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CPP/NDF-RCTU: RCTU-ST: Modernisasyon ng tradisyunal na jeepney, anti-maralitang plano sa balangkas ng neoliberal na patakaran ni Duterte!

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Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 28, 2020): RCTU-ST: Modernisasyon ng tradisyunal na jeepney, anti-maralitang plano sa balangkas ng neoliberal na patakaran ni Duterte!

FORTUNATO MAGTANGGOL
RCTU-ST
REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF THE PHILIPPINES

JUNE 28, 2020



Mariing kinokondena ng Revolutionary Council for Trade Unions-NDF-ST (RCTU-NDF-ST) ang kawalang-katarungang nararanasan ngayon ng mga kawawang drayber ng jeepney at kanilang mga pamilya dahil sa pagpatay ng gobyernong Duterte sa kanilang kabuhayan. Walang awang pinahirapan ng rehimeng US-Duterte at inilulubog pa sa kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ang mga drayber ng dyip at pamilya nila. Dahil sa militaristang lockdown at ilang buwang pagbabawal na makapaghanapbuhay, nauwi na sa sobrang kawalan at araw-araw na pamamalimos ang mga drayber, kahit na nagiging dahilan ito sa unti-unting pagkawala ng kanilang dignidad.

Imbes na kaawaan at tulungan ng gobyerno, REHAS at hindi BIGAS ang ibinigay sa mga nagugutom at namamalimos na drayber ng dyip. Ito ang kanilang ginawa sa tinaguriang PISTON-6, na wala na ngang perang pambili ng makakain, pinahirapan pang maghanap ng pampyansa para sa pansamantalang kalayaan. Sa sobrang galit ng gobyernong Duterte sa kanila, kahit pa nga naiayos na ang lahat ng kinakailangang dokumento at nakapagpasulpot na pondong pampyansa, inantala pa ang kanilang paglaya at inungkat pa ang mga kasong matagal nang naresolba kaya naantala pa ng ilang araw ang 2 drayber kasama na ang isang 72 taong gulang na drayber.

Simula noong Marso 15, 2020 o sa mahigit na 3 buwan, di pa nakababyahe ang mga drayber ng dyip. Kalakhan sa kanila’y walang natanggap ng ipinagmamalaking ayuda mula sa DSWD at DOLE. Sa Metro Manila may 55,000 drayber ng dyip ang hindi nakakabyahe, kaya tinatayang 275,000 katao ang apektado agad ng matinding kagutuman. Dahil sa kawalan ng kita, ang ilang mga drayber at pamilya nito ay nakatira na lamang sa mga dyip na kanilang pampasada at sa mga kalsada upang mamalimos para may maipakain sa kanilang mga nagugutom na anak at asawa.

Matagal nang nakararanas ng matinding kahirapan ang mga drayber ng dyip. Matagal na ring planong i-abolis ng gobyerno ang mga tradisyunal na dyip at alisin na sa lansangan ang mga itinuring na “hari ng kalsada”. Ang plano ng gobyernong Duterte na “Jeepney Modernization Program” ay matagal na nitong isinusulong, nais nitong palitan ng mga E-jeep at mala-mini bus na sasakyan ang mga tradisyunal na jeepney. Nakabalangkas sa malakihang negosyo ang planong jeepney modernization ng rehimeng US-Duterte bilang preskripsyon sa neoliberal na patakaran at mga imposisyon ng IMF-WB.

Kaya naman, nagkukumahog ito na pabilisin ang pag-sasapribado ng lahat ng serbisyong panlipunan, pangunahing yutilidad kagaya ng komunikasyon, kuryente, tubig (kaliwa dam – China) at transportasyon (kasama na pangangasiwa sa pangmasang transportasyon sa ating bansa). Mas pinasahol at pinasaklaw nito ang mga nauna ng programang neoliberal ng mga nagdaang rehimen sa ating bansa.

Pagkaupo pa lang ni Duterte bilang pangulo ng bansa, nagbalangkas na agad ito ng isang panukalang programa na mag-aabolis sa industriya ng jeep sa bansa. Makalipas ang isang taon (2017), pormal nang ipinagbawal ang mga lumang jeepney na may edad na 15 taon at hindi na ito binigyan ng prangkisa para makabyahe. Ang mga jeepney na lalagpas sa limitasyong edad ay obligadong palitan ng mga modernong jeepney na gaya ng hybrid, electronic jeep, LPG power o jeepney na may makinang tugma sa Euro-4.

Bumuo sila ng isang iskema na Fleet Management Program (FMP) na pinatatakbo ng pribadong kumpanya, upang isurender ng mga operators ang kanilang pag-aaring jeep sa pamamahala ng FMP. Ang “kooperatiba” kuno, ngunit kumpanya sa katotohanan ang magdedetermina kung kelan sila babyahe, saan ang ruta at maging ang maintenance ng kanilang jeep. Kung hindi makakasunod ang mga operators sa mga requirements na ito ay babawiin ng LTFRB ang kanilang mga prangkisa. Pwersahang pagwasak sa kabuhayan ng milyong bilang ng mga drayber ng jeep na malulugmok sa kahirapan at kagutuman.

Ang nakakagalit, imbes na bigyan ng ayuda ang mga maapektuhang drayber at mga operators ng jeep sa anti-maralitang patakarang modernisasyong ito, mas pinili pa ng gobyernong ito na bigyan ng AYUDA ang mga malalaking korporasyong dayuhan sa transportasyon. Nagbalangkas ng programang P27 Bilyon na Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) na magbibigay ng tulong sa mga multinasyunal na kumpanya gaya ng Toyota Motors, Mitsubishi, Foton at Hyundai na lumikha ng 200,000 units ng modernong jeepney kada kumpanya, kada taon. Kung tutuusin ang napakalaking halagang ito ay kayang-kaya nang pondohan ang pambansa at komprehensibong programa para sa rehabilitasyon, pagmamantina at para matulungan ang mga drayber ng jeep at maging pagpapa-unlad ng tradisyunal na jeepney sa kabuuan.

Malawakang tinutulan ito ng mga drayber ng jeepney, partikular ng grupong PISTON. Pero sa pagpasok ng nakamamatay na pandemik na Covid-19, imbes na itigil ng gobyernong Duterte ang kanyang buhong na balakin upang pagtuunang harapin ang pagtugon sa pandemya, sinamantala pa ito ni Duterte para maisakatuparan ang anti-maralitang planong modernisasyon. Pinagbawalan ng makabyahe ang mga jeep kahit pa nga na-scale down na sa General Community Quarantine (GCQ) ang halos buong Luzon. Ipinakikita lamang nito na hindi prioridad ng gobyernong ito na lutasin ang kahirapang nararanasan ng mga maralitang drayber kundi ang kanyang tanging hangarin ay mapagsilbihan nya ang mga malalaking kapitalistang dayuhan at lokal sa nasabing industriya.

Nakakagalit din ang susing tagapayo ng LTFRB sa jeepney modernization na si Engr. Albert Suansing sa pamimilit na tanggapin na lamang ng mga drayber ang kanilang plano. Aniya, matagal na daw nilang sinabihan ang mga drayber ng dyip na magkakaroon ng rationalization program, at para maka-angkop ang mga drayber sa ginagawang pagbabago, kinakailangan nilang magsama-sama para makabuo ng isang kumpanya o di kaya ng isang malaking kooperatiba. Ito lamang ang tanging paraan para makapag-proseso sila ng pag-utang sa bangko ng makabili sila ng mga bagong yunit ng modernong jeep (ala mini-bus). Malinaw pa sa sikat ng araw na isa itong malaking negosyong pinatatakbo ng mga KORAP hindi lamang sa LTFRB at DOTr kundi maging ng mga buwaya sa Malacañang.

Imbes na paunlarin ng gobyerno ang industriya ng jeepney sa bansa ay gusto lamang nilang pagkakitaan ang milyon-milyong makokorap mula sa Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) na makukuha nila sa kada unit ng modernong jeep o mini-bus na mabibili sa kumpanyang mapipili nila. Sa kasalukuyan ay aabot sa P1.8M hanggang sa P2.2 milyon ang halaga ng isang unit ng modernong jeepney, hinding-hindi ito kakayanin ng isang operator ng jeep, kaya naman ang makakabili lamang nito ay malalaking kumpanya sa transportasyon. Ibig sabihin, mamo-monopolyo na ng malalaking kumpanya ang mga lansangan at mga pampasadang jeepney.

Ang ipinagmamalaki namang rationalisasyon ng LTFRB ay hindi kalutasan o pagbuti ng kalagayan ng mga drayber kundi unti-unting pagpatay sa mga ruta ng jeepney dahil bibigyan lamang sila ng ruta sa mga interior na lansangan at hindi na sa dati nilang nirurutahang kalsada. Hindi na rin sila makakabalik sa kanilang dating ruta dahil sa ibinigay na ito ng LTFRB na bagong ruta ng mga bus, kaya naman hindi na sila papayagan magbyahe sa ruta na ito kahit pa dekada na silang doon bumabyahe. Hindi lamang mga jeepney drayber ang maaapektuhan ng kalokohan at pangga-gagong ito ng gobyerno, kundi maging ang mga kawawang mananakay ay apektado din.

