From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 12): Muslim religious scholars wage ‘ideological war’ vs. extremist groups
BASILAN PROVINCE – Ulama or Muslim religious scholars are waging an ideological war against the spread of radicalism and extremism through a holistic approach in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“We are engaging all sectors to address the spread of religious extremism and radicalism in the country,” said Abdulmuhmin Alyakanie Mujahid, the executive director of the Darul Ifta, or the Fatwa Council of the ARMM.
On June 8, Islamic scholars on the island province of Basilan forged several agreements with the regional and provincial governments, as well as with different agencies, to carry-out “multi approaches” in an effort to stop the spread of extremist ideology.
The effort, Muhajid said, is an offshoot of the Ulama Summit that was held in Cotabato City in May. During the summit, the Ulama issued a declaration against terrorism, saying that “It is Haram (forbidden and unlawful) to use Islam to justify or legitimize violent extremism and terrorism.”
The Ulama also challenged themselves “to reeducate (their) constituents to rediscover Islamic faith for justice, compassion, harmony and peace.”
“It is imperative upon us all to cooperate and collaborate with the stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism in its many forms and manifestations,” the declaration said. Mujahid said they are now proactively engaging all stakeholders to overcome the challenges of extremism as what is happening in Marawi City.
“These extremist groups are using the creed of Islam. As a matter of fact, they are using the so-called 13 doctrines of Islam and citing verses of the Holy Quran in justifying their criminal and inhumane acts. We can’t allow that and we will not allow that. Our call is to fight against violent extremism and terrorism,” Mujahid said.
Alih Aiyub, Secretary-General of the Ulama Council of the Philippines, said what they are employing is multi-disciplinary approaches in “preventing and countering violent extremism.” He said they have identified seven interventions to address the threat.
“Ulama will handle the spiritual aspect to combat terrorism targeting the youth and winning the hearts and minds of those radicalized through sermons in the mosques and other means,” he said.
Aiyub said one of the interventions includes working “with educational institutions to provide a primer, or module, as reference material and train teachers for effective prevention of violent extremism among their students.
“Scholarships will also be provided on skills training for out-of-school youth by tapping the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a partner,” he said.
The effort will include “psychological intervention” such as values formation that will be carried out by local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development targeting the youth sector.
“The program will also have a component for social intervention, which will help mold an individual to be productive and peaceful through trainings. This will also be implemented along with economic intervention such as providing livelihood programs for the youth through government line agencies like the Department of Agriculture and TESDA, among others,” Aiyub said.
Part of the program, he said, is to engage with the security sector to “shield the youth from being recruited” by extremist groups, and “to provide peace and security in the community.” Mujahid said the program will be piloted in Basilan
“We are going to implement it in the different parts of the region. We are piloting this initiative in Basilan. We will conduct an assessment and fine-tune it before implementing it in other provinces,” he said.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman has instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the ARMM to initiate forums for local government officials across the region to understand the complexity of the problem and how to combat it.
“When the masses, the religious leaders, and the political leaders are united to work together for the betterment of our society, we can succeed, In Shaa Allah,” he said.
Gov. Hataman has earlier said that Muslim scholars can contribute in the advocacy against terrorism by educating people about the true teachings of Islam, most especially on the principles of justice, compassion, peace, and harmony. (Bureau of Public Information)
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/muslim-religious-scholars-wage-ideological-war-vs-extremist-groups/
Monday, June 12, 2017
Philippine troops fail anew to liberate war-torn city from ISIS fighters
From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 12): Philippine troops fail anew to liberate war-torn city from ISIS fighters
Philippine troops have failed Monday to liberate Marawi City from the hands of the local ISIS group as fighting continues while the country celebrates its 119th Independence Day.
The military earlier vowed to flush out the militants and liberate the city which has been under ISIS control since May 23 when fighters occupied much of Marawi and took some 240 civilians, including a Catholic priest hostage.
The Independence Day celebration turned emotional as some government workers and soldiers, and even civilians displaced by the violence, silently wept while they sing the national anthem. The sounds of gunfire and bombs dropped from military planes reverberated during the solemn commemoration of the Independence Day.
Military officials offered prayers to soldiers who perished in the war which is now on its third week. Dozens of soldiers and civilians had already been killed in the fighting and with over 260,000 people displaced, there is no sign the ISIS is backing out from the battle despite military pronouncements that it had killed some 160 jihadists.
Soldiers and policemen also took the opportunity to hang replicas of the Philippine flag in areas declared “safe zones” by the authorities as a symbolism of democracy and freedom, but it was unclear when the fighting would stop and for those displaced by the deadly and violent ISIS campaign, all they hoped is for the war to stop and start rebuilding their lives, homes and bring back peace to the 368-year old Maranao city.
ISIS, whose members are mostly from the jihadist Maute group, also released a new video clip where a fighter, who spoke fluent Tagalog – the national language – said the fighting they are waging is not about them, but to the Muslims who are now minority in Mindanao, which was under the rule of the Sultans in the past.
The unidentified militant, an automatic rifle placed in front of him on a wooden table, repeatedly said that Mindanao is now being governed by “Kufar” or unbeliever, and said they are only fighting for freedom forcefully taken away from them. He went on blaming the Kufar for the destruction of Marawi.
The military did not give any statement on the latest ISIS propaganda posted on Facebook, but it said there are still some 400 militants fighting government troops in Marawi, a far cry from previous statement of the Western Mindanao Command that only 15 gunmen had occupied the city.
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/philippine-troops-fail-anew-to-liberate-war-torn-city-from-isis-fighters/
Philippine troops have failed Monday to liberate Marawi City from the hands of the local ISIS group as fighting continues while the country celebrates its 119th Independence Day.
The military earlier vowed to flush out the militants and liberate the city which has been under ISIS control since May 23 when fighters occupied much of Marawi and took some 240 civilians, including a Catholic priest hostage.
The Independence Day celebration turned emotional as some government workers and soldiers, and even civilians displaced by the violence, silently wept while they sing the national anthem. The sounds of gunfire and bombs dropped from military planes reverberated during the solemn commemoration of the Independence Day.
Military officials offered prayers to soldiers who perished in the war which is now on its third week. Dozens of soldiers and civilians had already been killed in the fighting and with over 260,000 people displaced, there is no sign the ISIS is backing out from the battle despite military pronouncements that it had killed some 160 jihadists.
Soldiers and policemen also took the opportunity to hang replicas of the Philippine flag in areas declared “safe zones” by the authorities as a symbolism of democracy and freedom, but it was unclear when the fighting would stop and for those displaced by the deadly and violent ISIS campaign, all they hoped is for the war to stop and start rebuilding their lives, homes and bring back peace to the 368-year old Maranao city.
ISIS, whose members are mostly from the jihadist Maute group, also released a new video clip where a fighter, who spoke fluent Tagalog – the national language – said the fighting they are waging is not about them, but to the Muslims who are now minority in Mindanao, which was under the rule of the Sultans in the past.
The unidentified militant, an automatic rifle placed in front of him on a wooden table, repeatedly said that Mindanao is now being governed by “Kufar” or unbeliever, and said they are only fighting for freedom forcefully taken away from them. He went on blaming the Kufar for the destruction of Marawi.
The military did not give any statement on the latest ISIS propaganda posted on Facebook, but it said there are still some 400 militants fighting government troops in Marawi, a far cry from previous statement of the Western Mindanao Command that only 15 gunmen had occupied the city.
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/philippine-troops-fail-anew-to-liberate-war-torn-city-from-isis-fighters/
Foreign ideology threatens country's freedom: DND chief
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12): Foreign ideology threatens country's freedom: DND chief
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has urged Davaoenos to intensify vigilance as the country's freedom gained 119 years ago is now threatened by foreign ideology such as what is happening in Marawi.
Lorenzana joined the call made by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who asked the people of Davao to stay vigilant always and stand against terrorism in order not to render meaningless the freedom fought by Filipinos against foreign invaders.
Invoking the significance of the 119th Independence Day anniversary celebration Monday at the Rizal Park here, Lorenzana cited Davaoeńos' own fight against different ideology in the 1980's when people rise up to free the city of urban communist vigilantes.
Lorenzana, who represented President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City for the nationwide simultaneous raising of the Philippine flag and the singing of the national anthem, told the people to preserve the freedom gained 119 years ago or the 1980's in modern day generation against foreign ideology.
He hinted to the Maute's Islamist ideology which is now destroying the freedom of the Filipino people. He said that like the President people must protect this freedom for the future generation.
Lorenzana said it is possible that Maute has also invaded other places like Davao because they are slowly escaping the ongoing battle with government forces in Marawi City.
”Dili ta maniguro nga dili kaabot ang ISIS dinhi (We should not be sure that ISIS will not reach here),” Lorenzana said, adding that ISIS might open a new front to create a caliphate.
He reminded that the Maute patriarch, Cayamora Maute, was arrested in Davao. Cayamora, Lorenzana said might have contacts in Davao that is why he came to the city. Cayaomora's wife was also arrested outside of Marawi, he said.
If Davaoenos will not be vigilant, Lorenzana said the time will come when this foreign ideology will also spread in Davao. That is why, he said, it was necessary to declare martial law to cleanse Mindanao of foreign ideology.
In fact, he said, Malaysia and Indonesian defense officials who came to see him last week, even offered to help the government to defeat ISIS or ISIS-inspired groups. He recalled that during the first days of the Marawi battle there were bodies of Malaysian and Indonesian terrorists who fought alongside the Maute group members.
According to Lorenzana, the Maute may have asked the help of foreign terrorists to create a caliphate in the Philippines.
”We must help each other like how you resisted the encroachment of the NPA (New People's Army) in Davao. I call on the people to help government defeat this foreign ideology,” he said.
He underscored the importance of preserving this freedom for the brighter future of the children and a prosperous nation.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994873
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has urged Davaoenos to intensify vigilance as the country's freedom gained 119 years ago is now threatened by foreign ideology such as what is happening in Marawi.
Lorenzana joined the call made by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who asked the people of Davao to stay vigilant always and stand against terrorism in order not to render meaningless the freedom fought by Filipinos against foreign invaders.
Invoking the significance of the 119th Independence Day anniversary celebration Monday at the Rizal Park here, Lorenzana cited Davaoeńos' own fight against different ideology in the 1980's when people rise up to free the city of urban communist vigilantes.
Lorenzana, who represented President Rodrigo Duterte in Davao City for the nationwide simultaneous raising of the Philippine flag and the singing of the national anthem, told the people to preserve the freedom gained 119 years ago or the 1980's in modern day generation against foreign ideology.
He hinted to the Maute's Islamist ideology which is now destroying the freedom of the Filipino people. He said that like the President people must protect this freedom for the future generation.
Lorenzana said it is possible that Maute has also invaded other places like Davao because they are slowly escaping the ongoing battle with government forces in Marawi City.
”Dili ta maniguro nga dili kaabot ang ISIS dinhi (We should not be sure that ISIS will not reach here),” Lorenzana said, adding that ISIS might open a new front to create a caliphate.
He reminded that the Maute patriarch, Cayamora Maute, was arrested in Davao. Cayamora, Lorenzana said might have contacts in Davao that is why he came to the city. Cayaomora's wife was also arrested outside of Marawi, he said.
If Davaoenos will not be vigilant, Lorenzana said the time will come when this foreign ideology will also spread in Davao. That is why, he said, it was necessary to declare martial law to cleanse Mindanao of foreign ideology.
In fact, he said, Malaysia and Indonesian defense officials who came to see him last week, even offered to help the government to defeat ISIS or ISIS-inspired groups. He recalled that during the first days of the Marawi battle there were bodies of Malaysian and Indonesian terrorists who fought alongside the Maute group members.
According to Lorenzana, the Maute may have asked the help of foreign terrorists to create a caliphate in the Philippines.
”We must help each other like how you resisted the encroachment of the NPA (New People's Army) in Davao. I call on the people to help government defeat this foreign ideology,” he said.
He underscored the importance of preserving this freedom for the brighter future of the children and a prosperous nation.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994873
Gov't has sufficient funds for military, police, recovery of Marawi City – DBM chief
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12): Gov't has sufficient funds for military, police, recovery of Marawi City – DBM chief
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno has assured that government has enough funds for the military and police in support to the fight against terror and crackdown operations against criminality launched by extremist and lawless groups.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno said, “as of now, we do not have to change the budget as we have many sources where we can draw funds,” to provide logistical support in the military operations.
He also said that there are funds that can help finance the recovery of Marawi City which is devastated in the clashes between the military and Maute terrorist group and their sympathizers.
Diokno assured that “the next budget would also include funds for the recovery and rehabilitation of the devastated Islamic city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur.
“It is vital for our government to maintain and sustain peace and order in our land as President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized, as this is the primary factor the country has to prioritize to achieve development,” he said.
The DBM Secretary said that they recently received briefing from AFP Brigadier General Padilla that the soldiers have intensified their operations to wipe out the Maute terrorist members.
The military briefing also assured that there was a big chance the AFP could liberate Marawi City on Monday, coinciding with the country’s “119th Independence Day” observance.
“Once peace is restored in Marawi, the programs and projects are just there waiting for these developments to take place in the city,” Diokno assured.
He mentioned the PAMANA Program or the “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” (a program towards a peaceful and prosperous community) with a national budget of Php 8.1 billion this year.
The program aims to provide development assistance to include infrastructures in the community, electrification in offices and residential areas, roads and highways, irrigation for rice fields and other services.
Diokno reiterated the message of the celebration as “independence from poverty, criminality and facing the challenges in generating jobs and employment for our people.”
He also stressed that “the Philippines is the fastest growing country in the fastest growing region in the world.”
He urged every Filipino to help, cooperate and be united so we can solve the problems and the areas of concern.
The Budget Secretary also said he will await the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition by the Calabarzon local government units (LGUs) through Regional Development Council (RDC) endorsement for the automatic release of LGUs share in the National Revenue Taxes Contribution to Inter-Agency Planning Group (IPG) Fund.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994918
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno has assured that government has enough funds for the military and police in support to the fight against terror and crackdown operations against criminality launched by extremist and lawless groups.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno said, “as of now, we do not have to change the budget as we have many sources where we can draw funds,” to provide logistical support in the military operations.
He also said that there are funds that can help finance the recovery of Marawi City which is devastated in the clashes between the military and Maute terrorist group and their sympathizers.
Diokno assured that “the next budget would also include funds for the recovery and rehabilitation of the devastated Islamic city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur.
“It is vital for our government to maintain and sustain peace and order in our land as President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized, as this is the primary factor the country has to prioritize to achieve development,” he said.
The DBM Secretary said that they recently received briefing from AFP Brigadier General Padilla that the soldiers have intensified their operations to wipe out the Maute terrorist members.
The military briefing also assured that there was a big chance the AFP could liberate Marawi City on Monday, coinciding with the country’s “119th Independence Day” observance.
