CPP/Ang Bayan: La­ban pa­ra ba­wi­in ang mga plan­ta­syon

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Oct 7): La­ban pa­ra ba­wi­in ang mga plan­ta­syon



Lumalaganap nga­yon ang ba­gong la­ra­ngan ng pa­ki­ki­ba­kang mag­sa­sa­ka sa Min­da­nao ang pag­gi­gi­it ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka ng pag-aa­ri at kontrol sa mga lu­pang plan­ta­syo­n.

Noong de­ka­da 1980, si­nak­law ng CARP ang lu­pa­in ng mga plan­ta­syo­n. Ina­ta­san ni­to ang mga ahen­sya ng es­ta­do na ili­pat ang mga ti­tu­lo ng pag-aa­ri sa lu­pa ng ilang ma­la­la­king plan­ta­syon sa pa­nga­lan ng mga mang­ga­ga­wa sa plan­ta­syon at ti­na­wag si­lang mga be­ne­pi­sya­ryo ng re­por­mang ag­rar­yo (ag­ra­ri­an reform be­neficia­ri­es o ARB).

Su­ba­lit ma­ta­pos ang tat­long de­ka­da ng pag­pa­pa­tu­pad ng CARP, na­na­na­ti­ling buo at na­ka­pai­la­lim sa kontrol ng ma­la­la­king pa­ngi­no­ong may­lu­pa at mga kor­po­ra­syon sa ag­ri­bis­nes ang mga lu­pang may ti­tu­lo. Si­na­man­ta­la ni­la ang ma­hi­hi­nang pro­bi­syo­n, na­paka­ra­ming ek­semp­syon at ma­pan­lin­lang na mga istruk­tu­ra at pro­se­so ng CARP pa­ra ma­pa­na­ti­li sa ka­ni­lang kontrol ang lu­pa at mga be­ne­pi­sya­ryo. Wa­lang na­ging say­say ang ti­tu­lo sa lu­pa na ha­wak ng mga ARB. Ki­nai­la­ngan ni­lang igi­it ang ka­ra­pa­tan na ari­in at ga­mi­tin ang ka­ni­lang lu­pa alin­su­nod sa ka­ni­lang ka­pa­sya­han.

Isang ma­ting­kad na ha­lim­ba­wa ang 28,816 ek­tar­yang plan­ta­syon ng sa­ging na kontro­la­do ng Ta­gum Agricul­tu­ral Deve­lop­ment Com­pany (Ta­deco) ng pa­mil­yang Floi­ren­do. Sa plan­ta­syong ito, wa­la ni isa sa ma­hi­git 1,890 ARB ang na­ki­ki­na­bang sa sa­ri­ling lu­pa. Na­na­na­ti­li si­lang mga mang­ga­ga­wa sa plan­ta­syo­n, tu­ma­tang­gap ng ma­ba­bang swel­do, o ma­la­la pa, ti­na­tang­gal sa tra­ba­ho kung nag­re­rek­la­mo. May­ro­ong 100,886 ARB ang buong Sout­hern Min­da­nao Re­gi­on.

Mis­mong ang CARP ang gi­na­mit ng mga pa­ngi­no­ong may­lu­pa pa­ra pa­na­ti­li­hin ang ga­ni­tong kaa­yu­san. Sa ila­lim ng hu­wad na prog­ra­ma, iti­na­yo ng gub­yer­no ang mga Agra­ri­an Reform Com­mu­nity (ARC) upang ma­ging or­ga­ni­sa­do diu­ma­no ang pa­mi­mi­gay ng lu­pa, pa­ni­ni­ngil ng amor­ti­sa­syo­n, at pag­ha­ha­tid ng su­por­tang ser­bi­syo mu­la sa gub­yer­no. Bi­nuo ang mga be­ne­pi­sya­ryo bi­lang mga koo­pe­ra­ti­ba upang di­to ma­ki­tu­ngo ang gub­yer­no at ang ka­pi­ta­lis­ta.

Sa pa­ma­ma­gi­tan ng sis­te­mang ARC, ti­pak-ti­pak na na­kontrol ng DAR at ng mga ka­pi­ta­lis­ta sa ag­ri­bis­nes ang mga ko­mu­ni­dad ka­ya’t na­ging mas ma­da­li ang pa­nga­ngam­kam ng lu­pa. Sa ma­la­la­wak na plan­ta­syo­n, ang mga ka­pi­ta­lis­ta pa rin ang ku­mu­kontrol sa iba’t ibang an­tas ng pro­se­so, sa­hod, pa­mi­li­han, pre­syo ng pro­duk­to at mga farm in­put (tu­lad ng mga bin­hi, pes­ti­sid­yo at iba pa). Ilan sa mga pa­ra­ang gi­na­mit ng mga asen­de­ro at ka­pi­ta­lis­ta sa ag­ri­bis­nes ang:
Agri­bu­si­ness Ven­tu­re Agree­ment (AVA) o kontra­ta sa pa­gi­tan ng koo­pe­ra­ti­ba ng mga ARB at ng kum­pan­ya sa ag­ri­bis­nes. Ang kum­pan­ya ang nag­ta­tak­da ng ma­hal na pre­syo ng mga farm in­put at mu­rang pro­duk­to ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka. Ang ki­ta ng mga ARB ay ha­los sa­pat la­mang pa­ra iba­yad sa utang sa farm in­put. Ma­ra­mi ang ka­so na naem­bar­go na ang lu­pa da­hil sa utang o ka­ya’y ibi­nen­ta na ang ka­ni­lang ka­ra­pa­tan sa lu­pa da­hil sa hi­rap ng bu­hay.

Sis­te­mang gro­wer (pag­pa­pa­ta­nim) o kontra­ta sa pa­gi­tan ng in­di­bid­wal o or­ga­ni­sa­syon ng mga gro­wer at ng kum­pan­ya. Sa­got ng hu­li ang la­hat ng gas­tos pe­ro ob­li­ga­dong iben­ta sa kum­pan­ya ang pro­duk­to sa pre­syong dik­ta ni­to. Sa­got ng gro­wer ang pagswel­do sa mga mang­ga­ga­wa at anu­mang pag­ka­ka­lu­gi na mai­du­lot ng ma­hi­nang ani.

May­ro­on ding kaa­yu­san kung saan sa­got ng gro­wer ang la­hat ng gas­tos at ibi­ne­ben­ta lang sa ka­pi­ta­lis­ta ang pro­duk­to. Bi­lang ta­ga­bi­li, qua­lity control lang (i­ti­na­tak­dang ka­li­dad) ang ti­ni­ti­yak ng ka­pi­ta­lis­ta.

Sis­te­mang Koop. Ang mga farm in­puts ay ipi­nauu­tang ng kum­pan­ya sa koo­pe­ra­ti­ba ng ma­li­li­it na may-a­ri ng lu­pa. Ang koo­pe­ra­ti­ba ay pu­ma­pa­pel bi­lang ahen­sya ng emple­yo pa­ra ma­kai­was ang kum­pan­ya sa anu­mang ob­li­ga­syon sa mga mang­ga­ga­wang bu­kid at emple­ya­do. Di­to rin pi­na­da­da­loy ang mga pi­na­la­la­ga­nap na mga ka­ga­mi­tan at tek­no­lo­hi­ya (ka­ra­ni­wang na­ka­sa­lig sa mga ina­ang­kat na ke­mi­kal na in­put) sa pro­duk­syo­n. Ma­hig­pit na ba­wal ang un­yon da­hil ito ay re­histra­do bi­lang koo­pe­ra­ti­ba.

