From the Website of OPPAP
links:  http://www.opapp.gov.ph/news/deles-conferred-1st-freedom-flame-award-peace-efforts

Deles conferred with 1st Freedom Flame Award for peace efforts

Posted on Thursday, 6 December, 2012 - 10:07

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles was conferred with the first Freedom Flame Award on Tuesday by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FnF), a German non-government organization that promotes liberal democracy, economic freedom, respect for human rights, and rule of law.

FnF said it recognized Deles for “her tireless efforts to promote a peaceful settlement for Bangsamoro.”

Deles, who heads the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), received the award at the 2nd Freedom Speech event, an annual formal dinner being organized by the FnF, in Hotel H20, Manila.

The other awardees were Senator Franklin Drilon for pushing for the sin tax bill; Congressman Erin Tañada for upholding the Freedom of Information bill; Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection Nereus Acosta and singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon for their efforts to help the environment; Cong. Niel Tupas, Jr. for his part in the Corona impeachment trial; and Rappler Editor-in-Chief Marites Vitug for her reports and reflections on the impeachment trial.

Also recognized was the family of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. Robredo’s wife Atty. Leni, and daughters Aika, Tricia, and Jillian were given the Freedom Flame award for their courage, and for being “beacons of hope for Filipinos who wish for better governance."

Deles said the award will serve as a reminder for our “continuous perseverance in pursuit of a just and lasting peace” for all Filipinos.

“Even if we are in a state of euphoria due to the recent achievement for the Bangsamoro in Mindanao, there is still so much work to be done,” she added.

“As this administration has always been committed in advancing peace, we continue to hope and persevere in putting all armed conflicts to peaceful settlements,” Deles said.
The Freedom Flamers
The Freedom Flame Award is given to personalities who “played significant roles in this year’s milestones, in events that led to allowing Filipinos to better experience freedom in the country.”
In his opening remarks, FnF Country Director Jules Maaten cited the Philippines’ two events this year: the impeachment of the chief justice and the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro. “In the years to come, we will be looking back at these events as markers of Philippine history.”

“These historic events were people-driven. They were not done because of political expediency. They were done because these are what the people wanted,” he added.
Commission on Elections Commissioner Grace Padaca, who was the chosen speaker for the annual “Freedom Speech,” defined what freedom entails.

“Real freedom is when you feel free enough to give up some of your freedom, and leave your comfort zone (to do what is right),” she said. “(For instance), if you are afraid of how (your decisions) will affect your popularity, then you are immobilized. This kind of fear is more paralyzing than polio.”

For her part, Deles defined freedom for the people in conflict-affected areas, especially those in Mindanao.

“War has brought hunger and created gaps in health and education services,” said Deles during the awards night. “With the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB), we created a roadmap that will give the people freedom from fear and insecurity.”
A milestone in the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the FAB provides for the creation of the new Bangsamoro political entity that will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

OPPAP Website

http://www.opapp.gov.ph/

links:

http://www.opapp.gov.ph/news/deles-conferred-1st-freedom-flame-award-peace-efforts

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Soldiers say No to Torture

From the Website of AFP
links:  http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/19-afp-data-articles/latest-news/1099-soldiers-say-no-to-torture

Soldiers say No to Torture

Published on Tuesday, 04 December 2012 12:56

Written by PAO, AFP

CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City – More than 200 soldiers representing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) pledged to end the act of torture, cruelty, and degrading punishment among the military ranks as they participate in the parade and exhibition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Quadrangle, today.

Led by the AFP Human Rights Office Chief, Brig. Gen. Domingo J. Tutaan Jr., the soldiers recited Article 5 of the UDHR: ‘No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’. They were joined by all other government agencies including the Department of Justice and CHR who also recited different articles of the UDHR.

The activity was held after the Bike Run and Fun Run which started earlier at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Soldiers from the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, and AFP General Headquarters joined other government agencies, civil society organizations (CSO), and human rights advocates in the event which aims to promote the National Human Rights Consciousness Week from December 4 to 10.

Cadets from the Philippine National Police Academy performed a silent drill before the participants bike and run towards the CHR Quadrangle. There, runners and bikers conducted an interfaith prayer, then heads and representatives of the different government agencies, CSOs, and HR advocates signed a commitment to promote and continuously adhere to the principles of the Human Rights. Participants then reaffirmed their commitment as HR Advocates as they recite the Oath on Human Rights.

This year’s National Human Rights Consciousness Week which is anchored with the theme “My Voice Counts in Ending Impunity: I work for human rights-based governance” enjoins all government agencies to celebrate the week through simple and appropriate activities. This is aimed at making the people aware of their basic human rights.

