From the Philippine Star (Aug 21): Rival clans in Basilan end years of conflict
Leaders of two rival clans in Maluso town in Basilan sign a peace covenant before Superintendent Oscar Nantes of the provincial police. Philstar.com/John Unson
Two more groups in Basilan on Thursday signed a truce ending a conflict that for years mired the economic growth of villages whose control they had violently squabbled for.
Superintendent Oscar Nantes, director of the Basilan provincial police office, said leaders of the Idan and the combined Arabani and Baite families of Maluso municipality also swore over the Qur’an to start rebuilding cordiality among them as part of a “healing process” meant to reunite them anew.
The rival clans agreed to reconcile through the intercession of the provincial police, the local government unit of Maluso and the office of Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Nantes said it took negotiators about a month to resolve the clan war amicably.
Hataman and local officials in Basilan’s Sumisip and Lantawans towns had earlier settled seven clan wars involving big families in the two areas.
Nantes said they aim to address more clan wars in the coming months to deescalate political rivalries among protagonists during next year’s local elections.
Hataman said he is thankful to local commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for helping address domestic security problems arising from conflicts among big Yakan and Tausog families in Basilan.
The ARMM governor is the presiding chair of the inter-agency regional peace and order council.
From the Philippine Star (Aug 21): Infographics: Completed Air Force, Army, Navy upgrade projects
A member of the Philippine Air Force salutes during a ceremony for the turnover of eight brand new Bell-412EP helicopters that were procured by the Philippine Air Force from Bell Helicopter Textron and two attack helicopters, the Augusta Westland AW-109E from Italy as part of its modernization program Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Philippines. AP/Bullit Marquez
The country's defense spending has been on a steady rise since the 1990s, with a 25-percent leap eyed next year.
The proposed P25-billion defense budget in 2016 is part of a five-year military modernization program gearing to project a modern military with minimum credible defense and to make the Philippines a worthy member of security alliances.
Data recently obtained by The STAR showed that 55 military upgrade projects worth P11.71 billion have been completed under the Aquino administration. These include:
Based on a report by The STAR / Alexis Romero;Infographics by Philstar.com / Jonathan Asuncion
A total of P90.86 billion is needed to bankroll the military's upgrade program until 2017.
Last week, the Philippine Navy christened two brand new weaponized AugustaWestlend AW109 helicopters for deployment on board its Pilar-class frigates.
The country's defense spending has been on a steady rise since the 1990s, with a 25-percent leap eyed next year.
The proposed P25-billion defense budget in 2016 is part of a five-year military modernization program gearing to project a modern military with minimum credible defense and to make the Philippines a worthy member of security alliances.
While President Benigno Aquino III's administration has committed itself to a slew of upgrade projects for the military, several projects worth over P60 billion faced possible delays for lack of the commander-in-chief's signature, the STAR reported last month.
These are:
Based on a report by The STAR / Alexis Romero;Infographic by Philstar.com / Jonathan Asuncion
Last week, the Philippine Navy christened two brand new weaponized AugustaWestlend AW109 helicopters for deployment on board its Pilar-class frigates.
Data recently obtained by The STAR showed that 55 military upgrade projects worth P11.71 billion have been completed under the Aquino administration.
From the Philippine Star (Aug 21): Iriberri orders AFP: Make Sulu and Basilan 'inhospitable' to Abus
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Iriberri directed Friday the ground troops to continue making Sulu and Basilan “inhospitable” for Abu Sayyaf group and keeping militants on the run.
Iriberri issued a directive following the successful offensive operation of the military under Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), which led to the rescue of the two Philippine Coast Guard personnel held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group in the jungle of Barangay Buanza, Indanan town, Sulu.
Coast Guard personnel Seaman 2nd Class Rod Pagaling and Seaman 1st Class Gringo Villaruz escaped at the height of the assault staged by the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion led by Lt. Col. Eugene Boquio against approximately 100 Abu Sayyaf members.
The two captives, who were recovered Thursday morning near the area, were transported to the city and arrived later in the evening.
Westmincom Chief Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero said at least 15 Abu Sayyaf members were killed while 7 soldiers were wounded in the encounter.
Iriberri visited here Friday to personally assess the ongoing operations against the Abu Sayyaf group and commended Westmincom under Guerrero and the military units of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS) led by Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado.
