DAVAO CITY — The Lorenzo family-owned Lapanday Foods Corp. (LFC) has decided not to revive its plant for packaging materials located here, which was burned down by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on April 29.
Jun 142017
Mar 222014
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has raised the alarm on possible hostilities by the New People’s Army as the Communist Party of the Philippines’ armed wing approaches its founding anniversary, a military official said on Saturday. In a text message to GMA News Online, Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said they have intensified “combat operations in all areas of interest against [the communist rebels] to prevent them from launching attacks and for [government troops] to dictate on the momentum of the focused military operations.” “This increase of operational tempo is inherent in every command as we deny the enemy from their terroristic acts against our people,” he added. Last week, at least four suspected NPA rebels, two of whom are allegedly high-ranking officers, were captured by the military after a firefight in Sorsogon. Captain Bethany Cadungan, spokesperson for the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade, said Elias Florentino Pura, Rodrigo Lasar, William Doroja, and one alias “Ino” were captured after around 10 minutes of fighting. Lt. Col. Medel Aguilar, 9th Infantry Division spokesman, said Pura surrendered and yielded an M653 baby armalite rifle. The military also seized a cal. 45 pistol, two improvised explosive devices, a hand grenade, a laptop, and backpacks containing personal belongings. Pura is the secretary of Larangan 1, Komprob (Komiteng Probinsya) Sorsogon while Ino is the finance officer of the NPA in Sorsogon, the military said. He is also reportedly the finance officer of the Bicol regional party committee. Colonel Joselito Kakilala, commander of Read More …
Jun 172013
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Despite a report saying that the New People’s Army (NPA) has lost hope in ever forging peace with the government due to certain violations, a Palace spokesperson on Monday remained adamant that the government has done all it can to forge peace. “We would like to have a peace agreement with them but […]
Jun 172013
By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 6:28 pm | Monday, June 17th, 2013 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Some 26 children were recruited as soldiers, messengers and informants in conflict zones while dozens of other minors were slain and maimed in militant attacks and gunfights in the Philippines last year, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said in a report. In the report “Grave violations committed against children in 22 situations of concern” released on June 12, Ban expressed concern over the use of children as operatives, informants and messengers in conflict areas, recruited by terror groups, militant organizations and even state agents. The report specified the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Philippine military as those involved in using children in their operations. “During the reporting period, the country task force recorded 11 incidents of recruitment and use of children, involving 23 boys and 3 girls between 12 and 17 years of age,” read Ban’s report, which the UN publicly released last week but was first reported to the UN Security Council on May 15. Culled by a UN country task force, the confirmed cases represent a decrease in child involvement in conflict but the world body remained concerned that minors are at all involved. “That figure represents a decrease in 2012, given that there were 26 incidents affecting 33 Read More …
Jun 162013
A total of 26 child “soldiers” were recruited by various armed groups in the Philippines, including the military, in 2012, a report by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. The 26 children—23 boys and three girls between 12 and 17 years—were recruited in 11 separate incidents, according to the report released on June 12 titled “Grave Violations Committed Against Children in 22 Situations of Concern.” Of the number, two were reportedly recruited and used by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), 11 by the New People’s Army (NPA), 11 by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and two who were used as “guides” by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in locating an enemy camp. While the number remains considerably high, child soldier recruitment has seen a decrease from the previous year, Moon noted in the report. “That figure represents a decrease in 2012, given that there were 54 incidents affecting 33 boys and 21 girls in 2011,” he said. But Moon said the actual number of children soldiers in the country may in fact be higher, owing to the reality that the UN has no access to other armed groups, including the MILF splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). “Although the United Nations has no access to the areas under the control of the BIFF, a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front led by Commander ‘Kato’, the country task force continued to receive credible reports that the armed group was actively training and providing weapons to Read More …
