Thursday, October 31, 2013

Navy haunted by officer's death 18 years ago

From Rappler (Oct 31): Navy haunted by officer's death 18 years ago

LOOKING FOR CLOSURE: Navy Ensign Philip Pestaño

LOOKING FOR CLOSURE: Navy Ensign Philip Pestaño



It's a case that refuses to die.

It's been 18 years since the puzzling death of Navy ensign Philip Andrew Pestaño inside his cabin on supply ship BRP Bacolod City. The investigation stirred back to life with the recent Court of Appeals ruling upholding the dismissal of 10 Navy officers implicated in his death.

It's a welcome news that Felipe Pestaño, 73, and wife Evelyn, 70, brought to their son's grave at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Thursday, October 31. Philip was 23 when he died. He should have been 41 now.

"We're just happy to see that justice is moving. It's been a long time, but there's hope," Philip's sister Marissa Pestaño told Rappler.

The Philippine Navy said Philip committed suicide. The Pestaños said it was murder. The family's cry for justice prompted a Senate hearing in 1997 because of allegations that the death had something to do with illegal activities inside the ship. Philip was supposedly about to expose them.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last year recommended murder charges and ordered the dismissal of the Navy officers. This reversed a ruling by her predecessor Merceditas Gutierez that upheld the suicide theory. (READ: Murder charges vs 10 for Pestaño death).

The Navy officers immediately questioned before the CA the Ombudsman's new ruling. They said the case should not be revived because Gutierrez's ruling was final. But the CA said Gutierrez did not make a ruling on their innocence but merely concluded that the evidence was insufficient.

The CA ruling only covers the ruling that orders their dismissal. The court cannot act on the murder charges because a motion for reconsideratino is pending before the Ombudsman.

Marissa said his father received the news on October 28, a day after his birthday. It was Felipe who never gave up on the case in spite of the roadblocks through the years.

Marissa is quite certain the Navy officers will elevate the case to the Supreme Court, but it's a huge development, she said.

While the family has accepted Philip's death, she said they want to continue his battle. "These are the principles he died for. He wanted to expose illegal logging and and gun running," she said.

Conflicting theories

Navy civil military operations chief Colonel Edgard Arevalo told Rappler they have received the CA decision. The officers involved will meet with the lawyers after the Halloween break. At least two of the 10 Navy officers implicated are still active.

The respondents are:
  • Naval Captain Ricardo Ordoñez
  • Cdr. Reynaldo Lopez
  • HM2 Welmenio Aquino
  • LCdr. Luidegar Casis
  • LCdr. Alfrederick Alba
  • MR2 Sandy Miranda
  • LCdr. Joselito Colico
  • LCdr. Ruben Roque
  • Petty Officer 1st Class Carlito Amoroso
  • Petty Officer 2nd Class Mil Leonor Igcasan

Arevalo said they are confident that independent investigation will show what truly happened to Philip.

Various bodies have investigated the case. The findings are conflicting.

The Senate investigation concluded he was shot. The National Bureau of Investigation declared it was suicide. Forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel del Rosario-Fortun, whom the Pestaños themselves hired to investigate, declared it was suicide. Former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez also dismissed the case. (READ: Expert insists Pestaño death was suicide)

The Pestaño family cannot be convinced, accusing the government of a coverup.

Under the Aquino administration, the Pestaños found allies among the people behind the impeachment complaint against Gutierrez. Her alleged inaction on motion for reconsideration filed by the Pestaños was included as grounds in the impeachment complaint. It resulted in revived media interest in the case.

Ombudsman Morales re-opened the case and ruled out suicide. She said there's prima facie case of conspiracy to commit murder. She recommended the filing of murder charges before the Sandiganbayan and the dismissal of the officers involved. (READ: Pestaño case not suicide but murder)

The Ombudsman cited the "series of circumstances – the unusual actions and reactions of respondents on the alleged discovery of Philip’s death, the inconsistencies in their testimonies, the physical and object evidence, and the additional evidence unearthed in the AFP investigation which were made available to the complainants ten years after Philip’s death."

Key officer has left PH

While the CA ruling is a welcome development, Marissa is concerned because one of the officers who could shed light to the case has left the country since his retirement.

"Ruben Roque is already in the US. Why was he not ordered to go home? He's a key. He was the executive officer, second in command," Marissa said.

The separate murder case against the Navy officers was dismissed by the Sandiganbayan for lack of jurisdiction. The court argued that none of the respondents had the rank of Navy captain when the incident happened. The court only hears cases of military officers with the rank of colonel and higher. (READ: Court junks Pestaño murder case vs Navy officers)

The case has since been moved to the Manila regional trial court. Marissa said the scheduled arraignment in May was postponed. A new hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Eighteen long years has passed since Philip's death. Closure – both for the family and the officers implicated – is long overdue.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/42625-navy-philip-pestano-death-developments

Church Recognizes Military Efforts

From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Oct 31): Church Recognizes Military Efforts

Advance Command Post, 303rd Infantry Brigade, Bacolod City – In one of the rare events, a Church recognizes the hard work of the military in the Province of Negros Occidental.

The Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church based in La Carlota City invited Col. Jon N. Aying, Brigade Commander of the 303rd Infantry (Brown Eagle) Brigade as Guest Speaker last October 27, Sunday with an event dubbed "Military Recognition Sunday" to recognize the effort, dedication and service of the military in the Province.

In his speech, Aying explained the role of the military in a democratic community saying, "The military is called apolitical, non-political, non-partisan because we follow orders not only from a single person or politician but from a set of people representing the government." Aying said the military continues to strengthen their force with the recruitment in the reserve force organization and hopes for the firmer implementation of the ROTC to the schools in order to strengthen the military capacity in serving the country which is a form of nationalism and patriotism. He added, "To serve the country is nationalism but to serve and die for the country is patriotism."

Aying said, with all the ruckus all these years, the military’s approach has changed dramatically into a more participative organization and engaged all possible stakeholders which was dubbed "whole of nation approach".

It then focused on programs, projects and activities directed to the betterment and or improving lives of the people and it was called the "people-centered approach".

Nowadays, the military is focused in protecting the people and the state. Aying claimed "We have changed ourselves; we have changed paradigm approach which is the Bayanihan approach." In Negros Occidental, he added, there are goals when it comes to security sector; the church is part of the security sector because it serves as the spiritual and moral compass of the soldiers, that is why there is the so called Church, Military and Police Advisory Group-Negros (CMPAG-N) because according to him, they want that in everything they do, it shall always be within their moral and spiritual values. He gained approval and respect from the crowd with a round of applause.

Aying explained the three (3) goals of the Brigade; 1) Render the armed struggle irrelevant, 2) Secure affected communities from lawlessness and disaster and 3) Mainstream affected communities towards nation-building.

Out of the goals mentioned, Aying said "you now see our role in the military; a Soldier is a Peace builder, a Protector and a Social Worker to help uplift the quality of living of the depressed communities in the Province."

"How do we achieve the 3 goals?" There are seven (7) programs, Aying stated, the Peace process/Peace building to establish the culture of peace, Security Sector Reform (SSR) Program, Focused military operations, Integrated Community Defense Public Safety (ICDPS) with the PNP and the local residents, Legal cooperation, Grassroots community development and Disaster Risk Reduction Management.

He further urged the people to gain strength together towards the good of everyone. Aying thanked the Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church for the morale it imparted in a one of a kind recognition for the soldiers. "Whatever happens, we always keep first priority to our service that is what we have sworn."

This event aimed at strengthening the relationship and collaboration of the people with the men-in-uniform.

http://www.ndb-online.com/103113/local-news/local-news-church-recognizes-military-efforts

Esscom investigating claims Malaysian financed Zamboanga City attack

From the Star Online (Oct 29): Esscom investigating claims Malaysian financed Zamboanga City attack

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities are seeking more information on a claim that the Moro National Liberation Front's (MNLF) attack in Zamboanga City in September was supported by a financier in Malaysia.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) director-general Datuk Mohamad Mentek said he was aware about this development.

"We're gathering information on this matter," he told Bernama when contacted Tuesday.

The Philippine Star reported that the Philippine National Police were tracking down the financier of a Malaysian national who claimed that he received weekly disbursements from his benefactor in Malaysia to finance the attack.

It cited a Malaysian national as saying that the financier sent him US$20,000 (RM63,000) a week to support MNLF operations in Zamboanga City that started on Sept 9.

Meanwhile, former Malaysian ambassador to the Philippines Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad urged the Home Ministry to investigate the claim, describing it as a "serious security matter".

"I was surprised to read the report," he said when contacted.

According to the article, more than 400 MNLF members stormed Zamboanga City to seize city hall and raise the flag of an 'independent Bangsamoro Republik'.

The siege saw some 190 MNLF fighters killed after more than three weeks of fighting and 292 other suspects were either captured or surrendered.

