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Top NPA terrorist leader in Caraga dead after failed attack
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, July 29 -- The Communist New People's Army Terrorists' (CNTs') failed attempt to burn the newly-constructed Department of Education (DepEd) Indigenous People's school,.....»»
700 Syrians caught trying to enter Lebanon in a week: army
The Lebanese army turned away around 700 Syrians attempting to cross into the neighboring country illegally over the past week, the armed forces said in a statement on Wednesday. The attempted influx coincides with days of rare protest in Syria's southern city of Sweida, as dire living conditions stoke discontent in regime-held areas. Millions of Syrians have already fled abroad since Syria's war began in 2011 following the government's repression of peaceful pro-democracy protests. Lebanon's army "prevented, over several days this past week, about 700 Syrians from crossing the Lebanese-Syrian border," the Lebanese armed forces statement said. A security official told AFP that deteriorating economic conditions in Syria had pushed more people to flee their homeland, with many hoping to reach Europe. The official couldn't give data to illustrate the increase, and it was not clear where along the border the migrants were blocked. Syrians are fleeing "because of the economic situation because the Syrian pound has further collapsed," he said, on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to speak to the press. Syria's 12-year conflict has ravaged the country's infrastructure and industry, the Syrian pound has lost most of its value against the dollar, and most of the population has been pushed into poverty. "Some hope to find work here in Lebanon, but many are hoping to flee to Europe," the source added. The protests by hundreds in Syria erupted after the government lifted fuel subsidies last week, dealing a blow to people already struggling with the war's heavy economic toll. On 12 August, Lebanon's army said it arrested 134 migrants, most of them Syrians, near the northern border with Syria after foiling their attempt to take a boat to Europe. The same day, the armed forces said they had arrested 150 Syrians who had crossed into Lebanon illegally in the same province of Akkar. Lebanon's own economic collapse has turned it into a launchpad for migrants. Lebanese are joining Syrian and Palestinian refugees clamoring to leave by taking dangerous sea routes. Authorities say Lebanon currently hosts around two million Syrians, while more than 800,000 are registered with the United Nations -- the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Migrants departing from Lebanon head for Europe, with one of the main destinations Cyprus, only 175 kilometres (110 miles) away. Syria's war has killed more than half a million people and forced around half the country's pre-war population from their homes. The post 700 Syrians caught trying to enter Lebanon in a week: army appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Wildfire destroys Hawaii town, kills 36
A wildfire fanned by strong winds from a typhoon off the coast of Hawaii’s Maui island destroyed a tourist town, killed at least 36 people and cut power affecting 13,000 people, officials said on Wednesday. “As the firefighting efforts continue, 36 total fatalities have been discovered today amid the active Lahaina fire,” the Maui county government said in a statement. Residents of Lahaina trapped by the fast-moving fire were forced to jump into the ocean to escape death. “People are jumping into the water to avoid the fire,” United States Army Major General Kenneth Hara, the state adjutant general, told Hawaii News Now. The Coast Guard said it had “successfully rescued 12 individuals from the waters off Lahaina” and it was sending other vessels to Maui. Hara said strong winds had prevented helicopters from being used to carry out rescues or fight the fires. Lahaina resident Claire Kent said that homeless people and people without access to vehicles seemed to have been trapped in the town. Kent also said power and cell phone coverage had been knocked out Tuesday. Emergency services were overwhelmed by the blaze that appeared to have erupted almost without warning. “911 is down. Cell service is down. Phone service is down,” Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke told CNN. “Much of Lahaina on Maui has been destroyed and hundreds of local families have been displaced,” Governor Josh Green said. Chrissy Lovitt told the outlet every boat in Lahaina Harbor had burned. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen told a press conference that Maui’s hospital “was overburdened with burn patients, people suffering from inhalation.” A video posted on social media showed blazes tearing through the heart of the beachfront town and sending up huge plumes of black smoke. WITH AFP The post Wildfire destroys Hawaii town, kills 36 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russia strikes Odesa cathedral, Putin dismisses counteroffensive
Russia's latest strike on Odesa on Sunday killed two people and severely damaged a historic Orthodox cathedral, drawing a vow of retaliation from Ukraine's leader. The attack came as President Vladimir Putin met his Belarusian counterpart for talks in Russia and claimed Kyiv's counteroffensive had "failed". Russia has pounded the Ukrainian port city of Odesa since quitting the Black Sea grain deal last week. Locals watched in disbelief as the Transfiguration Cathedral -- originally built in 1794 under imperial Russian rule -- was hit. The biggest Orthodox church in Odesa lies within the UNESCO-protected historic city center. UNESCO condemned the "brazen" attack, which hit several sites in the World Heritage area, marking "an escalation of violence against (the) cultural heritage of Ukraine", according to UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay. Clergymen rescued icons from rubble inside the badly damaged shrine, which was demolished under Stalin in 1936 and rebuilt in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The culture ministry said it had so far identified damage to 29 monuments of important cultural heritage. The Ukrainian government condemned the cathedral strike as a "war crime", saying it had been "destroyed twice: by Stalin and Putin". President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed retaliation: "They will definitely feel this," he said. "We cannot allow people around the world to get used to terrorist attacks," Zelensky added in his evening speech late on Sunday. "The target of all these missiles is not just cities, villages or people. Their target is humanity and the foundations of our entire European culture." Icons pulled from rubble Images showed smashed mosaics on the cathedral floor as workers