From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 27): NPA rebel with assorted armament, munition bagged in Compostela Valley
Eastern Mindanao Command troopers arrested a New People's
Army (NPA) fighter during security operations at Sitio Sapdan, Barangay Casoon,
Monkayo town, CompostelaValley on Sunday.
Col. Romeo Brawner, Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson,
said soldiers from the 25th Infantry Battalion seized from Eugenio Piamonte,
alias "Nestor,"an M-16 automatic rifle, 11 IEDs (improvised
explosive device), 10 pairs of police uniforms along with combat boots, another
10 pairs of Army uniforms with 25th IB patches, eight 40mm rounds, a home-made
M-79 tripod, linked machine gun ammunition and a flare.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Michelle Anayron, 25th Infantry
Battalion commanding officer, said that the bandit was very cooperative with
the troopers during the arrest and revealed the location of other rebel items.
"Because of the cooperation of 'Nestor', one more M-16
rifle, one M-14 rifle and two Garands have been recovered," Anayron said.
From the Philippine Star posted to ABS-CBN (Apr 27): Islamic State threatens Mindanao, Philippines tells ASEAN
Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario bared yesterday before the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reports of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) threat to the Philippines
through the Black Flag Movement in Mindanao.
Speaking before
ASEAN foreign ministers, Del Rosario said the ISIS threat to Philippine
security is real rather than imagined because of the Black Flag Movement’s
pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
“We will
contribute in the fight against extremism, terrorism and crimes against
humanity by engaging or cooperating with other countries in the areas of
information sharing, joint investigations, educational campaigns, humanitarian
assistance to victims, restricting flow of funds intended to finance terrorism,
supporting resolutions aimed at curbing terrorism and enhancing local
legislation to address terrorism,” he said.
ISIS has
followers among the Abu Sayyaf, Rajah Solaiman Islamic Movement, Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Khilafa Islamiyah Mindanao or the Black Flag
Movement, according to the presentation of Rommel Banlaoi, Philippine Institute
for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) chairman of the board, and
director of the Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies (CINSS).
The ASEAN is
expected to come up with a Declaration on Global Movement of Moderates to curb
extremism and terrorism in the region.
Del Rosario said
he would like to stress that the Philippines remains steadfast in cooperating
with ASEAN, the United Nations and all other countries in confronting extremism
and radical violence.
“The Philippines condemns war crimes and crimes
against humanity being perpetrated by ISIS,”
he said. “We have co-sponsored UN (United Nations) Security Council Resolution
2178 on Foreign Terrorist Fighters and supported the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’
Statement on the Violence and Brutality Committed By Extremist Organizations in
Iraq and Syria.”
Banlaoi said ISIS
has been posing a serious threat to global security following the killing in a US operation of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden
in Pakistan
in 2011.
“Otherwise known
as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), now recently called by its
followers as Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham,” he said.
From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 27): 'Harrier' jump jets seen in Balikatan 2015
Aside from the usual fixed and rotary wing aircraft,
Filipino military aircraft enthusiasts also had a chance to see at close-range,
Boeing AV-8B "Harrier" II during the airplane exhibit portion of
Balikatan 2015 held at Clark Air Force Base, Pampanga on Saturday.
Of the 15 US
aircraft in display, four were Harriers.
The latter is a single-engine ground-attack aircraft and
constitutes the second generation of the Harrier jump jet family.
It is capable of vertical or short takeoff and landing
(V/STOL), the aircraft was designed in the late 1970s as an Anglo-American
development of the British Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first operational
V/STOL aircraft.
Named after a bird of prey, it is primarily employed on
light attack or multi-role missions, ranging from close air support of ground
troops to armed reconnaissance.
The AV-8B is used by the United States Marine Corps, the
Spanish Navy, and the Italian Navy.
A variant of the AV-8B, the British Aerospace Harrier II,
was developed for the British military, while another, the TAV-8B, is a
dedicated two-seat trainer.
From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 26): Veterans’ group sets the record straight
Leaders of the Veterans Federation of the Philippinesheaded by its
president Emmanuel de Ocampo convened on Tuesday after receiving
information that 18 key officials are facing plunder and malversation charges
before the Office of the Ombudsman.
After accurate and exhaustive scrutiny, VFP staff and
executive vice president, retired colonel Boni de Gracia, produced
sufficient data that the same complaints were also filed and dismissed by the
courts twice in years 2008 and 2011 respectively.
