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Tribute to LALA: A Lumad Activist, Artist, and Fighter
According to the military's report, Lala was among the six individuals killed during an encounter between the 47th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the New People’s Army in Bilar, Bohol, last September 7......»»
Militants got close to 20 meters in Lanao clash
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 22 February)—The Dawlah Islamiyah militants managed to creep up to 20 meters of the soldiers of the 44th Infantry Battalion in their attack in the mountains of Lanao del Norte on Sunday, dealing a heavy blow to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a military official said. The ensuing […].....»»
Green groups urge CHR to probe red-tagging by military, SMNI
A coalition of environmental defenders called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to condemn an Army battalion and the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for publicly accusing their network of having ties with communist rebels......»»
Tigpanalipod battalion tests troops readiness
Tigpanalipod battalion tests troops readiness.....»»
Local execs reaffirm support for activities of Army engineering unit
Local officials reassured support for the development initiatives of the 549th Engineering Combat Battalion on Saturday, a day after its new commander assumed leadership of the unit, involved in rehabilitation projects in conflict-stricken Moro-dominated towns......»»
3 high-powered firearms recovered in Catbalogan clash
An armed encounter between the troops of 87th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army and approximately five CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) transpired on July 21, 2023 in the vicinity of Barangay Bangon, Catbalogan City, Samar......»»
‘Knights’ battalion gets newly trained troops
‘Knights’ battalion gets newly trained troops.....»»
2 soldiers killed in Lanao Sur ambush
ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 4 January)—Two soldiers from the Army’s 51st Infantry Battalion were killed in an ambush in Lanao del Sur on Wednesday by suspected members of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group, the military said. A press statement from the Deputy Public Affairs Office (DPAO) of the 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division said three enlisted personnel […].....»»
Arms cache with high-powered firearms and anti-personnel mines discovered in Eastern Samar
The troops of 52nd Infantry Battalion discovered an arms cache consisting of four high-powered firearms and four International Humanitarian Law (IHL)-banned Anti-Personnel Mines (APMs) at the hinterlands of Brgy. Agsaman, Jipapad, Eastern Samar on June 18, 2023......»»
High-powered firearm seized in Gandara, Samar clash
The troops of the 87th Infantry Battalion was engaged in an armed encounter with members of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) at Barangay Mabuhay, Gandara, Samar early morning of May 17, 2023......»»
78th IB among top markets of ARBO products
The 78th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army was recognized by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for being among the 15 top institutional markets of agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in the country......»»
CTGs suffers another major blow, 15 firearms seized in Mapanas, Northern Samar clash
Fifteen assorted firearms were recovered in an armed encounter between the 74th Infantry Battalion (74IB) and members of Platoon 1, Front Committee 15 (FC15) of the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Arctic, of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) in the hinterlands of Barangay Magsaysay, Mapanas Northern Samar on May 10, 2023......»»
NPA leader killed in Misamis encounter
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Soldiers killed the leader of the Sendong guerilla front of the New People’s Army and captured another during an encounter in the forested areas of Jimenez town in Misamis Occidental. The soldier also recovered several high-powered firearms at the encounter site in Barangay Carmen, Jimenez. Tabak Division Commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III said yesterday that soldiers from the 10th Infantry Battalion, operating under the Task Unit “Eradicator” of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, engaged the rebels in a firefight. Viray identified the leader of the guerilla front as Michael Cabayag, also known as “Teddy.” He was killed during the encounter. Viray also identified the arrested NPA as Armida Nabicis, alias “Yumi.” Among the high-caliber firearms recovered by the military at the encounter site were an M16 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, one CZ rifle, and one M653 carbine. Also recovered were the personal belongings of the NPA rebels. According to Viray, soldiers acted on a report of armed men roaming around the village. Lt. Col. Jose Andre R. Monje immediately dispatched a team of soldiers to the area, and an encounter immediately ensued between the NPA and the soldiers. “Our commitment goes beyond the battlefield. We will ensure that alias Teddy is properly turned over to his family, respecting the principles of compassion and humanity in this challenging situation,” Monje said. Viray also expressed his gratitude to the concerned citizen for providing the soldiers with critical information about the NPA-Terrorist presence in their area. The post NPA leader killed in Misamis encounter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
7 NPA members in Samar surrender
