INSURGENCY WAR. A total of 18 new soldiers arrive at the headquarters of the Philippine Army's 11th Infantry Battalion in Negros Oriental to boost the fight against insurgency on Monday (July 18, 2022). One of the soldiers is a former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army who had previously surrendered and gone through some processes before enlistment. (Photo courtesy of the 11IB, PA) DUMAGUETE CITY - The 11th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in Siaton, Negros Oriental welcomed the arrival of more troops to fight insurgency and promote peace and development in the province. A former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) who has become a full-fledged soldier was among the 18 servicemen that arrived at the battalion headquarters in Barangay Salag, Siaton on Monday afternoon. Lt. Col. Roderick Salayo, 11IB commanding officer, said on Tuesday the ex-NPA rebel had gone through the right processes
President Rodrigo Duterte opened his six-year presidency with a threat - that journalists are not exempted from assassination “if you’re a son of bitch” - about a month before he was inaugurated into power. This cemented his hostility towards the media. And it did not end here.
FORMER REBELS. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson greets former communist rebels during the turnover of government financial assistance to former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army rebels at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on June 22, 2022. During his inauguration address on Saturday (June 25, 2022), Lacson said the provincial government is eager to welcome back those who are still active in the rebel movement. (Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental) BACOLOD CITY - Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has renewed his call to Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) rebels to return to the fold of the law, saying that "choosing peace is always the better choice." Lacson issued the invitation in his inaugural address after taking his oath for a second term during the ceremonies held at the provincial capitol grounds here on Saturday. "To our Negrense brothers and sisters who are still active in
AID FOR EX-REBEL. A former rebel is among those who received financial assistance from the government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on June 22, 2022. He was among the 27 beneficiaries who surrendered to the Army's 79th, 94th and 62nd Infantry Battalions last year.(Photo courtesy of PIO Negros Occidental) BACOLOD CITY - Some 27 former rebels and militias of the Communist Party of Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in Negros Occidental have received almost PHP770,000 in cash assistance under the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) earlier this week. Data from the Philippine Army's 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) on Friday showed the recipients included 19 combatants, who were given immediate assistance and livelihood assistance of PHP570,000, and two, with PHP109,000 as firearm remuneration. Six Militia ng Bayan members also got an immediate assis
IP SHELTER. Houses inside the tribal village of the Higaonon indigenous community in Sitio Eva, Barangay Samay in Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Region 10 and the Army's 4th Infantry Division have started discussions on building more houses for indigenous people. (PNA photo by Nef Luczon) CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development in Region 10 (DHSUD-10) has begun preparations for expanding a housing community of Indigenous Peoples (IP) in Northern Mindanao in partnership with the Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID). DHSUD-10 Director Ariel Abragan has met with Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, 4ID commander, on how building more IP villages in the region will become one of the key projects under peace building in the hinterlands. "This project fills the gap in our long-standing fight against insurgency. By providing basic shelter to our indigenous communities, the government is a step clo