From the Manila Times (Mar 6): Rebel camp falls after 30-minute clash
AN undetermined number of leftist rebels were believed killed and wounded after they clashed anew with government forces in the island province of Northern Samar, according to a military spokesman.
Capt. Gene Orense, 8th Infantry Division spokesman on Wednesday said the encounter between combined forces of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion and 81st Reconnaisance Company and some 25 members of the New People’s Army took place at the Palapag Complex in the municipality of Palapag.
He said the Maoist rebels were forced to abandon their temporary camp in the said area following a 30-minute firefight.
The seized NPA camp, according to Orense, has a nipa hut and 10 makeshift bunkers made of laminated sacks.
Recovered from the encounter area were two M16 rifles, two landmines, a rifle grenade, magazines and ammunitions for M16 rifles and subversive documents.
No government forces were killed or wounded but Orense expressed belief that there were casualties and injuries on the NPA side because of the heavy exchange of gunfire.
Maj. Gen. Gerardo Layug, 8ID commander attributed his troops’ successful counter-insurgency operation to the support and assistance of the local leaders and the civilian population.
“The NPA camp was seized through the information given by the residents that enabled our troops to track the location,” he said.
“We will continue securing the communities against rebel influence and other armed threats, and we will be in close coordination with the local leaders and other stakeholders in ensuring peace in every community in the region.” Layug added.
Army troops are currently conducting pursuit operations against the NPA rebels in the area.
A total of six NPA camps have been recovered by elements of the 8ID since January.
In 2012, a total of 131 NPA camps were seized/discovered by the military troops. Eight camps were recovered with enemy resistance and 123 of these camps were taken without enemy resistance.
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/42835-rebel-camp-falls-after-30-minute-clash
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Arrival of Navy’s new cutter stalled
From the Manila Times (Mar 3): Arrival of Navy’s new cutter stalled
THE arrival of the Philippine Navy’s second weather high endurance cutte, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, has suffered another delay because of extensive training being undergone by its crew that will take several more months to enable them to thoroughly master the ship’s state-of-the-art equipment.
Lt. Commander Gregory Gerald Fabic, Navy spokesman, disclosed on Sunday that the arrival of Alcaraz has again been rescheduled from April to August this year because of the training and orientation requirements that the crew need to undergo.
“This is because the ship, its more of technical. It is unlike in the training in the Army wherein you just teach them how to fire. The ship has sophisticated equipment, navigation, fire control, among others, that is why the people sent there have to undergo extensive training,” Fabic said.
Fabic admitted that the delay would affect the capability upgrading program of the Navy as the Alcaraz has already been earmarked for deployment in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and other critical areas of the country.
“Of course, it has a big impact because this is an additional vessel to safeguard our water, territorial waters. It is a capability upgrade of the Navy because it is a weather high endurance cutter intended for long distance patrol,” he added.
The warship was originally scheduled to arrive from the US in December 2012 or in January 2013, but postponed to February and now moved to March or in April.
As this developed, the Chinese state media reported that Maritime Safety Administration of Hainan has deployed three more surveillance ships in the West Philippine Sea to “strengthen the country’s [China] maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team’s rapid response abilities in the South China Sea.”
The Philippines and China, along with Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia and Taiwan, are claiming in whole or in part the Spratly group of islands in the West Philippine Sea.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier said that the BRP Ramon Alcaraz would be better equipped and more capable than the country’s first similar cutter, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.
Early this year, President Aquino ordered top defense officials in a meeting in Malacañang to observe “due diligence” in the proposed capability upgrading of the Del Pilar and Alcaraz to make them capable and strong enough in securing the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea.
Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo disclosed that their talks centered on the current firepower of the subject Navy cutters and what more can be added to further increase their capabilities relative to the security of the Malampaya Gas Project and other service contracts of the Department of Energy (DOE) off the coast of Palawan province in the West Philippine Sea.
“What was discussed was the security of Malampaya. Those ships will also be used in securing Malampaya and other service contracts of the DOE. So we updated [him] on the status of PF 15, the Gregorio del Pilar, and the status of PF 16 [Ramon Alcaraz], when it [Alcaraz] will arrive, its capability and what still can be done to increase its capability,” Manalo disclosed.
According to Manalo, the President was amenable to the proposal but instructed them to first observe “due diligence” in selecting the best available option, adding that the president also gave them an “additional instruction” which he did not elaborate.
Among those they planned to install, Manalo further said, were surface-to-surface missile and surface-to-air missile systems but that would all depend on the result of their ongoing study.
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/nation/42625-arrival-of-navy-s-new-cutter-stalled
THE arrival of the Philippine Navy’s second weather high endurance cutte, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, has suffered another delay because of extensive training being undergone by its crew that will take several more months to enable them to thoroughly master the ship’s state-of-the-art equipment.
Lt. Commander Gregory Gerald Fabic, Navy spokesman, disclosed on Sunday that the arrival of Alcaraz has again been rescheduled from April to August this year because of the training and orientation requirements that the crew need to undergo.
“This is because the ship, its more of technical. It is unlike in the training in the Army wherein you just teach them how to fire. The ship has sophisticated equipment, navigation, fire control, among others, that is why the people sent there have to undergo extensive training,” Fabic said.
Fabic admitted that the delay would affect the capability upgrading program of the Navy as the Alcaraz has already been earmarked for deployment in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and other critical areas of the country.
“Of course, it has a big impact because this is an additional vessel to safeguard our water, territorial waters. It is a capability upgrade of the Navy because it is a weather high endurance cutter intended for long distance patrol,” he added.
The warship was originally scheduled to arrive from the US in December 2012 or in January 2013, but postponed to February and now moved to March or in April.
As this developed, the Chinese state media reported that Maritime Safety Administration of Hainan has deployed three more surveillance ships in the West Philippine Sea to “strengthen the country’s [China] maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team’s rapid response abilities in the South China Sea.”
The Philippines and China, along with Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia and Taiwan, are claiming in whole or in part the Spratly group of islands in the West Philippine Sea.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin earlier said that the BRP Ramon Alcaraz would be better equipped and more capable than the country’s first similar cutter, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.
Early this year, President Aquino ordered top defense officials in a meeting in Malacañang to observe “due diligence” in the proposed capability upgrading of the Del Pilar and Alcaraz to make them capable and strong enough in securing the country’s interest in the West Philippine Sea.
Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo disclosed that their talks centered on the current firepower of the subject Navy cutters and what more can be added to further increase their capabilities relative to the security of the Malampaya Gas Project and other service contracts of the Department of Energy (DOE) off the coast of Palawan province in the West Philippine Sea.
“What was discussed was the security of Malampaya. Those ships will also be used in securing Malampaya and other service contracts of the DOE. So we updated [him] on the status of PF 15, the Gregorio del Pilar, and the status of PF 16 [Ramon Alcaraz], when it [Alcaraz] will arrive, its capability and what still can be done to increase its capability,” Manalo disclosed.
According to Manalo, the President was amenable to the proposal but instructed them to first observe “due diligence” in selecting the best available option, adding that the president also gave them an “additional instruction” which he did not elaborate.
Among those they planned to install, Manalo further said, were surface-to-surface missile and surface-to-air missile systems but that would all depend on the result of their ongoing study.
