Friday, March 29, 2024

2 NPA members die in clash with army troops in Surigao del Sur and Bukidnon

MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged members of the communist New People’s Army were killed in separate encounters in Surigao del Sur and Bukidnon over the weekend, the Philippine Army said on Monday

On Saturday, July 8, elements of the 36th Infantry Battalion of the 901st Infantry Brigade clashed with eight

suspected NPA members in Sitio Libas, Barangay Sibahay in Lanuza town, Surigao del Sur.

This led to the death of a suspected rebel identified as Risam Gonzales Gam, also known as Kim or Miguel. Troops also captured one M653 Assault Rifle at the encounter site.

On Friday, July 7, the 43rd Division Reconnaissance Company of the 403rd Infantry Brigade also figured in two separate encounters with elements of suspected communist rebels in Barangay Bontongon, Impasugong town in Bukidnon province.

The firefights, which lasted for about 30 minutes each, resulted in the death of an unidentified male communist and the capture of one M4A1 5.56mm carbine rifle and one M14 7.62mm rifle. (Inquirer.net)

Bukidnon ‘criminal’ gangsters with multiple warrants yield

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Three alleged members of a Bukidnon-based criminal group with multiple warrants of arrest surrendered to the police on March 13, 2023, a police official said

Brig. Gen. Lawrence Coop, Police Regional Office-10 director, identified the surrenderers from the Acuman Criminal Group as Erwin Acuman, the leader; his brother, Dario; and cousin Ryan.
Coop said the group has gained notoriety by engaging in robbery, cattle rustling, and extortion schemes in Bukidnon province, specifically in Talakag town and its adjacent municipalities.
“Our efforts have now resulted positively as several members of the criminal gang have surrendered to the folds of the law,” Coop said in a media briefing here.
Coop said the Acumans have multiple warrants of arrest for murder, frustrated and attempted murders and illegal possession of high-powered firearms and ammunition.
During their surrender, he said the suspects surrendered an M16 riffle, M14 riffle, a .45-caliber pistol, and ammunition.
Coop vowed that PRO-10 will remain “proactive in the intelligence-driven operation with the active support of the community.”
Meanwhile, the PRO-10 also reported that at least 184 police operations in February alone resulted in the arrest of 227 drug personalities, the confiscation of 531 grams of shabu worth PHP3.6 million, and 4,062 grams of marijuana worth PHP487,440.
At least 177 law enforcement operations targeting loose firearms also yielded 22 arrests and 56 firearms confiscated and recovered.
Fifty-six firearms were also turned in by their owners for safekeeping during the implementation of “Oplan Katok.”
On the other hand, PRO-10 also reported the arrest of 448 wanted persons in February. During the same period, Coop said the government’s offensive efforts against communist rebels were sustained, as manifested by 17 arrested New People’s Army rebels. (Nef Luzon/PNA)

5 soldiers dead after ‘mass shooting’ in Cagayan de Oro military camp

MANILA, Philippines — Five soldiers, including a gunman who happened to be in the military, perished Saturday morning after a mass shooting incident broke out inside the Army’s Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City

The soldier, who went berserk, Pvt. Johmar Villabito was subsequently shot dead by responding Pvt. Mark Anthony Aguinid and Pfc. Josiah Estrada.

The incident reportedly occurred during the early hours of 1 a.m. according to Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., spokesperson of the 4th Infantry Division. The names of the victims are still withheld as of press time.

“This resulted in the death of four… of our soldiers and wounding another one… The suspect used an M16 rifle. The suspect shot the victims while they’re sleeping,” said Garello in a mix of Filipino and English in an interview with the media.

“The perpetrator also died during the said incident.”

In separate statements, Saturday, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division and the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office said Villabito first barged into the sleeping quarter of Sgt. Rogelio Rojo, Cpl. Bernard Rodrigo, Pfc. Prince Kevin Balaba and Pvt. Joseph Tamayo and killed them one after another with his service firearm in an attack that left Sgt. Braulio Macalos badly wounded.

