negros Ginakondenar sang NPA
JB Regalado, Spokesperson
NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command
30 May 2018
Press Release
Mabaskog nga ginakondenar sang LPC-NPA ang militarisasyon nga ginapatigayon sang 62nd IBPA sa border nga binukid sang Guihulngan kag Moises Padilla nga nagsugod sadtong Mayo 24, 2018 sang gab-i tubtob subong Mayo 30, 2018.
Ginakondenar man sang LPC ang pagtiner sang nasambit nga yunit militar sa mga panimalay sang pumuluyo. Ginhimo nga kampo militar ang mga puluy-an nila Jaime Dayundon sang sityo Tuko, Billy Pitolan sang sityo Nabakalan, Gauden Alibo sang sityo Mantuna kag Anot Ordoñez sang sityo Bungao tanan sang Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.
Lubos man ginakondenar sang NPA ang pagdakop kag pagdetinar sang 3 ka oras sang 62nd IBPA kay Jesus Rafols nga isa manug-oling sang sityo Bungao, Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan. Alas 3:00 sa kaagahon nga nagpanaug sa ila balay si Jesus Rafols kag nagkadto sa iya olingan sang ginadakop siya sang militar sadtong Mayo 25, 2018. Samtang ginpapauli siya sang militar alas 6:00 na sang aga kay kuno NPA kag basi manugid sa iya mga kaupdanan nga ara ang ini nga yunit militar sa nasambit nga olingan.
Bangud sini, nahadlok kag nakugmat ang mga mangunguma. Halos indi na talunsay makatrabaho sa ila mga uma bangud sang pagsunud-sunod kag pagmonitor sang ila mga hulag. Bisan sa pagpanag-ob, pagpaligo kag iban pa nga personal nga nesisidad sang pumuluyo labi na gid sang kababaihan ginamonitor pa sang militar. Bangud sang pagduda sang militar, ginabantayan ang tanan nila nga paghulag. Labi nga nakugmat ang mga mangunguma sang nagpalupad na ang naga-operasyon nga militar sang indi pa ma-identify nga kinaiya sang drone sa nasambit nga lugar kada alas 8:00 sang aga kag kada alas 5:00 sang hapon sadtong Mayo 26-Mayo 29, 2018. Tuyo sini nga masundan ang tanan nga hulag kag lihok sang pumuluyo sa lugar.
Ang LPC-NPA padayon pa nga mag-imbestigar sa mga pumuluyo sa lugar labi na sa isa ka hitabo nga pag-abuso sekswal sa isa ka pamilya sa sityo Cupad, Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla. Inisyal nga pagpangusisa sang NPA sa pumuluyo, ginhimo ang krimen panahon nga naga-operasyon ang militar.
Ang ini nga operasyon militar nga ginlunsar partikular na sang 62nd IBPA idalum sa 303rd BdePA, maathag nga padayon nagalapas ang AFP sa CARHRIHL kag nagamanipestar sang pagsabotahe sini sa liwat nga pagbukas sang Peacetalks sa tunga sang NDPF kag GRP nga gintalana sa bulan sang Hunyo 2018.
Gani nagapanawagan ang LPC sa bulig sang tanan nga mga human rights advocates labi na gid sa mga katapo sang tri-media sa direkta nga pagpangusisa sa nasambit na nga lugar. Subong man ang pag-expose sang matuod nga panghitabo kag pagdenunsyar sang militarisasyon sa Central Negros.
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20180530-militarisasyon-sa-central-negros-ginakondenar-sang-npa
JB Regalado, Spokesperson
NPA-Central Negros (Leonardo Panaligan Command
30 May 2018
Press Release
Mabaskog nga ginakondenar sang LPC-NPA ang militarisasyon nga ginapatigayon sang 62nd IBPA sa border nga binukid sang Guihulngan kag Moises Padilla nga nagsugod sadtong Mayo 24, 2018 sang gab-i tubtob subong Mayo 30, 2018.
Ginakondenar man sang LPC ang pagtiner sang nasambit nga yunit militar sa mga panimalay sang pumuluyo. Ginhimo nga kampo militar ang mga puluy-an nila Jaime Dayundon sang sityo Tuko, Billy Pitolan sang sityo Nabakalan, Gauden Alibo sang sityo Mantuna kag Anot Ordoñez sang sityo Bungao tanan sang Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.
Lubos man ginakondenar sang NPA ang pagdakop kag pagdetinar sang 3 ka oras sang 62nd IBPA kay Jesus Rafols nga isa manug-oling sang sityo Bungao, Brgy. Trinidad, Guihulngan. Alas 3:00 sa kaagahon nga nagpanaug sa ila balay si Jesus Rafols kag nagkadto sa iya olingan sang ginadakop siya sang militar sadtong Mayo 25, 2018. Samtang ginpapauli siya sang militar alas 6:00 na sang aga kay kuno NPA kag basi manugid sa iya mga kaupdanan nga ara ang ini nga yunit militar sa nasambit nga olingan.
