Former Abu Sayyaf captive to officials and media: Please be sensitive

From MindaNews (Jun 25): Former Abu Sayyaf captive to officials and media: Please be sensitive

A humanitarian worker who was held captive by the Abu Sayyaf for 61 days in 2008 appealed to officials and the media to please be sensitive in handling freed kidnap victims.

“There is a desperate need to understand the psycho-emotional state of Marites Flor or any traumatized person just coming out of a lengthy horrific captivity. It is most unfortunate that politicians and the media refuse to understand this,” humanitarian worker Milet Mendoza said.

Flor, who was freed Friday dawn after nine months and three days in captivity, was presented to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte onstage at the Davao City Police Office parade grounds, after the turnover of command to the new police chief.




Reporters crowd around freed kidnap victim Marites Flor (beside returning Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza) as she stepped down from the stage at the Davao City Police Office parade grounds Friday afternoon, after she was presented to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte some 12 hours after she was freed by the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu. Flor was held captive for nine months and three days. MindaNews photo by TOTO LOZANO

“One’s dignity and privacy are of primary importance. Exposing her to the public eye is being insensitive. Marites was compelled to do so as an unconscious expression of gratitude which one tends to naturally feel after coming out of such terrible situation.
She should have been brought immediately to her family and have someone she trusts to hold her hand and give her advice on what to do and say. One should not take advantage of this vulnerability. Doing so victimizes her doubly. It is about time to stop this disaster pornography. It makes people less humane. Show mercy and compassion.,” Mendoza said.

“I have been there once so I know. This is the time to be sensitive and not doubly victimize her,” she added.

Flor was among four victims seized from a resort in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte near midnight on September 21, 2015 and were brought to Sulu.

She was the lone Filipina among the victims that included two Canadian nationals John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, and Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad.

Ridsdel was executed on April 25 for non-payment of P300 million ransom demanded and Hall, Flor’s fiancé, on June 13, for the same reason.

The Abu Sayyaf warned the Norwegian and Flor would be next.

Mendoza hopes government and civil society advocating for women, peace and security would exert serious efforts to come up with concrete programs of assistance for victims and survivors of kidnapping by the Abu Sayyaf. “The survivors and the families of the captives who have been killed are left to fend for themselves despite the continuous fear that will stay with them for a long time,” she said.

61-day ordeal

On September 15, 2008, Mendoza and four of her colleagues had just come from a meeting with leaders of displaced villagers in Tipo-tipo, Basilan when they were taken at gunpoint by seven heavily armed young men along the road from Tipo-Tipo to Lamitan town at around one o’clock in the afternoon. Three were released hours later but she and Espie Hupida, program director of the Basilan-based Nagdilaab Foundation, were taken the Abu Sayyaf.

Hurpida was freed on October 30 that year while Mendoza was released two weeks later, on November 14.

In April 2010, Mendoza wrote a series on her 61-day in captivity under the Abu Sayyaf. (Read ‘The Agonies of an Abu Sayyaf victim” and “Post-Lenten Reflections of an Abu Sayyaf victim” — links below)

Mendoza said she wrote about her captivity “in the spirit of sharing to raise understanding to the plight of the kidnap victims – past, present and future – particularly by those who are able to provide moral, spiritual, psychosocial support to the victim, and policy support to this pressing concern.”

The series, she said, highlights “the context of the kidnapping problem and the sensitivities involved in dealing with kidnap victims.”

“I wrote this only in the hope of giving inspiration to others, and making people in authority and the general public understand better the plight of kidnap victims in the hands of the much-dreaded Abu Sayyaf Group,” Mendoza wrote.

Her 61-day journey is one marked with fear, frustration, helplessness, even to the point of contemplating suicide, but these negative feelings were replaced with what she refers to as “little miracles,” including being given two pieces of candy by one of her abductors, and how Mother Mary and Mendoza’s friend and mentor, Fr. Rey Roda who was killed in Tawi-tawi in January 2008, helped her through.

Mendoza has been doing humanitarian work in Mindanao since the drought of 1998 in South-Central Mindanao, as Executive Director of Tabang Mindanaw and later when the Estrada and Arroyo wars against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) displaced hundreds of thousands of predominantly Moro communities in 2000 and 2003.

She also helped Pagtabangan BaSulTa (Help Basilan Sulu Tawi-tawi) and had been frequenting these three island provinces.

Before her work with Tabang Mindanaw, Mendoza was with the National Unification Commission, secretariat of the government peace panel in the negotiations with the National Democratic Front, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Mendoza is a recipient of the 2005 Ozanam Award conferred by the Ateneo de Manila University and is a founding member and steering committee member of the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN), a coalition of dedicated Asian humanitarians with experience and expertise and emergency humanitarian work and disaster reduction programs.

98 victims in 5 years
The Abu Sayyaf has kidnapped hundreds of persons, including foreigners, in the last two decades.

Victor M. Taylor, who has been monitoring events in Sulu in the last 50 years wrote a commentary in April, “Time to end KFR in Sulu,” where he noted that the kidnap for ransom (KFR) incidents in Sulu had gotten out of hand.

“It appears that the Government is powerless to do anything about it and can only react after the fact, after victims have been abducted and they and their families are subjected to physical and psychological torture,” he said.

Citing published reports, Taylor counted at least 98 victims kidnapped in the last five years –f rom 2011 to April 2016 : 11 in 2011, nine in 2012, 12 in 2013, 26 in 2014, 20 in 2015 and 18 in March and April 2016.

“While there have been a few instances where the authorities have succeeded in pressuring the kidnappers so that the victims have been either released or have escaped, in the vast majority of cases – over 75% it would appear – KFR victims have been released because ransom has been paid,” he wrote.

Taylor has been involved in various capacities in the BaSulTa area for close to fifty years. He started as an instructor at the Notre Dame of Jolo College in 1967 where many of his students ended up becoming commanders in the Moro National Liberation Front while others pursued careers in the Philippine military and police]

Between 2001 and 2010, Taylor had occasion to deal with the Abu Sayyaf on behalf of four kidnap victims who were eventually released. In one of those cases he held one-on-one negotiations with the ASG commander concerned. He is currently assisting an MNLF community on mainland Mindanao wishing to develop its area while at the same time providing inputs aimed at resolving the current Samal Island hostage crisis.)

The agonies of an Abu Sayyaf kidnap victim (1)
The agonies of an Abu Sayyaf kidnap victim (2): Coping wth captivity: one victim’s story 
Post-Lenten Reflections of an Abu Sayyaf kidnap victim (1): Moving forward 
Post-Lenten Reflections of an Abu Sayyaf kidnap victim (2); Moving forward 

http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2016/06/25/former-abu-sayyaf-captive-to-officials-and-media-please-be-sensitive/

Bandit leader slain in Zambo clash with cops

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 24): Bandit leader slain in Zambo clash with cops

Police forces killed a bandit leader and captured 2 others following a firefight that also left injured a policeman on Friday in Zamboanga del Norte’s Sibuco town in southern Philippines, officials said.

Officials said Jamaruddin Alih alias Boy Takas was shot dead in the village of Lakiki where the fighting erupted. Alih’s son Nurjin and Danny Kairal were both wounded in the clash and eventually captured.

Policeman Samman Iyoh was rushed to hospital after being hit by shrapnel from a grenade fired by Alih.  The gang, police said, was involved in extortion and behind numerous murders in the town.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/bandit-leader-slain-in-zambo-clash-with-cops/

Jakarta confirms abduction of Indon sailors off Southern Philippines

From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 24): Jakarta confirms abduction of Indon sailors off Southern Philippines

Jakarta has confirmed on Friday the abduction of 7 Indonesian tugboat crew members and said 6 other sailors had been freed and on their way home.

The sailors have been identified as Ferry Arifin, the skipper of tugboat Charles OO; M. Mahbrur Dahri, Edi Suryono, Ismail, M.Nasir, M.Sofyan and Robin Piter. The boat – owned by PT Rusianto Brothers – was heading to Samarinda in East Kalimantan following a trip from the Philippines when gunmen intercepted it on June 29.