Borongan City — Seven active combatants of the New People’s Army surrendered to the government after they were convinced by their respective families to give up the communist armed struggle. Lt. Col. Allan Tria, commander of the 78th Infantry Battalion, said the seven guerilla fighters of the Apoy Platoon, the Sub-Regional Committee, and Sesame surrendered to his unit this week. Tria withheld giving the names of the NPA members pending completion of security protocols, but said they include the squad leader, vice squad leader, finance, and medical officers. The former rebels also revealed the location of an arms cache consisting of two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, one M653 carbine, and other war materiel in the hinterlands of Borongan City. These were recovered last 19 October. Tria said the surrender of the former communist combatants was an offshoot of their continuous engagement with the families of active NPA members. Since 19 September, a total of 15 former NPA members have surrendered. Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, thanked the families of the surrendered rebels for their efforts in convincing their loved ones to abandon the armed struggle and return to their respective families. “We are grateful for the positive response of our Waraynon brothers and sisters to working hard to convince their family members who are still with the NPA. We have once again proven that the love of family conquers the hate that the terrorist CPP-NPA-NDF sowed in the hearts of their recruits,” he said. Vestuir reiterated his plea to the remaining NPA members in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces to heed the collective call of their families and their fellow Waraynons for them to go back to the mainstream of our society away from danger or harm. The post 7 NPA members in Samar surrender appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bucay town poll violence spills in metro
BAGUIO CITY — Hours before the shooting of a barangay kagawad candidate took place in Bucay town, Abra province, the wife of a candidate for village chief in the same town was confirmed abducted by unknown suspects in Parañaque City. Reports from the Parañaque City Police Station disclosed that the victim — identified as Bliss Progreso Loy, a teacher of Col. E de Leon Elementary School in Barangay Moonwalk, Parañaque City — was abducted in the morning of 18 October 2023. Initial investigations revealed that the teacher, together with her siblings, were on board a motorcycle at Matthew Street, Barangay Moonwalk, Parañaque City when two male persons on board a motorcycle blocked their way. The suspects grabbed the teacher and forced her inside a black van with plate number ABR-5730. The alleged kidnap victim is the wife of Benjamin Loy, a candidate for captain of Barangay Abang in Bucay town, Abra. Days before the alleged abduction, their house in the said barangay was ransacked by unknown assailants. The police are reviewing the CCTV footages to identify the suspects and the direction where the black van headed. At past 7 a.m. on 18 October, a candidate for barangay kagawad was shot two times by unidentified gunmen at Sitio Nagpasinan, Barangay Bangbangcag, Bucay, Abra. The victim was identified as Catalino Turalba Sr., a resident of Barangay Bangbangcag. Police reported that Turalba was on board his motorcycle with his son and was said to be heading to Barangay Palaquio of the same town. On their way, a riding on tandem followed him and one of the suspects shot him two times with a pistol of unidentified caliber. The victim was rushed to the St. Therese Hospital in Talogtog, Dolores, Abra by personnel of the 1504th Regional Mobile Force Battalion. He was later transferred to the Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued where he expired. On 9 October 2023, an encounter ensued between the Bucay police and armed men where one of the suspects died. Series of events which led to the latest incident involving Turalba have brought “fear” among the people in the province and a sense of “helplessness” as reports of armed men continue to roam around. Abra officials appealed for the deployment of more government troops in the province especially in Bucay because of the election-related violence happening in the area. While the sight of uniformed personnel helps, a number of Abrenios clamor for further intervention of various groups and stakeholders to call out presence of violence in the province. The post Bucay town poll violence spills in metro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AFP deploys troops to NegOr
TACLOBAN CITY — The Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed a company-size troop from Eastern Visayas to augment the state forces that will help maintain a peaceful and orderly conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in Negros Oriental. 8th Infantry Division assistant division commander Brig. Gen. Perfecto P. Peñaredondo led the send-off ceremony of troops at the Tactical Operations Group 8, Air Force headquarters here last 17 October 2023. He stressed that the troops will play a vital role in securing a free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible BSKE in Negros Oriental. The deployed troops are a composite team from the 14th Infantry Battalion, 46th Infantry Battalion, 52nd Infantry Battalion and 78th Infantry Battalion. Peñaredondo also reminded the soldiers not to loosen their guard and stay vigilant while maintaining discipline, professionalism, and respect for human rights as they perform their sworn duty, and as a deputized agency of the Commission on Election in securing fair and honest elections. Earlier, Negros Oriental Comelec provincial election supervisor Atty. Eliseo Labaria identified 27 villages as “areas of grave concern” — one with yellow category indicating a history of election-related incidents and 26 in orange category or with “serious armed threats.” The post AFP deploys troops to NegOr appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl Army belies abduction of 3 IP advocates; insists “they were NPAs”
