9th Infantry (Spear) Division

NPA Rebels Torch Down Passenger Bus in Albay

2012-01-27T22:41:00.003+08:00

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – A Silver Star bus which originated from Bulan town Sorsogon and heading towards Manila was torched down by suspected NPA rebels In Barangay Cagbacong, Legaspi City last night (January 26) at around 07:30 pm.

Eyewitnesses claimed that the suspects posing as passengers, boarded the bus at a stopover terminal in Sorsogon City.

Upon reaching the area between Cumadcad and Sogoy villages in Castilla town, the armed men drew their pistols and introduced themselves as NPA rebels.

At the junction in Barangay Sogoy, Castilla town they commandeered the bus towards Barangay Cagbacong, an interior barangay of Legaspi City where three more rebels with long firearms were waiting.

The passengers were forcibly herded out of the bus before pouring gasoline and razing it to the ground.

The passengers fled the scene and made it back to the national hi-way where they reported the incident to the police in Barangay Cumadcad.

“Extortion is the primary motive in this burning incident. The people have denounced this atrocity wherein the NPA rebels have terrorized not just the business owners but also the innocent passengers,” said Col Felix Castro Jr., 903^rd Brigade Commander based in Sorsogon.

He added that coordination has been made with the PNP to track the rebels.

Bullets are not Greeting Cards

2011-12-29T11:19:00.003+08:00

I have a very important reminder for all friends who want to celebrate New Year with a bang.

It may help save others from potential harm.

Check out the link below.

http://www.shootingaddicts.com/2011/12/bullets-are-not-greeting-cards.html?spref=fb

I pray for True 'Merry Christmas'

2011-12-24T22:38:00.007+08:00

He is Jason Brul, also known as Ka Butch. He was wounded in an encounter between Army soldiers and a group of communist rebels that he led in Barcelona, Sorsogon. He survived because he raised his arms to surrender after the 10-minute exchage of gunfires. This photo was taken during Christmas in 2010.

One year after I first met Ka Butch, I am reminded of the story of a man who almost died a few days before Christmas.

I am also beginning to ask a very difficult question: When will be the time that we can celebrate the most meaningful Christmas?

The adventures of Ka Butch

I was interested to know this man and learn his thoughts about the communist movement. His father (in white shirt) was not able to send him to school due to financial constraints.

He met a friend and tried their luck in Manila. Finding some odd jobs, he was unhappy.

Later, he found himself being recruited in the ranks of the rebel group where he met and married his wife.

From a community organizer, he rose to become the Secretary of Front Committee 79 which has jurisdiction of eastern part of Sorsogon. He assumed his post in the 3rd Quarter of 2010 when his superior died in an encounter with Army troops.

He almost met the same fate when he experienced that fierce firefight with government forces that fateful day in December 2010. He was thankful that the leader of the soldiers let him live.

"I thank him for giving me another lease of life. I appreciate them for respecting my basic rights," he said.

Inside the room was one of his two young children. He said that he didn't want his child become a communist rebel like him.

"I wanted him to finish school and earn a living peacefully," Brul said.

Through him, I was enlightened about the plight of our poor kababayans in the countryside. Without any chance of gaining employment, the lucrative income from the extortion activities was the effective way to lure them towards the Maoist rebel group.

This is also the reason that I realized that the communist insurgency could not be solved by pure combat operations.The poor people in the countryside must feel that they are being taken cared for by the government.

The local government must be the one that must take center stage in addressing the root causes of the conflict, supported by the military. (I am wondering why the soldiers are always blamed for not ending the communist insurgency)

I am saddened that some of our fellow Filipinos question the wisdom behind our CMO-heavy campaign strategy. Poverty and social injustice are among the main factors that fuel communist insurgency. The military does not have all the mechanisms that can address these aforementioned issues. Making war is not the appropriate solution to this problem.

My prayer for a true 'merry' Christmas

Christmas day is only hours away and I am reminded of the likes of Ka Butch who were made to believe that armed rebellion is the answer to their woes.

I am also reminded of my fellow soldiers who have continuously performed their mandates of protecting the infrastructure projects that are implemented in the countryside. While serving the people, some of them have offered the ultimate sacrifice.

I pray that the next Christmas will be a joyful moment for all.

I pray that there will be no more fighting and soldiers do not have to fight our fellow Filipinos.

I pray that there will be lasting peace. That is the only time that I can wholeheartedly say, "Merry Christmas!".

Note: This article was originally published by the author in his blog 'Faces, Places & Voices'

Masbate Rebels Suffer Double Whammy in Sorsogon Encounter

2011-11-30T20:27:00.001+08:00

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – Rebels who fled the relentless pursuit operations of the Army in the province of Masbate suffered another humiliating defeat in the hands of government forces in Sorsogon, a military official said.

Lt. Col Teody Toribio, Commanding Officer of the 31st IB stationed in Juban town in Sorsogon said that his unit dealt a decisive blow against the Masbate-based rebels during an encounter at about 2:00pm yesterday, Nov 29. The said encounter resulted to the recovery of 8 high-powered rifles.

He said that he sent a nine-man squad of soldiers together with some PNP officers to check on a report that an abandoned white maritime vessel ran aground the coastal waters of Brgy Poblacion Norte in Barcelona, Sorsogon early in the morning yesterday.

“A tipster saw armed men disembark the vessel early in the morning of Nov 29. This information was also validated by another villager who claimed to have seen the rebels boarding a motorcycle towards Juban town,” said Toribio.

Two of the rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun and an M1 Carbine rifle were discovered inside the abandoned fishing vessel which ran aground in the sandbar.

The group of soldiers who scoured the vicinity, were fired upon by the rebels who were hiding behind the thick mangrove trees. A 15-minute firefight ensued after which the rebels escaped with their casualties.

“They mingled with the civilian fishermen who happened to be in the area prompting my soldiers to hold their fire to prevent collateral damage,” added Toribio.

The soldiers confiscated 6 more high-powered firearms including five (5) m16 rifles and one (1) cal.30 M1 Garand rifle which were left behind by the fleeing rebels.The soldiers also recovered various types of ammunition, subversive documents and personal belongings.

Army Corporal Jeffrey N Balajadia, the squad leader, said that during the inspection, they found the markings 'MAS 15.0002BA' indicating that the vessel was registered in Masbate.

Col Felix Castro, 903rd Brigade Commander, who has operational jurisdiction in the provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate, directed 31st IB to launch pursuit operations against the NPA rebels.

He also confirmed that the armed men belong to a group of communist rebels operating in Masbate.

“The recovered subversive documents indicated that the rebels who figured in this firefight came all the way from Masbate province. They suffered heavily in the recent clashes with the 9^th Infantry Battalion in that area, forcing them to flee towards mainland Bicol which is accessible by boat,” said Castro.

Castro also emphasized that the encounter is a perfect example of Oplan Bayanihan at work. He lauded the PNP and the civilians who provided the timely information regarding the rebels’ presence.

“Our healthy relationships with the various stakeholders in the province combined with our “Bayanihan” efforts in Sorsogon paid off leading to this accomplishment.” concluded Castro.

Army Clash with Communist Rebels in Masbate

2011-11-28T20:32:00.002+08:00

A firefight erupted between Army soldiers and a band of communist rebels in Masbate province in the morning of November 25, 2011.

The team of soldiers belonging to the 9th Infantry Battalion led by 1st Lieutenant Ronnie Garchitorena was conducting security operations in the village of Manlot-od, Placer town when they chanced upon at least 10 rebels.

A 15-minute gunbattle ensued after which the rebels fled with their casualties.

The soldiers confiscated an M653 Rifle (Baby Armalite), an MK2 fragmentation grenade and a Cal 38 pistol from the rebels.

No one was hurt among the soldiers. They conducted pursuit operations together with elements from the local police.

Army Soldiers Deliver a Knock-out Punch Against NPA Rebels in Masbate

2011-11-19T22:25:00.003+08:00

Despite the much hyped Pacman boxing fight, Army soldiers clashed with communist rebels and delivered a knock-out punch against their nemesis in a hinterland village of Masbate early morning today (November 13, Sunday).

Lt.Col Julian 'Jun' Pacatan, Commanding Officer of 9th Infantry Battalion, said that the encounter happened in Matagbac village, Milagros town at around 6am.

He said that he sent a team of soldiers led by 2LT Francis Alfie Tuazon to arrest the rebels who were extorting the residents in the area.

The heavy exchange of gunfire ensued when the soldiers were fired upon by more or less 10 rebels. The rebels fled with their casualties prompting a running gunbattle which lasted 15mins.
No one was injured among the government troops. The soldiers confiscated one M16 armalite rifle, one M653 baby armalite, 2 handguns and 25 improvised bombs.

“The villagers are fed up by this NPA extortion. While the soldiers are providing medical missions and feeding programs, the communist rebels continue to ask money from them,” said Pacatan.

“We will miss Pacman’s fight today because of our relentless pursuit operations. Like Pacman, we want to win this fight against extortionists,” he added.

Major General Josue Gaverza, commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed 903rd Commander Colonel Felix Castro Jr to conduct agressive security patrols against NPA extortionists who are despised by the people.

2 Military Dads Winning in 2 Fronts Simultaneously

2011-07-13T11:51:00.003+08:00

FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City - For two senior leaders of the Philippine Army, achieving success as a professional soldier and as a family man is possible.

Colonel Arthur Ang, the current Brigade Commander of the Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade, and Chief Master Sergeant Guillermo Francisco, the Army’s Command Sergeant Major, said that military service and family life should go hand in hand.

Both 51, they believe that a soldier can’t afford to be successful in one and a failure on the other. Failing in one would be personally devastating. These two fathers take pride in being successful in both worlds.

For his part, Ang firmly believes that there is no value of having a successful military career but having a broken or dysfunctional family.

“The good news is that winning in both fronts is achievable. Failure in one is never an option; hence, finding the right balance is paramount. The key lies on the understanding, cooperation, and having a common direction towards proper molding of the children. ” explained Ang.

Meanwhile, Francisco’s secret formula for a successful marriage is not simply communication but consistent communication. He said that this requires extra efforts for the soldier and his wife.

“Even before the popularity of the cellular phones and the internet, I never failed to consistently communicate to my wife and children as part of my responsibility as the leader of my the family. I‘m well aware that coming short to my obligation as a father would have a negative impact to the well-being of my family.” he said.

‘No time for Love’

During the early days of their military career, Army soldiers are normally sent to the frontlines for their combat duties. Naturally, adventurous and young soldiers are the workhorses of the Philippine Army in its counter-insurgency operations and other tasks.

As a young and adventurous lieutenant who wanted a piece of real action, Ang started his military career fighting the secessionist rebels in Basilan island as a Platoon Leader of the 45th Infantry Battalion in 1981.

After a year, he found himself scaling the mountain ranges of Luzon when his unit was redeployed to confront the growing influence of the communist terrorists there.

“Due to the demands of my combat assignment, I rarely met my parents and my wife, Evangeline, who was still my girlfriend during that time. Since I was still single in the first four years of my military service, I focused on performing my job well as a company grade officer and learning other tradecrafts as much as I can.” revealed Ang.

On the other hand , Francisco, trained as an elite Scout Ranger, scoured the hinterlands of the Visayas islands as a young Private of the Army’s Special Warfare Brigade in the early 80‘s.

When he was assigned with the Army’s rapid deployment force, the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR), he found himself hopping from one island to another, widening his forays to the enemy’s heartland in Mindanao and the lush forests of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges.

“In the FSRR, I had practically no time for love. At duty’s call, we get to deploy from one place to another in a moment’s notice. Soldiery became my first love and my rifle as my wife!” said Francisco as he laughed. “In the first twelve years of my career, I was single. It was in 1983 that I married my beloved wife Annielyn.“

Communicating with the Family

While carrying out their jobs in the military, both Ang and Francisco tried their best in performing their other important role - as a husband and as a father. They have placed high value to family despite the time-demanding and financially-constraining military profession.

They both believe that effective communication is the best remedy for their absence from home and other family predicaments.

Ang said that establishing constant communication with his family has been a habit for him. He said that the lack of postal service in Basilan in the early 80’s did not hinder him to maintain his constant contact with his wife.

“I wrote my love letters using ‘palara’ (cigarette pack) then sent it through any of my soldier who is about to go on leave in Luzon,” he narrated fondly.

With no advanced technological gadget that could deliver real-time communication, the military tactical radio set became the preferred mode of communication among soldiers and their families during that period. The ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio, the URC 187, became the ever precious link between soldiers and their loved ones. Though connecting both ends using the said radio is cumbersome, it nonetheless served its purpose and made everyone happy even for a moment.

Ang said that his wife availed of this communication line through his Unit liaison office in Fort Bonifacio.

Franciso likewise said that the same equipment had served as the main link to his family during his deployment to distant posts.

“Through the wonders of that superb equipment, we were able to talk even when I was in the boondocks and away from civilization. Can you imagine how it felt hearing the voice of your beloved after weeks, or even months, in the jungle?” said Francisco as he reminisce it with a smile.

The advent of the cellular phone in the military in mid-90s gave the soldiers the ability to reach their loved ones much easier and in an instant. Their family members don’t need to go to nearby camps and queue for a few hours to avail of free calls using the URC187 radio.

Ang, while undergoing a specialization training in Australia, spent much of his allowances on phone cards. He virtually burnt the lines chatting with his wife and only son, sharing their respective experiences.

Similarly, through his own cellular phone, Francisco continuously performed his role as a father even when he was in the hinterlands of Basilan sometime in 2002. “I helped my children with their school homework through text messages and phone calls. I helped them solve the problems then relay the answers through text messages,” he narrated with a wide grin.

The military father

Both wives of Ang and Francisco quit their respective jobs in order to dedicate themselves as full-time housewives.

“My wife abandoned her career to look after our son 24/7. We knew from the very start that it would mean financial difficulty but our son’s welfare and correct upbringing was our top priority,” Ang resolutely said.

Francisco ably convinced his wife to quit her job by the time their eldest child, Angeline, was born. He didn’t want to follow other soldiers who chose to tag along their families even in far-flung military detachments.

“I wanted my children to be personally reared by their mother in a family-friendly community while I was far away. I delegated most of my fatherly duties to my wife and I was lucky that she performed them very well. My wife is one tough cookie, she is a mother who can truly enforce order in our household. I’m truly fortunate to have her as my wife.” Francisco said warmheartedly.

Being constantly away from home, military children are normally closer to their mothers than their soldier-father.

Aware of this fact, Ang and his wife constantly remind their son about his father’s sacrifices in the service of the country and the nobility of the military profession. Through his wife, Ang ably remained as the father-figure in their son’s life despite his long absences.

Ang also believes that military fathers should not be too harsh on their children. Dealing with the kids is a bit tricky and can easily go haywire especially if they are treated as in a martial manner.

“As a father who is most of the time away from home, I cannot afford spending my limited time mistreating his son. I think that children who are mistreated by their soldier-father tend to become rebellious. Everytime I come home, I dedicate my time in our ‘bonding moments’ to create good memories about my presence,” Ang explained.

He further said that it is very important to maintain the ‘right balance’ and the role of the mother is crucial to the success of the household .

Golden moments

As an officer, there were times that Ang was designated to positions of major responsibility. During those times, going home became much more difficult.

“When I was a Battalion Commander in Bataan, my wife used to request that my son be allowed to take the written exams in advance so that they can spend time with me longer during school breaks,” he said. “Because I can’t go home to spend vacation, my family usually come to my headquarters in the field to stay with me for a week or two. We made necessary adjustments to maintain our excellent relationships”.

As an enlisted man, Francisco usually avail of the 15-day Rest and Recreation (R&R) privilege once every six months. When he was posted in remote assignments, it meant he can spend only about 10-days with his family taking into consideration the length of travel.

“Whenever I am home, I maximized my time with my wife and children. I used my limited time as an opportunity to make up with my absence by being with them all the time - watching TV shows, attending church services, and dining out. In our house, I transform from pure soldier to being jack-of-all-trades…being the carpenter who fixes whatever kinks in our house, a cook for my wife and kids, a nanny, an errand guy, a clown to make them laugh, etc. I did try my best to compensate for my absence. I kept telling myself, “I am a Scout Ranger, therefore I can do everything for the welfare of everybody especially for my family. Some may find it funny but it‘s true”, he said with a laugh.

When Ang was posted as a military attache in China, his family made a difficult choice. He convinced his son to temporarily quit his college studies in order to come with him to Beijing.

All that he wanted was to strengthen his relationship with his son. He noticed that he was closer to his mom and that he was drifting away from him
“Despite the fact that I am not a stranger to him, my son tend to confide to his mother. He turns to her for his financial requirements and other personal issues. In one way or another, I ‘envy’ my wife so I decided to bring them along with me in my new assignment,” said Ang.

Our stay in Beijing was probably the best time in our lives. For three years, we lived normally as one happy family - dining together, strolling around, and watching movies.

“My son became my ‘barkada’ (best friend) due to this assignment. It is priceless and I owe it to my military service,” Ang confided.

Winning in both fronts

Among military men, winning both in the home front and in their military career is an outstanding success.

“Knowing that my son has never been into any vice is already a big success for me. He has acquired the right attitude of a Filipino citizen and he never bragged about his soldier-father nor abuse his father's position,” Ang proudly said.

“I could not contain my happiness knowing that he has appreciated my military service and that he fully appreciate the sacrifices of our soldiers and their families in the service of our country. He never whined about my continuous absence. I owed everything to my loving and supportive wife, Evangeline,” Ang said.

Having simple dreams in life, Ang said that he has fulfilled his life’s aspirations. As a Brigade Commander, he would soon become a star-ranked officer.

“To become a General officer is already a bonus for me and I will repay our country with my honest and dedicated service until my retirement day in August 2015,” Ang humbly vowed.

Meanwhile, as the most ranking non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the Philippine Army, Francisco is in the pinnacle of his career. Having been recognized as one of the most respected NCO-leaders in the AFP, he is also an awardee of Metrobank and Rotary Club Makati-Metro’s The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers. Truly, he is an accomplished soldier.

Francisco is now busy doing some rounds to various Army field units and consulting with the soldiers while sharing his life’s valuable lessons.

Proud of his six well-disciplined children, Francisco said that they are his main accomplishments. He aims to motivate his fellow soldiers to follow his path.

“For the past years, I do not celebrate Father’s Day but I will this year. I will celebrate it by setting myself as an example that being a good soldier-father is very much possible. The dual role of being a father and a soldier is a challenge that we need to overcome and succeed. Yes, having a good career is rewarding but having a wonderful family is truly satisfying personally and spiritually. And to respectfully quote and modify few lines from George Skypeck‘s poem, “I was that which others did not want to be…I asked nothing from those who gave nothing. And reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness... should I fail. I have seen the face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment’s love. I have cried, pained, and hoped...but most of all, I have lived times others would say were best forgotten. At least someday, I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was...a soldier…and a good father to my family.” Francisco self-effacingly said in closing.

Army's DRO Teams Get Ready For TS Chedeng In Bicol Region

2011-05-25T09:14:00.011+08:00

The following pictures were taken during the mustering of DRO assets in front of the Office of the Civil Defense 5 yesterday at 9:00am. It was participated by various government agencies such as the AFP, DPWH, PCG, BFP and the PNP. Governor Jose "Joey" Sarte Salceda gave 2 rubber boats to the 9th Infantry Division and 1 for the Philippine Coast Guard.

COMMANDER'S BRIEFING. Colonel Arthur P Ang, Commander of the 901st Brigade of the Philippine Army, receives a unit briefing from the leader of the 9ID's Disaster Response Operations Team, 1st Lieutenant Ronnie Sicad, during the mustering of DRO assets in Legaspi City yesterday at 9:00am. (Photo by S7,901st Bde)

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. Albay's PDRRMC prepares for the coming of TS Chedeng in a joint disaster preparedness drills held in Camp Simeon Ola in Legaspi City yesterday at 9:00am. The activity was supervised by senior government officials including Governor Jose "Joey" Salceda, OCD5 Director Raffy Alejandro, 9ID Commander Major General Josue Gaverza Jr and 901st Brigade Commander Colonel Arthur Ang. (Photo by S7,901st Bde)

Two Communist Rebels Die in Albay Encounter

2011-05-13T22:35:00.003+08:00

Two New People’s Army (NPA) extortionist was killed in an encounter with government troops in Albay early morning today, a military official said.

Lt Col Audrey Pasia, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, said that two communist bandit members died in a clash with his troops at about 5 a.m., Friday.

Pasia said that he sent a nine-man squad of his unit led by 1Lt Rolito Basibas after receiving a tip-off from a concerned resident about the presence of communist rebels who demanded money from them in Maog-og Village, Jovellar town.

“The rebels fired the first shots when they were approaching the 10-man bandit group led by Armando Arellano (aka Rudy) of Kilusang Larangang Gerilya 77, triggering a five-minute fire fight. The bandit group fled with their casualties leaving behind two dead comrades with one M16 rifle, one M653 Rifle (Baby Armalite) and M203 grenade launcher,” said Pasia.

My troops did not incur any casualties and they are still conducting pursuit operations to hunt down the remnants of the bandit groups,” Pasia added.

Maj. Gen Jose Gaverza Jr., 9th Infantry Division Commander, directed Lt Col Pasia to try to locate and coordinate with the relatives of the slain bandits as well as with the police authorities to give the unidentified fallen rebels a decent burial.

Summer Youth Camp 2011 visits Spear Warriors' Home

2011-04-10T23:33:00.006+08:00

Kasong Murder Isinampa Laban sa mga Bandidong NPA

2011-04-06T13:46:00.006+08:00

‘Bicol Veteran’ Is the New Army Commander of Bicol Region

2011-03-25T12:53:00.003+08:00

Major General Josue Gaverza AFP, the new Commander of the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division

PILI, Camarines Sur – A veteran in Bicol’s counterinsurgency campaign will take the reins as the Commander of the Army forces in the region, a military official said.

Major Harold Cabunoc, the Spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division said that Major General Josue Gaverza, 54, will assume command of the 5,000 strong Army Forces in the whole Bicolandia effective tomorrow, March 26.

“General Gaverza is a well-rounded officer who had served as the Battalion Commander of the 31st Infantry Battalion based in Sipocot town in CY 2000. Through his excellent combat leadership, the 31st IB scored heavily against the NPA bandits when the main rebel camp of the Bicol Regional Party Committee was seized by the soldiers of his battalion,” said Cabunoc.

A father figure to his subordinates, soldiers of the 31st Infantry Battalion fondly remember him as a very caring officer.

Captain Marcial Lumanga, 35, who once served in the same battalion said that General Gaverza was still the talk among the soldiers as one of the ‘best commanders’ that they ever had.

“He is best remembered as an intelligent tactician and for his excellent managerial acumen. My soldiers can attest to the fact that he made sure that every foot soldier was provided all necessary support as they carried out their delicate missions in the field,” said Lumanga.

“Up to now, soldiers and their families still recall about Gaverza’s exceptional kindness to the soldiers. He demands strict military discipline but he ‘touches’ the hearts of the soldiers and their dependents. The unit won a Commander 2ID Streamer Award for being the Best Battalion in 2001 and it was attributed to the fact that the soldiers’ morale and welfare were properly taken cared of,” added Lumanga.

In his own revelation, Cabunoc cites his personal experiences while working with General Gaverza who once served as the Contingent Commander of the Philippine Army Shooting Team which was sent to Malaysia in 1997.

“He was a very approachable officer who inspires his subordinates. He was one of the officers who strongly supported the Army Shooting Team by providing us with brand new M16A2 Rifles and relevant shooting accessories. He was among those senior officers who really listened to our recommendations,” said Cabunoc, a former Team Leader of the Army’s elite marksmen fielded for international shooting competitions.

A native of Zarraga town in Iloilo, Gaverza was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon his graduation from the Philippine Military Academy in 1978.

He had served in the three largest islands of the Philippine Archipelago starting as a Platoon Leader of the 4th Infantry Division in Mindanao. He had also commanded the 303rd Infantry Brigade in the Visayas in 2008.

His sterling performance is capped by his numerous awards and citations. He is a recipient of the Gold Cross Award, the third highest combat award, for his gallantry in action under enemy fire.

He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Star for his exceptional performance in the sensitive positions that he had held in the Philippine Army.

A widower, Gaverza lost his wife in a freak accident more than a decade ago. They are blessed with three sons Joshua Alexei, 24; Jean Karl, 20, and Justine Stefan, 17.

Major General Ruperto “Raffy” Pabustan, the outgoing Division Commander, has welcomed Gaverza as his replacement.

“I am confident that he can sustain the efforts that I have started here in the region. I am thankful that the Spear Warriors (9th ID soldiers) are in good hands,” said Pabustan in a statement.

The formal change of command ceremony will be held in Camp Elias Angeles at 10:00am tomorrow, March 26 (Saturday).

Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz, the Commanding General of the Philippine Army will preside the turn-over ceremony.

CHR-Bicol Downplays "Torture Video" Against 9ID

2011-03-21T22:46:00.003+08:00

It’s a Thing of the Past: Army Official on the “ 9ID Torture Video”

2011-03-20T10:38:00.001+08:00

PILI, Camarines Sur - A military official has admitted the occurrence of the alleged ‘torture’ of candidate soldiers as a ‘thing of the past’.

Major Harold Cabunoc, Spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division said that the video was taken during the Escape and Evasion (locally known as “Echo-echo”) practical exercises of the Candidate Soldier Course Class 185-2008 about three years ago.

“The Escape and Evasion exercise used to be part of the military training wherein the ‘captive soldiers’ are subjected to simulated physical pains endured during their captivity. As loyal soldiers, they are not supposed to divulge sensitive information to the enemy except their serial numbers,” said Cabunoc.

Asked about the ‘beating’ underwent by the ‘captives’, Cabunoc said that the trainers who act as the ‘opposing force’ (OPFOR), are allowed only to ‘threaten’ the others by the ‘grimacing pain’ endured by the soldiers who were ‘tortured’ by the ‘enemy’.

“In my personal experience as a Scout Ranger trainee, our trainers put a squad of soldiers inside a dark room where they are being ‘tortured’ while the others were waiting outside hearing the loud screams. Actually, our Instructors directed us to scream as loud as we can as if we were being strangled and mauled so that the others will be scared to death. This technique works to some of our classmates who were shivering in fear when they were summoned for their turn,” explained Cabunoc.