Karagdagang pahirap ito sa bulsa ng mga manggagawa at sapilitang pagbawas sa kakarampot na ngang sweldo sa kasalukuyan. Sa inisyal na kwenta, may minimum na P15.00 (kung madadagdagan ng isa pang sakay dahil sa putol-putol na byahe at karagdagang P3.00 pa sa dagdag pasahe kung ibabase sa pasahe ng modernong jeepney na mas mahal ng P3.00 kumpara sa tradisyunal na jeepney.

Hindi pa kasama dito ang sobra-sobrang tagal ng paghihintay dahil sa kakulangan ng masasakyan at malalayong lakarin para makasakay sa kasunod na ruta, kaya kapag na late ka pa sa trabaho ay paniyak na mababawasan pa din ang iyong sweldo. Kung susumahin, aabot sa P30.00 karagdagang gastusin sa isang araw o P900.00 kada buwan ang mababawas sa kakarampot na ngang sinasahod ng mga manggagawa lalo’t hindi naman nagdagdag ng sahod si Duterte sa rehiyon ng Southern Tagalog sa loob ng halos 2 taon.

Malaking dagdag gastuin din ito sa libo-libong estudyante na pumapasok papunta sa Metro Manila o di kaya ay sa mismong probinsya nila. Tuloy-tuloy na nga ang pagtaas ng tuition fee at iba pang bayarin, dagdag pahirap pa ito sa mga estudyante at sa dulo ang kawawang magulang na manggagawa din ang magbubuhat ng hirap para madagdagan ang baon ng kanilang mga anak na estudyante. Maliban sa dagdag gastusin, ang palipat-lipat na pagsakay dahil sa bagong ruta ay magiging pahirap sa mga senior citizen at People’s With Disabilities (PWD’s) na direktang lumalabag sa mga ordinansa at batas na ibinigay na konsiderasyon at pangangalaga sa kanila.

Kung gagawing prioridad lamang ng gobyernong ito ang pagpapaunlad sa public mass transport system gaya ng railway system/daang bakal, road transport system at ang sea/air transport at kaalinsabay sa pagsasabansa ng lahat nang daang bakal at pagpapaunlad pa ng mga Public Utility Vehicles (Jeepney at Bus) ay magkakaroon ng tunay na pagresolba sa kasalukuyang problema sa pampublikong transportasyon. Kaalinsabay din nito ang pagdebelop sa mga kagamitan at materyales na gagamitin sa transport industry na locally produce ng sa ganoon ay maitulak ang pag unlad ng sarili nating manupaktura. Hindi rin naman tayo kulang sa mga mineral na pangangailangan gaya ng ore/bakal, nickel at bronse na mahalagang gamit para sa industriya ng daang bakal, dahil mayaman ang Pilipinas sa mineral na ito.

Napakahalaga at mahigpit na magka-ugnay ang mass transport system sa urban land at rural development, kaya susing aspeto ito sa pagpapalakas ng ekonomiya. Katunayan, may mahalagang papel ito sa pundasyon ng pagtatayo ng Pambansang Industriyalisasyon at Tunay na Repormang Agraryo. Sa ganitong konteksto, nararapat lamang na sa maksimum ay manatiling pag- aaring publiko ang pangmasang transportasyon lalo na ang sistema ng daang-bakal (railway system) at pampublikong behikulo (Public Utility Vehicles) gaya ng Bus at Jeep na mga pinakamahalagang aspeto ng road mass transport.

Kaalinsabay nito ang matinding kapabayaang ginagawa ng rehimeng US-Duterte sa mga manggagawang Pilipino gaya ng mga mga empleyado, driver, konduktor at iba pang mga manggagawa sa sektor ng pampublikong bus. Imbes na bigyang resolusyon ang kababaan ng sahod, kawalan ng security of tenure, pang-aabuso, hazard at posibleng pagkawala ng kanilang kabuhayan ay gobyerno pa mismo ang nagtutulak para mapabilis ang paglalarga ng neoliberal na patakarang maglulusaw sa kanilang mga trabaho at kabuhayan.

Kinakailangang labanan at salubungin ng malakas na protesta ng mamamayan ang kriminal na kapabayaan ng gobyerno sa pampublikong transportasyon at ng malawakang pribatisasyon sa pag-aaring publiko’t serbisyo sa ilalim ng makadayuhang Build Build Build/Private Partnership Program ni Duterte. Ang mga kaganapan sa ating pampublikong transportasyon (jeepney at bus transport) ay kinakailangang i-ugnay natin sa malawak na pakikibaka ng mamamayan at maging sa lumalalang pagpapatupad ng labor flexibilization at mura at siil na paggawa.

Nanawagan tayo sa mga drayber ng jeepney sa Timog Katagalugan at buong bansa na tapusin na ang pagtitiis at pagtitimpi sa aping kalagayan, hinahamon tayo ngayon na mas paigtingin ang pagkakaisa at pagkilos laban sa isang rehimeng pahirap, tiraniko, korap at mamamatay-tao. Palakasin ang ating hanay sa pamamagitan ng malawakang pag-oorganisa, pagmumulat at pagpapakilos para ang hiwa-hiwalay na pagkilos ng mga drayber ng jeep ay maipakat natin sa lumalawak na galit at pakikibaka ng sambayanang lumalaban.

Mabuhay ang RCTU-NDF-ST!
Mabuhay ang CPP-NPA-NDF!
Mabuhay ang REBOLUSYONG PILIPINO!

https://cpp.ph/statement/rctu-st-modernisasyon-ng-tradisyunal-na-jeepney-anti-maralitang-plano-sa-balangkas-ng-neoliberal-na-patakaran-ni-duterte/

CPP/NPA-Mountain Province: Ti PRIDE ket maysa a protesta, panakidangadang dagiti maidadanes

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Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 28, 2020): Ti PRIDE ket maysa a protesta, panakidangadang dagiti maidadanes

MAGNO UDYAW
NEW PEOPLE'S ARMY

JUNE 29, 2020



Itatta a bulan ti Hunyo ket iselebrar tayo ti “pride march” – kolektibo a panagtignay ti umili tapno irupir ti karbengan dagiti LGBT (lesbian, gay, transgender ken dadduma pay). Nagrugi daytoy kas paset ti panakidangadang dagiti LGBT laban iti diskriminasyon, kas met iti panagpakita ti suporta dagiti LGBT kadagiti magungudawayan a mangmangged, ken maysa met laeng a martsa ti panakikaykaysa kadagiti LGBT. Ingana iti agdama, napateg daytoy nga agtultuloy a panaglagip ken demokratiko a panakidangadang.

Dagiti LGBT ket paset met laeng dagiti nadumaduma a demokratiko a dasig kas iti mannalon (karaman dagiti makitegged -talon), mangmangged (lallalo dagiti kontraktwal ken awanan permanente a trabaho), peti-burgesya (kas kadagiti propesyonal), ken nailian a burgesya (addaan dadakkel a lokal a negosyo). Gungundawayan ida dagiti appo’t daga, dadakkel a burgesya a kakumplot dagiti imperyalista ken dagiti burukrata kapitalista nga ibagbagi ti agdama a macho-pasista a turay a US-Duterte. Malaksid iti pang-ekonomiya ken politikal a panaggundaway, masagsagrap da met ti nakaro a diskriminasyon ken panangidadanes basar iti gender and sexuality da gapu iti kinabulok ti agdama a gimong a mala-kolonyal ken mala-pyudal.

Ti Leonardo Pacsi Command, NPA Mt. Province (LPC) ken amin a yunit ti hukbo ti umili nga idadauloan ti CPP, ket nairot a makikaykaysa, mangitantandudo, ken mangsalsaluad kadagiti karbengan ti LGBT ken lumablaban iti amin a porma ti diskriminasyon kanyada. Iti agdama, 16% ti bilang ti LGBT a nalabbaga a mannakigubat a kameng ti LPC. Iti intar ti hukbo ti umili, maisigsigurado met ti karbengan da iti tay-ak ti ekonomiya, politika ken militar, ken iti tuloy-tuloy a panagpadur-as ti laing ken kabaelan da. Aktibo ti LPC iti panaginnadal, panangilinteg kadagiti kamali a kapanunotan laban iti LGBT, ken iti panangisayangkat kadagiti aktibidad kas iti solidarity night ken panagaramid ti pabuya, daniw ken kanta. Bigbigbigen ti LPC dagiti LGBT nga inkasar ti Partido kas paset ti karbengan da iti panag-ayat ken panagbukkel ti rebolusyonaryo a relasyon ken pamilya.

Ti panangisayangkat ti agdama a nailian demokratiko a gubat ket para iti panangrisut kadagiti risiris iti baet dagiti dasig ken gun-oden dagiti lehitimo a dawat ken pakaseknan ti umili a Pilipino. Paset na daytoy ti panangwayawaya kadagiti LGBT iti amin a porma ti diskriminasyon ken panangidadanes inggana iti naan-anay a panagbigbig iti karbengan da kas LGBT.

