PH peacekeepers in Haiti return to base

From the Sun Star-Manila (Sep 26): PH peacekeepers in Haiti return to base

ONE-hundred thirty three members of the 17th Filipino peacekeeping contingent from Haiti returned in the country on Thursday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gregorio Catapang Jr. personally welcomed his men, composed of eight officers and 125 enlisted personnel from the Philippine Navy in a simple ceremony, which was held at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

Philippine Navy Public Affairs Office Chief Marineth Domingo said there were a total of 157 Filipino soldiers who were sent in Haiti, which suffered armed conflict for decades and a devastating earthquake in 2010 on October 29, 2013.

Domingo said the Filipino peacekeepers that were part of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in Haiti serves as perimeter security forces to the Force Headquarters of the UN Mission to Haiti, provide administrative and logistics clerical services to the Force Headquarters, operate military vehicles and secure key personalities.

Twenty-four Filipino soldiers remained in Haiti to train the new team of 157 Filipino peacekeepers, she said.

On September 23, the AFP deployed another 157 troops in Haiti, including nine women, from the Navy and Marines.

Navy Captain Luzviminda Camacho, the first Filipino female commander in the UN who led the members of the 17th Filipino peacekeeping contingent in Haiti, said the situation in the said region is much better that it was in Golan Heights, which put other Filipino peacekeeping forces in an uncertain condition.

Last August, 75 Filipino peacekeepers serving the UN peacekeeping points in Golan Height performed the "great escape" after Syrian rebels surrounded them and demanded their weapons.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2014/09/25/ph-peacekeepers-haiti-return-base-367532

Group formed to give social services to rebel returnees

From the Sun Star-Davao (Sep 26): Group formed to give social services to rebel returnees

SAINT Francis of Assisi Parish priest Fr. Emmanuel "Bong" M. Gonzaga is among the members of the newly-created local committee that will provide social welfare services for New People's Army (NPA) rebel returnees.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte signed the Executive Order (EO) No. 41 on September 23, creating the Davao City Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) committee for former NPA rebels.

The EO reads that the CLIP committee will be responsible in formulating and developing the Comprehensive Local Integration Plan, which consolidates the needs of rebel returnees within Davao City.

The CLIP is also tasked to conduct "advocacy, information and education campaigns, capacity building mechanisms and other similar activities" for former rebels.

Duterte chairs the CLIP committee, while City Administrator Melchor Quitain is the co-chair and City Social Services and Development Office head Maria Luisa Bermudo is the vice-chair.

The members are composed of the head of offices of the City DILG, City Health Office, City Veterinarian's Office, City Planning and Development Office, City Agriculturist Office and representatives of the Philippines National Polcie, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Education in Davao City and Gonzaga being a member of the Civil Society Organization to the City Peace and Order Council.

The EO states that the creation of CLIP is provided under the joint memorandum of the DILG and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2014/09/25/group-formed-give-social-services-rebel-returnees-367619

32 loose guns surrendered

From the Visayan Daily Star (Sep 26): 32 loose guns surrendered

The Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion recovered 32 loose firearms in the 5th district of Negros Occidental, Col. Jon Aying, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said yesterday.

The firearms, surrendered by the populace to the 11IB, showed the change of attitude of the people, and indicated their trust in the government, Aying added.

 

Some of the surrendered firearms, that included high-powered rifles, were turned over by members of the Yunit Militia of the New People’s Army securing regular NPA red fighters entering their hinterland communities in the fifth district, military records show.

 

Aying, who led the bloodletting program of the 303rd Infantry Brigade held at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Center in Bacolod City, also noted the absence of NPA-initiated violent activities in the past two months and attributed this to their successful “winning the peace” campaign in Negros Occidental.

 

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2014/September/26/topstory3.htm

Kids express their dreams in Basilan peace event

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 26): Kids express their dreams in Basilan peace event



TIPO-TIPO, BASILAN -- Ten-year-old Kahdija Arsim gleefully made her final jump as she outwitted the other 10 contestants and bagged the first prize in a kiddie party game that was designed not only to generate fun and laughter but to challenge one’s memory and physical movement.

Arsim, a shy but competitive girl, shouted in excitement when she received a plastic water container as a token for her victory.

Interviewed later, Arsim, who was wearing the traditional Muslim hijab, proudly said that it is not the prize that matters to her but the joy that the games brought to the children in this town, which for years had been besieged by armed hostilities.

“We were so happy. I told myself that life is beautiful if the people are happy,” the grade-schooler said in Filipino.

Little Arsim was referring to the Kids for Peace event that was jointly organized by the local government unit of Tipo-Tipo, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) in the town plaza on Saturday (September 10).

Hundreds of children were here for the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month in a fun-filled day-long event featuring kiddie party games, storytelling sessions, and visual art lessons. Magicians and clowns who astounded the kids with their tricks and skits were also present.

Kids for Peace was conceptualized for children in conflict-affected areas so they can learn how to respect cultural differences and value the environment. The kids were also given a chance to learn creative and nonviolent ways of resolving conflict, the organizers said.  It was a way of imparting to them the culture of peace.

Lieutenant Colonel Paolo Perez, the commander of the Philippine Army’s 18th Infantry Battalion, which maintains a camp here, explained that it is always children who are most affected when armed conflict erupts. If left unhealed, he warned that the trauma could have devastating effects on the children’s social growth.

Perez, a native of Basilan, said since he took over the helm as the commander of the military unit in this town two years ago, he has been actively been engaging with the communities to help them rise from the effects of war. He has also been organizing events to help children recovering from the effects of armed conflicts.

“Giving adequate attention to the children’s needs such as ensuring that they are receiving proper education and providing them a safe and secure environment are ways to address the root of the conflict in a long term,” Perez said.

Town Mayor Ingatun Lukman Istarul expressed the same vision of Perez, saying that their ultimate goal is to establish the foundations that are critical to the development of the children.

“We want to create an environment where these children can freely grow," he said.

The weekend’s joyous event is uncommon given that residents tend to live with the constant possibility of eruption of armed hostilities.

This third class municipality and its neighboring towns, such as Ungkaya Pukan and Al Barka, are known to be the strongholds of the Abu-Sayyaf – a group that had gained international notoriety for launching a series of deadly bomb attacks in the country and kidnapped numerous foreigners and locals since 2000.

These towns are also the scenes of some of the deadliest encounters between state troopers and the bandits in recent years. These are the very places where soldiers were beheaded and mutilated during firefights in 2007 and 2011, respectively. The incidents sparked national public outcries for the government to exert all its military might to wipe out the armed group.

Although some of its founding leaders have been neutralized and its size has dwindled, the Abu-Sayyaf still pose a danger to communities here. Only last month, residents here were terrified after a roadside bomb exploded several kilometers from the town’s main school. There were no casualties, but the explosion wounded several soldiers.

With these encounters in mind, Arsim, who has been displaced a number of times due armed conflicts, said she remained hopeful that eventually their town will be free from banditry and progress will soon follow. “I don’t want war,” she said.