“In the so-called “9ID Torture Video” posted in the internet, some trainers were seen beating the ‘captives’ with ropes and small sticks. This is unacceptable because undue harm is already inflicted upon the soldier. This is not the correct way to mold a warrior-leader. Actually, this incident led to the sacking and meting of administrative sanctions on the involved personnel from the Division Training Unit.”

Responding to this incident a letter directive was handed down from Headquarters Philippine Army in 2009, scrapping the Escape and Evasion subject from the program of instruction (POI) of the basic military training.

“Due to some abuses committed by a few trainers, the ‘Echo-Echo’ became counterproductive. The SOP Nr 9 HPA directive requires all training managers to abolish any form of maltreatment. Today, every soldier who finishes the basic training starting in 4Qtr 2009 can attest to the fact that a scientific approach to training is already enforced. As a result, trainees are required to sleep at 10:00pm, eat their rightful meals on time and jog using rubber shoes instead of the combat boots.”

Cabunoc revealed that the influx of thousands of applicants for the Candidate Soldier Course in the Bicol Region is the testament that military service is appealing to them. He said that at least 5,000 youngsters tried to join the latest batch of the Candidate Soldier Course which was opened here about a week ago.

Cabunoc lamented that the CPP-NPA-NDF (CNN) is trying to portray the soldiers as devilish individuals who don’t respect human rights.

“This is a grand scheme to discredit the positive accomplishments of the 9th ID in terms of human rights protection and countryside development. The CNN’s influence in this region has significantly dwindled due to their own misdemeanors. The NPA bandits have continued their policy of liquidating unarmed soldiers and militia forces, the latest of which was the killing of militiaman Gino Olugar in Camarines Sur on March 17, 2011.”

Records in the 9th Infantry Division show that 52 people were murdered by the NPA rebels in 2009 and 45 people in 2010.

In 2011, nine people have also perished in their murderous campaigns.

In February, 6 members of Pedrito Bico's family were massacred by NPA bandits in Libmanan town in Camarines Sur after refusing to pay the demanded 'revolutionary tax'.

On February 28, the communist rebels shot and killed two high school students Jason Nierbesa and Sandy Lozano in Camalig town in Albay after accusing them as robbers.

On March 17, the rebels have also owned up the murder of militiaman Gino Olugar, a rebel returnee who joined the fight against his former comrades for the past 4 years.

In their press statement (NDF Bicol website), the communist rebels bragged about the killings as part of their campaign to punish some individuals for 'offenses' against the masses.

Another Militiaman Murdered by CPP/NPA Bandits

2011-03-19T20:09:00.000+08:00

Camp Elias Angeles, San Jose, Pili, Camrines Sur – A militiaman serving in the Army’s 9th Infantry Division was shot and killed by New People’s Army (NPA) bandits in Camsur at 12:00nn last Thursday (March 17).

Militiaman Gino Olugar was spending his vacation at his home in Pamukid Village, San Fernando town when three armed men shot him at point blank range with a Cal .45 pistol in the presence of his wife and children. He succumbed to his sustained multiple gunshot wounds including a headshot.

A former NPA rebel himself, Olugar chose to surrender to the government forces and joined the fight against the NPA’s banditry. General Ruperto “Raffy” Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division deplored the latest case of human rights violation of the communist rebels. In 2010, 8 CAFGU and 6 soldiers were among the 45 people who were executed by the NPA bandits. In February, the bandits massacred 6 members of Pedrito Bico’s family after the latter refused to pay the extortion money demanded by Ka Mike of the NPA’s Front Committee 75.

Army Soldiers Cited for Masbate’s Peace and Development

2011-03-16T22:17:00.001+08:00

Pili, CamSur - Masbate Governor Rizalina "Dayan" Lanete delivering her inspiring speech at the opening ceremony for the new batch of Army recruits in Camp Elias Angeles.

PILI, Camarines Sur – The Philippine Army in the Bicol Region earned praises from a local chief executive during a military ceremony held here today.

Masbate Governor Rizalina “Dayan” Lanete, who graced the opening ceremony for the new batch of Army recruits, said that the presence of the Philippine Army has drastically improved the peace and order situation in her province.

“The soldiers are doing so much in the peace and order situation especially in far-flung areas where ordinary men dare not go,” she said in a statement.

Lanete came here to witness the Oath Taking ceremony of the 125 new Army recruits who compose the Candidate Soldier Course Class 255-11.

In her speech, she urged the soldiers to support her administration in delivering various public services to her constituents.

“If we work hard enough together as a community, not even the most arid deserts can stop this grace from blooming. We hold in our hands the keys to making our dreams come true,” said Lanete who spoke fluently both in English and Visayan.

The Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police in Masbate have earned accolades during the conduct of national and local elections last year.

For the first time, the 2010 elections posted the lowest number of election-related violent incidents in its many decades of polls which are usually marred by political violence.

Soldiery and Family Life: Connecting the Two Different Worlds

2011-03-15T09:45:00.003+08:00

by Major Harold M. Cabunoc (Inf) PA

Is it possible to be successful as a parent and as a military man? Quoting one of PMA’s plebe knowledge, “...this question is still languishing in my heart,” . I am aware that this is quite a challenge. As a married military man myself, I am finding ways to find some solutions.

Broken homes and failed marriages are becoming common among families separated by distance. This is applicable to both OFWs and soldiers who are separated from their loved ones.

In my research, I have not seen any document showing the statistics of troubled marriages among military couples. There are no also records about military dependents who became drug addicts or juvenile delinquents.

I can only assume that this ‘problem’ has not caught the attention of many military leaders. In my honest opinion, this maybe a reason why there is no institutionalized training or seminars for soldiers on how to perform their dual responsibilities as a soldier and as a family man.

Soldier’s Morale

Among military personnel, it is quite common to see spouses and children left behind in their homes as soldiers are deployed to distant posts.

While in far-flung duty assignments, many of these soldiers seem to have forgotten their responsibilities as husbands and fathers; they focus much of their time on their military duties.

The soldiers’ inability to maintain the lines of communication result to failed marriages and ill-supervised children, who may became drug addicts and juvenile delinquents in the future. I have known about successful military men who rose to become star-rank officers but failed miserably at the home front. I see this as a great failure on the part of the soldiers and probably of their leaders who have failed to see this reality.

In my own experience as a combat leader, I realized that a soldier’s morale is directly affected by the condition in his home. You cannot expect a soldier to focus on his job if he carries the burdens brought about by family-related woes.
As a leader, I am also affected by these problems. In one solid example, I sent home one of my soldiers when his Team Leader told me that the soldier was always staring at a ‘blank wall’. I traced his troubles back to his tumultuous family situation.

Aware of these, it became part of my personal commitment to look into the status of the families of my men. During Commander’s time, I never failed to remind them about their important role both as a father and as a husband, on top of their basic responsibilities as soldiers.

To ensure that I would not commit the same mistakes, I tried my best to address the same problem in my own family.

When my son, Harvey, was born eleven years ago, I realized that I could not perform all the ‘jobs’ of a father. He was born during the time that I was about to become a Commander of the 10th Scout Ranger Company, a rapid deployment force that could be sent anywhere in the Philippine archipelago.

I would not be there to teach him how to walk, or how to ride a bike, or how to fly a kite. I would not be there to help him in his school assignments or teach him how to cook.

Establishing the ‘connection’

Being new parents, my wife, Bia, and I relied heavily on folk wisdom or the ‘sabi-sabi’ as regards to the correct ways to maintain the bond between me and our son, Harvey.

“Maglagay kayo ng di nalabhang damit sa tabi ng bata,” was the advice from our baby-sitter.

“I read that a baby ‘connects’ through scent and not through vision,” my wife added, quoting some ideas she scanned from a book on responsible parenting. I readily agreed, hoping that it really works.

So there I was, bundling my unwashed shirt beside him when I departed for Sulu in September 2000, during the Sipadan hostage rescue operations. My son was about eight months old during that time. Pinagtitiisan nya ang aking amoy dahil nakasabit sa kanyang crib ang aking damit na di nilabhan. The unwashed shirt that I leave every time became his comfort blanket and his guardian.

While serving in the frontlines of the Army’s counter-terrorism campaign in southern Mindanao, I was quite thankful to the guys in Finland who invented the cellular phone.

I was also very happy that cellphone signal was very good in downtown Jolo where at least two thousand soldiers were deployed to simultaneously attack the terrorist lairs in Sulu province in September 2000.

As such, I always make it a point to make a phone call and make myself heard not only to my beloved wife, but also to our son during our resupply operations.

In one of our conversations, I can vividly recall when my wife said, “Tumatawa sya nang marinig ang boses mo, Dear.” I was happy that our techniques seemed to work perfectly.

That became my motivation to volunteer to climb some high grounds for ‘observation post’ (OP) operations because these hills offer good phone coverage as an incentive. Bud Tumatangis in Indanan town and the surrounding hills of Kagay and Tanum in Patikul are among the best places for making phone calls. Unfortunately, the bandits were aware of this too and some of our fierce clashes happened in these areas.

‘Tactical’ communications

I maintained the same system of communication with my family when my unit was transferred to Basilan during the Lamitan siege in June 2001. For this reason, I found out that there were strong phone signals on top of Hill 800 and Hill 898 (Punoh Mohadji).

When security situations permitted, I made it a personal routine to send my family text messages or phone calls when extremely necessary. Though I may be deep in the lush forests of Sampinit complex and within the lair of the terrorists, I maintained my communication lines to my family. I did not want them to be stressed, thinking about my situation.
It was also a stress-reliever for me to hear my son utter “Papa” as if greeting me or wishing me good luck.

As a policy, I did not tell her about the details of our military operations as this would make her worry some more. I just told her that we were ‘resting’ for a while and that my unit was doing fine. In one occasion, I told her we were all ‘okay’ despite the fact that I am still shaking and my unit just suffered numerous casualties (wounded) after a brutal encounter.

My wife had adjusted to the situation that I needed to talk in whispers every time I make a call in a ‘hot’ area. “Tactical considerations, let’s talk within 3-5 minutes,” I tell her.

Since clashes were always in the headlines during those times, I always made it a point to relay a message to my wife through military communication lines when cellphone signal cannot be accessed in my area of operations (AO).

“Tell her that I am alive and kicking the butts of the terrorists here,” I would joke to my radio operator in our camp in Cabunbata village in Isabela town. He would relay the same message to my wife through our unit’s cellphone.

It was my hope that my wife would not entertain thoughts that I might be one of the casualties in the bloody clashes. I was aware of the fact that the events in Basilan filled the primetime news and that the Scout Rangers were at the very forefront of the dangerous combat-rescue missions during those times.

During lull of the military operations, I also find time to fly to Manila to see my family even for only three days. To do this, I usually pay a round trip ticket (Zambo-Manila-Zambo) just to ensure that I can rejoin my company after its ‘rest period’ elapses. By doing so, I sustained the bonding moments with my wife and my son.

Consistency is the key

When I was transferred to Bulacan province for my staff duty assignment in May 2002, my son was already talkative and playful. He was barely three year old when I regularly hopped back and forth Manila and our headquarters in San Miguel town, located about 2.5 hours away from home.

When I am on duty, I saw to it that I talked to him everyday. Our phone conversations became part of my ‘duty’ that I religiously performed. “Papa, san ka? Bakit ka nandyan?” was his repeated dialogue. Parang sirang plaka sa mga tanong pero aking pinagtitiyagaang sagutin kahit paulit-ulit.

I had the opportunity to be with my family regularly when I was posted as a Liaison Officer in Fort Bonifacio in that same year. Unlike in the field, soldiers who are posted in garrisons usually have the chance to spend the weekends with their family. I therefore became one of the so-called ‘weekend warriors’.

As part of our bonding time, we regularly had swimming trips. He loved playing in the pool and I became his first
swimming instructor. Through our ‘habulan’ games, we created memories that would be imprinted forever in both our hearts.

Where is Papa?

When my son was five years old, saying goodbye became much more difficult. When I was detailed as an instructor in the Scout Ranger School, I always depart in the wee hours of the morning so that I can catch the start of the classes at 8:00am.

One morning, my wife called to tell me that Harvey was crying because I did not ask for his permission to leave the house. “I will wake you up next time son,” I promised him.

He took my word like a covenant. Since then, I always make it a point to get his nod every time I depart for duty. Most of the time, he was still too groggy to rise and send me off. However, I was glad that I did not hear more grumblings from him anymore.

Probably influenced by the negative impact of the primetime news about battles and tales of destruction in Mindanao, my son never liked soldiery as a profession. “Ayaw kong mamatay. Takot ako sa Abu Sayyaf,” were among his reasons. His mom could only nod in agreement.

I am glad that my duty as a company grade officer was over when he gradually became aware about the bloody battles in the countryside.

I believe Naomi Drew, author of Hope and Healing: Raising Peaceful Children in an Uncertain World when she said that children are usually terrified by the prospect of war and that this fear is magnified for those with family members in the armed forces.

I also agree when she declared that, “Children live by routines, such as eating dinner at a certain time or having a bedtime story read to them every night. These routines make them feel safe and in control. When a routine is broken—in this case, the absence of a parent for an unspecified period of time—a child may begin to feel helpless and adrift.”
I believe that it was the reason why he complained about my inability to ask for his permission before I depart for my military duty.

As my only child, he expected that that I am still beside him when he wakes up. He disliked the idea that I am not there to play with him the whole day.

Creating memories

Regardless of the constant phone calls from hundreds of miles away, I still felt that my son is becoming aloof to me as time went by. Definitely, there is no replacement for actual presence. As they say, ‘iba ang may pinagsamahan’. There are things that cannot be compensated by long distance conversations.

When I get the opportunity to go home, I always make it a point to spend quality time with my son. I identified some common interests that we have. When there are minor conflicts about what we like, we meet halfway and come up with compromises.

Since the three of us love Swedish massage, we find time to visit our favorite massage parlor. It has become a convenient way to share experiences and laughter especially when we compare the performance of our respective attendants.

We also implemented the family coffee time during which we just talk and share funny stories about our own lives. I share my ‘kwentong mess kit’, which is about the humor in uniform. Hearing the real life funny situations involving soldiers, I found out that he appreciates even simple jokes.

For his part, I require him to share his daily experiences as a child, about his crushes (which he reluctantly shares) and about his close friends.

We taught him the importance of honesty and the proper use of “All Right” challenge, which I learned in the PMA. Until now, he has adhered to his highest standard of integrity. He also takes note about the importance of word of honor. Lagi akong nasisingil kapag nakakalimutan ko ang sarili kong promises.

Lately, my son and I are into pistol shooting. Somehow, I influenced him after several shooting competitions during which I tagged him along as my cheerer. He is becoming a very good shooter now. Malapit na akong ma-demote bilang cheerer.

It started out when I told him that I ‘won’ many friends through shooting competitions. I asked him if he wants to do something for the country. “Gusto ko po,” came his reply.

I asked him if he wants to be an Olympic gold medalist in one of our ‘usapang mag-ama’ as we called our conversations. “You will become a national hero. Nobody has brought home a gold medal until today.”

Since then, I shared to him my shooting skills. Aware that shooting is quite expensive, he urged me at one point to concentrate on the coaching job. I soon realized it was a trick so that he can have all the ammunitions intended for both of us.

Naturally, shooting became our passion. Discussing his shooting ‘dry practices’ became part of our small talks every night. I told him to minimize playing computer games as this might adversely affect his vision. I also told him to undergo swimming and aerobic exercise, which he readily obliged. Dahil sa shooting, meron na kaming karagdagang pinag-uusapan.

I also noticed that our communication lines have become more open and less informal as it should be. He shares to me his feelings such as his ‘nerbiyos’ prior to an actual match; and I always ensured that I taught him the techniques to overcome them.

“Just concentrate on the shooting basics. Don’t think about the people watching you but think on how to shoot straight consistently all the time,” I reminded him.

When he won his first official shooting match in February 2011, he was very proud. He called me and asked me to take a photo of his trophy for his Face book account.I got a simple reward for my coaching job when I heard him say, “I am proud of my Coach Papa.”

Technological advancements

During my younger years as a Platoon Leader in mid 90’s, our soldiers were contented with the use of the URC 187 HF radio to talk with their loved ones. I can vividly recall soldiers saying, “I love you too, over!” to their wives who chatted with them through the military communication lines of another military camp near their homes.

When I was a Company Commander, majority of my soldiers had their own cellphones. I also maintained a company-owned cellphone that was monitored by our support personnel 24/7.

Those who had no personal cellphones were allowed to use the unit’s cellphone for emergency outgoing calls. I also required them to maintain communication lines to their loved ones and I personally write letters to their wives or parents. By doing so, I have helped save some troubled marriages in my unit.

With the advent of 3G video calls, Skype and Yahoo Messenger, maintaining the lines of communication is becoming much easier.

It seems that there are no more valid alibis left for soldiers not to maintain a robust relationship with their loved ones.
I can confidently say that we can be the best soldier and a responsible family man if we want to do it. We must strive to achieve this usually unrecognized ‘accomplishment’.

I had received many combat medals and citations in the past. Indeed, I am very proud for them.

But during my Basilan tour in 1998, I received my first “Best Husband” certificate from my wife. It made me prouder.

I am still waiting for my “Best Father” award from my son. I am still working hard for it. It will make me the proudest soldier.

***(This article is dedicated to all soldiers who have offered their lives in the service of the motherland)

Masbate Clash Wounds an Innocent Child

2011-03-10T14:44:00.000+08:00

MASBATE CITY – An innocent child who was used as human shield was slightly wounded in a clash between the communist rebels and Army soldiers early morning here today (March 10).

LtCol Jun Pacatan, Commanding Officer of the 9th Infantry Battalion said that the clash occurred at around 7:40am in Sitio Balinsasayaw (sub-village), Bugtong village in Mandaon town.

He said that the a squad of his soldiers led by Staff Sergeant Joel Pavon was on security operations when they spotted some unidentified armed men in a house beside a creek.

Sensing the presence of hapless civilians, Pavon directed his men to hold their fire and surround the rebels to arrest them.

“We were approaching the house, when the first volley of fire rained on us prompting all of my soldiers to seek cover. Some of the rebels were hiding behind the dumbfounded children and we fired selectively, trying to avoid hitting the human shields,” said Pavon.

Outnumbered by the soldiers, the rebels retreated in disarray after about three minutes of firefight. Soldiers found traces of blood along their withdrawal direction.

The soldiers discovered a Cal .45 pistol, a Cal .38 revolver and an improvised bomb left behind by the rebels. Three combat packs containing subversive documents were confiscated by the soldiers.

Domingo Amaro, the owner of the house, informed the soldiers that his 1-year old daughter, Christine, sustained a shrapnel wound in her left underarm. The soldiers promptly applied first-aid to the wounded child and carried her to the nearby hospital in Mandaon town for further treatment.

Dr Estipona of Mandaon Community Care Hospital said that the child is in stable condition. She said that the child got a “very slight wound”.

Accompanied by the soldiers, Amaro filed a complaint before Mandaon PNP for the ‘abuses by the NPA rebels of the Kilusang Sangay sa Platun-North led by a certain Ka Jaypee.

“I have allowed them to take some of our coffee but I am disgruntled by their act of using my three young children, including me and my wife, as human shields during the clash. The rebels should be blamed because they fired the first shot,” said Amaro in a recorded statement.

It can be recalled that a ranking NPA rebel leader named Vangie Herrero a.k.a. Ka Vivian, was collared by the soldiers of 9th Infantry Battalion here two weeks ago.

Major General Ruperto “Raffy” Pabustan, has directed LtColonel Jun Pacatan of the 9th Infantry Battalion to pursue the rebels who are blamed for the massive extortion activities in the province of Masbate.

Labanan Ang CPP/NPA/NDF!

2011-03-08T22:11:00.005+08:00

Victims of NPA's Extra-Judicial Killing Cry Justice

2011-03-05T12:28:00.002+08:00

LEGASPI CITY – Victims of the extra-judicial killings in Bicol have surfaced to air their complaints against the human rights abuses committed by the communist rebels, a military official said here yesterday, March 4, 2011.

LtCol John Oberio, Commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, said that more and more family members have surfaced to ask the military’s assistance during the filing of criminal cases against the perpetrators.

“Though threatened with death by the NPA rebels, some of the relatives have contacted me about their intention to file criminal complaints against the rebels. This is a positive step because most of the victims prefer to shut up for fear of the NPA's reprisals,” said Oberio.

Leonora Nerveza, 44, came to file a criminal complaint against the communist rebels belonging to the Santos Binamira Command based in Albay. Her son, Jeffrey, 20, was shot and killed by the communist rebels along with Sandy Lozano, at around 7:00pm on February 28, 2011.

She lamented the public pronouncements aired by the communist rebels over the radio that her son was meted with death for being a ‘robber’ and a ‘rapist’.

“It is disheartening that the communist rebels are accusing my young son as a criminal. I am sending him to school out of my meager income as a handicraft maker in our village,” said Nerveza, a separated woman who raises her 4 young children alone.

She also said that she last saw her son in the night on February 23 when he bade goodbye to attend the JS (Junior-Senior) prom organized by his school. I was told the next day that he was abducted by heavily armed men while on the way to the party.

“I was crying for many days as I was trying my best to locate my son. On March 1, residents of Cotmon village, Camalig town discovered the bullet-riddled body of my son at around 6:00am.”

At around 3:00pm yesterday (March 4), she headed to regional office of the Commission of Human Rights in this city to seek justice for the death of his son.

Atty Anel Almoguera of CHR Region 5 facilitated the filing of a criminal case against the culprits. She was told that she could receive a financial assistance of P10,000.00 if she can complete all the required documents.

A CHR team would be sent to conduct a thorough investigation about the circumstances leading to the killing of his son.

Lozano’s family declined to accompany Nerveza in her quest for justice. In a text message sent to Oberio, they claimed that the rebels threatened to ‘wipe out their whole family’ if they file a complaint against them (NPA rebels).

Survivor's story

Chris Canieso, 21, a former rebel himself, has survived the attempt to kill him in December 2009 in his home in San Francisco village, Bula town, Camarines Sur.

He used to be a ‘student’ of Elmer Estrellado, a demolition and explosive instructor whom he knew as Ka Poldo.

He sustained multiple gunshot wounds including a bullet that barely missed his heart by an inch. He said that his former comrades wanted him killed because of his cooperation to the military authorities.

While recuperating from his wounds, he was caught by police authorities in a hospital in Iriga City.

He was incarcerated because of a case filed against him for the killing of a certain Sgt Valencia, an Army soldier who was killed in an attack that he participated as an NPA rebel in 2007.

While in jail, his former comrades accused him of cooperating with the government and the military authorities.

“My two brothers, Benjamin and Jaime were killed by my former friends in the CPP-NPA in 2010 as a ‘punishment’ for my alleged cooperation with the military,” said Canieso who belongs to a large family of 12 children.

“Due to the killing of my brothers, we decided to flee and seek refuge among our relatives in far away places,” added Canieso, who is now starting a new life as a father of two young children aged 3 and 1.

Canieso said that he wants his friends in the rebel movement to go home and start a new life. He said that young people like him were merely used by their leaders to advance their selfish purposes.

“Our leaders have forced us to become hardened criminals while they enjoy the loot that we collected from businessmen, poor farmers and corrupt politicians. As their pawns, they ordered us to kill people, and, I went on ‘AWOL’ (Absent Without Official Leave) because I can’t stomach the killings anymore,” explained Canieso who left the rebel movement in January 2009 after more than 5 years as a communist guerilla.

Military authorities here have pledged to help secure the victims of the NPA’s summary executions which had claimed the lives of 52 people in Calendar Year 2009 and 45 people in Calendar Year 2010.

Launching Of CamSur Model Community video

2011-02-23T21:59:00.001+08:00

Model Community Project Reunites Rebels’ Families

2011-02-22T23:02:00.003+08:00

WELCOME EMBRACE. Camarines Sur Governor Luis Ray 'L-Ray' Villafuerte embraces Edwin Nazarionda a.k.a. Ka Marjorie,40, who is one of the former NPA rebels who benefited the free housing awarded to them during the ground-breaking ceremony held in the Model Community established in Pili town yesterday, February 22. Looking on is Major General Ruperto 'Raffy' Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division (center) and Lieutenant General Roland Detabali, Commander, Southern Luzon Command (rightmost). (Photo by Major Harold M Cabunoc/9th CMO Battalion)

PILI, Camarines Sur – The model community project launched by the local authorities here yesterday, February 22, has reunited the families of former NPA rebels.

Separated from their family members who opted to join the communist rebel movement, tears of joy flowed during the groundbreaking ceremony attended by senior military officials, local chief executives and representatives from partner NGOs.

Nena Miraran, 52, of Pamplona town said that her son’s ‘stubbornness’ led to his joining the communist rebel movement. She revealed that she spent many sleepless nights thinking about her NPA son, Jeffrey, 23, who became a hardline communist rebel.

“Everytime I see him, I hug him and urge him to give up and surrender to the government. I told him the futility of his cause,” said Miraran.

“During inclement weather, I can’t help but think about his situation. I was wondering if he was safe for the night and so, I kept on crying everytime I remember him”.

Jeffrey said that he was convinced to join the rebel movement after hearing his friend’s explanation about the problems in the society.

He said that he was lured into the bandit group when his recruiter promised that his family would be receiving the ‘SUPAMIL’ (suporta sa pamilya/family support) in the form of cash allowances and rice subsidy.

Two years of playing hide-and-seek with government forces, he decided to surrender in 2006 after learning that his family have never received any form of financial or material support from the bandit group.

Edwin Nazarionda a.k.a. Ka Marjorie, 40, was an elementary school teacher and a United Methodist pastor when he was recruited to join the militant Bayan Muna. Later, he found himself becoming one of the hardline armed group members who carried out series of tactical offensives against the government forces and installations.

“I left my teaching profession because of their sweet promises such as the monthly P8,000.00 financial support and rice subsidy. I surrendered when I realized that everything was mere sweet-talk and that my family was plunged into the quagmire of extreme poverty,” explained Nazarionda who is the president of the group of former rebels.

