Health secretary warned bird-watchers to beware of bird-flu

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 3, 2011-Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Enrique Ona yesterday warned bird-watchers at the Candaba Swamp to take extra precautions of the bird-flu virus.

Ona, represented executive secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr. was here as guest speaker during the 115^th anniversary celebration of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” at the municipal compound said that he was not telling bird-watchers to shy away from the Candaba Swamp but to be extra careful.

He clarified that the quarantine procedure was not an exemption for President Aquino and his entourage. He said there was no such quarantine procedure. “Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit lumabas ‘yon (I don’t know why it came out in the papers)?” he said, referring to newspaper reports that the Chief Executive does not have to be placed in quarantine when he returns from his state visit to China.

Prior to this, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Ogranization (FAO) warned the people that a mutant strain of bird flu was found in some poultry farms in northern and central Vietnam. Even the FAO also urged heightened readiness and surveillance against a possible major resurgence of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. (Jason de Asis)

Palace calls to rectify historical flaws on ‘Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija’

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 3, 2011-To set the heroism of General Mariano Llanera and other revolutionaries in its proper perspective,  Malacanang yesterday bats the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) to look into several “historical errors” about events involving the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija”.

“The NHCP led by its executive director Ludovico Badoy should conduct a thorough research on the historic event and make facts and figures “accurate” and “realistic” to give justice to its heroes,” said Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO).

At the sidelines of the 115th anniversary of the revolution at the municipal compound here yesterday noon, Coloma said that there is a pressing need to rectify historical errors because facts and figures are significant in such a historic event as the Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija.

Coloma together with PCOO Undersecretary Jose Mari Oquinena, Philippine Coast Guard commandant, Admiral Ramon Liwag and Director Maria Montelibano among others were welcomed here by Congco, Vice Mayor Ernesto Talens Jr. and 88-year-old Aurora Llanera-Adriano, daughter of the late general.

Coloma reacted to the remarks made by local historians that historical documents and accounts of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” were full of glaring errors and inaccuracies.

“One of these errors included the accounts that up to 3,000 revolutionaries from this town marched towards San Isidro with the use of a “musikang bumbong” where they assaulted the Spanish garrison in the afternoon of September 2, 1896,” local historian Jose Hipolito said.

He said that it is fatally wrong. The fact is only 753 revolutionaries laid siege in San Isidro and they marched there accompanied not by “musikang bumbong” but by a brass band.

“The 3,000 supposed revolutionaries were too bloated a number and would clearly constitute an overkill on the part of Llanera’s group since they were up against only 100 Spanish soldiers,” Hipolito said.

Hipolito revealed that he knew of no one who conducted a realistic and in-depth research about the revolution and its heroes. “I was the only one who went to the National Archives to conduct my own research,” he said.

Aside from the glaring historical inaccuracies, Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco also questioned that the center of celebrations for the annual event is often held in the provincial capital Palayan City and not in this town. She said she had nothing against holding festivities in other towns to commemorate the event for Novo Ecijanos to appreciate history but said Cabiao’s role should be given utmost importance.     

The 69-year-old head of the marching band that stormed the Spanish garrison in San Isidro also said Cabiao should be given recognition as the rightful venue for anniversary rites.

Raul Nogoy, Banda, ’96 leader said San Isidro (then known as Factoria) cannot be considered as the center of the celebrations neither because this was where the Spaniards held Fort.

Yesterday, Governor Aurelio Umali and Vice Governor Jose Gay Padiernos led similar anniversary rites at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in the provincial capital.

Vice Gov. Gay Padiernos in an interview during the
celebration of "Unang Sigaw sa Nueva Ecija".

Congco said it is only fitting that organizers consider Cabiao as the center of celebrations because General Llanera was from here, adding that the great revolutionary leader hailed from Barangay San Roque.

The event marked the day when Llanera and General Pantaleon Valmonte led home-grown revolutionaries, armed only with 100 guns, bolos and pointed sticks in assaulting the Spanish garrison in San Isidro on September 2, 1896, two days after the “Unang Sigaw ng Balintawak.”

