Batangas ex-governor arrested for killing aide
By Ronron
January 12, 2007
Manila - Former Batangas Governor Antonio Leviste, the former husband of ex-Senator Loren Legarda, shot dead his aide inside his office on Friday noon for a still unknown reason.
Supt. Gilbert Cruz, chief of the Makati City Police, said Leviste confessed to shooting Rafael delas Alas at the 9th floor of the LPL Tower on Legazpi St. at around 12:30 pm after a heated argument over an undisclosed issue.
“The investigation will determine why the shooting took place,” Cruz said in a phone interview.
Cruz said Leviste surrendered to authorities after the incident and was immediately arrested.
However, his blood pressure shot up, prompting police to bring him to the Makati Medical Center, where he is currently under tight guard.
Cruz said Leviste will be charged with homicide./DMS
Saturday, January 13, 2007
AFP sends off 320 officers and soldiers to Liberia and Haiti for peacekeeping mission
AFP sends off 320 officers and soldiers to Liberia and Haiti for peacekeeping mission
By Ronron
January 12, 2007
Manila - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will send again within this month a new batch of officers and soldiers to Liberia and Haiti to form part of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission.
AFP Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said 165 officers and enlisted personnel will go to Liberia on January 24th, and 155 others will fly to Haiti on January 29th.
He said the mission will stay there for six months, replacing the current batch of troops whose tour-of-duty ends this month.
“We belong to a bigger body, like the United Nations. And, of course, being a member of that organization,… we have some responsibilities for that and one is sending our contingent to perform peacekeeping mission,” Bacarro explained.
Bacarro said a send-off ceremony for the troops was held at 9am yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo, presided over by AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero.
He said the troops for Liberia will be under the command of Col. Francisco Patrimonio, while those bound for Haiti will be led by Col. Romeo Gan.
The troops sent to UN peacekeeping missions abroad receive a 1,000 US dollar monthly allowance from the international body, apart from their regular monthly salaries from the Philippine government./DMS
By Ronron
January 12, 2007
Manila - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will send again within this month a new batch of officers and soldiers to Liberia and Haiti to form part of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission.
AFP Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said 165 officers and enlisted personnel will go to Liberia on January 24th, and 155 others will fly to Haiti on January 29th.
He said the mission will stay there for six months, replacing the current batch of troops whose tour-of-duty ends this month.
“We belong to a bigger body, like the United Nations. And, of course, being a member of that organization,… we have some responsibilities for that and one is sending our contingent to perform peacekeeping mission,” Bacarro explained.
Bacarro said a send-off ceremony for the troops was held at 9am yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo, presided over by AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero.
He said the troops for Liberia will be under the command of Col. Francisco Patrimonio, while those bound for Haiti will be led by Col. Romeo Gan.
The troops sent to UN peacekeeping missions abroad receive a 1,000 US dollar monthly allowance from the international body, apart from their regular monthly salaries from the Philippine government./DMS
Five more bombings feared in Mindanao; Indonesian invited for questioning
Five more bombings feared in Mindanao as police remains far from solving Wednesday’s series of blasts; Indonesian invited for questioning
By Ronron
January 12, 2007
Manila - Even as police is yet to find out the main culprits behind the series of bombings last Wednesday night in Mindanao, five more bombings are being feared to happen if an intelligence report is to be believed.
Chief Insp. Samson Obatay, spokesman of the Cotabato City police, said the report is in fact being regarded as A1, which means it is “probably true.”
“We received reports that five more bombs will be set off in Central Mindanao. There will be follow-on bombings, and our evaluation is that this report is A1. It’s probably true,” Obatay said in a phone interview Friday.
But there is no mention of a specific target place or time for the execution of the alleged bomb plot.
Nevertheless, Obatay said this is the reason why police forces in the city and in neighboring areas intensified their checkpoints, stepped up their visibility in public, and doubled their patrolling.
“Before the bombings last Wednesday, we also experienced the same. We received reports about bombings in Central Mindanao. So we are not taking these similar reports now lightly,” Obatay explained.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Mindanao has been on red alert even before Wednesday’s bombings in Cotabato City, General Santos City, and Kidapawan City that killed seven people and injured at least 44 others.
Obatay disclosed that since dawn of Thursday, they have been scouring the entire Cotabato City for a yellow Honda XRM motorcycle, which was described in another intelligence report as carrying bomb.
The search remains futile until yesterday afternoon.
Before 11 pm last Wednesday, a bomb blew off at the vicinity of Octavio Enterprises and Insular Life Building along SK Pendatun Avenue in Cotabato City, killing one garbage collector and wounding five others.
Two hours earlier, or at 8:40 pm, an explosion also rocked Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province, wounding six persons.
The incident, which happened near a police outpost on Santiago Boulevard.of said city, came almost three hours after the public market of General Santos City was bombed, killing six persons and leaving at least 33 others injured.
Police and military officials were quick to brand the incidents as “acts of terrorism” perpetrated probably by joint operatives of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Jeemah Islamiyah (JI), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Lost Command.
They alleged that the improvised explosive device (IED) used in Cotabato City, which was made up of an 81 mm mortar and triggered by a cellular phone, bore the signature of the terrorist groups, particularly that of the Abdul Basit Usman, an MILF Lost Command operative.
Usman, who is at large, was already charged for the bombings last October in Makilala, North Cotabato; Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat; and, in Cotabato City.
Obatay said joint police and Army operatives are already tracking down Usman and his cohorts, numbering no less than 20, in the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao.
Obatay said Usman and the other members of the MILF Lost Command Special Operations Group (SOG) have a hideout reportedly in a sitio (sub-village) in Kabuntalan town.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro yeseterday confirmed the tracking down operations of the military against Usman, but without disclosing his possible whereabouts, saying it is an operational detail.
He clarified, however, that Usman is just a probable suspect, and not the actual suspect, since there is no direct evidence against him yet in the latest spate of bombings.
The make-up of explosives used in Kidapawan and General Santos cities, on the other hand, remains unknown as of Friday. The laboratory examination and analysis on the debris recovered have yet to conclude, the police said.
Police earlier disclosed that nails were recovered from the blast site in General Santos City, which could have been used as splinters to hurt its target.