Sis­te­mang Lea­se­back. Ipi­naaar­ki­la ulit ng mga be­ne­pi­sya­ryo ang lu­pa sa kum­pan­ya, at na­gi­ging mang­ga­ga­wa si­la sa sa­ri­li ni­lang lu­pa. Ma­ra­ming ka­sun­du­an ang nag­ta­ta­gal nang 30 taon. Ki­na­kal­ta­san ang ba­yad sa ar­ki­la ng lu­pa pa­ra diu­ma­no sa pag­re­ti­ro ng mang­ga­ga­wa, at sa pag­si­si­mu­la ng lea­se­back ay hin­di na ibi­ni­bi­lang ang nau­nang pa­na­hon ng ser­bi­syo ng mang­ga­ga­wa ba­go si­la nai­pa­sok sa CARP. Ilang ha­lim­ba­wa ni­to ang Marsman, La­pan­day, at ilang ba­ha­gi ng Tadeco.

Kor­po­ra­dong pag­sa­sa­ka. Bi­na­ba­go ang kla­si­pi­ka­syon ng lu­pa tu­ngong ko­mer­syal upang ilig­tas ito sa pa­ma­ma­ha­gi sa mga mag­sa­sa­ka. Da­hil di­to, ma­ra­mi sa dating nang nagsasaka ang na­wa­lan ng lu­pa.

Lea­se­hold. Nag-aar­ki­la ang kum­pan­ya ng mga lu­pang pri­ba­do o pub­li­ko pa­ra ga­wing plan­ta­syo­n, ma­da­las sa na­pa­ka­ba­bang pre­syo tu­lad ng P6,500 ba­wat ek­tar­ya ba­wat taon. Ma­ra­ming lu­pang pub­li­ko sa Min­da­nao ang na­sa lea­se­hold, tu­lad ng kontra­ta ng Tadeco sa ma­la­king ba­ha­gi ng Davao Pe­nal Co­lony, o mga pri­ba­dong lu­pang ina­ar­ki­la­han ng Marsman.

Ka­hit pa nai­gi­it ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka ang li­gal na kat­wi­ran pa­ra sa ka­ni­lang ma­ka­ta­ru­ngang pa­ni­nin­di­gan sa pag-aa­ri ng lu­pa (pag­pa­sya kung paa­no ga­ga­mi­tin at ano ang ita­ta­nim), hin­di mag­ku­ku­sa ang reak­syu­nar­yong gub­yer­no na ipa­tu­pad ito. Ta­li­was di­to, sad­yang na­tu­tu­lung-tu­long ang iba’t ibang ahen­sya ng gub­yer­no at mi­li­tar pa­ra hin­di ni­la ma­ka­mit ang ka­ni­lang ka­ra­pa­tan sa lu­pa. Noon la­mang na­ging ka­li­him ng DAR ang li­der-mag­sa­sa­kang si Ka Paeng Ma­ria­no na su­mu­por­ta ang ahen­sya sa pa­na­wa­gan ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka sa tam­pok na ka­so ng La­pan­day.

Ba­tid ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka na kai­la­ngan pa ni­lang itu­lak ang ka­ra­pa­tan ni­la sa lu­pa sa pa­ma­ma­gi­tan ng sa­ma-sa­mang pag­ki­los tu­lad ng nang­ya­ri sa La­pan­day Foods kung saan na­ba­wi ng 159 ARB sa ila­lim ng MARBAI ang 146 ek­tar­ya ma­ta­pos ang ilang bu­wang mga pag­ki­los. Sa Ara­kan Val­ley, nai­tu­lak ng 3,100 pa­mil­yang or­ga­ni­sa­do sa MAFAI na ki­la­la­nin ang ka­ni­lang ma­hi­git pi­tong de­ka­da nang pag­bu­bung­kal sa 4,387 ek­tar­yang ki­nam­kam pa­ra ma­ging ba­ha­gi ng scho­ol re­serva­ti­on.

Ang mga pag­la­ban na ito ay nag­sil­bing hu­wa­ran at inspi­ra­syon ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka pa­ra pa­la­ka­sin ang ka­ni­lang mga or­ga­ni­sa­syong nag­da­da­la ng de­ter­mi­na­syon sa pag­ka­mit ng hus­ti­syang pan­li­pu­nan. Ka­ya’t bi­nuo noong Abril ang ARB One Move­ment (AOM) bi­lang pe­de­ra­syon ng mga ARB upang mas ma­la­kas na mai­gi­it ang ka­ni­lang ka­ra­pa­tan sa lu­pa la­ban sa iba’t ibang pa­ka­na ng CARP, ma­ta­pos ang puk­pu­kang la­ba­nan sa MARBAI.

Kompre­hen­si­bong hi­na­ha­rap ng AOM ang usa­pin ng mga ARC sa pa­ma­ma­gi­tan ng pag­pa­pa­ta­tag at pag­pa­pa­la­wak ng pe­de­ra­syon AOM sa buong Sout­hern Min­da­nao pa­ra mai­pa­tu­pad ang tu­nay na re­por­ma sa lu­pa. Nag­lu­lun­sad ng mga pag­sa­sa­nay sa pa­ra­li­gal, sus­te­nab­leng ag­ri­kul­tu­ra, pag­pa­pa­tak­bo ng or­ga­ni­sa­syon pa­ti na sa pag­ta­ta­lum­pa­ti, at iba pang ka­sa­na­yan.

Sa mga ARB na nai­pag­wa­gi na ang kontrol sa sa­ri­ling lu­pa, kag­yat na usa­pin kung pa­paa­nong isa­sa­ga­wa ang pro­duk­syon na nag­sa­saa­lang-a­lang sa pag­ka­la­son ng lu­pa na de­ka-de­ka­dang si­ni­ra ng mga ke­mi­kal, ga­yun­din ang ka­sa­na­yan at kaa­la­man ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka, pa­ti na ang pa­mi­li­han sa mga pro­duk­to.

Sa ka­la­ga­yang ito, ob­li­ga­do ang mga mag­sa­sa­ka na itu­loy sa isang an­tas ang pro­duk­syon ng sa­ging. Pi­nag-uu­sa­pan ng ka­ni­lang or­ga­ni­sa­syon ang pag-i­was sa utang o ka­ya’y pag-u­tang sa ma­ba­bang in­te­res upang un­ti-un­ting ma­wa­ka­san ang isa sa pi­na­kae­pek­ti­bong mga pa­ra­ang gi­na­ga­mit ng asen­de­ro at ka­pi­ta­lis­ta sa pa­nga­ngam­kam ng lu­pa. Ti­yak na ma­gi­ging sentro ng tung­ga­li­an ang usa­pin ng pag­bi­li sa ka­ni­lang pro­duk­tong sa­ging.

