NegOcc vows continued support for peace initiatives

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): NegOcc vows continued support for peace initiatives (By Nanette Guadalquiver)

ADVOCATE OF PEACE. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson says the provincial government is committed to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable peace for Negrenses, during the culmination of Negros Peace Month held at the Provincial Capitol lobby in Bacolod City on Wednesday (Sept. 30, 2020). This year’s activity, themed “Building a Culture of Peace in Negros: Moving Forward Amidst Covid-19 Challenges”, is part of the observance of the National Peace Consciousness Month mandated under Proclamation No. 675. (Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental)

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Wednesday the provincial government is committed to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable peace for Negrenses.

“Through the years, we have been consistent in our stand that peace, to be true and lasting, it must be inclusive and sustainable; and must have an efficient mechanism structure, thus the whole-of-nation approach by the government,” Lacson said during the culmination of Negros Peace Month held at the Provincial Capitol lobby here.

This year’s activity, themed “Building a Culture of Peace in Negros: Moving Forward Amidst Covid-19 Challenges”, is part of the observance of the National Peace Consciousness Month mandated under Proclamation No. 675.

The governor said he was pleased to see stakeholders and participants from various concerned Capitol departments as well as from the Philippine Army and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) take part in the event.

“Let this activity reinforce our mutual trust and confidence, for it is only through our sincere, solemn, and earnest partnership that sustainable peace can be achieved…On our end, I assure you that you can count on the provincial government’s consistent support,” he added.

Lacson led the turnover of projects to the five Community Defense Units of the Kapatiran para sa Progresibong Panlipunan (Kapatiran), composed of former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido Ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA-ABB-TPG), which signed a peace deal with the government in 2000.

Lacson said he is proud of the progress that Negros Occidental has made in relation to such peace agreement with the now Kapatiran, which received a total of 55 sacks of rice from the provincial government and hygiene and first aid kits from the OPAPP during the program.

The province also turned over PHP1 million worth of Covid-19-related projects to the Negros Occidental Parole and Probation Center.

“These are proof of our commitment and further, the various projects for our parole and probation office are testimonies of our faith in restorative rather than punitive justice,” Lacson said.

The governor also said that this year’s observance is distinct from the ones in the past since each one is facing a common enemy, the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

“May this pandemic remind us of our truth, that we are one people. Covid-19 knows no gender, no age, no sector, no politics,” he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117142

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): Rules on media interview requests not new: PNP (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

PNP spokesperson, Col. Ysmael Yu. (File photo)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday clarified that the standing operating procedure (SOP) on requests for media interviews has been a long-standing policy.

In a press statement, PNP spokesperson, Col. Ysmael Yu said his assumption as the new chief of the police force's Public Information Office (PIO) has nothing to do with this matter.

“This advisory has been with us since then. It is advised to all concerned to be reminded that not all information is within the immediate reach of the office, but as an organization, PNP has its offices empowered of such function (where they) can competently react (to) immediate inquiries. Of course, you will have this reaction for a reason that it has long been set aside,” Yu said.

He said the purpose of recalling and revisiting the rules is within the communication flow of the PIO's system.

"This advisory is published for your governance on win-win relations on communication. I am your Chief PIO-(Spokesperson) for the time, I will do my role as expected to deliver the expected performance, within the margins drawn on my job description," Yu said.

This came as some members of the PNP Press Corps asked the police force to reconsider its policy requiring them to submit a formal letter of letter request two days before they can do an interview.

Based on the advisory released on Tuesday, it covers requests for interview on radio, television and online streaming platforms. If the requested date coincides with another request, the first request will be prioritized, while the second request will be rescheduled for another available date and time.

The PNP said the measure aims to help personnel cope with the workload and to ensure all media requests are properly served. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117060

BRP Quezon on lockdown after 22 crew members contract Covid-19

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): BRP Quezon on lockdown after 22 crew members contract Covid-19 (By Priam Nepomuceno)

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Wednesday announced that its World War II-era patrol corvette, BRP Quezon, is placed on lockdown.

"The vessel is on lockdown and already underwent misting and decontamination," said Navy public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, in a message to the Philippine News Agency, adding that the lockdown was implemented on September 24.

The ship was placed on Level 1 Status which means it cannot be deployed for missions.

Earlier, 22 crew members aboard the ship tested positive for Covid-19 in San Fernando City, La Union after undergoing swab testing on September 25. The results came out earlier this week.

They are now in isolation facilities inside the Naval Base Cavite.

"They are asymptomatic. The other one who has a cough and cold is already admitted to a quarantine facility in Ninoy Aquino Stadium," Roxas said.

She added that crew members are being monitored round-the-clock by the Fleet Medical Unit (FMU) of the Philippine Fleet.

"The FMU is currently coordinating for their immediate transfer to quarantine facilities in Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Rizal Memorial Center upon slot availability for a more comprehensive medical attention," Roxas added.

Meanwhile, the 25 other crew members of BRP Quezon who tested negative for Covid-19 will remain inside the vessel for a strict 14-day quarantine period.

"The San Fernando City Health Office will facilitate the re-swabbing of the quarantined crew within the week," Roxas said.

She added that the PN is steadfast in mitigating the impact of Covid-19 within its rank by strictly adhering to the health and bio-safety protocols prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

"It further ensures that those infected will be attended properly as the safety and welfare of all its personnel is always of paramount importance," Roxas said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117087

AFP gets 10K face shields, 30 rice sacks from private donor

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): AFP gets 10K face shields, 30 rice sacks from private donor (By Priam Nepomuceno)

DONATION. Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines receive 10,000 face shields and 30 sacks of rice donated by private donor Nelson Guevarra (2nd from left), in a ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday (Sept. 29, 2020). A part of the donation would be given to AFP medical personnel deployed to man 525-bed Solaire-Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Mega Quarantine Center in Parañaque City. (Photo courtesy of AFP Public Affairs Office)

A private individual has donated 10,000 face shields and 30 sacks of rice to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to help in its efforts to contain the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a media statement Wednesday, Navy Capt. Jonathan Zata, AFP public affairs office chief, said the ceremonial handover of the donation was at the General Headquarters Canopy Area, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday.

AFP deputy chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Antonio Ramon Lim, and AFP deputy chief-of-staff for operations Maj. Gen. Edgardo de Leon graced the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Zata identified the private donor as Nelson Guevarra, a Commodore in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Guevarra is also serving as the chairman of the External Affairs Committee, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industries Incorporated (FFCCCII) where he earned his reputation as an “action man of the Chinese-Filipino community".

He is known for his contributions to the community especially during this time of pandemic and has organized various donation drives and packing operations to aid those in need, particularly those at the front-lines.