Maaw-awis amin nga LGBT nga ipangato ti tukad ti panakidangadang babaen iti panakilaok iti naindasigan a rebolusyon ken panagsampa iti NPA .

Nalabbaga a saludo kadagiti LGBT a makidangdangadang! Agbiag!

https://cpp.ph/statement/ti-pride-ket-maysa-a-protesta-panakidangadang-dagiti-maidadanes/

CPP/NDF-RCTU Negros: RCTU-Negros: Expose and topple the anti-people reign of the inutile and tyrannical US-Duterte regime!

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Propaganda statement posted to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Website (Jun 28, 2020): RCTU-Negros: Expose and topple the anti-people reign of the inutile and tyrannical US-Duterte regime!


JUNE 30, 2020



The Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions (RCTU) – Negros strongly condemn the continuing subservience of the Duterte regime through the implementation of even worse neoliberal economic policies in the nation amid the Covid-19 pandemic basing on the dictates of his US and Chinese Imperialist masters, negatively impacting the lives of Filipino workers.

The worldwide pandemic has revealed the inability of solving and disregard of the inutile government of the problems of the people due to the simultaneous impositions of anti-people policies that have buried an overwhelming majority of the workers, farmers, and other impoverished sectors in extreme poverty and hunger.

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic spread in the Philippines, the workers sector was already suffering in poverty due to joblessness, contractualization, low wages, little to no benefits and the rising prices of basic needs.

Instead of solving the socio-economic and public health crises, the regime has only done militarist lockdowns that has worsened the bitter situation of workers. Based on April 2020 data, in the 45 million people part of the labor force, where 7.5 million are unemployed and 6.4 underemployed. Meanwhile, 4.4% or 1.98 million in Visayas and Mindanao have since been jobless, a number which may still increase as estimated by Ibon Foundation. All of this is a result of the wrong steps taken by the inutile government in facing the Covid-19 crisis.

Many drivers of jeepneys and tricycles, and other workers who rely on daily jobs have been displaced. They have been deprived by the government of their right to work, while foreign capitalists and corporations have been given leeway to monopolize the transportation sector through the bogus modernization scheme. Brought about by privatization, the private sector is expected to take over public service. Jeepney drivers who were once the kings of the road are now in the sidewalks, begging for alms so they can feed their families due to the effects of the jeepney phaseout.

Over 14 million Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in different parts of the globe are suffering due to the state of labor and healthcare because of government neglect to address their situation. The labor-export policy of the government and joblessness in the country, over 6,000 OFWs in 51 nations have been affected while 440 have already died due to Covid 19

Even workers from the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Industry are in fear of losing jobs. In Bacolod, around 100-200 workers are in an unsure “Floating status”. They are also victims of the failed response of the Duterte administration for the Covid-19 crisis due to the lack of medical equipment like PPEs, no mass testing and proper transport, and depriving them of their hazard pay because their employers are not obligated by the government to take proper care of their workers.

The Covid-19 pandemic has expose the aggravating anti-worker stance of the fascist and tyrannical Duterte regime wherein a concrete solution is yet to be seen in the ballooning figures of unemployment. The regime is only exploiting and enslaving the working class through acquiring capital by squeezing their labor power.

Despite all this, additional military and police troops, purchasing of war materiel, fascism and killings are the go-to answer of the state against the legitimate and democratic demands of the people. Many have fallen victim to human rights violations while the state perpetrators remain scat-free in Negros island. Recent additions to the list are the illegal arrest of Aldong Davao and the brutal killing of Jerry Catalogo, sugarcane workers and members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).

Duterte is exposing himself as a killer and dictator, using the Covid-19 as a pretext to control the mobility of the people, passing the Anti-Terrorism Bill to formalize threatening and silencing activists, critics and the opposition. All these are part and parcel of Duterte’s plans to envelop the country in martial rule to remain in power way beyond his term. Duterte has buried the Philippines in huge debt, reaching P8.6 trillion which will be shouldered even by future generations.

Thus, it is imperative that we unite and strengthen the wide ranks of workers to defend our right to live, for healthcare, and for freedom. Raise the level of our militancy to reach more sectors of the exploited classes to collectively assert our democratic and legitimate demands. The sharpening contradictions between the ruling class and the exploited classes prove the collapsing US-Duterte regime. It will only be buried in bankruptcy due to the chronic crisis of the semicolonial and semifeudal system. It is just to advance the national democratic revolution, carrying forward the programs of genuine land reform, national industrialization and raise the economic status of the people. Along with the broad impoverished masses, workers should unite to topple down the tyrannical and bloody Duterte regime. We have nothing to lose but our chains of slavery. ###

PNP allays fears of terror attack in Metro Manila

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From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 29, 2020): PNP allays fears of terror attack in Metro Manila (By Aaron B. Recuenco)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) allayed fears of a terror attack in Metro Manila following a bloody clash in Parañaque City that led to the death of four members of the finance unit of the international terrorist group Daulah Islamiyah.



Philippine National Police (MANILA BULLETIN)

This developed as a supporter of the Maute Group who took part in the bloody Marawi City siege was arrested in a raid in his house on Sunday.

PNP chief Gen, Archie Gamboa said that they have not monitored any serious threat in Metro Manila despite the operation last week that resulted in the death of the finance officer of the Mindanao-based local terror group supporting the Daulah Islamiyah.

“I want to make it clear that the apprehension made last week is the financial conduit so this is more on finances. There is nothing yet about operations, offensives in Metro Manila,” said Gamboa.

“Let’s emphasize that it was financial conduit that were neutralized last week and operation is entirely another topic. No need to worry,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) director Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo identified the arrested suspect in Marawi City as Nadil Sandab Tomara, who uses the aliases Nabel Sandab and Abu Khalifa.

He is facing a string of criminal charges that include murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Estomo said the suspect is now under the custody of the Marawi City Police Station and was already presented to the court which issued the arrest warrant.

Clans in Maguindanao’s biggest ‘rido’ bury hatchet

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From MindaNews (Jun 29, 2020): Clans in Maguindanao’s biggest ‘rido’ bury hatchet
(By FERDINANDH B. CABRERA)

COTABATO CITY (MindaNews / 29 June) — The biggest “rido” or clan war in Maguindanao, which pitted against each other commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has been settled after dragging on for years and causing untold miseries to civilians.

“Impossible yet we made it possible,” said Abdulraof Macacua, executive secretary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Macacua, known by the pseudonym “Sammy Gambar,” is also the chief of staff of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the MILF’s armed wing.


Macacua facilitated the reconciliation of warring Muslim clans, who swore before the Holy Quran to religiously abide with the localized peace agreement that ended four years of animosity and bloodshed.

According to him, the settlement between the warring Moro families in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town “eliminates half of the rido problem in Maguindanao.”

On Saturday, June 27, Datu Saudi Ampatuan Mayor Resty Sindatok, along with his relatives headed by Commander Hawn of the MILF 105th Base Command, and the clan of Commander Wahid Tundok of the MILF 118th Base Command, signed a peace agreement at the office of Macacua at the BARMM complex in Cotabato City.
Tundok is a close relative and ally of the past administration led by the Dimaukom family in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

The reconciliation was brokered and witnessed by Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu, who represented his wife Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, and representatives from the MILF’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group and the Maguindanao Peace Monitoring and Investigation Team.

Religious and traditional leaders were also instrumental in ending the conflict that was settled without blood money.

“We are thankful that our efforts with BARMM Chief Minister Kagi Murad (Ahod Ebrahim) have worked. This (settlement) will give better direction for the Bangsamoro government to focus on development,” Governor Mangudadatu said.

Mangudadatu said the truce “was reached because by blood, the warring factions are also related.”

Macacua reminded the parties to adhere to the peace agreement, stressing those who will violate it will be considered “enemies of the BARMM, the MILF and Maguindanao province.”

“Whoever violates the agreement will be penalized accordingly…if the violators are MILF members, they will be delisted outright from the ranks and will be charged,” Macacua said.

Mayor Sindatuk lauded the efforts of the MILF leadership to facilitate the reconciliation.

“From the bottom of my heart, I thank the MILF leadership and the governors of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat because this conflict is finally settled,” Sindatuk said in the vernacular.

Butch Malang, chair of the MILF-CCCH, said the rido settlement “was unprecedented since previous efforts to reconcile the warring families have failed.”

Malang said they have been also working to settle other clan wars involving MILF members in Pikit, North Cotabato and other communities.

Rebel killed in Miag-ao clash

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From Panay News (Jun 30, 2020): Rebel killed in Miag-ao clash (By Ruby Silubrico)

A suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed in an encounter with government troops yesterday morning in a remote village of Miag-ao, Iloilo.

The body of the still unidentified rebel was recovered at the clash site in Sitio Lay, Barangay Daleji, Miag-ao,
said Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB).

The clash happened at around 11:10 a.m. There were around 30 rebels believed belonging to the Suyak Platoon of NPA Panay’s Southern Front Committee.

