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

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp Genaral Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

07 February 2011

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178155194

Philippine Army troops expose NPA deception and Human Rights violations in Samar Island

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City,Samar –Recently, the NPAs’ Efren Martires Command issued yet another concocted lies to the media on their growing strength and victories.

The Rodante Urtal Command of the NPAs even boasted of their brutality and savagery on 20 January 2012 against the peace-loving people of the quiet town of Lapinig, NSamar resulting to the killing of the private security of Mayor Romualdo Menzon who bravely engaged the local terrorists who attacked and raided a civilian community. This attack on a civilian target brings to the fore the NPAs propensity to extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. In their desperation due to the waning of their influence and the diminishing support from the people of Samar Island, the NPAs vented their anger and frustration by staging a deliberate attack on a civilian center and firing indiscriminately without compunction upon innocent civilians just like what they did in Hinabangan, Samar last year.

Alias Karlos Manuel, EMC spokeperson, wanted to appear remorseful by offering apology to placate and commiserate with the families of the victims of their rampage. The international community knows that an attack on any law enforcement member and civilian target is an unlawful act and yet the NPA has claimed that the police in Lapinig were “legal” targets. The family of Mr. Romeo Senobio Jr., who the NPA shot while inside his residence, knows that the lawless group barged into their home, shot their family member in the head and back although unarmed. What about the basic human right of Joshua Picayo, a four year-old boy who was hit by a stray bullet coming from the NPA group when they indiscriminately fired at residences in the town proper? The boy sustained a four-inch open wound at his waist. How could the NPA group afford to claim that they did no harm to the people who they robbed of valuables and properties? Of what use are their apologies?

“What the marauding local terrorists did to the people of Lapinig was a glaring example of the ruthlessness and violence yet they have the nerve to talk about extrajudicial killings and military abuses” said MGen Chan.

Aside from the recent lies spewed by the NPA group on Lapinig, the group has fabricated another lie in the Municipality of Catubig. The NPA has tasked its para-legal cohorts that it deceptively labels as “human rights mission” to cook up a story on the death of a certain Jovito Pajanustan who was found dead on November 28 last year in his farm near the boundary of Barangay Osang of Catubig and Barangay San Miguel of Las Navas. Instead of checking on the findings of the authorities in the area, the NPA-affiliated group visited their usual contacts in the community in order to ensure that they could put the blame on the government troops. How could they put the blame on soldiers when the area where the cadaver was found is highly influenced by the NPA group such that people in that locality live in fear of the NPA? Mr. Pajanustan’s body bore marks typical of NPA inflicted wounds on suspected military informants and private citizens who refuse to give in to their extortion.

However, the local barangay officials of both Osang of Catubig and San Miguel of Las Navas have exonerated the soldiers of involvement in the incident through the sworn statements that they have executed on December 26 of last year.

They said they are not targeting civilian in their terroristic attack by throwing detonated explosives. But, the question is “Are they not bound by International Humanitarian Law which prohibits the use of explosives?" In their desperation to kill members of the Armed forces of the Philippines many civilian people have suffered from losing their loved ones and getting injured. And that is how alias Manuel shows that NPAs are for the people.

“It is our primary concern and responsibility to protect and defend our people and help pursue peace and progress in Samar to make the life of our people better yet NPA rebels accused us as violators when in fact we, soldiers, are the ones helping our people even during disaster and calamities” MGen Chan added.

Again these lies peddled in the media are misleading and meant to hoodwink our people. It is just a black propaganda to divert public attention from their criminal acts. Mere statement of Ka Karlos Manuel will never win because they have done nothing for the improvement of the peoples’ life in Samar.

The people deserve to know the truth on the NPA group’s act of deception and violation of basic human rights so that the NPAs’ exploitation of communities will finally be stopped”, said MajGen Chan. ###

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

8TH INFANTRY (STORMTROOPERS) DIVISION, PA

DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

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

31 January 2012

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178155194

8ID Conducts Mass Bloodletting

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – This morning, the 8th Infantry Division held jointly a mass bloodletting dubbed as “Young Blood, New Blood for the World” with the Philippine National Red Cross at Headquarters 8ID covered court.

The activity was made possible thru the collaboration and cooperation between Dr. Michieko Malou D Modesto, Blood Bank Physician of the Philippine National Red Cross, Leyte Chapter and the Medical team of Camp Lukban Station Hospital headed by its commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Jorge Benavidez.

