From InterAksyon (Jun 26): Malaysian plane intercepted by Indonesian fighter jets: official
A Malaysian military transport plane was intercepted by two Indonesian jet fighters while flying a regular route over Indonesia's Natuna Islands, defence officials said Sunday.
The C-130 aircraft was flying from west Malaysia on Saturday towards the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, a senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
"That (flying over the Natuna Islands) is a regular route," the official said, adding that the C-130 continued its journey to Sabah despite the interception.
Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein confirmed the incident.
"Yes... the aircraft was intercepted by two Indonesian jets," he was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.
The incident came two days after Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the islands on a warship in an apparent show of force after clashes with Chinese fishing vessels in the area.
Unlike some of its Southeast Asian neighbours, Indonesia has no maritime disputes with China over reefs or islets in the South China Sea.
But Beijing's claims overlap Indonesia's exclusive economic zone -- waters where a state has the right to exploit resources -- around the Natunas.
Hishammuddin played down the incident, saying Malaysia and Indonesia enjoy close relations.
"I'm not worried as this is normal and it happens everywhere in the world. If there were any incidents between us, we can deal with each other diplomatically. We will not let any incident ruin our ties," he added.
The Natuna Islands are located in the middle of the South China Sea separating peninsular Malaysia and the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo island.
In 2002 Indonesia lost a case against Malaysia at the International Court of Justice over Sipadan and Ligitan, two small islands in the Celebes Sea off Sabah state.
http://interaksyon.com/article/129590/malaysian-plane-intercepted-by-indonesian-fighter-jets-official
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Peace panel to CPP-NDF: Submit names of detained consultants to be given safe conduct pass
From InterAksyon (Jun 26): Peace panel to CPP-NDF: Submit names of detained consultants to be given safe conduct pass
Jose Maria Sison (middle), founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines. SCREENGRAB FROM TV5
The Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) need to submit the names of their consultants who will be part of the negotiating panel to be issued safe conduct pass when peace talks starts middle of July.
Hernani Braganza, a senior member of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) peace panel, over the weekend said at least 21 consultants and their staff who are presently locked behind bars and declared as political prisoners need to get safe conduct pass from the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG),
“We are only given 12 months to finish the job. We, in the peace panel under the Duterte administration are veterans of peace talks and what we need is to continue what we have finish to end the 47 years of insurgency in the country,” Braganza told reporters at the weekly Saturday News Forum at Annabel’s.
He said what they had agreed in the last three administrations must prevail and those agreements which need Congress approval should be followed.
Braganza, a former congressman of Pangasinan, said the progressive bloc in the House of Representatives may sponsor a measure in seeking to grant total amnesty to all political prisoners.
"May mga kailaganng procesong dapat sundin. May mga progressive blocs naman sa Congress. They take the initiative of filing 'yung batas na yun. How long will that take in Congress? Alam mo naman sa Congress kulitan dyan 'di ba? Tignan natin," Braganza pointed out.
Members of the progressive bloc who won in the last elections and will be part of the 17th Congress include the party-lists of Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers, Anakpawis, Kabataan, and Gabriela - who altogether have a total of eight members.
The bloc has yet to decide on whether it should join the supermajority being formed by incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to facilitate President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's legislative agenda.
Braganza, together with peace panel chairman, Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III and Jess Dureza, went to The Netherlands to convince Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni to come home to the Philippines to start talking peace.
Another way is by amnesty proclamation by the President, he said, but still this is subject to concurrence by Congress.
He even recalled that this happened in 2010 when President Benigno Aquino III pardoned military and police officers who took part in failed attempts to unseat then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2003 to 2007.
When asked how many political prisoners are now in captivity, the peace negotiator said there were 543.
He said 18 were NDF consultants that were reportedly covered by JASIG, 88 were ailing, and 48 were already in their senior years.
Braganza said both the NDF and the government panels would assess who should be included in the amnesty list.
"When you talk about the JASIG, hindi lang yung mga ilalabas sa kulungan, pati yung mga tao nila that will comprise their experts na haharap sa experts ng mga gobyerno, yung security personnel nila, yung secretariat nila will also be covered by JASIG so that they can also move freely and consult with their constituency," he added.
As agreed by both the government and the NDF panels, formal peace negotiations between the government and NDF will resume in the third week of July in Oslo, Norway.
http://interaksyon.com/article/129571/peace-panel-to-cpp-ndf-submit-names-of-detained-consultants-to-be-given-safe-conduct-pass
Jose Maria Sison (middle), founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines. SCREENGRAB FROM TV5
The Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF) need to submit the names of their consultants who will be part of the negotiating panel to be issued safe conduct pass when peace talks starts middle of July.
Hernani Braganza, a senior member of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) peace panel, over the weekend said at least 21 consultants and their staff who are presently locked behind bars and declared as political prisoners need to get safe conduct pass from the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG),
“We are only given 12 months to finish the job. We, in the peace panel under the Duterte administration are veterans of peace talks and what we need is to continue what we have finish to end the 47 years of insurgency in the country,” Braganza told reporters at the weekly Saturday News Forum at Annabel’s.
He said what they had agreed in the last three administrations must prevail and those agreements which need Congress approval should be followed.
Braganza, a former congressman of Pangasinan, said the progressive bloc in the House of Representatives may sponsor a measure in seeking to grant total amnesty to all political prisoners.
"May mga kailaganng procesong dapat sundin. May mga progressive blocs naman sa Congress. They take the initiative of filing 'yung batas na yun. How long will that take in Congress? Alam mo naman sa Congress kulitan dyan 'di ba? Tignan natin," Braganza pointed out.
Members of the progressive bloc who won in the last elections and will be part of the 17th Congress include the party-lists of Bayan Muna, ACT Teachers, Anakpawis, Kabataan, and Gabriela - who altogether have a total of eight members.
