41 ex-NPA rebels graduate in Project Good Life program

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Jan 23, 2022): 41 ex-NPA rebels graduate in Project Good Life program

ZAMBOANGA. The Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) marks on Friday, January 21, the First Commencement Exercises for 41 “Friends Rescued” (former New People’s Army rebels), who undergone extensive training under the Project Good Life on Friday. A photo handout shows the graduates tossing their sash into the air in rejoice during the commencement exercises held at Camp Major David Sabido, home of the 53IB in Villanueva Road, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur. (SunStar Zamboanga)

THE Army’s 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion (IB) marked the First Commencement Exercises for 41 “Friends Rescued” (former New People’s Army rebels), who undergone extensive training under the Project Good Life.

The commencement exercises was held Friday, January 21, at Camp Major David Sabido, home of the 53IB in Villanueva Road, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.

It forms part of the 53IB’s 37th Founding Anniversary, which is anchored on the theme “MATAPAT@37: Victory in time of Convergence.”

Dr. Moibe Olitres, Good Life Academy president, presented the milestones of Project Good Life and the results of assessments for former rebels’ (FRs) overall state of happiness, optimism, satisfaction, mindset, mental health, and wellbeing during the commencement exercises.

“I always tell everyone that Project Good Life is ours. We cannot achieve these milestones without collaborative efforts coming from all our stakeholders,” Olitres said.

Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander, said the commencement exercises mark a new beginning in the lives of the FRs.

“We are soldiers, and our skills are primarily in warfighting. But because of the evolving operational environment, the army and stakeholders converge to end the local communist armed conflict in Zamboanga del Sur,” Herrera said.

“We were able to decisively accomplish this 10-month Psychoeducation project intended to sustain the peace and help the FRs in their transformation to become responsible and productive citizens,” he added.

Project Good Life for “Friends Rescued” is a 10-month inclusive Well-being Psychoeducation Program (Pneuma or Spirit-Psyche) or Soul-Soma (Body) Holistic Care Research and Community Extension Program initiated by the 53IB in partnership with various organizations and national government agencies.

It aims to translate the initial strength-based research inquiry among former NPA rebels, who surrendered to the 53IB, to community extension service.

It is a need-based program for FRs to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the Whole-of-Nation Approach to end local communist armed conflict in the country.

Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista, the guest speaker of the commencement exercises, congratulated the FRs for a job well-done, saying they are now ready to go back to mainstream society.

“Congratulations for exerting your best efforts, FRs! After months of learning necessary knowledge and skills, you are now prepared for your reintegration into mainstream society,” Evangelista told the graduates.

“Congratulations to all the completers. This is proof that the Whole-of-Nation Approach in this province is effective,” said Brigadier General Jose Randolf Sino Cruz, assistant division commander of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division.

Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu, Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict chairperson, lauded the 53IB for providing an avenue for the FRs to grow through Project Good Life.

“I express my deepest gratitude and congratulations to the 53IB for professionally taking care of our FRs, who are also our constituents. You have shown to them that there is a wonderful life that awaits them,” Yu said.

“This should not be the end of your learning endeavor; this is just the end of a chapter that helped you realize that there is more to be learned. You will be gaining more once you keep an open mind, and we hope that we have smoothly guided you back to the mainstream society,” Yu told the FRs.

Also present during the commencement exercises were the various stakeholders, including provincial and regional directors of national government agencies and non-government organizations in Zamboanga Peninsula.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1918947/zamboanga/local-news/41-ex-npa-rebels-graduate-in-project-good-life-program

Kalinaw News: A communist terrorist group member yields to government troops in Ilocos Sur

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jan 23, 2022): A communist terrorist group member yields to government troops in Ilocos Sur



Camp Aquino, Tarlac City – January 23, 2022

Combined troops from the 69th Infantry Battalion of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Kaugnay and Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Office Ilocos Sur facilitated the voluntary surrender of a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) member in Barangay Aluling, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur in the afternoon of January 23, 2022.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo, Acting Commander of the Northern Luzon Command (NolCom), disclosed that “the surrendered personality as Moises Palacio, a member of a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) operating in the hinterlands of Ilocos and Abra provinces, yielded the following war materiel; two (2) M16 rifles, one (1) Colt M16A1 rifle, one (1) Elisco M16A1 rifle and two (2) short magazines with two (2) caliber 5.56mm live ammunition.”

