By Ronron
May 5, 2005
A fishing vessel which accidentally intruded into the restricted area of Malampaya waters in Palawan was intercepted last Tuesday by the Philippine Navy.
In a statement, the Philippine Navy said MBCA Queen Mathet was spotted by Navy patrol gunboat BRP Heracleo Alano floating at 400 yards northwest off the Malampaya Natural Gas Power Project (MNGPP) platform which is considered an exclusion zone.
BRP Heracleo Alano is one of the Navy’s floating assets deployed in the waters of Palawan. The Navy has stepped up its security operations in said area which is believed to be vulnerable to terror attacks.
“(The owner’s) papers were found to be valid but (he) and the boat’s six-member crew were not aware of Malampaya’s exclusion zone. They were advised not to go fishing in the area again,” the Navy’s statement said.
MBCA Queen Mathet was escorted by the Navy gunboat to El Nido pier in Palawan.
Navy chief Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon had directed Navy intelligence units to sustain the conduct of intelligence operations to negate sea-bed attacks of terror and threat groups in the country, particularly at Malampaya.
The Malampaya natural gas project is the largest infrastructure project in the country and is currently supplying some 30 percent of the over-all power requirement in Luzon./DMS
Friday, May 6, 2005
AFP counters US official’s assessment on Mindanao
By Ronron
May 5, 2005
The Philippine military countered on Thursday the statement of a visiting official of the United States that Mindanao remains to be a dangerous place.
“The situation in Mindanao, particularly in Central Mindanao and Sulu province, is generally peaceful,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Pascual said the AFP is continuing its operations against the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces to ensure that the region is terror-free.
He said the military is also working with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership when it conducts combat operations in MILF-known lairs in Central Mindanao.
“The government is pushing the peace negotiations with the MILF because we believe that it is the ultimate solution for a lasting peace in Central Mindanao,” Pascual said.
The military spokesman belied reports that MILF members have joined forces with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction under former MNLF leader Nur Misuari.
“Brig. Gen. Ramon Santos (co-chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) said that he clarified this matter to the MILF,” said Pascual, adding that the MILF leadership even offered assistance for mediation to resolve the conflict the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) in Sulu.
Pascual also expressed appreciation on the support being given by the US government for the development of Sulu.
“The AFP welcomes the US support in terms of training and humanitarian assistance to the people of Mindanao. We all know that these US engineering projects and medical-civic action groups complements the government and AFP’s program to alleviate the condition of our people in the area,” Pascual said.
A 25-man US contingent is now in Sulu, conducting humanitarian assistance assessment mission./DMS
May 5, 2005
The Philippine military countered on Thursday the statement of a visiting official of the United States that Mindanao remains to be a dangerous place.
“The situation in Mindanao, particularly in Central Mindanao and Sulu province, is generally peaceful,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Pascual said the AFP is continuing its operations against the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces to ensure that the region is terror-free.
He said the military is also working with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership when it conducts combat operations in MILF-known lairs in Central Mindanao.
“The government is pushing the peace negotiations with the MILF because we believe that it is the ultimate solution for a lasting peace in Central Mindanao,” Pascual said.
The military spokesman belied reports that MILF members have joined forces with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction under former MNLF leader Nur Misuari.
“Brig. Gen. Ramon Santos (co-chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) said that he clarified this matter to the MILF,” said Pascual, adding that the MILF leadership even offered assistance for mediation to resolve the conflict the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) in Sulu.
Pascual also expressed appreciation on the support being given by the US government for the development of Sulu.
“The AFP welcomes the US support in terms of training and humanitarian assistance to the people of Mindanao. We all know that these US engineering projects and medical-civic action groups complements the government and AFP’s program to alleviate the condition of our people in the area,” Pascual said.
A 25-man US contingent is now in Sulu, conducting humanitarian assistance assessment mission./DMS
43 civilians held for questioning after AFP-NPA clash in Bulacan
By Ronron
May 5, 2005
Forty-three men were held by the military on Thursday for questioning after government troops clashed earlier in the day with communist terrorists in San Miguel town, Bulacan.