“If the truth must be served, let it be known that most of
the respondents listed in this new complaint only took office in 2011. This is
just a remake of the previous cases that the court already discarded,” De
gracia said.
Although moot and academic, public records show that the
resurgent case filed before the Ombudsman is similar in nature to the previous
cases wherein the accusations were just rehashed.
De Gracia added “The truth of the matter is that the VFP
does not handle any pension and finances of World War II, and the Armed Forces
of the Philippines
for Post World War II veterans. So, there is no such thing as mismanaging of
finances here.
“As history would have it, the complainants Rafael
Evangelista and Marlon Dantes are neither World War II nor Post World War II
veterans. They are mere civilians. At the same time, all of the 10 complainants
are inactive members of VFP. That being said, they are not in a position to
know anything about the administrative and operational activities of the VFP.”
The other complainants, whose names were published in
various broadsheets and online news sources, allegedly claim that an amount of
P559 million in funds of the organization has disappeared.
Record showed there was satisfactory data that the VFP
as public corporation created under RA 2640, has been complying with the
government’s implementation and management audit.
“These accusations are bare and conjectural in nature. We at
the VFP are optimist that the Ombudsman will dismiss this case that is just
born out of pure harassment,” De Gracia concluded.
From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 27): BBL okay may lead to new tribal war
The passage of
the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress could lead to a tribal war that
may further aggravate the peace and order situation in Mindanao.
Absalom Cerveza,
spokesman of the Moro National Liberation Front, said the enactment of the BBL
“may restart tribal strife” among Joloanons and Maguindanaons.
“The passage of
the BBL could trigger tribal war among those long opposed to subjugation,”
Cerveza said, referring to Muslims in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and other areas
in Mindanao opposed to the Bangsamoro entity.
“If the BBL is
approved and if they were to subjugate Sulu, it could be war between the Sulu
sultanate and the Maguinandao sultanate,” Cerveza said.
The BBL was the
result of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which is the result of
the peace deal entered into between the government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) last March 2013.
Local officials
in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu and part of the ZamboangaPeninsula
have objected proposal to include them in the coverage of the BBL.
The three
provinces, except IsabelaCity, Basilan are already
part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, considered the heartland of
the MNLF and the historic base of the Sultanate of Sulu, which is dominated by
the Tausug and Yakan tribes.
Aside from the
Tausugs, there is also a substantial population of Christians in IsabelaCity and Lamitan. Other groups include
the Samal and the Yakan.
Cerveza explained
that MNLF founding Chairman Nur Misuari will never allow the Maguindanao
sultanate of Central Mindanao, which the base
of the MILF after it broke away from the MNLF in the 1980s, to rule over the
Tausugs, the tribe to which Misuari belongs.
“Culturally and
traditionally, the Sultanate of Sulu considers itself superior to the
Maguindanao,” Cerveza said.
Cerveza explained
that the BBL does not consider the cultural idiosyncrasies of the various
tribes and the Christian population in Minadanao.
He said the
Muslim community in Mindanao is not
homogenous. “The Maguindanaoans can’t live in Jolo but the Joloanons, although
they have the capability to settle in Maguindanao, opt not to,” Cerveza said.
From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 27): Asean urged: Stand up to China
KUALA LUMPUR – Beijing is moving toward “de facto control” of the South China Sea, the Philippines warned on Sunday as it called on fellow Southeast Asian countries to stand up to their massive neighbor.
Del RosarioChina’s
unabated reclamation in Philippine-claimed territory in the South China Sea, if not stopped, will irreparably alter the status quo and render moot diplomatic initiatives in the region, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario warned his peers at a regional meeting in the Malaysian capital.
If the regional bloc, which is launching the integrated ASEAN Community this year, fails to act on the reclamation of most of the islands, reefs and atolls of the Kalayaan Island Group, that would undermine the solidarity and credibility of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Del Rosario said.
“Is it not time for ASEAN to say to our northern neighbor that what it is doing is wrong and that the massive reclamations must be immediately stopped?” Del Rosario told his counterparts at the summit.
Diplomatic sources, however, said Malaysia, this year’s ASEAN chair, rejected the Philippines’ proposal for a stronger statement against China.
Malaysia has instead come up with a draft of the statement that only says, “We share the concerns expressed by some leaders on the land reclamation being undertaken in the South China Sea, which has eroded trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.”
“In this regard we instructed our foreign ministers to address this matter constructively under the framework of ASEAN-China relations,” said Malaysia’s draft document circulated to ASEAN officials, which was obtained by Kyodo News.
