50 US troops to hold next ‘Balikatan’ with AFP in Visayas

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (May 1): 50 US troops to hold next ‘Balikatan’ with AFP in Visayas
Joint military exercises not related to ongoing hunt for Abu Sayyaf men in Bohol - Colonel Aguilar



 U.S. military armored personnel carriers take their positions during the 11-day joint US-Philippines military exercise dubbed “Balikatan 2016″ (Shoulder-To-Shoulder 2016) Thursday, April 14, 2016 at Crow Valley, Tarlac province north of Manila, (AP File Photo/Bullit Marquez)

As the hunt to arrest three remaining Abu Sayyaf bandits in Bohol continues, some 50 American troops will participate in the two-month civil-military exercises dubbed Balikatan in some parts of the Visayas.

The latest Balikatan started on Monday (May 1). Colonel Medel Aguilar, commander of the Philippine Joint Civil and Military Operations Task Force, however, said the holding of the Balikatan has long been scheduled and the decision to hold it in Visayas has not been related to the terrorist threats that have struck Bohol.

“Our activities are intended for humanitarian and civilian assistance and to transfer knowledge and skills on how to react during emergency situations like typhoons,” he said in an interview after the launching of the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force at the Armed Forces’ Central Command in Cebu City on Monday morning.

Among the activities the soldiers will undertake include the construction of disaster-resilient facilities, classrooms, capability training to enhance disaster preparedness, developing good working relationship with the people, and building partnership with stakeholders for civic action programs.

The two-month Balikatan exercises are focused on the islands of Panay, Leyte, and Samar.

Colonel Camilo Ligayo, chief of the Unified Command Staff, said the Balikatan would strengthen the ties between the country and the United States.

“This is the most evident manifestation of a shared commitment between the Philippines and United States’ Armed Forces to move shoulder to shoulder for stability, security, and development,” he said.

“I believe that we are changing lives and making a difference one classroom building at a time,” he added.

Lt. Col. Ryan Scott of the United States’ military engineering department, welcomed the partnership between their country and the Philippines to improve the lives of Filipinos.

“I am not worried at all (with regard to our security). The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is outstanding,” he said.

Some members of the AFP continue to look for the three remaining bandits who entered Bohol three weeks ago.

Since April 11, eight ASG members were killed in two gun battles in the municipalities of Inabanga and Clarin, Bohol.

Among those killed were Mouamar Askali, the leader of the group; bomb experts Abu Sufyan and Edimar Isnain; Joselito Melloria, a native of Bohol who guided the ASG; pumpboat operator Aldimar Taib; alyas Richard; alyas Omil; and an unidentified man.

Three others remain at large: Alyas Asis, Kaifar Sawadjaan also known as Um Ammra, and alyas Ubayda.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/155929/50-us-troops-hold-next-balikatan-afp-visayas

2 rebels killed in attack on Lapanday farm

From MindaNews (May 1): 2 rebels killed in attack on Lapanday farm

Two rebels were killed in a clash with security personnel of a cattle ranch and banana plantation in Barangay Pangyan in Calinan, Davao City owned by the Lorenzo family, the New People’s Army (NPA) said Sunday.

In a statement, NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command spokesperson Rigoberto Sanchez congratulated the NPA’s 1st Pulang Bagani Battalion for “serving the punishment against the Lorenzo family”.

Sanchez claimed the ranch “coddles criminal elements and counter-revolutionary fanatics who are employed by the despotic Lorenzo clan to protect its anti-people business interest.”

The rebels attacked the ranch and plantation at around 3 a.m. Saturday, an hour after they raided a box plant in Mandug and Macondray Plastic Plant in Bunawan which are also owned by the Lorenzos, he said.

At around 2 am, he said rebels wearing National Bureau of Investigation uniforms attacked the box and plastic manufacturing plants of Lapanday Foods Corp. in Barangay Mandug.

