Another NPA big fish arrested in SouthMin

Camp Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City – Another New People’s Army (NPA) commander fell into government hands in Southern Mindanao as authorities arrested a ranking terrorist leader in the village of Zone-1 in Sta. Cruz town in Davao del Sur province 2:00 PM of June 18 Friday bringing the total number of NPA leader to fall into government’s hand in this region to five.

Gerald Bate, vice commander of the Sentro de Gravidad of the NPAs Local Terrorist Front-27 was arrested by the joint elements of the 39th Infantry Battalion and the Criminal Investigation Group (CIDG) based on information from residents about an armed individual in their locality.

Authorities said Bate was arrested based on the principle of “plain view” as a pistol was seen on his waist as the combined police and soldiers approached. Recovered in his possession were a caliber .45 pistol with the Serial Number 839126, a fragmentation grenade and several ammunition.


Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division welcomed the capture of another NPA leader as he lauded police and soldiers who made the arrest. “This is a proof that the long arms of the law will eventually catch-up with criminals. Our soldiers and police will continue to work against criminal elements and bring them to justice for the sake of our people who have been victimized by their terroristic acts.” Holganza said.

“Once again, we offer the hand of reconciliation and unity to our lost brothers for them to surrender or face the full force of the law and answer for the crimes they have committed against our people.” Holganza concluded.

The arrest of Bate is the fifth time authorities netted high ranking NPA leaders in Southern Mindanao.

In January, Zaldy Canete alias Jingoy, a celebrated case of child combatant who was recruited at the age of 13 and who rose steadily and quickly in the ranks of the NPA surrendered after being wounded in a gunbattle with the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Battalion in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte.

Last May 5, Serafin Embate alias Lotlot, commander of Platun Makar of the Local Terrorist Front-72 and medical officer of Far South Mindanao Region of the NPA was arrested by Davao del Sur Police and soldiers from the 39th Infantry Battalion.

On May 22, Renelo Creita alias Jaguar who is responsible in planning and executing the ambush in Maragusan town which claimed the lives of five individuals and wounded a dozen others which was tagged by people as the “Maragusan Massacre” fell in the hands of joint elements of the Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion and CIDG 11

Last June 11, Mario Cabatlao alias Jomar, secretary of Local Terrorist Front-15 of the NPA was arrested by joint elements of 3rd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine National Police of Madaum and CIDG 11 in Tagum City.

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Reds abduct, murder village leader, another escapes

Camp Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City – A village leader was abducted and later on murdered by New People’s Army (NPA) death squad while another escaped the slay try in Sitio (sub-village) Mauno in the village of Maligaya in Columbio town in Sultan Kudarat province 11:00 PM Tuesday.

Village leader Kito Melody was abducted by NPAs belonging to Southern Alip Regional Terrorist Unit led by Manuel Fernandez alias Bobo who barged in his house while another village leader and former Cafgu Eldie Banawag was able to escape after witnessing the arrival of the armed group before they were able to enter his home. The NPAs reportedly came from the “Peace Zone” in nearby Tulunan town in North Cotabato province.

Melody’s lifeless body was later found and recovered by elements of 27th Infantry Battalion (27IB) a few kilometers away in the boundary of Sitio Sinapulan and Sitio Mauno in the same village.

“The NPAs are targeting village and tribal leaders to terrorize the residents to make them withdraw their support from the peace and development efforts of the AFP and the Local Government Units.” Said Lt. Col. Joshua Santiago, commander of 27IB with operational jurisdiction over South Cotabato and parts of Sultan Kudarat.

Santiago also slammed the use of the Peace Zone by the terrorists. “The group led by Fernandez together Loida Magpatoc alias Gwen and Noel Legaspi alias Jefrrey came from the Peace Zone in Tulunan, North Cotabato. They have been using the peace zone as their haven to avoid arrest.” Santiago said.

Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division deplored the newest atrocity of the communists as he vowed to bring the criminals to justice. “Our community leaders know what is best for their villages and they want peace and development to come in but these criminals are coercing the people. Such terrorism will not go unpunished for our people’s sake. The true soldiers of the masses will bring these murderers to justice.” Holganza said.

In December of 2009, Lumad leader Sendo Awing was killed by NPA terrorists in Columbio and later admitted it was a mistake. Greggy Awing, Sendo’s son was also killed on the same day in the morning, several hours before his father was shot.

In 2009 alone, the NPA murdered 83 individuals in Southern Mindanao; 52 of those they killed were innocent civilians.

This year, six innocent civilians including 13 year-old girl Memilyn Moreno of Boston town in Davao Oriental Province were killed in NPA terroristic attacks against communities, infrastructure projects and business establishments. Five people were killed and a dozen others were also wounded when NPAs ambushed election officials and soldiers in Maragusan town in Compostela Valley province a day after the election.