North Cotabato City police director Sr. Supt. Federico Dulay, in a phone interview, said yesterday that until the type of bombs used are established, and suspects are identified, the tri-bombings are far from being solved.
Unlike in Cotabato City and Kidapawan City, the police in General Santos City yesterday already invited one person who may turn out to be a suspect in the incident.
Sr. Supt. Alfredo Toroctocon, General Santos City police director, said in a phone interview yesterday that his investigators invited a certain Niko Kiramis, an Indonesian national, for questioning since he was reported by a police informant to be dubiously staying in the country.
“He is being questioned about his stay in the country, whether he has legal documents, and not as a suspect,” Toroctocon said.
When asked if the investigation is going to lead to determining whether or not Kiramis is a suspect to the bombings, Toroctocon said, “I would not go yet to (answering to) that extent.”
But Region 12 Police Director Chief Supt. German Doria said the Indonesian national was being questioned on his reported knowledge about the bombing in Bali, Indonesia.
“This is part of our efforts to prevent future attacks. This is also part of our coordination with our international counterparts,” Doria said in a phone interview.
He could not immediately say though if the foreigner is a suspect to the Bali bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005, and if he is a member of the JI.
Doria said the Indonesian could be released after six hours if police finds nothing against him.
In Kidapawan and Cotabato cities, police have only invited witnesses to issue statements about the incident, and not any possible suspects yet.
Dulay said it is going to be difficult to identify the suspects who left the IED in Kidapawan City because the place was dark.
The bombings in Mindanao, which happened on the eve of the start of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, prompted the government to place the entire region under Extreme-Critical terror alert, which means that follow-on bombings may be carried out./DMS
By Ronron
January 12, 2007
Manila - Even as police is yet to find out the main culprits behind the series of bombings last Wednesday night in Mindanao, five more bombings are being feared to happen if an intelligence report is to be believed.
Chief Insp. Samson Obatay, spokesman of the Cotabato City police, said the report is in fact being regarded as A1, which means it is “probably true.”
“We received reports that five more bombs will be set off in Central Mindanao. There will be follow-on bombings, and our evaluation is that this report is A1. It’s probably true,” Obatay said in a phone interview Friday.
But there is no mention of a specific target place or time for the execution of the alleged bomb plot.
Nevertheless, Obatay said this is the reason why police forces in the city and in neighboring areas intensified their checkpoints, stepped up their visibility in public, and doubled their patrolling.
“Before the bombings last Wednesday, we also experienced the same. We received reports about bombings in Central Mindanao. So we are not taking these similar reports now lightly,” Obatay explained.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Mindanao has been on red alert even before Wednesday’s bombings in Cotabato City, General Santos City, and Kidapawan City that killed seven people and injured at least 44 others.
Obatay disclosed that since dawn of Thursday, they have been scouring the entire Cotabato City for a yellow Honda XRM motorcycle, which was described in another intelligence report as carrying bomb.
The search remains futile until yesterday afternoon.
Before 11 pm last Wednesday, a bomb blew off at the vicinity of Octavio Enterprises and Insular Life Building along SK Pendatun Avenue in Cotabato City, killing one garbage collector and wounding five others.
Two hours earlier, or at 8:40 pm, an explosion also rocked Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province, wounding six persons.
The incident, which happened near a police outpost on Santiago Boulevard.of said city, came almost three hours after the public market of General Santos City was bombed, killing six persons and leaving at least 33 others injured.
Police and military officials were quick to brand the incidents as “acts of terrorism” perpetrated probably by joint operatives of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Jeemah Islamiyah (JI), and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Lost Command.
They alleged that the improvised explosive device (IED) used in Cotabato City, which was made up of an 81 mm mortar and triggered by a cellular phone, bore the signature of the terrorist groups, particularly that of the Abdul Basit Usman, an MILF Lost Command operative.
Usman, who is at large, was already charged for the bombings last October in Makilala, North Cotabato; Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat; and, in Cotabato City.
Obatay said joint police and Army operatives are already tracking down Usman and his cohorts, numbering no less than 20, in the Liguasan Marsh in Maguindanao.
Obatay said Usman and the other members of the MILF Lost Command Special Operations Group (SOG) have a hideout reportedly in a sitio (sub-village) in Kabuntalan town.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro yeseterday confirmed the tracking down operations of the military against Usman, but without disclosing his possible whereabouts, saying it is an operational detail.
He clarified, however, that Usman is just a probable suspect, and not the actual suspect, since there is no direct evidence against him yet in the latest spate of bombings.
The make-up of explosives used in Kidapawan and General Santos cities, on the other hand, remains unknown as of Friday. The laboratory examination and analysis on the debris recovered have yet to conclude, the police said.
Police earlier disclosed that nails were recovered from the blast site in General Santos City, which could have been used as splinters to hurt its target.
North Cotabato City police director Sr. Supt. Federico Dulay, in a phone interview, said yesterday that until the type of bombs used are established, and suspects are identified, the tri-bombings are far from being solved.
Unlike in Cotabato City and Kidapawan City, the police in General Santos City yesterday already invited one person who may turn out to be a suspect in the incident.
Sr. Supt. Alfredo Toroctocon, General Santos City police director, said in a phone interview yesterday that his investigators invited a certain Niko Kiramis, an Indonesian national, for questioning since he was reported by a police informant to be dubiously staying in the country.
“He is being questioned about his stay in the country, whether he has legal documents, and not as a suspect,” Toroctocon said.
When asked if the investigation is going to lead to determining whether or not Kiramis is a suspect to the bombings, Toroctocon said, “I would not go yet to (answering to) that extent.”
But Region 12 Police Director Chief Supt. German Doria said the Indonesian national was being questioned on his reported knowledge about the bombing in Bali, Indonesia.
“This is part of our efforts to prevent future attacks. This is also part of our coordination with our international counterparts,” Doria said in a phone interview.
He could not immediately say though if the foreigner is a suspect to the Bali bomb attacks in 2002 and 2005, and if he is a member of the JI.
Doria said the Indonesian could be released after six hours if police finds nothing against him.
In Kidapawan and Cotabato cities, police have only invited witnesses to issue statements about the incident, and not any possible suspects yet.
Dulay said it is going to be difficult to identify the suspects who left the IED in Kidapawan City because the place was dark.