Maj. Gen. Costelo further disclosed that “based on the report from the Joint Task Group (JTG) Defender’s Commander Brig. Gen Krishnamurti Mortela, Palacio is a member of platoon Mountain Province (MP) of the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) – AMPIS and has been on their watchlist since 2021. “

In another statement, Brig. Gen. Mortela said that “upon further assessment and verification, Palacio was found out to have a standing warrant of arrest for Murder with case No. N-0264 issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 58 of Bucay, Abra on January 26, 2004, and as a result, Palacio is now under the custody of the Municipal Police Station in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.”

Brig. Gen. Mortela furthered that “the snowball of communist terrorists’ surrenders coupled with the support of the locals through our intensive civil-military cooperation are indicative affirmations of the dying Communist movement in the provinces of Ilocos, Abra, and Mountain Province. ”

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen Costelo extended his congratulations to officers and men of the 69th Infantry Battalion for their dedication and commitment to end terrorism.

Maj. Gen. Costelo also put a premium on the contributions of the local chief executives and the local populace of Ilocos and Abra of their untiring support to end the local communist armed conflict.

“The successful surrender of Palacio is attributable to the collaborative efforts of the 69th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Marcelo Valdez, our PNP counterparts, and the locals of Barangay Aluling, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur who have become vessels of hope and amity for the government in ensuring that the message of peace and reconciliation reaches the former terrorist and persuade him to lay down his arms and return to the fold of the law,” Maj. Gen. Costelo said.

For this day (January 23) alone, NoLCom recorded a total of four (4) members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) voluntarily surrendered to government forces and decided to go back to the folds of the law.

Maj. Gen. Costelo added that “NoLCom will be unrelenting in our pursuit for peace and development in this part of the country, our relentless offensives continue to press on to totally eradicate the few remaining terrorists in our area, leaving them no other option but to lay down their arms and abandon their armed struggle.”

[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/a-communist-terrorist-group-member-yields-to-government-troops-in-ilocos-sur/

Kalinaw News: Communist insurgency crumbling in Northern Luzon following the surrender of 3 CTG members

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jan 23, 2022): Communist insurgency crumbling in Northern Luzon following the surrender of 3 CTG members



Camp Aquino, Tarlac City – “Communist Insurgency is crumbling in Northern Luzon,” said Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo, Acting Commander of the Northern Luzon Command, following the surrender of three (3) Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members with their firearms to the troops of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Tala at Sitio Jet, Barangay Rizal, San Guillermo, Isabela on January 22, 2022.

Maj. Gen. Costelo disclosed that “In a report submitted by the Joint Task Group (JTG) Liberator Commander, Brig. Gen. Danilo Benavides, the surrendered personalities were members of the Regional Sentro de Gravidad (RSDG) and are residents of Barangay Villagracia, Maddela, Quirino. Their names are being withheld for the meantime pending results of their initial debriefing.”

“With their willingness to yield to the government and chose the path for peace, they also brought alongside with them two (2) m16 rifles with two (2) short magazines, three (3) long magazine and 26 live 5.56 ammunition which manifests their complete abandonment of the armed movement of the communist terrorists,” Maj. Gen. Costelo said.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Danilo Benavidez, Commander of the 502nd Infantry Brigade and JTG Liberator, whose area of operations covers the provinces of Isabela and Quirino, said that the “the success of the mission of going back to the folds of the law of the 3 CTG members is attributed to the hardworking men and women of the 86th Infantry Battalion under Lt Col Joseph Flores, our police counterparts, and to our partner stakeholders who are always on 24/7 in helping us end the local communist armed conflict.”

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Laurence Mina, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division and JTF Tala expressed his gratitude to the community and stakeholders.

Maj. Gen. Mina futher said that “the collaborative efforts of the military, police, and partner stakeholders resulted a series of success in our campaign to end armed conflict in the Cagayan Valley region.”

“It will only be a matter of time before Communist Insurgency will be totally decimated in this part of the country, ” said Maj. Gen. Mina.

In closing, Maj. Gen. Costelo also thanked the dedication of the troops and the unwavering support of the stakeholders. He also appealed to the remaining members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) to peacefully lay down their arms and go back to the folds of the law. He said that “the government is always here to help you go back to your normal lives. You are victims of the lies and deceptions of selfish leaders of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG). Start anew and avail of the government’s Enhanced-Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP).”

