From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Cops hunt down ‘person of interest' behind ambush-slay of 2
COTABATO CITY -- Police are tracking down a “person of interest” in the ambush-slay of two persons, including a businessman, along Barangay Rosary Heights 6 here on Wednesday evening.
Capt. Rustom Pastolero, the city police station 2 commander, identified the victims as Allan Bagundali Benito, a recruitment agency owner and a resident of Barangay Rosary Heights 9, this city; and his 21-year-old companion, Datu Prince Balao.
Investigation revealed that Benito was driving his commuter van, with Balao as passenger, near the junction of Rosary Heights 6 and Poblacion 9 when fired upon by a lone gunman around 7:40 p.m.
The gunman fled to an unknown direction as concerned villagers and responding cops rushed the victims to the hospital.
“Benito died on the spot due to multiple gunshot wounds while Balao died at the hospital several hours later,” Pastolero said.
Recovered from the site of the ambush were eight empty slugs from a caliber .45 pistol. Relatives said that a person has scheduled a meet up with Benito before the incident.
“We immediately went to the house of the suspect but he was not around,” Pastolero said.
He declined further comment citing the ongoing police operation.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082748
Thursday, October 10, 2019
BARMM outreach benefits 200 IPs
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): BARMM outreach benefits 200 IPs
SERVICING THE INDIGENTS. Health ministry workers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous in Muslim Mindanao attends to a member of the indigenous peoples (IPs) during an outreach mission in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Wednesday (Oct. 9. 2019). Similar programs are set to take place in chosen IP areas across the BARMM during the celebration of IPs month this October. (Photo courtesy of MIPA-BARMM)
SERVICING THE INDIGENTS. Health ministry workers of the Bangsamoro Autonomous in Muslim Mindanao attends to a member of the indigenous peoples (IPs) during an outreach mission in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Wednesday (Oct. 9. 2019). Similar programs are set to take place in chosen IP areas across the BARMM during the celebration of IPs month this October. (Photo courtesy of MIPA-BARMM)
In celebration of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Month, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MIPA-BARMM) organized a medical-dental outreach program in Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao on Wednesday that benefitted at least 200 indigenous peoples (IPs).
MIPA Minister Melanio Ulama said the outreach program, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH)-BARMM and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, seeks to bring government services to far-flung tribal communities in the region.
Ulama said the team from the MOH-BARMM offered medical and dental consultation, free circumcision and distributed medicines and vitamins to IPs, particularly children.
The group also distributed slippers and hygiene kits that include a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and towel.
“They also had a feeding program to IP children consisting of hot arrozcaldo (rice porridge) and boiled eggs,” Ulama said.
Mayor Datu Marshall Sinsuat lauded the MIPA and its partners for choosing his town as a recipient of basic services and medical programs.
He said the smiles that the recipients showed were indications of their appreciation for the MIPA efforts.
Ulama said the program was just the beginning for the series of activities planned by MIPA for remote communities in the BARMM during the IP month of October.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082750
MIPA Minister Melanio Ulama said the outreach program, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MOH)-BARMM and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, seeks to bring government services to far-flung tribal communities in the region.
Ulama said the team from the MOH-BARMM offered medical and dental consultation, free circumcision and distributed medicines and vitamins to IPs, particularly children.
The group also distributed slippers and hygiene kits that include a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and towel.
“They also had a feeding program to IP children consisting of hot arrozcaldo (rice porridge) and boiled eggs,” Ulama said.
Mayor Datu Marshall Sinsuat lauded the MIPA and its partners for choosing his town as a recipient of basic services and medical programs.
He said the smiles that the recipients showed were indications of their appreciation for the MIPA efforts.
Ulama said the program was just the beginning for the series of activities planned by MIPA for remote communities in the BARMM during the IP month of October.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082750
Lecture kicks off 75th Leyte Gulf Landings celebration
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Lecture kicks off 75th Leyte Gulf Landings celebration
BAYBAYIN. Leyte students attend the lecture 'Surat: The Early Visayan Script' at the Oriental Hotel in Palo, Leyte as part of the 75th Leyte Gulf Landings opening activities on Thursday (Oct. 10, 2019). The discussion is centered on the early writing system in the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. (Photo courtesy of The Oriental Leyte)
PALO, Leyte -- The Leyte provincial government has kicked off the two-week 75th Leyte Gulf Landings commemoration activities through a lecture series on the early Visayan script.
The 3rd Quincentennial Lecture Series titled “Surat: The Early Visayan Script” held at the Oriental Hotel here on Thursday is also part of the nationwide campaign on the quincentennial celebration of First Easter Mass in the Orient or the First Mass in Limasawa island which will be celebrated on March 30, 2021.
The activity is organized by the National Quincentennial Committee in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Leyte provincial government, and the municipal government of Palo, Leyte.
The discussion is centered on the early writing system in the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spaniards.
University of the Philippines-Manila Health Sciences Professor and Eastern Visayas resident historian Professor Rolando Borrinaga serves as the lecturer attended by secondary school students from some parts of Leyte and Ormoc City.
“As Filipinos, we need to have the historical and cultural awareness,” Borrinaga said.
Learning that there is an ancient script or way of writing of Filipino will help the younger generation to know that prior to the arrival of Spaniards or Western colonizers, there is already a civilization in the country that has a system of writing called the Baybayin.
“It's not difficult learning how to write our ancient writing. We must know to write in our old way,” Borrinaga added. He shared that learning the ancient way of the script is easy as this can be learned within a two to three-hour workshop.
In April 2018, the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture has approved House Bill 1022 or the proposed "National Writing System Act" that seeks to declare Baybayin, as the country's national writing system.
The bill earned the support of the Department of Education and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, who welcomed the participants in the lecture, said the younger generation should learn history with accurate and correct information.
The pieces of information learned from history will help young people, who will become future leaders, to decide better on how to govern and solve the country's problem.
“To help solve our country's problem we need to understand and learn the lesson of the past for the new generation to be better equip with knowledge and skills to address challenges,” Petilla said.
Part of the lecture is the display of the national costume that Miss Universe Catriona Gray wore during the 2018 Miss Universe competition in Thailand.
Prior to the competition, Gray visited Tacloban with her team and talked with local artist Dante Enage and Borrinaga on how to come up with the design of her national costume.
The national costume is inspired by the tattoo motifs of Visayas ancestors called by the Spanish as “pintados”.
Shown in the Boxer Codex, it contains pages of the earliest known limned illustrations of Filipino ancestors described as “accustomed to painting their bodies with some very elegant tattoos”.
The national costume worn by Gray for the Miss Universe 2018 competition will be on display until October 24 at the Leyte Oriental Hotel Lobby.
On Oct. 20, Leyte province will commemorate the Leyte Gulf Landings, the largest naval battle in recorded history.
It was on Oct. 20, 1944, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur, together with President Sergio Osmena and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, again set foot on Philippine soil, their first after they left Corregidor in 1942.
Their arrival started a battle that spanned 100,000 square miles of sea; and was fought for three days, from Oct. 23 to 25, 1944, during the invasion of Leyte by the Allied forces.
The battle signaled the fulfillment of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's famous words, “I shall return,” after going to Australia to muster support from the Allied forces in the quest to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082802
BAYBAYIN. Leyte students attend the lecture 'Surat: The Early Visayan Script' at the Oriental Hotel in Palo, Leyte as part of the 75th Leyte Gulf Landings opening activities on Thursday (Oct. 10, 2019). The discussion is centered on the early writing system in the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. (Photo courtesy of The Oriental Leyte)
PALO, Leyte -- The Leyte provincial government has kicked off the two-week 75th Leyte Gulf Landings commemoration activities through a lecture series on the early Visayan script.
The 3rd Quincentennial Lecture Series titled “Surat: The Early Visayan Script” held at the Oriental Hotel here on Thursday is also part of the nationwide campaign on the quincentennial celebration of First Easter Mass in the Orient or the First Mass in Limasawa island which will be celebrated on March 30, 2021.
The activity is organized by the National Quincentennial Committee in partnership with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Leyte provincial government, and the municipal government of Palo, Leyte.
The discussion is centered on the early writing system in the Philippines prior to the arrival of the Spaniards.
University of the Philippines-Manila Health Sciences Professor and Eastern Visayas resident historian Professor Rolando Borrinaga serves as the lecturer attended by secondary school students from some parts of Leyte and Ormoc City.
“As Filipinos, we need to have the historical and cultural awareness,” Borrinaga said.
Learning that there is an ancient script or way of writing of Filipino will help the younger generation to know that prior to the arrival of Spaniards or Western colonizers, there is already a civilization in the country that has a system of writing called the Baybayin.
“It's not difficult learning how to write our ancient writing. We must know to write in our old way,” Borrinaga added. He shared that learning the ancient way of the script is easy as this can be learned within a two to three-hour workshop.
In April 2018, the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture has approved House Bill 1022 or the proposed "National Writing System Act" that seeks to declare Baybayin, as the country's national writing system.
