CPP/NPA-Central Isabela: Hinggil sa pagpaslang ng 95th IBPA

NPA-Central Isabela propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Hinggil sa pagpaslang ng 95th IBPA

VIC BALLIGI

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-CENTRAL ISABELA

REYNALDO PIÑON COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Ngayon Setyembre ang ikatlong buwan ng paghahasik ng karahasan ng AFP sa mga bayan ng San Mariano, Benito Soliven at Ilagan City sa ngalan ng Community Support Program. Ito ay akto ng desperasyon ng rehimeng Duterte sa pagsisikap niyang maghari at manatili sa kanyang kapangyarihan bilang hari ng pasismo sa kabila ng malawakang diskuntento at paglaban ng mamamayan.

Hinding hindi mapapasinungalingan ang katotohanan sa pagyurak sa karapatang pantao ng rehimeng Duterte sa kanyang todo gyera gamit ang kanyang armadong pwersa- AFP, PNP at CAFGU. Pilit pinagtatakpan ng pamunuan ng 5th ID ang lantarang pamamaslang ng mga death squad ng 95th Salaknib Batallion sa pamumuno ni Lt. Col Gladius Calilan matapos ang walang habas na pamamaril sa bahay ng mag asawang sina Sammy at Phylis Pohayon na residente ng Sitio Dipogpog, Brgy Del Pilar, San Mariano Isabela noong Sept 11, 2019 ng 8:30 ng gabi na nagresulta ng agarang pagkamatay ni Sammy at malubhang pagkasugat ni Phylis. Sina Sammy at Phylis ay kapwa kabilang sa pambansang minorya na Ifugao.

Ang pagpaslang na ito ay nangyari sampung araw bago ang anibersaryo ng deklarasyon ng Batas Militar noong Setyembre 21, 1972. Sa kasalukuyan, nakapailalim ang buong bansa sa deklarado at hindi deklaradong batas militar. Sa EO 70 o NTF ELCAC, nabuo ang Municipal Task Force ELCAC sa bayan ng San Mariano sa pagitan ng LGU at ng AFP at PNP dalawang araw bago ang insidente. Ngunit hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon ng 95th IB ng walang pakundangang pamamaril. Noong Agosto 13, 2019, nabigo ang unang pagtatangka ng death squad ng 95th IB na patayin si Gorio Velasco na residente ng Sitio Disigit, Brgy Gangalan, SMI matapos na paunlanan din ng bala ang bahay ni Velasco. Ang NTF ELCAC ay manipestasyon ng umiiral na batas militar sa kanayunan.

Si Sammy Pohayon ang kauna-unahang biktima ng mga pamamaslang ng 95th IB na kabubuo lamang noong nakaraang taon. Ito ba ang pamamaraan ng rehimen sa pagkamit ng kapayapaan, sa pamamagitan ng walang awang pagpatay sa mamamayan? Hinding hindi magiging payapa ang bansa kung ang ekonomiya at pulitika ay tanging nasa kamay ng iilan. Hangga’t walang demokrasya at kaunlaran na magsisilbi sa mayorya ng inaapi’t pinagsasamantalahan, maghahangad ang mamamayan ng kapayapaan na tanging makakamit sa pananagumpay ng digmang bayan.

Ngayon Setyembre ang ika-tatlong buwan ng paghahasik ng karahasan ng AFP sa mga bayan ng San Mariano, Benito Soliven at Ilagan City sa ngalan ng Community Support Program. Ito ay akto ng desperasyon ng rehimeng Duterte sa pagsisikap niyang maghari at manatili sa kanyang kapangyarihan bilang hari ng pasismo sa kabila ng malawakang diskuntento at paglaban ng mamamayan.

Hinding hindi mapapasinungalingan ang katotohanan sa pagyurak sa karapatang pantao ng rehimeng Duterte sa kanyang todo gyera gamit ang kanyang armadong pwersa- AFP, PNP at CAFGU. Pilit pinagtatakpan ng pamunuan ng 5th ID ang lantarang pamamaslang ng mga death squad ng 95th Salaknib Batallion sa pamumuno ni Lt. Col Gladius Calilan matapos ang walang habas na pamamaril sa bahay ng mag asawang sina Sammy at Phylis Pohayon na residente ng Sitio Dipogpog, Brgy Del Pilar, San Mariano Isabela noong Sept 11, 2019 ng 8:30 ng gabi na nagresulta ng agarang pagkamatay ni Sammy at malubhang pagkasugat ni Phylis. Sina Sammy at Phylis ay kapwa kabilang sa pambansang minorya na Ifugao.

Ang pagpaslang na ito ay nangyari sampung araw bago ang anibersaryo ng deklarasyon ng Batas Militar noong Setyembre 21, 1972. Sa kasalukuyan, nakapailalim ang buong bansa sa deklarado at hindi deklaradong batas militar. Sa EO 70 o NTF ELCAC, nabuo ang Municipal Task Force ELCAC sa bayan ng San Mariano sa pagitan ng LGU at ng AFP at PNP dalawang araw bago ang insidente. Ngunit hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon ng 95th IB ng walang pakundangang pamamaril. Noong Agosto 13, 2019, nabigo ang unang pagtatangka ng death squad ng 95th IB na patayin si Gorio Velasco na residente ng Sitio Disigit, Brgy Gangalan, SMI matapos na paunlanan din ng bala ang bahay ni Velasco. Ang NTF ELCAC ay manipestasyon ng umiiral na batas militar sa kanayunan.

Si Sammy Pohayon ang kauna-unahang biktima ng mga pamamaslang ng 95th IB na kabubuo lamang noong nakaraang taon. Ito ba ang pamamaraan ng rehimen sa pagkamit ng kapayapaan, sa pamamagitan ng walang awang pagpatay sa mamamayan? Hinding hindi magiging payapa ang bansa kung ang ekonomiya at pulitika ay tanging nasa kamay ng iilan. Hangga’t walang demokrasya at kaunlaran na magsisilbi sa mayorya ng inaapi’t pinagsasamantalahan, maghahangad ang mamamayan ng kapayapaan na tanging makakamit sa pananagumpay ng digmang bayan.

https://cpp.ph/statement/hinggil-sa-pagpaslang-ng-95th-ibpa/

CPP/NPA-Central Isabela: Pag-unlad ng uring api ang isinusulong ng CPP-NPA

NPA-Central Isabela propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Pag-unlad ng uring api ang isinusulong ng CPP-NPA

VIC BALLIGI

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-CENTRAL ISABELA

REYNALDO PIÑON COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Tahasang kasinungalingan, katawa-tawa at pagsusuring nakabatay sa haka-haka ang ipinagkakalat ng mga kinatawan at ahente ng mga naghaharing uri at ng mga bayarang tropa ng AFP na diumano ang NPA ang dahilan na kaya hindi umuunlad ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka sa kanayunan.

Pinagtatakpan nila na ang mismong sistemang kanilang pinaglilingkuran ang ugat ng kahirapan ng mga magsasaka at ng buong lipunang pilipino sa kabuuan. Ikinakaila na ang dominasyon at kontrol ng imperyalismong US at ngayon, ang imperyalismong Tsina sa buong buhay panlipunan at ang pagkatuta ng mga rehimeng Duterte ang ugat ng kahirapan.

Sunod sunuran sa mga dikta at imposisyon ng imperyalismo sa kapinsalaan ng mamamayan katulad ng Liberalisasyon, deregulasyon, at pribatisasyon kaya nananatiling atrasado, itinali nito ang ekonomya na nakaasa export at sa import , baun sa utang na ekonomya. Kinokontrol ng iilang panginoongmay lupa at malalaking agro-korporasyon ang malalawak na lupain.

Resulta ng kahirapang ito ang pagbabalikwas ng mamamayan upang isulong ang pambansa-demokratikong rebolusyon. At ang pagsulong at paglakas na ito ay kinasusuklaman ng mga kabilang sa mga naghaharing uri.

Sa loob ng 50 taon, katuwang ng mamamayan ang CPP-NPA sa pakikibaka para sa pagunlad. Sa Programa ng Pambansa Demokratikong Rebolusyon isinusulong ang tunay na reporma sa lupa at pambansang industriyalisasyon upang wakasan ang dayuhang kontrol sa mga susing industriya sa ekonomya.

Sa proseso ng rebolusyon ipinapamahagi ang mga lupa para sa mga magsasakang walang lupa, isinusulong ang pagpapababa ng interes ng pautang at paglaban sa komersyanteng pandaraya, pagpapataas ng presyo , at ang pagpapababa ng upa sa makinarya.

Isinusulong nito ang mga kilusang masa para igiit ang mga serbisyong panlipunan katulad ng mahusay na kalsada, sanitasyon, kalusugan at pang agrikulturang ayuda.

Sa mga teritoryo ng Demokratikong Gobyernong Bayan, pinapahintulutan lamang ang mga negosyo at programang maglilingkod sa mamamayan, hindi makakasira sa kanilang kabuhayan at komunidad at hindi nakakasira sa kalikasan.

