By Ronron
May 18, 2007
Defense officials on Friday expressed surprise by the good showing of resigned Navy officer Antonio Trillanes IV in the counting of votes for the senatorial race.
In an ambush interview Friday at Camp Aguinaldo, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said Trillanes, a leader of the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny who ran for Senator under the Genuine Opposition ticket, may have gotten sympathy votes from people based on the “good media coverage” he got.
“It’s really a surprise. But if you look at the situation, it could have come from people who sympathize with him, just like what happened to Gringo before,” Ebdane said, referring to independent senatorial candidate and former coup leader Gregorio Honasan who had already served some terms at the Senate within the last decade.
Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. acknowledged that Trillanes “indeed has strong showing right now,” making it to the last few slots in the Magic 12 in any of the countings, official or unofficial.
“If indeed he becomes a Senator, probably, wouldn’t it be also good because instead of resorting to unconstitutional ways, now he is (in the) mainstream. So, he will no longer launch coup d’ etat,” Esperon said.
Trillanes is facing a coup d’ etat case at the Makati Regional Trial Court for his participation in the takeover of Oakwood Hotel in Makati City in July 2003, together with some 300 junior officers and enlisted personnel, in protest to the alleged massive corruption in government.
The same incident brought him another case now being heard at the General Court Martial of the AFP.
Esperon said that should Trillanes win, “there will no longer be destabilization from his (Trillanes) side. That’s one way of looking at it.”
“I hope if he becomes a Senator, he performs well,” the military chief said.
During the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, Trillanes and his fellow mutineers had called for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita due to alleged corruption and ill-governance.
Trillanes became more pronounced about said call after the “Hello Garci” audio recordings allegedly of Arroyo hinted of a massive electoral fraud in the 2004 national elections to her favor.
In a recent interview with him at his detention cell at the Philippine Marines headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Trillanes said he would actively push for the impeachment of Arroyo once he lands in the Senate.
Trillanes said Arroyo should never be in Malacanang in the first place because she has no mandate from the Filipino people in the 2004 polls.
Asked if he would address Trillanes as the Honorable Senator, Esperon said: “Why not? Why not, if he wins?”
But Esperon said should Trillanes win, his victory will not exonerate him from his liabilities in the military and civilian courts.
“That (cases of Trillanes) is not erased by the victory in election… He could be given punishments that could include confinements,” Esperon said./DMS
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Probe on Batangas school burning elevated to main police headquarters
By Ronron
May 18, 2007
The investigation on the policemen implicated in the burning of a school in Batangas province last May 15 that claimed the life of a teacher and a poll watcher was transferred on Friday to the national police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Director Geary Barias, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), said four policemen placed under investigation were likewise transferred to Camp Crame where they will be on restrictive custody following strong indications that two of said cops are actually involved in the arson.
Barias identified the two members of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) of the Police Region IV-A under investigation as Inspector Roberto Marinda, Team Leader of RSOG-Batangas, and his assistant, SPO2 William Relos, Jr.
He said the two are being investigated “on their involvement to the arson and murder cases,” after they were identified by some witnesses to have been seen near the Pinagbayanan Elementary School prior to and after the burning.
The two also matched the artist’s sketch of the suspects released by local police.
Barias said they also have witnesses who saw the two frequenting the safehouse of Taysan mayoralty candidate Hernando Villena a few days prior to the incident.
Sr. Supt. Freddie Panen, Batangas Provincial Police Director, said Villena lost to Victor Portugal, Jr. in the mayoralty race, but theorizes that Villena could have ordered the burning of the school to have a basis for a possible request for declaration of a failure of election in town.
“But even if (Villena) he would do that, his lead of about 1,000 votes in Barangay Pinagbayanan is not sufficient to alter the results of the counting to favor his victory,” Panen said.
Barias said police may later subject Villena to the investigation if there is a direct evidence linking him to the RSOG personnel now being investigated.
Marinda and Relos will be subjected to paraffin examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory, while their issued firearms will be subjected to ballistics examination.
It can be recalled that the perpetrators set the school building on fire at around 3am last May 15 by firing their guns at gasoline contained in plastic bottles.
Aside from Marinda and Relos, Barias said the chief of police of Taysan, Chief Insp. Elpidio Ramirez, and his deputy, Insp. Ruel dela Cruz, were also placed on restrictive custody for possible administrative lapses in securing the Pinagbayanan Elementary School.
Barias disclosed that at the time of the incident, dela Cruz was among the two cops securing the school together with eight personnel of the 740th Combat Group of the Philippine Air Force.
All 10 security personnel were stationed 50 meters away from the school building where the canvassing of votes was being held as mandated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Minutes before the school was attacked by five suspects, dela Cruz and his fellow policeman, and four Air Force personnel left the school to respond to an alleged incident in the next barangay, which turned out to be a hoax.
Barias said that when they returned to the school, the fire was already eating up the building.
Barias said the local police could have missed out in securing the back portion of the building where the perpetrators came from, considering that the town is known to be infested with members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
To ensure impartiality and to preclude suspicions of undue influence in the investigation, RSOG IV-A chief, Supt. Roger James Brillantes, was also relieved and placed as well on restrictive custody.
His relief is also based on the principle of command responsibility, although he was not brought to Camp Crame and was not disarmed, unlike Marinda, Relos, Ramirez and dela Cruz.
Barias said they are not discounting the possibility that more RSOG personnel could be involved in the incident, together with some civilian cohorts.
In a visit yesterday to the burnt school together with top police officials, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered a “speedy justice” on the case, Barias said.
In response, Calderon said: “Justice will be served, and the killers and their conspirators will be made to answer for their crime no matter who gets hurt.”
“In police investigation, it is always the evidence that determines the conclusion,” he added.
The PNP leadership had already expressed their disgust over the actuations of the suspected policemen, which, they say, had somehow marred the heroism of the others who sacrificed their lives and safety to protect the sanctity of the ballot during this election period.
On the day of the incident, Calderon had initially blamed the NPA for the attack, citing the reported presence of rebels in Taysan. The NPA denied the allegation.
In a press briefing last Thursday, Barias said they are not totally abandoning yet the NPA angle until the investigation wraps up and points with certainty to the connivance of Villena and the RSOG personnel as the bottomline of the incident./DMS
May 18, 2007
The investigation on the policemen implicated in the burning of a school in Batangas province last May 15 that claimed the life of a teacher and a poll watcher was transferred on Friday to the national police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Director Geary Barias, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), said four policemen placed under investigation were likewise transferred to Camp Crame where they will be on restrictive custody following strong indications that two of said cops are actually involved in the arson.
Barias identified the two members of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG) of the Police Region IV-A under investigation as Inspector Roberto Marinda, Team Leader of RSOG-Batangas, and his assistant, SPO2 William Relos, Jr.
He said the two are being investigated “on their involvement to the arson and murder cases,” after they were identified by some witnesses to have been seen near the Pinagbayanan Elementary School prior to and after the burning.
The two also matched the artist’s sketch of the suspects released by local police.
Barias said they also have witnesses who saw the two frequenting the safehouse of Taysan mayoralty candidate Hernando Villena a few days prior to the incident.
Sr. Supt. Freddie Panen, Batangas Provincial Police Director, said Villena lost to Victor Portugal, Jr. in the mayoralty race, but theorizes that Villena could have ordered the burning of the school to have a basis for a possible request for declaration of a failure of election in town.
“But even if (Villena) he would do that, his lead of about 1,000 votes in Barangay Pinagbayanan is not sufficient to alter the results of the counting to favor his victory,” Panen said.
Barias said police may later subject Villena to the investigation if there is a direct evidence linking him to the RSOG personnel now being investigated.
Marinda and Relos will be subjected to paraffin examination at the PNP Crime Laboratory, while their issued firearms will be subjected to ballistics examination.
It can be recalled that the perpetrators set the school building on fire at around 3am last May 15 by firing their guns at gasoline contained in plastic bottles.
Aside from Marinda and Relos, Barias said the chief of police of Taysan, Chief Insp. Elpidio Ramirez, and his deputy, Insp. Ruel dela Cruz, were also placed on restrictive custody for possible administrative lapses in securing the Pinagbayanan Elementary School.
Barias disclosed that at the time of the incident, dela Cruz was among the two cops securing the school together with eight personnel of the 740th Combat Group of the Philippine Air Force.
All 10 security personnel were stationed 50 meters away from the school building where the canvassing of votes was being held as mandated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Minutes before the school was attacked by five suspects, dela Cruz and his fellow policeman, and four Air Force personnel left the school to respond to an alleged incident in the next barangay, which turned out to be a hoax.
Barias said that when they returned to the school, the fire was already eating up the building.
Barias said the local police could have missed out in securing the back portion of the building where the perpetrators came from, considering that the town is known to be infested with members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
To ensure impartiality and to preclude suspicions of undue influence in the investigation, RSOG IV-A chief, Supt. Roger James Brillantes, was also relieved and placed as well on restrictive custody.
