Abus say German still alive, being held in Sulu

From the Philippine Star (Nov 9): Abus say German still alive, being held in Sulu



The terrorist group is holding captive Jurgen Kantner, 70, in Sulu, Abu Sayyaf spokesman Muamar Askali, alias Abu Rami, confirmed yesterday. Jurgen Kantner, who was allowed by his captors to talk to reporters over the phone, was not aware that his partner, Sabine Isne Merz, 59, had been killed. File photo

The partner of a German woman killed by Abu Sayyaf bandits after they were kidnapped Sunday off Sabah near Tawi-Tawi Island is still alive.

The terrorist group is holding captive Jurgen Kantner, 70, in Sulu, Abu Sayyaf spokesman Muamar Askali, alias Abu Rami, confirmed yesterday.

Kantner, who was allowed by his captors to talk to reporters over the phone, was not aware that his partner, Sabine Isne Merz, 59, had been killed.

The remains of Merz will be turned over to the German embassy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

Close ad X

Col. Edgardo Arevalo, chief of the AFP public affairs office, said efforts are underway to locate Kantner.

The German couple was cruising on a private yacht in the vicinity of Tanjong Luuk Pisuk in Sabah when they were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf gunmen, whom Kantner described as pirates.

“The pirates kidnapped me. I don’t know where Sabine is. Maybe she is alive. Sabine was left behind when the pirates brought me to their boat. Minutes later, I heard shots,” Kantner said.

Askali said Merz was killed after she tried to shoot the Abu Sayyaf bandits. A shotgun was recovered beside her body.

Residents discovered the naked body of Merz on the yacht, which was flying a German flag and drifting off Laparan Island, Pangutaran town in Sulu at around 6 a.m. on Sunday.

The Abu Sayyaf has not issued any demand for the safe release of Kantner.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/11/09/1642009/abus-say-german-still-alive-being-held-sulu

Yachting Couple Attacked by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu Sea

From the Maritime Executive (Nov 8): Yachting Couple Attacked by Abu Sayyaf in Sulu Sea



Abu Sayyaf fighters (file image)

A German couple kidnapped by Somali pirates eight years ago has been attacked at sea again – by Abu Sayyaf.

Jurgen Kantner, 70, and his partner Sabine Merz were sailing off of Sabah, Malaysia when their yacht was boarded by gunmen. Philippine media report that Merz was shot and killed while resisting the attack and Kantner was taken captive. Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Rami said the terrorist group was responsible for the abduction.

On Sunday, Philippine armed forces found the couple's sailing yacht, the Rockall, adrift off of Sulu. Merz's remains were on board and a shotgun was by her side, Army spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan Jr. told the Philippine Star.

The attack was the couple's second run-in with kidnappers at sea: they had been abducted and held by Somali pirates in 2008. They were ransomed after two months at an estimated cost of about $600,000.

Kantner returned to the Somali pirate base of Berbera shortly after gaining his freedom, defying warnings about the danger in order to retake possession of his sailboat.

"My boat is my life and I don't want to lose her, nothing more. I don't care about pirates and governments," Kantner told AFP in 2009. "[Local Somalis] think that I'm insane, they call me the crazy white guy or the mad German sailor but they don't know how important my boat is to me."
Latest attack fits a long-running pattern.

Somali piracy has abated over the intervening years, but Abu Sayyaf has been particularly active in maritime kidnappings in recent months. The group has focused its criminal activities on vulnerable, slow-moving vessels like tugs and trawlers, and it has abducted over 30 seafarers so far this year.

Analysts estimate that it garnered about $7 million in ransom payments over the six months ending in June.

In addition to the attack on Kantner and Merz, Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped two Indonesian fishermen in two raids off of Sabah, Malaysia on Saturday. They also abducted a South Korean captain and a Philippine crewmember from the heavy lift ship Dongbang Giant in late October.

The kidnappings continue despite a sustained Philippine military campaign against Abu Sayyaf on the islands of Sulu and Basilan, the group's main bases of operation.