“Once peace is restored in Marawi, the programs and projects are just there waiting for these developments to take place in the city,” Diokno assured.
He mentioned the PAMANA Program or the “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” (a program towards a peaceful and prosperous community) with a national budget of Php 8.1 billion this year.
The program aims to provide development assistance to include infrastructures in the community, electrification in offices and residential areas, roads and highways, irrigation for rice fields and other services.
Diokno reiterated the message of the celebration as “independence from poverty, criminality and facing the challenges in generating jobs and employment for our people.”
He also stressed that “the Philippines is the fastest growing country in the fastest growing region in the world.”
He urged every Filipino to help, cooperate and be united so we can solve the problems and the areas of concern.
The Budget Secretary also said he will await the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition by the Calabarzon local government units (LGUs) through Regional Development Council (RDC) endorsement for the automatic release of LGUs share in the National Revenue Taxes Contribution to Inter-Agency Planning Group (IPG) Fund.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994918
Body of young rebel killed in Army-NPA clash found
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 13): Body of young rebel killed in Army-NPA clash found
Army troops conducting hot pursuit operation against the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels found the body of a young rebel killed during the Sunday encounter with the government forces in Paquibato District in this city.
Major Ezra Balagtey, chief of information of Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said the body has been retrieved and identified after it was turned over by unidentified persons to the Barangay Captain of Paradise Embac, Paquibato on Monday, June 12.
Elements of 16th Infantry Battalion, while responding to reports that an undetermined number of rebels were consolidating in Sitio Bajada in Paradise Embac early morning on Sunday.
In the encounter, two soldiers were killed and six other were wounded during the encounter.
Balagtey identified the young rebel killed as John Paul Satoqiua Cabase, alias Joshua, 17 years old and a resident of Sitio Quarry, Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District, this city.
“He was identified and claimed by his cousin Arden Gallardo Garcia of the same sitio. Garcia also confirmed that Joshua is a member of the communist terrorist NPA,” Balagtey said.
After the encounter, the government troopers recovered an M653 Colt AR18 with serial number 127538 with one magazine long, two jungle bags, one civilian bag, electrical wire and other belongings.
Major Gen. Noel Clement, Commander of Joint Task Haribon condemned the NPA for using minors in their armed struggle.
"We condemn the NPAs of using minors in their struggle. It contradicts their claim as human rights protectors,” Clement said.
He also challenged the NPA to spare the children and allow them to explore their potentials in school and not in a terrorist armed group that encourages violence.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/995024
Army troops conducting hot pursuit operation against the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels found the body of a young rebel killed during the Sunday encounter with the government forces in Paquibato District in this city.
Major Ezra Balagtey, chief of information of Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), said the body has been retrieved and identified after it was turned over by unidentified persons to the Barangay Captain of Paradise Embac, Paquibato on Monday, June 12.
Elements of 16th Infantry Battalion, while responding to reports that an undetermined number of rebels were consolidating in Sitio Bajada in Paradise Embac early morning on Sunday.
In the encounter, two soldiers were killed and six other were wounded during the encounter.
Balagtey identified the young rebel killed as John Paul Satoqiua Cabase, alias Joshua, 17 years old and a resident of Sitio Quarry, Barangay Malabog, Paquibato District, this city.
“He was identified and claimed by his cousin Arden Gallardo Garcia of the same sitio. Garcia also confirmed that Joshua is a member of the communist terrorist NPA,” Balagtey said.
After the encounter, the government troopers recovered an M653 Colt AR18 with serial number 127538 with one magazine long, two jungle bags, one civilian bag, electrical wire and other belongings.
Major Gen. Noel Clement, Commander of Joint Task Haribon condemned the NPA for using minors in their armed struggle.
"We condemn the NPAs of using minors in their struggle. It contradicts their claim as human rights protectors,” Clement said.
He also challenged the NPA to spare the children and allow them to explore their potentials in school and not in a terrorist armed group that encourages violence.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/995024
Rebel surrenderers receive gov't cash aid
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 13): Rebel surrenderers receive gov't cash aid
Four members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who voluntarily surrendered to the military in Davao del Norte have received cash assistance through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the government.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, chief of the information office of the Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, said the cash assistance was handed over by Gov. Anthony del Rosario to the former rebels at the Provincial Capitol Compound on Tuesday in Tagum City
Each of the four rebels received PHP65,000.00 immediate cash and livelihood assistance, Batchar added.
The voluntary surrender of the four former rebels was facilitated by the 60th Infantry (Mediator) Battalion, the 68th Infantry (Kaagapay) Battalion and the 10th CMO Battalion, under the 10th ID.
“Custodial debriefing reports of surrendering rebels reveal that the government’s CLIP program is among the significant factors they consider in their decisions to return to the folds of the law rather than continue in the NPA’s armed struggle,” Batchar pointed out.
He added that since the lifting of the ceasefire last February 4, over 30 rebels have already voluntarily surrendered to authorities.
In his message during the turn-over ceremony, Gov. Del Rosario told the former rebels to make the most out of their new life and utilize their money wisely.
The former rebels expressed gratitude to the governor and the AFP for the opportunity and by helping them to become productive members of their respective communities.
The 60th IB commander, Lt. Col. Emmanuel A Canilla also made a call to the remaining NPA rebels in Davao del Norte and the rest of the region to heed the government’s call for peace, lay down their arms and avail government support and programs through CLIP.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/995023
Four members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who voluntarily surrendered to the military in Davao del Norte have received cash assistance through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) of the government.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, chief of the information office of the Army’s 10th Infantry (Agila) Division, said the cash assistance was handed over by Gov. Anthony del Rosario to the former rebels at the Provincial Capitol Compound on Tuesday in Tagum City
Each of the four rebels received PHP65,000.00 immediate cash and livelihood assistance, Batchar added.
The voluntary surrender of the four former rebels was facilitated by the 60th Infantry (Mediator) Battalion, the 68th Infantry (Kaagapay) Battalion and the 10th CMO Battalion, under the 10th ID.
“Custodial debriefing reports of surrendering rebels reveal that the government’s CLIP program is among the significant factors they consider in their decisions to return to the folds of the law rather than continue in the NPA’s armed struggle,” Batchar pointed out.
He added that since the lifting of the ceasefire last February 4, over 30 rebels have already voluntarily surrendered to authorities.
In his message during the turn-over ceremony, Gov. Del Rosario told the former rebels to make the most out of their new life and utilize their money wisely.
The former rebels expressed gratitude to the governor and the AFP for the opportunity and by helping them to become productive members of their respective communities.
The 60th IB commander, Lt. Col. Emmanuel A Canilla also made a call to the remaining NPA rebels in Davao del Norte and the rest of the region to heed the government’s call for peace, lay down their arms and avail government support and programs through CLIP.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/995023
Kin of fallen Marines in Marawi City to get benefits worth PHP700,000
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 13): Kin of fallen Marines in Marawi City to get benefits worth PHP700,000
Families and loved ones of Marine troopers who were killed while trying to clear Marawi City of the remaining Maute Group terrorists are set to receive PHP700,000 worth of benefits.
This was disclosed by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in a message to the PNA Tuesday when asked what benefits the survivors of the 13 fallen Marine troops will be getting from the military organization.
These include benefits from the PN Assistance System, free burial services from the St. Peter Life Plan, Marines Assistance and Special Financial Assistance.
These will total PHP700,000 per family, Lincuna added.
"Total of around PHP700,000 will be immediately received," he stressed.
As of this posting, there are 58 government troops confirmed death and around 120 wounded in the fighting which is now entering its fourth week.
The conflict started when government forces tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader and ISIS 'emir' in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, last May 23.
Thirteen of the recent losses were Marine troopers who were killed in a major engagement which lasted for some 14 hours, erupted between Marine units and Maute Group terrorists at Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City Friday.
Fighting started 3:30 a.m. and ended 5 p.m. of June 9. Around 40 were also reported wounded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/995017
Families and loved ones of Marine troopers who were killed while trying to clear Marawi City of the remaining Maute Group terrorists are set to receive PHP700,000 worth of benefits.
This was disclosed by Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in a message to the PNA Tuesday when asked what benefits the survivors of the 13 fallen Marine troops will be getting from the military organization.
These include benefits from the PN Assistance System, free burial services from the St. Peter Life Plan, Marines Assistance and Special Financial Assistance.
These will total PHP700,000 per family, Lincuna added.
"Total of around PHP700,000 will be immediately received," he stressed.
As of this posting, there are 58 government troops confirmed death and around 120 wounded in the fighting which is now entering its fourth week.
The conflict started when government forces tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader and ISIS 'emir' in Southeast Asia, Isnilon Hapilon, last May 23.
Thirteen of the recent losses were Marine troopers who were killed in a major engagement which lasted for some 14 hours, erupted between Marine units and Maute Group terrorists at Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City Friday.
Fighting started 3:30 a.m. and ended 5 p.m. of June 9. Around 40 were also reported wounded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/995017
Who are the Maute brothers?
From TRT World (Jun 12): Who are the Maute brothers?
Philippines troops continue to fight the pro-Daesh Maute group in Marawi City on southern Mindanao island. The siege in the Muslim-majority city in a Catholic-majority country has now entered its third week.
A soldier inside part of Marawi City where Maute group members are holding out on Mindanao Island, The Philippines, May 29, 2017.
Omarkhayam Romato Maute and Abdullah Maute are the brothers leading the militant group named after them which has laid siege to Marawi City in the Philippines.
The group declared allegiance to Daesh in 2014. Marawi City is a Muslim majority city and the largest in Lanao del Sur province on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines, a predominantly Christian (Catholic) country.
Here is what we know about them so far.
Who are the Maute brothers?
Omarkhayam is a "walking time-bomb" or so he describes himself on his Facebook page.
The two brothers grew up with several other brothers and sisters in Marawi City.
As teenagers in the 1990s, they seemed like ordinary young men, a neighbour of the Maute family said. The brothers studied English and the Koran, and played basketball in the streets. In the early 2000s, Omarkhayam and Abdullah studied in Egypt and Jordan, respectively, where they became fluent in Arabic.
Omarkhayam went to Al Azhar University in Cairo and in 2011 he settled back in Mindanao.
In Cairo "none of his fellow students saw him as having any radical tendencies at all, and photographs show a young man enchanted by his baby daughters and playing with the growing family by the Red Sea," Jakarta-based anti-terrorism expert Sidney Jones wrote in a 2016 report.
He said the Maute group has "the smartest, best-educated and most sophisticated members" of all the pro-Daesh outfits in the Philippines.
Little is known about Abdullah's life after he went to Jordan, and it is not clear when he returned to Lanao del Sur.
A man identified by Philippines Intelligence officers as Abdullah Maute is seen in this still image taken from video released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, June 7, 2017. (Reuters)
Why is Maute making the media rounds?
On May 23, the two brothers led a band of militants who overran Marawi City after the government tried to arrest Isnilon Hapilon of Abu Sayyaf.
Known for kidnappings, Abu Sayyaf has fought since the 1990s for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines and Hapilon was last year declared by Daesh as its Southeast Asia "emir."
Hapilon was seen in a video that emerged last week showing militants – including the Maute brothers – plotting to seal Marawi City off as a separate enclave.
The occupation of Marawi City by Maute, a group hardly heard of a year ago, has become the biggest security challenge of President Rodrigo Duterte's 11-month presidency. The militants have resisted air and ground assaults and control central parts of the city, which ahead of the siege had a population of 200,000. Most of them have since fled.
Daesh claimed responsibility for the occupation and subsequent rampage through the city on its Amaq news agency.
President Duterte declared martial law on Mindanao island and sent in the military to end the siege, now entering its third week.
Duterte defended his decision to declare martial law as necessary to prevent the spread of extremism in the impoverished region.
Who is the "heart of the Maute organisation"?
The mother.
According to a neighbour, Farhana Maute, who ran furniture and used-car businesses, helped finance the group. She reportedly drove recruitment and radicalisation of local youths.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera said the Maranao clan, to which the Mautes belong, has a matriarchal tradition, and so their mother plays a central role in her sons' lives.
On Friday, she was stopped outside Marawi in a vehicle loaded with firearms and explosives and taken into custody. It was a major blow for the militants, according to Herrera, as she was the "heart of the Maute organisation."
The brothers' father Cayamora Maute, an engineer, was arrested 250 kilometres (155 miles) away in Davao City, on Thursday.
Regional police believe he can influence his sons to stop the fighting.
How do they recruit?
Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, a local civic leader who knows some of the extended Maute family, said the brothers rely heavily on social media to recruit young followers and spread their "rigid and authoritarian" ideology.
"The Mautes are very active online. They upload their ideas on YouTube," she said. "They are articulate, they are educated, they are idealistic."
The military's social media-monitoring team identified 63 accounts under fake names that it believed were being used by the Maute group and its sympathisers.
Marawi City as government troops continue their assault on insurgents from the Maute group, June 1, 2017. (Reuters)
Why Marawi City?
Marawi City historically is the centre of Islam on Mindanao, a sprawling island where violent resistance to authority has been a tradition since the era of Spanish colonialism. This was further spurred in recent decades by poverty and the neglect of successive governments.
Herrera said the Maute brothers enjoy strong support in Marawi City.
"This is their place, this is where their family is, this is where their culture is, this is where the heritage is. There is a huge sympathetic perspective towards the ... Maute," he said.
http://www.trtworld.com/asia/who-are-the-maute-brothers-377774
Philippines troops continue to fight the pro-Daesh Maute group in Marawi City on southern Mindanao island. The siege in the Muslim-majority city in a Catholic-majority country has now entered its third week.
A soldier inside part of Marawi City where Maute group members are holding out on Mindanao Island, The Philippines, May 29, 2017.
Omarkhayam Romato Maute and Abdullah Maute are the brothers leading the militant group named after them which has laid siege to Marawi City in the Philippines.
The group declared allegiance to Daesh in 2014. Marawi City is a Muslim majority city and the largest in Lanao del Sur province on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines, a predominantly Christian (Catholic) country.
Here is what we know about them so far.
Who are the Maute brothers?
Omarkhayam is a "walking time-bomb" or so he describes himself on his Facebook page.
The two brothers grew up with several other brothers and sisters in Marawi City.
As teenagers in the 1990s, they seemed like ordinary young men, a neighbour of the Maute family said. The brothers studied English and the Koran, and played basketball in the streets. In the early 2000s, Omarkhayam and Abdullah studied in Egypt and Jordan, respectively, where they became fluent in Arabic.
Omarkhayam went to Al Azhar University in Cairo and in 2011 he settled back in Mindanao.
In Cairo "none of his fellow students saw him as having any radical tendencies at all, and photographs show a young man enchanted by his baby daughters and playing with the growing family by the Red Sea," Jakarta-based anti-terrorism expert Sidney Jones wrote in a 2016 report.
He said the Maute group has "the smartest, best-educated and most sophisticated members" of all the pro-Daesh outfits in the Philippines.