Waving black and red flag, the revolutionaries caught the Spanish guardia civil by surprise.

The province earned its place in the Philippine flag as one of the eight (8) rays of the sun, each ray representing the province that revolted against the Spaniards as its role in the revolution. (Jason de Asis)

“Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” rites should rightfully be held in Cabiao

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija, September 2, 2011-Local officials have insisted that the center of celebrations for the annual “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” (First Cry of Nueva Ecija) should be in this town and not in Palayan City.

Instead of Palayan, Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco told newsmen that organizers should give justice to the heroism of General Mariano Llanera by considering Cabiao as the center of celebrations.

“Cabiao should really be the center of the celebrations because General Llanera was from here,” Congco said, adding that the great revolutionary leader hailed from Barangay San Roque.

Congco came out with her remarks even as local officials will observe the 115^th anniversary of the revolution at the Nueva Ecija Convention Center in Palayan City today.

The event marked the day when Llanera led home-grown revolutionaries in assaulting the Spanish garrison in San Isidro and freed hundreds of Katipuneros on September 2, 1896. For its role in the revolution, the province earned its place in the Philippine flag as one of the eight rays of the sun, each ray representing the provinces that revolted against the Spaniards.

Congco said that she had nothing against holding festivities in other towns to commemorate the event for Novo Ecijanos to appreciate history but said Cabiao’s role should be given utmost importance.     

The 66-year-old head of the marching band that stormed the Spanish garrison in nearby San Isidro town also said Cabiao should be given recognition as the rightful venue for anniversary rites.

Raul Nogoy, Banda, ’96 leader said the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) should set the record straight on the revolution. He said San Isidro (then known as Factoria) can not be considered as the center of the celebrations neither because this was where the Spaniards held fort.

“Don nagkuta ang mga kaaway so bakit doon (It was there where the enemy sought refuge so why hold it there),” he said.

The holding of the celebrations in Palayan has also come under fire from historians who said Novo Ecijanos seem to have lost their sense of history.

Noted historian Jose Hipolito Jr., the municipal planning and development coordinator, said Llanera and his fellow “coup plotters” met in the house of the Romeros here where they plotted the revolt. He said the Romeros were the ancestors of Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali.

Former municipal engineer Dante dela Cruz said since he was a kid, Cabiao has been commemorating the event yearly, unlike San Isidro which started observing the event only recently. He said Cabiao always plays a significant role in revolutions, citing the Hukbalahaps (Hukbo ng Bayan laban sa Hapon), one of whose leaders, Jesus Lava, was from Barangay Sinipit.

Local historical accounts said that when the Spaniards first laid siege in Manila, remnants of the forces of Rajah Sulayman sought refuge in this town. (Jason de Asis)

Mati’s media practitioners given media formation sessions

MATI, Davao Oriental, Sept. 2, 2011―Mati’s diocesan radio stations DXHM-AM and DXDV-97.5 Spirit FM have recently organized media formation sessions for its personnel, following the vision of its founder-director, Most Rev. Bishop Patricio H. Alo, D.D.

DXHM-AM, Heart of Mary station, now known as Radyo Totoo of the Catholic Media Network, has been giving media formation sessions to its workforce as its policy since its beginning 20 years ago.

The stations have expanded its vision of media formation this year by inviting outside media practitioners in order to deepen and strengthen their commitment to truth and human/Christian values amidst a divided, materialistic and violent world.

The media formation also aimed to improve one’s personal talents and technical know-how in the field of media, as well as to learn from one another’s experience and sharing as media practitioner.

Forty media practitioners composed of radio programmers, newscasters, reporters, block timers of both religious and secular programs, television servicemen, multi-media/internet specialists & technicians, office personnel, and interested students from the secondary and collegiate levels attended the media formation.