The bill earned the support of the Department of Education and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, who welcomed the participants in the lecture, said the younger generation should learn history with accurate and correct information.
The pieces of information learned from history will help young people, who will become future leaders, to decide better on how to govern and solve the country's problem.
“To help solve our country's problem we need to understand and learn the lesson of the past for the new generation to be better equip with knowledge and skills to address challenges,” Petilla said.
Part of the lecture is the display of the national costume that Miss Universe Catriona Gray wore during the 2018 Miss Universe competition in Thailand.
Prior to the competition, Gray visited Tacloban with her team and talked with local artist Dante Enage and Borrinaga on how to come up with the design of her national costume.
The national costume is inspired by the tattoo motifs of Visayas ancestors called by the Spanish as “pintados”.
Shown in the Boxer Codex, it contains pages of the earliest known limned illustrations of Filipino ancestors described as “accustomed to painting their bodies with some very elegant tattoos”.
The national costume worn by Gray for the Miss Universe 2018 competition will be on display until October 24 at the Leyte Oriental Hotel Lobby.
On Oct. 20, Leyte province will commemorate the Leyte Gulf Landings, the largest naval battle in recorded history.
It was on Oct. 20, 1944, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur, together with President Sergio Osmena and Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, again set foot on Philippine soil, their first after they left Corregidor in 1942.
Their arrival started a battle that spanned 100,000 square miles of sea; and was fought for three days, from Oct. 23 to 25, 1944, during the invasion of Leyte by the Allied forces.
The battle signaled the fulfillment of Gen. Douglas MacArthur's famous words, “I shall return,” after going to Australia to muster support from the Allied forces in the quest to liberate the Philippines from Japanese occupation.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082802
Cop hurt in clash with NPA rebels in southern Negros
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Cop hurt in clash with NPA rebels in southern Negros
RECOVERED. Troops of the Philippine National Police’s 6th Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion found a rifle grenade, two magazines of AK 47, 117 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, and electrical wires for anti-personal mines, among other items, after a clash with New People’s Army rebels in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Wednesday night (Oct. 9, 2019). A police trooper was injured but is now in stable condition. (Photo courtesy of 62nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)
A police trooper of the 6th Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) was injured in a combat operation with army soldiers against New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Wednesday night.
Patrolman John Imedio Gallero Javier, 27, who hails from Isabela town, is now in stable condition.
The joint operation in Sitio Basak, Barangay Tan-awan around 8:20 p.m. was initiated by troops of 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and policemen of 6th RMFB Technical Support Company.
After a 15-minute gun battle, the estimated 10 communist rebels retreated.
The Philippine Army reported that an NPA rebel was killed, based on the bloodstains found.
Soldiers recovered a rifle grenade, two magazines of AK 47, 117 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, and electrical wires for anti-personal mines.
Also found were two pairs of rain boots, backpacks with personal belongings, pouch, medical kit, and battery cells.
The encounter in Kabankalan followed the pursuit operations of troops also from 62IB, and 31st Division Reconnaissance Company that clashed with some 15 communist rebels in neighboring Himamaylan City last Sunday.
A week ago, soldiers of 94IB also encountered NPA rebels at Sitio Cabangahan, Barangay Bantolinao in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental.
Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB, said the latest operation was the third that resulted from the positive information they obtained on the NPA’s movement in central Negros.
He noted that the rebels’ areas of operation are monitored by government troops through the support of concerned individuals.
“Our troops are now highly capable of maneuver skills that led to the series of engagements against this terrorist group,” Dacoscos said.
Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the Joint Task Force Negros, said the Kabankalan clash is the third since the anti-insurgency unit was formed last month.
“This is the third, but definitely not the last strike of JTF Negros against these terrorists, hence, they should expect more intensive combat operations in the coming weeks," he added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082801
RECOVERED. Troops of the Philippine National Police’s 6th Regional Mobile Force Battalion and the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion found a rifle grenade, two magazines of AK 47, 117 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, and electrical wires for anti-personal mines, among other items, after a clash with New People’s Army rebels in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Wednesday night (Oct. 9, 2019). A police trooper was injured but is now in stable condition. (Photo courtesy of 62nd Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)
A police trooper of the 6th Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) was injured in a combat operation with army soldiers against New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental Wednesday night.
Patrolman John Imedio Gallero Javier, 27, who hails from Isabela town, is now in stable condition.
The joint operation in Sitio Basak, Barangay Tan-awan around 8:20 p.m. was initiated by troops of 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB) and policemen of 6th RMFB Technical Support Company.
After a 15-minute gun battle, the estimated 10 communist rebels retreated.
The Philippine Army reported that an NPA rebel was killed, based on the bloodstains found.
Soldiers recovered a rifle grenade, two magazines of AK 47, 117 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition, and electrical wires for anti-personal mines.
Also found were two pairs of rain boots, backpacks with personal belongings, pouch, medical kit, and battery cells.
The encounter in Kabankalan followed the pursuit operations of troops also from 62IB, and 31st Division Reconnaissance Company that clashed with some 15 communist rebels in neighboring Himamaylan City last Sunday.
A week ago, soldiers of 94IB also encountered NPA rebels at Sitio Cabangahan, Barangay Bantolinao in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental.
Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commanding officer of 62IB, said the latest operation was the third that resulted from the positive information they obtained on the NPA’s movement in central Negros.
He noted that the rebels’ areas of operation are monitored by government troops through the support of concerned individuals.
“Our troops are now highly capable of maneuver skills that led to the series of engagements against this terrorist group,” Dacoscos said.
Brig. Gen. Eric Vinoya, commander of the Joint Task Force Negros, said the Kabankalan clash is the third since the anti-insurgency unit was formed last month.
“This is the third, but definitely not the last strike of JTF Negros against these terrorists, hence, they should expect more intensive combat operations in the coming weeks," he added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082801
Canlaon villagers in conflict area avail of free gov't services
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Canlaon villagers in conflict area avail of free gov't services
SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE. Hundreds of residents in the insurgency-affected Canlaon City in Negros Oriental benefit from various basic services during the Serbisyong Caravan and Dagyawan: Talakayan ng Mamayan on Wednesday (Oct. 9, 2019). This is the second activity undertaken by the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF-ELCAC) as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's whole-of-nation approach to attain inclusive and sustainable peace. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army)
SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE. Hundreds of residents in the insurgency-affected Canlaon City in Negros Oriental benefit from various basic services during the Serbisyong Caravan and Dagyawan: Talakayan ng Mamayan on Wednesday (Oct. 9, 2019). This is the second activity undertaken by the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF-ELCAC) as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's whole-of-nation approach to attain inclusive and sustainable peace. (Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army)
Hundreds of residents of Barangay Bayog in the mountain city of Canlaon in northern Negros Oriental benefited from various services offered during the Serbisyo Caravan on Wednesday.
The activity, spearheaded by the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) chaired by Governor Roel Degamo, is the second of its kind this year, as part of the whole-of-nation approach of President Rodrigo Duterte to attain inclusive and sustainable peace.
Services offered during the Serbisyo Caravan included dental treatment, distribution of medicines and multi-vitamins, medical consultation, minor operation, haircut and massage, seedlings distribution, flu vaccination for senior citizens, animal vaccine and deworming, and distribution of food packs, among others.
Chief Master Sergeant Edilberto Euraoba III, Public Information Officer of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) said that a "Dagyawan sa Barangay: Talakayan Para sa Mamayan", “an avenue for productive, valuable and visible engagement between the government and its citizens at the local and grassroots level”, was held at the Canlaon City gymnasium.
During the activity, focal persons from national government agencies addressed the inquiries of residents such as Pag-IBIG Fund loans and contributions; Social Security System (SSS) online inquiry and verification; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) online registration; Department of Trade and Industry skills training; and Land Bank of the Philippines loans to rice farmers, to name a few.
The dialogue/consultation was also held to identify problems, the root causes and possible solutions and interventions, especially in conflict areas affected by the communist insurgency.
Participating government agencies and offices included the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Visayas-Malasakit Center, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, the city government of Canlaon, provincial government of Negros Oriental, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Irrigation Administration, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, SSS, Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, PhilHealth, National Food Authority, NBI, and the Philippine Information Agency.
Uniformed services that also participated in the activities were the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the Philippine Army and Philippine Navy, and the Philippine National Police from the national, regional, and provincial and local levels.
Others present were the physicians of the Department of Health, Naval Force Central Medical Team, and the province’s Magdegamo Medical Team.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082845
The activity, spearheaded by the Negros Oriental Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) chaired by Governor Roel Degamo, is the second of its kind this year, as part of the whole-of-nation approach of President Rodrigo Duterte to attain inclusive and sustainable peace.
Services offered during the Serbisyo Caravan included dental treatment, distribution of medicines and multi-vitamins, medical consultation, minor operation, haircut and massage, seedlings distribution, flu vaccination for senior citizens, animal vaccine and deworming, and distribution of food packs, among others.