“The AFP is immensely grateful to Mr. Nelson Guevarra and other individuals who made this donation possible. His benevolence means a lot to our men and women in uniform who draw strength from the people’s trust and support. As the nation continues to fight Covid-19, let our unity be one of our strongest weapons in defeating this unforeseen enemy,” Lim said.

Zata said the AFP was chosen to be the recipient of his individual donation due to the organization’s key role in the battle against Covid-19 while securing the peace.

He added that part of the donation would be used by AFP medical personnel tasked to man the 525-bed Solaire-Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Mega Quarantine Center in Parañaque City which was inaugurated on Tuesday.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117105

Netizens raise eyebrows over FB purge on accounts, pages

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): Netizens raise eyebrows over FB purge on accounts, pages (By Lade Jean Kabagani)

Facebook's recent move to suspend some 155 accounts and shut down several pages for violating its policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB) was questioned by netizens, with some calling for a probe on the social media giant.

Several netizens have appealed to Congress to launch an investigation and find out the "operational scheme" of Facebook in the country.



"The Philippine government can file a case against the manager of Facebook Philippines for suppression of information and arbitrary censorship," wrote one netizen on the comment section of the Philippine News Agency's (PNA) post.



President Rodrigo Duterte, in his recent public address, slammed Facebook over its move to take down several accounts and pages.

Duterte's remarks versus Facebook were published on the PNA website on Sept. 29 which raked in 2,600 reactions and 307 comments as of posting.

One netizen has suggested an investigation against workers of the Facebook Philippines.



Another netizen, meanwhile, recommended the replacement of people handling Facebook Philippines' operations.



Other netizens, meanwhile, shared their thoughts in an online survey made by media firm News5 titled, "Dapat bang i-ban ang Facebook sa Pilipinas?," which garnered some 8,200 reactions as of posting.

One commenter said there is no reason for a company such as Facebook PH to operate if it is only meddling with "national interest".



"Simply put, if a company that operates in the Philippines gets in the way of the national interest, there is no reason for them to operate," wrote a netizen.

Some netizens argued that leftists may have influenced the decision of the social media giant and should be removed from the job.



"Tanggalin ng Facebook and mga empleyado nila na pro-NPA (Facebook should remove their employees who are allied with the NPA [New People's Army]," one commenter said.

One netizen defended President Duterte's remarks, saying the chief executive never mentioned about banning Facebook.

"Ang sabi lang niya makikipag-usap siya dahil sa ginawa ng (He just wanted to talk about the move of the) Facebook PH," a netizen commented.

The government should negotiate with the internet giant to modify some guidelines on the use of the application, said one commenter.

"The government should not ban Facebook in the entire Philippines. Facebook has been an outlet for the majority of tech-savvy Filipinos including those who are coping with technology," wrote a netizen, who is reacting to the possible ban of the application in the country.

"It has been a channel of various platforms worldwide that help a person and a person's life local and international. Instead, the government should negotiate on modifying some guidelines on Facebook," the netizen added.



Shutting down causes

Advocacy group "Hands Off Our Children" was one of those pages hit by Facebook's move, along with other pages and accounts that are known for denouncing several atrocities committed by the NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

One of the group's members, Relissa Lucena, mother of a student activist who was reportedly recruited by a militant organization, expressed disappointment over Facebook's decision to take down the "Hands Off Our Children" page and its members' private accounts.

"Hindi ko po alam ang basehan ng (I do not know the basis of the) Facebook Philipines, kung ano po ang basehan nila para i-take down nila ang aming page (what is the reason why they took down our page)," she said in a video statement.

"Una sa lahat, totoo po kaming tao, totoo po kaming mga magulang at totoo pong nawala sa aming ang aming mga anak (First and foremost, we are real people, we are real parents and it is true that our children were taken away from us)," she added.

Lucena insisted that the group is only advocating against militant organizations which she said have been recruiting children to join groups which would lead them to become part of the communist terrorist groups.

"Wala po kayong karapatan para alisan kami ng tinig, ginawa namin yung Hands Off our Children para marinig, para magkaroon kami ng simpatya mula saibang tao para matulungan kami na makuha yung mga anaka namin (You don't have the right to remove our voices. We created Hands Off our Children [page] to be heard so that we can get sympathy from other people, to help us get our children)," Lucena said, as she questioned the basis of the social media giant to shut down their group's page and why their private accounts were among those included in the so-called purge.

"Sana matulungan kami ng gobyerno na maibalik ang aming mga account (We hope the government could help us bring back our [FB] accounts)," she added.

She said she and the rest of the parents whose children were reportedly recruited by militant groups, are only using Facebook to denounce the exploitation of these groups against minors.

In a virtual public address on Monday, Duterte warned Facebook that it cannot lay down a policy for his government.

“I allow you to operate here, you cannot bar or prevent me from espousing the objectives of the government,” Duterte said.

“You know Facebook, insurgency is about overturning government. What would be the point of allowing you to continue if you cannot help us,” he said. “We are not advocating mass destruction, we are not advocating massacre. It’s a fight of ideas.”

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117092

Cusi condemns ambush in Or. Mindoro

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): Cusi condemns ambush in Or. Mindoro (By Kris Crismundo) 

Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Mimaropa (Region 4-B) Secretary Alfonso Cusi (File photo)

Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Mimaropa (Region 4-B) Secretary Alfonso Cusi Wednesday scored the recent encounter between police officers and members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

"I strongly condemn the ambush perpetrated by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army against our Philippine National Police personnel in Barangay Cabalwa, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro on 28 September 2020,” Cusi, also the energy chief, said in a statement.

He said three policemen on duty were wounded during the encounter with the members of the CPP-NPA, listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

Cusi said the policemen were patrolling to ensure peace and order in the area.

While the PNP officers were doing their duties, the CPP-NPA burned the patrol vehicle of the policemen.

“The latest action from the CPP-NPA only proves that the group is not serious about attaining genuine peace and development. It only shows who they really are terrorists, with no respect for human lives. Their actions continue to reveal their terroristic activities and intentions,” he added.

Cusi also called on Filipinos to rally behind men and women of the country who risk their lives to make communities safe.

“Let us not tolerate terrorism,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117117

Transforming former rebels into agents of peace, dev’t: OPAPP

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): Transforming former rebels into agents of peace, dev’t: OPAPP

Presidential Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. (File photo)

At the heart of the Duterte administration’s Peace and Development Agenda is the ongoing transformation of more than 15,000 former rebels and insurgents into peaceful and productive civilians.

Amid the challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, the government, through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), continues to push forward the comprehensive Philippine peace process.

