FACT CHECK: BARMM, MILF leaders have not endorsed Isko Moreno

From MindaNews (Feb 25, 2022): FACT CHECK: BARMM, MILF leaders have not endorsed Isko Moreno (By FACT CHECK)

A quote card circulating on Facebook and claiming that Interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has endorsed the presidential bid of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is fake news.

Ebrahim clarified that the BARMM has not anointed Moreno, standard-bearer of Aksyon Demokratiko, the first presidential contender to visit the Bangsamoro government on Monday, 21 February.

During the meeting at the Bangsamoro government center in Cotabato City, Ebrahim called Moreno as “incoming president,” which was reported by various national media outlets.

“Hindi pa decided ang BARMM kung sino ang ie-endorse namin na candidate as president,” BARMM interim chief minister Ahod Ebrahim said during a public briefing on Wednesday, 23 February [Translation: The BARMM hasn’t decided yet which candidate it will be endorsing for president.]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/2/23/BARMM-not-endorsing-any-presidential-candidate-yet.html

Ebrahim is also the chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which forged a peace agreement with the Philippine government in 2014 after 17 years of negotiations. He is popularly known by his nom de guerre Al Haj Murad Ebrahim. The MILF, erstwhile the largest armed group in Mindanao, has formed its political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), also in 2014.

Other Bangsamoro government and UBJP party officials also clarified that they have not endorsed Moreno’s presidential bid.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, Bangsamoro government spokesperson and UBJP deputy secretary general, noted their anointed one will be known after listening to the other presidential bets.

“The policy of the Bangsamoro government and our political party, the UBJP, is to welcome all presidential candidates who would officially visit the region and engage them as to hear and record their commitment on the continuation of the Mindanao peace process,” he said.

“We will only endorse after listening, hopefully, to all of them. And we will make sure that the best interest of the Bangsamoro people is placed at the center of the endorsement and (will be) made a priority of the candidate,” he added.

  https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=275643884685678&set=a.184782200438514

Bangsamoro Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal, also the chair of the MILF Peace Implementing Panel, said that Murad’s reference to Moreno as “incoming president” was not a formal endorsement.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/ebrahim-murad-meets-first-isko-moreno-february-2022/

An endorsement by BARMM leaders could bear weight in the chances of national candidates to win, considering the Bangsamoro region’s voting population of 2,172,959. In Maguindanao alone, which is the bailiwick of the MILF, the voting population is at least 652,000.

The false report that Ebrahim has anointed Moreno was posted, among others, on Facebook page City Inquirer, which generated at least 2,300 reactions, 172 comments and 68 shares.

As with all our other reports, MindaNews welcomes leads or suggestions from the public to potential fact-check stories.

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/02/fact-check-barmm-milf-leaders-have-not-endorsed-isko-moreno/

5 alleged rebels, including a volunteer teacher for Lumads, killed in Davao de Oro clash

From MindaNews (Feb 25, 2022): 5 alleged rebels, including a volunteer teacher for Lumads, killed in Davao de Oro clash (By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV)

Chad Booc outside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Photo from his Facebook page

Five alleged members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA), including a volunteer teacher for Lumads, were killed in an encounter in Davao de Oro on Thursday morning, the military said.

In an information released Friday, Captain Mark Anthony S. Tito, chief of the Division Public Affairs Office of the 10th Infantry Division identified three of the fatalities as Jojarain Alce Nguho II alias Rain, Chad Booc alias Chad, and a certain alias Daday. The two others were still unidentified.

The encounter happened in Purok-8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro.

After the 15-minute encounter, soldiers recovered one M653 rifle, one caliber .45 pistol, one hand grenade, one anti-personnel mine, assorted food supplies, and personal belongings, the 10ID said.

Booc was among the “Bakwit 7” arrested by police in Cebu on Feb. 15, 2021 for alleged kidnapping and trafficking of Lumad minors from Talaingod, Davao del Norte to a bakwit school at the Talamban Campus of University of San Carlos in Cebu City.

