News Archives - Page 15 of 31

On GRP President’s unilateral declaration of an indefinite ceasefire

August 21, 2016/by PRWC

The CPP welcomes the unilateral declaration by GRP President Duterte of an indefinite ceasefire to reciprocate the earlier 7-day ceasefire issued by the CPP and NPA.

The CPP hopes it could soon match the GRP President’s indefinite ceasefire declaration with a unilateral declaration of an interim ceasefire. This declaration can be issued soon after the completion of the release of at least five more NDFP consultants and around 520 political prisoners nationwide through a presidential proclamation of general amnesty as earlier broached by the GRP President.

Hopefully, the GRP President can issue such a proclamation soon after the resumption of peace talks in order to encourage the CPP to expeditiously issue its declaration of interim ceasefire during the course of the peace negotiations.

These matters are among the top items in the agenda of the scheduled talks on August 22-26 in Oslo, Norway between the negotiating panels of the GRP and NDFP.

The CPP and all revolutionary forces recognize the extra effort of GRP President Duterte to boost the peace talks. After the current 7-day ceasefire declaration by the CPP lapses on August 27, and until the CPP can issue a unilateral declaration of interim ceasefire, the CPP can task the NPA to stand down and remain on active defense. Details will be issued after the Oslo talks.

While recognizing the GRP President’s efforts to boost the peace talks, the CPP wishes to express its concern over particular provisions of the operational guidelines reissued by the AFP. In these guidelines, the chief-of staff orders AFP troops to continue with so-called “peace and development” operations under the much-detested Oplan Bayanihan.

These operations, such as those being carried out in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, have been used in the past to justify the militarization of communities in the guerrilla zones and to carry out surveillance and harassment operations against community activists and leaders whom the AFP suspects of being members of local CPP branches and peasant organizations.

Hopefully, the GRP President can consider ordering specific units of the AFP to be withdrawn from their detachments inside civilian communities to bolster the people’s trust in the GRP President’s determination to pursue the path of peace.

The CPP would also like to draw the GRP President’s attention to the successive arrests by military and police operatives over the past days. Last August 12, national peasant leader Antonio Pajalla was arrested in Macalelon, Quezon and charged with rebellion. Last Friday, Mindanao-based missionary Amelia Pond was arrested while in Cebu to attend an assembly of rural missionaries. She was slapped with murder charges. We urge the GRP President to effect their immediate release.

NPA acknowledges POW Ongachen’s apology, readies his release from custody

August 21, 2016/by PRWC

The Regional Operations Command of the New People’s Army in Southern Mindanao has acknowledged the admission of guilt and subsequent public apology of Prisoner of War Police Chief Inspector Arnold S. Ongachen, badge no. 018629. He has admitted to having made an error of judgment by keeping in his possession a sachet of shabu which they took from a “test buy” operation. He has also apologized to the masses, the government of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and the CPP-NPA-NDF.

[Read POW Ongachen video message: NPA rehabilitates drug users]

His custodial unit has reported that preparations are underway for his safe and orderly release. Following the declaration of the unilateral ceasefire of the Central Committee of the CPP and the National Operations Command of the NPA and the reciprocation of the GPH of its own ceasefire, the custodial unit is nevertheless ready for any untoward event that may endanger POW Ongachen and the Red army’s safety.

POW Ongachen was arrested during the successful raid of the Gov. Generoso Municipal Police Station on May 29.

During his custody, POW Ongachen has declared willingness to support the NPA’s campaign against the prevalent drug trade in Gov. Generoso and Davao Oriental province. He was likewise given political education and has seen first hand how the NPA conducts its rehabilitation of drug users. He has spoken well of the masses’ support to the Red army and the people’s war and appealed to his principal, Pres. Duterte, to pursue the negotiations that will discuss the roots of the civil war.

The pending release of POW Ongachen along with another prisoner of war Michael B. Grande are a gesture of goodwill on the part of the revolutionary movement and optimism for the resumption of the peace negotiations.

