Insurgency: Davao Region Insurgency-Free

The entire Davao Region has now been officially declared insurgency-free.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185966

Davao Region is now “insurgency-free” following the series of successful peace and order initiatives that dismantled the remnants of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the area.

During a meeting at the Naval Felix Apolinario Station here Wednesday, members of the Regional Peace and Order Council–Davao (RPOC-11) signed a resolution declaring the entire region as cleared of insurgents as of Sept. 19, 2022.

Davao region is the third region in the country declared as insurgency-free, following Regions 1 and 9.

The declaration came after the five-province Region 11 was declared to have been cleared out of NPA by their respective provincial and city peace and order councils this year.

In March this year, this city was declared insurgency-free, followed by Davao de Oro and Davao del Norte in June, Davao del Sur in July, Davao Occidental in August, and Davao Oriental in September.

Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin, Army’s 10th Infantry Division commander and concurrent RPOC vice chairperson, thanked the different agencies and other RPOC members who contributed to achieving an insurgency-free region.

“Where we are now and what we have achieved bespeak well of our excellent convergence and collaborative efforts," he said.

“We are so happy about this declaration. The development would now thrive without fear of intimidation, harassment, and sabotage from the NPA group,” Mempin said.

Mempin, however, said part of the declaration is a more challenging task, which is the "sustainment and prevention" of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA from recruiting and regrouping.

This comes less than month after Davao Or was declared insurgency free with only two remaining NPA fighters.

But if the NPA is 100% gone and the region is totally insurgent free then why are they worried about recruiting and regrouping in the area? Because according to another report there are still remnants in the area.

While there are still “remnants” of the rebel members, the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division said the rebel groups were reduced to their smallest size.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/13/22/afp-all-of-davao-region-now-free-of-npa-presence

That article is titled "All of Paavo Region Now Free of NPA Presence" which is a lie because there are still remnants. Again, we are told the NPA is weakened and irrelevant but then we are told the AFP is recruiting and attempting to regroup. They cannot be weak and strong at the same time.

A ranking NPA leader was killed in Negros Occidental which has prompted the AFP to declare the group is on the brink of downfall. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185934

The top Philippine Army official in Western Visayas said the death of Romeo Nanta, the regional head of the New People’s Army (NPA) armed unit, is a major setback to the communist-terrorist group’s operations in Negros Island.

“They are now on the brink of downfall following the surrender and death of their members and leaders in Negros,” Maj. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Arevalo, who used to head the 303rd Infantry Brigade based in Negros Occidental, added that there would be demoralization within the ranks and a domino effect on the leadership of the NPA under Nanta’s command.

“We will not stop hunting them to fulfill the Negrenses’ desire for a CPP-NPA-free community. Before it’s too late, they must lay down their firearms and surrender peacefully,” he added.

On Monday afternoon, 94th Infantry Battalion personnel recovered the body of Nanta, 65, the commanding officer of the Regional Operational Command of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Negros, in Sitio Medel of Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City following a series of encounters in the hinterland village that started on Oct. 6.

Using the alias “Juanito Magbanua,” he was also the spokesperson of the Apolinario Gatmaitan Command, which confirmed his death in a press statement on Tuesday.

Nanta was facing criminal cases, including murder, frustrated murder, robbery, and damage to properties, as he was linked to atrocities that claimed the lives of civilians, police, and soldiers as well as damaged installations in Negros.

He was arrested in 2011 and jumped bail to return to the rebel movement.

Nanta was arrested in 2011 for various crimes and yet allowed bail? Why would they have allowed bail for a known terrorist? One does not need that designation to keep the man imprisoned. Just look at his litany of alleged crimes. 

In Negros continued clashes between the NPA and AFP have displaced residents causing the local government to declare a state of emergency.

https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/12/state-of-calamity-declared-in-negros-city-amid-series-of-clashes-between-govt-troops-and-npa-rebels/

The local government of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental has declared a state of calamity, following series of armed encounters that affected thousands of residents in Barangay Carabalan.

The city council declared the entire city under a state of calamity during its special session on Monday, Oct. 10, upon the recommendation of Mayor Raymund Tongson Jr. and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

This allows the city to utilize the Quick Response Fund and enables the release of national calamity funds to agencies involved in relief operations.

Currently, the city has P13 million in quick response funds, a portion of which will be allocated for the man-made calamity such as the encounter between the government troops and the New People’s Army which is now on the sixth day.

Based on the data from the city government, more than 13,000 individuals or more than 10 percent of the city’s population of 110,000 have been affected by the conflict since Oct. 6.

Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao said that one barangay is on lockdown due to the pursuit operations of the Army.

Gatuslao said the city has enough resources to provide for the affected residents.

However, the biggest problem they are facing right now is that there are some areas that they can’t enter just yet, upon the advice of the Army.

“It is really the logistics in getting our goods to the areas. We have no choice. We’re just waiting for evacuees to come,” Gatuslao said.

Of course they will be able to return home eventually. 

In N. Samar the clearing of 96 villages has crippled the NPA.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186036

The clearing of 96 villages from the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA) this year has paralyzed the communist terrorist group in several communities in Northern Samar Province, an official said on Thursday.

