By Ronron
April 1, 2008
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) delisted 87 newly hired soldiers and 97 soldier-trainees in its unit in northern Mindanao in the light of the investigation conducted against the former military commander there.
Philippine Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. told reporters Tuesday in Camp Aguinaldo that the cancellation of the appointment orders of the 184 personnel at the 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City took effect last March 25.
“The appointment orders of the candidate soldiers and Privates who were found to be not qualified were cancelled,” Torres said.
“Admission into the military without going through the prescribed process is considered fraudulent and may result to separation from the service,” he added.
The 184 personnel were investigated after former 4th ID commander Maj. Gen. Jose Barbieto and his staff, Staff Sergeant Roseller Echipare, were accused of having collected some fees from them in exchange of assured entry into the service despite non-compliance with some requirements.
The 87 newly hired soldiers belong to a batch of 133 new Privates, while the 97 candidate soldiers belong to a batch of 150 trainees.
Torres said their appointment was cancelled because some of them were found to be under-height, while some submitted fake birth certificates, among other reasons.
But he said the Army leadership has yet to ascertain if indeed, these personnel were willing victims of Barbieto’s alleged extortion activities.
“These (under-height, fake birth certificates) are the main grounds for their cancellation, and not necessarily because they paid. These things will probably be asked of them in due time,” said Torres.
“Definitely, it (cancellation of appointment orders) affected the ongoing training, which commenced last January 10, if I’m not mistaken, wherein 150 trainees reported for training,” he added.
But Torres said the Army leadership assured these affected personnel that they can still re-apply in the service, provided they meet the requirements.
At the moment, Torres said the 4th ID will “double time” in their recruitment of new soldiers to make up for those cancelled.
Barbieto and Echipare have already been restricted inside the Philippine Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City starting March 18 as they face pre-trial investigation by the Army Judge Advocate General’s Office.
Barbieto and Echipare are being investigated for possible violations of Article of War 55 (Officer Making Unlawful Enlistment), Article of War 96 (Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and Gentleman), and Article of War 97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline).
The pre-trial investigation will determine whether or not Barbieto and Echipare will face court martial proceedings.
Asked if Barbieto has already denied the allegation, Torres said: “I’m not privy regarding those details, but definitely those things would be asked of Maj. Gen. Barbieto.”
Torres assured the even if Barbieto is a classmate of AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. in the Philippine Military Academy, there will be no whitewash in the investigation.
“We are doing the investigation based on the existing military laws… We are applying this equally,” he said.
But at the same time, Torres assured Barbieto, Echipare and their families that they will be given due process and a fair trial by the military tribunal, if ever./DMS
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
PNP entices young lawyers to join the service
By Ronron
April 1, 2008
Three days after a list of new lawyers in the country was bared by the Supreme Court, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday is enticing them and those who passed within the last few years to join the service “for love of country.”
PNP Legal Service Executive Officer Sr. Supt. Benjamin delos Santos told reporters in Camp Crame yesterday that the PNP currently needs about 80 lawyers so that every province in the country has a legal counsel each.
“If all the provinces have lawyers, even policemen in the municipal level will have proper legal advice. If we have sufficient lawyers in the service, our police stations can be guided like on the latest laws, issues on human rights, and criminal issues,” delos Santos said.
The PNP Legal Service is tasked to provide legal service to members of the organization facing suits that are service-related.
It has 101 lawyers only at present, said delos Santos. For this year, they are entertaining 32 applicants to fill up the 80 vacant positions.
Delos Santos admitted it is difficult to entice lawyers to join the service because the salary offer is smaller compared to those in private practice.
A newly-accepted lawyer in the PNP will only get a monthly salary of P23,000 equivalent to a cop with a rank of Senior Inspector. Lawyers in private sectors, however, get as much as P30,000 to P50,000 a month.
“We just call on your sense of patriotism, love of country, and sense of duty and adventure because police work is very exciting,” delos Santos said when asked how they can convince new lawyers to join the PNP in spite of the relatively meager salary.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court has announced that 1,289 out of the 5,626 bar takers passed last year./DMS
April 1, 2008
Three days after a list of new lawyers in the country was bared by the Supreme Court, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday is enticing them and those who passed within the last few years to join the service “for love of country.”
PNP Legal Service Executive Officer Sr. Supt. Benjamin delos Santos told reporters in Camp Crame yesterday that the PNP currently needs about 80 lawyers so that every province in the country has a legal counsel each.
“If all the provinces have lawyers, even policemen in the municipal level will have proper legal advice. If we have sufficient lawyers in the service, our police stations can be guided like on the latest laws, issues on human rights, and criminal issues,” delos Santos said.
The PNP Legal Service is tasked to provide legal service to members of the organization facing suits that are service-related.
It has 101 lawyers only at present, said delos Santos. For this year, they are entertaining 32 applicants to fill up the 80 vacant positions.
Delos Santos admitted it is difficult to entice lawyers to join the service because the salary offer is smaller compared to those in private practice.
A newly-accepted lawyer in the PNP will only get a monthly salary of P23,000 equivalent to a cop with a rank of Senior Inspector. Lawyers in private sectors, however, get as much as P30,000 to P50,000 a month.
“We just call on your sense of patriotism, love of country, and sense of duty and adventure because police work is very exciting,” delos Santos said when asked how they can convince new lawyers to join the PNP in spite of the relatively meager salary.
On Sunday, the Supreme Court has announced that 1,289 out of the 5,626 bar takers passed last year./DMS
Monday, March 31, 2008
Reds burn trucks in Iloilo province allegedly over extortion demand
By Ronron
March 31, 2008
Suspected communist rebels burned on Sunday night two cargo trucks in Iloilo province used in rice and palay delivery allegedly due to the owner's refusal to pay the so-called revolutionary tax, police said Monday.
The incident happened at around 10:30 pm at the warehouse owned by a certain Maximo Tamisen in Barangay Balicua, Tubungan town. Tamisen is said to be a known rice dealer/trader in said town.
Tubungan Police chief Insp. Edencio Gregorio told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the perpetrators, numbering about 15 including an amazon, first held hostage the village captain and two village watchmen who were posted near Tamisen's warehouse.
Gregorio said the suspects, who were armed with long firearms, introduced themselves to the village captain and watchmen as members of the New People's Army (NPA).
"They told the barangay captain and tanods to stay put because they are not their targets. They pointed guns at them and asked them to lie on the ground. The other rebels proceeded inside the warehouse and poured gasoline on the two trucks parked there," Gregorio narrated in Filipino.
He said the suspects used gasoline that they brought along to set fire the Elf and Fighter trucks at the warehouse.
In less than 15 minutes, the trucks were totally burned and the rebels escaped on foot towards the mountain area nearby, said Gregorio.
"There were no casualties because no one was inside the warehouse at that time," he said. There were also no other parts of the warehouse that caught fire because firemen immediately responded after the incident.
Quoting Tamisen, Gregorio said the estimated cost of damages to both trucks is P400,000.00.
Gregorio said the only time that the perpetrators pulled the trigger of their guns was when they were already on their way to escape to the mountains.
He said elements of the Tubungan Municipal Police Station, the 608 Police Mobile Group, and the 31st Recon Company of the Philippine Army conducted pursuit operations against the suspects.
Gregorio disclosed that in 2005, Tamisen received a letter from a local NPA leader, asking for an appointment for a meeting. Tamisen told him it could be that it was to seek for an arrangment on the so-called "revolutionary tax."
Tamisen, however, did pay much attention to it so the meeting never took place, said Gregorio. Thus, the businessman surmises that Sunday night's attack could already be the NPA's retaliation.
The ,5760-strong NPA has just celebrated its 39th anniversary last Saturday, although police it was an uneventful day.
The Arroyo government has vowed to defeat the insurgency problem by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks between the government and the communists bogged down in August 2004 after the latter was tagged as terrorists by the European Union and the United States./DMS
March 31, 2008
Suspected communist rebels burned on Sunday night two cargo trucks in Iloilo province used in rice and palay delivery allegedly due to the owner's refusal to pay the so-called revolutionary tax, police said Monday.
The incident happened at around 10:30 pm at the warehouse owned by a certain Maximo Tamisen in Barangay Balicua, Tubungan town. Tamisen is said to be a known rice dealer/trader in said town.
Tubungan Police chief Insp. Edencio Gregorio told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the perpetrators, numbering about 15 including an amazon, first held hostage the village captain and two village watchmen who were posted near Tamisen's warehouse.
Gregorio said the suspects, who were armed with long firearms, introduced themselves to the village captain and watchmen as members of the New People's Army (NPA).
"They told the barangay captain and tanods to stay put because they are not their targets. They pointed guns at them and asked them to lie on the ground. The other rebels proceeded inside the warehouse and poured gasoline on the two trucks parked there," Gregorio narrated in Filipino.
He said the suspects used gasoline that they brought along to set fire the Elf and Fighter trucks at the warehouse.
In less than 15 minutes, the trucks were totally burned and the rebels escaped on foot towards the mountain area nearby, said Gregorio.
"There were no casualties because no one was inside the warehouse at that time," he said. There were also no other parts of the warehouse that caught fire because firemen immediately responded after the incident.
Quoting Tamisen, Gregorio said the estimated cost of damages to both trucks is P400,000.00.
Gregorio said the only time that the perpetrators pulled the trigger of their guns was when they were already on their way to escape to the mountains.
He said elements of the Tubungan Municipal Police Station, the 608 Police Mobile Group, and the 31st Recon Company of the Philippine Army conducted pursuit operations against the suspects.
Gregorio disclosed that in 2005, Tamisen received a letter from a local NPA leader, asking for an appointment for a meeting. Tamisen told him it could be that it was to seek for an arrangment on the so-called "revolutionary tax."
Tamisen, however, did pay much attention to it so the meeting never took place, said Gregorio. Thus, the businessman surmises that Sunday night's attack could already be the NPA's retaliation.
The ,5760-strong NPA has just celebrated its 39th anniversary last Saturday, although police it was an uneventful day.
The Arroyo government has vowed to defeat the insurgency problem by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks between the government and the communists bogged down in August 2004 after the latter was tagged as terrorists by the European Union and the United States./DMS
Defense chief urges business establishments to be vigilant against NPA
By Ronron
March 31, 2008
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. on Monday conceded that the New People’s Army (NPA) may indeed intensify its attacks against private firms in the country as they have recently threatened, thus he is urging them to be vigilant.
In an interview with reporters, Teodoro said the communist rebels have become “more desperate” now because they have been “weakened” by the persistent efforts of government forces against them in line with their self-imposed deadline of 2010 to make the NPA an “inconsequential force.”
“We have to guard against that. Desperation, you know, conjures up more violent or more vile forms of reactions sometimes,” Teodoro said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has claimed reducing the NPA strength to 5,760 by the end of 2007, the lowest in more than 20 years. They intend further to make the NPA just a concern of the Philippine National Police (PNP) by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
In their 39th anniversary statement last Saturday, the NPA said their fighters are targeting certain enterprises “because these are detrimental to the interest of the people.”
“It is of strategic importance to disseminate mining, plantation, logging and other operations of foreign and big comprador firms because the people do not want to be robbed of their natural resources and because they wish to use these in the future for the development of their own country,” it said.
Just last Sunday evening, two rice delivery trucks in Iloilo province were burned by suspected NPA rebels due to the owner’s alleged refusal to pay the so-called “revolutionary tax” of the movement.
“Given that kind of a statement by the NPA, we enjoin vigilance on the part of business establishments to be more security conscious and aware of their surroundings,” Teodoro said.
He said that “unfortunately,” it is “quite easy to do damage to any establishment,” and this, to him, “already borders on terrorism.”
“The statement that they will intensify attacks specifically on businesses, to me, is a function of their thinking and their mentality, which is really adverse to the national interest. And I condemn that kind of thinking,” Teodoro said.
Among the measures being taken by some business firms in the provinces is hiring para-military men as their guards. The security personnel belong to Special CAFGU companies being controlled by the Philippine Army.
But aside from urging the private firms to do their share in thwarting the NPA threat, Teodoro directed military commanders in the field to also “factor in to their preparations” the threat of the NPA against businesses “through adequate intelligence work.”
“The general plan to guard the specific communities is there,” he assured.
The most common targets of the NPA are the Globe Telecommunications facilities, heavy equipment of construction companies, and mining firms./DMS
March 31, 2008
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. on Monday conceded that the New People’s Army (NPA) may indeed intensify its attacks against private firms in the country as they have recently threatened, thus he is urging them to be vigilant.
In an interview with reporters, Teodoro said the communist rebels have become “more desperate” now because they have been “weakened” by the persistent efforts of government forces against them in line with their self-imposed deadline of 2010 to make the NPA an “inconsequential force.”
“We have to guard against that. Desperation, you know, conjures up more violent or more vile forms of reactions sometimes,” Teodoro said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has claimed reducing the NPA strength to 5,760 by the end of 2007, the lowest in more than 20 years. They intend further to make the NPA just a concern of the Philippine National Police (PNP) by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
In their 39th anniversary statement last Saturday, the NPA said their fighters are targeting certain enterprises “because these are detrimental to the interest of the people.”
“It is of strategic importance to disseminate mining, plantation, logging and other operations of foreign and big comprador firms because the people do not want to be robbed of their natural resources and because they wish to use these in the future for the development of their own country,” it said.
Just last Sunday evening, two rice delivery trucks in Iloilo province were burned by suspected NPA rebels due to the owner’s alleged refusal to pay the so-called “revolutionary tax” of the movement.
“Given that kind of a statement by the NPA, we enjoin vigilance on the part of business establishments to be more security conscious and aware of their surroundings,” Teodoro said.
He said that “unfortunately,” it is “quite easy to do damage to any establishment,” and this, to him, “already borders on terrorism.”
“The statement that they will intensify attacks specifically on businesses, to me, is a function of their thinking and their mentality, which is really adverse to the national interest. And I condemn that kind of thinking,” Teodoro said.
Among the measures being taken by some business firms in the provinces is hiring para-military men as their guards. The security personnel belong to Special CAFGU companies being controlled by the Philippine Army.
But aside from urging the private firms to do their share in thwarting the NPA threat, Teodoro directed military commanders in the field to also “factor in to their preparations” the threat of the NPA against businesses “through adequate intelligence work.”
“The general plan to guard the specific communities is there,” he assured.
The most common targets of the NPA are the Globe Telecommunications facilities, heavy equipment of construction companies, and mining firms./DMS
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Three of 13 missing people in Davao Sur sea mishap recovered dead; six remain missing
By Ronron
March 30, 2008
Six of the 13 people who went missing since Wednesday last week at an island municipality in Davao del Sur province after a sea mishap are still nowhere to be found as of Sunday, local authorities said.
Edgar Salanio, information officer of the Region XI Disaster Coordinating Council, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had already rescued four survivors and recovered three fatalities last Saturday.
When the incident happened in the afternoon of March 26 in the waters of Sarangani town, only one of the 14 people aboard the ill-fated motorbanca “Judi Ann” immediately survived after it capsized.
Ranilo Ulivo, 26, one of the passengers, was able to swim his way back to shore after MB “Judi Ann” overturned due to big waves some two nautical miles off Barangay Camalig of said island municipality.
The 13 others, including the boat operator, were initially reported as missing. They include two infants, two toddlers, and three other minors, among others. The oldest is a 55-year-old woman.
“We received a report from the Philippine Coast Guard Southeastern Mindanao yesterday (Saturday) that they rescued four additional survivors and recovered three dead bodies. So six are still missing, “ Salanio said.
The PCG, however, was not able to immediately provide information on the identities of those recovered and rescued.
Salanio said “the big waves” at the accident site over the weekend is “hampering” the continuous search and rescue operations being conducted by the PCG, the 5053rd Search and Rescue Squadron of the Philippine Air Force, and local authorities.
He said the PCG and the Air Force will continue with their search and rescue operations Monday.
Local fishermen were also told to be on alert for possible sightings of the remaining missing victims, said Salanio./DMS
March 30, 2008
Six of the 13 people who went missing since Wednesday last week at an island municipality in Davao del Sur province after a sea mishap are still nowhere to be found as of Sunday, local authorities said.
Edgar Salanio, information officer of the Region XI Disaster Coordinating Council, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) had already rescued four survivors and recovered three fatalities last Saturday.
When the incident happened in the afternoon of March 26 in the waters of Sarangani town, only one of the 14 people aboard the ill-fated motorbanca “Judi Ann” immediately survived after it capsized.
Ranilo Ulivo, 26, one of the passengers, was able to swim his way back to shore after MB “Judi Ann” overturned due to big waves some two nautical miles off Barangay Camalig of said island municipality.
The 13 others, including the boat operator, were initially reported as missing. They include two infants, two toddlers, and three other minors, among others. The oldest is a 55-year-old woman.
“We received a report from the Philippine Coast Guard Southeastern Mindanao yesterday (Saturday) that they rescued four additional survivors and recovered three dead bodies. So six are still missing, “ Salanio said.
The PCG, however, was not able to immediately provide information on the identities of those recovered and rescued.
Salanio said “the big waves” at the accident site over the weekend is “hampering” the continuous search and rescue operations being conducted by the PCG, the 5053rd Search and Rescue Squadron of the Philippine Air Force, and local authorities.
He said the PCG and the Air Force will continue with their search and rescue operations Monday.
