Coronavirus Lockdown: Higher Vaccination Numbers Needed, BBM and Sara Mascots, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

So the push is on to get children vaccinated. For the kids local governments are decorating the vaccination zone with balloons but for the parents the government is dispensing worthless and fear mongering statistics.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/424028/unvaccinated-make-up-94-of-covid-deaths-among-kids-in-cebu

Cebu is set to start administering COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 years old anytime soon.

And local health officials here are urging parents to have their children vaccinated as a protection against the infection. 

This after findings from the Visayas Vaccination Operations Center (VVOC)showed that around 94 percent of minors, who were infected and eventually succumbed to COVID-19, were unvaccinated. 

“Our call to both parents and guardians - get young people vaccinated. These numbers prove that we need vaccines for young people, ”said Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) and VVOC spokesperson.The VVOC recorded a total of 6,124 children from Central Visayas, aged 17-years-old and below, who were admitted to hospitals due to the infection since the pandemic began in 2020. 

Of this number, COVID-19 claimed 171 lives. Furthermore, the VVOC’s report showed that around 94.15 percent of kids who died due to COVID-19 were unvaccinated. 

The same data also showed that around four percent or 240 of the over 6,000 minors admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 were jabbed. 

“Available na po ang bakuna for our children 5 to 11 years old in the coming days. May bakuna na po tayo for 12 to 17 years old,” said Loreche. 

“(Have your children vaccinated) hindi lang to save their lives but give them their lives back. By allowing them to go back to school, play again, and socialize. Allowing them to become normal children again,” she continued. 

So, according to the DOH children must be vaccinated in order to "give them their lives back." But what good are these statistics when children have only just now been given their first dose of the vaccine? And what comorbidites did these children have? 

The number of new and active COVID cases continues to drop but the government does not want to drop the alert level until there have been more vaccinations.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/02/13/2160547/higher-vaccination-numbers-needed-considering-alert-level-1-officials-say

Metro Manila needs higher vaccination numbers before the national government can consider shifting to the more relaxed Alert Level 1 in the capital region, experts and officials said Sunday morning.

Speaking in an interview aired over DZBB Super Radyo, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that "almost all activities" will be permitted under Alert Level 1 while only minimum public health standards will be implemented. 

"The barangays have already submitted a partial list of those who have not been vaccinated in their area that will be the basis for who the vaccinators should go to," he said in Filipino as he admitted that the task force still "doesn't have an answer" as to whether or not the capital region is ready for Alert Level 1.

"If we want to alert level 1...We must increase the vaccination rate so that everyone is safe that no matter what variant comes, the cases will not be severe or critical."

On the other hand, Guido David of OCTA Research was of the opinion that Alert Level 1 could be achieved "by March" as the National Capital Region could already be classified as "low-risk" by that time. 

That is an admission that the vaccines will not prevent infection and that there will never be zero-COVID. Sara Duterte has admitted the same thing recently.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1554868/davao-city-liquor-ban-lifted-we-will-live-with-covid-19-says-mayor

The city government lifted the liquor ban and other restrictions as COVID-19 cases continued to drop while the number of fully-vaccinated persons breached the city’s 1.2 million target for herd immunity,

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the city could not wait for everything to be COVID-free to lift the liquor ban and allow businesses to go back to normal.

“We will be living with COVID-19,” she said.

“We cannot wait until we can eventually say we are COVID-free, or there is (a complete) eradication of COVID-19 because we (do) not know whether COVID-19 will ever go away. It is very difficult to wait for that,” she explained in a program streamed through her official Facebook page.

Aside from the number of fully-vaccinated persons hitting the 1.2 million target population to achieve herd immunity, the availability of antiviral drugs to fight the virus was also considered in the city’s decision to loosen up, she said.

That is the attitude the whole nation needs to take. The virus is here to stay. Maybe one day it will go away but imposing all these measures in the hopes of eradicating the virus is wrongheaded.

If parents want in-person classes to resume then they had better get their children vaccinated. So say the Secretary of Education.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1554700/pediatric-vaccination-vital-to-the-reintroduction-of-in-person-classes-deped

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday stressed the importance of the pediatric vaccination on the reintroduction of face-to-face classes, as the country continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a statement the vaccination drive for children aged five to 11 is “vital to the gradual reintroduction of face-to-face classes and the general welfare of Filipino learners.”

