Former rebels get livelihood projects, social protection packages

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 13, 2020): Former rebels get livelihood projects, social protection packages (By Pilar S. Mabaquiao)

SAN JOSE, Antique, Oct. 12 (PIA) - - The former rebels (FRs) who have returned to the folds of the law were given livelihood projects and social protection packages by various government agencies.

The 20 FRs are under the care of the Philippine National Police Regional Intelligence Group 6 while the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) is still on process.

Antique Consultant on Peace and Order and Public Safety Margie L. Gadian emphasized the commitment of the Provincial Government here and other government agencies as well to ensure that those who have decided to return to the folds of the law will be assisted with their needs so they could return to normal and peaceful life.

The first batch of 11 FRs already availed livelihood projects from the Department of Labor and Employment while the remaining nine are still in process.

Most of them opted to venture into livestock (carabao/cattle), swine and poultry raising while others are into sari-sari-store project.

The project for the remaining nine FRs are still in process.

Aside from the livelihood support, they have also received financial assistance from the provincial government and their respective municipalities through their program Aid to Individual in Crisis Situation.

For Social Protection Packages, PhilHealth Antique assured them of their benefits and privileges under the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law.

The Provincial Health Office also assured them of the medical assistance in partnership with the Rural Health Units and District Hospitals where they are located and the Medical Assistance Fund from the Provincial Government and Office of House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda.

During the planning workshop to enlist these FRs to E-CLIP, various government agencies have pledged for additional support to include training programs from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) so they could earn skills to sustain their livelihood or start a new venture.

The FRs’ Focal Person in response, echoed their appreciation for the services and privileges that they have received from the government that could help them and their families start a new life. (JBG/psm/PIA-Antique)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055806

USAID, partners hold Microbiological Risk Assessment for TB webinar

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 13, 2020): USAID, partners hold Microbiological Risk Assessment for TB webinar (By Gabriela Liana S. Barela)

TARLAC CITY, Oct.13 (PIA) -- About 335 medical technologists and other stakeholders both from public and private facilities in Central Luzon attended a webinar on Microbiological Risk Assessment for Tuberculosis (TB).

Entitled “Microbiological Risk Assessment: The Backbone of Laboratory Biosafety”, it was organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) TB Platforms Project in partnership with Department of Health (DOH) Region 3, National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory-Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (NTRL-RITM), and Philippine Business for Social Progress Access TB Project.

“The webinar aims to capacitate TB laboratory personnel about the basic guidelines and concepts on laboratory biosafety protocols and build competence of laboratory service staff at service delivery points. These personnel are key staff during the process of microbiological risk assessment, development of quality control plan and implementation of risk management,” USAID’s TB Platforms Project Social and Behavior Change Communication Specialist Diwata Paredes said.

In her message, DOH Region 3 National TB Control Program Coordinator Eloisa Vidar emphasized the importance of the activity.

"This will pave the way for the development of a baseline risk assessment in TB Microscopy Laboratories and Rapid TB Diagnostic Laboratories (RTDL) performing TB testing using the risk management process in the context of COVID-19 and a Quality Improvement project of the RDTLs nationwide," Vidar stressed.

Resource speakers from NTRL-RITM Earl Christian Mantes and Catherine Sacopon shared World Health Organization’s (WHO) issuance and NTRL Department Memorandum on the interim guidelines on handling infectious specimen for TB testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sacopon explained WHO-prescribed risk assessment template in identifying hazards and evaluating risks and control measures.

Also highlighted were the risk management process and common sources of laboratory errors. Likewise, a review of the systematic approach to evaluate risks and hazards and how to manage and mitigate risks of any laboratory activity has been tackled. (CLJD/GLSB-PIA 3)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055929

House Chair on IP Committee condemns killing of Surigao IPMR, 2 others

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 13, 2020): House Chair on IP Committee condemns killing of Surigao IPMR, 2 others (By Peter A. Balocnit)

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga, Oct. 13 (PIA) – Kalinga Representative Allen Jesse Mangaoang, Chairman on Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples of the House of Representatives, condemned in strongest sense the murder of Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Jomar Bucales and two others in Surigao del Sur by alleged New People’s Army.

"As an indigenous person, I am particularly outraged by the atrocities committed by the NPA against our IP leaders, most recently the brutal killings of IPMR Jomar Bucales and his two companions in Surigao del Sur. I strongly condemn such inhuman and cowardly attacks”, he said in a statement.

He demands immediate action to ensure the safety of the IPs, and that all the perpetrators of this barbaric act including those who supported, incited and aided them must be brought to justice.

He also finds it utterly sickening that certain groups like the Communist Party of the Philippines appear to have praised and commended these senseless killings.

