PH may move naval drills with US away from South China Sea - Lorenzana

From InterAksyon (Dec 31): PH may move naval drills with US away from South China Sea - Lorenzana



Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, accompanied by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade (R) and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, claps at the end of Japan's coast guard drills in Yokohama in a recent trip to Japan. REUTERS FILE

President Rodrigo Duterte has asked Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to move joint naval exercises with the United States away from the disputed South China Sea as he tries to repair Manila's ties with China.

The Philippines has already decided to reduce the number of drills it holds with its long-term ally and former colonial master after Duterte announced a sudden pivot towards China.

Lorenzana told reporters at a military ceremony on Friday that Duterte had advised him to seek a new location for the war games.

"We might move the naval exercises facing the South China Sea to Mindanao area to avoid annoying our neighbor, so let us be sensitive of our neighbors," he said.

Duterte visited Beijing in October and announced that he was loosening ties with Washington, which has provided nearly $800 million in military aid since 2002.

Chinese-Filipino relations were strained in 2013 when Manila asked an international tribunal in The Hague to rule on China's claim to large parts of the South China Sea, where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China but Beijing, which has been building and fortifying artificial islands in the area, refused to recognize the decision.

Duterte reiterated on Thursday that he wanted to avoid confrontation with China and saw no urgency in pressing it to abide by the ruling.

He also played down concerns that China was militarizing the South China Sea and appeared unperturbed by its dredging work and building activity, much of which falls within what Manila considers its Exclusive Economic Zone.

http://interaksyon.com/article/135737/ph-may-move-naval-drills-with-us-away-from-south-china-sea---lorenzana

Army drives off BIFF in overnight fighting in Maguindanao town

From InterAksyon (Dec 31): Army drives off BIFF in overnight fighting in Maguindanao town


BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama

SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao -- Government troops engaged gunmen of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in an overnight battle before driving them away early Saturday in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao, the Army said.

Although the fighting caused panic among civilians living near detachments of the 1st Mechanized Brigade along the Datu Saudi-Ampatuan-Datu Salibo-Datu Piang highway, no evacuations were reported.

Brigade commander Colonel Felicisimo Budiongan said no soldier was hurt in the fighting that lasted from 7 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday.

BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama acknowledged mounting the attacks, saying these were in retaliation for the death two weeks ago of their sub-commander, Tamharin Esmael, which he blamed on the military. He also threatened more attacks.

Budiongan said after the initial hostilities, the BIFF gunmen fled when troops from three camps returned fire. However, they returned before midnight and fired rocket-propelled grenades towards the outposts.

The BIFF finally withdrew when reinforcements backed by armored personnel carriers arrived.

A portion of the Cotabato City-Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat highway had to be shut down at sunrise to defuse an improvised explosive device planted by the BIFF. The road was reopened after more than an hour.

http://interaksyon.com/article/135744/army-drives-off-biff-in-overnight-fighting-in-maguindanao-town

China's CCTV launches global 'soft power' media network to extend influence

From InterAksyon (Dec 31): China's CCTV launches global 'soft power' media network to extend influence



The China Central Television headquarters is seen in Beijing's central business district in December 2015 file photo. REUTERS

BEIJING - China Central Television (CCTV), Beijing's largest TV network, said it would launch a new global media platform on New Year's Day to help re-brand China overseas.

The new multilingual operation will have six TV channels and a new media agency, the network said on its website on Friday night. Its CCTV News channel will be rebranded the China Global Television Network, it added.

China has launched a number of "soft power" initiatives to expand its influence abroad, including other English-language media outlets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the new network to "tell China stories well," the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

http://interaksyon.com/business/135749/chinas-cctv-launches-global-soft-power-media-network-to-extend-influence

Blast hits Lamitan City Hall

From the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 31): Blast hits Lamitan City Hall

BASILAN – An improvised explosive went off outside the City of Lamitan in the restive province of Basilan in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines, police said Saturday.

It said the blast occurred late Friday, but caused little or no damage at all to government properties and that an investigation was immediately launched to establish the motive and who were behind the attack.

