Gov’t troops clash anew with NPA rebels in Leon hinterlands

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 24): Gov’t troops clash anew with NPA rebels in Leon hinterlands

A chance encounter between government troops and members of the New People’s Army (NPA) took place in Sitio Mangkopa, Brgy. Manampunay, Leon, Iloilo early Monday morning.

Major Rey Tiongson, spokesman of 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID), Philippine Army (PA), said the encounter happened about 5:00 a.m.

Soldiers from the 82nd Infantry Battalion (82IB) responded to verify intelligence information on the presence of insurgents in the hinterlands of the said barangay when they encountered seven rebels.

Tiongson said the firefight lasted for almost 15 minutes and the rebels later fled towards the forested area in the hinterland barangay.

The 3ID spokesman said there were no reported casualties from both sides during the recent armed clash, though soldiers of the 82IB believed several cadre members have been injured as traces of bloodstains were found in the scene of the encounter.

It was learned that Sitio Mangkopa in Barangay Manampunay, Leon is situated near the boundary of Tubungan, also in Iloilo.

Citing report from soldiers of 82IB in the field, the rebel group was believed to be members of the Napoleon Tumagtang Command of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army operating in the hinterlands of Leon and adjoining towns of Tubungan and Calinog, Iloilo.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=537688

Philippine troops arrest war refugees on suspicion they were rebels

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 25): Philippine troops arrest war refugees on suspicion they were rebels





Photos released by the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center show the teenagers shortly after their release in Sultan Kudarat province in southern Philippines. One of the teenagers, left, demonstrate how he was holding the bamboo pole with a white flag when soldiers arrested him. They were among 8 war refugees arrested by the military on suspicion they were rebels. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine authorities have freed three teenagers who were arrested along with 5 men, mostly war refugees, on suspicion they were rebels.

The Mindanao Human Rights Action Center or MinHRAC reported on Tuesday that the teenagers had been released by the police late Monday in Sultan Kudarat province.

They were seized by army soldiers on June 23 while trying to get their belongings in the village of Kulasi where rebels and soldiers had clashed.

It said those arrested were villagers who fled the fighting, but the military said the group was carrying explosives, an accusation strongly denied by the victims.

Zainudin Malang, MinHRAC executive director, said those arrested were innocent civilians displaced by the fighting in the village and that they were taken by soldiers while on their way to briefly go to their homes to salvage their belongings.

“The men were asked by their families to take advantage of a lull in the shelling and get direly needed basic living supplies from their homes which they earlier evacuated to escape the shelling. The men carried with them a white flag to indicate they are not combatants,” he said.

Malang said the freed minors were reunited with their parents and guardians. He said they held off the announcement of the release of the minors on Monday hoping they can secure the freedom of the 5 others.

“The release of the 5 did not push through and they were brought to the fiscal's office this morning. The team accompanied them throughout the trip from the PNP Precinct in (President) Quirino (town) until they reached the Provincial Prosecutor's office in Isulan (town), Sultan Kudarat,” he said.

He said the arrest of the villagers is a serious human rights violation.

“We ask civil society groups to express their condemnation at yet again another violation of human rights in the Bangsamoro. Displacement is already a violation of one's rights. When displacement is followed by arbitrary arrest, then that is simply cruelty,” he said, adding, it was not the first time this has happened in the displaced communities of Mindanao and it would not be the last unless and until the people learn to express their disgust.

“As we have seen in the past, silence merely encourages impunity, only encourages perpetrators to continue violating our rights,” he said.

Malang said authorities have filed criminal charges against the 5 men for illegal possession of explosives. “The irony is this - per interview by my colleagues, they had in their hands not bombs, rifles, or grenades. What they had were bamboo poles at the end of which is a piece of white cloth to indicate they are not combatants.”

