Posted to the CPP Website (May 16): People's war in the Philippines, peace negotiations & “terrorist” listing
Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Founding Chairman
Communist Party of the Philippines
By Professor Jose Maria Sison
Founding Chairman, Communist Party of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant, NDFP Negotiating Panel
Lecture at the University of Groningen, 16 May 2013
First of all, I wish to thank the Studentenvereniging voor Internationale Betrekkingen (SIB), or the Dutch United Nations Student Association (DUNSA), for inviting me to lecture on the revolutionary armed struggle being carried out by the New People’s Army (NPA) under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
I am honored and privileged to be invited because your association has high prestige and is well known to feature as guest lecturers high officials of the United Nations, the European Union and the Netherlands, including prime ministers, cabinet officials, members of parliaments, senior administrators, high military commanders, outstanding professors and journalists.
I propose to discuss tonight the character and status of the people’s war in the Philippines, in relation to the social crisis and the policies of the Manila government, also in relation to the long running peace negotiations between the Manila government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and further in relation to the issue of including the CPP, NPA and the chief political consultant of the NDFP (myself) in the so-called terrorist list of the EU.
Character of the People’s War
Since its founding on 26 December 1968, the Communist Party of the Philippines has analyzed Philippine society and described it as semicolonial and semifeudal. The US formally ended its colonial rule over the Philippines and granted it nominal independence in 1946. However, it has retained indirect rule through the subservient local ruling classes of big compradors and landlords. These two classes have maintained the semifeudal, agrarian and underdeveloped character of the Philippine social economy.
In confronting the ruling system of big compradors and landlords under US monopoly capitalism, the CPP has put forward a Program of People’s Democratic Revolution. The principal aims of this program are the following: to struggle for full national independence, to empower the working people, to realize democracy both in the sense of upholding civil and political rights and liberating the peasantry from feudal and semi-feudal captivity, to promote a national, scientific and mass culture and to foster international solidarity and world peace against imperialism.
The motive forces of the revolution are the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie and the middle bourgeoisie. The leading class is the working class through the CPP as its advanced detachment. The main force is the peasantry which is the majority class. The urban petty bourgeoisie is still a revolutionary class but no longer the leading class, in the shift from the global era of bourgeois-democratic revolution to that of modern imperialism and proletarian revolution. Even as it has a reactionary fear of the masses, the middle bourgeoisie is a positive patriotic force at best interested in national independence and economic development.
It is the position of the CPP that the exploiting classes of big compradors and landlords, as already proven in Philippine history, will never give up their power and wealth voluntarily. With US military support, they use their state power (army, police, prisons, courts, legislature and bureaucracy) to suppress the people’s national and democratic demands.
Thus, the CPP has set the line of achieving the people’s democratic revolution through the politico-military strategic line of protracted people’s war. This line entails developing in stages the people’s army and other revolutionary forces in the countryside over a long period of time in order to accumulate armed and political strength until they gain the capability to launch a nationwide general offensive and completely seize political power from the reactionary ruling classes.
For this purpose, the CPP has deployed its cadres in the countryside since early 1969 in order to build the New People’s Army (NPA) and the peasant movement, to carry out the revolutionary armed struggle and genuine land reform; and develop the mass base by organizing all possible forms of voluntary people’s association (for workers, peasants, women, youth, cultural activists, children, and so on), building the local CPP branches and establishing organs of political power in order to replace the political instruments of the exploiting classes.
The countryside offers the wide ground and rough terrain for the NPA to maneuver against the superior armed strength of the enemy and grow in stages by adopting the policy of strategic defense while carrying out tactical offensives against the forces of the enemy that are on the strategic offensive. The enemy forces are strategically superior to the NPA, at the ratio of 10 to 1, but through tactical offensives the NPA can gain superiority over the enemy forces, at the ratio of 10 to 1. Concentrated units of the NPA can pick the specific time and place to wipe out by surprise a specific part of the enemy force.
At the present stage, the NPA is waging intensive and extensive guerrilla warfare on the basis of an ever widening and deepening mass base. It uses the strategy and tactics of concentration, dispersal and shifting, as the need arises for achieving certain objectives. It concentrates a superior amount of force to wipe out an enemy unit. It wages only the battles that it can win. It disperses its units to conduct mass work and create more fighting units. It shifts its forces whenever it needs to evade a superior enemy force and gain a more advantageous position. It trades space for time and avoids battles that it cannot win. Most important of all, it enjoys the inexhaustible support of the masses and thus succeeds in keeping the enemy blind and deaf.
The CPP and the NPA envision a probability course of developing the people’s war in three strategic stages. At the first stage, the NPA is on the strategic defensive as the enemy is on the strategic offensive. At the second, the two warring armies are in a state of relative equilibrium and are in the strategic stalemate.At the third, the NPA is on the strategic offensive and the enemy is on the strategic defensive. The NPA accumulates strength as it wins battles and weakens the enemy forces and achieves the shift in the strategic balance of forces; and advance from one stage to another by launching the tactical offensives by guerrilla forces and eventually by regular mobile forces.
The people’s democratic revolution is basically completed upon the nationwide seizure of political power. The socialist revolution immediately starts, with the working class through its advance detachment continuing to lead the Philippine revolution, with the people’s army as the main component of state power and with the commanding heights of the economy nationalized, even as transitory bourgeois democratic reforms are carried out in harmony with the main process of socializing the ownership of the industrial means of production and realizing agricultural cooperation and mechanization.
Status of the People’s War
On the basis of reports published by the CPP and NPA (which you may check from www.philippinerevolution.net), we can inform ourselves on the status of the people’s war or strength of the NPA in terms of armed struggle, land reform and mass base building. We can also inform ourselves about the plan of the CPP and NPA to advance from the stage of strategic defensive to that of strategic stalemate by fulfilling both the political and military requirements.
The NPA is now operating in more than 110 guerrilla fronts, each with a total force ranging in size from an over-sized platoon to a company and with a territory roughly equivalent to a congressional district of at least five municipalities. The guerrilla fronts cover substantial parts of 70 provinces out of the total 81 Philippine provinces. The number of full-time Red fighters with high-powered rifles is moving towards the level of 10,000. They are also augmented by tens of thousands of volunteers in the people’s militia and in the hundreds of thousands of self-defense units of the mass organizations in the countryside.
The psywar experts of the reactionary government and its military are engaged in deception when they claim that the NPA had 25,000 Red fighters in the mid-1980s but now has only 4000 to 5000. The 1985 Plenum of the CC of the CPP assessed the NPA strength at 5,600 Red fighters with high-powered rifles. This rose to 6100 Red fighters in 1986. The people’s militia and self-defense units were not as well organized and well-trained as now. The NPA was undermined by grave Left opportunist errors, which would become the target of the Second Great Rectification Movement launched by the CPP in 1992.
The CPP, NPA and the peasant movement have carried out on a wide scale the minimum land reform program, involving the reduction of land rent, elimination of usury or excessive interest rates, raising the wages of farm workers, improving the prices of farm products and promoting agricultural production and sideline occupations through rudimentary cooperation. The maximum land reform program of confiscating and equitably distributing the land to the tillers for free is being carried out at an accelerated pace over more areas, depending on the strength and capability of the NPA and mass base.
To make more land available for land reform and to save the environment, the NPA is dismantling enterprises owned by foreign corporations and bureaucrat comprador-landlords, especially those that have grabbed the land from the peasants and indigenous peoples. These are export-oriented enterprises, including mining, logging and plantations. The NPA also takes action against biofuel production enterprises that take away land from food production; against expansive tourist facilities and against sheer real estate speculation.
The mass base of the CPP, NPA and other revolutionary forces runs into millions of people. It has been realized by building the mass organizations of workers, peasants, women, youth, cultural activists and children, the organs of political power from the village level to higher levels and the local Party branches. The organs of political power are led by the CPP and are assisted by working committees and by the mass organizations. Programs and mass campaigns are undertaken to promote mass organizing, mass education, land reform, production, disaster relief and rehabilitation, health care, local security and self-defense, settlement of disputes and cultural activities.
The revolutionary forces and people have attained such strength that they are aiming to advance from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate and are working hard to fulfill the political and military requirements. The CPP membership is now beyond 100,000 and is expanding towards the goal of 250,000 in both urban and rural areas. The CPP is developing more Party cadres in the course of mass work and expanding Party membership. The NPA seeks to increase its Red fighters to 25,000 and its guerrilla fronts to 180. The organs of political power and the mass organizations are strengthening themselves and seek to cover more people by the millions through direct organizing and by united front work.
The ruling system in the Philippines is extremely outdated and is in chronic crisis, despite the urban gloss effected by neoliberal economic policy through conspicuous consumption, luxury imports and high rise buildings financed by foreign borrowing and remittances of overseas contract workers. The chronic crisis of the domestic ruling system is now exacerbated by the bankruptcy of the neoliberal policy regime and the ever worsening crisis of global capitalism.
The ruling system has perpetuated feudal and semifeudal exploitation and prevented genuine land reform and national industrialization. It is tied to the production of raw materials and semi-manufactures. Thus it suffers chronic trade and budgetary deficits. It is sinking in a morass of public debt due to excessive local and foreign borrowing. The remittances of overseas contract workers are used to fund consumption spending and luxury imports by the exploiting classes. They are bound to decrease as the export of cheap labor is being countered by political turmoil in the Middle East and deepening recession in the imperialist countries.
In the wake of the worsening economic and financial crisis, the Aquino regime is being assisted by US agencies and public relations firms in touting itself as the “new tiger” in East Asia. It misrepresents as healthy economic growth the inflow of “hot money” or portfolio investments in the stock market. Manufacturing and agriculture have declined. The reassembly and reexport of electronic goods have plummeted since 2008. Business call centers, private construction and mining are the favored enterprises. The regime shuns Filipino-owned industrial development.
The broad masses of the people are made to suffer an ever rising rate of unemployment, reduced incomes, soaring prices of basic goods and services and deterioration of the social infrastructure. The so-called anti-poverty programs of doleouts like the Consditional Cash Transfer and PAMANA have become devices of bureaucratic and military corruption and vote-buying in elections. Social discontent is widespread and sharpening among the toiling masses of workers and peasants and even among the middle social strata.