The bombings in Mindanao, which happened on the eve of the start of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, prompted the government to place the entire region under Extreme-Critical terror alert, which means that follow-on bombings may be carried out./DMS
Friday, January 12, 2007
Seven killed, 44 injured in blasts in three Mindanao cities
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Thursday, January 11, 2007
Filipino couple apprehended in Hongkong for cracking bomb joke on plane
By Ronron
January 10, 2007
Manila - A Filipino couple was apprehended on Wednesday at the Hongkong International Airport for joking that their luggage contains a bomb, a Manila airport official said.
Angel Atutubo, General Manager for Security and Emergency Services of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), said Joselito and Sarah Daza were offloaded from their Cebu Pacific flight 5J11 bound for Manila before noon yesterday after Joselito was heard by a flight attendant saying that there is a bomb in his luggage.
“They were apprehended and offloaded in Hongkong because of a bomb joke, that allegedly there is a bomb in his (Joselito’s) luggage,” Atutubo said.
“Under international aviation regulations, that is not allowed,” he added.
Atutubo said that after a thorough inspection, Hongkong authorities found out that there were no explosive materials on the plane.
“The flight arrived in Manila as scheduled at around 1:30 pm,” he said.
Atutubo said the couple was immediately subjected to interrogation and investigation by airport authorities of Hongkong.
He could not say, however, what sanctions await the Daza’s. But he said that if it happened in the Philippines, they could be jailed for six years and pay a fine.
“We are still awaiting for feedback of the interrogation,” Atutubo said when asked about the condition of the two.
He said he has not talked yet to the couple as of 5pm yesterday./DMS
By Ronron
January 10, 2007
Manila - A Filipino couple was apprehended on Wednesday at the Hongkong International Airport for joking that their luggage contains a bomb, a Manila airport official said.
Angel Atutubo, General Manager for Security and Emergency Services of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), said Joselito and Sarah Daza were offloaded from their Cebu Pacific flight 5J11 bound for Manila before noon yesterday after Joselito was heard by a flight attendant saying that there is a bomb in his luggage.
“They were apprehended and offloaded in Hongkong because of a bomb joke, that allegedly there is a bomb in his (Joselito’s) luggage,” Atutubo said.
“Under international aviation regulations, that is not allowed,” he added.
Atutubo said that after a thorough inspection, Hongkong authorities found out that there were no explosive materials on the plane.
“The flight arrived in Manila as scheduled at around 1:30 pm,” he said.
Atutubo said the couple was immediately subjected to interrogation and investigation by airport authorities of Hongkong.
He could not say, however, what sanctions await the Daza’s. But he said that if it happened in the Philippines, they could be jailed for six years and pay a fine.
“We are still awaiting for feedback of the interrogation,” Atutubo said when asked about the condition of the two.
He said he has not talked yet to the couple as of 5pm yesterday./DMS
AFP goes on full alert for ASEAN Summit
AFP goes on full alert for ASEAN Summit
By Ronron
January 10, 2007
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) went on full alert on Wednesday in time for the start of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit being held in Cebu.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado said the alert status went effective at 8am, and will only be downgraded upon assessment after the regional leaders’ meeting ends on January 15.
Honrado said the alert status is meant to ensure that all threats of terrorism and other forms of disturbance will be prevented.
Under a full alert status, all AFP officers and soldiers are not allowed to go on leave from work.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) leadership earlier reiterated to its personnel that it is maintaining during the duration of the summit the highest alert status, which was in effect since the Christmas season.
But just like the NCRPO, Honrado assured yesterday that there is no direct or specific threat of a terrorist attack in Cebu or in other parts of the country.
AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. was in Cebu yesterday and personnel met with officials of the Central Command, based in Cebu City, who briefed him about the security preparations for the Summit, said AFP Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro.
“It’s all systems go. He (Esperon) believes that the AFP has sufficiently prepared to quell possible threats to the summit,” Bacarro told reporters in a phone interview from Cebu./DMS
By Ronron
January 10, 2007
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) went on full alert on Wednesday in time for the start of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit being held in Cebu.
AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Jose Angel Honrado said the alert status went effective at 8am, and will only be downgraded upon assessment after the regional leaders’ meeting ends on January 15.
Honrado said the alert status is meant to ensure that all threats of terrorism and other forms of disturbance will be prevented.
Under a full alert status, all AFP officers and soldiers are not allowed to go on leave from work.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) leadership earlier reiterated to its personnel that it is maintaining during the duration of the summit the highest alert status, which was in effect since the Christmas season.
But just like the NCRPO, Honrado assured yesterday that there is no direct or specific threat of a terrorist attack in Cebu or in other parts of the country.
AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. was in Cebu yesterday and personnel met with officials of the Central Command, based in Cebu City, who briefed him about the security preparations for the Summit, said AFP Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro.
“It’s all systems go. He (Esperon) believes that the AFP has sufficiently prepared to quell possible threats to the summit,” Bacarro told reporters in a phone interview from Cebu./DMS
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Army admits different treatment on former escapee Magdalo officers
Army admits different treatment on former escapee Magdalo officers
By Ronron
January 9, 2007
Manila - The spokesman of the Philippine Army admitted on Tuesday that they are treating at least three Magdalo officers differently from the rest of their fellow mutineers because they have already escaped before.
Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Captain Dante Langkit, 2nd Lt. Aldrin Baldonado and 1Lt. Sonny Sarmiento are being detained individually at a row of detention cells inside the Intelligence Service Group (ISG) compound at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, unlike their other fellow mutineers.
“There are slight differences in the way they are treated, because they have graver offense. In terms of security, their guards are stricter on them inside the compound,” Torres said.
Last week, the wives of Baldonado and Sarmiento complained that the two are being placed in solitary confinement, and are being treated harshly.
“They are being detained individually, but it’s different from the perception about a bartolina (solitary confinement)… It’s a room. They are staying in one room,” Torres said of the three.
But he denied the harsh treatment claim of the officers’ wives.
“They are being treated well and we will continue to do that, to treat them well for as long as they are under our custody,” Torres said.
“In fact, they are given enough food, they have nice living quarters, and the visitation arrangement for them are in order,” he added.
He, however, admitted that those officers who have vowed to support the government, like Army Captain Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo, are given “more comfortable and livable living quarters.”
