Analysts cite factors to determine fate of communist insurgency

January 13, 2019 | 10:15 pm

ANALYSTS sought for comment cited key conditions that the government needs to tackle to determine the fate of the communist insurgency.
The year 2018 marked the existence of both the Communist Party of the Philippines (December 26) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (March 29), for exactly a half century. But the insurgency spans further back in time to at least the immediate postwar era.
Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana said the government of President Rodrigo R. Duterte aims to end the insurgency by the end of his term. Mr. Duterte himself had said the rebellion can end by this year, an endeavor that Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria C. Sison said is bound to fail.
Sought for comment, University of Santo Tomas (UST) political science professor Marlon M. Villarin said in a phone interview on Saturday, “The very root cause why the Communist Party survived is simply because of the failure of the government to really address the root cause of rebellion and that is social injustices: their failure to reach the countryside for better opportunities for living, their failure to address and reinforce a genuine agrarian reform.”
Analyst Richard J. Heydarian, when also sought for comment, said, “I don’t think it is realistic to think of their complete extinction unless the Philippines magically becomes an equitable society which is not gonna happen in time soon. But to keep them at bay and to contain them and prevent them from becoming a formidable kind of insurgent group, I think that is doable.”
He added: “You can kill the rebels, but you cannot kill the idea outright. So the ideas will persist. As long as people believe in them, they can come back.”
“(But) I think it is quite realistic to think that in less than a generation perhaps, in a decade or less, we may see the communist movement drawing to verge of extinction, barring any major political transformation in our country. But they will be there as long as long socioeconomic injustice is prevalent on the ground.”
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Mr. Villarin, for his part, said, “The Build, Build, Build project is very instrumental. We have to remember that these road projects, these infrastructure projects will not only benefit the national government but also the countryside. And we are now looking at the possibility that it will translate into sustainable livelihood opportunities in the countryside. So when these things happen in the countryside, peace and order will also prosper.”
Also sought for comment, UST Political Science Department Chairperson Dennis C. Coronacion cited “the wrong notion of government officials that the solution to communist insurgency lies at the hands of our military. This solution has failed to address the root causes of joining the leftist movement.”
“Actually, there are government programs in place designed to address the root causes of the insurgency problems in the country. The agencies in charge include the DSWD and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process,” added Mr. Coronacion, citing further the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the national government’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) in conflict-affected areas.
On Friday, the Department of Interior and Local Government reported that 8,367 rebels surrendered to the government between July 1 and Dec. 28, 2018. Many of the former rebels were granted benefits under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
Ateneo Policy Center research fellow Michael Henry LI. Yusingco, when also sought for comment, said via email, “I believe the CPP is irrelevant in the broader scheme of things. I do not see them contributing significantly in our nation’s growth. I am utterly perplexed at government’s response to the CPP.”
He added, “On one hand, the government is always saying the CPP is a spent force and the NPA is just a ragtag group of terrorist. And yet on the other hand, they also constantly say that the CPP and the NPA are still serious threats to the country’s peace and order situation. This just seem farcical for me.”
PEACE TALKS
On the always interrupted peace talks, Mr. Villarin said, “The window towards peace talks will always be open to both sides. But the administration is now looking at a different model. For more than five decades, most of our peace talks is always between the national government and the national leadership of NPA. Now, the present administration is looking at a different model. It is now an agreement between the national government and the grassroot leadership of NPA.”
“Kasi tandaan natin (Let’s remember), Joma Sison remains a symbolic leader of NPA. But we have to remember that there are different movements on the ground. Kaya kahit (So even if) Joma Sison is very strong with his words, people are now surrendering their arms to the government because hindi na nakikita ng revolutionary forces ngayon ‘yung essence (they do not perceive anymore the essence). They are now becoming more practical rather than ideological.”
For his part, Mr. Heydarian said, “I think what government is pushing is not peace talk but a surrender agreement with the communist movement….I think there were some sort of historic chance in the past including the earlier months of the Duterte administration. I would even say that if the Mamasapano (tragedy) did not happen, there’s a good chance we would have it in early 2015.”
He added: “The point with the communist movement is that they are internally divided….In economics, we have a principal-agent problem, so clearly we have principals of the communist movement as formally identified and maybe okay with peaceful negotiations. But we have agents on the ground who have contrary interests and they don’t think together. In that absence, the government has two options, to go for an all-out war or divide and conquer them.”
Mr. Yusingco said: “I’m not sure if there is still even a need for a peace agreement between the government and the CPP. If the NPA is simply a ragtag group of terrorists, then the correct approach would be to treat them as such. Why even put the CPP in the same category of the MILF, if they are indeed a spent force?” — interviews by Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

