MILF: Lugus Mayor Hajiri calls on govt to pursue Liquefied Natural Gas refinery plant in Sulu

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation  Front (MILF) Website (Nov 26, 2019): Lugus Mayor Hajiri calls on govt to pursue Liquefied Natural Gas refinery plant in Sulu

Cotabato City– Lugus, Sulu Mayor Hadar Hajiri, Hadar, President and CEO of Medzar Oil and Gas Corp. (HMOGC) called on the national government Tuesday to push through with the liquefied natural gas (LNG) refinery plant that is planned to be constructed in Sulu province for the benefit of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and the country.

According to a Manila Bulletin report Thursday, Hajiri and officials from the BARMM joined the ocular inspection of Energy World Group power plant (EWIL) at Isla Grande, Barangay Polo, Pagbilao which is expected to operate in the middle of 2021.

Hajiri told the media that he is confident that President Rodrigo Duterte will push through with the project because Sulu Sea’s oil and gas reserve will provide a clean and affordable energy to Filipinos as well as the world.

“President Duterte told me that if you already have resources in BARMM, just utilize it so that I can approve it. We also have our investors in BARMM. I hope they will not prolong this so that we can already operate,” the Manila Bulletin quoted Hajiri saying.

“The approval of the project would be a “big help” in developing the city and would secure the future of the young generation,” said Lugus Municipal Information Officer Nurgafar Napii..

“So I am calling the national government and BARMM to support us in utilizing our natural gas in Sulu. Because we could not resolve our problems by only relying on the help of the government to develop the city, so at least if there is natural gas, 60 percent of that will go to the national government while 40 percent of that will go to the investors, that would be a big help,” Napii said.

“This is not owned by a single person alone, this is owned by the Bangsamoro people and the entire nation will benefit from this project. I hope the resources to be harnessed will also pave way to gain peace and harmony in Mindanao,” he added.

The EWIL, a British firm, is set to open an LNG refinery plant in Sulu after EWIL Executive Director Graham Elliott signed a memorandum of understanding with him (Hajiri) in Zamboanga City on Sept. 16.

He added that once completed, the project will be the single biggest investment in the BARMM, whose provinces and communities are perennial bottom-dwellers in the Philippines poverty index.

Hajiri foresees that with the development plan of Lugus Island Petroleum Park (LIPP) complex, several infrastructures will rise on the island.

Lugus according to him will have an export terminal, a seaport, an airport, an industrial precinct, a residential area, and a power generation plant.

On October 22 this year, a ground breaking ceremony for the P163-billion Lugus Island LNG was held in Sulu to sustain the power demand of the Philippines, Hajiri also told the media.

Hajiri told the media during the ocular inspection of the power plant at Isla Grande, Barangay Polo in Pagbilao, Quezon that it is estimated the LNG extraction process in Lugus Island will last at least 50 years, that will generate employment as well as transform it to a world-class industrial and tourist destination.

http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1947/lugus-mayor--hajiri-calls-on-govt-to-pursue-liquefied-natural--gas-refinery-plant-in-sulu

MILF: 317 new JPST members from MILF- BIAF, PNP, AFP complete training in Maguindanao

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation  Front (MILF) Website (Nov 26, 2019): 317 new JPST members from MILF- BIAF, PNP, AFP complete training in Maguindanao

Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao –317 members of the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) composed of representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front – Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) completed their training at Camp Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao on Friday, November 22.

“I never would have thought that this event would be possible, where former foes in armed battle will become partners in spreading genuine peace,” said Mujahid Asghar Omar, an MILF-BIAF member said in an interview by OPAPP reporter who covered the ceremony.

Omar is among the 150 MILF-BIAF who completed their training in the said camp in Parang, Maguindanao.

The select members of MILF-BIAF, PNP, and AFP are trained on how to carry out their mandate of ensuring peace and security in areas mutually identified by both parties. During their training their skills were honed, and their knowledge enhanced.

“To my JPST comrades, I will never forget you, you have all been very kind towards us BIAF. We will forever consider you as our real brothers,” Omar said.

The creation of JPSTs is among the many dividends of the Bangsamoro peace process, said Joint Peace and Security (JPSC) co-chair retired Army Col. Dickson Hermoso.

Hermoso is currently the BARMM Minister of Transportation and Communication.

You are the fruit of the peace process that ended the 44 years of armed conflict in Mindanao…you are now brothers, Hermoso told the graduates.

“Many were widowed, lost their families, lost their lives because of the armed conflict. It is fortunate that our leaders such as President Duterte, Secretary Galvez, and Chief Minister Murad, found a way to end the armed conflict,” OPAPP Site quoted Hermoso Saying.

In a speech read on behalf of Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr, Hermoso said the graduation ceremony only marks the beginning of the JPST members’ journey in serving the Bangsamoro homeland.

“Let us bear in mind that this (graduation ceremony) only marks the beginning of fulfilling your valuable mission – to protect the Bangsamoro against those who will attempt to cause terror; and help the regional government in promoting sustainable peace and development in the area,” Hermoso said. (Source: OPAPP Site)

http://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1946/317-new-jpst-members-from-milf--biaf--pnp--afp-complete-training-in-maguindanao

CPP/NPA-Bikol: Isang taon ng MO 32: Ibayong pagtindi ng lahatang-panig na pakikidigma ng mamamayan

NPA-Bikol propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Nov 29, 2019): Isang taon ng MO 32: Ibayong pagtindi ng lahatang-panig na pakikidigma ng mamamayan

RAYMUNDO BUENFUERZA

PA-BICOL REGION

ROMULO JALLORES COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

Walang ibang idinulot ang isang taong pagpapatupad ng MO 32 kundi higit pang paglaganap ng karahasan at kaguluhang hatid ng AFP at PNP hindi lang sa Kabikulan at sa mga prubinsya ng Negros at Samar, kundi sa buong bansa. Sa halip, pinatunayan lang ni Duterte at ng AFP-PNP-CAFGU na sila ang tunay na kaaway ng mamamayan.

Isang taon makalipas, saksi ang mamamayan sa mga naging resulta: daan-daang mamamayang pinaslang at libu-libo pang biktima ng pang-aabusong militar at paglabag sa karapatan habang daan-daang komunidad ang nababalot sa ligalig hatid ng militarisasyon. Daan-daan ding mga upisyal at LGU, kagawad ng midya at iba pang personahe at organisasyon ang biktima ng pambabanta at kontrol-militar. Daan-daang progresibo, demokratiko at makabayang mga indibidwal at organisasyon, kabilang ang iba pang oposisyon ang tinutugis at ginagawang kriminal. Bilyun-bilyong pondo ang linustay at kinurakot para sa mga pakulong engkwentro at operasyong militar at pulis, mga sapilitang pagpapasurender at pagpapalaganap ng mga pekeng impormasyon, para lang pagmukhaing nagtatagumpay sila sa kanilang panloloko.

Matapos ang lahat ng ito, hindi ba’t lalo pang nasadlak sa abang kalagayan ang masa? Nananatili pa ring isa sa mga pinakamahihirap na rehiyon ang Kabikulan, Negros at Samar. Naging tuntungan pa nga ang MO 32 upang patindihin ni Duterte ang kahirapan, kagutuman at kawalan ng lupa. Hindi kataka-takang bumilis pa nga ang pang-aagaw ng lupa at pagpasok ng malalaking kontra-mamamayang proyekto, at pagsagasa ng mga mapaminsalang patakaran sa agrikultura at kabuhayan tulad ng Rice Tariffication Law habang ginugulo ang kanayunan ng mga sustinidong operasyong militar. Sa tingin ba ng Joint Task Force Bicolandia ay naloloko nila ang masa ng mga programang tulad ng Retooled Community Support Program, outreach program, ECLIP, Serbisyo Caravan, Barangay Team Activities at iba pang paulit-ulit, kakarampot at mala-payasong pakonswelo-de-bobo habang lantarang ipinagkakait sa masa ang tunay nilang mga demokratikong hangarin?

Ito ba ang mga pigura at kalagayang dapat ipagpasalamat at tanawing utang na loob ng mamamayan sa pagpapatupad ng MO32 gaya ng pinalalabas ng 9th IDPA at Joint Task Force Bicolandia?

Bigo ang MO 32 na buwagin ang pagkakaisa at determinasyon ng mamamayan na tuluyang ibagsak ang rehimeng US-Duterte.Sa harap ng desperadong pasista at teroristang atake ng AFP at PNP, lumalim pa nga ang pagtitiwala ng masa sa kanilang lakas at sa BHB upang ipagtanggol sila sa mga teroristang tropa ng rehimeng US-Duterte. Ang ihinahambog ng JTFB na pag-reactivate sa 22nd IBPA bilang maneuver battalion at pagbubuo ng Division Civilian Auxilliary Unit mula sa mga masang pinilit nilang mag-CAFGU ay desperadong pagbalasa ng kanilang pwersa upang palakasin ang kanilang pwersang pang-atake. Pilit nilang pinagtatakpan ang napalaking bilang ng kaswalting natamo ng kanilang pwersa mula sa patuloy at hindi humuhupang paglulunsad ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan ng mga taktikal na opensiba sa rehiyon. Hindi pa kasama diyan ang daan-daan pang mga militar at pulis na umalis sa kanilang tungkulin dahil nasuklam sa kultura ng karahasan sa kanilang pinagsilbihang institusyon.