Twenty-three soldiers and policemen were killed and 180 were wounded, while 12 civilians were killed, the online version of the daily said.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/10/29/Esscom-investigate-msian-finance-zamboanga.aspx

Two NPA rebels in Northern Samar trade guns for cash, livelihood assistance

From GMA News (Oct 29): Two NPA rebels in Northern Samar trade guns for cash, livelihood assistance

Two members of the New People's Army will receive P25,000 in cash and another P50,000 in livelihood assistance after they surrendered to the military in Northern Samar on October 27.

Ruel Sirse, an NPA squad member, and Melly Esponilla, a medic for the NPA, will receive the money under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Guns For Peace program. 

The military launched the Guns for Peace program in April as an incentive for rebels to turn themselves and their armaments in. Under the program, a light machine gun gets P200,000, M14 rifles net P60,000 each, and M16 rifles are worth P50,000 a piece.

The two surrendered to the 34th Infantry Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Rodrigo Ilustrisimo while the Army was conducting peace and development activities in Barangay Rizal in Gamay, Northern Samar. 

Cash incentives and a chance to raise a family away from harm and violence spurred the two, who are live-in partners, to seek out the AFP. Four high-ranking NPA leaders turned in their guns in July for similar reasons.

Sirse and Esponilla will also receive P15,000 in additional assistance from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace Process. They may also apply to join the Local Social Integration Program of Northern Samar's local government unit.

"We welcome the surrender of the two NPA members and we wish them well. The [8th Infantry Division] fully supports and advocates the government’s peace program. Rest assured that your Army in Eastern Visayas is always ready and willing to assist NPA rebels who wish to return to the mainstream," Brigadier General Jet B. Velarmino, division commander, said.

The surrender of the two NPA rebels is in contrast with actions taken by their former comrades in recent weeks.

The NPA in Agusan del Sur has yet to release five of six people they abducted on October 25. They freed one hostage a day later and demanded the pull-out of government troops and the disarmament of local militia in Loreto town. Five of the hostages were candidates in the barangay elections held on Monday. 

According to the military, elections serve as a money-making machine for the rebels.

Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan, Armed Force of the Philippines spokesperson, said on October 24 that the NPA collected “permits-to-campaign” fees from candidates in the barangay elections, a repeat of the racket run by the group in the May 2013 midterm elections, where they reportedly earned P26 million.
 

NPA member surrenders

From Tempo (Oct 29): NPA member surrenders

LAGAWE, Ifugao – A 22-year-old member of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered last week to government authorities due to the hardships he experienced while living with the insurgents.

Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, Ifugao provincial police director, said Babino Bantulay Mammay, aka Denver, a resident of Sitio Lagan, Cawayan, Asipulo, yielded to the government troops who were conducting a Comelec checkpoint at Sitio Bahag, Antipolo, Asipulo, last October 21.

Casimiro said Mammay immediately underwent a debriefing. He told the police that he decided to surrender because he could no longer bear the difficult life of being an outlaw.

“Mahirap maging NPA, walang direksyon ang buhay,” Casimiro quoted Mammay as saying.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2013/10/npa-member-surrenders/#.UnJCM5HD-AI

China accuses Japan of interfering in naval drills

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 31): China accuses Japan of interfering in naval drills
China has accused Japan of interfering in its recent naval exercises and says it may take unspecified further action if the interference does not stop.

Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told reporters Thursday that a Japanese navy ship entered the exercise area on Oct. 25 and stayed for three days. Yang said Japanese ships and aircraft lingered close by, conducting “high intensity” tracking and surveillance.

Yang said the Japanese actions constituted interference that threatened the safety of Chinese ships and aircraft, and could have resulted in accidents. He said China demands that Japan cease such provocations and reserves the right to take further action.

The drills are due to end Friday. They come amid continuing tensions over competing claims to an uninhabited island group in the East China Sea.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/517959/china-accuses-japan-of-interfering-in-naval-drills

Philippine Army to add strength in 2014

From the Philippine Information Agency (Oct 31): Philippine Army to add strength in 2014

The Philippine Army in its determination to win the peace and not just defeat the enemy, will add their forces in 2014 according to 8th Infantry Division (8ID) Public Affairs Chief Captain Amado Gutierrez.

He said that throughout the country, some 19 to 20 thousand able bodied men will be recruited but he is not sure how many will be hired for the 8th ID.

Presently, the Philippine Army (PA) conducted a mobile recruitment in three areas in Eastern Visayas (EV) last weekend, some 917 applicants for Candidate Soldier (CS) and 15 applicants for officer tried their luck in an examination.

There were 636 examinees for CS at the 8th ID Camp Lucban, Maulong, Catbalogan City, 197 for CS and seven for officership in Leyte Colleges, Tacloban City while 84 for CS and eight for officership in Camp Downes, Ormoc City.

Gutierrez said that the usual quota for every division for additional strength is 150, but they are hoping that in 2014, more will be added.

The army official said that the army is really in need of additional strength since there is a big number of men going out than getting in.

“We will be recruiting next year to increase our strength,” said  Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel Lt Col Noel Vestuir (OG1).

Vestuir also congratulated newly promoted men of the division. Nine officers were promoted from 1LT to Captain, 384 enlisted personnel were promoted to MSG, TSG, SSG, SGT and CPL.

“Their promotion is a just and fitting recognition of their dedicated service and continuing commitment of serving the country and people in this part of the country.”

"Increase in the number of stripes means increase in base pay, and also increase in responsibility as Non Commissioned Officers" OG1 expressed.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=1221383018516

35 rebels now part of mainstream society - 4th ID

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 31): 35 rebels now part of mainstream society - 4th ID

The Cagayan De Oro-based 4th Infantry Division on Thursday announced it has formally accepted the surrender of 35 former New People's Army (NPA) fighters and is busy integrating the latter back to society.

The surrendered rebels handed over 42 assorted firearms to military authorities.

For this, they received a total of P1,169,000 from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP).

The ceremony was graced by Eastern Mindanao Command Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz together with Gov. Adolf Edward Plaza of Agusan Del Sur, Gov. Yevgeny Vicente Emano of Misamis Oriental and PNP Director Manuel Barcelona, Director, Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Eastern Mindanao.

All the 35 were regular members of the NPA rebels operating in the hinter areas of Caraga and Region 10, composed of 17 individuals from Agusan Del Sur, six from Bukidnon, six from Surigao Del Sur, three from Surigao Del Norte, two from Agusan Del Norte and one from the province of Misamis Oriental.

“We in the 4th Infantry Division are very much happy to welcome our brothers and sisters who have finally decided to return to the folds of the law. We know that they have been led a life full of hardships they endured while they were still in the mountains fighting against their brother Filipinos. We are very thankful to them that they gave up their arms and wants to start living a normal life back to their loved ones and families,” 4th Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, Commander, 4th Infantry Division said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=581989

Nothern Luzon Command units alerted for 'Vinta'

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 31): Nothern Luzon Command units alerted for 'Vinta'

With Typhoon "Vinta" threatening most of extreme Northern Luzon, military units in the area have been placed in alert to deal with possible adverse effects the weather disturbance will cause.

Major Emmanuel Garcia, 1st Civil Relations Group commander, said that all disaster response and rescue units (DRRU) in the Northern Luzon Command have been alerted in case the need arises.

Aside from this, two disaster response teams (DRT) of Naval Forces Northern Luzon in Sta. Ana, Cagayan were placed on standby while another team is now at Office of Civil Defense Region 2 base in Tuguegarao, Cagayan for monitoring.

Garcia said that the 5th Infantry Division has tasked its line units and respective DRT to be ready for deployment.

"5th Infantry Division troops in coastal town of Maconacon and those near Divilacan Bay has shifted focus from election duty to disaster response operations (DRO) mode including CAFGU Active Auxillary, engineer units and civil military operations battalion troops currently constructing (a) school-building project with ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya in that area," he added.

While the 21st Infantry Battalion based in Alcala, Cagayan has deployed the following:

-one platoon as DRT and one military truck in Aparri;

-one company as DRRU and two military trucks in Sta. Teresita;

-on DRT in Ammulong; one DRT and two vehicles in Iguig; and one company as DRRU with seven vehicles in Alcala ready for dispatch anywhere in Cagayan.

Garcia added that the 41st infantry Battalion which is based in Abra has put its DRTs on standby.

Likewise, the 17th Infantry Battalion in Kalinga placed its DRTs on alert likewise, units in Apayao are now on standby for possible DROs.

Garcia added that civil-military operations company in Mt. Province is now alerted for DROs missions.

"The 7th Infantry Division has likewise put DRRUs of its line units directly on the typhoon track on alert status for DROs. The 81st Infantry Battalion in Ilocos Norte has activated its DRTs and are on standby. All other units in NOLCOM AOR not on the direct path of the typhoon has standby DRT to reinforce if need arise," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=582131

Army soldiers deployed as augmentation force during polls back to mother units

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 31): Army soldiers deployed as augmentation force during polls back to mother units

Members of the 80th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army that served as augmentation force of the Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Masbate during the barangay elections have been flown back to Camp Aguinaldo Friday via a C-130 cargo plane.

The soldiers were part of the 3,500-man contingent deployed by the military in the strategic areas in Bicol during the elections, the conduct of which was generally peaceful, according to Brig. Gen. Felix J. Castro Jr., 9th Infantry Division assistant unit commander and Task Force Bicol commander Camp Elias Angeles, San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur.

