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Thursday, August 31, 2017

Military praises MILF for anti-terror cooperation

COTABATO CITY – The Philippine military praised the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front for its cooperation in the on-going operations against members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters allied with the Islamic State. 
“The cooperation of the MILF leadership in adhering to the provisions of the ceasefire agreement was also acknowledged as the conduct of the military operations had been coordinated to ensure that no skirmishes between the government troops and BIAF occurred,” said Major General Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division. 
The acronym BIAF stands for “Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces”, the MILF’s military wing. 
Dela Vega’s statement came out after the MILF stayed away from fighting between the BIFF and security forces on Wednesday that killed one gunman and left one army soldier wounded in the village of Tukanalipao in Maguindanao’s Mamasapano town. 
Troops also recovered an M16 automatic rifle, a shotgun, a hand grenade and an anti-tank rocket, including assorted ammunition and improvised explosives left behind by BIFF forces. 
The town is a known stronghold of the MILF and BIFF whose forces had killed 44 police commandos during a clandestine operation that targeted Malaysian bomber Zulkifli Abdhir alias Marwan. 
Zulkifli’s hideout was deep inside MILF territory where commandos managed to kill the foreign militant, believed to be under the protection of the rebel group. 
While about to reunite with their unit, members of the Special Action Force, were trapped after MILF and BIFF gunmen attacked them and eventually killed all of them. The army also did not attempt to rescue the embattled commandos, saying, it was unaware of the police operation.
Those who managed to escape the attack were able to bring one of Zulkifli’s fingers and handed it over to Federal agents for DNA test to confirm his true identity. 
The MILF, which signs an interim peace agreement in 2014, declined to surrender those involved in the brutal attack on the commandos. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Military allows journos to go near Marawi battle area

MARAWI CITY – The Philippine military on Wednesday allowed journalists covering the war in Marawi to cross a bridge previously under the control of local ISIS militants and see the devastation that ruined the historic Islamic city.
Tanks and armoured carriers rolled onto the Mapandi Bridge as journalists from various news outlets followed as security officials assured their safety following days of clearing operations to ensure that no bombs or improvised devices had been left behind by militants.
Although the area had been free from ISIS fighters, gunshots can still be heard from afar where government soldiers are still battling dozens of militants who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
The face of a destroyed city - blasted buildings covered in bullet holes - and debris scattered all around was a sight that resembled the war-ravaged city of Mosul in Iraq where ISIS battled government forces.
The fighting in Marawi has entered its 4th month and military chief Eduardo Año said this would be over soon, but the agony of tens of thousands of Muslim residents displaced by the deadly violence will stay longer in their hearts as they suffer in cramped and filthy evacuation camps not far away from here.
Bringing journalists at the doorstep of the battle area also served as big boost to military’s effort in showing the public the difficult task of retaking part of the besieged city from ISIS. More than 100 soldiers had so far died in the battle with the military claiming to have killed over 600 militants since May 23 when ISIS occupied Marawi in an effort to put up an Islamic State province in the provincial capital. Dozens of civilians were also slain in the clashes.
On Tuesday, the military deployed 102 female soldiers and policewomen to help local efforts in addressing the needs of families displaced by the crisis. The contingent is composed of 40 policewomen and 62 army members - mostly Muslims - who will be assigned to different evacuation centers in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte and in Iligan City.
They all underwent special training on gender and development and studied modules on cultural sensitivity prior to their deployment and will also assist in the many aspects of recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi. They were trained in Psycho Social Intervention and Peace Education to assist in the implementation of programs to help the evacuees. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Army prohibits civilians from using Maguindanao river

COTABATO CITY - The Philippine Army has prohibited residents in 3 municipalities in the southern Maguindanao province to cross or use the river to go to nearby towns.
It said the restriction was imposed because of on-going military operations against terrorists in the province. It took effect of August 28.
 “In connection with the on-going and sustained military operations in Datu Salibu, Shariff Saidona Mustapha and Datu Piang municipalities please advise everyone that water transportation in the vicinity and adjoining municipalities will be restricted.”
“All civilians are therefore advised to refrain if not avoid the use of water/river as mode of transportation. This action is being implemented for the safety of civilians. We will continue our efforts in fighting the insurgents in order to disrupt the group that threatens the security operations,” Capt. Arvin Encinas, the army spokesman, said without further elaborating.
Residents frequently use the river to cross to nearby villages and towns and to transport commodities and farm produce. The governor of Maguindanao, Esmael Mangudadatu, did not release any statement on the army restriction for the transportation use of the river.
It was unknown if Mangudadatu or municipal mayors and officials were consulted on this matter. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Monday, August 28, 2017

