Soldier implicated in Luisita union leader’s slay acquitted

From the Daily Tribune (Dec 15): Soldier implicated in Luisita union leader’s slay acquitted

A Philippine Army soldier, implicated in the killing of a labor leader and barangay chief in 2005, has been cleared of the criminal charges filed against him.

Army spokesman Capt. Anthony Bacus identified the cleared trooper as PFC Roderick de la Cruz.

The latter is formerly assigned at the 7th Infantry Division. He was incarcerated for almost four years prior to his acquittal.

De la Cruz was earlier implicated in the killing of Ricardo Ramos, then chairman of Barangay Mapalacsiao inside Hacienda Luisita and president of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Labor Union.

Ramos was allegedly killed by an M-14 sniper bullet while he was at his nipa hut on Oct. 25, 2005.

Witnesses pointed to De la Cruz to be behind the killing. Dela Cruz was part of the Special Operations Team who was deployed at Hacienda Luisita during that time.

Thereafter, he was placed under the custody of the 7th Infantry Division.

In 2008, he was turned over to the Custodial Management Unit of the Army, and on March 21 of that year, the Army facilitated his voluntary surrender to the National Bureau of Investigation. He was then imprisoned at the Tarlac Provincial Jail.

In the course of the trial, however, the witnesses were not able to confirm that De la Cruz was the person who fired the gun that killed Ramos.

This led to the filing of demurrer to evidence by the defendant’s counsel, citing the inadequacy of evidence adduced by the prosecution to support their accusation.

The prosecution witnesses failed to positively identify De la Cruz as the gunman.

The demurrer to evidence filed by lawyer Ana Luz Cristal was sustained by the court, hence the acquittal.

The said acquittal came early this year in an order/judgement issued by Judge Ma. Magdalena A. Balderama of the Regional Trial Court of Tarlac.

As a result of the murder case filed against De la Cruz, he was discharged from the military service effective June 18, 2012.

He is currently requesting to be reinstated in the service following his acquittal.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/soldier-implicated-in-luisita-union-leader-s-slay-acquitted

Japan-ASEAN call for freedom of air and seas in face of China's air defense zone

From InterAksyon (Dec 14): Japan-ASEAN call for freedom of air and seas in face of China's air defense zone

Japan and Southeast Asian countries called on Saturday for freedom of the air and sea and urged that disputes be resolved peacefully, amid concerns about Chinese military assertiveness that has raised regional tensions.

China's recent announcement of an air defense zone that covers islands in the East China Sea, which are controlled by Tokyo but also claimed by Beijing, triggered protests from Japan, United States and South Korea.

China is also locked in territorial rows with other Asian nations over wide swathes of the South China Sea, including waters claimed by several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Beijing has said it might set up a similar air defense zone there.

"We underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the region and promoting maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce, exercise of self-restraint and resolution of disputes by peaceful means in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law," said a statement issued at a summit of Japanese and ASEAN leaders in Tokyo.

The statement did not refer to China's new air defense zone, but did note that Japan welcomed consultations between ASEAN and China on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

China has a hefty economic presence in the region and many ASEAN members are reluctant to directly challenge Beijing.

The heightened tensions with China have raised concerns that an minor incident in the disputed seas could quickly escalate.

U.S. and Chinese warships narrowly avoid collision in the South China Sea last week, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said in a statement on Friday.

Both Japan and China in recent months have scrambled aircraft over the disputed seas and conducted naval patrols.

‘Rule of law’

The Japan-ASEAN summit is the centerpiece of a three-day regional gathering officially billed as celebrating 40 years of diplomatic ties.

"I would like to build an Asia Pacific future that respects each other's cultures and construct an economic system that is realized not by force, but by rule of law and our efforts," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said at the start of the summit with the 10 ASEAN countries.

Chinese state media kept up the invective against Japan's complaints over the air space zone on Friday, with the official Xinhua news agency saying Abe was going to "stage again its China-is-to-blame game" at the ASEAN summit.

"It is believed that anyone with only half a brain knows that it is Japan who intentionally set the region on fire in the first place," Xinhua said in an English-language commentary.

Abe has visited all 10 ASEAN nations during his year in office, a diplomatic campaign underlined by hefty aid and growing private investment by Japanese firms hoping to avoid rising costs and the potential risks of China.

On Saturday, Japan announced 2 trillion yen ($19.39 billion) in official development assistance to the grouping, including 300 billion yen for disaster management cooperation.

A day earlier, Tokyo gave the Philippines 6.6 billion yen to provide patrol ships, along with a special post-typhoon loan, and announced currency swap deals with five Southeast Asian nations.

