Stepping-up strong security measures makes Davao City experiences zero incidence – Gen. Gapay

Davao City - Brigadier General Gilbert I. Gapay, the Deputy Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command, and Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Haribon was organized after the September 2, 2016, bombing in Davao City with 15 casualties and 67 wounded during the said incident.

Gen. Gapay said he is the second commander of the JTF Haribon since its creation. He assumed the post as the Deputy Commander of the Eastern Mindanao command on December 1, 2016. The JTF Haribon operates in Davao City, Samal Island including Davao del Norte.

Gapay said when the former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte elected to Presidency, Davao City became the Malacanang set in the south. On this new situation, Davao City become the venue of top level activities of the government and might be one of the major targets of terrorist groups in the country. Gapay said they identified Al khalifa Pilipinas (AKP) based in General Santos City and Sarangani; Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao; the Maute group in Lanao del Sur; the Abu sayyaf group (ASG) in Sulu and Basilan, but these are all outside Davao area.

Gen. Gapay on area briefing

Gapay said that Isnilon Japilon of ASG is said to be in Lanao del Sur early this year coordinating with the Maute group. They are trying to unite among themselves for their desire for independence to establish link with the Islamic State terrorist based in other countries.

He said that they stepped-up extensive intelligence coverage on these groups to monitor their movements, safe houses and identification of personalities. He said there are numbers of terrorists were neutralized by the military in Western Mindanao command area.

Some political analysts said that terrorism is the product of social injustices converted into political confrontation inspired by the social and religious extremism. Most of the members of the terrorist groups are recruited from the innocent youth and trained and ready to cost their lives for their belief.

Gapay said the terrorists are trying to infiltrate Davao City because dignitaries are their high value target personalities and he said that these are the challenges to monitor the whereabouts of the terrorist groups and neutralize them.

Strengthened security measures in the critical infrastructures such as seaports and airports are being initiated and sustained. There are 3 major checkpoints in Davao City as the entry and exit points to ensure security and protection of the City.

Gapay said during inspection on checkpoints, the passengers of the public utility vehicles should step-down in checkpoints especially from the buses to get inspected then board the bus again. The inspection have no exemption, everybody are subjected for inspection as part of the security measures. Aside from checkpoints is the visibility patrols of the Philippine National Police (PNP). In populated areas, security teams are augmented such as in malls, churches, public markets and public plaza especially during festivals and celebrations.

Gen. Gapay, 2nd from right, with his men get ready to zumba.

On January 15, 2017 the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit was launched in Davao City and President Duterte formally accepted the chairmanship for the ASEAN for this year and successfully hosted the series of ASEAN meeting activities in Davao City.

President Duterte is the current Chairman of the ASEAN this year hosted the ASEAN Summit 2017 last January in Davao City to coincide with the 50^th year anniversary of the ASEAN this year. Gapay said “our government has a bigger responsibility in hosting the summit especially on safety and security.” Davao City successfully hosted 9 ASEAN top level meetings for the month of February 2017 alone and on the later part of the year the head of states will be coming in the country for the Summit.

“Due to the effective and strong security measures, I am proud to say that we achieved the target of zero incidence for the past few months upon my assumption in JTF Haribon but it’s an inter-agency efforts by the Military with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the local government units” Gapay said in a statement.

Gapay said Security in Davao City is very challenging. The security set-up is in place with its aim to be ended a successful celebration for the ASEAN summit in Davao City. Security awareness program is continuing by giving information and education to the populace on anti-terrorism campaign is being initiated in tandem with the people have raised the level of security awareness like the unattended packages and received reports from the public manifested the cooperation from the people. He said they also increased the number of k-9 units to respond any eventualities to protect Davao City. Gapay said security measures in Davao City is collectively effective and doing well.

The zumba session

In related developments, the Communist Party of the Philippines - New Peoples Army - National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is the number one security threat in Eastern Mindanao command. During the breakdown of ceasefire there is a significant increase of atrocities and attacks include arson, extortion, kidnapping, among others, especially targeting civilians. The Eastern Mindanao Command is addressing these concerns in close cooperation with the private and business sectors because CPP-NPA-NDF is concentrating its forces in the four regions in Eastern Mindanao area, such as in regions XIII, XI part of Regions X and XII.