Local fishermen were also told to be on alert for possible sightings of the remaining missing victims, said Salanio./DMS
RP leader leaves for Hongkong for investment conference
By Ronron
March 30, 2008
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for Hongkong on Sunday afternoon to speak at an investment conference and meet with Filipino workers there.
Arroyo left via Philippine Airlines flight PR 306 shortly past 3pm together with First Gentleman Jose Miguel-Arroyo, their son Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, and some Cabinet Secretaries.
“Our trip to Hongkong is dedicated to meeting with our strong OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) contingent in Hongkong and to meet with business leaders to encourage them to continue to make strong investments in the Philippines,” Arroyo said in her departure statement.
On her first night in China’s Special Administrative Region, Arroyo will be received by the Hongkong’s Filipino community at the Tiffin Lounge of the Grand Hyatt Hotel where the First Couple will be billeted.
According to a statement from the Presidential Palace on Saturday, the reception “will feature a presentation by the Development Bank of the Philippines about its Peso Hedging Program, and by the Land Bank of the Philippines about its I-Net Negosyo Program and OFW Cash Card.
“We are taking the opportunity to meet with our precious OFW’s and introduce a series of programs we are taking to mitigate the strengthening of the peso against the dollar,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo will then deliver a keynote speech during Monday’s 2008 Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference, which runs until April 3 at the Island Shangri-la Hotel and the Conrad International Hotel.
“The fact that I have been asked to deliver the keynote address at the Asia Investment Conference in Hongkong to over a thousand investors and fund managers underscores the interest the outside world has in the growing stability and economic fortunes of the Philippines,” Arroyo said.
“I am proud to once again carry the banner of our nation and lead the charge for even more investments in our great nation,” she added.
The chief executive said her trip is consistent with her government’s efforts to strengthen the economy “through aggressive outreach to investors and to enhance our cooperation with governments in the region like Hongkong.”
“One central component of our economic plan has been steady and consistent investment by my government in strengthening our regional political and economic engagement,” she said.
This is on top of what she said as having diversified the domestic economy, “built up our foreign reserves, stimulated a surge of foreign investment and made heavy government investments in human and physical infrastructure.”
“Taken together, all of these efforts – our economic plan at home and our foreign engagement abroad – have helped prepare us for the global economic forces that are affecting the Philippines today,” Arroyo said, referring to the “major economic slowdown in North America, a historic spike in the price of oil and a near crippling spike in the price of rice,” among others.
The President will return to the country Tuesday./DMS
March 30, 2008
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for Hongkong on Sunday afternoon to speak at an investment conference and meet with Filipino workers there.
Arroyo left via Philippine Airlines flight PR 306 shortly past 3pm together with First Gentleman Jose Miguel-Arroyo, their son Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, and some Cabinet Secretaries.
“Our trip to Hongkong is dedicated to meeting with our strong OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) contingent in Hongkong and to meet with business leaders to encourage them to continue to make strong investments in the Philippines,” Arroyo said in her departure statement.
On her first night in China’s Special Administrative Region, Arroyo will be received by the Hongkong’s Filipino community at the Tiffin Lounge of the Grand Hyatt Hotel where the First Couple will be billeted.
According to a statement from the Presidential Palace on Saturday, the reception “will feature a presentation by the Development Bank of the Philippines about its Peso Hedging Program, and by the Land Bank of the Philippines about its I-Net Negosyo Program and OFW Cash Card.
“We are taking the opportunity to meet with our precious OFW’s and introduce a series of programs we are taking to mitigate the strengthening of the peso against the dollar,” Arroyo said.
Arroyo will then deliver a keynote speech during Monday’s 2008 Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference, which runs until April 3 at the Island Shangri-la Hotel and the Conrad International Hotel.
“The fact that I have been asked to deliver the keynote address at the Asia Investment Conference in Hongkong to over a thousand investors and fund managers underscores the interest the outside world has in the growing stability and economic fortunes of the Philippines,” Arroyo said.
“I am proud to once again carry the banner of our nation and lead the charge for even more investments in our great nation,” she added.
The chief executive said her trip is consistent with her government’s efforts to strengthen the economy “through aggressive outreach to investors and to enhance our cooperation with governments in the region like Hongkong.”
“One central component of our economic plan has been steady and consistent investment by my government in strengthening our regional political and economic engagement,” she said.
This is on top of what she said as having diversified the domestic economy, “built up our foreign reserves, stimulated a surge of foreign investment and made heavy government investments in human and physical infrastructure.”
“Taken together, all of these efforts – our economic plan at home and our foreign engagement abroad – have helped prepare us for the global economic forces that are affecting the Philippines today,” Arroyo said, referring to the “major economic slowdown in North America, a historic spike in the price of oil and a near crippling spike in the price of rice,” among others.
The President will return to the country Tuesday./DMS
No untoward incident on NPA anniversary day, says police and military
By Ronron
March 30, 2008
The 39th anniversary of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday lapsed without any reported untoward incident, the police and military declared on Sunday.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, the incidents involving communist rebels actually happened days before their anniversary.
But more are expected in the coming days, or within two weeks starting last Saturday, warned Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief for Operations Brig. Gen. Roland Detabali.
“There was no untoward incident on their anniversary. Normally, they celebrate it two weeks before or after (their anniversary day itself),” Detabali told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
“There was nothing untoward during the period of March 29, during their anniversary. The situation was okay nationwide,” echoed Bartolome in a separate phone interview yesterday.
Bartolome attributed the zero NPA atrocity rate last Saturday to the joint preparations of the PNP and the AFP.
It can be recalled that the PNP went on full alert, and the AFP on blue alert at 6pm last Friday in anticipation of offensives by the communist rebels as they celebrate their founding anniversary.
“The PNP was ready. In fact, even the AFP was also prepared to meet any eventuality. Both agencies were on their guard,” Bartolome said.
Hours before the NPA anniversary, two incidents of NPA atrocities happened separately in Camarines Sur and Compostela Valley provinces, belated reports reaching the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City showed yesterday.
The first incident happened at around 2:15 pm last Friday in Compostela Valley, resulting in the death of a barangay captain.
According to the police report, six armed rebels, led by Commanders Jinggoy and Jazzy, barged inside the residence of Barangay Captain Nelson Sam-o at Purok 9, Barangay San Jose in Monkayo town.
Sam-o and his wife were having lunch then when the guerillas, wearing camouflage military uniforms, arrived, the report said.
After forcibly dragging Sam-o, the rebels shot him at close range and went on to cart away one M16 rifle, one caliber 45 pistol, and one carbine rifle. It was learned that Samo-o is a para-military personnel.
The report said the six rebels who stormed Sam-o’s house were backed up with more than 20 others who were just stationed outside.
Four hours later, or at 6:15pm, another incident involving the NPA happened in Nabua town, Camarines Sur, resulting in the death of a suspected communist rebel, another police report said.
The report said that elements of the Philippine Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion were conducting combat patrol at Barangay Franciso of said town when they encountered around eight fully armed rebels.
Firefight lasted for about 30 minutes, resulting in the death of an unidentified rebel and the recovery from said fatality of an M16 rifle, the report said.
The report said the cadaver of the slain rebel was brought to the Bula Municipal Police Station for proper documentation.
Bartolome, meanwhile, said the PNP will maintain its full alert status nationwide even after the NPA anniversary as a matter of standard operating procedure when the President of the country leaves.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for Hongkong on Sunday afternoon to speak at an investment conference there. She will be back on Tuesday./DMS
March 30, 2008
The 39th anniversary of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday lapsed without any reported untoward incident, the police and military declared on Sunday.
According to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, the incidents involving communist rebels actually happened days before their anniversary.
But more are expected in the coming days, or within two weeks starting last Saturday, warned Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief for Operations Brig. Gen. Roland Detabali.
“There was no untoward incident on their anniversary. Normally, they celebrate it two weeks before or after (their anniversary day itself),” Detabali told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
“There was nothing untoward during the period of March 29, during their anniversary. The situation was okay nationwide,” echoed Bartolome in a separate phone interview yesterday.
Bartolome attributed the zero NPA atrocity rate last Saturday to the joint preparations of the PNP and the AFP.
It can be recalled that the PNP went on full alert, and the AFP on blue alert at 6pm last Friday in anticipation of offensives by the communist rebels as they celebrate their founding anniversary.
“The PNP was ready. In fact, even the AFP was also prepared to meet any eventuality. Both agencies were on their guard,” Bartolome said.
Hours before the NPA anniversary, two incidents of NPA atrocities happened separately in Camarines Sur and Compostela Valley provinces, belated reports reaching the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City showed yesterday.
The first incident happened at around 2:15 pm last Friday in Compostela Valley, resulting in the death of a barangay captain.
According to the police report, six armed rebels, led by Commanders Jinggoy and Jazzy, barged inside the residence of Barangay Captain Nelson Sam-o at Purok 9, Barangay San Jose in Monkayo town.
Sam-o and his wife were having lunch then when the guerillas, wearing camouflage military uniforms, arrived, the report said.
After forcibly dragging Sam-o, the rebels shot him at close range and went on to cart away one M16 rifle, one caliber 45 pistol, and one carbine rifle. It was learned that Samo-o is a para-military personnel.
The report said the six rebels who stormed Sam-o’s house were backed up with more than 20 others who were just stationed outside.
Four hours later, or at 6:15pm, another incident involving the NPA happened in Nabua town, Camarines Sur, resulting in the death of a suspected communist rebel, another police report said.
The report said that elements of the Philippine Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion were conducting combat patrol at Barangay Franciso of said town when they encountered around eight fully armed rebels.
Firefight lasted for about 30 minutes, resulting in the death of an unidentified rebel and the recovery from said fatality of an M16 rifle, the report said.
The report said the cadaver of the slain rebel was brought to the Bula Municipal Police Station for proper documentation.
Bartolome, meanwhile, said the PNP will maintain its full alert status nationwide even after the NPA anniversary as a matter of standard operating procedure when the President of the country leaves.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo left for Hongkong on Sunday afternoon to speak at an investment conference there. She will be back on Tuesday./DMS
Defense department to train soldiers as para-legal personnel
By Ronron
March 30, 2008
The Defense Department is finalizing its plan to train soldiers as para-legal personnel as part of the newly released Revised Defense Planning Guidance.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. told reporters last Friday afternoon during the Philippine Army’s 111th anniversary celebration at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City that they are eyeing next month as the start of the training activities.
“Crucial to our achievement of our goal in 2010 (to defeat insurgency) is the enhancement of the legal infrastructure and capability to conduct our operations in accordance with legal models,” Teodoro said in his speech at said affair.
“So we will have an introduction of a para-legal training program, particularly in the frontline battalions,” he added.
Teodoro said each battalion in the field should have one para-legal personnel who can “do the ground work” like “answer basic petitions” if any member of said unit is faced with legal predicament.
“At least, we can provide the proper legal advice to the units in the field… This should save us in our legal costs,” he said.
Those who can be tapped as para-legal counsels can be any of “active soldiers and the non-commissioned officers” in the battalions, said Teodoro.
Their training, particularly on “criminal and penal laws,” will last “for a few months,” to be held either at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, or in their respective unit assignments.
“Our personnel from the Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO) can actually go the field units for a pooled seminar,” Teodoro said.
The Defense chief, who is himself a lawyer, hopes that with this new program, each soldier will be conscious of any legal repercussions whenever they operate.
The military has been at the receiving end of accusations regarding extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, especially if the victims are perceived to be sympathetic with Leftist organizations or critical with the present government.
Aside from the para-legal program, the new Defense Planning Guidance, which was released the other week, also provides for “investing on our younger soldiers in terms of training and education,” reiteration on “our adherence to Defense Resource Management,” and the reiteration “on our support to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,” Teodoro said./DMS
March 30, 2008
The Defense Department is finalizing its plan to train soldiers as para-legal personnel as part of the newly released Revised Defense Planning Guidance.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. told reporters last Friday afternoon during the Philippine Army’s 111th anniversary celebration at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City that they are eyeing next month as the start of the training activities.
“Crucial to our achievement of our goal in 2010 (to defeat insurgency) is the enhancement of the legal infrastructure and capability to conduct our operations in accordance with legal models,” Teodoro said in his speech at said affair.
“So we will have an introduction of a para-legal training program, particularly in the frontline battalions,” he added.
Teodoro said each battalion in the field should have one para-legal personnel who can “do the ground work” like “answer basic petitions” if any member of said unit is faced with legal predicament.
“At least, we can provide the proper legal advice to the units in the field… This should save us in our legal costs,” he said.
Those who can be tapped as para-legal counsels can be any of “active soldiers and the non-commissioned officers” in the battalions, said Teodoro.
Their training, particularly on “criminal and penal laws,” will last “for a few months,” to be held either at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, or in their respective unit assignments.
“Our personnel from the Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAGO) can actually go the field units for a pooled seminar,” Teodoro said.
The Defense chief, who is himself a lawyer, hopes that with this new program, each soldier will be conscious of any legal repercussions whenever they operate.
The military has been at the receiving end of accusations regarding extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, especially if the victims are perceived to be sympathetic with Leftist organizations or critical with the present government.
Aside from the para-legal program, the new Defense Planning Guidance, which was released the other week, also provides for “investing on our younger soldiers in terms of training and education,” reiteration on “our adherence to Defense Resource Management,” and the reiteration “on our support to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,” Teodoro said./DMS
Friday, March 28, 2008
13 missing as boat capsizes in Davao del Sur
By Ronron
March 28, 2008
Thirteen people, including two infants and two toddlers, went missing since Wednesday after the pump boat they were riding off Sarangani province in Davao del Sur province capsized due to rough seas.
According to a report of the Region XI Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), the sea mishap happened at around 3pm of March 26, involving motorized banca “Judi Ann.” The victims remain missing as of Friday evening.
The report said the vessel, loaded with 14 persons including the operator, was sailing from Barangay Camalig to Barangay Camual, both of Sarangani Municipality, located on Sarangani Island.
The passengers of the ill-fated vessel were supposedly going to attend a wedding at Barangay Camual.
Because of big waves allegedly caused by strong winds, the pump boat capsized at the vicinity of two nautical miles off Barangay Camalig.
Of the 14 people aboard it, only one survived, identified as Ranilo Ulivo, 26, who swam his way to the shore and reported the incident to authorities.
The 13 others missing were identified as Alandro de Arce, Sr., 37, the boat operator; Judith de Arce, 37; Alandro de Arce, 18; Dianne de Arce, 16; Nene Kiawan, 55; Edna Kiawan, 39; Jeffrey Kiawan, 13; Remart Kiawan 4; Dennis Kiawan, 1; Ambert Kiawan, 11; Jennifer Galas, 21; Morjone Galas, 3; and, Jayjay Galas, eight-months-old.
The RDCC report said search and rescue attempts in the area by Coast Guard elements and local fishing boasts are occasionally hampered by big waves due to prevailing bad weather.
The RDCC said the Philippine Air Force had already been tapped to join the search and rescue operations./DMS
March 28, 2008
Thirteen people, including two infants and two toddlers, went missing since Wednesday after the pump boat they were riding off Sarangani province in Davao del Sur province capsized due to rough seas.
According to a report of the Region XI Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), the sea mishap happened at around 3pm of March 26, involving motorized banca “Judi Ann.” The victims remain missing as of Friday evening.
The report said the vessel, loaded with 14 persons including the operator, was sailing from Barangay Camalig to Barangay Camual, both of Sarangani Municipality, located on Sarangani Island.
The passengers of the ill-fated vessel were supposedly going to attend a wedding at Barangay Camual.
Because of big waves allegedly caused by strong winds, the pump boat capsized at the vicinity of two nautical miles off Barangay Camalig.
Of the 14 people aboard it, only one survived, identified as Ranilo Ulivo, 26, who swam his way to the shore and reported the incident to authorities.
The 13 others missing were identified as Alandro de Arce, Sr., 37, the boat operator; Judith de Arce, 37; Alandro de Arce, 18; Dianne de Arce, 16; Nene Kiawan, 55; Edna Kiawan, 39; Jeffrey Kiawan, 13; Remart Kiawan 4; Dennis Kiawan, 1; Ambert Kiawan, 11; Jennifer Galas, 21; Morjone Galas, 3; and, Jayjay Galas, eight-months-old.
The RDCC report said search and rescue attempts in the area by Coast Guard elements and local fishing boasts are occasionally hampered by big waves due to prevailing bad weather.
The RDCC said the Philippine Air Force had already been tapped to join the search and rescue operations./DMS
Air Force continues search for two missing pilots off Palawan
By Ronron
March 28, 2008
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has not given up in its search operations for its two pilots who remain missing after their AS-211 jet failed to be located in November 2007 while conducting maritime patrol mission over the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) off Palawan province.
PAF commander Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog told reporters Friday at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City that they remain hopeful Captains Gabino Mercado, Jr. and Bonifacio Soriano III will be found.
“Every day, we conduct search missions in the area. Unfortunately, we still haven’t found them,” Cadungog said.
Cadungog said they do not make presumptions whether or not the two are already dead, citing the seven-year legal prescription for presuming missing people as dead.
“We don’t even think of presumptions. We don’t presume them to be dead, until we reach the seventh year. That’s the legal prescription,” he explained.
Mercado and Soriano were flying an AS-211 last November 26, 2007 over the Spratly’s to assist in the search operations for possible survivors of a sunken fishing vessel in the area.
But unlike their buddy AS-211, they failed to return to Puerto Princesa City in mainland Palawan.
