Himamaylan murder case takes a turn as daughter comes forward to seek justice

From Rappler (Oct 11, 2023): Himamaylan murder case takes a turn as daughter comes forward to seek justice (By REYMUND TITONG)

The Negros Occidental police say witnesses are afraid to come forward

BACOLOD, Philippines – A daughter of the couple allegedly killed by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Himamaylan City has contacted the police and agreed to cooperate with the authorities in filing criminal complaints against the suspects.

During a news conference on Tuesday, October 10, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Director Leo Pamittan said Emily Fausto, the eldest daughter of the murdered couple, was initially reluctant to pursue the case but later showed interest in seeking justice for her parents and younger siblings, who were shot and killed in the June 14 attack in Himamaylan City.

Colonel Pamittan said the Himamaylan Police Station had already prepared the case folders containing the documents that Emily needed to sign for submission to the court.

“The eldest daughter of the Fausto couple called and she is now willing to personally file the case. She will be going to the Himamaylan City Police Station to sign the prepared case folders,” Pamittan said.

Authorities identified one of the suspects as Fernando Hermino, who the military alleges is a member of the NPA. Hermino, incidentally, is Emily’s father-in-law.

Witnesses were afraid to come forward. Authorities reported that one witness was awakened from his sleep and threatened by a group of about 15 men, who warned that they would attack his house with bullets unless he revealed the Fausto couple’s location in Sitio Kangkiling, Barangay Buenavista.

Vincent Parra, head of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Negros, said the Himamaylan police have filed charges of grave coercion against the group.

Accusations and denials

Both the military and communist rebels have traded accusations following the brutal killing of the Fausto family members.

The NPA has pointed to military forces as the perpetrators, claiming that the family had been red-tagged and subjected to military harassment before the attack.

But the military has denied the NPA’s accusations. They argue that Billy Fausto, the family patriarch, served as a military informer who encouraged his in-laws and other family members to leave the NPA’s Central Negros 2, and surrender.

Relatives of the victims, however, have asserted that Billy was neither an NPA member nor a military informer.

Major General Marion Sison, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said the military sought the guidance of Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos City in their efforts to enhance local peace engagement on the island. He said they aim to avoid any confrontation with their fellow citizens.

Bishop Alminaza was among those who called for an investigation into an incident involving the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion in Kabankalan City on September 21, where six individuals lost their lives.

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Lacson, for his part, said the province was experiencing a growing momentum in the peace process, which he attributes to initiatives prioritizing the delivery of essential services, social development, and encouraging participatory programs.

Lacson expressed his sadness for the children caught in the crossfire of armed conflicts who may not fully understand the ideologies at play.

Weakened fronts

During the press conference, authorities presented a video claiming that two NPA guerrilla fronts in Negros had been disbanded, while three others were considerably weakened, leaving 53 active members and 197 firearms in their possession.

The dismantled fronts were identified as the Northern Negros Front and Central Negros Front 1, while the weakened fronts included Central Negros 2, Southeast Front, and Southwest Front, all operating under the Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros-Cebu-Bohol-Siquijor.

The military reported that communist rebels on the island had committed 51 acts of violence, resulting in the deaths of 34 civilians, five soldiers, three former rebels, four government officials, and one police officer. – Rappler.com

https://www.rappler.com/nation/visayas/himamaylan-murder-case-daughter-emily-fausto-comes-forward-seeks-justice/

Wanted CTG leader dead in Sultan Kudarat clash

From the Philippine Star (Oct 13, 2023): Wanted CTG leader dead in Sultan Kudarat clash (By John Unson)

The 37th IB is now in custody of the firearms and other belongings of the slain communist guerilla leader and his companions found at the scene of Oct. 10, 2023'S clash in Barangay Obial in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.  Philstar.com / John Unson

COTABATO CITY — Local executives in Sultan Kudarat province on Friday urged the remaining members of the New People’s Army to surrender following Tuesday’s death of a regional guerilla leader in a brief clash with soldiers in Kalamansig town.

Brig. Gen Michael Santos, commander of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade, Major Gen. Alex Rillera of the 6th Infantry Division and members of the municipal peace and order council in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat separately confirmed to reporters on Friday the demise of Ray Masot Zambrano in the incident.

Zambrano, wanted for more than a dozen criminal cases in different courts in Region 12, was top leader of the self-styled Timlas Platoon of the Far South Mindanao Region Command of the New People’s Army, now most known as “communist terrorist group,” or CTG, in police and military parlance.

Zambrano and his companions opened fire first on personnel of the 37th Infantry Battalion dispatched to verify their reported presence in a secluded area in Barangay Obial in Kalamansig, sparking a gunfight that resulted in his death.

