Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events

Posted to Kalinaw News (Feb 5, 2020): Civilian Reported NPA Presence, 37IB Encountered Communist Terrorists (By 37 Infantry Batallion)

One Section of Charlie Company, 37th Infantry “Conqueror” Battalion while conducting combat clearing operation encountered more or less 25 elements of the Communist Terrorists believed to be members of East Daguma Front, FSMRC under Commander a.k.a Rayray at 8:05PM on 31 January 2020 in So Sinuksok, Brgy Bugso, SNA, SK.

Said encounter lasted for about 30 minutes afterwhich, the CTs scampered towards different directions leaving behind their three (3) comrades who were killed during the encounter. Also seized in the encounter site is one M14 rifle, one M16 rifle, one caliber .45 pistol, one ICOM radio, 5 sacks of rice and medical kit. There was no casualty on the government side and still undetermined number of casualties on the enemy side based on the bloodstains seen by the engaged troops along the route of withdrawal.

Reinforcement was deployed by 37IB immediately after the encounter.

The encounter was a result of positive information and continuous help provided by the locals which manifest that these terrorists are slowly losing their so called mass supporters in Senator Ninoy Aquino municipality. The locals together with the LGUs are joining hand in hand to eliminate the terrorist NPA problem in the area.

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

https://www.kalinawnews.com/civilian-reported-npa-presence-37ib-encountered-communist-terrorists/

Posted to Kalinaw News (Feb 5, 2020): Notorious top NPA leader killed in Joint Law Enforcement Operation in Butuan City (By 4th Infantry Division)

Bancasi, Butuan City – A Joint Law Enforcement Operation conducted by the Philippine Army together with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 13, and Philippine National Police Regional Office 13 resulted to the killing of a top CPP-NPA Terrorist (CNT) leader around 11 o’clock in the morning, February 5, 2020 at Rosales St., Brgy 15, San Ignacio, Butuan City.

The killed Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT) top leader was identified as certain Manuel Gilo y Magante alias Jino/Saldo. He is the Finance Officer of the Regional Operations Command and at the same time the Head of Intel, Special Operations Group of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC).

The troops of the aforementioned joint law enforcement operation were supposedly to serve Warrants of Arrest against Magante for the crimes of Robbery with Homicide (CC Nr. 5762) and Robbery (CC Nr. 5718) issued by Executive Judge Hilarion P Clapis Jr of the11th Judicial Region, Branch 3, Nabuturan, Davao de Oro.

However, during the serving of the WOs, Magante fired at the arresting officers resulting to a brief firefight leading to his death. The arresting officers recovered the following: One (1) Cal .45 pistol with serial number 738406; One (1) magazine for Cal .45 pistol; Seven (7) rounds Cal .45 ammunitions; One (1) XLR 200 Honda motorcycle with plate number MO 4686; One (1) unit Nokia cellphone ; and One (1) Lenovo Laptop.

According to Brigadier General Maurito L. Licudine, 402nd Brigade Commander in Caraga, Magante was also involved in numerous violent atrocities targeting military personnel and civilians, to wit: Murder of Datu Ruben Labawan in 2015; Abduction of Jail Warden Coquilla of Compostela in 2015; Abduction and murder of Loreto, Agusan del Sur Mayor Dario O.

Otaza and his son Darryl O. Otaza in Butuan City last 2015; Attack of the mining compound of the late Mayor Brillantes in Brgy Olaycon, Monkayo carting away 74 assorted HPFAs in 2016; Disarming of the Peace & Order personnel of Brgy Mahungcog, Magpet in 2016; Synchronized Attack of Lorenzo Residence in Calinan, Davao City; Burning of Lapanday Corp. Plastic Plant in Mandug, Davao City in 2017; Burning of Macondray Corp. Plastic Plant in Panabo City in 2017; and Burning of Construction Company heavy equipment in Brgy Callawa, Davao City in 2018.

“The excellent partnership between and among the law enforcement agencies became the key piece of this victory of the people. Justice has been served for all the sufferings and deaths Magante had incurred to the people. It is a testament that the long arms of justice will catch these CNTs. They can run but they cannot hide for long. It is tragic that they take up arms against the government. I reiterate once again the government’s call for the CNTs to avail the E-CLIP, surrender and go back to their families”, BGen. Licudine added.

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

https://www.kalinawnews.com/notorious-top-npa-leader-killed-in-joint-law-enforcement-operation-in-butuan-city/

Posted to Kalinaw News (Feb 5, 2020): Communist Rebels surrender anew in Agusan Sur amidst on-going Military Operations, LGU Intervention (By 60th Infantry Battalion)

LORETO, Agusan Del Sur –A total of 19 members of the New Peoples’ Army surrendered to the 60th Infantry Battalion amidst the on-going military operations of Joint Task Force Agila (10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army) against Weakened Guerilla Front 3 (WGF 3) and Pulang Bagani Command 4 (PBC 4) of the CPP-NPA’s Sub-regional Committee 4, Southern Mindanao Regional Command in the boundary areas of Loreto and La Paz towns in Agusan Sur as of Monday.

The continuing military operations, which started last January 25, already resulted to the killing of several CPP-NPA terrorists and the recovery of numerous firearms, improvised explosive devices, and subversive documents.

In response, the local government units of Loreto and La Paz both initiated emergency response activities in their respective conflict-affected areas and vulnerable adjacent communities.

Mayor Lorife “Aping” Otaza-Magadan of Loreto personally led the conduct of a series of community dialogues in the conflict-affected barangays of her municipality such Sitio Moto (BrgyPoblacion), Brgy Magaud, and Brgy Kasapa 1 over the weekend.

La Paz Mayor, Michael Lim, on the other hand spearheaded the conduct of their “Government-on-Wheels” program on Monday beginning in one of its farthest Barangay of Kasapa 2. Other priority, red-flagged areas are also lined up to receive said program.

Both local chief executives rallied on their constituents to support the government’s anti-insurgency initiatives while promising to fast-track the delivery of the much-neededprograms and projects in the barangay.

The 1001st Infantry Brigade and 60IB have also been conducting its own intensified information operations in tandem with the LGUs to “enlighten the masses who have been brainwashed and exploited through the deceitful CPP-NPA-NDF propaganda and infiltration tactics.”

As a result, a certain Ka “Lindo” of WGF 3 surrendered with his firearm to the Balik-Loob Assistance Center of 60IB in Loreto a few days earlier. Ka Lindo revealed to the troops how his group has been trying to evade the military for several months already while trying to focus in recovering their lost mass bases, and the recruitment and training of new members; most of whom are indigenous peoples living in very far-flung villages.

On Monday, 18 more members of WGF 3 also surrendered to 60IB during the conduct of La Paz LGU’s Government-on-Wheels program in Brgy. Kasapa 2. Bringing with them their firearms, the group’s leader, a certain Ka Billy, even volunteered to speak in front of his whole barangay during the community dialogue part of the program.

Later, Ka Billy and his 17 comrades had an executive dialogue with La Paz Mayor Michael Lim together with 1001st Infantry Brigade Deputy Commander Colonel Glenn Jun Calambuhay, and 60IB Commander Lt. Col. Ronaldo Sarmiento. There they raised their concerns to the local chief executive and the military commanders who, in turn, promised to facilitate their safe and proper reintegration to their communities.

