How PSEi member stocks performed — November 4, 2025
Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Typhoon Tino kills at least 3 people
THE DEATH toll from Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally called Tino, continued to climb on Tuesday as disaster officials receive initial reports from affected provinces after the powerful storm unleashed heavy rains and floods across the central Philippines, submerging homes and forcing thousands to evacuate.
Three people were confirmed dead and at least one person was reported missing in the central province of Cebu, provincial information officer Ainjeliz Orong said. Two more deaths were still being verified.
“We weren’t expecting this much flooding,” Ms. Orong said by phone.
In neighboring Bohol province, one person was killed after being struck by a falling tree, disaster official Anthony Damalerio told DZMM radio.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Junie B. Castillo in a phone call to reporters said that the agency has received reports that the death toll has risen to 26.
“22 were from Central Visayas, two from NIR (Negros Island Region), one from Region 6, and one from Region 8,” he said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, more than 187,000 were affected by Typhoon Kalmaegi as it continued to batter large parts of Visayas and neighboring areas, the state disaster agency reported on Tuesday.
In its 12 p.m. situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 187,536 individuals were affected by the typhoon, with 122,519 currently staying inside evacuation centers.
Western Visayas was hit hardest by Kalmaegi where 133,554 individuals were affected, followed by Eastern Visayas (29,160), central Visayas (11,140), and Caraga region (11,110).
The agency also reported more than 2,100 affected persons in Mimaropa, and over 400 others in Negros Island Region.
Kalmaegi remained at typhoon category as it weakened on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
Kalmaegi has already made three landfalls, as of Tuesday morning — first in Silago, Leyte at 12 a.m., Borbon, Cebu at 5:10 a.m., and Sagay City, Negros Occidental at 6:40 a.m.
It was monitored in the vicinity of Patnongon, Antique at 4 p.m. packing 130 kilometers per hour (kph) of sustained winds and 180 kph of gustiness, according to PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin. It was moving Northwestward at 15 kph.
SIGNAL NO. 4 STILL UP
Signal No. 4, with expected typhoon-force winds, remains in effect in Calamian and Cuyo Islands in Luzon and many parts of the Visayas, including the central and southern portions of Antique, the central and southern portions of Iloilo, and Guimaras.
Signal No. 3 is up over portions of the Visayas and Luzon that may experience storm-force winds. These include the northernmost portion of mainland Palawan, the rest of Antique including Caluya Islands, Aklan, Capiz, the rest of Iloilo, the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, and the northern portion of Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 is in effect over areas likely to experience gale-force winds, including the southwestern portion of Masbate, the southern portions of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Romblon, the northern portion of Palawan including Cagayancillo Islands, Cebu including Bantayan Islands, the central portion of Negros Oriental, and the rest of Negros Occidental.
Signal No. 1 is hoisted over areas that may experience strong winds, such as the southern portions of Quezon and Marinduque, the rest of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, the rest of Romblon and Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, and the central portion of Palawan.
Biliran, the northwestern portion of Leyte, Camotes Islands, the northern and western portions of Bohol, the rest of Negros Oriental, and Siquijor are also under Signal No. 1.
“Tino will emerge at Sulu Sea this afternoon or evening and is forecast to traverse the northern Palawan area by tomorrow (Nov. 5) early morning,” PAGASA said.
“It is expected to emerge over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow morning and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by tomorrow evening or Thursday (Nov. 6) early morning.”
TYPHOON RELIEF
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered key Cabinet officials to deploy aid to provinces heavily affected by Typhoon Kalmaegi as authorities rush to restore power and clear roads.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Mr. Marcos said the government is closely monitoring the storm’s effects.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has prepositioned food packs, the Department of Energy and National Electrification Administration (NEA) are addressing power outages, and the Department of Public Works and Highways and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have mobilized clearing teams, Mr. Marcos added.
Power supply was disrupted in several areas, with eight electric cooperatives reporting full outages and 15 partially affected, according to the NEA.
Clearing and repair operations are underway but hampered by strong winds and heavy rains, particularly in Mimaropa and the Negros Island Region.
