If there's one thing needed to fight the communists and the Muslims it's weapons. That's why the AFP is so keen to continue with the modernization program.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118199 |
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff, Gen. Gilbert Gapay, on Monday said the government's strong support to the ongoing AFP Modernization Program is of great help in defending the country's sovereignty and defeating terrorist groups.
Gapay was referring to the strong support of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to the ongoing AFP Modernization Program.
“We cannot stress the importance of being well-equipped as we face all these adversaries in our territorial defense, counter-insurgency efforts, including humanitarian response. Enhancing our capabilities in terms of equipment and assets gives us the motivation and preparedness to overcome these challenges,” Gapay said in a statement.
Very important indeed. Too bad that the 2nd phase of modernization will not be completed on time.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1346864/lorenzana-says-2nd-stage-of-ph-military-upgrade-wont-be-completed-on-time |
The Philippine military was likely to fall short of its target to complete the second stage of an upgrade program by the year President Rodrigo Duterte steps down from office, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday (Oct. 12).
“At the rate we are going, we can’t do it,” Lorenzana told senators at a budget hearing, speaking partly in Filipino. He said it could take the Third Horizon of the program to “complete our minimum credible defense.”
The upgrade program’s Horizon 2, with a timetable of 2018 until 2022, was designed to achieve a minimum credible defense capability for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The Third Horizon stretches from 2023 to 2027.
For Horizon 2, the Philippine military planned to purchase multi-role fighters, offshore patrol vessels, corvettes, light tanks, land-based missile systems and other assets.
Lorenzana said minimum credible defense meant the capacity “to face intruders” with sufficient hardware and arsenal “like ships, missiles so we won’t be bullied, or whatever you call that, they can just intrude in our territory without being challenged by our troops.”
He said the objective was to give the Philippine military capacity to go into a “stand off” with foreign intruders. “Not to fight but to protect our interests. Not for them to just intrude and we won’t have anything to face them with,” he said.
Lorenzana said he estimated that Horizon 2 of the upgrade program was only 25 percent complete.
“By 2022 we should have accomplished minimum credible defense posture,” said Sen. Panfilo Lacson during the budget hearing. “As how we’re doing right now, it’s only 25 percent when it should be half-way,” he said.
A total of P19.3 billion was cut from the defense department budget this year due to the pandemic, Lorenzana said, with P17.8 billion originally intended for the modernization program.
While P8 billion out of the P17.8 billion realigned fund will be returned to the defense department for next year, the P9.4 billion from the 2019 GAA that was cut from Lorenzana’s agency appeared to be missing.
“The P9.4 billion being utilized for multi-year obligations that was taken from 2019 has not been restored in the 2021 budget,” Lorenzana said.
The underfunded Philippine military, which is one of the most ill-equipped in the region, faces a set of challenges—from budget lack to security of the country’s vast waters.
COVID-19 came along and funds were diverted from the AFP's budget leaving them underfunded so that they will not meet their goal of having a "minimum credible defense capability." This minimum capability, according to DND Secretary Lorenzana, is so the AFP can "stand off with foreign intruders." so that they can't just invade and bully the Philippines without a show of force. Are they preparing for war against China? Do they expect China to invade?
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/759617/afp-chief-gapay-says-situation-in-south-china-sea-remains-volatile-uncertain/story/ |
Armed Forces chief General Gilbert Gapay on Tuesday described the situation in the South China Sea as "volatile and uncertain."
During an online forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), Gapay explained that the situation in the region has been uncertain because of the continuous aggressive actions of China and the United States' move to protect its interest in the area.
"Situation in the South China Sea remains volatile and uncertain because of certain actions of certain actors in the area, particularly China and the United States," Gapay said.
"We have seen aggressive actions on the part of China, from reclaiming the area and deploying some warships there and their Coast Guard is very visible in the area. Their maritime militias are there. They're practically swarming most of the areas in the West Philippine Sea," he added.
