CPP/Ang Bayan: Advance the militant economic and political mass struggles

Propaganda editorial from the English language edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Feb 21, 2023): Advance the militant economic and political mass struggles


This article is available in PilipinoHiligaynonBisaya

February 21, 2023

The suffering of the Filipino people under the US-Marcos regime continues to worsen, following the sharp deterioration of their lives in the past years. This is due to further unrestrained oppression and exploitation of the Philippines by profit-driven foreign monopoly capitalist companies and banks, and power-hungry imperialist governments and military forces.

US imperialism continues to erode the veneer of Philippine economic and political independence. In connivance with the local ruling bourgeoisie compradors and big landlords, and the bureaucrat-capitalist and fascist state of the ruling Marcos clique, it is taking all the wealth and advantage it can squeeze from the country.

Recent decades have taught us how the repeated promises that pro-imperialist neoliberal policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization will bring “development” are all hollow. These have brought nothing to the Filipino masses but widespread unemployment, low wages, land grabbing, plunder of the country’s wealth and environmental destruction.

We have also clearly seen that American soldiers who frequently dock and set up headquarters inside the camps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) do so not to defend the interests of Filipinos or the Philippines. Rather, these foreign troops promote the US’s own economic interests in the Philippines and geopolitical interests in the Asia-Pacific region. US “military advisers” to the fascist and anti-peace counterinsurgency serve as arms dealers. The US now uses the Philippines as a large military base to increasingly provoke war against its imperialist rival China.

Philippine independence will continue to be eroded, US imperialist power will further dominate, the country will be dragged into imperialist wars, the crisis of the ruling system will worsen, the suffering and hardships of the people will aggravate, the US-Marcos regime’s fascist crimes will intensify until the Filipino people, their united front of democratic and patriotic forces, and the revolutionary armed forces are able to change the conditions and direction of the country.

Intensifying imperialist oppression and exploitation and the people’s widespread suffering generate favorable conditions to arouse and mobilize the people in great numbers. It is now urgent for the Party to unite the Filipino people and lead them to march along the path of militant mass struggles.

The masses of the people needs to earnestly and militantly resist the US-Marcos regime’s measures that go against their national and democratic interests, and promote their immediate demands and long-term calls for national democracy.

The organized ranks of workers, peasants, youth and various progressive and democratic sectors must be consolidated and expanded to bring together [gather] the people’s determination and strength. Unions and other forms of organizations should be built in the biggest number of factories, communities, schools and other areas. Raise the people’s political consciousness and strengthen their determination to defend their interests.

Build the broadest united front against state terrorism and bureaucrat capitalism to expose, isolate, criticize and oppose the puppet, fascist, inept and oppressive Marcos regime. Exert all-out effort to expose and oppose the martial law-type repression and oppression of civil and political rights, especially in the countryside, behind the veil of the military and police’s counterinsurgency war, that has no other purpose but to paralyze and suppress the democratic mass struggles.

Build formal and informal alliances against “chacha” and the Maharlika Investment Fund, and other schemes of the ruling Marcos-Duterte ruling clique to monopolize power and plunder the people’s money. Push for the call to continue the investigation, trial and punishment of Duterte and his cohorts for their crimes against humanity during their brutal counterinsurgency war and sham “drug war.” Broad unity must also be built to demand the Marcoses to return their stolen wealth and be punished for their crimes against the people.

Strengthen the militant economic mass struggles for urgent wage increases for workers, employees and farm workers, lower prices of oil and other commodities, as well as land rent and loan interest, higher fair farmgate prices, bigger funding for free health and educational services, an end to land grabbing, a stop to plunderous operations that destroy the environment and which cause widespread flooding and economic destruction.

The people should manifest their outrage through militant protest actions in the streets and plazas. The people’s economic struggles should sharply expose, link and resist the neoliberal policies dictates of foreign imperialists.

Strengthen the patriotic movement to combat US military intervention in the Philippines, and counter the US strategy to draw the country into its war provocations against China. Expose the role of the US military and capitalist companies in the push to increase the counterinsurgency budget for buying surplus US weapons. Expose the monopoly capitalist system and crisis behind increasing rivalries and threats of war among powerful imperialist nations.

Party cadres and activists should take action to reach the broad masses, and unite them under the call to salvage the Philippines and the Filipino people from crisis by attaining genuine liberation of the country from the reign of foreign imperialist powers and the treacherous ruling classes. Use all means to arouse and mobilize the people including producing leaflets, newspapers, books, pamphlets, poems, plays and other creative works.

A few drops in the ocean are not enough. A widespread propaganda and political movement among the masses must be generated as a strong wave that will change the country’s course and bring the revolution to a new stage of growth.

[Ang Bayan is the official news organ of the Communist Party of the Philippines and is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and views on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly and is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

https://philippinerevolution.nu/2023/02/21/advance-the-militant-economic-and-political-mass-struggles/

Profiling Ang Bayan: The Official Newspaper of the Philippines’ Communist Insurgency

From the Terrorism Monitor (Nov 18, 2022): Profiling Ang Bayan: The Official Newspaper of the Philippines’ Communist Insurgency (By: Lucas Webber)

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 20 Issue: 22

New People’s Army Sympathizers (Source: GMA News Online)

The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is a nationwide movement comprised of a trans-provincial web of regional and local branches. To keep its leadership, fighters, and supporters up to date on the latest narratives and news developments, the group publishes a newspaper covering militant activity, political happenings, critiques of government and security force actions, and more. This CPP newspaper Ang Bayan (“The People”) has been in publication for more than 50 years and remains central to the Communist insurgent and associated activist movement in the Philippines until this day.

To reach its various linguistic target audience segments, issues are published in Filipino and then translated into Bisaya, Iloko, Hiligaynon, Waray, English, and Spanish (PRWC, 2019). The CPP, NPA, and National Democratic Front (NDF) each contribute to the bimonthly newspaper, which is released on the 7th and 21st of each month, with occasional special issues (Manila Times, September 19). The paper functions as a unifying force for the CPP’s diverse ethnolinguistic member and supporter base, while providing cues about the movement’s political and militant trajectory.

Ang Bayan’s Background

Lucia Palpal-latoc Tangi, the journalist and professor, in her history of the newspaper, wrote: “Due to the pivotal role of the press in revolutions, the Communist Party of the Philippines released its official publication Ang Bayan just months after it was re-established on December 26, 1968” (josemariasison.org, 2017). She described how the publication was founded by CPP founding chairperson Jose Maria Sison using only a few typewriters and a mimeograph machine to produce the first issue on May 1, 1969. She also noted that Ang Bayan became “the CPP’s propagandist, agitator, and organizer” and “was instrumental to establish and to maintain party unity and to popularize Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideals.”