Castro said the soldiers were distributed among the three brigades of the 9ID in the six provinces of the region.

The Philippine Army soldiers were the partners of the police officers in manning checkpoints put up in important areas in the region.

The deployed Army soldiers have already returned to their respective units after the Commission on Elections had declared the winners in the elections, Castro added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=581881

Palawan Naval Forces West reaches out to less fortunate children

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 31): Palawan Naval Forces West reaches out to less fortunate children

The Naval Forces West’s (NFW) sailors and marines spent their weekend with 23 orphans and neglected children under the care of Bantay Bata Group Home in Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City. The activity is in line with NFW’s community outreach program.

The team gave free medical and dental check-ups to these less fortunate children, as well as slippers and oral hygiene kits.

The children were also treated with a sumptuous lunch. Also present to cheer the children were Maj. Manolo Mendez, NFW Chaplain, along with dependents of NFW personnel.

Arlene Panes, the City Social Development Worker was very thankful to NFW for its laudable deeds.

“It really made these less fortunate children happy today. NFW is very close to us,” Panes added.

Bantay Bata Group Home is a child care organization under the Social Welfare Development office of Puerto Princesa City that helps children in need of special protection, children in conflict with the law, children from abused homes and children rescued from the streets of the City.

Last year, NFW donated to Bantay Bata Group Home the amount of P31,000.00 from the proceeds of its Inter-Gun Club Funshoot.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=582007

PH pushes arbitration of dispute with China before UN envoys

From InterAksyon (Oct 31): PH pushes arbitration of dispute with China before UN envoys



Paul Reichler and Ambassador Libran Cabactulan at a forum in New York where the Philippines pressed the need for maritime arbitration of its territorial disputes with China. (photo from DFA)

The Philippines reiterated its call in the United Nations for the peaceful resolution of its territorial disputes with China through maritime arbitration based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

At a forum in New York with UN diplomats and legal advisers of various foreign affairs ministries, the Philippines’ lead counsel in the arbitration case, Paul Reichler, stressed the importance of the process, which he said, “gives politically, economically or militarily weaker countries “the rare opportunity to hope, through peaceful settlement and the rule of law, for equal treatment with stronger countries,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Over the last three years, tensions have been rising in disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea, also known as the South China Sea, over increasingly aggressive Chinese intrusion and posturing.

China insists on its territorial claim over the whole body of water, a strategic shipping lane that is also believed to lie on top of vast mineral and gas resources.

Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, the Philippines’ permanent representative to the UN, stressed that the UNCLOS, “our constitution for the oceans, is becoming more relevant than ever before, particularly for developing countries which are poised to explore and exploit their own exclusive economic zone, their own continental shelf, and even the deep seabed, for their development.”

Reichler, a noted international lawyer, has “extensive experience representing sovereign countries before the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, among others,” Cabactulan said.

He represented Nicaragua in the landmark 1986 ICJ case in which the World Court ruled that the US had illegally used force, in violation of the UN Charter, against the Sandinista government.

At the forum, Reichler gave an overview of UNCLOS’ compulsory arbitration process, interpreting issues of choice of procedure and jurisdiction through illustrative cases he previously worked on as counsel for sovereign states.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/73874/ph-pushes-arbitration-of-dispute-with-china-before-un-envoys

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Troops tasked to secure barangay clash with NPAs in Eastern Samar

From the Samar News (Oct 25): Troops tasked to secure barangay clash with NPAs in Eastern Samar

By DPAO, 8ID PA
October 25, 2013


CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, SamarTroops tasked to secure the conduct of upcoming barangay election clash with NPA rebels at around 4:25 pm on October 18, 2013 at Brgy Balagon, Can-avid, Eastern Samar.

In his report, LtColonel Manolito F Montiel, Commanding Officer of 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion, said that his troops chanced upon a group of NPA insurgents who were campaigning for a political candidate for the upcoming Barangay election.

After a brief firefight, the insurgents managed to escape. No casualty was reported on both sides.

Meanwhile, troops under 63rd Infantry Battalion while conducting clearing operation to ensure peaceful and orderly barangay election, discovered NPA camp at Brgy. Hibunawan, Silvino Lobos, Northern Samar at around 4:40 pm the same day.

The NPA camp is composed of fifteen (15) makeshift huts, one (1) makeshift hall and two (2) advanced guard posts which can accommodate 15 to 30 NPAs. Said camp is believed to have been abandoned for five days.

BGen Jet B. Velarmino AFP, Commander of 8th Infantry Division lauded his troops for their untiring efforts to insulate the communities of peace loving people from NPA threat and violence.

Addressing his troops, he said: “Your commitment and dedication to service to ensure that the people in Eastern Visayas are secured and protected from NPA threat and violence is very commendable. Let us continue safeguarding the people in this region, especially those living in countryside so that they can freely vote for the candidates of their choice and not out of fear, intimidation and pressure from the rebels.”

http://www.samarnews.com/news2013/oct/c866.htm

Westmincom chief to be feted

From the Philippine Star (Oct 30): Westmincom chief to be feted



Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, commander, Western Miindanao Command

The personnel of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division will conduct Wednesday afternoon an “honor parade” for their former commander, Lt. Gen. Rey Ardo, in recognition of his activities complementing Malacañang's peace efforts with local Moro sectors.

Ardo, incumbent chief of the Armed Forces’ Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City, had served as 6th ID’s commanding general from late 2010 to 2012.

Major Gen. Romeo Gapuz, commander of 6th ID, will lead the honor ceremony for Ardo, according to the division’s spokesman, Col. Dickson Hermoso.

No encounter has taken place between forces of the 6th ID and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Central Mindanao in the past two years, a feat which local folks attribute to the division and the MILF’s strict compliance with the 1997 Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities.

The 6th ID, which was originally under the Eastern Mindanao Command, was placed under the Westmincom’s tactical and administrative control about a year ago for a better implementation of the ceasefire pact, which is also being imposed in certain areas in the Zamboanga peninsula, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The three island provinces are inside the territories covered by the Westmincom. Maguindanao and the second district of Lanao del Sur, the main bastions of the MILF in Central Mindanao, are now also under Westmincom.

Ardo, while 6th ID commander, was active in various peace-building projects that  hastened the recovery in flashpoint areas in Central Mindanao, where the MILF has about 50 enclaves, including its main stronghold, Camp Darapanan, in Sultan Kudarat town in the first district of Maguindanao.

Ardo, while 6th ID’s commander, even reached out to members of Central Mindanao’s secular Darul Iftah, also known as Islamic House of Opinions, by visiting them at their houses during the 2012 Ramadhan fasting season, as part of the 6th ID’s confidence-building measures with Muslim religious communities.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/10/30/1251140/westmincom-chief-be-feted

Activist councilor, Duterte ally seizes control over ‘Nograles barangay’

From the pro-CPP Davao Today (Oct 30): Activist councilor, Duterte ally seizes control over ‘Nograles barangay’

Angela Librado-Trinidad (left) gets support from former Mayor Sara Duterte (right) in her candidacy for barangay chair of Matina Crossing or 74-A. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)

Angela Librado-Trinidad (left) gets support from former Mayor Sara Duterte (right) in her candidacy for barangay chair of Matina Crossing or 74-A. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)

Davao City – Erstwhile stronghold of the Nograles camp, Barangay 74-A Matina Crossing, which is one of the largest barangays in the city, has declared after Monday’s elections a new barangay captain closely identified with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

From being a college editor-in-chief, Sangguniang Kabataan chair, to city councilor, close Duterte ally Angela Librado-Trinidad now holds a new title — barangay captain.

On Monday’s barangay election the activist-feminist lawyer beat three other contenders for the leadership of Barangay Matina Crossing 74-A, in her first foray into barangay politics since holding the SK leadership two decades ago.

Librado got 5,371 votes beating her closest opponent, outgoing barangay councilor Samson Villasis who garnered 3,985 votes.  Another councilor Ike Yuzon got 2,735 votes while Jonathan Santes, brother of incumbent barangay captain Joel Santes got 1,396 votes.

Santes had been identified as a staunch supporter of Duterte nemesis former House Speaker Prospero ‘Boy’ Nograles and current first district Rep. Karlo Nograles.
The proclamation was made Monday night at Matina Central Elementary School.
Librado thanked supporters as she said she would usher in a new brand of political leadership in her barangay.

She said her campaign was met with criticisms on her partisan politics and experience.
“I never saw my experience as a city councilor for nine years as an advantage. In fact it became an issue against me,” Librado said.

“It was rumored that the non-support of some influential groups to my bid was based mainly on my affiliation with Bayan Muna (partylist),” she added.

But her victory, she said, showed “that the people believe in the principles Bayan Muna is espousing.”

Librado served as city councilor from 2001 to 2010 under the local political party Hugpong of the Duterte and with support from Bayan Muna Partylist.

