Aquino wants study on Filipino peacekeepers done before deciding to continue tours of duty

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 20): Aquino wants study on Filipino peacekeepers done before deciding to continue tours of duty

President Benigno S. Aquino III wants a study on Filipino peacekeepers' ability to carry on with their assigned tasks abroad done before deciding whether to recall or allow them to continue with their respective tours of duty.

The President said in a press briefing after keynoting the 115th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Manila, that he had the safety of the Pinoy peacekeepers in mind for wanting the study conducted.

The President said he wanted the rules of engagement refined and the necessary equipment provided for all peacekeepers as well as all threats defined in the study.

"Kapag tinapatan ba sila ng tangke, may kakayahan tayo? Magkakaroon tayo ng anti-armor. Kapag meron bang aircraft na magte-threaten sa kanilang position, meron na rin tayong kinukuhang anti-aircraft. Ano ba ang puwede ninyong gawin habang observer kayo para naman pangalagaan ang sarili mong seguridad?" the President said.

"Kapag na-satisfy tayo in all of those conditions e magiging tenable iyong mission, puwede sila manatili doon para tulong na rin sa buong mundo. Pero kapag hindi naman tayo pinagkalooban noong ating mga hiling e hindi ko iri-risk ang ating tropa na manatili doon kung hindi nila kakayanin iyong misyon," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=536461

NPA rebel killed in clash in Southern Philippines

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 20): NPA rebel killed in clash in Southern Philippines

A communist rebel was killed and a government soldier wounded in a clash that erupted in Compostela Valley province in southern Philippines, officials said Thursday.

Captain Severino Vicente David, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the fighting occurred in the village of Tibagon in Pantukan town where the rebels were allegedly harassing the locals.

“Government troops responded to civilian complaints of NPA harassment and extortion activities in the area. The encounter resulted to killing of one NPA member whose identity is still unknown while one soldier was wounded in action,” he said, adding troops clashed with about 40 rebels.

He identified the wounded soldier as Private First Class William Casillan, Jr.

David said the soldier was taken to a military hospital in Davao City while the body of the slain rebel had been brought to a funeral house in Pantukan town.

The rebel group is still holding 5 soldiers it captured recently in Davao City.

The NPA has been fighting for the government for decades now for the establishment of a separate state in the country.

http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/06/npa-rebel-killed-in-clash-in-southern.html

Zamboanga City police receive assault rifles

From the Sun Star-Zamboanga (Jun 19): Zamboanga City police receive assault rifles

THE Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has received a boost in firepower and mobility in its fight against all forms of criminality and in maintaining peace and order here.

Mayor Celso Lobregat has turned over Wednesday some P5 million worth of high-powered rifles, thousands of ammunition, and two units of motorcycle to the ZCPO.

Zamboanga Peninsula police director Chief Superintendent Juanito Vaño recieved the firearms comprising of 75 M4 assault rifles, 20,703 ammunition, 300 magazines, and motorcycles.

Of the 20,703 ammunition, 10,352 are for M-16 Armalite rifle and 10,351 for .9-mm pistol.

Vaño in turn, handed over the firearms, ammunition, and motorcycles to ZCPO officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo.

Lobregat said the firearms, ammunition and motorcycles, were purchased through the peace and order funds of the City Government. He said the provision of the assault rifles is part of the local government’s assistance to the ZCPO in the fight against all forms of criminality.

He added that the City Government has provided a total of 274 M4 rifles to the ZCPO since 2010, including 75 units turned over on Wednesday.

De Ocampo said the firearms will be distributed to different police stations under his command and priority will be given to the stations in the far-flung areas.

De Ocampo’s command has 11 police stations that have jurisdiction over this city’s 98 villages, including eight island villages.

He said the firearms and ammunition are a big boost to the firepower of his command. He also reminded the policemen under De Ocampo’s command to diligently follow their mandate.

