Sunday, March 13, 2022

Kalinaw News: 24 former members of NAGSAMAD expressed support to the government

Posted to Kalinaw News (Mar 13, 2022): 24 former members of NAGSAMAD expressed support to the government



BALER, Aurora-A total of 24 supporters have expressed their support to the government and denounced the continuing Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) infiltration to different sectors and violent atrocities in this province have officially declared their withdrawal of support to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and National Democratic Forint (CPP-NPA-NDF), authorities said Saturday.

Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commander of the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion expressed his appreciation for the joint effort of all government agencies and security forces for the attainment of peace and development in the province of Aurora.

The ceremony for the group’s withdrawal of support was held at the vicinity of Sitio Dicaloyungan, Barangay Zabali, Baler, Aurora on Saturday, March 12, 2022.

Rubio said that combined elements of headquarters and headquarters company (HHSC) and Charlie Company, 91IB, 7ID together with Baler Municipal Police Station led by Police Major Dennis Balbuena facilitated the withdrawal of support of twenty four (24) former members of Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Maralita ng Dicaloyungan (NAGSAMAD) an affiliated organization with Advocate of Human Rights Aurora Province (AHRAP) headed by its President Enriquito Samulde.

Likewise, the said group also took their oath and pledged their support to the government.

Rubio said that the activity is a clear manifestation that the Whole of Nation Approach or [Executive Order] 70 was implemented.

He emphasized the importance of preventive measures so communities will not be deceived by the false advocacies of the communist group.

On the other hand, Police Major Balbuena said in a cellphone interview that the Army and PNP are planning to organize the group into people’s organization wherein the local government units will come in for appropriate intervention programs.

He advised that in order not to be deceived by the terrorist group specialy in the issue of land problem, a person must consult first in the proper authorities in the government.

Samulde said that he realized that they have been used by the NPA organization that exploited various social issues to agitate them in dissenting from the government.

“They used and deceived us. They used us to attend rallies in metro manila. This time we will no longer believe in their deceptions and bunches of lies, and we condemn their wrongdoings. We want to live in peace,” he said.

“Napagkasunduan namin na ang Sitio Agaw Lupa ay ipangalan namin na Sitio Pag-asa na,” Samulde said.

The said activity was also attended by Barangay Zabali, Brgy. Captain Renante Mapindan and local media.






https://www.kalinawnews.com/24-former-members-of-nagsamad-expressed-support-to-the-government/

SOS Network reiterates call for probe on death of New Bataan 5

 From MindaNews (Mar 14, 2022): SOS Network reiterates call for probe on death of New Bataan 5 (By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV)

The Save Our Schools (SOS) Network has reiterated its call for the Commission on Human Rights and other independent bodies locally, nationally and internationally to “conduct a swift, impartial and thorough investigation of the New Bataan 5 massacre,” citing autopsy findings that indicate what happened was an “overkill.”

Citing the results of the autopsy performed on Lumad school volunteer teacher Chad, the Save Our Schools Network described as “overkill” what happened to the five persons the military said were members of the New People’s Army (NPA) killed in an “encounter.”


The SOS maintains what happened to the five “unarmed and defenseless” persons was a “massacre.”

“We also call on all supporters and allies to amplify our search for justice. There can be no peace until there is justice for their deaths and all victims of state-sponsored killings,” the SOS Network said.

 

Priest officiates last rites for Lumad school volunteer teacher Chad Booc before interment in Cebu City on Wednesday, 9 March 2022. Booc was killed along with four others in New Bataan, Davao de Oro in what the military claimed to be an “encounter” but which colleagues of Booc say was a “massacre.” Booc’s sister Nikki said that though they mourn, “we continue to live out the same passion and the same dedication to marginalized sectors he once lived with.” She vowed to “find the justice you deserve.” Photo courtesy of Save Our Schools Network

The autopsy on Booc last March 7 showed the manner of his death was “homicide,” according to preliminary findings by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel B. Del Rosario-Fortun, which was released on March 10.

The autopsy showed Booc succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds on his trunk and suffered from “internal hemorrhages with lacerations of the lungs, diaphragm, liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, right kidney and right adrenal gland.”

Booc’s death certificate stated that cause of his death was “acute blood loss due to multiple gunshot wounds” but manner of his death was not indicated.

