NPA Armed Contacts for the Fourth Quarter of 2011, Part XII: The Ghost of Rebelyn Pitao wont be Silenced, Part 1

The sad death of Reblyn Maasin Pitao of Davao City transpired nearly three years ago and yet its consequences are still playing out today. Ms.Pitao, a newly-graduated substitute teacher at Davao City's Saint Peter's College was the third child of Leonicio Pitao and Evangeline Maasin Pitao. Mr.Pitao is much better known by his nom de guerre, "Ka Parago," the name he utilises as the top NPA Commander in the Davao Region.

The Secretary, or Leader, of the SMRC, or Southern Mindanao Regional Committee's Merardo Arce Operational Command, Pitao also personally commands the Operational Command's company sized military element, the 1st Pulang Bagani Command, or 1PBC. From a base on the slopes of the Philippines' tallest mountain, Mount Apo, Pitao oversees all large scale tactical operations in the Davao Region, also known as Region 11, which comprises the following four provinces:

1) Davao del Sur

2) Davao del Norte

3) Davao Oriental

4) Compostela Valley, also known as "ComVal"

This region also holds the nation's second most populous city, Davao City. Because of a marriage of convenience between Pitao and that city's warlord, now-Vice Mayor Rodrigo "Roddy" Duterte Pitao's personal fiefdom also includes a full 40% of that chartered city, albeit none of its urganised and therefore financially lucrative environs. Although the NEMRC, or Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee has more manpower, and generates much more revenue for the organisation, Pitao's SMRC is viewed as the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) primary objective in its struggle to neutralise the NPA Insurgency. This is because the region is much, much more populous than the NEMRC's Region 13, also known as Caraga. While Caraga has much more in the way of natural resources, Davao Region is the Mindanao's industrial base. Controlling Davao Region offers the NPA incredible power but more so, leaves it posing a real threat to overall control of Mindanao.

Therefore, it is rather easy to understand the AFP's fixation on Leonicio Pitao. After finally apprehending him in the Autumn of 2009 he was released after little less than a year as a Good Will Gesture of the Arroyo Administration as it sought to lure the NPA back to the bargaining table in the two decades old GPH-NDFP Peace Process ("GPH" being the Government of the Philippines and "NDFP" being the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the political umbrella representing the NPA and its political wing, the CPP, or Communist Party of the Philippines in the Peace Process). To describe the AFP as "frustrated" vis a vis the Davao Region NPA resillience and its iconic figurehead Leonicio Pitao's ability to outsmart and outlast dozens of AFP Chiefs of Staff would be an extreme understatement. Indeed, the AFP created a new division, the 10ID (Infantry Division), and a new Regional Command, EASMINCOM (Eastern Mindanao Command), to more effectively deal with Pitao and his counterpart in the NEMRC, Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos. Yet nothing has worked.

Not suprisingly more than a few AFP officers vexed with Pitao have undertaken unofficial avenues as they searched for an effective remedy. In 2008, a man on the payroll of Davao del Norte Province, blessed with an almost impossible to get no show job, was gunned down by people he knew on the front steps of Our Lady of Fatima, a Catholic Church in Tagum City's Barangay Mankilam, Purok Villa Cacacho in the aforementioned province of Davao del Norte.

The man, Danilo Santiago, had been a "seaman," Filipino speak for the national equivalent of a Merchant Marine. When he first went to see more than decades before, in 1985, he had changed his surname to Santiago, apprehensive that his birth name would keep him from gaining the necessary clearances needed to work in that industry. After all, his real surname, "Pitao" was known to the kind of people that could make those sorts of decisions. Although the brother of Leonicio Pitao he hadn't seen the NPA leader in nearly a decade. When he finally gave up travelling the world aboard ocean going freighters in 1995, to care for the three children abandoned by his estranged wife, he took a job as short order cook in Panabo City's Maria Clara Resturant. It was this job that would prove pivotal in Danilo Santiago's life.

Apparently recognised at his resturant job in 2007 he found himself dumbfounded when he learned that the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines, was sizing him up quietly. His primary concern was that he was being primed for "Salvaging," the Filipino term for Extra-Judicial Execution. In the twelve years since he had stopped working abroad he had met a new woman, Mary Jean Espira, and began a new family. Life was going well for Danilo, until he was fingered. When the whispers of neighbours graduated into SMS (texts) and phone calls on his cellphone he realised that he had to act to save himself and perhaps his family. Travelling to the adjacent municipality of Davao City on May 23rd, 2007, he presented himself at the AFP's Camp Panacan. Within an hour he heard his name called and was ushered down a maze of hallways before finally arriving at a door without the requisite nameplate, the Headquarters of MIG-11, or, the 11th Military Intelligence Group. Interviewed by Captain Ramos (now with the 73IB), he was pointedly asked if he wanted to live to see his young children grow to adulthood. Danilo Santiago left Camp Panacan as a Military Asset, trading on his familial relationship with Leonicio Pitao. In return for assenting, he was issued a military stock 45 caliber pistol, ordered to report on the first Monday of every month, and sit back and wait to be activated by a handler, or controller.

