AFP honors outstanding officer, confers military Merit Medal

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 7): AFP honors outstanding officer, confers military Merit Medal

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conferred the Military Merit Medal (Interim) to another outstanding officer in the military service for meritorious and invaluable service to the country’s defense force. Col. Felix J. Castro Jr. who served as the commander of the 903rd Infantry (Fight and Defend) Brigade, 9th Infantry (SPEAR) Division, Philippine Army from January 17, 2011 to November 8, 2012 was the recipient of the medal for his deep sense of responsibility, outstanding leadership, professional competence, and managerial acumen. The awarding of Military Merit Medal is pursuant to paragraph 1-6l, Section II Armed Forces of the Philippines Regulations G 131-053 dated 01 July 1986. Said medal is awarded to a military official for heroic achievement or meritorious service during, or in support of military action against an enemy.

Castro, in his term as 903rd Brigade Commander, ably supervised the successful conduct of the 23 Brigade-size Operations, 62 battalion-size operations, 97 company-size operations, and 12,026 small unit operations. These operations resulted to the neutralization of 43 NPA personalities (23 killed, 10 wounded, nine captured, and 11 surrendered) and confiscated 106 firearms (60 high powered/46 low powered), although many of these were outside the focus area of the brigade. The recovered firearms included one Cal .30 LMG, nine M16, nine 653, two AK47, and one M14, among others. Sixty Seven (67) improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also recovered.

Among the more significant operational accomplishments of the Brigade under Col Castro’s leadership include the death in an encounter of Andres Baja Despi @ Tisoy, the vice CO of SDG, FC79, Komprob Sorsogon; the arrest of Vanjie Herrero @ Vivian, Execom member of Komprob Masbate; the death in another encounter of Luis Gonzaga @ JP- CO of SPP, Ind KSPN, Komprob Masbate; the capture of CTL Felix Marcaida @Megs/Boy/Migo presently Execom Member, KomProb Sorsogon, BRPC PSRL 4th quarter CY 2011 (the 3rd person of KomProb Sorsogon, BRPC; former Secretary of Komprob Sorsogon, BRPC year 2008, PSRL 4th quarter CY 2009; former Secretary of LArangan 3, KomProb Sorsogon. In the absence of allocation for additional CAAs, the establishment of the Barangay Defense System (BDS) has been initiated to act as a holding organization in the cleared barangays. This has been proven effective as the NPAs find difficulty in recovering lost areas......

....With the above-mentioned accomplishments, the brigade was adjudged as the Best Brigade of 9th Infantry (Spear) Division, Philippine Army for 1st and 2nd Quarters of 2012. Maj. General Romeo B. Calizo, Commander of 9th ID, said the commendable and outstanding performance of Col. Castro served as the hallmark of honor and prestige, thereby contributing immeasurably to the accomplishment of the 9ID mission. “By these remarkable achievements, Col Castro earned distinct credit and honor not only for himself and for the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division but also for the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he added.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=801354793950

Peace-promoting projects in Quezon, begin

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 7): Peace-promoting projects in Quezon, begin

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had began implementing peace- promoting projects under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services – Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan Program (Kalahi-CIDSS Pamana) in selected areas in Quezon province. The program is being implemented in coordination with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP). Most of the targeted areas under the program are the identified municipalities with conflict-affected barangays (CABs). These are Kalahi-CIDSS municipalities of Mulanay, and Catanauan with 23 CABs.

Each CAB will receive P300,000 grant as an augmentation of funds for the communities to implement infrastructure, and other development projects promoting peace. The project will implement the community driven development approach of Kalahi-CIDSS with the same program objectives- to empower people, to improve local governance and reduce poverty, but with special emphasis on barangays affected by conflict and violence.

