We are sorry, the requested page does not exist
Duterte: PBBM’s intervention needed to resolve Maguindanao Norte issue
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos should intervene in the conflict involving leadership in the defunct Maguindanao province, his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte, said. “It's just one call only. Bahala na si Presidente Marcos kung sino ang gusto niya (It’s up to President Marcos who he wants to sit there). We will leave it to his discretion—president's desire to but he has to act to avert this thing,” he said. The financial crisis blew Maguindanao del Norte due to the concerns about the legitimacy of leadership that resulted in hampering the delivery of basic services to the people as well as causing the delay of salaries of the province’s workforce. “There’s a crisis there and it's because of politics. There are two governors claiming to the rightful (leadership),” Duterte said. The former president said Marcos could always make one call to make an order and resolve the issue in Maguindanao del Norte "once and for all." “He can call the person that he favored and tell him to go away. If not, he can call the army to remove that person, that is the end of it. If there’s a complaint, then go to the Supreme Court,” Duterte said. It’s at Marcos’ discretion, he added. In June this year, Malacañang announced that Marcos had appointed Abdulraof Macacua and Fatima Ainee Sinsuat as governor and vice governor of Maguindanao del Norte, respectively. This came after Maguindanao residents ratified in a plebiscite in September last year, mandating the division of the province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur—provided under Republic Act 11550, which was signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in May 2021. Despite the Palace’s announcement of Macacua’s appointment, Fatima Ainee Sinsuat assumed the governorship in Maguindanao del Norte. Duterte insists that Marcos should step in and resolve the conflict in leadership. “A crisis like that; it needs presidential intervention at once. Just call the other one and weigh in on who is better or right. It’s a matter of law. It does not need a brilliant or ordinary man to really understand the conflicting laws involved. All you have to do is to ask your law office to give you (advice)—what you should do or whatever is the correct law or interpretation of the law to resolve this issue,” he said. Duterte said Marcos should not prolong the “uncertainties and divisions” to prevent the emergence of more problems. “It would create more problems for the people, including the salaries. Many people will get hungry if you do not act promptly on it. All you have to do as the President is to tell them who should lead and the other go,” he stressed. Duterte said Marcos should give an ultimatum to the leadership in the province. “I was like that when I was President. Do not complicate matters. Whether you are right or you are wrong, the legal office of Malacañang can help you decide,” he added. “In any government office, there’s always a legal law office to advise. I am a lawyer, but when I was a President I listened to the opinion of the legal office. It's the legal office that has the final say so far as the President is concerned. Do not prolong the agony because you can do something about it if you really want to,” Duterte said. He added that the President always has the power to resolve conflicting issues in the government. Earlier in August, the conflict in leadership in the defunct province worsened after the Supreme Court ruled that Sinsuat is the “rightful holder” of the gubernatorial seat of Maguindanao del Norte. In a decision promulgated on 26 June 2023 but released only on 8 August the Court stated that “Sinsuat, as duly elected Vice-Governor of the Province of Maguindanao, and Mastura, as next ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Maguindanao, validly assumed office as governor and vice-governor, respectively, of the Province of Maguindanao del Norte, but only in acting capacities until elections for the permanent officials to the said positions shall have been held.” The post Duterte: PBBM’s intervention needed to resolve Maguindanao Norte issue appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fiscal standoff
The P213 billion allocated for fiscal year 2023 is indisputable proof that the burden of the military and uniformed personnel pension has become beyond difficult to sustain to the point of forcing the government to resort to borrowing. To forestall this fiscal stand-off, the next best thing to do is to allow the finance secretary all the latitude to navigate — free of obstructionist opposition — so that the ship of state can sail on an even keel on turbulent financial waters. Every proposed action plan of Secretary Benjamin Diokno to address the specter of fiscal collapse has the imprimatur of the President and the acquiescence of the so-called “economic team” — except that there is a newly appointed Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor who replaced Dr. Felipe Medalla, which change of leadership has had very limited dissemination. Apparently, crucial matters of public information have become less and less sensitive to open and vibrant democratic discourse. In all that has already been expounded on the subject, it’s safe to say that Mr. Diokno has done his homework, this despite some “trial-and-error” attempts by the House of Representatives to “approximate” what could be the “best of all possible worlds” by congressional fiat. However, it was clear that the vocal committee chairman in Congress sort of “miscalculated” the acceptable