Little is known about Abdullah's life after he went to Jordan, and it is not clear when he returned to Lanao del Sur.
A man identified by Philippines Intelligence officers as Abdullah Maute is seen in this still image taken from video released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, June 7, 2017. (Reuters)
Why is Maute making the media rounds?
On May 23, the two brothers led a band of militants who overran Marawi City after the government tried to arrest Isnilon Hapilon of Abu Sayyaf.
Known for kidnappings, Abu Sayyaf has fought since the 1990s for an independent Islamic province in the Philippines and Hapilon was last year declared by Daesh as its Southeast Asia "emir."
Hapilon was seen in a video that emerged last week showing militants – including the Maute brothers – plotting to seal Marawi City off as a separate enclave.
The occupation of Marawi City by Maute, a group hardly heard of a year ago, has become the biggest security challenge of President Rodrigo Duterte's 11-month presidency. The militants have resisted air and ground assaults and control central parts of the city, which ahead of the siege had a population of 200,000. Most of them have since fled.
Daesh claimed responsibility for the occupation and subsequent rampage through the city on its Amaq news agency.
President Duterte declared martial law on Mindanao island and sent in the military to end the siege, now entering its third week.
Duterte defended his decision to declare martial law as necessary to prevent the spread of extremism in the impoverished region.
Who is the "heart of the Maute organisation"?
The mother.
According to a neighbour, Farhana Maute, who ran furniture and used-car businesses, helped finance the group. She reportedly drove recruitment and radicalisation of local youths.
Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera said the Maranao clan, to which the Mautes belong, has a matriarchal tradition, and so their mother plays a central role in her sons' lives.
On Friday, she was stopped outside Marawi in a vehicle loaded with firearms and explosives and taken into custody. It was a major blow for the militants, according to Herrera, as she was the "heart of the Maute organisation."
The brothers' father Cayamora Maute, an engineer, was arrested 250 kilometres (155 miles) away in Davao City, on Thursday.
Regional police believe he can influence his sons to stop the fighting.
How do they recruit?
Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, a local civic leader who knows some of the extended Maute family, said the brothers rely heavily on social media to recruit young followers and spread their "rigid and authoritarian" ideology.
"The Mautes are very active online. They upload their ideas on YouTube," she said. "They are articulate, they are educated, they are idealistic."
The military's social media-monitoring team identified 63 accounts under fake names that it believed were being used by the Maute group and its sympathisers.
Marawi City as government troops continue their assault on insurgents from the Maute group, June 1, 2017. (Reuters)
Why Marawi City?
Marawi City historically is the centre of Islam on Mindanao, a sprawling island where violent resistance to authority has been a tradition since the era of Spanish colonialism. This was further spurred in recent decades by poverty and the neglect of successive governments.
Herrera said the Maute brothers enjoy strong support in Marawi City.
"This is their place, this is where their family is, this is where their culture is, this is where the heritage is. There is a huge sympathetic perspective towards the ... Maute," he said.
http://www.trtworld.com/asia/who-are-the-maute-brothers-377774
OSG shares intel with SC: AFP knew of Maute-Hapilon plot vs Marawi on May 18
From InterAksyon (Jun 12): OSG shares intel with SC: AFP knew of Maute-Hapilon plot vs Marawi on May 18
Still image capture from video obtained by News5 depicting the planning stages for the assault on Marawi City.
The government knew from intelligence reports on May 18 that the Maute Group had a plan to attack Marawi city and raise the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the provincial capitol.
Armed with such information which was later validated in a video – showing Isnilon Hapilon meeting with the Maute brothers – seized by government troops from a house in Marawi recently, State forces moved to serve a warrant of arrest on Hapilon after he was spotted in a house in Marawi on May 23.
That operation to get him prompted the Maute-led forces to “prematurely” set in motion the siege of Marawi on May 23, though the strength and stealth of the terrorists in that premature execution did not seem to indicate any lack of planning.
These were among the key details of the information known to government which became the core basis for the declaration of martial law, as laid out Monday before the Supreme Court by the Office of the Solicitor General.
The OSG, as instructed at the weekend by the SC, submitted Monday a consolidated comment on the seven petitions filed against the martial law declaration in Mindanao. The OSG consolidated comment was sought ahead of the oral arguments on the petitions set by the high tribunal from June 13 to 15.
“On 23 May 2017, Hapilon was seen at the safe house of the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups in Barangay Basak Malutlut, Marawi City.
“A joint military and police operation to serve a warrant of arrest and to capture Hapilon and the Maute Group operational leaders for kidnapping for ransom was initiated. The focused military operation started with an encounter at about 1:30 in the afternoon between government forces and ISIS-inspired local rebel group members. This was followed by a series of encounters throughout the day in different parts of Marawi City,” said a portion of the submission by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who also asked the court and the public to support President Rodrigo Duterte in defending the republic against terrorists.
Siege started 3 days earlier than planned
While the siege of Marawi started May 23, having been set in motion as a response to the government efforts to get Hapilon – dubbed the ISIS’ emir for Southeast Asia – the actual takeover was really set for May 26, according to government intelligence.
“The ISIS-inspired local rebel groups had intended to burn down the entire city of Marawi on the day of Ramadan, or on 26 May 2017. The said attack would have served as the precursor for other rebel groups to stage their own uprisings across Mindanao in a bid to simultaneously establish a wilayah in the region. However, the planned attack by the rebels was foiled when government troops attempted to serve the warrant on 23 May 2017. This forced the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups to prematurely execute their planned siege of Marawi,” added the OSG report to the SC.
The OSG acknowledged that the government was also shocked by the sheer strength of the extremists, despite their having been forced by circumstance to advance their occupation plan by three days.
“The rebel groups launched an overwhelming and unexpected offensive against government troops. Multitudes numbering about five hundred (500) armed men marched along the main streets of Marawi and swiftly occupied strategic positions throughout the city. Snipers positioned themselves atop buildings and began shooting at government troops. The ISIS-inspired local rebel groups were also equipped with rocket-propelled grenades (“RPG”) and ammunition for high-powered assault rifles,” said the OSG.
The ISIS-inspired local rebel groups occupied the Philhealth Office and Salam Hospital in Barangay Lilod. They burned three (3) buildings: the Marawi City Jail, Landbank Moncado Branch, and Senator Ninoy Aquino Foundation College. They also kidnapped and killed innocent civilians. In their rampage, the rebel groups brandished the black ISIS flag and hoisted it in the locations that they occupied.
Maute’s orders: bomb Marawi, Iligan, CDO
According to the OSG, intelligence reports received by the AFP had indicated that Abdullah Maute, one of the two Maute brothers with whom Hapilon had partnered his Abu Sayyaf units in order to carry out the ISIS mandate, had sent orders to his men as early as April 17, 2017. Maute told his men in Marawi, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities to undertake a campaign of bombings, carjackings and the killing of soldiers and policemen.
Last weekend, President Duterte and AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said Hapilon was directed by ISIS Middle East head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to set up an IS base in the Philippines, as part of the terror group’s long-term goal of setting up a caliphate in Southeast Asia.
Owing to the military offensives “which involved a combination of ground assaults and airstrikes” in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur from April 22-25,2017, the rebels under Hapilon were prompted to move to Marawi City.
In early May 2017, military assets spotted Hapilon in Marawi City.
“Military forces spotted Hapilon in Marawi City sometime in early May 2017. Specifically, on 18 May 2017, intelligence reports revealed that the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups were planning to occupy Marawi City, and to raise the ISIS flag at the provincial capitol. This intelligence report was confirmed through a video recovered by government forces in the lairs of the Maute Group during the course of their military operation on 23 May 2017. The video shows the ASG and Maute Group leaders planning their attack of Marawi City.”
http://www.interaksyon.com/osg-shares-intel-with-sc-afp-knew-of-maute-hapilon-plot-vs-marawi-on-may-18/
Still image capture from video obtained by News5 depicting the planning stages for the assault on Marawi City.
The government knew from intelligence reports on May 18 that the Maute Group had a plan to attack Marawi city and raise the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the provincial capitol.
Armed with such information which was later validated in a video – showing Isnilon Hapilon meeting with the Maute brothers – seized by government troops from a house in Marawi recently, State forces moved to serve a warrant of arrest on Hapilon after he was spotted in a house in Marawi on May 23.
That operation to get him prompted the Maute-led forces to “prematurely” set in motion the siege of Marawi on May 23, though the strength and stealth of the terrorists in that premature execution did not seem to indicate any lack of planning.
These were among the key details of the information known to government which became the core basis for the declaration of martial law, as laid out Monday before the Supreme Court by the Office of the Solicitor General.
The OSG, as instructed at the weekend by the SC, submitted Monday a consolidated comment on the seven petitions filed against the martial law declaration in Mindanao. The OSG consolidated comment was sought ahead of the oral arguments on the petitions set by the high tribunal from June 13 to 15.
“On 23 May 2017, Hapilon was seen at the safe house of the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups in Barangay Basak Malutlut, Marawi City.
“A joint military and police operation to serve a warrant of arrest and to capture Hapilon and the Maute Group operational leaders for kidnapping for ransom was initiated. The focused military operation started with an encounter at about 1:30 in the afternoon between government forces and ISIS-inspired local rebel group members. This was followed by a series of encounters throughout the day in different parts of Marawi City,” said a portion of the submission by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who also asked the court and the public to support President Rodrigo Duterte in defending the republic against terrorists.
Siege started 3 days earlier than planned
While the siege of Marawi started May 23, having been set in motion as a response to the government efforts to get Hapilon – dubbed the ISIS’ emir for Southeast Asia – the actual takeover was really set for May 26, according to government intelligence.
“The ISIS-inspired local rebel groups had intended to burn down the entire city of Marawi on the day of Ramadan, or on 26 May 2017. The said attack would have served as the precursor for other rebel groups to stage their own uprisings across Mindanao in a bid to simultaneously establish a wilayah in the region. However, the planned attack by the rebels was foiled when government troops attempted to serve the warrant on 23 May 2017. This forced the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups to prematurely execute their planned siege of Marawi,” added the OSG report to the SC.
The OSG acknowledged that the government was also shocked by the sheer strength of the extremists, despite their having been forced by circumstance to advance their occupation plan by three days.
“The rebel groups launched an overwhelming and unexpected offensive against government troops. Multitudes numbering about five hundred (500) armed men marched along the main streets of Marawi and swiftly occupied strategic positions throughout the city. Snipers positioned themselves atop buildings and began shooting at government troops. The ISIS-inspired local rebel groups were also equipped with rocket-propelled grenades (“RPG”) and ammunition for high-powered assault rifles,” said the OSG.
The ISIS-inspired local rebel groups occupied the Philhealth Office and Salam Hospital in Barangay Lilod. They burned three (3) buildings: the Marawi City Jail, Landbank Moncado Branch, and Senator Ninoy Aquino Foundation College. They also kidnapped and killed innocent civilians. In their rampage, the rebel groups brandished the black ISIS flag and hoisted it in the locations that they occupied.
Maute’s orders: bomb Marawi, Iligan, CDO
According to the OSG, intelligence reports received by the AFP had indicated that Abdullah Maute, one of the two Maute brothers with whom Hapilon had partnered his Abu Sayyaf units in order to carry out the ISIS mandate, had sent orders to his men as early as April 17, 2017. Maute told his men in Marawi, Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities to undertake a campaign of bombings, carjackings and the killing of soldiers and policemen.
Last weekend, President Duterte and AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said Hapilon was directed by ISIS Middle East head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to set up an IS base in the Philippines, as part of the terror group’s long-term goal of setting up a caliphate in Southeast Asia.
Owing to the military offensives “which involved a combination of ground assaults and airstrikes” in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur from April 22-25,2017, the rebels under Hapilon were prompted to move to Marawi City.
In early May 2017, military assets spotted Hapilon in Marawi City.
“Military forces spotted Hapilon in Marawi City sometime in early May 2017. Specifically, on 18 May 2017, intelligence reports revealed that the ISIS-inspired local rebel groups were planning to occupy Marawi City, and to raise the ISIS flag at the provincial capitol. This intelligence report was confirmed through a video recovered by government forces in the lairs of the Maute Group during the course of their military operation on 23 May 2017. The video shows the ASG and Maute Group leaders planning their attack of Marawi City.”
http://www.interaksyon.com/osg-shares-intel-with-sc-afp-knew-of-maute-hapilon-plot-vs-marawi-on-may-18/
Mama Maute faces rebellion raps
From the Philippine Star (Jun 13): Mama Maute faces rebellion raps
The Department of Justice has started inquest proceedings for rebellion against Ominta Romato-Maute, alias Farhana, and 11 others in connection with the Marawi City siege. File
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started inquest proceedings for rebellion against Ominta Romato-Maute, alias Farhana, and 11 others in connection with the Marawi City siege.
Farhana is the mother of Maute group founders Omar and Abdullah.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started inquest proceedings for rebellion against Ominta Romato-Maute, alias Farhana, and 11 others in connection with the Marawi City siege.
Farhana is the mother of Maute group founders Omar and Abdullah.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the suspects were expected yesterday to face a four-member panel of prosecutors at Camp Evangelista in Barangay Patag in this city.
The suspects will be charged with rebellion, Aguirre said, adding that after the inquest proceedings, high-risk detainees would be transferred to Metro Manila for security reasons.
Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said security has been tightened around the camp where the headquarters of the 4th ID is located.
Farhana was reportedly spotted in the city on the first day of the siege, prompting authorities to include her in the rebellion charges.
The defense department has ordered the arrest of 310 alleged members, supporters, spies and couriers of terrorist groups in Mindanao.
Farhana was arrested on Friday in Masiu, Lanao del Sur, along with several others.
Reports said the group tried to escape as government troops continued to pound the city’s downtown area, where the Maute terrorists were believed to be holed up.
Police found several firearms and improvised explosive devices on Farhana and her companions.
Also facing charges is former Marawi mayor Fajad Salic, who was arrested at a checkpoint in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental on June 7.
Last week, authorities nabbed Farhana’s husband and Maute patriarch Cayamora at a checkpoint in Davao City.
Cayamora is detained along with several other suspects at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, where he is considered a high-risk prisoner.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesman Senior Insp. Xavier Solda refused to reveal the location of the cell where Cayamora is held.
“Definitely, he will have companions in the cell since we don’t have exclusive facility for a lone inmate,” Solda said.
The panel of prosecutors included Merlynn Uy of Cagayan de Oro, Eduardo Cueto of Iligan, Chuchi Azis of Misamis Oriental and Lilian Doris Alejo of the DOJ main office.
On orders of President Duterte, Aguirre flew in from Manila to ensure that the inquest and preliminary investigation on the suspected members of the Maute group would proceed smoothly.
Duterte wanted to ensure that the panel of prosecutors is sufficient to handle the cases.
