ANGPahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas

Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-Maoismo

Engl ish Edition

Vol . XLVI I I No. 16

August 21, 2017

www.phi l ippinerevolution. info

The US-Duterte regime's nearly 100-day Marawi siege is now a fullblown war of suppression against various Moro groups which havetaken upon themselves to continue the armed struggle to defend

and advance the Moro people's right to self-determination. Its relentlessairstrikes and bombings of the city have resulted in widespread destruc-tion of property and livelihood, and the deaths of at least a thousand ci-vilians. This has brought about economic destruction and a massive hu-manitarian crisis.

The intensity of Duterte's waragainst the Moro people has takengenocidal proportions, forcing them tokneel to his whims and decisions. Ithas given the AFP the license to un-dertake mass killings, arbitrary arrestsand detentions, torture, harassments

and abuses against civilians. The sol-diers have free rein in plundering per-sonal properties of Marawi residents,from the millions of pesos of businessearnings to house appliances of or-dinary families.

The Duterte regime has servedcontinued on p. 3

6 firearms seizedin BicolTHE NEW PEOPLE'S Army(NPA)-Bicol confiscated sixfirearms from two consecutiveambuscades this August. Fiveoffensives were likewiselaunched by NPA units inSouthern Mindanao, Far SouthMindanao, North CentralMindanao and Central Luzon.The island of Negros likewiserecorded 17 armed actionssince January this year. Mean-while, at least four offensiveswere launched by the NPA-Southern Tagalog last July.

Bicol. The NPA-Sorsogon(Celso Minguez Command orCMC) ambushed 30 elements ofthe 31st IB, at 5:25 a.m. lastAugust 7 in Brgy. Casili, Gubat.Four soldiers were immediatelykilled by a command-detonatedexplosive, including 2Lt. LeeTramedal, the commanding of-ficer of Alpha Coy, as well asSSgt. Alan Bercasio, SSgt. Rol-len Cabangon and another sol-dier. Seven more werewounded.

Confiscated from themwere three M4s, magazines andammunitions, and other milit-ary equipment. The firefightlasted for 45 minutes.

According to the CMC, theRed fighters seized threesachets of shabu fromTramedal's military pack. Thisconfirms the long-standingknowledge of the residents that31st IB troopers use illegaldrugs.

The second ambush was

EDITORIAL

End the US-Duterteregime's anti-Moro war

August 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN2

also know as a US creation.More groups have joined the

armed Moro groups, including theMaute group, which has bonded to-gether in Marawi City for a rido (clanwar). What started as a ridobetween rival clans is now a ridoagainst the AFP, against the US andthe Duterte regime.

In imposing martial law, Dutertemanaged to consolidate his controlover the reactionary and ensure theperpetuation of his power. He sweptaside the civilian authority of localMoro officials. He managed to si-lence Moro groups with threats andbribes. He poured funds into theAFP. The state has already spent P3billion for the Philippine Army inthree months alone, excluding thedaily P1.3 million spent for missilesand rockets for jetfighters and heli-copters. He has reportedly raisedmillions of pesos from his oligarchcronies to benefit wounded and slainsoldiers.

In launching the anti-Moro warin Marawi and all-out war in the en-tire country, the Duterte regime hascompletely subsumed itself to thedictates and interests of US imperi-alism. He welcomed US aid andweapons with open arms. This Au-gust, he warmly received inMalacañang US State DepartmentSec. Rex Tillerson, a representativeof American monopoly capitalists.

As the war in Marawi rages, theMoro people's armed resistance isspreading. They are intent on takingup arms to defend their interests andwelfare. Together with the NewPeople's Army, the Bangsamoroarmed revolution for self-determin-ation is bound to unprecedentedlyadvance in the years to come.

Editorial: End the US-Duterte regime'santi-Moro war 1

6 firearms seized in Bicol 1

Editorial: Unite the people to resist

Duterte's heightened tyrannical rule 4

Fight against the anti-drug campaign 5

Uncover the truth behind Marawi siege 6

The US-created AFP-LRR 10

Destruction of tricycles condemned 11

Bungkalan in Batangas 11

10th International Day of Minorities 11

Human rights violations in Palawan 11

CA rejects Sec. Judy Taguiwalo 12

Duterte’s 2018 budget is anti-poor 13

Vol XLVI I I No. 16 | Agosto 21, 2017

Contents

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Marawi to the AFP and the US on asilver platter. It gave the US a rarechance to undertake more extensivemilitary intervention. The US tookthe opportunity to launch a wide-spread military operation similar toSyria (a combination of airstrikesand special forces operations) in thecountry, alongside dumping old andobsolete weapons and undertakevarious military exercises betweenits troops and that of the AFP.

That the US aims to reclaimMarawi as its base and maintain alarge and more permanent numberof troops here has become clear.A 1953 decree allocat-ing 80% of the cityas its military re-servation has beenrevived. The US isalso intent ondrawing up a newmilitary treatyusing the "ISIS"black scare in thecountry and in

Asia as its justification.Duterte has been portraying his

war and the AFP's Marawi siege as a"war against terrorism" and againstthe foreign "ISIS" as a desperateattempt to conceal the real reasonsof the growing armed resistance inMarawi and other parts of theBangsamoro. He has mistakenlypresumed that his martial law de-claration in Mindanao will suppressthe struggles of the Moro andFilipino peoples. Instead of beingcowed, Duterte has only fanned their

growing anger. Their contemptfor Duterte is unprecedented,

who even insultinglyclaims having Maranao

blood. They are fullyaware of the reas-

ons behind theattack againsttheir city atthe pretextof fightingthe ISISwhich they

ANG

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cppinformationbureau@gmail.com Read the special report about the

truth behind the AFP's Marawi

siege on page 6.

ANG BAYAN August 21 , 2017 3

launched by the NPA-Catanduanes(Nerissa San Juan Command or NS-JC) against the elements of theCatanduanes Police Public SafetyCompany last August 10, at 12:30noontime, in Brgy. Sagrada, Viga.

The NSJC seized two M16 riflesand a 9mm Glock pistol, magazinesand ammunition.

Two policemen were killed,while nine others were wounded,including P/Insp. Montes. Mean-while, a police officer who sur-rendered was treated humanely bythe comrades. One Red fighter, KaJeremy, was martyred in the battle.