The bloc has yet to decide on whether it should join the supermajority being formed by incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to facilitate President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's legislative agenda.
Braganza, together with peace panel chairman, Silvestre “Bebot” Bello III and Jess Dureza, went to The Netherlands to convince Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni to come home to the Philippines to start talking peace.
Another way is by amnesty proclamation by the President, he said, but still this is subject to concurrence by Congress.
He even recalled that this happened in 2010 when President Benigno Aquino III pardoned military and police officers who took part in failed attempts to unseat then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2003 to 2007.
When asked how many political prisoners are now in captivity, the peace negotiator said there were 543.
He said 18 were NDF consultants that were reportedly covered by JASIG, 88 were ailing, and 48 were already in their senior years.
Braganza said both the NDF and the government panels would assess who should be included in the amnesty list.
"When you talk about the JASIG, hindi lang yung mga ilalabas sa kulungan, pati yung mga tao nila that will comprise their experts na haharap sa experts ng mga gobyerno, yung security personnel nila, yung secretariat nila will also be covered by JASIG so that they can also move freely and consult with their constituency," he added.
As agreed by both the government and the NDF panels, formal peace negotiations between the government and NDF will resume in the third week of July in Oslo, Norway.
http://interaksyon.com/article/129571/peace-panel-to-cpp-ndf-submit-names-of-detained-consultants-to-be-given-safe-conduct-pass
Duterte could be open to talks with Abu Sayyaf
From InterAksyon (Jun 26): Duterte could be open to talks with Abu Sayyaf
Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte says he could be open to peace talks with the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, which recently beheaded two foreign hostages and kidnapped seven more.
"The Abu Sayyaf is not my enemy. I know it is connected with the issue of Mindanao," Duterte told supporters in a speech in Cebu late Saturday, referring to the rebellion-torn south of the country.
"That is why I want to ask them: are they willing to talk or do we just fight it out?" said the firebrand politician, who campaigned on promises to get tough on crime and who takes office on June 30.
The incoming leader himself hails from Mindanao, where a decades-long Muslim separatist insurgency has claimed more than 100,000 lives.
While previous administrations have opened talks with major Muslim separatist groups in the South, they have deployed troops to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf.
The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom.
Although its leaders have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, analysts say they are mainly focused on lucrative kidnappings.
Duterte said on Friday that he and his aides were responsible for successfully negotiating the release of one of the group's hostages, a Filipina who had been kidnapped along with several foreigners in September.
The Abu Sayyaf beheaded two Canadian hostages who were among that group. Thee fourth hostage, a Norwegian, is still being held.
Last week seven Indonesian seamen were abducted in waters off the southern Philippines, prompting Jakarta to ban any Indonesian-flagged vessel from sailing to the Philippines.
The Philippine military said Sunday it believes the Indonesians are being held in the remote Sulu archipelago, the main Abu Sayyaf stronghold.
Earlier this year Abu Sayyaf kidnapped four Malaysian seamen and 14 Indonesian sailors. They were freed several months later.
The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to consider joint measures aimed at curbing the seaborne kidnappings.
These include sea and air patrols over a designated transit corridor where vessels could travel between the countries.
http://interaksyon.com/article/129582/duterte-could-be-open-to-talks-with-abu-sayyaf
Philippine president-elect Rodrigo Duterte says he could be open to peace talks with the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf, which recently beheaded two foreign hostages and kidnapped seven more.
"The Abu Sayyaf is not my enemy. I know it is connected with the issue of Mindanao," Duterte told supporters in a speech in Cebu late Saturday, referring to the rebellion-torn south of the country.
"That is why I want to ask them: are they willing to talk or do we just fight it out?" said the firebrand politician, who campaigned on promises to get tough on crime and who takes office on June 30.
The incoming leader himself hails from Mindanao, where a decades-long Muslim separatist insurgency has claimed more than 100,000 lives.
While previous administrations have opened talks with major Muslim separatist groups in the South, they have deployed troops to hunt down the Abu Sayyaf.
The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom.
Although its leaders have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, analysts say they are mainly focused on lucrative kidnappings.
Duterte said on Friday that he and his aides were responsible for successfully negotiating the release of one of the group's hostages, a Filipina who had been kidnapped along with several foreigners in September.
The Abu Sayyaf beheaded two Canadian hostages who were among that group. Thee fourth hostage, a Norwegian, is still being held.
Last week seven Indonesian seamen were abducted in waters off the southern Philippines, prompting Jakarta to ban any Indonesian-flagged vessel from sailing to the Philippines.
The Philippine military said Sunday it believes the Indonesians are being held in the remote Sulu archipelago, the main Abu Sayyaf stronghold.
Earlier this year Abu Sayyaf kidnapped four Malaysian seamen and 14 Indonesian sailors. They were freed several months later.
The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to consider joint measures aimed at curbing the seaborne kidnappings.
These include sea and air patrols over a designated transit corridor where vessels could travel between the countries.
http://interaksyon.com/article/129582/duterte-could-be-open-to-talks-with-abu-sayyaf
Philippines finally confirms kidnapping of 7 Indon sailors four days later
From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 26): Philippines finally confirms kidnapping of 7 Indon sailors four days later
The Philippine military has finally confirmed Sunday that 7 Indonesian sailors had been abducted off theSulu Sea
– four days later after news broke out that suspected Abu Sayyaf militants
seized the crew members of the tugboat Charles OO off Tawi-Tawi province in the
Muslim autonomous region.
Indonesia
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/philippines-finally-confirms-kidnapping-of-7-indon-sailors-four-days-later/
The Philippine military has finally confirmed Sunday that 7 Indonesian sailors had been abducted off the
It was unknown why the
military failed to immediately verify the report, but the official Philippines
News Agency quoted Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla as saying the hostages
were believed being held in Sulu province.