threshold desired by the “military and uniformed sector,” thereby leaving it to the President — as Commander in Chief — to be the one to eventually “tame the beast.” Incidentally, FM Jr.’s newly appointed defense chief, albeit a returning one, is singing a different tune and is clearly in cross-purposes with what the finance chief has rolled out to be the “silver bullet” that would solve the pension problem. The policy domain benefits from evidence-based data and doing the science or the math is not alien to an economist like Diokno. On the other hand, political views hardly benefit from evidence, science, or math, and in this realm, it seems understandable why the defense chief’s normative proposal is rather parochial or scoped on maximizing what is good for the defense and military that he heads. After all, if he can play his cards well, a la President Fidel Ramos, his position could catapult him to higher office. When FVR signed Republic Act 7898 on 23 February 1995, its aim was a 15-year modernization program for the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Army consequent to the withdrawal of the US military bases and illegal occupation by China of Mischief Reef. The commitment to spend P50 billion within the first five years and presumably thereafter, however, never gained headway reportedly because the programs were “influenced” by lawmakers. Neither did the Philippine Navy get the lion’s share of the modernization fund to upgrade its patrol capabilities, surface warfare, and its maritime detection and surveillance capacities even while the authors of said law knew that the imminent enemy was China and the theater of engagement would be the West Philippine Sea. This explains why the country was a sitting duck when China occupied Scarborough Shoal in 2012. Then, this prompted the administration of President Noynoy Aquino to enact Republic Act 10349 as an expanded version of the AFP modernization program. While the needs of the Philippine Navy were given priority, the allocation of financial resources was subjected to a tedious, legalistic, and complex process with Congress having the last say. Reportedly, even the spending plan was incongruent with the capabilities that needed to be reinforced. Furthermore, the AFP Retirement and Separation Benefits System which was supposedly created to take care of the military pension system was mired in mismanagement that led to its deactivation or abolition. Substantial government seed capital went down the drain, achieving nothing because of the military’s own making. A case of “carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero?” What about that recent audit report of the Commission on Audit on pension overpayments and underpayments made by the AFP Pension Management System that has gone loco? The post Fiscal standoff appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Young DI member waves white flag
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Army on Tuesday revealed that a 15-year-old individual believed to be a member of the Daulah Islamiyah group voluntarily surrendered and turned over his assault rifle and ammunition to soldiers in Madalum, Lanao del Sur. Joint Task Force ZamPeLan commander Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete said that the minor DI-Maute Group member laid down his firearm and returned to the folds of the law Wednesday last week. He added that the young combatant also surrendered his 7.62mm M14 Armalite rifle to Lt. Col. Angestal Angeles II, Commanding Officer of the 51st Infantry Battalion in Barangay Dilausan, Madalum, Lanao del Sur. Nafarrete said that the surrender of the former insurgent was a result of the collaborative efforts of the intelligence units in the area. Soldiers of the 51st IB, the 103rd Infantry Brigade under Brig. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr., and the local government units also contributed to the surrender of the young DI-Maute Group member. During the debriefing, the young combatant admitted that he was recruited to join the terror group in 2019 and participated in the series of encounters in Barangay Bawang, Madamba, and Barangay Kalangnan, Piagapo, both of Lanao del Sur and Barangay Lindungan, Munai, Lanao del Norte in 2021. Newly-appointed Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido expressed his condemnation of the exploitation of minors and have them serve as combatants fighting against government forces for their false ideologies. “Rest assured that we will continue to intensify our efforts to protect the youth and the communities from being lured to bear arms and risk their limbs for the vested interest of the terror group,” Galido said. The post Young DI member waves white flag appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Galido is new Army chief
The Department of National Defense on Monday announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed LtGen. Roy Galido as the new Commanding General of the Philippine Army. Galido will replace Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. after the latter assumed his new position as the 60th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on 21 July. Galido will serve as the 66th Army Chief. He was a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990. Galido has had a sterling military career, which includes his tour as Commander of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division and the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command. DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Galido’s extensive experience and well-honed skills “resulted in the significant victories of his Command against lawless elements, especially in Mindanao.” “With LtGen Galido at the helm, the Philippine Army will undoubtedly and excellently pursue the strategic path set by the Commander-in-Chief in pursuit of the country’s stability amid the changing security landscape,” he added. The post Galido is new Army chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos: Phl to uphold sovereign rights, territorial integrity
