By Ronron
March 29, 2007
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno described Wednesday’s hostage taking incident in Manila City as an act of terrorism.
In a press conference yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City, Puno said the 10-hour crisis is the “first occurrence of a hostage situation which we consider a terrorist act since the passage of the anti-terrorism law.”
Terrorism under the Human Security Act of 2007 includes “kidnapping and serious illegal detention,” among other crimes, coupled with the elements of “widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to force the government to give in to an unlawful demand.”
It was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo early this month.
Wednesday’s incident had 26 pupils and three children as hostage victims of a 56-year-old businessman who was complaining against corruption in the government that is causing other problems in the country like lack of access to quality education and housing.
But since the anti-terror law will only be in effect on July 14, 2007, the police only filed serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms against the main suspect, Armando Ducat, Jr., and his companion, Cesar Carbonell, 39, before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday night.
“We would like to serve notice to everybody that even if you get Robinhood and couch him in priestly robes, when he holds a grenade and keeps hostage children, he automatically becomes a terrorist. And we are going to deal with him as a criminal. He is a criminal not matter what his intentions are,” Puno said of Ducat.
He also called Ducat’s concerns as “crazy demands.”
“These two individuals should not be praised. They are the scum of the society because they held hostage an entire society,” Puno said./DMS
Friday, March 30, 2007
Singson says there is no politics, drama involved in his role in resolving the hostage incident
By Ronron
March 29, 2007
Administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson said Thursday that there was no political motivation in his participation in the other day’s hostage-taking of 26 pupils and three teachers in Manila City.
In a radio interview, Singson said all he wanted was to help in the resolution of the crisis for the sake of the children after he was contacted by one of the suspects, Cesar Carbonell.
Businessman Armando Ducat, Jr. held hostage the students and teachers of the Day Care Center he built in Parola Compound, Manila City to demand for educational and assistance for the graduates of his school. He also took advantage of the situation to air his grievance against the alleged massive corruption in the country.
Ducat yielded to authorities after releasing his captives after talking to Singson early Wednesday night. The drama dragged on for 10 hours.
“I was already aware that people would suspect my motivations for being there. That’s why I shunned attempts to interview me. My only purpose is to help,” Singson said in Filipino.
He disclosed that he learned of the incident at around 2:30 pm only after he was informed that his name was mentioned on the radio as among the persons the hostage-takers wish to talk to.
Upon arrival past 5pm at the site, Singson said he immediately conferred with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Metro Manila Police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla about his intention to help.
Singson said he first talked to Carbonell on the phone since the latter claimed that he has known Singson from the time he was still working as a photographer.
When Singson said he was willing to go inside the bus, Varilla expressed worries that Ducat could take him in as another victim.
But he said he insisted because he wants the kids to be set free.
Singson said he was also confident he will not sabotage the situation because he is used to such incidents, being a former chief of police in Vigan, Ilocos Sur back in his younger days.
“If I wanted to promote myself, I would have waved the Uzi and hand grenades when I stepped out of the bus for everyone to see… I would have granted interviews also. But I did not. After the incident, I immediately gave the firearms and grenades to the police and then I went home,” he said.
Singson said that from the time he stepped inside the bus at around 5:30 pm where the victims were held hostage, he observed that Ducat would not turn violent.
He said he was just worried about any accident that could lead to an explosion like the slip of the grenades from Ducat’s grip.
But Singson said that after Ducat’s request were granted, like the media access and the lighting of candles outside the bus, Ducat was prepared to talk about his surrender and exit plan.
“The person is not really a violent one. That’s my assessment of him. He just wanted to get his message across, and for the kids to get free education,” Singson said.
Ducat and Carbonell were subsequently arrested and brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.
Singson is among the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s Team Unity for the May 14 mid-term election./DMS
March 29, 2007
Administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson said Thursday that there was no political motivation in his participation in the other day’s hostage-taking of 26 pupils and three teachers in Manila City.
In a radio interview, Singson said all he wanted was to help in the resolution of the crisis for the sake of the children after he was contacted by one of the suspects, Cesar Carbonell.
Businessman Armando Ducat, Jr. held hostage the students and teachers of the Day Care Center he built in Parola Compound, Manila City to demand for educational and assistance for the graduates of his school. He also took advantage of the situation to air his grievance against the alleged massive corruption in the country.
Ducat yielded to authorities after releasing his captives after talking to Singson early Wednesday night. The drama dragged on for 10 hours.
“I was already aware that people would suspect my motivations for being there. That’s why I shunned attempts to interview me. My only purpose is to help,” Singson said in Filipino.
He disclosed that he learned of the incident at around 2:30 pm only after he was informed that his name was mentioned on the radio as among the persons the hostage-takers wish to talk to.
Upon arrival past 5pm at the site, Singson said he immediately conferred with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Metro Manila Police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla about his intention to help.
Singson said he first talked to Carbonell on the phone since the latter claimed that he has known Singson from the time he was still working as a photographer.
When Singson said he was willing to go inside the bus, Varilla expressed worries that Ducat could take him in as another victim.
But he said he insisted because he wants the kids to be set free.
Singson said he was also confident he will not sabotage the situation because he is used to such incidents, being a former chief of police in Vigan, Ilocos Sur back in his younger days.
“If I wanted to promote myself, I would have waved the Uzi and hand grenades when I stepped out of the bus for everyone to see… I would have granted interviews also. But I did not. After the incident, I immediately gave the firearms and grenades to the police and then I went home,” he said.
Singson said that from the time he stepped inside the bus at around 5:30 pm where the victims were held hostage, he observed that Ducat would not turn violent.
He said he was just worried about any accident that could lead to an explosion like the slip of the grenades from Ducat’s grip.
But Singson said that after Ducat’s request were granted, like the media access and the lighting of candles outside the bus, Ducat was prepared to talk about his surrender and exit plan.
“The person is not really a violent one. That’s my assessment of him. He just wanted to get his message across, and for the kids to get free education,” Singson said.
Ducat and Carbonell were subsequently arrested and brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.
Singson is among the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s Team Unity for the May 14 mid-term election./DMS
Two police officers sacked for mishandling hostage crisis in Manila City
By Ronron
March 29, 2007
The acting director of Manila Police District (MPD) and the commander of the police station where Wednesday’s hostage drama happened will be sacked from their posts for alleged mishandling of the incident.
Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) told a press conference yesterday in Camp Crame that he has recommended the administrative relief of Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza as acting MPD Director and Supt. Rogelio Rosales as MPD Station 5 Commander until the investigation on the incident is completed.
According to Puno, it appeared that the two police officers were not taking orders from the supposed crisis committee head, Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, when they were handling the 10-hour hostage taking of 26 pupils and three teachers along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
Instead, they “practically surrendered the entire thing to everybody else.” The Secretary did not elaborate, however.
During the incident, the first ground commander identified was Abarsoza. But when National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla arrived past 10 am, he took over.
Varilla would later be seen constantly conferring with Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., the first to negotiate with hostage taker Armando Ducat, Jr..
But Puno spared Varilla from any liability for the moment, saying he was following his orders to the letter.
“Unfortunately, by the time we started talking, a lot of things were already underway. But I cannot disclose all the instructions I gave to him,” Puno said.
The Secretary said Varilla virtually became the crisis manager, instead of Atienza, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“It is the responsibility of the ground commander of the Philippine National Police to report to the person in charge. And the person in charge, according to the Peace and Order Council structures, is the crisis management committee head, the Mayor. And it is the obligation of the ground commander to take his directions from the Mayor who has operational supervision over him,” Puno explained.
“The ground commander should have gone through channels, cleared with his superiors and made sure that this was something that was comfortable within the guidelines for the situation,” he added.
Puno criticized Atienza for looking “like he was besieged by everybody else.” He surmised that the Mayor must have been embarrassed by the incident, he did not want to flash his face in front of everybody.
Puno said that in delicate situations such as last Wednesday, the authorities should strictly follow the SOP.
