From the Zamboanga Today (Sep 5): Misuari family can occupy house in San Roque, but...
Zamboanga City’s police chief has said the family, including the wife and relatives of fugitiveMoro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari, will be allowed to occupy their residence in Barangay San Roque.
But Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, director of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), made clear that anyone who enters the property of Misuari will be invited for investigation or questioning.
Casimiro issued the statement on Monday after he was asked on his policy towards the house of Misuari, who has a standing warrant of arrest for rebellion and violation of the international humanitarian law, genocide and other crimes against humanity.
He said they will not deny entry to Misuari’s relatives or family into their residence in Barangay San Roque. “They can occupy their property, if they have warrant of arrest, they will be held or invited for questioning and interview.”
“They have the right to enter their property. They can occupy that residence. If there are no warrant of arrest, then it’s their right to occupy their property. But they will be invited to the police station to shed light why they are in the area,” Casimiro reiterated.
Casimiro added that as of now, the house remains the property of Misuari, unless it’s included or attached in the charges against Misuari and ruled by court in favor of the government it will be taken over by the authorities.
To recall, government security forces raided Misuari’s house in San Roque after a local court issued a search warrant sometime in October 4, 2013.
The MNLF chieftain’s arrest warrant is in connection with the Zamboanga City siege staged by his followers that displaced more than 120,000 civilians, left nearly 200 people dead, and scores wounded last September.
Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, then spokesman for the Zamboanga Peninsula Police, said some evidences including explosives, bomb components, firearms, and vital documents were found and seized inside Misuari’s property.
Authorities said the documents seized during the raid were enough to link Misuari to the Sept. 9 attack in Zamboanga City that led to an almost three-week standoff and left more than 200 people dead, and tens of thousands villagers fled their home.
The pieces of evidence found during the raid had been turned over to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
But a certain Emmanuel Fontanilla, who had claimed MNLF spokesman, said the raid on the residence of Misuari was illegal, citing the existing final peace agreement between the MNLF and the government.
The self proclaimed MNLF spokesman also questioned the manner in which the raid was conducted, noting that they were not informed about the warrant and that the house was empty.
From the Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Sep 8): NPA leader decries his arrest
THE suspected New People’s Army (NPA) leader who was arrested here on Friday has accused the police of illegally arresting and detaining him.
Suspect Victoriano Dimco also denied murdering anyone.
“Wala man ko kapatay. ug gidakop ko sa mga police nga wala sila magpakita ug warrant of arrest,” said the 41-year old Dimco of Looc, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.
Police said Dimco is “Ka Berting,” allegedly the vice chairman of the NPA’s Northern Mindanao Regional Guerrilla Font Committee 6 operating in Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon.
The Puerto police and intelligence operatives from the Misamis Oriental police office arrested him on Thursday night at a house in Purok 6, Puerto.
They alleged that Dimco took a job at a construction site of Jejors Construction on Puerto as a cover.
Senior Insp. Jopet Paglinawan, chief of the Puerto police, said Dimco had five arrest warrants for murder in Malaybalay.
According to the police, Dimco has admitted to being a NPA leader and involvement in the 2007 raid of the municipal police station of Quezon, and the ambush of soldiers Bukidnon in 2000 that resulted in the shooting death of an army captain.
Dimco told the Gold Star Daily that he didn’t kill anyone “pero unsa-on man nga apil man kita sa maong attack, so bisan wala ta makapatay, maapil gihapon ta sa kaso.”
Dimco said he was active in the NPA from 1998 to 2007. He said he surrendered to former mayor Benedict Lagbas of Lagongong in December 2007, and applied for an amnesty.
Dimco said his arrest came as a surprise to him. “Natingala lagi ko ani, ngano nga gidakop ko nga nag-apply man ko sa amnesty program.” The arresting officers, he said, pounced on him and took him without showing them any warrant.
From the Mindanao Gold Star Daily (Sep 8): Lawmen keep an eye on Pamatong in Oro
CONTROVERSIAL lawyer Ely Pamatong and his group, the so-called “United States of Armed Forces in the Far East (Usaffe) have been placed in the watclist of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and police here.
Pamatong has been frequenting if not, living in the city, specifically at the property of the late Edmundo Pamintuan, popularly known as “Kumander Lahi,” in Baloy, this city.
Local NBI and police officials said Pamatong and his group were feared to be a threat to national security.
“Pamatong is in the local NBI watchlist. He is a threat, and his and his group’s activities here are being monitored,” said NBI regional director Ricardo Diaz.
Senior Supt. Graciano Mijares, city police director, said the police has also been keeping an eye on Pamatong and the Usaffe especially after he was arrested in connection with the alleged foiled bombing attempt at the Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday.
Mijares said there was also a complaint against Pamatong’s group for allegedly harrasing and driving away residents from a compound in Baloy.
Pamatong was arrested by the NBI at the Naia on Wednesday based on an arrest warrant for 2004 malicious mischief case but he bailed out by Friday.