Ka Billy said the reason they decided to surrender now is because they have already realized how impossible it is for the CPP-NPA to win the war.“We’ve been here long enough to know that the [CPP-NPA] will never be able to overthrow our real government in as much as they [CPP-NPA] will never be able to provide us the programs and projects that we need here in our barangay,” Ka Billy said in the vernacular.

Ka Billy and the others also supported Ka Lindo’s revelations. They further admitted that their ranks have been seriously demoralized by the continuous military operations which are now directly hitting their once secured guerilla bases.

With Executive Order No. 70 coming full-steam and local task forces to End the Local Armed Conflict (ELCAC) getting more and more aggressive in its campaign, Ka Billy tells authorities to expect more surrenders in the coming days.

In a statement, 1001st Infantry Brigade Commander, Colonel John Oberio thanked the rebel returnees for trusting the government and voluntarily submitting themselves to the authorities. “This will greatly help our campaign to immediately end the local communist armed conflict. Even better, we are ending it more peacefully than we expected with many members of the CPP-NPA voluntarily surrendering to us instead of insisting to fight bullet to bullet.”

Also addressing the rebel-returnees, Lt. Col. Sarmiento of 60IB added that, “Since the full force of the government and the support of our tribal leaders and most other sectors of society is already at our disposal, you can rest assured that your personal worries, the problems of your community, and the issues once used by your former communist overlords to discredit our efforts will be addressed and resolved sooner rather than later.”

The surrenderees will be enrolled to the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) where they will initially receive immediate cash assistance, livelihood assistance, and cash remuneration for their surrendered firearms.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/communist-rebels-surrender-anew-in-agusan-sur-amidst-on-going-military-operations-lgu-intervention/

NPA-Negros Island propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Feb 1, 2020): Tikalon nga opisyal sang 303rd Brigade!

JUANITO MAGBANUA

NPA-NEGROS ISLAND

APOLINARIO GATMAITAN COMMAND

NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

FEBRUARY 05, 2020

Damlag lang nagpahayag si Col. Pasaporte sang 303rd Brigade nga naghuyang na ang rebolusyonaryong kahublagan sa Negros bangud nga wala na sang natabu nga engkwentro sa tunga sang tropa sang NPA kag AFP/PNP. Naga-drawing si Pasaporte sang iya nga ginapahayag sa media sa gintumod nya nga tatlo ka rason: naghuyang na kuno ang rebolusyonaryong kahublagan sa Negros; madamu na ang nagsurender, iya gintumod ang masubra 2,500 nga kuno nagsurender sa banwa sang Escalante, Negros Occ; kag ang pagkadakop sang mga militanteng grupo sa natabu nga raid sa ila opisina sa Bacolod City kag Escalante City. Ang mga ginpangdakop gin-aligar nga mga katapu sang Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor Island Committee kag gintanuman sang mga armas kag eksplosibo kag gina-aligar nga recruitment center sang CPP/NPA ang ila mga opisina.

Una, indi ignorante ang kumander sang 303rd Brigade sa aktwal nga kahimtangan sang rebolusyonaryong kahublagan sa Negros. Indi malipod sa iya nga may ara lima ka larangan gerilya halin sa norte tubtob sa sur nga bahin sang Negros kag madamu na nga pagpaninguha sang mga nagbulos-bolus nga rehimen apang sa baylo nga maghuyang, padayon nga nagabaskog kag hugot nga naka-angut sa malapad nga masa. Sa napundar nga kusog sang rebolusyonaryong kahublagan, wala na sang kapasidad ang berdugong reaksyonaryong armadong AFP/PNP nga wasakon ini.

Ikaduha, modus sang AFP/PNP ang ginahambal nga 2,510 ka NPA kag mga suporter nga ila napasurender. Ang matuod, isa lamang ini ka pamaagi agud nga makakwarta ang mga opisyal militar kahimbon ang lokal nga opisyal sang lokal nga gobyerno sa Escalante City. Ang tagsa ka mapasurender may ara nga livelihood assistance nga PHP50,000 kag PHP15,000 immediate assistance nga kon sumahon naglab-ot sa PHP162,500,000. Apang basi sa nakuha nga impormasyon sang Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, madamu sang wala nakabaton sang ila kwarta nga dapat para sa ila bilang mga surrenderee kag kon may ara gid man halos sensilyo lang ang ila nabaton.

Ikatatlo, ang ginpangdakop nga mga katapu kag lider sang militanteng grupo upod ang mga obrero sang Vallacar Transit nga nagpangayo bulig sa KMU kag mga cultural youth indi recruiter sang NPA. Sila ang mga militanteng grupo nga maisog nga nagabatikos sang kagarukan sang sini nga tiraniko kag teroristang rehimen US-Duterte. Agud mapahipos, desperado nga ginpang-raid ang ila opisina, gintanuman sang mga armas kag eksplosibo kag ginpasakaan sang madamu nga patu-patu nga mga kaso. Kinamatarung sang pumuluyo nga magpa-abot sang ila hibubun-ot kon nakita nila nga ang ini nga gobyerno isa ka garuk, tiraniko kag wala nagaserbisyo sa ila interes.

Ini tanan nga kabutigan nga ginapahayag sang opisyal sang berdugong militar, tuyo nga patalangon ang pumuluyo. Pakala-inon ang armadong paghimakas sang pumuluyo kag paayuhon ang dagway sang tiraniko kag teroristang rehimen kag ido-ido sini nga AFP/PNP bisan ginakangil-aran ini sang pumuluyo. Hinabunan ang mga malain nila nga ginahimo pareho sang peke nga pagpasurender, pagpangmasaker, extrajudicial killings, pagpangbomba, pagpanghamlet, torture kag madamu pa nga porma sang paglapas sa tawhanon nga kinamatarung.

Ang bug-os nga rebolusyonaryong kahublagan sa isla sang Negros sa pagpamuno sang Communist Party of the Philippines ara sa husto nga posisyon agud ipadayon ang armadong paghimakas kag mag-angkon sang mga kadalag-an sa sining bag-ong dekada. Handa ini kag may ikasarang nga atubangon ang ano man nga kampanya sang kaaway nga amo ang Oplan Kapanatagan kag ang mapangsabotahe nga localized peace talk nga ginaduso ni gobernador Lacson agud tunga-on kag wasakon ini.

Ang rebolusyonaryong armadong paghimakas nga ginalunsar sang NPA isa ka dungganon kag may bulawanon nga katuyu-an nga amo ang paghilway sang malapad nga pumuluyo ilabi na ang mga mamumugon kag mangunguma. Upod sa malapad nga pumuluyo kag bug-os nga rebolusyonaryong pwersa, aton pabaskugon ang aton hanay paagi sa paglunsar sang taktikal nga opensiba, pagpalig-on sang likom nga organisasyon masa kag paglunsar sang kontra-pyudal nga paghimakas para mapataas ang pang-ekonomiya nga kahimtangan sang masang mangunguma.

Mabuhay ang masang pigos!
Isulong ang rebolusyon tubtob sa kadalag-an!

https://cpp.ph/statement/tikalon-nga-opisyal-sang-303rd-brigade/

NDF-Ilocos propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Feb 1, 2020): The new Corona virus is a neoliberal disaster

KA ROSA GUIDON

TAGAPAGSALITA

NDFP ILOCOS

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

FEBRUARY 04, 2020

Duterte attempts to deflect criticisms while people call for his ouster

It could be called a classic case of too little, too late but even that would be an oversimplification of the issue. What is clear is that the Duterte regime is now on a full-blown defensive mode after receiving widespread condemnation regarding the government’s mishandling of the 2019 new Corona virus (nCoV).