The court eventually dismissed the charges against him and his six co-accused and ordered their release from police custody.

Tito said Booc, who graduated cum laude from University of the Philippines-Diliman with a degree of Bachelor of Computer Science, was a known activist and “recruiter” of the NPA back in college.

He volunteered as a mathematics teacher at the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV) in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, and also became a volunteer teacher at the bakwit school in Cebu after the closure of the Salugpongan schools in Davao Region, he said.

Booc involved in the Manilakbayan, a protest march allegedly organized by communist guerillas involving Lumads from Mindanao in 2015, Tito added.

Meanwhile, Tito said Nguho graduated from Liceo de Tagum as “a scholar of the communists,” and volunteered as a teacher at Community Technical College of Southern Mindanao (CTCSM) in Barangay Lapu-Lapu, Maco, Davao de Oro.

BGen Jesus P. Durante III, commander of the 1001st Brigade said Booc’s death proved that the so-called Lumad schools like ALCADEV, Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc., Salugpongan Ta’ Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center Salugpongan, and CTCSM “are indeed breeding grounds” of the communist guerillas.

He alleged that Lumad children are being radicalized to take up arms against the government through these schools.

“We call on the parents whose children are still with these institutions to take action. Rescue your children immediately before it’s too late. Seek help from the authorities so that we can eventually rescue them,” he added.

‘No encounter’

In a statement Friday, the Communist Party of the Philippines, citing Tweets by Marco Valbuena, its chief information officer, denied that Booc and the other fatalities were killed in an encounter.

“There was no encounter in New Bataan, Davao de Oro, yesterday, where the AFP claims it killed activist Chad Booc and four others. This was confirmed to us by the local NPA unit in the area. The AFP’s ‘encounter’ claim is an outright lie. This would not be the first time.

“Indeed, the AFP’s ‘killed in an encounter’ storyline has repeatedly been used in the past to cover up the cold-blooded murder of civilians or unarmed people. We urge their family and friends to uncover the facts surrounding their deaths and demand justice for their murders,” the statement said. 

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/02/5-alleged-rebels-including-a-volunteer-teacher-for-lumads-killed-in-davao-de-oro-clash/

Soldiers tapped to secure polls in Region 8

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 25, 2022): Soldiers tapped to secure polls in Region 8 (By Sarwell Meniano)

GUARDIANS OF THE POLLS. Soldiers of the Army's 3rd Infantry Battalion during their arrival in Samar early this month. The Philippine Army on Friday (Feb. 25, 2022) asked its force to ensure peaceful and orderly elections to give voters a chance to participate in the upcoming May 2022 polls. (Philippine Army photo)

The Philippine Army has asked its force to ensure peaceful and orderly elections by protecting and giving every voter the chance to participate in the May 2022 polls.

Maj. Gen. Edgardo De Leon, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, on Friday asked soldiers to step up their efforts to prevent violence, especially in areas where the presence of armed rebels and private armies were sighted.

“My specific instruction is to make sure that no one will be disenfranchised. All voters should exercise their rights to vote according to their individual desires,” De Leon said in a phone interview.

The official asked soldiers to arrest election gun ban violators.

In the region, poll-related incidents are more prevalent in the first district of Samar.

Just this month, three supporters of a mayoralty candidate were ambushed in Santa Margarita, Samar while a youth council official was fatally shot on Calbayog City, Samar.

Early this month, the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion arrived in Eastern Visayas to serve as a maneuver unit in the region to work with the Philippine National Police in ensuring peaceful and orderly polls, especially in hot spot areas.

