Saturday, March 29, 2025

Tag: Armed Forces of the Philippines

Gallant troops, civilian personnel honored on National Heroes Day

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The 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division celebrated National Heroes Day by honoring its troops and civilian personnel for their gallantry in combat and performing exceptional duty for non-combat operations, respectively, during a simple awarding ceremony at the 4ID Headquarters, Camp Evangelista, Patag, Cagayan de Oro City on August 28, 2023

Major General Jose Maria R Cuerpo II, Commander of the 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, led the whole Diamond troopers in honoring seventeen (17) awardees composed of civilian human resource and troops coming from 4ID subordinate units as well as attached units deployed within the area of responsibility of 4ID in Caraga and Northern Mindanao region in time for the celebration of National Heroes Day.

Ten (10) were awarded Military Merit Medal with Bronze Spearhead Device for bravery and heroic achievements in fighting the communist terrorist group in their areas of operation, one (1) was awarded the Military Merit Medal with Bronze Spearhead Device Interim to Gold Cross Medal and two (2) members of the Philippine Air Force, as attached unit under the Joint Task Force Diamond, were also awarded with Military Merit Medal with Bronze Spearhead Device Interim to Distinguish Aviation Cross.

Moreover, three (3) troops were also awarded with Silver Cross Medal for imminently meritorious and invaluable accomplishments as a result of the separate successful implementation of intelligence operations that led to the neutralization through surrender and capture of CPP-NPA Terrorists (CNTs) and numerous high-powered firearms.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ervin Andrew A. Yano, a Civilian Human Resource of 4ID working as a Nurse at Camp Evangelista Station Hospital, was also honored and feted with a Plaque of Recognition for displaying an act of heroism and compassion by exerting extraordinary effort above and beyond his regular duties and responsibilities in saving the life of a teenager by preventing a suicide attempt at Jr. Borja Bridge in Cagayan de Oro City.

In his message, MGen. Cuerpo II said that 4ID’s celebration of National Heroes Day is about recognizing soldiers and other personnel who went above and beyond their call of duty to protect the people and secure the communities, as well as acknowledging the contribution of brave soldiers who offered an ultimate sacrifice in performing their mandate.

“I would like to personally congratulate all of you for demonstrating exceptional courage and bravery in serving your roles in our society, which resulted in laudable accomplishments of your respective units and the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a whole. This day is all about acknowledging your efforts and highlighting the sacrifices that you made. But do not lower your guards, instead use this recognition as an inspiration to do more good deeds for the betterment of our nation,” MGen. Cuerpo added. (4ID)

ROTC Games Mindanao Leg kicks off in Zambo

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ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Philippine ROTC Games Mindanao Leg kicked off Sunday during ceremonies held at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex with Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio as guest of honor

The Philippine ROTC Games (PRG) brings together Reserved Officer Training Course cadets from Regions 9 to 12, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and is spoken as a demonstration of the indomitable spirit of the Filipino youth who are committed to participate in nation building.

The week-long PRG will be up to September 2 and will feature athletics, swimming, boxing, arnis, weightlifting, kickboxing, e-sports, basketball, and volleyball.

“Maraming salamat sa inyong pagmamahal sa ating bayan, thank you for showing that there is hope, may pag-asa at may maaasahan tayo sa ating mga kabataan,” Duterte addressed the ROTC cadets.

Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe, in welcoming guests and regional delegations, said the ROTC Games celebrates the spirit of camaraderie, discipline, and patriotism that the ROTC embodies.

“The ROTC has been an integral part of our nation’s history as it instills values of discipline, duty, and love for the country of our youth,” Dalipe said.

He commended the organizers and the agencies concerned for making the Games possible, even as he expressed his all-out support for the event in keeping with his administration’s advocacy to promote Zamboanga City as a regional sports tourism destination.

Sen. Francis Tolentino, ROTC honorary chair, thanked Duterte for her “truly significant” presence, genuinely advocating youth and sports development through military service.

Themed “Tibay at Galing ay Pagyamanin, Suportahan ang Palarong ROTC Natin,” the Games involves the ROTC units of the main service branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy.

