The government is waging a multi-front war against the communist insurgency. While the AFP has been fighting insurgents in the jungles and mountains for 5 decades the government is now looking to cleanse their ranks of employees who are members of communist fronts. Remember the NICA claimed there are hundreds of thousands of CPP-NPA supporters in the government and that they know who those people are. That makes the DILG's request to all regional directors to find out who are members of alleged communist terrorist groups seem out of place. Can't the NICA just give them a list?
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| https://mb.com.ph/2021/03/16/stop-the-witch-hunt-groups-slam-dilg-for-terror-tagging-memo/ |
In a virtual press conference Tuesday, March 16, members of ACT and COURAGE joined forces to fight off the “witch-hunt” being allegedly carried out by DILG.
The groups also challenged the said memorandum which “flagrantly tramples on teachers and education workers’ constitutionally protected freedom to associate.”
For ACT, the said memorandum issued by DILG dated March 10, 2021, is a “wanton tagging” of the 180,000-strong teachers’ organization as a “known Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) front organization.”
The DILG memo signed by Assistant Secretary for Public and Security Alexander L. Macario, regional officials of DILG were advised to “initiate an investigation” on the supposed infiltration of CTGs – particularly ACT and COURAGE – in private and public schools and the Department of Education (DepEd) and in other government offices.
DILG also “advised” the regional directors to “validate employees who are definite members” and submit the authenticated names for Macario’s “perusal.”
“It is advised further, to fend off and discourage existing employees association and organization in your office to affiliate with the known CTG organization,” Macario added in his memo.
Contrary to the allegations of DILG, ACT noted that it remains the “sole and exclusive” negotiating agent of public school teachers in five regions and having duly-registered unions in 12 more.
“ACT has not only been in continuous working relations with DepEd but with numerous local government units in addressing teachers’ and education’s issues and concerns,” ACT Secretary Raymond Basilio said.
During the undisclosed and confidential meting in which the Department participated, part of the discussion was the infiltration of several agencies of the government of known Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) front organization such as Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) in the private and public schools and DEPED and the Confederation for Unity Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) in other government offices.In view thereof, it is advised for your office to initiate an investigation on the matter and validate employees who are definite members of COURAGE and if found to be true and authenticated, please submit their names for the perusal and information of the undersigned. It is advised further, to fend off and discourage existing employees association or organization in your office to affiliate with the know CTG Organization.
The DILG initially reacted by denying the existence of this memo.
“No such internal memo exists. That’s simply black propaganda and fake news,” DILG Undersecretary for operations Epimaco Densing III said.
Later they denied the charge of red-tagging by saying Joma Sison himself tagged those groups as communist fronts.
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| https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/STATEMENT-OF-THE-DEPARTMENT-OF-THE-INTERIOR-AND-LOCAL-GOVERNMENT/NC-2021-1052 |
Records will show that it was Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison himself who “red-tagged” or identified the organizations that they have infiltrated and now control in a video which was shown in the Senate. In fact, the National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA) has reported that COURAGE has been infiltrated by the Makabayang Kawaning Pilipino (MKP), an underground mass organization (UGMO) that advocates for armed struggle under the direct control of the CPP-NPA-NDF.
It is our sworn obligation to determine if the organization has been infiltrated and if our employees are being recruited and exploited. Government officials and employees owe allegiance to the Republic at all times. Under Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees, civil servants shall at all times be loyal to the Republic and to the Filipino people, uphold the Constitution, and put loyalty to country above loyalty to persons or party.
The DILG is also framing this issue as being a loyalty test. Some people are cheering this move.
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| https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1069924 |
"The directive from DILG Assistant Secretary for Public Safety and Security Alexander Macario is intended to ensure that our public servants are not exploited or used to undermine the government and the stability of the Republic," Mapagu told the PIA-NCR amid some calls of red-tagging and alleged violation of certain rights.
"Indeed, the move should not be construed as infringement on the rights of employees to join associations. Rather, it is a reminder for civil servants, by the virtue of the positions they hold, to remain loyal to the Republic and the Filipino people. The government, for its part, shall ensure that the Constitutional rights of every Filipino are protected, regardless of one's political affiliation," he added.
"The E-CLIP and Amnesty Program (EAP) Cluster of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) stands behind the move by the DILG to discourage its employees from joining organizations suspected to be affiliated with the communist terrorist group," he said.
Certainly government employees should not join terrorists groups. However if the ACT is a communist front group then why are they the allowed to operate as a union for teachers? Why does the DepEd continue to deal with them as a legitimate group?
There has been a lot of red-tagging going on of late. A cop was recently sacked from his position after he asked a judge for a list of lawyers representing alleged communists.
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| https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/3/13/Calbayog-intel-chief-relieved-request-lawyers-for-alleged-communists.html |
Philippine National Police officer in charge Guillermo Eleazar said on Saturday he ordered the relief of the intelligence unit chief of the Calbayog City police for requesting a list of lawyers representing individuals from an alleged "communist terrorist group”, which was identified in the request as "CTG".
In a March 12 letter that went viral, Police Lieutenant Fernando Calabria, Jr. asked the Office of the Clerk of Court in Calbayog for the names of legal counsels of “CTG personalities.” He said he made the request in compliance with “higher PNP offices,” a claim which Eleazar denied.
Eleazar said in a statement, PNP’s top officials “did not issue any order pertaining to that, and will never tolerate such unprofessional method of information gathering.”
