WESTMINCOM: WestMinCom Chief graces Exercise “Pagsisikap” 2023 culminating activity

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 28, 2023): WestMinCom Chief graces Exercise “Pagsisikap” 2023 culminating activity

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City- June 28, 2023

Western Mindanao Command Chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, graced the culminating activity of the Naval Exercise “Pagsisikap” 2023 held at Sangbay Big, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

The Naval Exercise, spearheaded by the Naval Forces Western Mindanao, commenced on June 24. It was a five-day exercise conducted in the littoral areas and seawaters off Basilan and Sulu. The activity is done annually purposely to develop and achieve a modern and multi-capable Naval force and showcase the efficiency of the fleet-marine forces in the conduct of its mandated task.

 
In his message, Lt. Gen. Galido commended the Naval Forces Western Mindanao led by Rear Admiral Donn Anthony Miraflor for spearheading the successful activity. “This is a good way to test the preparedness of the Philippine Navy to conduct various operations, including amphibious operations, maritime interdiction operations, surveillance and reconnaissance of the maritime areas, civil-military operations, and a host of other traditional and non-traditional naval operations.

 
Highlights of the exercise were several at-sea events to test the mettle of the Navy's warships and crew.
The culminating activity of “Pagsisikap” 2023 was also graced by the presence of Rear Admiral Miraflor and other officers of Naval Forces Western Mindanao; Brig. Gen. Nestor Narag, Jr., Commander of Combat Support Brigade; WestMinCom’s Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Operations, Col. Rogelio Gabi; WestMinCom’s Assistant Chief of Unified Command Staff for Reservist and Retiree Affairs, Capt. Edwin Ello; the local government officials of Hadji Muhtamad led by Mayor Arsina Kahing Nanoh; and other stakeholders.

#SupportOurTroops
#SundaloSalamatsaSerbisyo
#AFPyoucanTRUST
#TeamAFP
#TeamWestMinCom
#WholeofNationApproach
JTF Zamboanga
603rd Infantry - Persuader Brigade
Naval Forces Western Mindanao
6th Infantry "Kampilan" Division, Philippine Army
54th Engineer "Sarangay" Brigade, PA
1st Infantry "Tabak" Division, Philippine Army
Red Shield
Alakdan Division
64th Infantry "Knights" Battalion
602nd "Liberator" Brigade
5th Scout Ranger "Valientes" Battalion, FSRR, PA

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WESTMINCOM: 5 lawless elements yield to military forces in Zamboanga Sibugay Province

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 30, 2023): 5 lawless elements yield to military forces in Zamboanga Sibugay Province

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City- June 30, 2023

Five lawless elements submitted themselves to the army forces in Zamboanga Sibugay Province on June 29, 2023.

 
Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Commander of Joint Task Force ZamPeLan, said that Abral Ibrahim Abdusalam, a.k.a. Brasil; Hamid Attan Abdusalam, a.k.a. Kadtong; Marvin Kasim; Janhar Abdusalam Martin, a.k.a. Johny; and Faisal Abualas Capunol, all members of the Abdusalam Criminal Group voluntarily surrendered to the elements of the 44th Infantry Battalion at Purok Bougainvilla, Barangay Loboc, Tungawan, Zamboanga Sibugay Province at 8 a.m. Thursday. Surrendered personalities were subsequently presented to Lt. Col. Anshary Pumbaya, Commanding Officer of 44IB, at the unit’s headquarters in Barangay Lower Baluran, Imelda, same province.

 
The former CG members handed over one Elisco 5.56mm M16A1 rifle, one Colt 5.56mm M16 rifle, one M1 Garand rifle, one 40mm Grenade Launcher, one Armscor Cal .45 pistol, two 30 cap magazines, and 40 rounds of 5.56mm cartridge.

 
Brig. Gen. Elmer Suderio, Commander of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, said that the surrender is a result of the collaborative efforts of the 44IB, Sibugay Provincial Police Office, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group 9, and the intelligence units.

 
Western Mindanao Command Chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, said that the snowball of surrenders is a testament that the military has won not only the trust and support of the citizens but also that of the enemies of the state. “Our effective employment of the whole-of-nation approach, together with our partners and stakeholders, continue to reap positive results in our bid to end terrorism and lawlessness in our area of operation.”

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#TeamWestMinCom
#WholeofNationApproach
6th Infantry "Kampilan" Division, Philippine Army
1st Infantry "Tabak" Division, Philippine Army
Alakdan Division
Red Shield
Jtf Basilan
JTF Zamboanga
603rd Infantry - Persuader Brigade
Naval Forces Western Mindanao
54th Engineer "Sarangay" Brigade, PA@

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WESTMINCOM: 3 communist terrorists in Cotabato return to government’s fold

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 30, 2023): 3 communist terrorists in Cotabato return to government’s fold

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City- June 30, 2023

Three communist terrorist group members laid down their arms and returned to the folds of the law on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

 
The surrendered personalities handed over their high-powered firearms to the 90th Infantry Battalion at the Bravo Company Headquarters in Barangay Lower Paatan, Kabacan, Cotabato. Turned-over firearms include one M14 rifle, one M16 rifle, one M1 Garand rifle, one steel magazine, eight cal .30 live ammunition, and one M79 Grenade Launcher.

 
Joint Task Force Central Commander Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera identified the former rebels as alias Emman, alias Bobong, and alias Jun/Oscar. They are former members of Guerilla Front 53 (GF53), Sub-Regional Committee 3 (SRC3), Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC). Maj. Gen. Rillera said that the surrender of the ex-militants was made possible through the efforts of the 90IB troopers, led by Lt. Col. Rowel Gavilanes, and the intelligence units based in Cotabato.

The former rebels revealed that the hardships and hunger they experienced due to the relentless military operations were the primary reasons for their withdrawal of support to their group.

 
Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, said that the Joint Task Forces under his command continue to strengthen their focused and civil-military operations to address the threats posed by the remnants of the different terror groups in WestMinCom’s area of operation.
“We welcome all those who wish to end their armed struggle peacefully, and we are hopeful that their comrades will also follow their footsteps,” Lt. Gen. Galido stated.

 
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1st Infantry "Tabak" Division, Philippine Army
6th Infantry "Kampilan" Division, Philippine Army
Alakdan Division
JTF Zamboanga
Jtf Basilan
Red Shield
Naval Forces Western Mindanao
603rd Infantry - Persuader Brigade
54th Engineer "Sarangay" Brigade, PA

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AFP: PRESS RELEASE | CSAFP visits troops in country’s northernmost frontier, assures support

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Facebook Page (Jun 30, 2023): PRESS RELEASE | CSAFP visits troops in country’s northernmost frontier, assures support

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City--In his ongoing philosophy of leading at the front, General Andres Centino, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, visited troops stationed in Batanes on June 29.

 
The first area he visited was the Fishermen's Shelter in Mavulis Island, the country's northernmost island where a naval detachment is also located. There he led a flag-raising ceremony at a sovereignty marker.