“They demonstrate once again their inhumanity, utter disregard of human rights and lives, and brutal convictions that are inciting mass atrocities against defenseless communities. These communists are nothing but terrorists and they do not have a place in this civilized society,” he further stated.

Lastly, I stand in full solidarity with the victims' families and urge my fellow IPs to be united in our call for justice for our slain brothers, Mangaoang said. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055846

Dabawenyos urged to support culture of security exercise

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 13, 2020): Dabawenyos urged to support culture of security exercise (By Joey Dalumpines)

DAVAO City Oct. 9 (PIA) - Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio urged the city residents to support the culture of security exercise next week to be spearheaded by the Task Force Davao, the Davao City Police Office and the Public Safety Command Center.

She said it is an exercise which is an innovation by the Task Force Davao with the city being a target of terrorists.

Duterte-Carpio revealed people will be given tips on how the perpetrators look like and urged to report them to the authorities.

She said the exercise needs the support and cooperation of the people to apprehend the terrorists. “Community support is needed due to the limited number of the member of the security sector. We expect 800,000 reliable eyes to cooperate,” Duterte-Carpio said.

Army Colonel Consolito Yecla, commander of the Task Force Davao bared that the Sangguniang Panglungsod building and the City Hall are ready for the conduct of the pilot testing of the culture security that will be done next week.

He said the result of the simulation exercise will be discussed with the security officers in every area in determining the gaps in the security implementation.

Yecla urged the public to relay only information that is authenticated and must be reliable.

“Only the verified information must be relayed to the public. When you send information, it must be a complete information. Creating panic is tantamount to bomb joke and is subject to criminal liability,” he said.

Yecla stressed people must not change the intent of the security exercise.

He said an information must come from the official source on the security exercise. Yecla said restaurants, hotels, malls, and churches have been informed of the forthcoming activity.

“We have coordinated with 166 establishments already, informing them of the forthcoming exercise,” Yecla said.

He said 25 actors will be activated next week in vital installations to participate in the community security exercise.

Yecla said this is the only means to maximize the support of the community as far as security is concerned.

He said the culture of security exercise determines the commitment of the public in helping the security sector solve peace and order issues. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1055814

Concerted effort key to stopping NPA extortion: Army official

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): Concerted effort key to stopping NPA extortion: Army official (By Jason De Asis)

STOPPING EXTORTION. Officials of the Philippine Army's 91st Infantry Battalion and the local government unit (LGU) of Dingalan, Aurora meet with project engineers of various construction firms on Monday (Oct. 12, 2020) to discuss measures in stopping the extortion activities of the New People's Army. Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commanding officer of the 91IB, said the concerted effort of various sectors, particularly the LGUs, is the key to stopping the extortion scheme of the NPA. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 91st IB)

BALER, Aurora – The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) said a concerted effort is the key to stopping the extortion scheme of the communist terrorist group.

Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commanding officer of the 91IB, on Monday cited the importance of the involvement of all sectors, particularly the local government units (LGUs) in addressing the extortion activities of the New People’s Army (NPA).

"This NPA extortion work is not just the responsibility of the government security forces but it is everybody's concern,” he said during the conduct of the initial Critical Infrastructure, Investment Protection and Security Operation (CIIPSO) meeting on Monday held at the municipal hall of Dingalan town, this province.

The local government unit of Dingalan headed by Mayor Shierwin H. Taay hosted the CIIPSO meeting which was attended by project engineers from different construction companies, the Philippine National Police, and other local officials.

“This is part of our efforts in addressing the NPA extortion activities and prevent the latter from conducting harassment, threat, and intimidation and against private companies in the area,” Rubio said.

He said the offensive attacks by the NPA rebels can happen to construction companies, especially while the province is under the modified general community quarantine.

“Construction businesses (are) prone to extortion activities or attacks by the rebels. CIIPSO is a mechanism created to bridge and strengthen the relationship between government troops and construction-related companies,” Rubio said.

He said another meeting would be conducted soon to discuss in detail the plan of action by all sectors involved to put an end to the terrorist group's harassment and extortion activities against businesses, particularly construction companies.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118317

PNP anti-insurgency drive yields 54 NPA returnees in Caraga

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): PNP anti-insurgency drive yields 54 NPA returnees in Caraga (By Alexander Lopez)

BUTUAN CITY – The Philippine National Police's anti-insurgency drive in Caraga Region has resulted in the surrender of 54 communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area from Sept. 17 to Oct. 10 this year.

