Kalinaw News: 2 wives of ASG subleader arrested in Basilan

Posted to Kalinaw News Facebook Page (Jun 16, 2023): 2 wives of ASG subleader arrested in Basilan

Combined troops of AFP and PNP arrest two wives of an ASG subleader for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition in Isabela City, Basilan

Read: https://bit.ly/3p00fAU

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AFP: JUST IN | Communist Terrorists in Butuan crippled in encounter, 15 firearms seized

Posted to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Facebook Page (Jun 16, 2023): JUST IN | Communist Terrorists in Butuan crippled in encounter, 15 firearms seized

4th Infantry "Diamond" Division, Philippine Army

Just In | 3 NPA Dead, 15 High-Powered Firearms Seized During Military Offensive in Butuan City
Three (3) CPP-NPA terrorists (CNTs) died, and 15 high-powered firearms were seized during an encounter with the troops of the 29th Infantry "Matatag" Battalion of the 901st Infantry "Fight 'Em" Brigade and the communist terrorist group (CTG) at Mt Apo-Apo Sitio Dugyaman, Brgy Anticala, Butuan City, today, June 16, 2023, at around 7: 00 AM.
More details will follow.

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Army slams NPA over Himamaylan massacre

From Panay News (Jun 17, 2023): Army slams NPA over Himamaylan massacre (By DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA)

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Army slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) for linking government forces to the massacre of four members of the Fausto family in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

Such allegation was a pathetic attempt by the insurgents to tarnish the Army’s reputation, according to the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IBde) in a statement.

It was meant to mislead people and camouflage culpability of the rebels in the massacre, the Army added.

The Philippine Army assured the public that government forces were committed to uncovering the truth behind the incident and in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, Himamaylan City’s Mayor Raymund Tongson assured the public that the city remains peaceful despite the massacre and the recent torching of heavy equipment in the city’s Barangay Carabalan.

With the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections approaching, Tongson believes the city will likely be included in the election watchlist areas.

The mayor is hoping that the recent incidents will not affect the upcoming polls.

For their part, the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) said they are not ruling out the possibility that the massacre was insurgency-related and that it could have also been done by the same NPA rebels who torched the heavy equipment in a neighboring village.

Police Captain Judesses Catalogo, NOCPPO spokesperson, said based on the reports they have received, several NPA rebels were spotted in Sitio Busay, Barangay Buenavista trying to convince residents to support their cause.

As of yesterday afternoon, Catalogo said they have not yet received updates from the Himamaylan City police regarding their investigation.

However, he affirmed that Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor ordered Himamaylan City police chief Lieutenant Colonel Reynante Jomocan to prioritize collecting evidence and witness testimonies regarding the incident.

The PRO-6 director also called on the residents of barangays Buenavista and Carabalan who may have information about the massacre and the arson attack to surface, reminding them that the incident was a “baseless killing of civilians who do not have the means to fight back.”

Rolly Fausto, wife Emilda and their two sons, 11-year-old Ben and 15-year-old Raben, were gunned down by still unidentified assailants.

Emilda and her sons were found riddled with bullets in their house, while Rolly was found in a field 50 meters away.

The said village is one of several NPA-influenced areas in central Negros where clashes that claimed the lives of several communist rebels and government troops have taken place in recent years.

https://www.panaynews.net/army-slams-npa-over-himamaylan-massacre/

3 communist rebels killed in Butuan skirmish

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 16, 2023): 3 communist rebels killed in Butuan skirmish (By MIKE CRISMUNDO)

BUTUAN CITY – Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed while several others were believed wounded in an encounter in the mountainous area of Mount Apo-Apo Dugyaman, Barangay Anticala, here, on Friday, June 16.

The slain communist guerrillas were two amazons and one male.

The Army 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion (IB) under the 901st Infantry Brigade are pursuing the fleeing NPA in the mountainous border of this city and Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte, towards the Diwata Mountain range.

Brig. Gen. George L. Banzon, commander of the 901st Brigade, is personally monitoring the ongoing operation of the 29th IB.

Residents reported the presence to the military of some 30 heavily armed NPAs in their makeshift hideout in Mount Apo-Apo Dugyaman.

Troops arrived in the area at about 7 a.m., sparking a gunfight and, after several minutes, the NPA scampered to different directions, said Army 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID) Pubic Affairs Office (PAO) chief Major Francisco P. Garello Jr.

“Our operating troops are still conducting wide pursuit operations to the running NPAs, who believed brought along with them some of their wounded,” he said.

“We believed that they have undetermined number of wounded as evidence of bloodstains in the captured hide-out of the NPAs,” Garello said.

He said the 29th IB under Lt. Col. Cresencio C. Gargar are still scouring the encounter site and pursuing the fleeing NPA from the SYP 21-C Guerilla Front Committee 21 of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

Found in the encounter site were one M16 Armalite rifle, five AK 47 rifle, three M4 Rifle, two M203 grenade launcher, four AR rifle, assorted ammunition, food, kitchen utensils, tents, assorted medicines and subversive documents with high intelligence value.

No casualty was reported on the government side.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/16/3-communist-rebels-killed-in-butuan-skirmish

NPA political officer yields in GenSan

From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 16, 2023): NPA political officer yields in GenSan (By JOSEPH JUBELAG)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A political officer of the New People’s Army has surrendered and was presented to Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao here on Thursday, June 15.

Col. Andre Santos, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade commander, identified the surrenderer as “Akai,” also a media liaison officer of the NPA-Far South Mindanao Region.