Isinusulong ng CPP-NPA ang pagunlad ng uring api – ang mga magsasaka sa kanayunan at ang sambayanang Pilipino.

https://cpp.ph/statement/pag-unlad-ng-uring-api-ang-isinusulong-ng-cpp-npa/

CPP/NPA-EV: NPA raps 8th ID for make-believe victory at the expense of civilians

NPA-Eastern Visayas propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): NPA raps 8th ID for make-believe victory at the expense of civilians

KARLOS MANUEL

NPA-EASTERN VISAYAS 

EFREN MARTIRES COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

The Efren Martires Command (New People’s Army-Eastern Visayas) belies the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division attained victory in its intensified campaign since August 1. “According to the latest reports from our units, the NPA acknowledges only two Red fighters killed in action; these were martyred in Sulat, Eastern Samar,” said Ka Karlos Manuel, EMC spokesperson. “The other two casualties in Calbayog City claimed by the military actually belonged to the private armed group of a politician the 8th ID. Meanwhile, the military exaggerates in saying it seized 14 assorted firearms from the NPA recently. The military did confiscate some backpacks and other equipment in Basey, Wester Samar.”

Manuel added, “It is Duterte’s troops who suffered at least 16 dead from August to September. Four elements of the 20th IB were killed in action last August 11 in Nagoocan, Catubig, Northern Samar while an unconfirmed number were wounded. At least 10 more soldiers were killed in action in Basey, Western Samar. Five of these from the 46th IB were killed in action in an NPA offensive last August 30. On September 2, five more elements of the 63rd IB were killed in action while attempting to raid an NPA camp, and the Red fighters were also able to withdraw without any casualties. Meanwhile, two intelligence assets of the military were meted the death penalty carried out by the NPA.”

The EMC spokesperson also condemned the 8th ID for targeting civilians. “The NPA’s superior knowledge of terrain as well as mass support ensures it never suffers from the 8th ID offensives, which either end up punching the air or else are easily countered by the NPA. Sadly, when AFP troops suffer losses, they retaliate against the civilians. It is not the NPA but the civilians who really bear the brunt of the fascist offensives of the 8th ID.

“The 8th ID has killed two barangay captains who are blamed for the military’s battlefield losses: Wilmar Calutan of Brgy. Beri, Calbiga, Western Samar and Apolinario “Pening” Lebico of San Miguel, Las Navas, Northern Samar. Meanwhile, residents of two sub-villages in Barangay Cogon in Basey were forced to evacuate after the military’s indiscriminate firing after suffering losses to the NPA.”

Ka Karlos Manuel concluded, “Major Bard Caesar Mazo of the 8th ID’s public affairs office is thus lying that the division’s more than 7,000 combat troops are meant to protect communities in the region. In fact, the civilian communities are suffering militarization because of the intensifying ‘counterinsurgency’ program. According to human rights groups, at least 545 barangays in the region suffer from militarization, affecting at least 300,000 people. This is on top of the lack of fundamental changes, with mass landlessness and mass unemployment, declining prices of agricultural products, rising costs of basic commodities, and other burning issues. Meanwhile, military and police forces are pampered and urged to act with impunity. If Maj. Mazo says the 8th ID will not stop hunting the NPA, we in the NPA vow to further intensify guerilla warfare in solidarity with the people, who are being pushed by the fascist US-Duterte regime into waging armed and unarmed resistance until the hated regime can be ousted.”

https://cpp.ph/statement/npa-raps-8th-id-for-make-believe-victory-at-the-expense-of-civilians/

CPP/NPA-ST: Papanagutin ang AFP sa pagkamatay ni Darwin Dormitorio

NPA-Southern Tagalog propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Papanagutin ang AFP sa pagkamatay ni Darwin Dormitorio

JAIME 'KA DIEGO' PADILLA

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-SOUTHERN TAGALOG

MELITO GLOR COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Mariing kinukondena ng Melito Glor Command — New People’s Army Southern Tagalog (MGC-NPA ST) ang pagkamatay ni Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio noong Setyembre 18 sa isang hazing sa loob ng PMA. Ang AFP, bilang isang marahas at berdugong institusyon, ang dapat singilin sa naturang krimen.

Ang hazing na ginagawa sa mga kadete ng PMA ay bahagi ng marahas at pasistang kultura ng AFP at indoktrinasyon upang hulmahin ang kanilang mga rekrut bilang mga berdugong kawal ng mapang-api at mapang-aliping sistema. Bahagi ito ng kanilang pagsasanay bilang pasista at mersenaryong instrumento ng karahasan ng estado ng mga naghaharing-uri laban sa makatarungang at lehitimong pakikibaka ng mamamayan. Hinuhubog ng mersenaryong tradisyon ng AFP at PNP ang pagtatanggol sa baluktot na doktrina ng pambansang seguridad upang panatilihin sa kapangyarihan ang sinumang naghaharing pangkatin ng malalaking burgesya-kumprador, panginoong maylupa at burukratang kapitalista.

Dapat na itakwil ng mamamayan ang mersenaryong tradisyon ng karahasan ng AFP at PNP na pinatatampok ng hazing. Sapat na dahilan ito upang tutulan ng mga mag-aaral at mga magulang ang panukalang ibalik ang ROTC sa Senior High School na ang layunin ay hubugin ang mga kabataan sa pasistang ideolohiya na nagtatago sa bihis ng binaluktot na nasyonalismo at doktrina ng pambansang seguridad.

Hindi na maaasahan ang anumang patas na imbestigasyon sa kaganapan dahil sa kawalang pananagutan ng AFP sa kanilang mga krimen. Kagyat na naghugas-kamay na ang mga opisyal ng AFP sa pangyayari laluna’t ang ilan sa malalapit na kamag-anak ni Dormitorio ay mga berdugo at mersenaryong heneral tulad nina Delfin Lorenzana at Eduardo Año. Hindi unang kaso ang nangyari kay Dormitorio kundi isa lamang sa napakaraming kaso ng AFP sa pagmamalupit sa kanilang mga kadete at sariling tauhan. Higit pa, ang AFP at PNP ay may mahabang listahan na ng mga karumal-dumal na krimen sa mamamayan na malaon na nilang tinatabunan at itinatanggi. Ang mga ito ang dahilan kung bakit kinasusuklaman sila ng mamamayan at papaliit ang bilang ng boluntaryong sumasapi sa kanilang hanay.

Sa kabilang banda, ang NPA ay malaon nang nakaugat sa masang api at itinuturing na sarili nilang hukbo. Minamahal at sinusuportahan sila ng mamamayan dahil sa taos-puso nilang paglilingkod sa kanilang interes at kagalingan. Ipinagtatanggol nila ang mamamayan sa lahat ng anyo ng pang-aapi pagsasamantala, at pandarahas ng mga berdugong instrumento ng estado. Sa gayon, patuloy na dumarami ang bilang ng mga pinakamahuhusay na anak ng bayang kusa at buo ang loob na sumasapi bilang Pulang mandirigma.

Hinihikayat ng MGC-NPA ST ang mga naliliwanagang sundalo at pulis na umalis sa kanilang reaksyunaryo at pasistang institusyon at talikuran ang mersenaryong tradisyon ng AFP-PNP. Kung ninanais nilang maging mga sundalo ng mamamayan, bukas ang mga larangang gerilya upang tanggapin ang mga magpapanibagong-hubog na sundalo at pulis at gayundin ang mga kadete ng PMA na pipiliing maglingkod sa mamamayan sa landas ng makabayang tradisyong sinimulan ni Lt. Crispin Tagamolila. Samantala, nakikiramay ang MGC—NPA ST sa pamilya ni Dormitorio. Sa mga naliliwanagang kapamilya, maaari nilang ihapag ang kaso sa demokratikong gubyernong bayan upang malitis sa hukumang bayan at gawaran ng rebolusyonaryong hustisya ang berdugong AFP-PNP. ###

https://cpp.ph/statement/papanagutin-ang-afp-sa-pagkamatay-ni-darwin-dormitorio/

CPP/NPA-NEMR: Duterte’s all-out war is set to surpass the brutalities of Marcos’ Martial Law

NPA-Southern Tagalog propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Duterte’s all-out war is set to surpass the brutalities of Marcos’ Martial Law

MARIA MALAYA

SPOKESPERSON

NDF-NORTH EAST MINDANAO REGION

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

On the 47th anniversary of the US-Marcos regime’s martial law declaration, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines–North Eastern Mindanao Region (NDFP-NEMR) firmly unites with the people’s struggle against the fascist US-Duterte regime and reaffirms its commitment in advancing the people’s war.

Martial law under the US-Marcos regime resulted in the brutal suppression of the people for 14 years. Forty-seven years after, Marcos’ vileness is resurrected in Rodrigo Duterte, and Marcos’ evil dictatorial regime is set to be surpassed by Duterte through his recent declaration all-out war and “whole-of-nation approach”.

The US-Duterte regime has recently formally announced an all-out war against revolutionary forces to justify the perpetuation of martial law. Its aim is no different from when Duterte ordered the attack against Marawi City and the Bangsamoro, and even used his own doing to pave the way for the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Duterte, the first ever president from Mindanao, is solely responsible for the destruction and devastation of Marawi, the only Islamic city in the country. He is responsible for the displacement and dislocation of its whole population of nearly half a million. Duterte alone holds the title as the only Philippine president who has accomplished such a feat.

Under Oplan Kapayapaan and the AFP-PNP Joint Campaign Kapanatagan, Duterte’s all-out war will surely intensify sustained and focused military operations of the AFP and PNP in the Caraga region. This will further be characterized by heightened bombings, canon shelling and surveillance of drones.

From January to September of this year, more than 100 military operations have been launched by the 401st and 402nd PA Brigade against the people in the region. Recently, elements of the 75th IB burned farm houses in Brgy. Bunawan, Brook, Bunawan in Agusan del Sur. The AFP also shelled farmlands in Brgy. Imelda, Trento, Agusan del Sur. On September 14, elements of the Scout Ranger and the 29th IB murdered Datu Carlito Andohoyan in Sitio Dandanon, Brgy. Kolambugan, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur.

