Members, mass supporters abandon NPA terrorist movement in AgSur
By Major Francisco Garello, Jr.
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 21 – Twenty-nine (29) Communist Party of the
Philippines -New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) terrorist members, 80 Milisya ng
Bayan (MBs) members, and 212 mass supporters have abandoned the CPP-NPA
Terrorist (CNT) movement in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur during the Peace Rally
and Mass Withdrawal of support Ceremony on September 15, 2020 held at the
Esperanza National High School Gymnasium, Barangay Poblacion, Esperanza,
Agusan del Sur.
The former NPA members and the Communist Terrorist Group
(CTG) supporters have openly denounced through a march protest rally, the
atrocities and continuous exploitation of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG)
of their communities. They expressed their sentiments against the CTG’s
deception method and the continuous hardship they have brought to them.
A total of 321 members and supporters of the CTG composed of 29 regular
NPA members, 80 Milisya ng Bayan members, 12 supporters, 151 mass
organization members, 23 contacts, and 26 couriers, all residents of Esperanza
town have pledged allegiance to the government and vowed to eradicate the
influence of the CTG in their communities.
Guerilla Front (GF) 88, GF89 and GF4B of North Central Mindanao Regional
Command (NCMRC) are the CTGs conducting agitation, organizing and recruitment
in the said municipality to include extortion and threat.
Since January 2020, a total of 607 CNTs were already neutralized
(killed, apprehended or surrendered) thru combat operations, joint law
enforcement operations and the Community Support Program of the government.
The Municipal Task Force in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict
spearheaded by Mayor Leonida Manpatilan through the efforts of the
Community Support Teams (CSTs) of the 26th Infantry (Ever Onward)
Battalion under the operational control of the 402nd Infantry (Stingers)
Brigade (402nd) facilitated the Signing of Manifesto entitled “Manipesto sa
Among Pagbugto sa Pagka-miyembro sa Kalihukan sa CPP-NPA-NDF Organisasyong Masa
ug Militar.”
Mayor Manpatilan lamented the continuous threat brought about by the
CNTs who sow fear by killing innocent civilians who refuse to support their
movement in order to maintain control and influence in the communities. She
also commended the courage and bravery of her constituents for coming back to
the folds of the law and have now become peace partners of the government.
Fifteen members received financial assistance worth
Php15,000.00 each from the LGU of Esperanza while the rest will still
undergo validation.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Maurito Licudine, 402nd Brigade Commander,
said the shift of support of the former members of the CNTs and its mass
supporters were already anticipated due to the strong advocacy of the Local
Government Unit (LGU) of Esperanza led by their Municipal Mayor in facilitating
the Whole of Nation Approach convergence to address the insurgency problem in
their municipality.
“Local Chief Executives need to rise up and be the voice of their people
in addressing this menace plaguing our communities for several decades. We are
fortunate that Mayor Manpatilan and Vice Mayor Siohan together with their
Sangguniang Members have joined hands with the security sector and recognized that
only in an environment of peace that use can realize peaceful and progressive
communities,” BGen. Licudine said.
“We call on the other Local Chief Executives to strengthen their resolve
to fight these terrorists. Much is expected from our local leaders as they are
the key element in leading their respective constituents in driving away the
communist terrorist from their communities. Together let’s fight these pests
who hamper the socio-economic development potentials of communities for the
past decades,” added Licudine.
BGen. Licudine also encouraged remaining members of the CTG to
surrender and avail the E-CLIP that can provide opportunities for them to start
a new life.
Also in attendance in full support to the activity of the MTF ELCAC were Governor Santiago Cane, Jr., Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A Goce, 26IB commanding officer, and Datu Carlos “Balubaguio” Otacan, the Municipal IP Mandatory Representative of EADS. (CMO, 402nd Brigade)
Army finds CNT
hideout in Agnor; seizes ammos, supplies
By 1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Sept. 21 -- Troopers of the 23rd
Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23rd IB), Philippine Army discovered a
Communist New People’s Army Terrorists' (CNTs') hideout in the hinterlands of
Barangay Amparo, Butuan City on the evening of September 17, 2020 after
conducting a follow-up operation based on the information provided by Alias
DANSOY/KEVIN, the Political Instructor (PI) of Sentro De Gravidad CAOCAO,
Guerilla Front-4A, North Central Mindanao Regional Command.