Akai, a resident of this city, yielded to Joint Task Force Gensan led by Col. Ruben Aquino.

Pacquiao provided him with financial and livelihood assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program of the government.

She lauded the military for facilitating the surrender of Akai.

Pacquiao urged his comrades to surrender and avail of the government’s peace and reconciliation initiatives.

“The government is willing to help and assist the voluntary surrender of NPA rebels who wish to join the mainstream society,” Pacquiao said.

Major Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, said at least 21 NPA rebels yielded to the military in Central Mindanao this year while 10 others were killed and five were captured during military operations.

https://mb.com.ph/2023/6/16/npa-political-officer-yields-in-gen-san

Egyptian child terrorist, Indonesian surrender to military in Sulu

From Rappler (Jun 16, 2023): Egyptian child terrorist, Indonesian surrender to military in Sulu (By MERLYN MANOS)

(1st UPDATE) The military says the young Egyptian's mother was a suicide bomber, and his stepfather and two older brothers were killed in fierce clashes with the military

ILIGAN, Philippines – A 13-year-old Egyptian terrorist turned himself in to the military in Sulu province on Wednesday afternoon, June 14, years after being orphaned due to extremism. He surrendered alongside a 27-year-old Indonesian who had become a terrorist at the age of 15.

According to the military, the Egyptian boy had been a member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf, an extremist organization linked to international terrorist networks such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The group is known for its extremist ideology and involvement in criminal activities including kidnappings, bombings, and attacks, primarily in the Sulu archipelago and Basilan.

Lieutenant General Roy Galido, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom), said the surrender of the young foreigners indicated progress in the government’s campaign against extremism, particularly targeting the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan.

Major Andrew Linao, the spokesman for Wesmincom, said the Egyptian and Indonesian surrendered to the Army’s 1103rd Infantry Brigade at around 2:30 pm on Wednesday. They had been listed by the military as priority targets.

Linao said the boy’s family had brought him to Sulu in 2017. He was accompanied then by his stepfather, mother, and two elder brothers who had entered the country as tourists via Manila.

The boy informed the military that his entire family joined the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan that same year, and they relocated to Sulu the following year to join the late ASG leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

Sawadjaan, a preacher who served as emir of ISIS in the Philippines, died a few days after sustaining wounds during a fierce encounter with government troops in Patikul, Sulu, in 2020.

According to the military, the boy’s mother, Reda Mohammad Mahmud, carried out a suicide bombing attack on a military checkpoint in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan, Sulu, on September 8, 2019.

His stepfather, Abduramil, and brother Abdurahman were killed in a clash with government troops in Barangay Kan Islam, Indanan, Sulu, on November 7, 2019.

His other brother, Yusof, was killed in an encounter with government troops in Igasan, Patikul, Sulu, on April 17, 2021.

The military said the Egyptian boy had engaged in armed confrontations in Sulu since the age of 10, sustaining injuries to his head and right forearm.

The boy, speaking in the Tausug dialect, expressed resentment towards his mother and brothers for involving him in terrorism when he surrendered, Linao said.

The child said his family had misled him, making him believe that their trip to the Philippines was simply for vacation purposes.

Together with the 27-year-old Ellam, a former sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu who took orders from the late Radullan Sahiron, the boy surrendered with their M16 rifle and M16A1 rifles, as well as ammunition.

They are currently undergoing debriefing and were presented to Colonel Christopher Tampus, commander of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade, at Camp Bud Datu in Tagbak, Indanan town, Sulu.

Major General Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, attributed the surrender to increased pressure on the Abu Sayyaf resulting from intensified intelligence operations by the military in Sulu and enhanced collaboration among local leaders and stakeholders in Indanan town in the fight against the terrorist organization.

Wives and a young widow

Meanwhile, police and soldiers arrested the wives of an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader and a young widow in Basilan on Thursday night, June 15.

Colonel Frederick Sales, the commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, identified the women as Marilyn Lasigan Bayali, also known as Nuray Fernandez, Madarang Jahirul Bayali, also known as Rashmiya Ordonez, and a 20-year-old named Nurmina Janatul, also known as Anisa.

Marilyn and Madarang, both in their 40s, are married to Pasil Bayali, a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

According to Major Linao, the women were apprehended during a search conducted by authorities at a residence in the village of Lower Lanote in Isabela City, Basilan. The search was based on a warrant issued for their violation of laws pertaining to the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Linao said the house belonged to Julhaur Lasigan Bayali, an alleged ASG member under Pasil.

During the search, authorities found an M16A1 rifle, an 81 mm mortar, blasting caps, and other materials used in the production of improvised explosive devices, along with additional ammunition.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/egyptian-child-terrorist-indonesian-abu-sayyaf-surrender-military-sulu-june-14-2023/

Davao police rule out terrorist attack in lawyer’s car explosion

From Rappler (Jun 16, 2023): Davao police rule out terrorist attack in lawyer’s car explosion (By LUCELLE BONZO)

The police say the June 15 explosion was likely meant to harass a lawyer, and was not an act of terrorism

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Police authorities have dismissed any connection between a car explosion in Davao City on Thursday morning, June 15, and terrorism.

“Our view on this is that it was merely an act of harassment. It wasn’t [an act of terrorism] because the explosive device was planted at the back of the car,” said Colonel Alberto Lupaz, the chief of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).

A lawyer’s Honda CRV parked outside a law office at One Oasis Condominium Ecoland exploded within five minutes after the two persons left an object under the vehicle.