The false statistics of economic progress and rigged poll survey results of mass satisfaction are the object of public derision and contempt for the current regime and the ruling system. The recently-held elections are a brazen process of excluding patriotic and progressive leaders of the toiling masses and favoring clans and dynasties of big compradors and landlords. The economic and social crisis is generating conditions favorable to the people’s war.
The US-directed Aquino regime is aptly described by the CPP as a fanatic of neoliberalism. It has no social conscience and is anti-worker and anti-peasant. It does not offer any solution to the basic social and economic problems, now being rapidly aggravated by the crisis. It is obsessed with assuring the foreign banks and corporations and the local big compradors with the opportunities to make superprofits.
It overestimates its ability to use the bureaucracy, the military, the reactionary mass media and the imperialist -funded NGOs to obfuscate the raging social issues. It is preoccupied with seeking political monopoly by mass deception and electoral manipulation and using military force under the US-designed Oplan Bayanihan to suppress the revolutionary movement of the people. Of recent, it has announced in the mass media the end of the peace negotiations with the NDFP, without giving the latter any formal notice of termination.
GRP-NDFP Peace Negotiations
Despite the determination of the revolutionary forces and the people to carry out the people’s democratic revolution through people’s war, they are open to the possibility of resolving the armed conflict through peace negotiations. The Central Committee of the CPP and National Council of the NDFP have created and authorized the NDFP Negotiating Panel to negotiate with the panel representing Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) in the time of the Ramos regime and thereafter.
The NDFP carries forward the general line of struggle for national independence and democracy through the peace negotiations. It is the same line carried forward by the revolutionary forces and people in the course of armed revolution. It offers to the current enemy government the opportunity to change course and forge a truce and alliance with the NDFP for the purpose of confronting US imperialism and the worst of reactionaries and solving the basic problems of the people.
The GRP can only discredit itself by refusing to address the roots of the civil war and to enter into agreements on basic social, economic and political reforms. By persevering in the general line of people’s democratic revolution through protracted people’s war, the revolutionary forces and the people prevent the GRP from prettifying itself, from using the peace negotiations to confuse their ranks and from obtaining their capitulation and pacification.
In engaging in peace negotiations, the NDFP is guided by the fact that the revolutionary forces and people have a democratic government of their own in the form of the local organs of political power under the leadership of the CPP as the ruling party and such a government governs a population that runs into millions. It has a disciplined people’s army under an effective national command and a territory of over 100,000 square kilometers or 30 per cent of total Philippine territory. In fact, the CPP cadres and NPA fighters can move freely in more than 90 per cent of this national territory.
Under international law, the people’s democratic government of workers and peasants and the reactionary government of the big compradors and landlords are co-belligerents in a civil war, with US military and other forms of intervention on the side of the reactionary government. To assert the existence and integrity of the revolutionary government, the NDFP promulgated on July 5, 1996 its Unilateral Declaration of Undertaking to Apply the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and Protocol I of 1977 and deposited this on July 6, 1996 with the Swiss Federal Council.
It has manifested its determination to wage people’s war under international law and to negotiate peace under the same. In fact, the GRP and NDFP have succeeded in forging the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) of 1998 under the principles and standards of the International Bill of Rights (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and so on) and the International Humanitarian Law (the Geneva Conventions and related conventions).
In 1986, soon after the fall of the fascist dictator Marcos, the GRP and NDFP agreed to hold ceasefire talks in Manila and to forge a 60-day ceasefire agreement which would lead to a further agreement on the substantive agenda of peace negotiations. The ceasefire agreement, which was mutually signed in November 1986, was broken by the massacre of peasant demonstrators and their urban supporters by presidential guards in front of the presidential palace on January 22, 1987. GRP President Aquino protected the officers responsible for the massacre.. On March 25, 1987, she formally “unsheathed the sword of war” against the revolutionary forces and people and ordered a vicious campaign of military suppression called Lambat Bitag.
But in 1989 she became worried about the consequences of natural disasters, the social disaster of her own making and continuing coup threats. She sent Rep. Jose V. Yap as her emissary to me as CPP founding chairman in Amsterdam in order to offer peace negotiations between the GRP and NDFP. I welcomed the offer despite the earlier cancellation of my Philippine passport on September 16, 1988.
The NDFP gave to Yap an aide memoire for GRP President Aquino stressing that peace negotiations should not be held in the Philippines because of serious dangers to the NDFP, as proven in the ceasefire talks and agreement in 1986-87. The NDFP agreed to engage in peace negotiations if held abroad, with the facilitation by a host government. But then defense secretary Ramos kept on obstructing the possibility of peace negotiations until he himself became GRP president in 1992 and sent back Yap to the NDFP officials in The Netherlands to conduct exploratory talks.
The GRP and the NDFP promulgated on September 1, 1992 The Hague Joint Declaration as the framework agreement for the peace negotiations between them, with the Dutch government as facilitator. The agreement stipulates that the aim of the peace negotiations is to lay the basis for a just and lasting peace by addressing the roots of the armed conflict and forging comprehensive agreements on social, economic and political reforms. It also stipulates that no side shall impose on the other any precondition that negates the character and purpose of peace negotiations.
It lays down the substantive agenda for making the following four comprehensive agreements: respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, social and economic reforms, political and constitutional reforms and the end of hostilities and disposition of forces. It requires the sequential formation of Reciprocal Working Committees to draft the tentative comprehensive agreements to be finalized by the negotiating panels and to be ultimately approved by the principals of the negotiating parties.
However, further exploratory talks were interrupted by the GRP’s unilateral act of forming the National Unification Commission (NUC) for GRP-managed fake localized peace negotiations. After the NUC was dissolved, the GRP and NDFP made further major agreements in 1995 to strengthen the peace process, such as the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) on for the negotiators, consultants and related personnel on both sides, the Ground Rules for Meetings of the Negotiating Panels, and the Joint Agreement on the Formation, Sequence and Operationalization of the Reciprocal Working Committees.
The GRP and the NDFP negotiating panels held the opening of formal peace negotiations in Brussels, Belgium in 1995, with the Belgian government as facilitator. The negotiations were interrupted for more than a year because of the failure of the GRP to release from prison NDFP consultant Sotero Llamas in accordance with the JASIG. The GRP and NDFP negotiating panels cooperated in persuading GRP president Ramos to override the objection of the defense secretary to the release of Llamas.
They resumed negotiations upon the release of Llamas in 1996. They succeeded in finallzing and signing the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) on March 16, 1998. The NDFP principal, the chairman of the NDFP National Council, signed and approved it promptly on April 10, 1998. But the GRP President Ramos failed to approve it before the end of his term of office in the same year. GRP President Estrada approved it on August 7, 1998. But he would unilaterally find cause to terminate the JASIG and in effect the peace negotiations in May 1999.
“Terrorist” Listing and Other Obstacles
After the Estrada regime fell in January 2001, as a result of massive protests against corruption, the Arroyo regime agreed with the NDFP to resume the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations, to reaffirm all previous agreements, to operationalize the Joint Monitoring Committee under CARHRIHL and to have the Royal Norwegian Government as facilitator of the peace negotiations. But in June 2001, it suddenly decided to paralyze the peace negotiations and pursue a brutal policy of all-out military suppression against the revolutionary movement.
It announced Oplan Bantay Laya as its counterrevolutionary military campaign plan aligned with the so-called US war on terror. When GRP President Arroyo visited the US in November 2001, she requested the US to designate the CPP, NPA and the NDFP chief political consultant as “foreign terrorists”. House Speaker De Venecia, together with other high GRP officials, came to The Netherlands towards the end of November to meet the NDFP negotiators and consultants. He told them that the US would designate the CPP, NPA and myself as “terrorists” unless the NDFP signed a “final peace accord”, which required the dismantling of the NPA and surrender of arms.
The NDFP refused to be blackmailed and insisted that the peace negotiations should proceed if the GRP showed respect for and compliance with JASIG with regard to the illegal arrest and detention of NDFP consultants. The US acted to designate the CPP and NPA “terrorists” on August 9, 2002 and myself on August 12, 2002. Within 24 hours, the Dutch government listed me as “terrorist”, froze my bank account , deprived me of all the social benefits granted to me as asylum seeker and even required me to reimburse pension payments previously made to me. I took the legal action of demanding from the Dutch government the basis for my being listed as “terrorist”.
The most that the Dutch authorities could show me was a press clipping of somebody else’s article from Ang Bayan, the CPP publication, in which the US is condemned and warned as an interventionist military force in Philippine affairs. Then the Dutch government repealed its “terrorist” listing of me only to become the prime movant in the Council of the European Union (EU) for the inclusion of my name in the “terrorist” blacklist of the European Union on October 28, 2002. Thus, I proceeded for many years to wage the legal action for the removal of my name from the EU blacklist. In the meantime, the inclusion of my name in the EU “terrorist” list served to undermine and paralyze the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations, despite previous EU Parliament resolutions endorsing and supporting these.
Ultimately, the European Court of Justice made a judgment in my favor on 30 September 2009. This became final on 10 December 2009 in the absence of appeal by the losing side. It ruled conclusively that my fundamental rights had been violated by my being listed a “terrorist” and subjected to sanctions without being charged with any specific terrorist crime. The fundamental rights violated included the following: the right to be informed of the charge if any, the right to be presumed innocent, the right to legal counsel and the right to judicial relief.
Since the “terrorist” listing of the CPP, NPA and myself in 2002, the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations have been paralyzed. The NDFP took the position that the foreign governments that blacklisted the CPP, NPA and myself as “terrorists” had no right to intervene in Philippine affairs and make judgments over Philippine entities and their alleged acts within Philippine territory. The NDFP proposed to the GRP to make a joint statement simply declaring that no foreign government had such right. But the craven puppet reaction of the GRP was to assert the “sovereign right” of the US and other foreign governments to intervene in Philippine affairs.
In 2004 the GRP and NDFP Negotiating Panels met in Oslo and issued a joint communique in which the two negotiating parties and the RNG as third party facilitator committed themselves to exert joint and separate efforts to seek the removal of the names of CPP, NPA and myself from the “terrorist” blacklist. As soon as the GRP panel returned to the Philippines, the presidential adviser on the peace process issued a statement that foreign governments had the “sovereign right” to make judgments over Philippine entities and acts.
