Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Assassinated Citizens August, 2026

Assassination is normal in the Philippines not only for government officials but also for regular citizens. The most common method of assassination for both citizens and officials is a motorcycle duo riding up on the target and then blasting them away. This series will document the number of citizens assassinated on a monthly basis. These stories are to be distinguished from regular murder cases which happen on a daily basis. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2275256/part-time-instructor-gunned-down-outside-bulacan-home

A 38-year-old part-time instructor was shot dead by an unidentified gunman outside his home in Sta. Maria town shortly after midnight on Thursday, July 30.

Col. Mark Louie Sigua, Sta. Maria police chief, identified the victim as Stephen Gelo Enriquez, a resident of St. Ville Subdivision in Barangay Poblacion.

Police said Enriquez had just arrived home and was about to get out of his vehicle at around 12:30 a.m. when a lone assailant, described as wearing a white bull cap, casually approached him from behind and opened fire.

Despite being wounded, Enriquez managed to shout for help, alerting his sister who was inside their house. She immediately rushed him to Bocaue Specialist Hospital, where he was later declared dead.

Investigators are conducting an extensive review of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage in the area to identify and track down the suspect.

Sigua said police are pursuing all possible angles in the investigation and are not focusing on a single motive.

According to the police chief, Enriquez worked as a part-time instructor and previously served as barangay secretary. He was also the campaign manager of a barangay leader in Poblacion and actively volunteered in church activities.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/03/religious-leader-killed-in-agusan-del-sur-ambush

A religious leader was killed and a tribal member was wounded in an ambush in Barangay Rizal, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur on Friday afternoon, July 31.

Police identified the fatality as Pastor Balvino Andaya, 61, a leader of the Risen Christ Community Church, and the wounded as Avelino Cajandig, 59, a member of the Banwaon Manobo Talaandig Tribal Council (BAMATA-TC).

Investigation said the victims were traveling aboard a Mitsubishi Montero Sport from Barangay Del Monte, Talacogon, Agusan del Sur when two unidentified motorcycle-riding suspects opened fire at their vehicle.

The Sports Utility Vehicle veered off the road and crashed into a roadside sari-sari store.

The Police Regional Office-13 on Monday ordered an extensive investigation of the incident and manhunt against the suspects.

A case conference was held at the San Francisco Municipal Police Station (MPS) led by PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Marcial Mariano P. Magistrado IV where investigators presented updates on the circumstances surrounding the incident, evidence gathered, intelligence developments, and the progress of ongoing investigative and follow-up operations.

Andaya died from multiple bullet wounds. Cajandig sustained a bullet wound and being treated in an undisclosed hospital.

Recovered from the area were several fired cartridge cases and fired bullets. These pieces of evidence were submitted for forensic and ballistic examinations

PRO-13 Public Information Office chief Police Lt. Col. Jennifer S. Ometer said hot-pursuit and follow-up operations are in full swing. “Our ground personnel are in round-the-clock operation to solve this incident,” Ometer added.

Magistrado activated “Oplan: Cure” to further strengthen operational support and sustain the manhunt for the perpetrators.

“We assure the public that PRO-13 is exhausting all available investigative and intelligence resources to ensure the immediate identification and arrest of those responsible for this senseless act of violence,” Magistrado said.

“We also call on anyone with information that may aid the investigation to immediately coordinate with the nearest police station. Together, we can ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable under the law.”

Ometer said PRO-13 remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering swift, impartial, and thorough investigations while upholding the rule of law and ensuring the safety and security of every community in the Caraga region.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2277024/makati-shooting-mom-dead-daughter-wounded

A 63-year-old mother was killed, and her 26-year-old daughter was wounded after they were shot by an unidentified man in Makati City, the Southern Police District (SPD) said Tuesday.

The perpetrator shot the pair near the corner of Makati Avenue and Durban Street in Barangay Poblacion early Monday night, according to the SPD.

“The victims were shot by an unidentified male suspect described as wearing a white shirt, maong shorts, and white shoes. The suspect immediately fled the area on foot after the incident,” the police said.

“At present, the identity of the suspect, the motive behind the attack, and other circumstances surrounding the incident remain under thorough investigation,” it added.

The victims were taken to the Makati Medical Center for treatment, but the mother was declared dead on arrival, the SPD noted.

The police did not identify either victim.

The SPD formed a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the incident.

“The SIT is working closely with all concerned units to maximize investigative efforts and expedite the identification and arrest of the suspect,” it said.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/05/indian-shot-dead-in-bacolod

An Indian national was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding gunmen in Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Villamonte here on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Police Major Joeil Reclamado, head of Police Station 4, said the victim was found lifeless near his motorcycle with head injuries.

Reclamado said the victim was on his way home when he was reportedly tailed by the suspects.

A slug and three spent cartridges of an unknown firearm were recovered in the crime scene.

Reclamado said they are conducting follow-up investigation.

The Bacolod City Police Office strongly condemned the killing and urged people with relevant information to inform authorities so that justice may be served on the victim.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/754720/novena-disrupted-man-shot-dead-near-san-roque-talisay-chapel

A man was shot and killed near a chapel in Sitio Kimba, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City, on Thursday evening, August 6, 2026, disrupting the recitation of novena prayers there.

Barangay Councilor Boboy Chan said no one was able to identify the victim, who was wearing a t-shirt, pants, and shoes.

The victim, Chan said, allegedly came from Cordova town and was riding a habal-habal (motorcycle taxi.)

“On call lang ni siya ang rider nga gisakyan sa biktima. Posible nga kaila sila daan,” Chan said.

(The rider was on call for the victim. Perhaps they knew each other.)

When they arrived near the chapel, the habal-habal driver went to a store to ask for coins in place of bills.