As councilor, Librado authored city ordinances including the establishment of the city’s gender and development office, women’s reproductive health clinic, overseas Filipino workers (OFW) center, and an ordinance on children’s welfare.

She supported Bayan Muna’s legislation among which called for increase benefits for workers and government employees, protection of women and human rights victims, and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Act, Electricity and Power Industry Reform Act, and Mining Act, among others.

As barangay captain, she would now focus, aside from these advocacies, on “getting the worth of people’s money and people’s trust by delivering services to her constituents.”

Librado said one of her priority agenda is to review the barangay’s programs and budget that, she said, was “heavily is skewed.”

“Out of the P15 million budget (of the barangay), P10 million is allocated for executive -legislative services and operational expenses. Only P3-million goes to development projects,” she said.

Librado’s foray into politics started in her college days as editor-in-chief of Atenews, Ateneo de Davao University’s campus paper in 1991. She was also officer of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, which joined the nationwide campaign for the abrogation of the US military bases.

Her father was labor leader and Martial Law detainee Erasto ‘Nonoy’ Librado, who briefly served as city councilor in 1992, and her mother Marlene Librado, who finished her husband’s term and secured two additional terms.

http://davaotoday.com/main/2013/10/30/activist-councilor-duterte-ally-seizes-control-over-nograles-barangay/

Troops, NPA clash while on poll duty

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 31): Troops, NPA clash while on poll duty

Government security forces rendering election duty on Tuesday encountered communist New People’s Army (NPA) attempting to influence the conduct of the barangay polls in northern Samar province.

Brig. Gen. Jet Velarmino, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID), said that elements of the elite 1st Scout Ranger Battalion were conducting security operations along Barangay Caputoan in Las Navas town where they chanced upon an NPA band.

A 10-minute firefight erupted immediately between the Army troops and the 20-man rebel band.

Velarmino said that no casualty was reported on the government side.

On the other hand, undetermined number of communist rebels was believed to have been killed or wounded during the clash as reported by local residents and the engaged troops.

Reports said the NPA band was in the area to influence the result of the barangay election.

Velarmino commended the troops for thwarting the communist attempt as he attributed the successful operation to the coordination of the local residents to the military.

 We must protect the people’s right of suffrage and their freedom to vote for the candidate of their choice,” said Velarmino.

 http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/troops-npa-clash-while-on-poll-duty

Not an Al Jazeera video; MNLF shot hostages — AFP

From the Daily Tribune (Oct 31): Not an Al Jazeera video; MNLF shot hostages — AFP

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels were the ones firing at hostages and not the military as claimed by a narrative of cable news outfit Al Jazeera on a video of an incident during the Zamboanga City siege that happened last Sept. 13, so goes the claim of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday.

The AFP claimed fighters of the MNLF faction of Nur Misuari fired at the hostages in the video that was made available in social networking sites following the 20-day siege of Zamboanga City.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP-Public Affairs Office chief, stressed the military did not fire at the hostages, whom the government security forces were tasked to rescue by no less then President Aquino.

“The video speaks for itself. We did not fire at the hostages...we were tasked to rescue the hostages, no way will we fire at them,” said Zagala.

In the video, however, the hostages were waving white flags and facing the direction of the column of state forces before scampering away from the direction where the shots were made, clearly  in front of them.

Zagala, however, said the video, believed to have been taken from a cellular phone last Sept. 13 or the fourth day of the siege laid by Misuari followers in Zamboanga City, clearly showed that the firing came near the hostages.

“The hostages were in the middle of Lustre Street, in front of KGK Building which was occupied by the MNLF Misuari factions, while the AFP troops were positioned 200 to 300 meters away,” said Zagala.

“Based on the video, there were audible automatic gun fires which mean they were close,” added Zagala.  

Zagala also criticized The Tribune headline “Al Jazeera video shows military shoot hostages” that came out Wednesday.

“Your title is wrong. The video did not come from Al Jazeera, it is available online,” said Zagala.

The video grab that appeared on the front page of the newspaper, however, clearly had the emblem of Al Jazeera on it.

The military official said that the MNLF Misuari faction actually provoked the military forces to fire at them while they (Misuari followers) were hiding at the middle of the hostages.

“They were firing at us to provoke us but we did not fire...we countered with selective fires against their sniper positions,” said Zagala.

At the same time, Zagala said the military is ready to face any investigation regarding the matter.

“We’re open to that (investigation). The video says clearly that the MNLF Misuari faction fired at the hostages,” stressed Zagala.

Last Sept. 9,  more than 300 members of the MNLF Misuari faction occupied at least six barangays in Zamboanga City and held around 200 civilians as hostages. The government declared the siege over last Sept. 29 after 195 hostages were accounted for.

More than 200 MNLF fighters, 25 government security forces and 12 civilians were killed during the 20-day siege. About 10,000 residential structures were burned down.
President Aquino when asked by an Al Jazeera reporter about the footage during a recent Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) event questioned the authenticity of the video, even hinting that it was an MNLF propaganda material.

Jamela Alindogan, an Al Jazeera reporter, however, related in a story that when he visited one of the alleged hostages in the video Juan Santander Morte, she was told that the video was not fabricated.

Morte himself was hit by a shrapnel on the head and back but he said he doesn’t blame anyone, not even the Philippine military because “everybody is a collateral damage of war.”

Earlier, the Zamboanga siege was described as an intelligence blunder by former Constabulary chief retired Maj. Gen. Ramon Montano and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“The whole government intelligence community should commit hara-kiri...they should all commit suicide for this blunder,” Montano told The Tribune.

According to Montano, government authorities underestimated the capability of the MNLF faction of Chairman Nur Misuari, resulting to the Zamboanga City siege.

“Their attitude was to belittle Misuari which is very wrong...and there is no excuse to that,” said Montano.

UNA secretary general Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco also questioned the capability of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to abate acts of terrorism in spite of its hefty intelligence fund.

“The MNLF movements in Zamboanga are a massive failure of intelligence. What happened to the intel budget of the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP)? Somebody’s sleeping on the job,” Tiangco said.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/not-an-al-jazeera-video-mnlf-shot-hostages-afp

CPP/Ang Bayan: Ambush in Capiz

From the English edition of Ang Bayan (Oct 21): Ambush in Capiz

Three soldiers from the 61st IB Alpha Coy were killed and several others were wounded in an ambush by the New People’s Army under the Jose Percival Estocada Jr. Command (JPEC) in Barangay Nayawan, Tapaz, Capiz on October 7.

Fascist troops under the 301st Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army were then conducting operations in the mountainous barangays of Tacayan and Nayawan when they were ambushed by the Red fighters at around 6:45 a.m. It took more than six hours before three Huey helicopters arrived to collect the military casualties, said JPEC spokesperson Ka Jury Guerrero.

[Ang Bayan is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and standpoint on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly. It is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20131021/ambush-in-capiz

CPP/Ang Bayan: Military suffers 19 casualties in ST

From the English edition of Ang Bayan (Oct 21): Military suffers 19 casualties in ST

Ten soldiers were killed and nine others were wounded in various military actions launched by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Tagalog from July to September. An abusive company was likewise meted punishment in Occidental Mindoro. The reports were culled from Kalatas, the revolutionary mass paper in the region.

In Quezon. Red fighters under the Apolonio Mendoza Command (NPA-Quezon) thwarted an attempt by fascist troops of the 74th IB to encircle them in Sitio Matalahan, Barangay San Vicente Kanluran, Catanauan on September 16. Seven soldiers were reported killed while all members of the NPA were able to retreat unscathed.

The Red fighters were exercising when the 74th IB attacked at exactly 6:55 a.m. When the soldiers opened fire, the Red fighters were immediately able to maneuver. Each team was able to fight and seize the initiative in the battle.

In Mindoro. The Lucio de Guzman Command (NPA-Mindoro) punished on September 7 the Jomarias International Corporation (JIC), a construction company owned by former congressman and San Jose, Occidental Mindoro town mayor Jose Villarosa.

Residents of the area have been complaining about the company’s operations which have been polluting the Caguray River and destroying the people’s source of livelihood. The punitive operation was undertaken at the Paclolo-Purnaga area in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro. The Red fighters burned two dumptrucks and a payloader and destroyed two mixers.

On August 26, the Lucio de Guzman Command likewise thwarted an attack by the 4th IB in Sitio Tinawagan, Barangay Panaytayan, Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro. A mercenary soldier was killed and two others wounded, while not a single Red fighter was killed or injured.

Meanwhile, another soldier was wounded in a sniping and harassment operation launched by an NPA team against the 4th IB in Sitio Gaang, Barangay Panaytayan.

In Palawan. Two elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 were wounded in a tactical offensive launched by the Bienvenido Valleber Command (NPA-Palawan) on August 26 in Sitio Ebangley, Barangay Abongan, Taytay.

The Red fighters were able to make a safe retreat.

In Rizal. The NPA continues to mete blows on the fascist troops of the AFP in Rizal province. A three-man team under the Narciso Antazo Aramil Command (NPA-Rizal) launched a harassment operation on August 14 against a detachment manned by a composite force of the 16th and 59th IBs.