Padilla, a spokesman for the
Philippine military, said the abductions occurred on June 22 on the Indonesian
side of the Sulu Sea .
“Information from ground
units suggests that the kidnap victims are possibly being held somewhere in
Sulu. Joint Task Group is now assessing the situation and will plan for the
best course of action to address the given situation,” Padilla said.
Foreign Minister Retno
Marsudi confirmed the reports at a news conference in Jakarta
The crewmen were earlier
reported to have been split into two groups, but Jakarta
The sailors have been
identified as Ferry Arifin, the tugboat skipper; M. Mahbrur Dahri, Edi Suryono,
Ismail, M.Nasir, M.Sofyan and Robin Piter. The boat – owned by PT Rusianto
Brothers – was heading to Samarinda in East Kalimantan following a trip from
the Philippines
Indonesian media reported
that the boat captain phoned his wife and told her that they were intercepted
at sea by gunmen, who introduced themselves as Abu Sayyaf and were demanding 20
million ringgits for their safe release.
The Abu Sayyaf previously
kidnapped 14 Indonesian tugboat crewmembers in separate attacks at sea and
brought them to Sulu province and eventually released through the intercession
of the Moro National Liberation Front. The militant group has recently beheaded
a Malaysian man and two Canadian hostages in Sulu after their family failed to
pay ransom money.
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/philippines-finally-confirms-kidnapping-of-7-indon-sailors-four-days-later/
PNP: Abu Sayyaf targeting Indonesians, Malaysians because they pay ransom
From CNN Philippines (Jun 25): PNP: Abu Sayyaf targeting Indonesians, Malaysians because they pay ransom
The police are still verifying the reported kidnapping of seven Indonesians off Sulu Sea. But the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group admits the Abu Sayyaf group is now targeting Indonesians and Malaysians.
The Abu Sayyaf group is now targeting Indonesian and Malaysian nationals because they are paying ransom to spare the lives of hostages, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
“Siguro malaki ang binibigay nitong mga napakawalan kaya umuulit,” Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, told CNN Philippines Friday.
[Translation: “I think the freed captives pay big so the Abu Sayyaf keeps on engaging in kidnapping activities.”]
The Abu Sayyaf group has kidnapped at least 18 Indonesians and Malaysians in three separate attacks early this year.
Watch: Indonesian foreign ministry confirms kidnapping
Also read: 4 Malaysians abducted off the waters between Tawi-tawi and Sabah
All of them were released after ransom demands were allegedly paid in exchange for their freedom.
Related: Abu Sayyaf frees 4 Malaysian captives in Sulu
Related: Abu Sayyaf releases 10 Indonesian hostages
Fajardo said the kidnappings would not end until ransom money is being paid.
The Indonesian government on Friday announced seven crew members of a tugboat were taken by suspected Abu Sayyaf members off Sulu Sea on Wednesday.
"We got confirmation of an incident of kidnapping involving Indonesian crew of a ship," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.
Marsudi said two different armed groups attacked the tugboat towing a coal-carrying barge and abducted seven of the 13 sailors on board.
The other six were freed by their captors, Marsudi said.
Sources told CNN Philippines the Abu Sayyaf is demanding 50 million ringgit or around P600 million in exchange for the freedom of the seven tugboat crew members.
Philippine authorities are still verifying the reported kidnapping incident. Fajardo said their counterparts from Indonesia have also contacted them.
“May report na. Parang apoy yan e. Kung may usok, ibig sabihin may apoy,” Fajardo said.
[Translation: “There’s a report already. It’s like fire. If there’s smoke, that means there’s fire.”]
“But again, we have to confirm,” Fajardo said.
[Video report]
“The local government plays a very important role kasi they know everyone in the area. Kasi taga doon ka e. And they know this Abu Sayyaf. So we need their help,” Fajardo said.
[Translation: “The local government plays a very important role because they know everyone in the area, because they live there.]
But Fajardo raised the alarm over intelligence reports that some local government officials have been getting portions of the ransom money paid to the Abu Sayyaf.
“Ang problema lang kung ang local government kasama na din ng Abu Sayyaf at kumikita rin, hindi yan matitigil," he said.
[Translation: "The problem is if the local government is in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf and is also earning money, (the kidnapping) won't stop."]
He refused to identify who these local government officials are.
Also read: Philippine army urges no payments to free foreign captives
During the Trilateral Defense Meeting in Manila on Monday, the three defense ministers committed to be collectively responsible in addressing armed robbery and kidnapping at sea borders.
The ministers agreed to do the following:
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/06/25/Abu-Sayyaf-target-Indonesians-Malaysians.html
The police are still verifying the reported kidnapping of seven Indonesians off Sulu Sea. But the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group admits the Abu Sayyaf group is now targeting Indonesians and Malaysians.
The Abu Sayyaf group is now targeting Indonesian and Malaysian nationals because they are paying ransom to spare the lives of hostages, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.
“Siguro malaki ang binibigay nitong mga napakawalan kaya umuulit,” Senior Superintendent Roberto Fajardo, director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, told CNN Philippines Friday.
[Translation: “I think the freed captives pay big so the Abu Sayyaf keeps on engaging in kidnapping activities.”]
The Abu Sayyaf group has kidnapped at least 18 Indonesians and Malaysians in three separate attacks early this year.
Watch: Indonesian foreign ministry confirms kidnapping
Also read: 4 Malaysians abducted off the waters between Tawi-tawi and Sabah
All of them were released after ransom demands were allegedly paid in exchange for their freedom.
Related: Abu Sayyaf frees 4 Malaysian captives in Sulu
Related: Abu Sayyaf releases 10 Indonesian hostages
Fajardo said the kidnappings would not end until ransom money is being paid.
