NPA not behind Cris Bual's death

Let me say my apologies for believing the conclusions of several news reports relating to the death of Cris Bual. My apologies to the Patrotic elements of the NPA Far South Mindanao (Valentin Palamine Command) for tagging them as masterminds.

Statement on the death of Cris Bual 
Dencio Madrigal Commander NPA Far South Mindanao (Valentin Palamine Command) 
September 22, 2011 

The Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command categorically denies having anything to do with the death of Cristituto Bual, SMI-Xstrata, offsite land acquisition superintendent of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI) who was slain by a motorcycle-riding gunman near his home in Davao City in broad daylight on September 16, 2011.

Cristituto Bual was not in the NPA’s Order of Battle nor was he in the list of those tried in the People’s Court for collusion with a multinational company in the unconscionable plunder of our natural resources and the degradation of our ecology.

He was a junior officer who facilitated the acquisition of vast tracts of land in the coastal area of Malalag in Malalag, Davao del Sur for the company’s port and power facilities. Initial reports from reliable sources have reached us that Bual was killed on orders from Xstrata-SMI for his failure to “deal properly” with certain influential people within Bual’s area of jurisdiction.

He had purportedly bungled up SMI’s bid to lord it over Malalag town in preparation for the company’s projected infrastructures along Malalag Bay. SMI has been trying to acquire at least a hundred hectares in three coastal barangays of Malalag where it plans to build its port, filter plant and its 317 megawatt coal fired power station.

While the motive of Mr Bual’s slaying has yet to be fully uncovered, and the suspected killers are apprehended (if at all), his violent death goes to show that wherever SMI- Xstrata is, dissent and discontent arise. This include not only the untimely demise of so many people, but the dislocation of entire communities to give way to the most destructive of industries — large scale open pit mining. Gold and copper is only what SMI-Xstrata truly cares about, not people. Not even their own people.

As part of our commitment to defend the land and the masses, especially the lumads, the New People’s Army —FSMR shall continue to monitor and document events related to Xstrata-SMI and will do its utmost to meet the people’s demand for revolutionary justice. For the Valentin Palamine Regional Operations Command,

General Lim to AFP: Respect the Rights of Morong 43

“Follow Gen. Lim’s example. Be real officers and gentlemen.”

This was the challenge issued by Belle Enriquez, Official Spokesperson of detained Brigadier General to the Armed Forces of the Philippines concerning the detention of 43 health workers suspected by the military of being members of the New People’s Army (NPA).


In a statement, Enriquez said the captors of the detained health workers should respect the rule of law.


“Whether they are combatants or civilians, is a non-issue. Due rights and privileges as provided and guaranteed by the law must be accorded to them. There must be no double standards,” Enriquez said.


Enriquez said the bemedalled soldier who is also gunning for a senatorial seat in the upcoming national elections is known for tirelessly advocating inside the military establishment the faithful adherence of its members to the rule of law as well strict obedience to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ “Rules of Engagement.”


Enriquez said Lim exemplified this best last July 28, 2001, when his 42 Infantry Battalion stationed during that time in Ragay, Camarines Sur captured Mathias Rafael Padilla Din, an NPA member.


It was reported that as a prisoner under Lim, who was colonel during that time, Din was never maltreated nor abused. It was said that Lim contacted Din’s parents and was even brought to a nearby district hospital because of suspicion that the captive had typhoid or malaria.


Enriquez also said that inside the camp, Din ate three meals a day on the same table with Lim and was even fetched water for his personal hygiene use.


“I am telling this story not to accentuate that the detained health workers are NPA combatants. Rather, this story is being told to highlight the need for the AFP to follow its mandate, to be professional, if it wants to earn the respect and trust of the people,” Enriquez stressed.


“More than being simple military men holding guns, the AFP leadership down to the rank-and-file must become genuine officers and gentlemen of the people. If they are sincere in shedding their image of berdugos and human rights violators, I call on their highest sense to replicate Gen. Lim’s ideals and graciousness,” Enriquez concluded.

CBCP supports No to Con-Ass

Sinuportahan na ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) ang mga panawagan upang tutulan ang House Resolution 1109. Ayon sa CBCP, kinakailangang gumawa ng mga hakbang ang taumbayan upang iparating sa regimeng Arroyo ang malakas at marubdob na pagtutol sa balaking baguhin ang Konstitusyon ng ating bansa. Gayundin, ipinahayag din ng CBCP ang kanilang pagtutol sa balaking itayong muli ang isang diktadurya sa ating bansa.

Bagamat sumasang-ayon ako sa mapayapang mga pagkilos laban sa HR 1109 at sa rehimeng Arroyo, sa tingin ko ay hindi pa ito napapanahon. Epektibo lamang ang Gandhian method or yung non-violent approach kung nararamdaman na ng administrasyong ito ang ating lakas at ang potensyal o epekto ng pagwawalang-bahala kung hindi mapapahinuhod ang rehimen sa boses ng masa. Anong ibig kong sabihin?

Kailangang maramdaman ng rehimeng Arroyo na mayroong malakas na puwersang sasagupa sa kanila kung hindi nila ititigil ang kanilang balaking baguhin ang Saligang Batas o ang pagpapatupad ng batas militar. Sa ngayon, mahina pa ang puwersang pangsagupa sa rehimeng Arroyo.