“It was the residents of Kalamansig long complaining about their abuses who reported to the 37th IB their presence in the area," Santos said.

Companions of Zambrano left his cadaver, his firearms — an AK-47 rifle and a .45 caliber pistol — and other belongings as they scampered away when they sensed that Army reinforcements were closing in.

Army units under Santos and local executives in the adjoining Kalamansig, Lebak and Palimbang towns in the seaside part of Sultan Kudarat and those in upland areas, among them leaders of indigenous tribes, together secured the surrender via backdoor talks of 126 CTG members in the past 14 months.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/10/13/2303485/wanted-ctg-leader-dead-sultan-kudarat-clash

50 ex-members of BIFF, Dawlah Islamiyah get livelihood aid from gov’t

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 12, 2023): 50 ex-members of BIFF, Dawlah Islamiyah get livelihood aid from gov’t (By: Edwin O. Fernandez)

Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro inspects a rifle turned over by former Moro violent extremists during a visit in Buluan, Maguindnao del Sur. Teodoro witnessed the turnover of livelihood assistance from the provincial government for 50 former combatants at the provincial capital grounds on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2023. (6th ID photo)

COTABATO CITY — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday witnessed the turnover of livelihood assistance to former members of a group terrorizing central Mindanao.

At least 50 former members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Dawlah Islamiyah terrorist group were presented to Teodoro by Maguindanao Gov. Bai Mariam Mangudadatu in a ceremony in Buluan town.

Teodoro lauded the joint efforts of the local government unit, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police in their push to give the former extremists a conducive environment for reform and reintegration into the mainstream.

“This is a shining example of a successful local peace process that other local governments could emulate,” he said as he credited Mangudadatu, AFP, and PNP for the strong partnership.



Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro inspects a rifle turned over by former Moro violent extremists during a visit in Buluan, Maguindnao del Sur. Teodoro witnessed the turnover of livelihood assistance from the provincial government for 50 former combatants at the provincial capital grounds on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11, 2023. (6th ID photo)

“Without it, such initiatives would not succeed, as they rely on the trust of the people and the provision of sustainable livelihood opportunities,” Teodoro added.

He reassured the public that, through the AFP, the safety of those who have returned to the government’s fold will be protected.

Teodoro also assured measures would be taken to prevent harassment and “rido” (clan war).

The former extremists got farm machinery, seeds, fertilizers, and various inputs to help them embark on farming.

“The Army’s 6th Infantry Division has been working hand-in-hand with the local government units in our joint area of operations to implement a mechanism that will provide a comprehensive, inclusive, enduring, and culturally sensitive program to address violent extremism for lasting peace, security, and development,” said Major General Alex S. Rillera, commander of 6th ID and Joint Task Force Central.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1845011/50-ex-members-of-biff-dawlah-islamiyah-get-livelihood-aid-from-govt

Armed groups benefit from rampant cigarette smuggling: Global security expert

Posted to the Asia News Network (Oct 10, 2023): Armed groups benefit from rampant cigarette smuggling: Global security expert (From the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

An expert also underscored the importance of controlling cigarette smuggling, since the Philippine government is losing billions of pesos a year in unpaid taxes.

MANILA – A global security threat specialist issued an alarm over reports that various armed groups in Mindanao, previously involved in the kidnap-for-ransom operations and other heinous crimes, are currently behind the proliferation of cigarette smuggling in the country.

“Cigarette smuggling became a profitable means of income-generating activity for most of the existing armed groups in Mindanao, particularly the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF),” Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told participants in a recent two-day conference dubbed ”PROTECT 2023: Doing Business Amidst New Threats” at the New World Hotel in Makati City.

In fact, Gunaratna said, these armed groups-turned-smugglers have been “corrupting” a number of high-ranking officials of the police and the military assigned in Mindanao to facilitate and protect their illegal activities.

READ: BOC seizes P1.4 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes in Sulu warehouse

Worse, he said, some members of these armed groups became more powerful and influential because “they gained political positions” in their areas of operations.

The unlawful activities of the groups were eventually shut off after decades of reign due to the tremendous and relentless actions of the military, law enforcement agencies and intelligence communities, the global security threat expert said.

The professor, who is an international authority on global security threat, was among the issues during a leaders’ round table discussion on the second day of the forum , which tackled issues affecting national security; smuggling, counterfeiting, human trafficking, infiltration of business and government (fraud) and money laundering.

The session focused on Cross Border Crimes – “Criminals are Using Technology Against Us” and “Businesses are Being Targeted by Criminals and Terrorists.”