OCD spokesperson Junie B. Castillo said the NDRRMC has activated its inter-agency coordination center to monitor the storm’s impact.
Mr. Castillo said 10,448 disaster response assets and 1,737 personnel have been deployed for debris clearing and civil works.
Around 30,000 responders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, and local DRRM offices are on standby for search and rescue operations.
He also confirmed flooding in parts of Caraga and Cebu, where some residents reportedly refused evacuation despite warnings.
Asked about available disaster funds, Mr. Castillo said the government’s Quick Response Fund (QRF) remains sufficient, with Mr. Marcos having earlier ordered its replenishment following recent earthquakes and typhoons.
Several local governments in Eastern Visayas are preparing to declare a state of calamity, Mr. Castillo added, while others await assessments pending the typhoon’s exit.
Typhoon Tino, the 20th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine area of responsibility this year, is forecast to leave the country by Thursday, according to the state weather bureau.
Authorities are also monitoring a potential new weather disturbance forming east of the Philippines.
Mr. Marcos urged the public to remain alert and follow evacuation orders. — Edg Adrian A. Eva, Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Reuters
Philippines starts war games amid South China Sea tensions
By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter
THE PHILIPPINES on Tuesday kicked off its annual military drills to test its armed forces’ ability to repel invasions as if being “already at war,” its top general said amid repeated incursions within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
About 2,000 Filipino troops will take part in the nine-day high-intensity military exercise along the country’s western seaboard, near disputed maritime features that have been at the core of the Southeast Asian nation’s security anxieties, according to an armed forces handout.
Called Exercise Dagitpa — a blend of the Filipino words for sea, air and land — military units will hold a mix of beach defense, naval fire support and missile defense drills to test their joint force capabilities against invasion threats as China remains increasingly coercive in the contested waterway.
“As I have always said, we are already at war… I want us to have that mindset,” Philippine military chief General Romeo S. Brawner, Jr. said during his opening remarks.
“We are not at war with bullets and bombs, but with disinformation, with coercion, and with encroachment into our territories, into our exclusive economic zone.”
The drills are not directed at any specific country, but are designed to sharpen the armed forces’ ability to hold off an invading force for up to a month, a period during which Manila expects the US and other allies to step in.
“We must defend our country on our own first,” he told reporters in Filipino after the exercise’s opening ceremonies at the Philippine military headquarters in Manila. “We have to rely on ourselves first, that’s why our exercises continue without letup.”
The Southeast Asian nation has stepped up military activities both independently and with allies as tensions with China continue to escalate in the South China Sea, a resource-rich waterway that has been the site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese forces.
“This exercise is entirely us alone so we can assess where we stand, and the limits of our defense,” Mr. Brawner said.
He said the Philippines must be “prepared for any eventuality” to ensure its forces’ combat readiness, adding that support from allies would follow only after hostilities erupt. “If conflict breaks out, we will naturally be the first to engage in combat.”
“But we are expecting also reinforcements or help from our allies.”
Defense ties with other countries have flourished under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., whose administration has adopted a more assertive posture in the contested waters. Manila has sealed military agreements with Japan and New Zealand since he took office and is pursuing similar pacts with France and the UK.
Mr. Brawner, however, said the armed forces would not use allied equipment during the Dagitpa drills, opting instead to rely solely on Philippine military assets. “We need to understand both our capabilities and our gaps.”
“Considering the threats we are facing, we are comparing our capabilities with those of our neighboring countries,” he said, recognizing that Philippine forces lack equipment and advanced weaponry when compared to others in the region. “We have the ability to defend our country, but what I’m saying is it’s still not enough.”
“If we consider the entire archipelago, our current equipment is not enough to cover it entirely,” he added.
The Philippines has launched a sweeping P2-trillion military modernization program, aimed at bolstering its defense capabilities over the next decade, including the acquisition of warships, jets and missile systems, as it pushes back against Beijing’s military might in the South China Sea.
China has maintained sweeping control over the waters bordering several Southeast Asian nations despite a 2016 ruling by a United Nations-backed court that voided its overreaching claim.
