Insurgency still a threat to 2016 polls in Region 8 - Army

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 14 (PNA) – Insurgency is still a primary concern of the Philippine Army on its bid to achieve honest, peaceful and orderly elections on May 9, 2016.

“The New People’s Army (NPA) is the number one threat at the national level and our major challenge in the region as well. We are closely monitoring their activities as part of our security preparations,” said Col. Cesar Idio, Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division assistant commander.

The military expects the armed rebels will collect fees on permit to campaign, permit to win, and permit to enter. The money generated through “extortion” will be used to launch more attacks against the government, according to the military official.

“Their activities aimed at embarrassing the government, but these are under our control,” Idio added.

Despite recent attacks launched by the NPA against the military in Samar provinces, the official is optimistic of the peaceful situation ahead of Election Day due to intensified security operations.

“But we are not complacent as we prepare mitigation plans and possible security measures for every possible scenario,” he told reporters.

The military and the police are deputized by the Comelec to ensure honest orderly and peaceful elections.

Meanwhile, Idio reminded soldiers to remain non-partisan since voters are depending much on government troops in “upholding their best interest.”

“The success that we can attain in the coming elections will showcase how we have matured as an institution. We, the Comelec and the police are the last bastion of people during elections.”

“During this period, the watchful eyes of the people are on us, waiting for us to do our mandated tasks, while others are there to see if we do otherwise,” Idio added. (PNA)
FFC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO

Two wounded in a fresh attack in Samar hours before holiday truce

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Dec. 23 (PNA) -- A soldier and a civilian were wounded in a fresh attack launched by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Tuesday night at a camp in San Jorge, Samar.

Capt. Isagani Viernes, Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division spokesman, said that 10 rebels surprisingly attacked the headquarters of 43rd Infantry Battalion in Blanca Aurora village in San Jorge, Samar. The fire fight lasted for 25 minutes.

The attack occurred on the same day when an undetermined number of rebels ambushed a military truck used for post-Nona response, killing a soldier and wounded three others in Las Navas, Northern Samar.

The two incidents came hours before the implementation of a 12-day unilateral ceasefire approved by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III. The truce took effect 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 23, 2015 until 11:59 p.m. on January 3, 2016.

“This harassment on our military camp just several hours before their self-declared ceasefire, is a clear indication that the NPA is not all serious about their respect to the spirit of Christmas and peace,” Viernes said.

Despite the action of NPA members, Viernes said that as ordered from top officials, all military installation in the region will only be on defensive mode, in compliance to ceasefire.

"We will not conduct any military operation against them in respect to the ceasefire. The only military operation that we will do here is the humanitarian works for typhoon Nona victims," Viernes added.

The suspension of military operation will allow soldiers to spend Christmas and New Year holidays with their families and love ones.

Along with other government agencies, military personnel in the region are in the forefront of giving aide to typhoon Nona victims in Samar provinces.

Viernes reminded soldiers to be on alert even if they are only involved in humanitarian works since insurgents are taking advantage of disaster response operation.

On Dec. 18, a convoy of military trucks were attacked in Pinabacdao, Samar after the soldiers delivered of relief goods for typhoon victim in Eastern Samar. Two soldiers were hurt during the ambush.

“We know that rebels traditionally mark their anniversary with atrocities, but we hope that they will respect the ceasefire,” Viernes added.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA will celebrate its 47th founding anniversary on Dec. 26. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/Roel T. Amazona

Rebels attack gov’t trucks used for post-'Nona' response in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) –- Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebel group ambushed on Friday morning government trucks being used to transport relief goods for victims of typhoon "Nona" in Samar provinces.

Initial reports said the ambush took place around 7:30 a.m. between Madalunot and Pahug villages in Pinabacdao town which is about 49 kilometers from this city. At least two soldiers were wounded from the attack.

Trucks were carrying 32 soldiers from 546 Engineering Battalion and 81st Division Reconnaisance Company based in this city. The troops were heading to Tacloban after delivering relief goods in eastern Samar on Thursday.

Capt. Isagani Viernes, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division said the three trucks are scheduled to pick up more relief goods in Tacloban on Friday.

The Philippine Army is still gathering more details on the incident.

The military has already sent a reinforcement team from the 87th Infantry Battalion based in Calbiga, Samar to the ambush site.

“The NPAs are continuously and deliberately conduct atrocities like ambuscades against our troops who are only doing their job to assist in Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response (HADR) Operations, secure peace and share the Christmas spirit,” Viernes said.

The official, however, assured that the attack will not hamper the ongoing HADR operations to help typhoon "Nona" victims in Samar, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar provinces. (PNA)
JMC/Sarwell Q. Meniano and Roel T. Amazona

Army declares 42 towns in Eastern Visayas as rebel-free

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 26 (PNA) -– In the past two years, the Philippine Army has declared 42 towns in Eastern Visayas as insurgency-free, raising military’s confidence that the region will attain the rebel-free status by next year.

In a report to the Regional Development Council (RDC) development administration committee, Lt. Col. Ferdinand Bajarin, assistant chief of staff for intelligence of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division (8th ID) said that of the 42 areas, nine are in Northern Samar, four in Samar, four in Eastern Samar and 25 in Leyte.

“This is in line with our effort to declare Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Leyte as insurgency-free by 2016,” Bajarin said.

Since October 2013, declared as insurgent-free are the towns of Allen, Biri, Capul, San Antonio, San Vicente, Rosario, Lavezares, San Jose, and San Roque in Northern Samar; Alamagro, Tagapul-an, Sto. Nino, and Daram in Samar; Guiuan, Mercedes, Lawaan, and Salcedo in Eastern Samar.

In Leyte, listed as rebel-free are Palompon, Bato, Matalom, Inopacan, Tabon-tabon, Dulag, Julita, Babatngon, Tabango, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Hindang, Barugo, San Miguel, Leyte, Pastrana, Hilongos, Tolosa, Mayorga, Matag-ob, Merida, Dagami, Calubian, Sta. Fe, and Alangalang.

These areas have been jointly declared as free from threats of New People’s Army (NPA) by local government units and Army battalions in the region.

Bajarin admitted that NPA remained a major security threat in the region since it is undertaking terrorist activities such as murder, extortion, ambuscade, raid and mass mobilizations.

However, the organization has been weakening in the past few years as it is not anymore capable of launching major attacks.

“This year, there were only two ambush incidents in Samar provinces. With those enemy activities, we could already see that that insurgency in Eastern is on the downtrend,” he added.

Lt. Col. Rodrigo Ilustrisimo, chief of the 8th ID Communication-Electronics and Information Systems, said that more towns will be declared as insurgency-free before the end of 2015 and early next year.

“We are on track of making Eastern Visayas insurgency-free by 2016. This has been done by bridging the gap between government and populace,” Ilustrisimo said.

The official emphasized the value of building roads to provide access for the delivery of services, bring trade opportunities, and contribute to peace and order efforts. (PNA)
LAP/SARWELL Q. MENIANO