Among the distinguished visitors during the kickoff were Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann, who represented PSC Consultant Kirsten Evan Regodon; representatives from the Commission on Higher Education; officials from the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force; Zamboanga City Vice Mayor Josephine Pareja; members of the City Council; and officials from the six participating regions in Mindanao.

World and Asian champions performed the torch relay and lighting of cauldron Rose Jean Ramos, Albert Ian delos Santos, Angeline Colonia, Rosalinda Faustino, Alexzandra Ann Diaz, and Jhon Peralta—all of Zamboanga City. (Frencie L. Carreon / MindaNews)

7 NPA rebels neutralized in Caraga, Northern Mindanao

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BUTUAN CITY — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday, June 25, reported significant gains against communist rebels in the Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions

Major Francisco P. Garello Jr., chief of the Public Affairs Office (PAO) of the Army 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, said that seven New People’s Army rebels were neutralized and several war materials, including 20 high-powered weapons, were captured in the hinterland areas of Butuan City, Claveria, Misamis Oriental; and Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17.
Garello said these are a “testament to the AFP’s continuous efforts to finish the dwindling Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the military and police joint operational area to attain just and lasting peace in Northeastern and Northern Mindanao regions.”
He revealed that the alleged secretary of the Guerrilla Front-30 (GF-30) of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC) surrendered to the Army 36th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Puyat, Carmen, Surigao del Sur on Thursday, June 22.
“All field units under the operational and administrative control (Opcon) of the 4th ID in Northeastern (Caraga) and Northern Mindanao regions are in focus military operations (FMO) in their respective areas of responsibilities (AOR) while they are also ready to accept and welcome communist insurgents who wanted to go back to the folds of the law and avail the government’s peace and development program,” Garello said.
He added that 4th ID chief Major Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II commended field units for the continuous gains in their AORs against the already dwindling communist terrorist group.
Meanwhile, the PRO-13 reported that “Kumander Jhon-Jhon,” vice commanding officer, and wife, “Ka Fiona,” a medical and supply officer of the NPA, voluntarily surrendered to the 1st Surigao del Sur Provincial Mobile Force Company in Barangay Poblacion, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, recently.
PRO-13 Director Police Brig. Gen. Pablo G. Labra II said the couple belonged to the Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Platoon 16C2, Guerilla Front Committee 16, Sub-Regional Committee Northland, of the CPP-NPA Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC).
They turned over a 60mm mortar and a caliber .38 revolver with bullets.
“The uncertainty of their future in the terrorist movement and the desire to give their families a peaceful life gave them the courage to abandon the CTG,” Labra said. “Several former rebels who surrendered to the government are now living peacefully.” (Mike Crismundo/Manila Bulletin)

CPP Southern Mindanao Committee key officials arrested in Malaysia

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Ang alleged key official of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) was arrested and deported from Malaysia

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Eric Jun Baring Casilao and his wife May were arrested by the Malaysian Police at the Langkawi immigration check-in counter on April 1, 2023, while en route to Thailand via a ferry boat using fake travel documents.

They were detained for violating Malaysian Immigration laws before being deported back to the Philippines on April 17.

The PNP said the Casilaos fled to Malaysia to elude arrest here in the Philippines.

The couple has standing arrest warrants over murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges.

Eric has a P5.4 million reward bounty on his head. He was put on the Malaysian Red Notice List through the request of the PNP for falsification of his passport by assuming a fake identity.

Casilao is allegedly the secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee and a member of the CPP Central Committee. He is a brother of former Anakpawis Party-list Representative Ariel Casilao.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said he is “considered the most wanted Communist Terrorist Group leader in Southeastern Mindanao, notorious for staging numerous atrocities in the Davao Region and other neighboring regions under the SMRC.” (SunStar Philippines)

796 ka mga pasyente naatiman sa medical and surgical mission sa Maramag

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Niabot sa kinatibuk-ang 796 ka mga pasyente ang nahatagan og pagtagad ug kasulbaran sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka mga balatian, atol sa gihimong duha ka adlaw nga medical and surgical mission nga gipangunahan sa Senate Spouses Foundation, Inc., ubos sa ilang presidente Audrey Tan Zubiri, Marso 15-16, 2023, sa Bukidnon Provincial Hospital–Maramag, Purok 2, Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon

Sulod sa duha ka adlaw, adunay 60 ka mga pasyente sa surgical, 356 sa medical, 163 sa pediatric, 52 sa OB, og 165 ka mga senior citizens og PWDs nga mga pasyente ang kinatibuk-ang natambalan.