Under the program, all CABs will be provided with development projects. A manner different to Kalahi-CIDSS which uses the participatory prioritization mechanism--a criteria-based vote casting by community representatives to decide which projects needs to be prioritized. The program specifies that the focus is strengthening the communities’ capacity to address issues of peace through activities that ensure participation. It also emphasizes that Kalahi-CIDSS is not only a poverty alleviation program but also an instrument in achieving peace and resilient communities in CABs.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=631354841436

NOLCOM, ABS-CBN foundation beneficiaries go on field trip in Tarlac

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 7): NOLCOM, ABS-CBN foundation beneficiaries go on field trip in Tarlac

Around 800 beneficiaries of various school projects of Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) and ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Cordillera recently converged in Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac for a Lakbay Aral and Handog Pasasalamat. Nolcom Information Officer 2LT. Oscar Zaldivar disclosed that the attendees came from Bacooc Elementary School, Libtec Elementary School, and Dumayco Elementary School in Abra; Jose Democrito Elementary School in Nueva Ecija; Taliptip Elementary School in Bulacan; Villa Bacolor Elementary School, Malinta Elementary School, San Raymundo Elementary School, Bilad Elementary School, and Malinta Elementary School in Tarlac; and Amolong Elementary School, Balindan Elementary School, Natonin Elementary School, and Layog-ogtong Elementary School in Mountain Province.

There were also delegates from Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Pangasinan. “Projects in these areas included the construction of classrooms, libraries, playgrounds, comfort rooms, and centralized water systems,” Zaldivar added. The beneficiaries toured famed spots in Tarlac namely Capas National Shrine, Aquino Center, and SM. The students and teachers mingled with high-ranking officials of Nolcom during a bonfire held in Camp Aquino golf course. ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation program director Tina Monzon-Palma led the ceremonial conferment of plaques of appreciation to the different units of Nolcom headed by Lieutenant General Anthony Alcantara, for their support to the projects. The foundation also gave gifts to the beneficiaries and awarded the winners of its Parol Making contest.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=561354674084

Negrense soldier dies in line of duty in Compostela Valley

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7): Negrense soldier dies in line of duty in Compostela Valley

An army soldier from Negros Occidental was among those who perished during the onslaught of Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley province. The military authority has identified the Negrense soldier as Sgt. Maximo Olivarez, 38, of Brgy. Inolingan, Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental. Olivarez, who is presently assigned with the 66th Infantry Battalion’s Charlie Company, was among the platoon of soldiers which set-up the command patrol base in preparation for rescue operation in the area affected by flashflood. Report have it that Olivarez was carried away by the strong flood waters along with seven other fellow soldiers. His cadaver was found several hours later.

 Apart from Olivarez, six other army troopers of 66IB previously assigned in Negros Occidental had not been accounted and three more soldiers had been reported injured during the incident. Olivarez and 49 other victims perished in the mudslide and flashflood in the southern mountain of New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=477980

5 NPAs wounded, 6 camps seized by gov't forces in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7): 5 NPAs wounded, 6 camps seized by gov't forces in North Cotabato

MAGPET, North Cotabato -- Five communist rebels were wounded and hundreds of ammunition were recovered as the military seized control of six abandoned camps of the New Peoples Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of this town Thursday. Colonel Ademar Tomaro, 602nd Army brigade commander, said the military's 10 Special Forces Company and elements of the 57th Infantry Battalion have been pursuing a band of communist guerillas who have been mulcting from farmers in Barangay Mahungcog here. "The NPA forced taxation activities have forced civilians to cooperate with the military," Tomaro said in his report to the 6th Infantry Division. Tomaro admitted there was no body count in the NPA fatalities but civilians told soldiers that they saw some five wounded rebels being carried by their comrades away from the encounter site. About 60 families have abandoned their homes for fear of getting caught in the crossfire as the rebels retreated to their villages.

Colonel Prudencio Asto, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said Maj. Gen. Ronnie Ordoyo, 6th ID chief, supported the offer to the NPA of Colonel Tomaro to accompany wounded rebels from the mountains to the military hospital for medication. In the nearby village of Doles, Magpet, the soldiers also seized at least six NPA satellite camps straddling across several villages and there were indications the guerillas stayed in these areas for days prior to last week's skirmishes. Following Thursday's intense firefight, the rebels moved deep into the foot of the country's highest peak -- Mt. Apo. Tomaro has deployed more forces in Magpet to contain the threat of communist guerillas.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=478045