The crewmen were earlier reported to have been split into two groups, but Jakarta said the others had been released and that only 7 were taken captive.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi confirmed the reports at a news conference in Jakarta. Marsudi said the government will do everything possible to ensure the safe release of all the hostages.

Indonesian media reported that the boat captain phoned his wife and told her that they were intercepted at sea by gunmen, who introduced themselves as Abu Sayyaf and were demanding 20 million ringgits for their safe release.

The Abu Sayyaf previously kidnapped 14 Indonesian tugboat crewmembers in separate attacks at sea and brought them to Sulu province and eventually released through the intercession of the Moro National Liberation Front. It has beheaded a Malaysian man and two Canadian hostages in Sulu, one of 5 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/jakarta-confirms-abduction-of-indon-sailors-off-southern-philippines/

ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on peace talks under Duterte

Posted to the Website Jose Maria Sison (Jun 25): ITANONG MO KAY PROF: Podcast on peace talks under Duterte

PODCAST: Usapang Pangkapayapaan

Intro ni Prof. Sara: Magandang araw sa lahat ng tagapakinig ng ating programang Itanong Mo Kay Prof! Muli nating makakapanayam ang founding chairperson ng Communist Party of the Philippines, Chief Consultant ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines para sa Usapang Pangkapayapaan, walang iba kung hindi si Propesor Jose Maria Sison.

Opening Spiel ni Prof. Sarah: Malugod na sinasalubong ng mga makakaliwang puwersa sa lipunang Pilipino ang mga progresibong pahayag ni Mayor Rodrigo Duterte mula nang lumitaw na siya ang binoto ng milyung-milyong Pilipino sa isang eleksyong napakataas ng bilang ng mga mamamayang lumahok sa proseso at bumoto ng kanilang mga kandidato. Bukas sa Kaliwa si President-elect Duterte, napakalayo sa disposisyon ng papalitan niyang si President Noynoy Aquino na popular na halal din ng mamamayan, pero sagad ang pagkareaksyunaryo at anti-mamamayan.

Maituturing na matatapang na hakbang ang ginagawa ni Duterte upang abutin ang Kaliwa, isang puwersa sa lipunang Pilipino na may malawak at malalim na kaugnayan sa pangaraw-araw na buhay ng masang Pilipino, lalo na ng masang anakpawis.

Nariyang magdesisyon si Duterte na isalalay sa CPP ang pagrerekomenda ng dalawang mahalagang pusisyon sa gabinete, ang DAR at ang DSWD. Dalawang kilala at beteranong aktbista ng Pambansa Demokratikong Kilusan ang gagampan dito, si Cong. Ka Paeng Mariano ng Anakpawis Partylist, kilala ring mass lider ng KMP. At si Propesor Judy Taguiwalo ng UP at Alliance of Concerned Teachers, aktibista ng Martial Law, nag-underground upang magorganisa ng masang titindig laban sa diktaturyang Marcos, naging bilanggong pulitikal. Hindi nalalayo sa tono ng Kaliwa, di lang minsang naipahayag at naipakita ni Duterte ang kanyang kawalan ng interes sa pagpapakatuta sa dayuhang imperyalista, ang US.

Ngunit higit sa lahat, nagdeklara si Duterte na magkakaroon ng Usapang Pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng administrasyon at ng CPP-NPA-NDF. Para sa CPP-NPA-NDF at mga laksa-laksang mamamayan, ito ang tinatayang pinakamahalagang ebidensya ng sinseridad ni Duterte upang patunayan ang kagustuhan niyang magpatupad ng mga pagbabago. “Change is coming” ang sabi pa nga ng kanyang campaign slogan.

Pagusapan natin ang Usapang Pangkapayapaan kasama si Prop. Jose Maria Sison. Maalab na pagbati, Prof. Jose Maria Sison!

JMS: Maalab na makabayang pagbati sa lahat ng ating kababayan! Napapanahon po at angkop ang paksa ng panayam na ito tungkol sa usapang pangkapayapaan.

Matagumpay na naisagawa namin ang preliminary talks sa Oslo noong Hunyo 14 at 15 para ihanda ang resumption ng formal talks sa ikatlong linggo ng Hulyo.

Prof. Sarah: 1. Prof. Sison, bago po tayo magpalawig sa isyu ng usapang pangkapayapaan, maaari po bang maipaliwanag muna natin sa ating mga tagapakinig ano ang ibig sabihin ng peace talks o usapang pangkapayapaan?

JMS: Ibig sabihin po ng usapang pangkapayapaan ay negosasyon sa pagitan ng Government of the Philippines (GPH) at National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) para gumawa ng mga kasunduan na naglulutas sa mga problemang naging dahilan ng gera sibil sa pagitan ng dalawang panig. Batay sa mga kasunduan, matitigil ang sandatahang labanan at magkakaroon ng makatarungan at matibay na kapayapaan sa ating bayan.

Prof. Sarah: 2. Bakit po ito ginagawa ng Gubyerno ng Pilipinas at ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines? Ano po ba ang mga pinag-uusapan ng dalawang panig at bakit ito sinusubaybayan ng ating mga kababayan?

JMS: Ginagawa ng Gobyerno ng Pilipinas at ng National Democratic Front of the Philippines ang usapang pangkapayapaan dahil sa tulak ng sambayanang Pilipino at dahil sa matinong pag-iisip na mas mabuting harapin ang mga problemang dahilan ng gera sibil, magkaroon ng kapayapaan at magkaisa sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga pundamental na reporma sa lipunan, ekonomya at pulitika.

Sinusubaybayan ng lahat ng ating kababayan ang usapang pangkapayaan dahil sa tumitinding krisis at hirap ng buhay at nais nilang magkaroon ng makabuluhang pagbabago sa pamamagitan ng mga reporma. Nais nilang mapalaya sa garapal na pang-aapi at pagsasamantala. Nais nilang marespeto ang mga pambansa at demokratikong karapatan at interes nila. Nais nilang magkaroon ng pag-unlad ng ekonomya sa pamamagitan ng pambansang industrialisasyon at tunay na reporma sa lupa at iba pang reporma.

Prof. Sarah: 3. Ano naman ang ibig sabihin ng preliminary talks, kagaya ng naganap sa Oslo, Norway nitong June 14 at 15 na dinaluhan ng mga bagong ng GPH peace negotiators na sina Jesus Dureza,Silvestre Bello III at Hernani Braganza para makipag-usap sa NDFP?

JMS: Preliminary talks ang tawag sa aming pag-uusap sa Oslo dahil kailangang linawin at ihanda muna ang adyenda ng formal talks na muling isasagawa sa panahon ng papasok na administrasyon ni Presidente Duterte. Nabimbin ang usapang pangkapayapaan sa mahabang panahon dahil sa pagsabotahe nina Aquino at OPAPP secretary Deles. Mauumpisahan muli ang formal talks kapag mag-umpisa na ang panunungkulan ng bagong administrasyon.

Prof. Sarah: 4. Maaari po ba ninyong maibahagi sa amin ano ang makabuluhang inabot ng preliminary talks sa pagitan ng GPH at NDFP noong June 14 at 15?

JMS: Mababasa sa Joint Statement ang bunga ng preliminary talks. Itinakda nito ang adyenda ng formal talks sa Hulyo. Kasama sa adyenda ang apirmasyon ng mga dating kasunduan magmula sa The Hague Joint Declaration, ang balak na pabilisin ang usapang pangkapayapaan, ang pagpapalaya sa mga political prisoner sa pamamagitan ng general amnesty at ang interim ceasefire o pansamantalang pagtigil ng putukan.

Itinakda rin sa Joint Statement na palayain agad ang mga nakabilanggong consultant ng NDFP para makasama sila sa formal talks alinsunod sa Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG). Isasabay na rin ang pagpapalaya ng mga political prisoner na may sakit, matatanda at mga babae.

