18 soldiers wounded in BIFF clashes in South

From the Mindanao Examiner (Mar 14, 2020): 18 soldiers wounded in BIFF clashes in South

COTABATO CITY – Over a dozen soldiers were wounded in a series of clashes with pro-ISIS fighters in the restive Muslim province of Maguindanao in southern Philippines, officials said Saturday.

Military photos released to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner show Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Midnanao Command, visiting wounded soldiers - on behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte - on Saturday at the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao’s Datu Odin Sinsuat town and handed them financial aid, gun certificates and cell phones. 

Officials said troops were battling members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces in Maguindanao, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Western Midnanao Command, visited the wounded soldiers on behalf of President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday at the 6th Infantry Division in Maguindanao’s Datu Odin Sinsuat town and handed them financial aid, gun certificates and cell phones.
“We should take care of our soldiers because those left behind can have no peace after suffering distress,” Sobejana said.

Duterte was not able to visit the soldiers for a still unknown reason, but the President - who is in Manila - ordered a lockdown on the National Capital Region following the outbreak of the deadly new coronavirus disease.

Recovered improvised explosive and personal belongings left behind by fleeing militants. Three bodies of gunmen were also found in the village of Salman in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province on March 13, 2020.



Sobejana said three bodies of gunmen, including a land mine, were also recovered by soldiers in in the village of Salman in Ampatuan town on Friday. “The recovery of the bodies indicate substantial gains and weakening of the enemy’s manpower and capability,” he said.

He said security forces were continuing with the operations against the BIFF, whose leaders pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, or ISIS.

“Rest assured, we will continue with our focused operations to penetrate BIFF lairs and totally eradicate their remaining members, for the people of Central Mindanao to savor lasting peace and sustainable development,” Sobejana said. (Mindanao Examiner)

https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2020/03/18-soldiers-wounded-in-biff-clashes-in.html

Former rebels go from Arm-to-Farm in Bukidnon

From the Philippine  Information Agency (Mar 15, 2020): Former rebels go from Arm-to-Farm in Bukidnon (By Dependable CMO)



IMPASUG-ONG, Bukidnon, March 14 - Former rebels can now plant crops as sustainable livelihood while temporarily living inside the military camp through the Arm-to-Farm Program of the government.

Located in a two-hectare land farm offered by the local government of Impasugong at the headquarters of 8th Infantry Battalion, Barangay Poblacion, Impasugong, Bukidnon, former rebels are closely trained and equipped with skills through the assistance from the Dependable troopers.
The theme, "Changing Mindsets, Enriching Lives: Transforming Red Revolution to Green Revolution" hopes to change the mindset of these former rebels from being a combatant to becoming a peaceful and productive individuals that contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

A surrenderee in October of last year, Helen Omayon Hawi-an, 31 years old said, “Kami nagapasalamat sa atong Philippine Army uban sa Local na pagkagamhanan na mitabang sa amua para mabuhat kini na proyekto na mahitabo. Kami naga plano na mag padayun kani nga training sa pag bake ug kami maga dahom sa umaabot adlaw nama patukod ang atong bakery. (We thank the Philippine Army together with the peace and development partners who assisted us to make this program possible. We are planning to undergo training in baking, and we are hoping to have a bakery shop in the future.)

In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Edgardo V Talaroc Jr, Commanding Officer of the 8th Infantry (Dependable) Battalion shared, "This unit together with our peace and development partners will continue to provide interventions to the former rebels while they are waiting to receive benefits from the Enhanced- Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP)." (8IB Dependable CMO)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1036271

79-year-old NPA leader gives up with guns

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14, 2020): 79-year-old NPA leader gives up with guns (By Villamor Visaya, Jr.)



REBEL RETURNEE. Loreto "Ka Nestor" Ventura (seated, red shirt), a 79-year-old former New People’s Army squad leader, joins relatives, Cagayan officials, Army, police, and fire bureau officers when he was presented to the media on Thursday (March 12, 2020). Ventura gave himself up to the Cagayan provincial government and police officials in Barangay Lagum, Santo Niño, Cagayan. (PNA photo by Vince Jacob A. Visaya)

A 79-year-old former New People’s Army (NPA) squad leader was presented to the media after he gave up himself to the Cagayan provincial government and police officials in Barangay Lagum, Santo Niño, Cagayan on Thursday.

After a 40-year stay with the communist rebel group, Loreto Diliggon Ventura, alias Ka Nestor, a native of Maab-abaca in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, said he decided to surrender after he was left by his comrades while sick at a nipa hut in Lagum village.

"Matanda na ako at iniwan na nila ako dahil wala na silang pakinabang (I am old and they abandoned me because I am nothing now)," he said.

With his wife Grace, they were blessed with three children – Evelyn, Edwin, and Editha.

Finishing only Grade 2 at the Maab-abaca Elementary School, Ventura was lured into the NPA when he was in his late 30s.

