Insurgency: Gospel Truth

There is so much stuff happening this week as regards the insurgency perhaps we should take it one by one. 

First is the Senate's ongoing red-tagging hearing about red-tagging. Some have accused Makabyan of bing  front for the CPP. The position of the government is best summed up by NICA Director-General Alex Paul Monteagudo. 

https://mb.com.ph/2020/12/01/nica-chief-urges-makabayan-solons-to-heed-authorities/

The Philippines’ top intelligence official has now quoted the Bible as he insisted that Makabayan lawmakers and their organizations are part of the armed communist movement.

At the third hearing of the Senate defense committee on the supposed red-tagging activities of the government security sector on Tuesday, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director-General Alex Paul Monteagudo maintained that they were telling the “truth” when they said that progressive congressmen and groups influence youths to join the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) and take up arms against the government.

He went on to read Romans 13:1-2 of the Bible on the stress that people should submit to authorities. A portion of this Biblical passage reads, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Monteagudo said the Bible serves as their “gospel truth” and that “enable us to see the truth from all the lies and deception around us.”

He particularly mentioned activist and Benedictine nun, Sister Mary John Mananzan, for teaching a “very dangerous” interpretation of the scripture when she spoke about the oppression of the poor during the November 24 hearing of the Senate defense panel.

The NICA chief claimed that the progressive groups use the “CPP-NPA philosophy” to supposedly influence idealistic and “naturally gullible” youths, again naming the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), among others, as “fronts” of the communist group.

It's rather an ironic verse for the government to quote as the Philippines has a history steeped in rebellion. That is what the independence movements and resistance to American occupation was about, rebelling against the God-appointed governance of the Spanish and Americans. Not to mention the EDSA revolution and the backlash against Marcos.

Makabayan denies the charges that they are a front for the CPP and that they recruit for the CPP-NPA. The government says its case is justified and strengthen further by the death of the daughter of Makabayan solon Rep. Cullamat in a gunfight between the AFP and NPA.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/766154/lorenzana-says-linking-makabayan-bloc-to-reds-now-has-basis/story/

"Actually because of what happened today, the deceased is still the son of the Makabayan congresswoman ... our red-tagging has a basis. They have a basis to support, the Makabayan, they support it CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army) and then the so-called armed struggle of the NPA, "Lorenzana said in an ambush interview.

I thought they already had a basis because Joma Sison said in a speech back in 1986 that Makabayan is one of the CPP's legal fronts. These accusations are by no means new so there must have been a basis prior to the death of this woman.

Not content with merely linking them tot he CPP Gen. Parlade says the death of Jevilyn Cullamat is proof that Makabayan is recruiting for the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123355

"The death of her daughter is yet another proof of Bayan Muna recruitment of youth into the NPA, aggravated by the fact that this time, it's no less than the daughter of a Bayan Muna Representative herself, who made a sacrifice for a useless cause," said Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr., in a statement Sunday. 

He added that Jevilyn, a student of Tribal Indigenous Filipinos Phil-Surigao Del Sur (TRIFPSS) and ALCADEV (Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development), is also another proof of IP children radicalized in TRIFPSS and ALCADEV schools of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) to join the NPA.

“Later in 2018-2019, she would come back to teach at ALCADEV and TRIFPSS, confirming the direct link of these schools with the NPA," he added.

The younger Cullamat alias "Reb" was a medic of the  "SYP Platoon, Guerilla Front 19" and a former of "TM Baking. GS/SYP 1, SRC Southland".

"She is the equivalent of the Morong 38  'health workers' released during the time of President PNoy. Also recovered were three AK-47, one M-14, and one M-653 rifle, five backpacks, and subversive documents. These were the same firearms, the NPAs have been using to kill IPs (Indigenous Peoples) like Datu Jumar Bucales in Lianga and other former rebels," Parlade said.

But what exactly is the proof? Is he alleging that the mother recruited the daughter? The thinking is understandable but its a typical guilt by association logical fallacy to make such a connection. How does he explain Jevilyn's brother who is singing quite a different tune from his sister and mother.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123385

Jikson Cullamat, son of Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Eufemia Cullamat, has cited the various community programs put forward by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for indigenous peoples (IP) communities.