cleared the rubble. The outside of the building appeared intact. "There was a direct hit to the cathedral," said Father Myroslav, the assistant rector, adding that three altars were ruined. Icons were pulled out from under the rubble and the shrine was "very badly damaged inside", with "only the bell tower intact", he added. Clergymen said a security guard and a priest getting ready for a morning liturgy were inside during the attack but both survived. Russia blamed the cathedral damage on Ukrainian air defense. It said it had hit all its intended targets in the Odesa strike, claiming the sites were being used to prepare "terrorist acts" against Russia. But local people said Russia had hit residential areas. "We have ordinary residential buildings here, where people live," a woman who owns a beauty salon nearby, Tetiana, told AFP. "There are no military facilities here. Just simple beauty salons, a marine agency, a groomer. Nothing military here at all." Russia launched a wave of attacks on the Black Sea port this week, after exiting a deal between Moscow, Kyiv, Istanbul and the UN allowing the safe passage of cargo ships. Ukraine has vowed to find a way to continue exports from the ports and said Sunday repeated Russian strikes on Odesa this week were an attempt to "prevent and neutralise international efforts to restore the functioning of the "grain corridor." Putin meets Lukashenko As Odesa cleared rubble from the Russian strikes, Putin hosted his closest ally, Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, in his native city of Saint Petersburg -- their first meeting since Minsk helped end a revolt by Russia's Wagner force. Both leaders were dismissive of the Ukrainian counteroffensive to take back land captured by Russia. "There is no counteroffensive," Lukashenko said at the meeting, before being interrupted by Putin: "There is one, but it has failed." The Belarus strongman now hosts Wagner fighters on his territory, after brokering a deal that convinced its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin to end a march on Moscow and exile himself to Belarus. "We are controlling what is happening (with Wagner)," he said, thanking Putin for vowing to defend Belarus should it be attacked. Wagner's presence in Belarus has rattled EU and NATO member Poland, which has strengthened its border. On Sunday, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said a new battalion of sappers would be formed in the country's northeast. Polish, US, British, Romanian and Croatian soldiers were training "shoulder to shoulder", he said, during a visit to the northeastern city of Augustow. The comments came two days after Putin said western Poland was a "gift" from Stalin at the end of World War II, when victorious allies decided on the contours of post-war Europe. Warsaw summoned the Russian ambassador over the remarks. Both Putin and Lukashenko also accused Warsaw of having territorial ambitions on Ukraine and Belarus. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded quickly on Twitter. "Putin's attempts to drive a wedge between Kyiv and Warsaw are as futile as his failing invasion of Ukraine," he wrote. "Unlike Russia, Poland and Ukraine have learned from history and will always stand united against Russian imperialism and disrespect for international law." Fighting in Ukraine continued Sunday, with Russia launching 17 cruise missiles and two ballistic missiles, according to the Ukraine army. The post Russia strikes Odesa cathedral, Putin dismisses counteroffensive appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Militant groups converge early in Commonwealth
Militant groups and left-leaning organizations like Bayan Muna converged early in the Philcoa area, the start of a long stretch of Commonwealth Avenue, in Quezon City, hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver his second State Of the Nation Address in Congress. From the labor sector, peasants, and health workers, the group claimed that the continuing high prices of basic commodities will add to their burden in coping to live their daily lives. They brought with them an effigy, depicting Marcos' with a double face, a symbol that the group said is what really the President is doing to them. They vowed to burn it just in time for the SONA. Quezon City Police District Director, P/Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III on the other hand said the rallyists may face violations of the Clean Air Act if they insist on doing it. From Philcoa, the group, estimated to balloon to hundreds at around 9:00 a.m., march towards the Commission on Human Rights. This is an attempt to test the QCPD, if it will allow them to get closer to the Batasan Pambansa complex later in the day. Torre, however, told the Daily Tribune, that they will not allow the militant rallyists to get near, even the road to Batasan. "There's is another group holding their own program besides the Sandigan Bayan. This is pro-administration, and we will not allow the other group to get near them to prevent any untoward incident," Torre said. He added that most of his men are strategically positioned under the Luzon flyover to prevent the rallyists from getting near the Batasan Road. The post Militant groups converge early in Commonwealth appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Thai reformist Pita’s PM bid crashes on establishment opposition
Thai reformist leader Pita Limjaroenrat's bid to become prime minister ended Wednesday, despite his party winning the most votes in May elections, after the military and pro-royalist establishment blocked his bid for power. Pita's Move Forward Party (MFP) has ridden high on the support of young and urban Thais frustrated by nearly a decade of army-backed rule, but its efforts to form a government have stumbled. The 42-year-old was dramatically suspended from parliament while seated in the chamber for discussions on his candidacy, which came to an end when lawmakers voted to refuse considering him for a second ballot. "I would like to say goodbye until we meet again," he said, raising his fist as he left the assembly floor to the cheers of party allies. Pita's suspension came when Thailand's Constitutional Court said it would proceed with a case that could see the leader disqualified from parliament altogether for owning shares in a media company. Lawmakers are forbidden from doing so under Thailand's constitution, though the television station in question has not broadcast since 2007. Pita, Harvard-educated and wealthy from a family-run agrifood business, has said the shares were inherited from his father. He has 15 days to respond to the case. After he left the parliament, lawmakers voted by a large margin to rule that he could not be considered for the post a second time. "Pita can't be nominated twice in this parliamentary session," speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha said, over howls of protest from within the chamber, immediately before the day's proceedings were called to an end. Dozens of supporters cried and shouted abuse at a large riot police cordon guarding the gates of parliament after news of Pita's suspension broke. "Why even ask people to go to the polls?" one protester, who did not give his name, told AFP. Protesters began gathering in the evening for a public rally near Bangkok's Democracy Monument and police said they were prepared for any unrest. "No matter what their opinions are, they need to follow rules and orders set by the police," said Archayon Kraithong, a spokesman for the Royal Thai Police. Roadblocks Pita's first tilt at the premiership failed when he fell dozens of votes short of the required support in a joint parliamentary sitting. Thailand's senate is stacked with military appointees, with only 13 of 249 serving senators voting for Pita last week. Other roadblocks have been thrown in front of his Pita's candidacy. The court has also agreed to hear a case alleging that MFP's campaign promise to amend Thailand's royal defamation law is tantamount to a plan to "overthrow" the constitutional monarchy. Pita's party has refused to compromise on its pledge to revise the law, which can allow convicted critics of the monarchy to be jailed for up to 15 years. The MFP's reformist platform also poses a threat to family-owned business monopolies that play an outsized role in the kingdom's economy. The Constitutional Court has intervened in Thai politics before. The billionaire leader of MFP's predecessor party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, was disqualified as an MP in 2019 after falling afoul of the same shareholding rule. Compromise candidate Pita has vowed to step aside to make way for another party to form a government if his second attempt fails. The coalition backing him is expected to fall in line behind property tycoon Srettha Thavisin, potentially relegating MFP to serve in opposition. Srettha's Pheu Thai party is seen as a vehicle for the Shinawatra political clan, whose members include two former prime ministers ousted by military coups in 2006 and 2014. But as a successful entrepreneur liked by fellow business leaders, the 60-year-old is seen as a potential compromise acceptable to the Thai elite. Prawit Wongsuwan, 77, a former Thai army chief who served as number two in the junta that took power in 2014, has also been floated as a candidate by parliament's military bloc. Thai voters roundly rejected army-backed parties in May's election. Political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak told AFP the prospect of a military presence in the next government could spark a backlash in a country that is no stranger to political unrest. The post Thai reformist Pita’s PM bid crashes on establishment opposition appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Mindanao marines relieve Palawan battalion
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Battle-tested marines relieving their colleagues in Palawan will be tasked to keep the island free from insurgents. Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the commander of Western Command, Col. Antonio Mangoroban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade, other military officials and stakeholders welcomed the Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 during a reception ceremony at the Marine Base Rodolfo Punsalang in Barangay Tiniguiban here Wednesday morning, 28 June. MBLT-7 is relieving MBLT-4 whose members will be retrained, refurbished and redeployed to a new mission after a successful internal security operations in Palawan. For the past 12 years, MBLT-4 carried out operations against New People's Army rebels in the island. Carlos said the stage is set for MBLT-7 to build upon this legacy and continue the mission of ensuring security and stability in Palawan's southern part. Following the departure of the last remaining combatants from the province, Palawan has received official recognition as free from the presence of the NPA, according to the Wescom commander. Carlos said the accomplishment has prompted the Provincial Peace and Order Council to declare Palawan as an insurgency-free area. He thanked the MBLT-4 and the entire 3rd Marine Brigade which has been working very closely with the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard and others involved in ISO for finally neutralizing the enemy. “You just have to continue the gains of MBLT-4, you have already achieved strategic victory. Now the challenge is for you to sustain it and make sure they don’t come back,” Carlos told the MBLT-7. The extensive experience gained by MBLT-7 will undoubtedly facilitate their execution of the new mission, he said. “With your history, coming from Marawi battling Maute terrorists, and then in Sulu and to Tawi-tawi to fight Abu Sayaff, if people or some parties will attempt to enter Palawan or challenge our peace and order, and security, especially in the southern backdoor, where they will be stationed, the only thing I can say is, they will get what they deserve with MBLT-7,” Carlos said. Meanwhile, the Wescom commander said that with the addition of troops in the province, there is a gradual transition from ISO to external security operations. MBLT-9, a Marine Amphibious Ready Unit, is also deployed in Palawan and will play a role in enhancing naval presence for a comprehensive maritime awareness campaign in the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea, Carlos said. The post Mindanao marines relieve Palawan battalion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prigozhin Circus comes to town
There are those who rise to the occasion in high-stakes geopolitics, displaying strategic brilliance and unwavering determination. Then there are those, such as Yevgeny Prigozhin and his longtime friend Vladimir Putin, who stumble through their power plays like bumbling neighborhood bullies caught off guard. The recent “mutiny” of Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenary group against Putin is a farce, a feeble attempt to save face as Russia and Wagner crumble under the weight of their failed war against Ukraine. To be honest, expecting Prigozhin, the opportunistic chameleon, to lead a genuine revolt against his fellow mobster Putin would be naivete. Prigozhin, who was once known for his culinary skills, has ditched his caterer’s hat in favor of a toy soldier’s beret, believing himself to be a military strategist. Nonetheless, his track record on the sidelines of previous and current Putin wars reveals nothing but incompetence and self-interest. That “mutiny” is nothing more than Prigozhin running away from Ukraine with his tail tucked between his legs. And the funny thing is that Putin lapped