MILF: “MILF won't stop members from defending themselves if they face prosecution on Mamasapano”: Iqbal

Posted to the MILF Website (Sep 19): “MILF won't stop members from defending themselves if they face prosecution on Mamasapano”: Iqbal



Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said yesterday, September 18, that the Moro Front will not stop its members who will be charged for the Mamasapano incident from defending themselves if they face prosecution.

"We do not ask them not to do something that would help them get out of that whole problem... Yung organisasyon of the MILF will not prevent them because that's an internal legal process of the government. But on the individual level we will not prevent individual members of the MILF who are part of the list to access something to defend themselves", Iqbal said.

“It can include legal, maybe access to lawyers. On the individual decision-making, they can access to lawyers on their own personal capacity. We will not stop them," he added.

Iqbal said they will not encourage their members, but they will not stop them as well.
He said the prosecution of the Mamasapano incident does not cover the MILF as an organization.

"The filing of cases against 20 or more than 20 members of the MILF is an internal legal process of government which the MILF is not a party to. We will not participate, but on the other hand we will not stop individual members of the MILF if they want to access through the service of the lawyer to defend themselves," he said.

Asked if the MILF will shield those who may be charged, Iqbal said: "What the MILF can do is invoke the provisions of existing mechanisms of the peace process. That is the binding agreement as far as the government and MILF, especially the provisions of the ceasefire. If there is a violation on either side, if it's committed by government forces then the government will take charge of that."

Asked if they will surrender MILF members, Iqbal said: "I will not go to that extent."

Commenting on the truth about the incident, Iqbal said they would rather leave to the public to decide on the Mamasapano incident although they stand by the findings of the MILF's own investigation.

"There are 5 to 6 versions (on the Mamasapano incident from) the PNP (Philippine National Police), DOJ (Department of Justice), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), IMT (International Monitoring Team), MILF. So let the people decide which of these versions is the truth or leading to the truth," he said.

"On the findings of the MILF investigating team, that's official. We hold that as the official version. But we have buried this issue already. We do not want to revive it because both on the side of the government and MILF are already resting in their graves. If we try to revive this issue, not only people resting in their graves but the families na naghihilom na ang sugat [ang maapektuhan]," he added.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Ging Deles said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will explain what needs to be done.

Deles said the MILF who may be charged can opt to waive their right to submit a counter-affidavit.

Deles said there may be fewer than 26 MILF who may be charged. "Tinatanggap naman na yung baka hindi lahat ito tunay na pangalan, may palayaw daw. Yun kailangan himayin kasi subpoena will have to be delivered to that person."

She also explained that the MILF as a group will not be covered by the process because the offense was done by individuals.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/574-milf-won-t-stop-members-from-defending-themselves-if-they-face-prosecution-on-mamasapano-iqbal

BIFM: BIFM- MAHKAMATUL ‘ULYAA issues order

From the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) Research & Information Bureau Website (Sep 18): BIFM- MAHKAMATUL ‘ULYAA issues order

September 18, 2015


 
In a meeting of the members of the Central Islamic Committee (CIC) held somewhere in the province of Magindanaw on September 13, 2015, the Mahkamatul ‘Ulyaa (Supreme Court) has approved the proposed disciplinary measure that 30 stripes be imposed on offers committed involving illegal drugs. 
 
Relative hereto, the chief of the Military Affairs has scheduled on Friday, September 18 to 19, 2015 the imposition of the proposed 30 stripes per head of the more than thirty individuals who were proven guilty of illegal drug activities. 

From:
Research and Information Bureau

http://www.bifm-rib.com/news.html

Palace to MILF: Amendments underway to make BBL acceptable to all

From GMA News (Sep 19): Palace to MILF: Amendments underway to make BBL acceptable to all 

Following the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's comment that the version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law from the Senate and the House of Representatives is "unacceptable," Malacañang on Saturday said that amendments are on the way to forge a version that is acceptable by everyone.

In addressing the concern of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Edwin Lacierda in an interview on state-run dzRB said the concerns of all the stakeholders are being considered.

“It requires the legislative mill to take its course, and the concerns of the [MILF], the concerns of all the stakeholders—whatever they are—they have to be discussed because we are going through the legislative process, which is the role of the legislative branch,” he said.

“So, kung may concerns ang MILF, mayroon na kaming mga suggested amendment po na ginagawa. All that will have to be threshed out in the plenary, in the Senate and in the House floor. So let’s allow the debates to happen so that we can come up with a workable, operational, and a BBL that will be acceptable to all,” he added.

Iqbal made the statement during a forum on Friday where the Government and MILF panels discussed the status of the BBL, with only eight months left for President Benigno Aquino III's administration.Iqbal also said during the forum that it was better to have no BBL than have a “bad” version of it.

"The issue on natural resources is the number one... Autonomy without access to revenues from natural resources is a joke," he said referring to provisions deleted by the House of Representatives.

Still, he said the MILF is counting on the Congress and the Aquino administration to pass the BBL.

“As a negotiator for more than 10 years, we've been in the rough and tumble. Whatever confronts us, we try to overcome it... We're open for improvement and enhancement. But we hope the essential components of an autonomous government is retained,” he said.

As a product of the peace process with the MILF, the proposed BBL is expected to create a Bangsamoro juridical entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.But lawmakers said that the proposed piece of legislation should be within the ambit of the present Philippine Constitution.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/537563/news/nation/palace-to-milf-amendments-underway-to-make-bbl-acceptable-to-all

Police launch 24-hour patrol in Zamboanga City after deadly blast

From GMA News (Sep 19): Police launch 24-hour patrol in Zamboanga City after deadly blast

Police has started a 24-hour security patrol around Zamboanga city following a bus explosion that left a girl dead and 33 others injured on Friday afternoon.