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/nation/42625-arrival-of-navy-s-new-cutter-stalled
MILF: BLMI’S Writeshop kicks-off in Davao City
From the MILF Website (Mar 6): BLMI’S Writeshop kicks-off in Davao City
The Writeshop for members of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) sponsored by The Asia Foundation (TAF) commenced yesterday, March 5, 2013 at the Pinnacle Hotel in the progressive city of Davao. The main activity centers on the preparation of the Manual of Operations for the BLMI that once approved by the institute’s Oversight Committee and the Board of Directors shall become a roadmap for its smooth operation and implementation of its programs.
Initially the proposed Manual of Operation will contain various parts such as acknowledgement; foreword/ message; introduction; background (history of the organization, organizational profile; vision, mission, goal, mandate and core principles); organizational governance; organizational management; strategic planning; managing programs; training and resource center management; managing finances; managing people; office management; travel and transportation/ meal expenses and publicity.
The three-day activity is facilitated by Ms. Nelia Agbon, Program Manager of Kids for Peace Foundation; Ms. Noraida “Noda” Chio, Senior Program Officer; Mr. Eric Aseo, Program Officer; and Ms. Katrina Auditor, Assistant Program Officer.
The participants who are laboriously working on their assigned task for presentation are Sheikh Mahmud Sumilalao Ahmad, the institute’s Executive Director; Esmael A. Abdula, Training Director; Mr. Omsar Paradan, Finance Officer and alumnus of the Ateneo de Davao University; Ustadz Abdulsalam Alabat, a foreign educated aleem and expert on Sharia’h Law; Uz. Hisham Nando, also a foreign educated aleem; Mohammad Ishaq Macapoli; Tirso Tahir and Majid Nur, both representing the island provinces; Ahmad Mama and Mr. Zamin Unti, Administrative Officer. Four volunteer staff is also attending including this writers. The workshop presentation will start this afternoon and the finishing touches on the initial output of the proposed manual will be made tomorrow.
The Board of Directors and the institute’s Oversight Committee are expected to meticulously review/ study further and make revisions or amendments on the draft output.
Another phase of the writeshop may be scheduled in due time by TAF as the task of preparing the manual is not expected to be completed in the 3-day activity. Once the manual is finally completed and approved by BLMI’s top hierarchy, the institute will ultimately have a clear guideline on how it operates; performs its mandate/role and employ efficiently its strategies in delivering its services to its clientele.
http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3136:blmis-writeshop-kicks-off-in-davao-city&catid=31:general&Itemid=41
The Writeshop for members of the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) sponsored by The Asia Foundation (TAF) commenced yesterday, March 5, 2013 at the Pinnacle Hotel in the progressive city of Davao. The main activity centers on the preparation of the Manual of Operations for the BLMI that once approved by the institute’s Oversight Committee and the Board of Directors shall become a roadmap for its smooth operation and implementation of its programs.
Initially the proposed Manual of Operation will contain various parts such as acknowledgement; foreword/ message; introduction; background (history of the organization, organizational profile; vision, mission, goal, mandate and core principles); organizational governance; organizational management; strategic planning; managing programs; training and resource center management; managing finances; managing people; office management; travel and transportation/ meal expenses and publicity.
The three-day activity is facilitated by Ms. Nelia Agbon, Program Manager of Kids for Peace Foundation; Ms. Noraida “Noda” Chio, Senior Program Officer; Mr. Eric Aseo, Program Officer; and Ms. Katrina Auditor, Assistant Program Officer.
The participants who are laboriously working on their assigned task for presentation are Sheikh Mahmud Sumilalao Ahmad, the institute’s Executive Director; Esmael A. Abdula, Training Director; Mr. Omsar Paradan, Finance Officer and alumnus of the Ateneo de Davao University; Ustadz Abdulsalam Alabat, a foreign educated aleem and expert on Sharia’h Law; Uz. Hisham Nando, also a foreign educated aleem; Mohammad Ishaq Macapoli; Tirso Tahir and Majid Nur, both representing the island provinces; Ahmad Mama and Mr. Zamin Unti, Administrative Officer. Four volunteer staff is also attending including this writers. The workshop presentation will start this afternoon and the finishing touches on the initial output of the proposed manual will be made tomorrow.
The Board of Directors and the institute’s Oversight Committee are expected to meticulously review/ study further and make revisions or amendments on the draft output.
Another phase of the writeshop may be scheduled in due time by TAF as the task of preparing the manual is not expected to be completed in the 3-day activity. Once the manual is finally completed and approved by BLMI’s top hierarchy, the institute will ultimately have a clear guideline on how it operates; performs its mandate/role and employ efficiently its strategies in delivering its services to its clientele.
http://www.luwaran.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3136:blmis-writeshop-kicks-off-in-davao-city&catid=31:general&Itemid=41
Series of blasts rock Maguindanao town
From ABS-CBN (Mar 6): Series of blasts rock Maguindanao town
Four separate explosions rocked the town of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Monday night, police said.
Shariff Aguak Mayor Bai Sahara Ampatuan said the first explosion transpired in a vacant lot in Barangay Poblacion followed by another explosion at the residence of Datu Ali Kuli, where 2 ammunitions of an M203 grenade launcher landed at the roof the house.
Ali Kuli and his wife were hurt in the explosion, sustaining minor injuries.
Minutes after the incident, another loud explosion was heard in an abandoned house in Barangay Poblacion.
No casualty was reported but authorities recovered a rocket-propelled grenade a hundred meters away from Ali Kuli's house.
The 4th explosion occurred at Bec-Bec store in Poblacion Shariff Aguak where the M203 grenade launcher landed and exploded at the roof of the establishment.
Shariff Aguak police chief Marlon Martinez told ABS-CBN News that the series of explosions had nothing to do with politics.
Meantime, Sahara Ampatuan believes the attack was intended to hurt civilians.
She is not also discounting the possibility that she is the target of the attack, saying the first explosion transpired just 70 meters away from her residence.
The mayor appealed to authorities to investigate and arrest the people behind the attacks.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/06/13/series-blasts-rock-maguindanao-town
Four separate explosions rocked the town of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Monday night, police said.
Shariff Aguak Mayor Bai Sahara Ampatuan said the first explosion transpired in a vacant lot in Barangay Poblacion followed by another explosion at the residence of Datu Ali Kuli, where 2 ammunitions of an M203 grenade launcher landed at the roof the house.
Ali Kuli and his wife were hurt in the explosion, sustaining minor injuries.
Minutes after the incident, another loud explosion was heard in an abandoned house in Barangay Poblacion.
No casualty was reported but authorities recovered a rocket-propelled grenade a hundred meters away from Ali Kuli's house.
The 4th explosion occurred at Bec-Bec store in Poblacion Shariff Aguak where the M203 grenade launcher landed and exploded at the roof of the establishment.
Shariff Aguak police chief Marlon Martinez told ABS-CBN News that the series of explosions had nothing to do with politics.
Meantime, Sahara Ampatuan believes the attack was intended to hurt civilians.
She is not also discounting the possibility that she is the target of the attack, saying the first explosion transpired just 70 meters away from her residence.
The mayor appealed to authorities to investigate and arrest the people behind the attacks.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/06/13/series-blasts-rock-maguindanao-town
ASG members linked to deadly Zambo attacks nabbed
From ABS-CBN (Mar 6): 2 ASG members linked to deadly Zambo attacks nabbed
Authorities have arrested two members of the Abu Sayyaf group allegedly responsible for the deadly attacks in Zamboanga City, including the November 2012 bombing of a pension house that killed 3 persons.
