Last week we received an e-mailed press release from the New Peoples Army on the alleged ambush in Paradise Embak, carried against elements of the 69th IB-1003rd Brigade-10th ID, that the statement said is an “Army unit cowardly hiding under the cloak of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.”
We published the press statement, the NPA being a regular sender of its press releases, in our blog, durianburgdavao mindanao newsblog:
PRESS STATEMENT September 17, 2011
1 killed in NPA ambush vs 69th IB in Paquibato
A commando team of the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-NPA ambushed a Special Operations Team of the 69th Infantry Battallion of the AFP at 9:15 am today Sept.17, at Purok 7, Paradise Embac, Paquibato district, Davao City. One enemy soldier was killed. The NPA’s punitive action was in reaction to the grave human rights abuses and violations to the international humanitarian law committed by the 69th IB-1003rd Brigade-10th ID, the Army unit cowardly hiding under the cloak of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte who has largely tolerated and remained oblivious to the suffering of peasant masses in the course of military encampment of civilian communities in Paquibato district.
The NPA ambush was meant to give justice to the victims of grave intimidation, torture, grave threats, mainly women, schoolchildren, and peasants in Paquibato. It was in retaliation to the 69th IB’s obstinate militarism when it intensified its combat and psychological warfare operations in the wake of the Sept. 12 onsite investigation where the basic masses aired their grievances and demand for a military pull-out to local GPH legislators. Berserk and angry at the peasant masses, the 69th IB soldiers, led by one Lt. Malinaw, stepped up their harassment and psywar campaign in Purok 8, Crossing Ginobatan, Brgy. Paradise Embac and in Brgy. Pandaitan.
Special Operations Teams of the 69th IB-1003rd Bde-10th ID occupied civilian villages in four barangays in Carmen town, 18 barangays in Panabo city in Davao del Norte, in Brgy. Paradise Embac and Brgy. Pandaitan in Paquibato district, in Brgy. Lasang and Brgy. Bunawan in Davao city’s Bunawan District. The 69th IB is not only desperate in seeking to obscure the atrocious character of its combat and psychological warfare operations masked as “peace and development program” in Davao City and Davao del Norte. Worse, it attempts to hide under the mantle of protection of no less than the Davao City Mayor herself to justify its hated presence. The 69th IB soldiers forced parents, teachers and the school principal in Paradise Embac to sign an affidavit supporting a feeding program, conveniently disguised as a joint project between the AFP and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The 69th IB’s propensity to cajole civilians and civilian authorities is the hallmark of its psywar operations. Its web of lies and distortion of facts to suppress legitimate civilian complaints against its military detachment is mounting; Army officials went as far as outrageously saying that the military structure was 300 meters away from the school and already nine years in place. In truth, said edifice is, in plain view, in close proximity to the school. And by dint of simple twist of facts here and there, the 69th IB-AFP wheedles Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to be its de facto spokesperson– who, in sweeping generalization, dismissed the serious complaints of human rights violations. Last year, 87 youths in Paquibato district did not receive a single cent, nor a certification or an acknowledgment that they were scholars by the GPH’s TESDA, despite a declaration by the 10th Infantry Division-AFP who used their names to download said funds. The list of abuses, from forced intimidation to corruption is only the latest in the long list of abuses committed by the 69th IB, whose presence is worse than the rat infestation that earlier plagued Paquibato district. Ironically, the AFP troops mouth off human rights tenets but simply cannot apply what it fundamentally abhors: the basic masses’ freedom to express and resist.#
(SGD) Ka Parago 1st Pulang Bagani Company Merardo Arce Command Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command New People’s Army
THE CLAIM OF of Leoncio “Ka Parago” Pitao was outrightly denied by no less than Mayor Sara Duterte, who condemned the attack, with a harsh addendum : the NPA attack was counter-productive against the entire development of Davao City.
Mayor Duterte’s statement on her reaction to the NPA assault was publidhed in SunStar Davao on September 18, 2011:
DAVAO City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte condemned the recent attack by the New People’s Army (NPA) on a military detachment in Paradise Embac, Paquibato district early Saturday.
Duterte called the NPA attack as a counter-productive move against the entire development of Davao City.
