Patuloy ang karahasan ng DSSP Kapayapaan sa Timog Katagalugan

August 17, 2017 | Press Statement

Mariing kinukondena ng Melito Glor Command – New People’s Army Southern Tagalog ang walang habas na militarisasyon ng AFP-PNP (Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police) sa ilalim ng DSSP Kapayapaan ng rehimeng US-Duterte. Tahasang niyuyurakan ng rehimen ang karapatang tao ng mamamayan sa Timog Katagalugan sa walang habas na militarisasyon sa kanayunan sa ilalim ng DSSP Kapayapaan gamit ang iba’t ibang tabing tulad ng “gera kontra terorismo” at “gera laban sa droga”.

Laganap ito sa Palawan, Mindoro, Batangas, Quezon at Rizal kung saan pawang mga sibilyan ang target ng pananakot, panghuhuli, sapilitang interogasyon, intimidasyon at mga pagpatay sa layuning ihiwalay ang NPA sa mamamayan. Sa bawat pagkatalo ng AFP-PNP sa kamay ng NPA, mga sibilyan ang kanilang nilalapastangan at pinahihirapan.

Sa Palawan, ang buong pamilya ni Chieftain Polog, katutubo sa So. Marinsyawon, Brgy. Bonobono, Bataraza, ay hinuli, maging ang mga buntis na asawa, at dinala sa kampo. Binugbog ang mga kalalakihan habang iniinteroga sa kampo. Si Chieftain Polog naman ay inihulog sa truck at pinalabas na nagtangakang tumakas. Kasalukuyan siyang nasa ospital.

Samantala, sa North Palawan, hinuli at ikinulong ang mag-asawang Labaho at dalawa pang kasamahang mangingisda dahil sa mariin nilang pagtutol sa PCSD AO#5. Sinampahan sila ng gawa-gawang kaso habang pinalalabas na mga myembro ng NPA.

Pinalalabas ring may naganap na labanan noong July 27 sa pagitan ng mga nag-ooperasyong marines at NPA upang bigyan katwiran ang military operations sa buong Palawan na naghahasik ng takot sa buong mamamayan sa lalawigan.

Sa Mindoro at Batangas naman, nagpapatuloy ang ginagawang panghaharas sa mga mamamayang nakikibaka para sa kanilang kabuhayan. Patuloy ang karahasan, pananakot at pagpapalayas sa Hacienda Almeda sa Sta. Cruz at Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental, Hacienda Roxas at Hacienda Looc sa Nasugbu, Batangas, Brgy. Coral ni Lopez, Calaca, Batangas, at Brgy. Patungan, Maragondon, Cavite.

Sa Quezon, walang tigil ang operasyon ng 85th IB sa buong Bondoc Peninsula at sa mga bayan ng Mauban, Lucban at Gen. Nakar. Patuloy rin ang kanilang operasyong psywar, pananakot at intimidasyon sa mamamayan ng Quezon. Sa layuning itigil ang paglaban ng mga magsasaka sa Hacienda Uy, sinampahan ng gawa-gawang kaso si Roldan Tayactac, lider-magsasaka at 21 pang mga magsasaka na nakikibaka para sa kanilang karapatan sa lupa.

Samantala, pinatay si Burgos Idaño sa Sitio Umagos, Brgy. Camflora, San Andres upang takutin ang mga magsasakang lumalaban para sa kanilang karapatan sa lupa sa pastuhan ng isang panginoong maylupa sa lugar. Noong Hulyo 30 naman, pinatay si Edgar Tabien, isang empleyado ng munisipyo at caretaker ng sementeryo sa Brgy. Magisian, Lopez. Kilala si Tabien bilang alyado ng mga magsasaka sa Lopez na nagsusulong ng kanilang pakikibaka sa lupa.

Sa Rizal, tuluy-tuloy ang isinasagawang military operations sa mga komunidad ng Dumagat. Hinuhuli at tinatakot ang mga katutubong Dumagat. Pilit silang pinasasama sa mga combat operations at sinasaktan ang hindi sasama.