His relief is also based on the principle of command responsibility, although he was not brought to Camp Crame and was not disarmed, unlike Marinda, Relos, Ramirez and dela Cruz.
Barias said they are not discounting the possibility that more RSOG personnel could be involved in the incident, together with some civilian cohorts.
In a visit yesterday to the burnt school together with top police officials, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered a “speedy justice” on the case, Barias said.
In response, Calderon said: “Justice will be served, and the killers and their conspirators will be made to answer for their crime no matter who gets hurt.”
“In police investigation, it is always the evidence that determines the conclusion,” he added.
The PNP leadership had already expressed their disgust over the actuations of the suspected policemen, which, they say, had somehow marred the heroism of the others who sacrificed their lives and safety to protect the sanctity of the ballot during this election period.
On the day of the incident, Calderon had initially blamed the NPA for the attack, citing the reported presence of rebels in Taysan. The NPA denied the allegation.
In a press briefing last Thursday, Barias said they are not totally abandoning yet the NPA angle until the investigation wraps up and points with certainty to the connivance of Villena and the RSOG personnel as the bottomline of the incident./DMS
Explosion rocks Cotabato City anew; one killed, more than 30 wounded
By Ronron
May 18, 2007
A seven-year-old boy was killed while over 30 other persons were wounded when an explosion rocked Cotabato City anew on Friday morning at a bus terminal, police said.
Sr. Supt. Paniares Adap, Cotabato City police chief, said the explosion happened at 11:05 am inside the compound of the Weena Bus Terminal along Don Rufino Alonzo St. in the city proper.
“Most likely, this is sabotage,” Cotabato City police spokesman Inspector Wales Kasuyo said of the incident in a separate phone interview.
Adap downplayed terrorism, saying the bus terminal manager, Guinaid Adam, confided to him that somebody has held a personal grudge against him over his position in the bus company.
“It’s not terrorism,” Adap said in a phone interview.
Adam is among at least 32 people wounded from the blast, all seeking treatment at two hospitals - 27 at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center, and five at the Cotabato Medical Specialist Hospital.
Adap said Adam is already on stable condition.
Kasuyo identified the killed victim as Adriani Watangao.
Kasuyo said the explosion happened near the canteen of the bus terminal, hitting most of the passengers awaiting for their bus ride. It damaged the canteen and Adam’s office.
The explosive device, its makeup is still under investigation, is believed to have been placed inside a bag left near the canteen.
Initial investigation showed that minutes prior to the blast, Adam received a telephone call from an unidentified male person, saying that there is an explosive placed inside the compound of the bus terminal.
But Adap could not immediately say if the caller is the same person with whom he Adam has a rift.
The explosion happened even as the city police was placed on full alert status in connection with the holding of the elections last Monday.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), for its part, however, is not immediately ruling out terrorism, saying that the placement of the explosive device is a signature among terrorists.
“It’s a kind of explosive device that the terrorists could use,” said AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.
Esperon reserved his comment on whether or not the latest blast is a handiwork of the Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian cell of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network, until the investigation is over./DMS
May 18, 2007
A seven-year-old boy was killed while over 30 other persons were wounded when an explosion rocked Cotabato City anew on Friday morning at a bus terminal, police said.
Sr. Supt. Paniares Adap, Cotabato City police chief, said the explosion happened at 11:05 am inside the compound of the Weena Bus Terminal along Don Rufino Alonzo St. in the city proper.
“Most likely, this is sabotage,” Cotabato City police spokesman Inspector Wales Kasuyo said of the incident in a separate phone interview.
Adap downplayed terrorism, saying the bus terminal manager, Guinaid Adam, confided to him that somebody has held a personal grudge against him over his position in the bus company.
“It’s not terrorism,” Adap said in a phone interview.
Adam is among at least 32 people wounded from the blast, all seeking treatment at two hospitals - 27 at the Cotabato Regional Medical Center, and five at the Cotabato Medical Specialist Hospital.
Adap said Adam is already on stable condition.
Kasuyo identified the killed victim as Adriani Watangao.
Kasuyo said the explosion happened near the canteen of the bus terminal, hitting most of the passengers awaiting for their bus ride. It damaged the canteen and Adam’s office.
The explosive device, its makeup is still under investigation, is believed to have been placed inside a bag left near the canteen.
Initial investigation showed that minutes prior to the blast, Adam received a telephone call from an unidentified male person, saying that there is an explosive placed inside the compound of the bus terminal.
But Adap could not immediately say if the caller is the same person with whom he Adam has a rift.
The explosion happened even as the city police was placed on full alert status in connection with the holding of the elections last Monday.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), for its part, however, is not immediately ruling out terrorism, saying that the placement of the explosive device is a signature among terrorists.
“It’s a kind of explosive device that the terrorists could use,” said AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.
Esperon reserved his comment on whether or not the latest blast is a handiwork of the Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian cell of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network, until the investigation is over./DMS
Friday, May 18, 2007
Five cops tagged in Batangas school burning
By Ronron
May 17, 2007
Contrary to its earlier pronouncement that the New People’s Army (NPA) was behind the attack of a school in Batangas province last Tuesday that claimed the lives of a teacher and a poll watcher, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Thursday that five policemen were behind the incident.
Chief Supt. Geary Barias, head of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), told a news conference yesterday afternoon that five members of the Regional Special Operations Group of the Police Region IV-A have been placed on restrictive custody and were already disarmed as they were being investigated.
“They are now suspects in the burning incident in Taysan, Batangas. This is based on cartographic sketch that was produced by the investigation group under the task force created in Batangas, the Special Task Group Pinagbayanan that is under Sr. Supt. (Freddie) Panen (Batangas Police Director),” Barias said.
“We also have testimonial evidences linking them to this incident,” he added.
Barias released yesterday the artist’s sketch of three suspects, which was produced out of descriptions provided by survivors of the burning of the Pinagbayanan Elementary School in Taysan, Batangas at around 3am of May 15.
“Apparently, two of them were not using bonnets at that time that’s why they were identified,” Barias said. The other one, meanwhile, was just wearing a ball cap.
Barias said that since the five operate as a team, the two other companions of those three with artist’s sketch were easily identified.
Barias refused to identify the five pending the investigation against them, but disclosed that one of them is their team leader, with a rank of Inspector, while the rest are non-commissioned officers.
Asked if the five has links with any of the political leader in Taysan, Barias said: “Yes, they could be linked to Mayor (Hernando) Villena.”
Villena is seeking another mayoralty term and is being challenged by Victor Portugal, Jr.
“There are also reports, although these are being verified, that three days before the incident, they are already identified with the camp of Villena. Meaning, there are some activities that they were undertaking which could link them to Mayor Villena,” Barias said.
Asked why would Villena order a disruption of the counting process at the Pinagbayanan Elementary School when, according to the police in earlier interviews, he was leading against Portugal, Barias said: “That will be established in the investigation.”
In the canvassing at said school, Villena reportedly got more than 1,000 votes, as against Portugal’s 25, out of the 1,180 registered voters in Barangay Pinagbayanan. Taysan has a total of almost 19,000 registered voters.
“If that can be proven (that Villena has links with the five), then he will also be included in the case. We start first from the burning incident. Then, as we go on the investigation, proper action will be taken,” Barias said.
He said part of the investigation is to determine if the cops were offered money by Villena.
Barias said the five policemen could be charged administratively for grave misconduct, which is punishable by dismissal from the service, apart from the criminal charge of arson and murder.
“Whoever is involved in this should suffer the consequences because this is something that is so heinous. You do it to a teacher?” Barias said when asked of his sentiment about the involvement of uniformed men in the incident.
“Of course, we feel so very bad about this development. If they are guilty, they really should suffer the consequences, probably even maximum penalty,” he added.
Pending the investigation, the five will not be allowed to leave Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna, Barias said.
The NPA had lambasted the PNP, particularly its chief Director General Oscar Calderon, for accusing the movement of being responsible for the burning of the school.
“Even more likely, his intention is to protect the masterminds and perpetrators of this despicable crime, who may very well be military and police forces conniving with political warlords,” Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal said in a statement dated May 16, 2007.
Rosal said “the revolutionary forces condemn violence against innocent people,” and that “the NPA has nothing to gain from such an attack.”
“Such acts of violence can only be the desperate deeds of warlord politicos and their private armies in league with their mercenaries in the military and police,” he said.
Rosal said that once the culprits are identified, the NPA will “mete out revolutionary justice against” them.
Calderon had earlier said it is only the NPA that could have the motive for the attack since it happened already after the counting.
Asked yesterday if the police will now disregard the possible involvement of communist rebels in the attack following the identification of the five cops as possible suspects, Barias said: “Well, that was an initial consideration because of the remoteness of the area and the area is heavily infested by the NPA. We are now veering away from that angle, although we are not totally abandoning that theory.”
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years with the end goal of taking over the democratic form of government./DMS
May 17, 2007
Contrary to its earlier pronouncement that the New People’s Army (NPA) was behind the attack of a school in Batangas province last Tuesday that claimed the lives of a teacher and a poll watcher, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Thursday that five policemen were behind the incident.