From the decommissioning of ex-fighters, to the virtual peace dialogues, to the community-driven projects in conflict-affected areas, to fulfilling the government’s commitments under signed peace agreements, OPAPP has continued to sustain the gains of peace.

This year’s celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month, with the theme “Nagkakaisang Bayan Tungo sa Ligtas at Mapayapang Pamayanan” calls upon every Filipino to unite, work hand in hand, and build a safer, progressive and more peaceful nation.

“We have come a long way in our journey towards peace, and we are committed to fulfill our obligations, as stipulated under all signed peace agreements under the different peace tables,” Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

MILF: Brighter days ahead for the Bangsamoro

More than a year after the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which paved way for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), OPAPP has helped the BARMM interim government strengthen its capacity to better serve its constituents and address long-standing problems confronting the region.

Under the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the political and normalization tracks of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) are being carried out, and are now starting to change the socio-economic landscape of the region.

In the political-legislative track, the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB) was established to further strengthen the relationship between the national and BARMM governments.

Through this innovative mechanism, the two governments shall be able to discuss pressing issues and mutually find solutions to address these concerns.

Under the Normalization Track, 12,000 members of the MILF-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), and 2,100 firearms have successfully undergone the second phase of decommissioning.

The 12,000 decommissioned combatants will receive socio-economic assistance from the national government, which includes transitional cash assistance provided upon decommissioning, as well as health insurance, and other benefits which aim to uplift the well-being of the former fighters for their transition to civilian life.

Officials and members of the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) pose after the official turnover of the first of 11 JPST barracks to the Joint Peace and Security Committee at Camp Abubakar, Barira, Maguindanao on Feb. 12, 2020. (Photo courtesy of OPAPP)

For the third and final phase of decommissioning, the remaining MILF-BIAF members shall undergo the process. Once the final phase is completed, expectations are high that the Exit Agreement between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the MILF shall be signed.

Under the normalization track, 15 Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPST), composed of members of the BIAF, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Philippine National Police, were also established.

JPSTs are primarily tasked to ensure peace and security in areas where the normalization process is being implemented. Through this body, the camaraderie, trust and confidence between government forces and MILF members have been further strengthened.

“Through these JSPTs, the MILF is taking the lead in ensuring the safety of their communities, while creating opportunities for greater collaboration between the MILF and their AFP and PNP counterparts,” Galvez said.

MNLF: Sustaining the gains of peace

Twenty four years after the signing of the Final Peace Agreement between the government and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Duterte administration continues to engage the organization’s two groups -- led by Founding Chair Nur Misuari and Yusop Jikiri -- in peaceful dialogue.

“Our primary goal is to fulfill all the promises we have made under the 1996 peace agreement. This is among the marching orders of the President,” Galvez emphasized.

Since President Duterte took office, he and members of his cabinet have held several meetings with Chairman Nur Misuari, where the latter committed to help the government ensure peace and development specially in the province of Sulu.

The government also held similar meetings with the Jikiri group wherein the latter vowed to fully support the implementation of the Bangsamoro Organic Law. A separate GPH-MNLF coordinating committee was established with the Jikiri group to ensure that all the commitments made by both parties will be realized.

These meetings resulted in the creation of the GPH-MNLF Coordinating Committee, which aims to facilitate the completion of the remaining deliverables under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and pursue a transformation program for the MNLF combatants, their families and communities as they journey to peaceful and productive individuals.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte welcomes Moro National Liberation Front founding Chairman Nur Misuari at the Malacañan Palace on Nov. 11, 2019. (Presidential photo)

LPEs: Empowering communities via peace dialogue

As the Duterte administration intensifies its efforts to end the communist insurgency, it is implementing a “Whole-of-Nation” Approach wherein national line agencies, LGUs, and civil society groups are closely working together to bring sustainable peace and development in conflict-ridden areas.

As embodied in Executive Order 70, tasked to implement this strategy is the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). Galvez serves as the Cabinet Officer of Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 3.

OPAPP also co-leads the Localized Peace Engagements (LPEs) Cluster of the NTF-ELCAC which spearheads LGU-led peace dialogues and local problem-solving sessions between affected communities and armed groups.

“These LPEs help create a convergence of efforts and strengthen the relationship among line agencies, local government units, and civil society organizations in different regions,” Galvez said.

According to the peace adviser, these peace engagements will be crucial in ending the communist armed conflict in the country. They are empowering local government units and members of the community to effectively address peace-related issues in their areas.

“Through these dialogues, hundreds of members of armed groups have already surrendered and returned to the folds of the law. We expect that more will do the same and see the value of what the government is doing to help them,” Galvez added.

Kapatiran: Embodiment of localized peace engagements

Considered as one of the best examples of localized peace engagements is the peace process with the Rebolusyonaryong Partidong Manggagawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade-Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG) or Kapatiran.

“The implementation of the Clarificatory Implementing Document (CID), signed by the group and the government demonstrates that good things come to those who choose the path of peace,” Galvez said.

Through the signing of the CID, the ongoing implementation of the Normalization Plan is expected to benefit thousands of the group’s members.

To ensure the plan’s efficient implementation, the following mechanisms were created: Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee, Joint Body on the Disposition of Forces, Site Coordination Teams, and the Socio-Economic Reintegration Cluster.

To help the former rebels reintegrate into society, OPAPP has started to conduct livelihood trainings and workshops for the group. Settlement sites are being established for the organization's members.

CBA-CPLA: From fighters to environmental stewards

For the government’s peace process with the Cordillera Bodong Administration – Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA), OPAPP is leading a “winding down” process to help members of the former armed group live peaceful and productive lives.

As contained in the 2011 memorandum of agreement signed between the national government and the group, a total of 444 firearms have been inventoried, 345 of which have already been turned over to Police Regional Office - Cordillera.

Currently, 508 members of the group work as forest guards under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-OPAPP Forest Guard Program. Under this set-up, the former rebels now act as stewards of the environment, while earning a stable income for their families

OPAPP has also identified 81 Community Development Projects to be implemented in the 57 communities where the CBA-CPLA members are residing. These include farm-to-market roads, communal irrigation systems, tribal centers, warehouses, and pathways.

OPAPP is also helping the group to achieve genuine autonomy in the Cordillera, as well as regular peacebuilding and peace-promoting activities for members of the organization.

All these interventions are being lodged under a mechanism called, Joint Evaluation and Monitoring Committee (JEMC). The JEMC, created during the last quarter of 2019, will serve as the mechanism to collate, discuss, analyze and implement interventions of completing the commitments of the government for the CBA-CPLA Peace Process.

It is composed of an (i) Executive Committee; (ii) Secretariat (inter-agency, with OPAPP as the lead); and four sub-clusters corresponding to each of the components.