Torres said “they also have enough room to exercise…, they also have a full-length basketball court, which also doubles as a badminton court, a mini gym, and inside the campus are several livelihood projects for the detainees.”
He said the detainees engage in making rig for shooting (belt), holster, and ammunition pouch, and in soap-making inside the detention compound. Some are also engaged in poultry raising.
Told about the apparent weight loss of Sarmiento and 1Lt. Nathaniel Rabonza, Torres explained: “It’s not really because they are not being fed well. Of course, the problem of being detained, how ever you are treated, it causes you some anxiety. This may be some of the factors why they lost weight.”
Sarmiento and Rabonza escaped from detention in January last year, together with 1Lts. Lawrence San Juan and Patricio Bumidang. They were all re-arrested a few months later.
Langkit and Baldonado, for their parts, went on Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL), but were also arrested last year.
All are being accused of helping plan to overthrow the Arroyo government. Except for Baldonado, they are now facing charges both before the General Court Martial and civilian courts. Baldonado is only facing charges at the Quezon City court./DMS
By Ronron
January 9, 2007
Manila - The spokesman of the Philippine Army admitted on Tuesday that they are treating at least three Magdalo officers differently from the rest of their fellow mutineers because they have already escaped before.
Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Captain Dante Langkit, 2nd Lt. Aldrin Baldonado and 1Lt. Sonny Sarmiento are being detained individually at a row of detention cells inside the Intelligence Service Group (ISG) compound at the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, unlike their other fellow mutineers.
“There are slight differences in the way they are treated, because they have graver offense. In terms of security, their guards are stricter on them inside the compound,” Torres said.
Last week, the wives of Baldonado and Sarmiento complained that the two are being placed in solitary confinement, and are being treated harshly.
“They are being detained individually, but it’s different from the perception about a bartolina (solitary confinement)… It’s a room. They are staying in one room,” Torres said of the three.
But he denied the harsh treatment claim of the officers’ wives.
“They are being treated well and we will continue to do that, to treat them well for as long as they are under our custody,” Torres said.
“In fact, they are given enough food, they have nice living quarters, and the visitation arrangement for them are in order,” he added.
He, however, admitted that those officers who have vowed to support the government, like Army Captain Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo, are given “more comfortable and livable living quarters.”
Torres said “they also have enough room to exercise…, they also have a full-length basketball court, which also doubles as a badminton court, a mini gym, and inside the campus are several livelihood projects for the detainees.”
He said the detainees engage in making rig for shooting (belt), holster, and ammunition pouch, and in soap-making inside the detention compound. Some are also engaged in poultry raising.
Told about the apparent weight loss of Sarmiento and 1Lt. Nathaniel Rabonza, Torres explained: “It’s not really because they are not being fed well. Of course, the problem of being detained, how ever you are treated, it causes you some anxiety. This may be some of the factors why they lost weight.”
Sarmiento and Rabonza escaped from detention in January last year, together with 1Lts. Lawrence San Juan and Patricio Bumidang. They were all re-arrested a few months later.
Langkit and Baldonado, for their parts, went on Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL), but were also arrested last year.
All are being accused of helping plan to overthrow the Arroyo government. Except for Baldonado, they are now facing charges both before the General Court Martial and civilian courts. Baldonado is only facing charges at the Quezon City court./DMS
CPP dares Esperon to quit if AFP fails to defeat them on target
Communists challenges Esperon to quit if AFP fails to defeat them on target
By Ronron
January 9, 2007
Manila - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is challenging Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. to quit his post at the end of this year if he fails to meet his target in neutralizing the communist movement.
In a statement dated January 8, CPP spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal expressed confidence that the AFP “will miserably fail” in crushing within the year a significant portion of the New People’s Army’s (NPA) strength.
In a visit to troops yesterday in Davao City, Esperon said the AFP should be able to reduce the number of NPA members to 3,500 or 50 percent by the end of 2010, the timeline set by the government under AFP Campaign Plan Bantay Laya II.
“(Rosal) challenged Esperon to have himself dishonorably discharged from the AFP by the end of 2007 if the AFP fails to meet the targets that he has set. The general’s statement will only blow in his face of an impending upsurge of the revolutionary armed struggle,” the CPP statement reads.
Rosal said that historically, the AFP never succeeded in defeating the 38-year-old communist movement despite its pronouncements.
“The AFP has been declaring to end the NPA since the 1970’s… Even at its strongest during the Marcos martial law years, the AFP could only concentrate its forces in a maximum of 12-15 guerilla fronts in any one year,” Rosal said.
The CPP claims to have more than 120 guerilla fronts nationwide, covering more than 800 municipalities from 70 provinces.
Rosal said it would even be more difficult now for the military to crush the communist movement since there is a standing directive for NPA fighters to continue recruiting new members, and launch offensives against government and private installations.
“By 2010, the NPA targets to complete the plan to form several scores more of company-sized guerilla fronts with several platoon complements each, capable of launching successive tactical offensives nationwide,” Rosal said.
Esperon was in Sulu on Monday, proceeded to Cotabato and Davao Cities thereafter, and then flew to Cebu to make known to troops in the field “a common understanding” on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order of defeating the NPA by 2010 when her term ends.
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla war in the past 37 years./DMS
By Ronron
January 9, 2007
Manila - The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) is challenging Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. to quit his post at the end of this year if he fails to meet his target in neutralizing the communist movement.
In a statement dated January 8, CPP spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal expressed confidence that the AFP “will miserably fail” in crushing within the year a significant portion of the New People’s Army’s (NPA) strength.
In a visit to troops yesterday in Davao City, Esperon said the AFP should be able to reduce the number of NPA members to 3,500 or 50 percent by the end of 2010, the timeline set by the government under AFP Campaign Plan Bantay Laya II.
“(Rosal) challenged Esperon to have himself dishonorably discharged from the AFP by the end of 2007 if the AFP fails to meet the targets that he has set. The general’s statement will only blow in his face of an impending upsurge of the revolutionary armed struggle,” the CPP statement reads.
Rosal said that historically, the AFP never succeeded in defeating the 38-year-old communist movement despite its pronouncements.
“The AFP has been declaring to end the NPA since the 1970’s… Even at its strongest during the Marcos martial law years, the AFP could only concentrate its forces in a maximum of 12-15 guerilla fronts in any one year,” Rosal said.