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the blast, but Abu Sayyaf rebels, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, were tagged in many bombings in the past in Lamitan City and other parts of the province where they are actively operating.

It was unknown why soldiers and policemen failed to detect or stop the attack.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/blast-hits-lamitan-city-hall/

4 suspected MILF rebels arrested in Lanao Sur

From the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 31): 4 suspected MILF rebels arrested in Lanao Sur

LANAO DEL SUR – Security forces arrested 4 suspected members of the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front accused as behind the spate of ransom kidnappings in southern Philippines, officials said Saturday.

Officials said the men were tracked down in their hideout in the village of Mantapuli in Marantao town in Lanao del Sur, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao.

One of those arrested, Nabil Balowa, is believed to be the gang’s leader, whose group was also implicated in the September kidnapping of gasoline station owner Clarita Belisario. The 60-year old woman was released after her family paid huge ransom to the gang.

Policemen and army soldiers who arrested the men also recovered automatic weapons, explosives, fragmentation grenades and ammunitions, including MILF identification cards and police uniforms.

Police said it is interrogating the suspects. There was no statement from the MILF, which signed an interim peace deal with Manila in 2014.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/4-suspected-milf-rebels-arrested-in-lanao-sur/

Philippine military deploys troops to hunt down rebels after fierce clashes

From the Mindanao Examiner (Dec 31): Philippine military deploys troops to hunt down rebels after fierce clashes

COTABATO CITY – Philippine troops were deployed on Saturday to hunt down Moro rebels who attacked several army posts in Maguindanao, one of 5 provinces under the troubled Muslim autonomous region, and in nearby province of North Cotabato in Mindanao, security officials said.

Officials said a huge group of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters attacked late Friday military detachments and outposts in Datu Salibo town and sparking fierce fighting that lasted until day break.

The rebels, who are fighting for a Muslim homeland, also raided military posts in Midsayap and Pigcawayan towns in North Cotabato.

The clashes forced hundreds of villagers to flee their homes for fear they would be caught in the crossfire. The army also fired artilleries on rebel positions while air force planes provided cover for troops battling the BIFF on the ground.

There was no immediate reports of rebel casualties and the military did not say if it suffered human loses in the fighting.

Just recently, a grenade attack outside a Catholic church in Midsayap town injured at least 16 people. The Christmas Eve attack was also blamed to the rebels, who earlier in that day also held several cargo trucks and used them to blockade a major highway in Maguindanao’s Guindulungan town.

The daring action by rebels was largely seen to shame authorities and clearly showed how vulnerable the province was from such assault from a group of around 200 members. There were no reports of casualties or injuries and the drivers of the trucks were released by rebels.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/philippine-military-deploys-troops-to-hunt-down-rebels-after-fierce-clashes/

401st Brigade celebrates AFP day with gift-giving

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 27): 401st Brigade celebrates AFP day with gift-giving

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – To highlight the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP's) 81st Anniversary, some 50 Indigenous Peoples (IP) households and 150 children from selected IP communities in the barangays of San Jose, Puting Buhangin and Awa of this municipality were recently treated by the Army’s 401st Brigade to a simple Gift-giving Christmas activity.

A bundle of gift of assorted goods and rice was distributed to each of the households while they were being entertained with Christmas carols rendered by the 401st Brigade Band led by Capt. Jasper Gacayan.  The soldiers were joyfully welcomed and cheered by the populace as they sung together with the band.

“The mission of your Brigade is to bring peace and joy to everyone,” said 401st Brigade Commader Col. Cristobal Zaragoza.

The goods were part of the proceeds of the caroling done by the combo during this yuletide season.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2041482799441/401st-brigade-celebrates-afp-day-with-gift-giving

Former rebels in AgSur receive cash assistance anew

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 27): Former rebels in AgSur receive cash assistance anew

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur – Some 13 Former Rebels (FRs) enrolled in the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the government received their Livelihood Assistance and Immediate Cash Assistance amounting to P50,000 and P15,000, respectively held recently at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Provincial Capitol, Patin-ay, this municipality.