Southern Mindanao. A memberof the 60th IB who was active in theDuterte regime's anti-Lumad cam-paign was killed in a partisan oper-ation last August 8 in Sitio Meg-cauwayan, Brgy. Tapak, PaquibatoDistrict in Davao City. According tothe NPA-Davao City-Bukidnon Sub-regional Command, the 60th IB isaggressive in exploiting the Lumadin its counterinsurgency campaign.

Two soldiers of the 71st IBwere likewise killed in a partisanoperation by the ComVal-DavaoGulf Subregional Command, at10:30 a.m. last August 14, in Brgy.Poblacion, Mawab, Compostela Val-ley. According to the residents, PFCJerome Adlawan and his companionwere involved in a series of Lumadand peasant killings in Mawab,Mabini and Pantukan.

Meanwhile, 14 members of theparamilitary group Alamara sur-rendered to the unit of the DavaoCity-Bukidnon Subregional Com-mand last August 20. According tothe Lumads, they were actively be-ing exploited by the 60th IB in itscounterinsurgency campaign in or-der to sow discord within theMatigsalog tribe in Talaingod andnearby municipalities. The Lumadsadmitted being employed by the60th IB in terrorizing and drivingaway their fellow Lumads, destroy-ing a school in Sitio Labuo and inthe heinous murder of student

Alibando Tingkas inJanuary 17,2016.

Far SouthMindanao.On August13, the NPA-Far SouthMindanao(ValentinePalamineCommandor VPC) attackedthe armed personnel ofSilvicultural Industries Inc., one ofthe subsidiaries of David M. Con-sunji Incorporated (DMCI), in SitioBermuda, Barangay Sto. Niño,Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat. Threeguards were killed and some werewounded. These guards weretrained by the 38th IB-CAA and areculpable in many cases of murderand other crimes against Lumadsand peasants in Sultan Kudarat andSouth Cotabato.

North Central Mindanao. TheNPA-South Central Bukidnon (SCB)Subregional Command set off acommand-detonated explosiveagainst operating troops from the8th IB and 72nd Division ReconCompany in Sitio Binangkasan,Brgy. Canangaan, Cabanglasan,Bukidnon last August 5 at around 1p.m.

Central Luzon. The NPA-Pan-gasinan announced the successfulambush by the Red fighters againstthe PNP-RPSB on July 28, at around9:30 a.m., at Villa Verde Road,Barangay Sta. Maria East, San Nic-olas. Two members of the RPSB, in-cluding Sgt. Aris Tamondong, werekilled and two were wounded.

According to the NPA-Pangas-inan, the successful ambush sup-ports the struggle of peasants andindigenous people of San Nicolas indefending their farms and ancestrallands.

Southern Tagalog. A unit ofthe NPA-Laguna (Cesar BatraloCommand or CBC) harassed troopsbelonging to the 80th IB on July 25,

"6 firearms. . . , " from p. 1

5:30 a.m. Two were killed and threewere wounded among the soldiers.That night, another unit of the CBCset off a command-detonated ex-plosive against elements of theRPSB-4A in Barangay Mahipon,Cavinti, Laguna. A police officer waskilled.

Before this, the Red fightersharassed the RPSB in Barangay SanAntonio, Kalayaan on July 20, at10:30 p.m. One RPSB element waswounded.

Meanwhile, a soldier was killedin a sniping operation by a unit ofthe NPA-Mt. Sierra Madre (RosarioLodronio Rosal Command) inMauban, Quezon on July 24.

Negros. In a summing-up by theNPA-Negros (Apolinario GatmaitanCommand or AGC), the NPA in theisland has launched a total of 17armed actions from January untilJuly of this year. Ten high poweredfirearms and 15 pistols, along withvarious ammunition and militaryequipment, were seized from theseoffensives. Most relevant of thesetactical offensives was the ambushlaunched against the PNP-Guihulngan last July 21.

According to the AGC, in thepast six months, the NPA also suc-cessfully meted out punishment on14 landgrabbers, criminal elementsand intelligence agents of the303rd IBde. These are involved inmany cases of human rights viola-tions and anti-peasant activities,including the killing of four activ-ist-leaders.

August 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN4

Unite the people to resistDuterte's heightenedtyrannical rule

Rodrigo Duterte is obsessed with his strongmanambitions. He is set on establishing himself as a

fascist despot. His resort to tyrannical methods hasheightened since having unravelled as a camp-followerof the US imperialists. He has become ever more brazenand unapologetic in carrying out repressive policies andmeasures.

He has escalated the campaignof extrajudicial killings againststreet peddlers and users of shabu.He expresses satisfaction over newsthat more than a hundred have beenkilled by his police in three days. Hehas publicly applauded the murder-ous rampage of his police force andhas repeated his vow to save themfrom punishment, stoking greaterpublic indignation after police werecaught on camera manhandling a17-year old boy prior to his fatalshooting. There is widespread clam-or for justice for all the victims ofDuterte's anti-people "war againstdrugs."

This escalation of police killingscomes at the heels of the discoveryof a P6.4 billion shipment of shabufrom China at a warehouse of theBureau of Customs. The involve-ment of Duterte scion Paolo and hisDavao gang of businessmen cumdrug smugglers has also been ex-posed. Duterte has defended his ap-pointee at the BOC despite (or per-haps because of) the drugsmuggling.

Duterte is himself rousing wide-spread public suspicion that his"war against drugs" is nothing but asmokescreen for a major turf waramong major drug syndicates, andthat he has been using the police toprovide favor and protection for onesyndicate against another or that hehimself is a drug kingpin. Employingtrusted and tested police officers,he liquidated the Parojinogs ofOzamiz City, long known for con-trolling the illegal drug trade in

large parts ofMindanao and else-where.

He has like-wise used hiswar againstdrugs as ablanket toolagainst hispolitical rivals. He brandishes histhick book of dossiers of supposeddrug personalities which not eventhe police chief can cite a basisfor. He has arbitrarily included andexcluded people and has used thelist to arm-twist rivals with threatsof killings showcasing theParojinogs and Espinozas (of Al-buerra, Leyte) in order to forcethem to accede to his political andcriminal agenda.

