In my entry, "NPA Armed Contacts for the Second Quarter of 2011, Part VI," I discussed the sad predicament of a band of Mamanwa Tribesmen that had somehow made their way to Surigao City, in Surigao del Norte Province in June of 2011, where they had ended up living under a set of huge blue plastic tarps that had been rendered into a gigantic tent in that city's Barangay Luna. The Mamanwa are Negritos and as such constitute the poorest of the poor on Mindanao. This particular band, under the leadership of Datu Rolando "Lando" Anlagan, also known as "Datu Mahuribok," had encamped on a private lot in Sitio Bacud that had been generously donated by Provincial Councilor Leonilo Aldonza.
Likewise, I covered the tribe's happy return to their homes in the adjacent province of Agusan del Norte, on June 26th. Happy to return to their modest thatched homes where they eeked out a hardscrabble existence in the municipality of Kitcharao. Their small settlement in the Zapanta Valley's Sitio Mahaba, in the upland barangay of Bangayan was shared with Manobo Tribesmen and a tiny minority of Bisaya, Cebuano-speakers, most of whom had inter-married into both tribes. Though the Manobo and Mamanwa tended separate communal plots the community was bereft of any ethnic communal strife with the biggest worry being wild boars who would uproot their crops of dry rice, corn, and ginger...that is until the Armed Forces of the Philippines classified their valley as an NPA Sentro de Grabidad, or Centre of Gravity.
As I have explained in other posts, the phrase "Centre of Gravity" is a generic term that denotes an oppositional force's strongest sector, the geographical in which the opposition, in this case the NPA, holds the strongest amount of influence and finds most of its support. In another recent NPA entry, "NPA Armed Contacts for the Fourth Quarter, Part XI," I discuss the NPA's methodology of first conquering a small area at a provincial border nexus, and how it uses that border convergence to outwit both the PNP and AFP (Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines) by simply basing themselves on one side of a border and attacking across the provincial line. So it is for this far end of the NPA's Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee, or NEMRC.
As true as that is, the Zapanta Valley is far from a Centre of Gravity. It is only within the last six months that the single NPA Front operating on both sides of the Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte provincial borders, Front 19A, has re-emerged after nearly a year long hiatus during which the AFP's 4ID (Infantry Division) declared the entire province of Surigao del Norte to be "pacified." Indeed, even as the former Division Commander, Major General Mario Chang, was making that asinine claim, his 30IB (Infantry Battalion) was using the Zapanta Valley as its personal punching bag.
The "Pacification" was declared in the Spring of 2010. In June of that same year the 30IB launched a massive push on that provincial border, aimed at curtailing Front activities in and around the municipality of Kitcharao.
Then, in 2011, the 30IB did this again in May, as noted in that aforementioned Second Quarter entry, and then once again at the end of August, and now once again beginning on November 6th. On the day in question, at 10AM, villagers were startled as 105MM Howitzer shells began pockmarking the ground around their tiny settlement. By the end of the second Howitzer salvo a pair of MG520 helicopter gunships were showering the valley's heavily wooded slopes with 70MM rockets, seven per salvo. The 2.75 inch shells ripped apart everything they touched and while they failed to connect with a single NPA guerilla, they did manage to ruin the Abaca (Manila Hemp) crops of several Manobo families in the village.
As the copters began emptying their 250 round 50 caliber guns the villagers once again packed their most important possessions and began running for their lives. As distraught tribesmen jogged down the rutted dirt trail that serves as the only conduit into and out of the Zapanta Valley, they passed 6 x 6 trucks full of Scout Rangers from the 5th and 6th Companies who were spearheading the ground portion of the operation. This time the 30IB was relegated to flag waving at checkpoints established in the more populated environs of that same barangay, Bangayan, and another in the adjacent barangay of Mara-iging, as if the NPA would now drive out of the Zapanta Valley on the region's single road.
In any event, the PNP also took part in this shindig with the two Public Safety Companies* from PRO-13, or Police Regional Office for Region #13, establishing secondary blocking forces and checkpoints in Barangays Haliobong and Kanaway, which were closer to the town proper on National Hiway, as well as in the municipality of Tubay, an alternative route for anyone lucky enough to have made their way out onto the hiway (*Public Safety Companies, or PSCs, are simply the modernised Philippine Constabulary. When the Constabulary, or PC was de-mobilised, many PC companies were converted into PMGs, or Police Mobile Groups. At the end of 2009 the PNP Director General re-named them "Public Safety Companies" to negate a lot of the baggage associated with their history as counterinsurgency tools).
Back in Zapanta Valley the 6 x 6 trucks disgorged their passengers. The 6th Company, under Lieutenants Marco and Sara-sara was tasked with clearing Sitio Mahaba . At 1115AM they walked into an NPA ambush in which three soldiers were critically wounded:
1) Private First Class (Pfc.) Josel P.Sedrome
2) Pfc.Henry M.Simba
3) Corporal Mabel Sacay
After the NPA broke contact and withdrew the 6th Company set up a security perimeter as they awaited the lone Huey (UH-H1 helicopter) to Medivac the three wounded men to Camp Bancasi, the 4ID annex camp in Butuan City.
The 5th Company meanwhile, under Captain Cimini, began clearing the Mamanwa portion of the valley, Sitio Maribuhok, and were ambushed by a second NPA detachment. The Company Commander, Captain Mark Steve T.Cimini was wounded straight away while one of his men, Pfc.Ninoto C.Gulani was killed. At just before 1130AM both MG520s broke off and headed back to Camp Bancasi for refueling, only to return with the HUEY at just before 1PM. Captain Cimini and the body of Pfc.Gulani were evacuated back to Butuan as both companies of Scout Rangers continued clearing the valley without resistance.
As of today, November 17th, 2011, the push is still taking place. The AFP has killed ZERO, wounded ZERO, and captured ZERO guerillas, ZERO camps, and has otherwise failed to make one iota of progress. The only thing this third major operation in six months has managed to do is create a recruitment pool FOR the NPA. Amazingly, indeed, stupefyingly, the 30IB admits to "Hamletting" the valley. For those unfamiliar with the term, it involves a tight military cordon around a designated settlement. Nothing moves in or out of the cordon without explicit authorisation of the military hierarchy in that particular sector.
When I was in school we were taught that the British perfected the method during the Malayan Emergency of the late 1950s and early 1960s when dealing with the primarily ethnic Chinese Maoist insurgency. In reality the methodology is as old as warfare. In fact, in that very same sector the Americans were Hamletting villages both during the "Insurrecto Insurgency" as well as the so called "Colorum Insurgency," both of which caused heavy fighting in those first years of the 20th Century. The AFP's current protocol revolves around heavy-handed census taking under the guise of its PDT, or Peace and Development Teams. In the case of Hamletted settlements the census includes all food and possessions. Every kilogram of rice must be accounted for. Villagers can only work their fields at certain times of day and there is a 10PM to 6AM curfew. The AFP uses this protocol often enough but to my knowledge has never publicly admitted it until now.
Showing posts with label Front 19A. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Front 19A. Show all posts
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
NPA Armed Contacts for the Fourth Quarter of 2011, Part VI: Andap Complex Still Popping Off
Mindanao's Andap Valley sits at the southern end of the Caraga Region, also known as Region 13. Bounded by the peaks of the Diwata Mountains on the Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur provincial borders, this remotest corner of Mindanao has long served as the NPA's Center of Gravity on the island, its "heartland" if you will. Under the experienced leadership of Jorge Madlos, now the NDFP Spokesperson for Mindanao, it has remained unaffected by countless operations by the AFP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Since the mid-1980s when the so called "Barefoot Priest" Father Frank Navarro walked into the Andap wilderness and raised an M16, the region has been firmly enmeshed in the Governments COIN, or counterinsurgency programme.
Madlos, better known by his nom de guerre Ka Oris (Comrade Oris), is now a senior citizen who literally wears a diaper due to the catheter threaded through his genitals because of a serious kidney disorder. Still, he shows bo sign of weakening and in fact serves as a symbol of NPA perserverence in the face of daunting opposition. The now 43 year old insurgency, often incorrectly labeled "Asia's longest running insurgency," is still seducing scores of the region's young people into going to heel in the area's thick jungles to risk life and limb in defence of an ideology practically none of them even understand. When you have starving, uneducated youth being promised P15,000 ($330) per month, an upper class salary, it is a given that there will be many takers. Virtually all NPA recruits in the NPA's NEMRC, or, Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee- the Regional Command covering virtually all of Andap- are members of Lumad Tribes, Hilltribesmen who sit on the lowest rung of Mindanao's socio-economic ladder.
A basic axiom in COIN doctrine holds that, "Insurgencies begin where good roads end." That line of thinking, mostly true, holds that a lack of economic development- dependent upon infrastructural outlay- is what pushes people into taking up weapons against their government. Indeed, most Lumad have never seen a single Governmental representative OR representation apart from the AFP and/or the PNP, or, Philippine National Police, and then only when they are being maltrated as suspected subversives- or else simply because they are Lumad and therefore viewed as "primitive" or "backwards."
The leadership, the cadres tasked with going into an un-touched settlement and drawing it into the NPA's influence overwhelmingly tend to be young middle to upper middle class intellectuals indoctrinated by multi-sectoral front organisations while at university. This holds true for the entire nation, not only for the NEMRC here on Mindanao. They, unlike the rank and file cannon fodder, operate out of a naïve and misplaced idealism. As another adage tells us, "A man who hasn't become a Socialist by age 20 has no heart. A man who is still a Socialist by age 40 has no brain." Often mis-attributed to England's Winston Churchill, it actually arose with Francois Guizot of France before Socialism even developed. He had used "Republican" where "Socialist" is now used. Yet, that maxim seems to apply to so many people who become enamoured with Leftist ideologies.
Surely anyone with an iota of compassion would be deeply moved seeing the stomach churning poverty pervading so much of Mindanao. Mindanao is the poorest region in an incredibly poor nation, so much so that people here often eat roadkill, IF they eat at all on a given day. With an inattentive and highly corrupt Government many see the NPA as the only ticket out of such hellishness. Unfortunately, the NPA is just as corrupt and just as perverse.
With that happy intro let us see what those idealistic 15,000 Pesos a month cadres and guerillas are up to...
On Tuesday, October 18th, 2011, Ka Mitchie of Front 19A led fifteen of her guerillas in an attack on a post belonging to the 29IB (Infantry Battalion). The post, in the municipality of Marihatag's Barangay Mahaba, in Surigao del Sur Province, defended itself well and managed to repel the onslaught without incurring a single casualty. Typically, the NPA attacks such soft targets in hopes of divesting them of their weaponry. It isn't about territory nor casualty counts for the Maoists, simply about acquiring the tools to create violence. This is why the insurgency has lasted so long but also why it has never progressed. Typically, if an attack hasn't proved successful within the first fifteen minutes the NPA withdraws in small groups going in different directions, separately making their way to a pre-co-ordinated rendevouz point. Ammunition is precious but moreover, anything over fifteen minutes exposes them to Government re-inforcements and exponentially increases their chances of being overrun themselves by counter-attacking soldiers from their original target.
That same day, October 18th, in the SMRC, or Southern Mindanao Regional Committee area of control, at the far southern end of the Andap Valley, Front 20, the Conrado Heredia Command, once again attacked an AFP column on patrol in the municipality of Trento's Barangay New Visayas. The soldiers, from the 75IB, the perennial target of Front 20, managed to turn the tables and almost over-run the entire NPA force of thirty guerillas. Two guerillas were wounded, and although they were able to escape with the help of their mates, they left their weaponry so that the AFP captured one M16 and one Garand M1. In the process however one soldier was also wounded critically.
The capturing of weaponry from the NPA is very important. The NPA has always had more guerillas than rifles. An un-armed NPA guerilla isn't reaking havoc up and down the countryside. Apart from three boatloads of AK47s from China in the early 1970s- two of which were interdicted- the NPA has never had a foreign weapons conduit. Relying on piecemeal captures from soft targets it slowly accumulates long arms but as we see here, they also lose them. Therefore this ebb and flow keeps the NPA from expanding in any substantiative way and moreover, relegates all of Eastern Mindanao into a killing field.
As for the AFP capturing NPA weaponry...In the past the AFP put such a premium on weaponry that each captured assault rifle earned a promotion in rank. That quickly ended though when overly-ambitious soldiers and Junior Officers began murdering non-combatants believed to own such weapons.
Madlos, better known by his nom de guerre Ka Oris (Comrade Oris), is now a senior citizen who literally wears a diaper due to the catheter threaded through his genitals because of a serious kidney disorder. Still, he shows bo sign of weakening and in fact serves as a symbol of NPA perserverence in the face of daunting opposition. The now 43 year old insurgency, often incorrectly labeled "Asia's longest running insurgency," is still seducing scores of the region's young people into going to heel in the area's thick jungles to risk life and limb in defence of an ideology practically none of them even understand. When you have starving, uneducated youth being promised P15,000 ($330) per month, an upper class salary, it is a given that there will be many takers. Virtually all NPA recruits in the NPA's NEMRC, or, Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee- the Regional Command covering virtually all of Andap- are members of Lumad Tribes, Hilltribesmen who sit on the lowest rung of Mindanao's socio-economic ladder.
A basic axiom in COIN doctrine holds that, "Insurgencies begin where good roads end." That line of thinking, mostly true, holds that a lack of economic development- dependent upon infrastructural outlay- is what pushes people into taking up weapons against their government. Indeed, most Lumad have never seen a single Governmental representative OR representation apart from the AFP and/or the PNP, or, Philippine National Police, and then only when they are being maltrated as suspected subversives- or else simply because they are Lumad and therefore viewed as "primitive" or "backwards."
The leadership, the cadres tasked with going into an un-touched settlement and drawing it into the NPA's influence overwhelmingly tend to be young middle to upper middle class intellectuals indoctrinated by multi-sectoral front organisations while at university. This holds true for the entire nation, not only for the NEMRC here on Mindanao. They, unlike the rank and file cannon fodder, operate out of a naïve and misplaced idealism. As another adage tells us, "A man who hasn't become a Socialist by age 20 has no heart. A man who is still a Socialist by age 40 has no brain." Often mis-attributed to England's Winston Churchill, it actually arose with Francois Guizot of France before Socialism even developed. He had used "Republican" where "Socialist" is now used. Yet, that maxim seems to apply to so many people who become enamoured with Leftist ideologies.
Surely anyone with an iota of compassion would be deeply moved seeing the stomach churning poverty pervading so much of Mindanao. Mindanao is the poorest region in an incredibly poor nation, so much so that people here often eat roadkill, IF they eat at all on a given day. With an inattentive and highly corrupt Government many see the NPA as the only ticket out of such hellishness. Unfortunately, the NPA is just as corrupt and just as perverse.
With that happy intro let us see what those idealistic 15,000 Pesos a month cadres and guerillas are up to...
On Tuesday, October 18th, 2011, Ka Mitchie of Front 19A led fifteen of her guerillas in an attack on a post belonging to the 29IB (Infantry Battalion). The post, in the municipality of Marihatag's Barangay Mahaba, in Surigao del Sur Province, defended itself well and managed to repel the onslaught without incurring a single casualty. Typically, the NPA attacks such soft targets in hopes of divesting them of their weaponry. It isn't about territory nor casualty counts for the Maoists, simply about acquiring the tools to create violence. This is why the insurgency has lasted so long but also why it has never progressed. Typically, if an attack hasn't proved successful within the first fifteen minutes the NPA withdraws in small groups going in different directions, separately making their way to a pre-co-ordinated rendevouz point. Ammunition is precious but moreover, anything over fifteen minutes exposes them to Government re-inforcements and exponentially increases their chances of being overrun themselves by counter-attacking soldiers from their original target.
That same day, October 18th, in the SMRC, or Southern Mindanao Regional Committee area of control, at the far southern end of the Andap Valley, Front 20, the Conrado Heredia Command, once again attacked an AFP column on patrol in the municipality of Trento's Barangay New Visayas. The soldiers, from the 75IB, the perennial target of Front 20, managed to turn the tables and almost over-run the entire NPA force of thirty guerillas. Two guerillas were wounded, and although they were able to escape with the help of their mates, they left their weaponry so that the AFP captured one M16 and one Garand M1. In the process however one soldier was also wounded critically.
The capturing of weaponry from the NPA is very important. The NPA has always had more guerillas than rifles. An un-armed NPA guerilla isn't reaking havoc up and down the countryside. Apart from three boatloads of AK47s from China in the early 1970s- two of which were interdicted- the NPA has never had a foreign weapons conduit. Relying on piecemeal captures from soft targets it slowly accumulates long arms but as we see here, they also lose them. Therefore this ebb and flow keeps the NPA from expanding in any substantiative way and moreover, relegates all of Eastern Mindanao into a killing field.
As for the AFP capturing NPA weaponry...In the past the AFP put such a premium on weaponry that each captured assault rifle earned a promotion in rank. That quickly ended though when overly-ambitious soldiers and Junior Officers began murdering non-combatants believed to own such weapons.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
NPA Armed Contacts for the Third Quarter, Part V: Attack on Medina Police Station
In my last NPA entry, "NPA Armed Attacks for the Second Quarter of 2011, Part VII" I discussed the supposed "Pacification" of Misamis Oriental Province and the resurgence of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee, or NCMRC of the NPA. Central to that entry was the municipality of Balingasag in the Balitucan Mountains, home to the NPA's Front 4B. This particular Front has a storied past, one which I touched upon in that aforementioned recent Second Quarter entry.
The ressurection of Front 4B is now undeniable with its spearheading of a major tactical operation on Thursday, August 25th, 2011. Early in the morning on the day in question a female guerilla from Front 16A of the NEMRC, or Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee chartered a van in Surigao City, in the province of Surigao del Norte. The young lady said that she and her siblings would be travelling for a family get together to take place that afternoon in the municipality of Medina, two provinces away in Misamis Oriental. Leaving Surigao City at 930AM the van carrying 10 NPA guerillas began the long drive along Mindanao's northern coast.
Arriving on the outskirts of Medina at 3PM the young female guerilla directed the unsuspecting driver to her "cousin's" home, actually an empty lot where two other rented vans awaited them. Pulling up to the other two vans the driver looked quizicaly at his fare only to be told that he had been commandeered by the NPA and that if he complied without resistance he would live to tell about his exciting day. The other two vans had been chartered that very afternoon, there in Medina, by members of the NPA's Front 4B of the NCMRC, or Northcentral Mindanao Regional Committee. Removing assault rifles from boxes and rice sacks that had been transported aboard the three vans, the guerillas then waited until 430PM before ordering the three drivers to proceed into the town centre, Barangay Poblacion, after first co-ordinating positions with a small Blocking Force at two key positions on the only routes in and out of the town centre:
1) A checkpoint on National Hiway
2) In between the Public Market and the entrance into the town's main drag
Driving slowly through the small municipality the three vans, travelling together, mangaged to avoid arousing suspicion as they made their way to the municipal compound. At 515PM the vans stopped several meters from the compound entrance. Instructing the drivers to quickly walk away, 2 well armed guerillas were left to guard the idling vans while the other 28 put their plan into motion. As guerillas poured out of the vans horrified townspeople quickly began running for cover knowing all too well what was about to transpire. Firing rifles as they flooded the compound, SPO1 Edito Bayhon was immediately shot in the head and killed. The 25 year veteran of the Medina MPO, or Municipal Police Office and a resident of the town's Barangay Tupop, had been manning the station's desk, situated just inside the building's doorway. A detachment of 10 guerillas then attempted to infiltrate the town hall situated next to the MPO building.