Ang Bayan was exclusively produced and disseminated as a physical copy until it began to be published on the NDF’s website in 1998 and then on its own website in 1999. Hard copies of the newspaper continue to be distributed mostly in parts of the countryside where there is little to no access to electricity (josemariasison.org, 2017). Further, Ang Bayan maintains a social media presence on Twitter and a tabbed section on the Philippine Revolutionary Web Portal where its past issues are archived and its new ones are posted and made available in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI formats (Twitter/@angbayan1969, November 8). The paper also accepts articles and news item submissions, and it has an interactive aspect to it with readers being encouraged to send feedback and suggestions on how to improve the publication (Ang Bayan, October 21).

In addition to its bimonthly newspaper publications, Ang Bayan produces daily news and analysis content and provides commentary on its social media accounts (PRWC, November 16). Aside from print materials, Ang Bayan also releases video and audio content (PRWC, November 7). This includes news roundups covering the most important weekly events in short two-minute video summations (Twitter/@angbayan1969, November 15). The CPP’s media, including its newspaper, is amplified by sympathetic propaganda platforms, such as Red Spark, which supports Communist rebel and dissident groups around the world ranging from Brazil to the Philippines (Red Spark, October 10, 2016).

Ang Bayan’s Critique of the Marcos Government

Naturally, the CPP-NPA has weaponized Ang Bayan to take aim at the new President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his administration, and the security forces serving the new government (PRWC, November 11). The Ang Bayan media team launched a propaganda offensive against Marcos Jr. during his election campaign and has continued to critique his policies since he assumed the presidency (Ang Bayan, May 7). Just before election day, for example, Ang Bayan declared that “Democracy- and freedom-loving people are called upon to unite and take to the streets to manifest their determination to stop the return of the Marcoses to power and prevent the extension of Duterte’s reign” (Ang Bayan, May 7).

The election of Marcos Jr. was a highly galvanizing event, given how his father’s policies, and particularly his declaration of martial law in the early 1970s, helped fuel the early stage of the armed Communist rebellion in the Philippines (Twitter/@NDFevisayas, April 24, 2019). To the CPP, the Marcos family represents a political dynasty that is hostile to the interests of the Philippine people. Further, it is considered to be a powerful force backing imperialism and an anti-democratic system of governance (Militant Wire, August 16).

The CPP-NPA has since continued its laser-focused campaign to undermine and delegitimize the new Marcos government. Ang Bayan pushes narratives about the Marcos government committing war crimes, corruption, ceding sovereignty to the United States, exploiting workers, and cracking down on unions (Ang Bayan, November 7). The CPP likewise chastises the armed forces by calling them the “#1 recruiters of the NPA” due to their alleged brutality (Twitter/@prwc_info3, November 14).

Conclusion

Ang Bayan remains a pillar of the CPP-NPA’s media warfare campaign against the government, military, and police forces. The insurgent movement’s propaganda apparatus has proven durable and adaptable to all conditions, including the recently intensified pressure from the armed forces and police forces (Philippine News Agency, August 10). This is evidenced by the longevity of the newspaper and its punctuality in publishing on a bimonthly basis.

As the Philippine government and security forces seek to degrade the Communist rebels, they will most certainly target those involved with Ang Bayan’s production. This is because of how fundamentally important the publication is to keep geographically disparate Communist insurgent networks on the same page informationally and narratively. Further, the publication has been, and continues to be, a central prong in the CPP-NPA’s propaganda efforts to attack and undermine the government.


https://jamestown.org/program/profiling-ang-bayan-the-official-newspaper-of-the-philippines-communist-insurgency/

CPP/NDF-Palawan: Tugunin ang panawagan ng mamamayan ng Brooke’s Point: operasyon ng Ipilan Nickel Corporation, itigil!

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Feb 22, 2023): Tugunin ang panawagan ng mamamayan ng Brooke’s Point: operasyon ng Ipilan Nickel Corporation, itigil! (Heed the call of the people of Brooke's Point: Ipilan Nickel Corporation operation, stop!)

 


Leona Paragua

Spokesperson

NDF-Palawan

NDF-Southern Tagalog

National Democratic Front of the Philippines

February 22, 2023

Nananawagan ang National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Palawan sa mamamayang Palaweño at buong bansa na suportahan ang pakikibaka ng mga magsasaka at natibong Palaw’an sa Brooke’s Point laban sa mapaminsalang operasyon ng Ipilan Nickel Corporation. Mula Pebrero 18, nagbarikada ang mga residente sa sayt ng mina sa Brgy. Maasin para igiit sa pambansang gubyernong ipahinto ang operasyon ng kumpanyang dahilan ng matinding pagbahang nagpalubog sa buong bayan nitong Enero.

Makatwiran ang pakikibaka ng mga taga-Brooke’s Point na nakatuntong sa pagkakaisa ng mamamayang pangalagaan ang lupaing ninuno ng natibong Palaw’an at kalikasang saklaw ng Mt. Matalingahan na pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan ng mamamayan. Ang kalikasang ito ang winawasak ng INC at iba pang kumpanya ng mina sa probinsya sa pamamagitan ng pagkalbo sa kagubatan at pagpapasabog ng malalaking tipak ng lupa para minahin, na hindi naman pinakikinabangan ng mamamayan.

Kahit walang mayor’s permit, ginagamit na tuntungan ng operasyon ng INC ang pag-alis ng nakalipas na rehimeng Duterte sa mining moratorium. Kinasangkapan pa nito ang mga reaksyunaryong ahensya ng gubyerno tulad ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) para magpeke ng free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) mula sa mamamayan. Liban sa INC, magbabalik rin ang MacroAsia Mining Company ni Lucio Tan at nakatakda pang pumasok sa Brooke’s Point ang dalawa pang kumpanya ng mina sa nasabing bayan. Kapag natuloy ang mga ito, tiyak na ang lalong pagkawasak ng Mt. Matalingahan at mas malala pang delubyo ang dadanasin ng mga taga-Brooke’s Point tuwing panahon ng tag-ulan. Kapag nangyari ito, ang malalawak na palayan, niyugan at sagingan sa Brooke’s Point na pantustos sa pangangailangan ng buong lalawigan ay masisira kasabay ng pagkamatay ng kabuhayan ng mamamayan.

