By Ronron
October 12, 2007
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. simply ignored the observation of Senator Rodolfo Biazon regarding the continued detention of 40 Army enlisted personnel in Tanay, Rizal despite the absence of formal charges against them.
In a chance interview late Thursday afternoon at Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon said: “Remember that military law is really harsh. When you have committed infractions of the regulations, be prepared to face such things including confinement.”
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. had earlier cited Articles of War 70 as the justification for the detention of the 40 starting July last year. The said military law states that any person subject to military law may be confined or restricted while they are being investigated on.
The 40 were said to have moved in February last year, upon the orders of their officers, to support the alleged coup d’ etat plot against the Arroyo government. A total of 28 Marine and Army officers are currently being subjected to court martial proceedings for the said incident.
The detention of the 40 was known only after Biazon visited the 28 officers last October 8 at the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Capinpin in Tanay. The Army has admitted though last year that it was investigating 125 enlisted personnel, which include the 40, in relation to the alleged February 2006 coup plot but did not clearly say whether or not they were jailed.
Like Torres, Esperon said they are just awaiting the final action on the case against the 28 officers, led by former Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and former Army Scout Rangers chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, before they can decide on the fate of the 40.
“As far as I’m concerned, it would be better if the officers facing charges would be arraigned first before we take dispositive action on the enlisted personnel,” he said, noting though that the arraignment of the 28 officers is taking so long because of “dilatory actions” of their lawyers.
“Let me just say that within the range of actions that the Army commander can take after due process will be the dismissal from the service of the enlisted personnel. If and when he does that at this current stage where the officers have not even been arraigned, it will be like punishing the enlisted personnel without having punished the officers,” he added.
Torres had earlier said that the Army Inspector General has two recommendations for the 40, either to proceed to court martial proceedings or they be proceeded administratively.
“We are not playing child games anymore here where you expect to be forgiven immediately after having committed a fault,” Esperon stressed.
The military chief pointed out though that the foot soldiers, who come from the Special Operations Command and the First Scout Rangers Regiment, continue to receive their pay and allowances despite being detained.
As to the “dilatory actions” of the 28 officers, Esperon said the latter should not take comfort in the prescription aspect of the case. Under the military law, a case against military men can be dropped if after two years since the commission of the crime, they have not been arraigned.
In this particular case, the crime was supposedly committed last February 24 and 26, 2006.
“They have been taking dilatory actions, peremptory challenges and other actions that would delay the court proceedings. So, if that is their prerogative, then all we have to do is we’ll have to face that,” Esperon said.
“But they better look at their military law because prescription does not necessarily mean two years from the commission of the act. There is also a provision for interruption. So, I’m giving them a hint, review the interruption provision… They have been interrupting but that might work to their disadvantage,” he added.
But one of the lawyers of the 28 officers, Atty. Trixie Angeles, said “dilatory” is not a strategy of the defense, but “appears to be an AFP policy.”
“Who was it, anyway who waited five months before serving charges on the Army Scout Rangers? Who waited four months to serve a copy of the pre-trial investigation report and another two months to show a pre-trial advice (PTA)? Who, to this date, has not signed the PTA? Who then caused the bungled service of charges? Who put in more junior officers to pass judgment on Gen. Miranda in contravention of Sec. 4 of the Manual on Courts Martial requiring senior officers to sit in the panel? Who continues to make prejudicial statements intended to taint the panel and anyone who sits there, thus necessitating the lawyers to challenge them to ensure a fair trial? Who continues to insist that the defense of the rights of the accused be thwarted at every turn?” Angeles asked, referring to Esperon.
“Even worse, who chose to wait for public outrage before he allowed Gen. Miranda to be hospitalized? Remember, sir, that human life, no matter whose it is, is not subject to your -- or anyone's—discretion,” she added.
Angeles said “if anyone is to blame, it is the person who violated those rights who has caused us to rise in their defense and necessitated proceedings to address them. That violator is the cause of your perceived delay, Gen. Esperon. And you know who that is.”
At present, the court proceedings against the 28 accused remain at the posing of peremptory challenge against members of the panel created by Esperon to try their case.
So far, 22 have already posed their peremptory challenge, and six more are expected to do the same before the panel can convene as a court and all the accused by arraigned./DMS
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Army promotes Pacquiao following fresh win against Barrera
By Ronron
October 12, 2007
Filipino boxing champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao was promoted by the Philippine Army two ranks higher as a reservist enlisted personnel following his latest win against Marco Antonio Barrera in the United States.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano conferred on Pacquiao his Master Sergeant rank in simple rites Friday afternoon at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The promotion was approved last October 7, the same day his actual fight in Nevada was viewed by Filipinos in the country.
“Technical Sergeant Manny Pacquiao is promoted to Master Sergeant in the reserve force of the Philippine Army for bringing distinct honor not only to the Philippine Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines but the whole country as well,” Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said.
In his speech during the promotion rites, Yano said Pacquiao serves as an epitome for the soldiers for his “courage, determination and discipline.”
In response, Pacquiao, who spoke in Filipino, said he hopes to inspire the soldiers and boost their fighting spirit, especially those in actual combat operations in Basilan and Sulu.
“I plan next month to Jolo and Basilan to give support to our soldiers who are fighting down there… I hope I can give them inspiration and courage,” he said.
Pacquiao likened the current mission of AFP troops against terrorists and other so-called enemies of the State to a boxing match.
“I am very happy with this promotion… I used to dream only of becoming a soldier and now, it’s been realized with my becoming a reservist,” he said.
Pacquiao recounted his experience in 2004 when Yano, the commander then of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, brought him to an actual combat operation against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.
He said he enjoyed the time when they engaged in a “boodle fight” with the operating troops.
Yano admitted he took extra care of Pacquiao in that operation, making him ride a Simba and wear an American camouflage uniform, so he will not be recognized by their enemies and be sniped.
At that time, Pacquiao was not yet an Army reservist, Torres said.
Torres said Pacquiao was first conferred an Army reservist rank in April 2006. He became a Sergeant then.
In December of the same year, he was promoted two ranks higher to Technical Sergeant.
Torres said that as a reservist enlisted personnel, Pacquiao does not receive any salary from the AFP.
But he is expected to serve in whatever means, like civic actions and disaster response, for at least 30 days a year. Torres, however, is not aware how Pacquiao complies with this requirement./DMS
October 12, 2007
Filipino boxing champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao was promoted by the Philippine Army two ranks higher as a reservist enlisted personnel following his latest win against Marco Antonio Barrera in the United States.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano conferred on Pacquiao his Master Sergeant rank in simple rites Friday afternoon at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
The promotion was approved last October 7, the same day his actual fight in Nevada was viewed by Filipinos in the country.
“Technical Sergeant Manny Pacquiao is promoted to Master Sergeant in the reserve force of the Philippine Army for bringing distinct honor not only to the Philippine Army and the Armed Forces of the Philippines but the whole country as well,” Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said.
In his speech during the promotion rites, Yano said Pacquiao serves as an epitome for the soldiers for his “courage, determination and discipline.”
In response, Pacquiao, who spoke in Filipino, said he hopes to inspire the soldiers and boost their fighting spirit, especially those in actual combat operations in Basilan and Sulu.