Manila has described China’s actions in the waterway as coercive and escalatory, while Beijing insists its operations are meant to defend its sovereignty.
Also on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. underscored the need to develop cheap but effective weapons, citing the growing importance of “low-cost, asymmetrically and algorithmically designed technologies” to strengthen deterrence.
Mr. Teodoro also “underscored the importance of highly mobile production systems to minimize disruptions in defense materiel manufacturing,” Manila’s Defense department said in a separate statement.
A senior defense official last week said the Philippines is looking at widely adopting unmanned systems and drones more broadly in its armed forces, describing them as much-needed force multipliers for effective deterrence.
Philippine troops had already trained with unmanned weapon systems, including the US anti-ship Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and sea drones, during a month-long joint exercise with US forces that began in April.
Remotely piloted drones have become a backbone in modern warfare due to their long-range reach and lower cost compared with other advanced weaponry, like missiles and fighter jets, and they have since seen heavy combat use since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
ICI recommends new case, flags P72.3-M ‘ghost’ project
THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday recommended the filing of cases over alleged “collusion” between former Public Works officials and contractors, involving a P72.3-million “ghost” flood control project in Bulacan.
In a statement, ICI Chairperson Andres B. Reyes, Jr. said the referral made to the Office of the Ombudsman concerns a riverbank protection structure along Bagong Silang, Plaridel, which was left undeveloped being paid in full by the Bulacan first district engineering office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
A report by the Commission on Audit (CoA) confirmed that the project did not exist in its intended location. Instead, a different site was indicated in the “as-built” plans, with no documentation explaining the change.
“The results of the CoA technical inspection, together with available records, establish that the project was never constructed at the designated location despite the full payment of the contract cost,” Mr. Reyes said.
The ICI found that several DPWH officials were “grossly negligent, if not remiss” in ensuring proper implementation and lawful disbursement of government funds. It also alleged collusion between the implementing officials and the contractor, resulting in undue injury to the government.
The commission recommended the filing of charges for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, malversation, and falsification of public documents under the Revised Penal Code, as well as possible offenses under the Government Procurement Reform Act and Presidential Decree No. 1759.
The ICI also urged the Ombudsman to assess whether former DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan and former Undersecretaries Roberto R. Bernardo and Maria Catalina E. Cabral may be held administratively liable under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Mr. Bonoan, who resigned last September amid a wave of corruption allegations involving flood control projects, earlier said that he had no involvement in any irregularities. Mr. Bernardo has likewise denied any wrongdoing, saying his conscience is clear.
The ICI stressed that it does not make categorical findings of guilt, adding that liability “rests with the proper authorities.” The referral, it said, forms part of its continuing effort to ensure accountability and protect the integrity of public funds.
‘DELUGE OF CASES’
During the filing, Mr. Reyes said the commission expects its work to accelerate in the coming months, noting that the ICI’s budget process is proceeding smoothly and will allow the hiring of more lawyers and investigators to handle the growing number of cases.
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, who received the referral, said his office will begin fact-finding proceedings before determining if cases should proceed to preliminary investigation.
“We will go into fact-finding immediately,” Mr. Remulla said, noting that the referrals may still require additional documents to support the filing of cases for preliminary investigation.
“And because you have to inform the accused of their rights and you have to have the proper allegations brought into the mix,” he added.
Tuesday’s referral was the third case transmitted by the ICI to the Ombudsman, the commissioner said that more will follow in the coming weeks.
Mr. Remulla said a parallel investigation is being conducted by the Department of Justice’s Task Force on Infrastructure Anomalies, led by Undersecretary Jesse Hermogenes T. Andres in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The task force, according to Mr. Andres is also examining “kickback” patterns that may involve both public officials and private proponents.
Mr. Remulla further disclosed that the ICI’s findings could include recommendations to charge certain officials with gross inexcusable negligence, possibly extending to high-ranking officials, including a former Speaker of the House and other sitting lawmakers.
“It’s a novel theory. I know we’re crossing the boundary of normal legal theory. But we have to stretch it a bit,” Mr. Remulla said. “At the least, negligence should be charged against those who were responsible for their offices.”