Ms Pamunag Med Tech, of PNRC Staff Leyte Chapter, Tacloban City said in an interview that recipients of the bloodletting activity are not limited to patients who need blood from this region but the whole country as well. A big number of soldiers coming from different offices of the division and students of Restructured Reenlistment Training class-80-12 volunteered to donate blood. A total of 31,500 cc of blood collected will be forwarded to the Blood Bank at Tacloban City for screening. ###

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

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

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

30 January 2012

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178155194

Three Captured NPAs were accorded human rights midst encounter in Samar

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – In adherence to Human Rights and International humanitarian Law, the Rule of Law prevailed amidst the fierce encounter between the troops of 87IB and the group of NPA in the vicinity of Brgy Guinbanga, Calbiga, Samar on January 23, 2012 that resulted to the seizure of an NPA Camp and recovery of voluminous subversive documents and equipment including a laptop computer. Three suspected NPAs were also captured when they were left by their withdrawing comrades and their group out manuevered by the gov’t forces. Despite the soldiers desire to revenge the loss of life of their companion who was killed during the encounter their sense of professionalism and respect for HR prevailed. They were treated humanely and were apprised of their constitutional rights.

Gen Chan commended the soldiers of 87IB for their professionalism and observance to HR and rule of law. “This is a good development to our soldiers. The respect of human rights they displayed at the height of the encounter showed their sincere commitment to the rule of law. This is a result of our continuing efforts to educate our soldiers in order to be disciplined and true advocates of human rights”.

The suspects who were identified as Maita Abadiano y Mabini. a.k.a. “Mytha/Jenny”, Jerry Sablan y Macanas a.k.a “Jerry”, and Delmar Dacdac y Llantada a.k.a. “Archie”. They (suspects) were charged by the police authorities for violation of Presidential Decree 1866, as amended by Republic Act 8294 (illegal possession of firearms) and Republic Act 9516 (illegal possession of explosives).

The SOCO Team from Crime Laboratory, Samar Provincial Police Office was also quick to conduct examination at the scene of encounter to ensure the preservation of evidences and truthfulness to the incident. The troops recovered in the possession of the three captured NPAs four (4) M26 fragmentation hand grenades, one (1) M1911 calibre 45 pistol, one (1) calibre 9mm berretta and fifteen (15) rounds of ammunitions.

A separate case will be filed by the Police authorities against the NPA group including the three suspects for the killing of CAA Luis C Gacuma, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) Active Auxiliary who was killed during the encounter. Additionally, another case will be filed against the suspects as witness identified them as part of the NPA group who attacked the Hinabangan Police Station on September 12, 2011.

The successful encounter sent a strong message to the NPAs that there is no safe haven for them (NPAs) in Samar. There will be no let-up in our peace and development operations and the 8ID soldiers will be more responsible, determined and focused towards the accomplishment of promoting peace, security and development in this part of the country.###

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

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

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

24 January 2012

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178155194

NPA ‘Organized Crime Group’ Havoc in Northern Samar: Acts of Desperation

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City - “The recent attack against a community of peace-loving people in Lapinig, the despicable murder of Mr. Jovito Pajanustan in Catubig and the ambush on soldiers doing community work in Las Navas by the ‘organized crime group’ locally known as the NPA were all desperate acts of terror to restore their influence in Northern Samar” said Maj Gen Mario F. Chan, Commander of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms these dastardly acts of terror perpetuated by the NPAs against the peace-loving people of Lapinig, the brutal murder of an innocent farmer and the ambush on soldiers who were engaged in community work to help the people in Las Navas”, added the good General.

According to the 8ID Commander, the climate of fear sowed by the NPAs among communities in Samar Island has dissipated as the people have come to realize and appreciate the sincere efforts of the government and stakeholders to bring peace and sustainable development in the Region as manifested in the declaration by the Local Government Unit of Southern Leyte of an “ Insurgent-Free” province on September 29, 2011 and followed by the declaration of the Local Government Unit of Leyte of a “Manageable Conflict—Affected and Development-Ready ” province on December 8, 2011.

“Because of their waning influence, this NPA or group of thugs and bandits has embarked on a systematic and orchestrated employment of deception, treachery and violence and terror beginning with their murder of Mr. Pajanustan in November 2011 in order to blame it on the soldiers who were actually involved in community work,” said MGen Chan. He stated further that , “Knowing the futility of this deceptive act, the NPA group called on its cohorts ‘migrante’ and ‘sagupa’ to join in the accusation with fabricated data and information that was readily and handily exposed as lies by affidavits of local officials in Barangay Osang of Catubig and San Miguel of Las Navas and the PNP-Catubig Spot Report.