Capt. Dorothy Tumulak, Police Regional Office in Caraga (PRO-13) spokesperson, said all police stations in the region are engaged in heightened information drives and initiatives to attract more NPA surrenderers and counter the propaganda of the communist rebel movement.

“Local residents are also informed about the programs of the government for former rebels such as the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or ECLIP,” Tumulak told the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday.

The 54 surrenderers, she said, consisted of members of the Milisya ng Bayan members, Underground Mass Organizations (UGMOs), and Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad.

A total of 28 high-powered firearms were also handed over to the government during the series of surrenders, she said, adding that PRO-13 also recorded five arrests of NPA members with standing warrants during the period.

Tumulak said the massive anti-insurgency drive in the region is among the priorities of newly-installed PRO-13 director, Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat, Jr.

In a separate statement Tuesday, Caramat said the substantial gains of PRO-13 against the NPA in the region can be attributed to the combined police and military operations, intelligence efforts, civil-military operations, reintegration efforts, and the peace and development programs with the local government units.

“The campaign against insurgency in Caraga Region remains in full swing despite the other responsibilities the police forces are performing amidst this pandemic,” Caramat said.

“Together, let us denounce the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) of their atrocities,” Caramat, as he urged Caraga residents to help in the government's fight against terrorism.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118356

PAF chopper accidentally fires rocket at airport open field

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): PAF chopper accidentally fires rocket at airport open field (By Noel Punzalan)

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao – Military officials here are investigating an accidental launch by an MG520 attack helicopter of one of its rockets that landed and exploded at the northside open field of the Awang airport on Tuesday here.

The Awang airport, also known as Cotabato airport, is next to Camp Siongco, the headquarters of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Philippine Air Force-Tactical Operations Group-12.

“The rocket went off at the open field as the helicopter was hovering but nobody was hurt,” Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said of the 8 a.m. incident.

The blast, however, was heard around villages in the area and as far as Barangay Tamontaka of the city.

The 6ID, however, was quick to clarify that the blast came from a malfunction of the rocket weaponry system of the military helicopter.

“The blast was really strong that it shook the ground,” Kris Kitem, a resident of Barangay Broce near the airport said.

The 6ID said it will implement stricter measures to prevent a repeat of the incident.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118384

US provides P73-M in food aid to Lanao del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): US provides P73-M in food aid to Lanao del Sur (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)

Photo courtesy of US Embassy in Manila

The United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided an additional PHP73 million (USD1.5 million) in food assistance to support displaced families in Lanao del Sur province, the US embassy in Manila announced Tuesday.

This brings the total US commitment to humanitarian and recovery work in and around Marawi to more than PHP3.1 billion (USD65.1 million).

“The Covid-19 pandemic has stripped many households of vital sources of income and made those displaced by conflict especially vulnerable. As friends, partners, and allies, the United States continues to support the people of Marawi to overcome this health crisis and continue on their path to long-term recovery,” US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law said.

The funding would be used to help more than 8,000 highly vulnerable persons to meet their essential nutritional needs. Families would receive electronic cash transfers that would enable them to purchase food in local markets.

This is complemented by a messaging campaign promoting safe hygiene practices to equip communities with the knowledge and skills they need to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

According to the embassy, the new food aid builds upon ongoing USAID assistance that supports 3,700 displaced families and improves nutrition for 5,000 children and 6,000 pregnant women and lactating mothers.

The assistance also complements USAID’s work with Lanao communities under its Marawi Response Project (MRP).

As of July 2020, MRP has provided micro-grants to more than 1,000 displaced entrepreneurs, as well as communities, to revive their economic livelihoods and create jobs.

“MRP social cohesion micro-grants, which include small-scale infrastructure support, have benefited more than 14,000 displaced persons and host families,” the embassy said.

The project also provided training, protective gear, and disinfectants to more than 3,300 public health workers.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118336

Defense procurement law needed to boost modernization: AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): Defense procurement law needed to boost modernization: AFP (By Priam Nepomuceno)

AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay. (File photo)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday cited the need for the enactment of a law on defense procurement that would supervise and manage projects included in its Modernization Program.

"You know, one of the challenges we have is we don't have a defense procurement law that will deal with the Modernization Program of the Armed Forces. Imagine even our projects are being published in the PHILGEPS (Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System) just like common supplies of the different government agencies," said AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, in an online news conference held by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) when asked on the challenges besetting the military's Modernization Program.

Gapay said that many of the platforms and equipment being acquired under the program are supposed to be "top secret" but they are compelled to reveal these when posting their invitation to bid at the PHILGEPS.

"Imagine these are supposed to be confidential and top-secret capabilities which we're developing and we are not exempted from posting these things in our invitation to bid," he added.