The victim got off the motorcycle; suddenly, an unknown assailant shot him several times, hitting different parts of his body.

Chan said that residents who were offering a novena heard several gunshots, which disrupted their religious activity.

Residents then saw the victim lying on the ground, which prompted them to stop the novena.

According to Chan, the police recovered the victim’s cellular phone, toll fee receipt, and ₱100 in cash from his pocket.

The Talisay City Police Station is still investigating the incident.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2285933/46-year-old-man-shot-in-oriental-mindoro-town

A 46-year-old man was shot multiple times by an unidentified assailant early Monday morning in Barangay Sta. Rita, in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, police said.

The shooting occurred at 5:15 a.m. in a parking area beside a Christian church, according to the Pinamalayan Municipal Police Station.

Police said the victim, a resident of Barangay Sta. Rita, had just arrived at the parking area when he was shot. 

The Pinamalayan MPS received a report about the incident from a barangay official at around 5:20 a.m. Police said the identity of the suspect and the possible motive for the shooting had yet to be established. 

Acting Pinamalayan police chief PLtCol Christian P. Bermudez said the police station was exerting all efforts to identify and apprehend the suspect.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/17/delivery-rider-e-bike-driver-retired-soldier-killed-in-three-shooting-incidents

A delivery rider, an e-bike driver and a retired soldier were gunned down in separate shooting incidents here over the weekend.

On Saturday, 20-year-old delivery rider Alnasar Abdihadi  was found lying on the ground beside his motorcycle at Southcom Village in barangay Upper Calarian at 3:15am.

Abdihadi was a resident of the same village.

Investigation showed that the delivery rider was in Purok 2 when he was shot.

At 10pm on Saturday, an e-bike driver identified as Sabtar Mariwa was killed in Barangay Sta Barbara.

Investigators recovered eight spent shells from a .45-caliber pistol at the crime scene. Residents reported hearing a series of rapid gunshots prior to seeing Mariwa's bloodied body on the ground.

A follow-up operation conducted by Zamboanga City Police Station -14 led to the arrest of one of the suspects.

Meanwhile, a retired soldier operating a sand and gravel business was killed after being shot by still unidentified suspects while travelling along the highway of Barangay Sibulao on Friday afternoon, August 14.  

The victim was identified as Edwin D. Gracias, 54, a resident of Sitio Guinuman, Tagasilay.

Investigation showed that the victim was travelling on board his dump truck when he was shot.

Four fired cartridges of a Garand rifle were found at the crime scene.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/18/man-gunned-down-in-cebu-city

 A 39-year-old man died in a shooting incident here early morning Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Police identified the fatality as a certain Paolo, who was attacked by two unidentified assailants in Barangay Sambag 2 around 2:50 a.m.

Police said the victim was smoking a cigarette by the road when two men on a motocycle arrived. The backrider got off the motorcycle and approached the victim.

After seeing that the backrider was armed, Paolo ran but the assailant gave chase and was eventually able to gun him down.

The victim was declared dead when he was brought to the hospital. The assailants sped off after the attack.

Police said investigation is underway to possibly identify the assailants and determine the motive of the attack.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/20/batching-plant-supervisor-gunned-down-in-batangas

A 49‑year‑old batching plant supervisor was shot to death while drinking in front of his house Wednesday night, Aug. 19, in Purok 5, Barangay Rizal.

Police identified the victim as Elmer, an employee of Remix Batching Plant and a resident of the area.

He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was declared dead on arrival at Divine Love Medical Center.

According to his son Emerson, Elmer was drinking with Van Allen Paul Garcia when four successive gunshots rang out.

Emerson rushed outside and saw his father lying on the ground while the gunman, wearing a hat, reloaded his firearm and fired twice more.

The suspect fled on a black motorcycle toward Barangay Calamias.

Police are investigating the killing.


https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/20/faith-healer-84-slain-in-negros-home

An 84‑year‑old faith healer was stabbed to death while sleeping beside his wife inside their house in Don Hermino Village, Barangay 1, E.B. Magalona, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Police identified the victim as Bay, also a pedicab driver.

Police Master Sgt. Henry Mangana III said two unidentified men wearing bonnets entered the couple’s home and attacked Bay with a knife while he and his 67‑year‑old wife were asleep.

The victim sustained multiple stab wounds and was declared dead at a hospital. His wife suffered minor injuries to her hand when she tried to intervene.

Investigators are looking into whether the attack was connected to Bay’s work as a faith healer or to personal grudges.

Mangana noted the victim had no police record.

Authorities said the assailants targeted only Bay.

Police have yet to identify the perpetrators, with limited information available as the victim’s wife, the lone witness, is mourning her husband’s death.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/20/woman-shot-dead-in-antipolo-found-wearing-dog-tag

Authorities are hunting four suspects who allegedly gunned down a woman found wearing a dog tag in Antipolo City late Tuesday, Aug. 18. 
The Antipolo Component City Police Station said the incident occurred around 11:55 p.m. beside Seminario Church in Barangay Inarawan. 
Initial investigation showed the victim, still unidentified, was standing near the church on a dark, rainy night when four men aboard two motorcycles approached her. 
For no apparent reason, police said, the suspects opened fire with firearms of undetermined caliber before fleeing in an unknown direction. 
The victim was rushed to Mambugan Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. 
Authorities said she was found wearing a dog tag inscribed with the name “Aiza.” 
“The victim’s remains are subject to autopsy examination by the appropriate forensic authorities to determine the exact cause and manner of death and to assist in the ongoing investigation,” Antipolo police said in a statement. 
Investigators are working to establish the motive, identify the victim, and track down the suspects.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/21/homeowners-president-slain-treasurer-hurt-in-caloocan-shooting

A 55‑year‑old homeowners association (HOA) president was shot dead while the treasurer was wounded when a helmeted gunman entered their office and opened fire in Barangay 171, Bagumbong, Caloocan City, Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20.

