From the Free Malaysia Today (Oct 9): IS threat increases need for Labuan base
KUALA LUMPUR: Labuan’s significance as a military base has increased since the militant Abu Sayyaf group pledged its support for the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (IS).
Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein told Parliament today that Abu Sayyaf’s declaration had brought fresh threats to the country and his ministry therefore considered Labuan still a strategic base for East Malaysia although the naval facilities were being transferred to mainland Sabah.
He said he expected the Prime Minister, in his budget announcement tomorrow, to touch on security issues in East Malaysia.
“We hope that plans for Labuan will be announced,” he added.
He made the remarks when responding to Rozman Isli (BN-Labuan), who asked what the government planned to do with land tracts in Labuan formerly occupied by the navy.
During the question and answer session, Hishammuddin repeated his denial of an allegation that Malaysia had offered to house a detachment of American maritime patrol aircraft, specifically the P-8A Poseidon.
He said this in reply to Er Teck Hwa (DAP-Bakri), who referred to a top US Navy official’s statement last month that Malaysia had made the offer.
“These allegations can’t be true, especially when we don’t have the facilities to accommodate the P-8A Poseidon aircraft,” he said.
“Malaysia and the United States do not have an agreement for the deployment or detachment of the P-8A Poseidon to Malaysia.
“Any coordination detachment of the P-8A Poseidon to Malaysia will be on a case-by-case basis, after permission for detachment is obtained and we will use the existing diplomatic channels.”
He also spoke of a recent exercise involving Malaysian army troops based at the Pengkalan Chepa camp and United States Army Pacific Command, saying the training was on disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 9): AFP respects US security advisory to Americans in PH
The Armed Forces of the Philippines would respect the United States Embassy’s security advisory to American citizens in the Philippines.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said Thursday the AFP, like the United States, wishes to uphold the safety of its citizens and foreign nationals in the country after the Philippine National Police arrested three men who allegedly plotted to bomb several targets in Metro Manila.
“We respect the US Embassy on their advisory; we also in the AFP together with PNP want to assure the safety of the Filipinos and the foreigners living in the country,” Cabunoc said.
He added that the US government has their reasons to issue the warning as they look after their citizens who reside in the country.
In the advisory that the US Embassy issued, it reminded all US citizens “to remain vigilant and maintain an appropriate level of personal security in all circumstances.”
The three suspects were arrested on Tuesday and were known to have links to terrorist groups.
Cabunoc said that they have not received reports of any plots to bomb key areas in Metro Manila.
“We don’t have reports; we have not received any information regarding plans to detonate bombs in Metro Manila and disrupt the peace,” Cabunoc said.
He added that they would work to keep the peace for “us to marvel at the sights of the Philippines."
From InterAksyon (Oct 9): Saudi national training extremists in urban guerrilla warfare - intel source
A slide obtained from intelligence source 'Pokemon' shows an image of and information on Abdurahman, a Saudi national reportedly training local extremists in urban guerrilla warfare in Central Mindanao
A Saudi national has been monitored providing training in urban guerrilla warfare to members of the Abu Sayyaf and Kihilafa Islamiya Movement in Central Mindanao, a source in the intelligence community said.
The source, who asked to be known only as “Pokemon,” is the same one who earlier said Malaysian Amin Baco, alias “Abu Jihad,” an operative of the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, is in the country operating with the Abu Sayyaf.
Earlier reports indicate that the Abu Sayyaf and Kihilafa Islamiya have sworn allegiance to the IS, which has declared a “caliphate” in the Middle East after overrunning vast swaths of Iraq and Syria.
The source said the Saudi, known only as Abdurahman, is also a JI member who has been living in the country for several years now. He said Abdurahman is married to a Tausug and was known to be staying at a mosque near the SM Ecoland in Davao City.
He also provided an image, obtained from police intelligence, which was extracted from the mobile phone of an Abu Sayyaf fighter killed by government forces recently in Sulu.
Pokemon said Abdurahman conducted his training in Lanao del Sur but did not say how many local militants he has handled.