Arsim, along with her sister, is under the care of their aging grandmother. Her mother has been working as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia for years, while his father has just recently left them to work in Malaysia.

Arsim said she is determined to finish her studies to achieve her dream to become a lawyer so she could help others.

Fifth grade student Al-Rhazi Alpha also shared the same aspirations as those of Arsim, saying there is no other way but to continue living despite challenges. Alpha dreams of becoming a teacher someday.

The 12-year-old boy, who rejected life in the evacuation sites as hell during armed conflict, said the Kids for Peace project made him feel like a real child again.

“Masaya ako kasi maraming games. First time kong makakita ng clowns, magicians, and mascots. Sa TV ko lang sila nakikita,” he said.

Al-Ahmandi Iklama, also a fifth-grade student, expressed his visions of a progressive Tipo-Tipo through drawings. Using bold strokes, the child drew tall buildings, paved roads, bountiful farmlands, schools, and happy people.

“This is exactly what I want to happen to Tipo-Tipo. My dream is to become an engineer and make this happen,” the 11-year-old boy said as he held his masterpiece close to his chest.

The Kids for Peace event here is just one of the activities that OPAPP, through its Bangsamoro office is initiating for September, in celebration of the National Peace Consciousness Month.

Another sports tournament, Football for Peace for aspiring young players, is also happening in the southernmost island province of Tawi-Tawi. Matches are also slated to be played in Zamboanga City, where young players from Basilan, Sulu and the host city will play in a series of friendly games on September 27 and 28. The events were organized in partnership with the AFP. (OPAPP)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2131411638808

Aquino doubles security due to ‘credible threat’ vs Pope

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sep 26): Aquino doubles security due to ‘credible threat’ vs Pope


Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014. President Aquino on Tuesday said he expected stepped up measures by the Presidential Security Group to protect Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines in January next year amid a news report in Italy of a possible threat against the Pontiff by Islamic militants. AP PHOTO/ALESSANDRA TARANTIN

President Aquino on Tuesday said he expected stepped up measures by the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to protect Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines in January next year amid a news report in Italy of a possible threat against the Pontiff by Islamic militants.

“We are not going into details. What the PSG affords me, I want to see them double the effort especially for the head of the Holy Mother Church. There shouldn’t be any incident while he’s in our country. But going into details now might increase the problems of the PSG,” Aquino told reporters in a briefing.

The Iraqi ambassador to the Vatican, Habeeb al-Sadr, has been quoted by the Italian newspaper La Nazione earlier this week as saying there is a “credible threat” from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) against the Pope.

With ‘Yolanda’ victims

Pope Francis will be in the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19, primarily to visit the survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” that devastated the Visayas in November last year. He is scheduled to fly on Jan. 17 to Tacloban, which bore the brunt of the cyclone, internationally known as “Haiyan.”

The PSG will also beef up security for 21 world leaders, including the United States, China and Japan, who are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in the Philippines in November next year, the President said.

Aquino said the terrorist groups in the Philippines being pursued by security forces are not part of the Isis.

“The Abu Sayyaf, maybe even the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) are doing basically the same things but now attributing it to their joining IS, which doesn’t necessarily mean that they are IS,” the President said.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario was set to meet with officials from the US Department of State on Wednesday morning on the latest air strikes by the US military carried out against the Islamic extremist group in Syria.

The President said Del Rosario would seek “more details, exactly if they [US] are asking for assistance [from the Philippines] and what manner of assistance… which we will review.”

US authorities

“Of course, we want to do something that is doable and within our capabilities without posing undue risks to our forces or the country at large,” said Aquino, who was winding up a two-week visit to Europe and the United States.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/111685/aquino-doubles-security-due-to-credible-threat-vs-pope

Malay-speaking Isis fighters come together under new unit, report says

From the Malaysia Insider (Sep 26): Malay-speaking Isis fighters come together under new unit, report says
 

Militants from Indonesia and Malaysia fighting in Syria have come together on common language and culture, forming their own military unit and prompting fears of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria's (Isis) expansion in Southeast Asia, a Jakarta think tank warned.

 

Quoted by Singapore's The Straits Times (ST), the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (Ipac) said 22 members had formed the "Katibah Nusantara Lid Daulah Islamiyyah" (Malay archipelago unit for the Islamic State) in Al-Shadadi, Syria, as appeared in a video posted on a Facebook page which has since closed.

 

The daily said faced with language barriers, the new unit would make it easier to recruit Indonesians who could not communicate in English or Arabic.

 

"This group was formed with a goal to recruit and facilitate people who want to go to Syria to defend the Islamic caliphate, and also do counter-attacks against governments that repress caliphate supporters," the paper quoted Robi Sugara of the Barometer Institute as saying.

 

ST also quoted Ipac's Sidney Jones as saying that unlike Jemaah Islamiyah, al-Qaeda's regional chapter blamed for a spate of terrorist attacks in Indonesia, Isis fighters already had battle experience.

 

"The cross-regional bonds established could also be the strongest we've seen in a long time," Jones told the daily.

 

She said a check on Facebook revealed that pro-Isis Indonesian and Malaysians were linking up, and warned that the newly formed Katibah "could become the vanguard for a fighting force that would reach into Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines".

 

The revelation of the new group comes as Malaysian police reportedly detained three men who were allegedly on the way to Istanbul via Doha to join Isis forces.

 

Officials in Indonesia and Malaysia have detected scores of their citizens fighting for Isis in Syria.

 

22 Malaysians have so far been arrested for links to Isis, and police are now tracking down five militants believed to be connected to Isis and Abu Sayyaf, the Philippines-based terror group.

 

On September 24, Defence Forces chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin warned that Isis was a real threat, adding that the authorities should take action to prevent it from turning into a major problem.

 

Referring to the Malaysians involved in militant activities in Syria and Iraq, he told Bernama he was “worried that when they return to Malaysia, they will do something that can threaten the safety of the country, especially after they established a network in neighbouring countries from Syria or Iraq”.

 

Meanwhile, a senior Malaysian intelligence official told The Malaysian Insider on September 22 that Isis forces were using social media platforms such as Facebook to enlist fighters from around the world, adding that some 40 Malaysians had been thus recruited.

 

“Terrorist groups are adapting their tactics and evolving out of necessity because of far-reaching, multinational counter-terrorism operations abroad,” the official said.

 

“The strategy of bringing like-minded people together via conversational media increases the radicalism of jihadists.”

 

On September 14, former PAS member Lotfi Ariffin died in Syria after succumbing to injuries suffered while fighting alongside Isis forces.

 

Lotfi had reportedly been with a group of Malaysian Isis fighters when they were caught in an ambush by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

 

Last month, The Malaysian Insider reported that Malaysian women are believed to have joined Isis forces to offer what is called “Jihad al-Nikah” or “conjugal jihad”.

 

Senior intelligence officials later confirmed that three Malaysian women had journeyed to the Middle East to join up with Isis forces.