Booc and fellow Lumad school volunteer teacher Gelejurain Ngujo II, community health worker Elegyn Balonga, and their accompanying drivers Tirso Añar and Robert Aragon — were killed in what the military said was an “encounter” with the military’s 10th Infantry Division in Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Davao de Oro on February 24.

The group said that even if an autopsy was not conducted on the rest of New Bataan 5, the “initial observations of Jurain and Elegyn’s respective families on the bodies of the two are also similar — multiple gunshot wounds and bruises.”

“Radiologic examination disclosed bullets/ fragments in the trunk. A deformed bullet was recovered from the left chest wall,” it said.

The examination report said a “gunshot wound of the right elbow with fractures of the distal humerus, proximal radius and ulna.”

The report added that “fractures of some ribs and thoracic vertebrae” were seen while his “spinal cord was transected.”

“Forensic analysis of individual gunshot wounds to determine entry/exit sites, trajectory and range of fire is limited by postmortem repair, their multiplicity and proximity to one another. Reconstruction of the shooting incident requires more information regarding the other victims, scene, clothing worn and other physical evidence, “ it said.

“The AFP is growing more desperate to demonize and villainize community volunteers and activists who only sought to bring aid to far-flung communities that remain neglected by the government. This desperation among the ranks of the military is even clearer now that the fascist Duterte regime is coming to an end,” the SOS Network said.

It also slammed the military for “dehumanizing” the victims “by parading their corpses online like war trophies and delaying their families when they went to retrieve their bodies in Davao.”

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/03/sos-network-reiterates-call-for-probe-on-death-of-new-bataan-5/

Soldiers in Isabela clash get medals

From the Sun Star-Bacolod (Mar 13, 2022): Soldiers in Isabela clash get medals (By ADRIAN P. NEMES III)



Major General Benedict Arevalo, Commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division leads the pinning of the medals to the two soldiers who led the operation in Isabela town last week that resulted in the death of a rebel leader and his comrade. (Army Photo)

TWO members of the 62nd “Unifier” Infantry Battalion (IB) received wounded personnel medals after they survived the gun battle with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Isabela town, Negros Occidental last week.

Third Infantry Division (Spearhead) commander Major General Benedict Arevalo and 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte led the awarding rites in the town on Friday, March 11.

Private First Class Mark Christian Brillo and Corporal Alisasis Rex Blanco were wounded
after about 10 alleged NPA members fired at them while they were on their way to arrest terrorist group leader Virgilio Marco Tamban alias “Bedam" in Barangay Amin on March 9, 2022.

Tamban’s companion Benjack Rueles, 26, of Barangay Malasibog in Escalante City, was also killed in the encounter that lasted for three minutes.

Aside from them, 24 personnel from the Scout Platoon led by first Lieutenant Kim Hope Barquilla also received military merit medals.


Arevalo lauded the soldiers for a “job well done” as he expressed elation for their accomplishment.

He urged them to continue their hard work, bravery and efficiency, and reminded them that they are not doing this to become famous.

"But because it is their mission to secure peace and prosperity in their area of operations," he added.

For his part, Pasaporte recognized the efforts of members of the 62nd IB in central portion of Negros Island.

“Let us continue the efforts that you had exerted to push the rebels to lay down their arms and come back to government fold,” he said.

The military yesterday reported that the bodies of the slain suspected rebels were already claimed by their families.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1923535/bacolod/local-news/soldiers-in-isabela-clash-get-medals

Living in Netherlands as political refugee, this Filipino revolutionary defends Maoism

Posted to Counterview (Mar 14, 2022): Living in Netherlands as political refugee, this Filipino revolutionary defends Maoism (By Harsh Thakor)



Professor Joma Sison, a Marxist thinker, has defended Maoism as “continuation” of Marxism-Leninism as few others. Architect of the Communist Party of Philippines, formed in 1969, which he headed till 1977, a reading of his writings suggests marked similarities between India and Philippines, both which are semi-colonies and semi-feudal societies. He has important lessons for India on the superficiality of parliamentary democratic system and how capitalism breeds fascism.

Sison, 83, was first imprisoned in 1977. In 1986 he took political asylum in Netherlands. Later he served as the secretary of the International League of Peoples Struggles, seeking to rally anti-imperialist forces and movements.