Nazarionda was in tears after turning over his firearm in a solemn ground-breaking ceremony attended by 40 other former rebels which was also attended by Governor L-Ray Villafuerte, Major General Ruperto Pabustan and Southern Luzon Command commander Lieutenant General Roland Detabali.

It can be recalled that the establishment of the model community in Pili town was recommended by Major General Ruperto Pabustan to CamSur Governor L-Ray Villafuerte in order to help the former rebels sustain their respective families.

“I am thankful that the good Governor readily supported my proposal. In turn, he asked the support from Mr Tony Meloto of Gawad Kalinga Foundation, who pledged to construct houses for the 41 former rebels who were screened by the joint committee,” said Pabustan.

Lieutenant General Roland Detabali, Southern Luzon Command Chief, said that he has appreciated the initiatives of the 9th ID and the local authorities in the Bicol Region.

“I believe that this is one of the best way to encourage more communist rebels to return to the folds of the law. We cannot solve the social problems that have driven them to fight the government by military solution alone,” said Detabali who talked to the press after the ground breaking ceremony held here.

“I hope that this good project will be re-echoed in the rest of the provinces here in the region and probably, in the whole country,” added Detabali.

The provincial government of Camarines Sur donated the 5.7 hectare lot that can accommodate 100 houses. It is located near the Naga airport, around 4.5 kilometers away from Camp Elias Angeles.

To sustain their livelihood, an income-generating project would be established within the community.

Earlier in the day, at least 500 Army soldiers participated in the launching of the “El Verde 12-Million Trees by 2012” tree planting project of CamSur government, also in Pili town.

CamSur Firefight Wounds an NPA ‘Amazon’

2011-02-22T22:31:00.001+08:00

TAMED AMAZON. Darlene Palomas who is also known as "Ka Brenda" among her comrades, answers questions fielded by the local media after her treatment in a government hospital in Naga City. Palomas was wounded in a firefight with government troops in a hinterland village in Lagonoy town at 2:30am yesterday (Feb 22). (Photo by PFC Marlon San Esteban/ 9th Division Public Affairs Office)

PILI, CamSur – A young NPA ‘amazon’ was captured by military authorities after a brief firefight in Lagonoy town of this province at 2:30pm yesterday (Feb 22), a military report said.

Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Cruz, Commanding Officer of the 42nd Infantry Battalion, said that he received a text message about the extortion activity of armed communist rebels in Dahat village at around 2:00pm.

“I sent two of my soldiers to verify the said report which was sent through text message. Upon reaching the village, they immediately spotted the two suspected rebels who were riding in tandem on board a Rusi motorcycle,” said Cruz.

“While trying to stop the motorcycle, the rebel who was the driver suddenly screeched to a sudden halt and fired his weapon at the soldiers. The soldiers traded gunfire with the rebels for about 5 minutes, hitting the woman who was left behind by her male comrade,” added Cruz in a statement.

After giving the wounded rebel first-aid treatment, Cruz immediately directed his soldiers to evacuate the NPA ‘amazon’ who identified herself as Ka Brenda.

She was treated by military doctors in the infirmary of Camp Elias Angeles upon her arrival at around 4:00pm. She was transferred to a larger hospital in Naga City for further medical examinations thirty minutes later.

Looking strong despite her leg wound, Ka Brenda readily agreed to be interviewed by the local media who were accompanied by some military officials.

She identified herself as Darlene Palomas, 22, a single mother from Pasay City.

“I joined the communist rebel movement because of my financial difficulties. I don’t have a way to support my three year old son,” said Palomas in an interview.

“I received ‘donations’ among our supporters in Goa and Lagonoy town where I work as a ‘community organizer’. I sent some of my money to my mother who is taking care of my son,” she said.

She expressed her gratefulness for the kindness of her captors.

“I am thankful that they respected my basic rights and for bringing me to the hospital,” she said.

“I want to return back to the folds of the law. I call on the soldiers to give me fair treatment”.

Seeing that her X-ray result revealed that no bones were fractured, she gamely requested for her favorite fried chicken from one of the military officer.

Her wish was immediately granted and she grinned upon seeing her favorite food delivered to her bedside a few minutes later.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed Colonel Teodoro Cirilo Torralba of the 902nd Brigade to look into the possibility of including Palomas in the list of beneficiaries of the free housing facilities provided by the local government of Camarines Sur and Gawad Kalinga Foundation.

2,000 People Evacuated as Bulusan Volcano Spews Ash Anew

2011-02-21T10:46:00.001+08:00

JUBAN,Sorsogon – Two thousand affected residents around Mt Bulusan were evacuated after the latest ash explosion at around 9:30am here today, a military official said.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commanding Officer of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Juban town said that he immediately deployed 5 military vehicles to assist the evacuation at around 10:00am.

“We have transported about 50 families numbering around 150 people from Puting Sapa village to the designated evacuation center in Cogon Elementary School in Juban town; 300 families in Irosin town,” said Enginco.

Enginco revealed that the volcano spewed ash and thick smoke more or less 2-kilometers above the sky which lasted about twenty minutes. He said that the ash explosion was blown by the wind towards southeastern direction, affecting some areas in the towns of Juban, Irosin and Bulan.

“I received reports from my soldiers in Bulan town that thick smoke and ashfall have blanketed the area at around 10:30am,” said Enginco in a statement.

Soldiers assigned in Masbate City have reported that some parts of the island-province were also affected by ashfall.

Classes in the affected areas (Juban, Irosin and Bulan) are suspended by the DEPED due to the presence of evacuees who took shelter in the elementary school grounds and facilities.

Joena Gupit of DWBS FM in Bulan town said that at least 38 young students suffered suffocation due to the thick ashfall and smoke. She gave the list of reported suffocation incidents in the following areas: 20 in Gallanosa High School in Irosin town, 10 in Bulan National High School and 8 in Alcova Elementary School in the same town.
“We need facemasks especially for the children here in our town. Mayor Helen Rose De Castro has ordered the distribution of facemasks this morning,” said Gupit who called by phone.

“We don’t have electricity here in the area today. There is no phone signal for Globe. I don’t know exactly why these services were hampered since this morning and I’m worried that we can’t drink our contaminated water supply too,” added Gupit.

Mayor Jimmy Fragata of Juban town said that the 49th Infantry Battalion has facilitated the evacuation of the affected residents from Putting Sapa village towards Cogon village as local authorities hoisted Alert Level 1. He said that the volcano has calmed down and the evacuees are ‘on standby’ for possible transport back to their village.

“I have told the evacuees to stay at the evacuation center for a while to prevent respiratory diseases especially for the young children. When the area in the village is clear of ash fall within today, I will coordinate for their return back to their homes,” he said in a phone call to Major Harold Cabunoc, 9ID spokesperson.

In November last year, series of ash explosions had triggered the evacuation of thousands of residents and the series of simulated disaster response operations involving 30 military trucks coming from the 9th Infantry Division.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, has directed the 903rd Brigade under Colonel Felix Castro and the 49th Infantry Battalion which is under its control, to jumpstart the evacuation missions within the 4km permanent danger zone (PDZ) during Alert level 1.

CamSur Massacre Leaves 6 Dead and 1 Wounded

2011-02-05T18:59:00.002+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur – Six people fell dead in a shooting rampage in CamSur at 8:30pm last night (Feb 04), a military report said.

Colonel Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, Commander of the 902nd Brigade which has jurisdiction over Camarines Sur, said that the shooting attack happened in an isolated village of Villadema in Libmanan town.

“I received an information from a concerned neighbor of the victims that at least five heavily armed men attacked the home of a certain Frederico Vico,55, a copra trader last night. Four people were initially reported dead and one critically wounded,” said Torralba.

Torralba also said that there were reports that there were ‘more casualties’ in the area but he could not readily give the details. He said that he immediately dispatched a platoon of soldiers led by 1st Lieutenant Alden Brinas at around 5:00am to check the incident together with some police investigators.

“There are no accessible roads to this place. My soldiers went there on foot with the police to assess the situation and pursue the assailants,” he added.

At around 10:00am, sources from Mother Seton Hospital in Naga city disclosed that five of the victims were brought to the hospital early in the morning today, February 5.

Four of the victims were pronounced dead on arrival in a hospital in Naga City while one is still in critical condition.

The fatalities were identified as Pedrito Vico,55, his son named Christian, 28, family driver Crispin Gamer,36, and a househelp named Armando Queto, 25. A certain Ronilo De Castro is still fighting for his life as of this time.

Soldiers who scoured the escape route of the attackers found the cadaver of two more victims at around 11:00am.

Grieving relatives claimed that the assailants used the two victims as ‘guide’ during their hasty retreat to the wooded area and they were executed along the way.

Teolo Corral’s cadaver was found at Sitio Sta Cruz, Zone 7 of Villadema village while the body of Fernando Lopez was abandoned in Sitio Magsaysay, Cagawan village.

A relative of Vico who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that Pedrito, the owner of the flourishing copra business in the village, had been receiving extortion demands from the CPP-NPA-NDF starting last year.

“The first demand was P30,000.00, then it was lowered to P20,000.00. Instead of giving in to the demands of the communist rebels, Pedrito armed himself and recruited some guards,” he said.

He also added that the rebels held Christian at gunpoint when they barged in last night (Friday). Pedrito fought off the attackers using his personal firearm, hitting some of them, forcing the attackers to retreat with their casualties.

Military authorities are in the hot trail for a band of communist rebels who are currently engaged in criminal activities.

“The involvement of some NPA rebels in various crimes is not new to us. Last year, a band of communist rebels shot dead an operator of Sunwest corporation in a robbery-hold-up incident in Guinobatan town in Albay. Due to the lack of popular support, the communist rebels are now heavily engaged in banditry,” said Major Harold M Cabunoc, Spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has condemned the gruesome massacre of innocent civilians by suspected communist rebels. He has directed the 902nd Brigade to assist the PNP in its investigation to identify the perpetrators and file criminal cases against them.

Major Harold M. Cabunoc (INF) PA, 9th Infantry (Spear) Division's spokesman, speaking on the Libmanan Massacre.

1 Dead and 1 Wounded Militiaman in CamSur Shooting

2011-01-27T14:34:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur – An off-duty militiaman fell dead while another companion was critically wounded in a shooting incident in CamSur at 7:30pm last night (Jan 26), a military report said.

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Purugganan, the Commanding Officer of the 22nd Infantry Battalion which supervises the CAFGU personnel of the 9th Infantry Division said that the victims were on an off-duty status during the incident which happened in Libmanan town.

“They were visiting the house of Arman Penaflor, an employee of LTO, when 5 heavily armed men barged in and poked a gun at them while declaring the robbery,” said Purugganan.

"Cornering Penaflor's wife who was held at gunpoint inside their store, the robbers demanded all the jewelry and some cash. The two militiamen attempted to grab the weapons of the robbers who were near them but they were subdued and shot repeatedly," Purugganan revealed, quoting sources who belong to Penaflor family.

Purugganan identified the fatality as militiaman Ely Tario,25, who sustained gunshot wounds in his chest. The victim was declared on arrival at a local hospital in the same town.

The other militiaman, Emar Almadrones,26, survived the shooting and was brought to a hospital in Naga City for treatment.

The robbers immediately fled carting away valuables from the Penaflor household including jewelry, cellphones and some cash.

Police officers who rushed to the scene reported that robbery was the main motive of the assailants. “The two militiamen were just in the wrong place and the wrong time,” said one duty policeman who requested anonymity.

SOCO operatives found empty shells of Cal .45 and 9mm in the crime scene.

Mary Grace, Almadrones’s wife, accompanied the medical evacuation of his husband to a larger hospital in Naga City.

“The doctor has declared him out of danger but a bullet is still stuck inside his face while another one hit his eye,” she said..

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has condemned the senseless shooting. He also commended the CAFGU personnel for their ‘acts of heroism’ in defending the hapless civilians during the robbery incident.

Soldiers Are the Hopes of the Nation

2011-01-22T13:07:00.003+08:00

SOLDIERS OF THE PEOPLE. Camarines Norte Governor Edgar "Egay" Tallado turns over an M16A1 Rifle to a newly enlisted soldier during the symbolic Entrustment of Firearms held during the graduation ceremonies of the 348 soldiers held in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, CamSur. General Ruperto "Raffy" Pabustan, the Army Chief in the Bicol Region looks on. (Photo by Major Harold M Cabunoc)

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur – A ranking government leader in the Bicol Region has proclaimed the soldiers as the new hopes of the nation in a speech delivered yesterday, a military report said.

Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado made the pronouncement during the closing ceremony of the Candidate Soldier Course held here at 10:00am yesterday, Friday.

Three hundred forty eight new soldiers took their oath as full-blooded Army personnel who will be deployed in Bicol’s six provinces.

In his message, Tallado challenged the soldiers to prove their worth as public servants.

“Men like you are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice to help bring solutions to our nation’s problems and not becoming part of the problem,” said Tallado before 348 newly enlisted soldiers who will be deployed in Bicol’s six provinces.

Tallado likewise reminded the soldiers about their non-traditional roles in the service of Bicol’s communities. “You are our reliable partners in nation-building and in helping the government solve our people’s various problems,” he added.

Two hundred sixty-four or 75% of the newly enlisted soldiers are Bicolanos. The rest are recruits from northern Luzon and some provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Nineteen soldiers (5%) are college graduates, 15% have some college education and the bulk, 49%, are high school graduates.

More than 5,000 young men took the written entrance examinations for this batch but only about 50% passed the tests which include logical reasoning, basic English grammar and arithmetic.

After their 10-day administrative leave, the soldiers will be deployed to their respective brigades or battalions around the Bicol Region.

As the youngest Infantry Division in the country, the 9th ID is continuously filling up its ranks with new recruits as it carry out its mandate. More soldiers are also needed to replace personnel who were removed from the ranks due to retirement or transfer to another field units.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed the soldiers to remain loyal to the flag and be committed in giving their honest-to-goodness service to the people in the region.

4 Missing Fisherman Saved, 19 Remain Missing in Bicol's High Seas

2011-01-18T12:26:00.001+08:00

PILI, CamSur – Government rescue teams found four fishermen in a seaside village in Quezon Province, a police report said.

Senior Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Quezon Provincial Director said that the four survivors were among the seven crew members of a fishing boat who ventured off the high seas from their hometown in Mercedez, Camarines Norte about two days ago.

Velasquez identified the rescued fishermen as Renato Royo Del Rosario, 46 y/o; Ronaldo Obligasyon Riscal, 32 y/o; Jefferson Ramos Montes, 23 y/o, and Aldrin Estevez Rin, 31 y/o, all from Mambungalon village of Mercedes town.

The four were not among the 10 fishermen from the same town who were reported as missing since yesterday, January 17.

In their joint statement, the four survivors revealed that they were fishing near Balisin island off Sta Elena town in Camarines Norte when the strong waves swept their fishing boat away from their fishing grounds.

They said that their boat capsized and three of their companions identified as Nestor Banzuelo,55, a certain Bonoy 40; and Tatang,60, have remained missing.

Governor Edgar Tallado of Camarines Norte has immediately dispatched an ambulance to fetch the survivors from Perez town at around 10:30am today.

Combined rescue teams of the AFP are now combing the high seas and the seashores employing soldiers and CAFGU personnel to locate the remaining 19 fishermen.

Catanduanes province has declared 4 missing persons while 15 people were reported missing from Mercedes town in Camarines Norte.

Meanwhile, Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has urged the local officials to organize the fishermen in their villages to easily monitor their activities especially during typhoons.

He made the statement following the conflicting reports regarding the actual tally of the missing fishermen. Some of the fishermen’s relatives refused to declare that some relatives are missing.

“The village chiefs and other local chief executives can help this situation by listing all fishing boats and crew members and monitoring them on a daily basis. By doing this, search and rescue efforts by our disaster response teams will be much easier,” said Pabustan.

‘For better or for worse,’ come hell or high water

2011-01-15T10:58:00.008+08:00

(This article was written by Major Harold M Cabunoc and was featured in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on January 13, 2011. Major Cabunoc is the spokesperson of the 9th Infantry (Spear)Division of the Philippine Army.)

LEGAZPI CITY—In sickness or in health, for richer or poorer, come hell or floodwater...

Glenda Lorenzo of Guinobatan, Albay, the youngest of seven children, pursued her big dream to be a registered nurse before deciding to marry.

Her fiancé, Ryan Cuebillas of Daraga town in the same province, is also a registered nurse.

Both 30, they both passed the nursing board exams and subsequently landed decent jobs.

In 2010, the 10th year of their relationship, they decided they were ready to take the plunge. They scheduled the wedding on Dec. 30 at Albay Cathedral in Legazpi City.

Thus began the couple’s lengthy preparations.

They agreed that one of them should take charge of the details because they wanted to make their wedding truly memorable not only for themselves but also for their loved ones, some of whom would come all the way from abroad.

While Ryan continued to work in a cement factory, Glenda quit her job in order to personally supervise the wedding preparations, including the invitations, the attire of the whole entourage, the flower arrangements, the hotel accommodations, the catering and, of course, the honeymoon plans.

With Glenda’s meticulous ways, they were quite sure that it would be “all systems go” on their wedding day.

High hopes

The unexpected torrential rains began to pour at least a week before Dec. 30, flooding certain parts of Albay including Legazpi.

The bad weather showed no sign of abating and the couple sought God’s intervention, wishing for the rains to stop at least on Dec. 30.

Recalling the events, Glenda said that a day before the wedding, she learned that Army troops had begun transporting residents of low-lying areas as part of the local government’s “preemptive evacuation” policy.

When the bride awoke in her hotel room early on Dec. 30, the lazy patter of raindrops on the roof greeted her.

But she had high hopes. “Rain can be a blessing too,” she told her groom, who did not share her optimism as the steady patter droned on, inundating nearby roads.

At around 2 p.m., the bride’s makeup artists were done with their final touches.

Glenda went down shortly to the hotel lobby to get a glimpse of the situation outside—and was shocked by the sight of people wading in knee-deep waters!

Her dismay was aggravated by the somber declaration of her wedding coordinator: “The bridal car cannot make it to the cathedral because of the flood.”

Determination

Trying to smile while her dream wedding fell apart, Glenda desperately thought of ways to save the day.

She phoned Ryan who was by then already waiting for her at the cathedral. But he suggested suspending the wedding for the next day and requesting that all the food for the reception be refrigerated.

Glenda disagreed, not believing that wedding vows should be postponed.

So Ryan began calling friends and relatives who might know of someone who owned four-by-four trucks that could still navigate Legazpi’s flooded streets.

All of a sudden, the vivid image of the Army’s rescue teams flashed in Glenda’s mind. But the problem was that she did not know anyone from the Army troops based in the town of Daraga.

With her hopes sinking, she phoned Cris Dalaguit of radio dzGB, whose public affairs program was airing at that time.

Dalaguit promptly rang up Col. Arthur Ang, commander of the Army’s 901st Brigade. By that time, however, the soldiers and all transport trucks had already been deployed to Legazpi and neighboring towns.

Glenda recalled being told that Ang had instructed Col. Romeo Ayson, the head of the rescue task group, to assist the wedding party.

“But they were still in a distant location. I knew that the soldiers were coming, but I could not wait any longer,” she said.

Bridal truck

Explaining to her friends and kin the prevailing situation, Glenda requested them to flag down any truck approaching the hotel.

“I told them that I didn’t care what kind of truck my ‘bridal car’ would be. I just wanted to be brought to the church for my wedding,” she said.

Minutes later, a large cargo truck that can be mistaken for a copra hauler stopped in front of the hotel lobby.

Glenda walked to the truck; some friends and hotel staff helped her up and steadied her atop a table so she would not be soaked.

The truck slowly negotiated the heavily flooded streets, some of which were blocked by stalled vehicles.

Glenda said she felt relieved in thinking that her only problem now was how to transport her entourage.

Then she saw the soldiers aboard camouflage military transport trucks coming from the opposite direction.

They did not fail her, after all. Some of them were cold and drenched from the rains, but they were smiling as they came to the rescue.

Gratitude

At the cathedral, Ryan embraced his slightly disheveled bride, who was shedding tears of joy and relief.

Not long afterward, the soldiers were able to collect and deposit the rest of the guests.

The ceremony finally got started at around 5 p.m. despite the heavy rains that drenched almost the entire wedding party.

After the wedding, the soldiers again transported all the members of the entourage and some of the guests back to the hotel for the reception.

“I could not put into exact words how thankful I was to all of them, especially Colonel Ayson,” Glenda said later as she proudly showed the photographs of her wedding day.

The media got wind of the couple’s unusual experience and made them instant celebrities. Through interviews and guest appearances on TV, they became models of optimism and perseverance.

Because of the rains that did not go away, Ryan and Glenda unintentionally served as the best examples of how a couple should face life’s trials and difficulties.

To watch the news video, please click on the link below:
http://www.gmanews.tv/video/72378/24oras-bride-entourage-sumakay-sa-trak-papunta-sa-kasal">24oras: Bride, entourage, sumakay sa trak papunta sa kasal - Video - GMANews.TV - Official Website of GMA News and Public Affairs - Latest Philippine News

Government Rescuers Save 1 of the Missing Fishermen

2011-01-09T20:02:00.000+08:00

SAN ANDRES, Catanduanes – Government rescue teams who were sent to locate the five missing fishermen have found one survivor in off the coast of Pandan town in Catanduanes, a military official said here today.

Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Aquino, Commanding Officer of the 83rd Infantry Battalion which was earlier tasked to carry out the massive search and rescue operations to locate the missing fishermen, said that the lone survivor was found in Baldok village in Pandan town at around 9:30am (Sunday).

Aquino identified the survivor as Joselito Soledad, 19, of Cagdarao village, Panganiban town.

“I immediately tasked Corporal Murilla who is assigned in the area to assist the victim who was promptly admitted in a local hospital. The victim was rescued by Jose Camacho near his house in the seaside village of Baltok,” said Aquino.

Soledad said that they were sailing towards a tiny island called Panay when they were met by turbulent waters at around 11:00pm on January 5.

“Our small banca was turned upside down by the huge waves. We were separated and decided to save our own lives,”said Soledad who suffered a small cut on his left arm and leg.

“I desperately swam for three days towards an island in the horizon but the strong current slowed me down. I passed out one day due to over-fatigue and hunger but I was lucky to have been brought by the waves near the coastline where I was found this morning.”.

Dr. Maria Theresa Mariano, the resident physician of Pandan District hospital has declared Soledad out of danger.

“He has a minor cuts that we have cleaned and treated immediately; however, he is now in stable condition,” explains Mariano.

Four of Soledad’s companions remain missing since they were separated. He identified them as his brothers Joseph Soledad, 33, Jerry Soledad,30 and cousins Ranie Villar, 20, Ricky Villar,28.

Major General Ruperto “Raffy” Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, directed the soldiers and CAFGU personnel under his command to pursue the search and rescue missions to locate the four missing fishermen.

Colonel Guillermo “Gem” Molina, Commander of the Air Force unit based in Legaspi City, has sent two rescue choppers to assist the soldiers and policemen who are now scouring the neighboring towns and islands to locate the missing fishermen.

Army Soldiers Gear Up for Deployment Around Bicolandia

2011-01-05T11:39:00.002+08:00

PILI, Camarines Sur – With the lifting of the holiday ceasefire with the communist rebels a day ago (Jan 4), Army soldiers in the Bicol Region are now preparing themselves for their various deployments.

Due to the recent flooding and landslides, the soldiers are now focusing their efforts in helping the people in various communities especially in Albay and Sorsogon.

Soldiers are among the heavily depended personnel in implementing the ‘preventive evacuation’ of people during natural calamities.

About two weeks ago, hundreds of Army soldiers and twenty military transport trucks were deployed to haul flood and landslide victims towards safer areas around Albay.

Soldiers were credited for the reduction of casualties during the said calamity which struck during the Christmas season. Local authorities reported three dead out of thousands of people who were displaced by heavy flooding.

Alerted by the weather bureau’s forecasts about possible rains in the coming days, Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, directed his subordinate commanders to prepare their transport assets and personnel for disaster risk reduction (DRR) missions.

"I have ordered my unit leaders to coordinate with the local government in their respective area of responsibility in determining the areas vulnerable to disaster. The military is very much willing to be an ally with all the stakeholders in the community as regards to these DRR efforts,” said Pabustan.

The context of this alliance was based from the Hygo Framework for Action, requiring the active participation and involvement of local government sectors at different levels.

“We are not only confronting the threats against our national security, but also the emerging threats from natural disasters such as typhoons, volcanic eruptions and flooding which are all natural occurrences here in the region,” added Pabustan.

Seeing the waning influence of the communist rebels in the hinterlands, the soldiers are deployed primarily for the various pro-poor development projects and programs of the government.

The soldiers have also maintained presence in some areas where development projects are implemented by the government. Included in these projects are the Solong Hydroelectric plant in Catanduanes and the road pavement leading to the tourist spots in Caramoan peninsula.

The demand for ‘revolutionary tax’ and the terroristic actions by the CPP-NPA had stalled some of these ‘flagship projects’ midyear in 2010. The rebels torched down heavy-construction equipment owned by private contractors who refused to pay extortion money to them, in Camarines Sur and in the island province of Catanduanes.

Colonel Leoncio Cirunay, Operations Officer of the 9th Infantry Division said that combat operations are not the top priority in accordance to the new AFP campaign plan in defeating the communist insurgency.

“We have convinced the people that this fight against the communist rebels is not only ours (soldiers). For this reason, they have secretly eased our problem by providing us with vital information about the terrorist rebels through text messages,” declared Cirunay.

Cirunay likewise said that human rights protection and the respect for the provisions of the International Humanitarian Law are given emphasis by the operating troops. “Relevant topics which tackle these issues (human rights and IHL) are included in our various sustainment training programs,” added Cirunay.

In Calendar Year 2010, soldiers scored against the rebels through their so-called ‘precision strikes’ deep inside rebel-influenced areas resulting to successful encounters and the neutralization of the rebel’s top leaders.

“Here in Bicol, the communist rebels can run but they have nowhere to hide. While busying ourselves with our ‘pro-poor projects’, we can easily respond to any call from our civilian friends who are always on the lookout for the presence of the communist rebels who come to terrorize the local villagers,” added Cirunay.

