Soldier hurt as BIFF sets off roadside bomb in Maguindanao

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Mar 30): Soldier hurt as BIFF sets off roadside bomb in Maguindanao

FILE PHOTO BY JEOFFREY MAITEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

A soldier was injured when suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) set off a roadside improvised bomb in Datu Hofer town, Maguindanao, Thursday morning.

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said two military vehicles loaded with soldiers from the 38th Infantry Battalion were proceeding to the Ampatuan town in Maguindanao at 7:45 a.m. when the improvised explosive device exploded along a highway in Datu Hofer town in Maguindanao.

A shrapnel hit the windshield of the Army vehicle, hitting its driver, Sgt. Michael Mabazza, Encinas said.

Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said Mabazza and his companions were on board a military vehicle passing by a stretch of the Cotabato-Isulan Highway in Barangay Labo-Labo in Datu Hofer when a roadside bomb, apparently detonated from a distance using a mobile phone, went off.

Police investigation showed that the IED was similar to the ones used by the BIFF in its attack against government forces in Maguindanao.

Before Thursday’s roadside bombing, an improvised bomb was also found Tuesday in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao but safely detonated by Army bomb experts.

On Monday night, an IED exploded at 6 p.m. at the main gate of the Talayan town hall and another IED planted under the Tamontaka Bridge was detonated by bomb experts.

The BIFF, through it spokesperson Abu Misry Mama, denied his group was involved.

Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao (Wikipedia

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/885036/soldier-hurt-as-biff-sets-off-roadside-bomb-in-maguindanao

Philippines: Displacement Dashboard, Mindanao, Issue no. 35: February 2017

Posted to Relief Web (Mar 13): Philippines: Displacement Dashboard, Mindanao, Issue no. 35: February 2017

Go to the following URL below for a full copy of the report:

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Protection-Cluster-Displacement-Dashboard-February-2017-.pdf

In February 2017, an estimated 18,700 persons were displaced in Mindanao. Of these, 7,695 persons were displaced due to armed conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the New People’s Army (NPA) in the following municipalities: Laak (Compostela Valley province); Asuncion (Davao del Norte); Manay (Davao Oriental); Bansalan (Davao del Sur); Arakan (North Cotabato); and Alabel (Sarangani).

In addition, some 2,000 persons fled their homes due to a firefight between two local armed groups in Sultan sa Barongis municipality, Maguindanao province.

To date, all of these IDPs have returned to their habitual residences.

However, an estimated 9,005 persons who were forcibly displaced due to clashes between the AFP and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the island provinces of Basilan and Sulu, also during the month of February, remain displaced as of this report.

Meanwhile, in Butig municipality in the province of Lanao del Sur, approximately 3,493 families who evacuated due to clashes in 2016 between the AFP and the Maute Group have returned to their places of origin, while more than 637 families are still displaced.

CURRENT NUMBER OF IDPS IN NEED OF DURABLE SOLUTION

• 114,823 TOTAL NO. OF PERSONS WHO ARE PRESENTLY DISPLACED IN MINDANAO SINCE 2012 - FEBRUARY 2017
• 38,444 presently displaced due to conflict and violence
• 76,379 presently displaced due to natural disaster

http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-displacement-dashboard-mindanao-issue-no-35-february-2017

PH Air Force receives 2 more fighter jets from South Korea

From ABS-CBN (Mar 29): PH Air Force receives 2 more fighter jets from South Korea



Two more FA-50 jets arrived in the Philippines from South Korea. Photos courtesy of Defense Press Corps.

The Philippine Air Force on Wednesday received another pair of FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets from South Korea, bringing the total of FA-50 jets to 8.

The jets with tail numbers 007 and 008 arrived in Clark Air Base, acquired to bolster Philippines' territorial defense. The first pair was delivered in 2013, at the height of the Philippines' maritime dispute with China.

Philippines has so far purchased 12 FA-50s, the next two pairs expected to arrive in the next few months.

The jets are the most sophisticated aircraft in the Philippine Air Force, with their arrival ushering the Philippines' return to the supersonic age.

They were often showcased in events of the Armed Forces through high-speed passes overhead that was meant to impress the crowds.



Two more FA-50 jets arrived in the Philippines from South Korea. Photos courtesy of Defense Press Corps.

However, they were removed from the spotlight during the start of the Duterte administration, after Duterte said he found the jets to be a waste of money, and only good for parades.

They were not flown even during the Air Force's own anniversary in 2016, where it was President Duterte's first time as guest of honor.

The FA-50s, however, soon found its use under the Duterte government, which has chosen to reshift the nation's focus from territorial defense back to insurgency and internal security.

The FA-50s have recently joined other air assets in conducting airstrikes against terror groups like the Abu Sayyaf in Sulu, and the Maute Group in Lanao del Sur.

In recent weeks, the Air Force has announced a return of the high-speed passes. The FA-50s flew over the Visayas and Mindanao.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/29/17/ph-air-force-receives-2-more-fighter-jets-from-south-korea

DND chief: Govt faces 3 top security issues

From the Manila Times (Mar 29): DND chief: Govt faces 3 top security issues

COMMUNIST insurgency, dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and terrorism in southern Mindanao are among the top security challenges the country is facing, according to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Speaking before the general membership meeting of the Consular Corps of the Philippines (CCP) at the Makati Shangri-La hotel on Wednesday, Lorenzana said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte has been working hard to deal with these problems.
The CCP is a fellowship of career-professional and honorary consuls of foreign countries in the Philippines whose objective is to foster greater understanding, friendship, corporate social responsibility and cooperation among their counterparts in the Philippines.

