By Ronron
June 3, 2005
Almost all complaints for violation of human rights and international humanitarian law that a joint committee of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) received from June 4 last year until today were allegedly done by government forces, the NDFP thus claimed.
NDFP Negotiating Panel chair Luis Jalandoni said in a statement that the Joint Secretariat (JS) of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP has received a total of 365 complaints for violation of human rights and international humanitarian law since the JS was opened exactly a year ago today.
The JS served as a physical base for the full operation of the (JMC), which completed the technical and administrative mechanism for the monitoring of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
“There was hope that CARHRIHL would help stem the tide of increasing human rights violations by the Arroyo government, if not, improve the overall human rights situation in the country which remains in an even worse state almost 20 years after the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship,” Jalandoni said.
But he expressed doubts on the government’s sincerity to abide with the CARHRIHL as he noted that 358 of the 365 complaints were filed against the Philippine government, while the remaining seven were with the NDFP.
Jalandoni enumerated the nature of the complaints to be ranging from disappearances to killings, to torture, illegal arrests and detention, to criminalization of political offenses. These also include abuses against women and children.
“The big number of complaints filed with the JS in a short period of one year not only underscores the worsened state of human rights in the country and the urgent need to address these, but also indicates the broad support for the peace negotiations and the strong desire of the people for the ultimate resolution of the root causes of the armed conflict,” said Jalandoni.
Jalandoni lambasted the Philippine government for not abiding with the mandated meeting of the JMC every after three months since it initially convened in April last year as it would have served to be a proper venue to discuss and act on the complaints.
The government, according to him, is reportedly insisting that the formal peace negotiations should first resume before the JMC holds its regular meeting. It can be recalled that the peace process between the NDFP-Communist Party of the Philippines(CPP)-New People’s Army(NPA) and the government bogged down in August last year after the United States listed again the CPP and the NPA in its list of foreign terrorist organizations.
“The GRP and the NDFP signified their will to implement and abide by the Agreement and to carry out, separately through their respective Monitoring Committees or jointly in the JMC, fact-finding investigations of complaints of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” Jalandoni reminded the government. The CARHRIHL was signed in March 1998 by both parties.
Jalandoni stressed the NDFP’s commitment to the resolution of the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines, saying that it even translated the CARHRIHL into various dialects, and engaged in various activities to educate their members all over the country.
“But it (NDFP) will never be pressured or inveigled into capitulation by the GRP through such means as the murder of legal progressive activists, the terrorizing and wholesale killing of civilians and non-combatants, and the unjustified terrorist labeling of the CPP, the NPA and the NDFP chief political consultant Prof. Jose Ma. Sison,” said Jalandoni.
“The government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is hardly in any position to impose preconditions on the NDFP in the peace negotiations,” he added.
Jalandoni, meanwhile, warned that Arroyo that her government “is vulnerable to being toppled by a popular uprising similar to those that brought down former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada since it has failed to alleviate the people’s socio-economic condition while callously increasing their tax burden.”
“Arroyo is no different from her corrupt predecessors in wanting to enrich her own family. The NDFP calls on the GRP to heed the people’s demands for social, economic, and political reforms in order to establish a just and lasting peace in the country,” Jalandoni said./DMS
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Military court tells Garcia lawyers to speed up
By Ronron
June 3, 2005
The military court trying retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia over his unexplained wealth and alleged possession of a “US green card” told the latter’s lawyers Friday to speed up the presentation of their defense as it postponed yesterday’s scheduled hearing to allow Garcia’s counsel to attend to his other cases at the Sandiganbayan.
“We advise the defense to be more direct in presenting their case so that next hearing, we will make headway in the proceedings,” General Court Martial presiding officer Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio said before adjourning the hearing held at Camp Aguinaldo.
The order came after Teodosio granted the motion of the defense to postpone the hearing yesterday afternoon on the grounds that Garcia’s lawyers have to attend to similar proceedings at the anti-graft court, also for Garcia.
But even as the court ordered the postponement, it reminded the defense that it should be able to reconcile their schedule at the military court with the Sandiganbayan hearings ahead of time, considering that there are more than one lawyer in Garcia’s defense.
“We view with concern the seemingly much delay in the proceedings. We’ve been here for so long, but we’re not substantially progressing,” Teodosio said.