The Demise of the Communist Insurgency in the Bicol Region

2010-12-25T17:58:00.008+08:00

Recovered armaments after an encounter with communist terrorists in Mabanate, Pilar Sorsogon on 25 Sept 2009.

Major Harold M Cabunoc showing the recovered PTC cards to residents of Caramoran town in Catanduanes where a clash with NPA extortionists transpired prior to the May 2010 elections.

9ID soldiers helping in the clean up drive in Puting Sapa Elementary School which was hit by ash fall in the first week of November 2010.

An Army female officer reading a story to the pupils of Hinipaan Elementary School in Camarines Norte where the Inquirer Read Along was held.

Philippine Army soldiers and civilian participants during the Isarog watershed tree planting activity.

Recovered CPP-NPA paraphernalia after an encounter with communist terrorists in Mabanate, Pilar Sorsogon on 25 Sept 2009.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda and MGen Ruperto Pabustan during the visit of the former in Hqs 9ID.

Soldiers and civilian friends singing Christmas carols for the captured NPA rebel, Elmer Escobido aka Ka Alvin, in Sorsogon.

MGen Ruperto Pabustan and former DND Secretary Norberto Gonzales witnessed the surrender of firearms from partisan armed groups in Masbate on 27 April 2010.

PILI, Camarines Sur – The Philippine Army claims that the insurgency in the Bicol Region is seeing its natural death, a military report says .

In it’s year-ender report released to the media, Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division based here said that records in his office show that the number of the CPP-NPA’s members have been drastically reduced for the past two years.

“From its top strength of about 520 members in January 2009, we have reduced their number by 242 thereby dwindling their strength to its lowest number of 278 regular fighters as of today.

This significant reduction of enemy personalities is recapitulated as follows: 49 killed, 125 surrendered, 25 captured, 39 apprehended and 4 arrested,” declared Pabustan.

The series of encounters and the tip-offs about the location of the rebels’ arms storage areas, resulted to the confiscation of 103 firearms. In July, captive rebels who surrendered during an encounter led the troops to a large arms hoard in Lupi town in Camarines Sur.

Due to their dwindling combat power, red rebels are forced to use Cebu-made low-powered firearms such as localized versions of 9mm Ingram Submachine Pistols and Cal .38 revolvers.

Pabustan also said that 3 ranking NPA leaders were among those killed including Elmer Osila and Eleuterio Mangampo both Front Committee commanders adding that, “these NPA leaders were spotted roaming the hinterland with less than 10 followers, indicating their problems on recruiting new members”.

The newly-installed commander of the Front Committee 79, Jason Brul, 34, who was captured in the latest clash with government troops early this month, have intended to go back to the mainstream society.

Military authorities here have claimed that the ‘precision strikes’ against the armed rebels were attributed to the growing number of tipsters among the civilian residents.

It was also reported that most local folks have secretly opposed the imposition of the rebels’ main source of income, their extortion activities.

Marketed as “revolutionary tax”, ordinary farmers and small-time entrepreneurs were not spared from these forcible collection of extortion money by the rebels in the countryside.

The effective information dissemination, dialogues and security operations by the Army forces, extortion collection was down to P14-Million this year as compared to whooping P19-Million last year, as indicated by the documents confiscated from the bandits.

Meanwhile, the collection of the permit-to-campaign fees from local politicians was down to P12.5-Million from its previous collection which neared P15-Million both during 2004 and 2007 elections.

During the 2010 national elections, Army forces in the Bicol Region confiscated the color-coded PTC cards being distributed by red rebels in the countryside.

One politician who ran for a congressional seat in Catanduanes allegedly paid P2.5-Million to the rebels. A local tipster led the troops to the location of the NPA extortionists who attempted to collect PTC fees prior to the elections, resulting to a bloody clash and the recovery of vital evidences pinpointing to the massive extortion activities by the rebels.

Gradually earning the support from the civilian population, the Philippine Army launched various peace and development programs in coordination with the local government and with the support of NGOs.

Using the campaign strategy of “winning the peace” by assuming the support role in nation-building efforts of the national government, Pabustan claimed that his soldiers have prioritized the implementation of various infrastructure projects employing the Army engineers and with the consultation from various stakeholders in the communities.

Dubbed as the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program projects, these include the construction of school buildings, electrification systems, water systems and farm to market roads (FMR).

In CY 2010, the Army’s 51st Engineering Brigade completed P175-Million worth KBP projects including 28 school buildings, 31 water systems, 20 health centers and 41 farm-to-market roads which were all implemented in the rebel-influenced villages in Camarines Sur.

Believing that the implementation of various infrastructure projects can alleviate the economic suffering of the people, soldiers intensified its security operations to flush out NPA extortionists who threatened to derail various development projects around Bicol region. Five soldiers including an officer and 2 militiamen lost their lives while protecting such projects this year alone.

These important development projects include the road pavement leading to the tourist spots in Caramoan peninsula, the hydroelectric plant in Catanduanes and the diversion road leading to the rising international airport in Daraga town in Albay.

Governor Joey Salceda of Albay, in a statement released to the media, said that, “the semblance of no-conflict and peace are the reasons of the fast economic growth of the region despite of the fact that all other factors remains the same as in the past”.

In a similar note, Governor L-Ray Villafuerte of Camarines Sur said that the “successful security operations launched by the Army soldiers are directly attributed to the growing number of foreign and local tourists who flock to the region every year”.

For the past two years (2009-2010), soldiers were also trained properly on civil-military operations and on human rights protection.

“We have definitely won the hearts and minds of the people due to our much improved human rights record. We have ensured that non-combatants were not caught in the crossfire and those who surrendered during clashes were protected from harm as exemplified by my soldiers’ actions in Sorsogon and in Camsur encounters,” added Pabustan.

In his own statement during a media interview on December 14, Jason Brul, the captured commander of the NPA’s Front Committee 79, expressed his sincerest gratitude to the soldiers who spared his life and respected his rights.

In contrast, soldiers and paramilitary forces have fallen victims to the NPA’s unchanged policy on extra-judicial killings.

Six soldiers and eight CAFGU personnel have died due to liquidations by the NPA’s death squads known as the Special Partisan Unit (SPARU).

Forty five (45) people, mostly civilians, were killed through summary executions this year. In 2009, 52 innocent souls were also victims of the NPA terrorists killing spree, victimizing not only military personnel but the civilian population as well as their own comrades who were punished through the “Kangaroo court”.

The successful military operations conducted by the Philippine Army and the mounting support from the civilian populace and the local leaders have significantly lessened the rebel’s influence even the upland villages.

These are the factors which led to the “natural death” of Bicol’s communist insurgency.

Army Soldiers Render Christmas Songs to NPA Rebels

2010-12-24T14:12:00.003+08:00

THE TRUE ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS. Army soldiers from the 9th Infantry Division and media personnel joined together to greet the wounded rebel, Elmer Escobido aka Ka Alvin, by rendering Christmas songs for him at his hospital bed in a local hospital in Sorsogon City. (Photo by Marco Balinia/9ID Public Affairs Office)

SORSOGON CITY – Army soldiers visited the captured NPA rebels to render Christmas songs and share some gifts to them at 9:30am today, a military official said.

LtCol Rodolfo Batang, Civil Military Operations officer of the 9th Infantry Division said that he was directed by Major General Ruperto "Raffy" Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, to bring some Christmas gifts for the three captured rebels.

Batang and 10 other soldiers trooped to the hospital bed of Elmer Escobido a.k.a. Ka Alvin 24, who is still recuperating from his wounds in a local hospital here.

Escobido can barely talk but smiled when soldiers, together with the local media and hospital personnel sang "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" for him. He was given a cash gift of P5,000.00 as part of the Army's medical assistance.

"This is our humble way of showing to you the true essence of Christmas which is sharing the blessings from God. As promised, we will help you return to the mainstream society," said Batang.

Minutes later, the soldiers proceeded to the nearby jail where Escobido's comrades are incarcerated.

Initially hesitant to face his soldier visitors, Jason Brul aka Ka Butch, was finally convinced by one of the officers who went inside his prison cell.

As he walked outside with Nelson Punilas, his comrade, soldiers greeted him with their rendition of the Taglish version of the birthday song as he sat in a wooden stool beside Punilas.

"I am very thankful for my friends who took time to visit me here again," said the beaming Brul, who has just turned 34 today.

The three red rebels are facing raps of illegal possession of firearms and explosives before a local court in Bulusan and Gubat town.

He also expressed his Christmas wishes to his comrades who are still in the boondocks. "I wish you all good health and happiness this Christmas," said Brul.

Though hesitant to fully express his intention to finally cooperate with the peace efforts of the government, he declared that he now wants a peaceful life after spending 7 long years away from his growing family of 4 children.

As soldiers started to bade goodbye, Brul returned to his cell with his goodies and birthday cake, smiling at his cellmates who were all green with envy for his day's blessings from his 'former enemies'.

Major Harold Cabunoc, Spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division, escorted Jason Brul aka Ka Butch from his prison cell. Following behind them is Nelson Punilas, Brul's comrade who was also captured during a clash with government troops on December 7, 2010.

Major Harold M Cabunoc presents the birthday cake to Jason Brul who celebrates his 34th birthday today. Photo was taken in the BJMP prison compound in Sorsogon City at around 11am today, December 24.

Stop Child Exploitation!

2010-12-23T09:06:00.002+08:00

Mga kababayan, ngayon pong kapaskuhan ay ating pagmuni-munihan ang landas na tinatahak ng ating buhay at ng ating pamayanan. Atin pong iwasto ang mali at lalo pa nating pag-ibayuhin ang gawaing mabuti para sa kapwa at sa ating mga pamilya. Importante sa lahat ay atin pong gabayan ang ating mga anak at kabataan tungo sa makabuluhan at produktibong pamumuhay. Lagi po nating tandaan na ang mga kabataan ang pag-asa ng ating bayan at ang sarili nating mga anak ang magiging sandigan natin sa ating pagtanda.

CG 9ID Led Gift-giving To Home For The Aged

2010-12-18T14:09:00.007+08:00

Brgy Caluag, Naga City - Tatlumpong matatanda mula sa Home for the Aged ang masayang nakatanggap ng pamasko at sumama sa munting salu-salo kasama ang mga sundalo ng 9th Infantry Division. Ang okasyon ay ginanap sa loob ng institusyon kahapon (Dec 17) na pinangunahan ni Heneral Raffy Pabustan at ng kanyang butihing maybahay na si Annie.

Bicol’s Army Commander Presents Christmas Gifts to the Wounded

2010-12-15T12:34:00.006+08:00

VISIT FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION. Major General Ruperto "Raffy" Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, visits Jason Brul a.k.a. Ka Butch, the Commander of Front Committee 79 of the communist terrorist movement operating in Sorsogon Province, who was captured after in an early morning clash with government troops in Barcelona town on December 7, 2010. Pabustan gave the wounded rebel some Noche Buena goodies and cash assistance for his hospitalization expenses. (Photo by Joel Cardel/9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office)

SORSOGON CITY – The Chief of all Philippine Army forces in the Bicol region visited the NPA commander who was wounded in a clash with government troops last week.

Major General Ruperto “Raffy” Pabustan, in a gesture of reconciliation, brought some goodies and financial assistance to the two wounded rebels during his visit in the hospital at around 9:00am yesterday, December 14 (Tuesday).

Last week, Pabustan ordered the speedy medical evacuation of the wounded rebels from a hinterland village in Barcelona town. He also ordered some soldiers to provide blood donation for the injured red rebels.

“I personally come here to tell you that I want to help you go back to the mainstream society by formally surrendering to the government. You can be our partners in our drive to convince your comrades to peacefully surrender,” said Pabustan during his brief chat with Jason Brul aka Ka Butch, the leader of the Front Committee 79 of the communist rebel movement operating in Sorsogon province.

For his part, Brul expressed his deep appreciation for the kindness of the soldiers. He said that he could not forget that the soldiers gave him another chance to live and for respecting their basic rights.

“I thank the soldiers for saving my life. This is probably the best Christmas for me with my family,” said Brul who is celebrating his 34th birthday on December 24.

Though hesitant to declare his intention to formally surrender, he said that he is asking for “more time to weigh in his options”. He said that his priority is his growing family.

“Perhaps this is a good lesson for me. With my arrest, I can probably find time to be with my four children who don’t recognize me as their father,” narrated Brul, with tears welling in his eyes.

“I don’t want my children to become NPA rebels someday. I want them to live normally in our village unlike my hardships as a red fighter,” he added.

CG 9ID and Staff Visits Wounded Rebels

2010-12-15T11:59:00.006+08:00

Gift-giving activity. Major General Ruperto "Raffy" Pabustan and his staff visited and brought gifts to Jason Brul (aka Ka Butch), the Front Committee Secretary of FC 79 if the CPP-NPA in Sorsogon and Elmer Escobido (aka Ka Alvin). Both were wounded in a gunbattle with government forces in Bgy San Isidro, Barcelona, Sorsogon on December 7, 2010 at 5:30am. General Pabustan likewise promised to Jason and his family that the Philippine Army will help him in any way possible.

Four Soldiers Seriously Injured in a Vehicular Accident in Catanduanes

2010-12-10T19:47:00.000+08:00

VIRAC, Catanduanes – Four Army soldiers were seriously injured when the military truck they were riding met an accident at 9:00 am today, a military official said here today.

Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Aquino, Commander of the 83rd Infantry Battalion where the soldiers belong, said that the soldiers came from a security operation in the capital town of Virac which celebrates the International Human Rights Day today.

Twenty soldiers were on board the said truck and were on their way back to their military base in San Andres town when the M35 6x6 truck lost its brake while negotiating a narrow road downhill in San Jose village in San Andres town.

“The vehicle’s driver, Corporal Paz, maneuvered the truck away from an incoming passenger motorcycle which was full of commuters. The truck laid on its sides after it rammed the road cut in a slope resulting to the various injuries of the military passengers,” said Aquino.

Four of the soldiers were seriously injured including Private First Class Jay A Batanes 874231 (Inf) PA, Private Kenneth U Olivenza 887872 (Inf) PA, Private Jerome R Tongga 887961(Inf) PA and Pvt Alex M Brotamante 887908. They are now currently treated in a hospital in Virac town for multiple bone fractures.

Another fifteen soldiers were slightly injured. They were said to be suffering from slight bruises and cuts.

They were identified as Private Kristian T Visaya , Pvt Anthony N Moico, Pvt George Norvin P Nacion, Pvt Rexon C Acueza, Pvt Jaypee H Bolival, Pvt Ariel B Fornoles, Pvt Marlon B Ladio,Pvt Sonny B Anonuevo, Pvt Jomar T Raña, Pvt Emmel V Dolor, Pvt Jose A San Gabriel Jr, Pvt Alex S Mota, Pvt Elme M Gayo, Pvt Mark Ariel G Sanchez, Pvt Paulo M Felices, Pvt Junrick C Estelloso.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has immediately directed the 83rd Infantry Battalion to conduct investigation to determine the cause of the freak accident and to ensure that appropriate medical attention is given to the injured soldiers.

Two Wounded Red Rebels Treated by Army Soldiers in Sorsogon

2010-12-07T12:26:00.002+08:00

BARCELONA, Sorsogon – Two wounded NPA rebels were evacuated by government troops to a local hospital after a clash in a hinterland village in Sorsogon, a military official said today, December 7, 2010.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commanding Officer of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon said that the two rebels were injured in an encounter with more or less 10 rebels in San Isidro village in Barcelona town at around 5:30am today. He said that one of the wounded rebels is a ranking NPA leader.

1st Lieutenant Sandy Sereno, the Commanding Officer of the Bravo Company of the said battalion who led the operating troops, said that the encounter was a result of a tip-off from a resident in the village.

“I received a text message from a concerned resident of San Isidro village that they were forced out of their homes by heavily armed rebels at around 7:00pm last night. This prompted me to meet him to pinpoint the location of the house where the rebels have encamped for the night,” said Sereno.

Sereno and fourteen of his men, guided by the civilian tipster, proceeded to the area to arrest the rebels. They arrived in the vicinity of the house at around 5:00 am.

“I awakened the rebels and persuaded them to surrender because we had practically surrounded them. We received no reply but gunfires from inside the house, prompting us to return fire,” said Sereno in a phone call to Major Harold Cabunoc.

Two rebels lay dead while two others were wounded after the 10-minute clash. The two dead rebels were identified as a certain Ka Roma and Ka Joshua. They were brought to a local police station in Barcelon town for autopsy.

The two wounded rebels include Jason Brual a.k.a. Ka Butch, the new Commander of the Front Committee 79, and a certain Ka Alvin. Brual is in critical condition and was brought to a hospital in Sorsogon City.

Nelson Punilas aka Ka Juvy was not hurt in the said encounter. He is now detained in the police station in Barcelona town as a criminal case is filed against him.

Enginco said that his troops are now pursuing the fleeing bandits following the trail of blood along their escape route. The soldiers recovered a Norinco Cal .45 pistol, a Dan Wesson Cal .38 Revolver, 3 MK2 Hand Grenades, a laptop computer and subversive documents from the rebels.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed the 49th Infantry Battalion to ensure the proper treatment of the captured rebels in line with the Army’s advocacy of human rights protection.

“Once again, we are showing that our soldiers are not after for more body counts. We believe that we can give peace a chance by allowing the rebels to peacefully surrender; however, they have initiated the exchange of gunfire resulting to the death of some of their comrades,” said Pabustan.

Army Forces in Bicol Welcome the Ceasefire Proclamation

2010-12-04T12:03:00.003+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur – The Army forces in the Bicol Region has welcomed the pronouncements from the AFP leadership regarding the agreed ceasefire with the communist rebels during the yuletide season, a senior military official said.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division which has jurisdiction over the six provinces covering the Bicol Region, said that the soldiers under his command are happy that there will be a suspension of military operations.

"With the ceasefire, we can readily allow our soldiers to spend time with their loved ones after the long months of their dedicated service far away from home'" said Pabustan.

In keeping with the religious tradition, soldiers are allowed to spend a week-long Christmas vacation with their respective families. Normally, soldiers take turns in taking a short respite by spending either the "Christmas break" or the "New Year's Break".

Pabustan also cited the major gains of the government against the communist insurgency in the region. He said that the primary focus of the Philippine Army in dealing with the communist threat is to help address the root causes which had driven some people to take up arms against the government.

"In close coordination with the local government leaders, we were able to effectively implement the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program (KBP) projects in areas where they are most needed. From January 2009 to this day, the Army Engineers have constructed various infrastructure projects including 9 school buildings, 7 electrification systems,7 health centers, 9 water systems and 6 farm-to-market roads (FMR) totaling P35,500,000.00," disclosed Pabustan.

In a significant step of shedding off its 'warrior' image, soldiers are also actively involved in various 'non-traditional military roles' such as environmental protection. In military camps across the region, soldiers are required to implement waste management programs, clean-up drive in waterways as well as tree planting activities especially in government protected areas such as Mt Isarog watershed and the forest park in Camarines Norte.

In its drive to bring the soldiers and CAFGU personnel closer to the people, medical and dental missions as well as blood-letting activities were intensified. Over 200,000 cc of donated blood is now deposited in a blood bank in Naga City, for use during emergency medical procedures benefiting soldiers and their families as well as the civilians who request for them.

Being one of the trusted agencies during natural calamities, the 9th Infantry Division's Disaster Response Operations (DRO) teams are heavily engaged in the local government's rescue and relief operations in disaster affected areas. During the latest Bulusan eruption in Sorsogon province last November, the soldiers were in the forefront in the evacuation of more or less 1,500 people from villages within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ). Twenty heavy transport trucks were also augmented to assist the local disaster management office in its disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities such as the delivery of relief goods, clean-up drive and medical missions inside the evacuation centers.

LtCol Rodolfo Batang, Civil-Military Operations officer of the 9th Infantry Division said that the soldiers have indeed 'won the hearts and minds of the people'. "We have shown even our enemies that we are serious in protecting human rights. In many clashes, we saved the lives of hapless civilians who were caught in the middle of the firefight like the one which occurred in Tible village in Lupi town, Camarines Sur. We also treated our captured enemies humanely and with dignity thereby persuading them to help us in locating some of their arms hoards and the surrender of their comrades," said Batang.

The Philippine Army has also made a positive stride in its campaign against the communist rebels. Army records show the decrease of the rebel strength in CY 2010 by 108 from its top strength of 415 in 2009, making their current number to 307 armed fighters scattered all around the region. The reduction of the NPA strength is attributed to the surrender of 57 fighters and the death of 20 others during encounters. Two of its ranking leaders, Elmer Osila and Eleuterio Mangampo, perished in the clashes.

During the national and local elections, the Philippine Army has displayed its highest standard of discipline and professionalism in its herculean tasks of safeguarding the conduct of elections. In May 2010 elections, the election-related violent incidents all over Bicol Region was down to 10. More than 100 firearms were also confiscated by both the AFP and the PNP from various armed groups which were used by local politicians.

Spate of Killings Greeted the Creation of the AFP Human Rights Office

2010-12-04T11:59:00.001+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur – The creation of the AFP Human Rights Office was greeted by the spate of killings blamed on the communist terrorists in the Bicol Region, a military official said here today.

Colonel Leoncio Cirunay, Operations Officer of the 9th Infantry Division, said that Fernando Candia, 68, of Sitio Tico-tico (sub-village) in Taysan village, Legaspi City was gunned down by a lone gunman inside a passenger jeepney in Resettlement Site area in Legaspi City at around 12:30pm yesterday (December 3). Cirunay said that the latest killing followed the brutal murder of Ernesto Manago, 52, another village watchman from the same village who was killed on November 24.

"We condemn the series of murders committed by suspected members of the CPP-NPA's special partisan unit (SPARU). After killing two of our soldiers last month, they are now turning their wrath on their suspected military informants among the civilian populace," said Cirunay in a statement released to the local media.

Eyewitnesses accounts stated that Candia was on board a public utility jeep with at least 10 other passengers when a gunman suddenly pulled a gun and shot the victim at close range. Candia sustained multiple gunshot wounds including a head shot which resulted to his instantaneous death.

Two innocent civilians were also hurt by the shooting. Lilia Abane, 41, and her young son Joel, 12, were hit by bullet splinters and stray bullets. The duo were brought to a local hospital and were declared as 'out of danger' by attending physicians.

"I stopped to unload a passenger when I heard gunshots behind me. The assailant immediately fled on board a motorcycle which was parked nearby. No one among us were able to identify the assailant who was wearing a cap," said Joefer Mangampo, the driver of the passenger jeepney where the killing was committed.

Two other people lay dead in another unsolved killing which occurred in Donsol town in Sorsogon on December 1 when the group of a local politician was ambushed by motorcycle-riding gunmen while coming from a campaign sortie.

The military has tagged the communist rebel group in most of the killings in the Bicol Region which has claimed the lives of at least 45 people .

The 'reds' have claimed responsibility in some of the killings which the military claimed as solid examples of human rights violations. In CY 2010 alone, 6 soldiers and 8 militiamen were killed in the series of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the NPA bandit group members.

On November 22, 2010, the local bandit group in Camarines Sur admitted the killing of a certain Francis Obrero of Itangon village in Bula town. "We punish Obrero for being a military informant which is a serious offense in our organization (CPP-NPA-NDF)," an official CPP-NPA document released to the media said.

The 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has assisted the filing of criminal charges against the members of the communist rebel group who were tagged as behind the latest murders.

The Army's Human Rights Office in the Bicol Region is also helping the relatives of the victims in filing a complaint (on human rights violations) against the CPP-NPA, before the regional office of the Commission of Human Rights.

Two Dead and Two Wounded in Sorsogon Ambush

2010-12-02T12:52:00.001+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur – Two people dead while two (2) more were wounded in a treacherous ambush in Sorsogon just before midnight on December 1, 2010.

Police Senior Inspector Perfecto Lovina Jr, Chief of Donsol PNP said that the ambush happened in Cristo Village, Donsol Town.at 11pm last night.

He further said that Andrew I Hernandez, Village Chief of Brgy. Poso, together with Danilo Q Razo, Argel Hernandez and Oro Mirabueno were riding their motorcycles when another motorcylces riding tandem approached from behind to shot them at close range with an unknown firearm, killing instantly Mirabueno and Razo while wounding both Andrew and Argel Hernandez.

Lovina said that the group came from political campaign for ABC Chairmanship in Alin Village and were on their way to Donsol town when the incedent happened.

The Hernandezes are now treated in a local hospital and are declared in stable condition by attending physicians. Autopsy results on the dead are still awaited. The Police is now conducting manhunt operations against the unknown suspects.

Army Rescue Teams Conduct Clean Up Drive in Sorsogon

2010-11-26T10:34:00.004+08:00

BULUSAN WATCH. Army Rescue Teams from the 9th Infantry Division keep a watcful eye on Mt Bulusan which spews ash from time to time, from a vantage point in Buenavista Village in Irosin town. These soldiers are now assisting the clean up drive in the evacuation centers and school facilities which were hit by ashfall. (Photo by Major Harold M Cabunoc/ 9th Division Public Affairs Office)

CLEAN UP DRIVE. Members of the 9th Infantry Division's Disaster Response Operations (DRO) platoon clean the school facilities of Guruyan Elementary School located near the foot of Mt Bulusan in Irosin, Sorsogon. Photo was taken on November 25, 2010 at around 1:00pm.

JUBAN,Sorsogon – As Bulusan volcano calms down after spewing ash two days ago, the Army’s rescue personnel visited the public schools in this province to remove the thickening ashes inside the school facilities, a military official said today.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commanding Officer of the 49th Infantry Battalion based here said that he employed the 35-man Disaster Response Operations Platoon together with another platoon from his unit to clean the affected school facilities.

“Since there is no one to be rescued so far, I am making use of our spare time to clear some of the school buildings which were hit by thick ash fall a few days ago. There is a possibility that the roof will collapse if these are not immediately removed,” said Enginco.

At around 9:00am, the soldiers cleaned the 6 classrooms of the Putting Sapa elementary school in Juban town. Located within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone, the grounds are practically covered by mud and ashes, forcing the school authorities to vacate the school.