Prof. Sarah: 5. Sa kabila po ng sinseridad na ipinapakita ni Presidente Duterte sa usapin ng pakikipagkaisa sa mga “left” at ang pag-uumpisa ng peace talks, meron pa ring mga naninira at bumabatikos na hindi umano magtatagumpay ang usapang pangkapayapaan. Ano po ang inyong opinyon hinggil dito, Prof. Sison?

JMS: Mas malaki ang posibilidad ngayon na umabante ang usapang pangkapayapaan hanggang sa matagumpay na kongklusyon dahil sa may mas mataas na antas ng political will o determinasyon ni Duterte kaysa sa mga nakaraang presidente na gawin ang dapat gawin para sumulong ang usapan at pagkakasundo. Malaki ang pag-unawa niya sa makaturangang layunin ng rebolusyon dahil naging estudyante ko siya at naging miembro ng Kabataang Makabayan.

Naging opisyal ng Nationalist Alliance for Justice, Freedom and Democracy noong 1986 at ng Partido ng Bayan noong 1987. Tatlong dekada ang haba ng magiting at maparaang kooperasyon niya sa kilusang rebolusyonaryo sa Davao City. Tinanggap niyang maging NDFP resource person noong 2012 hanggang sinabihan ng DILG na magwithdraw siya.May kabutihang loob siya. Siya ang nagboluntaryo na palayain ang lahat ng political prisoner sa pamamagitan ng general amnesty. Gayundin inalok niya ang apat na cabinet post sa NDFP.

Prof. Sarah: 6. Magkakaroon po ba ng tigil-putukan o ceasefire sa pagitan ng AFP/PNP at NPA sa panahon ng formal peace talks? Paano po ito pinagkakaisahan ng dalawang panig – GPH at NDFP at gaano ito katagal? Magsisiuwian ba ang mga armadong pwersa ng CPP/NDFP at ano ang kanilang gagawin sa panahon ng tigil-putukan?

JMS: Magkakaroon ng tigil putukan o ceasefire sa pagitan ng AFP/PNP at NPA sa panahon ng formal peace talks. May panimulang pag-uusap na tungkol sa modo o anyo ng ceasefire: mutual interim ceasefire agreement ba o independent but simultaneous ceasefire declarations bilang panimulang hakbang. Pag-uusapan pa ito nang masinsinan sa formal talks sa Hulyo.

Hindi magsisiuwian ang mga Pulang kumander at mandirigma ng NPA. Para hindi sila mayamot habang may ceasefire: patuloy ang gawaing masa, politico-military training, produksyon, health program, cultural work, pagbabantay sa environment at likas yaman ng ating bayan, pagsugpo sa kriminalidad (laluna ang ilegal na droga at pagnanakaw) at pagpigil sa pang-aapi at pagsasamantala. Nananatili ang karapatan sa self-defense. Ang matitigil ay mga sinadyang military campaigns and operations laban sa kabilang panig.

Prof. Sarah: 7. Sa tingin po ba ninyo Prof. Sison mababawasan na ang human rights violations ngayong mauupo na sa Malakanyang si Presidente Duterte? Ano po ang relasyon nito sa usapang pangkapayapaan?

JMS: Malaki ang mabawas na human rights violations kung wala nang military campaigns at operations na inilulunsad ng AFP, PNP at mga auxiliary forces laban sa NPA at sa masang anakpawis at mga katutubong komunidad. Sa gayon, mapapahusay ang atmosphere para sa usapang pagkapayapaan. Tungkol naman sa anti-criminality campaign ni President Duterte, may nagsasabing magbubunga ito ng maraming human rights violations.

Sa political campaign style ni Duterte, mahilig siya sa hyperbole tulad ng patabain niya ang mga isda sa Manila Bay para takutin ang mga kriminal at makuha niya ang sentimyento ng masa ng electorate. Pero tandaan na abogado at matalino siya. Alam niyang bilang Presidente na nakapokus sa kanya ang national at international attention. Aayaw yan sa peligro na masisiraan siya sa maraming paratang ng human rights violations.

Sa takbo ng usapang pangkapayapaan at sa pag-unlad ng ceasefire at cooperation, nasa lugar ang NDFP na paalalahanan ang gobyernong Duterte na itaguyod at irespeto ang mga karapatang tao. Pagdating ng yugto na pagbubuo ng pambansang konseho at gobyerno ng pambansang pagkakaisa, kapayapaan at pag-unlad lalaki ang papel ng mga demokratikong pwersa sa loob at labas ng gobyerno.

Prof. Sarah: 8. Hinggil po sa planong pag-uwi ninyo sa Pilipinas Prof Sison, magkakaroon po ba ng problema o epekto sa usapang pangkapayapaan kung hindi kayo matutuloy na makabisita sa ating bayan? Ano na po ang iyong pananaw hinggil sa mga nang-uupat sa inyo na ginagamit nyo lang daw si Presidente Duterte para sa inyong kapakinabangan?

JMS: Kausap ko pa ang mga kasama at mga abogado kung ano ang mga legal precautions, security measures, kailan at gaano katagal ako makakadalaw sa Pilipinas. Mientras na hindi pa ako dadalaw sa Pilipinas, walang negatibong epekto sa usapang pangkapayapaan dahil sa ito naman ay gagawin sa Oslo at kung kinakailangan sa iba pang neutral venue abroad alinsunod sa existing agreement.

Mas mapanganib sa usapang pangkapayapaan kung ako ay uuwi at may masamang mangyari sa akin. May mga peace spoilers na nag-aabang sa pagkakataong gumawa ng karahasan para mang-intriga at manggulo. Para maiwasan ito, puede pa ring magkita kami ni President Duterte sa Europe kapag magstate visit siya sa Norway, Netherlands at Vatican.

Parehas kami ni President Duterte na may pananaw na sikapin nating magkakaroon ng malaking pagbabago para sa kabutihan ng sambayanang Pilipino. Sabi niya sa akin na muhing-muhi siya sa mga oligarko at dayuhang mapanghimasok at nais niyang magrebolusyon sa loob ng gobyerno. Sabi niyang siya ay Kaliwa at sosyalista. Nasa kanya ang tungkuling patunayan sa gawa ang kanyang salita. Magkakatulungan tayo habang ginagawa niya ang anumang mabuti para sa bayan.

Prof. Sarah: 9. Ano po ang inyong mensahe sa ating mga kababayang nananalig sa kabutihang idudulot ng usapang pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng GPH at NDFP?

JMS: Ibayong itaguyod ang usapang pangkapayapaan at tiyakin na magkasundo sa mga reporma na dapat gawin laban sa mga imperyalista at malalaking komprador at asendero. Isulong ang mga pambansa at demokratikong karapatan at interes. Dapat magkaroon ng ganap na pambansang kasarinlan, demokrasya, pag-unlad sa ekonomya sa pamamagitan ng pambansang industrialisasyon at tunay na reporma sa lupa, hustisya sosyal, pinalawak na libreng edukasyong publiko at makabayan at progresibong kultura.

Sa unang pagkakataon sa buong kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, may presidente na nagsasabi sa bansa na siya ay Kaliwa at sosyalista at nag-aalok ng apat na cabinet post sa Kaliwa. Nauna pa rito, sinabi niyang handa siyang magbuo ng coalition government na kasama ang mga komunista. Sikapin nating magkaroon ng isang pamahalaan ng pambansang pagkakaisa, kapayapaan at pag-unlad.

Sagpangin ng sambayanang Pilipino at mga pwersang makabayan at progresibo ang mga pagkakataon na bunga ng krisis ng naghaharing sistema, paglakas ng rebolusyonaryong kilusan at paglitaw ng presidenteng katulad ni Duterte.