Although Danilo was initially unaware, another of his siblings, his sister Evelyn, had also become a Military Asset when cornered as an NPA guerilla in Front 3, the Alejandro Lanaja Command, also in the SMRC. Like Danilo, she had been given an assumed identity, re-named Iris Belen Berano, and had used her earnings from the AFP to become a broker of hardwood timber. Also like Danilo, her decision would have a far reaching impact. It had been Evelyn Pitao who in the Autumn of 1999 had fed her handlers the all important information that led to Leonicio's capture in Davao City's Barangay Bago Gallera. For that coup, and setting up her husband, Regenaldo "Ka Emong" Alicaba Sr., the Vice Secretary of Front 33, the Armando Dumandan Command, again, in the SMRC. Evelyn had learned through her contacts that Alicaba had left the jungle on December 24th, 2008, with his 27 year old daughter, Rizalyn Alicaba Manguilimotan, Front 33's Medical Secretary, and travelled to an NPA safehouse in Panabo City's Barangay JP Laurel in order to receive needed medical treatment in Davao City.

Fingering Alicaba and his daughter for apprehension earned Evelyn a death sentence from the NPA. Yet, even as news broke about Alicaba's arrest on Janurary 18th, 2009 and the subsequent torture he allegedly suffered she remained in her adopted home town of Santo Tomas, but her time would come...

On May, 2008, a MIG-11 handler, Sergeant Helvin Bitang, arrived and picked up Danilo on his motorcycle, but this was a regular occurrence. Like many Assets Danilo had become friendly with his handler, and the two spent many a night carousing when they weren't actually working. That night Sergeant Bitang needed Danilo to pick up his allotment of free rice from the provincial capital complex in Tagum City. As someone on the provincial payroll Danilo was entitled to a free sack of rice from the Government Reserves as a sort of quasi-official fringe benefit. Being passive he was easily manipulated into regularly giving it to his "friend," Sergeant Bitang. Because Bitang drove a relatively small motorcycle the large sack of rice relegated Danilo to taking alternative transportation home that night, though Bitang at least covered the cost. Danilo was returning home by triksiad, the motorcycle sidecar taxis that poor Filipinos use in place of vehicular taxis. As the triksiad approached Our Lady of Fatima a motorcycle with two men riding tandem pulled abreast of Danilo. Danilo seemed to recognise the rear passenger according to the triksiad driver, because Danilo grinned widely. The man on the rear smiled right back as he raised his arm and squuezed off two shots from his 45 caliber pistol. Danilo literally jumped out of the moving triksiad and made a run for it. As the triksiad driver- against good judgement perhaps- pulled to the curb, he heard Danilo shout to the gunman who by now had dismounted from the motorcycle, "Unsa man ni bay!?" (Why are you doing this buddy?), lending even more creedence to the idea that Danilo knew his attacker. As Danilo reached the church steps his killer dropped him with yet another round and yet Danilo was still alive. Walking slowly up to him the gunman reached down, removed Danilo's holstered 45 pistol and then emptied its clip into Danilo, thereby killing him with his own gun. He then walked slowly over to the idling motorcycle, climbed onto the back, and disappeared into the night.

At the time of Danilo Santiago's killing just about everyone outside a narrow community within the security establishment bought into Leonicio Pitao and the NPA's claim that it had been MIG-11 that had killed Danilo. In the days following Danilo's burial his widow Mary Jean would suddenly recall that on the day he left with Sergeant Bitang, the handler had stood staring at Danilo's young children and had remarked in somber tones that it would have been a shame had Danilo not been able to watch his children grow up. The widow claims that at that moment she hadn't thought much of the remark and had even replied something to the effect that "yes, it is lucky for Danilo that you didn't have him executed before he approached your colleagues at Camp Panacan." Whether or not that exchange ever even took place, or, if it did, that it took place on the same evening of his death, the fact remains that Danilo Santiago was working as a spy, trying to reel in his brother and his brother's high ranking colleagues in the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. Although Pitao was aware of Danilo's occupation- indeed, Danilo had told him soon after taking it- Danilo may have been perceived to have played a role in recent tactical reversals. You canno serve two masters, one will always grow dangerously dissatisfied. The AFP had no reason to harm Danilo, he was fully compliant to a fault. The one entity that DID have a real motive was the NPA.

Indeed, on May 23rd, 2010, Leonicio Pitao had his sister Evelyn murdered (along with her common law husband Roberto Dadula) in their new hometown of Santo Tomas, in Davao del Norte Province. Although the NPA allowed everyone to point the finger at the AFP the NPA finally came clean and admitted that it had Evelyn killed. The reason? Her role as a Military Asset working against the NPA...just like Danilo Santiago had been.