Maj. Gen. Costelo assured the peace-loving citizen that “the NoLCom will be relentless in its campaign to end the local communist armed conflict in the northern and central Luzon. Your active and dedicated involvement in this campaign has been proven effective and primarily the key to the series of successes.”

Since January 1 of this year, a total of 61 members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) surrendered to the government forces and chose peaceful living.

“If the trend of those CTG members going back to the folds of the law complemented by our successes in the civil-military cooperation continue, there is no doubt that we attain to end the local communist armed conflict by the end of President Duterte’s term,” Maj. Gen Costelo added.

Three (3) Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) members with their firearms surrendered to the troops of the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Tala at Sitio Jet, Barangay Rizal, San Guillermo, Isabela on January 22, 2022.

[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/communist-insurgency-crumbling-in-northern-luzon-following-the-surrender-of-3-ctg-members/

Kalinaw News: Community secure Barangay Development Programs: Tipped off Improvised Landmine Location

Posted to Kalinaw News (Jan 23, 2022): Community secure Barangay Development Programs: Tipped off Improvised Landmine Location



MAKILALA, COTABATO – Following the implementation of Barangay Development Programs and continuous government interventions, concerned citizens from Brgy. Batasan and Brgy. Biangan, Makilala, North Cotabato tipped off the location of improvised landmine and ammunitions to the 39th Infantry Battalion troopers on January 22, 2022.

The high explosives composed of a five-kilogram landmine, two two-point five-kilogram landmines, and 67 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition were wrapped in laminated sacks and buried alongside the river in the above-mentioned areas when they were recovered.

Accordingly, the residents tipped off the presence of the items as a way of securing the projects and programs and project implementors so that it will continuously be pursued to benefit the community the soonest.

Said items were left by the remnants of Pulang Bagani Command 3/ Dismantled Guerilla Front 51, SRC 3, SMRC after the encounter with 39IB last May 20, 2021, at Upper Lukatong, Brgy Biangan, Makilala, North Cotabato.

The recovered items were then brought to the Battalion Headquarters in Brgy. Poblacion, Makilala, North Cotabato for proper disposition.

Battalion Commander of 39th Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Balagtey commended the citizens of Brgy. Biangan and Brgy. Batasan for their participation in securing the project.

“We are thankful and encouraging the community to continuously put our acts together in our programs to find and sustain peace in our communities. This act of the community of taking the initiative in a different form of securing and pushing the project is a clear manifestation that Whole of Nation Approach is being practiced down to the Barangay level”.

Brgy. Biangan and Brgy. Batasan are former NPA guerilla bases who swore to reject the presence of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) and commit themselves to actively participate and support the government programs focused on ending local communists armed conflict.

[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/community-secure-barangay-development-programs-tipped-off-improvised-landmine-location/

Next Philippine Marines commandant is former 3MBde commander in Palawan

From Palawan News (Jan 23, 2022): Next Philippine Marines commandant is former 3MBde commander in Palawan (By Aira Genesa Magdayao)

Vice Commander Major General Nestor Herico

General Andres Centino, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has named concurrent Philippine Navy (PN) Vice Commander Major General Nestor Herico as the new commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).

Centino confirmed Herico’s appointment during the change of command ceremony at the Western Command (WESCOM) on Friday, January 21, between Rear Adm. Alberto Carlos and Vice Adm. Ramil Roberto Rodriguez.

His appointment was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on January 17, 2022.

Herico served as the former commander of the Joint Task Force Peacock (JTFP) and the 3rd Marine Brigade (3MBde) in Palawan.

His leadership of the Brigade in the province was instrumental in the neutralization of five armed members and high-ranking leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) during a military raid of a known rebel location in Barangay Mainit, Brooke’s Point.

Two female and three male rebels were killed in the eight-minute encounter, including key local leaders identified as Bonifacio Magramo (alias Boywan, Tuna, and Bonglay) and Andrea Rosal (alias Naya, Ram, Inlay), the daughter of the late NPA leader Gregorio Rosal (Ka Roger).

Herico, who is the current vice commander of the country’s naval service branch, will take over on February 21, 2022, as commandant, succeeding Maj. Gen. Ariel Caculitan is due to retire from the AFP.

He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988.

https://palawan-news.com/next-philippine-marines-commandant-is-former-3mbde-commander-in-palawan/

BARMM’s Chief Minister: bigger challenge is how to sustain gains of the peace process

From MindaNews (Jan 23, 2022): BARMM’s Chief Minister: bigger challenge is how to sustain gains of the peace process (By BONG S. SARMIENTO)

The bigger challenge in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is how to sustain the momentum of the peace process and let its gains be felt by every Bangsamoro people during the extended transition period until June 30, 2025, interim Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim said.