Before the harassment operation, an NPA unit spurned an attack by the 16th IB on July 28 in Barangay Tinucan, Tanay. A soldier was killed and another trooper was wounded in the 30-minute firefight which began at 6:30 a.m. Not a single Red fighter was killed or wounded in the gunbattle.

By 8 a.m. that day, the NPA unit which had retreated and regrouped returned to the scene of the fighting and harassed the 16th IB, wounding three other soldiers.
Meanwhile, the NPA-Rizal launched a sparrow operation against a sergeant from the 48th IB on July 20.

[Ang Bayan is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and standpoint on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly. It is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20131021/military-suffers-19-casualties-in-st

CPP/Ang Bayan: Victorious tactical offensives launched in NCMR

From the English edition of Ang Bayan (Oct 21): Victorious tactical offensives launched in NCMR

Red fighters under the North Central Mindanao Region (NCMR) launched five tactical offensives in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental from September 30 to October 6. The military suffered 33 killed and at least six wounded, while the Red guerrillas did not suffer any casualties.

In Bukidnon. Thirteen soldiers of the Philippine Army 8th IB were killed and several others wounded in an ambush by a unit under the NPA South Central Bukidnon Subregional Command (SCBSC) in Sitio Tubod, Barangay Cawayan, Quezon on October 6.

The Red fighters rained bullets and lobbed grenades on the lead team composed of the Lumad bandit group New Indigenous People’s Army for Reform (NIPAR) led by Nonong Salusad. After this, they used command-detonated explosives (CDX) on the main body of soldiers from the 8th IB.

The NPA ambushed the 53 newly trained soldiers while the latter were on the way back to their camp in Quezon town from Sitio Kitanggol, Barangay Dao, San Fernando. The soldiers reinforced the NIPAR bandits after Red fighters raided their lair at Sitio Kitanggol on September 16.

In Misamis Oriental. Two soldiers were killed when a team from the NPA Eastern Misamis Oriental-Northeastern Bukidnon Subregional Command harassed the 58th IB blocking force in Sitio Kapatagan, Barangay Umagos, Lagonglong, at around 8 a.m. on October 3. By noon, the Red fighters had killed three more soldiers in the same area.
Meanwhile, two military helicopters were forced to make an emergency landing at the Balingasag Central Elementary School at 2:50 p.m. after an NPA unit fired at them as they neared the scene of the fighting.

Earlier, ten troops from a company-size column of the 58th IB were killed and five others were wounded when Red fighters detonated a CDX on the soldiers who were on patrol in Sitio Camansi, Banglay, Lagonglong at around 2 p.m. on September 30.

Nearby, another soldier from the 58th IB was wounded in a sniping operation by an NPA team. Five more soldiers were killed by the NPA the day after while they were in the act of robbing an unoccupied house in Sitio Camansi at around 1 p.m.


[Ang Bayan is issued by the CPP Central Committee. It provides news about the work of the Party as well as its analysis of and standpoint on current issues. Ang Bayan comes out fortnightly. It is published in Pilipino, Bisaya, Ilokano, Waray, Hiligaynon and English.]

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/publications/ang_bayan/20131021/victorious-tactical-offensives-launched-in-ncmr

PART OF CAMPAIGN TO WIN PEACE: Army trains Bicol youth

From the Bicol Mail (Oct 24): PART OF CAMPAIGN TO WIN PEACE: Army trains Bicol youth



YOUTH POWER. Still full of energy, these youth leaders aboard six aircon buses of the Army and Navy arrive at Camp Elias Angeles Wednesday morning after a two-day tour to important places in Metro Manila as part of the five-day leadership training under the Youth Leadership Summit program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. JUAN ESCANDOR JR.

NAGA CITY — Using organizing and consciousness-raising strategies to win the youth to peace, a program of the civil-military operations (CMO) is training youth leaders “for nation building” and federating them from the municipal, provincial, regional to national levels.

Brig. Gen. Felix Castro, assistant commander of the 9th Infantry Division (ID) based in Pili town in Camarines Sur, said the training program Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) has been going on for five years now and so far a national event is targeted next month.

Castro said 200 participants from the six Bicol provinces who joined the first regional YLS held on Oct 18-22 in an upland resort here were endorsed by local government officials from the six provinces of Bicol.

He said Albay Gov. Jose Maria Salceda was among the resource speakers of the two-day event that aimed at developing leaders from among the citizens 15-30 years of age in the communities.

Castro said the AFP provides the project funding of YLS including transportation, food, and accommodation of the 200 participants from Albay, the two Camarines provinces, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.

Lt. Col. Pastrana, head of the CMO of the Army’s 9th ID, said the YLS is part of the Army’s strategy to win the youth to embrace peaceful way of change before other groups could “poison” them.

Pastrana said the training provides the youth the positive view of dealing with societal and governmental concerns and gives better alternative of change than armed struggle.
He believes that with the available resources they could sustain the youth organizing.

Training module includes three days lecture-discussion on topics  that dwell on the youth of today as future leaders, insights on leadership and management of local government unit, peace process and peace building, and action planning.

The three-day lecture-discussion with team building activities was capped by the organization of Youth for Peace Movement (YPM) at provincial and regional levels.

Don Velasco Pesonela, who hails from Sorsogon and the regional president of YPM, said he found the training useful because it has developed his skills, attitude, and team-building strategies.

Pensonela revealed they were taught how to be a law-abiding citizen and he thinks it is the right way that every citizen must tread.

He said that a big responsibility have been placed on his shoulders because he was elected leader whose duties he must perform for one year.

Pensonela echoed what Pastrana said that the intention is not counterinsurgency but winning the peace in the communities and nation as part of the “internal security.”

Asked on his view regarding the Left movement, he said that the Left-leaning groups must help the government more than criticizing and pursuing the armed struggle.

He said he learned these things in the training that the citizens must help each other resolve the problem and stop joining activities that will destroy the peace and security of the communities and pursue peaceful means of resolving the problem.

Michael Angelo Gallego, 20, a student of the Bicol University, said the YSL is a way to win the hearts and minds of the people, where the AFP reaches out to the youth sector in Philippines.

Gallego shared he is a journalism student and “had been into lot of situations” and gave YLS a try.

He said it was his second time to join the YLS and the most important he learned is “the civilian support to the military” which he said also included the “psychological affairs.”

Gallego said he had been an editor-in-chief of the Bicol Universitarian and exposed to the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and the League of Filipino Students (LFS).

He said he is practicing non-partisanship being a journalism student and attended seminars sponsored by CEGP and LFS.

http://www.bicolmail.com/2012/?p=11964

NPA guerrillas turn fury against pigs in Bukidnon farm

From InterAksyon (Oct 30): NPA guerrillas turn fury against pigs in Bukidnon farm

Communist insurgents who have been battling government forces for decades turned their fury on hundreds of pigs at a farm in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said.

About 50 New People's Army (NPA) rebels attacked the pig farm in the town of Libona in Bukidnon province on the southern island of Mindanao, said local military spokesman Captain Christian Uy.

They set fire to the feed storehouse then attacked the area where about 560 pigs were kept, Uy said.

"They burned some pigs and hacked others to death. About 50 pigs were killed while the rest were injured and are now being treated by veterinarians," he told Agence France-Presse.

The spokesman said the attack may have been prompted by the farm's failure to meet rebel extortion demands.

The insurgents often demand money from rural businesses like farms and plantations, said Uy.

"They saw that the assets of the company are the live pigs so that is what they tried to destroy," he said.

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting sporadically in the Philippines since 1969.

At least 30,000 people have been killed according to the government.

While the NPA ranks have declined to about 4,000 fighters from a peak of 26,000 in the 1980s, the rebels are still capable of mounting deadly attacks.

President Benigno Aquino III had been aiming to end the rebellion before his six-year term expires in 2016, but the government said in April that peace talks had collapsed.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/73837/npa-guerrillas-turn-fury-against-pigs-in-bukidnon-farm

China, Malaysia to hold first ever joint military drill next year

From InterAksyon (Oct 30): China, Malaysia to hold first ever joint military drill next year

China and Malaysia will hold their first-ever joint military exercises next year, the Southeast Asian nation's defense minister said Wednesday, despite their rival claims to the tense South China Sea.

The announcement by Hishammuddin Hussein, who is in Beijing to meet Chinese military leaders, follows a visit to Kuala Lumpur earlier this month by China's President Xi Jinping, in which the two countries pledged closer ties.

"Malaysia and China are expected to launch our first joint exercise in 2014 after the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation was signed in 2005," Hishammuddin said in a statement sent to AFP.

The statement gave no details on the planned drills such as their location, scale, or which military branches would be involved.

A Malaysian defense ministry official confirmed they would be the first-ever drills between the two countries' armed forces.

Hishammuddin, who met his counterpart General Chang Wanquan in China, also said he invited Chang to visit the Malaysian naval base of Mawilla 2 in the South China Sea on the island of Borneo.

The visit would be aimed at launching a "direct-contact" relationship with China's fleet in the South China Sea.

The resource-rich waterway has become a potential military flashpoint in recent years as Beijing has pressed its claim to nearly all of it.

Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have various claims -- some overlapping -- to the sea, a vital thoroughfare for world trade and shipping traffic.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam are members, has sought to present a united front against China.

It was not immediately clear how Malaysia's warming defense ties with China would be received in other ASEAN capitals.

While the Philippines and Vietnam have been involved in tense confrontations with China over the issue, Malaysia has sought to keep a lower profile in the dispute.

In recent years, China has become Malaysia's top export market and a vital trade buffer against the world economic volatility, and their commerce and overall relationship has strengthened.

Xi's visits to Indonesia and Malaysia and his attendance at a regional summit in Bali took on added significance after President Barack Obama cancelled his own plans to visit due to the recent US government shutdown.

The episode symbolically highlighted the two giants' rivalry for influence in the Asia-Pacific and raised questions over Washington's promise to refocus its attention on the region.

China agreed this year to discuss with ASEAN an eventual binding set of rules to prevent accidental conflict at sea, but analysts say Beijing will never give up its territorial claims and they predict maritime tensions will continue to simmer.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/73815/china-malaysia-to-hold-first-ever-joint-military-drill-next-year

Security forces hold Malaysian linked to rebel attacks

From the Manila Times (Oct 30): Security forces hold Malaysian linked to rebel attacks

Authorities on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of a Malaysian in a raid on a house frequented by former rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, whose forces attacked this city in September.

Police said the Malaysian, Koh Wui Chick, who is using the aliases Samson Jose Konde and Atchong, was brought to Manila where he is currently being investigated.

“The Malaysian is now in the custody of the Philippine National Police in Manila and he is currently being investigated in connection to the MNLF [Moro National Liberation Front] attacks in Zamboanga,” Chief Insp. Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman, told The Manila Times.

President Benigno Aquino 3rd earlier ordered an investigation in the MNLF attacks in Zamboanga and who financed the rebels to carry out the raid. There were media reports that some Filipino politicians may have financed the violence to discredit the Aquino government and that several Malaysians had met with rebel leaders prior to the attacks.

Early this year, another Malaysian, who allegedly helped in negotiating with Abu Sayyaf rebels for the release of 21 mostly European holidaymakers kidnapped in Sabah in 2001, was spotted in Zamboanga City and Manila at the height of the standoff between armed followers of the Sultanate of Sulu who intruded in Sabah’s Lahad Datu town.

It was unknown whether Koh had a direct participation in the simultaneous raid by rebels on September 9, but it sparked deadly street battles that lasted for three weeks. The fighting left over 400 people dead and wounded and resulted in a humanitarian crisis.

Malaysia has confirmed the arrest of one of its nationals and said the 55-year-old man is from Kota Kinabalu in the eastern state of Sabah.

“The arrest of the Malaysian man followed the action taken by the Philippine security forces against individuals suspected of being involved in the armed attacks launched by MNLF fighters in Zamboanga City on September 9,” Director General, Datuk Mohammad Mantek, of the Eastern Sabah Security Command, told the official Malaysian news agency Bernama.

Mohammad did not give details about the arrested Malaysian, saying Filipino authorities are still investigating the man. It was not immediately known whether the foreigner had funded the rebel attacks in Zamboanga City.

The attacks prompted Malaysian authorities to tighten security in Sabah to prevent the intrusion of rebels.

“So far, no security threats to Sabah have been detected but we are intensifying security measures along eastern Sabah’s border waters nevertheless,” Mohammad said, adding Malaysian security forces are ready to collaborate with the Philippines if there is a need. “We have no problem in extending cooperation due to our good relations with the Philippine government.”

http://manilatimes.net/security-forces-hold-malaysian-linked-to-rebel-attacks/49126/

Rebel couple surrenders

From the Sun Star-Tacloban (Oct 30): Rebel couple surrenders

CATARMAN, Northern Samar – A couple, who admitted to be active members of the New People’s Army (NPA), has surrendered to government troops in Northern Samar on Sunday, October 27.

Ruel Sirse, alias “Bulay,” 35, and Melly Esponilla alias “Mica,” 45, surrendered to soldiers of the 34th Infantry Battalion based in Palapag town.

“The government troops were conducting peace and development activities in Barangay Rizal, Gamay, Northern Samar when they were approached by the surrenderees,” said Captain Amado Gutierrez, of the Philippine Army 8th Division.

Sirse was reportedly a squad member, while his partner Esponilla was in the medics team of the NPA. The couple surrendered to the Army one .45 Caliber pistol with three magazines and 20 live bullets.

“They admitted that they are live-in partners and they decided to surrender because they wish to raise a family away from harm and violence,” Gutierrez said.

Under the guns for peace program of the government, the former rebels will receive P25,000 for the firearm they surrendered. Each of them is entitled to receive P50,000 livelihood assistance and P15,000 immediate assistance from the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace Process (Opapp) under its comprehensive local social integration program (Clip).

The surrenderees can also avail of additional benefits from the Provincial Government of Northern Samar under its local social integration program (LSIP).

The couple was temporarily placed under custody of the Philippine Army, while the documents are being processed for their livelihood assistance and other incentives.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/local-news/2013/10/30/rebel-couple-surrenders-311350

CPP/NPA: The NPA-Kalinga Revolutionary Critique to the MBCC’s “Matagoan Peace and Order Strategic Plan 2014-2016”

Posted to the Philippine Revolution Web Central (PRWC) blog site (Oct 18): The NPA-Kalinga Revolutionary Critique to the MBCC’s “Matagoan Peace and Order Strategic Plan 2014-2016”

Ka Tipon Gil-ayab
Lejo Cawilan Command, NPA - Kalinga
October 18, 2013

During its “Matagoan Congress II”, held at Man-uugudan Hall, Pastoral Center, Bulanao, Tabuk City last October 16, 2013, the Matagoan Bodong Consultative Council (MBCC) has finally exposed its true color as a reformist and reactionary instrument of the anti-people US-Aquino Regime 2 (US-AR 2) and its fascist armed forces, the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA.  In its “Matagoan Peace and Order Strategic Plan 2014-2016”, the MBCC has made clear to the masses in Tabuk and throughout the whole province that it has been serving and continues to act as the tool of the Oplan Bayanihan, the counter-insurgency program of the US-AR 2 which is based on the US COIN (counter-insurgency) Guide 2009.  This US COIN Guide 2009 is an international program of the imperialist government of the United States of America in her wars of intervention and aggression against countries, such as the Philippines, Afghanistan, India, Kurdistan, Colombia, Nigeria, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and the like, that are strongly opposed to the economic, political and socio-cultural control and global domination by US imperialism.

One of the objectives of the MBCC in its “Strategic Plan 2014-2016” is to uphold human rights and “reduce human rights violations”.  But the MBCC has never denounced the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA forces that have committed various human rights violations (HRVs) here in Kalinga in the past and up to the present. Since 2001 OPlan Bantay Laya of the past US-Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Regime to the present Oplan Bayanihan of the US-AR 2, which are, of course, the same banana, the fascist AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA troops have killed a total of 34 unarmed and innocent civilians here in Kalinga alone; and justice has been denied to all of them, as follows:

1. Three (3) from the municipality of Balbalan, namely, Bayan Muna Leader Peter Dangiwan, Jeff “Openg” Daoayan and Robert “Ambalnog” Sabado;

2. Five (5) from Pinukpuk, specifically, Victor Balais, Noli Siwal, Richard Agustin and two others from Pakawit;

3. Twelve (12) from Tabuk, explicitly, Women Leader Mercy Gonzalo, her husband Salvador Gonzalo and their son-in-law Charlie Kadater, Alex Noval, Jimmy Dalire and his 3-year old  daughter, Calanan Barangay Captain Gabriel Lumbican and his father,  Elmer  Gallema,  Bayan Muna Leader Rafael “Markus” Bangit, Bayan Muna Coordinator Mrs. Alice O. Claver, and another civilian from Nambaran;

4. Twelve (12) people who were massacred in Rizal, namely, Lakay Ulliba, Pedro Ulliba, Felimon Ulliba, Delfin Madayag, Johnny Gaspar Cayabo, Bangi Bakkay, Agyao Sabawil, Abok Tayaan, Say-at Addawi, Alib Baklas, Juan Attang, and Conrado Ordonia; and

5. Two (2) from the municipality of Lubuagan, i.e., Rey Lugao and Barangay Kagawad Rocky “Ongki” Abol, particularly from the barangays of Mabongtot and Upper Uma, respectively.

To sum it all, there have been 19 incidents of human rights violations, committed by the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA of the reactionary state here in Kalinga since 2001.  These 19 incidents include 11 cases of murder, 5 attempted murder cases, 2 massacres and 1 attempted massacre.  As a result of these, there have been 51 civilian victims, 34 of whom were killed as listed above, 11 wounded and 6 highly traumatized.  And the MBCC has forever been silent about all these as it uses the “bodong”, “peace and order”, “human rights” to deodorize the fascist AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA and to legitimize the triad operations [combat operations, intelligence operations and civil-military operations (CMO) or PDT (peace-and-development team) operations] being done throughout the province under the OPlan Bayanihan program of the present intransigent US-AR 2.