Diaz said the NBI here started looking into the Pamatong group’s activities, past and present, after the lawyer was linked to those arrested for illegal explosives at the Naia.
Pamatong said he personally knows one of the suspects, Grandeur Guerrero, who is a Usaffe officer.
From the Philippine Star (Sep 7): Military reservists to get refurbished weapons
Military reservists are guaranteed hand-me down weapons in good working condition from regular troops undergoing rearming as part of the armed forces modernization.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said the M16 rifles issued to regular troops are gradually being recalled and replaced with new Remington M4 assault rifles.
The recalled M-16s would be refurbished and stocked for issuance to reservists during emergencies requiring military mobilization.
The military has 1.2 million reservists, more than 106,000 of whom are considered ready reserve and can mobilize on short notice.
The AFP has 125,000 regular personnel spread among the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
For now, Catapang said the military’s reservists or “weekend warriors” are usually tapped as first responders during natural calamities.
“The call that we have in the AFP as protectors of our nation now encompasses a greater mission of safeguarding our fellow Filipinos from the devastating effects of climate change and various natural disasters,” Catapang said in a speech during the opening ceremony of the 35th AFP National Reservist Week held at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.
Catapang also urged the reservists to take their responsibilities with utmost dedication.
In line with yesterday’s celebration, the AFP Reserve Command launched an annual tree-growing program.
In coordination with military camp commanders, the weekend warriors would plant and nurture 700 seedlings of Bukidnon gold cherry blossom trees at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and at Fort Bonifacio and Libingan ng Mga Bayani in Taguig City.
“Growing of at least one tree per year for every reservist would result to the production of more than 100,000 trees per year. In 10 years’ time, the AFP weekend warriors can produce more than one million trees,” Catapang said.
From AngMalaya (Sep 7): Refurbished M16 rifles for reservists during emergency
During the opening ceremony of 35th AFP National reservist Week, September 6, Armed Forces of the Philippines chif-of-staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang said reserve force is one of AFP’s strong pillars in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.
“The call that we have in the AFP as protectors of our nation now encompasses a greater mission of safeguarding our fellow Filipinos from the devastating effects of climate change and various natural disasters.”
“Growing of at least one tree per year for every reservist would result to the production of more than 100,000 trees per year. In 10 years’ time, the AFP weekend warriors can produce more than one million trees,” Catapang added.
“You now have in your hands the bigger responsibility of taking part of the disaster risk reduction endeavors of our nation. I urge every one of you to take this objective in much dedication. You have proven to be truly an indispensable force in our organization,” Catapang’s message to reservists.
The military chief also added that in time of emergency when additional armed forces are needed, refurbished M16 rifles will be distributed to military reservist.
These M16 rifles were weapons recalled from active army and marine troops and replaced with brand new Remington M4 rifles.
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 7): Zamboanga City residents remain fearful 1 year after MNLF attack
A year after Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) forces attacked several villages of this city, Junior Santander Morte is still trying to put his life back to normal.
Morte was one of the 198 residents taken hostage by the MNLF members on day one of the siege — Sept. 9, 2013. He was able to escape from his captors seven days later.
Morte, a former soldier-turned-businessman, said he, his wife Quirina and five children have been living in constant fear. The sight of men in camouflaged uniforms terrify them, according to Morte.
The Mortes find little comfort in the assurance made by Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, city police chief, that the city’s 98 villages are now safe following the setting up of a comprehensive defense plan, the Guardian Shield.
The Guardian Shield, Casimiro said, has been set up to protect Zamboangueños from possible attacks. He, however, refused to give details about the defense plan.
But Morte said “good intelligence work,” not the number of uniformed personnel patrolling the streets, would thwart any possible attack.
“I remember last year, the city had enough security forces but the rebels managed to penetrate the city and everyone was caught flat-footed,” he said referring to the deployment of soldiers in vital installations following the declaration of independence by MNLF leader Nur Misuari in his own home in the village of San Roque here a less than a month before the attack.
Barely a month after Misuari’s “declaration of independence,” residents woke up to a firefight and reports of armed men taking hostages in the villages of Santa Catalina, Mampang and Talon-Talon.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said a total of 198 persons were held hostage and used as human shields by the MNLF.
Senior Superintendent Chiquito Malayo, former acting city police chief, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in 2013 that about 200 to 300 MNLF rebels attacked the city occupying some areas near the shorelines of Talon-Talon, Mampang, Rio Hondo, Mariki, Kasanyangan and the mainland areas of Santa Barbara and Santa Catalina.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said 20 soldiers and five policemen were killed and 194 government troops were wounded.
Zagala said 208 MNLF members were killed, including their leader Habier Malik, while 294 others were captured.
Twelve civilians killed, including four hostages, while 79 residents were wounded, Zagala said.
Jimmy Villaflores, village chairman of Santa Catalina, said they have been preparing for “September to Remember,” an event commemorating the siege and would like to use the occasion to push for the “healing of the minds and hearts” of those who went through the experience “so our people can start to move on.”