It can be recalled that Alias DANSOY/KEVIN surrendered to 23rd IB on the
same date. The discovered hideout has an estimated land area of three hundred
square meters (300m2) which can accommodate more or less 28 persons. It was
abandoned a few hours prior to discovery.
Seized from the said hideout were one Motorcycle (SKYGO), 314 rounds of
live ammunition of Ctg Cal .30, Carbine; 54 rounds of live ammunition of Ctg
5.56mm, M16 Rifle; four rounds of live ammunition of Ctg 7.62mm, M14 Rifle, one
long magazine for M16 Rifle; one short magazine for M16 Rifle; three Short
Magazines for Cal .30, Carbine, one round of live ammunition of Ctg 40mm, HE
M203 GL, one short magazine for cal. .30, Carbine; six blasting caps; one
handheld radio (Baofeng), three batteries for handheld radio (Baofeng); one
charger for handheld radio (Baofeng); three antennas for handheld radio
(Baofeng); three USB connectors; 17 pieces sim cards; two memory adaptors; two
chargers for cellular phone; one rubber duck; three civilian bag packs; one jungle
hammock; five tents; assorted medical supplies; assorted clothing; one-half (½)
sack of rice; and subversive documents.
Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, Commander of 23IB expressed gratitude to
the former rebel (FR) who provided the positive information to the unit.
“Through the active cooperation of the FR who recently surrendered to
our unit, we have located the CNT hideout and probably foil their hostile plans
in the community. We now have two best reliable sources of positive information
-- the weary civilian populace and the FRs,” Paulo said.
He also emphasized that the CNTs no longer have a place to hide as the
civilians are now are showing their full support to the government particularly
to the Army and the police.
“No matter where these CNTs will hide, we will still locate them and we
will continue to pursue them because we know that they are just around the
area,” Paulo said.
He again urged the remaining and tired CNT members in Agusan del Norte
to listen to the call of the government and take hold of the opportunity being
offered to them.
“Come down, lay down your arms, and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive
Local Integration Program (ECLIP) of the government. But, if you will not heed
to our call, then we will never hesitate to use our force to neutralize you for
the benefit of the Filipino people who longed to live peacefully,” Paulo said.
(CMO Officer, 23IB, 4ID, PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Head of AgNor's 'Milisya ng Bayan' yields to Army
By 1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Sept. 21 -- The head of the Sangay ng
Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL) and Milisya ng Bayan (MB) in Agusan del Norte
surrendered to the troops of the 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23rd IB),
Philippine Army on September 16, 2020, at around 9:50am.
The MB head identified as “Rico," 28, was operating in
Barangay Durian, Las Nieves town under the Guerrilla Front (GF) 4A of the North
Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Alias Rico voluntarily surrendered to Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, the
commander of 23rd IB at the battalion headquarters in Jamboree Site, Purok 6,
Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte.
He also turned over to the 23rd IB one (1) Honda XRM 125 Motorcycle, one
(1) ACER Laptop, one (1) Baofeng Radio, two (2) assorted Andriod phones, seven
(7) assorted keypad phones, two (2) gun tuckers and assorted receipts. He also
revealed that the Honda motorcycle is owned by Khim Agad Mapoy @PATRICK, the
Secretary of GF4A, NCMRC.
During the interview, “Rico” said that being an MB of the Communist NPA
Terrorist (CNT), he was tasked to keep the gears, equipment, firearms and
personal belongings of the CNT members inside his residence. He added that
keeping such belongings had risked and put into danger the lives of his family
members. He admitted of living in fear as he is already known in their
community as a supporter and the keeper of CNT belongings.
It can be recalled that the residents and the members of the council in
Barangay Durian already declared the CPP-NPA-NDF and all its allied
organizations as persona non grata last November 6, 2019. The declaration
showed the will of the people to get rid of the presence of the CNTs in their
community. On December 4, 2019, a young NPA combatant died during an encounter
between the 23rd IB troopers and the CNTs in Sitio San Jose, Durian. Series of
peace consultations and dialogues were also facilitated in the said barangay
where the residents and the council requested the Army for the establishment of
a patrol base in their community to neutralize the CNT members. Through the
joint efforts of the 23rd IB and the members of the barangay council, “Rico”
finally realized that he was not on the right path and voluntarily surrendered
to the Army. “Rico” also admitted that he is already tired of giving support to
the CNTs and he also wanted to clear his name.