The Philippines will continue upholding its sovereign rights and preserving its territorial integrity, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed during his second State of the Nation Address on Monday afternoon. Marcos said the government will continue pushing constant dialogue and diplomatic approach to resolute any eventualities that would compromise national security. “We will protect our sovereign rights and preserve our territorial integrity, in defense of rules-based international order,” Marcos said, referring to an international ruling in favor of the country's sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea. The President also emphasized the importance of unity and social cohesion among the Filipino people, assuring that the Philippines “will not lose any of its territory.” “Our journey to progress requires not only unity and social cohesion amongst our people. It is also imperative that our nation remains intact and inviolable, our sovereignty preserved,” he said. Following his earlier pronouncement that the country “will not give an inch of its territory,” Marcos made a sudden change in the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Marcos appointed former military chief Gen. Andres Centino as the first-ever Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. Centino was replaced by Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., the former Commanding General of the Philippine Army. Prior to this, the AFP made a commitment to strengthening its military presence in the WPS. “The interest of the Philippines and the Filipino people will be given priority in the government’s foreign policy,” Marcos emphasized during his SONA. The post Marcos: Phl to uphold sovereign rights, territorial integrity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘U.N.I.T.Y’, Brawner’s priorities as AFP chief
Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Friday officially took over the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, focusing his leadership on five priorities aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for national unity. Brawner, speaking at the Change of Command and retirement ceremony in honor of outgoing AFP chief of staff, Gen. Andres Centino, at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, laid down the priorities of his leadership. “As I take the helm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, allow me to articulate the five areas where I wish to focus our efforts — for these focus areas I would like to keep in line with the President’s call for national unity,” Brawner said. Using the acronym UNITY, Brawner said the AFP will focus on the areas of unification, normalization, internal security operations, territorial defense, and youth. Under unification, Brawner said the military will provide leverage to inter-agency coordination, links, and alliances to continue the whole-of-nation approach in addressing pressing security concerns. Under normalization, the AFP will give special attention to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, particularly in the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters as stipulated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law. For internal security operations, Brawner said the military will focus on the total annihilation of the remaining local terrorist and communist terror groups in the country. “We have to sustain the dividends of peace by making sure there will be no resurgence of insurgency and terrorism in our country,” he added. On territorial defense, the AFP will heed the President’s pronouncement of “not giving an inch of Philippine territory,” Brawner said, adding that “the AFP will endeavor to modernize its personnel, equipment, facilities, processes, and systems so as to enable it to be a lethal and competent fighting force capable of defending our territory from external aggression.” Cyber warfare, he said, will be included on the military’s priority list in its modernization program, which is in its third phase or Horizon 3. For the youth, Brawner expressed his full support for the revival of the Reserve Officers Training Corps or ROTC, saying the military will push for the proper and relevant conduct of the program. “This will coincide with our efforts to develop our reserve force,” he added. “The AFP will do its share in developing our youth, the future leaders and citizens of our nation to be responsible and patriotic defenders of our national identity as a people and of our territorial integrity,” he said. BBM lauds new chief President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who graced the change of command rites, urged the AFP to continue working towards an agile and prepared force and to strengthen its external defense capabilities. In his speech, Marcos told the AFP to work with national government agencies and civilian stakeholders to form an archipelagic consciousness among Filipinos. “I have faith that under the supervision of General Brawner, the Armed Forces will continue to ensure the security of Filipinos and our country’s national sovereignty amidst the challenges ahead,” he said. “Together, let us protect the interests of our people and help them fulfill their goals for themselves, their families, their communities, and