The victims were collecting monthly payments from residents at around 3 p.m. when the gunman entered, according to a witness who was also inside.

The witness said they initially thought the man was a resident who had come to pay and waited for him to remove his helmet.

Instead, the suspect kept his helmet on, closed the office door, and opened fire on the HOA president and treasurer.

The president collapsed after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, while the wounded treasurer managed to call for help.

Yolly De Padua Misagal, VAWC officer of Barangay 171, confirmed that the HOA president was killed and the treasurer was injured and taken to a hospital for observation.

Barangay officials said the president had previously received death threats.

Misagal added that the victim’s house was also shot at after the pandemic, with three bullets reportedly fired.

The president survived that earlier attack and stayed in the province for some time before returning to Caloocan.

The gunman fled after Thursday’s shooting and remained at large as police continued to investigate the attack, including the suspect’s identity and motive.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2289661/couple-ambushed-in-maguindanao-wife-slain-husband-hurt

Unidentified gunmen riding tandem on a motorbike ambushed a couple along a bridge in Pagalungan town, Maguindanao del Sur, killing the wife and seriously wounding the husband, police said.

Capt. Steffi Salanguit, speaking for police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), identified the fatality as Colie Mar Fuscablo Saguta-o and her wounded husband, Orlan Turga Saguta-on, both farmers of Barangay Amas, Kidapawan City.

Salanguit said the victims were on board a red Suzuki multicab vehicle heading for Pikit, Cotabato from Kidapawan City when ambushed at about 10:55 a.m. Friday, August 21, while cruising the Pagalungan bridge.

The bridge serves as the boundary of Pagalungan town in Maguindanao del Sur and Pikit, Cotabato.

The attackers’ motives and identities remained unknown as of posting.

The ambush occurred as police authorities in the region are currently implementing the election gun ban in preparation for next month’s parliamentary balloting.

https://themindanaosentinel.com/2026/08/23-year-old-driver-killed-in-shooting-along-diversion-road-in-datu-odin-sinsuat-amid-election-gun-ban/

A 23-year-old driver was shot dead by an unidentified gunman while driving a motorized tricycle locally known as a “payong-payong” along Diversion Road in Barangay Capiton, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Thursday night, August 20, 2026.

The killing adds to continuing concerns over gun-related violence in the region despite the strict implementation of the election gun ban, which prohibits the unauthorized carrying and use of firearms during the designated election period.

Police identified the victim as Chopin Mohammad Blah, also known as “Makoy,” a married resident of Barangay Capiton.

According to the initial investigation, Blah was driving his payong-payong through the area at around 10:40 p.m. when the unidentified assailant suddenly opened fire at him. After the shooting, the gunman immediately fled the area and escaped in an undetermined direction.

Responding police officers recovered two spent cartridge cases at the scene, which were believed to have come from a .45-caliber firearm. The recovered evidence was secured as part of the ongoing investigation and may be subjected to further examination to help establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Blah was immediately rushed to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City for emergency medical treatment. However, he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Following the incident, the victim’s wife brought his remains to Barangay Katuli, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, where his family prepared for his burial in accordance with Islamic rites.

The Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station has launched a continuing hot pursuit operation to identify and apprehend the gunman. Investigators are also working to establish the circumstances leading to the shooting and determine whether the victim had any known threats or disputes prior to the attack.

As of the latest police information, the motive remains unknown.

The shooting underscores the continuing challenge faced by authorities in preventing firearm-related crimes, particularly during periods when heightened security measures and restrictions on the movement and carrying of firearms are in effect. While the election gun ban is intended to help prevent violence and maintain public order, authorities continue to investigate how firearms are being possessed and used in criminal incidents.

Police have urged anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or who has information that could help identify the assailant to coordinate with the authorities. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials said further details will be released as they become available.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/23/former-ofw-shot-dead-in-car-in-negros

A 57-year-old former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was shot dead inside his car during a fiesta in Barangay 1-A, Manapla, Negros Occidental on Sunday, August 23.

The victim was only identified by police as Mauro, a resident of Barangay 1-A, Manapla, who had a piggery business.

Police Capt. Marion Vincent Buenaflor, Manapla police chief, said the victim was with his wife who was seated in the passenger seat, when an unidentified gunman fired at the driver’s side.

The victim initially had a bullet injury to his left ear, and was declared dead in a hospital. His wife was unharmed.

Prior to the attack, Buenaflor said the shooter was seen reportedly standing at the roadside with his getaway motorcycle parked on the opposite side of the road with an unidentified driver.

Buenaflor said they could not divulge any further information for now due to the sensitivity of the case.

But, he said that they are looking into something personal as a possible motive.

The incident happened before noon on their way home.

Recovered from the crime scene were three fired bullets of an unknown firearm. Investigation is ongoing.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/24/homeowners-president-slain-treasurer-wounded-in-caloocan-office-shooting

A 55-year-old homeowners association (HOA) president was killed while the group’s treasurer was wounded after they were shot inside their office in Barangay 171, Bagumbong, Caloocan City, Thursday afternoon, Aug. 20.

The Caloocan City Police Station (CCPS) reported that the victims were collecting monthly land payments from residents when a helmet-wearing man entered the office shortly after 3 p.m.

Based on the initial investigation, the suspect closed the office before shooting the HOA president and treasurer.

The president collapsed after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, while the wounded treasurer managed to seek help before the suspect fled.

The president was declared dead, while the treasurer was taken to a hospital for treatment and observation.