“They even approached the soldiers, under the mistaken impression that nothing would happen to them - "sibilyan po kami." The soldiers then assured them "Ganoon ba? Walang problema. Halika kayo, sama kayo sa amin para maalagaan kayo." or similarly comforting words. They went with the soldiers and it was only when they reached the battalion camp (of the 33rd Infantry Battalion) that they learned to their shock that they were being detained,” Malang said.

http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/06/philippine-troops-arrest-war-refugees.html

8 suspected BIFF guerrillas in Sultan Kudarat nabbed

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): 8 suspected BIFF guerrillas in Sultan Kudarat nabbed

The military on Monday night arrested eight persons believed to be members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who figured in a clash with government forces in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province, police said Tuesday.

The suspects were turned over by the Army to President Quirino Philippine National Police for filing of appropriate charges.

Acting police provincial director Supt. Jomar Yap of Sultan Kudarat said soldiers belonging to the 33rd Infantry Battalion arrested the suspects following the harassment by suspected BIFF in Barangay Bagumbayan that left two persons killed over the weekend - a militiaman and a farmer.

Yap identified the arrested suspects as Haris, Og, Otay, Tonton, Tanguapo, Datu Naot and Kenanong, all surnamed Bagumbayan and a certain Sadam Abdul.

The arresting soldiers said they recovered several materials in making improvised explosive devices.

However, the arrested persons denied they belonged to BIFF or any armed group. Some say they were forced to admit they were BIFF members.

In a statement, the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center (MinHRAC) vowed to provide legal assistance to the suspects, all under police custody.

On Saturday and Sunday, government forces clashed with BIFF members, led by Ustadz Sukarno, alleged right hand man of BIFF founder Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato.

The group, according to 601st Brigade chief Colonel Edmund Pangilinan, attacked the village of Bagumbayan, killed militiaman Vincent Macaraeg and farmer Roi Viola, then harassed the 33rd IB detachment.

Pursuing government forces figured in a running gunbattle with the armed men until they fled toward Barangay Kulasi, Gen.SK Pendatun town in Maguindanao.

An ensuing military operations led to the capture of a BIFF camp which houses about 200 armed men.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=537838

Ex-CPLA leader hurt in grenade blast in Isabela

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): Ex-CPLA leader hurt in grenade blast in Isabela

A former high ranking leader of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CPLA) was injured on Monday in a grenade explosion under a van at the vicinity of headquarters of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division in Camp Melchor F dela Cruz, Upi, Gamu, Isabela province.

A report relayed here by First Lieutenant Rowena Abayon, spokesperson of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, identified the injured as Felipe Cariño, vice chairman of Cordillera Forum for Peace and Development Inc. (CFPDI). Abayon said that the grenade blast occurred at 9:45 a.m.

It was reported that the grenade exploded under a Mitsubishi van bearing plate number RDF 411 driven by one Crusaldo Velasco with seven passengers including Cariño on board.

“The van was on its way out from the vicinity of the Philippine Army Assistance for Rural Advancement on Literacy (PAARAL) building of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, CMFDC, Upi, Gamu, Isabela province when the explosion happened,” she said.

“The van’s occupants and the victim had just brought their children, who were qualified to undergo a candidate soldier course which will start on June 26", she added.

She said the policemen were conducting investigation of the incident to identify the perpetrators.

“The victim sustained injury on his lower extremities while the Mitsubishi van’s front windshield was shattered and its front tires blown out.

"Carino is now under stable condition after he was immediately brought to 5ID Station Hospital for medical treatment,” she said.

Lt. Abayon described the grenade explosion as an isolated incident.

“Despite this isolated incident, the 5ID leadership will still push through with the scheduled opening of Candidate Soldier Course Class 346-13 on Wednesday, June 26, 2013,” she assured.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=537826

Soldiers, Bayanihan Team facilitate activities for farmers

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): Soldiers, Bayanihan Team facilitate activities for farmers

Troops from the 11th Infantry (Lapu-Lapu) Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental have facilitated activities in recent months to benefit farmers under the government’s land reform program.

These include the awarding of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards to 2,066 farmers, the giving of certificate of stewardship contract to 712 farmers, application of Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title to 201 farmers, release of emancipation patent to 288, conduct of resurvey/documentation to 1, 201 farmers, the petition for inclusion and exclusion to 180 CLOA holders and legalized crop sharing to132 farmers.

The farmers and their families have been waiting practically all their lives to be able to proudly till their own piece of land, a media release from the battalion said.