Both Vaño and De Ocampo expressed gratitude to Lobregat for the purchase of the new assault rifles, motorcycles and ammunition.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2013/06/19/zamboanga-city-police-receive-assault-rifles-288207

Philippines sends fresh troops to disputed shoal

From the Sun Star-Manila (Jun 19): Philippines sends fresh troops to disputed shoal

The Philippines has deployed a fresh batch of marines and supplies to a shoal in the disputed South China Sea where a Chinese warship and surveillance vessels appeared last month and triggered a new standoff in the strategic waters, security officials said Wednesday.

The new contingent of Filipino marines replaced troops at the Second Thomas Shoal, where the arrival last month of Chinese ships sparked diplomatic protests by the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the shoal lies within the Philippines' internationally recognized 200-nautical mile (370-kilometer) exclusive economic zone. China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own and last year took control of another shoal in the Philippines' economic zone, prompting Manila to seek UN arbitration.

The Filipino marines at the Second Thomas, known in the Philippines as Ayungin Shoal, have been stationed in a decrepit military hospital ship that ran aground in 1999 on the shallow coral outcrop and has since become an awkward symbol of Philippine sovereignty.

Gazmin said he had discussed the new Philippine deployment with Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing. Ma raised concerns that the Philippines was planning to erect concrete structures at the shoal to reinforce its territorial claim, but Gazmin said he had assured her there was no such plan.

Gazmin said he discussed the issue with Ma to prevent a possible confrontation between Chinese and Filipino forces, but stressed that the Philippines was free to undertake any activity in the shoal without notifying China.

"It's ours," Gazmin said by telephone.

Military chief of staff General Emmanuel Bautista said at least two Chinese government ships in the vicinity of the shoal did not interfere when a Philippine vessel transported the troops and food and other supplies to Second Thomas Shoal.

"We don't have any problem as long as (they're) non-confrontational and there's no hampering of our movements," Bautista told reporters. "We're there to show our flag in our territories and we will continue to do that."

Gazmin said he discussed the tense situation at the shoal with visiting US security officials, including Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, at a Manila meeting Tuesday.
"They're really concerned and want to be sure that this will be resolved without use of force," Gazmin said.

The Second Thomas Shoal lies near the Spratlys, a chain of resource-rich islands, islets and reefs contested by China along with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. China and the Philippines figured in a monthslong standoff over another territory, Scarborough Shoal, which lies north of the Spratlys, in April last year.

Philippine ships later backed off from Scarborough, giving China effective control of the shoal.

China published a new map in January that included for the first time more than 130 islands and islets in the vast waters that were not featured in its previous maps.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2013/06/19/philippines-sends-fresh-troops-disputed-shoal-288227

CPP/NPA: Ka Vera

Posted to the PRWC Blog (Jun 19): Ka  Vera

 
 At 57 years old, Ka Vera is among the senior Red fighters of the New People's Army (NPA) in the Southern Tagalog region. Born of a peasant family, Ka Vera joined the NPA in the late 1980s and has fought countless battles. He looks forward to continue his service to the NPA as long as his body will permit or be assigned to some other tasks that will help in advancing the people's war.











http://theprwcblogs.blogspot.com/2013/06/ka-vera.html

Sumagaysay to head 3rd ID

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jun 19): Sumagaysay to head 3rd ID

Brig. Gen. Jonas Sumagaysay will take over the command of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division as officer-in-charge at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, today.

This will be the second time that Sumagaysay, former 303rd Infantry Brigade commander in Negros Occidental, has been designated as 3ID general-officer-in-charge, since 2012.

Maj. Gen. Essen Soriano, vice-commander of the Philippine Army, is expected to officiate over the transfer of 3ID command from Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta, who is retiring from the military service on June 20, to his deputy, Sumagaysay.

Maj. Rey Tiongson, regional military spokesman, yesterday said that there is no news yet, on who will be permanently designated as 3ID commander.

Sumagaysay had also served as 3ID general officer-in-charge in June 2012, when then Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, who is now the AFP chief of staff, was designated as the Philippine Army commanding general.

Before his latest position, Sumagaysay also served as the deputy commander of the AFP Central Command, commander of the Presidential Security Group and 303rd Infantry Brigade commanding officer, among others.

Sumagaysay, who is due for retirement next year, Bautista and Mabanta are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1981.

Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad, Armed Forces deputy chief of stafffor Operations, was reported earlier to have been recommended by the Board of Generals to command the 3ID.

The recommendation of BOG, however, is still subject to approval by the Department of National Defense and President Benigno Aquino III, who is the commander-in-chief.

The 3ID supervises the internal security operations in Negros and Panay islands.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/June/19/topstory8.htm

AFP: No talks for release of 5 kidnapped soldiers

From ABS-CBN (Jun 19): AFP: No talks for release of 5 kidnapped soldiers

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said no negotiations are ongoing for the release of five soldiers who were abducted by New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Davao City on Monday.

"We do not negotiate with this terrorist group that abducted our soldiers," said AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala on Wednesday.

Zagala said the soldiers should be released without any condition if their captors are sincere in its drive to protect the community.

"We ask them (rebels) that if they are really concerned for the community that they are fighting for, they should release our soldiers who are helping that very community," he said.

"We are conducting operations to bring the perpetrators to justice and to rescue our personnel," he added.

Cpl. Emmanuel Quezon, Pfcs. Ronald Gura, Bernie Padilla and Donato Estandia, and Pvt. Marteniano Pasiagas Jr. were abducted by armed rebels wearing military uniforms at a roadblock in Paquibato district.

The soldiers were reportedly on their way to buy supplies for a feeding program when they were stopped.

A sixth soldier, identified as 1Lt. Neven Canitan, was able to escape.

The NPA’s Pulang Bagani Command claimed responsibility for the incident, saying it was the military's punishment "for continuing to encroach, settle and conduct psychological warfare and intelligence operations in all villages of Paquibato District."

"Under the guise of peace and development, the (military) has completely militarized the farmer and Lumad populace by regulating the movement of the civilian populace and abusing the masses," the NPA said in a statement.

Meanwhile, five civilian workers were killed in a separate rebel attack in Shenna Lyne Corp, a firm engaged in planting acacia mangium trees for paper production on Tuesday morning.

Zagala said soldiers have been deployed in Esperanza town in Agusan del Sur to pursue the rebels.

"The incident is not a form of armed struggle but an outright criminal act. Their armed struggle has degenerated to criminal acts which put innocent civilian lives in danger, and cause serious damage to their livelihood," said Zagala.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/06/19/13/afp-no-talks-release-5-kidnapped-soldiers

Kiamba Reverts to Islam held 3rd Closing Program

From the MILF Website (Jun 19): Kiamba Reverts to Islam held 3rd Closing Program



Madrasah Al – Emran located at Poblacion Kiamba, Sarangani Province, owned by the Baigan Family (Revert to Islam), held its 3rd Closing Ceremony on June 15, 2013. It was attended by parents, asatidz (plu. of ustadz) and community members who were elated seeing the pupils from kinder to grade 5 completing another year of studying Islamic education.
  

In the opening remark, Mohaladin Madayan, the Madrasah president, welcomed the parents and guests who attended the activity. He expressed happiness for the support shown by the parents and asatidz who contributed to the sustenance of Madrasah operation.

The students who excelled in their academic performance were recognized and awarded. To demonstrate what they have learned from their classes, some of the students presented the Arabic alphabet, read the Holy Qur-an; and others delivered Muhadarah (Islamic speeches).

One of the grade 1 students Maysara Baigan her Islamic name, an elementary teacher from Brgy. Kapate, Kiamba, Sarangani Province, expressed her strong will to learn Islam. Despite being a newly revert to Islam, she was able to deliver a Muhadarah.

She quoted the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), “Addunya sijnol mu’miniyn wa jannatul kafiriyn” which means: “This earth is a prison of the believers and a paradise of non-believers”.

The said hadith emphasized that the believers should act only according to the limitations imposed by Islam and not like other people who does what they want to do even beyond the limitations by the of law of God.

The guest speakers were the municipal secretary of Kiamba Committee on Da’wah and Masajid Affairs and a Regional staff of BDA Southmin Region, and the Provincial Chairman of Professional sector on Committee on Da’wah and Masajid Affairs from General Santos City.