This was followed by a visit to the naval detachment in Itbayat and to the headquarters of the 10th Marine Company in Basco.

 
Later, the Chief of Staff and senior officers of the General Headquarters and the Northern Luzon Command spent the night aboard BRP Tarlac (LD601).

In his talk to troops to the officers and enlisted men and women in these stations, General Centino expressed his appreciation to the men and women stationed in the remote detachments and promised increased support from the General Headquarters.

"I appreciate what you are doing for the country. It is because of you that we are able to monitor activities in this area and assert our sovereignty. I hope that you show the true heart of a military personnel in this difficult deployment," the CSAFP said.

"I do these visits alongside our most senior staff to personally assess the morale and welfare of our personnel and the condition of our facilities in these remote locations. Rest assured that we will continue to work towards further enabling you to perform your jobs better," the CSAFP added./// (Photos by PFC Carmelotes/PAO, AFP)

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WESCOM: LOOK | Strengthening Defense Capabilities: Philippine Special Forces train alongside US counterparts

Posted to the Western Command (WESCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 30, 2023): LOOK | Strengthening Defense Capabilities: Philippine Special Forces train alongside US counterparts

WESCOM, Palawan – The five-week United States Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) training program commenced last June 12 as another bilateral training exercise between the US and the Philippines. The said training program aims to enhance the capabilities and readiness of Philippine Special Forces deployed in the AFP Western Command’s (WESCOM) joint operational area while fostering cross-training opportunities that promotes interoperability between both forces.

With a primary focus on Unconventional/Guerrilla Warfare, Human Rights/Law of Armed Conflict, Combat Marksmanship, Close Quarters Battle, Mission Planning, and Jungle/Survival Training, this exercise is designed to equip Filipino troops with essential skills necessary for external security operations. The objective is clear - to ensure that Philippine forces are well-prepared to protect the country’s sovereignty, territory, and most importantly, the Filipino people.

Under the guidance of experienced instructors from both sides, 36 personnel from the Philippine Army's 18th Special Forces Company (18SFC), Special Forces Regiment (Airborne), and other units have started to engage in rigorous classroom instructions which will be followed by hands-on practical exercises.

 
The activities lined up for this year's exercise include Combat Marksmanship drills aimed at honing precision shooting skills under various scenarios. Close Quarter Battle training will simulate real-life encounters in confined spaces where quick decision-making and teamwork are crucial. Training on small unit Tactics will test their ability to operate effectively as cohesive units while adapting swiftly to changing situations.

 
The training events will take place at various locations, including the Headquarters of the 18th Special Forces Company (Riverine) and the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) in Rizal, Palawan. These diverse settings provide an ideal backdrop for specialized training scenarios that replicate potential operational environments.

The significance of this bilateral exercise cannot be overstated. It serves as a testament to the strong partnership between the Philippines and the United States in ensuring regional security and stability. By fostering cooperation and sharing best practices, both forces can enhance their operational effectiveness while strengthening bonds between personnel from different cultures and backgrounds.

With its focus on enhancing capabilities, promoting interoperability, and preparing for external security operations, the US SOCPAC training program reaffirms the two allied forces’ commitment to safeguarding the Philippine sovereignty, territory, and most importantly - the Filipino people. The said bilateral training exercise is set to culminate on July 14, 2023.

 
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#TeamWESCOM
#missionfirstmenalways
#transformationroadmap

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AFP: PRESS RELEASE | AFP, French Armed Forces, aim strengthening military relations

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Facebook Page (Jun 29, 2023): PRESS RELEASE | AFP, French Armed Forces, aim strengthening military relations

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – Envisioning a stronger partnership between two nations, The Inspector General (TIG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), LtGen William N Gonzales PA welcomed the Joint Commander in the Asia-Pacific Zone of the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, RAdm Geoffroy D' Andigné during his visit to the General Headquarters today, June 29.

 
With France and the Philippines’ shared military cooperation, logistics operations, training, and education, both military leaders expressed that they look forward to further cooperation between the two nations’ Armed Forces.

 
"We are very thankful to you and we appreciate your participation in our exercises here. We are hoping for more robust military engagements, particularly in joint military exercises or subject matter exchange," said LtGen Gonzales.

 
RAdm Andigné was joined by the French Ambassador in the Philippines, Her Excellency Michèle Boccoz, and discussed future plans for defense cooperation and modernization.

 
The TIG, AFP then added that it is the AFP’s intent to conduct future information-sharing and engagements on maritime domain awareness to leverage the alliance with like-minded nations such as France.

 
RAdm Andigné expressed his support saying, "It is a good investment in the future to have people understand the culture of another country and it gives a high leverage in terms of cooperation in the long-term,” he stated.///(Photos by Sgt Ambay/PAOAFP)

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Moro Islamic Liberation Front to Marcos Jr.: allow return of Malaysian-led peacekeepers in Mindanao

From MindaNews (Jun 29, 2023): Moro Islamic Liberation Front to Marcos Jr.: allow return of Malaysian-led peacekeepers in Mindanao (By BONG S. SARMIENTO)

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 29 June)—The Moro Islamic Liberation Fronthas sought the return of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT), after the independent foreign peacekeepers left Mindanao last year due to the non-renewal of its mandate by the Philippine government (GPH).

Malaysian members of the International Monitoring Team chat with Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, a member of the MILF peace panel in the talks with the Philippine government, back in 2012. MindaNews file photo

The MILF Central Committee, headed by MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, concurrent interim Bangsamoro Chief Minister, appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to allow the IMT back in the southern Philippines.

“[The GPH should] sanction the immediate return of the International Monitoring Team to ensure that [the] ceasefire is preserved,” the front said in a resolution dated June 20.

Citing the Annex on Normalization signed by the GPH and the MILF, the resolution noted that the IMT, including other mechanisms in the Bangsamoro peace process such as the GPH-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group, are supposed to continue to perform their functions.

It said the non-renewal of the Terms of Reference of the IMT since January 2023 “also impacts on the implementation of cessation of hostilities, including violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.”

The wire agency Associated Press (AP) had reported that the IMT left Mindanao on June 30, 2022 after their authority to stay as ceasefire monitors, which must be renewed each year,
was not extended by the then-outgoing administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila notified the countries involved in the peacekeeping force in May (2022) of the government’s decision “to no longer renew the mandate of the IMT” after June 30 (2022) “in view of significant accomplishments in the peace process.” It cited the enforcement of peace agreements, including the establishment of a new Muslim autonomous region, which is now being administered by former Muslim rebel commanders under a transition period, according to the AP report.

The MILF’s call for the government to sanction the immediate return of the IMT in Mindanao came on the heels of the death of seven MILF members in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur during a law enforcement operation jointly conducted by the police and military last June 18.

Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Central, earlier said the operating troops were serving search warrants for two of those killed for alleged violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Rillera said the troops were met by gunfire, forcing them to retaliate.

