The escalating violence of the New People’s Army in Mindanao

By Luke Lischin

“The peace table is now wide open for everybody,” declared Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza to mark the National Peace Consciousness Month in the Philippines.

“This table is not only for the Muslims, for the New People’s Army, for the indigenous peoples, but for all Filipinos,” he added.

While Dureza reserves their seat, the New People’s Army (NPA) shows no signs of returning to the table. Rejecting President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for localised talks, the NPA remains a growing threat to national security, especially in Mindanao.

As of June 2018, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) estimates the presence of approximately 3,900 NPA rebels nationwide. The Eastern Mindanao Command reports 50% of the NPA’s strength resides in within its area of operations. Whereas the AFP is confident in its ability to degrade and inevitably defeat the NPA, the level of NPA violence in Mindanao has increased since the election of Duterte.

Of the 1,103 incidents recorded from January 2017 to July 2018 in the Political Violence in the Southern Philippines Dataset, the NPA was involved in 425 or just over one quarter of all incidents. This dataset is based on the coding of open source-materials including periodicals, official press releases, and academic/humanitarian reporting on episodes of political violence occurring within the administrative boundaries of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago.

NPA violence dogged the final months of Benigno Aquino III’s presidency before giving way to a “honeymoon period” after Duterte’s election, which led to a formal ceasefire agreement in August 2016. The ceasefire effectively reduced violence to negligible levels, but could not produce lasting peace in the absence of a negotiated political settlement. With the breakdown of negotiations and tensions in the field, the NPA formally ended the ceasefire on 30 January 2017 with a heightened series of offensives through April 2017. After dropping off in April 2017, the number of NPA incidents picked up again from May through September 2017 when Duterte declared Martial Law in Mindanao due to the Siege of Marawi. This explicitly motivated the NPA to escalate its operations, which in turn led the Duterte administration to cancel the anticipated fifth round of peace talks.

During the initial Martial Law period, attacks against security forces including the AFP, police, and government militias averaged 16 incidents per month. Although there were 16 incidents overall in October 2017, only 7 were attacks on security forces, while the rest were attacks on civilian and commercial targets. This trend suggests that the NPA shifted to “soft” targets as the AFP was able to dedicate more assets away from Marawi. This shift was short-lived, however, as from November 2017 to July 2018 security forces endured 12 attacks on average per month.

Across all incidents the NPA was responsible for killing 168 soldiers, police officers, and civilians, while wounding an additional 266. Casualties on the side of security forces peaked at 67 in July 2017, when a short series of ambushes in Bukidnon and Compostela Valley resulted in relatively heavy losses for the AFP. By August 2017 through March 2018 casualties averaged 10 per month, and then increased to 16 casualties per month from April 2018 to July 2018, showing a clear increase in the intensity as well as the frequency of NPA incidents.

Meanwhile the NPA sustained 185 fatalities and 109 injuries within their own ranks. 20% of the fatalities and almost 25% of the casualties were sustained during the March 2017 post-ceasefire hostilities. This marks the single biggest period of losses for the group. Otherwise, NPA fatalities and injuries remained low in total but persistent over time, averaging about 3 fatalities and 7 injuries per month. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the casualties sustained by the NPA as well as the surrenders of rebels flaunted by the government have not visibly reduced levels of NPA violence over time.

Fluctuations in the numbers of NPA incidents were also observed geographically. From January 2016 to July 2018, 23 provinces in the Southern Philippines experienced NPA incidents, during which time only Compostela Valley (48), Agusan del Norte (44), Bukidnon (44), Cotabato (44), and Davao del Sur (43) experienced more than 40 incidents, accounting for roughly 61% of total injuries and 50% of total fatalities on all sides.

Of these provinces, Cotabato transformed from one of the least violent provinces in all of Mindanao in 2016, to the most violent in 2017. Unlike NPA incidents in Compostela Valley, Bukidnon, and Davao del Sur, the overwhelming majority of NPA violence in Cotabato consisted of armed assaults against security forces where the NPA was on the offensive. In Agusan del Norte security forces also experienced relatively high levels of NPA attacks, especially in 2017, but these did not escalate as dramatically those in Cotabato.