Nakakaintindi si President Duterte sa mga makabayan at progresibong simulain dahil dating kabilang siya sa Kabataang Makabayan, Nationalist Alliance, Partido ng Bayan at Bayan.

Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay kayo!

Extro ni Prof. Sarah: Maraming salamat sa ating mga tagapakinig, nawa ay nalinawan tayong lahat sa mga usaping may kaugnayan sa kapayapaan at ibayong kumilos at magpakilos upang tiyakin ang tagumpay nito.

Tandaan natin, nanantiling instrumento ng mga naghaharing uri sa lipunan ang estado. Hangad ng mga komunista, ng mga pulang mandirigma ng New People’s Army, ng mga rebolusyonaryong organisasyon na binubuo ng mga magsasaka, manggagwa, estudyante, guro, taong-simbahan, migrante, kababaihan, kawani ng gobyerno, artista sa gawawing kultural sa ilalim ng NDF na durugin ang estadong nagsisilbi sa iilan, agawin ito, at magtayo ng isang gobyernong mangangasiwa para sa interes ng nakararami, isang lipunang malaya na tumutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng mamamayan at hindi ang nakagisnan nating nambubusabos sa sambayanan. Ang ganitong porma ng demokrasya, ang ganitong uri ng gobyerno ay hindi nakasalalay kay Presidente Duterte kundi sa ibayong pagsisikhay ng mga rebolusyonaryo, mga organisadong mamamayan na patuloy na mag-aral , mag-organisa, konsolidahin ang makapangyarihang puwersa ng pagbabago–ang lakas ng sambayanang Pilipino–hanggang sa tagumpay. Paydayon!

Ito po si Sarah Raymundo, guro sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas, aktibista ng CONTEND at Alliance of Concerned Teachers. Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!
June 19, 2016

http://josemariasison.org/itanong-mo-kay-prof-podcast-on-peace-talks-under-duterte/

Sisin: Unite for just and lasting peace

Posted to the Website of Jose Maria Sison (Jun 25): Unite for just and lasting peace

Video Message to the Peace Forum, Davao City, June 28, 2016
By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Founding Chairman, Communist Party of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant, National Democratic Front of the Philippines

We of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) convey our warmest greetings of solidarity and peace to the Exodus for Justice and Peace and BAYAN-SMR, Bishops Modesto D. Villasanta, Redeemer Yanez and Felixberto Calalang, all the officials of the Philippine government headed by the new President Rodrigo Duterte, the new OPAPP Secretary Hon. Jesus Dureza and the representatives of the Negotiating Panels of the GPH and NDFP and all the delegations presenting the Mindanao People’s Agenda.

We are all deeply pleased in this Forum for Peace with the participation of people from various walks of life, including the workers, peasant, Lumad, Moro, women, children, urban poor, youth, business, academe, artists, health professionals, church people, transport, fisherfolk, athletes, LGBT, senior citizens and others. We are all grateful to the tens of thousands of people participating in the People’s Concert and People’s March for Peace on June 27 and 18.

We can be sure that the spirit of the patriot and revolutionary hero Ka Parago, Comrade Leoncio Pitao, whose martyrdom is commemorated today, is present in all our mass activities for peace inasmuch as we are inspired by his lifelong struggle for a just and lasting peace. He fought hard, made sacrifices and died for the just cause of seeking fundamental reforms to make a new and better Philippines that is truly independent, democratic, socially just, peaceful and progressive in an all round way.

Let us all unite for a just and lasting peace. This can be attained by addressing the roots of the armed conflict and forging the comprehensive agreements on major social, economic and political reforms. Since The Hague Joint Decalaration of 1992, the aim of the peace negotiations and methods of achieving it have been set forth. But the previous administrations of Estrada, Arroyo and Aquino lacked the political will to overcome their reactionary interests and use their power and resources to advance the peace process.

Let us take advantage of a new situation in which the worsening crisis of the ruling system, the growing strength of the people’s revolutionary movement and the failures of previous administrations have brought about a president who is courageous and proud to say that he is the first Left president of the Philippines and is willing to adopt and implement the necessary reforms for a just and lasting peace. By all manifestations, he is open to the making of mutually satisfactory agreements that serve the best interests of the Filipino p[eople.

We are all elated by the success of the preliminary talks of the teams of the incoming Duterte government and the NDFP in Oslo last June 14 and 15. The formal talks by the GPH and NDFP negotiating panels shall be resumed in the third week of July in Oslo. The agenda includes the affirmation of previously signed agreements, the plan to accelerate the peace negotiations on the three remaining items of the substantiove agenda, the release of all political prisoners by general amnesty and the mode of ceasefire.

Let us congratulate the broad masses of the people and all the peace-loving organizations and leaders of various sectors who have campaigned for the resumption of formal talks. Let us look forward to the success of the first formal talks in the time of the Duterte government. The success of these will lead to further hard work by the principals, negotiators, consultants, ceasefire monitors and other focused personnel of the negotiating parties and to further inputs and support from all the peace-loving forces and people.

We welcome the movement for peace undertaken by the Exodus for Justice and Peace amd BAYAN-SMR in Mindanao and all other forces on a nationwide scale.
Campaigns must be waged for public participation in promoting and realizing the people’s agenda for change. The various sectors of the people must be aroused, united and mobilized to submit proposals to the negotiating panels and support the peace process in as many ways as possible. The movement for peace can be energized by public meetings, informative and educational forums, multi-media publications and cultural activities.

Two days from now, the presidency of Rodrigo Roa Duterte shall be inaugurated. We wish him to succeed in all his efforts to serve the Filipino people, respond to the demands for full national independence, democracy, social justice and all -round development and perform his crucial role in achieving a just and lasting peace. Let this Forum for Peace be a celebration of Ka Parago’s desire for justice and peace and be a happy and meaningful send off for President Duterte.

Long live the memory of the patriot and hero Ka Parago!
Long live President Duterte!
Best wishes to all who work for the advance and success of the peace process!
Long live the cause of a just and lasting peace!
Long live the Filipino people!

http://josemariasison.org/unite-for-just-and-lasting-peace/

Gazmin to leave DND ‘contented, pleased’

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun 24): Gazmin to leave DND ‘contented, pleased’



Outgoing Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin bids farewell to the Philippine Army on Friday. Gazmin, who will step down on June 30, spent most of his career in public service as an Army man. FRANCES MANGOSING/INQUIRER.net

The Philippine Army on Friday bade its farewell to outgoing Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, who spent most of his public service career as an Army man.

“Sir Volts, thank you for the outstanding service which you have rendered to the flag for the last 48 years. You have not only shown us by your deeds how great it is to be able to dedicate one’s talents for the benefit of our country,” Army chief Gen. Eduardo Año said in his speech during the testimonial review at Fort Bonifacio.

“You also have a set benchmark in public service which all of us strive to fulfill in our own ways,” he said.

 

Gazmin, who will step down as defense chief on June 30, served as commanding general of the Philippine Army from July 1999 to October 2000.

In his speech, Año went back to Gazmin’s career and achievements that spanned almost five decades.

The outgoing defense chief, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1968, served his junior years as a custodian of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. during his imprisonment at Fort Magsaysay in the early 1970s.

He later served in Mindanao for more than a decade, fighting secessionist groups.
In 1986, he served as the head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the time of then President Corazon Aquino.

“It was a leadership role which Sir Volts would handle for the next six years with remarkable performance and strength of character,” Año said.

Gazmin is a known father figure in the future President Benigno Aquino III.

“On some occasions, the young future President Aquino III would join the PSG personnel on duty for a round of singing, target shooting, or other recreational activities which Sir Volts implemented to relieve the boredom of what seemed to be an eternal watch over the safety and security of the President and her family,” the Army chief said.

He also said Gazmin’s “exemplary leadership of the PSG during those tumultuous years earned him the lifelong gratitude of the Aquino family.”

Gazmin later served as defense attaché to the United States and then went back to the Philippines to command the 1003rd Brigade in Basilan, the Special Forces Regiment and the Special Operations Command.