He also said Abdurahman is believed to be the conduit of funds from a Saudi support group to the Kihilafa Isalmiya.
From the Manila Standard Today (Oct 9): ‘JI-trained Usman no ties with BJM’
A high-ranking intelligence officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) took issue with some of the claims of a former intelligence officer, saying that Jemaah Islamiyah-trained terrorist Bassit Usman is not one of the personalities involved in the establishment of a new rebel group called Bangsamoro Justice Movement which had pledged support to the Islamic State jihadists.
The AFP official also stressed that Usman will never leave the fold of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Ameril Umbra Kato.
“That’s some kind of a fishing expedition to gather information for the group’s interest,” a general said who spoke in condition of anonymity.
He was referring to Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza, former chief of the police’s Intelligence Group (IG) who now leads a group called Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research.
Although he confirmed of the existence of the BJM,, the AFP intelligence official said that the group was organized by Ali Tambako, and not Usman.
“No, the BJM was organized by Ali Tambako, not Usman. And Usman, was not among the group. Tambako’s group, about more or less 100 men, are indeed BIFF renegades,” the general said.
This was in contrast with Mendoza’s claim on Wednesday that the BJM was formed by Tambako, Usman and Abdul Jan Pagao.
The AFP source said Umbra Kato expelled Tambako and his loyalists from the BIFF not because of the twin beheadings of farmers in September 2013 in Midsayap, North Cotabato but “for some other reason”.
“Kagi Karialan, chief of staff of Kato, suspected Ali Tambako to be behind the IED (improvised explosive device) bombing that wounded him sometime in 2013 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao,” he said.
He, however, confirmed that Pagao, former political affairs officer of Umbra Kato, was with Tambako in forming the new group.
The military said Pagao was among the gunmen involved in the infamous “Maguindanao massacre” in November 23, 2009 led by Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. who massacred 58 people, 32 of them were journalists.
The AFP intellifence officer added that Usman cannot join Ali Tambako’s group because the bomb-making expert “will have no safe haven in Central Mindanao if he associates with this group (BJM) who had a rampaging rido with Kariala’s clan in particular and the BIFF in general,” he said.
He claimed that Usman’s only safe haven is the BIFF where he can move around safely.
“Bassit Usman cannot abandon Umbra Kato since the latter has strong influence in Central Mindanao. Central Mindanao, in areas where the BIFF operates, is the only safe haven for Usman. So the claim of Mendoza that Usman is joining Tambako’s group is far-fetch, it’s like self-mutilation in front of the BIFF,” the general said.
“We believe that Usman doesn’t have to use the group of Tambako to gain more prominence. Kilala na siya as a notorious terrorist, as a businessman being hired by the BIFF and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and now Tamabako’s group to teach them how to make bombs. That’s all he can do for a living,” he added.
Meanwhile, the general said they have fresh intelligence reports that the “health condition of Umbra Kato is improving.”
“Ang sabi e medyo nakakalakad na raw,” he said.
Umbra Kato suffered successive debilitating strokes a year after he and his hundreds of followers were expelled from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for refusing to support the peace process with the government.
After forming the armed wing BIFF Umbra Kato also formed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), the political arm of his organization.
Umbra Kato was a former commander of the MILF’s 105th Base Command.
From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Oct 8): AFP intensifies anti-terrorism drive in Sulu
Armed Forces chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered the deployment of Army’s Special Forces in Sulu on Wednesday to bolster its anti-terrorism efforts in the province.
“We want to have enough forces to address any threat that will be posed by the Abu Sayyaf here,” Colonel Noel Clement, Commander of the Army’s 501st Brigade based in Sulu said.
The Al-Qaeda linked terror group is believed to be currently holding 12 civilian hostages, including five foreigners.
Clement said that the deployment does not mean they would launch a rescue operation for the hostages.
The operations are to make sure that trouble “won’t spill over other areas,” he said.
“The 100-men strong elite unit of the Special Operations Command will be placed under control of the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade that is based in Busbus, in the capital town of Jolo,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a separate statement.