Ka­sa­bay ng pang­kag­yat na mga usa­pin, ti­na­ta­naw ng mga mag­sa­sa­ka ang pag­ma­ta­ga­lang ha­mon kung paa­nong hin­di na mu­ling ma­pa­sa­ka­may ng mga asen­de­ro ang lu­pa. Su­si di­to ang pi­nag­si­si­ka­pang pag­li­pat mu­la sa pro­duk­syong mo­nocrop tu­ngo sa kompre­hen­si­bo, in­teg­ra­do, pla­na­do at ko­lek­ti­bong pag­sa­sa­ka, la­lu­na sa mga mag­sa­sa­kang ha­los sa ga­wa­ing plan­ta­syon na ti­nu­bu­an ng bait. Kai­la­ngan ito upang ma­pa­li­it ang ma­sa­mang epek­to ng mga sa­ku­na at sa­kit ng pa­na­nim, ma­pa­ngi­ba­ba­wan ang mo­no­pol­yo ng ag­ri­bis­nes sa pa­mi­li­han, ma­ti­yak ang se­gu­ri­dad sa pag­ka­in, at ma­pa­num­ba­lik ang ka­lu­su­gan ng lu­pa.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20171007-laxadban-paxadra-baxadwixadin-ang-mga-planxadtaxadsyon/

CPP/Ang Bayan: Kontrol ng US sa AFP, hu­mi­hig­pit sa ila­lim ni Du­ter­te

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Oct 7): Kontrol ng US sa AFP, hu­mi­hig­pit sa ila­lim ni Du­ter­te



Wa­la pang isang taon mu­la nang mag­dek­la­ra si Rod­ri­go Du­ter­te na hi­hi­wa­lay na sa US, ga­nap si­yang bu­ma­lig­tad at pi­nu­ri ang US bi­lang uma­no’y ma­ha­la­gang al­ya­do sa se­gu­ri­dad. Ka­ba­lin­tu­na­an na ipi­na­ha­yag ni­ya ito sa oka­syon ng pag­gu­ni­ta ng ban­sa sa ka­ba­ya­ni­han ng mga Pi­li­pi­no sa Pag-aal­sang Ba­la­ngi­ga la­ban sa mga ma­na­na­kop na Ame­ri­ka­no. Ani­ya, na­tu­bos na uma­no ng US ang sa­ri­li sa mga kri­men ni­to sa ma­ma­ma­yan mu­la pa noong Dig­ma­ang Pi­li­pi­no-Ame­ri­ka­no hang­gang sa ka­sa­lu­ku­yan.

Bi­nu­bu­od ng mga pa­ha­yag na ito ni Du­ter­te ang ga­nap ni­yang pag­pa­pa­ka­tu­ta sa im­per­ya­lis­mong US. Par­ti­ku­lar sa la­ra­ngang mi­li­tar, na­na­ti­ling ha­li­gi ng pag­ha­ha­ri ng US sa ban­sa ang Armed Forces of the Phi­lip­pi­nes at mga pwer­sang pan­se­gu­ri­dad ng es­ta­do. Ina­min mis­mo ni Du­ter­te na isang ahen­te ng US Central Intel­li­gence Agency si Delfin Lo­renza­na, ka­li­him ng De­partment of Na­tio­nal Defen­se. Na­ngu­ngu­na si Lo­renza­na sa pag­papatupad ng di­sen­yo ng US pa­ra sa gub­yer­no ni Du­ter­te. Tu­luy-tu­loy na na­ka­san­dig ang AFP sa ayu­dang mi­li­tar mu­la sa US’sa por­ma ng pi­nan­sya, mga ar­mas at ka­ga­mi­tan, mga pag­sa­sa­nay at in­doktri­na­syo­n.

Pi­na­ig­ting na pre­sen­syang mi­li­tar

Ni­tong Oktub­re 2, si­ni­mu­lan ang pi­nag­sa­nib na eher­si­syong mi­li­tar na Ka­man­dag sa pa­gi­tan ng 900 US Ma­ri­nes at Phi­lip­pi­ne Ma­ri­nes sa may pi­tong lu­gar sa Luzon. Ka­bi­lang ito sa 257 mag­ka­sa­nib na eher­si­syong mi­li­tar na na­ka­tak­dang ilun­sad nga­yong 2017. Ma­li­ban sa mga tam­pok na pag­sa­sa­nay sa pag­lu­sob mu­la sa ka­ra­ga­tan, si­na­nay din ng US ang AFP sa pag­ga­mit ng kompyu­ter at in­ter­net pa­ra sa elektro­ni­kong pa­ni­nik­tik at pag-a­ta­ke.

Sa git­na ng pag­kub­kob ng AFP at US sa Ma­ra­wi, nag­sa­ga­wa ng pag­sa­sa­nay sa ur­ban warfa­re (la­ba­nan sa lun­sod) ang US Ma­ri­nes pa­ra sa Phi­lip­pi­ne Ma­ri­nes. Ka­lang­kap ng mga eher­si­syong mi­li­tar na ito ang pang-say­war na mga ak­ti­bi­dad tu­lad ng pag­ku­kum­pu­ni ng mga paa­ra­lan at mga me­dical mis­si­on.

Ka­la­hok din ang AFP sa mga mul­ti­na­syu­nal na pag­sa­sa­nay mi­li­tar na pi­na­ngu­ngu­na­han ng US. Sa nag­da­ang eher­si­syong Ba­li­ka­tan ni­tong Ma­yo, ka­sa­ma sa mga da­yu­hang tro­pang nag­sa­nay ang mu­la sa ma­hi­hig­pit na al­ya­do ng US na Austra­lia at Ja­pan. May­ro­on pang hi­wa­lay na pa­ki­ki­pag­ka­sun­do si Lo­renza­na sa Austra­lia na mag­ka­ro­on ng pag­sa­sa­nay hing­gil uma­no sa pag­la­ban sa ISIS, ma­li­ban pa sa mga dro­ne ng Austra­li­an Defen­se Force na gi­na­ga­mit din sa Ma­ra­wi.

Lan­ta­rang gi­na­ga­mit ng US ang black sca­re o pa­na­na­kot kaug­nay ng ISIS sa nag­da­ang hu­ling mga pag­sa­sa­nay. Ang mga eher­si­syong Sa­ma-sa­ma at Tem­pest Wind ay pa­wang lu­mi­lik­ha ng se­nar­yo na may ka­la­bang ISIS. Nag­sa­ga­wa ng pag­sa­sa­nay ng pag­lig­tas sa uma­no’y mga bik­ti­ma sa pag-hijack ng ISIS ng erop­la­no ga­yong ina­min mis­mo ng US at DND na wa­lang ga­no­ong se­nar­yo sa nga­yon o sa kag­yat na hinaharap sa Pi­li­pi­nas.

Si­nak­yan na rin ng US at Austra­lia ang usa­pin ng dro­ga at ang diu­ma­no’y ban­ta ng kum­bi­na­syong te­ro­ris­mo-i­li­gal na dro­ga. Bu­kam­bi­big ni Du­ter­te ang lin­yang ito nang ip­ri­sen­ta ni­ya ang mat­rix ng mga drug­lord na diu­ma­no’y nag­pon­do sa gru­pong Mau­te. Hin­di ma­la­yong ga­mi­tin ng US sa Pi­li­pi­nas ang usa­pin ng dro­ga pa­ra sa pang­hi­hi­ma­sok mi­li­tar tu­lad ng gi­na­wa ni­tong pag­bu­buo ng mga kontra-re­bo­lu­syo­nar­yong gru­pong pa­ra­mi­li­tar sa Co­lom­bia.