Government representatives to the JEMC come from the relevant regional line agencies in Cordillera Administrative Region, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, while CBA-CPLA representation come from each of the factions/group, and representatives from Civil Society Organizations, nominated by the CBA-CPLA with concurrence by government representatives.

SHAPE: Rebuilding lives

Over the past three years, OPAPP has been implementing its Social Healing and Peacebuilding Program (SHAPE), which aims to carry out the government’s recovery and rehabilitation efforts among those affected by the Marawi siege.

SHAPE is a multi-stakeholder initiative that is being implemented in partnership with Task Force Bangon Marawi, which is composed of representatives from line agencies, local government units, civil society and members of the security sector.

Through SHAPE’s various interventions, it seeks to promote social cohesion and reconciliation among residents, while mainstreaming the culture of peace, mutual understanding and solidarity among the people.

In particular, the program is focused on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable sectors such as women and the youth. In light of the current situation in Marawi, the youth sector remains highly susceptible to recruitment by radical groups.

To address this concern, SHAPE is conducting peace conversations wherein the women and youth can openly express their views, fears and apprehensions, and consequently, empower them to become agents of peace in their communities.

“All of OPAPP’s activities aim to break down the walls of fear, anger and distrust, and build bridges of peace, cooperation and hope among the people. We believe that this is the only way for the people to move forward,” Galvez said.

Under the program, OPAPP is also helping the people of Marawi rebuild their lives by helping them earn a living. In partnership with civil society organizations, the agency is conducting livelihood trainings that will capacitate residents as entrepreneurs.

Residents in barangays across the city are now working hand in hand to produce food and non-food items, which they sell in markets and trade fairs. As they earn, they will rely less on the government for assistance and develop greater faith in themselves.

Presidential Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. (2nd from right) leads the memorandum agreement signing for the implementation of the government’s PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) on Iligan City on Sept. 16, 2020. (OPAPP Photo)

PAMANA: Building peaceful, progressive and resilient communities

To address the root causes of the armed rebellion, the government continues to implement its PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) Program, which implements community-driven development projects across remote, conflict affected areas in the country.

Since 2011, PHP54.14 billion worth of PAMANA projects have been carried out in communities that are part of the Completion Program with CBA-CPLA, RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG, and MNLF, as well as those areas affected by armed conflict fueled by the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front.

“Through the PAMANA Program, people have more opportunities to have a decent livelihood, improve their quality of life, and build peaceful, progressive and resilient communities,” Galvez said

As the oversight agency of the PAMANA Program, OPAPP collaborates with line agencies, local government units, and other local partners to implement various “hard” and “soft” projects in communities across the country.

Among these projects are farm-to-market roads, water systems, irrigation facilities, and rural electrification systems. All of these infrastructures are designed to create more economic opportunities for the people and boost the agricultural productivity of communities.

Aside from these projects, PAMANA also provides study grants to beneficiaries through the Commission on Higher Education and healthcare insurance under PhilHealth, while providing support to indigenous peoples through the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

“Despite the health crisis we are now experiencing, OPAPP is determined more than ever, to continue the peacebuilding work we have been doing over the past 27 years, and help create a better, brighter and more peaceful future for all Filipinos,” Galvez said. (OPAPP PR)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117149

PH Army pays tribute to ‘fallen heroes’ in fight to stop 2013 MNLF siege of Zambo City

 From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 28, 2020): PH Army pays tribute to ‘fallen heroes’ in fight to stop 2013 MNLF siege of Zambo City (By: Frances Mangosing)

‘ONE OF THE UGLIEST ARMED CONFLICTS IN THE PHILIPPINES.’ The Philippine Army looks back at the 19-day Zamboanga City siege, which ended seven years ago today, Sept. 28. OACPA

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Army on Monday (Sept. 28) paid tribute to soldiers who gave up their lives to thwart an operation by a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to take over Zamboanga City in 2013.

“Years have passed since the bloodshed but the Philippine Army still honors and will forever remember the fortitude of our fallen heroes in Zamboanga,” the Army said in a tribute.

“Without their courage and sacrifice, the success of the operation would have been unattainable,” it said.

The siege of ZamboangaCity by MNLF men and the military operation to prevent the terrorists from establishing a Moro state in Zamboanga lasted 19 days and left more than 300 dead and hundreds of thousands of residents homeless. The Army described it as one of the “ugliest armed conflicts in the Philippines.”

It started on Sept. 9, 2013, when at least 200 members of the MNLF landed in Zamboanga City and started taking hostages, triggering a gun battle with government forces. Twenty-five government forces, 12 civilians, and more than 200 MNLF fighters had been killed. It ended on Sept. 28, seven years ago today.

Thousands of houses were destroyed and more than 100,000 people had been displaced.

“Our soldiers fought hard during the crisis and some of them paid the ultimate sacrifice. But we cannot deny that in this battle, the hardest hit were the civilians,” the Army said.

The Army cited 1Lt Francis Damian, who was shot dead during close-quarter battle on Sept. 23, 2013.

The Army tribute said Damian was supposed to be on a 10-day academic break after he graduated from Basic Airborne Course. “Instead he volunteered to be deployed in Zamboanga to fight alongside his men,” the Army said.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1341238/ph-army-pays-tribute-to-fallen-heroes-in-fight-to-stop-2013-mnlf-siege-of-zambo-city

CPP/CIO: The subterfuge behind Duterte’s anti-corruption noise

Propaganda article posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 29, 2020): The subterfuge behind Duterte’s anti-corruption noise

MARCO VALBUENA

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

In recent days, Duterte has been harping on corruption, even claiming to have offered to resign because supposedly his cabinet officials have failed to stop corruption in their agencies. Specifically, Duterte has been publicly complaining of red-tape which applicants have to contend with in setting-up a business in the Philippines.

Like so many of his public pronouncements, this publicity is again mere show. It is a subterfuge to conceal widespread corruption under his regime. The din of Duterte’s anti-corruption is matched only by the monstrous scale of bribery, kickbacks and diversion of funds committed by Duterte himself and his minions.

His recent noise over his rush “to remove red-tape in six months” is part of the frenzied efforts of the Duterte clique to speed-up accumulation of more funds to bankroll its power perpetuation scheme and build its election kitty for 2022.

By removing these business requirements, Duterte and his minions can set up large numbers of fly-by-night corporations to serve as dummies to partner with Chinese corporations and serve as conduits of Chinese kickbacks in China-bankrolled infrastructure projects.