Sitting inside his office in the town hall Mayor Pacifico Pupos was deep in conversation with two barangay captains and a town councilor when the staccato blasts from rifles, punctuated by detonations of rifle grenades immediately caught his attention. Proceeding to an inner office that was far more secure he and his three guests did their best to ride out the attack.
Alerted to the attack and knowing he had only 7 officers inside the MPO, the Chief of Police rushed past the Public Market only to run headlong into the second Blocking Force position. The result was a quick but intense firefight that prevented the Chief from aiding his men. The first Blocking Force position, the checkpoint on National Hiway, quickly closed up shoppe upon learning from a Spotter that a massive amount of re-inforcements were en route to Medina from neighbouring Gingoog City.
Outside the town hall the 10 man detachment met unexpected resistance in the front foyer and quickly backpedaled into the compound to join in on the assault's main target, the MPO and its modest stock of weaponry. At the 45 minute mark, having failed to infiltrate either objective the guerillas withdrew in orderly fashion and climbed aboard the idling vans before speeding out of Barangay Poblacion and into Barangay San Isidro where they abandoned all three vans before dispersing on foot in different directions, later rendevouzing over the border in the adjacent province of Bukidnon. From there the combined forces of Front 16A and 4B made their way overland to the mountainous border of Bukidnon and Agusan del Norte Provinces in a hard push that ended very late Friday night, August 26th.
The NPA had lost one guerilla, from Front 4B, whose identity remains unknown despite early information that he might have been a Team Leader (detachment commanding officer) known by the nom de guerre "Ka Hakim." The Government casualties, aside from the deceased SPO1, Edito Bayhon, were two critically wounded officers:
1) SPO2 Renie Galera Rombo
2) SPO1 Diosdado Salas Sendiong
The next day while scouring Medina the 8IB (Infantry Battalion) discovered all three vans in Barangay San Isidro, the only progress made by the AFP during its "hot pursuit" of the guerillas. The incident is note worthy in and above it being yet another NPA attack. It followed the blueprint used in the SMRC, or Southern Mindanao Regional Committee's attack on the Panabo City CPO (City Police Office), in Davao del Norte Province back on March 19th of 2011. Employing a non-threatening female guerilla to charter vans for a "family gathering," and then retaining the vans for stage one of their withdrawal...Likewise, one should pay attention to the high degree of co-operation not only between Fronts (not unusual) but between Regional Committees as well (very unusual). In the end the NPA lost a guerilla but did capture an additional M16 off of one of the wounded police officers. Still, the operation, one of an astounding 64 tactical operations by the NPA, in 4ID (Infantry Division) AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation") in just the Third Quarter, put Front 4B firmly back into play, even if they did need Front 19A in order to do it.
The ressurection of Front 4B is now undeniable with its spearheading of a major tactical operation on Thursday, August 25th, 2011. Early in the morning on the day in question a female guerilla from Front 16A of the NEMRC, or Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee chartered a van in Surigao City, in the province of Surigao del Norte. The young lady said that she and her siblings would be travelling for a family get together to take place that afternoon in the municipality of Medina, two provinces away in Misamis Oriental. Leaving Surigao City at 930AM the van carrying 10 NPA guerillas began the long drive along Mindanao's northern coast.
Arriving on the outskirts of Medina at 3PM the young female guerilla directed the unsuspecting driver to her "cousin's" home, actually an empty lot where two other rented vans awaited them. Pulling up to the other two vans the driver looked quizicaly at his fare only to be told that he had been commandeered by the NPA and that if he complied without resistance he would live to tell about his exciting day. The other two vans had been chartered that very afternoon, there in Medina, by members of the NPA's Front 4B of the NCMRC, or Northcentral Mindanao Regional Committee. Removing assault rifles from boxes and rice sacks that had been transported aboard the three vans, the guerillas then waited until 430PM before ordering the three drivers to proceed into the town centre, Barangay Poblacion, after first co-ordinating positions with a small Blocking Force at two key positions on the only routes in and out of the town centre:
1) A checkpoint on National Hiway
2) In between the Public Market and the entrance into the town's main drag
Driving slowly through the small municipality the three vans, travelling together, mangaged to avoid arousing suspicion as they made their way to the municipal compound. At 515PM the vans stopped several meters from the compound entrance. Instructing the drivers to quickly walk away, 2 well armed guerillas were left to guard the idling vans while the other 28 put their plan into motion. As guerillas poured out of the vans horrified townspeople quickly began running for cover knowing all too well what was about to transpire. Firing rifles as they flooded the compound, SPO1 Edito Bayhon was immediately shot in the head and killed. The 25 year veteran of the Medina MPO, or Municipal Police Office and a resident of the town's Barangay Tupop, had been manning the station's desk, situated just inside the building's doorway. A detachment of 10 guerillas then attempted to infiltrate the town hall situated next to the MPO building.
Sitting inside his office in the town hall Mayor Pacifico Pupos was deep in conversation with two barangay captains and a town councilor when the staccato blasts from rifles, punctuated by detonations of rifle grenades immediately caught his attention. Proceeding to an inner office that was far more secure he and his three guests did their best to ride out the attack.
Alerted to the attack and knowing he had only 7 officers inside the MPO, the Chief of Police rushed past the Public Market only to run headlong into the second Blocking Force position. The result was a quick but intense firefight that prevented the Chief from aiding his men. The first Blocking Force position, the checkpoint on National Hiway, quickly closed up shoppe upon learning from a Spotter that a massive amount of re-inforcements were en route to Medina from neighbouring Gingoog City.
Outside the town hall the 10 man detachment met unexpected resistance in the front foyer and quickly backpedaled into the compound to join in on the assault's main target, the MPO and its modest stock of weaponry. At the 45 minute mark, having failed to infiltrate either objective the guerillas withdrew in orderly fashion and climbed aboard the idling vans before speeding out of Barangay Poblacion and into Barangay San Isidro where they abandoned all three vans before dispersing on foot in different directions, later rendevouzing over the border in the adjacent province of Bukidnon. From there the combined forces of Front 16A and 4B made their way overland to the mountainous border of Bukidnon and Agusan del Norte Provinces in a hard push that ended very late Friday night, August 26th.
The NPA had lost one guerilla, from Front 4B, whose identity remains unknown despite early information that he might have been a Team Leader (detachment commanding officer) known by the nom de guerre "Ka Hakim." The Government casualties, aside from the deceased SPO1, Edito Bayhon, were two critically wounded officers:
1) SPO2 Renie Galera Rombo
2) SPO1 Diosdado Salas Sendiong
The next day while scouring Medina the 8IB (Infantry Battalion) discovered all three vans in Barangay San Isidro, the only progress made by the AFP during its "hot pursuit" of the guerillas. The incident is note worthy in and above it being yet another NPA attack. It followed the blueprint used in the SMRC, or Southern Mindanao Regional Committee's attack on the Panabo City CPO (City Police Office), in Davao del Norte Province back on March 19th of 2011. Employing a non-threatening female guerilla to charter vans for a "family gathering," and then retaining the vans for stage one of their withdrawal...Likewise, one should pay attention to the high degree of co-operation not only between Fronts (not unusual) but between Regional Committees as well (very unusual). In the end the NPA lost a guerilla but did capture an additional M16 off of one of the wounded police officers. Still, the operation, one of an astounding 64 tactical operations by the NPA, in 4ID (Infantry Division) AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation") in just the Third Quarter, put Front 4B firmly back into play, even if they did need Front 19A in order to do it.
Monday, June 27, 2011
NPA Armed Contacts for the Second Quarter of 2011, Part VI: A Resurgence in Surigao del Norte Province
As I have noted in other recent NPA entries the island of Mindanao has 4 provinces that have been officially pacified:
1) Misamis Oriental
2) Camiguin
3) Dinagat
4) Surigao del Norte
Being declared as such doesn't depend upon any type of established protocol. It is an entirely arbitrary decision made by the nearest ID CO (Infantry Division Commanding Officer). Upon making his decision the CO will formally turn over command and control of counterinsurgency operations to the Provincial Peace and Order Committee, or PPOC. From then on it is the PPO,or Provincial Police Office of the PNP (Philippine National Police) that handles the day to day aspects of what is supposed to be, at that point,a policing operation. Surigao del Norte Province was declared insurgency free in mid-April of 2010 along with the other 3 provinces, all of which lie within the AOR (Area of Responsibilty) of the 4ID (4th Infantry Division). Less than 2 weeks later, as if to thumb its nose at 4ID's then CO (Commanding Officer), Major General Mario Chan, the NPA disarmed a large security contingent escorting a campaigning incumbent mayor and absconded with all the weaponry. As I noted in my entry then, "Famous last words."
Since then the NPA's Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee under NDFP Spokesperson for Mindanao, Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, made a strategical decision to marshall its firepower in the more valuable Andap Valley Complex on the Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur provincial nexus. Though Surigao del Norte has a bit of chromite and nickel mining it pales in comparison to the gold and timber in Andap. Mining and Logging are two of the major cash cows of the NPA. Multi-national gold mines pay on average P1 Million ($22,000) a month in "Revolutionary Taxes." Everyone from the independent small scale miner to the person owning the ball mill offers up a percentage of their gross to avoid any problems, small trifling things, like a bullet in the face.
The modus operandi of the NPA is extremely basic Maoist in strategy and tactics as well as ideology. Strategically they ebb and flow, gravitating towards the weakest point as long as they have even a minimum base of support. This is why the NPA will ALWAYS break off contact if given the chance, which of course the AFP is always happy to provide. This allows the NPA to determine whether or not it will be unable to meet its well defined tactical objective within 15 to 30 minutes of launching an assault. If not, there is no sense in wasting valuable resources, withdraw, regroup, and live to try another day. With the province having been de-militarised it was only a matter of time before the NPA gravitated back into the province.
In early May of 2011 the NPA's Front 19A of the Northeast Mindanao Regional Commitee (NEMRC) began building momentum in a sector of Agusan del Norte Province very near the Surigao del Norte border, moving through a 50 kilometer radius, centered in Agusan del Norte Province's Zapanta Valley. On May 12th, thirty guerillas from Front 19A infiltrated Surigao City, the capitol of Surigao del Norte Province, via watercraft that landed in Barangay Silop. Moving inland they entered Barangay Luna and just before 10PM entered an unattended quarry. The night watchman, Pastor Apostado Quiban only makes periodic checks most nights. Targeting a Komatsu excavator, a TCM payloader, and an Isuzu dumptruck the guerillas poured gasoline over each piece. The owner of the equipment, Enrique Baguio,had refused to pay his "Revolutionary Taxes" despite recently gaining work as a subcontractor for Tinio Construction. Tinio in turn is a subcontractor for the Gaisano Capitol Group which is constructing a new mall, the Gaisano Capitol in that same barangay, Luna. Mr.Baguio's equipment is employed in excavating sand and gravel for the job. Lighting the gasoline the guerillas quickly exited the quarry and re-traced their route to the shore and left as they had arrived.
On May 25th the same thirty Front 19A guerillas re-entered the city and rendevouzed with a detachment of ten guerillas who had crossed overland by stolen truck. The guerillas quickly removed two dozen tyres from the vehicle and set them in a line across National Hiway in Barangay Bonifacio at two separate positions. Pouring gasoline over them the guerillas then set them on fire just as the sun began setting.Quickly moving they surrounded a compound in between the two burning roadblocks as six men entered through its open gates. Kicking in the frontdoor of Chary T.Mangacop's home, ex-Mayor of Placer in Surigao del Norte Province, they began ransacking the dwelling from top to bottom. Capturing three M16s and one 45 caliber pistol, two bulletproof vests, two ICOM base radios and four ICOM handhelds they then exited the home. Shooting out the left front tyre of Mangacop's SUV they then doused his minivan, straight truck, backhoe and two dumptrucks with gasoline which they then set on fire before exiting the compound and making their way to the shore for an escape by sea.
Mangacop, who was defeated in the May 10th, 2010 Election, claims that the guerillas also stole jewlery and a significant amount of cash. He says the cash was to be used as payroll for a mine he owns in Placer. The burned equipment belonged to his company, CTM Construction. The attack on the Mangacop compound was the second to strike Surigao City in two weeks. Knowing that the NPA element responsible, Front 19A was momentarily centered in the municipality of Kitcharao in neighbouring Agusan del Norte Province, the AFP's (Armed Forces of the Philippines) 30IB (Infantry Battalion) undertook a heavy push into Kitcharao. In fact, the 30IB had been operating in Kitcharao for two days already, even losing a soldier by sniper the afternoon before, or so says the NPA. Now deploying heavily and concentrating on the remote Barangay Bangayan in the Zapanta Valley, the operation commenced just 12 hours after the guerillas left the Mangacop compound. The 30IB began by softening up the ground with several hours of 81MM mortar shelling into the valley.
Of course Front 19A's main force hadn't been able to return to Kitcharao in the interim since its attack the preceding evening. There were 40 odd kilometers between the points but that didn't occur to the 30IB or its overlords in the 4ID (Infantry Division) which signed off on this large operation. So what were those long 81MM mortar shells hitting if there were no NPA guerillas?
The Zapanta Valley is home to a small band of Mamanwa Tribesmen. The Mamanwa are Negritos. Unlike the Lumad, the various Animist Tribes of Malay stock, the Negritos on Mindanao do not involve themselves in conflict in any part of the equation. In fear for their lives the Mamanwa fled to the barangay hall down hill but still they weren't out of the crosshairs. By the end of the month members of multi-sectoral front organisations like the two partist organisations Gabriela and Bayan Muna convinced the Mamanwa to travel 40 odd kilometers into Surigao City where they assured them they would be safe from harm.
In Surigao City's Barangay Luna, in Sitio Bacud, Bayan Muna representatives, assisted by the provincial chapter of the Rotary Club co-ordinated the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons, a euphanism for "Refugees") arrival with Provincial Board member Leonilo Aldonza who donated the usage of an empty lot he owns. Quickly volunteers erected a tent city and so when the 147 members of thirty-seven Mamanwa families arrived they were able to move right in.
From their arrival on June 1st there was mounting tension between the IDP's supporters and detractors. Among the detractors were the city's Mayor, Enrique Matugas, and such community pillars as the Chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce. Some had the audacity to suggest that the Mamanwa weren't IDPs at all but rather actors in a psychodrama engineered by the aforementioned party list organisations. The Mayor was livid that he hadn't been consulted but unfortunately for him he didn't need to be apprised of anything. The IDPs were staying on a privately owned lot with the owner's full consent.
On June 10th, CAA Isidro L.Sanches was enjoying himself at a cockpit in Barangay Camamonan's Sitio Buya in the municipality of Gigaquit, in Surigao del Norte Province. As Sanches left the cock fight though, five guerillas from Front 16A of the NEMRC approached him and shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol. CAAs,or Civilian Active Auxiliaries, are men serving in one of four entities that are themselves collectively known as "CAAs" as well. In Mr.Sanches' case he served with the CAFGU, or Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit. CAFGU platoons serve under an AFP NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer), known as a "CAFGU Cadre." Ostensibly under direct supervision of a cadre battalion, in this case the 23IB, in reality they aren't supervised all that much. The CAA serves as the lynchpin in the AFP's counterinsugency strategy.
On June 15th, the 30IB was on patrol in the municipality of Gigaquit's Barangay Lahi, when it stumbled upon six NPA guerillas from Front 16A of the NEMRC and initiated a firefight before allowing the small detachment of NPA to withdraw without casualties.
Later that same day, June 15th, in Surigao City's Barangay Poctoy two of the AFP's KM450 trucks carrying nine soldiers, all from the 30IB en route to a patrol in Barangay Mat-i, were ambushed by IED (Improvised Explosive Device, as in "bomb") which was followed by a cross-fire. The AFP returned fire with the Front 19A guerillas withdrawing without casualties on either side after 15 minutes.
On June 20th everybody's favorite rabid anti-Communist, ANAD Party List Congressman Pastor Jun Alcover jumped into the mix with a letter to CHR (Commission on Human Rights) Commissioner Etta Rosales urging her to"investigate" the IDPs ending up in Surigao City saying that the Government should determine who "forced" the Negritos to travel 40 kilometers into the city. His inference of course is that fellow Party List organisations Bayan Muna and Gabriela should be held liable. Pray tell, does Alcover plan to crucify the Rotary Club as well? For those unfamiliar with that organisation, they are an American-based group that is about Right Wing as it gets. On the same day the 30IB deployed a 6 X 6 truck to the lot housing the IDPs. When questioned on his intentions the 30IB's CO (Commanding Officer) LTC. (Lieutenant Colonel) Rommel P.Lamzon said that his men were only there to serve the terrified tribesmen and vehemently denied any suggestions that he had sent men in full combat array to try and force the 147 shell shocked Mamnwa back across the provincial border.
My favorite LTC.Lamzon quote has got to be his response to claims by the Negritos that his men had been lobbing 81MM mortar rounds into the Mamanwa's thatched huts. What did our gallant Lieutenant Colonel reply? "We always ensure that in all of our operations no civilians will be hurt or worse,k illed. "That's fantastic! The AFP is the only military in history to never incur Collateral Damage! My thought? The AFP is so used to lying through its teeth that the bullshi* just flows naturally. Even if the AFP had GPS mortars, and it does NOT, shells go errant. It is a fact of life. Launching mortars into a village of thatched huts where you haven't deployed spotters or scouts borders on a War Crime but hey, in the Southern Philippines that is a daily occurrence. Remember, this is a world where the AFP claims 6 year old girls carry M16s with grenade launchers, after killing the child of course.
On June 22nd the IDPs climbed aboard 3 dumptrucks and were driven home to Kitcharao, led by their tribal chief, Datu Rolando "Lando" Anlagan whose actual tribal name is "Maribuhok." Finally home in the Zapanta Valley the chief appealed to both the AFP and the NPA and asked them, politely, to take their war elsewhere.
1) Misamis Oriental
2) Camiguin
3) Dinagat
4) Surigao del Norte
Being declared as such doesn't depend upon any type of established protocol. It is an entirely arbitrary decision made by the nearest ID CO (Infantry Division Commanding Officer). Upon making his decision the CO will formally turn over command and control of counterinsurgency operations to the Provincial Peace and Order Committee, or PPOC. From then on it is the PPO,or Provincial Police Office of the PNP (Philippine National Police) that handles the day to day aspects of what is supposed to be, at that point,a policing operation. Surigao del Norte Province was declared insurgency free in mid-April of 2010 along with the other 3 provinces, all of which lie within the AOR (Area of Responsibilty) of the 4ID (4th Infantry Division). Less than 2 weeks later, as if to thumb its nose at 4ID's then CO (Commanding Officer), Major General Mario Chan, the NPA disarmed a large security contingent escorting a campaigning incumbent mayor and absconded with all the weaponry. As I noted in my entry then, "Famous last words."
Since then the NPA's Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee under NDFP Spokesperson for Mindanao, Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, made a strategical decision to marshall its firepower in the more valuable Andap Valley Complex on the Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur provincial nexus. Though Surigao del Norte has a bit of chromite and nickel mining it pales in comparison to the gold and timber in Andap. Mining and Logging are two of the major cash cows of the NPA. Multi-national gold mines pay on average P1 Million ($22,000) a month in "Revolutionary Taxes." Everyone from the independent small scale miner to the person owning the ball mill offers up a percentage of their gross to avoid any problems, small trifling things, like a bullet in the face.