AFP renews vow to uphold human rights, joins in the celebration of Human Rights Consciousness week

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7): AFP renews vow to uphold human rights, joins in the celebration of Human Rights Consciousness week

The 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID)based at Camp Gen. Macario Peralta Jr. in Jamindan, Capiz renewed its pledged to uphold human rights as it joined in the celebration of the National Human Rights Consciousness Week celebrated from Dec. 4 - 10. In his email dispatch, Army's spokesperson Maj. Enrico Gil Ileto said soldiers from the different Army units in the region under the overall jurisdiction of the 3ID would continue their enduring commitment to the people in line with the guidance from the national leadership and the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ directive to enhance the culture of Human Rights-International Human Law-Role of Law within the rank and file of the AFP.

He said they will continue dispensing their responsibility of respecting and protecting the human rights of every individual regardless of race, religion, creed, belief, culture and social status in line with the Internal Peace and Security Plan (Bayanihan) which gives premium on serving the people and provides focus on peace and development efforts.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=478149

President Aquino names U.P. professor as the new government peace panel chief negotiator

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 7): President Aquino names U.P. professor as the new government peace panel chief negotiator

President Benigno S. Aquino has appointed University of the Philippines Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer as the new chairperson and chief negotiator of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel, a Malacanang official announced on Friday. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Professor Coronel-Ferrer was named as the successor of Mario Victor F. Leonen who was appointed by President Aquino as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court last November.

 Coronel-Ferrer is a professor of Political Science at the U.P. where she teaches comparative politics and political theory. She was director of the U.P. Third World Studies Center from 2000 to 2003 and deputy director from 1995 to 1998. She also convened the Program on Peace, Democratization, and Human Rights of the U.P. Center for Integrative and Development Studies until 2005. Beginning in July 2010, she joined the Government Negotiating Panel for Talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Prof. Coronel-Ferrer co-chaired the Non-State Actors Working Group of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines from 1999-2004. She joined fact-finding missions organized by international NGOs investigating violence in Cambodia (1993, 1997), East Timor (1999, 2000), and Nepal (2003). She was one of 27 Filipino women who are part of the “1000 Women for the Nobel,” nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

She also served as visiting professor at Hiroshima University in Japan, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Korea, and Gadja Madah University in Indonesia; and had written several articles on Philippine civil society, politics, regional autonomy and peace processes in international and local journals and books.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=478155

High Hopes for Philippine Peace Plan

From U.S. News & World Report (Dec 6): High Hopes for Philippine Peace Plan

A month after the announcement of a potentially historic peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the two sides continue to iron out the details, one of the negotiators has already picked up an award for his efforts, and, most importantly, peace still reigns. The agreement promises to end an almost 30-year-old insurgency by the Islamic separatist group by enlarging the autonomous region in Mindanao and increasing its political and economic power. If the promise is ultimately met, considerable credit would be due to the Philippine government for handling the conflict in ways which, careful study of past counterinsurgencies shows, improved the odds for success.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front was created in 1984 as an Islamic outgrowth of the more secular Moro National Liberation Front, which formed in the early 1970s. In 1996, the National Front reached a negotiated settlement with the Philippine government that created the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The new peace agreement aims to expand this area into a larger region called Bangsamoro.While both the National Liberation Front and the Islamic Liberation Front are Muslim separatist movements, the Islamic Front is more extremist and, until now, had been unwilling to accept anything less than a fully independent state in Muslim Mindanao. This is not the first peace agreement to be negotiated between the Philippine government and the Islamic Front. Indeed, the two parties have engaged in on-again, off-again peace talks since 1986 (with the National Front taking the lead in negotiations prior to 1996). Numerous ceasefires have been negotiated (and broken), and a peace agreement was drafted in 2008, only to be declared unconstitutional by the Philippine Supreme Court.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front is not the only insurgent group still operating in the Philippines. The country currently contends with both a violent communist insurgency (the New People's Army) and an Islamic terrorist movement with ties to Al Qaeda (the Abu Sayyaf Group). The government has successfully used a combination of counterinsurgency strategies against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in recent years, raising expectations that the new peace deal will also succeed—and in a manner that favors the government's interests.