"Here comes the United States, of course protecting their interests... in maintaining that sea lanes of trade and communications open and free and safe and secure, advocating freedom of navigation in the area," Gapay said.
Beijing's unilateral exercises have also resulted in a "more tensed" situation in the region, according to Gapay. The AFP chief, however, maintained that all issues in the resource-rich region should be dealt with peacefully and in a diplomatic manner.
"It has even fired recently a missile, which we have lodged a diplomatic protest on and here comes United States displaying a show of force in the area so it's very tensed and right now the effort really is multilateral action and talking about how to peacefully resolved these issues," Gapay said.
The AFP has been fighting the commies and Muslisms for 50 years. What will the SCS situation look like in 50 years time? Chinese president Xi Jiniping has recently told the marines to prepare for war. It's just more worry for the AFP who cannot bribe the Chinese the way they can NPA and Muslim terrorists.
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At least 100 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who surrendered to the government received over PHP2.4-million financial aid from the Department of Social and Welfare Development in Davao Region (DSWD-11), the Davao de Oro provincial government said in a statement on Wednesday.Each rebel returnee received PHP20,000 under DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program’s-Livelihood Settlement Grant (SLP-LSG), including an additional PHP4,000 for food and assistance as part of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Programs (ECLIP), during Tuesday's distribution activity.Kerwin Gabasa, DSWD-11 focal person, said the assistance is intended for conflict-affected and vulnerable areas, including former rebels.“This assistance would help them start their livelihood as they start their new life with their families,” Gabasa said.Davao de Oro Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy hopes the financial assistance would give former rebels "peace of mind as they intend to live a normal life in the mainstream society".Tatay Boby, one of the former rebels who received the aid, expressed gratitude to the government for the financial assistance, even as he urged his fellow returnees to be prudent in spending the money they received from the government.
How can any rebel go from living in the mountains to living a normal life in mainstream society? Let's hear the voice of one rebel who has been successfully bribed by the government to lay down his arms.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118765 |
A former communist rebel in North Cotabato who surrendered last month said he had no regrets yielding to the government to live a peaceful life with his family.“I was duped in the past. I was told being with the communist movement was fruitful and fulfilling,” said Ka Menard, 40, a former member of Guerilla Front 53 of the New People’s Army (NPA) and is now a beneficiary of a government livelihood program in Tulunan, North Cotabato.Menard said life as a civilian is vastly different from his life hiding in the mountains, as he is free to go wherever he wishes and is no longer afraid of seeing or getting close with the authorities.“The government program is real, fruitful,” he said in a mix of Cebuano and Ilonggo dialects.Menard was one of the 20 beneficiaries of an animal dispersal program of the North Cotabato provincial government on Friday after community development workers (CDWs) assessed and qualified him to be a recipient of the carabao dispersal program.His other request was for the government to help him send his four children to school to give them a "future so they will not be lured to the underground movement."
How can we trust this is a real sentiment and not prodding by the AFP as part of their psyops? We can't. Remember that the AFP is training ex-rebels to be spokesmen for their social programs.
STT aims to educate FR's on the fundamentals of public speaking and encourage them to assist the government in its peace and development initiatives; to capacitate the FRs in their role as third party advocate of the government through training; and contribute in the de-radicalization of FRs and discuss ideological corrections on issues concerning peace.
There have been numerous surrenders recently and it is because of that the AFP spokesman Arevalo says the CPP is crazy for calling for increased attacks.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118868 |
"With the outpour of surrenders both in terms of manpower and firearms and the number of communist terrorists neutralized, we wonder where this Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) is drawing the nerve to make such a declaration," Arevalo said in a statement.
He said the CPP-NPA has always been trying to attack and defeat security troops but has dismally failed every time.
Arevalo added that the communist terrorists only succeed when they attack unarmed AFP personnel who were deployed to help fellow Filipinos in times of disasters, calamities, or during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
"No wonder, our people have been fighting back or reporting the communist terrorists’ presence in the communities they pester. And those vital information given to the AFP (have) resulted (in) the enemy annihilation, arrest, or seizure of their arms cache," he said.