The modus operandi of the NPA is extremely basic Maoist in strategy and tactics as well as ideology. Strategically they ebb and flow, gravitating towards the weakest point as long as they have even a minimum base of support. This is why the NPA will ALWAYS break off contact if given the chance, which of course the AFP is always happy to provide. This allows the NPA to determine whether or not it will be unable to meet its well defined tactical objective within 15 to 30 minutes of launching an assault. If not, there is no sense in wasting valuable resources, withdraw, regroup, and live to try another day. With the province having been de-militarised it was only a matter of time before the NPA gravitated back into the province.
In early May of 2011 the NPA's Front 19A of the Northeast Mindanao Regional Commitee (NEMRC) began building momentum in a sector of Agusan del Norte Province very near the Surigao del Norte border, moving through a 50 kilometer radius, centered in Agusan del Norte Province's Zapanta Valley. On May 12th, thirty guerillas from Front 19A infiltrated Surigao City, the capitol of Surigao del Norte Province, via watercraft that landed in Barangay Silop. Moving inland they entered Barangay Luna and just before 10PM entered an unattended quarry. The night watchman, Pastor Apostado Quiban only makes periodic checks most nights. Targeting a Komatsu excavator, a TCM payloader, and an Isuzu dumptruck the guerillas poured gasoline over each piece. The owner of the equipment, Enrique Baguio,had refused to pay his "Revolutionary Taxes" despite recently gaining work as a subcontractor for Tinio Construction. Tinio in turn is a subcontractor for the Gaisano Capitol Group which is constructing a new mall, the Gaisano Capitol in that same barangay, Luna. Mr.Baguio's equipment is employed in excavating sand and gravel for the job. Lighting the gasoline the guerillas quickly exited the quarry and re-traced their route to the shore and left as they had arrived.
On May 25th the same thirty Front 19A guerillas re-entered the city and rendevouzed with a detachment of ten guerillas who had crossed overland by stolen truck. The guerillas quickly removed two dozen tyres from the vehicle and set them in a line across National Hiway in Barangay Bonifacio at two separate positions. Pouring gasoline over them the guerillas then set them on fire just as the sun began setting.Quickly moving they surrounded a compound in between the two burning roadblocks as six men entered through its open gates. Kicking in the frontdoor of Chary T.Mangacop's home, ex-Mayor of Placer in Surigao del Norte Province, they began ransacking the dwelling from top to bottom. Capturing three M16s and one 45 caliber pistol, two bulletproof vests, two ICOM base radios and four ICOM handhelds they then exited the home. Shooting out the left front tyre of Mangacop's SUV they then doused his minivan, straight truck, backhoe and two dumptrucks with gasoline which they then set on fire before exiting the compound and making their way to the shore for an escape by sea.
Mangacop, who was defeated in the May 10th, 2010 Election, claims that the guerillas also stole jewlery and a significant amount of cash. He says the cash was to be used as payroll for a mine he owns in Placer. The burned equipment belonged to his company, CTM Construction. The attack on the Mangacop compound was the second to strike Surigao City in two weeks. Knowing that the NPA element responsible, Front 19A was momentarily centered in the municipality of Kitcharao in neighbouring Agusan del Norte Province, the AFP's (Armed Forces of the Philippines) 30IB (Infantry Battalion) undertook a heavy push into Kitcharao. In fact, the 30IB had been operating in Kitcharao for two days already, even losing a soldier by sniper the afternoon before, or so says the NPA. Now deploying heavily and concentrating on the remote Barangay Bangayan in the Zapanta Valley, the operation commenced just 12 hours after the guerillas left the Mangacop compound. The 30IB began by softening up the ground with several hours of 81MM mortar shelling into the valley.
Of course Front 19A's main force hadn't been able to return to Kitcharao in the interim since its attack the preceding evening. There were 40 odd kilometers between the points but that didn't occur to the 30IB or its overlords in the 4ID (Infantry Division) which signed off on this large operation. So what were those long 81MM mortar shells hitting if there were no NPA guerillas?
The Zapanta Valley is home to a small band of Mamanwa Tribesmen. The Mamanwa are Negritos. Unlike the Lumad, the various Animist Tribes of Malay stock, the Negritos on Mindanao do not involve themselves in conflict in any part of the equation. In fear for their lives the Mamanwa fled to the barangay hall down hill but still they weren't out of the crosshairs. By the end of the month members of multi-sectoral front organisations like the two partist organisations Gabriela and Bayan Muna convinced the Mamanwa to travel 40 odd kilometers into Surigao City where they assured them they would be safe from harm.
In Surigao City's Barangay Luna, in Sitio Bacud, Bayan Muna representatives, assisted by the provincial chapter of the Rotary Club co-ordinated the IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons, a euphanism for "Refugees") arrival with Provincial Board member Leonilo Aldonza who donated the usage of an empty lot he owns. Quickly volunteers erected a tent city and so when the 147 members of thirty-seven Mamanwa families arrived they were able to move right in.
From their arrival on June 1st there was mounting tension between the IDP's supporters and detractors. Among the detractors were the city's Mayor, Enrique Matugas, and such community pillars as the Chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce. Some had the audacity to suggest that the Mamanwa weren't IDPs at all but rather actors in a psychodrama engineered by the aforementioned party list organisations. The Mayor was livid that he hadn't been consulted but unfortunately for him he didn't need to be apprised of anything. The IDPs were staying on a privately owned lot with the owner's full consent.
On June 10th, CAA Isidro L.Sanches was enjoying himself at a cockpit in Barangay Camamonan's Sitio Buya in the municipality of Gigaquit, in Surigao del Norte Province. As Sanches left the cock fight though, five guerillas from Front 16A of the NEMRC approached him and shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol. CAAs,or Civilian Active Auxiliaries, are men serving in one of four entities that are themselves collectively known as "CAAs" as well. In Mr.Sanches' case he served with the CAFGU, or Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit. CAFGU platoons serve under an AFP NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer), known as a "CAFGU Cadre." Ostensibly under direct supervision of a cadre battalion, in this case the 23IB, in reality they aren't supervised all that much. The CAA serves as the lynchpin in the AFP's counterinsugency strategy.
On June 15th, the 30IB was on patrol in the municipality of Gigaquit's Barangay Lahi, when it stumbled upon six NPA guerillas from Front 16A of the NEMRC and initiated a firefight before allowing the small detachment of NPA to withdraw without casualties.
Later that same day, June 15th, in Surigao City's Barangay Poctoy two of the AFP's KM450 trucks carrying nine soldiers, all from the 30IB en route to a patrol in Barangay Mat-i, were ambushed by IED (Improvised Explosive Device, as in "bomb") which was followed by a cross-fire. The AFP returned fire with the Front 19A guerillas withdrawing without casualties on either side after 15 minutes.
On June 20th everybody's favorite rabid anti-Communist, ANAD Party List Congressman Pastor Jun Alcover jumped into the mix with a letter to CHR (Commission on Human Rights) Commissioner Etta Rosales urging her to"investigate" the IDPs ending up in Surigao City saying that the Government should determine who "forced" the Negritos to travel 40 kilometers into the city. His inference of course is that fellow Party List organisations Bayan Muna and Gabriela should be held liable. Pray tell, does Alcover plan to crucify the Rotary Club as well? For those unfamiliar with that organisation, they are an American-based group that is about Right Wing as it gets. On the same day the 30IB deployed a 6 X 6 truck to the lot housing the IDPs. When questioned on his intentions the 30IB's CO (Commanding Officer) LTC. (Lieutenant Colonel) Rommel P.Lamzon said that his men were only there to serve the terrified tribesmen and vehemently denied any suggestions that he had sent men in full combat array to try and force the 147 shell shocked Mamnwa back across the provincial border.
My favorite LTC.Lamzon quote has got to be his response to claims by the Negritos that his men had been lobbing 81MM mortar rounds into the Mamanwa's thatched huts. What did our gallant Lieutenant Colonel reply? "We always ensure that in all of our operations no civilians will be hurt or worse,k illed. "That's fantastic! The AFP is the only military in history to never incur Collateral Damage! My thought? The AFP is so used to lying through its teeth that the bullshi* just flows naturally. Even if the AFP had GPS mortars, and it does NOT, shells go errant. It is a fact of life. Launching mortars into a village of thatched huts where you haven't deployed spotters or scouts borders on a War Crime but hey, in the Southern Philippines that is a daily occurrence. Remember, this is a world where the AFP claims 6 year old girls carry M16s with grenade launchers, after killing the child of course.
On June 22nd the IDPs climbed aboard 3 dumptrucks and were driven home to Kitcharao, led by their tribal chief, Datu Rolando "Lando" Anlagan whose actual tribal name is "Maribuhok." Finally home in the Zapanta Valley the chief appealed to both the AFP and the NPA and asked them, politely, to take their war elsewhere.
Friday, May 6, 2011
NPA Armed Contacts,Second Quarter of 2011,Part I:2 PNP Stations Attacked,1 Captured
As I have noted time and again, the NPA on Mindanao is very well known for wearing PNP (Philippine National Police) or AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) uniforms to infiltrate official security installations. Municipal PNP stations are a favourite target for this type of subterfuge. After that Panabo City attack in Davao del Norte Province on March 19th this year in which 1 PNP officer and 1 Police Auxiliary were killed by NPA guerillas in military uniforms, PNP Director General Raul Bacalzo issued a stern and very explicit memorandum to all PNP installations warning all personnel to be absolutely alert and maintain a defencive stance at all times. Some of the nation's PNP officers have comprehended the message, others obviously have not.
On Thursday, April 28, 2011 in Lianga, Surigao del Sur Province most of the staion's personnel were fast asleep but 1 man was busy with his daily routine. 25 year old Rodel Aquilam is the station mascot. Though he doesn't get paid the young man cleans, cooks and runs errands for the officers in the station. In return Rodel is allowed to live there but more than that, his "job" has given him a sense of purpose and has made his life seem more meaningful. Often, after serving meals he cleans and washes dishes all by himself. If dinner is served late Rodel will often leave the dishes until the early morning hours when he awakens to prepare breakfast.
So it was that on that day, at 430AM Rodel was at the sink in the rear of the police station, tired but watching out the window when something caught his eye. At first he wasn't sure that he had really seen something but even as these thoughts were forming the shapes came closer and Rodel couldn't help but recognise the rifles. Immediately dropping to his knees Rodel crawled to the station's sleeping quarters and very quietly woke the duty officer. The officer in turn woke the others and just as the first officers were grabbing their M16s guerillas from the NPA's Front 19-A burst through the station entrance and announced their presence.
In what is now a routine the guerilla in charge announced that nobody would be hurt as long as all present complied. All they wanted the man said, were the station's weapons. Before the guerilla could finish his sentence a PNP officer fired his M16 hitting the wall near the lead guerilla. Quickly the NPA left the station foyer and took positions throughout the City Government compound. The 15 PNP, and 2 AFP soldiers, from 29IB (Infantry Battalion) augmenting the station not only held their own, they managed to effectively pin the guerillas down outside in the large compound. Twice guerillas tried infiltrating the Municipal Hall located in that same compound but were repelled under the heavy fire emanating from the PNP station.
Meanwhile, having been notified of the attack the 29IB deployed and implemented 2 Blocking Force positions along the only two avenues of escape, allowing the PNP's 13th Regional Public Safety Management Battalion (aka "RPSM" which recently replaced the PNP's "PMG," or "Police Mobile Group" structure) to reinforce the outmanned station personnel. Hearing of the deployments on a captured ICOM the NPA knew that its own Blocking Force would only add, at most, 15 minutes to their Safe Exit Time. Radioing to that Blocking Force the lead guerilla confirmed that they had set capable barricades along National Hiway, consisting of huge bonfires constructed out of tyres doused in kerosene. While that stopped any AFP from making it into the town proper, the PNP's 13th PSMG Battalion was rapidly approaching from the opposite direction and so it was time to withdraw. At 645AM, leaving the compound the guerillas rushed to their escape vehicles. As the assailants were scrambling NPA guerilla Eunilio "Ka Dindo" Pison took a shot to the back of the head. The resident of Barangay Pong-on in the municipality of San Agustin in Agusan del Sur Province was critically injured and was left where he fell along with a second guerilla who had been killed. Their loyal comrades drove off at a rapid pace, tyres screeching.
It needs to be mentioned that Pison was being billed by the Government, AFP and PNP as the "Vice Commander" of Front 19-A. In reality the man is an Assistant Team Leader. Within the NPA "Teams" are equivalent to conventional "squads." In other words, he helped command a group of 7 to 10 guerillas. As usual AFP propaganda falls way short of the watermark.
As the NPA's Tactical Element was driving away from the compound their Blocking Force on National Hiway, in the town's Barangay Ganayon got spooked and took a shot at a passing Hyundai Starex van. Unfortunately its driver, 35 year old Herminia Lozada was a civilian and what is even more unfortunate is that one of the bullets fired at her van ended up wounding her in the left foot. As unfortunate as that really is, her three young children who were also in that van are all unscathed, at least physically.
That Saturday, April 30th, DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government, the entity which oversees the PNP) Secretary Jesse Robredo joined PNP National Director Raul Bacalzo in a personal visit to the station. There the 15 PNP who defended the station were each given the "Medalya ng Katapangan" (Medal for Bravery), cash awards and on the spot promotions to the next incremental rank. The 15 awardees:
1) Deputy Chief, SPO3 Dante Basada Obenza
2) PO3 Armand Baniagaso Juarbal
3) PO3 Antonieto Pesical Sarsale
4) PO2 Simporiano Camino Quevedo
5) PO2 Ronald Jarina de Castro
6) PO2 Roy Cano Sabellano
7) PO2 Ariel Osorio Aribal
8) PO1 Vergil Gomez Curada
9) PO1 Susano Egypto Vitanzos
10) SPO1 Ruben Pedrozo Gomez
11) SPO1 Cerelino Alicante Pedrozo
12) SPO1 Virgilio Jusayan Orbeta
13) SPO2 Florencio Pineda Hernandez
14) SPO3 Moreto Edera Gemao
15) (No Rank Available) Rogelio Tejero Balason
In a very nice touch, Rodel Aquilam, the station mascot was also given a medal and cash award. Secretary Robredo is recommending that the AFP consider rewarding the two soldiers from the 29IB:
1) Corporal Alnasur A.Samsuri
2) PFC. Melfer B.Yabo
The Government was especially pleased because this was the second NPA attack thwarted in that municipality within the last 6 months. In fact it was that same NPA element, Front 19-A that was repelled in that other attack as well. On October 2,2010 in Purok #5, Barangay San Isidro, that barangay's CAFGU (Civilian Auxiliary Geographical Force Unit, a Force Multiplication element manned by residents of a given barangay and its operations relegated to that same barangay, commanded by an AFP Non Comissioned Officer from a cadre battalion) post fended off a large NPA assault. Under the direction of its cadre, Cpl.Singson of 23IB's D Company, the CAFGU soldiers caused the guerillas to withdraw at the 15 minute mark.
The happiness Secretary Robredo and Director General Bacalzo felt surely dissipated on Tuesday, May 3rd. At 430PM that day a man in an AFP uniform entered the Municipal PNP Station in the town of Malitbog, in Bukidnon Province and said he wanted to file a criminal complaint. The station, in Purok #2, Barangay Poblacion was manned by 6 officers. The desk officer went to get the complaint form and as he did so 19 NPA guerillas rushed into the station, weapons drawn. At this point the AFP "soldier" revealed that he too was an NPA guerilla and ordered the desk officer to handcuff 3 of the 5 other police officers.
The guerillas, from Front 4-B, warned the officers to comply, they only wanted the weapons. All 6 surrendered. The NPA then removed their side arms as well as the station's complement of weaponry. Capturing eight M16s, three 9MM pistols, one 45 caliber pistol, one 38 caliber revolver and one 22 caliber pistol along with the station's ICOM (2 way radio with military and PNP frequencies), walkie-talkies, two computer towers, one computer monitor and spare uniforms before departing with the three handcuffed police officers as prisoners the NPA was in and out in less than 10 minutes without a single shot having been fired. Led by Lino "Ka Dahon" Namatidong the withdrawing force jogged 200 meters to a waiting Toyota Lite Ace and an orange panel truck that they had left idling in adjacent Barangay Kalingking's Sitio Manga, they uncuffed and released the prisoners before speeding off towards Barangay Mindagat. Passing from Barangay Mindagat to Barangay Kiabo and then crossing the provincial border into the municipality of Claveria in Misamis Oriental Province the guerillas were able to make a clean get away.
Ironically, back in October of 2010 I had posted in my entry entitled, "NPA Armed Engagements, Last Quarter of 2010: NPA Merry Go Round" that a Brigade Commander in 4ID (Infantry Division), Colonel Romeo Gapuz had bragged about eliminating Front 4-B. He said the Front was dead and buried. I noted then that these were "famous last words." In Col.Gapuz's defence he had barely had 60 days in the 4ID and just come out of a desk job though the attitude he expressed is all to often par for the course throughout the Philippine Military. He had made that ignorant comment at a Turn Over Ceremony at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Capitol, where 4ID turned over Local Security oversight to the provincial government. This takes place whenever a province is declared "pacified." On Mindanao only 4 provinces are pacified, well 3 depending upon the day you examine the situation since the Dinagat Islands keep flip-flopping their status thanks to a fickle Supreme Court (yet another subject I plan to post about).
The 3 other Pacified Provinces on Mindanao:
1) Surigao del Norte (Dinagat was cleaved off of this province and may belong to it again if current Supreme Court petitions are considered kindly)
2) Misamis Oriental (as I mentioned)
3) Camiguin (another Island Province, this one cleaved off of Misamis Oriental Province)
When a province has been declared "pacified" it doesn't mean that the insurgency is extinct there, only that the local government unit is able to deal with it on its own.
On Thursday, April 28, 2011 in Lianga, Surigao del Sur Province most of the staion's personnel were fast asleep but 1 man was busy with his daily routine. 25 year old Rodel Aquilam is the station mascot. Though he doesn't get paid the young man cleans, cooks and runs errands for the officers in the station. In return Rodel is allowed to live there but more than that, his "job" has given him a sense of purpose and has made his life seem more meaningful. Often, after serving meals he cleans and washes dishes all by himself. If dinner is served late Rodel will often leave the dishes until the early morning hours when he awakens to prepare breakfast.
So it was that on that day, at 430AM Rodel was at the sink in the rear of the police station, tired but watching out the window when something caught his eye. At first he wasn't sure that he had really seen something but even as these thoughts were forming the shapes came closer and Rodel couldn't help but recognise the rifles. Immediately dropping to his knees Rodel crawled to the station's sleeping quarters and very quietly woke the duty officer. The officer in turn woke the others and just as the first officers were grabbing their M16s guerillas from the NPA's Front 19-A burst through the station entrance and announced their presence.
In what is now a routine the guerilla in charge announced that nobody would be hurt as long as all present complied. All they wanted the man said, were the station's weapons. Before the guerilla could finish his sentence a PNP officer fired his M16 hitting the wall near the lead guerilla. Quickly the NPA left the station foyer and took positions throughout the City Government compound. The 15 PNP, and 2 AFP soldiers, from 29IB (Infantry Battalion) augmenting the station not only held their own, they managed to effectively pin the guerillas down outside in the large compound. Twice guerillas tried infiltrating the Municipal Hall located in that same compound but were repelled under the heavy fire emanating from the PNP station.