“It does not contribute to the progress and development of Davao City,” Duterte told Sun.Star Davao over the weekend.
Duterte said that contrary to NPA claims, not a single soldier was killed in the attack. She said the attack was perpetrated by commando team of the NPA’s 1st Pulang Bagani Company under the Merardo Arce command operating in the same area.
The NPA also claimed that one member of the government’s side has been killed. But Duterte was quick to say that there has been no casualty on the government’s side.
Duterte, however, said a certain PFC Motoc who was claimed by the NPA to have died in the attack only sustained minor injury. Motoc is presently undergoing medical treatment. (Jereco O. Paloma)
WE HAD BEEN HAD had by the NPA statement, a risk we have to sometime suffer in pursuing balance in reporting.
The first statement was followed by another e-mailed to us on September 25, 2011, also about an alleged NPA ambush on military elements on September 19, 2011 in Lumiad Paquibato. We had been burned before by the first statement, and we did not publish the press release without checking first the NPA claim of 8 troopers killed in the ambush.
We are now publishing this statement to establish that somebody is lying in the propaganda war between the military and the NPA—-with media often the hapless victim, their credibility to pursue “journalistic balance” placed under severe fire due to the lies fed by certain parties:
Press Statement September 25, 2011
No NPA camp overrun; 1st PBC ambush downs 8 AFP troops in Paquibato
Eight enemy forces of the 69th IB were killed and an undetermined number were wounded after a team of the 1st Pulang Bagani Company-NPA on Sept. 19 at 1:15 pm engaged them in a firefight preceded by an explosion of seven command detonated explosive in sitio Banban, Brgy Lumiad, Paquibato district, Davao city. Yet, the enemy not only concealed the casualties, the 10th Infantry Division-Eastern Mindanao Command went as far as to publicize a fake victory in saying that their forces overrun a big NPA camp and seized several explosives and high powered rifles. Two NPA members Ka Boboy and Ka Cosme were martyred in the Sept. 19 ambush.
In full view to the peasant masses, the enemy carried the bodies of their casualties using two huey helicopters; one of the huey helicopter which can carry 10 people, twice returned to the area. After the 1 hr and 15-minute firefight, a white double body plane bombed the farm fields of sitio Banban six times. Later, the masses saw the road leading to the 69th IB battalion headquarters at Brgy. Dalisay, Panabo city was closed, as the enemy administered to disembarking the bodies from the helicopter. A hearse twice returned to get the casualties. Later the bodies of the two NPA martyrs were seen left at the headquarters. Soldiers also carried two explosives from the site; later the AFP showed it to the media along with other previously seized explosives.
The AFP’s fictitious story heralded their other fallacious media blitz of a nationwide ceasefire with the NPA last Sept. 21. The script in Sept. 21 exposed the desperation of the AFP in further deceiving the public as to the real score of the US-Aquino regime’s Oplan Bayanihan. No such ceasefire occurred in Paquibato and elsewhere in the countryside. Military operations by the 69th IB terrorized the masses in Brgy. Lumiad, Mapula, Pandaitan all in Paquibato district. One Joselito Panal, formerly with the 73rd IB, arrested a coconut wine gatherer, Gilbert Sibala in sitio carbon, Brgy Lumiad on 8 am of Sept 21. Sibala, a nephew of a retired master sergeant of the 69th IB, was forced to sign surender papers. Two soldiers acted as witnesses and forced the police to file charges against Sibala by using planted evidence: his picture was taken where he was wearing a jungle uniform and carrying a weapon and ammunition.
The AFP has not shaken off its fangs with Oplan Bayanihan; it only improved itself as a chronic liar and as desperately anti-people.
(SGD) Ka Parago 1st Pulang Bagani Company Merardo Arce Command Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command New People’s Army
WE CHECKED AROUND in media sources and even military sources and like Mayor Duterte, who denied claims of the NPA in the first statement on the Paradise Embak,
they denied the latest NPA claim as an unbelievable, tall story of untruth.
WE LEARNED A LESSON in our pursuit of journalistic balance in the propaganda war between the military and the NPA and has resolved that from now on there would be no place in our journalistic endeavors for press statements from the NPA—for having burned us twice with lies peddled as truth in their issued press releases.