A 2010 RAND study of 30 recent counterinsurgencies, Victory Has a Thousand Fathers: Sources of Success in Counterinsurgency, indicated that "effective counterinsurgency practices tend to run in packs." The study's authors developed a scorecard of 15 good and 12 bad counterinsurgency practices that perfectly discriminates the historical cases into wins and losses, with obvious implications for future counterinsurgency efforts. "Good" practices included incorporating strategic communication strategies, reducing tangible support to insurgents, avoiding collateral damage, and winning over the population in the area of conflict. "Bad" counterinsurgency practices, in contrast, included collective punishment, resettlement of the population, and coercion or intimidation.

A quick tally reveals that the Philippine government's recent counterinsurgency strategy against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has consisted of predominantly "good" practices (12 good practices and only three bad practices, for a score of +9). To put this score into perspective, all of the historical counterinsurgency forces that won scored a 5 or higher. In the Philippines, those good counterinsurgency practices include the government's use of strategic communication, campaigns to win popular support, and efforts to reduce tangible support to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Nonetheless, the Philippine government had to make concessions. Perhaps most importantly, the agreement gives Mindanao's 4 million Muslims a share of the proceeds generated by the region's as-yet-untapped mineral wealth. The government will face numerous hurdles in bringing the Bangsamoro region into existence by the target date of 2016. Yet if we believe that history is the best predictor of success in counterinsurgency, the Philippine government has reason to be optimistic.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/world-report/2012/12/06/high-hopes-for-philippine-peace-plan

Peace agreement will 'cut' support to militants: MILF

From the New Straits Times (Dec 5): Peace agreement will 'cut' support to militants: MILF
JOHOR BAHRU: The historic peace framework agreement between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government will "cut" the people's support to militant groups operating in Mindanao and other parts of the republic's southern region. MILF chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim said southern Philippines' militant groups including Abu Sayyaf existed "because they are riding on the grievances of the Bangsamoro people". "If the people see a bright future and feel that the grievances are being addressed, then the small (militant) groups that are trying to sabotage the peace process can no longer exist because they will not have support from the people. "If there is no more support from the people, they (militant groups) will gradually be isolated," he told Bernama in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the 8th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), here, today.

The three-day WIEF, which is attended by 2,100 delegates from more than 80 countries, was officially opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday. The framework agreement between Manila and the southern Philippines' largest armed group serves as the overarching architecture for the Mindanao peace process and provides the foundation for a just and enduring peace there. The historic agreement which was brokered by Kuala Lumpur, was signed by both sides at Malacanang Palace, Manila on Oct 15 and witnessed by both Najib and President Benigno Aquino III.

Murad said the small armed groups that were currently fighting the Philippine government, survived and existed because they could easily gain the support of the local population. Nevertheless, he said the MILF was not ready to lose hope on the other militant groups joining the peace bandwagon, and was conducting dialogues with them with the ultimate intention for them to embrace peace. "So, we are inviting them to join us in trying to build from the framework agreement that we have now, so that the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people will be properly addressed," he said. Murad pointed out that despite the framework agreement was only inked by the Philippine government with the MILF, he was hopeful that other militant groups could embrace the spirit and bring peace to Mindanao and the southern Philippines. The agreement, said Murad, was not exclusive for the MILF but could be embraced by other smaller armed groups. "So, we will make them (other militant groups) think that what we have achieved is not exclusive for MILF but inclusive for other groups too. "We are optimistic that gradually, the situation on the ground will settle down, InsyaAllah," he said with a smile

http://www.nst.com.my/latest/peace-agreement-will-cut-support-to-militants-milf-1.181575

Advocacy for multi-ethnic tribes in South Upi, Maguindanao held

From the MILF Website (Dec 7): Advocacy for multi-ethnic tribes in South Upi, Maguindanao held

On the morning of December 1, hundreds of leaders of indigenous tribes, Teduray and Lambangian, and Filipino settlers from Luzon and Visayas were given orientation on the GPH-MILF Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro at LGU gymnasium Barangay Timanan, South Upi, Maguindanao.  The activity was a joint effort of the MILF and the Local Government Unit of South Upi headed by Mayor Abdullah A. Campong, Al Haj, a Teduray Muslim leader and a descendant of Rajah Mamalu. The orientation was facilitated by members of the MILF peace panel Datu Antonio Kinoc, MILF technical working group (TWG) and the MILF military General Staff (GS) of the BIAF.