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has called for cooperation between his nation, Malaysia and Indonesia to jointly combat the threat of Abu Sayyaf piracy. He recently said that the kidnappings threaten to paralyze trade in the region; the Philippines is heavily dependent on barge shipments of coal from Indonesia for power generation, and Energy Secretary Zenaida Monsada said in June that a persistent run of attacks on tugs threatened to reduce the supply.

http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/yachting-couple-attacked-by-abu-sayyaf-in-sulu-sea

Abu Sayyaf hostile to engineer overseeing ARMM's Basilan projects

From the Philippine Star (Nov 11): Abu Sayyaf hostile to engineer overseeing ARMM's Basilan projects



Authorities on Thursday confirmed Basilan’s district engineer, Soler Undug (left), is under threat from the Abu Sayyaf for his infrastructure projects in former enclaves of the militant group. Philstar.com/File photo

Islamic militants opposing the massive implementation of infrastructure projects in Basilan were behind the bombing Thursday of a warehouse owned by the district engineer in the province, officials said Friday.

No one was reported hurt in the powerful explosion beside the warehouse in Isabela City of engineer Soler Undug but the incident caused panic among villagers residing nearby.

Undug is a multi-awarded chief of the Basilan District Engineering Office (DEO) overseeing all infrastructure projects in the province of Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Undug is popular in Basilan for his role in the completion in the past four years of more than P3 billion worth of ARMM-funded infrastructures there and for his hands-on management of some P5 billion worth more of current projects in the province.

Close ad X

Reports reaching the Police Regional Office-ARMM in Parang town in Maguindanao indicated that the bomb that exploded Thursday night near the warehouse of Undug in Barangay Aguada in Isabela City, the former capital of Basilan, was set off from a distance using a mobile phone.

The attack came about a month after thousands of displaced Yakan villagers were returned by local officials to their farming enclaves in Basilan’s hostile Albarka town government forces had recently liberated from control of the Abu Sayyaf.

The ARMM government is implementing about P100 million worth of infrastructure projects in Albarka, designed to generate livelihood opportunities needed to improve the lives of local residents.

The symbolic return of the displaced Albarka residents was facilitated by Hataman and his older brother, Jim, who is incumbent governor of the province, and personnel of the Basilan DEO led by Undug.

Officials of the Department of Education-ARMM on Friday said the Abu Sayyaf is also hostile to the Basilan DEO for having built dozens of new schools in far-flung areas where the group is espousing militancy among children using underdevelopment as pitch to stoke hatred to government.

Soler received last October a special citation from the Civil Service Commission for his exemplary performance of his duties as chief of the Basilan DEO.

The Basilan DEO and Hataman’s office, through the Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM, is currently constructing the P1 billion worth “Basilan Transcentral Road.”

The overland artery will connect Lamitan City, the new provincial capital, to far-flung towns cutting through mountain ranges in the center of the island province the Abu Sayyaf often use as sanctuary when evading military offensives in the lowlands.

Two local executives in Basilan also confirmed that the Abu Sayyaf is rabidly against the ongoing expansion of the Lamitan City Port, funded with a P150-million grant from the ARMM government, and the ongoing construction of the Buli-Buli Port in Sumisip town west of the island province.

“These projects will improve tremendously the business climate in Basilan and that is something extremists do not want because they will lose control of impoverished communities,” said one of them.

Talks have also been circulating since last October purporting that the Abu Sayyaf is not in favor of the two wharf projects of the Hataman administration, fearing the facilities can be used as berthing sites for naval watercrafts that can be used for government pacification maneuvers.

The provincial police office in Basilan said Thursday’s incident was preceded by two attempts in the past 12 months to set off powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near Undug’s residential yard.

The IEDs were promptly deactivated by responding ordnance disposal experts.

Hataman, chairman of ARMM’s inter-agency regional peace and order council, said he had asked the Army’s 104th Brigade based in Isabela City to help the police identity the culprits in Thursday night’s IED attack.

Superintendent Jerome Afuyog, chief of the Isabela municipal police office, said investigators are still gathering information to determine the exact identities of the bombers.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2016/11/11/1642758/abu-sayyaf-hostile-engineer-overseeing-armms-basilan-projects

Vietnamese bulk carrier Royal 16 was hijacked by Abu Sayyaf terrorists

From the Maritime Herald (Nov 11): Vietnamese bulk carrier Royal 16 was hijacked by Abu Sayyaf terrorists



The Vietnamese bulk carrier Royal 16 was hijacked by Abu Sayyaf terrorists near the Philippine island of Basilian. The vessel, which was en route from Hai Phong in Vietnam towards Davao, on 8.3 nautical miles southeast off Coco Island in Basilan Strait was approached by fast skiff with heavy armed men. The pirates opened fire against the vessel and succeeded to take control. Six from the crew on board of the Vietnamese bulk carrier, including include Master, Chief Mate, Second Officer, Third Officer, Bosun and Assistant Bosun, were kidnapped and taken as hostages. The pirates and kidnapped seamen fled in a speed boat in unknown direction. The remaining 13 crew was left on board of bulk carrier Royal 16 and reported about the accident.