The Special Forces of the Philippine Army, considered as elite warriors, are adept in long-range reconnaissance, sniping and infiltration. The SF soldiers deployed to Sulu will be coming from Zamboanga.
On Tuesday, the military also deployed K-9 units, consisting of 10 tracking teams. They were intended to help in tracking terrorists in Sulu.
Last week, the military deployed a brigade or about a thousand Army soldiers in Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu as part of its realigning efforts in order to focus on areas affected by armed conflicts.
From InterAksyon (Oct 8): BIFF renegades, but not Usman, behind Bangsamoro Justice Movement - ISAFP source
While it is true former officers of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have formed a new organization, the Bangsamoro Justice Movement, Abdul Basit Usman, the bomb expert trained by the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, has nothing to do with them, a ranking military intelligence officer said.
The officer, from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, agreed to be interviewed on condition he not be named.
He disputed earlier claims by Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza, who once headed the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group and is now president of the private Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, who said Usman organized the BJM after recruiting Ustadz Ali Tambako, who used to be a close aide of BIFF founder Ameril Umbra Kato.
Mendoza earlier said Usman had led the BJM in declaring allegiance to the Islamic State, the jihadist movement that has declared a “caliphate” after capturing wide swaths of Syria and Iraq.
But the source said it was Tambako who organized the BJM, which has “more or less 100 men,” all of them former BIFF fighters.
The BIFF is the armed wing of Kato’s Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, which he created after breaking away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front over disagreements in the direction peace negotiations with government were taking.
Kato’s group has refused to abandon its struggle for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.
The ISAFP source also said Tambako and his men were kicked out of the BIFF not because of the beheading of farmers in Midsayap, North Cotabato in September last year but because Kato’s chief of staff, Kagi Karialan, blamed them for a bomb attack last year in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao in which he was wounded.
He did confirm that Kato’s former political affairs officer, Abdul Jan Pago, has joined Tambako. Pagao is reportedly among the gunmen who participated in the November 23, 2009 Ampatuan massacre in which 58 persons, 32 of them media workers, were killed.
As for Usman, the source said the bomb expert “cannot join Ali Tambako’s group” because this would leave him with “no safe haven in Central Mindanao” because of the existing “rido” or blood feud between Tambako and not only Kariala but with the BIFF as a whole.
He said Usman’s only safe haven is with the BIFF.
“Basit Usman cannot abandon Umbra Kato since the latter has strong influence in Central Mindanao … So the claim of Mendoza (about) Usman joining Tambako’s group is farfetched, it’s like self-mutilation in front of the BIFF,” he said.
Besides, he added, “We believe that Usman doesn’t have to use the group of Tambako to gain more prominence. Kilala na siya (He is already known) as a notorious terrorist, as a businessman being hired by the BIFF and the Abu Sayyaf Group and now Tamabako’s group to teach them how to make bombs. That’s all he can do for a living.”
Meanwhile, the intelligence officer said they have received fresh reports indicating the “health condition of Umbra Kato is improving.”
“Ang sabi e medyo nakakalakad na raw (The word is he is walking again),” he said.
Kato had suffered a series of strokes that rendered him bedridden soon after his breakaway from the MILF, whose 105th Base Command he used to head.
From InterAksyon (Oct 8): AFP command constriction underway?
Without officially announcing it, the Armed Forces seems silently implementing the process of command constriction, which it plans to accomplish on or before President Aquinoo steps down from power in 2016.
On Wednesday, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. directed the deployment of one Special Forces Company from Zamboanga City to Sulu.
Earlier, Catapang ordered the deployment of a K9 Company unit to the same area to augment soldiers hunting down Abu Sayyaf bandits holding 12 civilian hostages, including five foreigners.
"The AFP is serious in its effort to flush out the bandits and contribute toward the eventual release of the victims from the hand of their captors,” Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, Catapang’s spokesman said.
Much earlier, the whole Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade of the 5th Infantry Division based in Camp De la Cruz in Gamu, Isabela was transferred to Barangay Busbus in the capital town of Jolo, Sulu.
Cabunoc said the 100-man strong and elite unit of the Special Operations Command will be placed under control of the brigade.