“We are passionately committed to this program of vaccination, especially for the children, since we believe that the future of our learners is related to well-being, mental health, and physical health,” said Briones.

“We cannot achieve and move to new forms and ways of teaching unless our children are healthy,” she added.

She is literally saying we cannot teach your children unless they have been vaccinated. How does that work? If she really cared about their health she would make sure all school children receive proper exercise and nutrition. The sad fact is that way too many Filipino children are unhealthy and the vaccine won't fix that.

Many municipalities have decorated their vaccination sites with balloons and offered ice cream and had people dressed as mascots in order to put children at ease. But how creepy is this!?

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/425028/bbm-sara-mascots-spotted-in-talisays-covid-vax-drive-for-children

Elections season is here, and it was evident even during the COVID-19 vaccination rollouts in some localities in Cebu. 

Talisay City on Monday, February 14, 2022, launched its first day of COVID-19 vaccination drive for children aged 5 to 11 years old. 

Aside from colorful balloons, streamers, and lootbags, mascots were also present to help cheer up and ease the nerves of children waiting to be inoculated. 

Among the mascots present during the launching program were those from a famous fast-food chain, and those of Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos and Sara Duterte-Carpio. 

Mayor Gerald Anthony ‘Samsam’ Gullas, in an interview with reporters, said they sought the help of various sectors in the city in making sure children will be encouraged to take the jab once they reach the vaccination site. 

“We’ve called a lot of people to bring mascots. We’ve called McDonalds. Naay mascot gikan sa akoa sad. Nagpatawag sad ta ni BBM-Sara to bring mascot. We called Jollibee pero virtual ra ilaha. Walay mascot ang Jollibee,” he said.

It's not only creepy but its very self-promotional and politicizes the whole vaccination process. It was also the mayor who invited them to bring a mascot. Did he call any other electoral team? Probably not.

One town in Agusan del Norte has now effectively made the vaccine mandatory by imposing fines on the unvaccinated.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/02/06/2158856/unvaxxed-agusan-del-norte-town-residents-face-fines

Unvaccinated residents of Carmen town in Agusan del Norte face fines.

Carmen Mayor Jovitte Calo issued an executive order on Jan. 27 for the mandatory vaccination of members of the eligible population, including minors aged 12 to 17.

Under the EO, unvaccinated residents will not be allowed to go out of their homes except to procure essential goods and services. They will not also be allowed to make transactions in private and public establishments as well as buy and sell any product or commodity.

Violators face fines ranging from P500 to P1,000.

How is this legal or constitutional when RA 11525 which establishes the Philippines' vaccination program explicitly says that the vaccines will not be mandatory?

The government is eager to get to "the new normal" but it seems it won't be so normal after all.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1555357/dropping-face-mask-mandate-not-likely-even-as-govt-eyes-shift-to-new-normal

There are no plans yet, or even a discussion among government officials on whether to drop the mandatory use of face masks even as the government plans the transition to the “new normal” during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Wednesday.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the government is currently crafting guidelines for the “new normal” during the pandemic, which would be implemented if the country is placed under the least restrictive Alert Level 1.

“So far, there is no plan to drop the mandatory use of face mask,” Año told INQUIRER.net in a text message.

This was seconded by vaccine czar and National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., saying that wearing of face masks is still “very essential” in the fight against the severe respiratory disease.

“It is not in our discussion since masking is very essential until we finally declare that Covid 19 is totally eliminated. Masking is our final defense. It would be the last thing that we will remove,” he told INQUIRER.net in a separate text message.

Funny thing, masks do not prevent transmission at all! They are literally worthless in for stopping the virus unless you are wearing a heavy duty medical grade mask which practically no one is! All this mask propaganda is ridiculous but here is something even more so.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/822064/unvaccinated-have-4-8x-chance-of-getting-myocarditis-from-covid-19-expert/story/

A local vaccine expert on Wednesday said that people who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 have 4x to 8x higher risk of getting myocarditis from a COVID-19 infection as compared to those who are vaccinated.