The firefight lasted for some 15 minutes.
“The encounter site was a mountainous area and really rebel-infested. It was about 25 kilometers away from the town proper of Miag-ao. The fatality has yet to be identified kasi malayo talaga at walang signal ang tao natin sa doon,” Batara said.

The rebels withdrew to the mountains and left their dead comrade.

Soldiers also recovered flags and an M16 armalite rifle.

The 61IB deployed reinforcements for a follow-up and clearing operations.

Batara told Panay News he received information from the community last week about armed men in the towns of San Joaquin, Miag-ao and some villages in Antique province.

He said rebels were recruiting new members in the 1st District, targeting mostly youngsters in mountainous areas.

“We will continue to hunt them,” said Batara.

Last week, at least 12 rebels in Antique surrendered to the 61IB and the Antique Police Provincial Office after long years of armed struggle.

They claimed hunger and deception forced them to surrender and they wanted to avail themselves of the government’s reintegration program.

https://www.panaynews.net/rebel-killed-in-miag-ao-clash/

Who Exactly is a Communist Rebel? Philippine Anti-Terrorism Act Has Answers

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Posted to the Voice of American (Jun 29, 2020): Who Exactly is a Communist Rebel? Philippine Anti-Terrorism Act Has Answers (By Ralph Jennings)


A protester holds a caricature of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during an anti-terror bill rally at the University of the Philippines in Manila, Philippines as they observe Philippine Independence Day on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Legislators in the Philippines have passed an anti-terrorism law that broadens President Rodrigo Duterte’s power to squelch armed rebels along with backers of the Communist party linked to a widespread violent struggle.

The House of Representatives passed the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in early June and Duterte has indicated he will sign it.

Critics of Duterte, who’s known for a deadly anti-drug crackdown since taking office in 2016, worry that authorities will interpret the law to stop any kind of dissent. People connected with the communists would be particularly targeted, analysts say.

“It’s very ambiguous, and it’s also subject to abuse even if they have a provision there saying that rallies and criticisms against governments are not included, given that there’s a very vague definition of terrorists and it’s subject to a lot of interpretations,” said Maria Ela Atienza, political science professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

The 2020 act replaces a 2007 law by adding “proposal” to commit terrorism, along with training of terrorists as violations. It also expands the government’s means of surveillance against suspected terrorists. Suspects can be held 14 days under the new law without an initial court appearance, and judges can give life prison sentences to people convicted of terrorism.

The new act says terrorism means acting to kill or cause bodily harm to another person or attempting to take a life. It covers damage to public property as well, if done to spread fear.

Authorities will use the law to go after the New People’s Army, a branch of the Communist Party of the Philippines, analysts believe. The army operates mostly in rural areas where some among the poor favor communism. The army, believed to be about 4,000 strong, finds some of its recruits at universities.


A protester gestures as she talks to the crowd during an anti-terror bill rally at the University of the Philippines in Manila, Philippines as they observe Philippine Independence Day on Friday, June 12, 2020.

Insurgencies were taking place in 219 towns in 31 of the country’s 81 provinces as of April 10, the Communist party said on its website. The army has killed about 30,000 people total over its 50-plus years and the party called off a cease-fire May 1.

The government has already “targeted” hundreds of activists, farmers, environmentalists, trade union leaders and journalists among others “on suspicion of being communists or communist sympathizers,” New York-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch says in a June 5 statement.

Activists overall suddenly face a “real and grave threat”, said Renato Reyes, secretary-general of the Manila-based Bagong Alyansang Makabayan alliance of leftist causes. Arrests can be made and bank accounts frozen on “mere suspicion”, he said.

“It’s quite easy to do since critics are routinely branded as communist affiliated or front organizations of the communists,” Reyes said. “It is going to extend to the legal activists and all other critics and even ordinary people.”

Manila’s new act will “open the door to arbitrary arrests and long prison sentences for people or representatives of organizations that have displeased the president,” Human Rights Watch’s deputy Asia director said in the statement.

The Philippines is hardly alone in using the law to combat terrorism. Saudi Arabia’s law came under fire in 2017 from the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights for targeting writers and human rights advocates over non-violent views. A law that Singapore rolled out in 2018 lets police ban reporting and posting videos from any terrorism scenes.

Philippine officials show no sign so far of abusing the law, said Eduardo Araral, associate professor at the National University of Singapore’s public policy school.

Just one person has been convicted under the 2007 law, and legislators made a special point to exclude common rallies and protests from the 2020 act, Araral said.

“They know the backlash against this bill, so I think they’ve done their job to make sure that civil rights are amply protected,” he said. For Duterte, he added, “the purpose of this bill is really to give the government the tools to put a final end to the communist insurgency.” 

South China Sea Is Not Beijing's Maritime Empire, Pompeo Says As Philippines Pushes Back Against China

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From the International Business Times (Jun 29, 2020): South China Sea Is Not Beijing's Maritime Empire, Pompeo Says As Philippines Pushes Back Against China (By James Patterson)
06/29/20 AT 7:40 AM

KEY POINTS
  • Michael Pompeo's Twitter message praised the 36th ASEAN summit, saying: "China cannot be allowed to treat the SCS as its maritime empire. We will have more to say on this topic soon"
  • This could be a sign that Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte was seeking to move toward the U.S. and away from China concerning the situation in the South China Sea
  • Duterte had taken a soft stance toward China, and was described by some as Beijing-friendly
The United States Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, like his boss President Donald Trump is a regular Twitter user. On June 2, he tweeted he had sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General to protest China’s “unlawful South China Sea (SCS) maritime claims”.

On Saturday (June 27), he posted another tweet: “The United States welcomes ASEAN Leaders’ insistence that South China Sea disputes be resolved in line with international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea). China cannot be allowed to treat the SCS as its maritime empire. We will have more to say on this topic soon.”

The tweet was a message in response to a joint statement from the 36th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit that was held the previous day.

The statement expressed the concerns among the ASEAN leaders over the situation in the South China Sea. Some of the concerns were:
  • The importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight above the South China Sea
  • Upholding international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the South China Sea
  • Working actively toward the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety
  • The early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS
  • Emphasizing the “importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation”
Of the ASEAN nations, the Philippines and President Rodrigo Duterte’s stance toward the Communist giant seems to be the key as to how China’s attempts to dominate the international waterway will play out.

In 2016, Duterte was elected to his six-year term and was handed an “ace card” in July when the Philippines won an arbitration award by The Hague’s Arbitral Tribunal that ruled against China’s “nine-dash line” claims to the sea, including those within Philippine’s exclusive economic zone. Beijing rejected the ruling and there was no enforcement mechanism in place.

Duterte has taken a soft stance toward China, described by some as Beijing-friendly, since his tenure as president. He shrugged off the sinking of a Philippine fishing boat by the Chinese Coast Guard vessel as an accident and agreed to put discussions of the 2016 Hague ruling aside while negotiations over the exploration of oil-rich waters were ongoing.

The COVID-19 pandemic that originated in China and has caused a virtual shutdown in the Philippines may have hardened Duterte’s stance. The negotiations have stalled, and China continues its attempts in the South China Sea.

Now, the Philippine Department of Energy and Department of Foreign Affairs officials are lobbying Duterte to reassert the country’s sovereign claim to seabed energy resources contested by China and push for Chinese compensation for Filipino fishermen from the fishing boat incident.

Pompeo’s tweet is an indication that Duterte and Philippine diplomats are shifting back toward the U.S., the country’s long-time ally. Duterte even reversed his position on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) a mutual defense treaty that he sought to cancel in February before anyone knew the full impact of COVID-19. 

Army enraged; police shot 4 intel soldiers in Sulu without gunfight

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From Rappler (Jun 30, 2020): Army enraged; police shot 4 intel soldiers in Sulu without gunfight (By JC Gotinga)

The Philippine Army says there was 'no provocation' on the part of the soldiers to 'warrant such carnage'



SLAIN SOLDIERS. Four soldiers were gunned down by police in Jolo, Sulu, on June 29, 2020. Photo from the Philippine Army

The military on Tuesday, June 30, accused Sulu policemen of killing 4 intelligence soldiers without a gunfight or provocation in Jolo on Monday, June 29.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said in a CNN Philippines interview on Tuesday that photos and information they have gathered showed that the police shot at the soldiers while they were inside their vehicle, except for their commander who had walked to the cops unarmed to explain their presence in the area.

Army chief Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay is “enraged” by the incident and wants a full-blown investigation, the Army said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The soldiers were on a mission to identify the location of known terrorists in the area. Based on eyewitness accounts, no altercation transpired between the two parties nor was there any provocation on the part of Army personnel to warrant such carnage. Furthermore, no agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency are involved and this is not an anti-drug operation. The Army grieves and condoles with the families of our fallen men. There will be no let up in our quest for truth and justice," Gapay said.


Civilian clothes

The 4-man team of the Army's 9th Intelligence Service Unit (ISU) was led by Major Marvin Indammog, 39. He was killed along with:
Captain Irwin Managuelod, 33
Sergeant Jaime Velasco, 38
Corporal Abdal Asula, 33

According to a miltary report, the 4 were conducting a signals intelligence or SIGINT operation in the Sulu capital on Monday to track down alleged suicide bombers affiliated with the ISIS-linked Abu Sayyaf bomb expert Mundi Sawadjaan.