“As an example, you know I think that people were moving in too close to the crisis area and if anything unfortunate or untoward happened, then the casualties might have been larger than they needed to be,” Puno said.
He said that he already asked PNP chief Gen. Oscar Calderon to form an investigative group to be headed by Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr.
The probe will “define the rules covering such situations, “identify rules that were violated,” “who violated these rules,” and what sanction will be imposed for “all of those PNP personnel who did not follow strictly the rules that govern this situation.”
Puno said he also directed the PNP leadership to “disseminate these rules on how these things are handled so that you will not wonder why there is a perimeter, for example.”
Puno admitted he was “incensed” with the way the incident was handled because the authorities present at the site were expected to be aware already of the SOP./DMS
March 29, 2007
The acting director of Manila Police District (MPD) and the commander of the police station where Wednesday’s hostage drama happened will be sacked from their posts for alleged mishandling of the incident.
Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) told a press conference yesterday in Camp Crame that he has recommended the administrative relief of Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza as acting MPD Director and Supt. Rogelio Rosales as MPD Station 5 Commander until the investigation on the incident is completed.
According to Puno, it appeared that the two police officers were not taking orders from the supposed crisis committee head, Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, when they were handling the 10-hour hostage taking of 26 pupils and three teachers along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
Instead, they “practically surrendered the entire thing to everybody else.” The Secretary did not elaborate, however.
During the incident, the first ground commander identified was Abarsoza. But when National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla arrived past 10 am, he took over.
Varilla would later be seen constantly conferring with Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., the first to negotiate with hostage taker Armando Ducat, Jr..
But Puno spared Varilla from any liability for the moment, saying he was following his orders to the letter.
“Unfortunately, by the time we started talking, a lot of things were already underway. But I cannot disclose all the instructions I gave to him,” Puno said.
The Secretary said Varilla virtually became the crisis manager, instead of Atienza, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“It is the responsibility of the ground commander of the Philippine National Police to report to the person in charge. And the person in charge, according to the Peace and Order Council structures, is the crisis management committee head, the Mayor. And it is the obligation of the ground commander to take his directions from the Mayor who has operational supervision over him,” Puno explained.
“The ground commander should have gone through channels, cleared with his superiors and made sure that this was something that was comfortable within the guidelines for the situation,” he added.
Puno criticized Atienza for looking “like he was besieged by everybody else.” He surmised that the Mayor must have been embarrassed by the incident, he did not want to flash his face in front of everybody.
Puno said that in delicate situations such as last Wednesday, the authorities should strictly follow the SOP.
“As an example, you know I think that people were moving in too close to the crisis area and if anything unfortunate or untoward happened, then the casualties might have been larger than they needed to be,” Puno said.
He said that he already asked PNP chief Gen. Oscar Calderon to form an investigative group to be headed by Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr.
The probe will “define the rules covering such situations, “identify rules that were violated,” “who violated these rules,” and what sanction will be imposed for “all of those PNP personnel who did not follow strictly the rules that govern this situation.”
Puno said he also directed the PNP leadership to “disseminate these rules on how these things are handled so that you will not wonder why there is a perimeter, for example.”
Puno admitted he was “incensed” with the way the incident was handled because the authorities present at the site were expected to be aware already of the SOP./DMS
Thursday, March 29, 2007
10-hour hostage drama in RP ends peacefully; 29 victims, mostly kids, safe, and two suspects arrested
By Ronron
March 28, 2007
The 10-hour hostage-taking drama in the Philippines ended peacefully on Wednesday night, as the 29 victims, mostly young children, were released safely and the two suspects landed in the hands of police authorities.
The incident began at around 9 am yesterday when the suspect, Armando Ducat, Jr., 56, a businessman residing in Las Piñas City, announced that he was taking hostage the 26 students and three teachers of his Day Care Center in the slum area of Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila.
The group was on a bus that was supposedly going to take them to Tagaytay City in Cavite for a planned field trip in celebration of the pupils’ graduation from Kinder 1 and Kinder 11.
Allegedly in collusion with his business associate, Cesar Carbonell, 39, also a resident of Las Piñas City, Ducat declared the hostage when the bus they were riding was parked in front of the Bonifacio Shrine along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
It was particularly stationed at the loading and unloading bay of the road, very near the Manila City Hall, leading to Quiapo District direction. The crisis resulted in the closing of traffic from the corner of Finance Road and Taft Avenue, both lanes, up to Lawton Area.
Earlier in the day, particularly at around 7am, the bus left Parola Compound where it picked up the Musmos Day Care Center students and teachers – two male and one female.
Police learned of the hostage drama at around 9:35 am after one policeman attempted to apprehend the bus driver for alleged illegal parking. At that time, the bus driver, Deogracias Bugarin, 51, had already alighted and a notice of the hostage incident was already posted in front of the bus.
Minutes later, Ducat was heard on various radio stations where he owned up the hostage-taking and cited his reasons for doing such.
“I am only asking the politicians now for a guarantee that the 145 pupils who recently graduated from my day care center be made to finish their studies until college. And then, I will surrender,” he said in Filipino.
The poster on the bus also disclosed that he was asking for housing for the families of the 145 children. To prove his genuine concern for the housing problem, Ducat disclosed he had with him 30 land titles from his properties in Cavite that he was willing to donate to the families of his school’s pupils.
Ducat went on to disclose also that he had hand grenades, an Uzi sub-machine gun, and a caliber 45 pistol in his and Carbonell’s possession.
But he said the that the children, aged five to seven years old, both boys and girls, are safe and were not aware of the crisis. “I love these children,” said Ducat.
The kids would then be heard occasionally singing children’s songs upon the prodding of their teachers.
Before lunchtime, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. arrived at the site to negotiate with Ducat for the safe release of the victims. Ducat is a godparent to Revilla’s youngest daughter.
Revilla then promised Ducat that he will make sure the graduates of his day care center will be able to go through college.
The concern regarding housing, meanwhile, was addressed by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, saying that they do something about Parola to make it “more livable.”
Through Revilla, Ducat also demanded that he be given airtime to the public, through the media, for his sentiments on the prevailing problem of corruption in the country.
The request was granted twice, first at around 1:50 pm, but was cut short due to technical problems; and then, at around 2:30 pm up to 3:07 pm.
“As long as graft and corruption in government is prevalent, our dream of having a better life will never be realized. We have in fact been branded as the number one most corrupt country in Asia. Should we not be ashamed of that? We should all unite to fight corruption,” Ducat lamented, speaking in Filipino.
“I am not calling for a revolution or uprising here. I am just explaining my point,” he added.
It was in his second public address that he hinted his intention to surrender to authorities at 7pm when the people around the hostage-taking site, estimated by police to be at most 15,000, participate in the mass lighting of candle as a symbol of unity in the fight against corruption.
At this time, the number of policemen, firemen, rescue teams, and first-aid personnel attending to the crisis situation swelled to at most 500.
To the surprise of everybody, administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson, former Governor of Ilocos Sur, arrived at the site at around 5:30 pm and a few minutes boarded the bus.
According to a police officer, Singson was not really requested by Ducat to be a part of the negotiating team. No authority has so far explained how Singson got in to it.
But, for some reasons yet to be known, it was Singson who accompanied Ducat when he gave up and alighted the bus at 7pm.
His surrender came after he made another public address that challenged people to unite against corruption, and then, telling the people how sorry he was for his action.
“To my God, I pray now for forgiveness for the sins I have done to these kids. I apologize to the policemen for being a nuisance to you. I am sorry for having done this violent means of expressing my sentiments. And most of all, I ask for the apologies of the parents of these children. I am sorry to all the people of Parola. Because of my great love for you, I have done this. Thank you, Lord. God bless you all,” Ducat said in Filipino.
Minutes later after he said that, the door of the air-conditioned tourist bus opened and the children started leaving one by one. The victims were met by social workers of the government and immediately brought to another bus waiting for them.