Lt. Col. Wilfredo Isaac, the 11th IB Commander, stressed that his unit seriously tackled Agrarian Reform issues that foment insurgency in the countryside.

He believes that if the root causes of insurgency such as land reform and poverty will be addressed effectively and efficiently through the convergence of concerned stakeholders, peace and security can easily be achieved, the news release said.

More than 2,000 farmer beneficiaries in central Negros Island received their CLOAs.

Among the new CLOA holders, Valentino Paunal, 72, from Barangay Macagahay, Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental surfaced as the longest waiting CLOA aspirant.

For 50 years, his family still lived on a borrowed piece of land not knowing when the landowner would expel them from the plantation.

In a few months since Bayanihan Team arrived in the barangay, the old couple among others, finally received their CLOAs from the DAR. The land they titled for decades was finally theirs.

The Bayanihan Team (BT) activities in the 11th IB started early in 2011 in Guihulngan City following the implementation of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan”.

Initially tagged as “Peace and Development Teams”, the BTs are deployed to immerse in different barangays in order to help in the identification and resolution of primary issues affecting the people, such as but not limited to agrarian reform.

It also aims to bridge the perceived gap between the farmers and the stakeholders and eventually facilitate the implementation of government programs and services especially in far- flung areas.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=537914

262 families flee due to encounter in Compostela Valley

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): 262 families flee due to encounter in Compostela Valley
 
At least 262 families with 700 individuals left their homes following skirmishes between government troops and communist rebels in Mawab, Compostela Valley since Monday morning.

Reports reaching the Mawab police station showed that a landmine explosion also occurred and wounded three members of the 66th Infantry Battalion.

The government troops were conducting combat operations in San Isidro, Mawab, Compostela Valley when they encountered members of the New People’s Army.

Residents claimed that after a loud explosion, they heard several gunshots which alerted them.

A certain Rosito narrated that in the early Monday morning, they were having their breakfast when they heard the explosion and series of gunfire.

He said they were forced to flee to avoid being hit with stray bullets.

Evacuees were sheltered at the Barangay Hall and at the elementary school in Nuevo Iloco.

Governor Arturo Uy immediately ordered the provincial social welfare office to attend to the needs of the evacuees.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=537940

North Cotabato guv creates Task Force Barko-Barko amid heightened conflict

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): North Cotabato guv creates Task Force Barko-Barko amid heightened conflict

To bring back peace in a conflict-stricken town in North Cotabato, Gov. Talino-Mendoza spearheaded the creation of Task Force Barko-Barko.

Task Force Barko-Barko is a joint task force composed of the members of the Regional Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Committee in Region 12.

Specifically composed of two platoons from the 57th IB and 27th IB of the Philippine Army, the task force is created primarily to ease tensions and maintain normalcy in the villages of Maybula specifically Sitio Barko-Barko and Sitio Mahayahay, and two nearby barangays of Tulunan, North Cotabato.

Mendoza led the send-off ceremony in Barangay Maybula together with Tulunan Mayor Lanie Candolada and the town’s local officials and Congressman-elect Jose Tejada of North Cotabato 3rd district last Monday.

In an interview here, she said conflict between the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team and armed group believed to be members of MILF started on May 24 in said villages.

This was followed by skirmishes and encounters which resulted to the death of few individuals and wounded many others. It also resulted to the evacuation of nearly 300 families since the first day of encounter.

Close to 200 families are still currently staying at the Barangay Hall of Maybula after being displaced in the recent fighting.

Mendoza said the fighting must now stop and peace initiatives must now take place.

She believes that the creation of Task Force Barko-barko will end the tension between the warring groups that have already greatly affected the lives of civilians.

The send-off activity was also graced by Brigadier General Cesar Sedillo, Jr., the Chairperson of GPH-CCCH, and his counterpart Abas Rashid of the MILF, Col. Marcos Flores of the 1002nd Brigade of the Army’s 10th ID and North Cotabato Police Director Sr. Supt. Danny Peralta.

Also present were Major General Datu Fadzil Bin Mukhtar, Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team or IMT and another MILF representative Abas Salung.