Kaugnay nito, nananawagan ang Melito Glor Command sa lahat ng yunit ng NPA sa rehiyon na maglunsad ng mga opensibang militar bilang bahagi ng pagtatanggol sa buhay at ari-arian ng mamamayan ng Timog Katagalugan. Dapat pagbayarin ang AFP-PNP sa kanilang mga krimen sa mamamayan. Nanawagan din ang MGC sa mamamayan na i-ulat sa alinmang himpilan ng NPA ang iba’t ibang atrosidad ng AFP-PNP upang bigyang hustisya ang mga biktima ng DSSP Kapayapaan at iba pang atake sa mamamayan ng rehimeng US-Duterte.###

Reference:
Jaime “Ka Diego” Padilla
Tagapagsalita, Melito Glor Command
New People’s Army – Southern Tagalog

Tropang 31st IB Phil. Army, Gumagamit Ng Iligal Na Droga Habang Nasa Operasyong Militar

Pahayag sa Midya | Agosto 15, 2017

Mariing kinukundena ng Celso Minguez Command ang pagiging hipokrito ng rehimeng US-Duterte sa pagpapatupad ng kampanya nitong Oplan Tokhang upang sugpuin diumano ang mga adik at pusher sa ating bansa samantalang ang sarili nitong pwersa ay gumagamit ng droga habang nagsasagawa ng operasyong militar.

Sa matagumpay na ambush ng Bagong Hukbong Bayan laban sa mga elemento ng 31st IBPA, 22nd IBPA at 5th Police Public Safety Battalion (5PPSB) sa Brgy. Casili, Sorsogon noong Agosto 7, 2017, natagpuan nila ang tatlong (3) sachet ng shabu at mga drug paraphernalia sa nasamsam na military pack na pagmamay-ari ni 2Lt. Lee Tremedal. Nakasuksok ang mga ito sa nilukot na medyas ng napatay na commanding officer (CO) ng Alpha Coy, 31st IBPA, AFP.

Malinaw na pagpapakita ito ng pagiging hipokrito ng rehimeng US-Duterte sa pagpapatupad ng Oplan Tokhang sa ilalim ng Oplan Kapayapaan. Habang inuutusan niya ang mga sundalo at pulis na maghasik ng pasistang karahasang walang pananagutan sa mga maralita na adik at pusher, ang mismong mga opisyal ng Armed Forces of the Philippines ay gumagamit at promotor sa paggamit ng droga ng hanay ng kanilang pwersa. Kinumpirma ng pagkatagpo ng iligal na droga sa mga nasamsan na gamit ng tropang 31st IBPA ang matagal ng mga hinala ng masang mamamayan na biktima ng kanilang walang-pakundangan na karahasan.

Liban sa tropang AFP-PNP, di linggid sa mamamayan na embwelto din sa droga ang ilang matataas na opisyal sa reaksyunaryong pamahalaan. Matatandaan na nitong nakaraan ay nasangkot ang Department of Customs sa isang malaking transaksyon o ismagling ng shabu na pinalusot ng nasabing ahensya sa bansa. Bagama’t malaki ang pananagutan ni Customs Commissioner Faeldon sa nasabing transaksyon bilang hepe ng nasabing ahensya ay nagawa pa ni Duterte na ipagtanggol ito. Tila may “double standard” din ang pagpapatupad ng Oplan Tokhang. Mapahanggang ngayon ay puro maliliit na pusher at adik lang ang nahuhuli o pinapatay habang ang mga malalaki at maimpluwensyang druglord ay patuloy na namamayagpag sa kanilang narco-negosyo. Libre din sa Oplan Tokhang ang mga matataas na opisyal ng AFP-PNP na protektor ng droga sa bansa.

Kundenahin ang paggamit ng diumano’y gera kontra-droga upang patuloy na patayin, takot at abusuhin ng rehimeng US-Duterte ang mamamayan!

Ka Samuel Guerrero
Tagapagsalita
Celso Minguez Command
New People’s Army-Sorsogon

Ilusyon ni Duterte ang mga panibagong banta sa seguridad sa Mindanao

Press statement

Editorial cartoon ng August 7, 2017 issue ng Ang Bayan

Kabaliwan ang paghahangad ni Duterte ng karagdagang 20,000 sundalo para sa Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Ayon sa Revolutionary Council of Trade Unions – Southern Tagalog (RCTU-ST), ilusyon lamang ang binabanggit nitong mga panibagong banta sa seguridad sa ibang bahagi ng Mindanao.

“Matutulad lamang sa mga napaslang na sundalo ng AFP ang buhay ng karagdagang 20,000 tropa na hinihiling ni Duterte sa Kongreso. Mangangahulugan din ito ng milyon-milyong pondo na ibabawas sa kaban ng bayan para lamang pasahurin ang mga reaksyunaryong sundalo na nangunguna sa paglabag sa karapatang pantao,” pahayag ni Fortunato Magtanggol, tagapagsalita ng RCTU-ST.