Chief Master Sergeant Edilberto Euraoba III, Public Information Officer of the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NOPPO) said that a "Dagyawan sa Barangay: Talakayan Para sa Mamayan", “an avenue for productive, valuable and visible engagement between the government and its citizens at the local and grassroots level”, was held at the Canlaon City gymnasium.
During the activity, focal persons from national government agencies addressed the inquiries of residents such as Pag-IBIG Fund loans and contributions; Social Security System (SSS) online inquiry and verification; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) online registration; Department of Trade and Industry skills training; and Land Bank of the Philippines loans to rice farmers, to name a few.
The dialogue/consultation was also held to identify problems, the root causes and possible solutions and interventions, especially in conflict areas affected by the communist insurgency.
Participating government agencies and offices included the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Visayas-Malasakit Center, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, the city government of Canlaon, provincial government of Negros Oriental, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Irrigation Administration, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, SSS, Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, PhilHealth, National Food Authority, NBI, and the Philippine Information Agency.
Uniformed services that also participated in the activities were the Armed Forces of the Philippines, specifically the Philippine Army and Philippine Navy, and the Philippine National Police from the national, regional, and provincial and local levels.
Others present were the physicians of the Department of Health, Naval Force Central Medical Team, and the province’s Magdegamo Medical Team.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082845
Davao task force preps for 3rd maximum-security zone
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Davao task force preps for 3rd maximum-security zone
DAVAO CITY -- The Task Force Davao (TFD) is now preparing the Aboitiz Power Subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) in Toril here to be declared as the next "maximum security zone" after the declaration as such of San Pedro Square and the Roxas Night Market.
Col. Consolito Yecla, TFD commander, said he sought the approval of Mayor Sara Z. Duterte for the classification of the TSI facility as a security zone following the attack on Saudi oil fields last month.
Yecla said the attack indicates the importance of securing vulnerable critical infrastructures that are susceptible to terrorist threats.
He noted that TSI remains a critical infrastructure in the city, which produces up to 300 megawatts of electric power, and that any disruption in its operation will result in substantial economic losses - not just in Davao City but all over Mindanao as well.
As part of its preparation, TFD, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), and the TSI security management conducted a simulation exercise involving an armed attack on the establishment on Wednesday.
Yecla said the exercise aims to evaluate the preparedness level of Sirawan, Binugao and Toril Fish Port detachments and TSI in cases of local and foreign terrorist attacks.
The simulation also seeks to assess and improve the ability of the internal security of TSI and alert teams in responding to a critical incident.
On the other hand, the TF Davao also held an Anti-terrorism Forum (ATF) to instill the culture of security to fishermen, bantay dagat, barangay officials and tanods within the TSI community.
A total of 190 persons attended the ATF since last month, which is part of the move to shape TSI into a maximum security zone.
“This is to prevent exploitation of issues by the terrorists in the community. To ensure support of the community, the task force plans to identify and recommend quick-win projects for the community,” Yecla said.
Magno G. Adalin Jr., TSI Coal security manager, said the TFD's initiative to classify TSI as critical infrastructure is a welcome development for the security of the company.
“We know that there are still a lot of things to do, a lot of procedures to iron out, a lot of training to undertake. This activity is the template in securing a facility that a lot of people will be looking at and referring to and TFD is helping us to take that first step,” Adalin said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082823
DAVAO CITY -- The Task Force Davao (TFD) is now preparing the Aboitiz Power Subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) in Toril here to be declared as the next "maximum security zone" after the declaration as such of San Pedro Square and the Roxas Night Market.
Col. Consolito Yecla, TFD commander, said he sought the approval of Mayor Sara Z. Duterte for the classification of the TSI facility as a security zone following the attack on Saudi oil fields last month.
Yecla said the attack indicates the importance of securing vulnerable critical infrastructures that are susceptible to terrorist threats.
He noted that TSI remains a critical infrastructure in the city, which produces up to 300 megawatts of electric power, and that any disruption in its operation will result in substantial economic losses - not just in Davao City but all over Mindanao as well.
As part of its preparation, TFD, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), and the TSI security management conducted a simulation exercise involving an armed attack on the establishment on Wednesday.
Yecla said the exercise aims to evaluate the preparedness level of Sirawan, Binugao and Toril Fish Port detachments and TSI in cases of local and foreign terrorist attacks.
The simulation also seeks to assess and improve the ability of the internal security of TSI and alert teams in responding to a critical incident.
On the other hand, the TF Davao also held an Anti-terrorism Forum (ATF) to instill the culture of security to fishermen, bantay dagat, barangay officials and tanods within the TSI community.
A total of 190 persons attended the ATF since last month, which is part of the move to shape TSI into a maximum security zone.
“This is to prevent exploitation of issues by the terrorists in the community. To ensure support of the community, the task force plans to identify and recommend quick-win projects for the community,” Yecla said.
Magno G. Adalin Jr., TSI Coal security manager, said the TFD's initiative to classify TSI as critical infrastructure is a welcome development for the security of the company.
“We know that there are still a lot of things to do, a lot of procedures to iron out, a lot of training to undertake. This activity is the template in securing a facility that a lot of people will be looking at and referring to and TFD is helping us to take that first step,” Adalin said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082823
Lanao Sur warring clans surrender loose firearms
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Lanao Sur warring clans surrender loose firearms
LOOSE FIREARMS. Warring factions surrender 19 assorted loose firearms to military authorities in the town of Tubaran, Lanao del Sur on Thursday (Oct. 10, 2019). (Photo courtesy of Army 1st Infantry Division)
Warring clans surrendered on Thursday 19 assorted loose firearms to the Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur, officials said.
Lt. Col. Ian Noel Ignes, Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion commander, said Tubaran Mayor Khaledyassin Papandayan has “played a great role in the surrender of firearms".
“Mayor Papandayan painstakingly negotiated with the families with the assistance of village elders, traditional leaders, imams, and ulamas to bring about a resolution to the conflict and to bring peace to their municipality,” Ignes said.
Ignes said the assorted firearms that were surrendered included one M-14 and two .30-caliber M1 Garand rifles, one shotgun, 11 handguns, and five grenade launchers.
Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade acting commander, attributed the accomplishment “to the peace-loving local chief executives, constituents and stakeholders of Lanao del Sur”.
“We will continuously collaborate with them to encourage other warring clans to settle their disputes and surrender their loose firearms to make their communities peaceful and secured,” Cuerpo said.
Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Army’s 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (the Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, lauded the troops and the local chief executives for the successful surrender of loose firearms.
Ancan said his command, in collaboration with the local government units and other stakeholders, remains steadfast in its commitment to attain just and lasting peace “in our area of operation through our campaign against loose firearms”.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082791
Lt. Col. Ian Noel Ignes, Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion commander, said Tubaran Mayor Khaledyassin Papandayan has “played a great role in the surrender of firearms".
“Mayor Papandayan painstakingly negotiated with the families with the assistance of village elders, traditional leaders, imams, and ulamas to bring about a resolution to the conflict and to bring peace to their municipality,” Ignes said.
Ignes said the assorted firearms that were surrendered included one M-14 and two .30-caliber M1 Garand rifles, one shotgun, 11 handguns, and five grenade launchers.
Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade acting commander, attributed the accomplishment “to the peace-loving local chief executives, constituents and stakeholders of Lanao del Sur”.
“We will continuously collaborate with them to encourage other warring clans to settle their disputes and surrender their loose firearms to make their communities peaceful and secured,” Cuerpo said.
Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Army’s 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (the Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, lauded the troops and the local chief executives for the successful surrender of loose firearms.
Ancan said his command, in collaboration with the local government units and other stakeholders, remains steadfast in its commitment to attain just and lasting peace “in our area of operation through our campaign against loose firearms”.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082791
NPA leader hurt, 3 others nabbed in Sarangani operation
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): NPA leader hurt, 3 others nabbed in Sarangani operation
ARRESTED. Police personnel transfer New People's Army (NPA) leader Nicanor Claro Pason to a hospital in General Santos City on Thursday morning (Oct. 10, 2019). Pason, the secretary of the NPA's Guerilla Front 73, was wounded following his arrest along with three other rebels in joint police and military operation around 5:30 a.m. in Maitum town, Sarangani. (PNA photo by Richelyn Gubalani)
ARRESTED. Police personnel transfer New People's Army (NPA) leader Nicanor Claro Pason to a hospital in General Santos City on Thursday morning (Oct. 10, 2019). Pason, the secretary of the NPA's Guerilla Front 73, was wounded following his arrest along with three other rebels in joint police and military operation around 5:30 a.m. in Maitum town, Sarangani. (PNA photo by Richelyn Gubalani)
A ranking leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sarangani province was wounded and arrested along with three other rebels in a joint police and military operation in Maitum town on Thursday morning.
Lt. Col. Teody Condesa, spokesperson of the Sarangani Police Provincial Office, identified the arrested NPA leader as Nicanor Claro Pason, 51, alias “Kumander Yoyong,” “Ron-ron” and “Acostan,” the secretary of the Guerilla Front 73.