Malaysia, which is also one of the claimant states in the South China Sea, has close economic ties with China and has so far kept a low profile on the issue. The Malaysian government has said in recent days that it prefers a diplomatic approach in handling the issue at the ASEAN summit.
In his address, Del Rosario traced the history of Manila’s efforts to draw international attention to the impact of China’s moves in the South Cina Sea.
“First, we stressed that there was a growing gap between what we were hearing in diplomatic terms and what was really happening in the South China Sea.
“Second, we warned that massive reclamation threatened to militarize the region, infringe on the rights of other states and damage the marine environment,” he said.
Del Rosario referred to China’s Nine-Dash Line claim as “unreasonable, expansive and illegal” and said it would render several regional agreements on the code of conduct in the South China Sea irrelevant.
If the massive reclamations are allowed to be completed, he added, China “will succeed in defining and imposing its unlawful sovereignty claim over more than 85 percent of the South China Sea.” Asean meeting. President Benigno Aquino III arrives in Kuala Lumpur to join the 26th Asean Summit. Malacañang Photo BureauManila has a pending case against China with the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), where China has refused to participate. The Philippines submitted its summary of arguments in May last year, and the judges at The Hague have set hearings in June.
Del Rosario said Manila had raised the matter for discussion in several international forums and even the United Nations to “galvanize the understanding of the international community.”
Despite the alarm raised by Manila, China was “clearly and quickly advancing with its massive reclamation,” he said.
Beijing’s intentions to place defense installations on the reclaimed rea had a chilling implication for regional peace and stability, Del Rosario warned.
He also reminded the other ASEAN countries that China “will in all probability finish its reclamation activities before it agrees to conclude a COC [Code of Conduct],” which the regional bloc has been pushing.
This would render such a code irrelevant and would in effect legitimize China’s reclamation, he added.
Del Rosario said the Philippines believes that it was key to the centrality of ASEAN to foster common perspectives on regional and international issues.
While China has vowed to respect and to adhere to ASEAN centrality, the launch of “the so-called ASEAN-China Maritime Year 2015... last month disregards ASEAN centrality,” he said.
Aside from China, Malaysia and the Philippines, other claimants in the South China Sea territorial disputes are Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Among ASEAN claimants, the Philippines and Vietnam have been more vocal over the disputes, while Malaysia and Brunei have been quiet.
President Benigno Aquino III left for Malaysia Sunday to attend the 26th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi, aiming to drum up support for the Philippines’ stand on the territorial dispute.
In a speech before his departure, the President also cited the importance of seeking a peaceful solution and of ASEAN centrality.
“Instead of being on our own, unity is the key to achieving goals for the good of all. It is clear: the legitimate problem of one, is the problem of all,” said Aquino.
After the ASEAN Summit, the President will attend the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit.
“The member nations are one with us in pushing for lasting peace in Mindanao, and they are also our strong partners in the economy,” Aquino said.
In Malaysia, he added, he would also try to speak with Indonesian President Joko Widodo to appeal the death sentence against Filipino maid Mary Jane Veloso, who was convicted on drug charges.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said the government will be spending about P11.8 million on the President’s trip to Malaysia.
The amount covers expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, equipment and other requirements of the President and his 64-member delegation.
President Aquino left Sunday on a chartered flight accompanied by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Press Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman and Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, who are also part of the Philippine delegation, went ahead to Malaysia the other day.
A key item on the agenda of the Malaysia conferences is ASEAN integration, which targets the creation of a single market and production base for its members: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
From the Manila Standard Today (Apr 27): ‘PH pilots will not engage in hostile acts against Chinese’
THE Armed Forces
of the Philippines (AFP) said Sunday its pilots will not engage in any hostile
activity should Chinese ships and planes harass them, as they did on April 19
when a Philippine Navy Islander was warned away from Subi Reef in the disputed SpratlysIsland chain.
Lt. Col. Harold
Cabunoc, AFP public affairs office chief, said this was in line with the country’s
stand of maximum restraint to avoid conflict in the disputed areas.
Armed Forces
spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala added tht a policy of “maximum
restraint” would be applied to the contentious areas in the West
Philippine Sea.
On April 19, a Chinese
frigate flashed powerful lights and radioed a patrolling Islander aircraft then
patrolling off Subi Reef. The aircraft crew ignored the Chinese warning and
continued with its maritime patrol mission.
Earlier, Western
Command chief Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez denied reports that the Chinese
fired illumination rounds.
