Maguindanao’s powerful political alliance collapses as 3 clans bolt to MILF party

From Rappler (Oct 7, 2024): Maguindanao’s powerful political alliance collapses as 3 clans bolt to MILF party (By Ferdinandh Cabrera)

The political families Midtimbangs, Masturas, and Sinsuats bolt from the Maguindanao provinces' 'Family Alliance' to the party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front

DAVAO, Philippines – The BARMM Grand Alliance (BGC) suffered a major setback after three of its four founding political clans left the coalition in the two Maguindanao provinces and threw their support behind the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The Family Alliance-BGC was established by the political families of Maguindanao del Sur Governor Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu and former Sultan Kudarat governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu, Ali and Antao Midtimbang, Tucao Mastura, and the Sinsuats of Maguindanao del Norte.

The well-entrenched political clans were key members of the BGC, until three – the Midtimbangs, Masturas, and Sinsuats – agreed to unite with the UBJP.

On Sunday night, dozens of incumbent local chief executives and prospective candidates for the UBJP convened in Davao City for a meeting with Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) chairperson and South Cotabato Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr., BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al Haj” Ebrahim, and Maguindanao del Norte Governor Abdulraof Macacua.

As a result, the UBJP officially declared Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte Mayor Tucao Mastura as their standard bearer for the governorship of Maguindanao del Norte.

For Maguindanao del Sur, the UBJP will field Ali Midtimbang, the father of Vice Governor Nathaniel Midtimbang, for governor. Ali’s running mate is Hisham Nando, son of the late BARMM Wali Sheikh Khalipa Nando.

Former Maguindanao governor and 2nd District representative Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu will run for Congress in Maguindanao del Sur under the UBJP..

The congressional and vice gubernatorial bets for Maguindanao del Norte have been contentious. Ebrahim said they agreed to allow Representative Dimple Mastura and former representative Sandra Sema to fight for the position under the UBJP. It’s going to be a “free zone.”

He said the same applies to Datu Blah Sinsuat Mayor Marshall Sinsuat and former Vice Governor Ainee Sinsuat who would run against each other for Maguindanao del Norte’s vice gubernatorial post.

The Sinsuats were the last of the political families to join the UBJP, having been previously seen in pre-COC filing activities with Mariam Mangudadatu’s group.

“We are very thankful. We worked hard for this. Our goal is moral governance, to unite our leaders,” said Maguindanao del Norte Governor Macacua.

Macacua said he stepped aside in the Maguindanao del Norte race for the sake of unity.

“Alhamdullilah, we are grateful to Allah, the President, and the trust of our fellow leaders to lead Maguindanao del Norte,” he said.

Maguindanao del Sur Governor Mangudadatu filed her certificate of candidacy on Monday morning, October 7, with former Mamasapano Mayor Benzar Ampatuan as her running mate, instead of her initial pick, Nathaniel Midtimbang.

Her husband Suharto has already filed his COC but has yet to announce his running mate. Until the Sinsuats’ move to join the UBJP, Suharto was expected to pick Ainee Sinsuat as his running mate. – Rappler.com

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/elections/maguindanaos-powerful-political-alliance-collapses-as-3-clans-bolt-to-Moro Islamic Liberation Front-party/

Isabela City now ‘Abu Sayyaf free’

From the Business World Online (Oct 6, 2024): Isabela City now ‘Abu Sayyaf free’

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COTABATO CITY — Officials have declared Isabela City in Basilan as fully cleared from the presence of the Abu Sayyaf terror group, a result of cross-section peace initiatives.

Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade in Basilan, told reporters via Facebook Messenger on Sunday that credit for the feat should go to the Isabela City Peace and Order Council and the administration of Basilan Gov. Hadjiman H. Salliman.

The multi-sector, inter-agency Isabela City peace and security council, led by Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, has members from the local Muslim and Christian religious communities.

Luzon, local leaders led by Ms. Turabin-Hataman and her spouse, Basilan Congressman Mujiv S. Hataman, and Army Brig. Gen. Leonardo I. Peña, who is commander of the anti-terror Joint Task Force Orion, together officiated last week the symbolic declaration of Isabela City as “Abu Sayyaf free,” meaning totally liberated from the presence of the group.

Units of the 101st Infantry Brigade, the Basilan Provincial Police Office, Salliman and his constituent-mayors in the province had earlier declared, one after another, as Abu Sayyaf free all the 11 towns in the province and its second city, Lamitan, which has 45 barangays. — John Felix M. Unson

https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2024/10/06/626098/isabela-city-now-abu-sayyaf-free/

Rights groups condemn acquittal of ’martial law architect’

Propaganda article posted to the pro-CPP/NDF/NPA online propaganda news outlet, Bulalat (Oct 8, 2024): Rights groups condemn acquittal of ’martial law architect’ (Anne Marxze Umil) October 8, 2024)

MANILA – Rights-based groups condemned the acquittal of martial law architect Juan Ponce Enrile and his two co-accused of plunder charges.

In a statement, the Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA) said that Enrile has been getting away with plunder since his day as the “number one martial law implementor of Ferdinand Marcos Sr.”

On Oct. 4, Friday, the 100-year old former senator along with his former chief of staff, Jessica “Gigi” Reyes, and businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles were acquitted of the plunder case filed against them by the Ombudsman. According to a news report, the Sandiganbayan Third Division has granted Enrile’s motion for demurrer to evidence that led to their acquittal. The Ombudsman filed plunder charges for illegally appropriating P172.83 million or $3.046 million of Enrile’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF, or the former monicker for the pork barrel) to non-existent non-government organizations.

CARMMA said that as one of Marcos Sr.’s top cronies, Enrile was allowed to dip his own fingers into the people’s monies.

“He is believed to have helped himself to up to $475 million of the coco levy fund, a tax forced on coconut farmers during martial law, ostensibly to develop the coconut industry. The funds, however, were used to finance Enrile’s business conglomerates such as the purchase of the United Coconut Planters Bank and the acquisition of San Miguel Corporation as well as Imeldific projects such as the Miss Universe Pageant of 1974 and the construction of the Cultural Center of the Philippines,” the group said in a statement.

The group added that Enrile has never been made accountable for what they described, his “humongous plunder of the coco levy funds.” Meanwhile under the present administration, Enrile was appointed as chief presidential legal counsel.

“Is it any wonder that he is again getting away with plunder? Enrile’s plunder acquittal is just one of several cases related to the Marcoses and his cronies that have been dismissed since the May 2022 elections,” they added.

The group cited the Sandiganbayan Second Division’s acquittal of the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth cases involving 10 prime real estate properties in June 2023.

“Even in the rare cases that resulted in conviction, the Marcoses have managed to stay out of prison. Imelda Marcos was sentenced to serve 40 to 70 years in prison for graft after she was found guilty by the Sandiganbayan in November 2018 of funneling some $200 million to Swiss foundations in the 1970s. However, Imelda continues to live in luxury while the case is on appeal at the Supreme Court, which has been taking its sweet time coming out with its ruling,” they added.

“Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is apparently wielding his immense powers as president in a misbegotten attempt to recoup and consolidate his thieving family’s ill-gotten wealth,” CARMMA said.

Amirah “Mek” Lidasan, a Moro woman and Makabayan senatorial candidate, expressed indignation over Sandiganbayan’s decision on the plunder against Enrile, Reyes and Napoles.

“Where is justice when corrupt individuals like Juan Ponce Enrile, Gigi Reyes, and Janet Napoles are acquitted?” Lidasan said in a statement.

“There is overwhelming evidence linking them to the pork barrel scam. Those who squandered the people’s money are freed while innocent civilians like Moro and Indigenous Peoples, falsely accused of crimes, are convicted and even killed!” she added.

Lidasan assailed the arrest of the many innocent Moro civilians who are being accused of being members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.

“They were tortured and forced to confess to secure their conviction! They have been imprisoned for years, while corrupt politicians walk free and have even been acquitted,” Lidasan said.

She also cited the filing of Anti-Terror Act cases against leaders of the Cordillera People’s Alliance. “There is no justice left for the Moro and Indigenous Peoples under this administration—it exists only for the powerful and the privileged,” Lidasan said.

“We must to put an end to a justice system that absolves the corrupt while allowing Moro and Indigenous Peoples to suffer discrimination and fabricated charges by the government. We will not stop speaking out and fighting until justice is truly served, Lidasan added. (RTS)

https://www.bulatlat.com/2024/10/08/rights-groups-condemn-acquittal-of-martial-law-architect/

1ID deploys 32IB in Basilan

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Oct 9, 2024): 1ID deploys 32IB in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA. The 1st Infantry Division deploys an additional battalion of troops to enhance security and sustain peace in Basilan province. A photo handout shows the troops of the 32nd Infantry Battalion arrived aboard a Philippine Navy ship at the port of Lamitan City, Basilan on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.SunStar Zamboanga

AN ADDITIONAL battalion of troops has been placed under the operational control of the 101st Infantry Brigade (101Bde) to enhance security and sustain peace in Basilan province.

The additional battalion deployed by the 1st Infantry Division (1ID) to Basilan is the 32nd Infantry Battalion (32IB), which arrived in the province on Tuesday, October 8.