“We are now conducting our classes in the evacuation center in Cogon village. In coordination with the school teachers there, we cater the classes of the pupils inside their school grounds which also hosted the evacuees from this place,” said Agnes Martinez, a school teacher from the abandoned school in Puting Sapa village.

At noon time of the same day, the soldiers trooped to Guruyan elementary school in Irosin town to continue the cleaning of the 10 school buildings there.

Climbing the rooftops, the soldiers scraped the hardened ashes which stuck in the galvanized iron roofing of the school buildings as school children were watching.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed the Task Force Sagip under Brigadier General Marlou Salazar to continuously monitor the situation around Mt Bulusan.

On November 23 (Tuesday) at least 100 soldiers backed by 12 military transport trucks were sent to establish an Advanced Command Post in Balogo Complex in Sorsogon City.

Bulusan’s New Eruption Triggers Evacuation

2010-11-22T11:14:00.007+08:00

JUBAN,Sorsogon – The latest eruption of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon triggers evacuation of families in nearby villages at the foot of the grumbling volcano, a military official said.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commanding Officer of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Juban town said that he immediately deployed 6 military vehicles to assist the evacuation at around 8:00am yesterday, November 21 .

“We have transported about 72 families numbering around 150 people from Puting Sapa village to the designated evacuation center in Cogon village in Juban town. This is part of the contingency measures that we have discussed with the local officials and the PDRRMO,” said Enginco.

Putting Sapa village was the hardest hit village in Juban town since wind direction during the explosion brought much of the ash fall to this locality.

Classes in Juban town are suspended due to the presence of evacuees who took shelter in the elementary school grounds and facilities.

The ash fall has affected at least five towns in the province including Juban, Casiguran, Bulan, Irosin and Magallanes but most of the ashfall was observed in Juban and Irosin town prompting the immediate evacuation of people within the 4km PDZ in the upland villages of these towns.

Sorsogon PDRRMO Chief Jose Lopez reported that Gallanosa High School in Irosin has accommodated 225 families or about 992 people since the start of the volcanic eruptions early this month.

Lopez said that the evacuees in this largest evacuation center in Sorsogon “occupy the school facilities only at 9:00 pm every night”.

On November 18, soldiers conducted a simulated disaster response operations involving 30 military trucks coming from the different provinces of the Bicol region.

The simultaneous deployment of disaster response operations (DRO) teams from other units of the 9th ID will be effected only if Alert Level 4 is hoisted by PHIVOLCS.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, has directed the 903rd Brigade and the 49th Infantry Battalion which it controls, to take charge in the evacuation missions within the 4km permanent danger zone (PDZ) during Alert level 1.

Bandit Mentality: The Continued Disrespect of the Military Uniform

2010-11-20T13:41:00.005+08:00

by MAJOR HAROLD M CABUNOC (INF) PA

Introduction

In any professional Armed Forces, proper military clothing is observed to maintain the respect and heroic nature of the military service.

Though different uniform styles are designed for each branch of the military these should be worn neatly and properly whether while on duty inside or outside camps where soldiers are subjected to the scrutinizing eyes of the general public.
For each service branch, a set of rules are to be followed when dressed in military attire, otherwise soldiers are subject to sanctions in accordance with the provisions of the Military Justice System.

In the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the lack of tough sanctions has led to the rampant transgressions to regulations governing the correct way to wear the military uniform.

Why are we becoming helpless against these violators? Is it ok that while we profess military professionalism in our ranks, we look the other way when seeing undisciplined soldiers who are behaving as if they are the ‘disgrace to the military uniform’?

Military Professionalism and the Uniform Code

During basic military training, soldiers are indoctrinated about their transformation from civilian life to a regimented one as they are honed to become part of the armed forces.

I can still vividly recall the teachings of General Charles De Gaulle in a poem that he wrote which says:

“Men who adopt the profession of arms, submit their own free will to a law of perpetual constraints of their own accord. They resist their right to live where they choose,to say what they think,to dress as they like.”

Through this poem, soldiers are taught the importance of obedience and discipline. Recruits are required to wear a prescribed uniform for a specific military duty. For example, there is an authorized uniform for parades. We had bathroom attire and sleeping attire.

There is always the proper way to iron and wear the uniform. There are also correct accessories and patches that are authorized.

Soldiers are indoctrinated to ‘respect’ the uniform and the thousands of servicemen who had given honor to the country.

Fundamentals in Wearing the Uniform

First of all, soldiers are reminded that sharp personal appearance is the outward indication of your pride in yourself and the Army. You are not supposed to show yourself in uniform when you look shabby. Every soldier is supposed to be the ‘show-window’ of the military organization. It takes only one shabby-looking soldier to erode the trust of the public in an area where a unit is deployed.

Our uniforms must be presented neatly and cleanly. It means that the uniform must be regularly washed. Aside from that soldiers are taught on how to iron our uniform correctly.

I can still recall that as a PMA cadet, I got delinquency reports even for a simple offense of having loose strings which I failed to cut from my newly issued uniform. That is how we were trained to become respectable individuals in the military service.

Soldiers are trained that the uniform is to be worn with pride and to practice humility. No jewelry, combs, checkbooks, pens, pencils or similar items will appear exposed on uniforms.

AFP regulations also tell us that uniforms are not to be mixed with civilian clothing. No civilian undershirts and no wearing of civilian type shoes when in military dress.

Basically, smoking and chewing gum detracts from a professional image and is not allowed in military formations and when in public view.

Bulky items in our uniform’s pockets are not allowed. We are taught that having our hands in our pockets does not convey a professional image. Soldiers are not supposed to place their hands in their pockets except momentarily to place or retrieve items.

The cap is part of our uniform. We must always wear our cap while outdoors or while under arms, when carrying a rifle or wearing a saber.

Otherwise, we are not supposed to wear our hats indoors. Soldiers should develop the habit of removing their caps upon entering a building.

In some formal occasions however, it has been a custom to wear the cap during the duration of the activity. A fine example is during military graduation ceremonies.

Soldiers will keep fingernails clean and neatly trimmed so as not to interfere with the performance of duty. Female soldiers are also not supposed to wear nail polish that is exaggerated, faddish, or of extreme coloring, such as purple, gold, blue or white.

There are many ‘military cut’ or hairstyles that are acceptable in the Philippine Army. Basically, the hair will be neatly groomed. The length and bulk of hair will not be excessive or present a ragged, unkempt, or extreme appearance. However, there is no clear-cut policy on which haircut is specifically authorized.

Hair will not fall over the eyebrows or extend below the bottom edge of the collar. Lines or designs will not be cut into the hair or scalp. If dyes, tints, or bleaches are used, colors used must be natural to human hair and not present an extreme appearance.

For males, sideburns will be neatly trimmed. The base will not be flared and will be a cleanshaven, horizontal line. Sideburns will not extend below the lowest part of the exterior ear opening. The face will be clean-shaven and growing moustache is not permitted.

For female soldiers, hairstyles will not interfere with proper wearing of military headgear or protective masks. Hair holding ornaments (barrettes, pins, clips), if used, must be transparent or similar incolor to hair, and will be inconspicuously placed. Beads or similar ornamental items are not authorized.

Conservative civilian prescription eyeglasses are authorized for wear. Glasses with faddish frames or lenses, initials or other adornments are not authorized. Soldiers may not wear lenses that are so large as to detract from the appearance of the uniform.

Conservative sunglasses may be worn in uniform when in garrison, except indoors or in formation.

Soldiers are also not supposed to wear the uniform when going to a bar or strip club or any other place whose main purpose is to sell or serve alcohol. We are not allowed to get drunk in uniform, to go to political rallies, endorse political candidates and make political statements.

The reign of “bandit mentality” in the AFP

Looking around, it is frustrating to see that many soldiers do not respect the uniform at all. I am dismayed that soldiers do not follow dress regulations taught during training and opt to mimic the bandits whowe are fighting in the countryside.

Whether in large garrisons in urban centers or in far-flung detachments, we can find many uniformed men who look just the same with the Abu Sayyaf and NPA bandits.

Their presence is practically everywhere----starting from the GHQ, AFP to large camps of the three branches of service and down to the small detachments/outposts in the boondocks.

It is normal to see soldiers wearing tsinelas or sandals while wearing BDA. Basketball jerseys are also fast becoming the preferred undershirt.
Anywhere, you can find military trucks transporting soldiers who can be mistaken as newly captured rebels.

Lame excuses, invalid alibis

Though trying hard to understand this organizational ‘cancer’ that is creeping in our ranks called ‘bandit mentality’, I sometimes cannot help but confront erring soldiers especially those who happen to come near me.

Believing that there might be valid reasons for these actions, I always find time to let them verbally explain their wanton disregard of the military regulations.

Seeing one M35 truck driver in Pili town one day, I noticed that he was wearing ‘half-uniform’ and in tsinelas. Asked why he was wearing such unauthorized outfit, he calmly said that ‘the vehicle’s engine is very hot’ and so it is more relaxing to wear tsinelas and get rid of the ‘upper uniform’ (jacket). Comfort oriented soldiers, I sighed

I realized later that the mess sergeant and many other soldiers who were buying provisions for the unit as well as the duty escorts were in various types of outfits you can imagine.

One was wearing the only the ‘upper uniform’. The other preferred only the Army shirt with baketball shorts. And, these are the soldiers who are wondering why they are not respected by the civilians whom they meet.

“We are in civilian attire or half-uniform to avoid the liquidation squad of the NPA sir,” came his explanation when I accosted him. Another unacceptable justification to an officer who was not born yesterday and who had fought both ASG and NPA bandits, I told him.

Inside military camps, soldiers who are performing ‘fatigue duties’ (cleaning and maintenance as well as construction personnel) use different military uniforms as their preferred outfit.

One soldier prefers the BDA jacket to protect himself from the scorching heat of the sun. The other soldier wears the BDA pants with his favorite Nike shoes and Adidas sweatshirt. If cautioned, the emotional reply is “nagtatrabaho kasi kami sa initan sir”.

Everyone seems to have the ready answer for their stupid actions. Reservist soldiers or ‘weekend soldiers’ have the easiest explanation why you can find them wearing the uniform as if they are members of the Hukbalahap bandit group.

“I am only a reservist soldier sir,” came the reply from one whom I accosted in a carenderia for removing his jacket and hanging it on his shoulders like Robin Padilla in one of his movies.

When I was a company grade officer in Mindanao, I once worked with many soldiers from different units as we hunted down bandits and terrorists in the marshlands of Maguindanao down to the lush forests of Basilan and Sulu.

I myself had violated regulations by conforming to some of the bad practices that I had observed in the past. I was also one of those who wear the ‘pis-pis’ (a form of amulet worn by our Filipino Muslim brothers), a yellow bandanna with Islamic prayers inscribed by an Imam.

As a young officer, I was stupid enough to assume that it was cool to wear the ‘pis-pis’ in the same way that Abdurajak Janjalani, the original Abu Sayyaf leader, did in mid-1990’s. Well, my own alibi during that time was that I was not issued force protection equipment (Kevlar helmet, Level 3A flak jacket); therefore, I am justified to wear my ‘anting-anting’ (amulet) for my protection. Of course, I was once stupid too.

I am glad to have outgrown these unprofessional and bad practices in the organization.

What went wrong?

The Philippine Army traces its humble beginngings from the revolutionary forces of the Katipunan which fought the Spaniards in the late 1890’s. Obviously, these ‘soldiers’ were ragtag fighters without any proper training. During that time, anyone who had a band of armed followers became the leader and “Heneral”.

It was during the time of President Manuel L Quezon (Commonwealth Period) that he established the new armed forces under the supervision of General Douglas Mc Arthur.

Due to the unexpected outbreak of the war, the newly organized and ill-equipped Filipino servicemen were incorporated into the US Armed Forces and named as the USAFFE.

Though lacking uniform and equipment, these forces were deployed for combat. These ill-trained Filipino soldiers fought courageously in the series of battles during WWII.

Naturally, no one cared how they looked or behaved during that time as long as warm bodies were present to defend the country.

When the AFP was gradually reorganized after the war, the soldiers were immediately plunged into the thick of the fight against the emerging the Huk rebels who waged violent attacks against government forces and facilities in Luzon.

In Mindanao, Constabulary and Army units were busy scouring the island of Sulu to hunt for the elusive Kamlon. Gathered war stories and some photos from this campaign reveal that soldiers were trained to imitate the bandits’ way of life as one of their strategy against the rebels.

During the reign of President Marcos, soldiers remained busy fighting both communist and secessionist rebels. For some reason or another, the use of different types of uniforms by soldiers was widely tolerated.

We can verify from footages during the EDSA revolution in 1986 and the 1989 coup d’etat that soldiers were proudly sporting long hair like “Rambo” who was the popular war movie icon among soldiers during that time.

Based on personal accounts of many officers who saw action in the field in the 1980s, the military uniform during those times was not really ‘uniform’ in the real sense of the word.

I have heard many senior officers who had served in the field during their younger years that the US ‘fatigue’ (olive drab) uniform was their favorite attire.

In the 1990’s, the emergence of progressive-minded officers gradually transformed the military organization. Some officers were gradually taking notice of the importance of setting the correct image of the Filipino soldier. Even star-rank officers were reprimanding soldiers who were found to be sporting long hair and those who were wearing lousy and untidy uniforms.

In its effort to improve the ‘looks’ of the Philippine Army soldier, there were measures implemented to ensure that soldiers will be wearing the same type of uniform. Actually, as experienced, the constant changing of the uniform is the easiest ‘reform’ that can be implemented in the military organization.

While the patterns of the uniform had been changed continuously, the problem about implementing the correct way to wear the uniform remains.
Today, we can still find ‘bandit-looking’ soldiers in their newly designed, ‘digital’ pattern outfits. It only proves that we have forgotten to reform the behaviour of our soldiers as well.

One of the causes why this problem is not corrected is the usual tendency for officers to please their soldiers. For me, this is leadership by popularity. Officers and NCOs who feel that they do not have the credibility to lead, ‘loosen’ their control over their soldiers’ actions. Simply put, these leaders cannot lead by setting the good example which is the best way to motivate and influence soldiers.

Recommended solutions

1. Revise the AFP uniform code/regulations. A uniform board must be convened to study and possibly, revise the existing AFP dress regulations. Representatives from different BOS (branch of service) must be consulted as there are peculiarities in the uniform for each BOS. Each BOS will base their own dress regulations from the published AFP uniform regulations. All authorized military attires must be clearly defined such as the ‘fatigue duty attire’, formal ceremonies outfit, authorized haircut for men and women, etc.

2. Audio-video instructions.Training photos and videos can be made to ensure uniformity of the training instructions about the dress regulations. Video CDs containing these instructions will be distributed for all training institutions (e.g. DTUs, ATGs, RCDG) and line units all over the archipelago. Photos about the different military outfits and the rules governing them must be posted in unit bulletin boards. This must also be part of the pre-entry training, reenlistment training and sustainment training for soldiers and units.

3. Command responsibility. Every officer and NCO-leaders must be made responsible for implementing such regulations. The commanding officer or chief of office will be made to answer for the non-compliance of the dress regulations by his subordinates. Complaints through text messages especially with photos must be submitted to the military police or the DPM as part of our feedback system. Violators must be punished immediately. Those who insist to dress and behave like bandits must be discharged from the military service so that they can wear anything they like as carefree civilians. Commanders who are inept, incompetent and who don’t have the iron will to implement regulations must be removed from their posts.

Conclusion

Bandit mentality is a curable problem as long as we want to. We should take note that the misdemeanors of our soldiers are happening despite the pronouncements that the military is now professionalized and well-disciplined.

We might need to reflect on what is happening in our organization. Are we not contradicting ourselves? Are we not supposed to do what we say?

These uncorrected foolishness by some soldiers reflect the leadership skills of our unit leaders. I don’t believe that a Company Commander or a Chief of Office cannot correct these infractions. We don’t need a 4-star General to personally admonish soldiers who violate our policies.

There is a need to discipline our soldiers. Let us start with the way they wear their uniforms and the way they behave as members of the largest armed group in the country, the AFP.

For a volunteer Army like our own armed forces, this is not difficult to implement.

Army Soldier Gunned Down by NPA Rebels in Albay

2010-11-20T12:29:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, CamSur – An off-duty soldier who took a leave to visit his family was gunned down by suspected NPA rebels near his home in Legaspi City, a military official said here today.

Colonel Leoncio Cirunay, Operations Officer of the 9th Infantry Division, said that Private First Class Ronnel Galvez, 27, was unarmed when he was assassinated by two gunmen at around 11:00pm last night (19 November).

“Pfc Galvez was on weekend leave status since yesterday afternoon. He was with some friends when he was approached by two pistol-wielding gunmen who shot him at close range,” said Cirunay.

Responding policemen said that Galvez bore twenty-nine gunshot wounds from 9mm and Cal 45 pistols, resulting to his instantaneous death.

Prior to the incident, Galvez was warned by his superiors about the ‘shoot-to-kill’ (STK) order by the NPA which includes his (Galvez’s) name.

The STK list was recovered in an encounter in Goa town in Camarines Sur in August. The list includes names of active soldiers, policemen and civilians who are accused as military informants.

The military has recorded five (5) soldiers as victims of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s (CNN) extra-judicial killings this year alone. Eight militiamen (CAFGU) and a policeman were also listed among the victims of the ‘liquidations’.

A total of 42 people have perished in the killings perpetrated by the red terror group (CPP-NPA-NDF) in CY 2010.

In a statement released to a local radio station yesterday, the communist rebel group claimed the killing of a certain Angeles Bongcolmo and Jaime Bergado whom they accused as having ‘grave offenses against the masses’.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed the subordinate units to remind all soldiers to remain vigilant against the bandit group’s planned attacks against ‘soft targets’ such as unarmed soldiers.

A complaint about human rights violations is also readied by the 9th ID against the perpetrators who are believed to be members of the Front Committee 78 of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

Army Soldiers Clash With NPA Rebels in Camsur

2010-11-17T12:35:00.000+08:00

TIGAON, Camarines Sur – Patrolling Army soldiers clash with NPA bandits in a remote village in Camsur, a military official said here today.

LtCol Ernesto Cruz, Commanding Officer of the 42nd Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over Camarines Sur said that a 9-man squad of his unit led by 2nd Lieutenant Mariel Bonilla clashed with more or less 10 bandits in San Ramon village, Pamplona town at around 2:30pm yesterday.

“My soldiers were conducting security patrols in the hinterlands of Pamplona town when a ‘walk-in’ informant told them about the presence of a band of NPA rebels. The 5-minute clash erupted when the troops were fired upon by the rebels as they were approaching the said location,” said Cruz.

The rebels immediately fled after the brief clash, carrying with them their casualties. The soldiers promptly pursued the rebels following the blood trails along the route of withdrawal.

Bonilla and his men confiscated a 9mm KG9 Submachinegun and a laptop computer in the encounter site.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed Colonel Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, Commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade, to intensify its security operations in CamSur Province.

Small bands of NPA rebels have kept their presence felt in the upland villages but they have lost the support of the local people who are now fed up by their oppressive extortion activities.

"VINCENT"

2010-11-15T15:13:00.004+08:00

(A re-issue of previous article published entitled “Quo Vadis CMO”- 2004)
by Major Roy Anthony O Derilo (INF) PA

“Of course we did not join the armed service just to help develop communities, but I certainly did not sign up to an ‘Army’ that cannot even win it’s war.”

One sad effect of bearing a long-drawn campaign against insurgency is the way it creates a psychology of contentment of people to conditions that doesn’t seem to improve. At the great part of our neutral citizenry, expectations for better conditions has seemingly been overtaken by passive and oftentimes fatalistic dance with whoever would matter for today and whoever will be controlling the day after. Sad but true that, for as long as their lives are not taken, their doors are open to either insurgents who talk of alternative systems, or to soldiers who demand they shouldn’t.

I find it more unfortunate that there also exists the usual unspoken-of psychology of contentment adapted by some military seniors; I refer to higher ups who already find satisfaction and victory over the momentary inability of the insurgents to totally take-over.

“That for as long as they have not taken over the streets of Manila, we are doing just fine…”, goes one senior officer in one of our informal chat- such was a display of clear ignorance to the economic effect of having to spend so much for campaigns without much concrete returns.

I consider this as not only the saddest but also the worst psychology ever to be entertained in an organization which is heavily-depended on for their last hopes by a considerable number of people of this socio-politically and economically challenged society.

I am saying that it is the worst psychology because it is not only highly contagious especially to subordinates but it also discourages thinking and hopeful young minds in the organization from digging deeper for better solutions. The kind of solutions that may be radical but do make sense. Radical in the sense that concepts go beyond what traditional military leaders see as politically safe and traditionally military, as taught in our “worshipped” foreign military training institutions such the US Army’s Fort Bragg. Solutions that do not necessarily bring about enemy body counts and firearms recovery but would probably make a great difference in terms of non-resurgence of this over 40-year old communist insurgency. We are talking about solutions that may not spell military machismo. Solutions that may simply be CMO (civil-military operations).

Of Blood, Sweat, and Blames

After decades of confronting such a seemingly endless insurgency, there had been so many instances in time when we had come to terms with the fact that we cannot totally end insurgency through the traditional combat approach.

For this reason, we resorted to alternative means by combining our efforts with non-armed civic approaches. Hence, new ideas came about such as ACCORD; ALPS; and the SOT. And, at some point, it did matter to some degree.

As a matter of fact, Army Literacy Patrol System (ALPS) earned accolades and even national recognition. Not long after those initial gains, we saw the need to restructure and reengineer our approach if only to sustain efforts, especially that of the SOT.

On a larger scale, strategic thinkers came up with the National Internal Security Plan or NISP. The Plan was basically an approach to address internal security problems by addressing its social, political, economic root causes, and poverty through a convergence of efforts by the different government agencies, NGO’s, and other security stakeholders.

It has provided structures and linkages, and even provided the mechanics on how organizations should cooperate. It even underwent major overhaul as critics deemed that NISP crafting and implementation should not be DND-led.

Then, there came the lingering question, “Was the plan successful after years of implementation?” Well, no less than the former President Arroyo herself said, “… Remedy the lack of orchestration in the actions of political, informational, economic and security components; and the lack of convergence among different societal stakeholders!” Simply put, orchestration and convergence, more than anything else, did not really happen.

CMO has indeed provided a side thrust to orient the military organization, (or shall we say a part of it) towards a more relevant direction on how an economically and socio-politically fuelled insurgency problem could be addressed.

With its super-ordinated objective of winning the hearts and minds of the masses and destroying the enemy’s will to fight, it basically recognized a non-armed developmental approach of winning its wars.

To be more specific, it is the community concerns of CMO, though some of which are rather more dole-outs than truly developmental, that basically defined the basic constants of the formula of such renewed approach to counter-insurgency.

Unfortunately, the equation seems problematic as we realize we still haven’t made so much progress in terms of destroying enemy political veins and obtain strategic control towards ending the problem.

And so we resorted to an easy excuse - “that it is because other agencies of the government failed to do their part that is why we are not winning”. To be more specific, the military officers and leaders throw in the ‘ever-face-saving’ alibi that “other agencies are not committed to do their share as they do not have clear implementation plans of how to execute actions of NISP especially at the lower levels…”.

To make the matter worst, others would simply say… “National leadership lacks the political will to end insurgency…” These times, everyone seems to be contented with such defeatist thinking to justify the issue of the day. “For as long as we do our jobs…our operational budget released… and the enemy not taken over…we are doing just fine…” If this thinking prevails, we will probably be confronting this insurgency problem up to the next century. Or worst, we just might become like the fledging Army of Rwanda who, at first, pretend to be neutral on social issues but allowed the Hutus to carnage the Tutsis. They were later overthrown and sent running by the ‘liberating’ Tutsi rebels.

Feeling restive of the way things are, younger minds in the organization in the past came up with more radical concepts such as Army Social Responsibility Concept and the Public Information Patrol. All of these concepts spell a more pro-active non-armed approach to address insurgency.

Though these new ideas may come on a commendable note, a more urgent concern recognized by even writers of these concept is the lack of competencies and readiness of soldiers towards a more pronounced social involvement in all these proposed ideas. I refer to competencies that are real, trained for…and not assumed. In whatever way it should be attained, at least we have good things to think of for now – that there are still hopeful younger minds who dig deep for better solutions.

The Evolving Trends and the Developmental Paradigm

Today’s global flows of goods, services, finance, people and images spotlight the many interlinkages in the security of all people. We share a planet, a biosphere, a technological arsenal, a social fabric. The security of one person, one community, one nation rests on the decision of many others – sometimes fortuitously, sometimes precariously.

Political liberalization in recent decades has shifted alliances and begun movements towards democracy. These processes opened opportunities for people but also new fault lines.

In our beloved Philippines for example, political liberalization and the subsequent trends towards an emancipated democracy has its unfortunate implications even while still on the process of change. For one thing, democracy has only been mostly ventured in the areas of policy determination through collective voices or sectoral representations. Greatly overlooked is the area of actual collective action most specifically the factor of psycho-social preparations of people towards the emerging needs of inter-agency and inter-sectoral cooperation. Everyone seems to want to say something in the light of collective representation but nobody seems to realize that the emerging trends and challenges require the necessity of preparation or re-preparation of competencies towards the actual collective action. A concrete example of this failure of which the AFP could be partly guilty, being one of the major stakeholder organization, is NISP that is mentioned earlier.

By design, the NISP had all of what it takes to be looked-up as a plan heading towards the right direction. It views addressing security issues by tackling its root causes such as economic, social, political, and poverty through inter-stakeholder convergence of efforts.

However, in one bold stroke of assumption, the AFP organization was made to be involved in the grand hopeful scheme but without comprehensive preparation. Soldiers were committed but not really made prepared or up to the task. The result was not only non-convergence; it has even catered an emerged disappointment, a new fault line, due to realized passiveness and non-commitment of their civilian counterparts.

At one point, though professionally unacceptable, the military may have the right to feel the oftenly unsaid disappointment. But on another point, the organization must have to accept that it somehow missed to prepare soldiers to understand other organizations’ culture, performance standards, their sensitivities, strengths and weakness, goals and objectives, all for the supposed ends of favorable complementation. In the first place, an honest reflection of the past may be due as Filipinos were not that passive before. Perhaps they must have grown sick and tired already of government aside from becoming desperately contented.