Before he was the commanding general of the Army, he headed the Southern Luzon Command.

“During his stint as Army chief, Sir Volts was also able to make good on his promise to improve the welfare of the humble soldier. He implemented several initiatives that focused on leadership and training and doctrine development, proper force mix, equipment and systems modernization, and quality and well-motivated soldiers, which include their active involvement in the Army’s non-traditional roles,” Año said.

‘Contented, pleased’

Gazmin, who will be replaced by incoming Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, said he was leaving the defense department “contented and pleased.”

“I am happy to say that through the strong support of President Aquino, we have gained significant progress in the implementation of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) capability upgrade and modernization program that effected the release of P60.14 billion pesos from July 2010 to April 2016 and extended to the Philippine Army its modest share from the implementation of the said program,” he said.

Some of the additional assets for the Army during the time of Mr. Aquino included armored personnel carriers, M4 rifles, field ambulances and mobility trucks.

“I depart from our defense department on June 30, 2016 contented and pleased that I am leaving behind my endeared institution, the Philippine Army, the immortal monument of the courage and patriotism in the defense of our citizenry and their treasured social and democratic ideals,” he said.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/792298/gazmin-to-leave-dnd-contented-pleased

Seven More Indonesian Tug Crewmembers Kidnapped

From the Maritime Executive (Jun 24): Seven More Indonesian Tug Crewmembers Kidnapped

Indonesia said on Friday a halt on coal shipments to the Philippines will remain in place until Manila can secure its waters after seven Indonesian sailors were kidnapped, the latest in a string of abductions.

Philippine authorities could not immediately confirm the hostage-taking but said a Filipino woman held since September was freed on Friday by Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist militant group that has amassed tens of millions of dollars from kidnappings for ransom.

It was unclear whether the sailors were taken by Abu Sayaff, which has beheaded two Canadian nationals in recent weeks after ransom deadlines passed. The group is still holding men from Japan, the Netherlands and Norway.

Indonesia is concerned that piracy in the Sulu Sea area, a major sea traffic corridor for the world's top thermal coal exporter, could reach levels previously seen in Somalia.

"The moratorium on coal exports to the Philippines will be extended until there is a guarantee for security from the Philippines government," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters.

Indonesia supplies 70 percent of the Philippines' coal import needs, which Indonesian data shows stood at about 15 million tonnes, worth around $800 million, last year.

Analysts say $40 billion worth of cargo passes through the Sulu Sea area a year, including supertankers from the Indian Ocean that cannot use the crowded Malacca Strait.

Marsudi said earlier the seven Indonesians were kidnapped by two different armed groups in attacks on a tugboat towing a coal-carrying barge and that the government would "try all options to free the hostages".

Fourteen Indonesians were abducted in two separate assaults on tugboats in March and April but were freed in May. In April, the Indonesian navy instructed all commercial vessels to avoid piracy-prone waters near the southern Philippines.

Filipino captive Marites Flor, abducted from an upscale resort in September along with Canadian Robert Hall, was freed at dawn on Friday on Jolo, an army spokesman said. Hall was beheaded on June 13.

In Davao City, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said they were "able to negotiate" for the release of two captives, a Norwegian man and Filipino woman.

"The kidnapped Norwegian could not get out yet because he could not cross because of the rough seas," Duterte said, adding "there will be time that I will have to confront the Abu Sayyaf".

Alarmed at the frequency of attacks, port authorities in some areas of Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan on Borneo, have stopped issuing permits to ships taking coal to the southern Philippines.

http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/seven-more-indonesian-tug-crewmembers-kidnapped

Indonesia says coal on hold for Philippines after 7 sailors abducted

From Reuters (Jun 24): Indonesia says coal on hold for Philippines after 7 sailors abducted

* Unclear if Abu Sayyaf behind latest attack
* Filipino woman abducted with executed Canadian freed
* Indonesia to keep moratorium on coal until Manila secures waters (Adds Philippines' leader Duterte comments to confront Abu Sayyaf)

Indonesia said on Friday a halt on coal shipments to the Philippines will remain in place until Manila can secure its waters after seven Indonesian sailors were kidnapped, the latest in a string of abductions.

Philippine authorities could not immediately confirm the hostage-taking but said a Filipino woman held since September was freed on Friday by Abu Sayyaf, an Islamist militant group that has amassed tens of millions of dollars from kidnappings for ransom.

It was unclear whether the sailors were taken by Abu Sayaff, which has beheaded two Canadian nationals in recent weeks after ransom deadlines passed. The group is still holding men from Japan, the Netherlands and Norway.

Indonesia is concerned that piracy in the Sulu Sea area, a major sea traffic corridor for the world's top thermal coal exporter, could reach levels previously seen in Somalia.

"The moratorium on coal exports to the Philippines will be extended until there is a guarantee for security from the Philippines government," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters.

Indonesia supplies 70 percent of the Philippines' coal import needs, which Indonesian data shows stood at about 15 million tonnes, worth around $800 million, last year.

Analysts say $40 billion worth of cargo passes through the Sulu Sea area a year, including supertankers from the Indian Ocean that cannot use the crowded Malacca Strait.

Marsudi said earlier the seven Indonesians were kidnapped by two different armed groups in attacks on a tugboat towing a coal-carrying barge and that the government would "try all options to free the hostages".

Fourteen Indonesians were abducted in two separate assaults on tugboats in March and April but were freed in May. In April, the Indonesian navy instructed all commercial vessels to avoid piracy-prone waters near the southern Philippines.

Filipino captive Marites Flor, abducted from an upscale resort in September along with Canadian Robert Hall, was freed at dawn on Friday on Jolo, an army spokesman said. Hall was beheaded on June 13.

In Davao City, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said they were "able to negotiate" for the release of two captives, a Norwegian man and Filipino woman.

"The kidnapped Norwegian could not get out yet because he could not cross because of the rough seas," Duterte said, adding "there will be time that I will have to confront the Abu Sayyaf".

Alarmed at the frequency of attacks, port authorities in some areas of Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan on Borneo, have stopped issuing permits to ships taking coal to the southern Philippines.

http://news.trust.org/item/20160624024300-6jswh

Islamic State officially creates province in the Philippines

From the Long War Journal (Jun 24): Islamic State officially creates province in the Philippines (by Caleb Weiss)



Isnilon Hapilon (background, arm raised), emir of Islamic State in the Philippines

After months of buildup, which included pledges of loyalty from various local groups, the Islamic State has officially created a province in the Philippines. A newly released video from the region, which was produced in the same style as all other Islamic State provinces, offered confirmation of the new province.

The video begins by showing several “battalions” of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) pledging allegiance to the Islamic State. This includes the Abu Dujana Battalion, Abu Khubaib Battalion, Jundallah Battalion, and the Abu Sadr Battalion. These battalions joined others from ASG, including Jund al Tawhid, Ansar al Sharia, and Marakah al Ansar in pledging bayah to the Islamic State. Additionally, some of ASG’s leadership, including overall leader Isnilon Hapilon (who is shown in the video), have pledged to the jihadist group.

Hapilon, a US-designated terrorist, was again confirmed as the leader of all of the Islamic State’s forces in the Philippines. In an April issue of the Islamic State’s weekly newsletter Al Naba, the jihadist group said that Hapilon, also known as Abu Abdullah al Filipini, had been appointed as emir. In a portion of the video featuring a Filipino fighter in Raqqah, Syria, he confirms the Al Naba report.

Hapilon is the senior most figure to have defected to the Islamic State in the Philippines. The video also confirms that a formal leadership structure for the Islamic State has indeed been put into place, exemplifying its expansion in the country. This was also seen earlier this month in an infographic released by the ‘Amaq News Agency, one of the jihadist group’s news outlets. The infographic included several important facts from the Islamic State in the Philippines, including the number of groups that have pledged allegiance and where they operate. (See Threat Matrix report, Islamic State details activity in the Philippines.)