By virtue of an operation supported by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa’s Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), Sajid Amajad - also known as Abu Tahjid - and his brother Edil, were arrested in an operation conducted in Barangay Muti in Zamboanga on Tuesday morning.
“Sajid was arrested at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday while driving his motorcycle and was subsequently turned over to Zamboanga City Police Office. About two hours later or at 11:20 a.m. of the same day, his brother, Edil, was arrested during a follow up operation,” said retired police Gen. Felizardo Serapio Jr., executive director of the PCTC.
The brothers supposedly report to Khair Mundos, who has a $500,000 reward on his head. Mundos is believed to be a key leader and financier of the Abu Sayyaf, a militant group that has links to international terror organizations al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.
Mundos was captured in 2004 but he escaped from a provincial jail in 2007. While in government custody, he allegedly confessed to arranging funds for terrorist bombings throughout Mindanao.
The brothers are facing murder charges in connection with the bombing of the Atilano Pension House in downtown Zamboanga City in November 2012, which also left 27 injured.
The Amajads were also reportedly among those responsible for the bombing of Rural Transit Bus along MCCL Highway in Barangay Guiwan, Zamboanga City in August last year.
At least six people, including a two-year-old child, were injured when an improvised bomb ripped through the passenger bus.
They also allegedly took part in the kidnapping of two Chinese traders, one of whom was rescued by government security forces during a daring daylight raid on the Abu Sayyaf’s newly-established training camp in Barangay Calabasa last September.
Five members of the terror group were killed and one was arrested following the raid.
The operation that led to the arrest of the Amajads was initiated by the anti-terrorism task force “Sanglahi” and was carried out by operatives from Task Force Zamboanga, Police Regional Office 9, the PCTC, 84th Special Action Company of the PNP Special Action Force, Police Regional Intelligence Unit 9, Zamboanga City Police Office, Naval Intelligence Support Group-Western Mindanao and the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations for Western Mindanao.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/06/13/2-asg-members-linked-deadly-zambo-attacks-nabbed
Authorities have arrested two members of the Abu Sayyaf group allegedly responsible for the deadly attacks in Zamboanga City, including the November 2012 bombing of a pension house that killed 3 persons.
By virtue of an operation supported by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa’s Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime (PCTC), Sajid Amajad - also known as Abu Tahjid - and his brother Edil, were arrested in an operation conducted in Barangay Muti in Zamboanga on Tuesday morning.
“Sajid was arrested at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday while driving his motorcycle and was subsequently turned over to Zamboanga City Police Office. About two hours later or at 11:20 a.m. of the same day, his brother, Edil, was arrested during a follow up operation,” said retired police Gen. Felizardo Serapio Jr., executive director of the PCTC.
The brothers supposedly report to Khair Mundos, who has a $500,000 reward on his head. Mundos is believed to be a key leader and financier of the Abu Sayyaf, a militant group that has links to international terror organizations al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.
Mundos was captured in 2004 but he escaped from a provincial jail in 2007. While in government custody, he allegedly confessed to arranging funds for terrorist bombings throughout Mindanao.
The brothers are facing murder charges in connection with the bombing of the Atilano Pension House in downtown Zamboanga City in November 2012, which also left 27 injured.
The Amajads were also reportedly among those responsible for the bombing of Rural Transit Bus along MCCL Highway in Barangay Guiwan, Zamboanga City in August last year.
At least six people, including a two-year-old child, were injured when an improvised bomb ripped through the passenger bus.
They also allegedly took part in the kidnapping of two Chinese traders, one of whom was rescued by government security forces during a daring daylight raid on the Abu Sayyaf’s newly-established training camp in Barangay Calabasa last September.
Five members of the terror group were killed and one was arrested following the raid.
The operation that led to the arrest of the Amajads was initiated by the anti-terrorism task force “Sanglahi” and was carried out by operatives from Task Force Zamboanga, Police Regional Office 9, the PCTC, 84th Special Action Company of the PNP Special Action Force, Police Regional Intelligence Unit 9, Zamboanga City Police Office, Naval Intelligence Support Group-Western Mindanao and the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations for Western Mindanao.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/06/13/2-asg-members-linked-deadly-zambo-attacks-nabbed
Malaysia wants sultan extradited
From ABS-CBN (Mar 6): Malaysia wants sultan extradited
Malaysian authorities will ask the Philippine government to extradite Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III if criminal charges are filed against him in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani issued the statement Wednesday, as Malaysian troops continued their manhunt for the sultan's supporters in Sabah.
"AG's Chambers will seek a request for the extradition of Jamalul Kiram III from the Philippines, should a case be made against him," Gani said, as quoted by state news agency Bernama.
Gani was the lead prosecutor in opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial in 1998.
The Philippines does not have an extradition treaty with Malaysia but has a mutual legal assistance pact under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Malaysian authorities are now treating the sultan's armed supporters as "terrorists."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement Tuesday night, said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman raised the issue of criminal cases filed against the "terrorists" with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
"Malaysia needs clarifications about the law that these terrorists will be charged with in the Philippines, and for the law to be studied by Malaysia’s Attorney General," Anifah said.
"I also emphasised that actions need to be taken against Jamalul Kiram for his many statements inciting hatred and violence," he added.
Del Rosario allegedly promised Anifah that "the Philippine Government will charge the Sulu group involved in Lahad Datu and Semporna to the fullest extent of the law in the Philippines."
Anifah, in the statement, also claimed that Del Rosario "agreed that this group should be labelled as terrorists."
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has denied the Malaysian foreign minister's statement, saying it was "written out of context." It said Del Rosario only agreed to the phrase "terroristic acts" in reference to alleged atrocities committed by the armed followers of Kiram III.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/06/13/malaysia-wants-sultan-extradited
Malaysian authorities will ask the Philippine government to extradite Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III if criminal charges are filed against him in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani issued the statement Wednesday, as Malaysian troops continued their manhunt for the sultan's supporters in Sabah.
"AG's Chambers will seek a request for the extradition of Jamalul Kiram III from the Philippines, should a case be made against him," Gani said, as quoted by state news agency Bernama.
Gani was the lead prosecutor in opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial in 1998.
The Philippines does not have an extradition treaty with Malaysia but has a mutual legal assistance pact under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Malaysian authorities are now treating the sultan's armed supporters as "terrorists."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement Tuesday night, said Foreign Minister Anifah Aman raised the issue of criminal cases filed against the "terrorists" with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.
"Malaysia needs clarifications about the law that these terrorists will be charged with in the Philippines, and for the law to be studied by Malaysia’s Attorney General," Anifah said.
"I also emphasised that actions need to be taken against Jamalul Kiram for his many statements inciting hatred and violence," he added.
Del Rosario allegedly promised Anifah that "the Philippine Government will charge the Sulu group involved in Lahad Datu and Semporna to the fullest extent of the law in the Philippines."
Anifah, in the statement, also claimed that Del Rosario "agreed that this group should be labelled as terrorists."
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has denied the Malaysian foreign minister's statement, saying it was "written out of context." It said Del Rosario only agreed to the phrase "terroristic acts" in reference to alleged atrocities committed by the armed followers of Kiram III.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/06/13/malaysia-wants-sultan-extradited
Chinese chopper patrols over Spratlys - report
From GMA News (Mar 6): Chinese chopper patrols over Spratlys - report
A Chinese helicopter patrolled parts of the disputed Spartly Islands in the West Philippine Sea on Monday afternoon, the Chinese government reported.