Last to come out, in the company of Singson, were Carbonell and Ducat, who were immediately brought to a patrol car that took them to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters on U.N. Avenue.
“Later in the afternoon, after he disclosed his intention to address the media through the public address system, and he called for a prayer, I saw that he was already decided to surrender, “ chief negotiator Supt. Rolando Yebra said when asked what made Ducat give up.
“From the start, when I first talked to him, I saw that he was not really that violent. But we did not dismiss the possibility that he would turn into one because he is armed,” he added.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla said they knew Ducat was really going to surrender because he was granted his request for a media access and public lighting of candles to go with prayers.
Asked for their feeling while the hostage taking was still on going, at least three parents of the pupils said they were not at all mad at Ducat since they knew he was a very good man.
But while they were confident he was not going to harm their children, they were a little worried because of the firearms and explosives inside the bus.
After the crisis was resolved, some residents of Parola expressed their support to Ducat by holding a rally outside the MPD and chanted his name.
The children of Ducat could not be more grateful to the residents of Parola, especially the families of the victims, for the great compassion for their father, instead of bearing grudge.
“It feels good inside that they are here, supporting my father, instead of denouncing him,” said Irene Ducat, 37.
But she said they are hurt by insinuations that her father was a crazy guy.
“That is not true. He is just a man of principle. Did we see any of our politicians do what my father did to raise national awareness against corruption?” said Irene.
Following the incident, police said Ducat and Carbonell could be charged for alleged illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comelec gun ban.
And, with complaints from the victims, the two could also face more serious charges of serious illegal detention and violation of the anti-Child Abuse Law.
“If only the anti-terrorism law is in effect now, this could also be slapped against them because of the presence of elements of public panic and fear, and unlawful demand from the government,” opined investigator Renato Garay from the MPD.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said Ducat was a “very angry man” who may have valid grievances, only that his means of complaining went against the normal way.
“The way he acted surely requires the use of a psychological assessment,” Cabral said of Ducat.
Both Cabral and Fernando had admitted the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed deep worries about the situation, especially that young lives were at risk.
Yesterday’s hostage drama placed the Philippines again in the international scene as the story saw publication and airing on international news agencies.
Just early this week, a serious hostage drama also happened in Taguig City that resulted in the death of the suspect, who is a stuntman in local movies./DMS
March 28, 2007
The 10-hour hostage-taking drama in the Philippines ended peacefully on Wednesday night, as the 29 victims, mostly young children, were released safely and the two suspects landed in the hands of police authorities.
The incident began at around 9 am yesterday when the suspect, Armando Ducat, Jr., 56, a businessman residing in Las Piñas City, announced that he was taking hostage the 26 students and three teachers of his Day Care Center in the slum area of Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila.
The group was on a bus that was supposedly going to take them to Tagaytay City in Cavite for a planned field trip in celebration of the pupils’ graduation from Kinder 1 and Kinder 11.
Allegedly in collusion with his business associate, Cesar Carbonell, 39, also a resident of Las Piñas City, Ducat declared the hostage when the bus they were riding was parked in front of the Bonifacio Shrine along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
It was particularly stationed at the loading and unloading bay of the road, very near the Manila City Hall, leading to Quiapo District direction. The crisis resulted in the closing of traffic from the corner of Finance Road and Taft Avenue, both lanes, up to Lawton Area.
Earlier in the day, particularly at around 7am, the bus left Parola Compound where it picked up the Musmos Day Care Center students and teachers – two male and one female.
Police learned of the hostage drama at around 9:35 am after one policeman attempted to apprehend the bus driver for alleged illegal parking. At that time, the bus driver, Deogracias Bugarin, 51, had already alighted and a notice of the hostage incident was already posted in front of the bus.
Minutes later, Ducat was heard on various radio stations where he owned up the hostage-taking and cited his reasons for doing such.
“I am only asking the politicians now for a guarantee that the 145 pupils who recently graduated from my day care center be made to finish their studies until college. And then, I will surrender,” he said in Filipino.
The poster on the bus also disclosed that he was asking for housing for the families of the 145 children. To prove his genuine concern for the housing problem, Ducat disclosed he had with him 30 land titles from his properties in Cavite that he was willing to donate to the families of his school’s pupils.
Ducat went on to disclose also that he had hand grenades, an Uzi sub-machine gun, and a caliber 45 pistol in his and Carbonell’s possession.
But he said the that the children, aged five to seven years old, both boys and girls, are safe and were not aware of the crisis. “I love these children,” said Ducat.
The kids would then be heard occasionally singing children’s songs upon the prodding of their teachers.
Before lunchtime, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. arrived at the site to negotiate with Ducat for the safe release of the victims. Ducat is a godparent to Revilla’s youngest daughter.
Revilla then promised Ducat that he will make sure the graduates of his day care center will be able to go through college.
The concern regarding housing, meanwhile, was addressed by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, saying that they do something about Parola to make it “more livable.”
Through Revilla, Ducat also demanded that he be given airtime to the public, through the media, for his sentiments on the prevailing problem of corruption in the country.
The request was granted twice, first at around 1:50 pm, but was cut short due to technical problems; and then, at around 2:30 pm up to 3:07 pm.
“As long as graft and corruption in government is prevalent, our dream of having a better life will never be realized. We have in fact been branded as the number one most corrupt country in Asia. Should we not be ashamed of that? We should all unite to fight corruption,” Ducat lamented, speaking in Filipino.
“I am not calling for a revolution or uprising here. I am just explaining my point,” he added.
It was in his second public address that he hinted his intention to surrender to authorities at 7pm when the people around the hostage-taking site, estimated by police to be at most 15,000, participate in the mass lighting of candle as a symbol of unity in the fight against corruption.
At this time, the number of policemen, firemen, rescue teams, and first-aid personnel attending to the crisis situation swelled to at most 500.
To the surprise of everybody, administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson, former Governor of Ilocos Sur, arrived at the site at around 5:30 pm and a few minutes boarded the bus.
According to a police officer, Singson was not really requested by Ducat to be a part of the negotiating team. No authority has so far explained how Singson got in to it.
But, for some reasons yet to be known, it was Singson who accompanied Ducat when he gave up and alighted the bus at 7pm.
His surrender came after he made another public address that challenged people to unite against corruption, and then, telling the people how sorry he was for his action.
“To my God, I pray now for forgiveness for the sins I have done to these kids. I apologize to the policemen for being a nuisance to you. I am sorry for having done this violent means of expressing my sentiments. And most of all, I ask for the apologies of the parents of these children. I am sorry to all the people of Parola. Because of my great love for you, I have done this. Thank you, Lord. God bless you all,” Ducat said in Filipino.
Minutes later after he said that, the door of the air-conditioned tourist bus opened and the children started leaving one by one. The victims were met by social workers of the government and immediately brought to another bus waiting for them.
Last to come out, in the company of Singson, were Carbonell and Ducat, who were immediately brought to a patrol car that took them to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters on U.N. Avenue.
“Later in the afternoon, after he disclosed his intention to address the media through the public address system, and he called for a prayer, I saw that he was already decided to surrender, “ chief negotiator Supt. Rolando Yebra said when asked what made Ducat give up.
“From the start, when I first talked to him, I saw that he was not really that violent. But we did not dismiss the possibility that he would turn into one because he is armed,” he added.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla said they knew Ducat was really going to surrender because he was granted his request for a media access and public lighting of candles to go with prayers.
Asked for their feeling while the hostage taking was still on going, at least three parents of the pupils said they were not at all mad at Ducat since they knew he was a very good man.
But while they were confident he was not going to harm their children, they were a little worried because of the firearms and explosives inside the bus.
After the crisis was resolved, some residents of Parola expressed their support to Ducat by holding a rally outside the MPD and chanted his name.
The children of Ducat could not be more grateful to the residents of Parola, especially the families of the victims, for the great compassion for their father, instead of bearing grudge.