Cadungog assured that they continue to attend to the needs of the families of Mercado and Soriano “in these trying times.”
“The commanders of those particular pilots are regularly attending to the needs and requirements of their families,” he said./DMS
March 28, 2008
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has not given up in its search operations for its two pilots who remain missing after their AS-211 jet failed to be located in November 2007 while conducting maritime patrol mission over the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) off Palawan province.
PAF commander Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog told reporters Friday at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City that they remain hopeful Captains Gabino Mercado, Jr. and Bonifacio Soriano III will be found.
“Every day, we conduct search missions in the area. Unfortunately, we still haven’t found them,” Cadungog said.
Cadungog said they do not make presumptions whether or not the two are already dead, citing the seven-year legal prescription for presuming missing people as dead.
“We don’t even think of presumptions. We don’t presume them to be dead, until we reach the seventh year. That’s the legal prescription,” he explained.
Mercado and Soriano were flying an AS-211 last November 26, 2007 over the Spratly’s to assist in the search operations for possible survivors of a sunken fishing vessel in the area.
But unlike their buddy AS-211, they failed to return to Puerto Princesa City in mainland Palawan.
Cadungog assured that they continue to attend to the needs of the families of Mercado and Soriano “in these trying times.”
“The commanders of those particular pilots are regularly attending to the needs and requirements of their families,” he said./DMS
Air Force chief echoes Esperon and Vice Navy chief’s admission of weak military power to protect Spratly’s
By Ronron
March 28, 2008
Another ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday admitted that its force may not be as strong as of other countries that are claiming ownership in part or in whole over the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) or the Spratly’s in the South China Sea off Palawan province.
Like AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. and Philippine Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino, Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog said yesterday that the Philippine military can only boast of its human resources, particularly their determination to fight, in terms of defending Philippine territory.
“Warm bodies. If we die, we die. That’s how simple our mission is,” Cadungog said when asked by reporters at Villamor Airbase, the PAF headquarters, in Pasay City on how they can defend Spratly’s.
The AFP has effectively lost its capability to address external threats when it decommissioned its F5 fighter planes in October 2005.
At present, the organization only banks on its AS-211 as alternative to the F5.
The capability to defend Spratly’s was revived recently after the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) over said area between the Philippines, Vietnam and China was exposed.
The oil-rich and marine life-abundant KIG is a subject of contention by Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
“While it has already been pronounced by the chief of staff that it is really difficult to defend (the Spratly’s), it’s very near impossible that we can claim sovereignty. But as far as we are concerned, being truly Filipino and understanding what is sovereignty, we offer our service and our lives over that part of our country,” Cadungog said.
“Whether we like it or not, if they are saying that we have a problem there against another country – probably getting into our territory or intruding to our own occupied lands, then of course, we have to defend. That’s just how it is, no matter how lacking we are in our defense capabilities,” he added.
But Cadungog disclosed that the PAF is not stopping in its effort to improve its fleet for internal defense.
He said that in July of this year, 15 units of T41 trainer aircraft from South Korea will arrive in the country.
“This will be a big help to our training capabilities,” Cadungog said of the donation.
In the first quarter next year, 18 units of SF-260 (Marquetti) will also be acquired by PAF, worth P622 million, from Italy.
Cadungog said this will be used in their pilots’ “advance training.”/DMS
March 28, 2008
Another ranking official of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday admitted that its force may not be as strong as of other countries that are claiming ownership in part or in whole over the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) or the Spratly’s in the South China Sea off Palawan province.
Like AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. and Philippine Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Amable Tolentino, Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog said yesterday that the Philippine military can only boast of its human resources, particularly their determination to fight, in terms of defending Philippine territory.
“Warm bodies. If we die, we die. That’s how simple our mission is,” Cadungog said when asked by reporters at Villamor Airbase, the PAF headquarters, in Pasay City on how they can defend Spratly’s.
The AFP has effectively lost its capability to address external threats when it decommissioned its F5 fighter planes in October 2005.
At present, the organization only banks on its AS-211 as alternative to the F5.
The capability to defend Spratly’s was revived recently after the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) over said area between the Philippines, Vietnam and China was exposed.
The oil-rich and marine life-abundant KIG is a subject of contention by Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
“While it has already been pronounced by the chief of staff that it is really difficult to defend (the Spratly’s), it’s very near impossible that we can claim sovereignty. But as far as we are concerned, being truly Filipino and understanding what is sovereignty, we offer our service and our lives over that part of our country,” Cadungog said.
“Whether we like it or not, if they are saying that we have a problem there against another country – probably getting into our territory or intruding to our own occupied lands, then of course, we have to defend. That’s just how it is, no matter how lacking we are in our defense capabilities,” he added.
But Cadungog disclosed that the PAF is not stopping in its effort to improve its fleet for internal defense.
He said that in July of this year, 15 units of T41 trainer aircraft from South Korea will arrive in the country.
“This will be a big help to our training capabilities,” Cadungog said of the donation.
In the first quarter next year, 18 units of SF-260 (Marquetti) will also be acquired by PAF, worth P622 million, from Italy.
Cadungog said this will be used in their pilots’ “advance training.”/DMS
PNP goes on full alert, AFP on heightened alert for NPA anniversary
By Ronron
March 28, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) goes on full alert while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is on heightened alert Friday night in preparation for the 39th anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday.
PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said the highest alert level of all police forces nationwide takes effect 6pm. The same goes for the alert level of the AFP nationwide, said Brig. Gen. Roland Detabali, the military’s Deputy Chief for Operations.
“We are on alert because normally, they (NPA) conduct intensified operations on their anniversary,” Detabali said in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
“Historically, the NPA has been known to launch armed hostilities and tactical offensives against soft targets and other targets of opportunity as their way of commemorating their anniversary,” PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said in a separate statement.
While there is no direct threat of an attack by the NPA, PNP Director for Operations Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, Jr., in a memorandum circulated among all regional offices and national support units, said: “There is a possibility that the NPA might launch terrorist acts against less secure police and military outposts, and vulnerable government installations including some business establishments and other soft targets.”
Putting the entire police force on the highest alert goes along with instructions for them to “implement counter-measures and precautionary plans, intensify intelligence operations to preempt and anticipate terrorist actions, establish listening posts, and mobilize Barangay Information Networks.”
Under a full alert status, all policemen are expected to be on duty, while under a heightened alert level, only 50 percent are expected to be in camps.
The NPA’s political arm, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), said yesterday in a statement that it will mark its 39th anniversary with a celebration for their various successful operations in the last year.
“Even before the current NPA anniversary, we were already able to launch more than 500 major and minor tactical offensives against government forces,” the CPP said.
“It has been able to increase the number of NPA units as a result of the seizure of weapons from the enemy and the progress of mass work. It has been able to maintain 120-130 guerilla fronts and to expand and upgrade most of them,” it added.
The CPP said “it is now in a position to increase the number of guerilla fronts.”
“We can reap victories by continuing to seize the initiative and launching far more tactical offensives against the enemy last year,” it said./DMS
March 28, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) goes on full alert while the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is on heightened alert Friday night in preparation for the 39th anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA) on Saturday.
PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said the highest alert level of all police forces nationwide takes effect 6pm. The same goes for the alert level of the AFP nationwide, said Brig. Gen. Roland Detabali, the military’s Deputy Chief for Operations.
“We are on alert because normally, they (NPA) conduct intensified operations on their anniversary,” Detabali said in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
“Historically, the NPA has been known to launch armed hostilities and tactical offensives against soft targets and other targets of opportunity as their way of commemorating their anniversary,” PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said in a separate statement.
While there is no direct threat of an attack by the NPA, PNP Director for Operations Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio, Jr., in a memorandum circulated among all regional offices and national support units, said: “There is a possibility that the NPA might launch terrorist acts against less secure police and military outposts, and vulnerable government installations including some business establishments and other soft targets.”
Putting the entire police force on the highest alert goes along with instructions for them to “implement counter-measures and precautionary plans, intensify intelligence operations to preempt and anticipate terrorist actions, establish listening posts, and mobilize Barangay Information Networks.”
Under a full alert status, all policemen are expected to be on duty, while under a heightened alert level, only 50 percent are expected to be in camps.
The NPA’s political arm, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), said yesterday in a statement that it will mark its 39th anniversary with a celebration for their various successful operations in the last year.
“Even before the current NPA anniversary, we were already able to launch more than 500 major and minor tactical offensives against government forces,” the CPP said.
“It has been able to increase the number of NPA units as a result of the seizure of weapons from the enemy and the progress of mass work. It has been able to maintain 120-130 guerilla fronts and to expand and upgrade most of them,” it added.
The CPP said “it is now in a position to increase the number of guerilla fronts.”
“We can reap victories by continuing to seize the initiative and launching far more tactical offensives against the enemy last year,” it said./DMS
AFP bares plan to improve runway at Pag-asa Island
By Ronron
March 28, 2008
An Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official bared on Friday a plan to improve the runway of Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) in Palawan province.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog told reporters at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City that the plan would have started last February had the private contractor not backed out.
Cadungog said the project to “harden the surface” of the runway of the Rancudo Airfield, which is worth P31 million, was awarded to a private firm, which he refuses to identify.
“Unfortunately, even before the contractor – who already signed the contract – they can perform the work, they backed out and claim that they cannot do it unless the amount to 100-something-million-pesos. So, that’s unfair to us,” Cadungog said.
Cadungog said the Filipino firm actually paid already a P3.1-million performance bond for the project, but was forfeited because of its backing out.
Because of the setback, Cadungog said the hauling of the materials will have to start only next month from Palawan mainland, courtesy of Philippine Navy ships, “if weather permits.”
He said that the original plan is to complete the project in six months.
Cadungog said the repair will be carried out by soldiers from the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and those stationed at Pag-asa Island.
Asked what benefit will this repair give to the AFP, Cadungog said: “We can avoid unsafe landing condition for our C130.”
Pressed if this is strengthening the Philippine’s position in the Spratly’s, he said: “Not necessarily strengthening, but providing our presence.”
The Air Force chief denied that the project is in violation of the existing Code of Conduct among claimant countries, saying that “we are the legitimate claimant.”
“They (other claimant territories) can’t complain about it,” he said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. echoed the same statement.
“It’s just an improvement of facilities and infrastructure that are existing already so we don’t see it as an aggravating factor,” Teodoro told reporters in a separate interview at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City later in the day.
Meanwhile, Cadungog said the Air Force leadership is now thinking of possible penalties to the private firm that backed out from the project, such as blacklisting it in future projects.
Aside from the runway, Cadungog said they also plan to refurbish the billeting barracks of their troops at Pag-asa Island.
Teodoro said these improvements are “essential for those who inhibit the island.”
There are about 30 military elements on the island, coming from the Air Force, Navy and Army.
“Definitely, we will improve their quarters. I was informed that the Air Force billeting there is already dilapidated so I immediately ordered for an estimate of the building materials… This is one thing that I cannot afford to neglect,” Cadungog said.
Barangay Pag-asa is part of the oil-rich and marine life-abundant KIG that is a subject of contention by Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. But Kalayaan has since been a municipality of Palawan in1978 when then President Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree 1956.
The issue on the Spratly’s was revived recently after the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) in the area between the Philippines, Vietnam and China was exposed./DMS
March 28, 2008
An Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official bared on Friday a plan to improve the runway of Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Group of Islands (KIG) in Palawan province.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog told reporters at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City that the plan would have started last February had the private contractor not backed out.
Cadungog said the project to “harden the surface” of the runway of the Rancudo Airfield, which is worth P31 million, was awarded to a private firm, which he refuses to identify.
“Unfortunately, even before the contractor – who already signed the contract – they can perform the work, they backed out and claim that they cannot do it unless the amount to 100-something-million-pesos. So, that’s unfair to us,” Cadungog said.
Cadungog said the Filipino firm actually paid already a P3.1-million performance bond for the project, but was forfeited because of its backing out.
Because of the setback, Cadungog said the hauling of the materials will have to start only next month from Palawan mainland, courtesy of Philippine Navy ships, “if weather permits.”
He said that the original plan is to complete the project in six months.
Cadungog said the repair will be carried out by soldiers from the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and those stationed at Pag-asa Island.
Asked what benefit will this repair give to the AFP, Cadungog said: “We can avoid unsafe landing condition for our C130.”
Pressed if this is strengthening the Philippine’s position in the Spratly’s, he said: “Not necessarily strengthening, but providing our presence.”
The Air Force chief denied that the project is in violation of the existing Code of Conduct among claimant countries, saying that “we are the legitimate claimant.”
“They (other claimant territories) can’t complain about it,” he said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. echoed the same statement.
“It’s just an improvement of facilities and infrastructure that are existing already so we don’t see it as an aggravating factor,” Teodoro told reporters in a separate interview at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City later in the day.
Meanwhile, Cadungog said the Air Force leadership is now thinking of possible penalties to the private firm that backed out from the project, such as blacklisting it in future projects.
Aside from the runway, Cadungog said they also plan to refurbish the billeting barracks of their troops at Pag-asa Island.
Teodoro said these improvements are “essential for those who inhibit the island.”
There are about 30 military elements on the island, coming from the Air Force, Navy and Army.
“Definitely, we will improve their quarters. I was informed that the Air Force billeting there is already dilapidated so I immediately ordered for an estimate of the building materials… This is one thing that I cannot afford to neglect,” Cadungog said.
Barangay Pag-asa is part of the oil-rich and marine life-abundant KIG that is a subject of contention by Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. But Kalayaan has since been a municipality of Palawan in1978 when then President Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree 1956.
The issue on the Spratly’s was revived recently after the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) in the area between the Philippines, Vietnam and China was exposed./DMS
RP to rely on US FBI test on alleged remains of Dulmatin
By Ronron
March 26, 2008
Philippine authorities are not yet losing hope that they could confirm the death of Indonesian bomber through the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on tissue samples from a cadaver recovered in Tawi-tawi last February.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters Wednesday that while the PNP Crime Laboratory failed to generate DNA profile from the same tissue samples due to their not-so-modern machine, the US has yet to release the result of the same analysis they made.
“That is just as far as the testing of the PNP Crime Laboratory. But let us bear in mind that the FBI has taken samples and brought them to their facilities for DNA testing,” Razon said.
Razon said the US FBI took tissue samples at the same time that the PNP Crime Laboratory did after the body was exhumed on February 18 in Barangay Balimbing, Panglima Sugala town.
The body was said to belong to a rebel who died in an encounter against Marine troopers last January 31 in the said town. The bandits were believed to be Abu Sayyaf elements who were responsible for the abduction attempt and murder of Fr. Rey Roda, head of the Notre Dame School in said province.
Razon said he is hopeful that there will be results from the US FBI because the latter uses mitochondrial machine.
He said there is no longer a similar test done at the Australian Federal Police as “due respect to the FBI study.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said in a separate interview that he hopes to get a feedback on the study from United States Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney who is now in the United States and from officials of the US Pacific Command.
Esperon said that if the test turns negative, “I’m happy to say that it’s one terrorist less that we are hunting and fighting.”
“If it’s not Dulmatin, then we will go on looking for Dulmatin,” he said.
Dulmatin is wanted for his alleged involvement in the bombings in Bali, Indonesia a few years back, killing more than a hundred persons.
The US has offered a $10-million reward to those who could provide information that would lead to Dulmatin’s neutralization.
Dulmatin, along with fellow Indonesian bomber Umar Pater, reportedly entered the Philippines in 2003./DMS
March 26, 2008
Philippine authorities are not yet losing hope that they could confirm the death of Indonesian bomber through the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on tissue samples from a cadaver recovered in Tawi-tawi last February.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters Wednesday that while the PNP Crime Laboratory failed to generate DNA profile from the same tissue samples due to their not-so-modern machine, the US has yet to release the result of the same analysis they made.
“That is just as far as the testing of the PNP Crime Laboratory. But let us bear in mind that the FBI has taken samples and brought them to their facilities for DNA testing,” Razon said.
Razon said the US FBI took tissue samples at the same time that the PNP Crime Laboratory did after the body was exhumed on February 18 in Barangay Balimbing, Panglima Sugala town.
The body was said to belong to a rebel who died in an encounter against Marine troopers last January 31 in the said town. The bandits were believed to be Abu Sayyaf elements who were responsible for the abduction attempt and murder of Fr. Rey Roda, head of the Notre Dame School in said province.
Razon said he is hopeful that there will be results from the US FBI because the latter uses mitochondrial machine.
He said there is no longer a similar test done at the Australian Federal Police as “due respect to the FBI study.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said in a separate interview that he hopes to get a feedback on the study from United States Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney who is now in the United States and from officials of the US Pacific Command.
Esperon said that if the test turns negative, “I’m happy to say that it’s one terrorist less that we are hunting and fighting.”
“If it’s not Dulmatin, then we will go on looking for Dulmatin,” he said.
Dulmatin is wanted for his alleged involvement in the bombings in Bali, Indonesia a few years back, killing more than a hundred persons.
The US has offered a $10-million reward to those who could provide information that would lead to Dulmatin’s neutralization.
Dulmatin, along with fellow Indonesian bomber Umar Pater, reportedly entered the Philippines in 2003./DMS
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Active and ex-cops killed, another one hurt in Cavite shootout
By Ronron
March 27, 2008
An active and a former cop were killed while another one was hurt in a shootout incident Wednesday afternoon in Cavite province, an official said Thursday.
