By Arjay L. Balinbin

AT LEAST 215 former communist rebels joined President Rodrigo R. Duterte for dinner at Malacañang on Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, “as part of their educational tour,” according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

AFP spokesperson Colonel Edgard A. Arevalo said the former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are the first of the three batches out of a total of “683” returnees who are scheduled to dine with the President.

He added, “Forty of them have met the basic entry requirements (of) the AFP or as Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU).”

Those who wish to join the AFP units, according to Mr. Arevalo, “will have to undergo the customary process.”

In a media statement, the AFP’s Public Affairs Office said they are “facilitating the tour to Manila of 683 former NPA rebels from different parts of Eastern Mindanao that started last Tuesday, Feb. 6.”

The first batch, who flew from Davao City via two Philippine Air Force C-130 aircrafts, arrived in Manila on Tuesday to start their three-day tour.

“Our soldiers are committed in empowering our brothers and sisters who used to take part in NPA’s criminal activities, to now take part in building a nation of peace for progress and development,” the AFP said.

In his speech at the Palace, President Rodrigo R. Duterte told the former rebels that “we already have a government.”

“What do you want to tell us? Who is your God? To kill and to get money from the poor and the rich through the use of force and firearms, that’s your job,” the President added.

NPA AND MARTIAL LAW EXTENSION
Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court (SC) en banc dismissed the consolidated petitions against the full-year extension of martial law and suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao.

One basis for the extension of martial law in Mindanao is the continuing threats and attacks from the NPA.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. said: “The Supreme Court’s decision affirming the further extension of the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao underscores the unity of the whole government in its bid to defeat terrorism and prevent the spread in other parts of the country of DIWW and other like-minded local and foreign terrorist groups.”

“The majority of votes is a manifestation of confidence (in) law enforcement agencies that they shall, like they had been doing before, continue to protect our people, secure Mindanao, and pursue the bigger task of rehabilitation while upholding the rule of law, human rights, and international humanitarian law,” Mr. Roque added.

On the other hand, the Magdalo Party-list group warned that with “[Mr.] Duterte’s control over the supermajority in Congress, frequent threats of a revolutionary government, and inclusion of NPA attacks as basis of ML (martial law) extension, it is clear that nationwide martial law is a very possible means to achieve his political agenda.”

A BRANCH of the Caloocan Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against the three cops and an asset implicated in the murder of 12^th grader Kian delos Santos last August. Caloocan RTC branch 125 found probable cause to order the arrest of Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, PO1 Jerwin Cruz, and police asset Renato Loveraz alias “Nonong.” — philstar.com

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THE PHILIPPINE Association of Water Districts (PAWD) is holding its 39^th annual convention on Feb. 7-9 at the Iloilo Convention Center, with this year’s theme focused on “Water District Options and Solutions to Sustainable Water Supply and Sanitation.” Aside from representatives of PAWD members, delegates from private water service providers are also expected to participate in the discussions. Deputy House Speaker and Capiz 2^nd District Representative Fredenil H. Castro will give the keynote speech during the opening ceremony today, Feb 8. The event is hosted by the Water Districts Association of Region VI in partnership with the Metro Iloilo Water District. — Louine Hope Conserva

SIX OF the 11 “Green Hotel” ASEAN Tourism Standards awardees in the Philippines for this year are located in the Central Visayas Region, particularly the provinces of Cebu and Bohol. In Cebu, these are: Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort (Lapu Lapu City), Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, and P & I Resorts, Inc. — Pulchra (San Fernando). In Bohol: Amorita Resort, The Bellevue Resort Bohol, and the Bohol Beach Club Resort. Two in Baguio City — Baguio Country Club and The Manor at Camp John Hay — also made it to the list. The Conrad Manila was the lone awardee in Metro Manila. The other two are: Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge in Basco, Batanes, and Pangulasian Island Resort in El Nido, Palawan. The Green Hotel award focuses on initiatives towards sustainability. “Our tourism partners like you are the backbone that make quality visitor experience tangible,” said Tourism Undersecretary Alma Rita Jimenez during a recognition ceremony held in Manila recently.

