Kalinaw News: Lumads of Talaingod conducted peace rally

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jul 21, 2019): Lumads of Talaingod conducted peace rally

 

Talaingod, Davao del Norte – Lumad victims of CPP-NPA-NDF exploitation and propaganda subjected themselves to a three-day PEACE BUILDING SEMINAR with the theme “Kalinaw atong Kab-oton, Panaghiusa atong buhaton” which was initiated by the 56th Infantry (TATAG) Battalion under the leadership of LTC NORMAN E VALDEZ INF (GSC) PA, Battalion Commander, held at Tribal Hall, Sitio JBL, Brgy Sto Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte from 18 to 20 July 2019.

The activity aimed to assist, guide and prepare the participants in their transition back to mainstream society.

In his speech during the opening of the seminar, LTC Valdez said, “Ang pagpapahalaga naming mga sundalo sa mga lumad ay sinsero sapagkat ang pag-galang namin sa inyong kultura at pagbibigay namin ng respeto sa inyo ay may pagkukusa sa aming mga puso. Nangangako kami na kasama ang kasundaluhan ng 56IB at ang buong Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas na hindi kami magsasawang tumulong sa inyo (lumad) katulad ng pagmamahal ninyo sa amin na tunay nyong sundalo”.

The success of the activity was attributed by the cooperation and partnership of various stakeholders from the local and national government units and agencies (NCIP, DepEd, PNP, PENRO, DAR, Religious Sector, DILG, DTI, TESDA, PSWD, 10CMO and 5CRG). The series of lectures and workshops made the participants learn the sincerity of the government in helping them to prosper and attain peace in their everyday living.

During the event, the participants realized how the communist terrorist groups exploited the tribes and that caused them to initiate a peace rally to condemn the enemy atrocities and to seek justice for their affected families.

The activity was concluded by a Peace Rally. Bae Pilar Libayao, IPMR and Datu Lumansad Sibogan, Tribal Chieftain both of Talaingod and Datu Guibang Apoga, the Legendary Founder of Salugpungan Ta’Tanu Igkanugon joined the rallyists to condemn the CPP-NPA.

Hon Jonnie A Libayao, the Mayor of Talaingod, supported the group by giving his message “Wala akong ibang hangad para sa inyo (lumad), dahil ako ay isa rin na katulad ninyo na naghahangad ng kapayapaan para sa ating tribo. Ang Kapayapaan ay makakamtan natin kung tayo ay magkakaisa at tutulong sugpuin ang mga mapagsamantalang mga komunistang NPA kabalikat ang kasundaluhan na walang sawang nagmamalasakit sa atin para makamtan ang tunay na kapayapaan sa Bayan ng Talaingod.

The event was highlighted by the unveiling of Resolutions declaring the CPP-NPA as Persona Non Grata by the three barangays namely Brgy Santo Niño, Brgy Palma Gil, and Brgy Dagohoy of Talaingod, DDN.The declarations banned the CPP-NPA-NDF to enter their barangays.

In his statement, COL ALEXIS NOEL BRAVO, Deputy Commander 1003rd Brigade, 10ID, PA also said “Napakasaya ko, dahil dati nagtatanong lang ako kung may katapusan pa ba itong mga mapagsamantalang gawain ng komunistang NPA, ngayon masasabi ko’ng posible dahil ipinapakita ninyo (lumad) na kayo mismo ang nagtatakwil sa kanila (NPA). Nandito kami para lalo kayong maliwanagan at maging kaagapay ninyo sa pagkamit ng tunay na kapayapaan at upang maibalik ang matiwasay na komunidad na karapat-dapat para sa inyo”. (Malipayon nako karon, kay sa una nagapangutana lang ko kung naa ba kaha’y katapusan ang pagsasamantala sa mga komunistang NPA. Karon nakita na nako nga posible nga mahunong).

The participants of the peace rally accounted to more or less 200, pledged to support the government in attaining peace especially in the lumad communities of Talaingod.