But Col. Antonio Doronila, one of Garcia’s lawyers, insisted the defense is not intentionally creating any delaying tactics, saying they have been presenting witnesses and pieces of evidence every hearing period.
The defense has so far presented six witnesses, but, as Doronila admitted, they have not made any significant revelation or claims that support their defense.
“They’re not controverting what was said in the charge sheet. Like, did he (Garcia) file his (statements of assets and liabilities) honestly? That is what the court is waiting for. So far, they’re harping on technicalities and always far from the main issue,” Prosecutor Col. Al Perreras said of the defense.
Both sides, however, were of the same view that yesterday’s postponement was not a delaying tactic by the defense.
Doronila said his co-counsels attended yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan for Garcia’s cases of plunder and forfeiture of properties.
The military court set the next hearing for the cases of violation of Articles of War against Garcia on June 10, 15, and 24 of this year./DMS
June 3, 2005
The military court trying retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia over his unexplained wealth and alleged possession of a “US green card” told the latter’s lawyers Friday to speed up the presentation of their defense as it postponed yesterday’s scheduled hearing to allow Garcia’s counsel to attend to his other cases at the Sandiganbayan.
“We advise the defense to be more direct in presenting their case so that next hearing, we will make headway in the proceedings,” General Court Martial presiding officer Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio said before adjourning the hearing held at Camp Aguinaldo.
The order came after Teodosio granted the motion of the defense to postpone the hearing yesterday afternoon on the grounds that Garcia’s lawyers have to attend to similar proceedings at the anti-graft court, also for Garcia.
But even as the court ordered the postponement, it reminded the defense that it should be able to reconcile their schedule at the military court with the Sandiganbayan hearings ahead of time, considering that there are more than one lawyer in Garcia’s defense.
“We view with concern the seemingly much delay in the proceedings. We’ve been here for so long, but we’re not substantially progressing,” Teodosio said.
But Col. Antonio Doronila, one of Garcia’s lawyers, insisted the defense is not intentionally creating any delaying tactics, saying they have been presenting witnesses and pieces of evidence every hearing period.
The defense has so far presented six witnesses, but, as Doronila admitted, they have not made any significant revelation or claims that support their defense.
“They’re not controverting what was said in the charge sheet. Like, did he (Garcia) file his (statements of assets and liabilities) honestly? That is what the court is waiting for. So far, they’re harping on technicalities and always far from the main issue,” Prosecutor Col. Al Perreras said of the defense.
Both sides, however, were of the same view that yesterday’s postponement was not a delaying tactic by the defense.
Doronila said his co-counsels attended yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan for Garcia’s cases of plunder and forfeiture of properties.
The military court set the next hearing for the cases of violation of Articles of War against Garcia on June 10, 15, and 24 of this year./DMS
2 NPA’s killed in encounter in Isabela
By Ronron
June 3, 2005
Two communist rebels were killed in an encounter Friday morning between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troops in the northern Philippine province of Isabela.
Initial reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City said the two slain rebels were among the undetermined number of communist guerillas whom elements of the 52nd Reconnaissance Company under the Philippine Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion exchanged fires with at 7:05 am yesterday in Barangay Ara, Benito Soliven, Isabela.
No one was hurt from the government side.
The government troops, led by 2Lt. Albert Batinga, were conducting combat patrol then in response to intelligence reports about the presence of NPA rebels at said area.
The rebel group reportedly belongs to Platoon 1, Central Front of the NPA’s Cagayan Valley Regional Party Committee, headed by a certain Melecio Casisola, alias Ka Milis or Ka Jose.
The military recovered from the clash site two M16 rifles of the rebels.
A platoon from the same company immediately proceeded at the encounter site to reinforce the engaged government troops, while troops of the Alpha company, also of the 45th IB, established blocking positions at the possible withdrawal routes of the rebels./DMS
June 3, 2005
Two communist rebels were killed in an encounter Friday morning between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troops in the northern Philippine province of Isabela.
Initial reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City said the two slain rebels were among the undetermined number of communist guerillas whom elements of the 52nd Reconnaissance Company under the Philippine Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion exchanged fires with at 7:05 am yesterday in Barangay Ara, Benito Soliven, Isabela.
No one was hurt from the government side.