In 2007 the authorities incriminated Sison with charges of waging murders. He was arrested for his alleged involvement from Netherlands in three assassinations that took place in Philippines: the murder of Romulo Kintanar in 2003 and of Arturo Tabara and Stephen Ong in 2006.

On the day of his arrest, Sison's apartment and eight apartments of his co-workers were searched by the Dutch National Criminal Investigation Department. Some 100 left-wing activists held a demonstration for the release of Sison, marching towards the Dutch embassy in Manila on August 30, 2007. The demonstration was swiftly ended by police.

Released by a local court in September 2007, as there was lack of evidence against him. In February 2010, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service terminated its investigation of Sison and dropped the criminal charges against him as no evidence was found.
 
The European Union's second highest court ruled in September 2009 to delist him as a "person supporting terrorism" and reversed a decision by member governments to freeze his assets. He is in the protection of the Refugee Convention and Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
I met Sison in Utrecht, where he currently lives as a political refugee, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Philippines. He appeared supportive of the armed struggle of the CPI (Maoist) in India, though without understanding the nuances.

His works analyse fascism, neo-colonialism, imperialism and crisis of monopoly capitalism. He analyses the history of the Communist movement from the embryonic stage. He justifies the Chinese path of revolution for the third world countries. He believes, China has turned into a capitalist and imperialist country but defends Cultural Revolution under Mao. At the same time, placing a balanced perspective, he projects both positive and negative aspects of Gandhi.

Critical of parliamentary democracy, Sison asserts how boycott of elections is not a strategy for a Communist party, and insists on adopting extra-parliamentary tactics alongside legal means of struggle. He believes, the Church can be an ally of the revolution.

Sison’s supporters praise him for his people’s war tactic in Philippines, which is in a stage of strategic defence or self-defence. They insist, the tactic has helped consolidate base areas and formation of democratic alternatives for the oppressed masses, with the New People’s Army integrating into the very heart of the lives of the broad masses and building up of a broad united front against the neo-fascist regime.

Depending on the circumstances, the party has carried out minimum and maximum land reform programmes. The minimum programme involves rent reduction, elimination of usury, setting up fair farm-gate prices and promotion of agricultural production and sideline occupation through independent households and rudimentary cooperation. The maximum programme involves the confiscation of land from the landlords and land grabbers and free land distribution and agricultural cooperation in stages. It has been able to build local organs of political power nationwide, from the barangay level upwards. It has sporadically launched armed actions challenging Rodrigo Duterte’s regime through building liberated base.

The Philippines regime continues to squander billions of pesos in its drive to terrorize the party cadres and supporters, launching vicious attacks in Mindanao, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Negros, as well as in other regions across the country. Civilian communities, farms and mountains are being bombed from the air, shelled and strafed without let up.

Villages are turned into hamlets and placed under military control. Mass organizations are relentlessly attacked to disunite people. Masses are subjected to incessant harassment and forced to parade as “surrenderees.” They are turned into milking cows for the corrupt military officials and their so-called “development projects” which have nothing to do with people’s lives and livelihood.

Big profit-hungry landlords, plantation owners, big capitalists and multinational companies are grabbing productive land to turn the peasant masses and Lumad people into beggars. The big banana plantations owned by Duterte’s cronies are expanding.

The big mining companies are marching just behind the regime's troops marauding and driving the Mindanao Lumads, Mangyans, Tumandoks, Igorots and other ethnic minority people out of their communities. They are made to relocate to “housing projects” away from their land and resources. Broad masses of workers continue to suffer from low wages and oppressive working conditions. Unions are being attacked, their powers are being taken away.

Duterte’s war is aggravating the people’s socioeconomic conditions that give rise to armed resistance. It is exhausting limited public funds that should instead be going to public health and education, especially when the country faces the pandemic. Daily there are reports of counter offensives launched by the New People’s Army in Philippines against the security forces.

https://www.counterview.net/2022/03/living-in-netherlands-as-political.html

Bayan Muna coordinator in GenSan shot

From MindaNews (Mar 13, 2022): Bayan Muna coordinator in GenSan shot (By ALLEN V. ESTABILLO)

A leader of a local transport cooperative and coordinator of partylist group Bayan Muna was wounded in a gun attack Sunday morning in front of his home in a village here.