In line with these, more operations of the so-called Community Support Program (CSP) are expected to be launched. These, actually, are mere smokescreens for harassment, forced and fake surrenders and house-to-house operations intended to terrorize residents. Also, through the CSP, barangay councils are being forced to sign pre-accomplished resolutions declaring the NPA “persona non grata”, with military officers personally facilitating barangay council sessions.

More detachments will be hurriedly built to directly harass, threaten and kill innocent civilians and Lumads. These detachments will further enforce food blockades in communities, in which residents’ purchases from village stores and the city markets are limited and heavily monitored. These impositions by the military have caused great inconvenience to residents as they are forced to observe strict curfew hours that obstruct their work in their farmlands and limit their movements and livelihood.

The so-called “whole-of-nation approach” implemented by the NTF and RTF-ELCAC, on the other hand, has militarized the entire bureaucracy, from all civilian agencies in government to LGUS from the provincial to barangay levels. The AFP and PNP will control and utilize the government’s civilian structure to deceptively deodorize their militaristic attacks against the people and revolutionary movement.

Human rights violations will be more rampant, especially since the AFP and PNP are granted immunity by Duterte from criminal accountability for their abuses. In the region, eight have been killed this year alone, while more than 20 have been murdered by elements of the AFP and PNP in the past three years; countless others have been slapped with trumped-up charges. Cases of harassment and red-tagging of church people, lawyers, media personnel and leaders of progressive organizations will increase. Suppression of workers’ struggles, closure of media institutions, repression of the youth and the student movement and warrantless arrests will worsen.

Here in the region, more and more cases of military intervention in high schools and colleges have taken place (in CSU, Urios, among others) through so-called “anti-communist lectures” and “recruitment campaigns” by the AFP in order to conduct surveillance on students and teachers suspected of “supporting” or “recruiting” for the NPA.

As in Marcos’ time, there is no other solution to the US-Duterte regime’s martial law than to strengthen the armed struggle and people’s war!

Despite of the brutality of the US-Duterte regime’s martial law, it will ever fail to douse the flames of the revolutionary movement and struggle of the people for genuine peace and democracy.

The fascist US-Duterte regime can never end the struggle of the masses of workers, peasants and Lumads in the region and the country to advance their economic interests, among these the lowering of land rent, increase in wages, and increase in prices of agricultural produce (especially palay and coconut). Despite the suppression of protests, the people have persevered and resounded in their calls for genuine land reform, national industrialization and just peace.

The New People’s Army in Northeastern Mindanao and nationwide continue to launch one tactical offensive after another to defend the people against the US-Duterte regime’s all-out war. These counter-attacks by the NPA have resulted in numerous casualties in the enemy’s ranks. And, with the recent intensification of the all-out war, we expect more frequent military actions by the NPA against fascist troops of the AFP, PNP and their para-military.

We call on the people to unite against martial law in Mindanao and the de facto martial law nationwide. Oust the US-Duterte regime! Further strengthen the people’s war!

https://cpp.ph/statement/dutertes-all-out-war-is-set-to-surpass-the-brutalities-of-marcos-martial-law/

CPP/NPA-ST: Banta ni Duterte na manhunt sa GCTA freed prisoners, balasubas at utak-kriminal

NPA-Southern Tagalog propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Banta ni Duterte na manhunt sa GCTA freed prisoners, balasubas at utak-kriminal

JAIME 'KA DIEGO' PADILLA

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-SOUTHERN TAGALOG

MELITO GLOR COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Pangitang-pangita ang pagiging utak-kriminal at balasubas ni Duterte sa banta niyang hulihin at pabalikin ang mga pinalayang bilanggo sa ilalim ng Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA), kung saan sinabi niyang “pabalikin ang mga bilanggo, buhay man o patay, ngunit mas mainam na patay”. Ibinunga nito ang kontrobersyal na pagbalik ng mga naturang bilanggo nang mas marami pa kaysa nasa listahan nito.

Patunay ito na utak-kriminal ang pasista at tiranong si Duterte. Suklam na suklam na ang sambayanan sa kanya. Pinagdurusa pa niya ang mga pamilya ng patuloy na pagkukulong sa mga bilanggong karapat-dapat na gawaran ng GCTA habang pinalalaya ang mga nagkasala ng karumal-dumal na krimen na kayang bilhin ang kalayaan sa pamamagitan ng panunuhol sa mga korap na upisyal ng Bureau of Corrections tulad ng mga rapist, drug at human trafficker, murderer at mga katulad. Samantala, pinagtatakpan naman niya ang kabulukan at katiwalian ng kriminal na gang ni Faeldon sa BuCor na nagbibigay ng ispesyal na pagtrato—kapalit ng suhol—sa mga halang-ang-bituka at malalaking sindikatong kriminal tulad ni Sanchez—na rapist-murderer nina Eileen Sarmenta at Allan Gomez, ng mga rapist-killer ng Chiong sisters at ng apat na druglord ng Hongkong Triad drug syndicate.

Kaya hindi kataka-taka na mamamalayan na lamang ng taumbayan na nailagay na sa panibagong pwesto sa kanyang gubyerno ang mga kriminal na gang na ito sa BuCor tulad ng nangyari sa mga dating BOC commisioner Nicanor Faeldon at Isidro Lapeña at sa dating PDEA director-general Ismael Fajardo na inilipat lamang kung di man binigyan ng mataas na katungkulan matapos malantad ang nkatiwalian at ismagling ng droga sa Bureau of Custom at PDEA.

Anuman ang gawin ni Duterte, hindi na niya maikukubli na batbat ng kabulukan at korapsyon ang kanyang gubyerno. Kinasusuklaman na siya ng sambayanan at lalo pa siyang nahihiwalay sa mamamayan bunga ng kalupitan, panlilinlang at pasismo. Kailangang patuloy na maging mapagmatiyag ang sambayanang Pilipino sa pakanang ito ng rehimen. Sa pagdami ng mga kaso at krimen ni Duterte laban sa bayan, dapat padagundungin ang mga panawagan para ibagsak ang taksil, mamamatay-tao, bulok, pasista at papet na rehimeng US-Duterte.###

https://cpp.ph/statement/banta-ni-duterte-na-manhunt-sa-gcta-freed-prisoners-balasubas-at-utak-kriminal/

CPP: Kalatas (Jul 2019)

Propaganda publication posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Kalatas (Jul 2019)


Download PDF

https://cpp.ph/2019/09/23/kalatas-hulyo-2019/

CPP/NPA-Quezon: Focused military operation ng 85th Infantry Battallion Philippine Army , diniskaril ng NPA!

NPA-Quezon propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): Focused military operation ng 85th Infantry Battallion Philippine Army, diniskaril ng NPA!

CLEO DEL MUNDO

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-QUEZON 

APOLONIO MENDOZA COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Isang pulutong ng sundalong kabilang sa 85th IBPA ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ang inisnayp at pinaulanan ng bala ng New People’s Army, kahapon, bandang alas dos ng hapon sa Vista Hermosa, bayan ng Macalelon.

Ayon sa ulat ng mga operatiba ng Apolonio Mendoza Command-NPA, isa sa mga nakahimpil na sundalo ang kanilang inisnayp pagkatapos ay binugsuan ng putok na siguradong puminsala sa pasistang tropa ng gubyernong Duterte.

Ang 85th IBPA ay mahigit tatlong buwan ng nag-ooperasyon sa naturang baryo. Ang focused military operation nila ay nagresulta na ng mahigit 200 bilang ng kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang tao sa mga bayan ng Macalelon, Lopez at Gumaca.

Kabilang si Rico Quidor at Jovi Endrenal sa mga binugbog ng sundalo noong gabi ng July 3. Pagkatapos ay sapilitang pinasuko si Quidor dahil diumano siya ay may kaugnayan sa NPA.

Si Quidor ay aktibong opisyal ng samahan ng magsasaka sa barangay Vista Hermosa na tumututol sa ginagawang dambuhalang dam sa kanilang lugar.

Ang naturang dam ay proyekto ng National Irrigation Administration na nagkakahalaga ng Php775 milyon na tinatayang makakaapekto sa may 100 ektaryang produktibong niyugan, bukod pa sa 75 ektaryang lupain na ilalaan sa kanal, istruktura at mga gusali. Magpapalayas ito sa mahigit 100 pamilya ng barangay at karatig-pook.#

https://cpp.ph/statement/focused-military-operation-ng-85th-infantry-battallion-philippine-army-diniskaril-ng-npa/

CPP/NPA-Catanduanes: 5 Sibilyan, biktima ng pasistang pang-aatake ng 83rd IBPA at PNP Provincial Mobile Force

NPA-Catanduanes propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): 5 Sibilyan, biktima ng pasistang pang-aatake ng 83rd IBPA at PNP Provincial Mobile Force

TERESA MAGTANGGOL

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-CATANDUANES

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

Mariing kinukondena ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan-Catanduanes (Nerissa San Juan Command ) ang kasinungalingan , brutalidad at desperasyon ng mga elemento ng 83rd IBPA at Provincial Mobile Force ng PNP sa naganap na pamamaril sa limang sibilyan sa Barangay Taupon, Bayan ng Panganiban Probinsya ng Catanduanes.

Walang engkwentro naganap sa pagitan ng yunit ng BHB sa ilalim ng Nerissa San Juan Command na ipinamamalita ng tagapagsalita ng 9th ID DPAO na si Major Ricky Anthony Aguilar.

