Soldier wounded in Quezon clash with suspected NPA rebels

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun 19, 2022): Soldier wounded in Quezon clash with suspected NPA rebels (By: Delfin T. Mallari Jr.)

A Philippine Army soldier was wounded in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels on Saturday, June 18, in Infanta, Quezon.

The Quezon provincial police reported on Sunday that three soldiers from the Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion, after receiving police information, intercepted a tricycle carrying four suspected rebels in Barangay (village) Magsaysay at around 3:20 p.m.

Three of the suspected rebels fled towards a forested as he soldiers approached.

The other suspect, armed with a handgun, fired at the soldiers and hit Staff Sergeant Alex Ayupan on the right chest.

The two other soldiers were unharmed.

The wounded soldier was taken to Claro M. Recto Hospital in the town center for emergency treatment. He was later transferred to Camp V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City.

Government forces are still conducting operations to track down the rebels.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1612992/soldier-wounded-in-quezon-clash-with-suspected-npa-rebels

3 Reds surrender in Calabarzon

 From the Philippine Star (Jun 20, 2022): 3 Reds surrender in Calabarzon (By Ed Amoroso)

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — Three alleged New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas tagged in a series of atrocities in Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon have surrendered to authorities, police said yesterday.

Two of the surrenderees were members of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Timog Katagalugan, according to Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police director.

They were presented to Col. Ledon Monte and Capt. Karl Sta. Clara of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion at Camp Heneral Macario Sakay in Los Baños, Laguna.

The other surrenderee, a member of the NPA’s Southern Tagalog Regional Party Committee, was presented to authorities in Quezon province, Yarra said.

The rebels said the difficulty of life in the mountains forced them to leave the communist movement.

They said they were always on the run due to the military’s intensified campaign against the insurgents.

Yarra said the continuous surrender of rebels showed that the government’s efforts to end the communist armed conflict are gaining ground.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/06/20/2189529/3-reds-surrender-calabarzon

Anti-Terror Council tags 6 CPP leaders terrorists

From Malaya Business Insight (Jun 16, 2022): Anti-Terror Council tags 6 CPP leaders terrorists (By Jocelyn Montemayor)

THE Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) declared six communist leaders, including National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) peace consultant Luis Jalandoni, and five leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group-Daulah Islamiyah as terrorists.

With the designation as terrorists, the ATC said financial assets and properties of the individuals, groups of persons, organizations, or associations are subject to the authority of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to investigate and freeze.

The ATC previously designated the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-NPA-NDFP as terrorist groups. The CPP-NPA has also been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The ATC, in a statement yesterday, said it issued two resolutions signed by ATC vice chairperson Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on May 25.

ATC Resolution No. 31 designates as terrorists Jalandoni, a member of the CPP Central Committee, member of the NDF/NDFP, and founder of the designated terrorist organization “Christians for National Liberation”; Simon Naugsan, CPP-NPA member and spokesman of designated terrorist organization Cordillera People’s Democratic Front; Afrecia/Apricia Alvares/Alvarez Rosete, secretary of the CPP-NPA’s Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee; Maria Luisa Purcray, secretary of the Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee of the CPP-NPA; Maria Gigi Ascaño-Tenebroso, a member of the designated terrorist organization Katipunan ng Gurong Makabayan and finance officer of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the CPP-NPA; and Walter Alipio de Asis Cerbito, member of the designated terrorist organization Christians for National Liberation.

The designation also listed the various aliases used by the six communist leaders.

“Based on verified and validated information obtained and consolidated by the National Intelligence Committee which was submitted to the ATC, there is a finding of probable cause, warranting the designation of specific persons for violations of Sections 4, 6, 7, 10 and 12 of the ATA, for committing, conspiring, planning, preparing for the commission of terrorism and recruitment to and membership in, and providing material support to terrorist organizations or groups organized for the purpose of engaging in terrorism,” “ATC Resolution No. 31 said.

ATC Resolution No. 32 designated five sub-leaders of the Abu Sayyaf and affiliated with Daulah Islamiyah (DI) as specific terrorist individuals. They are Basaron Arok/Basarun Aruk alias Abdulbasser/Abdulkadil/Arkam/Bas/Bossing; Ellam Sajirin/Ellam Nasirin/Ellam Nasarin/Illam Nasirin alias. Ellam/Illam; Madjid Said/Majid Said alias Amah Pattit/Padin Padul/Pading/Amah Sah; Mura Asgali Kayawan alias Salip Mura Asgali/Salip Mura/Salip Murah/Maas; and Tawakkal Bayali/Tawakal Bayali/Tawakkal Abugaw Bayali/Tawwakal Bayali alias Abu Tawakkal/Jaber.