In between the murder of both Leonicio Pitao's two siblings, an even more disturbing case transpired. Rebelyn Maasin Pitao had been cursed from birth. A girl named "Rebellion" (phonetically) will be challenged no matter what else happens in her life, and yet there was every reason to believe Rebelyn had triumphed over adversity as she approached her 21st birthday.

I will close this entry here and resume in "Part 2."

NPA Armed Contacts for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part I: Attack on Trento by Front 3 and Front 20

Charity Galvez grew up in the municipality of San Francisco, or as locals usually call it, San Franz, in the province of Agusan del Sur. Like most members of her Bisaya ethnicity, or those of means anyway, she was afforded a parochial education. In the late-1970s/early-1980s that meant boarding at Father Saturnino Urios College in Northeast Mindanao's largest population centre, Butuan City, in Agusan del Norte Province. Moving onto university Charity pursued, and gained, a degree in Education, realising her chilhood dream to teach and help others. Returning to her alma mater, Father Urios, Charity spent 8 years teaching young people.

Along the way Ms.Galvez ended up marrying her childhood sweetheart who had himself gained a job with the San Franz city government, ensuring that the town's municipal water supply remained safe and secure. With encouragement from her husband Ms.Galvez returned to university part time where she pursued a newly developed but avid interest in Criminology. By 2000 Charity had decided to change direction career wise and applied with the PNP, or Philippine National Police, hoping to be able to use her credentials in one capacity or another. In 2002 Ms. Galvez was given that chance when the PNP hired her as a technician and deployed her to the Agusan del Sur PPO, or Police Provincial Office in the provincial capital of Prosperidad.

By 2008 the highly determined woman wanted more and was able to take advantage of the PNP's Lateral Entry programme that affords PNP personnel the opportunity to laterally transfer departments while retaining accrued sniority and/or rank. This enabled Ms.Galvez to quickly rise to the PNP's second highest field rank, Inspector. Assigned to investigate criminal incidents throughout the province she was recognised as an able and dedicated officer. In April of 2011, just after returning to duty after giving birth the month before, she was named Chief of the Trento MPO, or Municipal Police Office. It was seen as a natural fit seeing as how the town of Trento sits immediately south of her hometown, San Franz.

Given a fifteen man garrison situated in the town's municipal compound in Barangay Poblacion she dove right into the thick of things by directing her force to construct fire positions throughout the compound, especially a large pile of tyres to the left of the MPO building, the compound's most vulnerable position. With an NPA attack on the Panabo City City Police Office having just taken place on March 20th Inspector Chief Galvez knew she needed to take a proactive stance. How much more so when on April 28th, just after having assumed command, another NPA attack against an MPO/CPO took place. Though the attack in the municipality of Lianga, in the adjoining province of Surigao del Sur had been unsuccessful, the first one, in nearby Panabo City, ended with the NPA overrunning that municipality's garrison resulting in the NPA capturing weapons and breaking morale. Moreover, that town's police force was decimated by PNP brass with noone suffering more than the Panabo City Chief of Police vis a vis the principle of Command Responsibility being first and foremost when the heads began to roll.

Hiring a yaya, or nanny, Chief Galvez began bringing her infant daughter (and yaya) to work where the three shared Chief Galvez's cramped corner office as a sort of home away from home. On July 30th, 2011 the three had once again settled in for a night's sleep. It had been an incredibly hectic day for Ms.Galvez. The Provincial Chief of Police had finally granted her long standing request for reinforcements and had deployed two teams from Agusan del Sur's PPSCs, or Police Public Safety Companies. The municipality's southern sectors were badly in need of men to handle the rampant illegal logging trade. Aside from the violence that goes hand in hand with any illicit trade the NPA had attacked a logging checkpoint in Trento's Barangay Pulang Lupa. Killing three men the guerillas also captured two police officers. Though the attack took place on February 1st, two months before Chief Galvez assumed command, it was a surefire reminder of the municipality - and her job's vulnerabilities.

At 330AM, July 31st, a police sentry noticed 3 Isuzu Forward trucks drive slowly into the centre of town and park at 3 strategic points. Recognising that something was wrong he alerted fellow officers but before any of them could take appropriate action M203 rifle grenades began hitting inside the compound. The 40 guerillas from Front 3 (Alejandro Lenaja Command, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee or SMRC) and Front 20 (Conrado Heredia Command, SMRC) had taken up positions around the compound's perimeter and in an unusual touch, employed an M60 whose massive rounds began pockmarking the facade of the station itself.

Awoken from her fitful sleep Inspector Chief Galvez quickly ushered her yaya and infant daughter into a small closet at the rear of her office. She then grabbed an M16 and attempted to take a position at the station's front door in between each massive barrage from the NPA's M60. Bolstered by the two PPSC teams that had been deployed to her garrison just the afternoon before Inspector Galvez was able to stave off the assault while only losing one man and two officers suffering only moderate wounds. The lone fatality, Salvador Ralla Jr. of Trento, was the station's gofer. Each MPO, or CPO in the case of cities, unofficially employs at least one local civilian as a general helper and an errand boy. Mr.Ralla was killed after engaging the attackers with an M16. Unable to overun the compound the NPA guerillas split into small groups and withdrew in different directions, in the trucks which were abandoned a short distance from the town centre. Then, still in 3 groups, the NPA withdrew into the Diwata Mountains towards the northeast.