He said the AFP has a proposal submitted to the House of Representatives regarding the enactment of separate defense procurement law that would govern its Modernization Program.

The AFP chief added the proposal is now at sub-committee level and he is hoping that it would pass at the third reading at the Lower House. Also, he said a version of this proposal is now in the Senate and also hopeful that it will be enacted soon.

"But since we don't have (that) law (yet) we're still governed by Republic Act 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act)," Gapay said.

Other problems delaying the AFP Modernization Program is the lack of budget and the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic which forced the government to channel some of its funds to support ongoing efforts to contain and mitigate the effects of the sickness.

"So primarily it’s the budget, then the procurement process. And of course, another factor is the recent Covid-19 pandemic wherein the government channeled some of the modernization funds to fund Covid (-19)-related activities of the government," Gapay said.

He added that the delays in the AFP Modernization Program are not good as the military is facing several security challenges.

"So imagine if it will take us a year for the bidding and procurement process and wait another two years for delivery, that’s three years and that’s too much delay as far as capability buildup is concerned and right now the AFP is confronting several security challenges," Gapay said.

He was referring to internal security threats from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army, local terrorist groups, and the need to secure the West Philippine Sea and other maritime resources aside from supporting the Philippine National Police in its anti-criminality campaign.

"So we really need these capabilities and in these delays, of course, it impairs the accomplishment of our mission, but we're lucky that our soldiers (are) really are that committed and dedicated to their job, to their sworn duties. That's why somehow the Armed Forces are able to perform its mandate effectively despite these limitations of equipment," he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118349

Japanese radar system to strengthen WPS monitoring: AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): Japanese radar system to strengthen WPS monitoring: AFP (By Priam Nepomuceno)

File photo

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) would install one of the radar systems that would be delivered from Japan at the closed Matinloc gas platform located off Malampaya, Palawan near the West Philippine Sea.

"You see, we (decided that) the Matinloc platform (will) be assigned one of the radars coming from Japan to beef up our monitoring capability in the West Philippine Sea," AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay said in an online press conference with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) Tuesday.

Gapay said these radar systems from Japan would be used to beef up the country's maritime domain awareness capability.

"Aside from radars, we are also looking at Japan as a source of (in) developing our cyber (capabilities). This is one aspect we are focusing on now and I think we can partner with Japan in this area, cyber-defense and security which is also one of their thrusts of the Japan Self Defense Force," he said.

Gapay added that the AFP is also interested in beefing up its unmanned aerial systems capability with Japanese assistance.

Earlier, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced that it has signed the contract agreement and notice to proceed with a Japanese firm regarding the Philippine Air Force (PAF)'s Horizon 2 Air Surveillance Radar System (ASRS) acquisition project.

The contract was signed by DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana last August 14, The project, which has an approved budget contract of PHP5.5 billion was awarded to Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) with a total contract price of USD103.5 million (around PHP5 billion).

The ASRS is under a negotiated government-to-government procurement with Japan.

"This cooperation signifies Japan’s first time to export Japanese-made defense equipment under a restructured government policy, permitting sales of defense equipment, as long as it is deemed for the promotion of international peace," DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong earlier said.

This is also the first defense equipment and technology cooperation project between the two countries in realization of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Japan concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology signed in 2016.

The recommended ASRS sites will cover large areas of the Philippine Rise, southern areas of the country, and the southern portion of the West Philippine Sea.

Operations from these strategically vital locations will enable the PAF to provide optimal airspace monitoring, aircraft control, perform its air defense mission and enhance the security in areas of interest identified by the DND.

Specifically, the ASRS will help to detect, identify, and correlate any threats and intrusions within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and deliver radar images to decision-makers and relevant operating units.

The ASRS package includes three fixed long-range air surveillance radars, each with building facilities and one mobile air surveillance radar, and are expected to be delivered to the Philippines starting 2022.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118361

South China Sea situation remains 'volatile': Gapay

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): South China Sea situation remains 'volatile': Gapay (By Priam Nepomuceno)

File photo

The situation in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) remains volatile due to "certain actions" of both China and the United States to protect their interests in the disputed waters, the country's military chief said on Tuesday.

"So we have seen aggressive actions on the part of China, you know from reclaiming the area and deploying you know, warships there, (Chinese) Coast Guards are very visible in that area and their maritime militias are there, they are practically swarming most of the areas in the West Philippine Sea and here comes the United States, of course, protecting their interest in maintaining sea lanes (of communications) open and free," said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay in an online news conference with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

With these developments affecting Manila's interest, Gapay said the AFP, within the limits of its capability, is maintaining a presence in the West Philippine Sea.