While we deem the recent release of the NDFP consultants a positive development, the remaining political prisoners all over the country should be released immediately and without condition by the Duterte government in compliance with the CARHRIHL. These Red fighters, activists and civilians who were incarcerated on the ridiculous weight of trumped-up charges have suffered enough injustice under the fascist Arroyo and Aquino III regimes.

Below is the complete transcript of POW Ongachen’s public apology:

Magandang hapon po. Humihingipoako ng tawad sa masang Pilipino lalong-lalo na kay Pres. Rodrigo RoaDuterte, sa PNP organization at sa CPP-NPA-NDF sa pagkakamaliko pong paghawak ng isang sachet ng shabu na nakuha naming sa test buy nahindiakodapatanghahawaknito.

Sa dahilan pong tiwalang-tiwalapo ako sa sarili ko na hindi ko po ito gagamitin dahil hindi po ako user. At ito po ang naging dahilan kung bakit tumagal ng ganito ang pag-kustodiya sa akin. Inuulit kopo, hindi po ako user, hindi po ako pusher at lalong-lalo na po hindi po ako protektor ng droga. Sana po mapatawad po ninyo po ako. Maraming salamat po.

Good afternoon. I am apologizing to the Filipino people, especially to Pres. Rodrigo RoaDuterte, to the PNP organization and to the CPP-NPA-NDF for the mistake I have committed of keeping in my possession a sachet of shabu that we took during a test buy. I should not have been the one who kept it.

This was because I am confident that I will not use it because I am not a drug user. And this is the reason why my custody took a long time. I am reiterating that I am not a user, I am not a pusher and, most especially, I am not a protector of the drug trade. I hope you will all forgive me. Thank you very much.

Sgd. RIGOBERTO F. SANCHEZ
Spokesperson
NPA-SMR

CPP and NPA issue unilateral declaration of 7-day ceasefire

August 19, 2016/by NDFP Monitoring Committee

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) today issued a unilateral declaration of a seven-day ceasefire to celebrate and bolster the resumption of formal GRP-NDFP peace talks.

[Read: Unilateral declaration of ceasefire during opening of peace talks]

The ceasefire will take effect starting 12:01 a.m. of August 21 and will last until 11:59 p.m. of August 27. The formal talks between the negotiating panels of the NDFP and GRP are scheduled for August 22-26 and will be held in Oslo, Norway.

“This ceasefire declaration is encouraged by the GRP’s facilitation of the release of nearly all NDFP consultants who are set to participate in peace negotiations in the course of the next several months,” said the CPP and NPA.

Earlier today, the GRP released NDFP consultants Benito Tiamzon and Wilma Austria Tiamzon, who were leading members of the CPP and key consultants of the NDFP when they were arrested in March 2014.

“The CPP anticipates the release of the rest of the NDFP consultants so that everyone can participate in the peace talks.” It cited the case of Ka Eduardo Sarmiento who was arrested in February 2009, slapped with trumped-up murder charges and unjustly convicted in December 2013. He is currently serving a life sentence in Muntinlupa.

The CPP reiterated its “deep appreciation of the determined efforts of GRP President Duterte to push forward and accelerate the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations as a means of addressing the roots of the civil war in the Philippines.”

“We hope that this ceasefire declaration will be reciprocated by the GRP as a show of all-out determination to move forward with peace negotiations,” said the CPP. It clarified, however, that the ceasefire declaration will take effect even without GRP reciprocation.

“With or without reciprocation by the GRP, the NPA must maintain a high-level of alertness against enemy troop movements,” said the CPP. “Even while ready to engage in defensive action, the NPA will exert efforts to carry out early counter-maneuvers to avoid armed encounters during the specified ceasefire period.

The CPP anticipates the upcoming Oslo peace talks to discuss the recommendation for the GRP President to issue a general amnesty to pave the way for the release of all political prisoners who are mostly worker and peasant activists slapped with criminal charges to cause their prolonged detention.

“To further bolster peace negotiations, the CPP and NPA are also open to discuss the possibility of a longer ceasefire upon completion of the release of all political prisoners,” said the CPP.