Sr. Supt. Fidel Posadas, provincial police chief, said the incident happened starting 4:30 pm of March 26 in Sitio Lingat, Barangay Litlit, Silang town.
Posadas said elements of the Silang Municipal Police Station, backed by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF), were responding to a shooting incident earlier that afternoon when they came under fire.
According to Posadas, a shooting incident first happened at said barangay before 4:30 pm, involving brothers Julian and Nick Lauriles as suspects.
The brothers allegedly shot dead a certain Avelino Ruiz, who is a caretaker of a land that is being claimed by the Lauriles family.
Posadas said Julian is a former police officer, with a rank of PO3, who was dismissed from the service due to a grave offense.
When police received a report about the killing of Ruiz, personnel from Silang PNP and the SAF rushed to the scene to respond.
“But the troops were ambushed by the Lauriles brothers as they were approaching their houses. So our troops fired back,” Posadas said.
He said the Lauriles brothers were armed with long firearms like M16 and carbines.
The firefight left Julian and PO2 Jimmy Tobias of the SAF killed, and PO1 Abelardo Maala of the Silang PNP wounded.
Nick, unfortunately, managed to escape, said Posadas. But manhunt operation against him is ongoing./DMS
March 27, 2008
An active and a former cop were killed while another one was hurt in a shootout incident Wednesday afternoon in Cavite province, an official said Thursday.
Sr. Supt. Fidel Posadas, provincial police chief, said the incident happened starting 4:30 pm of March 26 in Sitio Lingat, Barangay Litlit, Silang town.
Posadas said elements of the Silang Municipal Police Station, backed by elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF), were responding to a shooting incident earlier that afternoon when they came under fire.
According to Posadas, a shooting incident first happened at said barangay before 4:30 pm, involving brothers Julian and Nick Lauriles as suspects.
The brothers allegedly shot dead a certain Avelino Ruiz, who is a caretaker of a land that is being claimed by the Lauriles family.
Posadas said Julian is a former police officer, with a rank of PO3, who was dismissed from the service due to a grave offense.
When police received a report about the killing of Ruiz, personnel from Silang PNP and the SAF rushed to the scene to respond.
“But the troops were ambushed by the Lauriles brothers as they were approaching their houses. So our troops fired back,” Posadas said.
He said the Lauriles brothers were armed with long firearms like M16 and carbines.
The firefight left Julian and PO2 Jimmy Tobias of the SAF killed, and PO1 Abelardo Maala of the Silang PNP wounded.
Nick, unfortunately, managed to escape, said Posadas. But manhunt operation against him is ongoing./DMS
Arroyo assured of non-revival of “Hello Garcia” scandal by incoming AFP chief
By Ronron
March 27, 2008
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can continue sleeping soundly even after her perceived most loyal officer, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. finally bows down from the service on May 9.
This as Esperon’s successor as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, vowed not to release to the public the controversial Mayuga Report on the alleged involvement of some officers, including Esperon, in the alleged electoral fraud in 2004.
“If it’s not released now, then what’s the reason for me to do it,” Yano told Camp Aguinaldo reporters in a recent interview.
Only portions of the Mayuga Report were revealed in public, which mainly stated that there was lack in evidence to prove that any of the four senior military officers implicated in the alleged electoral fraud are liable.
The investigation was led by former AFP Inspector General Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, starting July 2005, on orders of then AFP chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu.
Those accused of taking part in the alleged electoral fraud to ensure the victory of Arroyo over her closest rival, the late Fernando Poe, Jr., are Esperon, retired Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, retired Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, and retired Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon.
Their names cropped up after those were heard in the so-called “Hello Garci tapes,” which bore alleged wiretapped conversations of Arroyo and former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
The Mayuga Report was submitted to then Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Jr. Cruz has resigned from the Arroyo cabinet in November 2006.
Yano said the alleged illegitimacy of Arroyo as President due to the “Hello Garci” scandal is just a perception, and not a matter of fact.
“When you say legitimacy of the President, there are processes. She was declared (as President by Congress), so what other process do you think would strengthen or reinforce that legitimacy?” he said.
He said the matter of even releasing or not in public the Mayuga Report is “irrelevant” because “there are processes” to determine the legitimacy of the Arroyo leadership.
“That (releasing the Mayuga Report) is not part of the process,” said Yano.
Yano will have about 13 months to serve as AFP chief of staff, starting May 9 this year until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 in June next year.
The alleged 2004 electoral fraud issue has been one of the many causes of attempted coups against the Arroyo government in the last few years./DMS
March 27, 2008
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo can continue sleeping soundly even after her perceived most loyal officer, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. finally bows down from the service on May 9.
This as Esperon’s successor as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, vowed not to release to the public the controversial Mayuga Report on the alleged involvement of some officers, including Esperon, in the alleged electoral fraud in 2004.
“If it’s not released now, then what’s the reason for me to do it,” Yano told Camp Aguinaldo reporters in a recent interview.
Only portions of the Mayuga Report were revealed in public, which mainly stated that there was lack in evidence to prove that any of the four senior military officers implicated in the alleged electoral fraud are liable.
The investigation was led by former AFP Inspector General Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, starting July 2005, on orders of then AFP chief of staff Gen. Efren Abu.
Those accused of taking part in the alleged electoral fraud to ensure the victory of Arroyo over her closest rival, the late Fernando Poe, Jr., are Esperon, retired Lt. Gen. Roy Kyamko, retired Brig. Gen. Francisco Gudani, and retired Maj. Gen. Gabriel Habacon.
Their names cropped up after those were heard in the so-called “Hello Garci tapes,” which bore alleged wiretapped conversations of Arroyo and former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.
The Mayuga Report was submitted to then Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz, Jr. Cruz has resigned from the Arroyo cabinet in November 2006.
Yano said the alleged illegitimacy of Arroyo as President due to the “Hello Garci” scandal is just a perception, and not a matter of fact.
“When you say legitimacy of the President, there are processes. She was declared (as President by Congress), so what other process do you think would strengthen or reinforce that legitimacy?” he said.
He said the matter of even releasing or not in public the Mayuga Report is “irrelevant” because “there are processes” to determine the legitimacy of the Arroyo leadership.
“That (releasing the Mayuga Report) is not part of the process,” said Yano.
Yano will have about 13 months to serve as AFP chief of staff, starting May 9 this year until he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 in June next year.
The alleged 2004 electoral fraud issue has been one of the many causes of attempted coups against the Arroyo government in the last few years./DMS
154 cadets graduate from PNPA
By Ronron
March 27, 2008
The Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) produced another batch of graduates on Thursday with 154 cadets expected to join the PNP, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the guest of honor of the graduation rites held at the PNPA compound in Silang, Cavite. The event started 10am.
In her speech, Arroyo told the new junior officers of the PNP, BJMP and BFP to veer away from politics.
“There are certain civil rights that you have to give up and that is the right to speak politically. That is part of your discipline,” Arroyo told the graduates.
In response, class valedictorian Clent Ven Inciso said: “To my classmates, let us show them that we are worthy to be called public servants and defenders of democracy. The best way to edify our group is to live by example.”
Inciso, 21, of Southern Leyte province, is one of the 127 graduates who opted to join the PNP. The other 20 will join the BJMP and the remaining seven will be with the BFP.
As Valedictorian of the class, Inciso received the Presidential Kampilan Award from Arroyo.
In an interview on Wednesday at Camp Crame, Inciso had appealed to the public to support Arroyo until she finishes her term, instead of asking her to step down.
In attendance at the graduation rites are Vice President Noli de Castro, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Philippine Public Safety College President Margarita Cojuangco./DMS
March 27, 2008
The Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) produced another batch of graduates on Thursday with 154 cadets expected to join the PNP, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the guest of honor of the graduation rites held at the PNPA compound in Silang, Cavite. The event started 10am.
In her speech, Arroyo told the new junior officers of the PNP, BJMP and BFP to veer away from politics.
“There are certain civil rights that you have to give up and that is the right to speak politically. That is part of your discipline,” Arroyo told the graduates.
In response, class valedictorian Clent Ven Inciso said: “To my classmates, let us show them that we are worthy to be called public servants and defenders of democracy. The best way to edify our group is to live by example.”
Inciso, 21, of Southern Leyte province, is one of the 127 graduates who opted to join the PNP. The other 20 will join the BJMP and the remaining seven will be with the BFP.
As Valedictorian of the class, Inciso received the Presidential Kampilan Award from Arroyo.
In an interview on Wednesday at Camp Crame, Inciso had appealed to the public to support Arroyo until she finishes her term, instead of asking her to step down.
In attendance at the graduation rites are Vice President Noli de Castro, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Philippine Public Safety College President Margarita Cojuangco./DMS
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
PNP takes in 127 new graduates of PNPA
By Ronron
March 26, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed on Wednesday the 127 out of the 154 graduates of the PNP Academy (PNPA) this year.
The 127, consisting of 27 females and 100 males, have decided to join the PNP organization while the rest are with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. hosted yesterday the traditional service lunch at Camp Crame for the PNPA graduates who opted to enter the service, a day before their graduation at the PNPA compound in Silang, Cavite.
Razon said the new members of the PNP officers’ corps will be assigned to the Regional Mobile Groups (RMG) in the mountains so they can be oriented to the actual problem of insurgency and terrorism.
Razon said they can start to be deployed in early June after enjoying a 30-day break and 30-day training at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
Upon graduation, Razon said the 127 members of the “Oman-Silang” Class of 2008 (New Breed of Warriors) will have the rank of Inspector. Each of them will also be entitled to the monthly salary of P21,876.38.
Razon urged the graduates to always remain professional by adhering to their Constitutional mandate.
“We expect them to be professional officers, respect the law, uphold the law, especially the Constitution,” he said.
“You may now consider yourselves the younger brothers and sisters of Mamang Pulis and Aleng Pulis who will help the PNP family bring back the old glory of the police force,” he added./DMS
March 26, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed on Wednesday the 127 out of the 154 graduates of the PNP Academy (PNPA) this year.
The 127, consisting of 27 females and 100 males, have decided to join the PNP organization while the rest are with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. hosted yesterday the traditional service lunch at Camp Crame for the PNPA graduates who opted to enter the service, a day before their graduation at the PNPA compound in Silang, Cavite.
Razon said the new members of the PNP officers’ corps will be assigned to the Regional Mobile Groups (RMG) in the mountains so they can be oriented to the actual problem of insurgency and terrorism.
Razon said they can start to be deployed in early June after enjoying a 30-day break and 30-day training at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.
Upon graduation, Razon said the 127 members of the “Oman-Silang” Class of 2008 (New Breed of Warriors) will have the rank of Inspector. Each of them will also be entitled to the monthly salary of P21,876.38.
Razon urged the graduates to always remain professional by adhering to their Constitutional mandate.
“We expect them to be professional officers, respect the law, uphold the law, especially the Constitution,” he said.
“You may now consider yourselves the younger brothers and sisters of Mamang Pulis and Aleng Pulis who will help the PNP family bring back the old glory of the police force,” he added./DMS
RP to rely on US FBI test on alleged remains of Dulmatin
By Ronron
March 26, 2008
Philippine authorities are not yet losing hope that they could confirm the death of Indonesian bomber through the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on tissue samples from a cadaver recovered in Tawi-tawi last February.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters Wednesday that while the PNP Crime Laboratory failed to generate DNA profile from the same tissue samples due to their not-so-modern machine, the US has yet to release the result of the same analysis they made.
“That is just as far as the testing of the PNP Crime Laboratory. But let us bear in mind that the FBI has taken samples and brought them to their facilities for DNA testing,” Razon said.
Razon said the US FBI took tissue samples at the same time that the PNP Crime Laboratory did after the body was exhumed on February 18 in Barangay Balimbing, Panglima Sugala town.
The body was said to belong to a rebel who died in an encounter against Marine troopers last January 31 in the said town. The bandits were believed to be Abu Sayyaf elements who were responsible for the abduction attempt and murder of Fr. Rey Roda, head of the Notre Dame School in said province.
Razon said he is hopeful that there will be results from the US FBI because the latter uses mitochondrial machine.
He said there is no longer a similar test done at the Australian Federal Police as “due respect to the FBI study.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said in a separate interview that he hopes to get a feedback on the study from United States Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney who is now in the United States and from officials of the US Pacific Command.
Esperon said that if the test turns negative, “I’m happy to say that it’s one terrorist less that we are hunting and fighting.”
“If it’s not Dulmatin, then we will go on looking for Dulmatin,” he said.
Dulmatin is wanted for his alleged involvement in the bombings in Bali, Indonesia a few years back, killing more than a hundred persons.
The US has offered a $10-million reward to those who could provide information that would lead to Dulmatin’s neutralization.
Dulmatin, along with fellow Indonesian bomber Umar Pater, reportedly entered the Philippines in 2003./DMS
March 26, 2008
Philippine authorities are not yet losing hope that they could confirm the death of Indonesian bomber through the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) test conducted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on tissue samples from a cadaver recovered in Tawi-tawi last February.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters Wednesday that while the PNP Crime Laboratory failed to generate DNA profile from the same tissue samples due to their not-so-modern machine, the US has yet to release the result of the same analysis they made.
“That is just as far as the testing of the PNP Crime Laboratory. But let us bear in mind that the FBI has taken samples and brought them to their facilities for DNA testing,” Razon said.
Razon said the US FBI took tissue samples at the same time that the PNP Crime Laboratory did after the body was exhumed on February 18 in Barangay Balimbing, Panglima Sugala town.
The body was said to belong to a rebel who died in an encounter against Marine troopers last January 31 in the said town. The bandits were believed to be Abu Sayyaf elements who were responsible for the abduction attempt and murder of Fr. Rey Roda, head of the Notre Dame School in said province.
Razon said he is hopeful that there will be results from the US FBI because the latter uses mitochondrial machine.
He said there is no longer a similar test done at the Australian Federal Police as “due respect to the FBI study.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said in a separate interview that he hopes to get a feedback on the study from United States Ambassador to Manila Kristie Kenney who is now in the United States and from officials of the US Pacific Command.
Esperon said that if the test turns negative, “I’m happy to say that it’s one terrorist less that we are hunting and fighting.”
“If it’s not Dulmatin, then we will go on looking for Dulmatin,” he said.
Dulmatin is wanted for his alleged involvement in the bombings in Bali, Indonesia a few years back, killing more than a hundred persons.
The US has offered a $10-million reward to those who could provide information that would lead to Dulmatin’s neutralization.
Dulmatin, along with fellow Indonesian bomber Umar Pater, reportedly entered the Philippines in 2003./DMS
PNP plans to hire civilian personnel to replace police guards, technicians, mechanics and band players
By Ronron
March 26, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) intends to replace its personnel who are acting now as guards inside camps, technicians, mechanics and band players with civilian personnel.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said they discussed the plan in a meeting Wednesday morning among top-level officials of the organization so as to maximize the utilization of their personnel for their anti-criminality campaign.
“We will do this so we can download these personnel to the streets and the police stations and precincts,” Razon told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame.
“Hopefully, we could do this (before I retire in September) so we could push the human resources to the field,” he added.
Razon said they will implement said plan at Camp Crame, the PNP main headquarters, and in all regional offices in the country.
The PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) is still trying to find out how many police personnel are being used as guards, technicians, mechanics and band players as of now.
But in Camp Crame alone, it is estimated that 100 personnel are acting as guards and traffic guides, Razon said.
Asked if the new plan would have security implications to the camps, Razon said: “I don’t think there will be implications to the security in the camps.”
“We will make sure that we will get the agencies that are reputable,” he added.
Razon had vowed when he stepped in as PNP chief on October 1, 2007 to download 90 percent of the entire police force to the streets and stations to better address the criminality problem./DMS
March 26, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) intends to replace its personnel who are acting now as guards inside camps, technicians, mechanics and band players with civilian personnel.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said they discussed the plan in a meeting Wednesday morning among top-level officials of the organization so as to maximize the utilization of their personnel for their anti-criminality campaign.
“We will do this so we can download these personnel to the streets and the police stations and precincts,” Razon told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame.
“Hopefully, we could do this (before I retire in September) so we could push the human resources to the field,” he added.
Razon said they will implement said plan at Camp Crame, the PNP main headquarters, and in all regional offices in the country.
The PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM) is still trying to find out how many police personnel are being used as guards, technicians, mechanics and band players as of now.
But in Camp Crame alone, it is estimated that 100 personnel are acting as guards and traffic guides, Razon said.
Asked if the new plan would have security implications to the camps, Razon said: “I don’t think there will be implications to the security in the camps.”
“We will make sure that we will get the agencies that are reputable,” he added.
Razon had vowed when he stepped in as PNP chief on October 1, 2007 to download 90 percent of the entire police force to the streets and stations to better address the criminality problem./DMS
Two soldiers, one rebel killed in clash in Abra
By Ronron
March 26, 2008
Two government soldiers and one suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter last Monday in Abra province ahead of the 39th anniversary of the armed communist group on March 29, the police and military said Wednesday.
According to a police report at Camp Crame,, the incident happened at around 10:15 last March 24 in Sitio Pananuman, Barangay Tubtuba in the municipality of Tubo.
The report said the government troops belong to two platoons from the Charlie Company of the Philippine Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion, while the suspected insurgents number about five only.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) commander Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang said the place is believed to be an encampment of the rebel group.
The police report said the firefight lasted for five minutes until some of the rebels escaped, leaving their camp to the control of the government forces.
Maclang said two soldiers and one rebel were killed, while six others soldiers were hurt after the exchange of gunfire.