Ang yunit ng 8rd IB at Provincial Mobile Force ng PNP ang responsable sa naganap na karumaldumal na krimen. Ang walang habas na pagpapaputok sa mga inosenteng sibilyan ay nagresulta sa pagkakapaslang kina Christopher Abraham at Lito Aguilar at tatlo (3) pang biktimang sugatan na sina Jimmy Sierra, Joseph Torado at Jomarie Calderon na kapwa mga taga Barangay San Miguel, Panganiban Catanduanes.

Nangyari ang teroristang atake ng 83rd IBPA sa Barangay Taupon, bayan ng Panaganiban “Payo”, Catanduanes, ganap na madaling araw ng Setyembre 22, 2019 habang nangingilaw ng isda sa ilog ang mga biktima para may idagdag sa handa nang ikakasal sana ngayong araw na si Christopher Abraham.

Ang desperadong hakbang ng AFP sa ilalim ng Task Force Bicolandia ang nagpapatunay na sila ang tunay na terorista sa mamamayan. Naglalaway na mga aso ang 83rd IB sa accomplishment promotion at pabuya na ibibigay ng kanilang amo na si Duterte na siyang nag-uutos at tagapagudyok ng terorismo ng pamahalaan.

Dapat managot at pagbayarin ang mga elemento ng AFP partikular ang 83rd IB PA at PNP sa madugong listahan ng krimen nito sa mamamayan. Dapat managot at pagbayarin mismo si Duterte sa kanyang Krimen sa sambayanang Pilipino.

Nananawagan ang Nerissa San Juan Command sa mamamayang Catandungan at sa buong Sambayanang Pilipino na manindigan at ipagtanggol ang karapatan. Labanan at tutulan ang EO 70, MO32 at ang sapilitang pagpatupad ng batas militar sa buong bansa.


https://cpp.ph/statement/5-sibilyan-biktima-ng-pasistang-pang-aatake-ng-83rd-ib-pa-at-pnp-provincial-mobile-force/

CPP/NPA-Ifugao: 54thIB CO fabricates stories to amass millions of pesos from people’s funds

NPA-Ifugao propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 23, 2019): 54thIB CO fabricates stories to amass millions of pesos from people’s funds

WIGAN MONCONTAD

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-IFUGAO

NONA DEL ROSARIO COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

54th IB Commanding Officer LTC Narciso B. Nabulneg Jr. continues to spew lies against the Nona Del Rosario Command (NDRC – NPA Ifugao) to fool themselves and the masses that the cadres and members of NDRC are “abandoning their mass base for fear of being compromised and captured” and to amass the millions of pesos under the E-CLIP.

Last September 3, Nabulneg boasted that a regular member of the NDRC surrendered peacefully to its army detachment in Kiangan, Ifugao and brought 1 M653 rifle, 1 caliber 357 revolver pistol and ammunitions. NDRC clears that none of its red fighters ever surrendered on that day.

Before that, last August 20, they reported that Espino “Ka Kevin” Bangad of Barangay Cawayan, Asipulo surrendered willingly to the police. According to their press release, Bangad was a “hard-core NPA regular member” who was fed up of always running without any food supplies when there are military operations. This is another lie by Nabulneg. Bangad was an NPA fighter only until 2016 and was a vegetable farmer since.

These tactics of Nabulneg are nothing but low, cowardly and dirty. Once again, this shows the 54th IB’s growing frustration and desperation that since their pronouncement that NDRC would be crushed by the end of September, not even one red fighter did they able to find. Thus they resort to terrorizing and forcing civilians, human rights advocates and long-time lie-low NPA members to pose and surrender as regular NPA members in exchange of the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP).

But in actuality, majority of those who “surrendered” didn’t even get a penny from the promised ₱65,000 financial assistance. Even those who were forced to surrender their personal rifles in the belief that they would get an additional ₱50,000, also received nothing in exchange.

Indeed, the E-CLIP is anomalous. It is a massive source of corruption of AFP officials in the likes of Nabulneg. They never cease to weave stories of “NPA surrenders” to continually secure the millions from the funds of the people. Since 2017, the 54th IB has pocketed approximately ₱7 million from the more than 100 civilians they have deceived and coerced to surrender as NPA members.

The perpetual lies, immense corruption and intensified violence of Nabulneg and the 54th IB must be exposed and condemned with utmost severity. These crimes against the people are the reasons why the counter-insurgency plan of the AFP and the US-Duterte regime will inevitably fail. These crimes would intensify the anger and hatred of the Ifugao people against the ruling tyrannic regime and would veer them towards the revolution.

https://cpp.ph/statement/8900-2/

AFP-CRS: Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster holds dialogue to next target Brgy in Sursur town

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 23, 2019): Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster holds dialogue to next target Brgy in Sursur town



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2719244128094294/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/

AFP-CRS: Air Force stages campus peace forum

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 23, 2019): Air Force stages campus peace forum



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2719247618093945/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/

AFP-CRS: PH, US paratroopers hold first Combined Airborne Operation

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 23, 2019): PH, US paratroopers hold first Combined Airborne Operation



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2719259784759395/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/

AFP-CRS: President Duterte: Willing to forgive, forget rebels’ offenses if they surrender

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Sep 23, 2019): President Duterte: Willing to forgive, forget rebels’ offenses if they surrender



https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2719378888080818/?type=3&theater

[The Civil Relations Service (CRS) is the unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that engages the public through its public information and community relations programs “to create a favorable atmosphere between the community and the AFP. The CRS is the equivalent of the Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units of the US Army.]

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/

Kalinaw News: Six New People’s Army surrender to 75IB, yields firearms in Surigao Sur

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 24, 2019): Six New People’s Army surrender to 75IB, yields firearms in Surigao Sur

BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur-Camp Jaime N Ferrer Sr Brgy Maharlika, Bislig City (Stn) – Another six (6) New People’s Army of the Weakened Guerilla Front 14, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (WGF14, NEMRC) voluntarily surrender at Headquarters, 75th Infantry “Marauder” Battalion, today at 08:30 in the morning, September 23, 2019.

The said surrenderees were warmly welcomed by the Marauder Troopers with a smile on their faces, as the troops were all grateful that these former rebels were now back to the folds of the law.

The surrenderees were identified as AKA Bong, AKA Pat, AKA Adan, AKA Shiela, AKA Bugoy and AKA Galo all of WGF14, NEMRC. The former rebels brought with them the following war materials: one (1) M4 Carbine, two (2) cal.45 pistol, one (1) M16A1 rifle (Elisco), one (1) M653 assault rifle, four (4) rifle grenade, eight (8) 40mm high-explosive (HE) ammunition, eleven (11) steel short magazine, one (1) plastic short magazine, one hundred five (105) live 5.56mm live ammunition, twenty-nine (29) rounds cal.45 and three (3) bandolier. They voluntarily surrendered to 75IB under the direct supervision of Lieutenant Colonel Warren C Munda, Commanding Officer.

Moreover, AKA Bugoy was one of those that have been deceived by the CNTs with their futile ideology. “Kapoy sigeg tago ug dagan palayo sa militar. Gusto namo nga manginabuhi nga malinawon kauban sa matag usa namo ka pamilya.” AKA Bugoy said. Also, the surrenderees will be enrolled to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) from the government, wherein they will receive immediate cash assistance, reintegration and livelihood assistance as well as remuneration for the surrendered firearms and weapons.

Further, Lt. Col. Warren C Munda, Commanding Officer of 75IB said, “Sooner or later we’ll be able to dismantle the WGF14 we have been confronting in our area of responsibility. We have the local government and the people in the community who support us throughout the campaign that lead us to the accomplishment of our mission and foster inclusive and sustainable Peace and Development.” Lt. Col. Munda ended.

75th Infantry Battalion 4th Infantry Division Philippine Army


Cpt Edwin Leo Francisco
CMO Officer, 75IB, 4ID, PA
Bislig City, Surgao del Sur
09778474763

[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/six-new-peoples-army-surrender-to-75ib-yields-firearms-in-surigao-sur/

Kalinaw News: CPP-NPA Terrorist leaves dead comrade in Miagao encounter

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 23, 2019): CPP-NPA Terrorist leaves dead comrade in Miagao encounter



CAMP PERALTA, Jamindan, Capiz – Soldiers from the Army’s 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion recovered a dead body of a CPP-NPA terrorist following an encounter in Ongyod, Miagao, Iloilo at about 08:00 in the morning of September 23, 2019.

According to LTC Joel Benedict Batara, Commanding Officer, 61IB the unidentified communist terrorist was killed and left behind by his fleeing comrades in a firefight between 61IB and more or less 15 members of the CPP-NPA Terrorist.

“Our troops are pursuing the same group of communist-terrorists we engaged in the same barangay last Friday, September 20 when the encounter happened. This group is hampering not only development projects in the area but also the people’s peaceful life which prompted the community to report their presence, ” LTC Batara said.

The troops also captured one M16 rifle, one anti-personnel mine, medicines, backpacks, scope, kitchen utensils and voluminous subversive documents with high intelligence value.
One of the operating soldiers was slightly wounded on his legs, but now in a stable condition.

This is the second armed engagement between 61IB and the CPP-NPA Terrorist believed to be under Suyak Platoon, Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay led by Joven Ceralvo aka Lex in the said barangay.

Two communist-terrorists were wounded in the first round of encounter on September 20 as claimed by the terrorist group through their press statement

Batara encouraged other civilians to report any untoward activities in their communities and contact the government forces immediately if there are presence of CPP-NPA terrorists in the area.
An hour before the recent encounter in Ongyod, a CAFGU detachment in Barangay Dagami in Maasin town was harassed by the CPP-NPA Terrorist.