Irriberi also visited the wounded soldiers at Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) and pinned them with medals after citing their gallantry.
“My command guidance is for our forces to continue to make their area of responsibility inhospitable to the lawless elements and the Abu Sayyaf groups,” Iriberri said in an ambush interview.
Iriberri’s directive includes keeping the Abu Sayyaf group on the run and preventing them from staging hostile plans.
“The result of the operation is good. Relentless operations continued not only in Sulu but also in Basilan,” Iriberri said, citing the offensive operation in Barangay Baiwas, Sumisip town, which was carried out almost simultaneously with the assault at Barangay Buanza, Indanan town, Sulu.
From The Standard (Aug 22): Photo: Pacific Angel 2015
Air Force Capt. Jacquelyn Corpuz, a flight nurse, questions a patient about his health during healthcare services outreach of the multilateral humanitarian assistance operation, called Pacific Angel, in Tagbilaran City in Bohol province on August 16. US AIR FORCE / T. SGT. AARON OELRICH
From the Daily Tribune (Aug 22): Ex-battalion commander is new PA spokesman
The Philippine Army
on Thursday installed a former battalion commander based in Mindanao
as new spokesman.
Col. Benjamin Hao, a
member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1990, replaced Maj.
Enrico Gil Ileto, who served as the acting head of the Office of the Army Chief
Public Affairs (OACPA) for more than a month.
The OACPA post was
vacated by Col. Noel Detoyato, also of PMA Class of 1990, who was designated as
chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Public Affairs Office last month.
Actually, Hao is no
stranger to OACPA after serving in the office during his junior officer years.
“After 18 years since I first stepped in the realm of
military public affairs, I am now given the chance to lead it for the Army,”
said Hao during his assumption speech, adding “I will try to provide the best
public affairs service that our Army deserve to have.”
Prior to his
designation as Army spokesman, Hao was the commander of a Civil Military
Operations Battalion based in the National Capital Region. He was also a former
faculty member of the AFP Command and General Staff College. He also served as
commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion based in North
Cotabato.
Hao also served as a
key figure in the organization of the defunct AFP National Development Support
Command from 2007 to 2009 and as CMO officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry
Division during the post-Maguindanao massacre incident from January to November
2010.
Ileto, on the other
hand, will go back to his old post as the Commandant of the ArmyCMOSchool.
“As the new ACPA, I am confident that Hao will bring new
ideas and concepts, foster good media relations, and fulfill the public
information obligation of the Army,” said Maj.
Gen. Raffy Valencia , Army chief of staff who presided over the
ceremony.
From the Business World (Aug 20): Gov’t to continue upgrades of Navy ships despite bid failure
THE DEPARTMENT of National Defense (DND) is still planning to continue with the upgrades of three of its military vessels despite the failed bidding of the contract earlier this year.
During a meeting of the DND Bids and Awards Committee on Thursday, a technical working group from the Philippine Navy presented the intended upgrades for the BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS-36) and BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37).
Upgrades include the replacement of the barrels of the ships’ three 75-millimeter guns and two 25-millimeter guns. The ships’ radar, control and surveillance systems will also be modernized if the project pushes through.
Discussions on the project’s technical specification will continue before the committee will be able to rebid the contract again, DND Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman Assistant Secretary Ernesto D. Boac told BusinessWorld.
Budget for the three vessels’ upgrade contract is currently set at around P854.6 million. The figure, which could still change depending on the discussions by the BAC and the Philippine Navy technical working group, will be sourced from the 2014 national budget and the funding for the military’s modernization program.
Last March, the bidding for the project was scrapped after the BAC declared a failure of bidding due to the non-submission of bids by the nine companies that bought bid documents for the project.
From the Visayan Daily Star (Aug 22): Army: Don't pay rebels campaign permit fees
A ranking military official yesterday discouraged candidates in the May 2016 election from paying “permits to win and campaign fees”, usually demanded by the New People's Army during the election period.
The filing of certificates of candidacy for candidates in next year's election is from October 12 to 16.
Col. Francisco Delfin, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that giving in to the demands of the NPA means providing more power to those he calls “extortionists"
In previous elections, candidates were forced to pay up to allegedly gain protection from the rebel groups in areas controlled by them.
Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, Armed Forces Civil Relations chief, in a statement he issued, said that the continuous efforts of the AFP in running after high ranking officials of the NPA makes the impact of the rebel group no longer valuable.
AFP records show that the CPP-NPA allegedly demands P500,000 from a gubernatorial candidates, P300,000 from vice gubernatorial bets, P250,000 from congressional candidates, P200,000 from mayoralty candidates and P100,000 from vice mayoralty candidates.
Through Comelec Resolution No. 9981, promulgated on August 18, the poll body scheduled the election period from January 10 to June 8 next year.
From ABS-CBN (Aug 21): Abducted PCG men saw Abu leaders, hostages: sources
Rodlyn Pagaling and Gringo Villaruz, members of the Philippine Coast Guard taken hostage by al Qaeda-linked militants three months ago, arrive at the Coast Guard headquarters in Manila. Photo by Romeo Ranoco, Reuters
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel Gringo Villaruz and Rod Pagaling reportedly encountered several known Abu Sayyaf leaders and subleaders during their almost four months in captivity, sources privy to the operation leading to their escape and rescue said Friday.
Villaruz and Pagaling also reportedly saw three foreign hostages during their stay -- two Malaysians and one Korean.
Some of the ammunition they saw the Abu Sayyaf bandits were holding, the sources said, bore the marking "Government Arsenal."
Sources said the two managed to positively identify ASG subleaders Yasser Igasan, Indang Susukan, Alhabsy Misaya, and Raden Abu, who each led part of the 200-strong ASG group involved in the kidnapping.
A certain Alden Bagade and Marajan Hajiri were also said to be part of the group.
Sources said the group was also in contact with Furiji Indama, an Abu Sayyaf leader who is based in Basilan.
Villaruz and Pagaling are set to file kidnap for ransom charges against those they identified.
They will also stand as witness to the murder charge to be filed by the family of barangay captain Rodolfo Buligao, who was killed days before the PCG personnel were able to escape.
From the Manila Times (Aug 21): Drop rebellion raps vs Misuari, we talk – MNLF
The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) wants the Philippine government to drop the rebellion cases filed against its chairman, Nur Misuari, to allow him to participate in the planned tripartite review of the 1996 peace agreement, an official of the rebel group said here.
According to Johnny Siao, chief of the National Border Command, an MNLF wing based in General Santos City, the MNLF hierarchy is willing to hold formal talks with the government on condition it be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Siao said the Philippine government should also show its sincerity and commitment to the 1996 peace pact, which was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos.
He claimed that since then only 70 percent of the first phase of the agreement have been implemented.
“President Aquino must fulfill the remaining 30 percent of Phase I and to start with Phase II for its implementation,” Siao said. He added that the MNLF Central Committee, which met recently in Jolo, Sulu, may accept government’s offer to have a discussion about the unfinished business under the 1996 agreement through a tripartite review process provided the charges against Misuari for rebellion are dropped.
“We have been urging the government to drop the charges against Misuari for him to participate in the tripartite review whenever it would set its schedule and this is the only way also that the government will prove their sincerity,” Siao said told The Manila Times.
From The Star Online (Aug 21): Kidnapped restaurant manager cries everyday hoping for release
KOTA KINABALU: Kidnapped Seafood restaurant manager Thien Nyuk Fun (pic) is crying everyday with no sign of her release by her Abu Sayyaf captors.
Fear for the life of the 50-year-old widow is also mounting as reports from Jolo indicate her health is deteriorating rapidly in the jungles of southern Philippines. She suffers from high blood pressure and other medical conditions.
She has also been crying daily amid taunting by gunmen that they will behead her and fellow captive Bernard Then Ted Fen if their ransom demands are not met.
Thien and Then, a Sarawakian on holiday in Sandakan, were snatched from the Ocean King Seafood Restaurant in Sandakan on May 14 and taken to the southern Philippines island of Jolo by the gunmen.
Thien's condition is apparently worsening even though she has received her high blood pressure medication.
The 39-year-old Then, however, is holding out despite daily threats of being beheaded, according to a social worker who declined to be named.
Jolo based anti-kidnapping activist Prof Octovio Dinampo said that the two were being held by Abu Sayyaf sub commander Indang Susukan, who is demanding Pesos 30mil (about RM2.6mil) for their release.