“Nibalik ko sa sabakan sa balaod kay gusto nako hinluan akong pangalan
kay gibantog na gyud ko sa among lugar nga usa ka full time NPA, pero ang
tinuod, usa lang ko ka MB busa wala ko mahadlok nga mo dangop sa kasundaluhan.
Gawas pa ana, gikapoy na ko sulod sa halos tulo (3) ka tuig nga nagpaulipon
nako sa walhong grupo. Ako ang ilang sugoon sa pagpalusot sa ilang bugas ug mga
supplies ug mangitag ka plastaran nila nga kampo, Ang nakapait pa kay sa sinako
nga bugas nga akong ihatod sa kampo, maayo nalang ug mahatagan ko ug lima (5)
ka salmon. Ila pang ibilin ug itago ang ilang mga gamit s among balay ug
mahadlok ko nga masakpan sa otoridad,” “Rico” said.
Lt. Col. Paulo was grateful for “Rico's” realization which led to his
decision to return to the folds of the law.
“I am glad that the SPL/CO MB in Barangay Durian now returned to the
folds of the law and I am grateful for his decision to surrender because
through this, the CNT activities will also be neutralized in their community,”
Paulo said.
He emphasized that the surrender of “Rico” indicates that the government
is winning the war without the use of arms and violence.
“We don’t want the residents of Barangay Durian to once again experience
armed conflict because it only brought senseless deaths, miseries and destroyed
the future of the people. Hence, we will ensure his personal safety and
well-being as he returns to the folds of the law,” Paulo said.
The 23rd IB commander is also seeing the decline of the atrocities of the CNTs in the area, such as extortion and recruitment because of the loss of their trusted MB leader. (CMO Officer, 23IB, 4ID, PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)
DTI Caraga coaches
agrarian reform beneficiaries in adapting digital marketing
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 21 -- A series of seminars preparing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) transition to digital media have been conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry - Agusan del Norte (DTI-AdN) here to its assisted Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for July and August 2020.
Nine ARBOs from the municipalities of Buenavista, Nasipit, Jabonga,
Santiago and Las Nieves, including four ARBOs in Butuan City participated in
the said seminar.
The recipients were the Manapa ARB and Community Coop of Manapa,
Buenavista on July 3, De Oro ARP Coop of Butuan City on July 10, Culit MPC of
Nasipt on July 9, Palmavera Small Coconut Farmers Beneficiaries Coop of Las
Nieves and Libas MPC of Jabonga on August 11-13.
It can be recalled that last August 18, the DTI-CARP AdN invited
Agrikultura Shop Online represented by Djon Scottie Amoc to orient and bring on
board Butuanon ARBOs in their online marketplace during a meeting in Brgy. Sto
NiΓ±o, Butuan City. This was attended by the Sto. NiΓ±o MPC, Duque ARB
Cooperative and Taguibo MPC.
A separate schedule for RIC Tagbuyacan was held last August 20 to
complete the month’s target.
DTI-CARP AdN encouraged their ARBOpreneurs to cope with the current
changes in doing business forced by COVID-19 through e-commerce to advertise
one’s product and generate sales without doing it physically.
“There are many simple and free methods MSMEs here in the Philippines
can do. One, which also serves as a stepping stone in understanding more
E-business is making borderless market through Facebook (FB)-the most popular
social media application which is now used also as an e-marketing platform,”
DTI-CARP AdN further explained.
The mentioned ARBOs sell various food and non-food products such as
lumpia, coconut oil, ube powder, organic rice, personal protective equipment
and coco peat fertilizer and organic beverages like turmeric and salabat. They
are now starting to onboard their products to their own online marketing
platforms they created.
The seminars reportedly provided additional lessons about various
technology tools other than digital marketing that the ARBOs may integrate to
their operation.
Some of those mentioned were e-payments, online advertising, online
productivity tools, logistics and many more.
Along with the learnings taught, DTI-CARP AdN also provided the participants with a prepaid wifi modem to help them eventually start their e-marketing operations. (DTI-Caraga/DTI-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Caraga)
