Army settles 'rido' among MILF members in S. Kudarat

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): Army settles 'rido' among MILF members in S. Kudarat (By Edwin Fernandez)



CLAN WAR SETTLEMENT. Members of Muslim families in Palimbang town, Sultan Kudarat, who are locked in family feud agreed to an Army-initiated dialogue to end their misunderstanding and sign a peace deal on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). In coordination with the local government, the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion facilitated the 'rido' (clan war) settlement among members of two Moro Islamic Liberation Front units in the area. (Photo courtesy of 37IB)

Military and local officials in the Sultan Kudarat town of Palimbang on Tuesday facilitated the reconciliation and peace covenant signing of Moro families that have been locked in “rido” or clan war.

“We are glad you came over, this is an indication all of you can be peacemakers and peacekeepers,” Lt. Col. Allen Van Estrera, the Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion (37IB) commander, told the warring Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) 104th and 105th Brigades whose members were locked in a land dispute.

Estrera told the parties that progress will not come to an area where residents are fighting and killing each other.

Residents of interior villages of Palimbang, a coastal town in Sultan Kudarat, have been alarmed by the sporadic skirmishes involving warring Muslim families who happened to be members of MILF and its armed-wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

To prevent further armed conflict, the 37IB and the local government unit (LGU) of Palimbang, headed by Mayor Joenime Kapina, initiated the peace agreement for both sides to attain peace in the locality.
“This mechanism jointly agreed by all parties primarily aims to provide resolution to the conflict, I thank the 37IB for supporting us in this activity,” Kapina said.

The dialogue was held at Barongis Elementary School in Barangay Barongis, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat with the warring families in attendance.

Present to witness the unprecedented peace covenant signing were local officials.

Previous attempts by the local government to settle the conflict have failed. Estrera said his participation in the event signifies his full support to the peace and security efforts of the LGU.

“We are here not for war but for peace,” Estrera told local officials and residents after the covenant signing.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107612

PRRD to talk with cops in Sulu incident: Año

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 2, 2020): PRRD to talk with cops in Sulu incident: Año (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)



Interior Secretary Eduardo Año (File photo)

President Rodrigo Duterte wants to talk with the police officers involved in the shooting incident that led to the death of four Army intelligence personnel in Jolo, Sulu, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

“The President will talk with the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) commanders in Western Mindanao. He will also find time to talk with the nine PNP suspects. It's the discretion of PRRD to talk to them. His guidance is to observe the due process and let justice run its course,” Año said in a Viber message Wednesday.

He, however, said details on the matter cannot be revealed for security reasons.

Año said Duterte has given instructions "to make a full-blown investigation (and) he also wanted to know what happened".

The policemen involved have been already disarmed and currently restricted at the Sulu provincial police office, he added.

"We will make sure that first of all justice will really prevail but of course there is a process, so we will also ensure that the due process is observed," Año told reporters in a phone interview.

Año personally knows the slain personnel during his stint as commander of the Army's Intelligence Security Group and Army's assistant chief of staff for intelligence.

"I know them, kilala ko sila, alam ko kung papaano sila magtrabaho, mag-operate, (I know them, I know how they do their job, how they operate) very professional intelligence officers," he said.

Año reminded Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay to be mindful of making comments over the incident.

"First of all, we understand the sentiment of Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay. But I'm also reminding him to be sensible in pronouncing or making any statement because it might add fuel to the situation," said Año, a former AFP chief-of-staff, and PA commander.

Gapay on Tuesday described the death of the four soldiers as "murder and rubout" as he disputed police claims that it was a misencounter because the troops did not fire a single shot.

He also asked for the relief of Jolo police chief Lt. Col. Walter Annayo and Col. Michael Bawayan, Sulu provincial police commander, due to command responsibility.

As for Bawayan's fate, Año said he would first wait for the results of the probe before making a decision.

"Right now, I don’t think so. Let’s wait for the result of the investigation but right now, he has a very important role there, he has to ensure no violence will break out there,” he added.

Citing eyewitness accounts, Año said there was no shootout between the police officers and the soldiers.

"May mga available eyewitnesses na nagsasabi na wala naman talagang shootout at ito talaga ay isang rubout. Wala namang hawak na baril 'yung Army operatives at sinasabi ng mga ating eyewitnesses na pinagbabaril na lang talaga itong mga sundalo (Some eyewitnesses said there was no shootout and what happened was a rubout. The Army operatives were not armed and our eyewitnesses said the soldiers were fired upon by the police officers). That’s the report of some of the eyewitnesses whose statements are being taken by investigators," he said.

Considering that the situation in Sulu is "tense", he said the killing of the soldiers "without any reason" is no joke.

"Kahit na sabihin pa na hindi nagkaroon ng coordination o tamang coordination, we just don't shoot people, kahit 'yan ay civilian, o kahit 'yan ay kalaban pa, na hindi nakakapag-cause ng danger sa 'yo. 'Di mo talaga basta-basta babarilin ang mga 'yan (Even if you say there is no proper coordination, we don’t just shoot people, even if they are civilians or enemies not posing any danger)," Año said.

Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region regional director Brig. Gen. Manuel Abu ordered Annayo's relief.

Abu said Lt. Col. Fillmore Calip, former chief of 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, will replace Annayo, who will be sent to the Sulu Provincial Police Office while the investigation is ongoing.

He added that the relieved policemen -- S/Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, Pat. Rajiv Putalan, Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie U Baddiri, S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani -- were disarmed and placed under the custody of the provincial headquarters.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107721

Army spox welcomes PNP statement ruling out 'misencounter' claims

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 2, 2020): Army spox welcomes PNP statement ruling out 'misencounter' claims (By Priam Nepomuceno and Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)



Army Spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala (File photo)

The Philippine Army (PA) on Thursday welcomed the statement of the Philippine National Police ruling out the claim of misencounter in the fatal shooting of four military intelligence officers in Jolo, Sulu last June 29.

"We welcome the development from the PNP. We are both professional organizations and we are one in seeking the truth so justice may be served," Army spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Wednesday they have determined it to be a shooting incident after analysis of reports show that the soldiers did not fire a single shot at the nine police officers.

"Nais din natin bigyang linaw ang naunang pahayag na umano ay merong misencounter... ayon sa ating pag-aanalisa ng report na unang nailabas at officially released spot report ay nakita natin na wala namang paggamit or pagpapaputok ng baril mula sa mga namatay na sundalo. Ang nakalagay lamang doon ay umamba umano, kaya yaon ang naging response ng ating Jolo Municipal Personnel, batay sa pag-aaral na 'yan makikita natin na hindi na ito misencounter ito ay isang shooting incident (We would like to clarify that the earlier statement of a supposed misencounter... according to analysis of reports earlier released and officially released spot report, we saw that there was no shooting that occurred on the part of the soldiers. According to the analysis of the report we can see that it was not a misencounter but a shooting incident)," Banac said in a message to reporters.

PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa assured that the incident would not affect the working relationship between the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“Our relationship is founded on a long shared history of cooperation and brotherhood. In fact, we are inter-operable in the field because we share the same roots and are fighting a common enemy," Gamboa said.

Gamboa appealed for calm in the midst of speculations and misrepresentation of facts hounding the "most unfortunate" incident.

Communication and coordination, he said, are key factors in the success or failure of every military or police action.

“While the incident is most unfortunate, it should not undermine operational policies and established cooperation guidelines that we have relied on and trusted for years," he said.

“The PNP is committed to determine the truth and rest assured that we will support and abide by the findings and recommendations of the NBI,” he added.

Meanwhile, Zagala said the Army supports the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to talk with the nine police officers involved in the shooting.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is already looking into the incident involving the police and the military.

Both Zagala and Gamboa welcomed the probe, saying the two organizations want truth and justice.

"We leave the determination of motive to the NBI. We would not want to preempt their investigation," Zagala said. "What's important to the Army is we find out the truth and give justice to our fallen soldiers."

Gamboa said: “I have complete faith in the competence and professionalism of NBI to establish the facts and answer all questions that will uncover the truth behind this tragedy. Let the axe fall where it may for the sake of truth and justice.”

Killed in Monday's incident in Jolo, Sulu were Maj. Marvin A. Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin B. Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime M. Velasco, 38; and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33. The four were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers when the shooting happened.

Meanwhile, all nine police officers involved in the incident are now placed under the custody of the provincial police headquarters in Jolo.

They are S/Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, Pat. Rajiv Putalan, Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie U Baddiri, S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107725

NPA on brink of collapse: former rebel leaders

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): NPA on brink of collapse: former rebel leaders (By Jason De Asis)



BACK TO THE FOLD OF THE LAW. Three ranking leaders of the New People's Army surrender their firearms to the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) and Philippine National Police (PNP) in a secluded area of Sitio Balitwak, Barangay San Isidro, San Luis, Aurora on Saturday, June 27, 2020. Also in photo is Lt. Col. Reandrew Rubio, commander of 91st Infantry (Sinagtala) Battalion. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 9th Infantry Battalion)

Three ranking leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) who have returned to the fold of the law have admitted that the communist organization is on the brink of collapse.

The three, who belonged to the Komiteng Larangan Gerilya Sierra Madre (KLG SM) operating in the province, surrendered and yielded their high-powered firearms to the Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) and Philippine National Police (PNP) from Aurora and Nueva Ecija in a secluded area in Sitio Balitwak, Barangay San Isidro, San Luis, Aurora last Saturday.

The rebel leaders surrendered two M16 5.56mm rifles and an M653 5.56mm rifle or Baby Armalite.

In an exclusive interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday, the ranking NPA surrenderers, who introduced themselves as alias "Ka Dingdong", "Ka Dong" and "Ka Junjun", said what remains of the NPA membership is already weak.