Addressing the region’s third founding anniversary on Friday, January 21, in Cotabato City, Ebrahim, still popularly known by his nom de guerre in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, highlighted the major achievements of the different BARMM agencies, saying the “spirit of that momentous event three years ago still lives on today.”

Ebrahim, who continues to chair the MILF which is also transitioning from an armed group to a social movement, stressed the need to continue uplifting the plight of the Bangsamoro people, especially during the extended transition period, “in honor of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the Bangsamoro struggle.”

Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. MindaNews file photo by MANMAN DEJETO

“Let us not take things for granted. Remember that every peso we spend, and the resources that we use are from the blood, sweat, and tears of the mujahideen and the people who went through so much pain and suffering for the sake of the struggle. We must, by all means, give justice to these sacrifices,” he said.

Ebrahim noted that the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the BARMM’s interim governing body, is fortunate to have three more years to continue “the very important and crucial transition period.”

Last October 28, President Rodrigo Duterte enacted Republic Act 11593, which reset the first election in the BARMM to May 2025, effectively extending the Bangsamoro transition period from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2025, when the first set of elected officials shall have taken their oaths of office.

“Like all of us here in the Bangsamoro, they too want the BARMM to succeed and continue its momentum to sustainable peace and development. Some might think that the additional time rightly afforded to the transition period would mean that we can be complacent,” Ebrahim said in his speech at the celebration last Firday.

“(O)n the contrary, I would say that the proper mindset is that we need to be even more steadfast in our work. It is incumbent upon us to make the most out of this opportunity, not for ourselves, but for our beloved Bangsamoro…Bangsamoro as a region, as a government, and as a people,” he added.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr. lauded the Bangsamoro government for “the outstanding and inspiring work” in the past three years.

He assured that the Duterte administration, whose term will end on June 30, 2022, will remain steadfast in its commitment to help the BARMM government realize its vision of unleashing the full economic potential of the region, as it improves the socio-economic well-being of its people.

“The Philippine government will continue to support the Bangsamoro government especially during this extended transition period. President Duterte believes in the vast potential of the BARMM to become a showcase of genuine peace and sustainable development not only in Mindanao but throughout the country,” Galvez said in a statement.

Three years ago

The BARMM reckons its foundation day to January 21, 2019, the day residents in the areas that would comprise BARMM, cast their votes to ratify or reject Republic Act 11054, the Organic Law for the BARMM.

Majority of the voters in the then Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) voted yes to inclusion in the BARMM, along with Cotabato City.

The Commission on Election proclaimed the ratification of RA 11054 on January 25, 2019.

Another plebiscite was held on February 6, 2019, to determine if residents in the six towns in Lanao del Norte and 67 villages in six North Cotabato towns which voted for inclusion in the ARMM in 2001 would vote for inclusion the BARMM. Voters in the Lanao del Norte towns rejected inclusion while 63 of 67 villages in North Cotabato voted for inclusion and are now referred to as the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro.

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

Sulu voted “no” but still became part of the BARMM because the law provides that the ARMM votes as “one geographical area.” Sulu questioned the provision, among others, in its petition before the Supreme Court.

The ARMM was deemed abolished upon the ratification of RA 11054.

The creation of the Bangsamoro region was the key feature of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which the government and the MILF signed in March 2014 after 17 years of negotiations.

Ebrahim earlier pushed for the extension of the transition period, noting the need for more time to fully implement the provisions of the CAB, including the normalization process. The delays triggered by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic were also among the reasons cited in asking for an extension.

Under the Annex on Normalization, MILF combatants will be decommissioned along with their weapons as major milestones of the CAB are achieved. Recognized MILF camps will also be transformed into productive economic zones.

The first phase of the decommissioning of 40,000 combatants and thousands of weapons under the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces was held in June 2015 under the Aquino administration with 145 combatants and 75 weapons decommissioned. The second phase was under the Duterte administration, with a total of 12,000 combatants and 2,100 weapons decommissioned between September 2019 and mid-2020.

The third phase started in November 2021. This phase involves decommissioning 14,000 combatants and 2,500 weapons. 

 
https://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2022/01/armms-chief-minister-bigger-challenge-is-how-to-sustain-gains-of-the-peace-process1/