While the infographic contains numbers from April 2015, it also notes the first official announcement of Filipino jihadist groups pledging allegiance to the Islamic State occurred in January 2016. Videos and reports of groups pledging bayah have emerged since 2014, shortly after Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, claimed the creation of a caliphate. The video in January, however, was the first time the Islamic State publicly accepted these pledges. A month later, the Islamic State’s Furat media outlet released another video showing more groups pledging allegiance.

These groups include the aforementioned battalions of ASG, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Ansar Khilafah in the Philippines, the Islamic State in Lanao, Jamaat al Tawhid wal Jihad (a group formerly loyal to al Qaeda), and parts of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Their claimed areas of operation largely correspond with the reported areas of the aforementioned groups. This includes the southern areas of Basilan, South Cotabato, Sulu, Sarangani, Lanao del Sur, and the northern province of Isabela.

Several of these groups, including Ansar Khilafah, the Islamic State in Lanao, and the Jamaat al Tawhid wal Jihad (JTJ) have publicized training camps in the region. Ansar Khilafah was the first to do so last December, while the latter two groups did so last month and in March, respectively. A video from JTJ’s training camp, the “Osama bin Laden training camp,” also publicized its loyalty to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

In addition to the pledges to the Islamic State in the months building up to yesterday’s video, the Islamic State has claimed several attacks in the Philippines in recent months. One of these attacks was featured in the video, which showed Islamic State fighters engaging in a firefight with Filipino security forces. Several vehicles and weapons are shown to have been captured by the jihadists. Additionally, the video pays tribute to several fighters who have been killed in clashes with the Filipino military. This includes Abu Khattab, a Moroccan bomb expert within ASG, who was killed in April.
While the video was made to announce a Philippines province, a good portion of the video was filmed in Syria. Indonesian, Malaysian, and Filipino fighters in Syria’s Raqqah province are shown discussing these pledges and encouraging others to follow suit in Southeast Asia. The three are later shown simultaneously beheading three Assad regime soldiers somewhere in Raqqah.

The Islamic State has also inroads in the wider Southeast Asia region, an area that has historically featured al Qaeda activity. Jemaah Islamiyyah (JI), al Qaeda’s historical branch in Southeast Asia, has also suffered defections to the Islamic State. Shortly after Baghdadi’s announcement of the caliphate in 2014,  Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader and co-founder of JI as well as the emir of its offshoot Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid, pledged allegiance to Baghdadi. However, Bashir’s two sons and several other leaders left and formed their own group, Jemaah Ansharusy Syariah. According to the Jakarta Post, more than 50 percent of Bashir’s followers abandoned him and joined Jemaah Ansharusy Syariah. It is directly part of al Qaeda’s global network now, according to its leader. (See LWJ report, Islamic State launches suicide assault in Indonesia’s capital.)

Yet another group in region, Mujahideen Indonesion Timor (MIT), is also loyal to the Islamic State. Abu Warda Santoso, the MIT leader, swore allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014. His group was previously listed by the US as a terrorist group last year. Last month, the US Department of State added Santoso to its list of global terrorists. (See LWJ report, US adds emir of Mujahidin Indonesia Timur to list of global terrorists.)

Screenshots from the video:Pledges to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi:









Clashes with Filipino security forces:







Killed Moroccan fighter of ASG:

 

[Caleb Weiss is an intern at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a contributor to The Long War Journal.]

 

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/06/islamic-state-officially-creates-province-in-the-philippines.php

CPP’s Sison outlines prospects for peace negotiations

From the Business World (Jun 24): CPP’s Sison outlines prospects for peace negotiations

The founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has outlined prospects for peace negotiations during a video conference during the Davao Media Forum on June 21 at UCCP Haran.

 

Professor Jose Maria Sison, who is also the chief political consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), said the resumption of formal peace talks within the first month of the Duterte administration is an auspicious start and premised on the previously signed agreements.

 

The ceasefire between the armed forces of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the NDFP and the eventual success of the peace negotiations should make more resources available for expanding industrial and agricultural production and education, health, and other social services, Mr. Sison said in a separate emailed statement.

The New People’s Army, the CPP’s armed wing, will not lie idle even if it is in a mode of self-defense and does not actively carry out offensive military campaigns and operations against the AFP and PNP, he said. The NPA can continue to engage in mass work, land reform, production, health care, cultural work, politico-military training, defense, and protection of the environment and natural resources.

 

There is also a plan to accelerate the peace negotiations to measure the seriousness of the Duterte government to make substantive progress in the talks, Mr. Sison said.

Resources should not be wasted through profit remittances by the multinational companies, foreign debt payments, bureaucratic corruption, luxury consumption by the oligarchy, excessive military spending, and other forms of lopsided spending for schemes like K-12 which is meant to make education unpatriotic in content, more subservient to the needs of multinational firms, more expensive, and more privatized, he said.

 

He described Duterte as the principal and the most important factor on the side of the GPH, who has the political will or determination to pursue the peace negotiations to a successful and happy conclusion.

“President Duterte did not suddenly drop from the sky. He grew up intellectually and politically under conditions of ever worsening conditions due to the chronic crisis of the semicolonial and semifeudal ruling system. Since his youth, he has been inclined to side with the oppressed and exploited. He was my student in political thought and joined the Kabataang Makabayan,” he said.

Mr. Duterte had always declared that he is the first Left president of the Philippines.

“Let us give him a chance to prove it. Let us avail of the peace negotiations as one of several ways of clarifying what needs to be done and what can be done in order to bring about full national independence, democratic empowerment of the working people, economic development through national industrialization and land reform, social justice, expanded public education and advance of a patriotic and progressive culture,” Mr. Sison said.

Mr. Sison also applauded the chief negotiator of the Philippine government, incoming Secretary of Labor and Employment Silvestre Bello III, who according to him has a record of negotiating diligently and working effectively with his own panel members and with the negotiators of the NDFP in making the aforesaid agreements.

 

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=cpp&8217s-sison-outlines-prospects-for-peace-negotiations&id=129497

Fierce Abu foe introduced Basilan kids to play football

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun 25): Fierce Abu foe introduced Basilan kids to play football




WARRIOR, PEACEMAKER Children affected by the worsening armed conflict learn to play football, thanks to the efforts of Lt. Col. Tiny Perez. Football for Peace, held at Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City, is hosted by theWestern Mindanao Command. Perez, who was shot dead on June 19, will be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani on Sunday. JULIE ALIPALA/INQUIRER MINDANAO

It was in  early 2000 that the late church worker Liza del Puerto asked me to hook up with Tiny Perez before covering the remote villages of Basilan for television.

Tiny was Lt. Col. Cristobal Julian Paolo Pacificador Perez and he knew the place like the back of his hand.

He could provide a clear security assessment for journalists and humanitarian workers planning to go beyond Isabela City or Lamitan.

I was expecting a small person, but was surprised to see a tall, muscular mestizo, who can’t stop laughing even at jokes that are not funny.

When he greeted me with a gentle but firm handshake: “Lt. Tiny Perez po,” he said.
It was a security assessment. Almost two dozen journalists were told to stay in Mt. Mahadji and were to leave only after the delivery of 200 sacks of rice. The Abu Sayyaf was holding more than 70 hostages from Tumahubong, Sumisip, including Claretian priest Fr. Rhoel Gallardo.

The security briefing was conducted by 103rd Army Brigade commander Col. Glicerio Sua. Everyone was in rapt attention, not even bothering to touch the delicious snack—except for Tiny.

Breaking the ice

Tiny broke the ice when he accidentally hit the fork laid on the table. He was trying to get the chocolate cake that was nearer to Sua. He beamed even when the icing ended up on his face.

Lt. Col. Andrew Bacala, now commander of the 4th Special Forces Battalion, described Perez, his mistah, as “a happy giant man.”

Both of them graduated from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) under the Maalab Class of 1993.