Dapat kilalanin na ang dekada nilang pakikibaka laban sa INC at iba pang kumpanya ng mapaminsalang mina sa kanilang bayan ay naglalayong pangalagaan ang buhay, kabuhayan at kalikasan ng Brooke’s Point at lahat ng nakasalalay dito. Dapat suportahan ng iba’t ibang sektor ang kanilang pakikibaka at buuin ang mas malakas na pagkakaisa hanggang matagumpay na maigiit sa lokal hanggang pambansang gubyernong tugunin ang kanilang panawagan. Habang naninindigan ang rehimeng US-Marcos para sa mapaminsalang mina, dapat pag-ibayuhin ng mamamayan ang kanilang pakikibaka at palakasin ang bag-as ng lihim na pambansa-demokratikong kilusan sa pamumuno ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas.###

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/tugunin-ang-panawagan-ng-mamamayan-ng-brookes-point-operasyon-ng-ipilan-nickel-corporation-itigil/

CPP/Southern Tagalog RC: Citizens of the world, bind, prevent and resist all forms of inter-imperialist war!

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Feb 22, 2023): Mamamayan ng daigdig, magbigkis, pigilan at labanan ang lahat ng anyo ng inter-imperyalistang gera! (Citizens of the world, bind, prevent and resist all forms of inter-imperialist war!)

Public Information Office

CPP Southern Tagalog Regional Committee

Communist Party of the Philippines

February 22, 2023

Kaisa ng mamamayan ng daigdig, tinutuligsa ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas sa Timog Katagalugan ang nagpapatuloy na inter-imperyalistang gera sa Ukraine sa pangunguna ng US. Kasabay nito, mariin din naming tinutuligsa ang tuluy-tuloy na pang-uudyok ng US ng panibagong larangan ng gera sa Asia Pacific laban sa China.

Isang taon na ang nakalilipas mula nang pumutok ang gera sa Ukraine. Unti-unti nang nagiging matagalan ang proxy war na inilunsad ng US-NATO laban sa Russia laluna matapos tanggihan ng una ang lahat ng pagsisikap para sa negosasyong pangkapayapaan.

Noong Abril 2022, pumayag ang Russia na pumasok sa negosasyon sa inisyatiba ng Turkey pero tinanggihan ito ni Volodymyr Zelensky, presidente ng Ukraine sa sulsol ng noo’y Prime Minister ng UK na si Boris Johnson. Imbes na pahupain, lalong pinaigting ng US-NATO ang gera sa pamamagitan ng pagbuhos ng bilyun-bilyong halaga ng armas sa tuta nitong gubyerno at armadong hukbo sa Ukraine. At noong Oktubre ng parehong taon, tahasang ibinasura ni Biden ang panawagan ng 66 bansa sa United Nations General Assembly na muling buksan ang negosasyong pangkapayapaan at ipatupad ang tigil-putukan para tapusin ang gera sa Ukraine.

Pinakanagdusa sa gerang ito ang sibilyang mamamayan ng Ukraine at mga karatig na bayan. Hanggang nitong Pebrero 12, naitala ng UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights ang 18,955 kaswalti sa mga sibilyan kung saan 7,199 ang napatay at 11,756 ang nasugatan. Liban dito, aabot na sa 7.9 milyong Ukrainian na ang lumikas dahil sa gera. Ayon naman kay Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, mahigit na sa $700 bilyon ang pinsala sa pambansang ekonomya ng Ukraine hanggang Disyembre 2022. Dahil malayo pa sa paghinto ang gera at sa gitna ng inilulunsad na opensiba ng Russia, lalupang titindi ang sitwasyon sa Ukraine at dadami ang pinsalang direktang tatama sa mga sibilyan roon.

Sadyang walang pakialam ang sindikatong US-NATO sa kahihinatnan ng Ukraine at mamamayan nito. Sa kaibuturan, nais nitong sairin ang kakayahang militar ng Russia at ihiwalay ito sa China, ang kasunod na target nitong gerahin sa pangarap na kamtin muli ang solong pandaigdigang paghahari. Katunayan, todo-buhos ito ng suportang militar sa Ukraine. Hanggang Disyembre 2022, aabot na sa $100 bilyon ang pondong inilaan ng US para sa gera sa Ukraine, napakalayo sa taunang pondong militar ng Russia na £65 bilyon. Kabilang rin sa mga ganansyang nakamit ng US ang pagkawasak ng lahat ng natitira pang pagkakaisa sa pagitan ng Europe at Russia para lalong gawing asa ang Europe sa US, kapwa sa militar at ekonomya. Itinutulak rin ng US ang Europe na makipagsabwatan sa kanya para ihiwalay ang China at Russia.

Habang kinamumuhian ng mamamayang Ukrainian, sinasambang tila bayani ng US congress si Zelenzky, na walang ibang maipagmamalaki kundi ang pagiging bulag na ahente’t tagasunod ng US-NATO. Labis ang pangangayupapa ni Zelensky sa amo nito kapalit ang kapangyarihan at “karangalan” sa kapinsalaan ng kanyang mga kababayan. Sa kabilang banda, bagabag ng matinding krisis ang US kaya obligado siyang ipagpatuloy ang reseta nitong gera sa bumubulusok na ekonomya gamit ang Ukraine bilang piyon laban sa Russia. Dahil sa gera sa Ukraine, naglakihan ang kita ng pangunahing mga kumpanya sa depensa sa US kung saan ang gubyerno nito ang pangunahing tagabili ng mga produktong nililikha nito. Nananatiling nangunguna sa paglaki ng kita sa pagtatapos ng taong 2022 ang limang kumpanya sa depensa ng US na Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Northrop Grumman at General Dynamics. Ang taun-taong $700 bilyong inilalaan ng gubyerno ng US sa depensa ay pangunahing napupunta sa kita at tubo ng mga kumpanyang ito.

Lalong tumitindi ang pangangailangan ng US sa kasalukuyan sa gitna ng nagpapatuloy na implasyong nagpapahirap sa sariling mamamayan. Kalaghatian ng 2022 nagsimula ang resesyon sa ekonomya ng US matapos maitala ang negatibong paglago ng gross domestic product nito sa 2 makasunod na kwarto ng taon. Pinangangambahan pang magsisimulang muli ang resesyon nito sa ekonomya sa ikalawang hati ng taong 2023.

