From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 20): 16th MALPHI to formally conclude on Monday --PA
The 16th series of the Training Activity Land
Malaysia-Philippines (MALPHI) will formally conclude Monday at the Training and
Doctrine Command in CampO'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac.
The event will take place at 10 a.m., Philippine Army (PA)
spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said on Sunday.
The 16th MALPHI started last Sept. 9, focused on
inter-operability and counterinsurgency operations between the PA and Malaysian
Army.
Seventy-six PA personnel and 30 Malaysian soldiers are
taking part in the two-week activity held at the PeacekeepingOperationsCenter
in CampO'Donnell.
“MALPHI aims to enhance the long-standing professional
relationship and cooperation between the two armies,” PA assistant
chief-of-staff for training and education (G-8) Col. Jose C. Faustino Jr.
earlier said.
From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 20): PA to demonstrate .50 caliber RCWS
The Philippine Army (PA) will be testing before the media on
Monday the .50 caliber-remote controlled weapons system (RCWS) of its six
newly-acquired M-113 armored personnel carriers (APCs) in Capas, Tarlac.
Col. Benjamin Hao, PA spokesperson, said on Sunday the
demonstration will take place at the rifle range of the Mechanized Infantry
Division in CampO'Donnell, Capas.
The six APCs were transported to Tarlac on July 8 after
arriving in the Philippines
last June 18.
They were part of the 28 APCs ordered from Israeli defense
manufacturer Elbit Systems Ltd. The contract, worth PhP 882 million, was signed
on June 22, 2014.
Fourteen of the M-113s will be configured as fire support
vehicles, four as infantry fighting vehicles, six as armored personnel
carriers, another four as armored recovery units.
Upgrades include installation of 25mm unmanned turrets,
12.7mm (.50 caliber machine guns) RCWS, and fire control systems (FCS) for 90mm
turrets.
The PA operates 343 AFVs (armored fighting vehicles) and
APCs.
Around 85 percent of these AFVs are on green status (fully
mission capable) while another 10 percent are on yellow status (undergoing
repair) and five percent are on red (beyond repair).
A total of 150 AFVs are of the United Kingdom-built GKN
"Simba," with the others consisting of US-designed V-150 and V-200
APCs, M-113s, Turkish-made ACV-300s and British Scorpion CVRTs.
These vehicles give the PA its armor capability and are
organized into a 14-vehicle mechanized infantry companion for deployment with
regular units.
From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 20): Blast rocks Sulu town police station
Government security forces are tracking down the suspects
behind the improvised explosive device (IED) blast which damaged the Maimbung
Police Station in Sulu Saturday evening.
The incident took place at 6:45 p.m., Joint Task Group Sulu
commander Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado said.
The IED exploded at Barangay Laum, Maimbung town and damaged
the fence, kitchen and ceiling of the local police station. Fortunately, no one
was wounded in the blast.
Explosive ordnance disposal teams from the Marine Battalion
Landing Team 8 and the 52nd Special Action Company were immediately deployed to
conduct post-blast investigations.
Investigators are still determining the motive for the
attack, Arrojado said.
From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 20): NPA rebels abduct trooper in Agusan del Sur
Soldiers from the Eastern Mindanao Command are pursuing an
estimated 30 or more New People's Army (NPA) rebels who abducted an unarmed
26th Infantry Battalion trooper in San Luis, Agusan del Sur Saturday morning.
Capt. Alberto Caber, Eastern Mindanao Command public affairs
office chief, said the incident took place at 9 a.m. at the vicinity of
Kilometer 16, Barangay Policarpio, San Luis town.
He added that the soldier, whose named has been withheld as
of this posting, was aboard a motorcycle driven by one Reneboy Galino, when
flagged and stopped by the heavily-armed rebels who included five
"Amazons" in their ranks.
After snatching the victim at gunpoint, the NPAs quickly
fled to an unknown destination.
Caber said that the abducted soldier is part of a peace and
development team who earlier visited Barangay Mahagsay, San Luis, Agusan del
Sur.
Posted to the MILF Website (Sep 19): “MILF won't stop members from defending themselves if they face prosecution on Mamasapano”: Iqbal
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chief Negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said yesterday, September 18, that the Moro Front will not stop its members who will be charged for the Mamasapano incident from defending themselves if they face prosecution.