“It feels good inside that they are here, supporting my father, instead of denouncing him,” said Irene Ducat, 37.
But she said they are hurt by insinuations that her father was a crazy guy.
“That is not true. He is just a man of principle. Did we see any of our politicians do what my father did to raise national awareness against corruption?” said Irene.
Following the incident, police said Ducat and Carbonell could be charged for alleged illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comelec gun ban.
And, with complaints from the victims, the two could also face more serious charges of serious illegal detention and violation of the anti-Child Abuse Law.
“If only the anti-terrorism law is in effect now, this could also be slapped against them because of the presence of elements of public panic and fear, and unlawful demand from the government,” opined investigator Renato Garay from the MPD.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said Ducat was a “very angry man” who may have valid grievances, only that his means of complaining went against the normal way.
“The way he acted surely requires the use of a psychological assessment,” Cabral said of Ducat.
Both Cabral and Fernando had admitted the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed deep worries about the situation, especially that young lives were at risk.
Yesterday’s hostage drama placed the Philippines again in the international scene as the story saw publication and airing on international news agencies.
Just early this week, a serious hostage drama also happened in Taguig City that resulted in the death of the suspect, who is a stuntman in local movies./DMS
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Pag-asa Island gets water treatment facility from MWSS
By Ronron
March 27, 2007
The remote island of Pag-asa in Palawan will receive a water treatment facility that could produce potable water for the soldiers and civilian people living there.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. will bring the brand new Mobile Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) to Pag-asa, which is part of the contested Kalayaan Group of Islands, via a C-130 plane.
The MWTP, which can produce 1,000 liters of drinking water using sea water, 2,000 liters using brackish water, and 4,000 liters using surface water, is a donation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). It is worth P13 million.
The formal turn-over of the equipment was done yesterday morning at the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.
“This mobile water treatment plant will help our soldiers on Pag-asa Island, by ensuring that the basic requirement of potable water is available to them while doing their job,” Ebdane said.
Living on the 32.6-hectare island are four policemen, seven Air Force personnel, nine Navy personnel, and 23 civilians. They all serve as watchers for the country against possible poachers, particularly from other claimant countries.
Vice Admiral Tirso Danga, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command based in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, said residents of the island have been producing drinking water only by boiling the ground water there.
But, he said, the water still has “a degree of salinity” even after going through that process.
MWSS Administrator Lorenzo Jamora said the donation is part of the agency’s commitment to look into the welfare of the AFP troops.
“I assure the good secretary that this will be a continuing effort (of assisting the AFP), as far as our pockets can afford it because we know that not only the people in Metro Manila would need water but also the environs all over the country,” Jamora said.
The equipment can store 10,000 liters of treated water, that can be consumed within three to four days. It has a dimension of eight feet high, 2.2 meters wide, and six meter long. It is also equipped with a 25-meter suction hose, and built-in diesel generator.
The water that passes through it go through the processes of sedimentation, filtration, reverse osmosis, and post-treatment.
Meanwhile, Danga disclosed that so far, there has been no incident of fresh fighting against the countries or territories claiming ownership either in whole or in part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands, namely Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
“I can tell you that the code of conduct of the claimant countries in that disputed area is working. As a matter of fact, we see no encroachment in the area and there is that mutual cooperation between the occupants,” Danga said.
He said they have not also observed any “additional fortification” by the claimant countries in the islands as “everything has remained in status quo.”/DMS
March 27, 2007
The remote island of Pag-asa in Palawan will receive a water treatment facility that could produce potable water for the soldiers and civilian people living there.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. will bring the brand new Mobile Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) to Pag-asa, which is part of the contested Kalayaan Group of Islands, via a C-130 plane.
The MWTP, which can produce 1,000 liters of drinking water using sea water, 2,000 liters using brackish water, and 4,000 liters using surface water, is a donation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). It is worth P13 million.
The formal turn-over of the equipment was done yesterday morning at the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.
“This mobile water treatment plant will help our soldiers on Pag-asa Island, by ensuring that the basic requirement of potable water is available to them while doing their job,” Ebdane said.
Living on the 32.6-hectare island are four policemen, seven Air Force personnel, nine Navy personnel, and 23 civilians. They all serve as watchers for the country against possible poachers, particularly from other claimant countries.
Vice Admiral Tirso Danga, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command based in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, said residents of the island have been producing drinking water only by boiling the ground water there.
But, he said, the water still has “a degree of salinity” even after going through that process.
MWSS Administrator Lorenzo Jamora said the donation is part of the agency’s commitment to look into the welfare of the AFP troops.
“I assure the good secretary that this will be a continuing effort (of assisting the AFP), as far as our pockets can afford it because we know that not only the people in Metro Manila would need water but also the environs all over the country,” Jamora said.
The equipment can store 10,000 liters of treated water, that can be consumed within three to four days. It has a dimension of eight feet high, 2.2 meters wide, and six meter long. It is also equipped with a 25-meter suction hose, and built-in diesel generator.
The water that passes through it go through the processes of sedimentation, filtration, reverse osmosis, and post-treatment.
Meanwhile, Danga disclosed that so far, there has been no incident of fresh fighting against the countries or territories claiming ownership either in whole or in part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands, namely Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
“I can tell you that the code of conduct of the claimant countries in that disputed area is working. As a matter of fact, we see no encroachment in the area and there is that mutual cooperation between the occupants,” Danga said.
He said they have not also observed any “additional fortification” by the claimant countries in the islands as “everything has remained in status quo.”/DMS
MM barangay captains ask CHR for continued deployment of troops
By Ronron
March 27, 2007
Nineteen barangay captains in Metro Manila have jointly asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to allow the retention of government soldiers deployed in their areas of responsibility, saying it is doing good to the communities they are serving.
In a three-page letter dated March 25, 2007, the local leaders from the cities of Taguig, Manila, Caloocan, and Quezon said that contrary to claims of militant groups, the soldiers are not violating the civil liberties of their constituent, nor are they engaged in electioneering activities.
Written in Filipino, a part of the letter reads: “We are praying that those calling for the recall of the troops from our places be stopped. They (soldiers) have helped us a lot already, and they have a lot of good projects that they hope to finish for the betterment of our places.”
The signatories on the letter are the following: Ely Saluib of Barangay 20, Tondo, Manila; Atty. Henry Dueñas, Sr. of Signal Village, Taguig City; Benjamin Cruz of Lower Bicutan, Taguig City; Teresita Lumactud of Barangay 649, Tondo; Justo dela Cruz of Barangay 275, Binondo; Dorothea Mabanan of Barangay 630, Manila; Arturo dela Cruz of Barangay 865, Pandacan, Manila; Bonifacio Aragona, Jr. of Barangay 592, Manila; Andrea Paraiso of Barangay 591, Manila; Luisito Yumang of Barangay 593, Manila; Carmen Espino of Barangay 581, Sampaloc, Manila; Mario Dauz, Sr. of Barangay 590, Manila; Philip Manabat of Barangay 621, Manila; Rolito Inocencio of Barangay 629, Manila; Andres Mabagos of Barangay 176, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; Sabino Apo of Barangay Banlat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Jose Gaviola, Sr. of Barangay Unit 5, Commonwealth, Quezon City; Rosario Dadulo of Barangay Lupang Pangako, Payatas, Quezon City; and, Rolando Olazo of Barangay Hagonoy, Taguig City.
Copies of the letter were furnished to Camp Aguinaldo reporters yesterday by the Civil Relations Service (CRS) office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The CHR had earlier asked the AFP, in a letter dated March 16, 2007, to pull out its troops of 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, saying the peace and order situation in the capital does not call for the presence of the military.
CHR Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing addressed the letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.
But the barangay captains pointed out that in the first place, they were the ones who requested for the immersion of the soldiers in their respective communities.
And when the soldiers already arrived, not only did the peace and order situation improve, they also contributed to various developmental projects in their areas of responsibilities.