“Pagmamaliit at pagmamasama ang pahayag ni Duterte na banta sa seguridad ang lumalaking bilang ng New People’s Army (NPA). Ang mga NPA ang totoong naglilingkod sa mamamayan pangunahin sa mga magsasaka sa kanayunan na patuloy na inaagawan ng lupa. Ang mga sundalo ng AFP ay reaksyunaryo at nagsisilbi sa mga panginoong maylupa, malaking burgesya komprador, at dayuhang monopolyo kapitalista.”

“Hindi kailanman matatapos ang digmaan kung hindi sosolusyonan ng reaksyunaryong gubyerno ang laganap na kahirapan na resulta ng pagsasamantala ng iilang naghaharing uri. Isang paraan na dapat gawin ni Duterte upang matigil ang armadong paglaban ng mamamayan ay ang pagtutuloy, pagseseryoso at pagtatagumpay sa usapang pangkapayapaan,” pagpapalawig ni Magtanggol.

Sinusuportahan ng RCTU-ST ang pag-uusap hanggang sa pagpirma ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) at Government of the Republic of the Philiippines (GRP) sa Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).

“Bilang alyadong organisasyon ng NDFP, sinusuportahan ng RCTU ang usapang pangkapayapaan at ang CASER bilang isa sa mga sustantibong adyenda dahil laman nito ang programa para sa pagtatayo ng pambansang industriyalisasyon. Mahalaga ito para sa mga manggagawa at mamamayang nagnanais magkaroon ng disente at regular na trabaho na may nakabubuhay na sahod at maayos na benepisyo. Kung may mga batayang industriya ang ating bansa na pinatatakbo ng gubyerno, hindi kakailanganin na gipitin ang sahod at benepisyo ng mga manggagawa dahil walang mga kapitalista na kumokontrol sa ekonomiya,” pagbibigay diin ni Magtanggol.

Ngunit sa halip na gawin ang tama, itinuturing pa ni Duterte na banta sa seguridad at kahanay ng mga terorista ang NPA. Sa kabila ito ng katotohanan na isa ang NPA sa nagsusulong ng pambansang industriyalisasyon at iba pang programa na para sa ikabubuti ng nakararami.

“Hindi ang all-out war at Martial Law ng Rehimeng US-Duterte ang tatapos sa armadong paglaban. Hindi nito kailanman mapipigilan ang paglakas ng NPA hangga’t naririyan ang laganap na kahirapan at pagsasamantala sa mamamayan. Ang paghahangad ni Duterte ng karagdagang 20,000 sundalo para sa AFP ay lalo lamang magpapalala sa krisis ng bansa. Lagi’t laging mag-i-ilusyon ng ‘banta sa seguridad’ ang reaksyunaryong gubyerno hangga’t nagpapatuloy itong kasangkapan ng imperyalistang Estados Unidos at lokal na naghaharing uri para abusuhin ang murang lakas paggawa at dambungin ang likas na yaman ng ating bansa,” pagtatapos ni Magtanggol. ###

REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS SOUTHERN TAGALOG

NDFP replies to AFP Chief of Staff General Año re plot to assassinate Sison and oust Duterte

National Democratic Front of the Philippines
National Executive Committee

The National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has ample information about the CIA-instigated two-stage plot to assassinate the NDFP chief political consultant Prof. Jose Maria Sison and subsequently to oust President Duterte. The information has come in recent weeks from several corroborating sources inside the reactionary armed forces.

The NDFP National Executive Committee has sufficient factual basis and compelling reason to expose the two-stage military plot in order to discourage and frustrate its implementation. In due time, more facts shall be revealed, with due consideration to the safety and security of patriotic military officers who are the sources of information.

General Año / Inquirer file photo

General Eduardo Año, chief of staff of the Philippine reactionary armed forces, is completely unqualified to posture as an honest person and to cast invectives against Prof. Sison who is the target of the first stage of the military plot.

General Año is a brutal and malicious person who has lived on deception and lies and has been promoted from one position to another by engaging in psywar, abductions and extrajudicial killings, such as those of Jonas Burgos and Leoncio Pitao or Ka Parago.

It is utterly malicious for Año to cite as “figment of imagination” the assassination plot that was launched against Prof. Sison in 1999 and 2000 during the time of the Estrada regime. Two members of the hit team gave to the NDFP continuous information about the planning and implementation of the plot.