The Philippine Army on Thursday belied reports that soldiers abducted three individuals “falsely identified” as Indigenous People’s defenders, insisting that they were members of the New People’s Army. Bgen Randolph Cabangbang, commander of the PA’s 203rd Infantry Battalion-2nd Infantry Division lambasted the Karapatan Group for accusing the military of abducting Alia Encelo, Job Abednego David, and Peter Del Monte. Cabangbang said the Karapatan’s claims on the disappearance of supposed rights advocates are “distorted and full of lies.” Karapatan group condemned the arrest of three personalities who were conducting a probe on “human rights violations in connection to reports of bombings and shelling by the 203rd IB around the area earlier this year.” In response, Cabangbang said the three individuals "were captured and arrested” during a legitimate military operation in Barangay Lisap, Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro on 23 September. He then insisted that the three individuals were members of the NPA’s Main Regional Guerrilla Unit as he cited the guerilla’s combatant profile and gallery. “During the capture, they attempted to resist and reach for some objects inside their bags and upon seeing that they have been surrounded, decided to heed the soldiers' call not to move anymore,” he said. “They were in possession of improvised landmines and grenades inside their bags that they probably planned to use in ambushing government troops,” he added. The Army official said the three would be facing charges of violating Republic Act 9516 (An act Further Amending the Provisions of PD No. 1866, As Amended, Entitled to Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives or Instruments Used in the Manufacture of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives, and Imposing Stiffer Penalties for Certain Violations Thereof, and For Other Relevant Purposes) and Violation of Section 4(a) and 4(d), Republic Act No. 11479 (Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020). Cabangbang said one of the captured, Alia Encelo, 19, was an active member of Gabriela Youth prior to joining the NPA in January this year. While Job Abednego David and Peter Del Monte, both 29 years old, have been with the NPA for more than 6 years, he added. “Job, from Quezon City, is a Fine Arts student at a prestigious school, and Peter, a high school drop-out from Tondo, Manila. They were later on identified by former rebels, who have surrendered, to be NPA members," Cabangbang said. “The captured rebels claimed that they have been in hiding for months, owing to the continuous military operations, and have not eaten a decent meal for two months,” he added. The post Phl Army belies abduction of 3 IP advocates; insists “they were NPAs” appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Army installs new chief for reservist, retiree affairs
The Philippine Army installed Col. Arnel Bautista as the new assistant chief of staff for reservist and retiree affairs (OG-9) on Monday. In a ceremonial change of office at the PA Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Bautista officially replaced outgoing chief Col. Jaime Datuin, who has been leading the office’s affairs and operations since September 2021. Prior to his new appointment, Bautista served as the Group Commander of the 1st Regional Community Defense Group, Army Reserve Command prior to his new assignment. He also held various leadership positions in the 9th Infantry Division such as the Commandant of the Division Training School, Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, and Commanding Officer of the 49th Infantry Battalion. Bautista is a member of the Philippine Military Academy "Bantay-Laya" Class 1994. Meanwhile, Datuin graduated from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Officer Candidate School as a member of Class 11-1993. During his stint as assistant chief of staff for reservist and retiree affairs, Datuin initiated several programs and activities aiming to enhance the welfare of the Army's reservists and retirees. Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Potenciano Camba extended his congratulations to Bautista for his new assignment. Camba also encouraged the office personnel to continue their efforts, with the newly installed head, “to develop a more reliable Army Reserve force.” The post Army installs new chief for reservist, retiree affairs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
3 NPA rebels slain in Iloilo clash
Three New People‘s Army rebels were killed in an encounter with soldiers of the 61st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Cagay in Leon, Iloilo on Friday......»»
Brawner denies 2 activists tortured
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., on Wednesday denied the allegations of torture by the two young activists who claimed they were abducted by soldiers in Bataan province. Brawner clarified that environmentalists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano have undergone the military’s standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees. “We applied everything that is stipulated in our SOP when someone surrenders. We let them undergo medical examination the very first hour that they were brought to our custody when they surrendered,” Brawner said during the Senate deliberation on the proposed 2024 national budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies. Brawner stood firm that Castro and Tamano “voluntarily surrendered” to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan, after going missing on 2 September. “When they surrendered. The first hour, we called for a doctor to do a physical examination on them. That’s why their statements that they were tied up with their other allegations of torture — are not true,” he said. In a government-sponsored press conference last week, Tamano and Castro made a surprising statement that they were “coerced to surrender” and “threatened” by the military. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Brawner’s assertion about the surrendering of Tamano and Castro could be backed by the statement of Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. “Everything that they said was properly debunked by PAO chief Acosta. In that alone, their claims were already destroyed,” Dela Rosa said. Perjury raps Meanwhile, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the government is preparing perjury charges against the two activists after they recanted their earlier statements, which were put through a “handwritten affidavit.” “There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed,” Teodoro said. The post Brawner denies 2 activists tortured appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»