The four slain soldiers and Villabito belonged to the Headquarters Service Battalion of the 4th ID, under Major Gen. Wilbur Mamawag.

Aguinid and Estrada together managed to neutralize Villabito, who also died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

Garello said that they still could not determine the motive behind the suspect’s actions and could not confirm rumors going around that the violence was relationship-related.

The commander of the 4ID, Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag has now created a board of inquiry team to investigate the matter.

After initially firing rounds at four sleeping soldiers, the gunman allegedly proceeded to another room which eventually lead to his/her demise.

“[T]here [were] two soldiers that were already alert and they saw that he/she was coming. They managed to neutralize the suspect. They wrestled and grappled for the weapon, and eventually, the suspect was killed in self-defense,” continued Garello.

“What we can confirm is that there [are] five soldiers died during the incident… one is wounded and being given medical attention.”

Among those killed were a staff sergeant, a private, and a corporal. Several shots were said to have been fired so military officials still could not confirm if the fatal shots were delivered to the head.

The 4ID offered their sincere condolences to the bereaved families during these challenging times. (J. Unson, J. Relativo/Philstar)

105 ka FRs sa Valencia City miyembro na sa PhilHealth

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)–Siyento singko (105) ka mga kanhi rebelde sa New People’s Army sa syudad sa Valencia, Bukidnon ang miyembro na sa PhilHealth dihang nakadawat sila sa ilang Member’s Data Records (MDRs) ug ID cards niadtong Enero 11.

Si Regional Vice President Delio A. Aseron sa PhilHealth Northern Mindanao miingon nga gusto sa gobyerno nga ipakita ang patas nga serbisyo sa tanang Pilipino.

“Kayo po aming mga kapatid na mga ‘former rebels’ ang importanteng bisita ngayon dahil dito po nais ipakita ng ating pamahalaan na tayo ay iisa—pantay-pantay po tayo. Dahil kung tayo ay magkakasakit pantay tayong makalatag sa banig ng karamdaman,” matud ni Aseron.

Gipasabot ni Aseron sa mga kanhi rebelde nga dako kaayo kini nga tabang tungod kay matud niya “Napakahirap magkasakit. Magkaproblema tayo sa gastusin at diyan po papasok ang tulong pinansyal ng PhilHealth. Bagamat bawat sakit ay may corresponding na halaga, ang importante po ay wala na tayong mga kababayan na mangamba na pumunta sa hospital dahil may programa ang PhilHealth. May katuwang na kayo sa gastusin.”

Samtang si Romulo Lapuz Jr, ang Chief sa PhilHealth Bukidnon, miingon nga ang tanang Pilipino mahimong miyembro sa PhilHealth. Busa gidasig niya ang ubang pang mga kanhi rebelde nga wala pa makaparehistro nga dili magduha-duha sa pag-adto sa ilang buhatan tungod kay andam ang PhilHealth nga mo-giya ug motabang kanila sa pagpa-enrol aron mahimong miyembro sa PhilHealth.

Dako ang pasalamat ni Marestela Bitago ngadto sa PhilHealth. Miingon siya nga makapatambal na sila sa lain-laing hospital gamit ang ilang PhilHealth ID cards.

“Nalipay ko’g dako kay sulod sa pito ka tuig sa akong pagka-aktibista, karon nako napamatud-an nga naa gyud ang tabang sa gobyerno, labi na sa mga kabus. PhilHealth member na ko karon. Dako kaayo ni ug ikatabang sa akong pamilya. Busa nagpasalamat ko’g dako sa Philhealth,” dugang ni Bitago. (BGE/PIA 10-Bukidnon)

12 ka mga FR nakadawat og P360K livelihood kits gikan sa DOLE-10

MALITBOG, Bukidnon (PIA)–Nagdala og bag-ong pagla-um ang bag-ong tuig tungod kay ang 12 ka mga kanhi rebelde ubos sa ‘Hinanaling Tabang’ sa 16th Infantry (Maglilingkod) Battalion nakadawat og livelihood starter kits gikan sa Department of Labor and Employment–Region 10 (DOLE-10) sa pakigtambayayong sa Malitbog local government unit (LGU), Enero 6.