Colonel Reynaldo Berroya, who was to be reinstated in the Philippine National Police and promoted to the rank of general, exposed the assassination plot against Prof. Sison
in a nationwide DZBB broadcast in January 2001 and went to The Netherlands to give information to the Dutch police in February 2001.

Berroya had so much vital information because a key member of the first hit team sent to The Netherlands was a former operative of his and had used a Visa card to evidence his trip on the secret mission to The Netherlands. The Dutch police would later verify the Visa card and some real Philippine passports with false names of some members of the hit team.

General Año has no respect for the facts and the truth as well as for the legal system of his own rotten reactionary government. In an earlier, ad hominem attack on Prof. Sison, he disregarded the conclusive resolution of the Manila prosecutors in 1994, dismissing as groundless and based on sheer speculation the false charge of multiple murder related to the Plaza Miranda grenade throwing in 1971.

The NDFP does not recommend psychiatric treatment to General Año because he is obviously an irredeemably cold-blooded and cunning butcher. It is his boss Rodrigo R. Duterte who needs urgent professional psychiatric help for trusting him too much and other military officers who have consistently sabotaged the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations.

The Duterte regime is characterized by a mania for mass murder. It engaged in killing people and bombing communities even when there were reciprocal unilateral ceasefire declaration from August 2016 to February 2017. It has carried out a ceaseless all out war policy against the revolutionary forces of the people and yet wish to paralyze them with a protracted and indefinite ceasefire.

The Philippines is now ruled by a bloodthirsty regime that has already committed 12,000 extrajudicial klllings, far outstripping in one year the 3000 extrajudicial killings ascribed to the Marcos fascist regime in 14 years and subsequently proven in the US federal court system.###

NDFP EXPOSES CIA-INSTIGATED PLOT TO ELIMINATE SISON AND DUTERTE

Issued by the National Executive Committee, August 8, 2017

The National Executive Committee of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) has received reports from several sources in the reactionary Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that military officers who are assets of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and are close to AFP chief of staff Eduardo Año are engaged in a two-stage plot to assassinate Jose Maria Sison, NDFP chief political consultant, and subsequently to overthrow President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The first stage of the military plot is to send a hit team to The Netherlands in order to assassinate Sison, with the verbal approvals of Duterte and Año, before or after the proclamation of martial law nationwide. The rationale of the assassination is to demoralize the revolutionary forces and possibly sow confusion and pandemonium among them. The head and members of the hit team are made to appear as entirely renegades or dropouts from the New People’s Army even as they are handpicked mainly from the special forces of the AFP and secondarily from the former Alex Boncayao Brigade.

The second stage of the military plot is a coup to overthrow Duterte for having collaborated with the communist party and the NPA for decades, betraying the alliance with the US and veering towards China and Russia, playing favorites with certain military and police officers, subverting the professional standards of the military and police forces,, corrupting and criminalizing them in the commission of extrajudicial killings and failing to solve the problem of illegal drugs despite the crude and flagrant violations of human rights.

The NDFP is of the view that, even while the two-stage military plot, especially the first stage, needs further verification, the plot must be immediately exposed in order to discourage its implementation. There is high probability that the hit team for assassinating Sison is already operational. Thus, Sison has already started to take security precautions, such as letting volunteers guard him and take photographss of those in his vicinity at home or in public places.

The NDFP has taken note of previous statements of the President that he is in danger of being ousted by a coup and that he is therefore trying to avert this by appointing more military officers in his cabinet and other high civilian offices. The NDFP admonishes him to end his all-out war policy against the revolutionary movement, to desist from proclaiming martial law nationwide and to withdraw from involvement in the plot to assassinate the NDFP chief political consultant.

The NDFP reminds him to engage seriously and sincerely in peace negotiations, comply with the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law by releasing all political prisoners and address the roots of the civil war through mutual agreements on social, economic and political reforms in order to lay the basis for a just and lasting peace. ###

RPSB and 23rd IB, harassed by the NPA

News Release | August 7, 2017 | Bisaya»

A team of Red fighters, under the New People’s Army – Front 4A, Western Agusan del Norte – Agusan del Sur Subregional Operations Command (NPA-WANAS), harassed the troops of the Philippine National Police – Regional Public Safety Battalion – 13 (PNP-RPSB-13) and 23rd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army while doing their combat operation in Sitio Tabon, Brgy. Aklan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, August 2, 2017.