One of the slain soldiers was identified in the police report as Private First Class Junior dela Cruz.
Maclang said the government troops also recovered two M16 rifles, two Garand rifles, two claymore mines, and 550 rounds of ammunition for Caliber 30 that were left behind by the rebels.
Meawhile, in Barangay Dibacung, Casiguran, Aurora, suspected NPA elements lobbed two grenades at 10pm of the same day inside the Bravo Company Command Post of the Philippine Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion, Maclang said.
He said the incident left two enlisted personnel injured. They were brought to the Casiguran District Hospital for treatment.
The 5,760-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for 39 years already on March 29.
The Arroyo government vows to crush the movement by 2010./DMS
March 26, 2008
Two government soldiers and one suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter last Monday in Abra province ahead of the 39th anniversary of the armed communist group on March 29, the police and military said Wednesday.
According to a police report at Camp Crame,, the incident happened at around 10:15 last March 24 in Sitio Pananuman, Barangay Tubtuba in the municipality of Tubo.
The report said the government troops belong to two platoons from the Charlie Company of the Philippine Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion, while the suspected insurgents number about five only.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) commander Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang said the place is believed to be an encampment of the rebel group.
The police report said the firefight lasted for five minutes until some of the rebels escaped, leaving their camp to the control of the government forces.
Maclang said two soldiers and one rebel were killed, while six others soldiers were hurt after the exchange of gunfire.
One of the slain soldiers was identified in the police report as Private First Class Junior dela Cruz.
Maclang said the government troops also recovered two M16 rifles, two Garand rifles, two claymore mines, and 550 rounds of ammunition for Caliber 30 that were left behind by the rebels.
Meawhile, in Barangay Dibacung, Casiguran, Aurora, suspected NPA elements lobbed two grenades at 10pm of the same day inside the Bravo Company Command Post of the Philippine Army’s 69th Infantry Battalion, Maclang said.
He said the incident left two enlisted personnel injured. They were brought to the Casiguran District Hospital for treatment.
The 5,760-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for 39 years already on March 29.
The Arroyo government vows to crush the movement by 2010./DMS
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Manila police precinct strafed
By Ronron
March 25, 2008
A police precinct in Manila City was strafed before dawn Tuesday by an unidentified gunman, damaging its glass door, an official said.
Manila Police District (MPD) Station 8 commander Supt. Jimmy Tiu said the Palanca Community Precinct of his unit came under fire at around 3:10 am yesterday while there were two policemen inside.
Tiu said the suspect used a suspected caliber 9mm pistol in the attack, hitting twice the glass door of the precinct.
Fortunately, none between PO2 Arthur Fortes and PO1 Ismael Nor who were both inside, were hurt, he said.
“Our assessment is that was more of a scare tactic by criminals in the Islamic Center who are being affected by our continuous campaign against criminality like illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms,” Tiu said.
“But this just challenges us more to do our job, instead of getting scared,” he added.
Tiu said Fortes and Nor fired their guns after the attack, but it was more of to drive off the suspect. “They fired their guns in the upward direction,” he said.
Tiu said that at that time, there were four policemen on duty. The two others, however, were on patrol when the incident happened.
He said some policemen from the station headquarters were immediately deployed to the precinct after the incident for reinforcement purposes./DMS
March 25, 2008
A police precinct in Manila City was strafed before dawn Tuesday by an unidentified gunman, damaging its glass door, an official said.
Manila Police District (MPD) Station 8 commander Supt. Jimmy Tiu said the Palanca Community Precinct of his unit came under fire at around 3:10 am yesterday while there were two policemen inside.
Tiu said the suspect used a suspected caliber 9mm pistol in the attack, hitting twice the glass door of the precinct.
Fortunately, none between PO2 Arthur Fortes and PO1 Ismael Nor who were both inside, were hurt, he said.
“Our assessment is that was more of a scare tactic by criminals in the Islamic Center who are being affected by our continuous campaign against criminality like illegal drugs and unlicensed firearms,” Tiu said.
“But this just challenges us more to do our job, instead of getting scared,” he added.
Tiu said Fortes and Nor fired their guns after the attack, but it was more of to drive off the suspect. “They fired their guns in the upward direction,” he said.
Tiu said that at that time, there were four policemen on duty. The two others, however, were on patrol when the incident happened.
He said some policemen from the station headquarters were immediately deployed to the precinct after the incident for reinforcement purposes./DMS
PNP never got DNA profile of cadaver suspected as Dulmatin’s
By Ronron
March 25, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted Tuesday that it never got a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) profile from the cadaver exhumed in Tawi-tawi last January 31, which was suspected to be that of Dulmatin’s.
Chief Supt. Arturo Cacdac, Director of the PNP Crime Laboratory, said this means they never got to proceed to confirm whether or not the body was really that of the Indonesian bomber who is an alleged member of the Jemaah Islamiyah.
“We failed to extract DNA profile from the tissue samples we took from the cadaver because it was already in an advanced state of decomposition,” Cacdac told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday.
He said his office in Camp Crame, Quezon City attempted to generate DNA profile of the cadaver using their nuclear machine, but to no avail.
“It could be that the quality of the samples are already very poor so the cells are already dead, or our machine could no longer really find any profile,” he explained in Filipino.
While Cacdac opted not to comment on whether or not tissue samples from the same cadaver were also sent to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for the same examination, he said it is possible the US may generate DNA profile because its FBI has the more modern mytocondrial machine.
He disclosed that the AFP is only using the same nuclear machine that the PNP Crime Laboratory has.
Because of the absence of the DNA profile of the cadaver, Cacdac said they were not able to make a comparison with the available DNA profile of Dulmatin’s children.
“We need to get a DNA profile from that cadaver for us to compare and determine if that is really the remains of Dulmatin. But since we did not generate anything, so we were not able to compare and do a testing,” he said.
Cacdac refused to comment when told that no less than PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. disclosed that tissue samples were already taken to the US FBI for DNA analysis purposes.
Razon and his counterpart with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., had earlier expected that a result of the DNA test on the cadaver will be out in a month’s time as in the case of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani in late 2006 until early 2007.
Cacdac said he could not comment on whether or not tissue samples were taken to the US and Australia because it is beyond his level. “That’s up to the higher level to disclose that, or to the respective countries,” he said.
Asked about the same matter in a news conference yesterday morning at Camp Crame, Anti-Terrorism Council spokesman Ricardo Blancaflor just said that the DNA testing is still ongoing.
“We still don’t have the official report... I’m not sure if there is a delay because in the Janjalani case, it was almost 90 days,” said Blancaflor, who is also an Undersecretary of the Justice Department.
He recounted that even the DNA tests conducted on the victims of the Superferry bombing in 2004 lasted for two to three months to get results.
Unlike Cacdac, Blancaflor believes that DNA profiles can still be generated from very decomposed remains.
“This is a three-country joint operation… That’s (DNA testing) very exhaustive because we can’t afford to make a mistake… If it’s a month now, I don’t think it’s a delay because there are many agencies involved here,” said Blancaflor.
The US government has offered $10 million reward money for the neutralization of Dulmatin.
Dulmatin is believed to be a key suspect in the bombings in Bali, Indonesia a few years back that claimed the lives of over a hundred people, mostly tourists.
Philippine authorities say he arrived in the country in 2003, together with fellow bomber and Jemaah Islamiyah member, Umar Patek./DMS
March 25, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted Tuesday that it never got a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) profile from the cadaver exhumed in Tawi-tawi last January 31, which was suspected to be that of Dulmatin’s.
Chief Supt. Arturo Cacdac, Director of the PNP Crime Laboratory, said this means they never got to proceed to confirm whether or not the body was really that of the Indonesian bomber who is an alleged member of the Jemaah Islamiyah.
“We failed to extract DNA profile from the tissue samples we took from the cadaver because it was already in an advanced state of decomposition,” Cacdac told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday.
He said his office in Camp Crame, Quezon City attempted to generate DNA profile of the cadaver using their nuclear machine, but to no avail.
“It could be that the quality of the samples are already very poor so the cells are already dead, or our machine could no longer really find any profile,” he explained in Filipino.
While Cacdac opted not to comment on whether or not tissue samples from the same cadaver were also sent to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for the same examination, he said it is possible the US may generate DNA profile because its FBI has the more modern mytocondrial machine.
He disclosed that the AFP is only using the same nuclear machine that the PNP Crime Laboratory has.
Because of the absence of the DNA profile of the cadaver, Cacdac said they were not able to make a comparison with the available DNA profile of Dulmatin’s children.
“We need to get a DNA profile from that cadaver for us to compare and determine if that is really the remains of Dulmatin. But since we did not generate anything, so we were not able to compare and do a testing,” he said.
Cacdac refused to comment when told that no less than PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. disclosed that tissue samples were already taken to the US FBI for DNA analysis purposes.
Razon and his counterpart with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., had earlier expected that a result of the DNA test on the cadaver will be out in a month’s time as in the case of Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani in late 2006 until early 2007.
Cacdac said he could not comment on whether or not tissue samples were taken to the US and Australia because it is beyond his level. “That’s up to the higher level to disclose that, or to the respective countries,” he said.
Asked about the same matter in a news conference yesterday morning at Camp Crame, Anti-Terrorism Council spokesman Ricardo Blancaflor just said that the DNA testing is still ongoing.
“We still don’t have the official report... I’m not sure if there is a delay because in the Janjalani case, it was almost 90 days,” said Blancaflor, who is also an Undersecretary of the Justice Department.
He recounted that even the DNA tests conducted on the victims of the Superferry bombing in 2004 lasted for two to three months to get results.
Unlike Cacdac, Blancaflor believes that DNA profiles can still be generated from very decomposed remains.
“This is a three-country joint operation… That’s (DNA testing) very exhaustive because we can’t afford to make a mistake… If it’s a month now, I don’t think it’s a delay because there are many agencies involved here,” said Blancaflor.
The US government has offered $10 million reward money for the neutralization of Dulmatin.
Dulmatin is believed to be a key suspect in the bombings in Bali, Indonesia a few years back that claimed the lives of over a hundred people, mostly tourists.
Philippine authorities say he arrived in the country in 2003, together with fellow bomber and Jemaah Islamiyah member, Umar Patek./DMS
Japanese spends two night in jail in Cebu for acting “wild,” says police
By Ronron
March 25, 2008
A Japanese national spent two nights in jail at a Cebu police station over the weekend after acting “wild” at the pension house where he was temporarily billeted and while on board a taxi, police said Tuesday.
The 42-year-old Japanese was first apprehended by police on Saturday afternoon hours after his arrival from Japan upon the complaint of a 24-year-old waitress at the restaurant of Mactan Pension House in Lapu-lapu City.
The Japanese reportedly threw at Viernes’ face some money bills that he tore apart after finding out that the bill for his lunch meal was too high.
Police said the Japanese thought his food was only worth 400 pesos. But he was surprised to learn that he was being charged with more or less 600 pesos.
The Japanese’ outrage reportedly bothered other guests at the restaurant, prompting the staff to seek police assistance.
The Japanese, who was described to be behaving abnormally and apparently not in his normal state of mind, was taken to the police station at around 2:50 pm.
He was supposed to be charged with slander by deed, and alarm and scandal, but Viernes opted not to pursue a legal action, the police said.
Thus, at 6:42 am of the following day, he was released from the detention cell of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office.
However, he returned there at around 11 am after the driver of the cab he was riding complained of his “abnormal and wild behavior.”
Ronie Cabilao, driver of CITRASCO taxi, told police that the Japanese hired him at around 8am at Pier 6 in Cebu City for a trip to Barangay Banilad. But when they arrived there, the Japanese wanted to be brought to the airport.
The Japanese reportedly turned wild again after learning that Cabilao cannot take him to the “Manila airport.” He reportedly grabbed the shirt of Cabilao and kept on pulling the hand brake.
At one point also, while still on the taxi, the Japanese took off all his clothes and just covered his face with newspaper.
Because of his behavior, the Japanese was brought back to the Lapu-lapu City Police Office by Cabilao.
The situation got worse there when the Japanese kicked the bumper of the taxi after alighting, causing it to deform. Cabilao told police that the Japanese got mad all the more apparently because he charged the Japanese more than the 1,000-pesos that he handed as payment for the trip.
The Japanese insisted he gave the driver 5,000-pesos, which the latter denied, the police said.
And with the damage to the taxi, Cabilao demanded an additional 10,000-pesos from the Japanese, which the latter refused to give. At this time, Cabilao decided to charge him for coercion and malicious mischief.
Thus, the Japanese was detained again until Monday morning when he agreed to pay 10,000 pesos to the driver as settlement with the help of a Japanese interpreter hired by city police chief Supt. Louie Oppus.
At 10 am of March 24, the Japanese was released from detention and was escorted by elements of the city police to the Consular Office of Japan in Cebu City.
However, the Consular Office refused to accept the Japanese as they reportedly feared he would behave wildly, the police said.
They brought him to the Immigration Office in Mandaue City, but was rejected also for the reason that he has not violated any Immigration laws.
So, the Japanese was brought back to the Lapu-lapu City Police Office where Oppus decided that he be flown back to Japan for his own safety, considering that he reportedly has some 500,000-pesos cash in various currencies (dollar, won, yen, and euro).
The police then escorted the Japanese to the Waterfront Hotel across the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the same city so he can take the flight back to Japan the following day.
“We were instructed by our chief of police, Col. Oppus, to make sure that he is well-guarded because people might take advantage of him, especially because he was bringing huge amount of money,” said PO3 Christian Torres of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office Investigation Branch.
At around 6am yesterday (Tuesday), Torres and other elements of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office returned to the Waterfront Hotel to make sure that the Japanese is able to ride the Philippine Airlines flight to Narita, which he actually did at 8am.
Torres said the Japanese has no family in Japan, and only lives with his mother who owns apartments./DMS
March 25, 2008
A Japanese national spent two nights in jail at a Cebu police station over the weekend after acting “wild” at the pension house where he was temporarily billeted and while on board a taxi, police said Tuesday.
The 42-year-old Japanese was first apprehended by police on Saturday afternoon hours after his arrival from Japan upon the complaint of a 24-year-old waitress at the restaurant of Mactan Pension House in Lapu-lapu City.
The Japanese reportedly threw at Viernes’ face some money bills that he tore apart after finding out that the bill for his lunch meal was too high.
Police said the Japanese thought his food was only worth 400 pesos. But he was surprised to learn that he was being charged with more or less 600 pesos.
The Japanese’ outrage reportedly bothered other guests at the restaurant, prompting the staff to seek police assistance.
The Japanese, who was described to be behaving abnormally and apparently not in his normal state of mind, was taken to the police station at around 2:50 pm.
He was supposed to be charged with slander by deed, and alarm and scandal, but Viernes opted not to pursue a legal action, the police said.
Thus, at 6:42 am of the following day, he was released from the detention cell of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office.
However, he returned there at around 11 am after the driver of the cab he was riding complained of his “abnormal and wild behavior.”
Ronie Cabilao, driver of CITRASCO taxi, told police that the Japanese hired him at around 8am at Pier 6 in Cebu City for a trip to Barangay Banilad. But when they arrived there, the Japanese wanted to be brought to the airport.
The Japanese reportedly turned wild again after learning that Cabilao cannot take him to the “Manila airport.” He reportedly grabbed the shirt of Cabilao and kept on pulling the hand brake.
At one point also, while still on the taxi, the Japanese took off all his clothes and just covered his face with newspaper.
Because of his behavior, the Japanese was brought back to the Lapu-lapu City Police Office by Cabilao.
The situation got worse there when the Japanese kicked the bumper of the taxi after alighting, causing it to deform. Cabilao told police that the Japanese got mad all the more apparently because he charged the Japanese more than the 1,000-pesos that he handed as payment for the trip.
The Japanese insisted he gave the driver 5,000-pesos, which the latter denied, the police said.
And with the damage to the taxi, Cabilao demanded an additional 10,000-pesos from the Japanese, which the latter refused to give. At this time, Cabilao decided to charge him for coercion and malicious mischief.
Thus, the Japanese was detained again until Monday morning when he agreed to pay 10,000 pesos to the driver as settlement with the help of a Japanese interpreter hired by city police chief Supt. Louie Oppus.
At 10 am of March 24, the Japanese was released from detention and was escorted by elements of the city police to the Consular Office of Japan in Cebu City.
However, the Consular Office refused to accept the Japanese as they reportedly feared he would behave wildly, the police said.
They brought him to the Immigration Office in Mandaue City, but was rejected also for the reason that he has not violated any Immigration laws.
So, the Japanese was brought back to the Lapu-lapu City Police Office where Oppus decided that he be flown back to Japan for his own safety, considering that he reportedly has some 500,000-pesos cash in various currencies (dollar, won, yen, and euro).
The police then escorted the Japanese to the Waterfront Hotel across the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the same city so he can take the flight back to Japan the following day.
“We were instructed by our chief of police, Col. Oppus, to make sure that he is well-guarded because people might take advantage of him, especially because he was bringing huge amount of money,” said PO3 Christian Torres of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office Investigation Branch.
At around 6am yesterday (Tuesday), Torres and other elements of the Lapu-lapu City Police Office returned to the Waterfront Hotel to make sure that the Japanese is able to ride the Philippine Airlines flight to Narita, which he actually did at 8am.