Beyond just Cotabato and Agusan del Norte, the NPA overwhelmingly favoured security forces as their target. Although the military often dismisses the NPA as bandits, 74% of all NPA incidents engaged state security forces. Only 13% of NPA incidents targeted obvious commercial sites, such as company vehicles, plantations, mines, and offices. Over 40% of incidents directed at commercial targets occurred in the provinces of Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, and Agusan del Norte. Lumads, politicians, regular civilians, and other miscellaneous targets were victimised in the remaining 16% of incidents. Some of these incidents may have also entailed financial motivations, but the abduction, injury, or murder of these persons were undoubtedly politically motivated.

With 5 months yet to be coded in the dataset, 2018 has already surpassed 2016 in terms of the average number of incidents and casualties per month. It is likely that it will match or even surpass 2017 by the same measures. As NPA violence grows worse, it becomes difficult to envision a return to the negotiating table given the lack of effective military solutions or political incentives. In the meantime, the Duterte administration and analysts like Rommel Banlaoi insist Martial Law will keep violence from the NPA and other groups under control, but so far this blank-cheque approach to counterinsurgency has yet to pay real dividends.

Alternatively, localised peace talks and greater regional autonomy via federalism are non-military solutions promoted by the Duterte administration. The prospect of devolved governance has achieved preliminary but positive results in Mindanao with the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and may hold promise for other conflict-affected regions, including proposed Autonomous Region for the Cordillera.

Nevertheless, the NPA considers localised talks to be “a classic divide and rule tactic” and is equally suspicious of federalism, making the path to peace through governance an uphill battle no matter how it is waged.

New Mandala:

© Copyright 2017 New Mandala

Netizen sinagot si Crisostomo ng AnakBayan!

This message is directed to you Vencer Crisostomo
Netizens reaction dun sa pinag puputak mo
____________________


Open Letter to
His Excellency
RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE
President, Republic of the Philippines
Dear Mr. President,
Greetings of peace!

Allow me to speak in behalf of all DDS aside from those whom you knew personally on the matter of the issues pertaining to the UP students on protest against you and your administration. In this regard, we would like to confirm our full support to your statements against all those UP scholars protesting and as citizens enjoying our right to speak under the light of democracy governing in this country. 

This how we see the angles of the very act of we considered gross unbecoming as state scholars in the country's most celebrated state university;

1. That we adopt democracy as type of government and therefore, anything goes against it must be our enemies as per Philippine Constitution commanded: every citizen has the binding duty to protect our democratic country. AnakBayan- and their youth head Mr. Vencer Crisostomo should be investigated for corrupting the minds of the students by planting in them the ideology of rebellion aside from the curriculum set by Commission of Higher Education. Further, we understand that this prime state university became the cooking pot of New Peoples Army revealed proven by our history. With this, we would like to request your good office of an intensive investigation to find out their very nature as progressive group. If they are confirmed rooted in NDF-CPP NPA, we, the citizens of this country expect legal rectifications for these people.

2. That, as our the highest executive, we would like to have an intensive investigation to the University of the Philippines as an academic institution of the state. However, we further demand according to our right as citizens and tax payers to conduct a clean up drive within by removing those communist professors and personnel bracing the formulation of the future rebels group that could further harm our democracy.

3. That, we demand according to our right as citizens and taxpayers; the making of the new image of UP and all state universities by even stricter management free from the corruption of rebellions in all sorts.

4. That, what those protesting UP students done is a gross abuse;
a. of the taxpayers paying their tuitions
b. of the privileges as scholars of the state.
d. Insult of the poor tax paying farmers, fishermen, small scales business operators who cannot even send their children to school like UP.
e. Insult of the bright minded and intelligent lumads deprived of education like of UP.
f. taking advantage of all given benefits and used it to destroy our country's noble goal.