The accident was transferred to the Vietnam Maritime Security Information Center and Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy. The investigation for the root cause was started, but there is no details if the hijackers contacted local authorities with ransom request. The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency, Philippine Coast Guard Vietnam Coast Guard are working together to resolve the situation with the six hostages. The vessel proceeded to Zamboanga port under the escort of the local navy.

The hijacking of the bulk carrier comes a few days after Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia warning that slow moving ships with low freeboard should reroute away from the southern Philippines, if possible, as attacks in the area spike.

The Vietnamese bulk carrier Royal 16 (IMO: 9600011) has overall length of 90.00 m, moulded beam of 15.60 m and maximum draft of 4.50 m. The vessel was built in 2011 by Hoang Gia Shipbuilding Industry in their shipyard in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. The owner and operator of the Vietnamese company Quysang Trading Shipping.

http://www.maritimeherald.com/2016/vietnamese-bulk-carrier-royal-16-was-hijacked-by-abu-sayyaf-terrorists/

Esscom releases list of 23 wanted Filipinos

From The Star (Nov 11): Esscom releases list of 23 wanted Filipinos



A list of 23 Filipinos, including the notorious leaders of the Abu Sayyaf militant movement, have been placed on the the Eastern Sabah Security Command's (Esscom) wanted list.

The suspects' known names and pictures were made public Friday in a bid by the authorities to capture the criminals believed to be behind a series of cross-border kidnappings in Sabah's east coast.

"They are wanted for mostly kidnappings,'' Esscom commander Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid (pic) said.

Among those wanted are known Abu Sayyaf commanders and sub-commanders involved in holding hostages in Jolo, where they negotiated for large ransoms for their freedom.

Among the Abu Sayyaf commanders listed are Alhabsy Misaya, Idang Susukan, Apo Mike @ Majan Sahidjuan and Hatib Hajan @ Sawadjaan, and their spokesman Muaamar Askali @ Abu Rami.

Also in the list are the neutralised Muktadil brothers Khadafy and Salvador @ Badong.

Others in the list are those believed to be members of gangs that raided Sabah's east coast, including Salip Sosong @ Mohamad Apsa Abdulla, Saidul Idul, Halipa, Ibrahim, Sabri Madrasul @ Salip Jul, Las Pangit, Hatib Hajan @ Sawadjaan, Alden Bagde @ Sayning, Marajan Asiri, Raden Abuh, Bocoi, Sangbas, Berong Sairol @ Boy Master, Bensaudi Sairol @ Boy Pangit, Boy Intel, Atai Susukan and Durog Hussein.

The public can channel information to Esscom's operational centre at 089-863 181/ 016- or 013-880 3585/ 019-230 5909.

 

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/11/11/esscom-releases-list-of-23-wanted-filipinos/

Abu Sayyaf hijacks Vietnam vessel, abducts 6 crew

From The Gulf Today (Nov 11): Abu Sayyaf hijacks Vietnam vessel, abducts 6 crew

About 10 members of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf terror group hijacked a Vietnamese flagged cargo vessel and abducted the captain and five other crewmen in the high seas off the island province of Basilan in restive Mindanao, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Friday.

Commander Jerome Cayabyab, the PCG head in Zamboanga City, said the heavily-armed militants who were aboard a speedboat shot and wounded a Vietnamese sailor who attempted to escape during the hijacking of the MV Royale 16 that occurred off Basilan on Friday morning.

Cayabyab said the PCG learned of the hijacking from another cargo vessel passing through the same area, which immediately responded to a distress call from the Vietnamese ship.

According to Cayabyab, they have yet to ascertain where the Vietnamese vessel was found for, explaining that the wounded crewman who has been confined in a local hospital did not speak English.

The incident occurred exactly four days after the militants killed the wife of a German national aboard a yacht they hijacked off Sabah state in Malaysia, according to the military.