The brutality of Duterte's "waragainst drugs" is matched only bythe brutality of his all-out waragainst the revolutionary forcesunder Oplan Kapayapaan, his im-position of martial law and suspen-sion of the writ of habeas corpus inMindanao and the anti-Moro warand siege of Marawi. In the coun-tryside, the military rules and re-spects no rights or freedom. Killingsof peasants and national minoritiesrun unabated. It has relentlesslycarried out aerial bombing, shellingand strafing of civilian communities.Almost half a million people haveforcibly evacuated.

Duterte has used his congres-sional supermajority to earn ap-proval and extension of hisMindanao martial law. He has also

rammed through his new tax lawsand is seeking quick approval of his2018 budget. With complete ornearly complete control of con-gress, Duterte aims to push forcharter change to enshrine theneoliberal policies of liberalization,privatization and deregulation andrealize his ambition of completelymonopolizing power under theguise of establishing a federal gov-ernment.

Duterte wants everyone to re-main silent and blindly accept hisplanned infrastructure-binge withall its burdensome debt deals andcommissions. He has repeatedlythreatened the Supreme Courtagainst issuing TROs and had hispolitical allies file an impeachmentcase against the chief justice.Threats of impeachment have alsobeen dished out against other offi-cials who have not been cooperat-ive with the Duterte regime such asOmbudsman Conchita Carpio-Mor-ales.

Duterte has completely aban-doned his cordial relations with thenational democratic movementhaving failed to entice the people'srevolutionary forces to silence theirguns in a protracted ceasefire prior

EDITORIAL

ANG BAYAN August 21 , 2017 5

to substantively addressing theroots of the civil war. His congres-sional minions have voted to rejectthe appointment of social activistJudy Taguiwalo as social welfaresecretary, signalling his terminationof earlier efforts to explore a pos-sible alliance with the Left. He hasrepeatedly declared he no longerwants peace negotiations with theNDFP.

The Duterte regime has carriedout policies that favor foreign bigcapitalists, bourgeois compradors,big landlords, bureaucrat capitalistsand the fascist military and police.It plans to impose additional taxburdens and pursues a debt-driveninfrastructure program which arebound to be detrimental to thepeople's welfare. It has waged warsof death and destruction againstthe people, especially against thepeasants, the Moro and nationalminority peoples, the workers andthe urban poor.

As a result, the Duterte regimehas become increasingly politicallyisolated from the people and hasresorted to more and more tyran-nical measures to perpetuate itselfin power. No amount of media andsocial media manipulation and news

and public opinion fakery can with-stand the assertion of the truthconcerning the concrete conditionsof the oppressed and exploitedpeople.

It is the task of the Party andrevolutionary forces to unite allsectors in a broad people's alliance,provide it core strength and leader-ship in the struggle against the US-Duterte regime's tyrannical, crimin-al and corrupt rule. Indeed, manyof the Duterte regime's victims arenow rising from the depths of fearand raising their voices against hisregime.

The mass organizations and al-liances must unite and mobilize thepeople in greater numbers by in-tensifying the mass struggles ofpeasants, workers, students, theurban poor, the women, the Moroand minority peoples, the churchpeople, teachers, the migrant work-ers and their families and otherdemocratic sectors and groups.They must carry out mass strugglesand campaigns along anti-imperial-ist, anti-feudal and anti-fascistlines.

They must give attention to wa-ging a propaganda offensive againstDuterte's demagoguery. They must

encourage, unleash the initiativeand give full swing to their membersand their mass base to confront andconfute Duterte and his band ofpaid trolls in all forms of media.They can do so by carrying out reg-ular educational discussions amongtheir members and the masses inthe factories, communities, schools,offices and so on.

The broadest possible onlinenetwork of activists, propagandistsand members of the national demo-cratic mass organizations must bebuilt.

Under the direction of theParty, the New People's Army (NPA)must continue to seize nationwideinitiative, carry out more and moretactical offensives, increase thenumber of its weapons and arm arapidly increasing number of newRed fighters.

Every successful tactical of-fensive of the NPA helps shatter theclimate of shock, awe and fear im-posed by the regime's brutal warand, in turn, instills fear on thedrug-crazed Duterte. The victoriesof the NPA inspire the Filipino andMoro people to wage mass strugglesand armed resistance against theUS-Duterte regime.

The fight against the bloody anti-drug campaignAS THE NUMBER of victims of extrajudicial killings in thename of Duterte's "war against drugs" continues to in-crease, so are the enraged people condemning it.

On August 18, members of Anakbayan from the Uni-versity of the Philippines-Diliman, Polytechnic Universityof the Philippines and University of Sto. Tomas launched ablack ribbon protest in condemnation of the "war againstdrugs," particularly the killing of 17-year old Kian delosSantos. Various sectors led by KADAMAY and Rise Up forLife and Rights also staged a protest on the same day atthe Boy Scouts Rotonda in Quezon City.

"Duterte's martial law is not only in Mindanao, butalso in poor communities where drug suspects and small-time addicts and pushers are killed without even a trial,"said Fr. Gilbert Billena, spokesperson of Rise Up.

The campaign #JusticeforKian and an end to the gov-ernment's killing of its citizens with impunity spread all

over social media.This August 21, various groups, together with Stop

the Killings Network and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan,launched "Walk for Justice", which will wrap up in acandle-lighting activity at the crime scene, and a programduring de los Santos' wake.

Caloocan Archbishop Pablo David also called forjustice for the victims. According to him, the Catholicchurch will sound its bells every night from August 20 un-til November 27 as a protest on the widespread killings.

Cultural activists, including veteran directors,writers, singers and movie artists, released a statement ofcondemnation. According to the group, killing in the nameof the "war against drugs" and the exoneration of thoseresponsible, have seemingly become normal fare. Theyalso called for an end to the campaign and justice to all itsvictims.

August 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN6

and annihilated. The local policeforce did not fight. They buriedtheir firearms and left the city to-gether with the civilian evacuees.

3. The fight that erupted in Marawiwas exploited to declare martial lawin Mindanao.

The evening of May 23, Dutertedeclared the imposition of martiallaw and suspension of the writ ofhabeas corpus in the wholeMindanao.

He did this while in Russia toshow the president Vladimir Putinthat he was fighting the "ISIS" inhis own turf. At the same time, hebegged Putin for additional missilesand weapons that according to himwill be paid by the Philippines. Rus-sia ignored his request.