Corruption by Duterte and his minions has worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic. There is the purchase of the overpriced medical and protective equipment that is estimated to have cost the people at least P1 billion. Officials, including Duterte’s favorite Health Sec. Francisco Duque, in connivance with some unscrupulous health-care companies, have defrauded the Philhealth Corp. not less than P15 billion in the form of ghost reimbursements.

On top of all these, Duterte himself diverted as much as P10-billion of the social subsidy funds allotted to the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD). The DSWD itself revealed that it was ordered by Malacañang to reduce the number of beneficiaries by up to 6 million in order to distribute those funds to Duterte’s “list.”

We call on the Filipino people to reject and expose Duterte’s anti-corruption rhetoric and intensify their condemnation of the corruption of the Duterte regime. We call on all citizens who have intimate knowledge of the corrupt insides of the regime to come out and stand by the Filipino people and reveal the details of the regime’s bureaucratic criminal operations.

https://cpp.ph/statements/the-subterfuge-behind-dutertes-anti-corruption-noise/

CPP/NDF-Negros Island: Justice for Bernardo Guillen! Stop Killing Farmers!

Propaganda article posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 29, 2020): Justice for Bernardo Guillen! Stop Killing Farmers!

BAYANI OBRERO

SPOKESPERSON

NDF-NEGROS ISLAND

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

Duterte’s war against the people gets bloodier and dirtier each day.

Bernardo Guillen, a farmer in his 50s from Brgy. Tan-awan, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, was found decapitated and already decomposing. His death makes the peasant death toll under the Duterte regime rise to 275.

Bernardo Guillen was cultivating their farm when a unit of the Mt. Cansermon Command – New People’s Army and the composite team of the 94th Infantry Batallion and 15th Infantry Batallion under the 302nd Brigade of the Philippine Army exchanged firefight. He immediately gathered his family to seek refuge. Upon reaching their house, members of the Philippine Army was already at their house telling them to evacuate. While on their way to the evacuation site, he went back to his house despite the opposition of his wife. His wife and children made it to the evacuation site but Bernardo Guillen never came back to them. After the encounter, his family went home but Bernardo Guillen never returned home. His family, with the help of the barangay tanod, went looking for him but to no avail. Nine days later and he was seen in a ravine near the encounter site, with his detached head placed near his decomposing body.

There is no one to blame but the Duterte regime and his fascist dogs on the incessant and merciless attacks on civilians. The barbaric murder of Bernardo Guillen is the latest crime by the bloodthirsty butchers of the fascist regime.

Bernardo Guillen is the third victim of mutilation for this year alone. Last February 28, Ka Rido of the Leonardo Panaligan Command was captured and killed after an armed encounter in Sitio Agpapataw, Brgy. Binobohan, Guihulngan City. When elements of the 94th IB released his dead body to his family, his fingers were cut off and bruises was evident all over his body. Another victim, Reken Remasog, 21 years old, of Brgy. Luz, Guihulngan City, sufferred from heavy beating and broken legs before he was shot dead. He was captured after a successful tactical offensive by the Leonardo Panaligan Commad in Sitio Tabago, Brgy. Sandayao, Guihulngan City. The military then paraded his as an NPA casualty.

Only the rabid dogs of Duterte can execute such merciless, brutal and barbaric killings. The NDF-Negros reiterates that such act is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions. Protocol I and II guarantees for civilians and persons hors de combat. Mutilation constitutes a war crime in both international and non-international armed conflicts under the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The series of attacks on civilians perpetrated by the AFP and PNP only shows that it is in the nature of the fascist mercenaries to retaliate against innocent civilians following their frustration and failure of chasing the NPA. They are emboldened by state policies such as the Memorandum Order 32, Executive Order 70, and the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 which practically made Negros the regime’s “killling fields”.

We are one with the people of Negros in the demand for the tyrant Duterte and his armed cohorts to stop targeting and attacking civilians. We will continue to seek for justice for all victims of state-sponsored killings. It is then imperative for the people to link arms and resist the fascist Duterte regime. ###

https://cpp.ph/statements/justice-for-bernardo-guillen-stop-killing-farmers/

CPP/NDF-Negros Island: Kolektibo nga tapuson kag dugmukon ang paantus kag tiraniko nga paghari sang US-Duterte nga rehimen!

Propaganda article posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 29, 2020): Kolektibo nga tapuson kag dugmukon ang paantus kag tiraniko nga paghari sang US-Duterte nga rehimen!

BAYANI OBRERO

SPOKESPERSON

NDF-NEGROS ISLAND

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

Nagapakita nga wala sang kapasidad ang rehimen US-Duterte nga dumalahan ang pungsod. Sa pinakabag-o nga survey nga ginpaguha sang Social Weather Station (SWS), nakarekord ang Pilipinas sang 7.3 milyon nga Pilipino nga naga-eksperyensya sang tuman nga gutom sa nag-agi nga tatlo ka bulan.

Indi ini malipod bangud sa malapnagon nga mga protesta kag pagbuyagyag sang malapad nga hanay sang masang pigos nga nagademanda sang ayuda kag bulig sa reaksyunaryo nga gobyerno. Pamatu-od man diri ang ginhiwat nga inisyatiba kag protesta sang sektor sang mga drayber sang dyip diri sa Bacolod upod sa hanay sang mga imol nga taga-syudad sang nag-agi nga semana sa atubang sang daan nga city hall sang syudad nga nagapakalimos sa lokal nga panguluhan agud magpanawagan sang makamasa nga serbisyo kag ayuda.

Makabig na nga “record breaker” ang reaksyunaryo nga gobyerno ni Duterte halin sa pinakalawig nga militarista nga lockdown sini sa bilog nga Asya, sa tuman ka taas nga utang sini sa diin naglab-ot na sa masobra P9 trilyon, pinakamataas nga datos sa wala sang trabaho nga nagrekord na sa 27.3 milyon ka Pilipino kag wala tupong sa ka bangis kag berdugo sa diin indi magnubo sa 30,000 ka pumuluyo ang ginpamatay kag biktima sang EJK sa iya madinugu-on nga gyera kontra-pumuluyo nga ginalunsar.

Nagalaragway lamang ini sa inutil, pabaya, palpak kag pasista nga tikang sang tiraniko nga rehimen indi lang sa pagsabat sa problema nga dala sang pangkalibutanon nga Covid-19 pandemya kundi pati na sa nagalala nga kondisyon sosyo-ekonomiko sang pungsod dala sang pangkalibutanon nga krisis sang kapitalismo.