The resolution said “there is a finding of probable cause, warranting the designation of specific persons for violations of Sections 4, 6, and 10 of the ATA, for engaging in acts of terrorism, planning, training, preparing, and facilitating acts of terrorism, and for recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization.”

The ATC said the designation of the 11 as terrorists and the freezing of their assets are necessary to sustain legal efforts against the continuing threat of terrorism in the country.

“Without doubt, the designation, in coordination with the AMLC, serves as an effective tool to deny terrorists from obtaining financial and material support for their terrorist activities.

It is also part of the legal means as an important component of the country’s comprehensive approach in counterterrorism,” it added.

https://malaya.com.ph/news_news/anti-terror-council-tags-6-cpp-leaders-terrorists/

Philippine officials designate 11 insurgents `terrorists’

From KTSP Eyewitness News (Jun 16, 2022): Philippine officials designate 11 insurgents `terrorists’ (By JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press)

FILE - Philippines' government representative Alexander A. Padilla, left, and Luis G. Jalandoni of the communist National Democratic Front exchange documents before resuming their peace talks in Asker, some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Oslo, Norway, on Feb. 15, 2011. The Philippine government has designated a former peace negotiator and five other suspected communist rebel leaders as “terrorists" in a move that allowed the freezing of their financial assets, which officials said could be used to finance attacks. (AP Photo/Scanpix, Morten Holm, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Morten Holm]

The Philippine government has designated a former peace negotiator and five other suspected communist rebel leaders as “terrorists” in a move that allowed the freezing of their financial assets, which officials said could be used to finance attacks.

The Anti-Terrorism Council separately designated as terrorists five commanders of the Abu Sayyaf, a small but violent Muslim militant group in the country’s south. They have been linked to the Islamic State group in an announcement made public Wednesday.

Long-running communist and Muslim insurgencies are among key security problems President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stands to inherit when he takes office on June 30. Although considerably weakened by decades of offensives, infighting and factionalism, the communist and Muslim insurgents remain national security threats.

The six rebel leaders accused of membership in the Communist Party of the Philippines, its armed wing the New People’s Army and related organizations were led by Luis Jalandoni, a former Roman Catholic priest who joined the communist rebellion, one of the longest-raging in Asia.

He gained national prominence as the chief rebel negotiator for decades in peace talks with the Philippine government brokered by Norway until he retired years ago. His whereabouts are unknown.

The Anti-Terrorism Council said Jalandoni and the five other high-ranking communist rebels were designated terrorists under Philippine law due to their alleged involvement in the rebel movement and past and future acts of terrorism. It did not elaborate or cite any evidence.

The rebels condemned the government’s terrorist labeling of the 87-year-old Jalando and the others as a “gross perversion of the truth.”

“It was made without basis and cites no specific judicable facts. It aims to slander them and restrict their democratic rights,” the Communist Party of the Philippines said in a statement.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also did not cite specific evidence against the five Abu Sayyaf commanders. But a military counterterrorism officer said Thursday on condition of anonymity that they were based in the southern provinces of Sulu and Basilan and linked to ransom kidnappings and other terrorist attacks.

The government has previously designated the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army along with the Abu Sayyaf as terrorist organizations.

Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte took steps early in his presidency to foster peace talks with communist guerrillas, who the military estimates at 2,700 fighters. But both sides accused the other of pressing on with attacks and the negotiations eventually collapsed.

The Philippine government has never initiated any talks with the Abu Sayyaf, which has carved a brutal image for deadly bombings and beheadings, but has encouraged many of its fighters to surrender. The military has pressed on with decades-long offensives against the militants, who are estimated to number less than 200 mostly in predominantly Muslim Sulu province and outlying islands.

https://kstp.com/associated-press/ap-us-international/philippine-officials-designate-11-insurgents-terrorists/

AFP: Terrorist designation to limit Abu Sayyaf movement

From the Philippine Star (Jun 17, 2022): AFP: Terrorist designation to limit Abu Sayyaf movement (By Roel Pareño)

The movement of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group will be more limited after the Anti-Terror Council (ATC) designated as terrorists five of its subleaders tagged in cross-border kidnapping activities, the military said yesterday.

Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of Western Mindanao Command, said military pressure would continue against the remaining members of the Abu Sayyaf, whose factions have links with Dawlah Islamiya and the international terrorist organization Islamic State.

“It is a welcome development because it will strengthen the legitimacy of our military operations against the Abu Sayyaf, not only in Sulu, but also in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga peninsula and in other parts of the country,” Rosario said.

Designated as terrorists by the ATC were Basaron Arok, Ellam Sajirin, Madjid Said, Mura Asgali Kayawan and Tawakkal Bayali, who use several aliases to mislead authorities.