In the command constriction principle, the Army service would be the most affected in the first phase, starting with the dissolution of some divisions currently being led by brigadier and/or major generals.
Reportedly, the 5ID would be the first to be dissolve then followed by other commands.
"The pullout of the Marines in Sulu and from other areas in Mindanao is not new. What's new is the placing of all our Marine forces in the Western Command (Westcom) based in Palawan. Maybe, the next to be done is transfer the Marines Headquarters from Fort Bonifacio to Palawan, how about that?" a military official disclosed on condition his name would not be published.
A year after Aquino assumed the presidency, the Department of National Defense (DND) and Armed Forces of the Philippines started to dissolve commands deemed nonessential, such as the defunct National Development Support Command (NADESCOM) and National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM which were led by three-star or lieutenant generals. What became of the anti-coup NCRCOM is now "The Special Task Force-NCR led by a one-star or brigadier general.
The plan is that there will be only four area commands left: Northern Command (Northcom); the revival of the Southern Command (Southcom) for Mindanao; and maintaining the Central Command and Westcom in the Visayas.
Westcom would be the hub of the Marines. So all Marine units in Mindanao will be deployed to Palawan for territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea where China has been grabbing some territories.
The primary objective of streamlining is to make the four commands a strong and cohesive forces of the three major services – Army, Navy and Air Force – and the AFP General Headquarters where the Chief of Staff resides in general.
"We have to strengthen our area commands not only for internal security operations, against rebel groups and other threat groups, but we're also transitioning to territorial defense. Actually, this is part of the AFP Transformation Roadmap,” the source said.
For example, he said, the problem of small terrorist groups in southern Mindanao, such as the Abu Sayyaf, can be handled by the Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
"We don’t need a brigade of Marines to deal with them, so we should let our Marines do what they're supposed to do. Let the infantries deal with rebellious groups, such as the New People’s Army (NPA) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in some parts of Central Mindanao" the officer said.
The AFP Spokesman added that after the constriction process the Armed Forces would be turned into a "Pentagon-like command”.
From ABS-CBN (Oct 7): PNoy promotes 4 military officers
A military officer in charge of implementing the anti-insurgency campaign of the government has earned another promotion from President Benigno Aquino III.
Armed Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Domingo Tutaan said Major General Aurelio Baladad is now lieutenant general, which automatically grants him three stars.
Baladad became major general also under Aquino.
Baladad became controversial among leftists for the arrest of the so-called Morong 43. Human rights organizations insisted the 43 were health workers wrongly accused as being members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
More than a month ago, Baladad was tasked to head the Eastern Mindanao Command, considered one of the hotbeds of communist insurgency.
Besides Baladad, Aquino also promoted to lieutenant general Nicanor Vivar, commander of the Central Command, and Oscar Lopez, superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy.
Promoted from the rank of rear admiral to vice admiral is Western Command chief Alexander Lopez.
Tutaan said their promotions “will definitely redound to the accomplishment of their respective missions” under the Internal Peace and Security Plan - Bayanihan, the military’s counter-insurgency program.
“With these promotions, it is incumbent upon them to pursue the AFP transformation road map. The promotion is a calling for the respective positions that they are in,” he said.
Baladad, meanwhile, welcomed the development.
“It’s a recognition of what I have done, of what I have attained,” he said.
Amid criticisms from leftists, he maintains the Morong 43 were members of the NPA.
He said five from the group have already returned to the government fold.
From the Philippine Star (Oct 7): Cost of properties destroyed by NPA in E. Mindanao hits P300M
The amount of properties damaged by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Eastern Mindanao has risen tenfold despite the military’s repeated claims that the rebel movement has weakened.
Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad said the amount of equipment torched by the rebels ballooned to P300 million in the first nine months, way above the P30 million recorded for the entire 2013.
“It (amount of burned equipment) is higher than last year’s, around a tenth of that. It was around P30 million plus so the increase is about tenfold,” Baladad said in an interview on Tuesday.
“They (NPA) are embarking on an extortion campaign. The peace talks are stalled so they have to maintain their forces,” he added.