It is a member of the World Federation of Consuls.

According to Lorenzana, he was often asked why the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA) are still in existence when most of the rabid communists in the world such as China and Vietnam have already changed and are more capitalistic now than many capitalist countries.

“We do not know the answer but they continue to do a lot of damage to the countryside, to the economy, to the peace and order by their extortion, which they call revolutionary taxation but we call it simple extortion,” he said.

The DND chief branded the CPP-NPA “communist terrorists.”

“I call them terrorists because what is the difference [between them and]the Abu Sayyaf [Group]? They both intimidate people to get money. They keep burning equipment of companies, of firms that do not give money that they are asking for [and]they are also into kidnapping of local officials, barangay [village]officials, soldiers and policemen,” he said.

Depsite these atrocities, Lorenzana added, the government has been trying to find a solution to the communist insurgency, citing the resumption of peace talks with the communist leaders in Oslo, Norway, “in a couple of days.”

On a unilateral ceasefire recently offered by the CPP, President Duterte said he wants a “bilateral” truce instead, according to the Defense secretary.

On the dispute in the South China Sea, Lorenzana recalled that on July 12, 2016 when a ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on a memorial filed before it by Manila was announced, he being a former military man told a meeting of the Duterte Cabinet to send the Philippine Navy to the contested waters to drive away the Chinese from there.

He said his idea was rejected by the President, who cautioned them against being “arrogant” with the victory against Beijing before the arbitral court.

On the issue of terrorism, Lorenzana said what he fears is that terrorists could bring the mayhem to Manila and other heavily populated areas in the country.

“If there is one subject matter that keeps me awake at night, it is this one [terrorism],” he added.

Nevertheless, he reiterated the military’s aim to crush the Abu Sayyaf and Maute terrorist groups in six months to one year to stop their kidnappings and terroristic activities in Mindanao.

Both groups are linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS.

http://www.manilatimes.net/dnd-chief-govt-faces-3-top-security-issues/319867/

Abu Sayyaf-linked gang leader nabbed in Sulu

From the Philippine Star (Mar 30): Abu Sayyaf-linked gang leader nabbed in Sulu



Arms cache seized from arrested members of a criminal gang in Omar town in Sulu. Courtesy of Police Regional Office-ARMM     

A leader of a criminal gang linked to the Abu Sayyaf bandits was captured while a follower was killed in an encounter in Sulu, security official said.

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Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the police and military forces from the Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) also recovered cache of firearms, crew-served weapons, including heavy machine gun and assorted ammunitions.

Galvez said the troops of JTFS chief Col. Cirilito Sobejana and the police conducted the raid to arrest Saudi Hamja, leader of the criminal gang in Barangay Capual Island off Omar town about 5:08 a.m.

Chief Supt Reuben Theodore Sindac, regional police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said the leader of the wanted gang, Suadi Kahil Hamja, and four of his followers were nabbed after a firefight with combined police and military teams sent to arrest them for various crimes, including arson and drug trafficking.

One of Hamja’s henchmen, Ardin Akar Paling, was killed while another, who was identified as Nong Haliludin, was wounded in the ensuing exchange of gunfire.

 A villager named Norherma Galamaddin was wounded in the crossfire, now confined in a hospital.

The police and military forces recovered from Hamja’s group a crew-served caliber, .50 heavy machinegun, 60mm mortar and 36 assorted firearms, including seven M14 rifles, five Garand rifles, eight M16A1 rifles, four M653 baby Armalite rifles, two M79 grenade launchers, an AK47 Kalashnikov rifle, a Belgian made FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Leger), three caliber .30 carbine rifles, two M79 launchers, a caliber .22 rifle and hundreds of assorted ammunitions.

The military believed Hamja’s group could be among those providing the Abu Sayyaf group with firearms and ammunition.

“Our forces will continue the operations and support the police on the ground in its law enforcement operations against various lawless elements,” Galvez said.

He said the military recently encountered the Abu Sayyaf kidnap-for-ransom group in the same area.

http://www.philstar.com/nation/2017/03/30/1686044/abu-sayyaf-linked-gang-leader-nabbed-sulu

PH puzzled by presence of drone in Benham Rise

From Rappler (Mar 30): PH puzzled by presence of drone in Benham Rise

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr tells a Senate panel that the National Security Council will discuss the incident once the government receives the full report

UNDERWATER TERRITORY. This photo shows Filipinos exploring Benham Rise for the first time in 2014. File photo courtesy of Dr Gil Jacinto/UP-MSI

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr confirmed that a drone had been spotted in the Benham Rise area but said security officials have yet to tackle this as the government has yet to receive a "full report" on the incident.

 

"There were reports from our troops that there is truth in it, but we want to get the full report before this could be discussed in the National Security Council," Esperon said at a Senate hearing on the proposed Benham Rise Development Authority on Wednesday, March 29.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate economic affairs committee leading the hearing, asked Esperon: "Was it launched somewhere nearby? I don’t think it can fly? Where will that be, especially potentially it came from the Philippines? Saan nanggaling (Where did it come from)?"

Esperon, former Armed Forces chief, said he has no idea on the origin of the drone which the Philippine Navy spotted flying over Benham Rise.

 

The navy had sent the BRP Alcaraz, one of its most capable warships, to the area following reports that China showed interest in the territory declared as part of the Philippines' continental shelf.