Meanwhile, having been notified of the attack the 29IB deployed and implemented 2 Blocking Force positions along the only two avenues of escape, allowing the PNP's 13th Regional Public Safety Management Battalion (aka "RPSM" which recently replaced the PNP's "PMG," or "Police Mobile Group" structure) to reinforce the outmanned station personnel. Hearing of the deployments on a captured ICOM the NPA knew that its own Blocking Force would only add, at most, 15 minutes to their Safe Exit Time. Radioing to that Blocking Force the lead guerilla confirmed that they had set capable barricades along National Hiway, consisting of huge bonfires constructed out of tyres doused in kerosene. While that stopped any AFP from making it into the town proper, the PNP's 13th PSMG Battalion was rapidly approaching from the opposite direction and so it was time to withdraw. At 645AM, leaving the compound the guerillas rushed to their escape vehicles. As the assailants were scrambling NPA guerilla Eunilio "Ka Dindo" Pison took a shot to the back of the head. The resident of Barangay Pong-on in the municipality of San Agustin in Agusan del Sur Province was critically injured and was left where he fell along with a second guerilla who had been killed. Their loyal comrades drove off at a rapid pace, tyres screeching.
It needs to be mentioned that Pison was being billed by the Government, AFP and PNP as the "Vice Commander" of Front 19-A. In reality the man is an Assistant Team Leader. Within the NPA "Teams" are equivalent to conventional "squads." In other words, he helped command a group of 7 to 10 guerillas. As usual AFP propaganda falls way short of the watermark.
As the NPA's Tactical Element was driving away from the compound their Blocking Force on National Hiway, in the town's Barangay Ganayon got spooked and took a shot at a passing Hyundai Starex van. Unfortunately its driver, 35 year old Herminia Lozada was a civilian and what is even more unfortunate is that one of the bullets fired at her van ended up wounding her in the left foot. As unfortunate as that really is, her three young children who were also in that van are all unscathed, at least physically.
That Saturday, April 30th, DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government, the entity which oversees the PNP) Secretary Jesse Robredo joined PNP National Director Raul Bacalzo in a personal visit to the station. There the 15 PNP who defended the station were each given the "Medalya ng Katapangan" (Medal for Bravery), cash awards and on the spot promotions to the next incremental rank. The 15 awardees:
1) Deputy Chief, SPO3 Dante Basada Obenza
2) PO3 Armand Baniagaso Juarbal
3) PO3 Antonieto Pesical Sarsale
4) PO2 Simporiano Camino Quevedo
5) PO2 Ronald Jarina de Castro
6) PO2 Roy Cano Sabellano
7) PO2 Ariel Osorio Aribal
8) PO1 Vergil Gomez Curada
9) PO1 Susano Egypto Vitanzos
10) SPO1 Ruben Pedrozo Gomez
11) SPO1 Cerelino Alicante Pedrozo
12) SPO1 Virgilio Jusayan Orbeta
13) SPO2 Florencio Pineda Hernandez
14) SPO3 Moreto Edera Gemao
15) (No Rank Available) Rogelio Tejero Balason
In a very nice touch, Rodel Aquilam, the station mascot was also given a medal and cash award. Secretary Robredo is recommending that the AFP consider rewarding the two soldiers from the 29IB:
1) Corporal Alnasur A.Samsuri
2) PFC. Melfer B.Yabo
The Government was especially pleased because this was the second NPA attack thwarted in that municipality within the last 6 months. In fact it was that same NPA element, Front 19-A that was repelled in that other attack as well. On October 2,2010 in Purok #5, Barangay San Isidro, that barangay's CAFGU (Civilian Auxiliary Geographical Force Unit, a Force Multiplication element manned by residents of a given barangay and its operations relegated to that same barangay, commanded by an AFP Non Comissioned Officer from a cadre battalion) post fended off a large NPA assault. Under the direction of its cadre, Cpl.Singson of 23IB's D Company, the CAFGU soldiers caused the guerillas to withdraw at the 15 minute mark.
The happiness Secretary Robredo and Director General Bacalzo felt surely dissipated on Tuesday, May 3rd. At 430PM that day a man in an AFP uniform entered the Municipal PNP Station in the town of Malitbog, in Bukidnon Province and said he wanted to file a criminal complaint. The station, in Purok #2, Barangay Poblacion was manned by 6 officers. The desk officer went to get the complaint form and as he did so 19 NPA guerillas rushed into the station, weapons drawn. At this point the AFP "soldier" revealed that he too was an NPA guerilla and ordered the desk officer to handcuff 3 of the 5 other police officers.
The guerillas, from Front 4-B, warned the officers to comply, they only wanted the weapons. All 6 surrendered. The NPA then removed their side arms as well as the station's complement of weaponry. Capturing eight M16s, three 9MM pistols, one 45 caliber pistol, one 38 caliber revolver and one 22 caliber pistol along with the station's ICOM (2 way radio with military and PNP frequencies), walkie-talkies, two computer towers, one computer monitor and spare uniforms before departing with the three handcuffed police officers as prisoners the NPA was in and out in less than 10 minutes without a single shot having been fired. Led by Lino "Ka Dahon" Namatidong the withdrawing force jogged 200 meters to a waiting Toyota Lite Ace and an orange panel truck that they had left idling in adjacent Barangay Kalingking's Sitio Manga, they uncuffed and released the prisoners before speeding off towards Barangay Mindagat. Passing from Barangay Mindagat to Barangay Kiabo and then crossing the provincial border into the municipality of Claveria in Misamis Oriental Province the guerillas were able to make a clean get away.
Ironically, back in October of 2010 I had posted in my entry entitled, "NPA Armed Engagements, Last Quarter of 2010: NPA Merry Go Round" that a Brigade Commander in 4ID (Infantry Division), Colonel Romeo Gapuz had bragged about eliminating Front 4-B. He said the Front was dead and buried. I noted then that these were "famous last words." In Col.Gapuz's defence he had barely had 60 days in the 4ID and just come out of a desk job though the attitude he expressed is all to often par for the course throughout the Philippine Military. He had made that ignorant comment at a Turn Over Ceremony at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Capitol, where 4ID turned over Local Security oversight to the provincial government. This takes place whenever a province is declared "pacified." On Mindanao only 4 provinces are pacified, well 3 depending upon the day you examine the situation since the Dinagat Islands keep flip-flopping their status thanks to a fickle Supreme Court (yet another subject I plan to post about).
The 3 other Pacified Provinces on Mindanao:
1) Surigao del Norte (Dinagat was cleaved off of this province and may belong to it again if current Supreme Court petitions are considered kindly)
2) Misamis Oriental (as I mentioned)
3) Camiguin (another Island Province, this one cleaved off of Misamis Oriental Province)
When a province has been declared "pacified" it doesn't mean that the insurgency is extinct there, only that the local government unit is able to deal with it on its own.
Friday, March 25, 2011
NPA Armed Contacts, First Quarter of 2011,Part I
As the NPA's 42nd Anniversary draws near, the time leading up to March 29, 2011 is bound to be filled with more misery and bloodshed, the top product sold by those ideological dinasours. The 18 day Ceasefire ended on January 03 and the NPA was off and running. Without further ado...
January 06, 2011, in Purok #4, Barangay Magdum, Tagum City, Davao del Norte Province, 3 soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) were riding on a single motorcycle en route to
The NPA captured 2 M16s and 1 M203 grenade launcher.
On January 08, 2011 in Sitio Darot, Barangay Libudon, Mabini, ComVal (Compstela Valley Province) a platoon from the 71st IB (Infantry Battalion) was ambushed by Front 2 of the Crucifino Uballas Command, killing 1 AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) soldier.
Also on January 08, 2011 in Barangay Datu Danwata, Malita, Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from Front 71 (Alex Ababa Command) abducted Susan Danwata and forced her to act as a decoy in luring her husband, Barangay Captain Ramon Danwata out of their house. Arriving at the couple's home the guerillas had Ms.Danwata loudly summon her husbans, telling him to quickly come outside. As Ramon stepped out of the house he was riddled with bullets and killed. A CVO (Civilian Auxiliary Organization, a CAA, or Civilian Active Auxiliary programme along the lines of the CAFGU except that the CVO is sublimated to the municipal PNP station and not the AFP. Getting almost no military training the garrisons are issued automatic weaponry. CVOs are almost always relegated to Muslim areas) soldier managed to quickly slip out of site.
Simultaneously the CVO garrison was stormed and its armoury captured. Taken were 3 M16s, 3 M14s, 1 M1, 3 12 gaguge rifles, 1 22 caliber rifle and 1 M79 grenade. Withdrawing with that haul the NPA Blocking Force situated in Barangay Bolila set an ambush for the large detachment from the 39IB that was en route in response to the attack (having ascertained the number of reinforcements, route of travel and an outline of intended response actions by an AFP ICOM transceiver that had been captured in a previous NPA attack.
Before long the reinforcements came barreling down the dirt road and rolled right into an ambush, causing a 1LT, 2 Sgts. And 2 PFCs to suffer serious shrapnel and bullet wounds. Barangay Captain Danwata was wanted by the NPA because of his crucial role in providing the AFP-IS (Military Intelligence Service) the necessary intelligence needed to capture high ranking guerilla Eliseo"Ka Bimbo"Tadam
January 18, 2011 in Sitio Guinobatan, Barangay Paquibato Proper, Paquibato District, Davao City in Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from PBC1 (Pulang Bagani Company #1) under Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao ambushed a composite force of 69IB, Bagani Long Range Platoon CAA and PNP SAF (Special Action Force) under AFP 1LT Bryan Malinao. After initial IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "bomb") detonation and subsequent 30 minute firefight 2 AFP killed,8 wounded (2 AFP, 1 CAA, 5 PNP). 2 of those 8 died during treatment:
1) PFC.Estancio
2) CAA (Bagani LRP) Paguilan
January 22, 2011, in Sitio Old Bantangan, BarangayLasak, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from the 27IB were harried (snipers shooting) by Front 76 resulting in an engagement in which 1 guerilla, "Ka Etoy" aka "Ka Bebe" was shot to death. The next day, January 23, aPDT from the 27IB took sniper fire without casualties.
On that same day, January 22, 2011, in Barangay Old Macopa, Manay, Davao Oriental, a composite force of the 67IB and 4th Scout Rangers Company engaged NPA with 1 AFP officer moderately wounded.
January 23, 2011 in Barangay Lebanon, Montevista, Com0val, PDT took sniper fire, without casualties.
January 26, 2011, in Malita, Davao del Sur Province, F71, with 2 guerillas killed and 1 captured. The 2 dead:
1) Jimboy"Ka Jemar"Liwantang Dayagan
2) Perjelio"Ka Sadam"Bautista
Bautista was CO (Commanding Officer) of Team #1, Platun (Platoon) #1. The captured guerilla is 18 year old Delie"Ka Emma" D. Lumayas of Barangay Pangaleon, Malita. Delie has a 3rd grade education and after dropping out of school at age 8 she became a maid to a wealthy family in Davao City in that same province, Davao del Sur. She dreamed of earning enough to return to school because her dream was to become a teacher. Instead, at age 13 and back in her village having lost her job she was recruited by a sectoral front organisation that trained Delie in the organisation of peasants like herself. By 16 she was recruited as a Regulae in the NPA, going into the bush on May 05, 2008. In August she finished her military training and has been taking part in the insurgency since that timezm
January 29, 2011 saw a fire fight on the border between Malapatan, Sarangani Province and Davao del Sur Province ib which Front 71's "Ka Kotray," shot to death by the 72IB.
On January 30, 2010, in Paquibato District, Davao City, Davao del Sur District, as the AFP began scouring the sector in anticipation of Mayor Sara"Inday"Duterte Carpio's visit to the Paquibato District Anniversary Fiesta in Barangay Paquibato Proper, an IED detonated in Purok #5 in Barangay Mapula,an ambush of a Supply Team from the 69IB. The AFP's 10ID (Infantry Division) tried to spin it as an assasination attempt on the mayor's life which is an even stupider claim than the usual AFPspin shlock. Mayor Carpio's father is her Vice Mayor, Rodrigo"Roddy"Duterte who is an NPA sympathiser and who has beein in a working relationship with the Pulang Bagani Company #1aks Commanding Officer Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao for well over a decade now. Mayor Carpio doesn't even need a. Security escort in NPA territory (the NPA holds full control of Paquibato, Toril and Baguio Districts in Davao City by agreement with Vice Mayor Duterte, in exchange for the NPA agreeing not to encroach on any other city districts).
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Asbangliok, Tagaytay, Davao del Sur Province the 6th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Cuenco encountered 7 guerillas from Front 72. After a short FF the NPA withdrew with the AFP in close pursuit. The next day, February 02, in Sitio Mauno, Barangay Maligaya, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, they were engaged a second time resulting in the capture of 1 hand grenade and a flash drive.
That same day, February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte, Front 33 attacked 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne), wounding 1 PFC.
On February 11 Ka Parago issued an official media release in which he pointed out that Mayor Carpio isn't even travelling outside of Barangay Paquibato Proper, let alone to Barangay Mapula which is in the mountains. He also pointed out that while the 10ID is telling anyone wjo will listen all about its new "humanistic approach" that involves an 80% effort on CMO (Civil Military Operations, a "community policing" type approach), it launched a wide scale tactical offencive in Paquibato and Toril Districts on January 10.
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Pulang Lupa, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province was the site of an ambush against a DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) Checkpoint. The site is part of OPLAN Bantay Kalikasan (Operational Plan Guarding Nature) to cut down on illegal logging. Manned by 2 police officers from the PPO (Provincial Police Officer who were backing 2 DENR officers. On the day in question 1 of the DENR officers, George Dimzon, was being visited by his 19 year old son, Fritz Dimzon, who was there to pick up his weekly allowance so as to pay the necessary fees for an AFP Entrance Exam. Fritz was shot to death as was another civilian, 39 year old Carlito Tumandang. The 2 PNP (Philippine Natiomal Police) officers were wounded, 1 critically. The more moderately wounded of the 2, PO3 Jorge Sabating, was taken prisoner by the NPA.
Vice Governor Santiago Cana of Agusan del Sur Province and Josefina Bajade, the SWD (Social Welfare and Development) Officer for the province entered the camp of Front 20, Conrado Heredia Command, for a "Peace Dialogue" with the NPA in light of the ongoing GRP (Ph.Govt.) -NDF (National Democratic Front, negotiating entity for the NPA and its political wing, CPP, aka Communist Party of the Philippines). The ACTUAL reason though was to seek the release of PO3 Jorge Sabating.Ms.Bajade is busy making a mess of things as she pushes a new scheme to "improve" the Livlihood Package given to NPA Surrenderees. All Surrenderees, even without a weapon, get an immediate cash grant of 20,000 Pesos (475 US) and then receive a Livlihood Package worth 50,000 Pesos. Thus far it has worked as a very, very strong incentive in the bid to seduce insurgents to return to the fold as it were. Ms.Bajade is apparently one of those people who can'teave well enough alone and so now she's trying to implement a protocol that would have the Livlihood Package of each Surrenderee pooled so as to force Surrenderees into co-operative ventures. In her view pooling those funds would provide greater opportunities. What she fails to realise though is that you cannot tie disparate people together, especially with a facet of their lives that is absolutely crucial. Business partnerships are fine IF individuals choose to enter into them. Sadly she recently got to tell her her cockamamie idea to representatives from OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor to the Peace Process), PNP, AFP and other stakeholders. No word on how many laughed at her.
To Ms.Bajade's credit though, Front 20 chose to release PO3 Sabating to her and Vice Gov.Cane in Sitio Cogonon, Barangay Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province on February.
Speaking of "Surrenderees," on February 23, 2011 the PPOC (Provincial Peace and Order Committee) of Surigao del Norte Province is considering building a "Peace Village" for ex-NPA guerillas to be located in Barangay Ipil in Surigao City, the provincial capitol. The idea is actually not new. In the mid-1950s then Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay did the exact same thing in trying to neutralise the Huk Insurgency, the nation's FIRST Communist Insurgency. Choosing plots in Westcentral Mindanao, built from scratch and giving each homesteader a small plot to farm it was probably the single nest idea in a Counterinsurgency full of good ideas. The problem today though is very different. The Huk were almost rotally confined to Luzon, 90Km to the north of Mindanao. In the 1950s there was no 1 hour plane ride between the 2 islands, Mindanao was truly a geographical cure. In addition the villages also contained homesteads for decommissioned and retired PNP and AFP which served as a stabilising force within thise comunities.
February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) encountered the NPA. After an intence 10 minute fire fight before they withdrew into Montevista, ComVal. 1 PFC was wounded with a bullet in the left knee.
On February 06, 2011 on the Bukidnon to Davao National Hiway, retired Master Sgt.Mario Veluz, age 56, was abducted by Front 53 (Herminio Alfonso Command) at an NPA checkpoint. Divested of his 45 caliber pistol, he was released on February 18 to North Cotabato Provincial Goverbor Emmy Lou T.Mendoza in Barangay Kagawa'an, Kibawe, North Cotabato Province. Sgt.Veluz had served as the Governor's bodyguard when she was serving as the Congresswoman representing North Cotabato's First District.
On February 07, 2011 in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur Province PNP officer PO1 Edwin Antipuesto stopped at an NPA checkpoint and was divested of his 45 caliber pistol. He was en route to his job at Magsaysay Municipal PNP.
That same day, February 07, 2011 yet another hapless PNP officer was divested of HIS sidearm at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. PO1 Ace Villapaz was at an NPA checkpoint implemented by Front 51 in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Peovince as a Weena Bus and a passenger van he was on were searched. His 45 caliber pistol was captured. Serving with PMG (Police Mobile Group) #1186 he had been heading into work.
Also February 07, 2011 in Barangay Maparat, Compostela, ComVal PFC El Bryan Canedo of 5th Scout Rangers Company was on a motorcycle when he was stopped at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. He was then abducted, taken from the scene in an Elf Truck (very small utility truck).
February 07, 2011 was DEFINITELY NOT the day to be up and about. At yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint in Barangay Pintatagan, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental Province, PNP PO2 Jerwel Montecillo Tugade of the PMG #1106 was abducted by Front 18 (Wilfredo Zapanta Command).
February 14, 2011, the municipality of Maco in ComVal Province held a "Community Peace Rally" at the town's municipal basketball courts in Barangay Poblacion. Over 1,000 townspeople gathered to hear the provincial governor, Arturo Uy, speak about how much he has done for the town and how much the PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from 10ID have bettered the town and so on. At 445PM the fun fest broke up and people went their separate ways. As 1 small group began making their way down a thoroughfare in Purok #6 in Barangay Libay-libay a powerful IED detonated and killed 1 civilian, 56 year old Nicholas Paquin, a resident of Barangay Dumlan was in a group of 5 men. The other 4 were critically wounded, with 2 of those 4 dying at the hospital during treatment:
1) Juanito Cabarobias, 52 years old
2) Angelito Comayas Jr., 42 years old
On February 22, 2011 in Purok #4, Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City, Davao del Sur Province, as Barangay Captain Alfredo B.Austral attended a Barangat meeting NPA uder "Ka Bobby' entered his home and captured the city issued 12 gauge issued to all Barangay Captains.
On February 25, 2011 in Barangay Sinuron, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, a SPARU (Special Armed Partisan Unit, the assasination arm of the NPA) killed Roldan Quintoa. Quintoa, a former NPA guerilla had surrendered to the government in 2008. Since leaving the NPA Quintoa busied himself by working on his father's upland farm. Indeed, it was that farm that he was walking to when killed. The NPA doesn't target Surrenderees as a rule, relegating such decisive treatment to those ex-guerillas who serve as AFP-IS (Military Intelligence) assets.