"I am proud of what you have achieved. Your sacrifices and accomplishments mirror the success of the campaign of the 1ID, the Philippine Army, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a whole," Major General Gabriel Viray III, 1ID and Joint Task Force (JTF)-Zampelan commander, told the 32IB troops in a send-off ceremony on Monday, October 7.

"As you bid farewell to JTF-Zampelan and embark on new challenges in JTF Orion's area of operations, bring forth with you the laurels of your unwavering service, your consistency as models of excellence," Viray added.

The send-off ceremony was held at the 1ID grandstand at Camp Major Cesar Sang-an in Upper Pulacan village, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

The JTF-Orion has jurisdiction over the provinces of Basilan and Sulu with the 101Bde and 11ID as its operating units.

Brigadier General Alvin Luzon, 101Bde commander, said the 32IB, will take over the operational and security responsibilities in two key municipalities of Basilan, further bolstering the Brigade's efforts to maintain stability in Basilan province, especially as preparations for the 2025 midterm elections intensify.

Luzon said the battalion's deployment comes at a critical time, with elections fast approaching and ongoing efforts to sustain peace in Basilan following recent declarations of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)-free municipalities and cities.

In line with the Brigade's continuous mission to promote lasting peace and security in Basilan, the 32IB will support the ongoing initiatives of 101Bde, including intensified coordination with local government units, election duty, and peace-building activities across the province, according to Luzon.

"Their presence will not only ensure a peaceful election process but will also reinforce our ongoing peacekeeping efforts across Basilan," Luzon said.

"The integration of the battalion into our peace and security campaign signifies a strengthened commitment to protecting the people of Basilan and preserving the hard-earned peace in the province," he added.

He said the 32IB will be actively involved in election security preparations, ensuring that the democratic process is conducted in a safe and orderly manner.

He said they will also play a crucial role in other security-related initiatives including the furtherance of the normalization track of the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the transformation program with the Moro National Liberation Front. (SunStar Zamboanga)

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/1id-deploys-32ib-in-basilan#google_vignette

PH Army, S. Korea President honor Korean War veterans

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 7, 2024): PH Army, S. Korea President honor Korean War veterans (By Priam Nepomuceno)

TRIBUTE. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pays tribute to Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea members during the wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial Pylon, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Sunday (Oct. 6, 2024). The PA Security and Escort Battalion provided ceremonial honors to the South Korean leader during the wreath-laying rites. (Photo courtesy of the PA)

MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) on Sunday joined visiting South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in honoring veterans of the Korean War.

In a statement Monday, PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy M. Galido hosted the South Korean leader who arrived in the country on Sunday.

Yoon honored Filipino and South Korean veterans in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial Pylon inside the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

He added that the PA Security and Escort Battalion provided ceremonial honors during the wreath-laying ceremony.

"The event pays tribute to the valor and sacrifice of the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) members who bravely fought side-by-side with South Korean soldiers and defended their stations against the combined forces of North Korea and the Chinese People's Volunteer Army during the Korean War," Dema-ala said.

He also said the ceremony shows the PA leadership recognizes the profound significance of memorializing the sacrifices of veterans who showed resilience, bravery, and unwavering spirit.

Yoon is in the country to meet with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations between Manila and Seoul.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between South Korea and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234892

US sends aircraft, personnel to assist in Batanes relief ops

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 6, 2024): US sends aircraft, personnel to assist in Batanes relief ops (By Darryl John Esguerra)

ALLIES IN NEED. Two KC-130J Hercules aircraft from the United States Expeditionary Force arrive at the Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday (Oct. 5, 2024). The aircraft transported crucial supplies, personnel and equipment to assist the ongoing relief operations in the province of Batanes following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Julian. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Air Force)

MANILA – The United States (US) has deployed personnel and planes in the Philippines to assist in relief operations in the province of Batanes following the onslaught of Typhoon Julian (Krathon).

According to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), two KC-130J Hercules aircraft from the United States III Marine Expeditionary Force brought personnel and equipment to the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday afternoon.

The US aircraft delivered “crucial humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies” for the victims of the recent super typhoon, the PAF said in a statement, adding that the mission is part of the US government's ongoing commitment to disaster relief efforts, facilitated through the United States Agency for International Development.

The following essential items are being transported to aid the affected communities:
- 1,000 Department of Social Welfare and Development family food packs
- 1,000 Office of Civil Defense shelter repair kits
- 2,500 International Organization for Migration (IOM) graded tarpaulin sheets
- 1,000 IOM kitchen sets

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. expressed his gratitude to the country’s longstanding ally for its timely assistance.

“We are deeply thankful to the US government for their swift response and unwavering support during this critical time. Their assistance is vital as we work to rebuild and provide for our communities affected by the super typhoon,” he said.

The PAF likewise deployed its C-130 aircraft in two batches of delivery of essential goods in partnership with GMA Kapuso Foundation.

“The Philippine Air Force remains steadfast in its mission to deliver timely and efficient air transport in support of national humanitarian efforts, demonstrating once again its unwavering commitment to serve the Filipino people,” PAF public affairs chief Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said in a statement.

Julian headed to Taiwan on Wednesday but reentered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday, affecting Batanes only.

The relief operations coincided with the four-day joint military exercises on humanitarian assistance and disaster response with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force that will end Sunday.

Being held at Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu, the exercise dubbed “Doshin Bahanihan 2024” is focused on aerial drop operations and rescue missions, designed to prepare both forces for a wide range of emergency scenarios, including typhoons, earthquakes and other natural disasters that frequently affect the region.

In a separate statement Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said relief operations in Batanes continue with the assistance of the Joint US Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG).

The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, represented by Lt. Col. Ariel Galimba, and JUSMAG chief Col. Edward Evans met with Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco.

The officials “emphasized the importance of close collaboration with local authorities to streamline logistics and ensure that vital resources reach the most severely impacted areas,” according to AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad. (With reports from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)


https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234865

Army told to prevent NPA resurgence in Bohol

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2024): Army told to prevent NPA resurgence in Bohol (By Mary Judaline Partlow)

MEETING THE TROOPS. Maj. Gen. Marion Sison (center), commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, visits the 47th Infantry Battalion in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental province on Thursday (Oct. 10, 2024). The division commander cited the 47IB for its accomplishments, particularly in making Bohol province insurgency-free. (Photo courtesy of 3rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army)

DUMAGUETE CITY – The 47th Infantry Battalion (47IB) of the Philippine Army based in Negros Oriental is relentlessly sustaining its operations in nearby Bohol province to prevent a resurgence of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Lt. Col. Magno Mapalad, 47IB commanding officer, told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday that they are committed to ensuring that the NPA – the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines – could no longer recoup or conduct recruitment activities in Bohol.

“We are continuing our sustainment operations with the help and cooperation of the local governments and other stakeholders to maintain its current status of being insurgency-free,” Mapalad said in mixed English and Filipino.

He added that they are also strengthening their integrated territorial defense system after the remaining NPA members of the last guerilla front were neutralized early this year.

Although based in Negros Oriental province, the coverage area of the 47IB includes Bohol province.

Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) based in Jamindan town, Capiz province, during his visit to the 47IB headquarters in Mabinay town, Negros Oriental on Thursday morning, urged the troops to not let their guard down while pursuing efforts to put an end to the insurgency in the province.

Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, 3ID spokesperson, in an interview said that Sison’s visit to the 47IB and other Philippine Army units in Negros Island is to remind them that their efforts should be focused on accomplishing the mission of ending the local communist armed conflict this year.

“We need now to transition, preposition, and prepare for our territorial defense operations to end the local communist armed conflict by December 31st,” Javines said.

The 3ID commander gave awards, rewards, and recognition to 47IB troops, particularly in the battalion’s accomplishment in Bohol, which no longer has armed rebels and affected organizations, which he also wants to happen in other areas.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235268

Joint security forces deployed for 45th MassKara Festival

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2024): Joint security forces deployed for 45th MassKara Festival (By Nanette Guadalquiver)

October 10, 2024, 7:49 pm


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SECURITY FOR MASSKARA. A send-off ceremony at the Bacolod City Police Office grounds deploys personnel of the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to secure the 45th MassKara Festival, on Thursday afternoon (Oct. 10, 2024). The festivity will kick off with a “grand salubong” (welcome) on the night of Oct. 11 to usher in the festivity set from Oct. 12 to 27. (PNA photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)

BACOLOD CITY – At least 1,859 joint security personnel were deployed to ensure peace and order during the 45th MassKara Festival, which will kick off with a “grand salubong” (welcome) on the night of Oct. 11 to usher in the festivity set from Oct. 12 to 27.

Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, director of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas) and task group commander of MassKara Festival 2024, led the send-off ceremony held at the Bacolod City Police Office grounds Thursday afternoon.

“In the past, our role had been pivotal to the success of the MassKara Festival celebration. There were no major crime incidents and no emergencies involving our security contingent. This year, we gear up our efforts and preparations to achieve at least the same or probably even greater performance,” Wanky said in his message.

This year’s security forces include 1,199 uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police and 330 more from other law enforcement agencies, such as the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Army.

Also part of the contingent are 230 force multipliers and 100 personnel of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and rescue groups.

The security personnel will be equipped with 57 mobile patrol cars, 51 motorcycles, three fire trucks, one man truck, 90 civil disturbance management equipment, and 320 hand-held radios.

Councilor Psyche Marie Sy, who delivered a message on behalf of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, said that beyond the colorful and vibrant festival is the need for safety and order.