He said they were members of the Islamic State-aligned Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which the MILF disputed.

First deployed in Mindanao in October 2004, the IMT is composed of military contingents from Malaysia, Brunei, Libya and development experts from Japan, Norway and European Union.

It was tasked to observe and monitor the implementation of the cessation of hostilities and the humanitarian, rehabilitation and development aspects of the agreements signed between the GPH and the MILF. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/06/milf-to-marcos-jr-allow-return-of-malaysian-led-peacekeepers-in-mindanao/

CPP/NDF-CPDF: Govt abducting IPs and advocates proves need for armed war//Enough with the lies! Surface Capuyan and De Jesus!

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Jun 29, 2023): Govt abducting IPs and advocates proves need for armed war//Enough with the lies! Surface Capuyan and De Jesus!

 


Cordillera People's Democratic Front

National Democratic Front of the Philippines

June 29, 2023

Two months since state security forces forcibly took away Dexter Capuyan and Bazoo De Jesus, government agencies are yet to take concrete action towards their reappearance. Instead, what one hears are outrageously nonsensical lies by the administration’s unofficial yet primary disinformation machinery SMNI.

For revolutionaries needing to watch a video of rabid anti-Communists spewing off absurdities, it is a self-inflicted pain. But even more painful is the rage-inducing torment when one listens to these individuals twist all logic in Capuyan and De Jesus’ enforced disappearance just to malign the national democratic movement. They say rehash that ridiculous accusation that the CPP-NPA-NDFP abducts and kills its own members. Afterwards, the hosts merely laugh off their disappearance thus rudely laughing off the fears and frustration of their families and friends.

The news anchors, who themselves are unethically also the source of the so-called news, weave alibis and justification as to why it can’t be state forces that carried out the abduction. But it’s a deliberate muddling of the point. The bottom line remains that the two are missing for two months now and government units remain inutile regarding their disappearance.

And yet, there are details from the families’ own limited fact-finding missions that could have been the starting point of any formal investigation. That is, if the many investigative bodies of the government so chooses to lift a finger to address the growing number of enforced disappearances since Marcos Junior became president of the reactionary regime. Government inaction regarding the rising number of desaparecidos under this regime speaks volumes of reality more than the SMNI can in its dogged effort to appear as a legitimate news provider.

The peoples of the Cordillera is no stranger to the government turning a deaf ear to their calls but this one takes the cake. This is criminal neglect by a government that consistently proves itself uncaring for the indigenous peoples, even in the face of actual sons and daughters of the Cordillera calling for the return of their loved ones. And when fascism is unleashed, not just individuals but families and communities are affected.

The Cordillera People’s Democratic Front thus condemns in the strongest possible terms the abduction and continued absence of two of its own. Capuyan belongs to his Bontoc-Ibaloi-Kankanaey tribe and family while De Jesus is an upstanding son of the indigenous communities he has served since his student days in UP Baguio. They belong to the people and they must be surfaced now. The government, through SMNI and its other channels of disinformation, can laugh all they want or act dismissive all they want but the peoples of Cordillera see through their lies and their laughter. Every day without Capuyan and De Jesus is marked with the reaffirmation that the government is wholly self-serving and totally inutile, is scared of its own people and needs to be dismantled. Every day without Capuyan and De Jesus further proves the need for an armed revolution.

Surface Capuyan and De Jesus! Surface all desaparecidos!

Defend human rights and indigenous peoples rights! Defend ancestral land, life and dignity!

Advance the people’s democratic war! Join the New People’s Army!

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/enough-with-the-lies-surface-capuyan-and-de-jesus/

CPP/CIO: Condemn conviction of Frank Fernandez and wife Cleofe

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Jun 29, 2023): Condemn conviction of Frank Fernandez and wife Cleofe

 

This article is available in Pilipino

Marco Valbuena

Chief Information Officer

Communist Party of the Philippines

June 29, 2023

The Party and all revolutionary forces condemn the reactionary court for the conviction today of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Frank Fernandez and his wife Cleofe Lagtapon over clearly trumped up charges of illegal possession of firearms. Fernandez served as the spokesperson of the NDFP in Negros island during the 2000s until his retirement a few years ago.

Fernandez, who is 75, and Lagtapon, 69, were being treated for various ailments and medical conditions when they were arrested in March 24, 2019 in Liliw, Laguna. State agents planted a cache of firearms and various explosives to justify the arrest, despite how incredible the accusations were against the frail couple.

We condemn the Taguig City regional trial court for turning a blind eye to the obvious facts. The decision of the Taguig court fall under the so-called “legal offensive” of the National Task Force (NTF)-Elcac which includes putting pressure on courts to decide cases against revolutionaries or people accused of being part of the revolutionary cause, under pain of being themselves accused of “aiding terrorists.”

The conviction of the Fernandezes form part of the continuing policy to criminalize and penalize the revolutionary and progressive forces in the desperation of the reactionary state under the US-Marcos regime to suppress the Filipino people’s patriotic and democratic aspirations.

We join the different sectors and organizations in calling for justice and demanding the immediate release of Fernandez and Lagtapon and more than 800 political prisoners in the Philippines. We call on the Filipino people to continue the fight to demand an end to the reign of state terror, the policy of suppression and relentless military and police attacks resulting in rampant killings and violations of human rights across the country.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/condemn-conviction-of-frank-fernandez-and-wife-cleofe/

CPP/NPA-Southwest Negros: Wala sang kinatuhay sa mga nagliligad ang rehimen US-Marcos II

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Jun 29, 2023): Wala sang kinatuhay sa mga nagliligad ang rehimen US-Marcos II (The US-Marcos II regime has nothing in common with those who fall)

 


Andrea Guerrero

Spokesperson

NPA-Southwest Negros (Armando Sumayang Jr. Command)

Negros Island Regional Operational Command (Apolinario Gatmaitan Command)

New People's Army

June 29, 2023

Wala sang kinatuhay sa mga nagliligad nga mga rehimen ang rehimen US-Marcos II sa una sini nga tuig sa poder. Gamit ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) kag Philippine National Police (PNP), lakip na ang mga force multiplier sini, nangin mayor nga pokus sang rehimen ang pagwasak sa rebolusyonaryong kahublagan nga amo ang nagaupang sa interes sang dumuluong nga mga kompanya kag lokal nga nagahari nga sahi sa pungsod.

Grabe ang pagpaninguha sang rehimen nga mawasak na ang New People’s Army (NPA) kag ang Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) sa sur nga bahin sang Negros. Sustenido ang mga focused military operation (FMO) kag Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) sa mga lugar nga ara man ang interes sang nagahari nga sahi pareho sang mina, pagpananom sang kahoy idalum sa National Greening Program (NGP) sang reaksyonaryo nga gobyerno, eko-turismo kag iban pa. Madamo man sang mga pumuluyo ang ginapahalin sa ila nga lugar bisan nga madugay na sila nagapuyo sa kabaybayunan sang Cauayan, Negros Occidental para himuon nga mga beach resorts nga wala man sang ginhatag nga sayluhan sang ila mga puluy-an kag pagsiguro sa ila palangabuhian.