Matag usa kanila nakadawat sa tag P30,000 nga kantidad sa livelihood starter kits para sa Rice Trading nga gihatag pinaagi sa DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

Ang DILP usa sa mga programa sa DOLE nga nagsuporta sa pagpatuman sa Executive Order No. 70 (EO 70) sa pag-institutionalize sa Whole-of-Nation Approach nga nagtumong sa pagtabang sa mga ‘marginalized groups’ pinaagi sa paghatag ug malungtarong kita.

Si Gergie Liponhay aka Jayto, kanhi commander sa New People’s Army (NPA) ug usa sa mga nakadawatsa maong tabang, nipadayag sa iyang pasalamat sa gobyerno ug nag-awhag sa iyang kanhing mga kauban nga mobiya na sa armadong pakigbisog ug mopahimulos sa serbisyo nga gikan sa gobyerno.

“Kami nagpasalamat ug dako sa gobyerno tungod kay nagpakabana sila sa amo. Tungod kay naa nay presensya ang gobyerno, dili nami mobalik sa bukid. Gi-awhag namo ang among mga kauban nga naa pa karon sa kabukiran nga mana-og na tungod kay dili kita pasagdan sa atong gobyerno,” panawagan ni Liponhay.

Ang ‘Hinanaling Tabang o Dinalian nga Tabang’ sa 16th Infantry Battalion maoy usa sa labing maayong gawi sa unit nga nagsilbi sa mga kanhi rebelde pinaagi sa paghatag ug kapuy-an ug akomodasyon, sustento sa pagkaon, livelihood packages, ug pagpadali sa ilang pagpalista sa Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program kon E-CLIP.

Uban sa padayon nga panawagan alang sa kalinaw, ang 16IB padayon nga nakigtambayayong sa lain-laing ahensya sa gobyerno aron matabangan ang mga kanhing rebelde nga magsugod ug mahiusa pag-usab sa katilingban. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

105 ka FRs sa Valencia City miyembro na sa PhilHealth

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)–Siyento singko (105) ka mga kanhi rebelde sa New People’s Army sa syudad sa Valencia, Bukidnon ang miyembro na sa PhilHealth dihang nakadawat sila sa ilang Member’s Data Records (MDRs) ug ID cards niadtong Enero 11.

Si Regional Vice President Delio A. Aseron sa PhilHealth Northern Mindanao miingon nga gusto sa gobyerno nga ipakita ang patas nga serbisyo sa tanang Pilipino.

“Kayo po aming mga kapatid na mga ‘former rebels’ ang importanteng bisita ngayon dahil dito po nais ipakita ng ating pamahalaan na tayo ay iisa—pantay-pantay po tayo. Dahil kung tayo ay magkakasakit pantay tayong makalatag sa banig ng karamdaman,” matud ni Aseron.

Gipasabot ni Aseron sa mga kanhi rebelde nga dako kaayo kini nga tabang tungod kay matud niya “Napakahirap magkasakit. Magkaproblema tayo sa gastusin at diyan po papasok ang tulong pinansyal ng PhilHealth. Bagamat bawat sakit ay may corresponding na halaga, ang importante po ay wala na tayong mga kababayan na mangamba na pumunta sa hospital dahil may programa ang PhilHealth. May katuwang na kayo sa gastusin.”

Samtang si Romulo Lapuz Jr, ang Chief sa PhilHealth Bukidnon, miingon nga ang tanang Pilipino mahimong miyembro sa PhilHealth. Busa gidasig niya ang ubang pang mga kanhi rebelde nga wala pa makaparehistro nga dili magduha-duha sa pag-adto sa ilang buhatan tungod kay andam ang PhilHealth nga mo-giya ug motabang kanila sa pagpa-enrol aron mahimong miyembro sa PhilHealth.