Ka Dingdong, a squad leader, and team leaders Ka Dong and Ka Junjun, said from the previous three platoons of KLG SM, there is now only one platoon under the leadership of its commanding officer Harold Miňosa and vice commanding officer Sudario Lee alias "Ka Aura".

They said the rebels are already dwindling in numbers as many have surrendered due to the hardships they are experiencing in the mountains.

“Sa totoo lang hindi na namin kaya ang paghihirap sa loob ng kilusan. Ito ang nararanasan ng hukbo, gutom at pagod, nararamdaman namin na wala ng patutunguhan ang ipinaglalaban namin. Nalinlang kami ng dati naming mga kasamahan. Lakad lang kami ng lakad, walang katapusan kaya kusang loob na kaming sumuko at nagbaba ng armas (The truth is we can no longer bear the hardships inside the movement. This is what the comrades are experiencing, hunger and fatigue. We feel that what we were fighting for nothing. We were fooled by our former comrades. We were just walking and walking and there is no ending. That is why, we decided to surrender and yield our firearms),” they said.

The surrenderers said they were NPA fighters since 2017 and had engaged in close fights with government troops five times in the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Aurora.

Col. Andrew Costelo, commander of the 703rd Infantry Brigade that directly supervises 91IB, commended the troops for their accomplishment and also for the help provided by the PNP in Nueva Ecija and Aurora provinces.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID), the mother unit of 91IB, said: “This is what we are working, to invite the NPA members to return to the folds of the law and be with their families, instead of fighting in combat and kill each other. This option is better, after all, we are all Filipinos.”

Rosario said the series of setbacks of the NPA bandits in Central Luzon from 2019 to date, ranging from the dissolution of their two main units, neutralization of their top ranking leaders, and the withdrawal of support by their exploited supporters, brought the NPA’s Central Luzon Regional Party Committee to the brink of collapse.

Last year, the 7ID dismantled the Komiteng Larangan Gerilya (KLG) Caraballo and Larangang Gerilya sa Patag 1 in its pursuit to end the local communist armed conflict in Central Luzon.

The Army command also captured Redsa Balatan, alias “Sining”, the deputy secretary of Kilusang Larangan Gerilya (KLG) Sierra Madre during an armed encounter in November 2019.

Balatan was the former secretary of the defunct KLG Caraballo prior to the dismantling of said NPA unit.
It was followed by the death of Eleuterio Sadyaw Agmaliw alias “Omeng”, the leader of KLG Sierra Madre’s Domingo Erlano Command during a joint law enforcement operation with the PNP in Quezon City in December 2019.

Since 2019, a total of 1,006 exploited mass supporters who are farmers and members of the urban poor sectors, have withdrawn their support from the NPA, and 163 of them surrendered while six were killed during law enforcement operations.

Some 100 high-powered firearms and 33 low-powered firearms were either surrendered by former rebels, or recovered by operating troops during armed encounters.

“These series of hits that the NPA sustained, coupled with the sincere efforts of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), which pooled the resources of national government agencies and local government units in addressing issues in NPA-influenced barangays, took its toll on the terrorist group’s clout, resources, and manpower,” Rosario said.

The three new NPA surrenderers appealed to their former comrades in the KLG SM to follow them in returning to the fold of the law and surrender their firearms while they are still young.

“Huwag po nating sayangin ang ating buhay. Our government is open for peace. Let us all end insurgency. Kailangan natin ng seryosong pagbabalik-loob sa gobyerno sa puso, isip, salita at gawa. Sumuko kayo habang bata para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan (Do not let our lives go to waste. Our government is open for peace. Let us all end insurgency. We must seriously return to the folds of law in heart, mind, word and deed. Surrender while you are still young to have good future),” they said.

The NPA surrenderers are now being assessed for the processing of their benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government.

Under the E-CLIP program, they will receive a PHP15,000 initial assistance, PHP50,000 livelihood assistance and PHP50,000 firearms remuneration.

They will receive benefits from other government agencies, like skills training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, legal assistance from the Department of Justice, housing from National Housing Authority, among others.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107477

'Terror group member' slain in SoCot clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 'Terror group member' slain in SoCot clash (By Richelyn Gubalani)



RECOVERED. Firearms recovered by police operatives following a shootout with members of an Islamic State-inspired local terrorist group in Polomolok town, South Cotabato province on Tuesday evening (June 30, 2020). A member of the group was killed while three others managed to escape and are being pursued by the police. (Photo courtesy of Capt. Randy Apostol/Polomolok municipal police station)

An alleged member of an Islamic State-inspired local terrorist group was killed while three others managed to escape in an encounter with police operatives in Polomolok town, South Cotabato province on Tuesday evening.

Capt. Randy Apostol, deputy chief of the Polomolok municipal police station, said Wednesday the still-unidentified suspect was slain during a shootout with patrolling police officers in Barangay Pagalungan past 10 p.m.
Police officers spotted the four unidentified men riding in tandem on two motorcycles who were "moving suspiciously" in the area, Apostol said.

