Kalinaw News: 1.4M natanggap ng 72 na dating rebelde ng Sarangani Province

From Kalinaw News (Feb 27, 2021): 1.4M natanggap ng 72 na dating rebelde ng Sarangani Province



Malita, Davao Occidental – Nakatanggap ng halagang PhP 1.4M ang 72 na mga dating rebelde ng Sarangani Province na sumuko sa kasundaluhan ng 73rd Infantry Battalion sa ginanap na “Releasing of Financial Assistance to Former Rebels” sa Capitol Gymnasium, Alabel, Sarangani Province nitong ika-26 ng Pebrero 2021.

Nagkaroon ng simpleng programa ang pamamahagi ng “financial assistance” sa mga dating rebelde ng Sarangani Province na kung saan nabigyan ang 18 na mga dating rebelde ng livelihood at immediate assistance sa halagang PhP 65,000 at 1 ang nakatanggap immediate assistance sa ilalim ng Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) ng Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Samantala, 45 naman na mga dating rebelde ang nakatanggap ng PhP 5,000 cash assistance na ibinahagi ng Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Sa ibinahaging mensahe ni Engr. Samuel Camaganacan kanyang nabanggit sa mga dating rebelde na hikayatin ang mga natitira pang rebelde na sumuko na. “Narito ang ECLIP upang kayo ay matulungang magbagong-buhay. Kaya naman, kung may mga kakilala pa kayong hindi pa sumusuko, hikayatin ninyo at i-avail ang assistance na binabahagi ng gobyerno.”

Sa pakikipag-usap ng Pinuno ng 73IB na si LT. COL. RONALDO G VALDEZ sa mga dating rebelde, kanyang binigyang-diin na gamitin sa tamang paraan ang matatanggap na pera. “Malaki ang ibibigay na pera sa inyo at nagkaroon na din kayo ng sapat na trainings at seminar. Ito na ang hinahangad niyong bagong-buhay na sinabi ninyo sa aming kasundaluhan nang kayo ay sumuko at nagbalik loob sa gobyerno,” kanyang sinabi.

Bilang pagtatapos, nagbigay ng mensahe ang gobernador ng probinsya na si Hon. Steve Solon at nagtanong ng kung ano pang karagdagang pangangailangan ng mga dating rebelde. Malugod naman nila itong tinugunan at nagbahagi ng kanilang kailangan.

Walang katumbas ang saya na makikita sa mukha ng mga dating rebelde sa isinagawang aktibidad. Kanilang napagtanto na taliwas ang ipinamulat sa kanila ng kilusan. Sa katunayan, hindi sila itinakwil at pinabayaan sa kabila ng karahasang kanilang ginawa sa gobyerno noon.

Ang kasundaluhan, lokal na pamahalaan, at mga ahensya ng gobyerno ay walang sawang tumutulong at maghatid ng serbisyo ng gobyerno sa ilalim ng administrasyong Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa kaniyang programang End Local Communist Armed Conflict upang wakasan ang insurgensiya sa bansa.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/1-4m-natanggap-ng-72-na-dating-rebelde-ng-sarangani-province/

Kalinaw News: 48IB Closes Community Support Program (CSP) Training for Red and White Area Operations and Sends Off CSP Teams

From Kalinaw News (Feb 27, 2021): 48IB Closes Community Support Program (CSP) Training for Red and White Area Operations and Sends Off CSP Teams



Bislig City, Surigao del Sur – The 48th Infantry (Guardians) Battalion closes its Community Support Program (CSP) Training for Red and White Area Operations and subsequently sends off CSP Teams in its Headquarters at Purok 1, Barangay Maharlika, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur on February 26, 2021.

CSP Teams aim to support the Local Peacebuilding Initiatives of the 701st Infantry (Kagitingan) Brigade in its goal for Zero NPA, Zero Recruitment and Zero Support System. Likewise, CSP will strengthen the support and capacity building of various Peoples Organizations, assist and facilitate the delivery of basic services, help fill-in the gaps by identifying prevailing issues and concerns in focused communities and safely deliver quality service by amplifying government presence in their respective areas.

81 Guardians troopers were declared graduates and were sent off by the Keynote Speaker and at the same time the 701st Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Krishnamurti A. Mortela PA. Members from the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur represented by Executive Assistant Mr. Inocencio Sayawan Jr, Bislig City Executive Assistant Mr Jose Candia Sr., Hinatuan Mayor Shem G. Garay, Barangay Maharlika Chairman Samuel R. Lahoy and other stakeholders to include Bislig City Eagles Club also embraced the event.