The diverse composition furthered the sense of unity, of “serving together as co-journeyers motivated to pray, act, and share our giftedness so that the media of social communications may bring the Gospel to all nations…as instruments of telling the truth and not in any way to injure others through word or deed,” so expressed the prayer purposely composed for Mass Media workers by the Program Dept. personnel.

Each participant was given opportunity to talk about his/her program during the session.

Professor Lillibeth Galvez, resource speaker from the Devcom Dept. of the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology gave tips for professional performance improvement while station Program Directress Sr. Marietta Alo, OND facilitated spontaneous reactions and suggestions towards mutual acquaintance, support, and promotion, bringing out the best of each program.

Fr. Roland Sayman shed light on the Vatican II document on social communications, Inter Mirifica, as well as underlining the use of digital technologies in the Service of the Word, as written in various World Communications Day messages of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. .

In his inspirational message, Bishop Alo stressed the goal of evangelization, saying, “our prime interest has been to proclaim the truth in all sincerity and fidelity since that was the last instruction of Jesus which we read in St. Mark’s gospel chapter 16 verse 16: ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned.’”

The bishop further explained that for success in the media apostolate—radio, TV and print—“it is important that deep in the heart we want only to communicate that which is true, good and beneficial to humanity without the vested interests or hidden agenda…to let the saving truths of Jesus reach as many as possible, living by truth and in love as St. Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians 4:15.” (Sr. Marietta Alo, OND)

Reds collapsed in recovering their mass base in Aurora, says top army official

BALER, AURORA, September 2, 2011-A top army official here in Aurora revealed that the New People’s Army (NPA) collapsed in recovering their mass base in the recent clash at Sitio Balagbag, Barangay Dimanayat, San Luis, Aurora.

Ltc Kurt Decapia, 48^th Infantry “Guardians” Battalion chief said Thursday that the rebels’ target to regain their lost ground ended, manifesting that the villagers of Aurora including the local government, private sectors and non-government organization did not support them anymore; hence, weakening the rebels strength.

“The rebels attempted to conduct extortions, recruitments and atrocities but collapsed in the entire province. We are all inspired for the full support of Aurorans,” Decapia said.

Decapia recalled that the 48^th IB army troops led by 2lt Edwin Lauro clashed to more or less fifty (50) rebels who were on the actual massive recruitments and extortion activities at Barangay Dimanayat, San Luis, saying that the leftist armed group came from the different units of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA for recovery effort in their lost ground in the province.

“The battled lasted for more or less one hour where the rebels run for their lives and spread to different directions to avoid the military,” Decapia said.

“The government recovered a pack of simcards, medicine kit, subversive documents and four (4) claymore mines to be used for sabotage in the government projects in Aurora,” Decapia furthered, explaining that numerous blood stained were found in the encountered site that came from the rebels.

He said that Pfc Edwin Dacayo was slightly wounded during the battle. Dacayo was airlifted to Camp Ravina and then brought to Aurora Memorial Hospital, then was eventually brought to AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.

Prior to the encounter, Decapia said that the rebels attempted to sow terror to the villagers of Brgy. Diteki were more or less ten (10) rebels harassed the army detachment. Soldiers are conducting “Bayanihan Program” which aimed to help the barangay officials and the populace in their peace and development program.

The following day at around 9:10 in the morning Saturday, two (2) NPA planted detonated explosives near the bridge of Diteki highway while on their way back towards the battalion headquarters. Only one detonated explosive blasted.

“There was no reported casualty in the government side in the twin harassment to the army,” Decapia said, explaining that the villagers of Diteki denounced the move of the NPA. “The soldiers were there to help the villagers unlike the NPA who wreck havoc among the villagers," he said.

“The rebels attack means that they did not only attack the soldiers but moreso the villagers who already outcast them,” Decapia said.

It could be remembered that the local officials together with the hundreds of villagers gathered in Diteki basketball court and requested the army to stay in their barangay as their counterpart in the peace, livelihood and development program.

Decapia said that the incident was a desperate retaliation of the rebels to the military after the encounter at Barangay Diarabasin, Dipaculao last July 10, 2011 which were allegedly conducting recruitment and recovery efforts three (3) kilometers away from the villagers.