Aguirre said he would ask the Supreme Court (SC) to transfer either to the Visayas or Metro Manila the hearing of the rebellion charges against Farhana and her co-accused.
Last week, the high tribunal designated the Cagayan de Oro regional trial court to handle the cases filed against the Maute terrorists and their supporters, and Camp Evangelista for detention.
Resources sought
Aguirre yesterday asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy to provide Camp Evangelista with resources for the detained Maute terrorists and their supporters.
The suspects will be charged with rebellion, Aguirre said, adding that after the inquest proceedings, high-risk detainees would be transferred to Metro Manila for security reasons.
Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said security has been tightened around the camp where the headquarters of the 4th ID is located.
Farhana was reportedly spotted in the city on the first day of the siege, prompting authorities to include her in the rebellion charges.
The defense department has ordered the arrest of 310 alleged members, supporters, spies and couriers of terrorist groups in Mindanao.
Farhana was arrested on Friday in Masiu, Lanao del Sur, along with several others.
Reports said the group tried to escape as government troops continued to pound the city’s downtown area, where the Maute terrorists were believed to be holed up.
Police found several firearms and improvised explosive devices on Farhana and her companions.
Also facing charges is former Marawi mayor Fajad Salic, who was arrested at a checkpoint in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental on June 7.
Last week, authorities nabbed Farhana’s husband and Maute patriarch Cayamora at a checkpoint in Davao City.
Cayamora is detained along with several other suspects at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, where he is considered a high-risk prisoner.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesman Senior Insp. Xavier Solda refused to reveal the location of the cell where Cayamora is held.
“Definitely, he will have companions in the cell since we don’t have exclusive facility for a lone inmate,” Solda said.
The panel of prosecutors included Merlynn Uy of Cagayan de Oro, Eduardo Cueto of Iligan, Chuchi Azis of Misamis Oriental and Lilian Doris Alejo of the DOJ main office.
On orders of President Duterte, Aguirre flew in from Manila to ensure that the inquest and preliminary investigation on the suspected members of the Maute group would proceed smoothly.
Duterte wanted to ensure that the panel of prosecutors is sufficient to handle the cases.
Aguirre said he would ask the Supreme Court (SC) to transfer either to the Visayas or Metro Manila the hearing of the rebellion charges against Farhana and her co-accused.
Last week, the high tribunal designated the Cagayan de Oro regional trial court to handle the cases filed against the Maute terrorists and their supporters, and Camp Evangelista for detention.
Resources sought
Aguirre yesterday asked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy to provide Camp Evangelista with resources for the detained Maute terrorists and their supporters.
Body of 17-yr-old suspected NPA rebel recovered – military
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun 12): Body of 17-yr-old suspected NPA rebel recovered – military
DAVAO CITY – The body of a 17-year-old alleged communist guerrilla was recovered on Monday, a day after a clash with government troops and New People’s Army rebels in an upland village here, military officials said.
Maj. Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said a relative identified the slain insurgent as John Paul Cabase alias Joshua.
Cabase, a resident of Sitio (sub-village) Quarry, Malabog, Paquibato district, was the lone fatality from the NPA side during a firefight with soldiers from the Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion at nearby Sitio Bajada, Paradise Embac village, also in Paquibato district on Sunday morning.
Unidentified persons had turned Cabase’s body to the village chair of Paradise Embac and a relative came forward to identify and claim it.
Balagtey said the 16th IB, which was responding to reports about a group of rebels massing outside the village, lost two soldiers in the fighting.
Six other government troops were also wounded and are now undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Maj. General Noel Clement, commander of the army’s Joint Task Force Haribon, slammed the communists for using minors as fighters.
“It is a contradiction to their claims as human rights protectors. We challenge them to spare the children and allow them to explore their potentials in schools, not in (a) terrorist armed group that encourages violence,” Clement said.
An M-653 assault rifle with ammunition, backpacks and bomb-making paraphernalia were recovered in the encounter site.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/904854/body-of-17-yr-old-suspected-npa-rebel-recovered-military
DAVAO CITY – The body of a 17-year-old alleged communist guerrilla was recovered on Monday, a day after a clash with government troops and New People’s Army rebels in an upland village here, military officials said.
Maj. Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson of the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command, said a relative identified the slain insurgent as John Paul Cabase alias Joshua.
Cabase, a resident of Sitio (sub-village) Quarry, Malabog, Paquibato district, was the lone fatality from the NPA side during a firefight with soldiers from the Army’s 16th Infantry Battalion at nearby Sitio Bajada, Paradise Embac village, also in Paquibato district on Sunday morning.
Unidentified persons had turned Cabase’s body to the village chair of Paradise Embac and a relative came forward to identify and claim it.
Balagtey said the 16th IB, which was responding to reports about a group of rebels massing outside the village, lost two soldiers in the fighting.
Six other government troops were also wounded and are now undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
Maj. General Noel Clement, commander of the army’s Joint Task Force Haribon, slammed the communists for using minors as fighters.
“It is a contradiction to their claims as human rights protectors. We challenge them to spare the children and allow them to explore their potentials in schools, not in (a) terrorist armed group that encourages violence,” Clement said.
An M-653 assault rifle with ammunition, backpacks and bomb-making paraphernalia were recovered in the encounter site.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/904854/body-of-17-yr-old-suspected-npa-rebel-recovered-military
PRO 7 validating presence of NPAs
From the Sun Star-Cebu (Jun 12): PRO 7 validating presence of NPAs
BECAUSE the communist rebels from the New People’s Army (NPA) used to have bases in Cebu and Bohol, a high-ranking police official said that the group may be trying to infiltrate the region again.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Noli Taliño said that they are trying to confirm reports of sightings of an armed group not only in Bohol but also in Cebu.
“All reports are still undergoing validation but we constantly remind our men to strengthen their target-hardening measures like the security of the police station and even their personal security,” Taliño said.
Reports surfaced that an NPA leader who handles the group’s operation in Negros was spotted in Bohol and Cebu.
He was identified as Domingo Compoc, 52, who has a P2.6-million bounty on his head, dead or alive.
Taliño remains confident, though, that Cebuanos and Boholanos prefer peace and will help authorities by reporting the presence of communist rebels in their community.
“We are peace-loving people and wouldn’t want any fight to break out here,” he said
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2017/06/12/pro-7-validating-presence-npas-547153
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2017/06/12/pro-7-validating-presence-npas-547153
Maute death toll now at 191 — AFP
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 11): Maute death toll now at 191 — AFP
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday announced that it has so far neutralized 191 Maute Group terrorists in the ongoing operations to clear Marawi City of the lawless elements.
"The AFP has greatly diminished the number of the terrorists. So far 191 were confirmed dead while undetermined number of them killed were being validated," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.
A total of 158 firearms were also seized in the ongoing operations, he added.
Government losses as of Saturday stands at 58 troops with 20 civilians executed by the terrorists.
"However, the recalcitrant remnants of the Maute-ISIS continue their stiff resistance while holed in fortified buildings and structures," Arevalo pointed out.
Using these defensive positions, the terrorists are using sniper fires, mortar fire, anti-tank rounds, and improvised explosive devices to kill anyone -- government security forces, relief and rescue workers, and civilians -- who get in the way of their fanatical desire to dismember Marawi from the Philippines and establish it as a “Wilayat” or an ISIS province in this part of Asia, the military official said.
"Your AFP and PNP will continue to break the heavy resistance of and clear Marawi from the Maute-ISIS group, restore normalcy in the city, and make way for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi," he added.
And to be able to fulfill that mission, Arevalo said that there is need to use armor, artillery and air power assets to breach the terrorists stronghold and their underground fortresses.
"This has since become a fight not only of your security forces, but also of every peace-loving Filipino deserving of a peaceful and progressive nation," he pointed out.
"This war is between good and evil. Everyone needs everybody to stand up, unite, fight against, and repulse the onslaught of the forces of evil attempting to establish foothold in our land. We would not and should not surrender even an inch of our soil to the harbingers of doom and perfidy," Arevalo concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994771
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday announced that it has so far neutralized 191 Maute Group terrorists in the ongoing operations to clear Marawi City of the lawless elements.
"The AFP has greatly diminished the number of the terrorists. So far 191 were confirmed dead while undetermined number of them killed were being validated," AFP public affairs office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.
A total of 158 firearms were also seized in the ongoing operations, he added.
Government losses as of Saturday stands at 58 troops with 20 civilians executed by the terrorists.
"However, the recalcitrant remnants of the Maute-ISIS continue their stiff resistance while holed in fortified buildings and structures," Arevalo pointed out.
Using these defensive positions, the terrorists are using sniper fires, mortar fire, anti-tank rounds, and improvised explosive devices to kill anyone -- government security forces, relief and rescue workers, and civilians -- who get in the way of their fanatical desire to dismember Marawi from the Philippines and establish it as a “Wilayat” or an ISIS province in this part of Asia, the military official said.
"Your AFP and PNP will continue to break the heavy resistance of and clear Marawi from the Maute-ISIS group, restore normalcy in the city, and make way for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Marawi," he added.
And to be able to fulfill that mission, Arevalo said that there is need to use armor, artillery and air power assets to breach the terrorists stronghold and their underground fortresses.
"This has since become a fight not only of your security forces, but also of every peace-loving Filipino deserving of a peaceful and progressive nation," he pointed out.
"This war is between good and evil. Everyone needs everybody to stand up, unite, fight against, and repulse the onslaught of the forces of evil attempting to establish foothold in our land. We would not and should not surrender even an inch of our soil to the harbingers of doom and perfidy," Arevalo concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994771
AFP observes Day of Silence & Prayer for fallen soldiers, civilians in Marawi conflict
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12): AFP observes Day of Silence & Prayer for fallen soldiers, civilians in Marawi conflict
In honor of government security forces and civilians who died in the ongoing efforts to clear Marawi City of remaining Maute Group remnants, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is observing Day of Silence and Prayer starting Sunday until early Monday, AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.
"For the rest of the day today (Sunday) and early tomorrow (Monday), we shall not be providing updates. The AFP will observe a Day of Silence and Prayer in tribute to the fallen heroes of Marawi and also in remembrance of the innocent lives lost to rebel atrocities," he added.
As of Saturday, the military reported that security troops sustained 58 dead in the ongoing efforts to liberate Marawi City from the terrorists and another 20 civilians executed by the lawless elements early in the conflict which started May 23.
Thirteen of the recent losses were Marine troopers who were killed in a major engagement between Marine units and Maute Group terrorists which lasted for some 14 hours in Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City Friday.
Fighting started 3:30 a.m. and ended 5 p.m. of June 9. Around 40 were also reported wounded.
"Our men served with honor and we ask you to join us in prayer for the repose of their souls, strength for the bereaved families in this moment of grief and for peace in our land," Padilla concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994772
In honor of government security forces and civilians who died in the ongoing efforts to clear Marawi City of remaining Maute Group remnants, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is observing Day of Silence and Prayer starting Sunday until early Monday, AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said.
"For the rest of the day today (Sunday) and early tomorrow (Monday), we shall not be providing updates. The AFP will observe a Day of Silence and Prayer in tribute to the fallen heroes of Marawi and also in remembrance of the innocent lives lost to rebel atrocities," he added.
As of Saturday, the military reported that security troops sustained 58 dead in the ongoing efforts to liberate Marawi City from the terrorists and another 20 civilians executed by the lawless elements early in the conflict which started May 23.
Thirteen of the recent losses were Marine troopers who were killed in a major engagement between Marine units and Maute Group terrorists which lasted for some 14 hours in Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City Friday.
Fighting started 3:30 a.m. and ended 5 p.m. of June 9. Around 40 were also reported wounded.
"Our men served with honor and we ask you to join us in prayer for the repose of their souls, strength for the bereaved families in this moment of grief and for peace in our land," Padilla concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994772
US help in Marawi limited to technical assistance only — Abella
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12): US help in Marawi limited to technical assistance only — Abella
Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella on Sunday clarified the "assistance" being provided by United States in the ongoing operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Marawi as only "limited to technical assistance".
"We have standing protocols which are already in place under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board with the US under the purview of the PHL-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951. It does not involve any boots on the ground nor is there any direct participation in combat operations, a matter prohibited by law," Abella said.
The fight against terrorism, he said, is not only the concern of the Philippines or the United States but it is a concern of many nations around the world.
"The Philippines is open to assistance from other countries if they offer it," he added.
Still on Marawi, Abella said the Palace was deeply saddened by the news on the 13 Marines killed in action during a firefight in Marawi City.
"This incident, albeit unfortunate, gives us greater impetus to clear Marawi of lawless elements, save the trapped civilians, and restore order, security and normalcy to the city and its residents," he stressed.
He went on to enjoin every one to continue showing strong support to our "courageous and heroic men and women in uniform fighting for Marawi and defending the Republic".
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994776
Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella on Sunday clarified the "assistance" being provided by United States in the ongoing operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Marawi as only "limited to technical assistance".
"We have standing protocols which are already in place under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board with the US under the purview of the PHL-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951. It does not involve any boots on the ground nor is there any direct participation in combat operations, a matter prohibited by law," Abella said.
The fight against terrorism, he said, is not only the concern of the Philippines or the United States but it is a concern of many nations around the world.
"The Philippines is open to assistance from other countries if they offer it," he added.
Still on Marawi, Abella said the Palace was deeply saddened by the news on the 13 Marines killed in action during a firefight in Marawi City.
"This incident, albeit unfortunate, gives us greater impetus to clear Marawi of lawless elements, save the trapped civilians, and restore order, security and normalcy to the city and its residents," he stressed.
He went on to enjoin every one to continue showing strong support to our "courageous and heroic men and women in uniform fighting for Marawi and defending the Republic".
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994776
Respect for IHL, HR reasons for high military losses in Marawi City - AFP
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12): Respect for IHL, HR reasons for high military losses in Marawi City - AFP
Respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights (HR) is the reason why the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is taking heavy casualties in the ongoing operations to clear Marawi City of the remaining Maute Group terrorists.
In the same vein, the military puts premium on civilian lives, unlike the lawless elements who indiscriminately fires weapons, regardless of the targets.
"Our losses are because we put premium on saving more civilian lives and complete respect for IHL/HR," AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said late Sunday.
However, to avoid more losses, he added that many adjustments will be made in the conduct of military operations in the remaining areas of Marawi City still being held by the Maute Group terrorists.
As of this posting, there are 58 government troops killed and around 120 wounded in the fighting which is now entering its fourth week.
Thirteen of the recent losses were Marine troopers who were killed in a major engagement which lasted for some 14 hours, erupted between Marine units and Maute Group terrorists at Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City Friday.
Fighting started 3:30 a.m. and ended 5 p.m. of June 9. Around 40 were also reported wounded.
"Our men served with honor and we ask you to join us in prayer for the repose of their souls, strength for the bereaved families in this moment of grief and for peace in our land," Padilla concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994822
Respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights (HR) is the reason why the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is taking heavy casualties in the ongoing operations to clear Marawi City of the remaining Maute Group terrorists.