56th Infantry Battalion 7th Infantry Division
CPT John Louie Dema-ala (INF)
Public Information Officer
56th Infantry (TATAG) Battalion
Cellphone No: 09673514403
E Mail Address: cmotatag56@gmail.com

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Contact us: contact@kalinawnews.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/lumads-of-talaingod-conducted-peace-rally/

Kalinaw News: 21 NPA Surrenders anew, 110 CPP-NDF members withdraw membership in Bukidnon

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jul 21, 2019): 21 NPA Surrenders anew, 110 CPP-NDF members withdraw membership in Bukidnon

JULY 19, 2019- Twenty-one (21) Militia ng Bayan (MB) surrender to the government, nineteen (19) members of Sangay sa Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL), forty-five (45) members of Pambansang Kilusan ng Magbubukid (PKM), thirty (30) members of Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MKBK), 16 members of Kabataang Makabayan (KM) a total of 131 withdraw their membership and support to Company Dario, Sub-Regional Command 2, North Central Mindanao Regional Command during the Community Support Program (CSP) Grand “Pulong-pulong” at Barangay Can-ayan, Malaybalay city, today, July 19, 2019.

The members were deceived by the NPA organizers using issues arousing, organizing and mobilizing them to go against the Philippine Government. They were infiltrated by the NPA in the year 2010 promising that they will help in peace and development but it turned only into chaos, the NPA organizers have sown terror in the community.

The group enlightened by the truth during the grand “pulong-pulong” where Local Government Unit and Local Agencies visited the place to answer all issues, 21 NPA members surrender to the government and 110 supporters withdraw their CPP-NPA-NDF membership by signing in public the document “Withdrawal of Membership to the National Democratic Front” (Komiteng Balangay) witnessed by the Malaybalay city LGU officials, NCIP, DILG, DENR representatives, other local agencies and stakeholders and the people of Barangay Can-ayan.

Mr Bonifacio TUmala Sr, leader of “Pambansang Kilusan ng Magbubukid” (PKM)-an NPA affiliated organization, in his testimony said “tinuod na miyembro mi sa organisasyon pero wala mi mahimo kay pobre ra mi unya gisaaran mi ug kaayuhan sa NPA, mao nag-apil mi pero bakak man diay ang ilaha; pamaagi ra nila tu aron makarekruit.”

“Ni anhi mi sa inyong komunidad kauban ang uban nga Government Agencies aron mo tabang ug dili makig giyera aron ipasabot nga aduna tay gobyerno ug National Agencies nga andam mo tubag sa atong mga klase klase nga pangutana” Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana, Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry “Dependable” Battalion said in his speech.

Mr. Roberto Flores, the executive assistant to the Mayor of Malaybalay City in his statement said, “CSP is a good approach to end local insurgency and the city government is willing to participate and adopt this approach.”

The surrenders will be assisted by the Unit and Malaybalay City LGU to ensure their safety and support from the government.

8th Infantry Battalion 4th Infantry Division Philippine Army
1LT KENNETH T CABBIGAT (INF) PA
CMO Officcer
dependable_cmo@yahoo.com

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace by the Philippine Army. It provides information on the activities of Army Units nationwide in the performance of their duty of Serving the People and Securing the Land. This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/21-npa-surrenders-anew-110-cpp-ndf-members-withdraw-membership-in-bukidnon/

Group assures monitoring of AFP internal security plan

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 20, 2019): Group assures monitoring of AFP internal security plan

The "Bantay Bayanihan sa Kapayapaan" in Negros Oriental has assured that it is constantly monitoring activities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the province as an oversight body of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) implementation of the military.

Marietta Jambora, its lead convenor, assured on Wednesday afternoon that since the creation of the group about 10 years ago, it has not received any report or complaint of human rights abuses by Philippine Army troops deployed in Negros Oriental.

Bantay Bayanihan-Negros Oriental is a third-party oversight group recognized by the military and is composed of sectoral leaders from different churches, farmers and fisherfolk groups, indigenous peoples, advocacies for women and child abuses, and persons with disabilities, among others, Jambora said.

The role/mandate of the Bantay Bayanihan is more of an oversight function to check and monitor that there are “no violations of human rights IHL (international humanitarian law), and the rule of law by the military here”, Jambora said.

“We need to monitor these as abuses like these will destroy the image of the military,” she said.

The Army units now assigned in Negros Oriental include the 302nd Infantry Brigade, the 11th Infantry Battalion, the 94th Infantry Battalion and the 3rd CMO Battalion.

Now that there are more government security forces in Negros Oriental, they are back to their mandate of monitoring them and working closely with them, Jambora said.

For a while, after the 302nd Brigade transferred its headquarters to Bohol, and the 11th Infantry Battalion was pulled out from Negros Oriental, the Army units here decreased in a few years.