Worse Viruses: Irresponsibility and Unaccountability

The National Democratic Front – Ilocos deplores the Duterte administration’s desperate efforts to deflect criticisms instead of focusing on crisis management. After finally deciding to stir from unacceptable silence, Duterte spoke up regarding the virus that grips the nation in a state of near-panic. However, instead of communicating the government’s measures against the virus’ effects, he chose to dismiss the casualties as a non-issue.

In reality, though there are only two confirmed cases of nCoV in the Philippines, the death of the second patient is the only fatality outside China where the virus supposedly originated. And yet, he grievously delayed banning travellers coming in from mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong; that is, until the backlash was so great even he could not ignore it anymore. Before this, the best he could do was promise to hold a meeting regarding the outbreak a week after it started. Meanwhile, the people were expected to sit still.

Like a tyrant in a tower so removed from his constituents, Duterte does not understand that his ill-preparedness and belittlement of the virus itself is the cause for the people’s almost panic. He predicts that the outbreak “will die a natural death” as if he is a circus soothsayer and not the highest official of an entire nation. And yet, it was reported that Malacañang Palace required all its personnel to wear masks while any physical contact with Duterte was prohibited.

While Duterte vainly attempts to change the narrative, his trusted lapdog Bong Go spews tirades against those that criticise the government. Like a rabid mutt that has lost any sense, he wanted to quarantine a wide range of individuals—from those that justifiably called out the Duterte regime for its relaxed approach to the crisis to those who called for Duterte’s ouster.

Ills of Neoliberalism
On the other end of the defense line, the delusional Health Secretary Francisco Duque denied that the country has a weak health system. He reasons that the Philippines is “a middle-income country.” Hence, it is excluded from the World Health Organization’s concerns.

However blinded Duque is, the neoliberal policies that undermined the healthcare system are the same policies causing Duterte to tread carefully so as to maintain profitable friendship with the Chinese government, at the expense of the Filipino people’s lives and wellbeing.

Neoliberalism takes form in privatization of social services such as government hospitals and health facilities, among others. So-called aid from private sector is actually public debt.

Privatization is the exact opposite of making health services more affordable and accessible to the public. The Philippines’ leading cause of death remain to be diseases that are both preventable and curable.

In the same vein, Duterte’s onerous debts to China would actually be paid off through more taxes, not to mention with collateral Philippine sovereignty and patrimonial assets. And now, apparently, with Filipino lives. In true Duterte fashion, the beggarly president then absurdly blamed the Filipino people for being Sinophobic.

The Filipino people cannot rely on the Duterte administration to protect them from the nCoV. It can neither expect Duterte to own up to his own loyalties nor put an end to neoliberal policies. Thus, the mass movement in the Ilocos Region will continue to link arms with the rest of the nation in exposing and opposing neoliberalism that murders and displaces the people in ways more cruel than nCoV itself. It expresses its solidarity with the entire Filipino people in defeating the nCoV and using this issue as one amongst many for the ouster of an inutile and oppressive regime. More importantly, the armed revolution in the countryside will continue to flourish and advance in order to completely demolish the rottening system that Duterte embodies. ###

https://cpp.ph/statement/the-new-corona-virus-is-a-neoliberal-disaster/

Posted to the Committee on Information, Moro Islamic Liberation Front Central Committee MILF-CC Website (Feb 5, 2020): MILF-BIAF 9th Brigade Inner Guards conduct info-drive on BARMM Governance (By Raffie S. Pasingan)

IN PHOTO: Inner Guards Officers, members of Medical Aid of MILF-BIAF of the 9th. Brigade Expeditionary Mission with Resource Speaker Mr. Tirso Tahir at Camp. Darapanan on February 2. 2020

COTABATO CITY- Some members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, and Medical Aid of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (BIAF-MILF) attended an activity aimed at providing valuable information, and inputs gathering at Camp. Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Sunday (February 2).

Mr. Tirso S. Tahir, BTA-BARMM Legislative Staff, and Officer of Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) gave updates to MILF-BIAF Combatants on the current status, and development of BTA-BARMM particularly on the various approved, and proposed parliamentary bills, and resolutions adopted by members of the Bangsamoro Parliament.

Said activity was facilitated by Officers of Inner Guard from 9th Brigade Expeditionary Mission who are in their own way also provide updates and some vital issues on normalization and programs for the MILF-BIAF.

The event at Camp Darapanan also encouraged the MILF Combatants to sustain the gains of peace agreement, and extend unwavering support to BARMM Governance for the common good of all Bangsamoro.

Tahir said that everyone knew that BARMM Governance is the product of Bangsamoro legitimate Struggle as well as an outcome of long, and painstaking protracted decades of negotiations with the government by Moro leaders until we achieved this new set-up of governance. There are lessons learned from ARMM on different issues why Regional development was very minimal, and less competitive in different aspects compared to other regions of the country.

Thus, the BARMM needs enough time, adequate resources, and skilled public servants, Tahir stressed.

BARMM is the recipient of gargantuan challenges during this crucial transition where majority of the Bangsamoro people are expecting outright results specifically on development, and social service delivery, Tahir added.

The participants clarified various issues during the open forum, and committed to be responsive and always adhere to the MILF leadership in its current task in leading the government of the day by addressing the plight of the Bangsamoro after decades of desolation.

https://www.luwaran.com/news/article/1994/milf-biaf-9th-brigade-inner-guards-conduct-info-drive-on-barmm-governance

From Urdu Point (Feb 4, 2020): OIC Delegation Concludes Mission To The Philippines (By Umer Jamshaid)

The Secretary General of Al-Othaimeen, dispatched a delegation from the General Secretariat to visit the Philippines over 27-30 January 2020

Jeddah (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Feb, 2020) The Secretary General of Al-Othaimeen, dispatched a delegation from the General Secretariat to visit the Philippines over 27-30 January 2020. The purpose of the visit was to meet with government officials and representatives of Moro groups to take stock of current developments pertaining to the peace process in light of the forthcoming meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Niamey, Niger, 3-4 April 2020.

In Manila, the OIC delegation met with HE Mr Carlito G. Galvez, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and held discussions with officials from several government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance and the National Economic Development Authority among others. The discussions focused on the full implementation of the peace tracks and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund (BDAF) and the creation of the Tripartite Implementation Monitoring Committee (TIMC).

The OIC delegation also visited Davao and Cotabato Cities in the southern region of Mindanao. Meetings were held with leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), founding Chair Prof Nur Misuari and Yusop Jikiri and with Ahod Murad Ebrahim, the Interim Chief Minister of the newly established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), who is also Chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The OIC delegation attended a special session of the BARMM Cabinet and interacted with Members of Parliament from the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority.