Gaanuman sagarin ang pagpapatupad ng MO 32 at iba pang pasistang hakbangin, hindi nito kailanman mabibigyang-tugon ang daan-taon nang hangarin ng mamamayan na makamit ang isang lipunang tunay na malaya at maunlad. Hindi maaapula ng MO 32 ang kapasyahan ng mamamayang maglunsad at ibuhos ang lahat ng kanilang suporta sa makatarungan at rebolusyonaryong armadong digma bilang tanging solusyon sa kanilang dinaranas na pang-aapi’t pagsasamantala.

https://cpp.ph/statement/isang-taon-ng-mo-32-ibayong-pagtindi-ng-lahatang-panig-na-pakikidigma-ng-mamamayan/

CPP/NDF-KM Bikol: Bukas na Liham sa mga Magulang mula sa mga Anak ng Bayan

NDF-KM Bikol propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Nov 29, 2019): Bukas na Liham sa mga Magulang mula sa mga Anak ng Bayan

KM-BIKOL

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

Sa ating mga Minamahal at Dinadakilang mga Ama at Ina,
Isang rebolusyonaryong pagbati!

Sa diwa ng ika-55 anibersaryo ng Kabataang Makabayan at paggunita sa Araw ni Gat Andres Bonifacio, pinagpupugayan naming mga anak ng bayan ang inyong hindi matatawaran at dakilang gampanin bilang mga ama at ina. Kayo ang nagsilbing ilaw, haligi, tagapagluwal at gabay sa pagsibol ng bagong henerasyong papanday at uukit ng kasaysayan.

Kapugay-pugay ang piliing maging magulang sa isang sistemang puno ng pagsasamantala at pang-aapi. Hindi lingid sa inyo ang hamon ng pagtaguyod sa isang pamilya: pirmihan kayong pinagkakaitan ng kabuhayan para tumugon sa arawang pangangailangan at inaalisan ng mga batayang karapatan para matamasa ang isang maunlad at malayang bukas para sa inyong mga anak.

Dinanas ninyo ang hirap at bigat ng krisis sa pag-asang makapag-ambag ng salinlahing magdadala ng magandang bukas. Araw-araw ninyo kaming iginapang at inalay ang lahat para mapagwagian ang bagsik ng kahirapan. Pamalagian kayong umaagapay at kumakalinga sa bawat naming pagkadapa at pagkabigo. Hindi kayo sumuko upang kami rin ay hindi sumuko, matuto sa pagkakamali, muling bumangon at magtagumpay. Sa inyo namin unang natutunan ang walang imbot na pagmamahal, sakripisyo at pag-aalay ng sarili para sa iba. Sa inyong pawis at dugo, lumaki kami bilang mga mabubuti at prinsipyadong tao. Sa diwa at inspirasyong ito, itinuro ninyo sa aming manindigan at lumaban.

Kaganapan ng inyong pagiging magulang ang makita kaming lumipad sa sariling mga pakpak, tumayo sa sariling mga paa at magkaroon ng sariling bait, kamulatan, prinsipyo at paninindigan. Sa kabila ng inyong sariling mga pangarap at inaasahan para sa amin, batid ninyong nakasalalay din sa amin ang katuparan ng pangarap ng milyun-milyong pang pamilyang naghahangad ng isang malaya at maunlad na bukas. Batid ninyo ang pangangailangan ng pagbabago, lalo’t alam ninyong kami rin ay magiging mga magulang at hindi kayo papayag na mamuhay ang inyong salinlahi sa sukdulang krisis at abang kalagayan.

Mulat kayong darating ang panahong handa na kaming tumugon sa hamon ng aming henerasyon: ang tupdin ang makasaysayang gampaning baguhin ang lipunan at mag-alay ng lakas, panahon at buhay para sa dakilang tungkuling paglingkuran ang sambayanan—sukat ang mawalay sa inyong piling. Bitbit ang inyong pag-unawa at pagtitiwala, buong-puso naming tinahak ang landas ng rebolusyonaryong pakikibaka.

Hindi katulad ng ipinipinta sa inyo ni Duterte at ng kanyang mga amo na mali, walang katuturan at krimen ang paglaban, tunay naming naisasalin ang inyong diwa at pagmamahal sa sa mga magsasakang nakakasalamuha namin sa produksyon, sa mga manggagawang magdamag naming nakakatalakay, at sa mga kapwa naming kabataang mulat at makulay na nagpapahayag ng kanilang mga saloobin at karapatan—ito ang tunay na larawan ng pakikibaka.

Bagamat may pangamba sa inyong mga puso, ngayon ay pinag-iisa na tayo ng pag-ibig na higit pa sa bigkis ng pagiging magkapamilya—ang pag-ibig sa bayang minamahal. Paghalawan ninyo ng inspirasyon ang libu-libong ama’t inang buong tatag na sumuporta sa adhikain ng kanilang mga anak hanggang sa maging mga aktibong kabahagi ng pagbabalikwas. Katuparan ng ating mga pangarap ang buong-panahon naming paglahok sa makatarungang digma ng mamamayan. Ang pagsisilbi sa malawak na hanay ng mamamayang api at pinagsasamantalahan ang aming propesyon, bokasyon, adhikain at buhay. Dito, sa piling ng daan-libo pang mga ama at inang tinuring kami bilang kanilang mga anak sa pakikibaka, tunay naming napapahalagahan ang inyong mga aral, sakripisyo at pangarap. Ang malayo’y mistulang malapit dahil taglay at ramdam namin ang inyong pagmamahal sa bawat masang nagpapatuloy, kumukupkop at nakakasabay namin sa paglaban. Hindi magmamaliw ang katotohanang kayo ang aming lakas upang ibayo pang magpakatatag at sumulong.
Tiyak kaming darating ang panahon na makakasama namin kayo sa dakilang layuning ito. Walang distansyang maglalayo, walang pader na makahahadlang, walang pangambang hindi mamahalin, walang tagumpay na hindi makakamtan.

https://cpp.ph/statement/bukas-na-liham-sa-mga-magulang-mula-sa-mga-anak-ng-bayan/

CPP/NDF-Negros: Sugar industry liberalization death of Negrosanons!

NDF Negros propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Nov 29, 2019): Sugar industry liberalization death of Negrosanons!

BAYANI OBRERO

SPOKESPERSON

NDF-NEGROS

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

A bitter condition is an effect of trade liberalization under imperialist globalization because the Philippines is tied to a treaty in the Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) where government must implement a 5-0% tariff on sugar. This trend is toward liberalization through elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers. In terms of free trade it includes all manufactured and agricultural products.

Block farming and diversification became the solution of big landlords, big bourgeois compradors and bureaucrat capitalists to solve the moribund sugar industry. These are only means to worsen reconsolidation of vast lands into the control of landlords and multi-national corporations. Even billions of governments funds to support Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) were not received because the funds were deposited in the banks and sugar centrals to be loaned to landlords for the expansion of sugarcane planting.

Sugar liberalization and deregulation of sugar imports will exacerbate land grabbing from peasants. So will the conversion of sugarcane to other cash crops such as pineapple, banana, coffee, commercial trees, rubber tree, oil palm and real estate in the interest of foreign capitalists and multi-national corporations.

The sugar industry contributes more than P90 billion to the country’s economy wherein 55% or P49.5 billion comes from Negros Island. Meanwhile, several generations of farm worker families continue to be chained to a slavelike system of wages in sugarcane plantations where they work for P100-120 per day, P1,800-2,000/hectare pakyaw rate, P230-250/MT of sugarcane cut and hauled and no benefits like SSS and Philhealth. Contractuals are numerous through a contractor scheme that cuts a percentage from wages, the Social Amelioration Fund and other benefits are not provided. Grave hunger and poverty is the daily struggle of workers in the sugarcane fields and sugar centrals.

There are 1.86% or 864 big landlords owning more than 100 hectares up who control vast haciendas in Negros. The sweetness of sugarcane only goes to big landlords, bureaucrat capitalists and big bourgeois compradors while Negrosanons suffer bitterness and destitution. Based on 2015 data, hunger incidence was 38.7% in Negros Oriental and 21.9% in Negros Occidental.

In truth, sugar liberalization is the flood of imported sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup and other sweeteners that will generate the downfall of an already dying sugar industry. More than 310,000 farm workers and 18,000 sugar central workers in Negros will lose their means of living and land grabbing from farmers will surely worsen. Acute hunger and impoverishment will ignite the social volcano.

Locally produced sugar cannot compete with the deluge of cheap imported sugar. Farmers and small planters cannot keep up due to very high prices of farm inputs, taxes, low pureza (measure of sugar concentration) given by sugar centrals to small planters, backward tools of production, lack of capital and overwhelming debt.

Duterte and his economic managers pursuing the path of neoliberal economic policies do not have concrete plans in solving the crisis in Negros. The tyrant, fascist Duterte regime devises measures to threaten and bully its critics and opposition from the sugar block in order to make them kneel and consolidate its ruthless power in the island. The reactionary government suppresses the Negrosanons from opposing its anti-people economic policies.

Sugar liberalization is not the solution since it does not answer food sufficiency in the Philippines. This has already been proven in the implementation of rice liberalization that destroys the productivity of farmers.

When Duterte turned his back on the Peace Talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (GRP-NDFP) where the root cause of armed struggle was discussed and resolved, clearly the pertinent content of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms drafted by the NDFP that contains the aspiration of the oppressed masses to attain genuine land reform and national industrialization was disregarded.

