PACIFIC 2019: Austal Unveils Philippine Navy OPV Design

Posted to Naval News (Oct 13, 2019): PACIFIC 2019: Austal Unveils Philippine Navy OPV Design

At PACIFIC 2019, the naval defense exposition held last week in Sydney, Australia, Austal unveiled the design of the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) that the local shipbuilder is currently pitching to the Philippine Navy.

Austal, which specializes in aluminum ships is proposing a design which features a steel hull (which makes the design affordable) and aluminum superstructure (which helps to reduce the overall radar cross section of the design). The ship has a length of 83.4 meters, a beam of 13.3 meters and a draft of 4 meters. Its speed is 22 knots at 85% MCR and the range is 3,500 nautical miles at 12 knots.

In terms of weapon systems, the main gun is a 76mm by Leonardo. The scale model on display at PACIFIC 2019 showed two 25mm remote weapon systems as secondary guns as well as decoy launchers.

The design can accommodate up to 52 sailors. It features a stern ramp for the launch and recovery or an 11 meters RHIB, and two 7 meters RHIB amidship (port and starboard). The flight deck can accommodate a 10 ton helicopter (AW159 or Wildcat of the Philippine Navy would be able to deploy from the OPV) and has the capacity to launch and recover UAS. There is no helicopter hangar however. Below the flight deck is a mission bay where containerized mission modules may be placed (for cargo, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance…)

“Austal has come up with this design, we think it is great for the Philippines, great for their patrol capability and great for their deterrent for their exercises and missions around the South China Sea”    Brett Reed, General Manager of Defense Sales, Austal

The procurement of 6 OPV (with follow-ons potentially) has become a priority for the Philippine Navy as part of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

Negotiations are still ongoing and are taking place as part of a government-to-government scheme, Austal told Naval News.

Our day 1 video coverage at PACIFIC 2019 featuring Austal’s OPV design

https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/pacific-2019/2019/10/pacific-2019-austal-unveils-philippine-navy-opv-design/

‘No feud’ with Navy as Marines turnover set

From the Business Mirror (Oct 14, 2019): ‘No feud’ with Navy as Marines turnover set

THE commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps will officially relinquish his post on Monday amid reports of his alleged differences with Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, but the latter has dispelled this, and said he maintains a professional relationship with his subordinate who is also his former classmate at the Philippine Military Academy.

Major Gen. Alvin Parreño will turn over the command of the Marines to Naval Inspector General Major Gen. Nathaniel Casem, five months before Parreño’s official retirement from the service. Reports had said his early exit was raising a howl among the senior officers of the Marines.

Empedrad said Parreño, his classmate in PMA Class of 1986, will be assigned to his office, apparently as the latter winds down his months into the service.

The Navy chief dismissed reports that Parreño’s decision to leave his post has something to do with an alleged quarrel between him and the outgoing Marine commandant, including Empedrad’s alleged meddling in the issue of promotions in the Marines.

The Philippine Marines is under the Navy.

“I do not meddle in the movement of minor positions in whatever unit of the Navy, but I officially decide in positions involving colonel and up because the positions of colonel and up in the Navy falls under my authority. I decide who will take up this or that position,” Empedrad said.

“But for the positions of Lt. Col. and down in any unit of the Navy, I do not. I do not meddle in any promotions. In fact, I encourage promotion,” adding “it was even me” who had been promoting people.

Empedrad said that when the vice commander of the Philippine Navy retired, he offered the post to Parreño, but the latter declined and said he would just give way to Casem.

“So there’s no truth to what you are hearing about,” Empedrad said.

“It’s just a plain rumor and I am assuring [the public] that the leadership of the Navy is solid and the incoming commander [of the Marines] is a seasoned commander and a veteran warrior of the Philippine Marine Corps,” he added.

The Navy chief admitted that previously, he and Parreño had differed on the issue of whether or not the Marines should be separated from the Navy and turned into another service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Marine leadership had pushed and supported this.

However. the “rift” had been settled, with Empedrad allowing the Marines to take charge of their own budgetary requirement and spending.

“The President had said that instead of separating the Marines, it will just become a key budgetary unit, meaning, the Navy would no longer manage its finances, and that’s what we did. All of the budget of the Marines has been given to the Marines,” he said.

Empedrad said the Navy is a very professional organization and it is “professional enough” to handle any differences.

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/10/14/no-feud-with-navy-as-marines-turnover-set/

Indonesian Navy in Philippines for goodwill visit

From the Philippine Star (Oct 14, 2019): Indonesian Navy in Philippines for goodwill visit

Two Indonesian Navy vessels will arrive in Subic, Olongapo tomorrow for a goodwill visit.

The visit will allow the crewmembers of the Kri John Lie and Frans Kaisepo to engage in joint activities with the Philippine Navy.

The ships will dock at the Alava Pier in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. It will remain in the country for several days.

The Philippine Navy will welcome the visitors and hold activities and joint exercises with them.

Visits of foreign navy forces are intended to strengthen ties and build stronger military relations with the host country.

 
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/10/14/1959956/indonesian-navy-philippines-goodwill-visit

Korean Coast Guard ship in Manila for goodwill visit

From the Philippine Star (Oct 14, 2019): Korean Coast Guard ship in Manila for goodwill visit

A Korea Coast Guard ship arrived at South Harbor, Port Area in Manila Monday morning for a five-day goodwill visit.

The Philippine Coast Guard welcomed KCG training vessel 3011 "Badaro" on its second visit to the country.

The Korean coast guard vessel's first visit to Manila was in September 2018, which was also a goodwill visit.

Badaro, a Tae Pyung Yang (Pacific)-class vessel, has a total length of 100 meters and equipped with a helicopter and other modern technology.

Just last month, South Korean Navy destroyer Munmu the Great and support vessel Hwacheon visited Manila, marking the 70 years of diplomatic ties between South Korea and the Philippines.

During that visit, Rear Adm. Yang Min Soo of the Korean Navy acknowledged the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea, which were the first ground troops to assist South Korea in the Korean War.

In August, the Philippine Navy commissioned former South Korean corvette Chunju, which is now called BRP Conrado Yap.

The Philippine Navy has also ordered two new frigates from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries, which are scheduled to be delivered to the country by 2020 and 2021, respectively.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/10/14/1960091/korean-coast-guard-ship-manila-goodwill-visit

Army to build new camps in Marawi City

From the Manila Bulletin (Oct 14, 2019): Army to build new camps in Marawi City

The Philippine Army (PA) announced on Monday its plans to build new military camps in the city of Marawi two years after a destructive siege that was regarded as the longest urban war in the recent history of the Philippines.

Major General Jesus Sarsagat, Army Chief of Staff, said the PA acquired the writ of possessions for the 10,2751 hectares of land at Barangays Caloocan East and Kapantaran in the capital city of Lanao del Sur where the new military camps will be established.

“The legal possession of the land enables the Philippine Army to efficiently accomplish its mission. It is a strategic location to protect the people [of Marawi] against terrorism,” Sarsagat said.

He noted that the acquisition of the writ of possessions was made possible with the help of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Sarasagat recognized the OSG, headed by lawyer Penafrancia Carpio-Devesa, and legal counsels Maria Felina Constancia Yu-Basangan, Joseph Ryna Abalos, Glenn Thyron Ancheta, and Mark Anthony Cabasag in a ceremony at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Monday.

