Insurgency: Children's Books About Martial Law Red-Tagged by NICA Chief

The 2022 election is finally over. According to the DILG one of the biggest losers was the CPP-NPA as apparently no politician paid extortion fees this year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174297

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said there are no reports of politicians or local government unit (LGU) officials paying permits to campaign fees or any form of aid to terrorist groups such as the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in this elections.

“(We report Mr. President that we have not monitored any politician giving money or resources as permit to campaign against the CPP-NPA),” Año told President Rodrigo Duterte in a pre-recorded Talk to the People on Thursday.

He said the DILG will file the appropriate charges against personalities violating Republic Act 10168, otherwise known as the "Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012", which is also a violation of Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code and Article 137 of the Revised Penal Code or the Disloyalty of Public Officers.

This is very interesting in light of the fact that during the 2019 election the DILG claimed to know the names of 349 politicians paying those fees. 

https://www.dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-349-government-execs-pay-CPP-NPA-extortion-money-permit-to-campaign/NC-2019-1060

Año says that based on intelligence reports received by the DILG, 349 local and national government officials ranging from congressmen, provincial governors down to the barangay councilors have been identified as source of financial aid and are tied to the communist rebels. 

"We now have a watchlist, we know you. So if you are supporting communist rebels, in any way, you ascertain yourself as a supporter of terrorism and an enemy of the state, you establish yourself as an accomplice to their cause," he says.

What happened to those people? Were any of them running for reelection this year? Will they ever be held accountable? The AFP claims attempts by the NPA to extort politicians were greatly reduced because of open talks with local officials.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174519

Better communication and partnership between field units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and local leaders have effectively reduced attempts of the New People's Army (NPA) terrorists to carry out their extortion activities during the recent election season.

In a virtual press conference of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Monday, AFP spokesperson Army Col. Ramon Zagala hailed the local leaders for their understanding of the issues and knowing that dwindling resources of the NPA mean the eventual resolve of the insurgency problem.

"I think we have better communications now. We are able to explain well, especially our field units, sa atin mga (on our) candidates, ating mga (on our) political leaders, they are now our partners in finding solutions in defeating insurgency and uplifting the lives of our countrymen affected by the insurgency," Zagala said. "With these communication(s), it significantly lowered the ability of the NPA to collect permit-to-win and permit-to-campaign (extortion schemes)."

Since the NPA is now lacking popular support, Zagala said these communist terrorists are unable to move as freely as they want and carry out their extortion rackets such as permit-to-win and permit-to-campaign schemes.

"We believe in the Armed Forces that constant communication, partnership with our local chief executives is one of the key successes that we have, that is why the NPA are not able to collect," he said.

So, did absolutely no politicians pay the NPA this year or was their ability to extort politicians significantly lowered which sounds like maybe a few did pay? It's not impossible that there was no paying of extortion fees this year but it sounds implausible. If it is true that none were paid then that is great. 

Another loser this election is history. Forgetting the history of the Marcos family 31 million Filipinos voted Bongbong Marcos for President. This prompted a children's book publisher to release a special bundle of books about martial law called the never forget bundle. Indeed those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. For their trouble they were red-tagged by no less than the Director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/literature/adarna-martial-law-children-books-on-sale-may-2022/

It’s never too early to teach your kids about the Marcos dictatorship with Adarna House’s #NeverAgain bundle, available for pre-order at 20% off now until May 22.

The bundle contains five illustrated books that tell stories of the Martial Law era: Si Jhun Jhun, Noong Bago Ideklara Ang Batas Militar, EDSA, The Magic Arrow, Isang Harding Papel, and Ito Ang Diktadura.

Shipping for pre-orders begins on June 14.

The sale has led National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director General Alex Paul Monteagudo to red-tag Adarna House, accusing the publishing company in a May 12 Facebook post of “radicalizing” children against the government. 

Lorraine Badoy got in on the action as well adding her own comments to NICA Director Alex Paul Monteagudo's Facebook post.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=4871947602917069&id=100003056314669&comment_id=4872080496237113

Alex Paul Monteagudo: This is how the CPP/NPA/NDF radicalize not just our youths, but our children. The Adarna Publishing House published these books and they are now on sale to subtly radicalize the Filipino children against our Governement, now!