As they were driving an SUV through Barangay Bus-Bus, Jolo, at around 2:30 pm, they came upon a checkpoint where police flagged them down.

The intelligence men – all in civilian clothes – introduced themselves as members of the military, but the cops doubted the claim and asked them to report to the nearby police station. The soldiers agreed.

Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr, commander of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division that has supervision over the 9th ISU, told Rappler that the soldiers were in plainclothes because they were doing intelligence work.

What the police should have done in a situation like that, said Vinluan, is to call the soldiers' battalion or mother unit and verify their identities.

Instead, the cops ordered them to drive to the nearest police station.

The Army soldiers followed in their SUV but went past the station by about 50 meters, deciding instead to park their SUV in front of a fire station.

“Apparently for security reasons, they moved a little further away from the police station pero huminto rin sila (but they stopped eventually),” Arevalo said.

An initial police report released Monday night said the soldiers tried to flee, prompting the cops to open fire. Arevalo denied this.

In fact, the unit commander, Major Indammog, got off the SUV and left his gun in the vehicle to speak to the police, who apparently had also gotten off their vehicle to talk to the soldiers, the military said.

The military said Indammog's men were left in the SUV.

A police report said that at this point, the soldiers "lifted and pointed their firearms" at the cops, prompting the cops to open fire.

Arevalo said even that claim indicates there was no gunfight to begin with. “Kung 'yun ang ating titingnan, ay malinaw na walang naganap na barilan. Hindi nagkaroon ng exchange of fire (If we base it on that, then it’s clear there was no gunfight. There had been no exchange of fire),” Arevalo said in the CNN Philippines interview.

Photos showed the victims’ bodies splayed near or inside their vehicle, he added.

Why?

"Hindi namin alam ano motivation ng mga pulis kasi pag ganyan.... Itong mga pulis, alam nilang walang armas 'yung sundalo, pinagbabaril na lang.... Hindi namin maisip na gagawin ng pulis 'yun e," Vinluan told Rappler. (We don't know what the police's motivation was.... These cops, they knew the soldiers were unarmed but just shot them.... We couldn't imagine cops doing that.)

The military and police top brass earlier agreed to let the National Bureau of Investigation probe the incident, to ensure “impartiality” and avoid stoking tensions between the two uniformed services.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, a former military chief who now supervises the Philippine National Police (PNP), on Monday night ordered the detention and disarming of the cops involved in the incident.

Arevalo said the PNP leadership has expressed its condolences over the killing of the 4 military intelligence officers.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/265275-afp-says-no-exchange-fire-police-shot-intel-soldiers-jolo-incident

Palace refuses to comment on Sulu ‘misencounter’

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2020): Palace refuses to comment on Sulu ‘misencounter’ (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)



Malacañang on Tuesday refrained from making comments on the “misencounter” between military and police in Jolo, Sulu that led to the death of four soldiers.

This, after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to disarm and place the four police personnel under restrictive custody following their involvement in the killings of four Army intelligence officers.

In a virtual press conference aired on state-run PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said he would not make any statement, pending the results of the investigation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Hintayin muna natin ang imbestigasyon. Parehong ang kapulisan at hukbong sandatahan ay humingi na ng tulong sa NBI para maimbestigahan nang maintindihan natin kung ano talaga ang nangyari (Let us wait first for the results of the investigation. Both the police and military already asked NBI to conduct probe for us to understand what really happened),” he said.

According to reports, police officers on Monday killed four armed men who turned out to be military officers on an official mission in Jolo, Sulu.

The slain soldiers were members of an Army intelligence unit conducting covert operations in the area to locate reported suicide bombers affiliated with Abu Sayyaf Group bomb maker Mundi Sawadjaan.

Both the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have sought the NBI’s help for a separate and impartial probe into the reported misencounter in Sulu.

Hotspot

Roque opted to exercise fairness, as he acknowledged that Jolo is considered as hotspot for terrorism.

“Let’s be fair. Hotspot po talaga ang Jolo ngayon. Patuloy po ang aktibidades ng mga terorista diyan (Jolo is considered as hotspot now. Terror activities in the area continue),” he said.

Roque said he would only give an official statement, once NBI is done with its investigation.

“Sa tingin ko po, medyo nag-iingat at medyo mataas ang tensiyon diyan sa area na iyan. (I think, they are just being careful there because the tension in the area is a little high). So I will not make any conclusion sa ngayon po hangga’t hindi pa natatapos ang imbestigasyon ng NBI (until NBI completes its investigation),” he said.

Possible PRRD visit

The incident happened after President Rodrigo Duterte recently announced his plan to visit military camps despite the threat posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Roque said Duterte might visit the slain soldiers in Jolo, Sulu.

He, however, refused to spill further details due to “safety reason.”

“If he (Duterte) can, he will. Pero I’m not at liberty to say kung kailan talaga ang bisita ni Presidente sa Jolo (But I’m not at liberty to say as to when the President will visit Jolo), obviously, for safety reason,” Roque said.

NBI given 10 days to submit report

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the NBI regional office in Zamboanga will look into the incident.

"The NBI Zamboanga regional office will handle the investigation. I will issue a department order and ask for an initial report in 10 days." Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

This came after both the police and the military agreed that the NBI Zamboanga will conduct and lead the investigation.

"When the incident happened yesterday (Monday). I immediately called up (AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr.), and we both agreed that the NBI is going to do the investigation. The PNP together with the AFP are both open to the investigation and my request for the NBI is an impartial investigation so that the truth would come out and readily whatever would be the findings of the NBI, the PNP and the AFP will together embrace whatever the recommendations," PNP chief Gen. Archie Gamboa said in a statement.

Gamboa, however, said the incident will not affect ties between the police and the military.

"As a matter of fact, me and the (AFP) Chief of Staff are both flying to Cebu tomorrow (Wednesday) for an (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting) to show the people that although we grieve, our condolences to those who died in that encounter, it’s an isolated case and the PNP, together with the AFP, still continue to enjoy the confidence between each other," he added.

The nine police officers involved in the incident -- Staff Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, Pat. Rajiv Putalan, Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie U Baddiri, S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani -- are now under the custody of the Sulu Provincial Police Office pending investigation.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107518

No indication slain soldiers fired at Sulu cops: AFP spox

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2020): No indication slain soldiers fired at Sulu cops: AFP spox (By Priam Nepomuceno)



AFP spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo. (File photo) 

There is no indication that the four slain soldiers traded gunfire with members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Sulu on Monday, a ranking official of the Armed of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday.

"Kung makikita natin yung mga larawan ay makikita natin na yung mga sundalo ay malapit dun sa sasakyan at yung isa ay naroon pa sa loob at ang initial na impormasyon natin ay pinaputukan itong mga sundalo habang sila ay nakasakay dun sa kanilang vehicle, except of course si Major (Marvin) Indammog na nakababa pa at nakipag-usap dun sa mga PNP (Philippine National Police) (If we will look at the pictures, we will see that the soldiers are near the vehicle and one of them is inside. Our initial information says the soldiers were fired upon while they were inside the vehicle, except of course for Maj. Marvin Indamog who was able to disembark and talk with the members of the PNP)," AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Indammog is the commander of the 9th Intelligence Service Unit (9ISU), an intelligence-gathering unit of the military. Also killed with him were Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco and Cpl. Abdal Asula.

When asked again to clarify if there was an exchange of gunfire between the soldiers and police, Arevalo said there was none as per reports reaching the military.

"Yun aspeto na bumaba si Major Indammog at kung meron pang sumunod na bumaba sa kanyang mga kasamahan could be a matter of fact na lalabas sa imbestigasyon (The aspect of Major Indammog alighting from the vehicle and whether there is one among his companions who also alighted from the vehicle could be a matter of fact which will come out in the investigation). What I'm relating to you ay kung ano lamang ang pagkaunawa dito sa atin dun sa pakikipag-usap natin kay (is our understanding of the situation based on our talks with) (Major) Gen. (Corleto) Vinluan (11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Sulu commander)," he added.

The PNP and the AFP have agreed that the National Bureau of Investigation regional office in Zamboanga City will conduct and lead the investigation to ensure impartiality and eliminate any suspicion of undue influence.

In a report, the Sulu Provincial Police Office said around 2 p.m. on Monday, police officers from the Jolo MPS flagged the four soldiers onboard a sports utility vehicle while manning a checkpoint at the town proper.

The police officers apprehended them and instructed them to proceed to the Jolo MPS for verification.

However, the troops allegedly fled towards Barangay San Raymundo and were chased by the police officers.

Fallen soldiers honored

Meanwhile, three of the four slain soldiers were given military arrival honors at Villamor Airbase, Pasay City on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement, Col. Ramon Zagala, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson, said the remains of Indammog, Managuelod, and Valesco were received by Army commander Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay, their families and comrades.

Meanwhile, Asula’s burial rites will be held in Sulu.