Some of the names listed by the ATC were also among 20 Abu Sayyaf personalities included in a wanted list recently issued by Malaysia’s Eastern Sabah Security Command.

The ATC said the five were involved in planning, training, preparing and facilitating acts of terrorism as well as recruitment.

Rosario said the ATC designation would cut off any financial channel between local and overseas terror groups.

“This is beneficial to the military and the Filipinos. It will be instrumental in ending the threat brought by Abu Sayyaf in the country,” Rosario said.

He said the military pressure exerted against the bandits is complemented with the development of areas in Basilan and Sulu that were formerly occupied by the Abu Sayyaf.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/06/17/2189019/afp-terrorist-designation-limit-abu-sayyaf-movement

2 terrorists killed in Maguindanao

 From the Philippine Star (Jun 18, 2022): 2 terrorists killed in Maguindanao (By John Unson)

MATANOG, Maguindanao, Philippines — Two members of a local terrorist group were killed in an alleged shootout with law enforcers in Barangay Bugasan in this town on Thursday.

The fatalities were identified as Norodin Guiamad and Puti Sumanday of the Dawlah Islamiya.

Personnel of the Matanog police and 5th Marine Battalion were serving arrest warrants for multiple murder and frustrated murder when the suspects reportedly opened fire.

Police said an M16 assault rifle and a .45-caliber pistol were recovered from the slain suspects.

Meanwhile, in Sulu, Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Almujer Yadah, 55, and Ben Ahadi Quirino, 41, surrendered in Patikul, Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Division commander, said.

Patrimonio said Yadah and Quirino were with the group of sub-leader Majid Sahidjuan, who headed the kidnapping group of the Abu Sayyaf.

Col. Jaime Mojica, Sulu police officer-in-charge, said the arrest warrants indicate the involvement of the two bandits in the beheading of two kidnapped Canadian citizens.

John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, who were among three foreigners taken from a resort on Samal island on Sept. 21, 2015, were beheaded in April and June in 2016, respectively, after failing to pay a ransom of P300 million.

Col. Alaric Avelino delos Santos, civil-military operations chief of Joint Task Force Sulu, said Yadah was also responsible for the beheading of two soldiers of the 41st Infantry Battalion following an encounter in Barangay Liang on Nov. 18, 2018.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/06/18/2189123/2-terrorists-killed-maguindanao

Surrendered Abu Sayyaf militant wanted by Esscom; four other wanted Filipinos designated as terrorists by Philippines

From the Daily Express (Jun 20, 2022): Surrendered Abu Sayyaf militant wanted by Esscom; four other wanted Filipinos designated as terrorists by Philippines (By: Zam Yusa)

The two Abu Sayyaf militants, including one wanted by Esscom, are briefly presented in a news conference in an army camp in Jolo and later turned over to police. (Photo: Facebook/Alakdan Division)

KOTA KINABALU: One of two highly sought Abu Sayyaf militants who recently surrendered to the Philippine military is wanted by the Eastern Sabah Security Command, with four of the 20 men on the agency’s wanted list recently designated as terrorists by the Philippines.

The Philippine military presented during a press conference Friday Almujer Yadah and Bensito Quitino, who had given themselves up in Jolo, Sulu, southern Philippines and surrendered their assault rifles.

The two were accused of beheading two Canadians and a German who was kidnapped while sailing off Sabah.

One of the 20 Filipinos on the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom)’s latest wanted list is named “Al Munjir Yadah”, a slightly, differently spelt name.

“Both names belong to the same person. They’re spelt slightly differently, but they're the same person,” Esscom commander DCP Hamzah Ahmad told Daily Express.

“We will try to get any intel we can from our Philippine counterpart.”

Hamzah was speaking when the paper contacted him to confirm whether the two names were the same.

Esscom first released its latest wanted list in January of this year.

The 20 Filipino men on the wanted list are: Madjid Said @ Ammah Patit, Mudzrimar @ Mundi Sawadjaan, Ahadin Hussein, Ellam Sajirin @ Nasirin, Ismurah Jirah, Salip Mura, Al Munjir Yadah, Ben Tatoh Quirino, Basaron Arok, Mujimar Sawadjaan @ Rasad, Marajan @ Manajan Asiri, Jul Aksan Abdurajan @ Halimaw, Jul @ Jun Hasan, Barak Undog @ Alvin, Hamsan Pakkan @ Black Cobra, Sabri Madrasul @ Salip Jul, Hadji Wahad @ Talip, Tampi @ Bunju, Haibin Mubin @ Apo Kuhambo and Sangbas Parisko.

