The AFP is looking to secure peace and safety in Mindanao. Who better to partner with than the terrorist group MILF?
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114905 |
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has agreed to convince the members of the Dawlah Islamiya, formerly known as the Maute group, to lay down their arms and to return to the fold of the law.
In a statement Wednesday, the Army's 1st Infantry Division said the agreement was reached during a meeting between Lt. Col. Franco Raphael Alano, commander of the 55th Infantry Battalion (IB), and Abdullah Macapaar alias Commander Bravo of the North-Western Mindanao Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (NWMF-BIAF-MILF).
Macapaar is also a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The meeting of the two officials took place Tuesday at Camp Bilal Bin Rabbah Dalu Shuhadah, Barangay Tamparan in Munai, Lanao del Sur.
Lt. Col. Domingo Dulay Jr., commander of the Army's 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, facilitated the meeting of the two officials, according to 1ID.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the measures they can undertake to resolve the terrorism issue in the area, particularly in Madalum, Lanao del Sur, which is a priority area for the military’s counter-terrorism efforts and where both the 55IB and the NWMF-BIAF-MILF oversee.
Did I miss something? Aren't MILF terrorists supposed to be disarming? The NWMF-BIAF-MILF has their own Facebook page complete with videos of them marching on armed patrols. Here is a picture from their FB page.
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| https://www.facebook.com/108944137326943/photos/a.108947023993321/108947000659990/?type=3&theater |
It's a good thing that these terorrists who control the BARMM have decided to convince the remaining members of the Maute group to surrender. It shows their true dedication to peace in Mindanao. They are a little late to the party but better late than never right?
Maybe the MILF will also assist the AFP in finding the 8 foreign terrorists claims are hiding out in the Philippines.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1333028/afp-8-foreign-terrorists-hiding-in-ph |
“We have identified eight terrorists hiding in our country and integrated into the local terrorist group factions, particularly Abu Sayyaf,” he said upon questioning by Deputy Speaker and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman.
“There are 29 on our watch list and we’re still verifying that information—that’s the number of foreign terrorists we’re monitoring,” Gapay added.
Gapay said the terrorists were able to enter the country “through the backdoor,” referring to the “very porous” borders especially in the South.
29 suspected foreign terrorists in the Philippines 8 of which are confirmed. Sounds like they are all entering in through Indonesia. Remember in 2018 when DND secretary Lorenzana and the AFP called the Philippines' borders porous and said they must be secured? Nothing has changed! Why not??
A seasoned intel and counterinsurgency expert is now in charge of the troops in Northern Luzon.
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| https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1052866 |
A seasoned intelligence officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assumed command over Army’s 2nd Infantry Division covering CALABARZON Region and MIMARO provinces in a simple change of command ceremony here on Friday.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte designated MGen Greg T Almerol as the new Jungle Fighter's Chief vice MGen Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr who took over as Commander of the Northern Luzon Command on September 7.
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Commanding General of the Philippine Army presided the formal transfer of authority, responsibility and accountability from MGen Burgos Jr to MGen Almerol.
Lt.Gen. Sobejana in his speech congratulated MGen Burgos for a "job well done in accomplishing your unit's mission in making Southern Tagalog a peaceful and livable place in this part of the country," while encouraging him "to carry on the good deeds in sweeping off the remaining NPA terrorists in the northern part of Luzon."
It can be recalled that under the sterling leadership of MGen Burgos, 2ID has pushed insurgency in Southern Tagalog on the verge of irrecoverable defeat and is just awaiting for the formal declaration of dismantling of the Guerilla Front Cesar, the second NPA front under the STRPC to be dismantled in two years following GF Honda which 202nd Infantry Brigade dismantled in 2019 when MGen Burgos was then its Brigade Commander.
In July of this year 83 mass supporters in Bulacan surrendered and the AFP indicated this signaled the dismantling of the Guerilla Front Cesar.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1109369 |
The communist terrorists’ mass base in Bulacan crumbled after 83 supporters withdrew their support from the communist party during a ceremony at Malolos City on Thursday.
He said the massive withdrawal of support in the area which signals the dismantling of the Guerilla Front Cesar.
It may or may not be true that the surrender of these 83 mass supporters signals the dismantling of the NPA in Bulacan. The AFP has made similar statements about the impending doom of the NPA only to have them flare up again.
The fight against the CPP-NPA is not limited to the AFP engaging in jungle battles with communists insurgents. Front groups are also a problem. One of the largest alleged front groups is Makabayan which is a coalition of 12 party-list political parties who have members elected to the House of Representatives. This week PCOO Usec. Lorraine Badoy accused Makabayan representatives of being CPP-NPA executives.