our nation,” he added. The President assured that his administration is “firm in reinforcing this noble pursuit of modernizing the AFP.” Centino awarded During the ceremony, the Department of National Defense presented Centino with the Legion of Honor Award with the rank of Chief Commander. Centino has been appointed by Marcos the Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. In his speech, Marcos lauded Centino for his “exemplary service and resolute commitment” to the nation’s peace, order, and security. “Under your supervision, the AFP has made significant strides in reducing the presence and capabilities of communists and local terrorist groups,” the President said. “You have also strengthened our external defense capabilities and helped to promote archipelagic consciousness among Filipinos.” The President then urged Brawner to recalibrate the AFP’s internal security operations so that public services could be delivered to geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities. “I know that under your supervision, we will have a safer and more secure nation where more rebels will return to the fold of the law and decide to be productive citizens,” Marcos said. The DND lauded the appointment of Brawner as it expressed confidence he is an “excellent choice” to lead the country’s crucial internal and external security operations. “We are confident that Lt. Gen Brawner will continue to exemplify excellence, innovation, and professionalism as he leads the AFP,” it said in a statement on Friday. Brawner still heads Army Meanwhile, Philippine Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the Army is expecting a movement in the leadership of the organization after its commanding general, Brawner, was named AFP chief of staff. He said Brawner will remain as concurrent Army Commanding General while awaiting Marcos’ next appointee. “In the absence of any orders, he is still considered the commanding general of the Philippine Army. You can perform two functions, wear two hats at the same time,” Trinidad said. @tribunephl_Lade @tribunephl_tiz The post ‘U.N.I.T.Y’, Brawner’s priorities as AFP chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
WPS issues trigger AFP helm change
The increasing need to resolve the issues in the West Philippine Sea triggered the leadership moves in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, outgoing military chief General Andres Centino said on Thursday. “There is a need to bring focus to the matters in that (WPS) part of the country kaya (that’s why) we have mechanisms as to how these issues should be addressed, we have the National Task Force on WPS, but our leadership has deemed it important to provide focus and importance to the way we address the issues there — on a bigger scale. That’s why they thought of creating an Office of the Presidential Adviser for the WPS,” Centino said. Malacañang on Wednesday announced that Philippine Army chief, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., will serve as the next AFP chief of staff, while Centino will be appointed as the first-ever Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. Centino cited the need to address the geopolitical issues more appropriately, by establishing an office of presidential adviser on the West Philippine Sea that will work closely with the National Task Force on the WPS. “Well, it can be gleaned from what’s happening, there are reports of incursions. There were incidents that happened in the past months and, perhaps, this can be addressed appropriately and we may prevent those (incidents) from happening,” he said, citing the recent dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels against Philippine Coast Guard ships. The authorities logged several reports of near-collisions between Chinese and Philippine ships as well as the swarming of Chinese fishing vessels within the WPS recently. According to Centino, focusing on external security operations will be “incidental” because there’s a need to complete the resolution of the country’s internal security concerns first. “And then once we are done with that we have to shift towards a more pressing or urgent concern which is the matter in the West Philippine Sea,” he said. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said it was an “opportune time” for the movements in the AFP leadership given the importance of addressing several “dynamics” in the WPS. “It was the opportune time for a change and the change will be as seamless as possible with as much continuity of policies both in the transition to external defense and internal security,” Teodoro said. He added: “To underscore the importance of the West Philippine Sea and the dynamics of the events which occur there on a daily basis, the President decided to have a presidential adviser with Cabinet stature.” Centino added that addressing concerns in the WPS may entail either a “diplomatic or military” approach or a combination of both. “It will be a combination or mix of everything that we can do. It doesn’t have to be military alone, it has to be a combination of efforts, that’s why the task force would most likely be inter-agency,” he said. ‘Dedicated Armed Forces’ Meanwhile, Centino said he is proud that he will be leaving to his successor a “disciplined, determined and dedicated armed forces” capable of addressing all threats. He said he will be leaving the AFP fulfilled and content that he had done his part for the military organization. The post WPS issues trigger AFP helm change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner Jr. is next AFP chief — Palace
