The NTF-ELCAC has announced they are shifting paradigms in their peace building efforts. No longer will peace be seen as "merely the absence of conflict." Peace is much more multifaceted involving the whole of society from economics to politics and culture.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233099 |
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is adopting a "positive peace" framework, signifying a paradigm shift in its peacebuilding efforts amid the declining threat of communist insurgency.
NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said there is a need to acquire "new lenses" in the pursuit of peace, noting that it should not be seen as merely the absence of conflict or violence.
“Peace encompasses the integrity of the social, political, and cultural superstructure; and the economic base of a society," he said in a news release Wednesday.
Torres, who spoke before participants during the “Positive Peace" training at the Sheraton Hotel Manila on Tuesday, said such perspective signifies a paradigm shift in the NTF-ELCAC's approach to peacebuilding.
He cited the need to move beyond traditional security measures and adopt a more holistic approach that considers the social, political, cultural and economic factors contributing to a peaceful and prosperous society.
"As peacebuilders, we need to acquire new lenses in our collective effort to attain a just and lasting peace, and inclusive development for a united people," Torres said.
The one-day training, hosted by the non-profit think tank Institute for Economics & Peace in collaboration with the NTF-ELCAC, equipped participants with tools and strategies to integrate “positive peace" principles into its cluster action plan.
However, this is not really much different from what has gone before. The AFP is on record defining insurgency-free not as zero actual insurgents but an insignificant level.
“Insurgency-free”, according to Luga, means that they have received no more reports of armed men in the province.
“Insignificant level. Wala na rito ang mga armed groups,” Luga said during the recent meeting of the Regional Peace and Order Council held at the Capitol Social Hall.
https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2019/09/martial-law-insurgent-free.html
They have also admitted the insurgency will never be totally eliminated but can be made negligible.
Año admitted insurgency cannot be totally eliminated, but he believes the issue may be brought down to a negligible point.
“While we may not be able to attain this zero insurgents, but at least reduced to an irrelevant number that will not cause concern for peace and order,” he said.
“They will become isolated and just become bandits, because of lost ideology and non-support from the people,” he projected.
https://philippinefails.blogspot.com/2023/09/insurgency-communist-insurgency-to-end.html
It's also not any different from the whole-of-nation approach being taken since the NTF-ELCAC was founded. Where exactly is the paradigm shift?
More areas have been declared rebel-free. First is Biliran Province.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233141 |
The entire province of Biliran has been officially declared on Wednesday as completely free from threats of the New People’s Army (NPA) and has attained the Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status.
Key officials from the local government, national government agencies, and the Philippine Army (PA) gathered at the provincial capitol in Naval town to witness the declaration.
In his speech, Governor Gerard Espina said it is an honor for the province to attain such status as a fruit of partnership between government agencies and local officials.
“This is a testament to our vision for a peaceful, secured, and prosperous province of Biliran. We have addressed the root cause of insurgency through dialogue and cooperation,” Espina added.
Among the parameters achieved by Biliran is the absence of NPA activities for several years, functional local task forces to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC), and declaration of NPA as persona non-grata in villages, among others.
PA 802nd Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir said Biliran is the first province in Eastern Visayas to be declared with SPIS.
“For 16 years, there has been no presence of NPA guerrillas and no NPA violent activity in the province. This has been a peaceful province because of the collective efforts of the people of Biliran not allowing the NPA to set foot in this province,” Vestuir told local officials.
Alongside the SIPS declaration is the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among the members of the provincial task force to end local communist armed conflict and peace partners.
The MOU aims to strengthen the support of local government units in maintaining peace and order, conducting activities to enhance law enforcement operations, and preventing the resurgence of the NPA.
The military said several areas in the region have long been peaceful, which paved the way for the declaration of the SIPS status is just a formal and official manifestation of the commitment of local leaders and people to sustain the peace and never allow any threat group to gain a foothold in their communities.