IT IS EITHER THAT Ka Parago lied or somebody lied for him—and we would not like to be caught in the middle for being gullible.
Durianburgdavao mindanao newsblog and its author are committed to help promote progress and development, and peace, in Mindanao,(read: Durianburgdavao News Forum For Peace In Mindanao Blog Posts – Top … ) and would rather concentrate energies in this endeavor rather than dip our fingers and be party to ideological propaganda.
More than a month after they were taken under custody, the four PNP/BJMP prisoners of war of the New People’s Army, Jail Inspector Murphy Bomoway Todyog (Badge No. 0-08021), Jail Warden Erico Dacillo Llamasares (Badge No. 0-07022), Special Jail Officer 2 (SJ02) Rogelio Begontes (Badge No. 960187), and Jail Officer 1 (JOI) Rolando Delta Bajoyo, Jr., are well , as shown in the video clips and photos taken on August 23 and released by the National Democratic Front Southern Mindanao. Pointedly criticizing the ongoing military offensives of the Philippine Army as thwarting their freedom, the four also urged the GPH to expedite more effort in the negotiations.
The GPH is not interested in the speedy resolution of the cases of the NPA captives. Despite the groundswell of calls for negotiations, the GPH spokesperson is actually the fascist Eastern Mindanao Command AFP which insists on declaring unrestrained military offensives camouflaged as peace and development outreach program in the region. It is illusory to equate the POWs’ calls for a suspension of military operation as a script with military spokesperson Leopoldo Galon, Jr. saying that the NPA purportedly wants to stop the operations out of fear of an “organizational collapse.” Surely, a people’s army that has more than four decades of experience and accomplishments in the revolutionary war cannot be dismembered with fascist dogs wearing innocuous collars.
The NPA’s humane and lenient treatment of the four POWs in compliance with Protocol 1 of the Geneva Conventions indicates the high level of understanding by the people’s army as regards to the application of international humanitarian law in the ongoing civil war. In contrast, the AFP distorts facts to suit its counter-revolutionary thrust, justifies the Oplan Bayanihan military operations as rescue missions and makes it an occasion to control peasant villages and preclude people’s resistance. Even as the NDF is open and ready to tackle the case of the NPA POWs within the framework of the peace talks, the GPH prolongs the incarceration of political detainees and apprehended JASIG-protected NDF consultants, maliciously demonizing them as criminals and mercilessly protracting the agony of their families and loved ones who are suffering from an unjust reactionary GPH judicial system.
(Sgd) Rubi del Mundo
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Southern Mindanao
DURIANBURGDAVAO News Forum For Peace In Mindanao News Update from
By FIDEL V. AGCAOILI Spokesperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel
In his continuing tirade against the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), Atty. Alex Padilla, Chairperson of the Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH), glosses over the fact that the New People’s Army (NPA) has already released seven (7) prisoners of war (POWs) since Benigno Aquino III became president.
PEACE TALKS. Agcaoili, left, and Padilla
Worse, Padilla also glosses over the extra-judicial killings (50), disappearances (8) and arbitrary arrests and detention (25) committed by the Aquino regime and the accumulated 350 political prisoners under its custody.
Padilla must understand that the current POWs under the custody of the NPA in Mindanao have been arrested in the course of the armed revolution and are not protected by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) like those 17 the GPH is obliged to release under the terms of the JASIG and the 2011 Oslo Joint Statements. Neither have the POWs of the NPA been the subject of agreement between the GPH and NDFP negotiating panels. Padilla implies the need to exchange prisoners but perversely accuses the NDFP of demanding such exchange.
NPA rebels
Padilla insists on scuttling the peace negotiations by persisting in the wrong view that the GPH is under no obligation to comply with the JASIG and that there is no need for the GPH and NDFP negotiating panels to meet before the Reciprocal Working Committees on Social and Economic Reforms (RWCs SER) and other sub-panel organs of the two sides meet, despite certain outstanding problems that the panels have to tackle.