The police obtained CCTV footage and described the suspects as being in their twenties.

The car’s rear windshield was damaged, but no one was hurt.

Lawyer Alberto Magulta, the owner of the car, reportedly received threats due to”high-profile cases” he has been handling in the Soccsksargen region.

The case remains under investigation. The DCPO’s crime scene investigators have started collecting fragments to determine the type of improvised explosive device used in the bombing.

Lupaz said the explosion prompted the police to make security adjustments, especially since the bomb attack was made in broad daylight.

Meanwhile, Task Force Davao head Colonel Darren Cornia said they have tightened security in the city and set up more checkpoints at the city borders.

“TF-Davao plans to strengthen the city’s culture of security,” Cornia said.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/davao-police-rule-out-terrorist-attack-car-explosion-june-15-2023/

Around 300 displaced, 1 wounded in Basilan skirmishes

From Rappler (Jun 16, 2023): Around 300 displaced, 1 wounded in Basilan skirmishes (By RICHARD FALCATAN)

The heavy firefight between government forces and a group of armed men lasted for about an hour

BASILAN, Philippines – Around 300 individuals were displaced while a rubber tapper was wounded when a heavy firefight ensued between government forces and a group of armed men at around 1 pm Friday, June 16, in Barangay Materling, Ungkaya Pukan, in the province of Basilan.

This was confirmed by Police Major Alphad Osalli, chief of Ungkaya Pukan Municipal Police Station (MPS), who said that the gun battle lasted until 2 pm, when the armed men withdrew toward an unknown direction.

This paved the way for the immediate evacuation of the displaced individuals in coordination with Municipal Social Welfare Development Officer Nursira Estajal together with Municipal Administrator Madznur Maturan.

Osalli said the internally displaced persons from barangays Materling, Bohe-Suyak, and Lower Ulitan were temporarily housed in Ma’ahad Darul Ulum before they proceeded to their respective relatives in the neighboring villages.

At around 2:30 pm, the patrol team was conducting a chokepoint operation at the crossing of Materling when the wounded rubber tapper identified as Aragon Sajid Abon, 38, was taken to the Ungkaya Pukan Rural Health Unit.

Authorities conducted a briefing at around 4 pm to harmonize the armed encounters, reduce casualties, avoid escalation of hostilities, and promote peace.

Early on, another group of unidentified armed men attacked a detachment of the Army’s Scout Rangers also in Ungkaya Pukan, as confirmed by Basilan Provincial Police Director Colonel Carlos Madronio. No casualty was reported.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/displaced-wounded-basilan-skirmishes-june-16-2023/

Ex-scout ranger gunned down in Kabankalan

From Panay News (Jun 17, 2023): Ex-scout ranger gunned down in Kabankalan (By DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA)

BACOLOD City – A former member of the Philippine Army’s Scout Rangers was killed after he was shot to death by four gunmen on Cordova Street in Barangay 3, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental late Thursday night, June 15.

The 46-year-old Kenneth Ababao was a resident of the said place.

Two of the suspects were later identified by Kabankalan City police as a certain 40-year-old alias “Adok” and 38-year-old Bonie Medez, both residents of Barangay Dancalan in the neighboring town of Ilog.

The remaining two suspects have yet to be identified.

Based on the initial investigation of the Kabankalan City police, the victim was having a drinking session with his friends when Adok, Medez and the two unidentified men arrived and opened fire at Ababao.

The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds on his chest and was declared “dead on arrival” at a hospital in the city.

As of this writing, police were still trying to establish the motive of the shooting and a manhunt operation against the suspects was ongoing.

https://www.panaynews.net/ex-scout-ranger-gunned-down-in-kabankalan/

4 NPA rebels killed in MisOr, Butuan

From MindaNews (Jun 16, 2023): 4 NPA rebels killed in MisOr, Butuan (By FROILAN GALLARDO)

NPA fighters. MindaNews file photo

CAGAYAN DE ORO (MindaNews / 16 June) — Four rebels, three of them females, were killed in clashes between the military and the New People’s Army in Claveria town in Misamis Oriental and Butuan City this week.

MGen Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the 4th Infantry Division said a clash happened Friday in Sitio Dugyanan, Barangay Anticala in Butuan City with an NPA band “so large” that they had to call in air support to engage the rebels.

Cuerpo said a pair of Philippine Air Force Turkish-made T129B attack helicopters arrived and pounded rebel positions at the slopes of Mount Apo-apo in Sitio Dugyanan.

He said the soldiers recovered the bodies of two female NPA rebels and their male companion from an abandoned camp.

The soldiers also recovered 15 high-powered firearms left behind by the rebels.

“The rebels put up stiff opposition forcing us to call for air support to soften their trenches,” according to BGen George Banzon, chief of the 901st Infantry Brigade who was supervising the operation.

Banzon said the soldiers fired at the communist rebels as they were preparing their food for lunch and washing their clothes in a nearby creek.

He said the rebels were able to recover from their initial surprise and managed to fight back prompting the call for air support.

In Claveria, Col. Christian Uy, commander of the 58th Infantry Battalion said his troops killed a female NPA member in a clash in Sitio Kalhaan, Barangay Minalwang Wednesday afternoon.

Uy said his troops were still searching for 15 other NPA rebels who have withdrawn from the encounter site.

4ID spokesperson Maj. Francisco Garello Jr. said identification of the dead rebels will start as soon as the bodies arrive at the town centers.

“Right now, the bodies are still up in the mountains. Once they are brought down, we will ask former rebels to identify them,” Garello said.