Condesa said Pason and three other NPA members were traveling aboard two motorcycles when they were nabbed around 5:30 a.m. at a portion of Barangay Kalaong in Maitum.
Condesa said the Sarangani police and the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion earlier established a choke point in the area due to reports regarding the presence of NPA rebels, including Pason.
He said the team initially flagged down the suspects for verification but one of them, who turned out to be the NPA leader, resisted and reportedly tried to hurl a grenade towards them.
“The (operating team) was forced to shoot Pason, wounding him on the left foot,” he said in a phone interview.
The three other arrested NPA members were identified as Bernard Presbetero alias Aldrin, 47, of Miana Subdivision, Polomolok town in South Cotabato; Josephine Sumagaysay, 53, of Barangay Zion, Maitum; and, Reynaldo Loyola, 47, of Barangay Kalaong, Maitum.
Condesa said Pason, who hails from Barangay Kablacan in Maasim town, has six standing warrants of arrest issued by various courts for murder, arson, and other crimes.
Pason allegedly led a series of attacks, including the burning of buses and heavy equipment, these past years in Sarangani province and the neighboring areas, authorities said.
Condesa said Pason is considered as one of the top leaders of the NPA in the area and led the Front 73, which operates in the municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum in Sarangani.
“This is a major blow to the NPA and a huge gain to our continuing intensified anti-insurgency campaign,” he said.
He added that Pason and the three other rebels, who are under tight security, will be charged with possession of explosives.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082814
Lt. Col. Teody Condesa, spokesperson of the Sarangani Police Provincial Office, identified the arrested NPA leader as Nicanor Claro Pason, 51, alias “Kumander Yoyong,” “Ron-ron” and “Acostan,” the secretary of the Guerilla Front 73.
Condesa said Pason and three other NPA members were traveling aboard two motorcycles when they were nabbed around 5:30 a.m. at a portion of Barangay Kalaong in Maitum.
Condesa said the Sarangani police and the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion earlier established a choke point in the area due to reports regarding the presence of NPA rebels, including Pason.
He said the team initially flagged down the suspects for verification but one of them, who turned out to be the NPA leader, resisted and reportedly tried to hurl a grenade towards them.
“The (operating team) was forced to shoot Pason, wounding him on the left foot,” he said in a phone interview.
The three other arrested NPA members were identified as Bernard Presbetero alias Aldrin, 47, of Miana Subdivision, Polomolok town in South Cotabato; Josephine Sumagaysay, 53, of Barangay Zion, Maitum; and, Reynaldo Loyola, 47, of Barangay Kalaong, Maitum.
Condesa said Pason, who hails from Barangay Kablacan in Maasim town, has six standing warrants of arrest issued by various courts for murder, arson, and other crimes.
Pason allegedly led a series of attacks, including the burning of buses and heavy equipment, these past years in Sarangani province and the neighboring areas, authorities said.
Condesa said Pason is considered as one of the top leaders of the NPA in the area and led the Front 73, which operates in the municipalities of Maasim, Kiamba, and Maitum in Sarangani.
“This is a major blow to the NPA and a huge gain to our continuing intensified anti-insurgency campaign,” he said.
He added that Pason and the three other rebels, who are under tight security, will be charged with possession of explosives.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082814
BARMM, PCOO kick off media communications workshop
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): BARMM, PCOO kick off media communications workshop
COMMUNICATORS WORKSHOP. Presidential Communications Operations Office Usec. George Apacible speaks during the opening of the first-ever “Media Communications Workshop for BARMM” in Cotabato City on Thursday (Oct. 10. 2019). The two-day activity at the Alnor Hotel Convention Hotel was attended by some 100 information officers (inset) from across the region. (Photo by PNA Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY -- The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in coordination with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), led here Thursday the opening of the Oct. 10-11 “Media Communications Workshop for BARMM” for some 100 information officers across the region.
The two-day activity held at the Alnor Hotel Convention Center intends to hone the capability of regional communicators in delivering accurate information to the public in line with the affairs of the region.
PCOO Undersecretary George Apacible said their group’s role in the activity is to make the regional communicators, as a medium to their respective communities, understand better the government policies and programs.
“President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he would prioritize all communities across the country against prejudice and discrimination, and the threat of extremism regardless of ethnicity, religion and beliefs,” Apacible said, stressing that a balanced and truthful communication strategy is the key to the enhanced cognizance of the public.
Apacible was accompanied here by Director Virginia Arcilla-Agtay of the News and Information Bureau, the mother unit of the Philippine News Agency; and People’s Television Provincial Network Division officer-in-charge Alex Rey Pal, among others.
In his welcome remarks, lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM spokesperson and minister of the interior and local government, said that he expects workshop participants to translate moral governance into the BARMM communications approach through the help of the PCOO people.
“We have talked with the PCOO on this (activity) since August this year and we look forward to good results to erase the old perception that BARMM is a chaotic place by producing balanced news dispatches for the region through the guidance of the national government,” Sinarimbo told the participants.
“We do not need propaganda but rather honest to goodness reports on what is happening across the region,” he added.
Sinarimbo said that through the activity, BARMM is looking forward to the adoption of a communications strategy to project the new image of the region.
“We would just like to get the attention of the national audience that the region is moving to a new direction, that of peace and development,” he said.
Among the topics that would be tackled by the PCOO with BARMM communicators are communications strategies, media relations, content creation and management, procurement process of communications equipment, digital photo and video handling, and basic graphic and layout techniques.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082798
COMMUNICATORS WORKSHOP. Presidential Communications Operations Office Usec. George Apacible speaks during the opening of the first-ever “Media Communications Workshop for BARMM” in Cotabato City on Thursday (Oct. 10. 2019). The two-day activity at the Alnor Hotel Convention Hotel was attended by some 100 information officers (inset) from across the region. (Photo by PNA Cotabato)
COTABATO CITY -- The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), in coordination with the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), led here Thursday the opening of the Oct. 10-11 “Media Communications Workshop for BARMM” for some 100 information officers across the region.
The two-day activity held at the Alnor Hotel Convention Center intends to hone the capability of regional communicators in delivering accurate information to the public in line with the affairs of the region.
PCOO Undersecretary George Apacible said their group’s role in the activity is to make the regional communicators, as a medium to their respective communities, understand better the government policies and programs.
“President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said that he would prioritize all communities across the country against prejudice and discrimination, and the threat of extremism regardless of ethnicity, religion and beliefs,” Apacible said, stressing that a balanced and truthful communication strategy is the key to the enhanced cognizance of the public.
Apacible was accompanied here by Director Virginia Arcilla-Agtay of the News and Information Bureau, the mother unit of the Philippine News Agency; and People’s Television Provincial Network Division officer-in-charge Alex Rey Pal, among others.
In his welcome remarks, lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM spokesperson and minister of the interior and local government, said that he expects workshop participants to translate moral governance into the BARMM communications approach through the help of the PCOO people.
“We have talked with the PCOO on this (activity) since August this year and we look forward to good results to erase the old perception that BARMM is a chaotic place by producing balanced news dispatches for the region through the guidance of the national government,” Sinarimbo told the participants.
“We do not need propaganda but rather honest to goodness reports on what is happening across the region,” he added.
Sinarimbo said that through the activity, BARMM is looking forward to the adoption of a communications strategy to project the new image of the region.
“We would just like to get the attention of the national audience that the region is moving to a new direction, that of peace and development,” he said.
Among the topics that would be tackled by the PCOO with BARMM communicators are communications strategies, media relations, content creation and management, procurement process of communications equipment, digital photo and video handling, and basic graphic and layout techniques.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082798
Tribal leaders elated over Salugpungan closure
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Tribal leaders elated over Salugpungan closure
Datu Lipatuan Joel A. Unad, Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD) chairman. (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY -- A number of tribal leaders in Davao Region welcomed the decision of Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd-11) to permanently close the Salugpungan Ta'tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLCI).
DepEd-11 on Tuesday decided to close down 55 Salupungan schools in the region, three months after suspending the school management's license to operate for various violations and for its alleged links with the communist rebel movement.
Datu Lipatuan Joel A. Unad, chairman of Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD), said the decision of DepEd-11 would prevent indigenous peoples (IP) from being influenced with the New People’s Army (NPA) ideologies.
"We are so happy with the decision. We have longed this for a long time," Unad told the Philippine News Agency.
Lipatuan noted that it was their organization that first initiated a move to report the alleged dubious activities of the Salugpungan schools to Secretary Leonor Briones.
"We asked her (Briones) not to issue a permit to operate to these schools because it would deceive the parents and will be forced to enroll their child, thinking that it is run by DepEd," he said.
But Unad clarified the tribal leaders will allow learning institutions that seek to put up a school in their communities provided that they would follow DepEd’s regulations and standards.
"As long as they comply with the proper requirements such as community consultation, free prior and informed consent, and obtain a permit to operate from DepEd, we will gladly accept it,” he added.
