Philippine Army: One of the first responders in 'Yolanda' disaster

Aside from its usual national security role, the Philippine Army was among the first responders or agencies that gave prompt assistance to the people of Tacloban City, Leyte and other parts of the Visayas who were severely affected by the onslaught of super typhoon "Yolanda" last Nov. 8.

According to Capt. Anthony Bacus, Army spokesperson, the PA deployed 155 military vehicles and 4,000 soldiers to render humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts in Tacloban and other typhoon-affected areas.

He said that major units coming from the 10th and 4th Infantry Divisions based in Mindanao sent battalions of carpenter-soldiers to help rebuild schools, hospitals and other government buildings severely damaged by the super typhoon.

Bacus added that water search and rescue (WASAR)– capable and collapsed structure search and rescue (CSSR)– capable teams from the 525th Engineering Battalion were also deployed to Tacloban.

Troopers from the 48th Infantry Battalion, 7th Infantry Division; 80th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division and the 1st Special Forces Battalion were also sent as augmentation forces.

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45 rebels in Bukidnon surrender

CAGAYAN DE ORO -- Forty-five rebels belonging to three different units of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Bukidnon voluntarily surrendered to the 403rd Infantry “Peacemaker” Brigade last week.

The rebels are set to be presented to Bukidnon Governor Alex Calingasan at the Kaamulan Amphitheater in Malayabalay City, Bukidnon at 2 p.m. today (Thursday).

The rebels reportedly surrendered themselves to Colonel Romeo R. Gapuz, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, in time for the NPA’s 43rd anniversary.

Gapuz said the large number of surrenderees will surely have a negative impact on the NPA’s morale.

“While the NPAs are celebrating their anniversary and flaunting their ‘empty’ successes against the Filipino people, their comrades here in Bukidnon are surrendering and denouncing this rebel group who duped them. Because of this, we believe there will be more NPA rebels who will go down the mountains as they all realize that their government is truly working for the Filipino people,” he said.

Of the 45 NPA rebels who surrendered, 27 are indigenous people belonging to the Umayamnon tribe who were members of the Mamerto Bagani Command under Guerrilla Front (GF) 89.

Guerilla Front 89 is led by Gevion D. Balanban alias “Oto” and “Salin Ubod” operating within the areas of northern Bukidnon and Upper Pulangi.

The other surrenderees belonged to a group led by Rene Mansayluan Dal-anay alias “Taruc” and “Yoyoy” under the Boyboy Roa Command operating in San Fernando, Bukidnon.

The rebels turned over 33 low-powered firearms, five assorted high-powered firearms and several improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Gapuz said the surrender has reduced the total strength and firepower of the NPAs.

“With this number of rebels who just surrendered, GF 89 and GF 6’s total strength and firepower was reduced which has significantly weakened the enemy’s capability to conduct high-impact offensives against the government troops and economic sabotage. 

But even with this noteworthy accomplishment, we assure everyone that the 403rd Infantry Brigade will continue its military operations to pursue other members of the said guerrilla front so that we could finally dismantle this group and free our area from enemy influence and threat,” Gapuz said.

“I also appeal to the local populace to cooperate with us and give us valuable information that is relevant in accomplishing our mission,” he added. 

The surrender was reportedly made possible through the effective working relationship and coordination of the 403rd IB, 4th Infantry Division (4ID), local government of Bukidnon, tribal leaders of Bukidnon, and the Philippine National Police.

Major General Victor A. Felix, commander of the 4ID, welcomed the development as a triumph not only for the Armed Forces and the government but for the whole Filipino nation as well.

“I am glad these rebels have already realized the futility of the ideology they are fighting for and the issues that they have been complaining before were already addressed and answered,” Felix said.

“What is best to do now is for all the stakeholders to continue working for the success of our IPSP (Internal Peace and Security Plan) Bayanihan in order to achieve the lasting peace we have been dreaming of. I encourage everybody to take an active part in this endeavor so that significant development in our country could set in,” he added.

He said the 4ID is happy to welcome their brothers and sisters who have finally decided to return to the folds of the government.

“We know they have led a difficult life while they were still in the mountains fighting against the government. It is about time that they give up their arms and start living a normal life back to their loved ones and families,” Felix said.

The surrenderees will receive financial and livelihood assistance from the province through its local integration program, while other benefits and privileges will still be determined by the Joint Validation and Authentication Committee.

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Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex | March 28, 2012 | Article Link

Diamond troopers overran rebel camp in Agusan del Norte

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, Mar. 14 (PIA) -- Soldiers under the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, Philippine Army discovered a hastily abandoned enemy encampment in Sitio Kamalig, Putting Bato, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte at 2:00 p.m., March 13, 2012.

The discovery of the said camp was during the combat patrol conducted by 3rd Special Forces Battalion.