The NDF-Negros calls on all people in Negros and the Filipino people to tirelessly and fearlessly struggle. To the enlightened landlords, think about the farm workers and the peasants who sow the wealth of the country. Give them just wages, benefits and do not allow yourselves to be used or do not follow the path of the fascist-dictator Duterte regime.###

https://cpp.ph/statement/sugar-industry-liberalization-death-of-negrosanons/

CPP/NDF-EV: Youth of today, unite against Duterte and continue molding history!

NDF Eastern Visayas (EV) propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Nov 29, 2019): Youth of today, unite against Duterte and continue molding history!

NDF-EASTERN VISAYAS

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

November 30 is an important date in our history. This marks the 156th birthday of Andres Bonifacio, leader of the old democratic revolution, this year. This is also the 55th year since Kabataang Makabayan, the secret mass organization of the youth that calls for a new democratic revolution, was established. It symbolizes not only the advancement of a democratic revolution of a new type with a socialist perspective but also the important role the youth plays in the struggle.

The US-Duterte regime trembles with fear that the youth movement will become stronger than ever and shake up the ruling system. The military relentlessly attacksthe rights of the youth to freedom of thought, self-expression, right to organize and assemble. Duterte’s troops make rounds in schools and use deceived parents and agents to vilify legal progressive youth organizations and link them to the New Peoples’ Army. The Lumad schools in Mindanao were also closed after being accused of having been founded by the NPA. Youth activists face surveillance, harassment, intimidation and extra-judicial killing. The military also spreads lies about the NPA recruiting minors.

But the concrete condition of the youth encourage them to seek for answers in the present social crisis they also experience. The education budget and other basic social services continue to lessen. The semicolonial orientation of education, such as the K+12 system whose purpose is to develop cheap labor force for the imperialists and for export. Meanwhile, patriotism is scorned and even the teaching of the national language is being done away with.

Change is the law of history. Duterte and his minions cannot stop the youth from seeking change. Bonifacio, Antonio Luna, Apolinario Mabini and many other heroes spent their vibrant youth in the revolution and wholeheartedly offered their strength and knowledge for the interest of the masses. Many Filipino youth will surely follow their steps and continue the unfinished revolution.

It is necessary to reach the large number of youth in the region. It is necessary to more than ever arouse, organize and mobilize the youth and students for the national democratic revolution. There are many high schools and colleges in the central towns and cities.Thousands of students from high schools and college can be aroused, organized and mobilized to join the broadest possible united front against the fascist Duterte regime. The short course on Philippine Society and Revolution must be disseminated and advanced mass activists recruited from the ranks of the educated youth and workers.

Youth and students must lead mass campaigns in their sector and unite with the basic masses of peasants and workers. They must win over the many to fight against tuition fee increase, to scrap K+12, and fight repressive policies such as mandatory ROTC and other pressing issues of the sector. Mass activists must be recruited from the ranks of those who take part in mass struggles.

Once the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magsasaka has been established in the barrio, the KM chapter must be also set up to focus on the youth and raise their political consciousness. The youth can be mobilized for the Pambansa Demokratikong Paaralan (PADEPA or National Democratic School) and cultural activities. The peasant youth who are 18 years of age and meet the requirements can join the New Peoples’ Army. There must be NPA recruitment drives alongside the anti-feudal campaigns to defend the victories of the mass campaigns.

The youth workers and intellectuals also go to the countryside to do social investigation in the countryside and to help in the NPA and people’s democratic government. They also help in education work and technical services, and in the political work within the NPA. The educated youth contribute their knowledge and continue to remould in the pursuit of advancing the peoples’ democratic revolution.

Despite the continued oppression of the US-Duterte regime, it cannot stop the historic role of the youth. It was the dictator Marcos who declared Martial Law and declared KM as illegal. But the KM continued as an allied organization of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines. The youth and students of various mass organizations also continued the struggle. Regardless of the intensified intimidation to dissuade the youth from joining NPA, they are even more convinced to take part in the revolution and serve in the people’s army. Youth activists who are in danger can choose to continue fighting by taking up arms and joining the revolutionary armed struggle.

This only proves that Duterte remains as the best NPA recruiter of the youth. Their rage only intensifies further because of the their sufferings under the criminal, anti-people and anti-national regime. In due time, the streets will be flooded with youth along with the masses to make Duterte pay, and they will go on until the attainment of national freedom, democracy and socialism.

https://cpp.ph/statement/youth-of-today-unite-against-duterte-and-continue-molding-history/

CPP/NDF-KM Sosogon: KM-Sorsogon: Mabuhay ang ika-55 anibersaryo ng KM!

KM-Sorsogon propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Nov 29, 2019): KM-Sorsogon: Mabuhay ang ika-55 anibersaryo ng KM!



Isa ang kabataan sa pinakamaingay na pwersa ng ating lipunan at pinakamabilis magtambol ng mga isyung pambayan. Sa araw-araw nilang pagpasok sa eskwelahan, pakikisalamuha sa komunidad at pagpasok sa trabaho bilang manggagawa, samu’tsari din ang kanilang kinakaharap at nakikitang sistema at tagibang na kaayusan sa lipunan.

Sa eskwelahan, kung wala ang mga kabataang hindi lamang nag-aaral kundi mulat sa nangyayari sa kanilang kapaligiran, patuloy na makakapamayagpag ang dikta ng imperyalismo sa neoliberalismong mga patakaran. Mula sa pagtaas ng tuition fee at minaniobrang kung anu-anong klaseng mga bayarin hanggang sa panghihimasok ng mga administrasyon sa mga usaping pang-estudyante. Hindi lamang doon umiinog ang kanilang kamalayan, lantad din sila sa hinaing ng taumbayan pagdating sa pagtaas ng pangunahing bilihin, mataas na presyo ng gasolina kung kaya mataas ang pamasahe ng mga pampublikong transportasyon, kulang na kulang na budget para sa serbisyong pangkalusugan.

Dinaranas din nila ang matinding dagok ni Duterte pagdating sa kontrakwalisasyon na pumapabor sa mga burukrata kapitalistang takot na takot sa regularisayon ng mga manggagawa. Si Mayor Vico Sotto ng Pasig ay iisa lamang sa tumindig para sa kapakanan ng mga manggagawa, nitong nakaraang linggo, nakalaya ang mga nakulong na manggagawa ng Regent Foods Corporation sa tulong niya, ayon sa kanya “hindi sila kriminal, hindi nila hangad ang manakit, pinaglalaban lang nila ang karapatan nila…”

Sa mga komunidad, limitado ang galaw ng mga kabataang hindi nakapag-aral dulot ng napakamahal na edukasyon ay pinupuntirya naman ng oplan tokhang/oplan tambay. Ang sinumang mapaghinalaang may koneksyon sa droga ay pinag-iinitan at bulnerable sa mapang-abusong mga pulis na walang pagsasaalang-alang sa mga karapatang tao ng indibidwal. Napakalinaw ng resulta, ang Oplan tokhang ni Duterte ay hindi para sa malalaking drug lord, ito ay operasyon na pumupuntirya sa mahihirap, katunayan maraming kabataan na ang naging biktima ng kanilang operasyon sa droga. Mula kay Kian Loyd Delos Santos hanggang sa pinakabatang biktima nito na si Kateleen Myca Ulpina.

Sa kanayunan, hindi rin maisasantabi ang dinaranas na pasismo ng mga kabataan. Si Ryan Hubilla, tagapagtaguyod ng karapatang tao at myembro ng League of Filipino Students ay pinatay ng armadong pwersa ng rehimen at wala pang hustisya hanggang ngayon. Sa Camarines Sur, ang mga kabataan na sina Robero Ramos, Ronel Naris at Antonio Bonagua ay nagkokopra lamang nang makita ng mga sundalo ng 9th ID PA, pinahirapan at inilibing nang buhay. Mahaba na ang listahan ng mga ganitong kaso ni Duterte sa sektor ng kabataan.

Hindi hiwalay ang kabataan sa pasismo ng rehimeng US-Duterte. Hangga’t may martial law sa Mindanao, de facto martial law sa Luzon at Visayas, mananatiling may banta sa usapin ng seguridad sa buhay at kabuhayan ng kabataan kabilang ng iba pang demokratikong sektor sa ating lipunan.

Gayunpaman, hindi tigil ang sektor ng kabataan sa kanyang tungkulin sa bayan. Dahil mulat ang kamalayan sa nagbabago-bagong sitwasyong panlipunan at bukas ang isipan sa radikal na pagbabago, takot na takot dito ang sinumang rehimen na iluklok ng imperyalistang amo nito.

Mula sa kabataan, lumitaw ang Kabataang Makabayan, mula dito kung bakit may umusbong na Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas at Bagong Hukbong Bayan. At dahil lumalakas ang hanay ng rebolusyonaryong pwersa, nagkukumahog ang rehimen na tapusin ito, subalit ito’y ilusyon lamang. Hangga’t nariyan ang kabataan kasama ng iba pang sektor, hindi matatapos ang pakikibaka ng mamamayang Pilipino para sa pambansang pagpapalaya.

Kaya, kabataan, ituloy natin ang laban ni Bonifacio! Kami, mula sa KM-Sorsogon, ay nagpapaabot ng aming pagbati sa ika-55 na anibersaryo ng pagkakatatag nito!