“Perez was baptized Tiny by our colleagues during cadet years, because he was so huge, like 5’9”. Very athletic and always a smiling fellow,” Bacala said.

Perez, in his early years at the PMA, was known as CJ, Paolo, Julian or Perez.
Jocelyn Pacificador Perez, Tiny’s mother, described her son as “very gentle, thoughtful and charming.”

“In fact, it was his younger sister who bullied him when they were small. Tiny just cried. When my daughter learned of Tiny’s demise, she cried hard and I gently told her, you made him cry, now it’s his time to make you cry,” Jocelyn said.

Tiny was born in Cebu but grew up in Barangay Maligue in Isabela City, Basilan, when his family moved there. When peace and security were getting worse in Basilan, the family moved back to the Visayas and later to Manila.

Jocelyn said Tiny spent his younger days in Maligue.

“It was his best childhood. Tiny was a kind of boy who easily mingled with other people—Muslims or Christians—all friends to him. I understand why he decided to return to Basilan after graduating from the PMA,” she said.

It was in 1998 when Perez and Bacala landed in Basilan as young lieutenants.
Bacala was company commander of the 24th Special Forces Coy while Perez commanded the 11th Light Armor Company.

Both of them got stationed in Barangay Balawatin in Isabela City and fought lost commands of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Abu Sayyaf and other lawless elements.

In 2000, Perez was made the head of the 14th Military Intelligence Company or Mico.
Incoming National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. recalled how “Tiny was committed and effective in performing his task.”

“He was behind the successful neutralization of Abu Sayyaf during the 2001 crackdown in Basilan,” Esperon, then brigade commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade in Basilan, said.

In 2002, Perez was made the commanding officer of the intelligence unit of the 1st Infantry Division, but in between 2003 to 2005 and 2008, he served as one of the close-in security aides of Esperon.

Esperon was the commanding general of the Philippine Army and later the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff.

 ‘Everyone wanted Tiny’

Perez was the favorite of the top officials, particularly by colonels and generals.

“He always find ways and you never hear him complain. Everyone wanted Tiny,” said one of Perez’s classmates in the PMA, who did not want to be identified.

When Esperon retired from military service, Perez brought his family to Spain for his schooling. Over the yearlong stay in Spain, Perez made some realizations and vowed to bring changes in his approaches in the war against Abu Sayyaf.

In 2011-2012, a tamer, more matured Perez returned.

He once told the Inquirer that he found an effective way to eliminate Abu Sayyaf in Basilan.

Asked how, Perez said “I will get all the kids, even children of the Abu Sayyaf and I will lure them to stay with me, play soccer or football with me, read books or watch movies with me or I will bring them to school.”

Perez said fighting the Abu Sayyaf in the battlefront “may lead to more bandits. We did that in the past, I am back and we still face the same problem, except this time, they are children of our enemies.”

He then introduced football to the children in conflict areas and they instantly loved it. Many of the children he had lured into football also returned to school.

“You see, plucking out one child from a family of ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) then bring him to travel, let him play football representing Basilan and meet other children and see him off to school, it’s like winning the war against ASG hundredfold,” Perez proudly said during the Football for Peace held in the province in May 2015.

Dedeth Suacito, executive director of Nagdilaab Foundation Inc. in Basilan, said, “Tiny is like a father to young generation of Basilan, he brought education and introduced football that has become favorite of the youth of Basilan.”

Perez adopted some children, some stayed with him. “He produced scholars and looked for sponsors so children can continue their education. He even availed of loans so he can buy uniforms for football players and send them to play in Manila,” Suacito said.

His son, Renzo Perez, plays for La Salle Green Hills and Dragons-Global FC U17 in the United Football League.

Peace efforts

In early 2012, Perez also started legwork in Basilan, bringing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Hadji Dan Asnawi (114th BIAF) and the 104th Army Brigade under Gen. Charlie Galvez, into the peace table.

He was able to bring warring MILF and the MNLF to work together against Abu Sayyaf, says Al Barka Mayor Darussalam Ladjid.

He was also part of the campaign that put down two notorious foreign terrorists—Mohammad Khattab and Najib Hussin, aka “Abu Annas.” He also helped other units in Basilan in locating bomb-making facilities, particularly the one in Mohammad Ajul.

Perez was shot dead just outside his house in Barangay Guiwan here. He was 46.
Perez’s wife Florie May said, “Tiny had become so engrossed in his advocacy, that every single project, he treated it like his own.”

“He loved Basilan so much, the people, the communities, the food, the culture,” she said. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/792373/fierce-abu-foe-introduced-basilan-kids-to-play-football

Opinion: Abu Sayyaf setting sights on Sulu Sea

Opinion piece in the One Man's Meat column by Philip Golingai in The Star Online (Jun 25): Abu Sayyaf setting sights on Sulu Sea

Esscom has done a good job securing Sabah’s east coast so the gunmen have had to move to the high seas for their kidnapping activities.



Filepix of Abu Sayyaf with the captives

THE cage in Jolo is nearly empty.

On Wednesday morning, Abu Sayyaf-linked gunmen abducted seven Indonesian sailors on a tugboat in waters between the Philippines and Indonesia to fill it.

Sixteen days ago, I had a Facebook Messenger conversation with an intelligence operative in southern Philippines to discuss the release of four Sarawakian sailors from the Jolo cage.

 

The Filipino warned that there would be rampant kidnappings.

“Ramadan is the best time. There’s a lull,” he said. “They’ll target Malaysian fishing boats and tugboats that enter international waters to fish,” he said.

Fortunately, there were no Malaysians taken in the Wednesday abduction, and it did not happen in Malaysian waters.

“Kidnapping, again!” was the most popular response I got from WhatsApp and Twitter. The second most popular response was “Esscom (Eastern Sabah Security Command) is sleeping”.

The “zzzzzzz” response is unfair to Esscom. It also showed a shallow understanding of the business of kidnapping on the east coast of Sabah.

Many, when they read a story with words such as “kidnapping”, “Jolo” and “Abu Sayyaf”, assume that the abduction took place at the previous kidnapping locations such as island resorts, fish farms and a seafood restaurant.

The last three kidnappings in the Sulu Sea, that separates Sabah and Jolo in the southern Philippines, were on the fringes of our border – mostly in international waters.

On March 26, 10 Indonesian sailors were abducted off southern Philippines as their tugboat was pulling a barge.

On April 1, eight Filipino gunmen on a speedboat boarded a Malaysian-registered tugboat, MV Masfive 6, sailing in international waters off Sabah’s Pulau Ligitan.
They kidnapped the four Sarawakian sailors.

On April 15, four Indonesian sailors were kidnapped in the high seas off the east coast of Sabah.

The Philippine military, according to a Reuters report, has said that “the militants have been targeting foreign crew of slow-moving tugboats because they can no longer penetrate resorts and coastal towns in Malaysia’s eastern Sabah state due to increased security”.

This is true.

Esscom has done a good job securing the east coast of Sabah so that the Abu Sayyaf-linked gunmen could not or would not kidnap at their usual targets.

How did Esscom do it?

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you!

Here is information that is not classified.

Esscom has cleaned up squatter water villages that gave the KFR (kidnap for ransom and not KFC – kidnap for charity) group’s spotters a place to hide while they monitored potential targets.

Esscom has also beefed up security at potential targets, making the KFR group think twice before launching an attack.

We’ve also had black ops in Sabah and southern Philippines to eliminate the kidnapping threat.

The Sulu Sea is now the new target for Abu Sayyaf-linked gunmen. It is becoming the new Somalia.

Indonesian authorities, according to the Reuters report, have voiced concerns that piracy in the Sulu Sea area could reach levels previously seen in Somalia.

“Analysts say US$40bil (RM160bil) worth of cargo passes through those waters a year, including supertankers from the Indian Ocean that cannot use the crowded Malacca Strait,” it said.

According to Philippines Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 100,000 ships navigated Sulu Sea in 2015, transporting 18 million people and 60 million tonnes of merchandise.