it all up from his former quasi-butler. While Prigozhin’s threat to depose Putin was clearly a bluff, the fact that Putin overreacted and declared virtual martial law in Russia indicates that the once-astute leader has lost touch with reality. Ukraine, under President Volodymyr Zelensky, has dealt Putin and his cronies one crushing defeat after another on the battlefield. Putin’s vulnerability is exposed, and his overreaction reveals a panic within the Kremlin’s walls. Everything considered, the Putin-Prigozhin intramural only serves to highlight the absurdity of these two clowns and vindicates the countries that are supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, including NATO and European Union members. They’ve recognized the bluster and bravado of these neighborhood bullies and have wisely chosen to provide Ukraine with weapons, training, and other assistance. For students of history, the recent events in Russia bring to mind Winston Churchill’s famous quote, “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Churchill delivered that statement on 1 October 1939 on the radio on whether then-Soviet Russia would join World War 2, which had just broken out. The UK Prime Minister was, of course, referring to the Soviet Union’s unpredictable and often contradictory foreign policy, while suggesting that the Soviet Union’s actions were ultimately motivated by its own national interests, rather than by any ideological or moral principles. Churchill would be proven right, as the Soviet Union would only join the last global war on 22 June 1941 — only after Nazi Germany invaded and used the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact between them to wipe the Führer’s backside. But enough digression. The riddle has been solved with Putin and Prigozhin: They’re simply jokesters, stumbling and fumbling their way through their own follies. It’s no surprise that the rest of the world is simultaneously amused and perplexed by their antics. Prigozhin’s dramatic exit from Russia without being charged adds another twist to this tragicomedy. His forces took control of a key army headquarters, threatened the capital, and then abruptly reversed course to purportedly avoid bloodshed in Moscow. Residents were cheering and chanting “Wagner! Wagner!” outside the military headquarters they had captured, demonstrating the absurdity of the situation. While publicly remaining neutral, the United States and its allies are acutely aware of the potential consequences of this Barnum and Bailey show. President Joe Biden’s meetings with the leaders of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom highlight concerns that Putin’s grip on the nuclear-armed country is slipping. Russia’s foreign ministry, on the other hand, had issued a stern warning to the US and its allies, claiming that the rebellion plays into the hands of Russia’s external enemies. Whatever. Amid all this, Ukraine is reveling in the chaos that has engulfed its long-time adversary amid this political theater. According to President Zelensky’s aide, Prigozhin humiliated Putin and demonstrated that, in Russia, “there is no longer a monopoly on violence.” Ukraine is now seeing a golden opportunity to ratchet up its counter-offensive against Russian invaders, buoyed by the vulnerabilities exposed within the Russian regime. Zelensky had been mocked as a B-movie actor playing the role of a President. Okay, that’s a matter of opinion. There’s no debate, though, of Putin and his “frenemy” Prigozhin being pathetic comedians whose jokes are flat and are on them. Still, we’re all captive audiences in this Putin-Prigozhin sitcom. The post Prigozhin Circus comes to town appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Key events in the war in Ukraine
From the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February last year to the armed rebellion Saturday of the pro-Kremlin Wagner paramilitary group, here is a timeline of the main events. The biggest attack on a European country since World War II has killed or wounded over 150,000 people, according to Western estimates. February 2022: invasion Russian President Vladimir Putin announces a "special military operation" in Ukraine on 24 February, saying he wants to demilitarise and "de-Nazify" the country as well as protect the predominantly Russian-speaking east from "genocide". A full-scale invasion starts, with missile strikes on several Ukrainian cities that sparks a refugee crisis. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stays in the capital Kyiv to lead the resistance. The West imposes unprecedented sanctions on Russia and the European Union and United States send Ukraine weapons and aid. March: Russian advances Russian forces make gains in the south, seizing the city of Kherson, close to the Moscow-annexed Crimea peninsula. Russian forces also attempt to surround Kyiv and take Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv in the northeast but meet fierce resistance. A month into the fighting, Russia withdraws from the north to focus on the eastern industrial Donbas region, partly held by Moscow-backed separatists, along with the south. April: war crimes revealed In early April, AFP discovers the bodies of at least 20 civilians lying on a single street in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha -- the first of several grisly discoveries in towns that Russian forces had occupied which spark an international outcry and war crimes investigations. May: Mariupol falls On 21 May, Russia announces the fall of the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which had been relentlessly bombed, after the last Ukrainian troops holding out at a steelworks surrender. Sweden and Finland request membership of NATO, fearing they could be future targets of Russian aggression. June: Donbas battle rages In June, Russia takes the Donbas city of Severodonetsk after one of the bloodiest battles of the war, followed soon after by the neighbouring city of Lysychansk. July: gas supplies cut On 22 July, Kyiv and Moscow sign a deal to resume grain exports from Ukraine, in a bid to relieve a food crisis aggravated by Russia's blockade of the country's ports. Russian gas giant Gazprom slashes its supply to Europe through the Nord Stream pipeline, fuelling fears of gas shortages in Europe. August: battle for Bakhmut Kyiv launches a major offensive to retake Kherson as a bitter battle begins for the eastern town of Bakhmut, spearheaded on the Russian side by the Wagner mercenary group. Wagner claims to have wrested total control of Bakhmut in May. September: annexation Ukraine retakes hundreds of towns and villages in a lightning counter-offensive around Kharkiv. Putin launches a partial draft of 300,000 reservists, sparking an exodus of young Russian men of military age. On 30 September, he formally annexes the Ukrainian regions of Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. October: power supply hit On 8 October, an explosion causes major damage to a bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland -- a symbol of Moscow's annexation of the peninsula. Putin blames Ukrainian secret services for the attack. Russian forces retaliate with a barrage of strikes on energy infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities, leaving millions without power in what becomes its new modus operandi throughout the winter. November: retreat from Kherson On 9 November, Moscow orders its troops to retreat from Kherson in the face of advancing Ukrainian forces, marking a stunning defeat in one of the regions it annexed. Jubilant residents hail Ukrainian forces as liberators. December: Zelensky goes to Washington On 22 December, Zelensky visits Washington on his first overseas trip since the war began. He meets President Joe Biden and addresses Congress. January 2023: tanks on the way Russia suffers its biggest single loss of life since the invasion in a Ukrainian attack on a temporary base in the eastern town of Makiivka on 1 January. Moscow says 89 soldiers were killed in the hit. On 25 January, Germany finally agrees to send Ukraine some of its powerful Leopard tanks. The United States follows, announcing that it will provide 31 Abrams tanks. On 19 May, Biden authorises the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. In April, Ukraine also receives anti-missile Patriot defence systems from Washington. 6 June: dam destroyed A blast at the Kakhovka dam in Russian-annexed Crimea inundates vast areas of the Kherson region, forcing thousands to flee and sparking fears of an environmental disaster. Kyiv accuses Moscow of blowing up the dam on the Dnipro River, while Russia blames Ukraine. June: Ukraine counter-offensive A long-awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive begins, aided by the supply of Western arms, according to analysts. Russia brands it a failure but Kyiv says it has retaken several areas. 24 June: Wagner rebellion Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, leading a mutiny to bring down Moscow's top brass, says his fighters have captured the army HQ in Russia's Rostov-on-Don "without firing a single shot" and claims to have the support of locals. Putin warns that treason against his rule threatens Russia with civil war and accuses the Wagner boss of a "stab in the back". The post Key events in the war in Ukraine appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Give LPE a chance
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro made a deeply rooted statement about the peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels that have dragged on for several decades, with intermittent periods of very little progress and setbacks. Without mincing words, Teodoro said he had always been against entering into peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army. This is equally consistent with his position that communist rebels are welcome to return to the government fold given an existing program that offers “to help them, rehabilitate them and give them a new life.” Why is this so? For Teodoro, why engage in peace talks when there is Task Force Balik-Loob — a central coordinating body created by Administrative Order No. 10 dated 3 April 2018 that supervises the government’s reintegration efforts for members of the CPP-NPA-NDF, including their immediate family members. The task force is composed of representatives from the DND, DILG, OPAPRU, and other partner government agencies. I couldn’t agree with the Defense Secretary more. In a recent television interview, he said he was never convinced that the Philippine insurgency — the longest-running in Asia — was ideological. His explanation was clear. “This is all about taking power or whatever. The reason, even in other countries, the sole authority of the Communist Party in other countries is a dictatorship in itself. They call it the dictatorship of the proletariat.” We have in front of us a duplicity of the communist agenda — a pro-people advocacy on one hand, and the overthrow of the government on the other. The history of the peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front, CPP’s political wing, is long and complex spanning several decades. When Corazon C. Aquino assumed the presidency after the People Power Revolution in 1986, peace talks were initiated and detained top communist leaders, including Jose Maria Sison and Bernabe Buscayno, were released. Since then, there have been several attempts at peace negotiations between the government and the Reds, facilitated by third-party mediators, including the Catholic Church, various civil society groups, and foreign governments. The most recent attempt at peace talks was in 2016 during the first year in office of then-President Rodrigo Duterte. It, however, broke down in 2017 after both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire agreement. Duterte, exasperated by the insincerity, formally terminated the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA in 2018 through Proclamation 360. Despite this, there have been sporadic calls for the resumption of the peace talks, particularly from civil society groups and the international community. More than 40 rounds of peace talks with the CPP-NPA-NDF since 1986 proved futile, marred by spoilers who used violence to attack the peace process. Or were these attempts aimed at forcing their way into negotiations, and alter a process so that their demands would be included in a settlement? Opinions vary, often dependent on political, social, and ideological perspectives. While some people argue that pursuing peace talks is the best way to end the decades-long armed insurgency, others are skeptical about the prospects as evidenced by the little willingness to negotiate in good faith, human rights violations, coupled with unreasonable and unrealistic demands. Peace is a priority for more than 110 million Filipinos who hope to see an end to the decades-long insurgency in the country. If top-level negotiated settlements fail, there is the Localized Peace Engagement or LPE — a viable alternative solution to the armed conflict. Introduced by the national government in 2017 after the breakdown of the peace negotiations with the Reds, let us give this community-based approach to peacebuilding a chance. After all, who wouldn’t want to address the underlying social, economic, and political grievances that fuel armed conflicts? The post Give LPE a chance appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Plot to bomb Cotabato NGCP tower foiled
Army and police bomb experts have foiled an attempt by local terrorists to topple a power relay tower of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines in Pikit, Cotabato on Monday......»»