Makatarungan ang Maghimagsik!
Kabataan, tumungo sa kanayunan, lumahok sa digmang bayan!

https://cpp.ph/2019/11/29/km-sorsogon-mabuhay-ang-ika-55-anibersaryo-ng-km/

CPP/NPA-Bicol: Ibayong susulong ang digmang bayan upang biguin ang pasismo ng rehimeng US-Duterte: Panawagan sa paggunita ng Araw ni Bonifacio

NPA-Bicol propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Nov 29, 2019): Ibayong susulong ang digmang bayan upang biguin ang pasismo ng rehimeng US-Duterte: Panawagan sa paggunita ng Araw ni Bonifacio

RAYMUNDO BUENFUERZA

NPA-BICOL REGION

ROMULO JALLORES COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

Nag-iilusyon si Duterte na magupo ang makatwiran at makatarungang digma ng mamamayan. Isinasademonyo niya ang pakikibaka ng mamamayan. Ipinipinta niya itong terorismo. Isinisisi niya rito ang bagal ng pag-unlad sa kanayunan. Pilit niyang hinihiwalay ang CPP-NPA-NDF sa mamamayan at ipinamaraling mga bandido at kriminal. Upang mapawi ang kahirapan at diumano’y makamit ang kapayapaan, ibinibigay niyang solusyon ang pasismo, ang sukdulang pandarahas at paghahasik ng kaguluhan ng AFP, PNP at CAFGU sa mga lungsod at baryo upang takutin, busalan at pahinain ang rebolusyonaryong diwa ng mamamayan.

Ngunit deliryong mangarap na isuko ng mamamayan ang kanilang natatanging armas: ang armadong pakikibaka laban sa pasismo at tiraniya. Mula sa mga tabak nina Bonifacio, hanggang sa mga baril ng HUKBALAHAP at NPA, walang yugto sa ksaysayang kusang binaba ng mamamayan ang kanilang armas upang sumuko at mangayupapa sa bulok at mapang-aping sistema. Para sa pumapasan ng paimbulong na krisis at pang-aapi ng estado at mga ahente nito, walang ibang makatwirang landas kundi ang pagrerebolusyon.

Mula nang maupo sa pwesto hanggang sa pag-atas at kasalukuyang pagpapatupad ng EO 70, higit lamang pinatingkad ni Duterte ang pasismo at terorismo ng estado. Pinatotohanan niyang bulok ang umiiral na sistema ng lipunan. Higit na tumingkad ang papel ng AFP, PNP at CAFGU bilang mga tagapagtanggol at tagapagtaguyod ng interes ng naghaharing-uri. Lantad na sa mamamayang Pilipino na lahat ng proyektong sosyo-ekonomiko ng gubyerno ay nagsisilbi sa mga layunin ng kampanyang kontra-insurhensya at pakinabang ng mga imperyalista.

Upang iligtas ang kanyang rehimen, dinadaan na lamang ni Duterte sa pandarahas at panloloko ang pag-aapula sa poot at galit ng mamamayan. Sa katunayan, itinatakwil ng mamamayan ang panloloko at pananakot ng rehimen. Higit sa lahat, kinukundena at kinasusuklaman nila ang pasismo. Sino namang masang anakpawis ang susuporta sa gubyernong nagwawaldas…

Sino namang masang anakpawis ang susuporta sa isang gubyernong nagwawaldas ng kabang-bayan sa walang kabuluhang gera habang tumitindi ang pang-ekonomyang krisis sa bansa? Walang patid na kinikitil ng AFP-PNP-CAFGU ang buhay ng mga sibiliyan at pinalalabas na NPA ang mga ito para lamang maiulat sa kanilang mga upisyal na umuusad ang mga operasyon. At kung hindi man nila pinagpapanggap, dinaraan nila sa pananakot, pambabanta at panlilinlang ang diumano’y pagpapasuko sa libu-libong sibilyan bilang NPA. Kabilang na rito ang 126 sibilyang pinasuko bilang NPA sa Cawayan, Masbate.

Pinipilit ng rehimeng US-Duterte ang mga LGU na ideklarang persona-non-grata ang CPP-NPA-NDFP sa kanilang mga komunidad. Ang katotohanan, ang presensya ng AFP-PNP-CAFGU sa mga baryo ang kinasusuklaman ng mamamayan dahil sa dulot nilang ligalig sa taumbaryo. Mismong mga militar at pulis ang nalululong sa droga o pinipili na lamang mag-AWOL dahil hindi na nila maatim ang kultura ng karahasang nakakintil sa kaibuturan ng AFP at PNP. Hindi na nila masikmura na ang kanilang pinapatay ay masang kapwa nila naghihirap at pinagsasamantalahan.

Walang sapat na pagsisinsin sa kampanyang kontrainsurhensya ang makagagapi sa umaabot na daang libo at patuloy pang dumaraming kasapi ng Partido at higit pang lumalawak na kilusang masa sa buong bansa. Sa pagtindi ng sosyoekonomikong krisis at panunupil, higit na lumalawak at lumalalim ang ugnayan ng NPA sa masang anakpawis. Matagumpay pa ring nakapag-oorganisa ng masa sa iba’t ibang antas at nakapaglulunsad ng mga taktikal na opensiba ang NPA upang bigwasan ang AFP-PNP-CAFGU at makasamsam ng armas. Pawang mga suntok sa hangin ang operasyon ng kaaway laban sa Pulang Hukbo. Walang tagumpay na maaaring ipaghambog ang rehimeng US-Duterte. Ibayong itinutulak lamang ng hakbanging nito ang sanlaksang mamamayang mag-alsa at lumaban sa tiraniya.

Nananawagan ang RJC-BHB Bikol sa mamamayang Pilipino na puspusang lumaban at isulong ang digmang bayan upang tuluyan nang ibagsak ang rehimeng US-Duterte. Ilantad ang EO 70 bilang instrumento ng pasismo. Ipagbunyi ang mga tagumpay ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan at palakasin ang hanay ng nagkakaisang mamamayan para sa tiyak na tagumpay ng demokratikong rebolusyong bayan.

Pabagsakin ang Rehimeng US-Duterte! Isulong ang Demokratikong Rebolusyong Bayan! Sumapi sa NPA!

https://cpp.ph/statement/ibayong-susulong-ang-digmang-bayan-upang-biguin-ang-pasismo-ng-rehimeng-us-duterte-panawagan-sa-paggunita-ng-araw-ni-bonifacio/

CPP/NDF-KM: The Filipino youth must fight the fascist US-Duterte regime and demand an end to imperialist plunder and rape

Propaganda message from the CPP to the Kabataan Makabayan (KM-Patriotic Youth) posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Nov 29, 2019): The Filipino youth must fight the fascist US-Duterte regime and demand an end to imperialist plunder and rape



(Message to the Kabataang Makabayan on the occasion of its 55th anniversary and 156th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio)

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) extends warm militant greetings to the leadership and mass members of Kabataang Makabayan (KM) on the occasion of its 55th founding anniversary. We also mark the 156th birth anniversary of Filipino working-class hero Andres Bonifacio.

Kabataang Makabayan has played an important role in the different stages in the country’s revolutionary history over more than five decades. Indeed, KM has proved itself as one the Party’s most reliable partners in waging the people’s democratic revolution in the country.

Kabataang Makabayan worked alongside the Party during the early stage of Marxist-Leninist ideological struggles, rectification, organizational building, mass propaganda and mobilization and building the New People’s Army (NPA). It assisted the Party in nationwide building and spreading the people’s war across the archipelago. It played an important role in underground propaganda and organizing work among the youth and workers during the Marcos martial law years which would later reenergize the legal protest movement in the 1970s. It has persisted in the revolutionary underground as one of the stalwarts of the National Democratic Front (NDF) where it represents the interests of the Filipino youth and their demand for national democratic change.

Its membership of young activists and intellectuals continues to serve as a deep bench for training revolutionary proletarian cadres and recruitment of Party members. Over the past years, cadres from the ranks of KM have been deployed to various fields of revolutionary work. Most notably, many intellectuals and workers activists, are now in the NPA and serve as its political officers and unit commanders, working together with Red fighters and cadres from among the peasant and minority masses.

The Party considers KM as a crucial partner in the work of arousing, organizing and mobilizing the Filipino people. Under the open fascist tyranny and state terrorism of the US-Duterte regime, it is now being called upon to serve as one of the revolutionary core of the people’s democratic resistance.

Kabataang Makabayan must seize the opportunity arising from rapidly worsening conditions in the country marked by lack of access to education, widespread youth joblessness, loss of hope and cultural degradation. They must rouse the Filipino youth in their tens of thousands.

The KM must do its utmost to carry out national democratic propaganda among the youth intellectuals and the toiling masses. It must dispel the fascist lies of the Duterte regime and expose imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat capitalism as the basic ills that plague the Filipino people. It must teach about the continuing necessity of waging revolutionary armed struggle to end the backward, oppressive and exploitative semicolonial and semifeudal society.

The founding of KM was made to coincide with the birth of Andres Bonifacio who successfully led the Filipino people in waging armed revolution against Spanish colonialism. This was done so in order to underscore the patriotic content of the national democratic program, and which remains the key element in the Filipino people’s struggle for national and social liberation.

Kabataang Makabayan must continue to carry out antiimperialist propaganda and raise the Filipino youth’s patriotic fervor. Like Bonifacio, the current generation of young Filipinos must be at the forefront of the Filipino people’s clamor for genuine national freedom.

The activists of Kabataang Makabayan must expose the link between foreign big corporate interests and the Duterte regime’s fascist onslaught and suppression campaign. They must expose the big mining companies, plantations, energy, tourism and other infrastructure projects, as well as foreign big banks who finance and benefit from Duterte’s reign of terror. They must expose how the country’s wealth and the toiling masses are being wringed by the superprofit extracting operations of big foreign monopoly capitalists and their local big bourgeois comprador partners. They must expose how foreign big corporations and big landlords are dispossessing the peasant masses of their agricultural and ancestral lands. They must expose the fakery of Duterte’s land reform declarations which merely aim to facilitate the grabbing of lands from the peasants.