As a matter of recognized needs, soldiers work with others. But as a matter of preparation, never did understanding social organizations and issues thoroughly considered in the varied courses and trainings in the military organization. This is happening in the backdrop that the military is now looking into some strategy that involves counter-organizing. Counter-organizing!!! Just how counter-developmental can we be!!! For how can one even counter-organize an organization of people when the ones who thought of it and those we are now calling our “experts” in counter-organizing themselves cannot even organize one?

As a matter of defining standards - should we really insist to fail, the ability to counter-organize presupposes the ability to organize. And the ability to organize presupposes the ability to understand issues and interests to which organizations are slowly built upon. Understanding issues and interest is very important because once one has developed these competencies he just might likewise realize that he won’t even have to counter-organize organizations strayed by incoherent ideologies and interests, most especially those poor ones that emerged from real issues and never on ideologies. Hence, we just might finally realize that it would rather be best to look into the real issues that may have been exploited by the real detractors.

With a better developmental comprehension and a more developed social lens, one may opt that these organizations would be better off re-aligned, re-directed and strengthened rather than destroyed. But then again, traditional military thinkers may not find these things toughly military. Some simply may not adapt because these things are not thought in the traditional military science and in the doctrines of the idolized United States Army. And yet they wonder why such one of the most powerful armed forces of the world is losing its strategic grip and ends of establishing stability in Iraq.

Unfortunately, due to economic considerations, our soldiers have to be hauled in the open to address a very socio-politically charged problem of insurgency - if only to make practical use of the organizations human resource, whether by convergence such as that of the NISP, or as initiatives of some ‘good’ Generals, or in partnership with some ‘good’ politicians projecting strategic political preparations.

Again, proceeding in the open society with non-traditional functions but still without thorough preparations materializes many other new fault lines. Fault lines such as that which permeates a status-quo of never ending insurgency; ault lines such as that which leads to demoralization and “adventurism”; or a fault line wherein military leaders are easily exploited for political ends of influential individuals - All these because we insist to proceed without preparing. All these because we overlooked the necessities of enhancing soldiers cognitive capacities and retooling their competencies. Its basically forcing square pegs into round holes and then scratching head while asking… why does things keep falling apart.

Apprehensions and the Imperatives of Re-Preparation

The Philippine military, as well as the general Philippine society, urgently need a better cognitive understanding of the new paradigm of security and social trends.

We need a paradigm of security that should look beyond insurgency and armed insurgents, or separatism and the armed separatists. We want a paradigm that would worthily make everyone realize security as a shared responsibility between and among those who are dealing with rights, those with security, those with humanitarian concerns, and those with socio-economic development.

All these would necessarily depart from the traditional security question of state and its soldiers being able to wipe out enemies and detractors…of agencies to do each of their functions separately…of military actions from simple reactive actions…of campaigns that are only in terms of body counts…of developmental efforts that are only in terms of number of trees planted; number of school children fed; CC’s of soldiers’ blood donated; and roads and bridges constructed.

It is a paradigm that necessitates enhancement of soldiers’ socio-economic capacities and developmental competencies. It is a paradigm that is truly developmental. All these without prejudice to real and urgent needs of combat capability upgrading and modernization.

As one once said, “War is not an affair of chance. A great deal of knowledge, study and meditation is necessary to conduct it well.” What we have at hand is not simply a war against armed insurgents and separatists, or a war of the state’s armed threats.

As it should be, it is also a war against its economic, social, and political root causes… a fight towards assuring human security. And if to conduct it well, a great deal of knowledge, study and meditation is necessary. Why? Because securing peace is not an easy task. The challenges may take more than what the contemporary definition of military professionalism only describe… of being assigned to distant posts… of going without sleep or food… It is an evolved challenge that should prompt the military organization to elevate professionalism into a pertinent and relevant level – of being able to understand issues… of being able to bridge individual, group, and larger social interest… of being able to link needs and efforts…of being able to help empower people, in the light of real community development and economic sustainability - the true developmental paradigm.

All these enhancement should take form from the strategic to the tactical level. “But concerning ourselves to the developmental context of this nation’s security problem is over-stretching the organization?” No, over stretching only happens when a person tries to extend himself, by and only within his recognized means, and without practical and sensible efforts of using other relevant recourse, or other people, to be able to enhance reach and grasp.

That is why we have to enhance soldiers’ social and developmental capacities and competencies. “But still it is overburdening the organization…” Technically yes. But overburdening presupposes the absence of strength to bear increased weight. That is why we have to strengthen our organization by developing our soldiers’ and leaders’ capacities and competencies in terms of the actual society needs. “But this will be very hard…” Oh yes! In fact it is the hard truth behind the responsibility we have sworn as defenders of the nation; guardians of democracy; and servant of the people. “But don’t you think it is already becoming messianic?” No. Messianism, as it is understood contemporarily, has the dubious strategic intent of taking over total political control with the ends of instilling order through economic and social orchestration. It basically disempowers existing legitimate authority and social organizations from performing constitutionally mandated functions and democratically assured expression.

The basic foundation of enhancing cognitive capacities and enriching developmental competencies is the indispensable requisite of establishing comprehensive understanding by, supposedly all society organizations - of other agencies’ and sectors’ strengths and weaknesses, and establish a common developmental plane wherein which complementing efforts that should address security problem’s root causes could convergently take place.

It is along these lines that soldiers get to learn things such as social empowerment; collaboration;
linkaging; community sense of ownership of projects; area assessments; social marketing; and those that would serve as building blocks towards understanding issues of shared responsibility. In other words, the ends will be empowering social organizations towards realizing their roles and needed contribution in the total society efforts of attaining peace and economic stability. As such, it is not messianic.

A more credible concern or apprehension in the proposed strategic thrust of enhancing cognitive social capacity and developmental competency or “re-preparation” would be the consequence of knowledge and understanding. The risks concerns brought about by consequential and incidental knowledge in the process of understanding a developmental paradigm. Simply put - the apprehension by leaders that idealistic minds might realize the un-ideal reality of the actual situation.

One may ask “With the hard realities of the present social and political conditions, wouldn’t consequential knowledge in the process of understanding developmental paradigm may constitute uncontrolled awakening and lead to possible dangers of adventurism by young idealistic minds?”.

First and foremost, whether we like it or not, soldiers are already exposed and have long been awakened to the socio-political hard realities of their own society. This is so because their actual operational environment is nowhere but the society itself. Secondly, it is from where we soldiers came from and will be during off duties. And as to venturing on developmental premise which is not an area of expertise – the truth is soldiers have already been pushed in that premise and have long been performing developmental tasks despite without comprehensive preparation and understanding of the real developmental paradigm. Thus, most often than not, efforts such as ALPS, ACCORD, and SOT failed and appreciation of CMO derailed. Hence with efforts seemingly failing to conclusively attain victory; aggravated by constantly disturbing socio-political and economic hard realities of society of which soldiers are not made to comprehensively understand; and the fact that they are still yet overzealous of change and hopes for better future for the country, they resort to what we simply call “adventurism”. Unless soldiers see promising alternative and see through “real development” a light at the end of the tunnel, they will have nothing other than desperation and using force to effect instant changes, both within the organization and the general society as a whole.

The basic leadership concern as to risks in consequential knowledge should not be the ability of blinding subordinates from areas we do not wish them to learn or realize. This would rather be more risky because in the present social and political conditions, pressures that may push our soldiers to step on areas beyond their limits will always be there. And already in many instances, soldiers have crossed that limits. It is rather the necessity of making them understand these areas and the interplaying sectors and organizations not traditionally being understood that they may realize the importance of complementing efforts on issues of shared responsibility. Similarly, it is the necessities of making them understand the fact that public policies are not made by saints but by a political process that is still far from perfect. By such way, they may realize responsibility over assuring such process to take place and not do things that may derail it.

It is likewise in the above premise of understanding that soldiers could find opportunities to sought help and enrichment of own weaknesses - and of course the understanding of the total and real situation wherein which soldiers and leaders could comprehensively gauge all the possible consequences of their actions. In this way, limits and measures are established through the culture of learning rather than directed and out-rightly drawn with prohibitions. In other words, a whole plane is explained before lines and delineations are made. Not that where confines and limits are already drawn with other areas already shaded. Besides, in the present global trends and developmental challenges, we may need others’ strengths to help us address our concerns. Concerns that are in the end might be of their concerns too, such as peace and security. All these - taken in a context of development - a context which basically defines the common spectrum or plane wherein which competency enhancements and understanding will be guided, directed, and controlled.

To where with CMO: The Analysis

To answer the question of where our CMO would go and how it should be, with the present operational conditions and possible future campaign emphasis considered, goes beyond understanding its definition and rationalizing objectives. Foremost in our minds should be - why CMO, and what makes-up its present set-up in terms of context and depths, and those that would later describe its capabilities to address the present and future challenge.
First of all, we must come to terms on how CMO came to being; understand what it is actually; and, no matter how bitterly, accept the fact on how we and our traditionalist thinking and reactionary tendencies have muddled and reduced it into a simple structure and a facelift support to combat operations – an office that leaders fill in with those they see as “lesser types” or those with “lesser chances”.

“Form follows Function…Structure support Strategy…”

CMO, in the contemporary military consideration, has become more of a strategy to win rather than just the simple recourse it was to contain affected non-combatant populace in the arena of previous world wars. In other words, it has become a military approach with a “social touch” conceptualized by the military organization upon realizing that traditional combat approach alone could not win its wars. It has gained relative emphasis as it was to be a key component strategy of an operational concept we later describe as “TRIAD”. As TRIAD later gave birth to SOT, and that when SOT was already delivering blinding figures of “successes”, the sense of all these things being a strategy have slowly become forgotten.

A basic management theory in OD (Organizational Development) states that form should follow function and that structure should support strategy.

In other words, never should a unit be formed before one thinks of its function. But if functions evolve or new ones are derived - which they should for the unit to catch up with the emerging or evolving challenges, form must be adjusted also. Similarly, a structure should not be built before a strategy to win is to be ascribed. And if new strategy is derived as dictated by the ever changing demands and circumstances of an organization’s environment, changes to the existing structure should likewise be adopted.

Let us be reminded that any organization that is not flexible enough to change is doomed to crumble. And if we are to mean real changes to structure, we will mean changes to the structure’s form; systems; processes; culture; skills and competencies; training, employment and deployment practices; etc., to be able to support the weight and demands of that new strategy, and in order to survive and win.

If by chance the CMO approach and the SOT to be given more emphasis in order for us to win our campaigns, and other developmental concepts have to be adopted later, be it by realization or directed later by a new national strategy, then by all means let us make changes to our structure.

It’s like Mercury Drug store now selling garments and detergent bars to shoe polish, insecticides and cosmetics. Why? Because they had to survive the market competition. The act of evolving from a purely drug retailing company to a grocery store was a strategy of keeping up with the radical trends and evolving demands and needs of its competitive environment.

The specifics of it revolves around the emerged trend of costumer-oriented thrusts and tactics. Its also like Gardenia Bread producing not only considering mass or volume of loaf breads per day but by what specific type of bread that fits lifestyle of its segmented market e.g., Wheat Bread and 5-Grain Loafs for fitness enthusiasts, the Calcium Bread for women, and of course the white bread or better known as “tasty” for the general consumers. Similarly like PLDT from purely telephone communication to internet and other services.

“…Change causes Conflicts”

All these versatile and successful companies, leading and stable names as they are, adopted quite a wild and risky strategy in order to survive and win their markets. But all these they did not without comprehensive preparations and not without pains and conflicts brought about by their initiated changes. PLDT did not go into internet services without structural capacity and personnel competency enhancement preparation, as well as thoroughly understanding internet services. Mercury Drug Company did not go into variety selling without sales system restructuring and went through the burdens and hassles of thoroughly understanding the “one-stop-shop” industry. They also do have traditionalists in their top brass and ranks so they must have gone through conflicts over proposed reforms and changes.

The military organization on the other hand, did see these external shifts coming, only that it failed to understand what it was really that was coming. Despite such, it went into operational adjustments through time. Hence the CMO, ALPS, ACCORD, SOT, etc., and then made the lounges, the punches and the jobs and started counting ‘figures for success’. Later it realized it cannot sustain its new approach. Burnt out, it went back to its corner and started complaining why people are not cheering, and yes… why people are not doing their part. First of all, it failed to consider comprehensive retooling that should prepare the whole of the organization towards the CMO strategy. It went into something developmental but without really understanding the paradigm. It somehow started recognizing developmental terms such as collaboration, linkaging, and community organizing but, unfortunately, non-traditional but very relevant socio-political and economic subjects were never much considered and appreciated, and training and education has never relevantly changed. Young captains, trained to effectively repulse a theoretic ‘Calabanian Invaders’, were hauled back to the open and expected to converge appropriately with other sectors, attend PPOC meetings and secure SK elections and processes and issues that they never really were made to understand. And where was the CMO? Oh yes! It is but a separate and a specialized training for those who cares about it.

It will not be surprising if CMO’s sub-strategies, operational concepts, and activities such as ACCORD, ALPS, Feeding Programs, Social Involvement, Community Organizing, etc., will not even merit total organizational appreciation - More so with the organization trying to win peace and stability conducive to economic development. It will not be surprising also that military officers and soldiers will soon get confused as ever and, again, display an evasive and defeatist attitude of blaming other agencies and sectors for not doing their part.

Perhaps until leaders finally listen, and that CMO finally has the right developmental depths, captured in our doctrines and ascribed in our actions; and that our operators starting to muster strongest convictions to make the soonest difference through it, efforts may never matter to passive and tired sectors or to hungry and angry masses. CMO on the other hand may never gain organizational-wide appreciation, and of course by the traditional military minds that we just might seek to transform.
　
　
　

War Stories: Close Quarter Battle in Sorsogon

2010-11-15T14:02:00.006+08:00

by MAJOR HAROLD M CABUNOC (INF) PA

Introduction

October 20, 2010 is an unforgettable day for 1st Lieutenant Sandy Sereno. It was the day that he survived another brush with death in the frontlines while fighting with the enemies of the state.

He was doing his routine administrative functions as the Commanding Officer of Bravo Company of the 49th Infantry Battalion in the afternoon on October 19 (Tue) when he received a text message about the presence of NPA bandits in a village within his company’s jurisdiction.

“Five rebels are currently in our village to collect ‘revolutionary taxes’ from us,” says the civilian tipster. Sereno also learned that the bandits were planning to stay longer in the village when the tipster added that, “The NPA rebels have told us that they will be staying overnight as they are also doing some dialogues regarding the upcoming barangay elections”.

He felt excited by the news. “I hope this is not one of the dis-information campaign by the bandits,” he told himself.

Sorsogon veteran

He is no stranger to this province after scouring all corners of the province for the past six years. He first set foot in Sorsogon in 2005 as a young Platoon Leader of the 2nd Infantry Battalion based in Casiguran town. Knowledge about the terrain and its people is his great advantage.

He has just returned from his security patrols a day before but he is too eager to respond to the information provided by his civilian friends. “I would like to let them feel that we are taking actions to help them get rid of these extortionists among the CPP-NPA-NDF” Sereno said.

He summoned his most reliable Platoon Sergeant (PSG) to give his Warning Order. “Let’s prepare for a two-day combat patrol,” said Sereno, after narrating the information that he received to his PSG. “The enemy is planning to stay in a house in the outskirts of Sta Lourdes village. Our informant is keeping an eye on them,” added Sereno.

As he studied the map of Barcelona town, he was trying to picture out the situation in the ground. He had been to the different villages in this town. He has studied the terrain and he has also known the ‘poste’ (lookouts) of the bandit group.

“Even without a map and compass, I and my soldiers can navigate this area even in total darkness because we know every trail that criss-crosses the villages” he proudly said.

As Sereno prepared his mission-essential equipment, he can’t help but recall his first encounter with the NPA bandits in his area of responsibility.

I was saddened upon knowing that I was fighting a minor during that armed encounter in May 2005 which resulted to the death of a young NPA rebel in Gubat town.

“He was a 17-year old lad from Tabi village of Gubat town. He was an aggressive fighter who did not even care to duck for cover during the heavy exchange of gunfires. He was killed by my soldiers who outflanked him, and we also seized his M16A1 Rifle,” narrates Sereno in between sighs.

Through that experience, he came to realize that the out-of-school youths are easy targets to the intensified recruitment activities of the communist rebels.

It gave him more motivation to intensify his efforts to conduct community-based operations that aim to educate the people about the evils of communism. He also became more dedicated in his effort to help implement the development projects of the government which give the people more income opportunities.

He was in deep thoughts when he heard the familiar beeping sound of his Nokia cellphone. “Sir, the 3 bandits are now staying in the house of Manuel Enano,” said the informant. “There are only three houses in tha part of the village and behind his house, you can find a ‘tapahan’ (copra drying facility),” the tipster added.

The recent road-side bombings perpetrated by the bandit group a week prior to the barangay and SK elections were enough motivation for Sereno to intensify his patrols to flush the rebels out of the villages.

At around 6:00pm, he organized a squad of soldiers that he wanted to carry out the mission.
He decided to personally lead this delicate mission. He did not want to give an inch to the enemy. For him, it is also an opportunity to showcase his warrior spirit as an Army soldier.

A native of Cebu City, 1st Lieutenant Sandy Sereno is the typical adventurous man from the province. Having Lapu-lapu as one of his revered warriors, Sereno, at the age of 25, opted to be one of the men in uniform by joining the Officer Preparatory Course in 2004.

Knowing that the rebels are staying in an innocent civilian’s house, he carefully briefed his soldiers about their actions in the objective. “Don’t shoot at unarmed people and please, don’t fire at the house itself to avoid collateral damage,” came his stern warning.

He also reminded the soldiers to watch each other carefully. “I want everyone to go back home safe. Let us do some attack drills, reviewing the squad TTPs (techniques, tactics and procedures),” Sereno said during his mission briefing.

To show the example, Sereno personally led the squad attack practice by his soldiers. They reviewed the movement formation and techniques specifically tailored to night patrols during which the unit approaches the ‘objective’ under the cover of darkness.

With limited night observation devices (NODs), Sereno reviewed the soldiers on ‘natural observation’ using the ‘off-center’ vision technique. He also tapped a militiaman (CAFGU) who is a resident of Sta Lourdes village, to guide the troops through the maze of enemy ‘poste’ around the village.

After the their 30-minute drills, Sereno and his men rested for the night. He intended to depart from the assembly area (AA) at around 3:00am the next day (October 20).

Actions in the objective

At 3:00am (October 20), Sereno and his 8 soldiers were already in full battle gear. “Do the final inspection of your gear and equipment,” he told his sub-team leaders, Pfc Cagatin and Pfc Tano.
Moments later, they gathered in silence as they said their prayers as part of their standard operating procedure (SOP). “God is our best ‘force protection’,” said Sereno.

As planned, the Sereno and his men were transported to the designated line of departure (LD)
about 3kms away from the objective. As they traversed the narrow and rough road in the village, he kept on praying that no roadside bomb will be detonated.

Thirty minutes later, the KM 450 truck that carried them stopped and turned-off the lights. “Sir, we are already in our LD/LC,” says the driver, prompting him and his men to hurriedly disembark.

As they gathered in their initial rally point, all of them paused for their SLLS procedure (stop, look, listen, smell) to detect any enemy presence. It was also an opportunity for them to do the ‘dark adaptation’ procedures because not everyone was using NODs.

Walking stealthily along a faded trail, Sereno and his men inch their way towards the house of Enano where the bandits have taken shelter for the night. Checking his watch, it was almost 5:00am when they arrived at their designated objective rally point (ORP).

Looking around, there were occasional lightning flashes accompanied by loud thunder. Dark clouds were forming in the sky above. Though it was a cold morning, he was perspiring after negotiating the difficult terrain along the way. He was thankful that he has consistently implemented a physical training (PT) program in his company.

Aware that the enemy location was already nearby, he led a 5-man recon team to spot for the house described by the informant. Following the river bank for easy directions, he and his men spotted the house at around 5:30am.

By that time, some of the residents in the other houses were already awake. Roosters were already sounding their usual ‘alarm’ about the coming of the new day. Sereno was thankful that there were no dogs that may compromise their presence.

Seeing the ‘tapahan’ at the back of one house, he was certain that he was within 100m from the location of the still-sleeping bandits. He decided to go back to the ORP to deliver his fragmentation order (FRAG-O).

“Let us divide into two groups to cover both sides of the house,” he told his men. I will go with Alpha Team which will position near the ‘tapahan’ which is the most probable location of the bandits,” he said.

Recalling that the objective is a civilian house, he reminded his troops about fire discipline. “No firing at the house except when extremely necessary and only if aimed directly at the bandit,” he said.

Moments later, he found himself performing the ‘snake-crawl’ with his soldiers as they gradually positioned themselves towards their respective assault lines. “That was like my SROC (Scout Ranger Orientation Course) training during which we were performing this movement under pressure from our AI’s (assistant instructors). Now, this is real-life and we have to do it to survive,” he told himself, after being reminded of his rigid combat training under the tutelage of the famed Scout Rangers in Bulacan.

About 20 meters away from the “tapahan”, he could hear muffled voices. “Shhhhhhhh,” he signalled to his soldiers showing his hand signals. They all took an aim at the direction of the “tapahan”.

All of the sudden, a man rose to his feet, raised his hands to yawn as if greeting the morning. The man has a Cal .45 pistol tucked in his waist and he was in the act of adjusting his gun’s position. “Positive, eyes on,” came his order. As the Patrol Leader, he was to call the shots. He was supposed to be the one to fire the first bullet.

He can feel the heavy beating of his heart. He can feel the usual adrenaline rush when exposed to real-life danger. “These are the bandits who bombed and hurt my soldiers,” he commented to Pfc Tano who was behind him. “Let’s wait until we see the other two bandits who are reported to be with this guy.

All of the sudden, the bandit was heading towards their direction, holding his zipper. He was about to urinate beside the coconut tree where he was hiding. They only have some grasses that kept them from enemy observation.

Then, he suddenly heard, “Kalaban!”. The enemy spotted one of his men and drew his pistol to fire. In an instant, he fired his M4 carbine rifle. He aimed dead on. He fired two shots and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Assault”!.Together with the 5-man Alpha team, they rose and met the volley of fires from the enemies.

He can feel the bullets whizzing beside him but they all missed him and his soldiers. “Go, go, go!,” he commanded with his gun blazing as they pursued the other bandits who promptly scampered away.

“Cease firing!”, he ordered his assaulting elements. “Team Bravo, search!,” his voice crackled over the Harris portable tactial radio.

A bandit lay dead with his handgun beside the ‘tapahan’.

Sereno knew his bullet made a mark, causing the instantaneous death of the bandit. He felt sorry for him, but, he had to defend himself.

As Private First Class Cagatin chased the two wounded rebels who managed to escape, Sereno directed Alpha Team under Private First Class Tano to secure the house.

“To all occupants, please raise your hands, we will not harm you,” he negotiated with with people who were cowering in fear inside the house.

“Sir, please don’t shoot us, we are just ordinary civilians,” came the reply of a man whom he knew later as Manuel Enano, the patriarch of the family.

One by one, the occupants of the house came out, trembling in fear. Sereno could not contain his happiness upon seeing that one was hit by the ricocheting bullets.

“Sir, we are just force to let them stay. I am helpless against these armed bandits who approached me yesterday,” said Enano who claimed to be a barangay tanod (village watchman).

As his men searched the house, they found an M653 Rifle in the kitchen. Some subversive documents were also found contained in the combat packs owned by the fleeing bandits.

Troop reinforcements from the local police had also identified the fallen bandit as Eleuterio Mangampo, the Front Secretary of the CPP-NPA-NDF rebels operating in Sorsogon Province.

The death of Mangampo dealt a big blow on the NPA bandits in Sorsogon province. He was one of the few experienced ranking leaders remaining in the CNN’s (CPP-NPA-NDF) ranks.

Sereno was proud for his feat. He earned accolades for his heroic actions and he is also recommended to receive a combat medal for his acts of bravery and superb leadership during an encounter with the enemy.

For Sereno, his adventures in Sorsogon are far from over.

1LT SERENO briefing his troops on the operations they are about to embark on.

Army’s Medical Mission Benefits 1,500 People in CamSur

2010-11-13T11:22:00.004+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, PILI, Camarines Sur – More than a thousand people received health care services from a medical and dental mission participated by the Army in Bicol, a military official said here today.

Captain Raul Sasuca, the Medical Officer of the 9th Infantry Division said that a total of 1,555 residents availed of the free medical and dental services during the medical and dental mission participated by the Philippine Army in the past two days (10-11 November) held in SM City Naga City.

Sasuca said that his team has also visited various communities in Camsur to provide medical and medical assistance to poor people.

“We are very glad to be part of this medical mission because this is part of the 9th ID’s community service here in the Bicol Region. We have communities in far-flung areas which do not have ready access to health facilities and through this medical mission they can avail of free medical checkup and medicines which many of them cannot afford,” said Sasuca.

Ms Tina Sumayao, the Public Relations Officer of the SM City Naga, said that the project was part of the corporate social responsibility of the SM Foundation Inc.

“Aware about the health needs of the poor people in the countryside, we coordinated with various agencies and NGOs to make this project a reality,” Sumayao said.

The other partners during the medical mission include the Philippine National Red Cross, Provincial Health Office of Camarines Sur, Bicol Medical Center, DSWD Naga City and the 9th ID Press Corps.

Homemade bomb explosion kills 3 in Masbate

2010-11-09T00:11:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explodes in a house in Masbate over the weekend killing three (3) people, a military official said today.
　　　　　　　　
LtCol Anthony Purugganan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion said that the explosion was caused when small scale miner named Regie Refil accidentally ignited the IED inside his house in Panique Village, Aroroy Town at 3pm last Saturday, Nov 6, 2010.