ASEAN groups Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Brunei.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/76831/japan-asean-call-for-freedom-of-air-and-seas-in-face-of-chinas-air-defense-zone

NPAs strike anew, raid police headquarters in southern Philippines

From the Mindanao Examiner blog site (Dec 14): NPAs strike anew, raid police headquarters in southern Philippines

New People’s Army rebels stormed a police headquarters on Saturday – the second in just two days in the southern Philippines – and seized assorted weapons, officials said.

Officials said the rebels, numbering about 30, disarmed policemen guarding the headquarters in Don Victoriano Chiongbian town in Misamis Occidental province. The raiders seized a machine gun, an M203 grenade launcher, seven automatic rifles and nine hand guns from the police arsenal before escaping towards Zamboanga del Sur province.

Troops sent to pursue the fleeing rebels clashed with the NPA band in the village of Bag-ong Tudela in Josefina town.

Captain Jefferson Somera, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, has confirmed the fighting and said members of the 55thInfantry Battalion were dispatched to take down the rebels. “The fighting lasted over 25 minutes and we foiled the NPA plan to detonated landmines in the area to sow down the military pursuit,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.

He said in September, army troops killed a senior NPA commander, Henry Celajes, in a firefight in Misamis Occidental’s Tudela town. Celajes was the deputy secretary of the communist group in western Mindanao.

Rebel forces recently raided the police headquarters in Kibawe town in Bukidnon province near Misamis and killed and wounded 5 officers and carted at least 13 assorted weapons. The NPA has been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country.

http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/12/npas-strike-anew-raid-police.html

Book donation benefits Davao day care center

From the Mindanao Examiner blog site (Dec 14): Book donation benefits Davao day care center



Philippine troops donated 500 assorted books to a day care center in the southern Filipino province of Davao del Norte and benefiting about three dozen children, officials said.

Officials said the soldiers, who are members of the army’s Task Force Davao, handed over the books to representatives of the Linusotan Day Care Center on
Talicud Island.

The donation was in partnership with a US-based nongovernmental organization called Bagong Kulturang Pinoy California and other stake holders. “The activity is part of the Task Force Davao’s continuing effort of reaching-out people in the community through the conduct of civic actions,” said Lieutenant Danilo Mapacpac.

Village chieftain Gene Muana and members of the local council and the day care center praised the donors for the book program.





Troops donate 500 books to the Linusotan Day Care Center on Talicud Island in Davao del Norte province. (Mindanao Examiner) 

http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/12/book-donation-benefits-davao-day-care.html

MNLF: Resolution No. 2/40-MM: On the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines

Posted to the MNLF Website (Dec 13): Resolution No. 2/40-MM: On the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines



The Fortieth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, (Session of Dialogue of Civilizations, Factor for Peace and Sustainable Development, held in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, from 06 to 08 Safar 1435H (09-11 December 2013),

Bearing in mind the OIC resolutions and the recommendations of the OIC Peace Committee in Southern Philippines (PCSP) and the question of Muslims there;

Commending the role played by Libya in reaching the Tripoli Agreement in 1976 and instrumental the role of the Republic of Indonesia as Chair of the PCSP and all its members, as well as to the Secretary General’s efforts aimed at facilitating the peace process and assisting both the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to reach a formula of joint proposals to ensure the full implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement;

Praising the efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in supporting the peace efforts and development of Muslims in Southern Philippines,

Reaffirming all previous Summit and Ministerial Conferences resolutions adopted in this regard;

Having considered the Report of the Secretary General on the Question of Muslims in Southern Philippines (Doc. No. OIC/CFM-40/2013/MM/SG.REP);

1- Renews its support for the Peace Agreement between the GPH and MNLF initialled on 30 August 1996 in Jakarta and officially signed in Manila on 2 September 1996;

2- Calls for quick and full implementation of the provisions of 1996 Final Peace Agreement on implementation of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement concluded between the GPH and the MNLF with good intention and genuine interest so that just and lasting peace and comprehensive development can be achieved for the Bangsamoro people;

3- Takes note of the outcome of the Meeting of the OIC Peace Committee on Southern Philippines (PCSP) held in Istanbul, Turkey on 22-24 August 2013 and its meeting held in Jeddah on 4 November 2013, renews the mandate of the PCSP and the Secretary General to continue the necessary contacts with the GPH and the MNLF for of the full implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement.

4- Expresses appreciation for the efforts of the Secretary General and the OIC-PCSP in their continued attempts to overcome the obstacles impeding full implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement through the tripartite discussions’ mechanism, and expresses regret over the failure to achieve tangible results commensurate with the efforts exerted in this regard;

5- Express its concern over the incident that took place in Zamboanga city on September 9, 2013 which led to a fire fight between the GPH forces and the MNLF forces (loyal to Chairman Misuari) and deplores the loss of innocent lives, and property; calls upon member States and Islamic relief organisations to help generously at the efforts of relief and reconstruction operation in order to allow the quick return of the many thousand displaced people to their homes and to compensate the victims.