Activists of KM must unite the people and mobilize them to demand a stop to the plunder of the country’s patrimony and environment, and the rape of our mountains, rivers and seas. They must unite with the broad masses in demanding a stop to all foreign big mining operations, plantations and corruption-laden infrastructure projects. They must expose US military intervention and military presence and how it directs the AFP and PNP in counterinsurgency operations to suppress the patriotic and democratic forces in the country.

Kabataang Makabayan and the student and youth movement must further invigorate the national democratic propaganda movement. It must plan to reproduce the Party’s newspaper Ang Bayan and its own Kalayaan in the tens of thousands and carry these to the biggest possible number of people in school campuses, factories, urban communities and rural villages. Kabataang Makabayan and its chapters must regularly issue statements on burning national and local issues and print them for mass distribution. The KM must lead thousands upon thousands of group discussions and study meetings, using both open and clandestine methods. It must institutionalize other forms of mass propaganda that reach out to the masses such as weekly film showing, travelling cultural shows and others.

Its activists must continue to help in further invigorating the national democratic cultural movement by producing poems, songs, visual and graphic art, street performances, video productions and others. The activists of KM must use social media as a tool for propagating the national democratic line while fighting its pernicious ultrademocratic pull which promotes individualism and disorganization.

The activists and cadres of KM must study, uphold and inculcate Marxism-Leninism-Maoism and apply and further improve it to the various fields of revolutionary work they are involved in, including carrying out social investigation among the masses. They must publish the results of their studies as a way of propagating and promoting Marxism-Leninism. They must also encourage the scholars among their ranks to apply Marxism-Leninism in their fields of academic work as a way of fighting the bourgeois and pettybourgeois reformist ideological influences hiding behind such labels as postmodernism and others.

Across the world, the youth are again proving themselves a great force of progressive and democratic change as they demonstrate in great numbers against oppressive neoliberal policies and government corruption which aggravate the people’s social economic conditions.

In the Philippines, where conditions are fast deteriorating under the US-Duterte regime, revolutionary activists are called upon to militate the Filipino youth and unite them with the masses into a strong force for social revolution.

End the US-Duterte fascist regime! End imperialist plunder and rape! Carry forward the national democratic revolution!

https://cpp.ph/2019/11/29/the-filipino-youth-must-fight-the-fascist-us-duterte-regime-and-demand-an-end-to-imperialist-plunder-and-rape/

OPAPP:KAPATIRAN members join Neg. Occ. week of peace celebrations

From the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Website (Nov 26, 2019): KAPATIRAN members join Neg. Occ. week of peace celebrations



KABANKALAN CITY, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (26 November 2019)— As Negros Occidental celebrates its week of peace, residents decided to commemorate it with one of the key stakeholders of the local peace process – the KAPATIRAN.

The KAPATIRAN, composed of decommissioned combatants of the group formerly known as the Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/ Revolutionary Proletarian Army/ Alex Boncayao Brigade – Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG), has earned such treatment.

The group has demonstrated sincerity in fulfilling its commitments under the peace agreement it signed with the government. This is why the government is fast-tracking the completion of projects which will help the group’s members make the successful transition into civilian life.

In the hinterland barangay of Locotan, KAPATIRAN members, together with residents of Kabankalan City, gathered to witness the historic turnover of various infrastructure projects to the former revolutionary group.

For some, these buildings may seem like ordinary structures made out of cement and wood. But for the KAPATIRAN members, they represent hope for a better future.

Veronica P. Tabara, chair of KAPATIRAN, is proud of what her group has achieved in sustaining the gains of the peace process.

“We consider this as a very important day. These projects will help the KAPATIRAN to progress as a community,” Tabara said.



Fruits of labor

The morning was an alternating dance between sunlight and rain, but the enthusiasm of the KAPATIRAN and Kabankalan residents did not waver.

For them, the shifting weather patterns seemed like a metaphor for the peace and economic conditions in their community, something they have been long accustomed to.

But today, the peace and development efforts which have been painstakingly carried out over the years have come into fruition — all ready for the picking.

Pedro P, Zayco, Jr., city mayor of Kabankalan, assured KAPATIRAN members and Kabankalan residents that the provision of infrastructure projects will not be the end of the government’s interventions in the area.

“The national, provincial and city government are here working together for the betterment of this community. This is not the end of our support, rather the beginning of a continuing process,” Zayco Jr. said.

Among the projects turned-over to the KAPATIRAN were a four-classroom school building, day care center, multi-purpose center, health center, one-phase line, 2-15 KVA transformer and accessories, and the rehabilitated Locotan-Mambinay Road — all funded under the Development Acceleration Program.

On the other hand, the concreted Locotan Road with canal lining, as well as additional classrooms, were funded under the Department of Interior and Local Government – Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program under Fiscal Year 2014.

PAMANA, which is under the oversight of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), is the national government’s convergence program which provides much-needed development assistance to remote, conflict-affected areas in the country.

Zharwrigley B. Dayon, barangay chairperson of Locotan, called on residents to treasure the projects given to them.

“I am asking the people of Barangay Locotan to help in taking good care of these projects. As residents and beneficiaries, this is our responsibility,” Dayon said.



For Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, governor of Negros Occidental, the peace agreement with KAPATIRAN is a huge step the province’s journey towards long-lasting peace and development.

“I’d like to thank the KAPATIRAN for having faith and confidence in the national government, that under the administration of President Duterte, we will finally come to a conclusion. Rest assured that the provincial government, together with the city government, as much as we can, will continue to help your organization,” Lacson said.

Meanwhile, Cesar B. Yano, Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee co-chair and Department of National Defense undersecretary for defense operations, thanked the host community for giving the KAPATIRAN members a warm welcome .

“Ako ay nagpapasalamat sa probinsya ng Negros Occidental at lalo na sa siyudad ng Kabankalan sa inyong pagtanggap sa ating mga kapatid sa KAPATIRAN na magiging residente dito sa Barangay Locotan,” Yano said.

Also in attendance during the turnover ceremony were Raul C. Rivera, Kabankalan City vice-mayor; Milo Ibrado, OPAPP consultant; Jeffrey Tubola, Negros Occidental provincial poard member; and Colonel Noel Baluyan, commanding officer, 302nd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army.

A promise for peace

To further strengthen cooperation between the provincial government of Negros Occidental, city government of Kabankalan, and KAPATIRAN, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding, outlining the specific duties of each signatory.

Under the MoU, the governments of Negros Occidental and Kabankalan shall allocate a yearly budget culled from their respective Peace and Order Funds to help finance socio-economic development projects for KAPATIRAN members.

Both LGUs will also provide skills training to members of KAPATIRAN, and assist them in acquiring the necessary accreditations from concerned agencies. Once accredited, the group will be recognized as a partner non-government organization/people’s organization and can be tapped in the implementation of government projects in their communities and adjoining areas.

For its part, the KAPATIRAN will develop its own plans and policies for the resettlement area of its members; shoulder the expenses for the upkeep of the said resettlement area; develop a strong network with the provincial and city governments for the implementation of peace and development projects for its members; submit plans and proposals for possible funding assistance for technical support services and socio-economic interventions; and work for the accreditation of KAPATIRAN as a partner NGO/PO in the implementation of government projects in their communities and adjoining areas.

Peace caravan

With the aim of bringing government services closer to people, the provincial government of Negros Occidental, the city government of Kabankalan, OPAPP, and the Department of Interior and Local Government also brought a Peace Caravan to Barangay Locotan.

The whole-day array caravan offered an array of government services, which included medical and dental checkups, haircuts, circumcisions, as well as a rescue and safety training workshop conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Seeds and seedlings were also distributed onsite, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, while PhilHealth accepted applications for membership.

“This [event] has shown us your sincerity, commitment and continued support to the KAPATIRAN, who were once armed rebels fighting the government. Because of this, we as a group will continue on the road to peace and development,” Tabara said. ###

[The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process or OPAPP is the office mandated to oversee, coordinate, and integrate the implementation of the comprehensive peace process. The agency was created through executive order no. 125, s. 1993 which was later amended in 2001 with the signing of executive order no. 3, s. 2001 as a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to achieving just and lasting peace through a comprehensive peace process.]

https://peace.gov.ph/2019/11/kapatiran-members-join-neg-occ-week-of-peace-celebrations/

OPAPP: Inter-cabinet and Inter-governmental relation bodies meet to sustain momentum of normalization track

From the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Website (Nov 28, 2019):

Inter-cabinet and Inter-governmental relation bodies meet to sustain momentum of normalization track

PASIG CITY, (28 November 2019) – The Inter-Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN) and the Joint Secretariat of Inter-Governmental Relations Body (IGRB) convened here today in separate meetings to discuss ways to accelerate the implementation of the normalization and political tracks of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB).

“Through the partnerships we have forged under the ICCMN, we shall be able to develop greater synergy among our agencies, leverage on each other’s resources, and carry out interventions that are tailored-fit to the specific needs of the Moro Islamic Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF),” said Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. in a message read by Deputy Peace Adviser for Operations Isidro Purisima.

The ICCMN is a multi-agency body tasked to consolidate and integrate the interventions of the national government in line with the normalization phase.