Commissioner and former DPWH Secretary Rogelio “Babes” L. Singson, said early findings point to “total connivance” among DPWH offices, lawmakers, and contractors.
“Congress, DPWH, and even monitoring agencies were involved,” Mr. Singson said. “Without the role of DPWH officials, none of this could have happened.”
Mr. Remulla said the Ombudsman expects a “deluge of cases” extending into 2026, estimating that over 1,000 infrastructure projects nationwide are under review. Around 400 lawyers will handle these cases, he said, with additional staff to be hired.
“High-profile cases will receive more attention,” he added. “The higher position, the greater responsibility.” — Erika Mae P. Sinaking
Tino still threatens large parts of the country, to hit Palawan on Wednesday
Typhoon Kalmaegi, locally known as Tino, is still expected to bring devastating winds and torrential rains to large parts of the country, and is expected to hit Northern Palawan by Wednesday morning, the state weather bureau said.
The typhoon, maintaining sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 180 kph, was last located over the vicinity of Patnongon in Antique, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a 5:00 p.m. press briefing.
By early Wednesday morning, it is expected to reach the coastal waters of Linapacan, Palawan, and continue traversing until it exits over the West Philippine Sea.
PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 in several areas, which are expected to experience typhoon-force winds. This includes Calamian and Cuyo Islands in Luzon, and the central and southern portions of Antique and Iloilo, as well as Guimaras in the Visayas.
Signal No. 3, where storm-force winds are expected, is raised in the northernmost portion of mainland Palawan in Luzon, the rest of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental, and the northern portion of Negros Oriental in the Visayas.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2, where gale-force winds are expected, is hoisted in southwestern Masbate, the southern portions of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, southern Romblon, northern Palawan including Cagayancillo Islands, Cebu, the central portion of Negros Oriental, and the rest of Negros Occidental.
Signal No. 1 is in effect in the southern portion of Quezon, southern Marinduque, the rest of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, the rest of Romblon, the rest of Masbate, including Burias and Ticao Islands, central Palawan, Biliran, northwestern Leyte, Camotes Islands, northern and western Bohol, Siquijor, and the rest of Negros Oriental.
Following its multiple landfalls, Typhoon Kalmaegi has brought destructive winds and flooding, primarily in Cebu province, with floodwaters reportedly reaching above human height in some areas.
Several aftermath photos posted on social media show many homes swept away or dilapidated, with cars also carried off by floodwaters, some piled on top of each other.
The national disaster agency has yet to release an official report about the estimated cost of damage caused by Kalmaegi.
Cebu Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro said in a press briefing on Tuesday that clearing and relief operations are ongoing amid the typhoon. She also extended the suspension of work in all national and local government offices until Wednesday.
In Sagay City, Negros Occidental, one of the typhoon’s landfall sites, nearly 4,000 individuals are set to receive family food packs and other relief.
ANOTHER TYPHOON?
While parts of the country are still inundated by floodwaters caused by Kalmaegi, a tropical depression has developed a few hours ago outside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with the possibility of it intensifying into a typhoon, according to PAGASA.
The cyclone, packing 55 kph sustained winds and 70 kph gusts, was located 1,900 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao, moving 57 kph west-southwest.
It is expected to enter the PAR by Saturday, and the possibility of it making landfall in parts of the country is not ruled out, PAGASA said. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
800 Filipino scam hub victims repatriated
THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) said it has repatriated 800 Filipinos who were recruited into illegal scam hubs across Southeast Asian countries, as it seeks to strengthen measures against illegal recruitment.
In a statement, the agency said that the repatriated Filipinos were rescued from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, while more than 200 are still waiting to return home.
“Rest assured we’re cooperating with the authorities so they can return home as soon as possible,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said late Monday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier reported that about 222 other overseas Filipino workers have applied for repatriation.
Mr. Cacdac said that the DMW is seeking to intensify its operations against illegal recruitment by syndicates in Myanmar, Cambodia, and other countries in Southeast Asia, targeting job-seeking Filipinos.
The DMW has arrested 20 individuals linked to illegal recruitments and the trafficking of Filipinos to foreign scam hubs, where they are forced to engage in exploitative and illegal labor.