6- Calls upon the Secretary General and the PCSP to exert their efforts in order not to allow these unfortunate events to derail the peace process.

7- Calls on the Secretary General to hold another session of the tripartite meeting in order to overcome on the pending major difficulties and calls upon both parties namely the GPH and MNLF to show flexibility that would allow progress on the pending issues; and also calls upon the GPH to consider positively the request by MNLF on conducting a new plebiscite under neutral supervision to consult the population on whether they are willing to join the autonomous region;

8- Invites the Secretary General to continue his efforts to narrow the gap between the positions of the leaderships of the MNLF and the MILF to continue their joint coordination and work to achieve peace and development for the people of Bangsamoro in the framework of Bangsamoro Coordination Forum (BCF) established between the two fronts at the Islamic Conference in Djibouti and calls for holding another meeting to prepare guiding principles for its work;

9- Recognize of the peace efforts between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for reaching a comprehensive agreement that would help improvement of the situation of Muslims in Mindanao region and Hopes that Framework agreement on the Bangsamoro would be concluded in line with 1976 Tripoli Peace Agreement. Commend on the role of the Government of Malaysia as third party facilitator in talks between the both parties which culminated with the signing of preliminary Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro on 15 October 2012;

10- Calls upon the Secretary General to exert his efforts to find common grounds between the Parties to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the 1996 Agreement on the implementation of the 1976 Peace Agreement and develop a mechanism to ensure that the gains of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement on the implementation of the 1976 Peace Agreement are preserved and the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and its Annexes are fully implemented with the end goal of integrating the gains achieved in these peace agreements in the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

11- Expressed appreciation to the government of Indonesia for its role as the Chair of the OIC Peace Committee for Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP) for the past six years, and welcomed Egypt’s assumption of the Chairmanship of the PCSP after the 40th CFM.

12- Calls upon the GPH to take urgent action to address the environmental problems reported caused by non-compliance with environmental standards in Lake Lanao and its environment; which had serious environmental repercussions with adverse effects on people’s health, economic and social conditions.

13- Urges OIC member states, subsidiary organs, specialized institutions and affiliated institutions to increase the volume of their medical, humanitarian, economic, financial and artistic assistance to develop Southern Philippines with a view to accelerating socio-economic development.

Requests the Secretary General to follow up the implementation of this resolution and report thereon to the 41st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

 http://mnlfnet.com/OIC/40th%20CFM/40th%20OIC-CFM%20Res'n%20on%20Muslims%20in%20Philippines_Guinea.htm

MILF: GPH Peace Panel orients stakeholders of Sarangani on FAB, peace process

From the MILF Website (Dec 14): GPH Peace Panel orients stakeholders of Sarangani on FAB, peace process



Three members of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Panel oriented the local officials and other peace stakeholders of Sarangani Province on the Framework Agreement and gave updates on the GPH-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace process on December 13, 2013 at Sarangani Highlands in Tambler, General Santos City.

The GPH peace panel headed by chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer with members National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Secretary Mehol Sadain and former Agriculture Sec. Senen C. Bacani discussed the FAB and the salient points of the Annex on Power Sharing that was signed by the two parties during the 42nd round of exploratory talk in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on December 8, 2013.

The activity, mostly attended by Provincial and Municipal Officials of Sarangani, was hosted by the Sulong Sarangani Program of the Provincial Government of Sarangani. It gave an opportunity to local officials to clarify issues pertaining to the peace process.

Sarangani is one of the conflict affected areas of Mindanao from the Martial Law era during the Marcos regime in the 70s until the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) failure in 2008 which also displaced thousands of civilians from Maasim, one of the towns of Sarangani.

Coronel-Ferrer thanked the provincial officials for inviting the peace panel. She explained that the peace process does not intend to serve only a certain group but the Bangsamoro people in general.

Sadain said they also inform the Moro National Liberation Front on the progress of the GPH-MILF Peace Process. He enjoined the Moro communities and stakeholders to support the peace talk which is envisioned to put an end to the decades-long struggle of the Bangsamoro people.

The MNLF have signed with the GPH the GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement in 1996. One of MNLF leaders and Vice Mayor of Maasim, Sarangani, suggested a consultation with the MNLF and MILF that will support the settlement of Mindanao problem.

Miriam-Ferrer said the Annex on Power Sharing is the heart of the FAB. It contains details about the particular competencies and authorities of the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government which shall serve as a guide in the drafting of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
The annex clearly stipulated the reserved powers of the Central Government, the exclusive powers of the Bangsamoro Government and the concurrent or shared power by the two governments.