“Every time our people hear about talks of an attack or reported movement of armed men or suspected MNLF forces, they panic and become so afraid,” Villaflores said.
Santa Catalina and its neighboring Santa Barbara village were the hardest hit during the weeks-long standoff.
“It was not just burning. Houses were destroyed by bombs, bullets and looting,” Villaflores said. “We want to remember how it was and how we can stand up, rise again and restore normalcy in our day to day living,” he added.
Villaflores said the “September to Remember” event would be capped by sharing, prayers, vigil, mass and candle lighting.
Habib Mudjahab Hashim, commander of the MNLF Islamic Command Council, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone that there would be no more attack such as the one seen in September 2013.
“We have learned our lessons. It was not a siege. It was supposed to be a peaceful caravan to manifest displeasure over the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro (that the government signed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front). Unfortunately, it resulted in the stand-off and firefights,” Hashim said.
The MNLF claimed they were supposed to march to city hall to hold a rally. They were, however, armed when they arrived in the city from the province of Sulu, Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay.
Meanwhile, all the captured MNLF members are still awaiting court proceeding for charges of rebellion and violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the use of civilians as human shields, according to Peter Medalle, the assistant regional state prosecutor.
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 7): AFP decides discretion better part of valor
Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang. AP FILE PHOTO
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
said it would no longer engage in a word war with a UN Peacekeeping Force
commander over the “unfortunate incident” in the Golan
Heights last week in which Filipino peacekeepers escaped with
their lives.
“We (AFP) decided that we should keep our silence on [any]
further discussion of the incident,” AFP Chief of Staff Gen.Gregorio Catapang said in a text message.
“After saving our troops from being massacred, the last
thing we want is be involved in a blame game,” he said.
Catapang said the AFP would just leave the talking to
the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) which, he said, would answer all
questions about the escape and extraction of the Filipino peacekeepers who were
being besieged by Syrian rebels in UN Area Positions 68 and 69 in the disputed
territory.
Aquino gets report
Catapang said the DFA had been furnished a copy of the
AFP report on the incident to President Aquino.
He said the Philippine contingent would just wait for the
end of its tour of duty in October.
“Let’s just prepare for a heroes’ welcome for our
soldiers,” Catapang said.
As to promotions for the
peacekeepers, Catapang said the AFP leadership would have to study
this.
Malacañang on Friday said the Filipino peacekeepers deserve
a heroes’ welcome when they return to the Philippines after the courage they
showed against the Syrian rebels.
“They were very gallant in defending their position and,
certainly, they will be appreciated and recognized and they will be commended
for their bravery in putting themselves in harm’s way,” presidential
spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told state-run Radyo ng Bayan.
“The Filipino peacekeepers who kept the Syrian rebels at bay
for seven hours, their determined resolve not to surrender despite being put in
harm’s way show the true grit and steeled discipline of the Filipino soldiers.
They deserve a heroes’ welcome as well,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the DFA will be the one to “address
concerns raised” over the disparaging statements made by the commander of the
United Nations Disengagement Observers Force (Undof) against the Philippine
contingent.
Decision to keep silent
Some AFP officials said the decision to keep mum was in
keeping with a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) statement calling on the
parties involved to cooperate with Undof.
The UNSC, in a statement issued shortly after discussions on
the Golan Heights situation, said it was
continuing to look at ways to enhance safety and security procedures in what
has become a “very challenging situation.”
Fijian and Filipino peacekeepers were serving with
the Undof commanded by Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha and were
monitoring a ceasefire established in 1974 between Israel
and Syria.
Singha has denied issuing orders to Col. James Ezra Enriquez,
the Undof chief of staff and commander of the Philippine contingent,
for the Filipino peacekeepers to surrender their firearms if attacked by Syrian
rebels while negotiations for the release of a group of Fijian peacekeepers
seized by the rebels were being conducted.
Those in Position 68, however, exchanged fire with the
attacking rebels for seven hours before finally escaping from the camp while
those in Position 69 were extricated by other UN forces.
From the Manila Standard Today (Sep 8): Golan to guide PH on deployments
President Benigno Aquino III has already received the full report of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the standoff in Golan Heights involving 75 Filipino peacekeepers and about a hundred Syrian rebels two weeks ago.
The AFP submitted the full report to the President Wednesday last week, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said.
EnriquezIt will serve as basis for the President’s policy directives on future deployments of Filipino peacekeepers under the United Nations banner in strife-torn areas.
The decision of the Filipino peacekeepers to escape when they’ve had a chance to do so after seven hours of fighting was questioned by Indian Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singha, commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in Golan Heights.
Singha said it was an act of cowardice that endangered the lives of the Fijian troops who were also being held hostage by the rebels and that the Filipino peacekeepers “broke the chain of command and UN orders.”
The AFP, on the other hand, took exception to Singha’s order for the Filipino troops to stand down and surrender their arms. Philippine military authorities said they will bring the issue before the UN.
Earlier, Malacañang said it will avail of the accountability process under the UN over the stand down order, which Singha has denied issuing.