“Their stay in our places fostered peace in our respective community, and our constituent have slept soundly at night because we are aware that there are people watching for us. They are the ones who prevented criminals from doing anything bad in our communities,” the barangay captains said.
“We are very happy with the projects of our soldiers in our communities. Although not all of us received these developmental projects, we are sure that the time will come when we our communities will also benefit from their beautiful projects like Medical Missions, cleaning of our surroundings, and building and rehabilitation of Day Care Centers,” they added.
The local leaders also expressed elation about how the youth in their communities look upon the soldiers, especially with what they have done.
“Because of our interaction with the soldiers, our eyes were opened to the reality that there are groups that are inviting our youth to rebel against our government and overthrow it… through rallies and other protest actions. We realized that our people are only being used by these groups in advancing their personal interests,” they said.
The barangay captains denied allegations that the soldiers were telling people not to vote for any party-list organizations, saying that in fact, the soldiers were the ones avoiding issues related to the upcoming elections.
The same is true on allegations that the soldiers were curtailing the civil liberties of the people.
“They are not barring us from doing our daily activities. There is no truth to reports that our constituent is afraid of leaving their houses already because of the presence of the soldiers. If fact, before, our constituent could no longer leave their houses when evening sets in. Now, even at any time you leave your house, you know you are safe because there are soldiers watching for us, together with the village watchmen and policemen,” the barangay captains said.
They appealed that the CHR also hear their request as it did with the complaints against the troops deployment.
The barangay captains said they are prepared to face the CHR and meet with its officials to respond to the complaints.
In a separate interview yesterday, Ebdane said those complaining should be the ones leaving the community, and not the soldiers.
He surmised that the complaints against the troops deployment came about because the complainants like Bayan Muna and Gabriela are suffering out of it.
“This is actually a war for the hears and minds. Now, it is the moral obligation of the government to take care of its people. Now, it is not to the interest of the Leftist that the people will really support, fully support the government,” Ebdane said.
Earlier, the AFP leadership admitted that in a way, the troops deployment in Metro Manila is a part of the Oplan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom Watch II) anti-insurgency campaign of the military following reports that the communist movement is moving towards the urban communities from the countryside.
The deployment in Metro Manila of the troops, who come from the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations Battalion, began in November 2006./DMS
March 27, 2007
Nineteen barangay captains in Metro Manila have jointly asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to allow the retention of government soldiers deployed in their areas of responsibility, saying it is doing good to the communities they are serving.
In a three-page letter dated March 25, 2007, the local leaders from the cities of Taguig, Manila, Caloocan, and Quezon said that contrary to claims of militant groups, the soldiers are not violating the civil liberties of their constituent, nor are they engaged in electioneering activities.
Written in Filipino, a part of the letter reads: “We are praying that those calling for the recall of the troops from our places be stopped. They (soldiers) have helped us a lot already, and they have a lot of good projects that they hope to finish for the betterment of our places.”
The signatories on the letter are the following: Ely Saluib of Barangay 20, Tondo, Manila; Atty. Henry Dueñas, Sr. of Signal Village, Taguig City; Benjamin Cruz of Lower Bicutan, Taguig City; Teresita Lumactud of Barangay 649, Tondo; Justo dela Cruz of Barangay 275, Binondo; Dorothea Mabanan of Barangay 630, Manila; Arturo dela Cruz of Barangay 865, Pandacan, Manila; Bonifacio Aragona, Jr. of Barangay 592, Manila; Andrea Paraiso of Barangay 591, Manila; Luisito Yumang of Barangay 593, Manila; Carmen Espino of Barangay 581, Sampaloc, Manila; Mario Dauz, Sr. of Barangay 590, Manila; Philip Manabat of Barangay 621, Manila; Rolito Inocencio of Barangay 629, Manila; Andres Mabagos of Barangay 176, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; Sabino Apo of Barangay Banlat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Jose Gaviola, Sr. of Barangay Unit 5, Commonwealth, Quezon City; Rosario Dadulo of Barangay Lupang Pangako, Payatas, Quezon City; and, Rolando Olazo of Barangay Hagonoy, Taguig City.
Copies of the letter were furnished to Camp Aguinaldo reporters yesterday by the Civil Relations Service (CRS) office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The CHR had earlier asked the AFP, in a letter dated March 16, 2007, to pull out its troops of 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, saying the peace and order situation in the capital does not call for the presence of the military.
CHR Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing addressed the letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.
But the barangay captains pointed out that in the first place, they were the ones who requested for the immersion of the soldiers in their respective communities.
And when the soldiers already arrived, not only did the peace and order situation improve, they also contributed to various developmental projects in their areas of responsibilities.
“Their stay in our places fostered peace in our respective community, and our constituent have slept soundly at night because we are aware that there are people watching for us. They are the ones who prevented criminals from doing anything bad in our communities,” the barangay captains said.
“We are very happy with the projects of our soldiers in our communities. Although not all of us received these developmental projects, we are sure that the time will come when we our communities will also benefit from their beautiful projects like Medical Missions, cleaning of our surroundings, and building and rehabilitation of Day Care Centers,” they added.
The local leaders also expressed elation about how the youth in their communities look upon the soldiers, especially with what they have done.
“Because of our interaction with the soldiers, our eyes were opened to the reality that there are groups that are inviting our youth to rebel against our government and overthrow it… through rallies and other protest actions. We realized that our people are only being used by these groups in advancing their personal interests,” they said.
The barangay captains denied allegations that the soldiers were telling people not to vote for any party-list organizations, saying that in fact, the soldiers were the ones avoiding issues related to the upcoming elections.
The same is true on allegations that the soldiers were curtailing the civil liberties of the people.
“They are not barring us from doing our daily activities. There is no truth to reports that our constituent is afraid of leaving their houses already because of the presence of the soldiers. If fact, before, our constituent could no longer leave their houses when evening sets in. Now, even at any time you leave your house, you know you are safe because there are soldiers watching for us, together with the village watchmen and policemen,” the barangay captains said.
They appealed that the CHR also hear their request as it did with the complaints against the troops deployment.
The barangay captains said they are prepared to face the CHR and meet with its officials to respond to the complaints.
In a separate interview yesterday, Ebdane said those complaining should be the ones leaving the community, and not the soldiers.
He surmised that the complaints against the troops deployment came about because the complainants like Bayan Muna and Gabriela are suffering out of it.
“This is actually a war for the hears and minds. Now, it is the moral obligation of the government to take care of its people. Now, it is not to the interest of the Leftist that the people will really support, fully support the government,” Ebdane said.
Earlier, the AFP leadership admitted that in a way, the troops deployment in Metro Manila is a part of the Oplan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom Watch II) anti-insurgency campaign of the military following reports that the communist movement is moving towards the urban communities from the countryside.
The deployment in Metro Manila of the troops, who come from the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations Battalion, began in November 2006./DMS
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Troops to stay around MM despite CHR request for pull-out
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
Elements of the Philippine military deployed in Metro Manila will remain in their respective assignments despite the request of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for their pull out.
Asked in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday if he will heed to the CHR’s recommendation, Esperon said, “No, we are still studying it.”
In its March 16 letter, the CHR asked no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Esperon, among others, to recall the deployment of military troops around the capital since the situation does not warrant for it.
Esperon said the military “is open to anything,” referring to the CHR recommendation, but maintained that it has to be studied well.
He reiterated that the deployed troops are “doing something that the people are accepting.”
The military has deployed 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, to different urban poor and Moslem communities in Caloocan, Taguig, Manila and Quezon cities since November of last year to carry out civil military operations, and as part of their training for peacekeeping missions.
The troops come from the Civil Military Operations Battalion of the Philippine Army, which is under the operational control of the AFP National Capital Region Command.
Militant groups have criticized the deployment, saying it could hinder the civil liberties of residents in Metro Manila. The military, however, remains unperturbed.
“Should we stop it just because some people, who are not even from the areas, are complaining?” Esperon said yesterday.