Among those arrested were four recruiters in Rizal, Palawan, and a Taiwanese national who was apprehended at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“There were some who pretended to be repatriates, but in reality, they were the recruiters themselves,” Mr. Cacdac said following joint operations with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Philippine National Police, and National Bureau of Investigation.
He added that some recruiters have been luring Filipinos to work in visa-free ASEAN countries like Thailand and Malaysia without legal documents.
“Visa-free is only for tourists, it doesn’t mean they can work there,” he said.
He added that the government has also been strengthening operations against human trafficking by improving international relations.
“We are not on the side of irregular labor mobility. We stand for safe, ethical, and transparent recruitment,” Mr. Cacdac said.
He added that the DMW has been continuing to coordinate with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine embassies in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand in implementing the operations. — Adrian H. Halili
Philippines, France eye deeper economic ties
MANILA and Paris are looking to improve cooperation in the infrastructure, transport, aviation, agriculture, and security sectors, following their Joint Economic Committee (JEC) meeting on Tuesday.
“We have covered a wide range of topics, projects, and initiatives which basically reflect the strong economic relations of the Philippines with France,” Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty told a news briefing, without providing specific details.
“This range of topics would cover their interest in public works or infrastructure development, aviation, railways, agriculture, cybersecurity, interest in film development, human capital development, and even tourism among others,” he said.
Mr. Gepty added that France remains a key trading and investment partner for the Philippines.
France is the country’s 19th top trading partner valued at $1.54 billion, and 20th biggest export market $404.28 billion, and 18th biggest source of import at $1.14 billion as of 2024. Total trade between France and the Philippines represented a 4.3% growth in the last 10 years.
He added that Paris is vital to the approval of the Philippines and European Union free trade agreement (EU-FTA), as they seek to complete negotiations by next year.
“Moving forward, our relations with France is very promising and we can see a lot of good prospects as we move forward in our economic relations with them,” he said. “Especially as we embark on a deeper and permanent trade relations as we forge the free trade agreements with the European Union.”
The Department of Trade and Industry earlier said that FTA negotiations between Philippines and the EU were on track.
“France is one of the EU countries who has been very supportive in our effort to force this FTA,” Mr. Gepty added.
The Philippines-EU FTA is expected to be the country’s most comprehensive trade agreement, being the first such deal to tackle government procurement, digital trade, energy and raw materials, and trade and sustainable development. — Adrian H. Halili
Tino downs 19 power lines in Visayas
A TOTAL of 19 transmission lines were unavailable due to Typhoon Tino, affecting power consumers in parts of the Visayas, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said on Tuesday.
In its 5 p.m. update, NGCP said there are 13 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines, five 138-kV line, and one 230-kV line that were offline.
The grid operator has successfully restored the Maasin-San Isidro 69-kV Line, providing power to the customers served by Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative, Inc.
“NGCP has mobilized its line crews and is currently conducting patrols. Simultaneous restoration activities are also being conducted in areas already accessible,” the company said.
In a statement, as of 1:04 p.m., the National Electrification Administration (NEA) said that total power interruptions were reported in eight electric cooperatives while 15 experienced partial outages.
“There is a safety protocol that has to be followed. Line inspection has to be done before electricity can be restored in the substations. So, just a little patience and I hope we are all safe,” said NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera
Gov’t workers to get early bonus
THE government will distribute year-end bonuses and P5,000 cash gifts to civil workers ahead of schedule this month, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said the early release of benefits reflects President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s recognition of the dedication and service of government workers nationwide.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P63.69 billion for the 2025 year-end bonuses of civilian and uniformed personnel and an additional P9.24 billion for the cash gifts.
The payout will cover more than 1.85 million government employees nationwide.
“Pursuant to Budget Circular No. 2024-3, the year-end bonus and P5,000 cash gift will be released with the first agency payroll of Nov. 2025,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said in a separate statement.
Under the DBM’s guidelines, government workers who have served at least four months since Jan. 1 and remain in service as of Oct. 31 qualify for the year-end bonus and cash gift.