Authorities also learned that the slain HOA president had survived a previous shooting incident several years ago. Barangay officials said her house was fired at three times sometime after the pandemic, but she was not injured.

Following that earlier attack, the victim temporarily stayed in the province before returning to Caloocan.

As of this writing, police are investigating the motive and working to identify and locate the suspect. 

Authorities are also looking into whether the latest shooting is connected to the previous attack.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2291989/solar-panel-installer-shot-dead-in-maguindanao-del-norte

Unidentified gunmen shot dead a solar panel installer in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte on Tuesday amid the gun ban for the Sept. 14 first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

Capt. Steffi Salanguit, Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) spokesperson, identified the victim as Merham Tugis Amilol, 26, a resident of Barangay Banubo, Sultan Kudarat.

Salanguit said Amilol was one of three men installing a solar panel system in a house along the national highway in Barangay Dalumangcob, Sultan Kudarat, when two men riding tandem on a motorbike arrived at 10:40 a.m.

Salanguit said one of the two suspects pulled out a pistol and shot Amilol, killing him instantly.

The attack came despite the strict implementation of the election gun ban along major highways in the Bangsamoro region.

Amilol was the 13th individual killed in a gun attack in the two Maguindanao provinces since the implementation of the gun ban, in line with historic parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim (BARMM) next month.

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/760823/masked-men-shoot-20-yr-old-e-bike-rider-inside-bedroom-in-brgy-pasil

A 20-year-old e-bike driver was wounded after masked gunmen stormed his residence and shot him inside his bedroom in Sitio Lawis, Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, around 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

Police identified the victim by his alias, “Chanoy,” a resident of the area who lives with his live-in partner and their two-year-old child.

According to initial police investigations and witness accounts, at least six suspects clad in black clothing and face coverings entered the three-story structure.

The intruders first went to the third floor, where they robbed a boarder of a mobile phone. Then they entered an adjacent room demanding money and phones, but left after the occupants stated they had nothing to give.

A witness identified as “Inday,” the victim’s sister-in-law, recalled that Chanoy heard aggressive knocking at his door.

“They already went ahead to the 3rd floor. Then they took the cellphone of one of our boarders."

"After going upstairs, they knocked on our door too. Then when we opened it, they asked us for our cellphones and money, but my mother, who was with me in the room, answered them, ‘We don’t have anything to give, we have nothing to do with you,’ so they immediately left."

Sensing danger, Chanoy instructed his partner not to open it and attempted to escape by leaping through a glass window onto a neighbor’s roof.

However, the suspects managed to breach the door and opened fire, hitting Chanoy in the thigh.

Five gunshots were heard during the ordeal, which occurred while the victim’s partner and toddler were inside the room.

Barangay Captain Francisco De Gracia Jr. disclosed that Chanoy had a history of local disturbances and held a prior barangay blotter record for leading troubled youth groups in the community.

“That person has long been known to be unruly and a troublemaker. He’s the leader of the youth around here.”

De Gracia added that the victim had been previously incarcerated multiple times for drug-related offenses: 

“He has already been jailed before, and as far as I know, it wasn’t just once."

Police authorities in Pasil confirmed that the victim was arrested in 2024 and again in March 2026, and investigators currently point to illegal drugs as the primary motive behind the bedroom attack.

The victim remains hospitalized and is scheduled to undergo surgery for his gunshot injuries. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers are reviewing local CCTV footage to identify and track down the perpetrators.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2292045/man-shot-dead-in-front-of-horrified-wife-in-cotabato-city

A man settling a debt was shot dead in front of his horrified wife on Tuesday morning in Barangay Kalanganan 2 here, police said.

Col. Jibin Bongcayao, Cotabato City police director, identified the victim as Tulon Guinta Abas, a resident of Barangay Tamontaka Mother, also in this city.

Abas and his wife went to Barangay Kalanganan 2 to settle their financial obligation with a lending firm when an unidentified suspect, armed with a .45-caliber pistol, shot him in front of his wife at 8:15 a.m.

He died on the spot, while the suspect fled on a motorcycle.

The wife told police that her husband was also subjected to a gun attack on April 8 in Barangay Tamontaka Mother but survived unharmed. She said she had no idea who was behind the attack.

Abas was immediately laid to his final resting place on Tuesday afternoon in accordance with Islamic beliefs.

He was the 14th individual killed in a gun attack in the Maguindanao provinces since the implementation of the gun ban on July 16, 2026, in line with next month’s Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/28/college-student-killed-girlfriend-wounded-in-ilocos-norte-shooting

A 24-year-old college student was killed while his girlfriend was wounded when they were shot by a motorcycle-riding gunman in front of their residence in Barangay Uguis here Thursday night, August 27.

Police identified the fatality as alias "Jay,” a resident of Sitio Tres, Barangay Uguis.

His girlfriend, also a college student, and a resident of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, suffered gunshot wounds in the leg and abdomen.

Police said the victims had just arrived home at around 7:30 p.m. when a 19-year-old suspect, a resident of the same barangay, allegedly approached them on a motorcycle and fired four shots from a still unknown firearm

Jay sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He and his girlfriend were rushed to a hospital in Sinait, Ilocos Sur, but he was declared dead upon arrival.

The suspect is now the subject of a hot-pursuit operation.

The Nueva Era police are continuing their investigation and awaiting the SOCO findings.

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

Insurgency: Dramatic Economic Turnaround

The AFP has once again released an update on the war against the insurgency. 1,108 "insurgents and their supporters were “neutralized" from Jan. 1 to Aug. 27." What does that mean exactly? Let's check it out. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1283131

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said 1,108 New People's Army (NPA) insurgents and their supporters were “neutralized" from Jan. 1 to Aug. 27.