Palace said it is standing by the actions taken by the Filipino peacekeepers.
“We are very certain that our Philippine troops, our Filipino peacekeepers, made the right decision,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.
The controversy following the standoff has prompted top Filipino peacekeeper Col. Ezra James Enriquez, the third ranking officer in UNDOF, to resign.
Even before the standoff happened, the government already announced its decision to withdraw the troops in Golan Heights as well as in Liberia where there is threat of Ebola virus contamination.
The Philippines has been sending peacekeeping contingents to the Golan Heights since 2009 and to Liberia since 2003.
From GMA News (Sep 7): Alleged extremist Musa Cerantonio claims threats against his Pinay wife
Musa Cerantonio, a suspected Muslim extremist and an Australian national who was deported after being arrested in Cebu, on Saturday claimed his Filipina wife who was still in the Philippines was in danger.
"Yesterday my wife [Joan Montayre] was crossing an empty street when a black car without license plates sped in her direction and intentionally hit her,” Cerantonio, now based in Australia, said in a social media post. “She was able to jump to try and avoid it and due to this despite being hit was able to avoid being killed, although she suffered serious injuries from the attack."
He also no longer relied on the Philippine National Police to protect his wife, as he claimed that police officers were constantly following her.
Cerantonio said that he had sought assistance from the Australian government, which promised to get back to him Monday, "as if her life means nothing even though it is due to their actions that she is left there isolated and at the hands of a corrupt force who may have been responsible for trying to kill her, just as they threatened to kill me because of their hatred for Muslims."
"I am not there [in Cebu] to protect her as the Australian government canceled my passport and refuse to allow me to travel (the reasons given for its cancelation are baseless... and our money is yet to be returned to us," he said.
Cerantonio added that he was deported from the Philippines on the request of the Australian government.
Arrest
Cerantonio recounted that during his arrest in Cebu last July for alleged links to extremist groups, his wife was dragged from their apartment without being given the chance to wear her hijab.
The officers then took all their possessions including their money. Only their cloths were returned.
"Everything else is still in their possession including my wife's passport. Again, we were not charged with any crimes nor were we even accused of being involved in any crimes, rather we are both entirely innocent yet have been treated as if we were criminals," Cerantonio posted on Saturday.
“[D]uring my imprisonment at the hands of the Philippine Police I was threatened by police officers who showed me videos of Muslims that they had killed in Mindanao and told me that they were going to kill me too solely because of the fact that they had been told that we were 'terrorists' by the Australian government."
Cerantonio, in his post, then asked the help of Philippine Muslims to help keep his wife safe.
Montayre had earlier told GMA Cebu that she and Cerantonio was innocent, and that no one could prove their involvement in terrorism.
From the Daily Tribune (Sep 8): UN Pinoy peacekeepers undergo organizational training in Golan
Filipino peacekeepers, who were involved in a tense standoff and a seven-hour firefight with Syrian rebels before escaping under the cover of darkness, are now undergoing organizational training at Camp Ziouani in the Golan Heights to keep them busy.
Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Peacekeeping Operations Center, said the 75 Filipino peacekeepers, who were previously stationed at Positions 68 and 69, are conducting training.
Ancan discounted the possible return of the Filipino peacekeepers to their original posts, saying “it’s not safe anymore.”
On the other hand, 83 Filipino peacekeepers are still manning their post at Position 80.
“Our troops in Camp Ziouani will be conducting training in order for them to get themselves busy…they are conducting EOD (Explosives and Ordnance Disposal) training, first aid, combat life support (training),” Ancan said.
“We are still holding to the Position 80 which is our second company headquarters,” he added.
The 311-strong Philippine contingent to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights is set to complete its tour of duty this coming October.
The government already announced that it will not be sending peacekeepers to UNDOF until the situation improves. The AFP noted that the Filipino peacekeepers have been subjected to crossfires between Syrian military forces and rebels.
The AFP stressed the Philippine contingent was deployed in the Golan Heights to monitor separation between Israel and Syria.
Last Aug. 28, Syrian rebels, reportedly from the al-Nusra Front, surrounded Positions 68 and 69 of the Filipino peacekeepers before attacking them two days later. The 40 Filipino peacekeepers from Position 68 stood their ground in seven-hour firefight with the rebels.
The 35 Filipino peacekeepers from Position 69 were extricated by their fellow Filipinos from Position 80, escorted by Irish armor assets.
UNDOF commander Maj. Gen. Iqba Singh Singha ordered the Filipinos to surrender to firearms and raised the white flag, citing that 43 Fijian peacekeepers were taken by the Syrian rebels. However, the Filipinos defied the order and escaped shortly after midnight Saturday and walked to safety for hours under the cover of darkness.
The escape plan was supported by the AFP top brass, led by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.
Singha branded the move taken by the Filipinos as “cowardice” but Catapang stressed that the Filipino peacekeepers held their ground against the Syrian rebels in a seven-hour firefight with any reinforcements.