"I have not seen the exact location of the BRP Alcaraz, so I could not tell how far it was from our land. But it was reported by troops. Why would they report it if it was coming from ours?" Esperon said.

"Drones are simply for, meant for imagery equipment. They could be taking pictures," he added.

During the Senate hearing, Esperon said that so far, he saw "no threat" to the Philippines in Benham Rise.

 

Contrary to the statements of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he was advised that China was sending survey ships to Benham Rise, and that he did not see it as an incursion in the country’s waters.

The Chinese survey ship was in the area from November 2016 until January 2017. Duterte had what he called a successful state visit to China in late October.

The President had also expressed confidence that China would not build structures in the Benham Rise, which the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf confirmed as part of the Philippines' continental shelf in 2012.

Duterte ordered an increased presence in the region. China, in response, issued a statement saying it respects Philippine sovereign rights over Benham Rise, and that Beijing is not going to claim ownership of the undersea plateau off eastern Luzon coast.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/165524-benham-rise-drone-esperon

Nur Misuari gets closed-door meeting with Duterte

From Rappler (Mar 29): Nur Misuari gets closed-door meeting with Duterte

The President meets with the MNLF leader on the eve of his birthday to talk about peace in Mindanao   



MEETING WITH MISUARI. President Duterte hugs MNLF chairman Nur Misuari during their meeting at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City. Malacañang photo

On the eve of his birthday, President Rodrigo Duterte met with one last guest: Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chairman Nur Misuari.

Misuari brought along his wife, Madam Tarhata, and son Abdulkarim, to his private audience with Duterte on the night of Monday, March 27.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella described it as a "closed-door meeting" and could not elaborate when the media asked about any agreements reached or decisions made.

But he said he expected their talk to have been about the Mindanao peace process.

"They talked about strengthening relationships, they talked about peace, they talked about the development of the area," Abella said on Tuesday, March 28.




MISUARI FAMILY. President Duterte meets Abdulkarim, son of Nur Misuari. Malacañang photo

Duterte previously said he had been discussing with the Muslim leader a "preparatory document" about a proposed federal system for the benefit of Mindanao.

"I have been talking to Misuari, I already talked with him yesterday.... We are talking, we are crafting a sort of a preparatory document so that we can go into the process of proposing the federal structure," said the President last Friday, March 24.

Misuari has agreed to participate in the crafting of a law that will create a new Bangsamoro region. The government plans to create a panel that will engage Nur's MNLF faction, separate from the panel engaging the rival Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He and Duterte were supposed to have met last Friday, but their meeting was postponed for reasons the Palace has yet to disclose.

Misuari is facing charges of rebellion and crimes against humanity over his role in the 2013 Zamboanga siege. But he was given temporary freedom when Duterte ordered the suspension of arrest warrants against him to allow him to participate in the Mindanao peace process.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/165525-nur-misuari-closed-door-meeting-duterte

Duterte asks US envoy, 'Why didn't you stop China?'

From Rappler (Mar 30): Duterte asks US envoy, 'Why didn't you stop China?'

In the same speech, the usually antagonistic President says, 'We remain friends with America'



'STILL FRIENDS.' President Rodrigo Duterte meets with US Ambassador Sung Kim in Davao City. Photo by Ace Morandante/Presidential Photo

During President Rodrigo Duterte's birthday eve meeting with US Ambassador Sung Kim, he apparently demanded to know why the US did not send its navy to stop China from building a runway on reclaimed land in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

After first surmising out loud that their conversation is "not a confidential thing," Duterte said that during the meeting, he told Sung: "You know, I'm surprised really, Mr Ambassador, because had America really wanted to avoid trouble early on, the newspapers showed there was something brewing there, there was a runway being built and concrete buildings on the side."

"Why did you not send the armada of the 7th Fleet which is stationed there in the Pacific to just make a U-turn and go there and tell them right on their face, 'Stop it'?" he continued during a speech on Wednesday, March 29, in Oriental Mindoro.

How did Kim reply? If Duterte is to be believed, the envoy said he was not involved in the South China Sea issue as a diplomat since he was then assigned to North Korea.

"Sabi man ni Ambassador, 'Alam mo, hindi ko assignment 'yan noon.' 'Yung assignment ko 'yung kababayan niyang, kadugo niya, 'yung si president ng North Korea, isa ring sira-ulo," said Duterte.

(The US ambassador said, "You know, that was not my assignment." His assignment was his fellow Korean, the president of North Korea, another crazy guy.)

Duterte was referring to North Korea's "Supreme Leader" Kim Jong-Un who continues to keep the world on its toes because of his country's arsenal of nuclear weapons and disregard for international law.

The Korean-born US ambassador, a career member of the Foreign Service, served as the US Special Representative for North Korea Policy and deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State prior to his Philippine assignment. He also worked as US ambassador to South Korea from 2011 to 2014.

Kim, apparently to lighten the mood, also supposedly said, "I was not the one but you know, you've seen the gray hairs, it's because of him," according to Duterte.

Duterte had asked the same question when he addressed lawyers in Pasay City on March 23, but it was the first time for him to say that he had directly asked a US official about it.

Still friends

It seems Kim's meeting with Duterte was a positive one because for the rest of the President's speech, he spoke of the US in friendly terms.

"We remain friends with America, but I am chartering a new course," he said.

He also said he would only have a military alliance with the US, to honor the Mutual Defense Treaty signed by both countries in 1951. The two countries also have an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

"We cannot enter into any military alliance with any other country because of the RP-US pact which was signed by our forefathers many years ago," he said.