The Islamic city of Marawi is still reeling from the effects of the siege carried out by the Maute terror group and aided by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) on May 23, 2017.

The clashes began when the troops attempted to capture ASG leader Isnilon Hapilon, who was also regarded as Islamic State’s (IS) emir in Southeast Asia.

The five-month siege resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people including terrorists, security troops, and civilians.

The founders of the Maute group — brothers Omar and Abdullah Maute — and Hapilon, were among those killed.

On October 17, 2017, Marawi City was declared liberated from terrorist influence, and six days later, on October 23, an end to the war was announced.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/10/14/army-to-build-new-camps-in-marawi-city/

Military expands search for British trader, wife

From the Philippine Star (Oct 14, 2019): Military expands search for British trader, wife

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The military has launched massive air and ground search and rescue operations for a British businessman and his Filipina wife, who were seized by still unidentified men in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur more than a week ago.

This was done after the municipal police’s efforts to track the kidnappers yielded no clues on the identities of the suspects.

The local police had the suspects’ images sketched based on the descriptions of the witnesses, but it has yet to identify them or determine if they belong to a group.

All available naval and air assets have been utilized by the task force that conducted maritime and aerial operations, according to Maj. Arvin John Encinas, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

Ground troopers expanded the search and rescue operations in the entire Zamboanga peninsula.

“This is to narrow down the route and location of the kidnappers,” Encinas said.

Sources in Zamboanga del Sur said the kidnappers have attempted to contact the victims’ family.

Authorities refused to comment on the information as they cautioned the public against speculating as this might put the lives of the victims in danger.

The victims, who operate a beach resort and a private school in the town, were seized in Barangay Alindahaw on Oct. 4.

The kidnappers dragged the couple into two waiting motorboats, which fled in different directions.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/10/14/1959967/military-expands-search-british-trader-wife

Opinion: New PMA head out in 13 months

From the Reveille column of Ramon Farolan in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 14, 2019): Opinion: New PMA head out in 13 months

Last month, a new Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff was installed at Camp Aguinaldo. Lt. Gen. Noel Clement will serve for three months. Two weeks ago, in the wake of a hazing scandal that saw the death of a fourth class cadet, the AFP put in a new superintendent at the Philippine Military Academy. Rear Adm. Allan Ferdinand Cusi will serve at Fort Del Pilar for 13 months, the remaining year of his military career. Cusi holds a respectable service record and will most likely get his third star before retirement.

What is happening to the AFP? Our chiefs of staff, our major unit commanders, have become short-time executives serving for three months, six months, or one year at best. Is this the continuing norm for the future AFP? Is this current trend acceptable? Common sense tells us this situation benefits a few, but in the long run, is detrimental to the organization. This is true for the PMA, the primary source of leadership for the Armed Forces. We need stability, continuity of command and sustainability of reforms for the organization to be considered truly professional.

Of all the educational institutions of the land, none is more representative of our country than the PMA. The cadets come from every part of the nation and in that sense, they represent the youth of the land from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. The great majority of these young boys and girls are from the middle and lower classes of Philippine society. Most are products of provincial high schools. For many, entrance to the PMA represents the only opportunity for higher education with a possible realization of their dreams for a better life. For a few, the vision of someday becoming AFP chief of staff is also a part of that dream. They are all chosen on the basis of competitive exams nationwide.

In terms of support from the Filipino taxpayer, no institution in the land comes close to the academy. Everything a cadet needs—uniforms, clothing, food, shelter, transport, books and instructors, training and sports facilities, all with a monthly stipend—is provided for by the government. The cost comes up to almost P3 million per cadet. In return, they dedicate the best years of their lives, if not life itself, in the service of our country.

There is absolutely no reason why we should treat the leadership of the academy in such a cavalier manner as to appoint short-term superintendents regardless of their qualifications. When we act in this manner, we do a great disservice to the AFP and to the nation.

The heads of our state colleges and universities nationwide have a term of office of three years. The president of the University of the Philippines enjoys a tenure of six years, and most private educational institutions have the same outlook when it comes to administration. In the case of the PMA, we have short-term leadership arrangements; as such, it is difficult to dismiss the idea that it is simply a way station for an additional star before retirement.

Why not a senior colonel or a young brigadier general, with several more years of active duty in his career, one with drive, imagination and ambition? He might just come up with some bold, crazy ideas that may pleasantly surprise everyone. Some years ago, there was a directive from the defense secretary that read: “Tour of duty of the Superintendent—The PMA Superintendent shall have a tour of duty of three years, unless otherwise earlier terminated by the President. In order to provide stability and continuity of policies and programs in the PMA, no officer shall be designated to the position of PMA superintendent unless he is able to substantially complete the tour of duty of three years.” This directive did not require congressional approval. Unfortunately, like many things in our lives, good ideas are sometimes coterminous with the tenure of their proponents. We can do better!

The brigade commander or “baron,” of the cadet corps, First Class Cadet Ram Michael Navarro, resigned from his position, citing command responsibility over the death of Cadet Darwin Dormitorio. He is possibly the first and only cadet to step down from the most prestigious post in the corps, and we commend his action. It serves as an excellent example for all cadets.

But what about the battalion commander of Dormitorio, First Class Cadet Raymart Cabangcala; his company commander, First Class Cadet Elbert Lucas; and his platoon leader, First Class Cadet Irvin Sayod? Were they completely blind or unaware of what was happening with one of their men who had been in and out of the station hospital? Command responsibility covers what you do and what you fail to do. This early, cadets must learn that while rank has its perks and privileges, it also carries with it a heavy responsibility, especially for the welfare of the men entrusted to their care.

rjfarolan56@gmail.com

https://opinion.inquirer.net/124573/new-pma-head-out-in-13-months

‘IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE’ IPPO claim on pro-NPA local execs met with skepticism

From Panay News (Oct 14, 2019): ‘IT’S NOT THAT SIMPLE’ IPPO claim on pro-NPA local execs met with skepticism

ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is not about to swallow hook, line and sinker the Iloilo Police Provincial Office’s (IPPO) claim that five mayors, two vice mayors and nine municipal councilors are supportive of the New People’s Army (NPA).

“I need time to investigate that and to confer with the police provincial director. What does ‘supportive’ mean,” said Defensor.

What were the prevailing circumstances that led to such conclusion, he asked.

According to the governor, the situation may be a little more complex.

“It’s not that simple. Ang aton local government officials work on the ground. They are in constant contact with their constituents. So I have to be clarified kon ano ang buot silingon sang ‘support’ nga amo sina. Usisaon anay,” said Defensor.

IPPO director Police Colonel Roland Vilela had said these mayors, vice mayors and municipal councilors were paying revolutionary tax to the NPA and during the midterm elections they paid the rebels “permit to campaign” fees.

“’Di ba it’s a form of support,” said Vilela.

According to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), 32 elected local officials in Western Visayas enjoyed the support of the NPA in the May midterm elections and could now be paying the rebels back with support.

PRO-6 spokesperson Police Lieutenant Joem Malong said of these 32 officials, 11 were elected mayor and six were elected vice mayor.