When in August 2005 the NDFP demanded GRP compliance with the JASIG and the Oslo joint communique, the GRP decided to “suspend” indefinitely the JASIG even as this agreement provides that either one or both negotiating parties have only two choices: either respect the effectivity of the JASIG or terminate the entire agreement. The practical effect of the “suspension” was the complete paralysis, if not yet complete death of the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.
Since 2005 the Arroyo regime had made representations to the Dutch government for my arrest on false charges of murder. In August 2007 the Dutch police arrested me and raided the information office of the NDFP and six residences of NDFP negotiating panelists, consultants and staffers. They took away papers and digital copies of documents related to the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.
One after the other, the Dutch District Court of The Hague and the Appellate Court dismissed the false charge of murder against me in 2007 and eventually the Dutch National Prosecution Service dropped its investigation. The Dutch police returned most of the hard and digital copies of the documents they seized. But they did not return one disk containing the most important code and the four related disks were returned but had been corrupted or damaged. These five disks contained the codes for encrypting and decrypting the photos and information deposited in a safety box in a Dutch bank for the benefit of the NDFP consultants, security officers and staffers involved in the GRP-NFP peace negotiations in accordance with JASIG.
After the current Aquino regime replaced the Arroyo regime in June 2010,the GRP and NDFP agreed to meet and resume their negotiations. The GRP recomposed its negotiating panel for the purpose in November 2010. But unfortunately it appointed as presidential adviser on the peace process the same Arroyo factotum, Teresita Deles, who had sabotaged the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations since 2004.
The NDFP negotiating panel and the newly-composed GRP negotiating panel met and issued a joint statement in Oslo in February 2011. The latter panel joined the reaffirmation of all previous agreements in the GRP-NDFP but maliciously insisted on inserting the clause that it had qualifications for signing and that the The Hague Joint Declaration was a “document of perpetual division”, thus attacking the framework agreement which had validated and made possible the peace negotiations.
Despite the negative position of the GRP negotiating panel, the NDFP chief political consultant reiterated to the GRP principal the long standing NDFP offer to the GRP since 2005 for an immediate truce and alliance on the basis of a general statement of common intent to realize full national independence, democracy, social justice and economic development through genuine land reform and national industrialization.
The offer had been made to answer effectively the constant GRP demand for indefinite ceasefire to effect the capitulation and pacification of the revolutionary forces and people. The NDFP chief political consultant averred that the truce and alliance offered by NDFP could be negotiated on a special track, while the regular track would proceed in accordance with The Hague Joint Declaration and subsequent agreements.
The GRP boasts that it has no obligation to comply with the JASIG and insists that detained NDFP consultants can seek release only by going through the legal processes of the reactionary government, notwithstanding the falsity of the charges of common crimes which the Arroyo regime had fabricated in its so-called legal offensive of filing false charges of common crimes to tie down and persecute targeted opponents. It would be discovered later on that the Arroyo regime and the Dutch government had connived in using the Dutch prosecution and police to disable the codes for decrypting the photos and information on the JASIG-protected consultants.
The GRP used the aforesaid discovery as further pretext to refuse compliance with the JASIG on the release of detained NDFP consultants even on humanitarian grounds. It also refused to allow the reconstruction of the list of the documents that could not be retrieved due to the destroyed codes. After three years of negotiations between the Aquino regime and the NDFP, not a single NDFP consultant has been released in compliance with the JASIG. And yet the regime has maliciously spread the lie in the mass media that the NDFP negotiates with the GRP only to have the NDFP consultants released and returned to the battlefield.
In June 2012 when the GRP and NDFP negotiating panels met in Oslo again. The most that could be agreed upon was a short paragraph, stating that “meaningful discussions shall continue on the issues raised by the two sides”, without reference to the substantive agenda in the The Hague Joint Declaration and the Joint Agreement on the Formation, Sequence and Operationalization of the Reciprocal Working Committees. This short-paragraph agreement is now being interpreted by the Aquino regime as the end of the peace negotiations on the regular track.
After a series of meetings between the NDFP chief political consultant, the GPH presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas and RNG Ambassador Ture Lundh, the GRP and NDFP delegations met in February 2013 supposedly to prepare on the special track for a meeting between the GRP president and the CPP founding chairman in a historic meeting in Hanoi similar to that between the former and the MILF chairman in Tokyo in 2011. The NDFP submitted a draft communique for such meeting and an elaboration of its initial draft Declaration for National Unity and Just Peace, providing for truce and cooperation.
The GRP delegation practically killed the special track by demanding that the truce be in the form of indefinite unilateral and simultaneous ceasefires within the legal framework of the reactionary government and without any kind of substantive agreement mutually beneficial to the two sides and the people. The NDFP delegation expressed the view that such demand made the special track unnecessary and that the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations be resumed to do the work on the substantive agenda stipulated by The Hague Joint Declaration.
In the meantime, the US-Aquino regime continues to engage in state terrorism. This involves the gross and systematic violations of human rights under Oplan Bayanihan, now in the process of surpassing those under Oplan Bantay Laya during the US-Arroyo regime. It does so in contravention of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) by illegally arresting and indefinitely detaining, torturing and murdering persons associated with the NDFP and involved in the peace negotiations and refusing to investigate and in effect condoning cases of violations of the JASIG.
On a far larger scale, violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHIL) include the abduction, indefinite detention, torture and murder of social activists and suspected revolutionaries on false accusations of common crimes, indiscriminate military attacks on entire communities of the urban poor, the peasants and indigenous people, forced mass evacuations and evictions from land and homes.
Prospects of People’s War and Peace Negotiations
Through its presidential adviser on the peace process, its negotiating panel chairman and its presidential spokesman, the Aquino regime has publicly announced that it shall no longer go into any formal talks with the NDFP in both the regular and special tracks of the peace negotiations. It has also announced that it has already informed the Royal Norwegian government (RNG) that it has terminated its peace negotiations with the NDFP. But upon inquiry by the NDFP Negotiating Panel, the RNG denied ever having received any notice of termination.
At the same time, the Aquino regime has announced taking a “new approach”. This refers to the end of the peace negotiations, the escalation of the brutal military campaigns and psychological warfare under the US-designed Oplan Bayanihan. The psywar campaigns have been going on for sometime. It involves faking localized negotiations and fabricating mass surrenders and doling out a part of the graft-ridden Conditional Cash Transfer and PAMANA funds, while most funds are misappropriated and end up in the pockets of the corrupt bureaucrats and military officers.
The US-Aquino regime is hell bent on using brute military in a futile attempt to destroy the revolutionary forces and the people represented by the NDFP. In the process, it will continue to commit gross and systematic violations of human rights.
The violations of civil and political rights include abductions or forced disappearances, illegal arrests and indefinite detention, false charges of common crimes against social activists, torture, extrajudicial killings, massacres and indiscriminate attacks on communities by bombings, strafing and artillery fire. The violations of economic, social and cultural rights include forced mass evacuations, destruction of employment and livelihood, grabbing of the land for the benefit of the foreign corporations and bureaucrat comprador-landlords, ethnocide against the indigenous people, wanton plunder of the natural resources and destruction of the environment.
Under the leadership of the CPP, the NPA is determined and prepared to fight the escalating counterrevolutionary violence and to carry out the plan to advance from the strategic defensive to the strategic stalemate. We are going to see the intensification of the civil war between the reactionary government of the big compradors and landlords; and the revolutionary government of the workers and peasants. The worsening crisis of the ruling system, the consequent suffering of the people and the absence of peace negotiations make the ground ever more fertile for the spread and intensification of the people’s war.
Because of the extreme anti-national and anti-democratic character of the US-Aquino regime, there is no indication whatsoever that it shall soon agree to resume the peace negotiations and respond positively to the clamor of the advocates of just peace and human rights for the resumption of the peace negotiations. The NDFP still expects that upon the worsening of the crisis of the ruling system and the rise of the people’s revolutionary strength, the possibility will grow that the US-Aquino regime or the succeeding regime will seek the resumption of peace negotiations.
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20130516_people-s-war-in-the-philippines-peace-negotiations-terrorist-listing
Sunday, May 19, 2013
CPP/NPA: 4 killed and 5 wounded on the side of the 17th IB in another NPA ambush
Posted to the CPP Website (May 16): 4 killed and 5 wounded on the side of the 17th IB in another NPA ambush
Tipon Gil-ayab
Spokesperson
NPA Kalinga Provincial Operations Command (Lejo Cawilan Command)
At 5 o’clock yesterday morning, another ambush was successfully staged by Red fighters from the Marcial Daggay Front (MDF) along the road and near the Ayaya Waiting Shed in Sitio Sidog, Barangay Limos, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.
Confirmed by the unit command of the MDF and seen by civilians nearby, killed were four (4) fascist soldiers and five (5) other troopers were wounded. But insiders from the AFP’s 5thInfantry Division confirm that from the initial four (4) killed and five (5) wounded, three (3) more died from among those wounded bringing the figures to eight (8) killed and two (2) wounded . The casualties were all from the newly transferred and retrained 17th IB. To save face, Lt. Col. Alvin V. Flores, the Commanding Officer of the 17th IB, whose HQ is based at Kapanikian, Camalog, Pinukpuk, told to print and broadcast media that only 3 of their troops were wounded.
This is the second ambush the NPA-Kalinga launched this month. The first was carried out by the NPA unit from the Abraham Bannawagan Front (ABF) at Sitio Patiging, Barangay Bagumbayan, Tabuk at 9:30 in the morning of May 9 where two (2) soldiers died and six (6) were injured from the 17th IB, and with 1 M16 rifle seized by the people’s army. There was no NPA casualty on the 2 tactical offensives.
These tactical offensives of the NPA are directed against elements of the fascist AFP-PNP-CAFGU, especially when they embark on intelligence, combat and “peace and development” team (PDT) operations to impose the oppressive authority of the reactionary government on the people, even to the extent of trampling on the people’s democratic and civil rights. Wherever and whenever these operations of the enemy occur, the NPA does its best to take military actions against these fascist troops to protect the interests and defend the democratic rights of the oppressed and exploited masses. These tactical offensives of the NPA were not meant to disrupt the reactionary electoral process but are part of regular military actions. These also serves as punitive actions due to continuing terror undertaken by the fascist AFP and its minions against the people, especially during the election period. The AFP-PNP-CAFGU terror and sabotage operations are meant to discourage the populace from voting for candidates and parties who support the people’s demands, even as they serve as security personnel of candidates who have been active in buying the people’s votes, and to ensure the victory of the anti-people candidates in order to strengthen the oppressive and exploitative pillars of the ruling reactionary system.