Under the “Part 2: Strategic Peace Framework” of the MBCC’s “Matagoan Peace and Order Strategic Plan 2014-2016”, there are nine (9) “Strategic Broad Programs”, mentioned therein.  Four (4) of these ostensible “Strategic Broad Programs” are as follows:

1. “Bodong Enhancement Program”;

2. “Anti-Insurgency Program”;

3. “Conflict/Dispute Mediation, Conciliation and Arbitration Program”; and

4. “Peace Education Program”.

Even without going into the specifics of the so-called “Strategic Broad Programs”, one could already discern that all these are framed within the context of the “Peace and Development Team” (PDT) operations under OPlan Bayanihan of the fascist AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA, all under the command of the US-AR 2.  The MBCC exploits and manipulates the “bodong” and the “mediation, conciliation and arbitration” which are tribal processes among binodngans in order to hide its full support to OPlan Bayanihan and its conceited “service” to the Kalinga tribes in the various tribal kulligong and barangays of the provincial capital.

The bigoted and opportunist leaders in the MBCC don’t seem to know and pretend to be ignorant about the Codified Pagta (Law of the Bodong), published by Nats Dalanao in his website at http://kalingatambayan.com.  This is the result of the work of the Codification Committee, composed of Kalinga Lawyers and Professional Leaders such as Judge Victor A. Dalanao, Judge Josephine B. Gayagay et. al, who presented their effort during the Fourth Kalinga Bodong Congress in September 1998.  The annotation of this Codified Pagta started after the 1998 Fourth Kalinga Bodong Congress (KBC) and was finished in December 31, 1999. According to Nats Dalanao, “new provisions were inserted on the Pagta… based on actual decisions of elders in various conflict resolutions, and also on new developments to keep the Pagta attuned and responsive to new situations”.

In reality, the MBCC does not uphold the aforementioned Codified Pagta as it uses the “bodong” to enhance the OPlan Bayanihan of the people’s enemy.  It does not recognize the bugis/piglis, the territory of the bodong, defined in Article I of the Codified Pagta as the “ancestral lands, private properties, forests, pasturelands, agricultural lands, residential lands, hunting grounds, burial grounds, bodies of water, mineral deposits including the airspace and the subterranean resources” of each tribe.  This is so because the MBCC and its opportunist leaders are in cahoots with the 501st Infantry Brigade, the 17th IB and the 77th Cadre Battalion which are serving as the “Investment Defense Force” for the safe entry of foreign capitalist large-scale mines, hydropower dams and geothermal energy projects that virtually land grab the ancestral lands, deny and destroy the national minorities’ livelihood and resources.  This is also the very reason why the MBCC does not at all oppose the entrance and operations of the twenty (20) foreign mining companies in the province, such as the Asia Pacific Basin Mining Corp., Philippine Mining Development Corp., Facets Minerals Inc., Vegas Exploration & Mining Corp., Phil. Mining Development Co., Malibato Mining Co. Inc., Wolfland Resources Inc., Makilala Mining Corp., Bum Kwang, Carrascal, Indo Phil, Matex, Drill Corp, Chevron Geothermal Philippines, Aragon Energy and Power Corp., Guidance Management Corp., Mount Franz Mining Corp. (owned by Lepanto), Patrick Resources Corp (Lepanto), Newcrest Exploration Phil. Inc., and the Cordillera Exploration Inc.  About twenty-nine (29) Kalinga tribes will be affected directly by these foreign capitalist enterprises. These destructive foreign capitalist firms will surely result to more negative  environmental  impacts to both the up-stream and down-stream barangays of the whole province.  Presently, nine (9) of the above-listed foreign capitalist companies are now in Pasil, and their operations will certainly damage the agricultural production in Tabuk.  In short and sad to say, the adamant and unreceptive MBCC and its opportunist leaders are directly helping the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA and foreign capitalists in heightening national oppression and exploitation against the national minorities here in Kalinga.

Because of its anti-insugency program, the Cultural Community Negotiators (CCN or mansakosak/arbiters) of the KBC in the past, some opportunist Kalinga politicians as well as the present opportunist leaders of the MBCC have been and are continually manipulating the bodong system against the forces of the NPA and against families and tribes from where the NPA forces originate in Kalinga.  Among the notorious bodong manipulators are Manuel Bacacao, Johnny “Abe” Dickpus, Roy Dickpus, Palangya Dongga-as, Fernando Kamakam, Aldrin Bagni, John B. Dongui-is, Bartolome Banglagan, Segundo Palangdao and some others.  They have forcibly and unjustly claimed more than P300,000.00 from the Daoangan tribe for the death of a regular Philippine Army, named Asteras from the Lubuagan tribe, who was suspected as having been killed by an NPA Red fighter from the Daoangan tribe in 1998.  For the death of Cpl. Wilfredo Bacacao, one of the two AFP killed in the ambush of the NPA at Patiking, Barangay Bagumbayan, Tabuk last May 9, 2013 wherein 5 others were wounded on the side of the fascist AFP forces and 1 M16 rifle and other logistics were seized by the NPA unit, again said dishonorable bodong manipulators were out to seek indemnities from families and six tribes from where the NPAs, suspected of having been involved in the said ambush, originate.  These tribes and families were forced to swear (sapata) and sign to clear their names and their tribes of such involvement.

We, in the LCC which is the provincial command of the NPA in Kalinga, strongly condemn such unjust acts of the notorious bodong manipulators.  It is not right to blame the tribes and families from where the NPA forces come and neither is it just to demand any indemnification from them for any casualties in the battles between the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA.  Such unjust decisions of the KBC and the MBCC – in the past of letting families and tribes, from where forces of the NPA come, recompense any  payment – should immediately be put to an end.  It is enshrined in the international policies and rules of war that it is not right to target the civilian populace and it is the responsibility of any army, either revolutionary or reactionary, to safeguard all civilians and protect their human rights.  Such international rules of war have been and are violated by the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA because of its inherent nature of being fascist and anti-people.

Likewise, we condemn the smear propaganda of 501st Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Roger D. Salvador who spread out to the broadcast and print media the outright lie that an NPA unit kidnapped and recruited a child whom the NPA allegedly forced to join in launching the victorious tactical offensive at Patiking, Bagumbayan, last May 9.  We violently deny such an unfounded accusation and tall tale.  We are strongly united with the whole CPP-NPA-NDF in the whole country to implement the revolutionary policy of recruiting only 18 years old and above aspirants to the NPA.

We also denounce staunchly the MBCC meeting – held at the Quirino Hall inside the City Hall of Tabuk last May 21, 2013 – wherein the mother of a youngster, Mrs. Lilia Mamawag Omang, was couched by military and police agents to proclaim that her “16 year-old son was abducted by the NPA at 12 midnight last May 11, 2013”.  That meeting of the MBCC was actively participated by five (5) Philippine Army officers, namely, 501st IBde Commander Col. Roger D. Salvador, 17th IB Commander Lt. Col. Alvin Flores, Capt. Joel a. Dungle, Lt. Col. Antonio C. Astilla  and 1Lt. Sandrader O. Macaiba.  We, nonetheless, deny any participation of the teenager son of Mrs. Omang in the May 9, 2013 NPA ambush at Patiking, Bagumbayan, Tabuk.  He was not abducted and neither was he recruited by the NPA. We, however, state that in the morning of May 10, 2013 after the said ambush, the youngster found the physical base of the NPA nearby.  But because news spread around that he was accused by the AFP-PNP as an NPA Red fighter, he feared to go home and was insistent to join the NPA.  Nevertheless, he was convinced by the Abraham Bannawagan Front (ABF) to go home in the afternoon of May 14, 2013. That night  inside their house at Sitio Banagan, Brgy. Bagumbayan, the youngster clarified in front of his parents and his siblings that he was not with the NPA in the May 9, 2013 ambush at Patiking and that he was not kidnapped by the NPA.  He admonished his family not to pay any indemnity for the death of Cpl. Wilfredo Bacacao.  After their talks, he slept with his family for the rest of the night.  But at around 3:30 AM of May 15, 2013, the teenager sneaked out from their house without being noticed. At 5:30 AM of May 15, 2013, the smiling teenager arrived  at  the physical base of the NPA unit of the ABF. For detailed explanations on what really happened, we encourage  the public  to read  the LCC statement, issued on May 28, 2013, entitled, “Rejoinder to the AFP-PNP smear propaganda on the NPA ‘kidnapping’ and ‘recruitment of a child warrior’”.  On the other hand, we admit that since May 25 this year this teenager son of Mrs. Lilia M. Omang is inside the guerilla zone of the ABF for his protection, security and safety.  It has been made clear, however, to the teenager not to be admitted yet to any fighting unit of the NPA because of his being under age; and it has been explained further to him that he can only be considered a fulltime NPA Red fighter when he would turn 18 years old this coming November 27, 2013.