AFP units that are directly con-trolled, funded and trained by theUS for "counter-terrorism" tacticswere among the first deployed toMarawi. Foremost among thesewere the 2nd and 4th Light ReactionCompany. These were supported bya minimum of three battalions (49thIB, 44th IB and 15th IB), onemechanized battalion (5th) and onereconnaissance division companyunder the control of the 1st ID.

At day two, the Naval SpecialOperations Group from ZamboangaPeninsula and the 1st Scout RangerRegiment with forces from theLanao del Sur-Bukidnon boundaryreinforced these units. The AFPthrew its whole Mechanized Divisioninto Marawi (four mechanized bat-talions, one cavalry squadron andone light armored unit), and all ofits armored units (114) that weresold by the US to the AFP in 2015.Within a few days, AFP troops inMarawi reached 3,000, supportedby almost all of the Philippine AirForce's fighter planes and heli-copters. These were reinforced by

Ang Bayan Special report

Uncover the truth behindthe AFP's Marawi siege

This Ang Bayan special report seeks to put together the true picture of theAFP's siege of Marawi City. Featured here are crucial data the AFP per-

sists in covering up including the questions regarding the basis of the "ISIS"black-scare that Duterte created and inflated; and the US' central role in theinitiation and continuance of the war on Marawi City; and others.

These data were culled from reports of Party cadres carrying out directinvestigation, units of the New People's Army (NPA) deployed among theMoro masses, interviews with Marawi resident evacuees and research fromvarious public information sources.

1. The context of the Marawi war'soutbreak was rido and not rebellion.

Even before the outbreak of thewar in Marawi, a widespread ridohad long been brewing among clansof the local ruling class. Clans outof power agreed to unite and launchan armed action particularlyagainst the ruling faction headed byGandamra, the incumbent mayorwho won in the 2016 elections.They planned to seize the city hall,neutralize Camp Ranao and closedown the city's main avenues.

The clans involved here havedeep and intertwined relations. Oneclan, the Romato-Maute, had es-tablished a wide alliance when it at-tempted to oust the incumbentmayor of Butig in November 2016.Through their mother's Romatoclan, their family has direct connec-tions with Solitario/Salic, thebiggest clan in Marawi.

The plan to oust the incumbentfaction in Marawi was led by theMautes, particularly the brothersOmarkhayam and Abdullah. Theirinterest converged with the AbuSayyaf's Isnilon Hapilon's interestto establish a "Dawlah Islamiya"(Islamic State) there. To draw insupport within the city, they calledfor the "cleansing" of Marawi fromnon-Islamic ways, such as thethriving drug trafficking, prostitu-tion, alcohol intoxication, indebted-ness, karaoke and others. The pro-liferation of drugs was attributedto the AFP.

Although the brothers used IS-IS symbols and the flag, there areno indications that the group's op-erations are controlled or funded bythe Syria and Iraq-based ISIS.There are also no indications thatthe brothers had connections withother Moro groups that havepledged allegiance to the ISIS flagoutside Lanao del Sur.

2. The US' botched liquidation op-erations against Isnilon Hapilontriggered the fight.

The fight between the AFP/PNPand armed Moro groups erupted ataround 1:45 p.m. on May 23. TheAFP launched an operation similarto that in Mamasapano with the in-tent of liquidating Isnilon Hapilon inpursuit of the $5 million (P125 mil-lion) reward offered by the US.

As in the botched Mamasapanooperation, US design and control ofthe operation is evident. At the op-eration's day one, the city teemedwith US-trained and armed troops,mainly the Light Reaction Regiment(LRR) based in Fort Magsaysay inNueva Ecija. This unit was bolsteredby the US in 2004, using its ownfunds, and trained extensively forits intended military strategy. (Seerelated article on page 10)

And as in the Mamasapano in-cident too, a huge Moro force metand outfought the first AFP assaultlike a "pintakasi." Almost the wholeAFP force used by the US in thisoperation was reportedly trapped

ANG BAYAN August 21 , 2017 7

reported beheading of two workersin Butig in 2016 was because theywere AFP intelligence agents. Underthe Shari'a law, beheading is a formof capital punishment practiced byIslamic countries such as Saudi Ar-abia.

To make them appear as ter-rorists, Duterte accused the Mautegroup as being behind the bombingof the Davao City Market in theevening of September 2, 2016. In arare interview, this was stronglydenied by the group's spokesperson.

6. War of suppression against theMoro people's armed struggle

The Duterte regime ceaselesslyrepeats the story about the sup-posedly "extremist Maute group"and "terrorism of the ISIS." He in-sistently paints pictures of a "for-eign power" behind the various

Moro groups' armedstruggle in Marawi,

despite the re-peated denialsof the AFP

spokesperson.The Maute and

other groups describe their fightas their "jihad" or religious war toestablish their own governmentwithin the Philippines.

More than their unity as "ji-hadists," these armed groups areunited by their common objection tothe Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL),the proposed law drafted by theGRP and MILF to establish theirnation under the reactionary con-stitution of the Philippine constitu-tion.

Duterte thought that he wouldbe able to unite the various Morogroups under an amended BBL. Buteven the MNLF, that he has timeand again declared to be friendly tohim, could not be persuaded toabide by this.

Under the "revised" BBL, whichaccording to some Moro groups isno different from the previous BBL,Moro armed groups are required tosurrender and submit to be underthe reactionary GRP and the AFP

infantry battalions from Panay,Southern Tagalog and Bicol.

Encounters within the city werenumerous and many at close quar-ters. AFP forces were repeatedlyengaged, together with their ar-mored units, in battles that lastedfor days. Most of the units whichwere not trained for urban warfarefound it difficult to fight within thecity with criss-crossing roads andadjoining houses and buildings.

4. Armed Moro groups fought in-tensively, widely and with strength

The Maute group is not the onlygroup fighting in Marawi City. Anon-formal alliance of variousarmed Moro groups, includingformer MILF factions that are dis-gusted with the deception of thesuccessive Aquino and Duterte re-gimes, compose the biggest Moroforce entrenched in the city atpresent. Many of the younger com-manders and forces of the MILFsympathize with the Mautes espe-cially considering that the Romatoclan is powerful within its structure.The Romatos own the land whereCamp Bushra, the MILF's secondbiggest camp, is located.