Warring generals agree to new truce
Sudan’s warring generals have agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire from Saturday, United States and Saudi Arabia mediators said on Friday. The ceasefire starts at 6 a.m. of 10 June, according to a joint statement from the mediators released by the Saudi foreign ministry on Friday. “Should the parties fail to observe the 24-hour ceasefire, facilitators will be compelled to consider adjourning” talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah which have been suspended since late last month, the mediators said. Multiple truces have been agreed and broken since fighting erupted on 15 April and Washington had slapped sanctions on both rival generals after the last attempt collapsed at the end of May. The army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said it has “agreed to the proposal” adding in a statement it “declares its commitment to the ceasefire.” The paramilitary RSF, commanded by Burhan’s former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, later said in a statement: “We affirm our full commitment to the ceasefire.” Both statements said the truce could support humanitarian efforts, while cautioning against violations by their opponents. “If observed, the 24-hour ceasefire will provide an important opportunity... for the parties to undertake confidence-building measures which could permit resumption of the Jeddah talks,” the US-Saudi statement said. The fighting of the two generals has gripped the capital Khartoum and the western region of Darfur, killing upwards of 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. Nearly two million people have been displaced, including 476,000 who have sought refuge in neighboring countries, the United Nations said. The post Warring generals agree to new truce appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
N. Korea will ‘correctly’ put spy satellite into orbit soon, Kim’s sister says
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister said Thursday that Pyongyang would "correctly" place a spy satellite into orbit soon, a day after their first attempt crashed. Pyongyang has pitched its military satellite as a necessary counterbalance to the growing US military presence in the region, pointing to Washington's ongoing joint drills with Seoul as one example of many. North Korea's new Chollima-1 rocket lost thrust and plunged into the sea with its satellite payload on Wednesday, state media said in a rare same-day announcement following the failed launch. Kim Yo Jong, who also serves as a spokesperson for the regime, said a second attempt would soon be made. "It is certain that the DPRK's military reconnaissance satellite will be correctly put on space orbit in the near future and start its mission," she said Thursday, referring to North Korea by its official name. Pyongyang also released photographs of what it said was the new Chollima-1 rocket taking off from a seaside launch site surrounded by flames and smoke. The rocket -- named after a mythical winged horse that often appears in Pyongyang's propaganda -- featured a bulbous nose, apparently used to carry the satellite payload. The United States, South Korea and Japan slammed the launch, saying it violated UN resolutions barring Pyongyang from any tests using ballistic missile technology. Kim Yo Jong said such critiques were a "self-contradiction", given that the United States and other nations have already launched "thousands of satellites". "The US is a group of gangsters who would claim that even if the DPRK launches a satellite in space orbit through balloon, it is illegal and threatening," she said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. Analysts warn that if North Korea succeeds, the satellite's monitoring capabilities would be a major issue, enabling Pyongyang to target US and South Korean forces more accurately. "The use of satellites for military purposes includes reconnaissance (intelligence collection), global positioning information and the attacking of opponent's satellites. Space warfare," Chun In-bum, a retired South Korean army general, told AFP. Since diplomatic efforts collapsed in 2019, North Korea has ramped up military development, conducting a string of banned weapons tests, including test-firing multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles. Leader Kim declared last year that his country was an irreversible nuclear power and called for an exponential increase in weapons production, including tactical nukes. The post N. Korea will ‘correctly’ put spy satellite into orbit soon, Kim’s sister says appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
FBI files uncover plot to kill UK’s Queen Elizabeth II
A newly released cache of FBI files has revealed a potential plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during her 1983 visit to California. The possible threat followed a phone call made by "a man who claimed that his daughter had been killed in Northern Ireland by a rubber bullet", according to the document that also refers to a bar frequented by Irish Republican Army sympathizers. The queen and her husband Prince Philip visited the west coast of the United States in February and March 1983, and the trip passed off without incident. Four years earlier in 1979, IRA paramilitaries opposed to British rule in Northern Ireland killed Louis Mountbatten, the last colonial governor of India and an uncle of Philip, in a bomb attack. The file states that the man claimed he was going to attempt to harm the queen "either by dropping some object off the Golden Gate Bridge onto the royal yacht Britannia when it sails underneath". Alternatively he "would attempt to kill Queen Elizabeth when she visited Yosemite National Park", they added. A separate file among the documents, dated 1989, pointed out that while the FBI was unaware of any specific threats against the queen, "the possibility of threats against the British monarchy is ever present from the Irish Republican Army". The queen, who died last September aged 96, has previously been reported to have been the target of other assassination plots. In 1970, suspected IRA sympathizers unsuccessfully attempted to derail her train west of Sydney, while in 1981 the IRA tried to bomb her on a visit to Shetland, off the northeast coast of Scotland. In the same year, a mentally disturbed teenager fired a single shot towards the queen's car during a visit to New Zealand. Another teenager fired six blanks at her during the Trooping the Color parade in central London. The post FBI files uncover plot to kill UK’s Queen Elizabeth II appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teves hand in retraction ‘possible,’ says Clavano