In the same vein, the military puts premium on civilian lives, unlike the lawless elements who indiscriminately fires weapons, regardless of the targets.
"Our losses are because we put premium on saving more civilian lives and complete respect for IHL/HR," AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said late Sunday.
However, to avoid more losses, he added that many adjustments will be made in the conduct of military operations in the remaining areas of Marawi City still being held by the Maute Group terrorists.
As of this posting, there are 58 government troops killed and around 120 wounded in the fighting which is now entering its fourth week.
Thirteen of the recent losses were Marine troopers who were killed in a major engagement which lasted for some 14 hours, erupted between Marine units and Maute Group terrorists at Barangay Lilot Madaya in Marawi City Friday.
Fighting started 3:30 a.m. and ended 5 p.m. of June 9. Around 40 were also reported wounded.
"Our men served with honor and we ask you to join us in prayer for the repose of their souls, strength for the bereaved families in this moment of grief and for peace in our land," Padilla concluded.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994822
President Duterte honors soldiers killed in Marawi siege
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12): President Duterte honors soldiers killed in Marawi siege
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday led the arrival honors at the Villamor Air Base for the eight soldiers killed in hours-long gun battle between government forces and Maute militants in Marawi last Friday.
President Duterte arrived at the Air Base grandstand around 7:50 p.m. where he personally condoled with the families of the slain soldiers.
The bodies of the slain Marines were flown to Manila from Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday afternoon.
Upon the arrival of the President, the metal caskets covered with the Philippine flag, were carried by soldiers out of the C-130 plane and were placed on high-lift ramps in front of the grandstand.
The slain soldiers were accorded arrival honors. The President then approached each family member to express his sympathies and condolences.
The eight Marines who were honored were First Lieutenant Raymond M. Abad, First Lieutenant John Frederick S. Savellano, Staff Sergeant. Joven Q. Triston, Sergeant Simeon I. Plares, Corporal Rolan H. Sumagpang, Private First Class Marvin Russel D. Gomez, Private Bernie Jhon B. Lunas, and Private First Class Gener C. Tinangag.
The President extended financial assistance to the families of the fallen soldiers.
He then proceeded to the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to visit the wake of another two soldiers who were also killed in action in Marawi.
The two were Corporal Romula Garcia and Private First Class Eddie Cardona Jr. whose remains lie in state at the Acero Hall inside the Philippine Marine Headquaters.
The President’s last stop was at the Libingan ng mga Bayani where he paid his last respects to Corporal Reymond Paracuelles, who was killed on June 9 during a firefight with members of Maute group.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994829
President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday led the arrival honors at the Villamor Air Base for the eight soldiers killed in hours-long gun battle between government forces and Maute militants in Marawi last Friday.
President Duterte arrived at the Air Base grandstand around 7:50 p.m. where he personally condoled with the families of the slain soldiers.
The bodies of the slain Marines were flown to Manila from Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday afternoon.
Upon the arrival of the President, the metal caskets covered with the Philippine flag, were carried by soldiers out of the C-130 plane and were placed on high-lift ramps in front of the grandstand.
The slain soldiers were accorded arrival honors. The President then approached each family member to express his sympathies and condolences.
The eight Marines who were honored were First Lieutenant Raymond M. Abad, First Lieutenant John Frederick S. Savellano, Staff Sergeant. Joven Q. Triston, Sergeant Simeon I. Plares, Corporal Rolan H. Sumagpang, Private First Class Marvin Russel D. Gomez, Private Bernie Jhon B. Lunas, and Private First Class Gener C. Tinangag.
The President extended financial assistance to the families of the fallen soldiers.
He then proceeded to the Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to visit the wake of another two soldiers who were also killed in action in Marawi.
The two were Corporal Romula Garcia and Private First Class Eddie Cardona Jr. whose remains lie in state at the Acero Hall inside the Philippine Marine Headquaters.
The President’s last stop was at the Libingan ng mga Bayani where he paid his last respects to Corporal Reymond Paracuelles, who was killed on June 9 during a firefight with members of Maute group.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994829
DOJ mulls financial aid for gov't troops in Marawi
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 12): DOJ mulls financial aid for gov't troops in Marawi
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday vowed to look into the possible granting of financial assistance from the Board of Claims to soldiers who were either wounded or killed in action in clashes against the Maute terror group in Marawi City.
Aguirre made the statement during when he visited some injured soldiers at Camp Evangelista Army Hospital in Cagayan De Oro City.
Joining Aguirre in his visit to the city are Justice Undersecretaries Antonio Kho Jr., Renante Orceo and Deo Marco.
For this purpose, Orceo, who is in Charge of the Board of Claims was tasked to determine the processing of the possible claims of the soldiers and of their families.
Aside from promising financial assistance by way of the Board of Claims, Aguirre also gave PHP50,000 from his personal funds to the Directress of the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital for the needs of the wounded and recuperating soldiers.
"We cannot thank our soldiers enough for their bravery and gallant acts in the defense of our people in Marawi City. This is least we can do for them," Aguirre said.
Aguire flew to Cagayan De Oro City on Monday to personally oversee the inquest proceedings against arrested members and supporters of the Maute group.
“As we celebrate our Independence Day, we are starting the inquest proceedings for the personalities allegedly involved in the violent attacks on Marawi City and its residents," he explained
"When the perpetrators are brought to justice and are made to suffer the full measure of our laws, the Filipino people can once again be free from fear... Those responsible will be brought to justice," the DOJ chief vowed.
Aguirre said he also met with local prosecutors and checked on their preparations for their temporary office.
The DOJ chief bared that after the inquest proceedings, the high-value suspects would be transferred to Manila for better security.
Last week, the Supreme Court (SC) has designated the Cagayan De Oro regional trial court to handle cases filed against the Maute members and supporters while the military's Camp Evangelista will serve as the detention of the arrested suspects.
Aguirre said that he will request to the high court to reconsider its earlier order and allow the transfer of the trial of the rebellion and other cases to Metro Manila due security concerns and lack of adequate detention facilities.
He made another request after the conduct of ocular inspection by the DOJ delegations in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994935
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday vowed to look into the possible granting of financial assistance from the Board of Claims to soldiers who were either wounded or killed in action in clashes against the Maute terror group in Marawi City.
Aguirre made the statement during when he visited some injured soldiers at Camp Evangelista Army Hospital in Cagayan De Oro City.
Joining Aguirre in his visit to the city are Justice Undersecretaries Antonio Kho Jr., Renante Orceo and Deo Marco.
For this purpose, Orceo, who is in Charge of the Board of Claims was tasked to determine the processing of the possible claims of the soldiers and of their families.
Aside from promising financial assistance by way of the Board of Claims, Aguirre also gave PHP50,000 from his personal funds to the Directress of the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital for the needs of the wounded and recuperating soldiers.
"We cannot thank our soldiers enough for their bravery and gallant acts in the defense of our people in Marawi City. This is least we can do for them," Aguirre said.
Aguire flew to Cagayan De Oro City on Monday to personally oversee the inquest proceedings against arrested members and supporters of the Maute group.
“As we celebrate our Independence Day, we are starting the inquest proceedings for the personalities allegedly involved in the violent attacks on Marawi City and its residents," he explained
"When the perpetrators are brought to justice and are made to suffer the full measure of our laws, the Filipino people can once again be free from fear... Those responsible will be brought to justice," the DOJ chief vowed.
Aguirre said he also met with local prosecutors and checked on their preparations for their temporary office.
The DOJ chief bared that after the inquest proceedings, the high-value suspects would be transferred to Manila for better security.
Last week, the Supreme Court (SC) has designated the Cagayan De Oro regional trial court to handle cases filed against the Maute members and supporters while the military's Camp Evangelista will serve as the detention of the arrested suspects.
Aguirre said that he will request to the high court to reconsider its earlier order and allow the transfer of the trial of the rebellion and other cases to Metro Manila due security concerns and lack of adequate detention facilities.
He made another request after the conduct of ocular inspection by the DOJ delegations in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/994935
Hapilon, Mautes had orders to set up ISIS base in Mindanao: Duterte, AFP chief
From InterAksyon (Jun 11): Hapilon, Mautes had orders to set up ISIS base in Mindanao: Duterte, AFP chief
Okinta Romato Maute, also known as Farhana, mother of the brothers who founded the extremist group battling government forces in Marawi, is seen in a police handout after her capture Friday. (PRO-ARMM/News5)
President Rodrigo Duterte and Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said separately that the head of the Islamic State in the Middle East, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had instructed Isnilon Hapilon to set up a base for ISIS in the Philippines.
Duterte said this in remarks while visiting soldiers wounded in the fighting in Marawi City, where the Maute Group with which Hapilon had closed ranks laid siege to starting May 23 – putting up a tough, urban guerrila style warfare against government forces despite punishing attacks from the ground and air.
Duterte visited the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital at the weekend and pinned medals on the wounded soldiers and gave out cash assistance.
In the ensuing press conference, Duterte said the Philippine government had confirmed information that al-Baghdadi had given the orders to the Maute brothers and Hapilon to sow chaos in Mindanao, which the President placed under martial law through Proclamation 216 which he signed on the evening of May 23.
The information they got was that ISIS wanted Lanao de Sur to be their base in Asia, and then expanding to nearby areas like Iligan City, where most of Marawi’s 200,000 population have fled.
“Lumabas na si Bagdadi mismo, the leader of ISIS, has physically ordered terroristic activities in the Philippines,” said Duterte.
The bigger, long-term plan of the terrorist group was detailed by AFP chief of staff Año. The government got further information with the capture last week of the Maute brothers’ father, Cayamora Maute – who has since been flown to Metro Manila – and subsequently their mother Okinta Romato Maute alias Farhana.
The latter was arrested with several men Friday, but four of the suspected members who were being transported separately to Cagayan de Oro died when the government convoy bearing them was ambushed Saturday.
The instructions received by the Mautes and Hapilon, according to Año, was that “once they occupied Marawi, they will go to Iligan and kill as many as they can, non-Muslims. To show to the world that there is an existing ISIS in the Philippines, that they have a base in Asia and they chose Mindanao, Lanao Sur.”
US help confirmed
The military confirmed at the weekend that the United States was providing “technical assistance” to government in fighting the extremists in Marawi, but insisted that all operational matters were being handled by Philippine defense and military.
Duterte said in Cagayan de Oro he was not aware of this, but acknowledged that the Philippine military was still handicapped in terms of technical expertise.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr explained the situation: “[The US] contribution is more on training and technical assistance. Kasi yung ginagamit nating equipment ay similar sa kanila. But basically lahat ng operational matters, sa amin lahat yun. Walang Amerikanong involved [The equipment we’re using is similar tp theirs, so they’re helping out on technical matters. But there are no Americans involved in operational matters. All of that is ours].”
MDT standing protocols
In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella explained to reporters: “The United States is assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its operations in Marawi but this is limited to technical assistance.
“We have standing protocols which are already in place under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board with the US under the purview of the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951. It does not involve any boots on the ground nor is there any direct participation in combat operations, a matter prohibited by law.”
Apparently referring to concerns about US intervention in Mindanao, Abello pointed out that “the fight against terrorism, however, is not only the concern of the Philippines or the United States but it is a concern of many nations around the world. The Philippines is open to assistance from other countries if they offer it.”
Duterte acknowledged that the Philippine military still lacked technical expertise. “I am not aware of it. And since martial law, I gave powers to the defense department. [There is a war] …We are not that powerful. We do not have technical expertise, that is why most of the officers of the Philippine Army had their schooling in America,” Duterte said, adding, “ang sentimyento nito pro-American. That I cannot deny.”
He appealed to the people of Marawi to hold on: “I do not want to fight. I simply cannot wage a war against my own people. I pray that there will be a short war, I expect it to be over soon.”
The government, Duterte added, would extend all necessary assistance to the people of Marawi, whose once-bustling city – deemed one of the most progressive Muslim-dominated places in Mindanao – has suffered extensive damage from the 3-week-old siege.
http://www.interaksyon.com/hapilon-mautes-had-orders-to-set-up-isis-base-in-mindanao-duterte-afp-chief/
Okinta Romato Maute, also known as Farhana, mother of the brothers who founded the extremist group battling government forces in Marawi, is seen in a police handout after her capture Friday. (PRO-ARMM/News5)
President Rodrigo Duterte and Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año said separately that the head of the Islamic State in the Middle East, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had instructed Isnilon Hapilon to set up a base for ISIS in the Philippines.
Duterte said this in remarks while visiting soldiers wounded in the fighting in Marawi City, where the Maute Group with which Hapilon had closed ranks laid siege to starting May 23 – putting up a tough, urban guerrila style warfare against government forces despite punishing attacks from the ground and air.
Duterte visited the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital at the weekend and pinned medals on the wounded soldiers and gave out cash assistance.
In the ensuing press conference, Duterte said the Philippine government had confirmed information that al-Baghdadi had given the orders to the Maute brothers and Hapilon to sow chaos in Mindanao, which the President placed under martial law through Proclamation 216 which he signed on the evening of May 23.
The information they got was that ISIS wanted Lanao de Sur to be their base in Asia, and then expanding to nearby areas like Iligan City, where most of Marawi’s 200,000 population have fled.
“Lumabas na si Bagdadi mismo, the leader of ISIS, has physically ordered terroristic activities in the Philippines,” said Duterte.
The bigger, long-term plan of the terrorist group was detailed by AFP chief of staff Año. The government got further information with the capture last week of the Maute brothers’ father, Cayamora Maute – who has since been flown to Metro Manila – and subsequently their mother Okinta Romato Maute alias Farhana.
The latter was arrested with several men Friday, but four of the suspected members who were being transported separately to Cagayan de Oro died when the government convoy bearing them was ambushed Saturday.
The instructions received by the Mautes and Hapilon, according to Año, was that “once they occupied Marawi, they will go to Iligan and kill as many as they can, non-Muslims. To show to the world that there is an existing ISIS in the Philippines, that they have a base in Asia and they chose Mindanao, Lanao Sur.”
US help confirmed
The military confirmed at the weekend that the United States was providing “technical assistance” to government in fighting the extremists in Marawi, but insisted that all operational matters were being handled by Philippine defense and military.
Duterte said in Cagayan de Oro he was not aware of this, but acknowledged that the Philippine military was still handicapped in terms of technical expertise.
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez, Jr explained the situation: “[The US] contribution is more on training and technical assistance. Kasi yung ginagamit nating equipment ay similar sa kanila. But basically lahat ng operational matters, sa amin lahat yun. Walang Amerikanong involved [The equipment we’re using is similar tp theirs, so they’re helping out on technical matters. But there are no Americans involved in operational matters. All of that is ours].”
MDT standing protocols
In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella explained to reporters: “The United States is assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its operations in Marawi but this is limited to technical assistance.
