Insurgency: This is Not Martial Law

On March 16th President Duterte placed Metro Manila under "enhanced community quarantine." A few days later he placed all of Luzon under lockdown. No one is getting in and no one is getting out. Across the nation cities and provinces have begun shutting their borders in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19. Despite the fact that both the PNP and the AFP have been deployed to enforce the quarantine of Manila and lockdown of Luzon Duterte has assured everyone this is not martial law.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1243217/duterte-on-luzon-wide-enhanced-community-quarantine-this-is-not-martial-law-covid19phsafeathome-total-lockdown-covid19-mmlockdown

“Let me be this clear, this is not martial law. Under the Constitution martial law is declared when there is invasion, rebellion or public safety requires it,” Duterte said in his live public address. 

(This not martial law, don’t be afraid. No one will be allowed to display guns except law enforcers and soldiers. Martial law is meant against the enemies of the state but in this case, we are fighting COVID-19.)

One could argue that "the public safety does require it" which is why the whole world, not just the Philippines, is locking down. It's a global panic. Funny that Duterte says "no one will be allowed to display guns except law enforcers and soldiers." Are people allowed to open carry in the Philippines? I don't think so.

While Duterte says "this is not martial law" it is no wonder if people are confused since with the presence of the AFP and PNP it seems a lot like marital law. One city is even requiring those who wish to leave their homes to have a pass.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1097129

Village officials in this province have tightened watch on residents going out of their homes on the second day of the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon to combat the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid–19). 

Residents were required to apply for a barangay certification before they can travel for important purposes within the town or when going to other towns. 

Village councilman Zaldy Lazarte of Santa Lucia here said Thursday that the certification is issued free of charge and permits the applicant to go out of their residence but only for valid and important reasons.

Now that Luzon is under quarantine many cities are requiring anyone wanting to go out to have a pass.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/03/21/2002505/what-are-quarantine-passes-and-why-are-they-handed-out-during-luzon-wide-lockdown

Since the month-long enhanced community quarantine kicked in, municipalities and cities in Luzon have begun handing out quarantine passes to curb the rising number of new coronavirus cases. 

Different local government units have started issuing community quarantine passes, following the national government’s directive that only one person per household is allowed to go outside to purchase basic necessities and provisions for food. 

A quarantine pass designates a household member as the representative of his or her household in procuring necessities. This disallows other family members to buy goods and conduct transactions outside their homes. 

But not all community quarantine passes can be used at all times. Some barangyas like Brgy. Niugan in Malabon City said the passes are not applicable during curfew hours from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Quarantine pass holders are also told to bring identification cards when they go out. 

In Manila, pass holders should be between 18 and 50 years old. Barangay officials will have to submit the list of family representatives to the city government. 

While other cities and municipalities have issued quarantine passes, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the city will not be implementing such measure as it is not included in the guidelines. 

“The exemptions are very clear and provided for naman. It provides for us to be able to go out naman if needed,” Gatchalian said on Twitter. 

The issuance of quarantine passes is not included in the guidelines. But barangay captains are instructed to check the compliance of residents. 

Gatchalian added that the issuance of quarantine passes is “subject to abuse.” 

In a tweet on Sunday, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto said the city will not be using passes either. 

"Upon clarification with the [PNP National Capital Region Police Office] and [Joint Task Force CV Shield]: We do not need Quarantine Passes within Pasig jurisdiction," Sotto said. 

(Let's not add to the requirements. This will just be an additional person-to-person contact. It is also subject to abuse and misuse.) 

There were reports that some barangays charge passes for a fee when they should be given out by village officials for free.

If passes aren't needed then why have them?  As Sotto says it's only additional contact and a temptation to corruption. They also maks the situation unnecessarily feel much more like martial law.

The AFP is of course glad to help out manning checkpoints. It is their job and their duty. AFP spokesperson, Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo says it's all part of the whole-of-government approach.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096713

"The AFP (along with the PNP) is part of the whole-of-government approach in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, all agencies of government—national and local— take part in this endeavor," he said in a statement to reporters Sunday. 

Arevalo said the measures outlined by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases have to be enforced diligently, otherwise they will become a law and order problem, not just a health issue. 

Measures include community quarantine, curfew, and the so-called social distancing. 

"That notwithstanding, soldiers are there to assist line departments of government. Their arms are primarily not rifles and pistols; they are not boarded in tanks or armored personnel carriers," he added. 

Arevalo said deployment of troops with the Department of Health, includes military doctors, nurses, and aid men armed with health and diagnostic equipment aboard ambulances. 

"The AFP is manned and ready not only to address attacks by terrorists and other enemies of the state hiding under the cloak of legality or anonymity," he added.

While the AFP is "manned and ready" to address attacks by terrorists they are hoping such attacks will not occur.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1245458/palace-to-joma-sison

“At a time when all Filipinos, regardless of class, religion, or ideology, are united to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country, Mr. Sison, in these times  of national health emergency and calamity, would rather have a hostile environment where Filipinos argue with, if not kill, each other,” Panelo said in a statement. 

“This circumstance is a golden opportunity for Mr. Sison to show his patriotism by extending his hands for peace, for the sake of the Filipino people,” he added.

I would not count on the patriotism of Joma Sison. For Sison peace does not mean cessation of hostilities but the enactment of the CASER agreement. Duterte however has already declared a ceasefire with the Reds so the AFP and PNP can focus on enforcing the lockdown and quarantine.

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/03/20/2002234/duterte-declares-unilateral-ceasefire-reds

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the unilateral ceasefire with the communists would be in effect from March 19 to April 15. 