A Department of Justice official did not discount the possibility the camp of Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. had something to do with suspects in the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo recanting their statements. “It’s very possible. We’re looking at many angles here, that’s why we need to be very careful with our witnesses,” DoJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said. Clavano cited the alleged attempt of a former DoJ undersecretary to talk to the witnesses at the National Bureau of Investigation. Levito Baligod, the counsel of the Degamo family, disclosed that the former official tried to bribe detained suspects to clam up. Clavano said they are eyeing the transfer of the suspects to the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. He said there is no current official of the DoJ involved in the alleged manipulation of suspects in the slaying of Degamo and nine others on 4 March. The DoJ official also denied the allegation of Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo that “someone at the agency” may be manipulating the suspects into recanting their extra-judicial confessions in connection with the killing of her husband. In an interview with reporters via Zoom, Clavano assured that the police officers and agents of the NBI assigned in the case build-up are among “the best of the best.” “I think the statement of Mayor Degamo was out of emotion and we hope that the credibility of the DoJ is preserved in this case and for the country,” Clavano said. On Monday, Osmundo Rivero, one of the suspects in the Degamo slay case, recanted his affidavits tagging Teves Jr. and his former bodyguard Marvin Miranda as the masterminds. Rivero claimed that police investigators tortured and coerced him into admitting his participation in the crime. Through his counsel, Danny Villanueva, Rivero also filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus before the Regional Trial Court of Manila seeking to compel Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, and NBI director Medardo de Lemos to present his wife Queenie Rivero, his two-year-old son Jophiel and 15-year-old stepson Christian. Rivero said he received information that his wife and two sons were taken from their house by a team of soldiers from the Philippine Army together with members of the Municipal Police Station of Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur. He claimed his family was taken to the Office of the Provincial Police in Camp Aberlon, Pagadian City before they were turned over to the NBI. But the DoJ said Rivero’s family has been placed under the Witness Protection Program after he initially agreed to cooperate with authorities. Villanueva, on the other hand, said three more suspects identified as Rommel Pattaguan, Rogelio Antipolo Jr., and Dahniel Lora have recanted their previous statements linking Teves to the gruesome crime. Clavano denied the torture claims made by the suspects. “As far as our intelligence goes, no such thing happened. We are very careful in handling these suspects because we believe they are also victims in this case,” he said. The post Teves hand in retraction ‘possible,’ says Clavano appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sara named co-vice chair of NTF-ELCAC
Vice President Sara Duterte has been designated as co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, according to National Security Adviser Eduardo Año. Año said he made the motion which was unanimously approved for the designation of Duterte, also concurrent secretary of the Department of Education, during the Executive Committee meeting with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in Malacañang. He said that the ExeCom welcomed Duterte’s designation. He and Duterte now serve as co-vice chairpersons of the agency led by the President. “Her unstinting commitment to the cause of NTF-ELCAC will undoubtedly be very valuable to the Task Force and we thank her for accepting the challenge.” Año said. Duterte has lauded the members of the Task Force for their commitment to ending local communist armed conflict in the country, saying “the so-called protracted war must end.” “This is a commitment to bring about peace in our country, especially in the countryside, where our armed enemy feed on the innocence of the people and the condition of poverty that these terrorists perpetuate themselves,” Duterte said during the 1st NTF-ELCAC execom meeting at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday. “This is a show of force — a clear, strong, and powerful statement and warning — against the enemies of the state who slaughter civilians and Indigenous Peoples, abduct and murder and execute members of our security forces, and attempt to pin down our progress as a nation through their ideals anchored on brainwashing, fear, and terrorism,” she added. Under Executive Order (EO) 70, the NTF-ELCAC was organized by the government to respond and raise awareness of the ongoing atrocities perpetrated by communist terrorists New People’s Army. EO 70 was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte on 4 December 2018. Duterte also shared her realizations on how deeply the Philippines is “ingrained with the problem of insurgency” with the recruitment of Filipino students to communist groups. “They have infiltrated our institutions and sectors, and remained a serious threat to the well-being of the Filipino People, particularly our youth,” she said. According to her, education is one of the greatest weapons to suppress the lies and deceptions of these terrorists and their allied organizations. “However, the enemies are also using education as a machine to propagate their violent ideology and systematically recruit Filipino students,” she said. “We cannot let them continue preying on the innocence and idealistic nature of the Filipino youth,” the Vice President added. The post Sara named co-vice chair of NTF-ELCAC appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Commies protracted war must end now — VP Sara
Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday issued a clear and strong warning to communist terrorists that the government's anti-insurgency body will not allow them to continue to perpetuate themselves by feeding on the innocence of the people and the condition of poverty. Speaking during the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Executive Committee meeting in Malacañang Palace, Duterte said the “so-called protracted war must end now.” “This is a show of force—a clear, strong, and powerful statement and warning—against the enemies of the state who slaughter civilians and Indigenous Peoples, abduct and murder and execute members of our security forces, and attempt to pin down our progress as a nation through their ideals anchored on brainwashing, fear, and terrorism,” she said. Duterte, who is also Education Secretary, said the problem of insurgency is deeply ingrained in the country. “They have infiltrated our institutions and sectors and remained a serious threat to the well-being of the Filipino People, particularly