The PROTECT series of conference on “Doing Business Amidst New Threats” was launched in 2005, by Leverage International (Consultants) Inc. in partnership with the Anti-Terrorism Task Force Security and Safety (later to become the Anti-Terrorism Council). This was in response to increasing threats of terrorism following the 9/11 terrorist bombings of the World Trade Center in New York.

Among the ranking government officials who were part of the conference last September 28 and 29 were National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año, Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and former AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Defensor. Leaders from the private sectors attended as well.

“The structure of the Abu Sayyaf, the structure of the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) and that of the ISIS had already been dismantled. Their leaders had been neutralized, including the last foreign terrorist fighter in the South,” Gunaratna said.

He emphasized: “In the Philippines, the key shift is from terrorism to crime. Terrorism is no longer the real monster in the Philippines, crime is.”

He further disclosed that the funds from kidnap-for-ransom or support from financiers, these armed groups invested in cigarette and rice smuggling and purchased several speedboats to transport their illegal goods from neighboring nations, mostly from Indonesia.

“The ASG was founded in Basilan by Abdurajak Janjalani. During the leadership of then Kumander Robot and Mujiv Susukan, the ASG invested the ransom money derived from the infamous Sipadan Kidnapping in 2001 and got themselves involved in rice smuggling.”

Professor Gunaratna added that a team from the Basilan-based ASG headed by Bensali Andan alias Binang Andan started cigarette smuggling in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi and their operations had grown and increased by the millions that even “if they cannot find targets in their kidnapping activities, they never ran out of funds.”

In July 2021, police authorities in Zamboanga City arrested two ASG officials and seized from their rented house in Barangay Sta. Barangay numerous boxes of assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes worth millions of pesos and five high-powered firearms.

Another anti-terror expert Prof. Mohd Mizan Mohd Aslam of the University of Malaysia Perlis, in an article published in the New Straits Times on September 21, 2021, also pointed to the ASG as an armed group involved in the cross-border crimes, specifically cigarette smuggling.

Aslam explained that the ASG chose to smuggle cigarettes than firearms and drugs because smuggling of cigarettes has the “lowest risk” compared to other goods.

According to Professor Gunaratna, the MNLF, on the other hand, used its personnel and war equipment in smuggling cigarettes from Malaysia via Sabah, into southern parts of Mindanao including Tawi-Tawi, Basilan, Sulu and the Zamboanga Peninsula area.

He said the MNLF officials allegedly formed connections with local politicians, with some of them in political positions in the areas that protected their business interests.

Gunaratna underscored the importance of controlling cigarette smuggling since the Philippine government is losing billions of pesos a year in unpaid excise tax which should have been allocated to fund various pro-poor projects such as universal healthcare.

He suggested several approaches to address rampant illicit cigarette trade, smuggling and sale of smuggled cigarettes included, by thwarting corruption, strengthening border control monitoring, regional sharing of intelligence information, the harmonization of preventative regulation between the source, transit and destination countries, strengthen law enforcement operations against transnational crimes and effective implementation of the Anti-Terrorism law.

Gunaratna also cited the emergence of several private ports in many parts of the country, particularly in Mindanao, as another main tool in the successful transport of smuggled goods from the neighboring nations.

https://asianews.network/armed-groups-benefit-from-rampant-cigarette-smuggling-global-security-expert/

Defense chief: Internal security still priority

From the Manila Times (Oct 16, 2023): Defense chief: Internal security still priority (By Francisco Tuyay)

IN the wake of the clash in Abra last Friday that left two communist guerrillas dead, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said internal security remains a priority of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

At the recent opening of the Assistance for Security Peace, Integration and Recovery for Advancing Human Security (Aspire) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Teodoro reiterated the need to reduce the proliferation of loose firearms in order to ensure the country's internal security.

Teodoro said that the Aspire project is a proactive and innovative way of reducing the proliferation of illegal weapons, as one of the mandates of the current administration is safeguarding the country's internal security.

Several unidentified armed groups, particularly in Mindanao, still possessed loose firearms, a factor for unstable internal security in the region.

Mindanao is the site of a long history of battle between the military and several armed groups, including the Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and IS-influenced Abu Sayyaf Group that left thousands dead.

Aspire aims to promote the decommissioning and normalization of the Bangsamoro peace process by reducing small arms and light weapons in the region. It also aims to provide livelihood support to former combatants and members of private armed groups and raise awareness of the negative effects of possessing firearms.