Arevalo said the military is bewildered by the term "Filipino people" who are supposedly “clamoring for justice” being referred to by the communist terrorists.
"The last time we checked, the Filipino people – especially the rural folks and the indigenous people they murder, rape, and rob – have strongly rejected them. And if ever there are people clamoring for justice, it is against the CTG for the many atrocities and abuses they commit against our hapless people," he said.
If the Filipino people have "strongly rejected them" and if their numbers are dwindling then how does the insurgency persist? Is it really brainwashing of the youth as the AFP claims? Remember this is a 50 year insurgency with no end in sight. Aside from the NPA the AFP alleges that several political parties are also CPP fronts. It's a tangled web that has been quite resilient.
There are many facets of the insurrection to battle. One is extortion which is how the NPA finances themselves. The AFP says the only way to stop extortion is through a concerted effort.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118317 |
The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) said a concerted effort is the key to stopping the extortion scheme of the communist terrorist group.
Lt. Col. Reandrew P. Rubio, commanding officer of the 91IB, on Monday cited the importance of the involvement of all sectors, particularly the local government units (LGUs) in addressing the extortion activities of the New People’s Army (NPA).
"This NPA extortion work is not just the responsibility of the government security forces but it is everybody's concern,” he said during the conduct of the initial Critical Infrastructure, Investment Protection and Security Operation (CIIPSO) meeting on Monday held at the municipal hall of Dingalan town, this province.
It is rather tiring hearing the AFP say the the job of defeating the NPA is everyone's responsibility. Especially as the DILG in 2019 said they had a list of 349 politicians who paid NPA extortion fees. Were any of those people arrested, convicted, and imprisoned? Not to my knowledge. I am sure that would be big news if it happened. It is pathetic that the government continues to shrug off its failures by blaming the public.
The AFP continues to be ridiculous with their pronouncements and resolutions concerning what it takes to defeat the communists and Muslims. Take a look at this one.
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| https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/760292/afp-marawi-crisis-a-reminder-that-anti-terrorism-campaign-should-also-include-prevention/story/ |
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday observed the commemoration of the liberation of Marawi, and said the crisis serves as a reminder that the anti-terrorism campaign should also include prevention, and not just be focused on combat.
"The Marawi Crisis reminds us that the vigorous campaign should not be focused only on combatting terrorism but more importantly in preventing the menace from invading our communities and cities," the AFP said in a statement.
The AFP said it is committed to continuing the fight against terrorism.
"The AFP joins the nation and our people in the continuing fight against terrorism. This is highlighted by the tragic beginning and end of the Siege of Marawi that we commemorate today," it said.
The military added that its Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism campaign "looks into sectors vulnerable to radicalism and violent extremism such as orphanages, schools, and evacuation centers, among others."
The AFP said it is working with the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units, among other government agencies, to empower them "to ward-off terrorists from encroaching into their domains."
"And these strong partnerships and collaborations have proven to be an effective deterrence against attempts by some individuals or groups with links to terrorists groups to radicalize and recruit members from those facilities," it added.
In May 2017, the Maute group inspired by ISIS laid seige to Marawi City.
"The AFP joins every peace-loving Filipino in mourning the passing away of Yusop Jikiri, the beloved chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front," AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Gilbert Gapay said in a statement on Sunday.
He also called Jikiri's work in the MNLF and Sulu, as one of its former governors and congressional representatives, as instrumental in the forging of a strong partnership between the AFP and MNLF in the quest for peace.
Gapay said this culminated in the realization of the GPH-MNLF Peace Agreement.
"He is one of the strong pillars who advocated trust and respect as key to achieving lasting peace and development not only in the Province of Sulu but of the Bangsamoro," he added.
Gapay said the entire AFP is paying homage to Jikiri's great contribution to attaining peace and understanding in the southern Philippines.