The two wounded police officers, a PO1 with the newly deployed PPSC teams and a PO3 with the MPO were bundled into a PNP van and rushed north for the long 120 kilometer ride to Butuan City for treatment. However, as the van reached Manat Bridge, or Crossing Manat as it is known locally, an NPA detachment serving as a Blocking Force detonated an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, as in "bomb") in an ambush. The van was untouched by the explosion and quickly sped away unscathed, continuing on to Butuan City. Likewise, not long after an Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP truck from the 75IB (Infantry Battalion) ALSO averted catastrophe from a second IED detonation on the opposite end of the bridge as it rushed into Trento to reinforce the MPO. Like the first attempted ambush the latter incident failed to incur any casualties or damage.

Unfortunately, a second NPA detachment, part of an estimated 200 man force positioned strategically around the town's main entrances managed to launch a more successful ambush. Serving as a Blocking Force near that aforementioned logging checkpoint in Barangay Pulang Lupa, it ambushed a truck carrying CAFGU CAAs into town as reinforcements. CAFGU, or Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit is the cornerstone of the AFP's COIN, or Counterinsurgency programme. A military reserve unit under the command of a cadre battalion from the AFP, it is restricted to operating within a certain municipality wherein all soldiers serving in it reside. CAFGU soldiers are known as CAAs, or Civilian Active Auxiliaries. In this case the CAFGU detachment in question was from the adjoining municipality of Santa Josefa. As the truck carrying the CAAs sped through Pulang Lupa the NPA iniated a barrage of rifle fire that killed one CAA, Vergilio Perocho.

In clearing the town centre the 75IB recovered an abandoned utility van used by one of the NPA Blocking Force detachments, but nothing more. As usual the NPA managed to avoid hundreds of "pursuing" soldiers, police officers, and CAAs. The next day, August 1st, 2 gunshot victims entered Bislig District Hospital in Bislig City, in Surigao del Sur Province, nearly 90 kilometers from the Trento municipal compound. Bislig City's CPO arrested both men:

1) Sammy Calibayan, age 35, of Barangay La Fortuna in the municipality of Veruela, in Agusan del Sur Province

2) Ricky M. Salde, age 28, from the municipality of New Bataan in Compostela Valley, or Comval Province.

In a weak attempt to protect co-operating hospital personnel the PNP claims that a vigiliant civilian sent an SMS (text message) concerning the two gunshot victims. Taking both men from the hospital the officers transported the two suspects to CPO Headquarters where both reportedly admitted having taken part in the attack in Trento. Of course such admissions hold absolutely no value. To offer a tad bit of perspective, in a recent incident I will be posting about a bit later, a suspected Abu Sayyaf guerilla was nabbed by AFP Intelligence agents in Basilan Province. To gain HIS admission they chained him spread eagled and naked. Then using a 1 liter glass cola bottle they gave the man a gasoline enema. As if that wasn't enough they then used an oxy-acetylene torch on the suspect's genitals and face. Even worse, this took place BEFORE the encounter on Jolo Island that killed seven AFP Marines, two of whom were then decapitated. Again, an incident I will cover soon.

On Monday, August 8th, the PNP held its 110th Anniversary Celebration at its headquarters in Metro Manila's Camp Crame. Inspector Chief Galvez was on hand to join in the festivities. Indeed, she was the focal point of the celebration as President Aquino awarded her the PNP's highest decoration, the Medal for Bravery for "conspicuous courage and gallantry in action." In addition, while at the podium, the President turned to Secretary Jesse Robredo of the DILG and asked him why he hadn't also promoted Ms.Galvez. The DILG, or Department of the Interior and Local Government is the branch under which the PNP serves. By the end of the President's remarks Inspector Chief Galvez had evolved into Senior Inspector Chief Galvez, having obtained the PNP's highest field rank in just three years of actual service.

That same day, Monday, August 8th, the AFP began a major push against the NPA in and around Trento. Using two MG520 helicopter gunships with two Hueys on site the 75IB led the way. Unfortunately a corporal from the 26IB and a CAA from the Bagani Force were both killed:

1) Corporal Antonio Manser T.Morgadez, Cadre Officer, 26IB

2) CAA Ricky Lantong, Bagani Force, aged 40 and a resident of Barangay Kasapa in the municipality of La Paz in Agusan del Sur Province

The two fatalities took place at Sitio Kilometer 2 in the municipality of Loreto's Barangay Binocayan when a Bagani Force detachment under Datu Dario "Malampuson" Otaza with cadre officer Corporal Morgadez commanding stumbled across an NPA detachment from Front 34 (Davao-Agusan Command, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee, or NEMRC) at 7AM. The subsequent firefight lasted until 9AM and resumed again at 5PM after a second chance encounter before petering out just after 10PM that same night. The AFP has been proudly declaring that it killed 13 NPA guerillas between those two engagements but of course they haven't recovered a single body.