Vice Governor Samuel Tortor who was assisted by DILG Provincial Director Arlene Anne Sanchez, PSWDO Razel Montemor, and 26IB Commanding Officer LTC Rommel Pagayon personally handed over the cash assistance with a total amount of P65,000 for each beneficiary. Two of them who surrendered an extra M16 and a Garand rifle, aside from their own rifles, also received additional 90,000 cash as additional firearms remuneration.

The surrender of the former NPAs was made possible by the 26th Infantry Battalion (26IB), 3rd Special Forces Battalion and 401st Brigade with the Agusan Sur PNP Provincial Office.

At present, there are more than 300 FRs in the province who have benefited from the CLIP and have started a new life with their love ones.  They are calling their former NPAs comrades to go down with their firearms so that they will have something to start with and prove to themselves that they were treated well by the soldiers who were in fact too accommodating and helpful to them.

“This is an opportunity for them to go back to their families and start a new life. The province has a program to complement what is due them from the CLIP and the Army will also help,” said 401st Brigade Commander Col. Cristobal Zaragoza.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2041482799867/former-rebels-in-agsur-receive-cash-assistance-anew

Regional Inforum brings together LGU info officers, CMOs

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 22): Regional Inforum brings together LGU info officers, CMOs

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte— A recently held regional information forum gathered together local government information officers and civil military operations (CMO) officers to tackle “inclusive” programs of the national government deemed important to be widely disseminated at the grassroots level.

Organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 11, the regional forum was dubbed as Regional Inforum on Communicating Inclusive Governance. It brought together the local government information officers and the Civil Military Operations (CMO) officers from various commands within the 10th  Infantry “Agila” Division.

Held at Big 8 Corporate Hotel, the two-day regional information forum covered discussion on inclusive governance policies of President Rodrigo Duterte particularly  the  Ambisyon Natin 2040 and the Peace Process.  It included the Energy Conservation Program  run by the Department of Energy (DOE).

In his opening remarks, PIA 11 Regional Director Efren F. Elbanbuena cited the importance of the year-end activity with LGU IOs and CMOs, citing them as crucial purveyors of information from the national government to grassroots communities.

PIA 11 noted as important for LGU IOs and CMOs to grasp understanding about Executive Order No. 05, “Adopting the Twenty-Five Year Long Term Vision entitled Ambisyon Natin 2040 as Guide for Development Planning”.

Ambisyon Natin 2040  basically envisions the Philippines to become “prosperous , pre-dominantly middle class society where no one is poor; our people shall live long and healthy lives, be smart and innovative, and shall live in a high trust society”.

As EO No. 05 mandates that all government instrumentalities including local government units (LGUs) are expected to align their thrusts with Ambisyon Natin, PIA 11 viewed government communicators  as instruments in propagating  public understanding and appreciation of  such national policy.

Meanwhile, the perspective of  the Government Peace  Process  both with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and with the Communist Party of the Philippines National Democratic Front (CPP NDF) was tackled well during the forum with speakers from the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza in a press statement pointed out the need for massive discussion about the Peace Process  for it to become inclusive.

 Aside from directly engaging with those primarily involved in the Government (GRP) Peace Process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the CPP NDF, he wanted to reach out to sectors of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Indigenous Peoples, the youth and the wider public.

 The regional inforum involved the DOE which dealt with energy efficiency and conservation necessary to avoid energy crisis that could cause frequent brownouts as experienced in past years.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1541482396732/regional-inforum-brings-together-lgu-info-officers-cmos

Army joins information officers' forum

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 28): Army joins information officers' forum

Some 30 civil military officers (CMO) of the 10th Infantry Division took part of the 1st Davao Region Information Forum (Inforum) held at Big 8 Corporate Hotel, Tagum City recently.

Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Director Efren Elbanbuena highlighted the participation of the military as they are also delivering communication services to the grassroots level.

“Aside from the information officers of the local government units, It is also important that the CMO officers know the services of other government agencies so that they can properly deal with the residents they are serving,” Elbanbuena said.