Sa mga operasyon sang AFP kag PNP, madamo sang mga bayolasyon sa tawhanon nga kinamatarung kag halit sa pumuluyo ang ila nakomiter kaangay sang masunod:

1. Pagpatay sang 15th IB kay Gosting Mapos, isa ka mangunguma kag manog-uling, kag gindeklara nga napatay sa engkwentro sa Brgy. Caliling, Cauayan sadtong Mayo 21

2. Brutal nga pagpatay kanday Marcelo Bayno Jr kag Rogelio Lacton, mga mangunguma nga gindakop sang 47th IB sa separado nga insidente kag bangkay na sang nasapwan sa Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, sadtong petsa 25 kag 27 sang bulan sang Mayo

3. Pagpamahug, pagpatalang, pagkuha sang piktyur sa mga sibilyan kag hambalon nga katapo daw sang NPA, pagpasurender sa pumuluyo kag pagdakop para pilit nga paakuon nga nagasuporta sa NPA ukon katapo sang NPA

4. Pagtiner sa mga balay sang pumuluyo, simbahan, kag populated nga mga lugar

5. Pag-ihaw sang mga manok bisan nga wala pa ini ginatugutan sang tag-iya

6. Pagsulod kag pagpang-ukay sa balay sang pumuluyo sa tungang gab-i ukon kaagahon

7. Pagtesting sang mga bomba nga naigo ang karabaw sang pumuluyo sa sulod sang apat ka adlaw. Wala pili ang ila pagpamomba, adlaw man ukon gab-i

8. Pagtukod sang paramilitar sa lugar para manilag kag magsabotahe sa organisasyon masa

Ini tanan nagatuga sang kahadlok kag troma sa pumuluyo, nagaguba sang ila palangabuhian kag sa palibot.

Sa pihak sang kabutigan nga ginapaguwa sang AFP nga nawasak na nila ang rebolusyonaryo nga kahublagan sa sur nga bahin sang Negros, nagdugang pa gani ini sang pwersa sang 47th IB nga naghalin sa Bohol. Bisan amo sina, sa giya kag hugot nga pag-uyat sang aton nga linya sang Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo (MLM), padayon nga nagakonsolida, nagalapad kag nagatigayon sang rebolusyonaryo nga hilikuton ang Partido, Hukbo kag masa sa southwest Negros.

Nakalunsar ini sang pagtuon sa tatlo ka lebel nga kurso sang Partido nga gintambungan sang mga kadre kag katapo sang Partido sa sulod sang NPA. Nagdako kag nakadugang man rekrut sang bag-o nga mga katapo sang NPA kag Partido. Nakalunsar man sang Sandigan nga Kurso Politiko-Militar sa diin ululupod ang paghanas sang mga Pulang hangaway kag opisyal. Nakaangkon sang kadalag-an sa anti-pyudal nga paghimakas sa kampanya sa pagpataas sang sweldo sang mga mamumugon sa kampo sa pila ka hasyenda kag padayon man ang libre nga serbisyo sang NPA paagi sa serbisyo medikal kag bulig produksyon sa masa.

Sa padayon nga pagsalig sa malapad nga suporta sang masa nakatigayon man sang mga aksyon militar kag nakapatuhaw sang mga bala kag armas paagi sa mga harassment kag sniping operation, kag pagsilot sa mga landgrabber, regular intelligence asset sang AFP kag iban pa nga mga malain nga mga elemento sa lugar. Nakonsolida man sang mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa ang subong kag nagliligad nga nalab-ot nga mga erya kag nakadugang bukas sang mga bag-o nga mga sona nga bastante nga malanguyan sang NPA.

Yara ang hugot nga paghiliusa sang nagapamuno kag ginapamunuan sa tunga sang Partido kag sa mga Pulang hangaway sa larangan gerilya paagi sa pagpatuman sang demokratikong sentralismo. Nauyatan man ang prinsipyo sang pagsaway kag pagsaway sa kaugalingon kag pagtasa kag pagpulong sa pihak nga tayuyon ang operasyon sang kaaway. Dako ang nangin papel sang masa para magpabilin nga bakud ang larangan gerilya sa Sur sang Negros sa ubay sang prinsipyo nga “magsandig kag magsalig sa masa” kag sang linyang masa nga “halin sa masa, balik masa.”

Ginapanawagan sang Armando Sumayang Jr Command sang NPA Southwest Negros (ASJC-NPA) sa pumuluyo kag mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa kag alyado sa sur sang Negros nga dapat nga mangin maisog kag manindugan kag handaan ang panawagan sang reaksyonaryong rehimen Marcos Jr para sa “final push” sa pagwasak sang bilog nga rebolusyonaryong kahublagan. Wala nagapang-alang-alang ang ASJC-NPA sa pagsilot sang tanan nga mga traydor sa kahublagan kag sa mga may kontra-pumuluyo kag kontra-rebolusyonaryo nga hinimoan ilabi na ang may mga utang nga dugo sa pumuluyo.

Sa tanan nga biktima sang mga paglapas sang tawhanon nga kinamatarung, indi magduha-duha sa pagreklamo kag pagdemanda para pasabton ang mga kriminal nga wala sang kaluoy nga nagapanghalit sa kabuhi kag palangabuhian sang masa. Handa ang Partido kag NPA nga magbulig para maangkon sang pumuluyo ang madugay na nga handum nga amo ang matuod-tuod nga demokrasya kag kahilwayan.

Mabuhay ang CPP-NPA-NDF!
Mabuhay ang Masa!

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/wala-sang-kinatuhay-sa-mga-nagliligad-ang-rehimen-us-marcos-ii/

CPP/NDF-Special Office for the Protection of Children: One youth killed is one too many: Hold the US-Marcos regime accountable for the killing of 17-year-old Rey Almario Belan!

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Jun 28, 2023): One youth killed is one too many: Hold the US-Marcos regime accountable for the killing of 17-year-old Rey Almario Belan!

 


Coni Ledesma

Head

Special Office for the Protection of Children

National Democratic Front of the Philippines

June 28, 2023

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ Special Office for the Protection of Children (SOPC) denounces the latest war crime committed by the Manila government in the killing of 17-year-old Rey Almario Belan last 16 June 2023. Just two days since the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) massacred the Fausto family in Himamaylan including two children aged 12 and 15, reports surface of another minor shot dead by military forces this time in Masbate.
NDFP Special Office for the Protection of Children head Coni Ledesma

According to reports from the ground, Rey and his friends were hunting for food when fascist soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (2nd IBPA) open fired at them followed by the ignition of two bombs. Rey was hit four times, three times in the body and once in the knee.

In attempts to cover up their tracks, the AFP again concocted a convoluted tale of Rey being killed in a clash with the New People’s Army. These claims have been refuted by his companions who survived the incident and Rey’s family. It is nothing but lies meant to obfuscate the fact that the AFP, headed by their commander-in-chief Marcos Jr., killed another minor in cold blood.