“If you are unvaccinated, [you have] 4x to 8x higher risk of myocarditis from COVID-19 infection in all ages. So, that’s 10x higher risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 infection,” Silva said, emphasizing that people who get myocarditis from COVID-19 can be “very severe.”

However, Silva noted that it is “very rare” to suffer from this heart inflammation after receiving the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines such as Pfizer.

If one has COVID-19 vaccine, then the overall risk of myocarditis is “extremely low” which is about 1 in 200,000 population, she explained.

Young males aged 12 to 29 then have a “slightly higher risk” but are still “very low” which is 1 in 14,000 population, while young females aged 12 to 29 have a “much lower risk” of less than 1 in 100,000 people.

Silva, however, also cited a study showing that outside of clinical trials, myocarditis and pericarditis have been reported following administration of Pfizer vaccine.

She said that a postmarketing data observed that the risk is highest in males 12 to 17 years old.

Meanwhile, within clinical trials, the adverse reactions found in children aged 5 to 11 after the administration of the primary series only include pain at the injection site, fatigue, fever, and rashes, among others.

In ages 12 and older, the adverse effects reported were severe allergic and hypersensitivity reactions, diarrhea, and vomiting, among others.

Silva then assured that most people with myocarditis following vaccination “recover completely” with rest and apt treatment.

“COVID-19 is one of the possible causes of myocarditis in the general population and if you do not get COVID-19 infection dahil nabakunahan ka na [because you are already vaccinated], then this will reduce your chance of developing myocarditis,” she said

“The overall message here is that don’t miss your shot, your heart is safer with COVID-19 vaccines,” she added.

What a contradictory mess. First she says that the unvaccinated have a higher risk of getting myocarditis from COVID. What are her proofs? She gives none. When did that become a symptom of COVID? After people started getting vaccinated. Then she says you can suffer from myocarditis after getting the vaccine but it is rare and you can recover. But why take that chance? Why risk your heart by taking a vaccine for virus that is not a death sentence? This is propaganda to make people think the vaccines are safe and do not cause myocarditis when the opposite is true as this lady even admits.

Hi, My Name Is...21

Lots more lives ruined in the Philippines. Come say hello.

Hi, my name is Sebastian Alexander Altamirano from Downey, CA USA. I invited 3 siblings ages 13, 16, and 17 over to my house and even gave them gadgets. But their mom found out they were over at my place and she called the cops right away. Now I am facing trafficking and child abuse raps.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1165791

A United States (US) citizen is set to face criminal charges after police raided his condominium unit in Cagayan de Oro City and found three minors who were unrelated to him.

In an interview Tuesday, Lt. Col. Lemuel Gonda, acting chief of the Northern Mindanao Police - Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU-10), identified the suspect as Sebastian Alexander Altamirano, who has a residence in Barangay Camaman-an.

Criminal charges are being readied by the police against the suspect in violation of Republic Act (RA) 10364 or the "Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012," and RA 7610, or the "Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act."

"The suspect (is) with COCPO PS5 (Cagayan de Oro City Police Station 5) Macabalan. The minors (are) with WCPD (Women and Children Protection Desk), and now with the mother," Gonda said.

Gonda said it was the 34-year-old mother who reported the incident to the police. The children are aged 13, 16, and 17.

RACU-10 and PS5 teamed up to conduct the entrapment and rescue operation to capture Altamirano.

Police operatives found from the suspect's possession assorted gadgets that were allegedly used to exploit the three victims.

Hi, our names are Kevin Ranther Cayabyab Medrano and April Joy Arevalo Abaquita. We are live-in partners from Laguna. We needed some cash right away so of course the only logical thing to do was to hold up a convenience store. We busted in there and forced the two employees into the backroom where we tied them up. Digging through the cash register we netted P99,940. What a haul!  But one of the employees got lose and was able to call for help. A group of people kept us trapped in 

https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/20/couple-in-foiled-holdup-try-gets-trapped-in-store-by-mob-lands-in-jail/

A couple was arrested after a foiled hold-up attempt at a convenience store in Barangay Del Remedio on Wednesday (Jan. 19).