The municipal secretary of Committee on Da’wah and Masajid Affairs pointed out that sharing the Islamic knowledge, giving Sadaqa Jariya (alms) and having devout offspring entail Muslim incessant reward from the grave to the day hereafter according to the prophet’s Muhammad sayings. He added some of the Holy Prophet’s teaching on how to develop a devout offspring and build good relationship between parents and

On the other hand, the Chairman of Professional Sector on Da’wah and Masajid Affairs reminded the audience on the importance of knowledge for a Muslim and stressed that “through this knowledge, faith to the Almighty will be concreted.” He urged the parents to continue supporting their children’s Islamic education.

Recently, the Madrasah Al-Emran and all the asatidz teaching therein were registered to the Office of the Committee on Tarbiya wat Ta’liym. This batch of revert to Islam students will continue their studies in the coming school year and expectedly, new reverts shall join them. A lot of non-Muslims in Mindanao and the island provinces are reverting to this religion knowing that Islam is the true religion acceptable to the Creator. Many revert to Islam who joined the religion many decades ago are now propagating the religion and engaged on da’wah programs. The also distribute pamphlets and other reading materials pertaining to Islam, Salah (prayer) at no cost.

http://www.luwaran.com/

ILO and BDA-SouthMin hold exploratory meeting for livelihood project

From the MILF Website (Jun 19): ILO and BDA-SouthMin hold exploratory meeting for livelihood project

Executives from the United Nations-International Labor Organization (UN-ILO) held an exploratory meeting with the regional staffs of Bangsamoro Development Agency-Southern Mindanao Regional Office (BDA-SouthMin) for a possible implementation of livelihood projects in the conflict-affected areas of Southern Mindanao.
  

In the meeting held at BDA-SouthMin Office in General Santos City on June 5, 2016, ILO Chief Technical Adviser Rahaman Omar and ILO National Project Coordinator Bernardo R. Roa IV briefed the staff of the BDA-SouthMin about the Programme for Local Economic Development through Enhanced Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE).

Roa said ILO will formalize Program Partnership Agreement with BDA by June 18 this year before PLEDGE will commence. There will be staff deployed in the selected BDA Regional Offices to handle the project with the assistance of BDA Regional staffs.

BDA-SouthMin Regional Manager Mohalikin D. Piang divulged that his staff are definitely capacitated and have been facilitating community capability-building trainings as part of the social preparation for projects implemented by BDA with partners like the World Bank led Mindanao Trust Fund Reconstruction and Development Program (MTFRDP) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) supported Community Development in Conflict Affected Areas in Mindanao (CD CAAM).

The two ILO representatives said PLEDGE will focus on project that has higher potential of generating employment.

“Can we transform the community? Can the community generate revenue out of the project?” Rahaman asked.
 
Roa said it is important to put value chain in the raw products from target communities. The BDA Regional Staff mentioned fishes, coconuts, corn and Cardava banana as the primary products coming from the region.

They also divulged there are very few Bangsamoro who produce coco-sugar being exported with the assistance of concerned government agencies.

Piang disclosed that most of Bangsamoro farmers are merely producers. “Farmers here plant rice, harvest then sell it. After few weeks, they will buy rice in the market for their consumption,” he said.

Regional Manager Piang realized there is indeed need for paradigm shift among the members of Bangsamoro communities “in order to become producers of value-added products and not merely raw products.”

“Putting value like quality packaging to the product will increase its marketability and profit,” Rahaman pointed out.

He exampled coffee bean which is sold to farm product buyers at PhP 80 per kilo “once you roast it, put in a good packaging, then you can sell it for a higher price.” 

“There will be inputs of money and training and in the end of the process, there will be new products,” Rahaman explained.

Piang hoped SouthMin will also be selected to implement PLEDGE. Roa said the program will be implemented in 12 communities from three towns in Mindanao.

“We came here to know what you are doing in the project implementations with your partners,” Rahaman said. He added the BDA central management has the discretion to select communities where to implement PLEDGE.
 http://www.luwaran.com/

AFP still performing tasks despite Chinese presence off Ayungin

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): AFP still performing tasks despite Chinese presence off Ayungin

Despite the presence of two Chinese surveillance vessels off Ayungin Shoal, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is still able to perform its mandated tasks and activities.