Saban Campong, a member of the GS-BIAF and a Teduray Muslim briefed the audience on the history of Bangsamoro struggle, and also revealed that one of the founders of MILF is also a Teduray, Ustadz Abu Halil Yahya Campong. Saban also highlighted the connection between the non-Islamized IPs and the Moro people through the brothers, Mamalu and Tabunaway.

Datu Kinoc, a Blaan leader from South Cotabato, touched on the progress of the GPH-MILF peace process as well as the salient points of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB). Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, a member of the MILF technical working group on normalization, enlightened the audience on the content of Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro. He also enumerated the oppressive laws in the Philippines which the Bangsamoro and IPs were the victims, which the proposed Basic Law will try to correct.

Mohammad Nassif, also Teduray but a Muslim since birth and currently chairman of the MILF TWG on Normalization, appeal to his brethren Teduray, to understand well the content and objective of the Framework Agreement signed last October 15, 2012n in Malacanang, especially the protection of the IP rights, custom and traditions. He challenged them to stand to be counted in supporting the FAB.
Also gracing the forum were Dr. Tomanda Antok, Toks Ebrahim, Head of the Administration.
Department, GS BIAF MILF, Dr. Maguid Makalingkang, member MILF TWG on Power Sharing, Rasid Ladiasan Head MILF CCCH, and Ustadz Abdukadir Abdullah, head of Islamic Call & Guidance, GS, MILF-BIAF.

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2977:advocacy-for-multi-ethnic-tribes-in-south-upi-maguindanao-held-&catid=31:general&Itemid=41

3 rebels killed in Army encounter

From the Bicol Mail (Dec 6): 3 rebels killed in Army encounter

VIRAC, Catanduanes —Three suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) here were killed during an encounter on Dec 1, 2012 with the members of the 83rd IB of the Philippine Army in Barangay Calatagan, in this capital town..In a report, allegedly a concerned citizen in the morning of Dec. 1, alerted authorities of the presence of rebels led Jimboy Lucero aka Jason, extorting money and goods from the residents. At around 22:00 p.m. of the same day a troop of 8 Army combatants led by a certain 1Lt. Magamay arrived at the scene and engaged in a firefight more or less 15 fully armed communist rebels. The firefight which lasted for about ten minutes left two lifeless bodies of the rebels which were later identified as Ka Bryan and Ka Ching. Also recovered from the scene were two M16 rifles, one M14, an M653 Baby Armalite, 4 anti-personnel landmines (IEDs) with detonating cords, 40 pcs of blasting caps, subversive documents, and personal belongings.

Virac police identified Ka Bryan as Ronald Satairapan, 16 years old, single and a resident of Barangay Tuminawog, San Andres town. His body was claimed the next day by his parents Nicanor and Delia Satairapan after submitting pertinent parental papers. Meanwhile, Ka Ching’s body kept at the St. Peter Chapel, remained unclaimed. She was, however, identified as Liezl Isorena of Barangay Porot of Pandan town, allegedly married to NPA leader Lucero.

On Dec. 3, three days after the encounter, one scout platoon of the 83rd IB led by a certain Cpl. Peñafiel while on pursuit operation recovered one dead male body, more or less 23 years old. The body which was found in an advance state of decomposition was believed to be among those who were killed in the encounter. Also recovered in the area were 7 cell phones, live ammos for M16, 3 jungle packs, 6 ponchos, 2 hammocks, 5 blankets, 20 pcs battery, more or less 25 kls of rice, more or less 5 kls of sugar, 6 packs of instant coffee, 3 kls of dried fish, 13 boxes of bath soap, 4 doz shampoo, 5 packs of biscuits, and 3 cooking pots.

http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=5368

Photo: No wind, no rain, not even the wrath of Typhoon Pablo could stop our troops,,,from reaching out to communities in distress