The second area is a town in Leyte.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1233202 |
This town, known in the past as a hotbed of insurgency in central Leyte, has been declared Thursday as completely free from threats of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Through a resolution of the municipal peace and order council and the Sangguniang Bayan, the town was declared to have Stable Internal Peace and Security Conditions (SIPC).
Highlights of the declaration held at the Burauen Community College were the signing of a memorandum of understanding and pledge of commitment by different stakeholders and the simultaneous release of white doves.
In his speech, Burauen Mayor Juanito Renomeron thanked all stakeholders who helped in attaining the conditions for the declaration of their town as having a peaceful status.
“In recent years, we have seen concerted efforts of the government in collaboration with the Philippine Army and the local government. We have addressed the root causes of rebellion through the delivery of programs and services. This has resulted in the diminished NPA’s influence,” Renomeron said.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said there have been attempts by the NPA to return to Burauen, but they failed.
“Every time there are sightings of armed men in communities, they are reported to authorities. People of Burauen don’t want NPA to set foot in Burauen again,” Vestuir said during the declaration rites.
Under the Armed Forces of the Philippines' phases of normalization, an area is given the SIPS status if no violent terrorist activity has been conducted by the NPA for at least one year.
Based on the military records, no atrocity has been recorded in the town’s 77 villages since 2016.
The town was considered a hiding place for armed rebels due to its thick forest and strategic location in the central part of Leyte province. The town is bounded by two cities —Ormoc and Baybay—as well as five towns.
Burauen is the first town in the second congressional district of Leyte to attain such status and the eighth town in the entire Leyte province.
Note the AFP claims the NPA has attempted to reestablish themselves. That means the are is not rebel-free. The citizens may have rejected the NPA but they are still around.
Arms caches found in Leyte and Samar signal the NPA is weakened says the AFP.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1232910 |
The recent discoveries of arms caches in Leyte and Samar provinces signal the victory of the government’s fight to end insurgency in the region, an official of the Philippine Army said on Monday.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the participation of villagers and former rebels in peace initiatives largely contributed to the unearthing of firearms and an explosive buried by the New People’s Army (NPA).
"The involvement of former rebels has significantly weakened the NPA's capabilities in Samar and Leyte. We expect more discoveries in the coming days as the people and former NPA members are fully cooperating with our peace efforts," Vestuir said in a phone interview.
The Army’s 78th Infantry Battalion (IB) discovered the arms storage belonging to the NPA in Barangay Osmeña, General MacArthur, Eastern Samar on Sept. 7.
The discovery included two M16 rifles with magazines, 175 rounds of ammunition, a bandoleer, a flash drive, subversive documents, and four anti-personnel mine blasting caps which are banned under international humanitarian law.
Arms caches were likewise found on Sept. 2 in Barangay Kahupian, Sogod, Southern Leyte, and in Abuyog, Leyte; and in upland Canca-iyas village in Basey, Samar on Sept. 5.
The Philippine Army is likewise counting on the participation of former rebels for the surrender of the remaining 26 active NPA members hiding in the mountains of Leyte and Southern Leyte provinces.
He urged the remaining NPA members to lay down their arms, assuring them that their families and communities are ready to welcome them back.
"The government is sincere in helping you choose the path of peace," Vestuir said.
With only 26 active NPA members hiding the mountains surely the insurgency will be over soon.
Another arms cache was found in Surigao del Sur.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/15/troops-net-npa-arms-cache-in-surigao-del-sur |
Troops recovered an arms cache in a New People’s Army camp following an hour-long encounter in Sitio Nalindog, Barangay Bolhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur on Thursday afternoon, September 12.
Found were five M16 Armalite rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, one Bushmaster rifle, three AK47 rifles, six Improvised Explosive Devices, 10 bandoliers with magazines and ammunition, 11 backpacks with supplies and personal belongings, cellphones and electronic gadgets, assorted medical supplies and medicines, and subversive documents with high intelligence value.
Major Alvin G. Nangkil, civil-military operations officer of the Army 401st Infantry (Unite N’ Fight) Brigade, said they are pursuing the fleeing rebels in the border of Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur.
