For the past few weeks I have taken a look at some of the propaganda the AFP has been spreading in their fight against the insurgency. It might seem like beating a dead horse to keep on about it but the AFP admits their propaganda team plays a vital part in the fight against the insurgency. The AFP recently threw them a fête.
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| https://www.kalinawnews.com/media-friends-rock-the-night-during-6th-id-media-fellowship/ |
To recognize the role of media in the campaign for peace and security, the 6th Infantry (KAMPILAN) Division held a media Night for the members of the fourth state in Kampilan Eco Park, Camp Siongco, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on October 22, 2020.
Major General Juvymax R. Uy, Commander of 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central led the media night wherein he acknowledged the importance of the media in the division’s quest to inform the public with the right information in support to our pursuit for peace and security.
“The book entitled the ‘War in 145 Characters’, recognizes the role of the media in our current society. They present the information, current situation, fashion, propaganda, advertisements of new products and new trends, yan po ang media. Ang gabing ito ay inihanda namin para sa pasasalamat sa mga media sa South at Central Mindanao in connection with the 33rd founding anniversary of the command” said Major Gen. Uy.
At least 31 tri-media personalities who came from Kidapawan City, Tacurong City, General Santos City and Cotabato City attended the party.
The program was an opportunity to meet and greet personalities known only through phone-patch interviews which is a way of strengthening the bond between partners and buddies in the world of information technology.
The night ended joyfully as every guest went home with smiles as they dragged along with them tokens and prizes from the raffle draws conducted.
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| https://www.amazon.com/War-140-Characters-Reshaping-Twenty-First/dp/046509614X |
At its heart, War in 140 Characters explores how social media is shifting the power balance from institutions and governments to individuals and networks of individuals—and it’s having an enormous impact on how wars are being fought and won. Take Farah Baker, for instance: the Palestinian teenager whose tweets chronicling the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict went viral and helped spark international outrage against Israel. Armed with a smartphone, Farah went from powerless teenager stuck in her apartment in Gaza to citizen-journalist reporting on war for a global audience.
War in 140 Characters is, after all, a book fundamentally about the power of narratives to shape our world and our wars. And what makes it so readable is that it is a book of stories, drawing readers into the personal, poignant lives of individuals to explore some of the most important questions about the changing face of contemporary warfare.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1353726/anti-red-tarps-posters-taken-down-in-cavite |
The Philippine National Police in Cavite took responsibility for the anticommunist tarpaulins displayed in some areas in the province, which Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla ordered taken down a day after his heated exchange with a military official.
Remulla on Tuesday ordered the posters hung at Bacoor City police station removed, while his office continued to receive reports of the same propaganda material seen in Silang, Maragondon and Ternate towns.
The governor, however, maintained his position on the military’s Red-tagging. “Cavite is an insurgency-free province so no need for unnecessary propaganda. Focus should be on pandemic efforts, economic recovery, education, connectivity, etc.,” he said.
In a phone interview, Col. Marlon Santos, Cavite police director, said the tarpaulins bearing the logos of the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People’s Army and National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) and labeled “Hari ng Terorismo! Dakilang Manloloko!” (King of Terrorism! Great Fraud!) were the initiatives of local police stations.
“We’d just replace them with a better phrasing,” Santos said. “I mean, even with the text, why would you even flaunt very large logos (of the CPP-NPA-NDFP) in a government office or a police station?”
He said he realized the posters might “arouse curiosity,” especially among the youth, about communism.
Here is what one of the tarps looked like:
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| https://twitter.com/jonvicremulla/status/1320898149309771776/photo/1 |
Now why would the PNP hang this up at the Bacoor Command Center? Why not hang it up in an area where the NPA is active? The governor claims the province is insurgency-free.
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| https://twitter.com/jonvicremulla/status/1320898149309771776 |
It is also funny that the PNP admits that seeing this symbols might prompt an interest in communism amongst the youth. That is the double-edged sword of propaganda. To be sure the propaganda in the Philippines is double-edged. One side is against the real enemies of the state like the CPP-NPA and the other is against perceived enemies of the state such as the media.
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| https://www.rappler.com/nation/media-groups-journalists-academics-condemn-black-propaganda-abs-cbn-maria-ressa |
These Facebook posts, while they have been taken down, are a brazenly criminal abuse of authority on the part of the NTF-ELCAC, replete with half-truths and outright lies that willfully endanger Maria and the management and personnel of the network that government shut down.
The only reason we can think of why a government entity tasked to combat the communist insurgency would wage a propaganda offensive against media persons and outfits is if government now considers us the enemy.
In fact, Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade, NTF-ELCAC spokesman and Southern Luzon Command chief, indicated as much. In a May 8 Philippine News Agency report, while insisting that press freedom was alive in this country, also warned critics of the ABS-CBN shutdown: "Yes to law and order! Otherwise you might just get the martial law that you deserve."
Worse, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) aided in the slander by sharing these posts on its own page, although it later took these down, apparently after generating backlash from netizens.