Of the total, 995 individuals surrendered, 40 were arrested, and 73 were killed during military operations, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a media interview Tuesday.

Neutralized, in military terms, refers to the surrender, capture, or killing of enemy troops.

During the same period, 698 firearms were either seized or surrendered, along with 276 anti-personnel mines.

Padilla said 39 NPA encampments were also captured during the same time.

"These figures tell us something very important – out of the 1,108 CTG (communist terrorist group) members and supporters encountered, 995 po ang (are) surrenderees. That tells us the path to peace and reintegration remains open," she added.

In 2025, the AFP reported neutralizing 2,018 NPA rebels and their supporters, capturing 149 NPA encampments, and the seizure or surrender of about 1,134 firearms and 531 anti-personnel mines.

Well, it doesn't mean a thing! Because they have not talked the numbers between actual NPA rebels and mere supporters the numbers look rather inflated. Remember, at last count there were only 780 NPA rebels left. 1,108 is 42% above the number of alleged remaining rebels! Has anyone else noticed this continuing discrepancy of reporting the number of NPA rebels and supporters neutralized versus the number of actual NPA rebels remaining? 

Meanwhile, actual rebels do continue to be neutralized. A leader linked to the deaths of soldiers was recently killed in a clash. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1283026

A ranking leader of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the Bicol Region was killed following a 10-minute armed encounter between government forces and around five New People's Army (NPA) members in Barangay Magogon, Camalig, Albay, the 9th Infantry Division (9ID) reported on Tuesday.

In a report, Maj. Frank Roldan, 9ID spokesperson, said troops of the 31st Infantry Battalion (31st IB), together with personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), encountered the group Monday night.

Roldan identified the leader, who used the aliases "Jerry," "Josam," "Floyd" and "Maeng," as the leader of the Regional Sub-Office Guerrilla Operations of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.

"Following the exchange of gunfire, Josam was found dead at the encounter site after his companions reportedly left him behind," Roldan said in an interview.

Government forces recovered a Glock 17 9mm pistol, subversive documents and personal belongings.

He said Josam had been a member of the NPA for more than three decades and had served in various leadership positions within the communist terrorist group in Bicol.

He was also reportedly facing multiple criminal charges, including several counts of murder and attempted murder, robbery with homicide, and multiple murder with frustrated attempted murder.

Roldan added that Josam was the principal suspect in the killing of two soldiers who were conducting rescue operations and buying supplies in Barangay Cotmon, Camalig, in February 2023.

The 9ID also renewed its call for remaining CTG members to abandon the armed struggle and return to the fold of the law through the government's reintegration programs.

It's amazing that the AFP has claimed the NPA is leaderless when they keep killing leaders. Another NPA leader was arrested.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/31/ex-npa-leader-falls-to-authorities-in-nueva-ecija

The remaining pillar of what was once a formidable communist rebel structure operating in the Cordillera and Ilocos regions has fallen into the hands of authorities.

John Lee Hondrado, alias “Lig-on,” an alleged remnant of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC) and former leader of the dismantled Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG) North Abra, was arrested in Nueva Ecija in what security forces described as a major blow to the remaining network of the group.

The Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division (5ID) said Hondrado was arrested in Barangay Parista, Lupao, Nueva Ecija, on August 21 in a joint operation with the Philippine National Police (PNP), including the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

The military described Hondrado as the last remaining member of the ICRC, a development that could signal the final collapse of the regional communist structure that once operated across parts of the Cordillera and Northern Luzon.

Hondrado, also identified as a former leader of KLG North Abra, had allegedly remained at large even after the guerrilla unit was dismantled.

Authorities arrested him while serving warrants for attempted homicide and violations of laws on the illegal manufacture, sale, acquisition, possession, and ownership of firearms and ammunition.

His arrest came five months after security forces launched a sweeping crackdown against alleged ICRC members.

On March 11, authorities arrested 10 alleged active members of the ICRC in simultaneous operations in Fairview, Quezon City, and Tarlac City. The suspects were allegedly linked to rebel operations in Abra, Kalinga, and Apayao.

The arrests were followed by the surrender of two other high-ranking communist terrorist group officials in Tabuk City, Kalinga, bringing the total number of persons accounted for in the earlier operations to 12.

Among those identified was Gabriel Kennedy Lao-ing Bangibang, described as a former KLG Baggas secretary and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant. He is now detained at the BJMP-Kalinga District Jail.

Also identified were Theresa Falitnang Forag, an alleged ICRC member from Abra, and Javar Anglao Sugao, described as a former KLG Baggas intelligence officer and alleged vice commanding officer of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Kalinga.

Other alleged members included Renato Ginez, Rani Francella Tuazon, Marc Arriane Mendiola y Tolentino, and Bobby Calsiyao Yag-ao, a former KLG Baggas member and alleged NPA Abra assistant medic.

The earlier suspects were wanted for offenses ranging from attempted and frustrated murder to qualified trafficking in persons and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

With Hondrado now in custody, government security forces believe they may have closed in on what was left of the ICRC’s once-sprawling network.

However, authorities are not yet declaring the fight over.

Security forces continue to track possible underground operatives and supporters and are monitoring any attempt to rebuild or revive dismantled communist structures in the Cordillera and Northern Luzon.

There are certainly more leaders out there. 

There are definitely more NPA arms caches waiting to be discovered. The Army recovered another one recently. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1283323

Army troopers from the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) recovered firearms and ammunition hidden by remnants of the New People's Army (NPA) during an operation Thursday in Barangay Lobo, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur.

The cache included an M14 rifle, an M1 Garand rifle, five 20-round detachable box magazines, 32 rounds of .30-caliber ammunition, and 89 rounds of 7.62x51 mm ammunition.