In a video statement on Facebook posted by the 3rd Special Forces Battalion of the Philippine Army on Nov. 17, Jikson said soldiers have not committed any violation since they arrived in Sitio Han-Ayan (Km. 16) in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur, a Lumad community where a series of NPA harassments have been reported.

"As a matter of fact, they even helped with providing water in the mining area, they built a dam," Jikson said in the local language.

Jikson said the presence of military personnel in their community has brought peace to IP communities.

"For our part, for those who live here, we are thankful for the presence of the soldiers who have been helping us with our needs, most especially in providing us roads, electricity and (addressing) other issues we have at the moment here in the community," he said. "For our other (problems) that are, until now, not responded to by the government, we hope that we will be assisted by the soldiers in solving these kinds of problems in our community."

Jikson said the relationship between the IP communities and the soldiers so far "seems to be okay."

"For now, with our condition, with what the behaviors the soldiers are showing, things seem to be okay," he said. "This is what we are thankful for, for the other side. For now, we are hoping that the soldiers will help us so that roads will finally reach us. The lack of electricity has also been a persisting problem for the people here.”

Maybe his was recruited too but they failed to win him over? It's pretty silly. Absurd really.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/04/20/absurd-to-tag-makabayan-as-communist-front-due-to-death-of-lawmakers-daughter-zarate

"The leap of logic in their conclusion is very absurd...Their logic was that since she was the daughter of Cong. Cullamat, therefore Cong. Cullamat supports the NPA. Therefore, Cong. Cullamat's organization is a front of the CPP-NPA, and therefore, all of them are terrorists. That is very absurd."

You know what else is absurd aside from life itself? Dismissing a major terrorist attack by the BIFF as an "isolated case."

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1368052/ph-military-chief-says-maguindanao-attack-an-isolated-case

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay said the late-night attack in Datu Piang, Maguindanao on Thursday was distinctly different from the months-long Marawi siege in 2017.

Another Marawi siege incident would be “highly improbable” at this time, the AFP chief said in an online press briefing.

“They have already learned their lessons of Marawi and we can consider what happened in Datu Piang as an isolated case and it’s really far from another Marawi incident,” he added.

The small band of terrorists, allegedly from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), burned a police car during the attack. Troops immediately responded Gapay said.

Gapay said the BIFF strength was already on a “decline” and “not that strong” to carry out an attack on a similar scale as the Marawi incident.

“They are really not that strong but as I’ve said this is terrorism we are confronting and usually they attack whenever we put our guards down,” he said, as he called for the support of the general public.

Far from being an "isolated case" this attack shows that the BIFF is very active and still a force to be reckoned with. What happened is 50 armed BIFF fighters showed up in town to capture the local PNP Chief, did not find him, burned a police car, and then left.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1368201/biff-gunmen-storm-maguindanao-town

Gunmen belonging to the Islamic State-linked (IS) Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) stormed Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province past 10 p.m. on Thursday, in a show of force reminiscent of the siege of Marawi City in 2017.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), said the gunmen were led by a “Commander Motorola,” entering the town around 10:30 p.m. and looking for its police chief, Police Capt. Israel Bayona.

Unable to find Bayona at the municipal police office, Atilano said the gunmen, instead, burned a newly acquired patrol car parked outside.

According to Atilano, the gunmen could have wanted to retaliate on Bayona for leading a law enforcement operation earlier in the day.

“One of the suspects sought the help of his relatives in the BIFF,” Atilano said. “They came to get back at the police chief.”

Datu Piang resident Akeel Hasan said he saw the gunmen arriving in motorcycles and multicab vehicles, brandishing high-powered weapons such as machine guns.

The scene, Hasan added, was “similar to the Marawi siege” although the gunmen carried no black IS flag.

“They were firing in different directions; many fired guns in the direction of concrete houses,” Hasan recalled.

The men, who wore black uniforms, tried to enter the town hall compound but were repulsed by Army troopers, Hasan said.

Although there were no casualties, Datu Piang Mayor Victor Samama said the people in the town were traumatized by the hour-long attack.