February 26, 2011 in Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanoa, Davao del Sur, a SPARU team from Mt.Alip Command killed AFP-IS asset Jun Sal and captured a 45 caliber pistol before escaping. Sal wasn't an NPA Surrenderee, merely an informer.
March 06, 2011, on the borders of Barangays Mapayag and Bendolan in Malaybalay City near the border of the municipality of Lantapan in Bukidnon Province, at 8AM Front 89 killed an ex-barangay captain, Antonio Pechora of Barangay Mapayag, in his home, and then withdrew. At 1130AM the Malaybalay City PNP and PNP SOCO (Scene of Crime Operations) travelled to the outlying area to recover the man's body and to do a cursory crime scene investigation. Travelling in 2 vehicles the SOCO van followed closely behind the PNP SUV and had just crossed into Sitio Tamugawi, Purok #3, Barangay Mapayag and were at the foot of Bundok Kitanglad (Mt.Kitanglad) when an IED detonated, followed by a barrage of rifle grenades. 2 PNP and 1 civilian employee of SOCO were killed instantly:
1) PO1 Ronel Bayta
2) PO1 Jimmy Napil Jr
3) Rodel Dangop (SOCO)
5 PNP were wounded with 1 of them dying during treatment: PO1 Xerxes Von Palasol. The NPA captured 1 M16 and 3 9MM pistols.
March 09, 2011 in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Mipingi, Nabunturan, ComVal Province, a firefight left 1 guerilla dead. On March 11 a detachment from the 101 DRCOY (Division Recon Company, in this case the 10ID's) under 1LT.Godofredo A.Despojo recovered the guerilla's cadaver and had just entered Sitio Tanawan, Barangay Malinswon, Mawab when an IED detonated followed by a 15 minute firefight with Front 33. Though the NPA is claiming it killed 3 AFP in that ambush. In reality they only killed 1, 1LT. Despojo, the detachment CO. In addition there were 12 AFP wounded.
On March 11, 2011 in Barangays Danuman and Nueva Gracia in Loreto, Agusan del Sur Province Front 34 launched 2 simultaneous assaults on those barangay's respective CAA posts.
That same day, March 11, I Sitio Kilometer #19, Barangay Del Monte, Veruela, Agusan del Sur Province, Front 3 attacked. Bagani Long Range Platoon post, and not long after a Bagani Long Range Platoon post in Barangay Sinubong.
On March 12, 2011. In Sitio Tibungco, Barangay San Jose, Montevista, ComVal Province, a truck carrying a detachment from the 25IB was strafed by M1/ fire without casualties.
That same day, March 12, 2011 in Barangay Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte Peovince, Front 35 (Danilo Villacorta Command) was engaged by the 60IB resulting in 1 AFP killed, 4 wounded.
March 13, 2011 in Barangay Lataban, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, an NCO (Non Commisioned Officer, aka Corporal or Sergeant) from the 3rd Special Forces (Airborne) Battalion was wounded by a sniper.
On March 15, 2011 in Sitio Bagtok, Barangay San Vicente, Montevista, ComVal Province, an NPA snper killed 1 soldier from the 25IB.
On Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2011 a young woman approached the jeepney stand ("jeepneys" are a low cost form of public transport) at Davao City's Gaisano Mall. Searching for 2 passenger vans to charter for a family wedding that evening, she finally found 2 drivers with Mitsubishi L3000 vans who agreed to do so for a cost of 4,500 Pesos per van (95 US each), with a down payment of 2,500 each (55 US each). Counting out the money the woman assured the drivers that 2 guides would be along straight away to direct the vans to her family's residence. Within the hour 2 young men did indeed show up and so the vans departed to the municipality of Panabo City in Davao del Norte Province to pick up the family members. Arriving in Panabo, just outside the Davao City limits the drivers were told to proceed to an outlying barangay. Driving down an unpaved road they were forced to stop as 20 well armed guerillas in military fatigues and bonnets (baclavas) blocked their way. Quickly getting in both vans and brusquely directed the terrified drivers to drive to an outlying Panabo City Municipal PNP Station in Barangay Maduwaw.
Entering the PNP Compound the officer guarding the front door (they stupidly don't employ guards on the perimeter or even its main gate) waved to the new arrivals, apparently believing them to be AFP soldiers despite regional directives warning all security forces NOT to allow anyone entry without prior notification and confirmation of identity owing to a rash of military and PNP impersonations by the NPA. PBC1 utilises this ruses every 3 or 4 months and indeed, the new arrivals were PBC1. The friendly guard, PO3 Narciso Pakiwag continued his smiling and waving but a more alert PNP officer on the 2nd floor wasn't fooled at all and immediately shouted to alert his mates. Ideally the NPA would have gained entry to the building so as to capture its weaponry, uniforms and intelligence but the station went into defencive mode so the guerillas threw a hand grenade into the doorway and opened up with 2 M16s killing PO3 Pakiwag immediately. A CVO (Civilian Volunteer Officer, a form of Civilian Active Auxiliary attached to municipal PNP) soldier, Raymond Minoza, was killed as well in that initial fusillade. The other 13 Officers all withdrew to the 2nd floor, where the armoury and nerve centre are and an intence fire fight broke out, only subsiding 30 minutes later when the guerillas received notification that reinforcements were en route.
Jumping in both vans the guerillas, habing only captured 1 M16 sped out of the compound but hadn't gone very far, less than 400 meters when 1 of the vans got bogged down, the NPA having failed to plan for inclement weather and its effect on unpaved roads. Piling into the 2nd, now dangerously overloaded van, they made it over the border of Davao City, into Lasang District when the 2nd van skidded into an irrigation canal. Leaving behind 1 critically wounded guerilla, 41 year old Eliseo Mariano of Barangay Longaog, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte Province. Mariano was taken into custody by units scouring the Davao City border 3 days later, March 22. Critically wounded in the right thigh and right hand he had been abandoned by the NPA, near death from. Loss of blood and dehydration.After initial treatment he quickly showed improvement and so was fit for torture, I mean "interrogation."Under "interrogation" he provided 4 full names of squadmates, including the leader of the Panabo attack, Lucio"Ka Bungot"Bustamente.
This week the 13 surviving PNP received Medals of Valour, which just goes to show you how worthless the ribbon is. The highest award in the Philippine security services it is akin to the American "Medal of Honor." WR men simply repelled 22 guerillas who ALWAYS withdraw when faced with nominal resistance (it is part and parcel of NPA tactical doctrine) and so they get the HIGHEST ribbon? PO3 Pakiwag also received the ribbon. Post humously of course, along with a promotion to SPO1. The 2 PNP wounded in the assault, including the station shift CO (Commanding Officer) also received ribbons for having been wounded in action.
March 20, 2011 in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur Province, the 29IB uncovered a Front 19A cache containing 2 M1s, 2 M16s and vital repairs in addition to ammo.
On March 21, 2011 in Barangay Casoon, Monkayo, ComVal Province, the 5th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Mark Steve Cimini engahed Front 3 under "Ka Ondo" in a running firefight, wounding 2 NPA and 1 AFP.
That same day, March 21, 2011 on the borders of Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanao, Davao del Sur Provinceand Barangay Sinapulan, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province was the site of a fierce firefight as 6th Scout Rangers under 1LT.Romeo Ferdinand Bautista were suprised by an encounter with Front 72 as the AFP scoured the sector prepping it for PDT deployment.
Also on March 21, 2011 in Sitio Tagtaytay, Barangay Mipangi, ComVal Province, 101 DRCOY under 1LT.Herold Ambrocio engaged NPA, killing 1 guerilla and captured his M16.
March 23, 2011 in Sitio Gureim, Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, 39IB detachment under Sgt.Ranie Fuentes ambushed via IED killing 2 PFCs;
1) PFC.Salva
2) PFC.Centina
Originally the AFP was telling the world that the detachment was PDT but finally relented and admitted that it was a combat detachment that was trying to soften up the environs FOR PDT.
That same day, March 23, 2011 an SCAA. Garrison in Lianga, Surigao del Sur was attacked but managed to repell the NPA after a 10 minute firefight.
March 24, 2011, at Sanglay Wood Processing Plant in Barangay Amparo, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte Province, 50 NPA attacked the plant perimeter targetting the Blue Security (private security, not SCAA), disarming 3 guards employed by "Al Nino Security Agency." After capturing the guards' 2 shotguns and 1 9MM pistol.
On that same day, March 24, 2011, in Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Daval del Sur Province, a detachment from the 101 DRC (Division Recon Company, 10ID) was clearing a sector ahead of PDT deployment when a primed IED buried in the dirt road detonated killing 1 of the soldiers.
March 25, 2011 in Barangay Datal Biao, Tampakan, South Cotabati Province, a 5 vehicle convoy of tandem dumptrucks owned by LVE Construction was ambushed via IED. In the ensuing firefight 1 driver and 2 labourers riding in his lorry (truck) were killed:
1) Oscar Panisana (Driver)
2) Romel Vega
3) Nelson Parasan
On that same day, March 25, 2011, in Barangay Suaon, Kapalong, Davao del Norte Province, the 60IB on patrol saw a lone guerilla priming a roadside IED and immediately engaged, killing the guerilla and recovering 2 IEDs. A small NPA detachment that hadn't been sighted opened fire upon the AFP but withdrew after.
January 06, 2011, in Purok #4, Barangay Magdum, Tagum City, Davao del Norte Province, 3 soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) were riding on a single motorcycle en route to
The NPA captured 2 M16s and 1 M203 grenade launcher.
On January 08, 2011 in Sitio Darot, Barangay Libudon, Mabini, ComVal (Compstela Valley Province) a platoon from the 71st IB (Infantry Battalion) was ambushed by Front 2 of the Crucifino Uballas Command, killing 1 AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) soldier.
Also on January 08, 2011 in Barangay Datu Danwata, Malita, Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from Front 71 (Alex Ababa Command) abducted Susan Danwata and forced her to act as a decoy in luring her husband, Barangay Captain Ramon Danwata out of their house. Arriving at the couple's home the guerillas had Ms.Danwata loudly summon her husbans, telling him to quickly come outside. As Ramon stepped out of the house he was riddled with bullets and killed. A CVO (Civilian Auxiliary Organization, a CAA, or Civilian Active Auxiliary programme along the lines of the CAFGU except that the CVO is sublimated to the municipal PNP station and not the AFP. Getting almost no military training the garrisons are issued automatic weaponry. CVOs are almost always relegated to Muslim areas) soldier managed to quickly slip out of site.
Simultaneously the CVO garrison was stormed and its armoury captured. Taken were 3 M16s, 3 M14s, 1 M1, 3 12 gaguge rifles, 1 22 caliber rifle and 1 M79 grenade. Withdrawing with that haul the NPA Blocking Force situated in Barangay Bolila set an ambush for the large detachment from the 39IB that was en route in response to the attack (having ascertained the number of reinforcements, route of travel and an outline of intended response actions by an AFP ICOM transceiver that had been captured in a previous NPA attack.
Before long the reinforcements came barreling down the dirt road and rolled right into an ambush, causing a 1LT, 2 Sgts. And 2 PFCs to suffer serious shrapnel and bullet wounds. Barangay Captain Danwata was wanted by the NPA because of his crucial role in providing the AFP-IS (Military Intelligence Service) the necessary intelligence needed to capture high ranking guerilla Eliseo"Ka Bimbo"Tadam
January 18, 2011 in Sitio Guinobatan, Barangay Paquibato Proper, Paquibato District, Davao City in Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from PBC1 (Pulang Bagani Company #1) under Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao ambushed a composite force of 69IB, Bagani Long Range Platoon CAA and PNP SAF (Special Action Force) under AFP 1LT Bryan Malinao. After initial IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "bomb") detonation and subsequent 30 minute firefight 2 AFP killed,8 wounded (2 AFP, 1 CAA, 5 PNP). 2 of those 8 died during treatment:
1) PFC.Estancio
2) CAA (Bagani LRP) Paguilan
January 22, 2011, in Sitio Old Bantangan, BarangayLasak, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from the 27IB were harried (snipers shooting) by Front 76 resulting in an engagement in which 1 guerilla, "Ka Etoy" aka "Ka Bebe" was shot to death. The next day, January 23, aPDT from the 27IB took sniper fire without casualties.
On that same day, January 22, 2011, in Barangay Old Macopa, Manay, Davao Oriental, a composite force of the 67IB and 4th Scout Rangers Company engaged NPA with 1 AFP officer moderately wounded.
January 23, 2011 in Barangay Lebanon, Montevista, Com0val, PDT took sniper fire, without casualties.
January 26, 2011, in Malita, Davao del Sur Province, F71, with 2 guerillas killed and 1 captured. The 2 dead:
1) Jimboy"Ka Jemar"Liwantang Dayagan
2) Perjelio"Ka Sadam"Bautista
Bautista was CO (Commanding Officer) of Team #1, Platun (Platoon) #1. The captured guerilla is 18 year old Delie"Ka Emma" D. Lumayas of Barangay Pangaleon, Malita. Delie has a 3rd grade education and after dropping out of school at age 8 she became a maid to a wealthy family in Davao City in that same province, Davao del Sur. She dreamed of earning enough to return to school because her dream was to become a teacher. Instead, at age 13 and back in her village having lost her job she was recruited by a sectoral front organisation that trained Delie in the organisation of peasants like herself. By 16 she was recruited as a Regulae in the NPA, going into the bush on May 05, 2008. In August she finished her military training and has been taking part in the insurgency since that timezm
January 29, 2011 saw a fire fight on the border between Malapatan, Sarangani Province and Davao del Sur Province ib which Front 71's "Ka Kotray," shot to death by the 72IB.
On January 30, 2010, in Paquibato District, Davao City, Davao del Sur District, as the AFP began scouring the sector in anticipation of Mayor Sara"Inday"Duterte Carpio's visit to the Paquibato District Anniversary Fiesta in Barangay Paquibato Proper, an IED detonated in Purok #5 in Barangay Mapula,an ambush of a Supply Team from the 69IB. The AFP's 10ID (Infantry Division) tried to spin it as an assasination attempt on the mayor's life which is an even stupider claim than the usual AFPspin shlock. Mayor Carpio's father is her Vice Mayor, Rodrigo"Roddy"Duterte who is an NPA sympathiser and who has beein in a working relationship with the Pulang Bagani Company #1aks Commanding Officer Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao for well over a decade now. Mayor Carpio doesn't even need a. Security escort in NPA territory (the NPA holds full control of Paquibato, Toril and Baguio Districts in Davao City by agreement with Vice Mayor Duterte, in exchange for the NPA agreeing not to encroach on any other city districts).
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Asbangliok, Tagaytay, Davao del Sur Province the 6th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Cuenco encountered 7 guerillas from Front 72. After a short FF the NPA withdrew with the AFP in close pursuit. The next day, February 02, in Sitio Mauno, Barangay Maligaya, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, they were engaged a second time resulting in the capture of 1 hand grenade and a flash drive.
That same day, February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte, Front 33 attacked 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne), wounding 1 PFC.
On February 11 Ka Parago issued an official media release in which he pointed out that Mayor Carpio isn't even travelling outside of Barangay Paquibato Proper, let alone to Barangay Mapula which is in the mountains. He also pointed out that while the 10ID is telling anyone wjo will listen all about its new "humanistic approach" that involves an 80% effort on CMO (Civil Military Operations, a "community policing" type approach), it launched a wide scale tactical offencive in Paquibato and Toril Districts on January 10.
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Pulang Lupa, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province was the site of an ambush against a DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) Checkpoint. The site is part of OPLAN Bantay Kalikasan (Operational Plan Guarding Nature) to cut down on illegal logging. Manned by 2 police officers from the PPO (Provincial Police Officer who were backing 2 DENR officers. On the day in question 1 of the DENR officers, George Dimzon, was being visited by his 19 year old son, Fritz Dimzon, who was there to pick up his weekly allowance so as to pay the necessary fees for an AFP Entrance Exam. Fritz was shot to death as was another civilian, 39 year old Carlito Tumandang. The 2 PNP (Philippine Natiomal Police) officers were wounded, 1 critically. The more moderately wounded of the 2, PO3 Jorge Sabating, was taken prisoner by the NPA.
Vice Governor Santiago Cana of Agusan del Sur Province and Josefina Bajade, the SWD (Social Welfare and Development) Officer for the province entered the camp of Front 20, Conrado Heredia Command, for a "Peace Dialogue" with the NPA in light of the ongoing GRP (Ph.Govt.) -NDF (National Democratic Front, negotiating entity for the NPA and its political wing, CPP, aka Communist Party of the Philippines). The ACTUAL reason though was to seek the release of PO3 Jorge Sabating.Ms.Bajade is busy making a mess of things as she pushes a new scheme to "improve" the Livlihood Package given to NPA Surrenderees. All Surrenderees, even without a weapon, get an immediate cash grant of 20,000 Pesos (475 US) and then receive a Livlihood Package worth 50,000 Pesos. Thus far it has worked as a very, very strong incentive in the bid to seduce insurgents to return to the fold as it were. Ms.Bajade is apparently one of those people who can'teave well enough alone and so now she's trying to implement a protocol that would have the Livlihood Package of each Surrenderee pooled so as to force Surrenderees into co-operative ventures. In her view pooling those funds would provide greater opportunities. What she fails to realise though is that you cannot tie disparate people together, especially with a facet of their lives that is absolutely crucial. Business partnerships are fine IF individuals choose to enter into them. Sadly she recently got to tell her her cockamamie idea to representatives from OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor to the Peace Process), PNP, AFP and other stakeholders. No word on how many laughed at her.
To Ms.Bajade's credit though, Front 20 chose to release PO3 Sabating to her and Vice Gov.Cane in Sitio Cogonon, Barangay Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province on February.
Speaking of "Surrenderees," on February 23, 2011 the PPOC (Provincial Peace and Order Committee) of Surigao del Norte Province is considering building a "Peace Village" for ex-NPA guerillas to be located in Barangay Ipil in Surigao City, the provincial capitol. The idea is actually not new. In the mid-1950s then Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay did the exact same thing in trying to neutralise the Huk Insurgency, the nation's FIRST Communist Insurgency. Choosing plots in Westcentral Mindanao, built from scratch and giving each homesteader a small plot to farm it was probably the single nest idea in a Counterinsurgency full of good ideas. The problem today though is very different. The Huk were almost rotally confined to Luzon, 90Km to the north of Mindanao. In the 1950s there was no 1 hour plane ride between the 2 islands, Mindanao was truly a geographical cure. In addition the villages also contained homesteads for decommissioned and retired PNP and AFP which served as a stabilising force within thise comunities.
February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) encountered the NPA. After an intence 10 minute fire fight before they withdrew into Montevista, ComVal. 1 PFC was wounded with a bullet in the left knee.
On February 06, 2011 on the Bukidnon to Davao National Hiway, retired Master Sgt.Mario Veluz, age 56, was abducted by Front 53 (Herminio Alfonso Command) at an NPA checkpoint. Divested of his 45 caliber pistol, he was released on February 18 to North Cotabato Provincial Goverbor Emmy Lou T.Mendoza in Barangay Kagawa'an, Kibawe, North Cotabato Province. Sgt.Veluz had served as the Governor's bodyguard when she was serving as the Congresswoman representing North Cotabato's First District.
On February 07, 2011 in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur Province PNP officer PO1 Edwin Antipuesto stopped at an NPA checkpoint and was divested of his 45 caliber pistol. He was en route to his job at Magsaysay Municipal PNP.