In relation to the Bangsamoro peace process, there is the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) community in Davao City as well as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) community. Both groups are very cooperative in supporting the peace initiatives of President Duterte. He is hoping a new BBL version, the Bangsamoro enabling law will be passed for Bangsamoro Autonomy but the Moro groups are also optimistic to Federalism leaving behind the issue on separation.

Gapay said security concern is everybody’s responsibility. It’s not only the responsibility of the security sector and local government but it’s the responsibility for everyone. He is urging the people to continue their cooperation and support to the security sectors and local leaders especially in securing Davao City and its environs in Mindanao and the entire country. Reports and photos by Jun Enriquez

LANECO “fools?” member-consumers on power rates, KP raise concerns on anomalous contracts

Tubod, Lanao del Norte - Power supply in Mindanao is more than enough to supply electricity almost doubled the Mindanao capacity need.

The Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative (LANECO) has a pending Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) case No. 2016-108 RC, for a joint application for approval of the Power Supply Contract (PSC) entered into by and between the LANECO, Inc. and San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation (SMCPC), with prayer for confidential treatment of information.

According to source, LANECO has a total power capacity at 12 megawatt (MW) to supply power to consumers but only an average of 8 MW is consumed in a month. The KP members in Lanao del Norte observed that in their power billing they paid was approximately increased to PhP15.00 per kWh started in December 2016 from PhP9.00 per kWh without prior notice.

Currently, the LANECO has a new power supply contract (PSC) with San Miguel Consolidated Power Corporation (SMCPC) and jointly applied to ERC for its approval

The members of the kilusang Pagbabago (KP) Lanao del Norte (LDN) chapter who are also power consumers questioned the contract application with prayer for confidentiality which already contradict to the transparent and accountable governance. The KP LDN also questioning the rationality of the power supply application because allegedly in 2016 the load capacity received from suppliers of LANECO is 12 MW but the load distributed to member-consumers is only 8 MW, therefore, there is an excess power of 4 MW. There is also an existing problem in LANECO of an excessive unpaid electricity in huge amounts uncollected that allegedly charge it to the system loss.

Engineer Norberto J. Oller, the Past President and Technical Analyst of the Lanao Power Consumers Federation (LAPOCOF) and the current Consultant of the Iligan City Government, said that the system loss can be measure the losses of energy connecting from the supplier substation to transmission then distribution to the consumers. He said in the RA 9136 or the Energy Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), the maximum allowed charges on system loss is only a maximum of 9 percent based on the actual usage of electricity.

The Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) held a meeting of Principals on 15 November 2016 at Diamond Hotel, Manila was hosted by the Department of Energy - Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (DOEEPIMB).

The summary of Mindanao power projects as of October 31, 2016 have two components, the COMMITTED power capacity and the INDICATIVE power capacity. The committed power capacity is the power usages actually consumed while the Indicative power capacity comprises the power actually consumed and the excess power also known as reserve power.

The Committed power has a total capacity to 1,687.9 megawatt (mw), with 17 proponents, comprising the coal-fired power source with 5 proponents or power plants have total capacity of 1,501 mw equivalent to 89.5 percent share contribution to the overall power capacity; oil-based have 4 proponents with total power capacity of 29.5 mw equivalent to 1.7 percent share; natural gas is zero percent share; renewable energy have 8 proponents with power capacity of 148.4 mw equivalent to 8.8 percent share; Under the Renewable energy, geothermal with zero percent share, hydro with 8 percent share composed of 5 proponents with a total capacity of 134.2 mw, Biomass have 3 proponents with total capacity of 14.2 mw with 0.8 percent share, solar and wind energy have zero percent share.