Bangud sini, nahadlok kag nakugmat ang mga mangunguma. Halos indi na talunsay makatrabaho sa ila mga uma bangud sang pagsunud-sunod kag pagmonitor sang ila mga hulag. Bisan sa pagpanag-ob, pagpaligo kag iban pa nga personal nga nesisidad sang pumuluyo labi na gid sang kababaihan ginamonitor pa sang militar. Bangud sang pagduda sang militar, ginabantayan ang tanan nila nga paghulag. Labi nga nakugmat ang mga mangunguma sang nagpalupad na ang naga-operasyon nga militar sang indi pa ma-identify nga kinaiya sang drone sa nasambit nga lugar kada alas 8:00 sang aga kag kada alas 5:00 sang hapon sadtong Mayo 26-Mayo 29, 2018. Tuyo sini nga masundan ang tanan nga hulag kag lihok sang pumuluyo sa lugar.
Ang LPC-NPA padayon pa nga mag-imbestigar sa mga pumuluyo sa lugar labi na sa isa ka hitabo nga pag-abuso sekswal sa isa ka pamilya sa sityo Cupad, Brgy. Macagahay, Moises Padilla. Inisyal nga pagpangusisa sang NPA sa pumuluyo, ginhimo ang krimen panahon nga naga-operasyon ang militar.
Ang ini nga operasyon militar nga ginlunsar partikular na sang 62nd IBPA idalum sa 303rd BdePA, maathag nga padayon nagalapas ang AFP sa CARHRIHL kag nagamanipestar sang pagsabotahe sini sa liwat nga pagbukas sang Peacetalks sa tunga sang NDPF kag GRP nga gintalana sa bulan sang Hunyo 2018.
Gani nagapanawagan ang LPC sa bulig sang tanan nga mga human rights advocates labi na gid sa mga katapo sang tri-media sa direkta nga pagpangusisa sa nasambit na nga lugar. Subong man ang pag-expose sang matuod nga panghitabo kag pagdenunsyar sang militarisasyon sa Central Negros.
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20180530-militarisasyon-sa-central-negros-ginakondenar-sang-npa
DWDD: BEST PRACTICES | PA and Royal Thai Army Exchanges Expertise on Human Resource Management
From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (May 31): BEST PRACTICES | PA and Royal Thai Army Exchanges Expertise on Human Resource Management
ANDRES BONIFACIO, Taguig City (DWDD) – The Philippine Army hosted Human Resource Management Subject Matter Expert Exchange with the Royal Thai Army, held on 21 to 24 May 2018 at Headquarters Philippine Army.
The 4-day, bilateral event focusses on various facets of human resource management from recruitment, education and training, placement, promotion, attrition and transition assistance program. The closer ties and cooperation pave the way of enhancing the personnel management systems and processes of the Philippine Army. OACPA / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/best-practices-pa-and-royal-thai-army-exchanges-expertise-on-human-resource-management/
ANDRES BONIFACIO, Taguig City (DWDD) – The Philippine Army hosted Human Resource Management Subject Matter Expert Exchange with the Royal Thai Army, held on 21 to 24 May 2018 at Headquarters Philippine Army.
The 4-day, bilateral event focusses on various facets of human resource management from recruitment, education and training, placement, promotion, attrition and transition assistance program. The closer ties and cooperation pave the way of enhancing the personnel management systems and processes of the Philippine Army. OACPA / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/best-practices-pa-and-royal-thai-army-exchanges-expertise-on-human-resource-management/
DWDD: ACTIVATED | 3rd C-90 Aircraft from Japan
From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (May 31): ACTIVATED | 3rd C-90 Aircraft from Japan
NAVAL BASE HERACLEO ALANO, Sangley Point, Cavite (DWDD) – On May 29, 2018, the Naval Air Group (NAG) conducted an Activation and Blessing Ceremony to NV394 the 3rd out of five C-90 aircraft that were newly acquired from Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). Wherein the Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Robert A Empedrad AFP served as guest of honor and the first lady of the Navy Mrs. Blessilda A Empedrad as its primary sponsor.
Subsequent to the Activation and Blessing ceremony is the graduation of Naval Flight Nurse Course Class-02. This is the second time that the Navy was able to produce flight nurses that will specifically cater the demands of Naval Air Operations in medical emergencies and other peculiarities of aviation.