Lopez also said
the incident was unconnected to the medical evacuation of a sick man who was
part of a group of amateur radio enthusiasts doing broadcast tests on PagasaIsland,
the seat of the local government of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), which is
in the disputed SpratlyIslands.
“The two
incidents are not in any way connected to each other. It’s not true that our
Islander was fired upon by a frigate... and thus stopped from picking up a
sickly man for medical evacuation in Pagasa,” Lopez said in a phone interview.
“They even
radioed us to leave Kagitingan because it was Chinese territory. That is what
really happened in Kagitingan. There was no firing of illumination rounds,”
Lopez said.
Ang Malaya (Apr 27): US Armed Forces having access in 8 PHL bases under EDCA
United States Armed Forces will be having access to at least eight Armed Forces of the Philippines bases around the country under Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Under EDCA Philippines will have ownership of buildings and infrastructures constructed by US military in Agreed Locations.
AFP Chief-of-Staff General Gregorio Catapang, in a report by Gigi Grande of ABS-CBN News, reveals eight military bases where US may have access under EDCA.
Bases includes Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Crow Valley in Tarlac, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, Naval Station San Miguel in Zambales, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Naval Station Carlito Cunanan in Palawan, Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu and Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Cebu.
However, agreed locations and access for US military will be formalized once the Supreme Court made its ruling regarding the constitutionality of EDCA. “If we formalize and they start putting up structures and it’s not constitutional, they will have to destroy those structures. Equipment will have to be brought back to their country,” the General said.
Earlier this month US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said US is deploying most advanced fighters in the Asia-Pacific, “the F-22 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, as well as our long-range B-2 and B-52 bombers… We’ll also continue to push our most advanced technology to the Pacific, including, for example, our newest stealth destroyer, the Zumwalt.”
From Ang Malaya (Apr 27): Philippines, Vietnam forging ties against China’s harassment
President Benigno Aquino III and Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had a bilateral meeting Sunday night in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The two leaders are in Malaysia with their counterparts around South-east Asia for ASEAN Summit.
The two leaders agreed to push for ASEAN adoption of a legally binding Code of Conduct in South China Sea “that will effectively implement the Declaration made by the ASEAN countries and China in the exercise of self-restraint and avoidance of escalation of disputes that will affect regional peace and stability,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
During the said bilateral meeting, Aquino and his Vietnamese counterpart compared notes on incidents of harassment that add to tension in the South China Sea, Coloma said.
They “expressed concern over the reclamation activities undertaken by China that clearly indicate violation of the DOC provision against inhabiting previously uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features,” the Palace official adds.
Philippines and Vietnam are looking forward for a meaningful observance of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. The two countries have seen a significant progress in strategic defense dialogue which includes maritime cooperation.
From the Visayan Daily Star (Apr 27): 79th IB hit for ‘trumped up' raps vs. militant leaders
The Rachele Mae Palang Command in southeast Negros, the Philippine Army has claimed to be almost decimated, slammed the 79 th Infantry Battalion for filing what it calls “trumped up” murder charges against well-known leaders of progressive groups in Dumaguete City.
Rebel spokesperson, Ka Estrella Banagbanag, said in a statement he issued that the 79IB is clearly targeting the legal progressive mass movement that is at the forefront of the protests against the one-island, one region proposal of Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo opposes the concept, saying it needs further study. Banagbanag said cases filed by the military, including murder, rebellion, and illegal possession of firearms against Ricky de la Cruz, Fortunato Jamila, Marlyn Badayos, Danilo Badayos, Elisa Badayos, Oligario Sibas, Remuel Labrador, were all dismissed by the court.
“The real objective of the military in filing these cases has nothing to do with genuine judicial process. It is plain and simple harassment and propaganda”, Banagbanag said.
She also cited the case of Marilyn Badayos, whose rebellion cases were dismissed by the court, who was also dragged into a murder case in Bais City, Negros Oriental.
From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 27): U.S. Marines give local boy his first pair of shoes in Puerto Princesa
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- U.S. Marines from
the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1MEB) based out of Camp Pendleton,
California, took a moment from their busy schedules over the weekend to provide
a Palaweño boy his first pair of shoes.
“Rusty,” a 14-yr. old boy, who lives near Camp General
Artemio G. Ricarte, headquarters of the Western Command (WESCOM), has been seen
hanging around the field where the 1st MEB established its camp for the
duration of the Exercise Balikatan 2015 command post exercise (CPX).
The marines were immediately drawn to his charming
personality despite suffering from a skeletal condition that makes it hard to
stand straight and walk.