Hindi rin ma­la­yong itu­on ng US at ni Du­ter­te sa mga re­bo­lu­syo­nar­yong pwer­sa ang mga ekstra­hu­di­syal na pag­pas­lang sa mga sus­pet­sa­do sa dro­ga. Tu­mam­pok ang pag­ga­mit sa kum­bi­na­syong te­ro­ris­mo-i­li­gal na dro­ga sa eher­si­syong Sout­he­ast Asia Coo­pe­ra­ti­on and Trai­ning na pi­na­mu­nu­an ng US Coast Guard at ni­la­hu­kan ng mga pwer­sang coast guard at mi­li­tar ng Pi­li­pi­nas, Austra­lia at iba pang ban­sa.

Noong Set­yembre 7 at 26, ka­bi­lang din ang Pi­li­pi­nas sa ti­ni­pon ng US Pacific Com­mand (PACOM) na mga upi­syal ng mi­li­tar mu­la sa mga ban­sa sa Indo-Asia-Pacific. Ba­ha­gi ang da­la­wang mag­ka­su­nod na mga pag­pu­pu­long sa pag­kon­so­li­da ng US ng ka­pang­ya­ri­han sa re­hi­yon. Ni­to na­mang Setyembre 27-28, idi­na­os ang pu­long ng Mu­tu­al Defen­se Board Secu­rity Enga­ge­ment Board sa hedkwarters ng US PACOM sa Ha­waii kung saan pinagkasunduan ang 261 ehersisyong militar sa 2018, kabilang ang pag­lulunsad ng mga pagsasanay sa pagdepensa sa teri­toryo, na dati nang tinanggihan ni Duterte.

Hin­di na­man ba­ba­ba sa pi­tong barko at submarinong pandigma ng US ang ma­la­yang na­ka­pag­da­ong sa Pi­li­pi­nas nga­yong taon, sa­man­ta­lang mu­la pa Peb­re­ro ay nag­pa­pat­rul­ya ang iba pang bar­kong pan­dig­ma ni­to sa South Chi­na Sea.
Ma­ging sa Ma­ra­wi, pi­na­hin­tu­lu­tan ng re­hi­men ang in­ter­ben­syon at pag­di­ri­he ng US sa pag­kub­kob sa syu­dad sa pa­ma­ma­gi­tan ng kontrol ni­to sa mga dro­ne na nag-ees­pi­ya at nag­hu­hu­log ng mga bom­ba, ga­yun­din sa pag­sup­lay ng mga ar­mas at ma­sin­sing pag­ga­mit ng si­na­nay ni­tong mga es­pe­syal na yu­nit mi­li­tar.

Ina­min din ni Lo­renza­na na may ma­hi­git 100 sun­da­long US sa iba pang ba­ha­gi ng Min­da­nao na nag­sa­sa­ga­wa ng pa­nik­tik sa pa­ma­ma­gi­tan ng mga erop­la­no at dro­ne. Noong hu­ling ling­go ng Agos­to, na­ki­pag­pu­long si Du­ter­te kay US PACOM Chief Adm. Harry Har­ris Jr. upang pag­ka­sun­du­an ang iba­yong pa­ki­ki­sang­kot ng US sa la­ba­nan sa Ma­ra­wi. Ma­ta­pos ni­to, di­nag­da­gan ng US ni­tong Set­yembre ng mas maun­lad na sis­te­ma ng dro­ne ang da­ti nang mga na­ka­pa­kat sa Ma­ra­wi.

Ma­li­ban sa mga ito, pa­tu­loy na du­ma­da­loy sa mga ayu­da ang kontrol ng US sa mi­li­tar ng ban­sa. Noong 2016, tu­mang­gap ang gub­yer­nong Du­ter­te ng ma­hi­git $60 mil­yon na ayu­dang mi­li­tar mu­la rito. Ka­bi­lang di­to ang $9 mil­yon pa­ra sa diu­ma­no’y pag­sug­po sa ili­gal na dro­ga. Nag­pa­da­la rin ang gub­yer­nong Du­ter­te ng 194 upi­syal kap­wa mu­la sa mi­li­tar at mga ahen­syang si­bil­yan upang pag-a­ra­lin at sa­na­yin sa US sa ila­lim ng Inter­na­tio­nal Mi­li­tary Educa­ti­on and Trai­ning (IMET). Uma­bot ng $3.4 mil­yon ang ha­la­ga ng IMET sa na­sa­bing taon.

Pa­ra na­man sa taong ito, aa­bot sa $54 mil­yon ang hi­ni­nging ayu­dang mi­li­tar ng Pi­li­pi­nas sa US. Ka­bi­lang di­to ang $2 mil­yon pa­ra sa IMET, $9 mil­yon pa­ra sa pag­sug­po ng ili­gal na dro­ga, at $3.5 mil­yon pa­ra sa kontra-te­ro­ris­mo at mga kaug­nay na prog­ra­ma. Ang na­ti­ti­rang $40 mil­yon ay pau­tang pa­ra sa pag­bi­li ng mga ar­mas mu­la US. Ba­ha­gi ang mga ha­la­gang ito ng ka­buuang $188 mil­yon ayu­dang ini­la­an ng US pa­ra sa ban­sa.

Dag­dag sa an­ti-ma­ma­ma­yang mga ge­ra at pa­ta­ka­rang pang-e­ko­nom­ya, la­lu­pang na­hi­hi­wa­lay ang re­hi­meng Du­ter­te da­hil sa ga­nap ni­tong pa­gi­ging su­nud-su­nu­ran sa US. Ti­yak na sa­sa­lu­bu­ngin ng ma­tin­ding pro­tes­ta ng ma­ma­ma­yan ang pag­bi­si­ta sa Nob­yembre ng pa­ngu­na­hing ki­na­ta­wan ng im­per­ya­lis­mong US na si US Pre­si­dent Do­nald Trump.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20171007-kontrol-ng-us-sa-afp-huxadmixadhigxadpit-sa-ilaxadlim-ni-duxadterxadte/

CPP/Ang Bayan: 20 ar­mas, na­sam­sam ng BHB

Propaganda article from the Tagalog edition of Ang Bayan posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Oct 7): 20 ar­mas, na­sam­sam ng BHB

UMAABOT SA 11 ma­la­la­kas na ar­mas, dalawang pis­to­la at sa­mut­sa­ring ga­mit-mi­li­tar ang na­sam­sam ng iba’t ibang yu­nit ng Ba­gong Huk­bong Ba­yan (BHB) nitong nakaraang dala­wang ling­­go. Samantala, siyam na ma­tataas na kalibreng ar­mas at apat na pistola ang nasamsam sa isang reyd sa Bulacan noong Hulyo.

North Central Min­da­nao. Ini­lun­sad ng BHB-Eas­tern Mi­sa­mis Ori­en­tal-Northe­as­tern Bu­­kid­non Subre­gio­nal Com­mand ang tat­long sa­bay-sa­bay na ak­syong mi­li­tar noong ha­ting­ga­bi ng Set­yembre 29 sa iba’t ibang ba­ra­ngay sa Impa­sug-ong, Bu­kid­non. Una rito ang reyd sa CAA Pat­rol Ba­se ng 8th IB sa KM30, Sityo Nasan­digan, Ba­ra­ngay Ca­la­bu­gao kung saan na­ka­sam­sam ang BHB ng dalawang M14, da­lawang garan, dalawang karbin, at tig-isang shotgun at pisto­lang kalibre .38. Pa­nga­la­wa ang ha­ras­ment sa isa pang CAA pat­rol ba­se sa Ba­ra­ngay Hag­pa. Pa­ngat­lo ang pag­di­sar­ma sa upi­si­na ng mga gwardya ng Na­tio­nal Gree­ning Prog­ram sa Sit­yo Ba­ga­ay, Ba­ra­ngay Ca­la­bu­gao. Na­kum­pis­ka ri­to ang isang karbin.