Unilateral declaration of ceasefire during opening of peace talks

August 19, 2016/by PRWC

[Pilipino»]

Upon the recommendation of the Negotiating Panel of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the National Operational Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) hereby unilaterally declares to all commands and units of the NPA and the people’s militia a ceasefire to celebrate and bolster the formal resumption of peace talks between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP).

This unilateral declaration of ceasefire shall be in effect from: 12:01 a.m. of August 21, 2016 to 11:59 p.m. of August 27, 2016 to coincide with the formal resumption of NDFP-GRP peace negotiations to be held in Oslo, Norway.

This ceasefire declaration is encouraged by the GRP’s facilitation of the release of 14 of the 22 detained NDFP consultants who are set to participate in peace negotiations in the course of the next several months.

During the ceasefire period, all NPA units and people’s militia shall cease and desist from carrying out offensive military campaigns and operations against the uniformed armed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines.

Personnel of the AFP and PNP who have no serious liabilities other than their membership in their armed units shall not be subjected to arrest or punitive actions. They may be allowed individually to enter the territory of the people’s democratic government to make personal visits to relatives and friends.

All units of the NPA and the people’s militias shall remain on defensive mode at both the strategic and tactical levels. They shall nonetheless maintain a high degree of militancy and vigilance against any hostile actions or movements by enemy armed forces with the aim of encirclement and suppression.

The NPA shall consider as hostile action encroachments on the territory of the people’s democratic government by operating troops of the AFP and its paramilitaries to conduct surveillance, psywar and other offensive operations that are labelled as “peace and development”, “civil-military”, “peace and order” and “law enforcement” operations.

Active-defense operations by the NPA shall be undertaken only in the face of clear and imminent danger and actual armed attack by the enemy forces and only after exhausting counter-maneuvers to avoid armed encounters.

All leading organs and branches of the CPP, commands and units of the NPA and people’s militias and revolutionary mass organizations shall closely monitor any hostile actions, provocations or movements being carried out by the enemy armed forces. Such information should be reported to the concerned commands of the New People’s Army and leadership of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Unilateral na Deklarasyon ng tigil-putukan sa pagbubukas ng usapang pangkapayapaan

Sa rekomendasyon ng Negotiating Panel ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), unilateral na idinideklara ng Komite Sentral ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) at ng Pambansang Pamatnugutan sa Operasyon ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan (BHB) sa lahat ng kumand at yunit ng BHB at ng milisyang bayan ang kautusang tigil-putukan upang suportahan at palakasin ang muling pagbubukas ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng NDFP and ng Gubyerno ng Republika ng Pilipinas (GRP) at upang tumulong sa pagpapalakas ng nasabing usapan.

Ang unilateral na deklarasyon ng tigil-putukan ay magkakabisa mula: 12:01 n.u. ng Agosto 21, 2016 hanggang 11:59 n.g. ng Agosto 27, 2016 upang sumabay sa pormal na muling pagpapatuloy ng negosasyong pangkapayapaang NDFP-GRP na gaganapin sa Oslo, Norway.

Ang deklarasyong tigil-putukan na ito ay hinimok ng pagbibigay-daan ng GRP sa pagpapalaya ng 14 sa 22 nakadetineng konsultant ng NDFP na nakatakdang lumahok sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa susunod na ilang buwan.

Sa panahon ng tigil-putukan, lahat ng yunit ng BHB at milisyang bayan ay titigil at pipigil na magsagawa ng opensibang mga kampanya at operasyong militar laban sa unipormadong tauhan ng Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas (AFP) at ng Philippine National Police (PNP) ng Gubyerno ng Republika ng Pilipinas.

Ang mga tauhan ng AFP at PNP na walang seryosong pananagutan maliban sa pagiging kasapi ng kanilang armadong mga yunit ay hindi maipaiilalim sa pag aaresto o pamamarusa. Maaari silang pahintulutang indibidwal na pumasok sa teritoryo ng demokratikong pamahalaang bayan upang personal na dumalaw sa mga kamag-anak o kaibigan.