Malacañang on Wednesday announced that Philippine Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., will serve as the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines replacing General Andres Centino who will be appointed Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea. “Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner will be the next Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will take the place of General Andres Centino who was re-appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the said post earlier this year,” the Palace said an announcement made through the Presidential Communications Office. It was not known though when Brawner will assume the top AFP post. Brawner was appointed Commanding General of the Philippine Army on 20 December 2021. He graduated in the Top 2 in the Philippine Military Academy “Makatao” Class of 1989 and has been serving the military organization in various capacities for 34 years. He served as company commander of the 6th Special Forces Company; battalion commander of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion; operations officer of the Special Forces Regiment (Airborne); chief of staff of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division; chief of public affairs of the Philippine Army; spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; and commander of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment. Brawner is also a former brigade commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in the aftermath of the Marawi Siege in 2017. He once served as Commandant of Cadets at the Philippine Military Academy, where he played an important role in the total eradication of hazing and maltreatment in the Cadet Corps. Brawner later served as the first deputy chief of staff for Financial Management, J10, of the AFP. He is also the former commander of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, where he supervised the unit’s combat operations that resulted in the decisive neutralization of Jorge Madlos or “Ka Oris,” the notorious commander of the National Operations Command of the New People’s Army. Malacañang said that Brawner has exemplified the highest levels of excellence in his military schooling, a top notcher in his classes in the Special Forces Operations Course, Intelligence Officer Course, and the AFP Comptrollership Course. Brawner acquired three Master’s degrees in Information Management from the Ateneo de Manila University; Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand and from the European School of Management, Oxford, United Kingdom; and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. Brawner also received numerous awards and recognitions, including The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers or TOPS in 2013 from the Metrobank Foundation and Rotary Club of Makati; and the Lapu-Lapu Award from President Rodrigo Duterte, for his valuable contributions to the neutralization of Abu Dar, the last of the original leaders of the Maute-ISIS faction. In March this year, Brawner was inducted into the US Army War College or UASWC International Fellows Hall of Fame in recognition of his service in the highest command position in the Philippine Army. The post Brawner Jr. is next AFP chief — Palace 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......»»
DND chief: Peace talks with Reds ‘farce, oxymoron’
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. has reiterated his stance over the call to resume peace negotiations between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front. In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Teodoro rejected the plans of reopening the peace tables for the CPP-NPA-NDF saying there’s a legitimate political process to engage with them. “My personal position is no. It has been my position even before. and I think that is the position of the security cluster as of this time,” Teodoro said. “First of all, the government is open if the members of the CPP-NPA-NDF will return to the folds of the law,” he added, noting that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity can always do its job to help rebel returnees restore their peaceful lives. “OPAPRU is ready to help them and rehabilitate them,” he said. Teodoro cited the huge contributions of the country’s anti-insurgency task force in dismantling the remaining guerrilla fronts of the communist rebels. Hence, he said the peace talks are "not anymore necessary." “I think, the peace talks—in terms of the democratic process—this can be done in a proper forum. That’s in the Congress. Go get participate in the legitimate political process,” Teodoro stressed. He said establishing CPP is not prohibited in the law, citing the provisions of Republic Act 1700 that have been repealed long ago. However, if the intent of the CPP was to support the indirect and direct armed struggle, Teodoro said: “That’s the problem. So to me, there’s no such thing as…it’s an oxymoron—that legal front? There’s no legal front [because] front is illegal.” Asked how would the DND intend to deal with CPP-NPA-DNF, Teodoro said: “Ideologically, to me, it’s a farce. What we intend to do is to convince those that are still continuing whatever business is they’re continuing—which is against the law—to come and join the folds of the law and join the national development.” The DND chief underscored the CPP-NDF can always apply to become part of the legislative process. “And as a political party, they can register as a legitimate political party just as long as there is evidence that there is a total disavowal of resort to subversive means in order to gain political power,” he said. Teodoro sees the communist ideologies remain unclear. “All of these