While Communications Secretary Martin Andanar issued a statement saying the NTF-ELCAC posts were shared "without the usual vetting process of our office" and were "not in any way an official statement or an opinion of the PCOO," neither did he apologize for his agency's involvement nor even promise an investigation to identify those responsible for this reprehensibly irresponsible action.
We demand that government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), immediately mount an investigation into who in the NTF-ELCAC were responsible for ordering and creating the slanderous posts and why.
A National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) was created to synchronize the utilization of the government's instrumentalities of power with the capabilities of private sector stakeholders to finally end the 50-year long deceit, lies and atrocities committed by the communist terrorists against the people.
Believe it or not the NTF-ELCAC has propaganda to "prove" that opposing ABS-CBN falls under their mandate.
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| https://www.facebook.com/SouthernLuzonCommandAFP/photos/a.1503968379863230/2569399463320111/?type=3&theater |
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| https://www.facebook.com/SouthernLuzonCommandAFP/photos/a.1503968379863230/2569399696653421/?type=3&theater |
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| https://www.facebook.com/SouthernLuzonCommandAFP/posts/2569399499986774?comment_id=2569705443289513 |
Those congressmen and senators who are rabidly pushing for ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, are you aware that you are sleeping with these enemies (NPAs) of the state? This picture is damning.Nelson Palispis yes they are aware that is why they continue supporting abs cbn because this network has power over this rebels to dictate whom to vote.
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| https://www.facebook.com/SouthernLuzonCommandAFP/posts/2569399499986774?comment_id=2569541989972525 |
Remember that Cory freed Joma (CPP NPA leader) and gave Lopezes back ABS without paying their debt to the govt. They have alleged connections, we just need physical evidence.
What a smear to link ABS-CBN with the CPP-NPA with zero evidence. There are plenty of explanations for those pictures such as the CPP-NPA being against Duterte's hardline stance to shut down ABS-CBN for no good reason at all. It is such an illogical leap to show these pictures and then link ABS-CBN to the insurgency. This issue did not even come up at their franchise hearing because it's so totally bogus. Far from being damning these pictures only raise a lot of questions which the NTF-ELCAC does not want to answer truthfully.
Lest you think the NTF-ELCAC is agains the media here they are advocating legislation that is way out of their purview.
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| https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/09/22/media-workers-get-ntf-elcac-support/ |
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) strongly supports any legislation that would protect media workers from any form of exploitation.
This was stressed by Southern Luzon Command chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., referring to Senate Bill (SB) 1820 or the Media Workers’ Welfare Act filed by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“The NTF ELCAC supports Senate Bill 1820 to ensure the protection of the welfare of media practitioners from the exploitative practices of media magnates. These media moguls are raking billions but have neglected their workers working during odd-hours just to beat deadlines,” he said in a statement.
Here is Paralade tying all this into COVID-19.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1102237 |
"What martial law are you talking about? Press freedom in the country is very much alive," Parlade said in response to Olano's claim that it "is a dark day for media freedom in the Philippines, reminiscent of martial law when the dictatorship seized control over news agencies".
Parlade said such claims are "non-sequitur" as the ABS-CBN issue is simply the regulation of a franchise that is a prerogative of the State and enshrined in the Constitution.
"Granting a franchise is the exercise of the sovereign power of a state to allow the use of sovereign assets for an assigned period of time. In the case of ABS-CBN, these sovereign assets are frequencies assigned to it for use in its broadcast businesses. The franchise is a usufruct(usage) right and since it is a right to use, regulation and accompanying rules to prevent abuse comes as a matter of course," he said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday.
Despite the NTC's cease-and-desist order against ABS-CBN, other Philippine television channels and media outfits are still operating, he added.
"Has NTC stopped the operation of GMA-7, Channel 5, CNN Philippines, and other TV stations? (No one has) stopped PDI (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Philippine Star, and any other print media (from operating). Your communist allies and writers in the print media are still writing their pieces. Our favorite stations are still on air. So what suppression of press freedom are you talking about?" he said.
"The case of ABS CBN can be likened to Rappler's. We have laws and regulations to follow and promote and it is not the law of the rich and powerful. Be thankful because for the first time in history there is an equalizer who wouldn't budge about how some rich and mighty people think that they are more 'equal' than others. It's about time we enforce our laws. So stay home and help the government address this (coronavirus disease 2019) Covid-19," he added.
He said Olano and his group should stop harping on a non-issue.
"Yes to law and order! Otherwise you might just get the martial law that you deserve," he added.
What does this have to do with the NTC-ELCAC's mission? Absolutely nothing! So why is Parlade making such pronouncements? And what is with his threat about getting "the martial law that you deserve?" Yes to law and order? ABS-CBN was cleared of any wrong doing from the BI and other agencies. They were not breaking any laws.
It's funny how he alleges there are communist allies in the print media. Who exactly is he talking about? What does it have to do wth COVID? The answer is "nothing" of course!