The agency also directed all government offices to release the payments promptly and in line with existing budget circulars. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
Classroom shortage probe urged
MINORITY lawmakers filed a resolution at the House of Representatives on Tuesday urging an inquiry into what they described as the Marcos administration and his predecessor’s failure to resolve persisting classroom shortages despite consistent public education funding.
The House basic education committee should probe what caused the “extremely low performance” of the government’s school building program despite billions being poured into it, according to House Resolution (HR) No. 425, warning of possible fund misprioritization.
“It is imperative to Congress to investigate the very low performance, low budgets and low targets in constructing the much-needed new classrooms,” the resolution, authored by Party-list Reps. Antonio L. Tinio, Sarah Jane I. Elago and Renee Louise M. Co, read.
The Education department earlier estimated it would take 55 years to eliminate the country’s 165,000-classroom backlog. Lawmakers have since increased funding for new classrooms to P35.09 billion, translating to roughly 25,200 additional classrooms, according to Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
Zambales dredging inquiry eyed
A PHILIPPINE lawmaker on Tuesday filed a measure urging a congressional inquiry into alleged large-scale dredging activities by a China-based company in the central province of Zambales.
House Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Leila M. de Lima called for a review of the Chinese construction company’s contracts and compliance with local regulations, citing concerns of environmental damage and labor violations.
“The findings of such inquiry should guide the formulation of stronger environmental safeguards, transparency mechanisms, and accountability measures to ensure that all dredging and reclamation activities are conducted in accordance with law,” she said in House Resolution No. 424.
“If these large-scale dredging operations are left unchecked, we would be neglecting the welfare and concerns of our countrymen,” she added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
24 NPAs, religious extremists surrender in Central Mindanao
COTABATO CITY — Two groups, composed of New People’s Army (NPA) guerillas and violent religious extremists, have pledged allegiance to the government in separate rites in two Central Mindanao provinces over the weekend, Army officials announced on Tuesday.
Officials of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division told reporters that the first to yield were 16 combined NPAs and members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Dawla Islamiya, who agreed to return to the fold of law through the joint efforts of the Army’s 38th Infantry Battalion (IB), led by Lt. Col. Erwin E. Felongco, South Cotabato Gov. Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. and Brig. Gen. Arnold P. Ardiente, director of the Police Regional Office-12.
The BIFF and the Dawlah Islamiya have been tagged in all deadly bombings since 2014 in cities and towns in Region 12 and in the adjoining Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and Cotabato City in the territory of what is now the Bangsamoro Region.
They also have a reputation for fomenting hatred for non-Muslims, which Islamic theologians detest for being contrary to teachings on promotion of interfaith solidarity and utmost respect for religions.
Mr. Tamayo, chairman of the multi-sector South Cotabato Provincial Peace and Order Council, provided them with initial relief supplies and cash assistance that they can use for expenses in their return to their hometowns.
Three of the NPAs who showed up at the office of Mr. Tamayo confessed to their involvement in the burning of heavy equipment of construction firms in separate arson attacks in different towns in South Cotabato after owners refused to give their commanders “protection money” and supply them with rice and other vital provisions.
In a separate ceremony witnessed by sectoral leaders, eight other NPAs, all from an indigenous highland tribe, also surrendered to the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Tibpuan in the seaside Lebak town in Sultan Kudarat.
They yielded after more than a week of backchannel dialogues with the battalion commander of the 38th IB, Lt. Col. Christopherson M. Capuyan, and his subordinate-officers, representatives from the municipal governments in Sultan Kudarat’s neighboring Lebak, Kalamansig and Palimbang towns and officials of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade.
Two of the eight NPAs separately told reporters that they decided to come out and surrender to the 37th Infantry Battalion after learning that their companions who have availed of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) for communist insurgents had been reintroduced to mainstream society.
“They were reunited with their families and now are earning as farmers and fishermen as members of livelihood cooperatives, as drivers of passenger vehicles and as construction workers. We have realized there is nothing good about being members of the New People’s Army, which is a terrorist organization,” One of the eight surrenderee said in Filipino. — John Felix M. Unson