It is imperative that government agencies such as the Dept. of Agrarian Reform and Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources must conduct a resurvey of the disputed land, particularly that of Sitio Barko-Barko and Sitio Mahayahay in Maybula, Mendoza said.

She said the national government through the PAMANA program of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Peace Process has allotted a budget for the resurvey and other matters related to land titles verification.

Mendoza ordered the local government of Tulunan to ensure the safety of the evacuees as she assured them that with the joint task force placed in Sitio Barko-Barko, the situation will be normal the soonest time.

She also appealed to the government troops and MILF to respect the peace process and initiatives despite the heightened emotions brought about by the conflict.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=537956

Padilla stays as chief negotiator to ensure smooth transition -- OPAPP

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): Padilla stays as chief negotiator to ensure smooth transition -- OPAPP

The Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) on Tuesday said that newly-appointed Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president and CEO Alex Padilla, who signified his intention to resign as government chief negotiator to focus "full-time" on his new role, will stay on to ensure a smooth transition.

OPAPP Chief Teresita "Ging" Deles, in a statement sent thru SMS to the Philippines News Agency, said that Padilla's appointment to PhilHealth does not come as a surprise.

"We have agreed that he (Padilla) will stay on to ensure a smooth transition. The rest of the panel remain in place and the work continues to proceed," she said.

Padilla Padilla earlier said he has notified the OPAPP chief of his intention to resign as government chief negotiator negotiating with the communist rebels to focus full-time on his new role.

He, however, stressed that his resignation will only be formalized once the government peace panel negotiating with the communist rebels completes its transition plan.

"I have notified Secetary Deles, awaiting formality," he said in a chance interview with the media.

Peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front/Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (NDF-CPP/NPA) is presently at a deadlock.

Last week, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Padilla to the PhilHealth Board and was also nominated to become the agency’s president and chief executive officer.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a press briefing, admitted that Padilla has expressed his frustration at the pace of the peace negotiations with the NDF/CPP/NPA).

"I understand that he (Padilla) described them -- that the talks were at an impasse," she said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=537861

Ex-AFP chief's unexplained wealth forfeited

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): Ex-AFP chief's unexplained wealth forfeited

The Sandiganbayan has granted the petition for forfeiture filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2005 against former Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Lisandro Abadia and his wife.

In a 35-page ruling, the Sandiganbayan ordered the forfeiture of the Abadia couple's P11.26 million in unexplained wealth in favor of the State.

In the ruling penned by Associate Justice Alex Quiroz, the Sandiganbayan found out Abadia's statements of assets, liabilities and net worth rose from P3.77 million in 1991 to P6.476 million in 1992 and to P13.61 million in 1993, which discrepancies he failed to convincingly explain before the court.

The Sandiganbayan and the Ombudsman presented enough evidence to prove the former general's assets were questionable and unlawfully acquired, as defined under Republic Act No. 1379.

The ruling added the declared wealth of the Abadias in his 1993 SALN could not tone with his disposable income, making the "P11.26 million as unexplained wealth."

"[U]sing the net worth analysis employed by the Office of the Ombudsman, Gen. Abadia's collective net worth from 1986 to 1993 amounting to P2,632,170.94, minus his family expenses from 1987 to 1993 amounting to P2,769,046.95, yields a negative P136,876.01," the ruling said.

"The computed net worth of P2,348,123.99, subtracted from the net worth of Gen. Abadia [a four-star general] as declared in his SALN for 1993 (P13,611,000.00), yields P11,262,876.01 as unexplained wealth," it added.

Abadia, who started his military service in 1958 and retired in 1994, served as AFP chief of staff from 1991 to 1994.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=537863

Palace reiterates its willingness to talk peace with communist rebels

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): Palace reiterates its willingness to talk peace with communist rebels

Malacanang said it remains open to negotiating peace with the communist rebels despite the lull in the talks and continuing violence on the ground in the past several months.

In a press briefing in the Malalacang on Tuesday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino administration will always be ready to talk peace with the communists as long as there are no preconditions set to restart the discussions.