“We recovered one (1) body count among the rebels at the encounter site while others were reportedly died during the fire exchange while the others were wounded in action based in the blood stained in their route of withdrawal,” Decapia said. “We also recovered M16 rifle, explosives and personal belongings of the NPA,” he added.

“Due to the diminishing number of the leftist group due to the surrender of their members and without the support of the civilians, it is seen that they will merge as one big group and focus their terrorism activities in a targeted area to fool the people to believe that they are still strong and powerful. With what they did the more the people dislike them as they spread havoc in the barangay,” Decapia emphasized.

Decapia said that the series of encounter in Aurora manifest the success of the government and the masses to stop the rebels’ comeback in the province. “The people already outcast them,” he said.

He added that the various engagements were efforts of the populace in the barangays and that’s the reason why they immediately conducted hot pursuit operation against the rebels who left the province.

Decapia lauded the barangay officials, local government units, non-government organizations, and the civilians who supported them in their campaign in maintaining the province’s status as insurgency free.

“I always explained that the basis of insurgency free in a province is the full support of the masses against the CPP/NPA,” Decapia said, adding that he is expecting another story from the rebels that they win in their objective but the people know what is the reality.

“The outright rejection of the barangay residents in the presence of CPP/NPA in their community is a basis to state that the province is insurgency free. The soldier will not stop in pursuing the leftist would like to hinder development of the province particularly in maintaining peaceful lives,” Decapia ended. (Jason de Asis)

AFP reaffirms diplomacy over NPA atrocities

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City, September 1, 2011-The Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reaffirms its commitment to uphold human rights in all of its operations here in Central and Northern Luzon.

Ltc Rosendo D Armas, chief of the AFP 1^st civil  relations group said that  the military troops in their area of responsibilities (AOR) remain committed in performing their mission towards peace and development despite the recent atrocities committed by the New People’s Army (NPA) which is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

“Every Filipino wants peace and so with the soldiers who are at the forefront in fighting threat groups inimical to a peaceful community,” Armas said. 

“It is just unfortunate why the spate of atrocities and criminalities of the CPP/NPA happen at a time when the peace negotiations are ongoing. Not only the Chairman of the Government Negotiating Panel observed that the peace talks were being taken advantage of by the CPP/NPA to demand the release of their detained leaders but also the public who constantly monitor the development in the peace efforts.”

CPP/NPA recent atrocities included the kidnapping of Mayor Henry Dano of Lingig, Surigao del Sur and two military escorts; the NPA attack on a police station in Mobo, Masbate; the killing of an Army volunteer during a clash between government troops and NPA rebels in Barangay Taposo, Candelaria, Zambales; NPA raid of a sugarcane plantation in a remote village in San Mariano, Isabela which is being developed for a bio-ethanol plant; foiled harassment and ambush of Bayanihan patrols team in Aurora; NPA held captive four (4) personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Bukidnon; and a long list of other atrocities committed by the CPP/NPA in the past.

“These acts of violence of the CPP/NPA violated the provisions of the Comprehensive Agreement with Respect to Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL),” Armas furthered, adding that the government remains firm in their stand in achieving a lasting peace despite the recent atrocities committed by the leftist group.

NOLCOM spokesperson Captain Jovily Carmen Cabading said that in the spirit of bayanihan, we can only hope and pray that the NPAs will finally be enlightened to go back to the fold of the law.

She said that the Aquino administration is doing everything for the ‘peacetalk’ to bear fruit. The past NPA atrocities and their impossible demands did more harm than good.

In the end, “let us all be reminded that in prolonging this insurgency, it is not the soldiers, nor the NPAs, who lose. It is always the innocent civilians who are caught in the middle of the crossfire,” Cabading said. (Jason de Asis)

Hundreds more learn of RH bill's failure as proposed solution

MANILA, August 31, 2011―As news reports on inconsistencies in statistical numbers and in the agenda of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill and its proponents continue to come out, hundreds of parishioners in Parañaque City got the lowdown on the controversial bill through informative talks delivered by members of Filipinos for Life (F4L).