The government troops, led by 2Lt. Albert Batinga, were conducting combat patrol then in response to intelligence reports about the presence of NPA rebels at said area.
The rebel group reportedly belongs to Platoon 1, Central Front of the NPA’s Cagayan Valley Regional Party Committee, headed by a certain Melecio Casisola, alias Ka Milis or Ka Jose.
The military recovered from the clash site two M16 rifles of the rebels.
A platoon from the same company immediately proceeded at the encounter site to reinforce the engaged government troops, while troops of the Alpha company, also of the 45th IB, established blocking positions at the possible withdrawal routes of the rebels./DMS
P5.6 million worth of shabu recovered from Chinese
By Ronron
June 3, 2005
Police operatives recovered on Thursday afternoon four kilos of shabu, worth P5.6 million, from an undocumented Chinese national during an entrapment operation at the parking lot of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Chief Supt. Ricardo Dapat identified the suspect as Chi Hong Wong, 23, who was being tracked down initially for alleged gunrunning.
Dapat said CIDG operatives were about to approach Wong at the parking area of said mall past 5 pm the other day when the latter ran towards his Honda car, grabbed his Desert Eagle pistol caliber 99 mm, and tried to shoot it out with the law enforcers.
But the policemen responded quickly and subdued him, leading to his capture.
The CIDG operatives later found a bag inside Wong’s car that contained white crystalline substance, examined later to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
Wong was not able to present any document or passport when asked for any.
He was charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) and of the Dangerous Drugs Act at the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office, and was not granted bail by Prosecutor Elenita Dumaguile for his temporary freedom./DMS
June 3, 2005
Police operatives recovered on Thursday afternoon four kilos of shabu, worth P5.6 million, from an undocumented Chinese national during an entrapment operation at the parking lot of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Chief Supt. Ricardo Dapat identified the suspect as Chi Hong Wong, 23, who was being tracked down initially for alleged gunrunning.
Dapat said CIDG operatives were about to approach Wong at the parking area of said mall past 5 pm the other day when the latter ran towards his Honda car, grabbed his Desert Eagle pistol caliber 99 mm, and tried to shoot it out with the law enforcers.
But the policemen responded quickly and subdued him, leading to his capture.
The CIDG operatives later found a bag inside Wong’s car that contained white crystalline substance, examined later to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
Wong was not able to present any document or passport when asked for any.
He was charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) and of the Dangerous Drugs Act at the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office, and was not granted bail by Prosecutor Elenita Dumaguile for his temporary freedom./DMS
Friday, June 3, 2005
Garcia rushed to hospital for chest pains, turns out he’s OK
By Ronron
June 2, 2005
Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the embattled former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), was rushed Thursday morning to the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) in Camp Crame, Quezon City after complaining of chest pains but turned out he is just fine, police officials said.
According to PNP Headquarters Support Services Director Chief Supt. Geary Barias, Garcia was taken to the PNPGH at around 9 am, 15 hours since he arrived at the PNP Custodial Center in preparation for the trial of the plunder charge leveled against him and his family at the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for allegedly amassing more than P300 million from military funds.
Garcia, 56, underwent some medical check-up and tests at the hospital, and was back to his two-meter-by-three-meter detention cell about an hour later.
His hypertension was declared to be under control, based on his blood pressure, the results of his blood tests, and physical examination.
Barias assured that Garcia, just like the other 67 detainees at the PNP Custodial Center, can always avail of medical services of the PNPGH when necessary. “We had to take care also of the health of the detainees,” he said.
Barias stressed Garcia is not given special treatment at the detention facility which is housing suspects in high-profile cases, like former congressman Dennis Roldan and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Martin Soriano.
He said Garcia will be covered of the same rules and regulations imposed in the facility, specifically on visitation, food ration, and detention cell amenities.
Barias said Garcia’s lawyers could visit their client anytime they want to, but his relatives and friends will have to abide with the allowed visitation time.
The beleaguered retired official will not also be given access to the use of cellular phones, television, and air-conditioned units, and instead bear with his wooden bed and an electric fan.
And just like his co-detainees, Garcia will be eating the food served by the facility three times a day, which is all worth P30.00. “But it is not prohibited that (his relatives and friends) would bring food there, provided those are all inspected,” said Barias.
Garcia is staying alone in the detention cell that is good for four persons.