In the same speech, however, he also emphasized the Philippines' stronger friendship with China to prove his foreign policy does not "dovetail" with that of the US.

"We are at our best level of friendship with China," he said.

Two days ago, both Kim and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua paid Duterte a visit on the eve of his birthday.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/165568-duterte-us-ambassador-stop-china

Arraignment of military, police officers over Morong 43 arrests moved to late May - NUPL

From InterAksyon (Mar 30): Arraignment of military, police officers over Morong 43 arrests moved to late May - NUPL



The health workers known as the 'Morong 43' are shown in this file photo raising clenched fists at a court hearing soon after their arrest in 2010.

(UPDATE - 10:46 a.m.) The Sandiganbayan has moved back the arraignment of military and police officers over the February 2010 arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal, supposed to take place Thursday, to late May, human rights lawyers said.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers said several of its members had gone to the anti-graft court to formally enter their presence as private prosecutors in the case for violation of Republic Act No. 7438, or “An Act Defining Certain Rights of Person Arrested, Detained or Under Custodial Investigation as Well as The Duties of the Arresting, Detaining and Investigating Officers, and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof,” against the officers, among them retired Army generals Jorge Segovia and Aurelio Baladad.

However, they learned that "most of the accused" had filed motions to quash the charges, which the court heard on March 24.

"Upon verification with the court, it turned out that it had already issued an order on the same date requiring the prosecution to comment within 30 days, and at the same time, cancelling today's scheduled arraignment and resetting it to May 28," the NUPL said.

It added that the complainants had not been notified of the cancellation of the arraignment.

The charges filed by the health workers, dubbed the “Morong 43,” claims they were illegally arrested, detained and tortured when the military and police raided a farm house where they had been conducting medical training.

At the time, the military and police described the health workers as communist rebels who were supposedly being trained in explosives. However, the courts eventually dropped the charges against the Morong 43 and ordered them released.

The NUPL said the arraignment would have been “significant because it sends the clear message that no matter how long time has passed and no matter how dangerous and difficult it may be, state security forces from the high to the lowly may be put on the dock to answer for violations of human rights if the victims and their supporters remain steadfast and determined.”

Despite the postponement, the group said, “We stand by our statement that the simple message is loud and clear: it is not entirely true that you can get away with rights violations with impunity just like that. And that those in whose name you perpetuated them will either abandon or forget you in time,” the lawyers’ group said.

http://interaksyon.com/article/138142/arraignment-of-military-police-officers-over-morong-43-arrests-moved-to-late-may---nupl

IED fails to fell Maguindanao bridge

From InterAksyon (Mar 30): IED fails to fell Maguindanao bridge



Soldiers on a clearing operation after Thursday's bomb explosion in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao. (photo courtesy of Anwar Emblawa)

A bomb exploded on a bridge in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town, Maguindanao around 8 a.m. Thursday but caused no casualties and failed to destroy the structure.

The improvised explosive device was planted on the bridge between the villages of Labu Labu and Dicalangun that links Maguindanao to the Sultan Kudarat-General Santos City highway.

Thursday’s explosion is the second to hit Maguindanao since Monday, when a bomb exploded in Talayan town. Another IED was found along the highway in Guindulungan Tuesday morning.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts or planting the explosives. While authorities said they suspect the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the spokesman of the group, which broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, has denied responsibility.

http://interaksyon.com/article/138148/ied-fails-to-fell-maguindanao-bridge

WATCH | China did not coordinate with PH on 3-month foray in Benham Rise: DFA

From InterAksyon (Mar 29): WATCH | China did not coordinate with PH on 3-month foray in Benham Rise: DFA


Map showing the location of Benham Rise

(UPDATE 11:50 P.M) The Chinese vessel that spent three months -- from November 2016 to January -- in Benham Rise did not coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs, which had earlier turned down two requests by Beijing to deploy survey missions that did not include Filipino scientists.

Acting DFA executive director Maria Lourdes Montero told Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate committee on economic affairs that China did ask permission in 2015 and 2016 to undertake scientific research in the territory within the underwater plateau on the country’s Pacific Ocean side but this was denied based on the evaluation of various technical groups and when it was learned that no Filipino expert would be accompanying the expedition.

At the same time, she said they could not tell whether there was a breach of protocol because they did not have enough information about the details of the Chinese vessel’s activities.

China maintained that the vessel was only exercising “freedom of navigation” and recognized Philippine sovereignty over Benham Rise.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon told the same hearing that the country owned Benham Rise and, thus, enjoyed the exclusive right to explore and exploit the natural resources the territory is believed to be rich in.

However, he also admitted that vessels of other countries could not be barred from passing through the territory in exercise of their rights to freedom of navigation and innocent passage.

At the same time, though, Esperon said it was difficult to believe that the three months spent by the Chinese vessel in Benham Rise constituted innocent passage.

And while he said the Chinese ship may have breached economic protocol if it undertook research within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, it did not appear to have threatened national security.

Esperon stressed the importance of seeking the government’s permission to undertake research in Benham Rise adding that, aside from the DFA, it would be possible for the president to grant the permission.

He said government should prioritize research and scientific study in Benham Rise with the aim of developing it.