"We conduct naval and air patrols every day in the West Philippine Sea and it involves seven Navy assets, and no more than 20 aircraft alternately performing air patrols in the area and we are augmented by the Philippine Coast Guard just to maintain the presence in the West Philippine Sea and to send the message to the other countries there and to our allies that this is an assertion of our sovereignty and our efforts in protecting and preserving territorial integrity of the country," he added.

As part of Philippine efforts to maintain a presence in the West Philippine Sea, Gapay said the AFP is now improving the Philippines' facilities in the nine occupied features in the area.

"We have troops in those islands, from Pag-asa plus eight other small features in that island, small features in the West Philippine Sea, we (have) barracks there, we're building local monitoring stations there, and other life support facilities for our troops and this is also one way of maintaining presence in the area," he added.

Gapay said the AFP is also maintaining and continuing relentless maritime domain awareness operations in the area.

"We have a number of local monitoring stations, monitoring all the vessels plying the West Philippine Sea, challenging them every now and then," he added.

Since the Philippines wants a peaceful resolution and approach to the different issues in the disputed waters, Gapay said most of the actions being adopted by the country are diplomatic.

"If there are some incursions, we right away file a diplomatic protest and at a tactical level we maintain open lines of communications with our counterparts on the ground, the Western Command we have open lines of communication with Southern Theater Command of China which is the military unit operating in the South China Sea so these are part of the bilateral and multilateral actions being implemented by the Armed Forces," he added.

With the Philippines pretty much involved in the crafting of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Gapay said the AFP has aired its desire to have it fast-tracked so that it will be ready within the end of the year or early next year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118376

Gov't adopts cybersecurity measures for nat'l ID system

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): Gov't adopts cybersecurity measures for nat'l ID system (By Lade Jean Kabagani)

ROLLOUT. The Philippine Statistics Authority starts collecting data from low-income Filipinos in areas identified as low-risk for Covid-19. This is part of the government's rollout of PhilSys' pre-registration phase.

The government assured the adoption of cybersecurity measures in the implementation of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) or the national ID system.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which leads the management and implementation of PhilSys, with technical assistance from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), assured that the PHP27.8 billion total budget for the implementation of PhilSys includes the protection of the data collected by registration officers.

In a virtual press briefing on Oct. 9, DICT Undersecretary Denis Villorente said PhilSys is a secured system.

"We adopt security measures in compliance with the international standards organization, 27,000 families of standards," Villorente said.

With the PhilSys implementation, Villorente said the PSA will be establishing its own cybersecurity computer emergency response team, as well as installing a security operations center that will coordinate with the national computer emergency response team, in order to sustain the government’s national cybersecurity plan for Filipinos.

"The IT systems will all be subject to review by independent third parties to be able to identify that this is truly secure and no vulnerabilities are present in the system," he said.

Private, secured

Villorente said the government will adopt a privacy-protective system for the PhilSys.

"So, I think this is very important to understand that it is governed by the Data Privacy Act as well as the PhilSys Act and through these, it strictly limits who can access personal data collected and stored within the system," he added.

The Data Privacy Act of 2012 and the PhilSys Act have strict controls over the circumstances that data in the PhilSys registry can be accessed and shared.

The PSA earlier assured that the only "person who can provide data stored in the PhiSys registry, remains to be the owner of the data."

"We are subject to independent oversight of the National Privacy Commission. The system adopts a privacy by design approach, so privacy best practices are embedded in the technical architecture and this includes data administration – meaning we only collect data that is essential and required under the law and no more," Villorente said.

"We adopt the principle of proportionality such that for most transactions, the only response from the system will be a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ verification of identity and no biometric data of citizens will be shared to third parties," he added.

For electronic know your customer (KYC) transactions, Villorente said only demographic information will be shared under PhilSys.

He said the specific demographic details will be limitedly accessed base on the ‘use case’ from the relying parties.

According to the PhilSys primer, in rare or exceptional cases, no information shall be disclosed without the consent of the data owner to adhere to the privacy setup of the project.

When the compelling interest of public health or safety, it said, relevant information may be disclosed upon order from the court.

"Another important feature that we have adopted with the PhilSys is the use of tokenization both at the frontend and at the backend," Vilorente said.

Identity authentication

Filipinos who will register for PhilSys will be provided with a 12-digit PhilSys number or personal serial number (PSN) that they can present for identity authentication.

"It should be noted that the PSN, the unique number issued to the citizen, is a number that is good for life and will not be subject to re-issuance," he explained.

The PhilSys number will be the primary credential of the citizens, Villorente said.

However, the 12-digit PhilSys number (PSN) will not be printed on the physical ID card for security purposes.