According to a statement from the Laguna Police Provincial Office, live-in partners Kevin Ranther Cayabyab Medrano and April Joy Arevalo Abaquita forced two convenience store employees to the backroom and tied their hands as they took the money in the cash register amounting to P99,940.

One of the victims was able to escape from the backroom and immediately sought help from bystanders.

Concerned citizens helped trap the suspects inside the store until barangay officials and the police arrived at the scene.

Authorities recovered the money and took the suspects into custody. They will be charged with robbery and hold-up.

Hi, our names are Ifesinachi Fountain Anaekwe also known as “Daddy Champ,” and Chukwumeka Peter Nwadi . We are from Nigeria. In the Philippines were worked for a bank robbery crew. But we did not go in with guns blazing. Instead we hacked into 700 accounts and transferred all that money to our own account. But we won't get to spend any of that money now.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1543262/nbi-arrests-2-nigerians-3-others-for-mark-nagoyo-bank-hacking

Two Nigerians and three others were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for allegedly being behind the “Mark Nagoyo” bank hacking that affected more than 700 clients of BDO Unibank.

The NBI on Friday said the five suspects were arrested in two different entrapment operations conducted by operatives of the NBI-Cybercrime Division in Pampanga.

Nigerians Ifesinachi Fountain Anaekwe also known as “Daddy Champ,” and Chukwumeka Peter Nwadi were nabbed in Mabalacat, Pampanga on Tuesday.

The other suspects identified as Jherom Taupa, Ronelyn Panaligan, and Clay Revillosa were also arrested in Pampanga.

The NBI said Taupa was the alleged mastermind of the operation while Panaligan and Clay Revillosa were involved in the BDO hacking as web developers and downloaders.

According to the NBI, the suspects were involved in the BDO hacking last December where more than 700 of BDO’s clients lost funds in their accounts. The NBI said the suspects were able to access bank accounts and made the fund transfers while supposedly bypassing the One-Time-Pin requirement.

Hi, my name is Violeto Cualquera.  One Sunday me and my brother were relaxing drinking some liquor. But at around 1 pm, we had been drinking since the morning, we got into a heated argument. So I stabbed my brother in the shoulder with a knife.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/421610/pilar-attack-drinking-session-ends-with-66-year-old-man-stabbing-his-57-year-old-brother

What was supposed to be a relaxing Sunday for a 66-year-old man and his 57-year-old brother turned into a bloody and tragic one after one of them landed in the medical health center with a stab wound in the shoulder while the other one ended in jail in Pilar town in Camotes Islands in northern Cebu.

Police Lieutenant Claudio Gako, acting Pilar Police Station chief, said in his report that Violeto Cualquera was detained at the Pilar Police Station detention cell after he was arrested for stabbing and wounding his brother, Mario Cualquera.

Gako said that Violeto stabbed Mario in the shoulder during their argument.

Investigation showed that the brothers were relaxing spending Sunday drinking liquor together.

But at past 1 p.m. the brothers started arguing, which ended with Violeto, the elder brother and a senior citizen, grabbing a knife and stabbing his younger brother Mario on the shoulder.

Gako said they had yet to find out what caused the argument but a frustrated murder charge was being readied against Violeto.

Hi, my name is Kenny Flashlight. I am a Norwegian living in the Philippines. I was arrested for spreading nude photos of a 16 year old girl on social media. I told her I was gonna do it if she did not have sex with me. What did she expect!? Her parents then set me up in an entrapment operation which is how I got caught. Sound weird to you? Well I am not saying anymore about how I knew the girl or her family or how I got the pictures. But she is not the only one. In 2020 while living in Cebu I was accused of child abuse and another girl told the police I also had nudes of her.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/422493/foreign-national-arrested-for-spreading-nude-photos-and-videos-of-minor-online

A foreign national was arrested on Saturday dawn, January 29, 2022, in Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City for allegedly spreading nude photos and videos of a 16-year-old girl online. 

The arrest was done by members of the Talisay City Police who conducted an entrapment operation against Kenny Flashlight. 

Police Lieutenant Colonel Randy Caballes, chief of Talisay City Police Station, said they are basing the suspect’s identity on the name that he gave to the minor. Caballes added that they are still verifying the true identity of the suspect. 