The Eastern Mindanao Command secures the Caraga, Davao and Northern Mindanao provinces and parts of the SOCCSKSARGEN region.
Security officials previously claimed that communist insurgents are hitting on soft targets like civilians and businesses to make their presence felt in communities and to collect the so-called “revolutionary taxes.”
Citing rough estimates, Baladad said the rebels in Eastern Mindanao also managed to extort around P30 million from businesses.
“For me, it is disturbing because we want to attract investors here so we must have peace and order. Businessmen are after stability so we are aligning our forces so that we can prevent their (NPA) acts,” he said.
Baladad said they are setting up a system to ensure the safety of investors in the area.
“We will try to set up a system wherein we can have this communication so that we will know where we should focus,” the military official said.
“I would like to emphasize these are non combatants and these are non-military objectives. They should not be targeted,” he added.
Baladad noted that targeting civilians is a violation of the International humanitarian Law.
There are about 2,100 NPA members in Eastern Mindanao based on latest military estimates. The strength of the communist movement in the Philippines has been pegged at around 4,000, virtually unchanged over the last four years.
From the Manila Standard Today (Oct 8): Terrorist forms new moro rebel group
A new rebel movement formed by three notorious militants, one of whom reportedly has links with the Southeast Asian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiya, had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS).
Former Chief Supt. Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza and top intelligence officer, who is currently the president of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research (PIPVTR) identified the new rebel movement as the Bangsamoro Justice Movement (BJM).
Islamist bomb expert Abdul Basit Usman (unmasked) posted a propaganda video of this group after swearing allegiance to the Islamic State last September 21. Mendoza said the BJM was established in July by Mohammad Ali Tambaco, former Vice Chairman for Political Affairs of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Usman Basit Usman, operations commander of the BIFF and a bomb expert with links to Malaysian JI operative Zulkifli Abdul Khir, also known as ‘Marwan’ and Abdul Jan Pagao, reportedly the former political affairs officer of the BIFF.
Mendoza, however, said he has no idea of the BJM’s objectives at the moment, but surmised that the new group ‘could be another rebel faction.’
Sources earlier told Manila Standard that some of the members of the newly-formed rebel movement were BIFF rebels recruited by Basit. This was, however, denied by the Moro National Liberation Front.
MNLF spokesman Absalom Cerveza said the present members of the BJM were actually disgruntled MILF rebels who were strongly opposed to the ‘disarmament’ provisions of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement (BFA).
“It is not true that Usman Basit had recruited BIFF members to his fold. What we learned is that he was recruiting MILF rebels particularly those opposed to the disarmament provisions of the (BFA),” Cerveza said.
As to the group’s direction, Cerveza said “it (BJM) is moving to the direction of linking the group to the ISIS.”
Mendoza said Tambaco was expelled by BIFF leader Ameril Umbra Kato for his involvement in a beheading incident sometime in 2012.
Basit, on the other hand, is a leader of Ansar al Khilafah in the Philippines, which literally means ‘Supporter of the Caliphate (Islamic State). He is also a former member of the notorious Abu Sayyaf Group before linking with the BIFF.
Basit is also on the wanted list of the US State Department, which offers a $1 million dollar bounty for his capture.
Both Basit and Marwan, also a most-wanted terrorist with a $5 million dollar bounty, joined foreign jihadists in training recruits for the BJM and Al Ansar Khilifa.
Pagao, a Libyan-educated Muslim missionary or ‘ulama’ was arrested in 2006 in Maguindanao for his alleged links with international terrorists, but was later released.
Meanwhile, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujib Hataman said his office is closely monitoring possible recruitment activities by IS operatives in various school institutions within his jurisdiction.
Hataman, however, said the ARMM has yet to come across with any validated reports that universities and colleges in the region had been infiltrated by the ISIS although some students had reportedly expressed support to the teachings of the Islamic state.
“It’s possible that they are symphatizing and in support of the ISIS declaration but it doesn’t mean they are already ISIS members,” Hataman said.