May pandemya man ukon wala, indi mapunggan ang pagtaas sang numero sang mga pamilya nga Pilipino nga imol kag ginagutom bangod nagapabilin nga atrasado ang ekonomiya bunga sang kawad-on sang matuod nga reporma sa duta, wala sang kaugalingon nga industriya, nagapadayon ang eksport nga oryentasyon kag nagasandig sa pag-import kag lubong sa tuman ka dako nga utang ang pungsod.

Ginhublasan sang pandemya ang kawad-on sang ikasarang sang paantus nga rehimen Duterte nga magdihon sang komprehensibo nga tikang sa pagsabat sini. Dugang nga naga-igod sa malala nga gutom kag kapigaduhon ang pumuluyo ilabi na nga nagalala ang kontra-pumuluyo nga mga patakaran nga ginapatuman sang rehimen US-Duterte sa pungsod, wala-kabulusgan nga korapsyon kag pagbulsa sang pondo halin sa kaban sang pumuluyo kag traidor nga pagsungka kag pagbaligya sang kinatamarung, rekurso kag soberanya sang pungsod sang iya mga imperyalista nga amo.

Dugang pa, kabutigan lang ang pahayag sini nga magresign sa pagkapresidente sa tunga sang indi matapna nga korapsyon sa idalum sang iya panggobyerno bangod pagpaniplang lamang ini agud kuha-on ang simpatiya sang pumuluyo.

Ginahangkat sang NDF-Negros ang rehimen Duterte nga tumanon ang ginhambal sini nga magbuya na siya sa iya posisyon. Dapat niya ini nga buhaton indi lang bangod sang iya pagka-inutil apang bangod tuman na nga naga-antus ang pumuluyo sa iya pagpabaya, korap, traidor kag berdugo nga paghari sa pungsod.

Subongman, nagapanawagan ang NDF-Negros sa tanan nga rebolusyonaryo nga pwersa kag bug-os nga pumuluyo nga kolektibo kag ubos-kusog nga maghimakas agud mapataas ang halintang sang makatarunganon nga pungsodnon demokratiko nga rebolusyon agud mapabayad kag mapalayas ang paantus, kawatan kag tiraniko nga rehimen US-Duterte sa poder kag agud maangkon ang hustisya para sa malapad nga pumuluyo.###

https://cpp.ph/statements/kolektibo-nga-tapuson-kag-dugmukon-ang-paantus-kag-tiraniko-nga-paghari-sang-us-duterte-nga-rehimen/

CPP/NDF-Ilocos: NDF-Ilocos: Marcos is NOT A HERO anywhere!

Propaganda article posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 29, 2020): NDF-Ilocos: Marcos is NOT A HERO anywhere!

ROSA GUIDON

SPOKESPERSON

NDF-ILOCOS

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

Oppose the Marcoses’ bid for higher positions and expose their crimes against the Ilocano people!

The best person to help perpetuate a blatant lie is a barefaced unapologetic liar himself. With the help of another tyrant-dictator Rodrigo Duterte, the Marcos clan persistently upholds the myth of Ferdinand Marcos’ heroism. While some parts of the nation outside Ilocos might believe that the whole region considers him a hero, the truth is that there is a growing number of individuals and organizations that considers this as grave an insult as does the rest of the country. For the National Democratic Front – Ilocos and the organizations and groups under it, Marcos is a daylight thief and berdugo for the masses – even in Ilocos region, wrongly perceived as his stronghold and yet where his Martial Law atrocities also prevailed. Worse, it is where the Marcos family continues to plague the people with severe economic burdens and political repression.

Marcos, Never A Hero Anywhere

While using infrastructure and institutions to deodorize the name of his father who collaborated with Japanese forces, the Marcos dictatorship commits illegal arrests and incidents of torture in the Ilocos Norte municipalities of Vintar, Dumalneg, Solsona, Marcos and Piddig. Three members of indigenous tribes from Pallas Valley and eight farmers from Bangui were summarily executed. Even the association of Martial Law victims in Ilocos Norte reported that at least two extrajudicial killings took place there when Bongbong Marcos was governor of Ilocos Norte from 1983 to 1986 and military rule was in place nationwide.

Their greed for profit and influence is currently concentrated in the Ilocos region. In January 2019, Imee Marcos had the temerity to claim that poverty incidence dropped under her governance as if she had no role in aggravating it with her plunder of tobacco excise fund that should have benefitted 37,000 impoverished tobacco farmers in Ilocos. In 2017, her office instead used it to purchase motor vehicles which was then distributed among selected local government units, some of which do not even have local tobacco production. The 110 motor vehicles were overpriced by Php21.45 million, amounted to Php66.45 million and was managed by Imee’s domestic partner Mark Chua.

It was also used to heavily pad Imee’s pet project, Programang Ikauunlad ng Mamamayan, Ekonomya at Ekolohiya, in 2011 (Php57.5 million) and in 2013 (Php78.6 million and another Php78 million). The plundered millions could and should have helped improve the agricultural sector through the irrigation of around 27,000 hectares in the region or the purchase of tractor machines for each agricultural barangay in Ilocos. Imee and the rest of her family is bleeding the Ilocano people dry not just through corruption but also through low tobacco selling prices and lack of land to till.

A True Hero Is A Hero For The People

Local corruption and human rights abuses were and are still so prevalent that a number of persons hailing from the Ilocos provinces chose to be part of a nationwide campaign against the Marcoses’ bid for a national position. The constant grab for power and the never-ending exploitation of the masses explains very well why the opposition against the rule of the Marcos family is steadily gaining ground. The illusion of a solid Ilocandia behind the Marcoses was false during the Martial Law period and especially so today that their family has been exposed, tried and found guilty by international courts.

The real heroes are those who serve the people. When Diego and Gabriela Silang took it upon themselves to lead a local uprising against the abusive Spaniards, that was heroism. When Father Gregorio Aglipay abandoned the comfort and safety of the cloth to take up arms against the attacking American troops, that was heroism.

The most effective heroes are those who take part in the national democratic struggle. They are so effective that state agents are hell-bent to silence them to the very breath. But when fascist mercenaries violently snuff the life out of members of the revolutionary army, New People’s Army (NPA), it only serves to stoke the revolutionary fire in the Ilocos region. Their heroism lives forever in the minds and hearts of the people they served.

Duterte and his ilk are not fooling anyone when they assigned September 11 as a day for the people of Ilocos to celebrate Ferdinand Marcos’ heroism. Rather, it is a day to force the normalization of dictatorship and tyranny. It is a step closer to a formally declared Martial Law as opposed to the de facto one already in place.