In a statement on Friday, 30IB commander Lt. Col. Rey Vergel Annogui stressed that the recovery further weakens the capability of NPA remnants to conduct armed activities.

He said the seizure also helps prevent the resurgence of armed conflict in previously affected communities in Cantilan and across Surigao del Sur.

"This successful recovery demonstrates our troops' unwavering commitment to protecting communities and sustaining the gains we have achieved in our areas of responsibility," Annogui said.

He added that 30IB will continue efforts to keep NPA weapons from being used to threaten residents and disrupt peace in the province.

"We also call on our communities to remain vigilant and continue working with us in building a safer, more peaceful, and progressive Surigao," Annogui said.

They never tell us the conditions of these weapons. The must be operational though if they are worthy enough to be reported on. 

Mindoro has experienced a dramatic recovery after beating the insurgency. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1283318

Improving economic conditions in the province of Occidental Mindoro has resulted in a reduction of poverty and insurgency incidents.

In a statement released by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Friday, Occidental Mindoro Lone District Rep. Leody Tarriela said the province's dramatic economic turnaround — from 2.1 percent growth to a nation-leading 11.2 percent — offers compelling evidence that bringing roads, electricity, livelihoods and basic government services to formerly conflict-affected communities can break the cycle of poverty and insurgency.

He added that the province’s transformation demonstrates in concrete terms the principle behind the government’s whole-of-nation peace and development strategy: lasting peace cannot be secured by security operations alone, but must be sustained by development that people can see, use and feel in their everyday lives.

Tarriela declared that infrastructure has opened communities once isolated by geography, poverty and decades of armed conflict.

His remarks came amid Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showing Occidental Mindoro posting an extraordinary economic expansion, alongside recent statements from the National Anti-Poverty Commission and Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon linking poverty reduction and inclusive development with the weakening of conditions historically exploited by insurgent groups.

For decades, Occidental Mindoro was known as the country's "brownout capital" due to chronic power interruptions lasting from 16 to 18 hours daily, while many remote communities in the province remained vulnerable to communist insurgency.

Improved power supply, expanding infrastructure and sustained peace and development interventions have helped create conditions for investment, employment and greater economic activity.

Power interruptions have been substantially reduced, while seven of the province’s 11 municipalities had attained insurgency-free status by 2024.

“The 11.2 percent growth is not just a number—it is a symbol of real change,” Tarriela said. And with improved power supply, the lawmaker said investors came to Occidental Mindoro, bringing in more jobs and opportunities.

With this development, Tarriela said poverty and hunger fell, with government services now truly felt. And this is why, Tarriela said, why people no longer join or support armed groups.

He cited the municipality of Magsaysay as a concrete example of development reaching communities on the ground.

Magsaysay became the first municipality in the country to complete an infrastructure project under the FY 2026 Local Government Support Fund–Support to the Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP), making Mimaropa the first region nationwide to report completed projects under the FY 2026 program.

Under the FY 2026 SBDP, eligible cleared barangays receive funding for high-impact community projects such as farm-to-market roads, water systems, school buildings, health stations and rural electrification—investments designed to address the very conditions of isolation and underdevelopment that allowed insurgency to persist for decades.

Tarriela likewise cited Sablayan, where farm-to-market roads and other development initiatives have begun connecting previously isolated communities to markets, schools, health facilities and government services. He also explained that isolation imposes a heavy economic burden on poor communities.

“Kung maganda ang buhay ng tao at kumakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw, nakapag-aral ang mga anak nila—doon nababawasan ang insurhensya (if the people are having a good life and eating three times a day and able to send their children to school—insurgency will be greatly reduced)," Tarriela said.

He thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the NTF-ELCAC for sustaining development interventions in communities emerging from decades of insurgency, stressing that programs such as the BDP help convert security gains into lasting economic and social progress.

Tarriela acknowledged that Occidental Mindoro still faces challenges, particularly in achieving fully reliable electricity and consolidating lasting peace across the province. But its experience, he said, demonstrates what can happen when the government addresses conflict not only through security measures, but by confronting the poverty, isolation and lack of opportunity on which insurgency has historically thrived.

He called for the expansion and sustained funding of the Barangay Development Program, saying many communities across the country are still waiting for the roads, water systems, schools, health facilities, electricity and livelihood opportunities now transforming parts of Occidental Mindoro.

This is laughable!! "The province's dramatic economic turnaround — from 2.1 percent growth to a nation-leading 11.2 percent — offers compelling evidence that bringing roads, electricity, livelihoods and basic government services to formerly conflict-affected communities can break the cycle of poverty and insurgency." Are you telling me that bringing civilization to a backwards area brings economic growth and lifts people out of poverty!? WOW!!  It truly is a case of good governance being a counterinsurgency program instead of the norm! This is literally what a functioning government is supposed to do by default.

Monday, September 7, 2026

Week 9 of Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial Part 2

Week 9 of Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial flipped the script with the lead defense attorney becoming a key eyewitness for the prosecution. It seems Attorney Michael Poa's fate is entwined with that of Sara Duterte. Being that he was Undersecretary for the DepEd while she was Secretary and he handled the COA audit response. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2297970/poa-admits-he-also-faces-liability-if-vp-found-guilty

Michael Poa, who served as Vice President Sara Duterte’s chief of staff, undersecretary for finance and spokesperson at the Department of Education (DepEd), acknowledged on Wednesday that he could face liability if Duterte is found guilty of misusing millions of pesos in confidential funds, while maintaining that he had no personal knowledge of how the money was used.

Poa, now one of Duterte’s defense lawyers but testifying as a hostile prosecution witness on Day 21 of her impeachment trial, also said he learned about the unusual names appearing in acknowledgment receipts for confidential fund payments only during congressional hearings in 2024, even though he had prepared DepEd’s response to a Commission on Audit (COA) audit observation memorandum (AOM) questioning P112.5 million in confidential expenditures.