Tax Academy in Clark, Tagaytay planned

January 13, 2019 | 10:14 pm

PERMANENT campuses of the Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) are being planned in Tagaytay City and New Clark City, the Department of Finance (DoF) announced Sunday. In a statement, Finance Undersecretary Gil S. Beltran said that for the Tagaytay campus, the PTA will be located in a complex with other government-run professional learning institutions such as the Development Academy of the Philippines, Philippine Judicial Academy, and the Commission on Audit International Training Center. In Clark, the campus will be within the new smart metropolis under development. Mr. Beltran also said that a benchmarking study for the PTA was conducted recently by the DoF with the National Tax College, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Institute, the Japan Personnel Authority and the Doshisha University in Kyoto. The PTA, as provided under Republic Act 10143, is intended “as a learning institution for tax collectors and administrators of the government and selected applicants from the private sector.” PTA courses are also being prepared for online offering.

Chinese nationals top list of barred foreigners in 2018

January 13, 2019 | 10:14 pm

THE BUREAU of Immigration (BI) barred 133 foreigners from entering the country in 2018, and have been blacklisted, for displaying unruly behavior toward immigration officers. “They were also placed in our immigration blacklist of undesirable aliens, thus they are banned from re-entering the country,” BI Port Operations Division Chief Grifton SP. Medina said in a statement. Out of the 133 foreigners, Chinese nationals topped the list with 37, followed by 25 Americans and 23 Koreans. Mr. Medina noted that last year’s number was slightly higher than the 129 recorded in 2017. He also warned foreigners against disrespecting and using foul language in communicating with immigration officers. “The entry and stay of foreigners in the country is only a privilege, not a right. Aliens are not allowed to verbally abuse or disrespect our immigration officers.” BI spokesperson Dana Krizia M. Sandoval said the bureau is strictly imposing a 2009 policy disallowing entry of foreigners “who exhibit arrogance or make offensive utterances against immigration officers” and their inclusion in the blacklist. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Election season starts

January 13, 2019 | 10:14 pm

THE ELECTION period started Sunday, Jan. 13, for the May 13 national and local polls with Peace Covenant signing ceremonies around the country participated in by the police, military, government officials, religious leaders, and other stakeholders. Throughout the election season, which will be in effect until June 12, checkpoints will be in place while prohibitions include the carrying and transport of weapons unless exempted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), and the hiring of private bodyguards by candidates.
CAMPAIGN
The campaign period for candidates, meanwhile, has been set by the Comelec for the following dates:

Feb. 12-May 11 — Senators and party-list groups

March 30-May 11 — Members of the House of Representatives, and regional, provincial, city, and municipal officials.

Campaigning is banned on March 28 and 29 in observance of the Catholic Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Duterte fires Bacolod City police chief, 4 others

January 13, 2019 | 10:12 pm

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has fired Senior Supt. Francisco B. Ebreo as Bacolod City police chief and four other officials for their alleged involvement in illegal drugs. Mr. Duterte made the announcement at a businessman’s birthday party at the L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod that he attended last Saturday, according to a press release from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Sunday, Jan. 13. “I’d like to know if the chief of police is here. If you are here kindly stand up because you are fired as of this moment,” the President was quoted as saying. “In your involvement in drugs and making the people of Bacolod miserable, I am relieving and dismissing you from the service as of now, Senior Superintendent Francis Ebreo,” he added. He also announced the dismissal of four other police officials assigned in the city, naming “Superintendent Tayuan… And Superintendent Yatar… And there is Victor Paulino, police SI… Macapagal, you are out.” The PCOO also said that the police officers were ordered to report to the Office of the President this Monday at 2 p.m. Mr. Duterte said these cops are protectors of the drug syndicate in Bacolod City. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Restored Sunburst Park inaugurated