“We have standing protocols which are already in place under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board with the US under the purview of the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951. It does not involve any boots on the ground nor is there any direct participation in combat operations, a matter prohibited by law.”
Apparently referring to concerns about US intervention in Mindanao, Abello pointed out that “the fight against terrorism, however, is not only the concern of the Philippines or the United States but it is a concern of many nations around the world. The Philippines is open to assistance from other countries if they offer it.”
Duterte acknowledged that the Philippine military still lacked technical expertise. “I am not aware of it. And since martial law, I gave powers to the defense department. [There is a war] …We are not that powerful. We do not have technical expertise, that is why most of the officers of the Philippine Army had their schooling in America,” Duterte said, adding, “ang sentimyento nito pro-American. That I cannot deny.”
He appealed to the people of Marawi to hold on: “I do not want to fight. I simply cannot wage a war against my own people. I pray that there will be a short war, I expect it to be over soon.”
The government, Duterte added, would extend all necessary assistance to the people of Marawi, whose once-bustling city – deemed one of the most progressive Muslim-dominated places in Mindanao – has suffered extensive damage from the 3-week-old siege.
http://www.interaksyon.com/hapilon-mautes-had-orders-to-set-up-isis-base-in-mindanao-duterte-afp-chief/
Maute Group suspects slain in ambush on PNP convoy eyed as witnesses vs ‘queen’ of terror network
From InterAksyon (Jun 11): Maute Group suspects slain in ambush on PNP convoy eyed as witnesses vs ‘queen’ of terror network
Photos of suspected members of the Maute group with (left to right) Cayamora and Okinta, and their sons, alleged founders Abdullah and Omarkhayam on the top row. On the bottom row, from left to right, are Mohammadkhayam Maute, Abdulrahman Maute, Abdul Azis Maute, and Hamza Maute. (Photos released by the Cebu City Police Office)
MARAWI CITY/CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Authorities released the names of four suspected Maute Group members killed in an ambush on a government convoy Saturday night, adding that they could have been silenced by certain forces to prevent them from testifying against Okinta Romato Maute alias Farhana, mother of the Maute brothers leading the siege of Marawi.
The Joint Task Group of the Philippine National Police under Task Force Marawi identified the alleged members as:
1. Zulkifli Risales Maute
2. one Alias Gar Hadji Suluman
3. Salah Gasim Abbas
4. Allan Capal Sulaiman
They had been arrested at 2 pm Friday in Masiu, Lanao del Sur with Okinta alias Farhana, dubbed the “queen” – because she was allegedly helping raise funds and recruit members of the Maute Group set up by her sons Omar and Abdullah Maute.
Three days earlier, the Mautes’ patriarch, Cayamora Maute, was arrested at a check point in Davao City and flown to Metro Manila.
Also arrested with Farhana were several wounded men and seven women.
Authorities seized from their group high-caliber firearms and some explosives.
The PNP said Farhana’s group was on board a gray Toyota Revo when apprehended by police in Barangay Kormato in Masiu town.
The PNP learned he group had earlier sought refuge in Brgy. Dayawan, also in Masiu, where they bought several vehicles and arms that they had meant to use as they exited Lanao del Sur.
‘Queen’ was financier, recruiter
Farhana was tagged the “queen” and financier of the Maute Group, and together with her husband Cayamora had recruited members for the terrorist group that linked up with Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon in the mission to set up an ISIS “wilayat” or province in Mindanao.
Before the arrest of Farhana, several suspected Maute Group members had been spotted in Marawi’s neighboring towns, prompting a warning from ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman that anyone supporting the terrorist group will be made to answer, especially if they are elements of the local government units.
“Kung meron sumusuporta.. . definitely may pananagutan sila kahit LGU, local government,” said Hataman.
Dead on arrival
The four captured Maute Group members who were ambushed Saturday night as they were being transported separately from Farhana were rushed to the Dr. Uy Hospital in Iligan City, but three died on arrival. The fourth succumbed to injuries later.
A police officer on the convoy was also injured after unknown elements fired at them as the convoy reached Barangay Kalanganan in Pantar, Lanao del Sur enroute to Cagayan de Oro, where charges would have been filed against the terror suspects.
Senior Supt. Rolly Anduyan, commander of the PNP Joint Task Group, explained that they had to airlift sensitive personalities” could not do so for the rest, because there were simply too many of them and “we have to take them by land.”
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año confirmed the slain men were with Farhana’s group. “May wounded na isang PNP personnel. The four [suspected members of] Maute were killed during the ambush.” He could not give further details on the ambush, adding, “we shall wait for the report of the PNP.”
Año raised the possibility that fellow Maute members were behind the ambush, to prevent the men from testifying against Farhana or giving information to authorities.
JTG commander Anduyan noted that, “actually matataas yung hinahawakan nilang hierarchy ng Maute.” He said that apprehension was crucial in the bid to crush the terrorists because Farhana was deemed the “queen,” adding that the men were “within the network of the queen, kumbaga parang anay –nandun sila sa network ng queen [like termites, they are within the queen’s network].”
What ambush?
Meanwhile, some residents of Barangay Kalalangan in Pantar, however, appeared unconvinced the men were killed in an ambush.
One village leader said, “may dumaan na trak ng PNP sa Lanao del Sur; pagdating dito biglang may pumutok at wala namang kontra. Dapat kung may kalaban maraming putukan [a PNP truck passed by, and gunshots were heard. There was no counterfire. If there was an enemy, there would have been much gunfire].”
Residents did not see any force that ambushed the PNP convoy, added the village official.
http://www.interaksyon.com/maute-group-suspects-slain-in-ambush-on-pnp-convoy-eyed-as-witnesses-vs-queen-of-terror-network/
The Joint Task Group of the Philippine National Police under Task Force Marawi identified the alleged members as:
1. Zulkifli Risales Maute
2. one Alias Gar Hadji Suluman
3. Salah Gasim Abbas
4. Allan Capal Sulaiman
They had been arrested at 2 pm Friday in Masiu, Lanao del Sur with Okinta alias Farhana, dubbed the “queen” – because she was allegedly helping raise funds and recruit members of the Maute Group set up by her sons Omar and Abdullah Maute.
Three days earlier, the Mautes’ patriarch, Cayamora Maute, was arrested at a check point in Davao City and flown to Metro Manila.
Also arrested with Farhana were several wounded men and seven women.
Authorities seized from their group high-caliber firearms and some explosives.
The PNP said Farhana’s group was on board a gray Toyota Revo when apprehended by police in Barangay Kormato in Masiu town.
The PNP learned he group had earlier sought refuge in Brgy. Dayawan, also in Masiu, where they bought several vehicles and arms that they had meant to use as they exited Lanao del Sur.
‘Queen’ was financier, recruiter
Farhana was tagged the “queen” and financier of the Maute Group, and together with her husband Cayamora had recruited members for the terrorist group that linked up with Abu Sayyaf Group leader Isnilon Hapilon in the mission to set up an ISIS “wilayat” or province in Mindanao.
Before the arrest of Farhana, several suspected Maute Group members had been spotted in Marawi’s neighboring towns, prompting a warning from ARMM governor Mujiv Hataman that anyone supporting the terrorist group will be made to answer, especially if they are elements of the local government units.
“Kung meron sumusuporta.. . definitely may pananagutan sila kahit LGU, local government,” said Hataman.
Dead on arrival
The four captured Maute Group members who were ambushed Saturday night as they were being transported separately from Farhana were rushed to the Dr. Uy Hospital in Iligan City, but three died on arrival. The fourth succumbed to injuries later.
A police officer on the convoy was also injured after unknown elements fired at them as the convoy reached Barangay Kalanganan in Pantar, Lanao del Sur enroute to Cagayan de Oro, where charges would have been filed against the terror suspects.
Senior Supt. Rolly Anduyan, commander of the PNP Joint Task Group, explained that they had to airlift sensitive personalities” could not do so for the rest, because there were simply too many of them and “we have to take them by land.”
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and AFP chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Año confirmed the slain men were with Farhana’s group. “May wounded na isang PNP personnel. The four [suspected members of] Maute were killed during the ambush.” He could not give further details on the ambush, adding, “we shall wait for the report of the PNP.”
Año raised the possibility that fellow Maute members were behind the ambush, to prevent the men from testifying against Farhana or giving information to authorities.
JTG commander Anduyan noted that, “actually matataas yung hinahawakan nilang hierarchy ng Maute.” He said that apprehension was crucial in the bid to crush the terrorists because Farhana was deemed the “queen,” adding that the men were “within the network of the queen, kumbaga parang anay –nandun sila sa network ng queen [like termites, they are within the queen’s network].”
What ambush?
Meanwhile, some residents of Barangay Kalalangan in Pantar, however, appeared unconvinced the men were killed in an ambush.
One village leader said, “may dumaan na trak ng PNP sa Lanao del Sur; pagdating dito biglang may pumutok at wala namang kontra. Dapat kung may kalaban maraming putukan [a PNP truck passed by, and gunshots were heard. There was no counterfire. If there was an enemy, there would have been much gunfire].”
Residents did not see any force that ambushed the PNP convoy, added the village official.
http://www.interaksyon.com/maute-group-suspects-slain-in-ambush-on-pnp-convoy-eyed-as-witnesses-vs-queen-of-terror-network/
Lorenzana: US forces in Marawi coordinated communications link
From MindaNews (Jun 11): Lorenzana: US forces in Marawi coordinated communications link
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday said the three US Special Forces servicemen in Campo Ranao in Marawi City on Friday were coordinating communications link between the P3 Orion spay plane and the Philippine military fighting the Maute Group on the ground.
“They just stayed inside the camp and coordinated the technical communications. They did not join the fighting,” Lorenzana told MindaNews after a press briefing in Camp Evangelista.
Standing on the roof of a pick-up truck, this Caucasian male, believed to be from the US Special Forces, seems to be working on signal control inside Camp Ranao’s 103rd Brigade in Marawi City working with Philippine military troops on June 3. The Philippine government recently confirmed it sought the assistance of the US to provide technical support in thewar against the terrorist Maute Group. MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH B. CABRERA
He told the press briefing that Americans sent their own personnel to receive the information from the plane and relay it to us.”
The plane is capable of providing visual images and other sensor data that would assist forces on the ground.
According to globalsecurity.org, the P-3s were active in Afghanistan in late 2001, “where the aircraft used Ku-band packet mux data links to provide video and other sensor data to surface forces. The imagery was very well received by ground forces there, and demand for this type of information is growing as users become aware of its value.”
President Rodrigo Duterte later told reporters that he was not aware that the US government sent a P3 Orion spy plane to help the Philippine military end the siege in Marawi City.
“I was not aware of that until (it) arrived,” he told reporters after visiting 84 injured soldiers at the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital. He added that when he proclaimed Martial Law, he left the tactical decision-making to the Defense Department. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is the Martial Law administrator while Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Ano is the implementor.
President Rodrigo Duterte is flanked by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzan and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Sunday while talking to wounded troops at the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagyan de Oro City Sunday, 11 June 2017. Eighty four injured personnel are recuperating. MindaNwes photo by FroilAN GALLARDO
Duterte also acknowledged that his military officers are basically pro-American, having been trained by the US. “That is why itong mga Philippine Army natin, most of them or all of them, mag-schooling ito sa America. So ito talaga ang sentimento nito, pro-American, pro-American talaga ang mga sundalo natin, that I cannot deny.”
Duterte is known for his anti-American sentiments although he repeatedly clarifies his quarrel was with former US President Barrack Obama and the State Department then and refers to US President Donald Trump as his friend.
Asked how US assistance would impact on his independent foreign policy stand, Duterte said the country is at war “and we are not that powerful. Maybe we do not have the technical expertise to do it.”
Journalists covering the fighting in Marawi City took pictures and videos of the turbo-propped P3 Orion plane and the American servicemen last Friday.
A US embassy official later confirmed the presence of the spy plane and US special forces personnel.
He told Reuters news agency the deployment was made upon “request from the Philippine government.”
Lorenzana told MindaNews that P3 Orion flights in the country fall under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) signed by the Philippine and US governments.
Given the difficulty of dislodging the Maute Group in Marawi City, Lorenzana said they welcomed any help from the American government.
He told MindaNews the P3 Orion plane flew from Guam to Marawi City but added that even without Marawi, the P3Orion has been helping the Philippines monitoring what is happening. “Kahit wala pa itong Marawi City, lumilipad na iyan. South China Sea, West Philippines Sea, Sulu Sea, Mindanao,” he said.
He said a small American unit in Zamboanga City is controlling the P3 Orion flights over the Philippines.
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/06/lorenzana-us-forces-in-marawi-coordinated-communications-link/
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday said the three US Special Forces servicemen in Campo Ranao in Marawi City on Friday were coordinating communications link between the P3 Orion spay plane and the Philippine military fighting the Maute Group on the ground.
“They just stayed inside the camp and coordinated the technical communications. They did not join the fighting,” Lorenzana told MindaNews after a press briefing in Camp Evangelista.
Standing on the roof of a pick-up truck, this Caucasian male, believed to be from the US Special Forces, seems to be working on signal control inside Camp Ranao’s 103rd Brigade in Marawi City working with Philippine military troops on June 3. The Philippine government recently confirmed it sought the assistance of the US to provide technical support in thewar against the terrorist Maute Group. MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH B. CABRERA
He told the press briefing that Americans sent their own personnel to receive the information from the plane and relay it to us.”
The plane is capable of providing visual images and other sensor data that would assist forces on the ground.
According to globalsecurity.org, the P-3s were active in Afghanistan in late 2001, “where the aircraft used Ku-band packet mux data links to provide video and other sensor data to surface forces. The imagery was very well received by ground forces there, and demand for this type of information is growing as users become aware of its value.”
President Rodrigo Duterte later told reporters that he was not aware that the US government sent a P3 Orion spy plane to help the Philippine military end the siege in Marawi City.
“I was not aware of that until (it) arrived,” he told reporters after visiting 84 injured soldiers at the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital. He added that when he proclaimed Martial Law, he left the tactical decision-making to the Defense Department. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is the Martial Law administrator while Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Ano is the implementor.
President Rodrigo Duterte is flanked by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzan and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Sunday while talking to wounded troops at the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagyan de Oro City Sunday, 11 June 2017. Eighty four injured personnel are recuperating. MindaNwes photo by FroilAN GALLARDO
Duterte also acknowledged that his military officers are basically pro-American, having been trained by the US. “That is why itong mga Philippine Army natin, most of them or all of them, mag-schooling ito sa America. So ito talaga ang sentimento nito, pro-American, pro-American talaga ang mga sundalo natin, that I cannot deny.”
Duterte is known for his anti-American sentiments although he repeatedly clarifies his quarrel was with former US President Barrack Obama and the State Department then and refers to US President Donald Trump as his friend.
Asked how US assistance would impact on his independent foreign policy stand, Duterte said the country is at war “and we are not that powerful. Maybe we do not have the technical expertise to do it.”