Major Filemon Tan, the spokesman of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, quoted an Abu Sayyaf spokesman as saying they brought the vessel after killing the woman who resisted and tried to fight them off with a shotgun.

Tan confirmed the militants brought their 70-year-old German hostage identified as Juergen Kantner to Sulu where government forces have launched an intensified “search and destroy” operation against them.

In a related development, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Friday announced the Philippine agreed to allow Malaysian and Indonesian security forces to conduct “hot pursuit” operations even in Philippine waters against the Abu Sayyaf and other criminal groups preying on vessels plying their common maritime borders.

Najib told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur he reached the agreement with President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte who made a two-day state-visit to Malaysia where they discussed, among others, the major problem of piracy perpetrated in particular by the Abu Sayyaf.

Najib pointed out that Duterte also had the same agreement with Indonesian President Joko Widodo during a recent similar state visit to that country.

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/11239af1-7256-4c95-834e-9ebc031bd00b.aspx

Another kidnapping in Philippine waters

From the Straits Times (Nov 11): Another kidnapping in Philippine waters

At least five crew members aboard Vietnamese cargo ship taken by gunmen



Navy personnel on board the Rockall after it was recovered near Laparan island in Sulu province in Mindanao. Militants claim to have kidnapped the yacht's German sailor and killed his wife.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Gunmen have abducted at least five crewmen from a Vietnamese cargo vessel in southern Philippine waters, an area where militants are on a kidnapping-for-ransom spree.

The attack brings to at least eight the number of people abducted from vessels in the region over the past week, including an elderly German sailor, raising fears that the authorities are unable to control the worsening piracy problem.

The MV Royal 16 was sailing less than 20km from Basilan Island, a stronghold of Abu Sayyaf militants, when it was attacked yesterday morning.
Two crew members, one of whom was wounded, escaped and were rescued by a local cargo ship in the area, the authorities said.

"Sea and naval assets (were) already deployed to search and rescue the said kidnap victims," said regional military spokesman Filemon Tan.

The nationalities of the abducted crewmen and the identity of the kidnappers were still unknown.

 

In recent months, the Abu Sayyaf has been accused of kidnapping dozens of Indonesian and Malaysian sailors in waters off the southern Philippines.

Last weekend, an Abu Sayyaf commander claimed responsibility for abducting the 70-year-old German sailor and murdering his wife. Her naked body was found on their yacht, Rockall, when it was recovered by Philippine military forces.

And in what maritime experts described as a landmark incident, the captain of a South Korean cargo ship and a Filipino crewman were abducted, marking the first such attack on a large merchant vessel.

Abu Sayyaf militants this year beheaded two Canadian hostages after demands for millions of dollars were not met. Most of the Indonesian and Malaysian sailors were released after ransoms were reportedly paid.

The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network. It has made millions of dollars from kidnappings for ransom.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has launched a military offensive to "destroy" the Abu Sayyaf.

But the militants have defied more than a decade of similar US-backed offensives, surviving in their mountainous and jungle-clad southern island strongholds, where they have support from local Muslim communities.

The Abu Sayyaf is not the only threat, with those near-lawless islands home to other armed gangs and people whose families have been involved in piracy for generations, according to security analysts.

The Philippines has agreed to allow Malaysian and Indonesian maritime forces to pursue kidnappers into its waters to contain the threat, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Thursday.

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/another-kidnapping-in-philippine-waters

Two Indonesians Held in Sulu: Foreign Minister

From Tempo.Co (Nov 12): Two Indonesians Held in Sulu: Foreign Minister



Indonesia`s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi. TEMPO/ YOHANES PASKALIS

Two Indonesians who were kidnapped in Sabah waters, Malaysia, are believed to be held in Sulu region in the Philippines, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.

"(They are) in Sulu. A day after the kidnapping I received information from my colleague in the Philippines that they had been taken to Sulu," Retno said after a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Friday.

Retno did not have any further information on whether they had been taken hostage along with two other Indonesians who were kidnapped earlier by the Abu Sayyaf group in the Philippines waters.

"There is no information on whether they are with two other Indonesians or are being held in separate locations," she said.

The government continued to seek solutions to free Indonesians kidnapped in the waters, the minister stressed.

"We are still working on how to free them," she added.

Earlier, the foreign ministry has called on Indonesian crews in the Sabah waters, Malaysia, to stop fishing in the region until the situation improves, following the kidnapping of two Indonesian crews in the area.