Far South Min­da­nao. Ma­ta­gum­pay na nadis-armahan ng mga Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma noong Set­yembre 23 si Egong Pidad, dating ka­pi­tan sa Ba­ra­ngay Ma­li­gang, Kiam­ba, Sa­ra­nga­ni Province. Isang ga­ran, pis­tolang kali­bre .38 at isang shot­gun ang na­ku­ha mu­la sa kan­ya. Ina­ta­ke rin ng mga Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma ang mga ar­ma­dong myembro ng Civi­li­an Vo­lun­te­er Orga­niza­ti­on sa Ba­ra­ngay Tu­dok, T’bo­li, South Co­ta­ba­to noong Set­yembre 27. Kaa­gad na isi­nu­ren­der ng mga pa­ra­mi­li­tar ang ka­ni­lang mga ba­ril ka­bi­lang ang isang M16 ar­ma­layt, isang ripleng ga­ran at isang karbin. Na­ka­sam­sam din ang mga Pu­lang man­di­rig­ma ng isang radyong 2-way, da­la­wang klip ng ga­ran, da­la­wang ma­ga­sin ng karbin at mga ba­la ni­to.

Bicol. Ini­lun­sad ng isang iskwad ng BHB-Sor­so­gon (Cel­so Mi­nguez Com­mand) ang ope­ra­syong ha­ras sa de­tatsment ng 3rd Ma­nuever Com­pany ng 5th PPSB at pag­su­nog sa mga wa­lang pla­kang mo­tor­sik­lo sa loob ng kam­po sa Ba­ra­ngay San Ignacio, Gu­bat, Sor­so­gon noong Set­yembre 18. Ang aksyon ng BHB ay ba­ha­gi ng pag­si­ngil sa mga yu­nit ng mi­li­tar at pu­lis sa ak­ti­bong pag­la­hok ng mga ito sa mga ekstrahu­di­syal na pa­ma­mas­lang sa la­la­wi­gan.

Neg­ros. Pi­na­ru­sa­han din ng BHB-South West Neg­ros (Arman­do Su­ma­yang Com­mand) si Joeva­nie Ba­nis­ta noong Set­yembre 9, sa Ba­ra­ngay Lu­ko­tan, Ka­bang­ka­lan City. Na­ku­ha sa kan­ya ang isang kalibre .45 pistola na may tatlong magasin. Isa si Banista sa mga tauhan ng RPA-ABB na nagpagamit sa militar sa kanilang programang kontra-insurhensya sa Southwest Negros mula pa dekada 1990. Nagsilbi rin siyang ahenteng paniktik ng AFP. Maraming kaso ng paglabag sa karapatang-tao ang nakasampa laban sa kanya sa hukumang bayan.

SAMANTALA, SA CENTRAL Luzon, ma­ta­gum­pay na si­na­la­kay ng isang pla­tun ng BHB-Bu­lacan ang upi­si­na at de­tatsment ng mga ar­ma­dong tau­han ng Bang­ko Sentral ng Pi­li­pi­nas (BSP)-Aya­la Land sa Ba­ra­ngay San Isid­ro, San Jo­se Del Mon­te City, Bu­lacan, noong ga­bi ng Hul­yo 23. Na­sam­sam di­to ang 13 ar­mas ka­bi­lang ang si­yam na ma­ta­as na ka­lib­reng ba­ril at apat na pis­to­la, mga ba­la at iba pang ka­ga­mi­tang mi­li­tar tu­lad ng radyong 2-way, sapatos at mga pak. Ba­go nito, ni­reyd ng isang pla­tun ng BHB ang mga ar­ma­dong ma­ton ni Atty. Arte­mio Caña, isang ma­nga­ngam­kam ng lu­pa, sa Ba­ra­ngay San Ma­teo, Norza­ga­ray, Bu­lacan.

Ayon kay Ka Jo­se del Pi­lar ng BHB-Bu­lacan, ang reyd na ito ay tu­gon sa si­gaw pa­ra sa hus­ti­sya sa mga ka­tu­tu­bong Du­ma­gat, mag­sa­sa­ka at ma­ma­ma­yan na pi­nag­sa­sa­man­ta­la­han ng sab­wa­tang BSP-Aya­la Land. Nag­si­mu­lang mangamkam ng lu­pa ang sab­wa­tang BSP-Aya­la Land sa ila­lim ng na­ka­ra­ang re­hi­meng Aqui­no. Bumilis, mas naging marahas at ma­la­wa­kan ang pa­nga­ngam­kam ng mga ito sa ila­lim ng ka­sa­lu­ku­yang re­hi­men.

[Ang Bayan is the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Ang Bayan is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, Waray and English. Download Ang Bayan from the Philippine Revolution Web Central at www.philippinerevolution.info.  Ang Bayan is published fortnightly by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines.]
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/ang_bayan/20171007-20-arxadmas-naxadsamxadsam-ng-bhb/

CPP Information Bureau: People are ready to resist Duterte’s plot to establish a dictatorship

CPP Information Bureau propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines Website (Oct 15): People are ready to resist Duterte’s plot to establish a dictatorship



Information Bureau
Communist Party of the Philippines

15 October 2017

GRP strongman Rodrigo Duterte’s incessantly threatens to establish a dictatorship. The other day, he declared he will set up a “revolutionary government until the end of my term” in order to quell all dissent and arrogate the power to remove every one in government and appoint only those people who will will not criticize his rule. What Duterte essentially wants is to seat himself as a dictator with absolute powers unconstrained by the GRP constitution or any other law.

Duterte’ public bombast and threats are indications of his growing desperation to cling to power. The noise Duterte is generating, however, cannot drown the rising clamor for his ouster and the demand for him to account for all the crimes perpetrated in the course of his triple war.

Duterte is rushing to strengthen and consolidate his control of the military and police in order to mount a dictatorship and defend it by force through suppression of all forms of dissent and resistance.

Duterte is seeking the imprimatur of US imperialist chieftain Trump and the US security and defense establishment by giving all leeway for US military intervention in the Philippines and power projection in the South China Sea. He is exhibiting out-and-out subservience to the US.

Duterte wants to break down all barriers to his bureaucrat capitalist rule in order to give his cronies, big bourgeois comprador compadres and favored criminal syndicates unlimited opportunity to use public money and government privilege to accumulate profit and wealth.

Duterte is increasingly impatient in his plan to impose new taxes as guarantee for new loans from the World Bank and the AIIB and for Japanese ODA. He wants to rush the overhaul of the 1987 GRP constitution to pave the way for all-out liberalization and his plan to establish a federal form of government and allow him an extended rule. Duterte is aware he is fast losing time to allow his supporters a return of their hundreds of millions of pesos in campaign contributions.

Amid the deep-going economic and social crisis of the ruling semicolonial and semifeudal system, a Duterte dictatorship will most probably not last long, even if Duterte could afford to extend his life. Contrary to his aim of wresting complete control of the state, a Duterte dictatorship will surely deepen fissures among the ruling classes and within his regime, especially in the AFP and PNP, whose corrupt officials maintain fealty to anti-Duterte political factions.