 

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malay-speaking-isis-fighters-come-together-under-new-unit-report-says

MILF: "Bangsamoro: Let us be driven by hope instead of fear"

Posted to the MILF Website (Sep 25): Bangsamoro: Let us be driven by hope instead of fear

(Opening statement of Mohagher Iqbal, BTC Chair, during the Hearing on the BBL in the Lower House on September 24, 2014)

Salutations/Greetings.

Thank you for the opportunity to address you, honourable members of the House of Representatives. The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law is a complex document and for this reason let me speak plainly and from the heart.

OUR HOPES AND DREAMS

While the Bangsamoro may be just another piece of legislation, for us it is something more. The Bangsamoro is the promise of a better life for ourselves, our children and our children’s children.

For a people that has constantly lived in fear and insecurity, of war, the Bangsamoro is the hope of life where our children can live safely and happily to pursue their grandest dreams;

For a people that have known grinding poverty, the Bangsamoro is the hope of prosperity and abundance;

For a people that have been effectively governed by others not their own, the Bangsamoro is the hope that someday they shall be captains of their fate and builders of their future;

The Bangsamoro is the sum of our hopes and dreams. It may mean nothing to you. But it is the whole world to us. It is what we got. It is what we only have. We implore you then to step lightly on these dreams when you discuss the draft law. Do not trample them. Celebrate them. Welcome them.

BE NOT AFRAID

Let me however warn you of people who would want to sow fear instead of hope in your hearts and in the hearts of the Filipino people. Their aim is to stop the establishment of the Bangsamoro and for this, they will take advantage of the deeply held biases and prejudices of the people. They will use words like “dismemberment of the Republic”, “sell-out”, “violation of the Constitution”, “surrender”, “state within a state” and even a “ploy for eventual independence”.

To all of these, we say: be not afraid.

To the Filipino people: be not afraid.
Instead of dismemberment of the Republic, the Bangsamoro will further unite our peoples. There shall be no state within a state. The Philippine state shall remain sovereign. We only ask that we be allowed to govern ourselves. You shall see the Philippine flag and hear the national anthem sung in our schools and offices. Be not afraid of the Constitution. There are enough flexibilities in it to solve this problem. We only need to look for it.

To the indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro: be not afraid.
Just as we fought for our right to self-determination so shall we protect yours. We are brothers and sisters. Our gain is your gain.

To the non-Muslims in the Bangsamoro, be not afraid.
We shall not impose our beliefs on you. The Sharia will only apply to us Muslims. We ask only that we respect our respective faiths and ways of life.

To the people outside of the Bangsamoro and their leaders, do not be afraid.
We only ask that the Bangsamoro people be asked directly, without fear or intimidation, whether or not they want to be part of the Bangsamoro. That is all. We will never impose ourselves on communities that prefer to be not part of us.

In the coming days, Congress will be asked to render judgment on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. You will be asked: hope or fear?  It is my prayer choose hope over fear. Let us break free from this endless cycle of poverty, insecurity and malgovernance. Let us choose hope. Let us build the Bangsamoro.

Thank you.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/document/item/1230-bangsamoro-let-us-be-driven-by-hope-instead-of-fear

MILF: MILF to Congress: Be not afraid of Bangsamoro Law

Posted to the MILF Website (Sep 26): MILF to Congress: Be not afraid of Bangsamoro Law



Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal assured members of the House of Representatives yesterday that the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would not break up the Republic.
  

Speaking at the House’s first public hearing on  the proposed law, Iqbal said its genuine intention is to create a Bangsamoro region and to recheck the centuries-old injustices committed against the Bangsamoro.

“Be not afraid,” he said, as he asked for the immediate passage of the BBL.

Iqbal said the proposed Bangsamoro region is the sum of the hopes and dreams of his people.

“It may mean nothing to you, but it is the whole world to us,” he said. “It is what we got. It is what we only have. We implore you then to step lightly on these dreams when you discuss the draft law. Do not trample them. Celebrate them. Welcome them.”

Iqbal said some groups will try to sow fear to stop the establishment of a Bangsamoro region.

“For this, they will take advantage of the deeply held biases and prejudices of the people,” he said. “They will use words like dismemberment of the Republic, sellout, violation of the Constitution, surrender, state within a state and even a ploy for eventual independence.”

Iqbal said the creation of a new autonomous region in Mindanao will maintain Philippine sovereignty and further unite Filipinos.

“We only ask that we be allowed to govern ourselves,” he said. “You shall see the Philippine flag and hear the national anthem sung in our schools and offices. Be not afraid of the Constitution. There are enough flexibilities in it to solve this problem.”

Iqbal said the proposed BBL would protect and respect the rights and beliefs of the indigenous peoples and non-Muslims.

“We will never impose ourselves on communities that prefer to be not part of us,” he said.

Constitutional questions

Some lawmakers said the proposed BBL was riddled with possibly unconstitutional provisions.

Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Enerio Cerilles said the bill was drafted without thorough consultations and she questioned the MILF’s authority to represent the entire Bangsamoro.

An initial reading showed that the bill was in preparation for eventual secession, she said as she vowed to oppose its passage.

“It will be divisive and lead to another social volcano. It will also not address the problem of poverty, poor health and education, and joblessness in Mindanao,” she said.

Cerilles also questioned the haste by which Malacañang wants Congress to pass the bill.

Representatives Vicente Belmonte of Iligan City and Victor Yu of Zamboanga del Sur raised questions on some provisions of the bill setting a mechanism for areas contiguous to the proposed autonomous region to join it.

Provisions making the process of inclusion to the proposed Bangsamoro region appear vague and unconstitutional, and prone to abuse, they added.

‘Good for the nation’

Presidential adviser for the peace process Teresita Deles said it would be good for the nation to have a political settlement with the MILF.

“We all know the cost of war for the entire country,” she said. “Certainly political settlement is the way of civilized nations and we’re happy that we’re at this stage now.”

Deles said Congress represents the entire country and would be able to further expand the scope of its consultations.

Iqbal sees the proposed Bangsamoro basic law as a shield against radicalism and an insurance against aspirations for independence.

Speaking at the Senate committee on local government on Tuesday, Iqbal told chairman Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the passage of the proposed law in Congress would be one of the four major changes in Mindanao.

“(The proposed law will) end the long-standing suffering of the Bangsamoro people; foster unity and harmony and bring in economic development in the South,” he said.

“The (BBL) is our best insurance against independence. If the Bangsamoro works to bring peace, development and security to the people, then independence becomes less attractive. People will only leave a relationship when they are treated badly. But if they are treated well, there will be no reason to aspire to be independent.”
Marcos said the proposed Bangsamoro basic law’s success would benefit the people of Mindanao and the entire Filipino nation.

The public hearing on Tuesday is just the start, and he intends to hold more public hearings on the ground in the next few weeks, Marcos said.

‘Get OIC stand’

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) urged Congress yesterday to get the official stand of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the proposed BBL.

It believes the bill would overlap with its 1996 peace agreement with the government.

Speaking with The STAR over the phone, MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla said the OIC secretary-general has called for the CAB’s synchronization with the 1976 Tripoli and 1996 final peace agreements with the MNLF for the Bangsamoro to obtain their most basic right.