Prior to the activities conducted, Vice Admiral Empedrad was awarded with Honorary Command Naval Aviator Badge. This badge known as Naval Wings, given to the deserving senior officers who have contributed to the development of the Naval Air Group. The ceremonies were held at Headquarters Naval Air Group, Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite City. NPAO / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/activated-3rd-c-90-aircraft-from-japan/
NAVAL BASE HERACLEO ALANO, Sangley Point, Cavite (DWDD) – On May 29, 2018, the Naval Air Group (NAG) conducted an Activation and Blessing Ceremony to NV394 the 3rd out of five C-90 aircraft that were newly acquired from Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). Wherein the Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Robert A Empedrad AFP served as guest of honor and the first lady of the Navy Mrs. Blessilda A Empedrad as its primary sponsor.
Subsequent to the Activation and Blessing ceremony is the graduation of Naval Flight Nurse Course Class-02. This is the second time that the Navy was able to produce flight nurses that will specifically cater the demands of Naval Air Operations in medical emergencies and other peculiarities of aviation.
Prior to the activities conducted, Vice Admiral Empedrad was awarded with Honorary Command Naval Aviator Badge. This badge known as Naval Wings, given to the deserving senior officers who have contributed to the development of the Naval Air Group. The ceremonies were held at Headquarters Naval Air Group, Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite City. NPAO / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/activated-3rd-c-90-aircraft-from-japan/
DWDD: CLASS ORGANIZATION | EASTMINCOM on Sustaining the Organizational Transformation
From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (May 31): CLASS ORGANIZATION | EASTMINCOM on Sustaining the Organizational Transformation
NAVAL STATION FELIX APOLINARIO, Panacan, Davao City (DWDD) – In an effort to sustain the initiative of transforming Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) into a world-class organization, the EMC Transformation Institutionalization Pathway (EMCTRIP) was launched immediately after the Command was conferred the Institutionalized Status with Gold Trail Blazer Award on December 17, 2017.
Lt. General Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., Commander of EMC conferred to the different offices of the Command the Initiated and Compliant Status – the first and second level of transformation in the EMCTRIP.
The said statuses were awarded after the offices undergone the EMCTRIP Revalida that was undertaken by the Governance Strategy Management Office (GSMO) of the Command during the first quarter of 2018.
The Office of the Deputy Commander led the group of the offices that were conferred the Initiated Status, followed by the Office of the Chief of the Unified Command Staff.
An Initiated Status was also conferred to the Office of the Assistant Chief of the Unified Command Staff (ACUCS) for Civil-Military Operations, the Command Provost Marshal, Office of the Command Adjutant, and the Command Public Information Office.
On the other hand, the following offices were also conferred the Compliant Status:
1. ACUCS for Logistics, U4
2. ACUCS for Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems, U6
3. Office of the Command Inspector General
4. ACUCS for Plans, U5
5. ACUCS for Personnel, U1
6. ACUCS for Operations, U3
7. Command Judge Advocate General Office
8. ACUCS for Joint Trainings, U8
9. ACUCS for Intelligence, U2
10. Management & Fiscal Office
EASTMINCOM / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/class-organization-eastmincom-on-sustaining-the-organizational-transformation/
NAVAL STATION FELIX APOLINARIO, Panacan, Davao City (DWDD) – In an effort to sustain the initiative of transforming Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) into a world-class organization, the EMC Transformation Institutionalization Pathway (EMCTRIP) was launched immediately after the Command was conferred the Institutionalized Status with Gold Trail Blazer Award on December 17, 2017.
Lt. General Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., Commander of EMC conferred to the different offices of the Command the Initiated and Compliant Status – the first and second level of transformation in the EMCTRIP.
The said statuses were awarded after the offices undergone the EMCTRIP Revalida that was undertaken by the Governance Strategy Management Office (GSMO) of the Command during the first quarter of 2018.
The Office of the Deputy Commander led the group of the offices that were conferred the Initiated Status, followed by the Office of the Chief of the Unified Command Staff.
An Initiated Status was also conferred to the Office of the Assistant Chief of the Unified Command Staff (ACUCS) for Civil-Military Operations, the Command Provost Marshal, Office of the Command Adjutant, and the Command Public Information Office.
On the other hand, the following offices were also conferred the Compliant Status:
1. ACUCS for Logistics, U4
2. ACUCS for Communications, Electronics, and Information Systems, U6
3. Office of the Command Inspector General
4. ACUCS for Plans, U5
5. ACUCS for Personnel, U1
6. ACUCS for Operations, U3
7. Command Judge Advocate General Office
8. ACUCS for Joint Trainings, U8
9. ACUCS for Intelligence, U2
10. Management & Fiscal Office
EASTMINCOM / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/class-organization-eastmincom-on-sustaining-the-organizational-transformation/
DWDD: ASSAULT | BIFF lair, Arms Factory in Maguindanao seized
From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (May 31): ASSAULT | BIFF lair, Arms Factory in Maguindanao seized
PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Sultan Kudarat (DWDD) – Combined elements of the Army and police commandos seized a terrorist firearms factory after storming the notorious lair of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.