He said the 15 firearms seized are five AK47 rifles, three M4 rifles, two M16 rifles with M203 grenade launchers and four AR-18 rifles.

https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/06/4-npa-rebels-killed-in-misor-butuan/

Egyptian, Filipino jihadists surrender in southern Philippines

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 16, 2023): Egyptian, Filipino jihadists surrender in southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine military is holding a young Egyptian jihadist whose mother blew herself up in an attack on an army checkpoint in 2019 in the southern province of Sulu, officials said Friday.

Army Maj. Andrew Linaw, a spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command here, said the 13-year old Ibrahim surrendered together with a Filipino Abu Sayyaf fighter Ellam, a 27-year old sub-leader of the pro-ISIS group, in Indanan town.

Linaw said the duo yielded late Wednesday afternoon, June 14, and handed over their weapons - two M16A1 automatic rifles and ammunition - to the military at the 1103rd Infantry Brigade under Col. Christopher Tampus where the two men had been interrogated. “He is the last juvenile foreign terrorist on the periodic list. Ibrahim is believed to have entered the country in 2017 as a tourist through the Manila International Airport with his stepfather, mother, and two brothers,” he said.

Ibrahim, during interrogation, revealed that their family joined the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province in 2017 and eventually fled to Sulu province to join the group of notorious Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in 2018.

His mother, Reda Mohammad Mahmud, blew herself at the checkpoint in Km 3 in the village of Kajatian in Indanan town on September 8, 2019. His stepfather, Abduramil, and brother Abdurahman died in an encounter with the army troops in Kan Islam village in Indanan town on November 7, 2019, while his other brother, Yusop was killed in an encounter with soldiers on April 17, 2021, in Igasan town in Patikul town.

Linaw said Ibrahim joined the Abu Sayyaf as a juvenile 10-year-old fighter and was involved in numerous encounters in Sulu, where he incurred two injuries in his head and right forearm.

“Speaking in the local Tausug dialect, Ibrahim expressed his resentment against his mother who dragged him and his brothers into horrific situations where they must fight against the government forces and conduct atrocities. He thought that they were just going on a vacation trip in the Philippines, but he was forced to join the Abu Sayyaf Group,” he said, quoting a transcript of the interrogation.

Linaw said that Ibrahim and Ellam, a sub-leader of Abu Sayyaf chieftain Radullan Sahiron, surrendered together and claimed they wanted to start a new life citing the continued mass surrender of Abu Sayyaf members in the province and taking advantage of the government’s reconciliation program.

According to the military’s interrogation report, Ellam was recruited in 2009 when he was just 15 years old. He also acted as close-in security for Sahiron and the guide of the group in the Patikul area. He was involved in numerous armed confrontations against government forces from 2009-2021.

Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, branded the surrender of the jihadists calling it a “remarkable accomplishment.” He attributed this success of the Egyptian’s surrender to the intelligence units in Sulu, the local chief executives, other stakeholders, and the peace-loving people of Indanan.

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of Western Mindanao Command, said that the surrender of the foreign terrorist fighter and Abu Sayyaf sub-leader manifests that the government has won the hearts and minds not only of the people, but also that of the remnants of the different threat groups. “Our successful operations only prove that with commitment and collaboration, we can accomplish so much in the battle against terrorism, insurgency, and any form of criminality,” he said.

Security officials did not say if there are still foreign ISIS fighters in Sulu, but in August 24, 2020, a pair of suicide bombers struck in the capital town of Jolo and killed and wounded dozens of soldiers and civilians. One of the bombers was the Indonesian widow of Abu Sayyaf suicide bomber Norman Lasuca, who blew himself up outside a military base and killed eight people in Indanan town in 2019. The other bomber was the wife of Talha Jumsa, an Abu Sayyaf explosives expert and trained by ISIS, who was also slain in the 2019 clash with soldiers in Patikul town.

In January 2019, a twin suicide attacks carried out by Indonesian couple Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in downtown Jolo also killed and injured dozens of soldiers and civilians. The first bomb went off inside the church and the second blast occurred outside just as people were rushing out of the building.

https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2023/06/egyptian-filipino-jihadists-surrender.html

Troops recover roadside bomb in North Cotabato

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 16, 2023): Troops recover roadside bomb in North Cotabato

COTABATO CITY – Government troops recovered a roadside bomb in North Cotabato’s Pikit town in southern Philippines with security spokesman Maj. Andrew Linaw said the improvised explosive was lacking a mechanism to set it off.

Linaw said villagers tipped off the military on the presence of the explosive in the Inug-ug on Thursday, June 15 which prompted soldiers to cordon off the area as members of the bomb squad assess the situation.

“Troops immediately cordoned off the area, closed the road, and coordinated with the 33rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team for inspection and possible disruption of the IED. The EOD team further confirmed that the IED has incomplete components,” Linaw said.

He said the recovered bomb components included one unexploded ordnance, electronic wires, and a 9 volts battery. “The EOD team took the IED components to their headquarters for technical investigation and proper disposition,” he said.

Western Mindanao Command Chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, ordered an investigation to identify the instigator of this “hideous form of violence”.

“We believe that the perpetrators want to instill fear in the citizens, but we will never allow them to execute their terror ploys. Rest assured that we will continue to take preemptive and decisive actions to counter the desperate attacks of the remaining terrorists who seek to attract attention and support from the communities,” he said.

Just recently, soldiers disarmed three homemade bombs recovered in the village of Batulawan in Pikit town, and another improvised explosive in the village of Kadigasan in the neighboring town of Midsayap.