“I plan next month to Jolo and Basilan to give support to our soldiers who are fighting down there… I hope I can give them inspiration and courage,” he said.
Pacquiao likened the current mission of AFP troops against terrorists and other so-called enemies of the State to a boxing match.
“I am very happy with this promotion… I used to dream only of becoming a soldier and now, it’s been realized with my becoming a reservist,” he said.
Pacquiao recounted his experience in 2004 when Yano, the commander then of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, brought him to an actual combat operation against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.
He said he enjoyed the time when they engaged in a “boodle fight” with the operating troops.
Yano admitted he took extra care of Pacquiao in that operation, making him ride a Simba and wear an American camouflage uniform, so he will not be recognized by their enemies and be sniped.
At that time, Pacquiao was not yet an Army reservist, Torres said.
Torres said Pacquiao was first conferred an Army reservist rank in April 2006. He became a Sergeant then.
In December of the same year, he was promoted two ranks higher to Technical Sergeant.
Torres said that as a reservist enlisted personnel, Pacquiao does not receive any salary from the AFP.
But he is expected to serve in whatever means, like civic actions and disaster response, for at least 30 days a year. Torres, however, is not aware how Pacquiao complies with this requirement./DMS
Friday, October 12, 2007
NCRPO downloads personnel to district offices for increased police visibility
By Ronron
October 11, 2007
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Thursday downloaded more than 500 personnel to the five police districts in Metro Manila as part of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon’s commitment to deploy 90 percent of the entire police force to the field.
Razon headed the send-off ceremony for the 510 policemen, which was held at the NCRPO headquarters in Taguig City. Present to accept the downloaded cops are the commanders of the Eastern Police District, Southern Police District, Northern Police District, Manila Police District and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
“The downloading today of these policemen realizes my directive to increase police visibility so we can answer the requirement of addressing street crimes,” Razon said in his speech.
Razon urged the deployed cops to perform their duty “to serve and protect the community,” saying they are the “representatives of the PNP before the citizenry.”
“You will be the Ms. and Mr. Policeman,” Razon said.
NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias described the 510 policemen as “strong, mentally awake and morally equipped.”
QCPD chief Sr. Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula said he intends to utilize the policemen assigned to him as highway patrol cops.
On his assumption as PNP chief last October 1, Razon vowed to implement a 90 to 10 ratio as regards deployment of cops and office assignment./DMS
October 11, 2007
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Thursday downloaded more than 500 personnel to the five police districts in Metro Manila as part of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon’s commitment to deploy 90 percent of the entire police force to the field.
Razon headed the send-off ceremony for the 510 policemen, which was held at the NCRPO headquarters in Taguig City. Present to accept the downloaded cops are the commanders of the Eastern Police District, Southern Police District, Northern Police District, Manila Police District and the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
“The downloading today of these policemen realizes my directive to increase police visibility so we can answer the requirement of addressing street crimes,” Razon said in his speech.
Razon urged the deployed cops to perform their duty “to serve and protect the community,” saying they are the “representatives of the PNP before the citizenry.”
“You will be the Ms. and Mr. Policeman,” Razon said.
NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias described the 510 policemen as “strong, mentally awake and morally equipped.”
QCPD chief Sr. Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula said he intends to utilize the policemen assigned to him as highway patrol cops.
On his assumption as PNP chief last October 1, Razon vowed to implement a 90 to 10 ratio as regards deployment of cops and office assignment./DMS
CHR expresses support to PNP’s CCTV project
By Ronron
October 11, 2007
The Commission on Human Rights expressed support on Thursday to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) project of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Metro Manila, allaying fears that it could be used to pry on private activities.
CHR Commissioner in charge for Metro Manila Wilhelm Soriano said the CCTV project should not be feared by the public because these are installed only in public places.
“This is not an invasion to rights to privacy because there is no compulsion,” Soriano said in a news conference yesterday afternoon at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters in Taguig City during the launching of the CCTV program.
“My presence here as Commissioner in Charge for the NCR is clear manifestation that we are supporting this program,” he added.
The PNP has started using CCTV cameras in Metro Manila last August during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. had earlier announced.
It was preceded by a similar project in Cebu during the ASEAN Summit in January of this year.
NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias said that out of the 56 cameras, only 22 were being used and are actually working as of yesterday because there is no need for the rest yet.
Among the places with cameras are the Sandiganbayan area in Queozn City, EDSA Magallanes, EDSA Ortigas, EDSA Ayala Avenue, and Mendiola in Manila City.
All the video images captured are then fed directly to the Central Command Center at the NCRPO, and these may also be transmitted to a remote Command Center at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“With the operationalization of the Security Camera Surveillance System, we expect and anticipate the reduction of crimes in the streets of Metro Manila, especially in crime-prone areas where most of the cameras were installed,” Barias said.
Razon equated the capability of each camera to 10 policemen on field.
“The surveillance cameras and dispatch radio equipment will augment our PNP personnel in its daily tasks of conducting beat patrol and police visibility. It will help monitor the post of PNP personnel in strategic locations, which can be directed to respond immediately to any police assistance calls within the vicinity,” said Barias.
Soriano ageed with Barias and Razon, saying he recognizes the program as means to improve crime prevention.
Razon said there are plans to replicate the project in key cities of the country like Cebu City, Davao City and Baguio City, as well as integrate the current system in the capital with that of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
“We are also in the process of studying the possibility of entering into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Metro Manila Development Authority to link up with the Camera Surveillance System for traffic control and road safety and security monitoring,” Barias said.
Razon reiterated his appeal to private businesses to put up their own cameras as well to augment those of the PNP and the MMDA./DMS
October 11, 2007
The Commission on Human Rights expressed support on Thursday to the closed-circuit television (CCTV) project of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Metro Manila, allaying fears that it could be used to pry on private activities.
CHR Commissioner in charge for Metro Manila Wilhelm Soriano said the CCTV project should not be feared by the public because these are installed only in public places.
“This is not an invasion to rights to privacy because there is no compulsion,” Soriano said in a news conference yesterday afternoon at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) headquarters in Taguig City during the launching of the CCTV program.
“My presence here as Commissioner in Charge for the NCR is clear manifestation that we are supporting this program,” he added.
The PNP has started using CCTV cameras in Metro Manila last August during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. had earlier announced.
It was preceded by a similar project in Cebu during the ASEAN Summit in January of this year.
NCRPO chief Director Geary Barias said that out of the 56 cameras, only 22 were being used and are actually working as of yesterday because there is no need for the rest yet.
Among the places with cameras are the Sandiganbayan area in Queozn City, EDSA Magallanes, EDSA Ortigas, EDSA Ayala Avenue, and Mendiola in Manila City.
All the video images captured are then fed directly to the Central Command Center at the NCRPO, and these may also be transmitted to a remote Command Center at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“With the operationalization of the Security Camera Surveillance System, we expect and anticipate the reduction of crimes in the streets of Metro Manila, especially in crime-prone areas where most of the cameras were installed,” Barias said.
Razon equated the capability of each camera to 10 policemen on field.
“The surveillance cameras and dispatch radio equipment will augment our PNP personnel in its daily tasks of conducting beat patrol and police visibility. It will help monitor the post of PNP personnel in strategic locations, which can be directed to respond immediately to any police assistance calls within the vicinity,” said Barias.