The CPP claims to have more than 120 guerilla fronts nationwide, covering more than 800 municipalities from 70 provinces.
Rosal said it would even be more difficult now for the military to crush the communist movement since there is a standing directive for NPA fighters to continue recruiting new members, and launch offensives against government and private installations.
“By 2010, the NPA targets to complete the plan to form several scores more of company-sized guerilla fronts with several platoon complements each, capable of launching successive tactical offensives nationwide,” Rosal said.
Esperon was in Sulu on Monday, proceeded to Cotabato and Davao Cities thereafter, and then flew to Cebu to make known to troops in the field “a common understanding” on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order of defeating the NPA by 2010 when her term ends.
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla war in the past 37 years./DMS
Two dead, 2 missing, 1 injured in Southern Leyte landslide
Two dead, 2 missing, 1 injured in Southern Leyte landslide
By Ronron
January 9, 2007
Manila - Two persons died, two others are missing and one was injured in a landslide Monday in Southern Leyte due to continuous rains.
The incident happened past 4pm at Barangay Tampoong, Sogod town, which is some 50 kilometers away from the town of St. Bernard of the same province where a massive landslide buried an entire village in February last year, killing hundreds of people.
Sogod Information Officer Lord Nestor Guinoo told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that three houses were buried by mixed soil, stones and little plants from the nearby hill, which gave way due to the non-stop rains since late December of last year.
Of the three affected families, two suffered casualties.
Recovered dead after the incident were the Cawaling couple – Julian, 70, and Mercy, 68; while the Cadavos couple – Emilio, 53, and Lilia, 65, remains missing as of Tuesday afternoon.
The 15-year-old grandson of the Cadavos survived the incident but sustained minor injuries, said Guinoo.
“The third affected family was lucky to have escaped the tragedy. Felisa Tantoy, who lives alone, was evacuated and is now under the case of the municipal government,” Guinoo said.
Cris Perez of the government weather station told Manila Shimbun that the rains in Southern Leyte were caused by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone affecting Visayas and Mindanao.
“We already issued a warning earlier that the widespread rains could trigger parallel flashfloods and landslides in the affected areas, especially in the eastern section where the rains will be concentrated,” Perez said in a phone interview.
On February 17, 2005, continuous rains also caused a wide portion of a mountain in Barangay Guinsaugon in St. Bernard town to collapse and cover the entire village.
Over a thousand people were declared dead from that incident, which drew support and assistance from foreign countries in terms of search and rescue operations, and in the rehabilitation phase./DMS
By Ronron
January 9, 2007
Manila - Two persons died, two others are missing and one was injured in a landslide Monday in Southern Leyte due to continuous rains.
The incident happened past 4pm at Barangay Tampoong, Sogod town, which is some 50 kilometers away from the town of St. Bernard of the same province where a massive landslide buried an entire village in February last year, killing hundreds of people.
Sogod Information Officer Lord Nestor Guinoo told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that three houses were buried by mixed soil, stones and little plants from the nearby hill, which gave way due to the non-stop rains since late December of last year.
Of the three affected families, two suffered casualties.
Recovered dead after the incident were the Cawaling couple – Julian, 70, and Mercy, 68; while the Cadavos couple – Emilio, 53, and Lilia, 65, remains missing as of Tuesday afternoon.
The 15-year-old grandson of the Cadavos survived the incident but sustained minor injuries, said Guinoo.
“The third affected family was lucky to have escaped the tragedy. Felisa Tantoy, who lives alone, was evacuated and is now under the case of the municipal government,” Guinoo said.
Cris Perez of the government weather station told Manila Shimbun that the rains in Southern Leyte were caused by the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone affecting Visayas and Mindanao.
“We already issued a warning earlier that the widespread rains could trigger parallel flashfloods and landslides in the affected areas, especially in the eastern section where the rains will be concentrated,” Perez said in a phone interview.
On February 17, 2005, continuous rains also caused a wide portion of a mountain in Barangay Guinsaugon in St. Bernard town to collapse and cover the entire village.
Over a thousand people were declared dead from that incident, which drew support and assistance from foreign countries in terms of search and rescue operations, and in the rehabilitation phase./DMS
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
RP-US Balikatan 07 set in February
Balikatan set in February
By Ronron
January 8, 2007
Jolo, Sulu - The RP-US Balikatan exercises will resume anytime next month.
This was the assurance of US Embassy in Manila Charge d’ Affaires Paul Jones when interviewed Monday after he inspected a US-funded road project here.
“In February, we’ll start again the Balikatan,” Jones said.
Sought for confirmation during a press conference later, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said: “As we understand, the exercises under Balikatan will resume as scheduled in February.”
The officials, however, did not give specific dates of the war games since the technical working groups of both sides are still working on it.
The US last month announced the postponement of the exercises due to the custody row involving convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith of the US Marine Corps. But after he was transferred to the US Embassy in Manila before the end of the year, the US government said the Balikatan will resume.
Smith was found by a Makati City court guilty of raping of Filipina last November 1, 2005 in Zambales after participating in another RP-US exercises.
“As we have said all along, any kind of training would be good for our forces, in fact good for both sides. This is not to say that without the training, we cannot survive. We can do our own training,” Esperon said.
But he said to learn interoperability, the use of modern equipment, and the continuing fellowship of both forces are some things only the Balikatan could offer.
The said exercise usually involves thousands of troops from both sides to participate in war games held in Luzon and Mindanao, as well as civic military operations./DMS
By Ronron
January 8, 2007
Jolo, Sulu - The RP-US Balikatan exercises will resume anytime next month.
This was the assurance of US Embassy in Manila Charge d’ Affaires Paul Jones when interviewed Monday after he inspected a US-funded road project here.
“In February, we’ll start again the Balikatan,” Jones said.
Sought for confirmation during a press conference later, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said: “As we understand, the exercises under Balikatan will resume as scheduled in February.”
The officials, however, did not give specific dates of the war games since the technical working groups of both sides are still working on it.
The US last month announced the postponement of the exercises due to the custody row involving convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith of the US Marine Corps. But after he was transferred to the US Embassy in Manila before the end of the year, the US government said the Balikatan will resume.
Smith was found by a Makati City court guilty of raping of Filipina last November 1, 2005 in Zambales after participating in another RP-US exercises.