China's government portal on Tuesday posted a Xinhua report quoting the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration as saying the chopper monitored part of the Islands.
"The helicopter took off from the Haixun 31, a marine surveillance ship, to monitor maritime traffic in waters near Dongmen Reef of the Nansha Islands," it said.
The administration also said that this was the first time a Chinese maritime helicopter was dispatched to patrol the South China Sea.
China refers to the Spratlys as the Nansha Islands. It is one of six claimants to the islands, the others being the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Xinhua said the Haixun 31 is one of three Chinese marine surveillance ships that left Sanya Port in Hainan province last Thursday.
China said the patrol seeks to boost China's maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team's response abilities in the South China Sea.
It added the fleet has "covered 800 nautical miles, monitored the navigation environment in waters near the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands and conducted safety inspections for more than 40 Chinese and foreign vessels."
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/297857/news/nation/chinese-chopper-patrols-over-spratlys-report
A Chinese helicopter patrolled parts of the disputed Spartly Islands in the West Philippine Sea on Monday afternoon, the Chinese government reported.
China's government portal on Tuesday posted a Xinhua report quoting the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration as saying the chopper monitored part of the Islands.
"The helicopter took off from the Haixun 31, a marine surveillance ship, to monitor maritime traffic in waters near Dongmen Reef of the Nansha Islands," it said.
The administration also said that this was the first time a Chinese maritime helicopter was dispatched to patrol the South China Sea.
China refers to the Spratlys as the Nansha Islands. It is one of six claimants to the islands, the others being the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Xinhua said the Haixun 31 is one of three Chinese marine surveillance ships that left Sanya Port in Hainan province last Thursday.
China said the patrol seeks to boost China's maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team's response abilities in the South China Sea.
It added the fleet has "covered 800 nautical miles, monitored the navigation environment in waters near the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands and conducted safety inspections for more than 40 Chinese and foreign vessels."
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/297857/news/nation/chinese-chopper-patrols-over-spratlys-report
Malacañang slams Kiram daughter's 'malicious representations'
From GMA News (Mar 6): Malacañang slams Kiram daughter's 'malicious representations'
Malacañang on Wednesday called Princess Jacel Kiram’s actions “incendiary and irresponsible,” adding that the fake photo she circulated to the media calls into question the integrity of her branch of the Kiram family.
Jacel, the daughter of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, on Monday fed the media a photograph of dead soldiers, which she claimed were Malaysian casualties in an encounter with her father’s followers who remain holed up in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
After being alerted by readers, GMA News Online has verified that the image is fake, and most probably of dead Thai soldiers killed in Thailand in 2007. The image has previously appeared elsewhere on the Internet.
“Ms. Jacel Kiram's use of a photo which she claimed were of Malaysian casualties has led to the discovery by media that the photograph was not of Malaysian casualties in the Sabah standoff but of Thai military casualties in a 2007 incident that had nothing to do whatsoever with the standoff in Sabah,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.
Lacierda implied that the deception has further clouded the credibility of the family.
“Ms. Kiram's attempted deception goes beyond grandstanding and strays into the realm of incendiary, irresponsible action. It has called into question the credibility of Jamalul Kiram III’s branch of the family and their deadly misadventure,” he said.
“We must all now wonder: what other assertions made by the Kiram party are false?” Lacierda added.
In his statement, Laceirda also cautioned Jacel that “loose talk can cost lives.”
“We ask all to bear in mind that talk is cheap, but loose talk can cost lives. This misrepresentation of a photograph for publicity's sake is a double desecration: of those now bearing the brunt of the rash actions of Jamalul Kiram III, and of those military casualties whose service to their country has become fodder for public relations,” Lacierda said.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/298004/news/nation/malacanang-slams-kiram-daughter-s-malicious-representations
Malacañang on Wednesday called Princess Jacel Kiram’s actions “incendiary and irresponsible,” adding that the fake photo she circulated to the media calls into question the integrity of her branch of the Kiram family.
Jacel, the daughter of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, on Monday fed the media a photograph of dead soldiers, which she claimed were Malaysian casualties in an encounter with her father’s followers who remain holed up in Lahad Datu, Sabah.
After being alerted by readers, GMA News Online has verified that the image is fake, and most probably of dead Thai soldiers killed in Thailand in 2007. The image has previously appeared elsewhere on the Internet.
“Ms. Jacel Kiram's use of a photo which she claimed were of Malaysian casualties has led to the discovery by media that the photograph was not of Malaysian casualties in the Sabah standoff but of Thai military casualties in a 2007 incident that had nothing to do whatsoever with the standoff in Sabah,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement.
Lacierda implied that the deception has further clouded the credibility of the family.
“Ms. Kiram's attempted deception goes beyond grandstanding and strays into the realm of incendiary, irresponsible action. It has called into question the credibility of Jamalul Kiram III’s branch of the family and their deadly misadventure,” he said.
“We must all now wonder: what other assertions made by the Kiram party are false?” Lacierda added.
In his statement, Laceirda also cautioned Jacel that “loose talk can cost lives.”
“We ask all to bear in mind that talk is cheap, but loose talk can cost lives. This misrepresentation of a photograph for publicity's sake is a double desecration: of those now bearing the brunt of the rash actions of Jamalul Kiram III, and of those military casualties whose service to their country has become fodder for public relations,” Lacierda said.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/298004/news/nation/malacanang-slams-kiram-daughter-s-malicious-representations
AFP denies rising cases of HR abuses
From the Philippine Star (Mar 6): AFP denies
rising cases of HR abuses
The military on Wednesday belied the claim of human rights group Karapatan that human rights violations under President Aquino have worsened.
Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the group’s information was based on allegations that were not submitted to the proper channels.
“These (alleged abuses) are only allegations. Most of these are not properly filed,” Burgos said.
“We have several mechanisms in place that address alleged human rights violations. We have human rights offices and desks in all commands. Human rights [eudcation] is also part of our troop education and formation,” he added.
Burgos was asked to react to Karapatan’s claim that there have been 137 cases of extrajudicial killings since Aquino assumed the presidency in 2010.
The group said in 2012 alone, 51 cases of killings were recorded, 13 of them involving minors.
Karapatan, which has consistently criticized the country’s security forces, said there were 269 cases of illegal arrests and detention, 205 cases of physical assault, 203 cases of illegal search, 154 cases of frustrated killings, 72 incidents of torture, 14 cases of enforced disappearances and more than 27,000 incidents of threat, intimidation and harassment.
Burgos could not validate the figures cited by Karapatan but revealed that the government would soon consolidate its human rights data.
“The interagency panel (on human rights) led by the Justice department will meet next week to look into the different reports of different agencies,” he said.
“They will be consolidating the human rights cases so we can come up with data for everybody,” he added.
Last November, the president issued Administrative Order no. 35, creating an interagency committee that would look into human rights abuses by state and non-state forces.
The interagency committee would exclusively handle cases of extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other forms of human rights violations.
The committee has been tasked to create teams that will work towards the resolution of unsolved and new cases.
The committee is being led by the Justice Secretary and consists of the heads of the Presidential Human Rights Committee, the secretaries of the departments of the Interior and Local Government and Defense, the presidential advisers of the peace process and political affairs, the chiefs of the military, the police and the National Bureau of Investigation.
The chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman will sit as observers and resource persons in the committee.
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/03/06/916524/afp-denies-rising-cases-hr-abuses
The military on Wednesday belied the claim of human rights group Karapatan that human rights violations under President Aquino have worsened.
Armed Forces spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the group’s information was based on allegations that were not submitted to the proper channels.
“These (alleged abuses) are only allegations. Most of these are not properly filed,” Burgos said.
“We have several mechanisms in place that address alleged human rights violations. We have human rights offices and desks in all commands. Human rights [eudcation] is also part of our troop education and formation,” he added.
Burgos was asked to react to Karapatan’s claim that there have been 137 cases of extrajudicial killings since Aquino assumed the presidency in 2010.
The group said in 2012 alone, 51 cases of killings were recorded, 13 of them involving minors.
Karapatan, which has consistently criticized the country’s security forces, said there were 269 cases of illegal arrests and detention, 205 cases of physical assault, 203 cases of illegal search, 154 cases of frustrated killings, 72 incidents of torture, 14 cases of enforced disappearances and more than 27,000 incidents of threat, intimidation and harassment.
Burgos could not validate the figures cited by Karapatan but revealed that the government would soon consolidate its human rights data.
“The interagency panel (on human rights) led by the Justice department will meet next week to look into the different reports of different agencies,” he said.
“They will be consolidating the human rights cases so we can come up with data for everybody,” he added.
Last November, the president issued Administrative Order no. 35, creating an interagency committee that would look into human rights abuses by state and non-state forces.
The interagency committee would exclusively handle cases of extra-legal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other forms of human rights violations.
The committee has been tasked to create teams that will work towards the resolution of unsolved and new cases.
The committee is being led by the Justice Secretary and consists of the heads of the Presidential Human Rights Committee, the secretaries of the departments of the Interior and Local Government and Defense, the presidential advisers of the peace process and political affairs, the chiefs of the military, the police and the National Bureau of Investigation.
The chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsman will sit as observers and resource persons in the committee.
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/03/06/916524/afp-denies-rising-cases-hr-abuses
New US ship set to visit Philippines
From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 6): New US ship
set to visit Philippines
Another US vessel will visit the country even as salvage teams have yet to fully extricate the warship that ran aground in Tubbataha Reef in January.
USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet, is scheduled to dock Thursday at the Manila South Harbor for a routine port call.
In a statement, the US Embassy said the port call and goodwill visit “highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Philippines.”
The USS Blue Ridge, which was commissioned in 1970, last visited the Philippines in March 2012.
The visit will be held almost two months after US warship USS Guardian got stuck in the Tubbataha Reef off Palawan.
The 1,300-ton, 68-meter-long USS Guardian ran aground dawn of Jan. 17 at the reef’s south atoll. The ship was reportedly on its way to Puerto Princesa after a port call in Subic Bay when the incident happened.
The US Navy has blamed “faulty navigation chart data” for the accident but some sectors believe the incident was caused by human error.
Transportation Sec. Joseph Abaya previously said he has been hearing theories that US sailors manning the ship may have had too much “rest and recreation” in Subic.
Tubbataha, which spans 130,028 hectares, was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1993.
Despite the damage in the reef, the crew members of the USS Guardian may not land in jail due to practices granting immunity to foreign vessels
The US has apologized for the accident and has vowed to help rehabilitate the reef.
The USS Blue Ridge is under the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, whose area of responsibility includes 35 countries. Five of the seven U.S. Mutual Defense Treaties are with countries within its area namely Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
There are around 70 ships, 200 aircraft and 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the fleet.
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/03/06/916527/new-us-ship-set-visit-philippines
Another US vessel will visit the country even as salvage teams have yet to fully extricate the warship that ran aground in Tubbataha Reef in January.
USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet, is scheduled to dock Thursday at the Manila South Harbor for a routine port call.
In a statement, the US Embassy said the port call and goodwill visit “highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Philippines.”
The USS Blue Ridge, which was commissioned in 1970, last visited the Philippines in March 2012.
The visit will be held almost two months after US warship USS Guardian got stuck in the Tubbataha Reef off Palawan.
The 1,300-ton, 68-meter-long USS Guardian ran aground dawn of Jan. 17 at the reef’s south atoll. The ship was reportedly on its way to Puerto Princesa after a port call in Subic Bay when the incident happened.
The US Navy has blamed “faulty navigation chart data” for the accident but some sectors believe the incident was caused by human error.
Transportation Sec. Joseph Abaya previously said he has been hearing theories that US sailors manning the ship may have had too much “rest and recreation” in Subic.
Tubbataha, which spans 130,028 hectares, was named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1993.
Despite the damage in the reef, the crew members of the USS Guardian may not land in jail due to practices granting immunity to foreign vessels
The US has apologized for the accident and has vowed to help rehabilitate the reef.
The USS Blue Ridge is under the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, whose area of responsibility includes 35 countries. Five of the seven U.S. Mutual Defense Treaties are with countries within its area namely Philippines, Australia and New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand.
There are around 70 ships, 200 aircraft and 40,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the fleet.
http://www.philstar.com/nation/2013/03/06/916527/new-us-ship-set-visit-philippines
Malaysian forces seize 13 bodies of Kiram's men
From the Philippine Star (Mar 6): Malaysian forces seize 13 bodies of Kiram's men
The bodies of 13 slain Sulu sultanate army members were discovered from a mass grave in Lahad Datu, Sabah on Wednesday as Malaysian forces scoured the island state for the supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.
Reports by Malaysian news agencies The Star and Bernama quoted Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying that Malaysian forces were still "in the process of collecting more bodies."
The reports said that photographs of the bodies and the mass grave were shown by the official during a press briefing.
After the first encounter between the royal army and Malaysian forces last Friday, the Sultanate of Sulu announced that 12 of its supporters were killed in Lahad Datu.
Reports said that eight Malaysian police commandos were also killed in the clashes on during the weekend.
Earlier reports said that another member of the sultanate's army was killed by Malaysian security forces during mopping up operations.
Malaysian forces conducted door-to-door searches in Lahad Datu as part of the mopping up operations.
Security officials in Malaysia said that members of the sultanate’s army who survived the attacks are now posing as locals in Lahad Datu to evade detection.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/06/916555/malaysian-forces-seize-13-bodies-kirams-men
The bodies of 13 slain Sulu sultanate army members were discovered from a mass grave in Lahad Datu, Sabah on Wednesday as Malaysian forces scoured the island state for the supporters of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.
Reports by Malaysian news agencies The Star and Bernama quoted Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying that Malaysian forces were still "in the process of collecting more bodies."
The reports said that photographs of the bodies and the mass grave were shown by the official during a press briefing.
After the first encounter between the royal army and Malaysian forces last Friday, the Sultanate of Sulu announced that 12 of its supporters were killed in Lahad Datu.
Reports said that eight Malaysian police commandos were also killed in the clashes on during the weekend.
Earlier reports said that another member of the sultanate's army was killed by Malaysian security forces during mopping up operations.
Malaysian forces conducted door-to-door searches in Lahad Datu as part of the mopping up operations.
Security officials in Malaysia said that members of the sultanate’s army who survived the attacks are now posing as locals in Lahad Datu to evade detection.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/03/06/916555/malaysian-forces-seize-13-bodies-kirams-men
NPA destroys P18M in Negros properties
From the Visayan Daily Star (Mar 6): NPA destroys P18M
in Negros properties
About P18 million worth of properties of private companies and farms have either been damaged or destroyed by the New People’s Army in Negros Island in two years, the military said.