The Indicative power has a total capacity of 2,765.8 mw with 37 proponents, comprising the coal-fired power source with 6 proponents or power plants has a total capacity of 1,733 mw equivalent to 62.7 percent share contribution to the overall power capacity; oil-based has 3 proponents with total capacity of 30.9 mw equivalent to 1.1 percent share; natural gas has zero percent share; renewable energy has 28 proponents with total capacity of 1,001.9 mw equivalent to 36.2 percent share. Under the renewable energy, geothermal has 1 proponent with power capacity of 40 mw equivalent to 1.4 percent share, hydro has 17 proponents with total power capacity of 662.7 mw equivalent to 24 percent share, Biomass with 5 proponents has a total capacity of 61.2 mw equivalent to 2.2 percent share, solar power has 5 proponents with indicative power capacity of 238 mw equivalent to 8.6 percent share and wind energy have zero percent share.

The Challenges in Mindanao power sector generation identified the excess generation, Policy on embedded Generation, Transition to a Competitive Environment, Marketing of the Excess Capacity to Investors. The Challenges on the TRANSMISSION operations is the Security of Transmission Facilities, Timely Completion of Transmission Projects, DISTRIBUTION collection efficiency, Supply contracting Issues.

In a mindset, the excess power generation is the difference of the Indicative power capacity of 2,765.8 MW and Committed power capacity of 1,687.9 MW. Therefore the excess power in Mindanao for 2016 is estimated to 1,077.9 MW. 

A projection from the power sector for 2017 has total projected installed capacity of 3,577.67 MW while total projected demand is 1,704 MW only. For 2018 projection, the installed capacity is 4,282.67 MW with projected demand is only 1,832 MW. For 2019 projection, an installed capacity at 4,282.67 MW with total power demand at 1,950 MW. For 2020 projection, the total installed capacity is 4,282.67 MW and the total projected demand is 2,097 MW only. Therefore, on 2021 the projected power surplus is 2,165.67 MW. 

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) keep mum on this matter as they were invited during the Media Summit for Northwestern Mindanao held in Iligan City on November 28-29, 2016, to shed light on the power issues and concerns but to no avail reasons they cannot be reached from a very short distance within the vicinity of Iligan City.

In the Power Supply Contract (PSC), the LANECO will serve as the Buyer and the SMCPC will be the Seller. The joint application was submitted to the Energy regulatory Commission on March 14, 2016 for approval. It was stated in its application that there was two separate biddings conducted by the LANECO bids and awards committee with two separate biddings and have had two bidders failed and only none bidder was qualified, the SMCPC.

In its application historical background, on March 1, 2016, LANECO Bids and Awards committee (BAC) issued a resolution no. 10 to have a direct negotiation with SMCPC for the procurement of 5 MW electric energy for the period of 2016 to 2026 equivalent for 10 years. On March 3, 2016, LANECO Acting General Manager, invited the SMCPC for a negotiation of its power supply.

On March 4, 2016 the LANECO technical working group issued a resolution No. 01 endorsing to LANECO Board of Directors through its management headed by Mr. Mañada to enter into a Power supply contract (PSC) to SMCPC.

On March 7, 2016, the LANECO Board of Directors issued a Resolution No. 26, authorizing its President, Mr. Emmanuel A. Mejorada, to sign the PSC with SMCPC for the supply of 5 MW electric energy to LANECO for the period of 2016 to 2026 equivalent to 10 years. On march 14, 2016 the LANECO and SMCPC executed the PSC subject to the joint application.

In the contract the buyer shall maintain a minimum hourly nomination at least 40 percent of the contract capacity for a duration of the PSC, as its share in the minimum stable load of the power plant. The generation source of the electric power supply of SMCPC is coming from its ongoing construction of a 2 x 150 MW circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power thermal power plant, located in Culaman, Malita, Davao del Sur, which was expected to be commercially operational in the first quarter of 2016.

The effectivity of the PSC shall take effect between the parties on the date of signing and shall remain effective for a period of ten (10) years from commercial operation date (COD). The supply of the electric power by the seller shall commence upon COD, and shall continue until the end of the contract term.

The KP in Lanao del Norte doubted the LANECO and SMCPC PSC is an anomalous contract cited the existing power capacity of LANECO is more than enough to supply the electric power requirement in the province of Lanao del Norte. The supply of 5 MW will be considered as an excess power. LANECO has an existing contract with electric power suppliers plus an additional contract of SMCPC in layman’s understanding and simple arithmetic is addition which already exceeded the power supply in the province of Lanao del Norte.

