H E A D Q U A R T E R S
8^TH INFANTRY DIVISION, PHILIPPINE ARMY
OFFICE OF THE DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Camp Lukban, Catbalogan Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

March 18, 2010

Contact: LT COL ARMAND F RICO
Spokesperson/ Chief, Public Affairs
Tel. No.: (053) 251-2264/251-2199 loc 3333
E-mail Add: dpao_8idpa@yahoo.com

8ID holds three major activities in one day

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar – The Army’s 8^th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division graced three major activities in one day making the whole camp busy last Tuesday, March 16.

The command hosted the Samar Partnership for Peace and Development (SPPADE) first hour of the day which was attended by all member agencies and other invited sector to discuss and to receive reports pertaining to the peace and development of the province.

The group focused mainly on how to make the forthcoming national and local election more orderly as deemed necessary and came up with decision to host a forum to be attended by the local candidates any day prior to the Election Day in the spirit of peace.

On the later part of the morning, the closing ceremony of the Philippine Army Candidate Soldier Course “MATARIK” Class of 2010 took place wherein 105 new breed of soldiers were appointed into the rank of “Private” who are readily deployable to different units of the 8ID.

The ceremony was also attended by the parents and relatives of the graduating class who are as proud as the graduates.

Meanwhile, the 8ID’s busy day was concluded by the opening ceremony of their 1^st Semester Inter-Color Sports fest.

All officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees as well as the members of the Philippine Navy who secure the shores of Samar and Leyte.

These activities all though tiring in their part became successful and meaningful.

Major General Arthur I Tabaquero, the commander of the 8ID made it possible to present himself and even delivered his words of welcome and encouragement to the respective activities.

“The 8ID family will always make balance of its work towards its mission accomplishment and upholding the troop’s morale”, Major General Tabaquero said stating the command’s activities from morning till dusk.

“Sometimes, we have to give time for sports and other recreational activities despite of rigid and hectic endeavor towards our mission in order to stretch a while and prepare ourselves for another succeeding days of work”, the good General added with a bit of smile on his face despite of tiring but successful day in his camp.

H E A D Q U A R T E R S
8^TH INFANTRY DIVISION, PHILIPPINE ARMY
OFFICE OF THE DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Camp Lukban, Catbalogan Samar

P R E S S R E L E A S E

March 15, 2010

Contact: LT COL ARMAND F RICO
Spokesperson/ Chief, Public Affairs
Tel. No.: (053) 251-2264/251-2199 loc 3333
E-mail Add: dpao_8idpa@yahoo.com

Barbaric NPA beheads Brgy. Captain

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – “Evil strikes back!”, are few but angry words from the victim’s bereaved family referring to the New People’s Army (NPA) for slaying and beheading their head of the family at Brgy. Genaronagan, Lope de Vega, Northern Samar the other day.

Initial reports disclosed that Hon. Luis Durico, Brgy Chairman of the mentioned barangay was brutally killed by notorious NPA led by unidentified leader using assorted high powered fire arms while on his way going home from a barangay session meeting.

Not contented with their brutality, the victim’s dead body was dragged towards the center of barangay and with the presence of his family and constituents, was beheaded to sow terror with them.

It is also worthy to note that the victim was a former rebel and allegedly being re-recruited by his former comrade but never showed any interest after re-experiencing the social life in the full folds of the law. This is one of the reasons his constituents see why the terrorists finished their so called “father of barangay.”

It can be recalled that similar incident transpired at Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Matuguinao, Samar early this year when Arman Diaz of Brgy Madoroto, Matuginao, Samar was shot dead by five unidentified members of NPA and also dragged its dead body towards the center of barangay plaza to exhibit with the populace.

Moreover, a certain Ka Dayokdok, former rebel who returned to the mainstream society revealed that the former group he previously belongs was responsible for killing and beheading a 13 year old girl that was also exhibited in the masses of San Jose de Buan for suspecting to be providing reports to the military without further investigation.

This incident is no longer new in the underground movement since it was being condemned internationally for relentlessly violating human rights.

Who will forget their nationwide anti-DPA campaign dubbed as, “Oplan Kadena de Amor, Missing-Link, Ahos-Zombie, Purga, Paglilinis-hanay, etc.” as a result of their “Kangaroo Court” butchering thousands of innocent member-victim?

Who can’t recall the famous bloody “Digos Massacre” that came out to the public knowledge slaughtering even innocent children and beheading the UCCP pastor?

Roberto Gacuma a.k.a Ka Huling, the former top rank NPA official of Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC) that was captured by the government forces sometime in 2007 has been exposing these un-Godly practices of his former comrades in most of his media interviews in order to warn those who are still being deceived by the local terrorist group.

The people of Samar are already crying for justice and seeking help to the human rights groups especially to the Katungod-Sinirangang Bisayas and other progressive groups, that still doing nothing up to press time.

“These un-Godly and barbaric acts of NPAs are no longer tolerable and must be given due attention”, cried out by his orphans.