“𝐷𝑖𝑙𝑖 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑔𝑎 𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑝 𝑛𝑔𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑢𝑏𝑜 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑠𝑦𝑜𝑛, 𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑛 𝑝𝑤𝑒𝑑𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑎ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑜 𝑠𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑎𝑔𝑖 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑔𝑖𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑎 𝑖𝑘𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑎 𝑘𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑦𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑎 𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛”, matud pa ni Zubiri.

Ang mga surgical volunteers nihimo sa major and minor operations sama sa pagtanggal sa cyst, thyroidectomy, mastectomy, hysterectomy, tonsillectomy, incision and drainage, og ang hemorrhoidectomy.

Ang tanang serbisyo gikan sa screening ngadto na sa operasyon libre og walay bayad lakip na ang medikasyon og bitamina nga gihatag sa mga pasyente.

Ang maong proyekto gitimbayayongan sa World Surgical Foundation Philippines, Provincial Government of Bukidnon pinaage sa Bukidnon Provincial Hospital-Maramag, kauban ang mga volunteers gikan sa Bukidnon Medical Society, Philippine National Police, og ang Armed Forces of the Philippines. (PR)

CHR calls on authorities to look into alleged abduction of NDFP consultant in Bukidnon

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The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called on authorities to take action on the alleged abduction of National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Ariel Badiang in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon on February 6

In a statement, the CHR said Badiang, 64 years old, was allegedly taken by soldiers.

“As we conduct a parallel independent probe, CHR calls for urgent action from the local police and other concerned agencies to uncover the full truth on this latest report of the alleged abduction of another NDFP consultant,” said the commission.

According to the CHR, its Region 10 office had deployed a Quick Response Operation to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, Police Region Office 10 public information office spokesperson Police Major Joann Navarro told GMA News Online there were no abductions reported on the said date.

“Based po sa record natin, walang nakatala na any information o report na merong nag-abduct o kidnapping na nangyari,” she said.

Navarro added that PRO10 asked the Bukidnon Police, 52nd Engineer Brigade, and 1st Special Forces Battalion if they received such information. They also denied receiving reports about the incident.

Navarro encouraged the family of Badiang to report the incident to the police so that authorities can take action and launch an investigation.

Asked for comment, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar said the AFP promoted and protected human rights.

“The AFP respects human rights. It is part of our constitutional mandate. All we do at the AFP is in adherence to the promotion and protection of human rights which is translated into education, training, and policies,” he told GMA News Online.

“To strengthen its implementation, the AFP has established the AFP Human Rights Office, now the AFP Center for Law of Armed Conflict (AFP CLOAC),” he added. (GMA News)

AFP sees more rebel surrenderers in NorMin

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has expressed confidence that more communist rebels will give up arms and surrender in Northern Mindanao in the coming weeks.

In a statement Thursday, Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said the death of Jose Maria Sison, co-founder of Communist Party of the Philippines, has affected the morale of its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).

“With this situation, we expect more of their comrades to surface and lay down their arms,” Almerol said.

Almerol also called on remaining NPA combatants “to surrender without hesitation as the freedom and benefits of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) are waiting upon their return.”

Almerol’s statement came after the surrender of eight NPA leaders on Jan. 3 in Lantapan and Pangantucan towns, Bukidnon.

The following day, the surrenderers led the government troops to the location of three arms caches in Barangay Tikalaan and Barangay Miarayon in Talakag, Bukidnon, resulting in the recovery of several firearms and medical supplies.

Meanwhile, the Misamis Oriental Police Provincial Office presented five former rebels who surrendered early this week.

“It was a good decision I surrendered, because I want my children to continue going to school,” a former rebel was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the police. (Nef Luczon/PNA)