The LANECO management through its Acting General Manager, Sherwin Mañada, invited the Kilusang Pagbabago (KP), Lanao del Norte (LDN) chapter through John Gandi Y. Amores, Coordinator, to attend for the Jurisdictional requirements, Expository presentation, Pre-trial conference and presentation of evidence on March 16, 2017 at 9:00 O’clock in the morning at LANECO Energy center, Tubod, Lanao del Norte. The KP is championed by Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco for the good governance for transparency and accountability especially against corruption.

During the public hearing, Atty. Rodulfo Louie V. Mabalot, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Heading, presided the public hearing. The SMCPC were represented by Atty. Abeleno Cedo III, legal officer and Mr. Alberto Reyes, spokesperson and for LANECO was represented by the Acting General Manager, Mr. Sherwin Mañada.

Most of the consumers attended the public hearing were KP members. It was observed that the ERC did not acknowledge the KP members as interveners. The hearing was understood to be a compliance to the approval of the joint application of the power supply contract between the LANECO and SMCPC submitted to the ERC. However, most of the previous ERC public hearings were presided by the ERC Commissioner to legally appreciate the proceedings by the person in authority.

Most of the KP members concerns are the sky rocketed power rate increase in December 2016 as high as PhP15.00 per kWh from PhP9.00 per kWh without prior notice to consumers. It was allege that the LANECO management decrease power rate to PhP13.00 per kWh due to flooded complaints. Then currently allegedly the power rate was decrease to approximately PhP12.00 per kWh. The KP members also complained the rationality of the contract because LANECO have an existing contract with the current power suppliers to purchase 12 MW but only 8 MW will be consumed at any given time in a month. Then here comes the additional 5 MW from SMCPC to have a total of 17 MW. Therefore, the LANECO member-consumers will pay the excess power even it was not consumed. All these actions are injustice to the member-consumers that need to be attended.

The LANECO member-consumers are calling the attention of the LANECO officials to refrain the power rate to PhP9.00 per kWh because the power rate increased in December 2016 had no basis and illegal.

The power supply contract as jointly applied by and between the LANECO and SMCPC is believed to be anomalous. The KP members are planning to file a petition to the ERC to nullify and disapprove the joint application and other administrative and criminal liabilities will be filed also to deter corrupt practices in the power sector to protect the power consumers of LANECO. They will also report this matter to the Honorable Cabinet Secretary Jun Evasco. Reports and photo by Jun Enriquez.

Wanted RPA leader shoot dead by operatives link to Dr. Perlas murder?

RIP, In memory of Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas. Photo courtesy from Dr. Charles Marquez (FB post)

Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte- in a joint operation of Army troopers and the Philippine National Police (PNP) against wanted person on murder case and leader of rejectionist group operated in Kapatagan Lanao del Norte was shot to death by the government operatives.

  

The operation led Bravo Company 15th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division under the leadership of 1Lt. Marlouie S. Dicen (CE) Philippine Army (PA), Commanding Officer of Bravo Coy, 15IB, 3ID, PA together with the Kapatagan Municipal Police Station (MPS) headed by PCINSP Malvin Cebedo Loquinte, Officer-in-charge (OIC) conducted joint law enforcement operation to serve the warrant of arrest against Agapito Tamparong Democer a.k.a “RICO” Tamparong Manatad and alyas “DARWIN” of legal age allegedly Gun for Hire personality and a suspect in the series of shooting incident in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte (LDN) and some other municipalities in the Province.

Accordingly, the suspect had no permanent address and with standing warrant of arrest for double murder with criminal case number 21-3510 & 21-3511 with no bail recommended and frustrated murder in criminal case number 21-3512 issued by Judge Alberto P. Quinto of RTC Branch 21, Kapatagan, LDN dated February 22, 2017.  He was also linked as the alleged suspect to the assassination of late Dr. Dreyfuss B. Perlas the Municipal Health Officer of Sapad, Lanao del Norte.