 

A "News TV Live" report on Saturday morning said that according to Superintendent Glenn Dulawan, Pagadian City police chief, tighter security is being implemented around the city, particularly in public areas.

 

Dulawan said aside from the 24-hour security patrols, additional checkpoints have been installed in areas leading to the city and more policemen have been deployed in bus terminals.

 

He added that policemen deployed in bus terminals will inspect the passengers' bags and luggages as part of the stricter security measures due to Friday's bombing.

 

A bomb exploded inside the bus of the D’ Biel Transit Company while parked at a transport terminal at past 2 p.m. Friday.

 

Five individuals, who were found with wires in their bags, have been taken into police custody.

 

Mayor Beng Climaco said on her Facebook account that the incident was being investigated as an act of extortion.

 

In January, another bus exploded in the outskirts of Zamboanga City, which police readily blamed on al-Qaeda-linked Islamic militants.

 

Double murder and frustrated multiple murder charges were filed against the suspects, who used a car rigged with an improvised explosive devise to blow up the bus.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/537539/news/regions/police-launch-24-hour-patrol-in-zamboanga-city-after-deadly-blast

Zamboanga City authorities release composite sketch of bus-blast suspect

From GMA News (Sep 19): Zamboanga City authorities release composite sketch of bus-blast suspect

Authorities on Saturday released a composite sketch of a suspect in the Zamboanga City bus bombing, according to a report on GMA News TV's “News TV Live”.

[Video report: NTVL: Artist sketch ng suspek sa pagpapasabog sa isang bus, inilabas  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV6pJHuq6DQ]

The sketch was of a male suspect seen in on CCTV footage before the explosion.

According to Zamboanga City police, the suspect was 5'4 in height and estimated to be around 25 years in age, and was wearing a black sweatshirt. He was seen with a black backpack.

The local government of Zamboanga City earlier offered a P200,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.

Investigators a lead which suggested the bombing was part of an extortion attempt, due to a threatening letter the Biel Bus company received.

A passenger was killed while at least 32 were injured in the bombing inside last Friday.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/537581/news/regions/zamboanga-city-authorities-release-composite-sketch-of-bus-blast-suspect

Sulu Sultan Esmail Kiram II dies of kidney illness – Armed Forces

From GMA News (Sep 20): Sulu Sultan Esmail Kiram II dies of kidney illness – Armed Forces

The Armed Forces' Joint Task Group Sulu reported in a Facebook post that Sulu Sultan Esmail Kiram II died at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at the Zamboanga Peninsula Hospital.

The task group received its information from the sultan's daughter, Princess Ysvethlana Kiram, who said that her father died of a "kidney malfunction."

Kiram II's remains will be brought to Sulu on Sunday.

Esmail Kiram II was installed as the Sultan of Sulu after the death of Jamalul Kiram III in October 2013.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/537587/news/regions/sulu-sultan-esmail-kiram-ii-dies-of-kidney-illness-armed-forces

AFP spokesman: ‘Hit list’ claim came from NPA supporters

From GMA News (Sep 19): AFP spokesman: ‘Hit list’ claim came from NPA supporters

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday belied the existence of a supposed military "hit list" against members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.

 

"There is no truth to that said hit list whatsoever. If you will look at the sources, it can be learned that all of them are supportive of the NPA (New People's Army)," AFP Spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. told GMA News Online on Saturday.

 

He added: "It is apparent then that this is once again a clear attempt to discredit the AFP and continue on demonizing the organization mandated by law to act as protector of the people."

 

The statement comes a day after former and incumbent lawmakers under the Makabayan bloc asked the Supreme Court to issue writs of amparo and habeas data against alleged military and police harassment.

 

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Spokesman C/Supt. Wilben Mayor did not give further comment on the "hit list" issue and said the PNP will just the matter to proper authorities.

"The PNP will let the law take its course. It is part of the Democratic system of our country," he said.

 

The petitioners including Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Gabriela Rep. Emerenciana de Jesus, former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said in their plea that their party-list groups have been tagged by the AFP and PNP as "”communist front organizations.”

 

They also claimed that their leaders and members have been targets of attacks under the government's counterinsurgency programs.

 

In an interview over state-run radio dzRB, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace is not aware of a "hit list."

 

“I am not aware of that hit list that they are claiming, but since they have already filed a petition for those proper writs before the court, then let the court processes take its course na lang... Kung mayroon ‘yang basis o wala, the courts will decide,” he said.

 

He said what they have is a list of people with arrest warrants.

“But, certainly, ang mayroon kami ‘yung mga may warrants of arrest. ‘Di ba, kailangan talaga magkaroon ng [warrant]… May listahan po tayo ng mga mayroong warrant of arrest na tinitingnan,” he said.

 

“That is as far as I know, that we are always going after criminal elements—those people who have warrants of arrest—and that is the reason why the ‘Oplan Lambat Sibat’ has been very, very effective in arresting all those who have warrants of arrest,” he added.

GMA News Online tried to contact the Makabayan bloc but the group has yet to make a replay.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/537564/news/nation/afp-spokesman-hit-list-claim-came-from-npa-supporters

Diet oks troop deployment abroad

From The Standard (Sep 20): Diet oks troop deployment abroad

Japan’s parliament passed contentious security bills into law early Saturday, in a move that could see Japanese troops fight abroad for the first time in 70 years.

Lawmakers approved the bills to ease restrictions on the country’s tightly controlled military, but the changes will not see Japanese troops dispatched to war zones any time soon because the laws may still be overturned by the supreme court.

Unable to muster support to amend clauses enshrining pacifism, Abe opted instead to re-interpret the document for the purpose of his bills, ignoring warnings from scholars and lawyers that they are unconstitutional.