“He’s always smiling,” said Sgt. Cody Vetter, a Palmer, Alaska native and member
of the 1MEB’s operations section. “He laughs at virtually anything.”
Rusty’s skeletal condition makes him different from the
other local children, so, he says he has no friends and people usually ignore
him. “But,” says Vetter, “he doesn’t let anything get him down.”
Pittsburgh
native Capt. Stephanie Hebda, the 1MEB’s camp commandant, said, “His smile and
joy are magnetic. He appreciates the simple things that we often take for
granted.”
As the Marines get to know Rusty, they learned he has never
owned a pair of shoes. His pair of flip flops are old and worn out, and his
feet are covered in sores. They also learned his favorite sport is badminton.
To help Rusty bring an inspiring change in the way he
appreciates life, the Marines chipped in and bought a brand new pair of flip
flops, shoes, socks, and a badminton set.
“Thank you, I’m very happy,” said Rusty, smiling widely as
he held his first new blue pair proudly.
The Marines also spent the next few minutes teaching Rusty
how to tie his laces.
Rusty arrived back at the 1MEB campsite Sunday, sporting his
new shoes, and challenging any Marines, who wanted to play a game of badminton.
Master Gunnery Sgt. Tommy Vigil, the 1MEB’s senior enlisted
advisor and organizer of the collection, was very happy to present Rusty with
the gift.
“I thought it would be something great to do,” said Vigil.
Vetter, on the other hand, summed up his thoughts of Rusty
in one word, “Heartwarming.”
The Exercise Balikatan 2015 is an annual military exercises
between the Philippines and
the United States.
It is a Tagalog word meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder".
From the Mindanao Times (Apr 27): 1 rebel dead, 4 troops wounded in Toril clash
ONE COMMUNIST guerilla member was killed while four soldiers
were wounded in a 20-minute firefight between government
forces and New People’s Army in Sitio Pamara, Barangay Sibulan in Toril
District yesterday morning.
Lt. Vergel Lacambra,spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division,
said troops of the 84th Infantry Battalion were conducting a security patrol on
a tip from villagers about the presence of the NPA around 8:20 a.m.
After the encounter, troops were able to recover two M16
rifles attached with M203 grenade launchers as the enemy scampered leaving
behind one unidentified rebel.
Lacambra also said they are still identifying the four
soldiers who were evacuated to PanacanStationHospital.
Maj. Gen. Eduardo M. Año, commander of 10th ID, gave credit
to the prompt report of villagers.
“This is a manifestation that with the cooperation and
support of the community, we can prevent the rebels from sowing fear and terror
in our community,” Año said.
On Saturday afternoon, troops under the 69th Infantry
Battalion encountered 20 NPA rebels. No casualty was recorded, however.
“Rest assured the 10th ID will always perform its mandate of
protecting the community against the rebels,” Año added.
From the Mindanao Times (Apr 27): Karapatan prepares case vs. military over alleged abuses
HUMAN rights group Karapatan is set to file charges before
the City Prosecution Office against Philippines Army
officers for alleged abuses in Maco and Mabini towns in CompostelaValley.
“We are just preparing the papers in the filing the
charges,” said Hanimay Suazo, secretary general of Karapatan.
Suazo added that their complaints were based on the results
of the group’s fact-finding mission in Maco and Mabini on April 7-8.
According to their report, the 71st Infantry Battalion of
the 7th Infantry Division was present in almost all communities while the 25th
Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division are situated at barangays New
Leyte and Panoraon in Maco.
The group has documented and verified 40 incidents/cases of
different types of human rights and international humanitarian law violations
affecting 7,501 households and 32,261 individuals, including children.
Suazo claimed that militarization puts the civilians
vulnerable to abuses.
Karapatan conducted the fact-finding in response to the
requests of Hugpong sa mga Mag-uuma sa Walog Compostela and Indug Kautawan.
Meanwhle, Maj. Gen. Eduardo Ano, commander of the 10th
Infantry Division, said the leadership gives importance on the respect for
human rights and international humanitarian law.
“We strictly follow this directive and any infraction will
be investigated and dealt with accordingly. Gone are the days that the soldiers
figure in abuses,” Ano pointed out.
He said soldiers under the 10th Infantry Division are
focused on peace and development programs in the barangays, where they help
residents ventilate pressing issues and problems and elevate these concerns to
the local government and line agencies for action.