But in June this year, more troops were re-deployed to Negros to end the communist insurgency, as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

For the past years, there was no battalion or brigade based in Negros Oriental and also less activities of the Army to monitor.

Jambora said a Center for Sectoral Bayanihan was created outside of the formal Bantay Bayanihan oversight group to continue the bond among the sectoral representatives.

Jambora said that last July 6, a roundtable discussion was held between Bantay Bayanihan-Negros Oriental and representatives from the Army units in the province to review the body's manifesto; how to ensure that it remains neutral and critical to the AFP especially in the monitoring of the HR, IHL, and rule of law mandate of the military; and how it can help assist in the return to civilian life and reconciliation process of former rebels who have surrendered.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/July/20/topstory12.htm

'Most wanted' NPA leader nabbed in Tagum City

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 20, 2019): 'Most wanted' NPA leader nabbed in Tagum City



Google map of Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

A New People's Army (NPA) leader who is wanted for murder was arrested Friday in Tagum City, officials said.

Major Jason Baria, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-11 (PRO-11), identified the arrested rebel as suspect as Ronnie Dumasig Campaner, a commanding officer of the NPA's Guerilla Front 2, Southern Mindanao Regional Command, and listed as a "most wanted person" by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Baria said the 51-year old Campane, a resident of Pantukan town, Compostela Valley province, was arrested by virtue of warrant of arrest for murder, in a residence in Barangay East, Tagum City.

The arresting team recovered from the scene a 12-gauge shotgun and 40 rounds ammunition, the police official said, adding that Campane is currently being held at the Tagum police station for the filing of appropriate charges.

Brig. Gen Morales, PRO-11 chief, said all police units in Davao Region have been ordered to "conduct and implement an operation if there are persons with existing warrants of arrest in the area."

Morales said Campane's arrest sends "a strong message to the New People's Army that there is no safe haven for them anywhere in the region.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075551

60 Minutes: Australian troops training Filipino forces to combat ISIS threat

From 9News (Jul 20, 2019): 60 Minutes: Australian troops training Filipino forces to combat ISIS threat




Australian troops deployed to the Philippines say the threat of ISIS is now on Australia’s doorstep, as the terror group moves closer to home.

More than 100 Australian troops from the army, air force and navy are currently based in the southern Philippines, training local forces in combat techniques they learnt on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Their mission - known officially as Operation Augury - is not only to equip Filipino forces with new battle techniques, but to also help safeguard Australia’s own regional security.

Australian troops deployed to the Philippines say the threat of ISIS is now on Australia’s doorstep, as the terror group moves closer to home. (60 Minutes)

“We just need to be ready and make sure we can counter it,” Group Captain John Young tells 60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett.

“It may not be in Australia, but this part of the world is in our backyard… they’re our neighbours.”
This Sunday, 60 Minutes is the first television program to be given access to the mission - with exclusive access to the drills and scenarios Aussie troops are using to prepare local forces in combat against ISIS and other local extremist groups.

More than 100 Australian troops are currently based in the southern Philippines, training local forces in combat techniques they learnt on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. (60 Minutes)

Highly-skilled at fighting in the dense jungle, the Philippines military were caught off guard when ISIS forced them to the streets of the major urban city of Marawi.

ISIS seized Marawi City in the southern Philippines in May 2017 and claimed it as their East-Asia headquarters.

Marawi was once home to more than 200,000 people.

Now, it is a ghost town. Homes and shopfronts have been bombed out, with all the cities infrastructure in ruins.Their mission - known officially as Operation Augury - is not only to equip Filipino forces with new battle techniques. (60 Minutes)

Though the siege ended in November 2017, the streets are still too dangerous for locals to return home with hundreds of unexploded bombs hidden in the rubble.

The Marawi city siege was the second time in five years that Islamic extremism brought mass bloodshed to the southern Philippines.

But the destruction and devastation is a reminder that ISIS is not a far-off threat for Australia - Marawi city is just three-hours flight time from Darwin.

60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett confronts the threat of the Islamic State head-on, in an astonishing interview with radicalised Islamic State recruits.

Highly skilled at fighting in the dense jungle, the Philippines military were caught off guard when ISIS forced them to the streets of the major urban city of Marawi. (60 Minutes)

Initially lured to extremism by the promise of a wage and better life, the young ISIS recruits sitting across from the 60 Minutes cameras now believe the sickening ideology of those who recruited them.