“It was first time in [our] history that the town center was attacked by Moro gunmen,” Samama said, adding that many residents, especially women and elders, were crying.

Samama said there were around 50 armed men involved in the attack.

“We are used to armed conflict [happening] outside the town, but this time, it happened right at our doorstep. Really terrifying,” said Samama, who was at the town hall with the police chief at the height of the attack.

“I never thought the BIFF, who admittedly have relatives in the town center, can ever do that,” the mayor said.

“A handful of soldiers and policemen secured and defended the town hall during the attack,” Samama recalled.

As Army reinforcements, backed by armored personnel carriers, from the 6th ID arrived past 11 p.m., the BIFF gunmen were forced to escape.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th ID chief, said the BIFF’s attack was obviously to impress that it was still a force to reckon with.

Admitting to carrying out the attack, BIFF spokesperson Abu Jihad told a local radio station on Friday that they were forced to do it due to the rampant illegal activities in the town, including the proliferation of illegal drugs and alcoholic drinks.

“The law of Islam prohibits all wrongdoings … We are just enforcing it,” Jihad said.

“We will not stop and no one can stop us until there are illegal activities in the town,” he added.

All of that wounds very reminiscent of Marawi.  Especially the part about the townspeople thinking "it can't happen here" because many of them are related to BIFF members! And just like many other times they got away. There were no casualties and the BIFF managed to escape. The AFP's dismissal of this group as not "still a force to reckon with" is also just like Marawi. How many times did they downplay the very real threat of ISIS, even denying their presence in the country, until it was too late?

The fact is even though BIFF and ASG numbers appear to be on a downward trend they are both still very real threats. The AFP knows this.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123509

Members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-BARMM) killed a suspected terror bomber at his hideout here during a pre-dawn operation on Tuesday.

Maj. Esmael Madin, CIDG-BARMM deputy regional chief, identified the suspect as Abraham Abad Abdulrahman alias Abu Suffian, one of the primary suspects behind the South Seas Mall bombing on Dec. 31, 2018.

The explosion that took place just outside the mall’s main entrance door killed two and injured 34 others.

“A surprised Abdulrahman was killed after pulling out a handgun from underneath a pillow on his bed and firing at our arresting team,” Madin said of the 1:30 a.m. operation against Abdulrahman and his group in Barangay Bagua 2.

Madin said the arresting team was in the area to serve a search warrant issued by Judge Allan Edwin Boncavil of the 12th Judicial RTC Branch 19 in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, against Jasmiya Camsa Ibrahim, an alleged cohort of Abdulrahman, for violation of Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition Act.

“Unfortunately, Ibrahim, who is the primary target, managed to elude arrest,” Madin said.

The primary target got away. Happens often enough. 

There have been renewed peace talks with the CPP-NPA but the AFP has rejected those calls saying that the Reds have been weakened.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1368196/saying-reds-weak-already-afp-chief-rejects-return-to-peace-talks

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Gilbert Gapay rejected the idea of resuming peace talks with communist rebels, saying a pause in the counterinsurgency war would simply give rebels time to rebuild their ranks.

“They only buy time, respite from the pressures being provided by security forces,” said Gapay at an online press briefing on Friday (Dec. 4).

“Their capabilities are on the decline, their numbers are dwindling and in fact we have their backs against the wall and this is not the right time to really impose or recommend such ceasefire or even peace talks,” he told reporters.

On Thursday, the military said it would not recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte a ceasefire for the holidays with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. The government and NPA had been traditionally declaring ceasefires during the Christmas season.

“For so many years, we have learned our lessons,” said Gapay. “First, they are not sincere here. In the past, we had a ceasefire and they continue to attack not only security forces, but even communities for the purpose of extortion,” he said, speaking in Filipino. “So there are many incidents,” he added.

He said to “permanently” end the insurgency, the government has to deprive rebels of any chance to rebuild, recruit or continue with their tax collection which the AFP chief said was just extortion.

“They are already weak and I think the security sector has already gained momentum,” Gapay said. “It’s just a matter of time before we really put an end to this insurgency problem,” he added.

"It's just a matter of time" before the insurgency is over. How many times have they said that before? Maybe this time it will be true.