From InterAksyon (Apr 27): PH, Vietnam seek adoption of ASEAN Code of Conduct in South China Sea
President Aquino and Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, 26 April 2015. MALACANANG PHOTO
The Philippines
and Vietnam will seek the
adoption of the ASEAN Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to avoid the
escalation of disputes in the area, as China continues to exert its power
and influence the crucial trade route.
At the ongoing ASEAN Summit in Kuala
Lumpur, President Aquino and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam pledged to work for the adoption by
ASEAN of a legally binding code that will effectively implement the Declaration
made by ASEAN countries and China
in 2002.
Thirteen years after ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct
of Parties in South China Sea, there is still no enforceable mechanism that
binds the 10 ASEAN member-countries and China on the Declaration’s
principles of self-restraint and avoidance of disputes for the region’s peace
and stability.
According to presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma, the two
leaders expressed concern over the reclamation activities undertaken by China
that clearly indicate violation of the Declaration provision against
“inhabiting previously uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other
features,” even as they compared notes on incidents of harassment that “add to
tension” in the South China Sea.
Better PH, Vietnam relations
The prime minister of Vietnam noted that the bilateral
relationship between the two countries is “thriving in all aspects” as he
called for a meaningful observance of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic
relations in 2016. He cited significant progress achieved in rice trade
cooperation and in the strategic defense dialogue between the two countries
that includes maritime cooperation.
Upon Nguyen’s request, Aquino said he will direct the
Department of Justice to work for the speedy completion of the ongoing trial of
31 Vietnamese fishermen who were arrested in Sulu for illegal fishing
activities, Coloma said.
Joining the President in the meeting were Secretaries Albert
del Rosario, Cesar Purisima, Gregory Domingo, Arsenio Balisacan, Corazon
Soliman, Jose Rene Almendras, Julia Abad, and Coloma, and Philippine Ambassador
to Malaysia Eduardo Malaya.
From InterAksyon (Apr 27): Newest US maritime patrol, strike aircraft in aircraft exhibit of Balikatan 2015
Boeing P-8 Poseidon. WIKIPEDIA
CLARK AIRFORCE BASE, Pampanga -- Filipino military aircraft
enthusiasts attending the aircraft display of Balikatan 2015 at Clark Air Force
Base, Pampanga Saturday got a pleasant surprise as they got a first-hand look
at the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, the latest maritime patrol and strike aircraft of
the US Navy.
The P-8 was among the 12 or so American planes exhibited at
the runways of Clark Air Force Base.
The aircraft has been developed by Boeing Defense, Space and
Security, modified from the 737-800ERX.
The P-8 conducts anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface
warfare, and shipping interdiction, along with an electronic signals
intelligence role.
This involves carrying torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER
missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It is able to drop and
monitor sonobuoys
The P-8 is the successor of the Lockheed P-3 Orion, another
US Navy maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft.
The latter aircraft was also on display at Clark Air Force
Base, Pampanga.
The Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and
maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and
introduced in the 1960s.
Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner.
The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail
stinger or Mad Boom, used for the magnetic detection of submarines.
Over the years, the aircraft has seen numerous design
advancements, most notably to its electronics packages.
The P-3 Orion is still in use by numerous navies and air
forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance,
anti-surface warfare, and anti-submarine warfare.
A total of 734 P-3s have been built, and by 2012, it will
join the handful of military aircraft such as the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
which have served 50 years of continuous use with its original primary
customer, in this case, the United States Navy.
From InterAksyon (Apr 26): Beijing moves toward 'de facto control of South China Sea' - Philippines
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. INTERAKSYON FILE PHOTO
Beijing is moving toward "de facto control" of the
South China Sea, the Philippines warned on Sunday as it called on fellow
Southeast Asian countries to "stand up" to their massive neighbor,
but the foreign minister of summit host Malaysia said any ASEAN response should
avoid antagonizing China.
"(China)
is poised to consolidate de facto control of the South China Sea,"
Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told fellow ministers at a
regional meeting in Kuala Lumpur,
according to a text of his speech.
China's unabated reclamation in Philippine-claimed territory
in the South China Sea, if not stopped, will irreparably alter the status quo
and moot international diplomatic initiatives in the region, Secretary del
Rosario warned his peers in ASEAN Sunday.
If the regional bloc, which this year is launching the integrated ASEAN
Community, fails to act on the reclamation, that would undermine ASEAN’s very
centrality, solidarity and credibility, del Rosario said in an intervention at
the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting ongoing in Kuala Lumpur, which is hosting
the two-day Leaders' Summit of 10 heads of stat.