The Indonesian government on Friday announced seven crew members of a tugboat were taken by suspected Abu Sayyaf members off Sulu Sea on Wednesday.
"We got confirmation of an incident of kidnapping involving Indonesian crew of a ship," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.
Marsudi said two different armed groups attacked the tugboat towing a coal-carrying barge and abducted seven of the 13 sailors on board.
The other six were freed by their captors, Marsudi said.
Sources told CNN Philippines the Abu Sayyaf is demanding 50 million ringgit or around P600 million in exchange for the freedom of the seven tugboat crew members.
Philippine authorities are still verifying the reported kidnapping incident. Fajardo said their counterparts from Indonesia have also contacted them.
“May report na. Parang apoy yan e. Kung may usok, ibig sabihin may apoy,” Fajardo said.
[Translation: “There’s a report already. It’s like fire. If there’s smoke, that means there’s fire.”]
“But again, we have to confirm,” Fajardo said.
[Video report]
LGUs receiving ransom money
For now, the police are coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to verify the information.“The local government plays a very important role kasi they know everyone in the area. Kasi taga doon ka e. And they know this Abu Sayyaf. So we need their help,” Fajardo said.
[Translation: “The local government plays a very important role because they know everyone in the area, because they live there.]
But Fajardo raised the alarm over intelligence reports that some local government officials have been getting portions of the ransom money paid to the Abu Sayyaf.
“Ang problema lang kung ang local government kasama na din ng Abu Sayyaf at kumikita rin, hindi yan matitigil," he said.
[Translation: "The problem is if the local government is in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf and is also earning money, (the kidnapping) won't stop."]
He refused to identify who these local government officials are.
Also read: Philippine army urges no payments to free foreign captives
Joint maritime patrolling
Early this week, defense ministers of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia agreed to conduct joint maritime patrolling activities at their sea borders after a series of security threats in the area.During the Trilateral Defense Meeting in Manila on Monday, the three defense ministers committed to be collectively responsible in addressing armed robbery and kidnapping at sea borders.
The ministers agreed to do the following:
- Coordinate activities among armed forces focusing on maritime security;
- Explore the possibility of establishing join military command posts at designated locations;
- Hold trilateral maritime and air patrol at areas of concern;
- Create a working group that would set operational directions on the conduct of trilateral patrol;
- Build a transit corridor within the maritime areas of common concern, which will serve as the designated sea lanes for vessels; and
- Engage in intelligence sharing.
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/06/25/Abu-Sayyaf-target-Indonesians-Malaysians.html
Peace panel given 12 months to finish talks with CPP-NDFP
From CNN Philippines (Jun 26): Peace panel given 12 months to finish talks with CPP-NDFP
MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES: A New Peoples Army (NPA) rebel base somewhere in the jungle. Before entering the base area all outsiders including foreign journalists have to remove the batteries from their cell-phones.
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) peace panel has only 12 months to finish the talks and come to an agreement with Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front (CPP-NDFP).
Hernani Braganza, a senior member of the GRP peace panel said agreements made in the last three administrations must prevail.
“We are only given 12 months to finish the job,” Braganza told reporters on Saturday.
Braganza said they have marching orders to finish, through peace talks, the longest-running insurgency in Asia.
“We, in the peace panel under the Duterte administration are veterans of peace talks and what we need is to continue what we have finish[ed] to end the 47 years of insurgency in the country.”
Exclusive: Efforts to resume peace talks underway - NDF
Braganza, together with GRP chairman, Silvetre “Bebot” Bello III and Jess Dureza, went to the Netherlands to convince Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni to come home for peace talks.
As agreed by both the government and the NDFP panels, formal peace negotiations between the government and NDF will resume in the third week of July in Oslo, Norway.
“When you talk about the JASIG, hindi lang yung mga ilalabas sa kulungan, pati yung mga tao nila that will comprise their experts na haharap sa experts ng mga gobyerno,” Braganza said. “Yung security personnel nila, yung secretariat nila will also be covered by JASIG so that they can also move freely and consult with their constituency.”
[Translation: When you talk about JASIG, it’s not just about those who will be moved out of jail. It includes their staff, as their team of experts who will face the government’s experts. Their security personnel and their secretariat will also be covered by JASIG so that they can also move freely and consult with their constituency.]
Also read: CPP lauds the incoming Duterte government's peace efforts
According to Braganza, there are 543 political prisoners from CPP-NDFP as of the moment — 18 were NDFP consultants who reportedly covered by JASIG, 88 were ailing, and 48 were already in their senior years. Braganza said panels would carefully assess who to include in the amnesty list.
Also read: Duterte seeks general amnesty for political prisoners
But is amnesty possible for all political prisoners on the CPP-NDFP side? Braganza said there are two ways that could happen — one is through legislation, the other is through amnesty granted by the President of the Philippines.
In both cases, however, Congress would have to approve the amnesty.
Also read: Duterte gov’t eyes ceasefire with NPA before first SONA
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/06/26/12-months-finish-peace-talks-cpp-ndfp.html
MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES: A New Peoples Army (NPA) rebel base somewhere in the jungle. Before entering the base area all outsiders including foreign journalists have to remove the batteries from their cell-phones.
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) peace panel has only 12 months to finish the talks and come to an agreement with Communist Party of the Philippines – National Democratic Front (CPP-NDFP).
Hernani Braganza, a senior member of the GRP peace panel said agreements made in the last three administrations must prevail.
“We are only given 12 months to finish the job,” Braganza told reporters on Saturday.
Braganza said they have marching orders to finish, through peace talks, the longest-running insurgency in Asia.
“We, in the peace panel under the Duterte administration are veterans of peace talks and what we need is to continue what we have finish[ed] to end the 47 years of insurgency in the country.”