“The OIC has brokered the 1996 peace agreement and the OIC has already issued a resolution during the 41st conference of foreign ministers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia expressing concern over the plight of the Bangsamoro Muslims in Mindanao,” he said.

The MNLF will participate in the drafting of the proposed law if the OIC would also be involved in deliberations, Fontanilla said.

The OIC secretariat has spared no effort in bringing the two groups together to establish the stand of the Islamic body towards that conflict, OIC Secretary-General Iyad Ameen Madani said.

Fontanilla said they had relayed Misuari’s message to reject the CAB’s integration into the 1996 peace agreement.

“The MNLF is now back to its original political objective which is the independence of the Bangsamoro Republik,” he said.

Fontanilla said as the recognized permanent observer in the OIC since 1995, Misuari occupies a seat in the Islamic assembly.

During its annual assembly last year, the OIC passed a resolution urging the government and the MNLF to continue the tripartite review of the final implementation of 1996 peace agreement and to link the CAB  to previous agreements between the government and the MNLF.

MNLF-MILF meeting

Former Cotabato City mayor Muslimin Sema said the OIC will convene in Manila on Oct. 13 MNLF and MILF representatives in the Bangsamoro Coordinating Forum (BCF).

Syed El-Masry, a representative of the Egyptian government, will preside over the meeting, he added.

The chairman of the largest MNLF faction said the MILF is an indispensable component of the BCF.

“We look forward to a good meeting, where we in the MNLF and our brothers in the MILF can possibly ‘harmonize’ our diverse positions on how to solve this decades-old Mindanao Moro issue,” he said.

Sema said they are optimistic the MILF will participate in next month’s BCF meeting.

About 90 percent of the 42 “consensus points” reached in the review of the government-MNLF peace pact involving representatives of the OIC and Malacañang are stated in the CAB and the draft Bangsamoro basic law, he added.

The OIC organized the BCF last June as a venue for cooperation between the MNLF and the MILF  to push the Mindanao peace process forward.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1232-milf-to-congress-be-not-afraid-of-bangsamoro-law

MILF: Senate holds first briefing on draft Bangsamoro Basic Law

Posted to the MILF Website (Sep 25): Senate holds first briefing on draft Bangsamoro Basic Law



The Senate’s Committee on Local Government headed by Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. started on Tuesday (September 23) the first official briefing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
  

Now pending as Senate Bill Number 2408, the salient contents of the draft BBL were outlined in powerpoint presentation made by BTC Chairman Mohagher Iqbal.

In his opening statement, Iqbal appealed to “let peace be our lasting legacy.”

“Why should we build the Bangsamoro? This is important because the establishment of the Bangsamoro will end the long-standing conflict that has been the scourge of our people. The conflict has caused untold pain and misery. It has brought poverty and insecurity to our people. It has cost thousands of lives. Let us end this situation,” Iqbal said.

He also stressed that far from dismembering the Philippine Republic, the Bangsamoro will “also build the country…will make the Philippines whole.”

Sen. Marcos requested for the briefing for the “information and enlightenment of the members of the committee and the public at large.” The briefing lasted for two-and-half hours.

Iqbal was joined by OPAPP Sec. Teresita Deles, GPH Chief Negotiator Prof. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and GPH Panel Member Senen Bacani in answering queries made by Senators Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and JV Ejercito.

Clarifications were made on intergovernmental relations such as the Philippine Congress-Bangsamoro Parliament Forum, identity ascription, administration of geographic areas, tax exemptions, future status of SUCs (state universities and colleges), and a host of other details of the BBL.

Senate Bill Number 2408 is co-sponsored by Senators DRILON, SOTTO III, (A.P.) CAYETANO, LEGARDA, RECTO, EJERCITO, BINAY, ESCUDERO, AQUINO IV, ANGARA, (P) CAYETANO, HONASAN, and GUINGONA III.

BTC commissioners who attended said briefing were Akmad Sakkam, Ibrahim Ali, Melanio Ulama and Abdula Camlian.

Senator Marcos said that his committee intends to conduct public hearings in several key places in Mindanao.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1231-senate-holds-first-briefing-on-draft-bangsamoro-basic-law

CPP/NPA: Rescue operations sa 8th IB giharass sa NPA

NPA propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Sep 24): Rescue operations sa 8th IB giharass sa NPA (Rescue operations of the 8th IB harassed by NPA)

Alan Juanito
Spokesperson
NPA North Central Mindanao Regional Operations Command (Julito Tiro Command)

 

Taliwala sa hangyo sa duha ka Prisoners Of War nga silang Pfc.Marnel Cinches ug Pfc.Jerrel Yorong ngadto sa ilang kadagkuan nga matabangan sila aron luwas nga makapauli sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka pamilya, padayong combat operation ang tubag sa ilang mother unit nga 8th IB. Damgo sa udtong tutok angpagpangandoy nga ma-rescue ang duha ka sundalo.

Niadtong Septyembre 22 sa alas 6:30 sa buntag, usa ka kolum sa tropa sa 8th IB ang giharass sa usa ka tim sa NPA sa Sityo Mahan-aw, Bolunay, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon. Pagka-alas 8:00 sa buntag sa mao ra gihapong adlaw, laing kolum sa nag-operasyon nga mga tropa ang giharass sa laing tim sa NPA sa Sityo Magawa, Bolunay.

Nagpakabuta-bungol ang mga upisyal AFP sa 4ID ug 8th IB sa pagpakitabang sa mga pamilya sa mga hingtungdan. Nasayud sila nga ang ilang militaristang lakang nga gitugbangsa panawagan alang sa gamayng kahigayunan sa kalinaw, nagbutang sa peligro sa kaluwasan sa ilang mga sundalo. Kung may deklarasyon sa SOMO/SOPO niadtong miaging semana, nakapauli na unta ang duha ka sundalo, nahupay na ang mga kabalaka sa ilang mga pamilya ug dili na madugangan pa ang kaswalti sa 8th IB. Pipila ka adlaw nga SOMO lang ang gipaabot sa custodial unit sa NPA nga nag-atiman sa duha ka POW aron ipatuman ang mando sa NDF sa luwas nga pagturn-over kanila ngadto sa Third Party Facilitators ug mga nagpakabanang upisyal sa GPH.

Sa laing bahin, giparalisa sa usa ka yunit sa NPA ilalum sa South Central Bukidnon Sub-Regional Command ang duha ka payloader ug usa ka dumptruck sa Uy Builders Devt. Corp.sa Liloan, Lumbayao, Valencia City, Bukidnon niadtong gabii sa September 21. Gidaugdaug ug gipahimuslan sa management niini nga kumpanya ang ilang mga trabahante sa dili makitawhanon nga pagtratar ug paghatag kanila sa hilabihan ka ubos ang suhulan.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20140924_rescue-operations-sa-8th-ib-giharass-sa-npa

Abus’ video on ISIS sets off red alert in Sabah

From the Manila Standard Today (Sep 26): Abus’ video on ISIS sets off red alert in Sabah

THE Abu Sayyaf has declared its support for the Islamic State (IS) of Iraq and Syria in a video posted on YouTube, triggering a red alert in Sabah, The Star newspaper reported in Malaysia Thursday.