NPA Armed Contacts for the Second Quarter of 2011,Part II:Release of 2 Captured Soldiers and the Battle for a 200 Man Camp in Davao Region

Sunday,May 29,2011 was a day to remember for the families of 2 captured AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) soldiers.With little warning they found that their loved ones would finally be coming home after a difficult 45 days as"guests"of the NPA.On April 14 Corporal Delfin Largo Sarocam and Private First Class (PFC) Jayson Burgos Valenzuela of the 57IB (Infantry Battalion) were escorting a former Barangay Kagawad (Councillor) Eliory Lastimosa to a community forum to orient the community on the AFP's plans to deploy a PDT (Peace and Development Team,"Hearts and Minds"mechanism that serves as the cornerstone of the present Counterinsurgency (COIN) Programme,"Operational Plan-aka OPlan-Bayanihan") into the community.

As the 3 men entered the barangay in question,Datu Puas Inda,in the North Cotabato Provincial municipality of President Roxas,they came to an NPA checkpoint manned by 20 guerillas in Sitio Dalinding.Having been waiting especially for the 3 the guerillas quickly moved to divest the soldiers of their 45 caliber sidearms and then just as rapidly bundled them off into the jungle as prisoners of Front 53,the Herminio Alfonso Command (SMRC aka Southern Mindanao Regional Committee,1 of 5 NPA Regional Committees on Mindanao).Marched overland on foot they were initially taken to a Front 53 Camp in the neighbouring town of Arakan before later being transferred to Front 20,the Conrado Heredia Command,the custodial unit for the SMRC as a whole.

As has been the case for the last 3 years the capture was almost a non-event.These goings on have become oh so common place and downright predictable.Soldiers or police officers are held for up to 90 days during which the NPA engages in repetitive propaganda exercises and issues grandiose statements to the media about the Hague and the Geneva Conventions.Local politicians and Catholic clergymen participate in this almost surreal psychodrama as the poor families of these captured soldiers lay in bed crying,wondering whether or not they will ever see their husbands,sons and fathers again.Of course they will,it is already scripted but noone outside this very narrow mileu understands that.Indeed,even most within this small world couldn't care less and so it continues.

On April 28th the requisite POL (Proof of Life) was released to the powers that be.An audio tape of each captive telling their loved ones not to worry and that they are getting enough sleep and adequate food was passed out with the de riguer"They are treating me very well."In fact they should just mass produce these POLs and simply leave the names blank,filling them in as they go.The POL package included a photo of each prisoner holding up a recently dated local newspaper so as to verify the POL's currency.Both men asked the AFP to cease and desist in their Search and Rescue Operations.Not even AFP personnel want to be rescued by the AFP.The"shoot first and don't even bother asking questions ever"mentality is enough to make any non-suicidal person nervous.The only unusual aspect was Corporal Sarocam's request that the Iglesia ng Kristo (Church of Christ) negotiate for his release.

Not to be confused with the Western-based denomination"Church of Christ,"this denomination is a homegrown sect that imparts messianic qualities to its late founder.A very rich group,as well it should be since adherants must pay cash fines for every prayer meeting and Bible study they fail to attend (or even arrive late for).Obviously Sarocam is a member and the message is code for,"Pay my fuc*en' ransom FAST."The NPA,like any insurgent organisation is continuously strapped for cash.It isn't easy when you have to pay P45 ($1.05) per 5.56MM bullet when buying from your local IB CO (Commanding Officer).Hey,at 1 US a day combat per diem you can't blame the AFP,they have needs just like the rest of us.

Fast forward to May 29th,North Cotabato Provincial Vice Governor Gregorio Ipong and Catholic Church Negotiator Father Paul Paracha eagerly drove to Barangay Balite in the provincial municipality of Magpet to await directions from Fr.Paracha's NPA contact on where to retrieve the 2 soldiers.Upon entering the barangay they were directed by cell phone to the outlying sitio of Laquiahon where the NPA had prepared its usual circle jer* of a love fest,everyone smiling for the cameras,assigned seats for local politicos and Church"leaders."The 2 soldiers then joined the priest and Vice Governor for the long drive to Kidapawan City in South Cotabato Province where they were reunited with their families at Bishop Romulo de la Cruz's Official Residence in Barangay Balindog.The Kidapawan Diocese needed to get its money's worth of publicity having had to shell out a pretty penny for PFC.Valenzuela's ransom.

On the same day that Valenzuela and Sarocam were enjoying a very brief respite before IS-AFP (AFP Intelligence Service) Debriefing began,their compatriots were busy elsewhere on the island.