“The NPA disarmed security guards and gutted down the company’s compound along with its equipment. Seized firearms included 13 shotguns, two caliber .45 pistols, eight caliber .38 pistols and 9 UHF radios. Red fighters also hit the reinforcement troops of Task Force Davao with command-detonated explosives in the nearby Brgy. Tigatto at around 5 am,” he said.

One hour later, the rebels raided the ranch and plantation and seized one caliber .30 sniper rifle, two M16 rifles, six shotguns, three caliber .22 rifles with scope, vests and magazines, ammunition and military radio. They suffered two casualties in a clash with the company’s security personnel.

It was in this ranch where late Leoncio “Ka Parago” Pitao, commander of the NPA, arrested retired M/Sgt. Jose Manero, chief of security for Lapanday, on May 11, 2008, the statement said.

The NPA claimed Manero revealed “the company’s numerous violations on human rights, including the killing of several plantation workers, in its bid to ensure huge profit and expansion of its operations.”

“The NPA’s annihilative and punitive action against the Lorenzos in Davao City serves as revolutionary justice for landless tillers and exploited workers of its banana plantations and manufacturing plants in the region,” it said.

In a statement Sunday, National Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana condemned the attacks, calling the communist rebels “anti-progress, anti-development, and anti-people”.

Lorenzana said the attacks “confirmed without a doubt their terrorist designation” and questioned their sincerity to work for peace as it appears everything is “just lip service and double talk”.

“Dito po natin makikita ang totoo nilang anyo (It only shows us who they really are),” he said, noting that the attacks occurred even as the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) are talking peace.

Both sides have terminated early this year their unilateral ceasefire declarations issued last year over mutual accusations of bad faith and insincerity. They are yet to agree on a proposed bilateral ceasefire.

Lorenzana said the NPA wanted to “cow the entire nation into subservience by sowing fear and violence. Iyan lang ang alam nilang gawin (That’s the only thing they can do).”

He said the “atrocities” reveal the “disconnect and lack of communication” between the NDF, Communist Party of the Philippines, and its forces on the ground.

“We cannot stress enough that for the peace talks to succeed, government must be talking to the real representatives of the communist movement. There must be an assurance that we are dealing with the actual leaders of their organization and not just some figureheads who are devoid of any control or influence,” he said.

Lorenzana called on the Filipino people to continue “resisting and condemning the communists who challenged President R. Duterte’s resolve to bring peace and build a nation that is worthy of the Filipino people”.

In a statement, Lapanday said the attacks will lead to the displacement of hundreds of employees and adversely affected those who have existing businesses with the box and plastic plant.

“It is they who are now jobless and shall bear the brunt of the consequences of this vicious act,” it said.

It said no employees were harmed or injured during the attacks but their mobile phones, computers, and other properties of the company were stolen.

The company called on the “Philippine National Police (PNP) as it investigates this latest criminal act of this armed group the company urged law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to exert effort to prevent these unidentified elements from further endangering the safety and security of people and inflicting damage to private property.”

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also scored the attacks, calling them an “act of terrorism”.

“Hypocritical”

But in a statement Monday, the Pambansang Katipunan ng mg Magbubukid (PKM), called the mayor an hypocrite.

PKM, a member of the NDF, said the mayor’s husband, Mans Carpio, is a legal counsel of Lapanday.

“We can only expect that a GRP local chief executive who has vested interest in the companies of a landgrabbing comprador-landlord to be the latter’s spokesperson and defender,” the group said.

“Sara Duterte hardly made noise when Lapanday’s armed goons opened fire and wounded nine unarmed civilian peasants three days after the latter’s land occupation of the landgrabbed Lapanday banana plantation in Tagum City last December,” it said.

“Duterte also supported the appointment of PNP Supt. Alexander Tagum as Davao City Police Chief, the same fascist police officer who led the massacre of barricading El Niño victims in Kidapawan City in April last year.