Malong, however, acknowledged it would be difficult to prove that these local officials are now paying the insurgents back with monetary or logistical support unless witnesses surface.

“We need physical evidence to pin them down,” said Malong.

Local officials proven to be supportive of rebels face criminal and administrative charges.

In Capiz, according to Malong, there were four mayors, two vice mayors and three town councilors while in Negros Occidental, there were two elected mayors, two vice mayors, two municipal councilors, and a provincial board member.

While Defensor intends to get more facts from Vilela, the governor reiterated the goal of the Duterte administration which is to solve the insurgency problem and achieve inclusive and sustainable peace through good governance.

The provincial government will be forming the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) – a local counterpart of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) that President Rodrigo Duterte created December last year.

Defensor expressed alarm over the series of clashes between government troops and rebels in the municipalities of Miag-ao and Igbaras.

While the NTF-ELCAC aims a whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, the PTF-ELCAC’s tack would be whole-of-province.

“This is good because the thrust of Governor Defensor is social justice. The framework is already there. All we have to do is make the implementation plan,” said Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay.

Defensor said the provincial government has programs that could help address the insurgency problem; one of these is building road networks even in remote areas.

These road networks are envisioned to usher economic development even in far-flung areas. Economic difficulty is one of the factors driving people to rebel, Defensor explained.

Based on DILG Memorandum Circular 2019-125, a joint resolution of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Provincial Development Council (PDC) is needed for the creation of the task force. It will be chaired by the governor.

https://www.panaynews.net/its-not-that-simple-ippo-claim-on-pro-npa-local-execs-met-with-skepticism/

Some 123 LGUs in East Visayas declare CNTs persona non-grata

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 14, 2019): Some 123 LGUs in East Visayas declare CNTs persona non-grata



A total of 123 Local Government Units in Eastern Visayas have denounced the atrocities of the communist NPA terrorists and its allied organizations and subsequently declared them as persona non-grata.

Among these 123 LGUS are three provinces, two cities, 58 municipalities and 60 barangays in Eastern Visayas. The three provinces as Biliran, Southern Leyte and Northern Samar.

Of the 58 municipalities, 18 are from the province of Leyte, 15 from Southern Leyte, 15 from Northern Samar, seven in Northern Samar, two in Biliran and one in Samar.

Meanwhile, of the 60 barangays, eight are in Hilongos, Leyte; eight in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte; seven in Sogod, Southern Leyte; seven in Bato, Leyte. Others are in Burauen, Leyte; Abuyog, Leyte; Mahaplag, Leyte; Inopacan, Leyte; Baybay City; Can-avid, Eastern Samar; Lope de Vega; Calbayog City; Bontoc, Southern Leyte; and Calbiga.

More LGUs are expected to follow suit just as there is a continuing move among them to organize their respective Local Task Force to end local communist armed conflict.

The declaration took effect when the respective local legislative councils passed the resolutions which stated that the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and its leaning organizations have long been identified with the main ideology of replacing the democratic system of the government into communism.

The resolutions expressed the sentiment of the people that the presence and activities of the communist terrorists have been a problem of the entire nation and considered a threat to national security as they instill fear to people in the communities, recruit new members and sow terror to investors as well as the killing of barangay officials and civilians who contradict their propaganda.

The local officials said this is their contribution and their own way of doing their part in the intensified campaign of the national government to end the more than five decades of the communist armed conflict in the entire nation as per EO70 issued by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in December of 2018. (PIA 8)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1028636

Army-NPA encounter leaves 3 NPA dead, firearms recovered

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 14, 2019): Army-NPA encounter leaves 3 NPA dead, firearms recovered



LAS NAVAS, Northern Samar - At least three communist NPA terrorists were killed in a firefight between troops of the 81st Division Reconnaissance Company and the NPA in Barangay Sag-od, Las Navas, Northern Samar on October 12, 2019, a report from a top-ranking military official stated.

One fatality was left in the scene of encounter while the remaining two and many others wounded were carried by the fleeing terrorists as reported by the civilians.

The slain NPAs were identified as Ricky Torzido, Jary Tolling Alias Baba and Danilo Olango Alias Bondat.

The troops proceeded to the area in response to reports from the residents of Brgy. Sag-od and as an offshoot to the revelation of Edwin Piczon Alias Bonay and Anton Mañoso Alias Tito, both members of NPA’s Yunit Milisya from Hinagonoyan, Catubig, Northern Samar, and Rey Christian Sabado Alias Nadz/Ali (Chanchan), the deputy secretary for Education of FC2, SRC EMPORIUM.

To recall, Chanchan, Bonay and Tito were apprehended by the operating troops of the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion on October 3, 2019 in the vicinity of Brgy. San Francisco, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Local residents have been complaining about the rampant extortion activities and NPA encampment along Brgys. San Isidro, Epaw, San Jose, Sagod complex, all of Las Navas, Northern Samar.

The revelations of concerned citizens were corroborated by Chanchan, Bonay and Tito. They further revealed the names of politicians, government employees and barangay officials, particularly in Las Navas, who are in cahoots with the communist terrorist groups.

The following are the recovered war materials in the encounter site: one (1) Cal 5.56mm Colt M16 rifle with serial number 022151, one (1) Cal 5.56mm Bushmaster rifle with serial number L550746, one (1) Cal 7.62mm M14 rifle with serial number 1420497, one (1) Bandolier, two (2) long fully loaded magazines for M16, one (1) long empty magazine for M16, two (2) fully loaded magazines for M14, one (1) First Aid Kit, one (1) Flashlight, one (1) sling bag and other personal belongings.

The body of the slain NPA was turned over by the operating troops of 20th Infantry Battalion to the barangay officials of Brgy. Sag-od, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Lieutenant Colonel Juan Gullem, 20th Infantry Battalion commander, lauded the troops for the successful pursuit operation against the NPAs who terrorize and disturb the lives of the affected civilian community.

“It is unfortunate that fellow Filipinos are being killed because of the propaganda, lies and deception of the communist terrorist groups. Your Army in Northern Samar is committed to address any armed group threatening the safety and well-being of our people.”

“I therefore, call on the NPAs in Las Navas, and in Northern Samar in general, to lay down their arms while there is still time and live a peaceful life in the company of their family and loved ones,” Lt Col Gullem said.

“We assure the NPAs of their safety and extend our arms for any assistance should they opt to return to the folds of the law,” he added.

The leadership of 20IB also enjoined the stakeholders and civilian partners to continue working hand in hand towards the attainment of just and lasting peace, and sustainable development in this part of Northern Samar. (PIA 8)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1028645

Security up as BARMM employee shot dead in Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14, 2019): Security up as BARMM employee shot dead in Cotabato



SECURITY CHECK. Policemen conduct checkpoint operations in Cotabato City following the ambush-slay of an employee of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on Sunday night (Oct. 13, 2019). Police visibility around the city has also been doubled due to the incident. (Photo courtesy of Cotabato City Police Office)

COTABATO CITY – Authorities have beefed up security in the city following the ambush-slay of an employee of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTE-BARMM) by still unidentified gunmen Sunday evening.

“Police visibility and checkpoints were immediately established in strategic sections of the city,” said Col. Portia Manalad, city police director, in a statement.