The video showed Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon, clad in black, and masked men declaring their allegiance to IS and its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The 48-year-old Isnilon is one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, with a RM16 million bounty on his head, the report said.

The six-minute clip was posted in July but only picked up momentum on social networking sites last month, The Star said.

The video appeared to have been shot in the jungles of Mindanao, where the militant group is based and the opening shot showed the IS movement’s black flag.

Isnilon and his men spoke mostly in Arabic and in his native dialect, Yakan.

Jemaah Islamiah and Jemaah Ansharut Taleader Abu Bakar Baasyir also called on his followers to join IS, the report said.

Isnilon is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Malaysian authorities and is believed to have been responsible for an incident on Sabah’s Pom Pom island in Semporna last November, where Taiwanese national Chang An-Wei was kidnapped and her husband Hsu Lee Min was killed.

She was later released after negotiations.

“He (Isnilon) and his men are dangerous and their main business is kidnapping, which is carried out to finance their terror activities,” a regional intelligence analyst was quoted as saying.

“He and his men have beheaded an American kidnap victim.”

Malaysian authorities, the report said, are concerned that Isnilon and his troop could easily gain access into Sabah from their base in Mindanao.

“The situation in Iraq and Syria, where IS is operating, seems to have given a fresh impetus to Isnilon. There are very good reasons for Malaysia to put out the red alert for this terrorist given the long coastline,” the analyst was reported as saying.

In Manila, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the Abu Sayyaf’s threat to behead one of its German kidnap victims was an attempt to align itself with IS, which beheaded two American journalists, and to drive up the amount of ransom that would be paid.

Reports said German authorities through their embassy in Manila had paid an initial P20 million out of the P240 million that the Abu Sayyaf bandits had demanded.

They said they would behead the Germans by Oct. 10 if the entire ransom were not paid by then.

The two German nationals—Stefan Victos Okonek, 70 and Herike Diesen, 55, were seized by armed men at the high seas off the southern portion of Palawan last April 26.

Former Western Command Chief Major Gen. Roy Deveraturda said the victims were on their way back to Sabah from Palawan after an island hopping cruise when they were reported missing.

“We have heard (payment of P20 million) but we don’t have any confirmation on that,” Gazmin said.

He admitted that negotiations were taking place between German authorities and unknown parties to secure the safe freedom of Okonek and Diesen.

“We understand there were on going negotiations, not through us but through other parties,” Gazmin said.

A senior military official said that the two German hostages are being kept by the ASG somewhere in the hinterlands of Indanan, Sulu.

This was corroborated by the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“We know that the two Germans are in Indanan but we could not interfere with the ASG,” said MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza.

Gazmin said President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the military “to once and for all stop the banditry of the ASG.”

The plan, he said, included the dispatch of Army troops in areas under the jurisdiction of Marines.

Armed Forces Western Command chief Lt. Gen Rustico Guerrero said the Abu Sayyaf was taking advantage of the international attention that IS was generating to drive up ransoms.

The Foreign Affairs Department said it would leave it to the law enforcement agencies to deal with the Abu Sayyaf threat

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said the department has not communicated with the German embassy and said he did not know if the diplomatic mission was cooperating with the national police or the Armed Forces.

On Wednesday, members of the Abu Sayyaf group threatened to behead one of its two German captives if the German government fails to pay its P240 million ransom demand.

They also demanded for Germany to pull out its support for the United States airstrikes against the Islamic State.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/09/26/abus-video-on-isis-sets-off-red-alert-in-sabah/

Govt allays ISIS threat

From the Manila Standard Today (Sep 26): Govt allays ISIS threat

Amid persistent reports on active recruitment



Unholy war. Three Filipino jihadists brandish their
weapons and the flag of the Islamic State after they
swore allegiance in a propaganda video taken in the
jungles of Basilan sometime in 2012.

A national police official said on Thursday that persistent reports of the Islamic State members recruiting in the country is considered as ‘raw information.’ Philippine National Police Spokesman Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, however, assured the public that the police are continuously monitoring the situation.

“We are continuously monitoring. Our Directorate for Intelligence, as of now, is verifying reports of ISIS recruitment, but they considered it raw information,” he said.

Reports of IS recruitment in the country emerged after Foreign Affairs Department spokesman Charles Jose admitted that they sent a memorandum to Malacanang two Filipino militants fought alongside Syrian IS forces and were later killed.

The same memo said that at least 100 Filipino militants trained in Iran, purportedly before they are sent to Syria. Jose, however, said they have yet to verify the veracity of the memo.

The leaked memo drew a strong protest from the Iranian Embassy in Manila, which sent a note verbale to the DFA, denying that Iran was used as a training ground for Filipino militants bound for Syria.

The incident was followed by reports attributed to former military chief and president Fidel Ramos and Davao City Rodrigo Duterte, who both said that they received intelligence reports about IS recruitment in the country.

Mayor Joel Maturan of Unkaya Pukan, Basilan also claimed that IS supporters were actively recruiting not only in his town but also in the towns of Sumisip, Tipo-tipo, Al Barka and Akbar.

Only recently, former PNP Intelligence Director Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza claimed that the ISIS influence and reach was evident as early as 2006.

Mendoza said that eight years ago, the ISIS, led by its supreme religious leader Aby Bakr Al-Baghdadi, sent a communiqué to the Jemaah Islamiya and Khalifa in Mindanao, which both had links with Al-Qaeda.

But Sindac suggested that Muslim militants may have been using the ISIS ‘bandwagon’ to entice more youths to join their groups.

This was the same sentiment expressed by no less than President Benigno Aquino III in his speech in New York

Aquino said the recent bombings and kidnappings in southern Philippines were the handiwork of Muslim militants such as the Abu Sayyaf and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and not part of the recruitment programs of the IS.

“It seems they’re still the same groups that we’ve been troubling about: Abu Sayyaf and maybe the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are doing basically the same things, but now attributing it to their joining ISIS, which doesn’t necessarily mean that they are ISIS,” Aquino said.

Aquino made the statement in denying that foreign jihadists had already reached the country and are actively recruiting Filipino militants to their cause.

He added that there was no ‘hard’ evidence that Filipinos had actually been recruited by IS jihadists despite the number of photographs and videos showing known Filipino extremists pledging allegiance to the terror group.

Still, Sindac tried to allay fears of the public on the possibility of the ISIS recruiting members in the country.

“The public and our countrymen have nothing to fear if they (ISIS) are in the country and are recruiting,” Sindac said.

The military also made the same denial on the alleged IS recruitment.

“Wala po ang presence ng ISIS dito sa Pilipinas sa ngayon,” said Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala of the military’s Public Affairs Office.

Meanwhile, a ‘security expert’ within the military broached the idea that the ISIS or IS (Islamic State) has been introducing its ‘ideology’ through cyberspace, while calling those who subscribes to it as “jihobbyists.”