“As we have said all along, any kind of training would be good for our forces, in fact good for both sides. This is not to say that without the training, we cannot survive. We can do our own training,” Esperon said.
But he said to learn interoperability, the use of modern equipment, and the continuing fellowship of both forces are some things only the Balikatan could offer.
The said exercise usually involves thousands of troops from both sides to participate in war games held in Luzon and Mindanao, as well as civic military operations./DMS
Arroyo assures safety of ASEAN Summit; AFP vows to get next the high-value terrorist targets
By Ronron
January 8, 2007
Jolo, Sulu – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally assured here on Monday the safety of delegates to the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which will be held in Cebu from January 10 until the 15th.
In a speech she delivered before presiding over the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) command conference here, Arroyo said: “As we face the ASEAN Summit, we would like to assure all our allies in East Asia and beyond that the Filipino soldiery and people are on watch every hour of the day. They’re determined to do their share to defeat terror for a more secure and safer world.”
The assurance came a day after Australia issued a travel advisory to its citizens, prohibiting trips to the country, especially in Cebu, because of an alleged prevailing threat of terrorism.
Over the weekend, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the AFP also reiterated that all security measures for the ASEAN Summit are already in place, and that no threat of terrorist attack has been monitored, so far.
“Our meetings in Cebu will sustain the momentum in our collective fight against terror and in mopping up all forms of instability that affect the run of trade, cooperation, and people-to-people solidarity in this part of the world,” the President said at the Philippine Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade headquarters here.
She pledged that the Philippines “will continue to be a strong player in security and trade, in fighting poverty and building prosperity.”
“This is our commitment to the Filipino people, to the peoples of East Asia, and to all our allies like the United States,” she said.
The Philippines has been fighting terrorism over the last few years after its Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) gained support from Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network and its southeast asian cell, the Jeemah Islamiyah (JI).
The AFP on Saturday scored against the ASG/JI group by killing at least five of its members in an encounter off the waters of Tawi-tawi, located south of this island province.
In a press conference after the closed-door command conference with the President, AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. indicated the improbability of the ASG and JI sowing terror during the regional leaders’ meeting in Cebu.
Esperon said that one of the reasons for the no-let up operations here against the ASG and JI is to make sure their operatives do not slip out of the island and “disturb the summit.”
Esperon said the recent travel advisories of foreign countries are not even “that necessary,” citing the AFP’s successful operation last Saturday against the terror group.
“We are confident that we will see the end of the high value targets. We will not allow them to leave Jolo. The initiative is on our side,” the top military commander said.
He disclosed that Arroyo instructed them to pursue the terrorists here, “keep them off balance, and if not, neutralize them.”
Aside from bombings, the ASG has been responsible for a number of high-profile kidnappings in the country over the last few years.
The terrorist group is believed to have a strength of not less than 400, while the JI is no more than 30, according to military intelligence information./DMS
January 8, 2007
Jolo, Sulu – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally assured here on Monday the safety of delegates to the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which will be held in Cebu from January 10 until the 15th.
In a speech she delivered before presiding over the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) command conference here, Arroyo said: “As we face the ASEAN Summit, we would like to assure all our allies in East Asia and beyond that the Filipino soldiery and people are on watch every hour of the day. They’re determined to do their share to defeat terror for a more secure and safer world.”
The assurance came a day after Australia issued a travel advisory to its citizens, prohibiting trips to the country, especially in Cebu, because of an alleged prevailing threat of terrorism.
Over the weekend, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the AFP also reiterated that all security measures for the ASEAN Summit are already in place, and that no threat of terrorist attack has been monitored, so far.
“Our meetings in Cebu will sustain the momentum in our collective fight against terror and in mopping up all forms of instability that affect the run of trade, cooperation, and people-to-people solidarity in this part of the world,” the President said at the Philippine Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade headquarters here.
She pledged that the Philippines “will continue to be a strong player in security and trade, in fighting poverty and building prosperity.”
“This is our commitment to the Filipino people, to the peoples of East Asia, and to all our allies like the United States,” she said.
The Philippines has been fighting terrorism over the last few years after its Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) gained support from Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network and its southeast asian cell, the Jeemah Islamiyah (JI).
The AFP on Saturday scored against the ASG/JI group by killing at least five of its members in an encounter off the waters of Tawi-tawi, located south of this island province.
In a press conference after the closed-door command conference with the President, AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. indicated the improbability of the ASG and JI sowing terror during the regional leaders’ meeting in Cebu.
Esperon said that one of the reasons for the no-let up operations here against the ASG and JI is to make sure their operatives do not slip out of the island and “disturb the summit.”
Esperon said the recent travel advisories of foreign countries are not even “that necessary,” citing the AFP’s successful operation last Saturday against the terror group.
“We are confident that we will see the end of the high value targets. We will not allow them to leave Jolo. The initiative is on our side,” the top military commander said.
He disclosed that Arroyo instructed them to pursue the terrorists here, “keep them off balance, and if not, neutralize them.”
Aside from bombings, the ASG has been responsible for a number of high-profile kidnappings in the country over the last few years.
The terrorist group is believed to have a strength of not less than 400, while the JI is no more than 30, according to military intelligence information./DMS
Arroyo commends AFP for ASG and JI neutralization
By Ronron
January 8, 2007
Jolo, Sulu – Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday for the recent neutralization of key Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leaders and a Jeemah Islamiyah (JI) operative.
Presiding over the AFP command conference here, Arroyo described last Saturday’s operations in Tawi—tawi, which resulted to the death of five ASG elements and an Indonesian JI member, as a “stunning victory” against the terrorist groups.
“I commend the AFP for the successful operation against the Abu Sayyaf and the JI, which only proves that this terrorist elements have nowhere to hide, and are in fact already doomed to annihilation,” Arroyo said.
The President reiterated that the Philippine’s fight against terror “goes hand in hand with the global and regional efforts.”
It is worth noting that an official of the US Embassy and members of the US Armed Forces were present during the closed-door command conference held at the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade here in Barangay Busbus.
While on her left is AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., seated on the President’s right is US Embassy in Manila Charge d’ Affairs Paul Jones.
Earlier in the day, Arroyo inspected and inaugurated the US-sponsored/assisted Indanan-Parang Road Upgrading in the towns of Indanan and Parang.