The document also stated that the Bangsamoro will have ministerial form of government with 58 exclusive powers whose coverage include justice system, development programs, local governance, land management, revenue generation, trade and investment.



Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon thanked the guests for the opportunity to learn the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and the updates on the peace process which they can re-echo to the constituency of the province.

Copy of the Annex on Power Sharing can be downloaded from www.luwaran.com  the official homepage of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and www.opapp.gov.ph, the official website of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/714-gph-peace-panel-orients-stakeholders-of-sarangani-on-fab-peace-process

MILF: CSOs congratulate GPH, MILF panels for signing the Annex on Power Sharing

From the MILF Website (Dec 14): CSOs congratulate GPH, MILF panels for signing the Annex on Power Sharing

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) congratulated the Government of the Philippines (GPH) Peace Panel and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for signing the Annex on the Power Sharing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro last December 8, 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which they described as “another milestone in the negotiation.”
  

Four CSOs namely Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), Lanao Peace Partners (LPP), Pailig Development Foundation, MSU-IIT Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao Ecosystems Work for Essential Benefits (EcoWEB) issued a press statement on December 12, 2013 congratulating the panels of the government and the MILF.
“The signing of the Annex on Power Sharing last Sunday emboldened our hope that a comprehensive peace agreement is really just around the corner, hence, work can start soonest on the equally important phase of the peace process—implementing its provisions to the letter and spirit,” they said.

The groups noted the inclusive stance displayed by the two parties “by committing to consider into the Bangsamoro Basic Law ideas that were shaped from complementary processes like the tripartite review on the implementation of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement that government inked with the Moro National Liberation Front MNLF.”

The peace advocate organizations, which have been engaged in accompanying the peace process, further noted the firm resolves of the peace panels, reflected in their joint statement, to conclude the comprehensive agreement by January next year.
“Our prayers and goodwill go with you as you embark on that final phase of the already 16-year peace negotiations,” the statement added.

The annex clearly stipulated the reserved powers of the Central Government, the exclusive powers of the Bangsamoro Government and the concurrent or shared power by the two governments.

It also stated that the Bangsamoro will have ministerial form of government with 58 exclusive powers whose coverage include justice system, development programs, local governance, land management, revenue generation, trade and investment.

The two parties will meet again on January next year to finish the Annex on Normalization before they will sign the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The FAB with complete annexes will serve as a reference in the drafting of Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

A 15-men member of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission has been tasked to draft the BBL.

The GPH-MILF Peace Agreement is hoped to realize the quest for self-determination of the Bangsamoro people through setting up a “genuine autonomous government” for the Bangsamoro.
http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/713-csos-congratulate-gph-milf-panels-for-signing-the-annex-on-power-sharing

MILF: MNLF told to support peace, common good in Mindanao

From the MILF Website (Dec 14): MNLF told to support peace, common good in Mindanao

Muslim religious groups are calling the leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to put away their personal interests and work for the common good of the Bangsamoro people.
  

“We are calling the MNLF to set aside their personal interests and focus on the common goal of the people in Mindanao,” Ustadz Jamal S. Muni, deputy spokesperson of the Darul Ifta.

Muni said this has been their observation that the struggle to alleviate the status of the Bangsamoro people is taking a toll as leaders within the MNLF are putting more emphasis on their self-interests rather than the welfare of the Bangsamoro people.

The MNLF has broken into several factions after senior leaders were dismayed on Nur Misuari, the founding chairperson, as he failed to bring the collective position of the organization and the Bangsamoro people.

After the signing of the Final Peace Agreement in 1996, Misuari simultaneously governed the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development for six years. However, during his reign, the Muslim region made a slow progress, if not totally stunt its economic growth with dearth opportunities.

Misuari then demanded for his term to be extended but failed to get the backing of the constituencies and the national government, which prompted him to led two deadly attacks in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu, and in Zamboanga city in 2001, where dozens of Moros were killed.

As a fugitive, Misuari took refuge in Malaysia, but was eventually caught and turned over by the Malaysia to the Philippine government and charged with rebellion. Misuari was freed in 2009, and ran for succeeding polls as either governor of Sulu – his home province - or as governor in the ARMM but failed to get substantial votes.

In recent years, Misuari has again ranted after the national government rejected his demand to be appointed as the regional governor of ARMM after the congress decided to temporarily suspend the regional election to synchronize it with the national polls. He then started to take the six-year Tripartite Review Process of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement as hostage by rejecting the collective results of the review process to be implemented.

The conclusions, which were supposed to be implemented, are the 42-consensus points that will amend the Republic Act 9054 or the law, which created the ARMM; the implementations of Bangsamoro Development Assistance Funds; and the creation of the Tripartite Implementation Monitoring Committee.