In the face of the soldier's in-discriminate attacks, many of theMarawi residents have decided tofight the AFP, at their own initiativeor with the various armed Moroforces in the city.

They confront the intensity ofthe AFP attacks using self-madeguns such as the barett and explos-ives. Their reason is that if they donot fight, they will be killed by thesoldiers anyway. Some assist withthe guns while others go with thearmed groups believing they aremore secure in such company. Ac-cording to the civilians trapped inthe city, during the first day, armedgroups were even giving them foodand advising them to hide well.

Meanwhile, other Moro groupssent additional armed forces toMarawi City. One who identifiedhimself as a Maute spokespersonconfirmed that other armed groups

"crossed the water" (Lanao Lake) atdawn on May 24. By the size of theirforces, they were able to control thecity's major roads and strategicallypositioned themselves in commer-cial districts.

Last August, another armedgroup directly attacked the 55th IBdetachment at the outskirts of thecity.

5. The "ISIS" black-scare and "ter-rorism"

Ever since Duterte imposedmartial law in Mindanao andordered the Marawi City siege, hehas systematically and continuouslyused the "ISIS" black-scare andlinked this with the Maute group toenlist support for his iron-fistedmeasures. He used the "blackscare" although he has not pro-duced a thread of evidenceof ISIS pres-ence inMarawi Citynor itslinks totheMautegroup.

Manyevacueeswho wereinter-viewed said that they heard of "IS-IS" presence in their area only fromtelevision newscasts. Many alsodoubt the prevalent black graffiti "Ilove ISIS" around Marawi City be-cause this is inconsistent with thefundamentalist-religious stand ofthe ISIS.

In their area, the Maute broth-ers are known as "jihadists" whofollow a "fundamentalist" Islamicview. They have no record of hurt-ing civilians or targeting non-Is-lams. There are no accounts thatthey ever spread intense hatredagainst Christians.

A video of armed men perform-ing sacrilege on religious symbols atSt. Mary's Cathedral is being circu-lated but there is no evidence thatthis was done by the Mautes. The

August 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN8

military says are Maute atrocitiesbut from the ceaseless bombing andbrutality of the AFP. During thewar's first month only, around20,000 evacuees already showedsigns of severe depression.

Duterte's war is a genocide-likewar against the Moro people. This isDuterte's "punishment" for theMoro groups who refused to supporthis peace agenda within the BBLframework and chose to continuethe path of armed resistance.

8. Military control of informationWhen the armed conflict star-

ted in Marawi, Duterte's and theAFP's propaganda machineryheated up to spread false, incom-plete and grossly untrue informa-tion. The AFP's directive on martiallaw implementation emphasizedthat one of its key assignments was"control of information flow."

Media personnel are not al-lowed to freely gather informationin Marawi City. The military strictlycontrols their movements and theinformation they release. Many ofthem are required to report all ofthe stories supplied to them by theAFP spokesperson.

Higher military officers limit themedia's press releases and the lat-ter are required to request clear-ance for anyone they want to inter-view. Using the excuse of ensuringtheir security, they are prohibitedfrom going far from the capitol andare only fed reports and "dramat-ized" encounters.

Even members of the media ob-served how the soldiers controlledthe civilians leaving the war zone to

make sure that they follow theAFP line. A few are able to give

the media the true story butthey are quickly silenced bythe AFP and forced to re-tract. All civilians who getout of the war zone aresubjected to "profiling,"even the children.

The AFP continuesto repeat its lies regard-

ing supposed hostages of

and PNP, a matter most of thegroups promoting their self dignityrefuse to do. They cannot accept tobe integrated, or even just cooper-ate, with the reactionary militarythat has dealt countless crimesagainst their families and clans.Aside from this, it is not acceptablefor most of the Moro to subjecttheir territory, funds and resourcesto the GRP and open these to for-eign plunder and exploitation(plantations and mining).

Even among the ranks of thosewho agree with the BBL, there is anincreasing number of those who aregetting exasperated with the reac-tionary state's delay and its unful-filled promises. They are aware thatDuterte is only deceiving them be-cause until now he has not pushedthe Congress to approve it. Manyordinary Moro warriors have de-clared that they are ready to returnto armed struggle if the outcome ofthe BBL does not fulfil their aspira-tions.

7. The regime is carrying out a gen-ocidal-like war against the Moro.

Local residents depicted thesoldiers as almost "naghuhura-mentado" (running amok) especiallyduring the early days of the Marawisiege. They shot men they found inthe homes, even if those whoidentified themselves as civilians.This has been proven by a local offi-cial who dared to carry out rescueoperations during the first time theAFP allowed them to conduct "hu-manitarian operations." In front ofthe said official himself, soldiersshot two unarmed menwho were pleading to berescued.

The AFP carries outunmitigated bombingand destruction ofhomes, infra-structure,mosques, schoolsand economy ofthe whole MarawiCity and adjoiningtowns whose eco-

nomies are linked to the former.Duterte is turning a deaf ear to theMoro's widespread appeal to stopthe bombings because of thecalamitous destruction to their livesand property.

The AFP drops 250-pound (oralmost 115 kilos) bombs, rocketsand other explosives from US-sup-plied planes and helicopters. Ac-cording to residents, there are fre-quent incidents of midnight bombingfrom unknown vehicles believed tobe unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)or armed drones of the US.

The AFP tries to make it appearthat only 80 civilians have beenkilled. But based on the recordednumber of missing persons and thecorpses brought to the funeralhomes, estimates rise to almost athousand civilians killed during thefirst month of the bombing andstrafing of the AFP. Many of themwere purportedly Maute membersor sympathizers. Marawi local offi-cials' reports prove that corpses arestrewn all over and the "smell ofdeath" blankets the communities.

More than 400,000 residents inMarawi and nearby towns havebeen forced to evacuate to IliganCity and other places. Most of themare cramped in evacuation centersin very miserable conditions.Meanwhile, there are widespreadcases of soldiers looting the resid-ents' abandoned homes, plunderingtheir savings, jewelry, computersand other possessions.

Civilians who are able to escapefrom the war zone experiencesevere trauma not from what the

ANG BAYAN August 21 , 2017 9

residents here face eviction. Thecity's remaining 20% land is titled toseveral private individuals.