Villagers tipped off the military about the bombs following an explosion in the area. The military said the bombs were intended to blow up a steel pylon of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the failed bombings, but several Islamist groups operate in the province where several villages are under the Bangsamoro autonomous region.

https://mindanaoexaminernewspaper.blogspot.com/2023/06/troops-recover-roadside-bomb-in-north.html

PH, Singapore beef up cooperation vs. terrorism

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): PH, Singapore beef up cooperation vs. terrorism (By Priam Nepomuceno)

PH, SINGAPORE TIE UP. Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. (right) and Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines See Sin Yuan reaffirm their commitment to the Arrangement on the Assignment of a Team to the Regional Counter-Terrorism Information Facility in Singapore, during a meeting at the defense department’s main office in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on June 13, 2023. Teodoro said the Arrangement is a significant step toward enhancing the bilateral defense cooperation between the Philippines and Singapore. (Photo courtesy of DND)

MANILA – The Philippines and Singapore have beefed up their cooperation in combating terrorism in the region.

This was after Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. met with Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines See Sin Yuan on June 13.

"Highlighting the shared interests within the region between the two countries, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Arrangement on the Assignment of a Team to the Regional Counter-Terrorism Information Facility in Singapore," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Friday.

"Secretary Teodoro said the Arrangement is a significant step toward enhancing the bilateral defense cooperation between the Philippines and Singapore."

Meanwhile, the Singaporean diplomat said there would be more cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) after the recent signing of the Arrangement Concerning Education, Training Assistance and Support Activities on Human Assistance and Disaster Relief.

This took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue held on June 2-4.

"(This) would enable the AFP and the SAF to work closely together and build rapport for future cooperation," Andolong said.

Both officials also affirmed their countries’ similar position on the primacy of upholding international law, he said.

"Secretary Teodoro also expressed appreciation for Singapore’s support and investment to the Philippines, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and digitalization," he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203652

Retirement of key officials triggers another PNP revamp

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): Retirement of key officials triggers another PNP revamp (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

MANILA – Expect a major revamp in the Philippine National Police (PNP) with the retirement of two senior officials of the police organization.

Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) chief Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz bids farewell to his distinguished career in the PNP on June 14, while Maj. Gen. Ronaldo Olay, Director for Logistics, was honored for his exceptional service and dedication to the PNP on June 13.

In a statement on Friday, PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. expressed his admiration and gratitude to Cruz, acknowledging his exceptional work ethic, competence, and unwavering dedication during his 37-year service in the police force.

"We congratulate Maj. Gen. Eliseo Dela Cruz on this momentous occasion of his retirement. His leadership and commitment have been an invaluable asset to the Philippine National Police," said Acorda.

"Sa loob ng mahabang taon sa serbisyo, naniniwala akong ibinigay mo ang lahat ng iyong kakayahan, galing at sakripisyo upang mapaglingkuran at proteksyonan ang ating bayan ng buong puso, tapang, at husay (During the long years of service, I believe you have given all your skills, talent and sacrifice to serve and protect our people with all your heart, courage, and skill). We will miss your presence in the PNP, your mentoring, and the great works that have benefitted different police units you have worked with," he added.

Throughout his illustrious career, Cruz served and led in various capacities, and recently as the director for DIDM, leaving an indelible mark on the PNP and inspiring his colleagues and subordinates with his unwavering dedication, optimism, and hard work.

"I am deeply humbled and honored to have served the Filipino people and protected our nation with utmost sincerity and expertise. I am grateful for the trust bestowed upon me, and I will forever cherish the memories and friendships forged during my time in the PNP," Cruz said in his retirement statement.

During his tour of duty as the chief DIDM, Cruz introduced pioneering initiatives that propelled the PNP towards modernization, investigation, and efficiency.

Cruz's commitment to training and developing investigators also played a pivotal role in enhancing the PNP's crime-solving capabilities.

Furthermore, Cruz's exemplary leadership was instrumental in the successful resolution of several high-profile cases, upholding the rule of law and preserving public safety. His meticulous investigation of the 990-kilogram illegal drug seizure showcased his investigating skills and dedication to justice and integrity.

Among his more notable achievements was the overhaul of the National Police Clearance System, streamlining processes, and making police clearances more accessible to the public.

Under his leadership, 779 police stations and malls nationwide were equipped to facilitate the issuance of police clearances, generating over 915 million pesos in revenue since its implementation in March 2019.

"Cruz's retirement leaves a void in the PNP, but his legacy of professionalism and commitment will continue to inspire us We are grateful for his exceptional service and leadership, and he will always be remembered as a mentor and role model within the organization," Acorda said.

Meanwhile, Olay has exemplified professionalism, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the PNP.

With over three decades of service, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing the logistical capabilities of the police force, ensuring that the organization is well-equipped to fulfill its duties in protecting the nation and its people.

Throughout his tenure, Olay has successfully implemented numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing the logistical capabilities of the PNP. His efforts have not only streamlined internal processes but have also strengthened interagency collaboration, enabling better coordination between different units within the PNP.

"Maj. Gen. Olay's retirement marks the end of an era, but his legacy will continue to resonate within the PNP. His contributions will serve as a guiding light for future generations of law enforcement officers, reminding them of the importance of dedication, discipline, and upholding the highest standards of service,” said Acorda.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203660

BARMM police forms task group for cops’ ambush in MagSur

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): BARMM police forms task group for cops’ ambush in MagSur (By Edwin Fernandez)

AMBUSH SITE. Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza (center), BARMM police director, visits the site in Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur where two police officers were killed and four others were injured in an ambush by suspected Moro extremists on Wednesday night (June 14, 2023). Nobleza created a special investigation task group Friday (June 16, 2023) to hasten the probe into the incident. (Photo courtesy of PRO-BARMM)

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao del Sur – The Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM) has formed a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to hasten the probe into Wednesday’s ambush here that killed two policemen and injured four others.

Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza Nobleza, PRO-BARMM director, on Friday, condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the families of the slain police officers. “My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the two slain policemen in the ambush-slay Wednesday night,” Nobleza said. “This tragedy is very saddening, and a clear attack against our policemen who performed duties to protect the citizenry.”

He said he has placed the entire police force in the region under heightened alert.

“Our men on the ground are working double to bring justice to our slain and wounded cops, and to secure the peace and order in the area,” he said.

As Nobleza announced the activation of the SITG, he reminded all police officers in the region to look after each other’s safety.

Patrolmen Saipoden Macacuna and Bryan Dalao Polayagan, both of the 1st Platoon of the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company, were slain in the 8:30 p.m. ambush while heading for the provincial police office headquarters in Datu Hofer, Maguindanao Sur.

Wounded in the same ambush were Police Chief Master Sgt. Rey Vincent Gertos, Staff Sgt. Benjie delos Reyes, and Patrolmen Abdulgafor Alib and Arjie Val Loie Pabinguit.

The local government here, meanwhile, has offered a PHP150,000 reward for anyone who could provide information that could identify the perpetrators.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203654

Young foreign extremist, ASG leader, follower yield in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): Young foreign extremist, ASG leader, follower yield in Sulu (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

SURRENDER. An Abu Sayyaf Group member identified only as Tigong (in black shirt) hands over a Garand rifle when he was presented to Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID), in Bud Bagsak, Talipao, Sulu on Thursday (June 15, 2023). Tigong, 41, who joined the ASG in 2011, surrendered to the troops of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion in Talipao town. (Photo courtesy of 11ID)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A young foreign radical and two Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits, one of them a mid-level leader, have separately surrendered to authorities in Sulu, military officials said Friday.

The military identified the surrenderers as Ellam Abduraji Panduga, 27, an ASG sub-leader; a certain “Tigong,” 41, an ASG follower; and “Ibrahim,” a 13-year-old Egyptian national.

Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, 11th Infantry Division commander, said Panduga and Ibrahim surrendered at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to troopers of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade in Indanan, Sulu.

“He (Ibrahim) is the last juvenile foreign (militant) on the periodic list,” Patrimonio said in a statement.

Ibrahim is believed to have entered the country in 2017 as a tourist through the Manila International Airport with his stepfather, mother, and two brothers.

He disclosed that their family joined the ASG in Basilan in 2017 and transferred to Sulu to join ASG leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in 2018.

Ibrahim’s mother, Reda Mohammad Mahmud, blew herself as a suicide bomber while attacking an Army checkpoint in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan town on Sept. 8, 2019.

His stepfather, Abduramil, and brother Abdurahman died in an encounter with the military in Barangay Kan Islam, Indanan, Sulu, on Nov. 7, 2019.

His other brother, Yusof, was also killed in a clash with soldiers in Igasan, Patikul, Sulu on April 17, 2021.

Ibrahim joined the ASG at the age of 10 and was involved in numerous clashes in Sulu. He incurred two injuries on his head and right forearm in one of the clashes.

Speaking in the Tausug dialect, Ibrahim expressed his resentment against his mother who dragged him and his brothers into horrific situations where they must fight against government forces and conduct atrocities.

He said he thought they were just going on a vacation trip to the Philippines, but he was forced to join the ASG.

On the other hand, Panduga is a sub-leader of Sulu-based ASG senior leader Radullan Sahiron.

Panduga was recruited in 2009 when he was just 15 years old. He also acted as close-in security of Sahiron and the guide of ASG members in the area of Patikul town.

He was involved in numerous armed clashes between the ASG bandits and government forces from 2009 to 2021.

Panduga and Ibrahim handed over two M16 rifles, a magazine, and ammunition during their surrender.

The two underwent custodial debriefing and were presented to Col. Christopher Tampus, Army’s 1103rd Infantry Brigade commander, at the unit’s headquarters in Indanan town.

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of Western Mindanao Command, said the surrender of Panduga and Ibrahim shows that the government has won the hearts not only of the people but also the remnants of the various threat groups.

“Our successful operations only prove that with commitment and collaboration, we can accomplish so much in the battle against terrorism, insurgency, and any form of criminality,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Benito Ramos Jr., commander of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion (2SFBn), said Tigong surrendered and handed over a Garand rifle to their troopers in Talipao, Sulu on Thursday.

Ramos said Tigong, a cousin of ASG sub-leader Idang Susukan, joined the group in 2011.

“When Susukan was captured in August 2020, he (Tigong) hid until he decided to surrender and avail of the Localized Social Integration Program of the government,” Ramos said.

He said Tigong’s surrender was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the 2SFBn troops and the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) of Talipao.

The MTF-ELAC is Sulu’s version of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203656

Army vows justice for Negros massacre victims

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): Army vows justice for Negros massacre victims (By Nanette Guadalquiver)

PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, says the military would “spare no effort” to pursue justice for the slain members of the Fausto family in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental. “As your defenders, we will closely coordinate with the Philippine National Police to fast-track the resolution of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Edralin said in a statement on Friday (June 16, 2023). (Photo courtesy of 303rd Infantry Brigade, Philippine Army)

BACOLOD CITY – The Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) vowed to seek justice for the death of four members of the Fausto family in Negros Occidental as it dismissed the claims of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) linking government troops to the gruesome killing in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City on Wednesday night.