The rehabilitation of the 3.94-kilometer road is being funded by the US Assistance for International Development (AID), in the amount of P49 million or US$ 969,324.
Arroyo profusely thanked the US government for said assistance, which she said is a result of the Philippine’s strategic alliance with the Washington.
“Indeed, we welcome this partnership,” she said, while acknowledging Jones.
The RP-US relationship was recently tested by the issue regarding the custody of convicted rapist Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, who was earlier detained at the Makati City Jail but was later transferred to the US Embassy compound in Manila even without a court order.
Arroyo had already admitted that the transfer of Smith, who raped a Filipino woman from Zamboanga City last November 1, 2005 in Olongapo City, was carried out to save the RP-US relationship.
Prior to Smith’s clandestine transfer to the US Embassy last December 29, the US military announced it was postponing the annual RP-US Balikatan Exercises until the US gets Smith from the Makati City Jail./DMS
Monday, January 8, 2007
VFA body head quits over Smith transfer issue
By Ronron
January 7, 2007 (Sunday)
Manila - Undersecretary Zosimo Paredes, Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), is resigning from his post due to his opposing view on the issue regarding the transfer of US Lance Corporal Daniel Smith last December 29 from the Makati City Jail to the US Embassy in Manila.
In a television interview Sunday, Paredes said he will be submitting his resignation letter anytime this week to Malacañang.
Interviewed later by phone, Paredes, who held the post for three years, told Manila Shimbun he suggested quitting effective end of this month.
“I took a position which is diametrically opposed to that of the administration, so I cannot sit well anymore with them,” he said in the television interview when asked if the reason for his resignation is his opposition to the Malacañang-backed transfer of Smith.
“I maintain my position that I am for the return of Smith to the US custody. This is what Paragraph 6 (of Article 5 of the VFA) requires. What I was against was the manner with which he was whisked away from Makati City Jail to the US Embassy without any court order or authorization,” he explained.
Paredes stressed that even with the agreement of US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo about the transfer of Smith to US custody, “it’s still the court” that should have effected such move, and not the executive branch.
“We are supposed to be a society of law. So, we have to abide by the rules of the court, by the separation of powers of government, and all that. I fought very hard for Provision 6, but I will also fight hard to see to it that no Constitution or principle of which shall be violated,” Paredes said.
He disclosed the transfer of Smith greatly surprised him because he only learned about it only after it was effected.
He said that after talking with Malacañang officials in the past few days, his resignation will easily be approved. “We have more or less agreed about my quitting the post,” Paredes said.
While he admitted that some provisions in the VFA need clarifications, Paredes said amendments and re-negotiations should only be done after the resolution of the Subic Rape Case.
He said he does not know yet if he is going to accept a new government post, although his immediate plan is to either go back to law practice or teach law in the university./DMS
January 7, 2007 (Sunday)
Manila - Undersecretary Zosimo Paredes, Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), is resigning from his post due to his opposing view on the issue regarding the transfer of US Lance Corporal Daniel Smith last December 29 from the Makati City Jail to the US Embassy in Manila.
In a television interview Sunday, Paredes said he will be submitting his resignation letter anytime this week to Malacañang.
Interviewed later by phone, Paredes, who held the post for three years, told Manila Shimbun he suggested quitting effective end of this month.
“I took a position which is diametrically opposed to that of the administration, so I cannot sit well anymore with them,” he said in the television interview when asked if the reason for his resignation is his opposition to the Malacañang-backed transfer of Smith.
“I maintain my position that I am for the return of Smith to the US custody. This is what Paragraph 6 (of Article 5 of the VFA) requires. What I was against was the manner with which he was whisked away from Makati City Jail to the US Embassy without any court order or authorization,” he explained.
Paredes stressed that even with the agreement of US Ambassador Kristie Kenney and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo about the transfer of Smith to US custody, “it’s still the court” that should have effected such move, and not the executive branch.
“We are supposed to be a society of law. So, we have to abide by the rules of the court, by the separation of powers of government, and all that. I fought very hard for Provision 6, but I will also fight hard to see to it that no Constitution or principle of which shall be violated,” Paredes said.
He disclosed the transfer of Smith greatly surprised him because he only learned about it only after it was effected.
He said that after talking with Malacañang officials in the past few days, his resignation will easily be approved. “We have more or less agreed about my quitting the post,” Paredes said.
While he admitted that some provisions in the VFA need clarifications, Paredes said amendments and re-negotiations should only be done after the resolution of the Subic Rape Case.
He said he does not know yet if he is going to accept a new government post, although his immediate plan is to either go back to law practice or teach law in the university./DMS
JI operative killed in Tawi-tawi clash - AFP
By Ronron
January 7, 2007 (Sunday)
Manila - A member of the Jeemah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group was among those killed in Saturday’s encounter between Moslem extremists and government troops in Tawi-tawi in southern Philippines.
According to Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, the JI member was identified by military intelligence agents as a certain GAFUR, alias Abu Samur, an Indonesian national.
Gafur was with the group of six other Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) rebels that fought against members of the Special Operations Platoon of the 2nd Marine Battalion, under Maj. Joseph Ferrous Cuison, at around 4:55 pm of January 6.
Caculitan said the incident happened at the waters of Panglima, Sugala in Tawi-tawi.
“The six terrorist members of the ASG/JI were escaping the heat of combat operations in Sulu when they were caught up with operating elements of the 2nd Marine Battalion based in Tawi-tawi,” Caculitan said yesterday.
He identified the other fatalities as Abu Hubaida, a pioneering ASG member; Jundam Jamalul, alias Black Killer, an ASG sub-leader with a P1 million reward; Ibrahim Hassan, alias Abu Muksin, an alleged trustee of ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani; Gadar Abubakar; and an unidentified member.
Another ASG member was also allegedly killed in the same encounter but his body fell into the sea and could no longer be found.
No one from the government side was hurt or killed in said incident.
Government troops recovered from the encounter site two M16 rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, and hundreds of ammunitions.
“The terrorist group was being pursued by elements of Marine Forces Reconnaissance Batallion up to Capual and Pata Island two days ago. But when the group slipped through and reached the waters of Tawi-tawi, elements of the 2nd Marine Battalion took over and intercepted these terrorists,” Caculitan said.