Lahat ng yunit ng BHB at ng milisyang bayan ay pansamantalang titigil sa opensiba at mananatili sa depensibang postura kapwa sa estratehiko at taktikal na antas. Gayunpaman, paiiralin nila ang mataas na antas ng militansya at pagkamapagbantay laban sa anumang palaban na aksyon o pagkilos ng mga armadong pwersa ng kaaway na naglalayong mangubkob at manlipol.

Ituturing ng BHB na palabang aksyon ang pagpasok sa teritoryo ng demokratikong pamahalaang bayan ng mga tropang pang-operasyon ng AFP at ng mga paramilitar nito upang magsagawa ng paniniktik, saywar at ibang opensibang operasyon na tinataguriang mga operasyong ng “peace and development”, “civil-military”, “peace and order” at “law enforcement”.

Magsasagawa ang BHB ng mga operasyong aktibong depensa sa harap lamang ng malinaw at napipintong panganib o aktwal na armadong pagsalakay ng mga pwersa ng kaaway at matapos gawin ang lahat ng maaaring kontra-maniobra upang maiwasan ang armadong sagupaan.

Lahat ng namumunong organo at sangay ng PKP, kumand at yunit ng BHB at milisyang bayan at rebolusyonaryong organisasyong pangmasa ay mahigpit na magmomonitor ng anumang palabang aksyon ng mga armadong pwersa ng kaaway. Ang gayong impormasyon ay dapat iulat sa nauukol na mga kumand ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan at pamunuan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas.

Pag-anunsyo ng unilateral na deklarasyon ng 7-araw na tigil-putukan

August 19, 2016/by PRWC

Simula 12:01, hatinggabi ng Agosto 21 hanggang 11:59 hatinggabi ng Agosto 27,ihihinto ng buong New People’s Army at mga unit ng milisyang bayan ang lahat ng opensibong operasyon laban sa AFP, PNP, CAFGU at iba pang paramilitar. Ito ay upang suportahan ang muling pagbubukas ng pormal na usapang pangkapayapaan.

Bukas ang NPA na magkaroon ng mas mahaba pang ceasefire kung ideklara ito ng pamunuan ng PKP at NDFP kasabay ng gubyernong Duterte kaakibat ng pagpapalaya ng lahat ng mga bilanggong pulitikal at para itulak ang pagpapabilis ng negosasyong pangkapayapaan ng NDFP at GRP.

Ikinagagalak ng mga Pulang mandirigma ang pagpapalaya sa mga NDFP consultants. Mabilis na kumalat dito sa kanayunan ang balita ng kanilang paglaya. Binabati namin si GRP President Duterte sa kanyang mga hakbangin na tupdin ang mga obligasyon ng GRP sa ilalim ng JASIG upang bigyang-daan ang peace negotiations. Malugod na sasalubungin ng NPA at mga rebolusyonaryong pwersa ang kanyang mga positibong hakbangin.

Kahit alam nating hindi madali ang pagkakamit ng kasunduan sa pagitan ng gubyernong Duterte at NDFP, umaasa kaming maging bukas ang dalawang panig para sa interes ng mamamayan. Umaasa na ang magkatuwang na pagpupunyagi ng NDFP at ng GRP sa ilalim ni Duterte ay magkakamit ng wala pang kapantay na mga pagsulong sa usapang pangkapayapaan.

NDFP-SMR orders release of POWs as goodwill for peace talks

August 19, 2016/by NDFP Monitoring Committee

[Press Statement] The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Southern Mindanao Region today ordered the release of the two Prisoners of War currently in separate custody of the units under the NPA ComVal Davao Gulf Sub-Regional Command as goodwill measure for the formal resumption of the peace negotiations on August 22.

Custodial units of POW Arnold S. Ongachen and POW Michael B. Grande have reported the good state of health and lenient treatment of the two prisoners despite persistent attacks of AFP troops in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley. They have likewise assured that an orderly and safe turn-over of the prisoners of war may be conducted pending a GPH undertaking of suspension of military and police offensives.