The said harassment is a diversionary attack of the enemy aims to loosen the focus of our troops in Miagao who are pursuing the group of Ceralvo.

They can’t easily leave the barangay carrying their two wounded comrades; hence, they created a diversionary tactic, but failed to do so.

With this, MGen Dinoh Dolina, the Commander of the Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division called on the communist-terrorist group encountered by the 61IB to look into the welfare of their wounded comrades. “Don’t leave them. They are also Filipinos. Surrender them to the government for them to avail proper medical attention. Your Army will be happy to accept and help your injured companions,” MGen Dolina said.

“The Army will continue to pursue the CPP-NPA Terrorist. You cannot win the war against the government forces. Many of your comrades died and waste their lives in pursuing senseless and bloody armed struggle. While you still have time, better surrender now or suffer the same fate,” MGen Dolina added. 

61st Infantry Battalion 3rd Infantry Division Philippine Army
1LT HAZEL JOY M DUROTAN (FS) PA
CMO OFFICER, 61IB
Miagao,Iloilo
0906-254-9608

[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/cpp-npa-terrorist-leaves-dead-comrade-in-miagao-encounter/

Loose firearms handed-over to troops in Tawi-Tawi

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Website (Sep 24, 2019): Loose firearms handed-over to troops in Tawi-Tawi



As the Western Mindanao Command continue to support the government’s campaign to eliminate and recover loose firearms, one shotgun (Springfield) with one ammunition, and one caliber 38 were handed-over to the troops of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6 in Barangay Umus Mataha, Mapun, Tawi-Tawi on Saturday, September 21, 2019.

Said firearms were voluntarily surrendered by members of the Moro National Liberation Front led by Abujihad Lim, a.k.a Clarence.

“The surrender of fire arms was in connection with the campaign against loose fire arms under comprehensive law on fire arms and ammunition or the RA 10591,” said Brigadier General Camilo Balutan, Commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi.

“This endeavor was made possible through the continuous collaboration of our troops and the local chief executives of Mapun,” Brig. Gen. Balutan added.

Surrendered firearms were brought to the 6th Marine Company in Barangay Mahalu, same municipality for documentation and proper disposition.

“We urge other officials and residents to be one with us in freeing the communities from these menacing tools of violence,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“Let us follow the good example of those who already handed-over their undocumented firearms and have shown their commitment to support our peace campaign,” Lt. Gen. Sobejana added.

Source: PIO Western Mindanao Command

http://www.westmincom.com/loose-firearms-handed-over-to-troops-in-tawi-tawi/

Army troopers continuously render genuine service to the Maguindanaoans

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Website (Sep 24, 2019): Army troopers continuously render genuine service to the Maguindanaoans



Army troopers from units designated in the hinterlands of Maguindanao continue to deliver good services to the people in the far flung areas.



The 603rd Brigade and the 6th Infantry Battalion continuously participates in the outreach programs of the local government units and non-government organizations in their area of operation.

The team together with STI Cotabato led by School President Jefferson Bacurnay, ABS-CBN South Central, Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic Higher and Technical Education, and McDonalds Cotabato facilitated in the gift giving activity held at S. Midal Elementary School in Sitio Pencian, Barangay Tinungkaan, Upi, Maguindanao.

The activity was done purposely to provide assistance to the children from the mountainous areas where basic services are non-existent.



A total of 152 pupils received bags with school supplies, malong, and slippers. Toys were also given to the kindergarten and grades 1 to 3 pupils.

McDonalds Cotabato provided food packs and presented their mascots to provide entertainment to the children.

Meanwhile, 350 sets of dental kits and 350 pairs of slippers were distributed to the students of Kibleg Elementary School in Upi, Maguindanao.



44 pupils had their haircut while both the students and parents were provided with lectures on Teenage Pregnancy and Good Parenting.

Said gift-giving was part of the anniversary activities of Kibleg Elementary School.

“The smile we put on people’s faces is what really matters. Their happiness gives us a sense of fulfillment,” said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

Source: PIO Western Mindanao Command

http://www.westmincom.com/army-troopers-continuously-render-genuine-service-to-the-maguindanaoans/

Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (17 - 23 September 2019)

Posted to the Relief Web (Sep 23, 2019): Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (17 - 23 September 2019)

INFOGRAPHIC from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Published on 23 Sep 2019

Download PDF (1.72 MB)


LAO PDR/ THAILAND/ CAMBODIA

Tropical depressions Podul and Kajiki passed through the Greater Mekong Region and have brought widespread flooding in southern Laos, northeast Thailand, and Cambodia. In Laos, more than 580,000 people were reportedly affected, at least 28 killed, and an estimated 100,000 people have been displaced. The flood waters are reportedly slowly receding. Following the emergency response to meet life-saving needs, the authorities are now assessing post disaster needs and damages.

In Thailand, there are 4 provinces (Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothorn, Roi-et, and Srisaket) where the floods remain severe. Currently, the disaster is level 3 or ‘Large Scale’ (highest level is 4). More than 18,000 people were reportedly displaced in 45 evacuation centers in Ubonratchathani and Srisaket provinces. The Thai Government continues to lead the response with support from the military, Thai Red Cross and the private sector.

In Cambodia, flooding along the Mekong basin and Tonle Sap River has affected some 90,000 households and displaced 13,000 families, as of 20 September. 14 people are known to have died. Since 17 September, 51 provinces in 10 districts have been affected by heavy rains and flooding. As well as damage to houses, 23 health centres, 264 schools, and more than 42,000 hectares of agricultural land have been affected. The Government has allocated USD$500,000 for the flood response, and has delivered food assistance to 10,000 households.

PHILIPPINES

On 19 September, the Department of Health announced the re-emergence of polio in the Philippines and declared a national polio outbreak. Two polio cases were confirmed: a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur in Mindanao and a 5-year-old boy from Laguna in Luzon. Polio was also detected in samples taken from sewage in Manila and Davao as part of the regular environmental surveillance. The country was declared polio-free in 2000, with the last case of the disease reported in 1993.

The Government has launched a mass immunization campaign, with support from WHO and UNICEF.

INDONESIA

Fires and haze continue to affect a number of regions of Indonesia and neighboring countries, including Malaysia. On 23 September, 637 fire hotspots in Indonesia were detected by satellite imagery. The six worst affected provinces have declared an emergency status to accelerate emergency responses. A number of commercial flights in these provinces were cancelled and many schools have been temporary closed. Government capacities mobilized to respond to the haze include over of 9,000 personnel, 42 helicopters, and a number of C-130 planes to put out fires, including with the application of weather modification technology to induce artificial rains. The Red Cross and eight members of Humanitarian Forum Indonesia are also carrying out disaster management efforts in 11 provinces.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.
https://reliefweb.int/report/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/asia-and-pacific-weekly-regional-humanitarian-snapshot-17-23

Clement takes post as 52nd AFP Chief

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 24, 2019): Clement takes post as 52nd AFP Chief

Lieutenant General Noel Clement, erstwhile commander of the Central Command (CentCom) based in Cebu, officially takes the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Tuesday.



Lieutenant General Noel Clement

(10th Infantry Agila Division Philippine Army / MANILA BULLETIN)

President Duterte, Commander-in-Chief, will lead the change of command and retirement ceremony between Clement and outgoing AFP Chief of Staff, General Benjamin Madrigal Jr., around 4:30 p.m. at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

A testimonial review in Madrigal’s honor will also be held.

Meanwhile, Clement is expected to be given the rank four-star general in the coming weeks.

He is the 52nd AFP Chief of Staff and the sixth under the Duterte administration.

Clement will serve for barely four months, as he is set to reach 56 years old, the mandatory retirement age for military service, on January 5, 2020.

He earlier vowed to focus on enjoining all sectors of society in a massive counter-insurgency campaign to help the President realize his vision of ridding insurgency problems before his term ends in 2022.

Relatedly, Madrigal thanked the General Headquarters in his last flag-raising ceremony on Monday.

Madrigal will cap over 38 years of military service.

“To all of you, our personnel, the very heart of our institution, I will always cherish the dedication, cooperation, and professionalism you have shown during my time at the helm of the AFP. You’ve made my work easier and more fulfilling and for that, I thank you all,” Madrigal said.

Madrigal and Clement are “mistahs”, both having been part of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandiwa” Class of 1985.

Clement is a multi-decorated officer, having had four Distinguished Service Star medals, one Outstanding Achievement Medal, three Bronze Cross Medals, two Meritorious Achievement Medals, and various other awards and commendations.

Prior to his assumption as commander of the Central Command in November 2018, Clement became the commander of the 10th Infantry (AGILA) Division (10ID).

It has operational responsibility over the Davao Region (Region 11), Duterte’s home province; parts of Region 12 particularly in Sarangani, South Cotabato, second district of North Cotabato and Columbio, Sultan Kudarat; Trento, Agusan del Sur; and Lingig, Surigao del Sur.

He had also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, at Camp Aguinaldo; Commandant of Cadets and Head of Tactics Group at the Philippine Military Academy; Chief of AFP Management and Fiscal Office; and Chief of Army Resource Management Office from 2012 to 2017.

He had served as the commander of Joint Task Group Sulu, Western Mindanao Command in 2014.

He was also assigned at the 501st Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division; 602nd Infantry Brigade, 6th Infantry Division; 56th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division from 2004 to 2014.