“Thus, for Sara Duterte to claim the NPA’s assault in the Lorenzo-owned businesses in Davao City a ‘personal insult,’ is not only hypocritical but downright self-serving,” it added.

“Separate entities”

Duterte-Carpio, in a statement posted on the Facebook account of the City Government of Davao on Monday, hit back at PKM.

“My husband and I are separate entities. In fact, we do not discuss the job that we chose to do, we just commit to sincerely work and earn money for the benefit of our children.

“So let me make you understand why I condemned what the New People’s Army have done. On or about 8 o’clock in the morning of April 29, 2017, I was standing in the middle of the trauma room of the Southern Philippines Medical Center praying that the civilian who was injured in the IED blast — courtesy of the terrorist NPA — will not die,” she said.

The mayor said the victim named Larry “had no one with him so I was the one who had to read through his text messages to look for a family member. I was the one who called his wife, broke the bad news, and asked her to come and stand by her husband’s side.”

Larry sells fruits and fish for a living.

“The victim was the very person that you say should be defended from injustice,” Duterte-Carpio said.

“So when I condemned what the NPA did, I spoke for Larry. But you did not know that, did you? You just assumed when I say personal, it is all about my life. Because that is how you are. You are selfish individuals and you think the world is all about you,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio said the incidents in Kidapawan and Tagum, alluding to the bloody incidents of dispersal in these cities last year, “are of no concern of mine”.

She said she would “never dip my fingers in affairs outside of my area of responsibility”.

She said the NPA’s “punitive action” against Lapanday “was nothing but an action against peace, economic stability, and the security in Davao City. We now have 130 employees without work and Larry still in a coma. And yet the Lorenzos will still have money that you and I can only dream about in this lifetime. It did not even make a dent in their bank accounts.”

“I maybe a hypocrite to you, but you are stupid to me and all the peace-loving Dabawenyos. Terrorists and fake organizations do not have the right to talk about social justice. Show me your faces and then maybe I will listen to your rant about social justice,” she added.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/05/npa-seizes-guns-ammo-in-attack-on-lapanday-2-rebels-killed/

Sayyaf frees 2 kidnapped Muslim men in Sulu

From the Mindanao Examiner (May 1): Sayyaf frees 2 kidnapped Muslim men in Sulu

Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants on Monday freed 2 government workers they kidnapped in the southern Philippine province of Sulu.

The duo – Alidznur Halis and Aljimar Ahari – were released over the weekend in Bangkal village in Patikul town. Both men are working for the Department of Public Works and Highways in the province.

It was not immediately known whether their families paid ransom or not for the freedom of the 2 locals who were kidnapped on April 29 while on their way to work. Ahari works as a driver for the DPWH while Halis is a truck helper.

The kidnappings of the victims were not reported to the media by the police and military. Security forces were battling militants in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Just recently, an Abu Sayyaf leader Alhabsi Misaya, a former Moro National Liberation Front rebel, was killed by his own follower for a still unknown reason in Silangkan village in Parang town.

But the military was quick to lay claim on Misaya’s killing after his body was handed over to government soldiers in exchange for government bounties on the head of the notorious militant blamed by authorities for the spate of terrorism and ransom kidnappings in Sabah, Malaysia. 

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/sayyaf-frees-2-kidnapped-muslim-men-in-sulu/

Rebel attack in Davao City sparks ‘word war’

From the Mindanao Examiner (May 1): Rebel attack in Davao City sparks ‘word war’

It’s a war of words and insults now between the New People’s Army and presidential daughter and current mayor of Davao City, Sara Duterte-Carpio who branded the communist rebel group as “stupid and bumbling idiots” after calling her a “hypocrite”.

The rebels recently attacked a factory of the Lapanday Foods Corporation owned by the wealthy Lorenzo family in Davao City and shot one of its security guards and wounded a civilian; and accused the company of land grabbing and exploitation of its workers. Carpio, who strongly condemned the attack, said it was an act of terrorism and a personal insult.