The 11 residents of Masalipit village and 32 others from barangay Sta. Ines, both in the municipality of San Miguel, were brought to Camp Tecson, headquarters of the Army Scout Ranger in San Miguel, to find out if among them were the suspected seven communist rebels that the military chanced upon and exchanged fires with at around 5:30 am yesterday in Barangay Masalipit.
“There were 43 men that were interviewed and held for a while by the Army for questioning and identification by local barangay officials whether they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA) or just civilians,” Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said.
They were later released to their respective barangay captains and escorted back to their homes.
Pascual clarified that the death of a certain Patricio Deloroso, 70, resident of barangay Sta. Ines, was not related to the military operation.
Quoting Sta. Ines barangay captain Benjamin Aquino, Pascual said Deloroso died of old age and was not among the 43 males invited.
The military spokesman said the rounding up was coordinated with barangay officials, stressing the military’s awareness on their rules of engagement.
With the permission and presence of barangay officials, elements of the Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) entered barangay Sta. Ines and checked some houses for the possible presence of NPA rebels.
The military suspected that the rebels with whom government troops clashed with earlier in the day in Barangay Masalipit sought refuge in neighboring Barangay Sta. Ines.
According to Pascual, operating troops from Alpha Company, 48th IB of the Philippine Army engaged in a five-minute firefight around seven fully armed rebels in Barangay Masalipit at 5:30 am yesterday.
It is believed to be the same NPA group that elements of the Army’s 56th IB encountered with last April 24, 2005 in the same town. Six rebels were killed and one soldier was wounded in that encounter.
Then at 6:10 am yesterday, reinforcing troops from the 1st Platoon of the 71st IB encountered around seven armed rebels in Barangay Sta. Ines, believed to be the same group from barangay Masalipit. Firefight lasted for 10 minutes, until the enemy scampered towards different directions.
The government troops recovered one fragmentation grenade, two caliber .38 revolver, personal belongings, assorted ammunitions and subversive document at the encounter site./DMS
May 5, 2005
Forty-three men were held by the military on Thursday for questioning after government troops clashed earlier in the day with communist terrorists in San Miguel town, Bulacan.
The 11 residents of Masalipit village and 32 others from barangay Sta. Ines, both in the municipality of San Miguel, were brought to Camp Tecson, headquarters of the Army Scout Ranger in San Miguel, to find out if among them were the suspected seven communist rebels that the military chanced upon and exchanged fires with at around 5:30 am yesterday in Barangay Masalipit.
“There were 43 men that were interviewed and held for a while by the Army for questioning and identification by local barangay officials whether they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA) or just civilians,” Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said.
They were later released to their respective barangay captains and escorted back to their homes.
Pascual clarified that the death of a certain Patricio Deloroso, 70, resident of barangay Sta. Ines, was not related to the military operation.
Quoting Sta. Ines barangay captain Benjamin Aquino, Pascual said Deloroso died of old age and was not among the 43 males invited.
The military spokesman said the rounding up was coordinated with barangay officials, stressing the military’s awareness on their rules of engagement.
With the permission and presence of barangay officials, elements of the Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) entered barangay Sta. Ines and checked some houses for the possible presence of NPA rebels.
The military suspected that the rebels with whom government troops clashed with earlier in the day in Barangay Masalipit sought refuge in neighboring Barangay Sta. Ines.
According to Pascual, operating troops from Alpha Company, 48th IB of the Philippine Army engaged in a five-minute firefight around seven fully armed rebels in Barangay Masalipit at 5:30 am yesterday.
It is believed to be the same NPA group that elements of the Army’s 56th IB encountered with last April 24, 2005 in the same town. Six rebels were killed and one soldier was wounded in that encounter.
Then at 6:10 am yesterday, reinforcing troops from the 1st Platoon of the 71st IB encountered around seven armed rebels in Barangay Sta. Ines, believed to be the same group from barangay Masalipit. Firefight lasted for 10 minutes, until the enemy scampered towards different directions.