The blast instantly killed Refil and his brother Willy. Another man identified as Raymund Relos, was evacuated to a hospital but expired along the way. Police and Army investigators who rushed to the scene said that the trio were fabricating the explosive for their illegal gold panning activity.
　　　　　　
Major General Ruperto R Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed 9th IB to closely monitor the illegal use of explosives in the gold mines of Aroroy Town and apprehend the violators in coordination with the police.

Bicolanos Send Reinforcement To Flood Victims In Isabela province

2010-11-09T00:08:00.001+08:00

LEGASPI CITY, Albay – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council of Albay sends a contingent to heavily-flooded Isabela province in its effort to provide assistance to the growing number of typhoon victims in the said place, a military official said here today.

Colonel Arthur Ang, Commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, said that he sent 12 soldiers and two M35 trucks to be part of Albay government’s disaster response operations in Isabela province.

“I readily provided my disaster response team as part of the contingent of rescuers from Albay. My unit is not short of volunteers who would like to help our brothers in Isabela province,” said Ang.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, who also chairs the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, personally attended the send-off ceremony held in the provincial capitol in Legaspi City at around 10:30pm last night, November 7, 2010.

Mr Cedric Daep, the head of APSEMO said that Governor Salceda organized this disaster risk reduction mission.

“He wants to help our ‘kababayans’ in Isabela who are now suffering due to heavily flooding. The people in Albay are very grateful that we had been spared from major natural calamities this year,” said Daep.

In anticipation to the health problems such as waterborne diseases which are usually encountered during typhoons and flooding, a water purifier and three ambulances with complete medical facilities and personnel were brought by the contingent.

Daep said that the water purifier, a donation from the Spanish government to Albay, can filter 32,000 liters of drinking water per hour. This facility can serve thousands of people who might not have access to safe-drinking water as of this time.

In the next two weeks, the contingent of rescuers are expected to be housed in a large tent which they have brought with them, in a strategic location in the flooded areas to provide help to a maximum number of people.

Daep said that the contingent was self-sustaining with complete facilities and food provisions. “We will go there to help and we have ensured that our personnel are well-provided with all the things that they need to perform their noble mission,” Daep added.

The 70-man contingent was composed of health workers from the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development; the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO); rescue personnel from the AFP’s three branches of service (PA, PAF, PN) and the PNP.

One NPA Rebel Killed, One Soldier Hurt as Fresh Fighting Erupts in Masbate

2010-11-05T13:08:00.002+08:00

WOUNDED WARRIOR. 1st Lieutenant Michael Morales (2nd from left), is assisted by medical personnel of the 9th Infantry Division as upon his arrival in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur. Morales sustained gunshot wounds in his head and left arm during an encounter with 20 heavily armed NPA bandits in a hinterland village of Pina in San Jacinto town, Masbate. (Photo by Pfc Marlon San Esteban PA)

MILAGROS, Masbate – A NPA bandit lay dead and one military officer was wounded in a fresh fighting in Masbate island, a military official said here today.

LtCol Anthony Purugganan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over the whole Masbate Province, said that he sent a platoon of soldiers led by 1st Lieutenant Michael Morales supported by 10-man police contingent led by Police Inspector Jan King Calipay after receiving a ‘hot’ information regarding the presence of 20 heavily-armed bandits in Sitio Hanlas, Pina village in the town of San Jacinto.

“My soldiers were approaching the bandits’ position at around 6:00am when the heavy exchange of fires erupted. An unidentified NPA rebel was killed while several others were wounded after the 10-minute clash,” said Purugganan.

Morales sustained gunshot head in his head and left arm. He was airlifted to a hospital in Naga City for treatment.

Pursuit operations is still underway as soldiers engaged the rebels in a running gun battle as of 7:00am. Government troops are following the blood trails along the bandits’ route of withdrawal.

Purugganan reported that his troops confiscated a Cal 5.56mm M653 Rifle (Baby Armalite) and a Cal .45 M1911A1 Pistol from the bandits. Several rounds of ammunitions for M16 rifle and some subversive documents were also accounted by the soldiers.

The government forces in Masbate have intensified its campaign against various armed groups which are blamed for the spate of killings in the island province.

Yesterday (November 4), at 12:00nn, combined elements of AFP and PNP personnel belonging to the Special Task Force Masbate under SSupt Henry Raniola confiscated 4 highpowered firearms in a raid against suspected ‘private armies’ in Cabitan village in Mandaon town.

Seized during the raid were one 12-gauge shotgun, a Cal 5.56mm M16 Rifle, an M1 Garand Rifle and 1 Cal .30 M1 Carbine Rifle. The suspected leader of the group, Mr Revis Lapida, was arrested and is now facing raps for illegal possession of firearms.

A manhunt operation is also conducted to apprehend two other companions of Lapida whom policemen identified as husband and wife named Roy and Grace Colimlim.

The couple evaded arrest but 3 firearms were confiscated inside their house during the raid.
Government troops have scored at least 14 highpowered firearms and 12 suspected private armed goons in Masbate since the activation of the Joint Coordinating Center for Private Armies in August 2010.

Care For The Departed

2010-10-31T10:36:00.000+08:00

CARE FOR THE DEPARTED. A father and his son took time to retouch the tomb marker of a loved one in a public cemetery in Naga City at around 11:00am today (October 31). Thousands of people are expected to flock this place in commemoration of the All Souls Day on November 2, 2010. (Photo by HAROLD M CABUNOC)

901st Brigade Leads the Reshuffle of Army Commanders in the Bicol Region

2010-10-30T15:10:00.002+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – The Army’s 901st Brigade takes the lead in the major revamp of unit commanders in the Bicol Region, a military official said.

LtCol Julian C Pacatan Jr, the Personnel Officer of the 9th Infantry Division said that four subordinate units will be affected in the revamp and the 901st Brigade was the first unit to have a new commander. He made the statement during the formal turn-over of command ceremony for the 901st Brigade held in Daraga town in Albay yesterday, Friday.

“The installation of new commanders is long overdue because these commanders have already served 1-2 years in their respective units. The designation of new set of commanders in a prescribed period ensures that correct military career pattern is followed,” explains Pacatan.

“In the next few days, there will be turn-over of command ceremonies for unit commanders of the 9th Infantry Battalion in Masbate, the 22nd Infantry Battalion which administers the paramilitary forces (CAFGU) and the 65th Infantry Battalion which is currently deployed in Lanao del Sur.

In a simple ceremony presided by Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, Brigadier General Marlou Salazar relinquished the command of the 901st Brigade to Colonel Arthur Ang.

In his speech, Pabustan credited Salazar for the neutralization of prominent communist terrorist personalities and the implementation of various peace and development programs in the provinces of Albay and Catanduanes.

“I would like to thank General Salazar for his sustained efforts in establishing peace and security in his area of responsibility. The semblance of ‘no conflict’ is directly attributed to the rising economic growth of this region,” said Pabustan.

Meanwhile, Pabustan also challenged Ang to maintain or surpass the vast accomplishments of Salazar who is known for promoting the non-traditional roles of the Philippine Army in its drive to solve the communist insurgency problem.

A well-respected combat officer, Ang is also adept in military diplomacy and international politics having been designated as the military attaché to Beijing from 2005-2008.

Fresh from his stint as 9th ID’s Chief of Staff, Ang is well-versed about 9th ID’s thrusts and programs which will contribute towards the accomplishment of the Army’s mission.

Masbate Politician Shot Dead in an Ambush

2010-10-28T11:05:00.001+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – A Masbate politician is the latest victim of the violence which marred the conduct of barangay and SK elections in the Bicol region, a military official said.

First Lieutenant Ariel Anuddin, Commander of the 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company said that town councilor Ronald Ariola was shot dead by two heavily-armed assailants while on his way back to Balud town from Mapili village at around 4:45pm yesterday, Tuesday.

“Kagawad Ronald Ariola was travelling on foot together with the election tellers and poll watchers who were transporting the ballot boxes back to Balud town when two armed men with M16 Rifles suddenly blocked his way and separated him from the group. He was peppered with bullets which caused his instantaneous death,” narrated Annudin through phone call to Major Harold Cabunoc, the 9th Division Spokesperson.

Ariola’s companions scampered to different directions, carrying with them the ballot boxes. They managed to regroup and reached Balud town at around 7:00pm to report the incident to government authorities.

LtCol Anthony Purugganan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion, directed the 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company led by 1st Lieutenant Anuddin to retrieve the cadaver of the victim which was left unattended in the crime scene somewhere in Sitio Palanas in Mapili village.

Together with Balud PNP police force led by Police Inspector Orlando Mesa, the cadaver was finally retrieved at around 12:30am today.

The victim’s body which bore multiple gunshot wounds was brought to Balud town police station for autopsy.

A thorough investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators of this latest violence in Masbate’s polls.

On October 25, three people lay dead and one wounded in another attack in Cawayan town which was also blamed to the political opponents of the victims.

Government forces in Masbate are placed on heightened alert after the elections are reset to this day in Uson town due to ‘non-arrival’ of the ballot boxes in 13 villages of this town.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed the realignment of some Army forces in the province to ensure the safe conduct of the delayed polls in Uson town.

3 Dead, 1 Wounded in Masbate’s Delayed Polls

2010-10-26T11:02:00.001+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Three people lay dead and one was injured in the first recorded poll-related violent incident in the Bicol region.

Quoting the report from Senior Police Officer 1 Samuel Barredo of Cawayan town in Masbate, Major Harold Cabunoc, Spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division said that the political supporters of incumbent Gilotong village chief Jeffrey Malagad were ambushed at around 5:00pm yesterday (October 25).

“The victims were casually walking in that part of Gilotong village which is a known bailiwick of Malagad’s political opponent, Gelyn Bacolod. Suddenly, bursts of gunfire and a commotion were heard as the victims passed by a group of Bacolod’s supporters,”said Barredo.

Barredo identified the victims as Bienvenido Malagad and Tranquilin Malagad, siblings of Jeffrey who is seeking reelection in today’s delayed polls in Masbate.

Another relative, Jekyll Malagad, sustained gunshot wounds on his left knee and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, a certain Miguel Daligdig was also killed when one of the victims tried to fight back using a bladed weapon.

Daligdig sustained serious wounds after he was hacked by an unidentified companion of Malagad’s supporters.

Senior Superintendent Henry Ranola, Chief of Special Task Force Masbate, has immediately sent additional policemen to reinforce the police force guarding the polls in the island village of Gilotong.

As of this time, the identities of the assailants could not be identified due to the absence of credible witnesses. Malagad’s supporters quickly blamed the killings to Bacolod’s group since the crime happened in “their area”.

The police is currently conducting a thorough investigation while ensuring the safe conduct of polls in the village.

The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections were generally peaceful in the whole of Bicol Region during yesterdays initial voting which was marred by delayed arrivals of election paraphernalia.

Masbate has started its polls today after the declaration of its postponement by the COMELEC due to the late arrival of the election paraphernalia.

At 7:00am today, two UH-1H helicopters were deployed to transport the ballot boxes to remote villages in Caramoan peninsula.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed the Army forces to closely monitor the polls and continue its security patrols to preempt more atrocities.

Barangay Elections Stalled in 6 Bicol Provinces

2010-10-25T13:14:00.002+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – The barangay elections in the Bicol Region’s six provinces are delayed due to the late arrival of ballot boxes, a military official said today.

In Catanduanes, LtCol Danilo Aquino, Commander of the 83rd Infantry Battalion based in this province said that Atty Maria Aurea Bo-bunao declared that the elections will be held for two days starting today.

“Only the ballot boxes for the SK elections arrived completely at around 4:00pm and at least half of the ballot boxes for the barangay elections which arrived this morning. The truck which transported the other ballot boxes was delayed due to mechanical problems and couldn’t make it to the Tabaco port in due time,”said Aquino.

“Due to the prevailing situation, the initial polls will be held in three towns today including Virac, San Miguel and Bato. The elections will be in full swing in the rest of the towns tomorrow,” added Aquino.

Military and police personnel have been deployed to their respective areas as part of their election duties. Aquino said that all of his security preparations are ‘already in place’.

In Albay province, 7 towns and the city of Legaspi will have their elections tomorrow, October 26.

LtCol John Oberio, Commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion based in Albay said that the election paraphernalia have not arrived in time, forcing the COMELEC to reschedule the elections in the towns of Camalig, Daraga, Bacacay, Guinobatan, Libon, Oas and Polangui.

There are no reported election-related violent incidents in Albay Province.

In Sorsogon, only 7 towns have started its voting while the distribution of election paraphernalia is still ongoing in the rest of the towns.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Juban town, said that COMELEC officers have declared the postponement of elections in Donsol town.

There are no reported ERVIs in the province which was the rocked by the atrocities by the NPA bandits last week. There were also reported clashes in the last few days, the latest of which resulted to the death of Eleuterio Mangampo a.k.a. Ka Junjun, the most ranking bandit leader in the province.

In Camarines Sur, four municipalities were affected by the ‘partial postponement’ of the elections due to delayed delivery of election paraphernalia.

Colonel Cirilo Teodoro Torralba, Commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade which has jurisdiction over Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte said that elections are postponed to October 26 in the towns of Garchitorena, Pasacao, Tinambac, Caramoan and Calabanga.

Though delayed for at least 3-4hrs, elections in other towns in Camsur pushed through. In Pili town, ballot boxes arrived at around 7:00am and the distribution of election paraphernalia to various polling centers started at around 8:00am.

Torralba also said that elections have started in most of the towns despite of the delay of the arrival of election paraphernalia. Quoting the report from duty election officers, casting of votes has started in the towns of Jose Panganiban, San Vicente,, Daet and Vinzons.

Some of the election paraphernalia ‘are still on their way’ to the municipalities of Capalonga, Labo and Sta Elena.

In Masbate Province, polling is postponed to October 26 according to LtCol Anthony Purugganan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion based in Milagros town.

Purugganan said that the ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia have just arrived at around 10:00am.

Purugganan also reported that soldiers and policemen had confiscated two firearms from suspected private armed groups (PAGs) in a checkpoint operation in Aroroy town at 9:00pm last night.

He said that a platoon of his unit led by 1st Lieutenant Welbin Beda, supported by police personnel from Aroroy town, seized a Cal 7.62mm M14 Rifle and a Cal 9mm Ingram Submachinegun from the suspects who immediately fled upon seeing the soldiers .

The Special Task Force Masbate has confiscated a total of 10 high-powered firearms since its reactivation last month.

A man was also seriously injured in a stabbing incident in Puro village of the same town at around 10:00pm.

Purugganan said that the victim, Manuel Manlapas,35, was attacked by Ramil Catanares, 35, a village watchman. Personal grudge was eyed as the motive of the attack.

Catanares was collared by responding policemen and detained at the police station in Aroroy town. The victim is currently recuperating in a local hospital and was said to be in stable condition.

Meanwhile, a passenger bus with license plate number HVP 508 carrying at least 50 passengers bound for Tacloban City went into flames as it cruised Quirino Highway in Ragay town, Camarines Sur at around 6:00pm last night, October 24.

The driver of the bus claimed that the faulty electrical wiring had caused the burning accident.

No one was injured among the passengers, most of whom were trying to reach their respective hometown to vote for today’s elections.

The overall security situation in the Bicol Region is calm and peaceful. There are no recorded election-related violent incidents as of this time. This is attributed to the intensified security patrols conducted by both Army and PNP forces.

Fresh Fighting Left One NPA Dead in Sorsogon

2010-10-20T09:09:00.004+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camsur – One bandit lay dead and one firearm was seized in the fresh fighting between government forces and the NPA terrorist rebels in Sorsogon’s election hotspots, a military official said today.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon, said that fresh fighting occurred in Sta Lourdes village of Barcelona town at 6:30am yesterday, October 20 (Wednesday).

1st Lieutenant Sandro Sereno, the Commanding Officer who led the security operations in the area, said that he received a text message about the presence of the bandits in the village last night.

He immediately proceeded to the area to check on the report and act on the complaint of the concerned resident that they were forced to vote for the rebels’ favored candidates.

“Upon seeing the rebel’s location inside the house, we patiently waited for them to come out to arrest the five of them. However, they immediately fired their guns at us upon seeing that we are were approaching them,” said Sereno.

Sereno said that one rebel lay dead clutching his Cal 5.56mm M653 “Baby Armalite” after the initial exchange of gunfire. The two others were also wounded but managed to escape by using the civilians as human shields.

The soldiers also seized a Cal .45 pistol, a MK2 Fragmentation Grenade, a rifle Grenade and a combat pack full of subversive documents and some campaign materials.

One child sustained minor bullet splinter wound and he was immediately treated by the Army medics. Sereno said that his wound was a like a minor scratch but they have ensured that proper medication was immediately given.

Enginco said that his troops are now pursuing the bandits following the trail of blood along their escape route. The dead rebel was fetched by an Army truck and brought to Barcelona town for identification and autopsy.

Army soldiers are in the hot trail for the bandits who are reported to be intensifying its election campaigning activities in Bicol’s election hotspots. There were reports that the rebels threatened some of the candidates and their supporters.

Last week, one bandit was collared by government troops after a gunfight with government troops in Magallanes town.

Army records show that Bicol Region has 70 villages placed as Category 1 and 241 villages as Category 2 of the COMELEC’s tally of Election Watchlist of Areas (EWAS) or “hotspots”.

Sorsogon has 61 villages as Category 2 ‘hotspots’ with Gubat town having the most number with 13 followed by Sorsogon City with 10 villages. Barcelona town has three villages listed as Category 2 EWAS including Sta Lourdes village.

The AFP and PNP earned accolades for their successful security operations during the May 2010 elections with the least number of election-related violent incidents (ERVIs) as compared to the 2004 and 2007 elections. The said national election was said to be the most peaceful in Bicol’s election history.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed all Army units in the Bicol Region to further intensify its security operations to sustain the gains made by the government.

Army Dragon Boat Team Rules International Competition in CamSur

2010-10-18T16:17:00.005+08:00

LORD OF THE WATERS. The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team led by Sgt Usman Anterola takes into position during the final heat of the International Dragonboat Competition held in CamSur Watersports Complex yesterday, October 17, 2010. Besting 62 other competing teams, Team Army bagged two championship trophies (250m and 400m events) and the $3,500.00 cash prize. (Photo by HAROLD M CABUNOC)

MATAGUMPAY NA NAIPANALO NG DRAGONBOAT TEAM NG PHILIPPINE ARMY ANG DALAWANG EVENTS SA GINANAP NA INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT COMPETITION KAHAPON SA CAMSUR WAKEBOARD COMPLEX CAMARINES SUR.

AYON KAY MAJOR HAROLD CABUNOC, TAGAPAGSALITA NG 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION NG PHILIPPINE ARMY NA SINAKSIHAN ANG NATURANG PATIMPALAK, TINALO NG ARMY TEAM ANG 62 NA MGA MAGAGALING NA KATUNGGALING MGA ROWING TEAMS NA KALAHOK SA NATURANG SPORTING EVENTS.

SA UMAGA PA LANG AY NAIPANALO NA NG ARMY TEAM ANG 400-METER EVENT NA KUNG SAAN AY NABULSA NILA ANG CASH PRIZE NA $2,000 AT CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY.

KINAHAPUNAN, NAIPANALO NAMAN NG ARMY TEAM ANG 250-METER EVENT AT NAIDAGDAG ANG CASH PRIZE NA $1,500 AT CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY.

NAGING MA-KONTROBERSIYA ANG LARO SA 250-METERS PAGKATAPOS NA BANGGAIN NG RCP ROWING TEAM ANG CROWD-FAVORITE NA ARMY TEAM SA FINALS DAKONG ALAS-SINGKO.

KAHIT NAPALIKO AT HUMINA NA ANG TAKBO NG ARMY TEAM AY NAGAWA NILANG IBUHOS ANG LAHAT NG LAKAS UPANG TALUNIN ANG UMUUSAD NANG MARINE-FLEET TEAM NA GUSTO RING MAKAMIT ANG CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY.

AYON KAY SGT USMAN ANTEROLA, ANG TEAM CAPTAIN NG ARMY DRAGON BOAT TEAM, SILA AY NANAGUMPAY DAHIL SA KANILANG DISIPLINA AT SA DEDIKASYON NG LAHAT NG KANILANG MIYEMBRO.

INIAALAY DIUMANO NILA ANG KANILANG KARANGALAN KAY LIEUTENANT GENERAL ARTURO ORTIZ ANG COMMANDING GENERAL PHILIPPINE ARMY AT SA BUONG PHILIPPINE ARMY NA KANILANG KINABIBILANGAN.

IPINAABOT DIN NI MAJOR GENERAL RUPERTO PABUSTAN, PINUNO NG 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION ANG KANYANG LUBOS NA KASIYAHAN SA KARANGALANG IBINIGAY SA PHILIPPINE ARMY.

LALONG NIRERESPETO AT KINILALA ANG KAKAIBANG KAKAYAHAN NG MGA SUNDALO DITO SA BIKOL REGION DAHIL SA IPINAKITANG KAGALINGAN NG ARMY DRAGON BOAT TEAM AYON KAY PABUSTAN.

Army Dragon Boat Team: Lord of the Waters

2010-10-18T14:34:00.004+08:00

Pray and Fight! The Philippine Army Dragon Boat Team led by Sgt Usman Anterola prays before going into action. The Army team dominated the International Dragonboat Competition held in CamSur Watersports Complex yesterday, October 17, 2010 by besting 62 other competing teams and bagged two championship trophies (250m and 400m events) plus $3,500.00 cash prize. (Video by Harold M. Cabunoc)

Two Cops Shot Dead in Masbate Ambush

2010-10-18T12:37:00.001+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Two policemen were shot and killed by undetermined armed men in an ambush in an election hotspot town of Masbate today, a military report said.

LtCol Anthony Purugganan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over Masbate Province said that the two policemen were on board a motorcycle when they were waylaid by unknown perpetrators numbering more or less 5 in Malamag village, Pio V Corpuz town at around 7:00am today.

P/Senior Superintendent Thomas Seminiano, Masbate Provincial Director identified the fatalities as PO3 Nonilon Agbones and SPO1 Nilo Abejuela, both members of the Pio V Corpuz town police force.

The two policemen were reporting for duty when they were waylaid by heavily-armed men. The bullet-riddled body of the victims were immediately brought to the local police station for autopsy.

Responding soldiers and policemen recovered spent casings for M16 and M14 rifles in the crime scene.

Seminiano said that he couldn’t immediately identify the perpetrators because the investigation is still ongoing. However, he doesn’t discount the possibility that the bandit terrorist group are behind the killings.

“The crime scene is a traditional NPA ambush site. One of our town police chief perished in that area when he was ambushed by NPA rebels sometime in 2003. The perpetrators seemed to have stayed for a while to spot for the victims as indicated by the food traces in their position,” said Seminiano who narrated the report through phone while making some dialogues in San Fernando town regarding the eradication of election related violence today.

The killing was the first recorded attack on government forces after the creation of the Joint Coordinating Center for Private Armies (JCCPA) which is tasked to dismantle the various private armed groups in the island province.

The JCCPA and the Special Task Force Masbate were credited for its recent arrest of at least 6 suspected PAGs members and the confiscation of 8 highpowered firearms last month.

A platoon of soldiers led by 1st Lieutenant Ronnie Garchitorena, together with elements from the Masbate PNP led by Police Inspector Moratala have conducted joint operations to hunt down the perpetrators.

The Economic Growth of Bicol is Attributed to the Successful Job of the AFP

2010-10-16T14:17:00.002+08:00

Governor Jose Ma "Joey" Salceda of Albay delivers his message during his visit to Camp Elias Angeles in Camarines Sur at 10:00am today. Salceda thanked the soldiers for their successful security operations which are attributed to the region's rising economic growth.

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili,Camarines Sur – A visiting Bicol executive says that the economic growth of the region is directly attributed to the successful security operations of the Philippine Army, during his visit here today.

Governor Jose Ma “Joey” Salceda of Albay was the guest of honor of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army which has jurisdiction of the whole Bicol Region.

Salceda cited that starting in 2009, Bicol is the fastest growing economy in the country with a rate of 8.2% growth as compared to the 1.1% growth of the whole country.

He cited that he expects that this year, Bicol’s economic growth will hit 12.4%. He said that there is nothing much that has changed that can be attributed to this positive growth except to the fact that the Philippine Army’s successful conduct of security operations.

“Let me emphasize that the absence of conflict and the semblance of peace and order is an economic factor with the highest economic returns,” said Salceda.

During his speech, Salceda commended the officers and men of the 9ID saying, “You’re doing so well in your job (in security operations) in Bicol because there is no major increase in resources and industries yet we are becoming the fastest growing economy due to the mere absence of conflict and other obstacles”.

The Philippine Army in the Bicol Region has recently earned accolades due to its successful neutralization of notorious NPA terrorists in a series of encounters in August and September this year.

Last month, the Regional Director of the CHR lauded the soldiers for their excellent human rights records citing their humane treatment of captive rebels during fierce firefights with the bandits.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has likewise expressed his profound gratitude to Salceda for his all-out support to the 9th ID especially during its Disaster Risk Reduction activities in Albay Province.

Armed Clashes Erupt in Sorsogon’s Election Hotspots

2010-10-15T09:20:00.001+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camsur – Fresh armed clashes erupt between government forces and the NPA terrorist rebels in Sorsogon’s election hotspots, a military official said today.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon said that fresh fighting occurred in Salvacion village, Magallanes town at 8:40am yesterday, October 14 (Thursday).

One NPA bandit, identified as Rex Lagorza, a resident of Juban town, was collared by his soldiers after the 5-minute firefight right in the middle of the village.

Lagorza sustained a minor gunshot wound on his forehead and was immediately treated by the Army medics. He was brought to Magallanes PNP to face criminal charges for illegal possession of firearms.

Enginco said that his troops had engaged the NPA rebels who were campaigning for their favored bets this coming barangay elections. Another fighting occurred in an upland village of Sorsogon City on October 13 (Wednesday).

Army soldiers have intensified its area security patrols as part of its tasking by the COMELEC in preparation to the upcoming local elections. Soldiers also support the manning of checkpoints which is primarily tasked to the PNP.

Army records show that Bicol Region has 70 villages placed as Category 1 and 241 villages as Category 2 of the COMELEC’s tally of election watchlist of areas (EWAS) or “hotspots”.

