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NPA arrests abusive PNP officer in Davao Oriental

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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

No more cooperation with Duterte’s undemocratic and anti-people “drug war”

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The anti-drug war of the Duterte regime has rapidly spiralled into a frenzied campaign of extra-judicial killings and vigilante murders perpetrated by the police and by police-linked criminal syndicates. Nearly 1,000 people have been killed in just a little more than one month. The rights of tens upon thousands of people are being violated as the criminal justice system is upturned.

Police officials have brazenly carried out summary killings against suspected drug peddlers and users. Hundreds have been killed while “resisting arrest” or while under custody and detention, in police cars as well as in jails.

Duterte’s “drug war” has clearly become anti-people and anti-democratic. Human rights are being violated with impunity by police personnel, emboldened by Duterte’s assurances of “I got your back” and his public declarations of contempt against human rights.

The Duterte regime has unleashed unmitigated violence and threats of violence against the people, mostly victims and people at the lowest rungs of the criminal syndicate ladder. In contrast, the suspected big drug lords and their protectors are afforded courtesy calls to Malacañang, accommodations in Camp Crame’s guest house and preliminary investigations by the NBI. The worst that they have been made to undergo is to suffer the lectures of the PNP chief.

What was before the burden of the accuser to prove someone’s guilt is now the burden of the accused to prove his innocence. Duterte has come up with one list after another of so-called protectors, narco-politicians and judges without proof nor clear basis for accusations of their involvement in drugs. He could not even tell the people how the lists were drawn. It is a mystery even to the chief intelligence officer and head of the PNP.

Duterte has become so full of himself and intoxicated with the vast power he is not used to handle that he thinks he can get away with upturning the criminal judicial system and denouncing people for defending human rights. He dishes out threats of imposing martial law. He has made himself a laughing stock among legal circles. He, however, is not laughing and threatens anyone who chooses to stand in his way.

Duterte’s “drug war” is bound to fail because it does not address the socio-economic roots of the problem. It has been proven in history that no amount of killing will succeed in putting an end to the drug menace. After ten years of the “anti-drug war” in Mexico, and with almost 80,000 people killed, the intensity of the drug problem remains the same if not worse. In Thailand, around 3,000 people were killed from 2003 to 2005, at least half of whom were later proved to be not involved in drugs. The drug problem has become worse.

The “drug war” is set to spiral into a war among the criminal drug syndicates, between one narco-politician against another, using the resources of the state and to further entrench themselves in the reactionary state. The “drug war” is also fast becoming one of the facets of the factional struggle within the reactionary ruling classes, for control of resources, territories, police and military units.

Duterte’s war is set to unleash more violence and counter-violence, political maneuverings as well as media contests between rival criminal syndicates as represented by their politicians and police protectors.

In all likelihood, many of the summary and vigilante killings are being carried out by the criminal syndicates who use the “anti-drug war” as camouflage for waging all-out war against their rivals and their rival protectors in the police, bureaucracy and judiciary or to rub-out their own men. It would be no surprise that the information made public by Duterte about police protectors, narco-politicians and judges were fed to him by rival criminal syndicates.

All democratic forces must unite and demand justice and an end to the madness of police and vigilante killings. They must unite to defend human rights. At the same time, the people should amplify their urgent clamor for jobs and land to improve their economic condition, make them productive and draw them away from social misery and desperation, in order to, thus, end the conditions for the proliferation of drugs.

In line with standing orders, the New People’s Army (NPA) will continue to intensify its operations to arrest and disarm drug trade operators and protectors. However, these will no longer be considered as cooperative with the Duterte regime’s undemocratic and anti-people “war on drugs.” As before, the NPA will continue to exercise due process in dealing with suspects, such as those PNP officers presently in custody in Compostela Valley and Surigao del Sur.