“The truth would eventually surface to manifest their peddled lies so the NPA embarked on acts of violence such as the ambush of the soldier-community worker in Las Navas in December and the recent attack on civilians in the quiet town of Laping last January 20,” said the 8ID Commander.

“These acts or desperation to regain lost influence are typically manifested in NPA armed engagements where their volume of fire is greatest during their retreat,” observed MGen Chan.

“Notwithstanding these acts of terrorism by the NPA, the 8ID will continue to pursue to ‘win the peace’ in the affected areas and finally rid the region of this menace to development,” MGen Chan concluded.###

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

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

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

19 January 2012

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178155194

Local Officials Exonerate Soldiers In Northern Samar

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City – Local officials of Barangays San Miguel, Las Navas and Barangay Osang, Catubig both in Northern Samar executed an affidavit exonerating the involvement of soldiers in the death of a certain Jovito Pajanustan, a local resident of Barangay Osang. The document was signed by the local officials led by Barangay Chairmen Apolinario B Libico of San Miguel and Aniano D Rosco of Osang last December 26, 2011 as fact-finding teams visited the site where the dead body was found on November 28. The local officials came up with the declaration to dispel the unjust rumour of involvement spread by some interest groups in every civilian death in the locality.

Initial investigation by the PNP Catubig as contained in the report of Police Inspector Ildefonso V Miranda Jr. on November 29 states that “the victim left his house alone on November 25, 2011 at around 3:00 o’ clock in the afternoon purposely to work at his farm and never returned home until the time that he was found dead buried in a shallow grave in the state of advance decomposition with multiple stabbing and hacking wounds on the different parts of his body by his relative inside the vicinity of his farm at around 2:00 o’ clock in the afternoon of November 28, 2011.” The PNP report also states that the cadaver of the victim was brought by his relative to Catubig District Hospital for Autopsy Examination. The local PNP unit has yet to determine the identity of the suspect and the motive for the crime.

The Municipalities of Catubig and Las Navas have been known for notorious killings. Residents in both municipalities attest to the very extensive control of illegally-armed and politicized groups in the area. The mortal wounds sustained by Mr. Pajanustan are reminiscent of the style of attack by these outlaws on soldiers doing community work in the barangays. Traders and government workers are the usual victims of these threat groups since they intend to keep the local populace isolated from development efforts by agencies of the National Government.

As a responsive partner in addressing the incidence of extra-legal killings in the Island of Samar, the 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army has scheduled meetings with the Multi-Sectoral Quick Reaction Team (MSQRT) in Northern Samar to tackle the case of Mr. Pajanustan. In the interest of justice and transparency, the 8ID endeavours to partner with other government agencies and the civil society to objectively look into incidents that threaten peace and security.###

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

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

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

09 January 2012

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ JR (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178155194

8ID bless new ambulance vehicle

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City - The 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division blessed a new Ambulance vehicle with Major General Mario F Chan, Commander of 8ID together with his Staff during Monday Flag Raising Ceremony at Admin Building of Division Headquarters around 07:30 this morning.

The blessing of new Ambulance was initiated by Father Arturo Llaso, the Command Chaplain. The vehicle was donated by Lingap Kawal Foundation thru the Deputy Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines. Officers and Personnel together with Civilian Employee were also present to witness the blessing ceremony of the new ambulance. Spraying of Champaign was also conducted during the ceremony.###

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

8TH CMO (DANGPANAN) BATTALION, 8ID, PA

Camp General Vicente, Lukban, Catbalogan, Samar

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 06 January 2012

Contact: LTC NICEFORO M DIAZ (INF) PA

Commanding Officer

Mobile Nr: 09178294991

8ID’s hold new year’s call and change of chief of offices

Camp Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar – The 8th Infantry (STORMTROOPERS) Division held a New year’s call Joint Change of Chief of Offices at 8ID Grandstand at around 3 o’clock this afternoon. The ceremony was headed by Major General Mario F Chan, Commander of 8ID and Presiding Officer.

The turnover of command involved the following: 14th Infantry Battalion, 52nd Infantry Battalion and 87th Infantry Battalion. With respect to the staff offices, change of office responsibility regarding the office for personnel and for operations also proclaimed.

MGen Chan stated that he made the designations to maximize the potentials of the concerned officers. He placed them on their particular positions because they are qualified and competent to handle their newly respective designations.

The turn-over of command is yet another highlight in the career of officers of the 8ID. This enables the officer to soar higher and do their very best to become a reliable soldiers not only here in Eastern Visayas but also in the entire country.