From the Daily Tribune (Sep 8): Pursue Nur, kiss Mindanao peace goodbye, military warned
The Moro
National Liberation Front is now on a defensive mode in anticipation of
military action from the government in serving the arrest warrant issued by a ZamboangaCity court against MNLF chairman Nur
Misuari.
Lawyer Emmanuel Fontanilla, spokesman for the MNLF, said peace in Mindanao
would be in danger if the government launches military action against Misuari
who is wanted for the Zamboanga City siege that happened exactly one year ago
today.
“We anticipate that the government will initiate military action, we will be kissing peace goodbye in Mindanao,”
Fontanilla told the Tribune.
“We pray that the government will go through the peace agreement and not resort
to unilateral action,” he added.
Fontanilla cited recent pronouncements by government officials, particularly in
the defense and military establishment, that prompted their concern over an
impending military action against the MNLF.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin has earlier said the government is careful in
assessing how to serve the warrant against Misuari to avoid possible bloodshed
in Mindanao.
According to him, government security forces are trying to contain Misuari in
an area in Sulu.
He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National
Police (PNP) are closely coordinating for a joint operation to serve the
warrant of arrest.
Gazmin’s pronouncements came following the reported reappearance of Misuari
before his supporters last Aug. 12 on the outskirts of Sulu to celebrate the
first anniversary of his declaration of the Bangsamoro Republik.
“They are too determined to enforce the warrant... this matter should be
discussed in negotiating table in order not to abrogate the agreement, all
conclusions of the agreement as to the warrants are unilateral actions
defeating bilateral nature of the agreement,” Fontanilla said.
“Yet, the Front is very much ready for defensive actions,” he added.
Fontanilla, however, expressed hopes that the government will take the path of
peace in resolving the issue and “avoid the recurrence of the 1972 war which
caused thousands of deaths and the possible spreading of war in Luzon.”
The Tribune, quoting informed military sources, earlier reported that arresting
Misuari may spark a full-blown war in Mindanao, citing the support the MNLF
chairman still enjoys from Muslim elders, particularly in his home province of
Sulu.
“Unlike ordinary criminals whom we can easily arrest without the danger of
waging a war, capturing Misuari, at this time, would lead to another conflict,”
one of the Tribune sources said.
Misuari is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Zamboanga
CityRegional Trial Court Branch 13 in connection with the September 2013 siege on ZamboangaCity
by more than 300 MNLF fighters.
The military, for its part, said it has taken steps to prevent a repeat of the
crisis.
“We are making steps to prevent this crisis from happening again in the
future,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala yesterday said.
He added the sacrifices made by the soldiers in defending ZamboangaCity
will never be forgotten.
“The defense of ZamboangaCity last year will
always remind us of the heroism and sacrifices of our soldiers. They risked
their lives to defend the city and save innocent civilians from lawless
elements selfishly trying to grab power,” Zagala stressed.
Around 25 soldiers were killed while another 184 were wounded in the successful
defense of ZamboangaCity against rogue
elements of the MNLF led by Misuari.
“Right now he (Misuari) is in hiding and eventually the law will catch-up with
him,” Zagala stressed.
“We all witnessed the restraint and focus of our soldiers who successfully
rescued the civilians being used as human shields. This manifests the maturity,
professionalism, and respect for human rights and international humanitarian
law of our soldiers,” he added.
And due to this valiant efforts of the AFP, ZamboangaCity
is now peaceful with its government and citizens engaged in rebuilding efforts.
“Right now ZamboangaCity is peaceful and the
AFP is in close coordination with its civilian partners in order to ensure the
total normalization of the situation in the city,” Zagala said.
From ABS-CBN (Sep 7): Military dismisses bombing allegations in Agusan
The Philippine Army on Saturday dismissed allegations that they were involved in planting bombs in Barangay Valentina in La Paz, Agusan del Sur.
According to reports, the Army allegedly has been planting bombs in Barangay Valentina for the past seven months. There were also some members of the Manobo tribe who were allegedly injured or killed by said bombs.
According to Lt. Col. Rolly Dumawa of the 26th Infantry Battalion, these reports are only part of the rebel's black propaganda against them.
"Unang-una po, wala pong inihuhulog na mga bomba, at wala pong pinapaputok na kanyon, at wala rin pong namatay na mga Manobo tribe. Kung halimbawa man pong may mga tinamaan sa mga armado ay hindi po namin kino-consider na mga Manobo tribe. Ito po ay mga teroristang mga NPA 'yan," Dumawa said in a phone interview.
He also revealed that government forces clashed with suspected members of the Front Committee 34 of the New People's Army (NPA) on Friday.
From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 7): NPA amazon in Cagayan town gives up
A
suspected New People's Army rebel voluntarily gave up himself to the police
here, saying that she has been tired scouring the mountains.
Police
Senior Inspector Jayson Cabauatan, Gattaran police chief, identified the
surrenderee as Nicki Delos Santos, 24, single, a high school graduate from
Cumao village here.