The CPP calls on the people to struggle against the rampant problem of drug addiction, as they wage revolutionary struggle to overthrow the system that perpetuates it as well as other forms of oppression. The most effective way of waging war against drugs is by rousing the people and mobilizing them to become active participants in social revolution.

The rampant problem of drug addiction among the people should be addressed in the economic as well as political and cultural fields. In thousands of barangays and clusters of several where the revolutionary forces hold sway and exercise governmental authority, drug addiction has been virtually wiped out through mass struggles.

In the base areas of the NDFP, the active participation of the youth and other sectors in revolutionary political, cultural, economic, military and social affairs, have drawn them away from the culture of individualism, self-indulgence and escapism. Here, drug abuse and drug addiction can no longer take root.

Abusive AFP operating troops in Monkayo, Comval struck in NPA counter-offensives, 6 firearms seized

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The 8th Pulang Bagani Company-New People’s Army carried out a series of counter-offensives against the operating troops of the 25th Infantry Battalion, punishing 11 fascist soldiers and seizing six firearms during a raid, an attritive action and an ambush on August 2, 4 and 5, 2016 in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley.

The NPA’s punitive action is a just reprisal in the face of atrocities committed by the 25th IB combat soldiers such as ransacking of civilian houses and farms, mauling and intimidation of peasants and Lumads in Monkayo town since June. In fact, the notorious Army unit had not reduced the intensity of its combat-intel-psywar operations in the communities during GRP. Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s short-lived unilateral ceasefire last week.

The 8th PBC-NPA on August 2, neutralized Cpl. Castro, an intelligence operative of the 25thIB who was caught conducting combat intel operation in the communities of Brgy. Baylo, Monkayo. Seized from him were a 9mm caliber and .22 caliber pistols.Two days later, the Red fighters engaged a platoon of the 25th IB in Brgy. Pasian, Monkayo, killing two Army soldiers and wounding three others.

At around 7:30 this morning, August 5, the Red fighters successfully ambushed a company of the 25th IB in Sitio Inuburan, Brgy. Rizal, killing 5 AFP troops, seizing two M203 grenade launchers, one M4 rifles, Harris radios, and several other military hardware.

The 8th PBC’s tactical counter-offensives against an abusive AFP unit in the peasant and Lumad villages should serve as a stern warning to other operating Army units in Southern Mindanao region. These AFP troops that are active in combat-intel-psywar operations in the countryside continue and remain to be legitimate targets of the Red Army.

The NPA Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command has directed all Red fighters in the region to remain on alert status, intensify its base building and base defense work, expand its services in the guerilla bases and guerilla zones, punish AFP troops operating in civilian communities, and pursue revolutionary justice for the basic masses who are victims of repression and fascist abuses.

As it awaits positive development in the forthcoming peace negotiations between the GRP and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, the Red Army shall defend its ranks and the masses through armed offensives and counter-offensives, foil the AFP’s treacherous and ruthless military operations, and remain committed in addressing the roots of the armed conflict.

Rigoberto F. Sanchez
Spokesperson
NPA-SMROC

Red salute to Ka Wendell M. Gumban, communist, Red fighter, UP alumnus

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[Bisaya »]

The National Democratic Front in Southern Mindanao gives its highest honors to Wendell “Ka Joaquin” M. Gumban, communist, Red Army officer and University of the Philippines alumnus who was martyred along with Sario “Ka Glen” Mabanding during a firefight against the 66th Infantry Battalion-AFP on July 23 in Sitio Pong-pong, Brgy. Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

Ka Joaquin, 30, joined the national democratic movement as a member of the Kabataang Makabayan during his college days at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. He was recruited to the Communist Party of the Philippines shortly after and became the secretary of the Party organ that consolidated the Philippine Collegian, UP’s student publication. Later, he became a member of the leading Party organ assigned in the university. In 2010, he was tasked to do full-time work in the trade union movement before joining the New People’s Army in Mindanao in late 2011.