To downplay the NPA successful tactical offensives in the span of just 5 days, the AFP commanders proclaimed hilariously to the media that said ambushes were undertaken because “NPA candidates and party lists” lost in the recent elections. This is clearly red-baiting to harass and malign progressive party lists and candidates, a significant number of whom lost because of the intensified terror and sabotage operations by the reactionary armed forces of the ruling classes that terrorized the voting populace. Through fraud and the use of “guns, goons and gold”, the reactionary AFP-PNP-CAFGU and the diehard anti-people politicians were in cahoots in manipulating the recent sham election in order to consolidate the ruling system and deodorize the Aquino regime, the present puppet of US imperialism. They systematically removed and destroyed the campaign paraphernalia of the progressive party lists and candidates; and they vilified and blamed the latter for military actions undertaken by the NPA.
In reality, the recent sham election is just part of the OPlan Bayanihan of the fascist AFP. In essence, both are, anti-people and anti-democratic, anti-development and anti-peace. OPLan Bayanihan and the recent May 13 Elections serve to perpetuate the oppressive and exploitative semi-colonial and semi-feudal system of Philippine society, which is ruled by the big landlords and compradors under the dictate of US imperialism. Both mirror the true image of the reactionary US-Aquino regime, the head of the ruling state of big compradors and landlords. Under the present regime, exploitation of the Filipino workers and peasants is intensified, and the national patrimony and sovereignty of the Filipino people and the ancestral lands and the rich natural resources of the national minorities continue to be under the control of the landlord-compradors and bureaucrat officials who implement the economic and political policies and the military programs of US imperialism in the whole country. And such would only result to the ever worsening human rights violations, poverty and hunger of the suffering majority of the masses.
Under the fascist AFP’s OPlan Bayanihan, the PDT operations continue to trample on the people’s rights. These are, in fact, a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) that has been turned into a mockery by the US-Aquino regime. The peace negotiations between the GRP and the NDFP has long been stalled as the only desire of the reactionary Aquino regime, its fascist AFP and its US imperialist master is the capitulation of the revolutionary movement. They are persistently luring the CPP-NPA and the NDFP into a trap by promoting localized peace talks in order to weaken and defeat the revolutionary forces.
There is no sign at all for the US-Aquino regime to open up towards fundamental changes in Philippine society. This only proves the correctness of the national-democratic revolution through people’s war as the only right path to liberate the Filipino people. We, therefore, call on all the democratic classes and sectors of Philippine society to send their sons and daughters to join the NPA. And let us launch more tactical offensives to contribute to the advance of the people’s war to the strategic stalemate and to final victory.
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20130516_4-killed-and-5-wounded-on-the-side-of-the-17th-ib-in-another-npa-ambush
Tipon Gil-ayab
Spokesperson
NPA Kalinga Provincial Operations Command (Lejo Cawilan Command)
At 5 o’clock yesterday morning, another ambush was successfully staged by Red fighters from the Marcial Daggay Front (MDF) along the road and near the Ayaya Waiting Shed in Sitio Sidog, Barangay Limos, Pinukpuk, Kalinga.
Confirmed by the unit command of the MDF and seen by civilians nearby, killed were four (4) fascist soldiers and five (5) other troopers were wounded. But insiders from the AFP’s 5thInfantry Division confirm that from the initial four (4) killed and five (5) wounded, three (3) more died from among those wounded bringing the figures to eight (8) killed and two (2) wounded . The casualties were all from the newly transferred and retrained 17th IB. To save face, Lt. Col. Alvin V. Flores, the Commanding Officer of the 17th IB, whose HQ is based at Kapanikian, Camalog, Pinukpuk, told to print and broadcast media that only 3 of their troops were wounded.
This is the second ambush the NPA-Kalinga launched this month. The first was carried out by the NPA unit from the Abraham Bannawagan Front (ABF) at Sitio Patiging, Barangay Bagumbayan, Tabuk at 9:30 in the morning of May 9 where two (2) soldiers died and six (6) were injured from the 17th IB, and with 1 M16 rifle seized by the people’s army. There was no NPA casualty on the 2 tactical offensives.
These tactical offensives of the NPA are directed against elements of the fascist AFP-PNP-CAFGU, especially when they embark on intelligence, combat and “peace and development” team (PDT) operations to impose the oppressive authority of the reactionary government on the people, even to the extent of trampling on the people’s democratic and civil rights. Wherever and whenever these operations of the enemy occur, the NPA does its best to take military actions against these fascist troops to protect the interests and defend the democratic rights of the oppressed and exploited masses. These tactical offensives of the NPA were not meant to disrupt the reactionary electoral process but are part of regular military actions. These also serves as punitive actions due to continuing terror undertaken by the fascist AFP and its minions against the people, especially during the election period. The AFP-PNP-CAFGU terror and sabotage operations are meant to discourage the populace from voting for candidates and parties who support the people’s demands, even as they serve as security personnel of candidates who have been active in buying the people’s votes, and to ensure the victory of the anti-people candidates in order to strengthen the oppressive and exploitative pillars of the ruling reactionary system.
To downplay the NPA successful tactical offensives in the span of just 5 days, the AFP commanders proclaimed hilariously to the media that said ambushes were undertaken because “NPA candidates and party lists” lost in the recent elections. This is clearly red-baiting to harass and malign progressive party lists and candidates, a significant number of whom lost because of the intensified terror and sabotage operations by the reactionary armed forces of the ruling classes that terrorized the voting populace. Through fraud and the use of “guns, goons and gold”, the reactionary AFP-PNP-CAFGU and the diehard anti-people politicians were in cahoots in manipulating the recent sham election in order to consolidate the ruling system and deodorize the Aquino regime, the present puppet of US imperialism. They systematically removed and destroyed the campaign paraphernalia of the progressive party lists and candidates; and they vilified and blamed the latter for military actions undertaken by the NPA.
In reality, the recent sham election is just part of the OPlan Bayanihan of the fascist AFP. In essence, both are, anti-people and anti-democratic, anti-development and anti-peace. OPLan Bayanihan and the recent May 13 Elections serve to perpetuate the oppressive and exploitative semi-colonial and semi-feudal system of Philippine society, which is ruled by the big landlords and compradors under the dictate of US imperialism. Both mirror the true image of the reactionary US-Aquino regime, the head of the ruling state of big compradors and landlords. Under the present regime, exploitation of the Filipino workers and peasants is intensified, and the national patrimony and sovereignty of the Filipino people and the ancestral lands and the rich natural resources of the national minorities continue to be under the control of the landlord-compradors and bureaucrat officials who implement the economic and political policies and the military programs of US imperialism in the whole country. And such would only result to the ever worsening human rights violations, poverty and hunger of the suffering majority of the masses.
Under the fascist AFP’s OPlan Bayanihan, the PDT operations continue to trample on the people’s rights. These are, in fact, a violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) that has been turned into a mockery by the US-Aquino regime. The peace negotiations between the GRP and the NDFP has long been stalled as the only desire of the reactionary Aquino regime, its fascist AFP and its US imperialist master is the capitulation of the revolutionary movement. They are persistently luring the CPP-NPA and the NDFP into a trap by promoting localized peace talks in order to weaken and defeat the revolutionary forces.
There is no sign at all for the US-Aquino regime to open up towards fundamental changes in Philippine society. This only proves the correctness of the national-democratic revolution through people’s war as the only right path to liberate the Filipino people. We, therefore, call on all the democratic classes and sectors of Philippine society to send their sons and daughters to join the NPA. And let us launch more tactical offensives to contribute to the advance of the people’s war to the strategic stalemate and to final victory.
http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20130516_4-killed-and-5-wounded-on-the-side-of-the-17th-ib-in-another-npa-ambush
Chinese harassment at Kalayaan continues, mayor, residents say
From the Business Mirror (May 19): Chinese harassment at Kalayaan continues, mayor, residents say
THE Armed Forces has not taken any action to protect the officials and residents of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) town in Palawan despite reports about harassments by Chinese who allgedly continue to intrude and patrol inside their territory.
“We have no statement as of now pending verification of the report, and while waiting for an official action by the government,” the Armed Forces spokesman, Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan Jr., said in a text message.
Since reports of the renewed intrusion of Chinese ships into the KIG was reported almost two weeks ago, the military has implemented a news blackout on the issue, despite persistent reports of Chinese ships harassing residents on Pagasa Island.
“Sanay na kami sa pangha-harass nila [China]. Hindi naman kami sinasaktan, wala naman silang ginagawa sa amin. Puro pagpapabida lang ang ginagawa. Maski sa Pagasa Island may dumadaan silang barko…regular ang patrol nila…. Hindi ko lang masigurado kung Coast Guard ba nila [China] iyon o ano, madilim e,” said re-elected KIG Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon.
Pagasa Island is the center of political government of the KIG, which has a civilian population of less than 400, not to include the soldiers deployed on the place.
Reportedly, a flotilla of more or less 30 Chinese ships escorted by Chinese Navy patrol ships entered and allegedly unloaded construction materials on nearby Ayungin Reef that is also being claimed by the Philippines.
Bito-onon confirmed this report from fishermen who allegedly saw the activity of the Chinese but he has no way to verify it.
“Yes, and we’re deeply concerned by such reports,” he said.
On May 15, at around 12:30 a.m., two suspected Chinese patrol ships harassed the ship with Bito-onon and 146 other passengers and crew members on board that was sailing to Balabac from Pagasa.
“Tulog ako e. Naikwento na lang ng mga kasama ko ito. Hinabol daw kami about an hour until we passed by Ayungin where a big unidentified boat is anchored. At close range wala daw makitang numero. Ang lakas kasi ng spotlight nila. From Ayungin we headed for Balabac, nag-turn lang kami doon [Ayungin Reef]. Wala naman silang ginawa sa amin, except sinundan lang kami,” said Bito-onon.
PMA Class ’82 member eyed for military intelligence post
From the Business Mirror (May 19): PMA Class ’82 member eyed for military intelligence post
A MEMBER of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1982, Brig. Gen. Roberto Detablan Domines, has been recommended by the Board of Generals (BOG) to the position of Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for intelligence (J-2).