“Your presence in the festival ensures that the celebration remains peaceful, secure, and enjoyable for everyone. I know your training, dedication, and commitment to duty will allow you to fulfill these tasks,” she added.

The festivity’s Sapphire Edition has four major festival sites, including the Bacolod City Government Center, Bacolod Public Plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip, and Megaworld’s The Upper East.

On Saturday night, the MassKara Festival will be launched during a welcome event, with entertainers led by December Avenue, at the Bacolod City Government Center grounds.

Major events include MassKaralympics on Oct. 4-25; MassKaNamit cookfest, Oct. 15-17; Miss Bacolod MassKara finals night, Oct. 19; Lacson MassKara 2024: Kingdom, Oct. 25-27; MassKarade Ball, Oct. 25; Electric MassKara, Oct. 26; and MassKara Street Dance and Arena Competition on Oct. 27.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235283

Army thanks ex-NPA rebels, kin for help in anti-insurgency fight

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 9, 2024): Army thanks ex-NPA rebels, kin for help in anti-insurgency fight (By Sarwell Meniano)

ARMS HAUL. Some of the firearms and ammunition of the New People’s Army discovered in Kananga, Leyte on Oct. 5, 2024. The Philippine Army said Wednesday (Oct. 9) that more former rebels, their families, and friends have been joining the government’s anti-insurgency drive by disclosing the locations of firearms buried by the communist rebels. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

TACLOBAN CITY – More former rebels, members of their families, and friends have been joining the government’s anti-insurgency drive by disclosing the locations of firearms buried by the New People’s Army (NPA), the Philippine Army said Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Perfecto Peñaredondo, acting commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said there has been recent success in their campaign to fight insurgents with the information provided by NPA members and allies on the location of arms caches.

"This is a clear indication that the families of the NPA members and the community appreciate the efforts of the government and have decided to support the fight of ending the local communist armed conflict," Peñaredondo said in a statement.

On Oct. 5, a family member of alias ‘Agunos’, an NPA rebel killed in an armed encounter in February, revealed the locations of an arms cache containing three firearms in the upland Rizal village in Kananga, Leyte.

Troops from the 93rd Infantry Battalion under the 802nd Infantry Brigade recovered an M16 assault rifle, caliber.30 M1 garand, KG-9 pistol, five magazines, and 41 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition allegedly owned by the recently dismantled platoon 2 of the island committee Levox under the NPA Eastern Visayas regional party committee.

On Oct. 3, acting on a tip-off from a former rebel, soldiers facilitated the surrender of two active NPA remnants and recovered a significant cache of weapons and ammunition in Eastern Samar.

Soldiers from the Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion received information from alias ‘Apolonio’, a former Yunit Militia member of the NPA who identified two active NPA members hiding in Abejao village in Salcedo, Eastern Samar.

‘Apolonio’ disclosed the location of Lilio Betasolo Jacobe, alias Baoy, vice squad leader of NPA’s Apoy Platoon Squad 2, and Enorio Afable Aquilla, alias Rokles, a member of the same squad. Both rebels surrendered in Abejao village in Salcedo town.

These individuals were involved in a clash with government forces on July 25 this year, in Osmeña village, General MacArthur town in Eastern Samar, where their leader, Joel Guarino, alias ‘Duran’, was killed.

Following their surrender, they revealed the locations of hidden arms caches in the villages of Osmeña and Laurel in the same town.

The operation resulted in the recovery of two M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, one M1903 caliber .30 Springfield rifle, and one AK-47 rifle.

Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the success of this operation is credited to their efforts in the conduct of comprehensive debriefings with former rebels and implementing the Friends Rescued Engagement through Their Families program.

The program optimizes the local government’s efforts to link and convince the remaining NPA members through the active participation of the rebels’ families to work for the peaceful surrender of their loved ones and take advantage of benefits through the Enhanced Local Integration Program.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1235118

Ex-rebel gets PHP2.3-M for seizure of 31 firearms

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8, 2024): Ex-rebel gets PHP2.3-M for seizure of 31 firearms (By Jesse Maguiya)

REMUNERATION. A former rebel who led government forces to the arms cache of 31 high-powered firearms received on Monday (Oct. 7, 2024) PHP2.3 million under the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program of the government in Kalinga province. The program aims to encourage rebels and combatants to surrender. (Contributed photo/Jesse Maguiya)

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) and her spouse received PHP2.3 million from the government on Monday as remuneration for information that led to the seizure of 31 high powered firearms.

Alias "Sayap" was rewarded for providing information that led to the seizure of 31 high powered firearms in Barangay Gueday, Besao, Mountain Province.

The remuneration is under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Of the total firearms, 29 were monetized while two have pending valuations. Each were valued between PHP50,000 and PHP80,000.

In a press briefing at the capitol, Kalinga Governor and ECLIP Chairperson James Edduba handed over the financial package to “Sayap," a rebel for 35 years.

“He voluntarily surrendered and later provided the information to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Many of the firearms recovered were machine guns,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Romualdo Raymund Landingin, commander of the AFP 503rd Infantry Brigade, said in the same press conference that at least 50 more NPA members in Kalinga are interested in surrendering.

“They are, however concerned of the legal cases and security, which are reasons that are holding them back,” he said.

Landingin stressed that returning rebels will receive security and assistance under the Firearm Remuneration and Demilitarization Program.

DILG-Cordillera Assistant Director Ruperto Maribay Jr. said the successful negotiation took nearly a year to finalize.

He said the former rebel will receive additional benefits under the ECLIP program like education assistance for his three children in college, housing assistance and livelihood package.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234985

Galvez pushes final peace deal with Reds

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 1, 2024): Galvez pushes final peace deal with Reds (By Lade Jean Kabagani)

Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stressed Tuesday that there is still a need for the Philippine government to engage in a “final political settlement” with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP).

According to Galvez, this is necessary despite the continuing decline of communist insurgencies throughout the country. “Yes, definitely, because we need finality. We need to engage in a final political settlement,” Galvez said in an ambush interview.

He made the statement when asked if there is still a need to push through with the peace talks with the communist rebels amid the continuous declaration of various communities as insurgency-free.

“The declaration of insurgency-free is basically operational and has a significant effect. But our primary goal is to have a complete agreement; constituting armed struggle is no longer needed to effect change,” Galvez said.

There are ongoing exploratory peace talks between the Philippine government and the CPP-NPA-NDFP.

“We need the other side to know that there is no need for armed rebellion. If they agree, and we end up having a peace agreement, at least we can say there is a final settlement,” Galvez noted.

Under the Oslo Joint Communiqué, the Philippine government and the NDF agreed to a principled and peaceful resolution of the armed conflict, which would pave the way for the transformation of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Galvez, who heads the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), believes that the ongoing exploratory talks “would attract positive results,” which would help the government promote just and lasting peace in the country.

He said the government is adamant about concluding a final peace settlement with the communists before the end of the Marcos administration.

The country’s anti-terrorism council has declared the entire CPP-NPA-NDFP as a terrorist organization. During the early days of the exploratory talks, the CPP-NPA-NDFP requested the removal of their terrorist designation.

However, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said granting the CPP-NPA-NDF’s request must undergo the process of peace settlement.

https://tribune.net.ph/2024/10/01/galvez-pushes-final-peace-deal-with-reds

Philippines Says It Is ‘Monitoring’ Media Reports of Covert Foreign Ops

From The Diplomat (Oct 4, 2024): Philippines Says It Is ‘Monitoring’ Media Reports of Covert Foreign Ops (By Sebastian Strangio)

A new Al Jazeera documentary advances claims that Alice Guo, a former Philippine mayor, worked as a spy for the Chinese government.



In this screen grab from a recent Al Jazeera 101 East documentary, Chinese businessman She Zhijiang speaks to reporters by video link from prison in Bangkok, Thailand.Credit: Al Jazeera 101 East
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The Philippines says that it is concerned about recent media reports of foreign covert operation on its soil, and that security agencies were working to verify and address them. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Maria Teresita Daza, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs, did not name any particular foreign country or entity, but referenced a recent Al Jazeera 101 East documentary, in which a Chinese fugitive detained in Thailand alleges Chinese espionage operations on Philippine soil.

“The Department has noted reports, press reports containing relevant information on alleged foreign covert operation in the Philippines, in accordance with its mandate to help protect national security,” Daza said as per Reuters. “The Department takes such reports seriously and is monitoring relevant developments in this regard.”

Also this week, Justice Undersecretary Nicky Ty said that the Department of Justice will coordinate with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and National Security Agency to determine the veracity of the information contained in the documentary.

The Al Jazeera documentary, which aired last week, centers on the Chinese businessman She Zhijiang, a years-long fugitive from the law in China who headed the development of New Yatai City, an online gambling and cyber-fraud hub in Myanmar’s Karen State, close to the border with Thailand.

In the documentary, She, who was arrested in Thailand in mid-2022 and remains in custody there, is quoted as saying that he once spied for China and was recruited in the Philippines in late 2016. He also claims that he worked for China’s Ministry of State Security, the main agency that oversees foreign intelligence, along with Alice Guo, a former Philippine mayor.