Chief Supt. Geary Barias, head of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), told a news conference yesterday afternoon that five members of the Regional Special Operations Group of the Police Region IV-A have been placed on restrictive custody and were already disarmed as they were being investigated.
“They are now suspects in the burning incident in Taysan, Batangas. This is based on cartographic sketch that was produced by the investigation group under the task force created in Batangas, the Special Task Group Pinagbayanan that is under Sr. Supt. (Freddie) Panen (Batangas Police Director),” Barias said.
“We also have testimonial evidences linking them to this incident,” he added.
Barias released yesterday the artist’s sketch of three suspects, which was produced out of descriptions provided by survivors of the burning of the Pinagbayanan Elementary School in Taysan, Batangas at around 3am of May 15.
“Apparently, two of them were not using bonnets at that time that’s why they were identified,” Barias said. The other one, meanwhile, was just wearing a ball cap.
Barias said that since the five operate as a team, the two other companions of those three with artist’s sketch were easily identified.
Barias refused to identify the five pending the investigation against them, but disclosed that one of them is their team leader, with a rank of Inspector, while the rest are non-commissioned officers.
Asked if the five has links with any of the political leader in Taysan, Barias said: “Yes, they could be linked to Mayor (Hernando) Villena.”
Villena is seeking another mayoralty term and is being challenged by Victor Portugal, Jr.
“There are also reports, although these are being verified, that three days before the incident, they are already identified with the camp of Villena. Meaning, there are some activities that they were undertaking which could link them to Mayor Villena,” Barias said.
Asked why would Villena order a disruption of the counting process at the Pinagbayanan Elementary School when, according to the police in earlier interviews, he was leading against Portugal, Barias said: “That will be established in the investigation.”
In the canvassing at said school, Villena reportedly got more than 1,000 votes, as against Portugal’s 25, out of the 1,180 registered voters in Barangay Pinagbayanan. Taysan has a total of almost 19,000 registered voters.
“If that can be proven (that Villena has links with the five), then he will also be included in the case. We start first from the burning incident. Then, as we go on the investigation, proper action will be taken,” Barias said.
He said part of the investigation is to determine if the cops were offered money by Villena.
Barias said the five policemen could be charged administratively for grave misconduct, which is punishable by dismissal from the service, apart from the criminal charge of arson and murder.
“Whoever is involved in this should suffer the consequences because this is something that is so heinous. You do it to a teacher?” Barias said when asked of his sentiment about the involvement of uniformed men in the incident.
“Of course, we feel so very bad about this development. If they are guilty, they really should suffer the consequences, probably even maximum penalty,” he added.
Pending the investigation, the five will not be allowed to leave Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna, Barias said.
The NPA had lambasted the PNP, particularly its chief Director General Oscar Calderon, for accusing the movement of being responsible for the burning of the school.
“Even more likely, his intention is to protect the masterminds and perpetrators of this despicable crime, who may very well be military and police forces conniving with political warlords,” Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal said in a statement dated May 16, 2007.
Rosal said “the revolutionary forces condemn violence against innocent people,” and that “the NPA has nothing to gain from such an attack.”
“Such acts of violence can only be the desperate deeds of warlord politicos and their private armies in league with their mercenaries in the military and police,” he said.
Rosal said that once the culprits are identified, the NPA will “mete out revolutionary justice against” them.
Calderon had earlier said it is only the NPA that could have the motive for the attack since it happened already after the counting.
Asked yesterday if the police will now disregard the possible involvement of communist rebels in the attack following the identification of the five cops as possible suspects, Barias said: “Well, that was an initial consideration because of the remoteness of the area and the area is heavily infested by the NPA. We are now veering away from that angle, although we are not totally abandoning that theory.”
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years with the end goal of taking over the democratic form of government./DMS
One killed in Abra shooting incident, grenade explodes in Basilan as canvassing of votes proceeds
By Ronron
May 17, 2007
A poll watcher died after shooting the wife of a mayoralty bet Thursday noon in the northern Philippine province of Abra as canvassing of votes was ongoing, while in Basilan down south, a grenade exploded at a canvassing site although no one was hurt.
Sr. Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Abra Provincial Police chief, said poll watcher Totoy Buyao was inside the canvassing area at the fourth floor of the Holy Spirit Academy Elementary building in Bangued town when he shot Brenda Crisologo, wife of Tineg mayoralty bet Edwin Crisologo, at around 12:20 pm.
Police said the canvassing of votes for Tineg was held at Bangued to avoid violent incidents in the former.
Crisologo, a former Mayor, is challenging the incumbent chief executive, Lenin Benwaren.
Pumecha said Buyao used a caliber 45 pistol when he attacked Mrs. Crisologo who was just sitting inside the canvassing hall.
Mrs. Crisologo sustained three gunshot wounds and was brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued for treatment.
Buyao, meanwhile, was shot dead by members of the Philippine Army who were securing the canvassing area.
“The motive for the attack is political, for sure,” Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales, chief of the Cordillera Region Police, said.
Asked if Buyao is allied with Benwaren, Pumecha said: “With the situation, we can say he is.”
Pumecha disclosed that Mrs. Crisologo was already in stable condition later in the afternoon and was moved to the recovery room after undergoing medical operation.
Abra is among the five provinces placed under Comelec control this election period due to intense political rivalry and presence of communist rebels.
Meanwhile, down south in Basilan province, the canvassing in Isabela City was disturbed on Wednesday night after two grenades were lobbed by unidentified men, one of which exploded.
Sr. Supt. Alex Macapantar, chief of Basilan Provincial Police, said no one was hurt in the blast that happened at 9pm at the Student Center of the Basilan State College, Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City, saying it could only be a form of harassment.
Macapantar said it was the votes for Lantawan town that was being canvassed at said school. The intense political rivalry in Lantawan prompted Comelec officials to transfer the canvassing of votes to the capital of Basilan.
Macapantar said the grenade that landed near the gate of the school exploded, while the one inside the building did not and was recovered during clearing operations.
“It’s more of suspected harassment from losing candidates,” Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said of the incident.
Macapantar said they are still conducting investigation to determine the identity of those who lobbed the grenades.
The explosion caused a temporary stop in the canvassing and only resumed at 8am Thursday, Macapantar said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership had already said it was still expecting more election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) after the election day last Monday as the counting of votes continue.
The latest report yesterday of the PNP showed there are already 230 ERVI’s since the start of the election period on January 14, 74 of which are confirmed to be politically motivated.
All incidents resulted to 134 deaths and 137 wounded persons, according to Chief Supt. Louie Palmera, deputy chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations./DMS
May 17, 2007
A poll watcher died after shooting the wife of a mayoralty bet Thursday noon in the northern Philippine province of Abra as canvassing of votes was ongoing, while in Basilan down south, a grenade exploded at a canvassing site although no one was hurt.
Sr. Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Abra Provincial Police chief, said poll watcher Totoy Buyao was inside the canvassing area at the fourth floor of the Holy Spirit Academy Elementary building in Bangued town when he shot Brenda Crisologo, wife of Tineg mayoralty bet Edwin Crisologo, at around 12:20 pm.
Police said the canvassing of votes for Tineg was held at Bangued to avoid violent incidents in the former.
Crisologo, a former Mayor, is challenging the incumbent chief executive, Lenin Benwaren.
Pumecha said Buyao used a caliber 45 pistol when he attacked Mrs. Crisologo who was just sitting inside the canvassing hall.
Mrs. Crisologo sustained three gunshot wounds and was brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued for treatment.
Buyao, meanwhile, was shot dead by members of the Philippine Army who were securing the canvassing area.
“The motive for the attack is political, for sure,” Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales, chief of the Cordillera Region Police, said.
Asked if Buyao is allied with Benwaren, Pumecha said: “With the situation, we can say he is.”
Pumecha disclosed that Mrs. Crisologo was already in stable condition later in the afternoon and was moved to the recovery room after undergoing medical operation.
Abra is among the five provinces placed under Comelec control this election period due to intense political rivalry and presence of communist rebels.
Meanwhile, down south in Basilan province, the canvassing in Isabela City was disturbed on Wednesday night after two grenades were lobbed by unidentified men, one of which exploded.
Sr. Supt. Alex Macapantar, chief of Basilan Provincial Police, said no one was hurt in the blast that happened at 9pm at the Student Center of the Basilan State College, Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City, saying it could only be a form of harassment.
Macapantar said it was the votes for Lantawan town that was being canvassed at said school. The intense political rivalry in Lantawan prompted Comelec officials to transfer the canvassing of votes to the capital of Basilan.
Macapantar said the grenade that landed near the gate of the school exploded, while the one inside the building did not and was recovered during clearing operations.
“It’s more of suspected harassment from losing candidates,” Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao said of the incident.
Macapantar said they are still conducting investigation to determine the identity of those who lobbed the grenades.
The explosion caused a temporary stop in the canvassing and only resumed at 8am Thursday, Macapantar said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership had already said it was still expecting more election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) after the election day last Monday as the counting of votes continue.