The fight against the CPP-NPA is not limited to the AFP engaging in jungle battles with communists insurgents. Front groups are also a problem. One of the largest alleged front groups is Makabayan which is a coalition of 12 party-list political parties who have members elected to the House of Representatives. This week PCOO Usec. Lorraine Badoy accused Makabayan representatives of being CPP-NPA executives.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1332050/badoy-insists-makabayan-reps-are-cpp-npa-execs-gaite-says-explain-pork-instead |
In a post on the NTF-ELCAC Facebook page on Saturday, Badoy said that Gaite and the rest of the Makabayan bloc were actually involved in issuing directives to CPP members, sparking another word war between administration officials and left-leaning lawmakers.
Badoy named every single Makabayan member — Gaite, fellow Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate and Eufemia Cullamat, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, and ACT Rep. France Castro.
“Makabayan Bloc representatives must therefore strip themselves of all their pretenses and take away their masks of ‘LEGISLATOR’ and tell the Filipino people who it is they truly are and what it is they truly aim for,” Badoy, herself a member of the NTF-ELCAC, said.
“That they are high ranking party members of the Communist Party of the Philippines that directly guides and gives explicit and implicit instructions to its armed component, the New People’s Army, and to its legal fronts under the umbrella of the National Democratic Front,” she added.
But Gaite said that this reaction from Badoy might have stemmed from their queries on insertions of supposed pork barrel funds in the 2021 national budget. Previously, Zarate also wrote a letter to the Commission on Audit asking whether it would be legal to transfer appropriations to an office when Congress had not appropriated any.
“Instead of explaining why these billions should go to their pockets and not to public hospitals which are currently at the frontlines of the battle against the pandemic, Badoy chooses to spew vitriol against us,” Gaite said.
“Obviously, she is trying to divert the issue with lies she was never able to defend in numerous occasions,” he noted.
The accused representatives say that Badoy is simply trying to divert the issue of the PCOO's budget by making baseless claims. However these claims are nothing new. In 2012 Makabayan was accused of being a CPP front by former rebels.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/280263/ex-red-groups-tag-makabayan-party-lists-as-cpp-fronts-seek-their-disqualification/story/ |
After the battle among the progressive organizations represented by party-list Akbayan and youth organization Anakbayan, another rift is developing, this time between the militants and the groups of former Red rebels.
The groups—which include People’s Advocacy for Collaboration and Empowerment (PEACE), New Guardians for Freedom and Democracy, and the First Philippine Pro-Democracy Foundation Inc.—have submitted a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking the disqualification of the Makabayan Coalition's militant party-list groups from the elections next year.
The party-list groups are Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Kabataan, and Katribu. According to PEACE president Agnes Lopez, the groups are fronts for the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its armed wing New People’s Army (NPA) and their negotiating panel the National Democratic Front (NDF).
The rebel returnee groups went on to say that the Makabayan groups with sitting representatives in Congress were channeling their P70-million pork barrel to fund the NPA.
Ocampo, one of the founders of the NDF, said the poll body in past elections has rejected disqualification cases against them for being communist fronts.
“All these groups that are seeking our disqualification on that basis are wasting the time of the Comelec. They are recycling an old charge that has been repeatedly dismissed by the Comelec… Lumang tugtugin na ‘yan,” Ocampo said.
For their part, Comelec first division commissioner Rene Sarmiento said their documents do not show that the Makabayan groups advocate violence. “If you check the records, walang ganoon. When they testified before us during the hearing, they opted for parliamentary struggle… that they are seeking changes through peaceful means,” Sarmiento said, adding that it would be difficult to prove that these groups were funding the CPP.
The commissioner added that they would not disqualify a party-list group based on ideology. “There are allegations that are being printed in the papers… that they are fronts of this and that. Will this be a factor? I don’t think ideology will be a factor in our resolution,” Sarmiento said.
The Comelec may not accept these charges and say that it is difficult to prove they are funding the CPP but others do not think so. That is why Makbayan continues to be red tagged.
One of Makbayan's party-list groups is Gabriela. Recently a woman who was a Gabriela official was killed during an AFP encounter with the NPA.
One of Makbayan's party-list groups is Gabriela. Recently a woman who was a Gabriela official was killed during an AFP encounter with the NPA.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1114558 |
Southern Luzon Command (SolCom) chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., Friday sought for an explanation on how a Gabriela member, whom communist terrorists and their allies have defended for allegedly being red-tagged by the government, ended up dead following an encounter with Philippine Marine Corps units in Brooke's Point, Palawan on September 3.
Parlade was referring to Ren Manalo, who is also known by aliases "RJ," “Ka Amir, ” "Lemon," a Gabriela official in Mindoro and member of activist fisher's group Pamalakaya, who was among the five communist terrorists killed during the Thursday encounter with members of the PMC's Force Reconnaissance Group.
"In the encounter at Brooke's Point, Rona Jane "Ren" Manalo, was found dead. Ren Manalo was a member of PAMALAKAYA and infiltrated legal orgs in Mindoro such as SAMAKASAMIN or "Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Mindoro" as the Provincial Coordinator; HAGGIBAT and BAYAN Mindoro," he said.
Parlade then requested Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay to explain why Manalo, an activist, was doing embedded work with known communist terrorists of the NPA’s Bienvinedo Vallever Command in Palawan.