In the said operation, two (2) were killed-in-action (KIA) and another one was wounded-in-action (WIA) of the military, while no reported casualties in the NPA troops.

Prior to this action, a platoon of the said NPA unit also encountered the patrolling members of RPSB-13 last July 30 in Tagcatong, Carmen, Agusan del Norte.

Recently, on August 3, an officer of RPSB 13 said in a media interview that there was “an encounter between the police and the NPA” in Sitio Stand Puller, Brgy. Manila de Bugabos, Butuan City. But the NPA unit in the said area confirmed that it was not the Red fighters the RPSB-13 encountered, but only their fellow soldiers.

Ka Malem Mabini
Spokesperson
NPA-NCMR


Sulat Pamahayag | Agosto 7, 2017

RPSB ug 23rd IB, gi-harass sa NPA

GI-HARAS SA USA ka tim sa Pulang manggugubat, ilalom sa New People’s Army – Front 4A, Western Agusan del Norte – Agusan del Sur Subregional Operations Command (NPA-WANAS), ang mga nag-combat operation nga sakop sa Philippine National Police – Regional Public Safety Battalion – 13 (PNP-RPSB-13) ug 23rd Infantry Battalion Philippine Army niadtong Agosto 2, 2017 sa Sitio Tabon, Brgy. Aklan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

Gikataho nga duha (2) ang killed-in-action (KIA), samtang usa (1) ang wounded-in-action (WIA) sa han-ay sa kapulisan ug kasundalohan.

Sa wala pa kini nahitabo, naka-engkwentro usab sa usa ka platun sa maong yunit sa NPA ang nagpatrolya nga mga sakop sa RPSB-13 niadtong Hulyo 30 sa Tagcatong, Carmen, Agusan del Norte. Walay nahimong kaswalti sa duha ka panig.

Ning bag-ohay lamang, Agosto 3, gipagarpar sa usa ka opisyal sa RPSB 13 sa midya nga anaay “engkwentro tali sa kapulisan ug sa NPA” sa Sitio Stand Puller, Brgy. Manila de Bugabos, Butuan City. Apan gikumpirma sa yunit sa NPA sa maong lugar nga dili mga Pulang manggugubat ang na-engkwentro sa RPSB-13, kundili nagka-unay lamang sila sa ilahang kauban ra usab nga mga sundalo.

Ka Malem Mabini
Tigpamaba
NPA-NCMR

8th IB and 72nd DRC, bombed by NPA

August 7, 2017 | News Release | Bisaya»

A PLATOON of the New People’s Army, under Front 89, South Central Bukidnon Subregional Command, bomb with a command detonated explosive (CDX) the troops of 8th Infantry Battalion ang 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company during their combat operation in forested areas in Manlarong, Sitio Binangkasan, Brgy. Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon on August 5, 2017, 1:06 PM.

NPA operatives in the said unit found out that troops of 8th IB and 72nd DRC, with around 50 soldiers, had been conducting their military operation for four (4) days already. These soldiers trekked all the way from a patrol base in Binangkasan to the hinterland areas in Saluringan and up to Manlarong.

The NPA fighters then positioned for their target. As soon as the NPA saw five of the soldiers, who were just close to the installed CDX, the NPA immediately switched the bomb, followed by gunfire. After two minutes, the NPA instantly withdrew, while it still took five minutes for the AFP to respond with gunfire.

After seven minutes, another NPA squad reinforced their troops to harass the soldiers again.

Around 4:05 PM, two helicopters came into sight and one of these departed, which collected the AFP’s casualties. The number of AFP’s casualties hasn’t been confirmed yet, while on the other hand, NPA troops safely withdrew from the place of incident.

Ka Malem Mabini
Spokesperson
NPA-NCMR


Sulat Pamahayag | Agosto 7, 2017

8th IB ug 72nd DRC, napabusikaran og bomba sa NPA

GIPABUSIKARAN og command detonated explosive (CDX) sa usa ka platun sa New People’s Army, ilalom sa Front 89, South Central Bukidnon Subregional Command, ang nag-operasyong tropa sa 8th Infantry Battalion ug 72nd Division Reconnaissance Company sa bukirong bahin sa Manlarong, Sitio Binangkasan, Brgy. Canangaan, Cabanglasan, Bukidnon niadtong Agosto 5, 2017, alas 1:06 sa hapon.