The latest report yesterday of the PNP showed there are already 230 ERVI’s since the start of the election period on January 14, 74 of which are confirmed to be politically motivated.
All incidents resulted to 134 deaths and 137 wounded persons, according to Chief Supt. Louie Palmera, deputy chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations./DMS
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Mayoralty candidate in Davao and son die in shootout
By Ronron
May 16, 2007
A candidate for Mayor in Davao del Sur province and his son died in a shootout Wednesday afternoon against supporters of their political rival.
Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Anselmo Pinili identified the victims as Isidro Sarmiento, candidate for Mayor of Malita town, and his son, Danilo.
Pinili said the shooting incident happened at around 3pm outside the municipal hall of Malita where the canvassing of votes was ongoing.
Pinili said a staffer of Sarmiento was walking outside the municipal hall, carrying some documents, when supporters of gubernatorial candidate Claude Bautista stopped the staffer on suspicion that he was bringing pertinent election materials.
Bautista is running against Davao del Sur Representative Douglas Cagas, whom the Sarmiento’s are supporting.
The encounter between the Sarmiento staffer and Bautista’s supporters drew the victims in from the place of the canvassing at the municipal hall and sparked a heated argument, and later a shootout.
“They (Sarmiento’s) went out with their guns, and the shootout began,” Pinili said.
Pinili said the Sarmiento’s were armed with caliber 45 pistols. It was not clear yet if the two are authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to carry firearms at this time of the election period.
The shootout left the older Sarmiento dead on the spot, his son dead on arrival at a hospital, and a civilian supporter of Bautista wounded.
“Sarmiento was losing in the count but he was there to guard the votes for Cagas,” Pinili said./DMS
May 16, 2007
A candidate for Mayor in Davao del Sur province and his son died in a shootout Wednesday afternoon against supporters of their political rival.
Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Anselmo Pinili identified the victims as Isidro Sarmiento, candidate for Mayor of Malita town, and his son, Danilo.
Pinili said the shooting incident happened at around 3pm outside the municipal hall of Malita where the canvassing of votes was ongoing.
Pinili said a staffer of Sarmiento was walking outside the municipal hall, carrying some documents, when supporters of gubernatorial candidate Claude Bautista stopped the staffer on suspicion that he was bringing pertinent election materials.
Bautista is running against Davao del Sur Representative Douglas Cagas, whom the Sarmiento’s are supporting.
The encounter between the Sarmiento staffer and Bautista’s supporters drew the victims in from the place of the canvassing at the municipal hall and sparked a heated argument, and later a shootout.
“They (Sarmiento’s) went out with their guns, and the shootout began,” Pinili said.
Pinili said the Sarmiento’s were armed with caliber 45 pistols. It was not clear yet if the two are authorized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to carry firearms at this time of the election period.
The shootout left the older Sarmiento dead on the spot, his son dead on arrival at a hospital, and a civilian supporter of Bautista wounded.
“Sarmiento was losing in the count but he was there to guard the votes for Cagas,” Pinili said./DMS
PNP activates task group to investigate election-related violent incidents
By Ronron
May 16, 2007
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon activated on Wednesday an investigation task group that will validate all reported election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) this mid-term elections.
Calderon said Chief Supt. Geary Barias, head of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) and Commander of the PNP Task Force USIG, will head the task group that falls under the PNP Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections).
“I have strengthened my investigation team to be headed by Gen. Barias also. But let us not confuse this with USIG because this (task group) will be in charge of the 217 election cases registered,” Calderon told reporters in Camp Crame yesterday.
“They will categorize which of the incidents are election-related, which ones are not, which are acts of terrorism, and NPA (New People’s Army) related,” he added.
In a news conference later in the day, Barias said Calderon particularly ordered him to prioritize the attack and burning of a school in Taysan, Batangas, and the ambush of the followers of Lagayan, Abra mayor Cecilia Luna.
As of May 15, the PNP has recorded a total of 256 ERVI’s, 153 of which are already confirmed to be politically motivated.
Asked if the new assignment will affect the TF USIG investigation on killings of militants and media personalities, Barias said: “No, it will not suffer. We have dedicated personnel for Task Force USIG, and separate personnel for the election-related incidents.”
The TF USIG is currently investigating 116 cases of militant killings and 26 killings of journalists. It was created in May last year by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to address the spate of unexplained killings since she assumed power in 2001./DMS
May 16, 2007
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon activated on Wednesday an investigation task group that will validate all reported election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) this mid-term elections.
Calderon said Chief Supt. Geary Barias, head of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) and Commander of the PNP Task Force USIG, will head the task group that falls under the PNP Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections).
“I have strengthened my investigation team to be headed by Gen. Barias also. But let us not confuse this with USIG because this (task group) will be in charge of the 217 election cases registered,” Calderon told reporters in Camp Crame yesterday.
“They will categorize which of the incidents are election-related, which ones are not, which are acts of terrorism, and NPA (New People’s Army) related,” he added.
In a news conference later in the day, Barias said Calderon particularly ordered him to prioritize the attack and burning of a school in Taysan, Batangas, and the ambush of the followers of Lagayan, Abra mayor Cecilia Luna.
As of May 15, the PNP has recorded a total of 256 ERVI’s, 153 of which are already confirmed to be politically motivated.
Asked if the new assignment will affect the TF USIG investigation on killings of militants and media personalities, Barias said: “No, it will not suffer. We have dedicated personnel for Task Force USIG, and separate personnel for the election-related incidents.”
The TF USIG is currently investigating 116 cases of militant killings and 26 killings of journalists. It was created in May last year by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to address the spate of unexplained killings since she assumed power in 2001./DMS
Seven Army troopers killed, 3 others wounded in alleged NPA ambush in Abra
By Ronron
May 16, 2007
Seven Army troopers died while three others were wounded after they were ambushed by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Abra province dawn of Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were conducting road clearing operations in Barangay Baoayan, Boliney town when they were fired upon by some 40 communist rebels at around 5:45 am.
Bacarro said the operation was meant to deter plans of the NPA to snatch ballot boxes that were going to be transported to Boliney from Manaba town later in the day for canvassing.
“Accordingly, the NPA’s were conducting a road blockade intended to snatch the ballot in order to favor an unidentified candidate who allegedly paid large sums for his permit-to-win fees with the NPA,” PA 5th Infantry Division spokesman 1Lt. Dennis Guillermo said in a statement.
Guillermo said the Army troops attacked numbered to about 30.
Some of the soldiers managed to fire back, ensuing a firefight for more than one hour.
The slain troopers include one officer while the rest are foot soldiers and militiamen.
“The noble sacrifice of these gallant men prevented the NPA’s from snatching the Comelec election returns and prevented the dignity of the votes of the people in Abra,” Guillermo said.
“The 5th Infantry Division’s Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, extends his deepest sympathy to the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers, and wishes to express his great pride over their heroism,” he added.
Guillermo said they are not yet sure if there are casualties on the NPA side since the latter managed to escape.
He described the ambush site as a remote and uninhabited area.
Abra is among the provinces placed under Comelec control during this election period because of intense political rivalry and presence of insurgents./DMS
May 16, 2007
Seven Army troopers died while three others were wounded after they were ambushed by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) Abra province dawn of Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said the elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army were conducting road clearing operations in Barangay Baoayan, Boliney town when they were fired upon by some 40 communist rebels at around 5:45 am.
Bacarro said the operation was meant to deter plans of the NPA to snatch ballot boxes that were going to be transported to Boliney from Manaba town later in the day for canvassing.
“Accordingly, the NPA’s were conducting a road blockade intended to snatch the ballot in order to favor an unidentified candidate who allegedly paid large sums for his permit-to-win fees with the NPA,” PA 5th Infantry Division spokesman 1Lt. Dennis Guillermo said in a statement.
Guillermo said the Army troops attacked numbered to about 30.
Some of the soldiers managed to fire back, ensuing a firefight for more than one hour.
The slain troopers include one officer while the rest are foot soldiers and militiamen.
“The noble sacrifice of these gallant men prevented the NPA’s from snatching the Comelec election returns and prevented the dignity of the votes of the people in Abra,” Guillermo said.
“The 5th Infantry Division’s Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, extends his deepest sympathy to the bereaved families of the fallen soldiers, and wishes to express his great pride over their heroism,” he added.
Guillermo said they are not yet sure if there are casualties on the NPA side since the latter managed to escape.
He described the ambush site as a remote and uninhabited area.
Abra is among the provinces placed under Comelec control during this election period because of intense political rivalry and presence of insurgents./DMS
3 killed, 12 wounded in ferry explosion in Cebu
By Ronron
May 16, 2007
Three persons were killed while 12 others were wounded when an explosion occurred inside a passenger ship Tuesday night in Cebu province.
A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) report said M/V Butuan Bay-1, owned and operated by Gothong Lines, had just left the port of Cebu for Ozamis City and Iligan City in northern Mindanao when an explosion was heard inside its engine room past 7:30 pm.
Authorities quickly dismissed the possibility that the blast was terror-related, saying it was purely mechanical in nature, although Marine investigators have yet to ascertain what caused it.