You really have to wonder who these people are. Like who is Remy Rosadio?
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1120124 |
Anti-communist groups and other civil society organizations on Thursday called on the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and its allies to end their atrocities and stop the recruitment of youth.
Members of the League of Parents in the Philippines (LPP), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and Hands Off Our Children, and mothers of students who were reportedly recruited by various militant groups, gathered at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and in Timog Circle in Quezon City, as they protested the attacks by communist terrorist groups.
LPP chair Remy Rosadio said communist rebels should be held liable for their lawlessness.
While these groups claim to be "pro-people and pro-marginalized", Rosadio said these groups and their allied organizations should not be emulated.
"They're are destroying our children, they are destroying our country, for them, no government is doing its job because they wanted to take the lead. Leading to what? To the insurgency, to killing innocents and recruiting youth to bring to the mountains," Rosadio said.
Rosadio urged the communist groups to stay away from engaging vulnerable youth to join their cause.
"Stop your propaganda. Stop deceptions. Stop the lies. Stop recruiting minors," she said, noting that each child deserves a peaceful life.
Who is this guy? Who are these people? Who is funding this group?
NTF-ELCAC spokesman Parlade's source was unmasked this week. Turns out he is a former rebel who has been using a false identity to protect himself.
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| https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/10/30/2053430/ntf-elcac-presents-alleged-former-rebel-amid-red-tagging-campaign |
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict on Friday presented an alleged former communist rebel amid cotroversy sparked by the government alleging that the Communist Party of the Philippines controls activist groups, which the task force calls "front groups".
Jeffrey Celiz, who said his alias was "Ka Eric," said in a live stream aired on the NTF-ELCAC Facebook page that he is a former cadre of the armed wing of Communist Party of the Philippines "with 27 years of revolutionary experience."
"I am facing the nation today...I am living proof that there is no such thing as red-tagging done by the government. Not only General Parlade or the military, or the NTF-ELCAC," he said.
Celiz accused around 24 "mass organizations" in the country of being recruiters for the New People's Army. He also said that he intends to give a presentation to the Senate regarding these groups.
"I am [in the] process of executing my affidavit and sworn statement," he said.
The Senate committee on national defense has set a hearing on red-tagging and will summon military officials as well as officers of Gabriela Women's Party. The hearing, called by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, was prompted by a "warning" that Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., task force spokesman, to celebrities Liza Soberano and Catriona Gray to disassociate from Gabriela.
The so-called former rebel also tagged a number of lawmakers and claimed that a celebrity recently called out by Parlade was connected to the armed wing of the CPP.
"I am coming out to support the Filipino people. The deceptive, manipulative, and skillful, masterful lies of the CPP-NPA-NDF and the recruitment of the different sectors, more particularly of the youth sectors and students, must be put to stop," Celiz said.
This guy's biography is rather stunning.
In his interview, Ka Eric claimed that he was a member of the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front) for 27 years. He started with the College Editors’ Guild of the Philippines in March 1988 and formally joined the CPP movement in December of the same year.
He said he severed ties with the group in 2015.
Eric also admitted that he took part in incidents that killed both government forces and his comrades.
"Unavoidable. But it still comes back to me even though I am asleep, ”he said.
Eric said he is still haunted by his conscience.
"This is my redemption," he said referring to his "coming out." "It is a change of self and a change in my life."
By doing so, "I want to take back my guilt on the people, especially the people we have tortured in the CPP-NPA," he claimed.
He was with the NPA for 27 years, which is a little more than half the total length of the insurgency, only severing ties 5 years ago and he claims he was involved in operations which ended in the deaths of AFP soldiers. Why is the government trusting him? On what basis? He has named names and is sticking with his story which should prove to be compelling if he is indeed called to testify at the Senate hearing on red-tagging.
I could go on and on but I will not. The fact is the AFP and the NTF-ELCAC is engaged in disseminating propaganda to the Filipino people. The AFP is attempting to control the narrative and make it appear as if everyone is against the CPP-NPA. That is why the are placing tarps in populated areas where the NPA is not active. That is why they are staging rallies with ex-rebels. That is why they are encouraging rebels to surrender so they can make them into spokesmen for the government's programs. The narrative the AFP is attempting to spin is that the government is not evil, corrupt, and indifferent but good, pure, and a father at hand willing to take care of the people.
The problem is not that their message is totally wrong. It is not. Many people are indeed against the CPP-NPA and they are fighting a worthless cause. However it is deceptive in many parts such as accusing ABS-CBN of being linked to the CPP-NPA.
The problem here is that the Filipino people are not the insurgency so they should not have propaganda directed towards them. It's difficult for the AFP to separate the public and the CPP-NPA in their propaganda efforts because they are disseminating this propaganda through their media arms which are accessed by the public. It's like trying to kill all the rats in a neighborhood by placing poison everywhere. The dogs will end up eating it and dying too. It is more effective to put the poison where the rats frequent.
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