Maj. Rey Tiongson, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the atrocious attacks, including burning of sugarcane plantations, heavy equipment, cargo trucks, farm tractors, and telecommunication facilities, were perpetrated by the NPA from 2010 to 2012.
Tiongson said majority of the attacks in Negros took place in 2011.
He added the rebels attacked the Philex Mining Corp. camp in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, and burned a bunkhouse and a utility vehicle on July 6, 2011 because of the company’s resistance to pay the NPA “revolutionary taxes”.
On Jan. 9, 2012, the rebels also bombed a telecom cell site in Brgy. Hilaitan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, and damaged the powerhouse of the installation, military records show.
Other NPA-violent incidents recorded by the 3ID were the burning of five hectares of sugarcane plantation, a farm tractor and cargo truck in Brgy Tapi, Kabankalan City; Volvo heavy equipment in La Castellana; and the electric transformer of the Victorias Milling Co. pump house in Victorias City, two years ago.
Tiongson said the rebels killed 46 people since 2010, and that the January 27 massacre in La Castellana that claimed the lives of eight civilians and a police officer, was the most horrible, as the victims were shot in the head.
The military said that regionwide, the NPA destroyed P23 million worth of properties, in what Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3ID commander, described as the rebels “desperate attempt” to impede progress in Western Visayas.
These criminal activities further show that the CPP-NPA-NDF is not putting primacy to human rights, Mabanta said in a press statement.
Military records also show the NPA burned a farm tractor in Lemery, and a dump truck in Tigbauan, both of Iloilo.
Mabanta reiterated his appeal to the public to report the activities of the rebels to put an end to their atrocities.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/March/06/negor1.htm
About P18 million worth of properties of private companies and farms have either been damaged or destroyed by the New People’s Army in Negros Island in two years, the military said.
Maj. Rey Tiongson, spokesman of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the atrocious attacks, including burning of sugarcane plantations, heavy equipment, cargo trucks, farm tractors, and telecommunication facilities, were perpetrated by the NPA from 2010 to 2012.
Tiongson said majority of the attacks in Negros took place in 2011.
He added the rebels attacked the Philex Mining Corp. camp in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, and burned a bunkhouse and a utility vehicle on July 6, 2011 because of the company’s resistance to pay the NPA “revolutionary taxes”.
On Jan. 9, 2012, the rebels also bombed a telecom cell site in Brgy. Hilaitan, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, and damaged the powerhouse of the installation, military records show.
Other NPA-violent incidents recorded by the 3ID were the burning of five hectares of sugarcane plantation, a farm tractor and cargo truck in Brgy Tapi, Kabankalan City; Volvo heavy equipment in La Castellana; and the electric transformer of the Victorias Milling Co. pump house in Victorias City, two years ago.
Tiongson said the rebels killed 46 people since 2010, and that the January 27 massacre in La Castellana that claimed the lives of eight civilians and a police officer, was the most horrible, as the victims were shot in the head.
The military said that regionwide, the NPA destroyed P23 million worth of properties, in what Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, 3ID commander, described as the rebels “desperate attempt” to impede progress in Western Visayas.
These criminal activities further show that the CPP-NPA-NDF is not putting primacy to human rights, Mabanta said in a press statement.
Military records also show the NPA burned a farm tractor in Lemery, and a dump truck in Tigbauan, both of Iloilo.
Mabanta reiterated his appeal to the public to report the activities of the rebels to put an end to their atrocities.
http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/March/06/negor1.htm
PHOTO | Malaysia releases pics of '13 dead intruders'
From InterAksyon (Mar 6): PHOTO | Malaysia releases pics of '13 dead intruders'
Malaysian officials hold up a picture that purports to show nine dead bodies piled on top of each other. Photo courtesy of Malaysiakini.com
Malaysian officials on Wednesday released photos bolstering its claims that its campaign against armed intruders from Sulu has killed at 13 of the members of the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu.
"This is released to show that what is ongoing is real and not a figment (of anybody's imagination)," independent news site Malaysiakini.com quoted Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at Felda Sahabat Residence in Lahad Datu. "This is the reality on the ground."
Defense Minister Zahid Hamidi held up a picture that purported to show nine dead bodies piled on top of each other.
The Malaysian officials produced another picture of a Sulu fighter supposedly killed on Wednesday morning. "A final photograph showed a burial ground which did not depict any dead bodies," but in which three bodies were supposedly buried, Malaysiakini said.
Malaysia's military on Tuesday launched a fierce assault including jet fighters on up to 300 Filipino intruders after a deadly three-week standoff, but the militants' supporters said they had escaped and were alive and well.
Malaysia's national police chief had also raised doubts about the success of the air and ground attack, saying "mopping up" operations had yet to find any bodies and suggesting at least some of the militants might have slipped away.
The outcome of the operation remained unclear more than 11 hours after it began. Malaysian officials said their forces suffered no casualties but they gave no details on the fate of the Filipinos, whose allies based in Manila claimed they had survived and were still resisting.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/56506/photo--malaysia-releases-pics-of-13-dead-intruders
Malaysian officials hold up a picture that purports to show nine dead bodies piled on top of each other. Photo courtesy of Malaysiakini.com
Malaysian officials on Wednesday released photos bolstering its claims that its campaign against armed intruders from Sulu has killed at 13 of the members of the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu.
"This is released to show that what is ongoing is real and not a figment (of anybody's imagination)," independent news site Malaysiakini.com quoted Malaysian Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at Felda Sahabat Residence in Lahad Datu. "This is the reality on the ground."
Defense Minister Zahid Hamidi held up a picture that purported to show nine dead bodies piled on top of each other.
The Malaysian officials produced another picture of a Sulu fighter supposedly killed on Wednesday morning. "A final photograph showed a burial ground which did not depict any dead bodies," but in which three bodies were supposedly buried, Malaysiakini said.
Malaysia's military on Tuesday launched a fierce assault including jet fighters on up to 300 Filipino intruders after a deadly three-week standoff, but the militants' supporters said they had escaped and were alive and well.
Malaysia's national police chief had also raised doubts about the success of the air and ground attack, saying "mopping up" operations had yet to find any bodies and suggesting at least some of the militants might have slipped away.
The outcome of the operation remained unclear more than 11 hours after it began. Malaysian officials said their forces suffered no casualties but they gave no details on the fate of the Filipinos, whose allies based in Manila claimed they had survived and were still resisting.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/56506/photo--malaysia-releases-pics-of-13-dead-intruders
Malaysia hunts missing Filipinos as more fighters join
From Rappler (Mar 6): Malaysia hunts missing Filipinos as more fighters join
Malaysian forces searched house-to-house Wednesday, March 6, after armed Filipino invaders apparently escaped a military assault, as a Philippine guerrilla warned more fighters had arrived.
Malaysia Tuesday, March 5, launched an attack with jet fighters and soldiers on up to 300 Filipino invaders in a bid to end a bloody three-week standoff in which 27 people had already been reported killed, including eight policemen.
Prime Minister Najib Razak had declared the operation was "weeding out" the holed-up followers of a self-styled Muslim sultan from the Philippines, who had come to assert a long-dormant claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah.