During the visit to Mindanao, the OIC delegation stressed the need for unity and cooperation to realize the full implementation of all peace agreements. By bringing stakeholders closer together, the OIC maintains its commitment to a positive engagement in the Southern Philippines peace process with a view to achieving a just, inclusive, and comprehensive peace.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/world/oic-delegation-concludes-mission-to-the-phili-829086.html

From BenarNews (Feb 4, 2020): Philippine Police Raid Captures Alleged Abu Sayyaf Kidnapper (By Mark Navales)

Philippine National Police stand guard in Tanauan city south of Manila, July 4, 2018. AP

Security forces captured a suspected Abu Sayyaf militant in the central Philippines on Tuesday, more than two years after he allegedly aided in the September 2017 kidnapping of the son of a mayor in Zamboanga del Norte province, police officials said.

The suspect, identified as Jimmy Igpit Marababol, is believed to be an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) member who was hiding out in the city of Cebu, said Brig. Gen. Edgar S. Monsalve, chief of the police’s intelligence group.

“He has been is hiding in Cebu for almost a year now. He is an ASG member who is also known for his affiliation with the radical Daulah Islamiyah terror group,” Monsalve said.

Daulah Islamiyah is the local name for Islamic State (IS).

Monsalve said Marababol did not resist arrest when police raided his hideout in the village of Tinago before noon on Tuesday.

An arrest warrant had been issued by the Regional Trial Court in Zamboanga del Norte against Marababol, who had been in Cebu for more than a year and had been working as a rice trader, according to Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, regional police chief. Marababol was among six suspects who allegedly abducted Jade Quimbo, son of Labason Mayor Eddie Quimbo, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported.

Founded to fight for an independent Muslim state in the southern third of this predominantly Catholic nation, ASG was led by Afghan-trained Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, who was killed in 1998.

Janjalani was replaced by a younger brother, who would mastermind cross-border kidnapping raids, including the abduction of 10 European and 11 Asian hostages from the Sipadan diving resort in Malaysia in 2001. All the hostages were later freed after reported ransom payments, but the kidnappings raised ASG’s international profile.

The majority of ASG’s key leaders have since been killed by the military.

One of them, Isnilon Hapilon, became the head of the IS group in the region and led militants in taking over the city of Marawi, the Philippines’ only Muslim city, in May 2017. He was killed five months later by the military near the end of a battle that claimed about 1,200 lives, a majority of them militants.

Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan took over as IS leader in the Philippines and led a January 2019 attack by Indonesian suicide bombers that killed 23 people at a Catholic Church in Jolo, Philippine officials said.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/suspect-arrested-02042020130327.html

From the Business World (Feb 4, 2020): Davao taps good old-fashioned radio as another disaster management tool

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio (rightmost) signs a support agreement with provincial governors in Davao Region -- (from right) Davao Occidental’s Claude P. Bautista, Davao Oriental’s Nelson L. Dayanghirang, and Davao de Oro’s Jayvee Tyron Uy -- for the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5 FM), which was launched February 3. -- BW/LEAN S. DAVAL, JR.

IN THIS internet age when social media platforms have become a leading information source and communication tool, good old-fashioned radio remains a formidable device in remote areas — and anywhere during calamity situations.

Tapping this force, Davao City launched on Monday a radio station dedicated to disaster management not just within the city but for neighboring provinces.

“While the city government of Davao is already on broadcast television with the Byaheng Do30 television program, and we are active online with our social media accounts and Websites, we have yet to make a strong presence on radio,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said during the launching of Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5 FM).

The station will broadcast real-time situationers as well as information campaign programs on emergency preparedness and response.

Ms. Duterte said with the radio station, the city government now has another way of reaching all its 182 barangays and other provinces within the Davao Region.

During the launch Ms. Duterte also signed an agreement with three provincial governors, namely: Davao Occidental’s Claude P. Bautista, Davao Oriental’s Nelson L. Dayanghirang, and Davao de Oro’s Jayvee Tyron Uy.

The governors of Davao del Norte and del Sur, who are both not political allies of the four others, were not at the event.

Ms. Duterte also signed a separate agreement with Brig. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., civil relations service chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to establish DCDR as an AFP-affiliate station.

Ms. Duterte said, “The correct information and ample preparations are our strongest defense against any calamity or crisis situation. And with this platform, we can ready our people better for any eventuality.” — Maya M. Padillo

https://www.bworldonline.com/davao-taps-good-old-fashioned-radio-as-another-disaster-management-tool/

From the Philippine Star (Feb 5, 2020): Senate leaders urge Duterte: Reconsider VFA abrogation (By Cecille Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero)

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson jointly filed on Monday Resolution 312 expressing the sense of the Senate on the need for Duterte to reconsider his plan to unilaterally withdraw from the VFA with the US. Geremy Pintolo/File

As a Senate panel prepares to begin its review of the country’s military arrangements with the United States, three senators have filed a resolution urging President Duterte to reconsider his plan to have the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) revoked.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson jointly filed on Monday Resolution 312 expressing the sense of the Senate on the need for Duterte to reconsider his plan to unilaterally withdraw from the VFA with the US.

The filing of the resolution came two days before the scheduled review of the security pact along with the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US by the Senate committee on foreign relations headed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III. The chamber will still have to vote on the resolution.

“We concede that by constitutional fiat and by intrinsic nature of his office, the President, as head of state, is the sole organ and authority in the externals affairs of the country, being the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy in the conduct of the external affairs of the nation,” the resolution read.

“Fully recognizing the authority of the Chief Executive and without intending to disrespect a co-equal body, prior to unilaterally terminating the VFA, the Senate should be given the opportunity to conduct a review and assessment of the impact of the withdrawal on the country’s security and economy, specifically with regard to intelligence information sharing, military aid and financing, and technical assistance extended by the US relative to the continuing threats posed by domestic and foreign terrorist groups and, ultimately, to the stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region,” it said.

The senators said as a policymaking body, the Senate should likewise give its view and opinion on the repercussions of the scrapping of the VFA on the MDT and EDCA.

They said a careful deliberation of the issue must be taken into account before arriving at a final decision, which will ultimately affect not only the country’s security and economy, but also that of other countries in the region.

The resolution seeks to express the sense of the Senate “to earnestly request the President to reconsider his planned abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement in the meantime that the Senate is conducting a review and impact assessment with the end in view of ensuring the continued safety and security of the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific, and maintain the existing balance of power within the region.”

President Duterte threatened to abrogate the VFA in response to the cancellation of the US visa of Dela Rosa and to other events involving the country’s national integrity and sovereignty, aggravated by a “series of disrespectful acts” of the United States, as expressed by presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.

In their resolution, the senators said they acknowledge the intrinsic nature of the Office the President as the sole organ and authority in the external affairs of the country.

The Philippines’ principal military agreement with the US is the MDT signed on Aug. 30, 1951. The US and the Philippines also forged the Military Bases Agreement on March 14, 1947, formalizing, among others, the use of installations in Philippine territory by US military personnel.

On May 27, 1999, the Senate ratified the Philippines’ and the US’s agreement on VFA with the primary goal of facilitating the promotion of optimal cooperation between US and Philippine military forces in the event of an attack by a common foe.

On April 28, 2014, the two countries signed the EDCA aimed at supplementing the existing VFA through mutual cooperation in developing individual and collective capacity to resist armed attacks.

In the resolution, the senators said the Senate should give its view and opinion on the repercussions of a unilateral withdrawal of the VFA on the existing MDT and the EDCA with the US.