The surrender of hundreds of staunch supporters in villages is a big loss to the NPA since they are the providers of food, funds, supplies, and valuable information to the rebels, said Philippine Army 20th Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Joemar Buban in a phone interview.

As of this month, of the 97 NPA-infiltrated areas in the 2nd legislative district of Northern Samar identified in 2021, only one is still up for clearing, the Hinagonoyan village in Catubig town.

“Members of their organized group have stopped giving support to NPA. Our estimate is that the NPA can collect up to PHP11,000 monthly in each of the 97 villages or about PHP11 million in one year in 2nd district alone,” Buban told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The NPA used to extort money from residents, farm owners, and local businessmen to support their armed struggle and contribute funds to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

Other sources were farmlands grabbed by NPA from landowners in Northern Samar and had been under the control of their mass organization.

“Member of this group are required to remit a big share of the farm produce to the NPA. From other landowners, they used to collect 20 percent of the farm income,” Buban said.

After an armed encounter on Oct. 10 in San Miguel village in Las Navas town, soldiers recovered several letters from a dead NPA member demanding money from local businesses.

While the AFP is elated at these developments the DOJ says they will also continue to fight the insurgents. This comes after one NPA fighter was convicted of terrorism. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186041

The government will continue to go after insurgents and those who aid them in efforts to overthrow the government, Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Thursday, as he announced the conviction of a key member of the New People’s Army (NPA) charged with rebellion.

“Rebellion and aiding it is a crime. Those who commit the same should suffer its consequences.” Remulla said in a statement as he commended state lawyers who successfully prosecuted the case against Dionisio Almonte before the Taguig regional trial court branch 266.

In its decision promulgated last September 16, the Taguig court sentenced Almonte alias Inol/Noli/Leo to suffer the indeterminate penalty of up to 17 years imprisonment for his part in attacks against members of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Philippine Army (PA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Quezon province in 2005 to 2006.

Almonte and his group were accused to be behind the bombing of a Globe cell site tower located at Barangay Piis, Lucban, Quezon; the killing of SPO3 Clarito Ilao and the wounding of five other police officers during an encounter; an ambush on members of the PA resulting in the death of Pfc. Eric Consulta, Pfc. Rey Surada, and Pfc. Ruel Abino and the wounding of eight other Army officers; an attack on PA officers resulting in injuries to four Army officers; an ambush on PA officers causing the wounding of two Army officers; and an attack on PA officers causing the death of Ssgt. Ernesto Baniel and the wounding of another PA officer.

The Court said, “the prosecution was able to prove the fact of public uprising and taking arms against the government as the prosecution’s witnesses categorically testified of their experience and encounters with the rebel group -- NPA.”

If only he had surrendered he could have availed of the many benefits. This week hundreds of ex-NPA members have received benefits.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1186087

A total of 165 former rebels and farmers from insurgency-free villages in central Negros will soon undergo various skills training and receive other livelihood interventions from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

As of Thursday, arrangements for the community-based training programs were being finalized after these were launched in Isabela, Negros Occidental last week.

Carlito Quintano, acting provincial director of TESDA-Negros Occidental, said in a statement the training would be funded under the agency’s Special Training for Employment Program.

“They can avail of the free training cost and assessment,” he added.

Other benefits include an Internet allowance, one-year accident insurance, health/personal protective equipment allowance, starter toolkits, and a training support fund/allowance of PHP160 per day.

Are they really grouping in farmers with NPA rebels? 

The USA remains an integral part of the Philippines' war against the insurgency. This year there are 496 security engagements between the two nations. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1185726

The Philippines and the United States will have 496 defense and security engagements in 2023 as the world's coronavirus situation continues to improve.

"For CY 2023 - 496 (274 MDB(Mutual Defense Board) and 222 SEB (Security Engagement Board)," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro said in a message to reporters Sunday.

This is bigger than this year's 461 defense and security engagements, which can be broken down into 214 MDB and 247 SEB.

Bacarro said the 461 engagements posted for 2022 is also significantly higher than the 353 in 2021 which can be broken down into 197 MBD and 156 SEB.

The AFP chief attributed the relatively low number of US military engagements in 2021 due to the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bacarro said around 15,000 US military personnel will be involved in the various MDB and SEB drills in 2023 which includes the annual "Balikatan" exercises.

The US has also granted $100 million in military financing. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-grants-philippines-100-million-foreign-military-financing-2022-10-14/

The United States has made available $100 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines, its ambassador in Manila said on Friday, part of efforts to boost the Southeast Asian country's defence capabilities and military modernisation.

The new military financing underscores improved defence ties between the treaty allies under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, whose predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, shifted his country's foreign policy away from the United States to pursue warmer ties with China.

"The United States has now made available $100 million in foreign military financing in part for the Philippine military to use as it wishes," Ambassador MaryKay Carlson told a media briefing aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, which was on a scheduled port call in Manila.

To use as it wishes! Hopefully it does not get pocketed. Either way never let Filipinos say Uncle Sam has never given them anything.