Rey is the latest youth-victim in a string of killings committed by the US-Marcos regime. There must be no letup in holding this fascist regime accountable for its utter disregard of international humanitarian law. One youth killed is one too many, and no amount of cover-up can wash the blood off Marcos Jr’s hands.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/one-youth-killed-is-one-too-many-hold-the-us-marcos-regime-accountable-for-the-killing-of-17-year-old-rey-almario-belan/

NPA nabbed for extortion in Aklan

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 29, 2023): NPA nabbed for extortion in Aklan (By TARA YAP)

ILOILO CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was arrested for attempted extortion in Makato town, Aklan province.

The 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army identified the suspect as “Prince Egudas.”

He was arrested by the 3rd ID Civil-Military Operations Battalion and the Aklan Police Provincial Office in an entrapment operation following the complaint of a businessman that an extortion letter was sent by the NPA Coronacion Chiva Waling-Waling Command.

The suspect was arrested when he arrived to get the money.

He yielded a grenade, boodle money, marked bills, and mobile phones.

The 3rd ID lauded the military and police and the cooperation of the business sector in Aklan for the arrest of the suspect.

“The bravery displayed by the businessman in exposing the extortion activities is crucial in dismantling their illegal and oppressive means of fundraising,” said Major Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd ID commander.

“We urge other business owners to report any NPA extortion activities,” added Sison.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/29/npa-nabbed-for-extortion-in-aklan

CPP-NPA’s legal fronts send ‘reinforcement’ to Negros

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2023): CPP-NPA’s legal fronts send ‘reinforcement’ to Negros (By Mary Judaline Partlow)

CHANGE OF COMMAND. Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, leads over the turnover of command of the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Mabinay, Negros Oriental on Friday (June 30, 2023). The Army chief said the CPP-NPA is sending legal fronts to Negros Island to "reinforce" their colleagues amid government efforts to end the Communist insurgency.(Photo by Judy Flores Partlow)

DUMAGUETE CITY – As the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s (CPP-NPA) strength continues to dwindle, its legal fronts are now sending reinforcements in the countryside, a key Army official said on Friday.

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, disclosed this in his message to troops during the turnover of command ceremony of the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Old Namangka in Mabinay, Negros Oriental.

Sison noted a decline in numbers with only about 20 active NPA members monitored in central and northern Negros.

After the recent Himamaylan, Negros Occidental encounters, the military noted the arrival of legal front members from the national level to Negros Island.

He did not elaborate but stressed that the military would always be on its feet.

“We have to sustain our gains and continue our pressure against the NPA,” Sison said in mixed English and Filipino.

Sison told the troops to continue sustaining the Army’s mission in totally dismantling the South Western front, referring to the NPA’s guerilla front in the 47IB’s area of coverage in central Negros.

“We have a very tall order for this year to dismantle all the existing guerilla fronts here in Negros,” he added, as he reassured the new battalion commander, Lt. Col. Magno Mapalad, of his full support.

Mapalad replaced Lt. Col. Allyson Depayso, who served as 47IB commanding officer for more than two years, with notable accomplishments during the battalion’s stint in Bohol.

The division commander also reiterated the importance of the stakeholders’ role in a whole-of-nation approach to “decimate the CPP-NPA-NDF”.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204674

Gunmen ambush, kill couple in Maguindanao Sur

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun 30, 2023): Gunmen ambush, kill couple in Maguindanao Sur (By: Edwin O. Fernandez)

Maguindanao del Sur map. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY — Police in Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao del Sur have launched a manhunt against two men who shot dead a couple on Thursday night.

Major Haron Macabanding, police chief of Shariff Aguak, said two men, each aboard a motorbike, were the subjects of intensified police operation after they waylaid a couple on board a tricycle heading for home at 6 p.m.

Macabanding identified the fatalities as Nokoy Abdul, 54, and his wife Siaya Abdul, 49, both residents of Barangay Mother Labulabu, Shariff Aguak.

The couple were aboard a “payong-payong,” a tricycle driven by Nokoy when two men riding on separate motorbikes opened fire on them.

Both suffered gunshot wounds in the head and died on the spot.

Police found six empty shells of a yet-to-be-determined caliber of firearm.

On June 14, gunmen suspected to be under the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters ambushed a patrol car, killing two police officers and wounding four others along the highway in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1795531/gunmen-ambush-kill-couple-in-maguindanao-sur

‘Rebel’ caught in extortion try

From Panay News (Jun 30, 2023): ‘Rebel’ caught in extortion try (By Boy Ryan Zabal)

A suspected New People’s Army rebel was caught in an entrapment operation on Tuesday, June 27. The photo shows the items recovered during the operation. BOY RYAN ZABAL PHOTO

KALIBO, Aklan – A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel fell in an entrapment operation on Tuesday morning, June 27, in Makato, Aklan.

The 34-year-old Brince Giganto Egudas of Barangay Lahug, Tapaz, Capiz was accused of extorting P1.5 million from a construction firm owner.

Joint operatives of the Provincial Intelligence Unit, 1st Aklan Mobile Force Company, 301st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit, and Makato Municipal Police Station arrested Egudas at a parking area of Wilcon Decon along the national highway.

Egudas was shot on his left thigh by arresting officers. He was brought to the Aklan Provincial Hospital in Kalibo and is now stable.

Marked money, a hand grenade, three mobile phones, P7,000 in cash and receipts from a remittance center were recovered.

Authorities said the construction firm owner reported to the Aklan Police Provincial Office about the extortion demand of the NPA’s Coronacion Chiva Waling Waling command.

https://www.panaynews.net/rebel-caught-in-extortion-try/

GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace implementing panels to meet on Datu Paglas 7 and transition-related issues

 From MindaNews (Jun 29, 2023): GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace implementing panels to meet on Datu Paglas 7 and transition-related issues (By CAROLYN O. ARGUILLAS)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 29 June) – The Peace Implementing Panels of the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will meet on Saturday, July 1 to discuss transition-related issues such as decommissioning and the June 18 law enforcement operation in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur where seven persons were killed. The government claimed the victims were members of the ISIS-inspired Karialan faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) while the MILF claimed the victims were their members.

Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez told MindaNews in a telephone interview Wednesday night that the Saturday meeting is expected to thresh out matters to further advance the peace process.