Nasuta sa mga operatiba sa NPA nga mokabat na sa upat (4) ka adlaw ang operasyong militar sa mga tropa sa 8th IB ug 72nd DRC, nga anaay gibana-banang 50 ka sundalo. Gikan pa kini sila sa usa ka patrol base nga nahiluna sa Binangkasan ug nibagtas sa mga bukirong bahin sa Saluringan hangtud sa Manlarong.

Gi-posisyunan gilayon kini sila sa mga manggugubat sa NPA. Sa dihang nakita sa mga NPA ang lima ka sundalo, nga nakapaduol sa gitaod nga CDX, gi-switch gidayon sa mga NPA ang bomba ug gisundan sa pagpabuto sa mga dala nila nga armas. Duha ka minuto lamang ug ni-widrow na dayon ang NPA. Samtang mikabat pa sa lima (5) ka minuto ayha nakabalos og pabuto ang AFP.

Human sa pito ka minuto, pasado ala-una sa hapon, laing usa ka iskwad sa NPA ang nilipot sa likuran sa mga sundalo ug subli kining gi-haras.

Alas 4:05 sa hapon, niabot ang duha ka helicopter ug usa niini ang mitugpa, nga maoy nagkuha sa mga kaswalti sa AFP. Wala pa natino ang ihap sa kaswalti sa kasundalohan, samtang luwas nga naka-widrow ang mga tropa sa NPA.

Ka Malem Mabini
Tigpamaba, NPA-NCMR

Basic problems confront youth amid palliative, token reform

Information Bureau | Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)
August 5, 2017

Yesterday, GRP President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (free tuition law) which is set to be implemented next school year. The reactionaries heap praises on Duterte for signing this law which promises to ease the financial burden on students in around 114 state colleges, universities and technical institutions.

But it is the student and youth movement which deserve far more credit for having long fought for militantly the right to free public education. The Party, the Kabataang Makabayan and the National Democratic Front have espoused such a demand in their programs.

While the students and youth groups welcome this gain, they are also keenly aware that this law is a mere palliative which does not constitute a fundamental change in the ruling state’s prevailing policies on education. There are far bigger and more fundamental issues besetting the educational system.

Commercialization and privatization remain state policy. Close to 60% of tertiary-level undergraduate students are enrolled in profit-oriented private tertiary institutions. They suffer burdensome fees, annual fee increases, prohibitive costs of books and high costs of going to school. Large amounts of so-called “government financial assistance” are alloted to ensure the profits of private school owners.

There is no reversal to the neoliberal policy of cutting social spending, including subsidies for education. In fact, right after Duterte signed the law, economic managers have already declared that “there should be no expansion in the student population” in the SUCs. In all likelihood, a myriad burdensome policies will accompany the implementation of the free tuition law. Over the past decades, malpriorities, limited allocations and budget cuts have made a mockery of the so-called free elementary and secondary education which has left millions of school children without teachers and facilities.

The Duterte regime is deaf to the clamor to end the K-12 program which is widely regarded as an additional burden on parents and students. Duterte is bent on implementing the K-12 thrust of producing enclaves-ready and export-ready 18-year old senior high school graduates. Tertiary education as well as higher scientific and technological research are actually low priority. There is strong push to further deprioritize the study of history, social sciences and liberal arts.

Is Duterte now a champion of the students and youth? Two weeks ago, Duterte earned the ire of the people for declaring he will drop bombs on Lumad schools which he has Red-tagged as NPA schools and told the children to run away. These schools are organized and set up by Lumad organizations in their communities, assisted by their church and civic supporters. Relying on military “intelligence,” Duterte insists these schools are illegal.

By signing the free tuition law, Duterte hopes he can grab credit and draw the attention of the students and youth away from the bigger problems of the educational system and the even more fundamental problems of the youth and people. Widespread unemployment, low wages, landlessness, landgrabbing, poverty, rising costs of living and other acute social problems are ever worsening under his anti-people and pro-imperialist regime.

He hopes to placate the anger of the youth and people over his martial law regime, the widespread campaign of mass murder and destruction, the big-scale crime and corruption involved in his plan to borrow billions upon billions of dollars to finance his infrastructure building, the additional tax burden he is itching to impose on the people as assurance to his Chinese creditors, and the all-out subservience of his government to US foreign policy and military intervention and surrender of Philippine sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea to both the US and China.

The progressive and revolutionary forces among the students and youth are keenly aware of the necessity of uniting with the people’s national democratic struggles and resistance against the neoliberal policies and fascist strongman rule of the US-Duterte regime as means to advance the cause of the Filipino people and students for national and social liberation.They will surely frustrate the attempt of the US-Duterte regime to silence them.