Brig. Gen. Orlando Edralin, commander of 303IBde, said Friday the military would “spare no effort” to pursue justice for the victims and their families.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal killing of (an) innocent family in Himamaylan City. As your defenders, we will closely coordinate with the Philippine National Police to fast-track the resolution of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Edralin said in a statement.

Found dead at their home in remote Sitio Kangkiling were Rolly Fausto, 52, and his wife Emilda, 49, as well as their sons Ben, 11, and Raben, 15.

Their bodies, which sustained gunshot wounds, were retrieved by disaster response personnel and brought to a funeral home in the city proper on Thursday afternoon.

The Himamaylan City Police Station considered the crime as insurgency-related, based on the initial investigation.

According to the 303IBde, the allegations against the government troops are “nothing but an attempt by the desperate NPA to tarnish the reputation of the Army in the province.”

“These communist terrorists quickly blame the Army without proof to mislead the people and to hide their guilty hands,” it added.

In a statement released to the media here, the NPA’s Apolinario Gatmaitan Command under the Negros Island Regional Operational Command accused the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB), a unit of the 303IBde, of involvement in the Fausto family killing.

On Thursday night, the 94IB said “the NPA in Negros is in a rampage against civilians suspected as military informants” after recently “suffering defeats in gun battles with soldiers in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City that claimed the lives of its key leaders.”

It cited the statement of the Mt. Cansermon Command, admitting the so-called death penalty and summary execution of three residents of Himamaylan City between April and June this year.

“The 303IBde condemns the NPA for killing innocent civilians on mere suspicions of being military informants. (It) strongly denies the claims that the three slain civilians were military spies,” the 94IB added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203659

15 members of left-leaning groups in N. Ecija sever ties with NPA

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): 15 members of left-leaning groups in N. Ecija sever ties with NPA (By Zorayda Tecson)

SEVERED TIES. Fifteen supporters of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army in Llanera, Nueva Ecija renounce the rebel group in Barangay Mabini on Friday (June 16, 2023). They were members of the Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid and Alyansang Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon under the Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. (Photo courtesy of 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company-Nueva Ecija)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Fifteen members of left-leaning organizations in Nueva Ecija on Friday have turned their backs on the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and decided to support the continuing peace and development efforts of the government.

Col. Richard V. Caballero, director of the Nueva Ecija Police, said the 15 were members of the Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid and Alyansang Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon under the Kilusan ng Magbubukid ng Pilipinas.

Caballero said they took their oath of allegiance to the government following a peace rally in Barangay Mabini, Llanera town.

He said joint police and military forces facilitated the special intelligence operation that resulted in the withdrawal of support from the CPP-NPA.

He said the government's relentless anti-insurgency campaign had resulted in the voluntary withdrawal of support from the rebel group.

Caballero added it was also a product of continuous joint efforts of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

"It is but a reality that the CPP-NPA has been substantially weakened as countless rebels have returned to the government’s side, realizing that insurgency has nowhere to go," he said in a statement.

Caballero encouraged those who are still active supporters or members of the communist group to lay down their arms, return to the government side and reunite with their families.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203673

Wives of Basilan ASG leader, follower yield gun, explosives

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): Wives of Basilan ASG leader, follower yield gun, explosives (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

EXPLOSIVES. Troops seized an M16 rifle with ammunition, explosives, and bomb-making materials as they arrested the wives of an Abu Sayyaf Group leader in a raid in Isabela City, Basilan province on Thursday evening (June 15, 2023). The raiding team was armed with a search warrant issued by a court in Isabela City when they raided the ASG safe house. (Photo courtesy of JTF-Basilan)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have seized a high-powered firearm with ammunition, explosives, and bomb-making materials as they arrested the wives of an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader in a raid in Basilan province, a top military official said Friday.

Col. Frederick Sales, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan acting commander, said a joint military-police team, armed with a search warrant issued by the court, raided the residence of Julhaur Lasigan Bayali in Barangay Lower Lanote, Isabela City, Basilan around 11 p.m. Thursday.

Sales said Julhaur was not at his residence which also serves as the terrorist group’s safe house except for the two wives of Basilan-based ASG leader Pasil Bayali.

Arrested during the raid were Marilyn Lasigan Bayali, 46, and Madarang Jahirul Bayali, 44, first and second wives of Pasil, and Nurmina Janatul, 20, wife of a former ASG member identified only as Mudzfar.

Seized from the ASG safe house were an M16 rifle with ammunition, four pipe bombs, and bomb-making components that included two 81-mm mortar ammunition, one of which was rigged with concrete nails and a mobile phone as trigger mechanism.

“Your armed forces will not stop supporting our partners from the police and other law enforcement agencies in suppressing criminality in Western and Central Mindanao,” Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of Western Mindanao Command said as he commended the troops for the successful operation.

On June 6, troops rescued an Indonesian teenager as they seized an encampment of Pasil following a firefight in Sitio Lobloban, Barangay Guiong, Sumisip, Basilan.