The Aspire Project started in September 2022 when the Japanese government signed a $5 million (P285 million) grant. The project is implemented by the United Nations Development Program in consultation with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the Joint Normalization Committee.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/10/16/news/national/defense-chief-internal-security-still-priority/1914904

MILG, MTIT assist 38 ex-ASGs develop entrepreneurial skills, stable livelihood

Posted to the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC) Website (Oct 15, 2023): MILG, MTIT assist 38 ex-ASGs develop entrepreneurial skills, stable livelihood (By: MILG-BARMM News Release)

COTABATO CITY - The Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Tourism-Basilan, conducted an Assessment and Validation of Proposed Business Plans of 38 former Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) combatants as part of Project TuGoN's livelihood component on October 11, 2023, at the 64th Infantry Battalion, Brgy Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan.

Business counseling was given to the ex-combatants to help them build entrepreneurial skills and stable livelihoods to support their families, paving the way for these people and their communities to have a better and more stable future. The intention was to help them launch a successful, long-lasting, and sustainable business.

Project TuGoN, which will encourage an entrepreneurial and self-sufficient culture among the ASG former combatants in Basilan, is anticipated to significantly improve the general well-being of the affected communities.

MILG-Basilan Provincial Director Representative, LGOO VI Manessa H Castro; MTIT-Basilan Provincial Director, Argie J Sarco; MILG Project TuGoN's Officer, Farhana S Sahod; MTIT-Basilan Chief, Hja Jaida J Tulawie; Commanding Officer of 64th Infantry Battalion, LTC Abel O Potutan; MILG and MTIT supporting staff and other AFP officers and enlisted personnel graced the activity.

[Retired Analyst Note: Measures of Effectiveness MOE) for Philippine military/CMO/Whole-of-Government operations targeting members of the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.]

https://ndbcnews.com.ph/news/milg-mtit-assist-38-ex-asgs-develop-entrepreneurial-skills-stable-livelihood

Five terror suspects arrested in Sabah, says Esscom

From the Daily Express (Oct 12, 2023): Five terror suspects arrested in Sabah, says Esscom (By: Zam Yusa)

The Eastern Sabah Security Command remains vigilant in security monitoring and intelligence gathering in eastern Sabah, says its commander.

KOTA KINABALU: Five terror suspects including a woman have been arrested in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah as of September this year, the Eastern Sabah Security Commander (Esscom) chief said.

Datuk Victor Sanjos told Malay daily Sinar Harian that three of the suspects were allegedly linked to terror financing while the other two were suspected supporters of the Royal Security Force (RSF) of the so-called Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.

The RSF is a militant group which intruded into areas in Lahad Datu and Semporna in 2013 in their quest to stake their historic territorial claim to part of eastern Sabah, which turned into a bloody 43-day standoff with Malaysian security and defence authorities.

Sanjos also said Esscom has 13 personalities on their wanted list and listed four groups on its radar, namely the Abu Sayyaf Group, maritime kidnap-for-ransom groups, Islamic State or Daulah Islamiyah groups and the RSF, all of which are threats from the southern Philippines. 

Sabah’s authorities view potential threats from these groups seriously, however, up to this point in their assessment, there has been no evidence of any activities by these groups to recruit residents or support their propaganda efforts, said the security official.

“This is because previous arrests of insiders served as a lesson to the public. In terms of potential threats, it is currently at a moderate level,” Sanjos was quoted as saying.

“This assessment is based on the enforcement actions taken by the Philippine government, which has shown a serious and committed approach to tracking and subsequently neutralising threats posed by these groups."

However, he said Esscom remains vigilant in security monitoring and intelligence gathering in eastern Sabah, which borders the southern Philippines.

https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/221467/five-terror-suspects-arrested-in-sabah-says-esscom/

Gov’t militia members feted in Basilan for fighting war vs Abu Sayyaf

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 11, 2023): Gov’t militia members feted in Basilan for fighting war vs Abu Sayyaf (By: Julie S. Alipala)

RECOGNITION | Civilian militia member Wilbert Garcia shakes hands with Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade based in Basilan, after being honored as among the local heroes in the fight against the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan province. (Photo by JULIE S. ALIPALA / Inquirer Mindanao)

LAMITAN CITY, Basilan, Philippines — More than five years ago, on Aug. 31, 2018, Wilbert Garcia survived a car bombing in Barangay Bulanting here that killed 10 people, including five of his fellow civilian militias and a soldier.

As a member of the Army’s Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) since 2002, Garcia had gone through countless violent attacks by the terror and bandit group Abu Sayyaf, leaving him both physically and psychologically scarred.

Last Saturday, Garcia was among the Cafgu members who were feted in a rare ceremony that gave recognition to the sacrifices of government militias to rid Basilan of the scourge of terrorism and banditry, making its communities safe for civilians, especially children.