“It’s not related in any manner to terrorism. It’s a mechanical trouble,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon told reporters in Camp Crame on Wednesday.
According to the PCG report, the M/V Butuan Bay-1 was in the vicinity of Piers 4 and 5 in Cebu City, having just left the port past 7am, when its main engine exploded for still unknown reasons.
Prior to the explosion, a thick black smoke was reportedly observed coming from the smokestack of the vessel, prompting the ship master, Captain Eugenio Manubag, Jr., to command stop all engines.
“All of a sudden, an explosion occurred at the main engine room that caused a total power cut-off,” the report said.
Killed in the blast were 2nd Engineer Jimmy Manreal, Apprentice Engineer Clarito Tagalog, and on-the-job trainee (OJT) Jefferson Esguerra.
Those injured, on the other hand, were identified as Wencell Claro, 21, resident of Pagadian City; Queenie Bacondador, 21, resident of Cebu City; Joelito Malinao, 20, native of Mindanao; Aiza Defamente, 17, native of Mindanao; Marichel Caballero, 19, native of Mindanao; Daniel Francisco, 22, an OJT at the engine room; Elmer Sabog, crew; German Monares, crew; Nelfa Suligas, 67; Rogerio Suligas, 50; Lumina Molina, 67; and, Rosa Molina, 50.
They are being treated separately at Cebu City Medical Center, Chong Hua Hospital, and Cebu Doctors Hospital, all in Cebu City.
The PCG report said the vessel was carrying a total of 513 passengers and 53 crew members.
All passengers were offloaded at around 11:05 pm after the vessel was towed back to Pier 7 in Cebu City and subsequently checked by personnel of the PCG detachment in the neighboring Mandaue City.
The safe passengers were brought to Mandaue Sports Complex and Cebu Ports Authority terminal for temporary shelter, the PCG report said.
The cause of the incident is the subject of an ongoing investigation by PCG Central and Eastern Visayas District./DMS
May 16, 2007
Three persons were killed while 12 others were wounded when an explosion occurred inside a passenger ship Tuesday night in Cebu province.
A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) report said M/V Butuan Bay-1, owned and operated by Gothong Lines, had just left the port of Cebu for Ozamis City and Iligan City in northern Mindanao when an explosion was heard inside its engine room past 7:30 pm.
Authorities quickly dismissed the possibility that the blast was terror-related, saying it was purely mechanical in nature, although Marine investigators have yet to ascertain what caused it.
“It’s not related in any manner to terrorism. It’s a mechanical trouble,” Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon told reporters in Camp Crame on Wednesday.
According to the PCG report, the M/V Butuan Bay-1 was in the vicinity of Piers 4 and 5 in Cebu City, having just left the port past 7am, when its main engine exploded for still unknown reasons.
Prior to the explosion, a thick black smoke was reportedly observed coming from the smokestack of the vessel, prompting the ship master, Captain Eugenio Manubag, Jr., to command stop all engines.
“All of a sudden, an explosion occurred at the main engine room that caused a total power cut-off,” the report said.
Killed in the blast were 2nd Engineer Jimmy Manreal, Apprentice Engineer Clarito Tagalog, and on-the-job trainee (OJT) Jefferson Esguerra.
Those injured, on the other hand, were identified as Wencell Claro, 21, resident of Pagadian City; Queenie Bacondador, 21, resident of Cebu City; Joelito Malinao, 20, native of Mindanao; Aiza Defamente, 17, native of Mindanao; Marichel Caballero, 19, native of Mindanao; Daniel Francisco, 22, an OJT at the engine room; Elmer Sabog, crew; German Monares, crew; Nelfa Suligas, 67; Rogerio Suligas, 50; Lumina Molina, 67; and, Rosa Molina, 50.
They are being treated separately at Cebu City Medical Center, Chong Hua Hospital, and Cebu Doctors Hospital, all in Cebu City.
The PCG report said the vessel was carrying a total of 513 passengers and 53 crew members.
All passengers were offloaded at around 11:05 pm after the vessel was towed back to Pier 7 in Cebu City and subsequently checked by personnel of the PCG detachment in the neighboring Mandaue City.
The safe passengers were brought to Mandaue Sports Complex and Cebu Ports Authority terminal for temporary shelter, the PCG report said.
The cause of the incident is the subject of an ongoing investigation by PCG Central and Eastern Visayas District./DMS
5 killed, 20 wounded in bus collision in Quezon
By Ronron
May 16, 2007
Five persons were killed while 20 others were wounded after two passenger buses collided late Tuesday evening in Lucena City, Quezon.
The incident happened at 11:15 pm near a bridge at the Diversion Road in Barangay Gulang-gulang, involving a Jac Liner bus and a Jam Transit bus.
Insp. Romeo Uy, chief of the Investigation Section of the Lucena City Police Office, said the Jac Liner bus (plate number CVB-508) was heading for Manila while the Jam Transit bus (PN TYG-422) was going inside Lucena City from Manila.
Uy said initial investigation revealed that the Jam Transit bus swerved to the opposite lane, causing it to smash up against the oncoming Jac Liner bus.
Three passengers of Jac Liner and two from Jam Transit died in the incident, while 20 others, including the drivers of both buses, sustained injuries and were brought to different hospitals.
Uy said the driver of the Jam Transit bus, identified as Reynante Carabido, will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and damage to properties./DMS
May 16, 2007
Five persons were killed while 20 others were wounded after two passenger buses collided late Tuesday evening in Lucena City, Quezon.
The incident happened at 11:15 pm near a bridge at the Diversion Road in Barangay Gulang-gulang, involving a Jac Liner bus and a Jam Transit bus.
Insp. Romeo Uy, chief of the Investigation Section of the Lucena City Police Office, said the Jac Liner bus (plate number CVB-508) was heading for Manila while the Jam Transit bus (PN TYG-422) was going inside Lucena City from Manila.
Uy said initial investigation revealed that the Jam Transit bus swerved to the opposite lane, causing it to smash up against the oncoming Jac Liner bus.
Three passengers of Jac Liner and two from Jam Transit died in the incident, while 20 others, including the drivers of both buses, sustained injuries and were brought to different hospitals.
Uy said the driver of the Jam Transit bus, identified as Reynante Carabido, will be charged with reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries and damage to properties./DMS
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Eight members of terrorist sleeper cell in MM surrender
By Ronron
May 15, 2007
Eight members of a terrorist sleeper cell in Metro Manila surrendered to Army troopers last May 1 after they were convinced to return to the folds of the law, a top military commander disclosed Tuesday.
In a phone interview, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, chief of the Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), said the surrender of the former members of a Moslem secessionist group is indeed the “most valuable result of the urban deployment” of military troops.
“At first, they approached our team in Tondo last March, and then in the course of the dialogue, their surrender was realized. They turned over their firearms last May 1 at the NCRCom headquarters (in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City),” Dolorfino said.
The military deployed some 260 personnel to urban poor and Moslem communities in the cities of Quezon, Caloocan, Manila and Taguig since November last year to carry out civic-military operations in support of the Armed Forces’ anti-insurgency campaign.
The troops were pulled out and brought back to barracks a few days before the May 14 elections, amid criticisms and allegations that they were used to campaign for administration-allied candidates and were violating the civil liberties of ordinary Filipinos.
Dolorfino said the successful surrender of the eight Moslems who are natives of Mindanao can be considered indeed as “a result of our team’s effort in Tondo in the course of our interaction with civilians there.”
The leadership of the Armed Forces had earlier boasted that aside from winning the hearts and minds of the depressed communities where the soldiers were deployed in the last six months, the military was able to complete eight engineering projects like day care centers that they left to the people.
Dolorfino refused to identify the eight and the “secessionist group” they used to be long to so as not to jeopardize follow-up operations the military is conducting based on the “valuable intelligence information” they gave.
He only described them all as adult males, with age ranging from 30 to 40, and living in Isla Puting Bato in Tondo since 1996.
“They were planted here (in Metro Manila) in 1996 probably to pursue the plans of the secessionist group. But through the years, they were involved in terrorist activities. They actually admitted that they have knowledge about the Valentine’s Day bombing (in 2004),” Dolorfino said.
He said the group did not admit to have been trained by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the Southeast Asian cell of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network, in making bombs but confessed nonetheless that they are capable of preparing bombs, being members of a 38-man Special Operations Group (SOG) of a terrorist sleeper cell.
“They have given valuable information to us (about other terrorists in Metro Manila) that we are now pursuing,” Dolorfno said.
But the military commander said there are no standing criminal charges in court against the eight that’s why they were allowed to take part in the Balik-Baril Program where they earned P58,000 in exchange for the baby armalite, Springfield rifle, Thompson sub-machine gun, grenade, three caliber 45, two caliber 38 pistols and one home-made shotgun they surrendered.
The group did not surrender any bomb-making device nor did they reveal plans of bombing in the capital in the immediate future, Dolorfino said.