Said camp is approximately 300 x 400 square meters in land area and can accommodate more or less 500 persons. It is one of the main camps of Guerilla Front 21C of the New People’s Army’s North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee.

The camp has six kitchens, 126 bunkers, and 30 outposts and foxholes.

Upon discovery of the said camp, 4ID troopers scoured the area and discovered the following items that were left behind by fleeing rebels: one Super Power generator (2HP NG-1000), 20 liters of gas for generator, 100 meters of electric wire, two gallons of improvised explosive device (IEDs), 12 sacks of assorted materials used for the production of IEDs, two gallons of epoxy, four cans (1.35 kgs per can) of marine epox, and food stuff.

MGen Victor A Felix AFP, Commander, 4ID said, “This discovery of the NPA’s main camp in Cabadbaran City is a welcome development in the Filipino people’s fight against insurgency in the country. Your Army, specifically your Diamond Division’s, relentless pursuit to perform our mandated task is geared towards protecting the people and the sovereignty of our country."

“It is very evident by the way said camp was hastily abandoned that these armed groups can no longer defend their former stronghold. This is a result of the NPA’s losing influence in the area and over the masses.

“Everyday more and more of our civilian brothers and sisters in the countryside are realizing the reality of the futility and the treachery of the armed movement. People are now open to the truth that the NPAs are not about championing the cause of the poor but about using the poor to push forward their personal gain.

“We are happy that the populace is actively working which led to the discovery of this camp. We hope that others will follow their lead and help us in our future operations. After all, the successful accomplishment of our mission is not for our benefit alone, it is for the whole Filipino nation.”

“While we believe in the primacy of peace talks, we should be able to put up an effective deterrent against armed threats. And this is the reason for all our military operations. We need to protect the people from any form of atrocities, exploitation and harassments being done by the NPAs,”added MGen Felix added.

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NCLM/PIA-Caraga/4ID PA |Philippine Information Agency | March 14, 2012 | Article Link

Soldiers join cleaning, clearing ops in Oro

THE 4th Infantry ‘Diamond’ Division (4ID) joined students and other agencies in the cleaning and clearing operations at sitio Tambo in Barangay Balulang, Cagayan de Oro City recently.

The clean-up activity, initiated by the Safer River, Life Saver Foundation of Liceo de Cagayan University in partnership with the local government units, line agencies, government and non-government organizations, aims to help rehabilitate the Cagayan de Oro River and the 17 riverbank barangays that were badly hit by Tropical Storm Sendong last December.

The 4ID’s active participation in the event is one of the continuing efforts of the division to show to Kagay-anons that it remained true and steadfast in its promise that they will be with them until the city is back to its normal operations, said Major General Victor A. Felix, 4ID commander.

“This clean-up activity is only the start of the 4ID’s alliance with the Safer River, Life Saver Foundation. Your Diamond Troopers will always be ready to extend assistance to all the residents of Cagayan de Oro, especially to those who were affected by Typhoon Sendong,” Felix said.

After the cleaning and clearing operations, Felix said the division will help and support the organization and its partners to come up with viable and feasible measures to help prevent this kind of calamity in the future or to help mitigate the effects of natural phenomenon.

“From day one of Typhoon Sendong to this very day, your Diamond soldiers are still here to lend a hand and help those who are in need. With this clean-up activity, we hope that more and more people will realize that the protection and preservation of the environment is not only the government or the military’s responsibility,” said Major Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, commanding officer of the 4th Civil-Military Operations “Kasaligan” Battalion.

“We hope that in the conduct of Liceo de Cagayan’s initiatives and the participation of all concerned stakeholders in the city, the City of Cagayan de Oro will be able to go back to its normal operations once again,” Osias added.

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PR

Saturday, February 18, 2012

SunStar.Com.Ph

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Civilian hit in crossfire returning home

A CIVILIAN from San Antonio, RTR in Agusan del Norte will be returning home after being confined at the Camp Evangelista Hospital of the 4th Infantry Division in Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro for severe injuries.

Dionisio Calbo, a village councilor of San Antonio, sustained severe wounds on his left and right legs after he gallantly fought the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) during a two-hour heavy crossfire between the NPA’s Front 21 under the Pulang Diwata Command and the army’s 23rd IBPA/CAA detachment on January 3.

Calbo was transported to the Camp Evangelista Hospital along with three other civilians identified as Rey Mark B. Cablay, 18; Jessabell and Jan Marian Cablay who were also hit during the crossfire.

Calbo said he could not forget the day when the Army’s detachment was heavily infiltrated by around 300 NPA members.

“Being a concerned citizen and since my house is just beside the barracks, I opted to help the Army foil the attack of the NPA since they were only 12 inside the camp,” he said.