The two were kidnapped when they were fishing in Kertam waters, some 13 to 15 nautical miles of Kuala Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia.

The two Indonesian crews are La Utu bin La Raali who worked on SSK 00520F ship, and La Hadi bin La Adi on SN 1154/4F ship.

http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/11/12/055819707/Two-Indonesians-Held-in-Sulu-Foreign-Minister

Vietnamese sailor wounded in Sayyaf hijacking now in Zamboanga hospital

From the Mindanao Examiner (Nov 12): Vietnamese sailor wounded in Sayyaf hijacking now in Zamboanga hospital

A Vietnamese sailor who was shot and wounded by suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels who hijacked his cargo ship off Basilan province in southern Philippines is currently undergoing medical treatment at a private hospital here, police said on Saturday.

Police said Lai Minh Kao was admitted at the Brent Hospital and is being cared by another Vietnamese sailor Pham Van Trong. But police said the head of the Bureau on Immigration, Albert Abanila, allegedly prevented its investigators from getting information from Kao. 

“The head of (the Bureau of) Immigration identified as Mr. Albert Abanila prohibited the CIS member to conduct interview with the victim,” said Senior Superintendent Michael Nicolas, the regional police spokesman. 

It was not immediately known why Abanila prevented the local police from investigating the wounded seaman. 

Kao’s cargo ship, MV Royal 16, was hijacked on November 11 by ten gunmen on a speedboat near Sibago Island and seized 6 crewmen – Do Trung Hieu, Hoang Vo, Tran Khac Dung, Huang Trung Thong and Huang Van Hai – including its captain, Pham Min Tuan. 

The wounded sailor was rescued by a passing Filipino ship, MV Iloilo Lorcon, and brought to Zamboanga City. The Vietnamese ship was heading carrying cement and heading for Davao City when it was hijacked. 

“The victim is presently undergoing medical treatment with a companion identified as Pham Van Trong, also a Vietnamese, at above mentioned hospital. Suspects fled after the incident to include some of the crew members of Royal 16 vessel they took hostage,” Nicolas said. 

No individual or group claimed responsibility for the abduction, but suspicion fell heavily on the notorious Abu Sayyaf group which is still holding over a dozen Malaysian and Indonesian sailors, including a German yachter kidnapped recently in Sabah, Malaysia.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/vietnamese-sailor-wounded-in-sayyaf-hijacking-now-in-zamboanga-hospital/

MNLF Misuari faction to be engaged by govt separately

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 10): MNLF Misuari faction to be engaged by govt separately

Concerns of the group of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari and his followers will have to be handled separately from that of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and MNLF Muslimin Sema faction, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza said Thursday.

The Misuari group, according to Dureza, will constitute its own five-person panel that the government will soon engage with.

This panel will work on the completion of the remaining commitments under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the recently-concluded Tripartite Review Process on the said peace deal between the government, the MNLF, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Misuari, who was temporarily released by the court so he can participate in the Bangsamoro peace process, opted not to take part in the newly-constituted Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to draft an enabling law for the future Bangsamoro government.

"We will engage with his panel by coming up with inputs that, later on, will be submitted to Congress," Dureza expounded, adding that Misuari’s decision was based on his "principled position" in the peace process.

"Chairman Nur Misuari has principled position since the BTC is a mechanism of the CAB. Of course, you should understand that Chairman Nur Misuari makes reference to government and MNLF’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement. He has not yet abandon that agreement," Dureza clarified.

Following the release of the court order for his temporary freedom, Misuari flew directly from Sulu to meet Duterte in Malacanan Palace last Nov. 3 upon the invitation of the president to tackle the peace process in Mindanao.

Misuari affirmed his commitment on Duterte's thrust to bring permanent peace in Mindanao.
Prior to their meeting, Duterte acknowledged Misuari's important role in the Bangsamoro peace process. Dureza, meanwhile, said that Misuari was instrumental in the recent releases of hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf.

Convergence of MNLF-MILF Peace Tracks

Dureza explained that both the Misuari panel and the BTC will submit their respective proposals to the Congress.

“The MILF and the BTC will craft their proposed enabling law… The Misuari panel’s draft may be towards enhancing Republic Act 9054 or the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) law. They still have reservations in the law as far as the implementation is concerned,” Dureza explained.