The same expert claimed that the idea of full-pledged IS members actually doing the recruitment in the country is “ridiculous.”

“Our intelligence capability is not that bad. In fact, we’ve already deported two foreign nationals with IS jihad orientations,” the source said.

He was referring to Musa Cerantonio, an Australian national who arrived in the country On July 11, in Cebu and was subsequently arrested for actively promoting “inspirations” in support of the IS in Syria in Iraq using the social media.

Another suspected ISIS supporter identified as Dr. Abu Ameen Bilal Philipps, a Canadian, was arrested in Davao City.  

Both were later deported by the Bureau of Immigration.

“The IS has been using the boundless cyberspace to recruit members from around the world especially in countries like ours where there are Islam fundamentalists or radicals. Not even advanced countries can stop that, say the United States which has its very own Edward Snowden,” the expert said.

Citing a monitoring report from the intelligence community, the expert said there are 15,000 “likers” to jihadist ideology being promoted by IS through Facebook.

But when the accounts of the ‘likers’ were scrutinized, the majority turned out to be fake and duplicates.

The expert said the target of cyber recruitment by the IS are the youth which show interest in the group’s ideology and enticed by the promise of money, sophisticated firearm and dowry.

As this developed, residents in Marawi City said on Thursday that two suspected ISIS operatives were seen leading a  symposium among young Moslems at an Islamic center on September 19, said to be a part of a recruitment process by the international terrorist group.

The two ISIS operatives reportedly wore white and black hooded outfits and were seen in two leaked photos shown in a news night episode, participating to what appeared to be a recruitment activity inside the Mosque.

In one of the photos, one of the suspected ISIS member was seen yelling at a crowd while standing with his closed fists raised, while another ISIS member was carrying an ISIS flag.

Sr. Supt Abner Wahab Santos, Marawi City police chief admitted that they have monitored the gathering of Moslems at a mosque but has yet to validate if there were indeed ISIS members inside.

Santos said they are now tracking the suspected ISIS members.

Meanwhile, the Bangsamoro National Transformation Council (BNTC), a newly formed Muslim group advocating for peaceful revolution in Mindanao expressed fears on the severe impact of the ISIS recruitment in the region.

BNTC Chairman, Benjamin Andong said that the ISIS will have a serious impact on the peace and order situation in Mindanao with the formation of a separate group in the aftermath of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.

“In the event that the entire membership of the MILF will not be accommodated to the Bangsamoro Government following its passage, the remnants will be joining to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and so with the MNLF of Muslimin Sema and the faction of the MNLF of Nur Misuari for the formation of a new group,” Andong said.

He said the ISIS has serious talks with the BIFF which could pose wider security threat in Mindanao.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/09/26/govt-allays-isis-threat/

AFP: Efforts ongoing to rescue Germans from Abu Sayyaf Group

From GMA News (Sep 25): AFP: Efforts ongoing to rescue Germans from Abu Sayyaf Group



This undated photo distributed by private terrorism monitor SITE Intelligence Group on Wednesday, September 23, reportedly shows two German hostages held by the Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf group at an undisclosed location. The SITE reported that the Islamist militants said they would kill one of two German hostages unless a P250 million ($5.62 million, 4.4 million euros) ransom is paid and Berlin stops supporting the US-led campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. AFP

The Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police are moving to rescue the two German hostages of the Abu Sayyaf Group, a ranking military official said on Thursday.

Lieutenant General Rustico Guerrero, the chief of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, indicated that there was no ideology involved in the ASG's abduction of the Germans, its P250-million ransom demand, and its ultimatum that Germany stop supporting the campaign against the terrorist ISIS.

"They are taking advantage of the international attention ISIS is getting so that the ransom would increase. All their activities  are criminal in nature," Guerrero said in a text message.

The ASG has expressed support for the ISIS.

Asked about the authorities' moves to rescue the Germans, Guerrero said, "There is a continuous effort by the AFP and the PNP."

 Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the Philippine government will not be intimidated by the ASG's threats.

 

“We do not negotiate with terrorists,” Gazmin said.

 

On Wednesday, Germany said it would not withdraw support for US action against jihadists in Iraq and Syria even with the ASG's threats against the two Germans.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/380896/news/regions/afp-efforts-ongoing-to-rescue-germans-from-abu-sayyaf-group

UN arbitration ruling to hold weight even with China's rejection –Palace

From GMA News (Sep 25): UN arbitration ruling to hold weight even with China's rejection –Palace

The decision of the United Nation tribunal on the territorial despite between the Philippines and China will hold weight even if Beijing chooses to reject it.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Undersecretary Abigail Valte made this statement on Thursday after a Chinese think tank said China will likely not recognize the ruling on the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against Beijing.

The arbitration case questions China's claims over resource-rich parts of the South China Sea, portions of which Manila calls the West Philippine Sea.

"Tingin ko hindi sya masasayang because we understand that it's the proper tribunal to take our concerns to, to lodge our concerns with. A decision from that will hold weight," Valte told reporters in Malacañang.

She made this statement after the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NICSCSS) said Beijing "will not follow or implement" any decision on the Philippines' arbitration case. It also described the arbitration case as "unilateral and compulsory."

Valte refused to give any further comment on NICSCSS' statements, describing these claims as "hypothetical" at this point.

"I don't want to take that as gospel truth already given the fact that nothing along that line has happened yet," she said.

Last March, the Philippines brought its territorial dispute with China before the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. Beijing, however, has rejected the arbitration proceedings, repeatedly insisting on bilateral talks to settle to issue.

The Philippines claims that the West Philippine Sea is part of its exclusive economic zone under the international law. China, meanwhile, is asserting its historical claim over the area through the so-called Nine-dash line.

Appropriate

Valte further defended President Benigno Aquino III's move to bring up the Philippines' territorial dispute with China during his four-country Europe visit last week.

"It is a concern for a lot of countries, and you've seen the support that the President was able to get from the countries that he was able to visit... 'Yung appropriateness for us is established," she said.

She further said that it was only proper for Aquino to gather support from European leaders on a "major" issue that may affect international trade.

Last week, the European Union expressed support for the Philippines' arbitration case against China after its leader, President Jose Manuel Barroso, met with Aquino in Belgium.

Leaders from Spain, France and Germany also backed the Philippines' effort to settle its territorial dispute with China through international arbitration.

Aquino said in an earlier interview that China "will have to listen" to the EU, which is Beijing's biggest trading partner.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/380832/news/nation/un-arbitration-ruling-to-hold-weight-even-with-china-s-rejection-palace

US support vessel with 40 Fil-Ams on routine port call to PHL

From GMA News (Sep 26): US support vessel with 40 Fil-Ams on routine port call to PHL

A US Navy support vessel with some 500 sailors - 40 of whom are Filipino-American - is making a routine port call to Subic this week, the US Embassy in Manila said late Thursday.

In a news release, the embassy said the USS Frank Cable (AS 40) was to arrive in Subic Bay Thursday in a routine call highlights the strong Philippine-US partnership.