The Regional Inforum with the theme ‘Communicating Inclusive Governance’ discussed the overview of the peace process, Ambisyon Natin 2040, Energy Conservation in the Household and Social Media.

Major Harold Ho, OIC-CMO of the 10th ID, said that they need seminars like to better communicate the residents in their area of responsibility and to closely partner with the local government unit information officers in their information, education and communication (IEC) activities.

During the event, CMOs were given a chance to bond with their fellow information officers from the area of responsibility through a Christmas Party.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2871482908669/army-joins-information-officers-forum

Army officials call ending arm struggle with NPA for peace, development

From the Philippine Information Agency (Dec 31): Army officials call ending arm struggle with NPA for peace, development

STA. CRUZ, Ilocos Sur – Some officials of the Philippine Army operating in Ilocos provinces including Central Luzon have called the ending of arm struggle with the New People’s Army (NPA) for peace and development in the countryside.

Their call is in line with the aim of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to end up the problem of insurgency in the country for the sake of peace.

Major General Angelito M. De Leon, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, said that there is no winning on fighting the other Filipino people.

“Instead of fighting, let us, therefore, focus on delivering services and development to the people,” De Leon said.

He added: “One of the saddest things that we can think of is, Filipinos are killing Filipinos because of non-sense arm struggle. It has created violent incoherence among Filipinos. Communism is already a thing of the past.”

For Colonel Milfredo M. Meligrito, commander of the 702nd Infantry (Defender) Brigade said, “poverty cannot be solved by arm struggle and that this ceasefire be the first call for unity to our brothers and sisters in the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)- NPA towards a peaceful and prosperous living.”

For his part, Lieutenant Col. Eugenio Julio C. Osias, the commander of the 81st Infantry Battalion based in Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, said “48 years is long enough to realize that arm struggle is nothing but a tragedy to the Filipino people. We are encouraging our brothers and sisters in CPP-NPA to reunite with the government for a common purpose and direction.”

The CPP has been waging an insurgency campaign for the past 48 years with the intent of changing the democratic system of the Philippine government into a communist system.

The situation has caused the country around 43,000 insurgency-related deaths between the year 1969-2008 and economic stagnation, which made the Philippines laggard among the Asian nations in developing natural and human resources and missed the march of Asia to prosperity during the circa 80s up to the present.

De Leon said the situation affects the country’s economy due to loss of one percent from the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and having military expenditure of $ 6 billion dollars.

“If those amounts of money were spent for the development of our education, health, and poverty alleviating programs, it is supposedly a big help for our country,” De Leon said.

“As the spirit of Christmas is passing on us, it is very timely that we show our love and care to others; it is time to bury our hatred and let peace dominate us, and it is time to go back to our families and loved ones,” De Leon concluded.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/381483070772/army-officials-call-ending-arm-struggle-with-npa-for-peace-development

Army foils BIFF harassment in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 31): Army foils BIFF harassment in Maguindanao

SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao -- Government forces have foiled members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who harassed them from Friday night until Saturday dawn in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao province, triggering panic among villagers, the Army said.

According to Col. Felicisimo Budiongan, commanding officer of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade, the harassment from 7 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday did not cause any injury to government forces.

It however struck fear among villagers living near Army bases along the Datu Saudi Ampatuan-Datu Salibo-Datu Piang highway.

When soldiers from three camps returned fire, the attackers fled under cover of darkness, Budiongan said, adding he could not say whether the Army counteroffensive has hurt or killed the attackers.

Abu Misry Mama, speaking for the BIFF, admitted his men launched the attack in retaliation for the death two weeks ago of Tamharin Esmael, allegedly by the military.

Esmael is a sub-commander of the BIFF. Mama said more attacks are coming so long as the Army is in Datu Saudi and Datu Salibo, both in Maguindanao.

Before midnight however, the attackers returned and fired rocket-propelled grenades toward the 1st Mechanized battalion checkpoints. A sporadic exchange of gunfire ensued until about 4 a.m. Saturday, Budiongan said.

The bandits then slowed down and eventually fled when soldiers from mechanized brigade responded, backed by armored personnel carriers, he added.