For now, Esperon said, his office did not see any clear threat to Benham Rise from China. He bristled, however, in an ambush interview after the hearing when reporters pressed him on the seeming disconnect between President Duterte's cozy dealings with China and the tone of alarm in pronouncements of the DFA and the Department of National Defense on Beijing's questionable intentions on Benham Rise.

http://interaksyon.com/article/138124/watch--china-did-not-coordinate-with-ph-on-3-month-foray-in-benham-rise-dfa

Suawan ‘training ground’ for NPA rebels? Army thinks so

From Mindanao Times (Mar 30): Suawan ‘training ground’ for NPA rebels? Army thinks so

THE MILITARY yesterday said Barangay Suawan of Marilog District, where a recent clash between troops of the 3rd Infantry Battalion and the New People’s Army occurred, might possibly be used as training ground for communist rebels.

 

Speaking in yesterday’s AFP-PNP press conference held at Royal Mandaya hotel, Lt. Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, commander of 3rd IB, said they already cleared the area before of the presence of the rebels, but the group seems bent on taking it back.

 

“From the recovered items, it is a clear indication that they are conducting training or there was previous training,” he said. “It’s also indicated in the recovered documents and there were gadgets and paraphernalia found in the area.”

Troopers encountered rebels under alias Ka Aldrin of the NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Committee on Saturday around 5:30 p.m. They were patrolling the area when they chanced upon around 30 fully armed men at Sitio Bia-ong.

 

While conducting clearing operation at the encounter site, soldiers recovered 15 backpacks, 10 blasting caps, meters electrical wires, a magazine for M16 rifle, two pieces magazines of AK47 rifle, 50 rounds of assorted live ammunitions and subversive documents.

 

Around 800 families left the area following the encounter, but they have since moved back into their homes.

Lachica said they are still monitoring the whereabouts of the group after they dispersed and “merged with the communities in the area.”

He also claimed receiving reports from residents about two rebels killed and eight wounded who were all brought somewhere in Arakan, North Cotabato. “Right now we are trying to get their identification,” he said.

 

He also said that the evacuation in the area is a way to divert their attention to focus on the evacuees instead of the military operations.

Meanwhile, Lachica said the NPA must be taking advantage of the evacuation of residents to confuse the chasing soldiers and make their escape. He said there were evacuees from Barangay Salaysay when there was no recorded skirmish there. People were told to go back but were prevented by the barangay captain who told them there were soldiers in his area.

“He (barangay captain) may be pressured by the other side to shift our focus on evacuation instead of operation,” he said.

The Amy’s 3rd Infantry Battalion recovered on Sunday a body of a man, believed to be a member of the New People’s Army (NPA), while conducting clearing operation at the encounter site in Barangay Suawan, Marilog District.

 

Meanwhile, the 800 families who reportedly evacuated after the encounter already went back to their homes.

 

http://mindanaotimes.net/suawan-training-ground-for-npa-rebels-army-thinks-so/

COMMENT: BBL* Ahead of Federalization (2nd of 4 parts)

Commentary by Patricio P. Diaz posted to MindaNews (Mar 29): COMMENT: BBL* Ahead of Federalization (2nd of 4 parts)

II. Liked with Fear

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 29 March) — The second main concern focused on the implications on BBL of federalization as the BPDR provides – the “Federalism + Enabling Law Approach” or the “Enabling Law (Legislative) and Federalism (Constitutional Convention) Simultaneous Tracks”. If the Senate will agree, “Constitutional Convention” in the original plan will be changed to “Constituent Assembly”, the House and the Senate constituted as one body to mend the Constitution.

President Duterte declared in his inauguration speech last June 30 that his administration “is committed to implement all signed peace agreements in step with constitutional and legal reforms”. The phrase “constitutional and legal reforms” must be referring to his proposal to shift from a unitary to a federal form of government.

The MILF and other Moro leaders have expressed their full support for this commitment. In principle, it sustains the Bangsamoro government’s asymmetrical standing with the national government as a shift from the Philippine unitary system and its parliamentary-ministerial form as akin to that of a federal state.

The IM admitted that the idea of federalism seems to fit into the demand of the Moro people in Mindanao for self-determination; yet, they feared that it may defeat such aspiration to be embodied in the BBL even if the Congress passes it. This was among the concerns that emerged during their March 4-5 meeting.

Federalization Explained

 

Lawyer Jose Lorena, an undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (2010 – 2016) of the Aquino III government, and a member of the New BTC, explained that “federalization should be tiered and by phases”. The laggard regions in the country should first be transformed to be more advanced and progressive while “we start to break and federalize the country beginning with financially and economically capable regions.”

Under this plan, the “government proposal is to initially form four federal states — Mindanao, the Visayas, Luzon and Metro Manila”. The IM participants pointed out that this will reduce the Bangsamoro into an “enclave” of the Mindanao federal state.

Lorena explained further: By the government timeframe, the BBL is expected to be passed in December 2017 and ratified in a plebiscite in May 2018. The Bangsamoro Transition Authority will be organized immediately to prepare the Bangsamoro for the midterm election of 2019. Even if plans don’t miscarry, the New Charter will only be drafted in 2018 and ratified in mid-2019 – implicitly suggesting longer delay.

If the New Constitution is ratified as scheduled, 2019-2022 will be the transition period of the new form of government, including elections of a new set of officials. From 2022 to 2027, there will be reconfiguration into smaller federal states, including one for the Bangsamoro. [The implication: Being a “laggard region”, the Bangsamoro will first be an “enclave” of Mindanao State and must not expect to be reconfigured into a separate federal state until 2027 — ppd.]