“A careful deliberation of these matters must be taken into account before finally arriving at a decision which will ultimately affect not only the security and economy of the Philippines but also that of our neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region,” the resolution read.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/05/1990535/senate-leaders-urge-duterte-reconsider-vfa-abrogation

From the Philippine Star (Feb 5, 2020): 'Still speculative': Nograles says there's no plan yet to renegotiate VFA (By Alexis Romero)

In this file photo taken in May 2018, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat of the Northern Luzon Command and Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson of the US 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force unfurl the Balikatan flag during the opening ceremony of the Philippines-US Exercise 2018 at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. The STAR/Krizjohn Rosales, file

There is no plan yet to renegotiate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States (US), Malacañang said Wednesday, after senators urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to terminate the decades-old pact.

Last month, Duterte announced that he is scrapping the VFA in response to the cancellation of the US visa of senator and former police chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, one of the brains behind his controversial war on illegal drugs.

Officials later on claimed that the cancellation of dela Rosa's visa was just one of the reasons that impelled Duterte to seek the abrogation of the agreement. Other reasons cited by Malacañang are the demand by some US senators to free detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima; the US Senate resolution condemning the alleged human rights violations in the Philippines; and the introduction of a US national budget provision that ban from the US people behind De Lima's detention.

Three Philippine senators - Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Panfilo Lacson - have filed a resolution asking Duterte to reconsider his decision to abrogate the VFA while the Senate is reviewing and assessing the impact of the defense pact.

The Senate, according to the three senators, should be allowed to review the possible effects of the scrapping of the VFA on intelligence information sharing, military aid and financing, and technical assistance provided by the US to the Philippines.

While some allies of Duterte are calling for a review or a renegotiation of the VFA, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the matter has not been discussed in the Cabinet.

"That's speculative, that's specualtion. We are not yet there in that level," Nograles told hosts of "The Chiefs" aired over Cignal TV's One News channel.

"At the very least, it was not yet relayed to us. It was not yet discussed in the Cabinet," he added.

Nograles said it would be up to the president to decide whether to hold dialogue with allies calling for a renegotiation of the VFA.

"If that is the sentiment of the Senate, then obviously we need to dialogue with them. Then it's up to the president," the Palace official said.

Some sectors have warned against abrogating the VFA, saying it could affect the Philippines' efforts against terrorism and other security threats.

Duterte's spokesman Salvador Panelo previously said the VFA is "a special grant of privilege agreement" because under the deal, the Philippines cannot assume jurisdiction over crimes committed by American military personnel unless a particular crime is of particular importance to the Philippines.

Independent foreign policy

Officials, however, clarified that the termination of the VFA would not affect other agreements with the US like the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Asked whether the president's decision to walk out of the VFA is not yet set in stone, Nograles maintained that the "decision is to terminate" the agreement.

Nograles said the president's pronouncement that he would abrogate the VFA is consistent with his independent foreign policy.

"I think the message of the president is we have our own independent foreign policy, we will pursue our independent foreign policy and not be beholden to any nation or not be dictated to by any nation," he said.

Nograles claimed it is not fair to assume that the cancellation of Dela Rosa's visa was the only reason behind the decision.

"When he made that decision, I think it was because of all that pressure being applied by certain officials, high officials from the United States, as if dictating upon us how to run the government and how our legal processes and prosecution and cases in court are supposed to run," the Palace official said.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/05/1990666/still-speculative-nograles-says-theres-no-plan-yet-renegotiate-vfa

Posted to the US Naval Institute (USNI) Website (Feb 4, 2020): Report on U.S.-China Competition in East, South China Sea

The following is the Jan. 28, 2020 Congressional Research Service report U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Background and Issues for Congress.

From the report

In an international security environment described as one of renewed great power competition, the South China Sea (SCS) has emerged as an arena of U.S.-China strategic competition. U.S.-China strategic competition in the SCS forms an element of the Trump Administration’s more confrontational overall approach toward China, and of the Administration’s efforts for promoting its construct for the Indo-Pacific region, called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).

China’s actions in the SCS in recent years—including extensive island-building and base-construction activities at sites that it occupies in the Spratly Islands, as well as actions by its maritime forces to assert China’s claims against competing claims by regional neighbors such as the Philippines and Vietnam—have heightened concerns among U.S. observers that China is gaining effective control of the SCS, an area of strategic, political, and economic importance to the United States and its allies and partners. Actions by China’s maritime forces at the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea (ECS) are another concern for U.S. observers. Chinese domination of China’s near-seas region—meaning the SCS and ECS, along with the Yellow Sea—could substantially affect U.S. strategic, political, and economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region and elsewhere.

Potential general U.S. goals for U.S.-China strategic competition in the SCS and ECS include but are not necessarily limited to the following: fulfilling U.S. security commitments in the Western Pacific, including treaty commitments to Japan and the Philippines; maintaining and enhancing the U.S.-led security architecture in the Western Pacific, including U.S. security relationships with treaty allies and partner states; maintaining a regional balance of power favorable to the United States and its allies and partners; defending the principle of peaceful resolution of disputes and resisting the emergence of an alternative “might-makes-right” approach to international affairs; defending the principle of freedom of the seas, also sometimes called freedom of navigation; preventing China from becoming a regional hegemon in East Asia; and pursing these goals as part of a larger U.S. strategy for competing strategically and managing relations with China.

Potential specific U.S. goals for U.S.-China strategic competition in the SCS and ECS include but are not necessarily limited to the following: dissuading China from carrying out additional base-construction activities in the SCS, moving additional military personnel, equipment, and supplies to bases at sites that it occupies in the SCS, initiating island-building or base-construction activities at Scarborough Shoal in the SCS, declaring straight baselines around land features it claims in the SCS, or declaring an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the SCS; and encouraging China to reduce or end operations by its maritime forces at the Senkaku Islands in the ECS, halt actions intended to put pressure against Philippine-occupied sites in the Spratly Islands, provide greater access by Philippine fisherman to waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal or in the Spratly Islands, adopt the U.S./Western definition regarding freedom of the seas, and accept and abide by the July 2016 tribunal award in the SCS arbitration case involving the Philippines and China.

The Trump Administration has taken various actions for competing strategically with China in the SCS and ECS. The issue for Congress is whether the Trump Administration’s strategy for competing strategically with China in the SCS and ECS is appropriate and correctly resourced, and whether Congress should approve, reject, or modify the strategy, the level of resources for implementing it, or both.

Download the document here.

https://news.usni.org/2020/02/04/report-on-u-s-china-competition-in-east-south-china-sea

From the Philippine Star (Feb 6, 2020): Senate VFA review starts today (By Cecille Suerte Felipe)

Senators begin today their review of the country’s military deals with the United States, one of which the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) President Duterte wants revoked.

The Senate foreign relations committee chaired by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III will spearhead the review at a public hearing. Aside from the VFA, the panel and invited resource persons will discuss the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Also to be tackled at the hearing is the resolution jointly filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson, urging the President to abandon his plan to have the VFA abrogated. Duterte declared he would move for the abrogation of the VFA in response to the cancellation of the US visa of long time ally Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.

Pimentel said the committee has invited several resource persons, including officials of various government agencies like Foreign Affairs, National Defense, National Economic and Development Authority, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“We are exercising also our oversight function, subject matter treaties,” Pimentel said.

In their resolution, Sotto, Drilon and Lacson said the President’s call for the abrogation of VFA should be subjected to careful deliberation considering its security and economic ramification.