Larry Barnuevo Villegas, 64, chair of Rajah Buayan Transport Cooperative, was cleaning his tricycle at his home in Purok 1, Barangay Buayan past 6 a.m. when he was shot by an unidentified motorcycle-riding gunman, a police report said.

The victim, who sustained two gunshot wounds on the leg, is undergoing treatment at the city government-run Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital.


Responding investigators from City Police Station Number 3 recovered at the scene two empty shells of a caliber 9mm handgun.

Sonia Eugenio, Bayan Socsksargen coordinator, said in a phone interview that Villegas was clearly targeted in the attack.

“It appeared to be head shots but he managed to bend over and was hit on the leg,” she said, citing accounts from the victim’s family.

As of 2 p.m., she said Villegas is conscious and will undergo operation within the day for his gunshot wounds.

She said the family is currently coordinating with the city police office in the investigation and security for the victim.

Eugenio said the Villegas shooting could be part of the continuing “coordinated attacks” against activists in the country.

She said the victim is at the forefront of the campaign against the oil price hike and has been leading local preparations for the nationally-coordinated transport strike on March 15.

Villegas, a known progressive transport group leader here, is the city coordinator of Bayan Muna and also chairs the Transport Integrated for Restructuring of Economic Services of Tires-Piston.

He previously served as coordinator for partylist group Anakpawis in the city.

“He was actually red-tagged by government agents. Uniformed soldiers visited him sometime in 2020 and was asked about his involvement in the movement,” she said.

In a Facebook alert, Bayan Socsksargen condemned the “brazen attack against Villegas.”

“We believe that the incident is part of the dirty scheme and crackdown against activists by the AFP, PNP and its death squads. We call on the people to expose and oppose this futile and devilish ploy by Duterte attack dogs to silence dissent amid worsening political and economic crisis,” it said.

The group said Villegas is active in the campaign and struggle of the transport sector and “strongly criticized the flawed policies of the Duterte regime, as well as the incessant oil price hikes.”

It said the attacks against activists in the region have intensified since last year. In August last year, two trucks managed by Disaster Response Center were torched by unidentified perpetrators in Koronadal City.

On September 15, 2021, lawyer Juan Macababbad, an activist lawyer, was gunned down by unknown gunmen in front of his house in Surallah, South Cotabato.

Rommelito Contreras, a former volunteer-teacher for Center for Lumad Advocacy, Networking and Services, Inc. or CLANS, was shot dead last December 17 by unidentified perpetrators in Barangay Lagao.


https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/03/bayan-muna-coordinator-in-gensan-shot/

Ebrahim vows to be key author of Bangsamoro Investment Code, exec says

From MindaNews (Mar 13, 2022): Ebrahim vows to be key author of Bangsamoro Investment Code, exec says (By BONG S. SARMIENTO)

Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim has vowed to be the principal author of the region’s investment code in a bid to further attract investors to the area, a senior economic manager said.

Lawyer Ishak Mastura, chair of the Bangsamoro Board of Investments of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-BARMM), said they have submitted to Ebrahim the draft Bangsamoro Investment Code, which contains the investment and incentives regulations that will be applied in the region.

“Considering the importance of this bill, the Chief Minister himself, being the principal promoter of investments in the BARMM, has signified that he will be the principal author or sponsor of the bill under the parliamentary system of the BARMM,” Mastura said in a statement.

The creation of the Bangsamoro region is the key component of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the peace agreement signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2014 after 17 years of negotiations.


Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Balawag Ebrahim delivers his message at the opening of the 2nd regular session of the interim Bangsamoro Parliament on 16 June 2020 in Cotabato City, Photo courtesy of Bangsamoro Government

Ebrahim, also chair of the MILF, has been conducting foreign investment missions to lure investors to the conflict-torn region.

Mastura said the RBOI-BARMM is targeting the passage of the law before the end of the Duterte administration. President Rodrigo ends his six-year term on June 30, 2022.

The draft bill for the proposed investment code will still undergo a review by the Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (TWG), headed by RBOI-BARMM and composed of the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform and the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Management. The TWG will also include the Bangsamoro Attorney-General, he said.

Mastura said they will also continue consultations with the business sector.

The draft bill, entitled “An Act Providing for the Regional Investment and Incentives Law, otherwise known as, the Bangsamoro Investment Code, Providing for the Structure and Functions of the Regional Bangsamoro Board of Investments in accordance with its Devolution from the national Board of Investments,” is seen as a key regional response and complementary policy initiative to the slew of economic reform laws enacted during the Duterte administration, such as the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, the amendment to the Public Service Act, the amendment to the Foreign Investment Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Act and the Microgrid System Law, among others.