In threatening to mount a palace coup, Duterte declared he will launch a “full-scale” war against the New People’s Army (NPA). In fact the AFP has not slowed down in waging its nationwide all-out war since last year. In line with Duterte’s order to “flatten the hills,” the AFP has carried out aerial bombardment campaigns against peasant communities endangering the lives of civilians. The AFP’s all-out war has resulted in widespread violations of human rights across the country.

Duterte said he is ready to wage another 50-year war against the NPA. Given the acute crisis of the ruling system, this is more than enough time for the NPA to defeat the AFP. In reality, however, the AFP and the reactionary government has failed in its attempts to quickly end the people’s war through successive all-out war campaigns. They also cannot deny the fact that for several months now, the AFP could not even decisively finish its limited war in Marawi City to quell an armed Moro uprising.

A Duterte coup to establish a dictatorship will succeed only in uniting the Filipino people in a broad anti-dictatorial front with the national democratic forces serving as the strong core. Having learned lessons from the Marcos dictatorship, the Filipino people are determined to resist Duterte’s plans to establish a fascist dictatorship. The people are unperturbed with his threats to “arrest all of you.” On the contrary, it is Duterte they want to be arrested in order for him to account for all the crimes he has perpetrated against the people.

https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statements/20171015-people-are-ready-to-resist-dutertes-plot-to-establish-a-dictatorship

2 soldiers, 1 alleged rebel wounded in encounter

From MindaNews (Oct 16): 2 soldiers, 1 alleged rebel wounded in encounter

Two Army soldiers and one alleged New People’s Army rebel were wounded in an encounter Saturday in Makilala, North Cotabato,

1Lt. Silver Belvis, 39th Infantry Battalion spokesperson identified the soldiers as Pfc Gella and Pvt Labnaw, and the alleged rebel as Randy Indo, of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, who is said to be a member of the militia of NPA Front 51.

Indo suffered several gunshot wounds and was brought to the Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Amas Complex, Belvis said.

The encounter occurred along the boundary of barangays Biangan and Batasan, both in Makilala. It started around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday when some 30 fully armed rebels attacked a detachment of the 39th IB.

Belvis said at least hundred mostly Manobo families evacuated.

He said the Army used artillery support (105mm howitzer) during the encounter.

Some of the evacuees had already returned to their homes on Sunday, but others decided to stay with their relatives as the situation in the area was still ‘volatile,’ he said.

He added that the soldiers recovered some improvised explosive devices one of which looked like a “pressure-type landmine”.

“This is my first time to see an explosive like that,” he said.

He said he turned over the IED to the explosives and ordnance disposal team to determine its type.

He said that if it’s indeed a pressure-type landmine, “we will file the necessary complaint against the NPAs in a proper venue” for violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.

The rest of the bombs recovered by the 39th IB had no electrical wiring and blasting caps.

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/10/2-soldiers-1-alleged-rebel-wounded-in-encounter/

Hapilon, Maute killed on Day 147 of Marawi Crisis

From MindaNews (Oct 16): Hapilon, Maute killed on Day 147 of Marawi Crisis

Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Maute Group leader Omar Maute were killed during a military operation that also led to the rescue of 17 hostages in the early hours of Monday, Day 147 of the Marawi Crisis.

“They were both killed… They are confirmed dead,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo shortly before noon Monday.

Lorenzana noted that through the testimony of a hostage “who escaped” Saturday, they were able to confirm the presence of Hapilon, touted as the Emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia, and Maute in one of the buildings.



Isnilon Hapilon of the Abu Sayyaf, touted to be Emir of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia, and Omar Maute of the Maute Group (right), killed in the early hours of Monday, 16 October 2017, Day 147 of the Marawi Crisis.

He said the death of these leaders means the fighting is almost over and they will announce the termination of hostilities “in a couple of days.” In the latter part of the brief press conference, Lorenzana declared the announcement will be “within the week.”

In a press statement, Lorenzana said they will announce the termination of hostilities “once government forces have ensured that there are no more terrorists-stragglers in the city and we have cleared all structures of IEDs and other traps.”

“After the fighting stops, we will refocus our efforts on the challenging task of rebuilding and rehabilitating Marawi,” said Lorenzana, also head of Task Force Bangon Marawi.

At the press conference, aired live nationwide, Lorenzana, said Malaysian national Dr. Mahmud,Ahmad, a Universiti Malaya professor who joined the Islamic State and is believe to have been among those who planned the Marawi siege, is reportedly still hiding in one of the buildings there.

Lorenzana said there are still around “21 or 22” hostages held by the terrorists.

Since September 15, a total of 41 hostages have been rescued: Fr. Teresito Soganub, Vicar-General of the Prelature of Marawi, and a teacher of Dansalan College on September 15; four others on September 21; 17 on October 4; one on October 14; and 17 on October 16.

Martial law lifting
Lorenzana acknowledged that even as Hapilon and Maute are dead, the terrorists still have “cells in Basilan, Sulu, also in Central Mindanao, but we will also get them.”

The bodies of Hapilon and Maute will be subjected to DNA tests, “because there are rewards coming from a foreign country” and rewards offered by the Philippine government as well.

The Rewards for Justice Program of the United States Department of State has placed a reward of up to 5 million US dollars (approximately 256 million pesos) “for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction” of Hapilon. He was indicted in the District of Columbia for his alleged involvement in terrorist acts against US nationals and other foreign nationals as an official of the Abu Sayyaf, which is listed as a foreign terrorist organization.

President Rodrigo Duterte in early June offered a P10 million bounty on Hapilon, , and the P5 million each for the Maute brothers, Abdullah and Omar.

Asked if martial law in Mindanao will be lifted now that the leaders are dead, Lorenzana replied: “we are not talking about lifting martial law yet. Tingnan pa natin” (we’ll see).

He said after the cessation of hostilities in Marawi “within this week,” they will “assess the entire Mindanao if there is a need to recommend to the President the lifting of martial law.”

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/10/hapilon-maute-killed-on-day-147-of-marawi-crisis/

Top ISIS leaders killed in Marawi City

From the Mindanao Examiner (Oct 16): Top ISIS leaders killed in Marawi City 

Security forces killed 2 top Filipino ISIS leaders in fierce clashes in the besieged city of Marawi in southern Philippines as troops continue to push jihadists out into the open in an effort to end the bloody siege that has dragged on for nearly 6 months now.

The bloodied cadavers of Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were recovered by troops late Monday and had been positively identified by the military. Hapilon, chieftain of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf group; and Maute, one of revered leaders of the local ISIS, who led the siege of Marawi on May 23 in an effort to put up an Islamic State province in the restive Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The United States offered a $5 million reward for Hapilon and another P10 million from the Filipino government. Omar also had a P5 million bounty on his head, but it was unclear if troops responsible for the death of the two leaders are entitled to the huge bounties, not unless the military would claim that troops had an informant that guided them and resulted in the slaying of Hapilon and Omar.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has confirmed the killing of both jihadist leaders and said the offensive against the remaining militants have been intensified, but troops were being slowed down by booby traps and improvised explosives planted by the ISIS fighters in many structures they had previously occupied and now abandoned because of the advancing soldiers.