He said the Salugpungan failed to give proper education to IP children, who he said were instead indoctrinated to the communist rebel movement.
"The respect to the elders and to the parents were totally erased in the minds of the children who were under these schools," he said.
"The parents were surprised upon seeing their child on television joining the rallies. The worst thing is that sometimes, parents would receive cadavers of their children who were killed in combat," he added.
Meanwhile, Datu Allan Irom Causing, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Sto. Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, said they initially welcomed the establishment of Salugpungan schools in their communities thinking their children would have better education.
Later on, Causing said they realized that the schools did not follow the curriculum of DepEd and even taught lessons that "destroyed" their culture.
"I thank DepEd for the decision. I was really worried when our children went to these schools. It appeared that they cannot proceed to the next grade level because they don't have proper documentations," he said.
DepEd-11 has assured that STTICLCI's closure would not affect its learners, who will be accommodated by DepEd-run schools near their areas.
In Davao Region alone, at least 33 DepEd-run schools are located adjacent to Salugpungan schools.
More than a thousand Salugpungan learners have already enrolled in various DepEd schools since STTICLCI's permit to operate was suspended in July.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082815
Datu Lipatuan Joel A. Unad, Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD) chairman. (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY -- A number of tribal leaders in Davao Region welcomed the decision of Department of Education in Region 11 (DepEd-11) to permanently close the Salugpungan Ta'tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center Inc. (STTICLCI).
DepEd-11 on Tuesday decided to close down 55 Salupungan schools in the region, three months after suspending the school management's license to operate for various violations and for its alleged links with the communist rebel movement.
Datu Lipatuan Joel A. Unad, chairman of Mindanao Indigenous Peoples Conference for Peace and Development (MIPCPD), said the decision of DepEd-11 would prevent indigenous peoples (IP) from being influenced with the New People’s Army (NPA) ideologies.
"We are so happy with the decision. We have longed this for a long time," Unad told the Philippine News Agency.
Lipatuan noted that it was their organization that first initiated a move to report the alleged dubious activities of the Salugpungan schools to Secretary Leonor Briones.
"We asked her (Briones) not to issue a permit to operate to these schools because it would deceive the parents and will be forced to enroll their child, thinking that it is run by DepEd," he said.
But Unad clarified the tribal leaders will allow learning institutions that seek to put up a school in their communities provided that they would follow DepEd’s regulations and standards.
"As long as they comply with the proper requirements such as community consultation, free prior and informed consent, and obtain a permit to operate from DepEd, we will gladly accept it,” he added.
He said the Salugpungan failed to give proper education to IP children, who he said were instead indoctrinated to the communist rebel movement.
"The respect to the elders and to the parents were totally erased in the minds of the children who were under these schools," he said.
"The parents were surprised upon seeing their child on television joining the rallies. The worst thing is that sometimes, parents would receive cadavers of their children who were killed in combat," he added.
Meanwhile, Datu Allan Irom Causing, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Sto. Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte, said they initially welcomed the establishment of Salugpungan schools in their communities thinking their children would have better education.
Later on, Causing said they realized that the schools did not follow the curriculum of DepEd and even taught lessons that "destroyed" their culture.
"I thank DepEd for the decision. I was really worried when our children went to these schools. It appeared that they cannot proceed to the next grade level because they don't have proper documentations," he said.
DepEd-11 has assured that STTICLCI's closure would not affect its learners, who will be accommodated by DepEd-run schools near their areas.
In Davao Region alone, at least 33 DepEd-run schools are located adjacent to Salugpungan schools.
More than a thousand Salugpungan learners have already enrolled in various DepEd schools since STTICLCI's permit to operate was suspended in July.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082815
Ex-village councilman, businesswoman slain in NoCot gun attacks
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Ex-village councilman, businesswoman slain in NoCot gun attacks
CHECKPOINT. Members of the Antipas municipal police in North Cotabato conduct checkpoint operations following the murder of a retired village councilman of Barangay Malangag in the area on Wednesday (Oct. 9, 2019). On the same day, a businesswoman was gunned down in Matalam town in the same province by a still-unidentified assailant. (Photo courtesy of PRO-12)
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato – A former village councilman and a businesswoman were separately killed in the towns of Matalam and Antipas in North Cotabato on Wednesday, the police said.
Lt. Col. Lino Capellan, speaking for Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen), said retired village councilman Nemesio Castor, 65, of Barangay Malangag, Antipas, North Cotabato, was resting in front of his home at past 4 p.m. when a man on a motorbike arrived and fired at him.
Castor was rushed by relatives to the Antipas Medical Specialist Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Meanwhile, businesswoman Marissa Bautista, 46, of Barangay Poblacion, Matalam, was tending her variety store when a still-unidentified gunman shot him without any provocation.
“The man posed as one of the customers at 6 a.m. when he pulled a gun and fired at the unsuspecting lady trader,” Capellan said, quoting a report from the Matalam police office.
Capellan said both the Matalam and Antipas municipal police offices have launched separate manhunt operations against the killers of the victims.
“We remain optimistic to be able to capture those behind the separate killings and bring them before the bar of justice soon,” he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082777
CHECKPOINT. Members of the Antipas municipal police in North Cotabato conduct checkpoint operations following the murder of a retired village councilman of Barangay Malangag in the area on Wednesday (Oct. 9, 2019). On the same day, a businesswoman was gunned down in Matalam town in the same province by a still-unidentified assailant. (Photo courtesy of PRO-12)
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato – A former village councilman and a businesswoman were separately killed in the towns of Matalam and Antipas in North Cotabato on Wednesday, the police said.
Lt. Col. Lino Capellan, speaking for Police Regional Office 12 (Soccsksargen), said retired village councilman Nemesio Castor, 65, of Barangay Malangag, Antipas, North Cotabato, was resting in front of his home at past 4 p.m. when a man on a motorbike arrived and fired at him.
Castor was rushed by relatives to the Antipas Medical Specialist Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Meanwhile, businesswoman Marissa Bautista, 46, of Barangay Poblacion, Matalam, was tending her variety store when a still-unidentified gunman shot him without any provocation.
“The man posed as one of the customers at 6 a.m. when he pulled a gun and fired at the unsuspecting lady trader,” Capellan said, quoting a report from the Matalam police office.
Capellan said both the Matalam and Antipas municipal police offices have launched separate manhunt operations against the killers of the victims.
“We remain optimistic to be able to capture those behind the separate killings and bring them before the bar of justice soon,” he said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082777
Army engineer recalls life as NPA captive 20 years ago
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): Army engineer recalls life as NPA captive 20 years ago
NPA CAPTIVE. Retired Army Colonel Eduardo Montealto Jr., now the Regional Director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas, recalls his life as a captive of the Pulang Bagani command of the New People’s Army in Davao City in 1999. Montealto narrated that many of the warriors under the command of Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago were schoolchildren from Surigao del Sur. (PNA file photo)
NPA CAPTIVE. Retired Army Colonel Eduardo Montealto Jr., now the Regional Director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas, recalls his life as a captive of the Pulang Bagani command of the New People’s Army in Davao City in 1999. Montealto narrated that many of the warriors under the command of Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago were schoolchildren from Surigao del Sur. (PNA file photo)
CEBU CITY – It was an awkward situation for an Army captain to be guarded by minors armed with long rifles during his two-month captivity by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao City some 20 years ago, but he befriended them, pinning hope on his young guardians for his survival.
Then-Captain Eduardo Montealto Jr., who retired with the rank of Colonel before joining the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to spearhead the PUV modernization program in Central Visayas, recalled on Wednesday how he and his commanding officer were kidnapped by NPA rebels in February of 1999.
Montealto and his superior, then-Brig. Gen. Victor Obillo, commander of the 55th Engineer Brigade in Davao City, were conducting an ocular inspection for a road project in the village of Kalatong in Davao City when the NPA rebels flagged down their pick-up truck.
Montealto was the Brigade’s logistics officer when the kidnapping occurred.
Their driver who was a Corporal and a civilian traveling with them were released. But Obillo and Montealto were brought to the NPA hideout and word of their capture spread like wildfire.
“We were inspecting aggregates to be used for the road projects. We collect samples of the aggregates for lab test in UP (University of the Philippines) in Mindanao. While we were driving down the hills, the NPA rebels caught us,” Montealto told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in Cebuano in an interview.
When they were brought to Kumander Parago (Leoncio Pitao), leader of the Pulang Bagani (red fighters) command in Southern Mindanao, they were met with several children carrying rifles, he said.
Montealto also recalled that he was guarded by children during his two months of captivity.
“Ang nag-guwardiya nako giti-onan ko mga bata gyud. Ako gipangutana pila imo edad, naay 13. Mao ako sila gi-estorya asa sila gikan, ug nahibaw-an nako taga Surigao sila (Those who were assigned to guard me were children. I asked one how old he was and I found out there was a 13-year-old. And so I was able to talk to them and I learned that they were from Surigao),” he narrated.