But authorities later indicated the militants had escaped into surrounding farmland in the remote region of Borneo island, where residents were already on edge over reports of roaming gunmen and two bloody shootouts.
"Follow-up action and house-to-house searches are being carried out carefully to ensure the safety of the policemen and soldiers," state news agency Bernama quoted police as saying.
A leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which waged an insurgency against the Philippine government until 1996, said hardened fighters from his Muslim group had arrived to support the militants.
"Many have slipped through the security forces," Muhajab Hashim told AFP in Manila.
"They know the area like the back of their hands because they trained there in the past," he said, referring to long-standing allegations that Malaysia helped trained MNLF leaders in their insurgency against the Philippines.
"We are expecting more of them to join (the battle) even if our official instruction is for them to refrain from going."
Malaysian federal police chief Ismail Omar said late Tuesday after the assault that no militants had yet been found dead or captured. He did not explain how they could have escaped a cordon in place for the past three weeks.
"I have instructed my commanders to be on alert because we believe the enemies are still out there," Ismail told reporters.
"We of course hope that they have not escaped."
Malaysians, accustomed to watching neighbors Thailand and the Philippines grapple with Muslim insurgents, have been shocked by the drama, and authorities have been criticized for the ease with which the invaders slipped in to Sabah.
The crisis comes as Malaysia's 56-year-old ruling coalition is bracing for what is expected to be the country's closest-ever election against a formidable opposition, which has slammed the handling of the incursion.
The episode began February 12, when Malaysia's government said an estimated 100-300 armed Filipinos had landed in Sabah and were surrounded in the sleepy farming village of Tanduo.
After an initial standoff, violence erupted there Friday, March 1, with a deadly shootout, followed by a second gunfight a day later in another town hours away. Authorities have said 27 have died in the shootouts and related violence.
The intruders are followers of Jamalul Kiram III, 74, the Manila-based self-proclaimed heir of the former sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled part of the southern Philippines and claimed sovereignty over Sabah.
The Sulu sultanate's power faded a century ago but its heirs continue to insist on ownership of resource-rich Sabah, and still receive nominal Malaysian payments under a lease deal originally struck by Western colonial powers.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/23159-mnlf-fighters-sabah
Malaysian forces searched house-to-house Wednesday, March 6, after armed Filipino invaders apparently escaped a military assault, as a Philippine guerrilla warned more fighters had arrived.
Malaysia Tuesday, March 5, launched an attack with jet fighters and soldiers on up to 300 Filipino invaders in a bid to end a bloody three-week standoff in which 27 people had already been reported killed, including eight policemen.
Prime Minister Najib Razak had declared the operation was "weeding out" the holed-up followers of a self-styled Muslim sultan from the Philippines, who had come to assert a long-dormant claim to the Malaysian state of Sabah.
But authorities later indicated the militants had escaped into surrounding farmland in the remote region of Borneo island, where residents were already on edge over reports of roaming gunmen and two bloody shootouts.
"Follow-up action and house-to-house searches are being carried out carefully to ensure the safety of the policemen and soldiers," state news agency Bernama quoted police as saying.
A leader of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which waged an insurgency against the Philippine government until 1996, said hardened fighters from his Muslim group had arrived to support the militants.
"Many have slipped through the security forces," Muhajab Hashim told AFP in Manila.
"They know the area like the back of their hands because they trained there in the past," he said, referring to long-standing allegations that Malaysia helped trained MNLF leaders in their insurgency against the Philippines.
"We are expecting more of them to join (the battle) even if our official instruction is for them to refrain from going."
Malaysian federal police chief Ismail Omar said late Tuesday after the assault that no militants had yet been found dead or captured. He did not explain how they could have escaped a cordon in place for the past three weeks.
"I have instructed my commanders to be on alert because we believe the enemies are still out there," Ismail told reporters.
"We of course hope that they have not escaped."
Malaysians, accustomed to watching neighbors Thailand and the Philippines grapple with Muslim insurgents, have been shocked by the drama, and authorities have been criticized for the ease with which the invaders slipped in to Sabah.
The crisis comes as Malaysia's 56-year-old ruling coalition is bracing for what is expected to be the country's closest-ever election against a formidable opposition, which has slammed the handling of the incursion.
The episode began February 12, when Malaysia's government said an estimated 100-300 armed Filipinos had landed in Sabah and were surrounded in the sleepy farming village of Tanduo.
After an initial standoff, violence erupted there Friday, March 1, with a deadly shootout, followed by a second gunfight a day later in another town hours away. Authorities have said 27 have died in the shootouts and related violence.
The intruders are followers of Jamalul Kiram III, 74, the Manila-based self-proclaimed heir of the former sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled part of the southern Philippines and claimed sovereignty over Sabah.
The Sulu sultanate's power faded a century ago but its heirs continue to insist on ownership of resource-rich Sabah, and still receive nominal Malaysian payments under a lease deal originally struck by Western colonial powers.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/23159-mnlf-fighters-sabah
Who stood to benefit from Atimonan killings?
From Rappler (Mar 6): Who stood to benefit from Atimonan killings?
His involvement in the illegal numbers game jueteng allegedly pushed Supt. Hansel Marantan - the head of the Atimonan checkpoint operation - to hatch a plan that led to the killing of 13 men on January 6.
That, plus intelligence failure, led to the killing of "innocent" victims at a police checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon two months ago.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reached this conclusion in its investigation of the killing of 13 suspected criminal gang members on January 6 in Atimonan, Quezon.
The killings led to the suspension of at least 23 members and officials of the Philippine National Police, including Marantan.
The NBI said that that the supposed encounter in Atimonan - called "Coplan Armado" - was conceived based on intelligence information gathered by Marantan that Vic Siman, the alleged leader of the gang, and his people were members of private armed groups hired by jueteng and drug lords.
"The Atimonan encounter was a well-calculated plan to close the book on Vic Siman under the pretext of Coplan Armado using government forces and resources," the NBI said.
The intelligence was faulty, however, as only Siman was reported to be in the vehicle the police shot at; the authorities failed to verify who the other men in the vehicles were - the victims were aboard two black Montero sports utility vehicles - before they carried out the operation.
The NBI said that Marantan's intelligence, even if accurate, was still doubtful because the victims, if they had intended to carry out criminal activities, should have used unregistered vehicles and unlicensed firearms. The vehicles were registered and all of the firearms were licensed, however, except for one.
Jueteng wars
The NBI also concluded that the "checkpoint" in Atimonan was intended to kill Siman and company because of numerous violations in police operational procedures and Marantan's personal tiff with Siman.
The NBI said that Marantan had the motive to kill Siman because he (Marantan) was the protector of "Ka Tita," Siman's rival in the jueteng operations in Laguna.
Marantan was allegedly called "Bunso" by "Ka Tita" and his live-in partner "Ka Ogie," a retired police officer from the Western Police District.
"Ka Tita" who used to be a club operator in Ermita, Manila, was able to start his video karera operations in Laguna following Marantan's transfer from the Highway Patrol Group in Quezon City to the Laguna Police Station.
Siman - who allegedly started as a video karera operator - then sought the support of other gambling operators in Laguna and also had ties with the "Batang Kubo" criminal syndicate. The hostile rivalry has led to the killing of police operatives in the area.
The NBI said that Siman's death would have benefitted Marantan two ways:
a. The "territorial landscape" of "Ka Tita" would expand as well as her collectors
b. Marantan would have another "feather to his cap" for stopping Siman
Flawed procedures
The NBI said that the checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon, did not conform to PNP operational procedures.