"We do not ask them not to do something that would help them get out of that whole problem... Yung organisasyon of the MILF will not prevent them because that's an internal legal process of the government. But on the individual level we will not prevent individual members of the MILF who are part of the list to access something to defend themselves", Iqbal said.
“It can include legal, maybe access to lawyers. On the individual decision-making, they can access to lawyers on their own personal capacity. We will not stop them," he added.
Iqbal said they will not encourage their members, but they will not stop them as well.
He said the prosecution of the Mamasapano incident does not cover the MILF as an organization.
"The filing of cases against 20 or more than 20 members of the MILF is an internal legal process of government which the MILF is not a party to. We will not participate, but on the other hand we will not stop individual members of the MILF if they want to access through the service of the lawyer to defend themselves," he said.
Asked if the MILF will shield those who may be charged, Iqbal said: "What the MILF can do is invoke the provisions of existing mechanisms of the peace process. That is the binding agreement as far as the government and MILF, especially the provisions of the ceasefire. If there is a violation on either side, if it's committed by government forces then the government will take charge of that."
Asked if they will surrender MILF members, Iqbal said: "I will not go to that extent."
Commenting on the truth about the incident, Iqbal said they would rather leave to the public to decide on the Mamasapano incident although they stand by the findings of the MILF's own investigation.
"There are 5 to 6 versions (on the Mamasapano incident from) the PNP (Philippine National Police), DOJ (Department of Justice), NBI (National Bureau of Investigation), IMT (International Monitoring Team), MILF. So let the people decide which of these versions is the truth or leading to the truth," he said.
"On the findings of the MILF investigating team, that's official. We hold that as the official version. But we have buried this issue already. We do not want to revive it because both on the side of the government and MILF are already resting in their graves. If we try to revive this issue, not only people resting in their graves but the families na naghihilom na ang sugat [ang maapektuhan]," he added.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Ging Deles said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima will explain what needs to be done.
Deles said the MILF who may be charged can opt to waive their right to submit a counter-affidavit.
Deles said there may be fewer than 26 MILF who may be charged. "Tinatanggap naman na yung baka hindi lahat ito tunay na pangalan, may palayaw daw. Yun kailangan himayin kasi subpoena will have to be delivered to that person."
She also explained that the MILF as a group will not be covered by the process because the offense was done by individuals.
From the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) Research & Information Bureau Website (Sep 18): BIFM- MAHKAMATUL ‘ULYAA issues order
September 18, 2015
In a meeting of the members of the Central Islamic Committee (CIC) held somewhere in the province of Magindanaw on September 13, 2015, the Mahkamatul ‘Ulyaa (Supreme Court) has approved the proposed disciplinary measure that 30 stripes be imposed on offers committed involving illegal drugs.
Relative hereto, the chief of the Military Affairs has scheduled on Friday, September 18 to 19, 2015 the imposition of the proposed 30 stripes per head of the more than thirty individuals who were proven guilty of illegal drug activities.
From GMA News (Sep 19): Palace to MILF: Amendments underway to make BBL acceptable to all
Following the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's comment that the version of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law from the Senate and the House of Representatives is "unacceptable," Malacañang on Saturday said that amendments are on the way to forge a version that is acceptable by everyone.
In addressing the concern of MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Edwin Lacierda in an interview on state-run dzRB said the concerns of all the stakeholders are being considered.
“It requires the legislative mill to take its course, and the concerns of the [MILF], the concerns of all the stakeholders—whatever they are—they have to be discussed because we are going through the legislative process, which is the role of the legislative branch,” he said.
“So, kung may concerns ang MILF, mayroon na kaming mga suggested amendment po na ginagawa. All that will have to be threshed out in the plenary, in the Senate and in the House floor. So let’s allow the debates to happen so that we can come up with a workable, operational, and a BBL that will be acceptable to all,” he added.
Iqbal made the statement during a forum on Friday where the Government and MILF panels discussed the status of the BBL, with only eight months left for President Benigno Aquino III's administration.Iqbal also said during the forum that it was better to have no BBL than have a “bad” version of it.
"The issue on natural resources is the number one... Autonomy without access to revenues from natural resources is a joke," he said referring to provisions deleted by the House of Representatives.