Samantala, ang gerang proxy na tulad sa Ukraine ay malapit nang magkaanyo sa Asia Pacific laban sa China. Mismong sa bibig ng isang opisyal militar ng US na si Lt. Gen. James Bierman, kumander ng Third Marine Expeditionary Force ng US Armed Forces at Marine Forces Japan, kung paanong malaon nang pinagplanuhan ng US ang pagkakasa ng gera laban sa China tulad ng ginawa nila sa Ukraine. Kasunod na tinukoy ni Bierman na bahagi nito ang paghahanda nila ng teatro ng gera sa Japan at Pilipinas. Kinumpirma rin ito ng isang internal na kautusan ng Pentagon sa pamamagitan ni Gen. Mike Minihan, hepe ng Air Mobility Command na nagsasaad na pangunahing layunin nila ang pigilan ang China, at kung kinakailangan ay talunin ito.

Dito nakatudla ang papatinding presensya ng US sa Indo Pacific—Taiwan, Pilipinas, Japan, Singapore at South Korea, ang itinuturing na first island chain nito para palibutan ang China. Paparami at papadalas ang mga aktibidad at pagsasanay-militar ng US at nabanggit na mga papet na bansa.

Pinalaki ng US ang presensya ng mga pwersang nabal nito sa kanluran at silangang karagatan ng Pilipinas, sa silangang baybayin ng Japan at sa Taiwan Strait. Patuloy na hinahamon ng US ang One China Policy (soberanya ng China sa Taiwan) at inuudyukan itong unang sumalakay tulad ng nagawa nito sa Russia at bigyang-katwiran ang isang lahatang-panig na gera laban sa China.

Sa Pilipinas, tinutuntungan ng pinalaking presensyang militar ang mga tagibang na kasunduan sa pagitan ng US at reaksyunaryong GRP. Kabilang dito ang Mutual Defense Treaty, Visiting Forces Agreement at ang pinakahuli, ang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). Sa kabila nang pagpapatalsik ng mamamayang Pilipino sa base militar, nagagawang ikutan ng US ang lahat ng limitasyon sa pagpapanumbalik nito sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng EDCA. Mula nang ipatupad ito, tuluy-tuloy nang ginagamit ng US ang Basa Air Base sa Pampanga; Antonio Bautista Air Base sa Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Benito Ebuen Air Base sa Mactan Island, Cebu; Lumbia Airfield sa Cagayan de Oro City; jungle base sa Fort Laur sa Nueva Ecija at ilan pang “sikretong base” nito tulad ng Naval Station Carlito Cunanan sa Ulugan Bay, Palawan. Nitong buwan lamang, inianunsyo ni Marcos Jr. na madadagdagan pa ng lima ang istasyon ng EDCA sa bansa matapos ang pagbisita ni US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Bago pa ito ang pagbisita ni US Vice President Kamala Harris sa bansa na dala ang kasunduan hinggil sa pagtatayo ng missile systems sa bansa. Ang planong missile launching systems at iba pang pasilidad militar ng US na itinatayo at itatayo pa sa Pilipinas ay magsisilbing magnet sa mga atakeng Chinese laban Pilipinas. Garapalang nilalabag ng US ang soberanya ng Pilipinas sa paggamit sa bansa bilang base para sa paglulunsad ng mga dayuhang gera nito.

Sa gitna ng lahat ng ito, ang mamamayan ng buong daigdig ang nagdurusa sa pagpapasasa ng mga imperyalistang bansa sa pangunguna ng US. Ang ipinataw na mga sangsyon sa Russia ay ibayong gumatong sa pandaigdigang krisis dahil sa sinira nito ang suplay sa buong daigdig laluna sa larangan ng produksyon ng langis, trigo, abono, rare earth metals para sa produksyon ng microchips at artificial intelligence na kailangan sa industriyang militar at iba pang hilaw na materyales na pangunahing nagmumula sa Russia. Lumikha ito ng artipisyal na kawalan at/o kakulangan ng suplay ng langis, pagkain at iba pang hilaw na materyales sa buong mundo.

Sinasamantala ito ng monopolyong burgesya at mga lokal na naghaharing uri sa mga bansang mahihirap upang itodo ang pagkamal ng super tubo sa kapinsalaan ng sangkatauhan. Ibayong pinaypayan nito ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pangunahing kalakal at bilihin laluna ng langis, pagkain at iba pang hilaw na materyales kung saan naitala ang makasaysayang rekord ng sobrang pagtaas ng global inflation na umaabot sa 8.5%-9.5%. Grabeng kahirapan ang idinudulot nito sa sangkatauhan laluna sa masang anakpawis.

Samantala, ang mamamayan ng mga bansang imbwelto at lunsaran ng gera tulad ng Russia at Ukraine ang nakararanas ng pinakamatitinding karahasan at kahirapan. Habang lalong pinipiga ng imperyalismo ang lakas-paggawa at kakayahang lumikha ng lipunan, ipinambabala nito sa magastos na gera ang mamamayan laluna ang uring anakpawis.

Dapat magbigkis at magkaisa ang sambayanan para labanan ang lahat ng anyo ng inter-imperyalistang gerang labis na naglulugmok sa sangkatauhan sa ibayong karalitaan. Para gawin ito, dapat ipanawagan sa buong daigdig na pigilan ang inter-imperyalistang gyera at kung hindi kakayaning pigilan ay samantalahin ang inter-imperyalistang gyera upang ipanalo ang rebolusyonaryong pakikibaka sa kani-kanilang bayan para sa pambansang kalayaan, demokrasya at sosyalismo. Nararapat iambag ng sambayanang Pilipino ang buong makakaya upang pagkaisahin ang sangkatauhan sa muling pagdaluyong ng pandaigdigang sosyalistang rebolusyon upang ibagsak ang imperyalismo – ang huli at naghihingalong yugto ng pandaigdigang kapitalismo na siyang ugat ng pandaigdigang karahasan, pagsasamantala, pang-aapi at kahirapan ng sangkatauhan.###

CPP/CIO: On the recent NPA partisan operation in Albay

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Feb 23, 2023): On the recent NPA partisan operation in Albay

 


Marco Valbuena

Chief Information Officer

Communist Party of the Philippines

February 23, 2023

The partisan operations staged by a unit of the New People’s Army in a market place in Barangay Cotmon, Camalig town, Albay against a supply unit of the 31st Infantry Battalion, was a legitimate military operation against counterinsurgency troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Two enemy troops were killed and a .45 caliber pistol was seized.

Military supply lines comprise an important aspect of war operations. The soldiers, in fact, were armed and ready to engage in battle when ambushed. Disrupting the AFP’s supply lines are among the tactics for waging guerrilla warfare.

The claim of the 9th ID that the troops were preparing for search and rescue operations over a missing Cessna plane is a sorry PR attempt to gloss over the brutal counterinsurgency record of the 31st IB, in the hope of gaining public sympathy.