He became a valuable part of the Party’s consolidation work in the Red bases and expansion work in the guerilla zone. As a political instructor of an NPA unit, he contributed to the expansion of guerrilla units and political consolidation of Red fighters.

As a communist, Ka Joaquin wrestled with his petty bourgeois origin and struggled to live in the spirit of simple living and hard struggle. He overcame the limitations of his frail frame, weak eyesight, even an unfamiliar dialect, to serve the Lumads and peasants of Southern Mindanao. Brilliant and daring, Ka Joaquin is an inspiration to the intellectual youth. He chose not the life of comfort that he could have otherwise led, but the life of selfless service and sacrifice at the bosom of people’s war.

The revolutionary forces in the region, the Red Army and the Communist Party celebrate the life of Ka Joaquin for his significant contribution to the people’s war and for his unwavering belief that a youthful intellectual’s place—as are all exploited classes in our society—is in the revolution.

Bisaya:

Pulang saludo kang Ka Wendell M. Gumban, komunista, Pulang manggugubat, UP alumnus

Photo by Myan Lordiane | PinoyWeekly.org

Photo by Myan Lordiane | PinoyWeekly.org

Gitanyag sa National Democratic Front of the Philippines sa Southern Mindanao ang pinakataas nga pagsaludo kang Wendell “Ka Joaquin” Gumban, komunista, opisyal sa Pulang Hukbo ug alumnus sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, nga namartir kuyog ni Sario “Ka Glen” Mabanding sa usa ka panagsangka batuk sa 66IB-AFP niadtong Hulyo 23 sa Sitio Pong-pong, Brgy. Andap, New Bataan Compostela Valley.

Miduyog si Ka Joaquin, 30, sa kalihukang nasudnon-demokratiko isip membro sa Kabataang Makabayan panahon sa iyang kolehiyo sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas sa Diliman. Wala nadugay, narekrut siya sa Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas ug nahimong kalihim sa organo sa Partido nga nagkonsolida sa Philippine Collegian, ang mantalaan sa mga estudyante sa UP. Kadugayan, nahimo siyang membro sa nangulong organo nga gitahasan sa Partido sulod sa unibersidad. Niadtong 2010, natahasan siya nga mag-pultaym sa kalihukang mamumuo ayha siya misampa sa New People’s Army ulahing bahin sa 2011.

Mahinungdanong bahin si Ka Joaquin sa gimbuhatong konsolidasyon sa Pulang base ug gimbuhatong pagpalapad sa sonang gerilya. Isip political instructor sa usa ka yunit sa NPA, mitampo siya sa pagpalapad sa mga yunit gerilya ug pangpulitikang konsolidasyon sa mga Pulang manggugubat.

Isip komunista, naningkamot si Ka Joaquin nga patigbabawan ang iyang petiburgis nga kagikan ug ikinabuhi ang diwa sa simpleng panginabuhi ug bug-os nga pakigbisog. Gipatigbabawan niya ang limitasyon sa iyang panglawas, huyang nga panan-aw, bisan ang langyaw nga pinulongan, aron moalagad sa mga Lumad ug mag-uuma sa Southern Mindanao. Maalam ug mapangahason, usa ka inspirasyon si Ka Joaquin sa kabatan-onang intelektwal. Gipili niya dili ang makikaugalingong kinabuhi nga haruhay apan ang kinabuhi sa wala’y kinutobang pag-alagad ug sakripisyo sa sabakan sa gubat sa kaatawhan.

Ginapasidunggan sa tanang rebolusyonaryong pwersa sa rehiyon, sa Pulang hukbo ug sa Partido Komunista ang kinabuhi ni Ka Joaquin alang sa iyang mahinungdanong tampo sa gubat sa katawhan ug sa iyang hugot nga pagtuo nga ang luna sa tanang kabatan-onang intelektwal—sama sa tanang pinahimuslang hut-ong sa katilingban—wala lain kundili sa rebolusyon.