During the fourth ICCMN meeting, representatives of the four clusters presented the progress of each mechanism following the official launch of the decommissioning process for MILF combatants last September 7, which was witnessed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Socio-economic interventions

Ariel Hernandez, co-chair of the Joint Normalization Committee, pointed out that the memoranda of agreements and understandings signed between the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and other line agencies this year signified the convergence efforts among government institutions in providing much-needed socio-economic interventions to the decommissioned combatants.

Hernandez said these included partnerships sealed between OPAPP and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Public Safety College; Department of Labor and Employment; and the Commission on Higher Education and Ministry on Basic, Higher, and Technical Education of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He noted that most of the beneficiaries of DSWD’s financial assistance had used the funds they received to finance their children’s education, repair their houses, purchase motorbikes, and pay their debts.

Hernandez reported that 6,833 MILF combatants have been decommissioned to date, emphasizing that this number had exceeded their expectations and can be largely attributed to the smooth process facilitated by the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB).

“Originally, our target by the end of this year is 57% of combatants to be decommissioned. But with the good system in place, the IDB decided to accommodate 318 combatants per day instead of 212, thus increasing the process from 57% to 74%,” said Hernandez.

He said that out of the 6,833 decommissioned combatants, 117 are members of the Bangsamoro Women’s Auxiliary Brigade.

Hernandez added that 1,072 of the target 2,100 firearms have been decommissioned as of November.

The target number of combatants to be decommissioned in the second phase is 12,000. The process will run until the first quarter of 2020.

Security cluster

A total of 15 Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST) were organized as of November, composed of 450 members with 120 of them coming from the AFP, 125 from the PNP, and 225 from the MILF-BIAF.

Of these 15 teams, five teams are currently deployed on mutually agreed areas including the JPST Center based in Awang, Cotabato City and the Secured Arms Storage Areas (SASA) and Assembly and Processing Area (APAs) sites. Some of the JPST members have also been assigned to secure IDB officials.

The five teams are composed of 136 members with 32 from the AFP, 37 from the PNP, and 67 from the MILF-BIAF.

OPAPP has started to facilitate the process of crafting the Implementing Rules and Regulation for the disbandment of private armed groups (PAGs) in line with the national government’s efforts to address the issue of PAGs.

Confidence-building measures

On November 6, the final and complete list of MILF detainees eligible either for bail or recognizance were submitted to the Presidential Committee on Bail, Recognizance, and Pardon (PCBreP) for MILF members who are currently detained or in prison.

Moreover, a group of paralegal teams composed of law students from Mindanao State University and Notre Dame University were established to provide legal aid to MILF detainees. The teams will be supervised by their respective law instructors.

Transitional Justice and Reconciliation

Atty. Wilben Mayor, OPAPP Chief-of-Staff, presented the draft roadmap for transitional justice and reconciliation (TJR) based on the ‘Deal with the Past’ framework created by the TJR Commission.

The TJR’s four pillars will serve as the main foundations of the framework. These include: (1) Right to Know; (2) Right to Justice; (3) Right to Reparation; and (4) Guarantee of Non-recurrence.

“Out of the four clusters, this is the one to be implemented longer, the more contentious, and tedious activities pertaining to this particular endeavor,” Mayor explained.

Summing up the updates presented during the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles thanked ICCMN members for throwing their full support behind the implementation of the normalization track.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of your for your contributions and participation in this 4th ICCMN meeting,” Nograles said.

“Inclusion and empowerment will continue to underpin our efforts to posit for change. We must continue to work together to enhance our efficiency in developing more effective outcomes, aligning and setting our plans to deliver lasting results that will inspire peace, prosperity, and harmony among us regardless of faith, ethnicity and ideology,” he added.

Next steps of IGRB

After the fourth ICCMN, the Joint Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) chaired by the Secretary of Finance met to discuss its proposed terms of reference and prepare for its official launch in December 2019.

The establishment of the IGRB is provided in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) as part of the political track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). With the passage and ratification of the BOL, there is a need to create a body that will further strengthen the relationship between the national Bangsamoro governments.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently approved the recommendation of OPAPP for the immediate establishment of the IGRB through a memorandum issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary on October 14.

As contained In the memorandum, the body was directed “to resolve issues brought before it and facilitate the creation of other intergovernmental relations bodies”.

The memo likewise stated that the “The IGRB shall be supported by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, which is hereby designated to be the joint secretariat of the IGRB.”

The National Government IGRB Secretariat is headed by Finance Undersecretary Bayani Agabin while BARMM IGRB Secretariat is led by Atty. Sha Elijah B. Dumama-Alba. Further, OPAPP Dir. Wilben M. Mayor heads the Technical Support Staff.

During the meeting, Mayor emphasized the importance of the IGRB’s creation, saying “There’s need to fasttrack the operationalization of the IGRB to efficiently address the issues and keep the government running and prevent a vacuum in the public service for the Bangsamoro,” he said. ###



[The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process or OPAPP is the office mandated to oversee, coordinate, and integrate the implementation of the comprehensive peace process. The agency was created through executive order no. 125, s. 1993 which was later amended in 2001 with the signing of executive order no. 3, s. 2001 as a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to achieving just and lasting peace through a comprehensive peace process.]

https://peace.gov.ph/2019/11/inter-cabinet-and-inter-governmental-relation-bodies-meet-to-sustain-momentum-of-normalization-track/

Kalinaw News: Philippine Army and LGU inaugurate IDP center in Makilala

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 29, 2019): Philippine Army and LGU inaugurate IDP center in Makilala

Makilala, North Cotabato – The Philippine Army and Local Government of Makilala, North Cotabato launched the IDP Center Project “Balai Paglaum” today November 29, 2019 at around 10:00am in Sitio San Nicolas, Barangay San Vicente, Makilala North Cotabato. It can be recalled that on Thursday, November 14, Commanding General of the Philippine Army Lieutenant General Macairog S Alberto handed over a check for P9,226,600 to Major General Jose Faustino Jr of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division and Brigadier General Rodolfo Lavadia Jr of the 10ID’s Disaster Response Task Force.

The said amount came from every soldier’s meal allowances to aid the victims of the recent
earthquakes that hit Mindanao. After conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (rescue and evacuation) operations in the province of Cotabato, Army troopers also worked together with government units and other stakeholders to provide the residents with temporary shelters and relief goods.

Through a resolution, Sangguniang Bayan of Makilala approved the use of the two-hectare, which the LGU had a MOA with DAR, in Sitio San Nicolas to be the relocation site of th residents of Barangay Bato, Makilala (who were severely affected by the earthquake) while the Philippine Army provides temporary shelters. The partnership of LGU Makilala and the Philippine Army is further strengthened through a Memorandum of Agreement signed by the representatives the Philippine Army (Mgen Jose C Faustino Jr AFP), EMC, AFP (LtGen Filemon T Santos AFP) and the LGU of Makilala. This initiative is just part of the Philippine Army’s response to their mandate to serve the Filipino people.

“We eagerly encourage everyone to volunteer, to extend support and take part in helping our ‘kababayan’ here in North Cotabato, who were heavily affected by the earthquake, to have a decent temporary shelter as the local and National government finalize its plans and programs for the quake and other calamity victims in the country,” said Colonel Rodrigo Gregorio, OIC Disaster Response Task Force.

Also present in the activity were Board Member Onofre Respicio, Representative of Governor of North Cotabato; Rudy S Caoagdan, Representative 2 nd District of North Cotabato; Armando M Quibod, Mayor of Makilala; Lieutenant General Filemon T Santos Jr AFP, Commander Eastern Mindanao Command; Major General Jose C Faustino Jr AFP, Commander 10 th Infantry (Agila) Division, Philippine Army; Colonel Gabriel C Viray III, Commander 901 st Brigade and DRTG ‘Fight ‘em’; Lieutenant Colonel Rhojun P Rosales, Commander, 39 th Infantry (Smash ‘em) Battalion; and residents of Brgys San vicente and Bato.

Source: 10th Infantry Division

[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/philippine-army-and-lgu-inaugurate-idp-center-in-makilala/

Kalinaw News: Eastern Mindanao Command, stakeholders launch core shelter project for earthquake victims

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 29, 2019): Eastern Mindanao Command, stakeholders launch core shelter project for earthquake victims

NSFA, Panacan, Davao City – Lt. General Felimon T. Santos Jr., Commander of led the launching of the Internally-Displaced Persons Center Project at Sitio San Nicolas, Brgy. San Vicente, Makilala, North Cotabato on November 29, 2019.

Aimed at helping the affected communities in their early recovery from the earthquake devastation, specifically the families of Barangay Bato, Eastmincom, together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Makilala agreed to partner and jointly implement the project through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) during the said launching.

Initially, 120 temporary shelters will be constructed by the Eastmincom through the 10th Infantry Division, Phillipine Army, 534th Engineer Battalion and 901st Infantry Brigade in a lot procured by the LGU Makilala at Sitio San Nicolas, Barangay San Vicente in the said municipality.

The expenses of the construction which have an estimated value of PhP 57,000.00 each will be coming from the donated subsistence allowance of Philippine Army personnel amounting to nine million pesos.

Relatedly, the Eastmincom Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC), chaired by Mr. Sebastian Angliong to agreed to integrate its “Luwas Linog” Project to the said program by sponsoring the construction expenses of 20 core shelters, two communal male and female toilet cubicles, two sets of communal female and male bathroom, and two sets of communal kitchen and in the said project.

“We are thankful for the Philippine Army personnel deployed all over the country for sharing a part of their subsistence allowance to help the communities most devasted by the earthquake in North Cotabato in their early recovery. Appreciation is likewise due to the EMC-MSGC for the recommendation of the project and the sponsorship,” Lt. Gen Santos Jr. said.