After his graduation from the PMA, he had served as the platoon leader, company commander and held varying staff positions at the 44th Infantry Battalion, 1st Infantry Division from 1985 to 1993.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/09/24/clement-takes-post-as-52nd-afp-chief/

Three Indonesian fishermen kidnapped off Lahad Datu, believed brought to Tawi-Tawi

From the Malay Mail (Sep 23, 2019): Three Indonesian fishermen kidnapped off Lahad Datu, believed brought to Tawi-Tawi

Indonesian Consul-General Krishna Djelani, Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal arrive for Indonesia’s 74th Independence Day reception in Kota Kinabalu September 23, 2019. — Bernama pic

KOTA KINABALU — Three Indonesian fishermen are believed to have been kidnapped from the waters off Tambisan, near Lahad Datu in Sabah, this afternoon by masked gunmen.

Sabah commissioner of police Datuk Omar Mammah said that the three crew men were on a trawler that was accompanied by another trawler about 50 metres away when they were approached by two pump boats.

At around 11.58am, while the trawlers were fishing for prawns, the suspect’s pump boats approached the two boats from behind and gunmen, dressed in camouflage gear and masks, boarded the two trawlers.

“Four gunmen boarded the first boat and three suspects boarded the second boat. They aimed a gun at the three crew men on one boat and told them to get on the pump boat.

“On the other boat, the suspects took all of the documents and cell phones from the crewmen but did not take any of the four fishermen onboard,” said Omar when contacted.

They then sped off towards the islands of Tawi-Tawi in Philippines.

The three kidnapped victims were aged between 27 and 40 years old.

The incident happened about 7.7 nautical miles from Tambisan in Lahad Datu.

This comes as Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal confirmed the incident, saying the fishermen were likely from Buton, an island off Sulawesi.

“However, we will look into the exact situation. I will get more detailed information on it,” he was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama while attending Indonesia’s 74th Independence Day reception here.

In the last 18 years, there has been more than 20 kidnapping cases involving Indonesians.

In June earlier this year, 10 Indonesian fishermen were kidnapped off Lahad Datu. Nine were later rescued.

The Indonesian consulate had earlier this month issued a letter of notification warning their citizens of armed groups from southern Philippines looking for kidnapping opportunities in the east coast of Sabah.

The notification is to warn about 300,000 Indonesians nationals in the state to be vigilant and cautious while at sea as their intelligence claimed three Abu Sayyaf groups were reported to have moved into the waters of eastern Sabah on August 30, targeting fishing vessels.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2019/09/23/three-indonesian-fishermen-kidnapped-off-lahad-datu-believed-brought-to-taw/1793575

Malaysia: Kidnappers Seize 3 Fishermen near Maritime Border with Philippines

From BenarNews (Sep 23, 2019): Malaysia: Kidnappers Seize 3 Fishermen near Maritime Border with Philippines

Fishermen walk with Filipino soldiers after being freed from an Abu Sayyaf camp in Jolo, the Philippines, June 22, 2019. AFP

Malaysian authorities are investigating reports that three fishermen were abducted Monday from their boat off Sabah’s east coast near the border with the Philippines, officials said.

Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal did not identify the victims but said they are believed to be Indonesians. They were kidnapped around noon by men on two pump boats – outrigger canoes powered by small engines – while fishing near the town of Lahad Datu, he said.

“I was made to understand that they were taken to Tawi-Tawi (Philippines),” he told reporters. “It occurred at roughly the same spot of previous kidnappings,” he said, adding there has been no ransom demand.

Shafie said the spot of the abduction is remote, so it is difficult for patrols to be there at all times. He also suggested that a formal post be established to deter kidnappings in the region.

Hazani Ghazali, chief of the Eastern Sabah Security Command, said a witness reported the abduction after seeing two pump boats towing the fishing boat around 3 p.m., about three hours after the kidnapping took place.

“By the time the marine police arrived, the two pump boats had vanished and the fishing boat was empty,” he told BenarNews.

Initial investigation showed the boat belongs to a Sabah resident and the three victims were Indonesians who worked for him, according to Hazani.

While Shafie and Hazani did not identify the perpetrators, Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf has been blamed for a spate of kidnappings in the region over recent years where Malaysian and Indonesian sailors and fishermen have been taken hostage.
Earlier this month, Malaysian police said security forces gunned down two suspected Abu Sayyaf members during a shootout at sea off the Sabah state.

Founded in the early 1990s, Abu Sayyaf is notorious for kidnappings, bombings and beheadings carried out in the southern Philippines during the past two decades. The group, based in and around Jolo and Basilan islands in the southwestern part of the Philippines, has been blacklisted by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization.

Sabah has been under a dusk-to-dawn sea curfew during the past few months as authorities took steps to curtail movements of armed groups involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/kidnap-report-09232019151032.html

Rebel killed, soldier hurt in Miag-ao clash

From the Panay News (Sep 24, 2019): Rebel killed, soldier hurt in Miag-ao clash

This unidentified New People’s Army fighter is a casualty in an encounter between rebels and troops of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Ongyod, Miag-ao, Iloilo yesterday morning, Sept. 23, 2019. After this rebel’s companions retreated, soldiers recovered an M16 rifle, antipersonnel mine, medicines, backpacks, kitchen utensils and subversive documents of high intelligence value. 61ST IB PHOTO

ILOILO – Government troops and rebels clashed in Barangay Ongyod, Miag-ao town yesterday morning, three days after a skirmish there Friday last week.

A New People’s Army fighter was killed while a Philippine Army soldier was wounded.

As of this writing, the dead rebel remained unidentified.

The leg-wounded Sergeant Janny Labrador of the 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion (61IB), on the other hand, was hospitalized.

After the rebels retreated, soldiers recovered an M16 rifle, antipersonnel mine, medicines, backpacks, kitchen utensils and subversive documents of high intelligence value, according to Captain Cenon Pancito III, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).

The 30-minute encounter happened at around 8 a.m. There were an estimated 15 rebels.

A hot pursuit operation was launched after the rebels retreated.

“Iniwan nila ang kanilang namatay na kasama para mabilis ang pagtakbo nila,” said Pancito.

An hour before the Miag-ao encounter, rebels fired shots at the detachment of the Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit in Sitio Sambag, Barangay Dagami, Maasin town. There were no casualties or injuries.
“The Maasin harassment was a diversionary tactics of the rebels. They did not know we have more soldiers in Miag-ao ready to engage them,” said Pancito.

The rebels belonged to the Suyak Platoon, Southern Front, Komiteng Rehiyon Panay led by Joven Ceralvo alias Lex, said Pancito.

“This group is hampering not only development projects in the area but also the people’s peaceful lives,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, 61IB commander.

On the other hand, Major General Dinoh Dolina, commander of the 3ID, called on the rebels to surrender and look after the welfare of their wounded rebels.

“Don’t leave them. Surrender them to the government for proper medical attention. Your Army will be happy to accept and help your companions,” said Dolina.

https://www.panaynews.net/rebel-killed-soldier-hurt-in-miag-ao-clash/

Dad asks SC to release daughter suspected as NPA

From the Manila Standard (Sep 24, 2019): Dad asks SC to release daughter suspected as NPA

The Supreme Court has been asked to order the Philippine Army to produce alleged student-activist Alexandrea Pacalda who was reportedly arrested illegally and had been in the military custody since Sept. 14.

In a 10-page petition for writ of habeas corpus, Pacalda’s father Arnulfo appealed to the SC magistrates to order concerned Army officers to release Alexandrea from detention for illegally arresting his daughter.

Impleaded as respondents in the case were PA 2nd Infantry Division commander Brigadier General Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., 85th Infantry Battalion commanding officer Colonel Arnold Gasalatan, 201st Brigade officer-in-charge Colonel George Joel Lalaquil, 201st Brigade civil-military officer Captain Benedict Alfonso Cagatin, and 85th Infantry Battalion intelligence officer 1st Lieutenant Randy Bobis.

“Wherefore, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that a Writ of Habeas Corpus be immediately issued directing the respondents to have the body of Alexandrea Paradilla Pacalda produced before this Honorable Court, and after notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing her immediate release from detention,” Arnulfo told the SC magistrates.

The petitioner claimed that his daughter was “illegally arrested and tortured, and that the respondents illegally restrained her liberty and causing her continued detention without any legal cause for which she is entitled to the privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus under Rule 120 of the Revised Rules of Court.”

Reports showed that Alexandrea is being detained on the suspicion that she is a member of the New People’s Army.

Pacalda is a former managing editor of “The Luzonian”, the official student publication of the Manuel Enverga University at Lucena, Quezon. She is also a volunteer of the Pinag-isang Lakas ng Magsasaka sa Quezon (PIGLAS-Quezon), a local peasant organization in the province.

Allegedly without a warrant, the student-activist was arrested at around 6 p.m. of Sept. 14 in Barangay Magsaysay, Gen. Luna, Quezon province by six armed men in civilian clothing, who were later identified to be from the 85th Infantry Battalion.

She was boarded into a blue van without a plate number and was taken to the 85th Infantry Battalion headquarters located in Barangay Villa Principe, Gumaca, Quezon.

In the military camp, Bobbis, along with Alex Capio, Cheche Mortero, and others, reportedly interrogated her without the assistance of a lawyer of her choice.

Alexandrea was asked how she was recruited as an activist and was reportedly forced to identify alleged NPA members.

The next day Arnulfo went to see his daughter at the Gen. Luna Police Station and saw that she was weak, starved and was deprived of sleep.

Arnulfo claimed that he was duped by the police and the soldiers to sign the certification of a police report stating that she voluntarily surrendered, and in return, she would be released.

However, instead of being set free, Pacalda was taken to the headquarters of the 201st Brigade in Camp General Alfredo Santos in Barangay Rizal Ilaya, Calauag, Quezon.