Exclusive: Efforts to resume peace talks underway - NDF
Braganza, together with GRP chairman, Silvetre “Bebot” Bello III and Jess Dureza, went to the Netherlands to convince Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni to come home for peace talks.
As agreed by both the government and the NDFP panels, formal peace negotiations between the government and NDF will resume in the third week of July in Oslo, Norway.
Safe conduct pass for CPP-NDFP consultants, staff
Braganza said the government is willing to get a safe conduct pass from the Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) for at least 21 CPP-NDFP consultants and their staff. They are presently detained as political prisoners.“When you talk about the JASIG, hindi lang yung mga ilalabas sa kulungan, pati yung mga tao nila that will comprise their experts na haharap sa experts ng mga gobyerno,” Braganza said. “Yung security personnel nila, yung secretariat nila will also be covered by JASIG so that they can also move freely and consult with their constituency.”
[Translation: When you talk about JASIG, it’s not just about those who will be moved out of jail. It includes their staff, as their team of experts who will face the government’s experts. Their security personnel and their secretariat will also be covered by JASIG so that they can also move freely and consult with their constituency.]
Also read: CPP lauds the incoming Duterte government's peace efforts
According to Braganza, there are 543 political prisoners from CPP-NDFP as of the moment — 18 were NDFP consultants who reportedly covered by JASIG, 88 were ailing, and 48 were already in their senior years. Braganza said panels would carefully assess who to include in the amnesty list.
Also read: Duterte seeks general amnesty for political prisoners
But is amnesty possible for all political prisoners on the CPP-NDFP side? Braganza said there are two ways that could happen — one is through legislation, the other is through amnesty granted by the President of the Philippines.
In both cases, however, Congress would have to approve the amnesty.
Also read: Duterte gov’t eyes ceasefire with NPA before first SONA
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/06/26/12-months-finish-peace-talks-cpp-ndfp.html
Army on alert vs. floods in Mindanao
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 26): Army on alert vs. floods in Mindanao
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=898861
All military units under the 6th Infantry
"Kampilan" Division were placed on heightened alert on Sunday, not
against lawless elements, but against possible floods that could submerge
communities under its jurisdiction.
This after a low pressure area (LPA) across Mindanao triggered massive downpour the past three days.
In fact, some low-lying communities in Maguindanao have been
under knee-deep floods after the water level of Allah
River in South
Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat slightly increased.
The water from Allah
River
Capt. Joan Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson,
said Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th ID chief, has directed all brigade and
battalion commanders in the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato to monitor the rivers and waterways in
their respective areas of jurisdiction.
At least 30 rivers and tributaries crisscross the adjoining
provinces and end up along Rio Grande de Mindanao before reaching the Moro Gulf .
“This is part of our calamity protection program,” Petinglay
said.
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RDRRMC-ARMM) reported that flood
waters have submerged low-lying areas of Pikit, Midsayap and Aleosan in North
Cotabato and the towns of Sultan sa Barongis, Northern
Kabuntalan , Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, Datu Piang, Datu Hofer and
Kabuntalan Mother in Maguindanao.
Also on Sunday, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the ARMM said the
Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team (HEART) has also been
monitoring the situation in flood-prone areas in Maguindanao.
The were no reported casualties in the flooded areas.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=898861
Alleged NPA members execute man wanted for abduction, rape
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 26): Alleged NPA members execute man wanted for abduction, rape
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=898782
Six armed men who introduced themselves as New People's Army
(NPA) rebels shot dead a man wanted for forcible abduction and rape in Barangay
Madbad, Cawayan, Masbate at about 5 p.m.
Saturday.
A police report said Michael E. Olanga, 25, a resident of
the village, was going home with his live-in partner Glacel Abayon when the
alleged rebels stopped his motorcycle, asked Abayon to alight and shot the
victim.
The report said the killers were armed with high-powered
firearms, which they used to execute their target.
The armed men, however, spared Abayon.
An investigation of the Cawayan Municipal Police Station
showed that Olanga had a standing warrant of arrest for forcible abduction with
rape from the Masbate Regional Trial Court and that the NPA rebels had earlier
warned that they would execute Olanga who was allegedly involved in various
crimes, including illegal drug trade and rape.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=898782
Authorities closely monitoring activities in West Philippine Sea, says Palace official
From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 26): Authorities closely monitoring activities in West Philippine Sea, says Palace official
China ’s
Long March-7 new generation carrier rocket blasted off from a new launch
facility in Wenchang, a city in the southern province of Hainan
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=898837
Malacanang assured on Sunday that authorities are keeping a
close watch on activities in the West Philippine Sea .
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential
Communications Operations Office said the safety of the public is the
government’s main concern as he noted the recent warning issued by the Civil
Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
The CAAP on Saturday alerted aircraft pilots in anticipation
of China ’s rocket launch on Hainan Island
CAAP’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), a warning on the possible
dangers on flight routes, was withdrawn after the successful launching of the
Long March-7 new generation rocket, which is expected to become the main
carrier for China’s future space missions.
“Walang dapat ipangamba dahil masinsin namang tinututukan
ang mga kaganapan katulad niyan at ang ating CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of
the Philippines) ay nakapagpalabas ng napapanahong babala o notice sa mga
piloto ng mga sasakyang panghimpapawid upang umiwas nga doon sa inakalang
maaaring daanan ‘nung rocket na iyong nabanggit,” said Secretary Coloma in an
interview over Radyo ng Bayan.
“Ang mahalaga lang dito, malaman ng ating mga mamamayan na
24 oras, pitong araw sa isang linggo, hindi po tinatantanan ng ating mga
awtoridad ‘yung pagtutok sa ganyang klaseng mga kaganapan para nga magkaroon
tayo ng kaalaman at kahandaan at para manatili tayong ligtas,” Coloma further
said.