Still, he said the MILF is counting on the Congress and the Aquino administration to pass the BBL.
“As a negotiator for more than 10 years, we've been in the rough and tumble. Whatever confronts us, we try to overcome it... We're open for improvement and enhancement. But we hope the essential components of an autonomous government is retained,” he said.
As a product of the peace process with the MILF, the proposed BBL is expected to create a Bangsamoro juridical entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.But lawmakers said that the proposed piece of legislation should be within the ambit of the present Philippine Constitution.
From GMA News (Sep 19): Police launch 24-hour patrol in Zamboanga City after deadly blast
Police has started a 24-hour security patrol around Zamboanga city following a bus explosion that left a girl dead and 33 others injured on Friday afternoon.
A "News TV Live" report on Saturday morning said that according to Superintendent Glenn Dulawan, Pagadian City police chief, tighter security is being implemented around the city, particularly in public areas.
Dulawan said aside from the 24-hour security patrols, additional checkpoints have been installed in areas leading to the city and more policemen have been deployed in bus terminals.
He added that policemen deployed in bus terminals will inspect the passengers' bags and luggages as part of the stricter security measures due to Friday's bombing.
A bomb exploded inside the bus of the D’ Biel Transit Company while parked at a transport terminal at past 2 p.m. Friday.
Five individuals, who were found with wires in their bags, have been taken into police custody.
From GMA News (Sep 19): Zamboanga City authorities release composite sketch of bus-blast suspect
Authorities on Saturday released a composite sketch of a suspect in the Zamboanga City bus bombing, according to a report on GMA News TV's “News TV Live”.
The sketch was of a male suspect seen in on CCTV footage before the explosion.
According to Zamboanga City police, the suspect was 5'4 in height and estimated to be around 25 years in age, and was wearing a black sweatshirt. He was seen with a black backpack.
The local government of Zamboanga City earlier offered a P200,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest.
Investigators a lead which suggested the bombing was part of an extortion attempt, due to a threatening letter the Biel Bus company received.
A passenger was killed while at least 32 were injured in the bombing inside last Friday.
From GMA News (Sep 20): Sulu Sultan Esmail Kiram II dies of kidney illness – Armed Forces
The Armed Forces' Joint Task Group Sulu reported in a Facebook post that Sulu Sultan Esmail Kiram II died at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at the Zamboanga Peninsula Hospital.
The task group received its information from the sultan's daughter, Princess Ysvethlana Kiram, who said that her father died of a "kidney malfunction."
Kiram II's remains will be brought to Sulu on Sunday.
Esmail Kiram II was installed as the Sultan of Sulu after the death of Jamalul Kiram III in October 2013.
From GMA News (Sep 19): AFP spokesman: ‘Hit list’ claim came from NPA supporters
The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday belied the existence of a supposed military "hit list" against members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives.
"There is no truth to that said hit list whatsoever. If you will look at the sources, it can be learned that all of them are supportive of the NPA (New People's Army)," AFP Spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla Jr. told GMA News Online on Saturday.
He added: "It is apparent then that this is once again a clear attempt to discredit the AFP and continue on demonizing the organization mandated by law to act as protector of the people."
Meanwhile, Philippine National Police Spokesman C/Supt. Wilben Mayor did not give further comment on the "hit list" issue and said the PNP will just the matter to proper authorities.
"The PNP will let the law take its course. It is part of the Democratic system of our country," he said.
The petitioners including Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Gabriela Rep. Emerenciana de Jesus, former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano and former Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño said in their plea that their party-list groups have been tagged by the AFP and PNP as "”communist front organizations.”
They also claimed that their leaders and members have been targets of attacks under the government's counterinsurgency programs.
In an interview over state-run radio dzRB, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Palace is not aware of a "hit list."
“I am not aware of that hit list that they are claiming, but since they have already filed a petition for those proper writs before the court, then let the court processes take its course na lang... Kung mayroon ‘yang basis o wala, the courts will decide,” he said.
He said what they have is a list of people with arrest warrants.
“But, certainly, ang mayroon kami ‘yung mga may warrants of arrest. ‘Di ba, kailangan talaga magkaroon ng [warrant]… May listahan po tayo ng mga mayroong warrant of arrest na tinitingnan,” he said.