“He seems alright. In fact, he was surprised when he was brought here. He did not bring anything. He was wearing his barong, and I asked him about his other things. He told me, he left everything at the (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines). So, I advised him to get his things because we could not give him anything,” Barias said of Garcia.
Garcia had already been detained since late last year at the ISAFP inside Camp Aguinaldo upon the commencement of his trial at the military’s General Court Martial for the charges of violation of Articles of War leveled against him./DMS
June 2, 2005
Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the embattled former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), was rushed Thursday morning to the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) in Camp Crame, Quezon City after complaining of chest pains but turned out he is just fine, police officials said.
According to PNP Headquarters Support Services Director Chief Supt. Geary Barias, Garcia was taken to the PNPGH at around 9 am, 15 hours since he arrived at the PNP Custodial Center in preparation for the trial of the plunder charge leveled against him and his family at the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for allegedly amassing more than P300 million from military funds.
Garcia, 56, underwent some medical check-up and tests at the hospital, and was back to his two-meter-by-three-meter detention cell about an hour later.
His hypertension was declared to be under control, based on his blood pressure, the results of his blood tests, and physical examination.
Barias assured that Garcia, just like the other 67 detainees at the PNP Custodial Center, can always avail of medical services of the PNPGH when necessary. “We had to take care also of the health of the detainees,” he said.
Barias stressed Garcia is not given special treatment at the detention facility which is housing suspects in high-profile cases, like former congressman Dennis Roldan and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Martin Soriano.
He said Garcia will be covered of the same rules and regulations imposed in the facility, specifically on visitation, food ration, and detention cell amenities.
Barias said Garcia’s lawyers could visit their client anytime they want to, but his relatives and friends will have to abide with the allowed visitation time.
The beleaguered retired official will not also be given access to the use of cellular phones, television, and air-conditioned units, and instead bear with his wooden bed and an electric fan.
And just like his co-detainees, Garcia will be eating the food served by the facility three times a day, which is all worth P30.00. “But it is not prohibited that (his relatives and friends) would bring food there, provided those are all inspected,” said Barias.
Garcia is staying alone in the detention cell that is good for four persons.
“He seems alright. In fact, he was surprised when he was brought here. He did not bring anything. He was wearing his barong, and I asked him about his other things. He told me, he left everything at the (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines). So, I advised him to get his things because we could not give him anything,” Barias said of Garcia.
Garcia had already been detained since late last year at the ISAFP inside Camp Aguinaldo upon the commencement of his trial at the military’s General Court Martial for the charges of violation of Articles of War leveled against him./DMS
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Japanese gov't orders recall of embassy staff from General Santos City amid security threats and unsuccessful mission to confirm presence of straggler
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Monday, May 30, 2005
Mediator willing to meet Tokyo-based official regarding alleged Japanese stragglers in Mindanao
By Ronron
May 29, 2005
General Santos City - The contact of the Japanese Embassy in Manila for the turn over of the two alleged Japanese war soldiers holed up in the mountains of this city expressed willingess to meet the Japanese official from Tokyo who is supposed to have arrived here already on Sunday.
In an interview with Manila Shimbun early last night, the go-between said he was waiting for a word from embassy personnel yesterday afternoon regarding the supposed meeting but to no avail.
Suminori Arima, from Japan's Ministry of Welfare, was expected to have arrived in this southern Philippine city yesterday morning but journalists who went to the airport here to meet the official returned to their bases empty-handed.
Arima, according to Japanese Embassy spokesman Shuhei Ogawa, was sent here "to help in their operation" to confirm the report about the two Japanese stragglers who, allegedly after failing to go home to Japan after the second World War in 1945, has since lived in the mountains here.
The report drew so much interest from the Japanese community, especially from Japanese newsmen who flew in here from Japan, because of its precedent that happened in 1974 involving Japanese soldier, Hiroo Onoda, who was found in Lubang Island, Mindoro Occidental.
"I am willing to meet him (Arima) anytime but up to late this afternoon, there was no contact made to me from the Japanese government side," the self-proclaimed mediator told Manila Shimbun yesterday in Japanese.
At the time he was being interviewed, the mediator claimed he just came from the mountain to meet supposedly the two alleged Japanese soldiers. However, he failed to do so because, according to him, when he had already reached some 800 meters high, he was stopped by some guerillas, and that rain was pouring very hard.