Following a multi-media presentation on pro-life issues, Anthony James Perez, Anna Cosio and Atty. Marwil Llasos tackled different aspects of House Bill 4244 at an afternoon activity organized by Mary, Mother of Good Counsel Parish and attended by some 300 parishioners, most of them students.

Perez, F4L founder, discussed the reasons for the group’s opposition to the bill, explaining why the legislative measure was not the solution to the country’s problems.
Citing incontestable statistics, Perez debunked the overpopulation myth on which population control advocates have based their claims.

Nurse instructor Cosio tackled the medical and health-related issues surrounding the bill. Armed with science-based research and findings, she proved that human life starts at fertilization–or the meeting of the egg and sperm cells.

As part of the RH bill is the taxpayer-funded procurement and distribution of artificial contraceptives, Cosio also went into a discussion of the harmful–and sometimes fatal–effects of birth control drugs and devices on women.

Tackling the moral, constitutional and legal aspects was Llasos, who declared that the bill was anti-God, anti-human and anti-Filipino. Included in the lawyer’s presentation were explanations as to the constitutional infirmities of portions of the bill.

As the talks concluded, a woman among the participants brought up the situation of an unmarried friend who had considered getting rid of her unborn baby, given that the child’s father refused to acknowledge his responsibility to the mother and child.

Llasos’ advice to the woman was to tell her friend to inform her parents about the situation. Abortion is not an option, he added, and there are government, private and religious institutions that can help women in such situations.

The lawyer also offered F4L’s help in facilitating adoption placement for the baby.
Meanwhile, members of the Speakers’ Bureau of the Vicariate of Real Infanta and General Nakar, Prelature of Infanta, Quezon province boosted their understanding of the issues pertaining to the culture of life through a recent seminar about the RH bill.

As part of the family and life ministry’s series of trainors’ training seminars, Buhay Partylist pro-life advocacy staff Jose Descallar delivered a day-long talk on issues pertaining to the legislative measure to 45 participants–including school principals, teachers and city councilors–upon the invitation of the prelature’s Vicar-General Fr. Mario Establecida.

According to Descallar, the open forum was quite interesting due to questions about the “fine-tuned” version of the bill, supposedly an initiative of Malacañang.

“Hindi pa din okey sa inyo ‘yung amendments na ginagawa dun sa bill?” queried one of the participants.

Descallar explained that such amendments changed nothing because “it’s the bill’s framework that’s the problem. Even if you amend it and all that’s left are four sections–declaration of policy, guiding principles, appropriations, and the penal provisions–hindi pa din okey ‘yan. It is still within the same framework.”

H.B. 4244, authored by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, continues to face a growing opposition due to its mandate of taxpayer-funded procurement and distribution of a “full range” of birth control drugs and devices including abortifacients, six-year sex education program from Grade 5 to 4th year high school in all schools as well as among out-of-school youth, provision of birth control drugs, devices and services by employers to their employees, and punitive measures for those who speak out against the bill. (CBCP for Life)

13 families rescued by army as typhoon ‘Mina’ whipped Abra

BANGUED, Abra, August 31, 2011-At least thirteen families who were stranded in the flooded barangays of Cabuloan and Sta Rosa were rescued by the troops of 503^rd Infantry (Justice and Peace) Brigade and 41^st Infantry (Partner for Peace) Battalion, Philippine Army as tropical storm ‘Mina’ whipped here Sunday night.

Northern Luzon Command spokesperson Captain Jovily Carmel Cabading said that the joint 503^rd Infantry Brigade, 41^st Infantry Battalion, Provincial Joint Peace and Security Council (JPSCC) with  the Abra police who were tasked to conduct series of checkpoints inside the town of Bangued versus gun for hire personalities and suspected private armed groups (PAGS) have changed their mandates into Disaster Rescue and Relief Operations (DRRO) to save lives and properties of villagers at the said barangays.