This latter revelation has made a strong impact in the Philippines, where Guo, the former mayor of the town of Bamban in Tarlac province, is the subject of an ongoing Senate investigation into her alleged involvement in money laundering and Chinese-run online scam operations. The investigation began in May, following raids on two illegal Chinese-run Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators, or POGOs, that were operating from properties in Bamban allegedly owned by a company belonging to Guo. After initially cooperating with the investigation, Guo fled the country in July. She was then arrested in Indonesia in early September and extradited to the Philippines, where she remains in custody.

The Senate investigation into Guo has produced a number of dramatic revelations. The first was that Guo is actually a Chinese national named Guo Huaping, who was born in China’s Fujian province and only arrived in the Philippines as a teenager. (The Al Jazeera documentary provides additional evidence to support this claim.) She then faked a birth certificate showing that she was born in Tarlac, before running successfully for local office in Bamban. Investigators also claim that billions of pesos were deposited in Guo’s bank accounts, which were then transferred to the accounts of other individuals and business entities. Most of the money came from individuals and entities in China.

Investigators are also looking at the possibility that Guo has engaged in espionage on behalf of the Chinese government. Guo maintains that she is a natural-born Philippine citizen, and has denied she is a spy. On September 27, when a House of Representatives panel showed an excerpt from the Al Jazeera documentary, Guo, who was present, told lawmakers that she did not know She.

She Zhijiang’s claims about himself and Alice Guo are difficult to verify. During his interviews with Al Jazeera, She claims that he was forced into working for the Chinese Ministry of State Security, which promised that it could quash his outstanding arrest warrants, issued over his involvement in illegal online gambling operations. He now claims that China’s government is seeking to silence him because he was “exposed to secrets about Chinese state security and Belt and Road projects.”

It is plausible that She, who also holds Cambodian citizenship, worked as a Chinese spy; it certainly offers an explanation for the fact that he was feted to such an extent in China, and by Chinese diplomats, while ostensibly having an warrant out for his arrest. At the same time, as one interviewee in the Al Jazeera documentary points out, She is a businessman with known links to online gambling operations and cyber-scam operations who has every reason to lie in order to avoid extradition. Facing a lengthy prison term (or worse) in China, She may recognize that the best chance of avoiding extradition is to paint himself as a victim of the Chinese security state.

Either way, the Philippines has a lot of work to do in order to disentangle the web of possible connections linking She, Guo, the Chinese security state, and the region’s online scamming syndicates.

https://thediplomat.com/2024/10/philippines-says-it-is-monitoring-media-reports-of-covert-foreign-ops/

16 BIFF members surrender in Maguindanao del Sur

From the Manila Standard (Sep 29, 2024): 16 BIFF members surrender in Maguindanao del Sur (By By Rex Espiritu)

A total of 16 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction (BIFF-KF) laid down their arms on September 26, 2024, as reported by AFP’s Western Mindanao Command.

The former violent extremists submitted themselves to Lt. Col. Udgie Villan, Commanding Officer of the 33IB, at the unit’s headquarters in Barangay Zapakan, Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Among those who surrendered was alias Oding, head of the Morsedin Division of the BIFF group under Umbra Kato, and who also served as an adviser to the BIFF.

After the BIFF split into two factions following Umbra Kato’s death, alias Oding chose to join the Karialan Faction, where he was nominated as Brigade Commander of the 2nd Division under Zulkarnain Sapal, also known as Zuk.

The former violent extremists handed over their firearms, which included two 60mm mortars, two 40mm rocket-propelled grenades, two 40mm M203 grenade launchers, one .30 caliber sniper rifle, two .30 caliber Garand rifles, one M16A1 rifle, four 9mm Uzi submachine guns, and one .30 caliber carbine rifle. They also surrendered two improvised explosive devices and five rounds of 40mm RPG high explosives.

WestMinCom Public Information Office Chief Major Orlando Ayllon said that this development is a result of continuous military operations conducted by the Joint Task Force Central, along with strengthened collaboration with local government units.

The surrendered individuals are now under the custody of the 33IB for custodial debriefing and profiling, while the surrendered war materiel has been turned over to the logistics section of that unit for proper disposition.

Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, Commander of the Western Mindanao Command, commended the troops of Joint Task Force Central for their steadfast resolve to end terrorism and clear Central Mindanao of remnants from various threat groups.

“Rest assured that we will continue to work doubly to clear every community from traces of terrorism,” he said.

https://manilastandard.net/news/314503770/16-biff-members-surrender-in-maguindanao-del-sur.html#google_vignette

BIFF leader, 15 followers surrender

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Sep 29, 2024): BIFF leader, 15 followers surrender

ZAMBOANGA. A leader and 15 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction (BIFF-KF) have surrendered on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the headquarters of the 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB) in Barangay Zapakan, Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur. A photo handout shows the high-powered firearms the BIFF surrenderers have turned over when they surrendered to the troops. (SunStar Zamboanga)

A LEADER and 15 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction (BIFF-KF) laid down their arms and returned to the folds of law due to the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central's continuous conduct of military operations and strengthened collaboration with the local government units, the military said Sunday, September 29, 2024.

Major General Antonio Nafarrete, JTF-Central command, said they surrendered on Thursday, September 26, at the headquarters of the 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB) in Barangay Zapakan, Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Nafarrete said the surrender of the BIFF leader and members was facilitated by the troops of the 33rd Infantry Battalion headed by Lieutenant Colonel Udgie Villan.

Among the surrendered personalities was alias Oding, head of the Morsedin Division of the BIFF group under Umbra Kato.

Oding was also an adviser of the BIFF. When the BIFF was divided into two factions following the death of Umbra Kato, Oding decided to join the Karialan Faction where he was nominated as Brigade Commander of the 2nd Division under Zulkarnain Sapal, also known as Zuk.

The surrenders handed over their firearms which include two 60-millimeter (MM) mortars, two 40-mm Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, two 40-mm M203 grenade launchers, one caliber .30 sniper rifle, two caliber .30 Garand rifles, one M16A1 rifle, four 9-mm Uzi submachine guns and one caliber .30 Carbine rifle, two improvised explosive devices and five rounds of 40-mm RPG high explosives.

The surrenderers are now under the custody of 33IB for custodial debriefing and profiling while the surrendered war materiel was turned over to the logistics section of the said unit for proper disposition.

Lieutenant General William Gonzales, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, commended the troops of JTF-Central for their steadfast resolve to end terrorism and clear Central Mindanao from remnants of different threat groups.

“Rest assured that we will continue to work doubly to clear every community from traces of terrorism,” Gonzales said. (SunStar Zamboanga)

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/biff-leader-15-followers-surrender#google_vignette

Cotabato City residents surrender 23 firearms to Marines

From the Philippine Star (Oct 2, 2024): Cotabato City residents surrender 23 firearms to Marines (By John Unson)

The 5th Marine Battalion is now in custody of the 23 firearms surrendered in the past three weeks by residents of Cotabato City through the backchannel intercession of its officials and local executives.
Photo courtesy of Philstar.com / John Unson

COTABATO CITY — The 5th Marine Battalion, securing all of Cotabato City’s 37 barangays, collected in the past three weeks 23 assault rifles and grenade launchers surrendered by owners in compliance with a disarmament campaign complementing the Mindanao peace process.

Major Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division that has operational control over units of the Navy’s Philippine Marine Corps in Cotabato City and Maguindanao del Norte province, told reporters on Wednesday, October 2, that the combat weapons were turned in by owners to manifest support for the Small Arms and Light Weapons Management Program of the military-led anti-terror Joint Task Force Central.

The task force, led by 6th ID, is comprised of Marine and Army units in the provinces of Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani and in the cities of Cotabato, Tacurong, Koronadal and General Santos.

Nafarrete said the 23 firearms and grenade launchers now in the custody of the 5th Marine Battalion were turned in by owners through the intercession of its commanding officer, Marine Lt. Col. Lester Mark Baky and community leaders in Cotabato City.

Units of 6th ID had collected, since 2022, almost 2,000 pistols, assault rifles, B40 rocket launchers, 40 millimeter grenade launchers, M60 machineguns, 60 and 81 millimeter mortars that were voluntarily surrendered by owners, among them former members of the now moribund Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Dawlah Islamiya.

https://qa.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/02/2389687/cotabato-city-residents-surrender-23-firearms-marines

Shabu dealer linked to terror groups busted by Bangsamoro cops

From the Philippine Star (Oct 3, 2024): Shabu dealer linked to terror groups busted by Bangsamoro cops (John Unson)

Shabu peddler Muslimin Kuwis Kadil, entrapped by policemen in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Oct. 2, 2024, is now detained, awaiting prosecution for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002  Photo courtesy of Philstar.com / John Unson

COTABATO CITY — A trafficker who reportedly shared earnings to two terror groups landed in jail after selling P680,000 worth of shabu to plainclothes policemen in an entrapment operation in Barangay Limbo in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Wednesday afternoon, October 2.

Relatives of the now detained 34-year-old Muslimin Kuwis Kadil told reporters that he has contacts in both the Dawlah Islamiya and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to whom he shared fractions of his earnings to enable him to move freely in secluded areas where there is presence both groups.

Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters on Thursday morning that Kadil fell in entrapment on Wednesday in Barangay Limbo, laid by personnel of the Sultan Kudarat Municipal Police Station led by its chief, Lt. Col Esmal Madin.