There was no signage at the checkpoint and the policemen were not in prescribed uniform during the operations, which was meant to conceal their identities. No marked PNP vehicle was also used; a Philippine Army truck was parked to block the road.
The PNP's rules of engagement were also violated when the police forcibly opened the windows of the vehicles, pointed their guns at the two vehicles and fired at the men inside.
The NBI added that the crime scene was tampered with, and that there was delay in the turnover of evidence from the PNP's Scene of the Crime Operatives to the NBI.
The NBI said there was also poor handling of evidence by the SOCO as the clothes of the victims were placed in wet bags instead of being preserved or air-dried and that the same group was also inefficient in handling the slugs it recovered.
Witnesses and forensics
The NBI gathered the testimony of 3 principal witnesses and 6 corroborating witnesses.
The 3 principal witnesses were on board a 10-wheeler truck that was stopped at the second checkpoint.
The witnesses had aliases to protect their identity.
"Johnny Parcon Ocampo" said that the authorities flagged down the Montero vehicles but they only slowed down. The checkpoint signage was then placed in front of them and the army truck was used to block them.
An armed man in civilian clothes then shouted "Fire! Fire!" and the shooting started, lasting for 20 seconds, according to Ocampo.
When a gunshot was fired from one of the SUVs, shooting ensued again.
The second witness, "Tomas Javier," said that one of the men went out of the vehicles with his hands raised but was still shot at. Another man was also shot at even if he was already lying on the ground, Javier told the NBI.
The third witness, "Archie Pelayo Reyes," gave the same statement as that of Parcon, adding their truck was 7-8 meters far from the SUVs.
The corroborating witnesses from a nearby prawn hatchery said they heard gunshots coming from the checkpoint.
There was also one witness - Rolando Boncayo Vico - who said that the men inside the vehicle fired first at the team composed of 23 policemen and 25 members of the military.
The NBI said that Vico's testimony could not be corroborated though.
The findings of Felicisima Francisco, a forensic chemist at the NBI, indicated the men inside the vehicles did not fire at the policemen.
The 196 bullet entrance holes in one Montero and 61 in the other all tested negative for gunpowder residue.
The NBI has recommended the filing of murder charges against Marantan and 20 other PNP personnel as well as against 14 AFP members.
DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima also said they should be charged for obstruction of justice because the firearms they surrendered were not the ones used in the operations.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/23214-atimonan-killings-gambling
His involvement in the illegal numbers game jueteng allegedly pushed Supt. Hansel Marantan - the head of the Atimonan checkpoint operation - to hatch a plan that led to the killing of 13 men on January 6.
That, plus intelligence failure, led to the killing of "innocent" victims at a police checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon two months ago.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reached this conclusion in its investigation of the killing of 13 suspected criminal gang members on January 6 in Atimonan, Quezon.
The killings led to the suspension of at least 23 members and officials of the Philippine National Police, including Marantan.
The NBI said that that the supposed encounter in Atimonan - called "Coplan Armado" - was conceived based on intelligence information gathered by Marantan that Vic Siman, the alleged leader of the gang, and his people were members of private armed groups hired by jueteng and drug lords.
"The Atimonan encounter was a well-calculated plan to close the book on Vic Siman under the pretext of Coplan Armado using government forces and resources," the NBI said.
The intelligence was faulty, however, as only Siman was reported to be in the vehicle the police shot at; the authorities failed to verify who the other men in the vehicles were - the victims were aboard two black Montero sports utility vehicles - before they carried out the operation.
The NBI said that Marantan's intelligence, even if accurate, was still doubtful because the victims, if they had intended to carry out criminal activities, should have used unregistered vehicles and unlicensed firearms. The vehicles were registered and all of the firearms were licensed, however, except for one.
Jueteng wars
The NBI also concluded that the "checkpoint" in Atimonan was intended to kill Siman and company because of numerous violations in police operational procedures and Marantan's personal tiff with Siman.
The NBI said that Marantan had the motive to kill Siman because he (Marantan) was the protector of "Ka Tita," Siman's rival in the jueteng operations in Laguna.
Marantan was allegedly called "Bunso" by "Ka Tita" and his live-in partner "Ka Ogie," a retired police officer from the Western Police District.
"Ka Tita" who used to be a club operator in Ermita, Manila, was able to start his video karera operations in Laguna following Marantan's transfer from the Highway Patrol Group in Quezon City to the Laguna Police Station.
Siman - who allegedly started as a video karera operator - then sought the support of other gambling operators in Laguna and also had ties with the "Batang Kubo" criminal syndicate. The hostile rivalry has led to the killing of police operatives in the area.
The NBI said that Siman's death would have benefitted Marantan two ways:
a. The "territorial landscape" of "Ka Tita" would expand as well as her collectors
b. Marantan would have another "feather to his cap" for stopping Siman
Flawed procedures
The NBI said that the checkpoint in Atimonan, Quezon, did not conform to PNP operational procedures.
There was no signage at the checkpoint and the policemen were not in prescribed uniform during the operations, which was meant to conceal their identities. No marked PNP vehicle was also used; a Philippine Army truck was parked to block the road.
The PNP's rules of engagement were also violated when the police forcibly opened the windows of the vehicles, pointed their guns at the two vehicles and fired at the men inside.
The NBI added that the crime scene was tampered with, and that there was delay in the turnover of evidence from the PNP's Scene of the Crime Operatives to the NBI.
The NBI said there was also poor handling of evidence by the SOCO as the clothes of the victims were placed in wet bags instead of being preserved or air-dried and that the same group was also inefficient in handling the slugs it recovered.
Witnesses and forensics
The NBI gathered the testimony of 3 principal witnesses and 6 corroborating witnesses.
The 3 principal witnesses were on board a 10-wheeler truck that was stopped at the second checkpoint.
The witnesses had aliases to protect their identity.
"Johnny Parcon Ocampo" said that the authorities flagged down the Montero vehicles but they only slowed down. The checkpoint signage was then placed in front of them and the army truck was used to block them.
An armed man in civilian clothes then shouted "Fire! Fire!" and the shooting started, lasting for 20 seconds, according to Ocampo.
When a gunshot was fired from one of the SUVs, shooting ensued again.
The second witness, "Tomas Javier," said that one of the men went out of the vehicles with his hands raised but was still shot at. Another man was also shot at even if he was already lying on the ground, Javier told the NBI.
The third witness, "Archie Pelayo Reyes," gave the same statement as that of Parcon, adding their truck was 7-8 meters far from the SUVs.
The corroborating witnesses from a nearby prawn hatchery said they heard gunshots coming from the checkpoint.
There was also one witness - Rolando Boncayo Vico - who said that the men inside the vehicle fired first at the team composed of 23 policemen and 25 members of the military.
The NBI said that Vico's testimony could not be corroborated though.
The findings of Felicisima Francisco, a forensic chemist at the NBI, indicated the men inside the vehicles did not fire at the policemen.
The 196 bullet entrance holes in one Montero and 61 in the other all tested negative for gunpowder residue.
The NBI has recommended the filing of murder charges against Marantan and 20 other PNP personnel as well as against 14 AFP members.
DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima also said they should be charged for obstruction of justice because the firearms they surrendered were not the ones used in the operations.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/23214-atimonan-killings-gambling
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