These reservations were tackled during the review process which resulted to the 42 consensus points, the creation of Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund for conflict-affected areas, the establishment of a Tripartite Implementation Monitoring Committee that will oversee the delivery of the agreements during the review, and the Interim Agreement on the Strategic Minerals.

Dureza pointed out that the inputs from both the BTC and Misuari panel will be submitted and reconciled in the Congress.

"The convergence will take place in the Congress – the Congress will craft one Bangsamoro law for all of us. We will trust the Congress to reconcile these differences if any," the peace adviser clarified.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=938756&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Keyword&andor=and&mdte_arch=11&ddte_arch=10&ydte_arch=2016

Philippine Navy chief set to retire on Nov. 12

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 10): Philippine Navy chief set to retire on Nov. 12

The Philippine Navy's flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Caesar Taccad will formally retire from military service on Nov. 12.

Retirement ceremonies for Taccad, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, will be held at the Naval Base Heracleo Alano in Sangley Point, Cavite, said Navy Spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna. The event will be presided by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Taccad's successor will be named on Nov. 12.

Possible replacements for Taccad are Western Command head Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado and a member of PMA Class 1983; PN vice commander Rear Admiral Rafael G. Mariano, a member of PMA Class of 1984; Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Gaerlan, another member of PMA Class of 1984 and Naval Education and Training Command head Rear Admiral Narciso Vingson, a member of PMA Class of 1985.

Taccad assumed command of the Philippine Navy on Aug. 10, 2015 upon the retirement of then Vice Admiral Jesus Millan.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=938762&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Keyword&andor=and&mdte_arch=11&ddte_arch=10&ydte_arch=2016

Another Davao City blast suspect surrenders

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 10): Another Davao City blast suspect surrenders

Another suspect in the Sept. 2 Davao City bombing surrendered to authorities in Cotabato Thursday morning, a Philippine Army official said.

Army Spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said the suspect was identified as Jerico Javier De Roma, 25, a member of Dawlah Islamiyah Fi Lanao Cotabato Chapter (Maute Group). He surrendered to authorities around 5:30 a.m.

De Roma was the driver of the group responsible for the blast that killed 15 persons and wounded 70 others.

Hao said the suspect voluntarily surrendered due to increasing police and military pressure.

With De Roma's surrender, authorities now have custody of eight suspects involved in blast.

Authorities earlier arrested in Cotabato City last Oct. 29 the four members of Maute Group identified as Mohammad Lalaog Chenikandiyil alias Datu Boi, Jackson Mangulamas Usi alias Abu Mansor, Zack Villanueva Lopez alias Haron and Ansan Abdulla Mamasapano alias Hamsa.

Authorities also defused an improvised explosive device (IED) found in the residence Chenikandiyil in Barangay Rosary Heights 7 in Cotabato City.

Chenikandiyil and the other three suspects were all arrested by the military and police in operations conducted in Ilang-Ilang St., Tamontaka, Cotabato City.

Recovered from Chenikandiyil and his group were assorted firearms and ammunition, a hand grenade and two IEDs made out of 60mm mortar and 105mm howitzer mortar.

The arrest was carried out based on the search warrants issued by Judge Bansawan Ibrahim of Regional Trial Court Branch 13.

Joint police and military operations last Oct. 4 resulted in the arrest of TJ Tagadaya Macabalang, Wendel Factural, and Musaili Mustapha.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=938797&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Keyword&andor=and&mdte_arch=11&ddte_arch=10&ydte_arch=2016

Gov't. peace panel to handle separately concerns of MNLF & MILF

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 10): Gov't. peace panel to handle separately concerns of MNLF & MILF 

The government peace panel involved in the Bangsamoro peace process will have to handle separately the concerns of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under founding chairman Nur Misuari and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and MNLF faction under Muslimin Sema.

Secretary Jesus G. Dureza of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) on Thursday said the Misuari group will constitute its own five-person panel that the government will soon engage with.

This panel will work on the completion of the remaining commitments under the 1996 Final Peace Agreement and the recently-concluded Tripartite Review Process on the said peace deal between the government, the MNLF, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Misuari, who was temporarily released by the court so he can participate in the Bangsamoro peace process, opted not to take part in the newly-constituted Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) to draft an enabling law for the future Bangsamoro government.

