Basilan, Sulu to benefit from P329-M infra projects

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 22): Basilan, Sulu to benefit from P329-M infra projects

Officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Thursday announced the start of P329 million worth of seaport expansion and road projects in Basilan and Sulu.

Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman said the projects were expected to help restore normalcy in the two provinces that has been hounded by terrorism and violence.

Believing that development helps eradicate conflict, Hataman and ARMM Public Works Secretary Engr. Don Mustapha Loong signed the contracts for the projects which were awarded to the winning bidders.

The projects include the expansion and improvement of the seaports in Lamitan City in Basilan and in Jolo town in Sulu. The P194-million undertaking will be implemented by LG Lagascar, Incorporated.

Also signed were contracts for the concreting of a road network in Basilan province worth P135.8 million. It will be undertaken by Santiago, Inc.

To ensure transparency and accountability, Hataman and Loong both urged the public, non government organizations, including the media to keep a close watch on the projects.

“The public should get involved, we are spending government money and public scrutiny is necessary to avoid corruption,” Hataman told reporters. “Even suspicion should not be an issue if government projects are implemented above board.”

He assured that all projects in ARMM were subjected to public bidding in accordance with Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA) to guarantee efficiency and transparency in project implementation.

Funds for the projects were taken from the ARMM’s 2015 infrastructure subsidy.

The ARMM public works office has also allocated P145.5 million for the repair of Lamitan City seaport while P48.5 million has been set aside for the repair and rehabilitation of Jolo seaport and gateway.

In Basilan, road concreting has started for the P38.8-million Tipo-Tipo-Sangkuyut road, the P27.1-million Sangkuyut-Bohe Suyat road, the P11.6-million Materling-Tong Bato road and the P58.2-million Amaloy-Matata-Bucalao road, all in the town of Ungkaya Pukan.

Hataman assured the people of Basilan that road concreting will continue despite threats from extremist Abu Sayyaf Group which repeatedly attempted, but failed, to disrupt government projects in the island province.

Government forces will help secure private contractors in completing the development projects.

http://www.mb.com.ph/basilan-sulu-to-benefit-from-p329-m-infra-projects/

US to boost military presence in Asia-Pacific – Pentagon

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 23): US to boost military presence in Asia-Pacific – Pentagon

The United States plans to strengthen its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region in the next few years by deploying more of its ships and warplanes, a new Pentagon report said.

 

The report titled “Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy” said Washington will “maintain the necessary military presence and capabilities to protect US interests and those of allies and partners against potential threats in maritime Asia.”

 

David Shear, the assistant secretary of defense for Asian-Pacific security affairs, told a Pentagon news conference Friday that the US is strengthening its military capacity in the region to deter conflict and coercion and respond decisively when needed.

 

“The United States maintains 368,000 military personnel in the Asia-Pacific region,” the report reads. “Over the next five years, the US Navy will increase the number of ships assigned to Pacific Fleet outside of US territory by approximately 30 percent, greatly improving our ability to maintain a more regular and persistent maritime presence in the Pacific. And by 2020, 60 percent of naval and overseas air assets will be home-ported in the Pacific region.”

 

The report also mentions various territorial and maritime disputes in the South China and East China Seas, involving Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. “The US government urges States not to  implement unilateral actions that undermine regional stability and trust,” it says.

http://www.mb.com.ph/us-to-boost-military-presence-in-asia-pacific-pentagon/

Off Subject but of Current Interest: AP Analysis: What's different this time in Korean standoff?

Off Subject but of Current Interest from the Associated Press posted to the Philippine Star (Aug 22): AP Analysis: What's different this time in Korean standoff?



A South Korean army soldier walks along the military wire fences on Unification Bridge, which leads to the demilitarized zone, near the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday declared his front-line troops in a "quasi-state of war" and ordered them to prepare for battle a day after the most serious confrontation between the rivals in years. AP/Ahn Young-joon

For years, North Korea's litany of threats has been largely dismissed — Seoul, after all, is still not drowning in a "sea of fire," despite Pyongyang's repeated promises to make it so.

As the clock ticks down on a Saturday ultimatum for the South to remove propaganda loudspeakers or face war, however, there's some worry that Pyongyang could finally mean what it says.

So what's different this time?