“The President has directed the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), to cease and desist from carrying out offensive military and police operations during the ceasefire period,” Panelo said in a statement issued Wednesday night. 

“Through this ceasefire, the Philippine government aspires that the swift provision of public health assistance goes unimpeded with the movement of health workers and medical supplies to communities, as well as to people in need of immediate medical attention,” Panelo added. 

Duterte expressed his intention to declare a ceasefire with the rebels on March 17, the day he announced the implementation of an enhanced

community quarantine in Luzon. 

“The problem is not everyone loves this government. Did you, the NPA (New People’s Army) members, love the government? If not, at least cooperate,” Duterte said. 

“Distancing and do not touch my soldiers. Let’s observe a ceasefire for now. I am asking you for a ceasefire.”

Joma Sison is not having it.  He says there is no basis for the ceasefire. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1245684/joma-snubs-govts-renewed-call-for-truce

“The government unilateral ceasefire is not true. The military and police operations continue in different areas,” Sison, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder, said in an online interview from his base in Utrecht in The Netherlands Friday afternoon.

Sison claimed that the deployment of government forces in Luzon supposedly to help in the implementation of enhanced community quarantine was also another deceit. 

“That redeployment in urban areas, especially in Luzon, that’s not to fight COVID-19 but to stop public transport, a nuisance and damage to the livelihood of the people and blocking of medical testing and treatment of those sick with COVID-19 or whatever ailment,” Sison said. 

Sison described the ceasefire declaration as “premature, if not insincere and false, and just a psywar trick.”

He added that the military and police “continue to Red-tag, abduct, and murder social activists, including human rights defenders.”

No matter though. It seems the coronavirus has forced the NPA to stop planning attacks agains the government and focus on fighting the virus. Joma of course neglects to say just how the NPA and NDF are fighting COVID-19.  It's a ceasefire by default.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1246603/joma-sison-npa-also-busy-fighting-covid-19-no-time-to-attack-govt-forces

“The CPP, NPA and NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines) are extremely busy now trying to fight the Covid-19 pandemic which Duterte and his gang allowed to enter and spread in the Philippines,” Sison said in a statement from his base in Utrecht in The Netherlands Sunday afternoon.

Both the AFP and PNP support the ceasefire saying all units have shifted to focus on disaster response.

https://mindanaotimes.com.ph/2020/03/20/pnp-afp-back-ceasefire-with-npa-amid-covid-19/

All national, regional, provincial, and district units engaged in internal security operations have shifted focus to disaster response and public safety to enforce the enhanced community quarantine across the country to contain COVID-19. 

“This cessation of police offensive operations against the CPP-NPA will allow PNP maneuver units to be fully utilized for quarantine control and general public safety operations to ensure swift and immediate assistance to patients and persons under investigation and monitoring,” he said. 

The PNP personnel are instructed to maintain defensive vigilance against possible hostile actions by armed threat groups. 

“We remain hopeful that the CPP-NPA-NDF will reciprocate the government’s gesture good faith in the interest of public welfare and peace,” he further said. 

Meanwhile, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. told TIMES that they fully support President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of unilateral ceasefire, which took effect at 00:01 of March 19, 2020 until 23:59 of April 15, 2020. 

Santos said the President showed that he is willing to go beyond the usual means—including the temporary halt on the hostilities— if only to create the condition where soldiers will not be attacked while delivering government services. 

By the President’s action, he said the message is clear: “The safety, health, and well-being of our countrymen in the face of COVID-19 pandemic is primordial.” 

“I call on every soldier, airmen, sailors, marines, and reservists to continue their keen focus on their mission to protect our people from and assist medical health practitioners in the fight against this dreaded disease,” The AFP chief said. 

“We have been through ceasefire declarations in the past where the NPA disregards government’s good faith,” he said. 

“While I direct the troops to observe guarded optimism, your AFP will not be deterred by similar treacherous attacks by Communist Terrorist Group,” he added. “We will be there where and when we are needed,” he further said.

The hopeful optimism of the AFP and PNP that the NPA will reciprocate the ceasefire is a tad naive. The NPA are simply not interested in peace. 50 years of fighting and you would think the AFP and PNP know that by now. 

With the ceasefire in effect for the next month it could hamper the projections of the AFP that 2 of 9 NPA fronts in Samar will soon be defeated.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1096771

The Philippine Army is eyeing to dismantle two of the nine remaining guerrilla fronts of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Samar Island within two months, a top official said on Monday. 

Maj. Gen. Pio Diñoso III, commander of the Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division, said in a phone interview Monday the days for the two NPA fronts in Samar are now numbered as part of their bid to free Samar Island from the communist insurgency. 

“Two fronts are about to fall in two months. We have the right formula and the support of ELCAC (end the local communist armed conflict) members to make this happen,” Diñoso told the Philippine News Agency (PNA). 

The region, he said, has only nine guerrilla fronts with about 500 members and all operating in three Samar provinces. 

In Samar province, the communist terrorist group has been recruiting youth fighters, conduct extortion activities, collect solicitations in the guise of helping marginalized people, and launching treacherous attacks against government forces by detonating landmines.

Last year the AFP noted that Samar along with Mindanao was an area of concern and that they hoped to resolve it by the end of the year.

"We are looking at Eastern Mindanao and Samar area as areas of concern, yung Negros, we plan to end it by this year," he said. 

https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/10/martial-law-rebellion-must-be-stopped.html

Obviously it didn't work out as planned.  The complications arising from having to deal with COVID-19 will only add to the difficulty of the task of defeating the NPA.