“As the patrol team approached, the suspects sped off and opened fire, prompting them to retaliate while on pursuit,” he said in an interview.

Apostol said the suspects managed to escape and was last seen heading towards the outskirts of the village.

Several hours later, he said a team of police officers returned to the site and found an abandoned Honda XRM motorcycle along with the slain suspect at a portion of Purok 1-Maligaya in Pagalungan.

A police report said the deceased gunman, who was apparently killed during the shootout, yielded seven sachets of suspected shabu and an Uzi sub-machine gun.
Also found in the trail of the fleeing suspects was a caliber .45 handgun and a caliber 5.56mm NATO assault rifle that was taken from one of the policemen who was killed in an ambush in Barangay Koronadal Proper in April.
Scene-of-the-crime operatives recovered at the scene of the encounter at least 16 fired slugs from various firearms.

The motorcycle, which was found with an expired license plate, was traced to have been stolen from Tupi town.

Apostol said manhunt operations are ongoing against the three other gunmen, who were identified as Russel Mamo, Abu Saif, and Jayrol Darino.

“These were based on the result of our ongoing investigation and accounts from witnesses,” he said, adding that the suspects were members of the Dawlah Islamiyah - Maguid faction’s Nilong sub-group, which had been the subject of law enforcement operations in parts of Polomolok in the past two years.

The group had been tagged as behind the series of killings, robbery, motorcycle theft, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities in Polomolok and neighboring areas. It was linked to the bomb attack in front of a lying-in clinic here in September 2018 that left eight people wounded.

The Nilong Group was reportedly allied with the defunct Sarangani-based terror group Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines, which was part of the local network of the Dawlah Islamiyah.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107606

4 suspected BIFF men injured, nabbed in Maguindanao shootout

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 4 suspected BIFF men injured, nabbed in Maguindanao shootout (By Noel Punzalan)



Google map of Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao.

Four suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) combatants were wounded and arrested following a shootout with government troopers near a checkpoint in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, identified the arrested individuals as Rahib Lumenda Esmail, Prati Kuludan, Arsad Ukom Utto and Aliofmer Talimbu -- all alleged members of the BIFF operating in the area.
Atilano said the suspects were on board a multi-cab vehicle when they sped past a joint police-Army checkpoint in Barangay Timbangan of the town around 1:30 p.m. prompting the troopers to give chase.

“A shootout ensued, wounding the four suspects in the process,” Atilano said, adding the suspects yielded a Thompson machine gun, a .45-caliber pistol and a rifle grenade ammunition.

All suspects are currently admitted at a local hospital under close guard by Shariff Aguak police personnel, the Army official said. (

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107635

Army deploys female Tausug soldiers in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): Army deploys female Tausug soldiers in Sulu (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)



SECURITY DUTY. A female Tausug soldier checks on the bag of a pedestrian in downtown Jolo, the capital of Sulu, following the decision of the Army's 11th Infantry Division to deploy female Tausug soldiers to render security in the area. The deployment of female soldiers is also in line with the command's policy on gender equality in service, an official says. (Photo courtesy of the 11th Infantry Division)

The Army's 11th Infantry Division (11ID) of the Philippine Army has deployed a team of female Tausug soldiers to render security duty in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu.

Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, 11ID commander, said Wednesday the female soldiers' deployment was in line with the command’s policy on gender equality in the service.

Vinluan, who is also the Joint Task Force Sulu commander, said the female Tausug soldiers were deployed in checkpoints and other posts and will only render duty during the daytime.

One of the deployed soldiers, Private Fatima Mynirsa Muksan, a resident of Jolo, vowed to serve her province-mates.

“Natutuwa po ako dahil natutulungan ko at napagsisilbihan ang aking mga kababayan dito sa Sulu na mapanatiling maayos at mapayapa (I'm happy to contribute and serve my people to keep the peace here in Sulu),” Muksan said.

Vinluan said the deployment of female Tausug soldiers will continue based on the needs of the people especially during the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and other security situations in the province.

Vinluan also assured that the security and developmental needs in the province of Sulu will be maintained and addressed.

The official said he will not allow any threat and issues to impede the command’s mission "to give the Tausugs a peaceful and livable place they deserved."

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107643

89 weapons surrendered at launch of NoCot police’s ‘Tugro Pusil’

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 89 weapons surrendered at launch of NoCot police’s ‘Tugro Pusil’ (By John Andrew Tabugoc)



SURRENDERED WEAPONS. A police officer stands guard during the official presentation of the surrendered firearms, grenades, and ammunition (inset) at the North Cotabato Provincial Police Office headquarters in Kidapawan Coty on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). The NCCPO said the weapons came from illegal gun holders across the province that were handed over to their respective local government units under the provincial police’s 'Tugro Pusil' project, a localized version of the national government’s 'Balik Baril' program. (Photo courtesy of NCCPO)

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Eighty-four assorted loose firearms and five explosives were turned over to the North Cotabato Police Provincial Office (NCPPO) at the launching of the “Tugro Pusil Program” in the province on Tuesday.