The launching was attended by MGen. Jose Faustino Jr.,Commander 10ID, Col. Gabriel C. Viray III, Commander 901st Bde, Congressman Rudy Caoagdan, Board Member Onofre Respicio, Mayor Armando Quibod of Makilala, Mr. Sebastian Angliongto, and Ms. Susan Palad both of EMC-MSGC.

Source: Eastern Mindanao Command

[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/eastern-mindanao-command-stakeholders-launch-core-shelter-project-for-earthquake-victims/

Kalinaw News: 6th ID produced 677 new breed of soldiers

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 29, 2019): 6th ID produced 677 new breed of soldiers

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The 6th Infantry Division welcomed the 677 new breed of soldiers as they graduated from military training today, November 28, 2019, at Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central Commander Maj. Gen. Diosdado C. Carreon graced the graduation ceremony of Candidate Soldier (CS) Classes 575, 591, 599, 600 and 601 of 2019.

The Candidate Soldiers took their oaths last June 1, 2019 composed of 600 males and 85 females, where 299 came from 52nd Engineer Brigade in Bukidnon, 12 from 54th Engineer Brigade in Zamboanga City, 16 from 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City, 10 from 10th Infantry Division in Compostela Valley, 15 from 11th Infantry Division based in Sulu, and 323 from the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao.

After they underwent 6 months of rigorous military training, 677 have passed and completed the training composed of 592 males and 85 females. Their training was divided into 3 phases facilitated by the Division Training School of the 6th ID, which are the Transformation Module and Orientation Phase, Basic Soldiery Skills, and Field Training Exercise.

CS Rosalia C Tarona topped Class 575 with a general average of 93.44%, CS Zaira Mae C. Cornel topped the Class 591 with 92.44%, CS Gleir C. Presbitero topped the Classes 599 and 600 with 93.42%, while CS Rochelle C. Wayno topped the Class 601 with 92.91%.

The Leadership Award was presented to CS Adrian M. Andog for Classes 599, 600 and 601 of male batches and CS Rosalia C. Tarona for Classes 575 and 591.

CS John Michael P. Cuerpo (Class 591), CS Vincent James Insidan (Class 601) CS Angelito Trapero (Class 600), CS Jirah Mea M. Fasoy (Class 599) and Jordan P. Gallano (Class 575) received the Top Gun Award for obtaining the highest grade in marksmanship.

In his message, Maj. Gen Carreon, emphasized to the new graduates that they should be proud of what they have learned during the whole duration of their training and should serve the Philippine Army with honor. He also reminded them to protect their integrity for this will cost them their job if this will be compromised. The new graduates will be enlisted into the ranks of Private and will be deployed to the different units in Mindanao.

Source: 6th Infantry Division

[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/6th-id-produced-677-new-breed-of-soldiers/ 

Kalinaw News: Firearms and ammunitions recovered as army scores anew against NPA in Caraga

Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 29, 2019): Firearms and ammunitions recovered as army scores anew against NPA in Caraga



Bancasi, Butuan City – Elements from the 29IB under the operational control of the
402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade scored anew in an encounter against CPP-NPA
Terrorist (CNT) yesterday, November 27, 2019, around 4:30 in the afternoon at Sitio
Manhupaw, Brgy Bangonay, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

A platoon from the 29IB while on combat operations tracking CNTs for several weeks has encountered more or less twenty (20) CNTs believed to be members of the Sentro De Gravidad (SDG) 16, Guerilla Front (GF) 16 of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) under CNT leader, alias Kadong. Firefight lasted for about thirty (30) minutes, after which the CNTs scampered in different directions leaving assorted war materiel.
Recovered from the encounter site were the following:
a) One (1) M4A1 Rifle with serial no w316546
b) One (1) M14 Rifle with serial no 1249611
c) One (1) M203 Grenade Launcher with serial no. 536688
d) Two (2) magazines for M14 Rifle
e) One (1) magazine (20 rds) for M4A1 Rifle
f) One (1) magazine (30 rds) for M4A1 Rifle
g) Twelve (12) rds 5.56mm ball ammunition
h) Eight (8) rds 7.62mm ball ammunition
i) One (1) bandolier
j) Fifteen (15) meters electrical wire
k) One (1) blasting cap
l) Personal belongings
m) Subversive documents

No one was hurt from the government side while it is undetermined from the enemy. As of this writing, troops are still on hot pursuit. Encountered CNTs are believed to be part of the group that has been the target of the artillery fires at Brgy Bangonay, Jabonga, ADN last 210517 November 2019.

Brigadier General Maurito L Licudine, Commander of the 402nd Brigade, in his statement said, “I commend the 29IB troopers for the decisive engagement against the CNTs at Jabonga. We’ve been tracking them for weeks now as they transfer from one place to another to evade our troops. We shall not let them have a breathing space as they continuously refuse to heed our call to surrender, leave the life of violence and finally embrace the path of peace together with their families”.

“We call on to all remaining CNTs to lay down their arms and stop their futile armed struggle that only brought pain and suffering to our people. We will even intensify our operations against you. You can run but you can not hide for long. Avail the government’s offer for you to go back on your normal lives, the E-CLIP, and be with your families this Christmas”, BGen Licudine added.

Source: 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade 

[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/firearms-and-ammunitions-recovered-as-army-scores-anew-against-npa-in-caraga/

Calinog, Tubungan form task forces vs insurgents

From Panay News (Nov 29, 2019): Calinog, Tubungan form task forces vs insurgents

The municipalities of Calinog and Tubungan in the province of Iloilo were the first to establish municipal task forces (MTF) to end local communist armed conflict.

Director Teodora Sumagaysay of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Iloilo said the Calinog Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and Municipal Development Council (MDC) convened on Nov. 15 and passed a joint resolution creating the MTF to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).

This was followed by the municipality of Tubungan on Nov. 19.

Calinog and Tubungan were among the six municipalities in Iloilo with barangays influenced by insurgents as reported by the Philippine Army.

The other municipalities were Alimodian, Maasin, Janiuay, and Lambunao.

Sumagaysay said Janiuay, Alimodian and Maasin already scheduled the joint meeting of their respective MPOCs and MDCs to establish their task forces.

Earlier this month, DILG-Iloilo convened the local chief executives and police chiefs of these six towns to brief them about President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 and their involvement in the implementation.

ELCACs would ensure the effective implementation of EO 70 which institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace.

Sumagaysay said another orientation will be conducted for the members of the Provincial Task Force ELCAC to deepen their understanding on their roles and also their involvement in the government’s efforts to end local insurgency.

Participants will be briefed on EO 70, Joint Circular Operationalizing EO 70 and the Retooled Community Support Program during the orientation tentatively set this week.

Sumagaysay said the PTF ELCAC will have 12 clusters of efforts in planning and harmonizing the government programs and services to be brought to these insurgency affected communities.

https://www.panaynews.net/calinog-tubungan-form-task-forces-vs-insurgents/

Stay vigilant, troops urged

From the Visayan Daily Star (Nov 29, 2019): Stay vigilant, troops urged

Negros Army troops have been reminded to be “security conscious” at all times, following the series of armed engagements between government forces and New People’s Army rebels in Negros Occidental.

Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, newly-installed commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, issued the reminders during a dialog yesterday with troopers of the 303rd Infantry Brigade at Camp Maj. Nelson Gerona in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia.

Two government initiated encounters in Isabela and Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Nov. 22 and 24, claimed the life of a suspected intelligence officer of the NPA, arrest of seven others, including an injured rebel group squad leaders, and the recovery of assorted war materials.

The two encounters were offshoots of an incident in Isabela, where suspected NPA rebels who were looking for firearms barged into the residence of a barangay captain, and warned his family, that he should not return to the barangay.

“Do your job, and do it well,” Vinoya, who was the formerly Joint Task Force Negros chief, also told the Army soldiers.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2019/November/29/topstory7.htm

Photo: Destroying NPA firearms

From MindaNews (Nov 29, 2019): Photo: Destroying NPA firearms

Army soldiers destroy 94 high-powered firearms surrendered by or captured from New People’s Army rebels during a ceremony at Camp Evangelista, Cagayan de Oro City Thursday afternoon (28 November 2019). The government is claiming it is winning the war against the communist rebels who have been waging a decades-old armed insurgency. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO

https://www.mindanews.com/photo-of-the-day/2019/11/destroying-npa-firearms/

Grenade lobbed at soldiers in Cotabato fails to explode

From MindaNews (Nov 29, 2019): Grenade lobbed at soldiers in Cotabato fails to explode

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 29 Nov) – Still unidentified suspects lobbed a grenade at soldiers of the Special Forces Battalion as they were buying dinner here on Thursday, but fortunately the grenade failed to explode.

Lt. Col. Randy Banaag, commanding officer of the 5th Special Forces Battalion stationed in Cotabato City, said that while a squad of his troops parked along Sinsuat Avenue around 7 p.m. after securing a school intramurals, a disturbing sound landed at the roof of the camouflaged vehicle just as a speeding motorcycle whizzed by.

“We thought they threw a stone that landed on the roof of the jeep. When checked later, we found out it was a hand grenade,” Banaag said in a phone interview.

“Luckily our men are safe, it didn’t go off even as the safety lever was removed and is armed and ready to explode anytime,” he added.

Banaag said it was too late to run after the suspects as they disappeared immediately while joining other motorists in a heavily congested highway.