Residents panicked but no evacuation has been reported.

Soldiers temporarily shut down portions of the Cotabato City-Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat highway at sunrise to defuse an improvised explosive device planted by the attackers along the highway.

The military reopened the highway more than an hour later.

On Dec. 24, the same outlawed group flagged down four vehicles and hauler trucks and used them to block the highway in adjacent Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=952011

Russia interested in having military relationship with PHL, says defense chief

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 31): Russia interested in having military relationship with PHL, says defense chief

Russia is very much interested in having a military-to-military relationship with the Philippines, National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzanasaid on the sidelines of Friday's Rizal Day commemorations.

"They (Russians) are very aggressive in wanting a military-to-military relationship with us," he said in Filipino.

Lorenzana said this was made apparent during his recent visit to Russia, along with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay.

He however clarified that this is not a prelude to an alliance but merely student-to-student exchanges, sending of observers in exercises and selling of some military hardware to the Philippines.

"We will look into their hardware one of these days for testing, once samples become available for testing," he added, stressing that these talks are only at the initial phase.

Russia is offering the Philippines drones and submarines, which Lorenzana said the country could not afford at the moment due to the massive investments needed for acquisition, training of crew, and creation of support facilities for the undersea craft.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=952006

Military gearing up to secure Black Nazarene Procession

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 31): Military gearing up to secure Black Nazarene Procession

With the New Year holidays almost over, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said its units are now gearing up to secure the Black Nazarene Procession on Jan. 9 next year.

AFP chief-of-staff, Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año, however clarified that this does not mean that security threats were detected against the annual procession.

This is despite improvised explosive device attacks in Leyte and North Cotabato early this week.

"So far, we are still to detect any threat for the Black Nazarene Procession but we are urging all devotees to report anything suspicious to authorities," he said in Filipino.

The AFP chief added a vigilant public is a great help in preventing security incidents.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=952007

Police probe ‘NPA’ extortion in Ilocos

From the Manila Times (Dec 30): Police probe ‘NPA’ extortion in Ilocos

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte: Police operatives are investigating alleged harassment, intimidation and extortion activities of a group claiming to be from the New People’s Army (NPA) led by a certain Tomas, alias Kumander Lawin.

The group has reportedly collected more than P70,000 in protection money from two village chiefs in Banna town.

“This report is really alarming but we have to check its veracity. We have to be careful in releasing details because we have no concrete evidence yet to make the conclusion that these activities have really been committed by the alleged NPA rebels or not” Senior Insp. Artemio Clemente, Banna town chief of police, told mediamen.

Clemente said although the report is true, police are not yet convinced that the NPA rebels are still roaming the mountains of Banna town because this is the first time that these alleged extortion activities have happened.

Provincial Board Member Paul Baltazar, president of the Federated Associations of Barangay Chairmen, exposed such activities as he urged his fellow barangay (village) officials to report similar incidents to the police.

Baltazar, however, said he does not believe that those behind the “extortion” are NPA rebels, airing suspicion that members of a syndicate are only using the rebels’ name to carry out their illegal activities.

From 2010 up to the present, the military and police have on occasion spotted NPA rebels in the towns of Ilocos Norte particularly in the mountain areas but there have been no reports of violence or any abuses committed by them, a police officer told The Manila Times.

But the police officer said although this is a first incident, they consider it as violence perpetrated by the insurgents and must be solved as soon as possible.

A military officer who asked not to be identified said his team is conducting operations in the mountains to search for the hideout of the rebels’ newly formed Lawin group.

Meanwhile, the two unnamed village chairmen are now under police custody while their families are being guarded by the police and military.

The victims told police that the alleged extortion activities were conducted on December 12 and 25, before the NPA anniversary on December 26.

The barangay chairmen claimed that a group of heavily armed men led by someone who introduced himself as Kumander Lawin alternately visited their houses and demanded financial support for their anniversary celebrations and operations.

They were warned not to report to law enforcers what they saw if they want to continue living in peace.

http://www.manilatimes.net/police-probe-npa-extortion-ilocos/304422/