“We concede that by constitutional fiat and by intrinsic nature of his office, the President, as head of state, is the sole organ and authority in the externals affairs of the country, being the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy in the conduct of the external affairs of the nation,” the resolution read.

The senators stressed they were making the appeal to the President “fully recognizing the authority of the Chief Executive and without intending to disrespect a co-equal body.”

They maintained the Senate should be given the opportunity to review and assess the impact of the withdrawal on the country’s security and economy “specifically with regard to intelligence information sharing, military aid and financing, and technical assistance extended by the US relative to the continuing threats posed by domestic and foreign terrorist groups and, ultimately, to the stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region,” the senators said in their resolution.

No plan yet

Reacting to the Senate resolution, Malacañang made it clear there is no plan yet to renegotiate the VFA.

Administration officials claimed the cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa was just one of the reasons that impelled Duterte to seek the abrogation of the agreement. Other reasons cited by Malacañang are the demand by some US senators to free detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima; the US Senate resolution condemning the alleged human rights violations in the Philippines; and the introduction of a US national budget provision that ban from the US people behind De Lima’s detention.

Sotto, Drilon and Lacson have crossed party lines to file a resolution asking Duterte to reconsider his decision to abrogate the VFA while the Senate is reviewing and assessing the impact of the defense pact.

The Senate, the three senators said, should be allowed to review the possible effects of the scrapping of the VFA on intelligence information sharing, military aid and financing, and technical assistance provided by the US to the Philippines.

While some allies of Duterte are calling for a review or a renegotiation of the VFA, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the matter has not been discussed in the Cabinet.

“That’s speculative, that’s speculation. We are not yet there in that level,” Nograles told hosts of The Chiefs aired over Cignal TV’s One News channel.

“At the very least, it was not yet relayed to us. It was not yet discussed in the Cabinet,” he added.

Nograles said it would be up to the President to decide whether to hold dialogue with allies calling for a renegotiation of the VFA.

“If that is the sentiment of the Senate, then obviously we need to dialogue with them. Then it’s up to the President,” the Palace official said.

Some sectors have warned against abrogating the VFA, saying it could affect the Philippines’ efforts against terrorism and other security threats.

Duterte’s spokesman Salvador Panelo previously said the VFA is “a special grant of privilege agreement” because under the deal, the Philippines cannot assume jurisdiction over crimes committed by American military personnel unless a particular crime is of particular importance to the Philippines.

Independent foreign policy

Nograles said the President’s pronouncement that he would abrogate the VFA is consistent with his avowed independent foreign policy.

“I think the message of the President is we have our own independent foreign policy, we will pursue our independent foreign policy and not be beholden to any nation or not be dictated to by any nation,” he said.

Nograles claimed it is not fair to assume that the cancellation of Dela Rosa’s visa was the only reason behind the decision.

“When he made that decision, I think it was because of all that pressure being applied by certain officials, high officials from the United States, as if dictating upon us how to run the government and how our legal processes and prosecution and cases in court are supposed to run,” the Palace official said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines welcomes the US peace plan to resolve the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine.

In a statement, the DFA said Manila supports the Trump administration’s “Vision for Peace, Prosperity, and a Brighter Future for Israel and the Palestinian People,” as a sincere effort to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

“We understand it to be a negotiating text and the US President has wisely cautioned that nothing be done to change the situation on the ground before negotiations begin and progress. Nothing is lost by sitting down and talking. It is a starting point and not the end,” the DFA said.

An independent UN human rights expert, however, said that the peace plan announced by Trump is “lopsided” and will only entrench Israel occupation.

UN Special Rapporteur Michael Lynk said the peace plan would legalize Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also would be allowed to annex around 30 percent of the West Bank.

The UN emphasized it is sticking to its two-state solution, with Israelis and Palestinians “living side by side in peace and security, within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines.” It said the US plan is “a one and half state solution.”

The Philippines has committed itself to the two-state solution as envisioned by the UN.

“There just can’t be any other. Both sides have shown a limitless capacity for endurance,” the DFA statement said. – With Alexis Romero, Pia Lee-Brago

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/06/1990830/senate-vfa-review-starts-today

From ABS-CBN (Feb 6, 2020): IN NUMBERS: How beneficial is VFA to the Philippines? (By Katrina Domingo)

Philippine and U.S troops unload medical supplies as they land at Cagayancillo in Palawan for their Community Health Education and training as part of the 2016 Balikatan Exercise on Sunday. Dante Diosina, Jr., ABS-CBN News

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday gave a rundown on the billions-worth of military and humanitarian aid the Philippines has received from the United States, thanks to the long-standing alliance between the two countries.

The Philippines received nearly $1 billion (P50.73 billion) in military equipment, training, aid and funding for various projects just from 2016 to 2019, Locsin said in a Senate inquiry.

The hearing sought to weigh the benefits the Philippines receives from its Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, which President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to revoke last month over the canceled visa of his long-time ally Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa.

Here's a list of those benefits according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) chief:

FOREIGN MILITARY FINANCING AND PROCUREMENT OF DEFENSE EQUIPMENT

2016 to 2019

-$267.75 million (P13.58 billion)

2020 to 2021

- $200 million (P10.14 billion) for aircraft, training, equipment and construction for the Armed Forces of the Philippines
- $45 million (P2.2 billion) in foreign military financing

"The Philippines is able to receive after-sales servicing in the form of maintenance packages that increase the articles' value and lifespan," Locsin said.

Some 319 activities designed to "enhance" Filipino troops' capabilities "in countering threats to national security" were also slated in 2020 alone, he said.

SUPPORT VS 'NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY THREATS'

Development assistance

- $336.30 million (P17.05 billion) for scholarships, seminars, projects on health, environment, agriculture, fisheries, trade, labor and governance

Locsin said US assistance support projects against human trafficking, cyberattacks and narcotics, and help fund disaster response and intelligence and capability-building.

"Without the VFA, the US Departments of State and Defense may have difficulty in requesting funds from the US Congress for FMF (foreign military financing) and other defense assistance programs to the Philippines."

'INDIRECT BENEFITS'

Close relations between Manila and Washington have also resulted in economic benefits as the US is inclined to give "preferential treatment" to its traditional allies, Locsin said.

The US is the Philippines'"largest source of grants," accounting for 36.89 percent of the total grant aid the country received in 2018.

These grants amount to $886.47 million (P44.96 billion), according to Locsin.

The US is also the Philippines' 3rd largest trading partner, biggest export market and 4th largest import source with some $18.70 billion (P948 million) worth of goods traded in 2018.

It is also the country's 3rd largest tourism market, next to South Korea and China, with 1 million American tourists visiting the Philippines in 2018.

The world's largest economy is also the Philippines' 5th largest source of investments, with American investments amounting to P12.9 billion in 2018.

'IRRITANTS'

"While the Philippines has the prerogative to terminate the VFA anytime, the continuance of the Agreement is deemed to be more beneficial to the Philippines compared to any benefits were it to be terminated," Locsin told the Senate Committee on Foreign relations.

While it is the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) that compels the US and the Philippines to come to the aid of the other in the event of an attack, the VFA and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) "makes it relevant," the DFA chief said.

"To put it more graphically, the MDT without the VFA and EDCA is like a balloon without air," he said.

"[The] VFA/EDCA cuts the response time of MDT to zero. If we're hit, the enemy is hit in the same second."