Asked by Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros whether Office of the Vice President (OVP) and DepEd personnel could be held accountable if Duterte were found liable, Poa said: “It’s possible. Just being objective, Your Honor.”

Hontiveros then asked if Poa himself could face liability.

“It’s possible. I hope not, but possible,” he replied.

No operational role

Poa maintained that he had no operational role in handling the confidential funds. He said his involvement began only after he received the COA’s AOM flagging DepEd’s confidential fund reward payments. Before that, he said, he had no personal knowledge of how the funds were used.

After receiving the AOM, Poa said he approached then Undersecretary for Administration Nolasco Mempin to obtain proof of the success of activities supposedly funded through the rewards, particularly accomplishment reports.

Mempin, whom Poa said also had no personal knowledge of the funds’ use, eventually obtained certifications from Armed Forces of the Philippines officers, including Col. Manaros Boransing II and Col. Magtanggol Panopio.

But Boransing and Panopio told the impeachment court on Tuesday that they did not know their certifications would be used to support the liquidation of DepEd’s confidential expenditures. The two Army officers said their documents merely recorded participants’ attendance in eight Army-sponsored Youth Leadership Summits and 53 Information Education Campaign activities. They also testified that neither DepEd nor the OVP provided the AFP with confidential funds for those programs.

“Unfortunately, all that really came to me was this certification. So, that’s all I attached to our response to COA,” he said.

‘Impression’ and ‘theory’

Poa also softened his earlier explanation to the House that activities supported by the confidential funds were targeted based on information supplied by informants, describing that explanation as merely his “impression” and “theory.”

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian pointed out that Poa’s written response to the COA sounded more definitive, making it appear that information from informants had directly contributed to successful operations.

“How do you now prove that this success is from confidential information, from payment of rewards? How do you connect this to a successful payment of reward that led to a successful operation?” Gatchalian asked.

He also told private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. that buying information from informants did not necessarily guarantee an immediately successful operation.

“Not all information purchased will necessarily result [in] immediate success,” Poa said when asked whether proof of success was required under Joint Circular 2015-01, which governs the use of confidential and intelligence funds.

Senator-judge Joel Villanueva questioned Poa on the basis for using AFP certifications to support DepEd’s P15.54 million in confidential fund expenditures.

‘Abogadong walang alam’

Poa said he did not consider the certifications in isolation, pointing to language in the documents referring to a “synergistic exchange of intelligence and information” that enabled authorities to identify areas where activities would be conducted.

The prosecution’s offer of Poa’s testimony triggered a sharp exchange after Tolosa described him as “ang abogadong walang alam (lawyer who knew nothing),” referring to his being tasked by Duterte to answer the COA despite repeatedly saying he did not know how the confidential funds were used.

Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison vehemently objected, saying Poa had rights under the trial rules to be protected from irrelevant, improper and insulting questions and from harsh or insulting treatment. Tolosa apologized and said he meant only that Poa had repeatedly testified in the House that he knew nothing about the funds.

Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero ordered the phrase stricken from the record, saying it was discourteous and should not be used in referring to a fellow lawyer.

Names surfaced in House

Poa’s testimony also underscored the limits of his knowledge of the documents used to liquidate the confidential funds.

Asked by Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo whether he was familiar with names appearing in acknowledgment receipts submitted to the COA as proof of payment to supposed confidential informants, Poa said he did not remember seeing anything fictitious while at DepEd. He said he saw the unusual names only when the receipts were shown during the House inquiry in 2024, including the controversial “Mary Grace Piattos.”

When he asked former DepEd special disbursing officer Edward Fajarda for documents evidencing payments required for the COA audit, Poa said Fajarda initially handed him a sealed envelope, saying the documents were confidential. Poa asked to see at least one sample because he was responsible for submitting DepEd’s response to the COA. The envelope was opened and he was shown an acknowledgment receipt.

‘First time’ hearing of Nolasco

Poa prepared DepEd’s response to COA’s AOM covering confidential expenditures for the first three quarters of 2023. The COA had flagged the lack of documents supporting the use of P112.5 million in confidential funds. Poa submitted DepEd’s response for the first two quarters in February 2024 and for the third quarter in April.

Poa likewise testified that he first learned during the 2024 congressional hearings that the confidential funds had allegedly been transferred to a security officer.

He had previously said that only Duterte and Fajarda were privy to the use of the funds. But Fajarda testified during the House inquiry that he had turned over the funds to Col. Dennis Nolasco, then deputy chief of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.

Tolosa asked whether Fajarda’s statement was the first time Poa learned of Nolasco’s involvement. Poa said it was, adding that it was also the first time he learned that Nolasco was a security officer and that Fajarda had transferred the funds to him.

Poa agreed that when he prepared DepEd’s response to the COA, he did not know about Nolasco’s role and could not have spoken with him about payments supposedly made to informants.

Meanwhile, the House prosecution panel is weighing whether to abandon the bribery article against Duterte.

Public prosecutor Joel Chua said in a press briefing that the panel was studying whether to proceed directly to the unexplained wealth article after completing its presentation on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

“We are considering dropping one article,” Chua told reporters, stressing that no final decision had been made. The panel is still weighing an option.

Chua said dropping one article could shorten the proceedings, with the prosecution hoping to finish its presentation by the first week or mid which the dle of October, the defense by November and the impeachment court potentially issuing a decision by December.

Why was Poa tapped to handle the COA response when he had no knowledge of how the funds were actually spent? He only knew of things second hand and did not learn crucial information until the House hearing in 2024. 