Lt Col Harold M Cabunoc, the Commanding Officer of the 33rd Infantry “Makabayan” Battalion, said that the target of the operations was the firearms factory of the terrorists in the area.
“We specifically targeted the firearms manufacturing capability of the BIFF. It is part of our ongoing efforts in degrading their firepower as we pressure them to surrender,” said Cabunoc.
The security forces seized a gunsmithing machine, two Rocket Propelled Grenades Launchers, a Cal .45 M1911 pistol, a 12-gauge Shotgun, rifle grenades, unfinished home-made guns, and assorted ammunition. Fifteen people were held for questioning but they were promptly released to the local government officials.
Combined arms operations Synchronizing different capabilities, the operation was participated in by different units of the Army such as the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the 7th Field Artillery Battalion.
“To keep our winning edge against a highly adaptive enemy in a complex environment, we employed different capabilities to maximize combined arms effects. The synergized effort enables the police commandos to serve the warrants against the suspects,” said Cabunoc.
Lt Col Lauro Oliveros, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Mechanized Battalion said that his unit is harnessing its ability to provide maximum support to the maneuvering troops.
“Our armored vehicles provide protection to the infantry during the assault on the houses which are located within a civilian community. The sight of the roaring heavily armed armored vehicles serve as deterrence against the terrorists who mingle with civilians,” said Oliveros.
Protected by the artillery assets, police commandos executed the raid on the specific houses that are identified by informants. The suspects fled in disarray, leaving behind some weapons and war materiel.
“With artillery support behind us, we gained the confidence to execute the mission alongside our Army counterparts. The artillery had served as stern warning against those who dare to join the fray,” said Police Superintendent Darwin Padla, the Battalion Commander of the 4th Special Action Battalion who participated the operations.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, the Commander of the 6th Infantry Division has commended the troops for the successful mission.
“You have accomplished the mission without any unnecessary casualties. Continue putting on the pressure against the remnants of the BIFF so that they will eventually surrender like the others,” said Sobejana. 33IB / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/assault-biff-lair-arms-factory-in-maguindanao-seized/
PRESIDENT QUIRINO, Sultan Kudarat (DWDD) – Combined elements of the Army and police commandos seized a terrorist firearms factory after storming the notorious lair of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.
Lt Col Harold M Cabunoc, the Commanding Officer of the 33rd Infantry “Makabayan” Battalion, said that the target of the operations was the firearms factory of the terrorists in the area.
“We specifically targeted the firearms manufacturing capability of the BIFF. It is part of our ongoing efforts in degrading their firepower as we pressure them to surrender,” said Cabunoc.
The security forces seized a gunsmithing machine, two Rocket Propelled Grenades Launchers, a Cal .45 M1911 pistol, a 12-gauge Shotgun, rifle grenades, unfinished home-made guns, and assorted ammunition. Fifteen people were held for questioning but they were promptly released to the local government officials.
Combined arms operations Synchronizing different capabilities, the operation was participated in by different units of the Army such as the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion and the 7th Field Artillery Battalion.
“To keep our winning edge against a highly adaptive enemy in a complex environment, we employed different capabilities to maximize combined arms effects. The synergized effort enables the police commandos to serve the warrants against the suspects,” said Cabunoc.
Lt Col Lauro Oliveros, the Commanding Officer of the 1st Mechanized Battalion said that his unit is harnessing its ability to provide maximum support to the maneuvering troops.
“Our armored vehicles provide protection to the infantry during the assault on the houses which are located within a civilian community. The sight of the roaring heavily armed armored vehicles serve as deterrence against the terrorists who mingle with civilians,” said Oliveros.
Protected by the artillery assets, police commandos executed the raid on the specific houses that are identified by informants. The suspects fled in disarray, leaving behind some weapons and war materiel.
“With artillery support behind us, we gained the confidence to execute the mission alongside our Army counterparts. The artillery had served as stern warning against those who dare to join the fray,” said Police Superintendent Darwin Padla, the Battalion Commander of the 4th Special Action Battalion who participated the operations.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, the Commander of the 6th Infantry Division has commended the troops for the successful mission.
“You have accomplished the mission without any unnecessary casualties. Continue putting on the pressure against the remnants of the BIFF so that they will eventually surrender like the others,” said Sobejana. 33IB / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/05/31/assault-biff-lair-arms-factory-in-maguindanao-seized/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)