The review process did not progress, as Misuari demanded another three issues, which are outside the agenda of the process. His demands are to conduct a plebiscite on territory, provisional government, and sharing on strategic minerals.

The government has earlier explained in details that these issues have been fully resolved. It said Misuari could no longer demand for another round of plebiscite since it was already done in August 2001. The government also clarified that the 1996 Final Peace Agreement does not provide any provisional government, however it stated for the establishment of a “transitional implementing structure and mechanism,” which was fulfilled through the creation of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development to which Misuari chaired while being the regional governor of ARMM.

The sharing on strategic minerals has also been resolved as reflected in the joint statement of the 1st Formal Meeting of the Ad Hoc High Level Group in Solo, Indonesia June 20-22, 2011.

It is this line that the government with the support of the Indonesia, the chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation- Peace Committee on Southern Philippines, has proposed for the completion of the review process and bring the government-MNLF engagements into another level, which is in the implementation phase of the review process.

However, Misuari misunderstood it as an abrogation of the Final Peace Agreement, and launched a series of misinformation on the ground while trying to create an independent Bangsamoro Republik, claiming to have a backing of a United Nations official, which turned out to be fake and was arrested late November in Cagayan de Oro City.

The misinformation led Misuari to dupe his followers to launch rally in this city eventually turned into a siege on September 9. The three-week crisis has left more than 200 individuals killed and displaced 120, 000 residents, who are mostly Moros.

MNLF commanders, who were earlier arrested, said that they were promised monetary rewards of P10, 000 to join the rally.

Several groups have called that the real struggle is the Bangsamoro people and does not stop on a single person.

“Our loyalty is to the Bangsamoro people neither with the MNLF nor the MILF. Therefore, the Bangsamoro people are advocating for a peaceful resolution in Mindanao,” Muni said.

“As Bangsamoro people, we support the peace. With the signing of the power sharing, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Muni said, referring to the recent developments in the negotiations between the government and the MILF.

Recently, the MNLF-Misuari faction has again threatened to wage another “war” as the southern peace talks progressed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“I don’t believe they have the clout anymore after the Zamboanga City incident. People know already and cannot be fooled second time around including the MNLF themselves by Misuari,” Alih S. Aiyub, secretary-general of the Bishop-Ulama Conference in Zamboanga, Basilan,Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, said.

Even former MNLF combatants, who were successfully integrated into the military and police, supported the ongoing peace talks between the government and the MILF.

“As the spokesman of the 5,750 MNLF integrees, I welcomed with great hope and prayer the signed and agreed power-sharing agreement,” former rebel and now Army Major Abdurasad Sirajan, said.

“For me, all the annexes of the GPH-MILF envisioned comprehensive agreement, the power-sharing is the most crucial one. It is the backbone and the soul of the agreement that will determine the future Bangsamoro Ministerial government. In short, the power of the future political autonomy lies in this power sharing agreement,” he added.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/712-mnlf-told-to-support-peace-common-good-in-mindanao

Military’s alert level up in Normin, Caraga

From the Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Dec 14): Military’s alert level up in Normin, Caraga

THE Army’s 4th Infantry Division yesterday raised the alert level in northern Mindanao and Caraga following a string of attacks, believed to be the handiwork of communist rebels, this week.

WOUNDED. PO3 Junar Juban, one of three policemen who were wounded when suspected New People’s Army rebels raided the police station of Kibawe, Bukidnon on Thursday. Another policeman was killed in the attack which came two weeks before the 45th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines. (mindanews photo by H. Marcos Mordeno)

The Army did a day after suspected rebels raided a police station in Kibawe town in Bukidnon, killing a police officer and wounding three others.

But the suspected New People’s Army (NPA) attacks started a day earlier in neighboring Caraga region where four military detachments––in Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte––were raided since Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, 4th ID commander, ordered all military camps under his division to prepare and anticipate more attacks in the days leading to the Dec. 26 anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

The military said the NPA has been unusually making its presence felt in the last two weeks.

Visaya said the NPA was responsible for the attacks on police stations in some areas of Mindanao, including Thursday’s raid in Kibawe town.

He said all military units under Camp Evangelista have gone on full alert.

Visaya said the military has intelligence reports that the rebels were planning a series of attacks and sabotage government operations as part of their Dec. 26 celebration.

He said all military offensives and non-combat operations would continue despite the attacks.

Capt. Christian Uy, Camp Evangelista spokesperson, said there were also reports that the rebels would step up their offensive operations when many soldier start going on vacation this Yuletide.

An attack by suspected New People’s Army rebels on the police station of Kibawe, Bukidnon on Dec. 12, 2013 left the walls of the building pockmarked with bullets. The attack also left a policeman dead and three others wounded. It came two weeks before the 45th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines. (Mindanews photo by H. Marcos C. Mordeno)

 

Uy said the military, police and the Peace and Security Coordinating Council were closely coordinating their moves.