Even as it has recommended for the recall of the deployed troops, the CHR pointed out that it has not found any abuse of power by them on ordinary civilians.
The AFP has said that the move is a good deterrent to criminality and possible penetration in the urban areas by communist insurgents./DMS
March 26, 2007
Elements of the Philippine military deployed in Metro Manila will remain in their respective assignments despite the request of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for their pull out.
Asked in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday if he will heed to the CHR’s recommendation, Esperon said, “No, we are still studying it.”
In its March 16 letter, the CHR asked no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Esperon, among others, to recall the deployment of military troops around the capital since the situation does not warrant for it.
Esperon said the military “is open to anything,” referring to the CHR recommendation, but maintained that it has to be studied well.
He reiterated that the deployed troops are “doing something that the people are accepting.”
The military has deployed 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, to different urban poor and Moslem communities in Caloocan, Taguig, Manila and Quezon cities since November of last year to carry out civil military operations, and as part of their training for peacekeeping missions.
The troops come from the Civil Military Operations Battalion of the Philippine Army, which is under the operational control of the AFP National Capital Region Command.
Militant groups have criticized the deployment, saying it could hinder the civil liberties of residents in Metro Manila. The military, however, remains unperturbed.
“Should we stop it just because some people, who are not even from the areas, are complaining?” Esperon said yesterday.
Even as it has recommended for the recall of the deployed troops, the CHR pointed out that it has not found any abuse of power by them on ordinary civilians.
The AFP has said that the move is a good deterrent to criminality and possible penetration in the urban areas by communist insurgents./DMS
AFP discovers another mass grave site in Leyte; link of Cong. Ocampo yet to be determined
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
The Philippine military discovered another mass grave site allegedly of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Leyte province last week which yielded nine skeletal remains.
Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Monday that the site was found at around 10:30 am of March 21 at Sitio Can-isak, Barangay Utanan, Hilongos town by elements of the 43rd Infantry Battalion.
“The troops, led by Staff Sergeant Noli Silong, with the help of a civilian asset in pinpointing the exact location of the gravesite, found nine skeletal remains at the said area. Accordingly, there were 15 persons buried there,” Torres said.
“The mass grave was believed to be a site where NPA victims were killed during purging operations of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA in the late 1980’s,” he added.
Torres said witnesses also claimed that other bodies are buried in other gravesites nearby.
A big mass grave site, called The Garden, was unearthed last August 2006 in Inopacan town, bearing at least 67 skeletal remains, 15 of whom were identified by their relatives that is now the basis of the multiple murder charge against Bayan Muna Congressman Satur Ocampo, and more than 50 other communist personalities.
Torres said the exhumation of the nine skeletal remains at Barangay Utanan will be carried out in the coming days by the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives, in coordination with other stakeholders.
Asked if Ocampo is also involved in this newly discovered site, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said there is no proof at the moment.
“We will subject this to further analysis and investigation to find out if Mr. Ocampo is also involved in this new case,” Esperon said yesterday.
The military had said that the communist movement killed its own ranks in the 1980’s to get rid of those suspected to be spying for the government./DMS
March 26, 2007
The Philippine military discovered another mass grave site allegedly of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Leyte province last week which yielded nine skeletal remains.
Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Monday that the site was found at around 10:30 am of March 21 at Sitio Can-isak, Barangay Utanan, Hilongos town by elements of the 43rd Infantry Battalion.
“The troops, led by Staff Sergeant Noli Silong, with the help of a civilian asset in pinpointing the exact location of the gravesite, found nine skeletal remains at the said area. Accordingly, there were 15 persons buried there,” Torres said.
“The mass grave was believed to be a site where NPA victims were killed during purging operations of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA in the late 1980’s,” he added.
Torres said witnesses also claimed that other bodies are buried in other gravesites nearby.
A big mass grave site, called The Garden, was unearthed last August 2006 in Inopacan town, bearing at least 67 skeletal remains, 15 of whom were identified by their relatives that is now the basis of the multiple murder charge against Bayan Muna Congressman Satur Ocampo, and more than 50 other communist personalities.
Torres said the exhumation of the nine skeletal remains at Barangay Utanan will be carried out in the coming days by the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives, in coordination with other stakeholders.
Asked if Ocampo is also involved in this newly discovered site, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said there is no proof at the moment.
“We will subject this to further analysis and investigation to find out if Mr. Ocampo is also involved in this new case,” Esperon said yesterday.
The military had said that the communist movement killed its own ranks in the 1980’s to get rid of those suspected to be spying for the government./DMS
One soldier killed in clash against NPA in Iloilo
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
A government soldier was killed in a recent clash with communist insurgents in Iloilo province, a military spokesman said Monday.
Philippine Army public information officer Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the encounter happened at around 11:30 am yesterday (Monday) at Barangay Sagcop, Lambunao town.
Torres said elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Buenvenito Trero, encountered an undetermined number of armed rebels for 30 minutes, claiming the life of Private First Class Norly Camilon.
“Initial report from troops in the encounter site proves that there are undetermined casualties from the enemy as indicated by bloodstains seen in the area of encounter,” Torres said.
The government troops recovered from the site one M16 rifle, one caliber 30 carbine rifle, one garand rifle, numerous magazines and ammunitions, Torres said.
Torres said helicopters from the 6th Tactical Operations Group of the Philippine Air Force flew at the encounter site to participate in the pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels.
“This is the first time in more than one year that the government troops were able to encounter the communist terrorists in Panay Island, specifically in the province of Iloilo,” Torres said.
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now. It will celebrate its 38th founding anniversary on March 29th.
The government is working on crushing the movement by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the communist party of the Philippines bogged down in August 2004 after the group was tagged as terrorist group by foreign governments like the United States and the European Union./DMS
March 26, 2007
A government soldier was killed in a recent clash with communist insurgents in Iloilo province, a military spokesman said Monday.
Philippine Army public information officer Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the encounter happened at around 11:30 am yesterday (Monday) at Barangay Sagcop, Lambunao town.
Torres said elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Buenvenito Trero, encountered an undetermined number of armed rebels for 30 minutes, claiming the life of Private First Class Norly Camilon.
“Initial report from troops in the encounter site proves that there are undetermined casualties from the enemy as indicated by bloodstains seen in the area of encounter,” Torres said.
The government troops recovered from the site one M16 rifle, one caliber 30 carbine rifle, one garand rifle, numerous magazines and ammunitions, Torres said.
Torres said helicopters from the 6th Tactical Operations Group of the Philippine Air Force flew at the encounter site to participate in the pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels.
“This is the first time in more than one year that the government troops were able to encounter the communist terrorists in Panay Island, specifically in the province of Iloilo,” Torres said.
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now. It will celebrate its 38th founding anniversary on March 29th.
The government is working on crushing the movement by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the communist party of the Philippines bogged down in August 2004 after the group was tagged as terrorist group by foreign governments like the United States and the European Union./DMS
DND launches Text 2920 program to hear complaints of public
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
The Philippine Defense department launched on Monday its TXT 2920 program to provide the public and its stakeholders the medium for their complaints and other concerns.
Tied with the privately-owned Bidshot Wireless Services, the department’s program will allow anyone to get their messages to Defense officials and offices by texting “DND (space) (message)” to 2920. The service is available to Smart and Globe subscribers.
“DND TXT 2920 puts the DND in a pro-active mode, inviting citizens to work with us. This they can do by reporting community concerns, potential problems and even possible solutions to realities on the ground,” Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said.
“This is connectivity for accountability and responsiveness,” he added.
Bidshot Wireless Services is not charging the Defense department for the services. It will instead earn from the P2.50 per text that is charged against the sender of the message.
Brian Zialcita, product development manager of Bidshot, said his company will get 30 percent of P2.50, while either Smart or Globe will get the remaining 70 percent.
Ebdane said the program can definitely be used in the government’s anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism campaigns as it could invite the public’s cooperation to deter any attacks or pinpoint the whereabouts of different threat groups.