Delos
Santos claimed she was a member of the Northeast Command-Northern Front of the
Henry Abraham/Danilo Ben Command and worked as medical and political officer.
Her
father Rudy accompanied Nicki during her surrender.
From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 7): Commendation for 40 UN Filipino peacekeepers should push through --Trillanes
Senator
Antonio Trillanes IV said on Sunday the Senate commendation for the 40 UN
Filipino peacekeepers should push through despite the claim by a United Nation
peacekeeping force official that the Filipinos violated the chain of command
and their great escape from Syrian rebels was “an act of cowardice.”
Trillanes
said the Filipino peacekeepers did the right decision to defy order of the UN
Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander, Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singha, to
surrender their arms to the heavily-armed Syrian rebels at the recent siege of
the Golan Heights in Syria.
”The
decision of our Pinoy peacekeepers was correct and we need to give them
commendation,” Trillanes, a former military officer, said in a radio dzBB
interview.
In
fact, the Navy officer-turned lawmaker said he would recommend to give the
Filipino peacekeepers combat promotion for their “display of bravery and
gallantry in action beyond the call of duty.”
”There
is no doubt that our soldiers have shown bravery,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes
said he believed the Filipino peacekeepers did not violate the chain of command
when they defied Singha and instead planned for a great escape after a
seven-hour firefight with Syrian rebels.
”We
have what we call initiative of the commander and when he saw that on the
ground, he can resort to that. There is also what we call bravery beyond the
call of duty. The call of duty was to surrender but they can still fight and it
ended in positive result,” Trillanes explained.
He
also explained: “We have overriding national interest and our chief of staff of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines
has realized that because it will become our problem if our peacekeepers ended
up hostages like the Fijian peacekeepers.”
Trillanes
was referring to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang who reportedly
said they would stand with Filipino UNDOF Chief of Staff Col. James Enriquez
who defied Singha’s order.
Enriquez
has reportedly offered to resign but Singha turned it down.
Due
to the decision of the Fijian peacekeepers to follow the order of Singha,
Trillanes said the UN is now facing big problem because of the Fijian
peacekeepers held hostage by the Syrian rebels.
”In
military operation, if the outcome is positive, there is no bad decision. The
result here is positive because we saved our soldiers, nobody was hurt and they
fought what they should fight,” Trillanes stressed.
On
the other hand, Trillanes said that for following Singha’s order, “the Fijian
peacekeepers were held hostage. Now that’s the big problem of the UN. You can’t
say it was a result of good decision.”
”At
least now, we know with certainty that our soldiers are safe now and no longer
the problem of the UN,” he added.
Last
Saturday, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III proposed that appropriate awards
be conferred on the Filipino peacekeepers for their display of bravery.
Pimentel
said the 40 UN Filipino peacekeepers also deserve cash incentives and
on-the-spot promotions.
From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 7): Steps undertaken to prevent repeat of Zamboanga City siege
With
the nation about to commemorate the first year anniversary of the bloody ZamboangaCity siege this coming Sept. 9, the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it has taken steps to
prevent a repeat of the crisis.
"We
are making steps to prevent this crisis from happening again in the
future," AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said
Sunday.
He
also that the sacrifices made by the military in defending ZamboangaCity
will never be forgotten.
"The
defense of ZamboangaCity last year will
always remind us of the heroism and sacrifices of our soldiers. They risked
their lives to defend the city and save innocent civilians from lawless
elements selfishly trying to grab power," Zagala stressed.
Around
25 soldiers were killed while another 184 were wounded in the successful
defense of ZamboangaCity against rogue
elements of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) led by Nur Misuari.
Killed
in the three-week fighting were 183 MNLF fighters while 292 were captured.
The
fighting also greatly debilitated Misuari's faction.
"Right
now he is in hiding and eventually the law will catch-up with him," the
AFP public affairs office chief stressed.
"We
all witnessed the restraint and focus of our soldiers who successfully rescued
the civilians being used as human shields. This manifests the maturity,
professionalism, and respect for human rights and international humanitarian
law of our soldiers," Zagala added.
And
due to this valiant efforts of the AFP, ZamboangaCity
is now peaceful with its government and citizens engaged in rebuilding efforts.
"Right
now ZamboangaCity is peaceful and the AFP is in close
coordination with its civilian partners in order to ensure the total
normalization of the situation in the city," the AFP public affairs chief
concluded.
From Rappler (Sep 7): 'I never defied orders until the Golan standoff'
Colonel Ezra Enriquez is not only the commander of the Philippine battalion, he is also Number 3 in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force overall command
DUAL ROLE: Colonel
Ezra James Enriquez is UNDOF chief of staff and commander of the Filipino
troops in Golan. Photos from Leony Talosig Mercader
"I have been in
the military service for 30 years and never defied tactical, operational or administrative orders from
my superiors until that standoff in Position 68," Colonel
Ezra "Iking" Enriquez, 50, said in a public post on Facebook on
September 2, a day after the unauthorized escape of 40 Filipinos from Syrian
rebels.