A Category 1 election ‘hotspot’ refers to areas where there are intense political rivalry and where armed groups supporting various politicians are present. Meanwhile, the presence or influence of the NPA terrorists in certain areas makes them (villages) as Category 2 election “hotspots”.

Masbate tops the list with 69 villages placed as Category 1 and 103 villages as Category 2 ‘hotspots’.

Sorsogon has 61 villages as Category 2 ‘hotspots’ with Gubat town having the most number with 13 followed by Sorsogon City with 10 villages.

The AFP and PNP earned accolades for their successful security operations during the May 2010 elections with the least number of election-related violent incidents (ERVIs) as compared to the 2004 and 2007 elections. The said national election was said to be the most peaceful in Bicol’s election history.

NPA Rebels Campaign for Their Local Bets in Sorsogon

2010-10-13T08:47:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camsur – NPA rebels have intensified their efforts to campaign for their favored candidates in the upcoming barangay elections, a military official said today.

LtCol Santiago Enginco, Commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon said that more or less 10 heavily armed communist bandits were reported by civilian residents as coercing them to vote for their favored local candidates during the barangay elections on October 25.

Responding for the request to arrest the rebels, Enginco sent a platoon of his soldiers to apprehend the rebels led by Andres Despi a.k.a. Tisoy who were to be roaming around Jamislagan village in Sorsogon City.

A 10-minute clash ensued at 3:20am today (Oct 13) when the rebels fired their weapons at the approaching soldiers before vanishing into the darkness.

No one was reported injured among the soldiers but there were bloodstains along the bandits’ route of withdrawal, indicating that they suffered some casualties.

Engino said that his troops have continuously conducted patrols following the series of ambuscades and harassments perpetrated by the bandits on Oct 11 (Monday).

The bandits have also intensified its attacks on civilians who are accused as military informants. A certain Domingo Floresca,55, of Porog village,Bulusan town was murdered by motorcycle-riding NPA terrorists outside his home at around 6:30pm (Oct 11).

A ‘guilty verdict’ document with the communist rebels’ official seal, was found near the body of the slain victim who was shot with a Cal .45 pistol resulting to his instantaneous death.

Floresca is the 40th victim of summary executions by the CPP-NPA-NDF in the Bicol Region this year after the killing of 3 innocent civilians in Daraga town of Albay in the same day at 2:00am.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed all Army forces in the Bicol region to intensify its security patrols in the remote villages where NPA bandits are constantly sighted.

Three Dead in Albay Massacre by Communist Rebels

2010-10-12T08:48:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camsur – Three members of a family were shot and killed by suspected communist rebels in Albay Province yesterday (October 11), a military official said today.

LtCol John Oberio, Commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over Albay Province, said that four NPA bandits barged in the house of Wenifredo Lotino, 45, a councilman of Nabasan village in Daraga town at around 2:00am.

Oberio disclosed that Lotino was accused by the NPA rebels as one of the military informants in the village.

“Riding two motorcycles, the rebels forcibly opened the door of Lotino’s house and shot the victims at close range with Cal .45 pistol. Only 6 bullets were fired by the assailants on the victims who were sleeping during the time of the incident,” said Oberio.

Oberio identified the two other dead as Lotino’s wife, Evelyn, 45, and a nephew named Anjo Martos,20. Lotino’s teenage daughter, Jenny, 19, was seriously injured but played dead as she witnessed the brutal killings.

Prior to the killings, the NPA rebels staged a simultaneous attack on the military detachments in three different towns of Oas, Camalig and Daraga in Albay at around 9:00pm. No one was reported injured in these NPA harassments.

The military detachment in San Ramon village in Daraga town repulsed the rebels who fired indiscriminately at the soldiers at around 8:55pm (Oct 10). Military authorities believed that the harassments were part of the diversionary tactics of the NPA rebels whose main target was the Lotino family.

The massacre of the Lotino family was the second recorded attack on civilians in the province of Albay this year.

On September 26, 2010, one employee of Sunwest Corporation was killed in a daylight robbery perpetrated by the communist rebels in Sinungtan village in Guinobatan town.

The NPA rebels have so far killed 38 people all over Bicol Region in Calendar Year 2010. The list of victims include 4 soldiers, 8 militiamen and 1 policeman.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has condemned the massacre of innocent civilians by the NPA bandits.

Philippine Army Deploys New Batch of Soldiers to Fight the Communist Insurgency in the Bicol Region

2010-10-08T15:53:00.000+08:00

Major General Hilario Atendido, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Education, J8, AFP addresses the crowd of soldiers during the graduation ceremony of the Candidate Soldier Course Class 03-10 on October 8, 2010. Three hundred forty five individuals took their oaths as the new soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Photo by Major Harold M Cabunoc)

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camsur – A new batch of soldiers will be deployed to help the government’s counterinsurgency campaign in the Bicol Region, a ranking military official said today.
　　　　　　　　
Major General Ruperto R Pabustan, Commander of the Army forces in the Bicol Region said 345 soldiers who have just hurdled the Army’s combat training will be distributed to the battalions to beef up the forces which are tasked to confront the communist insurgency.

Pabustan made the statement during the graduation ceremony for the new batch of soldiers held here at around 9:30am.

Pabustan said that the Army is now heavily engaged in the implementation of the peace and development programs which are designed to address the root causes of the insurgency problem.

“We are maximizing our efforts in helping the national government implement the development projects here in the region. These infrastructure projects can surely alleviate the economic hardships of our people especially those who are in remote areas where public services are limited,” said Pabustan.

Pabustan has also said that the new soldiers will augment the manning of COMELEC checkpoints in preparation for the upcoming barangay elections.

Soldiers and policemen are tapped to conduct checkpoint operations to control the carrying of firearms during the election period.

Government forces manning the checkpoints have been placed on heightened alert after the killing of a policemen in a daylight ambush staged by suspected NPA assailants in Naga City on October 5, 2010.

In Masbate Province, joint-operations by AFP and PNP personnel have netted 8 highpowered firearms and the arrest of 6 suspected members of the partisan armed groups.

Camsur Policeman Ambushed by Motorcycle Riding Gunmen

2010-10-05T12:48:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili,Camarines Sur – A policeman was shot and seriously wounded in a daylight ambush staged by motorcycle-riding gunmen today.

Onlookers who witnessed the shooting claimed that two gunmen were riding a motorcycle bearing license plate number SJ-1650 blocked the motorcycle of P02 Sonny Nopia along the busy street of Panganiban Drive in Naga City at around 8:00am.

Nopia was grimacing in pain due to three gunshots to his abdomen when he was rushed to the hospital a few hundred meters away from the crime scene. Attending doctors said that the victim is in “serious condition”.

Police and military checkpoints around Camarines Sur were immediately placed on high-alert due to the recent gun attack on government forces.

The Special Partisan Unit (SPARU) members of the CPP-NPA-NDF are the main suspects in this attack. The cooperation of the civilians in the upland villages around the Bicol Region has resulted to the arrest and surrender of many NPA bandit members.

The latest NPA bandit who was collared by government forces was a certain Benhur Berano, a member of the NPA’s Front Committee 75. He was arrested in his house in Panoypoyan village in Bula town yesterday, October 4, 2010.

Notorious NPA Bandit Collared by Government Forces in CamSur

2010-10-05T12:19:00.002+08:00

TIGAON, Camarines Sur – A notorious NPA banditry gang member was collared by government troops in Camarines Sur yesterday, (October 4), a military report said.
　　　　　　　　
LtCol Ernesto Cruz, the Commander of the 42nd Infantry Battalion said that he sent a platoon of his soldiers together with some policemen to arrest the suspect who was spotted by neighbors inside his house in Panoypoyan village of Bula town at around 8:00am.

Cruz identified the bandit as a certain Benhur Berano a long time member of the CPP-NPA-NDF’s Front Committee 75. The suspect has a standing warrant of arrest for the killing of Sergeant Alfredo Valencia and Private Domingo Alcantara Jr in 2007.

“Many of his former comrades who had surrendered to my unit have pinpointed him as one of the principal suspects in the killing of two soldiers of this battalion three years ago. He was also tagged as one of those who detonated a roadside bomb which killed 5 soldiers in Presentacion town in July 2010,” said Cruz.

Colonel Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, the Commander of the 901st Brigade which has jurisdiction over Camarines Sur has cited the invaluable help provided by the civilian tipsters in the series of arrests and digging of the NPA’s arms cache.

“It was also a civilian informant who led the troops to the staging area of the bandits resulting to an encounter in Lagonoy town on October 1 which left one soldier dead. Bandit members usually go back to their homes when pursuit operations are launched by soldiers but we are lucky to have gained the support of the civilians in the area,” said Torralba.

Torralba also commended the gains of the 42nd Infantry Battalion when the pursuit operations on October 2 yielded three anti-tank mines, 5 anti-personnel mines which according to him, and several bomb-making materials which according to him, “indicated the NPA’s plan to stage ambuscades with roadside bombs against government forces”.

The death of a high-ranking NPA leader identified as Elmer Osila a.k.a. Ka Fredo, the Secretary of the Front Committee 75 has crippled the capabilities of the bandit group.

Ka Fredo was considered as one of the dwindling number of experienced NPA cadres in the Bicol Region

Slain Soldier in Camsur is the Latest War Hero in Bicol

2010-10-01T12:32:00.002+08:00

BICOLANDIA HEROES. Senior military officials led by Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division (left) and Major General Romulo Supapo, Vice-Commander of the Philippine Army, led the wreath-laying ceremony for the fallen soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division during its 6th Founding Anniversary held today, October 1, 2010. (Photo by Harold M Cabunoc / 9IDPAO)

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES,PILI, Camarines Sur – A soldier who died in an encounter with the NPA bandits early morning today is the latest in the ranks of the Army’s war heroes, a military official said.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division which celebrates its 6th Founding Anniversary today, said that Corporal Emmanuel Abin II, 26, single, of Ragay town in Camarines Sur, is the latest soldier who will be given tribute for paying the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the country.

Abin died in an encounter with the NPA bandits in Pinamihagan village, Lagonoy town at 2:00am. He was the only casualty among the patrolling soldiers.

He was with a platoon of soldiers led by 1st Lieutenant Nonie Alcala which figured in an encounter with NPA rebels who were reported to be extorting money from the Chinese firm which operates a copper mine in the area.

Abin was hit in the abdomen during the 5-minute firefight with more or less 10 bandits. Though he was given outright medical attention by a combat medic, he expired while being evacuated to a local hospital some kilometers away from the encounter site.

The soldiers confiscated 1 Cal 5.56mm Rifle during the firefight but they were not able to recover the dead body of the slain communist bandit.

“We have prioritized the immediate evacuation of our dying soldier so we were not able to recover the dead body of the slain rebel. He was lying lifeless in the ground when my soldiers hurriedly left to save the life of Corporal Abin,” said LtCol Ernesto Cruz, the Commander of the 42nd Infantry Battalion based in Tigaon town.

Fourteen soldiers who ‘paid the ultimate sacrifice’ in the service of the country were honored in a simple wreath-laying ceremony at around 9:00am inside the sprawling resort-like military camp.

Included in the list of modern heroes is the late 2nd Lieutenant Michael Logronio, 23, who died while fighting with NPA terrorists who detonated a roadside bomb as his 9-man patrol passed by the newly constructed highway in Bicalen town.

Civilian guests and senior military officials led by Army vice chief Major General Romulo Supapo attended the anniversary ceremonies including the granting of combat medals to the living heroes for their acts of heroism during a fierce firefight with the enemies.

One of the living heroes is 2nd Lieutenant Michael Castro who earned praises for saving four children from crossfire during an encounter with NPA bandits in Lupi town in August 2010.

Castro’s combat action led to the recovery of 4 high-powered firearms and the subsequent discovery of the arms cache with 8 more assorted assault rifles and machineguns.

Ideology Is Gone

2010-09-30T22:07:00.004+08:00

By Felise Vida P. Solano

DEAR MARE,

I was listening to a lecture on the recruitment process of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bulacan State University when something hit me: I was about to lose you.

My bosses in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for the Reservist and Retiree Affairs, OG9, Philippine Army have been traveling, answering invitations from colleges and universities all over the country to talk about national security. Included in the lecture are briefings on the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and the Recruitment Process of the CPP/NDF/NPA. Sometimes I am asked to go with them. Being a fresh graduate of University of the Philippines- Diliman, it’s amazing how I could be working with soldiers. On that day in Bulacan, I nearly broke down in front of them.

This advocacy of OG9 has been going on long before talk started about making the ROTC mandatory again. Since the National Service Training Program (NSTP) was implemented, ROTC graduates have dwindled in number. The need is not just for eradicating conflict, but more importantly for maintaining peace locally and nationally.

At Laguna State Polytechnic University, the number of ROTC cadets is astonishing. It made me realize that the ROTC could help crush the insurgency not only because it is a source of reservists but also because universities and colleges are the breeding grounds of rebels. The strong presence of ROTC repels the infiltration of rebels. This is what others have failed to see: to solve the problem, you cut the root.

According to Lola Agnes, a former armed NPA rebel, recruiters use Mao Zedong’s theory of the blank paper: write on the blank paper and it will always leave a mark, even if you erase it. The minds of the youth are usually open, trusting, naïve. The NPA exploits this by inciting anger among the students, manipulating negative situations that put them at a disadvantage. The goal is to agitate, anger the students. Why anger? Because anger makes people do incredible things, like running the length of Mendiola barefoot, attacking soldiers, and forsaking family and friends.

I understood what Lola Agnes was saying. Anger drove you to one of those lightning rallies in front of the Malacañang. You went home tired and bruised, but you said it was for the “taong bayan.”

According to Ka Tina, there are several reasons the NPA targets the young for recruitment. First, they can withstand the harsh conditions in the mountains. During armed encounters, they are more agile and less susceptible to arthritis that slows down the movement of their forces. Second, the new recruits are assigned to illegal operations so that it would be more difficult for them to go back to their old life. Third, the youth are the best messengers for armed social revolution.

I had the good fortune to join my bosses at the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan. While we were traveling at night, I noticed that there were more stars in the countryside than in the city. I remembered one of those nights when we would just talk until the conversation turned to the revolution you were so passionate about. I asked if you would really hold a gun, if you were ready to take a life to fight for what you believed in. You said that if you needed to, you would. I said I wished it would never happen.

The government is not perfect. I am not covering up for it. There’s nothing wrong about voicing your opinions, nothing wrong about activism at all. And yet it was Jose Maria Sison himself who said that although there were the forces of armed revolution, there were also the legal democratic fronts from which the CPP/NPA/NDF acquires its manpower. It starts with Araling Aktibista or ARAK and culminates when they receive their code names or Koda after swearing eternal rebellion.

This isn’t about condemning the front organizations. This is about staying in school and leaving the gun for your books. For years, I have listened to activists denounce the mistakes of the government. I didn’t become one of them, although I understood their sentiments, I saw the situation, and I felt the pain.

But now, I am listening to former rebels who have made it their mission to save as many students as they can from being recruited by the NPA. I wish I could save you from being like them, save you from feeling guilty, save you from paying debts counted in lives.

Lola Agnes was a gifted child. She was recruited at the age of 13, and spent 10 years in the mountains as “Ka Tina,” “Ka George” and “Ka Yolly,” the meanest armed Amazon to walk the mountains of Bicol. After her surrender, she went back to school and eventually became a teacher and a civilian employee of the Philippine Army.

Ka Angel is the eldest of three children, and a second year chemical engineering student in UP Diliman when she joined the NPA. She witnessed the murder of a pregnant fellow NPA. She surrendered to the Philippine Army and is now back in college.

Ka Marjorie is a Protestant pastor and father of eight children, who abandoned his pregnant wife to become a “true son to the nation.” He forgot that he had the responsibility of being a father first. He is now with the advocacy and fighting to keep his family above poverty.

They are lucky to be alive. I hope you will never find yourself in their shoes.

More than saving you, I want to save myself. In this situation, like all those families and friends of students who became rebels, I only want to make sure a loved one is safe. I don’t want to be one of those people who stopped living because a daughter, a sister, a friend disappeared. I don’t know what’s worse: not knowing where you were and what happened to you or just finding you dead in some lonely forest. I know better now, and if I didn’t tell you what I know, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

The revolution is fake, a façade, a smokescreen to hide where so-called “revolutionary taxes” are going, which is into the pockets of the “leaders” who are not different from the ones you so hate. At one time, the situation might have been different. But now, the ideology is no longer there. It is gone.

If we want change, we should start with ourselves and take care of our family and friends so that they, in turn, will cherish their loved ones. That would be a revolution—not through violence, but through peace.

I don’t expect you to believe me immediately. I know how difficult it is to talk to a person whose mind is closed. But I hope you will think about what I have written. It is my prayers that if I wake up one day and see you in the news, you will be the newscaster, and not the cold corpse somebody else is talking about.

Love,
Your Mare

*Felise Vida P. Solano, 21, works in the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for the Reservist and Retiree Affairs, Philippine Army. This article was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on September 29, 2010

3 Armed Goons Nabbed and 7 Firearms Confiscated in Masbate Raid

2010-09-30T15:13:00.000+08:00

MILAGROS, Masbate – Three people were arrested and 7 different firearms were confiscated by joint Army and police forces in Masbate today (Sep 30), a military report said.

LtCol Anthony Purugganan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion said that a platoon of his soldiers led by 1st Lieutenant Ariel Annudin participated in the police raid in Bangon village of Arroroy town at around 6:00am.

Purugganan said that the raid was covered by a search warrant issued by a local court against the suspected members of a private armed goons.

The said operation yielded 7 firearms including 1 Cal 5.56mm M653 Rifle, 1 Cal 9mm KG9 Submachinegun, 2 Cal .45 M1911A1 Pistol, 2 Shotguns and 1 Cal .22 revolver.

Police Senior Superintendent Henry Ranola, Chief of the Special Task Force Masbate identified the suspects as Rico Sandig, Resurrecion and Roberto Tugbo.

The arrested persons were brought to the police station in Aroroy town as criminal cases of illegal possession of firearms and violation of the COMELEC gun ban are filed against them.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan has commended the members of the Special Task Force Masbate for its efficient coordination leading to the arrest of some suspected partisan armed group members.

Army Soldiers Clash with NPA Bandits in Catanduanes

2010-09-28T20:37:00.000+08:00

LICTIN, SAN ANDRES,Catanduanes – Army soldiers who are pursuing the killers of a village youth leader clashed with more or less 10 NPA bandits in Catanduanes today, a military official said.

Lieutenant Colonel Danilo Aquino, Commander of the 83rd Infantry Battalion which is based here said that a squad of soldiers led by Corporal Rocky Bumalay caught up with the fleeing bandits of the Probinsyang Yunit Gerilya led by Ka James, in Magsaysay village in Bagamanoc town at around 9:30am.

A running gunbattle ensued as the bandits scampered to various directions after 5 minutes of gunfight. The soldiers reported that they have spotted the bandits dragging with them their casualties.

“No one is injured among my soldiers who figured in this firefight. They have recovered the M16 Rifle owned by one of the rebel casualties who were carried by their comrades. Three backpacks containing subversive documents were also confiscated by my soldiers,” said Aquino.

Aquino also said that pursuit operations employing more troops is ongoing as of press time. He said that civilian residents are updating the soldiers about the general direction of the bandits’ escape route.

The military authorities in Catanduanes have launched a continuous manhunt operations to arrest the rebels who shot and killed two village officials, Jay Carlo Cameleon and Lando Tavar a week ago.

The two victims were accused as military informants by the NPA rebels who are becoming weary about the accurate information fed to the military leading to the series of arrests and clashes in all of Bicol’s six provinces.

In CY 2010, the 9th Infantry Division has recorded 24 deaths among civilians as a result of the NPA’s extra-judicial killings in the Bicol region.

One Dead and One Critically Injured in the NPA Bandits' Robbery Incident in Albay

2010-09-27T20:02:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – One person lay dead and another person was wounded in a robbery-hold up staged by NPA bandits in Albay province yesterday (Monday), a military official said.

Lieutenant Colonel John Oberio, Commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over Albay province, said that 5 NPA bandits belonging to Kilusang Gerilya 78 led by Jerry Abache a.k.a. Ka Josam, flagged down an owner type jeep owned by Sunwest Corporation in Sinungtan village, Guinobatan town at around 12:30pm.

Oberio said that the service vehicle was carrying 7 passengers bound for the ‘GMA highway’ which links Camarines Sur to Daraga town. All of the passengers were operators of the heavy construction equipment used in the implementation of the government’s flagship project.

Quoting the verbal report of one of the survivors, Oberio said that the group was negotiating the uphill rough road near the boundary with Bulo-bulo village on their way to the project site when the bandits suddenly emerged, pointing their M16 rifles at their direction.

Antonio National, the vehicle driver, was forced to stop when the rebels started shooting the tires. The rebels demanded all passengers to disembark and raise their hands.

The rebels kicked the passengers while ordering them to lie in prone position. One of the rebels angrily reprimanded the group for not giving in to their demand of ‘revolutionary tax’ which the bandit group required to all private contractors who are engaged in the government’s development projects.

As the rebels started to frisk for their wallets and personal belongings, Wilfredo Asaytono, 56, panicked and ran for his life, prompting the rebels to spray him with automatic fires, killing him instantly.

About 50m from the scene, Jason Obrego, a motorcycle driver, was hit by stray bullets as he was on his way to Guinobatan town to earn a living. He was lying and bleeding due to his abdominal wound as he watched the crime before his very eyes.

Emptying the wallets and food provisions inside the vehicle, the bandits immediate fled towards the hills, bringing with them at least P5,000.00 owned by the victims.

Oberio promptly dispatched a platoon of soldiers to hunt down the bandits while assisting the retrieval of the victims from the area. Representatives from Sunwest Corporation have claimed the cadaver of Asaytono who is said to be a resident of Manunugot village, Manito town.

Obrego was also brought by responding soldiers to a local hospital in Guinobatan town where he was treated immediately. He is said to be in stable condition.

Oberio has also said that his battalion’s hotline is flooded with messages about the current location of the bandits.

“We have many civilian friends who are pinpointing to their present position. I will immediately launch a manhunt operations to arrest the suspects,” said Oberio.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has called on the local officials and the local people to condemn the killing of Asaytono who is the 24th civilian to be killed by the NPA bandits as of yesterday.

In CY 2010, the NPA bandits have killed 4 soldiers, 1 policeman,8 militiamen and 24 civilians in the rising cases of extra-judicial killings in the Bicol Region.

One Dead and Two Wounded in the NPA's Knife Attack In Sorsogon

2010-09-26T19:58:00.000+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – One man was killed while two were seriously wounded in an NPA knife attack on an off-duty soldier in Sorsogon at 11:00pm on September 24, 2010 (Friday), a military report said.

1st Lieutenant Ariel Annudin, Company commander of the 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company, said that 2 NPA rebels barged in the house of Private First Class Edmar Gaton in Bolo village, Matnog town and stabbed him with a bladed weapon.

Gaton and his family were already in deep slumber when they were awakened by the loud noise as the main door was forcibly opened by intruders. While coming out to check the situation, two knife-wielding persons emerged and started to stab him.

Parrying the knife blows, Gaton retreated back to his house where he was helped by his father, Eduardo. Using his skills in unarmed combat, Gaton was able to subdue his attacker and kill him.

“After killing his attacker, Gaton came to rescue his father who was already bleeding profusely due to his stab wounds. The second attacker was also wounded but managed to escape,” said Annudin.

The dead NPA rebel was later identified by onlookers as a certain Recto Garbin, a resident of San Sebastian village, Sta Elena town in Sorsogon.

Gaton and his father were immediately rushed by their relatives to a hospital in Sorsogon City for treatment. Attending physicians have declared them ‘in stable condition’.

Garbin’s body was also brought to Sta Elena PNP as criminal cases are readied against his co-conspirator who remains unidentified.

The latest attack occurred after the killing of Elmer Osila a.k.a. Ka Fredo in an encounter with government forces in Camarines Sur on September 22 (Wednesday).

Osila, the most senior-ranking bandit leader who was killed by Army troops is a native of Sorsogon.

A list of ‘targets’ for extra-judicial killing was confiscated documents from Osila’s possession. Included in the list are names of soldiers, militiamen and civilians who are suspected as military informants.

In CY 2010, the NPA bandits have killed 4 soldiers, 1 policeman,8 militiamen and 23 civilians in the rising cases of extra-judicial killings in the Bicol Region.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has directed all Army forces in the Bicol Region to remain vigilant of possible NPA retaliatory attacks after the neutralization of one of their senior cadres.

9ID Pinapurihan ni CamSur Governor LRay Villafuerte

2010-09-26T09:41:00.000+08:00

Media interview of Gov L-Ray Villafuerte of Camsur during his official visit to the 9th Infantry Division in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur on September 24, 2010.

Gov L-Ray Commends the Philippine Army's Contributions in the Bicol Region

2010-09-26T08:52:00.001+08:00

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Governor Luis Raymund ‘L-Ray’ Villafuerte of Camsur lauded the invaluable contributions of the Philippine Army which have spurred the development in the Bicol Region.

Villafuerte cited the ‘invaluable help’ provided by the 9th Infantry Division in terms of maintaining the peace and security situation during his official visit in the sprawling Army camp in Pili town at 10:00am today.

“Camarines Sur is now becoming the number tourist destination due to the influx of local and foreign tourists each year,” Villafuerte said.

He acknowledged that ‘without peace and security, development initiatives could not be sustained’ and that the efforts of the 9ID have boosted investors confidence.

Villafuerte specifically mentioned the non-traditional roles played by the soldiers in the communities. “May it be disaster response operations during calamities or security coverage during local and international events, the Army soldiers are my ever reliable partners”.

Impressed by the resort-like environs of 9ID’s camp facilities, ‘L-Ray’ has also said that he will copy the landscaping of the camp area. During his speech, he also gamely proposed to make the camp one of the tourist attractions in Camarines Sur.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan has also acknowledged the possibility of entertaining tourists inside the camp premises.

“I have seen this in foreign military camps that visitors are permitted in some places which are not off-limits to civilian guests. I am studying the possibility to do the same here, in our camp” said Pabustan.