“DND TXT 2920 serves the myriad concerns of the DND. It is a direct line for the Human Security Act to be more vibrant and interactive, with an open avenue for reports from all over the country. It is a secure channel for Human Rights complaints, with immediate access to decision-makers. It is also another means for ensuring transparency in the AFP Modernization Program, reiterating our resolve to push our reforms forward. It is a one-on-one venue for our veterans and other constituents to talk to the DND, and know that they will get a response,” Ebdane said./DMS
March 26, 2007
The Philippine Defense department launched on Monday its TXT 2920 program to provide the public and its stakeholders the medium for their complaints and other concerns.
Tied with the privately-owned Bidshot Wireless Services, the department’s program will allow anyone to get their messages to Defense officials and offices by texting “DND (space) (message)” to 2920. The service is available to Smart and Globe subscribers.
“DND TXT 2920 puts the DND in a pro-active mode, inviting citizens to work with us. This they can do by reporting community concerns, potential problems and even possible solutions to realities on the ground,” Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said.
“This is connectivity for accountability and responsiveness,” he added.
Bidshot Wireless Services is not charging the Defense department for the services. It will instead earn from the P2.50 per text that is charged against the sender of the message.
Brian Zialcita, product development manager of Bidshot, said his company will get 30 percent of P2.50, while either Smart or Globe will get the remaining 70 percent.
Ebdane said the program can definitely be used in the government’s anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism campaigns as it could invite the public’s cooperation to deter any attacks or pinpoint the whereabouts of different threat groups.
“DND TXT 2920 serves the myriad concerns of the DND. It is a direct line for the Human Security Act to be more vibrant and interactive, with an open avenue for reports from all over the country. It is a secure channel for Human Rights complaints, with immediate access to decision-makers. It is also another means for ensuring transparency in the AFP Modernization Program, reiterating our resolve to push our reforms forward. It is a one-on-one venue for our veterans and other constituents to talk to the DND, and know that they will get a response,” Ebdane said./DMS
International people’s tribunal finds Arroyo government guilty of human rights violations; Defense chief, Dutch envoy call the body as “kangaroo court
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
An international people’s tribunal based in the Netherlands found Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government guilty of human rights violations following a three-day session at The Hague.
In a public forum on Sunday afternoon (Sunday evening, Manila time), Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) session President Francois Houtart read from the 13-page verdict: “The tribunal, having considered the evidence before it, is of the opinion that the reported killings, torture and forced disappearances fall under responsibility of the Philippine government and are by no way justified in terms of necessary measures against terrorism.”
The PPT, which is an international opinion tribunal composed of “law experts, writers and other cultural and community leaders from 31 countries, probed on the Philippine’s human rights situation after receiving complaints in “early 2006 by a broad coalition of social and religious organizations, based in the Philippines as well as in Europe and Canada.”
The seven-man jury, led by Houtart, heard a total of 21 witnesses and resource persons from the Philippines during its three-day session, held on March 21 to 23. The 21, however, did not include representatives from the Philippine government since the invitation coursed through the consular offices at The Hague and in Rome apparently were not heeded to.
On Monday morning, a video of the reading of the verdict at The Hague was shown at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City by the Philippine Coordinating Secretariat of the PPT. It was followed by a press conference by the following human rights advocate group: Hustisya, Desaparecidos, SELDA, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
“The extension and the systematic nature of the violations of the rights of the Filipino people committed by the governments of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and with the support and full awareness of the government of George Walker Bush, qualify the same violations as crimes against humanity, with all the consequences for the persons who are responsible for them,” Houtart said.
“Such violations must be stopped immediately,” he added.
The PPT received a total of 839 cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines from the year 2001 until the first quarter of this year, submitted by the various groups, headed by Karapatan.
It noted the participation of military men in some cases, and the “absence of any serious attempt to assure an investigation on the killings,” as claimed by the witnesses.
“The wealth and consistency of the oral and written documentation made available through witnesses and expert reports, has convinced the PPT that each and all of the three charges presented against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government, and against George Walker Bush and his government, are substantiated,” Houtart said.
“The PPT underlines that the charges cannot be considered separately nor independently. The atrocities of extra-judicial killings, of massacres, of tortures, of communities destroyed and dispersed are the visible and dramatic expression of one strategy… ,” he went on.
Houtart said the PPT found “unequivocal evidences that the militaries have a central role in the greatest majority of the scenarios of human rights violations in the Philippines.”
And “to justify all illegal actions and their impunity,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Houtart said, joined with the US government’s global war on terror.
“The Philippine government and the Bush administration have knowingly and willingly colluded with each other in implementing the US’s so-called “war on terror” in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines in violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, violating the Philippine Constitution which bans the presence of foreign troops and nuclear weapons on Philippines soil,” Houtart said.
And with all its findings, Houtart said “the PPT denounces as unacceptable the inclusion of the Government of the Philippines in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC).”
During the press conference, BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr. said the various cause-oriented groups will lobby for the delisting of the Philippines from the UN HRC following the PPT’s verdict against the Arroyo government.
“Though this is not legally enforceable, the PPT verdict is morally binding. This result will be forwarded to other international bodies like the European Union, the United Nations, and other international organizations to the embarrassment of the Arroyo government,” Reyes said.
He said to celebrate their victory, many cause-oriented groups will hold a rally today (Tuesday) at 1pm at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila City to make the verdict known to the wider public.
Further, should the opposition win in the upcoming mid-term elections and outnumber the allies of the administration in Congress, the verdict, Reyes said, can be used as ground to advance another impeachment move against Arroyo.
“Arroyo and Bush are criminals, according to the PPT. And she (Arroyo) could no longer redeem her self because the truth has already come out. This should lead to her removal from power,” Dee Ayroso of Desaparecidos said in the same conference.
Sought for comment on the PPT’s verdict, Philippine Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo: “What is that? A kangaroo court? An International kangaroo court?”
Ebdane said the it was not fair for the PPT to accuse the Arroyo government of violating human rights because it did not take the testimony of any government representative.
“We use to say that a person is presumed innocent until he is proven otherwise. Nowadays, it seems another thing. In the Hague, or even in other courts, they should first hear both sides. How can they conclude when they have not even talked to the organizations or the agencies concerned?” said Ebdane.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Manial Robert Vornis echoed the same comment: “It would seem to me that the verdicts of the tribunal was a foregone conclusion. And therefore, it is a tribunal that is, to me, at least, more of a political exercise than a judicial exercise.”
“So, from that perspective, I think, perhaps, we should think of it more as a kangaroo tribunal than anything else,” he added.
But Reyes said branding the PPT as a kangaroo court would not be appropriate because it was the Philippine government who opted not to send its representatives to the hearing of the charges.
“Why, when the Philippine government was not invited to the US Senate inquiry a few days back, we sent our officials there, but in this hearing, we did not despite the invitation? So the government should not take it against the tribunal or the complainants,” Reyes said.
Asked if the will take any action against the PPT, Ebdane said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be the better agency to decide whether to file a protest against the body or just ignore it.
The Philippines was earlier slapped with similar judgment by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Professor Philip Alston, and later by the Malacañang-created Melo Commission./DMS
March 26, 2007
An international people’s tribunal based in the Netherlands found Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government guilty of human rights violations following a three-day session at The Hague.
In a public forum on Sunday afternoon (Sunday evening, Manila time), Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) session President Francois Houtart read from the 13-page verdict: “The tribunal, having considered the evidence before it, is of the opinion that the reported killings, torture and forced disappearances fall under responsibility of the Philippine government and are by no way justified in terms of necessary measures against terrorism.”
The PPT, which is an international opinion tribunal composed of “law experts, writers and other cultural and community leaders from 31 countries, probed on the Philippine’s human rights situation after receiving complaints in “early 2006 by a broad coalition of social and religious organizations, based in the Philippines as well as in Europe and Canada.”