The People’s Democratic Government’s judicial proceedings and investigations into POW Ongachen and POW Grande’s possible war crimes and violation of people’s rights have been effectively suspended in deference to appeals of their families and peace advocates. POW Ongachen and POW Grande have apologized for their violations against the people.

The NDFP-SMR likewise acknowledges GPH Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s efforts that resulted to the on-going process of release of the 22 NDFP peace consultants. This is definitely a positive development in the long-sought justice for these political prisoners and a welcome deviation from the previous reactionary regimes’ militarist approach and despicable contravention of the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

While the CPP, NPA and the NDFP have consistently adhered to international conventions and mutually-agreed upon accords between the GPH and the NDFP, the AFP and the PNP continue to file trumped-up charges to ensure that political prisoners such as NDFP consultants, Red fighters, even civilians and legal activists languish in jail for common crimes they did not commit. Some were even tortured, raped or summarily executed. This is a far cry from the lenient policy of the NPA towards Prisoners of War and are later released in recognition of appeals of families and well-meaning parties.

The NDFP-SMR expects the immediate release of the remaining 540 political prisoners in compliance of the Duterte government to the CARHRIHL and the JASIG. The success of the talks en route to a viable peace accord between the two governments in the Philippines rests in the main on GPH’s—especially the AFP, PNP and their paramilitaries’—adherence to previous agreements and the serious deliberation of the roots of the civil war. In these objectives, the NDFP and the entire revolutionary movement have been and continue to be firmly resolute.

Rubi del mundo
Spokesperson
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
Southern Mindanao Region

NPA arrests abusive PNP officer in Davao Oriental

August 18, 2016/by NDFP Monitoring Committee

The New People’s Army in Southern Mindanao has declared arrested PNP officer PO1 Michael B. Grande, Badge No. 205727, as Prisoner of War in accordance with provisions stipulated in the Geneva Conventions and the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).

POW Grande, 29, was arrested by Red fighters belonging to the ComVal – Davao Gulf Sub-Regional Command in Lupon, Davao Oriental on June 19, 2016 and has since been under the custody of the NPA. His issued firearm was also seized. POW Grande was assigned in Banay-banay Municipal Station at the time of his arrest.

As a member of the reactionary police force, POW Grande has admitted to have mauled, harassed and intimidated at gunpoint several civilians in Banay-banay. Furthermore, along with the whole of the PNP in Banay-banay, he regularly received payoffs from illegal gambling in the area. He is currently being investigated for these violations and other possible crimes against the people and the revolutionary movement.

We assure the wife, children and relatives of POW Grande that he is being leniently treated by his custodians, as is the policy of the NPA toward captured enemy members. We encourage them to appeal to POW Grande’s superiors, especially GPH Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, to order a let-up on the AFP’s so-called rescue operations as they only endanger his security. We are releasing a short video footage of POW Grande in deference to his wish of assuring his family of his safety.

In arresting POW Grande, the NPA exercises its mandate to ensure the protection of the masses, especially the Lumads and poor peasants who bear the brunt of fascist and mercenary abuses of reactionary police and military forces. It likewise upholds the integrity of the People’s Democratic Government in guaranteeing that Red territories are safe from and free of violators of people’s rights.

As we anticipate the formal resumption of the peace negotiations, the NPA consistently shows its commitment to the process in its paramount adherence to international conventions and previous agreements such as the CARHRIHL. No other armed force in the country has unfailingly treated with leniency and respect its captured enemies and, in the face of relentless AFP and PNP attacks, safely and orderly turned them over to their families following due procedure of revolutionary justice system.

Below is the complete transcript of POW Grande’s footage:

Ako si PO1 Michael Ballenas Grande, nagpuyo sa Caganganan, Banay-banay, Davao Oriental, na-assign sa Banay-banay Municipal Police Station. Badge no. nako, 205727.

Nadakpan ko atong June 19 sa Bagumbayan, Lupon, Davao Oriental atbang sa Sterling. Ug kato akong kaso nga naka-agrabyado ko og tao, nangayo gyud ko og pasaylo ato tungod kay nakalapas gyud ko sa akong gibuhat.