Tanggawohn said non-uniformed subordinates of Madin immediately frisked and cuffed Kadil after selling to them P680,000 worth of shabu in a clandestine tradeoff in a residential area in Barangay Limbo, laid with the help of tipsters who reported to the municipal police his large-scale drug trafficking activities in Sultan Kudarat and in nearby barangays in Cotabato City.

Units of PRO-BAR in Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte had clamped down, in a series of anti-narcotics stings in the past 24 months, 19 drug dealers linked to the outlawed allies Dawlah Islamiya and the BIFF.

Both terror groups now have few remaining members after more than 700 had surrendered since 2022 to units of PRO-BAR and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division via local reconciliation programs that local executives in the two provinces are actively helping push forward.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/03/2389941/shabu-dealer-linked-terror-groups-busted-bangsamoro-cops

Isabela City now ASG-free

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 1, 2024): Isabela City now ASG-free (By Nonoy Lacson)

This declaration is a critical milestone in Basilan’s transformation from a conflict-ridden province into a peaceful and progressive one

ISABELA CITY, Basilan — The Local Government of Isabela City in Basilan Province has formally declared the city as Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)-free, marking the end of their 33rd year of fear from the group atrocities and economic threat to the community and its people.

The declaration of the city as ASG-free was held at the Isabela City Civic and Cultural Center in Barangay Binuangan and was attended by top police and military officials and Isabela City LGU and Barangay officials.

In her message, Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman said “Let us not only give importance on the declaration of the city as ASG-free but also a deepest meaning to this day, the day we jointly declared the city ASG-free.”

Mayor Hataman said, “With Isabela City now free from the ASG threat, all eyes are on the future of Basilan as a hub of peace and development.”

Hataman pointed out that through relentless military operations, enhanced security measures and proactive peacebuilding efforts, the ASG’s influence was gradually diminished.

She recalled that in recent years the people of the city have witnessed a surge in surrenders of ASG members, with several yielding in 2021 and 2022, signifying cracks in the group’s operational capacity.

Basilan Representative and House Deputy Minority Leader, Mujiv S. Hataman, thanked the efforts of the security sectors and NAGDILAAB Foundation Incorporated, Ulamma Supreme Council for helping out in the campaign against the ASG.

Hataman during his stint as regional governor of the defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was able to convince hundreds of ASGs to surrender and be re-integrated into their communities as peaceful Basileños under the Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) for Peace in 2018.

The PAVE program in partnership with the NAGDILAAB Foundation, different LGUs and the security forces, has recorded the highest number of ASG members surrendered and has replaced the negative image of Basilan province as a breeding ground of ASGs with a peaceful tourism destination.

On the sideline, 101st Infantry “Three Red Arrows” Brigade Commander Brig. Gen. Alvin V. Luzon said yesterday that the declaration came after 33 years of sustained military operations, peace efforts and local development initiatives in the city.

This declaration is a critical milestone in Basilan’s transformation from a conflict-ridden province into a peaceful and progressive one.

Additionally, he said over the years, Isabela City has been the site of numerous ASG-related incidents, including violent clashes, kidnappings, extortion and bombings.

Notably, the ASG bombings in April 2010, where 15 were reported killed, including five civilians, five Philippine Marines, a policeman and four ASG fighters, was also a turning point for intensified government operations, Luzon said.

The declaration is part of the wider campaign initiated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to free Basilan of the ASG’s influence, following similar declarations in municipalities across the province, including the recent proclamation in Hadji Mohammad Ajul.

Joint Task Force “Orion” Commander Brig. Gen. Leonardo I. Peña, in his message, emphasized the significance of the declaration, stating: “This victory is not only a testament to the strength of our military and police, but it is also proof of the importance of the collective spirit of our community, where civic organizations, local governments and ordinary citizens came together.”

https://tribune.net.ph/2024/10/01/isabela-city-now-asg-free

Appeasing Violence, Conjuring Peace

Posted to Conflict Alert (Aug 22, 2024): Appeasing Violence, Conjuring Peace

Go to the following URL for the full report:

https://conflictalert.info/site-public/images/uploads/AppeasingviolenceConjuringPeacetheConflictAlert2021-2023Report.pdf

Has Sulu found peace?

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 4): Has Sulu found peace? (By DEANNE LOUISE CAPIRAL, MAUREEN ANTHEA LACUESTA, Phoebe Dominique Adorable)

Violence in Sulu has significantly declined in the past five years, signaling the emergence of a tentative yet stable peace. For decades, the province has struggled under the shadow of violence, with communities bearing the brunt of conflict and lawlessness, largely due to the presence of the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), notorious for kidnappings and terror attacks.

The recent Conflict Alert report “Appeasing Violence, Conjuring Peace,” highlights the steady decline in instances of violence in Sulu, a province farthest from the reach of the state. Interestingly, while conflict has surged in Maguindanao, the seat of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have seen fewer incidents and deaths. This is reinforced by an environment where cooperation between local governments and the security forces has been robust in addressing violent extremism, particularly by the ASG. There have been serious efforts to reintegrate former combatants into their communities, as well as the return of displaced peoples.

For example, more than 5,000 displaced individuals were able to return to the municipality of Patikul, once an ASG stronghold. In September 2023, authorities declared the province ASG-free, signaling an end to a decadeslong conflict. Sulu also recorded its “most peaceful” elections in its history during the 2022 national polls. Efforts to mediate and settle long-running clan feuds, boost livelihood through cross-border trade, and connect local goods to larger markets have also contributed to Sulu’s progress.

According to the latest poverty data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Sulu outperformed other BARMM provinces in terms of poverty reduction, with rates dropping from 41.5 percent in 2021 to 13 percent in 2023. The recent Supreme Court ruling that excludes Sulu from BARMM poses both opportunities and challenges. While the province has already experienced a degree of autonomy from the regional government, doing things on their own resilience, there are concerns over funding for essential sectors, such as health and education, potentially affecting about 5,700 employees, including teachers and health workers.

While some are worried about losing access to BARMM’s block grant, others are optimistic that this shift will allow Sulu to continue its own path toward sustained development. Community voices reflect an optimistic outlook. Interviews with community members in the daily Aksyon Alerto radio program of DXMS speak of an increased sense of security for fishermen and farmers, growing tourism, and farmers boasting of successful harvests and shipping their produce to cities like Cebu and Zamboanga.

This transformation has become a source of pride for Sulu’s residents. However, it is not all rosy, and peace in Sulu remains fragile. The threat of illegal drugs and weapons continues to linger, replacing violent extremism as the dominant source of conflict. As Sulu navigates its transition out of the BARMM, it is crucial for national, regional, and local leaders to work together to secure the progress made, ensuring stability in livelihood, education, and health services. This recent ruling could serve as a catalyst for collaboration and innovative problem-solving, allowing Sulu to continue its path to peace and prosperity.

The story of Sulu offers valuable insight for the rest of the Bangsamoro region, demonstrating how local leadership, autonomy, and resilience can break cycles of violence. It offers new models and frameworks demonstrating what can be achieved through bespoke solutions and effective strategies in navigating and addressing complicated dynamics and history. This narrative inspires hope, but the journey is far from over, and the transition is rife with difficulty. Leaders must rise to the challenge as the province moves forward, ensuring that Sulu’s hard-won peace and progress are secured and strengthened.

[Maureen Anthea Lacuesta, Deanne Louise Capiral, and Phoebe Dominique Adorable are senior project officers with Climate Conflict Action (CCAA), formerly International Alert Philippines. CCAA is a local peacebuilding nongovernment organization that gathers and analyzes climate and conflict data to collaborate with communities toward actions that lead to sustainable peace.]

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/other/has-sulu-found-peace/ar-AA1rF3we

Police arrest 41 threat group members in Zamboanga City

From the Philippine Star (Oct 5, 2024): Police arrest 41 threat group members in Zamboanga City (Roel Pareño)

Masauding said 38 of those arrested were members of the communist group while three were members of local terror groups.  Philstar.com / Jovannie Lambayan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The intensified police law enforcement campaign led to the arrest of at least 41 members of different threat groups in Zamboanga peninsula, Police Regional Office-9 director Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding said yesterday.

Masauding said 38 of those arrested were members of the communist group while three were members of local terror groups.

The most significant accomplishment, he said, was the arrest of Mobin Kullin, who is included in the national list of most wanted persons and carries a reward of P600,000 for kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Kullin was reportedly a member of the Abu Sayyaf group under Ustadz Kalah, Khadaffy Janjalani and Isnilon Hapilon, all of whom were operating in Lantawan town in Basilan.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/10/05/2390269/police-arrest-41-threat-group-members-zamboanga-city

2 NPA rebels surrender, guns recovered in Eastern Samar

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 4, 2024): 2 NPA rebels surrender, guns recovered in Eastern Samar (By Sarwell Meniano)

RECOVERED. Lt. Col. Joseph Bugaoan, commander of the Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion, checks the firearms and ammunitions found on Thursday (Oct. 3, 2024). Acting on a tip-off from a former rebel, soldiers facilitated the surrender of two active New People’s Army (NPA) remnants and recovered a significant cache of weapons and ammunition in Eastern Samar, the Philippine Army reported on Friday (Oct. 4). (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

TACLOBAN CITY – Acting on a tip-off from a former rebel, soldiers facilitated the surrender of two active New People’s Army (NPA) remnants and recovered a significant cache of weapons and ammunition in Eastern Samar, the Philippine Army reported on Friday.