The Peace Implementing Panels are chaired by retired Brig. Gen. Cesar Yano for the government and Mohagher Iqbal for the MILF. Iqbal is the incumbent Minister for Basic Higher and Technical Education of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

 

Datu Paglas Mayor Abubakar Paglas (center) addresses members of a fact-finding mission as he points to an area in the mosque in the Husain compound in Barangay Madidis where a grenade reportedly exploded and where two of the seven persons killed in a raid on June 18, 2023 were found. The fact-finding mission initiated by Bantay Ceasefire went to the crime site on 27 June 2023 accompanied by the mayor. MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

The meeting is also in response to the June 20 resolution of the MILF Central Committee that called on the national government to act on four proposed action points following what it described as a “horrific incident” that killed seven of their members. The four proposals are to “urgently undertake an impartial, honest, credible and fair fact-finding investigation by a third-party investigator; sanction the immediate return of the International Monitoring Team to ensure that ceasefire is preserved; genuinely and sincerely implement all aspects of the Normalization process; and immediately convene within July 2023, the Joint Peace Implementing Panels of the GPH and the MILF in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in keeping with the signed agreements, and towards efforts of resolving diverging views on some aspects of implementation.”

Galvez said the meeting will not be in Kuala Lumpur but in Davao City.

He added that as the local peace process mechanisms are being tapped to verify what really happened in Datu Paglas, the Cabinet’s Security, Justice and Peace sector has recommended that the Department of Justice, through the National Bureau of Investigation will conduct the investigation, with the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission and the Commission on Human Rights.

Galvez noted that other government agencies involved in the law enforcement operation are also conducting their internal investigations.

On June 26, Senator Robin Padilla, chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, filed a resolution asking the Senate to conduct a probe into possible violations of the GPH-MILF peace agreement in the Datu Paglas operation.

Law enforcement operation

Armed with search warrants issued on June 16 by Judge Aniceto Rasalan, operatives from the police and military proceeded to the Husain compound in the early hours of June 18 but were reportedly met by gunfire. The operatives fired back, resulting in what Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, regional commander of the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) described as “a fierce firefight that lasted more than an hour and half.”

A member of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police was wounded in the operation.

The operatives were supposed to search the compound where brothers Nasser Yousef Husain alias Tutin Usop and Norjihad Husain alias Datdat Usop lived. The two are allegedly members of the BIFF Karialan faction.

In his report to the chief of the Philippine National Police in Maguindanao del Sur, Captain Nurhjasier Sali, acting chief of police of Datu Paglas, said the brothers were “original members” of the BIFF Karialan Faction under the leadership of the Mohiden Animbang aka ‘Karialan’ that operates in the two provinces of Maguindanao, referring to del Sur and del Norte. Nasser, the report said, was a “former battalion commander” of the BIFF faction.

The two are sons of Commander TMX, which Sali’s report said was a “Division Commander of the BIFF-KF.”

The report further said the father and sons “received IED (improvised explosive device) training from the late Basit Usman in Mamasapano, Maguindanao” and were involved in the bombing of the National Grid Corporation tower in Barangay Kitulaan, Carmen, North Cotabato on September 3, 2016.

According to the report, they were also involved in the May 8, 2021 attack in the Datu Paglas public market which displaced some 5,000 civilians and “provided manpower, armaments, logistics, food staff (sic), and served as guides from Liguasan Marsh to Datu Paglas proper during the said attack,” and were also affiliated with a kidnap for ransom gang under Tahir Alonto that was behind the kidnapping and drug-related activities in Maguindanao del Sur. The report claimed the two had direct contact with Sukarno Hamdan aka Shiek, “BIFF Field Commander under BIFF-Karialan faction.”

Fact-finding mission

Datu Paglas Mayor Datu Abubakar Paglas told members of a fact-finding mission (FFM) on June 27 that the seven victims were members of the MILF National Guard, not BIFF members. He also called for an independent probe.

The FFM was initiated by Bantay Ceasefire, a group of volunteers from the communities and civil society organizations that has been monitoring the ceasefire between government and the MILF since 2002.

The FFM members interviewed the mayor, the police chief and the barangay captain and visited the Husain compound.

Bantay Ceasefire volunteer Mary Ann Arnado, now a Member of Parliament in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) asked police chief Sali if there are BIFF elements in his area of responsibility, Sali cited the 2021 incident but “as of now, wala” (none).

The mayor lamented that while they had recovered from what happened in May 2021, reports that the seven victims were BIFF members are affecting the image of his town and could drive away investors and potential investors.

“Walang Freedom dito” (There is no Freedom here), the mayor said. “Freedom” is the term used to refer to the BIFF. Mayor Paglas said the seven victims were MILF members and two of them were his relatives.

Sali assumed the post of acting police chief on June 16. He told the FFM that he was informed at 10 p.m. on June 17 that a law enforcement operation would be undertaken in his area but no details were provided. He said he received a phone call from a Captain Cepeda of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at 2:28 a.m. on June 18 that they need assistance because there was resistance in their serving the search warrants.

“Isolated case”

Sali said he and his police arrived in the compound shortly after 3 a.m. but waited outside the fenced compound. He said they were tasked to “evacuate” the seven persons who were pronounced dead upon arrival at the provincial hospital in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat province.

Mayor Paglas said the operatives did not coordinate with the local government unit, not even with the barangay captain of Madidis, Nasrudin Nawal. He clarified the barangay where the Husain compound is located is Madidis and not Damawato as reported by operatives.

Nawal told the FFM that he learned about the operation only when he was awakened by gunshots. He lives about a hundred meters away. Two of the victims were his relatives.

Galvez said the government side of the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG), a peace process mechanism created in 2002, sent a letter to its MILF counterpart on June 15 about the law enforcement operations that would be launched against the BIFF, drug syndicates and lawless armed groups in several areas in some provinces. Two of the areas mentioned in the letter are barangays Madidis and Damawato.

Galvez maintains that what happened in Datu Paglas is “an isolated case” and he looks forward to the July 1 meeting of the peace implementing panels to attend to this issue and the other issues that need the panels’ attention. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

https://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2023/06/gph-milf-peace-implementing-panels-to-meet-on-datu-paglas-7-and-transition-related-issues/

Dutch court rules Sulu sultan's heirs cannot seize Malaysian assets

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 27, 2023): Dutch court rules Sulu sultan's heirs cannot seize Malaysian assets

SULU - A Dutch court of appeal dismissed a bid by eight descendants of a former sultanate to enforce a $15-billion (RM69 billion) arbitration award they had won against the government of Malaysia, media reports said, citing a judgement released on the court website.

Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III reads The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper in this file photo taken in 2013 following the incursion of dozens of followers led by his younger brother Agbimuddin Kiram. Both brothers died from natural causes.

This was also reported by the Bangladesh media bdnews24.com and Reuters. “The court dismisses the requests of the Filipino nationals” to demand to execute the arbitration award, the judgement said.

Last year, the Filipino heirs to the last sultan of the remote Philippine region of Sulu were awarded $14.9 billion by a Paris arbitration court in a long-running dispute with Malaysia over a colonial-era land deal.

They have since sought to seize Malaysian government assets in France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in a bid to enforce the award. Malaysia, which did not participate in the arbitration, maintains the process is illegal and has vowed to fight the seizures. It obtained a stay on the award in France but the ruling remains enforceable overseas under a UN treaty on arbitration.