“That is as far as I know, that we are always going after criminal elements—those people who have warrants of arrest—and that is the reason why the ‘Oplan Lambat Sibat’ has been very, very effective in arresting all those who have warrants of arrest,” he added.
GMA News Online tried to contact the Makabayan bloc but the group has yet to make a replay.
From The Standard (Sep 20): Diet oks troop deployment abroad
Japan’s parliament passed contentious security bills into law early Saturday, in a move that could see Japanese troops fight abroad for the first time in 70 years.
Lawmakers approved the bills to ease restrictions on the country’s tightly controlled military, but the changes will not see Japanese troops dispatched to war zones any time soon because the laws may still be overturned by the supreme court.
Unable to muster support to amend clauses enshrining pacifism, Abe opted instead to re-interpret the document for the purpose of his bills, ignoring warnings from scholars and lawyers that they are unconstitutional. Security measures. Japanese lawmakers applaud after they passed two bills that would effectively allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time in 70 years. AFP PHOTO
But the Philippines, one of the few countries that
supported Tokyo’s plan to amend its
constitution, welcomed Japan’s
landmark legislation.
“The Philippines
welcomes the passage of legislation on national security by the National Diet
of Japan. We look forward to efforts that strengthen our Strategic
Partnership with Japan
and those that would contribute further to shared goals of greater peace,
stability, and mutual prosperity in the international community,” Foreign
Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement.
But outside the
Japanese Diet, thousands rallied in a last-ditch show of opposition to laws
they fear could fundamentally reshape the proudly pacifist nation.
The changes,
which would allow Japanese troops to fight in defense of allies, have drawn
tens of thousands of people from across society onto the streets in almost
daily protests, in a show of public anger rarely seen on such a scale.
Outside
parliament protesters, estimated at over 10,000, raised their voices louder as
news of the decision spread through the crowd, chanting: “Protect the
constitution.” One sign read: “Spread peace not war.”
“I’m ready to
stay here all night. The government cannot ignore such a demonstration,” said
60-year-old farmer Yukiko Ogawa. “It is vital that we make our opinion known,
that we are here.”
Seiji Kawabe, 49,
vowed the movement would live on, adding: “We have enough natural disasters,
typhoons, earthquakes... we don’t need any man-made disasters.”
Organizers said
more than 40,000 had gathered for Friday night’s rally, while police estimated
the size of the crowd at some 11,000.
Nationalist Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe says the changes were a normalization of Japan’s military policy, which has been
restricted to self-defense and aid missions by a pacifist constitution imposed
by the US
after World War II.
He and his
backers say the laws are necessary because of threats from an increasingly
belligerent China and
unstable North Korea.
Opponents argue
they go against both the constitution and the national psyche, and could see Japan dragged
into far-flung American wars.
Speaking after
the vote, Abe said the changes were “necessary in order to protect people’s
lives and peaceful way of life.”
“This is designed
to prevent wars,” he told journalists.
The decision came
after days of emotional debate and delaying tactics by the opposition, which in
Thursday erupted into scuffles as politicians physically tried to block a
committee approving the bills.
President of the
upper house Masaaki Yamazaki said the bills passed with 148 lawmakers voting in
favor, compared to 90 against.
Abe has faced
fierce criticism for both the laws themselves and the way he has driven them
through in the face of public opposition.
There are growing
signs this is taking a political toll—opinion polls show the vast majority of
Japanese are against the changes, and Abe’s once sky-high approval rating is
dropping.
In protests
outside parliament earlier in the day, Yoko Fujiwara stood among the crowds
with her six-year-old daughter, who carried a handwritten sign saying: “We do
not forgive. Children are angry, too.”
“I came to the
protest together with my daughter to show what real democracy is like,” said
the 40-year-old graduate law student.
Opponents of the
laws, including a Nobel Prize winner, popular musicians and other prominent
figures, say the changes could fundamentally alter Japan.
Washington
has backed the changes, but regional rivals China
and South Korea
have expressed concern at any expansion of Japanese military scope.
China’s foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei on Friday
called on Japan
to “listen carefully to voices inside and outside the country calling for
justice” and called on lawmakers to “take real actions to protect regional
peace and stability.”
Security experts
say the laws will force a reevaluation of Japan’s place on the world stage.