Dako ang pasalamat ni Marestela Bitago ngadto sa PhilHealth. Miingon siya nga makapatambal na sila sa lain-laing hospital gamit ang ilang PhilHealth ID cards.

“Nalipay ko’g dako kay sulod sa pito ka tuig sa akong pagka-aktibista, karon nako napamatud-an nga naa gyud ang tabang sa gobyerno, labi na sa mga kabus. PhilHealth member na ko karon. Dako kaayo ni ug ikatabang sa akong pamilya. Busa nagpasalamat ko’g dako sa Philhealth,” dugang ni Bitago. (BGE/PIA 10-Bukidnon)

Army Reservist from Bukidnon wins Miss Star Continental International 2023 in Vietnam

Ms. Meriam Campong, an Army Reservist from the small town of Kibawe in Bukidnon, Philippines, was crowned Miss Star Continental International 2023 on January 7th, 2023.

The pageant, held in Vietnam, saw 35 contestants from 20 countries vying for the crown.

Contestants competed in a series of challenges; including talent and formal wear competitions, as well as interviews with the judges.

Ms. Campong, who has been a reservist of the 1003rd Community Defense Center, 10th Regional Community Defense Group, Reserve Command, Philippine Army, was elated to be crowned, saying, “This experience has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I was surrounded by amazing contestants from all over the world, and to be chosen as the winner is truly an honor.”

Ms. Campong’s victory was especially meaningful as it marks the first time that a Philippine Army Reservist has ever won the title. Her win is being celebrated across the Philippines and beyond, as it is a testament to the strength and determination of those serving in the military.

Ms. Campong’s win is also a sign of hope for the future of the pageant world, as she hopes to use her newfound platform to inspire other young women to pursue their dreams, no matter their background or circumstance. (10th RCDG)

Madlos frequented CDO for medical treatment – Army

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 2 Nov) – Rebel leader Jorge Madlos aka “Ka Oris” had reportedly suffered from kidney failure and frequented this city to seek medical treatment in the months before he was allegedly slain in an encounter with government troops in Bukidnon last weekend, even as the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said that Madlos “remained healthy and strong until his last years.”

Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, chief of the Armed Forces’ Eastern Mindanao Command, said Madlos traveled to Cagayan de Oro from Cebu before going to Bukidnon where a massive military operation finally caught up with him.

“Here in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon, the NPA has a network of supporters who are doctors and nurses who can attend to Madlos,” he said.

Almerol said Madlos, 72, who hails from Dapa in Siargao Island in Surigao del Norte, had been suffering from kidney failure and used to come down to Cagayan de Oro for his dialysis treatment.

A source in Cagayan de Oro said he used to administer intravenous medication to Madlos until it stopped more than a year ago.

The source said he once accompanied the rebel leader to a hospital in Cagayan de Oro where blood samples were taken.

“Madlos did not alight from the vehicle. He had his blood sample taken right inside the vehicle by a sympathetic nurse,” the source narrated.

Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division based here, said there was no doubt that Madlos enjoyed a network of doctors and nurses in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon who were either his friends or sympathizers.

He said Madlos graduated from the state-owned Central Mindanao University in Musuan, Bukidnon.

But CPP spokesman Marco Valbuena denied that Madlos had been frequenting this city for dialysis.

“If he regularly needed to have dialysis, he would not last long in the guerilla zone,” he said over Messenger. Valbuena pointed out that it was Brawner who said that Madlos had been in the guerilla area for long.

He said that Madlos remained healthy and strong and “even joined in guerrilla maneuvers in the face of intense military operations” in the last few months.

Valbuena admitted, though, that the rebel leader had to live with a damaged urinary bladder after he was denied treatment when he was imprisoned from 1987 to 1992. “But it was not life-threatening or debilitating,” he stressed.