However, the situation was being complicated as Indang's uncle Abu Hamry (a former general from Moro National Liberation Front or MNLF) wants Pesos 80mil (about RM7mil), he said.
Malaysian and Filipino intermediaries have been continuously in touch with the kidnappers, but the families are unable to raise the money and are hoping the Malaysian Government will intervene and secure their release.
Prof Dinampo said there was a real worry about a possible beheading as Abu Sayyaf had already beheaded a Filipino village chief on Aug 11 after his family failed to come up with the Pesos 1mil ransom.
The village chief was kidnapped on May 4 along with two other Cost Guard personnel.
However, the two coastguards reportedly escaped during a Philippines military assault on Aug 19.
"For now, I know the two Malaysians are alright," said Prof Dinampo.
From the Manila Times (Aug 21): Military operations continue to rescue other hostages
Military operations continue to rescue the other kidnap victims from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf brigands in the province of Sulu.
Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, made this announcement after the rescue of the two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel from the hands of the Abu Sayyaf brigands.
The two PCG personnel namely, SN2 Gringo Villaruz and SN1 Rod Pagaling, were rescued Thursday at the height of the fire-fight in Barangay Buanza, Indanan, Sulu.
The Abu Sayyaf brigands kidnapped the two Coast Guard personnel together with Rodolfo Boligao last May 4 in Aliguay, an island barangay in Dapitan City.
The Abu Sayyaf brigands executed Boligao, the barangay chairman of Aliguay, last August 11.
The two Philippine coast guard men on Friday trembled and cried as they recalled their harrowing four-month captivity under Islamic extremists.
Sporting long beards, Gringo Villaruz and Rod Allain Pagaling said luck and quick wit aided their escape from Abu Sayyaf militants on the remote southern island of Jolo.
“Each day I felt like I was going to die,” Pagaling told reporters shortly after arriving in Manila, as his three-year-old daughter, Allaina, clung tightly to his shoulders.
“It was very difficult. We had nothing else to turn to except prayer.”
The men, who were abducted in May along with another hostage, were blindfolded, stripped of their shirts and made to beg for their lives on their knees as their masked captors held machetes to their necks.
A video of the desperate plea was posted on the video-sharing website YouTube as the bandits demanded an undisclosed ransom.
The decapitated remains of the other hostage, Rodolfo Boligao, were found on a dark, deserted Jolo highway last week.
The beheading prompted elite military forces to launch a risky operation to free 11 hostages held by the Al-Qaeda-linked militants — including the two coastguard officials, as well as two Malaysians, a Dutch national and a South Korean.
Meanwhile, Guerrero disclosed that they have designated troops to track down the whereabouts of a particular captive and to possibly rescue the victims.
One of the captives is Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay. She was seized last April 6 from her residence in Barangay Taytay Manubo, Naga.
Guerrero is optimistic that the continuous law enforcement operations will result to the safe recovery or rescue of the kidnap victims.
From The Standard (Aug 22): ‘Like dying every day’
2 Coast Guard men tell of captivity at the hands of Abu Sayyaf
TWO Coast Guard men trembled and cried Friday as they recalled their harrowing four months as captives of Abu Sayyaf bandits who beheaded one of their fellow hostages.
Sporting long beards, Gringo Villaruz and Rod Allain Pagaling said luck and quick wit aided their escape from the Abu Sayyaf bandits on the remote southern island of Jolo.
“Each day I felt like I was going to die,” Pagaling told reporters shortly after arriving in Manila, as his 3-year-old daughter, Allaina, clung tightly to his shoulders.
Home again. Coastguard Rod Allain Pagaling is reunited with his daughter Allaina and wife Judith in Manila on Friday following his escape from his Abu Sayyaf captors. AFP
“It was very difficult. We had nothing else to turn to except prayer.”
The men, who were abducted in May along with another hostage, were blindfolded, stripped of their shirts and made to beg for their lives on their knees as their masked captors held machetes to their necks.
A video of the desperate plea was posted on the video-sharing website YouTube as the bandits demanded an undisclosed ransom.
The decapitated remains of the other hostage, Rodolfo Boligao, were found on a dark, deserted Jolo highway last week.
