Insurgency: Background Checks on 2025 Poll Bets

It's 2025 and the insurgency is still happening. This week the Army ha dismantled two NPA platoons on Samar Island. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1241176

The Philippine Army has dismantled two platoons of the New People’s Army (NPA) that operated in some parts of Samar and Eastern Samar provinces.

After decades of fighting government forces in the southern part of Samar Island, the "Bugsok" and "Apoy" platoons are now considered officially dismantled, Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said.

The two platoons are the remaining rebel formations under the sub-regional committee (SRC) Sesame of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

The National Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (NJPSCC) approved the declaration through the signing of resolution No. 13 on Dec. 11, 2024, according to Vestuir.

He recalled that in middle of 2023 during the relocation of the Army's 802nd Brigade headquarters to Borongan City, Eastern Samar, the Apoy platoon had 44 fighters while the Bugsok platoon had 23 combatants.

“Through synchronized efforts and the right force mix utilizing combat, intelligence, and civil-military operations, 47 active NPA fighters were neutralized, and 87 assorted firearms and 54 banned anti-personnel mines were seized until year-end 2024,” Vestuir told the Philippine News Agency.

Currently, there are only 16 members left, five of whom are more than 60 years old, and they have no direction from the Communist Party of the Philippines, as their secretary already surrendered because of hardships, hunger, and inhospitality of the communities towards the NPA, he said.

In an earlier interview, Realyn Basada, 38, a former secretary of the sub-regional committee Sesame under the NPA’s EVRPC, said the absence of provision from previously supportive upland farmers influenced her decision to escape from their lair at about midnight on the third week of November 2024.

“We starved for many days because we did not get any donations from farmers after the military conducted the RCSP (retooled community support program) in previously NPA-influenced areas. We’re not getting any support, unlike in the past,” Basada said.

This development prompted the joint evaluation board from the military and police to recommend the SRC Sesame as dismantled during its meeting on Dec. 23, 2024. The board is just waiting for the resolution from the NJPSCC.

“The troops and stakeholders in the communities are optimistic in pursuing these 16 remnants for this year's campaign to once and for all achieve the total victory of winning the peace in the southern half of Samar Island against the NPA, who waged anti-community development actions since the 1970s,” Vestuir added.

He commended all troops for their bravery, discipline, and sacrifice for the successful dismantling of the two remaining platoon formations.

Dismantled? Actually there are 16 members left. Yet the Army says they are old men over the age of 60 and "they have no direction from the Communist Party of the Philippines." If there are 16 members left in both of these platoons that means they are not dismantled. And we have seen that the AFP's claim that the NPA cannot carry out attacks because of a lack of leadership is unfounded. 

The AFP has also said the CPP-NPA cannot carry out recruitment activities because they have no leadership. That has not stopped them from engaging in ant-recruitment campaigns. 

https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/army-battalion-conducts-awareness-campaign-at-davao-del-norte-school/

THE 56TH Infantry “Tatag” Battalion conducted a massive awareness campaign at Datu Jose A. Libayao Memorial High School in So Salawao, Barangay Sto. Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte. 

The event, attended by 123 students, was led by Ms. Christine E. Paulican, the School Head.

As part of the campaign, the Battalion distributed informational leaflets focused on the “Culture of Security,” raising awareness of the importance of safeguarding communities against threats. 

The campaign also included a film screening that educated students about the dangers of recruitment by insurgent groups, highlighting the risks and consequences of such involvement.

Following the film, the students were encouraged to share their thoughts and insights on what they had learned.

 Their reflections served as a powerful reminder of the importance of critical thinking and community awareness in addressing security concerns.

The 56th Infantry “Tatag” Battalion actively engages local communities and educational institutions to promote peace, security, and resilience. 

They aim to equip the younger generation with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions for the future of their community and country.

Why hold these campaigns if the AFP has already said the CPP-NPA cannot recruit?

The AFP has also said electing the right people will fix the problems of the Philippines. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2023165/electing-right-people-not-coups-can-fix-ph-problems-brawner

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said launching a military coup or putting in place a military junta will not solve the country’s present problems.

He instead urged Filipinos to vote for the right candidates in the midterm elections.

“I have only one appeal to our countrymen: let us use this election to bring out our sentiments by voting the right people in the right positions,” Brawner said at a joint press conference with the Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Quezon City.

Brawner made the call as he cited the growing “complaints” from the public about the government and the issues hounding the Philippines.

“Because many are complaining now about our country’s problems, others think that the solution is to have a military coup d’etat or military junta. This is not the solution. Let us handle our election better,” he said.

The AFP chief said the military is tasked “to assist in making sure the elections will be peaceful,” including addressing the proliferation of armed groups and possible peace spoilers.

In a statement, the AFP said the three government agencies have already “outlined the government’s comprehensive security measures to safeguard the electoral process and ensure the integrity of the elections.

“Our call to the people is to use this election as a platform to express our desires by voting for the right individuals who will serve the country and our society,” Brawner said.

“Let us use our voice to correct what we want to correct,” he added.

In a statement, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the AFP public affairs office, said the “intensification of intelligence gathering is geared towards helping the Comelec ensure the integrity of the electoral process and safeguard national security.”

The right people? Like who? Comedians? Actors? Convicted criminals? Dynasty candidates with no qualifications except a name? No. He means non-leftists. That is why the AFP is eyeing background checks on 2025 poll bets. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2023009/fwd-afp-eyes-to-conduct-intel-ops-to-check-background-of-poll-bets

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is eyeing to conduct intelligence operations to check on the background of candidates in the 2025 midterm elections. 

AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said they plan to report the results of the operations to the Commission on Elections (Comelec),especially information on candidates with “red flags.”

(One of the things the AFP is looking at right now is conducting intelligence operations, wherein we will check the candidates and and look at their backgrounds. And if we see any red flags we will inform the Comelec about this.)

“We are in collaboration with the PNP and also with the Comelec to prevent these kinds of things from happening again, so pina-paigting po natin yung dating intelligence operations,” he added.

(… so we are intensifying our intelligence operations.)

In the same briefing, Brawner bared that they are currently addressing concerns surrounding private armed groups, “peace spoilers,” New People’s Army’s permit to campaign and permit to win. 

What are these red flags? We already know they have red-tagged groups like Makabayn as being CPP fronts. But why not flag other candidates who are known to be corrupt or who have an air of being corrupt? Do you really think they are going to flag Quiboloy who is running for the Senate?  Having the AFP vet political candidates is practically a coup!