Soldiers from the Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion received information from alias Apolonio, a former Yunit Militia member of the NPA who identified two active NPA members hiding in Abejao village in Salcedo, Eastern Samar.

"In a decisive intelligence-driven focused military operation, our soldiers successfully tracked down and persuaded two key remaining NPA members to surrender, leading to the recovery of significant war materials on Oct. 3, 2024," said Lt. Col. Joseph Bugaoan, commander of the Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion, in a statement.

Apolonio informed about the location of Lilio Betasolo Jacobe, alias Baoy, vice squad leader of NPA’s Apoy Platoon Squad 2, and Enorio Afable Aquilla, alias Rokles, a member of the same squad. Both rebels surrendered in Abejao village in Salcedo town.

These individuals were involved in a clash with government forces on July 25, 2024, in Osmeña village, General MacArthur, Eastern Samar, where their leader, Joel Guarino, alias Duran," was killed.

Following their surrender, Jacobe and Aquilla revealed the locations of hidden arms caches in the villages of Osmeña and Laurel, General MacArthur, Eastern Samar.

The operation resulted in the recovery of two M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, one M1903 caliber .30 Springfield rifle, and one AK-47 rifle.

Soldiers also seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, several magazines, personal belongings, and subversive documents of high intelligence value.

"Two lives were saved from the grip of a dead ideology. It's only a matter of time before all members of the NPA subregional committee will be neutralized," Vestuir said.

The success of this operation is credited to the efforts of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade in conducting comprehensive debriefings with former rebels and implementing the Friends Rescued Engagement through Their Families (FReE Families) program.

The program optimizes the local government’s efforts to link and convince the remaining NPA members through the active participation of the rebels’ families to work for the peaceful surrender of their loved ones and take advantage of the benefits through the Enhanced Local Integration Program.

Vestuir urged the remaining NPA members to surrender and “embrace peace.”

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234789

6 ex-rebels in Aurora get gov't cash aid

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 3, 2024): 6 ex-rebels in Aurora get gov't cash aid (By Jason De Asis)

GOV'T ASSISTANCE. Executive Assistant Reynante Tolentino Jr., representative of Aurora Governor Reynante Tolentino (3rd from left), hands over financial assistance to one of six former New People's Army rebels in rites at the Aurora Trading Center in Barangay Calabuanan, Baler, Aurora. Tolentino said the amount will enable the returnees to engage in livelihood enterprises and help them reintegrate into their communities. (Photo by Jason de Asis)

BALER, Aurora – Six former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels from this province on Wednesday got financial assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), the military said Thursday.

Lt. Col. Aries Quinto, acting commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion, said the former rebels (FRs) received PHP340,000 from Reynante Tolentino Jr., who represented his father, Governor Reynante Tolentino, at the Aurora Trading Center in Barangay Calabuanan, this capital town of Aurora.

Quinto thanked the E-CLIP provincial committee for helping the FRs rebuild their lives.

“Our FRs significant support is not just a financial boost; it also symbolizes a new beginning and commitment to them for their reintegration into our society, and we hope that they will properly use the assistance given to them. It’s better to invest it in their livelihood businesses to make it much bigger not only for themselves but also for the benefit of their families,” Quinto said in an interview.

He advised the FRs to use the financial assistance in small businesses to help them sustain their daily needs.

“Don't waste your opportunity being given by our government to be able to return to the mainstream of society. You will also be part of our territorial defense and will be turned over with the PNP soon; however, we will continue to help and support our FRs,” he said.

The E-CLIP provincial committee is composed of the Aurora Police Provincial Office, religious leaders, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the local government unit, and the provincial government.

The E-CLIP is a complete package program for those who have decided to abandon armed struggle, return to the fold of the law, and join the mainstream of Philippine society.

It is a peacebuilding and social protection program that provides interventions to former NPA and Militia ng Bayan members to become productive citizens.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234650

Top wanted NPA rebel in Caraga arrested

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 3, 2024): Top wanted NPA rebel in Caraga arrested (By Alexander Lopez)

(Infographic courtesy of PRO-13)

BUTUAN CITY – Police have apprehended one of the most wanted New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the Caraga Region, an official said Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Alan Nazarro, director of the Police Regional Office-Caraga (PRO-13), identified the rebel as "Rudy Amara," 31, the vice commanding officer of the weakened NPA Guerrilla Front 30.

The arrest took place on Tuesday in Carmen, Surigao del Sur.

“Amara faces six counts of murder, five counts of frustrated murder, three counts of attempted murder, and a charge of slight illegal detention,” Nazarro said.

Amara is listed as the region's second top communist priority target and the second most wanted person.

On top of the murder charges, Amara faces three charges under Republic Act 9208, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

On the same day, PRO-13 also nabbed seven other wanted persons, including a certain "Edok," 38, in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. Edok, who is facing murder charges, is the ninth most wanted person in the region.

The remaining suspects were captured in separate operations across Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, and Butuan City.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234668

CIDG agents nab 2 'Moro Islamic Liberation Front commanders' for gunrunning

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 1, 2024): CIDG agents nab 2 'Moro Islamic Liberation Front commanders' for gunrunning (By Edwin Fernandez)

BUSTED. Shawi Ibrahim (in green shirt), deputy brigade commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 102nd base command, and Johaiver Ariong (in brown jacket), battalion commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 125th base command, after their separate arrests in Marawi City for selling firearms to undercover police agents on Monday afternoon (Sept. 30 2024). They will face gunrunning charges. (Photos courtesy of CIDG-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY – Two individuals who claimed to be field commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were arrested in separate entrapment operations by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-BARMM) for selling firearms in Marawi City on Monday afternoon.

The suspects, identified as Shawi Ibrahim, 49, and Johaiver Banto Ariong, 32, were caught in gun buy-bust operations set by CIDG operatives near a hospital and inside a university compound.

Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, CIDG-BARMM chief, confirmed in a statement Tuesday that the arrests took place at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

Ibrahim, who claimed to be the deputy commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 102nd base command in Marawi City, was the first to be apprehended after selling a rifle and a pistol to an undercover agent at the parking lot of a private hospital in Barangay Poblacion.

"Ibrahim did not resist but appeared shocked by the turn of events," Huesca said.

An hour later, Ariong, who claimed to be a battalion commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front 125th base command, was arrested after selling an M16 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol to a disguised police officer inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi compound.

Both suspects are currently detained at the CIDG facility in Marawi City and will face charges for violating Republic Act 10591, the "Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234466

91 former NPA supporters pledge allegiance to gov't

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2024): 91 former NPA supporters pledge allegiance to gov't (By Jason De Asis)

COMMITMENT OF SUPPORT. A former supporter of the New People’s Army (NPA) signs a commitment of support to the government's peace efforts in a ceremony at the Aurora Trading Center Compound, Sitio Setan, Barangay Calabuanan, Baler, Aurora on Sept.27, 2024. He is one of the 91 former supporters of the communist terrorist group in the province who have pledged their allegiance to the government. (PNA photo by Jason de Asis)

BALER, Aurora – The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion on Monday said 91 supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Aurora province have officially declared their withdrawal of support to the communist terrorist group and pledged their allegiance to the government.

In an interview, Lt. Col. Aries Quinto, acting commanding officer of the 91st IB, said a ceremony for the group’s withdrawal of support took place at the Aurora Trading Center Covered Court here last Sept. 27.

Apart from signing the oath of allegiance to the government, he said the group, who hails from the towns of San Luis and Maria Aurora, also burned the replica of the NPA flag, which signifies their abandonment of the terrorist communist group.

“The gathering is part of the participants love and loyalty to the government, as they have awakened from the lies and deceptions of the terrorist rebels that sow terror in the community,” Quinto said.

“They ended support for the rebel groups to maintain lasting peace and development in Aurora. A clear manifestation that the Whole of Nation Approach, or E.O. 70, was implemented successfully in coordination with the local government units, and other civic clusters successfully facilitated the group’s withdrawal to the NPA with their formal reintegration into the community.”

He also thanked the government agencies and security forces efforts to maintain peace and development in the province.

These include the regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace and Reconciliation and Unity.

He also acknowledged the continued full support from the Aurora Police Provincial Office and the local government units.

Meanwhile, Maria Aurora Mayor Ariel Bitong said a large number of projects are ongoing for his constituents – including the concreting of roads, construction of barangay roads, farm-to-market roads, and multi-purpose buildings, among others – with the help of Aurora Rep. Rommel Angara.

In a separate statement, Ka Danger thanked the government for the continued support and help for former rebels like him.

“I am one of the living FRs who testify that the government is sincerely rebuilding our lives. I visited far-flung areas to inform the public that our government is doing its best to help us,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234404

Cop injured in Isabela City grenade blast

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 29, 2024): Cop injured in Isabela City grenade blast (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

Google map of Isabela City, Basilan province.

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police are pursuing a suspect behind a grenade attack that injured a policeman in Isabela City, Basilan province, on Sunday night.

Lt. Col. Parson Asadil, Isabela City police chief, identified the victim as Pat. Aldimar Salahuddin of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-9 (RMFB-9), who was on duty at the Community Police Action Center (COMPAC) in Barangay Sunrise when the explosion occurred around 9:45 p.m.