On Sept. 17, reportedly without her mother Susan’s knowledge, she was taken out of the camp to appear before a notary public and have the affidavit she allegedly executed signed and notarized.

The petitioner later told her lawyer Sol Taule that during the time that she was not in full control of her mental faculties because of sleep and food deprivation, psywar, and mental torture, the soldiers allegedly forced her to sign three affidavits, including the Affidavit of Voluntary Surrender.

She reportedly was not given enough time to read and understand the contents of the documents that she was told to sign.

Taule and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had already asked the 201st Brigade to release Pacalda.

http://www.manilastandard.net/index.php/news/national/305708/dad-asks-sc-to-release-daughter-suspected-as-npa.html

AFP shows airfield seizure, urban terrain capability in DAGIT-PA exercises

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 23, 2019): AFP shows airfield seizure, urban terrain capability in DAGIT-PA exercises

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — The capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in retaking an airfield overran by the enemies, and operating on an urban terrain was the highlight of the on-going DAGIT-PA joint exercises 2019 here at Fort Magsaysay on Monday.


MARTIN SADONGDONG / MANILA BULLETIN

The first phase of the event included an 8,000-feet free fall by members of the Philippine Marines and Special Operations Command (AFP-SOCom) from military helicopters.

The soldiers, acting as assaulters, were tasked to eliminate “enemy” snipers and observers that served as the first line of defense of the hostile force on the airfield of Fort Magsaysay.

After the initial phase, what followed was an intense gun-battle simulation between the enemies and the Special Operations Wing of the Philippine Air Force who had to take hold of a control tower located deep within the enemy’s base.

Primary forces, composed of Army’s one Infantry Company aboard a separate military aircraft, were then able to land on the airfield with the help of the control tower manned by allied forces as they went on to secure the air strip.

Meanwhile, one Mechanized Infantry and one Infantry Company retook and cleared an urban area which was initially under the enemies’ control, and full of explosives and booby traps.

The scenario and setting were all too familiar. After all, the organizers of the exercises patterned it after one of, if not the deadliest human conflict in the recent history of the Philippines — the Marawi siege.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Sonny Dungca, Education and Training officer of the Army’s Special Operations Command (SoCom), the airfield seizure and military operation on urban terrain (MOUT) showcased the enhanced interoperability of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

“What triggered us here at the SoCom to conduct an exercise like this were the recent crises that we faced such as the Zamboanga siege and the Marawi siege in 2017,” Dungca shared.

In the said crises, joint military units of the Army, Navy and Air Force were deployed to eliminate threats from local and terrorist groups.

“We must be interoperable, nagkakaintindihan dapat ang tatlong major services. We were also able to exchange expertise kasi kanya kanya naman ang aming specialization,” Dungca said.

“Bago tayo magrely sa iba, magrely muna tayo sa sarili natin. Wala naman ibang magtatanggol sa bansa natin kundi tayo. It is high time na makita ng tao na ang AFP natin can work as one,” he stressed.

Finally, all roads led to a nipa village where a platoon of Scout Rangers, Marines and combat engineers raided the enemy leadership’s encampment.

DAGIT-PA, which stands for “dagat,” “langit” and “lupa,” is the first AFP-wide military exercise aimed at enhancing the interoperability during joint operations of its three major services. It started last September 16 and will end on September 27.

More than 1,500 soldiers including reservists and selected AFP-wide support and separate units were participating in this year’s joint exercises.

DAGIT-PA was dubbed as the Filipino version of Balikatan exercises being done annually by the AFP and US military.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/09/23/afp-shows-airfield-seizure-urban-terrain-capability-in-dagit-pa-exercises/

AFP: 2 more PMA cadets in hospital due to ‘maltreatment’

From the Philippine Star (Sep 23, 2019): AFP: 2 more PMA cadets in hospital due to ‘maltreatment’

Two more cadets from the Philippine Military Academy are confined in a hospital after suffering from suspected “maltreatment,” Armed Forces of the Philippines said Monday days after the death by hazing of a newly entered plebe.

In a press briefing, AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said the two fourth class cadets—both confined in an undisclosed military hospital—are now “recovering and responding to medications and said to be in stable condition.”

One of the cadets was confined on September 17, while the other was admitted on September 21. Both complained of abdominal pains, Arevalo said.

“Both incidents sadly are suspected to be maltreatment cases,” the AFP spokesperson said, adding that the alleged perpetrators in these cases have been identified and are now held at the PMA holding center.

“Maltreatment is never tolerated and disallowed to thrive. Infractions on stern regulations, governing and policies banning it will be meted with severest penalties—criminal, civil and administrative,” Arevalo said.

It is not yet established if the suspects in the death of Darwin Dormitorio, also a fourth class cadet, are the same people behind the suspected maltreatment of the two other plebes.
Hazing death

The report on the “maltreatment” of two other PMA cadets comes days after the death by hazing of Dormitorio. The 20-year-old cadet from Cagayan de Oro died last September 18.

Criminal cases against the upperclassmen in the PMA linked to the death of Dormitorio will be filed in Baguio City today.

Arevalo said two of the primary suspects are held at the PMA stockade, while the other is detained at the holding center.

There are six other cadets who are facing administrative proceedings, four are facing discharge from PMA and two are up for suspensions. One cadet is facing penalty for class one offense—the highest category of offense in the academy.

The Department of Justice ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct an investigation into and a case build-up on the death of Dormitorio.

“If evidence warrants, [the NBI should] file the appropriate charges against persons founds responsible therefor,” Justice chief Menardo Guevarra said.

President Rodrigo Duterte is angered by the death of Dormitorio, his spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Monday. “He’s one man who’s always outraged by any kind of oppression and hazing is an oppressive act.”

Panelo also said PMA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista should resign after the death of one of the academy’s cadets.

“If I were the boss how can I be staying a minute longer if I don't know what's happening in my office? You are the superintendent of PMA, then hazing happened. Why didn't you know about it?” Panelo told Palace reporters.

Dormitorio was considered the first casualty of hazing after the tougher anti-hazing law was signed last year.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/09/23/1954280/afp-2-more-pma-cadets-hospital-due-maltreatment

PEACETALK: Open Conflicts, Building Bridges Of Peace

Posted to MindaNews (Sep 21, 2019): PEACETALK: Open Conflicts, Building Bridges Of Peace
(By CARDINAL ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO)

(Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Cotabato, delivered this piece in a panel discussion during the Interfaith Peace Forum, “Peace Without Borders” held in Madrid, Spain on 15-17 September 2019).

May I localize the topic under discussion and speak of open conflicts and building bridges of peace on the southern island of Mindanao, Philippines. I shall speak from my own personal experience. In the past 48 years the Archdiocese of Cotabato, where I am the Archbishop Emeritus, has been the arena of open armed conflict.

Major parts of my presentation:

A. The social context;
B. Causes and Rise of Open Armed Conflicts;
C. Negotiations for Peace, Final Peace Agreement;
D. Terrorism and Violent Extremism in Mindanao’
E. Dialogue, Building Bridges of Peace – Forming Persons of Dialogue

A. The Social Context

The Philippines has a population of 108 million people. 82% is Catholic. Unfamiliar to many is the fact that there is a Muslim region in the Philippines. This is the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the southern part of the Philippines.. There are more than five million Muslims in the Philippines. About 3.5 million live in BARMM, a region consisting of five provinces and three cities in southwestern Mindanao. Nine out of ten people in BARMM are Muslim.

The Archdiocese of Cotabato is located in this Muslim region. It covers the Muslim Province of Maguindanao. The Catholic Cathedral is located in Cotabato City which is more than 60 % Muslim.

The Muslim provinces and cities are economically underdeveloped. Traditionally ruled by elected powerful families and clans, BARMM is the poorest region in the country.

In BARMM indigenous Peoples, like the Christians, are a significant minority. They are usually the poorest of the poor. Philippine laws safeguard their identity, fundamental human rights, and their ancestral domain.

B. Causes of Armed Conflict in Mindanao

1. Loss of Muslim Self-Determination and Sovereignty

In the 13th century Muslim traders brought Islam to the southern islands of what is now known as the Philippines. It was more than 200 years before Magellan, the Spanish navigator, “discovered” the Philippines in the 16th century. Muslim Sultans later spread their sovereignty over the indigenous peoples of Mindanao. Their sovereign power reached as far as Manila in the north. When Christian Spain conquered the islands of Luzon and the Visayas in the 16th and 17th centuries, Muslim Sultans on the islands of Mindanao and Sulu, successfully resisted Spanish colonial power.

At the turn of the turn of the 20th century, Spain ceded the Philippines to America as a result of the Spanish-American War. Recognizing their distinct identity the American government accommodated them by creating the “Moro Province” of Mindanao in 1903 with an American military governor. Eventually the Muslims lost all their sovereign power.

2. Loss of Territory

Encouraged by the American government and later by the Philippine government, waves of Christian migrants from Luzon and the Visayas settled in Mindanao, the “Land of Promise.” From 1903 to 1973 waves of Christian migration from Luzon and the Visayas turned the once Muslim-dominated islands of Mindanao and Palawan into a Christian territory, constricting the Muslim population to just five Mindanao provinces.

3. Poverty, Underdevelopment, and Government Neglect

The loss of sovereign power and territory brought poverty and underdevelopment, aggravated by national government neglect. The poverty situation was albeit abetted by elected powerful Muslim clans with inadequate sense of the common good.

4. Biases and Prejudices

Deep-seated historic biases between Muslims and Christians simmered under the surface and often erupted into brief armed conflicts. In fact when the Americans granted independence to the Philippines in 1946, Muslim politicians and intellectuals wanted to be under the Americans rather than under the majority Christian Filipinos.