5 ISIS fighters killed in Lake Lanao clash

MARAWI CITY – Five alleged ISIS militants were killed in a clash early Monday with soldiers following an attempt to reinforce other fighters in the besieged city of Marawi in southern Philippines, officials said.
Officials said the militants were in two boats when soldiers intercepted them and a firefight ensued killing the gunmen. Troops recovered the bodies of the slain fighters and one of the boats. The other boat allegedly sank.
Fighting still continues in Marawi as the battle is now on its 4th month with the military chief Eduard Ano saying this could be over soon. The military insisted that security forces had allegedly killed a total of 603 ISIS members since fighting began on May 23 when militants occupied Marawi in an effort to declare it a province of the Islamic State.
Despite the huge number of enemy casualties, the military did not provide evidence to back up its claims, except saying that all these kills were based on intelligence reports. It said 130 soldiers and 45 civilians also perished in the clashes. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Malaysia arrests 8 Filipinos who illegally enter Sabah

SULU – Malaysia arrested 8 Filipinos who illegally entered Sabah on Monday despite strict security patrol in southern Philippines near the border, reports said.
It said the skipper of the speedboat who brought the Filipinos managed to escape shortly after policemen intercepted the passengers in Kampung Padas. This was also confirmed by Sabah Region 4 marine police commander Assistant Commissioner Mohd Yazib Abd Aziz in a report by the New Straits Times.
Yazib said those who have been arrested, whose ages are between 13-53, are mostly from Basilan, a province in the Muslim autonomous region in southern Philippines. They all have no travel documents and were carrying various identification cards when policemen searched them.
The identities of the Filipinos were not immediately known, but all of them were being interrogated in a detention cell. It was unknown how they managed to pass through strict security patrol in southern Philippines, but there had been numerous reports that many Filipinos still crossed the border illegally to find for jobs, mostly in palm plantations and construction sites.
Many of them crossed Sabah from Sitangkai Island and Bongao in Tawi-Tawi, also in the autonomous region. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Father of Philippine ISIS leaders dies



Cayamora Maute – who was arrested June 6, 2017 in Davao City – and one of his wives and two sons appear on this wanted terrorists poster.

DAVAO CITY – The detained patriarch of Maute clan - whose radicalized members occupied along with local ISIS militants occupied Marawi City – had died following a battle with long time illnesses while in prison, officials said Monday.
Officials said Cayamora Maute was rushed to hospital on Sunday afternoon after he complained of difficulty in breathing, but he died along the way. Maute was suffering from various illnesses fr0m diabetes, respiratory tract infection, pneumonia and hypertension.
His body was brought later in the day by relatives to the Masjid Al-Dahab, a mosque in Manila.
Maute, father of ISIS leaders Omar and Abdullah Maute, was arrested on June 6t his year at an army checkpoint in Davao City’s Toril district together with one of his wives Kongan Alfonso Balawag and daughter Norhana Balawag Maute, their driver Aljon Salazar Ismael and another man, Benzarali Tingao.
A pistol and an improvised explosive, including some P360,000 in cash, a pistol and a fragmentation grenade, were allegedly seized from their van while attempting to enter Davao. The patriarch was also carrying several identification cards with different names. The army said Maute was included in the wanted terrorist list.
During his capture, Maute denied knowledge of the gun or the grenade and said he was sick and on their way to hospital. He said he had not seen his two sons in recent months and was not aware of the violence involving the Maute brothers.
The driver, whose family runs a fleet of passenger vans, also denied ownership of the gun and grenade, and had been eventually released by authorities.  
One of Maute's wives, Ominta - alias Farhana Maute - was also arrested along with other wounded militants on June 10 this year in Masiu town in Lanao del Sur province. She remains in prison.   