Security measures. Japanese lawmakers applaud after they passed two bills that would effectively allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time in 70 years. AFP PHOTO

But the Philippines, one of the few countries that supported Tokyo’s plan to amend its constitution, welcomed Japan’s landmark legislation.

“The Philippines welcomes the passage of legislation on national security by the National Diet of Japan. We look forward to efforts that strengthen our Strategic Partnership with Japan and those that would contribute further to shared goals of greater peace, stability, and mutual prosperity in the international community,” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement.

But outside the Japanese Diet, thousands rallied in a last-ditch show of opposition to laws they fear could fundamentally reshape the proudly pacifist nation.

The changes, which would allow Japanese troops to fight in defense of allies, have drawn tens of thousands of people from across society onto the streets in almost daily protests, in a show of public anger rarely seen on such a scale.

Outside parliament protesters, estimated at over 10,000, raised their voices louder as news of the decision spread through the crowd, chanting: “Protect the constitution.” One sign read: “Spread peace not war.”

“I’m ready to stay here all night. The government cannot ignore such a demonstration,” said 60-year-old farmer Yukiko Ogawa. “It is vital that we make our opinion known, that we are here.”

Seiji Kawabe, 49, vowed the movement would live on, adding: “We have enough natural disasters, typhoons, earthquakes... we don’t need any man-made disasters.”

Organizers said more than 40,000 had gathered for Friday night’s rally, while police estimated the size of the crowd at some 11,000.

Nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the changes were a normalization of Japan’s military policy, which has been restricted to self-defense and aid missions by a pacifist constitution imposed by the US after World War II.

He and his backers say the laws are necessary because of threats from an increasingly belligerent China and unstable North Korea.

Opponents argue they go against both the constitution and the national psyche, and could see Japan dragged into far-flung American wars.

Speaking after the vote, Abe said the changes were “necessary in order to protect people’s lives and peaceful way of life.”

“This is designed to prevent wars,” he told journalists.

The decision came after days of emotional debate and delaying tactics by the opposition, which in Thursday erupted into scuffles as politicians physically tried to block a committee approving the bills.

President of the upper house Masaaki Yamazaki said the bills passed with 148 lawmakers voting in favor, compared to 90 against.

Abe has faced fierce criticism for both the laws themselves and the way he has driven them through in the face of public opposition.

There are growing signs this is taking a political toll—opinion polls show the vast majority of Japanese are against the changes, and Abe’s once sky-high approval rating is dropping.

In protests outside parliament earlier in the day, Yoko Fujiwara stood among the crowds with her six-year-old daughter, who carried a handwritten sign saying: “We do not forgive. Children are angry, too.”

“I came to the protest together with my daughter to show what real democracy is like,” said the 40-year-old graduate law student.

Opponents of the laws, including a Nobel Prize winner, popular musicians and other prominent figures, say the changes could fundamentally alter Japan.

Washington has backed the changes, but regional rivals China and South Korea have expressed concern at any expansion of Japanese military scope.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Friday called on Japan to “listen carefully to voices inside and outside the country calling for justice” and called on lawmakers to “take real actions to protect regional peace and stability.”

Security experts say the laws will force a reevaluation of Japan’s place on the world stage.

“The bills are a psychological message to the world that an era in which Japan should not be involved in conflicts because of its exclusively defense-oriented policy is over,” said Hideshi Takesada, a professor at Takushoku University in Tokyo.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/09/20/diet-oks-troop-deployment-abroad/

Palace rejects CHR tack

From The Standard (Sep 20): Palace rejects CHR tack

DESPITE the declaration of the Commission on Human Rights, Malacañang insisted on Saturday that reports of abuses against tribesmen in Mindanao are not true and even reiterated military claims that most communist rebels are indigenous people, called lumad.

“A crime happened there. It’s a law enforcement issue. The [Philippine National Police] is investigating and the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] says [allegations of abuses] are totally not true. In fact, General Hernando Iriberri said so,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin  Lacierda said in an interview over a state-owned Radyo ng Bayan.

 

Stop the killings. Tribesfolk from Mindanao hold up signs expressing their beliefs at a forum in Quezon City on the same day Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chit Gascon declared that the killings in Mindanao that were being blamed on the military are actually extrajudicial killings. LINO SANTOS

“It is a significant [that] three out of four rebel returnees [are indigenous] people. You know, if there is no access to resources by some people, they will really resort to extralegal means,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said there is no need to form another set of investigators to probe the alleged abuses because there is already an ongoing investigation and the AFP has already answered the allegations during a congressional budget hearing.

Lacierda made the assertions after CHR Chairman Chito Gascon said the situation of the lumad in Mindanao needs government attention because it is becoming graver.

“The situation is getting grave. It needs comprehensive government response. The situation of our refugees in Tandag, Haran, Malaybalay and elsewhere needs to be attended to,” Gascon said on Friday.

“There have been horrendous atrocities and crimes perpetrated by persons who should be identified.”

Gascon said the CHR, a constitutional agency, will conduct a public inquiry in Davao on Sept. 23 and 24.

“Our approach will not focus on isolated cases like in Haran or in Lianga. Our approach is to understand the difficult situation,” Gascon said.

But even if the CHR fact-finding mission has not yet been completed, Gascon said it is clear that the killings were actually executions.

“It is clear to us, from the photos alone, that these were extrajudicial killings. And we condemn it,” he said, stressing that that did not mean security forces were responsible for the killings.

Gascon made the remarks after he met with lumad leaders at the CHR headquarters in Quezon City, on the same day some congressmen and human rights advocates asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of amparo after they learned that they were included in a “hit list” after they helped the tribesmen.

Lacierda also denied the existence of such a “hit list” and said the Palace will let the Supreme Court decide the matter.