As members of a sleeper cell, Dolorfino said the eight just went about their daily lives in Metro Manila since 1996 the normal way like having their own regular or irregular jobs unless ordered to carry out a mission.
“Sleeper cells just conduct terrorism when they receive instructions and financial support. That’s how they work,” Dolorfino explained.
At present, the eight are being trained by the military to repair cellular phones in preparation for their return to the mainstream community. “This is part of their process in going back to the folds of the law… We want them to have their own livelihood,” said Dolorfino.
Several suspected terrorist bombers have been arrested in the outskirts of Metro Manila since the 2004 Valentine’s day bombings in Makati City, General Santos City and Davao City./DMS
May 15, 2007
Eight members of a terrorist sleeper cell in Metro Manila surrendered to Army troopers last May 1 after they were convinced to return to the folds of the law, a top military commander disclosed Tuesday.
In a phone interview, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, chief of the Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCom), said the surrender of the former members of a Moslem secessionist group is indeed the “most valuable result of the urban deployment” of military troops.
“At first, they approached our team in Tondo last March, and then in the course of the dialogue, their surrender was realized. They turned over their firearms last May 1 at the NCRCom headquarters (in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City),” Dolorfino said.
The military deployed some 260 personnel to urban poor and Moslem communities in the cities of Quezon, Caloocan, Manila and Taguig since November last year to carry out civic-military operations in support of the Armed Forces’ anti-insurgency campaign.
The troops were pulled out and brought back to barracks a few days before the May 14 elections, amid criticisms and allegations that they were used to campaign for administration-allied candidates and were violating the civil liberties of ordinary Filipinos.
Dolorfino said the successful surrender of the eight Moslems who are natives of Mindanao can be considered indeed as “a result of our team’s effort in Tondo in the course of our interaction with civilians there.”
The leadership of the Armed Forces had earlier boasted that aside from winning the hearts and minds of the depressed communities where the soldiers were deployed in the last six months, the military was able to complete eight engineering projects like day care centers that they left to the people.
Dolorfino refused to identify the eight and the “secessionist group” they used to be long to so as not to jeopardize follow-up operations the military is conducting based on the “valuable intelligence information” they gave.
He only described them all as adult males, with age ranging from 30 to 40, and living in Isla Puting Bato in Tondo since 1996.
“They were planted here (in Metro Manila) in 1996 probably to pursue the plans of the secessionist group. But through the years, they were involved in terrorist activities. They actually admitted that they have knowledge about the Valentine’s Day bombing (in 2004),” Dolorfino said.
He said the group did not admit to have been trained by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the Southeast Asian cell of Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network, in making bombs but confessed nonetheless that they are capable of preparing bombs, being members of a 38-man Special Operations Group (SOG) of a terrorist sleeper cell.
“They have given valuable information to us (about other terrorists in Metro Manila) that we are now pursuing,” Dolorfno said.
But the military commander said there are no standing criminal charges in court against the eight that’s why they were allowed to take part in the Balik-Baril Program where they earned P58,000 in exchange for the baby armalite, Springfield rifle, Thompson sub-machine gun, grenade, three caliber 45, two caliber 38 pistols and one home-made shotgun they surrendered.
The group did not surrender any bomb-making device nor did they reveal plans of bombing in the capital in the immediate future, Dolorfino said.
As members of a sleeper cell, Dolorfino said the eight just went about their daily lives in Metro Manila since 1996 the normal way like having their own regular or irregular jobs unless ordered to carry out a mission.
“Sleeper cells just conduct terrorism when they receive instructions and financial support. That’s how they work,” Dolorfino explained.
At present, the eight are being trained by the military to repair cellular phones in preparation for their return to the mainstream community. “This is part of their process in going back to the folds of the law… We want them to have their own livelihood,” said Dolorfino.
Several suspected terrorist bombers have been arrested in the outskirts of Metro Manila since the 2004 Valentine’s day bombings in Makati City, General Santos City and Davao City./DMS
More politicians killed this election period compared to 2001 mid-term and 2004 Presidential elections
By Ronron
May 15, 2007
More politicians and candidates were killed this election period compared to those in the 2001 mid-term and 2004 Presidential polls, records of the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed.
As of 9am yesterday, 60 politicians and candidates were already killed since the start of the election period on January 14, much higher than the 41 reported in 2004 and the 21 in 2001.
In particular, the records show that 49 politicians were killed this election period while those killed in 2004 were only 32, and none in the 2001 polls.
As to the candidates, 11 were killed this year, nine in 2004, and 21 in 2001.
Political analyst Benito Lim, who teaches at the Ateneo Manila de University, acknowledged that it is already inherent among local politicians to resort to violence just to stay in power.
Lim explained that violence has become a culture in local politics “because the stakes are high.”
“It’s a lucrative job, economically, for them to remain in power,” he said of local politicians and candidates.
“And since they have no other job, they want to keep that job for life or they pass it on to their children,” he added.
With this “attitude and culture among local politicians,” Lim said the government, through the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) should exert more effort to “prevent violence.”
Sadly, the Comelec, he said, failed to carry out this mandate this election period. Rather, it came out with decisions that fueled more violence, thus the higher number of fatalities this year than in the past elections among local politicians and candidates.
“There is no serious attempt of the Comelec to clean the list of voters… The reason probably is so they can manipulate the results of the election in favor of the party they are siding,” Lim said.
“And they don’t bring the election paraphernalia on time. This causes disorder,” he went on.
Some election officers also ask money from candidates to ensure the latter’s victory, proof of which is the arrest of the Comelec Provincial Director in Negros island very recently.
The PNP, Lim said, also failed to be totally non-partisan as mandated as there were reports that some were campaigning against the opposition candidates.
Lim even hit the PNP for insisting that this election is “relatively peaceful,” citing lesser election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) this year compared to previous election periods.
“Their meaning of a successful elections is lesser number of deaths… But there should be absolutely no death or at least a negligible number,” Lim said.
Sought for its own assessment on the rising number of politicians and candidates killed, PNP Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Deputy Director Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said: “We are studying that.”
However, he added: “But let’s look at the bigger picture. There are fewer casualties this election period compared to the previous elections.”
Based on the PNP record, a total of 217 ERVI’s were already recorded this year since January 14 until yesterday morning, compared to the 249 ERVI’s in 2004, and 269 ERVI’s in 2001.
A total of 126 persons were killed and 149 others were wounded this year, fewer, according to the PNP, than the 189 killed and 279 wounded in 2004. A total of 111 were killed and 253 were wounded in the 2001 polls.
Although this year’s statistics may still increase since the election period will end on June 13, officials in the PNP expressed confidence that it will not outnumber the 2004 and 2001 figures./DMS
May 15, 2007
More politicians and candidates were killed this election period compared to those in the 2001 mid-term and 2004 Presidential polls, records of the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed.
As of 9am yesterday, 60 politicians and candidates were already killed since the start of the election period on January 14, much higher than the 41 reported in 2004 and the 21 in 2001.
In particular, the records show that 49 politicians were killed this election period while those killed in 2004 were only 32, and none in the 2001 polls.
As to the candidates, 11 were killed this year, nine in 2004, and 21 in 2001.
Political analyst Benito Lim, who teaches at the Ateneo Manila de University, acknowledged that it is already inherent among local politicians to resort to violence just to stay in power.
Lim explained that violence has become a culture in local politics “because the stakes are high.”
“It’s a lucrative job, economically, for them to remain in power,” he said of local politicians and candidates.
“And since they have no other job, they want to keep that job for life or they pass it on to their children,” he added.
With this “attitude and culture among local politicians,” Lim said the government, through the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) should exert more effort to “prevent violence.”
Sadly, the Comelec, he said, failed to carry out this mandate this election period. Rather, it came out with decisions that fueled more violence, thus the higher number of fatalities this year than in the past elections among local politicians and candidates.
“There is no serious attempt of the Comelec to clean the list of voters… The reason probably is so they can manipulate the results of the election in favor of the party they are siding,” Lim said.
“And they don’t bring the election paraphernalia on time. This causes disorder,” he went on.
Some election officers also ask money from candidates to ensure the latter’s victory, proof of which is the arrest of the Comelec Provincial Director in Negros island very recently.
The PNP, Lim said, also failed to be totally non-partisan as mandated as there were reports that some were campaigning against the opposition candidates.
Lim even hit the PNP for insisting that this election is “relatively peaceful,” citing lesser election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) this year compared to previous election periods.
“Their meaning of a successful elections is lesser number of deaths… But there should be absolutely no death or at least a negligible number,” Lim said.
Sought for its own assessment on the rising number of politicians and candidates killed, PNP Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Deputy Director Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said: “We are studying that.”
However, he added: “But let’s look at the bigger picture. There are fewer casualties this election period compared to the previous elections.”
Based on the PNP record, a total of 217 ERVI’s were already recorded this year since January 14 until yesterday morning, compared to the 249 ERVI’s in 2004, and 269 ERVI’s in 2001.
A total of 126 persons were killed and 149 others were wounded this year, fewer, according to the PNP, than the 189 killed and 279 wounded in 2004. A total of 111 were killed and 253 were wounded in the 2001 polls.