“The bills are a
psychological message to the world that an era in which Japan should not be involved in conflicts because
of its exclusively defense-oriented policy is over,” said Hideshi Takesada, a
professor at TakushokuUniversity in Tokyo.
From The Standard (Sep 20): Palace rejects CHR tack
DESPITE the declaration of the Commission on Human Rights, Malacañang insisted on Saturday that reports of abuses against tribesmen in Mindanao are not true and even reiterated military claims that most communist rebels are indigenous people, called lumad.
“A crime happened there. It’s a law enforcement issue. The [Philippine National Police] is investigating and the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] says [allegations of abuses] are totally not true. In fact, General Hernando Iriberri said so,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an interview over a state-owned Radyo ng Bayan. Stop the killings. Tribesfolk from Mindanao hold up signs expressing their beliefs at a forum in Quezon City on the same day Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chit Gascon declared that the killings in Mindanao that were being blamed on the military are actually extrajudicial killings. LINO SANTOS “It is a
significant [that] three out of four rebel returnees [are indigenous] people.
You know, if there is no access to resources by some people, they will really
resort to extralegal means,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said
there is no need to form another set of investigators to probe the alleged
abuses because there is already an ongoing investigation and the AFP has
already answered the allegations during a congressional budget hearing.
Lacierda made the
assertions after CHR Chairman Chito Gascon said the situation of the lumad in Mindanao needs government attention because it is
becoming graver.
“The situation is
getting grave. It needs comprehensive government response. The situation of our
refugees in Tandag, Haran,
Malaybalay and elsewhere needs to be attended to,” Gascon said on Friday.
“There have been
horrendous atrocities and crimes perpetrated by persons who should be
identified.”
Gascon said the
CHR, a constitutional agency, will conduct a public inquiry in Davao on Sept. 23 and 24.
“Our approach
will not focus on isolated cases like in Haran
or in Lianga. Our approach is to understand the difficult situation,” Gascon
said.
But even if the
CHR fact-finding mission has not yet been completed, Gascon said it is clear
that the killings were actually executions.
“It is clear to
us, from the photos alone, that these were extrajudicial killings. And we
condemn it,” he said, stressing that that did not mean security forces were
responsible for the killings.
Gascon made the
remarks after he met with lumad leaders at the CHR headquarters in Quezon City, on the same
day some congressmen and human rights advocates asked the Supreme Court to
issue a writ of amparo after they learned that they were included in a “hit
list” after they helped the tribesmen.
Lacierda also
denied the existence of such a “hit list” and said the Palace will let the
Supreme Court decide the matter.
“I am not aware
of that hit list that they are claiming, but since they have already filed a petition
for those proper writs before the court, then let the court processes take its
course. If there is a basis or not, the courts will decide,” he said.
Lacierda later
revealed that the government does have a list, but it was not a “hit list” but
a “list of warrants of arrest” in line with the Aquino administration’s efforts
to run after criminal elements.
“But certainly,
what we have are those warrants of arrest. We have a list of those who have
warrants of arrest that we are now looking,” he said.
He then cited
that under Department of Interior Local Government’s “Oplan Lambat Sibat”
program, the agency has been “very, very” effective in arresting all those who
have warrants of arrest.
But in a 36-page
petition to the SC, the lawmakers and rights advocates, through the National
Union of People’s Lawyers, complained that they are being subjected to
surveillance, red-tagging and various forms of harassments.
Among the
petitioners include Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus,
former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño,
Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, Children’s Rehabilitation Center
executive director Jacqueline Ruiz, Rural Missionaries Coordinator Sr. Mary
Francis Añover, Rev. Irma Balaba of the National Council of Churches in the
Philippines, and Ofelia Beltran-Balleta, representing the family of former
Anakpawis Rep. Beltran who passed away in 2008.
The petitioners
claimed that the hit list was appended to a criminal complaint the AFP and Philippine
National Police filed against some of their colleagues after they helped lumad
communities in Davao del Norte and Bukidnon.
“This is an
indication that the [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group] was provided
with dossiers of the Petitioners and the other individuals included in the
lists. Obviously, such dossiers came from other sources, since the individuals
whose names appear in the lists, including the petitioners, are not fugitives
from justice, and that the conduct of counter-insurgency operations is not a
function of the CIDG,” the petitioners lamented.