Camp Alagar deputy regional director for administration Chief Supt. Lyndel Desquitado appealed for citizen cooperation by reporting suspicious groups or movements.

“This group is just waiting for opportunities to strike,” according to Desquitado.
He said police have already stepped up intelligence gathering operations and citizens can greatly help by providing authorities important information.

Desquitado said Camp Alagar has also beefed up police forces in critical areas of the region.

“The CPP-NPA has always been threatening to commit acts of terrorism every time the rebels’ anniversary nears,” said Desquitado.

In the Kibawe attack, suspected rebels reportedly carted away over a dozen firearms, mostly high-powered, from the police station.

Suspected rebels also intensified their offensives in Caraga region this week and killed a civilian  in Surigao del Sur.

This Wednesday, suspected rebels attacked a detachment of the 29th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Bangonay, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

Some 20 suspected rebels also attacked a militia outpost of the 23rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Baleguian, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, the same day.

The military said government and rebel forces briefly exchanged firepower but there was no casualty report.

In the evening of the same day, 30 suspected rebels attacked a patrol base of the 23rd IB in Barangay Payapag, Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, resulting in a firefight that lasted for about an hour. Again, there was no casualty report made available to the media.

The following day, another detachment of the 23rd IB was attacked in Barangay Tag-asaka, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. It happened hours after the Kibawe, Bukidnon police station attack.

Jonathan Luna, a driver at Coronet Wood Industry Inc., was caught in the crossfires and was killed.

There are sketchy reports on skirmishes in the same village as of press time. Government troops were sent to the area for “clearing operations.”

Meanwhile, an still unidentified group of armed men burned a payloader in Purok-3, Barangay Canayugan, Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur, on Wednesday.

The payloader was owned by Danny Cullantes, a businessman from T. Calo St., Butuan City.

Bayugan police director Supt. Gerry Ratunil  said the payloader’s driver, Enrique Alboresespana, told investigators that the armed men roused  him from his sleep and forced him to bring the payloader into an open space.

There, the arsonists poured gasoline all over the payloader, set it afire, started firing shots, and subsequently fled.

http://www.goldstardailynews.com.ph/more-top-stories/militarys-alert-level-up-in-normin-caraga.html

Flags in military camps at half-mast to honor former AFP chief Bangit

From InterAksyon (Dec 13): Flags in military camps at half-mast to honor former AFP chief Bangit



Flags in all camps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines were flown at half-mast from Saturday to honor former chief of staff Delfin Bangit, who died Friday.

AFP public affairs chief Colonel Ramon Zagala, in a statement, said Bangit, 58, will be granted full military honors on Tuesday, when his remains will be transferred from the mortuary of the Libingan ng mga Bayani to Camp Aguinaldo.

Bangit died of multiple organ failure at St. Luke’s Medical Center Friday afternoon.The 38th AFP chief of staff, Bangit belonged to Philippine Military Academy class of 1978, and was considered the “favorite general” of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an adopted “mistah” of the class.

He served as Arroyo’s aide when she was vice president and then commander the Presidential Security Group during the May 1, 2001 “Siege of Malacanang,” when loyalists of deposed President Joseph Estrada attempted to storm the Palace.

He went on to head the Intelligence Service of the AFP, during which time activist Jonas Burgos was abducted, and the Philippine Army before Arroyo named him AFP chief in March 2010, just months before she stepped down.

Weeks before the 2010 elections, there were reports that some quarters had tried but failed to bribe Bangit to support for them.

“Without any ambiguity, he declared his stand for the Constitution and stood up to insulate the AFP from politics,” the AFP said.

When President Benigno Aquino III assumed office, he voiced his desire to replace Bangit, who was supposed to serve until July 2011. Although he initially resisted, Bangit eventually chose early retirement in June 2010.

Zagala said Bangit’s stint saw the intensified campaign against the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan in which several sub-leaders of the group were neutralized, and the strength of the New People’s Army dipped to a “historic low” of less than 5,000 and the communist rebels were “confined to just five areas in the whole country.”

“The AFP is one with General Bangit’s family in their hour of grief as we honor a be-medalled soldier, an officer, and a gentleman who served our nation professionally,” Zagala said.

Army spokesman Capt. Anthony Bacus called Bangit "a strong advocate of peace, initiating measures to fight insurgency not in the traditional way, but by winning the hearts and minds of the people.”

A native of San Mateo, Rizal, Bangit was the eigth of nine children.

Before he entered PMA in 1974, Bangit took up a course at the Philippine School of Business Administration while working as a clerk at Bayantel. Two brothers were also PMA graduates, belong to Class 1964 and 1977.