"You see now, the New People’s Army members must be answerable for their human rights violations. They are good for nothing,” Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba said.

Mamba said he prodded villagers to be vigilant and fight communists "as they are very much dwindling in number and no longer a force to be reckoned with.”

Ventura gave up an M-16 Armalite rifle, a Carbine rifle, a cal. 45 handgun, assorted bullets, improvised explosive devices, belongings, anti-government documents, and other paraphernalia.

He will receive gun compensation for the surrendered guns.

He initially received PHP20,000 financial assistance from the Cagayan provincial government through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) program of the government.

The CPP-NPA, which has been waging war against the government since in the 1960s, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096523

Gov't troops recover high-powered firearms, explosives

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14, 2020): Gov't troops recover high-powered firearms, explosives (By Mar Serrano)



LEGAZPI CITY – Several high-powered firearms, grenades, and improvised explosive devices were recovered by soldiers following a clash with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a remote village in Baao town in Camarines Sur province on Friday morning, an Army report said.

Capt. John Paul Belleza, 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office chief, said joint military and police personnel were conducting security operations in Barangay Pugay, Baao when they encountered a 15-member rebel group, which resulted in a 15-minute firefight.

“The rebels, while fleeing, left behind at the encounter site two M16 rifles, an M203 grenade launcher, M1 Garand rifle, three anti-personnel mines, three hand grenades, seven blasting caps, two rolls of detonating wire, seven long magazines for M16 rifles, subversive documents and other personal belongings,” Belleza said.

He said there was no reported casualty among government troops but there was an undetermined number of fatalities on the rebels’ side as bloodstains were observed in the path where the rebels fled.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096538

3 more NPA rebels yield in SoCot town

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14, 2020): 3 more NPA rebels yield in SoCot town (By Allen Estabillo)



RETURNEES. Three communist New People’s Army rebels surrender to government forces in Barangay Tasiman, Lake Sebu on Thursday (March 12, 2020). Photo shows the three surrenderers along with Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 intelligence chief, Lt. Col. Christopher Bermudez (left), and regional mobile force battalion chief, Lt. Col. Barney Condes (right). (Photo courtesy of PRO-12)

Three more “disgruntled” communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered on Thursday to government forces in Lake Sebu town, South Cotabato province.

Lt. Col. Barney Condes, chief of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-12, said Friday the rebels yielded during a “simultaneous internal security operation” by a team of police and military personnel Thursday in Sitio Datal Ligaw, Barangay Tasiman in Lake Sebu.

Condes said the returnees were previously under Platoon West of the NPA’s Guerilla Front 73-Far South Mindanao Region that operates in parts of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani provinces.
They were identified as Timuwok Adam, Complie Sawang, and Jesie Lambong--all residents of Lake Sebu.

Condes said the former combatants surrendered an M14 rifle loaded with six live bullets and a homemade KG-9 9-mm submachine gun with 11 live bullets.

He said they were brought to RIU-12 at the Camp Fermin Lira here to undergo debriefing and documentation.

The police official said the three decided to surrender following a series of negotiations and related interventions facilitated by the unit.

These were backed by elements from the Police Regional Office-12’s intelligence unit (RIU-12), investigation division, South Cotabato police’s intelligence branch, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-12 and the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion.

“They mainly surrendered due to extreme anxiety and psychological pressure as a result of the continuing operations in the area,” he said in a statement.

He said they will enlist the returnees into the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which will provide them with livelihood assistance and other socio-economic interventions.

Condes credited the accomplishment to the all-out support of local officials and community stakeholders to the government’s efforts to end the local communist armed conflict.

He said their unit is currently undergoing further training to effectively counter the “deceptive tactics” and recruitment activities of the NPA rebels.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096503

Soldiers find 3 cadavers of BIFF in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14, 2020): Soldiers find 3 cadavers of BIFF in Maguindanao (By Edwin Fernandez)



ON THE RUN. An abandoned lair of the Islamic State-inspired combatants of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the tri-borders of Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, and Datu Hoffer towns in Maguindanao following military operations on Friday (March 13, 2020). Soldiers also found three dead bodies of BIFF extremists in the lair and a homemade bomb (inset) fashioned from a manual metal water pump. (Photo courtesy of 601Bde)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The military here announced Saturday the discovery of three cadavers of Islamic State-inspired terrorists in the mountains of Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Col. Jose Narciso, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, said soldiers conducting clearing operations found the remains of three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town at 9:20 a.m. Friday.

“This is how heartless the terrorists are. They just leave their slain comrades behind,” Narciso said.

Also recovered in the area were one anti-personnel mine and their personal belongings.

Since March 1, the military has launched air and ground assaults against the BIFF in the mountains of the adjoining towns of Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, and Datu Hoffer in the province and Joint Task Force Central.