Kailangang maipakita muna ang matibay na suporta ng mga armadong grupo, tulad ng mga sundalo at mga makabayang kasapi ng mga rebolusyunaryong grupo sa LUzon, Visayas at maging sa Mindanao sa mga panawagang laban sa rehimen. Kailangang magkaroon ng sabayang pagpapakita ng pakikiisa ang mga grupong ito sa malawakang hanay ng mga Pilipinong lalaban sa bumabalot na makapal na kadilimang dulot ng demonyitang sanggol.

Tulad ng mga naisulat ko na sa nakaraan, iisang wika lamang ang alam ng rehimeng ito at iyan ay karahasan. Isang bully itong si Mrs. Arroyo at hindi non-violence ang panlaban sa kanya.

Upang mapaluhod mo ang isang bully, kailangang kausapin mo siya ng mahinahon habang hawak mo ang isang baril sa iyong likuran. Ito ang pinaka matibay na stratehiya laban kay Arroyo. Ito ang nararapat na taktika laban kay Arroyo.

Puno Mohadji and the Death of a Filipino Patriot

Post war traumatic stress. That's the explanation given by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in explaining the cause of death of a Patriot, Col. Caldeo. This 1983 cavalier died, allegedly, by committing suicide. His family and mistahs said that he was disturbed by what happened between him and his superiors during the Puno Mohadji incident against the bandit group, Abu Sayyaf.

That Puno Mohadji incident was some of the defining moments of the Philippine Army. First, it was both a victory and a defeat. Caldeo's unit suffered serious casualties yet inflicted major damages on the Abu Sayyaf. They were'nt able to save the foreign hostages, though.

I distinctly remember the Sipadan hostage crisis because I was assigned there as a television reporter. I spent a considerable amount of time covering that incident. Like my other colleagues, it was a career-defining moment. Sandra Aguinaldo of GMA 7 and I spent some time at Helen's lodge which is in the heart of the city of Jolo. That place is just a few meters away from the Jolo Cathedral where some years back, a priest was killed. So, like the rest of the police and military there, we were also under constant threat from the civilian supporters of the ASG. There were reports that the ASG would conduct kidnappings of foreign and local journalists. Fortunately, I was not kidnapped. But the ABS-CBN crew was.

In Isabela, Basilan where Col. Caldeo was assigned, the tension was also palpable. The ASG unit there was reportedly a ferocious lot. Trained in Afghanistan, these ASG fighters vowed to resist the incursions by the "mushrikuns" into their territory.

My colleague Alvin Alburo, who now writes for GMA 7, saw that battle first hand between Caldeo's group and the ASG. Jun Veneracion (who was then a ABC 5 reporter) and another GMA7 reporter also were there, when some of the soldiers were beheaded by the ASG. I think (if my memory serves me right) about 15 soldiers died during that Puno Mohadji battle. Accounts say that the group of soldiers were ambushed when they were walking along a shallow river bed between two hills. Without air support, the soldiers did not stand a chance against the insurgents.

That battle was a major defeat. And it was a humiliating one.

After Puno Mohadji, the Army and the Philippine Marines suffered a series of defeats in the theatre of war in Mindanao. Hundreds of soldiers died in Mindanao already. It was not superior firepower that defeated these soldiers.

They were defeated due to the inefficiency of their superiors which affected their morale.

Whatever AFP Spokesman and 1983 baron Col. Daniel Lucero would try to picture it, the AFP of today is demoralized and fragmented. It has been politicized by Mrs. Arroyo and her ilk so much that it has been turned into their private army.

Proof? Look at what ex-General Jovito Palparan did just recently. He occupied a mining firm in Bulacan using the resources of the AFP, soldiers of an Infantry battalion assigned there. In what authority, you may ask? None but his!

Palparan's act shows how generals and ex-generals treat soldiers--they're their personal security force, their own private armies.

Palparan is a disgrace to the profession. If he's a Cavalier, his mistahs should immediately summon the courage to oust him from their class. Imagine, somebody without authority using the resources of the state for his own personal gain?

I am totally disgusted by this Palparan guy. He thinks that he's so powerful that he can use the AFP as his prop. Without his soldiers, will Palparan stand a chance against the New People's Army? I doubt it.

Palparan shows us how abusive someone can become given the license to kill enemies of the state.

This shows you how shabby our military has become since this administration took charge. Where's the professionalization of the ranks. Mrs. Arroyo?

You and your propagandists call for the military to remain apolitical and the Patriots to stand their ground against you. Yet, you and your mafia continue to abuse and use the military for your own personal power trip!

Where, oh, where are the Patriots whom the people love? Where are the True Cavaliers whom we, the People, supported and sacrificed our hard-earned monies just to hone them on the fine ideals of Truth, Honesty, Integrity and Honor?

Where are the others who will stand against this evil regime come what may? Where are they who will sacrifice their lives and their futures to correct the wrongs of this administration? Has corruption totally erased idealism from their hearts?

I shudder to think of other Col.Caldeos taking their own lives because they think they're helpless in abatting the continued slide towards disgrace of the military. Don't take your own lives, true Patriots of the New Generation. No.

Do something. Don't sulk in your chairs or in your camps whenever you see something wrong with the organisation. Exhaust all possible means to change the defects of the system. Then, you'll realize that these wrongs are symbols of a bigger problem, that of a system so corrupt and so decrepit that it makes you puke.

Don't puke. Do something. Stand up, you Patriots of the New Generation. Take charge. Act now.

You'll be doing it for the people. You'll be doing it to secure the futures of your children.

The loss of such fine gentlemen and officers like Col. Roberto Caldeo should stop now. The loss of such corrupt men like General Jovito Palparan should begin.