 

"This visit will allow the ship to replenish supplies and give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation.  While in Subic Bay, the sailors of USS Frank Cable are eager to enjoy Olongapo City and strengthen their understanding of a country with deep historical ties to the United States and the U.S. Navy," it said

 

According to the embassy, the USS Frank Cable provides repairs and support to submarines.

 

It was named after Frank Taylor Cable (1863-1945), an early pioneer in submarine development for the US Navy.

 

With its home port in Apra Harbor in Guam, the USS Frank Cable is part of the US Pacific Fleet. It is commanded by Capt. Mark Benjamin.

 

USS Frank Cable was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, and was christened on January 14, 1978.

 

It was commissioned on February 5, 1980, and was designed to tend the nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class attack submarines.

 

From 1980 to 1996, it was the repair ship for Submarine Squadrons FOUR and EIGHTEEN in Charleston, South Carolina, tending Sturgeon-class attack submarines and Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarines.

 

The Frank Cable began decommissioning in 1996, but was reactivated and refitted to replace the USS Holland (AS 32) in the Western Pacific as Commander Seventh Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform.

 

It has visited Western Pacific cities such as Brisbane, Australia; Hong Kong; Singapore; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Vladivostok, Russia; Subic Bay, Philippines and Yokosuka, Japan.

 

The vessel was involved in rescue and recovery efforts following the Korean Airline Flight 801 crash on Guam in 1997.

 

It was involved in the recovery and clean-up efforts following Super Typhoon Paka.

 

It earned a Humanitarian Service Medal for support provided in recovery  efforts on Guam following Super Typhoon Pongsona in 2002.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/380937/news/nation/us-support-vessel-with-40-fil-ams-on-routine-port-call-to-phl

EDCA meant to check China, says think tank

From GMA News (Sep 26): EDCA meant to check China, says think tank

A Chinese think tank believes the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the US furthers American interests and not regional stability.

 

The state-run National Institute for South China Sea Studies said on Wednesday that China is "not happy" about the agreement that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg signed in time for US President Barack Obama's visit to Manila in April.

 

The agreement, which has been questioned at the Supreme Court, allows the increased rotational presence of US troops in the Philippines as well as limited access to Philippine military facilities, has been touted as a way to upgrade the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to bring stability to the area.

 

But Wu Shicun, president of the NISCSS, told Filipino reporters in Haikou on Wednesday that the agreement opens the door for US "intervention". He said the agreement was signed because the "US would like to come back to major bases like Clark and Subic Bay to contend with China."

 

Parties to the agreement have yet to determine which Philippine military installations will be opened up to US forces but activist groups in the Philippines have said the EDCA gives the US a free hand over Philippine territory.

 

The US has raised concerns over freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, which contains major sea and air routes. But Wu said the US is "using freedom of navigation as an excuse to interfere in the South China Sea" and to conduct "intelligence activities" along China's coasts.

 

The Philippines and the US are treaty allies and the signing of the EDCA was seen as an affirmation of the long-standing ties between the two countries.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/380945/news/nation/edca-meant-to-check-china-says-think-tank

Video: Kabataan, target ng teroristang ISIS sa Facebook

From ABS-CBN (Sep 25): Kabataan, target ng teroristang ISIS sa Facebook

[Video report: "Kabataan, target ng teroristang ISIS sa Facebook"

Ilang litrato pa ang lumabas sa social media na nagpapakita ng umano'y pagsuporta sa ISIS. Ayon sa mga eksperto, aktibo sa social media ang ISIS para agresibong makapag-recruit ng mga miyembro. Exclusive nagpa-Patrol si Maan Macapagal. TV Patrol, Setyembre 25, 2014, Huwebes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk_-4PBsbB8

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/regions/09/25/14/kabataan-target-ng-teroristang-isis-sa-facebook

NPA leader posts bail for rebellion, frustrated murder

From ABS-CBN (Sep 25): NPA leader posts bail for rebellion, frustrated murder

The alleged leader of the New People's Army in the Central Visayas has posted bail for his rebellion and frustrated murder cases, the military said Thursday.

Roy Erecre posted a P456,000 bail for his temporary freedom, Major General Nicanor Vivar of the Armed Forces Central Command said.

Erecre's release order was signed by Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Suceso Arcamo.

He was freed from the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center last Friday night.

Erecre was captured in Davao City in May. He has several criminal cases pending in various courts.

He has a case of simple rebellion in Davao City, two rebellion cases in Bayawan and Tagbilaran City, and a frustrated murder case in Guihulngan City.

Erecre, one of the highest-ranking NPA leaders in the country, had a bounty of P5.4 million, Vivar said.

Vivar said that Erecre posted P16,000 bail for the simple rebellion case, P240,000 for the two rebellion cases and another P200,000 for frustrated murder.

He admitted that they had doubts and were suspicious on how Erecre was able to pay such a huge amount, and how he was allowed to post bail despite the seriousness of his cases.

"In my own opinion, there is really doubt how he was able to post bail. But we can't do anything about it. I'm sure our judiciary had looked into it and maybe saw legalities that allows him to post bail, and we respect that," Vivar said.

He said they no longer know where Erecre is.

All they know was that two days after his release, Erecre was still in Bohol.
"We don't know his whereabouts right now. I just hope that he will attend his hearing next month so he can defend himself in front of the court," says Vivar.

Vivar said Erecre's release is not a threat to the peace and order situation in the Central Visayas.

"We trust him that he will not do anything against the law and we all believe that he will face the charges against him," he said.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/09/25/14/npa-leader-posts-bail-rebellion-frustrated-murder

Video: Bandila ng ISIS, namataan sa Marawi

From ABS-CBN (Sep 25): Bandila ng ISIS, namataan sa Marawi

[Video report: "Bandila ng ISIS, namataan sa Marawi"

Pagkatapos kumpirmahin ng isang mayor sa Basilan na agresibong nagre-recruit ng mga kabataan ang ISIS sa probinsya, naglitawan naman ngayon ang mga litrato ng isang mosque sa Marawi City na may nakataas na ISIS flag. Exclusive nagpa-Patrol si Chiara Zambrano. TV Patrol, Setyembre 25, 2014, Huwebes

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/regions/09/25/14/bandila-ng-isis-namataan-sa-marawi

Video: ISIS 'recruiters' offer money to Marawi residents

From ABS-CBN (Sep 26): ISIS 'recruiters' offer money to Marawi residents

[Video report: "Marawi residents: ISIS recruiters not welcome here"]

The black flag being used by the Islamic State has been spotted in a number of gatherings in Mindanao. But the Armed Forces says the people using those flags are not really members of the terror group. - ANC, Prime Time, September 25, 2014

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/focus/09/25/14/isis-recruiters-offer-money-marawi-residents

1,000 fighters from Asia join IS group: US commander

Posted to ABS-CBN (Sep 26): 1,000 fighters from Asia join IS group: US commander

About 1,000 volunteers from the Asia-Pacific region have sought to join the Islamic State group, a senior military officer said Thursday.