He also never saw the vault in which the confidential funds documents were by law supposed to be kept. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2297647/poa-admits-he-never-saw-depeds-vault-for-confidential-documents

It is not clear whether the Department of Education (DepEd) had a vault for its confidential documents, with its former spokesperson and chief-of-staff Michael Poa on Wednesday admitting that he had never seen the safe during his time with the department.

According to Senator-Judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan during the 21st day Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the lack of such a vault would be a violation of Joint Circular (JC) No. 2015-01, the primary regulatory framework for the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of confidential and intelligence funds or CIF.

Under the JC, agencies utilizing CIF are strictly required to keep receipts, logs, as well as sensitive identity details inside a secured agency vault managed by a designated Special Disbursing Officer (SDO).

"According to the JC there is a vault required but I didn’t see that vault," Koa admitted during the proceedings. 

"I didn’t see any vaults when I was at DepEd," he aded.

In fact, Poa even said that when he was instructed to respond to an audit observation memorandum or AOM from the Commission on Audit regarding DepEd’s confidential funds, the lawyer said the department’s SDO had to “get it from the field.”

“So it was not in the vault?” said Pangilinan.

“Based on logic, it was not in the vault at the time that I asked for it,” Poa responded.

Pangilinan then pointed out that being from the field meant that the confidential documents were outside the vault for almost six months.

But Poa said DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda would be the best person to address the matter as he had no personal knowledge about it.

"That’s one concern, that you don’t know if there is a vault, and if there isn’t a vault, that’s already a violation of the JC," said Pangilinan.

“You don’t know if it was kept on the envelope because the SDO said it was on the field, so most likely it was not in an envelope in the vault, so another violation, assuming ha? I don’t know” he added.

With this, Pangililanan lamented how many questions about DepEd’s spending and handling of confidential funds continue to be left unanswered—leaving the public unable to know if the funds were spent correctly.

"That’s what’s a bit tragic here. We want to know the truth but we can’t get the truth from the witness, it’s a bit sad," he said. 

Poa, for his part, apologized, reiterating that he simply had no personal knowledge on the matter—adding that if he did, he “would gladly answer.” 

Appranelty there might not even have been a vault! That would be another violation by Sara Duterte. Senator-Judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is right to lament "how many questions about DepEd’s spending and handling of confidential funds continue to be left unanswered." 

The only people who can answer these questions are Sara and those who actually handled the funds. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1283176

Vice President Sara Duterte, then education secretary, and officials directly involved in handling the Department of Education’s (DepEd) PHP112.5 million in confidential funds were the only ones who knew how the money was used, former DepEd undersecretary, chief of staff, and spokesperson Michael Wesley Poa testified on Wednesday.

In his testimony, Poa, now part of Duterte’s defense team, admitted he had no personal knowledge of the expenditures that he later defended before state auditors.

He confirmed that Duterte and then-DepEd special disbursing officer (SDO) Edward Fajarda knew about the use of the confidential funds.

He later added then-DepEd security officer Col. Dennis Nolasco, whose role he learned about only after a House of Representatives hearing in November 2024, where Fajarda confirmed that he turned over the confidential funds to Nolasco.

“Opo (Yes),” Poa replied when private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. identified Duterte and Fajarda as those who knew how the funds were used.

Poa also testified that Duterte knew about and authorized his handling of DepEd’s response to an Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) from the Commission on Audit (COA) questioning the expenditures.

He said he informed Duterte when the AOM arrived and sought her permission to coordinate with Fajarda.

“In-inform ko po siya (I informed her) that we got the AOM, and I informed her and asked for permission if I can coordinate with the SDO, dahil ’yan lang naman ang alam ko na may alam dito sa mga pondo na ’to (because to my knowledge, he was the only one who knew about these funds). And she said, ‘Okay,’” Poa said.

Poa said he later briefed Duterte on his answers to COA and that she responded, “Okay.” He also gave her a soft copy of the response a day before it was submitted.

Poa acknowledged that he did not know about Nolasco’s alleged role when he prepared the response.

“Actually, that was the first time that I heard that there was a security officer,” Poa said, referring to the 2024 inquiry of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability where he learned about Nolasco.

Poa confirmed his recollection of Fajarda’s previous testimony that all three PHP37.5 million releases were turned over to Nolasco. He also said he never spoke with Nolasco while gathering information to answer COA.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) certifications attached to DepEd’s COA response also came under scrutiny during Poa’s testimony.

Poa confirmed that the certifications did not identify the informers who supposedly received confidential fund rewards or the particular information purchased with those rewards.

“No particular specific information was identified. Yes,” he said.

Poa said the AFP certifications were submitted as proof of success in connection with the rewards but insisted he had no personal knowledge whether information obtained through the rewards actually resulted in the military activities cited.

“That is just my interpretation of the certification,” he clarified. “Whether or not that is indeed the case, I really do not have personal knowledge of it.”

Poa also confirmed that no DepEd confidential funds were given to the AFP for the Youth Leadership Summits covered by the certifications.

Army Col. Manaros Boransing II and Col. Magtangol Panopio earlier testified that their certifications were not intended to account for or justify DepEd’s confidential fund expenditures.

The House prosecution panel presented Poa as a hostile witness, a status granted by the Senate impeachment court that allowed private prosecutor Tolosa to ask leading questions.

He was the third prosecution witness declared hostile after former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer (SDO) Gina Acosta and OVP Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.

The PHP112.5 million forms part of Article I of the impeachment charges accusing Duterte of alleged misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of PHP612.5 million in confidential funds, including PHP500 million at the OVP. 

The public may never hear hide nor hair from them. That leaves a man like Attorney Poa as the fall guy. Even if Sara Duterte is convicted and permanently banned from holding public office the public will likely never know the true story of where all the money went.