“I am not aware of that hit list that they are claiming, but since they have already filed a petition for those proper writs before the court, then let the court processes take its course. If there is a basis or not, the courts will decide,” he said.

Lacierda later revealed that the government does have a list, but it was not a “hit list” but a “list of warrants of arrest” in line with the Aquino administration’s efforts to run after criminal elements.

“But certainly, what we have are those warrants of arrest. We have a list of those who have warrants of arrest that we are now looking,” he said.

He then cited that under Department of Interior Local Government’s “Oplan Lambat Sibat” program, the agency has been “very, very” effective in arresting all those who have warrants of arrest.

But in a 36-page petition to the SC, the lawmakers and rights advocates, through the National Union of People’s Lawyers, complained that they are being subjected to surveillance, red-tagging and various forms of harassments.

Among the petitioners include Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus, former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, Children’s Rehabilitation Center executive director Jacqueline Ruiz, Rural Missionaries Coordinator Sr. Mary Francis Añover, Rev. Irma Balaba of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and Ofelia Beltran-Balleta, representing the family of former Anakpawis Rep. Beltran who passed away in 2008.

The petitioners claimed that the hit list was appended to a criminal complaint the AFP and Philippine National Police filed against some of their colleagues after they helped lumad communities in Davao del Norte and Bukidnon.

“This is an indication that the [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group] was provided with dossiers of the Petitioners and the other individuals included in the lists. Obviously, such dossiers came from other sources, since the individuals whose names appear in the lists, including the petitioners, are not fugitives from justice, and that the conduct of counter-insurgency operations is not a function of the CIDG,” the petitioners lamented.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/09/20/palace-rejects-chr-tack/

Bangsamoro gov't should be able to stand on its feet – Iqbal

From Rappler (Sep 19): Bangsamoro gov't should be able to stand on its feet – Iqbal

The MILF is open to improvements on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law but its autonomy should be respected, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal says



OPTIMISTIC. MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal remains optimistic the BBL will be passed but says Congress should respect the proposed government's autonomy. Rappler file photo

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is still “open for improvements and enhancement” but the “essential elements of a real autonomous government” should be included in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal explained.

Both chambers of Congress submitted their own version of the proposed law – different from the draft of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and reviewed by President Benigno Aquino III.

The substitute bills, known as the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBARs), carry differences mainly on the exercise of autonomy in the proposed region.

According to Iqbal, he respects the power of Congress to legislate but is worried the deleted provisions may affect the region.

“The autonomous government should have powers that would really allow that entity to stand on its feet,” he said during a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).

Out of distrust?

The various amendments on the proposed law, chief government peace negotiator Professor Miriam Colonel-Ferrer lamented, were made “out of distrust and fear that the Bangsamoro will secede.”

She cited examples such as the word “territory” replaced with “area” to identify the geographic scope of the proposed region despite the use of “territorial jurisdiction” for local government units (LGUs) in the Local Government Code.

Ferrer also pointed out the iterations in the amended Senate bill which emphasize the Bangsamoro as “an inalienable part of the Philippines.”

While protecting the powers of LGUs is legitimate, she clarified that these should not hinder the establishment of a genuine autonomy for the region – pointing out that both local and regional autonomy are mandated by the 1987 Constitution.

Allocation of powers, she noted, should be balanced and objective.

"The autonomous region plays an integrative role over the LGUs,” Ferrer emphasized.

The BTC, however, continues to build trust and counter fear with peace process stakeholders.

“A personal approach is really helping building trust,” he said. “What is important is you need to open communication.”

“There is some improvement in this regard, especially in the Lower House” Iqbal added.

Not giving up

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles emphasized there is no giving up on the BBL as the Bangsamoro aspiration for genuine autonomy and self–determination is “within grasp.”

“For the sake of those communities and especially their children, we dare not give up now,” she declared. “After all the tests and trials that this peace process has gone through, we do not give up now.”

Despite the deferred passage of the BBL, they remain “confident and cautiously optimistic” that it won’t take too long anymore and their commitment remains “firm towards completion.”

“Where we are now, I must insist that we are returning to a better place,” Deles said. “With all peace activists left standing – and we are stronger now and joined by far-seeing pillars of society – we are steadfast in laying claim that this dream will not be deferred for long.”

http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/mindanao/106410-bangsamoro-basic-law-autonomous-government-powers

Netizens take up fight for Sandakan hostages' release

From The Star Online (Sep 18): Netizens take up fight for Sandakan hostages' release



Thien (left) and Then are being held by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo, Southern Philippines.

PETALING JAYA: Four months after two Malaysians were kidnapped from a seaside restaurant in Sandakan, netizens have taken up the fight to get them released. 

An online petition has been initiated to highlight the plight of Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and Bernard Then Ted Fun, 39, who are being held by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo, Southern Philippines.

The “Bring Our Malaysian Hostages Home” plea on ipetitions.com has been signed more than 4000 times since it was created on Tuesday.

“We plead with the Government of Malaysia to speed up the process of securing the release of our fellow Malaysians, and bring them home safely as soon as possible,” read the petition.

“We hope to achieve our target of 100,000 signatures for our petition to be handed to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, with the hope that his personal intervention will expedite the process of securing the freedom of both hostages,” it added.

Thien, 50, and Then, 39, were abducted from the Ocean King seafood restaurant, just 3km from Sandakan, in mid-May.

Thien was the restaurant manager while Then was on a holiday. The health of both hostages are reported to be deteriorating.

Then’s wife Chan Wai See had received a call last month from the kidnappers, who threatened to behead her husband if the ransom was not paid.

Their families are having sleepless nights amid recent reports of beheadings and military raids there.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Filipino village chief on Aug 11 after his family failed to come up with the one million pesos (RM91,220) ransom.