“I don’t think I am a hero; I was just protecting my people here in Lamitan,” Garcia said, but beamed as it was his first time to earn recognition after more than 20 years as a Cafgu member.

Garcia was handed a key to a brand new motorcycle by Dr. Arlyn Jawad Jumao-as, president and founder of the Save the Children of War in Mindanao Association Inc.

“I am very happy. I never expected to receive a grand gift,” Garcia said.

Jumao-as said some 520 militias attended the event on Saturday and they were able to give at least 300 bicycles to their children, along with foodstuff, vitamins, toys, footwear and school supplies, all from donations.

READ: Ex-Abu Sayyaf now a soldier after completing Army training

Not enough support

“I know it’s not enough, but at least we can put smiles on the faces of the Cafgu members’ children,” she added.Jumao-as said they took the initiative to honor the Cafgu members in Basilan during the 9th Children’s Festival of Love and Peace, especially the orphaned children of militias Adzlan Abdula, Muid Manda, Titing Omar, Hermilito Gapo Jr. and Jerry Inso and Army Cpl. Samad Jumah who perished in the 2018 explosion in Bulanting.

The honor rites also gave a much-needed attention to their plight: “Cafgu members are [battle] frontliners of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We owe our peace to them,” Jumao-as stressed, sadly noting that despite this role, they received meager support from the government.

Cafgu members don’t receive enough to support a family since they each only received between P6,500 and P,7000 in subsistence allowance and other benefits, according to Jumao-as and Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade based in the province.

Luzon acknowledged the struggles of their Cafgu members, which totaled to about 2,000 throughout Basilan.

Each receives P7,000 in substance and service allowances for every 15 days of duty, while their children can avail of scholarships under the Army’s Educational Benefit System Office, Luzon said.

In case of injury, each militia is also entitled to hospitalization allowance and the family is given death-related assistance in case they die in the line of duty, Luzon added.

READ: Gov’t body declares Sulu ‘Abu Sayyaf-free’

Homeless, too

Majority of the Cafgu members in Basilan also have no decent homes, forcing some of them to bring their families to their barracks, similarly exposing them to the dangers of war. The four civilians who died in the 2018 blast were kin of the militias, she noted.

“If we can provide house and lot including livelihood and scholarships to [members of] the Abu Sayyaf group who surrendered to the government, how come we cannot extend the same privileges to our Cafgu members, those who died protecting the people? Their orphans, their widows are struggling every day,” Jumao-as pointed out.

Inso’s widow Angelina, who went through a year of medication for her blast wounds at the military’s V Luna Hospital, revealed that after the incident, victims like her and Garcia only received a one-time cash assistance from then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

“My husband Jerry’s dream was to see his children finish their education, but since we don’t have money or scholarship, only two of them are in school. The three were forced to work to help their younger siblings,” Angelina said.

Garcia said he will use the motorcycle to earn more for his family, as his income is barely enough for the needs of his four children who are in school.

Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman said Cafgu members are economically marginalized. “If a Cafgu member dies performing his duties, the family is left to suffer and fend for themselves; no livelihood and no education support. We need to create consciousness among leaders to witness the realities on the ground and make necessary actions to help them,” Hataman added.

He also proposed a review with the goal of improving the programs and services for Cafgu members, either from the national or local governments, “because they are always the first responders in case something happens in a community.” INQ

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1843936/govt-militia-members-feted-in-basilan-for-fighting-war-vs-abu-sayyaf

Beaches in former Abu Sayyaf enclaves in Sulu now tourist attractions

From the Philippine Star (Oct 15, 2023): Beaches in former Abu Sayyaf enclaves in Sulu now tourist attractions (By John Unson)

The Istambak Beach Resort in Kahoy Sinah in Parang, Sulu. Philstar.com / John Unson


COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Unknown to most Filipinos, white sand beach resorts in all four corners of Sulu are operating round-the-clock for two years now and that the province was declared “Abu Sayyaf free” by a provincial peace and security coordinating group last month.

Army Lt. Gen. Steve Crespillo, commander of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said Sunday credit for feat has to go to local government units and the multi-sector Sulu Provincial Peace and Order Council that were responsible for having secured the surrender of no fewer than 400 Abu Sayyaf members in the past six years through backchannel negotiations.

A physician, Michael Macion, the regional coordinator for hospital management and concerns in the Bangsamoro health ministry, said he was amazed with the peace and calm Sulu has now that he personally felt during an official tour in the province last August.

“Me and my companions were so impressed. Our hosts, health ministry employees in the province and chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office there, doctor Farah Tan Omar, toured us around and we went to a very nice beach resort in Parang municipality and enjoyed a lot while we were there,” the Cotabato City-based Macion, an orthopedic surgeon, said.