May 212013
KIDAPAWAN CITY — The New Peoples’ Army released unharmed on Tuesday in Makilala, North Cotabato the six drivers of rented cars the rebels commandeered and used to raid a security agency in Tagum City, Davao Oriental. Senior Inspector Joyce Birrey, chief of Makilala Police, identified the freed drivers as: Armando Woamil of Davao City, driver of beige Mercedez Benz (LXB 686); Orbil Bacaro of Ma-a, Davao City and driver of red Montero Sports (LGC 129); Reynaldo Pedere of Talomo, Davao City, driver of silver Toyota Grandia (LGY 732); Hashim Moalid of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, driver of green Hi-Ace Toyota van; Schmidt Apat of Matina, Davao City, driver of black Hyundai Starex (KCP 166); and Danilo Tamayo of General Santos City, driver of gold Toyota Innova (ZCX 871). The drivers told Birrey they were held for one day in a nipa hut in Purok Nangka, Barangay New Bulatucan, about two kilometers away from the national highway. A total of 20 fully-armed NPA rebels were detailed to watch them, the drivers said. Pedere, driver of Toyota Grandia van, said the rebels did not hurt them and provided them with food and water. Also Pedere said that before they were abducted, a woman who introduced herself as a wife of a foreigner contacted him through the internet and hired him to fetch the foreigner who had stayed for a vacation in Barangay New Israel in Makilala town and bring him to the Davao International Airport. The other drivers said they were also hired Read More …
Apr 302013
Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisma on Tuesday cautioned voters against voting for politicians who pay rebel groups money in exchange for the right to campaign peacefully, saying that these candidates, if elected, might squander government funds. “Actually, yung politician pag alam natin na nagbibigay sa kaaway ng gobyerno, bakit natin iboboto? Baka ipamigay lahat ng resources natin. So that is a signal for us citizens na huwag natin silang iboto,” Purisima told reporters in a chance interview following a press conference at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame. The Department of Interior and Local Government also called on candidates to refrain from giving in to demands of rebel groups, particularly the National People’s Army, which has been known to extort what are called “permit to campaign” and “permit to win” fees from candidates. “Patuloy na mungkahi namin na huwag magbigay ng pera o kahit anong halaga dahil ito’y magpapalakas lang sa mga grupong ito, at maaring ipangbili pa nila ng bala ang perang makukuha para gamitin against government forces,” Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II said in the press conference. A Visayas-based army general on Sunday said that half of the candidates in his area have given in to the NPA’s extortion demands. Hands tied However, Purisima admitted that legally the hands of the PNP are tied, as there is no case to be filed against those who willingly give protection money to rebel groups. “Hindi kasi kaso yung pagbibigay. Ang kaso, pag magreklamo sila ng extortion,” Purisima said. Roxas Read More …
Apr 252013
Following the Comelec’s decision to place Misamis Oriental on its list of areas of immediate concern, Comelec Commissioner Sixto Brillantes on Thursday revealed that at least six more provinces had also been put on the list. “Oo, may nadagdag,” Brillantes said in a joint press conference with the Philippine National Police and the National Telecommunications Commission in Camp Crame. He refused to reveal which provinces were being closely watched, but assured the public that police presence will be intensified in those areas. Earlier, Comelec declared 15 provinces were being monitored, similar to the list prepared by the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Brillantes revealed that the 15 areas were historically where election-related crimes have taken place. Misamis Oriental was elevated to an area of immediate concern last Tuesday following the ambush on Gingoong Mayor Ruth Guingona over the weekend. “Pag sabihin nating Masbate, Sulu, alam natin yan are always areas of concern. Dahil inambush yung Mayor [sa Gingoog] naging area of immediate concern, magpadala ka ng augmentation group,” Brillantes said., The New People’s Army has since claimed responsibility for the attack, an additional reason why the Comelec elevated it to an area of immediate concern. “NPA ito, proof of harm. Hindi ‘to away ng politiko. Inamin nila, eh,” Brillantes said. The Commissioner also reminded the media that the Comelec has abolished the use of the term “hotspots”. This has been replace with the four degrees of areas of concerns: area of concern, area of immediate concern, area Read More …