The village chief was kidnapped on May 4 along with two coast guards.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/09/18/Sandakan-hostages-netizens-take-up-fight/

MILF rejects changes in proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 18): MILF rejects changes in proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law



Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal gestures during a forum on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law on Friday in Mandaluyong City. At left is Teresita Deles, presidential adviser on the peace process. AP

The peace negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has said the changes being introduced in the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law are unacceptable.

But Mohagher Iqbal also said the insurgents would continue to appeal to lawmakers to pass legislation that could help end a decades-old rebellion in the Philippines’ south.

Iqbal, chief negotiator of the 11,000-strong MILF, on Friday said delays in the bill’s passage had made the insurgents anxious. He added, however, that rebel leaders remained “in control of the situation” and were updating commanders on progress in efforts to enforce the peace deal, which was signed last year.

A police antiterror assault in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, led to the killing of 44 commandos in Jan. 25 clashes that involved some of the rebels, causing delays in the passage of the autonomy bill.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/723391/milf-rejects-changes-in-proposed-bangsamoro-basic-law

The Chinese Cyber Threat in the South China Sea

From The Diplomat (Sep 18): The Chinese Cyber Threat in the South China Sea (by Anni Piiparinen)

ASEAN needs to get serious about the role of cyberspace in conflicts over the South China Sea.

As China expands its foothold in the Spratly islands, piling sand and building airstrips on the contested reefs in the middle of the South China Sea, the world has turned its attention back to the territorial disputes that have lingered in the region for decades. While naval strategies and broader military doctrine have dominated the recent headlines, one crucial element of modern conflict has been surprisingly missing from the debate over the South China Sea: cyberspace.

 

If the past is any guide, however, future escalation in the disputed waters is likely to spill over to the cyber realm regardless of where it starts. According to reports by FireEye, Kaspersky Lab’s Securelist, and CrowdStrike, the Southeast Asian claimants to the South China Sea, along with private companies doing business in the region, have been popular targets of advanced intrusion operations originating from China. Chinese cyber units and malware variants have successfully infiltrated public networks in the region, primarily targeting top-level government agencies and civil and military organizations in the Philippines and Vietnam.

 

China’s activities in cyberspace are a means to achieve its goals in the physical world and carry serious potential for escalating lingering tensions into a full-on battle, both on- and offline. Beijing has used its cyber capabilities to accompany other, often diplomatically risky, moves. Indeed, the volume of cyberattacks has significantly increased at times of heightened tensions, with China seeking to gather sensitive security details to gain a strategic edge over its regional rivals.

 

For example in May 2014, China dragged an oil rig into waters claimed by Vietnam, sparking an international incident. Vessels from both countries engaged in water-cannon battles and deadly anti-China protests erupted in Vietnam. China took the conflict from land and sea to cyberspace, targeting Vietnamese government and military agencies via spear-phishing campaigns that spread documents containing malware. The threat actors likely succeeded in compromising a network belonging to a Vietnamese intelligence agency, gaining access to sensitive information about the country’s security strategy.

 

A notable uptick in China-based cyberattacks against Vietnamese networks also occurred in October 2014, possibly in response to Vietnamese arms acquisitions meant to boost its maritime security capabilities. These incidents pushed Vietnam to become the most targeted country in cyberspace in 2014, surpassing even the United States.

 

Vietnam hasn’t been the only South Chin Sea claimant targeted by Chinese cyberattacks. In April 2012, Chinese patrol vessels docked in waters near the Philippine-claimed Scarborough Shoal. After a tense standoff, the Philippines was forced to withdraw its ships. At the same time, hackers from both sides launched extensive defacement campaigns of government, media, and university websites. A Chinese cyber unit succeeded in infiltrating Philippine government and military networks, stealing military documents, internal communications, and other sensitive materials related to the dispute.

 

With the Chinese island-building spree intensifying and the preliminary decision of the arbitral tribunal in the Philippines’ legal challenge against China expected by the end of the year, the tensions in the South China Sea will continue to run high. And as the past disputes in the region clearly show, conflicts in the physical world will undoubtedly also play out in cyberspace.

 

Strong cyber defenses are crucial for a nation’s ability to protect sensitive national security information and ensure the operability of many of its core functions. However, the cyber capabilities of Vietnam and the Philippines, along with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members bordering the South China Sea, range from weak to nonexistent.

 

Should the tensions escalate into an active conflict and move from cyber espionage and relatively harmless website defacements into causing real damage to critical infrastructure or government networks, the countries of ASEAN would have practically no way of stopping the attacks. And although the United States is geographically far removed from the territorial disputes, its regional alliances – particularly its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, reaffirmed in 2014 – and its broader strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific would inevitably drag the U.S. into the dispute.

 

It is therefore past time to start taking the cyber threat in the South China Sea seriously. The Philippines and Vietnam, along with other targeted countries, should direct increasing resources to developing more sophisticated cyber defense architectures to protect military systems and other sensitive networks. This should include providing sufficient funding for national Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and creating units under the armed forces to centralize the command of cyberspace operations, similar to the U.S. Cyber Command.

 

On a regional level, ASEAN needs to fast-track its dormant efforts to create a more resilient cybersecurity regime to mitigate the Chinese cyber threat against its members. The organization should take concrete steps to create a permanent coordinating and information-sharing mechanism, either under the ASEAN secretariat or as a stand-alone ASEAN-CERT under the umbrella of the Asia-Pacific CERT. And while the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting does not yet address cybersecurity as a separate topic, it would be a natural forum to better coordinate regional military efforts.

 

Additionally, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which the Chinese also participate in, would serve as a suitable venue for establishing regional codes of conduct and confidence building measures for cyberspace, furthering transparency and complementing the ASEAN-only efforts. ARF should work towards a concrete framework for dealing with cyber conflict, similar to its efforts to enhance maritime security, and establish a communications network that could be activated during cyber crises.