theories, Marxism, etc., these are political theories, and the end is to gain political power. Now, at the end of the day, people who run things and so, although, it is hidden behind theory – it’s a human too. So, what motivates that human is to gain political power. And behind that, we cannot define what’s the real intention. Now to be fair, have elections,” he said. Former President Rodrigo Duterte officially terminated the peace talks with the CPP-NDF on 21 March 2019. In his remaining months in office, Duterte slammed the arrogance of the communist movement’s armed wing, the NPA, saying he could not give the communist guerrillas another chance to resume the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA because of the "continuous killing spree of the NPA.” Despite his own position, Teodoro said he has yet to consult Marcos regarding the President’s plan on the proposed resumption of peace talks. The post DND chief: Peace talks with Reds ‘farce, oxymoron’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
No peace talks with Reds says Teodoro
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. remains firm that peace talks with the members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines will not be necessary. In a television interview on Wednesday, Teodoro acknowledged that the efforts of the government’s National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the AFP have been working. “Naturally, every violation of the law is reprehensible and should be disciplined. However, we can also deny the gains made by the NTF ELCAC in dismantling communist fronts. And I’ve always been consistent in the position that rebels are welcome to go back to the fold of the government,” he said. Teodoro believed that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity has been very beneficial to help former rebels to get a fresh start. “That’s why the OPAPRU is there, in order to help them, to rehabilitate them, and give them a new life. But to enter the peace talks, I’ve always been against that. Why will we enter when they can go back and run to public office,” he said. “This is really a violation of our democratic process and if the question is a substantial issue, there are political processes under our Constitution. They can’t take up arms to violate our Constitution.” Teodoro rejected the communist ideologies. "I’ve never been convinced that it is ideological. It's all getting, taking power for whatever 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 proletarian but we know very well it's not,” he said. Asked if he will ever recommend to President Ferdinand Marcos to push through the peace talks, Teodoro said; “No. It doesn’t need to be anymore because a lot of these communists' so-called fronts have already been dismantled.” Although, the AFP should be wary of all other forms of terrorism whether it be from the CPP-NPA-NDF or other groups, he added. “They have to retain their vigilance because we cannot afford any more conflict at this time and we must secure the development of the country,” Teodoro said. The post No peace talks with Reds says Teodoro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Air strikes shake Khartoum as Sudan rivals agree 1-week ceasefire
Air strikes and artillery exchanges shook the Sudanese capital Saturday and armed men ransacked the Qatari embassy as the country's warring generals kept up their struggle for control even as they agreed to a brief humanitarian pause. With heavy fighting raging in Khartoum, the rival sides struck a deal on a seven-day ceasefire beginning the evening of May 22, the United States and Saudi Arabia said Saturday in a joint statement after talks in Jeddah. The ceasefire "shall remain in effect for seven days and may be extended with the agreement of both parties," it said. Multiple announced truces have been violated since fighting broke out five weeks ago, which the Saudi foreign ministry acknowledged in a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency early Sunday. "Unlike previous ceasefires, the Agreement reached in Jeddah was signed by the parties and will be supported by a US-Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism," it said. It said subsequent talks "will focus on additional steps necessary to improve security and humanitarian conditions for civilians such as vacating forces from urban centers, including civilian homes, accelerating removal of impediments to the free movement of civilians and humanitarian actors, and enabling public servants to resume their regular duties." The power struggle between regular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy-turned-rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, erupted into fighting on April 15. The conflict has killed hundreds of people, most of them civilians, and displaced more than one million. The United Nations has warned of a fast-deteriorating humanitarian situation in Africa's third-largest country, where one in three people already relied on aid before the war. Saturday's ceasefire announcement comes two weeks after representatives of the warring generals first gathered in Jeddah for talks. By May 11 they had signed a commitment to respect humanitarian principles and allow in badly needed aid. But UN aid chief Martin Griffiths told AFP on Thursday that there had been "important and egregious" violations of that agreement, which fell short of a ceasefire. On Friday, Burhan sacked Daglo, giving his title of vice president of the ruling Sovereign Council to former rebel leader Malik Agar, and appointed three allies to top jobs in the military. A former rebel leader who signed a peace deal with Khartoum authorities in 