Although this year’s statistics may still increase since the election period will end on June 13, officials in the PNP expressed confidence that it will not outnumber the 2004 and 2001 figures./DMS
Two killed, six wounded in alleged NPA attack at Batangas school
By Ronron
May 15, 2007
Suspected communist rebels attacked early Tuesday morning a school in Batangas province where canvassing of votes was being held then, leaving two election workers killed and six others wounded.
Police officials said some 30 to 40 election inspectors and watchers were tallying the votes cast last Monday at Pinagbayanan Elementary School in Taysan town, Batangas when five suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) struck at around 3am yesterday.
Taysan police chief Sr. Insp. Elpidio Ramirez said the insurgents simultaneously opened fire and 1.5 liter-bottles of gasoline inside the school premises that they used to burn the school building.
The sudden entry of the bonnet-wearing suspects sparked a commotion among the school teachers and watchers, whose collective movement towards the gate of the school prevented the policemen and soldiers stationed some 50 meters away from the school building from immediately responding.
Acting Batangas Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Freddie Panen said that of the seven rooms of the school building, at least four were gutted down, together with two ballot boxes containing some election returns.
Firefighters in town put out the blaze at around 5am.
Panen said the suspects came from and left through the back of the school building, which is a mountain.
The incident left two women burned to death and six other persons wounded (burns, bruises and contusions). One of the fatalities, who were found at the comfort room of the burnt building, was identified as Merly Banaag, a teacher at said school.
Ramirez said the school, which was being used as Precinct No. 76-A in Taysan, represents 1,180 out of the 18,957 voters in said town.
“Accordingly, incumbent Mayor Hernando Villena garnered overwhelming votes, more than 1,000, in Barangay Pinagbayanan over (rival) mayoralty candidate Victor Portugal, Jr., who garnered 25 votes only,” said Chief Supt. Nicasio Radovan, Jr., Region IV-A Police Director.
It is not yet known if Villena will file a request to the Commission on Elections for the declaration of a failure of election in Taysan following the incident.
Panen said recovered from the school were two gasoline-filled 1.5-liter bottles and spent shells of M16 and caliber 45.
PNP chief Gen. Oscar Calderon said they suspect the NPA to be behind the attack because of the fact that the place is insurgent-infested.
“Our initial assessment is, who is behind this (attack)? The counting is already over and it looks like the incumbent mayor got more than 1,000 votes and the one tailing him has mere 25 votes only. So, it will not turn the tie if ever there is chaos. We have a suspicion that it’s possible the NPA did this to disrupt the conduct of elections,” Calderon told a news conference yesterday morning in Camp Crame.
“We could see now that the first to favor from the incident are the insurgents,” he added.
Calderon said he directed Panen to include in the investigation the possible lapses of the local police on site since they should have also secured the back of the school building, and not just the front gate.
They would also look into the possible transfer of policemen closer to the polling precinct instead of staying 30 to 50 meters away for quicker response to untoward incidents.
“I am asking my police director to include this in his investigation, the lapses, so we can improve our security measures in other precincts where canvassing is currently ongoing,” Calderon said./DMS
May 15, 2007
Suspected communist rebels attacked early Tuesday morning a school in Batangas province where canvassing of votes was being held then, leaving two election workers killed and six others wounded.
Police officials said some 30 to 40 election inspectors and watchers were tallying the votes cast last Monday at Pinagbayanan Elementary School in Taysan town, Batangas when five suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) struck at around 3am yesterday.
Taysan police chief Sr. Insp. Elpidio Ramirez said the insurgents simultaneously opened fire and 1.5 liter-bottles of gasoline inside the school premises that they used to burn the school building.
The sudden entry of the bonnet-wearing suspects sparked a commotion among the school teachers and watchers, whose collective movement towards the gate of the school prevented the policemen and soldiers stationed some 50 meters away from the school building from immediately responding.
Acting Batangas Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Freddie Panen said that of the seven rooms of the school building, at least four were gutted down, together with two ballot boxes containing some election returns.
Firefighters in town put out the blaze at around 5am.
Panen said the suspects came from and left through the back of the school building, which is a mountain.
The incident left two women burned to death and six other persons wounded (burns, bruises and contusions). One of the fatalities, who were found at the comfort room of the burnt building, was identified as Merly Banaag, a teacher at said school.
Ramirez said the school, which was being used as Precinct No. 76-A in Taysan, represents 1,180 out of the 18,957 voters in said town.
“Accordingly, incumbent Mayor Hernando Villena garnered overwhelming votes, more than 1,000, in Barangay Pinagbayanan over (rival) mayoralty candidate Victor Portugal, Jr., who garnered 25 votes only,” said Chief Supt. Nicasio Radovan, Jr., Region IV-A Police Director.
It is not yet known if Villena will file a request to the Commission on Elections for the declaration of a failure of election in Taysan following the incident.
Panen said recovered from the school were two gasoline-filled 1.5-liter bottles and spent shells of M16 and caliber 45.
PNP chief Gen. Oscar Calderon said they suspect the NPA to be behind the attack because of the fact that the place is insurgent-infested.
“Our initial assessment is, who is behind this (attack)? The counting is already over and it looks like the incumbent mayor got more than 1,000 votes and the one tailing him has mere 25 votes only. So, it will not turn the tie if ever there is chaos. We have a suspicion that it’s possible the NPA did this to disrupt the conduct of elections,” Calderon told a news conference yesterday morning in Camp Crame.
“We could see now that the first to favor from the incident are the insurgents,” he added.
Calderon said he directed Panen to include in the investigation the possible lapses of the local police on site since they should have also secured the back of the school building, and not just the front gate.
They would also look into the possible transfer of policemen closer to the polling precinct instead of staying 30 to 50 meters away for quicker response to untoward incidents.
“I am asking my police director to include this in his investigation, the lapses, so we can improve our security measures in other precincts where canvassing is currently ongoing,” Calderon said./DMS
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Police says election day relatively peaceful
By Ronron
May 14, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday’s election was relatively peaceful despite the continuing occurrences of election-relative violence incidents (ERVI’s) on the voting day itself.
For the first 15 hours yesterday, at least 30 ERVI’s were recorded by the PNP, bringing to 203 the total ERVI’s since the start of the election period on January 14.
PNP Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. said the first incident on the election day was the shooting of a barangay captain in Abra province.
Sr. Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Abra Provincial Police Chief, said in a phone interview that Eduardo Gonzales, barangay captain of Lalugan in Bucay town, was shot dead by a certain Jojo Sales, a political rival, at around 1 am at said barangay.
“We can say it is an ERVI because the fatality was a supporter of incumbent Bucay Mayor Rex Bernardes, and the suspect is said to be a political leader of the challenger mayoralty candidate Debbie Gonzales,” Pumecha said.
Pumecha said barangay captain Gonzales was responding to reports about the presence of unidentified armed men in the area when he found Sales instead.
The two reportedly engaged in a heated argument, resulting in the shooting incident.
Pumecha said the barangay captain was declared dead on arrival at the hospital due to a gunshot wound to the chest that he got from an M16 rifle.
Sales was subsequently apprehended in a follow up operation, said Pumecha.
Earlier on Sunday evening at 6pm, members of election inspectors escorted by police personnel were ambushed by suspected members of a private armed group (PAG) in Lagayan town, same province.
The incident happened at Sitio Tamurong, Barangay Pulot wherein the victims were riding a public utility vehicle, with plate number AYG 340, when fired upon by undetermined number of armed men.
The victims were identified as Margie Labanen (election inspector) of Colago Elementary School; Candida Sulian (election inspector) of Baybayatin Elementary School; PO3 Lauro Robino; PO1 Edgar Bolante; and, Ronabel Alinday, a volunteer for the National Movement of Free Elections (NAMFREL).
The five were supposed to distribute ballot boxes to the different polling precincts when ambushed.
All sustained gunshot wounds in the different parts of their bodies and were evacuated to Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued town for medical treatment.
Supt. Joseph Adnol, spokesman of the Cordillera Region PNP, said the armed men were pursued by elements of the 160th Provincial Police Mobile Group, the Special Action Force and the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
Abra is among the five provinces placed under Comelec control as recommended by the PNP. The others are Kalinga, Masbate, Nueva Ecija, and Isabela.
In Masbate, an ERVI also happened at 6am yesterday that resulted in the deaths of two political supporters in Pio V. Corpus town.
Supt. Eliciar Bron, spokesman of the Region 5 PNP, said the victims were riding a motorcycle when fired upon by suspected members of a private armed group while in front of the house of barangay captain Jose Serafin in Barangay Mabuhay.
The victims were identified as Bernabe Serafin, Jr., alias Boy Kano, 33, and Michael Sanchez, 28, both residents of Barangay Mabuhay.
Bron said the two died due to multiple gunshot wounds, Bron said.
Recovered from the crime scene were 29 pieces of empty shell casings for an M16 rifle.
The two are said to be supporters of mayoralty candidate Eleuterio Castillo, Sr.