Soriano ageed with Barias and Razon, saying he recognizes the program as means to improve crime prevention.
Razon said there are plans to replicate the project in key cities of the country like Cebu City, Davao City and Baguio City, as well as integrate the current system in the capital with that of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
“We are also in the process of studying the possibility of entering into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Metro Manila Development Authority to link up with the Camera Surveillance System for traffic control and road safety and security monitoring,” Barias said.
Razon reiterated his appeal to private businesses to put up their own cameras as well to augment those of the PNP and the MMDA./DMS
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Army leadership detaining 40 foot soldiers over failed coup in February 2006
By Ronron
October 10, 2007
The Philippine Army admitted on Wednesday that they have detained for over a year now 40 of its enlisted personnel in relation to the alleged February 2006 coup plot.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. made the admission after Camp Aguinaldo reporters verified with him the claim of Senator Rodolfo Biazon that he saw detained Army enlisted personnel in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal last Monday.
“They are being detained in relation to the February plot last year. The Army Inspector General (IG) conducted an investigation… There are two options, either they will be also charged before a court martial or they be proceeded administratively. These are the two options that are still being evaluated up to this time,” Torres said.
Torres said the 40 come from the Special Operations Command headquarters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) headquarters in San Miguel, Bulacan; and the Scout Rangers unit in the Bicol Region.
Asked about the actual activity of the 40 that merited their detention, Torres said: “I am not sure yet because they come from different units, different bases.”
He said majority of them were detained starting July 24 last year, while the rest followed on August 1 and in October of the same year.
While he admitted that there are still no charges against the 40, Torres said the basis for the detention is Articles of War 70, which provides that any person under military law with offense can be placed under restriction at a barracks or detention until the case is resolved.
Torres also said that while the investigation by the Army IG was already completed in August last year, the Army leadership cannot conclusively decide yet how to proceed with the case against the 40 because they are awaiting the development on the case against the 28 officers that were suspected as main key actors in the alleged coup plot.
The 28 officers are headed by former Marines Commandant Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, former FSRR chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin. All of them have yet to be arraigned for the charges of violating various Articles of War although they have been in detention also at Tanay for over a year now.
“These enlisted personnel follow the officer. That’s a basic rule… So, whatever will be my involvement as an officer may have a bearing on how they (enlisted personnel) reacted that time… There is still no arraignment of the officers so it may have a bearing on the part of the enlisted personnel’s case,” Torres explained.
Notably, there are no Marine EP’s suffering the same fate as the 40 Army EP’s, even as there are Marine officers also being accused in the same case.
Torres assured, however, that even if they have been detained, the 40 continue to receive their salaries./DMS
October 10, 2007
The Philippine Army admitted on Wednesday that they have detained for over a year now 40 of its enlisted personnel in relation to the alleged February 2006 coup plot.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. made the admission after Camp Aguinaldo reporters verified with him the claim of Senator Rodolfo Biazon that he saw detained Army enlisted personnel in Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal last Monday.
“They are being detained in relation to the February plot last year. The Army Inspector General (IG) conducted an investigation… There are two options, either they will be also charged before a court martial or they be proceeded administratively. These are the two options that are still being evaluated up to this time,” Torres said.
Torres said the 40 come from the Special Operations Command headquarters in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; the First Scout Ranger Regiment (FSRR) headquarters in San Miguel, Bulacan; and the Scout Rangers unit in the Bicol Region.
Asked about the actual activity of the 40 that merited their detention, Torres said: “I am not sure yet because they come from different units, different bases.”
He said majority of them were detained starting July 24 last year, while the rest followed on August 1 and in October of the same year.
While he admitted that there are still no charges against the 40, Torres said the basis for the detention is Articles of War 70, which provides that any person under military law with offense can be placed under restriction at a barracks or detention until the case is resolved.
Torres also said that while the investigation by the Army IG was already completed in August last year, the Army leadership cannot conclusively decide yet how to proceed with the case against the 40 because they are awaiting the development on the case against the 28 officers that were suspected as main key actors in the alleged coup plot.
The 28 officers are headed by former Marines Commandant Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino, former FSRR chief Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, and Marine Col. Ariel Querubin. All of them have yet to be arraigned for the charges of violating various Articles of War although they have been in detention also at Tanay for over a year now.
“These enlisted personnel follow the officer. That’s a basic rule… So, whatever will be my involvement as an officer may have a bearing on how they (enlisted personnel) reacted that time… There is still no arraignment of the officers so it may have a bearing on the part of the enlisted personnel’s case,” Torres explained.
Notably, there are no Marine EP’s suffering the same fate as the 40 Army EP’s, even as there are Marine officers also being accused in the same case.
Torres assured, however, that even if they have been detained, the 40 continue to receive their salaries./DMS
PNP tells Comelec that insurgency is foreseen as bigger problem as against political rivalry in Oct. 29 polls
By Ronron
October 10, 2007
Communist rebels and not fiery local politicians are the bigger threat in the upcoming village and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 29.
This was the security assessment given by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the two bodies’ conference Wednesday morning at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Citing the PNP data, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said 10 percent of the 41,994 barangays nationwide are said to be under the influence of insurgents, while only four percent have violence problems due to intense political rivalry of local officials.
Jimenez said the PNP and the Comelec calls the areas with problems of insurgency as Election Areas of Immediate Concern (EAIC), while those with problems brought by politicians are Election Areas of Concern (EAC).
He said the PNP reported that most of the EAIC are from Region 5, Region 8 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where there are also secessionist groups.
Since the start of the election period on September 29 until Wednesday, a total of six election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) have been recorded by the PNP, resulting in four deaths and one injured person.
The incidents include five shooting and one harassment. Killed were two incumbent barangay officials, one government official and one civlian, while wounded was one incumbent barangay.
A total of 40 firearms were also confiscated for violating the Comelec gunban, with a total of 46 persons arrested, the PNP said.
Despite these data, Jimenez said the PNP regards the current situation to be seemingly quiet, and “the overall assessment is that it will be generally peaceful on October 29.”
“If any problem arises, it will most likely be related to insurgency,” Jimenez quoted the PNP to have said.
On the part of the Comelec, Jimenez said acting chairman Resurreccion Borra assured the PNP that they are already “95 percent ready,” citing the completion of the production of the forms and the ongoing delivery of those to the respective barangays, day and night.
“It looks like we will meet our targets for October 29,” Jimenez said./DMS
October 10, 2007
Communist rebels and not fiery local politicians are the bigger threat in the upcoming village and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 29.
This was the security assessment given by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during the two bodies’ conference Wednesday morning at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Citing the PNP data, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said 10 percent of the 41,994 barangays nationwide are said to be under the influence of insurgents, while only four percent have violence problems due to intense political rivalry of local officials.
Jimenez said the PNP and the Comelec calls the areas with problems of insurgency as Election Areas of Immediate Concern (EAIC), while those with problems brought by politicians are Election Areas of Concern (EAC).
He said the PNP reported that most of the EAIC are from Region 5, Region 8 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where there are also secessionist groups.
Since the start of the election period on September 29 until Wednesday, a total of six election-related violent incidents (ERVI’s) have been recorded by the PNP, resulting in four deaths and one injured person.