In line with the week-long celebration, the AFP through the AFPHRO will be conducting activities to heighten the soldiers’ commitment and responsibilities as Human Rights Advocates. On December 6, senior officers holding key positions in the AFP will join the CHR led by Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales in a round table discussion at the La Breza Hotel, Quezon City.

This will be followed by a Top-Level Dialogue between the two parties.
On December 9, the AFP will partake in the HR Music Fest at the QC Memorial Circle with the GHQ Band and GHQ Choral will be performing together with other Filipino artists. The AFPHRO will also attend the 2nd International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Summit on December 11.
The celebration of the National Human Rights Consciousness Week is in time for the upcoming 77th Anniversary of the AFP on December 21, where soldiers and other stakeholders will celebrate another year of fruitful Human Rights-centred campaign for peace and development.

“The continuous and active participation of our soldiers in activities like this signifies our vigour and strong drive towards the promotion and protection of the Human Rights. The AFP had been doing similar efforts itself to manifest our dedication on Human Rights advocacy for we believe that it is one of the key in achieving a just and lasting peace for our country,” Tutaan said.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines assures the people that we will continue to defend and protect human dignity in all aspects of our operations. We hope that through active participation with other stakeholders and civil society organizations, our efforts to advocate human rights will continue to bear fruit,” AFP Chief of Staff, General Jessie D. Dellosa said.

AFP Websites

http://www.afp.mil.ph/

links:

http://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/19-afp-data-articles/latest-news/1099-soldiers-say-no-to-torture

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From the Website of MILF
links:  http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2976:biaf-110th-base-command-holds-military-refresher-course-training-and-peace-advocacy&catid=31:general&Itemid=41

BIAF 110th Base Command Holds Military Refresher Course Training and Peace Advocacy

By: Abu Saifulhaqq
December 6, 2012 News: Camp Othman bin Al Affan, Bangsamoro Homeland – The Bangamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) 110th Base Command under Jonar Mustapha successfully conducted a military refresher course for its two hundred seventy five (275) members last November 29, 2012.
“The purpose of this training is for issuance of military certificate and name tag”, said one of the training instructors. “This is just a retraining because all have already undergone military trainings as early as 1995”, he continued. More than 2000 individuals mostly relatives of graduating BIAF members witnessed the occasion.

BIAF Central Committee delegations headed by Deputy Chief of Staff Sonny Davao, Thoks Ibrahim, Ustadz Gandawali from the General Staff and GS Legal Adviser Atty. Padido Pigkaulan were also present during the culmination of the activity. Peace Advocacy followed after the military drilling and formation had been completed.

During the program a welcome address was given by the barangay captain in the area who preferred to be unnamed. In his message, he thanked BIAF leadership for inviting him. He appealed to the leadership of the BIAF to help in the maintenance of peace and order in their barangay by curving out drug abuses and motorbike carjacking. He then warned his constituents to immediately cease from doing illegal acts. “The Mujahideens according to him can arrest anyone during operations right in their own households once they commit illegal activities.” So please do not wait for that time to come”, the barangay captain further said.

On his message, Base Commander Junar Mustapha urged all Mujahideens (BIAF Members) “to desist from engaging acts prohibited by Islam. As BIAF members you are role models. People are watching you, if anyone of you commits mistake it reflects the whole organization”. The 110th Base Command Military Discipline was emphasized.  “The community must feel your services because our legitimate grievances and the entire Bangsamoro were the reasons why we exist” and why we struggle for self-determination and freedom.

Toks Ebrahim who explained the rationale of the assembly said, “The purpose of enlightening the people on the provisions of the Framework Agreement is to provide the people correct information so that they will not be misguided. Other sectors that undertake information disseminations pertaining to the framework agreement misguide the people and create confusions”.

He reminded the audience especially the BIAF to be watchful and vigilant because some   people are taking advantage of the situation. In the Zamboanga Peninsula there are people disguising as BIAF members who sell bio-data form worth 500.00 each allegedly intended as an instrument for applying as Bangsamoro Police”. “It is false because normalization is being discussed as part of the remaining agenda, he added”.

“At this point BIAF members and the Bangsamoro should act properly and disciplined because the whole world is watching after the signing of the Framework Agreement.” “I am appealing to you BIAF members to refrain from wearing your official military uniform and carrying guns in public because it is improper neither advisable, he added”.

In his inspirational message, Deputy Chief of Staff Sonny Davao called upon all Bangsamoro tribes “to be united and rally behind the FAB. This is not solely for the tribes in the core and adjacent territories but for all Bangsamoro that includes the areas not covered by the Bangsamoro Government like Davao Region”.