The CAAP alert, which covered about 250 kilometers west of Manila Bay
to 430 kilometers west of Lingayen Gulf in
Pangasinan, was issued from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. last Saturday.
The medium-sized, two-stage rocket is expected to become the
main carrier for China
The re-entry module of the Long March-5 rocket is set to
return to Earth at a desert in Inner Mongolia
on Sunday afternoon after orbiting the planet 13 times.
According to reports, China
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=898837
Saturday, June 25, 2016
DWDD: FAREWELL| Army honors five retiring generals
From DWDD AFP Civil Relations Service Radio Website (Jun 25): FAREWELL| Army honors five retiring generals
FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The Philippine Army honors five senior officers who will compulsorily retire from the military service this July in a traditional testimonial review held at the ROTC Hunters Guerilla/Parade Ground, on Jun. 24.
http://dwdd.com.ph/2015/army-honors-five-retiring-generals/
FORT BONIFACIO, Taguig City – The Philippine Army honors five senior officers who will compulsorily retire from the military service this July in a traditional testimonial review held at the ROTC Hunters Guerilla/Parade Ground, on Jun. 24.
Brigadier Generals Apolinario Y. Aloba, Commander of the Joint Task Force National Capital Region (JTF NCR); Joel D. Celino, the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, OJ1; Librado B. Moog, Chief, Armed Forces of the Philippines Pension and Gratuity Management Center (AFPPGMC); Marcial O. Constante Jr., the AFP Provost Marshall General; and Frederick Evans L. Ramos, Chief, Office of the Legislative Affairs (OLA), AFP will all retire from the service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 in July.
Army Chief, Lt. Gen. Eduardo M. Año, together with his staff, other HPA-based officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees, attended the said event to pay respect for the retirees’ faithful and honorable services to the nation.
Aloba, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1982 rendered 38 years and 2 months in the military service. Prior to his current designation, he was the Chief of Staff of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division (1ID) and later became the Commander of 101st Brigade, 1ID in Mindanao. As the JTF NCR Commander, he took charge the security aspect and orchestrated all security operations during the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines and the recent national elections.
Celino and Moog are both members of the PMA Class 1983. They both rendered 37 years and 2 months in the military service.
Celino spent almost of his military career in the Army’s Special Operations Command (SOCOM), particularly in the Special Forces Regiment. He also became head of the Military History Center, AFP Command and General Staff College.
Moog, on the other hand, spent almost of his career in the intelligence service. He held various positions in the Intelligence Service, AFP. He also became Chief of Staff of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division before he was designated as Chief, AFPPGMC.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gens. Constante and Ramos are both members of the PMA Class 1984. They both rendered more than 36 years in the military service.
As the AFP Provost Marshall General, Constante facilitated the resolution of 395 cases including violations of anti-violence against women and children; abuse of authority; serious physical injuries; and violations of different articles of wars for grave misconduct in relation to attempted murder.
Ramos, on the other hand, is a recipient of foreign military awards, one of which is the Malaysian Military Valor Award. The award was given to him by the King of Malaysia for his outstanding efforts in preventing a major conflict between the Philippines and Malaysia after the invasion of Lahad Datu in Sabah by the Kiram Forces of Sulu. He also ensured the safety of the Filipino people affected by the said violent acts in Eastern Malaysian region of Sabah and Sarawak.
As Chief OLA, Ramos diligently coordinated and supervised the AFP’s legislative agenda in both the Congress and the Senate. He was facilitated the successful passing of the Joint Resolution Nr 5, regarding the increase of subsistence allowance for the uniformed personnel. Significantly, Ramos also ensured the confirmation of at least 231 Army Senior Officers by the Commission on Appointments.
The retirees expressed their gratitude to the Philippine Army for the honors bestowed upon them.
In their speeches, they said that they are happy to be spending more time with their families after their retirement.
“Pinahiram lang ako ng nanay ko sa Philippine Army for 36 years. Ngayon babalik na ako sa kanya,” said Brig. Gen. Constante, while rendering his last salute to the Army troopers who attended the event.
“I am looking forward to waking up late, no more stressful days and fatigue, and to be with my family seven days a week,” said Brig. Gen. Aloba.
They also shared anecdotes about their cadet lives in PMA, and how they were honed to be good soldiers; reminisced their years in the field as young lieutenants; and looked back on their colorful military careers.
“During my cadet life, I was molded to become loyal to my family and to our countrymen,” said Brig. Gen. Constante. “I also learned the importance of discipline in the military service”.
Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Año bid adieu to the retirees who have made their own mark in their respective tour of duties.
“It is, indeed, an honor to acknowledge the service of soldiers who have fought a good fight, whose legacy of service to the nation inspires us to strive, for the same brand of excellence in our respective duties and responsibilities,” said Año.
The Army commander also encouraged the men and women in uniform to continue to contribute in the transformation initiatives of the Army just as the honorees are.
“You are the major contributors to our goals and mission of realizing a long-lasting peace and in eliminating insurgency,” Año added.
http://dwdd.com.ph/2015/army-honors-five-retiring-generals/
Video: Zambales fisherfolk to become 'military militia'
ABS-CBN (Jun 25): Video: Zambales fisherfolk to become 'military militia'
A new taskforce on the West Philippine
Sea may organize Zambales fisherfolk into a "maritime
militia" to keep a closer watch over Scarborough Shoal. – ANC, The World
Tonight, June 24, 2015
Marquez retires early as PNP chief
From Malaya Business Insight (Jun 24): Marquez retires early as PNP chief
PNP chief Ricardo Marquez has opted to retire from service on Tuesday next week, two months ahead of his mandatory retirement day on August 28 to give incoming PNP chief Ronald delaRosa
the chance to assume office immediately.
“Even before elections sinabi ko naman whoever wins I will retire earlier. Kung hindi ako magre-retire, the incoming chief will not be able to wear his four stars,” Marquez said yesterday as he bade goodbye to members of the PNP Press Corps.