Restituto Baguer, a spokesman for the “Pambangsang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid” allied with the rebel group, accused Carpio of being a hypocrite, saying his husband, lawyer Mans Carpio works as a legal counsel for the Lapanday Foods Corporation. He also tagged the mayor as a spokesperson and defender for Lapanday Foods Corporation.

“It is understandable that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (Carpio) views the May 29 NPA’s punitive action in the city as an “act of terrorism” against the Lorenzos, given that her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, is a legal counsel of the Lorenzo-owned Lapanday Foods Corp. We can only expect that a GRP local chief executive who has vested interest in the companies of a land grabbing comprador-landlord to be the latter’s spokesperson and defender,” Baguer said.

He added that Carpio was silent when armed men allegedly working for Lapanday Foods Corporation shot and wounded 9 farmers at a banana plantation last December in nearby Tagum City in Davao del Norte province. And even appointed Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum, then the provincial police chief of North Cotabato as Davao City police chief despite his alleged human rights abuses.

“Sara Duterte hardly made noise when Lapanday’s armed goons opened fire and wounded nine unarmed civilian peasants three days after the latter’s land occupation of the land grabbed Lapanday banana plantation in Tagum City last December. Duterte also supported the appointment of Superintendent Alexander Tagum as Davao City Police Chief, the same fascist police officer who led the massacre of barricading El Niño victims in Kidapawan City in April last year,” Baguer said.

“Thus, for Sara Duterte to claim the NPA’s assault in the Lorenzo-owned businesses in Davao City a “personal insult,” is not only hypocritical but downright self-serving. Nothing can be farther from the truth when she scored the NPA as a group that pretends to champion social justice and equality. For peasants around the region, the NPA’s series of raids in Lapanday’s plants in Mandug and Bunawan, and ranch in Pangyan, Calinan (also in Davao City) is a fitting retributive action by a true people’s army against a greedy feudal lord and capitalist,” he added.

Inday Sara retaliates
Carpio, known for her feisty character, said she and husband are separate entities and do not discuss their jobs to each other, but are only committed to work for their own family. “My husband and I are separate entities. In fact, we do not discuss the job that we chose to do, we just commit to sincerely work and earn money for the benefit of our children,” she said.

She also narrated how she rushed to the hospital to personally look at the situation of the wounded civilian, Larry, who is a fruit and fish vendor who fell victim to an NPA bomb explosion during the April 29 raid at Lapanday Foods Corporation.

“So let me make you understand why I condemned what the New People’s Army have done. On or about 8 o’clock in the morning of April 29, 2017, I was standing in the middle of the trauma room of the Southern Philippines Medical Center praying that the civilian who was injured in the IED blast – courtesy of the terrorist NPA – will not die. Larry had no one with him so I was the one who had to read through his text messages to look for a family member. I was the one who called his wife, broke the bad news, and asked her to come and stand by her husband’s side.”

“One of his text messages spoke of his work as a simple laborer, who sells fruits and fish. The victim was the very person that you say should be defended from injustice. So when I condemned what the NPA did, I spoke for Larry. But you did not know that, did you? You just assumed when I say personal, it is all about my life. Because that is how you are. You are selfish individuals and you think the world is all about you. As Mayor tasked with the responsibility of the safety of civilians, the injury of Larry is my injury,” Carpio said.

She further said the incidents in the cities of Kidapawan and Tagum were not her concern being the mayor of Davao City. But she admitted that she personally favored Tagum to be the chief of the local police force because of his tough stance against the NPA.

“I personally made it happen that Senior Superintendent Alexander Tagum come in as Director of the Davao City Police Office, because he stood his ground against you. The so-called punitive action against the company was nothing but an action against peace, economic stability, and the security in Davao City. We now have 130 employees without work and Larry still in a coma. And yet the Lorenzos will still have money that you and I can only dream about in this lifetime. It did not even make a dent in their bank accounts.”