“Soldiers onboard with two M35 trucks and two KM450 military vehicles proceeded to the flooded communities together with volunteers from the Philippine National Red Cross to inspect flooded houses and look for stranded persons,” Cabading said, saying that the villagers were convinced to leave their houses while the water was not yet deep.

In Barangay Cabuloan, two families were carried by soldiers mostly old women to safer place and to evacuation centers, while in Santa Rosa, eleven families were evacuated.

“They were evacuated to the Provincial Capitol while others were brought at safe houses of their relatives in the adjacent barangays, particularly at Zone III of said town,” Cabading stated.

Army 503^rd Brigade chief Col Eliseo Posadas said that the soldiers are always ready to help civilian populace when need arises as their mandated tasks call for it, assuring that all of his troops are well equipped and prepared in disaster response.

Municipality of Bangued is one of the towns that suffered considerable damage to properties from the wrath by the storm, especially agricultural crops due to the proximity of farmlands along Abra river.

“Soldiers are also involved in the search and rescue of missing persons who were reportedly drowned due to heavy current in Abra river. The dead bodies of the missing were recovered expeditiously,” Posadas said. (Jason de Asis)

Special Report: New Zealanders urge P-Noy to end disappearances in PHl

MANILA, August 30, 2011—In solidarity with Filipinos, the people of New Zealand urged President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to help ease the pain and agony of the families and friends of the disappeared by surfacing them; or if quite impossible, make the people responsible in enforced disappearances and abductions in the Philippines accountable.

The call was made by a New Zealand human rights watchdog in commemoration of the International Day of the Disappeared.

Murray Hurton, the general secretary of the human rights watchdog, Philippines Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA) pleaded to the Philippine government to use its political will to stop all atrocities and end the culture of impunity, and let the disappeared and illegally detained safely return to their families' embrace.

Dismayed over GPH-NDFP peace talks

The PSNA, together with Auckland Philippines Solidarity (APS) and the Wellington Kiwi-Pinoy (WKP) had expressed their dismay over the state of the peace talks between the Reds and the Philippine Government (GPH), which is, again, in danger of deadlock due to allegations of gross disrespect of the military forces to human rights and the statements of GPH chief negotiator, Atty. Alexander Padilla on Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), which he says, "inoperative."

The JASIG, which was signed by the NDFP and GPH in 1995, virtually protects the members and consultants of the NDFP from arrests and detention.

"With the gross record of globally-condemned human rights violations under your predecessor Mrs Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, hopes for justice and change were raised when you assumed the presidency in June 2010. At the series of public meetings around New Zealand in October-November 2010 where Luis Jalandoni and Coni Ledesma of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) Peace Negotiating Panel spoke on the prospects for peace in the Philippines, New Zealanders were keen to hear whether the perpetrators of the Ampatuan massacre have been brought to justice and whether the killings of journalists and activists under your presidency.

"[Yet] [w]e find it alarming that in addition to the thousands of unresolved cases under Arroyo, there are now 48 cases of extra-judicial killings, 5 enforced disappearances and 336 political prisoners remain in detention under your administration. Equally alarming is the fact that many peasant and trade union activists, social justice and human rights advocates including church workers and at least one labor rights lawyer are again threatened with arrest on trumped up charges filed at the time of Arroyo and now revived under your watch. We are also aware that NDFP personnel who played significant roles in the peace process are among the hundreds who have become victims of enforced disappearances and illegal detentions," reads the open letter signed by Hurton for PSNA, Daphna Whitmore for the APS, and Rod Prosser for the KWP, dated August 30, 2011.

‘Arbitrary’ arrests continue

Earlier, the League of Filipino Students (LFS) and other militant youth groups had sounded the alarm over the arrest of three youth leaders in Cebu and some members of the local peasant group there.