January 13, 2019 | 10:12 pm

ILOILO CITY’S Sunburst Park, originally known as Plaza de Aduana, was formally reopened last Friday after undergoing a P19-million restoration and development work. Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Joselito D. Paragas, who led the turnover ceremony of the renovated park to the city government, said he hopes that the landmark will be properly maintained for sustainable tourism. “Now that we already turned over this Sunburst Park to the city government, the maintenance and operation management will be under their authority. It’s up to them to develop it or enhance it,” Mr. Paragas said. TIEZA implemented the renovation, which was initiated by Iloilo native Senator Franklin M. Drilon as part of the Iloilo Heritage and Urban Renewal Project. The Sunburst Park, located in front of the Iloilo Customs House, was named after the US Army 40^th Infantry Sunburst Division that helped liberate Panay from the Japanese during World War II. The restored public space features a walkway, chess playground, and park benches. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

Davao City council approves IP traditional conflict resolution for some cases

January 13, 2019 | 10:12 pm

CONFLICTS and crimes with a maximum prison term of six years involving indigenous people (IP) in Davao City could be settled through traditional mechanisms after the mayor signs the ordinance recently approved by the council. Councilor Halila Y. Sudagar, the mandatory IP representative to the local legislative body, said the passage of the law will allow IP communities to preserve their culture as well as help declog local courts. “Prior to passing this ordinance, we coordinated with the City Prosecutor’s Office and the personnel of the Department of Justice and they were happy about this ordinance,” said Ms. Sudagar. The ordinance specifies that the settlement of cases under the IP customary system will involve and be overseen by the Lupong Tagapamayapa (peace council), Office of the Cultural Community Officers, and the deputy mayors of the different tribes. In cases where the conflicts involve two or more tribes, the jurisdiction is decided by both parties. “They (protagonists) can write a letter if they would like to resort to the judgment of the IP Council of Elders,” Ms. Sudagar said. Davao City is home to 11 IP communities. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Palace: Poverty still ‘high,’ but many families ‘to feel more comfort this year’

January 13, 2019 | 10:11 pm

MALACAÑANG on Sunday said that the poverty incidence in the Philippines is still high, but it expects that many Filipinos would continue to feel more comfort this year.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo issued a statement on Sunday in response to the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) fourth quarter survey, which was released to the public on Jan.11, showing that at least 11.6 million Filipino families consider themselves poor.
“The Palace welcomes the December 2018 survey on self-rated poverty conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicating that 50% of Filipino families consider themselves as “mahirap,” a drop from September 2018’s 52%. The polling firm translates this to an estimated 600,000 families saying that they no longer think of themselves as poor,” Mr. Panelo said.
The Palace noted that the survey showed “a similar drop of Filipino families rating their food as ‘mahirap,’ which stood at 34% in December 2018 vis-à-vis September 2018’s 36%.”
Mr. Panelo pointed out that such improvements in the survey “may be perceived to be in consonance with the December 2018 drop of inflation, registering at 5.1% — the lowest since June 2018.”
He added that with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s“tireless efforts in addressing and taming the inflationary effects of the prices of basic goods and commodities,” the Palace “remains optimistic that many Filipino families would continue to feel more comfort this year.”
The Palace noted that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has already advanced the forecast that “inflation for 2019 is expected to decelerate below 4%.”
“Even as we acknowledge such positive development, we note however that the poverty among Filipinos is still high,” Mr. Panelo said further.
To address poverty in the country, Mr. Panelo said: “We must, as articulated by Sec. (Ernesto M.) Pernia of NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority), sustain high economic growth that creates many jobs and reduce prices and inflation.”
“Our economic managers are vigorously pursuing policies and programs geared towards reducing the poverty level and propelling the country’s economic development to a degree satisfactory to the administration’s goal of not only giving our countrymen comfortable lives but putting our country at par with our fast developing industrialized Asian neighbors,” he said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Proof-of-Parking Space bill seen to complement MMDA policy on parking