“We’ve always manifested our intent to keep talking to them but, even from the beginning, we have said that there should be no preconditions; we all come to the table with good intentions and with good faith,” Valte told reporters.

“Down the line, we have seen incidents that would cast doubt on those intentions, at least coming from the other side. But at this point, as Alex Padilla said, the government is still open to talking to them,” she said.

Padilla, the government’s chief negotiator with the rebels, resigned as both sides have not conducted formal talks in the last two years.

As the Aquino government has not wavered on talking peace with the communists, Valte said the major issue is sincerity of both sides.

She said the communists have not shown its sincerity as manifested by recent events on the ground such as the attacks conducted by the New People’s Army (NPA) and the kidnapping of five soldiers in Davao City.

“There are several incidents that would indicate a sincerity problem when it comes to the talks, at least on their side,” Valte said.

One of the stumbling blocks for the talks include the demand of the communist insurgents to free political prisoners detained in government prisons saying some of them serve as consultants for the talks for the rebel side.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=537887

PAF identifies missing OV-10 pilots

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): PAF identifies missing OV-10 pilots

Philippine Air Force spokesperson Miguel Ernesto Okol Tuesday formally identified the two missing pilots of the OV-10 "Bronco" attack aircraft that went down after a night proficiency flight off Puerto Princesa, Palawan Sunday night.

These pilots are Maj. Jonathan A. Ybanez and 1st Lt Abner Trust Nacion, according to Okol.

"The fate of the two pilots, Major Jonathan A. Ybanez and 1st Lt. Abner Trust Nacion still remain unknown as of the moment and are listed as missing. The search will continue until the wreckage are found and the fate of the two officers known," he added.

Okol also said the PAF has contracted the use of sonar equipment from a Cebu-based firm to aid and complement other equipment used in the search.

"The efforts (to locate the two pilots and OV-10 airframe) have been supported by the Western Command based in Palawan with Philippine Navy and Coast Guard elements conducting the search even at night," the PAF spokesperson stressed.

The downed plane, with tail number 630, belongs to the 570th Composite Tactical Wing which is based in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

The aircraft and another one with tail number 139 took off around 6:37 p.m. Sunday for a night flying proficiency

However, only the aircraft with tail number 139 safely landed back after 53 minutes.

The missing OV-10 "Bronco" ( tail number 630) lost contact with the Palawan tower around 7:30 p.m. and failed to return.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=537891

Frustrated at slow pace of talks, chief govt negotiator with Reds quits

From InterAksyon (Jun 25): Frustrated at slow pace of talks, chief govt negotiator with Reds quits

The chairman of the government panel to peace talks with communist rebels has resigned, citing his frustration over the slow pace of the negotiations.

Alexander Padilla, who was recently appointed president and CEO of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. said he has already submitted his notice of resignation to presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles.

He said the government panel to talks with the National Democratic Front is now "in transition."

Deputy Malacanang spokesperson Abigail Valte said Padilla's appointment to head the PhilHealth had nothing to do with his resignation as chief government negotiator.

"He mentioned his frustration with the pace of the talks, which he described as being at an impasse," Valte said in an interview aired over state-run Radyo ng Bayan on Tuesday.

Peace talks have been stalled since February 2011.

Presidential adviser on the peace process Sec. Teresita Deles said in a message: "Chair Padilla's appointment to Philhealth does not come as a surprise. We have agreed that he will stay on to ensure a smooth transition. The rest of the panel remains in place and the work continues to proceed."

Recently, the rebels hinted they had given up on negotiating with the current administration and might wait for a new president to be elected in 2016 before agreeing to resume talks.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/64873/frustrated-at-slow-pace-of-talks-chief-govt-negotiator-with-reds-quits

Search for pilots of downed PAF plane shifts to retrieval operations

From InterAksyon (Jun 25): Search for pilots of downed PAF plane shifts to retrieval operations



Divers recover debris from the OV-10 Bronco that crashed off Palawan in this photo courtesy of the Coast Guard

The search for the two pilots of an Air Force plane that went down in waters off Palawan during the weekend has shifted from rescue to retrieval operations, the military said on Tuesday. The PAF also gave the names of the two missing pilots, while expressing hope they are still alive.