Journalists covering the fighting in Marawi City took pictures and videos of the turbo-propped P3 Orion plane and the American servicemen last Friday.
A US embassy official later confirmed the presence of the spy plane and US special forces personnel.
He told Reuters news agency the deployment was made upon “request from the Philippine government.”
Lorenzana told MindaNews that P3 Orion flights in the country fall under the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) signed by the Philippine and US governments.
Given the difficulty of dislodging the Maute Group in Marawi City, Lorenzana said they welcomed any help from the American government.
He told MindaNews the P3 Orion plane flew from Guam to Marawi City but added that even without Marawi, the P3Orion has been helping the Philippines monitoring what is happening. “Kahit wala pa itong Marawi City, lumilipad na iyan. South China Sea, West Philippines Sea, Sulu Sea, Mindanao,” he said.
He said a small American unit in Zamboanga City is controlling the P3 Orion flights over the Philippines.
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/06/lorenzana-us-forces-in-marawi-coordinated-communications-link/
Muslim religious scholars wage ‘ideological war’ vs. extremist groups
From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 12): Muslim religious scholars wage ‘ideological war’ vs. extremist groups
BASILAN PROVINCE – Ulama or Muslim religious scholars are waging an ideological war against the spread of radicalism and extremism through a holistic approach in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“We are engaging all sectors to address the spread of religious extremism and radicalism in the country,” said Abdulmuhmin Alyakanie Mujahid, the executive director of the Darul Ifta, or the Fatwa Council of the ARMM.
On June 8, Islamic scholars on the island province of Basilan forged several agreements with the regional and provincial governments, as well as with different agencies, to carry-out “multi approaches” in an effort to stop the spread of extremist ideology.
The effort, Muhajid said, is an offshoot of the Ulama Summit that was held in Cotabato City in May. During the summit, the Ulama issued a declaration against terrorism, saying that “It is Haram (forbidden and unlawful) to use Islam to justify or legitimize violent extremism and terrorism.”
The Ulama also challenged themselves “to reeducate (their) constituents to rediscover Islamic faith for justice, compassion, harmony and peace.”
“It is imperative upon us all to cooperate and collaborate with the stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism in its many forms and manifestations,” the declaration said. Mujahid said they are now proactively engaging all stakeholders to overcome the challenges of extremism as what is happening in Marawi City.
“These extremist groups are using the creed of Islam. As a matter of fact, they are using the so-called 13 doctrines of Islam and citing verses of the Holy Quran in justifying their criminal and inhumane acts. We can’t allow that and we will not allow that. Our call is to fight against violent extremism and terrorism,” Mujahid said.
Alih Aiyub, Secretary-General of the Ulama Council of the Philippines, said what they are employing is multi-disciplinary approaches in “preventing and countering violent extremism.” He said they have identified seven interventions to address the threat.
“Ulama will handle the spiritual aspect to combat terrorism targeting the youth and winning the hearts and minds of those radicalized through sermons in the mosques and other means,” he said.
Aiyub said one of the interventions includes working “with educational institutions to provide a primer, or module, as reference material and train teachers for effective prevention of violent extremism among their students.
“Scholarships will also be provided on skills training for out-of-school youth by tapping the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a partner,” he said.
The effort will include “psychological intervention” such as values formation that will be carried out by local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development targeting the youth sector.
“The program will also have a component for social intervention, which will help mold an individual to be productive and peaceful through trainings. This will also be implemented along with economic intervention such as providing livelihood programs for the youth through government line agencies like the Department of Agriculture and TESDA, among others,” Aiyub said.
Part of the program, he said, is to engage with the security sector to “shield the youth from being recruited” by extremist groups, and “to provide peace and security in the community.” Mujahid said the program will be piloted in Basilan
“We are going to implement it in the different parts of the region. We are piloting this initiative in Basilan. We will conduct an assessment and fine-tune it before implementing it in other provinces,” he said.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman has instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the ARMM to initiate forums for local government officials across the region to understand the complexity of the problem and how to combat it.
“When the masses, the religious leaders, and the political leaders are united to work together for the betterment of our society, we can succeed, In Shaa Allah,” he said.
Gov. Hataman has earlier said that Muslim scholars can contribute in the advocacy against terrorism by educating people about the true teachings of Islam, most especially on the principles of justice, compassion, peace, and harmony. (Bureau of Public Information)
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/muslim-religious-scholars-wage-ideological-war-vs-extremist-groups/
BASILAN PROVINCE – Ulama or Muslim religious scholars are waging an ideological war against the spread of radicalism and extremism through a holistic approach in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“We are engaging all sectors to address the spread of religious extremism and radicalism in the country,” said Abdulmuhmin Alyakanie Mujahid, the executive director of the Darul Ifta, or the Fatwa Council of the ARMM.
On June 8, Islamic scholars on the island province of Basilan forged several agreements with the regional and provincial governments, as well as with different agencies, to carry-out “multi approaches” in an effort to stop the spread of extremist ideology.
The effort, Muhajid said, is an offshoot of the Ulama Summit that was held in Cotabato City in May. During the summit, the Ulama issued a declaration against terrorism, saying that “It is Haram (forbidden and unlawful) to use Islam to justify or legitimize violent extremism and terrorism.”
The Ulama also challenged themselves “to reeducate (their) constituents to rediscover Islamic faith for justice, compassion, harmony and peace.”
“It is imperative upon us all to cooperate and collaborate with the stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism and terrorism in its many forms and manifestations,” the declaration said. Mujahid said they are now proactively engaging all stakeholders to overcome the challenges of extremism as what is happening in Marawi City.
“These extremist groups are using the creed of Islam. As a matter of fact, they are using the so-called 13 doctrines of Islam and citing verses of the Holy Quran in justifying their criminal and inhumane acts. We can’t allow that and we will not allow that. Our call is to fight against violent extremism and terrorism,” Mujahid said.
Alih Aiyub, Secretary-General of the Ulama Council of the Philippines, said what they are employing is multi-disciplinary approaches in “preventing and countering violent extremism.” He said they have identified seven interventions to address the threat.
“Ulama will handle the spiritual aspect to combat terrorism targeting the youth and winning the hearts and minds of those radicalized through sermons in the mosques and other means,” he said.
Aiyub said one of the interventions includes working “with educational institutions to provide a primer, or module, as reference material and train teachers for effective prevention of violent extremism among their students.
“Scholarships will also be provided on skills training for out-of-school youth by tapping the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as a partner,” he said.
The effort will include “psychological intervention” such as values formation that will be carried out by local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development targeting the youth sector.
“The program will also have a component for social intervention, which will help mold an individual to be productive and peaceful through trainings. This will also be implemented along with economic intervention such as providing livelihood programs for the youth through government line agencies like the Department of Agriculture and TESDA, among others,” Aiyub said.
Part of the program, he said, is to engage with the security sector to “shield the youth from being recruited” by extremist groups, and “to provide peace and security in the community.” Mujahid said the program will be piloted in Basilan
“We are going to implement it in the different parts of the region. We are piloting this initiative in Basilan. We will conduct an assessment and fine-tune it before implementing it in other provinces,” he said.
ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman has instructed the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the ARMM to initiate forums for local government officials across the region to understand the complexity of the problem and how to combat it.
“When the masses, the religious leaders, and the political leaders are united to work together for the betterment of our society, we can succeed, In Shaa Allah,” he said.
Gov. Hataman has earlier said that Muslim scholars can contribute in the advocacy against terrorism by educating people about the true teachings of Islam, most especially on the principles of justice, compassion, peace, and harmony. (Bureau of Public Information)
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/muslim-religious-scholars-wage-ideological-war-vs-extremist-groups/
Is ISIS looking to expand its toehold in Southeast Asia?
From Defense News (Jun 12): Is ISIS looking to expand its toehold in Southeast Asia?
The prospect of the Islamic State expanding into Southeast Asia has become a much more distinct possibility in the last few weeks, as Philippine government forces make heavy going of an operation to oust militants who have seized a city in the country’s south.
The prospect of the Islamic State expanding into Southeast Asia has become a much more distinct possibility in the last few weeks, as Philippine government forces make heavy going of an operation to oust militants who have seized a city in the country’s south.
Granted, there is virtually no possibility of the ISIS-linked militants successfully holding on to an ever-shrinking part of Marawi City in the Lanao del Sur province on the southern island of Mindanao against the ongoing military assault. But regional defense and security watchers fear that the perceived success of the Maute group in keeping the Philippine military at bay for even a protracted period could raise the group’s profile, making it a more attractive proposition to potential donors and recruits.
The result is that regional defense ministers and other security officials and professionals that lost territory in Iraq and Syria for ISIS might spur trained foreign fighters from the Middle East to make their way to the southern Philippines in an attempt to regroup.
Roots of the crisis
The current round of fighting in Marawi began on May 23, when the Philippine military and police mounted an operation to capture Isnilon Hapilon, named by an Islamic State newsletter in 2016 as "emir of all Islamic State forces in the Philippines." The operation failed and a shootout ensued with militants of the Maute group, one of several insurgencies from the area that have pledged allegiance to ISIS. The group then proceeded to seize the city of 200,000 and its weapons, driving out the local police and city administrators.
According to Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the ISIS attackers included 260 Maute militants, 100 Abu Sayyaf militants under Isnilon Hapilon and roughly 150 from local militant organizations.
Richard Heydarian, a foreign affairs analyst from the Philippines, suggested to Defense News that the seizure of Marawi might have been timed to coincide with international travel of President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippines’ senior military leadership, and conducted in response to a jibe from Duterte last year challenging the Maute to seize Marawi.
Duterte declared martial law for all of Mindanao soon after Marawi’s seizure, and the military immediately went on the offensive to take back the city. Despite outnumbering the militants and utilizing armoured assets and airstrikes from aircraft and helicopters, progress has been slow, with Heydarian noting that the military “clearly has some struggles with urban warfare” it encountered in Marawi, along with deficiencies in intelligence gathering and coordination between different forces.
This was painfully brought home May 31, when an errant airstrike hit an army position engaged in close combat with the militants, resulting in the deaths of 10 Filipino soldiers and the wounding of several more.
The military has also lost a number of its GKN Simba and Cadillac-Gage V-150 armored cars to RPGs and recoilless rifle fire, spurring improvised armor in the form of cardboard boxes and wooden planks to prematurely detonate the warheads.
International response
Both the United States and regional countries have been quick to react to the sudden turn of events. Local media covering the fighting between troops belonging to the Armed Forces of the Philippines or AFP and militants in the city of Marawi on Mindanao Island have photographed an AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma Unmanned Aerial Vehicle being operated by Western personnel near the battle, as well as a Lockheed-Martin P-3C Orion circling the city on separate occasions.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in nearby Singapore on June 3, also said the U.S. would continue to “support the modernization of the Philippines’ armed forces” and “uphold our commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty.”
This is despite Duterte’s regular outbursts against the United States and overtures to China and Russia, who he has approached for assistance to equip the underfunded and poorly equipped Philippine military.
However, analyst Heydarian noted to Defense News that the “reality is both powers are not in a position to provide in a sufficient proportion the assistance the Philippines needs in order to deal with this problem,” adding that “only one country can provide the high-grade intelligence, advanced equipment, and has a long history of interoperability with the armed forces of the Philippines, and that is the United States.”
[Video report]
[Video report]
Meanwhile, neighboring countries have also indicated they will be pushing ahead with plans to conduct air and naval patrols in the Sulu Sea, which has been used as a conduit for piracy, transnational crime and militancy in the region. At 2016’s Shangri-La Dialogue, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, who all have coastlines with the Sulu Sea, had floated the idea of limited coordinated patrols and signed an agreement to that effect soon after. Since then, things have appeared bogged down as the countries have struggled to develop standardized procedures and supporting infrastructure to mount those patrols. The idea was again brought up in 2017’s Shangri-La Dialogue, with Malaysian defense minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein revealing that maritime patrols will start June 19.
Heydarian warns that the long-term focus of the Philippine government is not just to deal with the problem of insurgency or terrorism in isolation, but also to address the grievances of the local population in Mindanao, which has a Muslim-majority in contrast with majority Catholic Philippines. As it is, Heydarian notes that the destruction in Marawi could already lead to further grievances to be exploited by extremist jihadi groups for recruitment.
Singapore’s defense minister, Ng Eng Hen, has already noted that if the problem in the southern Philippines is not contained, it can affect “all of Southeast Asia and beyond.”
2 NPA fighters surrender in Ilocos Sur
From the Business Mirror (Jun 11): 2 NPA fighters surrender in Ilocos Sur
TWO members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Army’s 81st Infantry (Spartan) Battalion over the weekend at its headquarters in Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur. Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, commander of the 81st IB, said they were temporarily withholding the true names of the rebels pending the processing of their integration into the government. Osias said the rebels, whom he identified through their aliases as “Gunman” and “Batman”, surrendered one M16 rifle and an M1 Garand rifle.
Both are residents of Barangay Tabacda, Tubo, Abra.
“Gunman” is the team leader of Squad Uno, Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG) Montes that operates in the tri-boundaries of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur.
“Batman” is the team leader of Squad Dos, KLG Montes.
“What drove Batman to surrender was that the protracted people’s war for almost five decades now, with the future of thousands of young people sacrificed and wasted on that war, is now purposeless,” Osias said. “He said the government’s development projects are now gaining its momentum under the Duterte administration.”
Recently, the 81st IB also facilitated the surrender of five other rebels.
“Spartan Battalion will continue to advocate a peaceful resolution to the internal security problem. Despite the ongoing crisis in Mindanao, we will not cease our efforts in neutralizing the NPA rebels here in Northern Luzon in any way we could,” Osias added.
Osias said 10 former rebels who surrendered in 2016 were awarded with Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) benefits amounting to P807,000 at the Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol in Vigan City by Gov. Ryan Luis V. Singson.
Seventh Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Angelito de Leon said the snowballing of surrenderees was a result of the persistent efforts of the soldiers in Northern Luzon for a peaceful solution to the Communist insurgency.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/2-npa-fighters-surrender-in-ilocos-sur/
TWO members of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Army’s 81st Infantry (Spartan) Battalion over the weekend at its headquarters in Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur. Lt. Col. Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, commander of the 81st IB, said they were temporarily withholding the true names of the rebels pending the processing of their integration into the government. Osias said the rebels, whom he identified through their aliases as “Gunman” and “Batman”, surrendered one M16 rifle and an M1 Garand rifle.
Both are residents of Barangay Tabacda, Tubo, Abra.
“Gunman” is the team leader of Squad Uno, Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG) Montes that operates in the tri-boundaries of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur.
“Batman” is the team leader of Squad Dos, KLG Montes.
“What drove Batman to surrender was that the protracted people’s war for almost five decades now, with the future of thousands of young people sacrificed and wasted on that war, is now purposeless,” Osias said. “He said the government’s development projects are now gaining its momentum under the Duterte administration.”