Throughout his statement del Rosario did not mention China by name,
referring to the Asian giant only as "our northern neighbor."
The foreign ministers' meeting ended past 1 p.m., and international media
covering the event swarmed around the DFA chief, who declined to be
interviewed, saying only: "I have said what I wanted to say and it's on
paper."
ASEAN should not antagonize China - Malaysian FM
"Is it not time for ASEAN to say to our northern neighbor that what it is
doing is wrong and that the massive reclamations must be immediately
stopped?" del Rosario asked his fellow ministers.
"Is it not time for ASEAN to finally stand up for what is right?"
But the summit's host Malaysia
rejected the idea of a response that could antagonize China.
"We must avoid any action that would be counter-productive and bring us
further apart, either amongst ourselves, or with China," Malaysian Foreign
Minister Anifah Aman said.
"I don't think ASEAN would like to be given an ultimatum, and by the same
token I don't think China
would like to be given an ultimatum."
Faced with Beijing's
immense trade and diplomatic leverage, ASEAN has a history of failing to agree
on strong responses over the issue on behalf of its members with disputed
maritime claims.
Concern over Chinese land reclamation was re-ignited this month by satellite
photos showing huge amounts of sand being dredged and dumped onto fragile coral
reefs claimed by the Philippines.
Defense analysts say these works are creating land masses big enough for
airstrips and other large facilities, raising the spectre of deepening Chinese
domination of a waterway that is rich in energy reserves, fishery resources and
is a vital conduit for much of world trade.
A draft statement prepared well before the gathering began calls for
"self-restraint" at sea but avoids direct criticism of China or even
mention of it by name, a diplomatic source said previously.
'Amicable solution' sought
Anifah said "ASEAN member-states want to see that this matter should be
settled amicably", and he suggested China someday allow joint use of
the islands it is constructing.
ASEAN has pushed China
for more than a decade to agree on a code of conduct at sea that would set
rules preventing rival claimants taking steps that could inflame the situation.
But actual discussions only started in 2013 and have progressed slowly, with
analysts saying Beijing
is delaying to buy more time to consolidate its foothold.
"May I draw your attention to the worsening situation
in the South China Sea," began del Rosario's intervention on Sunday, amid
rising alarm over Beijing's arrogant rebuff of Manila's - and the international
community's - call to halt the reclamation, which affects most of the islands,
reefs and atolls in the Kalayaan island Group, a municipality of the
Philippines' Palawan province.
"A year ago, the Philippines
began to draw international attention to destabilizing activities, particularly
our northern neighbor’s massive reclamation, in the South
China Sea," del Rosario told ASEAN foreign ministers.
"First, we stressed that there was a growing gap between what we were
hearing in diplomatic terms and what was really happening in the South China Sea.
"Second, we warned that massive reclamation threatened to militarize the
region, infringe on the rights of other states and damage the marine environment," the DFA chief added,
and then distributed to the ministers a disc summarizing these issues.
Then, he recalled that one year ago, Manila
had "also warned that massive reclamation was clearly intended to change
the regional status quo, to advance our northern neighbor’s unreasonable,
expansive and illegal so-called Nine-Dash Line claim, to undermine the rule of
law and to render the DOC and the COC irrelevant." He was referring to the
non-binding Declaration of Conduct that China and the ASEAN members had
signed earlier, as well as the Code of Conduct that the ASEAN has been pushing
for years.
Manila has a pending case against China with the International Tribunal on the Law
of the Sea (ITLOS), where China
has refused to participate. The Philippines
submitted its Memorial or summary of arguments in May last year, and the judges
at The Hague
have set hearings in June and July.
In Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, DFA chief del Rosario reiterated two more issues
Manila had already raised in connection with China's reclamation:
• If the massive reclamations are allowed to be completed, China "will
succeed in defining and imposing its unlawful sovereignty claim over more than
85% of the South China Sea."
• If ASEAN did nothing about these reclamations, "it would undermine
ASEAN’s very centrality, solidarity and credibility."
According to del Rosario, Manila had raised the matter for discussion
"in the ARF, EAS, ASEM [ASEAN regional Forum, East Asia Summit, ASEAN-Europe
Meeting] and even the United Nations, in order to galvanize the understanding
of the international community."
It may thus be said, del Rosario stressed, "that the Philippines has
borne more than its share of the heavy burden for ASEAN and the international
community on this issue."
He then lamented how, despite Manila's words of alarm, China is "clearly
and quickly advancing with its massive reclamation," warning his peers
that Beijing is clearly "poised to consolidate de facto control of the South China Sea."