Military forces were still running after other leaders of the ISIS fighting in Marawi, the capital of Lanao del Sur province. Among them are Omar’s brothers – Abdullah, Ottoh and Maddie – who were at many times reported killed by the military – and other foreign militants that included Malaysian professor Mahmud Ahmad, who was one of those that reportedly financed the siege with money coming from the Islamic State.

Three other Malaysian fighters – Pendek, Mohammad Amin Baco and Jeknal Adil – were all killed in separate clashes with the Philippine military.

The fighting had displaced over 200,000 people and had killed more than 160 soldiers and about 50 civilians. The military claimed to have slain over 800 militants, but this largely came from unverified reports and intelligence information, and actual body counts were far lesser than the actual number of enemy casualties.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/top-isis-leaders-killed-in-marawi-city/

Rebel hurt, captured in NoCot clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 15): Rebel hurt, captured in NoCot clash

Government troops here captured a seriously injured member of the New People's Army (NPA) following a firefight in a hinterland village, the Philippine Army here said Sunday.

Elements of the Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion (IB) rushed Randy Indo, 42, resident of Barangay Sibulan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, to a hospital after he was abandoned by his fleeing companions in Sitio Lukatong, Barangay Biangan, also in Makilala.

Indo, who sustained multiple bullet wounds in the body, was turned over by local residents to pursuing government forces on Saturday evening.

39th IB spokesperson Capt. Silver Belvis said the soldiers were responding to reports by civilians about the presence of more than 30 NPA brigands under Guerilla Front 51 in Barangay Batasan when fired upon.

The incident sparked an hour-long clash that resulted in the wounding of two soldiers and five rebels.

Military intelligence sources identified the NPA leader as Commander Mckoy, whose group operates in adjoining Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur.

While fighting was raging, the rebels fled deep into the forest of Barangay Batasan, carrying their injured comrades.

Soldiers recovered one M16 rifle, four improvised landmines, medical paraphernalia, 20 backpacks, subversive documents, and four NPA flags left by the fleeing rebels.

Another team of soldiers, meanwhile, rushed Indo to the North Cotabato Provincial Hospital for treatment.

“This is proof we obey international humanitarian laws on injured enemies of state…we saved him because he was incapacitated,” Belvis told reporters.

Lt. Colonel Harold Argamosa, the Army’s 39th IB chief, said his unit would continue calibrated operations against those who are terrorizing remote villages.

He appealed to the communists though, that it is never too late to surrender.

“Those who are hurt don’t listen to the communist propaganda that the soldiers would hurt you, that is a lie, we will help you for we are all Filipinos,” Argamosa said.

Belvis also appealed to civilians, called the “masa” in remote communities, to cease supporting communist rebels and report to authorities any NPA presence in their villages. This, after a series of NPA atrocities in North Cotabato.

On Oct. 3, suspected NPA rebels executed village councilman Valeriano Birondo of Barangay Mahongkog in Magpet municipality.

Three days later, communist guerillas shot dead Bebs Quino, 35 of Barangay Temporan, also in Magpet.

On Oct. 12, NPA rebels killed Mark Cervania, a mat vendor from Datu Montawal, Maguindanao on suspicion he was an Army informant in Barangay Paco, Kidapawan City.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012842

Davao bombing suspect voluntarily surrenders to Cotabato police

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 16): Davao bombing suspect voluntarily surrenders to Cotabato police

One of the suspects in the Sept. 2016 Davao City night market bombing, arrested and released last year, has yielded anew to the Cotabato City police office on Sunday.

Sr. Supt. Rolly Octavio, Cotabato City police director, said Mohammad Lalaog Chenikandiyil, accompanied by his counsel Wilmer Donasco, voluntarily surrendered to him at 1:20 p.m. Sunday.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-ARMM) is set to turn him over Monday to Davao police authorities.

“He insisted he was not involved in the Davao bombing and he wanted to clear his name,” Octavio told the PNA.

Octavio said Chenikandiyil, alias “Boy,” was included in the Department of National Defense (DND) arrest order No. 2 that DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana issued following the declaration of martial law in Mindanao in the aftermath of the Marawi siege.

Chenikandiyil was among the four other bombing suspects arrested on October 27, 2016 in separate raids by CIDG-ARMM in Barangay Rosary Heights 7, Cotabato City and in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

Also arrested in the raid were Zack Haron Villanueva Lopez, Jackson Mangulamas Usi, and Ausan Abdullah Mamasapano, according to then CIDG-ARRM Director Supt. Jimmy Daza.

All those arrested were then turned over to the Davao City police. But the Davao Regional Trial Court Branch 13 ordered the Davao police office to release Chenikandiyil on Nov. 11, 2016 after it granted the petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by his wife.

RTC-13 Presiding Judge Jill Jaugan-Lo, in special proceeding Nov. 9 last year, heard the petition of Allysanor Chenikandiyil against the police and CIDG-11 office.

Through lawyer Donasco, she stressed that her husband’s continued detention was unjustified since no formal charges have been filed against him since his arrest in Cotabato City up to the time he was transferred to CIDG Davao.

She said her husband detention exceeded 36 hours as allowed by the Revised Penal Code. If a case had been filed, she received no notice that a criminal case had been filed and his continued detention was not justified since no inquest proceeding was ever conducted.

At least 14 people were killed in the Sept. 2, 2016 bombing in the Davao night market along Roxas Boulevard and more than 50 others injured.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012881

Abu Sayyaf abducts 5 fishing boat crew

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 16): Abu Sayyaf abducts 5 fishing boat crew

Government troops are tracking down the whereabouts of five fishing boat crew seized by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in an island town of Sulu, a military official disclosed Monday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identified the victim as Vergel Arquino, 25; Jushua Ybanes, 23; Emo Fausto, 63; Junald Minalang, 24; and, Spriano Sardido, 53.

All except Arquino, who is from Davao City, are residents of Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. They are all crew of F/B Danvil 8 owned by Danvil Yanoc of Pagadian City.

Sobejana said the victims were seized at around 8:15 p.m. Saturday by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in the island municipality of Pangutaran, Sulu.

He disclosed that the five crewmen were forced to board on two motorized bancas that sped off to unknown direction.

He said Yanoc reported to the Coastguard Station in Pagadian City that his two fishing boats, F/B Danvil 8 and F/B Danvil 2, together with nine ligthboats have took shelter at the port Poblacion in Pangutaran due to bad weather at the time of the abduction.

He said the troops are scouring all the possible areas where the victims could have been taken by the bandits.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012915

238 new soldiers enlist in Philippine Army

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 16): 238 new soldiers enlist in Philippine Army

Some 238 soldiers were enlisted in the Army Support Command (ASCOM) of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division (2ID) following their completion on Monday of the Candidate Soldier Course (CSC) at the Division Training School in this camp.

The new soldier graduates came from the ASCOM CSC Class 445 and 446-17.

Brigadier General Glorivine R. Dida, 2ID Assistant Division Commander, led the declaration of graduates followed by the army division adjutant Major Demier A. Bacasmas, who read the “Termination of Training and Enlistment Order.”

The  newly enlisted soldiers were presented by Colonel Rogelio P. Percol, commanding officer of the 2ID Training School  presented the newly enlisted soldiers, 120 of them came from Class 445-17 while 118 belong to Class 446-17.

Major General Elmer S. Pabale, Commander of the Army Support Command and the guest of honor Pililla Mayor Dan Masinsin, assisted by Brig. Gen. Dida, awarded the certificates and awards.