Torres said the Japanese has no family in Japan, and only lives with his mother who owns apartments./DMS
Querubin rushed to military hospital due to breathing problem
By Ronron
March 19, 2008
Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the accused mutineers in February 2006, was brought to the hospital last Tuesday due to breathing problem, his wife told reporters Wednesday.
Maria Flor Querubin said her 51-year-old husband first complained of chest pains at around 3am Tuesday while inside his detention cell at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
But he just endured the pain until 7am when he woke up and asked to be brought to the camp hospital.
“He had to walk out of the detention compound because no vehicle can go in the detention area,” Mrs. Querubin said.
However, the awarded officer failed to get the kind of medical attention he needed because the X-ray machine at said hospital was not working, and it also had no available muscle relaxant medicines, said Mrs. Querubin.
She complained that it took two hours before her husband was transferred to the AFP Medical Center along V. Luna Street in Quezon City, where he was promptly attended to by specialists.
Mrs. Querubin blamed the delay in the transfer of her husband to the AFP Medical Center to Col. Arnulfo Marcos, the military custodian, who told the camp hospital doctors that a clearance is needed from higher authorities.
Mrs. Querubin said that upon arrival at the AFP Medical Center, her husband was immediately brought to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and breathes with an oxygen supply until yesterday.
“They are monitoring if there is damage to his heart,” she said, adding that her husband is already in stable condition.
“According to the cardiologist this morning, he will recommend for coronary angiography to be done at the Philippine Heart Center to rule on any pathology of the heart,” she added.
But she said that this can only be done if AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. approves it.
Mrs. Querubin recalled that when her husband was still detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, the camp doctor diagnosed him to have asthma bronchitis.
Querubin is facing Articles of War violation charges before a military court due to his alleged participation in the attempted power grab plot in February 2006.
He is a recipient of the highest military award, the Medal of Valor./DMS
March 19, 2008
Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the accused mutineers in February 2006, was brought to the hospital last Tuesday due to breathing problem, his wife told reporters Wednesday.
Maria Flor Querubin said her 51-year-old husband first complained of chest pains at around 3am Tuesday while inside his detention cell at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
But he just endured the pain until 7am when he woke up and asked to be brought to the camp hospital.
“He had to walk out of the detention compound because no vehicle can go in the detention area,” Mrs. Querubin said.
However, the awarded officer failed to get the kind of medical attention he needed because the X-ray machine at said hospital was not working, and it also had no available muscle relaxant medicines, said Mrs. Querubin.
She complained that it took two hours before her husband was transferred to the AFP Medical Center along V. Luna Street in Quezon City, where he was promptly attended to by specialists.
Mrs. Querubin blamed the delay in the transfer of her husband to the AFP Medical Center to Col. Arnulfo Marcos, the military custodian, who told the camp hospital doctors that a clearance is needed from higher authorities.
Mrs. Querubin said that upon arrival at the AFP Medical Center, her husband was immediately brought to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and breathes with an oxygen supply until yesterday.
“They are monitoring if there is damage to his heart,” she said, adding that her husband is already in stable condition.
“According to the cardiologist this morning, he will recommend for coronary angiography to be done at the Philippine Heart Center to rule on any pathology of the heart,” she added.
But she said that this can only be done if AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. approves it.
Mrs. Querubin recalled that when her husband was still detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, the camp doctor diagnosed him to have asthma bronchitis.
Querubin is facing Articles of War violation charges before a military court due to his alleged participation in the attempted power grab plot in February 2006.
He is a recipient of the highest military award, the Medal of Valor./DMS
Monday, March 24, 2008
Comelec officer killed after shot in Intramuros
By Ronron
March 24, 2008
An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was killed in a shooting incident Monday noon in Intramuros, Manila City perpetrated by two suspects, police said.
SPO2 Renato Garay of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 5 said Director Wynne Asdala, 55, acting chief of the Comelec Law Department, expired at the Manila Doctor’s Hospital while undergoing operation.
Asdala was shot at around 12:40 pm at the corner of A. Soriano Avenue and Cabildo Streets while walking towards the Palacio del Gobernador, which houses the Comelec office.
Garay said Asdala had just taken his lunch then when two male persons aboard a red motorcycle approached him and fired once at close range, hitting him on his upper left chest, near his shoulder.
“I think it was close to his heart,” Garay, speaking in Filipino, described Asdala’s lone gunshot wound.
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said Asdala expired sometime between 2:30 and 3pm.
Sarmiento and Garay said they are not yet still sure of the motive of the attack, although they are not discounting the possibility of it being work-related.
Sarmiento said they cannot hide the fact that the murder of Asdala causes alarm among Comelec officials and employees since it happened just a few months after former Law Department head Director Alioden Dalaig suffered the same fate.
“It is, so we are telling our people to take precautionary measures,” Sarmiento said when asked if the latest incident is already alarming them./DMS
March 24, 2008
An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was killed in a shooting incident Monday noon in Intramuros, Manila City perpetrated by two suspects, police said.
SPO2 Renato Garay of the Manila Police District (MPD) Station 5 said Director Wynne Asdala, 55, acting chief of the Comelec Law Department, expired at the Manila Doctor’s Hospital while undergoing operation.
Asdala was shot at around 12:40 pm at the corner of A. Soriano Avenue and Cabildo Streets while walking towards the Palacio del Gobernador, which houses the Comelec office.
Garay said Asdala had just taken his lunch then when two male persons aboard a red motorcycle approached him and fired once at close range, hitting him on his upper left chest, near his shoulder.
“I think it was close to his heart,” Garay, speaking in Filipino, described Asdala’s lone gunshot wound.
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said Asdala expired sometime between 2:30 and 3pm.
Sarmiento and Garay said they are not yet still sure of the motive of the attack, although they are not discounting the possibility of it being work-related.
Sarmiento said they cannot hide the fact that the murder of Asdala causes alarm among Comelec officials and employees since it happened just a few months after former Law Department head Director Alioden Dalaig suffered the same fate.
“It is, so we are telling our people to take precautionary measures,” Sarmiento said when asked if the latest incident is already alarming them./DMS
Army on alert for NPA anniversary on March 29
By Ronron
March 24, 2008
The Philippine Army is “on alert for possible attacks” by the New People’s Army (NPA) marking their 39th founding anniversary on March 29, its spokesman said Monday.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the communists have already started to manifest their atrocities the last few days, such as the “murder of a barangay captain in Davao, and a barangay captain and his daughter in Camarines Sur;” and, the attacks on a Goldmine in Compostela Valley, sugar mills in Negros Occidental, and Globe facilities.”
“The military is always committed to prevent such incidents from happening. Troops assigned to field units are advised to be more vigilant as the NPA celebrates its anniversary,” Torres said.
“It can be noted that the rebel group usually celebrates their anniversary by staging terror attacks,” he said, “disrupting communities, and creating violence and terror.”
Acknowledging this, Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias said they could not discount also the possibility that communist rebels may extend their activities in the capital.
“But we are prepared for that. So there should be no cause for alarm,” he assured.
Torres appealed to the public to support the military’s efforts to end insurgency, noting the NPA’s efforts to “manipulate the people and blind them with the truth.”
“With the support of the peace-loving Filipino citizens, we shall not allow this rebel group to continue with their inhumane and atrocious activities. We are focused on our mission and that is to defeat communist insurgency,” he said.
The government aims to neutralize the 5,760-strong NPA by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term./DMS
March 24, 2008
The Philippine Army is “on alert for possible attacks” by the New People’s Army (NPA) marking their 39th founding anniversary on March 29, its spokesman said Monday.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the communists have already started to manifest their atrocities the last few days, such as the “murder of a barangay captain in Davao, and a barangay captain and his daughter in Camarines Sur;” and, the attacks on a Goldmine in Compostela Valley, sugar mills in Negros Occidental, and Globe facilities.”
“The military is always committed to prevent such incidents from happening. Troops assigned to field units are advised to be more vigilant as the NPA celebrates its anniversary,” Torres said.
“It can be noted that the rebel group usually celebrates their anniversary by staging terror attacks,” he said, “disrupting communities, and creating violence and terror.”
Acknowledging this, Metro Manila police chief Director Geary Barias said they could not discount also the possibility that communist rebels may extend their activities in the capital.
“But we are prepared for that. So there should be no cause for alarm,” he assured.
Torres appealed to the public to support the military’s efforts to end insurgency, noting the NPA’s efforts to “manipulate the people and blind them with the truth.”
“With the support of the peace-loving Filipino citizens, we shall not allow this rebel group to continue with their inhumane and atrocious activities. We are focused on our mission and that is to defeat communist insurgency,” he said.
The government aims to neutralize the 5,760-strong NPA by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term./DMS
Crime rate in Metro Manila lower on Holy Week than in previous weeks
By Ronron
March 24, 2008
The crime rate in the Metro Manila during the Holy Week, especially crimes against persons, was notably lower compared to the previous two weeks, the police chief in the capital said Monday.
“Last week, Holy Week, Metro Manila was relatively peaceful,” Director Geary Barias of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) declared in a news conference yesterday.
According to him, the number of crimes from March 15-21 was only 117, which is fewer than the 179 reported from March 1 to 7, and the 148 from March 8 to 14.
Specifically, while the crimes against properties were almost the same over the three-week period (89-90-89), crimes against persons posed a big reduction – 90 on the first week, 58 on the second week, and 28 last week.
Consistently, the most common crime against persons is physical injury, followed by murder.
Barias said that most of the crime incidents last week happened in the areas of the Southern and Northern Police Districts, although in the previous two weeks, the Quezon City Police District topped this category.
Asked where will police attribute the “relatively peaceful situation” last week, Barias said: “It’s more of the blessedness of the Lenten season, aside from our deployment of policemen in bus stations, churches and other crowded places.”
As of 4pm Sunday, the entire Philippine National Police (PNP) has already gone down to the normal alert status from heightened level, noting “the successful public safety and security operations during the traditional Holy Week retreat holiday.”
But it will maintain its Operation Plan Bantay Lakbay until May for the fiesta celebrations in different parts of the country, and on the first week of June when classes resume./DMS
March 24, 2008
The crime rate in the Metro Manila during the Holy Week, especially crimes against persons, was notably lower compared to the previous two weeks, the police chief in the capital said Monday.
“Last week, Holy Week, Metro Manila was relatively peaceful,” Director Geary Barias of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) declared in a news conference yesterday.
According to him, the number of crimes from March 15-21 was only 117, which is fewer than the 179 reported from March 1 to 7, and the 148 from March 8 to 14.
Specifically, while the crimes against properties were almost the same over the three-week period (89-90-89), crimes against persons posed a big reduction – 90 on the first week, 58 on the second week, and 28 last week.
Consistently, the most common crime against persons is physical injury, followed by murder.
Barias said that most of the crime incidents last week happened in the areas of the Southern and Northern Police Districts, although in the previous two weeks, the Quezon City Police District topped this category.
Asked where will police attribute the “relatively peaceful situation” last week, Barias said: “It’s more of the blessedness of the Lenten season, aside from our deployment of policemen in bus stations, churches and other crowded places.”
As of 4pm Sunday, the entire Philippine National Police (PNP) has already gone down to the normal alert status from heightened level, noting “the successful public safety and security operations during the traditional Holy Week retreat holiday.”
But it will maintain its Operation Plan Bantay Lakbay until May for the fiesta celebrations in different parts of the country, and on the first week of June when classes resume./DMS
MNLF renegades and ASG plan attacks to press Misuari’s release – police report
By Ronron
March 24, 2008
Renegade members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) elements are allegedly planning to attack government forces in Sulu province if MNLF chairman Nur Misuari will not be released from his being under house arrest.
According to a police report yesterday in Camp Crame, some 600 armed leaders and members of the MNLF and ASG met last March 18 starting 4pm until 4:45 am of the following day at Barangay Tiis in Talipao, Sulu to discuss the “refusal of the government to release MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari” from his “house arrest at New Manila, Quezon City.”
Misuari is in detention due to his rebellion case that stemmed from a raid in Jolo, Sulu in 2001.
The report bared that the meeting was presided by MNLF commander Khaid Ajibon as they observed the Bangsamoro Day. During the meeting, the rebel groups were reportedly armed with 12 units of 60 MM and 81 MM mortars, two 90 RR, and two 57 anti-tank/personnel recoilless weapons.
It said that the following MNLF leaders attended the meeting: Ustadz Khabir Malik, Tahil Sali, Ustadz Mahmor Gardan, Nidzmi Jabbar, and Hadji Idjan Adam.
While on the ASG side, the personalities in attendance were Commanders Raddulan Sahiron, Albader Parad, AngahAdja, Sihata Latip, and Sahid Susukan.
According to the report, the groups agreed that “once the government will not free the MNLF chairman, an armed offensive will be launched simultaneously by the MNLF and ASG forces against the government troops in the hinterlands of Panamao, Maimbung and Talipao areas to gain media mileage and foreign nations’ attention.”
The planned attack will reportedly be divided into two categories: the MNLF will stage harassments and assault towards government troop detachments, while the ASG will launch ambuscade at any government troop vehicles.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao commander Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said “this could be a raw information picked up by our police counterparts.”
“But regardless if that is true or not, our troops there in Sulu and elsewhere are always prepared for possible attacks,” Allaga said in Filipino in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
He said this report is not cause for alarm because they always receive this on a daily basis.
“That’s just normal to us,” said Allaga./DMS
March 24, 2008
Renegade members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) elements are allegedly planning to attack government forces in Sulu province if MNLF chairman Nur Misuari will not be released from his being under house arrest.
According to a police report yesterday in Camp Crame, some 600 armed leaders and members of the MNLF and ASG met last March 18 starting 4pm until 4:45 am of the following day at Barangay Tiis in Talipao, Sulu to discuss the “refusal of the government to release MNLF Chairman Nur Misuari” from his “house arrest at New Manila, Quezon City.”
Misuari is in detention due to his rebellion case that stemmed from a raid in Jolo, Sulu in 2001.
The report bared that the meeting was presided by MNLF commander Khaid Ajibon as they observed the Bangsamoro Day. During the meeting, the rebel groups were reportedly armed with 12 units of 60 MM and 81 MM mortars, two 90 RR, and two 57 anti-tank/personnel recoilless weapons.
It said that the following MNLF leaders attended the meeting: Ustadz Khabir Malik, Tahil Sali, Ustadz Mahmor Gardan, Nidzmi Jabbar, and Hadji Idjan Adam.
While on the ASG side, the personalities in attendance were Commanders Raddulan Sahiron, Albader Parad, AngahAdja, Sihata Latip, and Sahid Susukan.
According to the report, the groups agreed that “once the government will not free the MNLF chairman, an armed offensive will be launched simultaneously by the MNLF and ASG forces against the government troops in the hinterlands of Panamao, Maimbung and Talipao areas to gain media mileage and foreign nations’ attention.”
The planned attack will reportedly be divided into two categories: the MNLF will stage harassments and assault towards government troop detachments, while the ASG will launch ambuscade at any government troop vehicles.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao commander Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said “this could be a raw information picked up by our police counterparts.”
“But regardless if that is true or not, our troops there in Sulu and elsewhere are always prepared for possible attacks,” Allaga said in Filipino in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
He said this report is not cause for alarm because they always receive this on a daily basis.
“That’s just normal to us,” said Allaga./DMS
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
PNP, AFP brace for possible heightened activities of Reds as their anniversary nears
By Ronron
March 19, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are bracing for possible heightened activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) as their 39th founding anniversary approaches.
While there are still no direct threats monitored from the NPA, which marks its anniversary on March 29, the PNP assured the public on Wednesday that they are not letting its guard down, its spokesman said.
“The PNP is always prepared. As of now, there is no specific threat but the PNP will always be there,” said Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome,
AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., for his part, said an intensified offensive of the NPA is expected by the military because “that is part of their overall preparation.”
“You expect that they would launch some activities if only to highlight their anniversary,” Esperon said, noting that there are still more than 5,000 armed fighters of the group.
But prior to the NPA anniversary, Esperon said the military could take advantage of the time by launching operations against the communists.
“The anniversary of the NPA comes (on) March (29), and … it’s time for them to be meeting. So, I think it’s a good time for us to be operating,” he said.
It is for this reason that Esperon said they will not declare a unilateral suspension of military offensives (SOMO) during the duration of the Holy Week.
The 5,760-strong NPA had already been active the last few days, attacking private firms and ambushing government troops.
The government vows to neutralize them by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
The communist movement backed out from the peace negotiations with the government in August 2004 after it was tagged as terrorist by foreign governments./DMS
March 19, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are bracing for possible heightened activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) as their 39th founding anniversary approaches.
While there are still no direct threats monitored from the NPA, which marks its anniversary on March 29, the PNP assured the public on Wednesday that they are not letting its guard down, its spokesman said.
“The PNP is always prepared. As of now, there is no specific threat but the PNP will always be there,” said Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome,
AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., for his part, said an intensified offensive of the NPA is expected by the military because “that is part of their overall preparation.”
“You expect that they would launch some activities if only to highlight their anniversary,” Esperon said, noting that there are still more than 5,000 armed fighters of the group.
But prior to the NPA anniversary, Esperon said the military could take advantage of the time by launching operations against the communists.
“The anniversary of the NPA comes (on) March (29), and … it’s time for them to be meeting. So, I think it’s a good time for us to be operating,” he said.
It is for this reason that Esperon said they will not declare a unilateral suspension of military offensives (SOMO) during the duration of the Holy Week.