10. In US' eyes: Marawi is the newSyria

The AFP design of the Marawisiege and destruction is very con-sistent with the US style of inter-vention in cities that have strongresistance movements like Syria,Iraq and Afghanistan. Using theDuterte-created "ISIS" black-scare,the US concealed its direct armedintervention behind the screen of"advise on technical matters." Inreality, the US directed the wholeoperation through its so-called JointSpecial Operations Task Force Tri-dent, a small group under thePentagon and composed of the high

officials of their specialforces and private con-

tractors. According tothe spokesperson ofthe US militaryspokesperson him-self, they expectthis task force to

grow and the scopeof its operations to

expand in the nextweeks.

Last August, while the AFP waspreparing for its "last offensive"against the armed Moro, thereemerged the US intention to carryout direct airstrikes in Marawi basedon a "new treaty" for "collectiveself-defense." It appears that the USis pushing the revision of the MutualDefense Treaty of 1951 to includeinternal threats such as the "ISIS"and bring back their right to main-tain the huge military base andpresence with the authority to in-tervene anytime and anywhere in thecountry. At the same time, US milit-ary officers are also pushing for abigger operation with a name, suchas the Operation Enduring Freedomin the 2000s. This operation becamethe basis of the Joint Special Opera-tions Task Force-Philippines thatlasted for 15 years.

the armed Moro, who are allegedlyenslaved and made pregnant by thewarriors. The AFP spokespersonalso could not show proof, even justone picture of a corpse of an allegedmember of the group. No agency orentity could prove their reports. In-stead, there are contrary docu-mented information by the city offi-cials.

Many incidents that the mediado not receive, such as the 14-year-old and the media personnel al-legedly hit by a Maute sniper's"stray bullet" within the so-called"safe zone," a place across the bigriver from the position of the armedMoro. Media personnel are alsowitness to the traces of torture ofmale civilians after going throughthe soldiers' "interrogation". Sol-diers and police also display in-solence at checkpoints, even infront of cameras, in threateningand insulting residents who daredto return to the city to salvage theirremaining possessions.

To justify their continued air-strikes, the AFP declares that theseare "surgical" and only a few civil-ians are affected.

New disinformation is quicklysupplied to cover the as quicklypreviously refuted fake news. Theburning of houses, schools and oth-er buildings are quickly attributedto the "Maute-ISIS" despite thetruth that those were the handi-work of AFP soldiers.

Aside from the two incidentswhen the statements of Morogroups came out in the mass mediaon May 24, no other informationcomes from them or even from theMaute brothers. All avenues of in-formation in social media wereordered closed down by the AFP. Allcontradicting the AFP's reports arelabelled "sympathizers" of terror-ism. Anyone who releases informa-tion contrary to the official line isthreatened with charges of "cyberterrorism.”9. Business and military interestsfuel the destruction of Marawi City

Even as the AFP's war and siegeof Marawi City has not yet ceased,several big compradors interestedin investing and making money from"reconstruction" are already fallingin line. To curry Duterte's and theAFP's favor, these companies con-tributed hundreds of millions ofpesos to the AFP support fund (touse as reward for the soldiers).

Duterte set up Task Force Ban-gon Marawi (TFBM), a groupheaded by Department of NationalDefense Secretary Lorenzana and22 other officers of governmentagencies for the reconstruction ofMarawi City. Not one local leader isin this group's leadership and evenmore, not one representative fromthe city's residents and evacuees.The group drafted relocation plansfor the evacuees, includ-ing the construction ofcramped housing(22 square meters)within andaround MarawiCity.

The TFBMhas no plans ofreturning theevacuees to theircommunities. It dug up a1953 decree that allocatedmore than 8,400 hectares of 80% ofthe city as a military reservation.According to this decree, almost thewhole city has been declared asCamp Keithley Military Reservationand reserved for US military use.This covers even the nearby muni-cipalities of Marantao, Piagapo andSaguiran, likewise some parts ofLake Lanao. Residents living hereare in danger of being evicted fromtheir own place. Camp Keithley wasthe former headquarters of the USmilitary in Mindanao.

In 1961, this was reduced bymore than 1,000 hectares for theestablishment of the MindanaoState University. At present, theuniversity only occupies around 300hectares and the rest are populatedby communities. Therefore, even

August 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN10

the New People’s Army in Tarlac.There was a period when it wasused against the Moro Islamic Lib-eration Front (MILF). In 2008, 50of its elements were charged forkilling seven civilians while in pur-suit of MILF fighters. In 2014, itwas used as an attack force in theZamboanga Seige, where the MoroNational Liberation Front attemp-ted to seize parts of ZamboangaCity and establish their own territ-ories. This was also the unit used inBohol to pursue Abu Sayyaf mem-bers who came to the island. Itconducts secret strike missions toliquidate high value targets, as itdid in Sulu this year.

The US-created AFP-LRR

THE AFP’S LIGHT Reaction Regiment (LRR) are the main elements engaged inthe close-quarter battle that the Moro armed groups are currently waging inMarawi. At the minimum, two of its companies, the 4th and 5th Light Reac-tion Company, have been in Marawi since the first day.

The LRR is a military formationunder the Philippine Army currentlywith six companies (600 personnel).It was created and exclusivelytrained and armed by the USthrough the $25 million aid from itsDepartment of State in 2001. It wasfirst established as a Light ReactionCompany in 2000 as a special “anti-terrorism” force against the AbuSayyaf. During the early part of2001, the US sent special forcesfrom its Okinawa base to launch asix-month training program for thesaid unit. The first elements camefrom the Scout Rangers and thePhilippine Army’s Special Forces.

When the terrorist attacks inthe US occurred in September 11,2001 and the US’ military interven-tion in the Philippines intensified,the LRC was one of the units the US

strengthened. Under its OperationEnduring Freedom (2001-2014), theUS Special Operations Commandsent the Task Force 510 (which laterbecame the Joint Special OperationsTask Force-Philippines) in 2002. TheLRC was put under this commandand after two years of training, itwas activated on 2004. The unitspecialized in counter-sniper oper-ations and close quarter combat, aswell as counter-guerrilla tactics. Itwas expanded into a battalion inMay 2002, and into a regiment in2014.