But the people can still overcome Duterte’s intensified militaristic rule. Only through armed struggle and organization of people into cells and chapters will progressive and revolutionary forces reinforce ranks and commit to united action. The general public must be taught that there is a people’s army that takes their side, especially of the impoverished farmers and fisher folk in the countryside. Wherever there are large groups of individuals experiencing a common form of exploitation and abuse, there should be a militant organization that will not waver in the face of armed conflict. These extraordinary times require organizers, propagandists and mass leaders to exert utmost creativity and determination in order to accomplish the necessary ideological, political and organizational requirements. These are challenging but not impossible tasks and the national democratic organization has proven time and again, that with the leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines, it will take this task to hear and pass with red banner flying high. ###

https://cpp.ph/statements/ndf-ilocos-marcos-is-not-a-hero-anywhere/

CPP/NPA-Mindoro: Matatagumpay na taktikal na opensiba ng NPA-Mindoro laban sa AFP-PNP, sagot sa Martial Law ng rehimeng Duterte sa panahon ng pandemya!

Propaganda article posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Sep 29, 2020): Matatagumpay na taktikal na opensiba ng NPA-Mindoro laban sa AFP-PNP, sagot sa Martial Law ng rehimeng Duterte sa panahon ng pandemya!

MADAAY GASIC

SPOKESPERSON

NPA-MINDORO

LUCIO DE GUZMAN COMMAND

SOUTHERN TAGALOG REGIONAL OPERATIONAL COMMAND

MELITO GLOR COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

SEPTEMBER 29, 2020

Matagumpay na inambus ng isang yunit ng Lucio de Guzman Command – New People’s Army-Mindoro ang    nakasakay na pwersa ng 403rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion ng Philippine National Police MIMAROPA (403rd RMFB-PNP-MIMAROPA) sa kahabaan ng national highway sa sityo Mabajo, Barangay Sta Teresita, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. Sugatan ang dalawang tropa ng RMFB sa ambus. Sinunog ng mga Pulang mandirigma ang sasakyang iniwanan ng mga nagtakbuhang RMFB. Naganap ang matagumpay na ambus bandang 11:35 hanggang 12:00 ng umaga ngayong araw ng Lunes, ika-28 ng Setyembre.

Kasabay ng ambus, matagumpay na naisagawa ang operasyong haras ng isang tim ng mga Pulang mandirigma sa kampo ng 403rd RMFB sa Brgy. Cabalwa, ng bayan ng Mansalay.

Nauna pa rito, matagumpay na naisagawa ang dalawang magkasunod na operasyong isnayp laban sa mga mga pwersang RCSPO ng 203rd Infantry Brigade sa Sityo Mantay, Brgy. Monteclaro, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro noong Setyembre 16 at 22 ng buwang ito. Nagdulot ng minimum na dalawang kaswalti ang operasyon ng NPA laban sa mga pwersa ng 4th IBPA.

Ang mga operasyong ito ng LDGC-NPA-Mindoro ay pagbibigay ng rebolusyonaryong hustisya sa mga mamamayang biktima ng kaapihan, karahasan, panggigipit at paglabag sa karapatang pantao    ng pasistang pwersa ng 203rd Brigade at PNP-MIMAROPA.

Ang mga yunit sa ilalim ng 203rd Brigade at PNP-MIMAROPA ang mga mersenaryong pwersang ginagamit ng pasistang rehimeng US-Duterte sa inilulunsad na mararahas na operasyong militar laban sa rebolusyonaryong pwersa at mamamayan sa isla ng Mindoro.

Kahit sa panahon ng pandemya, hindi naglubay bagkus ay higit pang suminsin at tumindi ang mga operasyong kombat ng AFP-PNP sa mga komunidad ng mga katutubo, magsasaka at mangingisda sa isla ng Mindoro. Ilampung mga komunidad ang sinaklaw sa buong isla. Nagresulta ang mga ito sa maraming kaso ng    pambobomba sa mga komunidad at sakahan, pagpatay sa mga sibilyan, pekeng pagpapasuko, pambubugbog, pandarahas, panggigipit, pagpapalayas sa mga lupa’t sakahan, pandarahas sa mga bata at kababaihan at iligal na pang-aaresto at detensyon sa daan-daang katutubo, magsasaka, kababaihan at bata sa isla ng Mindoro.

Sa panahon ng paglaban ng sambayanan sa pandemya, ang mga pwersa ng 203rd Brigade at PNP-MIMAROPA ang isa sa pagunahing tagapagpakalat ng nakamamatay na virus na Covid-19 sa isla ng Mindoro. Habang mahigpit na ipinatutupad ang militaristang lockdown laban sa mga Mindoreño, walang lubay ang AFP-PNP sa pag-ooperasyon sa mga komunidad, paglabag sa kanilang patakaran at pekeng pagpapasuko. Daan-daang mamamayan ang kanilang inaresto at ikinulong sa mga simpleng paglabag sa militaristang lockdown.

Sa bayan ng Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro pinahihiga sa kabaong ang sinumang mahuhuling hindi sumusunod sa curfew at pagbabawal sa pagbibiyahe. Talamak na talamak ang pangongotong ng mga pwersang RMFB at pulis sa mga magsasakang magbibiyahe ng kanilang produktong bukid sa bawat dadaanang checkpoint.

Kahit pamamahagi ng relief goods sa panahon ng pandemya ay ginagamit para sa kampanyang pagpapasuko. Sa Oriental Mindoro, pinupwersa ng mga pasistang sundalo ang mga magsasaka’t katutubo na pumunta sa kampo upang makuha ang kakarampot na bigas at pagkain kasabay ng interogasyon at pamimilit na sumuko bilang tagasuporta ng BHB.

Tampok ring kaso ng sapilitang pagpapasuko ang ginawa sa daan-daang Buhid-Mangyan, kasama na ang ilang menor de edad, sa mga bayan ng Bongabong, San Jose, Mansalay, Magsaysay at Rizal. Pinasuko sila ng AFP-PNP-PTF-ELCAC at dineklarang mga kasapi ng NPA. Sapilitan nilang inokupa ang mga komunidad ng mga katutubo sa ilampung sityo. Iligal nilang inaresto at inimbestigahan ang mga Mangyan at pinaratangan silang mga kasapi ng NPA. Ilan sa mga ito ay mga batang kanilang tinakot at sapilitang pinaamin bilang mga myembro ng NPA. Ginagawa nila ito sa tabing ng mga pekeng proyektong pangkabuhayan at pangkomunidad para diumano’y paunlarin ang atrasadong komunidad ng mga katutubo.

Sa RCSPO sa Brgy. Monteclaro, San Jose, tinipon ang 800 Buhid-Mangyan at sapilitang inirehistro sa Philippine Statistics Authority. Tinakot ang mga katutubo na kung hindi sila nakarehistro ay kasingkahulugan ito ng pagiging kasapi ng BHB.