 

The United States, echoing the sentiment of the recently released U.S. Department of Defense Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy, should make it a priority to enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of its regional allies and partners, “both to respond to threats within their own territories as well as to provide [security] more broadly across the region.” This can occur through provision of tools, technologies, and training, joint cyber incident response exercises, or information sharing initiatives.

 

Boosting the region’s cyber defenses proactively, before the next major crisis flares up, offers a viable  model for regional cooperation aimed at gradually making Southeast Asian militaries more capable, credible, and independent in the cyber realm. It will allow the countries to increasingly take the lead in protecting their territories and networks while letting the United States slowly move to the back seat.

 

[Anni Piiparinen is a program assistant with the Cyber Statecraft Initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security.]

 

http://thediplomat.com/2015/09/the-chinese-cyber-threat-in-the-south-china-sea/

Video of Caucasian soldier coincides with independent probe says Moro group

Posted to the often pro-CPP Davao Today (Sep 18): Video of Caucasian soldier coincides with independent probe says Moro group

A Moro organization is pushing for the reopening of the investigations on the Mamasapano clash to probe the alleged direct involvement of the United States military in the operation after a video from a still unknown source shows the body of an alleged Caucasian soldier.

The Mamasapano operation claimed the lives of 44 police’s Special Action Force, civilians and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on January this year.

Jerome Aba, spokesperson of Suara Bangsamoro said “the only way to clear the issue is to conduct another investigation.”

“The video of a Caucasian casualty in Mamasapano in the January 25 clash where 44 SAF members were killed coincides with the results of our previous investigation,” said Aba.

In a fact-finding mission in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano in Maguindanao, Suara Bangsamoro “found out that one American soldier was involved in the fierce battle between the Moro armed groups and members of the SAF.

Aba said they interviewed one of the residents “who went to the encounter site after the violent clash subsided” who said an alleged American soldier is one of the casualties during the fight.

The witness, Aba said, described the soldier as “blue-eyed”.

Suara Bangsamoro believes that the results of the new investigation “could provide us new information about the violation committed by the US on our national patrimony and sovereignty.”

http://davaotoday.com/main/todays-news-to-go/video-of-caucasian-soldier-coincides-with-independent-probe-says-moro-group/

US, Philippines to Hold Amphibious Landing Exercise

From The Diplomat (Sep 19): US, Philippines to Hold Amphibious Landing Exercise

PHIBLEX 2016 will be held from September 21 to October 9.

The U.S. and Philippine militaries are set to hold amphibious landing exercises in the Philippines next week as the two allies work to strengthen their relationships across a range of operations.

According to a September 18 statement by the U.S. embassy in the Philippines seen by The Diplomat, the U.S. Marines and Sailors of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be participating in the 31st iteration of the Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 2016 from September 21 to October 9 in Luzon.

PHIBLEX 16 will include around 650 U.S. service members based in Okinawa, Japan as well as Philippine sailors and marines. It will consist of a command post exercise, field training exercises, amphibious operations, combined arms training, civil-military operations, and humanitarian and civic assistance projects.

According to the statement, the command post exercise, which takes place in Palawan, is designed to help increase the AFP’s capability to plan and execute bilateral maritime operations. Humanitarian and civic assistance projects, also in Palawan, will include various engineering projects, efforts to improve local infrastructure and cooperative health engagements. The field training exercises, held in the vicinity of Angeles-Clark, will include small arms and artillery live-fire training.

As I have pointed out repeatedly, while attention is often focused overwhelmingly on the U.S.-Philippine alliance as a counterweight to growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea, in reality the military relationship is designed for collaboration across a range of areas from disaster relief to maritime security (See: “The Truth About Philippine Military Modernization and the China Threat”). The embassy statement echoed this broader reading of the alliance with respect to the upcoming exercises.

“Bilateral Philippine-U.S. military training opportunities such as PHIBLEX 16 sustain our strong foundation of interoperability and strengthen our working relationships across the range of military operations — from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations,” the embassy said.

PHIBLEX will also help play a major role in preparations for the upcoming large scale annual bilateral Balikatan exercise next year (See: “US, Philippines to Hold Expanded War Games”).

http://thediplomat.com/2015/09/us-philippines-to-hold-amphibious-landing-exercise/

CHR says ‘lumad’ situation getting ‘grave,’ sets public inquiry

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 18): CHR says ‘lumad’ situation getting ‘grave,’ sets public inquiry

The situation of the “lumad” in Mindanao is getting “grave” and it needs government attention, according to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

“The [lumad] situation is getting grave; it needs comprehensive government response. The situation of our refugees in Tandag, Haran, Malaybalay and elsewhere needs to be attended to,” CHR chair Chito Gascon told reporters as he turned emotional on Friday afternoon.

“There have been horrendous atrocities and crimes perpetrated by persons who should be identified and brought to justice,” he said.

The CHR met with the indigenous peoples in a dialogue on Friday afternoon at their office in Quezon City.

The lumad leaders have accused the military and its paramilitary forces of killings and harassments in their communities. They have also called for the disbanding, disarming and pullout of these groups which have driven the lumad to mass evacuation.

Thousands of lumad have been displaced in parts of Mindanao because of alleged militarization and the ongoing conflict of the New People’s Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Because of the worsening situation, the CHR will conduct a public inquiry in Davao next week.
“We will undertake a public inquiry in Davao. Our approach will not focus on isolated cases like in Haran or in Lianga. Our approach is to understand the difficult situation and the root causes and make recommendations to address the situation of the lumads,” Gascon said.

The hearing will be led by two commissioners on Sept. 23 and 24.

Gascon said orders had been sent to government and private individuals for the inquiry. The military will also be present.