The incidents include five shooting and one harassment. Killed were two incumbent barangay officials, one government official and one civlian, while wounded was one incumbent barangay.
A total of 40 firearms were also confiscated for violating the Comelec gunban, with a total of 46 persons arrested, the PNP said.
Despite these data, Jimenez said the PNP regards the current situation to be seemingly quiet, and “the overall assessment is that it will be generally peaceful on October 29.”
“If any problem arises, it will most likely be related to insurgency,” Jimenez quoted the PNP to have said.
On the part of the Comelec, Jimenez said acting chairman Resurreccion Borra assured the PNP that they are already “95 percent ready,” citing the completion of the production of the forms and the ongoing delivery of those to the respective barangays, day and night.
“It looks like we will meet our targets for October 29,” Jimenez said./DMS
Magdalo soldiers refuse to take witness stand at Makati RTC
By Ronron
October 10, 2007
The 13 Magdalo officers who constitute the first batch of accused scheduled to start presenting their defense Wednesday at the Makati City Regional Trial Court for the crime of coup d’ etat did not take the witness stand, believing that there is no need for them to prove their innocence.
According to one of the defense lawyers, in criminal cases, the burden of proof lies on the prosecution and not the defense.
“Even if the accused would not give a testimony in their favor, if the prosecution fails to adduce the quantum of evidence required, then the case will have to be dismissed,” Atty. Reynaldo Robles, lawyer for accused Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, told reporters after the hearing.
“We feel that the prosecution was not able to discharge the evidence, the burden of evidence. And in a criminal case, it is not the weakness of the defense but it is the strength of the defense against the accused (that matters),” he added.
The 13 officers that was scheduled to defend themselves yesterday were led by Army Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo, two of the core leaders of the Magdalo Group. There are a total of 29 officers and two former enlisted personnel facing coup d’ etat charges before the Makati RTC Branch 148 in relation to the failed mutiny in July 2003 at the Oakwood Hotel in Makati City.
What the lawyers of the 13 submitted to the court instead were documents such as photocopies of transcripts of the deliberation of the coup d’ etat law by the Senate and House of Representatives, and records of the case of Senator Gregorio Honasan.
The first will supposedly support the defense’ argument that no crime was committed because it says that coup d’ etat is a crime committed in government installations, while the second would supposedly reinforce their call to quash the case because it is similar to Honasan’s.
“Supposedly, the theory of the prosecution is the mastermind is Senator Honasan. But they dismissed the case against him. So, these documents are being reproduced in this particular case to cite them as basis for dismissal (of the case),” Robles explained.
He disclosed that while the other defense lawyers plan to present their own sets of evidence, both documentary and witnesses, they might also adopt as their own the document filed by Atty. Hortencio Domingo, the lawyer of the 13.
Wednesday’s hearing was the first for the defense to present its case since the trial began in 2003.
Out of the 31 accused, only 16 attended the hearing, including Trillanes, who was in blue polo and black pair of pants, and was no longer handcuffed.
The next hearing would be on October 25.
After the hearing, Trillanes took time to answer questions from the media regarding the impeachment complaint filed by their former lawyer, Atty. Ruel Pulido.
“We were very much disappointed,” Trillanes said of Pulido’s move, which, he said is rumored to have been done in collusion with people from Malacanang.
“It is possible. It is highly probable,” he said of the rumor.
Trillanes pointed out that while he was advocating for the impeachment of Arroyo, he will not be supporting Pulido’s initiative, which, he said was described by a lawmaker as “not worth the paper it was written on.”
He stressed that the Magdalo has nothing to do with Pulido’s move, citing their parting of ways since September 2006.
“We are not in speaking terms since September last year… He resigned,” Trillanes said, although he refused to disclose the cause of the parting of ways.
His message for Pulido: “I wish him luck. I really hope he survives his career.”
Pulido filed the complaint against Arroyo last Friday in relation to the alleged anomalous National Broadband Network (NBN) project proposal. His complaint was endorsed by Laguna Congressman Edgar San Luis but many observers said it was only meant to make the President immune from a real, substantial impeachment complaint./DMS
October 10, 2007
The 13 Magdalo officers who constitute the first batch of accused scheduled to start presenting their defense Wednesday at the Makati City Regional Trial Court for the crime of coup d’ etat did not take the witness stand, believing that there is no need for them to prove their innocence.
According to one of the defense lawyers, in criminal cases, the burden of proof lies on the prosecution and not the defense.
“Even if the accused would not give a testimony in their favor, if the prosecution fails to adduce the quantum of evidence required, then the case will have to be dismissed,” Atty. Reynaldo Robles, lawyer for accused Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, told reporters after the hearing.
“We feel that the prosecution was not able to discharge the evidence, the burden of evidence. And in a criminal case, it is not the weakness of the defense but it is the strength of the defense against the accused (that matters),” he added.
The 13 officers that was scheduled to defend themselves yesterday were led by Army Captains Gerardo Gambala and Milo Maestrecampo, two of the core leaders of the Magdalo Group. There are a total of 29 officers and two former enlisted personnel facing coup d’ etat charges before the Makati RTC Branch 148 in relation to the failed mutiny in July 2003 at the Oakwood Hotel in Makati City.
What the lawyers of the 13 submitted to the court instead were documents such as photocopies of transcripts of the deliberation of the coup d’ etat law by the Senate and House of Representatives, and records of the case of Senator Gregorio Honasan.
The first will supposedly support the defense’ argument that no crime was committed because it says that coup d’ etat is a crime committed in government installations, while the second would supposedly reinforce their call to quash the case because it is similar to Honasan’s.
“Supposedly, the theory of the prosecution is the mastermind is Senator Honasan. But they dismissed the case against him. So, these documents are being reproduced in this particular case to cite them as basis for dismissal (of the case),” Robles explained.
He disclosed that while the other defense lawyers plan to present their own sets of evidence, both documentary and witnesses, they might also adopt as their own the document filed by Atty. Hortencio Domingo, the lawyer of the 13.
Wednesday’s hearing was the first for the defense to present its case since the trial began in 2003.
Out of the 31 accused, only 16 attended the hearing, including Trillanes, who was in blue polo and black pair of pants, and was no longer handcuffed.
The next hearing would be on October 25.
After the hearing, Trillanes took time to answer questions from the media regarding the impeachment complaint filed by their former lawyer, Atty. Ruel Pulido.
“We were very much disappointed,” Trillanes said of Pulido’s move, which, he said is rumored to have been done in collusion with people from Malacanang.
“It is possible. It is highly probable,” he said of the rumor.
Trillanes pointed out that while he was advocating for the impeachment of Arroyo, he will not be supporting Pulido’s initiative, which, he said was described by a lawmaker as “not worth the paper it was written on.”
He stressed that the Magdalo has nothing to do with Pulido’s move, citing their parting of ways since September 2006.
“We are not in speaking terms since September last year… He resigned,” Trillanes said, although he refused to disclose the cause of the parting of ways.
His message for Pulido: “I wish him luck. I really hope he survives his career.”
Pulido filed the complaint against Arroyo last Friday in relation to the alleged anomalous National Broadband Network (NBN) project proposal. His complaint was endorsed by Laguna Congressman Edgar San Luis but many observers said it was only meant to make the President immune from a real, substantial impeachment complaint./DMS
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
ASG member killed in fresh encounter with gov’t troops in Sulu
By Ronron
October 9, 2007
A suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed in an encounter Monday afternoon against government troops in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, military officials said Tuesday.
Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of the Sulu-based Joint Task Force Comet, said the latest clash happened at around 4:30 pm at Sitio Lumbo, Barangay Mabahay in Talipao town.
Rafael said elements of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion initially discovered a temporary rebel encampment when they found out later it was being inhabited by 40 to 50 armed people.
Rafael said the inhabitants are believed to be ASG members and rouge members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Rafael said the clash lasted for about 30 minutes, resulting to the death of one suspected ASG member and the recovery of a Garand rifle. There was no casualty on the government side, he said.
Asked if the engaged rebels include the high-value targets of the government like Radullan Sahiron, Doc Abu, Albader Parad, and the two Jemaah Islamiyah bombers, namely Umar Patek and Dulmatin, Rafael said: “We are still verifying if there are high-value targets in the encounter.”
But he maintained that these terrorist leaders are still in Sulu, saying, “we have a naval blockade in place to prevent their escape.”
Some 4,000 troops have been brought to Sulu in the last few months to run after the terrorists following the major encounters in August that left at least 27 soldiers killed./DMS
October 9, 2007
A suspected member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed in an encounter Monday afternoon against government troops in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, military officials said Tuesday.
Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of the Sulu-based Joint Task Force Comet, said the latest clash happened at around 4:30 pm at Sitio Lumbo, Barangay Mabahay in Talipao town.
Rafael said elements of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion initially discovered a temporary rebel encampment when they found out later it was being inhabited by 40 to 50 armed people.
Rafael said the inhabitants are believed to be ASG members and rouge members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Rafael said the clash lasted for about 30 minutes, resulting to the death of one suspected ASG member and the recovery of a Garand rifle. There was no casualty on the government side, he said.
Asked if the engaged rebels include the high-value targets of the government like Radullan Sahiron, Doc Abu, Albader Parad, and the two Jemaah Islamiyah bombers, namely Umar Patek and Dulmatin, Rafael said: “We are still verifying if there are high-value targets in the encounter.”
But he maintained that these terrorist leaders are still in Sulu, saying, “we have a naval blockade in place to prevent their escape.”
Some 4,000 troops have been brought to Sulu in the last few months to run after the terrorists following the major encounters in August that left at least 27 soldiers killed./DMS
3 suspected robbers killed in shootout incident in Laguna province
By Ronron
October 9, 2007
Three suspected robbers were killed in a shootout incident against policemen before dawn of Tuesday in Laguna province, police said.
Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Felipe Rojas said the suspects were shot dead at around 2:30 am after engaging the chasing police operatives in a shootout instead of giving themselves up.
He identified the three as Gregorio Ruellas, 31; Santiago Pontanoza, 27; and Jayson Pontanoza, 25; all of Barangay Bautista, San Pablo City.
Rojas said the shootout happened along Carmelite Road in Barangay Concepcion of same city.
The three, who were onboard a tricycle and a motorcycle, had earlier robbed a resident of Barangay Santo Angel in the same city, identified as Romeo Formales, at around 11:30 pm Monday, Rojas said.
This prompted the police operation that was participated by elements of the San Pablo City Police, the Traffic Management Group (TMG) of Police Region IV-A, and Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division.
A mobile of the TMG sustained gunshots during the brief shootout, Rojas said.
Recovered from the suspects after the incident were two caliber 38 revolvers, a hand grenade, the 1,500-pesos that was taken from Formales, and some foreign currencies of unknown amount.
Rojas said the neutralization of the three is expected to reduce the robbery and hold-up incidents in the province, especially in San Pablo City, noting the involvement of the three in similar incidents in the past./DMS
October 9, 2007
Three suspected robbers were killed in a shootout incident against policemen before dawn of Tuesday in Laguna province, police said.
Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Felipe Rojas said the suspects were shot dead at around 2:30 am after engaging the chasing police operatives in a shootout instead of giving themselves up.
He identified the three as Gregorio Ruellas, 31; Santiago Pontanoza, 27; and Jayson Pontanoza, 25; all of Barangay Bautista, San Pablo City.
Rojas said the shootout happened along Carmelite Road in Barangay Concepcion of same city.
The three, who were onboard a tricycle and a motorcycle, had earlier robbed a resident of Barangay Santo Angel in the same city, identified as Romeo Formales, at around 11:30 pm Monday, Rojas said.
This prompted the police operation that was participated by elements of the San Pablo City Police, the Traffic Management Group (TMG) of Police Region IV-A, and Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division.
A mobile of the TMG sustained gunshots during the brief shootout, Rojas said.
Recovered from the suspects after the incident were two caliber 38 revolvers, a hand grenade, the 1,500-pesos that was taken from Formales, and some foreign currencies of unknown amount.
Rojas said the neutralization of the three is expected to reduce the robbery and hold-up incidents in the province, especially in San Pablo City, noting the involvement of the three in similar incidents in the past./DMS
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Suspected NPA rebels abduct barangay captain and two Army personnel in Compostela Valley province
Ronron
October 8, 2007
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) abducted a village captain, an Army sergeant and a paramilitary personnel on Sunday morning before the actual fight of Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao against Marco Antonio Barrera in the United States started.
The police and military said the incident happened at around 9am in Barangay Kanidkid, Montevista town wherein the suspects, numbering to between 20 and 30, pretended to be military personnel, thus succeeding in their plan.
Col. Benito de Leon, spokesman of the Davao-based 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the suspects first went to the house of Barangay Kanidkid chairman Benjamin “Momoy” Mahumas.
The suspects reportedly introduced themselves to Mahumas as members of the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion and 72nd IB, thus they were accepted by the village captain.
But when they immediately held Mahumas hostage, they ordered the barangay captain to call in the detachment commander of the 72nd IB in said barangay, identified as Sergeant Raul Reyes, and his CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) personnel, identified as a certain Dodong Villaflor.
De Leon said Reyes and Villaflor were not aware that they were being made to fall into a trap of the suspected rebels. Thus, upon arrival of Mahumas’ residence, the two were immediately taken as hostage as well.
From Mahumas’ residence, de Leon said the three hostages were taken to the Army detachment where the rebels demanded that all firearms be turned over to them.
Seeing their detachment commander under custody of the rebels, the nine remaining personnel at the detachment were forced to hand over 15 assorted short and long firearms to the hostage-takers.
The group then left aboard an Isuzu elf truck and a multicab.
De Leon said pursuit operations were conducted by troops from the 1001st Infantry Brigade, augmented by police forces but remains unsuccessful as of Monday afternoon.
De Leon would not say where the center of the pursuit operations so as not to jeopardize it.
He disclosed that the nine personnel in the detachment have already been relieved and placed on custodial detention at the 72nd IB headquarters as they are undergoing investigation.
“This is a gross violation of the CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law). They have been swearing that they will conform to human rights law but they have taken now as hostage a civilian, and they took hostages out of deception, and not in a legitimate encounter,” de Leon said of the incident.
“We condemn this outright disregard for the CARHRIHL,” he added.