CLEAN CITIES
Meanwhile, three cities were given the ASEAN Clean Tourist City award, namely: Davao; Pasig in the National Capital Region; and San Carlos in Negros Occidental. The ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award was also given to tour packages for both urban and rural category, namely: “Walk on the Wild Side” in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; and “Palina Greenbelt River Cruise Experience Along the Landscape of Three Coastal Ecosystems Operated by a Fisherfolk Organization” in Roxas City, Capiz

OPERATIONS AT the main office of the Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD) in Tacloban City have returned to normal Tuesday after one faction of the board of directors (BoD) took 20 computer units, documents, and cash Monday dawn. However, bill payments at the municipal offices in Dagami, Tabon-tabon, Tolosa, Tanauan, Palo, Pastrana, and Sta. Fe remain suspended as official receipts were among those taken from the main office. “Only payments made at this office shall be deemed valid,” said LMWD General Manager Pastor A. Homeres. “As seen in the CCTV footage, the intruders were identified as Teodoro De Veyra, Teresa Montubig, Jeanette Cua, Harold Ko, along with some employees and about 50 or so unidentified persons wearing bonnets,” the LMWD management said in a statement.

2 BOARD FACTIONS
The LMWD management, represented by BoD members appointed by Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez are preparing to file robbery charges against the perpetrators of Monday’s heist, some of whom were identified to be directors of the board appointed by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla. Teodoro de Veyra, chairman of the Petilla-appointed BoD, admitted to The Freeman that they took away the computers and other documents from the LMWD head office as they insist that they are the legitimate directors. Their plan was to bring the equipment and documents to the Leyte Academic Center in Palo, where they will carry out LMWD operations. Mr. Petilla, in an earlier interview with The Freeman, said they will also take to court the “illegal” takeover and other acts of the Romualdez appointees. — The Freeman

HOUSE SPEAKER Pantaleon D. Alvarez has accused the Floirendo-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Company, Inc. (Tadeco) of restricting access to Barangay AO Floirendo within its banana export operations area to maintain political dominance in Panabo City. He said that particular barangay serves as the “determinant factor in every election.” Mr. Alvarez made the accusation during the House committee on good government hearing on the alleged irregularities in the contract between Tadeco and the Bureau of Corrections, which owns the area. The committee motioned to resurvey the total land area of Tadeco, as well as the other private and public properties in the area. A former Panabo City surveyor, Engineer Ruben Tacugue, said that some public roads are inaccessible and guarded by Tadeco-controlled checkpoints. On the other hand, Tadeco President Anthony Alexander N. Valoria explained that the checkpoints were put in place to secure the company’s assets, especially against attacks by the communist New People’s Army. “What is gated is private land,” said Mr. Valoria, adding that the company welcomes a survey of the area. — Minde Nyl R. dela Cruz

THE ZAMBOANGA Peninsula regional police has intensified its campaign against the proliferation of loose firearms ahead of the scheduled Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in May. “There are operations ongoing right now to look for the [loose] firearms and the private armed groups, this is our main preparation,” Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) chief Billy B. Beltran said in Zamboanga City. Mr. Beltran said there are at least eight identified armed groups in different parts of the region that could potentially carry out politically related atrocities during the campaign period and election day. Mr. Beltran said the polls for community and youth leaders have historically been more “bloody” compared to local and national elections due to rivalry among families within smaller political zones. Meanwhile, the Regional Joint Security Coordinating Council is set to convene soon to lay down security measures to be implemented by the police, military, and members of the Commission on Elections, particularly in the so-called “hotspot areas.” — Albert F. Arcilla

THE PHILIPPINE National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines will hold a series of anti-terror exercises in major urban areas, starting with Davao City within this month. The drills would simulate the response of the police and the military, together with members of the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Office of Civil Defense, in terror attack scenarios. “We particularly seek the participation of barangay officials because the simultaneous exercises will require a lockdown of the city and the members of our communities need to be informed,” Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio told the media earlier this week. The focus sites for the exercises, dubbed Southern Storm Drills, would be some of the vital facilities in the city, including the Davao International Airport, seaports and coastal areas that are possible entry points for terrorists. Ms. Carpio said the drills would also include preparations for attacks by members of the New People’s Army, the armed group of the communist movement in the country. The anti-terror exercises would also be carried out in the National Capital Region and Cebu. — Carmencita A. Carillo

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