While the fact-finding mission of the regional CHR office was still ongoing, Gascon said it was apparent that the recent killings in Surigao del Sur were extrajudicial.

“It is clear to us, from the photos alone, that these were extrajudicial killings. And we condemn it,” he said.

He made it clear that they were not prejudging the role of the security forces but reminded them that there was a law on humanitarian obligations.

“The call isn’t really to pull out the military. It’s that they (should) comply with laws and standards and not militarize the communities as presumed by the rebels,” Gascon said.

He also called on the disarming of paramilitary groups in the affected communities.

“There is no justification for auxiliary forces. They are not properly trained and oriented to do the work of the military. We call on the government to seriously review this longstanding policy of augmentation and withdraw support from paramilitary groups involved in these atrocities,” he said.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/723401/chr-says-lumad-situation-getting-grave-sets-public-inquiry

US, PH Marines set sea drill off Palawan

From the Manila Times (Sep 18): US, PH Marines set sea drill off Palawan

US and Philippine Marine forces will be conducting joint naval war exercises starting Monday off the coast of Palawan near the contested West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

At least 650 US Marines and sailors of the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (3d MEB), the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) based in Okinawa, Japan, and 740 officers and enlisted personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be participating in the 31st iteration of the Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise (Phiblex) 2016 from September 21 to October 9.

Officials said the exercises seek to continue to enhance the inter-operability between the US Marine air-ground task force and the AFP with the goal of improving bilateral response to regional issues and maritime security crises within Asia-Pacific.

The combined US and Filipino troops will be working side-by-side to conduct a command post exercise, field training exercises, amphibious operations, combined arms training, civil-military operations and humanitarian and civic assistance projects.

The command post exercise in Palawan aims to increase the AFP’s capability to conduct planning for and execution of bilateral maritime operations.

The field training exercises in the vicinity of Angeles-Clark in Pampanga, include small arms and artillery live-fire training.

They will provide the two forces multiple opportunities to maintain and improve their unit skill sets while sharing best practices and enhancing an already high level of inter-operability.

Phiblex will also involve humanitarian and civic assistance projects in Palawan, such as engineering civic action projects to improve local infrastructure and cooperative health engagements.

It will be a way of sharing medical best practices to meet the medical needs of the people.

All portions of Phiblex will also play a major role in preparation for the large-scale war exercises Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder), which will take place next year.

“Bilateral Philippine-US military training opportunities such as Phiblex 16 sustain our strong foundation of inter-operability and strengthen our working relationships across the range of military operations–from disaster relief to complex expeditionary operations,” the US Embassy in Manila said in a statement.

http://www.manilatimes.net/breaking_news/us-ph-marines-set-sea-drill-off-palawan/

City gov’t offers PHP200,000 reward for swift arrest of Zambo bombing suspects

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): City gov’t offers PHP200,000 reward for swift arrest of Zambo bombing suspects

The local government is offering PHP200,000 cash reward for the swift arrest suspects behind Friday’s bombing of a passenger bus in this city.

Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar made the offer through her social media page after she was informed that a bomb exploded aboard a passenger bus around 2:15 p.m. Friday at a terminal on Tomas Claudio Street, Barangay Zone I, this city.

Salazar is currently out of the country as she is leading an 82-man trade mission delegation to the 12th China-ASEAN Exposition in the northern city of Nanning, China.

The bomb explosion resulted to the death of Fatima Imbraida, 14, of Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte> Thirty-three others were injured.

Salazar said the bombing “is an act of injustice to innocent civilians.”

She said the police and Task Force Zamboanga are taking the lead in investigating “this act of extortion in order to bring justice to the victims of the blast.”

“We call on all bus companies and all other public conveyance to strictly enforce inspection and other security measures,” she said.

The ill-fated bus belongs to D’ Biel Transit Company owned by the family of Councilor Luis Biel III, who is with Salazar and other city government officials in China.

The bus had just arrived and unloaded passengers at the terminal coming from Barangay Labuan, 36 kilometers west of this city.

Meanwhile, acting city Mayor Cesar Iturralde said the local government has mobilized its personnel and resources to assist the victims, especially in their medical needs.

Of the 33 injured, 21 were slightly injured, nine were less serious and three were seriously injured.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=805927

Army, DENR seize illegally cut lumber

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): Army, DENR seize illegally cut lumber

Forest guards and military have seized illegally cut lumber in a joint operation in the upland village of Villa Corazon in Burauen, Leyte.

The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division public affairs office reported that army troops under 78th Infantry Battalion, 53rd Engineering Brigade, Philippine Navy and personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confiscated 1,398 board feet of Lawaan lumber on Wednesday.

Prior to the seizure, the DENR had sought the assistance of military in confiscating the illegally cut lumber. After the operation, lumbers were transported to a DENR property in at the Government Center in Palo, Leyte for custody and proper disposition.

The government is pushing the intensive joint anti-illegal logging operation in a landslide prone province of Southern Leyte. Last month, the operation netted 1,419 board feet of Lawaan lumber.

The accomplishments are results of the Command’s convergence efforts with various stakeholders throughout Eastern Visayas where the Army has set focus more on non-traditional role of assisting other government agencies to enforce laws.

“The 8th Infantry Division (8ID) will continue to support the DENR in implementing its environmental protection programs because this will abate the effects of climate change,” said Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, the 8ID commander.

Through Executive Order No. 23 and Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force Resolution No. 2012-005, the anti-illegal logging efforts were converted from civilian operations into an active military operation.

The military takes the lead in the actual anti-illegal logging operation while the DENR provides personnel and all the necessary technical assistance during the operation.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=805968

Eastern Samar rebel surrenders, yields firearm

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): Eastern Samar rebel surrenders, yields firearm

A member of the New People’s Army (NPA) voluntarily surrendered to the joint elements of the 14th Infantry Battalion and Intelligence Unit at Vigan village in General MacArthur, Eastern Samar.