That same day, February 07, 2011 yet another hapless PNP officer was divested of HIS sidearm at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. PO1 Ace Villapaz was at an NPA checkpoint implemented by Front 51 in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Peovince as a Weena Bus and a passenger van he was on were searched. His 45 caliber pistol was captured. Serving with PMG (Police Mobile Group) #1186 he had been heading into work.
Also February 07, 2011 in Barangay Maparat, Compostela, ComVal PFC El Bryan Canedo of 5th Scout Rangers Company was on a motorcycle when he was stopped at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. He was then abducted, taken from the scene in an Elf Truck (very small utility truck).
February 07, 2011 was DEFINITELY NOT the day to be up and about. At yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint in Barangay Pintatagan, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental Province, PNP PO2 Jerwel Montecillo Tugade of the PMG #1106 was abducted by Front 18 (Wilfredo Zapanta Command).
February 14, 2011, the municipality of Maco in ComVal Province held a "Community Peace Rally" at the town's municipal basketball courts in Barangay Poblacion. Over 1,000 townspeople gathered to hear the provincial governor, Arturo Uy, speak about how much he has done for the town and how much the PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from 10ID have bettered the town and so on. At 445PM the fun fest broke up and people went their separate ways. As 1 small group began making their way down a thoroughfare in Purok #6 in Barangay Libay-libay a powerful IED detonated and killed 1 civilian, 56 year old Nicholas Paquin, a resident of Barangay Dumlan was in a group of 5 men. The other 4 were critically wounded, with 2 of those 4 dying at the hospital during treatment:
1) Juanito Cabarobias, 52 years old
2) Angelito Comayas Jr., 42 years old
On February 22, 2011 in Purok #4, Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City, Davao del Sur Province, as Barangay Captain Alfredo B.Austral attended a Barangat meeting NPA uder "Ka Bobby' entered his home and captured the city issued 12 gauge issued to all Barangay Captains.
On February 25, 2011 in Barangay Sinuron, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, a SPARU (Special Armed Partisan Unit, the assasination arm of the NPA) killed Roldan Quintoa. Quintoa, a former NPA guerilla had surrendered to the government in 2008. Since leaving the NPA Quintoa busied himself by working on his father's upland farm. Indeed, it was that farm that he was walking to when killed. The NPA doesn't target Surrenderees as a rule, relegating such decisive treatment to those ex-guerillas who serve as AFP-IS (Military Intelligence) assets.
February 26, 2011 in Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanoa, Davao del Sur, a SPARU team from Mt.Alip Command killed AFP-IS asset Jun Sal and captured a 45 caliber pistol before escaping. Sal wasn't an NPA Surrenderee, merely an informer.
March 06, 2011, on the borders of Barangays Mapayag and Bendolan in Malaybalay City near the border of the municipality of Lantapan in Bukidnon Province, at 8AM Front 89 killed an ex-barangay captain, Antonio Pechora of Barangay Mapayag, in his home, and then withdrew. At 1130AM the Malaybalay City PNP and PNP SOCO (Scene of Crime Operations) travelled to the outlying area to recover the man's body and to do a cursory crime scene investigation. Travelling in 2 vehicles the SOCO van followed closely behind the PNP SUV and had just crossed into Sitio Tamugawi, Purok #3, Barangay Mapayag and were at the foot of Bundok Kitanglad (Mt.Kitanglad) when an IED detonated, followed by a barrage of rifle grenades. 2 PNP and 1 civilian employee of SOCO were killed instantly:
1) PO1 Ronel Bayta
2) PO1 Jimmy Napil Jr
3) Rodel Dangop (SOCO)
5 PNP were wounded with 1 of them dying during treatment: PO1 Xerxes Von Palasol. The NPA captured 1 M16 and 3 9MM pistols.
March 09, 2011 in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Mipingi, Nabunturan, ComVal Province, a firefight left 1 guerilla dead. On March 11 a detachment from the 101 DRCOY (Division Recon Company, in this case the 10ID's) under 1LT.Godofredo A.Despojo recovered the guerilla's cadaver and had just entered Sitio Tanawan, Barangay Malinswon, Mawab when an IED detonated followed by a 15 minute firefight with Front 33. Though the NPA is claiming it killed 3 AFP in that ambush. In reality they only killed 1, 1LT. Despojo, the detachment CO. In addition there were 12 AFP wounded.
On March 11, 2011 in Barangays Danuman and Nueva Gracia in Loreto, Agusan del Sur Province Front 34 launched 2 simultaneous assaults on those barangay's respective CAA posts.
That same day, March 11, I Sitio Kilometer #19, Barangay Del Monte, Veruela, Agusan del Sur Province, Front 3 attacked. Bagani Long Range Platoon post, and not long after a Bagani Long Range Platoon post in Barangay Sinubong.
On March 12, 2011. In Sitio Tibungco, Barangay San Jose, Montevista, ComVal Province, a truck carrying a detachment from the 25IB was strafed by M1/ fire without casualties.
That same day, March 12, 2011 in Barangay Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte Peovince, Front 35 (Danilo Villacorta Command) was engaged by the 60IB resulting in 1 AFP killed, 4 wounded.
March 13, 2011 in Barangay Lataban, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, an NCO (Non Commisioned Officer, aka Corporal or Sergeant) from the 3rd Special Forces (Airborne) Battalion was wounded by a sniper.
On March 15, 2011 in Sitio Bagtok, Barangay San Vicente, Montevista, ComVal Province, an NPA snper killed 1 soldier from the 25IB.
On Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2011 a young woman approached the jeepney stand ("jeepneys" are a low cost form of public transport) at Davao City's Gaisano Mall. Searching for 2 passenger vans to charter for a family wedding that evening, she finally found 2 drivers with Mitsubishi L3000 vans who agreed to do so for a cost of 4,500 Pesos per van (95 US each), with a down payment of 2,500 each (55 US each). Counting out the money the woman assured the drivers that 2 guides would be along straight away to direct the vans to her family's residence. Within the hour 2 young men did indeed show up and so the vans departed to the municipality of Panabo City in Davao del Norte Province to pick up the family members. Arriving in Panabo, just outside the Davao City limits the drivers were told to proceed to an outlying barangay. Driving down an unpaved road they were forced to stop as 20 well armed guerillas in military fatigues and bonnets (baclavas) blocked their way. Quickly getting in both vans and brusquely directed the terrified drivers to drive to an outlying Panabo City Municipal PNP Station in Barangay Maduwaw.
Entering the PNP Compound the officer guarding the front door (they stupidly don't employ guards on the perimeter or even its main gate) waved to the new arrivals, apparently believing them to be AFP soldiers despite regional directives warning all security forces NOT to allow anyone entry without prior notification and confirmation of identity owing to a rash of military and PNP impersonations by the NPA. PBC1 utilises this ruses every 3 or 4 months and indeed, the new arrivals were PBC1. The friendly guard, PO3 Narciso Pakiwag continued his smiling and waving but a more alert PNP officer on the 2nd floor wasn't fooled at all and immediately shouted to alert his mates. Ideally the NPA would have gained entry to the building so as to capture its weaponry, uniforms and intelligence but the station went into defencive mode so the guerillas threw a hand grenade into the doorway and opened up with 2 M16s killing PO3 Pakiwag immediately. A CVO (Civilian Volunteer Officer, a form of Civilian Active Auxiliary attached to municipal PNP) soldier, Raymond Minoza, was killed as well in that initial fusillade. The other 13 Officers all withdrew to the 2nd floor, where the armoury and nerve centre are and an intence fire fight broke out, only subsiding 30 minutes later when the guerillas received notification that reinforcements were en route.
Jumping in both vans the guerillas, habing only captured 1 M16 sped out of the compound but hadn't gone very far, less than 400 meters when 1 of the vans got bogged down, the NPA having failed to plan for inclement weather and its effect on unpaved roads. Piling into the 2nd, now dangerously overloaded van, they made it over the border of Davao City, into Lasang District when the 2nd van skidded into an irrigation canal. Leaving behind 1 critically wounded guerilla, 41 year old Eliseo Mariano of Barangay Longaog, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte Province. Mariano was taken into custody by units scouring the Davao City border 3 days later, March 22. Critically wounded in the right thigh and right hand he had been abandoned by the NPA, near death from. Loss of blood and dehydration.After initial treatment he quickly showed improvement and so was fit for torture, I mean "interrogation."Under "interrogation" he provided 4 full names of squadmates, including the leader of the Panabo attack, Lucio"Ka Bungot"Bustamente.
This week the 13 surviving PNP received Medals of Valour, which just goes to show you how worthless the ribbon is. The highest award in the Philippine security services it is akin to the American "Medal of Honor." WR men simply repelled 22 guerillas who ALWAYS withdraw when faced with nominal resistance (it is part and parcel of NPA tactical doctrine) and so they get the HIGHEST ribbon? PO3 Pakiwag also received the ribbon. Post humously of course, along with a promotion to SPO1. The 2 PNP wounded in the assault, including the station shift CO (Commanding Officer) also received ribbons for having been wounded in action.
March 20, 2011 in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur Province, the 29IB uncovered a Front 19A cache containing 2 M1s, 2 M16s and vital repairs in addition to ammo.
On March 21, 2011 in Barangay Casoon, Monkayo, ComVal Province, the 5th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Mark Steve Cimini engahed Front 3 under "Ka Ondo" in a running firefight, wounding 2 NPA and 1 AFP.
That same day, March 21, 2011 on the borders of Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanao, Davao del Sur Provinceand Barangay Sinapulan, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province was the site of a fierce firefight as 6th Scout Rangers under 1LT.Romeo Ferdinand Bautista were suprised by an encounter with Front 72 as the AFP scoured the sector prepping it for PDT deployment.
Also on March 21, 2011 in Sitio Tagtaytay, Barangay Mipangi, ComVal Province, 101 DRCOY under 1LT.Herold Ambrocio engaged NPA, killing 1 guerilla and captured his M16.
March 23, 2011 in Sitio Gureim, Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, 39IB detachment under Sgt.Ranie Fuentes ambushed via IED killing 2 PFCs;
1) PFC.Salva
2) PFC.Centina
Originally the AFP was telling the world that the detachment was PDT but finally relented and admitted that it was a combat detachment that was trying to soften up the environs FOR PDT.
That same day, March 23, 2011 an SCAA. Garrison in Lianga, Surigao del Sur was attacked but managed to repell the NPA after a 10 minute firefight.
March 24, 2011, at Sanglay Wood Processing Plant in Barangay Amparo, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte Province, 50 NPA attacked the plant perimeter targetting the Blue Security (private security, not SCAA), disarming 3 guards employed by "Al Nino Security Agency." After capturing the guards' 2 shotguns and 1 9MM pistol.
On that same day, March 24, 2011, in Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Daval del Sur Province, a detachment from the 101 DRC (Division Recon Company, 10ID) was clearing a sector ahead of PDT deployment when a primed IED buried in the dirt road detonated killing 1 of the soldiers.
March 25, 2011 in Barangay Datal Biao, Tampakan, South Cotabati Province, a 5 vehicle convoy of tandem dumptrucks owned by LVE Construction was ambushed via IED. In the ensuing firefight 1 driver and 2 labourers riding in his lorry (truck) were killed:
1) Oscar Panisana (Driver)
2) Romel Vega
3) Nelson Parasan
On that same day, March 25, 2011, in Barangay Suaon, Kapalong, Davao del Norte Province, the 60IB on patrol saw a lone guerilla priming a roadside IED and immediately engaged, killing the guerilla and recovering 2 IEDs. A small NPA detachment that hadn't been sighted opened fire upon the AFP but withdrew after.
Friday, October 1, 2010
NPA Armed Encounters,Third Quarter of 2010:The Never Ending NPA Merry-Go-Round.
The incessant tit-for-tat of the "Child Warrior" game, a pitiful approximation of PSYOPS (Psychological Warfare) is as strong as ever. As I have outlined in at least one other post concerning the NPA, LOAC/IHL (Laws of Armed Conflict/International Humanitarian Law) allows combatants as young as 14 to legally participate in armed conflict though within the last generation it has become increasingly rare to find any fighters younger than 16. Despite the legal threshold, internationally, being 14 one can regularly find both the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the NPA (New Peoples Army) casting stones about 17 year old combatants. The piquant dialect of English spoken here in the Philippines has ordained the label "Child Warriors" as a catchphrase for both the fighters AND the issue itself.
In yet another example provided by the AFP's 10ID (Infantry Division), 73IB's C COY (Company C) captured a 15 year old courier for Front 71. The soldiers, upon entering a mountainside clearing sighted the youth lugging an over packed sack filled with ammo,fatigues and camp equipment. The AFP claims that the young man had recently been in two engagements with the AFP, the first in Janurary of 2009 and the second in Feburary of 2010. He was then turned over to DSWD (Dept. Social Welfare and Development) which then processed him and released him to his parents who, as is always the case, had no idea that their son was with the NPA.
On September 10, 2010 the AFP fired its latest salvo in this propaganda back and forth when the 10ID accused the NPA of recruiting four more minors from among the eleven residents of Barangay Baracatan in Davao City's Toril District. The eleven are currently undergoing the military phase of their training in Mt.Apo National Park with the NPA's Front 54 of the SMRC, or Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. Front 54 of course denies this accusation ,this time pointing to the bi-laterally ratified CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Law) from 1998, as well as a new defence, a 1999 directive from the CPP, or Communist Party of the Philippines, of which the NPA is merely the military arm. The Directive is from the CPP Executive Committee, the CPP organ from which the NPA takes its cues. The Directive, entitled, "Memorandum to the Minimum Age Required for NPA Fighters" basically rehashes CARHRHIL which was very recent at that point.
On September 19, 2010 in Sitio Kisoy in Barangay Anggas in the municipality of Alabel in Sarangani Province, the 73IB (Infantry Battalion) on routine patrol sighted what it believed to be two NPA guerillas sitting in a field, apparently taking a much needed break. Encircling the two they were closing in for what they had hoped would be a violence-free capture when one of the suspected guerillas ran towards a clifface and jumped, rolling down a very steep incline into the valley below and escaped. The second guerilla was then captured without firing a shot, apparently too stunned by what had just transpired.
Upon initial interrogation the guerilla in custody revealed that he was only 15 and not a guerilla at all, but a rather a less than willing guide for the actual guerilla, "Ka Arnold," who had jumped off the plateau. Christened "Ka Buboy" by the NPA who had periodically used him as a guide since age 12 he had been recieving a stipend from the NPA and also had apparently, wittingly or unwittingly, served as a courier as well. During his experience serving the NPA he had recently been through two fire fights in Barangay Datal Anggas, his village of residence. Asked what had attracted him to serve the insugent group he quickly answered that the chief benefit was the few pesos with which to help his impovershied family,who apprently had no idea (of course) of their son's involvement with the NPA.
The young man's presence was propagandised by the AFP's Lieutenant Colonel Medel Aguilar, CO, or Commanding Officer of the 10ID's CMOB (Civil-Military Operations Battalion) as a clearcut violation of both...big suprise here...IHL (International Humanitarian Law) and its subsidiary, LOAC (Laws of Armed Conflict). While that is ridiculous to anyone with even cursory knowledge of anything involved in this dynamic, the 73IB's CO, Lieutenant Colonel Edgardo DeLeon did bring up a valid point when he accused the NPA of committing yet another infraction against the bi-laterally ratified CARHRIL.
"Ka Arnold," the guerilla the 15 year old had been guiding, is a member of Team #1, Primera Squad (1st Squad), Platun Mazda (M Platoon), Front 71 of the FSMRC or Far South Mindanao Regional Committee. Front 71 is the only Front currently operating in Sarangani Province and its primary AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation") is in the Alabel and Malapatan municipalities and surrounding environs. The 73IB is deployed specifically to counter the Front and despite almost a year and a half of concerted efforts it has made very little headway. This is a problem in many areas where the government pays lip service to Development while merely utilising it as a catchword for dividing up the spoils amongst multi-nationals and bypassing all but a precious handful of locals usually already sitting pretty in positions of power and affluence.
The next day, September 20th, 2010, in Sitio Akbual in Barangay Upper Suyan in the town of Malapatan in Sarangani Province the 73IB was attacked by 10 guerillas from the afore mentioned Front 71. The AFP were acting as Security Escorts as the 10ID's CMOB was conducting an Anti-Dengue drive. For people perhaps unaware, Dengue is a mosquito borne disease that is often fatal and has shown increases into the triple digits in many areas of the island over the last 12 months- not too mention over much of the Southern and Central Philippines as well (actually the reportage protocols have changed and this is the primary mover behind the increase but hey, it keeps the local media busy so lets let them have their fun). Per this increase, three of the four IDs (Infantry Divisions) on mainland Mindanao have deployed their CMOBs in anti-Dengue efforts.
The next day, September 21st, the 4ID, based in Cagayan De Oro City's Camp Edilberto Evangelista turned over ISO (Internal Security Operations, which has evolved into a euphanism for COIN, i.e. "Counterinsurgency") to Misamis Oriental Province's PPOC (Provincial Peace and Order Council, an interface between the AFP and LGUs, i.e."Local Government Units," itself a euphanism for "municipality"), via Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno. The Sign-Over Ceremony took place on the Provincial Capitol Grounds. Essentially this means that the insurgency is now considered negligible to non-existent and that local law enforcement and LGUs are believed capable enough to handle any residual presence. It is worth noting that the 403Bde's (Brigade) CO (Commanding Officer), Col. Romeo Gapuz boldly stated that the NPA's Front 4B has been defeated. Famous last words...
That same day also within the 4ID's AOR (Area of Operations), in Barangay Valentina in the municipality of Esperanza in Agusan del Sur Province, the 26IB came across 10 guerillas from Front 8 of the NEMRC, or Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee and a 10 minute fire fight ensued. The clash resulted in the death of one guerilla and the capture of two M14s after the NPA withdrew from the scene. Esperanza is one of three spiritual capitals of the Higaon-on Tribe, a Lumad (Hill Tribe) group with branches in Bukidnon Province as well as in another spiritual capital, Claveria in Misamis Oriental Province.
Whole Claveria still has formidable NPA activity, despite the utterings at that afore mentioned ceremony, as well as absolutely no progress on the social and economic environments that breeds the insurgency, Esperanza is still in the thick of war with the NPA running parallel governments in almost all outlying barangays and the tribe is suffering terribly as it splits into (actually split three decades ago) into pro and anti-NPA factions, aggravated immensely by the AFP's Force Multiplication efforts aimed at the tribe. As I have mentioned in previous postings/entries I will delve into those efforts in great detail as soon as time allows.
September 24th, 2010 in Barangay Upper Suyan, again in the town of Malapatan in Sarangani Province, 40 year old Eliseo "Ka Bimbo" Tada of that same town and a Team Leader (most minor of NPA command positions, controls less than a single squad) in the NPA's Front 71 surrendered to the 39IB citing complications from malaria that he caught as a combatant deep in the bush, as well as homesickness for his family and village. He didnt turn in a weapon, as is the usual requirement for acceptance into the government's Social Integration Programme which provides immediate payouts for each weapon via the related "Balik Baril" ("Return a Rifle"), as well as Livlihood and Sustenance payouts, making it a formidable incentive for some. The AFP has claimed that the lack of weapon, which is extremely curious since Tada is said to have been a Team Leader, is due to his CO, "Ka Ronron," having seized his weapon, an M16, before allowing him to leave his detachment on September 12th.