“We will engage with his panel by coming up with inputs that, later on, will be submitted to Congress,” Dureza said, adding that Misuari’s decision was based on his “principled position” in the peace process.

“Chairman Nur Misuari has principled position since the BTC is a mechanism of the CAB. Of course, you should understand that Chairman Nur Misuari makes reference to government and MNLF’s 1996 Final Peace Agreement. He has not yet abandoned that agreement,” he added.

Following the release of the court order for his temporary freedom, Misuari flew directly from Sulu to meet Duterte in Malacanan Palace on November 3 upon the invitation of the president to tackle the peace process in Mindanao.

Misuari affirmed his commitment on Duterte's thrust to bring permanent peace in Mindanao. Prior to their meeting, Duterte acknowledged Misuari's important role in the Bangsamoro peace process.

Dureza, meanwhile, said that Misuari was instrumental in the recent releases of hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf. Convergence of MNLF-MILF peace tracks Dureza explained that both the Misuari panel and the BTC will submit their respective proposals to the Congress.

“The MILF and the BTC will craft their proposed enabling law… The Misuari panel’s draft may be towards enhancing Republic Act 9054 or the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) law. They still have reservations in the law as far as the implementation is concerned,” Dureza explained.

These reservations were tackled during the review process which resulted to the 42 consensus points, the creation of Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund for conflict-affected areas, the establishment of a Tripartite Implementation Monitoring Committee that will oversee the delivery of the agreements during the review, and the Interim Agreement on the Strategic Minerals.

Dureza pointed out that the inputs from both the BTC and Misuari panel will be submitted and reconciled in the Congress.

“The convergence will take place in the Congress – the Congress will craft one Bangsamoro law for all of us. We will trust the Congress to reconcile these differences if any,” the peace adviser ended.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=938840&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Keyword&andor=and&mdte_arch=11&ddte_arch=10&ydte_arch=2016

Extortionists gut heavy equipment in separate incidents in Sarangani, Davao Del Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 10): Extortionists gut heavy equipment in separate incidents in Sarangani, Davao Del Sur

Thirty five heavily-armed men, believed to extortionists, torched more than PHP10 million worth of heavy equipment in separate incidents in Sarangani and Davao Del Sur Wednesday.

This was disclosed by 73rd Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Ronnie Babac in a statement Thursday.

He added the first incident took place 3:20 p.m. at Sitio Ulas, Barangay Alegria, Alabel Sarangani Province where private company Jun Yi Enterprises, which was based in General Santos City, was conducting quarry operations.

At this point, 25 armed men appeared out of nowhere and held at gunpoint the civilians and torched their backhoe and 10 wheeler dump-truck.

Damage was placed at more than PHP10 million. Investigations indicated that the suspects were extortion from the company but the latter refuse to give in, triggering this attack which fortunately left no one hurt nor killed.

The second incident took place 9:00 p.m. at Barangay Manga, Matanao, Davao Del Sur.

Initial reports disclosed that one Canter Elf Truck owned by Councilor Melanie Maniapao was intentionally burned at her residence.

Authorities are still determining the exact cause of damage in the second incident.

Around 10 men, armed with AK-47s and pistols, conducted this atrocity after which they immediately fled aboard four motorcycles.

“We will support the PNP in investigating the crime and closely monitor the whereabouts of the perpetrators to ensure that justice will be served to the owners of the heavy equipment,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=938875&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Keyword&andor=and&mdte_arch=11&ddte_arch=10&ydte_arch=2016

Outgoing AFP chief Visaya tells troops to remain true to their oath

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 11): Outgoing AFP chief Visaya tells troops to remain true to their oath

With less than a month left before he retires from military service, outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya reminded officers and enlisted personnel of the Eastern Mindanao Command to remain true to its oath and maintain the nobility of the military profession.

In the same vein, he also urged troops to remain professional and live by their calling.
Visaya made the appeal as he visited Davao City-based EMC Friday noon.

He was received by EMC Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero and was given military honors.

Prior to his arrival, he visited 10th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Gen Manuel T. Yan Sr. in Mawab, Compostela Valley.

During his meeting with officers and enlisted personnel there, Visaya counseled field commanders, officers and troopers reminding them to shun away from illegal drugs, narco-politicians and crime syndicate leaders.

The AFP chief is expected to step down on Dec. 8.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=939355&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Keyword&andor=and&mdte_arch=11&ddte_arch=11&ydte_arch=2016