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Lorena’s explanation differs from that of Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, a member of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments (MindaNews 3/22/17: GPH, MILF implementing peace panels sign new terms of reference) and other members of the Congress. But as past OPAPP undersecretary and a government-member of the New BTC, his explanation could not just be dismissed as “personal fancy”. It fueled apprehensions even if federalism is liked in principle.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, former ARMM executive secretary and member of the Bangsamoro Study Group – composed of non-MILF members who worked in the committees of the MILF peace panel and reviewed the revisions on Draft BBL — noted that “there is no platform allowing us to participate in the federalism discourse”­­ — noting that the basic reason for the Duterte government to shift to federalism differs much from that of the Moros in establishing the Bangsamoro.

He noted further, evidently drawing from Lorena’s explanation, that federalization by tiers and phases will be on the basis of financial and economic viability. This is not an issue to the Bangsamoro. Rather, it is the right to self-determination, including the right to natural resources which is hampered by the Regalian Doctrine. This basis is embodied in the CAB.

However, he warned that if, by 2019, “we are still haggling for the enabling law, the process and substance of the agreement will have to change. We will be forced to follow the federal constitution if we fail to negotiate under the terms of the agreement.” He said that the minimum condition in agreeing to put Bangsamoro under the federal constitution must be the preservation of the gains of the peace process.

Sinarimbo proposed holding a Moro Congress as the platform where the Bangsamoro can define its own federalism framework for its state constitution which is not reflected in the national federalism framework. He warned that “we don’t expect the armed groups to follow the president and just go along with federalism”. Issues that were sidelined with the junking of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain can be revived.

His point, enhanced by some participants, was that the federal constitution can make BBL, which is anchored on the 1987 Constitution, irrelevant and can diminish or even obliterate the powers of the Bangsamoro.

The assumption, it was explained, is that the Bangsamoro will be lesser than a federal state and it will have no power to amend the enabling law. One solution is to put provisions in the federal constitution allowing the Bangsamoro parliament to come up with its own system, even one that is dismissive of the BBL.

Lawyer Randolph Parcasio of the MNLF(Misuari) said the Bangsamoro agenda, aside from being overtaken by events related to federalism, will suffer a setback when the popularity of President Duterte wanes. He agreed to the holding of a Moro Congress. He is also head of the MNLF(Misuari) peace implementing panel and Misuari’s spokesman.

He suggested a radical approach. The Muslims, if they want self-determination, need not wait for the government to grant it. “Reassert precolonial sovereignty to rectify historical injustice as envisioned in the Jeddah Accord… Establish a Minsupala (Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan) federal state and not just settle for the Moro-dominated provinces”, citing the Jeddah Accord of January 3, 1987.

Sarcastically adducing to the ARMM: “Sasabihin nila, ‘hanggang Moro-dominated provinces lang kayo, yan ang hawla ninyo. Gawin nating gintong hawla,’ pero hawla pa rin. (They would say, stay in Moro-dominated provinces, that’s your cage. We will make it a golden cage, but it’s still a cage),”
Lawyer Ishak Mastura, a department secretary of the ARMM and a member of the Bangsamoro Study Group with Sinarimbo: Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.’s proposal to have the Bangsamoro federal state cover only the ARMM does not address the issue of territory; but the idea of pushing for a Minsupala federal state “dilutes our assertion.” For instance, the Bangsamoro people are a minority in Palawan.

Lawyer Omar Sema, one of the three representatives of the MNLF Council of 15 to the New BTC, without clearly stating his reference, said that the current framework of the BBL does not preserve the “incremental gains” of the peace process, citing the provision on territory that “seems to support the possible disintegration of the core territory.”

The Moros like federalism. But they have no say in the framing of the federal constitution and in the federalization process. Even if CAB-compliant, the BBL can become irrelevant to the federal constitution or its CAB-uniqueness obliterated – more so, if by the “tiered and phase-by-phase” federalization process that Lorena presented, at the outset the Bangsamoro fails to attain a distinct federal state status. Will being under the federal constitution be different from being under the unitary constitution?

This fear of some IM members is not unfounded. Will the Moros let federalism hostage the Bangsamoro?

Tomorrow: III. Uncleared but Clear

[“Comment” is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz’ column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. Mr. Diaz is the recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Titus Brandsma for his “commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate. You may e-mail your comments to patpdiazgsc@yahoo.com.]

http://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2017/03/comment-bbl-ahead-of-federalization-2nd-of-4-parts/

COMMENT: BBL* Ahead of Federalization (1st of four parts)

Commentary by Patricio P. Diaz posted to MindaNews (Mar 28): COMMENT: BBL* Ahead of Federalization (1st of four parts)

I. Unity: Heart of the Issue

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/ 28 March) — How shall Bangsamoro be established? As gleaned from two MindaNews reports (3/7/17: Will federalism hold the Bangsamoro hostage?) and (3/8/17: Moro groups race with time, grope for ‘convergence’ on peace agenda) this emerged as the proverbial “hard nut to crack” during the two-day meeting in Davao City, March 4 and 5, of the Insider Mediators (IM), a discussion group on Bangsamoro.

And, for an answer, the Moro leaders have limited time to pursue the only option. To realize the dream they have pursued with “blood and tears” for the last forty years and more, they must unite and stick to “BBL* first, federalization next” as the only way. That is the logical inference from the IM discussions corroborating similar inferences from other fora and sources and appeals from non-Moro peace advocates.