Major Rustom Pastolero, city police station 2 chief, identified the victim as Mingko Marohom Ebrahim, 32, an employee of MBHTE-BARMM and a resident of Barangay Rosary Heights 7, this city.

Investigation showed that Ebrahim was driving his motorbike along Gonzalo Javier Street, Rosary Heights 7 at about 8:20 p.m. when two men aboard a separate motorcycle shot him from behind.

“Ebrahim sustained multiple bullet wounds on his chest and legs and died on the spot,” Pastolero said, adding that relatives immediately claimed the remains of the victim.

Responding police station 2 operatives recovered empty shells for .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Pastolero said investigators are still trying to establish a lead on the case.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083060

Mom says arrest of rebel son in Samar a blessing

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14, 2019): Mom says arrest of rebel son in Samar a blessing



REUNITED. Former New People's Army member Rey Christian Sabado is visited by his mother, Anabelle, at the Northern Samar police provincial office in Catarman, Northern Samar on Sunday (Oct. 13, 2019). Anabelle said the arrest of her son in Northern Samar is an answered prayer. (Photo courtesy of Emjay Chico) 

For Anabelle Sabado, the capture of her son, who was recruited by the New People’s Army (NPA) as a finance officer in Northern Samar, is an answered prayer.

Anabelle said his son, Rey Christian, 22, made up his mind to abandon the communist terrorist group in March this year after two years, but rebel leaders allegedly threatened to harm him.

“He stayed in our house from March to June this year and find part-time jobs, but someone called him up almost every day and pressured him to join the State of the Nation Address (SONA) rally and be an active NPA member again,” Anabelle said in a phone interview.

On Sunday, Anabelle and some members of the Hands Off Our Children group visited Christian who is now under the custody of the Northern Samar police provincial office. This was her first time to see her son after four months.

On Oct. 3, soldiers of the 20th Infantry Battalion arrested Sabado, Anton Mañoso, and Edwin Picson while conducting extortion activities in Las Navas, Northern Samar. They were turned over to the police custodial facility.

Government troops seized from their possession firearms, explosives, and documents that contain information linking NPA with front organizations and the list of business establishments targeted for their extortion activities.

Anabelle told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that contrary to the claim of a left-leaning group, his son is in good physical condition and happy that he is still alive despite joining encounters with government troops in Northern Samar.

“He’s been longing to come home, continue his studies, and find a job. It has been his desire to surrender to the government,” the mother said, after hours of private talk with his son.

Gemma Labsan, a founding member of Hands Off our Children, said Christian’s capture is God’s will to save him from his horrible experiences in the hands of the NPA.

“His expression of regret in joining rebellion will help our children make the right choice. We are very happy to see and talk to him as part of our campaign to discourage teens from embracing the ideology of communist NPA,” said Labsan, whose daughter is active in anti-government protests.

Labsan, a public school teacher said she is still lucky that her daughter remains with them, but her attitude is greatly influenced by the NPA.

Another Hands Off Our Children founding member, Luisa Espina, said she is happy to hear from Christian that her daughter, Louvaine Erika is still alive and has been assigned in Mindanao.

“Christian made a personal appeal to my daughter to surrender and return home,” Espina told PNA.

Anabelle cautioned students against listening to the persuasions of left-leaning groups, whose intention, she said is to recruit teens to join the NPA through youth activism.

“My son has started as a student leader and meet people from Anakbayan, who convinced him to abandon us, his career, and go to mountains to fight the government,” she added.

Christian was a 20-year-old sophomore accounting student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila when he joined the communist terrorist group.

In a video released Sunday by Hands Off Our Children, he asked students to focus on their studies, be with their family, and not join anti-government demonstrations.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083059

Albayalde has had enough: Palace

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 14, 2019): Albayalde has had enough: Palace



Former Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde (PNA file photo)

General Oscar Albayalde resigned as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) because he is tired of hearing "false and unfair" accusations about his involvement in illegal drugs, Malacañang said on Monday.

“Well, that’s his call. I can only speculate that perhaps he had enough of the innuendo and the accusation he feels were false and unfair,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in an interview over CNN.

“He said that his family was suffering, so he made that call,” he added.

Asked if there was pressure from the Palace, which prompted Albayalde to resign, Panelo said: “None that I know of.”

Panelo said he would soon be meeting President Rodrigo Duterte to ask his reaction to Albayalde’s resignation.

The Palace official said that the Senate could recommend the filing of charges against Albayalde if investigation results find probable cause or any commission of any transgression of a law.

Albayalde announced his decision to relinquish his post as PNP chief and go on non-duty status during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony in Camp Crame.

He is scheduled to tender his compulsory retirement on Nov. 8 when he turns 56. However, last week, he said he was leaving his post on Oct. 29.

He said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has accepted his letter of intent to go on non-duty status and endorsed it to the President.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa will serve as officer-in-charge.

In November 2013, Albayalde, who was the provincial police director of Pampanga at that time, was accused of protecting his subordinates who pilfered shabu (crystal meth) in a raid.

In a Senate hearing, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong claimed Albayalde deferred the dismissal order against his subordinates.

Meanwhile, former CIDG deputy director, Col. Rudy Lacadin, claimed Albayalde admitted receiving money from the reselling of drugs but “only a little.”

Albayade denied these allegations claiming other police generals were ganging up on him and vowed to file charges against them

He claimed he was not among those charged and that the cases were dismissed in 2017 for “insufficiency of evidence”.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1083064

AFP-CRS: Rebel Killed, Cop Hurt in Negros Clash

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Oct 13, 2019): Rebel Killed, Cop Hurt in Negros Clash

A New People’s Army rebel was killed while a police officer was wounded in an encounter in Barangay Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday night (Oct. 9, 2019).

The joint operation in Sitio Basak, Barangay Tan-awan around 8:20 p.m. was initiated by troops of 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and policemen of 6th RMFB Technical Support Company.

Soldiers recovered a rifle grenade, two magazines of AK 47, 117 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, and electrical wires for anti-personal mines.

#AFPyoucanTRUST | www.afpcrs.com

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2761011503917556/?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: Financial Opportunism of the CPP-NPA Exposed

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Oct 13, 2019): Financial Opportunism of the CPP-NPA Exposed

Even some prominent church-based organizations in Europe are falling victims to the “financial opportunism” of the CPP-NPA.

This was bared by MGEN ANTONIO G PARLADE JR AFP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief of staff for civil military operations and one of the spokesmen of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), during the weekly “Straight Talk with Daily Tribune.”

#AFPyoucanTRUST | www.afpcrs.com

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2758345250850848/?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: CPP-NPA Officer in Far South, Captured

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Civil Relations Service (AFP-CRS) Facebook Page (Oct 13, 2019): CPP-NPA Officer in Far South, Captured

A Spokesman and a Leader of CPP-NPA-NDF Terrorist Group (CTG) being monitored in Far South Mindanao, together with two others, were arrested by an Inter-Agency Group composed of the elements of 1002nd Infantry Brigade under BGen. Adonis Bajao and Police Region Office 12, during a Law Enforcement Operation at Barangay Kalaong, Maitum, Sarangani Province in the early morning of October 10, 2019.

