Saturday, December 26, 2015



MANILA, Philippines – The military could only watch on the sidelines as the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) celebrated their 47th founding anniversary in the rebels’ known lair in Agusan del Norte yesterday.

Because of the prevailing holiday truce, all troops are under orders to stand down against the communist rebels, Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said.

“They have their gathering somewhere in Agusan del Norte. Our monitoring is still ongoing and the security in the area is generally peaceful as of the moment,” Padilla said.

Saturday, December 26, 2015



Last 13 and 14 of December, in a span of 12 hours, the New People’s Army (NPA) in Panay launched a series of tactical offensives from the North Eastern Yating Mountains (Maayon town) to the SouthWestern Madyaas foothills of Panay (San Joaquin town). The 301st Infantry Brigade (Bde) of the 3rd Infantry Division of the AFP owned up to some 8 casualties (including two police officers engaged in counter-insurgency duties) while covering up its more serious losses as it usually does.

The early morning harassment, last 13 December, of the two-truck convoy of the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Tiolas, San Joaquin town was along the national highway linking the provinces of Iloilo and Antique. This was the latest military action for the year which included an ambush of a section-size operating unit of the 31st Division Reconnaissance Company in the mountainous Barangay San Antonio of Cuartero, Capiz last July that inflicted a squadsize casualty (including at least 5 killed) that the AFP took great pains to conceal from the public and visiting US troops.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

DAVAO CITY—A top communist leader in Mindanao on Saturday has expressed pessimism over calls by various sectors for a fresh round of talks with the government in a bid to end one of Asia’s longest insurgencies, accusing the latter of insincerity by violating even its self-imposed ceasefire with the rebels.

Jorge Madlos, alias Ka (Comrade) Oris, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) spokesperson in Mindanao, said the military continues conducting offensives under the cover of “peace and development operations” even as the government and rebels had declared separately a 12-day lull in fighting that started Dec. 23 in deference to the Christmas and New Year’s Eve festivities throughout the predominantly Christian nation.

“I’m not optimistic with the proposal,” Madlos said, referring to appeals for an extended ceasefire with government troops than could well reach up to next year’s elections.

The rebel spokesperson said the military has been violating its own ceasefire by launching attacks and operations against rebel-held areas in Surigao del Sur province in Mindanao, forcing the rebels’ armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA), on the defensive.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

GENERAL SANTOS CITY - Those aspiring to run in next year’s general elections better have extra cash if they wish to campaign in communist rebel-held territories, the National Democratic Front (NDF) announced Saturday.

NDF Far South Mindanao spokesman Ka Efren, on the occasion of the 47th foundation of the Communist Party of the Philippines, explained that the “permit to campaign” (PTC) will allow candidates access to rebel strongholds, thus effectively asserting rebel authority in areas where ‘organs of political power’ already exist.

In many areas in Mindanao and throughout the country, Ka Efren said, the rebel movement has established “parallel” governments and, thus, have earned the right to impose fees and other 'revolutionary taxes.’

Saturday, December 26, 2015



NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – On Christmas Day, December 25, members of the New People’s Army (NPA) released a member of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade in Moises Padilla town.

Cirilo Bagnoran, 42, was freed by the Leonardo Panaligan Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) at their detachment in Barangay Macahagay in Moises Padilla, 15 days after he was abducted in La Castellana town.

On December 10, 50 or so members of the NPA attacked the cock farm where Bagnoran works. The farm, at Hacienda Jamandre, Barangay Robles in La Castellena town, is owned by RPA-ABB leader Rene “Maco” Europa.