“Today, we honor and remember their sacrifices for the country. We mourn and condole with their bereaved families and we ensure that the necessary assistance will be given to them,” Gapay said.

The four were tailing terrorist suicide bombers in Jolo, Sulu when the incident happened.

“This tragedy imposed a great loss for our pursuit of peace in the Sulu region. The PA is strongly demanding for an impartial investigation to get to the bottom of this without any intention to create animosity between the Army and the PNP. However, we are professional organization and we will not let this pass. The Army seeks that justice be served for our fallen heroes,” Gapay said. (

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107495

PH anti-terror bill ‘at par’ with developed countries

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): PH anti-terror bill ‘at par’ with developed countries (By Azer Parrocha)



The Philippines’ proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is “at par” with the anti-terrorism legislation of the developed countries, Malacañang said on Wednesday with the measure only a signature away from becoming law.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this statement after United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged President Rodrigo Duterte to “refrain” from signing the anti-terrorism bill.

She made this call during the 44th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on June 30, saying the passage of the controversial bill could intensify concerns on the “blurring of important distinctions between criticism, criminality, and terrorism.”

Roque explained that other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom had “more draconian” laws compared to the Philippines.

“I think, it’s a view of the High Commission of the Human Rights has to be taken in the context of other existing Anti-Terror legislation and I’m sure that the studies will confirm that we are at par as with the rest of the developed world in fact and not just with the developing countries,” he said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

He also trivialized Bachelet’s finding that the country’s laws and policies to counter national security threats and illegal drugs have been crafted and implemented in ways that severely impact human rights, saying no country could claim a “perfect record” for human rights.

“No country can claim a perfect record as far as human rights is concerned. Again, benchmark should be the United States, I’ m sure the Special Rapporteur is on equality, have equally bad things to say about the United States. The Rapporteurs on the rights of refugees have equally bad things to say about Australia and don’t even mention countries like Israel ‘no. And of course, Europe now faces challenges as far as refugees coming from Africa are concerned,” he said.

Roque, however, pointed out that what mattered is that atrocities or acclaimed violations of human rights are being investigated and perpetrators are being punished.

“As far as the Philippines is concerned, (Justice) Secretary Menard Guevarra has said that in an effort improve our capacity to investigate and punish the perpetrators of human rights violators, we have created an inter-agency body headed by the DOJ (Department of Justice),” he said.

Speaking online before the UNHRC 44th session, Guevarra bared that the national government has created an inter-agency body that will look into the 5,655 deaths in the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Citing Guevarra, he said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also duty-bound to conduct an investigation even without complainants against its operations that resulted in deaths.

“I am confident having worked with the PNP Chief (Archie) Gamboa ‘no, that these are in fact being done by the PNP. But nonetheless, the inter-agency response is necessary to assure the country and the international community, of the impartiality of the investigation of these deaths arising from police operations,” Roque said.

Last June 2, Roque assured that there are no “draconian provisions” in the measure meant to beef up the country’s law against terrorism.

“Wala naman pong draconian na provision diyan. Lahat po ng provision diyan ay ibinase rin natin sa mga batas na mga iba’t ibang bansa na mas epektibo po ang kanilang pagtrato dito sa mga terorista (There is no draconian provision there. All of those provisions are based on laws of other countries that are effective in fighting terrorists),” he said.

Compared to anti-terrorism laws in other countries, Roque said the country’s current Human Security Act of 2007 or Republic Act 9372, which the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 aims to repeal, is the tamest.

Under the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the detention of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days sans a warrant of arrest will be permitted. It also allows a 60-day surveillance with an allowable 30-day extension that can be conducted by the police or the military against the suspected terrorists.

The bill also imposes a 12-year jail term on a person who voluntarily or knowingly joins a terrorist organization.

Lawmakers, human rights groups, and celebrities have opposed the measure, saying it would further violate human rights.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107644

Army chief's remarks on Sulu incident based on ground info: AFP

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): Army chief's remarks on Sulu incident based on ground info: AFP (By Priam Nepomuceno)



FALLEN TROOPS HONORED. Army troops carry the casket of one of the four soldiers in Sulu whose remains arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay was enraged over the incident and demanded for a full-blown investigation. (Photo courtesy of the Army Chief Public Affairs Office)

Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay's comments on the incident where four soldiers were shot and killed by police officers in Sulu were based from a "learned evaluation of information" that was presented to him, the Armed of the Philippines (AFP) said on Wednesday.

"His (Gapay) point of view is supported by spot reports and eyewitness accounts of two civilians and of a motorcycle-riding soldier who was part of the operation trailing the SUV (sports utility vehicle) boarded by the four intelligence personnel," AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to reporters.

While there is an initial result of the autopsy of the troops' remains, Arevalo said the AFP would not reveal it to avoid preempting its announcement.

"We share the grief of Lt. Gen. Gapay and his call for an impartial and thorough investigation and his quest for justice as he minced no words in calling for accountability and liability for those involved in the incident," he added.

Arevalo said both AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa have agreed to revisit each Technique, Tactics, and Procedure (TTPs) to determine if these are current and are followed religiously to prevent the incident from happening again.

Arevalo's remarks were echoed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

"He is just repeating the reports he got from our people on the ground. Of course, the event happened just the other day and emotions are high among the Army troops. The Army leadership in Sulu are trying hard to calm their people while inquiry is going on," he said in a message to reporters.

Lorenzana, however, said he would wait first for the results of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe before commenting on whether the incident was a case of "murder" or "rubout".

"It’s not good to speculate. The accounts from both sides are conflicting. Let’s wait for the NBI investigation," he added.

Gapay earlier tagged the incident as a "rubout" after noting that the four soldiers did not try to escape after being accosted by policemen and drew their weapons after being cornered.

Lorenzana, meanwhile, said Gapay's calls for the PNP Sulu provincial director and Jolo municipal police station commander to be made accountable for the incident must first be probed.

"While there is the principle of command responsibility, it must be carefully determined how high in the hierarchy should be accountable. It has to stop somewhere," he added.

Lorenzana's views were shared by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who said all angles will be looked into in the investigation of the incident.

"I will wait for the investigation to finish first," Año said in a text message.

Killed in Monday's incident were Maj. Marvin A. Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin B. Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime M. Velasco, 38 and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33.

The four were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers in the said municipality when the shooting happened.

Meanwhile, Santos said the PNP leadership is ready to cooperate with the NBI regarding the ongoing investigation.

"I have talk(ed) with (PNP chief) Gen. (Archie) Gamboa (and) his commitment is full cooperation with the investigation of NBI as we agreed. All suspects are already under PNPs custody. We will wait for the findings of NBI. The AFP will also determine if there are SOPs (standard operating procedures), procedures and other system(s) violated and improved to avoid similar incidents," he added in a message to reporters.

He has also instructed all concerned staff and subordinate commanders to ensure that the soldiers who died in the line of duty will be given the assistance, benefits and entitlements due them.

"While we are in search for truth and justice, we are also mindful not to allow the enemies of the state to take advantage of the incident to create a divide between the AFP and the PNP," he added.

PNP-IAS to hold separate probe

Meanwhile, the PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) will also conduct a probe on the members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Sulu who were involved in the incident.

PNP-IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said he has yet to receive the initial report of the IAS of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM).

"We acted already because it is in the mandate of IAS to conduct motu proprio investigation on this kind of incident. He (PRO-BARMM regional director) said he will submit today pero wala pa ako na-receive na copy ng (but I have to get a copy of the) initial report," Triambulo said in a text message to reporters.

Aside from the IAS, a representative from the National Police Commission and the PRO-BARMM will join the investigation team, he added.

Triambulo said cops involved the incident may face administrative aside from the criminal case based on the investigation made by the NBI.

"Because in handling crime scene and evidence, there is a procedure, we are very strict about this. If this was not done, our cops there would maybe be held again liable for that. When there's a crime scene, there's an incident, the procedure is to secure the crime scene and wait for reinforcement or SOCO (scene of the crime operations) to come in," he said in a television interview.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107616

2 AFP officials promoted to next higher rank

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 2 AFP officials promoted to next higher rank (By Priam Nepomuceno)



PROMOTED. AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. (center), presides over the donning of ranks ceremony for two military officials in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). Promoted to the next higher rank were AFP Inspector General, Lt. Gen. Franco Nemecio Gacal (left), formerly major general, and concurrent head of the AFP Education Training and Doctrine Command and spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo (right), formerly brigadier general. (Photo courtesy of AFP Public Affairs Office)

Two ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were promoted to their next higher rank on Tuesday.

Promoted and donning his third star was
Lt. Gen. Franco Nemecio M. Gacal, inspector general of the AFP and previously a major general.


Meanwhile, former brigadier general and now Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, commander of the AFP Education Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC) and concurrent military spokesperson, got his second star rank.

AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Felimon T. Santos, presided over the donning ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo.

“Lt. Gen. Gacal’s impressive service record in various operational assignments will certainly have a significant impact (on) his current post as Inspector General, AFP. I am confident that he shall continue to institute innovations, particularly in the conduct of annual general inspections on various major AFP units amidst the challenge of the (coronavirus disease 2019) Covid-19 pandemic,” Santos said in his speech.