The new battalion, led by its commander Col. Juvenal Mark Tayamen, has its temporary headquarter in Calbayog City, Samar.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168544

CHR-10 reports NPA recruitment of minors in MisOr

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 25, 2022): CHR-10 reports NPA recruitment of minors in MisOr (By Nef Luczon)

CHILD ABUSE. Eleven of 12 recruits of the New People’s Army surrender and reveal arms cache to the military in Misamis Oriental on Nov. 8, 2020. The recruitment was detailed in a Commission on Human Rights-Region 10 report to its Child Rights Center. (Photo courtesy of 4ID)

The Army's 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB) shared the Commission on Human Rights-Region 10 (CHR-10) findings of Grave Child Rights Violations (GCRV) that the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Misamis Oriental province have committed.

In a statement Thursday, the Army said the CHR findings stemmed from the report made by the civic organization, Sulong Peace, represented by Reynaldo Saligan.

The group said NPA rebels recruited minors from the towns of Claveria and Lagonglong.

The minors have since surrendered to the 58IB in November 2020.

"As they were recruited and used by the armed group in the context of armed conflict, the nine children are victims of grave child rights violations. Regardless of their recruitment, whether voluntary or forced, they were recruited and used to take part in the hostilities by the NPA, an armed group that is clearly a violation of the law, both domestic and international," the report said.

On Nov. 6, 2020, a 16-year-old girl from Lagonglong who was recruited while she was a student surrendered to the 58IB after the failed promises by the armed group.

She also claimed starvation and loneliness while with the NPA.

Twelve NPA rebels then surrendered two days later, eight of whom were still minors at the time of recruitment in 2016.

They cited hardships and hunger as the main reasons for their surrender.

"The minor victims decided to return to the mainstream and surrendered to the government as their lives became unbearable being part of the rebel group where their lives and safety were not assured," Lt. Col. Ricky L Canatoy, commanding officer of the 58IB, said in a statement.

The children served in the NPA as squad leaders, medics, supply officers with life-threatening tasks.

"In this case, the alleged crime committed by the armed group, the NPA, was the recruitment and use of children. Recruitment refers to the compulsory, forced, or voluntary conscription or enlistment of children into the governmental armed force or forced or voluntary membership into the armed group," the CHR-10 report said.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (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.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168559

3 NPA rebels surrender in Zamboanga del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 25, 2022): 3 NPA rebels surrender in Zamboanga del Sur

SURRENDER. Three New People's Army rebels surrender to the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion in Zamboanga del Sur, officials confirmed on Friday (Feb. 25, 2022). They are currently undergoing debriefing. (Photo courtesy of 53IB)

Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels have surrendered to military authorities in Zamboanga del Sur, a top official announced Friday.

Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera, 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said the three belonged to the Guerrilla Front BBC (Big Beautiful Country) of the NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.

Lareno Enlab Fernan (alias Vandam) of Barangay Dilud, Dumingag; Norio Tiban Subano (alias Jurrie) of Barangay Sinunoc, Dumingag; and Danilo Tiban Subano (alias Remark), also of Barangay Sinunoc, surrendered at the headquarters of the 53IB in Camp Major David Sabido in Guipos, according to a Facebook post.

“The surrender of these three NPA rebels vouches for the effectivity of Dumingag town's counterinsurgency plan dubbed Oplan Amuma (nurture),” Herrera said.

The surrender was made possible through the 53IB’s close convergence with the Dumingag Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, chaired by Mayor Joan Abejuela.

Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, the Army's 102nd Infantry "Igsoon" Brigade commander, said the surrender was another manifestation of the community's rejection of communist-terrorist ideologies.

“The surrender of these three is tangible proof that CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA's downfall is at hand,” Nicolas said in another statement.