2020, Agar said in a statement Saturday he was determined to try to "end the war" and press for negotiations. He also addressed Daglo directly saying "Sudan's stability can only be re-established by a professional and unified army". Integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces has been the main bone of contention between Daglo and Burhan. The force, which traces its origins to the notorious Janjaweed militia recruited in the early 2000s to crush a rebellion by ethnic minority groups in Darfur, is highly mobile but has a reputation for being ill-disciplined. Its fighters have been accused of widespread break-ins and looting, including at diplomatic missions and aid group offices. On Saturday, Qatar's embassy was the latest diplomatic mission to be attacked, drawing condemnation from Doha. "The embassy staff had previously been evacuated and... none of the diplomats or embassy staff were subjected to any harm," the ministry said. It renewed calls for "an immediate halt to the fighting". Qatar did not specifically identify Daglo's RSF as responsible but a statement from the pro-Burhan authorities put the blame squarely on the paramilitaries. The embassies of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey have also come under assault in recent weeks. Saturday's attack came a day after Arab leaders meeting at a summit in Saudi Arabia urged Sudan's feuding generals to halt the fighting. Although the main fighting is being played out in Khartoum, the violence has also spread to the war-ravaged western region of Darfur, where the RSF has its roots. In South Darfur capital Nyala, fighting since Thursday has killed 22 people forcing civilians to flee for safer areas as shells crash on their homes, the bar association in Darfur has said. On Friday, the UN aid boss Griffith said he was allocating $22 million in emergency funds to help Sudanese fleeing the violence. The funds will help relief efforts in Chad, the Central African Republic, Egypt, and South Sudan where Sudanese have sought refuge, he said. The United States promised $103 million for Sudan and neighboring countries to support displaced people. The post Air strikes shake Khartoum as Sudan rivals agree 1-week ceasefire appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Good things come with babies’
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 36-year-old leader of the main opposition Pheu Thai party, was given a rock star welcome as she returned to the campaign trail for the first time since giving birth less than two weeks ago. The daughter of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra fulfilled a promise to get back on the campaign trail after giving birth on 1 May. Paetongtarn has been first or second in surveys of voters’ preferred choice of prime minister and her Pheu Thai party — the latest incarnation of the political movement founded by her father — is leading most opinion polls. “I believe that good things come with babies, so this is a blessing for my family,” she told reporters at Bangkok’s Praram 9 hospital on 3 May. A heavily pregnant Paetongtarn was a near-constant presence at campaign rallies in searing tropical heat until just a week before giving birth. The baby, named Prutthasin Sooksawas and nicknamed “Thasin” in honor of her father, is Paetongtarn’s second. Napisa Waitoolkiat, a political analyst at Naresuan University, said the pregnancy and birth might help win over swing voters. Emilie Pradichit, of feminist human rights organization Manushya, said she had sent out a strong message in a patriarchal society. “By actively participating in the electoral process, while also sharing about her pregnancy, she is breaking barriers, Pradichit told Agence France-Presse. “It challenges the notion that pregnancy and motherhood are incompatible with political careers.” Voters are predicted to deliver a heavy defeat to the government of former army chief and coup leader Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, with Pheu Thai and the rival opposition Move Forward Party leading the final polls. Paetongtarn, the daughter of billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra — himself ousted in a coup — arrived to an electric atmosphere at Bangkok’s Impact arena. “May 14 will be a historic day where Thailand will change from a junta rule to a democratic rule,” she told around 10,000 supporters clad in Pheu Thai’s signature vivid scarlet colors. Sunday’s election is a clash between the opposition, fired up by the youth-led pro-democracy street protest movement of 2020, and the older conservative royalist-military establishment embodied by Prayut. Pheu Thai, which draws on a deep well of support from rural voters in the northeast, is well ahead in the polls, but winning most seats in the lower house is no guarantee of taking power. The prime minister will be chosen by the 500 elected members of parliament and 250-strong senate — whose members were appointed by Prayut’s junta, stacking the deck in favor of army-linked parties. The Shinawatra family’s bitter tussle with the royalist-military establishment has been at the center of Thailand’s rolling political drama. Thaksin was removed in a 2006 coup, and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra by Prayut’s putsch in 2014, and some analysts are skeptical that the military will release its grip on power now. The post ‘Good things come with babies’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Bato’ seeks death penalty vs political warlords