After the ceremony, Gacal was given military honors at the General Headquarters Canopy.

Before his current post, Gacal was commander of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Eastern Mindanao and commanded the 402nd Infantry Brigade in 2016.

He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988 with expertise in resource management and managerial acumen.

He took his Master in Strategic Studies, Peace and Security Stabilization Course, International Fellows Academic Preparatory Course, and Joint Professional Military Education at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, the United States.


Meanwhile, Santos congratulated Arevalo for handling his concurrent positions as AFPETDC commander and AFP spokesperson.

“With Maj. Gen. Arevalo’s experiences in conveying AFP messages and facts as a seasoned defender and builder of the AFP’s image, I am certain that there will be significant improvements, particularly in the conduct of training and skills development for the whole Armed Forces,” he said.

Arevalo previously held positions concurrent with his responsibilities as AFP spokesperson and this includes assistant deputy chief of staff for Civil-Military Operations (CMO), and as acting commander and deputy commander of the Civil Relations Service of the AFP.

He also held positions as commander of the CMO Group and spokesperson of the Philippine Navy, and was assigned at the PMA as military instructor for five years.

Arevalo is a member of PMA Class of 1990 and a decorated Marine, a Counselor-at-Law and Notary Public, author, educator, crisis communicator, and a dedicated CMO practitioner.


“I am privileged in recognizing the ascension of our honorees in AFP’s hierarchy. This is a testament that the AFP is indeed filled with individuals who are committed, and capable of carrying great responsibilities in serving our nation and the people,” Santos said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107579

Duterte orders NBI's speedy probe into Sulu ‘misencounter’

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): Duterte orders NBI's speedy probe into Sulu ‘misencounter’ (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)



FINDING JUSTICE. The remains of three of the four slain soldiers allegedly shot and killed by police officers in Sulu last June 29 arrive at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to hasten its probe on the incident. (Photo courtesy of the Army Chief Public Affairs Offce)

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to hasten its investigation into the shooting incident in Jolo, Sulu involving cops and soldiers, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Duterte gave the order as he grieved over the deaths of four military troops following the supposed “misencounter” in Jolo, Sulu on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a television interview.

“Talagang nalulungkot siya doon sa nangyari na misencounter diyan sa Sulu. At in-orderan nga niya ang NBI na pabilisin ang imbestigasyon (He is really saddened by the misencounter in Sulu. And he ordered the NBI to fast-track its investigation),” Roque said.

Killed were Maj. Marvin Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38; and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33. The four were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers when the shooting happened.

Both the PNP and AFP have already sought the help of the NBI Regional Office in Zamboanga to look into the case of slain soldiers to ensure impartiality and eliminate any suspicion of undue influence.

Last misencounter

Duterte was “extremely sad” when he learned about the tragic incident, Roque said.

“Lungkot na lungkot siya. Ang ginamit nga niyang salita ay siya ay nanlambot, extremely sad (He was really sad. The term he used is he felt weak and extremely sad),” he said.

Duterte, Roque said, expressed hope that police and military would avoid a repeat of the incident under his watch.

“Hindi daw dapat nagpapatayan, nagi-engkuwentro ang parehong ideolohiya. At sabi niya, sana ito na ang huling misencounter sa kaniyang termino (He said those with same ideology should not kill each other or get involved in an encounter. He said that should be the last misencounter under his term),” he said.

Meeting with relieved cops
At least nine police officers who were part of a team that was reportedly involved in the killing of four soldiers were relieved from their posts, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced on Tuesday.

Año said the relieved policemen -- Staff Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, Pat. Rajiv Putalan, Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie U Baddiri, S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani -- were disarmed and placed under the custody of the Sulu police.

He added that the investigation has to be completed first before determining whether the chief of the Jolo Municipal Police station will be held liable for command responsibility.

Roque said Duterte signified intent to meet with the cops engaged in the fatal shooting of four military intelligence personnel in Sulu.

Duterte, however, did not spill any details about his possible meeting with the police officers, Roque said.

“Hiningi ni Presidente kay Secretary Año na gusto niyang makausap ‘yung mga pulis, ‘yung siyam na pulis na diumano ay nagpaputok doon sa apat na Army personnel, kasama ang isang major (The President asked Secretary Año to arrange a meeting with the nine cops involved in the killings of four Army personnel, including the major),” he said.

Roque said Duterte also wanted to visit Sulu to boost the morale of soldiers following the shooting incident.

NBI to determine motive

The Philippine Army (PA) meanwhile, said it is leaving to the NBI the determination of the motive behind the incident.

"We leave the determination of motive to the NBI. We would not want to pre-empt their investigation," Army spokesperson, Col. Ramon Zagala told the Philippine News Agency.

Zagala added that it is of paramount importance to the PA that the truth behind the incident is known and justice is given to the fallen soldiers.

PA chief, Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay ordered all flags in Army camps nationwide to be flown half-mast to honor the four fallen soldiers and also to show sympathy for the families of the slain intelligence troops.

Gapay added that he finds the initial report of the police regarding the incident "fabricated" and "full of inconsistencies" aside from "very misleading".

He was referring to reports that the four soldiers tried to escape after being accosted by Jolo police and that the intelligence personnel tried to fight back when cornered.

"We (can't) accept it because (while it) is part of our job, you know we get killed in performing out job but getting unnecessarily killed in the hands of your partners, I think it's different, it (is) something that can be prevented (that is why) we were enraged and you know (how bad we felt on what happened to the Army personnel who were murdered by the policemen in Jolo," Gapay said in a media briefing at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

He reiterated that no firefight took place between the intelligence troops and the police officers.

"There was never a firefight, our men never fired a single shot, there were witnesses, there were CCTVs and we have personnel tailing, its SOP (standard operating procedure), the vehicle which was gunned down, and they said it was unidentified (how could that be) when at the checkpoint, they already known that those inside were Army personnel," Gapay said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107604

89 weapons surrendered at launch of NoCot police’s ‘Tugro Pusil’

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 89 weapons surrendered at launch of NoCot police’s ‘Tugro Pusil’ (By John Andrew Tabugoc)



SURRENDERED WEAPONS. A police officer stands guard during the official presentation of the surrendered firearms, grenades, and ammunition (inset) at the North Cotabato Provincial Police Office headquarters in Kidapawan Coty on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). The NCCPO said the weapons came from illegal gun holders across the province that were handed over to their respective local government units under the provincial police’s 'Tugro Pusil' project, a localized version of the national government’s 'Balik Baril' program. (Photo courtesy of NCCPO)

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Eighty-four assorted loose firearms and five explosives were turned over to the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office (NCPPO) at the launching of the “Tugro Pusil Program” in the province on Tuesday.

The “Tugro Pusil” -- an Ilonggo word for firearm turnover -- is a localized version of the national government’s “Balik Baril” program, said Col. Henry Villar, NCPPO director.

Villar said the firearms were handed over by illegal gun holders from this city and the 17 municipalities of the province through their respective local government units.

The surrendered weapons included 35 12-gauge shotguns, two 12-gauge homemade pistols, 24 .38-caliber revolvers, five .45-caliber pistols, four homemade .45 pistols, one .22 -caliber pistol, two .22-caliber rifles, one .22-caliber revolver, three M79 grenade launchers, one M203 rifle, three homemade machine guns, one Ultimax rifle, two Carbine rifles, and five grenades.

“This program is being implemented in coordination with barangay officials who personally convinced their constituents to surrender their firearms,” Villar said during the program at the NCCPO headquarters in Kidapawan City.

Villar said the program also aims to curb the number of unresolved shooting incidents that possibly involves illegal gun holders.

“I urge the general public to cooperate with the programs of the Philippine National Police to eliminate, if not pre-empt, crimes involving loose firearms”, he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107655

Army deploys female Tausug soldiers in Sulu

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): Army deploys female Tausug soldiers in Sulu (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)



SECURITY DUTY. A female Tausug soldier checks on the bag of a pedestrian in downtown Jolo, the capital of Sulu, following the decision of the Army's 11th Infantry Division to deploy female Tausug soldiers to render security in the area. The deployment of female soldiers is also in line with the command's policy on gender equality in service, an official says. (Photo courtesy of the 11th Infantry Division)

The Army's 11th Infantry Division (11ID) of the Philippine Army has deployed a team of female Tausug soldiers to render security duty in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu.

Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, 11ID commander, said Wednesday the female soldiers' deployment was in line with the command’s policy on gender equality in the service.

Vinluan, who is also the Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the female Tausug soldiers were deployed in checkpoints and other posts and will only render duty during the daytime.

One of the deployed soldiers, Private Fatima Mynirsa Muksan, a resident of Jolo, vowed to serve her province-mates.

“Natutuwa po ako dahil natutulungan ko at napagsisilbihan ang aking mga kababayan dito sa Sulu na mapanatiling maayos at mapayapa (I'm happy to contribute and serve my people to keep the peace here in Sulu),” Muksan said.