"I made the
right decision," added the commander of the Philippine Battalion in the Golan Heights, who is described by his mistahs in the
Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as decisive and dedicated but low key.
Filipinos defied the order of the United Nations Disengagement
Observer Force (UNDOF) commander Lieutenant General Iqbal Singha to surrender
their weapons. Singha would later call the escape "an act of cowardice."
Enriquez's defiance of the UNDOF commander sparked a
controversy that compared the leadership of the 2 men. Syrian rebels are still
holding a group of 45 Fijian peacekeepers who were taken hostage after they
followed Singha's orders to surrender their firearms.
Fiji Army Chief
Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga defended Singha's orders but he also spoke
of "problems" in the UNDOF command when Enriquez filed a courtesy
resignation after the escape of the Filipinos.
“I know there is
now a problem with Command in the UNDOF hierarchy because of the resignation of
the Chief of Staff because he important figure in the Force hierarchy in
UNDOF,” Tikoitoga was quoted in news reports as saying in Fiji.
Irish Army
Brigadier General Tony Hanlon has been assigned UNDOF deputy force commander,
according to a report on the Irish Times.
Enriquez was in a
tight spot. He was not only the commander of the Philippine battalion, he is
also the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) chief of staff. It
means Singha is Number 1 and he is Number 3 in the overall command of all the
peacekeepers.
"He was
caught in between his two jobs as Philippine battalion commander and as UNDOF
chief of staff. He made the right decision. He showed his decisiveness and
stability under extreme pressure," said Colonel Bartolome "Bob"
Bacarro. Enriquez and Bacarro, a recipient of the military's highest Medal of
Valor, were classmates in the PMA Class of 1988.
To Enriquez, the
country prevailed and the crisis ended in the successful escape of the
Filipinos from Syrian rebels – among them members of the Al-Qaeda affiliate
Al-Nusra Front – who earlier rammed the gate of their encampment and fired at
them with mortars and machines guns.
Transportation
and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya was also his
mistah. "I always knew him as soft spoken, dedicated, level-headed, low
key, steady and snappy officer. He would crack a few jokes once in a while....
Undoubtedly, given the way I know him, he made the right decision," Abaya
said in a text message to Rappler.
Failure
of command?
To former
Philippine defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr, Enriquez "took command in
a situation where there was a failure in command," he posted in a comment
to Enriquez's Facebook post.
"The UN must
learn from this experience and never again should it place those serving under
its banner in harm's way. If there is any institution to fault it could be UN
Security Council the all powerful body that trumps even the General Assembly
for not formulating a clear policy and plan of action in the area," Teodoro
said.
The troops in
Golan got the full support of their commanders in Manila. Philippine military chief General
Gregorio Catapang Jr found the order to surrender the weapons questionable and
instructed his men to defy Singha.
But giving the go
signal for the escape couldn't have been easy for Enriquez. It could have ended
very differently and officers in Manila
said the Filipinos were very "lucky." The Filipinos evacuated
midnight on September 1 – while the rebels were sleeping – and walked nearly 2
hours to a secure location. There was no telling if one of the about 100 rebels
they engaged in a heavy firefight hours before would catch them escaping.
The Filipinos
were not convinced that the rebels would not take them hostage if they
surrendered their weapons. The escape mission was hatched as the Filipinos
monitored the Syrian rebels regrouping after the 7-hour firefight. "They
will be massacred," Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was quoted as saying
in Manila.
Before his
deployment to Golan, Enriquez was the Deputy of the Philippine
Army Personnel Management Center (APMC). He is also a former commander of the
Aviation Battalion of the Light Armor Division. He holds a Master of Management
in Defense Studies from University
of Canberra.
Hero or
coward?
As the UN
scrambles for the release of the Fijian peacekeepers, the crisis has turned
into a blame game. While the Filipinos are hailed as heroes back home, Singha,
who has been backed by the United Nations for his "good
judgment," told media in India
that it was an "act of cowardice."
Singha accused
the Filipinos of jeopardizing the safety of the Fijian peacekeepers. If the
Filipinos surrendered their firearms, he said, they and the Fijian peacekeepers
would have been allowed a safe passage out of the conflict zone.
In Manila, support for
Enriquez continues to pour out on Facebook, especially from his mistahs or
classmates in the PMA who expressed how proud they are of his leadership in
Golan.
As they joyfully
recollected their cadet days on Facebook, Enriquez suddenly remembered another
time he defied an amusing order from a superior. "Except the order of
cadet "o" to write the name of his gf (girlfriend) 1M (million) times
he he."
The world can
judge if the Filipinos did the right thing, but Enriquez's men are safe and
he's getting the support of his commanders back home. Malacañang is already
talking about a "heroes' welcome" for the peacekeepers.
From MindaNews (Sep 7): Bangsamoro Basic Law done; submitted to Congress by Sept. 10
The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is finally done.
14 members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), the body mandated to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law, signed at 4:40 p.m. Sunday the transmittal letter for submission of the final draft to President Aquino, Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the BTC and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel said.