Caballes said the arrest stemmed from the complaint of the minor victim and her parents against the foreigner’s alleged spreading of nude photos and videos of the girl to his friends. 

The station chief said that the suspect still refused to cooperate with the police as of this posting and that they are yet to verify his personal details, including his real name, age, and nationality. 

According to Caballes, the victim and her parents went to their station on Friday evening, January 28, and told them that the foreigner has copies of nude photos and videos of the victim and has been spreading these out to his friends through social media. 

The suspect allegedly coerced and blackmailed the minor to engage in sexual activities with him in exchange for not posting the pornographic stuff. 

With the help of the victim and her family, the police conducted the entrapment operation around 2 am on Saturday, January 29. 

First, they let the victim contact the suspect and both agreed to meet along the road in Banawa street. They then arrested the suspect. 

As to how the victim and the suspect got to know each other, Caballes said this has yet to be established since the minor only divulged a few details regarding this. 

Upon background check, Caballes said they found out that the suspect was accused of a similar offense last year in Carcar City and was even interviewed over a local TV program. 

The police chief said they are still gathering additional information about the suspect and if he has victimized other girls.

Hi, my name is Cesar Logatic. I was out having fun drinking spree at my house with my friend Jomedes Pais. All of a sudden in the midst of our drunken revelry this crazy guy, Marino Panganiban, pulled up on his motorcycle and shot Pais twice in the head! Then he turned to me and said I had better keep quiet or he would kill me too. Of course I did not keep quiet which is how the cops were able to arrest the man.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1547742/man-shot-dead-at-drinking-spree-in-oriental-mindoro-town

A man was shot and killed Sunday during a drinking spree in Pola town in Oriental Mindoro province, the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police reported Monday.

A report said Cesar Logatic, 41, was having a drinking spree at 7:25 p.m. with Jomedes Pais of Barangay Batuhan, at the side of Logatic’s house in Barangay Panikihan, when Marino Panganiban, 62, stopped opposite them, got off his motorcycle then shot Pais twice.

After shooting Pais, Panganiba threatened Logatic not to testify, saying “I will also kill you,” then fled in an unknown direction.

Pais suffered bullet wounds in the head and the right side of his chest. He was taken to the Municipal Health Office in Pola and later transferred to Grace Mission Hospital in Socorro town but died on the way.

Police found two empty shells from a suspected caliber .45 gun in the place, according to Captain Nebuchadnezzar Matrio, chief of Pola police.

Police arrested Panganiban after a short pursuit operation. The firearm used in the shooting was found at the house of Panganiban in Barangay Bayanan, along with magazines and 12 bullets.

Major Loreto Maulion Jr., Mimaropa police public information office chief, said “love triangle” could be a reason for Panganiban’s action.

Hi, our names are Rodolfo and Gloria Gaban. We were fast asleep in our beds one night when two men barged int our house. They shot me in the head several times leaving my wife to beg for her life. They ignored her pleas and shot her dead too. Then they left. Our four children watched the whole thing transpire.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1547877/couple-shot-dead-inside-home-in-sorsogon

A couple was shot and killed by two gunmen inside their house in Gubat town in Sorsogon on Monday.

Police Major Christine Llorin, Gubat police chief, identified the victims as Rodolfo Gaban, a carpenter, and his wife Gloria, residents of Barangay (village) Paco. 

According to police report, the couple’s four children witnessed the crime.

The witness affidavits of the children said that while Rodolfo was sleeping, the two men barged into their house and shot him several times in the head at around 12:30 a.m.

Llorin said Gloria begged for her life to be spared but the suspects still shot her dead.

The suspects left the four siblings unharmed and fled onboard a motorcycle.

Hi, my name is Michael Casas. I was looking for my wife Cristy one night and I couldn't find her. Where was she so late at night? I got very angry. So angry that I shot at my neighbor and punched my son and mother-in-law.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/423021/man-from-borbon-cebu-runs-amok-after-he-failed-to-find-his-wife

A 42-year-old man from Borbon town in northern Cebu was arrested after he allegedly shot a neighbor and punched his 15-year-old son and his mother-in-law late night on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. 

The reason? 

Michael Casas, 42, got angry after he failed to locate his wife. 