In a statement issued by the LFS national headquarters in the social networking site, Facebook (FB), it says that Melanie Montano, a member of the League of Filipino Students UP Cebu chapter; Remy Jade Manzon, a member of Kabataang Artista para sa Sambayanan (Karatula)-UP Cebu chapter, and Januelle Rontos of the Nagkakaisang Kusog ng mga Estudyante, a political party in UP Cebu were arrested while elements of the Philippine National Police violently dispersed a protest camp of peasants in Sitio Camarin, Brgy Bonbon, Aloguinsan, Cebu as they were doing a "basic mass integration" in the area. The incident happened around 5:30 in the morning yesterday (August 29).

The arrest, said the LFS, was an overkill since 300 PNP personnel were deployed to disperse the peasants' protest camp, erected in the disputed 168-hectare land of the Aboitizes, known shipping magnate in the country.

"The LFS is fuming over this recent blatant violation of the people’s human right, [which is] another manifestation of whose interest [that this] government is serving. The peasants of Sitio Camarin have all the right to defend their land, more so, [to] continue till it, but elements of... the Philippine National Police became the principal ushers of the ruling few in stepping on the right of the peasants to land and their right to peaceably assemble for redress of grievances," the LFS statement read.

Church peoples saddened over postponement of GPH-NDFP talks

Even Church peoples have sounded the alarm over the indefinite postponement of the peace talks between the State and the communist insurgents, represented by the NDFP.

In the statement issued on August 28 by the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP), the largest and widest ecumenical formation of church leaders pushing for just and lasting peace in the Philippines, Kalookan Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J., and Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdez had expressed their fears that the peace talks, would once again, be derailed because of the indefinite postponement of the GPH-NDFP meeting in Oslo, Norway. Iñiguez, Ledesma and Ruiz-Duremdez serve as head of the secretariat and co-chairpersons of the PEPP, respectively.

"After the spark of hope that was brought about by the GPH-NDFP formal peace talks last February, which produced the February 21, 2011 Oslo Joint Statement, the recent pronouncements to the media from both GPH Peace Panel Chair Atty. Alex Padilla and NDFP Peace Panel Spokesperson Fidel Agcaoili, bodes for another postponement of the formal talks. The talks were postponed already last June and we feel that another postponement may truly derail the peace negotiations," reads the PEPP statement entitled "Stay on Course, Pursue Formal Peace Talks".

The PEPP says that the bone of contention, which started the exchange of words between the leaders of two panels, was the issue of the release of NDFP consultants, which the latter claims are covered by the JASIG.

"The NDFP called for a postponement of the talks last June to give time for the GPH to release the consultants. While the GPH already released four consultants, the NDFP is demanding that GPH honor the February 21 Joint Statement by releasing all consultants covered by the JASIG. The GPH recently stated that until the reciprocal working committees on CASER shall have completed the common tentative agreement on social and economic reforms, the talks will be postponed indefinitely and that there will be no formal talks on issues concerning the JASIG. This in turn was seen by the NDFP as a move to scuttle the negotiations," read the PEPP statement.

"In this light, we would like to appeal to both panels to iron out their differences and proceed with the formal peace talks. We believe that it is better to engage in principled debate over the negotiating table rather than other venues. The PEPP also encourages both sides to abide by their own reaffirmation of the validity and binding effect of all previous bilateral agreements as stated in the February Joint Statement. This includes the JASIG. We have previously stated that both parties “... follow the spirit of the JASIG as it is a crucial issue around the formal peace talks” and that “... its faithful implementation enables the two parties to resume the negotiations in earnest” (“Resolve the Issue on JASIG, Resume the Formal Peace Talks” PEPP Statement, June 8, 2011)," the PEPP statement continued.

It also furthers that one of the big developments on the talks last February was the timetable for the negotiation.

"For advocates, the schedules indicated in the timetable can be guideposts to peace. We call on both panels to work hard in order to meet the proposed schedules. If both sides abide by this, and try to build bridges instead of hurdles, and we reiterate this — through principled negotiations — our country will enjoy what the Psalmist promised, “a future awaits those who seek peace” (Psalms 37:37)," the PEPP statement ends.