He is survived by his wife, the former Daisy Magdangal, with whom he has three children -- Harold, Diane, and Hector.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/76829/flags-in-military-camps-at-half-mast-to-honor-former-afp-chief-bangit

Video: City Hall, Army were first responders after typhoon – Tacloban city administrator

From GMA News (Dec 14): Video: City Hall, Army were first responders after typhoon – Tacloban city administrator

The Tacloban City administrator said two Philippine Army squads were among the first to respond after super typhoon Yolanda ravaged the regional hub of Eastern Visayas last November 8.

 

“Actually ang nag-first response dito ay kami sa city hall. Kasama po namin, may dalawa ho kaming squad po na nakasamang [Armed Forces of the Philippines] na in-assign po mula 19th Battalion, as a matter of protocol, na dalawa pong ipinarada po dito sa city hall,” city administrator Tecson Lim explained.

 

Lim also stated this in his report to the city council, according to a report from GMA's "24 Oras" aired on Saturday.

[Video]
  

First responders were given the insurmountable task of conducting search-and-rescue operations with only a payloader, bulldozer and backhoe, the report said.

 

There were also two dump trucks left by the Department of Public Works and Highways which the group was able to utilize.

 

Tacloban City was one of the worst hit by Yolanda which wreaked havoc and left ruined homes, broken families and devastated communities in its wake.

 

The number of deaths from Yolanda breached the 6,000 mark on Saturday based on the latest figures of the National Risk Reduction and Management Council.

 

Damage was pegged at P35 billion with at least 16 million people affected.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/339844/news/regions/city-hall-army-were-first-responders-after-typhoon-tacloban-city-administrator

Video: Gamin doubts MNLF can launch new attack

Posted to ABS-CBN (Dec 13): Video: Gazmin duda kung may kakayahan pa ang MNLF na umatake muli (Gamin doubts MNLF can launch new attack)

[Video]

Duda ang pamahalaan kung may kakayahan pa sa ngayon ang MNLF na gawin ulit ang pag-atake na ginawa nila noong Septyembre. Nagpa-Patrol, Jorge Carino. TV Patrol, Disyembre 13, 2013, Biyernes.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/regions/12/13/13/gazmin-doubts-mnlf-can-launch-new-attack

NPA supporters surrender

From the Visayan Daily Star (Dec 14): 37 NPA supporters surrender

Thirty-seven organizers and supporters of the New People’s Army in Siaton, Negros Oriental, surrendered to the 79th Infantry Battalion, and pledged allegiance to the government, 1Lt. Erick Wynmer Calulot, said yesterday.

The ex-rebels took their oath before Siaton Mayor Alberto Ator in Sitio Catipon, Brgy. Bonawon of the town, attended by Brig. Gen. Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, and 79IB soldiers.

Of the 37 rebel supporters, five are leaders of the Grupong Pang-organisa of the CPP-NPA operating in the hinterlands of Siaton town, Calulot said.

In their testimonial message during the program, GP leaders Marlon Tropisado and Delfino Pajunar called on their fellow residents to support the government and stop being unwilling victims of insurgents.

The medical outreach program, organized by the 79IB, benefited about 500 barangay residents through medical consultations, medicine distribution, dental, circumcision, senior citizen’s ID processing, animal vaccination, free haircuts and massage, and feeding.

Calulot said Bonawon barangay captain Gina Estrella thanked them for the support of the Army, the provincial and local government units, and other volunteers to her constituents, and, in return, vowed to further strengthen her commitment in leading her constituents to support all government programs.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/December/14/negor2.htm

Army starts scaling down troop number in storm areas

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Dec 12): Army starts scaling down troop number in storm areas
At least 200 soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 2nd and 7th Infantry Divisions will be pulling out from typhoon-ravaged Leyte as the Yolanda-hit areas begin to show signs of normalcy.

Maj. Angelo Guzman, deputy public affairs officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said on Thursday that the units to be pulled out were among some 3,000 soldiers from the Philippine Army, Navy and Air Force who were sent to the Visayas as augmentation forces to perform vital services such as search and retrieval operations, medical missions and relief operations for victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

He said most of the 200 soldiers had been temporarily based in Tacloban City and originally sent there to help keep order in the city amid an orgy of looting that followed the storm.

The 2nd ID soldiers sent to Leyte came from the Southern Tagalog or Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region while those from the 7th ID came from Central Luzon, Guzman said.

He added soldiers sent to Leyte could now be pulled out since residents, particularly those in Tacloban, have started to recover just as rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts of the government have began to intensify.

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Not all AFP personnel in Yolanda-hit areas would, however, be pulled out after the recall of the 200 soldiers, said Guzman.