The PNP-AFP will Pay for the Cowardly and Brutal Massacre of the Casiguran 4

August 4, 2017 | Press Statement | Tagalog »

The Armando Catapia Command (ACC)-NPA Camarines Norte extends its condolences to the family and friends of the two NPA comrades Andres “Ka Magno/Ka Carlo” Hubilla and Miguel “Ka Billy” Himor from the Celso Minguez Command (NPA-Sorsogon), and the two civilians Arnel Borres and Dick Laura. The ACC is one with the Communist Party of the Phlippines’s vow of exacting justice for the cowardly and brutal massacre.

Last July 28, combined forces of the Sorsogon Police Public Safety Coy (SPPSC), 96th Military Intelligence and Combat Operatives (MICO)-PA, 31st IBPA and 22nd IBPA raided the temporary resting place of the two NPA members in Sitio Namoro, Brgy. Trece Martirez, Casiguran, Sorsogon. Ka Carlo was able to maneouvre but left his short firearm. He was caught and murdered. Ka Billy and the two civilian witnesses were also caught and murdered. Acoording to the residents and the fact-finding missions launched, there were no other NPA units in the area, and no encounter took place, disproving the PNP-AFP’s claim that they fought with 30 NPA elements.

This is a clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). The two NPA members were already caught, unarmed and thus, in no capacity to fight back, and should have been treated as hors de combat or outside the fight, with the basic right to life. Their murder, along with the murders of the 2 civilian witnesses, is a violation and evidence of the cowardice and brutality of the AFP and PNP. Nothing good can be expected from those who fight without principle, more so when they are egged on by their rabid President to kill, instead of arresting, the NPA.

Ka Carlo is known by the masses and comrades as a humble revolutionary cadre. A former teacher by profession, he loved discussions, even with other prisoners when he was incarcerated. Often called “‘Pay Carlo” (Father Carlo) by the masses and comrades whom he lived with and guided, his small frame hid the fact that he was one of the pillars of the movement in Sorsogon.

The rabid dogs of the AFP and PNP are mistaken in thinking that this will weaken the revolutionary movement. If they know their enemy, then they should know that each death and murder of a revolutionary, especially one as cowardly and brutal as the Casiguran 4 massacre, recruits more fighters for the NPA, and adds fervor and fire to the struggle of the revolutionary forces.

Carlito Cada
Spokesperson
Armando Catapia Command
New People’s Army–Camarines Norte


Tagalog

PNP-AFP, Mananagot sa Duwag at Makahayop na Pagmasaker sa Casiguran 4

Agosto 4, 2017 | Pahayag sa Midya

Nakikiramay ang Armando Catapia Command (ACC)-NPA Camarines Norte sa mga pamilya at mga kaibigan ng 2 kasamang NPA na sina Andres “Ka Magno/Ka Carlo” Hubilla at Miguel “Ka Billy” Himor ng Celso Minguez Command (NPA-Sorsogon), at ng 2 sibilyang sina Arnel Borres at Dick Laura. Nakikiisa ang ACC sa panata ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas na gawaran ng rebolusyonaryong hustisya ang duwag at makahayop na pagmasaker sa kanila.

Noong Hulyo 28, kinubkob ng pinagsamang pwersa ng Sorsogon Police Public Safety Coy (SPPSC), 96th Military Intelligence and Combat Operatives (MICO)-PA, 31st IBPA at 22nd IBPA ang 2 NPA na pansamantalang humimpil sa Sityo Namoro, Brgy. Trece Martirez, Casiguran, Sorsogon. Naka-maniobra si Ka Carlo ngunit naiwan niya ang kaniyang maikling baril. Nahuli siyang buhay at pinaslang. Nahuli rin si Ka Billy sa isang kubo, kasabay ang dalawang sibilyang saksi sa pangyayari. Pinaslang silang lahat. Ayon sa mga residente at mga fact-finding mission na inilunsad, walang ibang NPA sa lugar noong panahong iyon, at lalong walang enkwentrong naganap, taliwas sa pahayag ng PNP-AFP na 30 NPA ang nakasagupa nila.