The heirs in September had sought permission from a Dutch court to enforce the award in the Netherlands, Reuters reported. However, Dutch judges sided with Malaysia and said that the original agreement did not have a clause that bound parties to arbitration and the French stay of the award meant the claim was not enforceable in the Netherlands.

French court hailed

Malaysia previously hailed a French court decision setting aside the US$15 billion award in a case brought by eight heirs of the Sultan of Sulu regarding territorial claims related to the mineral-rich Sabah in Borneo.

Malaysian media quoted Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, of the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) as saying that the Paris Court of Appeal ruled on June 6, that the arbitration court, which mandated Kuala Lumpur to pay the sum to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, the former rulers of the region, lacked jurisdiction in the case.

“The Paris Court of Appeal had upheld Malaysia's challenge against the partial award rendered on May 25, 2020 by Dr Gonzalo Stampa in the case brought by eight claimants, citizens of the Philippines, who are purported heirs of the long-defunct Sultan of Sulu,” Azalina said.

Azalina said the court’s decision meant that the claimants could not rely on the award in France for any purpose. “The Paris Court of Appeal found that the arbitrator wrongly upheld his jurisdiction. This decision, which is final and binding, is a decisive victory for Malaysia in its ongoing pursuit of legal remedies, which Malaysia is confident will result in comprehensive defeat for the claimants and their funders,” she said.

The heirs

Malaysia identified the eight descendants of the Sultan Jamalul Kiram as Sultan Muhammad Fuad Kiram I, Nurhima Kiram Fornan, Sheramar Kiram, Permaisuli Kiram-Guerzon, Taj-Mahal Kiram-Tarsum Nuqui, Ahmad Nazard Kiram Sampang, Jenny KA Sampang, and Widz-Raunda Kiram Sampang.

Azalina also said that the Sulu claimants had previously targeted Malaysia's diplomatic assets in France based on this partial award as part of their abusive strategy, which now had to be withdrawn following the court's decision. “This decision implies that the Paris Court of Appeal will annul the purported Final Award in which Stampa remarkably awarded the claimants close to US$15 billion. Malaysia is seeking to have the annulment recorded in a court decision as soon as possible, which should lead to the collapse of the claimants' global enforcement efforts to date,” she said.

She added that Stampa had issued the Final Award despite his appointment having been annulled by the same Spanish court that had previously appointed him on the basis that Malaysia had not been properly served ahead of that appointment process. “In defiance of Spanish court orders instructing him to cease acting as arbitrator, in an unprecedented move, Stampa transferred the arbitration proceedings to France and issued his Final Award. Stampa's sustained actions in defiance of Spanish court orders have resulted in a significant abuse of the international arbitration process,” Azalina said.

Azalina said the decision would also put an end to the efforts of the claimants and their funder, Therium, to enforce the unlawful awards and thereby extract windfall damages from Malaysia. She also added that the government would continue to take all necessary actions, including legal actions, to put an end to the claims and to ensure that Malaysia's interests, sovereign immunity and sovereignty were protected at all times.

Lawyer Paul Cohen, the legal counsel of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, sent a letter in May to the Attorney-General's Chambers and demanded immediate payment of the purported Final Award of US$16.412 billion. The Special Secretariat on Sulu Claims had condemned the letter, but the Attorney-General subsequently responded to Cohen’s letter on May 31, listing all the indisputable facts of the claim.

It added that Malaysia had, on December 14, 2021, filed a criminal complaint before the Spanish Public Prosecutor against Stampa following the blatant disregard to the judicial decisions in Spain by the latter and the claimants. The report said the claimants have attempted to arbitrate this non-commercial matter in a few European countries, namely France, Spain, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

There was no immediate statement from any of the eight Filipino heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, but sources told The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper that only their lawyers were authorized to speak on their behalf.

Sultanate of Sulu

The Sultanate of Sulu, founded in 1457, continues to lay claim to Sabah which it obtained from Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on Borneo Island. The British leased Sabah and transferred control over the territory to Malaysia after the end of World War II. The Sulu Sultanate said it had merely leased North Borneo in 1878 to the British North Borneo Company for an annual payment of 5,000 Malayan dollars then, which was increased to 5,300 Malayan dollars in 1903.

The Sultanate of Sulu is believed to exist as a sovereign nation for at least 442 years. It stretches from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to Sabah, in the west and south, and to Palawan, in the north. But North Borneo was illegally annexed by Malaysia in 1963 following a referendum illegally organised by the Cobbold Commission in 1962, the people of Sabah voted overwhelmingly to join Malaysia. (bdnews24.com, Reuters, Mindanao Examiner)

https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2023/06/dutch-court-rules-sulu-sultans-heirs.html

AFP eyes more joint military drills with French Armed Forces

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 29, 2023): AFP eyes more joint military drills with French Armed Forces (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Joint Commander in the Asia-Pacific Zone of the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, Rear Adm. Geoffroy D' Andigné (left) and AFP Inspector General Lt. Gen. William N. Gonzales (right) (Photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the French Armed Forces are looking to forge more engagements in the field of military cooperation, logistics operations, training and education.

This came after Lt. Gen. William N. Gonzales, AFP Inspector General, formally welcomed Rear Adm. Geoffroy D' Andigné, Joint Commander in the Asia-Pacific Zone of the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia, during his visit to Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Thursday.

"We are very thankful to you and we appreciate your participation in our exercises here. We are hoping for more robust military engagements, particularly in joint military exercises or subject matter exchange," Gonzales said.

Andigné was accompanied by French Ambassador to Manila Michèle Boccoz and discussed future plans for defense cooperation and modernization.

Gonzales said it is the AFP’s intent to conduct future information-sharing and engagements on maritime domain awareness to leverage the alliance with like-minded nations such as France.

"It is a good investment in the future to have people understand the culture of another country and it gives a high leverage in terms of cooperation in the long-term,” Andigné said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204595

India reiterates loan offer for PH defense modernization

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2023): India reiterates loan offer for PH defense modernization (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)

BILATERAL MEET. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo (left) and Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar lead their respective national delegations in the 5th Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation in New Delhi on June 29, 2023. The Indian government has reiterated its concessional line of credit offer to help the Philippines fund its defense modernization program. (Photo courtesy of DFA)

MANILA – The Indian government has reiterated its concessional line of credit offer to help the Philippines fund its defense modernization program.

The offer was floated anew during the 5th India-Philippines Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) led by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and his counterpart Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar on June 29 in New Delhi.

“On defense cooperation, both Ministers expressed keen interest to continue to work together in this sector, including through the regular or upgraded official level interaction among defense agencies, opening of the resident Defense Attaché office in Manila, consideration of India’s offer for concessional Line of Credit to meet Philippines’ defense requirements, acquisition of naval assets, and expansion of training and joint exercises on maritime security and disaster response, among others,” the joint statement read.

The line of credit being offered by India is a soft loan provided on concessional interest rates to developing countries based on the national priorities of the borrowing countries.

In a text message, India Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran said the broad terms of the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) line credits are 1.75 percent, with a 20-year tenor and five-year moratorium.