"We (are still able) to perform our routine activities not just in Ayungin Shoal but also in our other islands," AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista said.

These tasks include the transport of relief soldiers to Philippine-owned portions of the Spratlys and resupply of the latter.

"We do that (resupply and rotation of soldiers) on a regular basis," he stated.

Bautista stressed that the last rotation of personnel and resupply mission only took place early this month.

The AFP chief also added that they did not experience any blockade or interference from the Chinese.

He stressed that the AFP will remain non-confrontational as long as the Chinese presence do not hamper their movements.

"As long as they don't hamper our movements, we don't see a problem," the AFP chief, adding that the presence of the military in the area is show that it is owned by the Philippines.

He added that they will continue this showing of the flag mission to show to the world that the area is under the jurisdiction of the country.

And since the Philippines is advocating the use of diplomacy in resolving the disputes in the Spratlys, Bautista said the AFP is adopting a non-confrontational stance since it does not want any conflict with other claimants.

 http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=535903

Military, MMC inks MOA to upgrade AFP Medical Center

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): Military, MMC inks MOA to upgrade AFP Medical Center

In line with its effort to provide adequate health care to its 120,000 members and their dependents, the Armed Forces and the Makati Medical Center Wednesday signed a a memorandum of agreement which will strengthen the professional competency, and innovate the AFP Medical Center.

The signing was done at AFP general headquarters conference room in Camp Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Signing the MOA were AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista and MMC Foundation chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan, FPMC commanding general, Brig. Gen. Normando T. Sta. Ana Jr., AFP surgeon general, Brig. Gen. Joselito P. Avanceña, MMC Foundation vice president, Judy Araneta Roxas, and MMC Foundation president, Victor L. Gisbert, MD.

Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs office chief, said the MOA is part of the "public-private partnership" the government has with private entities.

It is also a concrete response of the MMC Foundation to the challenges of delivering quality health care services to the military health sector.

Its goal is to assist public military hospitals in developing a sustainable and strategic organizational and operational management plan as well as professional competency.

Under this program, both AFPMC and MMC will share technical resources and allow the latter to open its hospital facilities to conferences, workshops, training sessions, coaching and mentoring sessions.

These will be provided by the MMC for all AFPMC management staff, residents, and doctors for free.

Zagala added that the trainings, interventions, and lessons learned will then be echoed by the AFPMC to other concerned military hospital staff from the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and Philippine Marines.

This agreement will be conducted over a period of one year upon the approval of the Secretary of National Defense, Voltaire Gazmin.

The AFP is thankful to the MMC Foundation for its assistance to the AFP Medical Center. This agreement is a concrete example of the ‘whole-of-nation’ and ‘multi-stakeholder’ principles of the IPSP Bayanihan.

With this, the military will be able to deliver quality healthcare and medical services to patients confined at the AFPMC.

The AFP for its part will continue to execute tangible and transparent projects to improve the current situation of the AFPMC for the benefit of its patients.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=535889

AFP slams rebels for brutal Agusan Del Sur attack

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): AFP slams rebels for brutal Agusan Del Sur attack

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Domingo Tutaan on Wednesday scored the New People's Army (NPA) rebels for their brazen attack on "agro-forestry" corporation in in Sitio Kamarangan, Barangay Milagros, Esperanza town, Agusan Del Sur, which resulted in the death of five people Tuesday morning.

“The incident is not a form of armed struggle but an outright criminal act. Their armed struggle has degenerated to criminal acts which put innocent civilian lives in danger, and causes serious damage to their livelihood,” Tutaan stressed.

He added that this attack by the NPA is a heinous crime, and violates human rights, Republic Act 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law), and International Humanitarian Law.

"These atrocious violations are what the people of Agusan have been clamoring for the NPA to end," the AFP spokesperson pointed out.

In a report by the 4th Infantry Division , more or less 40 armed men believed to be members of the NPA put ablaze the heavy equipment owned by the Shannalyne Corporation around 9: 30 a.m. Tuesday.