Recently, the 81st IB also facilitated the surrender of five other rebels.
“Spartan Battalion will continue to advocate a peaceful resolution to the internal security problem. Despite the ongoing crisis in Mindanao, we will not cease our efforts in neutralizing the NPA rebels here in Northern Luzon in any way we could,” Osias added.
Osias said 10 former rebels who surrendered in 2016 were awarded with Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) benefits amounting to P807,000 at the Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol in Vigan City by Gov. Ryan Luis V. Singson.
Seventh Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Angelito de Leon said the snowballing of surrenderees was a result of the persistent efforts of the soldiers in Northern Luzon for a peaceful solution to the Communist insurgency.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/2-npa-fighters-surrender-in-ilocos-sur/
Bulatlat: Teachers of Surigao Sur Lumad schools call to dismiss trumped-up charges
From the pro-CPP/NDF online propaganda publication Bulatlat (Jun 12): Teachers of Surigao Sur Lumad schools call to dismiss trumped-up charges
“They executed an affidavit and yet they are in the custody of the military. So what was the motive behind that?”
Graduation in Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS last March this year. (Photo grabbed from TRIFPSS Facebook page.) Almost two years after the “Lianga massacre” – the rampage by paramilitary men who killed three leaders of Lianga, Surigao del Sur province – Lumad schools and community continue to be harassed.
At least 12 teachers and community leaders of the province have been charged with child trafficking and child abuse, allegedly filed by two students and their mother who accused them of teaching children “to fight government” and be “trained by the New People’s Army.”
Those charged are teachers of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. (Alcadev) and the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS), and leaders of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu).
Human rights group Karapatan said the trumped-up charges were meant to harass teachers and other key witnesses to the Sept. 1, 2015 massacre in in Sitio (subvillage) Han-ayan, Diatagon village, where paramilitary men belonging to the Magahat-Bagani group routed the whole community, including Alcadev and TRIFPSS teachers and students. The Magahat killed Alcadev school director Emerito Samarca and Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo.
Read: ‘Soldiers watched as paramilitary attacked us’
Bulatlat interviewed Annabelle Campos, the TRIFPSS literacy coordinator and one of the 12 charged who went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) here in Manila to push for the dismissal of the cases.
Campos said these cases were meant to harass them and the leaders of the community who steadfastly fight against mining projects in their resource rich communities.
“This is what the military has been doing since 2005 because we resist the entry of destructive projects like mining,” she told Bulatlat. In spite of the cases, she said they will not waver in providing education, which is what the Lumad community needs, something that they were deprived of before these schools were built.
Read: Under the Gun: School for Tribal Children in Surigao Bears Brunt of Militarization
Karapatan legal counsel Atty. Sol Taule said that in a dialogue on June 2, DOJ Undersecretary Antonio Co had pledged to withdraw the charges.
‘Used by the military’
Campos said the children, Reneboy Tejero, who was then 17, and his brother Saniboy, 14, were both former students of TRIFPSS. They were among those who evacuated to Tandag City after the massacre.
Since 2008, after their father died, the two boys have been abandoned by their mother. They have since been in the custody of their grandmother, Lourdes Bautista, who enrolled them to TRIFPSS. Just days after the massacre, on Sept. 5, 2015, Bautista was surprised when the boys’ mother, Rosalinda, suddenly showed up at the evacuation center to get her sons. She later learned that the boys were put under the custody of the 401st Brigade of the Philippine Army at New Leyte, Awa village, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Campos said they found out that Rosalinda had a live-in partner who is a member of paramilitary group Mahagat. 
Rights groups protesting in front of Department of Justice, June 2, 2017. (Photo from Kasalo Facebook page)
On Dec. 18, 2015, Rosalinda and her sons filed complaints against the teachers and leaders, three months after charges were filed against the perpetrators of Lianga massacre, the paramilitary men of the Magahat-Bagani.
In Reneboy’s affidavit, he alleged that Mapasu leaders taught them to “fight the government.” The brothers also alleged that they were ordered to undergo training by the NPAs in Camarin, which is 700 kilometers away from Alcadev school. They alleged that they were taught how to hold firearms, like M14, AK47, and M203. Reneboy also claimed in his affidavit that he was a student of Alcadev, while Rosalinda claimed that her sons were “kidnapped” in 2010 up to 2015.
But the allegations are not true, said Campos. Although both brothers were students of TRIFPSS, which is an alternative elementary school, Reneboy was never enrolled in Alcadev – an alternative secondary school – because he worked after graduating from TRIFPSS. While studying in TRIFPSS, they went home to their grandmother every day after school, which would prove that they were not kidnapped.
“They executed an affidavit and yet they are in the custody of the military. So what was the motive behind that?” said Campos.
In the Oct. 2015 Senate inquiry on Lianga massacre, the boys sat on the side of the military and spoke out against the teachers and leaders. Campos said they learned that Reneboy had been armed by the military.
Bautista said she is worried sick about her grandchildren. She said she does not believe that Rosalinda is capable of doing such a thing because she could neither read nor write. She also does not believe that her grandchildren wrote the affidavits. She said the military only used her grandsons against TRIFPSS.
“I just want to get them back,” the teary-eyed grandmother told Bulatlat.
Recovering from trauma
Angela Libano, 15, an incoming third year student at Alcadev, also went with the group to Manila to call for the dismissal of the charges. She said because of the martial law imposition in Mindanao, she fears for the teachers and the community. She said she has recovered from the trauma from the massacre, but could not help but be anxious.
“I’m afraid that it will happen again. Even without martial law, that happened; what more under martial law?” she told Bulatlat. She recalled how the Magahat threatened to destroy Alcadev.
Libano was a first year student in 2015. She was right behind Dionel Campos, who was her uncle, when the paramilitary men shot him. It took a week before she recovered, she said, as the images kept ruminating in her mind.
She was able to continue her studies at the evacuation center in Tandag City, and last year, back in Han-ayan, when the people returned home from evacuation on Sep. 3, and started to rebuild the school and community.
Getting back to normal
Campos said everyone in the school and community is still trying to get back to normal. The horrors of that fateful day, Sept. 1, 2015 did not fade away, she said.
“Barking dogs would awaken us at night, and we would anxiously think, the Magahats are back,” she said. News of military operations also terrify them, especially after President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao. She said the suspension of writ of habeas corpus may be used by the military to conduct warrantless search in Lumad schools and arrest students and teachers.
“Baka lalong gipitin nila iyong mga Lumad schools (They might harass the Lumad schools even more),” she said.
In spite of the grief and trauma in the community, the schools are set to start classes this week.
As proof of recovery, the number of students enrolled in the schools increased. There are more than 200 students enrolled in In Alcadev. The community schools of TRIFPPS also increased, from 21 to 23 in different communities in Surigao Del Sur.
She said since K to 12 is in full swing, more students from the far-flung areas cannot afford to pursue their studies. It would entail transportation expenses to go to school in the city from their mountain communities, Campos said. Add that to the cost of uniform, food and other school needs. “These are not affordable for the Lumad farmer who has no stable income,” she said.
She said Lumad communities have been asking government to build schools, one that is within reach from their houses so that they will not have to travel far. And this is what Alcadev has provided the Lumad youth for many years. Their school projects make use of resources in their surroundings and there is no need to buy.
Read: Alcadev: the school that feeds the minds and communities
Many of the older Lumad generation did not get any schooling, thus urge the younger ones to get an education. “Most of the elders did not finish school. It was very rare that one of the brood will make it to high school,” she said.
It is through the Lumad schools that children can express how they feel and understand why their communities continue to come under attack. “They know their rights and they will fight for it,” Campos said.
After their return to Lianga last year, no soldiers have come to the community. She said when ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and National Democratic Front of the Philippines was lifted in February, the soldiers from 75th IB informed the village chairman that they will resume operation in Lianga. But the village head would not allow the soldiers’ entry, insisting that the residents had just arrived and had barely started to rebuild their community. The soldiers acceded.
For now, she said they remain vigilant, as they do not know what the future holds. http://bulatlat.com/main/2017/06/12/teachers-surigao-sur-lumad-schools-call-dismiss-trumped-charges/
“They executed an affidavit and yet they are in the custody of the military. So what was the motive behind that?”
At least 12 teachers and community leaders of the province have been charged with child trafficking and child abuse, allegedly filed by two students and their mother who accused them of teaching children “to fight government” and be “trained by the New People’s Army.”
Those charged are teachers of the Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development, Inc. (Alcadev) and the Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS), and leaders of the Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu).
Human rights group Karapatan said the trumped-up charges were meant to harass teachers and other key witnesses to the Sept. 1, 2015 massacre in in Sitio (subvillage) Han-ayan, Diatagon village, where paramilitary men belonging to the Magahat-Bagani group routed the whole community, including Alcadev and TRIFPSS teachers and students. The Magahat killed Alcadev school director Emerito Samarca and Lumad leaders Dionel Campos and Datu Juvello Sinzo.
Read: ‘Soldiers watched as paramilitary attacked us’
Bulatlat interviewed Annabelle Campos, the TRIFPSS literacy coordinator and one of the 12 charged who went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) here in Manila to push for the dismissal of the cases.
Campos said these cases were meant to harass them and the leaders of the community who steadfastly fight against mining projects in their resource rich communities.
“This is what the military has been doing since 2005 because we resist the entry of destructive projects like mining,” she told Bulatlat. In spite of the cases, she said they will not waver in providing education, which is what the Lumad community needs, something that they were deprived of before these schools were built.
Read: Under the Gun: School for Tribal Children in Surigao Bears Brunt of Militarization
Karapatan legal counsel Atty. Sol Taule said that in a dialogue on June 2, DOJ Undersecretary Antonio Co had pledged to withdraw the charges.
‘Used by the military’
Campos said the children, Reneboy Tejero, who was then 17, and his brother Saniboy, 14, were both former students of TRIFPSS. They were among those who evacuated to Tandag City after the massacre.
Since 2008, after their father died, the two boys have been abandoned by their mother. They have since been in the custody of their grandmother, Lourdes Bautista, who enrolled them to TRIFPSS. Just days after the massacre, on Sept. 5, 2015, Bautista was surprised when the boys’ mother, Rosalinda, suddenly showed up at the evacuation center to get her sons. She later learned that the boys were put under the custody of the 401st Brigade of the Philippine Army at New Leyte, Awa village, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Campos said they found out that Rosalinda had a live-in partner who is a member of paramilitary group Mahagat.
Rights groups protesting in front of Department of Justice, June 2, 2017. (Photo from Kasalo Facebook page)
On Dec. 18, 2015, Rosalinda and her sons filed complaints against the teachers and leaders, three months after charges were filed against the perpetrators of Lianga massacre, the paramilitary men of the Magahat-Bagani.
In Reneboy’s affidavit, he alleged that Mapasu leaders taught them to “fight the government.” The brothers also alleged that they were ordered to undergo training by the NPAs in Camarin, which is 700 kilometers away from Alcadev school. They alleged that they were taught how to hold firearms, like M14, AK47, and M203. Reneboy also claimed in his affidavit that he was a student of Alcadev, while Rosalinda claimed that her sons were “kidnapped” in 2010 up to 2015.
But the allegations are not true, said Campos. Although both brothers were students of TRIFPSS, which is an alternative elementary school, Reneboy was never enrolled in Alcadev – an alternative secondary school – because he worked after graduating from TRIFPSS. While studying in TRIFPSS, they went home to their grandmother every day after school, which would prove that they were not kidnapped.
“They executed an affidavit and yet they are in the custody of the military. So what was the motive behind that?” said Campos.
In the Oct. 2015 Senate inquiry on Lianga massacre, the boys sat on the side of the military and spoke out against the teachers and leaders. Campos said they learned that Reneboy had been armed by the military.
Bautista said she is worried sick about her grandchildren. She said she does not believe that Rosalinda is capable of doing such a thing because she could neither read nor write. She also does not believe that her grandchildren wrote the affidavits. She said the military only used her grandsons against TRIFPSS.
“I just want to get them back,” the teary-eyed grandmother told Bulatlat.
Recovering from trauma
Angela Libano, 15, an incoming third year student at Alcadev, also went with the group to Manila to call for the dismissal of the charges. She said because of the martial law imposition in Mindanao, she fears for the teachers and the community. She said she has recovered from the trauma from the massacre, but could not help but be anxious.
“I’m afraid that it will happen again. Even without martial law, that happened; what more under martial law?” she told Bulatlat. She recalled how the Magahat threatened to destroy Alcadev.
Libano was a first year student in 2015. She was right behind Dionel Campos, who was her uncle, when the paramilitary men shot him. It took a week before she recovered, she said, as the images kept ruminating in her mind.
She was able to continue her studies at the evacuation center in Tandag City, and last year, back in Han-ayan, when the people returned home from evacuation on Sep. 3, and started to rebuild the school and community.
Getting back to normal
Campos said everyone in the school and community is still trying to get back to normal. The horrors of that fateful day, Sept. 1, 2015 did not fade away, she said.
“Barking dogs would awaken us at night, and we would anxiously think, the Magahats are back,” she said. News of military operations also terrify them, especially after President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao. She said the suspension of writ of habeas corpus may be used by the military to conduct warrantless search in Lumad schools and arrest students and teachers.
“Baka lalong gipitin nila iyong mga Lumad schools (They might harass the Lumad schools even more),” she said.
In spite of the grief and trauma in the community, the schools are set to start classes this week.
As proof of recovery, the number of students enrolled in the schools increased. There are more than 200 students enrolled in In Alcadev. The community schools of TRIFPPS also increased, from 21 to 23 in different communities in Surigao Del Sur.
She said since K to 12 is in full swing, more students from the far-flung areas cannot afford to pursue their studies. It would entail transportation expenses to go to school in the city from their mountain communities, Campos said. Add that to the cost of uniform, food and other school needs. “These are not affordable for the Lumad farmer who has no stable income,” she said.
She said Lumad communities have been asking government to build schools, one that is within reach from their houses so that they will not have to travel far. And this is what Alcadev has provided the Lumad youth for many years. Their school projects make use of resources in their surroundings and there is no need to buy.
Read: Alcadev: the school that feeds the minds and communities
Many of the older Lumad generation did not get any schooling, thus urge the younger ones to get an education. “Most of the elders did not finish school. It was very rare that one of the brood will make it to high school,” she said.
It is through the Lumad schools that children can express how they feel and understand why their communities continue to come under attack. “They know their rights and they will fight for it,” Campos said.
After their return to Lianga last year, no soldiers have come to the community. She said when ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and National Democratic Front of the Philippines was lifted in February, the soldiers from 75th IB informed the village chairman that they will resume operation in Lianga. But the village head would not allow the soldiers’ entry, insisting that the residents had just arrived and had barely started to rebuild their community. The soldiers acceded.
For now, she said they remain vigilant, as they do not know what the future holds.