Lorraine Badoy: The target audience of Adarna is from toddler to elementary level children. That early, they are planting hate and lies in the tender hearts of our children. Mga demonyo talaga

"They are planting hate and lies in the tender hearts of our children??" What a crock! They are teaching children about one of the darkest times in Philippine history, when Ferdinand Marcos was dictator. But it gets even better. 

Asked if the publisher was part of the CPP Lorraine responded thusly:

https://www.facebook.com

Adarna is not CPP. Just entered (i.e. infiltrated). They have a lot of nice books

They are not CPP but have been infiltrated by the CPP and have a lot oof nice books. Where is her proof that they have been infiltrated by the CPP? And what a backhanded compliment to accuse them of "planting hate and lies in the tender hearts of our children" and then say they have a lot of nice books. She can't even think straight. The red-tagging of a children's book publisher by the NICA Director and Lorraine Badoy is so shameful and disgraceful that even Neil Gaiman, author The Sandman and American Gods, took notice and called them out.

https://www.scoutmag.ph/71458/neil-gaiman-adarna-house/

Neil Gaiman is no stranger to Philippine lit, if his outspoken love for local mythology is enough of a clue. Now, the British writer has given his two cents on something else that hits close to home—children’s lit, and specifically, the red-tagging of it. 

In a tweet today, “The Sandman” and “Coraline” writer summed up his thoughts on a recent incident with children’s publishing company Adarna House, saying: “Not good.”

It should not be forgotten that Bongbong Marcos is on record saying the history of his family needs to be "revised."

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/10/Marcos-wants-to-revise-history-textbooks.html

After gaining consecutive victories on cases involving his family's alleged-ill gotten wealth, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stressed Friday that it's about time for educational institutions to revise the content of history textbooks which have depicted their family in a bad light.

Marcos, the son of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, did not mention any names, but hit back at the opposition for their prolonged “political propaganda” which supposedly revised historical information about their family that is being taught on today’s youth.

The Commission on Human Rights, however, countered his call, saying it is a direct affront to the thousands of victims of human rights violations under Marcos' authoritarian rule.

“We have been calling on that for years. Syempre ang nakaupo, under the influence of our opposition, pero ‘di rin naman tama ‘yun. What has been proven wrong is that they continue to contend —essentially, you are teaching the children lies,” Marcos said in a forum in Manila.

“I think this is the very definition of revisionism. That is one important takeaway. We always knew that these were not true,” he added.

It is very probable many groups and people will be red tagged during the next six years as they dare to tell the documented truth about Ferdinand Marcos, the Marcos family, and how they plundered the Philippines.

Despite the NPA dwindling in numbers and strength there are fears that they are out to recruit your children. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174288

The Western Visayas Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF6 ELCAC) is calling on parents, guardians, and school officials to make sure children are in schools and not in the streets being brainwashed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army -National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

In a statement sent on Thursday, the task force through its spokesperson Prosecutor 2 Flosemer Chris Gonzales also called on barangay officials and community leaders to protect their communities from being infiltrated by the NPA.

“Together, we can protect our youth from becoming the next unwitting victim of the CPP-NPA-NDF and their front organizations,” the statement said.

Gonzales, who also serves as acting spokesperson for legal cluster of the national task force, said the call for vigilance was made amid protest rallies being conducted by front organizations of the communist terrorist group (CTG) denouncing the result of the May 9 polls.

“Recent events clearly tell us that our youth are facing a clear and present danger. The CPP-NPA-NDF terrorist group and their allied front organizations are on a recruitment spree targeting our students and our youth,” he added.

Once recruited the students will drop out of school to join the “armed terrorists” and many will end up dead, the statement said.

Gonzales' sole proof that the NPA is out recruiting is that front groups are protesting the May 9th election results. Disagreeing with the results of an election is now tantamount to being a communist. Unless of course you are Bongbong Marcos who still believes Robredo stole the Vice Presidency from him in 2016. At least the AFP is a bit more descriptive when talking about these rallies.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174378

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is more than ready to counter attacks or violent activities that might be conducted by the New People's Army (NPA) in the countryside following reports that militant groups will stage protest actions on Friday.