Asked if their have been demands from the suspects in exchange for the freedom of their hostages, de Leon said: “There is none. This just has something to do with the series of successes of the military against their movement. We have convinced some of their comrades to surrender, we have seized their camps, we have neutralized some of their comrades. So this is just part of their guerilla tactics.”
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years and the government hopes to crush it by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the communist movement bogged down in August 2004 after it was tagged as terrorists by foreign governments./DMS
October 8, 2007
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) abducted a village captain, an Army sergeant and a paramilitary personnel on Sunday morning before the actual fight of Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao against Marco Antonio Barrera in the United States started.
The police and military said the incident happened at around 9am in Barangay Kanidkid, Montevista town wherein the suspects, numbering to between 20 and 30, pretended to be military personnel, thus succeeding in their plan.
Col. Benito de Leon, spokesman of the Davao-based 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the suspects first went to the house of Barangay Kanidkid chairman Benjamin “Momoy” Mahumas.
The suspects reportedly introduced themselves to Mahumas as members of the Army’s 60th Infantry Battalion and 72nd IB, thus they were accepted by the village captain.
But when they immediately held Mahumas hostage, they ordered the barangay captain to call in the detachment commander of the 72nd IB in said barangay, identified as Sergeant Raul Reyes, and his CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) personnel, identified as a certain Dodong Villaflor.
De Leon said Reyes and Villaflor were not aware that they were being made to fall into a trap of the suspected rebels. Thus, upon arrival of Mahumas’ residence, the two were immediately taken as hostage as well.
From Mahumas’ residence, de Leon said the three hostages were taken to the Army detachment where the rebels demanded that all firearms be turned over to them.
Seeing their detachment commander under custody of the rebels, the nine remaining personnel at the detachment were forced to hand over 15 assorted short and long firearms to the hostage-takers.
The group then left aboard an Isuzu elf truck and a multicab.
De Leon said pursuit operations were conducted by troops from the 1001st Infantry Brigade, augmented by police forces but remains unsuccessful as of Monday afternoon.
De Leon would not say where the center of the pursuit operations so as not to jeopardize it.
He disclosed that the nine personnel in the detachment have already been relieved and placed on custodial detention at the 72nd IB headquarters as they are undergoing investigation.
“This is a gross violation of the CARHRIHL (Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law). They have been swearing that they will conform to human rights law but they have taken now as hostage a civilian, and they took hostages out of deception, and not in a legitimate encounter,” de Leon said of the incident.
“We condemn this outright disregard for the CARHRIHL,” he added.
Asked if their have been demands from the suspects in exchange for the freedom of their hostages, de Leon said: “There is none. This just has something to do with the series of successes of the military against their movement. We have convinced some of their comrades to surrender, we have seized their camps, we have neutralized some of their comrades. So this is just part of their guerilla tactics.”
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside in the last 38 years and the government hopes to crush it by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the communist movement bogged down in August 2004 after it was tagged as terrorists by foreign governments./DMS
MM police on heightened alert after Kidapawan blasts
By Ronron
October 8, 2007
Police forces in Metro Manila have been placed on heightened alert since last weekend due to the twin bombings in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato on Friday evening.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias told a news conference Monday in Camp Crame that the alert level was raised immediately after the explosions happened at around 7pm along Quezon Boulevard of Kidapawan City, killing a child and wounding over 30 others.
At the same time, some 250 personnel were deployed at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) to thwart any untoward incidents. Similar plans are underway for bus terminals, Barias said.
“We are confident we can secure Metro Manila,” Barias said even as he admitted that there are no direct threats of terrorism in the capital, nor are there members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
When asked if they are anticipating a spillover of the bombings in Metro Manila, Barias said: “Not really but we just come up with assumptions. The possibility though is very remote.”
A 10-year-old child died in Friday’s bombings in Kidapawan City while 32 others were wounded.
Police and military officials are considering terrorists and extortionists as being behind the blasts, which happened five minutes and 50 meters apart.
As of Monday, no suspect has been arrested yet by local policemen, although they are already following leads about a certain group, national police chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said./DMS
October 8, 2007
Police forces in Metro Manila have been placed on heightened alert since last weekend due to the twin bombings in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato on Friday evening.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias told a news conference Monday in Camp Crame that the alert level was raised immediately after the explosions happened at around 7pm along Quezon Boulevard of Kidapawan City, killing a child and wounding over 30 others.
At the same time, some 250 personnel were deployed at the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) to thwart any untoward incidents. Similar plans are underway for bus terminals, Barias said.
“We are confident we can secure Metro Manila,” Barias said even as he admitted that there are no direct threats of terrorism in the capital, nor are there members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
When asked if they are anticipating a spillover of the bombings in Metro Manila, Barias said: “Not really but we just come up with assumptions. The possibility though is very remote.”
A 10-year-old child died in Friday’s bombings in Kidapawan City while 32 others were wounded.
Police and military officials are considering terrorists and extortionists as being behind the blasts, which happened five minutes and 50 meters apart.
As of Monday, no suspect has been arrested yet by local policemen, although they are already following leads about a certain group, national police chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said./DMS
DILG Secretary confident impeachment raps against Arroyo will die a natural death
By Ronron
October 8, 2007
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed confidence on Monday that the new impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not prosper.
As the political adviser of Arroyo, Puno said the opposition are only very few in the Lower House, thereby shunning an opportunity for them to push the impeachment complaint lodged last Friday by Atty. Ruel Pulido, a former lawyer of the Magdalo soldiers.
“I think that any kind of impeachment action will not prosper. It’s a numbers game, and there are only 30 members of the opposition in the House so it’s a wishful thinking that they can break up the administration,” Puno said in a news conference at Camp Crame yesterday.
Pulido filed the complaint against Arroyo based on the alleged irregularities hounding the proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) project.
Without citing the merits of the case, Puno said the fresh complaint against Arroyo “will die a natural death.”
“I think this attempt of the opposition to try to impeach is a non-starter. It will not get anywhere,” he said.
Puno, a former Congressman of Antipolo City in Rizal, suggested that the members of Congress should just instead focus on “legislating,” citing the need to review many laws.
Asked if the complaint may spark unrest in the streets, Puno said: “I think the people are already fed up with rallies already so I doubt if there will be any.”
Meanwhile, Puno denied reports that Laguna Representative Edgar San Luis has links with Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI) political party, which Puno chairs.
It was San Luis who endorsed Pulido’s impeachment complaint.
“He has never been and is not a member of KAMPI,” Puno said of San Luis./DMS
October 8, 2007
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno expressed confidence on Monday that the new impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not prosper.
As the political adviser of Arroyo, Puno said the opposition are only very few in the Lower House, thereby shunning an opportunity for them to push the impeachment complaint lodged last Friday by Atty. Ruel Pulido, a former lawyer of the Magdalo soldiers.
“I think that any kind of impeachment action will not prosper. It’s a numbers game, and there are only 30 members of the opposition in the House so it’s a wishful thinking that they can break up the administration,” Puno said in a news conference at Camp Crame yesterday.
Pulido filed the complaint against Arroyo based on the alleged irregularities hounding the proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) project.
Without citing the merits of the case, Puno said the fresh complaint against Arroyo “will die a natural death.”
“I think this attempt of the opposition to try to impeach is a non-starter. It will not get anywhere,” he said.