Despite the benefits, Locsin underscored that the government needs to "revisit" the VFA to address "irritants."

"There are of course irritants which need to be addressed... There may be some value in revisiting the VFA to address issues of sovereignty, such as jurisdiction and custody," he said.

Duterte threatened to unilaterally pull out from the VFA last month after the US cancelled Dela Rosa's 10-year visa. The senator led Duterte's war on drugs during his stint as chief of the Philippine National Police.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/02/06/20/in-numbers-how-beneficial-is-vfa-to-the-philippines

From the Philippine Star (Feb 6, 2020): Lorenzana: Philippines doesn't need the VFA indefinitely (By Ratziel San Juan)

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that while the Visiting Forces Agreement was “born out of a mutual need” between the Philippines and the United States, the main priority is having a self-sufficient national defense rather than maintaining the agreement.

“I think our long-term interest is to be self-sufficient in our defense. We should have at least a minimum or deterrent capability,” the Department of National Defense chief told Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon during the Thursday morning hearing on the VFA, Mutual Defense Treaty, and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.

Related Stories
Beyond Bato's US visa: A look at issues previously raised against VFA
Justice department studying potential effects of scrapping VFA

“Now, whether we need the VFA indefinitely, I think we do not need the VFA indefinitely. So we should use the interim (meantime) to build up our capabilities.”

On January 23, Duterte gave Washington a one-month deadline to reconsider the cancellation of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa's US visa, leveraging the two-decade-long VFA.

RELATED: Bato dela Rosa says US canceled his visa

The said agreement signed in 1998 allows American and Filipino troops to conduct joint training operations in Philippine territory.

RELATED: Duterte threatens to end VFA if US fails to 'correct' Bato visa cancellation

"I think the VFA was born out of the mutual need from the US to the Philippines,” Lorenzana said, recalling that before 1992 practically all military equipment came from the United States.

On Sept. 16, 1991, the Senate voted not to renew the Military Bases Agreement between the Philippines and the United States.

"When they left, all the supplies, spare parts, everything, dried up. So I think in 1992, we had about more than 100 helicopters flying...in 1999 when they came back I think only three dozen of our helicopters were flying,” the Defense Secretary said.

“That is a lesson that I think we should learn very hard — that we cannot source our equipment from just one source.”

The Senate can conduct inquiries in aid of legislation, with the Foreign Relations Committee hearing considering the following five Senate resolutions:

Senate Resolution 299 – Review of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement
Senate Resolution 303 – Implication of the Termination of RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement
Senate Resolution 305 – Senate Concurrence in Treaty Withdrawal/Termination
Senate Resolution 306 - Validity and Implementation of the Visiting Forces Agreement Between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America
Senate Resolution 312 – Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the President to Reconsider His Plan to Unilaterally Withdraw from the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States of America

RELATED: Senate VFA review starts today

"[A] careful deliberation of these matters must be taken into account before finally arriving at a decision which will ultimately affect not only the secruity and economy of the Philippines but also that of our neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region," reads the most recent resolution filed on Monday.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson have since appealed to Duterte to reconsider the termination of the VFA until the upper legislative chamber has had proper time to review the impact of withdrawing from the said agreement.

RELATED: Senators' resolution urges Duterte to reconsider VFA termination

The Defense secretary previously said the Philippines can unilaterally (one-sided) withdraw from the bilateral (two-sided) agreement.

“The termination of the VFA may be unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, and it is well within the right of the Philippine government to do so if it determines that the agreement no longer redounds to our national interest,” he said in a message to reporters on January 24.

RELATED: Philippines can terminate VFA unilaterally — Lorenzana

This was affirmed by Lacson, who heads the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, saying that lacking a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on the matter, Duterte has the capacity to unilaterally break a treaty or bilateral agreement without the consent of a supermajority (2/3) vote of the Senate.

However, the senator said that the cancellation of a US visa does not have the same weight as terminating the VFA, urging the high court to act "soonest."

“The Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and United States is a BILATERAL accord that went through some back-and-forth diplomatic discussions prior to ratification by the Senate, after some intense plenary deliberation,” he said.

“On the other hand, the US visa is a conditional authorization UNILATERALLY given to a visiting foreigner which may be granted, canceled or even denied outright, without need for explanation or justification.”

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/06/1990871/lorenzana-philippines-doesnt-need-vfa-indefinitely

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6, 2020): Peace with communists might be realized ‘much earlier’: Duterte (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)

President Rodrigo R. Duterte (File photo)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he remains optimistic that his administration would be able to achieve a lasting peace with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) at a “much earlier” time.

Duterte made the statement, as he noticed that many members of the CPP’s armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), are surrendering and seeking reintegration into the society.

“With the rate that the NPAs are surrendering, mukhang I think we’d be able to realize peace much earlier,” the President said during the mass oath-taking of new presidential appointees held at Palace’s Rizal Hall.

To recall, Duterte on Jan. 23 led the distribution of government assistance packages to at least 263 former communist insurgents in San Isidro, Leyte.

Duterte, in his previous speech, hinted that he might give in to the demands of the communist movement in a bid to realize long-lasting peace in the country.

The President, however, did not elaborate on the communists’ specific favors for the possible revival of peace negotiations between the national government and the CPP’s political wing, the National Democratic Front (NDF).

“The most important thing is to come up and comply with the promise to the rebels,” he said.

“Kaya sabi ko doon sa mga sundalo, bitawan na lang niyo. Umalis na lang kayo diyan. Ibigay na lang ninyo sa mga NPA. Lagyan na lang natin ng… Ah ayaw kong sabihin kasi may gusto akong ilagay (That’s why I told the soldiers, just let go. Leave the place and just give it to the NPA. We’ll just place a… I don’t want to mention it but I want to place something there),” Duterte added.

On Nov. 23, 2017, Duterte signed Proclamation 360 to formally scrap the peace negotiations with the NDF due to the series of attacks waged by the NPA rebels against the government forces and civilians.

The termination of peace talks was followed by the Dec. 5, 2017 signing of Proclamation 374, branding the CPP-NPA as terror group because of the crimes they allegedly committed "against the Filipino people, against humanity, and the law of the nations."

Apart from the Philippines, the CPP-NPA has also been tagged as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

The peace talks between the national government and the NDF have been intermittent since 1986.

But in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN on Jan. 10, Duterte said his government is ready for the possible resumption of talks with the communist party.

Duterte, during the television interview, announced that he had already formed a new government peace panel that would hold negotiations with NDF consultants for the crafting of a binding peace pact between the two parties.

The new state peace negotiators would replace the members of the national government's now-defunct negotiating peace panel led by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093178

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6, 2020): Termination of VFA may ‘negatively impact’ PH: DFA chief (By Jose Cielito Reganit)

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. Thursday said terminating the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States at this time would most likely have negative effects on the country.

“While the Philippines has the prerogative to terminate the VFA anytime, the continuance of the agreement is deemed to be more beneficial to the Philippines compared to any benefits where it to be terminated,” Locsin said during the hearing by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

“Terminating the VFA will negatively impact the Philippines’ defense and security arrangements as well as the overall bilateral relations of the Philippines with the US, and perhaps even on the sub-regional and multilateral levels,” he said.