Tampok din ang ginawang pambobomba ng eroplanong pandigmang FA50 sa komunidad at sakahan ng mga katutubo sa Socorro, Oriental Mindoro noong Mayo 31. Dahil dito, ilandaang pamilyang katutubo at magsasaka ang lumikas sa mga apektadong barangay at komunidad.

Naging biktima ng pamamaslang o extra-judicial killing ng 203rd Brigade sina Jay-ar Mercado habang walang awang pinaslang ang sibilyang si Mark Ederson Valencia sa mga bayan ng Bulalacao at Socorro, Oriental Mindoro.

Walang habas ang pandarahas ng mga operasyong militar para hawanin ang daan sa pagpasok ng malakihang dayuhang pagmimina tulad ng Intex upang dambungin ang yamang mineral ng isla. Pagbubukas ng mga minahan ang isa sa solusyon ng rehimeng US-Duterte para diumano’y makabawi ang ekonomya ng bansa sa pagbagsak dulot ng militaristang lockdown. Ito ngayon ang nasa likod ng hibang na pangarap ng 203rd Brigade at PNP-MIMAROPA na lipulin ang NPA at takutin ang paglaban ng mga Mindoreño.

Dagdag pa, ang sunod-sunod na taktikal na opensiba ng LDGC-NPA-Mindoro ay tugon at pagsuporta nito sa pakikibaka ng sambayanang Pilipino laban sa Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), nakakainsultong pagdeklara bilang National Holiday sa kaarawan ng diktador, tuta at mamamatay-taong si Marcos, at mga EJK at panggigipit laban sa mga katunggali sa pulitika, kritiko, progresibo, rebolusyonaryo at simpleng mga sibilyang napaghinalaang adik ng ipinagbabawal na gamot at pagkitil sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag. Pagsuporta ito ng LDGC-NPA-Mindoro sa pakikibakang bayan para ibagsak ang rehimeng US-Duterte bilang numero unong kaaway ng sambayanang Pilipino sa kasalukuyan.

Iniaalay namin ang matagumpay na opensiba sa mga kasamang nag-alay ng kanilang kaisa-isang buhay habang ipinagtatanggol at pinaglilingkuran ang pambansa-demokratikong interes ng sambayanang Pilipino tulad ni kasamang Justine “Pia” Vargas na pinaslang ng AFP-PNP sa Brgy. Gapasan, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro nitong ika-14 ng Setyembre.

Makakaasa ang mamamayan na hindi titigil ang NPA na tupdin ang sagradong tungkulin nitong ipagtanggol at ipaglaban ang pambansa-demokratikong interes at kagalingan ng sambayanang Pilipino. Anuman ang hirap at sakripisyong dadanasin sa paglaban sa tiranikong paghahari ng rehimeng US-Duterte, magpapatuloy ang NPA sa pagtatanggol sa sambayanang Pilipino.

Digmang Bayan, Sagot sa Martial Law ni Duterte!

Mabuhay ang Bagong Hukbong Bayan!

Mabuhay ang Pambansa-Demokratikong Prente ng Pilipinas!

Mabuhay ang Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas!

Mabuhay ang Rebolusyong Pilipino!

https://cpp.ph/statements/matatagumpay-na-taktikal-na-opensiba-ng-npa-mindoro-laban-sa-afp-pnp-sagot-sa-martial-law-ng-rehimeng-duterte-sa-panahon-ng-pandemya/

Kalinaw News: People’s peace covenant in Indanan Sulu: forging peace with the people

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 29, 2020): People’s peace covenant in Indanan Sulu: forging peace with the people

Indanan Sulu- The people of Indanan, Sulu expressed their support to attaining peace in their community through a Peace covenant signing together with the various sectors of the government at Barangay Pasil, Indanan, Sulu on September 29, 2020.

Provincial and municipal leaders together with the high-ranking officials of security sectors and other relevant agencies graced the significant event wth the people of Indanan in the earnest desire for peace. The Governor of Sulu, Abdusakur M. Tan in his speech highlighted that unity will make everyone win the battle against terrorism.

Unlike other peace covenants, this event was initiated by the local people of Indanan as an expression of their sincere desire to achieve lasting peace. The pesence of Abu Sayyaf in the municipality keeps on decreasing because of the support given by the community. In nearby Patikul Town where a peace covenant was also held, ordinary people was the key to pinpointing the location of the Abu Sayyaff Group heeding their end of the covenant to secure their place.

A few days back, a civilian tip led to the death of ASG Sub group leader Arsibar Sawadjaan and another Indonesian Terrorist. “Our participation here today in People’s Peace Covenant Signing is a manifestation is our sincere support effort in the municipality of Indanan”, Lieutenant General Corleto S Vinluan, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, ponited out during his message.

Lt Gen Vinluan also underscored the coming of one Army Engineering Battalion in Sulu to support the different projects for the Tausugs as the efforts of the AFP are slowly being shifted towards infrastructure development. With this great strides it is now becoming clear that in Sulu, Peace is possible.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/peoples-peace-covenant-in-indanan-sulu-forging-peace-with-the-people/

Kalinaw News: NPA struggling, three regional unit members surrender

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 29, 2020): NPA struggling, three regional unit members surrender

IMPASUGONG, BUKIDNON. September 29- Three (3) Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs) regional unit members surrender to the 8th Infantry “Dependable” Battalion (8IB) on September 15 and 23, 2020.

The said surrenderees were identified as @Bahoy, Political Guide, Squad (Sqd) 1; @ Neil, Team Leader, Team Baking, Sqd 2 both of Platoon (Pltn) 3; and @Angelo, Company Medic all under Headquarters Force (HQF) Neo, North Central Mindanao Regional Command (NCMRC).

Surrenderees revealed that they can no longer endure extreme hunger and their unceasing operations. @Angelo expressed his grievances to the struggling armed group. He said, “Wala’y suplay sa pagkaon, mas kapoy nga operasyon ang hinungdan nga ako nagluya ug ni desisyon nga mosurender.” (No food supplies, tiresome and weary operation made me weak and decide to surrender.)

“Klaro nga timailhan nga ang mga CNT nag-atubang sa seryoso nga problema sa paningkamot nga giisip na ang mga miyembro sa regional nga grupo gahinay-hinay na nga misurender,” said LTC Edgardo V Talaroc Jr, Commanding Officer of 8IB. (It is a clear indication that the CNTs are facing serious armed struggle considering that its regional unit members are gradually surrendering.)

The three surrenderees are now in custody of the 8IB while processing the benefits they can receive from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]

https://www.kalinawnews.com/npa-struggling-three-regional-unit-members-surrender/