Other units, the engineering battalions in particular, will be required to stay for an indefinite period in Leyte, or until rebuilding efforts are over, said Guzman.

After Yolanda hit the country, Army divisions in areas which were not affected by Yolanda sent 100 soldiers each to Visayas, especially to Leyte and Samar, he said.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said in a press conference held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday that the government is now giving more emphasis to rehabilitation efforts in the Visayas.

Aside from rebuilding homes and infrastructure, the government is also focusing on stress debriefing of Yolanda survivors administered by trained DSWD personnel.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/545413/army-starts-scaling-down-troop-number-in-storm-areas

Military, police deny human rights abuses

From the Sun Star-Baguio (Dec 12): Military, police deny human rights abuses

STATE forces recently dismissed reports of human rights abuses in Cordillera communities reporting zero violations this year.

In Tuesday's Regional Human Rights Consciousness Summit, the Armed Forces of the Philippines stressed it upheld and improved protocols to prevent abuses coming from the military.

501st Infantry Brigade commander Brigadier General Roger Salvador said human rights advocates have failed to report abuses of erring soldiers but instead give information and sometimes misleading reports to media.

Salvador stressed the 501st IB which covers Cordillera provinces of Kalinga, Apayao, Ifugao, Benguet and parts Mt. Province has been cognizant of human rights stressing the command is strict in enforcing what is right and punishes erring soldiers through proper procedures and investigation.

He said the 501st IB is open victims of human rights violations, as well as advocates, citing channels to process verbal and written complaints are in place.

In the case of a suspected HR violator in their ranks, the military official said they immediately place the erring soldier in custody while a thorough investigation is conducted.

Meanwhile, the Cordillera police also denied any HR violations as reported by Human Rights advocates.

In a recent press statement, outgoing Police Regional Office- Cordillera director Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong said they have always upheld human rights and cautious in all its operations to avoid civilian casualties even as the PNP has suffered casualties in the past.

“Our operating personnel are also Cordillerans. We always adhere to the rule of law and police operational procedures in all our police operations," Magalong stressed, returning the question to human rights advocates, particularly the CHRA, on how two incidents involving the PNP translate to human rights violations when government forces even rescued the civilians and minors used by rebels in their atrocities against the military.

PRO-Cordillera in its statement also vehemently denied CHRA’s allegations that human rights violations in the region have gone worst, saying the report was unfounded and deceitful.

Magalong, citing the CHRA report, stressed the two minors accosted on November 17 at Mount Sipitan, Aguid, Sagada, Mountain Province, were found secretly entering the PNP’s temporary encampment while a joint AFP-PNP internal security operation was on going.

“The minors, who initially gave conflicting reasons for their presence in the area later admitted - in the presence of their parents - that they are being used by the NPA as spies to gather vital information on the strength and whereabouts of AFP and PNP troops,” Magalong stressed, questioning the CHRA on how the incident became a human rights violation when the minors were the ones who voluntarily gave their confessions in the presence of their parents.

The region’s police chief also countered the minors were immediately turned over to their parents on the same day as witnessed by barangay officials of Aguid, Sagada adding the minors are “doubtless victims of child abuse by the communist rebels.”

“The NPA has in fact violated the rights of the minors to be treated as zones of peace as provided for by Section 22, Article X of R.A. 7610, a statute that implements the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child specifically on the involvement of children in armed conflict,” he said.

“The PNP is now contemplating on filing a case against the NPA for violation of the said law,” Magalong added.

He also said they have brought to the attention of the Regional Peace and Order Committee on November 21 the details of the incident.

 Magalong also branded a separate report stating government troops are using civilians as guides in the mountainous terrain in the region as incorrect, baseless and misleads public on the truth regarding the campaign against communist rebels.

According to the AFP, the two civilians police met in the mountainous area of Besao, Mt. Province during a security operation in October were being escorted out of the area when they were fired upon by the NPA.

One of the civilians and members of government forces were wounded during the incident. Despite the attack, police were able to secure the two civilians and immediately turned them over to the Besao Municipal Police Station and witnessed by Sagada Vice Mayor Benjamin Capuyan.

Meanwhile, CHRA secretary general Jude Baggo said instead of blaming them, the PNP must go to the communities where they have recorded human rights abuses.

“Unang-una ang CHRA ay naka-base sa kanyang accurate, reliable and credible documentation. We do not release information just for the sake of statistics but these are all documented cases,” he said.

 He added supposed independent bodies to investigate these cases like the Commission on Human Rights “have interests only to protect the government.”

“The culture of impunity is there. There are cases without any resolution and there are cases they claim as without basis. The CHR should be more proactive in their investigations but we support them in their call to improve their powers of not only coming up with investigations,” he further added.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2013/12/12/military-police-deny-human-rights-abuses-318473