Montealto said he noticed that the children at the Pulang Bagani command underwent indoctrination, with rebel leaders brainwashing them by telling stories about government oppression.
“The children fighters were also taught how to conduct sparrow operations and tactical movement. And if they had operations, they would deploy first the children,” he said.
He also noticed how the children had adapted to life as rebel warriors in the mountain.
He said he saw one child fighter cleaning the firearms one after another and consistently putting a “pasulong bullet” (fighter’s lingo on chamber-load) in the barrel when cleaning, so that they were always ready to fire in times of eventuality.
The children, Montealto said, confided to him that they went to a school in Surigao del Sur (near Tandag) where they sang “Himno Internasyonal” every morning, instead of the Lupang Hinirang. Half of the class of 40 students in that Surigao del Sur school went up to the mountain of Davao City to join other young fighters under Kumander Parago.
Many of the child warriors' parents went to the mountain to see them, he recalled. But none of them was allowed to climb to the Pulang Bagani station.
Montealto learned later on that the parents were provided with provisions called “supamil” which means “suporta sa pamilya” (support to the family).
He also recalled counting around 140 fighters, including regular rebels who also became his “friends” while in captivity. He remembered how one Pulang Bagani combatant with the nickname “Vic” secured him during long walks in the hinterlands.
“Mahadlok ko magtan-aw kay iyang armalite naka-on ang safety pin, ako giingnan “sir naka-kuan ang safety sa armalite mo, makalabit mo pa’g ma-slide tayo. Ilagay sa safety. (I was scared seeing his Armalite with safety pin open. I would ask him 'sir, the safety pin of your armalite is open, you might pull the trigger if we slide off the ground. Put it on safety'),” he recalled.
The abducted Army captain also recalled seeing 14 female students of a big university in Davao who went to the mountain as OJT (on-the-job training) under the rebel command of Parago.
“Hostage pa ko nila, ako sila gi-estoryahan kanus-a sila naabot. Motubag sila nako mag-sir. Ako pud sila giingnan ayaw lang mo pag-sir kay pantay-pantay ra ta dire (I was their hostage then when I had the chance to talk to them when they arrived. They call me 'sir' when they answer my question. I had to tell them not to address me sir as we were treated as equals there),” Montealto said.
While in captivity, Montealto said he had the chance to study the rebels' tactical doctrine some of which were incomprehensible and bore “deep Visayan” terms and explanations.
He also recalled that rebel leaders Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni would call him from the Netherlands to check on their situation while in captivity.
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, General Joselin Nazareno then flew to Davao to coordinate military efforts to free Obillo and Montealto.
News records showed that Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado justified Obillo and Montealto’s presence in the area, saying they were "non-combatants" and that being Army engineers, they were there to build roads and bridges for poor residents in Mindanao.
A series of negotiations ensued.
Then presidential adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza and Senator Loren Legarda, along with two bishops (one of them was Bishop Jesus Varela), negotiated for their release.
But before the release happened, he suffered the ordeal of being tried before the Kangaroo court, with “baseless” accusations.
“Nasipyat sila. Gi-accuse ko nga one of Marcos’ secret marhals kuno ko and nag-land grab ko. In 1972, elementary pa man ko, unsaon man nako pagka-secret marshal? Sipyat sila ato (They mistook me. They accused me as one of Marcos’ secret marshals and I went on land-grabbing. In 1972, I was just an elementary pupil, how could I be a secret marshal? They made a mistake),” he narrated.
He said that he was able to list down their accusations that they broadcast on radio, but he said they did not read his answers.
Due to mounting pressure from the public for the release of Obillo and Montealto, amid then President Joseph Estrada's order to suspend peace talks, the Pulang Bagani children warriors bade farewell to the two Army engineers.
After 58 days of captivity, Montealto and Obillo were freed in the mountain village of Suawan in Davao’s Marilog District.
They were brought down a steep hill and allowed to meet their wives inside a van before joining a ceremony at which Parago himself formally announced Montealto and Obillo’s release to the representatives of the Philippine Red Cross.
After his release, Montealto was transferred to another Army unit that led a successful operation in the NPA lair headed by Parago, where fighters numbering around 60 – including the child warriors – surrendered to the government forces.
His captor, Pitao or Kumander Parago, was killed along with a suspected female rebel in an encounter with 6th Scout Ranger Company of the Philippine Army in Pañalum village, Paquibato District in Davao City in June 2015.
Pitao’s Pulang Bagani command was considered as the main unit of the NPA in Davao region. At the time of his death, he had several warrants of arrest for various crimes including murder, multiple frustrated murder and robbery.
Montealto said he received an offer to make his story as NPA captive the subject of a movie to be starred by Philip Salvador but due to some reasons, it never materialized.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082799
Then-Captain Eduardo Montealto Jr., who retired with the rank of Colonel before joining the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to spearhead the PUV modernization program in Central Visayas, recalled on Wednesday how he and his commanding officer were kidnapped by NPA rebels in February of 1999.
Montealto and his superior, then-Brig. Gen. Victor Obillo, commander of the 55th Engineer Brigade in Davao City, were conducting an ocular inspection for a road project in the village of Kalatong in Davao City when the NPA rebels flagged down their pick-up truck.
Montealto was the Brigade’s logistics officer when the kidnapping occurred.
Their driver who was a Corporal and a civilian traveling with them were released. But Obillo and Montealto were brought to the NPA hideout and word of their capture spread like wildfire.
“We were inspecting aggregates to be used for the road projects. We collect samples of the aggregates for lab test in UP (University of the Philippines) in Mindanao. While we were driving down the hills, the NPA rebels caught us,” Montealto told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in Cebuano in an interview.
When they were brought to Kumander Parago (Leoncio Pitao), leader of the Pulang Bagani (red fighters) command in Southern Mindanao, they were met with several children carrying rifles, he said.
Montealto also recalled that he was guarded by children during his two months of captivity.
“Ang nag-guwardiya nako giti-onan ko mga bata gyud. Ako gipangutana pila imo edad, naay 13. Mao ako sila gi-estorya asa sila gikan, ug nahibaw-an nako taga Surigao sila (Those who were assigned to guard me were children. I asked one how old he was and I found out there was a 13-year-old. And so I was able to talk to them and I learned that they were from Surigao),” he narrated.
Montealto said he noticed that the children at the Pulang Bagani command underwent indoctrination, with rebel leaders brainwashing them by telling stories about government oppression.
“The children fighters were also taught how to conduct sparrow operations and tactical movement. And if they had operations, they would deploy first the children,” he said.
He also noticed how the children had adapted to life as rebel warriors in the mountain.
He said he saw one child fighter cleaning the firearms one after another and consistently putting a “pasulong bullet” (fighter’s lingo on chamber-load) in the barrel when cleaning, so that they were always ready to fire in times of eventuality.
The children, Montealto said, confided to him that they went to a school in Surigao del Sur (near Tandag) where they sang “Himno Internasyonal” every morning, instead of the Lupang Hinirang. Half of the class of 40 students in that Surigao del Sur school went up to the mountain of Davao City to join other young fighters under Kumander Parago.
Many of the child warriors' parents went to the mountain to see them, he recalled. But none of them was allowed to climb to the Pulang Bagani station.
Montealto learned later on that the parents were provided with provisions called “supamil” which means “suporta sa pamilya” (support to the family).
He also recalled counting around 140 fighters, including regular rebels who also became his “friends” while in captivity. He remembered how one Pulang Bagani combatant with the nickname “Vic” secured him during long walks in the hinterlands.
“Mahadlok ko magtan-aw kay iyang armalite naka-on ang safety pin, ako giingnan “sir naka-kuan ang safety sa armalite mo, makalabit mo pa’g ma-slide tayo. Ilagay sa safety. (I was scared seeing his Armalite with safety pin open. I would ask him 'sir, the safety pin of your armalite is open, you might pull the trigger if we slide off the ground. Put it on safety'),” he recalled.
The abducted Army captain also recalled seeing 14 female students of a big university in Davao who went to the mountain as OJT (on-the-job training) under the rebel command of Parago.
“Hostage pa ko nila, ako sila gi-estoryahan kanus-a sila naabot. Motubag sila nako mag-sir. Ako pud sila giingnan ayaw lang mo pag-sir kay pantay-pantay ra ta dire (I was their hostage then when I had the chance to talk to them when they arrived. They call me 'sir' when they answer my question. I had to tell them not to address me sir as we were treated as equals there),” Montealto said.
While in captivity, Montealto said he had the chance to study the rebels' tactical doctrine some of which were incomprehensible and bore “deep Visayan” terms and explanations.
He also recalled that rebel leaders Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni would call him from the Netherlands to check on their situation while in captivity.
Former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, General Joselin Nazareno then flew to Davao to coordinate military efforts to free Obillo and Montealto.
News records showed that Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado justified Obillo and Montealto’s presence in the area, saying they were "non-combatants" and that being Army engineers, they were there to build roads and bridges for poor residents in Mindanao.
A series of negotiations ensued.