The beheading prompted elite military forces to launch a risky operation to free 11 hostages held by the Al-Qaeda-linked militants— including the two Coast Guard officials, as well as two Malaysians, a Dutch national and a South Korean.
After the military engaged the militants in a firefight late Wednesday, Villaruz and Pagaling were able to slip away.
“The fighting was so intense. There was no time to think hard,” said Villaruz.
“We just made a run for it while there was chaos all around.”
Found an hour apart, they did not know of each other’s escape until they saw one another Thursday at a local military hospital.
The Abu Sayyaf militants are believed to be holding nine remaining hostages. Authorities are continuing to pursue the group, said Capt. Antonio Bulao, a military spokesman in Jolo.
Fifteen Abu Sayyaf militants died in the fighting on Wednesday.
Impoverished Jolo is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, a loose band of several hundred armed men set up in the 1990s with seed money from Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network.
The group engages in kidnappings to finance its operations, often targeting foreigners and sometimes beheading captives if ransoms are not paid.
It has also been blamed for the worst bomb attacks in the country, including the firebombing of a ferry off Manila Bay in 2004 that killed more than 100 people.
Also on Wednesday, one soldier and three Abu Sayyaf terroirsts were killed in Basilan.
Capt. Roy Trinidad, chief of staff of Task Force Zambasulta said six bandits were also wounded in the firefight in Sitio Punoh Timuguen, Barangay Biwas, Sumisip.
“The firefight lasted for one hour before the bandits withdrew in different directions. We’ve one casualty while three bandits were killed and many of them were wounded,” Trinidad said.
Trinidad said ground troops received artillery and air support.
From InterAksyon (Aug 22): 10 more Abu Sayyaf killed as military pursues terrorists in Sulu
Ten more Abu Sayyaf terrorists were killed Friday, raising to 25 the number of Islamic terrorists slain and 16 others wounded the past three days as the military continued its operations using 105mm cannons against the fleeing terror group in Patikul, Sulu.
Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commanding general of the Sulu Joint Task Group, confirmed Friday night the number of fatalities suffered by the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf which is still holding nine hostages, including a Malaysian and a Korean.
Arrojado said this was the biggest casualties the Abu Sayyaf had suffered.
Earlier, Arrojado reported that 15 bandits under Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Yasser Igasan and Alhabsy Misaya were killed during an encounter with Joint Task Group Sulu units at Sitio Marang, Barangay Buanza, Indanan town, Sulu Wednesday afternoon.
Army troopers are now pursuing the terrorists in Patikul and Indanan towns where they fled after two Philippine Coast Guard enlisted men held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf since May escaped Thursday following heavy fighting between the soldiers and about 80 Abu Sayyaf bandits.
The two coast guard men, Seaman Second Class Gringo Villaruz and Seaman First Class Rod Allain Pagaling, have been reunited with their families after their great escape at the height of the fighting.
The Abu Sayyaf panicked when government forces attacked their hideout in Patikul, Arrojado said.
He said “the Abu Sayyaf secured their foreign hostages during the fighting that enabled the two coast guard men to escape.”
Arrojado also said he received reports that Radillon Sajiron, the Abu Sayyaf leader in Sulu, is now suffering from diabetes.
“Civilians in Sulu are helping us locate the Abu Sayyaf, making our operation easier,” Arrojado said.
“Tonight, several rounds of 105 howitzers were fired at the fleeing Abu Sayyaf after civilians told us the location of the Abu Sayyaf,” Arrojado added.
He said the operation against the Abu Sayyaf will continue without letup.
Last week, the Abu Sayyaf beheaded Rodolfo Boligao, the village chief of Aliguay, Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte, after his family failed to pay P1 million ransom.
Boligao, as well as Pagaling and Villaruz, were abducted by the Abu Sayyaf in May.
ABS-CBN (Aug 21): Soldier gunned down in North Cotabato town
MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato - A soldier was shot dead by suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Barangay Nabalawag in Midsayap town, North Cotabato Thursday afternoon.
The victim was identified as Cpl. Angelo Magtubo, a personnel of the 7th Fire Artillery Battalion.
Authorities said Magtubo was traveling on board a motorcycle toward the Nabalawag Firebase when he was gunned down.
The suspects quickly fled the area toward Datu Piang, Maguindanao, carrying the victims's motorcycle.