“The signing in Manila of the agreement on October 15, 2012 doesn’t mean that victory has been attained. It is just the beginning of a long journey. A lot of work has still to be done. We just finished the first step onwards to the remaining steps. All Bangsamoro must prepare both physically and mentally”, he stressed.

A discussion on the contents of the FAB content was facilitated by Atty. Padido Pigkaulan. “The Framework Agreement signed in Manila is the most democratic and acceptable approach made by Philippine government in dealing with Moro quest for self-determination. The Transition Commission and the Transition Authority are mechanisms that form part of the agreement to provide smooth transfer of power to future Bangsamoro Government”, he explained.

“I urge you to help us explain to your non-Muslims and IP friends that under this agreement their rights would be protected, their religious practices would be respected and their political participation in the government would be assured.” Atty. Pigkaulan ended.
After the advocacy, the Mujahideens again made a formation. Shabs Campong of the GS Training Department handed over to the Mujahideens their certificate of training. The activity ended with a Mubaya’ah, an oath of allegiance while an ustadz (learned Muslim) read Qur’anic verses while the Mujahideens hold their hands together to seek Allah’s guidance for them to continue upholding the teachings of Islam and the principles of the MILF.

MILF Website

http://www.luwaran.com/home/

links: 

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2976:biaf-110th-base-command-holds-military-refresher-course-training-and-peace-advocacy&catid=31:general&Itemid=41

BANGSMORO FRAMEFORK

http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2916:freamworkagreement&catid=348:agreement&Itemid=552

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NPA thwarts fascist Army brigade-wide clearing operation for Japanese banana firm in Magpet

From the Website of PRWC CPP-NPA-NDF
links:  http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2012/12/npa-thwarts-fascist-army-brigade-wide.html

NPA thwarts fascist Army brigade-wide clearing operation for Japanese banana firm in Magpet

Isabel Santiago
Herminio Alfonso Command, NPA-Southern Mindanao
December 4, 2012

The Guerilla Front 53 Herminio Alfonso Operations Command staved off a platoon of the 57th Infantry Battalion in a counter-defensive ambush that killed one fascist troop and wounded several others, December 3, 11:40 am at Mt. Makaindos, Brgy. Amabel, Magpet, North Cotabato.  After the hour-long battle, the AFP troops fled and left on the scene their medical supplies; later their casualties were met by four ambulance units at Brgy. Amabel. It was the second counter-defensive NPA action after its November 26 encounter with members of the 10th Special Forces Company (SFC)-Philippine Army. Three AFP troops were killed and six others wounded in that earlier battle which lasted for about 30 minutes at 9:30 in the morning, contrary to the military's propaganda of no reported casualties. 

The sustained NPA tactical offensives in Magpet was meant to punish the 602nd Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division-Philippine Army for its clearing operations that left a trail of abuses against the peasant masses since its operation started last November 15. The Army has intensified its already abusive  operations to pave the way for the entry of Japanese investors Hitocho Group of Companies who are the new capitalists of the banana company, Dole Philippines. The military has waved its baton of terror, as it plays escort to protect the aggressive expansion of banana plantation in the area. Using resources and taxpayers money under the auspices of Oplan Bayanihan, and funds siphoned from Japanese capitalists, the 602nd Brigade-6th ID bares its fascist fangs, displays its deceptive "peace and development" camouflage, and makes hinterland villages virtual garrisons of controlled population. 

The NPA is determined to thwart every military attack, punish the butchers and criminals in the 6th ID and defend the masses.The 57th IB and the 10th SFC troops are hated by the masses in North Cotabato. The 57th IB Civil Military Operation Battallion Company victimized the masses, detained and tortured a civilian before he was released; in Brgy. Salingsing, they stole chickens, used up the wood saplings, threw away rice, made peasant leaders to wait under the heat of the sun, and in sitio Lubas, Brgy. Amabel, threatened the peasants by saying the latter would be massacred if the military gets hit by the NPAs. This is the same military unit that has used children as guides for its counter-revolutionary operations. Both the 57th IB and the 10th SFC were the same military units responsible for the brutal killing of civilians Ramon Batoy and Italian missionary Fr. Pops Tentorio in October last year in North Cotabato.

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NDF calls for relief, rehabilitation for Pablo victims

Rubi Del Mundo
NDFP-Southern Mindanao
December 6, 2012

The National Democratic Front Southern Mindanao commiserates with the victims of supertyphoon Pablo and calls for the massive rescue, relief and rehabilitation assistance to the more than 160,000 people affected by the December 4 tragedy. The NDF has also urged its allied revolutionary organizations to raise funds, seek donations and contributions for the victims.