From InterAksyon (Oct 7): JI-trained bomber Abdul Basit Usman forms new group with BIFF breakaways - security expert
Abdul Basit Usman (with uncovered face) is seen with several armed followers in this image grabbed from a video posted online showing them pledging allegiance to the Islamic State
A Filipino bomb expert trained by the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network has reportedly formed a new group from former officers and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a security and intelligence expert said.
Abdul Basit Usman reportedly calls his new group the Bangsamoro Justice Movement, retired police general Rodolfo “Boogie” Mendoza, who is now president of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said.
Mendoza, who once headed the Intelligence Group of the Philippine National Police, is credited with cracking “Oplan Bojinka,” an al-Qaeda operation acknowledged to be the precursor of the 9/11 attacks on the US.
According to Mendoza, among Usman’s recruits are Ustadz Ali Tambako, a close associate of BIFF founder Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato who was kicked out of the organization over the beheading of two men in Midsayap, North Cotabato in September last year, and Abdul Jan Pagao, who the security expert said is the former political affairs officer of the BIFF.
InterAksyon.com has sought a reaction from BIFF spokesman Abu Misri Mama but he has yet to reply.
Usman, who is on the US list of global terrorists, is believed to be operating with Malaysian JI operative Zulkifli Bin Hir, more known as “Marwan,” added Mendoza.
The BIFF itself broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front over disagreements on the directions peace talks with government were taking.
The BIFF holds on to the aim of establishing an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines whereas the MILF agreed to drop secession for autonomy.
Usman’s group is among those known to have made a “baai” or pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State, which has declared the establishment of a caliphate within areas of Iraq and Syria.
The event is shown in a video posted in September to YouTube under Usman’s name.
The YouTube video showing Abdul Basit Usman and some 20 gunmen pledging allegiance to the Islamic State
Mendoza said Usman’s group also has links to the Al Hansar Khilafa, “which means supporters of the caliphate."
The former police intelligence official said that Usman’s new group is also linked with another group called Al Hansar Khilafa, which means supporters of the caliphate, and is also the name of a group in Pakistan and Syria affiliated with IS.
Usman, who is wanted for several bombings since 2003, was erroneously reported as having been killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan, near the border of Afghanistan.
Most recently, he was reportedly wounded in a joint military and police raid in Barangay Libutan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
From the Sun Star-Baguio (Oct 9): PMA reviewing its Honor Code
THE Honor System of the Philippine Military Academy will be more transparent and responsive.
Col. Monico Batle, officer-in-charge of the Honor Committee, assured there will be a significant change in the military academy highlighting the Honor System will no longer be too exclusive.
This as he stressed PMA is a government entity therefore proceedings must be made known to the public, particularly concerned stakeholders including the families of the cadets, for them to understand their commitments in the academy.
With the information dissemination about the Honor Code and Honor System, Batle said it is open for scrutiny.
Moreover, Batle stressed the Honor System of PMA has always been "dynamic".
"Actually open siya lagi for revision and recommendation," he said but stressed changes and suggestions will still be validated.
PMA is currently reviewing and looking into revisions of the Honor System.
The revisions are done through the inputs of cadets which is an authority granted to them.
However, while the Honor System is in place for them, Batle emphasized it is not only about them.
He highlighted revisions will still be holistic considering the physical, academic, character and military development of the cadets.
Batle shared they are also comparing the existing Honor Code and System of PMA to that of the other countries' like the United States Military Academy to get possible ideas of the military procedures being undertaken which may be adopted.
Currently, the review and revisions are being done simultaneous with presentations, workshops, seminars and forums with different stakeholders such as the professors and other personnel in the military academy, the academe, PMA alumni and will also include parents of cadets for the cadets to be guided in the drafting.
"By next month, isasama na namin yung collaborative report, kukunin namin yung mga inputs nila to validate kung anong comment nila dun sa ginawa ng mga kadete," Batle said.
Moreover, Batle noted they are also looking into institutionalizing the revised Honor System to the whole of Armed Forces of the Philippines through the Defense Planning Guidance.
The PMA's Honor Code and Honor System could be models given it is the military school of AFP.