Both Maute brothers and dozens of jihadists who pledged allegiance to ISIS, are still fighting security forces in the besieged city since May 23 when they attempted to declare Marawi a province of the Islamic State. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Sunday, August 27, 2017

Army soldier accused of shooting 3 people in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Police arrested an army soldier who was accused of shooting 3 people near an air force base in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, officials said on Sunday.
Chief Inspector Helen Galvez, a regional police spokeswoman, said the 40-year Sergeant Bensaudi Idjal, has been detained for the Saturday shooting of businesswoman Sahaba Abdulla, 32; her nephew Ahmad Wahab, 21; and Radzman Hassan, 37, in the village of Santa Maria near Edwin Andrews Air Base. The victims were rushed to hospital.
Policemen recovered 9 bullet shells fired from a .45-caliber pistol from the crime scene.
The suspect, a member of Philippine Army assigned with Civil Military Operation Group, was arrested inside the Camp General Arturo T. Enrile in Malagutay village after policemen coordinated with Idjal’s superior, Captain Arnel Lobusta, according to Galvez.
Despite her wounds, Abdulla told police investigators that Idjal was a relative of her husband, Alyaser Abdulla, a soldier killed in fighting with local ISIS militants in Marawi City.
“The possible motive of the incident is the benefit claims (of Abdulla) considering the victim is the second wife of the slain soldier,” Galvez said, adding, the victims and Idjal live in the same village.
Idjal did not give any statement on the accusation against him. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Friday, August 25, 2017

ISIS militants, hostages escape Marawi mosque


Military photos released to the Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper show President Rodrigo Duterte speaking to soldiers in the battlefront in Marawi City.