“With the economic reforms under the Duterte administration taking shape, the BARMM has to become economically more competitive and keep up with the times,” Mohamad Pasigan, a member of the Board of Governors of the RBOI-BARMM, said.

“The CREATE law provides a uniform fiscal incentive scheme for all Investment Promotion Agencies, including the RBOI-BARMM, but the BARMM can provide for better ease of doing business in the region thru this proposed bill by enhancing the effectiveness of the service delivery of our agency,” he added.

The BARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Marawi, Lamitan and Cotabato, and 63 villages from six towns in North Cotabato.

The BARMM was created in January 2019 after the plebiscite that ratified Republic Act 11054 of the Organic Law for the BARMM.

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2022/03/ebrahim-vows-to-be-key-author-of-bangsamoro-investment-code-exec-says/

CPP-NPA loses 24 more supporters in Baler

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 13, 2022): CPP-NPA loses 24 more supporters in Baler (By Jason De Asis)



PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Twenty-four former supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army take their oath of allegiance and formally withdrew their support from communist organizations in a ceremony held in Barangay Zabali, Baler, Aurora on Saturday (March 12, 2022). They used to belong to the Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Maralita ng Dicaloyungan. (Photo courtesy of Army 91IB)

BALER, Aurora – Twenty-four supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Forint (CPP-NPA-NDF) here have turned their backs on the communist terrorist groups (CTGs).

Led by its president, Enriquito Samulde, the former members of Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Maralita ng Dicaloyungan (Nagsamad), an affiliated organization of the Advocate of Human Rights Aurora Province, took their oath of allegiance to the government and declared their withdrawal of support from the CTGs in a ceremony held at Sitio Dicaloyungan in Barangay Zabali here on Saturday.

“They (CPP-NPA) used and deceived us. They used us to attend rallies in Metro Manila. This time, we will no longer believe in their deceptions and bunches of lies, and we condemn their wrongdoings. We want to live in peace,” Samulde said during the event.


Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, commander of the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB), said the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has been effective in dealing with CTGs.

Major Dennis Balbuena, officer-in-charge of Baler Police Station, advised the group to consult first with authorities so as not to be deceived again, especially on land issues.

Balbuena said the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police are planning to organize the group, which the local government units will assist with appropriate intervention programs.

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.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169649

Army educates Aurora students vs. CPP-NPA infiltration

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 13, 2022): Army educates Aurora students vs. CPP-NPA infiltration (By Jason De Asis)



BLOCKING INFILTRATION. The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) conducts a lecture to students of Lyceum of the East-Aurora in Maria Aurora town, Aurora province on Saturday (March 12, 2022) on the communist terrorist organization’s infiltration into the youth sector. Capt. Candidato Paduman, 91IB Civil-Military Operations Officer, cited the need to educate the youth on the propaganda of the CPP-NPA to avoid being recruited by the communist group. (Photo courtesy of 91IB)

The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) has warned students of Lyceum of the East-Aurora (LEA) in Maria Aurora town, this province against being swayed by false ideologies of leftist organizations, many of which have links to communist terrorist groups (CTGs) under the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

During the lecture to some 58 LEA students on the CTG's infiltration efforts in the youth sector on Saturday, 91IB Civil-Military Operations Officer Capt. Candidato Paduman cited the need to educate young Filipinos on the propaganda of the CPP-NPA to avoid being recruited by the communist group.

Paduman said the youth, especially those living in depressed and isolated areas, are vulnerable to false ideologies due to their innocence.

“Our youth must not be swayed by the propaganda of the terrorists that only tell lies and deceptions. In some schools, there is a lot of cases of recruitment, and this usually occurs if they can easily manipulate the youth,” he said.


Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commander of 91IB, thanked the LEA administration under the leadership of Engr. Jaime S. Gose for inviting them to conduct the seminar in order to disseminate correct information on the government’s sincerity in promoting sustainable peace and development, especially in the geographically isolated areas.

Rubio said the continuous conduct of information drive and dialogue to the youth and different sectors are a vital part of the implementation of the goals of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC).