The Scout Rangers 2nd Battalion,6th COY (Company) on a Recon (Reconnaisance Op) in the municipality of Cateel in Davao Oriental Province stumbled across a column of NPA guerillas from the aforementioned Front 20 and the 30 minute firefight led to the AFP rushing blindly through the dense jungle in a rarely launched Hot Pursuit Operation (despite the claims of the AFP to undertake such operations under its SOP,or Standard Operating Procedure).Why do it then?As I noted earlier in this entry Front 20,the Conrado Heredia Command,is the custodial unit of that particular NPA Regional Command,SMRC (Southern Mindanao Regional Committee).Though both captured soldiers had already been released in North Cotabato Province the AFP doesn't immediately relay these facts to its field units.The 6th Scout Ranger COY saw an opportunity to earn accolades by"rescuing"2 of their comrades in arms.

How did our fearless defenders of the Philippines aim to conduct their"Rescue Op"?Discovering a huge 200 man camp in the middle of densely packed jungle in Barangay Aliwagwag's Sitio Carampel (Karimpel) the 40 Scouts,under Capt.Aunor Balansi crawled on their bellies to within 30 meters of the camp's outlying bunkers.Setting up a loose perimeter (think of a noose,opened at one end so as to allow a clear avenue of escape).The camp also housed Front 25,the SMRC's Regional Operations Command and also served as a logistical hub for SMRC Fronts at the northern end of the SMRC's area of operations.Therefore,as luck would have it,members of Front 15,the Antonio Nerio Command were also on site.

The AFP's official narrative claims that its men crawled on their bellies to within 30 meters of the camp's large bunkers.This is not the usual AFP way in which to launch an attack but the locale is so deeply forested as to be inaccessible even to fast roping infiltration by helicopters (as IF the AFP EVER does THAT),meaning it is incredibly thickly covered with rain forest flora.So,the 30 meters bit is absolutely believable.Likewise so is the AFP boast that they opened fire on what would have been unarmed guerillas.However,to assault a 200 man camp under the element of full suprise and still fail to retrieve a single captured prisoner or even a single KIA (Killed in Action,as in dead guerillas) just defies belief.

The usual AFP "assault"involves an opened perimeter.As I noted just above,picture an open noose,laid around a camp.Now,if you are a capable officer you deploy a Blocking Force along that open end of the"noose"which serves as an avenue of escape,if not actually tying the noose shut to prevent any escape to begin with.The Blocking Force serves to mop up those guerillas rushing headlong out of the camp hoping to avoid capture or annihilation.Imagine 200 dead or captured guerillas?What a coup that would be for the AFP.In reality the AFP almost always leaves a clear avenue for escape sans Blocking Force.The camp is the prize,not its personnel.

To show you how worthless the AFP mindset is,that very same camp had been captured in June of 2010.

The 25IB had been on a Search and Rescue Op for...deja vu...2 captured AFP soldiers:

1) Staff Sergeant Bienvenido Arguelles

2) CAFGU Job Latiban

who like the soldiers mentioned at the beginning of my post had been captured at an NPA checkpoint in ComVal's (Compostela Valley Province) Monkayo,a town immediately adjacent to Cateel despite the provincial border.In that"assault"a 30 minute firefight ended with Front 20,Front 25 and Front 3,the Alejandro Lanaja Command,escaping down that requisite unmolested avenue.

In the May 29th"capture"the AFP was able to claim an actual victory in the caprure of 5 rifles:two M16s,two M14s and one M4.The June,27,2010 capture resulted in 4 IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices,as in homemade bombs) and 6 rifles whose make and variation I noted in the NPA Armed Contact/Tactical Offence entry for the relevant time period.This latest camp"capture"resulted in 3 AFP WIAs (Wounded in Actions) though the NPA is ALSO claiming to have killed 8 men there as well,including 2 junior officers.

In terms of NPA casualties there were 2 guerilla KIAs and 4 WIAs,3 of which are extremely critical.Interestingly the Front 20 contact person contacted everybody's favourite mass murderer,Vice Mayor Rodrigo"Roddy"Duterte and asked him for assistance in saving the lives of those 3 critically injured insurgents.As I noted recently Duterte long ago entered into a working relationship with the NPA's Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao in which Duterte"sold"him the right to operate in 4 of the city's outlying districts.

The 3 wounded guerillas:

1) Jason"Ka Jerome"Casilum,of Davao City's Calinan District

2) Ariel"Ka Diwa"Haducala,of Dinagat Island which may or may not be a province of its own depending upon the day you read this.If it isn't it will still be Surigao del Norte Province.The Supreme Court can't make up its mind on the issue.