*[NOTE: The New BTC and MILF are sticking to “BBL”, for Bangsamoro Basic Law. “BEL”, for Bangsamoro Enhancement Law, is the term used in the Bangsamoro Peace and Development Roadmap — meaning “BBL” after convergence as mandated in the BPDR. In Executive Order No. 08, s. 2016 creating the New BTC, the term is “BBL”; President Duterte has been using “BBL” in his speeches; Senate President Pimentel used “BBL” in his interview with MindaNews; and national media use ”BBL”. Of course, “B” for “Basic” says exactly what the “L” for “Law” is’; “E” for “Enabling” is vague if not blank. To be consistent, we will use “BBL” a.k.a. “BEL”. If necessary for distinction, we will refer to the original BBL as “Draft BBL”; to the converged, as “New BBL”. We suggest, the New BTC officially clarifies.]

Is IM new or just ad hoc? Whatever, it lends urgency to the Bangsamoro issue. The MN reports identified it as “a discussion group on the Bangsamoro that aims to foster unity among various sectors of the Bangsamoro on the peace process with members from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), lawyers, academicians and other Muslim intellectuals”. Some of the discussants identified are New BTC (Bangsamoro Transition Commission) members.

The discussions significantly hewed to the “hindrances” and “obstructions” President Duterte, without clarifying them in his speech at the July 24 launching of the New BTC, challenged the commissioners “to navigate”. The concerns the IM discussants depicted in the two MN reports, by Editor H. Marcos Mordeno, must also be the concerns of the Moros in general.

Two main concerns on the Bangsamoro issue were discussed which Mordeno separately reported – (1) the need for the MILF and MNLF-Misuari faction to unite (MN 3/8/17); and (2) the implications on BBL of federalization in the BPDR (MN 3/7/17).

Heart of the Issue

The first concern is a main aspect of President Duterte’s peace and development agenda: the “meaningful implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro towards healing in the Bangsamoro” as embodied in Draft BBL along with the “completion of implementation of (the) remaining commitments under the GPH-MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) Peace Agreement for a just closure” — the 1996 FPA implemented to amend R.A. 6734 into R.A. 9054.

IM noted that to achieve this meant reaching out to both the MILF the MNLF and hoping the two would come up with a unified legislative proposal for lasting peace in Mindanao. And “this is where the bone of contention lies”, according to IM members. Re-stated simply, “Will the MILF and MNLF(Misuari) faction unite?” Dissecting the heart of the Bangsamoro issue can show how to diminish the “bone of contention”.

Coming up with “a unified legislative proposal” calls the MILF and MNLF to unite and present to the Congress just one proposed bill on the Bangsamoro basic law. MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari has refused to let his faction join the MILF-led BTC. There is a glimmer of hope as the IM “participants said that an agreement on convergence is still being worked out between the MNLF and MILF panels”.

Evidently, this “convergence … still being worked out” does not refer to “convergence” spelled out in the BPDR. It suggests that MILF and MNLF(Misuari) panels are trying to find a way to reconcile the CAB and the 1996 FPA – not just the FPA as embodied in RA 9054 and adopted in parts in Draft BBL but, foremost, as regards the amendment of the RA to fully implement the FPA. Will the glimmer flare up or flick out?

The IM members saw the difficulty in achieving this convergence since the process will involve two different tracks — one, the GPH-MNLF track leading to amendments of RA 9054 to strengthen the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); the other, the GPH-MILF seeking to pass the BBL to abolish the ARMM and replace it with the Bangsamoro. IM saw no way for the two tracks to converge. Before the President met Nur Misuari last November, there was only the GPH-MILF track.
Guiamel Alim, Chairman of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, warned that with the failure of the two tracks to converge, Congress could just say it would not act unless the two fronts agree to either amend the existing autonomy law or create a new one. “Convergence is a key but the government can use it against us if we fail to unite.”

Besides their grave concern on convergence, Alim and the other IM members expressed their apprehensions over the timeframe for the enabling law. Alim noted that it took the current government eight months to reconstitute the BTC, and it has yet to act on the recommendations of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

Lawyer Maria Asis of the Bangsamoro Study Group (BSG)., had questions related to the BPDR. The BTC in drafting the enabling law is limited by the questions of “acceptability” and the “parking of constitutional issues”; it is not clear what “acceptable” means. These and making the peace process more “inclusive” risk the New BBL of becoming another BLBAR – the watered down Basic Law on Bangsamoro Autonomous Region that the 16th Congress substituted for Draft BBL/.

Asis added a vital element to convergence. It should not only refer to the crafting of the enabling law but should also relate the enabling law to federalism and Charter Change track. This needs more clarification; however, at the moment, we understand it to mean that the BBL must include provisions to readily adapt to federalism.

As Editor Mordeno observed, the Moro leaders were deeply concerned with the MILF-MNLF(Misuari) disunity, the limited time for the New BTC to draft the new Bangsamoro basic law; besides that, they were still unclear about some aspects of ‘convergence’ in the peace agenda.

(Tomorrow: II. Liked with Fear)

[“Comment” is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz’ column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. Mr. Diaz is the recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Titus Brandsma for his “commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate. You may e-mail your comments to patpdiazgsc@yahoo.com.]

http://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2017/03/comment-bbl-ahead-of-federalization-1st-of-four-parts/

Thanks for the tractors but a political problem requires a political solution – Jaafar

From MindaNews (Mar 30): Thanks for the tractors but a political problem requires a political solution – Jaafar

The government (GPH) must deliver a “political solution” to end the Bangsamoro armed struggle by fully implementing the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) through the passage of an acceptable enabling law, said Ghazali Jaafar, the new chair of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) who is also first vice chair of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“This is a political problem and it can only satisfy the Bangsamoro people pag na-deliver ang political solution (once the political solution is delivered),” Jaafar said Wednesday at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao during the celebration of the 3rd anniversary of the signing of the CAB on March 27, 2014.