Sulu-based ASG subleader Mudzrimar Sawadjaan brought along the Indonesian teenager when he fled to Basilan to evade the relentless military operations against them.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203701

3 NPA rebels killed, 15 firearms seized in Butuan clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): 3 NPA rebels killed, 15 firearms seized in Butuan clash (By Alexander Lopez)

ENCOUNTER SITE. Photo shows the area where an encounter took place between the troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion and around 30 New People's Army rebels on Friday (June 16, 2023) in Mt. Apo-Apo, Sitio Dugyaman, Barangay Anticala, Butuan City. Three rebels were killed and 15 high-powered firearms were recovered by the government troops after the encounter. (Photo courtesy of 4ID)

BUTUAN CITY – Three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed following an encounter with troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) Friday morning in Barangay Anticala of this city.

1st Lt. Jade Bryce Buñe, the 29IB civil-military operations officer, said the troops encountered in Mt. Apo-Apo, Sitio Dugyaman of Antical village some 30 NPA rebels who were on the run from military forces.

“We received a tip from a civilian who saw the NPA rebels proceeding towards Mt. Apo-Apo area. After assessing his information, the battalion immediately launched a strike operation that resulted in the encounter,” Buñe said in an interview.

The 29IB also received information that among those with the rebel group was Maria Malaya, the secretary of the NPA North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee. Malaya, whose real name is Myrna Sularte, is the wife of Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, one of the top NPA leaders in Mindanao killed in October 2021 in the hinterlands of Impasugong, Bukidnon.

“These are mixed forces of the NPA that are on the run as a result of our intensified military operations in the area,” Buñe said.

The 29IB troopers also recovered from the encounter site 15 high-powered firearms, ammunition, and other personal belongings left by the rebels when they withdrew from the encounter.

“Our troops are still in the area conducting hot pursuit operations,” Buñe added.

The remains of the three slain NPA rebels were recovered by the government troops though they have yet to be identified as of posting time.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203706

Convergence strategy brings progress, peace to Agusan Norte

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 16, 2023): Convergence strategy brings progress, peace to Agusan Norte (By Alexander Lopez)

ECONOMIC GROWTH. Gov. Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante delivers the State of the Province Address on Friday (June 16, 2023) as one of the highlights of the weeklong commemoration of the 56th founding anniversary of Agusan del Norte. The SOPA underscored the economic gains of the province since 2022 and the achievements in the fight against insurgency through the convergence of efforts from government-line agencies, local government units, and the private sector. (PNA photo by Alexander Lopez)

BUTUAN CITY – The convergence of all efforts of government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and stakeholders in the private sector brought economic growth and reduced the insurgency problem in Agusan del Norte.

This was emphasized by Gov. Maria Angelica Rosedell Amante in her State of the Province Address (SOPA) delivered on Friday.

The SOPA presentation is among the highlights of the weeklong commemoration of the 56th foundation anniversary of the province.

In 2022, Agusan del Norte has gained substantial financial stride through resources derived from tax and non-tax revenues amounting to PHP238 million, or an increase of 18.79 percent from the previous year.

“Despite the rapidly changing and evolving challenges, we achieved financial equilibrium by balancing revenue generations and government expenditures that were optimal, efficient, effective, and able to carry the economic recovery,” Amante said.

At present, the province has 87,578 real property units with a real estate valuation of PHP3.47 billion, she added.

In agriculture, the provincial government has provided support to farmers through their LGUs as indicated in their 2022 records where 479 sacks of genetically modified corn seeds were released with 1,152 bags of fertilizers, 16,585 seedlings of fruit trees, and 2,520 heads of chickens for backyard production.

Amante also recognized the support of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to the farmers in Agusan del Norte.

With the DA support, a total of 293 coffee farmers in the town of Las Nieves, including 100 Indigenous Peoples, received a PHP19 million coffee production and marketing project with an additional PHP6.1 million financial grant for fertilizer and marketing program.

Likewise, some 164 hectares of land were also distributed with the release of PHP2 million worth of equipment and machinery to 117 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries in the province last year.

The NIA also invested PHP12.7 million in six irrigation projects in Las Nieves and Cabadbaran City.

The PCA, for its part, provided support to 697 coconut farmers in 2022 through its incentive program amounting to PHP5.8 million for planting 68,640 coconut seedlings while the BFAR provided 1.74 million tilapia and 2.21 million carp fingerlings to the Agusan del Norte Techno-Demo project.

Fighting insurgency

Meanwhile, the convergence through Executive Order 70 that institutionalized the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) also brought impacts in the fight against insurgency in the province.

From 2021 to 2022, Amante said 33 farm-to-market roads (FMRs) were completed and handed over to the LGUs which were funded under the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP) of the NTF-ELCAC.

Eleven operational Level II water system projects were also turned over to the different barangays which are accessible through 255 water tap stands.

The province received PHP660 million worth of funding for the projects from the LGSF-SBDP from 2021 to 2022.

“The success of this program was due to the harmonious collaboration between the provincial government, the LGUs, the 37 barangays identified under the ELCAC, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the other stakeholders,” Amante said.

She added that aside from its contribution to the infrastructure development of the province, the LGSF-SBDP, through NTF-ELCAC has conveyed the government’s presence in the isolated areas in Agusan del Norte.

The convergence of efforts, the governor said, “resulted in the improvement of road conditions from 68 percent in 2021 to 79 percent in the first quarter of 2023,” with 198 kilometers of provincial roads now concreted or paved from the total of 251 kilometers.

The collaboration of stakeholders in the province also led to the surrender of 149 NPA rebels from 2020 until the first quarter of this year and the turnover of 130 firearms and explosives.

The government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program likewise aided some 200 former rebels since 2022 through the provisions of quarterly subsistence support from the provincial government.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203700