3) Vanessa"Ka Enching"Tropico de los Reyes,also of Calinan District,Davao City

were retrieved on Wednesday,June 1st by a Davao City helicopter in which Duterte personally rode shotgun (the same copter which he openly brags about having used it to drop people head first into the ocean).The 3 were then airlifted to Davao City where Duterte has personally vowed to protect them from apprehension (hope his vow means more than it did this past Christmas when it led to Edwin Brigano's capture).The 3,along with the 4th wounded guerilla were originally taken to an NPA-friendly hospital in Bislig,Surigao del Sur Province.Virtually all NPA-friendly hospitals are in deplorable condition so that Front 20 Secretary,known by the nom de guerre"Ka Jess,"felt compelled to call in a big favour to Vice Mayor Duterte.This would never have happened had the female guerilla,Ms.de los Reyes not been Ka Jess' lover.Sadly she is now parapelgic since a bullet severed her spinal cord.She also lost 1 kidney so that her condition is extremely grave.Her shocked mother believed her daughter had been teaching Political Science at a public university in Davao City,suprise...suprise...suprise.

Touching down at 3AM on June 2nd the 3 were rushed to Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City where they remain as of this posting.

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.

The NPA Continues to Spread its Xmas Cheer

In my previous post I had gone into great detail about the jump starting of the decades old GRP-NDF Peace Process as well as a very brief description of a single NPA tactical offencive that took place 4 days ago in Davao City. Of course that 1 incident is only 1 of many armed engagements involving the NPA here in Mindanao so I thought it prudent to give a more in depth accounting of the latest NPA armed engagements.


As I had discussed in my previous post, Friday night, December 10, 2010 saw the NPA's Merardo Arce Command confound the 10ID (Infantry Division) with a full infiltration of the Barangay Mapula CAFGU (Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit, an official paramilitary geographically linked to a specific municipality) in Davao City's Paquibato District. The NPA was able to do so without firing a single shot owing to the very experienced planning and execution of the operational commander. Leonicio "Ka Parago" Pitao personally led an element of his 1st Pulang Bagani Company, all of them dressed in AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) uniforms captured during previous armed contacts with the AFP.

Travelling to Mapula they abducted the Barangay Captain and a local datu (tribal chief) before the group set out for the CAFGU post.Like a typical CAFGU post anywhere in the nation on a Friday night the Mapula post had a skeleton crew on duty, 9 CAFGU soldiers and the detachment CO (Commanding Officer) ,an AFP NCO (Non Commisioned Officer) , Cpl.Fresilo Dosel of the 72IB (Infantry Battalion). As soon as the detachment realised that their friendly visitors were not AFP regulars but rather Maoist guerillas 8 of the 9 abandoned their post after throwing their rifles down and running away. Capturing the CO's M14 and the detachment's 9 M1s (vintage Garands) and taking the 1 CAFGU soldier and the AFP NCO hostage the group left. After travelling out of Paquibato District all 4 captives were released unharmed.

December 07, 2010, the same day that the annual Xmas Ceasefire was unilaterally announced by the NPA, in Purok #9, Barangay Pasian, Monkayo, ComVal (Compostela Valley Province), the 25IB
(Infantry Battalion) was on patrol when it stumbled onto a temporary encampment of 10 guerillas from the NPA's Front 3 (Alejandro Lanaja Command) inside an abandoned nipa (thatched hut, most common form of housing in the Philippines). After a brief but extremely intence fire fight 6 guerillas withdrew leaving behind 4 mates. 3 were dead but the 4th, Lea "Ka Tanya" Palma Gil from Mati, Davao Oriental Province had taken a round in her right thigh leaving her unable to move. The 25IB radioed in for a Medevac (helicopter evacuation for advanced medical treatment) to transport the young lady to Camp Panacan Hospital at 10ID (Infantry Division) HQ in Davao City. Unfortunately the bullet severed an artery and 20 minutes into the 25 minute flight Palma Gil died. In addition to the 4 dead guerillas rifles, all M16s, 3 of their fleeing comrades had abandoned theirs as well, for a total of 7 rifles captured by the AFP in that short engagement: 5 M16s, 1 M14 and 1 M1 (vintage Garand). Also captured were 2 IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices, aka "bombs").

On December 05, 2010 in Barangay Tandik, Maragusan, ComVal, the NPA's Front 27 ambushed a column from the Scout Rangers 2nd Battalion while the latter was on patrol but the NPA took the worst of it with 1 guerilla killed and his M16 captured by the AFP. The dead guerilla, Juanito "Ka JunJun" Bustamente was from Sitio Patalangon, Barangay Zone #1, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province. The young man was an assistant on a jeepney but when the vehicle's owner sold it in the Spring of 2010 Bustamente told his family he was going to try to find work in Manila. Instead he ended up as a bamboo harvester in ComVal. Starting that difficult job in late June, by August, 2010 he had become an NPA regular... little more than 60 days later he was dead.