The 5,760-strong NPA had already been active the last few days, attacking private firms and ambushing government troops.
The government vows to neutralize them by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
The communist movement backed out from the peace negotiations with the government in August 2004 after it was tagged as terrorist by foreign governments./DMS
Querubin rushed to military hospital due to breathing problem
By Ronron
March 19, 2008
Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the accused mutineers in February 2006, was brought to the hospital last Tuesday due to breathing problem, his wife told reporters Wednesday.
Maria Flor Querubin said her 51-year-old husband first complained of chest pains at around 3am Tuesday while inside his detention cell at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
But he just endured the pain until 7am when he woke up and asked to be brought to the camp hospital.
“He had to walk out of the detention compound because no vehicle can go in the detention area,” Mrs. Querubin said.
However, the awarded officer failed to get the kind of medical attention he needed because the X-ray machine at said hospital was not working, and it also had no available muscle relaxant medicines, said Mrs. Querubin.
She complained that it took two hours before her husband was transferred to the AFP Medical Center along V. Luna Street in Quezon City, where he was promptly attended to by specialists.
Mrs. Querubin blamed the delay in the transfer of her husband to the AFP Medical Center to Col. Arnulfo Marcos, the military custodian, who told the camp hospital doctors that a clearance is needed from higher authorities.
Mrs. Querubin said that upon arrival at the AFP Medical Center, her husband was immediately brought to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and breathes with an oxygen supply until yesterday.
“They are monitoring if there is damage to his heart,” she said, adding that her husband is already in stable condition.
“According to the cardiologist this morning, he will recommend for coronary angiography to be done at the Philippine Heart Center to rule on any pathology of the heart,” she added.
But she said that this can only be done if AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. approves it.
Mrs. Querubin recalled that when her husband was still detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, the camp doctor diagnosed him to have asthma bronchitis.
Querubin is facing Articles of War violation charges before a military court due to his alleged participation in the attempted power grab plot in February 2006.
He is a recipient of the highest military award, the Medal of Valor./DMS
March 19, 2008
Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, one of the accused mutineers in February 2006, was brought to the hospital last Tuesday due to breathing problem, his wife told reporters Wednesday.
Maria Flor Querubin said her 51-year-old husband first complained of chest pains at around 3am Tuesday while inside his detention cell at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
But he just endured the pain until 7am when he woke up and asked to be brought to the camp hospital.
“He had to walk out of the detention compound because no vehicle can go in the detention area,” Mrs. Querubin said.
However, the awarded officer failed to get the kind of medical attention he needed because the X-ray machine at said hospital was not working, and it also had no available muscle relaxant medicines, said Mrs. Querubin.
She complained that it took two hours before her husband was transferred to the AFP Medical Center along V. Luna Street in Quezon City, where he was promptly attended to by specialists.
Mrs. Querubin blamed the delay in the transfer of her husband to the AFP Medical Center to Col. Arnulfo Marcos, the military custodian, who told the camp hospital doctors that a clearance is needed from higher authorities.
Mrs. Querubin said that upon arrival at the AFP Medical Center, her husband was immediately brought to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and breathes with an oxygen supply until yesterday.
“They are monitoring if there is damage to his heart,” she said, adding that her husband is already in stable condition.
“According to the cardiologist this morning, he will recommend for coronary angiography to be done at the Philippine Heart Center to rule on any pathology of the heart,” she added.
But she said that this can only be done if AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. approves it.
Mrs. Querubin recalled that when her husband was still detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, the camp doctor diagnosed him to have asthma bronchitis.
Querubin is facing Articles of War violation charges before a military court due to his alleged participation in the attempted power grab plot in February 2006.
He is a recipient of the highest military award, the Medal of Valor./DMS
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Two alleged robbers killed in clash with Army and police in Camarines Sur
By Ronron
March 18, 2008
Two suspected robbers were killed in an encounter with joint Army and police operatives on Monday night in Camarines Sur province, officials said yesterday.
The incident happened at around 10:45 pm at Barangay Cristo Rey in Bato town, said Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang.
PO1 Rico Dancalan of the Bato Municipal Police Station, in a separate interview, said elements of the Region 5 police had been tailing the elements of the so-called Dacer Robbery/Hold-up Group, which operates in Albay-Camarines Sur area, until they received information that it will strike in Barangay Cristo Rey.
But even before the five members of said group could strike at their target, Dancalan said the authorities hit them, ensuing a 10-minute firefight.
The incident left two suspects killed, identified as Reynaldo Tibi and Francisco Elarde. Tibi is allegedly the leader of the five.
The three other suspects managed to escape but two were later accounted for. One, identified as Michael Gregorio, was recovered on Tuesday morning at the neighboring Barangay Lubong, while another one surrendered to police in Iriga City also yesterday. The third one remains missing.
Dancalan said Gregorio sustained a gunshot wound near his knee.
No one was hurt on the government side.
Recovered from the slain suspects were a caliber 38, a caliber 357 and two motorcycles that the suspects used.
Police are now checking the criminal profile of the suspects./DMS
March 18, 2008
Two suspected robbers were killed in an encounter with joint Army and police operatives on Monday night in Camarines Sur province, officials said yesterday.
The incident happened at around 10:45 pm at Barangay Cristo Rey in Bato town, said Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang.
PO1 Rico Dancalan of the Bato Municipal Police Station, in a separate interview, said elements of the Region 5 police had been tailing the elements of the so-called Dacer Robbery/Hold-up Group, which operates in Albay-Camarines Sur area, until they received information that it will strike in Barangay Cristo Rey.
But even before the five members of said group could strike at their target, Dancalan said the authorities hit them, ensuing a 10-minute firefight.
The incident left two suspects killed, identified as Reynaldo Tibi and Francisco Elarde. Tibi is allegedly the leader of the five.
The three other suspects managed to escape but two were later accounted for. One, identified as Michael Gregorio, was recovered on Tuesday morning at the neighboring Barangay Lubong, while another one surrendered to police in Iriga City also yesterday. The third one remains missing.
Dancalan said Gregorio sustained a gunshot wound near his knee.
No one was hurt on the government side.
Recovered from the slain suspects were a caliber 38, a caliber 357 and two motorcycles that the suspects used.
Police are now checking the criminal profile of the suspects./DMS
Suspected NPA members burn sugar transloading stations in Negros Occidental
By Ronron
March 18, 2008
Two sugar transloading stations in Negros Occidental were burned by suspected communist rebels on Sunday night, incurring millions of pesos in damages, police said.
SPO1 Norberto Angelino said Tuesday that the incident happened at around 11:30 pm of March 16 at Barangay San Jose in Toboso town, some 113 kilometers away from the provincial capital of Bacolod City.
Angelino, desk officer at the Toboso Municipal Police Station, said in a phone interview that some 50 alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) perpetrated the attack simultaneously at the Victoria Milling Corporation (VMC) and the Central Lopez Sugar Corporation (CLSC) transloading stations.
He said some 30 rebels entered the VMC while another group of 20 went to CLSC. The two facilities are located about two kilometers away from each other, said Angelino.
The heavily-armed guerillas arrived on foot, coming from the mountainous area in the back, and left 15 to 20 minutes later to the same direction.
Angelino said that when the rebels arrived at the VMC transloading station, they told the lone watchman in the Cebuano dialect: “We will burn this because the company does not pay revolutionary tax.”
At the CLSC, the lone watchman, according to Angelino, was just told by the perpetrators also in Cebuano: “You are not included here so just sit down there.”
The suspects then proceeded to empty two containers of gasoline in each transloading station and set the facilities on fire.
Angelino said that at VMC, three 16-wheeler Prime Mover trucks, one 10-wheeler truck, the fuel tank, and a crane were totally burned. It also lost to the suspects one radio ICOM base and a digital weighing scale. Total worth of damages was pegged at P4 million.
While at the CLSC, totally burned were the scale house, a mounted crane, an electronic weighing scale and its accessories (computer, printer, AVR, and wirings), one unit of polaroscope, an electrical panel board, two units of generator set (10 KVA and 3 KVA), and the generator shed. Estimated worth of damage is P835,000.00.
Angelino said it was a revival of the attacks of the NPA in said town, the last of which was still in the 1980’s.
He said pursuit operations were conducted by the police and Philippine Army against the suspects at 4am of the following day but to no avail.
The 5,760-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now, and the government intends to put an end to it in 2010 as part of the legacy of the Arroyo administration.
Peace talks between the government and the communist movement bogged down in August 2004 after the latter was tagged as a terrorist by foreign governments./DMS
March 18, 2008
Two sugar transloading stations in Negros Occidental were burned by suspected communist rebels on Sunday night, incurring millions of pesos in damages, police said.
SPO1 Norberto Angelino said Tuesday that the incident happened at around 11:30 pm of March 16 at Barangay San Jose in Toboso town, some 113 kilometers away from the provincial capital of Bacolod City.
Angelino, desk officer at the Toboso Municipal Police Station, said in a phone interview that some 50 alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) perpetrated the attack simultaneously at the Victoria Milling Corporation (VMC) and the Central Lopez Sugar Corporation (CLSC) transloading stations.
He said some 30 rebels entered the VMC while another group of 20 went to CLSC. The two facilities are located about two kilometers away from each other, said Angelino.
The heavily-armed guerillas arrived on foot, coming from the mountainous area in the back, and left 15 to 20 minutes later to the same direction.
Angelino said that when the rebels arrived at the VMC transloading station, they told the lone watchman in the Cebuano dialect: “We will burn this because the company does not pay revolutionary tax.”
At the CLSC, the lone watchman, according to Angelino, was just told by the perpetrators also in Cebuano: “You are not included here so just sit down there.”
The suspects then proceeded to empty two containers of gasoline in each transloading station and set the facilities on fire.
Angelino said that at VMC, three 16-wheeler Prime Mover trucks, one 10-wheeler truck, the fuel tank, and a crane were totally burned. It also lost to the suspects one radio ICOM base and a digital weighing scale. Total worth of damages was pegged at P4 million.
While at the CLSC, totally burned were the scale house, a mounted crane, an electronic weighing scale and its accessories (computer, printer, AVR, and wirings), one unit of polaroscope, an electrical panel board, two units of generator set (10 KVA and 3 KVA), and the generator shed. Estimated worth of damage is P835,000.00.
Angelino said it was a revival of the attacks of the NPA in said town, the last of which was still in the 1980’s.
He said pursuit operations were conducted by the police and Philippine Army against the suspects at 4am of the following day but to no avail.
The 5,760-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now, and the government intends to put an end to it in 2010 as part of the legacy of the Arroyo administration.
Peace talks between the government and the communist movement bogged down in August 2004 after the latter was tagged as a terrorist by foreign governments./DMS
Military to deploy close to 200 troops in MM for Lenten security
By Ronron
March 18, 2008
The military unit in the National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will be deploying close to 200 personnel starting Wednesday afternoon as part of its Oplan Tulong Lakbay program to assist police and traffic units in providing security to travelers during the Lenten break.
NCRCOM chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa said Tuesday that the personnel consist of security forces, bomb experts with bomb-sniffing dogs, mechanics, and medical practitioners.
“We will have soldiers from the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) who have canines with them who will go around bus terminals to see to it that nobody will succeed in attempting to sow violence in bus terminals,” Mesa told reporters in Filipino in an interview at his office at Camp Aguinaldo.
They will particularly help secure four bus terminals in Manila City, five in Quezon City, four in the southern district, and two in the northern distric.
Aside from bus terminals, Mesa said the military personnel will also secure highways like the Northern Luzon Expressway, Southern Luzon Expressway, the Coastal Road in Cavite, and Marcos Highway near Masinag Market in Antipolo City.
They will work with elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), he said.
“We must move forward. Our soldiers should always be ready not just in terms of security. Whatever resources we have, we will also share with our countrymen, like helping them in their trips to provinces,” Mesa said.
“Our assurance to our countrymen is that your soldiers, even if it is Lenten season, are here, ready to assist,” he added.
Mesa said the soldiers will provide assistance until Maundy Thursday, and resume on Easter Sunday. They will be on a break on Good Friday and Black Saturday because the people are expected to be confined to their houses or in churches.
Mesa said the NCRCOM will maintain its blue alert status, which started after the anti-government rally in Manila City Friday last week.
He said that so far, the NCRCOM has not received any security threat during the break.
“Right now, we don’t see any threat. But we don’t want to be caught unprepared already so we are on alert,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, is going on heightened alert status effective Wednesday noon, as it expects a zero-crime rate on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, citing their hope that criminals will also observe the Lenten tradition.
Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, director of the Police Community Relations and concurrent director of the PNP Oplan Bantay Lakbay, said: “Usually, it is zero-crime rate. So hopefully, that can be duplicated this year. Criminals should also ponder upon their acts.”
The PNP’s Oplan Bantay Lakbay was activated Tuesday afternoon./DMS
March 18, 2008
The military unit in the National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will be deploying close to 200 personnel starting Wednesday afternoon as part of its Oplan Tulong Lakbay program to assist police and traffic units in providing security to travelers during the Lenten break.
NCRCOM chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa said Tuesday that the personnel consist of security forces, bomb experts with bomb-sniffing dogs, mechanics, and medical practitioners.
“We will have soldiers from the Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD) who have canines with them who will go around bus terminals to see to it that nobody will succeed in attempting to sow violence in bus terminals,” Mesa told reporters in Filipino in an interview at his office at Camp Aguinaldo.
They will particularly help secure four bus terminals in Manila City, five in Quezon City, four in the southern district, and two in the northern distric.
Aside from bus terminals, Mesa said the military personnel will also secure highways like the Northern Luzon Expressway, Southern Luzon Expressway, the Coastal Road in Cavite, and Marcos Highway near Masinag Market in Antipolo City.
They will work with elements of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), he said.
“We must move forward. Our soldiers should always be ready not just in terms of security. Whatever resources we have, we will also share with our countrymen, like helping them in their trips to provinces,” Mesa said.
“Our assurance to our countrymen is that your soldiers, even if it is Lenten season, are here, ready to assist,” he added.
Mesa said the soldiers will provide assistance until Maundy Thursday, and resume on Easter Sunday. They will be on a break on Good Friday and Black Saturday because the people are expected to be confined to their houses or in churches.
Mesa said the NCRCOM will maintain its blue alert status, which started after the anti-government rally in Manila City Friday last week.
He said that so far, the NCRCOM has not received any security threat during the break.
“Right now, we don’t see any threat. But we don’t want to be caught unprepared already so we are on alert,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, is going on heightened alert status effective Wednesday noon, as it expects a zero-crime rate on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, citing their hope that criminals will also observe the Lenten tradition.
Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, director of the Police Community Relations and concurrent director of the PNP Oplan Bantay Lakbay, said: “Usually, it is zero-crime rate. So hopefully, that can be duplicated this year. Criminals should also ponder upon their acts.”
The PNP’s Oplan Bantay Lakbay was activated Tuesday afternoon./DMS
Monday, March 17, 2008
Hand-to-hand combat against foreign troops to defend Spratly’s, why not? – Esperon
By Ronron
March 17, 2008
Conceding that indeed, the Philippines does not have the military capability to match that of China or other territories that lay claim on the Kalayaan Group of Islands or the Spratly’s off Palawan province in the eastern part of the country, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. on Monday went on to boast only of the Filipino soldiers’ determination to fight.
“We may not have the chance (to win in a war with other claimant countries) but that does not mean that the soldiers are not willing to go to fight for the country,” Esperon told reporters in Baguio City where he is to attend Tuesday’s graduation at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
“If it will be down to a hand-to-hand combat, why not?” he continued.
Esperon was asked of his view on defending the Spratly’s in the light of the controversy brought about by the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) of private firms of the Philippines, Vietnam and China.
Esperon reiterated that as a military man, he is for the diplomatic means of addressing the issue concerning the Spratly’s not only because it is a more civilized approach, but also because a war might place the Philippines in the losing end.
“We can go to war. We can still go to war. But the next question is, can we win? Do we have the capabilities?” he said.
Esperon said a fight over the Kalayaan Group of Islands “would need some capital ships and fighter aircraft,” which “we don’t have.” It can be recalled that the AFP decommissioned its F5 fighter planes in October 2005.
“So if there are other ways, we will do it not by war,” he said.
Esperon said that there are about 60 AFP elements securing eight islands in the Spratly’s as of now.
The Spratly’s, believed to be rich in mineral and oil resources aside from marine resources, is being claimed wholly or partially by the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China and Malaysia./DMS
March 17, 2008
Conceding that indeed, the Philippines does not have the military capability to match that of China or other territories that lay claim on the Kalayaan Group of Islands or the Spratly’s off Palawan province in the eastern part of the country, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. on Monday went on to boast only of the Filipino soldiers’ determination to fight.
“We may not have the chance (to win in a war with other claimant countries) but that does not mean that the soldiers are not willing to go to fight for the country,” Esperon told reporters in Baguio City where he is to attend Tuesday’s graduation at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
“If it will be down to a hand-to-hand combat, why not?” he continued.
Esperon was asked of his view on defending the Spratly’s in the light of the controversy brought about by the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) of private firms of the Philippines, Vietnam and China.
Esperon reiterated that as a military man, he is for the diplomatic means of addressing the issue concerning the Spratly’s not only because it is a more civilized approach, but also because a war might place the Philippines in the losing end.
“We can go to war. We can still go to war. But the next question is, can we win? Do we have the capabilities?” he said.