Iqbal told MindaNews at the end of the BTC session that President Aquino, who will certify the bill as urgent, will hand over the final draft to Congress during ceremonies in Malacanang on Wednesday, September 10, that will be attended by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, and members of the BTC.
“The refinement (of the draft) reflects the agreed inputs of both the Governemnt of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panels to harmonize the various contentious issues, incliuding the valuable contributions of the Office of the President and their legal teams. In so doing, they went to the process of tackling the unresolved issues, taking into consideration the vision of His Excellency to bring peace to Mindanao,” the five-paragraph transmittal letter said.
The letter also said that in the process of finalizing the draft, the BTC “considered, at times, that the Basic Law conforms to the firm mandate of the Constitution as well as the aspirations of our people to bring peace and harmony to our region.”
The “refined” draft BBL is culled from the 97-page draft submitted by the BTC on April 22, Malacanang’s reviewed draft and proposed revisions, the outputs of the 21-day “workshops” of the peace panels in Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Davao between July 8 and since noon of August 10, the product of the meetings between the team of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa who took over the negotiations on behalf of the government, and Iqbal’s team.
Final text Iqbal said the most recent draft was presented and explained to the Commissioners during the session held behind closed doors at the Mt. Mayon function room of the BSA Twin Towers in Ortigas, on Sunday afternoon.
Mohagher Iqbal (L), chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and the MILF peace panel, and BTC Deputy Chair Akmad Sakkam (R), and 12 other commissioners sign Sunday afternoon the transmittal letter that would be attached to the final draft Bangsamoro Basic Law for submission to President Aquino. Photo courtesy of BTC
Commissioner Raissa Jajurie, a member of the MILF peace panel’s legal team, made the presentation.
Iqbal told MindaNews that the Commissioners were also informed that the final text or the language of the provisions on the block grant, special development fund and the normalization fund will still be done Monday by the OP-BTC team but the formula and the amounts are “already settled.”
He declined to say the amounts “for now,” adding that copies of the final draft will be made available as soon as it is submitted to Congress.
Iqbal said the transmittal letter will be attached to the final draft and will be submitted to the President “most likely on Tuesday.” The President will then hand over the draft with the certification of urgency on Wednesday to Drilon and Belmonte in Malacanang.
Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer told MindaNews that “the final steps are definitely underway for the transmittal of the draft BBL to Congress this coming week.”
“We look forward to a constructive engagement with the members of Congress on the merits of the upcoming bill int eh coming months,” she said.
Hopes and reservations BTC deputy vice chair Akmad Sakkam of Indanan, Sulu, a former Ambassador, told MindaNews he is “happy with the refined draft because it is a product of concerted efforts of the stakeholders, including those appointed to draft the Basic law. That draft will certainly bring not only the hope of obtaining peace in Mindanao but the reality of peace.”
Antoher government-nominated BTC member, former Congressman Asani Tammang of Panamao, Sulu, said, “I sincerely belive that the draft reflects the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people and will serve as a uniting force between the Bangsamoro and the rest of the nation.
Commissioner Fatmawati Salapuddin, also of Sulu, told MindaNews she still has an “issue with freedom of choice. Freedom of choice should also be enjoyed by Muslim tribes like us, Tausugs. It is a basic right.” Salapuddin said in the final draft, “Freedom of choice is only for the IPs (indigenous peoples).”
“Sige lang” (it’s alright), she said, adding the draft will still be deliberated upon by Congress.
Commissioner Froilyn Mendoza, one of two representatives of the Indigenous Peoples in the 15-member BTC said on her Facebook wall that “until now I make a very strong stand on the most asked question by the Indigenous Peoples regarding IPRA (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act) which has been drop(ped) in the latest review and the State conceded.”
“In my view and understanding, my strong interpretation is that IPRA must be upheld in the BBL and the right of IP over their ancestral domain in the Bangsamoro shall be recognize(d) as vested right of the Indigenous Peoples and that is inherent to us based on our native title or fusaka inged.”
“This is a continuing struggle to (have our rights) finally recognized,” she said.
Salapuddin and Mendoza were nominated to the BTC by government.
The other IP representative to the BTC, Timuay Melano Ulama, a nominee of the MILF, expressed no reservations on the final draft.
“Not the end of the struggle” Robert Marohombsar Alonto, BTC Deputy chair and a member of the MILF peace panel, said “there were some changes (to the original draft that) we are not happy about.”
“We have compromised enough,” Alonto told MindaNews.
But he added, “this is not the end of the struggle. It’s up for the people on the ground to judge.”
“This is not the end of the struggle. Struggle tayo sa Parliament. Let’s see what’s going to happen,” said Alonto, who chaired the BTC’s Committee on Political Autonomy.
The BTC is a 15-member commission composed of eight members nominated by the MILF and seven by the government.
The 15th member of the BTC, another government nominee — lawyer Johaira Wahab, the chief of the government’s legal panel from 2010 to early 2013, ,resigned after the submission of the BTC draft in April, to report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, where she is a Foreign Service Officer.