our youth,” she said, adding that they use education as a machine to propagate their violent ideology and systematically recruit Filipino students. She added: “Education, therefore, is one of the greatest weapons we can use in suppressing the lies and deceptions of these terrorists and their allied organizations. We cannot let them continue preying on the innocence and idealistic nature of the Filipino youth.” Citing the NTF-ELCAC’s very important role in protecting the Filipino youth, she thanked officials of the NTF-ELCAC for their commitment to ending local communist armed conflict in the country and bringing about peace, especially in the countryside. “As the Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines, I commend everyone’s dedication to contributing to our country’s fight against the deceptions, injustices, and atrocities perpetrated by the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front),” she said. Duterte now shares the NTF-ELAC co-vice chairmanship with National Security Council Secretary Eduardo Año. She said the love for the country and genuine concern for the welfare of the Filipino people bind them together in the “noble mission of protecting the whole nation and securing a better future for the Filipino people”. She lauded the NTF-ELCAC for remaining vigilant and proactive in repressing the more than five-decade-old insurgency – the world's longest ongoing communist armed conflict. Continuing cooperation, she said, brings the country a step closer to achieving a goal that has eluded us for more than fifty years. No complacency Despite the dwindling number of CPP-NPA-NDF members, Duterte said the NTF-ELCAC cannot afford to be complacent. “Our failure will cause more suffering to the Filipino People—and their victory means the fall of our Nation. Our strength lies in the convergence of our efforts towards a common goal of securing peace for our country,” she added. She said Executive Order No. 70, which was signed by his father—then-president Rodrigo R. Duterte—in December 2018, provided a platform to bring their efforts together to address the issues exploited by communist terrorist groups. “We shall take advantage of strength derived from unity and good governance as we promote sustainable peace and development for every Filipino to enjoy,” Duterte said, as she enjoined cooperation toward building a stable nation—all for God, country, and families. The post Commies protracted war must end now — VP Sara appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Azurin caps PNP roller coaster career ride
General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Saturday likened his eight-month tour of duty as Philippine National Police chief to a roller coaster ride. Azurin will celebrate his 56th birthday today, 24 April, reaching the mandatory retirement age as the 28th PNP chief and the first to serve under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “That’s the best way to describe it. Most of the time down, but we were able to recover,” Azurin told reporters after being accorded Philippine Military Academy honors at Fort del Pilar, Baguio City. Azurin recalled being criticized that the PNP under him had become too soft against criminals and rogue cops following his decision to shift to a less-bloody war against drugs. He said his “Life is beautiful” slogan was aimed at giving second chances to those involved in the drug trade, especially the drug users he wanted to be rehabilitated. “We value the preservation of life. And we do not need to threaten criminals,” Azurin said, adding he’d rather have them regret their life decisions behind bars for years. He said the P6.7 billion drug bust in Tondo, Manila last October has also proven to be a tough test for him with no less than Interior and Local Secretary Benhur Abalos claiming there was an attempt by police generals to cover it up. Azurin flatly denied Abalos’ claim, saying that the Special Investigation Task Force of the PNP did its job of filing charges against sacked police sergeant Rodolfo Mayo and in trying to unmask his other cohorts. The SITG also investigated alleged efforts by police officers to steal some 42 kilos from the 990-kilo drug haul, he added. Did his job “I just did my job so, whatever happens, will happen. Let it be where the fight I started would lead. As I’ve said, we were able to unmask the drug syndicates in the PNP,” he said. The same drug bust led to Abalos and Azurin calling on all third-level PNP officials — those with the rank of colonel and higher — to submit their resignations to weed out those involved in the narcotics trade. Azurin recalled being criticized that the PNP under him had become too soft against criminals and rogue cops following his decision to shift to a less-bloody war against drugs. A five-man committee chaired by Azurin has already cleared 917 of those who submitted their resignations, with those of 30 others still being looked into. The committee is expected to wrap up its task in two weeks. Azurin said his legacy may be his assurance that the men and women of the PNP are well taken care of. “When we were still cadets, we were always told that if you take care of your people, then definitely they will take care of you. That’s the legacy that I would leave behind,” he said. At the PMA parade, Azurin thanked his alma mater now under Lt. Gen. Rowen Tolentino, Philippine Army, for recognizing his 34 years of service to the country. He also thanked his classmates from the PMA “Makatao” Class of 1989. PMA values Azurin highlighted the importance of discipline, hard work, and sacrifice for all those who are aspiring to serve the country. “While I am excited for what the future holds, I cannot help but feel a sense of nostalgia and gratitude for the past 34 years I have dedicated to this noble profession,” he said. He urged the cadets to continue to uphold the PMA’s values of courage, integrity and loyalty. “As future AFP commissioned officers and leaders of men, may the spirit of camaraderie and undying bond of brotherhood as PMAers give you courage, hope, and strength that you may be able to work jointly as one united strong force,” he added. “Get motivated by challenges and be inspired by everyone’s achievements. You are the future of our nation, and I have no doubt that someday you will make us all proud,” Azurin said. The post Azurin caps PNP roller coaster career ride appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Reds burn heavy equipment in Surigao del Norte
Around 20 suspected New People’s Army Rebels burned heavy equipment being used by a mining firm in Sitio Kinalalabhan, Barangay Cagdianao in Claver, Surigao del Norte on Thursday......»»
AFP ready to stop NPA hit squads
The Armed Forces of the Philippines has vowed to stop and neutralize any attempt by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army to kill government officials and civilians......»»