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is keen on the revival of the death penalty against politicians utilizing private armed groups as well as slapping heavy punishment on highly skilled uniformed personnel dismissed from the service working as private armies. This comes following the conduct of five hearings by the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee on Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and spate of killings in the province. “I think they should be because these politicians are the main masterminds of it. They should be included in death penalty. That’s correct, good suggestion,” said Dela Rosa when asked if the political warlords should get capital punishment. “Former members of security forces should also get heavier penalties especially when they use the training skills they acquired from the government, or particularly, from the Armed Forces, from the Philippine National Police — to victimize civilians. That must be a death penalty for them, we must not talk only about reclusion perpetua,” he added. The senator — who was a former Philippine National Police chief — stressed that he will immediately include these proposals in the soon-to-be-submitted committee report for possible adoption. “I will write the report and include these. I’m just waiting for the remaining affidavits from other resource persons,” said the lawmaker, adding that he will include in the committee report death that penalty recommendation will cover active and former AFP or PNP personnel engaged in private army activities. “You see, these people are very deadly. They will continue doing illegalities if they think they will not get the death punishment. They will accept money from politician x and carry out even criminalities. But if they know they will face the death penalty, then, they will slow down,” said Dela Rosa. The committee chair is also considering amending the Omnibus Election Code, specifically, the provision that will totally prohibit the entry of “nuisance candidates” in every electoral exercise -- which he cited as the root cause of the Degamo murder case. Dela Rosa is also eyeing the removal of authority by the local executives to choose or name the police provincial director and police regional director to be deployed within their jurisdiction as stated under the Local Government Code. He stressed that police provincial directors must be appointed by the PNP’s National Headquarters while choosing chiefs of police must be given to either the provincial or regional director of the PNP. The removal of authority from LCEs, he emphasized, will limit police officials being in debt of any politician so they can fulfill the PNP mandates “more independently.” “They can now snob bordering to illegal requests or illegal orders coming from these politicians. In that case, they can also enforce the law without fear to anyone,” Dela Rosa said. “PNP is a huge organization so they should be the ones to know the merit of the officers so they must call the deployment not politicians in the provinces.” Dela Rosa said it will also contribute to the professionalism among the PNP ranks as he disclosed the drafting of a PNP Reformation Bill giving additional powers to disciplining authorities such as the PNP chief or police regional and provincial directors to punish police personnel doing illegalities. “This is more likely a military law wherein commanders have the power to jail the violators among their ranks. I want to like that for the PNP,” said the senator. Dela Rosa said that the five hearings have initially established that neither the camps of Degamo nor Teves group came innocent in perpetrating violence in Negros Oriental as many testimonies were supported by evidence. However, he assessed that some narratives of resource persons were just character assassination. “Nobody can claim from both camps that they are absolutely clean. They are telling the truth, but sometimes, some testimonies are resulting in character assassination, there are two camps here trying to destroy each other,” said Dela Rosa. The post ‘Bato’ seeks death penalty vs political warlords appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Retired Army general named NTF-ELCAC chief
President Marcos has appointed a retired Army general as executive director of the government’s anti-insurgency task force......»»
Eduardo Año: The Unclassified Truth
Having served as Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, former DILG Secretary under then President Rodrigo Duterte, veteran combatant with a great track record and vast experience in the intelligence field, the newly-appointed National Security Adviser under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, Secretary Eduardo “Ed” Año is a welcome appointment......»»
New Army chief assumes post today
Newly appointed Philippine Army chief Maj. Gen. Andres Centino will officially assume the post today during turnover rites at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig......»»
Army names new ACOCS chief
The Philippine Army has appointed Col. Leo Edward Caranto as new chief of the Army Ordnance and Chemical Services......»»
Newly appointed PRO-13 chief strengthens ties with Army in Caraga
BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 9 (PIA) -- Newly appointed Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 chief PBGen. Romeo Caramat, Jr. reaffirmed the Caraga police force's ties with the 402nd Infantry "Stingers" Brigade, Ph.....»»
PhilHealth should get advice from the UK& rsquo;s NHS
At the time he appointed Ricardo Morales as president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, President Rodrigo Duterte assured the Filipino people that Mr. Morales, a recently-retired Philippine Army general, had a good professional record and likely able to clean up the mess at the agency......»»