Domines is now the deputy commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry “Kaugnay” Division based in Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, Armed Fores chief of staff, presided over the BOG conference that pepared the short-list of candidates for the top military intelligence post.
If the BOG recommendation were approved by President Aquino, Domines will take over the post vacated on Saturday by Maj. Gen. Francisco Cruz Jr. (PMA 1979), who retired upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Military personnel are retired at the age of 56, or 30 years after graduation from PMA, whichever is later.
Domines was the commander of the 1001 Infantry Brigade based in Mindanao from October 2010 to October 2012. He led the 78th Infantry Battalion also based in Mindanao from June 1999 to July 2001.
Senior officers who worked with Domines in the field regard him as a “talented officer” and “team player.”
Meanwhile, there are reports that Brig. Gen. Hernando Iriberri will be taking command of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division (4ID) which is currently led by Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya as acting commander.
Iriberri is former senior military assistant and spokesman for Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. He was also Gazmin’s spokesman when the latter was Army commander.
Senior officers who spoke in condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on the matter said Iriberri is Gazmin’s personal choice to become the commander of the 4ID.
“Ever since he became defense secretary [Gazmin], all senior offices appointed to that position [4ID commander] were his own personal choice,” a source said.
NPA rebels raid village in Zambo Sur
From the Mindanao Examiner (May 19): NPA rebels raid village in Zambo Sur
Dozens of communist rebels disguised as government troops raided Sunday morning a village in the town of Bayog in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur and carted weapons issued by the military to local militias, police said.
Police said some 40 New People’s Army also seized communication equipment from village chieftain Reynaldo Villaver in Camp Blessing. The rebels, armed with M14, M16 and Ak-47, escaped after the raid.
It was not immediately known why the police failed to detect the presence of rebels – who spent 45 minutes in the area – before fleeing on foot.
Security forces have launched an operation to track down the rebels.
The rebels have been fighting for decades now in an effort to overthrow the democratic government and install a separate Maoist state in the country.
http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/05/npa-rebels-raid-village-in-zambo-sur.html
Dozens of communist rebels disguised as government troops raided Sunday morning a village in the town of Bayog in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur and carted weapons issued by the military to local militias, police said.
Police said some 40 New People’s Army also seized communication equipment from village chieftain Reynaldo Villaver in Camp Blessing. The rebels, armed with M14, M16 and Ak-47, escaped after the raid.
It was not immediately known why the police failed to detect the presence of rebels – who spent 45 minutes in the area – before fleeing on foot.
Security forces have launched an operation to track down the rebels.
The rebels have been fighting for decades now in an effort to overthrow the democratic government and install a separate Maoist state in the country.
http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/05/npa-rebels-raid-village-in-zambo-sur.html
Amid leader's call for calm, Taiwan 'offensive' vs PHL continues
From GMA News (May 19): Amid leader's call for calm, Taiwan 'offensive' vs PHL continues
Despite its leader's call for calm amid outrage over the fatal shooting of a fisherman last May 9, Taiwan is continuing its official offensive against the Philippines, this time via cyberspace.
The websites of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies, including the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, contained a microsite about the May 9 incident.
"It's a cold-blooded murder, not an 'unintended' loss of life'!" read the message on the link to the microsite, which was positioned prominently on the MOFA's homepage.
Also, the link showed a supposed illustration of the Philippine marine surveillance vessel firing on the Taiwanese fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 during their May 9 encounter.
The microsite was still live as of 8 p.m. Saturday, hours after Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou called for calm amid reports of Taiwanese taking out their anger on Filipinos in Taiwan.
Visitors who click on the link would be taken to the microsite titled "Latest on the Philippine attack on an ROC fishing boat."
A report on Taiwan News said the MOFA had said it would "instruct its 118 overseas offices to explain Taiwan’s position to their host countries, while it would also have a special section on its web site."
The May 9 incident prompted Taiwan to impose sanctions on the Philippines, including a freeze on the hiring of new laborers from the Philippines, and a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.
But the incident also prompted many Taiwanese to attack Filipino workers there, prompting the Manila Economic and Cultural Office to advise the Filipinos to lie low while tension remains high.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/309100/news/nation/amid-leader-s-call-for-calm-taiwan-offensive-vs-phl-continues
Despite its leader's call for calm amid outrage over the fatal shooting of a fisherman last May 9, Taiwan is continuing its official offensive against the Philippines, this time via cyberspace.
The websites of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies, including the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, contained a microsite about the May 9 incident.
"It's a cold-blooded murder, not an 'unintended' loss of life'!" read the message on the link to the microsite, which was positioned prominently on the MOFA's homepage.
A screenshot of the home page of Taiwan's foreign affairs ministry as of 7:43 p.m. Saturday. Despite calls by Taiwan's president for calm, the link to the microsite accuses the PHL of "cold-blooded murder."
A screenshot of the microsite of Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Ministry on the May 9 incident where a Taiwanese fisherman was killed. MOFA website
Visitors who click on the link would be taken to the microsite titled "Latest on the Philippine attack on an ROC fishing boat."
A report on Taiwan News said the MOFA had said it would "instruct its 118 overseas offices to explain Taiwan’s position to their host countries, while it would also have a special section on its web site."
A screenshot of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office website as of 7:44 p.m. Saturday, with articles on Taiwan's actions against the Philippines positioned prominently on the site. TECO website
But the incident also prompted many Taiwanese to attack Filipino workers there, prompting the Manila Economic and Cultural Office to advise the Filipinos to lie low while tension remains high.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/309100/news/nation/amid-leader-s-call-for-calm-taiwan-offensive-vs-phl-continues
PH waiting for Taiwan tempers to cool
From Rappler (May 19): PH waiting for Taiwan tempers to cool
The Philippines is waiting for tempers in Taiwan to cool before settling the dispute over a shot Taiwanese fisherman, the head of an office in charge of relations said Sunday, May 19.
Issues like Manila's "one-China" policy and comments by Taiwanese investigators branding the incident as murder have complicated the situation, said Amadeo Perez, chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
"We are waiting for the right time because I was told by the secretary-general for Asian affairs, we should wait for the temperature in Taiwan to cool," Perez said in an interview with dzMM radio.
"The Taiwanese are highly emotional and... the media in Taiwan is heating things up so tempers are running high."
Anger has grown in Taiwan after a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead on May 9 by the Philippine coastguard.
Taiwan has imposed sanctions against the Philippines, banning the entry of any more workers, recalling its de facto envoy and holding a military exercise in waters near the northern Philippines last week.
The coastguard said the fishing vessel had intruded into Philippine waters and tried to ram their own patrol boat.
A Taiwan investigative team which visited the country last week described the shooting as "murder", but Perez said the Taiwanese had not coordinated with local authorities before making the accusation.
Perez, whose office is in charge of relations in the absence of diplomatic ties, said lines of communication between his agency and the Taiwanese foreign ministry were still active despite the controversy.
He said the Philippine Justice Department was still studying a request for a joint investigation when the Taiwanese made their allegations this weekend.
The investigators' remarks "will further inflame the people of Taiwan", he warned.
Perez also said Taiwan wanted Philippine President Benigno Aquino personally to write a letter of apology, but this could be considered a violation of the country's one-China policy -- recognizing Beijing rather than Taipei as the government of China.
Last week Aquino sent Perez to Taiwan to convey his apologies but Taiwan rejected the message.
Perez also thanked Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou for his promise to protect the 87,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan after a Filipino worker there was attacked with a baseball bat amid public fury.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/29550-ph-waiting-for-taiwan-tempers-to-cool
The Philippines is waiting for tempers in Taiwan to cool before settling the dispute over a shot Taiwanese fisherman, the head of an office in charge of relations said Sunday, May 19.
Issues like Manila's "one-China" policy and comments by Taiwanese investigators branding the incident as murder have complicated the situation, said Amadeo Perez, chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO).
"We are waiting for the right time because I was told by the secretary-general for Asian affairs, we should wait for the temperature in Taiwan to cool," Perez said in an interview with dzMM radio.
"The Taiwanese are highly emotional and... the media in Taiwan is heating things up so tempers are running high."
Anger has grown in Taiwan after a 65-year-old Taiwanese fisherman was shot dead on May 9 by the Philippine coastguard.
Taiwan has imposed sanctions against the Philippines, banning the entry of any more workers, recalling its de facto envoy and holding a military exercise in waters near the northern Philippines last week.
The coastguard said the fishing vessel had intruded into Philippine waters and tried to ram their own patrol boat.
A Taiwan investigative team which visited the country last week described the shooting as "murder", but Perez said the Taiwanese had not coordinated with local authorities before making the accusation.
Perez, whose office is in charge of relations in the absence of diplomatic ties, said lines of communication between his agency and the Taiwanese foreign ministry were still active despite the controversy.
He said the Philippine Justice Department was still studying a request for a joint investigation when the Taiwanese made their allegations this weekend.
The investigators' remarks "will further inflame the people of Taiwan", he warned.
Perez also said Taiwan wanted Philippine President Benigno Aquino personally to write a letter of apology, but this could be considered a violation of the country's one-China policy -- recognizing Beijing rather than Taipei as the government of China.
Last week Aquino sent Perez to Taiwan to convey his apologies but Taiwan rejected the message.
Perez also thanked Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou for his promise to protect the 87,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan after a Filipino worker there was attacked with a baseball bat amid public fury.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/29550-ph-waiting-for-taiwan-tempers-to-cool
Taiwan insists on joint probe with PH
From Rappler (May 19): Taiwan insists on joint probe with PH
NO JOINT PROBE. A team of Taiwanese investigators fails to set up a joint investigation with thePhilippines
Despite initial refusal of the Philippine government, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou insisted that Taiwan will continue negotiating with the Philippines to conduct a joint investigation over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman in Philippine waters.
In a statement made on Saturday, May 18, Ma called for the Philippines and Taiwan “to adopt a pragmatic attitude to unveil the truth behind the incident.” Ma asked for the continuation of talks between the two nations stating that the incident was an opportunity for Taiwan and the Philippines to implement the mutual legal assistance agreement they signed earlier this year.
“President Ma believes that the incident requires both sides to cooperate with each other on the investigation pragmatically, and only by doing so can the truth be revealed,” Presidential Office spokesperson Lee Chia-fei said.
Lee added that Ma had asked the foreign and justice ministries to seek a consensus with Manila based on the "principle of reciprocity." She stressed that the negotiations had not failed and said the government’s investigation team would continue its efforts to find the truth when the Philippines is “ready.”