Malinaw na paglabag ito sa CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law). Dahil nasukol na ang 2 NPA, wala nang armas kaya’t wala nang kakayahang lumaban, sila ay itinuturing nang hors de combat o labas sa labanan at may karapatang mabuhay. Ang pagpaslang sa kanila, kasabay ang 2 sibilyang saksi, ay paglabag at patunay ng kaduwagan at kahayupan ng AFP at PNP. Walang maasahang katinuan sa mga walang prinspiyo, lalo pa’t inuudyukan sila ng kanilang nauulol na Pangulong nag-atas na patayin ang mga NPA, imbes na arestuhin.

Si Ka Carlo ay kilala ng mga masa at mga kasama bilang isang mapagkumbabang rebolusyonaryong kadre. Dati siyang guro at mahilig sa pakikipagtalakayan, maging sa mga bilanggong kanyang nakasama noong dating madakip siya. Kadalasang tinatawag na “‘Pay Carlo” (Tatay Carlo) ng mga masa’t kasamang kanyang nakasalamuha at ginabayan, hindi halata sa maliit niyang pangangatawan na isa siya sa mga haligi ng kilusan sa Sorsogon.

Nagkakamali ang mga asong ulol ng AFP at PNP sa pag-aakalang napahina nito ang rebolusyonaryong kilusan. Kung kilala nila ang kanilang kaaway, alam sana nila na ang bawat pagkamatay at pagpaslang sa rebolusyonaryo, lalo na ang ganitong duwag at makahayop na pagmasaker sa Casiguran 4, ay lalo pang magpapadami sa sasampa sa NPA at dagdag pang mitsa sa paglaban ng rebolusyonaryong pwersa.

Carlito Cada
Tagapagsalita
Armando Catapia Command
Bagong Hukbong Bayan–Camarines Norte

On the cold-blooded murder of Ka Magno etal in Sorsogon

Information Bureau | Communist Party of the Philippines
August 2, 2017

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) condemns in the strongest terms the massacre of CPP cadre Ka Magno (Andres Hubilla), NPA Red fighter Ka Billy (Miguel Himor) and local residents Arnel Borres and Dick Laura by police and military elements last July 28 in Barangay Trece Martirez, Casiguran, Sorsogon.

The CPP holds GRP President Duterte himself criminally responsible for the Casiguran massacre. A few days ago, it was Duterte himself who ordered his men to kill NPA fighters instead of arresting them in total disregard of the international laws on the conduct of war. The revolutionary forces indict as well AFP Chief Gen. Eduardo Año and PNP Dir. Gen. Renato dela Rosa and other key officials of the AFP and PNP as accessories to the crime.

Ka Magno and Ka Billy were unarmed when the military and police raided their temporary resting place. They had Ka Magno and others under their overwhelming power. Ka Magno’s hands were raised. There was no exchange of gunfire. However, the military and police opened fire and executed them in cold-blood, in violation even of the PNP and AFP’s own rules of engagement.

Under the laws of war of modern civilization, they should have been accorded the status of hors de combat (combatants who are not in a position to fight), have their rights respected and treated with humanity. The Casiguran massacre is an act of barbarism.

The killing of civilians Borres and Laura, a local tiller and fisherman, are outright violations of international humanitarian law. Under international norms, the rights and lives of civilians in time of war should be protected and upheld. Instead of doing so, the military and police killed Borres and Laura in an apparent effort to eliminate witnesses to their crime.

The Casiguran massacre highlights the rapid deterioration of the military and police under the murderous US-supported Duterte strongman regime. On Duterte’s command, military and police units, together with state-supported vigilante groups, have gone on a rampage of killing against anyone Duterte considers as his enemy.

The Party pays tribute to Ka Magno, tireless Party cadre, who headed the Party committee in Sorsogon and guided the Celso Minguez Command (NPA-Sorsogon). A former history schoolteacher and torture victim of Marcos’ martial law, he was a stalwart of the revolutionary movement in Bicol. Ka Magno (also known as Ka Carlo) was a beloved son of the masses. He always came across as a simple and humble man, wearing a simple shirt and shorts and an impish smile.

He is known by practically every poor peasant in Sorsogon among whom he ate, laughed and lived with. With his reliable hammock, he slept at any available corner after a nightlong discussion with his hosts. Ka Magno tirelessly served and inspired the poor peasants and people to organize and fight for their rights, advance their cause for land reform, take up arms and wage revolutionary struggle.

The Party extends its deepest sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of Ka Magno, Ka Billy and civilians Arnel Borres and Dick Laura. The Party and the entire revolutionary movement vow to exact justice for their cold-blooded murder by Duterte’s military and police forces.