Ogawa, in an interview earlier in the day, refused to divulge when the last contact was made by the embassy with the go-between, who is described to be a Japanese businessmen in Mindanao, as well as the content of their recent conversations.
He also did not respond to queries as to whether or not Arima had already arrived here and where would he be staying.
Even as the third day in waiting ended yesterday, the Japanese Embassy still has yet to make proper coordination with the local authorities here for the verification about the existence of the stragglers.
Ogawa said seeking the participation of the authorities would only "complicate" their mission.
"If they come to us and seek for our help (in verifying the existence of the Japanese stragglers), we will do so. I am hopeful they will come to us," said Police Superintendent Alfredo Toroctocon, chief of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO).
Both the police and army units here have maintained that they have no knowledge as to the sightings of the alleged two Japanese war soldiers.
So far, the coordination was only limited to the security of the embassy people and the hordes of Japanese mediamen. The Japanese Embassy, quoting an advisory from the regional police here, warned last Saturday the newsmen not to go to the mountains due to security risks brought about by the presence of elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People's Army (NPA).
Asked what if media defy their advisory, Ogawa replied: "Well, we can't control that situation anymore."
Army Maj. Gen. Raul Relano, 6th Infantry Division Commander, expressed worries that newsmen, especially Japanese nationals, might risk their selves to communist guerrillas if they go up to areas where the stragglers are reported to have been sighted, such as Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, located just north of this city.
"I am worried about their (reporters) security if they go there because that is an NPA-infested area. They could be kidnapped," Relano told Manila Shimbun in Filipino.
Toroctocon, for his part, disclosed that their intelligence men continue to receive "tidbits of information" regarding terroristic threats on the city coming from the Jeemah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group, which, even if based in Western Mindanao, have their own sympathizers from here.
The most recent terroristic attack in this city happened last February 14 of this year, simultaneous with the bombings in Makati City in Luzon, and in neighboring Davao City. At least three people were killed and 16 others were injured when a bomb blast hit the Gaisano Mall here last Valentine's day.
Toroctocon said personnel of the police precinct nearest to Phela Grande Hotel, located on Magsaysay Avenue here where embassy officials and most of the media are billeted, have been alerted to secure the vicinity.
They are supported by members of the military's Joint Task Force General Santos.
The stay here of the embassy people remains open until they could confirm the report regarding the stragglers, which, until yesterday, remains unaccomplished, said Ogawa.
He said what has so far transpired until the third day in waiting was only their continuing arrangement for the planned meeting.
The spokesman said no cash demand, either for ransom or other purposes, have been received by the Japanese government from anyone or the mediator in particular in exchange for the turn over of the alleged stragglers./DMS
May 29, 2005
General Santos City - The contact of the Japanese Embassy in Manila for the turn over of the two alleged Japanese war soldiers holed up in the mountains of this city expressed willingess to meet the Japanese official from Tokyo who is supposed to have arrived here already on Sunday.
In an interview with Manila Shimbun early last night, the go-between said he was waiting for a word from embassy personnel yesterday afternoon regarding the supposed meeting but to no avail.
Suminori Arima, from Japan's Ministry of Welfare, was expected to have arrived in this southern Philippine city yesterday morning but journalists who went to the airport here to meet the official returned to their bases empty-handed.
Arima, according to Japanese Embassy spokesman Shuhei Ogawa, was sent here "to help in their operation" to confirm the report about the two Japanese stragglers who, allegedly after failing to go home to Japan after the second World War in 1945, has since lived in the mountains here.
The report drew so much interest from the Japanese community, especially from Japanese newsmen who flew in here from Japan, because of its precedent that happened in 1974 involving Japanese soldier, Hiroo Onoda, who was found in Lubang Island, Mindoro Occidental.
"I am willing to meet him (Arima) anytime but up to late this afternoon, there was no contact made to me from the Japanese government side," the self-proclaimed mediator told Manila Shimbun yesterday in Japanese.
At the time he was being interviewed, the mediator claimed he just came from the mountain to meet supposedly the two alleged Japanese soldiers. However, he failed to do so because, according to him, when he had already reached some 800 meters high, he was stopped by some guerillas, and that rain was pouring very hard.