January 13, 2019 | 10:11 pm

SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatchalian said the Proof-of-Parking Space bill still needs to be enacted with the aim of helping decongest Metro Manila’sroads, following the policy of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to impose higher fines on illegal parked vehicles.
“The MMDA’s move to impose higher penalties may now prompt motorists to think twice before parking their cars along the streets,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
“However, I believe that we still need a law that will instill a culture of responsible vehicle ownership among Filipinos,” he added.
Senate Bill No. 201 or the proposed Proof-of-Parking Space Act, which he filed, requires individuals and businesses to execute an affidavit confirming that they have acquired a parking space before being allowed to purchase vehicles.
The bill also mandates the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the MMDA, and local government units to conduct ocular inspections of major and minor thoroughfares of Metro Manila in order to remove illegally parked vehicles and to catch erring car owners.
A technical working group was created last October by the Senate committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship to refine the bill.
The MMDA recently raised the fine for attended illegally parked vehicles from P200 to P1,000. Meanwhile, drivers of unattended illegally parked vehicles will have to pay P2,000. M. Gatchalian said the bill was a complement for the MMDA’srecent policies intended to solve Metro Manila traffic.
“With this bill, we hope to make National Capital Region (NCR) a more livable place by decongesting the roads of our nation’scapital, taking a modest step toward solving Manila’sperennial traffic in the process,” he said. — Camille A. Aguinaldo

Comelec: Be mindful of authorized checkpoints

January 13, 2019 | 10:11 pm

COMMISSION on Elections Spokesperson James B. Jimenez said motorists need to be aware of Comelec checkpoints as distinguished from fake checkpoints.
“The checkpoint should be located in a well-lit area and it must be manned by uniformed personnel. Kung ang checkpoint ay nasa isang madilim na lugar (If the checkpoint is in a dark area), we advise our motorists to exercise caution and discretion kasi (because) under our rules, kailangan (it must be a) well-lit area,” he said in an interview on Sunday.
He added that motorists should also see to it that a checkpoint has a sign identifying it as a “Comelec checkpoint.”
“The sign should also have the name and contact info of the election officer in charge of the area and the police officer who is in charge of the checkpoint itself,” Mr. Jimenez also said.
Mr. Jimenez said Comelec checkpoint sites “will practice plain view doctrine.”
Comelec checkpoints change locations every day and will be implemented nationwide.
Election period kicked in on Sunday, putting in effect Comelec-supervised checkpoints for the gun ban. The firearms ban will last the whole election period to June 12.
For his part, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar said in a press briefing on Saturday, “Tayo ay gumagawa ng checkpoints dahil ito ay isang mabisang (We are doing checkpoints because this is an effective) intervention for crime prevention.” — Gillian M. Cortez