The Abu Sayyaf, founded in Basilan by the religious extremist Abduradjak Janjalani, who, while an overseas Filipino worker in the Middle East studied Islamic theology in Syria, once had bastions in most of the 18 towns in Sulu.

“Their strongholds got transformed into `peace villages’ and those Abu Sayyaf members who had returned to mainstream society are the ones protecting these areas now from incursions by bad people,” Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said Saturday.

A member of the 80-seat Bangsamoro regional parliament, the lawyer Hadji Nabil Tan, said the deployment about three years ago in Sulu of an Army battalion comprised of Tausug personnel that the public virtually patronized was one of the factors that weakened the presence of the Abu Sayyaf in the province.

“That was a big problem, a serious threat for them. They avoided getting into actual combat with soldiers who speak our common vernacular and are warriors too who shall fight for pride and honor, for the Philippine flag,” Tan, who was born and raised in Sulu, said.

Nobleza said they are grateful to the Bangsamoro Ministry of the Interior and Local Government for its continuing capacity-building programs for LGUs in Sulu and other essential interventions being facilitated by the office of Regional Local Government Minister Naguib Sinarimbo.

He said the MILG is presently constructing a P25 million worth, two-storey Abu Sayyaf reformatory center in Barangay Langhub in Patikul, Sulu that shall function as a livelihood skills learning and religious reorientation facility for violent religious extremists who have returned to the fold of law.

"Add to that the police patrol cars the MILG released to our units in the province so needed to boost the mobility of policemen securing once dangerous areas there," Nobleza said.

[Retired Analyst Note: Measures of Effectiveness MOE) for Philippine military/CMO operations targeting Abu Sayyaf in Sulu.]

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2023/10/15/2303966/beaches-former-abu-sayyaf-enclaves-sulu-now-tourist-attractions

Brief: Sulu Island in the Philippines ‘Abu Sayyaf-Free’ after Mass Surrender of Militants

Posted to the Jamestown Foundation Terrorism Monitor (Oct 11, 2023): Brief: Sulu Island in the Philippines ‘Abu Sayyaf-Free’ after Mass Surrender of Militants (By: Jacob Zenn)

Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 21 Issue: 20

The ceremony in which the local council declared Sulu Abu Sayyaf-free. (Source: Bangsamoro Information Office)

On August 2, a Philippine military spokesman announced that Sulu Island in Mindanao is now free of Abu Sayyaf (The Manila Times, August 2). If there were any doubts about the military’s confidence in this claim, on September 7, the commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, Major General Ignatius Patrimonio, reaffirmed that Sulu is “Abu Sayyaf-free.” This comes after years of effort, with Patrimonio lauding the surrender of 966 Abu Sayyaf members and the turning in of hundreds of firearms in more than 52 villages in Sulu since 2017 (Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events, June 29, 2022; Inquirer.net, September 7).

One demonstrative example of this process is the case of three Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered to the 101st Infantry Brigade in Zamboanga, Sulu (SunStar, September 23). The writing was on the wall for the cadre’s surrender as early as August 2020, after their former commander, Abduljihad “Indang” Susukan, surrendered himself to the founder and leader of the now government-allied Moro National Liberation Front, Nur Misuari (BenarNews, August 14, 2020). Susukan was loyal to Islamic State (IS), but the continuing struggles of its Southeast Asia “province” since the fall of Marawi in the Philippines in 2017 and its loss of territory in 2019 in Syria demoralized Susukan and his followers.

Another factor facilitating the surrender of Abu Sayyaf jihadists is the Philippine military’s guarantee that it will assist former militants who surrender to reintegrate with mainstream society. In fact, to deal with the large numbers of surrendering Abu Sayyaf members, the military is planning to open up a new 25 million peso (approximately $450,000) “reformatory center” for their deradicalization and rehabilitation (The Philippine Star, September 28). It will focus on “religious reorientation and educating the Abu Sayyaf members who surrendered about how to obtain and then maintain employment.”

The Governor of Sulu is less optimistic about Abu Sayyaf’s future than the military (BenarNews, September 11). For example, Governor Abdusakur Tan notes that Abu Sayyaf has been “wiped out” in Sulu, but that many of its key commanders have yet to be captured. Moreover, other analysts in the Philippines point to Abu Sayyaf’s history of ebbing and flowing levels of activity in the past, cautioning that the current lull may not be permanent (The Philippine Star, September 28). Thus, while the short-term outlook for Abu Sayyaf certainly indicates that the group is on the decline, the group’s long-term prospects remain more uncertain.

https://jamestown.org/program/brief-sulu-island-in-the-philippines-abu-sayyaf-free-after-mass-surrender-of-militants/

PH engages China in ‘radio challenges’ near Pag-asa Island

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 15, 2023): PH engages China in ‘radio challenges’ near Pag-asa Island (By Priam Nepomuceno)

BRP Benguet (LS507) (Philippine Navy file photo)

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday said that one of its transport vessels, the BRP Benguet (LS-507), issued "consecutive radio challenges" to a Chinese naval vessel for shadowing while near the Pag-asa Island on Friday.