On June 15, four of the Filipinos on Esscom’s wanted list were announced as designated terrorists by the Philippine Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) along with six high-ranking communist leaders.

The ATC listed Basaron, Ellam, Majdid and Salip as terrorists and sub-leaders of the Abu Sayyaf Group affifliated with Daulah Islamiyah or DI, the name given in the Philippines to the Islamic State group.

The ATC also listed Basaron’s aliases, namely Basarun Aruk, Abdulbasser, Abdulkadil, Arkam, Bas and Bossing.

Madjid’s aliases are Padin Padul, Pading and Amah Sah.

Meanwhile, Salip was listed as Mura Asgali Kayawan, his real name, who also has the aliases Salip Mura Asgali and Maas.

A fifth DI-affiliated Abu Sayyaf sub-leader, Tawakkal Bayali / Tawakal Bayali / Tawakkal Abugaw Bayali / Tawwakal Bayali a.k.a. Abu Tawakkal / Jaber; was also designated by the ATC as a terrorist.

The designated terrorists’ financial assets and properties can be investigated and frozen, said the ATC, citing its May 25 resolution.

The 20 Filipinos on the Esscom list are wanted for alleged "connection with the Abu Sayyaf group, kidnapping-for-ransom groups and other transnational crimes", the Malaysian security agency said while reissuing the list on Facebook on June 12.

The re-release included high-resolution mugshots of the 20 Filipinos, higher that those issued in January, likely to better help members of the public identify the criminals.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s security analyst Dr Ramli Dollah said the kidnapping issue will not be resolved as long as the activity generates income to ransom-kidnapping groups especially when a huge sum is involved.

“Actors change but the process remains unless there is a mechanism to control the groups. Cases increase and decline depending on factors such as the government's policies and other factors in Malaysia and the Philippines,” he told Daily Express.

“The easiest way is to stop ransom payments. Unfortunately, although government policies are clear on ransoms, families (of kidnap victims) still pay. This is a huge challenge.”

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/194464/surrendered-abu-sayyaf-militant-wanted-by-esscom-four-other-wanted-filipinos-designated-as-terrorists-by-philippines/

2 Abu Sayyaf members surrender in Basilan

From Business World (Jun 20, 2022): 2 Abu Sayyaf members surrender in Basilan

TWO Abu Sayyaf group members surrendered in Basilan on Sunday, according to the military.

In a statement on Monday, the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said the two were under the Abu Sayyaf faction of the late Furuji Indama, who replaced Isnilon Hapilon, a long-time leader of the Islamic State-affiliated group who was killed during the Marawi siege in 2017.

Indama, who took over command of the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf members, was killed in an encounter with government forces in 2020.

Since then, the kidnap-for-ransom and terrorist group has weakened, WestMinCom said.

“We continuously encourage those who are still hiding in the hinterlands of Basilan to come out,” WestMinCom commander Alfredo V. Rosario, Jr. said in the statement.

“The armed forces and the local government units will never cease to provide all necessary assistance during their reintegration into mainstream society. We will guide them during the process to ensure that they will not be lured to join any lawless group again,” he said.

Earlier this month, 12 members of the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, another island province southwest of the Philippines, also turned themselves.

The military’s Sulu Task Force said it has recorded 823 Abu Sayyaf returnees since 2017.

https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2022/06/20/456300/2-abu-sayyaf-members-surrender-in-basilan/

CPP/CIO: “Terrorist designation” of Ka Louie et al is outrageous

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 15, 2022): “Terrorist designation” of Ka Louie et al is outrageous

This article is available in Pilipino

Marco Valbuena

Chief Information Officer

Communist Party of the Philippines

June 15, 2022

The improperly named “Anti-Terrorism Council” today announced that it issued a resolution last May 25 (Resolution No. 31) which “designated” the former chief negotiator of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Ka Louie Jalandoni and five other people being associated with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) as “terrorist individuals.”

The Party and the revolutionary movement firmly denounces the ATC for the shameless, baseless and outrageous claim that Ka Louie et al are “terrorists.” This forms part of the the continuing effort of the Duterte fascist regime to malign the revolutionary movement and vilify revolutionaries, patriots and progressives who have long advanced the Filipino people’s aspirations for national liberation and democracy.

Ka Louie Jalandoni, who is 87 years old, is publicly known as a peace negotiator, and is a highly regarded revolutionary and stalwart of the national democratic cause. The “terrorist label” being foisted by the ATC against him and others is a gross perversion of the truth. It was made without basis and cites no specific judicable facts. It aims to slander them and restrict their democratic rights.

Jalandoni, like the broad forces of the NDFP, the CPP and New People’s Army, enjoy the support of the broad masses of workers, peasants and other oppressed and exploited classes in the Philippines.

