Author: DAVAO TODAY

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Philippines: NPA Says It Commiserates With Grecil’s Family

Front 25 Operations Command
New People’s Army ? Southern Mindanao

Press Statement
April 4, 2007

The Front 25 Operations Command of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao commiserates with the family of Grecil Galacio who was killed by the military in the course of its wanton operations in New Bataan, Compostela Valley. The AFP’s Eastern Command through its chief Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Obaniana has falsely justified its murderous rampage by claiming that Grecil was an NPA combatant who attacked them using an M-16 rifle, in an apparent move to save face and evade public backlash. Four fascist AFP soldiers were killed and scores of others were wounded in that incident; there were no NPA casualties.

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Philippines: Davao Prison Raid a ‘Big Slap’ on AFP, Police, Says NPA

MERARDO ARCE COMMAND
Southern Mindanao Regional Operations Command
NEW PEOPLE’S ARMY

Press Statement
09 April 2007

DAPECOL ARMORY RAID A BIG SLAP IN THE FACE OF THE AFP/PNP; EXPOSES WEAKNESSES AND FUTILITY OF OPLAN BANTAY LAYA II

Combined units of the Merardo Arce Command (MAC)-New People’s Army (NPA) launched a daring raid on the armory of the Davao Penal Colony (DAPECOL) in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte early dawn yesterday. A tactical MAC-NPA platoon entered the DAPECOL compound at 1:30 AM and left at 1:50 AM. The 20-minute special operations seized the entire armory of DAPECOL which consisted of 105 long firearms, 3 short firearms, two handheld VHF radios and several rounds of ammunition. This is one of the biggest haul of the NPA since its founding in March 29, 1969.

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Diagnosing Mindanao


Most Affected. Poor families in the rural areas, such as this father and his two children, are most affected by the lack of resources for health. (davaotoday.com photo)

Mothers feeding their infants with condensed milk. A flea from a buffalo is considered a cure for toothache. The sick crossing rivers and climbing mountains to get to a nearest hospital. Most pregnant women not being able to see a midwife, let alone a doctor. These are the stories from poor communities that a health group gathered in its attempt to diagnose the state of people’s health in Mindanao.

By Cheryll D. Fiel
davaotoday.com

DAVAO CITY ? The conventional wisdom is that, poverty being so widespread in the Philippines, the state of health of poor Filipinos leaves much to be desired. In Mindanao, where most of the country?s poorest provinces are located, the problem is particularly more acute.

A recent survey conducted by the nongovernment health group Community Based Health Services Association (CBHSA) affirmed many of the sad realities of the Philippine health care system, particularly in Mindanao. Many of the afflictions Mindanaoans suffer were preventable, the study found out, but these diseases became chronic and incurable because of the widespread poverty and lack of health services.

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The Happy Life and Violent Death of Grecil Buya


(Photo courtesy of MindaNews)

Grecil Buya was a lively girl who liked to play with spiders and thought TV noontime show host Willie Revillame was a great artist. She excelled in school, finishing Grade Two with honors and with the award “Most Neat and Clean.” She took on chores, like minding the carabao. On March 31, the nine-year-old girl was killed by soldiers during an encounter with the New People’s Army. The soldiers claimed the nine-year-old girl aimed an Armalite rifle at them, forcing them to shoot her. Family and friends were saddened by Grecil’s death but are outraged at the allegation that she was a communist guerrilla.

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Philippines: Satur back on campaign trail; Palace, AFP finally admit roles in anti-Bayan Muna drive

PRESS STATEMENT ? April 9, 2007

Satur back on campaign trail; Palace, AFP finally admit roles in anti-Bayan Muna drive

Fresh on from a Holy Week break, Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo returns to the campaign trail in a progressive partylist assembly in San Fernando, Pampanga today.

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