Pabale with Mayor Masinsin also pinned the ranks while Dida led the awards for the top three of the CSC classes.

By military tradition, the enlistment ceremony includes the pinning of the soldiers’ ranks and the symbolic turnover of firearms.

Col. Arnold M. Macadangdang of the 2ID-IG led the oath of enlistment and the enlistment rites culminated to the mass singing of the 2ID song accompanied by the 2ID Band.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012960

AFP reaffirms support to gov’t anti-drug war

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 15): AFP reaffirms support to gov’t anti-drug war

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday reaffirmed ts commitment to the government’s war against illegal drugs.

This came after President Rodrigo Duterte signed a memorandum designating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the lead agency to carry out anti-illegal drugs operations in the country.

“The AFP has always been in support role to PDEA, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in any illegal drugs operations, unless we are otherwise requested to lead especially in conflict-affected areas,” AFP public affairs office chief. Col. Edgard Arevalo, said in a statement.

In February, AFP and PDEA signed a memorandum of agreement in a bid to strengthen anti-narcotics operations, especially in conflict-affected areas, particularly where conditions for insurgency, secessionism, and terrorism are prevalent.

The military also expanded the Joint Counterintelligence Task Force (JCTF) NOAH, an ad hoc unit created and mandated by the AFP to conduct drugs-related counterintelligence operations.

NOAH assists law enforcement agencies in the identification, investigation, and neutralization of persons in the use, sale, manufacture, and distribution of illegal drugs.

In addition, the military has also formed regional task groups under its unified commands to coordinate direct action, intelligence, legal support, and community relations to PDEA, as force employer, and its regional offices nationwide.

From July 2016 to September 2017, these task groups have conducted a total 6,891 operations which resulted in the killing of 146 drug suspects and arrest of 1,241.

Joint raids of drug laboratories also yielded a total of PHP1.9-billion shabu manufacturing equipment which have greatly hampered the production of methamphetamine in the country while more than 52 kilos of shabu were also confiscated in the operations.

Internal security operations conducted against terror groups also resulted in the neutralization of several drug suspects in Mindanao.

“I commend our soldiers for their professional and efficient intelligence and manpower support afforded to PDEA and the PNP in their anti-illegal drugs operations. Rest assured that despite our focus on our mandate to address internal and external threats to the country, we will not lose sight on the drugs scourge and will actively support PDEA in its endeavors,” AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012840

17 more hostages rescued in Marawi: AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 16): 17 more hostages rescued in Marawi: AFP

Government troops have rescued 17 hostages in Marawi City on Sunday night, Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., deputy commander of Task Force Ranao said on Monday.

This brings down the number of Maute-held hostages to around 40, Brawner noted.

“So may na rescue tayo na 17 hostages last night. Halo halo ito, may lalaki, babae, mga bata. Wala pa ko breakdown kung ilan ang lalaki at babae. Dinala sa safe zone and undergoing medical examination. (So we have rescued 17 hostages last night. These are a mix of men, women and children. I still don't have the breakdown. They were brought to a safe zone and are now undergoing medical examination.) They will also undergo debriefing,” he said.

He added that there are also more than 20 soldiers wounded in the ongoing battle.

Brawner said that the main battle area between government troops and Maute terrorist shrunk to two hectares.

As of Monday, the number of slain Maute terrorists are placed at 822 along with 162 troopers killed-in-action.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012892

Terrorists Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute killed in Marawi battle (Photo)

From ABS-CBN (Oct 16): Terrorists Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute killed in Marawi battle



(UPDATED) - Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon, top leaders of Islamic State-inspired extremists Maute group, were killed in a military assault early Monday, an official said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the whereabouts of Hapilon and Maute, who were holed up in a building in Marawi City, were divulged by a female hostage who managed to escape.

"They were able to get a testimony from a hostage who was able to escape. She was able to confirm the presence of Isnilon and Maute in that particular building. That's the building that we assaulted this morning. They are confirmed dead," Lorenzana said in a press conference.

Photos from ABS-CBN sources earlier showed the cadavers of Hapilon and Maute.

Malacañang had announced a P5 million bounty for the "neutralization" of each of the Maute brothers, and P10 million for Hapilon.

A separate $5 million bounty was also offered for the arrest of Hapilon, an Abu Sayyaf leader who was said to be the anointed ISIS leader in Southeast Asia. The Marawi clashes supposedly started when troops tried to serve an arrest warrant on Hapilon.

Since clashes between state forces and the Maute group erupted about 5 months ago, about 753 terrorists have been killed. At least 47 civilians and 155 soldiers also died in the conflict. Thousands were forced to evacuate.

Lorenzana said the death of the two terrorists signals the end of Marawi conflict but operations may continue to arrest other Maute members.

The siege of the Islamic City began May this year when Maute, with brother Abdullah, hoisted black flags of the Islamic State group and set Dansalan College on fire.

In June, the brothers' parents- father Cayamora and mother Farhana- were arrested in separate police operations. Cayamora died in August.

The siege has reduced the once-bustling city of Marawi into ruins, with many buildings and even mosques completely destroyed and riddled with bullets and shrapnel.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/16/17/terrorists-isnilon-hapilon-omar-maute-killed-in-marawi-battle

Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute dead: Lorenzana

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 16): Isnilon Hapilon, Omar Maute dead: Lorenzana

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Monday confirmed the death of top terrorist leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute in Marawi City.

"Yes, I confirm the killing of (Isnilon) Hapilon at saka Omar Maute this morning, early this morning," Lorenzana said in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo.

"They were both killed, in fact their faces have already been splashed in the internet and in the websites," the defense chief added.

Lorenzana said the bodies of the two terrorist leaders would be subject to DNA test, noting that these two have bounties on their heads from foreign countries.

He also said government troops are now chasing a foreign terrorist who is fighting on the side of the Maute group in the city.

"There is still another personality that they are trying to get, si Dr. Mamud, the (Malaysian), according to some reports he is still hiding in some of, one of the buildings there and that's what they are trying to do now," Lorenzana said.

Lorenzana also confirmed the report from the Task Force Ranao saying government troops rescued 17 hostages in Marawi City on Sunday night.

“So may na-rescue tayo na 17 hostages last night. Halo halo ito, may lalaki, babae, mga bata. Wala pa ko breakdown kung ilan ang lalaki at babae. dinala sa safe zone and undergoing medical examination. (So we have rescued 17 hostages last night. These are a mix of men, women and children. I still don't have the breakdown. They were brought to a safe zone and are now undergoing medical examination.) They will also undergo debriefing,” Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., deputy commander of Task Force Ranao said.

Brawner added that there are also more than 20 soldiers wounded in the ongoing battle, adding that the main battle area between government troops and Maute terrorist shrunk to two hectares.

As of Monday, the number of slain Maute terrorists are placed at 822 along with 162 troops killed-in-action.

Lorenzana said they will announce the termination of hostilities once government forces have ensured that there are no more terrorists-stragglers in the city and have cleared all structures of IEDs and other traps.

“After the fighting stops, we will refocus our efforts on the challenging task of rebuilding and rehabilitating Marawi,” the Defense Secretary noted.

Meanwhile, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte hailed the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the death of Hapilon and Maute.

In his Instagram post, VM Duterte thanked the AFP especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, to protect the Filipino people from terrorists like the Maute Group.

“I have nothing but my deep respect for you and and your families’ sacrifices for the Filipino people,” the young Duterte said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1012896