Ogawa, in an interview earlier in the day, refused to divulge when the last contact was made by the embassy with the go-between, who is described to be a Japanese businessmen in Mindanao, as well as the content of their recent conversations.
He also did not respond to queries as to whether or not Arima had already arrived here and where would he be staying.
Even as the third day in waiting ended yesterday, the Japanese Embassy still has yet to make proper coordination with the local authorities here for the verification about the existence of the stragglers.
Ogawa said seeking the participation of the authorities would only "complicate" their mission.
"If they come to us and seek for our help (in verifying the existence of the Japanese stragglers), we will do so. I am hopeful they will come to us," said Police Superintendent Alfredo Toroctocon, chief of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO).
Both the police and army units here have maintained that they have no knowledge as to the sightings of the alleged two Japanese war soldiers.
So far, the coordination was only limited to the security of the embassy people and the hordes of Japanese mediamen. The Japanese Embassy, quoting an advisory from the regional police here, warned last Saturday the newsmen not to go to the mountains due to security risks brought about by the presence of elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People's Army (NPA).
Asked what if media defy their advisory, Ogawa replied: "Well, we can't control that situation anymore."
Army Maj. Gen. Raul Relano, 6th Infantry Division Commander, expressed worries that newsmen, especially Japanese nationals, might risk their selves to communist guerrillas if they go up to areas where the stragglers are reported to have been sighted, such as Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, located just north of this city.
"I am worried about their (reporters) security if they go there because that is an NPA-infested area. They could be kidnapped," Relano told Manila Shimbun in Filipino.
Toroctocon, for his part, disclosed that their intelligence men continue to receive "tidbits of information" regarding terroristic threats on the city coming from the Jeemah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group, which, even if based in Western Mindanao, have their own sympathizers from here.
The most recent terroristic attack in this city happened last February 14 of this year, simultaneous with the bombings in Makati City in Luzon, and in neighboring Davao City. At least three people were killed and 16 others were injured when a bomb blast hit the Gaisano Mall here last Valentine's day.
Toroctocon said personnel of the police precinct nearest to Phela Grande Hotel, located on Magsaysay Avenue here where embassy officials and most of the media are billeted, have been alerted to secure the vicinity.
They are supported by members of the military's Joint Task Force General Santos.
The stay here of the embassy people remains open until they could confirm the report regarding the stragglers, which, until yesterday, remains unaccomplished, said Ogawa.
He said what has so far transpired until the third day in waiting was only their continuing arrangement for the planned meeting.
The spokesman said no cash demand, either for ransom or other purposes, have been received by the Japanese government from anyone or the mediator in particular in exchange for the turn over of the alleged stragglers./DMS
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Scores of Japanese mediamen await development of stagglers report
By Ronron
May 28, 2005
General Santos City - Almost a hundred newsmen and crew, some of whom coming from Japan, are still awaiting here on Saturday the supposed turn over of two Japanese soldiers who have been in hiding and living in the mountains of this city for 60 years since the end of the second World War in 1945.
Despite several contacts made with a Japanese mediator since Thursday until yesterday, officials of the Japanese Embassy in Manila who were deployed here remains clueless as to when the turn-over of the two will take place.
Embassy spokesperson, Shuhei Ogawa, cited, among many things, the overwhelming presence of media practitioners here as a concern of the Mindanao-based mediator who is supposed to facilitate the turn over of the two war soldiers.
"We don't know the reason why they have not come out yet. But we hope to resolve this as soon as possible," Ogawa told reporters in an interview yesterday morning here at the East Asia Royale Hotel where the turn-over was supposed to take place.
Asked if they doubt the report, Ogawa replied: "It's too soon to judge. But we (embassy officials) were told to stay put here."
Four embassy officials arrived here last Friday morning to meet supposedly the mediator and the Japanese war soldiers, who are described to be in their 80's. But while some returned to the Japanese Consular office in Japan yesterday, officials from Japan's Ministry of Welfare are expected to arrive today.
"They will be coming here to help us in our operation here," Ogawa said of the Tokyo-based officials.
Ogawa said the purpose of their coming here is to verify the claim of the mediator who first called the Japanese Embassy in Manila last Thursday . According to the mediator, the two Japanese war veterans are seeking help to be able to go back to Japan.