In a shocking interview, 24-year-old Filipino ‘Sadam’ says he joined ISIS three years ago – and tells 60 Minutes he is ready to fight for Islamic State – both at home in the Philippines or across international waters.

“We’re just doing what God told us to do,” Sadam says.

‘On Our Doorstep’ airs this Sunday on Channel 9 after Australian Ninja Warrior. For more information on 60 Minutes, visit the official website.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/60-minutes-australian-troops-philippines-isis-threat-operation-augury-australia-news-world/3e8ea2b4-81ed-4836-a679-d9e200c87a77

Bulatlat: Youth groups to join United People’s SONA

From the pro-Communist Party of the Philippines/National Democratic Front online propaganda publication Bulatlat (Jul 19, 2019): Youth groups to join United People’s SONA

Youth leaders announce they will join the United People’s SONA this Monday. (Photo by Sheerah Escudero/ Bulatlat)

MANILA — Unified by their discontent with the current administration, youth groups announced they will join the United People’s SONA to counter President Rodrigo Duterte’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 22.

Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students (LFS), National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), and College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) voiced out their “long depleted hopes on the government under the three years of Duterte’s presidency.”

“The lives of already afflicted Filipino people have been dragged back into a deeper darkness through the relentless attacks in the face of extra-judicial killings, demolitions, and worsening socio-economic crisis,” they said in a statement.

“President Rodrigo Duterte once threatened us [youth leaders and student activists] but why can’t he kick out China for our national sovereignty?” said Isaac Punzalan, of Kasama sa UP in a press conference at the Commision on Human Rights (CHR) last July 19.

Punzalan said that he will join the United People’s SONA because of the urgent need to defend the country’s national sovereignty.

“I have already experienced marching with the thousands of Filipino people, and I am willing, together with my fellow students, to once again go out in the streets to fight for our rights and freedom,” he added.

Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago, meanwhile, said she expects “nothing less than sheer disappointment from President Duterte’s yet another scripted brouhaha.”

Elago said that similar to the previous SONA speeches, the President will just will once again avert the attention of the Filipino people from the legitimate issues faced by the country.

“On the face of China’s territorial intrusion and aggression, the youth is coerced to undergo mandatory ROTC [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps] regardless of the program’s history of abuses and harassment.” she added.

Sense of true nationalism

The groups emphasized that the government instills nothing but false sense of nationalism and blind obedience among the youth with priority bills such as the mandatory ROTC and lowering of minimum age of criminal responsibility (MACR) from 12 years old to nine years old.

“The true nationalism is about joining the People’s SONA, not through joining the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), because they are the real human rights violators,” said senior high student Rinoa Duero.

The youth groups also opposed the administration’s counterinsurgency programs such as Oplan Sauron in Negros which resulted in rampant illegal arrests, torture and killings, and Oplan Kalasag in the cities.

Alex Danday of Anakbayan said they will never let the abuses continue, and that Duterte’s three years of administration is enough and must put to an end.

“If our heroes like Rizal and Bonifacio were still alive, they will take action and oust Duterte,” Danday said.

https://www.bulatlat.com/2019/07/19/youth-groups-to-join-united-peoples-sona/

4 cops tortured, executed

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jul 20, 2019): 4 cops tortured, executed

They were tortured and summarily executed.

These were the initial findings of the police, in the killing of four troopers of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 by suspected New People’s Army rebels on Thursday in Sitio Ilaya Yamot, Brgy. Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental, PBrig. Gen. Debold Sinas, regional police director of Central Visayas, said yesterday.

Sinas, who inspected the crime scene in Ayungon, Negros Oriental, yesterday said that the four police officers were captured and hogtied before executed.

It was the second biggest number of casualties suffered by the police in their internal security operations in Negros Oriental since 2017, after six police officers and a civilian also died in Guihulngan City, where the ambush incident was claimed by the NPA.

Initial police investigations showed that that the four victims riding in three motorcycles were approaching the house of Victoriano Anadon, alias Oto, when they were waylaid by a group of suspected NPA rebels

The four victims, identified as PCpl. Relebert Beronio, Patrolmen Raffy Callo, Roel Cabellon and Marquino de Leon, were all members of the 704th Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 7 assigned at a police outpost in Brgy. Mabato, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.