"For the frontend, we will not be relying solely on the PSN, so citizens need not expose their PSN to relying parties," he said.

Instead, the issued PhilID card number is the one that will be printed on the card, Villorente said.

"On the other hand, the PCN which is the number that is printed on the card, when a card expires and a citizen received another card, it will have a different PCN number. So the PCN is only good for the life of the card and it can be revoked," he explained.

Villorete added that they will provide a "token" that is specific to a relying party.

"For transactions, we encourage the use of the alias PSN so that is a number that is only valid for that particular transaction, on the other hand, we’ll also discourage the use of PCN for seeding of information stored in databases of relying parties," he said.

Hybrid cloud solution

PhilSys, he said, allows citizens to temporarily lock and unlock the use of their identity for online authentication purposes, which can protect them against fraud activities.

"We intend the PhilSys to harness the strengths of cloud technology and so we have adopted a hybrid cloud solution for our system integrator to leverage the inherent efficiency, availability and scalability of cloud while maintaining control and security safeguards by storing data that's collected under PhilSys in government data centers," he said.

He added that the government has also adopted a "hybrid cloud solution" for the Phil ID system integrator requirement.

The systems integrator is the core software and information technology (IT) infrastructure of the PhilSys.

Villorente said the authentication services for PhilSys would be provided both online and offline.

"We intend to deliver the best and most secured PhilSys to Filipinos and we believe that there is hybrid cloud solution [that] opens more opportunities to PhilSys to link with other government agencies, the private sector including banks and financial institutions," he said.

The PSA earlier said the hybrid cloud architecture allows the management and security of the registrants' records collected from the PhilSys registry centers while providing client-facing PhilSys services and applications on cloud technology.

The PSA has started rolling out the pre-registration phase of the PhilSys for at least 5 million targeted low-income household heads on October 12.

The PSA has started collecting demographic data from targeted low-income Filipinos in 664 cities and municipalities in 32 provinces identified as “low-risk” areas for coronavirus outbreak which include Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Albay, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Compostela Valley, Davao Del Norte, Davao Del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Tawi-Tawi.

Signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens.

The national ID shall be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts.

It will also boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present one ID during transactions.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118388

AFP developing encryption capability for classified comms

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2020): AFP developing encryption capability for classified comms (By Priam Nepomuceno)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said it is now in the process of developing its "end-to-end encryption" capability as part of the efforts to ensure that its classified communications are protected from interference.

"Right now we are developing the 'end-to-end encryption' capability because we are now also developing our cyber-capability, we have just activated AFP Cyber Group and the Major Services, the Army, Air Force, Navy have also activated their own cyber units and all of these are geared towards enhancing beefing up our cyber communications' defense and security capability," AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay said in an online forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

This is in response to questions on whether the AFP sees the presence of Dito Telecommunity towers and equipment in military camps as security risks.

End-to-end encryption refers to a form of communication where only the communicating users can read the messages and prevent eavesdroppers from intercepting or decoding the information.

"We made some risk assessment as far as security is concerned and based on our studies the (setting up) of Dito, of some of their communication facilit(ies), towers in camps and installations of the AFP pose no security threat," Gapay said.

Also, he added jamming, eavesdropping, and disruption of data can be done anywhere in the globe.

"One advantage of having (these) facilit(ies) by Dito inside camps is we could monitor them closely, because once they are here inside for example in Camp Aguinaldo, we could inspect them anytime, we could check what equipment they're (going to) put up, we can enlist third party (firm or audit team) to see what kind of equipment, software, hardware, they are (installing)," Gapay said.

This includes personnel tasked to man these facilities, he added.

Gapay said the same security process was adopted when Globe and Smart made a similar agreement with the AFP.

"We adopted the same criteria when we allowed Globe and Smart to also locate some of their towers and facilities inside (our) camps," he added.

Also, Gapay said the AFP is only using commercial communications systems when passing unclassified information, adding a more secure platform is in use when communicating classified information.

Also, he added Dito is proposing to co-locate in 22 military camps and installations and that their applications would have to undergo a thorough evaluation.

"So there are still, two, three steps before finally they could put up facilities inside camp(s), just like the process we adopted when we allowed Globe and Smart to (co-locate) inside military bases," Gapay said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana earlier said all Dito Telecommunity equipment and facilities will be placed in locations where local carriers, Smart and Globe, are also located, based on a similar Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by these telecommunication firms.

Dito was conferred with the status of New Major Player in the telecommunications industry by the National Telecommunications Commission on Nov. 19, 2018.

The AFP and Dito Telecommunity signed the co-location MOA in September 2019.