We strongly condemn the Duterte regime and its “terrorist labelling” which aims to obscure the deep economic, social, political and cultural roots of the national democratic cause that is being advanced through revolutionary armed struggle and other forms of collective people’s resistance.

The Duterte regime uses “terrorist labelling” and the draconian Anti-Terrorism Law, combined with “red-tagging” to threaten the lives and curtail the democratic rights of people and organizations who stand against its corruption, puppetry and militarist rule.

It is the US-supported Philippine reactionary state that is, in fact, the biggest terrorist as it carries out its campaign of suppression and pacification against the people. Its armed forces and police carry out extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, hamletting of communities, imposing curfews, food blockades and conducting aerial bombing, strafing and shelling of civilian communities.

https://cpp.ph/statements/terrorist-designation-of-ka-louie-et-al-is-outrageous/

CPP/NDF-PKM-Southern Mindanao: Stand with the peasants of Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac!

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 15, 2022): Stand with the peasants of Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac!

Restituto Baguer

Spokesperson

Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid-Southern Mindanao

NDF-Southern Mindanao | National Democratic Front of the Philippines

June 15, 2022

The unjust and cruel dispersal and subsequent arrest and detention of farmers and their supporters in Hacienda Tinang in Brgy. Concepcion, Tarlac stands as a liminal state that sends off the anti-peasant US-Duterte regime and welcomes the hardly-different “Marcos II presidency.”

The crime? The peasants were ensuring that their families will have food on their table amid the rapidly rising cost of living and their debilitated livelihood still reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On June 9, the otherwise peaceful collective farming activity called bungkalan erupted in pandemonium when armed policemen stormed in and rounded up more than 90 farmers, land reform advocates, activists and even journalists, over complaints of “malicious mischief and illegal assembly.”

It is ridiculous, although admittedly unsurprising, that the PNP is desperately trying to excuse its troops’ barbarity by claiming that the farmers and their supporters have “links to the New People’s Army.” There is indeed no issue that the fascist minions of the Duterte regime will not use to scapegoat the NPA in order to gloss over their naked state terror.

What is more reprehensible is the fact that the farmers are so-called “land reform beneficiaries” under the reactionary regime’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, but are still being persecuted for having exercised their right to till their land. The fascistic dispersal of their collective farming by armed state police flies in the face of the peasants’ supposed status as “beneficiaries” and stands as yet another confirmation that CARP is but a bogus lip service of a land reform.

In the face of the looming food crisis, which even the neoliberals and technocrats in the bourgeois system have now sounded alarm bells on, the persecution of peasants is all the more contemptuous. Instead of providing land and production support, the regime up to its last remaining days continues to harass, send to jail or even murder peasants in the name of state terror and counterinsurgency.

In persecuting the peasants and condemning their families to further destitution, the enemy has bred yet more potential recruits to the revolution. In righteous indignation over this recent attack against the peasants in Tarlac, new Red fighters will certainly firm up NPA platoons and membership in underground mass organizations will swell, even as the ruling clique busies itself in the changing of guards in rotten semifeudal and semicolonial system. More sympathizers and supporters will flock to the cause of the agrarian revolution and the people’s war.

Revolutionary peasants in Southern Mindanao wholly stand by the farmers of Hacienda Tinang in their struggle for land and food security. We hold the US-Duterte regime and its armed forces responsible for inflicting more torment to the already miserable lot of the peasants in Tarlac, where landlordism and fascism continue to perpetuate backward semifeudal conditions against the masses. We harbor no illusion that the incoming “US-Marcos II regime,” especially in light of its complicit silence over the incident, will be any different in words or in deed in matters most material to the peasantry.

For poor peasants and Lumad in Southern Mindanao, the beacon of hope still shines brighter in the countryside. Having gone through six years of Duterte hell taught us all but one thing: the agrarian revolution we wage alongside our genuine army, the New People’s Army, remains our shield and weapon in facing the next few years against the next wannabe-tyrant.

https://cpp.ph/statements/stand-with-the-peasants-of-hacienda-tinang-in-concepcion-tarlac/

CPP/NDF-Jalandoni: I am not a terrorist

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 16, 2022): I am not a terrorist

Luis G. Jalandoni

Senior Adviser

Negotiating Panel

National Democratic Front of the Philippines

June 16, 2022

I am not a terrorist and I strongly condemn my designation as such by the Anti-terror Council (ATC) of the Philippine government. I categorically state that never in my life have I committed any act of terrorism. For the past three decades I have always worked for just peace to reign in the Philippines and for the Filipino people. Members of the government peace negotiating panels and other GRP officials can attest to this.