Puno, a former Congressman of Antipolo City in Rizal, suggested that the members of Congress should just instead focus on “legislating,” citing the need to review many laws.
Asked if the complaint may spark unrest in the streets, Puno said: “I think the people are already fed up with rallies already so I doubt if there will be any.”
Meanwhile, Puno denied reports that Laguna Representative Edgar San Luis has links with Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI) political party, which Puno chairs.
It was San Luis who endorsed Pulido’s impeachment complaint.
“He has never been and is not a member of KAMPI,” Puno said of San Luis./DMS
Police notes almost zero crime rate in RP during Pacquiao fight
By Ronron
October 8, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) claimed on Monday that there was a zero crime rate during the actual time that Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was fighting against Marco Antonio Barrera last Sunday (Manila time) at a boxing ring in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Police officials said crimes only happened before and after the 12-round bout of Pacquiao and Barrera, which the former won by a unanimous decision of three judges.
“There was none. This is what usually happens because we are expecting our countrymen to be glued to their TV monitors for the Pacquiao fight,” PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla told Camp Crame reporters yesterday when asked if any crime was reported during Pacquiao’s boxing match with Barrera.
Varilla said the zero-crime rate was noted from 11 am to 1pm.
Specifically, in Metro Manila, no crime was reported from 8am to 3pm, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias.
“This was expected just like in the previous fights of Pacquiao,” Barias said in a separate news conference, adding that even traffic was reduced by 75 percent.
Officials said only at least six crime incidents were reported before 11am and after 1pm all over the country, much fewer compared to during regular days.
The incidents include a reported abduction in Bataan, a raid by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley, two unspecified incidents in Region VII, and two stabbing incidents in Metro Manila.
“We can only hope that Pacquiao will have a fight every day so there will be no crime incidents,” Varilla said./DMS
October 8, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) claimed on Monday that there was a zero crime rate during the actual time that Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao was fighting against Marco Antonio Barrera last Sunday (Manila time) at a boxing ring in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Police officials said crimes only happened before and after the 12-round bout of Pacquiao and Barrera, which the former won by a unanimous decision of three judges.
“There was none. This is what usually happens because we are expecting our countrymen to be glued to their TV monitors for the Pacquiao fight,” PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla told Camp Crame reporters yesterday when asked if any crime was reported during Pacquiao’s boxing match with Barrera.
Varilla said the zero-crime rate was noted from 11 am to 1pm.
Specifically, in Metro Manila, no crime was reported from 8am to 3pm, said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias.
“This was expected just like in the previous fights of Pacquiao,” Barias said in a separate news conference, adding that even traffic was reduced by 75 percent.
Officials said only at least six crime incidents were reported before 11am and after 1pm all over the country, much fewer compared to during regular days.
The incidents include a reported abduction in Bataan, a raid by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley, two unspecified incidents in Region VII, and two stabbing incidents in Metro Manila.
“We can only hope that Pacquiao will have a fight every day so there will be no crime incidents,” Varilla said./DMS
RP cops assured of medical services from 38 DOH hospitals all over the country
By Ronron
October 8, 2007
Philippine cops may now avail of the services of 38 tertiary hospitals of the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Monday morning between the DOH, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
According to PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr., the policemen need not worry also of their medical expenses at these hospitals because the MOA provides that funding for these from the PNP will be channeled directly to the hospitals, through the DOH.
“This signing of memorandum of agreement is our prerequisite to achieve a long-term and lasting accessibility of health services in the PNP being implemented in line with the PNP Integrated Transformation Program that aims to resolve organizational dysfunctions and improve quality of police services and strengthen law enforcement capabilities,” Razon said.
Asigned from Razon, signatories to the MOA were DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and DOH Undersecretary Margarita Galon.
Razon disclosed that currently, the PNP only has one tertiary hospital where its personnel can avail of free services. It is the PNP General Hospital inside Camp Crame, Quezon City while the rest go to 16 dispensaries spread all over the country.
But following the MOA signing, the PNP chief said ill cops from the provinces, especially from the south, need not fly to Metro Manila to avail of free hospitalization at the PNP General Hospital.
This will also lessen the patients at the PNP General Hospital, which has only 300 beds. The PNP has an estimated strength of 120,000.
Razon said the PNP currently has a 200-million peso budget for medical services for its personnel, and they intend to increase it in the coming years so as to address not just the hospital expenses of ill personnel but also to upgrade its hospital and dispensary equipment and facilities.
Razon said the health service program, dubbed as Pulis Health Mo Okay, covers all types of illnesses of policemen, even those that are not immediately known as work-related.
Based on statistics, the most common illnesses of policemen are hypertension and other cardio-vascular disorders, and kidney problems, Razon said./DMS
October 8, 2007
Philippine cops may now avail of the services of 38 tertiary hospitals of the Department of Health (DOH) nationwide following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Monday morning between the DOH, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
According to PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr., the policemen need not worry also of their medical expenses at these hospitals because the MOA provides that funding for these from the PNP will be channeled directly to the hospitals, through the DOH.
“This signing of memorandum of agreement is our prerequisite to achieve a long-term and lasting accessibility of health services in the PNP being implemented in line with the PNP Integrated Transformation Program that aims to resolve organizational dysfunctions and improve quality of police services and strengthen law enforcement capabilities,” Razon said.
Asigned from Razon, signatories to the MOA were DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and DOH Undersecretary Margarita Galon.
Razon disclosed that currently, the PNP only has one tertiary hospital where its personnel can avail of free services. It is the PNP General Hospital inside Camp Crame, Quezon City while the rest go to 16 dispensaries spread all over the country.
But following the MOA signing, the PNP chief said ill cops from the provinces, especially from the south, need not fly to Metro Manila to avail of free hospitalization at the PNP General Hospital.
This will also lessen the patients at the PNP General Hospital, which has only 300 beds. The PNP has an estimated strength of 120,000.
Razon said the PNP currently has a 200-million peso budget for medical services for its personnel, and they intend to increase it in the coming years so as to address not just the hospital expenses of ill personnel but also to upgrade its hospital and dispensary equipment and facilities.
Razon said the health service program, dubbed as Pulis Health Mo Okay, covers all types of illnesses of policemen, even those that are not immediately known as work-related.
Based on statistics, the most common illnesses of policemen are hypertension and other cardio-vascular disorders, and kidney problems, Razon said./DMS
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Police finds more weight on terrorism as against extortion as motive of Kidapawan City blasts
By Ronron
October 6, 2007
Local police investigators and the military consider terrorism to be a more probable motive behind the twin explosions on Friday night in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato that killed a child and wounded 32 others, compared to extortion.
According to Kidapawan City Police investigator PO1 Conrado Abalos, Jr., establishments near the blast sites have denied receiving any extortion demand from certain groups, such as the Al-Khobar Group, prior to the incident that happened at around 7pm the other day.
The establishments include the Sugni Superstore, the Share Marketing (an appliance shop), and the Imperial Plaza Appliance Center, all located along Quezon Boulevard at the city proper.
“We could not say it (motive of explosions) is extortion because there are no threats or demand letters prior to the incident. It was just set off at a crowded place so there was no clear target or motive. And that’s a character of terrorism,” Abalos said in Filipino a phone interview Saturday.