Based on the agreement, the AFP will determine specific locations with its rental value for use of Dito Telecommunity in the installation and management of its communications sites without undermining the operations of affected AFP units.

The telecommunication firm is also required to “furnish all equipment, labor, and materials necessary to effect the co-location of its facilities and shoulders all expenses in connection with or incidental to the co-location” and payment of all taxes, permits, licenses, and other charges.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118393

Philippines: Female Suicide Bomber from Indonesia to Face Charges, Expulsion

From BenarNews (Oct 12, 2020): Philippines: Female Suicide Bomber from Indonesia to Face Charges, Expulsion

Philippine soldiers walk through the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in Jolo, Sulu province, after a suicide bomb attack, Jan. 28, 2019.  AFP

Philippine authorities plan to charge and deport a young Indonesian woman who allegedly was groomed as a suicide bomber, officials said as police on Monday announced additional arrests of suspected Muslim militants.

Journalists have not been granted access to Rezky Fantasya Rullie (alias Cici and Nana Isirani), who has been identified as the daughter of an Indonesian couple who blew themselves up at a church on southern Jolo Island last year. She was arrested Saturday on Jolo with two Filipinas suspected of preparing for a suicide mission and believed to be married to members of the pro-Islamic State (IS) Abu Sayyaf Group.

“A deportation case has been recommended to be filed against Rullie for terrorism, being an illegal entrant, and for undesirability, apart from the criminal charges that she faces,” Melody Gonzales, head of Bureau of Immigration’s Intelligence Mindanao Task Group, said in a statement issued Sunday.

Gen. Camilo Cascolan, the chief of Philippine National Police, said Rullie is believed to be five months pregnant and was planning to launch a bomb attack after giving birth, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency on Monday.

“That’s the information. We were lucky and fortunate we were able to arrest (her),” Cascolan said. “She’s still in Sulu. We still have to get the results about an inquiry on her nationality and at the same time we still have to take some information because that’s part of the procedure and we have to look after her physical health.”

Cascolan, who was in the southern Philippines over the weekend on a security assessment trip, said the arrest of Rullie and her companions had likely prevented another bomb attack and saved dozens of lives.

Rezky Fantasya Rullie (Courtesy of Joint Task Force Sulu)

Gonzalez said Rullie was captured after months of surveillance as she was allegedly plotting her attack in Jolo, the main island in the Sulu chain that is a hotbed of Abu Sayyaf activity. Arrested alongside her were Inda Nurhaina and Fatima Sandra Jimlani, both wives of ranking Abu Sayyaf members, officials said.

“A suicide vest, bombs, and other improvised explosive device-making components were recovered from the trio,” Gonzales said, adding that Rullie was a “high value target” in government’s fight against terrorism.

Investigators identified Rullie, who could be in her late teens or early 20s, as the daughter of a couple who killed 21 people and themselves in a January 2019 suicide attack.

Rullie’s parents, Rullie Rian Zeke and Ulfah Handayani Saleh, carried out the twin bombing at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church on Jolo, Indonesian National Police spokesman Awi Setiyono confirmed Monday, but he could not immediately say that she was the woman in Philippine custody.

“We haven’t received the information yet,” Awi told BenarNews.

He said her family tried to join IS in Syria but Turkish authorities had rejected them in early 2017.

“They then illegally entered the southern Philippines via Malaysia with the help of Andi Baso in 2018,” he said.

Philippine intelligence operatives identified Rullie as the wife of Baso, an Indonesian suicide bomber-in-training who is believed to have been killed by troops on Aug. 29. His body has not been recovered.

Rullie and Baso were believed to have been under the wing of Mundi Sawadjaan, a bomb maker who masterminded a twin-suicide bomb attack, also on Jolo, that killed 15 in August. Mundi is the nephew of Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the Philippine IS commander and a senior Abu Sayyaf leader.

The couple had tried to escape from Sulu province with Mundi Sawadjaan a few days after the Aug. 24 bombing, but failed, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency reported earlier.

Abu Sayyaf arrests

Meanwhile, authorities on Monday announced that police and military troops had captured three Abu Sayyaf militants who allegedly acted as “financial conduits” between the IS and Mundi Sawadjaan, Cascolan said.

The three arrested Friday were identified as Kadija Sadji, 31, Abdulman Sarapuddin Tula, 32, and Jailani Al-Rafee Sakandal, 31. They were arrested for “illegal possession of components for an improvised explosive device,” the police chief said.

“Also confiscated from the trio were two hand grenades, a .45-caliber pistol, several rounds of rifle ammunition, and a black ISIS flag,” Cascolan said, using a different acronym for the Islamic State.