The unit’s “counter-terrorism”operations are not limited to thepursuit of the bandit group AbuSayyaf. It was twice used againstcoup plotters from the militaryranks (2003 and 2009). It was in-strumental in wiping out a unit of

Lumad students and their support-ers likewise trooped to the Depart-ment of Education office and theAFP Eastern Mindanao Commandheadquarters in Davao City toprotest the harassment and threatsby government agencies on theirschools. Hundreds of Lumads like-wise staged a protest last August 9in Davao City in commemoration ofthe International Day of NationalMinorities.

On August 15-16, more than500 Lumads and peasants fromCompostela Valley provincelaunched the People's Caravan forJustice and Peace. The rallyistscamped out in front of the provincialcapitol and called for justice for thevictims of killings under the Duterteregime's Oplan Kapayapaan andmartial law. According to Kar-apatan-SMR, in this provincedubbed "valley of death," no lessthan 11 have become victims of ex-trajudicial killings since January.

Approximately more than 1,500Lumads and Moros from Mindanao'sdifferent regions will travel to MetroManila this last week of August untilSeptember. The Lumads and Morosof Mindanao will be welcomed bytribes and other national minoritiesfrom various parts of Luzon andVisayas for a month-long campoutand series of protest actions.

For this year's Lakbayan, theprimary call will be the lifting ofmartial law in Mindanao which theAFP and the PNP used as pretext inorder to intensify their fascist at-tacks on the Bangsamoro, Lumadand peasant communities and othercivilians in the island.

During interviews following hissecond State of the Nation Address

last July, Duterte threatened tobomb Lumad schools while riding onthe old and deceptive AFP line thatthese schools are "illegal" and "un-registered" with the government.

Also since July up to the present,more than 100 Lumad studentsheaded by Save our Schools Networkset up camp at the University of thePhilippines in Diliman, Quezon Cityas a protest to Duterte's threats.The religious sector, academics aswell as artists, gave their support tothe campaign of ending the harass-ment, rebel-baiting, and destructionof Lumads schools .

Alongside this, massive protestactions were consecutively held bythe people of Mindanao against theDuterte regime's martial law.

Lakbayan 2017: Solidarity against fascism

"Solidarity of national minorities and the whole Filipino people in the face ofthe US-Duterte regime's intensifying fascism." This is the general theme ofthe fifth Lakbayan ng Pambansang Minorya headed by Sandugo, an alliance ofMoro people, Lumads, Cordillera people and other national minorities.

ANG BAYAN August 21 , 2017 11

at 10 p.m., elements of the 96thMilitary Intelligence Combat Oper-atives shot brothers Jayson and JojoEscaño inside their house inBarangay Union. Jayson was killedwhile Jojo sustained gunshot woundsin his arm.

On August 7, the same unitentered the house of Salvador Hapain Barangay Sangat. In the morning,the soldiers returned, forcing him toleave the area and his livelihood.

Violence against Lumad schoolsand communities

After a clash between the 73rdIB and NPA units last August 8,soldiers militarized the neighboringsitios of Lamsalo, Kakob, Mahayagand Maybaka in Barangay UpperSuyan, Malapatan, Sarangani. Be-cause of this, around 500 B’laanpeasants were forced to relocate toSitio Akbual in the same barangay.

Prior to this, soldiers strafedLumad houses while they were awayhaving a meeting with the 72nd IBcommander in the area. Accordingto Sarino Nayam and Melvin Bation,both CLANS teachers, soldiers evenwrote threats in Moro language on

Human rights violations in Palawan

Consecutive human rights violations were reported in Palawan from July24 to August 17 this year. At the same time, killings, harassments and

militarization continue unabated in other parts of the country.

In July 24, the AFP twicemortared indigenous communitiesin the Arib mountains, betweenBarangay Malihud, Bataraza andBarangay Culasian, Rizal. TheBagong Tinig ng Katutubo–Palawanvehemently denied the AFP West-ern Command’s claim that therewas an encounter in the said area.

On the next day, 4th MarineBattalion Landing Team elementsfired on four minorities who weretraversing the river. Two werewounded.

On July 27, a misencounterbetween AFP units was reported asa clash between them and Redfighters. AFP soldiers occupied thearea, forcing the residents to evac-uate. Next day, on July 28, the AFPbombed Barangay Malihud andBarangay Bulalacao, Bataraza.They illegally searched the resid-ents’ houses and arrested theirleader, Chieftain Polog and hiswives and children in Sitio Mar-inshawun, Barangay Bono-bono.

While they were being transportedto the military camp, soldierspushed him out of the vehicle. Hewas severely injured and neededhospitalization. His wives were de-tained in the DSWD office while hischildren kept in a secret location.

On August 11, four minoritieswere arrested in Barangay Alacali-an, Taytay. They were tortured andslapped with trumped up charges.The four are Noel, Reden and ElyPeñaredondo and Elesar Buenasal-bas. Elesar, Noel and Reden wereaccosted by troops of the RegionalPublic Safety Battalion and accusedof being NPA members.

Sorsogon killingsSuccessive killings were reported

in Gubat, Sorsogon on August 7-8. Ina statement, NPA-Sorsogon reportedthat on August 7, elements of the22nd IB and 331st IB entered thehouse and killed Eming Estrada, apeasant resident of Barangay Casili,Gubat. The following day, August 8

Destruction of tricycles condemned

KADAMAY MEMBERS STAGED a protest infront of the Quezon City Hall last August 9 tocondemn the implementation of the ordin-ance SP 2337 or "one-strike policy" againstunregistered tricycles. Before this, 80 tri-cycles were crushed in front of their owners.According to Bea Arellano, the organiza-tion's president, the local government col-lects so many registration fees that thehard-up operators are forced to continuewith their livelihood despite pressure fromauthorities. DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo like-wise condemned this and contrasted it to thelight penalties on illegal operations of trans-portation companies Uber and Grab. Shecalled for a more humane and productivemethod in resolving the issue and notthrough the destruction of the people'sproperties.

Bungkalan in Batangas

FARMERS OF SITIO Balakbakan, Barangay Laiya Aplaya, San Juan,Batangas launched their bungkalan (collective farming) last August17 on the land being arrogated by Laiya Development Corporationowned by Frederico Campos III. Campos is claiming Sitio Balak-bakan to be transformed as a lavish resort for tourists. Last July 3,2014, residences were violently demolished, driving the residentsto live on the sidewalk. Despite the severe harassment of theguards, the farmers continue to fight for their rights to land.