Partly, it's North Korea's apparent willingness to back up an earlier vow to attack the anti-Pyongyang loudspeakers and also on the specificity of its Saturday deadline.

There was surprise when South Korea's military reported Thursday that North Korea had fired across the border, and was then met by dozens of shells from the South. If the North attacked once, some argue, it may be more likely to back up its newest threat, especially if a very specific deadline is being ignored, as Seoul has indicated it will do.

The new sense of worry also comes from uncertainty about the young, third generation leader now at the helm in the North, Kim Jong Un.

While earlier North Korean leaders — the founder, Kim Il Sung, and his son Kim Jong Il — were seen as masters of brinksmanship, men who knew how to play a dangerous game where threats and provocations were pushed to a straining point, but not to breaking, to extract concessions and aid, Kim Jong Un is seen as lacking the same savvy, experience and, after a series of bloody, high-level government and military purges, the necessary good counsel.

With tens of thousands of troops and military hardware facing off along a border within easy striking range of Seoul's 10 million residents, a nagging uncertainty about what Kim will do makes it harder to ignore threats of war, even if past declarations have often been bombast.

There has been bloodshed in skirmishes in recent decades but the fighting has not escalated. The risk of things getting out of hand seems greater now because South Korea, in the wake of a humiliating exchange in 2010, when a surprise North Korean artillery attack killed four, has instructed its military to hit back much harder if attacked.

Even so, and granting the important caveat that predicting North Korea's behavior in advance is largely a fool's errand, there are still some important signs that tensions may ease.

For the most part, North Korea's authoritarian leadership, while seen by many outsiders as unpredictable, is overwhelmingly consistent on one major point: The Kim family's rule must be protected.

While proud and incredibly sensitive to perceived slights from the outside, and therefore furious over the criticism being piped across the border on the South Korean loudspeakers, Pyongyang is reluctant to do anything to jeopardize the all-powerful position the Kims have enjoyed since founding the country in 1948.

Insults must be answered, of course, in over-the top state media propaganda and in declarations from troops and citizens showcasing a willingness to crush the enemy. But this is largely for the benefit of a domestic audience that cannot be allowed to see Kim Jong Un in anything but a heroic light.

Pushing things to a full military conflict is seen as suicide. The United States stations tens of thousands of troops in South Korea, and both Seoul and Washington far outclass Pyongyang in their weapons' technology and effectiveness. North Korea could do serious damage to Seoul — even rusty artillery, when plentiful and close-by, can be deadly — but a war would eventually destroy the Kim family.

North Korea has constructed face-saving scenarios and turned back from the brink before, and both sides seem to have pulled their punches in the initial conflict, reportedly sending their shells into remote areas.

De-escalation may also be more likely because this standoff comes as 80,000 troops from the United States and South Korea participate in annual summer war games. While North Korea hates the drills and calls them preparation for a northward attack, now is a particularly bad time to start a war.

http://www.philstar.com/world/2015/08/22/1490981/ap-analysis-whats-different-time-korean-standoff

Iriberri honors wounded soldiers

From the Philippine Star (Aug 22): Iriberri honors wounded soldiers



Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hernado Iriberri personally pinned a medal to the soldiers wounded during the offensive operations against the Abu Sayyaf insurgents. Philstar.com/File photo

Wounded soldiers received medals and commendation directly from Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hernado Iriberri last Friday.

Iriberri, who made his first visit here, personally pinned a medal to three wounded soldiers confined at the Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH).

Two of the soldiers were among the seven army troopers wounded during the offensive operation Wednesday against the Abu Sayyaf group in the mountain of Sitio Marang, Barangay Buanza, Indanan town, Sulu.

“It is difficult to have such medal,” said Iriberri, who later admitted he has not received one in his combat carrier.

At least 15 militants were killed in the assault that led to the rescue of the two Philippine Coast Guard personnel.

The other soldier was a junior officer, who was also wounded in the encounter against a separate group of Abu Sayyaf in Upper Baiwas, Sumisip town, Basilan.

“Seeing the wounded soldiers made me feel proud as they show their dedication in our campaign to bring peace in this area,” Iriberri told the troops during his ‘talk to the men’ on the ground forces.

Iriberri lauded the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero for its successful campaign against the Abu Sayyaf insurgents.