Col. Perfecto M. Rimando, 801st brigade commander, identified the NPA surrenderee as Romeo Belarmente alias Ogaya, member of section committee southeast of sub regional committee, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC).

The rebel, who yielded one ingram (Shooter brand) and one magazine loaded with 16 ammunitions, surrendered Tuesday night and is now undergoing custodial debriefing.

The surrenderee will avail the Comprehensive Local Social Integration Program (CLIP) wherein he will receive initial Php 15,000 immediate cash assistance and Php 50,000 livelihood assistance after the documentation and livelihood seminar program, which will be facilitated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“The rebel decided to surrender following the realization that fighting the government and enduring hard life in the mountains are a lost cause,” said Maj. Gen. Jet B. Velarmino, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, lauded the effort of the troops in Eastern Samar for a job well done.

Further, he reiterated that surrender is a clear victory for the people of Eastern Samar who yearn for peace and desire to live peacefully and lawfully.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=805967

Palace welcomes passage of Japan's new security laws

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): Palace welcomes passage of Japan's new security laws

Malacanang welcomed the passage of Japan’s National Diet of legislations that would allow Japanese soldiers to fight overseas in defense of their allies.

"We welcome the passage of legislation on national security by Japan’s National Diet," Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a radio interview on Saturday.

"As Japan is our strategic partner, we look forward to efforts to strengthen such to further our mutual goals of greater peace and stability in the international community," he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Asked if President Aquino will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the APEC Leaders’ Summit in November, Lacierda said the foreign affairs department is still finalizing the list of the President's meetings.

President Aquino was reported to be meeting the leader of Vietnam during the summit.

"I don’t have the exact list right now. We will just wait for the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) to make the proper announcement," he said.

Japan's parliament passed contentious security bills into law early Saturday, allowing Japanese troops to fight abroad.

Japanese lawmakers approved the bills to ease restrictions on the country's tightly controlled military, despite mounting opposition as the country drips away from pacifism. Japan has remained a pacifist nation for the last 70 years.

Like the Philippines, Japan has a territorial dispute with China in the East China Sea. The Philippines and Japan, in recent years, have agreed to strengthen military cooperation in the midst of China's aggressive posturing.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=805984

Japanese military forces to take a more active role in regional security - DND

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): Japanese military forces to take a more active role in regional security - DND

The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed the passage of a legislation allowing Japanese military forces to deploy and fight overseas.

DND spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez on Saturday said that the legislation would allow Japan to take a more active role in promoting regional peace and security.

"We welcome the passage of measures that will enable Japan to play a more active role in promoting regional peace and security," Galvez said.

The passage of this legislation would allow the Japanese military to fight overseas for the first time in 70 years and respond to threats against its allies.

After its defeat in World War II, Japan has adopted a pacifist constitution that forbids it to use force in resolving conflicts, except in self-defense.

Japan’s new law, heralding a shift in Japanese defense policy, came amid rising sea tensions between Japan and China on the East China Sea, and Southeast Asian nations like the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia and China off the South China Sea.

The Philippines and Japan have an existing strategic partnership agreement -- Manila’s second after the United States -- that aims to bolster their cooperation on several fronts, including defense and maritime security.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=806014

Troopers file charges against leader, members of human rights group in Surigao Del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): Troopers file charges against leader, members of human rights group in Surigao Del Sur

Three soldiers assigned to the 41st Civil-Military Operations Company filed physical injuries and robbery charges against the leader and members of KARAPATAN in Surigao Del Sur Friday.

Charged were Eliza Rodriquez Panganiban and still unidentified members of her group.

This was disclosed by 4th Infantry Division public affairs office chief Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez.

The charges were in wake of the Sept. 13 incident where Panganiban and her companions allegedly assaulted Sgt. Lomer Ramoso, Pfc. Gregorio Cabason and Pvt. Reymund Siluterio who were then having lunch at a seafood restaurant in Lianga town, Surigao Del Sur.

The attack stemmed from the mistaken belief that the three were members of the Magahat Group reportedly behind the killing of three persons in Barangay Diatagon, also in Lianga town, last Sept. 1.

KARAPATAN members reportedly went for the three troopers and beat them badly.

Other members started grabbing their personal belongings such as cellular phones, wallets, watches, and necklaces.

Police officers from the Lianga Municipal Station then arrived at the scene and rescued the three and brought them to the station for safety.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=806015

Malacanang vows to help 'Lumads' and discourages rebellion

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 19): Malacanang vows to help 'Lumads' and discourages rebellion

The government will continue to address the needs of the Lumads in Mindanao, the Palace said on Saturday, noting that under the present administration, no one will be left behind.

In a radio interview, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said there is a data showing that three out of four rebel returnees in Surigao del Sur are Lumads, which means the area is still gripped by poverty and its people don't get much government support.

"It’s a significant amount, three out of four rebel returnees, it shows that people… You know, if there is no access to resources by some people, they will really resort to extralegal means," Lacierda told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

"We have seen a number of rebel returnees coming back to the fold. It shows that our serbisyo caravan na ginagawa po natin sa ating mga kababayan, sa ating mga kapatid na Lumad, ay nagkakaroon po ng epekto," he said.

With regards to the Lumad killings, Lacierda said there was a crime that happened and it is a law enforcement issue. He said the Philippine National Police is investigating, adding that the armed forces had issued a statement about the incident.

"Maraming mga information ang lumalabas, and may nag-iimbestiga, nandiyan ang PNP. I’m certain that the AFP will lend its support to any investigation on the Lumad killings," Lacierda said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=806008