10th International Day of Minorities commemorated

UNDER THE THEME "Day of Struggle and Celebration," indigenouspeoples from Cordillera gathered last August 9 in Baguio City. TheCordillera People's Alliance (CPA) headed the call for theheightened solidarity and struggle for rights and self-determinationof national minorities and rights of other sectors of society. TheCPA also called for an end to the martial law in Mindanao asLumads bear the brunt of the widespread violations of the people'srights by the military and its paramilitaries.

August 21 , 2017 ANG BAYAN12

some houses to malign the Moros inthe area.

According to CLANS, 33 schoolshave been forced to close due to re-lentless attacks against the Lumadsand around 1,100 students havestopped their schooling while 52teachers were prevented from hold-ing classes.

Meanwhile, a two-year old childdied in the evacuation center in thecapitol grounds of Cabanglasan,Bukidnon on August 17. AngelinePowan was among the hundreds ofevacuees who left their communit-ies after the paramilitary groupsNew Indigenous People’s Army andAlamara attacked them last May.She had been hospitalized threetimes for diarrhea and fever.

Threats against civiliansand activist

Repression and illegal arrests ofknown members of progressive or-ganizations and human rights de-fenders escalated.

After an encounter between

AFP troops and Red fighters on July27, a fact-finding mission was dis-patched by Karapatan-CagayanValley in Nagtipunan, Quirino lastAugust 3-4. They reported incidentsof forced evacuation, attacks andintimidation.

Elements from the 86th IB re-fused to give Arnold Jamias, a civil-ian they accused of being an NPAmember, medical attention. Theyeven made it appear that he wascaptured by their troops on July 26.The group also reported desecra-tion of the body of a killed Redfighter. Meanwhile, three residentssuffered harassment and threatsfrom soldiers while two were intim-idated in a checkpoint set up by the86th IB.

Residents from San Ramos,Nagtipunan, Quirino were forced toevacuate when military operationscontinued non-stop in their com-munities.

Rogelio Capulas also sufferedintimidation and threats. He is anactive member of Binnadang Ami-

anan, an alliance upholding indi-genous rights in Cordillera, andKatribu. On August 9, a militaryagent who introduced himself as“Mark” visited him in his workplacein 18th Ave., Cubao, Quezon Cityand threatened to arrest and killhim if he did not cooperate with themilitary. Capulas’ wife is a staffmember of the NDFP Joint Monit-oring Committee.

On August 15, Karapatan-Panayreported intimidation against theirsecretary-general Reylan Vergara.According to the group, three mil-itary agents threatened Vergara’sfamily.

Meanwhile, the NPA-Pangas-inan condemned the occupation ofelements of the 84th IB, RPSB-PNPPangasinan, PNP San Nicolas and702nd Brigade of the barangay hallin Sta. Maria East, San Nicolassince July 28. They even positionedtwo military tanks in the area. Themilitary also intimidated residentsin the area, forcing them to evac-uate.

CA rejects Sec. Judy Taguiwalo

WIDESPREAD CRITICISM GREETED the Commission on Appointments (CA)refusal to confirm Sec. Judy Taguiwalo as secretary of the Department ofSocial Welfare and Development (DSWD) last August 16 earned widespreadcriticism.

Taguiwalo's rejection is thelatest anti-people and militaristmoves by the Duterte regime. Thisbecame clear when the news thatMonica Prieto-Teodoro, GilbertTeodoro's wife, will replaceTaguiwalo. Teodoro once served assecretary of the Department of Na-tional Defense. A few days prior, thecouple was reported to havedonated millions to the fund forwounded and killed soldiers.

Taguiwalo knew that her ap-pointment was not confirmed due toher refusal to incorporate pork bar-rel in the DSWD budget through the

4Ps program last year. She alsoknew the rejection stemmed fromher objection to the imposition ofnew taxes on the poor and her sup-posed links to the revolutionarymovement.

Various journalists and fellowgovernment employees expresseddisgust over Taguiwalo's non-con-firmation. They include EmmanuelLeyco, the newly appointed officer-in-charge of the department andAiza Seguerra, National YouthCommission head. They challengedthe CA to make public the names ofthose who voted for rejection. In

the 24-member CA, 13 decidedagainst Taguiwalo through secretvoting.

Three secretaries have beenrejected by the CA, including GinaLopez who stood against plunder-ous mining operations as secretaryof the Department of Environmentand Natural Resources. Lumadstudents from the Save Our SchoolsNetwork condoled with Taguiwaloafter the CA deliberations.

Taguiwalo was appointed to theDSWD at the same time Sec. RafaelMariano was appointed to the De-partment of Agrarian Reform asNDFP recommendees after RodrigoDuterte offered the Left the cabinetpositions. Sec. Rafael Mariano'sconfirmation hearings is set on Au-gust 30.

ANG BAYAN August 21 , 2017 13

ence in resolving the housing shortage. The budget alloca-tion will only build 6,000 units of cheap housing, a far cryfrom the 5.7 million units that are needed.

Meanwhile, the Kabataan Partylist condemned the cutsin the budget of 43 state universities and colleges (SUCs)for next year. Worse, the state expects these universitiesand colleges to generate P44 billion through tuition fee col-lection, in contradiction to the recently passed free tuitionlaw. It is paradoxical that in the face of this law, the neo-liberal policy of pushing commercial operations of SUCs thatwill eventually be passed on to students is still being pro-moted.

Duterte’s 2018 budget is anti-poor

ON THE FIRST day of deliberation of the 2018 na-tional budget, the Gabriela Women’s Party drew at-tention to the budget’s stress on the construction ofbig infrastructure projects (more than a trillion) whileallocating only a much smaller budget (P1.4 billion) tohousing for poor families. In effect, this is a budgetfor demolition, Gabriela said, as the regime’s infra-structure program is sure to dislocate the urban poorfrom their communities. A minimum of P48 billion hasbeen allocated for the “right of way” alone, whichmeans the demolition of many communities to giveway to roads. Gabriela denounced Duterte’s indiffer-