Peace advocates remove profile photos on FB for the disappeared

Meanwhile, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP) and other members of the "netizens" had their share of the grief and longing of the families of the forcibly disappeared by making their faces at Facebook literally "disappear."

The taking down of profile pictures in FB as a symbol of solidarity for the family and friends of the Desaparecidos (Spanish term for the disappeared) had started with the letter of appeal from the human rights advocates that reads:

"Dear friends,

"In solidarity with the friends & family of the missing who continue to seek justice, & in remembrance of the thousands of desaparecidos in the Philippines & around the world, we are requesting that you take down your profile picture on August 30, Tuesday.

"August 30 is the International Day of the Disappeared. Please pass to those who are supportive of this cause."

Catherine Bantoy, a graduate student from University of the Philippines-Diliman and currently working as a guess coordinator in one of the big channels in the Philippines, says she needed not to think twice in removing her photo in FB.

"I have removed it (my photo) to show support to the family and also to stir awareness to FB friends who didn't know [about] the issue," she said in an email interview.

For Angelica Carballo of the Philippine Public Transparency Reporting Project (PPTRP), she did remove her photo in FB for she knows that "if these atrocities don't stop, one day, I might become a victim, my child can be a victim, my sister, brother, parents, can be victims. And as a mother, I feel for the mothers of the disappeared who, until now, are searching for their children. Nothing can be more painful than to wait for nothing today or tomorrow." (Noel Sales Barcelona)

Reds in massive recruitment in Aurora says army chief

LTC Kurt A. Decapia in a firing range at Camp Ravina,
Brgy. Sabang, Baler, Aurora.

BALER, Aurora, August 30, 2011-Communist Terrorist New People’s Army have engaged in massive recruitment in this place where rebels felt as their last bastion of defense, they are targeting rebel returnees, students and training so called “child warriors” to beef up its ranks and regain lost ground in the province, a military officer said Monday. 

“These groups are in the forefront of the rebels’ recruitment activities more than a year since the province was declared insurgency-free by the military, the Philippine National Police and the provincial government,” Lt. Col. Kurt Decapia, commander of the Army’s 48^th Infantry (Guardians) Battalion, said.

He said last Tuesday’s (August 23) encounter proved the rebels are into training and recruitment, following the discovery of the training camp in Barangay Dimanayat, San Luis town.

“The rebels are projecting that they are still here although there are only a dozen of them, a number which is minimal and negligible,” Decapia said, adding rebels operating in the province merge with their counterparts from the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya.

Decapia said the rebels are already a “spent force” in the province and trying to flex their muscles to make it appear their movement is still strong.

He said the rebels were trying to win back Aurora after a series of military operations cleared several areas, particularly in the tri-boundaries of Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya. “Following several NPA-clearing operations since last December, these rebels felt Aurora is their last stronghold,” he said.

Decapia said  the rebels have not been successful in their efforts, particularly in trying to win back their former comrades. “Their former comrades have not been accommodating them. They have been rejected by the rebel returnees,” he said.

“The rebels also want to disrupt economic activities in the province since the economy is flourishing rapidly in Aurora,” Decapia added.

Decapia said the encounter was a spill-over operations conducted by his men after renewed clashes between government troops and rebel guerillas in Barangay Diteki, San Luis last August 12 and 13 in which the NPA claimed four soldiers were killed, a claim which Decapia vehemently denied.

Meanwhile, two days after August 23 encounter, Ka Rowena Servante, spokesperson of the Domingo Erlano Command (DEC), New People’s Army (NPA) in Aurora said in a press statement that they were killed seven soldiers and six wounded in a recent clashed in San Luis town, a claim which the military strongly denied saying that only one (1) was slightly wounded in action identified as PFC Erwin Dacayo, a native of Guimba, Nueva Ecija who was already brought at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center, V.  Luna road, Quezon City and now in a stable condition.

The DEC also vowed to launch more armed offensives against the military in the province at the soonest time possible. (Ronald Madrid Leander)