The latter was reportedly hired by the Esperanza local government unit for the land preparation in the planting of Acacia Mangium trees over a land awarded through the certificate of ancestral domain title granted to the Higaonons in the area.

Aside from this, the rebels killed five civilians, including an elderly pastor.

Tutaan said that two infantry companies of the 26th Infantry Battalion are now conducting pursuit operations against the rebels.

While another infantry company presently consolidated at 402nd Infantry Brigade in Bancasi, Butuan City was alerted to reinforce the pursuing troops. 


Likewise, two UH-1H "Huey" helicopters that are pre-positioned at TOG-10 headquarters in Lumbia Airport in Cagayan De Oro City were dispatched to facilitate aerial troop insertion.


http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=535913

Army deploys air support to ground forces in Agusan pursuing NPA rebels

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): Army deploys air support to ground forces in Agusan pursuing NPA rebels

CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City -- The military has deployed helicopter gunships to cover the Army’s ground forces in hot pursuit of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the mountains of Agusan Del Sur, a military officer said on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Leo E. Bongosia, spokesperson of the Army’s Fourth Infantry Division, said that some 50 fully-armed NPA rebels on Tuesday morning stormed the Shannalyne Incorporated, a Singaporean-owned corporation in Barangay Hawilian in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.

He said the rebels killed five civilians who served as unarmed watchmen of the compound before burning five heavy equipment units that include a bulldozer and a tractor.

The names of the victims were not immediately available, Bongosia added.

Bongosia said, the military has deployed ground forces backed by helicopter gunships in pursuing the rebels who fled toward the mountainous areas of Agusan del Sur after the attacked.

He said that the NPA waged a punitive action of the company for its alleged failure to pay the “revolutionary taxes” demanded by the communist insurgents.

The Shannalyne Incorporation, a non-government organization developed a large portion of the land in Esperanza by cultivating Acacia Mangium, a plantation species trees, whose raw materials is use for currency notes.

Bongosia said that the local government of Esperanza supported the corporation since it has constructed roads and other community-based projects that benefited the tribal natives in the area.

He said the firm is employing more than 200 members of the tribal community in Agusan del Sur since it started operation in the area two years ago.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=535900

IED blast kills boy, hurts parents, siblings in Sultan Kudarat

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): IED blast kills boy, hurts parents, siblings in Sultan Kudarat

Cotabato City - A 10-year-old boy was killed while his parents and siblings were hurt when unidentified men planted and set off an improvised explosive device Wednesday dawn, the Army said.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, identified the fatality as Mohid Ambolodto who died from shrapnel wounds.

Wounded were the boy’s parents, Daud Ambolodto, 40, and wife Wahida, 40, and his two siblings, Moad, 14 and six-year-old Haider, were injured in the explosion.

The victims, all farmers, were rushed to a hospital in Cotabato City.

Hermoso said investigation showed that the victims were all asleep when two men crawled underneath their nipa hut, planted an improvised explosive device and hurriedly left.

From a distance, the suspects set off the IED using an ignition device attached to a pair of long electrical wires at about 4 a.m.

Hermoso said the Army is helping the police in determining the motive of the attack which initially was believed to be land dispute.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=535976

Soldiers hunt suspects in death of 5 men, burning of equipment

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): Soldiers hunt suspects in death of 5 men, burning of equipment

Soldiers under the 4th Infantry Division launched pursuit operation against 40 heavily armed men responsible for the killing of five persons and the burning of heavy equipment at Kilometer Sitio 4-Marangan, Barangay Remedios, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur 9:30 am on Tuesday.

Capt. Severino David, deputy commander and spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command, identified the victims as Buklit Cosan a former militia, Felipe Hadraque, a former soldiers and three other civilians namely Datu Mankurente, Remy Pulintan, and alias Jun-jun.

He said the perpetrators also razed a heavy equipment reportedly owned by the Shannalyne Corporation that was hired by Esperanza Local Government Unit for the land preparation in the planting of Acacia Mangium trees over a land awarded through the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) granted to the Higaonons in the area.

David said soldiers backed up by military choppers are pursuing the rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=536053