The three are undergoing custodial debriefing while the 53IB prepares their documentary requirements for their inclusion to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

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

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168566

5 rebels killed in Davao de Oro clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 25, 2022): 5 rebels killed in Davao de Oro clash (By Che Palicte)

SAD FATE. New People’s Army member and recruiter Chad Booc is killed during an encounter with the troops of 1001st Infantry Brigade in New Bataan, Davao de Oro on Thursday (Feb. 24, 2022). Booc was one of the seven arrested at University of San Carlos-Talamban in Cebu City last year for alleged trafficking of indigenous peoples’ members but later ordered released by a local court. (Photo courtesy of 10ID)

Five members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA), including an alleged indigenous peoples (IP) recruiter, were killed in an encounter Thursday in Purok-8, Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro, the 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said Friday.

In a statement, the 10ID identified the slain NPA members as Chad Booc, Jojarain Alce Nguho ll (alias Rain), a certain alias Daday, and two still unidentified men.

Booc was one of the those arrested at the University of San Carlos (USC)-Talamban Cebu City in February last year for alleged trafficking of IP members in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

He was later ordered released, together with six others, by a local court in May 2021.

Booc, 27, graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines-Diliman with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree.

The military previously said he was a recruiter for the NPA even during his student days.

After college, he volunteered as a Mathematics teacher at the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Development (ALCADEV) Lumad School in Lianga, Surigao del Sur, and later on at USC.

Nguho graduated from Liceo de Davao Tagum and was likewise a volunteer teacher at Community Technical College of Southeastern Mindanao, Inc. (CTCSM) in Barangay Lapu-Lapu, Maco, Davao de Oro.

Brig. Gen. Jesus Durante III, commander of the 1001st Brigade, said the neutralization of Booc, proved that so-called IP schools like ALCADEV, Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation, Inc., Salugpungan Ta' Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center, and CTCSM, are breeding grounds of the communist NPA.

“It is in these institutions where innocent IP children are being radicalized and influenced to take up arms against the government,” he said in a statement.

Durante called on parents whose children are still with the institutions to take action.

“Rescue your children immediately before it’s too late. Seek help from the authorities so that we can eventually rescue them,” Durante added.

After the 15-minute firefight between the troops of the 1001st Infantry Brigade and members of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee, believed to be led by Eric Jun Casilao (alias Wally/Ellan) and Leo Lacumbo (alias Ole), soldiers also recovered an M653 rifle, a caliber-.45 pistol, one hand grenade, one anti-personnel mine, assorted food supplies, and personal belongings.

Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, commander of the 10ID, condoled with the families of the slain communists and encouraged the others to lay down their arms and abandon the armed struggle to avoid being killed.

“We have warned them multiple times to peacefully surrender to the government. However, they chose to resist to continue the bloodshed that resulted in their demise. Together with their former comrades, we again urge the remaining members of the CTG (communist terrorist group) to return to the fold of the law,” he said.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (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.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168568

PH Army eyes creation of more brigade combat teams

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 25, 2022): PH Army eyes creation of more brigade combat teams (By Priam Nepomuceno)

File photo

The Philippine Army (PA) said plans are in place to increase its Brigade Combat Team (BCT) to respond to various security threats.

"The Army intends to incrementally increase the number of BCTs in the medium term consistent with the prevailing and emerging threat environment," Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a message on Friday when asked how many BCTs the PA is planning to create.

The BCT is the Army’s primary combined arms and rapid deployment unit.

"It is composed of combat, combat support, and combat service support elements in the conduct of operation to accomplish tasks in support to the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) mission," Trinidad said.

At present, the PA has already one BCT aptly named the "1BCT" which was activated in December 2018 and deployed in Sulu helping with ongoing efforts to neutralize local terrorist groups there.

Asked if the 1BCT's complement is already complete, Trinidad said efforts are now ongoing to further beef the 1BCT.

This is needed to increase its "operational readiness" needed to perform its missions, he added.

"The Army vowed to enhance the BCT’s manning and unit’s capabilities to increase its operational readiness in the accomplishment of its tasks," Trinidad said.

BCTs are formed to address the need of the PA for forces that can be quickly committed for action in cases such as the 2013 Zamboanga City siege and the 2017 battle for Marawi City.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1168546