From the Philippine Department of National Defense Facebook page (Dec 5):  Photo of the Day

DND Photo of the Day - 5 December 2012 - No wind, no rain, not even the wrath of Typhoon Pablo could stop our troops from the 20IB of the 8ID, Army based in Northern Samar from reaching out communities in distress. The spirit of “Bayanihan..." knows no boundaries, creed or ideology. Our soldiers in the Army only see the life of Pinoys needing aide and rescue. 

https://www.facebook.com/DNDPHL

CPP: CPP condemns Isabela massacre of elderly couple

Propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Dec 6): CPP condemns Isabela massacre of elderly couple

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) joins the Filipino people in condemning in the strongest terms possible the fascist troops of the 86th Infantry Battalion for carrying out the heinous murder of elderly couple Vicente and Rosario Valenzuela in Sitio Calatbagin, Barangay San Miguel, Echague, Isabela in the early morning hours of November 23. Operating troops of the 86th IB’s Alpha Company under 2Lt. Bernardino opened fire on the Valenzuelas after accusing Vicente of being an NPA guerrilla fighter just because he was found with a bolo used for harvesting root crops. The Army soldiers ignored the appeal of relatives who were shouting that the Valenzuelas were unarmed civilians. A soldier was also overheard appealing to his officer and fellow soldiers to stop shooting at the couple because they were civilians. Vicente, 60 and Rosario, 51, died immediately after being riddled with bullets from M16 rifles. Their bodies were taken by the 86th IB soldiers and brought to their camp in Soyung, Echague, Isabela. Officers of the 5th ID later circulated in the media the lie that the Valenzuelas were killed by the NPA during an encounter with Philippine Army soldiers in the area. The murdered couple’s relatives, however, also trooped to a radio station to belie the military’s claims.

“The CPP condemns this terrible fascist crime perpetrated by the armed troops of the 86th IB and holds the officers of the 5th ID fully responsible for the killing of the elderly Valenzuela couple,” said the CPP. “The CPP calls on the people of Echague to rise up and demand justice for the Valenzuelas. The CPP further calls on units of the New People’s Army in the area to punish the perpetrators of this heinous war crime.” “The CPP holds the Aquino regime, its commander-in-chief and its military and security officials ultimately responsible for these murders, as well as the wave of massacres, killings, abductions, illegal detention and other grave violations of human rights across the country,” added the CPP. “This latest war crime comes hard on the heels of the massacre by the 27th IB of the Capeon family last October 18 in Davao del Sur and the successive killings by the 2nd IB of civilian Dante Osma and village councilor Ely Oguis last November 1 and 11 in Albay. Oguis was decapitated by the soldiers and his head buried in the mud,” pointed out the CPP. “The armed agents of the Aquino regime are becoming increasingly brutal in carrying out their Oplan Bayanihan war of suppression,” said the CPP. “Claims by Aquino and his military officials of respecting human rights have been proven to be empty rhetoric and serve only as a thin veil to conceal the bloody trail of abuses and terror perpetrated by the AFP and other armed agencies of the reactionary state.”

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/cpp-condemns-isabela-massacre-of-elderly-couple

CPP: CPP condoles with victims of Pablo

Propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Dec 6): CPP condoles with victims of Pablo

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today issued the following statement:

 

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and all revolutionary forces express their deepest sympathies for the hundreds of thousands of victims of the recent tropical storm Pablo. Among the hardest hit by the strong winds, rains and resulting floods are the poor peasants especially in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, as well as others in Southern, Northcentral and Northeastern Mindanao, and Leyte, Cebu and southern Negros who lost their homes and livelihood.

 

The CPP expresses profound grief over the death of at least a hundred residents of New Bataan after a wave of mud and water descended from the denuded mountains of Compostela Valley. Tens of thousands of people in several isolated towns of Compostela Valley are in dire need of assistance after being cut off from communication and transportation lines. The reactionary Philippine government should be put to task for its continued failure to address the clamor of the poor peasants and farm workers who suffer grave socio-economic conditions as a result of worsening oppression and exploitation. The acute poverty of tens of millions of toiling people in the Philippines make them vulnerable to ever-worsening calamities brought about by the ruthless plunder of the environment.