As the typhoon's death toll and the casualties near to a thousand two days after the typhoon, no relief operations have arrived in the towns of Boston, Cateel and Bagangga. Search and rescue operations have not extended into far-flung barangays in Monkayo, New Bataan and Compostela towns in  Compostela Valley province. Roads have not yet been cleared of felled trees and structures and bridges are still destroyed, preventing precious relief goods from being accessed by the victims. Accessibility to damaged areas have been limited to poblacion areas in Comval and Davao Oriental provinces.

The inaction and incompetence by the GPH in the face of this tragedy, is foreshadowed by the pronouncements of the reactionary environment and disaster officials who have blamed affected residents for their "complacency" and failing to heed the state's warning and earlier calls for "preventive evacuation."  The reactionary government also point to rampant small-scale mining and logging in the affected areas--areas which were considered already "disaster-prone" in the state's so-called geo-hazard map. It was an old script taken out the Sendong tragedy: denuded forests plus failure of the people to relocate aggravated the impact of a natural calamity. It was a ready, convenient answer by a government that has failed in putting into place sufficient preparations and responding to the needs of its people.

The ineptness highlights the vast irony: poor disaster-preparedness by a state that looks upon Comval and Davao Oriental as resource-rich localities in the country. Nowhere can we see the hundreds of million of pesos of taxpayers's money out of Comval's mining, agribusiness and Davao Oriental's logging resources working for the victims of this calamity. Local capitalists and foreign large-scale mining salivate over the estimated 189 million metric tons of gold deposits mostly found in Mt. Diwata and nickel deposits of 490.7 million metric tons in Comval and Davao Oriental. And yet, as tragedies strike the resource-laden but poor communities, all the government can do is to deliver piecemeal assistance. Despite the billions of pesos allocated by the US-Aquino regime in AFP modernization, in the implementation of the fascist Oplan Bayanihan, and in disaster-related technological upgrade, the high-tech gadgets have failed to save the lowly peasant families, the families of small-scale miners and the ordinary banana plantation workers.

As the revolutionary forces help in the relief and rehabilitation, the people, including the families of the victims of the calamity should struggle to hold accountable those responsible for the loss of lives and property. The grave losses suffered by the people highlights the need to stop environmental plunder by indiscriminate large-scale mining, expanding large-scale plantations, and logging operations that are being abetted by the US-Aquino regime's pro-capitalist economic policies.

CPP/NPA/NDF Website

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/

http://www.ndfp.net/joom15/




links:

http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2012/12/npa-thwarts-fascist-army-brigade-wide.html
http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2012/12/ndf-calls-for-relief-rehabilitation-for.html

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From the Website of INTERAKSYON
links: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/49757/150-families-flee-fighting-between-npa-and-army-in-north-cotabato

150 families flee fighting between NPA and Army in North Cotabato

By: Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com
December 6, 2012 8:44 AM

Google map showing the location of Magpet, North Cotabato

InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5

MANILA, Philippines -- (UPDATE - 9:09 a.m.) More than 150 families have fled their homes in three villages of Magpet town in North Cotabato where government troops have been battling New People's Army guerrillas since Monday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported.

Meanwhile, two NPA fighters were killed and another was wounded in a clash with government troops in the town of Leon B. Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte province Wednesday.

The fighting in Magpet broke out around 11 a.m. December 3 when the rebels allegedly fired on soldiers and militiamen operating on the boundaries of Barangays Amabel, Noah and Bagumbayan, killing militia member Daniel Mahasan.

The firefight caused 154 families to evacuate to their villages’ multi-purpose halls, the NDRRMC said. Local officials have provided relief goods and security to the evacuees.

In earlier press statement, the Army's 6th Infantry Division said the discovery of at least six major NPA camps in Magpet prompted the unit to conduct a series of operations over the past two weeks.

Colonel Prudencio Asto, 6th ID spokesman, said the operations were guided by information from "concerned civilians who have been fed up with intimidation and extortion activities of the NPAs in the area."

“The NPAs are now on the run following our capture of their major camps in Magpet. Months ago, we also discovered several NPA camps in Makilala and Arakan. The NPAs are rapidly losing popular support from the people,” Lieutenant Colonel Noel dela Cruz, commander of the 57th Infantry Battalion, claimed.

In Zamboanga del Norte, Captain Alberto Caber of the 1st ID said patrolling troops checking on reports of alleged NPA extortion clashed with 20 rebels in Sitio Napolan. The soldiers seized an M16 rifle.

Police have set up checkpoints to intercept the fleeing rebels.

INTERAKSYON Website

http://www.interaksyon.com/national

links:

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/49757/150-families-flee-fighting-between-npa-and-army-in-north-cotabato

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