5. That, we also wanted to reiterate our full support for charter change and federalism including the clearer restriction of freedom of speech or expression in the coming new Federal Law. Because this part has been mistakenly used by the enemies of the state like AnakBayan and all groups in the same nature including those corrupt politicians in the present time.

6. That, we wanted to annihilate all party lists headed by progressive groups in the congress. It seemed for us that the state is funding their sublime purpose of destruction of the Philippines.

7. That, we, as your supporters remain with you in our quest for a new Philippines. When you feel weary and alone, just look at us your people entrusted by God into your hands. This our crucial time together. We must fight and taste valiantly the pains of our struggle and in the next rising sun, Mr. President, we all triumphed. Mr. President, we are ready to die not just for you but for your good plans and move for our country. God bless you and protect you and your family.

In behalf of the faithful DDS,
Ram MG Labra

NPA: 15 dead in Batangas were ours

The communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Tagalog hailed the heroism of their 15 comrades who were killed on Tuesday in clashes with government forces in Nasugbu, Batangas province.

Dalawang mukha ng rebolusyon

Sa rebolusyunaryong kilusan ang lahat ay pawang kasinungalingan lamang, walang mangyayari kung patuloy kayong magpapalinlang at magpapagamit sa mga maling prinsipyo at doktrinang itinatatak sa inyong isipan. Mamulat na tayo na magsisimula ang pagbabago sa ating sarili.

#SumukoParaSaKapayapaan
#NPAsalotSaLipunan

KADAMAY now officially called "Agaw Bahay Gang", NPA victims criticizes Duterte's decision

Atty. Noel Acosta, chairman of Coalition of Communist Victims (CCV), the only organized group whose family members were killed by the New People's Army (NPA), has criticized President Rodrigo Duterte for giving up on claims of KADAMAY - a group called by Acosta as "terrorist group".

Acosta, a human rights lawyer representing the NPA victims said that Duterte was soft to people who are creating cancer to the society.

"Etong mga Kadamay na to, bakit ba sila natin bibigyan ng bahay? Bakit ba hindi sila umuwi dun kung saan sila nanggaling? Bakit ba hindi sila mamuhay ng marangal at matino at magbayad ng karampatang buwis para naman may silbi sila sa bayan?

Wala namng ginawa ang mga taong to kungdi ang magwelga sa kalye, tapos sisihin ang gobyerno pag wala silang makain. Habang nagwewelga sila, hindi ba nila alam na ang inaabala nila e yong mga taong nagtatrabaho ng otso oras araw-araw, mga taong nagbabayad ng buwis para tumakbo tong gobyerno ng Pilipinas? Hindi tama ang ginawa ng Presidente na bigyan sila ng bahay. Marami ang mga nagtatrabaho at nagbabayad ng buwis ang walang bahay, sila ang dapat bigyan ng bahay. Hindi ang mga aktibista at teroristang KADAMAY", Acosta said.

"E kung lahat ng taong nasa squatter kung mag demanda ng bahay, bibigyan ba ni Duterte? E kung yong mga nasa housing na may-utang sa Pag-ibig at walang pambayad kung hindi aalis sa bahay nila, ibibigay ba ng Presidente sa kanila ang mga bahay nila at kalimutan na lamang ang utang?

Marami ang negatibong dulot ng pagbibigay ng bahay dito sa mga aktibistang grupong ito.

Ang mga traydor sa bayan ay hindi dapat kinokonsinti at kinukupkop", Acosta added.

The lawyer also said that KADAMAY should not be called as KADAMAY anymore, but "agaw bahay gang".

Acosta and a group of human rights lawyer not under the Commission on Human Rights, represents more than 10,000 families of people who were murdered by NPA. The group is seeking compensation from leftist groups and CPP,NPA,NDF.

"Hindi tatahimik at papayapa ang Pilipinas kung hindi managot at mabitay si Joma Sison at mga kaalyado niya sa walang patumanggang pagpaslang sa mga kamag-anak ng marami sa amin." Acosta said.