During the crossfire, Calbo said one NPA member and one Army died while another Army was wounded along with three other civilians.

Major Eugenio Julio Osias IV, 4ID spokesperson, said that after the incident, the victims were rushed to the Butuan Doctors Hospital for immediate treatment.

“As ordered by our commanding general, Major General Victor Felix, the expenses of the victims will be shouldered by the army,” Osias said.

However, he said Calbo’s hospital bill reached P107,000 which prompted the army to transfer him and other victims to the camp’s hospital to save on expenses.

“We will guarantee the safety of Calbo when he returns to his hometown. His gallantry will be recognized by our troop,” Osias said.

Related to this, Osias said they already filed cases against the NPAs responsible for the attack.

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Nicole J. Managbanag

SunStar.Com.Ph

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Army denies NPA claim of killing 6 soldiers, wounding 16 others in Bukidnon

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The military denied claims made by the communist New People’s Army that six soldiers were killed and 16 others were wounded in two separate ambushes in Kitaotao, Bukidnon on Jan. 18.

Maj. Eugene Osias, spokesperson of the military’s 4th Infantry Division, said the NPA’s Merardo Arce Command’s a press statement was a “big joke.”

“That is impossible, we have all our soldiers accounted for,” Osias said.

The NPA said its forces ambushed a private vehicle, which had members of the Army’s 23rd Infantry Battalion at around 6 a.m. on Jan. 18. Three hours later, another team ambushed a convoy of 8th IB troops, the NPA claimed.

“It has no proof. It slightly injured four soldiers but no one was killed, contrary to the claim of the NPA,” Osias said.

The NPA said the Armed Forces of the Philippines hid the fatalities, allegedly as a standard operating procedure for troops to downplay casualties of war.

But Osias said they could not keep casualty count a secret because “our soldiers have families, and they surely deserve to know if something happened to them.

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By Bobby Lagsa
Inquirer Mindanao

5:39 pm | Monday, January 23rd, 2012

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Soldiers, militiamen awarded medals

MANILA, Philippines - Military honors were yesterday accorded to two soldiers and 14 militiamen who stood their ground when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided their outpost in Agusan del Norte recently.

Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, pinned the gold cross medal to S/Sgt. Sixto Duyan and Cpl. Murphy Jaber while the 14 militiamen were awarded with the military merit medal.

“Your gallantry in action, strong determination and stability under pressure coupled your combat teamwork, is highly laudable and appreciated,” Felix said.

The NPAs attacked the soldiers and the militiamen led by Duyan while manning an Army patrol base in Barangay San Antonio in Remedios Romualdez town before dawn last Jan. 3.

Though outnumbered, the troops fought back, forcing the rebels to withdraw. One of the militiamen, Christopher Rara, was killed while two others were wounded in the gunfight.

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By Jaime Laude The Philippine Star Updated January 15, 2012 12:00 AM

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Army sergeant cited for bravery

An award for bravery in combat awaits an Army sergeant who led 16 militiamen in repulsing a communist rebel attack on a military detachment in a far-flung area in Agusan del Norte shortly after the holiday truce ended.

Sergeant Sixto Duyan was commander of the San Antonio Patrol Base in Barangay (village) San Antonio in the municipality of Remedios T. Romualdez when it came under heavy attack by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at around 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

The ceasefire had just ended that midnight for both government troops and communist rebels.  The government had declared an 18-day cease-fire while the NPA declared a six-day truce.

After a nearly five hours of gun battle, the estimated 50 to 60 insurgents were forced to withdraw, dragging with them their wounded or killed comrades, as reinforcements from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion arrived.

One killed rebel was left behind.

One militiaman identified as Christopher Rara was also killed. Two others were wounded namely Duyan’s assistant detachment commander Corporal Murphy Haiber and barangay official Dionisio Calbo.

The militiamen recovered from the rebels two high-powered M16 rifles, one of which had an attached M203 grenade launcher, a 500-meter detonating cord used for explosives, and assorted ammunition.

Gallantry in action

Major General Victor Felix, who oversees Army forces in northern and central Mindanao as commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division, lauded the militiamen who withstood the attack for several hours.

“Definitely, we are going to recommend an award for Sergeant Duyan for real gallantry in action and stability under pressure,” he said.

Felix said the award would go beyond his level as division commander.

He said they have warned military detachments to brace for attacks after top NPA leader in Mindanao Jorge Madlos (who uses the alias Ka Oris) vowed to stage more offensives despite the government’s attempt to restart the peace negotiations.

“We should be prepared for any of their offensive moves. They have already made a statement and I think we should take it seriously,” he said.

“I think Oris made a very categorical statement that they are going to hit some specific mining firms and we have strengthened the security posture in these areas,” Felix added.