We admonish the MBCC to realize  that  its  acts are unjust and, if continued, would lead to a higher stage of disorder and disunity among the tribes, and that such acts are essential parts of the whole counter-insurgency program of OPlan Bayanihan which utilizes both fascism and deception to stop the masses to fight for their rights, interests and aspirations.  This is, of course, a concrete manifestation of the national oppression and the violation of the indigenous socio-political systems of the national minorities, like the bodong and the pagta.

It is a fact that the global crisis of capitalism worsens and heightens daily the economic and political crisis in the Philippines as a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country under the dictate of US imperialism. This would result to the intensification of oppression and exploitation which drives more of the Filipino masses everyday to take up arms and join the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) through the people’s war.  This means that more and more tactical offensives will be launched by the NPA nation-wide;  and more and more casualties would be expected on the side of the reactionary forces of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA as the people’s war intensifies.

The KBC as well as the MBCC must  admit  the fact that  the  people’s war will go on and the NPA will not be defeated because this is a just war for the national-democratic interests of the whole Filipino people.  And the KBC and the MBCC should acknowledge that the war between the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA is not a tribal war but a class war between the revolutionary Filipino masses and the oppressive and exploitative classes of big landlords, comprador bourgeoisie and bureaucrat capitalists and their US imperialist masters.  It must, therefore, be recognized and upheld that the war between the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA should not be covered by the bodong and the pagta among the Kalinga and Cordillera tribes.  Historically, this new provision was decided by the militant Kalinga-Bontoc-Peace Pact Holders Association (KBPPHA) and the Cordillera Bodong Association (CBA, not the Cordillera Bodong Administration or CBAd of the anti-national minority CPLA) to include this as an essential part of the pagta that united the tribes of Kalinga, Mountain Province and Abra in their vigorous anti-Chico dam and anti-CRC (Cellophil Resources Corp) struggles in the 1980s.  The actual practice of this new Pagta provision finally brought to full stop the two destructive foreign capitalist projects during the US-Marcos Dictatorship. Based on this significant historical experience of the KBPPHA and the CBA and in order to “keep the Pagta attuned and responsive to new situations” to fully serve the tribal, inter-tribal and people’s interests and aspirations of both binodngans and non-binodngans residing in the province, three (3) new provisions should, therefore, be inserted into the KBC Codified Pagta.  FIRST, the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA or individual members of these two armed organizations should be excluded from the bodong and the pagta of the tribes from where members of these two conflicting armed organizations come.  SECOND, any act of any member of the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA should not be blamed on the family and tribe where that member originates, and any casualty from any of the two contending armed forces must not be indemnified by the families and the tribes from where the attacking armed troops  originate.  THIRD, the basis of these new provisions should be the principle of neutrality, which should always be upheld by the bodong and the pagta in the practice of the bodong system.  This means that the KBC and the MBCC should be impartial to the two contending armed forces, and their concerns should be focused on the situation and needs of the tribes and on the resolution of the problems (e.g. and specially, tribal/clan wars) afflicting the tribes/clans.

Why is it that the NPA or its individual members should not be covered by the bodong and the pagta of the tribes from where members of the NPA come?  Because the individual who comes from any of the tribe did not join the NPA to represent his/her tribe; neither did he/she register his/her tribe when she/he joined the NPA.  When a politically qualified person is accepted as a full member of the NPA, she/he has to follow the organizational laws, rules and policies of the NPA as a national-democratic revolutionary armed organization of the entire Filipino people under the absolute leadership of the CPP.  These rules and policies of the NPA have to be followed strictly so that the NPA would fully  serve the entire Filipino masses and fight for their democratic interests and aspirations.  These NPA policies and rules include concrete and scientific investigation of cases as well as appropriate disciplinary actions to any NPA member who violates such revolutionary policies and rules.

In other words, the revolutionary policies and rules of the NPA are not situated on the bodong and the pagta of the tribes.  But while NPA or its individual members are excluded from the bodong and the pagta of the tribes from where members of the NPA originate,  the NPA has been and is assisting vigorously in the amicable settlement of tribal and clan wars, fully respects the bodong and the pagta of every tribe and actively helps in developing bilateral and multi-lateral bodong and pagta for the common good of all tribes  and  for safeguarding and perpetuating the basic rights of all tribes and national minorities.  It is important  that the NPA and its members should be excluded from the bodong and the pagta so that the NPA in the Cordillera has all the freedom to fight for the economic, political and cultural interests of the tribes and all national minorities  to be free from national oppression and exploitation, and continue their struggle for self-determination.

On the other hand, why is it that  the  AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA  and their individual members should not be covered by and should also be excluded from the bodong and the pagta of the tribes from where members of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA come?  Also because any individual from any of the tribe who works inside the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA has no right to represent his/her tribe in this rotten, fascist and anti-Filipino armed organization of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA.

But more so, why?  Because the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA is the fascist armed instrument of US imperialism and the ruling classes of the big landlords and the big comprador bourgeoisie  who themselves are the bureaucrat capitalists who control the entire reactionary government and all state institutions.  Once persons from the tribes enter the reactionary AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA, they automatically serve the economic, political and cultural interes of the oppressive and exploitative classes and their US imperialist masters.

We,  in the LCC,  also  think  that  the  aforementioned  2nd  provision to be inserted into the KBC Codified Pagta is just and a reasonable one.  This simply means that any act of any member of the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA should not be blamed on the family and tribe from where that member originates, and any casualty from any of the two contending armed forces in the armed class struggle must not be indemnified by the families and the tribes where attacking armed troops come from.

On the side of the NPA, we want all to know that whenever a member of the NPA violates any of the rights of the masses and the tribes, the NPA itself immediately investigates, decides and resolves the case, and executes appropriate disciplinary actions on the NPA offender, depending on the nature and gravity of the case and on the aggravating and mitigating circumstances behind the violation.  As soon as the NPA knows that one of its members has violated the right of one of the masses, the NPA immediately goes to the family and tribe of the victim in order to resolve the case. This is one of the many ways to prove that the NPA is the true army of the people that fights for the rights of the exploited and oppressed classes, most especially the workers and peasants.  For grave cases, though, an essential part of any significant resolution is the indemnification which the NPA gives to the family of the victim.

For the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA, whatever violation of the people’s human rights (such as killing, bombing, strafing, PDT operations in and amidst the houses and inside any barrio, other armed and un-armed activities  that disrupt and disturb the life of the people) should be blamed immediately on the fascist AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA and on the reactionary US-AR 2.  But the families, clans and tribes, from where offenders of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA emanate, should not be blamed; and neither should they pay any indemnification.  Appropriate punishment for such violations and satisfactory indemnification for the victims  should  be imposed  only  to  the  offenders  and the commanders of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA as part of “command responsibility”.

Two (2) concluding statements for the MBCC  (please get references from www.philippinerevolution.net)

1. If the MBCC and its leaders are true and sincere in upholding human rights and in “reducing human rights violations” in Tabuk and the whole province,  then we ask them to respect, stand for and help implement the basic human rights and the interests of the Filipino masses, including all national minorities, as embodied in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) which the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) have signed in 1998.  One concrete form to show its sincerity is for the MBCC to demand justice for the 34 unarmed and innocent civilians, who were killed by the AFP-PNP, as listed above.

2. The “Peace Education Program” of the MBCC becomes relevant only when it addresses the interests and issues of the toiling masses of workers and peasants who compose the majority of the Kalinga population.  As national oppression and exploitation worsens and continues each day, peace continues to be dim among the majority of our people.  One concrete form for the MBCC to make its “Peace Education Program” relevant is to study the Peace Talk between the NDFP and the GRP, specially the “August 27, 2005 NDFP 10-Point Proposal for a Concise Agreement to End Civil War and Achieve Just Peace Immediately”.  The GRP under the leadership of the reactionary US-AR 2 has rejected this proposal, has not put into implementation the CARHRIHL, and has ended the Peace Talk because it requires the revolutionary forces of the NDFP to surrender to the GRP and its reactionary Constitution in exchange for empty promises or to engage in a ceasefire agreement in order to obscure and freeze the people’s demands for major reforms.  The MBCC could encourage other sectors at the provincial capital to study the CARHRIHL and the NDFP 10-Point Proposal, and they could unite together to tell other sectoral and multi-sectoral organizations in the Cordillera and in Region I to write the Aquino government to go back to the Peace Negotiation table with the NDFP.

JUST CALLS FOR ALL: 
  • 1. Stop and end tribal war and clan wars!
  • 2. Fight national oppression! Struggle for self-determination!
  • 3. Tribes in Kalinga and throughout the Cordillera, unite!  Develop and heighten the bodong to a progressive level to resolve amicably the common problems of the tribes!
  • 4. Exclude the NPA and the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA from the bodong and the pagta of the tribes!
  • 5. Punish the members and commanders of the AFP-PNP-CAFGU-CPLA who have violated the people’s human rights as well as the rights of the tribes and national minorities to their ancestral land and resources!
  • 6. Drive away the foreign capitalist companies and the corporations of the ruling classes.  Safeguard, manage and utilize the ancestral lands and their rich natural resources for the common good!

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-npa-kalinga-revolutionary-critique.html