Casas later on landed in the hospital after he tried to resist arrest and engaged the police in a shootout, says Police Lieutenant Derrick Rosales, chief of the Borbon Police Station. 

Police also recovered a caliber 45 pistol and magazine with two live ammunitions from the suspect’s possession and one empty shell at the crime scene. 

Rosales said that Casas went amok after he failed to find his wife, Cristy, who worked as an online seller.

He allegedly barged into their neighbor’s home in Sitio Mahayaha in Barangay Tabunan at about 11 p.m. to look for his wife. The house owner, Leizel Cantones, was a friend of Cristy.

Rosales said Casas shot Cantones but missed. 

When he got home, he allegedly punched his mother-in-law, Leoncia Delgado, 69, and his 15-year-old son, who is a Person With Disability (PWD). 

When the police arrived,  Casas allegedly fired shots at their direction forcing them to fire back at him.  Casas sustained a bullet wound on the right side of his body and was brought to the hospital for treatment.

Hi, my name is Freddie Carandang. I got drunk one night and had a heated argument with my brother. It was only something small but it was enough to make me hack my brother with a bolo. But its oak because the cops did not arrest me because my family wants the barangay to mediate between us.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1554039/man-hacks-own-brother-over-petty-feud-in-quezon

A man reportedly hacked and injured his younger brother over a petty family feud in Pagbilao town in Quezon province Saturday midnight.

Pagbilao police reported that Freddie Carandang, 26, armed with a bolo, barged into the house of his brother Jeric, 22, in Barangay (village) Talipan at midnight or 12 a.m.

The siblings had a heated argument after which, Freddie who was reportedly drunk, hacked Jeric several times and escaped.

The victim sustained injuries and was brought to the nearest hospital.

Police Corporal Ken Niel Reyes, case investigator, said the hacking incident was caused by a family dispute.

“It was caused by only a small issue,” he explained over the phone. He did not elaborate.

The police said the family decided to bring the matter to village officials for mediation.

Insurgency: Outnumbered at the Road Block

It is now officially campaign season which means the NPA are out and about seeing extortion fees from candidates.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167461

The New People’s Army (NPA) was slammed for blocking a national highway and threatening residents and travelers in Cortes, Surigao del Sur on Thursday.

In a phone interview, Col. Joseph Boquiren, director of Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDSPPO), said the NPA caused terror and distress in the area when an undetermined number of rebels blocked a portion of the national highway in Sitio Lubcon, Barangay Mabahin, Cortes town early Thursday morning.

“That was a plain show of force and a terroristic act as they sow fear among the residents in the area. Some motorists, including employees of government and private offices who happened to pass in that portion of the highway, were flagged down and threatened by the rebels,” Boquiren said.

He added that the rebels also raided and ransacked the store and house of a retired Army officer situated near the area where they blocked the highway.

The ransacking incident is still being investigated by the personnel of Cortes municipal police station, he added.

"We condemn the NPA rebels for their terroristic acts and sowing fear among the civilians in the area," Boquiren said.

He also identified the leader of the NPA rebels who led the harassment as Joel Maghinay alias Nico of NPA Guerrilla Front 30, North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

The government says this crazy stunt was an extortion ploy.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167567

The New People’s Army’s (NPA) blocking off a section of the highway in Cortes, Surigao del Sur was an extortion ploy to remind candidates running in the upcoming polls of their presence in the area, an indigenous community leader said Friday.

Datu Rico Maca, the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, said Thursday’s “show of force” staged by the NPA in Cortes town was aimed to prompt local politicians to pay the “permit to campaign and permit to win.”

“Extortion is the primary reason for that show staged by the NPA rebels. They are reminding the politicians that they are still around and that they will pursue with their extortion activities as the campaign starts and the election is nearing,” Maca told Philippine News Agency on Friday.

An undetermined number of NPA rebels blocked a portion of the national highway Thursday morning in Sitio Lucbon, Barangay Mabahin of Cortes town where they flagged down and threatened motorists.

A residence of a retired Army officer in the area was also ransacked by the rebels.

“The ransacking of houses was only secondary. The NPA rebels were really reminding the politicians, and even threatening them, to pay permits for campaigns,” Maca said.