The seven-man jury, led by Houtart, heard a total of 21 witnesses and resource persons from the Philippines during its three-day session, held on March 21 to 23. The 21, however, did not include representatives from the Philippine government since the invitation coursed through the consular offices at The Hague and in Rome apparently were not heeded to.
On Monday morning, a video of the reading of the verdict at The Hague was shown at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City by the Philippine Coordinating Secretariat of the PPT. It was followed by a press conference by the following human rights advocate group: Hustisya, Desaparecidos, SELDA, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
“The extension and the systematic nature of the violations of the rights of the Filipino people committed by the governments of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and with the support and full awareness of the government of George Walker Bush, qualify the same violations as crimes against humanity, with all the consequences for the persons who are responsible for them,” Houtart said.
“Such violations must be stopped immediately,” he added.
The PPT received a total of 839 cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines from the year 2001 until the first quarter of this year, submitted by the various groups, headed by Karapatan.
It noted the participation of military men in some cases, and the “absence of any serious attempt to assure an investigation on the killings,” as claimed by the witnesses.
“The wealth and consistency of the oral and written documentation made available through witnesses and expert reports, has convinced the PPT that each and all of the three charges presented against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government, and against George Walker Bush and his government, are substantiated,” Houtart said.
“The PPT underlines that the charges cannot be considered separately nor independently. The atrocities of extra-judicial killings, of massacres, of tortures, of communities destroyed and dispersed are the visible and dramatic expression of one strategy… ,” he went on.
Houtart said the PPT found “unequivocal evidences that the militaries have a central role in the greatest majority of the scenarios of human rights violations in the Philippines.”
And “to justify all illegal actions and their impunity,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Houtart said, joined with the US government’s global war on terror.
“The Philippine government and the Bush administration have knowingly and willingly colluded with each other in implementing the US’s so-called “war on terror” in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines in violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, violating the Philippine Constitution which bans the presence of foreign troops and nuclear weapons on Philippines soil,” Houtart said.
And with all its findings, Houtart said “the PPT denounces as unacceptable the inclusion of the Government of the Philippines in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC).”
During the press conference, BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr. said the various cause-oriented groups will lobby for the delisting of the Philippines from the UN HRC following the PPT’s verdict against the Arroyo government.
“Though this is not legally enforceable, the PPT verdict is morally binding. This result will be forwarded to other international bodies like the European Union, the United Nations, and other international organizations to the embarrassment of the Arroyo government,” Reyes said.
He said to celebrate their victory, many cause-oriented groups will hold a rally today (Tuesday) at 1pm at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila City to make the verdict known to the wider public.
Further, should the opposition win in the upcoming mid-term elections and outnumber the allies of the administration in Congress, the verdict, Reyes said, can be used as ground to advance another impeachment move against Arroyo.
“Arroyo and Bush are criminals, according to the PPT. And she (Arroyo) could no longer redeem her self because the truth has already come out. This should lead to her removal from power,” Dee Ayroso of Desaparecidos said in the same conference.
Sought for comment on the PPT’s verdict, Philippine Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo: “What is that? A kangaroo court? An International kangaroo court?”
Ebdane said the it was not fair for the PPT to accuse the Arroyo government of violating human rights because it did not take the testimony of any government representative.
“We use to say that a person is presumed innocent until he is proven otherwise. Nowadays, it seems another thing. In the Hague, or even in other courts, they should first hear both sides. How can they conclude when they have not even talked to the organizations or the agencies concerned?” said Ebdane.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Manial Robert Vornis echoed the same comment: “It would seem to me that the verdicts of the tribunal was a foregone conclusion. And therefore, it is a tribunal that is, to me, at least, more of a political exercise than a judicial exercise.”
“So, from that perspective, I think, perhaps, we should think of it more as a kangaroo tribunal than anything else,” he added.
But Reyes said branding the PPT as a kangaroo court would not be appropriate because it was the Philippine government who opted not to send its representatives to the hearing of the charges.
“Why, when the Philippine government was not invited to the US Senate inquiry a few days back, we sent our officials there, but in this hearing, we did not despite the invitation? So the government should not take it against the tribunal or the complainants,” Reyes said.
Asked if the will take any action against the PPT, Ebdane said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be the better agency to decide whether to file a protest against the body or just ignore it.
The Philippines was earlier slapped with similar judgment by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Professor Philip Alston, and later by the Malacañang-created Melo Commission./DMS
Monday, March 26, 2007
Suspected Reds gun down two police officers in Samar
By Ronron
March 25, 2007
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked a police checkpoint in Samar province on Saturday night, killing two police officers.
Initial reports culled from the Samar Provincial Police Office said around six unidentified armed men were first seen walking in front of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint at Sitio Talahib, Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City at around 8 pm.
Without any warning, the suspects, all described to be below 20 years old, opened fire at the checkpoint using assorted types of firearms.
PO3 Valeriano Valenzuela died on the spot, while PO1 Ramil Beso sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Beso would later die upon arrival at a hospital in Catbalogan town of the same province.
The suspects were able to escape prior to the arrival of reinforcement troops from the city police station and the 809th Police Provincial Mobile Group.
They also managed to cart away the M16 and 9mm pistol of Valenzuela.
Police suspect that the attack was the handiwork of the NPA, which has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now.
The 7,100-strong NPA will mark its 38th founding anniversary this March 29th.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military and police to crush the insurgency movement by 2010 when she steps down from power./DMS
March 25, 2007
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked a police checkpoint in Samar province on Saturday night, killing two police officers.
Initial reports culled from the Samar Provincial Police Office said around six unidentified armed men were first seen walking in front of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint at Sitio Talahib, Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City at around 8 pm.
Without any warning, the suspects, all described to be below 20 years old, opened fire at the checkpoint using assorted types of firearms.
PO3 Valeriano Valenzuela died on the spot, while PO1 Ramil Beso sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Beso would later die upon arrival at a hospital in Catbalogan town of the same province.
The suspects were able to escape prior to the arrival of reinforcement troops from the city police station and the 809th Police Provincial Mobile Group.
They also managed to cart away the M16 and 9mm pistol of Valenzuela.
Police suspect that the attack was the handiwork of the NPA, which has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now.
The 7,100-strong NPA will mark its 38th founding anniversary this March 29th.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military and police to crush the insurgency movement by 2010 when she steps down from power./DMS
7 family members killed in Cebu City fire
By Ronron
March 25, 2007
Seven people, five of whom are minors, were killed in a pre-dawn fire Sunday in Cebu City.
The Cebu City Fire Station (CCFS) reported that the incident happened past 1 am at the Eastern Enterprises commercial-residential building in Barangay Cogon, Pardo District.
The victims were identified as Yengyeng Chang, 70; Ellen Chua Tiu, 44; Ada Chua, 16; Karen Quie, 15; Arvin Chua, 13; Aljon Chua, 12; and, Kenneth Quie, 9. Their relationship with each other could not immediately be ascertained.
All victims were up in the building and were trapped when the flame ate up the establishment, the CCFS report said.
The CCFS said it received the fire alarm at around 1:12 am, and was put under control within 12 minutes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire investigators estimated the cost of damages at P900,000.
March is the Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines./DMS
March 25, 2007
Seven people, five of whom are minors, were killed in a pre-dawn fire Sunday in Cebu City.
The Cebu City Fire Station (CCFS) reported that the incident happened past 1 am at the Eastern Enterprises commercial-residential building in Barangay Cogon, Pardo District.
The victims were identified as Yengyeng Chang, 70; Ellen Chua Tiu, 44; Ada Chua, 16; Karen Quie, 15; Arvin Chua, 13; Aljon Chua, 12; and, Kenneth Quie, 9. Their relationship with each other could not immediately be ascertained.
All victims were up in the building and were trapped when the flame ate up the establishment, the CCFS report said.
The CCFS said it received the fire alarm at around 1:12 am, and was put under control within 12 minutes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire investigators estimated the cost of damages at P900,000.
March is the Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines./DMS
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