In a press conference at the headquarters of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, Sinas said that the four police intelligence officers, who had disguised themselves as foresters, had been set up, as the rebels estimated at 30 to 40, had apparently been waiting for them.

He said the four, who initially resisted, were subdued and hit with rifle butts. Some of them suffered fractured ribs and hematoma, the results of autopsies showed, Sinas added.

In a sense, it was an ambush, but there was no exchange of fire, he also said.

They were brought to the house of Anadon, where they were summarily executed, Sinas said.

Police investigations also showed that it was Anadon, who tied the policemen with nylon cords. Each of the victims suffered a lone gunshot wound on their heads, he added.

Sinas added that the four were either sitting down or kneeling when they were shot in the back. “The trajectory of the bullet was from above. It was cold-blooded,” the regional police director also said.

One of the four victims was also observed to have a slash injury in his throat.

Anadon is now under police custody, as he was classified as a “person of interest”, and may face charges for conspiracy to commit murder, Sinas also said.

He added that they are determining if the barangay captain is liable for the death of the four policemen, as he did not inform the victims that area is a mass base of the New People’s Army, although he is cooperating in their investigations.

Sinas said the fleeing rebels also took the personal belongings and valuables of the slain policemen, aside from their guns.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office yesterday condemned the brutal killing of the four RMFB 7 personnel

Col. Romeo Baleros, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, yesterday relayed his sympathy to the families of the victims, and called on the CPP-NPA to stop the killings, that he described as ”barbaric and inhuman acts”.

Baleros asked the general public to help them in their campaign against terrorist groups.

“These terrorists have nothing in mind but to create fear among the populace”, he said.

PEACE TALKS

The PNP also said that the brutal killings of the four policemen shows the insincerity of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in pursuing the peace agreement with the government.

“For the nth time, the CPP-NPA has shown its insincerity to forge a peace agreement with government by continuing to wage its campaign of terror and oppression against the peasants, and tribal communities in the countryside,” PNP Deputy Spokesperson Lt. Col. Kimberly Molitas said in a statement.

“Still not satisfied with the blood of their prey, the terrorists also looted the dead of their firearms, valuables and personal belongings, and drove off with the victims’ motorcycles,” Molitas said.

He also said the PNP assures the families of the victims of all available assistance that the government can extend “if only to ease their suffering over this tragic loss.”

She added that a joint police and military pursuit operation is ongoing to arrest the persons behind the crime.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año and PNP chief Oscar Albayalde are scheduled to visit the wake of the four policemen in Negros Oriental today.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/July/20/topstory2.htm

Red killed in Zamboanga Sibugay clash

From Politiko Mindanao (Jul 19, 2019): Red killed in Zamboanga Sibugay clash

An alleged member of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with the Philippine Army in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Lt. Col. Don Templonuevo, commanding officer of 44th Infantry Battalion (IB), which has the operational jurisdiction of Zamboanga Sibugay, said the troops clashed with about 12 fully armed communist rebels at Sitio KM18, Brgy. Diampak, Kabasalan town Wednesday, July 17.

One soldier was slightly wounded but already in safe condition, he said.

The government troops recovered one M16 rifle, magazines, pieces of ammunition, improvised explosive device, medical paraphernalia, solar panel, radio, cellular phones, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

“This is the result of the deliberate planning of the unit and the cooperation of the people of Diampak, Kabasalan. We encourage the people of Sibugay to fully cooperate with us in order to neutralize the communist rebels in the area,” Templonuevo said.

“We will not let go until we destroy the remaining rebels in the area. That’s why we are urging the remaining rebels to lay down their arms and surrender to the government. Rest assured that we will help them start again and have a peaceful life if they return to the folds of law,” he added.

https://mindanao.politics.com.ph/red-killed-in-zamboanga-sibugay-clash/

Tagalog News: Pagkakaisa kontra insurhensiya sa lalawigan, tinalakay sa PPOC

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 19, 2019): Tagalog News: Pagkakaisa kontra insurhensiya sa lalawigan, tinalakay sa PPOC

Ipinapaliwanag ni 1LT Howell Jason Kirby Buhion, B Company Commander 76th IB, ang whole of nation approach bilang mabisang paraan sa pagsugpo ng insurgency. (Voltaire N. Dequina)

MAMBURAO, Occidental Mindoro - Pagsasama-sama ng iba’t ibang ahensiya o convergence ang natukoy na pangunahing hakbang upang labanan ang insurhensiya sa lalawigan, sa isinagawang Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Executive Committee Meeting sa bayang ito kamakailan.