 

Big foreign capitalists and their local business partners have long plundered Compostela Valley of timber and minerals. The Aquino regime continues to allow big mining operations to continue despite the widespread damage these have caused on the environment which subject the people in lowlands to calamities. The CPP urges all revolutionary forces to heed the clamor of the calamity victims for immediate relief. The CPP calls for the mobilization of resources and forces to extend assistance to the victims of the calamity. The CPP likewise appeals to the international community to course their assistance to the various people’s organizations directly engaged in calamity and disaster work to ensure that this reaches the people and is not diverted by corrupt officials.

 

Because units of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the affected areas work daily with the people, they are among the first to carry out rescue operations and assist the people in confronting the calamity. In light of the urgent humanitarian considerations, the NPA can suspend offensive military operations against the AFP for a period of time. The responsible organs of the Communist Party, the NPA and the National Democratic Front (NDF) will issue more authoritative and detailed orders on this matter.

 

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/cpp-condoles-with-victims-of-pablo

CPP/NDF: NDF calls for relief, rehabilitation for Pablo victims

Propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Dec 6): NDF calls for relief, rehabilitation for Pablo victims

Rubi Del Mundo
Spokesperson
NDF-Southern Mindanao

The National Democratic Front Southern Mindanao commiserates with the victims of supertyphoon Pablo and calls for the massive rescue, relief and rehabilitation assistance to the more than 160,000 people affected by the December 4 tragedy. The NDF has also urged its allied revolutionary organizations to raise funds, seek donations and contributions for the victims. As the typhoon’s death toll and the casualties near to a thousand two days after the typhoon, no relief operations have arrived in the towns of Boston, Cateel and Bagangga. Search and rescue operations have not extended into far-flung barangays in Monkayo, New Bataan and Compostela towns in Compostela Valley province. Roads have not yet been cleared of felled trees and structures and bridges are still destroyed, preventing precious relief goods from being accessed by the victims. Accessibility to damaged areas have been limited to poblacion areas in Comval and Davao Oriental provinces.

The inaction and incompetence by the GPH in the face of this tragedy, is foreshadowed by the pronouncements of the reactionary environment and disaster officials who have blamed affected residents for their “complacency” and failing to heed the state’s warning and earlier calls for “preventive evacuation.” The reactionary government also point to rampant small-scale mining and logging in the affected areas—areas which were considered already “disaster-prone” in the state’s so-called geo-hazard map. It was an old script taken out the Sendong tragedy: denuded forests plus failure of the people to relocate aggravated the impact of a natural calamity. It was a ready, convenient answer by a government that has failed in putting into place sufficient preparations and responding to the needs of its people.

The ineptness highlights the vast irony: poor disaster-preparedness by a state that looks upon Comval and Davao Oriental as resource-rich localities in the country. Nowhere can we see the hundreds of million of pesos of taxpayers’s money out of Comval’s mining, agribusiness and Davao Oriental’s logging resources working for the victims of this calamity. Local capitalists and foreign large-scale mining salivate over the estimated 189 million metric tons of gold deposits mostly found in Mt. Diwata and nickel deposits of 490.7 million metric tons in Comval and Davao Oriental. And yet, as tragedies strike the resource-laden but poor communities, all the government can do is to deliver piecemeal assistance. Despite the billions of pesos allocated by the US-Aquino regime in AFP modernization, in the implementation of the fascist Oplan Bayanihan, and in disaster-related technological upgrade, the high-tech gadgets have failed to save the lowly peasant families, the families of small-scale miners and the ordinary banana plantation workers.

As the revolutionary forces help in the relief and rehabilitation, the people, including the families of the victims of the calamity should struggle to hold accountable those responsible for the loss of lives and property. The grave losses suffered by the people highlights the need to stop environmental plunder by indiscriminate large-scale mining, expanding large-scale plantations, and logging operations that are being abetted by the US-Aquino regime’s pro-capitalist economic policies.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/ndf-calls-for-relief-rehabilitation-for-pablo-victims