Beijing defense installations imperil stabililty
Finally, he raised the most chilling implilcation for regional peace and
stability. He drew the ASEAN members' attention to the fact that Beijing had
made clear "it will place defense installations on the reclaimed
areas."
The Philippines had warned them earlier, del Rosario reminded Manila's
neighbors, that China "will in all probability finish its reclamation
activities before it agrees to conclude a COC [Code of Conduct]," which
ASEAN is now keen on pushing.
"If this is what happens, and which is likely to happen," the
consummation of the reclamation and the emplacement of defense installations
"will render the [Declaration of Conduct] DOC irrelevant and any COC would
have the effect of legitimizing China's reclamation."
According to del Rosario, the Philippines believes "that the more
important element of Centrality is our region’s capacity to foster common
perspectives on regional and international issues."
While he noted "our northern neighbor’s [China's] repeated avowal of its
respect and adherence to ASEAN Centrality in its public pronouncements on
ASEAN," the recent launch "of the so-called ASEAN-China Maritime Year
2015 on the sidelines of the Boa'o Forum last month disregards ASEAN
Centrality."
The Philippines, he said, fully supports "closer ASEAN-China cooperation
and, in this respect, believes that this Maritime Year initiative calls for a
proper study and evaluation by all of ASEAN." Still, he said, "this
requires time, care and prudence to ensure that all our interests, individually
and collectively, are taken into full account."
From the Mindanao Examiner (Apr 26): Militar todo-bantay vs BIFF sa Maguindanao
Makikita sa litrato ng 6th Infantry Division ang IED na itinanim umano ng BIFF sa isang tulay sa bayan ng Datu Unsay sa Maguindanao province.
Todo-bantay pa rin ang militar sa seguridad sa Maguindanao province na kung saan ay pinaghahanap ng mga sundalo ang grupong Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters na patuloy ang atake sa magulong Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Kamakalawa lamang ay napigilan ng militar ang pambobomba ng BIFF sa bayan ng Datu Unsay matapos na madiskubre sa may tulay sa Barangay Meta ang isang improvised explosive device.
Target sana ng BIFF na bombahin ang mga convoy ng militar na dumaraan sa Meta Bridge na halos 50 metro lamang ang layon sa kampo ng 34th Infantry Battalion.
Ngunit sa kabila ng napakalapit sa tulay ng nasabing kampo ay hindi naman natunugan ng mga sundalo ang pagtatanim ng bomba doon. Nalaman lamang ito ng militar ng magsumbong angh isang residente na may bomba sa lugar. Pinasabugan na rin noon ng BIFF ang nasabing tulay na ikinasawi ng mga sundalo.
Kinumpirma naman kahapon ng 6th Infantry Division ang pagkakatuklas sa bomba at sinabi ng tagapagsalita nitong si Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay na ang IED ay gawa mula sa isang anti-tank rocket o rocket propelled grenade at nakakabit ito sa isang blasting cap na konektado naman sa dalawang 9 volt batteries at isang relay switch.
“The IED was successfully disrupted by the (army) EOD team and recovered an RPG warhead, improvised electric blasting cap, two 9-volt batteries, relay switch, and two battery holders with wire.”
“The successful recovery of the IED was due to the growing concern and awareness among the civilian populace. If it was not reported earlier, the IED could have caused harm to the civilian commuters and damage to the structure and further causing disruption of the flow of traffic in the area,” ani Petinglay sa pahayagang Mindanao Examiner.
Nakikibaka ang BIFF para sa kalayaan ng mga Muslim sa Mindanao.
From the Mindanao Examiner (Apr 26):Gunmen attack Lanao village, leaves 13 casualties
At least a dozen villagers were killed and wounded in an attack by gunmen in the town of Wao in Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines, security officials said Sunday.
The weekend attack killed 5 people, including a child; and left at least 8 others injured in the village called Magampong. The motive of the attack is still unknown, but police and military have launched an operation to track down the raiders.
Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the 6th Infantry Division, has confirmed the attack and said a group of “armed lawless elements” strafed the area with automatic gunfire.
Among those slain in the strafing was ten-year old Emran Manabilang. Two other adults – Anipah Sumayan and Master Pendatun – were also killed and the others who died in the hospital remain unidentified.
“Police and military are still investigating who were behind this and their motive,” Petinglay told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
No individual claimed responsibility for the attack and officials would not say if the raid was connected to a clan war or family feud.