Padilla continues to lie that there have been 24 years of peace negotiations. The GPH and NDFP negotiating panels have been able to meet and have normal recesses for a total of only two years because of the GPH declarations of unsheathing the sword of war, indefinite suspensions, termination and collapse, and its non-compliance with agreements.
Since taking on the position as chairperson of the GPH Negotiating panel, Padilla has allowed himself to become the tool of Deles and those forces that do not wish to address the roots of the armed conflict. He has become a pliant purveyor of lies and military psywar aimed at reversing and nullifying solemn agreements between the GRP/GPH and the NDFP, and destroying the peace negotiations.
It is obvious that Padilla and the pro-imperialist and ultra-reactionary forces behind him are not interested in reaching agreements on basic reforms or even only a declaration of common intent as the basis for a truce. They perversely consider as capitulation for the GPH to make any agreement with the NDFP that upholds national independence and democracy and requires land reform and national industrialization to realize social justice and genuine development.
LEADING THE HUNT. 10th ID, Philippine Army under MGen. Jorge U. Segovia, left, being welcomed early this year shortly after taking command of the 10th ID, Philippine Army from MGen Carlos Holganza by Compostela Valley Gov. Chiongkee Uy and Mawab Mayor Evalina Jampayas. Segovia is leading the hunt for New Peoples Army rebels holding Surigao del Sur ‘s Lingig Mayor Dano and his two military security escorts. About 15 NPA fronts operate in the boundary of Compostela Valley and Surigao del Sur. (a.dayao/ids comval) (a.dayao/ids comval)
DAVAO CITY – The military will not stop its operation against the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels holding Lingig Mayor Henry Dano and two of his escorts since August 6, according to Major General Jorge Segovia, commander of the 10th Infantry Division.
IN REBEL HANDS: Mayor Dano, Pfc. Saban,Cpl. Desamparado
Speaking to reporters during a briefing at the Hermes Club at Pearl Farm-Marina on Thursday, Segovia said the rebels might have taken Lingig Mayor and two of his escorts to Davao Oriental given the proximity of Surigao del Sur to Region 11.
However, Segovia stressed that the high command of the Armed Forces has given him the instructions to continue the military operation.
“As of now we cannot stop our peace and order duties. The pursuit operation will continue, being our constitutional mandate,” Segovia said.
He said suspension of military operation will only happen either if it is already a political decision by government or it already endangers the lives of persons abducted on the specific time and place.
Segovia observed that the rebels are asking for SOMO in areas where there are ongoing peace and development outreach activities of the military.
NAMESAKES. Gen. Jorge Segovia has a namesake in Jorge "Ka Oris" Madlos, the Southern Mindanao spokesman of the communist movement's political arm National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)
He also said the rebels also resort to abduction in order to pressure government to release political detainees whom the rebels cannot prove as covered by the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).
“Their objective is clearly for prisoner swap, but the government peace panel would not agree. So they resort to using the media to pressure the government,” Segovia said.
He said the SOMO order might come at an appropriate time if there is a need to stop the operations at a specific time and place to ensure the safe release of the abducted persons.
On Wednesday, the rebel movement released the voice clips of Dano and his escorts pleading the government to stop the military operations to expedite their safe release. (PNA)DURIANBURGDAVAONewsForumForPeaceInMindanaoNews Update from PNA
DURIANBURGDAVAO News Forum For Peace In Mindanao News Update from 
In his continuing tirade against the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), Atty. Alex Padilla, Chairperson of the Negotiating Panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH), glosses over the fact that the New People’s Army (NPA) has already released seven (7) prisoners of war (POWs) since Benigno Aquino III became president.
LEADING THE HUNT. 10th ID, Philippine Army under MGen. Jorge U. Segovia, left, being welcomed early this year shortly after taking command of the 10th ID, Philippine Army from MGen Carlos Holganza by Compostela Valley Gov. Chiongkee Uy and Mawab Mayor Evalina Jampayas. Segovia is leading the hunt for New Peoples Army rebels holding Surigao del Sur ‘s Lingig Mayor Dano and his two military security escorts. About 15 NPA fronts operate in the boundary of Compostela Valley and Surigao del Sur. (a.dayao/ids comval) (a.dayao/ids comval)
THE DURIAN POST 