"The Philippine Navy (PN)'s BRP Benguet warned off and issued consecutive radio challenges to China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy 621 (PLAN 621) after it shadowed the former at an 80-yard distance and attempted to cross LS-507's bow with a CPA (closest point of approach) of 350 yards at 5.8 nautical miles southwest of Pag-asa Island on Friday, October 13," AFP public affairs office chief, Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, said in a news release Sunday.

BRP Benguet was en route to Rizal Reef Station for its regular rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission when the tailing occurred between 1:40 p.m. and 5:04 p.m. Friday, the AFP said.

"The PN crew cited the violation of the collision regulations (COLREG) in its radio challenges, and demanded that the Chinese vessel steer clear of the BRP Benguet," Ileto said.

Instead of changing its course, the PN received a counter-response from PLAN 621 using its "ten-dash line” narrative.

It was not clear how the encounter ended.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. asked China to cease such dangerous maneuvers and aggressive actions towards Philippine vessels.

He added that the potential for collision and accident at sea further highlights the urgency for China to uphold maritime safety standards.

“These dangerous and offensive maneuvers by China's PLAN not only risk collision but also directly endanger the lives of maritime personnel from both sides. The AFP remains committed to ensuring the safety of its personnel during RoRe missions and asserts that it will continue to adhere to the rules-based international order,” Brawner said in another statement.

Western Command head, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, likewise expressed alarm over yet another perilous action by a Chinese vessel.

He said China must "conduct themselves in a professional manner by adhering to international law."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211847

DND gets Congress’ pledge to amend AFP modernization, procurement laws

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2023): DND gets Congress’ pledge to amend AFP modernization, procurement laws (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (PNA file photo)

MANILA – Congress vowed to amend the modernization and procurement laws of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, along with the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) program, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said Friday.

“Congress has promised us two things -- the amendment of the modernization law and the procurement law of the Armed Forces,” Teodoro said in a press statement.

He said the SRDP will also be enhanced by investing or partnering with local manufacturers of defense equipment.

"That means to say, we will be able to invest long-term as equity partners or as purchasers for locally manufactured defense goods and equipment," he added.

The DND chief said the proposed amendments are not only envisioned to fortify the country's defense capabilities but also to invigorate economic growth and development.

Presidential Decree No. 415 in 1974 created the SRDP that requires the immediate prosecution of national defense projects for the acquisition of military material. The program aims to generate labor, spur industrial and commercial activities, and conserve foreign exchange resources.

On Thursday, the DND and AFP signed an agreement with the Cebu provincial government on land swapping.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. It was witnessed by DND Assistant Secretary for Real Estate and Installations Emmanuel Anthony Ramos and Cebu Vice Governor Hilario Davide III.

“This agreement is a synergistic agreement where everybody wins, because not only will Cebu regain what is rightfully hers, but the Armed Forces will also not lose because of the replication commitment of the province of Cebu,” Teodoro said.

Under the MOA, the province will facilitate the relocation of the displaced units of the Visayas Command (Viscom) into its new camp.

The provincial government will also fund the construction of exact replicas of military structures and facilities of Viscom to ensure unhampered operations.

“Because of our vulnerability as a country, we need to strengthen our internal bonds to make ourselves less vulnerable and more resilient so that we can face the world at an arm's length basis, and preserve the interests of the Republic of the Philippines first, before the interests of others,” Teodoro said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211796

PH should invest more in naval, air assets - AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2023): PH should invest more in naval, air assets - AFP chief (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (PNA photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)

MANILA – An archipelagic country like the Philippines needs to invest in upgrading and beefing up its naval and air defense assets to protect its vast territory, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said.

Brawner, in an interview with reporters, said the upgrading of the Air Force and the Navy's external defense capabilities includes the acquisition of more advanced jet fighters and other air assets needed to patrol along with naval vessels.

"(Dahil archipelagic), kailangan talaga nating mag-invest sa maritime and air power unlike 'yung ibang bansa (sa Southeast Asia) na land-locked (We really need to invest in improving our maritime and air power (the Philippines is an archipelagic nation), unlike some countries (in Southeast Asia) that are land-locked)," he added.