That is the version prepared by the AFP spinmasters. The real story is a bit more understandable. Tada had left his camp on September 12th as he travelled to Davao City to seek treatment for his serious strain of malaria. As he passed thru the municipality of Malita in Davao del Sur Province he was taken into custody by the 39IB at an AFP Checkpoint. He was then paraded through the streets of that small town's Barangay Poblacion before entering the AFP Gulag. Perhaps the emnity of the AFP is also a bit more understandable when one realises that Tada is from the Team that had just engaged the 73IB in a fire fight on September 20th during the afore mentioned anti-Dengue Operation.
September 25th, 2010 in Sitio Taglawig in Barangay Panoraon in the town of Maco in ComVal (Compostela Valley) Province saw a platoon from the 71IB dispatched after intermittent reports or unknown armed men seen in the vicinity over a number of days. Upon scouring (going over a sector meter by meter) the sector the AFP discovered a recently erected camp with two platoons of NPA (roughly 60 guerillas). A 10 minute fire fight erupted with no casualties on either side as the NPA quickly withdrew from their camp. The presence of a camp in that sector bodes ill for the AFP and their intensified efforts in the region since the same battalion had recently launched a Civil-Military (Hearts and Minds, as in the military performing medical and social outreach to develop a rapport with the population) Operation there. Such operations involve a regular presence of a moderately sized detachment and the NPA's decison to encamp there shows that it has little to fear at the moment.
September 29th, 2010 in Barangay Bagampasan in the municipality of Don Victoriano Chiongbian in Misamis Occidental, an AFP detachment on patrol unexpectedly came across a detachment of NPA as the soldiers entered a clearing on a hillside. During the subsequent 1 hour fire fight five soldiers and a staff seargent were wounded by an M203 grenade. What was it that the good Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Gapuz had said about Front 4B?
That same day, September 29th, in Barangay Fatima in Davao City's Paquibato District in Davao del Sur Province, the NPA's 1st Pulang Bagani Company (Red Warriors Company) ambushed an AFP detachment though for once it was an opportunistic endeavour since all planned ambuscades by the Pulang Bagani (there are three companies though its parent formation FSMRC pretends there are five) involve IEDs,which the AFP likes to spin as "landmines" while claiming that they are illegal under IHL/LOAC. Since these IEDs are always command controlled (detonated purposefully by remote) they are absolutely legal in warfare.
On October 1st,2010 in Purok#5 of Barangay San Isidro in the town of Lianga in the Andap Complex of Surigao del Sur Province, 9 guerillas from Front 19A attacked an SCAA post attached to SUDECOR (Surigao Development Corp.), a private logging concern involved in heavy deforestation of Anadap, one of the last remaining large strands of virgin timber in the Mindanowan jungle. Unbeknownst to the guerillas, the post sublimated to the 23IB and led by Corporal Singson, of the 23IB's C COY (Comapny C) was hosting an element from the 75IB so that instead of the usual single AFP NCO ( Non-Commissioned Officer), in charge of unmotivated local tribesmen, the post was swarming with AFP. After 15 minutes of heavy back and forth the NPA withdrew back into the Diwata Mountains.
I have written about the SCAA (Special Civilain Active Auxiliary), akin to CAFGU but entirely funded by private sources,such as large businesses though the AFP now tries to bar large landholders who merely engage in agricultural pursuits since it lends an air of Feudalism and plays directly into the hands of NPA propagandists. The Andap Complex that I mentioned in the preceeding paragraph is the area between the municipalities of Tandag, Tago, Cagwait, San Agustin, Marihatag and Lianga in Surigao del Sur Province directly bordering Agusan del Sur Province. Heavily forested so that it is an objective in many GPH (Govt.of the Philippines) Develpment schemes. At the moment there are 42 MPSAs (Mineral Production Sharing Agreements), 73 MEPs (Mineral Exploration Permits) and heavy Timber and Coal Concessions as well.
An unfortunate dichotomy in COIN (Counterinsurgency Warfare) in that to defeat the political end of the dynamic, by far its largest facet, Infrastructural and Economic Development must take place on a considerable scale. In a Maoist-centric insurgency, such as the one being waged by the NPA, practically the entire struggle takes place in a rural theater of operations. Ergo, to attempt to defeat the insurgency the government must put forth great effort in tranforming the economic, infrastructural and social landscape. The contradiction in objectives enters when one realises that when the government begins undertaking this great endeavour it must enter into "bargains with the devil," the "devil" in this case being unscrupulous private developers who almost always engage in large scale exploitation of the local populace and enviornment thus breeding a new generation of recruits for the insurgency.
Social Development never comes close to even keeping pace with the other forms of development and these social ills that result defeat the government's larger, greater objective of neutralising the insurgency. Round and round it goes so that the actual objective morphs into just trying to keep the violence down to a somewhat manageable pace, where the local populace can grasp some sort of semblance to "normal" life.
October 7th, 2010 in Purok #8 of Barangay Carmen in Davao City's Baguio District in Davao del Sur Province, the 84IB was Clearing the sector when they unexpectedly came across a platoon from the NPA's Front 54. After a rough fire fight the NPA guerillas withdrew to Barangay Tamayong in the adhacent district of Calinan, as a running fire fight then transpired the guerillas split into detachments before regrouping in Sitio Ligabato back in Barangay Carmen where they had first been encountered. Ligabato had been the site of their temporary encampment which they then had to hastily abandon before withdrawing deeper into the mountains outside Davao City limits.
In non-military developments, Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the NPA/CPP linked umbrella organisation that comprises all left wing sectoral organisations sympathetic to or directly aligned with NPA/CPP objectives) Spokesman on Mindanao and a Regional NPA Commander to boot issued a statement on September 28th, 2010 on the Port Call made by the US Navy's USS George Washington and three destroyers, in Manila. In a highly true to form piece, Madlos says that the Port Call is only the latest and most blatant in a string of recent US incursions into Philippine territory. He said, correctly, that US troops often masquerade as Humanitarian actors even though they overtly engage both the NPA (that is absolutely false) and the MILF (that is correct in so much as MILF's 114 Base Command on Basilan is inextricably linked to Abu Sayyaf and Abu Sayyaf is the US mandate in the Philippines, an issue I will be discussing in my next MILF entry since the US Ambassador just requalified that issue in a recent statement).
The US involvement against the NPA is relegated to Intel related Operations, primarily by the CIA which operates out of a set of three shipping containers at Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City. There are a couple of uniformed servicemen working with them, in UAV ("Drones," i.e.unmanned aerial craft used to surveil in this case in the pursuit of intel, as well as in SIGNINT, electronic intel). To "overtly engage" the US would have to enter into Combat Operations which it has not despite ridiculous propaganda from the NPA claiming that unifromed US soldiers were involved in a firefight in Visayas Region. the US has no Operational Presence north of mainland Mindanao. Its presence is heaviest on Basilan, but it also has a significant presence on Jolo Island, and maintains 3 man teams as far afield as Tawi Tawi's AFP Naval Station. I am meandering a bit off course and will relegate my posting in this area to these limited comments, and hope to get to it sooner rather than later.
Madlos went on to say, US efforts are directly cadged from its COIN (Counter Insurgency) manual and are part and parcel of America's "Containment and Engagement" policy. Only a very naive, or ignorant person would imagine that the americans hold no ulterior motives in their Philippine endeavour. The so called "South East Asian Front on the War on Terror" is a farce. Whatever tenuous links Middle Eastern Islamo-fascists may have had with Abu Sayyaf had dissipated at least 5 years before the first uniformed American deplaned at Edwin Andrews Airforce Base in Zamboanga City. Abu Sayyaf itself was totally and irrevocably devoid of any substantiative ideology by that time as well, and had been since before its founder was killed in 1998.
The continued US presence is absolutely tied to regional goals but they are not entirely, or even mostly economic in nature.Rather they are tied to hegemony, not allowing China to extend its reach (the Spratly Islands brouhaha excepted), nor allow Japan to gain the heads up as it becomes the third largest donor on humanitarian projects in Mindanao behind America and Australia. So much for the Madlos/NDF/CPP/NPA worldview which was stale even before Mao died.
September 3rd, 2010 saw yet another killing in the Datu Labawan saga,but this issue has quickly evolved from an NPA-centric dynamic to one deserving of its own long winded entry, one I hope to get to shortly. Most if not all civilian killings since August are attributable to the tribal feud ("Pangayaw").
On October 04, 2010, yet another chapter in the AFP versus NPA "Child Warrior" saga closed in Laak ,ComVal (Compostela Valley) Province. The AFP's 3rdSFB (Special Forces aka Airborne Battalion) under Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Napuli provided a Security Perimeter as a resident of Barangay Prosperidad in the town of Montevista in that same province sought AFP assistance in the search for his missing son. Maneja Andoyo, a local Lumad (Hill Tribe) man had last seen his son Bobong Andoyo when the young man left home after a short visit, on November 14th, 2009. Four days before his 17th birthday.
Bobong had been home on a short visit, having joined the NPA with his younger brother Rodrigo Andoyo in 2008, when Bobong had just turned 15, and Rodrigo had turned 14. Rodrigo couldnt stomach the lean diet, crude environment and most of all he says, the violence. Bobong stayed on, primarily being motivated by the monthly stipend promised to all NPA Regulars (full time guerillas), seeing it as perhaps the only avenue with which he could help alleviate some of the crushing poverty his family faced. Shortly after he returned to his detachment from that short visit at home, he and fellow recruit Reto "Ka Jeffrey" Mawang, also a teenager, decided to defect.
Leaving one evening when both had sentry duty the two youths took their chance, careful to bring their weapons with them to ensure their acceptance into the AFP's Surrenderee Program, aka Social Integration Program, which offers a generous bounty for each operable weapon surrendered as well as an immediate financial incentive and payouts for livlihood and re-training assistance. When it was apparent that the two had fled the hierarchy in the Front (comparable to an IB in the AFP though with far less personnel) ordered them roped in. It wasnt long before their former comrades caught up to them as they tried to navigate the deep bush in the early moning hours, according to a local farmer cum NPA Irregular (NPA Village Militia) who resides in Sitio Pundasyon, the sitio in Laak where the double grave was uncovered, and was able to witness their apprehension and execution from his home.
Assisted by the Nabunturan Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO),from Nabunturan Municipal Police Office, Maneja Andoyo and his son Rodrigo dug out Bobong's decomposed remains by hand, still wearing the black teeshirt usually worn by NPA Regulars, and the combat fatigues he had also been wearing the last day his father saw him. Having spent P50,000 raised by selling off virtually all his possesions, Maneja said that he was finally at peace and had found a measure of closure. Until this point he had been receiving dreams regularly in which his son cried out for succor. He had expected the discovery ever since he had first questioned locals in that same NPA detachment and the men had been extremely evasive.
October 7th, 2010 saw yet another AFP salvo against the NPA in the never-ending saga of the,"Child Warrior."The 84IB, having had a difficult transfer south from Luzon,and having been decimated in battle against the NPA is finally getting the hang of life down south with its recent Clearing Operation in Purok #8, Barangay Carmen,Baguio District in Davao City.Stumbling over a deserted encampment from NPA Front-54 they found some internal memos dated November 24, 2009 with a neatly composed list of new recruits from Davao AOR including full psycho-social profiles as well as Logistical info such as methods for procurement of medical supplies.It is the recruit list though that is making 10ID brass get all hot and bothered.On the list are 3 males under the age of 18,two of whom are drug users...as if no AFP soldier is but that is just how it is played.The camp was located well within the Klata band of Bagobo Lumad's AD (Ancestral Domain) Claim,despite a long history of opposition from that band's Datu (chief).Front-54's Kumander (CO) Alex"Ka Bobby"Rosete is slacking off apparently.
On Monday October 11th,2010 New Zealand ignorantly added the CPP and NPA along with 4 other organisations to its list of"International Terror Organisations"per its"Terrorism Suppression Act."Who were the NPA lumped together with? HAMAS' miltary wing,the Qassam Brigades and those fun loving bunch of Islamo-fascists, PIJ aka Palestinian Islamic Jihad.PM John Keys amazingly maintains that this move helps his nation meet its onus under UN Security Council Resolution #1373 which was passed to help neutralise the world wide specter of terrorism. How and why the NPA was ever lumped into THAT pile of nonsense defies logic and any kind of adult reasoning but of course the answer is that the Philippine Government,as it claims to be entering into Peace Talk mode with the NPA (via the NPA's umbrella organisation, the NDF, National Democratic Front) pressured hard to get it done...just as it did with the Netherlands when it revoked NPA founder and nominal leader (officialy "Consultant to the NDF") Jose Maria Sison aka JOMA's Residency Status and Social Welfare Benefits.Bravo for New Zealand,I am sure that its people can rest easier knowing that the NPA is now on that list (SARCASM).
October 19, 2010 in Sitio Tumondong,Barangay Basak,Magpet,North Cotabato Province on the Sumifru Banana Plantation roughly 50 NPA swamred the sitio in the early morning hours destroyed 8 Million Pesos (~150,000 US) worth of heavy equipment.Sumifru is owned by the Japanese corporation Sumitomo which farms about 4,000 hectares at locations throughout Southern Mindanao.Normally an action like this wouldnt even be worth mentioning as they are so common and do not involve human casualties but the incident marks a push into slightly new territory for the NPA, or rather a return to territory it hasnt held since the very early 1990s.More over,it created approximately 1200 new IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons aka REfugees) as terrified villagers fearing an escalation fled with the clothes on their backs. IDPs are almost always related to AFP actions taken against various groups within the Islamic Insurgency though every few months there is a moderate wave in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur Province's Andap Complex.As of today,October 21st,the IDPs remain in Evacuation Centres,etc.
The next day, October 20,2010 saw a rare glimmer of hope in the GPH-NPA struggle,now close to its 42nd year of war and bloodshed.The NPA (and CPP) sublimate themselves within an umbrella organisation,the NDFP,or as it is commonly known,the NDF (National Democratic Front of the Philippines).The NDF encompasses a range of Left Wing Sectoral Front Organisations,many of which figure in the AFP's Order of Battle (fair game in war,though usually in the covert, u
Founder JOMA,Jose Maria Sosa,and many other top figures had ensconced themselves comfortably in Utrecht, Netherlands.While many,like Luis Jandaloni had intelligently taken dual Dutch citizenship JOMA had merely become a legal alien while he wound his way through the cumbersome process of claiming Political Asylum. The placement on these 2 Lists caused JOMA's status to be yanked and negated the possibility of travel outside the EU for Jandaloni, et al.The almost imemdiate result was the NDF unilaterally stepping away from the negotiating table.
As ex-President Arroyo's time drew near JOMA and the rest of the crew began putting out feelers to jump start the process.When Aquino took the Election this past May most observers knew that the resumption was a given, after a few very minor wrinkles have been ironed out. Much to President Aquino's credit he has picked 5 extremely able people for the GPH Panel, all of whom I will go into great detail about in m next entry.There is still no date in sight though it most definitely will take place in the first half of 2011.Seven long years of sadness and bloodshed. Unlike the GPH-MILF Peace Process the GPH-NDF Peace Process actually stands a chance of accomplishing soemthing with lasting impact.One can imagine anyway...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010, at 547AM in Purok Basakan,Barangay Alagon,Siay,Zamboanga Sibugay Province,the 53IB claimed to have found an NPA Camp outside the town in question though no NPA activity has been known to take place there over the last 36 months,let alone in the entire 1 ID AOR, and killed 2 men the TF says were armed NPA guerillas. It has to be mentioned that on Monday, October 25 in Barangay Pilay, Ipil, also in that province and well within the ID's AOR ( 1st Infantry Division's Area of Operations),a CAFGU soldier, Oilgario Bucal Jr.turned his army issued weapon on his comrades killing 5 in cold blood.The obvious questions are being floated on this issue. Bucal then escaped into the bush,do the math (maybe),especially when you find out that the 2 dead "guerillas" were 1 male and 1 female and only 1 weapon was recovered, an army issued carbine.
In yet another example provided by the AFP's 10ID (Infantry Division), 73IB's C COY (Company C) captured a 15 year old courier for Front 71. The soldiers, upon entering a mountainside clearing sighted the youth lugging an over packed sack filled with ammo,fatigues and camp equipment. The AFP claims that the young man had recently been in two engagements with the AFP, the first in Janurary of 2009 and the second in Feburary of 2010. He was then turned over to DSWD (Dept. Social Welfare and Development) which then processed him and released him to his parents who, as is always the case, had no idea that their son was with the NPA.
On September 10, 2010 the AFP fired its latest salvo in this propaganda back and forth when the 10ID accused the NPA of recruiting four more minors from among the eleven residents of Barangay Baracatan in Davao City's Toril District. The eleven are currently undergoing the military phase of their training in Mt.Apo National Park with the NPA's Front 54 of the SMRC, or Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. Front 54 of course denies this accusation ,this time pointing to the bi-laterally ratified CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Law) from 1998, as well as a new defence, a 1999 directive from the CPP, or Communist Party of the Philippines, of which the NPA is merely the military arm. The Directive is from the CPP Executive Committee, the CPP organ from which the NPA takes its cues. The Directive, entitled, "Memorandum to the Minimum Age Required for NPA Fighters" basically rehashes CARHRHIL which was very recent at that point.
On September 19, 2010 in Sitio Kisoy in Barangay Anggas in the municipality of Alabel in Sarangani Province, the 73IB (Infantry Battalion) on routine patrol sighted what it believed to be two NPA guerillas sitting in a field, apparently taking a much needed break. Encircling the two they were closing in for what they had hoped would be a violence-free capture when one of the suspected guerillas ran towards a clifface and jumped, rolling down a very steep incline into the valley below and escaped. The second guerilla was then captured without firing a shot, apparently too stunned by what had just transpired.
Upon initial interrogation the guerilla in custody revealed that he was only 15 and not a guerilla at all, but a rather a less than willing guide for the actual guerilla, "Ka Arnold," who had jumped off the plateau. Christened "Ka Buboy" by the NPA who had periodically used him as a guide since age 12 he had been recieving a stipend from the NPA and also had apparently, wittingly or unwittingly, served as a courier as well. During his experience serving the NPA he had recently been through two fire fights in Barangay Datal Anggas, his village of residence. Asked what had attracted him to serve the insugent group he quickly answered that the chief benefit was the few pesos with which to help his impovershied family,who apprently had no idea (of course) of their son's involvement with the NPA.
The young man's presence was propagandised by the AFP's Lieutenant Colonel Medel Aguilar, CO, or Commanding Officer of the 10ID's CMOB (Civil-Military Operations Battalion) as a clearcut violation of both...big suprise here...IHL (International Humanitarian Law) and its subsidiary, LOAC (Laws of Armed Conflict). While that is ridiculous to anyone with even cursory knowledge of anything involved in this dynamic, the 73IB's CO, Lieutenant Colonel Edgardo DeLeon did bring up a valid point when he accused the NPA of committing yet another infraction against the bi-laterally ratified CARHRIL.
"Ka Arnold," the guerilla the 15 year old had been guiding, is a member of Team #1, Primera Squad (1st Squad), Platun Mazda (M Platoon), Front 71 of the FSMRC or Far South Mindanao Regional Committee. Front 71 is the only Front currently operating in Sarangani Province and its primary AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation") is in the Alabel and Malapatan municipalities and surrounding environs. The 73IB is deployed specifically to counter the Front and despite almost a year and a half of concerted efforts it has made very little headway. This is a problem in many areas where the government pays lip service to Development while merely utilising it as a catchword for dividing up the spoils amongst multi-nationals and bypassing all but a precious handful of locals usually already sitting pretty in positions of power and affluence.