The 31st IB, to which the two troops belonged to, is an active AFP unit engaged in counter-guerrilla operations and is responsible for scores of human rights violations and war crimes. It is the unit behind the May 8, 2020 massacre of five peasants in Bulan, Sorsogon as well as other cases of killing, torture, illegal arrests and detention, threats and harassment of peasant communities in Sorsogon and Camarines Sur.

The partisan operations of the NPA in Albay point to the fact that armed guerrilla operations in Bicol continue to expand. It shows the ability of the NPA to deploy teams anywhere in order to strike at enemy military targets.

(The above statement was issued in response to media inquiries.)

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/on-the-recent-npa-partisan-operation-in-albay/

CPP/NDF-CNL: A statement of CNL on the 37th commemoration of the EDSA uprising//Marching with the people in the streets and through the revolutionary path

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Feb 23, 2023): A statement of CNL on the 37th commemoration of the EDSA uprising//Marching with the people in the streets and through the revolutionary path

 


Christians for National Liberation (CNL)

National Democratic Front of the Philippines

February 23, 2023

The Christians for National Liberation remembers our country’s long, ever-persistent tradition of resistance as we join millions of Filipino toiling masses and democratic forces in commemorating the 37th anniversary of the EDSA uprising. In the years and decades that followed the uprising, we are also affirmed and will always remember that the semi-colonial, semi-feudal system would never afford the poor and oppressed with any means to achieve a life devoid of suffering.

CNL looks back on our victory thirty-seven years ago with pride and lessons. We commemorate the success of anti-dictatorship campaigns that aroused and mobilized millions. We honor the heroes and martyrs that have contributed their lives for the country the people’s movement to grow. We remember the legacy of the priests, pastors, sisters, and lay workers who influenced their flocks, and marched the streets bearing crosses, rosaries, and Bibles facing the fascist Philippine Army braced with guns and tanks.

We keep this memory alive by continuing the revolutionary legacy of the church people who continued standing bravely and resolutely with the oppressed, even before and beyond the EDSA uprising. Priests, pastors, nuns, and lay leaders faced the Philippine Constabulary in campaigns against rights abuse, such as during hamletting of towns in Compostella Valley in 1983. They have rallied in the streets with the Movement for National Liberation in 1991 to oppose US bases in the Philippine territories. And almost a decade later, CNL joined the democratic forces in its mobilizations against the US military control in the country through the Visiting Forces Agreement and Balikatan exercises. They also mobilized resources to extend humanitarian assistance to the most marginalized basic masses in the countryside, going beyond the reach of the state. In the decade that followed, CNL and its religious revolutionaries became even more staunch peace champions and defenders of people’s rights. We will continue to give our utmost support and participation to all pursuit for peace and liberation – from the tables of peace negotiations, the struggle of the basic sectors in the countryside, factories, schools, and streets, to the deep ends of our mountains with the New People’s Army.

CNL firmly believes that God is present in every moment the people are struggling for peace and liberation. Going beyond the EDSA Uprising and the reforms that the reactionary state has instigated since, we are firm in our historic role in keeping the struggle for national liberation alive and broad.

For CNL, it is undeniable that the society today mirrors the suffering in our nation more than three and half decades ago. With the rule of Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we are suffering parasitic corruption, criminal negligence and indifference, state terrorism of the very worst, and puppetry to the US imperialist, as was with his father’s fascist dictatorship. We experience the same vicious and inhumane repression in the past, with the rampant violations of human rights and international humanitarian law today. These are the very conditions that made Marcos Sr. an absolute enemy of millions of Filipinos, and have pushed them to oust a vile dictator.

It is crystal clear that as long as the unholy alliance of imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, and feudalism exists, the state of repression and oppression will persist and worsen, under one fascist ruler after another. Thus, as we remember the victorious unity exemplified by the people in the EDSA Uprising thirty-seven years ago, we are firm that the only path towards everlasting peace is through the revolutionary resistance of the masses of workers, peasants, and tyrannized peoples.

We look ahead by holding close to us the urgency and importance of advancing the people’s democratic revolution. As God commanded war to bring the people of Canaan to the land of milk and honey, we are affirmed that it is only through the people’s protracted war could the masses taste the life that was promised – life of democracy and freedom.

The Christians for National Liberation believes that the people of faith will display again the bravery and resolve to influence and unite the broadest number of Filipinos to defeat the counter-insurgency and terrorism of the US – Marcos II regime. We vow to support and escalate the Filipinos’ tradition of resistance by supporting in all fronts and carrying forward the national democratic revolution with a socialist perspective.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/marching-with-the-people-in-the-streets-and-through-the-revolutionary-path/

CPP/NPA-Abra: Condemn the fascist AFP troops occupying Abra province

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) Website (Feb 23, 2023): Condemn the fascist AFP troops occupying Abra province

 

This article is available in IlocoPilipino

Florencio Baluga

Spokesperson

NPA-Abra (Agustin Begnalen Command)

Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Operational Command (Chadli Molintas Command)

New People's Army

February 23, 2023

The Agustin Begnalen Command – NPA Abra condemns the harassment of civilian Jerome Agaid by intelligence operatives of the 24th IB stationed in Abra, while he was with his five-year old child. Agaid, a resident of Malibcong municipality, is a Lupong Tagapamayapa and a member of the Mabaca tribe.

Before this incident, Agaid had been subjected to surveillance and was being pressured by the Army to surrender. The military wanted to take advantage of the difficult situation that Agaid was facing. They offered to shoulder the medical expenses of Agaid’s wife who was confined in the hospital. In exchange for their financial ‘assistance’, the AFP wanted Agaid to turn traitor to his tribe.

This incident is but the latest crime committed by the 24th IB. Last 27 November 2022, the soldiers shot at 5 civilian hunters from Brgy. Buneg, Lacub municipality. Two of the hunters were seriously wounded and were hospitalized. Adding insult to injury, the Army delivered financial ‘assistance’ to the victims’ families. They were then made to sign papers certifying that they would not file a court case against the 24th IB.

The list of crimes committed by the 24th, 71st and 102nd IB of the Philippine Army against Abrenos grows longer and longer. They occupy the municipalities of Lacub, Malibcong, Tineg, Baay-Licuan, Daguioman, Bucloc, Boliney, Sallapadan Luba, Tubo and Pilar. The people fear for their safety every time they go to their fields or forests. There is no rest from the Army’s surrender campaign, surveillance and harassment.

These fascist troops are in the area to neutralize any opposition to the entry of large-scale mining and hydropower (dam) projects. They are ever-ready to commit crimes against the people in order to protect their capitalist masters. The AFP are like leeches growing fat on the blood of public funds whilst the people sink deeper into hardship and poverty.