First Lieutenant Cheryl Tindog, spokesperson of the Western Command said they have rented a portable sonar device from a civilian that will be mounted on a rubber boat as efforts continue to locate the pilots of the OV-10 Bronco that crashed five nautical miles off Puerto Princesa City as it was making its landing approach Sunday night.

The plane was one of two aircraft that were undertaking a “night proficiency flight.”

PAF identifies 2 missing pilots

Meanwhile, PAF has identified the two missing pilots of the OV10 Bronco (630) that fell Sunday night into the sea five nautical miles off Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

PAF spokesman Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol identified them as Maj. Jonathan A. Ybanez and 1Lt. Abner Trust Nacion.

He said, “The search continues for the OV-10 Bronco that went missing last Sunday. The Philippine Air Force has contracted the use of Sonar equipment from Cebu to aid and complement other equipment used in the search. The efforts have been supported by the Western Command based in Palawan with Philippine Navy and Coast Guard elements conducting the search even at night.” 

Tindog said that, so long as they are not yet found, hope remains they may be alive.

“We are hopeful that the search operation will generate positive results today and we are praying hard that our pilots are safe,” she said.

Thus far, the downed plane’s cargo bay door, nose part, inflatable life raft, fuel tank, a chair and a nose wheel, the latter recovered by a fisherman at Tagburos wharf, have been retrieved and are “in the custody of the Palawan-based Air Force 570th Composite Tactical Wing for technical procedures,” Tindog said.

The Air Force grounded all its OV-10 aircraft after the crash.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/64888/search-for-pilots-of-downed-paf-plane-shifts-to-retrieval-operations

Responding to ex-NPA leader's call, supporters surrender en masse

From InterAksyon (Jun 25): Responding to ex-NPA leader's call, supporters surrender en masse



A New People's Army camp in Eastern Visayas (photo from the NDF-EV Blogspot page)

A day after a former New People’s Army commander in Northern Samar urged his former comrades to give up the armed struggle, 53 rebel supporters, including members of a local militia, surrendered en masse to the military Sunday afternoon.

The 38 “barangay organizing committee” members and the 15 rebel militia members turned themselves in to Lieutenant Colonel Noel Vestuir, commander of the 20th Infantry Battalion, in Bobon town.

The mass surrender came a day after Lemuel Moreno, former NPA squad leader, and his wife Nida, a medical officer, issued their appeal after receiving P50,000 for the two caliber .45 pistols they turned over to the military.

The couple surrendered on June 13.

At 6 p.m. Sunday, the Morenos’ son Jonathan, an NPA team leader known as Baris and Abon, also surrendered.

Vistuir said the elder Moreno headed the organizing committee that organized rebel cells and the NPA militia in Barangay Duran, Bobon.

Rebel militias are drawn from NPA mass supporters and provide support during tactical offensives and other operations.

Bobon Mayor Rene Celespara said that the rebel supporters will receive a livelihood package worth P50,000 and their former leaders will also receive P5,000 under the Local Social Integration Program.

They are also entitled to cash rewards for each firearm they surrender.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/64874/responding-to-ex-npa-leaders-call-supporters-surrender-en-masse

5 soldiers wounded in rebel clash in Zamboanga Sur

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 25): 5 soldiers wounded in rebel clash in Zamboanga Sur

Five government soldiers were wounded in a clash Tuesday with communist rebels in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said.

Captain Jefferson Somera, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said most of the wounded soldiers were hit by shrapnel from a landmine planted by New People’s Army rebels in the village of Dagum in Lakewood town.

He said troops, from the 53rd Infantry Battalion, clashed with about 50 rebels.

“The fighting lasted for two hours,” he said, adding a still undetermined number of rebels were either killed or wounded in the clash.

Lt. Col. Victor Tangawohn, commander of the 53rd Infantry Battalion, said the soldiers were patrolling the village following reports from civilians that rebels were frequently visiting houses in the area.

There was no immediate statement from the NPA, but the rebel group has been fighting for decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country.

 http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/06/5-soldiers-wounded-in-rebel-clash-in.html