The “Tugro Pusil” -- an Ilonggo word for firearm turnover -- is a localized version of the national government’s “Balik Baril” program, said Col. Henry Villar, NCPPO director.

Villar said the firearms were handed over by illegal gun holders from this city and the 17 municipalities of the province through their respective local government units.

The surrendered weapons included 35 12-gauge shotguns, two 12-gauge homemade pistols, 24 .38-caliber revolvers, five .45-caliber pistols, four homemade .45 pistols, one .22 -caliber pistol, two .22-caliber rifles, one .22-caliber revolver, three M79 grenade launchers, one M203 rifle, three homemade machine guns, one Ultimax rifle, two Carbine rifles, and five grenades.

“This program is being implemented in coordination with barangay officials who personally convinced their constituents to surrender their firearms,” Villar said during the program at the NCCPO headquarters in Kidapawan City.

Villar said the program also aims to curb the number of unresolved shooting incidents that possibly involves illegal gun holders.

“I urge the general public to cooperate with the programs of the Philippine National Police to eliminate, if not pre-empt, crimes involving loose firearms”, he added.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107655

Duterte orders NBI's speedy probe into Sulu ‘misencounter’

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): Duterte orders NBI's speedy probe into Sulu ‘misencounter’ (By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos)



FINDING JUSTICE. The remains of three of the four slain soldiers allegedly shot and killed by police officers in Sulu last June 29 arrive at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to hasten its probe on the incident. (Photo courtesy of the Army Chief Public Affairs Offce)

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to hasten its investigation into the shooting incident in Jolo, Sulu involving cops and soldiers, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Duterte gave the order as he grieved over the deaths of four military troops following the supposed “misencounter” in Jolo, Sulu on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a television interview.

“Talagang nalulungkot siya doon sa nangyari na misencounter diyan sa Sulu. At in-orderan nga niya ang NBI na pabilisin ang imbestigasyon (He is really saddened by the misencounter in Sulu. And he ordered the NBI to fast-track its investigation),” Roque said.

Killed were Maj. Marvin Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38; and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33. The four were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers when the shooting happened.

Both the PNP and AFP have already sought the help of the NBI Regional Office in Zamboanga to look into the case of slain soldiers to ensure impartiality and eliminate any suspicion of undue influence.

Last misencounter

Duterte was “extremely sad” when he learned about the tragic incident, Roque said.

“Lungkot na lungkot siya. Ang ginamit nga niyang salita ay siya ay nanlambot, extremely sad (He was really sad. The term he used is he felt weak and extremely sad),” he said.

Duterte, Roque said, expressed hope that police and military would avoid a repeat of the incident under his watch.

“Hindi daw dapat nagpapatayan, nagi-engkuwentro ang parehong ideolohiya. At sabi niya, sana ito na ang huling misencounter sa kaniyang termino (He said those with same ideology should not kill each other or get involved in an encounter. He said that should be the last misencounter under his term),” he said.

Meeting with relieved cops
At least nine police officers who were part of a team that was reportedly involved in the killing of four soldiers were relieved from their posts, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced on Tuesday.

Año said the relieved policemen -- Staff Sgt. Almudzrin Hadjaruddin, Pat. Alkajal Mandangan, Pat. Rajiv Putalan, Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie U Baddiri, S/Sgt. Iskandar Susulan, S/Sgt. Ernisar Sappal, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, and Pat. Mohammad Nur Pasani -- were disarmed and placed under the custody of the Sulu police.

He added that the investigation has to be completed first before determining whether the chief of the Jolo Municipal Police station will be held liable for command responsibility.

Roque said Duterte signified intent to meet with the cops engaged in the fatal shooting of four military intelligence personnel in Sulu.

Duterte, however, did not spill any details about his possible meeting with the police officers, Roque said.

“Hiningi ni Presidente kay Secretary Año na gusto niyang makausap ‘yung mga pulis, ‘yung siyam na pulis na diumano ay nagpaputok doon sa apat na Army personnel, kasama ang isang major (The President asked Secretary Año to arrange a meeting with the nine cops involved in the killings of four Army personnel, including the major),” he said.

Roque said Duterte also wanted to visit Sulu to boost the morale of soldiers following the shooting incident.

NBI to determine motive

The Philippine Army (PA) meanwhile, said it is leaving to the NBI the determination of the motive behind the incident.

"We leave the determination of motive to the NBI. We would not want to pre-empt their investigation," Army spokesperson, Col. Ramon Zagala told the Philippine News Agency.

Zagala added that it is of paramount importance to the PA that the truth behind the incident is known and justice is given to the fallen soldiers.

PA chief, Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay ordered all flags in Army camps nationwide to be flown half-mast to honor the four fallen soldiers and also to show sympathy for the families of the slain intelligence troops.