The AFP’s martial rule in Abra must be ended! The 24th, 71st and 102nd IB must be driven out of Abra province. They must be prosecuted for the crimes they have committed. Justice must be served to the people of Abra.

https://philippinerevolution.nu/statements/condemn-the-fascist-afp-troops-occupying-abra-province/

Kalinaw News: 861 senior high students underwent awareness of rebels’ deceptive recruitment in Nueva Ecija

From Kalinaw News (Feb 21, 2023): 861 senior high students underwent awareness of rebels’ deceptive recruitment in Nueva Ecija

BALER, Aurora-The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion continue to intensify info drive to raise awareness of rebels’ deceptive recruitment of students in Nueva Ecija on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto, Jr., commander of 91st IB said on Wednesday that the Philippine Army conducted communist terrorist groups (CTGs) Awareness to Grade 12 students of Bongabon Senior High School, Nueva Ecija led by personnel of Alpha (Alakdan) Company under the leadership of 1st Lieutenant Jevie J. Sagragao.

“We are pushing this information and awareness campaign to prevent children from being recruited by members of organizations linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). Parents, teachers and students should be aware of the deception by CPP-NPA allied groups. We do not want our children to be in danger,” he said.

A total of 861 participant students joined the School Awareness Campaign on the Infiltration to Youth Sector of CTGs under the guidance of Bongabon Senior High School Pablito S. Gagarin, Officer-In-Charge/Principal II of Bongabon Senior High School, Barangay Sinipit, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija.

Pablito thanked the 91st IB for the initiative in protecting the students from any deceptions offered by the CTG.

“Ang mga bata ay nagkaroon ng mas malinaw na pananaw kung paano maging isang mabuting mamamayan at mag-aaral,” Pablito said.

Royet Soriben, President of Student Supreme Government of Bongabon Senior High School also expressed his sincerest thanks and appreciations to the personnel of 91st IB.

“Nalaman naming kung papaano namin maiwasan at madepensahan ang aming mga sarili upang makaiwas sa makakaliwang grupo,” Soriben said.

The 91st IB Alpha Company distributed 861 Army Recruitment and enhanced comprehensive local integration program (E-CLIP) leaflets to the participants.

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

https://www.kalinawnews.com/861-senior-high-students-underwent-awareness-of-rebels-deceptive-recruitment-in-nueva-ecija/

AFP, US Navy commit to stronger defense partnership

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): AFP, US Navy commit to stronger defense partnership (By Priam Nepomuceno)

US Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday (left) and AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino (right) (Photo courtesy of AFP)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the US Navy both expressed commitment to strengthening their defense partnership.

This came after US Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday met with AFP chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Wednesday.

"Aside from their discussion on the upcoming 'Balikatan Exercises', wherein more Filipino and US personnel are expected to participate, the two top military officials also assured the continuation of a strong defense partnership, primarily through joint training and exercise, HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief), and counter-terrorism," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement Wednesday night.

Both officials also affirmed a robust military partnership between the US and the Philippines based on the Mutual Defense Treaty, including pursuing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Centino and Gilday also echoed the pronouncements of Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and US Defense Secretary Lloyd James Austin III regarding the agreement to designate four additional Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites during the visit of the American official last Feb. 2.

After the arrival honors rendered by the AFP, the two officials proceeded to the meeting that affirmed a robust military partnership between the US and the Philippines based on the Mutual Defense Treaty, including pursuing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Earlier, the DND said that the locations of the four additional facilities under the EDCA between the Philippines and the United States would be made public once necessary works and preparations are completed.

DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said a consensus has already been reached on the four new "Agreed Locations" by the two nations and that these would be finalized and announced once appropriate requirements are fulfilled.

Finalized after eight rounds of talks in August 2013, the EDCA which was signed in 2014 allows US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, the right to build facilities, and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels, but rules out permanent basing.

The Philippine government is working with the US to build the future facilities at the Cesar Basa Air Base in Floridablanca town, Pampanga province; Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation in Nueva Ecija province; Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan de Oro City; Antonio Bautista Air Base in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu province.

More collaboration between PH, US navies

Meanwhile, Philippine Navy (PN) flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. vowed more collaboration with the US Navy following Gilday's visit to Navy headquarters in Naval Station Jose Andrara, Roxas Boulevard, Manila on Wednesday.

"During exchanges, the visiting Admiral emphasized the need of collaboration among allies, which is strengthened through joint and combined exercises. He further underscored the importance of providing forces in creating great opportunities to implement joint operations and maritime exercises," PN spokesperson Captain Benjo Negranza said Thursday.

Adaci also echoed Gilday's perspective and reassured the PN’s sustained collaboration with US counterparts for the betterment of both navies.

He also expressed gratitude for accommodating PN students at various naval schools in the United States.

Gilday's visit came shortly after the bilateral dialogues of the Philippine Fleet with the US 7th Fleet, and the Philippine Marine Corps with the US Marine Corps Forces Pacific.

"These interactions have helped reinforce the confidence between the two countries as both navies explore more ways of working together toward regional peace and stability," Negranza said.

A2A talks

Meanwhile, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) concluded the 11th PAF-PACAF Airman-to-Airman (A2A) Talks at Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Wednesday.

The 11th iteration of A2A Talks, which started Tuesday, was co-chaired by PAF acting vice commander and Air Defense Command chief Maj. Gen. Augustine Malinit and Maj. Gen. Mark A. Weber, Air National Guard Assistant to Commander, Pacific Air Force (PACAF).

During the two-day A2A Talks, working group (WG) sessions were held wherein PAF-PACAF WGs on Plans and Policy; Cybersecurity; Integrated Air and Missile Defense; Intelligence; Training and Operations; as well as Civil-Military Operations, discussed the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) proposed activities for the year 2024.

The PAF and PACAF regularly hold Airman-to-Airman Talks to continue strengthening the alliance among the two nations as well as to develop their Air Forces' capabilities in deterring aggression, maintaining peace and stability, and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195877

'Behavioral hygiene hub' promotes upkeep of troops' mental health

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): 'Behavioral hygiene hub' promotes upkeep of troops' mental health (By Priam Nepomuceno)

(Photo courtesy of First Scout Ranger Regiment)

MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA)'s First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) is taking care of the mental health of its officers and enlisted personnel through its "behavioral hygiene hub" (BHH) at Camp Tecson in San Miguel town, Bulacan province.