"We are not asking for evidence from the mediator to support his claim. It's enough that he brings the two to us," said Ogawa. The mediator reportedly has not yet seen for himself the two stragglers.
The spokesman said he learned that the Ministry of Welfare of Japan has received letters from someone regarding the Japanese stragglers.
Until yesterday, Ogawa said they were still working out ways to bring out the alleged stragglers, even without the help of Philippine authorities.
"We will ask help (from the Philippine government) only when it is necessary," he said.
In separate interviews, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) District office here, the Army division in control of the area, and the city government admitted they still have to receive an official communication from the Japanese Embassy about its current undertaking. These agencies claimed of having no knowledge about the presence of Japanese stragglers here.
"The Philippine Army's sixth infantry division has been operating in the area of Mt. Matutum once in a while. We did not hear those names there, nor do we know the existence of Japanese war veterans," Army 6th ID Commander Maj. Gen. Raul Relano told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
The police, on the other hand, took the initiative of verifying the report through intelligence gathering.
It also warned the mediamen, especially those who came from Japan, not to proceed to the mountains because of the prevailig security threat brought about by the presence there of the Islamic secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the communist New People's Army (NPA), said Ogawa.
The arrival of several mediamen here has stirred excitement among local people, especially those who happen to pass by the hotels where reporters are on stand by. It also sent all hotels and lodging establishments here to full occupancy level./DMS
May 28, 2005
General Santos City - Almost a hundred newsmen and crew, some of whom coming from Japan, are still awaiting here on Saturday the supposed turn over of two Japanese soldiers who have been in hiding and living in the mountains of this city for 60 years since the end of the second World War in 1945.
Despite several contacts made with a Japanese mediator since Thursday until yesterday, officials of the Japanese Embassy in Manila who were deployed here remains clueless as to when the turn-over of the two will take place.
Embassy spokesperson, Shuhei Ogawa, cited, among many things, the overwhelming presence of media practitioners here as a concern of the Mindanao-based mediator who is supposed to facilitate the turn over of the two war soldiers.
"We don't know the reason why they have not come out yet. But we hope to resolve this as soon as possible," Ogawa told reporters in an interview yesterday morning here at the East Asia Royale Hotel where the turn-over was supposed to take place.
Asked if they doubt the report, Ogawa replied: "It's too soon to judge. But we (embassy officials) were told to stay put here."
Four embassy officials arrived here last Friday morning to meet supposedly the mediator and the Japanese war soldiers, who are described to be in their 80's. But while some returned to the Japanese Consular office in Japan yesterday, officials from Japan's Ministry of Welfare are expected to arrive today.
"They will be coming here to help us in our operation here," Ogawa said of the Tokyo-based officials.
Ogawa said the purpose of their coming here is to verify the claim of the mediator who first called the Japanese Embassy in Manila last Thursday . According to the mediator, the two Japanese war veterans are seeking help to be able to go back to Japan.
"We are not asking for evidence from the mediator to support his claim. It's enough that he brings the two to us," said Ogawa. The mediator reportedly has not yet seen for himself the two stragglers.
The spokesman said he learned that the Ministry of Welfare of Japan has received letters from someone regarding the Japanese stragglers.
Until yesterday, Ogawa said they were still working out ways to bring out the alleged stragglers, even without the help of Philippine authorities.
"We will ask help (from the Philippine government) only when it is necessary," he said.
In separate interviews, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) District office here, the Army division in control of the area, and the city government admitted they still have to receive an official communication from the Japanese Embassy about its current undertaking. These agencies claimed of having no knowledge about the presence of Japanese stragglers here.
"The Philippine Army's sixth infantry division has been operating in the area of Mt. Matutum once in a while. We did not hear those names there, nor do we know the existence of Japanese war veterans," Army 6th ID Commander Maj. Gen. Raul Relano told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
The police, on the other hand, took the initiative of verifying the report through intelligence gathering.
It also warned the mediamen, especially those who came from Japan, not to proceed to the mountains because of the prevailig security threat brought about by the presence there of the Islamic secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the communist New People's Army (NPA), said Ogawa.
The arrival of several mediamen here has stirred excitement among local people, especially those who happen to pass by the hotels where reporters are on stand by. It also sent all hotels and lodging establishments here to full occupancy level./DMS
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