Last year, residents of Tampakan town in South Cotabato and of Columbio in Sultan Kudarat separately staged a peace rally and urged the NPA to halt its liquidation of civilians particularly village and tribal leaders.

Last March, officials of the adjacent province of South Cotabato led by Governor Daisy Fuentes, Koronadal Mayor Fernando Miguel and other local leaders joined residents in calling for a stop to armed struggle being waged by the NPA under the dictation of the Communist Party of the Philippines and protection of their legal fronts.

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Skeletal Remains of NPA exhumed by Army’s Katapatan troopers

47th Infantry (KATAPATAN) Battalion, Camp Gen Carreon, Brgy Libot, Calinog, Iloilo – Acting on a report from a civilian asset and verified through information disclosed by a former NPA rebel, elements of 47IB, 3ID, PA led by 1LT NAPOLEON P ALCARIOTO JR (INF) PA, the Battalion Operations Officer together with personnel from 12th Infantry (CAFGU) Battalion and PNP-Lambunao, Iloilo exhumed one (1) skeletal remains of an alleged NPA member at Sitio Badiangan, Brgy Jayubo, Lambunao, Iloilo yesterday, June 1, 2010 at around five o’clock in the afternoon in an isolated and mountainous area of the said barangay approximately 20 kilometers away from the town proper. Buried three (3) feet below the ground, the decomposed body was placed inside a laminated sack and was wrapped with a textile bandage full of dried blood. Discovered among the remains was a slug bullet of an M14 rifle which may have been the cause of death. The body was identified as the remains of an NPA member who was killed in an encounter with the troops of 47IB last March 26, 2007 at Brgy Sagcop, Lambunao, Iloilo wherein the NPA suffered many casualties and have lost several firearms.

In his statement during a radio interview, 1LT REY B BALIBAGOSO (INF) PA, the Acting Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 47th Infantry (Katapatan) Battalion urged the public to help the Government forces in identifying the body and appealed to the Communists Terrorists that pursuing armed struggle will not promote a peaceful means to solve the problems of our society.

The remains were brought to the PNP Station at Lambunao, Iloilo for possible identification and was given appropriate blessing and prayers by the Lambunao Parish Priest, Rev. Marvin Tabion.

200 Recruits report to 3ID for training

Division Public Affairs Office, Camp Peralta, Jamindan, Capiz--- 200 Philippine Army Candidate Soldiers took their oath of military service during a simple ceremony held in Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Division, Camp Macario B Peralta JR, Jamindan, Capiz earlier today. Out of the 200 recruits qualified to take their oaths, 77% (153) are college level/graduates while the rest have successfully completed their secondary education. 12 were former militiamen (Cafgus), 5 belong to Indigenous tribes (Aeta), and the remaining 183 are civilians. The recruits will be a part of the Philippine Army’s Candidate Soldier Course class 05-10.

MGEN Vicente M Porto, the Commander of the 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division, emphasized in his message to the family and friends of the new recruits that they are “entering the profession of arms and will soon be a part of an organization that serve as the protectors of our Nation and our Democracy.”

“Rest assured, these candidate soldiers are in very good hands. You have our assurance that the 3ID will mold them into professional soldiers for peace. We thank you for sharing them with us and with the rest of our fellow citizens.” Porto added.

Last year, the 3ID successfully graduated a total of 286 soldiers after being given a ceiling of 300 for recruitment. These soldiers will be distributed to our different subordinate units to replenish their ranks and to maintain our effective strength so that we may continue to perform our mission in Western Visayas. This year your Spearhead graduated two Candidate Soldier Courses: CSC Class 218 with 100 soldiers and CSC Class 231 with 200 soldiers. These new Privates were distributed to the different infantry battalions and units within the 3ID.

Your Spearhead Division will be filling another quota of Philippine Army recruits on June 15, 2010 at Camp Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz. Priority candidates in filling-up this new CS quota is as follows:

a) Qualified professionals

b) Graduates of MS43 and Advanced ROTC

c) College Graduate

d) With 72 units and up in college

e) High School graduate but possessing technical/vocationa l skills be needed by the AFP

Qualifications are as follows:

a) Natural born Filipino citizen.

b) At least high school graduate with technical or special skill needed by the AFP.

c) Age must be at least 18 years old on the actual start of training. Cut-off age must not exceed 23 years old by 01 July 10.

d) Unmarried and without child.

e) Good moral character.

f) PAATB score of at least 80

For further inquiries, call telephone number PLDT (033) 337-2545 or come visit our Philippine Army Recruitment booth at SM City Iloilo on June 11-13, 2010.

The Spearhead Division takes pride in producing professional and service-oriented soldiers and this is why so many of our fellow citizens are inspired to take up the profession of arms. This is shown by the increase in the turnout of applicants for this year’s recruitment. Your army is optimistic that in our future recruitment efforts we can hope to entice more applicants with professional skills as we continue to enhance our technology as well as our capabilities.