Vinluan said the deployment of female Tausug soldiers will continue based on the needs of the people especially during the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and other security situations in the province.

Vinluan also assured that the security and developmental needs in the province of Sulu will be maintained and addressed.

The official said he will not allow any threat and issues to impede the command’s mission "to give the Tausugs a peaceful and livable place they deserved."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107643

4 suspected BIFF men injured, nabbed in Maguindanao shootout

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 4 suspected BIFF men injured, nabbed in Maguindanao shootout (By Noel Punzalan)



Google map of Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao.

Four suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) combatants were wounded and arrested following a shootout with government troopers near a checkpoint in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division,
identified the arrested individuals as Rahib Lumenda Esmail, Prati Kuludan, Arsad Ukom Utto and Aliofmer Talimbu -- all alleged members of the BIFF operating in the area.

Atilano said the suspects were on board a multi-cab vehicle when they sped past a joint police-Army checkpoint in Barangay Timbangan of the town around 1:30 p.m. prompting the troopers to give chase.

“A shootout ensued, wounding the four suspects in the process,” Atilano said, adding the suspects yielded a Thompson machine gun, a .45-caliber pistol and a rifle grenade ammunition.

All suspects are currently admitted at a local hospital under close guard by Shariff Aguak police personnel, the Army official said. (

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107635

'Terror group member' slain in SoCot clash

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 'Terror group member' slain in SoCot clash (By Richelyn Gubalani)



RECOVERED. Firearms recovered by police operatives following a shootout with members of an Islamic State-inspired local terrorist group in Polomolok town, South Cotabato province on Tuesday evening (June 30, 2020). A member of the group was killed while three others managed to escape and are being pursued by the police. (Photo courtesy of Capt. Randy Apostol/Polomolok municipal police station)

An alleged member of an Islamic State-inspired local terrorist group was killed while three others managed to escape in an encounter with police operatives in Polomolok town, South Cotabato province on Tuesday evening.

Capt. Randy Apostol, deputy chief of the Polomolok municipal police station, said Wednesday
the still-unidentified suspect was slain during a shootout with patrolling police officers in Barangay Pagalungan past 10 p.m.
Police officers spotted the four unidentified men riding in tandem on two motorcycles who were "moving suspiciously" in the area, Apostol said.


“As the patrol team approached, the suspects sped off and opened fire, prompting them to retaliate while on pursuit,” he said in an interview.

Apostol said the suspects managed to escape and was last seen heading towards the outskirts of the village.

Several hours later, he said a team of police officers returned to the site and found an abandoned Honda XRM motorcycle along with the slain suspect at a portion of Purok 1-Maligaya in Pagalungan.

A police report said the deceased gunman, who was apparently killed during the shootout, yielded seven sachets of suspected shabu and an Uzi sub-machine gun.
Also found in the trail of the fleeing suspects was a caliber .45 handgun and a caliber 5.56mm NATO assault rifle that was taken from one of the policemen who was killed in an ambush in Barangay Koronadal Proper in April.
Scene-of-the-crime operatives recovered at the scene of the encounter at least 16 fired slugs from various firearms.

The motorcycle, which was found with an expired license plate, was traced to have been stolen from Tupi town.

Apostol said manhunt operations are ongoing against the three other gunmen, who were identified as Russel Mamo, Abu Saif, and Jayrol Darino.

“These were based on the result of our ongoing investigation and accounts from witnesses,” he said, adding that the suspects were members of the Dawlah Islamiyah - Maguid faction’s Nilong sub-group, which had been the subject of law enforcement operations in parts of Polomolok in the past two years.

The group had been tagged as behind the series of killings, robbery, motorcycle theft, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities in Polomolok and neighboring areas. It was linked to the bomb attack in front of a lying-in clinic here in September 2018 that left eight people wounded.

The Nilong Group was reportedly allied with the defunct Sarangani-based terror group Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines, which was part of the local network of the Dawlah Islamiyah.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107606

NPA on brink of collapse: former rebel leaders

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From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): NPA on brink of collapse: former rebel leaders (By Jason De Asis)



BACK TO THE FOLD OF THE LAW. Three ranking leaders of the New People's Army surrender their firearms to the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) and Philippine National Police (PNP) in a secluded area of Sitio Balitwak, Barangay San Isidro, San Luis, Aurora on Saturday, June 27, 2020. Also in photo is Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, commander of 91st Infantry (Sinagtala) Battalion. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 9th Infantry Battalion)

Three ranking leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) who have returned to the fold of the law have admitted that the communist organization is on the brink of collapse.

The three, who belonged to the Komiteng Larangan Gerilya Sierra Madre (KLG SM) operating in the province, surrendered and yielded their high-powered firearms to the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) and Philippine National Police (PNP) from Aurora and Nueva Ecija in a secluded area in Sitio Balitwak, Barangay San Isidro, San Luis, Aurora last Saturday.

The rebel leaders surrendered two M16 5.56mm rifles and an M653 5.56mm rifle or Baby Armalite.

In an exclusive interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday, the ranking NPA surrenderers, who introduced themselves as alias "Ka Dingdong", "Ka Dong" and "Ka Junjun", said what remains of the NPA membership is already weak.

Ka Dingdong, a squad leader, and team leaders Ka Dong and Ka Junjun, said from the previous three platoons of KLG SM, there is now only one platoon under the leadership of its commanding officer Harold Miňosa and vice commanding officer Sudario Lee alias "Ka Aura".


They said the rebels are already dwindling in numbers as many have surrendered due to the hardships they are experiencing in the mountains.

“Sa totoo lang hindi na namin kaya ang paghihirap sa loob ng kilusan. Ito ang nararanasan ng hukbo, gutom at pagod, nararamdaman namin na wala ng patutunguhan ang ipinaglalaban namin. Nalinlang kami ng dati naming mga kasamahan. Lakad lang kami ng lakad, walang katapusan kaya kusang loob na kaming sumuko at nagbaba ng armas (The truth is we can no longer bear the hardships inside the movement. This is what the comrades are experiencing, hunger and fatigue. We feel that what we were fighting for nothing. We were fooled by our former comrades. We were just walking and walking and there is no ending. That is why, we decided to surrender and yield our firearms),” they said.

The surrenderers said they were NPA fighters since 2017 and had engaged in close fights with government troops five times in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora.

Col. Andrew Costelo, commander of the 703rd Infantry Brigade that directly supervises 91IB, commended the troops for their accomplishment and also for the help provided by the PNP in Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID), the mother unit of 91IB, said: “This is what we are working, to invite the NPA members to return to the folds of the law and be with their families, instead of fighting in combat and kill each other. This option is better, after all, we are all Filipinos.”

Rosario said the series of setbacks of the NPA bandits in Central Luzon from 2019 to date, ranging from the dissolution of their two main units, neutralization of their top ranking leaders, and the withdrawal of support by their exploited supporters, brought the NPA’s Central Luzon Regional Party Committee to the brink of collapse.

Last year, the 7ID dismantled the Komiteng Larangan Gerilya (KLG) Caraballo and Larangang Gerilya sa Patag 1 in its pursuit to end the local communist armed conflict in Central Luzon.

The Army command also
captured Redsa Balatan, alias “Sining”, the deputy secretary of Kilusang Larangan Gerilya (KLG) Sierra Madre during an armed encounter in November 2019.

Balatan was the former secretary of the defunct KLG Caraballo prior to the dismantling of said NPA unit.
It was followed by the death of Eleuterio Sadyaw Agmaliw alias “Omeng”, the leader of KLG Sierra Madre’s Domingo Erlano Command during a joint law enforcement operation with the PNP in Quezon City in December 2019.


Since 2019, a total of 1,006 exploited mass supporters who are farmers and members of the urban poor sectors, have withdrawn their support from the NPA, and 163 of them surrendered while six were killed during law enforcement operations.

Some 100 high-powered firearms and 33 low-powered firearms were either surrendered by former rebels, or recovered by operating troops during armed encounters.

“These series of hits that the NPA sustained, coupled with the sincere efforts of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), which pooled the resources of national government agencies and local government units in addressing issues in NPA-influenced barangays, took its toll on the terrorist group’s clout, resources, and manpower,” Rosario said.

The three new NPA surrenderers appealed to their former comrades in the KLG SM to follow them in returning to the fold of the law and surrender their firearms while they are still young.

“Huwag po nating sayangin ang ating buhay. Our government is open for peace. Let us all end insurgency. Kailangan natin ng seryosong pagbabalik-loob sa gobyerno sa puso, isip, salita at gawa. Sumuko kayo habang bata para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan (Do not let our lives go to waste. Our government is open for peace. Let us all end insurgency. We must seriously return to the folds of law in heart, mind, word and deed. Surrender while you are still young to have good future),” they said.

The NPA surrenderers are now being assessed for the processing of their benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government.

Under the E-CLIP program, they will receive a PHP15,000 initial assistance, PHP50,000 livelihood assistance and PHP50,000 firearms remuneration.

They will receive benefits from other government agencies, like skills training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, legal assistance from the Department of Justice, housing from National Housing Authority, among others.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107477
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