5. The Rise of Open Armed Conflict

In 1969 a Muslim University professor, driven by the deep-seated desire to regain Muslim self-determination, sovereignty, and territory, organized the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), recruited thousands of young Muslims and began to wage a full-scale rebellion against the Philippine Government. It aimed to create an independent Muslim State. But in 1976, the MNLF signed the Tripoli agreement by which it accepted the idea of a semi-autonomous region. Some 57 MNLF leaders did not accept the agreement and broke away from the MNLF. In 1984 they formally formed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and continued the Bangsamoro rebellion for an independent state.

C. Negotiations And Final Peace Agreement

After years of armed struggle towards independence, the MILF eventually began negotiations for enhanced autonomy, but far superior to that of the partial autonomy that the MNLF had signed with the government. Seventeen years of negotiations concluded with the signing of a final peace agreement in 2014. This created the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Bangsamoro would exercise their right of self-determination and sovereignty with their own form of government in their own limited territory, within the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Philippine Republic. It was a win-win solution to a very complex political, cultural, religious, and economic situation.

D. Emergence of Terrorism and more Opened Armed Conflict

In 2017 open armed conflict between extremist ISIL-affiliated Filipino Muslims erupted in the Muslim city of Marawi, southern Mindanao. They set fire to the Catholic Cathedral of Marawi and to the Protestant college dormitory, and took several Christians including a Catholic priest as hostages. The five-month siege of Marawi ended with the deaths of the leaders, the Maute brothers, but only after Marawi had been bombarded to flush out the terrorists.

At present, Mindanao is suffering from four types of terrorist attacks, first by the continuing rebellion of the Maute Group (MG) and, second, by the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG), notorious for its kidnap-for-ransom criminal activities. Both groups have pledged allegiance to ISIL. A third open terrorist conflict is with one of three factions of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). This BIFF faction is for independence. The fourth armed conflict is with the National Democratic Front led by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military arm, the New Peoples’ Army (NDF/CPP/NPA). It aims ultimately to set up a government, ideologically based on Leninist-Marxist-Mao Tze Dong thought.

In summary, the main causes of armed conflicts are: perceived social injustices, poverty, economic exclusion and marginalization, biases and prejudices, corrupt governance and government neglect.

E. Dialogue – Building Bridges Of Peace

From my personal experience and observation, achieving peace is a journey of dialogue. I update this conviction with the landmark Abu Dhabi document, “Human Fraternity” that was signed by the Pope and by the Grand Imam of Al Azhar.

We see this journey to peace in the experience of the peace panels of the MILF and the Philippine government. They embarked on a journey of dialogue, requiring openness, patient listening and endurance, marked by detours and threats of suspension. Fundamentally their dialogue for peace was a journey from hostility and suspicion to understanding and mutual trust.

F. Inter-Faith Dialogue

My own basic experience was and continues to be Inter-faith Dialogue with Muslims, other Christians, and believers of traditional religions, i.e., indigenous peoples. This takes several levels:

Dialogue of Life in everyday interaction in offices, schools, in markets and business establishments;

Dialogue of Religious Experiences, when peoples of different faiths share together how and when they pray, what they pray for, what their respective faiths mean for them, their experience of the Divine, etc;

Dialogue of Theological Exchange, when religious leaders share their doctrinal beliefs about God, Creation and Environment, their holy books and traditions, Jesus and Mary, Redemption, Salvation, etc.;

Dialogue of Action, when after dialogue on social issues they move into collaborative action for the social transformation of their communities.

In my experience it is imperative that permanent channels or structures for dialogue between members of different faiths, with civil society and government are set up.
Intra-Faith Dialogue to Address Terrorism and Biases

Terrorism is an ideology that has no borders. It is irreligious. Its claim to be religious is based on a misinterpretation and selective as well as manipulative understanding of the texts of sacred revelation. Hence authentic and authoritative teachers of religion have strongly condemned violent extremists and terrorists as irreligious. All religions are religions of peace. The name of the God of peace cannot be invoked to kill and maim or massacre.

For this reason it is my conviction that the need of the hour against terrorism as well as against biases and prejudices is intra-faith dialogue.

Local Christian pastors, ulama, ustadz, imams need to form the minds and hearts of their constituents in the true holistic teachings of their respective faiths, teachings such as respect for human dignity and fundamental human rights, understanding of and respect for other faiths, love of neighbor, and common pilgrimage to the Reign of God.

Such formation has to begin in the home, within the family, and has to extend to formal and informal education in madaris and schools, forming individuals to become persons of dialogue and peace – persons with hearts of peace. The heart of peace is peace in the heart.

(Cardinal Orlando B. Quevedo’s panel was chaired by Mario Giro, of the Community of Sant’Egidio, Italy. The other panelists were Awut Deng Acuil, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan; Jawad Al-Khoei, Secretary General of Al-Khoei Institute in Iraq; Abdulwahhab Ahmed Al-Taha Al-Sammaraee, Spokesman of Fiqh Council of Senior Scholars in Iraq; Nelson Castiano Chiganda Moda of the Community of Sant’Egidio in Mozambique and Mohammad Tarek Shaban Salem of Al-Azhar University in Egypt).

https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2019/09/peacetalk-open-conflicts-building-bridges-of-peace/

Curfew in ESSzone extended to Oct 8

From the New Straits Times (Sep 24, 2019): Curfew in ESSzone extended to Oct 8

The curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), which ends on Monday, has been extended until Oct 8, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah. -- NSTP Archive

KOTA KINABALU: The curfew in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone), which ends on Monday, has been extended until Oct 8, said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah.

He said the curfew, from 6pm to 6am, coveres the waters off Tawau, Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.
“Those living in the affected areas should remain indoors; while outsiders will not be allowed to enter the waters there between 6pm and 6am.

Omar said the curfew is being extended to ensure the safety of international researchers and tourists at resort islands in the area, which in the past have come under terrorist attack.

“It is also to ensure the safety and well-being of Sabahans in the ESSZone.” he said in a statement today.

Omar said the curfew will facilitate the enforcement and monitoring of boat movements, while the presence of security vessels would provide a sense of security for chalet operators and fishermen in the area.

He said that based on intelligence, the Abu Sayyaf militant group and those carrying out kidnappings-for-ransom from the southern Philippines ae still trying to intrude into the ESSZone to commit abductions and cross-border crimes. – Bernama

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2019/09/523421/curfew-esszone-extended-oct-8

Peace 911 links small farmers to wider markets

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 23, 2019): Peace 911 links small farmers to wider markets

DAVAO CITY – After laying down the foundation of peace building which includes bringing basic services to the communities, Davao City’s Peace 911 now starts its Peace Economy, a component of peace building that ensures sustainability of peace efforts by improving the economy of the people.

Peace Economy spokesperson Benjie Lizada described peace economy as uplifting communities in difficult situations by creating a vibrant peace economy through collaboration between and among government, private sector, and target communities, anchored on responsible development.

“ We identify agricultural communities, engage them, and link them to various sectors and we promote the idea that anyone who buys or patronize these products, contribute to solving problems in conflict areas. This means that they invest on peace,” Lizada explained.

Piloting the peace economy program is the recent collaboration between NCCC Supermarket, the Helen’s Farm, the Peace 911, and the small farmers in Paquibato District.

NCCC Supermarket Senior Vice President Tjader P. Regis described the three-week old collaboration as something that is adjusting to reach its goal of getting farm produce straight from the farmers at a fairly, reasonable price.

Peace economy tries to reduce unnecessary layers that bring in middlemen into the spectrum. Every layer added makes trade expensive for the farmers as it diminishes value and transfers the advantage to these middlemen.

Stakeholders of the Peace Economy, an initiative of PEACE 911 during the press confercence at Buffet Palace, NCCC Victorial Plaza held on Sept. 20

“ We may not totally remove all the layers but we are trying to solve issues on logistics by dealing with a social entrepreneur that consolidates produce from the different small farmers and provides us the needed supply,” Regis said.

Regis was referring to Helen’s Farm, a social entrepreneur, tapped to gather and consolidate the supply from the farmers before it delivers the produce to the NCCC Supermarket.

“ We understand the concerns of the farmers and by ensuring the logistics, supply now as needed by NCCC could be met and even be sustainable,” said Toots Campomanes of Helen’s Farm.

As described by the NCCC Supermarket official, the small farmers got surprised upon learning the buying price of their produce. For the longest time, Regis shared that the farmers got contented receiving small value of their products as sold to various middlemen.

“ Farmers are quite surprised learning how much the NCCC values their product. When they earn better, farmers can re-invest into farm technology to better their production and source of living,” Regis said.

Barangay Captain of Malabog, Paquibato District Jessielito C. Areza described the Peace 911 as Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s priority program on peace and security and the biggest factor to a peaceful Paquibato District in the recent years.

The community was first engaged through consultation and dialogue until the government brought in various government services to cater to the needs of the residents.

“ Almost 2 years na walang encounter na nangyari dito sa Paquibato. Kung dati, natatakot kami sa sundalo ngayon ay magkasundo na ang mga sundalo at sibilyan.Naiintindihan na ng sibilyan kung ano talaga ang ginagawa at tulong ng gobyerno sa komunida ( There was no encounter that occured in Paquibato in the recent years. The civilian already understood how the government operates and helps the communities.) ,” Areza said

Areza also shared that with social issues immediately addressed by the government and with residents getting engaged and busy with their livelihood, it was then impossible that residents are swayed by communist groups to go against the government. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1027730