Gapay added that he finds the initial report of the police regarding the incident "fabricated" and "full of inconsistencies" aside from "very misleading".

He was referring to reports that the four soldiers tried to escape after being accosted by Jolo police and that the intelligence personnel tried to fight back when cornered.

"We (can't) accept it because (while it) is part of our job, you know we get killed in performing out job but getting unnecessarily killed in the hands of your partners, I think it's different, it (is) something that can be prevented (that is why) we were enraged and you know (how bad we felt on what happened to the Army personnel who were murdered by the policemen in Jolo," Gapay said in a media briefing at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

He reiterated that no firefight took place between the intelligence troops and the police officers.

"There was never a firefight, our men never fired a single shot, there were witnesses, there were CCTVs and we have personnel tailing, its SOP (standard operating procedure), the vehicle which was gunned down, and they said it was unidentified (how could that be) when at the checkpoint, they already known that those inside were Army personnel," Gapay said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107604

2 AFP officials promoted to next higher rank

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): 2 AFP officials promoted to next higher rank (By Priam Nepomuceno)



PROMOTED. AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. (center), presides over the donning of ranks ceremony for two military officials in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). Promoted to the next higher rank were AFP Inspector General, Lt. Gen. Franco Nemecio Gacal (left), formerly major general, and concurrent head of the AFP Education Training and Doctrine Command and spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo (right), formerly brigadier general. (Photo courtesy of AFP Public Affairs Office)

Two ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) were promoted to their next higher rank on Tuesday.

Promoted and donning his third star was Lt. Gen. Franco Nemecio M. Gacal, inspector general of the AFP and previously a major general.

Meanwhile, former brigadier general and now Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, commander of the AFP Education Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC) and concurrent military spokesperson, got his second star rank.

AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Felimon T. Santos, presided over the donning ceremony at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club in Camp Aguinaldo.

“Lt. Gen. Gacal’s impressive service record in various operational assignments will certainly have a significant impact (on) his current post as Inspector General, AFP. I am confident that he shall continue to institute innovations, particularly in the conduct of annual general inspections on various major AFP units amidst the challenge of the (coronavirus disease 2019) Covid-19 pandemic,” Santos said in his speech.

After the ceremony, Gacal was given military honors at the General Headquarters Canopy.

Before his current post, Gacal was commander of the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Eastern Mindanao and commanded the 402nd Infantry Brigade in 2016.

He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988 with expertise in resource management and managerial acumen.

He took his Master in Strategic Studies, Peace and Security Stabilization Course, International Fellows Academic Preparatory Course, and Joint Professional Military Education at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania, the United States.

Meanwhile, Santos congratulated Arevalo for handling his concurrent positions as AFPETDC commander and AFP spokesperson.

“With Maj. Gen. Arevalo’s experiences in conveying AFP messages and facts as a seasoned defender and builder of the AFP’s image, I am certain that there will be significant improvements, particularly in the conduct of training and skills development for the whole Armed Forces,” he said.

Arevalo previously held positions concurrent with his responsibilities as AFP spokesperson and this includes assistant deputy chief of staff for Civil-Military Operations (CMO), and as acting commander and deputy commander of the Civil Relations Service of the AFP.

He also held positions as commander of the CMO Group and spokesperson of the Philippine Navy, and was assigned at the PMA as military instructor for five years.

Arevalo is a member of PMA Class of 1990 and a decorated Marine, a Counselor-at-Law and Notary Public, author, educator, crisis communicator, and a dedicated CMO practitioner.

“I am privileged in recognizing the ascension of our honorees in AFP’s hierarchy. This is a testament that the AFP is indeed filled with individuals who are committed, and capable of carrying great responsibilities in serving our nation and the people,” Santos said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107579

Army chief's remarks on Sulu incident based on ground info: AFP

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): Army chief's remarks on Sulu incident based on ground info: AFP (By Priam Nepomuceno)



FALLEN TROOPS HONORED. Army troops carry the casket of one of the four soldiers in Sulu whose remains arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Tuesday (June 30, 2020). Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay was enraged over the incident and demanded for a full-blown investigation. (Photo courtesy of the Army Chief Public Affairs Office)

Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay's comments on the incident where four soldiers were shot and killed by police officers in Sulu were based from a "learned evaluation of information" that was presented to him, the Armed of the Philippines (AFP) said on Wednesday.

"His (Gapay) point of view is supported by spot reports and eyewitness accounts of two civilians and of a motorcycle-riding soldier who was part of the operation trailing the SUV (sports utility vehicle) boarded by the four intelligence personnel," AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to reporters.

While there is an initial result of the autopsy of the troops' remains, Arevalo said the AFP would not reveal it to avoid preempting its announcement.

"We share the grief of Lt. Gen. Gapay and his call for an impartial and thorough investigation and his quest for justice as he minced no words in calling for accountability and liability for those involved in the incident," he added.