“I maybe a hypocrite to you, but you are stupid to me and all the peace-loving Dabawenyos. Terrorists and fake organizations do not have the right to talk about social justice. Show me your faces and then maybe I will listen to your rant about social justice. Look, you cannot even spell the word ‘Pambansang’ correctly. Bumbling idiots,” Carpio said.

The NPA, which is fighting for a separate state, is currently negotiating peace with the government.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/rebel-attack-in-davao-city-sparks-word-war/

AFP, MMC renew partnership to improve military hospitals

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 1): AFP, MMC renew partnership to improve military hospitals

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Makati Medical Center Foundation (MMC) recently renewed its partnership to provide health care services to the men and women of the armed forces.

AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año and MMC Foundation chairman Manuel Pangilinan led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at the AFP General Headquarters in Quezon City.

MMC Foundation Chair Manuel Pangilinan, recognizes that the lives of the soldiers are always on the line in protecting and defending the lives of the people.

He said that he felt the need to reach out to the soldiers and for them to feel their significance and importance in the society.

“We cant say thank you enough for all the services you have rendered and it is just a small way of saying thank you from the private sector,” Pangilinan said.

Through its Health Heroes Program, the MMC Health Services department agreed to help coordinate and facilitate the health management and care of the qualified AFP Officers and enlisted personnel.

This means that soldiers can now have access anew to the best health care facilities in all 21 AFP partner hospitals throughout the country.

This flagship program is a renewal and expansion of the MOA signed by the AFP, AFPMC and MMC Foundation on 19 June 2013, providing for the organizational Strengthening of the AFP Medical Center.

This partnership was also renewed on 10 September 2015 - providing for an expansion of the PPP Program for Organizational Strengthening in an additional 19 AFP hospitals and military medical treatment facilities.

The agreement will also allow MMC to share its technical resources and open their hospital facilities to training, coaching, workshops, conferences, and mentoring sessions free to all AFP and partner military hospitals resident doctors and management staff.

This also means that through their partner hospitals, MMC Foundation will give or donate more hospital equipment, beds, supplies and fixtures to improve all military hospitals throughout the country.

The AFP also designated the MMC Foundation as an official Blood Donation Institutional partner to facilitate the regular conduct of blood donation drives between the AFP and MMC Foundation.

General Eduardo Año said the renewal of partnership is very timely for the military since the armed forces is currently engaged in multi-faceted operations against the forces that seek to destroy the peace and order of our nation. “Simple as it may seem, but it will bring enormous impact on the lives of the soldiers."

“Through our Health Heroes Program, our soldiers can now have access with the exceptional health services in our first rate hospitals in the country. The men and women of the AFP will be more inspired to fulfill their mandate in protecting the peace and security of the country knowing that a health care program supports them” General Euardo Año added.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/241493305655/afp-mmc-renew-partnership-to-improve-military-hospitals

Maddela Police Station nilusob ng NPA

From the Philippine Information Agency (May 1): Maddela Police Station nilusob ng NPA

Nilusob ng  New People’s Army (NPA) ang Maddela Municipal Police Station sa Quirino kahapon bandang 10:30 ng gabi.

Ayon sa ulat ng 86IB, ang mga miyembro ng NPA ay gumamit ng dumptruck at huminto sa harapan ng PNP Station at dito na nagsimula ang pag-atake na tumagal ng halos 45 minuto na sanhi ng pagkamatay ng isang miyembro ng PNP at pagtangay sa hindi pa mabilang na mga baril ng PNP Maddela.

Sapilitan ding ipinamanehao ang mobile patrol car ng PNP sa isang pulis na ginamit sa pagtakas ng mga bandidong NPA patungo sa barangay San Pedro.

Sa kalagitnaan ng boundary ng barangay San Pedo at Kabua-an ay inabandona ang patrol car at ang PNP personnel at sumakay ulit ang mga bandidong NPA sa dumptruck patungo sa barangay Kabua-an.