The arrested were identified as Nicanor Pason or also known as Kumander Costan, Leader of a CTG being monitored in the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat; Bernard Prespetero, Spokesperson of the Far South Mindanao Regional Committee of the CTG; and a certain Josephine Carvajal Sumagaysay and Reynaldo Beringel Loyola, both CTG couriers and contacts.

#AFPyoucanTRUST | www.afpcrs.com

https://www.facebook.com/CivilRelationsServiceAFP/photos/a.182240175128048/2758328617519178/?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/

CPP: Comment on Duterte’s recent Russia and China political junkets

CPP propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Oct 13, 2019): Comment on Duterte’s recent Russia and China political junkets



The recent trip to Russia (October 1-6) by Rodrigo Duterte, as well as his recent visit to China (August 28 to September 1), were costly political junkets. Duterte had at least two self-serving objectives.

The first, is to counter international isolation and pressure arising from the UN Human Rights Commission’s July 11 resolution seeking an investigation into the widespread killings perpetrated by state security forces in the course of his regime’s drug war hoax. Duterte hopes to use his “alliance” with China and Russia to induce some countries to withdraw their vote from the aforementioned resolution.

To secure the support of China and Russia, Duterte invited their biggest capitalists to invest in the country and take advantage of cheap Philippine labor and access to natural resources. To the detriment of Philippine national interests, Duterte has offered deals to both the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and the Russian Rosneft Oil Company to invest in oil exploration activities within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The second objective is to strengthen his “negotiating position” viz-a-vis the US in order to press the Trump government to provide his regime with more purchases of military equipment. By sidling up to China and Russia, Duterte claims he has made the US “insecure” about its military alliance with the Philippines.

However, as Duterte has himself revealed, his handling of diplomatic relations is always “pera-pera lang” (“all about money”). He has repeatedly issued statements claiming of plans to purchase arms from Russia, at times echoed by known stooge (which will go against US policy of not selling weapons to countries who buy weapons from Russia.) Like a child throwing tantrums, Duterte merely wants more candies from the US including brand new rifles, attack helicopters, rockets, artillery rounds and other materiél used in his war of suppression.

The recent visits to Russia and China also highlight Duterte’s mendicant foreign policy, where he begs for loans and foreign investments. Without a change in the local economic system, trade relations with the more advanced capitalist countries are always an unequal exchange between their finished manufactured commodities and the country’s cheap, raw and semiprocessed goods.

Duterte’s recent visits to Russia and China and his overall diplomatic tactics do not serve the country’s national interests, rather are an extension of his Machiavellian politics where he seeks to perpetuate his power through tyranny and terror.

https://cpp.ph/2019/10/13/comment-ondutertes-recent-russia-and-china-political-junkets/

Kalinaw News: NPAs Neutralized and firearms recovered in Las Navas Northern Samar encounter

Posted to Kalinaw News (Oct 14, 2019): NPAs Neutralized and firearms recovered in Las Navas Northern Samar encounter

Las Navas, Northern Samar – At least three (3) members of communist NPA terrorists were killed in a firefight that ensued between troops of the 81st Division Reconnaissance Company and the NPA at Barangay Sag-od, Las Navas, Northern Samar yesterday, October 12, 2019. One fatality was left in the scene of encounter while the remaining two and many others wounded were carried by the fleeing terrorists as reported by the civilians. Accordingly, the slain NPAs were Ricky Torzido, Jary Tolling @Baba and Danilo Olango @Bondat.

The troops proceeded to the area in response to reports from the residents of Brgy Sag-od and as an offshoot to the revelation of Edwin Piczon @Bonay and Anton Mañoso @Tito both members of NPA’s Yunit Milisya from Hinagonoyan, Catubig, Northern Samar, and Rey Christian Sabado @Nadz/Ali (Chanchan), the Deputy Secretary for Education of FC2, SRC EMPORIUM. @Chanchan, @Bonay and @Tito were apprehended by the operating troops of the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion last October 3, 2019 in the vicinity of Brgy San Francisco, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Relatedly, local residents are complaining about the rampant extortion activities and NPA encampment along Brgys San Isidro-Epaw-San Jose-Sag od complex all of Las Navas, Northern Samar. The revelations of concerned citizens were corroborated by @Chanchan, @Bonay and @Tito. They further revealed the names of politicians, government employees and Brgy officials particularly in Las Navas who are in cahoots with the communist terrorist groups.

Following are the recovered war materials in the encounter site:
One (1) Cal 5.56mm Colt M16 rifle with serial number 022151
One (1) Cal 5.56mm Bushmaster rifle with serial number L550746
One (1) Cal 7.62mm M14 rifle with serial number 1420497
One (1) Bandolier
Two (2) long fully loaded magazines for M16
One (1) long empty magazine for M16
Two (2) fully loaded magazines for M14
One (1) First Aid Kit
One (1) Flashlight
One (1) sling bag and other personal belongings

The slain NPA was turned over by the operating troops of 20th Infantry Battalion to the Brgy Officials of Brgy Sag-od, Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Lieutenant Colonel Juan Gullem, 20th Infantry Battalion Commander lauded the troops for the successful pursuit operation against the NPA who terrorized and disturbed the lives of the affected civilian community. “It is unfortunate that fellow Filipinos were killed because of the propaganda, lies and deception of communist terrorist groups. Your Army in Northern Samar is resolute to address any armed group threatening the safety and well-being of our people. I therefore call on the NPA in Las Navas, and in Northern Samar in general to lay down their arms while there is still time and live a peaceful life in the company of their family and loved ones”, Lt Col Gullem said. “We assure the NPAs of their safety and extend our arms for any assistance should they opted to return to the folds of the law,” he added. The leadership of 20IB also enjoined the stakeholders and civilian partners to continue working hand in hand towards the attainment of just and lasting peace, and sustainable development in this part of Northern Samar.

Division Public Affairs Office 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army
Cpt Francis R Agno
Chief, 8DPAO PA
Camp General Vicente Lukban, Katbalogan City
09178948925

[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/npas-neutralized-and-firearms-recovered-in-las-navas-northern-samar-encounter/

CPP: Duterte’s anti-insurgency campaign pushes people to join and support the NPA

Posted to the often pro-Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) online publication the Davao Today (Oct 13, 2019): CPP: Duterte’s anti-insurgency campaign pushes people to join and support the NPA

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Because of the Duterte administration’s continuous efforts to wipe out insurgency in the country, it has become the “recruiter” of potential New People’s Army (NPA) fighters, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said Friday.

“With his anti-people and anti-poor policies, Duterte is actually helping the Party and the NPA by creating conditions favorable for widespread recruitment,” the CPP said.

The group’s statement was in reaction to the pronouncement of National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. Thursday (Oct. 10) during the Mindanao summit of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) this city.

The NTF-ELCAC, created through an Executive Order issued on Dec. 4, 2018, aims “to provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the implementation of the Whole-of-Nation approach to aid in the realization of the collective aspirations for inclusive and sustainable peace.”

Esperon said by the time Duterte steps down from office in 2022, the Communist movement would have been weakened and would no longer pose a threat to the country’s peace and order situation through the so-called whole-of-nation approach.