Arevalo said both AFP chief-of-staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Gamboa have agreed to revisit each Technique, Tactics, and Procedure (TTPs) to determine if these are current and are followed religiously to prevent the incident from happening again.

Arevalo's remarks were echoed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

"He is just repeating the reports he got from our people on the ground. Of course, the event happened just the other day and emotions are high among the Army troops. The Army leadership in Sulu are trying hard to calm their people while inquiry is going on," he said in a message to reporters.

Lorenzana, however, said he would wait first for the results of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe before commenting on whether the incident was a case of "murder" or "rubout".

"It’s not good to speculate. The accounts from both sides are conflicting. Let’s wait for the NBI investigation," he added.

Gapay earlier tagged the incident as a "rubout" after noting that the four soldiers did not try to escape after being accosted by policemen and drew their weapons after being cornered.

Lorenzana, meanwhile, said Gapay's calls for the PNP Sulu provincial director and Jolo municipal police station commander to be made accountable for the incident must first be probed.

"While there is the principle of command responsibility, it must be carefully determined how high in the hierarchy should be accountable. It has to stop somewhere," he added.

Lorenzana's views were shared by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who said all angles will be looked into in the investigation of the incident.

"I will wait for the investigation to finish first," Año said in a text message.

Killed in Monday's incident were Maj. Marvin A. Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin B. Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime M. Velasco, 38 and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33.

The four were tailing four terrorist suicide bombers in the said municipality when the shooting happened.

Meanwhile, Santos said the PNP leadership is ready to cooperate with the NBI regarding the ongoing investigation.

"I have talk(ed) with (PNP chief) Gen. (Archie) Gamboa (and) his commitment is full cooperation with the investigation of NBI as we agreed. All suspects are already under PNPs custody. We will wait for the findings of NBI. The AFP will also determine if there are SOPs (standard operating procedures), procedures and other system(s) violated and improved to avoid similar incidents," he added in a message to reporters.

He has also instructed all concerned staff and subordinate commanders to ensure that the soldiers who died in the line of duty will be given the assistance, benefits and entitlements due them.

"While we are in search for truth and justice, we are also mindful not to allow the enemies of the state to take advantage of the incident to create a divide between the AFP and the PNP," he added.

PNP-IAS to hold separate probe

Meanwhile, the PNP-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) will also conduct a probe on the members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Sulu who were involved in the incident.

PNP-IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said he has yet to receive the initial report of the IAS of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-BARMM).

"We acted already because it is in the mandate of IAS to conduct motu proprio investigation on this kind of incident. He (PRO-BARMM regional director) said he will submit today pero wala pa ako na-receive na copy ng (but I have to get a copy of the) initial report," Triambulo said in a text message to reporters.

Aside from the IAS, a representative from the National Police Commission and the PRO-BARMM will join the investigation team, he added.

Triambulo said cops involved the incident may face administrative aside from the criminal case based on the investigation made by the NBI.

"Because in handling crime scene and evidence, there is a procedure, we are very strict about this. If this was not done, our cops there would maybe be held again liable for that. When there's a crime scene, there's an incident, the procedure is to secure the crime scene and wait for reinforcement or SOCO (scene of the crime operations) to come in," he said in a television interview.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107616

PH anti-terror bill ‘at par’ with developed countries

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 1, 2020): PH anti-terror bill ‘at par’ with developed countries (By Azer Parrocha)

The Philippines’ proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 is “at par” with the anti-terrorism legislation of the developed countries, Malacañang said on Wednesday with the measure only a signature away from becoming law.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this statement after United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged President Rodrigo Duterte to “refrain” from signing the anti-terrorism bill.

She made this call during the 44th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on June 30, saying the passage of the controversial bill could intensify concerns on the “blurring of important distinctions between criticism, criminality, and terrorism.”

Roque explained that other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom had “more draconian” laws compared to the Philippines.

“I think, it’s a view of the High Commission of the Human Rights has to be taken in the context of other existing Anti-Terror legislation and I’m sure that the studies will confirm that we are at par as with the rest of the developed world in fact and not just with the developing countries,” he said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

He also trivialized Bachelet’s finding that the country’s laws and policies to counter national security threats and illegal drugs have been crafted and implemented in ways that severely impact human rights, saying no country could claim a “perfect record” for human rights.

“No country can claim a perfect record as far as human rights is concerned. Again, benchmark should be the United States, I’ m sure the Special Rapporteur is on equality, have equally bad things to say about the United States. The Rapporteurs on the rights of refugees have equally bad things to say about Australia and don’t even mention countries like Israel ‘no. And of course, Europe now faces challenges as far as refugees coming from Africa are concerned,” he said.

Roque, however, pointed out that what mattered is that atrocities or acclaimed violations of human rights are being investigated and perpetrators are being punished.

“As far as the Philippines is concerned, (Justice) Secretary Menard Guevarra has said that in an effort improve our capacity to investigate and punish the perpetrators of human rights violators, we have created an inter-agency body headed by the DOJ (Department of Justice),” he said.