The IP leader urged the candidates and political parties not to give in to the threats and demands of the rebels.

“If you will pay, then you are contributing to the useless cause of these bandits. You are, in a way, taking part to strengthen the terroristic activities of these insurgents. Your payment will further escalate the killings, lootings, human rights violations, and other terroristic activities that the NPA rebels are known for,” Maca said.

The CPP says that these election checkpoints were orderly and just.

https://cpp.ph/statements/npa-surigao-election-checkpoints-were-orderly-and-just-cpp/

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said that the checkpoints mounted by the New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday in Cortes town, Surigao del Sur, were “orderly and just” and were conducted with full respect for human rights and consistent with international humanitarian law (IHL).

“Based on initial information from the area, the checkpoints were conducted in an orderly fashion,” said CPP Chief Information Officer Marco Valbuena.

Reports from various news outfits say that residents noted about a hundred Red fighters of the NPA mounted checkpoints in different points of Cortes town, Surigao del Sur. One of the NPA units was assigned to the portion of the national highway in Sitio Lubcon, Barangay Mabahin, Cortes. The checkpoints were lifted 30 minutes later.

Valbuena described as a “desperate pack of lies” the claims of the 901st Infantry Brigade and Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office that the NPA checkpoints violated IHL.

“Clearly, the NPA forces which conducted the checkpoints were very respectful of the rights of civilians and did not cause much inconvenience,” said Valbuena. He explained that the NPA has the option of mounting temporary checkpoints within its territories or areas of operation to implement policies of the people’s democratic government.

Valbuena said checkpoints can be undertaken as measures to ensure compliance with the people’s government’s policies regarding the conduct of elections prohibiting politicians from bringing armed goons and police and military escorts that usually serve to intimidate the people.

One big take away from this event is that despite saying that the NPA is irrelevant and that they really don't have the numbers any more as rebels keep surrendering the PNP were not prepared to deal with this group. They actually ran away.

Lt. Jimel Acuesta, chief of police in Cortes town, said at least four policemen initially responded to the incident but soon withdrew after seeing that they were outnumbered. He said the armed rebels, who also went to the store of of former 2nd Lt. Joven Rivera, stayed about 30 minutes in the place.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1553112/npa-rebs-briefly-stop-travel-along-surigao-del-sur-highway

Could they not have called for back up? Could they not have alerted the military? The military should have been alerted and appeared with a major show of force to blast those rebels. Where is the resolve to put an end to the insurgency when the NPA are able to set up roadblocks with zero consequences?

While this incident happened in Surigao del Sur, not far away in Surigao del Norte the AFP has been ramping up operations against the NPA.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/new-4id-commander-ramps-up-operations-against-cpp-npa-ndf-seizes-16-firearms-neutralize-17-npas/

Brigadier General Wilbur C Mamawag, the recently installed Commander of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Philippine Army has ramped up its focused military operations and dealt anew significant blows against the CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs).

Barely a week after BGen Mamawag’s assumption as 4ID commander last February 3, 4ID has neutralized a total of 17 CNTs and seized 16 high-powered firearms thru encounters and successful negotiation of surrender by its different line units.

On February 4 and 8, five (5) high-powered firearms composed of four (4) AK47 Rifles and one (1) M14 Rifle were seized in an encounter against the CNTs after the 23rd Infantry Battalion of the 402nd Infantry Brigade has launched combat operations at the hinterlands of Brgy Tungao, Butuan City while three (3) firearms composed of one (1) AK47 Rifle, one (1) M4 Rifle, one (1) M16 Rifle were also captured and one (1) unidentified male CNT had died during a 50-minute encounter of the 30th Infantry Battalion of the 901st Infantry Brigade against CNTs at the mountainous area of Brgy Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte.

In a statement, BGen Mamawag stated that while 4ID has collectively achieved so much for the past few periods of the campaign, there is a need to sustain the gains and its efforts and use all available resources to push further for the total defeat of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) within the given timeline as set by the President to defeat the communist insurgency in the country.