On November 30, 2010 in Barangay Paloc, Maragusan, the NPA's Front 27 (Rhyme Petalcorin Command) ambushed a 50 man column of the Scout Rangers 5th Company with 3 simaltaneously detonated IEDs. 5 Scout Rangers were killed, 10 were wounded, 6 critically.The NPA lost 1 guerilla, known by his nom de guerre, "Ka Boogie,"


On November 25, 2010 in Barangay Hagpa, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon Province the family of a recently killed guerilla from the NPA's Julito Tiro Command were inexplicably denied permission by the 8IB to disinter the grave if their loved one, Joel "Ka Toto" Compas of Barangay Bangbang, Medina, Misamis Oriental
despite representatives from the ICRC (Red Cross) accompanying them. The family wished to re-bury Compas in his hometown but the 8IB citing security concerns in an NPA influenced barangay refused to issue a Safe Passage Permi to the party. Such permits are part of the SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) and allow bearers to circumvent AFP/CAFGU/PNP checkpoints unmolested. Usually the AFP will agree to provide an armed security detail or else disinter the remains themselves and deliver them to a nearby funeral home. For some reason known only to the 8IB CMO (Civil Military Officer) this family was told to let their loved one rot in a shallow grave in an expanse of hinterland junfle.

On November 19, 2010 in that same previous barangay, Hagpa, in Impasug-on in Bukidnon Province, as a composite force from the 8 and 29IBs conducted ground operations against the NPA, a series if 105MM shells slammed into Bundok Talundanan in Sitio Bagong Silang. Talundanan is a Higaon-an and Pulangiyen Tribal holysite. Perhaps the 8IB's denial of passage to the ICRC 6 days later had a bit to do with negligently fired artillery shells...

November 16, 2010, in Sitio Membanta, Barangay Upper Ulip, Monkayo, in ComVal, Cpl.Daiem Amsali Hadjaie of the 25IB left his camp on his motorcycle en route to Camp Panacan Hospital in Davao City seeking treatment for abdominal cramping and a possibly unrelated skin condition. Minutes later he came across an NPA checkpoint implemented by Front 20 (Conrado Heredia Commamd). This time the NPA bit off more than their pouty little mouths could chew, Cpl.Hadjaie's abduction was a propagandist's nightmare. Not only was the 25 year old NCO ill, his wife was 8 and a half months pregnant and waiting for him in Camp Panacan. Going from bad to worse, Hadjaie is a Tausug Tribesmen, a Muslim. This by itself would be a major headache because of the risk in alienating other insurgent movements. The cherry on top was that the day in question was a Muslim holiday.

Both the MILF and MNLF quickly went to bat for the NCO which is as hypocritical as it gets seeing as how both those insurgencies kill AFP soldiers regardless of their tribal or religious allegiances. In any event Hadjaie was released to Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City on November 28.


That same day in Barangay Limot, Luuk, ComVal, Bagani (tribal paramilitary sancrioned by the AFP but officially denied so as to avoid culpability when these poorly trained soldiers run amok) soldier under Kumander (CO) Isagani Carmelotes and based in Sitio Logom, Barangay Pagwas lured 2 local NPA regulars," Ka Jeffrey" and "Ka Iso," to the home of a 2nd Bagani soldier.The 2 guerillas were tortured and then had their limbs hacked off while still alive, before they bled to death. Isgani then personally surrendered the 2 guerillas' M16s to the post manned by 26IB's C COY (Company C) in Barangay Del Monte, Veruela, Agusan del Sur Province. The 2 dead NPA guerillas had been part of the detachment from Front 3 that had ambushed a composite AFP detachment from 26IB, 3rd Special Forces (Airborne) Battalion and Isgani's Bagani Company just days earlier.



November 10, 2010 in Barangay Upper Bala, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur Province, a detachment from the NPA's Valentin Palamine Command disarmed that barangay's CVO (Civilian Volunteer Auxiliary, the PNP equivalent of the AFP's CAFGU though almost always only found in Muslim areas). The NPA captured 2 M1s (Garands), 7 pump shotguns and a single 9MM pistols. The disarmament took place without a single shot being fired.

Lest anyone imagine the NPA to somehow be morally superior after reading my synopsis of the Bagani soldiers gruesome killing of 2 NPA guerillas in ComVal...

On November 02, 2010 in Sitio Bango, Barangay Ngan in the town of Compostela, in ComVal, offduty CAFGU soldier Albert Meniza was enjoying a rare quiet night off with his family when 3 female NPA guerillas kicked in his door, tied his arms behind his back and frog marched him into the jungle. Reaching a clearing hours later he was tied to a tree. Shortly there after a detachment from the Merardo Arce Command's Pulang Bagani Company 4 under "Ka Jason" entered the clearing. After interrogating Meniza Ka Jason warned him that he had until December 01 to withdraw his CAFGU commission or he and his family would be killed.

On October 29, 2010 in Barabgay Langgawesan, Maragusan, ComVal, 2 off duty CAFGU soldiers, Rey Ciba and Panpilo Lupogan were both at home with their families when a group of NPA guerillas entered each home and tied their arms behind their backs. Prodding them with the stocks of their rifles they were marched to the home of Junior Lagungan of that barangay's Sitio Hanginan. Waiting inside the home was a female guerilla who identified herself as "Ka Jen Jen" who ordered both soldiers to resign their CAFGU commissions immediately lest she execute a 3rd CAFGU soldier from their detachment as a "lesson,"