“This is a good venue for educating our youth and making them aware of the lies and deception of the communist terrorist group. We will intensify this activity as part of the situational awareness program and counter the propaganda efforts of the CTGs,” he added.

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.

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

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169651

Duterte says he fulfilled his promise to bring peace to Mindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 13, 2022): Duterte says he fulfilled his promise to bring peace to Mindanao (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)



PEACEFUL MINDANAO. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte poses for a photo with the legislators and negotiators in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as well as top military and police officials during the presentation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to the MILF at Malacañan Palace on Aug. 6, 2018. Duterte on Saturday (March 12, 2022) said that he has been able to deliver his promise to bring peace to Mindanao. (Presidential file photo)

With his term ending in over three months, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte believes that he has been able to deliver his promise to bring peace to Mindanao.

In a prerecorded interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired Saturday on SMNI, Duterte also gave credit to Bangsamoro leaders for the end of decades-old conflict in Mindanao.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), led by Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim, was able to “somehow calm” the situation in the region, Duterte said.

“I think we have relatively a peaceful Mindanao,” he said. “We have a good rapport with the Moro of Mindanao. And I think that just allow them in the governance of our country and give them enough elbowroom to, you know, just govern without interference of armed groups.”

Duterte also hoped that the peace and development in Mindanao would be sustained even after his term ends.

“I think that we have achieved militarily the objectives of keeping the peace in Mindanao. God willing, if the equilibrium nami-maintain (will be maintained), we are trouble-free. I hope and I pray of course,” he said.

Duterte has decided to maintain the status quo on the current composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the interim government with executive and legislative power over the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

The BTA was tasked to oversee the three-year transition period from 2019, followed by an election of BARMM officials.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. in February said over 10.3 million euro (PHP601.9 million) worth of project grants are set to be implemented in support of the normalization process in the Bangsamoro government.

Meantime, officials of the BARMM and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) vowed Friday to help ensure a peaceful, clean, and orderly elections on May 9 this year.

BARMM police director Brig. Gen. Arthur Cabalona earlier reported that the Police Regional Office-BARMM has listed 102 areas of concern in this year’s national and local elections in BARMM.

Of the 102 election hotspots, 99 are municipalities and the three others are the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, and Lamitan, Cabalona said.

On March 7, OPAPRU said some 19,345 former MILF combatants have already been through the three phases of decommissioning process and another 14,000 MILF members are scheduled to be decommissioned this year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169643

Gov’t on the lookout for opposition’s ‘alliance’ with Reds

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 13, 2022): Gov’t on the lookout for opposition’s ‘alliance’ with Reds (By Azer Parrocha)


File photo

President Rodrigo R. Duterte said the government is on the lookout for an intelligence report about alleged “groupings” of some members of the opposition and communist rebels in time for the May 2022 polls.

“What I really am afraid of is the report of the intelligence community…There's a parang (sort of) grouping of the communists, itong mga dilawan, pati itong mga --- may isa pa, mga... (this yellow groups as well as others). Well, of course itong komunista (this communist) is already a terrorist organization,” he said in a prerecorded interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired Saturday on SMNI.


Yellow is the color associated with the opposition Liberal Party.

“So mga dilawan (So the yellows), that's a... I forgot the other one. Iyan ang ano namin, diyan ang ano ng gobyerno (The government…). They are watching for that kind of situation,” he added.

He expressed concern that these groups could cause trouble during the elections.

“They might be... Iyon ang sinabi ko na puwedeng manggulo kasi (That’s what I’m saying they might cause trouble because) they have these working relations now with -- with the dilawan and the election is the objective really,” he said.

He admitted that he could not guarantee that elections will be peaceful but noted that he would not allow violence to prevail.

“And even dito sa Mindanao. I mean, even the warring factions diyan sa (there in) Cotabato. Sinabi ko talaga sa kanila (I told them(sad) I will not allow terrorism sa election. I will not allow violence.’ Kampanya lang kayo (Just campaign),” he said.

“I want an election that is orderly and free from intimidation, violence. Sabi ko 'pag hindi ka sumunod niyan (if you do not follow), if you -- if you violate the -- my warnings, pupuntahan talaga kita (I will pay you a visit),” he added.

Duterte earlier said he is not endorsing any presidential candidate.

He, however, said he may change his mind if there is a “compelling reason” to do so.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169663