Marquez said he will go on vacation for a few weeks before he accepts a job offer in the private sector.
Dela Rosa, the personal choice of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to take over from Marquez, will assume as the new PNP chief on July 1.
Marquez was picked by President Aquino to become PNP chief vice PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina who retired July last year. Marquez became the permanent PNP head when its former chief, Alan Purisima, was facing several controversies until he was eventually ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman in June 2015.
Purisima and Espina were from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, while Marquez is from PMA 1982.
Marquez, formerly the director for operations, was credited for the orderly and safe visit of Pope Francis in January 2015. When he became PNP chief, he also supervised the overall conduct of the Asean Summit in the country last November, aside from securing the May elections.
“I’d like to be remembered in this organization as somebody who has institutionalized patrolling and basic policing. A lot of our projects in the past have gone caput because walang backbone, where we put everything. So, it will run smoothly. So, now we have a backbone, the backbone of ‘Lambat Sibat,’” he said.
He added: “So, I’d like to be remembered as someone who institutionalized it, who was given the very special opportunity to serve our country in a very special capacity as commander of the Papal Task Force, the Apec Security Task Force. Minimalist ako so ‘yung dalawa na lang.”
Marquez also thanked members of the PNP Press Corps based inCamp Crame
“A very big part of me would like to say thank you. Thank you for your support. Siyempre kahit anong galing ng PNP pag hindi naiko-communicate ang ginagawa namin, walang kuwenta. We recognize the very vital contribution of media in what we’re doing, in telling me na may mga pulis akong ganito, inform me that there are things that I should be doing and for all those things... From the bottom of my heart, maraming salamat,” Marquez said.
Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino, the deputy PNP chief for operations, will be given retirement honors today, nine days ahead of his mandatory retirement day on July 2. Constantino is the number three man in the PNP hierarchy.
Marquez’s early retirement and that of Constantino’s will leave the top three posts (PNP chief, deputy chief for administration, and the deputy chief PNP for operations) vacant.
The PNP leadership did not appoint the replacement of Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo when he retired last March 2. Garbo was the deputy chief PNP for administration, the number two man in PNP hierarchy.
This will make Deputy Director General Francisco Uyami, the PNP chief of directorial staff, as the officer-in-charge for two days or until June 30.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/marquez-retires-early-pnp-chief
PNP chief Ricardo Marquez has opted to retire from service on Tuesday next week, two months ahead of his mandatory retirement day on August 28 to give incoming PNP chief Ronald dela
“Even before elections sinabi ko naman whoever wins I will retire earlier. Kung hindi ako magre-retire, the incoming chief will not be able to wear his four stars,” Marquez said yesterday as he bade goodbye to members of the PNP Press Corps.
Marquez said he will go on vacation for a few weeks before he accepts a job offer in the private sector.
Dela Rosa, the personal choice of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to take over from Marquez, will assume as the new PNP chief on July 1.
Marquez was picked by President Aquino to become PNP chief vice PNP officer-in-charge Leonardo Espina who retired July last year. Marquez became the permanent PNP head when its former chief, Alan Purisima, was facing several controversies until he was eventually ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman in June 2015.
Purisima and Espina were from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, while Marquez is from PMA 1982.
Marquez, formerly the director for operations, was credited for the orderly and safe visit of Pope Francis in January 2015. When he became PNP chief, he also supervised the overall conduct of the Asean Summit in the country last November, aside from securing the May elections.
“I’d like to be remembered in this organization as somebody who has institutionalized patrolling and basic policing. A lot of our projects in the past have gone caput because walang backbone, where we put everything. So, it will run smoothly. So, now we have a backbone, the backbone of ‘Lambat Sibat,’” he said.
He added: “So, I’d like to be remembered as someone who institutionalized it, who was given the very special opportunity to serve our country in a very special capacity as commander of the Papal Task Force, the Apec Security Task Force. Minimalist ako so ‘yung dalawa na lang.”
Marquez also thanked members of the PNP Press Corps based in
“A very big part of me would like to say thank you. Thank you for your support. Siyempre kahit anong galing ng PNP pag hindi naiko-communicate ang ginagawa namin, walang kuwenta. We recognize the very vital contribution of media in what we’re doing, in telling me na may mga pulis akong ganito, inform me that there are things that I should be doing and for all those things... From the bottom of my heart, maraming salamat,” Marquez said.
Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino, the deputy PNP chief for operations, will be given retirement honors today, nine days ahead of his mandatory retirement day on July 2. Constantino is the number three man in the PNP hierarchy.
Marquez’s early retirement and that of Constantino’s will leave the top three posts (PNP chief, deputy chief for administration, and the deputy chief PNP for operations) vacant.
The PNP leadership did not appoint the replacement of Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo when he retired last March 2. Garbo was the deputy chief PNP for administration, the number two man in PNP hierarchy.
This will make Deputy Director General Francisco Uyami, the PNP chief of directorial staff, as the officer-in-charge for two days or until June 30.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/marquez-retires-early-pnp-chief
Cotabato police in heightened alert after grenade attack
From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 25): Cotabato police in heightened alert after grenade attack
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/cotabato-police-in-heightened-alert-after-grenade-attack/
Security forces have been alerted on Saturday in South Cotabato province following a grenade attack at a
municipal station there.
Police said the explosion damaged the station in Tampakan
town, but there had been no reports of casualties from the attack which
occurred Friday evening. Police investigators have recovered fragments of an
M79 rifle grenade used in the attack.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the blast,
but communist rebels and other armed groups are actively operating in the area.
Just recently, two policemen were shot and wounded when
gunmen opened fired at them while serving search warrants on a house in
Polomolok town suspected of keeping illegal weapons.