From Rappler (Sep 19): Bangsamoro gov't should be able to stand on its feet – Iqbal
The MILF is open to improvements on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law but its autonomy should be respected, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal says
OPTIMISTIC. MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal remains optimistic the BBL will be passed but says Congress should respect the proposed government's autonomy. Rappler file photo
The Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) is still “open for improvements and enhancement” but
the “essential elements of a real autonomous government” should be included in
the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal
explained.
Both chambers of
Congress submitted their own version of the proposed law – different from the
draft of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) and reviewed by President
Benigno Aquino III.
The substitute
bills, known as the Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBARs),
carry differences mainly on the exercise of autonomy in the proposed region.
According to
Iqbal, he respects the power of Congress to legislate but is worried the
deleted provisions may affect the region.
“The autonomous
government should have powers that would really allow that entity to stand on
its feet,” he said during a forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents
Association of the Philippines (FOCAP).
Out of
distrust?
The various
amendments on the proposed law, chief government peace negotiator Professor
Miriam Colonel-Ferrer lamented, were made “out of distrust and fear that the
Bangsamoro will secede.”
She cited
examples such as the word “territory” replaced with “area” to identify the
geographic scope of the proposed region despite the use of “territorial
jurisdiction” for local government units (LGUs) in the Local Government Code.
Ferrer also
pointed out the iterations in the amended Senate bill which emphasize the Bangsamoro
as “an inalienable part of the Philippines.”
While protecting
the powers of LGUs is legitimate, she clarified that these should not hinder
the establishment of a genuine autonomy for the region – pointing out that both
local and regional autonomy are mandated by the 1987 Constitution.
Allocation of
powers, she noted, should be balanced and objective.
"The
autonomous region plays an integrative role over the LGUs,” Ferrer emphasized.
The BTC, however,
continues to build trust and counter fear with peace process stakeholders.
“A personal
approach is really helping building trust,” he said. “What is important is you
need to open communication.”
“There is some
improvement in this regard, especially in the Lower House” Iqbal added.
Not giving up
Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) Secretary Teresita Quintos
Deles emphasized there is no giving up on the BBL as the Bangsamoro aspiration
for genuine autonomy and self–determination is “within grasp.”
“For the sake of
those communities and especially their children, we dare not give up now,” she
declared. “After all the tests and trials that this peace process has gone
through, we do not give up now.”
Despite the
deferred passage of the BBL, they remain “confident and cautiously optimistic”
that it won’t take too long anymore and their commitment remains “firm towards
completion.”
“Where we are
now, I must insist that we are returning to a better place,” Deles said. “With
all peace activists left standing – and we are stronger now and joined by
far-seeing pillars of society – we are steadfast in laying claim that this
dream will not be deferred for long.”
From The Star Online (Sep 18): Netizens take up fight for Sandakan hostages' release
Thien (left) and Then are being held by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo, Southern Philippines.
PETALING JAYA: Four months after two Malaysians were
kidnapped from a seaside restaurant in Sandakan,
netizens have taken up the fight to get them released.
An online petition has been initiated to highlight the
plight of Thien Nyuk Fun, 50, and Bernard Then Ted Fun, 39, who are being held
by Abu Sayyaf militants in Jolo, Southern Philippines.
“We plead with the Government of Malaysia to speed up the
process of securing the release of our fellow Malaysians, and bring them home
safely as soon as possible,” read the petition.
“We hope to achieve our target of 100,000
signatures for our petition to be handed to the Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, with the hope that his personal intervention will
expedite the process of securing the freedom of both hostages,” it added.
Thien, 50, and Then, 39, were abducted from the Ocean King
seafood restaurant, just 3km from Sandakan,
in mid-May.
Thien was the restaurant manager while Then was on a
holiday. The health of both hostages are reported to be deteriorating.
Then’s wife Chan Wai See had received a call last month from
the kidnappers, who threatened to behead her husband if the ransom was not
paid.
Their families are having sleepless nights amid recent
reports of beheadings and military raids there.
The Abu Sayyaf beheaded a Filipino village chief on Aug 11
after his family failed to come up with the one million pesos (RM91,220)
ransom.
The village chief was kidnapped on May 4 along with two
coast guards.