Likewise, Police Lieutenant Colonel Jerome Dela Cruz who represented Agusan Del Sur Police Provincial Director Police Colonel Ringo C. Zarzoso and Police Lieutenant Joymar Prieto to represent Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Director Police Colonel James T. Goforth also manifested their support as PNP counterparts.

Surigao del Sur Executive Assistant Inocencio Sayawan, in his message, expressed their support in behalf of the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur.

To highlight the event, the signing of the Local Peacebuilding Initiative “Guardians” by the Army’s 701st Brigade,48IB and representatives from the Provincial and Local Government and PNP counterpart was conducted.

Brigadier General Mortela said, “My expectations to the 48IB as one of the best units of the Philippine Army.I believe fifty percent of what you need has already been acquired in training the rest, you will definitely learn it during your deployment. Let us work altogether as we end this insurgency .”

Relatedly, Lieutenant Colonel Enrique G. Rafael , Acting Commanding Officer 48IB added, “The 48th Infantry (Guardians) Battalion is privileged to be part of the 701st Brigade, much more we are glad for the warm welcome we received from the provincial and local government both from Agusan and Surigao del Sur. This is just the start of our stronger partnership, for peace, progress and further development.”

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/48ib-closes-community-support-program-csp-training-for-red-and-white-area-operations-and-sends-off-csp-teams/

Duterte to scrap VFA if proven US brought nuke armaments to PH

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 28, 2021): Duterte to scrap VFA if proven US brought nuke armaments to PH (By Azer Parrocha)

Balikatan military exercise between the Philippines and the US (File photo)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he would immediately terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States (US) of America the moment he receives proof that American troops have brought nuclear armaments into the country.

In a press conference at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Duterte said he will not make second thoughts about scrapping the military pact for good once he gets hold of “hard information” regarding nuclear armaments.

“I am warning you that if I get hold of a hard information that nuclear armaments are here brought by you, I will immediately ask you to go out and I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement ora mismo (right now),” he said.

Duterte added that should a war break out between the US and its enemy, it would cause serious damage to the Philippines.

“Kung magka-giyera (if a war breaks out) and it will surely start maybe in the theater of war would be the Spratly and China Sea. Katabi lang tayo. Pangasinan, it’s just --- nakaharap. Maraming probinsiya nandiyan. Alam mo kung may armaments sila dito ang unang tatamaan ‘yon. Saan? Sa Pilipinas (We’re just beside it. Pangasinan, it’s just --- in front. There are so many provinces there. You know if they have armaments here we’ll be first to get hit. Where? The Philippines),” he said.

He said US troops have also stored their weapons “all around the Philippines.”

“Ang unang matamaan, ang Pilipinas. Kasi nandito ‘yong base, nandito ‘yong mga armas nila …(The Philippines would be first to get hit. There bases are here, their arms). The arms are stored everywhere in the Philippines, baka hindi niyo alam. May mga (maybe you don’t know. They have) depots all around the Philippines where the arms are,” he added.

Last Feb. 24, Duterte admitted that he was still “undecided on the fate of the VFA, saying he wanted public input on the controversial defense deal.

“I will be talking about the Visiting Forces Agreement na pinag-usap usapan na ngayon (which is already making headlines). And I said I must be frank, I do not keep secrets to the people. I have not yet, as yet, decided on what to do. Meaning to say, to abrogate or renew [the suspension of termination], because I want to hear the people,” Duterte said.

Duterte on Feb. 12 said the US needs to “pay” the Philippines first before he reconsiders his earlier decision to revoke the VFA.

He, however, expressed confidence that China will not allow US armaments to be stored in the Philippines.

“Not because it will antagonize China but it is in the Philippine constitution, which prohibits the presence of nuclear armaments in the country,” he said.

After China’s donation of an initial 600,000 doses of Sinovac-made vaccines to the Philippines, Duterte assured the public that their generosity would not compromise current issues between Philippines and China.

“China never asked for anything. China has been giving us everything but never asked anything from us actually,” he said.

Duterte also stood by his declaration that his administration will adopt an independent foreign policy of “friend to all and enemy to none.”

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1132116