In a police report, Dr. Perlas was gunned down at about 7:05 in the evening of March 1, 2017, along the national highway of Purok 4, Maranding, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, wherein a certain Dreyfuss Perlas Y Bolivar, 31 years old, single, the Municipal Helath officer of Sapad, Lanao del Norte was shot to death by unidentified suspect/s riding in an unrecognized vehicle. Recovered at the crime scene is one fired cartridge case of .45 caliber and a single motorcycle Yamaha XTZ color blue with plate number KA 98877 driven by the victim. The victim was declared dead on arrival (DOA) at the Kapatagan Provincial Hospital, Poblacion, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte. During this time, the Police investigation is going to establish the identity of the suspect/s and its motive of the killing. Most of the people in Sapad recounted that Dr, Perlas is the Doctor for the poor and in unison they are asking justice for Dr. Perlas.

Upon receiving reports, Army official said the operation against the suspect was conducted at 03:30 in the afternoon of March 4, 2017, after receiving information from the concern citizen that the suspect had a drinking session at Barangay Tiacongan, Kapatagan, LDN. The joint Army troopers and PNP operatives proceeded towards Barangay Tiacongan to serve the warrant of arrest to the suspect, Agapito Tamparong Democer a.k.a “RICO” Tamparong Manatad and alyas “DARWIN”. Sensing operatives approaching the area, the suspect runaway for escape which resulted to a pursuit operation by the operatives until he was cornered beside the rice field at Purok 8, Barangay Bagong Silang, Kapatagan, LDN.

Prior to the shooting incident, it was recounted that the operatives allegedly requested the suspect to surrender calmly holding with a hand fragmentation grenade and allegedly attempted to throw it against the operatives prompting the latter to counteract against the suspect to remove the impending danger to the arresting troops. The suspect sustained gunshot wounds resulted to his death and recovered one (1) hand fragmentation grenade at the crime scene. The dead body of the suspect was turned over to the police for proper disposition with the presence of barangay officials.

In another development, the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa – Mindanao (RPM-M) released a statement that categorically denied the totally baseless and a pure fabrication of the allegations coming from some elements of the government operatives from the Military and Police linking Comrade Ruben to the cold-blooded murder of Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas. The said Comrade Ruben and the suspect, Agapito Tamparong Democer a.k.a “RICO” Tamparong Manatad and alyas “DARWIN” is believed to be the same and one person.

witnesses pointed to the lifeless murder suspect

The RPM-M in a statement said that it is a desperate attempt to paint a criminal image of a revolutionary organization, in bringing the real perpetrators of the murder of the good Doctor to justice presenting a fall guy to avoid pressure from the people and the National government. The RPM-M said that the said Comrade Ruben was an active political and military cadre of the Revolutionary Peoples’ Army (RPA) in defending the peasant communities since it split away from the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP) in 1994 and from the Revolutionary Workers Party-Philippines (RPMP) – Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) in the early part of 2001.

The RPA is the armed wing of the RPM-M has been present among the areas in Northwestern Mindanao that includes Lanao del Norte since the early 80’s. The RPM-M has signed a ceasefire agreement with the Philippine Government during the Arroyo Administration. The RPA Comrades hold on to this agreement and tried to stay the course of peaceful settlement of the armed conflicts as a result of the extreme poverty of the people. The RPM-M said murder of Comrade Ruben is a violation to this agreement.

The RPM-M in a statement reiterated categorically and vehemently denied any involvement of Comrade Ruben in the murder of Dr. Perlas, as they are as fervent in demanding justice for the Doctor’s death. “Dr. Perlas is not only a big loss to the people of Sapad and of the whole province of Lanao del Norte, he is also a big loss to us because we have known that he had been serving the most neglected and deprived peoples in our areas” RPM-M said in a statement. “In due time, we will make known the results of our own investigation on the murder case of Doctor Perlas” the RPM-M concluded in their statement. Reports by Mike Navarro, Police reports, Press release of 15^th IB, Press Statement of RPM-M, photos by 15^th IB and Dr. Charles Marquez (FB post).