On Thursday, May 16, a Taiwanese investigative team consisting of prosecutors and officials from the justice and foreign ministries arrived in Manila to set up a joint investigation with the Philippines into the killing of Taiwanese fisherman on May 9.
But the Taiwanese team returned to Taiwan on Saturday after failing to reach a consensus with the Philippine government.
During a news conference at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday, Taipei Times reported that the Taiwanese delegation said they had made "some progress" on initiating a judicial investigation with the Philippine Department of Justice but further negotiations were needed.
Chen Wen-chi, Taiwan's head of the Ministry of Justice’s Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs said that the incident had occurred while the boat was in Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone and that it had not entered the Philippines’ territorial waters.
These findings contradicted the Philippines’ claims that the shots were fired in self-defense after the Taiwanese boat tried to ram it, Chen added.
'Impossible'
On Friday, May 17, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said it would be “impossible” to conduct a joint investigation with Taiwan as the Philippines “is a sovereign country” with its own processes and justice system.
De Lima added that that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been conducting its own investigation over the “unfortunate” incident and should not be subject to any interference.
The Philippine government, through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), has already conveyed its sincere apologies over the tragic incident but the Taiwanese government still sanctioned and ban the hiring of new workers from the Philippines.
MECO Chairman Amadeo Perez on Friday said that he already met the family of the slain fisherman and apologized in behalf of President Benigno Aquino III but the family still demanded for “a personal apology” from the President.
“They want the President to apologize himself to the Taiwanese government which would not be keeping in their protocol,” Perez said.
Perez however assured the family of the fisherman and the Taiwanese government that an investigation of the shooting has been given top priority by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as ordered by the President Aquino and Justice Secretary Liela De Lima.
“If our people are guilty, they will be made to face the consequences of their act,” Perez said.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/29534-taiwan-insists-on-joint-probe-with-ph
NO JOINT PROBE. A team of Taiwanese investigators fails to set up a joint investigation with the
Despite initial refusal of the Philippine government, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou insisted that Taiwan will continue negotiating with the Philippines to conduct a joint investigation over the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman in Philippine waters.
In a statement made on Saturday, May 18, Ma called for the Philippines and Taiwan “to adopt a pragmatic attitude to unveil the truth behind the incident.” Ma asked for the continuation of talks between the two nations stating that the incident was an opportunity for Taiwan and the Philippines to implement the mutual legal assistance agreement they signed earlier this year.
“President Ma believes that the incident requires both sides to cooperate with each other on the investigation pragmatically, and only by doing so can the truth be revealed,” Presidential Office spokesperson Lee Chia-fei said.
Lee added that Ma had asked the foreign and justice ministries to seek a consensus with Manila based on the "principle of reciprocity." She stressed that the negotiations had not failed and said the government’s investigation team would continue its efforts to find the truth when the Philippines is “ready.”
On Thursday, May 16, a Taiwanese investigative team consisting of prosecutors and officials from the justice and foreign ministries arrived in Manila to set up a joint investigation with the Philippines into the killing of Taiwanese fisherman on May 9.
But the Taiwanese team returned to Taiwan on Saturday after failing to reach a consensus with the Philippine government.
During a news conference at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday, Taipei Times reported that the Taiwanese delegation said they had made "some progress" on initiating a judicial investigation with the Philippine Department of Justice but further negotiations were needed.
Chen Wen-chi, Taiwan's head of the Ministry of Justice’s Department of International and Cross-Strait Legal Affairs said that the incident had occurred while the boat was in Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone and that it had not entered the Philippines’ territorial waters.
These findings contradicted the Philippines’ claims that the shots were fired in self-defense after the Taiwanese boat tried to ram it, Chen added.
'Impossible'
On Friday, May 17, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said it would be “impossible” to conduct a joint investigation with Taiwan as the Philippines “is a sovereign country” with its own processes and justice system.
De Lima added that that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been conducting its own investigation over the “unfortunate” incident and should not be subject to any interference.
The Philippine government, through the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), has already conveyed its sincere apologies over the tragic incident but the Taiwanese government still sanctioned and ban the hiring of new workers from the Philippines.
MECO Chairman Amadeo Perez on Friday said that he already met the family of the slain fisherman and apologized in behalf of President Benigno Aquino III but the family still demanded for “a personal apology” from the President.
“They want the President to apologize himself to the Taiwanese government which would not be keeping in their protocol,” Perez said.
Perez however assured the family of the fisherman and the Taiwanese government that an investigation of the shooting has been given top priority by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as ordered by the President Aquino and Justice Secretary Liela De Lima.
“If our people are guilty, they will be made to face the consequences of their act,” Perez said.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/29534-taiwan-insists-on-joint-probe-with-ph
Saturday, May 18, 2013
PH insincere — Taiwan
From the Manila Standard Today (May 19): PH insincere — Taiwan
BUT DE LIMA URGES: WAIT FOR PROBE COMPLETION
Taiwanese investigators left the Philippines on Saturday, expressing dissatisfaction with Manila’s cooperation in probing the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard.
In a statement, investigating team leader Chen Wen-chi, director of Taiwan’s Department of International and Cross-strait Legal Affairs, said that the evidence showed that the May 9 shooting was intentional.
It also said Philippine law enforcers ignored international protocol, including warning the Taiwanese vessel.
The investigators said they decided to leave because of a lack of sincerity and cooperation by the Philippines.
The 14-man team that arrived Thursday reiterated a call for a joint investigation.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, however, has rejected the call, and instead urged Taiwan to wait for the Philippines to finish its “fair, thorough and expeditious probe.”
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte reiterated De Lima’s statement, saying that a joint investigation with Taiwan was “not possible.”
“We have our own investigation, which is ongoing, and because of that we will not comment on the details (released by the Taiwanese probe team),” she said.
“We will defer to the progress updates that are being given by the NBI.”
But Chen said that evidence points to the shooting, which killed 65-year old fisherman Hung Shih-chen, was “intentional.”
“By combining the evidences, it clearly shows that the Philippine law enforcers were intentionally shooting the Guang Ta Hsin 28 crew members, which indicates their intent of murder,” Chen said.
“This kind of behavior should not be conducted by a civilized country. We believe that the Philippine government would never allow for this kind of act to be done to its people,” she added.
Chen claimed that based on the video recorded by the Taiwanese fishing vessel, the incident “occurred within the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of China and not in the Philippine territorial waters.”
This was in contrast to the statement of Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who reported that the incident happened 48 nautical miles east of Balintang Channel, which is within Philippine territory.
Chen added that based on the forensic report, Hung died from a single gunshot wound on the neck from a high speed or powerful gun.
Based on the bullets collected from the fishing vessel, the ammunitions used were 7.62 mm caliber shots, most likely coming from an M14 rifle, M240, or M60 machine guns. The vessel was also shot by a total of 45 bullets.
“Most of those 45 bullets were shot at cockpit, in which the four crew members were hiding,” Chen said, belying an earlier Coast Guard statement that they only fired at the vessel’s engine portion.
Chen said slugs were not found on the surface of the fishing vessel, “thus omitting the possibility that Guang Ta Hsin 28 was trying to ram the Philippine law enforcement vessel which resulted in the defensive measure taken by the latter.”
She also urged the Aquino administration to present evidence to back its claim that the victim was at fault during the May 9 incident.
Failing to do so, she added, would mean that Manila was “purposely concealing the offense of their officials.”
Chen said the Taiwanese government will welcome any move from the Philippines to send a team to Taiwan to join the investigation “provided that they also follow appropriate procedure.”
“The Philippine government has tried to prolong and delay our requests for a joint investigation. We feel discontent on the lack on sincerity and credibility displayed by the Philippine side in cooperating with us team. For this very reason, all the members of the Taiwan investigation has decided to go back to Taiwan immediately.”
Chen also disputed Manila’s claim that the request for joint investigation did not follow protocol, saying that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Makati formally issued two letters to request legal assistance for the probe.
“In the said letters, Taiwan government requests the Philippine government to provide assistance in the collection and inspection of evidence; in interrogating the perpetrators; and in providing the investigation reports,” Chen said.
She added that Manila Economic and Cultural Office resident representative Antonio Basilio has “stated publicly and clearly that the Philippine side will conduct joint investigation with its Taiwan counterpart.”
“We will invite Taiwan authorities to participate in the investigation process,” Basilio wrote in his May 10 letter to Benjamin Ho, director general of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, Valte said the Palace was saddened by the reported mauling of an overseas Filipino worker in Taiwan amid widespread anger over the killing of the Taiwanese fisherman.
“Ito po ‘yung ayaw nating mangyari na merong mga madamay na ating mga kababayan (This is what we do not want to happen that innocent Filipinos will be implicated), which is why we’ve repeatedly made the call for calm and that our Filipino overseas workers in Taiwan have nothing to do with — they are there to work, they are not there to make trouble.”
Valte said the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) has already formed a team to monitor instances such as the reported mauling of an OFW and once verified, the report will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan for them to conduct investigation on the matter.
In a related development, rights advocacy groups urged the public to refrain from verbally or physically attacking Filipinos living in Taiwan.
“It’s not just Filipinos; all immigrants from Southeast Asia in the country would feel threatened when walking on the streets,” TransAsia Sisterhood Taiwan executive secretary Ly Vuoch-heang, an immigrant from Cambodia, told a news conference in Taipei.
“I’ve not been attacked, because I’m from Cambodia, but I don’t feel comfortable when people keep asking me whether I’m from the Philippines when I’m just going to buy lunch,” she said.
While the two countries have not been successful in reaching an agreement in dealing with the aftermath, a seemingly anti-Philippine sentiment has been developing among the public in Taiwan. Some communities have held rallies saying that they do not welcome Filipinos, vendors in a market in Changhua County posted signs saying that they would not conduct business with Filipinos.
“It’s not right to vent anger you may feel toward the Philippine government on Filipino migrant workers — when you even think about attacking these hard workers, please think of their contribution to Taiwan’s economy,” Taiwan International Workers’ Association policy researcher Chen Hsiu-lien said.
Chen accused President Ma Ying-jeou (???) of attempting to encourage people to vent their anger on Filipino workers as he has become a target of criticism for mishandling of the incident, “otherwise he would not have waited until now to ask people not to do so.”