Inaalam pa sa ngayon ng mga otoridad ang buong detalye ng pangyayari at kasalukuyan ang pag-iimbestiga sa nasabing insidente.

Samantala, ipinag-utos ni LTC Jose Vladimir Cagara, tagapamahala ng 86IB, na magsagawa ng pursuit operation ang kanyang tropa upang tugisin ang mga bandidong NPA.

Hinikayat din ni LTC Cagara ang mga residente na maging mapag- matyag at ipagbigay alam agad sa mga atoridad kung may mapansin na kaduda- dudang kilos ang mga grupo sa kanilang lugar.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/451493545272/maddela-police-station-nilusob-ng-npa

Troops rescue 2 government workers abducted by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): Troops rescue 2 government workers abducted by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu

State security forces rescued early Monday morning two government workers abducted by Abu Sayyaf bandits two days ago in the nearby town of Patikul,Sulu.

Rescued were Alidznur Halis, driver, and his assistant, Aljima Ahari, according to the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS).

The task force said the rescued victims are employees of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) first engineering district in this province.

The JTFS said the two were rescued in Barangay Bangkal,Patikul town by the Army’s 35th Infantry Battalion headed by Lt. Col. Vladimir Lenos Villanueva.

The victims were abandoned by the Abu Sayyaf due to the intensified military operation against the bandits, Villanueva said.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits, led by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, seized the two government workers on Saturday, April 29, while they were working at a project site in Sitio Bauno, Barangay Bangkal.

The rescued workers were turned over to Col. Divino Rey Pabayo, Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade commander, who brought them to the JTFS headquarters for medical check-up and debriefing.

Government troops continue the conduct of focused military operations in a bid to rescue all hostages from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf bandits in this province.

The Abu Sayyaf bandits based in this province are still holding 27 people captives. Most of the hostages are foreigners.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/984005

Maddela police chief relieved amid NPA attack in Quirino

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): Maddela police chief relieved amid NPA attack in Quirino

The Maddela police chief in Quirino has been officially relieved of his post on May 1 following the attack of at least 50 suspected New People’s Army rebels at the town police station on Saturday night (April 29).

Police Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, Cagayan Valley regional police director, said the relief of Police Chief Inspector Jhun-jhun Balisi took effect on May 1 to pave the way for a deeper probe on the attack.

Balisi has accepted his relief, saying he immediately heeded the order from higher authorities.

He, however, denied earlier reports that he was abducted by the New People’s Army rebels.

He said he left the station to go to the Quirino provincial police office when the communist guerrillas attacked the town station.

Police Senior Inspector Reynaldo Gonzales, erstwhile 1st Maneuver Platoon commander of the Quirino Public Safety Company based in this town, will temporarily replace Balisi.

Police Officer 2 Jerome Cardenas was killed in the attack as he was the first hit by a volley of fire from the communist rebels.

The rebel-attackers were also tagged in the burning of a dump truck while fleeing.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/984031

NPA attacks sow insecurity, says Davao RPOC chair

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): NPA attacks sow insecurity, says Davao RPOC chair

The chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Davao region condemned the attacks staged by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at the facilities of Lapanday Foods Corporation (LFC).

RPOC chair and Compostela Valley Governor Jayvee Tyon Uy on Monday said the series of attacks last Saturday only brought fears and insecurity among the residents where the attacks occurred.

Uy lamented the fact that the attacks took place while the country is hosting the Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) Summit.

“We sympathize with the victims of these attacks, especially the civilians in the affected areas,” Uy said in a press statement released Monday.

LFC on Sunday said hundreds of workers, including their partners, will be affected due to the destruction of their facilities.

The NPAs burned on Saturday two facilities of LFC – one, its box plant in Mandug and the other, the Macondry Plastic Plant in Panabo City. They also attacked Lorenzo Farms in Calinan, Davao City.

“These attacks will not bring us to the realization of peace and order and the delivery of services, implementation of development programs and projects to our people,” Uy said.