“There is no specific amount indicated at present, it will depend on the requirements of the Philippines side,” he said.

“The offer was first made when (former) Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana visited India in 2018, and reiterated today,” he added.

The ongoing Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program is now on Horizon 3, which is slated for 2023 to 2028.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed his commitment to beef up the country’s defense capabilities, saying the Horizon 3 is “significantly devoted to the naval aspect” of the military operations.

Meanwhile, Manalo and Jaishankar emphasized the importance of maritime domain awareness and called for the early operationalization of the Standard Operating Procedure for the White Shipping Agreement between the Indian Navy and the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG).

A memorandum of understanding on Enhanced Maritime Cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard and PCG is also in the pipeline.

During the meeting, the two officials also discussed a possible MOU on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Terrorism and Transnational Crime, while recognizing the two as common security threats.

On regional issues, Manalo and Jaishankar recognized that both countries have a shared interest in a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

“They underlined the need for peaceful settlement of disputes and for adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea in this regard,” the joint statement read.

Both ministers noted the expanding scope of India-Philippines ties and agreed to work together to further strengthen the bilateral partnership.

Apart from defense and security, the two also discussed wide-ranging partnership spanning developmental sectors such as health, agriculture, tourism, the digital economy, and trade.

Both sides agreed to hold the next round of Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation in the Philippines on mutually convenient dates.

The JCBC is a ministerial-level platform held every two years to discuss issues involving Philippine-India relations.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204618

Centino vows all-out support for troops in PH's northern frontier

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2023): Centino vows all-out support for troops in PH's northern frontier (By Priam Nepomuceno)

SUPPORT FOR TROOPS. AFP chief Gen. Andres Centino (center) and other senior military officers pose at the sovereignty marker on Mavulis Island, Batanes province on Thursday (June 29, 2023). During his visit, Centino vowed to provide all possible support to troops manning and protecting the country's northernmost frontier. (Photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino vowed to provide all possible support to troops manning and protecting the country's northernmost frontier during his visit to the archipelagic province of Batanes on Thursday.

During his meeting with military personnel in the area, the AFP chief appreciated the efforts of personnel stationed in the remote detachments and promised increased support from the General Headquarters.

"I appreciate what you are doing for the country. It is because of you that we are able to monitor activities in this area and assert our sovereignty. I hope that you show the true heart of military personnel in this difficult deployment," Centino said in a statement forwarded to reporters Friday.

The first area visited by the AFP chief was the Fishermen's Shelter on Mavulis Island, the country's northernmost island where a naval detachment is also located.

"I do these visits alongside our most senior staff to personally assess the morale and welfare of our personnel and the condition of our facilities in these remote locations. Rest assured that we will continue to work towards further enabling you to perform your jobs better," he added.

Centino also led a flag-raising ceremony at a sovereignty marker.

This was followed by a visit to the naval detachment in Itbayat, the largest island in Batanes, and to the headquarters of the 10th Marine Company in Basco, also in the same province.

Centino and senior AFP officers and the Northern Luzon Command later spent the night aboard landing dock BRP Tarlac (LD-601).

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204628

DND chief heads multiagency meet on improving disaster response

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2023): DND chief heads multiagency meet on improving disaster response (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (center); OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (left) and Environment Secretary Maria Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga (right) (Photo courtesy of NDRRMC)

MANILA – Member agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) met on Thursday to discuss ways to enhance the government’s disaster response at the local and national levels.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. presided over the second Full Council Meeting of the NDRRMC in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Among those present were Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.

The NDRRMC, in a Facebook post on Friday, said the following were discussed during the meeting:

-- Draft Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (LDRRMP) Formulation Guidebook;

-- Draft Guidelines in the Formulation and Implementation of the Public Service Continuity Plan (PSCP);

-- Draft Revised Guidelines on the Implementation, Operation, and Turnover of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Evacuation Center Project;

-- Draft Operation L!STO Disaster Preparedness Manual for Earthquake;

-- Draft Operation L!STO Management of the Dead and Missing Persons Field Manual and Training Package.

The efforts to improve the country's disaster response efforts are pursuant to the enactment of Republic Act 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

The law also mandates the NDRRMC to craft a national DRRM plan that would serve as the national guide on how sustainable development can be achieved through inclusive growth while building the adaptive capacities of communities; increasing the resilience of vulnerable sectors; and optimizing disaster mitigation opportunities with the end in view of promoting people’s welfare and security towards gender-responsive and rights-based sustainable development.

Meanwhile, a public service continuity plan details how an organization will ensure it can continue to perform its essential functions during a wide range of emergencies.

Earlier, Teodoro said public participation in the quarterly Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) would provide participants with the necessary lifesaving skills should a major quake strike the country.

Meanwhile, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) presented the enhanced draft local DRRM plan guidebook under DRRM-Capacity Enhancement Project Phase 2 in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The document which will serve as a guide for the local government units (LGUs) in the formulation of their local DRRM plans was enhanced in consideration of international and national trends in DRRM; higher and local policies and plans related to sustainable development; long-term DRRM targets beyond the period of the plan; the changing residual risks with the implementation of the plan; and the synergy between and among LGUs, national government agencies, private, academe, and other stakeholders.

The guidebook tackles the preparation for the local DRRM planning; situational analysis; DRRM target setting; DRRM measures planning or the identification of projects and activities; preparation of local DRRM investment plan and supplemental investment program for the special trust fund; and the development of a monitoring and evaluation plan.

OCD also discussed the proposed guidelines in the formulation and implementation of the PSCP and the draft revised guidelines on the implementation, operation, and turnover of evacuation centers of DPWH.

During the meeting, Teodoro cited strategies on how agencies and other stakeholders can work together to ensure submission, compliance, and implementation of PSCP of various sectors.

PSCP is a step-by-step guide that focuses on the development of an agency-specific public service continuity plan. The goal is to ensure that any agency is able to withstand the adversity of disruptive events and continue to operate and sustain public service.

OCD in partnership with Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) launched the first edition on Sept. 30, 2020 while the second edition was launched on Dec. 7, 2022.

Meanwhile, the draft revised guidelines on the implementation, operation, and turnover of evacuation centers of DPWH is subject to revision following pressing concerns identified by the body.

Further, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) presented the draft Operations LISTO for Earthquake; and the draft management of the dead and missing (MDM) persons field manual and training package.

Salient features of the Operations Listo for Earthquake include the framework for Listong Pamayanan Laban sa Lindol; rationalization of local chief executive engagement; the checklist organization for early earthquake preparedness, pre-hazard preparedness, minimum critical preparedness, and early recovery; among others.

The department also presented the MDM field manual and training package consisting recommended systems and procedures to be used to strengthen coordination and collaboration between and among agencies involved in disaster response and MDM, and other related policies and standards.

The NDRRMC holds quarterly meetings to determine policies and courses of action relating to various concerns on the country's DRRM endeavors.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1204630