"Since its establishment in 2019, the hub was originally known as the Regiment Integrated Counselling Office (RICO) but was recently renamed as BHH. The unit focuses on assisting every soldier to create goals that will help them achieve a dynamic military career. The office also gives counseling to promote development concerning both personal characteristics and interpersonal competencies," said PA spokesperson, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, in a statement Thursday.

He added that the BHH also supports the command guidance of PA chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., that puts a premium on the physical and mental health of soldiers who are considered the Army’s most valuable resource.

"Some of the activities conducted by the hub involve individual and group counseling, body map activity, neuro-psychiatric testing, burn-out test, self-rating depression scale, stress management lecture, individual sharing, stress debriefing activities, pre-deployment character-building activities, trauma risk management training, and psychological first aid," Trinidad said.

Mental health seminar, workshop

Meanwhile, Trinidad said the 10th Infantry Division rolled out its Mental Health Seminar and Workshop for personnel of units assigned at Camp General Manuel T. Yan, Sr., Station Hospital in Mawab town, Davao De Oro province on Feb. 21.

"10th Infantry Division Mental Health and Resilience Center’s mental health teams conducted the first day of the program for 65 personnel from the 10th Installation and Management Battalion, 10th Division Training School, and 10th Company of K-9 Battalion. Mental health teams will conduct the program to all personnel of 10th Infantry Division headquarters until Feb. 25, 2023 and intend to reach out to all 10th Infantry Division subordinate units," he added.

Trinidad said this initiative is in line with the PA's leadership directive to ensure comprehensive, responsive and relevant mental health and well-being programs for soldiers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195887

Austin commits MDT in case of armed attack vs. PH assets in SCS

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): Austin commits MDT in case of armed attack vs. PH assets in SCS (By Priam Nepomuceno)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and DND officer in charge, Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. (Photo courtesy of DND)

MANILA – United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III has reiterated that any armed attack on Philippine ships and aircraft in the South China Sea will result in the invocation of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT).

Austin issued this commitment after a phone call with Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the Department of National Defense (DND) officer-in-charge, on Wednesday.

"Austin reiterated that the US’ commitment to the alliance remains ironclad, and that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, aircraft, and public vessels, including the Coast Guard, anywhere in the South China Sea, would invoke US mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the MDT," said DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong in a statement Thursday.

Article IV of the MDT between the Philippines and the United States states that "each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes."

The MDT between the two nations was signed on Aug. 30, 1951.

"The call marked the second bilateral engagement between the two defense officials since Senior Undersecretary Galvez’s appointment as OIC, DND in January 2023 and follows the recent visit of Secretary Austin to the Philippines on 02 February 2023," Andolong said.

In the statement, Galvez expressed appreciation for the US government’s support for the Philippines in view of recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea including the use of a military-grade laser against members of the Philippine Coast Guard in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal.

"Recalling the President’s guidance that the Philippines will not give up an inch of its territory, Senior Undersecretary Galvez underscored that the Department will steadfastly uphold its mandate of protecting the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights," Andolong said.

During the phone call, both Austin and Galvez exchanged views and updates on recent security developments and explored opportunities to work together in addressing common security challenges.

"Senior Undersecretary Galvez and Secretary Austin also agreed to expand cooperation with like-minded partners in the region, and emphasized the importance of keeping the Philippines-US alliance strong in order to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region," the DND spokesperson said.

Andolong said the interaction between the two defense officials ended with "a hope to continue discussions during the upcoming Two-Plus-Two Ministerial Consultations sometime this year."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195929

22 ex-rebels in Eastern Samar get financial aid

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): 22 ex-rebels in Eastern Samar get financial aid (By Sarwell Meniano and Manny Balbin)

NEW LIFE. The 22 former rebels in Eastern Samar who received financial assistance from the government during a ceremony on Wednesday (Feb. 22 , 2023) in Borongan City. The former rebels received financial assistance from the national government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program for them to start a new life after years of armed struggle. (Photo by DILG Region 8)

TACLOBAN CITY – A total of 22 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Samar province have received financial assistance from the national government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) as they prepare to start a new life after years of armed struggle.

Each was granted immediate assistance worth P15,000. Also, 12 of them got P50,000 livelihood assistance each, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office here on Thursday.

The DILG said those who surrendered their firearms got higher benefits as remuneration from the central government. The amount varies according to the kind of firearms surrendered.

During the awarding on Wednesday, DILG Eastern Visayas regional director Arnel Agabe welcomed the surrender of the rebel returnees and offered various assistance from the different national government agencies.

"It’s not easy to attain peace and we have to work for it daily. We urge you to work with the government to attain peace and justice in our communities,” Agabe said during the awarding of benefits at the Philippine Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion in Lalawigan village in Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

E-CLIP is the government’s program for rebels who have surrendered. It aims to help rebel returnees to reintegrate into the community by providing them with a complete package of assistance.

The financial package covers immediate assistance, provision of a reintegration process, a starting capital for livelihood, as well as remunerating surrendered firearms.

In Bulacan, a 70-year-old former NPA member surrendered to authorities in Malolos City on Wednesday.

In his report on Thursday, Colonel Relly Arnedo, provincial director of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office, said the septuagenarian former rebel, identified only as "Ka Lito," turned over a .38-caliber revolver and six live ammunition.

Ka Lito, according to Arnedo, joined the rebel group many years ago to protect his fishing business.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195882

Guv adds P100-M budget to augment ELCAC road project

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): Guv adds P100-M budget to augment ELCAC road project (By Mary Judaline Partlow)

OCULAR INSPECTION. A team from the regional office of the World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Project visit remote Tamlang Valley in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental on Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2023). The PRDP inspected the road in line with a PHP400-million proposed concreting project. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow)

DUMAGUETE CITY – Governor Roel Degamo has added PHP100 million to the PHP300 million road network project that will connect four towns passing through hinterland villages that are affected by the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) insurgency.

This comes as the World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the Provincial Engineer’s Office, along with other stakeholders, undertook on Wednesday the first of a series of ocular inspections at a portion of the road leading from Barangay Dobdob, Valencia to Sitio Avocado in Barangay Talalak, Sta. Catalina town.

Provincial Engineer Maelene Jimenez said the governor decided to put up an additional budget for the concreting of the road network that connects Sibulan, Pamplona, Valencia, and Sta. Catalina because this is a priority project under the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) whole-of-nation approach.

“The PRDP team from Cebu is here to validate the road that the governor proposed for concreting, which stretches between 70 to 75 kilometers as part of the process for the funding allocation,” Jimenez said.

The entire road network will pass through the barangays of Datagon and Magsusunog in Pamplona; Enrique Villanueva in Sibulan; Sitio Inas, Barangay Dobdob in Valencia; and the sub-villages of Tamlang, Karima, and Avocado, in Barangay Talalak and down to Barangay Nagbagang, all in Sta. Catalina town, she said.