Meanwhile, in Basilan province, which is among the 32 provinces tagged by the PNP to have serious armed threats, a shooting incident happened at around 8:30 am, killing one and wounding two others.
Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police, said the casualties were supporters of either of the feuding parties of incumbent Akbar town Mayor Ali Sali and a former Mayor identified only as Hajaron.
Goltiao said the shooting incident happened at around 8:30 am in Barangay Tuburan, Akbar.
“During election, they always have this culture of rido and political rivalries. That’s why we don’t want them to cross their paths,” Goltiao said in a phone interview.
Another shooting incident at 11am in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur also resulted in the death of one and the wounding of two others, Goltiao said. The feuding parties are reportedly followers of rival mayoralty candidates.
About 30 minutes later, another shooting incident happened in Barangay Pasil, Indanan, Sulu involving supporters of feuding mayoralty candidates there. Goltiao said one died in said incident.
Despite the shooting incidents, Goltiao said the conduct of elections in the entire region went smoothly.
Incidents of explosion were also reported in various parts of Mindanao yesterday although only one was reportedly wounded.
An incident of harassment likewise occurred in Surigao del Norte province involving the wife and child of Congressional candidate and former Interior Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar.
Police said Annie Andanar and their child, Anna Carmela, were aboard a space wagon bound for the remote town of Malimuno, same province, when fired upon by undetermined number of armed men at around 11:25 am at Barangay Balete, San Francisco town.
Mrs. Andanar survived the attack but suffered a sprain on her right foot as a result of jumping off the vehicle. She was also very shocked, said her husband.
The former undersecretary said he suspects that politics is behind the attack because earlier, he was rumored to have died or had withdrawn his candidacy.
As of 8pm yesterday, Razon said four persons were killed and seven were wounded. This does not include though the one killed victim each in Sulu and Lanao del Sur, and the two wounded victims in Lanao del Sur, as reported by Goltiao later in the day.
Razon said this is lower compared to the 32 incidents during the May 10, 2004 election that left nine people killed and 22 wounded, and the 47 ERVI’s during the election day in 2001 that left 14 killed and 31 wounded.
Razon maintained that this year’s ERVI’s is also lower compared to the 249 in 2004 and the 269 in 2001.
The same thing is true with the casualties, wherein 118 were killed and 144 were wounded since the start of this year’s election period on January 14, as compared to the 189 killed and 279 wounded in 2004, and the 111 killed and 253 wounded in 2001.
But Calderon said the PNP is not letting down their guards yet.
“Our experience tells us that the counting and canvassing of votes is the most critical stage in the election process that sometimes lead to confrontation between contending parties,” Calderon said.
“I therefore appeal to all candidates and their supporters to remain calm and respectful of the rule of law and not to resort to any unwarranted actions, even as I equally warn them that the PNP will pursue a relentless investigation of those who want to challenge our resolve,” he added.
Razon credited the “encouraging outcome of today’s exercise” to the “combined efforts of the government, community and civil society to make this election the true reflection of the people’s will.”/DMS
May 14, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday’s election was relatively peaceful despite the continuing occurrences of election-relative violence incidents (ERVI’s) on the voting day itself.
For the first 15 hours yesterday, at least 30 ERVI’s were recorded by the PNP, bringing to 203 the total ERVI’s since the start of the election period on January 14.
PNP Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. said the first incident on the election day was the shooting of a barangay captain in Abra province.
Sr. Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Abra Provincial Police Chief, said in a phone interview that Eduardo Gonzales, barangay captain of Lalugan in Bucay town, was shot dead by a certain Jojo Sales, a political rival, at around 1 am at said barangay.
“We can say it is an ERVI because the fatality was a supporter of incumbent Bucay Mayor Rex Bernardes, and the suspect is said to be a political leader of the challenger mayoralty candidate Debbie Gonzales,” Pumecha said.
Pumecha said barangay captain Gonzales was responding to reports about the presence of unidentified armed men in the area when he found Sales instead.
The two reportedly engaged in a heated argument, resulting in the shooting incident.
Pumecha said the barangay captain was declared dead on arrival at the hospital due to a gunshot wound to the chest that he got from an M16 rifle.
Sales was subsequently apprehended in a follow up operation, said Pumecha.
Earlier on Sunday evening at 6pm, members of election inspectors escorted by police personnel were ambushed by suspected members of a private armed group (PAG) in Lagayan town, same province.
The incident happened at Sitio Tamurong, Barangay Pulot wherein the victims were riding a public utility vehicle, with plate number AYG 340, when fired upon by undetermined number of armed men.
The victims were identified as Margie Labanen (election inspector) of Colago Elementary School; Candida Sulian (election inspector) of Baybayatin Elementary School; PO3 Lauro Robino; PO1 Edgar Bolante; and, Ronabel Alinday, a volunteer for the National Movement of Free Elections (NAMFREL).
The five were supposed to distribute ballot boxes to the different polling precincts when ambushed.
All sustained gunshot wounds in the different parts of their bodies and were evacuated to Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued town for medical treatment.
Supt. Joseph Adnol, spokesman of the Cordillera Region PNP, said the armed men were pursued by elements of the 160th Provincial Police Mobile Group, the Special Action Force and the 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.
Abra is among the five provinces placed under Comelec control as recommended by the PNP. The others are Kalinga, Masbate, Nueva Ecija, and Isabela.
In Masbate, an ERVI also happened at 6am yesterday that resulted in the deaths of two political supporters in Pio V. Corpus town.
Supt. Eliciar Bron, spokesman of the Region 5 PNP, said the victims were riding a motorcycle when fired upon by suspected members of a private armed group while in front of the house of barangay captain Jose Serafin in Barangay Mabuhay.
The victims were identified as Bernabe Serafin, Jr., alias Boy Kano, 33, and Michael Sanchez, 28, both residents of Barangay Mabuhay.
Bron said the two died due to multiple gunshot wounds, Bron said.
Recovered from the crime scene were 29 pieces of empty shell casings for an M16 rifle.
The two are said to be supporters of mayoralty candidate Eleuterio Castillo, Sr.
Meanwhile, in Basilan province, which is among the 32 provinces tagged by the PNP to have serious armed threats, a shooting incident happened at around 8:30 am, killing one and wounding two others.
Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao, chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Police, said the casualties were supporters of either of the feuding parties of incumbent Akbar town Mayor Ali Sali and a former Mayor identified only as Hajaron.
Goltiao said the shooting incident happened at around 8:30 am in Barangay Tuburan, Akbar.
“During election, they always have this culture of rido and political rivalries. That’s why we don’t want them to cross their paths,” Goltiao said in a phone interview.
Another shooting incident at 11am in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur also resulted in the death of one and the wounding of two others, Goltiao said. The feuding parties are reportedly followers of rival mayoralty candidates.
About 30 minutes later, another shooting incident happened in Barangay Pasil, Indanan, Sulu involving supporters of feuding mayoralty candidates there. Goltiao said one died in said incident.
Despite the shooting incidents, Goltiao said the conduct of elections in the entire region went smoothly.
Incidents of explosion were also reported in various parts of Mindanao yesterday although only one was reportedly wounded.
An incident of harassment likewise occurred in Surigao del Norte province involving the wife and child of Congressional candidate and former Interior Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar.
Police said Annie Andanar and their child, Anna Carmela, were aboard a space wagon bound for the remote town of Malimuno, same province, when fired upon by undetermined number of armed men at around 11:25 am at Barangay Balete, San Francisco town.
Mrs. Andanar survived the attack but suffered a sprain on her right foot as a result of jumping off the vehicle. She was also very shocked, said her husband.
The former undersecretary said he suspects that politics is behind the attack because earlier, he was rumored to have died or had withdrawn his candidacy.
As of 8pm yesterday, Razon said four persons were killed and seven were wounded. This does not include though the one killed victim each in Sulu and Lanao del Sur, and the two wounded victims in Lanao del Sur, as reported by Goltiao later in the day.
Razon said this is lower compared to the 32 incidents during the May 10, 2004 election that left nine people killed and 22 wounded, and the 47 ERVI’s during the election day in 2001 that left 14 killed and 31 wounded.
Razon maintained that this year’s ERVI’s is also lower compared to the 249 in 2004 and the 269 in 2001.
The same thing is true with the casualties, wherein 118 were killed and 144 were wounded since the start of this year’s election period on January 14, as compared to the 189 killed and 279 wounded in 2004, and the 111 killed and 253 wounded in 2001.
But Calderon said the PNP is not letting down their guards yet.
“Our experience tells us that the counting and canvassing of votes is the most critical stage in the election process that sometimes lead to confrontation between contending parties,” Calderon said.
“I therefore appeal to all candidates and their supporters to remain calm and respectful of the rule of law and not to resort to any unwarranted actions, even as I equally warn them that the PNP will pursue a relentless investigation of those who want to challenge our resolve,” he added.
Razon credited the “encouraging outcome of today’s exercise” to the “combined efforts of the government, community and civil society to make this election the true reflection of the people’s will.”/DMS
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)