Yet the anti-terrorist council based its designation on so-called secret verified information and the trumped-up murder charges against me. It is an outright lie. I was not even in the Philippines when these alleged crimes were committed.

My designation as a terrorist is a warning by the Manila government to those striving for genuine and meaningful change, and peace is not in the agenda of the incoming administration. But I am confident that the people will persevere in their search for a just and lasting peace.#

Signed:

Luis G. Jalandoni
Former Chairperson of the NDFP Negotiating Panel
Senior Adviser to the NDFP Negotiating Panel

https://cpp.ph/statements/i-am-not-a-terrorist/

CPP/CIO: Condemn use of communist bogey to justify fascist suppression

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 17, 2022): Condemn use of communist bogey to justify fascist suppression

Marco Valbuena

Chief Information Officer

Communist Party of the Philippines

June 17, 2022

This article is available in Pilipino

Interior secretary and former general Eduardo Año must be condemned for using the communist bogey to justify the Duterte regime’s plans to stop people from staging demonstrations on June 30 to protest the inauguration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr as president and express indignation against his illegitimate regime.

He claims that planned protest actions on June 30 are part of a so-called “communist plot” to “embarrass” Marcos Jr. Such an objective, in fact, is futile because Marcos Jr and the entire Marcos family are beyond embarrassment and shame.

During their decade and a half in power, they stole billions of dollars of people’s money, and openly led a lavish lifestyle while the majority of the people–workers, peasants and ordinary people–suffered from widespread poverty and hunger. Under the US-Marcos dictatorship, the broad masses of the people suffered from low wages, landlessness, foreign indebtedness, high taxes, as well as from arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and killings.

General Año’s claims that the CPP wants to discredit Marcos Jr. do not stick. In the first place, the CPP does not even have to do anything to discredit Ferdinand Jr because he is already discredited having rigged the May 9 automated elections in collusion with Rodrigo Duterte to install himself in power. Before the eyes of the Filipino people, the Marcos II regime is an illegitimate regime established on a massively fraudulent elections that saw preprogrammed results giving the dictator’s son an impossible 31.5 million votes to fake a landslide victory.

Duterte’s National Task Force-Elcac, military and police officials, their minions, and even Juan Ponce Enrile–Marcos I’s martial law architect and now Marcos II legal counsel–are singing the same tune, pointing fingers at everyone and seeing a “communist plot” everywhere.

The stage is now being set for the intensified suppression of democratic rights under Marcos II.

https://cpp.ph/statements/condemn-use-of-communist-bogey-to-justify-fascist-suppression/

CPP/Tribute: Ka Bert, Anak ng Sorsogon

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 17, 2022): Ka Bert, Anak ng Sorsogon (Ka Bert, Son of Sorsogon)

People's War

Tribute

June 17, 2022

Pinakamataas na pagpupugay ang ginagawad ng Celso Minguez Command at ng buong rebolusyonaryong kilusan sa Sorsogon kay Jimmy “Ka Bong/ Bert” Equiza sa kanyang walang pag-iimbot na pag-alay ng kanyang lakas, talino, tapang at buhay para sa pagsisilbi sa sambayanang Pilipino. Napaslang siya sa isang labanan nitong Hunyo 4, 2022 sa Brgy. Olandia, Barcelona, Sorsogon sa edad na 44.

Nagmula sa pamilya ng panggitnang magsasaka sa Brgy. Tigkiw, Gubat, Sorsogon si Ka Bert. Mabait, palabiro, mahusay magpropaganda, mag-organisa at mahusay sa gawaing militar-ito ang mga tumatak na katangian niya sa mga kasama at masa na kanyang nakadaupang palad sa mga erya ng Gubat, Casiguran, Barcelona, Bulusan, Sta. Magdalena, Matnog, Bulan at ilang bayan sa Camarines Sur.

Kasabay ng pag-unlad ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan sa Sorsogon ang pag-unlad ni Ka Bert bilang isang kasama-may pagsibol, paglakas, paghina, pagbawi at tuloy-tuloy na pagkilos sa kabila ng matitinding hamon.

Lumaki si ka Bert sa kilusan. Sa musmos na edad ay nakakahalubilo na niya ang mga kasama tuwing bumabase sila sa kanilang tahanan kaya’t naging madali para sa kanyang at kanyang pamilya na tanggapin ang kanyang desisyon na sumapi sa bagong hukbong bayan.