Locsin said ending the 21-year-old pact may not only compromise existing PH-US goodwill and friendly relations but might as well affect the robust economic relations between the two countries.

“The US is the country’s third-largest trading partner at USD18.17 billion registered in 2018, our largest export market and our fourth-largest import source. The Philippines also enjoys preferential treatment on its exports to the US as a beneficiary of the US Generalized System of Preferences (GSP),” he noted.

“GSP exports account for 16 percent of total exports to the US valued at USD1.7 billion in 2018. It may be noted also that the Philippines currently enjoys a trade surplus with the US with our exports outpacing imports by as much as USD371.98 million as of June 2019,” Locsin said.

The US is also the Philippines’ 5th largest source of investments, accounting for some USD12.9 billion in 2018, he said.

“US assistance facilitated by VFA may dry up,” Locsin said.

In terms of official development assistance (ODA), Locsin said the US is the country's largest source of grants, accounting for 36.89 shares of total grants in 2018 amounting to USD886.47 million.

From 2016-2019, the US provided substantial development assistance in the amount of USD336.306 million (PHP16.8 billion), which funded programs for scholarships and seminars and projects of education, health, environment, agriculture, fisheries, trade, labor, and governance.

“This brings total US assistance to the Philippines for the same period to USD904.93 million,” Locsin said.

On the other hand, Locsin admitted that there are “irritants” in the agreement that need to be addressed.

He assured lawmakers that the DFA has already taken steps to clarify with the US certain items pertaining to the VFA to avoid any issues in the implementation of the agreement.

Locsin also took a swipe at US Senators Patrick Leahy and Richard Durbin for “insulting the basic aspect” of the country’s sovereignty, in connection with the US lawmakers’ plea for the Philippine government to release Senator Leila de Lima.

De Lima has been in jail since February 2017 on charges that she benefitted from the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was still the justice secretary under the Aquino administration.

Locsin said the VFA is the "logical target" when the country’s sovereign justice system was disrespected by the US lawmakers.

"When US senators demean the Philippine justice system, which is the mirror image of the US, by demanding the release of an accused, properly charged by two rulings of our Supreme Court, it insulted the most basic aspect of sovereignty -- the monopoly on justice within its territory,” he said.

“Therefore, there is value in revisiting the VFA to address issues of sovereignty, such as jurisdiction and custody. And the early resumption of bilateral clarificatory talks should serve as a basis as well as a jump-off point for a review of the VFA,” Locsin said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093177

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6, 2020): PMA homecoming activities reset to Feb. 22 (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Due to safety concerns over the 2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD), the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI) announced that activities for its annual homecoming have been rescheduled to February 22.

"PMAAAI announces that PMA Homecoming for this year is postponed to a later date, 22 February 2020, Saturday, at Fort Del Pilar, Baguio City. This is in deference to health and public safety concerns regarding nCoV," the group said in a statement late Wednesday.

The academy's homecoming activities were originally scheduled for February 14 and 15.

"The decision was reached with the help of Baguio City Mayor, Cav. Benjie Magalong '82, and PMA Superintendent, VADM (Vice Admiral) Allan Cusi '86, making the two-day event into one. Alumni classes especially Jubilarians caught in these late-breaking developments are advised to exercise their best judgments on how to proceed with their individual Class events in sync with the new date," it added.

It also said Magalong has already coordinated with the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Baguio regarding the matter.

"Cavalier-members who have prior reservations are advised to call their respective hotel, and request for a rebooking. There will be no surcharge or fee. But the hotels will keep/retain the payment that was already made. This will be deducted from your bill upon check-out," it added.

The group added that its secretariat shall continue to give updates at telephone numbers: 8912-5074 or mobile 0906-220-1196 / 0905-999-0711.

The PMA temporarily closed its grounds to visitors and outsiders due to nCoV scare.

However, cadets' parents and relatives may visit with the supervision of PMA health practitioners.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093078

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6, 2020): PH Army briefs troops on nCo (By Priam Nepomuceno)

INFO DRIVE. An officer from the Office of the Army Chief Surgeon holds a briefing on the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease in Fort Bonifacio on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2020). The briefing focused on raising the troops' awareness of the threat level of the virus in the country, recognizing symptoms, and implementing best practices to avoid contracting the disease. (Photo courtesy of Army Chief Public Affairs Office)

In line with government efforts to boost the information drive on the 2019-novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease (2019-nCoV ARD), the Office of the Army Chief Surgeon (OACS) on Wednesday held a briefing on the disease on troops assigned at Philippine Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the briefing is in support of the advisory issued by the Department of Health (DOH) last January 22.

He added the OACS' information drive on the coronavirus focused on raising the troops' awareness on the threat level of the virus in the country, recognizing symptoms, and implementing best practices to avoid contracting the disease.

“Aside from informing our troops about the novel coronavirus, we also wanted to lessen panic of the public. We want to avoid a public reaction which is disproportionate to the level of threat that we are currently facing,” Capt. Ramius Dizon said.

Pursuant to Executive Order 168, s. 2014 (Creating the Inter-Agency Task Force for the management of emerging infectious diseases in the Philippines), the DOH recommended the enlistment of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to supplement the Philippine National Police to enforce quarantine of specific areas or facilitating the transport of emerging infectious diseases patients when the need arises.

"We want to ensure that our personnel know how to protect themselves from the virus and prevent its spread because they have a very important role in security that requires them to be ready to serve 24/7,” Zagala added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093077

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 6, 2020): PH naval contingent for Mideast evacuation now in Oman (By Priam Nepomuceno)

NAVY CONTINGENT IN OMAN. Members of the Philippine Navy contingent meet with officials of the Philippine Embassy in Oman headed by Ambassador Narciso Castañeda (center) in a courtesy call in Muscat on Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2020). The naval contingent is tasked to evacuate overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East who would avail of repatriation. (Photo courtesy of Naval Public Affairs Office)

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday said the strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and offshore patrol ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), which are tasked to evacuate Filipino overseas workers in the Middle East, finally arrived and docked off Muscat, Oman Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, PN public affairs office chief, said the two ships carrying the contingent of Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 safely arrived at the Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat.

Mission head Marine Col. Noel Beleran, along with the commanding officers of the two PN ships, immediately made a courtesy call on Philippine Ambassador to Oman Narciso Castañeda.

Roxas said the two ships will serve as a sea-based platform for the government to process and facilitate the repatriation of displaced OFWs.

"Specifics and other details about the repatriation are expected to be finalized after the scheduled joint AFP-PNP command conference to be presided by the Commander-In-Chief, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Malacañang on which NTF 82 will take part via video teleconferencing together with Ambassador Castañeda," she said.

Beleran said the PN contingent is "all safe and sound" upon arriving in Oman.

The contingent left Pier 13, Manila South Harbor last January 13 and made refueling and reprovisioning stop in Sri Lanka last week before heading for Oman.

"The troops are very happy and in high spirits, since this event serves as another milestone for our Navy that we can already transcend across the deep waters of the Indian Ocean or the Arabian Sea," he added.

Beleran said the sailors and marines "are ready to assist and support the government's effort in repatriating our unsung heroes, the OFWs in this Middle East conflict".

Roxas added that the safe arrival of the PN contingent in Oman signified the tangible means of the government's effort to ensure that OFWs will be safely repatriated to the Philippines, aside from showcasing the preparedness of Filipino navy ships in overseas deployment.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1093073

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