Iriberri expressed optimism about the military’s ongoing campaign of pressuring the Abu Sayyaf group to release the rest of the hostages.

The military believed less than ten are being held captive by the militants in Sulu, who include five foreigners, a town mayor, among others.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/08/22/1491012/iriberri-honors-wounded-soldiers

K-12 program seen to affect PMA

From the Philippine Star (Aug 22): K-12 program seen to affect PMA



With the implementation of the K-12 program, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will have older lieutenants and shorter terms for senior military officers due to mandatory age of retirement. Philstar.com/File photo

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will have older batch of graduates as lieutenants and shorter terms for senior military officers once the K-12 program of the Department of Education (DepEd) takes effect.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri said that while there will be no vacuum in the PMA with the implementation of the K-12 program; it will affect the academy in a way.

Iriberri, who was here in Zamboanga City, his first out of town visit outside Metro Manila, said the first effect will be on the graduates of the PMA.

“If that (K-12) will be implemented, we will have older graduates because based on the law, those who will join the PMA are high school graduates,” Iriberri said. “There will be additional two years so the aspiring cadets will be 18 years old.”

He said there will be a minimal effect if cadets joining the PMA are 18 years old at that time.

“Kaya nga lang tatanda ‘yong ating mga kadete at tenyente and later on ang effect niyan sa shorter term ng mga officers or early retirement (because of the mandatory age of retirement),” Iriberri said.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/08/22/1491023/k-12-program-seen-affect-pma

Palace backs US concern vs West PH Sea reclamation

From ABS-CBN (Aug 23): Palace backs US concern vs West PH Sea reclamation

Malacanang on Saturday again expressed concern over China's land reclamation projects in the disputed Spratly islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

In a radio interview, deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government has long expressed its concern over said project, including its effect on the environment.

Valte issued this statement following's US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's comments that the Chinese reclamation works in the disputed sea have created ''a very serious situation.''

"We have always expressed our concern on the reclamation that is being done; and, in fact, that is one of the points that we raised, not just on the matter of the maritime dispute, but also the impact on the environment that the reclamation has in our arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration," Valte said.

A new Pentagon report said that aside from reclaiming more land in the Spratlys, Beijing is also completing construction of a runway on one of its seven man-made outposts.

The report added that China could potentially use the airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef as an alternative runway for carrier-based planes, allowing the Chinese military to conduct "sustained operations" with aircraft carriers in the area.

Since China's land reclamation efforts began in December 2013, it had reclaimed more than 2,900 acres (1,170 hectares) of land as of June 2015, the report said. U.S. officials had previously put the total at 2,000 acres.

In a statement, China's Foreign Ministry said China had "completed the relevant island and reef area reclamation project" at the end of June.

China had reclaimed 17 times more land in 20 months than the other claimants combined over the past 40 years, accounting for approximately 95 percent of all reclaimed land in the Spratlys, it added.

"China is unilaterally altering the physical status quo in the region, thereby complicating diplomatic initiatives that could lower tensions," said the report.
 

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/08/22/15/palace-backs-us-concern-vs-west-ph-sea-reclamation

PHL, Malaysia to hold naval drills

From GMA News (Aug 22): PHL, Malaysia to hold naval drills

The navies of the Philippines and Malaysia will conduct a joint training exercise from Aug. 24-28, Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), which will host the maritime training activity said Saturday.

 

According to a press advisory, MTA MALPHI LAUT 18/15, which will be held in the NFWM's area of responsibility "will focus on maritime security and transnational crime." 

 

The annual exercises, which are hosted alternately by the Philippines and Malaysia, is meant to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the two navies.

 

This year's training exercise, which will be opened formally at a ceremony at Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City on Monday morning, is the 18th since the countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation in 1994.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/533964/news/nation/phl-malaysia-to-hold-naval-drills

Photo: Building the future

From The Standard (Aug 22): Photo: Building the future



American soldiers along with their counterparts from the Philippines and Australia work together to repair Bartolome Doria Elementary School in Bohol province as part of the Pacific Angel operation, a multilateral humanitarian assistance civil-military operation, which improves military-to-military partnerships in the Pacific while also providing medical health outreach, civic engineering projects and subject matter exchanges among partner forces. U.S. AIR FORCE / T. Sgt. AARON OELRICH

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/08/23/building-the-future/

PH, Malaysia stage naval ‘war games’

From The Standard (Aug 22): PH, Malaysia stage naval ‘war games’
 

The  Philippine  Navy and its Malaysian counterpart  will  hold bilateral military exercise in a move to  enhance maritime security and boost efforts to  combat transnational crimes affecting the two countries.