"So, Cristina Palabay, explain why an activist like Ren alias 'Lemon'/'Pandan' was there in a violent incident in Palawan if she is not a terrorist like alias 'Eboy' and the rest of the NPAs killed? You have been complaining of being red-tagged, so aren't you?" he added
Indeed what was a Gabriela official doing hanging out with the NPA? Another activist who was recently killed has also been linked to the NPA.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1113945 |
There is no truth to Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay's claim that Zara Alvarez, who was gunned down by a still unknown assassin in Bacolod City on August 17, is a simple human rights activist.
Thus, said Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency Sunday.
"You claim that Zara Alvarez is an activist? She is not. She joined the NPA (New People's Army) for two years until 2015 when she was arrested. She was bailed out by Karapatan and went above ground again, probably to take care of her child from (Communist Party of the Philippines) CPP-NPA (Fred) Caña, whom you (Karapatan) bailed out after he was arrested for a string of criminal cases," said Parlade, who is also an official of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
He said Alvarez used to be active in the Center for People's Resources and Services (CPRS), a CPP-front established to generate funding from foreign countries.
This is why Karapatan has so much money to bail out captured CPP-NPA fighters and their allies, he added.
"Just like Alexa Pacalda and Malabanan, who all claimed to be Karapatan and human rights activists, they all turned out to have already trained with and joined the NPAs (Tour of Duty), as seen from their videos," he said.
Karapatan is another group which has been accused of being a CPP front. The AFP claims there is much evidence to back up that claim.
Obviously the issue of front groups is too large to cover in-depth here. These kinds of groups are necessary for any communist or subversive revolution to prevail. In the Philippines human rights activists are regularly murdered. From farmers advocates to IP advocates rights workers are gunned down with alarming frequency. But that is no solution to shutting down front groups.
These accusations, red tagging, are not going away anytime soon. If the AFP and PNP have evidence that these groups are CPP fronts then why aren't they using that evidence to shut them down? Why are they allowed to exist? Why are alleged communists allowed to be members of the House of Representatives?
Somewhere along the line is a huge gap and it likely has to do with corrupt politicians using their clout to protect these groups. Never forget Duterte was good friends with the CPP-NPA while he was mayor of Davao and gave them millions of pesos. He even admitted that this friendship disqualified him from holding public office as it made him compromised.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1064765 |
A ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has called Karapatan's claims as lies when it alleged that the military does not have any evidence to show that the group is a front organization of the communist movement.
"We have a lot and Karapatan is worried about all these truth coming out now. AFP, not a credible institution? Then refute the very high trust rating of AFP in all surveys except CPP's (Communist Party of the Philippines)," AFP Deputy Chief-of-Staff for Civil-Military Operations, Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., said in a press statement on Saturday.
Parlade was reacting to the allegations of Karapatan secretary general, Cristina Palabay, who said that he has consistently been "red-tagging" them and other militant groups despite alleged lack of evidence.If there is so much proof that Makabayan and Karapatan are CPP fronts then it should be easy to shut them down. In a May 2020 report submitted to the UN about the human rights situation in the Philippines the government had this to say about Karapatan:
In its note sent to the UN Secretary-General in June 2019, the Philippines cited that Karapatan was one of the NGOs that were unlawfully operating in the country, with data from the Philippine government’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as of 15 April 2019 showing that its corporate existence and registration had long been ordered revoked more than ten (10) years ago, since 25 October 2005, for non-filing of reports.
The Philippine Human Rights Situationer, page 136If Karapatan is operating unlawfully then why doesn't the government shut them down? It can't be that hard. Why would the SEC and the government allow Karapatan to operate unlawfully for 15 years? It does not make any sense.
Obviously the issue of front groups is too large to cover in-depth here. These kinds of groups are necessary for any communist or subversive revolution to prevail. In the Philippines human rights activists are regularly murdered. From farmers advocates to IP advocates rights workers are gunned down with alarming frequency. But that is no solution to shutting down front groups.
These accusations, red tagging, are not going away anytime soon. If the AFP and PNP have evidence that these groups are CPP fronts then why aren't they using that evidence to shut them down? Why are they allowed to exist? Why are alleged communists allowed to be members of the House of Representatives?
Somewhere along the line is a huge gap and it likely has to do with corrupt politicians using their clout to protect these groups. Never forget Duterte was good friends with the CPP-NPA while he was mayor of Davao and gave them millions of pesos. He even admitted that this friendship disqualified him from holding public office as it made him compromised.
He also admitted that having friends with the enemies and supporters of the state has made him a compromised government official.
Duterte said it is one of the primary reasons why he brushed aside offers by the national leadership in the past for him to run the Department of National Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“I am not qualified and besides, I am a compromised public official. Both left and right are my friends. How can I discharge properly my duty if the rebel forces are also my friends,” he pointed out.
http://web.archive.org/web/20130123122338/http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=2381357700526How many more Duterte's are out there befriending and protecting the CPP-NPA?
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