Army Explosive Ordnance Team responded soon to the area, diffused the grenade and kept safe the dud grenade.

The Special Forces Battalion is now working with police investigators to identify the perpetrators through the CCTVs installed all over the business establishments along Sinsuat Avenue.

Banaag has reminded his troops to be extra vigilant to this type of treacherous attacks.

Authorities are not discounting the possibility of diversionary and revenge attacks as intensified offensive is ongoing at the Liguasan Marsh area to quash the remaining ISIS-inspired armed groups.

A few days ago, Maguindanao police confirmed the death of the brother and son of the founder of ISIS-linked Dawlah Islamiyah head Abu Toraife.

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2019/11/grenade-lobbed-at-soldiers-in-cotabato-fails-to-explode/

More SCAA militias deploy in Zamboanga

Posted to the Mindanao Examiner (Nov 29, 2019): More SCAA militias deploy in Zamboanga

DOZENS OF local government militias have graduated from a 2-month basic military training conducted by the Philippine Army and would be deployed here under the supervision of the Task Force Zamboanga.

Some 66 militias under the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary (SCAA) forces will help authorities secure villages. Captain Danilo Mutoc, of the 5th Infantry Battalion’s Bravo Company, presented the new militias, including a woman who topped their class, to Mayor Beng Climaco last week during a flag ceremony.

Climaco and Vice Mayor Rommel Agan, and other city officials, led the donning of the Task Force Zamboanga insignia on the SCAA members. They will be under the command of Task Force Zamboanga commander, Colonel John Divinagracia.



Mayor Beng Climaco, accompanied by Task Force Zamboanga commander, Colonel John Divinagracia, dons a military insignia to a member of the Special Civilian Active Auxiliary. (Kathy Wee Sit)



The mayor, who is supportive of the military and police forces here, hailed the SCAA members for “their dedication and commitment and urged them to continue to be models of exemplary leadership in field of security and peace and order.”

Climaco has been cited and recognized multiple times by the military and police and other law enforcement agencies for her support.

Only recently, the Philippine Marine Corps also recognized her and the continued support of the local government to the soldiers which contributed to their numerous accomplishments. Climaco was given a plaque of recognition during the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Marine Corps.

The plaque cited Climaco’s “invaluable support rendered to the security forces particularly to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 by assisting the unit in performing the mission ranging from intensive security operations to civil engagements particularly in the East Central Areas of Zamboanga and by providing additional assets that greatly boosted the unit’s capability which significantly contributed to the successful accomplishments of the mission of the Corps.”

The Philippine Marine Corps and the local police force, and the Task Force Zamboanga were among the recipients of brand new vehicles donated by the local government this year as part of its support to the security sector. Apart from the donation of vehicles, the local government also shells out about P22 million for the police force for its fuel, vehicle maintenance, among other necessities.

Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir, the city police chief, received the prowl cars from Climaco during a simple ceremony attended by policemen who praised the mayor for her “relentless support” to the Zamboanga City Police Office.

Climaco also handed over a pickup truck to General Alvin Parreño, the Philippine Marine Corps Commandant; and Task Force Zamboanga Chief, Army Colonel Leonel Nicolas and Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Ariel de los Reyes.

Parreño presented Climaco with a token of gratitude and thanked her for the donation. “Thank you for your love and support to the Marines. God bless you more!” reads an inscription on the token. Climaco said: “The City Government will never get tired of supporting and assisting the police and the entire security sector in Zamboanga and all these for the dedication of the soldiers and policemen in securing our city and our people.” (Zamboanga Post)

https://mindanaoexaminer.com/more-scaa-militias-deploy-in-zamboanga/

AFP troops occupy rebel headquarters in Agusan

From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 28, 2019): AFP troops occupy rebel headquarters in Agusan

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Troops of the Army’s 402nd Infantry (Stingers) Brigade occupied the alternate regional headquarters of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) in a mountain area in Zapanta Valley, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.



Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) (MANILA BULLETIN)
The Army group deployed more combat troops on Thursday to beef up pursuing troops in Zapanta Valley.

The air and ground strike conducted by the ground troops of the 402nd Brigade also resulted to
the neutralization of other satellites and monitoring areas of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (CPP-NPA NEMRC).

“The operations started Nov. 20 when our pursuing troops engaged an estimated 70 CNTs in Zapanta Valley,” said 402nd Brigade commanding general Brig. Gen. Maurito L. Licudine, in an exclusive interview with The Manila Bulletin on Wednesday.

He said the pursuing troops engaged the enemy line that resulted in a fierce gunfight last Wednesday.

Wide pursuit operation is still ongoing in the Mount Ilong-Ilong and Diwata mountain ranges towards Andap Complex, the top Army brigade commander said.

The first engagement happened in the provincial boundary of Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

Brig. Gen. Licudine ordered ground army commanders in the area to check the reported information from villagers that 10 CNTs were killed and scores were wounded during the past one week skirmishes in the area.

“We are still verifying this report (killed and wounded CNTs),” said the 402nd Brigade commander.

The Brigade commander also confirmed that this Brigade operation is being assisted by the attack gunship helicopters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) strike wing and Artillery Battallion.

“They are our back up force to our pursuing ground troops,” Brig. Gen. Licudine said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/11/28/afp-troops-occupy-rebel-headquarters-in-agusan/

Military belies claims on transfer of NPA spokesperson

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Nov 29, 2019): Military belies claims on transfer of NPA spokesperson

A military official in Southern Luzon belied the allegation by lawyers of Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla, spokesperson for the New People’s Army (NPA) Southern Tagalog, that he was transferred to an undisclosed location after his arrest.

Lt. Col. Dennis Cana, spokesperson of the military’s Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), twitted Padilla’s lawyers on Thursday for feigning ignorance that he will be presented to the court that ordered his arrest.

“And that’s exactly what will happen. The allegation that he was being hidden was a lie,” the Solcom official said.

‘Vital data’

Government forces arrested Padilla, 72, on Monday night at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.

He was arrested under a warrant issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 46 of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

According to lawyer Kristina Conti, Padilla “has been missing” since noon of Wednesday, Nov. 27. She protested her client’s transfer to an undisclosed location without the knowledge of his legal counsel or family.

Cana said of Padilla’s arrest, “The series of arrests of key NPA leaders and the ongoing mass surrender of tired, disgruntled, demoralized rebels were creating mass panic and confusion among their ranks.”

“His own comrades provided crucial information on his health condition. Concerned citizens who recognized him as an NPA also gave vital data. The intelligence community validated all the information and acted fast that led to his arrest,” Cana told the Inquirer in an interview.
‘Peace consultant’

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) claimed that Padilla is a “peace consultant” and thus, immune from arrest.

The CPP said Padilla’s arrest violated his rights as provided under the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the political arm of the communist insurgents.

Jasig, signed by the government and NDFP panels in 1995, is supposed to protect from arrest and other harassments negotiators from both sides who are taking part in the talks.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1195761/military-belies-claims-on-transfer-of-npa-spokesperson

CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Nov 29, 2019): CPP denies ‘Ka Diego’ arrest caused ‘mass panic’ among S. Tagalog NPA

LUCENA CITY –– The spokesman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) strongly refuted the claim of the military that the arrest of rebel leader Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla is causing mass panic among Maoist-inspired guerrillas in the region.

“The mass panic claim was baseless. His capture further strengthens the NPA’s unity as they denounce the injustices against Ka Diego and violations of his rights,” Marco Valbuena, CPP chief public information officer, said in an online interview on Friday.

But he admitted that the arrest of Padilla, New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Tagalog was a “loss and setback” to the communist rebels in the region.

“But this is far from causing serious losses to the NPA,” he insisted.



Jaime Padilla, an alleged leader of the New People’s Army, poses for a mugshot after he was arrested for multiple murder in San Juan City on Monday, November 25, 2019. Photo from NCRPO
On Thursday, Lt. Col. Dennis Cana, spokesperson of the military’s Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), alleged that the arrest of Padilla and other key NPA leaders and the ongoing mass surrenders of Red fighters “were creating mass panic and confusion among their ranks.”

Cana also claimed that Padilla’s capture was the result of information on his health condition, which was provided by his comrades along with other crucial data from concerned citizens.

Valbuena slammed Cana’s allegation as lies.

“The claims that the NPA itself revealed Ka Diego’s conditions is pure hogwash and a desperate effort to sow intrigue,” Valbuena stressed.

He added: “As a high profile NPA representative, Ka Diego was fully aware of the high-security risk when he sought medical treatment in a Manila hospital.”

Padilla, 72, was arrested on Monday evening at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, where the NPA leader was supposedly confined due to hypertension.

He was arrested under a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 46 of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

Valbuena assailed the actions of the government to hide Padilla from his lawyer and family and called it an outright violation of the rebel’s right.

“The fact that his lawyers have been denied access to provide him legal assistance is clear evidence that Ka Diego’s rights are outrightly being violated by the police,” he said.
Valbuena said they have reason to be seriously concerned about his well-being considering he was undergoing medical treatment when he was arrested.

But Cana denied that the government was hiding Padilla and insisted that Padilla would soon be presented to the court that ordered his arrest.

Valbuena reiterated the CPP stand that Padilla is a “peace consultant” and thus, his arrest was a violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the political arm of the communist insurgents.

Jasig, signed by the government and NDFP panels in 1995, is supposed to protect from arrest and other harassments negotiators from both sides who are taking part in the talks.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1195985/cpp-denies-ka-diego-arrest-caused-mass-panic-among-s-tagalog-npa