Salahuddin was inside the COMPAC when the attacker threw a fragmentation grenade, Asadil said. The explosion was captured on a closed-circuit television camera.

Salahuddin was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him in stable condition.

Police explosive ordnance personnel recovered a safety lever from the grenade at the scene, but authorities have yet to determine the identity of the attacker and the motive behind the assault.

The RMFB-9 is a combat unit under Police Regional Office-9, often deployed across the Zamboanga Peninsula as an augmentation force.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234382

NPA rebel surrenders in Camarines Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 29, 2024): NPA rebel surrenders in Camarines Sur

(Infographic courtesy of PRO5)

LEGAZPI CITY – A New People’s Army (NPA) member surrendered to government troops in Camarines Sur province on Saturday, the Police Regional Office-Bicol (PRO5) reported on Sunday.

PRO5 spokesperson Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib said the 38-year-old rebel, whose name was withheld, was a regular member of Squad 1, PLTN1, Kilusang Larangan Guerilla 1, Sub-Regional Committee 2.

Calubaquib said the rebel also surrendered one M16 Bushmaster rifle with defaced markings; two steel magazines for the M16; 20 rounds of live 5.56mm ammunition; and one improvised explosive device made from a polyvinyl chloride pipe.

The surrenderer would undergo debriefing and profiling procedures under the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company of Camarines Sur Provincial Police Office.

Calubaquib said PRO5 continues to work closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other agencies to strengthen peace and security efforts in the Bicol region.

"These efforts are part of the larger national campaign to eradicate insurgency and foster sustainable development, in line with the government’s commitment to a more secure and peaceful country," she said. (Connie Calipay/PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234347

DOLE-CAR releases livelihood aid to 44 ex-rebels in Ifugao

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 25, 2024): DOLE-CAR releases livelihood aid to 44 ex-rebels in Ifugao (By Liza Agoot)

LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT. Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera director Nathaniel Lacambra (4th from left) hands the certificate of entitlement to one of the 44 former rebels who are beneficiaries of the integrated livelihood program during an event in Tinoc, Ifugao on Tuesday (Sept. 24, 2024). The certificate entitles the beneficiary to receive PHP30,000 worth of livelihood assistance from the government as the agency’s support to end the local insurgency. (PNA photo courtesy of Patrick Rillorta/ DOLE-CAR)

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment–Cordillera Administrative Region (DOLE-CAR) has released PHP1.32 million worth of livelihood to 44 former rebels from Tinoc, Ifugao.

The funds were released Tuesday to the local government of Tinoc, which will provide the needed equipment or supplies and will monitor the development and improvement of the former rebels’ preferred livelihood program.

“Each of the former rebel received PHP30,000 each livelihood aid from the government. The money will be used to purchase start-up items for their choice of livelihood,” Nathaniel Lacambra, DOLE-CAR regional director, said in a phone interview on Wednesday.

The assistance is one of the several components under the Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program.

“It is not just the DOLE that provides the assistance. This is a whole-of-government, whole-of-nation approach. Everybody (is) providing funds, support and programs to ensure a better and peaceful life for the former rebels together with their families," Lacambra said.

During the activity, Police Regional Office-CAR director David Peredo led the ceremonial mass withdrawal of support to the communist terrorist group (CTG).

“The burning of the CTG banner symbolizes their complete renunciation of the armed struggle, and the signing and recitation of the oath of support to the government reaffirms their loyalty and commitment to the government and its programs to attain lasting peace for the community,” he said.

A continuing process of deradicalization will also be done aside from assessment of the former rebels’ other needs such as assistance on housing, firearms remuneration, education, skills training or education for their children.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234153

2 dead in Lanao Sur armed hostilities due to ‘rido’

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 24, 2024): 2 dead in Lanao Sur armed hostilities due to ‘rido’ (By Edwin Fernandez)

PEACEKEEPING FORCE. An armored personnel carrier from the Police Special Action Force rushes to Malabang, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday morning (Sept. 24, 2024) after armed hostilities involving warring Moro families. Two individuals were killed, and four others were injured in the skirmishes. (Photo courtesy of Layca Bayno Sultan)

MALABANG, Lanao del Sur – Two individuals were killed and four others were injured in an armed clash between Moro families involved in a “rido” (family feud) in the Poblacion area of Malabang in Lanao del Sur province on Tuesday morning.

Maj. Ivan John Bakian, chief of the Malabang municipal police station, identified the deceased only by their aliases “Fajad” and “Nodin.”

According to Maj. Salahuddin Basher, provincial police spokesperson, law enforcement, supported by military forces, was deployed to the town to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

The hostilities erupted early Tuesday between two prominent clans, just a week after a peaceful settlement was reached with the assistance of the local government of Malabang and Lanao del Sur’s provincial government.

The encounter took place in Barangay Bacayawan and Lati, both residential areas in the coastal town of Malabang.

Basher identified the injured individuals as Ansary Didik, 60, and Hamdanie Ibrahim, 42, both from Barangay Bacayawan, and Esmail Abdul, 53, and Jemar Abdul, 22, both from Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte. They are currently receiving medical treatment at the Dr. Serapio Montañer Hospital.

The conflict arose a week before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2025 local elections.

Due to intense political rivalries, Malabang was under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last year, as well as during the local and national elections in 2022.

Bakian noted that operations are ongoing to clear the battle area of unexploded ordnance, including M79 grenades and 40mm rifle grenades.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234099

ASG member with P600-K bounty arrested in Basilan

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 23, 2024): ASG member with P600-K bounty arrested in Basilan (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

Google map of Isabela City, Basilan province

ZAMBOANGA CITY – An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member involved in the infamous Lamitan siege in 2000 and with a PHP600,000 bounty for his capture was arrested by authorities in Basilan province, the police said Tuesday.

Brigadier General Bowenn Joey Masauding, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) director, identified the arrested ASG member as Mobin Kullin, who has been hiding for over a decade.

Masauding said Kullin was arrested in an operation on Monday in Barangay Tabiawan, Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province.

“The PRO-9, together with our partner agencies, are focused on arresting individuals facing cases, especially those involved in terrorism and kidnapping,” Masauding said in a statement.

He said Kullin had a standing warrant of arrest for the crime of kidnapping and illegal detention with no recommended bail issued by a court in Isabela City on May 6, 2002.

Kullin is also listed as one of the nation’s most wanted persons under the Department of National Defense-Department of the Interior and Local Government joint order with a reward of PHP600,000 for his capture.

Masuding said Kullin was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including the Golden Harvest Plantation raid in Barangay Tairan, Lantawan, on June 11, 2001, aside from the Lamitan siege in 2000.

During the raid, the ASG bandits seized 15 plantation workers and executed five of them. The rest either managed to escape or were rescued during military operations.

Further, police records indicated that the arrested suspect was a former member of the Abu Sayyaf Group under sub-leaders Ustadz Kalah, Khadaffy Janjalani, and Isnilon Hapilon, all of whom were once operating in Lantawan, Basilan.

Kullin is currently in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Grouo-9 for documentation and proper disposition.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1234047

35 NPA rebels yield in E. Mindanao from March to September

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 23, 2024): 35 NPA rebels yield in E. Mindanao from March to September (By Che Palicte)

SURRENDER RITES. Thirty-five former New People's Army rebels are presented to the media at the 60th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Asuncion, Davao del Norte on Monday (Sept. 23, 2024). The surrenderers, who also gave up 20 firearms, are from Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Agusan Sur. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)

ASUNCION, Davao del Norte – Thirty-five former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) turned themselves in between March and September this year, according to the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) on Monday.

During the media presentation at the 60th Infantry Battalion headquarters here, the surrenderers also handed over 20 firearms from various NPA units operating in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Agusan del Sur.

Col. Jorry Baclor, Unified Command Staff chief, commended the former rebels for choosing peace.

“I urge you to encourage your former comrades to follow your lead and return to the fold of the law. This will significantly contribute to ending insurgency in Eastern Mindanao,” Baclor said.

Under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), the ex-rebels will receive socio-economic assistance and financial aid.

Most of the surrenderers were farmers or laborers, many of whom did not have the opportunity to complete basic education.

“Daisy,” a former medical officer of the NPA’s 2nd and 5th Pulang Bagani Command, was full of regrets. She hopes for a peaceful life with her family.

“I’m thankful to the government for giving us a second chance. I won’t return to the communist group,” she said.

The Davao del Norte Davao de Oro provincial governments also pledged to support the former rebels with livelihood opportunities, financial assistance and scholarships.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233980

Info drives boost government anti-insurgency efforts

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 23, 2024): Info drives boost government anti-insurgency efforts (By Liza Agoot)

LGU-FOCUSED. Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity-Cordillera Peace and Security head Edgardo de Leon (left) and Peace Program Officer Fr. Adonis Bringas attend the media orientation on localized peace engagement and transformation program in Baguio City on Monday (Sept. 23, 2024). De Leon said local governments and national government associations can help the government’s anti-insurgency campaign. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)

BAGUIO CITY – Local and national government agencies have been tapped to help in the government’s anti-insurgency efforts, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said.

Maj. Gen. Edgardo de Leon (ret.), OPAPRU-Cordillera Adviser on Peace and Security, said during the media orientation on localized peace engagement and transformation program here Monday that information and education campaigns will reveal the real nature of insurgency.