Admiral Samuel Locklear, who oversees American forces across Asia as head of Pacific Command, gave the estimate a day after the United States pushed for a resolution committing major powers to block the movement of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria.

"It certainly is an issue that we're paying very close attention to today," Locklear told a press conference in Washington.

"There's probably been about 1,000 potential aspiring fighters that have moved from this region, based on kind of our overall assessment.

"That number could get larger as we go forward, but certainly that's about the size or the magnitude that we perceive at this point in time," the admiral said.

Locklear also said the expanded air war against the IS group in Iraq and Syria did not mean a strategic US "rebalance" to the Asia-Pacific would be scaled back, saying that the American military would continue to pursue its plan to bolster its presence and defense ties in the area.

President Barack Obama underscored growing concerns about foreign fighters flocking to the Middle East at a special session of the UN Security Council on Thursday.

Obama chaired the meeting that saw the adoption of a resolution demanding governments prevent recruitment and all forms of aid to foreign fighters, making it illegal to collect funds or help organize their travel.

An Islamist militant band in the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf, is claiming ties with the IS.

The Abu Sayyaf, considered a "foreign terrorist organization" by the United States, is a loose band of several hundred Islamic militants originally organized with Al-Qaeda funding in the 1990s.

Manila has said Abu Sayyaf has no genuine connection to the IS jihadists and is merely trying to cash in by proclaiming allegiance to the group.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/world/09/25/14/1000-fighters-asia-join-group-us-commander

US spying on Philippine leaders OK with most Filipinos - study

From the Philippine Star (Sep 25): US spying on Philippine leaders OK with most Filipinos - study

Two of three Filipinos, or 64 percent, find it "acceptable" for the United States to monitor communications of their government leaders, a recent study showed.

Bruce Stokes, a director at US-based think tank Pew Research Center, revealed in his presentation, which was released over the weekend, that Filipinos, among other Asians, are the most tolerant of alleged US spying.

The study comes amid reports—mainly based on leaks from whistleblower and fugitive Edward Snowden—of activities of the US National Security Agency apparently tasked to gather communications of world leaders.

A Snowden leak had purportedly revealed that Vice President Jejomar Binay and Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas had been victims of US surveillance. Another Snowden document claims the existence of a US-run program collecting Filipinos' SMS metadata from a top telecommunications firm.

India comes a distant second in terms of its people's perception of US monitoring of government, with 37 percent, while 32 percent in Thailand also find it acceptable.

Stokes added that Filipinos are also the most accepting of US surveillance of the public at 61 percent and American citizens at 69 percent.

Bangladesh with 71 percent, however, outranks the Philippines, with only 64 percent of its citizens find US monitoring of communications of suspected terrorists acceptable.

The Vietnamese, meanwhile, seem to be the most suspicious, with only 8 percent of the sample saying US surveillance on its leaders is acceptable. Only 9 percent in Vietnam are also in favor of monitoring of citizens.

The Pew survey was conducted on 48,643 respondents across 44 countries from March 7 to June 5 this year, yielding a margin of sampling error of 3.1 percent to 4.5 percent.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/09/25/1373074/us-spying-philippine-leaders-ok-most-filipinos-study

Philippines offers help in US war against ISIS

From Rappler (Sep 25): Philippines offers help in US war against ISIS

In 2003, the Philippines did a similar thing – to join the US 'coalition' against Iraq – but had to compromise to save a migrant worker's life

CONDEMNING ISIS. Philippine President Benigno Aquino III says the Philippines is willing to help the US in its fight against ISIS. In this photo, Aquino visits Columbia University in New York for the World Leaders Forum on September 23, 2014. Photo by Ryan Lim/Malacañang Photo Bureau

Facing potential threats from the Islamic State (ISIS), the Philippines offered to help the United States in fighting the extremist group that has reportedly recruited members from the Southeast Asian country.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario is set to meet with US State Department officials to discuss this offer, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III told reporters in New York on Tuesday, September 23.

“Of course, we want to do something doable and within our capabilities without posing undue risks through their forces or the country at large,” Aquino said.

He said Del Rosario, in his meeting with his American counterparts, will “get more details exactly if they are asking for assistance and what manner of assistance...which we will review.”

Aquino's statement came as United States President Barack Obama appealed to the world “to join in this effort” to fight ISIS, which is also known by the name Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Obama said more than 40 nations “have offered to join this coalition.”

“In this effort, we do not act alone. Nor do we intend to send US troops to occupy foreign lands. Instead, we will support Iraqis and Syrians fighting to reclaim their communities. We will use our military might in a campaign of air strikes to roll back ISIL. We will train and equip forces fighting against these terrorists on the ground. We will work to cut off their financing, and to stop the flow of fighters into and out of the region,” Obama said in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, September 24. (READ: Obama leads UN summit vs 'Un-Islamic Non-State)

Overseas Filipinos a factor, too

The Philippines extended a similar offer to the US in 2003, when then Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the country in joining the US “coalition of the willing” against Iraq.

Filipinos largely rejected Arroyo's move, a Social Weather Stations survey in 2003 showed, as 63% of Filipinos wanted their country “to be neutral in a US-Iraq conflict.”

The US eventually dropped the Philippines from the coalition of the willing. This came after Arroyo, in 2004, withdrew a humanitarian force from Iraq “in exchange for the release of Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz who was later freed,” the Philippine Star reported then.

University of the Philippines professor Merlin Magallona told Newsbreak in 2004 that the case of De La Cruz “illustrates in a more dramatic manner the involvement now of ordinary Filipino citizens in foreign relations.”

“The global presence of Filipinos is likely to connect itself to the conduct of foreign policy or in making of foreign policy in the first place,” Magallona said.

In the fight against ISIS, however, unlike the US, the Philippines has not spelled out its strategy. Instead it has condemned the group and vowed to help “thwart” it.

Security for Pope in Philippines

ISIS remains a threat to the Philippines, with Rappler reporting in June that ISIS is boosting its membership in Southeast Asian countries.

Reports said at least 3 Filipinos have died fighting with ISIS.

At the same time, rebels from the Abu Sayyaf and the BIFF claimed having pledged their allegiance to ISIS.

On Tuesday, a terrorism monitoring group reported that the Abu Sayyaf threatened to kill one of two German hostages unless a P250-million ($5.62-million, 4.4 million-euro) ransom is paid and Berlin stops supporting the US-led campaign against ISIS.

Despite these links, Aquino downplayed the influence of ISIS or IS in the Philippines. He said the Philippines still faces the same problems: terrorist groups like the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which “are doing basically the same things, but now attributing it to their joining IS, which doesn't necessarily mean that they are IS.”

In any case, he said, the Philippines is ensuring the security against ISIS of world leaders set to visit the country. These leaders include delegates at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in late 2015, and Pope Francis from January 15 to 19, 2015.

He said he wants the Presidential Security Group, for one, to “double the effort, especially for the head of the Holy Mother Church.” “There shouldn't be any incident while he's in our country,” Aquino said, as Francis is reportedly facing threats from ISIS in Vatican City.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/70162-philippines-help-united-states-isis