Then presidential adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dureza and Senator Loren Legarda, along with two bishops (one of them was Bishop Jesus Varela), negotiated for their release.
But before the release happened, he suffered the ordeal of being tried before the Kangaroo court, with “baseless” accusations.
“Nasipyat sila. Gi-accuse ko nga one of Marcos’ secret marhals kuno ko and nag-land grab ko. In 1972, elementary pa man ko, unsaon man nako pagka-secret marshal? Sipyat sila ato (They mistook me. They accused me as one of Marcos’ secret marshals and I went on land-grabbing. In 1972, I was just an elementary pupil, how could I be a secret marshal? They made a mistake),” he narrated.
He said that he was able to list down their accusations that they broadcast on radio, but he said they did not read his answers.
Due to mounting pressure from the public for the release of Obillo and Montealto, amid then President Joseph Estrada's order to suspend peace talks, the Pulang Bagani children warriors bade farewell to the two Army engineers.
After 58 days of captivity, Montealto and Obillo were freed in the mountain village of Suawan in Davao’s Marilog District.
They were brought down a steep hill and allowed to meet their wives inside a van before joining a ceremony at which Parago himself formally announced Montealto and Obillo’s release to the representatives of the Philippine Red Cross.
After his release, Montealto was transferred to another Army unit that led a successful operation in the NPA lair headed by Parago, where fighters numbering around 60 – including the child warriors – surrendered to the government forces.
His captor, Pitao or Kumander Parago, was killed along with a suspected female rebel in an encounter with 6th Scout Ranger Company of the Philippine Army in Pañalum village, Paquibato District in Davao City in June 2015.
Pitao’s Pulang Bagani command was considered as the main unit of the NPA in Davao region. At the time of his death, he had several warrants of arrest for various crimes including murder, multiple frustrated murder and robbery.
Montealto said he received an offer to make his story as NPA captive the subject of a movie to be starred by Philip Salvador but due to some reasons, it never materialized.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082799
DND allots P48.5-M to buy ammo
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): DND allots P48.5-M to buy ammo
To ensure that military units have enough ammunition for any eventualities, the Department of National Defense-Government Arsenal (DND-GA) in Limay, Bataan is allocating PHP48.5 million to buy a total of one million 5.56mm bullets and 7.62 tracer cartridges.
To be bought are 700,000 rounds of 5.56mm M855/SS109 bullet and 300,000 rounds of 7.62mm tracer cartridges, the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System said.
Winning bidders are required to deliver the items in 150 days.
The pre-bid conference is scheduled for October 17, 1:30 p.m. at the Government Arsenal, Camp General Antonio Luna, Lamao, Limay, Bataan.
The 5.56mm bullets are used to arm the various models of the M-16 automatic rifles and M-4 carbine used by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines while the 7.62mm cartridges are for the sniper rifles and light machineguns for the military.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082776
To be bought are 700,000 rounds of 5.56mm M855/SS109 bullet and 300,000 rounds of 7.62mm tracer cartridges, the bid bulletin posted at the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System said.
Winning bidders are required to deliver the items in 150 days.
The pre-bid conference is scheduled for October 17, 1:30 p.m. at the Government Arsenal, Camp General Antonio Luna, Lamao, Limay, Bataan.
The 5.56mm bullets are used to arm the various models of the M-16 automatic rifles and M-4 carbine used by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines while the 7.62mm cartridges are for the sniper rifles and light machineguns for the military.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082776
12 NPA rebels, including young mother, surrender to gov’t
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): 12 NPA rebels, including young mother, surrender to gov’t
RETURNEES. Presidential Peace Adviser and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 3 Carlito G. Galvez Jr. talks to the rebel returnees in Malolos City, Bulacan on Wednesday (Oct. 9, 2019). At 12 New People’s Army rebels, including an 18-year-old mother, surrendered to the government. (Photo courtesy of OPAPP)
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan -- At least 12 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Central Luzon have surrendered to authorities on Wednesday after being heavily exploited by the communist group.
The returnees were given immediate cash assistance and other forms of aid during the special Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) meeting presided over by Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr., the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 3.
“Walang pakialam ang mga komunista sa mga batang katulad nito, pero kami sa gobyerno, pinangangalagaan namin pati mga bata. (The communists have no regard for the young ones like this baby, but we in the government, we protect them, including the children),” Galvez said, referring to one of the returnees, an 18-year-old girl who had a two-month-old child in tow.
Concerned government agencies will be further assessing the returnees to determine the interventions to be provided to the former rebels.
The six firearms and other weapons turned over by the returnees were presented to the media earlier in the day.
Galvez also encouraged the returnees to convince their comrades who are still in the mountains to return to the folds of the law.
“Magbalik-loob na sila. Wag na silang maniwala sa mga komunista kasi puro kasinungalingan ang sinasabi nila. (They should return to the government. They should stop believing the communists because what they are saying are all lies),” he said.
Galvez said among the key areas the government is focusing on in the fight against the communist insurgency in Region 3 (Central Luzon) is preventing the recruitment of cadres, particularly among the youth.
Recruited at 15
Among the returnees is Jane (Not her real name) who was recruited at age 15 by the urban poor organization Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay.
“Ang sabi po sa amin, may libre pong pabahay, wala daw po kaming babayaran (We were told that there would be free housing, that we would not pay a cent, Jane said.),” Jane narrated.
Shortly after joining the group, she and her fellow recruits were assigned in hinterland communities.
This didn’t come as a surprise, as she demonstrated leadership qualities which enabled her to rise from the ranks as a youth organizer for Anakbayan, a left-leaning group.
Jane believed she was serving her countrymen when she joined the NPA. But when their leader prevented her from returning to the city, she knew that something wasn’t right.
“Pag bumaba daw po kami, totorturin at papatayin daw po kami ng militar. ‘Yun po ang sabi nila (If we go down to the city, we will be tortured and killed by the military. That’s what they [our commanders] said.),” she said.
Jane, who is now 18, also shared her ordeals when she was up in the mountains.
“Mahirap kumain, pagod, hirap, binubuhat nga namin bag namin, may bigas pa. Sa bag po kasi namin, 40 kilos yung pinakamabigat. Bukod pa po yung baril namin. Ganun po kahirap doon, tapos ‘yung dinadaanan po namin, diretso po siyang paakyat, ‘yung hahawakan lang namin damo-damo po. Tapos ‘yung sa baba niya, bato na, may kawayan pa,” she said. (It’s difficult to eat, we are tired, burdened, we carry our bags filled with rice grains; in our bags, 40 kilos of rice is the heaviest. That’s aside from our guns. That’s how difficult it is there, plus the trails that we cross are all vertical. We would just cling on to the grass. Downwards, there would be rocks and bamboo.)
By the time she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, she decided that her son, who is now two months old, will not suffer the same fate.
“Naglilinis po kasi ako ng granada noon, sabi ko [sa commander namin], pasabugin ko na lang kaya itong granada na ito kung ayaw niyo rin akong pababain (I was cleaning a grenade that time, then I told our commander, ‘why don’t I just detonate this grenade, since you won’t let me go anyway,’ Jane recalled.),” Jane recalled.
Now free from the clutches of the NPA, she has a message for those who are planning to join the rebel group.
“Sana ‘yung iba ko pang kasamahan na mga kabataan na gusto pang sumampa, itigil na po nila ‘yun, dahil wala naman pong patutunguhan ‘yung buhay nila.(Hopefully, other youths that still plan to go to the mountains, would abandon such plans, because their lives up there would end up nowhere, she said.),” Jane said.
RETURNEES. Presidential Peace Adviser and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 3 Carlito G. Galvez Jr. talks to the rebel returnees in Malolos City, Bulacan on Wednesday (Oct. 9, 2019). At 12 New People’s Army rebels, including an 18-year-old mother, surrendered to the government. (Photo courtesy of OPAPP)
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan -- At least 12 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Central Luzon have surrendered to authorities on Wednesday after being heavily exploited by the communist group.
The returnees were given immediate cash assistance and other forms of aid during the special Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) meeting presided over by Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr., the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 3.
“Walang pakialam ang mga komunista sa mga batang katulad nito, pero kami sa gobyerno, pinangangalagaan namin pati mga bata. (The communists have no regard for the young ones like this baby, but we in the government, we protect them, including the children),” Galvez said, referring to one of the returnees, an 18-year-old girl who had a two-month-old child in tow.
Concerned government agencies will be further assessing the returnees to determine the interventions to be provided to the former rebels.
The six firearms and other weapons turned over by the returnees were presented to the media earlier in the day.
Galvez also encouraged the returnees to convince their comrades who are still in the mountains to return to the folds of the law.
“Magbalik-loob na sila. Wag na silang maniwala sa mga komunista kasi puro kasinungalingan ang sinasabi nila. (They should return to the government. They should stop believing the communists because what they are saying are all lies),” he said.
Galvez said among the key areas the government is focusing on in the fight against the communist insurgency in Region 3 (Central Luzon) is preventing the recruitment of cadres, particularly among the youth.