But the CPP said the government’s ongoing anti-insurgency campaign has pushed “more and more people to join or support the revolutionary underground and the armed struggle.”

The President and the defense and security establishments under him, according to CPP, “are succeeding only in inciting more resistance in their overzealous drive to tag all opposition as communists, communist recruiters, sympathizers or collaborators.”

‘Corrupt, anti-people’

The CPP also criticized the current administration for “inflicting greater sufferings on the people” because of Duterte’s “corruption and anti-people policies”.

It noted the government’s “lust for high-style travel” through the recent purchase of two luxury jets worth P2 billion and spending billions on Duterte’s “whims in the form of so-called discretionary funds” while millions of Filipinos suffer daily.

The CPP said Duterte has failed to address the breakdown of public transportation; ignored the clamor for salary increases of public school teachers, nurses, and government employees; dismissed the widespread opposition of drivers and operators and other transport workers to the jeepney phaseout plan; and has been indifferent to widespread problems of joblessness, low wages, high prices, lack of access to education and health services”.

“Duterte’s reign of undeclared martial rule, widespread violation of democratic rights, and political repression,” the CPP added, are “rationale of the need for the people to wage national democratic revolution”.

Since it was founded on December 26, 1968, past administrations have tried to wipe out the Communist insurgency. The CPP, however, will be celebrating its 51st founding anniversary this year.

http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/cpp-dutertes-anti-insurgency-campaign-pushes-people-to-join-and-support-the-npa/

NPA slammed over recruitment of minors

From the Sun Star-Baguio (Oct 13, 2019): NPA slammed over recruitment of minors

A RANKING official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recently expressed alarm over the continued recruitment of minors by the New People’s Army in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Brigadier General Henry Dayaoen, commanding officer of the 503rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said in a recent interview that these minors were involved in criminal activities.

“We actually have a surrenderer who was illegally recruited at the age of 13 until this person got out at the age of 35 whose future was destroyed and what is sad here is that this individual incurred criminal records,” Dayaoen said.

The AFP, Dayaoen added, wants to focus on rescuing children recruited by the communist groups and help them re-integrate into society.

Dayaoen said he believed there is a big possibility that communist groups are also involved in the use, sale and transport of illegal drugs in the region to fund their illegal activities.

“There is a possibility that these armed terrorists are also engaged in the sale and distribution of illegal drugs particularly marijuana because their intention is to destroy the future of our people and the country. This, aside from them wanting the youth to be involved in the use of illegal drugs to commit crimes which they use for their illegal activities as well,” Dayaoen said.

Dayaoen said there are 135 to 140 communist rebels operating in the region.

Although the number of communist rebels has dwindled, Dayaoen said their presence is still felt in the mountainous areas of the region.

“At present, the NPA is seen operating in the areas of Balabalan, Kalinga, at the territorial boundary of Abra, Mountain Province and at the Ilocos Sur area. An example of this is what happened last year when there was an encounter between the PNP and AFP against the NPA’s where we were informed of their presence coming from the community who reported the destruction being done by the communists on their water system at Bauko,” Dayaoen added.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1827358

Gulfstream jet purchase part of AFP modernization

From the Manila Standard (Oct 11, 2019): Gulfstream jet purchase part of AFP modernization

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday refuted allegations that the Gulfstream G-280 jet is a luxury plane, saying the acquisition of the aircraft is a necessary component of ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program.

“I would like to make some clarifications on the acquisition of the Gulfstream G-280 aircraft for the Philippine Air Force, which has been in the news the past few days. Let me emphasize that we do not consider the G-280 as a luxury aircraft, but a necessary component of the AFP modernization program for command and control of our Armed Forces to manage operations on air, land, and sea,” he said in a press statement.

The G-280 will be utilized as command-and-control aircraft, DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong earlier said.

“This type of aircraft is necessary for a 24/7 real-time command-and-control, especially during crisis situation. The Gulfstream G280 acquisition is part of our efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Lorenzana added.

He said the G-280 will be operated with other command-and-control platforms that the AFP has and those to be acquired in the future.

Lorenzana also denied claims that the aircraft is intended to be used as a presidential plane, adding that President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave instructions that he is not interested in acquiring an executive jet for himself.

“The President has stated from the beginning that he does not want the procurement of an executive jet for his own use. This aircraft was not intended to be a presidential plane but as a command-and-control plane of the AFP and the DND. The justification of its procurement says so: ‘For Command and Control,’ which was approved by the DND/AFP senior leaders last year specifically for the purpose stated,” the DND chief added.

Aside from its command-and-control functions, the G-280 will also be used for flights to ferry wounded soldiers and critically ill civilians that need to be quickly transported to hospitals.

“Other Cabinet secretaries and high government officials in their official trips around the country could also use it,” Lorenzana said, noting the plane will also facilitate the country’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts with its Asean neighbors.

As regards to whether the Chief Executive will be using the aircraft, Lorenzana said all assets of the AFP are at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief.

“Will the President be using it? As the Commander-in-Chief, all assets of the AFP are at his disposal when he needs them. The Filipino people can rest assured that, contrary to what is being passed around in an obvious attempt to discredit the national leadership, the acquisition of the Gulfstream aircraft is not a frivolous pursuit, but rather a result of careful planning with due consideration to the needs of our Armed Forces,” he added.

http://www.manilastandard.net/index.php/news/national/307201/gulfstream-jet-purchase-part-of-afp-modernization.html

Southern Philippine military to recommend "selective" martial law

From Xinhua (Oct 13, 2019): Southern Philippine military to recommend "selective" martial law

The Armed Forces of the Philippines in the southern Philippine Mindanao island will propose a "selective" martial law instead of placing the entire island under military rule, the commanding general of the AFP's Western Mindanao Command said on Sunday.

Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said his command wants martial law to be limited only to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The BARMM includes the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, and the cities of Cotabato, Marawi and Lamitan, and 63 villages in six North Cotabato towns.

"I don't recommend (placing) the whole of Mindanao (under martial rule). We want to limit the scope in the areas where there are security problems," Sobejana told reporters.

Asked why he wants martial law extended in BARMM, Sobejana said: "The usual security problem, the Abu Sayyaf is there." The Abu Sayyaf has about 300 to 400 members, mostly in the remote Sulu and Basilan provinces.

"The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is there, there are also remnants of the Maute (Group)," Sobejana also said, referring to the separatists groups. "The efforts of our counterparts (in the local government) should be sustained and that is the delivery of basic services," he added.

Sobejana said his command will submit its security assessment to the AFP high command before martial law period lapses on Dec. 31, 2019.

The AFP's Eastern Mindanao Command said in August that it supports the resolution passed by the Davao City council to lift martial law in the city due to improved peace and order situation there.

The Philippine Congress granted in December 2018 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's third request to further extend martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao for a period of one year, to quell a "continuing rebellion" in the southern Philippine region.

Local terrorists belonging to the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Group attacked Marawi City on May 23, 2017, prompting Duterte to place the entire Mindanao under martial law for 60 days.

The 1987 Constitution only allows the president to declare martial law for a maximum of 60 days. Any extension would require approval from Congress.

Under martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao, security forces are allowed to make arrests, detain or search without a warrant. This means that people who have committed the crime of rebellion or even suspected ones may be arrested without warrant of arrest and objects that were used in the commission of the crime of rebellion may be seized without search warrant.