“It could be perpetrated by local contacts of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) based on the city’s history. Basically, it’s a job of terrorists who are the only perpetrators of bombings,” added Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Julieto Ando.
Abalos said bomb experts both from the police and the Army have recovered parts of a 60 mm mortar from the blast sites, located 50 meters apart from each other. He said it is suspected that the explosive devices were triggered by a mobile phone.
Each of the devices were placed inside a plastic bag, and blew off five minutes apart, he said.
Asked if it could be perpetrated by the JI, the Southeast Asian cell of Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network that has already penetrated the Philippines, Abalos said: “That is the subject of the investigation, although for the past three years since I was assigned here, there are no confirmed first-hand handiworks of the JI.”
Abalos disclosed that a man who was initially suspected to have been the one seen leaving the explosives was held by police, but turned out to be innocent.
He said that after questioning the man overnight, he was released at around 7am yesterday after finding out he was seen running away to avoid getting hurt.
Police identified the killed victim as Ana Mae Losada, 10, a resident of said city, who was reportedly accompanying her mother sell fruits near the Sugni Superstore.
The wounded victims, on the other hand, were brought to the Kidapawan Medical Specialist Center, the Kidapawan Doctor’s Hospital, Inc., the Kidapawan City Health Hospital, and the Madonna General Hospital, Inc. for medical treatment.
Among the injured are at least nine minors, the youngest of whom is a three-year-old girl. The oldest among the wounded, on the other hand, is a 54-year-old woman.
Aside from inflicting casualties, Abalos said the explosions also damaged six vehicles parked near the blast sites.
Abalos said the city police immediately raised its alert to full status after the incident./DMS
October 6, 2007
Local police investigators and the military consider terrorism to be a more probable motive behind the twin explosions on Friday night in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato that killed a child and wounded 32 others, compared to extortion.
According to Kidapawan City Police investigator PO1 Conrado Abalos, Jr., establishments near the blast sites have denied receiving any extortion demand from certain groups, such as the Al-Khobar Group, prior to the incident that happened at around 7pm the other day.
The establishments include the Sugni Superstore, the Share Marketing (an appliance shop), and the Imperial Plaza Appliance Center, all located along Quezon Boulevard at the city proper.
“We could not say it (motive of explosions) is extortion because there are no threats or demand letters prior to the incident. It was just set off at a crowded place so there was no clear target or motive. And that’s a character of terrorism,” Abalos said in Filipino a phone interview Saturday.
“It could be perpetrated by local contacts of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) based on the city’s history. Basically, it’s a job of terrorists who are the only perpetrators of bombings,” added Army 6th Infantry Division spokesman Lt. Col. Julieto Ando.
Abalos said bomb experts both from the police and the Army have recovered parts of a 60 mm mortar from the blast sites, located 50 meters apart from each other. He said it is suspected that the explosive devices were triggered by a mobile phone.
Each of the devices were placed inside a plastic bag, and blew off five minutes apart, he said.
Asked if it could be perpetrated by the JI, the Southeast Asian cell of Osama Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network that has already penetrated the Philippines, Abalos said: “That is the subject of the investigation, although for the past three years since I was assigned here, there are no confirmed first-hand handiworks of the JI.”
Abalos disclosed that a man who was initially suspected to have been the one seen leaving the explosives was held by police, but turned out to be innocent.
He said that after questioning the man overnight, he was released at around 7am yesterday after finding out he was seen running away to avoid getting hurt.
Police identified the killed victim as Ana Mae Losada, 10, a resident of said city, who was reportedly accompanying her mother sell fruits near the Sugni Superstore.
The wounded victims, on the other hand, were brought to the Kidapawan Medical Specialist Center, the Kidapawan Doctor’s Hospital, Inc., the Kidapawan City Health Hospital, and the Madonna General Hospital, Inc. for medical treatment.
Among the injured are at least nine minors, the youngest of whom is a three-year-old girl. The oldest among the wounded, on the other hand, is a 54-year-old woman.
Aside from inflicting casualties, Abalos said the explosions also damaged six vehicles parked near the blast sites.
Abalos said the city police immediately raised its alert to full status after the incident./DMS
Japanese found dead in Cebu after scuba diving
By Ronron
October 6, 2007
A 47-year-old Japanese national was believed to have drowned to death while scuba diving in the central Philippine province of Cebu last Thursday, police said Saturday.
The victim was identified as Kimura Atsuo, 47, of 1-3-17 Tamagawa, Ota-ku, Tokyo, and temporarily residing in Guadalupe, Cebu City. Police said Atsuo is a tourist in the country.
Police said Atsuo went on scuba diving last Thursday afternoon in Barangay Datag, Maribago, Lapu-lapu City with a fellow Japanese, identified as Hideaki Yajima, and a Filipino assistant diving instructor, identified as Julian Lantafe.
They reportedly started their activity at 1:45 pm at the Kontiki Beach Resort.
But, according to Lantafe, Atsuo did not heed to his reminder while they were already some 60 to 80 meters deep not to go down further.
Lantafe told police that he and Yajima were forced to leave Atsuo underwater.
At around 2:30pm, Atsuo’s body surfaced and was spotted by personnel from another diving shop, who later turned it over to the Kontiki Beach Resort.
Police said responding personnel from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) found Atsuo to be dead already upon check-up at the Kontiki Beach Resort.
“The Japanese tourist exceeded his depth while scuba diving, per information from the dive instructor,” Lapu-lapu City Police Director Supt. Louie Oppus said in a text message.
Based on the diving machine, Atsuo reached 94 meters deep.
The management of the resort brought Atsuo to the Lapu-lapu City District Hospital where he was finally declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Although police initially noted no signs of foul play or struggle, they still subjected the body to an autopsy for final determination of the cause of death./DMS
October 6, 2007
A 47-year-old Japanese national was believed to have drowned to death while scuba diving in the central Philippine province of Cebu last Thursday, police said Saturday.
The victim was identified as Kimura Atsuo, 47, of 1-3-17 Tamagawa, Ota-ku, Tokyo, and temporarily residing in Guadalupe, Cebu City. Police said Atsuo is a tourist in the country.
Police said Atsuo went on scuba diving last Thursday afternoon in Barangay Datag, Maribago, Lapu-lapu City with a fellow Japanese, identified as Hideaki Yajima, and a Filipino assistant diving instructor, identified as Julian Lantafe.
They reportedly started their activity at 1:45 pm at the Kontiki Beach Resort.
But, according to Lantafe, Atsuo did not heed to his reminder while they were already some 60 to 80 meters deep not to go down further.
Lantafe told police that he and Yajima were forced to leave Atsuo underwater.
At around 2:30pm, Atsuo’s body surfaced and was spotted by personnel from another diving shop, who later turned it over to the Kontiki Beach Resort.
Police said responding personnel from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) found Atsuo to be dead already upon check-up at the Kontiki Beach Resort.
“The Japanese tourist exceeded his depth while scuba diving, per information from the dive instructor,” Lapu-lapu City Police Director Supt. Louie Oppus said in a text message.
Based on the diving machine, Atsuo reached 94 meters deep.
The management of the resort brought Atsuo to the Lapu-lapu City District Hospital where he was finally declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
Although police initially noted no signs of foul play or struggle, they still subjected the body to an autopsy for final determination of the cause of death./DMS
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