The court confirmed receipt of Calabria's letter on Friday, but “no action has been made by them on the request,” Supreme Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka earlier said.
His request reads as follows:
Good Day!
This pertains to the compliance from higher PNP offices regarding of lawyers who represents Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) personalities in the court.
In this regard, the undersigned would humbly request list of lawyers represent CTG personalities in the court. Attach herewith the table being requested for your reference.
We fervently pray and hope for your favorable consideration on this request for subsequent submission to PNP higher offices.
Thank you and God bless!
The PNP denies any top officials requested such a list and that this man acted alone but that does not fit the facts of the case. Why would the intel chief issue such a letter if it was all a lie? Why would he risk his career and his reputation? It makes no sense.
While the civilian government attempts to rid itself the communists in its midst the AFP is out engaging the insurgents in the field.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1134079 |
Another clash between the Philippine Army and an unspecified number of New People’s Army members was reported in remote Aurora village in Pudtol, Apayao province on Wednesday, the military said.
While on combat patrol at around 3:20 p.m. on March 17, government troops led by 1st Lt. Jheffrey Banuelos had an encounter with the communist rebels.
The firefight lasted for five minutes, according to a report from the Army. There were no casualties on the government side.
The first clash took place in Barangay Mallig in neighboring Flora town on March 14 when a lair of the rebels with seized firearms and ammunition was discovered.
A pursuit operation took place at about 12:40 p.m. on the same day in Sitio Tawini, Upper Atok, also in Flora, with one casualty recovered from the rebel side.
Troops also engaged the BIFF and recovered guns and IEDs.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1134306 |
Government forces pursuing Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao have recovered guns and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the fleeing extremists.Col. Pedro Balisi, commander of 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, said Saturday that ongoing clearing operations on the path of withdrawal by BIFF gunmen resulted in the recovery of four assorted rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, seven IEDs, three handheld communication radios, subversive documents, and fatigue uniforms.“We have been pursuing the BIFF since Thursday (Mar. 18) following the first encounter with government troopers in Barangay Kitango of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town,” Balisi said.A military update said five BIFF combatants have been killed so far in the clashes, with two others wounded. On the government side, three troopers have been slightly injured.
Those five BIFF members are dead but 7 others saved their lives by surrendering.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1134143 |
Seven combatants of the local terrorist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) decided to surrender to the military in North Cotabato to live normal lives once more, officials said Thursday.
With the help of acting Mayor Muhyryn Sultan Casi of Pikit, North Cotabato the BIFF surrenderers laid down their arms and yielded on Thursday afternoon to the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade (602Bde) in Pikit, North Cotabato.
The BIFF batch turned in their rifles during surrender rites to Brigadier General Roberto Capulong, commander of 602Bde, and Lt. Col. Rommel Mundala, commanding officer of the 90th Infantry Battalion as witnessed by local officials.
The mayor has offered to provide initial cash assistance and livelihood packages to the former rebels so they can start a peaceful and normal life.
They surrendered three M14 rifles, one homemade KG-9 automatic pistol; one rocket-propelled grenade launcher; a 12-gauge shotgun; an M79 grenade launcher; an improvised explosive device with blasting cap; and assorted ammunition.
Now these men can avail of all the E-CLIP benefits like free housing and job training. The AFP has been going hard after the BIFF because they have been sowing terror in the region.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1134141 |
Government forces thwarted another attempt by the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to sow terror in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, the military here reported Friday.
Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, speaking for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said the reporting of residents to military forces in Datu Saudi Ampatuan prevented what could be a bloody attack by BIFF fighters against Joint Peace and Security Team outpost in Barangay Kitango.
A composite team from the Philippine Army, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and local police is manning the outpost and functions as peacekeeping forces in ensuring the security of residents within the six government-acknowledged MILF camps in Central Mindanao.
Baldomar said BIFF gunmen have been sighted in Kitango and repeatedly threatened to harm civilians if they refused to provide revolutionary tax to the terror group.
He said troopers from the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade (1MIBde) encountered about 30 BIFF fighters in Barangay Kitango from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Col. Pedro Balisi, commander of 1MIBde, said upon receipt of verified reports from the residents, government forces immediately conducted clearing operations and encountered the BIFF fighters, triggering a running gun battle.
The goal with all these endeavors is, as always, ending the insurgency. Whether everyone surrenders or they are killed the AFP is aiming to end the longest communist insurgency in the world. It is a war of attrition. Village by village.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1134018 |
Eight communist terrorist groups-cleared villages in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will receive PHP20 million each for their development programs, or a total of PHP160 million allocation from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).Trisha Marie Dogup, focal person of the Executive Order (70 program under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG in CAR, on Thursday said the eight were cleared of infestation by the terrorist group New People’s Army (NPA) from 2016 to 2019.They have already submitted the required documents, including proposals on how the funds will be utilized.“The fund is under the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) of the NTF-ELCAC,” she said.Among the proposed projects are farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, rural electrification, housing, and medical, burial, transportation, food, cash-for-work, and educational assistance for indigent individuals or households.Of the eight villages, six are in Abra (Barangays Bayabas, Buanao, Dulao, Duldulao, Ud-udiao in the municipality of Malibcong, and Barangay Naguilian in Salapadan town); Barangay Babalag East in Rizal, Kalinga; and Barangay Tamboan, Besao in Mountain Province.
All those projects will greatly benefit the citizens of those villages. It is too bad that the government has been withholding the money and preventing the people from having the necessary infrastructure to improve their lives.
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