The RPOC chair also expressed concern the NPA attacks will affect the peace talks with the government.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/984049

Maguindanao gov offers to give reward for suspects in mosque grenade attack

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): Maguindanao gov offers to give reward for suspects in mosque grenade attack

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu today offered reward money for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects in the Grand Mosque grenade attack in Talayan, Maguindanao.

“We are ready to raise the amount so justice will be served to the victims,” Mangudadatu told reporters of the April 21 bombing of a mosque in Talayan town that injured members of the town’s political family.

He, however, did not say how much is the bounty.

In the grenade attack that came after the Friday congregational prayer, Mayor Nathaniel Midtimbang of Datu Anggal Midtimbang town was injured, including his father, Datu Ali Midtimbang, former mayor of Talayan.

Six others, including two police escorts of the town mayor, were also injured.

Police said two men on board a motorbike tossed two hand grenades as the victims and other participants to the Friday prayer were emerging from the Mosque located along the national highway fronting the Talayan town hall.

The second grenade did not explode.

Police said the motive of the attack remained unknown.

The elder Midtimbang ran but lost to Mangudadatu in last year’s gubernatorial elections.

Mangudadatu stressed that he already reconciled with the Midtimbangs and his other political opponents after he was proclaimed.

Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao provincial police director, said responding policemen have recovered a motorbike abandoned along a dirt road leading to Datu Anggal Midtimbang town.

Tello said the suspects abandoned the motorbike and transferred to a waiting white Toyota Innova and sped away.

The police took custody of the motorcycle, he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/984051

North Cotabato soldiers turning to farming as ceasefire holds

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): North Cotabato soldiers turning to farming as ceasefire holds

With the relatively stable peace and order condition in its jurisdiction in North Cotabato and parts of Maguindanao, members of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade based in Carmen, North Cotabato will go into corn farming for food and to increase their income, an Army official said.

Newly-promoted Brig. Gen. Manolo Samarita, 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, said that soldiers will plant corn inside the 200-hectare camp so that soldiers and their families will have additional income.

“The peace process in Mindanao has provided breathing space for our troops,” Samarita said, referring to the government’s ceasefire agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“President (Rodrigo) Duterte, through Agriculture Sec. (Manny) Pinol, has vowed to give the brigade one tractor, seeds and other farm inputs,” Samarita told reporters.

To effectively manage the farming activities of infantrymen, elements of the 602nd Army brigade have formed a cooperative.

The 602nd Brigade covers areas where MILF and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members operate.

With the ceasefire mechanism working well, the soldiers can now venture into productive farming, Samarita said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/984052

46 'lumads' complete mobile literacy training in Misamis Oriental

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): 46 'lumads' complete mobile literacy training in Misamis Oriental

BALINGASAG, Misamis Oriental – Forty six members of the Higaonon tribe completed a month-long basic computer literacy training (CLT) here spearheaded by the Philippine Army.

Lt. Janelle Diaz, spokesperson of the Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion, said Monday the program aims to provide basic computer literacy for the lumads or indigenous peoples in Balingasag.

Datu Cesar G. Asapon, a representative of the indigenous people in Balingasag, expressed his gratitude to the sponsors of the training.

"This only shows that the military is one of the agencies of the government that look into the future of our tribal brothers," he said in the vernacular.

Diaz said the CLT was conducted in cooperation with the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, the local government unit of Balingasag, the Technical Education Skills Development-Misamis Oriental, and the Department of Education through the Alternative Learning System.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/984082

2 rebels killed, firearm recovered in fresh Samar clash

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): 2 rebels killed, firearm recovered in fresh Samar clash

At least two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed when they attacked an army detachment in remote Hilumot village in San Jose de Buan, Samar Monday dawn.

Lt. Cherry M. Junia, chief of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division public affairs office, said the foiled attack staged by a group of rebels around 5:00 a.m. has resulted to the killing of communist rebels and recovery of high powered firearms.