Rebel threats

He said some of these firms have asked the military to establish special civilian active auxiliaries (SCAA) detachments in their area since they have received threats from the communist rebels.

“Yes they did (get threats) openly from Ka Oris,” Felix said.

Last October 3, in one of the most brazen raids done by the NPA, some 200 rebels staged coordinated raids on Taganito Mining Corp., its sister company Taganito HPAL Nickel Corp. and Platinum Group Metals Corp. in Surigao del Norte and burned hundreds of millions worth of equipment.

The military said these mining firms were attacked because they resisted the rebels’ extortion demands.

Aside from mining firms, agro-industrial plantations are also among the NPA’s top targets.

“We have augmented some economic centers to make sure that they would be safe. We have coordinated with the Philippine National Police and other agencies, local agencies,” Felix said.

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1:28 am | Thursday, January 5th, 2012

By Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

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NPA rebels attack Agusan Army patrol base

DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Around 50 communist New People’s Army guerrillas attacked an Army patrol base in Barangay San Antonio in Remedios T. Romualdez town in Agusan del Norte at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, killing a member of the Civilian Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit and wounding two other persons.

One rebel apparently died in the ensuing firefight.

Colonel Leopoldo Galon, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, said killed in a five-hour firefight was militiaman Christopher Rar while Cpl.  Murphy Haiber and barangay council member Dionisio Calbo were wounded.

Galon said the rebels left behind the body of an unidentified slain comrade when they withdrew after the firefight.

Recovered from the scene were two M16 rifles and an M203 grenade launcher, a rifle grenade,  500 meters of detonating cord and ammunition.

Galon said the patrol base in Barangay San Antonio was under the 23rd Infantry Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

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By Germelina A. Lacorte
Inquirer Mindanao

2:47 pm | Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

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AFP ships, choppers, trucks bring flood aid

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Uniformed men in Navy ships, Air Force helicopters and Army trucks brought relief goods for victims of Tropical Storm “Sendong” here, playing Santa Claus to people brought to their knees by the country’s deadliest disaster in recent years.

The first to arrive was BRP Dagupan, of the Philippine Navy, at the port of Macabalan bringing 400 coffins and tons of relief goods and thousands of bottles of water.

Lt. Gen. Victor Felix, head of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said victims who refuse to go to evacuation centers were priority in water distribution.

As BRP Dagupan docked, a 25-truck convoy from the Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City arrived with relief goods, too.

Maj. Jacob Obligado, civil-military operations chief of the 10th Infantry Division, said the goods were collected from donors in Southern Mindanao.

“Everyone gave their share. This is the true spirit of bayanihan,” said Obligado.

In Iligan City, two government helicopters delivered relief goods to hinterland village Digkilaan.

Brig. Gen. Roland Amarelli, deputy commander of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Tabak Divison, said delivery of relief goods to upland communities would continue.

Two trucks of the Philippine Navy were also in Iligan City to bring relief goods.

At the City Hall here, however, only a handful of officials were present during the distribution of relief goods.

Lito Wapin, social welfare project officer, said each family was expected to receive a package of bread, sandwich spread and juice. “Hopefully, there will be some slices of ham,” he said.

Some of the victims, however, said they were just happy they were alive. “Our neighbors were not so lucky,” said evacuee Angelie Soria.

Some others were overcome with sadness. “It’s as if there’s nothing to celebrate,” said Delfina Ranara, 79.Bobby Lagsa, with a report from Richel V. Umel, Inquirer Mindanao

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Philippine Daily Inquirer

11:25 pm | Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

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4ID conducts medical mission to victims of tropical storm Sendong

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City, December 27 – Eight Hundred Fifty families affected by typhoon Sendong in Brgy. Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City were given free medical and dental assistance by the medical and dental team of Task Group Diamond Response, Fourth Infantry Division (4ID), Philippine Army (PA).

The 4ID through its Task Group Diamond Response, led by Col. Catherine N. Gosingan, initiated a medical mission and relief goods distribution in one of the affected barangays of Cagayan de Oro City as ordered by MGen. Victor A. Felix, Commander, 4ID.

As a continuing effort of the 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division, to help alleviate the plight and suffering of fellow Filipinos, the Task Group Diamond Response conducted this medical and dental civic action program and relief goods distribution as more residents are getting sick every day after Sendong’s tragic landfall in the city.

The purpose of this medical mission and relief goods distribution conducted by the division is to cater to the most basic needs of Kagay-anons following the destruction and devastation of Sendong in the city.

The Army’s organic medical doctors and nurses and all available manpower and logistics of the division were employed and utilized in its maximum capacity to support the activity.

And with the help of other concerned individuals and organizations, the division was able to come up with the needed medicines, medical supplies and relief goods that were distributed by the soldiers today. (4ID/PIA-10)

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PIA Press Release

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

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