“It was in this area that the BIFF had encampments and planned to launch attacks against military installations from the high grounds,” Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said in a separate interview here.

After intelligence agents confirmed the presence of the BIFF in the Ampatuan-Shariff Aguak-Datu Hofer border, military artillery and airstrikes were conducted.

So far four soldiers and 17 BIFF members have died in the operations, including the three bodies found Friday. Six soldiers were also injured in separate landmine explosions.

Government forces recovered high explosives manufactured by the BIFF in their abandoned lairs in the area during the height of the clashes.

Carreon reminded soldiers of the brigade to remain on alert for possible retaliatory attacks from the terrorists.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096617

Army chief lauds troops for ranking NPA leader neutralization

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14, 2020): Army chief lauds troops for ranking NPA leader neutralization (By Priam Nepomuceno)



Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay. (File photo)

MANILA – Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay lauded military and police personnel for the successful operation in Baguio City which led to the neutralization of a ranking Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) leader and two of his companions.

"With Giron's death, justice is served. But we must not cease. We must not stop in uniting against such tyranny, which for many years, have deprived the Filipino people the peaceful lives they deserve," Gapay said in a statement late Friday.

Government forces raided a house at Lourdes Subdivision Extension, Barangay Queen of Peace, Baguio City around 3:30 a.m. Friday.

Killed were CPP chair and CPP-NPA Executive Community member Julius Soriano Giron, Lourdes Tan Torres, and a still unidentified male believed to a member of the rebels' National Military Commission.

Security troops were supposed to serve Giron various warrants for murder, frustrated murder, arson and rebellion when the NPA leader and his companions opened fire, triggering a firefight which led to their deaths.

"The rebels' efforts to gain political power through their armed struggle only resulted in violence. This will never be the solution for our society," Gapay said.

Numerous atrocities committed by Giron have resulted in the death of military personnel and civilians; loss of economic assets due to the illegal burning of equipment, and the displacement of thousands of people.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096603

PH flags Reds’ use of ‘human rights defenders’ badge for terror

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 14, 2020): PH flags Reds’ use of ‘human rights defenders’ badge for terror



Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva (DFA photo)

GENEVA, Switzerland – The Philippine government emphasized the need to integrate ways to safeguard the human rights defenders space from exploitation by actors who use it to pursue violent agenda and terrorism on the ground.

Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, during the 43rd UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Session here on March 12, said the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) in 2018 was in response to the need to address the drivers such as the broader social, economic, and political conditions conducive to insurgency and terrorism.

He said it is consistent with the recommendation of UN Special Rapporteur on Terrorism Fionnuala Ní Aoláin in her report.

In a dialogue with Aoláin, Garcia said with the Philippines listed as one of the top 10 countries most impacted by terrorism, there is a need that the approach to terrorism and violent extremism take into account the realities on the ground-based on actual experiences and challenges of states, communities, and especially the victims.

Making communities resilient against risks of exploitation by terrorist groups based on concrete human rights and good governance agenda is at the heart of the work of NTF ELCAC, he added.

In the dialogues with UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Michel Forst and UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights Karima Bennoune, the Philippine government flagged about the use of human rights defenders space by certain actors to promote agendas of deceit and violence.

Exploitation

“The realities in the Philippines clearly illustrate that in some contexts, the lines are blurred, and this is being exploited by certain actors,“ he said.

He shared how the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) – an armed non-state actor – has carried out Asia‘s longest-running insurgency and terrorized communities while benefitting from the goodwill that the UN system endows the human rights defenders.
“Their well-documented atrocities include the recruitment of indigenous children for combat and the killing of hundreds of indigenous leaders and tribal warriors who continue to oppose and defend their ancestral domain against CPP-NPA-NDF,“ he added.

With over 100 indigenous cultural communities, he said the Philippines has been steadfast in promoting self-governance of ancestral domains, duly respectful and sensitive to customary laws and indigenous cultural rights.

“IP communities have reported numerous cases of killings of their leaders and systematic destruction of their culture and way of life by the CPP-NPA-NDF which illegally use ancestral domains as a base for insurgency operations. Regrettably, this is made possible by presenting themselves as so-called rights defenders to be able to access foreign funding for purported charitable causes which, in turn, are used to sustain their violent armed movement,” he said.

Impunity blanket

In its statement at the UNHRC Session, the Philippine government affirmed the valuable contribution of defenders and their legitimate activities to advancing human rights, and in that spirit, has repeatedly underscored the need to protect this space from exploitation by unscrupulous groups who use the defender badge as an impunity blanket for committing gross human rights violations and evading accountability.

The Philippines, a fifth-term member of the UN Human Rights Council from 2019 to 2021, is a staunch advocate of the human rights of vulnerable groups and is recognized as a global leader on many human rights advocacies including on gender and migration.

The country actively contributes to strengthening the work of the Council in promoting and protecting human rights through constructive, meaningful, and effective actions. (DFA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096666