“Five were reported wounded-in-action on the government side while the communist rebels suffered an undetermined number of wounded. The troops also recovered one AK47 rifle and two handheld radios,” Junia said.

Troops are still scouring the area. Other detachments to include municipal police stations were alerted for probable similar attacks.

Major Gen. Raul M. Farnacio, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division , lauded his troops for a job well done and for successfully defending their detachment and dedicating their lives in the accomplishment of the mission.

Samar is known to be one of the hotbeds of armed rebels in the country. Several encounters between the army and NPA have been reported in Samar in the past years.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/984088

Chinese naval goodwill visits could reduce tension in disputed West PHL Sea

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): Chinese naval goodwill visits could reduce tension in disputed West PHL Sea

Chinese naval goodwill visits could help reduce tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS), a Defense official said.

"Goodwill visits are excellent confidence building measures which will go a long way in fostering good relations between our peoples and reduce tensions in the West Philippine Sea," said Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong.

Three Chinese warships are docked at Sasa Wharf in Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte's hometown, for a three-day goodwill visit.

The visiting Chinese ships are the guided-missile destroyer Chang Chun (DDG-150), guided-missile frigate Jin Zhou (FFG-532) and Type 903 replenishment ship Chao Hu (890).

"If they express their intent to send more vessels on a goodwill visit to the Philippines in the future, we are ready to welcome them," Andolong said.

Due to the congestion of various ports in Manila, the Chinese decided instead to dock at Sasa Wharf.

"The ports of Manila are congested at this time and it would have been difficult to accommodate their vessels this weekend," Andolong said.

Allowing Chinese ships to visit the country does not mean that the country is veering away from the United States, a long-standing ally of the Philippines, but merely expanding horizons, Andolong said.

"It is also part of the Philippine government's pursuit of an independent foreign policy," he said.

Lt. Jetmark Marcos, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao public affairs office chief, earlier said the visit is aimed at expanding communication, promoting cooperation and improving friendship of the Philippine Navy and PLA Navy.

Marcos said the flotilla is commanded by Rear Admiral Shen Hao, the Deputy Commander of the East Sea Fleet deputy commander and head of Navy Task Group 150.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/983970

Davao attack highlights NPA terroristic inclinations - Lorenzana

From the Philippine News Agency (May 1): Davao attack highlights NPA terroristic inclinations - Lorenzana

The New People's Army (NPA)'s unprovoked attacks on various Lapanday Food Corp. (LFC) facilities in Davao City last April 29 emphasizes the group's terroristic inclinations.

This was stressed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana even as he strongly condemns the NPAs for this latest atrocities.

"They just confirmed without a doubt their terrorist designation. They also confirmed my accusations that they are anti-progress, anti-development, and anti-people," he added.

Lorenzana also lamented the fact that the NPAs still continue with these heinous acts even while their companions at the National Democratic Front (NDF) and other legal front continue to negotiate for peace.

"They continue these heinous acts even while their comrades in the NDF and other legal fronts talk about peace. With each passing day, it is becoming clear to the Filipino people that what these communist terrorists want is to cow the entire nation into subservience by sowing fear and violence. Iyan lang ang alam nilang gawin," the defense chief added.

"The attacks in Davao and other crimes done by the NPA also make the Filipino people question the sincerity of the entire communist movement to push for peace, since it seems everything is just lip service and double talk. It also brings to light the disconnect and lack of communication between the NDF, the Communist Party of the Philippines, and its cadres on the ground," Lorenzana pointed out.

The unprovoked attack on LFC's box and plastic manufacturing plants in Barangay Mandug, Davao City last April 29 caused millions of pesos in damage worth of equipment and theft of other items.

"We cannot stress enough that for the peace talks to succeed, government must be talking to the real representatives of the communist movement. There must be an assurance that we are dealing with the actual leaders of their organization and not just some figureheads who are devoid of any control or influence," the defense head stressed.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/983999