Dubbed as “MTA MALPHI LAUT 18/15” the joint exercises will be take place from August 24 to 28  in the Sulu seas and involve ships, aircraft and special units from the two navies, according to Rear Admiral Primitivo Gopo, Commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao through  Public Affairs Officer  Ensign Ian Ramos.

The bilateral activity, the 18th in a series of naval exercise, will be hosted by the Philippines since the signing of the Defense Cooperation under the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries in 1994.

The joint naval exercise came in the midst of the unresolved Sabah issue being pursued by the Sultanate of Sulu parallel to Malaysia’s pursuit for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, as a broker  in  the peace accord between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front .

Malaysia has  established a floating naval force  fronting Sulu waters in an   attempt to keep militants from Southern Philippines at bay and provide a buffer zone  for the  expected exodus of refugees from  hostilities in Mindanao.

The Navy said the primary objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability between the two Navy forces and developed better understanding and cooperation between them.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/08/23/ph-malaysia-stage-naval-war-games-/

Army: Don't pay rebels campaign permit fees

From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 22): Army: Don't pay rebels campaign permit fees

A ranking military official yesterday discouraged candidates in the May 2016 election from paying “permits to win and campaign fees”, usually demanded by the New People's Army during the election period.

 

The filing of certificates of candidacy for candidates in next year's election is from October 12 to 16.

 

Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that giving in to the demands of the NPA means providing more power to those he calls “extortionists"

 

In previous elections, candidates were forced to pay up to allegedly gain protection from the rebel groups in areas controlled by them.

 

Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, Armed Forces Civil Relations chief, in a statement he issued, said that the continuous efforts of the AFP in running after high ranking officials of the NPA makes the impact of the rebel group no longer valuable.

 

AFP records show that the CPP-NPA allegedly demands P500,000 from a gubernatorial candidates, P300,000 from vice gubernatorial bets, P250,000 from congressional candidates, P200,000 from mayoralty candidates and P100,000 from vice mayoralty candidates.

 

Through Comelec Resolution No. 9981, promulgated on August 18, the poll body scheduled the election period from January 10 to June 8 next year.

 

The election is set on May 9 on the same year.

 

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/August/22/topstory6.htm

S. Cotabato militiaman who killed 2 colleagues arrested

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): S. Cotabato militiaman who killed 2 colleagues arrested

Police have arrested a militiaman who executed two of his comrades and wounded another inside a para-military detachment in Barangay Palo, Tampakan, South Cotabato Thursday.

Senior Inspector Sherwin Maglana, Tampakan police chief, said joint Tampakan PNP and Koronadal City PNP arrested the suspect, Mark Anthony Aradaza, 28, resident of Barangay San Isidro, Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Maglana said the police received a tip about the presence of Aradaza in Barangay Topland, Koronadal City. After confirming the report, an operation was quickly conducted.

Maglana said a sizable force was formed because Aradaza was armed with M-14 issued to him as member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) which he also used in executing two companions.

Armed with an arrest warrant, the lawmen swooped down on the suspect's hideout and arrested him.

On Thursday night, Aradaza shot dead Frankly Viloria, 23 and Mark Macul, 26. Another companion, Camilo de Claro, was wounded.

All the victims belonged to 72nd Civilian Armed Auxiliary/CAFGU under the supervision of the 27th Infantry Battalion.

Aradaza refused to issue statement. He is now detained at Tampakan PNP holding cell while charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder are being prepared against him.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=795820

Misuari, MNLF 'willing to talk peace' with gov’t

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): Misuari, MNLF 'willing to talk peace' with gov’t

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Moro National Liberation Front's (MNLF) fugitive founding chair Nur Misuari is reportedly “very much willing” to engage in formal negotiations with the national government to resolve various issues, among them the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement.

Johnny Siao, chair of the MNLF Misuari faction's national border command based in this city, said that based on their latest communication, the rebel leader signified his intention to participate in a planned tripartite review for the peace process.