Sumapi sya BHB noong 1995 sa edad na 18. Sa murang edad ay nakitaan na siya ng potensyal sa gawaing militar at gawaing alyansa. Taong 1996 ay nadakip sya habang gumagampan ng gawain ngunit nakatakas din sa kulungan at agad na bumalik sa mga kasama. Naging bahagi din sya sa operatiba na nag-aresto at pagbantay kay Chief Insp. Roberto Bernal, intelligence officer ng PNP na nag-oopisina sa DILG, Quezon City, noong Feb 21, 1999. 2 buwan na naging POW ng NPA-Sorsogon si Chief Insp. Bernal bago ito pinalaya sa Sorsogon City. Dahil sa taktikal na opensiba na ito ay naging tanyag ang pangalan ni Ka Bert, ginawan pa sya ng malaking tarpaulin ng Sorsogon PPO sa opisina nito na may nakalagay na “Ka Bong, Berdugo ng Sorsogon”. Pinagtatawanan lang ng mga masa ang tarpaulin-alam nila na malayong malayo ang pinapakalat ng reaksyunaryong gubyerno tungkol kay ka Bert.

Naging bahagi si Ka Bert sa paglunsad ng ikalawang pagwawasto ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan. Nasaksihan niya ang kaliwang oportunismo na umiral sa kilusan noon at ang mga pagsisikap ng kilusan na maibalik ang tiwala ng masa at magwasto sa mga kamalian.

Nagdesisyon syang mag-asawa noong 1998 at nagkaroon sila ng 3 anak. Pagkalipas ng 2 taon ay lumabag siya sa patakaran ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan hinggil sa pag-aasawa. Nag-AWOL sya nang matuklasan ang kanyang paglabag at namuhay bilang sibilyan ng 2 taon, nagtrabaho siya noon bilang caretaker sa manukan. Sa kabila ng desisyon na ito ay di siya nawalan ng komunikasyon sa mga kasama, at pana-panahon ay tumutulong siya sa mga gawain. Dahil alam niya na tama ang pinaglalaban ng kilusan, di rin niya natiis na walang gawin hinggil sa aping kalagayan ng mamamayang Sorsoganon, bumalik din siya bagong hukbong bayan at hinarap niya ang kanyang aksyong disiplina.

Mula sa pagiging mandiriga, supply officer, squad lider ay umunlad siya hangang sa maging platoon lider at procurement officer.

Tulad ng ibang mga kasama na pinili na magrebolusyon, biktima ng pananakot, panggigipit, pananakit, iligal na pag-aresto at biktima ng gawa-gawang kaso ang kanyang pamilya at mga kaanak mula sa reaksyunaryong gubyerno. Sa kabila nito ay hindi siya nagpatinag sa presyur at sinuportahan siya ng kanyang pamilya na magpatuloy sa pagrerebolusyon.

Ilang beses na pinanghinaan si Ka Bert sa kanyang pagkilos, ngunit madali rin itong napangibabawan sa tulong nag kanyang mga kolektibo. Nitong Disyembre, ay nagmungkahi siya ng leave dahil sa nararanasan niyang trauma. Alam niyang kailangan siya ng mga masa na kanyang pinagsisilbihan at ng kanyang mga kolektibo, kayat bumalik sya at nagpatuloy sa pagrerebolusyon.

Pinakita ni Ka Bert sa kanyang lagpas dalawang dekadang pagsisilbi sa sambayanan na hindi madali ang pagrerebolusyon- na puno ito ng sakripisyo at hirap, ngunit puno rin ng mga aral, inspirasyon at saya, pinakita rin niya ang katumpakan at pangangailangan na laging magwasto sa bawat personal o organisasyonal na kamalian. Pinakita rin niya na sa bawat kahinaan at kamalian, andiyan lagi ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan at ang masa upang tumulong sa pagharap sa mga pagsubok at sa pagpapanibagong hubog.

Hindi malilimutan ng masang Sorsoganon ang mga ngiti, tawa, biro at propaganda ni Ka Bert. Bahagi siya ng mahabang kasaysayan ng Sorsogon ng paglaban at pagrerebolusyon na tiyak na ipagpapatuloy at ipagtatagumpay ng mamamayang Sorsoganon na naging bahagi ng kanyang buhay.

Mabuhay ka Ka Bert!

https://cpp.ph/statements/ka-bert-anak-ng-sorsogon/

CPP/CIO: General Faustino is behind brutal campaign of aerial bombings, killings and abuses in Mindanao

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 18, 2022): General Faustino is behind brutal campaign of aerial bombings, killings and abuses in Mindanao

Marco Valbuena

Chief Information Officer

Communist Party of the Philippines

June 18, 2022

This article is available in Pilipino

With the appointment of Gen. Jose Faustino Jr as officer-in-charge and eventual secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) under the incoming Marcos II regime, the Filipino people can anticipate the dirty war in Mindanao to be expanded and intensified across the country.