Ayon kay 1LT Howell Jason Kirby Buhion, B Company Commander ng 76th IB, “kailangang magsama-sama ang iba’t ibang ahensya sa pagsugpo sa insurhensiya.”

Aniya, ang militarized approach na kadalasan nilang dala sa isang lugar kung saan may presensiya ng mga rebelde (insurgents) ay hindi lubusang nakatutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mga mamamayan.

Sa pag-uulat ni Buhion sa kapulungan, lumilitaw na ang kahirapan, usapin sa lupaing ninuno at mga programa ng pamahalaan na hindi nakararating sa taumbayan, ang mga ugat ng kawalan ng kumpiyansa sa pamahalaan na posibleng mauwi sa insurhensiya.

Ayon sa opisyal, nagagamit ang mga naturang usapin upang makumbinsi ang mga Indigenous Peoples (IPs) na sumapi sa Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs). “Madali silang (IPs) napapaniwala ng mga CNT na pinabayaan na sila ng gobyerno,” paliwanag ni Buhion.

Kabilang sa mga lugar na binanggit ng company commander kung saan posibleng may impluwensiya ang mga CNTs ang Barangay (Brgy) Burgos, San Agustin at Baongbuhay ng bayan ng Sablayan, Brgy Alakaak at Pinagturilan ng Sta Cruz gayundin ang Udalo, San Vicente at Sta Maria ng Abra de Ilog at Brgy Harrizon ng Paluan.



Ipinaliwanag naman ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) na ang konsepto ng pagtutulungan ng mga ahensya kontra insurhensiya ang sadyang daan na tinatahak ng pamahalaan.

“Sakaling kailangan ang kalye patungo sa isang barangay, tutugunan ito ng DPWH,” pagbibigay halimbawa ni Ulysses Feraren, DILG Provincial Director. Dagdag pa ng opisyal, masasagot naman ng Department of Education (Dep Ed) ang mga problemang pampaaralan habang maaring magkatulungan ang National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at iba pang kaugnay na ahensya upang makapagbigay ng trabaho.

“Malaki rin po ang epekto ng pulitika. May mga pagkakataon na hindi nabibigyan ng tulong ang isang barangay dahil hindi kaalyado ng mayor ang kapitan nito”, paglalahad pa ni Buhion.

Aniya, hiniling ng opisyal sa bagong pamunuan ng lalawigan na sikaping maging daan upang hindi mangyari ang ganitong sistema.

Samantala, bilang kaugnay na usapin, iniulat naman ni Juvy Tepico ng DILG, ang apat na bayan na nagdeklarang persona non-grata sa mga CNTs sa kani-kanilang lugar. Ang mga ito ay ang Lubang, Sablayan, San Jose at Rizal. Ipinakiusap din ni Tepico sa PPOC Executive Committee na ipaalala sa iba pang munisipyo na magsagawa ng kaparehong deklarasyon. (VND/PIA MIMAROPA/Occ Min)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1024709

Convergence Summit plots to end insurgency in Region 9

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jul 19, 2019): Convergence Summit plots to end insurgency in Region 9

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, July 19 (PIA) – Various government agencies and representatives from local government units gathered at a local hotel in Zamboanga City to lay out plans for a convergence effort to finally put an end to the insurgency problem in the region.



DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista, who is also designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Coordination for the National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in Region IX said that the summit is for convergence efforts in the region to implement programs and projects of various government agencies in focused target areas affected by the insurgency problem with the Communist rebels.

“This will be the focus of our participants who are representatives coming from the local government agencies at ibubuhos nila ang kanilang mga serbisyo doon sa mga sinasabi nating areas na mataas ang poverty (and they will pour all their efforts and services in areas with high incidence of poverty),” Secretary Bautista said.

Bautista reiterated that the convergence is crucial to reduce the tendency of communities to be under the influence of insurgent groups because of poverty.

“Kaya kung mare-reduce natin yun, mai-eradicate yun, ang tendency is wala nang magiging reason ang mga communist terrorist group na pinababayaan sila ng gobyerno (If we are able to reduce and eradicate that [poverty], then there will be no reason for the communist group to say that the government has neglected them),” Bautista added.