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/05/19/ph-insincere-taiwan/
BUT DE LIMA URGES: WAIT FOR PROBE COMPLETION
Taiwanese investigators left the Philippines on Saturday, expressing dissatisfaction with Manila’s cooperation in probing the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine coast guard.
In a statement, investigating team leader Chen Wen-chi, director of Taiwan’s Department of International and Cross-strait Legal Affairs, said that the evidence showed that the May 9 shooting was intentional.
Empty handed. Chen Wen Chi, Director of the Department of International and Cross Strait Legal Affairs, Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice, shows the letter of Resident Representative Antonio Basillo of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office to Benjamin Ho of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs claiming a joint investigation inviting Taiwanese authority to; participate in a joint probe during a press conference in Makati City. DANNY PATA
It also said Philippine law enforcers ignored international protocol, including warning the Taiwanese vessel.
The investigators said they decided to leave because of a lack of sincerity and cooperation by the Philippines.
The 14-man team that arrived Thursday reiterated a call for a joint investigation.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, however, has rejected the call, and instead urged Taiwan to wait for the Philippines to finish its “fair, thorough and expeditious probe.”
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte reiterated De Lima’s statement, saying that a joint investigation with Taiwan was “not possible.”
“We have our own investigation, which is ongoing, and because of that we will not comment on the details (released by the Taiwanese probe team),” she said.
“We will defer to the progress updates that are being given by the NBI.”
But Chen said that evidence points to the shooting, which killed 65-year old fisherman Hung Shih-chen, was “intentional.”
“By combining the evidences, it clearly shows that the Philippine law enforcers were intentionally shooting the Guang Ta Hsin 28 crew members, which indicates their intent of murder,” Chen said.
“This kind of behavior should not be conducted by a civilized country. We believe that the Philippine government would never allow for this kind of act to be done to its people,” she added.
Chen claimed that based on the video recorded by the Taiwanese fishing vessel, the incident “occurred within the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of China and not in the Philippine territorial waters.”
This was in contrast to the statement of Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who reported that the incident happened 48 nautical miles east of Balintang Channel, which is within Philippine territory.
Chen added that based on the forensic report, Hung died from a single gunshot wound on the neck from a high speed or powerful gun.
Based on the bullets collected from the fishing vessel, the ammunitions used were 7.62 mm caliber shots, most likely coming from an M14 rifle, M240, or M60 machine guns. The vessel was also shot by a total of 45 bullets.
“Most of those 45 bullets were shot at cockpit, in which the four crew members were hiding,” Chen said, belying an earlier Coast Guard statement that they only fired at the vessel’s engine portion.
Chen said slugs were not found on the surface of the fishing vessel, “thus omitting the possibility that Guang Ta Hsin 28 was trying to ram the Philippine law enforcement vessel which resulted in the defensive measure taken by the latter.”
She also urged the Aquino administration to present evidence to back its claim that the victim was at fault during the May 9 incident.
Failing to do so, she added, would mean that Manila was “purposely concealing the offense of their officials.”
Chen said the Taiwanese government will welcome any move from the Philippines to send a team to Taiwan to join the investigation “provided that they also follow appropriate procedure.”
“The Philippine government has tried to prolong and delay our requests for a joint investigation. We feel discontent on the lack on sincerity and credibility displayed by the Philippine side in cooperating with us team. For this very reason, all the members of the Taiwan investigation has decided to go back to Taiwan immediately.”
Chen also disputed Manila’s claim that the request for joint investigation did not follow protocol, saying that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Makati formally issued two letters to request legal assistance for the probe.
“In the said letters, Taiwan government requests the Philippine government to provide assistance in the collection and inspection of evidence; in interrogating the perpetrators; and in providing the investigation reports,” Chen said.
She added that Manila Economic and Cultural Office resident representative Antonio Basilio has “stated publicly and clearly that the Philippine side will conduct joint investigation with its Taiwan counterpart.”
“We will invite Taiwan authorities to participate in the investigation process,” Basilio wrote in his May 10 letter to Benjamin Ho, director general of Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile, Valte said the Palace was saddened by the reported mauling of an overseas Filipino worker in Taiwan amid widespread anger over the killing of the Taiwanese fisherman.
“Ito po ‘yung ayaw nating mangyari na merong mga madamay na ating mga kababayan (This is what we do not want to happen that innocent Filipinos will be implicated), which is why we’ve repeatedly made the call for calm and that our Filipino overseas workers in Taiwan have nothing to do with — they are there to work, they are not there to make trouble.”
Valte said the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) has already formed a team to monitor instances such as the reported mauling of an OFW and once verified, the report will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan for them to conduct investigation on the matter.
In a related development, rights advocacy groups urged the public to refrain from verbally or physically attacking Filipinos living in Taiwan.
“It’s not just Filipinos; all immigrants from Southeast Asia in the country would feel threatened when walking on the streets,” TransAsia Sisterhood Taiwan executive secretary Ly Vuoch-heang, an immigrant from Cambodia, told a news conference in Taipei.
“I’ve not been attacked, because I’m from Cambodia, but I don’t feel comfortable when people keep asking me whether I’m from the Philippines when I’m just going to buy lunch,” she said.
While the two countries have not been successful in reaching an agreement in dealing with the aftermath, a seemingly anti-Philippine sentiment has been developing among the public in Taiwan. Some communities have held rallies saying that they do not welcome Filipinos, vendors in a market in Changhua County posted signs saying that they would not conduct business with Filipinos.
“It’s not right to vent anger you may feel toward the Philippine government on Filipino migrant workers — when you even think about attacking these hard workers, please think of their contribution to Taiwan’s economy,” Taiwan International Workers’ Association policy researcher Chen Hsiu-lien said.
Chen accused President Ma Ying-jeou (???) of attempting to encourage people to vent their anger on Filipino workers as he has become a target of criticism for mishandling of the incident, “otherwise he would not have waited until now to ask people not to do so.”
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/05/19/ph-insincere-taiwan/
MILF blasts MNLF, Military
From the Manila Standard Today (May 19): MILF blasts MNLF, Military
A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front accused the military on Saturday of joining forces with the Moro National Liberation Front in a gun battle at Matalam, North Cotabato that resulted in the death of several MILF troops and the burning of their houses.
MILF commander Hadji Ali Mansur, head of the MILF’s 108th Base Command, said he and his relatives were attacked early in the morning of May 16 at Barangay Marbel in Matalam town by MNLF guerillas led by Datu Dimam Ambil.
Mansur said in a statement on the MILF website Luwaran.com his group were able to repel the MNLF troops in the morning, but they were surprised when they saw Philippine Army troopers joining another attack in the afternoon.
“The military attacked us from the back which we did not expect,” Mansur said, claiming that the participation of elements of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade in the attack was a violation of the government’s peace agreement with the MILF.
“The army troops were supposed to be a neutral buffer force and should have halted the assault and the burning of houses by forces of Datu Dima,” Mansur was quoted as saying.
“The military insisted to put up their buffer force in between the feuding parties to ensure that no untoward incident would happen while works for peaceful resolutions are underway,” the MILF said on its website.
Fighting in the area started last May 5 when Ambil’s troops attacked Mansur and his men purportedly after the MILF guerillas harassed planters in the sugarcane fields in the area.
Government and MILP peace negotiators, including the International Monitoring Team, parleyed a truce and both sides agreed to resolve the issue after the May 13 elections.
“We will file our protest on this military-backed MNLF attack and the necessary charges for the burning of our houses,” Mansur said.
But the military denied Mansur’s claim and dared the MILF leader to pursue his complaint.
“It would be best for the MILF to file their protest to determine the veracity of their claim, but we clearly state that we operate independently. It is impossible that they will operate together with the MNLF,” said Army spokesman Maj. Randolf Cabangbang.
MNLF peace panel member Rev. Absalom Cerveza said they have yet to verify if the military did join the attack, but he confirmed that there was a gunfight in Matalam that supposedly resulted in the death of several MILF guerillas and the burning of their homes.
Cerveza claimed the clash was triggered last May 5 by an MILF attempt to occupy the lands occupied by the MNLF, resulting in the death of one MILF guerilla and injury to two children.
“They wanted to include the MNLF property as part of their ancestral domain and that would be a direct insult and threat to the MNLF,” Cerveza said. “They also wanted to annex the areas because it is very productive agricultural land having palm oil, sugarcane and coconut.”
Mansur did not mention any casualties, but Cervesa said the skirmishes resulted in the death of several MILF guerillas.
Cervesa could not determine the number because the fatalities were immediately buried in accordance with Muslim tradition. But at least four MILF casualties were brought by the MNLF to the Amas Provincial Hospital in Matalam town for treatment, he said.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/05/19/milf-blasts-mnlf-military/
A commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front accused the military on Saturday of joining forces with the Moro National Liberation Front in a gun battle at Matalam, North Cotabato that resulted in the death of several MILF troops and the burning of their houses.
MILF commander Hadji Ali Mansur, head of the MILF’s 108th Base Command, said he and his relatives were attacked early in the morning of May 16 at Barangay Marbel in Matalam town by MNLF guerillas led by Datu Dimam Ambil.
Mansur said in a statement on the MILF website Luwaran.com his group were able to repel the MNLF troops in the morning, but they were surprised when they saw Philippine Army troopers joining another attack in the afternoon.
“The military attacked us from the back which we did not expect,” Mansur said, claiming that the participation of elements of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade in the attack was a violation of the government’s peace agreement with the MILF.
“The army troops were supposed to be a neutral buffer force and should have halted the assault and the burning of houses by forces of Datu Dima,” Mansur was quoted as saying.
“The military insisted to put up their buffer force in between the feuding parties to ensure that no untoward incident would happen while works for peaceful resolutions are underway,” the MILF said on its website.
Fighting in the area started last May 5 when Ambil’s troops attacked Mansur and his men purportedly after the MILF guerillas harassed planters in the sugarcane fields in the area.
Government and MILP peace negotiators, including the International Monitoring Team, parleyed a truce and both sides agreed to resolve the issue after the May 13 elections.
“We will file our protest on this military-backed MNLF attack and the necessary charges for the burning of our houses,” Mansur said.
But the military denied Mansur’s claim and dared the MILF leader to pursue his complaint.
“It would be best for the MILF to file their protest to determine the veracity of their claim, but we clearly state that we operate independently. It is impossible that they will operate together with the MNLF,” said Army spokesman Maj. Randolf Cabangbang.