"Supposed to be lahat ng military honorable," he stressed.
It could be a big challenge to the military if implemented as it will be hard not to lie and cheat, but it is possible, Batle closed.
From GMA News (Oct 10): Gazmin: Government taking steps to diminish terror threat
Defense Secretary
Voltaire Gazmin has acknowledged the existence of a terrorist threat in the
country but added that it has been diminished with the security measures the
government had been taking, GMA News' Jun Veneracion reported on "24 Oras"
on Friday.
Gazmin made the remarks following the arrest last weekend of three men who had
been under surveillance for an alleged bomb threat in Metro Manila. They
included one suspect, who had been charged in connection with the Valentine's
Day bombing in Makati
in 2005.
"The threat has always been there but the threat is minimized or
diminished because of the active actions that we are undertaking," Gazmin
said.
Gazmin said the DND was also considering the possibility that the terrorism
threat was related to the scheduled visit of Pope Francis in January.
"We're continuously working on this so that we will ensure the safety of
the Pope when he comes," Gazmin said.
The US Embassy on Thursday issued a security
advisory to its citizens in the Philippines about a bomb plot in
the country after police arrested the three men.
There were also bomb threats that caused class suspensions in at least two
universities over the week—San Beda College in Manila
on Tuesday and MiriamCollege in Quezon
City on Thursday. Both threats turned out to be
negative after police scoured the premises.
Arrest of suspects
Last October 5, Ricardo Ayeras was arrested with two others—Andrescio Valdez,
alias Sabri Sindayen; and Ricky Macapagal, alias, Abdurahim. Police
recovered a hand grenade and several rounds of ammunition from them.
The group was reportedly planning to bomb a bar and restaurant in Makati that catered to foreigners, and a popular
establishment in PasayCity, according to a GMA
News source. The PNP has yet to confirm this information.
The Quezon City
Prosecutors' Office has recommended charges of illegal possession of explosives
and other raps against the suspects.
Ayeras, alias Abdul Karim Ayeras, was arrested in 2007 and charged in
connection with the terrorist attack in Makati
but the case against him was dismissed. Six persons were killed in the
explosion that happened at the corner of EDSA and Ayala Avenue.The report said Ayeras was also arrested
in 2011 for the bombing of the AwangAirport in CotabatoCity,
but was eventually released.
Ayeras also
reportedly made the bomb that was used in bombing the Superferry 14 in 2004.
Ninety-four passengers died in the said bombing.
Quoting an
unnamed source, GMA News reported that the group was about to transfer to
another hideout when they were arrested on EDSA at the MuƱoz area in Quezon City.
Members of the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP)
and Philippine National Police (PNP) arrested them.
The authorities
reportedly recovered a grenade and a notebook with a guide on how to make an
improvised explosive device.
[Video report]
Appeal
for sobriety, vigilance
PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor appealed for calm but asked
the public to remain watchful.
"Sa ngayon wala kaming nare-receive na threat sa Metro Manila. But again,
ang ating mga mamamayan, hinihiling lang natin na maging alert lang at vigilant
subalit maging kalma lang tayo," Mayor said.
MalacaƱang on Friday assured the public that the government was making sure the
country was safe from terrorist attacks.
"We would like to assure, not just for the visit of the Pope, that our
security forces are continuing to do their jobs so that we can sleep peacefully
at night," said deputy presidential spokesperson undersecretary Abigail
Valte.
The Department of National Defense said the US Embassy's advisory for its
citizens was "understandable."
"We are currently evaluating all our information and there are no
indications at this time that the foiled bomb plot is part of a greater scenario.
We are treating every report with the utmost seriousness, nonetheless,"
said Peter Paul Galvez, spokesman of the Department of National Defense.
"It has always been the practice of the US State Department to issue
advisories pertaining to possible threats & issues such as this. This is
understandable considering their prevailing security posture all over the
world," he added.
From the Manila Standard Today (Oct 12): Troops gird for offensive vs Sayyaf
WITH only six days before the deadline set by the Abu Sayyaf, security forces massed at several areas in Sulu island ahead of an apparent military offensive aimed at flushing out the extremists who are holding at least seven foreigners, including two Germans.