The government troops recovered one fragmentation grenade, two caliber .38 revolver, personal belongings, assorted ammunitions and subversive document at the encounter site./DMS
Dipolog journalist expires at hospital, police pursues work-related and personal grudge angle on shooting
By Ronron
May 5, 2005
Radio commentator Klein Cantoneros expired Wednesday night at the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Hospital in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte hours after he was shot by three unidentified gunmen.
Dipolog City Police chief Supt. Tomas Hizon said the 34-year-old broadcaster died at around 10:30 pm due to the six gunshot wounds he sustained from his attackers.
Cantoneros was hit three times at the back, twice on his thigh and once on his leg by the motorcycle-riding assailants while he was plying the national highway in barangay Sta. Filomena, Dipolog City.
He is the 67th journalist slain since 1986 when democracy was restored in the country, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
Hizon said investigators are now focusing on a work-related motive, compounded with a personal grudge, on their probe on the murder of Cantoneros.
“We are now concentrating on a specific personality,” said Hizon without elaborating.
Cantoneros is said to be a hard-hitting commentator on radio station DXAA.
Task Force Cantoneros, created by Region IX Police Director Vidal Querol, was not given a deadline to wrap up its investigation./DMS
May 5, 2005
Radio commentator Klein Cantoneros expired Wednesday night at the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Hospital in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte hours after he was shot by three unidentified gunmen.
Dipolog City Police chief Supt. Tomas Hizon said the 34-year-old broadcaster died at around 10:30 pm due to the six gunshot wounds he sustained from his attackers.
Cantoneros was hit three times at the back, twice on his thigh and once on his leg by the motorcycle-riding assailants while he was plying the national highway in barangay Sta. Filomena, Dipolog City.
He is the 67th journalist slain since 1986 when democracy was restored in the country, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
Hizon said investigators are now focusing on a work-related motive, compounded with a personal grudge, on their probe on the murder of Cantoneros.
“We are now concentrating on a specific personality,” said Hizon without elaborating.
Cantoneros is said to be a hard-hitting commentator on radio station DXAA.
Task Force Cantoneros, created by Region IX Police Director Vidal Querol, was not given a deadline to wrap up its investigation./DMS
Sunday, May 1, 2005
US soldiers off to Sulu for assessment mission
By Ronron
April 30, 2005
A 25-man US military contingent is off to Sulu province in the next 24 hours for an assessment mission that will seek to determine areas where US humanitarian assistance is most needed.
Lt. Col. Greg Wilson, Commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) under the US Pacific Command, said in a phone interview Saturday that the mission is expected to last for two weeks in the towns of Panamao, Jolo, and Patikul.
"We will be going to Sulu for a civic monitoring operation assessment at the invitation of the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and in partner with our Philippine counterparts," Wilson said.
The team is expected to interact directly with local officials from the provincial government up to the barangay level, and even residents, to determine the needs of the people in those conflict-affected places.
"This is strictly a humanitarian activity. We want to find out in which areas can we help the people there, like in the medical aspect and small-scale engineering projects," Wilson said.
He added that as a standard operating procedure, his troops will be carrying their own weapons for forced protection. And should the need to defend their selves from rebels arise, they can always use their firearm.
The team will take off from the AFP Southern Command in Zamboanga City./DMS
April 30, 2005
A 25-man US military contingent is off to Sulu province in the next 24 hours for an assessment mission that will seek to determine areas where US humanitarian assistance is most needed.
Lt. Col. Greg Wilson, Commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) under the US Pacific Command, said in a phone interview Saturday that the mission is expected to last for two weeks in the towns of Panamao, Jolo, and Patikul.
"We will be going to Sulu for a civic monitoring operation assessment at the invitation of the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and in partner with our Philippine counterparts," Wilson said.
The team is expected to interact directly with local officials from the provincial government up to the barangay level, and even residents, to determine the needs of the people in those conflict-affected places.
"This is strictly a humanitarian activity. We want to find out in which areas can we help the people there, like in the medical aspect and small-scale engineering projects," Wilson said.
He added that as a standard operating procedure, his troops will be carrying their own weapons for forced protection. And should the need to defend their selves from rebels arise, they can always use their firearm.
The team will take off from the AFP Southern Command in Zamboanga City./DMS
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