Recruited at 15
Among the returnees is Jane (Not her real name) who was recruited at age 15 by the urban poor organization Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap or Kadamay.
“Ang sabi po sa amin, may libre pong pabahay, wala daw po kaming babayaran (We were told that there would be free housing, that we would not pay a cent, Jane said.),” Jane narrated.
Shortly after joining the group, she and her fellow recruits were assigned in hinterland communities.
This didn’t come as a surprise, as she demonstrated leadership qualities which enabled her to rise from the ranks as a youth organizer for Anakbayan, a left-leaning group.
Jane believed she was serving her countrymen when she joined the NPA. But when their leader prevented her from returning to the city, she knew that something wasn’t right.
“Pag bumaba daw po kami, totorturin at papatayin daw po kami ng militar. ‘Yun po ang sabi nila (If we go down to the city, we will be tortured and killed by the military. That’s what they [our commanders] said.),” she said.
Jane, who is now 18, also shared her ordeals when she was up in the mountains.
“Mahirap kumain, pagod, hirap, binubuhat nga namin bag namin, may bigas pa. Sa bag po kasi namin, 40 kilos yung pinakamabigat. Bukod pa po yung baril namin. Ganun po kahirap doon, tapos ‘yung dinadaanan po namin, diretso po siyang paakyat, ‘yung hahawakan lang namin damo-damo po. Tapos ‘yung sa baba niya, bato na, may kawayan pa,” she said. (It’s difficult to eat, we are tired, burdened, we carry our bags filled with rice grains; in our bags, 40 kilos of rice is the heaviest. That’s aside from our guns. That’s how difficult it is there, plus the trails that we cross are all vertical. We would just cling on to the grass. Downwards, there would be rocks and bamboo.)
By the time she became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, she decided that her son, who is now two months old, will not suffer the same fate.
“Naglilinis po kasi ako ng granada noon, sabi ko [sa commander namin], pasabugin ko na lang kaya itong granada na ito kung ayaw niyo rin akong pababain (I was cleaning a grenade that time, then I told our commander, ‘why don’t I just detonate this grenade, since you won’t let me go anyway,’ Jane recalled.),” Jane recalled.
Now free from the clutches of the NPA, she has a message for those who are planning to join the rebel group.
“Sana ‘yung iba ko pang kasamahan na mga kabataan na gusto pang sumampa, itigil na po nila ‘yun, dahil wala naman pong patutunguhan ‘yung buhay nila.(Hopefully, other youths that still plan to go to the mountains, would abandon such plans, because their lives up there would end up nowhere, she said.),” Jane said.
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito G. Galvez Jr. poses with local chief executives and members of national, regional and provincial agencies after signing pledge of commitment to end communist movement in Central Luzon. (Photo courtesy of OPAPP)
Pledge to end communist movement in Central Luzon
At least four governors and five mayors of Central Luzon, along with top officials of the region signed a pledge of commitment that will leverage government resources “to defeat a scourge that is instilling fear, mistrust and hate among our people.”
“As local chief executives, members of national, regional and provincial agencies, we shall take the lead in creating a conducive environment where long-lasting peace and sustainable development can flourish,” Galvez said.
Pledge to end communist movement in Central Luzon
At least four governors and five mayors of Central Luzon, along with top officials of the region signed a pledge of commitment that will leverage government resources “to defeat a scourge that is instilling fear, mistrust and hate among our people.”
“As local chief executives, members of national, regional and provincial agencies, we shall take the lead in creating a conducive environment where long-lasting peace and sustainable development can flourish,” Galvez said.
Pledge of Commitment (OPAPP photo)
Among the governors who signed the pledge of commitment were Gerardo A. Noveras of Aurora; Daniel R. Fernando of Bulacan; Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. of Zambales; and Dennis G. Pineda of Pampanga while the mayors were Ambrosio C. Cruz Jr. of Guiguinto, Bulacan; Edgardo G. Flores of Minalin, Pampanga; Francis Anthony S. Garcia of Balanga City, Bataan; Maria Cristina Angeles of Tarlac City, Tarlac; and Nestor Alvarez of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Other officials who signed the pledge were Galvez, Maj. Gen. Ramiro Manuel A. Rey, commanding officer of Northern Luzon Command; Maj. Gen. Lenard M. Agustin, commanding officer of the 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, and co-vice chair, Regional Peace and Order Council 3; Julie J. Daquioag, regional director, Department of the Interior and Local Government - Central Luzon, and RPOC secretariat; as well as heads of government agencies under RTF-ELCAC 3.
The council also approved the implementation plans (IMPLANs) of the 10 clusters, which were formulated during the two-day convergence workshop in Pampanga last September.
The cluster IMPLANs detail the programs and activities that will be undertaken in support of Executive Order 70 or the Whole-of-Nation Approach in ending the local communist armed conflict.
Fernando noted that the IMPLAN contains key measures that aim to put an end to the communist insurgency in their areas.
“Kapag malaya at ligtas na nakapamumuhay ang mga mamamayan, nagiging mas aktibo ang ekonomiya. Mas mabilis dumaloy ang kabuhayan. Walang alinlangan ang mga mamamayan na makibahagi sa mga programa ng pamahalaan. (When the people are able to live freely and safely, the economy is vibrant. Livelihood gets channeled faster. People have no qualms about partaking with government programs, he said.)” Fernando said. (PR)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082796
Among the governors who signed the pledge of commitment were Gerardo A. Noveras of Aurora; Daniel R. Fernando of Bulacan; Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. of Zambales; and Dennis G. Pineda of Pampanga while the mayors were Ambrosio C. Cruz Jr. of Guiguinto, Bulacan; Edgardo G. Flores of Minalin, Pampanga; Francis Anthony S. Garcia of Balanga City, Bataan; Maria Cristina Angeles of Tarlac City, Tarlac; and Nestor Alvarez of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Other officials who signed the pledge were Galvez, Maj. Gen. Ramiro Manuel A. Rey, commanding officer of Northern Luzon Command; Maj. Gen. Lenard M. Agustin, commanding officer of the 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, and co-vice chair, Regional Peace and Order Council 3; Julie J. Daquioag, regional director, Department of the Interior and Local Government - Central Luzon, and RPOC secretariat; as well as heads of government agencies under RTF-ELCAC 3.
The council also approved the implementation plans (IMPLANs) of the 10 clusters, which were formulated during the two-day convergence workshop in Pampanga last September.
The cluster IMPLANs detail the programs and activities that will be undertaken in support of Executive Order 70 or the Whole-of-Nation Approach in ending the local communist armed conflict.
Fernando noted that the IMPLAN contains key measures that aim to put an end to the communist insurgency in their areas.
“Kapag malaya at ligtas na nakapamumuhay ang mga mamamayan, nagiging mas aktibo ang ekonomiya. Mas mabilis dumaloy ang kabuhayan. Walang alinlangan ang mga mamamayan na makibahagi sa mga programa ng pamahalaan. (When the people are able to live freely and safely, the economy is vibrant. Livelihood gets channeled faster. People have no qualms about partaking with government programs, he said.)” Fernando said. (PR)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082796
'Super Tucano' deliveries to begin by February 2020: DND
From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10, 2019): 'Super Tucano' deliveries to begin by February 2020: DND
Deliveries of six brand-new light attack aircraft of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) are expected to begin by the end of February 2020, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Thursday.
This was bared by the DND Public Affairs Service when sought for an update on the possible delivery date of the Embraer Defense and Security A-29 "Super Tucano" close air support aircraft.
The "Super Tucanos" are expected to beef up the remaining North American Rockwell OV-10 "Bronco" attack aircraft being used by the PAF in strike missions. The turboprop aircraft is designed for light attack, counter-insurgency, close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions in low threat environments, as well as providing pilot training.
Designed to operate in high temperature and humidity conditions in extremely rugged terrain, the "Super Tucano" is highly maneuverable, has a low heat signature and incorporates 4th generation avionics and weapons system to deliver precision-guided munitions.
The contract for the six "Super Tucano" was issued late 2017 and is worth PHP4.968 billion.
Funds will be sourced from the AFP Modernization Act Trust Fund.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082787
This was bared by the DND Public Affairs Service when sought for an update on the possible delivery date of the Embraer Defense and Security A-29 "Super Tucano" close air support aircraft.
The "Super Tucanos" are expected to beef up the remaining North American Rockwell OV-10 "Bronco" attack aircraft being used by the PAF in strike missions. The turboprop aircraft is designed for light attack, counter-insurgency, close air support, aerial reconnaissance missions in low threat environments, as well as providing pilot training.
Designed to operate in high temperature and humidity conditions in extremely rugged terrain, the "Super Tucano" is highly maneuverable, has a low heat signature and incorporates 4th generation avionics and weapons system to deliver precision-guided munitions.
The contract for the six "Super Tucano" was issued late 2017 and is worth PHP4.968 billion.
Funds will be sourced from the AFP Modernization Act Trust Fund.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1082787
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