“We will hunt down the Abu Sayaff Group. We are hoping for the safe release of the hostages,” said Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang, who will fly to Jolo today to check on preprations for the looming operation.
Catapang did not say when the operation will commence, but at least 1,000 fresh troops from the Army’s 501st Infantry Brigade and at least 100 Special Forces commandos plus a company of search dogs have earlier been sent to Sulu.
The deployment were made after the Abu Sayyaf threatened to behead one of their two latest captives – two elderly Germans who were seized from a yacht enroute to Malaysia – if their ransom demand of P240 million is not met before Oct. 17.
The military is hoping that the increased number of troops will pressure the Abu Sayyaf to release their hostages, like they did in December 2013 when the extremists released Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani after 18 months amid an intensified military operation.
But the increased number of government troops on the island is making other armed groups edgy, according to Absalom Cerveza, spokesman of the Moro National Liberation Front.
“I hope the military will be prudent in selecting their targets because they are operating in an area populated by armed groups,” Cerveza said, fearing a misencounter.
“There are many armed groups in Jolo,” Cerveza reminded the military. “There are groups connected to politicians, groups like the MILF, MNLF and local bandits.”
He also cautioned the miltiary against hoping that the Atyani incident will be repeated because the extremists holding the Germans “when cornered may execute their hostages.”
The Abu Sayyaf are believed to be holding a total of seven foreigners.
German nationals Stefan Viktor Okonek, 71, and Herike Diesen, 55 were abducted from a yacht at sea on April 25 while heading to Sabah from a holiday in Palawan.
Also abducted were well-known European birdwatchers Ewold Horn, a 53-year-old Dutchman, and Lorenzo Vinciguerra, a 48-year-old Swiss national, who were bird-watching on Tawi-Tawi when they were kidnapped on Feb. 1, 2012.
They were later brought to Sulu on the orders of Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron who is supposedly holding them in the hinterlands of Talipao town.
The Abu Sayyaf are also holding two Malaysians, Wai Tung and Jie Tung, who were abducted from Lahad Datu in Sabah on Nov. 14, 2012 and brought to Sulu. He is being held by another Abu Sayyaf leader named Jul Asman Sawadjaan in Indanan, Sulu.
The seventh victim is Japanese treasure hunter Toshio Ito, who was kidnapped in Sulu on July 16, 2010. He is also believed to be in the custody Sahiron in Indanan, Sulu.
On October 7, the two Germans were allowed to speak with journalists on live radio in Zamboanga and they appealed to the Philippine and German governments to work harder for their release.
From the Philippine Star (Oct 12): MILF, MNLF find peace in communal fishing
MILF and MNLF members manage a foreign-assisted communal fishing venture in Kabacan, North Cotabato. JOHN UNSON
NORTH COTABATO, Philippines – For years, the rival forces of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kabacan town had been hostile towards each other.
Now, they are peacefully managing a communal fishing venture in Barangay Pedtad, Kabacan town.
Dozens of MNLF and MILF members in Barangay Pedtad are beneficiaries of the foreign-assisted livelihood project called Enhancing Resilience by Strengthening Livelihoods.
This project is pioneered by the town’s local government, the European Union, the World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations and different line agencies.
The project beneficiaries established tilapia fishpond as a communal venture more than a year ago, and they have managed it through the Moro consensus-building tradition in running community affairs.
They were also given free livelihood trainings by the project’s benefactors, among them the Office of Governor Emmylou TaliƱo-Mendoza.
“Members of the MILF and the MNLF work together here in the community as one big family,” said Adam Mantawil, one of the traditional leaders in Barangay Pedtad.
Mantawil said he is glad that the MNLF and MILF members are earning from the livelihood project.
A 35-year-old mother said her income from the communal tilapia fishpond has enabled her to buy nutritious food for her children and send them to school.
Access to education, she noted, is necessary in building peaceful and progressive Moro communities in Barangay Pedtad as well as in surrounding farming enclaves in Kabacan and other parts of North Cotabato.