The AFP Modernization Program has shifted to provide the military with the capabilities needed to protect the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or 200 nautical miles from its coast.

This shift is now ongoing under Horizon 3 of the program.

Originally, the Horizon 3 was made with "territorial defense in depth" in mind meaning that the military has to wait for threats to come near before engaging them and consists of "first. second, third, and fourth line of defense".

This means defensive efforts now focus on defending the Philippines' EEZ and not only the country's baselines or coasts, Brawner said.

The refocus is similar to the US's defense strategy of "forward defense" where threats are contained or repulsed as far away as possible.

This is in light of the recent incidents including firing water cannons and making "dangerous maneuvers" in the South China Sea.

China, the Philippines and several other littoral states have overlapping claims in the hotly contested area.

The Philippines on July 12, 2016, won its petition filed before the Permanent Court of Arbitration after the arbitral tribunal invalidated China's claim of supposed historic rights over almost the entire SCS.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211733

PH, UK commit to further boost defense ties

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 13, 2023): PH, UK commit to further boost defense ties (By Priam Nepomuceno)

FIRST-TIME VISIT. Armed Forces of the Philippines Inspector General, Lt. Gen. William Gonzales (right), meets with Baroness Annabel Goldie during her visit to the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo on Thursday (Oct. 12, 2023). The Philippines and the United Kingdom have committed to further strengthen their defense ties, anchored on their common position on respect for maritime law. (Photo courtesy of the AFP)

MANILA – The Philippines and the United Kingdom have committed to further strengthen their defense ties, anchored on their common position on respect for maritime law and open Indo-Pacific.

UK Minister of State for Indo-Pacific Defense Engagement Annabel Goldie is in the country for the first time and visited the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Quezon City on Thursday.

AFP public affairs office chief, Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto, said on Friday Goldie emphasized the importance of sharing expertise and knowledge between the two nations for mutual benefit.

The high-ranking UK official met with AFP Inspector General, Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, and discussed Philippine-UK military engagements supported by the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.

“The two officials also upheld their common position on the respect for maritime law and in calling out illegal activities in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Ileto said in a statement.

Gonzales thanked the UK for its support for the military’s peace and development projects, especially in the Bangsamoro region.

Apart from meeting with defense officials, Goldie also met with Philippine Coast Guard officials.

In a statement posted on the official UK website, Goldie said her nation is committed to its relationship with the Philippines.

"I am pleased both to be visiting for the first time and to be the first UK Defense Minister to visit in many years," she said.

Goldie is expected to visit HMS Spey in Legazpi City and attend the closing ceremonies of naval exercise SAMA SAMA.

"I look forward to visiting Exercise SAMA SAMA, and discussing how the UK and the Philippines can deepen our defense cooperation as part of our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," she said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211729

PH Army eyes BrahMos missiles for coastal defense

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 12, 2023): PH Army eyes BrahMos missiles for coastal defense (By Priam Nepomuceno)

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (Photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)

MANILA – The Philippine Army (PA) is planning to acquire the Indian-made BrahMos cruise missile system which it would use to defend the country's coastlines together with the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).

"Sa Marines mauna yun (delivery) ng BrahMos, tatlong battery yata yun sa kanila(the Marines will be getting the first deliveries of the BrahMos, they will be getting three batteries)," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said during a recent media interview.

While he did not specify the number of batteries the Army would be getting, Brawner said it would be higher than those that would be acquired by the PMC.

A missile battery typically consists of three mobile autonomous launchers with two or three missile tubes each, along with the tracking systems.

Once the PA's acquisition proposal for the BrahMos cruise missile system is approved and funded, the AFP chief said this will be used for coastal defense missions like the PMC.

"Coastal defense din oo, pero kung ano yung gaps nagusap naman ang Army at Marines, so marines dito kayo nakatutok, Army dito (It will also be used for coastal defense, and be used to cover gaps in coverage. The Marines will be covering this sector and the Army another)," Brawner said.

Earlier, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said deliveries of these weapon platforms for the PMC will proceed at the end of this year.

The BrahMos cruise missile can be launched from a ship, aircraft, submarine or land, and has a top speed of around Mach 2.8 (around 3,400 km. per hour), and is capable of carrying warheads weighing 200 to 300 kilograms.

This weapon platform is expected to address the country’s military’s weaknesses and vulnerability in sea control, anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD), and coastal and island defense operations.

Former DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and BrahMos Aerospace director general Atul Dinkar Rane signed the contract worth PHP18.9 billion in a virtual ceremony at defense headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City in January 2022.

Three batteries of the BrahMos cruise missiles will be acquired by the country under this contract.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1211650