But he said the government should also reciprocate such move by dropping the rebellion charges that had been filed against Misuari in connection with the Zamboanga City siege in Sept. 2013.

"His (Misuari) tag as a terrorist should be dropped first before we start talking," he said in an interview.

Siao claimed that Misuari did not plan and led the Zamboanga City crisis and that it only escalated due to supposed erroneous interventions made by authorities and local politicians.

Citing results of the MNLF central committee's recent meeting held in Jolo, Sulu, he said they agreed to seek more engagements with the influential Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address Misuari's case.

For the review process, he said they will also negotiate for the participation of OIC members Indonesia and Malaysia.

Ustadz Pendi Colano, a member of the MNLF central committee representing the Selatan Kutawato group, reiterated that they remain committed to the 1996 peace accord with the national government despite the past setbacks.

He said they continue to abide by the peace process and hopeful that the pending issues can still be resolved amicably and without the use of arms or violence.

"We are for peace. We believe that is also the stand of President Benigno S. Aquino III," he said.

Colano said the MNLF at-large is no longer a threat to national security and should be treated as such by the government, especially the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

He said their members have successfully reintegrated with the mainstream society after the forging of the peace agreement.

"We're already in the mainstream of the society and are now living simple lives. We don’t want to engage in war anymore," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=795887

Zambo cops organize trackers to arrest bombing suspects

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): Zambo cops organize trackers to arrest bombing suspects

The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has organized tracker teams to arrest the other suspects behind the Jan. 23 bombing in this city.

This was disclosed by Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, ZCPO director, since three of the four suspects remain at large and the court has issued arrest warrants against them.

Still at large are: Aldamer Sahibuddin; Nidz Asmad alias Nidz Ahamad and Midel Isnaji; and, Muammar Askali, alias Abu Ramy.

The other suspect, Babylin Muallam, who carries the aliases of Babylin Jul Ismael and Hadja Baby Lin Julpa Jul, was arrested by the police last Aug. 13 in Barangay Campo Islam, 4.50 kilometers west of City Hall.

Casimiro said they have already information as to the whereabouts of the three other suspects.

All of the four suspects are charged with double murder and multiple frustrated murders.

Casimiro disclosed the suspects, who are scot-free, remain a threat to the security of this city.

Two people were killed while 54 others were wounded in the Jan. 23 bomb blast in Barangay Guiwan, 3.40 kilometers east of City Hall.

The bomb was placed in a car that was left parked in front of a bar.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=795960

Illegal fisher killed in Zamboanga Del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): Illegal fisher killed in Zamboanga Del Sur

A suspected illegal fisher was shot and killed by troopers of the 53rd Infantry Battalion and V. Sagun Municipal Police Station after the former's group fired on government security forces off Igat Island, Margosatubig, Zamboanga Del Sur Friday afternoon.

The incident took place at 3 p.m., said Lt. Col. Audie Mongao, 1st Infantry Division spokesperson.

He added that police and military units, along with members of the V. Sagun Bantay-Dagat, were conducting law enforcement operations in the vicinity, in wake of illegal fishing complaints, when they spotted armed men aboard a "tari-tari" motorized fishing boat.

At this point, the suspects in the fishing boat fired on government security forces, prompting the latter to return fire, killing one of the illegal fishers.

The "tari-tari" then tried to escape but were quickly intercepted, resulting in the capture of four suspects and confiscation of an M-1 Garand rifle, 16 rounds of ammunition and the fishing boat.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=795932

Army units looking into shootout reports between rival political groups in Lanao Del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): Army units looking into shootout reports between rival political groups in Lanao Del Sur

Units of the 1st Infantry Division, together with the local police, are now investigating the reported shootout between two rival political groups at the vicinity of Barangay East Poblacion and Punod District, Pantar town, Lanao Del Sur Friday.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the 4 a.m. engagement between the reported followers of Pantar Vice Mayor Mangondaya Tago and Mayor Mohammad Exchan Gabriel Limbona.

Reports forwarded by Lt. Col. Audie Mongao, 1st Infantry Division public affairs office chief, said Tago's followers "harassed" supporters of Limbona, triggering a hour-long exchange of fire.

The incident motive was triggered by "political rivalry," Mongao said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=795857