On June 16, a reputable Filipino media organisation reported that four Malaysians were abducted off the coast of Sabah and allegedly brought to Sulu on Thursday morning.

Not again, I thought.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a false alarm.

Roughly, this is what happened.

An intel officer in Sabah saw an old news report that four Malaysians were kidnapped and thought it was fresh news. The intel officer sent that report to his Filipino counterpart.

The Filipino then wrote this:

“Report on new Malaysian kv (kidnap victim): 1520h Jun 16, the group of ASG led by Muktadil Bros Nickson and Brown (AA of Intel unit) w/ 8 other armed ASG (Abu Sayyaf group) with 4 Malaysians newly kidnapped from Sabah were allegedly at Sitangkai, Tawi Tawi and planning to proceed mainland Jolo at midnight June 15, 2016 utilising undisclosed speed boat and will possibly land at coastal area of Parang, Sulu.”

The intel report was picked up by Filipino journalists and they reported it as fact.
The other shallow understanding of the business of kidnapping is some think that the two groups of Indonesian hostages were released by the Abu Sayyaf because Jakarta had threatened to deploy its quick reaction strike force to rescue the hostages.

“The price for the 10 Indonesians was 50 million pesos (RM5mil) and for the four Indonesians 15 million pesos (RM1.5mil),” the Filipino intel operative told me.

People have asked me what had happened to the RM12mil the families of the four Sarawakian hostages had raised, whether ransom was paid and whether anyone pocketed a portion of the ransom money.

I’ve explained in length – a story spiked with conspiracy theories – to one or two or three friends.

For the rest, I gave a one-sentence explanation as I’m the type of person who gets bored of listening to my own story as I tell it.

Curious to know my answer?

The Abu Sayyaf is not in the business of kidnapping for free.

http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/one-mans-meat/2016/06/25/abu-sayyaf-setting-sights-on-sulu-sea-esscom-has-done-a-good-job-securing-sabahs-east-coast-so-the-g/

ISIS announces Asia pivot in propaganda video targeting Malaysia, Philippines

From RT (Jun 25): ISIS announces Asia pivot in propaganda video targeting Malaysia, Philippines


Stringer / Reuters

Islamic State terror group has called on its followers to focus their energy fighting in Southeast Asia besides battling in Iraq and Syria. In the latest propaganda video, the organization specifically calls on extremists to target Malaysia.

The latest video, titled ‘Toghut’ (sinners against the teachings of Allah), was released earlier this week and shows a Malaysian Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) fighter in Syria, along with two other IS combatants decapitating three captives. The Malaysian terrorist, identified as Mohd Rafi Udin from Negri Sembilan, threatens attacks against Malaysian police in the 20 minute video seen by Reuters.

The jihadist says in Malay that those fighters who cannot make it to Syria should travel to the Philippines and fight there. Udin calls on jihadists to unite under the leadership of Abu Abdullah, a Philippine extremist leader of Abu Sayyaf militant group, who swore allegiance to IS in January.

Abu Abdullah, also known as Isnilon Hapilon is on the FBI’s most wanted list with a bounty of $5 million on his head.

Malay's Special Branch Counter-Terrorism Division (SB-CTD) called the latest propaganda video a threat that will most likely materialize in attacks in the region.

“We are preparing for potential attacks within six months by two sources, Khatibah Nusantara in the Philippines, and central IS,” Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, director of the Malaysian Police Counter-Terrorism unit told the New Straits Times.

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Katibah Nusantara is referred to by the counter-terrorism chief as a “dedicated Southeast Asian military unit” under IS. Besides Abu Sayyaf militant group and Katibah Nusantara, authorities are also worried that more extremist organizations in the region might now unite under Abdullah’s command.

 

Just like Abu Sayyaf, the Abu Dujana Brigade, Abi Khabib Brigade, the Jund Allah Brigade, and Abi Sadr found in the region have also pledged their allegiance to IS and its self-proclaimed ‘caliph’, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

“Targeted attacks will likely be carried out the minute the pledge of allegiance to IS from these groups outside Syria is accepted and the areas they operate in are declared theirs,” Pitchay said.

The director added that IS is shifting its focus to the Southeast region to show to the world that it is still a force to be reckoned with, as the organization continues to lose its foothold in Syria and Iraq. While authorities admitted, that the threat is not new it looks imminent to them.

“This video is not just propaganda but is a serious threat. We are definitely expecting more attacks in this region,” Pitchay told Reuters.

“This is not the first video of its kind. But I would like to say here that PDRM [Royal Malaysia Police] will never let IS set foot or spread their ideology here,” Malaysian Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said on Friday. “We are not shaken by threats like these made by IS.”

https://www.rt.com/news/348302-isis-asia-attacks-propaganda/

Duterte: I will have to confront Abu Sayyaf

From The Star Online (Jun 25): Duterte: I will have to confront Abu Sayyaf



Duterte (second right) talks to kidnap victim Marites Flor, who was abducted with two executed Canadians, John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, by Abu Sayyaf militant group, after Flor was released, in Davao city, in southern Philippines June 24, 2016. REUTERS

The series of kidnappings by the Abu Sayyaf group has tarnished the image of the Philippines and this must stop, President-elect Rodigo Duterte said on Friday.

Speaking during the turnover of command ceremony of the Davao City Police, Duterte said he would have “to confront the Abu Sayyaf.”

“Ayoko makipag-away (I don’t want to fight) with anybody but there will be a time, ayoko lang sabihin (I just don’t want to say it), that I will have to confront Abu Sayyaf,” he said.

“It is not yet forthcoming alam ko pero yung kidnapping nila must stop. It has given us a very bad image,” he added.

Duterte issued the statement after Filipina kidnap victim Marites Flor was released on Friday morning by the bandit group.

Duterte said he negotiated for the release of Flor with the help of Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan II.

Flor and her Canadian boyfriend Robert Hall together with another Canadian John Ridsdel and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, were kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf on Samal Island in September last year.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded Ridsdel and Hall after their ransom demands were not met.
Duterte said they are also negotiating the release of Sekkingstad.

During a business forum here, Duterte warned the Abu Sayyaf there would be “a day of reckoning.” He asked the public to give him ample time to confront the problem. – The Philippines Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2016/06/25/rodrigo-duterte-i-will-have-to-confront-abu-sayyaf/

Norway envoy thanks Duterte for efforts to free seized national

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Jun 25): Norway envoy thanks Duterte for efforts to free seized national

DAVAO CITY—The Norwegian ambassador to the Philippines has thanked President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for negotiating the release of the Norwegian kidnap victim of the Abu Sayyaf.

 

“We are very thankful for what you are doing,” Erik Forner, Norwegian Ambassador, told Duterte on Friday.

Duterte and Forner met at the Presidential Guest House at the Malacañang of the South here hours after Filipina kidnap victim Marites Flor was released by the Abu Sayyaf.

Flor, along with Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf on Samal Island in September last year.

The Abu Sayyaf beheaded Ridsdel and Hall, Flor’s boyfriend, after their ransom demands were not met.

“He really needs help. I am so sorry Kjartan is not here,” Flor told the Norwegian ambassador during their meeting.

But Duterte said they were able to negotiate the release of Sekkingstad.

“We were able to negotiate but apparently ‘yung kinidnap na Norwegian hindi pa raw naka-cross because of the rough seas I was told (the kidnapped Norwegian hasn’t yet crossed the sea because of the rough seas, I was told). I don’t know if it is true. Hopefully, maawa ang Allah (Allah will have mercy), he will be released in a short time,” he said.

In his speech at the turnover of command at the Davao City Police on Friday, Duterte said the series of kidnappings of the Abu Sayyaf Group has tarnished the image of the Philippines and this must stop.

He said their would be “a day of reckoning” for the bandit group, saying he would confront them soon.

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/140468/norway-envoy-thanks-duterte-for-efforts-to-free-seized-national