Mindanao has been the hotbed of violent extremism and a brewing rebellion for decades. In more recent years, Mindanao witnessed the perpetration of numerous acts of violence like the Marawi siege and bombings in major cities.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-10/13/c_138468572.htm

Kamandag kicks off in Cavite

From the Philippine Star (Oct 13, 2019): Kamandag kicks off in Cavite

Combined Filipino, American and Japanese military forces under “Kamandag” successfully liberated a portion of a military base in Ternate, Cavite from terrorists yesterday.

This was among the highlights of the joint Kamandag (venom) military exercise participated in by Filipino, American and Japanese forces in an amphibious assault on a Philippine Marine Corps base in Ternate.

American Osprey planes also took part in the drill which, for the first time, involved four brand new amphibious assault vehicles of the Philippine Marines, from the US Marines and from Japan Ground Self Defense Force.

“From our very own landing dock ship, BRP Davao del Sur, our four AAVs and AAVs from US and those from Japan, all coming for a US landing dock ship simultaneously hit the shorelines and respectively performed their assigned tasks,” Marine spokesman Capt. Felix Serapio said.

Serapio said the combined amphibious assault training was aimed at harnessing the skills of the three military forces to operate jointly in the event of an actual security threat involving local and foreign terrorists.

The combined amphibious drill also included humanitarian disaster response, an exercise performed by land-based military forces, also in Ternate.

“This year’s combined amphibious exercise was a success as Filipino, US and Japanese soldiers, while operating separately from their respective AAV platforms, they were able to operate jointly,” Serapio said.

The joint exercise currently being held in various areas of the country – including Zambales and Palawan – kicked off at Subic, Zambales last Oct. 9 and will end Friday next week.

Kamandag is a combined military event between US and Philippine forces being held annually under the auspices of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the two allied states. Japan join ed the exercise this year.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/10/13/1959659/kamandag-kicks-cavite

CPP-NPA Finance Officer and Intel Staff busted in Butuan City

From PTV News (Oct 11, 2019): CPP-NPA Finance Officer and Intel Staff busted in Butuan City

Camp Rafael C Rodriguez, Butuan City —— The finance officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Komisyon Mindanao was arrested yesterday in Barangay Limaha, Butuan City, PBGEN JOSELITO T ESQUIVEL JR said in a statement.

Nori L Torregosa, 37, resident of Purok 1, Brgy Maasin, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur, and Intelligence Staff of North Central Mindanao Regional Committee was arrested together with his live-in partner, Melissa A Comiso, 38 years old, and finance officer of the CPP-NPA Komisyon Mindanao (KOMMID), by joint elements of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) of the Police Regional Office (PRO13) 13, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 13, Butuan City Police Station 1 and 2 at 6:30PM.

PBGEN Esquivel Jr said Torregosa was arrested on the strength of a search warrant dated October 10, 2019 issued by Presiding Judge Emmanuel E Escatron of the Regional Trial Court Branch 4 of Butuan City for Loose Firearm.

Comiso is in charge for the management of the collection and distribution of extortion money in Mindanao while Torregosa is responsible to collect, compile or analyze information.

Yielded during the search were two hand grenades, a caliber .45 pistol, six .45 caliber ammunition, magazine, a caliber .38 revolver, three caliber .38 ammunition, five blasting cap assembly with wire connector and switches, one rolled detonating cord, four Laptops, five cellular phones, suspected subversive documents, and Passport.

Torregosa and Comiso, have lot knowledge about the extortion activities, not only in Caraga, but the entire Mindanao.

“We hope that they will cooperate with the investigating team in identifying individuals, business institutions and groups that are providing financial support to the CPP-NPA terrorists,” PBGEN Esquivel Jr said.

“The successful Law Enforcement Operation is the product of collaboration and partnership of the community and the PNP Caraga. The government’s efforts against the CPP-NPA terrorists are relentless and we will not stop here until we can ensure the safety and security of the Caraganons,” he added.

Gen Esquivel Jr also urged other NPA rebels who are still with the communist underground movement to surrender and avail the government’s peace and reconciliatory initiatives.

https://ptvnews.ph/cpp-npa-finance-officer-and-intel-staff-busted-in-butuan-city/

Military seeks to end insurgency by 2022

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 13, 2019): Military seeks to end insurgency by 2022

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Misamis Oriental, Philippines — The government’s goal is to make the communist insurgency irrelevant by 2022, just before President Rodrigo Duterte bows out of office, the country’s top security official said.

“We are tempted to set a self-imposed deadline to us, which would be naturally 2022 because that’s the end of the term of the President,” National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon told reporters.
In three years time, the communist rebels would have suffered massive military losses that they would no longer be able to launch attacks and cause trouble to the country, Esperon said.

“There may be a few stragglers left but by that time, they would just be doing banditry and the Philippines would have been able to fly economically,” Esperon added.

On Thursday, Esperon spoke before a regional summit of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict that gathered concerned Cabinet and security officials, local chief executives and tribal leaders from all over Mindanao.

Esperon said the summit was convened to learn from the successes and best practices of other regions in fighting communist insurgency.

But Esperon said there were many challenges that could hinder the government’s effort to achieve its target to weaken the communist guerrillas’ fighting strength.

Civilians key to solution

Esperon cited the consistency in the investment of resources needed to kick-start infrastructure projects and the delivery of basic services to the people in the countryside.

He noted that the war waged by communist rebels was most felt in Mindanao.
But Esperon said the growth and progress of Mindanao’s regions, particularly Caraga and northern Mindanao would make the communist rebellion irrelevant.

Esperon, however, said that if the military was left alone to fight communist rebels, the insurgency problem would not be solved soonest.

“We cannot defeat the communists by the efforts of the military and the police alone. We need the civilian sector,” said Esperon, a former chief of the country’s Armed Forces.

“You [civilians] have the key to the solution of the communist problem not only in Mindanao but in the entire Philippines,” Esperon added.

He emphasized the need to plan for “systematic, harmonized convergence of efforts” and to transform strategy from military-driven operations to civilian-led operations.

But the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said the government’s effort to wipe out the insurgency was creating conditions ripe for the recruitment of more guerrillas.

In a statement, the CPP said the government’s ongoing anti-insurgency campaign has pushed “more and more people to join or support the revolutionary underground and the armed struggle.”

It said the President and the defense and security establishments under him “are succeeding only in inciting more resistance in their overzealous drive to tag all opposition as communists, communist recruiters, sympathizers or collaborators.”

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1177034/military-seeks-to-end-insurgency-by-2022

Predicting Terror Activity Before It Happens

Posted to the Eurasia Review (Oct 13, 2019): Predicting Terror Activity Before It Happens

Data scientists have developed an early-warning model that can successfully predict how lethal a terror organization will become in the future based on only its first 10 attacks.

The predictive model, developed by researchers in Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, will allow security forces to better identify and target the most destructive groups to potentially stop them before they grow too powerful.

“This early warning is huge because not only can it help the government target and neutralize the groups with the most potential for destruction, it also can help the government strategically deploy resources and avoid spending billions of dollars fighting a group that is likely to burn out on its own anyway,” said Brian Uzzi, corresponding author on the study and the Richard L. Thomas Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at Kellogg.