“Our operating pursuing troops, which are under the operational control of the 401st Brigade chief Brig. Gen. Francisco F. Lorenzo Jr., are still pursuing the running NPAs, following the blood stains in their route of withdrawal, believing that some of the fleeing rebels are wounded or killed,” Nangkil said.
The encounter occurred after the military received reports that communist rebels were conducting extortion activities in the area.
No casualties were recorded in the government side.
Troops have conducted a series of psychosocial activities to assist residents affected by the NPA presence.
The military appealed to the remaining running communist rebels in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur to surrender and avail of government benefits.
Meanwhile, the 403rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade and the provincial government launched the “Kasa ng Pagkakaisa” program for Geographically Isolated Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) in Bukidnon.
“This ‘Kasa ng Pagkakaisa” program served as a platform for open dialogue for peace and development in GIDA areas,” 403rd Brigade commanding general Brig. Gen. Michele B. Anayron Jr. said.
The dialogue centered on several issues such as access to basic services, infrastructure development, education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities, and peace and order situations, Anayron said.
No word on how many rebels remain in Surigao del Sur.
Two more NPA leaders have been neutralised . One surrendered.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1232994 |
Two members of the New People's Army (NPA), including a team leader, surrendered to military forces in Carmen, Surigao del Sur, a military official said Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Vincent Viray, commander of the Philippine Army's 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB), identified the surrenderers as Jeno Maca Montenegro, the team leader of the dismantled NPA Guerrilla Front-30 (GF-30) Sub-Regional Committee Westland, and Jenalyn Medrano Montenegro, the unit's medic.
"They spoke of the hardships they faced while evading our pursuing forces. Their desire to reunite with their family, which they had left for years, prompted their surrender," Viray said in a statement regarding the duo’s surrender on Monday.
The pair turned over four high-powered firearms and ammunition to military personnel at the 36IB headquarters in Barangay Puyat, Carmen town.
Viray said the 36IB is coordinating with the local government and concerned agencies to process support for the surrenderers under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
"We urge the remaining members of the dismantled GF-30 to surrender and take advantage of the government's offer under ECLIP. The 36IB will continue its operations to rid Surigao del Sur of insurgency and promote peace and development," Viray added.
If Guerrilla Front-30 has been dismantled how did it have a team leader? Perhaps dismantled does not actually mean dismantled just like insurgent-free does not mean zero insurgents.
The other leader was killed in a clash with the AFP.
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1983079/npa-leader-among-4-dead-in-cagayan-clashes |
A key official of the communist rebels in Cagayan Valley was among the four who were killed in a series of clashes between Army soldiers and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Peñablanca town, Cagayan province, on Wednesday, authorities said.
In a statement on Thursday, the military confirmed that Ariel Arbitrario, also known as Karl or Bogart, the regional secretary of the NPA’s Cagayan Valley Regional Committee (Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley or KRCV), was among the fatalities during the clashes in Peñablanca’s remote Barangay Baliuag.
“Arbitrario was the key leader of the communist rebels operating in the mountainous areas of the Cagayan Valley region,” Rogelio Sending, Cagayan provincial information officer, told the Inquirer Thursday.
The armed encounter broke out when a platoon from the Army’s 502nd Brigade under its 5th Infantry Division in Cagayan chanced upon a 17-member group from the KRCV, led by Arbitrario, during military security operations.
Sending said the bodies of Arbitrario and another rebel were discovered following the “prolonged gun battle” between the rebels and the government troops in the hinterlands of Peñablanca.
The two other slain communist rebels were earlier identified as “Ka Danielle,” also known as Nieves, a former student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines who left school to join the rebel movement; and “Ka Jorly,” a resident of Barangay Bural in Rizal town, also in Cagayan.The two rebels sustained gunshot wounds to the head and body, an initial report from the military showed.
After the brief exchange of gunfire, the rebels retreated, leaving behind the bodies of their fallen comrades.
No doubt someone will take his place.
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