"Walang maralita kung walang tamad. Ang karamihan sa aming mga miyembro na naulila dahil sa NPA ay umangat na sa buhay dahil sa walang humpay na pagsisikap at pagtitiyaga, samantalang amg mga kriminal sa bundok ay nananatiling hikahos, at nananatiling nangongotong para lamang makakain. Nasaan ang prinsipyo mo Joma Sison? Walang pinag-iba sa maga agaw bahay gang na Kadamay, na walang silbi sa lipunan. Presidente Duterte, gising", Acosta added. /Lino Prado

2 teenage NPA members surrender

News source: sunstar.com.ph

A BROKEN promise prompted alias Junjun, 18, a rebel returnee, to surrender along with alias Rose, 15, to the authorities last week after the New People’s Army (NPA) fail to grant their pledge to send them back to school, which initially lured them to join the rebel ranks. 

Appearing on Wednesday, April 19 before the media during Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police press forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Junjun said they decided to leave the communist movement after realizing the apparent deception of the rebels of helping them and taking advantage of their innocence to advance their cause. 

He said while he was still with NPA, he was the squad leader under the Pulang Bagani Company 4 that conducts operations in Monkayo and Kapalong. 

He said he was promised to be able to go to school at Haran House in Davao City in 2013, when he was just 15 years old. He only finished Grade 3, which motivated him to go with them but things turned out differently. 

Instead, they were made to join rallies in Manila for a month and when they returned back to Mindanao, he was recruited in the guerilla front to be combatants and was also involved in the burning of equipment and engaged in several firefights with the army. 

Junjun, who is an Ata Manobo from Kapalong, Davao del Norte, realized that he was nowhere near getting the education he wanted, which drove him and his girlfriend Rose, to return to the folds of the law. 

He still wants to go to school. 

Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Rhyan Batchar said they are willing to assist the surrenderees in reintegrating their lives to the mainstream society. 

The two are now under custody of the 60th Infantry Batallion based in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, where their debriefing process is still ongoing with the help of the social workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

Batchar condemned the continuous recruitment of minors by the NPA to join their activities and later engage them in gun battle, which is a clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Right and International Humanitarian Law that prohibits the recruitment of children as combatants. 

“[It is] very depressing on our part that the NPA is still recruiting minors and even using them to conduct atrocities. Based on his revelation, he was used to burn down equipment somewhere in Compostela Valley,” Batchar said.

Mataas na Lider ng NPA Patay sa Engkwentro sa Albay

Isang mataas na lider ng New People’s Army (NPA) na kinilalang si Deomedes Apinado(a.k.a. Delio)  na kasalukuyang Kalihim ng Larangan 1, Komiteng Probinsya 5 (KP5) Albay at Political Officer ng KP5 ang nasawi samantala isang kalibre 45 na baril, isang granada, ilang bala ng kalibre 45 na baril at mga subersibong dukomento ang nasamsam matapos ang engkwentro sa pagitan ng tropa ng pamahalaan at rebelbeng grupo sa Barangay Talisay, Bayan ng Oas, Lalawigan ng Albay, dakong alas 6:30 ng umaga, Abril 19.

Resulta ito ng pakikipagtulungan ng isang sibilyan mula sa naturang lugar na lumapit sa ating kasundaluhan hinggil sa presensya ng naturang armadong grupo na nooy nangingikil at naniningil ng revolutionary tax sa masa. Kaagad naman na rumisponde ang tropa ng 83rd Infantry Battalion sa report na natanggap nang putukan sila ng mga rebelde na humantong sa 10 minutong palitan ng putok.

Si Apinado ay may tatlong murder at dalawang attempted murder na kasong kinakaharap. Base sa DND-DILG No. 10-2009 petsa Abril 23, 2009 ang naturang lider ng NPA ay may patong sa ulo na nagkakahalagang 2.2 Milyong Piso dahil sa patung-patong nitong kaso sa pagpatay.