He said he appreciates the efforts of the government in trying to solve the issues through economic means in order to trigger development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) but what the Bangsamoro people seek are self-determination and their own Bangsamoro government.



Bangsamoro Transition Commission chair Ghadzali Jaafar reiterates that a political problem requires a political solution as he pushed for the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) whose signing on March 27, 2014, was commemorated by the government and MILF panels on March 29, 2017 in Davao City. MINDANEWS PHOTO

“Yung tulong, maraming salamat (For your help, thanks.) But believe me, ako hindi ko pa nakita ang nabigyan ng gobyerno ng tractor. (I haven’t seen the tractors given by the government). I did not bother to see. Pero sabi ko, hindi naman kailangan ng MILF and Moro people ang seedlings (But I said, the MILF and the Moro people do not need the seedlings),” he said, adding their ancestors have been surviving on their own with their agricultural produce.

“Sapagkat kung ma-implement ang BBL, may goberyno ang mga Muslim (Because if the BBL will be passed, the Muslim will have their own government.) I can assure you we can take care of ourselves,” he said.

The 21-member BTC are targeting the submission of the draft BBL before May 18 for President Rodrigo Duterte to study first before submitting it to Congress. He is expected to certify the bill as urgent during his Second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24.

Jaafar urged lawmakers to pass the enabling law for the full implementation of the CAB.

“What is important meron tayong batas (we have a law) for, unless a BBL is passed into law by the Congress of the Philippines, we cannot implement the CAB and therefore, no solution …. And therefore, status in the Bangsamoro remains as it is now,” he said.

MILF peace implementing panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said “the real issue is how to give self-governance to the Moro people within the context of Philippine sovereignty.”



MILF implementing panel chair Mohagher Iqbal tells a press conference in Davao City on March 29, 2017 that “the real issue is how to give self-governance to the Moro people within the context of Philippine sovereignty.” MINDANEWS PHOTO

He said the 2014 CAB is more attuned to the experience of the Moro people compared with the 1996 Final Peace Agreement between GPH and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under founding chair Nur Misuari, as the former will pave the way for a “ministerial government” replacing the ARMM which is “unitary in character.”

He said they are hoping the Congress will pass into law the BTC’s proposed draft of the enabling law to implement CAB, which is a negotiated settlement between GPH and MILF to put an end to four decades of armed conflict.

“On top of that, we are confident under the leadership of our friend (President Duterte). We have to bring back peace in our homeland because we believe that there is still hope for a better tomorrow. Let’s unite and together we will make it in order to realize a better tomorrow,” he said.

“I would say that there is frustration in every man, but hope is also being rekindled in the face of still so many things waiting to be realized, waiting for implementation. Hope is one thing we cannot afford to lose,” he said.

Ambitious

Iqbal said that the deadline proposed by government on May 18 for the BTC to complete the draft is “too ambitious a timeline” but if they can finish it “sooner, much better.”

“But May 18 is too ambitious a timeline, I don’t know if we can do that, but best effort, best effort,” he said

Irene Santiago, GPH implementing peace panel chair said they are optimistic the BTC will meet the deadline because they are not starting from scratch because they will look into the previous BBL that was not passed in the previous Congress under the Aquino administration.



Government implementing panel chair Irene Santiago speaks in a press conference in Davao City commemorating the third anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. MINDANEWS PHOTO

She said the draft must be filed in Congress by June 2017, so that it can be certified as urgent by Duterte in his 2nd SONA.

Congress is presently on recess but will resume sessions between May 2 and June 2 then goes into go into sine die adjournment and resume on July 24 with Duterte addressing them in his second State of the Nation Address(SONA) on July 24.

She said they can ensure the passage of the BBL by engaging the public with its bigger peace tables to raise awareness of the people on the historical injustices that triggered the Bangsamoro armed struggle.

“We need the public opinion that is going to support the right to self-determination of the Bangsamoro people. People of the Philippine will have to understand what you mean by historical injustice. We are working on a communication plan,” she said.

She said they hope to create a support mechanism from all stakeholders who will push for the passage of the enabling law “because that’s one that is going to stop the violence so we have learned lessons.”

Deputy Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Nabil Tan, chair of the five-member GPH peace implementing panel dealing with MNLF’s Misuari faction, said they will follow the six-path peace development track in addressing the issues.



OPAPP Undersecretary Nabil Tan chats with BTC member Samira Gutoc during a press conference in Davao City commemorating the third anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on Wednesday, March 29, 2017. MINDANEWS PHOTO

“One up to four are completion of all peace peace processes – negotiation with CNN (Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New Peoples’ Army) and the peace-building and the peace table engagement with the different stakeholders,” he said.

He said Duterte wants to honor previously signed agreements with the rebel groups.

He said they are hoping they are able to convince Congress to pass the enabling alw.

“Congress is definitely a deliberative body. We hope that we are able to convince them that this is the way to go,” he said.

http://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2017/03/thanks-for-the-tractors-but-a-political-problem-requires-a-political-solution-jaafar/