Meanwhile, NEDA-X Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño shared the experiences and mechanisms that they have adapted in areas of convergence for peace and development in their region. She underscored the importance of carefully designed programs and projects, especially in identifying focused target areas for development right there in the very communities who need development the most.

“Ang sinasabi natin na while we want to end local communist conflict and other conflicts, to us that is just the means, because the higher end for us is sustainable and inclusive development,” Cariño explained.

During the Summit, the Regional Task Force (RTF)-ELCAC adapted the organizational setup and operational mechanisms modeled from RTF-Region X and has initially taken some steps to implement the plans through the different line of efforts of the different clusters of the RTF, to include basic services, infrastructure, security, local governance empowerment, local peace initiatives, and strategic communication, among others.

The convergence Summit is one of the many steps of the government based on the directives of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte that is stipulated under Executive Order No. 70 which calls for a whole-of-nation approach towards lasting peace and development in our communities. (ALT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1024833

Salugpongan ‘national security threat’: IP leader

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 20, 2019): Salugpongan ‘national security threat’: IP leader



SALUGPONGAN CONTROVERSY. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. shows to the media the report detailing the alleged links of Salugpongan schools to the communist rebel movement during an interview with Davao City reporters on Wednesday. (Photo by Che Palicte)

DAVAO CITY--A tribal leader has described the controversial Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLCI) as a national security threat, even as he called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to fully shut down the schools.

In an interview on Saturday, Datu Joel Unad, chairman of the Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Council of Elders, said DepEd should issue a closure order against the Salugpongan school system for propagating the "ideology" behind the communist rebellion in the country.

Unad made the call following DepEd's order last week to temporarily suspend the operation of 55 Salugpongan schools in Region 11.

Unad expressed concern that STTICLCI's teachings in its tribal schools have "poisoned the minds of our schoolchildren," even as he voiced support to allegations that Salugpongan is linked with the New People's Army (NPA).

In suspending Salugpongan's permit to operate, DepEd-Region 11 cited the 2018 findings released by National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. detailing the alleged connections of Salungpongan schools to the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Unad said Esperon's findings were credible as they relied on the testimonies of Salugpongan's former students and teachers, who alleged that the STTICLCI-run schools are being used as training and recruitment ground for the NPA.

"There is an urgency for closure (of the Salugpongan schools), and we are happy that they (DepEd) have answered our plea,” the tribal leader said.

“Right before the suspension order of DepEd, we already submitted a report to National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr.," Unad said, adding that as tribal leaders, they have been aware for some time about Salugpongan's teachings.

Unad said that based on the testimonies of the parents and community members, Salungpongan learners in their areas were trained to use firearms and on offensive tactics against military detachments.

Unad said that initially, they welcomed the mission of Salugpongan schools to provide education for the Indigenous Peoples' children in far-flung areas.

Their expectations, he said, were soon proven wrong.

"The parents who longed for their child’s development realized this cannot be attained because they (Salugpongan schools) teach students how to revolt against the government,” Unad said.

Aside from allegedly indoctrinating IP children on the ideologies of the communist rebel movement, Unad said STTICLCI failed to obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) before putting up the schools.

“The basic requirements needed may have been DepEd were complied, but the FPIC requirement was not submitted to us,” he said.

In a separate interview Saturday, Jong Monzon, secretary-general of Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao, denied the accusations of Unad regarding STTICLCI's FPIC compliance.

Monzon said Salugpongan schools in Davao Region have complied with the entire requirement needed for its operations.

“These schools have operated for about 12 years and their accusations are malicious and baseless. We hope that DepEd will allow the schools to continue its operations because they are destroying the future of our Lumad children,” he said.

Monzon also disputed Unad's claim about the supposed links of Salugpongan schools to the NPA, saying this was instigated by the military.

Meanwhile, STTICLCI executive director Maria Eugenia Nolasco appealed to Secretary Leonor Briones to look at Salugpongan schools as "partners."

In a statement sent on Friday afternoon, Nolasco reminded that Salugpongan and DepEd have once agreed to work for the education of tribal students in the countryside.

“We appeal that DepEd shuns the accusations made by the report of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon that serves basis of the suspension of our schools,” Nolasco said.

Esperon’s accusations, she said, were "fabricated and far-fetched, and will not even hold water in court."

“We hope that DepEd makes its decisions based on discernible facts that refute the fiction of the military,” she said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1075546