“With our earnest desire to bring lasting peace in our communities, we have pushed the enemy to the brink of defeat. However, with barely five (5) months to go before the end of our campaign and to accomplish the President’s directive to end local communist armed conflict, we will even step up some more in order to destroy the remaining CTG. Hence, we are calling upon them to instead return to the folds of the law and cooperate with us or else be ready to face the consequences,” BGen Mamawag added.

How can they say the NPA has been pushed to the brink of defeat when just over in the next province the NPA managed to set up several road blocks in a show of force with zero repercussions? 

The AFP is also claiming once again that the NPA in Samar have suffered a large blow further weakening them.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167554

The recent recovery of 34 high-powered firearms from the New People’s Army (NPA) in Pinabacdao, Samar on February 9 will further cripple the communist terrorist group, a military official said on Friday.

Capt. Ryan Layug, the spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the recovered firearms in remote Bugho village Wednesday was the biggest seizure of firearms in Eastern Visayas.

“In the entire country, we have not heard bigger than this. This will reduce their capability to do terroristic acts like extortion and attack on government troops and civilians,” Layug said in a phone interview.

The firearms recovered were 24 M16 rifles, two M4 carbine assault rifles, seven China-made AK47 variant rifles, and an M14 rifle.

Layug said the rebels buried the assault rifles since they do not have enough manpower to carry them.

“This a result of reduction of manpower since many of their members have already surrendered to the government,” he told the Philippine News Agency.

Just Google "Samar NPA blow weaken" and several stories about AFP operations claiming that the NPA has suffered major blows will show up. It seems that despite the many surrenders and the many rebels killed in skirmishes the NPA in Samar is as active as ever. 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/821370/2-minors-killed-npa-ambush-vs-gov-t-troops-in-northern-samar-military/story/

Two minors were killed and another civilian was injured on Tuesday after New People’s Army (NPA) rebels ambushed Philippine Army troops in Catubig, Northern Samar, the military said Thursday.

The Joint Task Force Storm and 8th Infantry Division said the 12-year-old victim was declared dead on arrival at the Catubig Hospital, while the 13-year-old victim died the next morning at the Northern Samar hospital.

"Before he died, the 13-year-old boy was able to narrate to the barangay officials that they were hit by NPA gunfires,”  8ID commander Major General Edgardo de Leon said in a statement.

“The 26-year-old survivor revealed that they were behind the soldiers when the NPAs opened fire, prompting them to run away but unfortunately they were hit,” he added.

The troops were on their way to check the reported presence of NPA rebels in Barangay Roxas when attacked, according to 803rd Brigade commander Colonel Perfecto Peñaredondo.

The troops managed to duck and drop on the ground, but the civilians behind them got hit, he said.

This is kind of an odd story. Why were these three people, (a 12, 13, and 26 year old) walking behind the troops? Why did they not flee as soon as they saw the troops or why did the troops not tell them to flee? Apparently this took place on a coconut farm as the victims were gathering coconuts. That the troops did not tell these three victims to run is unconscionable.

The NTF-ELCAC's telling of this story is quite disingenuous.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167603

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Friday condemned the recent "purposive" attack of the New People's Army (NPA) that killed two children in Barangay Roxas, Catubig, Northern Samar on February 8.

In a statement, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for Social Media Affairs and Sectoral Concerns, Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, also extended her condolences to the families of Andre Mercado, 12, and Leandro Alivio, 13, who were killed when rebels belonging to the NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), ambushed government troops.

She said the insurgents are “cowards who could only take on children” and deprive them of a safe place “where they can grow up, fulfill their destinies and be the strong pillars of our democracy”.

"Our hearts lie broken and we are awash in rage at the murder by the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front). Terrorists opened fire and purposely targeted the children who were in the vicinity of a firefight with government troops who were in hot pursuit of them," Badoy said.

She narrated that instead of pointing their guns at the soldiers, "these violent extremists pointed their guns at the two boys and their other companions -- two of them minors as well -- and opened fire”.

This is not what happened at all. What happened is that these boys were following the troops and the troops did not bother to tell them to leave the area immediately. Then the NPA opened fire on the soldiers but they were able to duck while the boys following them were hit. Does Badoy really think the NPA was targeting children? They should not have been there in the first place. The troops should be condemned for not telling them to flee the area. But you won't hear anyone telling that narrative despite it being true.