The Marine spokesman attributed the success of the operation to the “AFP’s good intelligence and Fleet-Marines Operations.”
“This only shows that the operating units of the AFP are bent in destroying the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members and their JI cohorts in order to give the people of Mindanao a better opportunity to achieve peace and progress,” said Caculitan.
The ASG and JI have been blamed by local authorities for a number of terrorist activities in the different parts of the country, like bombings and kidnappings over the last few years./DMS
January 7, 2007 (Sunday)
Manila - A member of the Jeemah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group was among those killed in Saturday’s encounter between Moslem extremists and government troops in Tawi-tawi in southern Philippines.
According to Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) spokesman Lt. Col. Ariel Caculitan, the JI member was identified by military intelligence agents as a certain GAFUR, alias Abu Samur, an Indonesian national.
Gafur was with the group of six other Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) rebels that fought against members of the Special Operations Platoon of the 2nd Marine Battalion, under Maj. Joseph Ferrous Cuison, at around 4:55 pm of January 6.
Caculitan said the incident happened at the waters of Panglima, Sugala in Tawi-tawi.
“The six terrorist members of the ASG/JI were escaping the heat of combat operations in Sulu when they were caught up with operating elements of the 2nd Marine Battalion based in Tawi-tawi,” Caculitan said yesterday.
He identified the other fatalities as Abu Hubaida, a pioneering ASG member; Jundam Jamalul, alias Black Killer, an ASG sub-leader with a P1 million reward; Ibrahim Hassan, alias Abu Muksin, an alleged trustee of ASG leader Khadaffy Janjalani; Gadar Abubakar; and an unidentified member.
Another ASG member was also allegedly killed in the same encounter but his body fell into the sea and could no longer be found.
No one from the government side was hurt or killed in said incident.
Government troops recovered from the encounter site two M16 rifles, one M203 grenade launcher, and hundreds of ammunitions.
“The terrorist group was being pursued by elements of Marine Forces Reconnaissance Batallion up to Capual and Pata Island two days ago. But when the group slipped through and reached the waters of Tawi-tawi, elements of the 2nd Marine Battalion took over and intercepted these terrorists,” Caculitan said.
The Marine spokesman attributed the success of the operation to the “AFP’s good intelligence and Fleet-Marines Operations.”
“This only shows that the operating units of the AFP are bent in destroying the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) members and their JI cohorts in order to give the people of Mindanao a better opportunity to achieve peace and progress,” said Caculitan.
The ASG and JI have been blamed by local authorities for a number of terrorist activities in the different parts of the country, like bombings and kidnappings over the last few years./DMS
5 kids eaten up by fire in Valenzuela City
By Ronron
January 7, 2007 (Sunday)
Manila - Five children were killed in a pre-dawn fire Sunday in Valenzuela City after they were trapped inside their house allegedly due to a padlocked door.
Chief Insp. Agapito Nacario, Valenzuela City Fire chief, identified the victims as Vevita siblings, Herbert, 10; Henrieta, 8; Henessey, 7; Marirold, 6; and, Harold, Jr., 3; all residents of Dulong Carnation in Barangay Malinta.
“All five are charred beyond recognition… It’s as if they were cremated because all that’s left are their bones,” Nacario said in a phone interview yesterday.
The fire official disclosed that the five, and their eldest sibling, Herald, 12, were left by their parents at around 12 midnight as the latter went to market to buy vegetables to be sold later in the day at a flea market nearby.
A lit candle was allegedly left by the Vevita couple - Harold, 37, and Marites, 35, to illuminate the interior of their shanty, which is made of light materials.
“This (unattended lit candle) is believed to be the cause of the fire, which started at the shanty’s kitchen. The residents in the area were using candles because there was no power supply in the past few days there,” Nacario said in Filipino.
He said the fire started at 2:10 am and was put out only at 5:26 am. It reached the fifth alarm.
Herald managed to survive by jumping off the window from their shanty’s mezzanine. He sustained second-degree burns and fractured arms, and was brought to the Valenzuela General Hospital for medical treatment.
Due to the delayed reporting to fire authorities and the difficulty by firemen in penetrating the affected depressed community, a total of 97 shanties were gutted down by the fire, leaving104 families or 549 people homeless.
Cost of damage to properties was pegged at P5 million.
“If indeed it is true that the house (of the Vevita’s) was padlocked, and that there was no exit, then we may charge the parents for a criminal liability under Presidential Decree 1185 or Child Abuse Act, which prohibits locking up of minors,” Nacario said./DMS
January 7, 2007 (Sunday)
Manila - Five children were killed in a pre-dawn fire Sunday in Valenzuela City after they were trapped inside their house allegedly due to a padlocked door.
Chief Insp. Agapito Nacario, Valenzuela City Fire chief, identified the victims as Vevita siblings, Herbert, 10; Henrieta, 8; Henessey, 7; Marirold, 6; and, Harold, Jr., 3; all residents of Dulong Carnation in Barangay Malinta.
“All five are charred beyond recognition… It’s as if they were cremated because all that’s left are their bones,” Nacario said in a phone interview yesterday.
The fire official disclosed that the five, and their eldest sibling, Herald, 12, were left by their parents at around 12 midnight as the latter went to market to buy vegetables to be sold later in the day at a flea market nearby.
A lit candle was allegedly left by the Vevita couple - Harold, 37, and Marites, 35, to illuminate the interior of their shanty, which is made of light materials.
“This (unattended lit candle) is believed to be the cause of the fire, which started at the shanty’s kitchen. The residents in the area were using candles because there was no power supply in the past few days there,” Nacario said in Filipino.
He said the fire started at 2:10 am and was put out only at 5:26 am. It reached the fifth alarm.
Herald managed to survive by jumping off the window from their shanty’s mezzanine. He sustained second-degree burns and fractured arms, and was brought to the Valenzuela General Hospital for medical treatment.
Due to the delayed reporting to fire authorities and the difficulty by firemen in penetrating the affected depressed community, a total of 97 shanties were gutted down by the fire, leaving104 families or 549 people homeless.
Cost of damage to properties was pegged at P5 million.
“If indeed it is true that the house (of the Vevita’s) was padlocked, and that there was no exit, then we may charge the parents for a criminal liability under Presidential Decree 1185 or Child Abuse Act, which prohibits locking up of minors,” Nacario said./DMS
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