MNLF peace panel member Rev. Absalom Cerveza said they have yet to verify if the military did join the attack, but he confirmed that there was a gunfight in Matalam that supposedly resulted in the death of several MILF guerillas and the burning of their homes.
Cerveza claimed the clash was triggered last May 5 by an MILF attempt to occupy the lands occupied by the MNLF, resulting in the death of one MILF guerilla and injury to two children.
“They wanted to include the MNLF property as part of their ancestral domain and that would be a direct insult and threat to the MNLF,” Cerveza said. “They also wanted to annex the areas because it is very productive agricultural land having palm oil, sugarcane and coconut.”
Mansur did not mention any casualties, but Cervesa said the skirmishes resulted in the death of several MILF guerillas.
Cervesa could not determine the number because the fatalities were immediately buried in accordance with Muslim tradition. But at least four MILF casualties were brought by the MNLF to the Amas Provincial Hospital in Matalam town for treatment, he said.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/05/19/milf-blasts-mnlf-military/
First female general finds self in new battlefield
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (May 18): First female general finds self in new battlefield
Photo courtesy of Ramona Go Facebook page
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/411557/first-female-general-finds-self-in-new-battlefield
Photo courtesy of Ramona Go Facebook page
The first female general of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines is up for a new challenge after choosing a different
battlefield – politics.
Retired Brigadier General Ramona Go of the
Philippine Army was proclaimed mayor-elect of San Enrique town in Iloilo on
Thursday after Monday’s midterm elections.
“I feel happy about it because I saw the
pulse of the people. They know that my victory means our growth and progress,”
she told INQUIRER.net on Saturday.
Go retired in September, or six months
ahead of her compulsory retirement
from her 33
years in service to run for public office. She was then the Assistant to the
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (AJ1) when she left the military service.
from her 33
years in service to run for public office. She was then the Assistant to the
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel (AJ1) when she left the military service.
She joined the ruling Liberal Party and
ran up against Nikko Fernandez of United Nationalist Alliance, brother of
incumbent mayor Mediatrix Fernandez.
“I feel kasi that my town needs me,” she
added. With respect to her predecessors, she said there was little development
in the past years and wanted to do her part. “I know my expertise, network and
training as [a military officer] would help my kababayans [countrymen].”
The town of San Enrique has a population
of 35,000. It had a voting turnout of about 16,000 out of 19,000 voters in the
recent elections. Go garnered 8,789 votes, while her opponent had 6,908 votes as
per Commission on Elections.
Go served the military with distinction.
She was the first female military pilot of the AFP after finishing her flying course in 1986.
in 1986.
She was also the first female line
officer, and was also the first female Adjutant General. The AFP has had female
generals but they were from the technical service, serving as nurses.
She also holds the distinction of being
the AFP’s first woman battalion commander when she headed the Army Aviation
Battalion (Bagwis) in 2003.
In an earlier interview, Go said she
wanted to improve her town as
her great, great grandparents segregated the town of San Enrique from the town
Passi which it was once a part of.
her town as
her great, great grandparents segregated the town of San Enrique from the town
Passi which it was once a part of.
The 56-year-old mayor-elect of San Enrique
has many plans for her town and promised to put it on the map. “Our town isn’t
known, it’s like a village,” she said. She added she would make San Enrique
“conducive” for business, and aim
for commerce investments to her town.
, and aim
for commerce investments to her town.
Asked if she would seek for higher office
in the future, Go said she would do her best as a mayor first.
“I am not sure [if I would run for higher
office next elections.] At the moment, these people who voted for me have high
expectations. I will first deliver the expectations,” she said.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/411557/first-female-general-finds-self-in-new-battlefield
Aga loses bid; Nur a far 3rd
From the Philippine Star (May 19): Aga loses bid; Nur a far 3rd
Contrary to early trends, Aga Muhlach failed to realize his dream of joining the growing ranks of actor-lawmakers.
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari, meanwhile, was a far third in the gubernatorial race in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Muhlach lost to former congressman William Felix “Wimpy” Fuentebella, whom the canvassing board in Camarines Sur declared winner shortly before midnight on Thursday as the newly elected representative of the fourth district. Fuentebella, who will succeed his father, outgoing Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella, won by 2,205 votes.
He received a total of 82,834 votes against Muhlach’s 80,629.
The Fuentebellas have been part of the political landscape in the fourth district for decades.
The elder Fuentebella, a deputy speaker in the House of Representatives, has authored a bill segregating their district from CamSur and naming it as the new province of Nueva Camarines. The measure, approved by the House, is pending in the Senate. Wimpy is the last congressional candidate to be declared winner in the province. Hours before his proclamation, the canvassing board proclaimed the winners in the three other districts.
The tabulation of votes for the fourth district was delayed by protests from the Muhlach camp.
When canvassing was suspended on Wednesday, Rep. Fuentebella reported that his son was leading by 2,175 votes. Yesterday, he said Wimpy padded his lead by obtaining 30 more votes than what Muhlach received in one precinct contested by actor.
The actor earlier tried to stop the proclamation of winners by reportedly filing a petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare a failure of election in CamSur.
Rep. Fuentebella said they would certainly oppose such a petition.
“There was no such failure. The balloting on Monday in the fourth district and in the province went on smoothly. In fact, many candidates have already been proclaimed. If he really filed that petition, he in effect wants to disenfranchise not only voters in our district but in the entire province. He is questioning the victory and proclamation of other winners,” he said.
Among the congressional winners earlier proclaimed were re-electionist Representatives Rolando Andaya Jr. and Diosdado Arroyo, and Leni Robredo of the first, second and third districts, respectively. Meanwhile, Misuari lost to Mujiv Hataman of the Liberal Party who was elected governor of the ARMM. Hataman’s closest rival was Pax Mangudadatu.
Hataman, with over 200,000 votes, was proclaimed by the regional board of canvassers at 11 a.m. yesterday.
Also proclaimed by the regional board of canvassers at the halls of the Regional Legislative Assembly was lawyer Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman as regional vice governor-elect. Lucman was Hataman’s running mate.
Lucman trounced a province-mate, foreign-trained Islamic theologian Mustaqbal Manalao, in the tally of votes for regional vice governor.
Ray Sumalipao, director for ARMM of the Commission on Elections, said Hataman garnered 446,227 votes while Mangudadatu trailed far behind with only 231,741 votes. Misuari garnered only more than 20,000 votes.
Lucman, on the other hand, got 472,417 votes, ahead of Manalao’s 102,804. Hataman first got to the helm of the ARMM on Dec. 22, 2011 as an appointed caretaker of the regional government, along with Hadja Bainon Karon of the MNLF as vice governor designate.
Hataman, a known protegé of President Aquino, had served as a three-term representative of the Anak Mindanao party-list before he became officer-in-charge of the ARMM.
Hataman said he is ready to reconcile with all defeated candidates for ARMM governor, including Misuari, to hasten the restoration of political normalcy in the autonomous region.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/05/18/943413/aga-loses-bid-nur-far-3rd
Contrary to early trends, Aga Muhlach failed to realize his dream of joining the growing ranks of actor-lawmakers.
Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founder Nur Misuari, meanwhile, was a far third in the gubernatorial race in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Muhlach lost to former congressman William Felix “Wimpy” Fuentebella, whom the canvassing board in Camarines Sur declared winner shortly before midnight on Thursday as the newly elected representative of the fourth district. Fuentebella, who will succeed his father, outgoing Rep. Arnulfo Fuentebella, won by 2,205 votes.
He received a total of 82,834 votes against Muhlach’s 80,629.
The Fuentebellas have been part of the political landscape in the fourth district for decades.
The elder Fuentebella, a deputy speaker in the House of Representatives, has authored a bill segregating their district from CamSur and naming it as the new province of Nueva Camarines. The measure, approved by the House, is pending in the Senate. Wimpy is the last congressional candidate to be declared winner in the province. Hours before his proclamation, the canvassing board proclaimed the winners in the three other districts.
The tabulation of votes for the fourth district was delayed by protests from the Muhlach camp.
When canvassing was suspended on Wednesday, Rep. Fuentebella reported that his son was leading by 2,175 votes. Yesterday, he said Wimpy padded his lead by obtaining 30 more votes than what Muhlach received in one precinct contested by actor.
The actor earlier tried to stop the proclamation of winners by reportedly filing a petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to declare a failure of election in CamSur.
Rep. Fuentebella said they would certainly oppose such a petition.
“There was no such failure. The balloting on Monday in the fourth district and in the province went on smoothly. In fact, many candidates have already been proclaimed. If he really filed that petition, he in effect wants to disenfranchise not only voters in our district but in the entire province. He is questioning the victory and proclamation of other winners,” he said.
Among the congressional winners earlier proclaimed were re-electionist Representatives Rolando Andaya Jr. and Diosdado Arroyo, and Leni Robredo of the first, second and third districts, respectively. Meanwhile, Misuari lost to Mujiv Hataman of the Liberal Party who was elected governor of the ARMM. Hataman’s closest rival was Pax Mangudadatu.
Hataman, with over 200,000 votes, was proclaimed by the regional board of canvassers at 11 a.m. yesterday.
Also proclaimed by the regional board of canvassers at the halls of the Regional Legislative Assembly was lawyer Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman as regional vice governor-elect. Lucman was Hataman’s running mate.
Lucman trounced a province-mate, foreign-trained Islamic theologian Mustaqbal Manalao, in the tally of votes for regional vice governor.
Ray Sumalipao, director for ARMM of the Commission on Elections, said Hataman garnered 446,227 votes while Mangudadatu trailed far behind with only 231,741 votes. Misuari garnered only more than 20,000 votes.
Lucman, on the other hand, got 472,417 votes, ahead of Manalao’s 102,804. Hataman first got to the helm of the ARMM on Dec. 22, 2011 as an appointed caretaker of the regional government, along with Hadja Bainon Karon of the MNLF as vice governor designate.
Hataman, a known protegé of President Aquino, had served as a three-term representative of the Anak Mindanao party-list before he became officer-in-charge of the ARMM.
Hataman said he is ready to reconcile with all defeated candidates for ARMM governor, including Misuari, to hasten the restoration of political normalcy in the autonomous region.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/05/18/943413/aga-loses-bid-nur-far-3rd
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