We hold General Faustino as among the worst of the fascist generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) responsible for the brutal campaign of aerial bombings, extrajudicial killings and gross abuses of human rights in Mindanao, since it was placed under martial law in 2017.

Under US indoctrination and direction, and as Duterte stooge, General Faustino is responsible for the dirty war against the Lumad people and peasant masses of Mindanao. He successively led the 10th ID, the Eastern Mindanao Command and the Joint Task Force Mindanao which are all notorious for the bloody war against civilians. Under his command, the AFP launched large campaigns of suppression and pacification against the masses, hamletting entire villages placing them under military rule, red-tagging and dismantling people’s organizations, and breaking up of their programs including the Lumad schools.

The campaigns of military suppression led by General Faustino were concentrated in Northern and Eastern Mindanao where mining operations and expansion of plantations are being valiantly resisted by the people. The campaign of the AFP is to suppress the people’s resistance and establish fake organizations that will “welcome” the capitalists, mostly big American companies, who will grab their land.

General Faustino is an ardent supporter of the National Task Force-Elcac, Duterte’s notorious fascist agency, having benefited much from the hundreds of millions of pesos of infrastructure building under the “Barangay Development Program”–a corruption-ridden program that aims to satiate military officers and buy their loyalty, under the guise of addressing the “roots of the armed conflict.” Of the ₱1.6 billion NTF-Elcac BDP budget for 2021, more than ₱1.2 billion (or 75%) went to five regions alone which were all under Faustino’s command in 2021.

General Faustino, like General Lorenzana and all his predecessors in the DND, will wage a losing and failing war against the New People’s Army (NPA). Behind the fake numbers of “surrenders,” battlefield “victories” and “dismantled guerrilla fronts” being reported daily by the AFP is the people’s seething outrage against endless military suppression and occupation of their communities.

By defending the people with arms, the NPA continues to steadily expand and gain the broad support of the masses. No amount of US-supplied bombs, howitzers and bullets will stop the growth of the NPA. Despite all difficulties, the broad masses of peasants and minority people continue to build their organizations to fight the AFP and aggressors who are grabbing their land. Under the illegitimate Marcos II regime, people in great numbers are bound to wage resistance and join the people’s war.

https://cpp.ph/statements/general-faustino-is-behind-brutal-campaign-of-aerial-bombings-killings-and-abuses-in-mindanao/

CPP/CIO: Sara Duterte, the wannabe dictator, is no Rizal

Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 19, 2022): Sara Duterte, the wannabe dictator, is no Rizal

Marco Valbuena

Chief Information Officer

Communist Party of the Philippines

June 19, 2022

Sara Duterte will take her oath as vice-president today after having won an impossible landslide victory with Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in the May 9 elections rigged in their favor.

Today is also the 161st birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, hero of the Filipino people who stood against Spanish colonialism and inspired people to wage revolution. Rizal was a progressive intellectual who denounced tyranny and abuses and longed for national freedom.

Sara Duterte, however, is no Rizal. Quite the opposite, in fact. She is a product of her father’s tyranny and corruption. She idolizes her father’s demagoguery and dictator-style leadership. She owes her power to her father and their family’s bureaucrat capitalist privilege and wealth. She herself is a bureaucrat capitalist who accumulated large amounts of wealth as Davao City mayor, especially in the past few years that the city’s infrastructure binge was prioritized with funds from her father’s government. A few years ago, her husband, Mans Carpio, was exposed to have been involved in the smuggling of around ₱6 billion of illegal drugs from China.

Sara Duterte is a wannabe dictator in waiting. She is not known to be particularly brilliant, neither is she sympathetic to the conditions of workers, peasants and Lumad minority people of Mindanao. She is known for her iron-fist policy against workers organizing unions or waging strikes to demand wage increases. As mayor of Davao City, she collaborated with the military and police in the relentless campaign of suppression against peasants and Lumads on the pretext of “localized peace.”

Sara Duterte is her father’s ace card to ensure that Marcos Jr will prevent the International Criminal Court to pursue its investigation and prosecution of crimes against humanity filed against Duterte over his sham war on drugs.

Although Sara Duterte allowed herself to run as his vice president, Marcos Jr considers her a threat to his power. He appointed her as education secretary, when she made it categorically clear that she wanted to be defense secretary in order to control the military. Marcos Jr wants her far away from the center of power.

As education secretary, Sara Duterte will face the problem of gross low salaries of teachers, the lack of teachers, lack of classrooms, and the increasing cost of education which is why millions of young people are dropping out from school.

Her dictatorial-style won’t work in resolving the problems of teachers and students, who demand fundamental changes in the education policies and government priorities that place the interests of the military and police above all the rest.

https://cpp.ph/statements/sara-duterte-the-wannabe-dictator-is-no-rizal/