"If there are violent activities to be conducted by (the) CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA outside of Metro Manila, we are also prepared for them. As you know, we are in two modes, election mode and combat mode. Combat mode is continuous. We are going against all CPP-NPA in the countryside. (They) have lost a lot already, and soon enough we will be able to defeat them," said AFP spokesperson, Army Col. Ramon Zagala, during the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) special press conference.

He also assured the public that the AFP is in "control of order" especially against the NPA".

"And to those here in the urban areas, we will support the PNP (Philippine National Police) for operations against any untoward incident," Zagala said.

Also, the AFP spokesperson maintained that they respect the decision of some groups to gather and conduct protest actions in Metro Manila in connection with the just concluded elections.

"Like I said earlier, we have freedom of expression. They wish to assemble, we respect that. Our info really is there will be a rally. We see in the AFP no problem," Zagala said, noting that the Philippines is a free country and a democracy.

But, he said that those participating in these actions, especially their leaders, must be aware of the identities of people or groups joining them to prevent infiltration from CPP-NPA members and their allies.

It's not always possible to know the identity of everyone who joins your rally. Aside from that the rallies are going to be staged by alleged CPP front groups so wouldn't that mean they are already illegitimate? Perhaps the AFP is not on the same page as the NTF-ELCAC in condemning those groups.

One thing that Gonzales is right about is that anyone who joins the NPA will likely end up dead. Unless, that is, they surrender and avail of the nice benefits package. It seems that the AFP's campaign against the NPA has them turning on each other.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174286

An exhausted communist New People's Army (NPA) rebel was choked to death and ordered buried by his leader as he was a burden to their fleeing group, the military said Thursday.

In a report, the Army's 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said a former NPA fighter bared that top-ranking NPA leader Eric Jun Casilao killed and buried his comrade, Crispin Rollon, in a hinterland village in New Bataan town, Davao de Oro, last month.

The incident was revealed to them by "Vina”, a squad supply officer of NPA's Regional Operations Command (ROC) who surrendered to government forces on April 27.

Vina said Casilao killed Rollon because the latter was slowing the group's escape from the pursuing 10ID forces.

"Due to extreme starvation, Jeffrey was exhausted and could no longer walk. He became a burden to us, that is why he was beaten and choked to death by Casilao and buried in Andap," Vina was quoted in the military report.

Following her revelation, a joint operation was immediately launched by the 66th Infantry Battalion (66IB) together with personnel from New Bataan Municipal Police Station and Municipal Disaster Response Team on Wednesday to exhume the remains of Rollon.

Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, 10ID commander, condemned the “murderous exploit” of the NPA.

“The barbaric act of NPA leaders is unacceptable. If only they chose to surrender, this would not have happened that they need to kill each other just for them to survive," Mempin said.

It sounds barbaric but its a fact of history that the communists always turn on each other. Lenin, Stalin, and Mao all had their purges of fellow comrades.

Here is something I missed from May 3rd.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/05/03/2178352/afp-basilan-cleared-abu-sayyaf-influence

The province of Basilan has been cleared of the influence of the Abu Sayyaf bandit group, the military announced yesterday.

The announcement was made following a recent meeting conducted by the Area Clearing Validation Board (ACVAB) at the headquarters of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) at Camp Navarro in this city.

“The ACVB evaluated Basilan and cleared the province of the influence of the Abu Sayyaf based on the recommendations of the preventing and countering violent extremism evaluation committee (PCVEC),” Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr. said.

The PCVEC reported that 29 barangays across Basilan, which were formerly known for the presence and of being supportive of the bandits, are no longer under the influence of the terror group.

The military said the clearing of these areas came after the completion of a community support program conducted by the Joint Task Force Basilan (JTFB).

Religious leaders in the barangays are promoting the right teachings of Islam, and no extremist violence was monitored, the military said.

Note how it is being said that "the right teachings of Islam" are being taught which means no extremist violence. That means the violence is directly tied to Islam. That's an admission by the AFP that the insurgency is Mindanao is Islamic in nature.