Five people had been arrested by the police in connection
with the shooting and that a man managed to escape from the house. Those
arrested have been identified as Hamidin, Benjamin, Binzon and Sandra – all
surnamed Alab; and Aulen Olivarez.
Another man, Ben Alab, is being hunted down by police forces
after he escaped from the house at the height of the shooting. The
wounded policemen – PO1 Gilbert Alferez, 32; and PO1 Edwardo Quintana, 28, –
were rushed to hospital. They are members of the Special Action Force.
Police said it recovered a shot gun and a pistol and
ammunition, including a rifle grenade in the house during the search. Those
being held by the police were being investigated for possessing illegal weapons.
http://mindanaoexaminer.com/cotabato-police-in-heightened-alert-after-grenade-attack/
PH joining world’s biggest war games
From the Manila Bulletin (Jun 26): PH joining world’s biggest war games
http://www.mb.com.ph/ph-joining-worlds-biggest-war-games/
The Philippines will participate in the world’s biggest maritime exercise – the United States-led and hosted Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) – scheduled June 30 to August 4 in and around the Hawaiian islands and Southern California.
RIMPAC is a biennial exercise that provides for a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.
RIMPAC 2016, with the theme “Capable, Adaptive Partners” will bring together military forces from 26 nations. It will also involve 45 ships, five submarines, and more than 200 aircraft.
“The participating nations and forces will exercise a wide range of capabilities and demonstrate the inherent flexibility of maritime forces. These capabilities range from disaster relief and maritime security operations to sea control and complex war fighting,” said a statement from the US Pacific Fleet.
“The relevant, realistic training program includes amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine and air defense exercises, as well as counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations,” it added.
While only a small contingent from the Philippine Navy will take part in in RIMPAC 2016, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that “it is very important that we participate in the biggest multinational military exercise of our time.”
“Learning to operate in this environment along with all the participating nations affords us the learning experience of knowing how we can work with a big number of nations in any particular scenario that may evolve in the future,” according to Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesman.
“The learning we derived from the actions we took after super-typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan is a case in point. There were more than 20 nations that sent their military to help us. In this context, it is to the benefit of the Philippines to know and apply the most recent TTPs (tactics, techniques, and procedures) and other protocols that is necessary to ensure the efficient utilization of these forces in meeting the challenges that is present in that circumstance,” he added.
“Learning to work with a big number of military forces under any condition or scenario will always be beneficial to us,” Padilla further said.
The other participating countries in RIMPAC 2016 are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Peru, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom.
http://www.mb.com.ph/ph-joining-worlds-biggest-war-games/
AFP confirms Abu Sayyaf’s kidnapping of 7 Indonesian sailors
From GMA News (Jun 26): AFP confirms Abu Sayyaf’s kidnapping of 7 Indonesian sailors
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday finally confirmed the Abu Sayyaf Group's (ASG) kidnapping of seven Indonesian sailors in the Sulu Sea, two days after Indonesian authorities announced the incident.
The AFP's Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) said that armed men on board two motorized boats intercepted the Indonesian's tugboat while en route to Indonesia in the Sulu Sea around 11 a.m. last June 22.
The WesMinCom's report said that only seven of the 13 crewmen on board the Indonesia tugboat were taken by the bandits.
It said that the seven Indonesians have been turned over by the armed men, later identified as the Muktadil brothers -- Nickson, Brown, Badung and Dadis -- to Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leader Majal Adja alias Apo Mike based in Sulu.
The WesMinCom said among those kidnapped was the boat's captain, who had called his wife in Indonesia to relay that their kidnappers were asking 20 million Malaysian ringgit.
Indonesian authorities announced the kidnapping incident two days ago. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had said that based on the information they received, the kidnapping was carried out by two different armed groups.
"We absolutely do not tolerate this. The government will try all options to free the hostages," Marsudi said.
At least 17 other Indonesian sailors had been kidnapped in separate incidents in March and April of this year. All victims had been released by the bandits.
On Friday, the bandits also released Filipina hostage Marites Flor. Flor was kidnapped on Samal Island in September 2015 with three foreigners, Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad.
The bandits had beheaded the two Canadians while Sekkingstad remains a captive.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/571351/news/nation/afp-confirms-abu-sayyaf-s-kidnapping-of-7-indonesian-sailors
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday finally confirmed the Abu Sayyaf Group's (ASG) kidnapping of seven Indonesian sailors in the Sulu Sea, two days after Indonesian authorities announced the incident.
The AFP's Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) said that armed men on board two motorized boats intercepted the Indonesian's tugboat while en route to Indonesia in the Sulu Sea around 11 a.m. last June 22.
The WesMinCom's report said that only seven of the 13 crewmen on board the Indonesia tugboat were taken by the bandits.
It said that the seven Indonesians have been turned over by the armed men, later identified as the Muktadil brothers -- Nickson, Brown, Badung and Dadis -- to Abu Sayyaf Group sub-leader Majal Adja alias Apo Mike based in Sulu.
The WesMinCom said among those kidnapped was the boat's captain, who had called his wife in Indonesia to relay that their kidnappers were asking 20 million Malaysian ringgit.
Indonesian authorities announced the kidnapping incident two days ago. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had said that based on the information they received, the kidnapping was carried out by two different armed groups.
"We absolutely do not tolerate this. The government will try all options to free the hostages," Marsudi said.
At least 17 other Indonesian sailors had been kidnapped in separate incidents in March and April of this year. All victims had been released by the bandits.
On Friday, the bandits also released Filipina hostage Marites Flor. Flor was kidnapped on Samal Island in September 2015 with three foreigners, Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad.
The bandits had beheaded the two Canadians while Sekkingstad remains a captive.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/571351/news/nation/afp-confirms-abu-sayyaf-s-kidnapping-of-7-indonesian-sailors
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