Ug mensahe nako sa akong pamilya nga dili angay mabalaka kay isip usa ka POW o Prisoner of War sa NPA, nagatamod gyud sila og balaod sa gubat nga dili gyud angay dagmalan ang bihag nila sa gubat. Ug gimaayo gyud ko nila og tratar diria isip usa ka bihag nila.

Mensahe nako sa gobyerno ni Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte, nga ipatuman na gyud tong hinabing pangkalinaw nga peace talk, nga ipatuman pud niya ang SOMO ug SOPO kay para sa hapsay sa akong pag-relis. Ug akong kahimtang karon diri, maayo gyud kaayo. Gimaayo gyud ko nila pag-atiman, pagtratar isip usa ka bihag diri sa gubat.

Maayong adlaw ug maayong buntag sa inyong tanan. Daghang salamat.

I am PO1 Michael Ballenas Grande, residing in Caganganan, Banay-banay, Davao Oriental, assigned in Banay-banay Municipal Police Station. My badge no. is 205727.

I was arrested on June 19 in Bagumbayan, Lupon, Davao Oriental, in front of Sterling. Regarding my case for which I assaulted another person, I am sincerely apologizing for the violation I have committed.

My message for my family is to not worry about me for as a POW or Prisoner of War of the NPA, they adhere to the rules of war which is to not harm a prisoner of war. They treat me well as their prisoner.

My message for Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s government is to resume the peace talk, and to undertake the Suspension of Military Offensives (SOMO) and Suspension of Police Offensives (SOPO) for my orderly release. My situation here is well. They treat me leniently as a prisoner of war.

Good day and good morning to everyone. Thank you very much.

Sgd. RIGOBERTO F. SANCHEZ
Spokesperson
NPA-SMR

Celebrate the release of NDFP peace consultants

August 18, 2016/by PRWC

Revolutionary forces across the country celebrate the successive release from unjust detention of the first batch of peace consultants of the NDFP since yesterday. The CPP anticipates the release of the rest of the 22 NDFP consultants by today or tomorrow so that they can participate in the scheduled resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway on August 22-27.

The CPP deeply appreciates efforts of the GRP President Duterte to comply with the obligations of the GRP under outstanding agreements with the NDFP in order to bolster the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations. The release of all NDFP peace consultants is a reaffirmation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and other NDFP-GRP agreements.

Even as the CPP welcomes the release of all NDFP consultants, it urges the Duterte regime to empty the GRP’s prisons of all political prisoners which number almost 550 nationwide, most of whom are peasants and workers. It can proclaim a policy of ending the dirty legal tactic of slapping trumped up criminal charges against activists which subject them to unjust and prolonged detention.

The release of all NDFP peace consultants will boost several-fold the confidence of the revolutionary forces in GRP President Duterte’s determination to work with the NDFP in peace negotiations.

The CPP considers the release of all NDFP consultants as an act of goodwill by GRP President Duterte. In appreciation, the CPP reiterates its full support for the NDFP-GRP peace negotiations as a venue to discuss the roots of the armed conflict and forge agreements to resolve the urgent as well as strategic problems of the people in the socio-economic, political and cultural fields.

The CPP extends its full support to the NDFP Negotiating Panel ably chaired by Luis Jalandoni and advised by CPP founding chairman and NDFP senior political consultant Prof. Jose Ma. Sison.

To further boost peace negotiations, the CPP is set to issue over the next few days a unilateral declaration of ceasefire to the New People’s Army and the people’s militias.

The CPP foresees continuing struggle and alliance with the Duterte regime as the Filipino people are confronted daily with problems of joblessness, landlessness, rising costs of living, low wages and income, militarization and so on.

The CPP hopes that mutual efforts by the NDFP and the GRP under Duterte will accelerate peace talks with unprecedented speed and surpass the amount of issues that will be covered and resolved.

(L-R) NDFP consultants Kennedy Bangibang, Ruben Saluta, Tirso Alcantara, Alan Jazmines, Renante Gamara, Ernesto Lorenzo and Jaime Soledad raise their clenched fists as they are welcomed by supporters, Aug. 17. (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / Bulatlat.com)