Azkals determined to save a win in Asian Cup debut

January 13, 2019 | 8:17 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
WITH the prospects of them advancing to the knockout stage of their debut AFC Asian Cup campaign no longer too high, the Philippine Azkals are channelling their focus to at least saving a win when they take on Kyrgyz Republic later this week in their final game in group play of the prestigious continental football spectacle.
Bowing to China People’s Republic, 3-0, last Friday in their Group C encounter, the Azkals now are at two defeats with no wins to show for and just have to hope they land among the four best third-placed teams in the groupings with a win over Kyrgyzstan on Jan. 16 to advance to the next phase.
While its fate of advancing in the tournament is still to be determined, the Philippine men’s national football team is now focusing on what it can control and win over fellow Asian Cup newbie Kyrgyzstan to bag a breakthrough win to build on moving forward.
“Overall, in the two games we have played, we have shown that we can play football. We are not going home yet, and we will see what happens in the last group stage game,” Azkals coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose team lost, 1-0, to Korea Republic in its opener on Jan. 7, was quoted as saying by the official AFC Asian Cup Website after their game against China.
But the veteran football coach, who had stops in England, Mexico, Ivory Coast and China, said they could have done better in their game against the Chinese but nonetheless proud of the efforts of the Azkals.
“It seems strange maybe but I’m rather proud of our team even if we lost 3-nil. We played very well, and we should have taken the lead. Before the game I identified three China players who were very dangerous, and Wu Lei was one of those. He scored two great goals as we did not pay him enough attention and we paid the price because of that,” said Mr. Eriksson.
Against China, the Azkals fell, 1-0, in the 40^th minute after Mr. Wu punctured in for the Chinese. The forward then doubled their lead with another goal in the 66^th minute.
For good measure, China added a third goal in the 80^th minute care of substitute Yu Dabao to complete the win that thrust the team to the next round of the competition.
For veteran Azkals player Phil Younghusband, the first goal they surrendered in the first half proved to be telling and something they just could not recover from.
“Once China got the first goal it was always going to be difficult because we play a 5-4-1 with the aim of keeping the scoreline goalless as long as possible,” Mr. Younghusband was quoted as saying by the AFC.
“Against Korea Republic we were able to keep it at 0-0 until around the 70^th minute, but with China scoring in the first half it made things harder for us. You start to chase the equalizer, chase the game, and lose spaces and lose discipline. And good teams are able to exploit that,” he added.
But the national player, who has represented the Philippines in over a hundred international matches, highlighted that there is still much to play for against Krygyzstan especially for a team like the Philippines, which is still carving its place in the Asian football scene.
“We have to win the next game. We have played [Kyrgyzstan] twice in the last few years. Played them away, played them home and we got two wins. But this is a different stage, they may have different players, we have different players. It’s a different arena,” said Mr. Younghusband.
“It will be a difficult game and they have some players we’ll need to watch out for, but we’ll now have time to prepare for all those things ahead of the match,” he added.

Banged-up Alaska Aces still looking to live up to standards

January 13, 2019 | 8:17 pm

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
LARGELY banged-up after a gruelling campaign last season that saw them play 14 months, the Alaska Aces recognize that the just-started Season 44 of the Philippine Basketball Association will be a rough for them one early on. But they are bent on not allowing the thought consume their bid too much even as they vow to continue to play at par with their standards as a franchise.
Meeting members of the press last week in the PBA’s first-ever Media Day at the Tent of Solaire Resort and Casino, Alaska coach Alex Compton shared that they are taking a “one step back, two steps forward” approach in the early goings of the new season of the local professional league with many of their players still injured, which forced them to push back their preparation.
“All of us coaches would love to have a preseason to prepare and practice. In our case we don’t have a preseason with all our injuries. Ideally we should have six weeks of practice but us we start on Monday (today). We felt what is the point of practicing early if they are all broken down and banged-up and we can’t play five-on-five,” said Mr. Compton in an interview with BusinessWorld during media day.
“I think this will be a one step backward and two steps forward for us because we’re the last team to practice and we got so many injured guys. At anything you do, you have to practice, you have to prepare. So it’s going to be a challenge early,” he added.
The amiable Alaska coach said they are expecting to miss Vic Manuel for much, if not for the entire duration, of the season-opening Philippine Cup because of back injury while starting guard Simon Enciso is decommissioned for at least six weeks after undergoing a procedure on his knee.
Also nursing varying injuries are JVee Casio, Chris Banchero and Sonny Thoss.
Mr. Compton said good thing for them was that the league scheduled the team to play several weeks after than the rest of the field, along with the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok whom they faced and lost to in the Governors’ Cup a month ago, allowing them some time to work on their game.
“With all our injuries, had we to start on opening day it will be a big problem for us. I think the league was right in having us play later than the others because the finals [of the Governors’ Cup] ended on Dec. 19. So compared with most of the teams which had over a month to prepare, we have the fewest time to rest before the season starts,” said the coach, whose wards begin their Philippine Cup campaign on Feb. 3 against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Notwithstanding the current predicament they are in, Mr. Compton said it is still important for them to play and represent their team the right way, adhering to the standards they have set for themselves.
“While we have to deal with all these, we also must not lose our standards,” the Alaska coach underscored.
“There is a certain level of effort and energy that we demand of ourselves but at the same time we need to be realistic and manage our expectations. In the process, however, we must not compromise our standards,” Mr. Compton added.