“It is now the PLGUs (provincial local government units) and national governments’ approach while the security sector pursues the armed remnants,” he said.

De Leon explained that “once they (PLGUs) are assured that the masses, the voters are no longer supportive of the cause of the insurgents, they also start to end their support to the terrorists.”

He said communities have ended their support to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army with strong government presence felt even in far-flung communities and in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

He explained that former rebels also contribute to the anti-insurgency program because their information help local governments formulate programs.

“If we understand the problem, it is easier to take solutions,” De Leon said. “Our government has realized that the fight to end insurgency is not just the task of the security cluster but a whole of government acting (and) using resources from different offices and clusters.”

During the same event, OPAPRU-Cordillera Peace Program Officer Fr. Adonis Bringas said infrastructure, capacity building and livelihood provided by the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Commission on Higher Education assure the communities and former rebels of the government’s desire to end insurgency and improve their lives.

“For 2025, (OPAPRU) Secretary (Carlito) Galvez (Jr.) has committed PHP600 million support fund to the Cordillera region to further help in improving the people’s lives,” Bringas said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233971

NPA member facing murder case nabbed in Masbate

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 20, 2024): NPA member facing murder case nabbed in Masbate (By Connie Calipay)

Police Regional Office - Bicol (PRO5) headquarters in Legazpi City (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)

LEGAZPI CITY – A New People's Army (NPA) rebel wanted for attempted murder was arrested in Masbate province on Thursday, the Police Regional Office-Bicol (PRO-5) reported on Friday.

Lt. Col. Malu Calubaquib, PRO-5 spokesperson, said "Nathan," a member of the Special Partisan Unit, was nabbed in his house in Cawayan town after being served a warrant.

The recommended bail was PHP120,000.

Calubaquib said the rebel is under the command of Reynaldo Mollejon of Platoon 1, Kilusang Larangang Gerilya South, Sub-Regional Committee 4.

The operation was conducted by the police and the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

Calubaquib said the rebel is now in the custody of the Cawayan Municipal Police Station.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233804

11 anti-insurgency projects kick off in Northern Samar town

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19, 2024): 11 anti-insurgency projects kick off in Northern Samar town (By Roel Amazona)

FIGHTING INSURGENCY. Officials lead the groundbreaking of projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) in Guba village, Catarman, Northern Samar on Thursday (Sept. 19, 2024). SBDP is one of the initiatives of the national government to end insurgency. (Photo courtesy of Catarman municipal information office)

TACLOBAN CITY – At least 11 projects under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) designed to end insurgency are now ongoing in the town of Catarman in Northern Samar.

Catarman municipal engineer Carlito Danque said key officials on Thursday led the groundbreaking of these projects, including a potable water system, farm-to-market roads, school buildings, and barangay electrification.

Each of these projects costs PHP2.5 million and is up for completion in 2025.

The projects have been identified by communities during the conduct of the retooled community support program (RCSP).

“My message to village officials is for them to become active in monitoring the implementation to ensure its quality and timely completion,” Danque said in a phone interview.

The potable water system projects will be installed in Cag-abaca, Cularima, and Liberty villages, while.school buildings will rise in Aguinaldo, Guba, and Bocsol villages.

Recipients of renewable energy-based electrification projects are the villages of Salvacion, Cabayhan, Gebulwangan, Imelda, and Paticua.

SBDP, a flagship program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict bankrolled under the Local Government Support Fund, aims to address poverty and development in geographically isolated and disadvantageous areas that were once affected or influenced by the New People’s Army.

These projects are implemented in communities that are part of the RCSP, an inclusive program that addresses identified issues of the community by bridging it to the offices concerned, closing the governance and development gaps, ensuring sustainability, and promoting peace.

The recipient communities were RCSP areas of the Philippine Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion in 2023.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233719

Galvez: Gov’t stands behind Cordillera’s quest for genuine peace

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 18, 2024): Galvez: Gov’t stands behind Cordillera’s quest for genuine peace

GENUINE PEACE. Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr. joins the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the Mt. Data Sipat (Peace Accord) on Sept. 13, 2024. Galvez said the national government stands behind the people of Cordillera in their quest for genuine peace. (OPAPRU photo)

BAUKO, Mountain Province – The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has certainly come a long way since the signing of the Mt. Data Sipat Peace Accord in 1986 and is expected to continue moving forward in its quest for greater peace, progress and autonomy.

Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the national government stands behind the people of Cordillera as they lay the foundations where all their hopes and aspirations for their homeland will come into fruition.

“The national government remains steadfast in its efforts to support our Cordilleran brothers and sisters’ continued march towards long-lasting peace and sustainable development through the implementation of various peace programs, projects, and activities,” Galvez said in his keynote message during the commemoration of the 38th Anniversary of the Mt. Data Sipat (Peace Accord) on Sept. 13.

A clarion call for peace and autonomy

It has been almost four decades since the Philippine Government, under the administration of then President Corazon Aquino, and the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army, led by Fr. Conrado Balweg, heeded the clarion call for peace that paved the way to the signing of a ceasefire agreement on Sept. 13, 1986.

The ceasefire ended the decades-long armed conflict between both parties and resulted in the issuance of Executive Order No. 220 s.1987 on July 15, 1987 that established the CAR.

According to Mountain Province Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr., ‘Sipat’ is one of the most precious documents for the people of Cordillera, as it embodies their aspirations for peace, progress, and development in the region.

In his message, Lacwasan encouraged his fellow Cordillerans to remain focused and not lose hope in their fight for genuine autonomy in the region.

“I hope that the 38 years of waiting will not discourage us [Cordillerans], on the contrary, I hope it will give us more reason to put our acts together,” the governor said.

Pag-asa Goldamir Balweg, a kin of the late Fr. Balweg, delivered a message of peace, as she called on her fellow Cordillerans to set aside personal interests, work together and further strengthen their commitment to support ongoing peace interventions.

“Let us be reminded of the fundamental reasons behind this commemoration... Autonomy is not just a political issue—it is about self-determination, about ensuring that we, the people of the Cordilleras, have the power to shape our own future,” Balweg said.

“It is about building on the peace we have secured and ensuring that our rights, culture, and identity are fully recognized and respected,” she added.

Meanwhile, Engr. Andres Ngao-I Sr., vice-chairperson of the Joint Evaluation and Monitoring Committee (JEMC) for the GPH-CBA-CPLA Peace Process, emphasized that the commemoration of the Mt. Data Peace Accord is a reminder to Cordillerans that they have achieved something significant–genuine peace–which those who came before them have fought hard for.

Congressman Maximo Dalog Jr., represented by Dionisio Wasdisen and CAR Regional Director Atty. Joshua Pablito, representative of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista also expressed their strong support to the Cordilleran’s march towards peace and development. Pablito noted that the Sipat Peace Accord “marked the end of hostilities and started an era of peace and development in the Cordillera, enabling them to pursue transport projects that improved overall mobility and connectivity in the province.”

Epicenter of peace and development

A day before the 38th commemoration of the Sipat Peace Accord, the governors, local government officials and representatives from various government agencies in Cordillera, together with Presidential Peace Adviser Galvez, participated in the Third Quarter Full Regional Development Council Meeting.

The meeting tackled updates on Cordillera’s fight for autonomy and on initiatives to further improve sustainable development in the region.

Galvez committed that, “Cordillera will not be left behind.”

He likewise recommended creating an Inter-cabinet Cluster on the Transformation of Cordillera to replicate what is being done at Bangsamoro and to ensure the successful implementation of peace and development initiatives in the Cordillera.

During the meeting, the governors and mayors of Cordillera expressed their commitment to fully support the autonomy of Cordillera as stated in the constitution.

This year, the OPAPRU has allotted almost 600 million pesos to support the socio-economic and development programs in Cordillera. For the upcoming CY 2025, it has allotted around 594,000 million pesos for the region, totaling to an estimated amount of 1.2 billion pesos for the two years.

The 38th anniversary celebration of the Sipat Peace Accord also marked another significant milestone in the province’s peace and development with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Balicanao-Am-am Provincial Road improvement project. This PHP25 million project will be carried out under the OPAPRU’s PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program.

This will serve as a by-pass road or an alternate route to help the farmers of Mountain Province in bringing their products to other neighboring provinces. Mountain Province has been allocated 105 million pesos for CY 2024 and additional 212 million pesos for CY 2025, according to a news release on Wednesday.

“Since the signing of this [Sipat] historic peace agreement, we have seen sustained peace, development and progress take root in the Cordillera region, leading to the amazing transformation of the lives of former combatants, their families, and communities,” Galvez pointed out in his message.

He also reaffirmed the national government’s firm commitment to transform the region that once housed the first national battalion of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army/National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF), into an epicenter of peace and development.

The peace adviser then called for the harmonization of efforts of all stakeholders— provincial and municipal local government units, national government agencies, civil society and the security sector.

He reminded the LGUs that the key in turning their project proposals into reality is to do complete staff work.

Galvez also vowed to support the Mountain Province State University that has been supporting the OPAPRU in promoting peace education in the region.

“Ang Cordillera ay tutulungan natin (We will help Cordillera) to change its atmosphere to be conducive for peace, reconciliation and unity notwithstanding its call for self-determination and its aspiration for autonomy,” Galvez said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233681