MARAWI CITY – Dozens of local ISIS militants and their hostages managed to escape undetected from a mosque they used to attack security forces in the besieged city of Marawi. 
The daring escape was only discovered after troops managed to advance and eventually recaptured the mosque from militants on Thursday hours before President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Marawi. The military trumpeted the “liberation” of the mosque, but it did not say how ISIS fighters and their captives managed to escape from thousands of troops who surrounded Marawi, and spy planes and drones monitoring the siege since May 23. 
The fate of the hostages, including a Catholic priest and church workers, remains unknown. 
Duterte, wearing a Kevlar helmet and a bullet-proof vest, inspected troops in the battlefront and spoke to them. “The President also congratulated the troops for defending Marawi from terror elements and for successfully retaking the Islamic Center yesterday, a structure that was maintained as the Daesh-inspired terrorist group's command and control for the longest time before it was retaken,” said Army Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, a spokeswoman for the Western Mindanao Command. 
It was his 3rd visit to Marawi since the fighting began when militants occupied the city in an effort to put up an Islamic province in the restive region. Security officials also briefed Duterte on the progress of the military operations against the militants. 
In his talk with the soldiers, Duterte assured his full support to the military and police forces fighting ISIS. “I would like to reiterate this, I will never abandon you as long as you are doing the right thing. This would include fighting against the terrorists groups, the drug lords or the common criminals as long as you are doing your sworn duty to enforce the law and protect the republic. Let me emphasize however that you must do your job in accordance with the law,” he said. 
Duterte was accompanied by National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Eduardo Ano and Army Chief Lieutenant General Glorioso Miranda. 
Oust Duterte 
His visit to the battlefield came days after disgruntled soldiers and policemen who are members of a shadowy group called Patriotic and Democratic Movement or PADEM called for the ouster of Duterte. They accused Duterte of treating the military and police as his private armies and for betraying and violating public trust and cited 10 reasons to call for his ouster.
The group also urged Filipinos to join PADEM in condemning and fighting Duterte and his administration and to stage mass actions and demand the President’s ouster.
In a manifesto, Antonio Bonifacio, who claimed to be PADEM’s spokesman, called on members of the military and police to also join the people in demanding Duterte’s resignation and also his administration. It said the group is working for the withdrawal military and police support for Duterte.
 “We urge all Filipinos as individuals and as groups in whatever social sector, field, institution or organization to exercise their right of assembly and expression to undertake mass actions demanding the ouster of Duterte and his administration. We call on our fellow officers and members of the AFP and the PNP to join the people in demanding the resignation or ouster of Duterte and his administration.”
“We pledge to work for the withdrawal of military and police support for Duterte and his administration in conjunction with mass mobilization of the Filipino people in millions to manifest their demand for the resignation or ouster of Duterte and his administration. Upon the change of administration, we pledge to follow the principle of civilian supremacy and support a new civilian administration, in accordance with the 1987 Constitution and the rule of law,” the manifesto, released by Bonifacio – believed to be a nom de guerre – said.
PADEM also condemned and holds accountable for gross crimes in betrayal of public trust and in violation of national sovereignty and democratic rights of the Filipino people. It cited the following reasons as alleged crimes of Duterte:  
  1. Treating the AFP and the PNP as these were his private armies and practising favoritism and violating professional and service standards in the promotion and assignment of officers;
  2. Corrupting the PNP and the AFP with a system of monetary awards for the extrajudicial killing of alleged illegal drug users and of NPA suspects;
  3. Condoning and protecting top-level illegal drug lords;
  4. Emboldening/inciting police officers to engage in extrajudicial killings of poor suspected illegal drug users and pushers by publicly telling officers to plant evidence and by guaranteeing their pardon and promotion in case of conviction;
  5. Aggravating corruption in government and criminality through the collusion of Duterte trustees and crime syndicates;
  6. Allowing China to occupy maritime features in the West Philippine Sea and to violate Philippine sovereign rights upheld by decision of the Arbitral Tribunal in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea;
  7. Bungling the operations in Marawi City and indiscriminately destroying lives and property through aerial bombings, artillery and mortar;
  8. Favoring certain Chinese businessmen and Duterte relatives and cronies in the award of projected infrastructure projects using loans from China;
  9. Betraying the sovereign rights of the Filipino people by making the Philippines a debt vassal of China and offering to China the oil and gas resources under the West Philippine Sea as collateral for Chinese loans; and
  10. Seeking to replace the partnership with the United States in matters of national security with an even more lopsided relationship with China and Russia. 
Support
Television network GMA reported that the military has reiterated its support for the administration of Duterte and strongly denied PADEM’s allegations. Military spokesman Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines, along with all the men and women of the uniformed services and all their civilian personnel, stand by the government and support Duterte, their commander-in-chief.
Padilla said the accusations and issues cited by the group are unfounded and uncalled for. “Such issues are clearly politically motivated and a matter that the AFP does not and will not subscribe to,” GMA quoted him as saying, adding, they are the constitutionally mandated protectors of the people and will stand by law-abiding citizens whenever and wherever they are needed.
“Having affirmed this, the AFP, however, will not hesitate in acting against forces who shall undermine the stability and security of our country and those who wish to destabilize our nation thru unconstitutional means,” he said.
CIA Plot
Communist rebels had previously said that the Central Intelligence Agency is plotting to oust Duterte alongside the plan to assassinate Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Sison, in a statement he issued in May, said those who continue to support him assert that performance in a year is not enough basis for a final judgment and that there is more than enough time ahead for him to accomplish promises that have most impressed them, such as the eradication of the drug problem, criminality, and corruption.
He said Duterte has, in fact, pleaded that he needs three or four more years to bring about the significant changes that he previously thought would be done in six months’ time. His promised campaign against the pork barrel and other forms of corruption of the Aquino regime has not yet materialized.
“Where he has been most successful at, projecting himself as a strong leader by calling on the police and the public to kill drug addict-pushers, he has attracted the most severe and sustained condemnation by institutions, the mass organizations, the human rights formations, various churches, major mass media and respected personages in the Philippines and abroad.”
“These detractors allege on the basis of mass media reports and police records that 7,000 to 10,000 extra-judicial killings have been perpetrated in violation of human rights and with impunity by the police and by police-directed vigilantes. The victims are overwhelmingly poor people in urban slum areas,” he said.
Sison said U.S. officials and the European Commission have criticized the Duterte regime and threatened to impose certain sanctions. Most recently, the representatives of 45 out of 47 governments in the UN Human Rights Commission universal periodic review of the human rights situation have urged the Philippine government to investigate the alleged extrajudicial killings.
“In turn, the Duterte regime has expressed fears that the dissenting military and police officers are engaged in a coup plot. To counter the coup threat, Duterte appointed to his cabinet more retired military officers whom he considers personally loyal to him. But the United States is still the master of the coup through its Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Philippines,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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