The study, “Quantifying the Future Lethality of Terror Organizations,” is published in PNAS.

The model, which utilizes data publicly available through the Global Terror Database (GTD) and the RAND Database of Worldwide Terrorism Incidents (RDWTI), has considerable power in predicting a terror organization’s lifetime violence after just 10 terror attacks.

Researchers calibrated the model using data from terror groups operating between the years of 1970 and 2014. They noted that some of the most interesting model predictions were for groups that operated with very few attacks in the beginning, only becoming lethal much later. Among these groups were United Liberation Front of Assam, Al-Shabaab and Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“The model can predict the future impact of some of these sleeper groups even while they are still operating in an under-the-radar way,” said study co-lead author Yang Yang, a postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern.

The U.S. government spends half a trillion dollars annually to research and combat terrorism. From 2000 to 2015, 61 new terror groups emerged each year, on average, leading to an 800% increase in global terror attacks, according to data from GTD.

“Previous models, for the most part, are useful for understanding the context in which terror activity is likely to take place, but they are too confined to the locale and not useful in predicting individual organizations’ behavior,” said Adam Pah, co-lead author of the study and clinical assistant professor of management and organizations at Kellogg.

The researchers turned to the business world for inspiration for a better model.

“Essentially we said, ‘What if we think of terror organizations like a business whose product is lethality? How do we predict their success in producing that product?'” Uzzi said.

Venture capitalists and business investors routinely use publicly reported information such as cash flows and technological skills to predict company behavior and success. Such information is not available for secretive terror organizations, so the researchers worked to develop proxies based on observable behavior.

For example, business investors often view the timing of a company’s product releases as a proxy for resources. They assume that a company that regularly launches new products likely has more resources than a company that delivers new products at random. Similarly, the researchers’ model uses the timing of attacks as a proxy for a terror group’s resources and organizational strength.

The researchers were able to confirm these notions with factors like the diversity of weapons used, the sophistication of those weapons, and their attack capabilities, defined as the extent to which the group succeeded in carrying out the mission of the attack.

Researchers noted that Islamic State had extraordinarily strong attack capabilities near the 90th percentile of all terror groups in similar ages, even though the group demonstrated an irregular attack cadence that was indicative of unstable resources. After just 10 attacks, the model placed ISIS among the terror groups with the most potential for committing exceptionally deadly attacks.

https://www.eurasiareview.com/13102019-predicting-terror-activity-before-it-happens/

Alleged communist leaders arrested in Butuan City

From Rappler (Oct 13, 2019): Alleged communist leaders arrested in Butuan City

But the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines says Melissa Comiso and Nore Torregosa are Lumad teachers and not New People's Army leaders



ARRESTED. The military claims Melissa Comiso is a New People's Army leader, but a religious group says she is a Lumad teacher. Photo from the Philippine Army

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Two alleged leaders of the communist New People's Army (NPA) were arrested by police and soldiers in Butuan City on Thursday, October 10.

The Philippine Army announced the arrest on Saturday, October 12.

Colonel Maurito Licudine, commander of the Philippine Army's 402nd Infantry Brigade, identified the suspects as Melissa Comiso, alias Meli, allegedly the acting finance officer and education/propaganda staffer of Komisyong Mindanao, and Nore Torregosa, alias Johnny, reportedly the liaison and intel staffer of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

Licudine said the arrest was a result of "months of thorough case buildup" by the military and police.

Comiso and Torregosa were arrested while authorities were serving a search warrant at the Stanley Apartment in Barangay 14, Limaha, Butuan City.

Licudine said authorities recovered guns, ammunition, hand grenades, blasting caps, laptops, cellular phones, tablets, and subversive documents.

The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), a religious organization, cried foul, saying that Comiso is not an NPA leader but the head of RMP Northern Mindanao's Literacy and Numeracy (LitNum) Program.

"Melissa has been a longtime member of RMP. As a Lumad herself, she has been the head of RMP-NMR LitNum Program and has managed a number of these schools. She has tirelessly sought to bring education to Lumad communities and work with her fellow Lumad and other advocates to achieve this goal," the RMP said in a statement.

With Comiso's efforts, added the RMP, she has been repeatedly tagged by state forces as an "NPA supporter."

The group also said Torregosa is Comiso's fellow Lumad teacher.

But Licudine said the arrest of Comiso and Torregosa was a result of the information gathered from a community where Comiso and her group reportedly spearheaded organization and financial collection activities to support NPA rebels in the mountains.

The RMP is demanding the immediate release of Comiso and Torregosa, whom the group said are both detained at the police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Office in Butuan City.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/242437-alleged-communist-leaders-arrested-butuan-city

North Samar police denies allegations of abuses by Katungod

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 13, 2018): North Samar police denies allegations of abuses by Katungod

CAMP CARLOS DELGADO, Catarman, Northern Samar -- The Northern Samar Police Provincial Office (NSPPO) denies the deceptive Press Statement released by the Katungod Sinirangan Bisayas - Karapatan alleging abuses of NSPPO to the three captured members of New People’s Army (NPA) in the municipality of Las Navas, Northern Samar on October 3, 2019.

To correct this malicious and fabricated statement of Karapatan, the NSPPO firmly stands that no single human right violation has been committed from the time the apprehended members of New People’s Army namely, Rey Christian “Chan-Chan” Sabado, Anton P. Mañoso and Edwin O. Picson were placed under the custodial facility on October 3, 2019.

Faithful to the humanitarian laws, right after the turnover of 20th IB, Chan-Chan, Mañoso and Picson were immediately brought by personnel of Las Navas Municipal Police Station to Northern Samar Provincial Hospital for medical examination. The result presented by Dr. Hannah Grace Lucero certifies that the three are essentially normal at the time of the medical examination. This result clearly belies the claim of Karapatan that suspects were tortured and harassed.

To further enlighten the public, their apprehension is a result of the security patrol conducted by the operating troop of the 20th Infantry Battalion as they verified the reported extortion activities of NPA in Barangays Quirino, San Miguel and San Francisco. Recovered from their possession are firearms, explosive and subversive documents that contain information linking NPA with their front organizations including list of business establishments targeted for their extortion activities.

Recently, Chan-Chan personally appealed to their repressive front organizations to stop the propaganda maliciously circulated for their fraud and dogmatic insistence of alleged torture.

Now, Chan-Chan together with his two companions are under the care of NSPPO while appropriate charges were already filed against them.

“I assure the public that the rights of apprehended persons are being respected. Moreover, the public is enjoined to be watchful and vigilant against this kind of deceiving and treacherous propaganda to discredit government’s stand for continuous peace and development in Eastern Visayas and throughout the country as well,” PCol Reynaldo B. Dela Cruz, NSPPO provincial director said.

For any inquiry, please contact NSPPO through the following numbers and social media accounts: Provincial Police Community Relations Branch hotline number: 09065993368 or email nsppopcrb@gmail.com; Facebook Page - Northern Samar Police Provincial Office; Facebook Account - Northernsamar Pulis; Webpage - nsppo.pro8.pnp.gov.ph for more details. (PNP-NSPPO)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1028625