Major General Arthur I Tabaquero, Commander 8ID said, “Let us remain steadfast in our effort to sustain peace and order in our province. Let us remain vigilant and cooperative to our different agency in order to knock down our perennial problem in the country the soonest possible time”

“May I inform our Samarnon that our task forces for peace and development are continuously exerting its effort to bring forth a secured environment that was long deprived by the insurgents in the province”, Major General Tabaquero added. ###

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

63rd Infantry (Innovator) Battalion, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army

Brgy. Opong, Catubig, Northern Samar

8D40G                                                                    04 March 2010

PRESS RELEASE NR 14-0403

Contact: 1LT JOSEPHUS EMAR M REMPILLO (INF) PA

Public Affairs Officer/Spokesperson

E-mail add: s7_63ib@yahoo.com

Isang Mass Grave, Nadiskubre

Mondragon, Hilagang Samar: Isang Mass grave ang nadiskubre ng mga operatiba ng 63^rd Infantry (Innovator) Battalion, Philippine Army sa pamumuno ni Tsg Cornelio Laure at Cpl Leoncio P Miranda bandang alas singko y medya, Ika 04 ng marso taong kasualukuyan malapit sa barangay cajecsan, Mondragon, Hilagang Samar..

Ang nabanggit na mass grave ay itinuro ng isang sibilyan sa mga kasundaluhan ng 63IB. ayon sa kanya, dito raw inilibing ng mga rebeldeng NPA ang mga dating kasamahan na napaghinalaang mga impormante ng militar at dahil na rin sa utos ng mga pinuno bilang pagsunod sa operation “Missing-Link” ng CPP/NPA dalawampung taon na ang nakalilipas..

Sa kasalukuyan, may apat na na mga bangkay ang nahuhukay ng pinagsanib na pwersa ng 63IB at mga residente barangay Cajecan ng Bayan ng Mondragon.

Patuloy pa rin ang retrieval operation na isinasagawa ng mga operatiba ng 63IB sa lugar upang mahukay pa ang iba pang mga bangkay na pinatawan ng kamatayan ng mga rebeldeng New Peoples Army.

Ayon kay ltc Joel M Paloma, ang Commanding Officer ng 63^rd IB ang kanyang pamunuan ay tutulong upang mabigyan ng katarungan ang pagpatay sa mga biktima ng Operation “Missing-Link” . ani pa niya, ito ay isa sa mga paglabag ng karapatang pantao na kung saan ay dapat mabigyan ng hustisya at mahuli ang may mga pakana nito.

Nananawagan din si ltc Paloma sa mga tao na kung may mga alam pa silang mga lugar na katulad ng nadiskubring grave site o kaya mga kampo o presensya ng mga rebeldeng NPA na ipagbigay alam agad para sa agarang pagkahuli at mabigyan ng hustisya ang mga biktima ng mga NPA. .JOSEPH/Jopal/Khajul/jigs

_________________________________________________________

Approved for Release:

LTC JOEL M PALOMA INF (GSC) PA

Commanding Officer

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

8^TH INFANTRY DIVISION, PHILIPPINE ARMY

OFFICE OF THE DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Camp Lukban, Maulong, Catbalogan Samar

PRESS RELEASE                                                 28 February 2010

(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

Contact: LTC ARMAND F RICO (CAV) PA

Office Tel Nr: (055) 251 – 2264 local 3333

Cell Phone Nr: 09167697273

Email Add: dpao_8idpa@yahoo.com

NPA rebel yields firearm re-experiences true democracy

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar – Hardship, hunger, insecurity, false hope and discouragement are just some of the numerous reasons enunciated by the former rebel after he decided to voluntarily submit himself to one of the members of the Charlie Company of the Army’s 19^th Infantry Battalion, 12:30 P.M., Friday.

Reports disclosed that Lemy Oronuz, 23 years old, known to be Joshua in the underground movement belongs to Pingkoy Platoon of the Front Committee Leyte. He is a resident of Brgy. Oguesan, Mac Arthur, Leyte and stayed in the NPA organization for reasonable years.

According to Orunuz, he can no longer withstand with the torment that he and his comrades are experiencing in the underground movement to include their long awaited realization of the promises they received when they were recruited.

Orunuz also said that his other comrades are already showing their intention to follow his footsteps of going out into the open to re-experience the true democracy that was long deprived by the party and the movement.

He also added that they are being encouraged by the testimonies of their former comrades who already availed the government’s Social Integration Program (SIP) which further negated their belief in the lies that whoever will surrender will be killed by the military.

Orunuz voluntarily submitted himself to 19IB soldier bringing along his issued M16 rifle with three (3) long and three (3) short magazines loaded with live ammunitions.

With this development, 8ID Commander, Maj. Gen. Arthur I. Tabaquero assured Orunuz of his security while his name is immediately enrolled in the SIP program.

“I personally appreciated the right move and decision done by Lemy. He is still young and he can do more with his age and correct the wrong decision in the past and can still make his future brighter”, Maj. Gen. Tabaquero added.

“I reiterate my previous call to our brothers in the underground movement whom I considered victim, to follow the good decision done by Lemy and make their future more fruitful. I also enjoin other agencies, people’s organization, local government units and cause oriented and progressive groups to share their part in our advocacy to stop insurgency that serves as the sole reason why the province’s peace and development is at stake.” Maj. Gen. Tabaquero concluded.