The Tamlang Valley, through which the road will pass, used to be a “no man’s land” in the late ‘80s and early ’90s at the height of the communist insurgency in the province.

Currently, there is a road passing through this area but when the rain comes, it gets muddy and becomes impassable.

Jimenez said the PRDP team would conduct succeeding validations and have a “walk-through,” which means that they would be walking the long stretch of road, as identified in the proposed project, to survey which parts have already been concreted by the provincial government.

Meanwhile, Jemimah Opon, Rural Structure and Bridges Specialist of the regional project coordination office of PRDP 7 (Central Visayas), said the validation would determine if it passes the PRDP specification standards.

Part of the PRDP team’s activities in Negros Oriental in the ongoing validation are social environment safeguards, economic financial analysis, and the Intensified Building of Logistics Development or infrastructure component to check on the current status of the road and the potable water system, Opon said.

The PRDP during the past two years also undertook the multi-million Hilaitan to Trinidad road in the barangays in Guihulngan City after Degamo sought its funding to address the insurgency there.

The provincial government has deployed heavy equipment to the Dobdob-Tamlang-Avocado area for the maintenance of the all-weather road.

Also present during the validation and ocular inspection were representatives of the Department of Agriculture, the Environment and Natural Resources Division of Negros Oriental, the 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, and barangay officials, among others.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195895

10ID personnel attend series of mental health seminars, workshops

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): 10ID personnel attend series of mental health seminars, workshops (By Che Palicte)

MENTAL WELL-BEING. The first batch of personnel from various field units of the Army's 10th Infantry Division (10ID) participate Tuesday (Feb. 21, 2023) in the mental health seminar and workshop at Camp General Manuel T. Yan Sr. Station Hospital in Mawab, Davao De Oro. (Photo courtesy of 10ID)

DAVAO CITY – The Army's 10th Infantry Division (10ID) started its series of mental health seminars and workshops for its personnel at Camp General Manuel T. Ya, S. Station Hospital (CGMTYSSH) in the Davao de Oro town of Mawab Tuesday, an Army official said.

In an interview Thursday, Capt. Mark Anthony Tito, 10ID spokesperson, said 65 personnel from the 10th Installation and Management Battalion, 10th Division Training School, and 10th Company of K-9 Battalion joined the first day of the workshop

“It is the mandate of our 10ID commander, Maj. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra, to determine the personnel's mental health status and elicit their stress levels,” Tito said.

During the workshop, he said a focused group discussion was conducted to identify mental health challenges among personnel and their various coping strategies.

“The mental health teams also assisted the participants in determining their strengths and abilities to bounce back to a normal state of mental well-being,” he added.

Meanwhile, Niembra lauded the initiative of CGMTYSSH in ensuring the good mental health status of 10ID personnel.

"Our soldiers are exposed to stressful situations, and it is our prime duty to look for the well-being not only for mission accomplishment but for the betterment of our organization," he said.

The mental health teams under the Mental Health and Resilience Center were scheduled to implement the program to all personnel of 10ID headquarters until Feb. 25, and intends to reach out to all 10ID subordinate units.

The initiative is also in line with the Philippine Army's leadership directive to ensure comprehensive, responsive and relevant mental health and well-being programs for soldiers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195928

Conflict-affected farmers in Agusan get skills training

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): Conflict-affected farmers in Agusan get skills training (By Alexander Lopez)

SUPPORT TO FARMERS. Some 40 farmers from former conflict-affected Barangay Consorcia in Las Nieves town, Agusan del Norte province, undergo a three-day community-based training and enterprise development that started on Feb. 21, 2023. The village is recently declared an insurgency-free area in Las Nieves. (Photo courtesy of 23IB)

BUTUAN CITY – Forty farmers who are members of the Talcon Farmer’s Poverty Association (TFPA) and the Consorcia Philippine Coconut Association in Las Nieves town, Agusan del Norte province have undergone a three-day skills training for added business opportunities.

In a statement Thursday, the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion (IB) said the skills training, dubbed as Community-Based Training and Enterprise Development (CBTED), is for villages formerly affected by encounters between government forces and communist rebels.

The 23IB said the CBTED, which started Tuesday in Barangay Consorcia, aims to strengthen the livelihood activities of the members of the two farmers' associations while providing them the means to start with coco peat and coco coir production.

“The 23IB is intensifying its efforts in assisting and monitoring the livelihood programs of people’s organizations to ensure their sustainability and progress,” the Army unit said.

The initiated was facilitated by the Las Nieves local government unit (LGU) with the support of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Trade and Industry.

In a separate statement on Thursday, the Las Nieves LGU said Barangay Consorcia was among the villages in the town severely affected by armed conflicts in the past due to the presence of the communist New People’s Army.

“Barangay Consorcia was declared insurgency-free two years ago due to the efforts of the 23IB, the local government, and the support of the other government agencies,” the LGU said.

It added that the TFPA was among the seven farmers’ groups in the town identified to receive government support based on the assessment of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

“The CBTED on coco peat and coco coir production is the exact training for the 40 farmers whose livelihood depends on coconuts which are abundant in Barangay Consorcia,” the LGU said.

Under the CBTED, the participants are trained to produce high-value goods made from the by-products of coconuts.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195931

Westmincom to deploy reservists in disaster response

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 23, 2023): Westmincom to deploy reservists in disaster response (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

DISASTER RESPONSE. At least 30 reservists undergo a three-day training on disaster response initiated by the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) in collaboration with partner government agencies. The training kicked off Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2023) at the OCD-Zamboanga Peninsula office in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. (Photo courtesy of Westmincom)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) is training reservists in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in the region.

In a statement Thursday, Westmincom said it has initiated a three-day Joint Reserve Force Incident Command System (ICS) training that began at the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) - Zamboanga Peninsula in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur on Wednesday.

Westmincom commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said the training – under collaboration with OCD and the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Council – aims to impart the basic skills, knowledge, and techniques of ICS integrating the use of the reservists in HADR operations.

Thirty reserve officers and enlisted personnel of the 9th Regional Community Defense Group, 6th Air Reserve Center, and Naval Reserve Center - Western Mindanao are participating in the training.

“We are preparing our reserve personnel to be available for both military and non-military duties, especially during crisis or calamity,” Galido said.

Last week, Galido and OCD Regional Director Ramon Ochotorena discussed the "marching order" of the Department of National Defense on matters related to disaster response when the latter visited the Westmincom headquarters.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1195942