The New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Mindanao implemented the NPA standing order against four intelligence and death squad operatives…
Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Women’s Party condemned the killings of Kapis Butod and Ludenio Monzon in Davao region, saying…
DAVAO CITY — The Pasaka Confederation of Lumad Organizations in Southern Mindanao denounces the recent killing of an Ata-Manobo civilian…
FORT ANDRES BONIFACIO, METRO MANILA — No less than the army chief Lieutenant General Victor S. Ibrado recently announced the…
Given the fact that reports on the abduction of her daughter reached first the police station of Talomo before it reached her, Evangeline Pitao, Rebelyns mother, asked if the police could have done any better? Could the police have blocked all the possible exit routes of the van and rescued Rebelyn that night?
We cannot guard all the exits, said police Supt. Querubin Manalang, Jr., the regional spokesperson of the Philippine National Police. Imagine how many passageways and roads there are in Davao city compared to the number of police personnel we have. That is not the only job of the police, he said. Read on
DAVAO CITY — The new head of the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division and commander of the Philippine Army in Davao…
It’s been two years since we were shockingly awakened by the tragic death of an innocent girl-child victim, Grecil Buya….
Military mocks civilian rule in Davao by resurrecting Alsa Masa — Farmer’s group The murder yet again of another member…
Side Bar Story Duterte keeps his hands off Paquibato
(photo from pinoyrecords.blogspot.com)
The citys largest district of over 40,000 people, Paquibato has become a virtual garrison these days. People cannot move around the place without identification cards bearing the signature of soldiers.
On the veranda of the village hall of barangay Mabuhay, government soldiers mounted an M60 machine gun, a menacing reminder among its residents of the silent war in their midst. In a place called Crossing Hasil towards the border with Panabo, soldiers at a checkpoint stopped all vehicles for inspection.
Earlier this month, a fuming Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had declared he will keep his hands off Paquibato, raising fear that rights of civilians might be violated in the resulting armed clashes between government and rebel forces in the area.
Paquibato has long been considered battleground between the military and the Communist New Peoples Army. Its hinterlands have been a stronghold of NPA leader Leoncio Pitao, the elusive Kumander Parago whose 20 year old daughter, abducted and killed on March 4 in Davao city, was buried last week.
Duterte has kept good rapport with the rebels through the years, a policy that relatively kept peace in the area in the past but which apparently clashed with armys thrust to crush the 40-year old insurgency through military might. Read on.
By GERMELINA A. LACORTE Davao Today DAVAO CITYWhen mayor Rodrigo Duterte announced he was keeping his hands off Paquibato he…