"Ako, sampu ng bawat miyembro ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, ay nagpupugay sa kanyang napakalaking ambag sa kapayapaan at pagkakaunawaan sa Katimugang bahagi ng ating bansa (I, along with members of the AFP, salute his big contribution in achieving peace and understanding in the southern part of our country)," he added.
He also hopes that Jikiri will serve as an inspiration to every Filipino aspiring for peace and prosperity in the country.
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| https://thediplomat.com/2019/07/whats-behind-the-philippines-new-strategy-for-countering-violent-extremism/ |
Last week, the Philippines’ counterterrorism approach was in the headlines again with the approval of its NAP PCVE. The plan, which was approved by the Anti-Terrorism Council, was announced at a government forum on Wednesday, and its goal will be to undertake a comprehensive approach to addressing terrorism and violent extremism in the Philippines, engaging a wide range of stakeholders including communities, schools, and social media groups, and led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in addition to other government agencies.
While details are still unclear, Philippine officials have said the focus will be on a wide range of aspects tied to counterterrorism and deradicalization, including education, detention, and deradicalization policies. Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, who was the armed forces chief in response to the Marawi crisis, told Kyodo News that among the focus areas would be working with religious leaders and educators on issues such as education and youth deradicalization.
With officials now confirming the release of NAP PCVE, the focus will shift onto its implementation. Per Hermogenes Esperon, the national security adviser, the Duterte government expects to follow up with several additional measures, including an executive order from the president to delineate responsibilities as well as consultations with a wide range of stakeholders. And as with other national plans of this sort, the big question observers will be looking to answer is the extent to which government actions align with the words that appear in the NAP PCVE, and how any perceived gaps can be narrowed in the coming years.
In essence this program is designed to take the heat off the AFP! Despite how much they have bungled their response against the insurgency for the past 50 years they are doing the best they can to shift the blame. Yeah sure defeating the insurgency can and should be a collective effort in some sense but the AFP, who should be at the forefront of this effort, has actively lied and ignored intel and made false and presumptuous pronouncements for the duration of the insurgency.
What's really needed to defeat the insurgency is for the AFP to be a lot more proactive. They are the ones tasked with protecting the nation.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118731 |
Key police and military officials have laid out plans to dismantle the remaining guerrilla front of the communist terrorist group New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Samar.
Brig. Gen. Ronaldo de Jesus, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-8 (Eastern Visayas), said in a press statement issued late Thursday that government forces agreed to expedite operations and sustained pressure against the NPA in Samar.
The stronger ties discussed in Thursday's meeting aim to clear the NPA guerrilla front that has been threatening remote communities in Borongan City, Maydolong, Balangkayan, and Llorente towns in Eastern Samar province.
“The partnership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army is once again strengthened with the conduct of this meeting. With similar or even interrelated missions, cooperation and partnership between the PNP and the army are necessary. This time, we will also need the support of the local government units, which are highly responsible for community development and providing the links between the people and the government,” de Jesus said.
Recently, government forces successfully dismantled the NPA South Samar committee, resulting in the recovery of 10 firearms and surrender of 320 NPA fighters, underground mass organizations, and mass base supporters.
The AFP and the PNP should always be sharing information and fighting the same fight. Maybe that could have prevented the slaughter of the SAF 44 by the MILF. But aside from these two forces there is also the CAFGU or Citizen Armed Force Geographical Forces.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118213 |
A total of 120 new militiamen in Borongan City, Eastern Samar started on Monday their 45-day basic military training to assist government troops in counter-insurgency activities.During the training’s opening ceremony at the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion (78IB) in Lalawigan village, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda lauded the brave men for accepting the responsibility as new members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Forces (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary (CAA).“This program is (a) big help in maintaining peace and order in communities. We should unite and show to people that the government, through the CAA, is here to protect them against anyone who abuses their rights,” he said.CAFGU is a paramilitary unit composed of volunteer reservists organized into companies of personnel that are led by regular troops.
Maybe if the AFP really wants to employ the whole-of-nation approach to fight the insurgency they should recruit more civilians to actually fight in the citizen militia.
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