He said Tula had been identified as Sawadjaan’s procurement and logistics supply man on Jolo.

Sadji is believed to be the wife Al Asgar, son of the late Abu Sayyaf founder, Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani. She allegedly belonged to the same financial conduit cell with two women who were arrested last year and in June, respectively, Cascolan said.

Sakandal, an apprentice seaman with the local coast guard, was at the house during the raid and authorities are in the process of determining his role, he said.

Also in Zamboanga on Sunday, police and military teams captured Hassan Anang Mohammad, who was identified as an Abu Sayyaf militant involved in the kidnapping and beheading of Doroteo Gonzales in May 2009, the military said.

Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta, and Jeoffrey Maitem and Mark Navales in Cotabato, Philippines, contributed to this report.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/suspect-update-10122020142258.html

Police say alleged rebel killed in Cebu is a high-ranking NPA official in Southern Mindanao

From the Cebu Daily News (Oct 12, 2020): Police say alleged rebel killed in Cebu is a high-ranking NPA official in Southern Mindanao (By: Rosalie Abatayo) 

CEBU CITY — Years of running against the law ended on Sunday evening (October 11, 2020) for alleged New People’s Army (NPA) commander Denis Paradero Rodinas.

Rodinas was killed in a joint operation of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines at past 10 p.m. on Sunday while authorities were serving warrants of arrest against him at the house that he and his live-in partner were building in Barangay Pung-ol Sibubay, a mountain barangay in Cebu City.

Read’: NPA commander’ killed during escape attempt – police

Brigadier General Albert Ignatius Ferro, Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) director, said in a press conference on Monday morning, October 12, that Rodinas and his live-in partner Gerlie Mercado were top ranking officials of the Southern Mindanao Regional Command of the NPA.

Serving of warrant

The operation against Rodinas was pursuant to five warrants of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Davao de Oro for several counts of murder, terroristic acts, and other heinous crimes.

Among the crimes imputed to Rodinas is the abduction and killing of Mayor Dario Otaza of Loreto, Agusan del Sur and his son Daryl in Butuan City in 2015.

Mayor Otaza belonged to the Manobo Tribe and was a former member of the NPA but surrendered to the government in 1985. He was able to convince 246 rebels to surrender to the government.

Aside from the killing of the former mayor, Rodinas is also imputed as the person behind the murder of a certain Arnold Sacarws in Zamboanga del Sur and Ernesto Gumilid in Misamis Occidental in 2009; the arson of heavy equipment of a mining company in Agusan del Sur, raid of a military patrol base in Davao de Oro in 2011; abduction of a jail warden in Davao de Oro and raiding of a mining compound 2015; disarming of barangay security forces in Arakan, North Cotabato, and the simultaneous attack to industrial plants in Davao City and ambush of presidential security group (PSG) members in Davao City; and burning of heavy equipment units in Davao City in 2018.

Cebu City Hide Out

Ferro said they learned of Rodinas’ presence in Cebu City following the tips of residents.

He said the residents became suspicious as Rodinas was building a two-story rest house on a lot tagged as a forest reserve or protected area.

While the authorities serving the warrants were approaching the house, Ferro said Rodinas pulled out his gun and fired at the operating units, which prompted authorities to fire back resulting to his death.

The police also arrested Mercado, who is currently pregnant. She has a pending warrant of arrest for murder.

Colonel Jerry Borja, Commander of the Task Force Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor (TF-CBS) of the Philippine Army, said Mercado made an extra-judicial confession that they were members of the NPA.

Aside from the two top officers of the rebel group, the police also arrested two others for obstruction of justice after they allegedly prevented the police from serving the warrant to Mercado who was inside the house.

Insurgency Free

Despite the discovery of the top rebel officers in Cebu, the PNP and Philippine Army officials here have maintained that Cebu is still insurgency free.

Ferro said the Cebuanos had been cooperative in preventing the armed groups from settling down here in Cebu and the Central Visayas.

“We thank the villagers who tipped-off the location of Rodinas. We were able to plan out and implement all measures that will ensure the swift arrest as well as the safety of the people nearby during the operation. However, he died after being hostile to the arresting officers. The same with the recent arrest of Junifie Dagale in Bohol, top NPA who is wanted for crimes in Mindanao, Central Visayas is not a safe place for these terrorists to hide,” Borja said.

The authorities, however, said they were still investigating the extent of the activities of Rodinas and Mercado in Cebu.

Borja said the two had stayed here only for months, but they had yet to ascertain when and how they arrived in Cebu. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/345242/police-say-alleged-rebel-killed-in-cebu-is-a-high-ranking-npa-official-in-southern-mindanao