The next day, September 20th, 2010, in Sitio Akbual in Barangay Upper Suyan in the town of Malapatan in Sarangani Province the 73IB was attacked by 10 guerillas from the afore mentioned Front 71. The AFP were acting as Security Escorts as the 10ID's CMOB was conducting an Anti-Dengue drive. For people perhaps unaware, Dengue is a mosquito borne disease that is often fatal and has shown increases into the triple digits in many areas of the island over the last 12 months- not too mention over much of the Southern and Central Philippines as well (actually the reportage protocols have changed and this is the primary mover behind the increase but hey, it keeps the local media busy so lets let them have their fun). Per this increase, three of the four IDs (Infantry Divisions) on mainland Mindanao have deployed their CMOBs in anti-Dengue efforts.
The next day, September 21st, the 4ID, based in Cagayan De Oro City's Camp Edilberto Evangelista turned over ISO (Internal Security Operations, which has evolved into a euphanism for COIN, i.e. "Counterinsurgency") to Misamis Oriental Province's PPOC (Provincial Peace and Order Council, an interface between the AFP and LGUs, i.e."Local Government Units," itself a euphanism for "municipality"), via Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno. The Sign-Over Ceremony took place on the Provincial Capitol Grounds. Essentially this means that the insurgency is now considered negligible to non-existent and that local law enforcement and LGUs are believed capable enough to handle any residual presence. It is worth noting that the 403Bde's (Brigade) CO (Commanding Officer), Col. Romeo Gapuz boldly stated that the NPA's Front 4B has been defeated. Famous last words...
That same day also within the 4ID's AOR (Area of Operations), in Barangay Valentina in the municipality of Esperanza in Agusan del Sur Province, the 26IB came across 10 guerillas from Front 8 of the NEMRC, or Northeast Mindanao Regional Committee and a 10 minute fire fight ensued. The clash resulted in the death of one guerilla and the capture of two M14s after the NPA withdrew from the scene. Esperanza is one of three spiritual capitals of the Higaon-on Tribe, a Lumad (Hill Tribe) group with branches in Bukidnon Province as well as in another spiritual capital, Claveria in Misamis Oriental Province.
Whole Claveria still has formidable NPA activity, despite the utterings at that afore mentioned ceremony, as well as absolutely no progress on the social and economic environments that breeds the insurgency, Esperanza is still in the thick of war with the NPA running parallel governments in almost all outlying barangays and the tribe is suffering terribly as it splits into (actually split three decades ago) into pro and anti-NPA factions, aggravated immensely by the AFP's Force Multiplication efforts aimed at the tribe. As I have mentioned in previous postings/entries I will delve into those efforts in great detail as soon as time allows.
September 24th, 2010 in Barangay Upper Suyan, again in the town of Malapatan in Sarangani Province, 40 year old Eliseo "Ka Bimbo" Tada of that same town and a Team Leader (most minor of NPA command positions, controls less than a single squad) in the NPA's Front 71 surrendered to the 39IB citing complications from malaria that he caught as a combatant deep in the bush, as well as homesickness for his family and village. He didnt turn in a weapon, as is the usual requirement for acceptance into the government's Social Integration Programme which provides immediate payouts for each weapon via the related "Balik Baril" ("Return a Rifle"), as well as Livlihood and Sustenance payouts, making it a formidable incentive for some. The AFP has claimed that the lack of weapon, which is extremely curious since Tada is said to have been a Team Leader, is due to his CO, "Ka Ronron," having seized his weapon, an M16, before allowing him to leave his detachment on September 12th.
That is the version prepared by the AFP spinmasters. The real story is a bit more understandable. Tada had left his camp on September 12th as he travelled to Davao City to seek treatment for his serious strain of malaria. As he passed thru the municipality of Malita in Davao del Sur Province he was taken into custody by the 39IB at an AFP Checkpoint. He was then paraded through the streets of that small town's Barangay Poblacion before entering the AFP Gulag. Perhaps the emnity of the AFP is also a bit more understandable when one realises that Tada is from the Team that had just engaged the 73IB in a fire fight on September 20th during the afore mentioned anti-Dengue Operation.
September 25th, 2010 in Sitio Taglawig in Barangay Panoraon in the town of Maco in ComVal (Compostela Valley) Province saw a platoon from the 71IB dispatched after intermittent reports or unknown armed men seen in the vicinity over a number of days. Upon scouring (going over a sector meter by meter) the sector the AFP discovered a recently erected camp with two platoons of NPA (roughly 60 guerillas). A 10 minute fire fight erupted with no casualties on either side as the NPA quickly withdrew from their camp. The presence of a camp in that sector bodes ill for the AFP and their intensified efforts in the region since the same battalion had recently launched a Civil-Military (Hearts and Minds, as in the military performing medical and social outreach to develop a rapport with the population) Operation there. Such operations involve a regular presence of a moderately sized detachment and the NPA's decison to encamp there shows that it has little to fear at the moment.
September 29th, 2010 in Barangay Bagampasan in the municipality of Don Victoriano Chiongbian in Misamis Occidental, an AFP detachment on patrol unexpectedly came across a detachment of NPA as the soldiers entered a clearing on a hillside. During the subsequent 1 hour fire fight five soldiers and a staff seargent were wounded by an M203 grenade. What was it that the good Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Gapuz had said about Front 4B?
That same day, September 29th, in Barangay Fatima in Davao City's Paquibato District in Davao del Sur Province, the NPA's 1st Pulang Bagani Company (Red Warriors Company) ambushed an AFP detachment though for once it was an opportunistic endeavour since all planned ambuscades by the Pulang Bagani (there are three companies though its parent formation FSMRC pretends there are five) involve IEDs,which the AFP likes to spin as "landmines" while claiming that they are illegal under IHL/LOAC. Since these IEDs are always command controlled (detonated purposefully by remote) they are absolutely legal in warfare.
On October 1st,2010 in Purok#5 of Barangay San Isidro in the town of Lianga in the Andap Complex of Surigao del Sur Province, 9 guerillas from Front 19A attacked an SCAA post attached to SUDECOR (Surigao Development Corp.), a private logging concern involved in heavy deforestation of Anadap, one of the last remaining large strands of virgin timber in the Mindanowan jungle. Unbeknownst to the guerillas, the post sublimated to the 23IB and led by Corporal Singson, of the 23IB's C COY (Comapny C) was hosting an element from the 75IB so that instead of the usual single AFP NCO ( Non-Commissioned Officer), in charge of unmotivated local tribesmen, the post was swarming with AFP. After 15 minutes of heavy back and forth the NPA withdrew back into the Diwata Mountains.
I have written about the SCAA (Special Civilain Active Auxiliary), akin to CAFGU but entirely funded by private sources,such as large businesses though the AFP now tries to bar large landholders who merely engage in agricultural pursuits since it lends an air of Feudalism and plays directly into the hands of NPA propagandists. The Andap Complex that I mentioned in the preceeding paragraph is the area between the municipalities of Tandag, Tago, Cagwait, San Agustin, Marihatag and Lianga in Surigao del Sur Province directly bordering Agusan del Sur Province. Heavily forested so that it is an objective in many GPH (Govt.of the Philippines) Develpment schemes. At the moment there are 42 MPSAs (Mineral Production Sharing Agreements), 73 MEPs (Mineral Exploration Permits) and heavy Timber and Coal Concessions as well.
An unfortunate dichotomy in COIN (Counterinsurgency Warfare) in that to defeat the political end of the dynamic, by far its largest facet, Infrastructural and Economic Development must take place on a considerable scale. In a Maoist-centric insurgency, such as the one being waged by the NPA, practically the entire struggle takes place in a rural theater of operations. Ergo, to attempt to defeat the insurgency the government must put forth great effort in tranforming the economic, infrastructural and social landscape. The contradiction in objectives enters when one realises that when the government begins undertaking this great endeavour it must enter into "bargains with the devil," the "devil" in this case being unscrupulous private developers who almost always engage in large scale exploitation of the local populace and enviornment thus breeding a new generation of recruits for the insurgency.
Social Development never comes close to even keeping pace with the other forms of development and these social ills that result defeat the government's larger, greater objective of neutralising the insurgency. Round and round it goes so that the actual objective morphs into just trying to keep the violence down to a somewhat manageable pace, where the local populace can grasp some sort of semblance to "normal" life.
October 7th, 2010 in Purok #8 of Barangay Carmen in Davao City's Baguio District in Davao del Sur Province, the 84IB was Clearing the sector when they unexpectedly came across a platoon from the NPA's Front 54. After a rough fire fight the NPA guerillas withdrew to Barangay Tamayong in the adhacent district of Calinan, as a running fire fight then transpired the guerillas split into detachments before regrouping in Sitio Ligabato back in Barangay Carmen where they had first been encountered. Ligabato had been the site of their temporary encampment which they then had to hastily abandon before withdrawing deeper into the mountains outside Davao City limits.
In non-military developments, Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, the NDFP (National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the NPA/CPP linked umbrella organisation that comprises all left wing sectoral organisations sympathetic to or directly aligned with NPA/CPP objectives) Spokesman on Mindanao and a Regional NPA Commander to boot issued a statement on September 28th, 2010 on the Port Call made by the US Navy's USS George Washington and three destroyers, in Manila. In a highly true to form piece, Madlos says that the Port Call is only the latest and most blatant in a string of recent US incursions into Philippine territory. He said, correctly, that US troops often masquerade as Humanitarian actors even though they overtly engage both the NPA (that is absolutely false) and the MILF (that is correct in so much as MILF's 114 Base Command on Basilan is inextricably linked to Abu Sayyaf and Abu Sayyaf is the US mandate in the Philippines, an issue I will be discussing in my next MILF entry since the US Ambassador just requalified that issue in a recent statement).
The US involvement against the NPA is relegated to Intel related Operations, primarily by the CIA which operates out of a set of three shipping containers at Camp Navarro in Zamboanga City. There are a couple of uniformed servicemen working with them, in UAV ("Drones," i.e.unmanned aerial craft used to surveil in this case in the pursuit of intel, as well as in SIGNINT, electronic intel). To "overtly engage" the US would have to enter into Combat Operations which it has not despite ridiculous propaganda from the NPA claiming that unifromed US soldiers were involved in a firefight in Visayas Region. the US has no Operational Presence north of mainland Mindanao. Its presence is heaviest on Basilan, but it also has a significant presence on Jolo Island, and maintains 3 man teams as far afield as Tawi Tawi's AFP Naval Station. I am meandering a bit off course and will relegate my posting in this area to these limited comments, and hope to get to it sooner rather than later.
Madlos went on to say, US efforts are directly cadged from its COIN (Counter Insurgency) manual and are part and parcel of America's "Containment and Engagement" policy. Only a very naive, or ignorant person would imagine that the americans hold no ulterior motives in their Philippine endeavour. The so called "South East Asian Front on the War on Terror" is a farce. Whatever tenuous links Middle Eastern Islamo-fascists may have had with Abu Sayyaf had dissipated at least 5 years before the first uniformed American deplaned at Edwin Andrews Airforce Base in Zamboanga City. Abu Sayyaf itself was totally and irrevocably devoid of any substantiative ideology by that time as well, and had been since before its founder was killed in 1998.
The continued US presence is absolutely tied to regional goals but they are not entirely, or even mostly economic in nature.Rather they are tied to hegemony, not allowing China to extend its reach (the Spratly Islands brouhaha excepted), nor allow Japan to gain the heads up as it becomes the third largest donor on humanitarian projects in Mindanao behind America and Australia. So much for the Madlos/NDF/CPP/NPA worldview which was stale even before Mao died.
September 3rd, 2010 saw yet another killing in the Datu Labawan saga,but this issue has quickly evolved from an NPA-centric dynamic to one deserving of its own long winded entry, one I hope to get to shortly. Most if not all civilian killings since August are attributable to the tribal feud ("Pangayaw").
On October 04, 2010, yet another chapter in the AFP versus NPA "Child Warrior" saga closed in Laak ,ComVal (Compostela Valley) Province. The AFP's 3rdSFB (Special Forces aka Airborne Battalion) under Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Napuli provided a Security Perimeter as a resident of Barangay Prosperidad in the town of Montevista in that same province sought AFP assistance in the search for his missing son. Maneja Andoyo, a local Lumad (Hill Tribe) man had last seen his son Bobong Andoyo when the young man left home after a short visit, on November 14th, 2009. Four days before his 17th birthday.
Bobong had been home on a short visit, having joined the NPA with his younger brother Rodrigo Andoyo in 2008, when Bobong had just turned 15, and Rodrigo had turned 14. Rodrigo couldnt stomach the lean diet, crude environment and most of all he says, the violence. Bobong stayed on, primarily being motivated by the monthly stipend promised to all NPA Regulars (full time guerillas), seeing it as perhaps the only avenue with which he could help alleviate some of the crushing poverty his family faced. Shortly after he returned to his detachment from that short visit at home, he and fellow recruit Reto "Ka Jeffrey" Mawang, also a teenager, decided to defect.
Leaving one evening when both had sentry duty the two youths took their chance, careful to bring their weapons with them to ensure their acceptance into the AFP's Surrenderee Program, aka Social Integration Program, which offers a generous bounty for each operable weapon surrendered as well as an immediate financial incentive and payouts for livlihood and re-training assistance. When it was apparent that the two had fled the hierarchy in the Front (comparable to an IB in the AFP though with far less personnel) ordered them roped in. It wasnt long before their former comrades caught up to them as they tried to navigate the deep bush in the early moning hours, according to a local farmer cum NPA Irregular (NPA Village Militia) who resides in Sitio Pundasyon, the sitio in Laak where the double grave was uncovered, and was able to witness their apprehension and execution from his home.
Assisted by the Nabunturan Scene of Crime Operations (SOCO),from Nabunturan Municipal Police Office, Maneja Andoyo and his son Rodrigo dug out Bobong's decomposed remains by hand, still wearing the black teeshirt usually worn by NPA Regulars, and the combat fatigues he had also been wearing the last day his father saw him. Having spent P50,000 raised by selling off virtually all his possesions, Maneja said that he was finally at peace and had found a measure of closure. Until this point he had been receiving dreams regularly in which his son cried out for succor. He had expected the discovery ever since he had first questioned locals in that same NPA detachment and the men had been extremely evasive.
October 7th, 2010 saw yet another AFP salvo against the NPA in the never-ending saga of the,"Child Warrior."The 84IB, having had a difficult transfer south from Luzon,and having been decimated in battle against the NPA is finally getting the hang of life down south with its recent Clearing Operation in Purok #8, Barangay Carmen,Baguio District in Davao City.Stumbling over a deserted encampment from NPA Front-54 they found some internal memos dated November 24, 2009 with a neatly composed list of new recruits from Davao AOR including full psycho-social profiles as well as Logistical info such as methods for procurement of medical supplies.It is the recruit list though that is making 10ID brass get all hot and bothered.On the list are 3 males under the age of 18,two of whom are drug users...as if no AFP soldier is but that is just how it is played.The camp was located well within the Klata band of Bagobo Lumad's AD (Ancestral Domain) Claim,despite a long history of opposition from that band's Datu (chief).Front-54's Kumander (CO) Alex"Ka Bobby"Rosete is slacking off apparently.
On Monday October 11th,2010 New Zealand ignorantly added the CPP and NPA along with 4 other organisations to its list of"International Terror Organisations"per its"Terrorism Suppression Act."Who were the NPA lumped together with? HAMAS' miltary wing,the Qassam Brigades and those fun loving bunch of Islamo-fascists, PIJ aka Palestinian Islamic Jihad.PM John Keys amazingly maintains that this move helps his nation meet its onus under UN Security Council Resolution #1373 which was passed to help neutralise the world wide specter of terrorism. How and why the NPA was ever lumped into THAT pile of nonsense defies logic and any kind of adult reasoning but of course the answer is that the Philippine Government,as it claims to be entering into Peace Talk mode with the NPA (via the NPA's umbrella organisation, the NDF, National Democratic Front) pressured hard to get it done...just as it did with the Netherlands when it revoked NPA founder and nominal leader (officialy "Consultant to the NDF") Jose Maria Sison aka JOMA's Residency Status and Social Welfare Benefits.Bravo for New Zealand,I am sure that its people can rest easier knowing that the NPA is now on that list (SARCASM).
October 19, 2010 in Sitio Tumondong,Barangay Basak,Magpet,North Cotabato Province on the Sumifru Banana Plantation roughly 50 NPA swamred the sitio in the early morning hours destroyed 8 Million Pesos (~150,000 US) worth of heavy equipment.Sumifru is owned by the Japanese corporation Sumitomo which farms about 4,000 hectares at locations throughout Southern Mindanao.Normally an action like this wouldnt even be worth mentioning as they are so common and do not involve human casualties but the incident marks a push into slightly new territory for the NPA, or rather a return to territory it hasnt held since the very early 1990s.More over,it created approximately 1200 new IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons aka REfugees) as terrified villagers fearing an escalation fled with the clothes on their backs. IDPs are almost always related to AFP actions taken against various groups within the Islamic Insurgency though every few months there is a moderate wave in Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur Province's Andap Complex.As of today,October 21st,the IDPs remain in Evacuation Centres,etc.
The next day, October 20,2010 saw a rare glimmer of hope in the GPH-NPA struggle,now close to its 42nd year of war and bloodshed.The NPA (and CPP) sublimate themselves within an umbrella organisation,the NDFP,or as it is commonly known,the NDF (National Democratic Front of the Philippines).The NDF encompasses a range of Left Wing Sectoral Front Organisations,many of which figure in the AFP's Order of Battle (fair game in war,though usually in the covert, u
Founder JOMA,Jose Maria Sosa,and many other top figures had ensconced themselves comfortably in Utrecht, Netherlands.While many,like Luis Jandaloni had intelligently taken dual Dutch citizenship JOMA had merely become a legal alien while he wound his way through the cumbersome process of claiming Political Asylum. The placement on these 2 Lists caused JOMA's status to be yanked and negated the possibility of travel outside the EU for Jandaloni, et al.The almost imemdiate result was the NDF unilaterally stepping away from the negotiating table.
As ex-President Arroyo's time drew near JOMA and the rest of the crew began putting out feelers to jump start the process.When Aquino took the Election this past May most observers knew that the resumption was a given, after a few very minor wrinkles have been ironed out. Much to President Aquino's credit he has picked 5 extremely able people for the GPH Panel, all of whom I will go into great detail about in m next entry.There is still no date in sight though it most definitely will take place in the first half of 2011.Seven long years of sadness and bloodshed. Unlike the GPH-MILF Peace Process the GPH-NDF Peace Process actually stands a chance of accomplishing soemthing with lasting impact.One can imagine anyway...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010, at 547AM in Purok Basakan,Barangay Alagon,Siay,Zamboanga Sibugay Province,the 53IB claimed to have found an NPA Camp outside the town in question though no NPA activity has been known to take place there over the last 36 months,let alone in the entire 1 ID AOR, and killed 2 men the TF says were armed NPA guerillas. It has to be mentioned that on Monday, October 25 in Barangay Pilay, Ipil, also in that province and well within the ID's AOR ( 1st Infantry Division's Area of Operations),a CAFGU soldier, Oilgario Bucal Jr.turned his army issued weapon on his comrades killing 5 in cold blood.The obvious questions are being floated on this issue. Bucal then escaped into the bush,do the math (maybe),especially when you find out that the 2 dead "guerillas" were 1 male and 1 female and only 1 weapon was recovered, an army issued carbine.
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