Speaking online before the UNHRC 44th session, Guevarra bared that the national government has created an inter-agency body that will look into the 5,655 deaths in the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Citing Guevarra, he said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also duty-bound to conduct an investigation even without complainants against its operations that resulted in deaths.

“I am confident having worked with the PNP Chief (Archie) Gamboa ‘no, that these are in fact being done by the PNP. But nonetheless, the inter-agency response is necessary to assure the country and the international community, of the impartiality of the investigation of these deaths arising from police operations,” Roque said.

Last June 2, Roque assured that there are no “draconian provisions” in the measure meant to beef up the country’s law against terrorism.

“Wala naman pong draconian na provision diyan. Lahat po ng provision diyan ay ibinase rin natin sa mga batas na mga iba’t ibang bansa na mas epektibo po ang kanilang pagtrato dito sa mga terorista (There is no draconian provision there. All of those provisions are based on laws of other countries that are effective in fighting terrorists),” he said.

Compared to anti-terrorism laws in other countries, Roque said the country’s current Human Security Act of 2007 or Republic Act 9372, which the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 aims to repeal, is the tamest.

Under the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, the detention of suspected terrorists for up to 24 days sans a warrant of arrest will be permitted. It also allows a 60-day surveillance with an allowable 30-day extension that can be conducted by the police or the military against the suspected terrorists.

The bill also imposes a 12-year jail term on a person who voluntarily or knowingly joins a terrorist organization.

Lawmakers, human rights groups, and celebrities have opposed the measure, saying it would further violate human rights.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107644

No indication slain soldiers fired at Sulu cops: AFP spox

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 30, 2020): No indication slain soldiers fired at Sulu cops: AFP spox (By Priam Nepomuceno)

AFP spokesperson, Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo. (File photo) 

There is no indication that the four slain soldiers traded gunfire with members of the Jolo Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Sulu on Monday, a ranking official of the Armed of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday.

"Kung makikita natin yung mga larawan ay makikita natin na yung mga sundalo ay malapit dun sa sasakyan at yung isa ay naroon pa sa loob at ang initial na impormasyon natin ay pinaputukan itong mga sundalo habang sila ay nakasakay dun sa kanilang vehicle, except of course si Major (Marvin) Indammog na nakababa pa at nakipag-usap dun sa mga PNP (Philippine National Police) (If we will look at the pictures, we will see that the soldiers are near the vehicle and one of them is inside. Our initial information says the soldiers were fired upon while they were inside the vehicle, except of course for Maj. Marvin Indamog who was able to disembark and talk with the members of the PNP)," AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Indammog is the commander of the 9th Intelligence Service Unit (9ISU), an intelligence-gathering unit of the military. Also killed with him were Capt. Irwin Managuelod, Sgt. Jaime Velasco and Cpl. Abdal Asula.

When asked again to clarify if there was an exchange of gunfire between the soldiers and police, Arevalo said there was none as per reports reaching the military.

"Yun aspeto na bumaba si Major Indammog at kung meron pang sumunod na bumaba sa kanyang mga kasamahan could be a matter of fact na lalabas sa imbestigasyon (The aspect of Major Indammog alighting from the vehicle and whether there is one among his companions who also alighted from the vehicle could be a matter of fact which will come out in the investigation). What I'm relating to you ay kung ano lamang ang pagkaunawa dito sa atin dun sa pakikipag-usap natin kay (is our understanding of the situation based on our talks with) (Major) Gen. (Corleto) Vinluan (11th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Sulu commander)," he added.

The PNP and the AFP have agreed that the National Bureau of Investigation regional office in Zamboanga City will conduct and lead the investigation to ensure impartiality and eliminate any suspicion of undue influence.

In a report, the Sulu Provincial Police Office said around 2 p.m. on Monday, police officers from the Jolo MPS flagged the four soldiers onboard a sports utility vehicle while manning a checkpoint at the town proper.

The police officers apprehended them and instructed them to proceed to the Jolo MPS for verification.

However, the troops allegedly fled towards Barangay San Raymundo and were chased by the police officers.

Fallen soldiers honored

Meanwhile, three of the four slain soldiers were given military arrival honors at Villamor Airbase, Pasay City on Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement, Col. Ramon Zagala, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson, said the remains of Indammog, Managuelod, and Valesco were received by Army commander Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay, their families and comrades.

Meanwhile, Asula’s burial rites will be held in Sulu.

“Today, we honor and remember their sacrifices for the country. We mourn and condole with their bereaved families and we ensure that the necessary assistance will be given to them,” Gapay said.

The four were tailing terrorist suicide bombers in Jolo, Sulu when the incident happened.

“This tragedy imposed a great loss for our pursuit of peace in the Sulu region. The PA is strongly demanding for an impartial investigation to get to the bottom of this without any intention to create animosity between the Army and the PNP. However, we are professional organization and we will not let this pass. The Army seeks that justice be served for our fallen heroes,” Gapay said. (

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107495