Esperon said a fight over the Kalayaan Group of Islands “would need some capital ships and fighter aircraft,” which “we don’t have.” It can be recalled that the AFP decommissioned its F5 fighter planes in October 2005.
“So if there are other ways, we will do it not by war,” he said.
Esperon said that there are about 60 AFP elements securing eight islands in the Spratly’s as of now.
The Spratly’s, believed to be rich in mineral and oil resources aside from marine resources, is being claimed wholly or partially by the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China and Malaysia./DMS
Suspected Reds burn Globe facility in Compostela Valley province
By Ronron
March 17, 2008
Another facility of Globe Telecommunications was attacked Monday dawn by suspected elements of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley province, officials said.
The incident happened at around 5:30 am at Purok 1, Barangay Linoan in Montevista town, a police report showed.
The report said the more or less 20 perpetrators first disarmed the guard of his caliber 38 service firearm, and then went on to burn the cabin generator of the facility using gasoline.
The estimated cost of damage is P1.5 million, the police said.
The incident resulted in the cut off of Globe signal in the area, said Col. Benito de Leon, spokesman and chief of staff of the Army’s Infantry Division.
Asked if it is another case of punishment to Globe for not paying the so-called “revolutionary tax” being collected by the communist movement, De Leon said: “It appears to be. What else should be the motive?”
The 5,760-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now, although the government aims to defeat them by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the movement bogged down in August 2004 after it was tagged as terrorist by some foreign governments./DMS
March 17, 2008
Another facility of Globe Telecommunications was attacked Monday dawn by suspected elements of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Compostela Valley province, officials said.
The incident happened at around 5:30 am at Purok 1, Barangay Linoan in Montevista town, a police report showed.
The report said the more or less 20 perpetrators first disarmed the guard of his caliber 38 service firearm, and then went on to burn the cabin generator of the facility using gasoline.
The estimated cost of damage is P1.5 million, the police said.
The incident resulted in the cut off of Globe signal in the area, said Col. Benito de Leon, spokesman and chief of staff of the Army’s Infantry Division.
Asked if it is another case of punishment to Globe for not paying the so-called “revolutionary tax” being collected by the communist movement, De Leon said: “It appears to be. What else should be the motive?”
The 5,760-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now, although the government aims to defeat them by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the movement bogged down in August 2004 after it was tagged as terrorist by some foreign governments./DMS
Court of Appeals receives bomb threat
By Ronron
March 17, 2008
The Court of Appeals (CA) received on Monday morning a bomb threat from an unknown person, which authorities later declared to be a hoax.
A CA employee said a male-sounding person called up the court’s trunkline number (5241241) at around 8:20 am and first asked a female telephone operator if it was the CA.
The CA is located along Maria Orosa Street in Ermita District, Manila City.
When the operator responded in the affirmative, the caller said in Filipino: “Be careful, something will explode in a few minutes.” The caller then dropped the phone, the employee said.
Immediately, the operator reported the matter to Associate Justices Normandie Pizarro and Remedios Salazar-Fernando, and the guard on duty, who promptly sought police assistance.
The CA employee said there were some people in the CA building at that time, preparing to attend the court’s flag ceremony at 8:30 am.
But she said there was no commotion when everybody went out of the building to give way to members of the Manila Police District (MPD) Explosives and Ordnance Division in inspecting the entire edifice.
Elements of the MPD Station 5 and the National Bureau of Investigation also responded to the incident, said another CA employee.
The employees said the police officially declared the building as bomb-free shortly before 10 am, allowing the CA employees to go back to their normal job.
The office of Atty. Teresita Marigomen, the CA Clerk of Court, said there were no controversial cases to be heard during the day, which, possibly, may be the target of disruption by the bomb scare.
On January 31, 2006, a pillbox exploded outside the CA building, but authorities linked it to a fraternity war despite the claim of responsibility by the Taong Bayan at Kawal ng Pilipinas (People and Soldiers of the Philippines) shadowy group./DMS
March 17, 2008
The Court of Appeals (CA) received on Monday morning a bomb threat from an unknown person, which authorities later declared to be a hoax.
A CA employee said a male-sounding person called up the court’s trunkline number (5241241) at around 8:20 am and first asked a female telephone operator if it was the CA.
The CA is located along Maria Orosa Street in Ermita District, Manila City.
When the operator responded in the affirmative, the caller said in Filipino: “Be careful, something will explode in a few minutes.” The caller then dropped the phone, the employee said.
Immediately, the operator reported the matter to Associate Justices Normandie Pizarro and Remedios Salazar-Fernando, and the guard on duty, who promptly sought police assistance.
The CA employee said there were some people in the CA building at that time, preparing to attend the court’s flag ceremony at 8:30 am.
But she said there was no commotion when everybody went out of the building to give way to members of the Manila Police District (MPD) Explosives and Ordnance Division in inspecting the entire edifice.
Elements of the MPD Station 5 and the National Bureau of Investigation also responded to the incident, said another CA employee.
The employees said the police officially declared the building as bomb-free shortly before 10 am, allowing the CA employees to go back to their normal job.
The office of Atty. Teresita Marigomen, the CA Clerk of Court, said there were no controversial cases to be heard during the day, which, possibly, may be the target of disruption by the bomb scare.
On January 31, 2006, a pillbox exploded outside the CA building, but authorities linked it to a fraternity war despite the claim of responsibility by the Taong Bayan at Kawal ng Pilipinas (People and Soldiers of the Philippines) shadowy group./DMS
PNP commissions 500 new vehicles
By Ronron
March 17, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday morning commissioned 500 new vehicles that were purchased under its 2007 Procurement Program.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said the new mobile assets, which consist of 100 prowl cars, 266 police utility vehicles, and 145 motorcycles, is in addition to the existing 8,000 land vehicles of the organization.
Aside from the 500 vehicles, Razon also commissioned three newly-refurbished V150 armored tactical fighting vehicles.
Razon presented all said vehicles to Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno in simple ceremonies at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“These added logistics will ensure that the PNP will be more capable and effective in performing the mission to serve and protect the people,” Razon said.
Razon said that prior to the commissioning of the 500 new vehicles, there are 202 police stations all over the country that have no police vehicles.
“Now, there will no longer be any police station that has no mobile service,” he said.
For 2008, Razon said the PNP will acquire three helicopters, 211 patrol cars, 526 utility vehicles, 295 motorcycles, 1,000 shotguns, 10,000 handguns, and special equipment for anti-criminality and internal security operations.
Razon said Malacañang has approved the PNP’s P10-billion modernization program for logistics and recruitment, in addition to the separate P1.7-billion fund for housing and infrastructure development earlier approved by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“The PNP leadership is pushing more resources and logistics to the field to meet the operational requirements of police units and personnel to develop all police stations in the country into fighting units against criminality, insurgency and terrorism,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said./DMS
March 17, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday morning commissioned 500 new vehicles that were purchased under its 2007 Procurement Program.
PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said the new mobile assets, which consist of 100 prowl cars, 266 police utility vehicles, and 145 motorcycles, is in addition to the existing 8,000 land vehicles of the organization.
Aside from the 500 vehicles, Razon also commissioned three newly-refurbished V150 armored tactical fighting vehicles.
Razon presented all said vehicles to Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno in simple ceremonies at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“These added logistics will ensure that the PNP will be more capable and effective in performing the mission to serve and protect the people,” Razon said.
Razon said that prior to the commissioning of the 500 new vehicles, there are 202 police stations all over the country that have no police vehicles.
“Now, there will no longer be any police station that has no mobile service,” he said.
For 2008, Razon said the PNP will acquire three helicopters, 211 patrol cars, 526 utility vehicles, 295 motorcycles, 1,000 shotguns, 10,000 handguns, and special equipment for anti-criminality and internal security operations.
Razon said Malacañang has approved the PNP’s P10-billion modernization program for logistics and recruitment, in addition to the separate P1.7-billion fund for housing and infrastructure development earlier approved by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“The PNP leadership is pushing more resources and logistics to the field to meet the operational requirements of police units and personnel to develop all police stations in the country into fighting units against criminality, insurgency and terrorism,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said./DMS
Sunday, March 16, 2008
“Due recognition” awaits Pacquiao at Army headquarters
By Ronron
March 16, 2008
The Philippine Army is preparing “due recognition” for its reservist soldier, Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquaio, when he returns to the country with the title as new World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion.
After Pacquiao’s victory against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night (Sunday noon, Manila time) at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said “Army Master Sergeant Manny Pacquiao” deserves “due recognition for another mission excellently done.”
“The Philippine Army is one with the whole nation in jubilation for the international honor brought about by one of its outstanding reservists. We shall await with enthusiasm the homecoming of M/Sgt. Pacquiao,” Yano said in a statement.
The Army community watched the 48-minute, 12-round bout of Pacquiao and Marquez at the Army Gym in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City yesterday noon. Yano said there were “thousands” who witnessed the live telecast of the action-packed match.
Yano said that during the fight and upon Pacquiao’s victory, he sensed “once again that a genuine sense of nationalistic pride was generated” by the boxing champ among Filipinos – “the kind of pride that provides inspiration, unites the whole nation, and gives hope to everyone that greatness is possible amid enormous challenges.”
Pacquiao was accorded the Master Sergeant rank, the highest for enlisted personnel, in October last year after winning his fight against Marco Antonio Barrera.
After getting the two-rank promotion, he visited troops a month later in Basilan and Jolo to boost their morale as they continue the fight against enemies of the State.
Pacquaio was first conferred an Army reservist rank in April 2006 also because of his victory in the boxing ring. He became a sergeant then.
While he may not have a salary for getting a rank, Pacquiao is expected to serve in whatever means like civic actions and disaster response operations for at least 30 days a year.
But the Army leadership is not immediately aware how Pacquiao complies with the service requirement./DMS
March 16, 2008
The Philippine Army is preparing “due recognition” for its reservist soldier, Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquaio, when he returns to the country with the title as new World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion.
After Pacquiao’s victory against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night (Sunday noon, Manila time) at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, USA, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano said “Army Master Sergeant Manny Pacquiao” deserves “due recognition for another mission excellently done.”
“The Philippine Army is one with the whole nation in jubilation for the international honor brought about by one of its outstanding reservists. We shall await with enthusiasm the homecoming of M/Sgt. Pacquiao,” Yano said in a statement.
The Army community watched the 48-minute, 12-round bout of Pacquiao and Marquez at the Army Gym in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City yesterday noon. Yano said there were “thousands” who witnessed the live telecast of the action-packed match.
Yano said that during the fight and upon Pacquiao’s victory, he sensed “once again that a genuine sense of nationalistic pride was generated” by the boxing champ among Filipinos – “the kind of pride that provides inspiration, unites the whole nation, and gives hope to everyone that greatness is possible amid enormous challenges.”
Pacquiao was accorded the Master Sergeant rank, the highest for enlisted personnel, in October last year after winning his fight against Marco Antonio Barrera.
After getting the two-rank promotion, he visited troops a month later in Basilan and Jolo to boost their morale as they continue the fight against enemies of the State.
Pacquaio was first conferred an Army reservist rank in April 2006 also because of his victory in the boxing ring. He became a sergeant then.
While he may not have a salary for getting a rank, Pacquiao is expected to serve in whatever means like civic actions and disaster response operations for at least 30 days a year.
But the Army leadership is not immediately aware how Pacquiao complies with the service requirement./DMS
PNP gets no report of crimes all over the country during Pacquiao-Morales fight
By Ronron
March 16, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday that it did not receive a single report of criminal incident in any part of the country at the time Filipino boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and defending World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez fought for almost one hour at the boxing ring in Las Vegas, USA.
PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said there was one criminal incident that transpired in Metro Manila but it happened several minutes after Pacquiao was declared the new WBC Super Featherweight Champion via a split decision by the judges.
“In all regions nationwide, we noted a zero-crime rate during the actual fight of Manny Pacquiao,” Bartolome said.
“In NCR (National Capital Region), there was a reported bus robbery/hold-up incident but it happened between 12:30 pm to 1pm,” he added.
The boxing match of Pacquiao and Marquez was viewed and heard in the Philippines starting 11:25 am up to 12:13 pm. The actual event was held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada Saturday night, US time.
Event host Michael Buffer officially announced Pacquiao’s victory at 12:16 pm, Philippine time.
Bartolome said regardless of whether the bus robbery incident in NCR happened during or after the fight of Pacquiao and Marquez, this statistics “indicate that there was really a very good situation all over the country.”
“The outpouring of support by the entire nation for the Filipino fighter resulted in zero-crime incident in all regions of the country,” he said.
Based on an initial report from the NCR Police Office (NCRPO), a Genesis passenger bus (TVJ-877) bound for Balanga, Bataan was plying EDSA from Pasay City when eight men aboard it declared a hold-up at around 12:30 pm while it was near Crossing Mall at the corner of Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.
The suspects were carrying handguns and a hand grenade, prompting passengers to surrender their “valuables.”
The report said one of the suspects fired one handgun in the upward direction during the heist, probably to scare the bus passengers.
Four of the suspects alighted at the corner of EDSA and Main Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City, while the remaining four did the same at the corner of Anonas Road and EDSA near Q-Mart Market.
Elements of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) and from some stations conducted follow up operations against the suspects, while the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) is conducting investigation on the incident.
The PNP had earlier expected a zero-crime rate in the country during Pacquiao’s bout, similar to past incidents, citing the people’s preoccupation in monitoring the fight on television and radio./DMS
March 16, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday that it did not receive a single report of criminal incident in any part of the country at the time Filipino boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and defending World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez fought for almost one hour at the boxing ring in Las Vegas, USA.
PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said there was one criminal incident that transpired in Metro Manila but it happened several minutes after Pacquiao was declared the new WBC Super Featherweight Champion via a split decision by the judges.
“In all regions nationwide, we noted a zero-crime rate during the actual fight of Manny Pacquiao,” Bartolome said.
“In NCR (National Capital Region), there was a reported bus robbery/hold-up incident but it happened between 12:30 pm to 1pm,” he added.
The boxing match of Pacquiao and Marquez was viewed and heard in the Philippines starting 11:25 am up to 12:13 pm. The actual event was held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada Saturday night, US time.
Event host Michael Buffer officially announced Pacquiao’s victory at 12:16 pm, Philippine time.
Bartolome said regardless of whether the bus robbery incident in NCR happened during or after the fight of Pacquiao and Marquez, this statistics “indicate that there was really a very good situation all over the country.”
“The outpouring of support by the entire nation for the Filipino fighter resulted in zero-crime incident in all regions of the country,” he said.
Based on an initial report from the NCR Police Office (NCRPO), a Genesis passenger bus (TVJ-877) bound for Balanga, Bataan was plying EDSA from Pasay City when eight men aboard it declared a hold-up at around 12:30 pm while it was near Crossing Mall at the corner of Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.
The suspects were carrying handguns and a hand grenade, prompting passengers to surrender their “valuables.”
The report said one of the suspects fired one handgun in the upward direction during the heist, probably to scare the bus passengers.
Four of the suspects alighted at the corner of EDSA and Main Avenue in Cubao, Quezon City, while the remaining four did the same at the corner of Anonas Road and EDSA near Q-Mart Market.
Elements of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) and from some stations conducted follow up operations against the suspects, while the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) is conducting investigation on the incident.
The PNP had earlier expected a zero-crime rate in the country during Pacquiao’s bout, similar to past incidents, citing the people’s preoccupation in monitoring the fight on television and radio./DMS
Pacquiao is new World Boxing Council Super Featherweight champion
By Ronron
March 16, 2008
Filipino boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is the new World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight (130-pound category) champion after he beat defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in a 12-round bout held in the United States Saturday night (Sunday noon in Manila).
The 29-year-old Filipino champion won by split decision by judges Jerry Roth (115-112 in favor of Marquez), Duane Ford (115-112 in favor of Pacquaio), and Tom Miller (114-113 in favor of Pacquiao).
“I suffered two cuts in the eye. It was tough and I got bothered, I could no longer concentrate because I could not see his (Marquez) punches anymore. I just survived through the 12 rounds,” Pacquiao, a native of the southern Philippine city of General Santos, said in Filipino in a televised interview after his victory was announced.
Pacquiao said that even if Marquez also suffered a cut in the face, he felt it was not as terrible as the ones he sustained because it affected his lead sight. “I just punched every time I could sense he was near me,” he revealed how he managed to pull it off.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally called Pacquiao over the phone after the fight and congratulated him for his victory.
In a statement to the media, Arroyo said she joins “the Filipino people in savoring this sweet moment of sweet victory and national unity prompted by the courage, discipline and fighting heart of our boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao.”
“Manny Pacquiao has again brought immense glory to the Flag and Filipino people with his hard fought victory today. Once more, he has inspired us with his big fighting heart, his determination and grit,” Arroyo said.
The President called Pacquiao as “one of our nation’s heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness.”
“Like him, we, too, shall overcome the battles ahead, with courage and a steadfast faith in ourselves, our country and the Lord Almighty,” she said.
“An icon of the masses, Manny Pacquiao mirrors the champ within every Filipino, here and abroad,” she added.
Pacquiao, himself, appealed to his countrymen “to unite” at all times, and not only when he wins a fight in the ring.
“I really exercised hard for this fight because first and foremost, whatever problems our country is facing, I take them as my own too. So I strived hard and took it as an inspiration to win the fact that this could unite my countrymen,” he said in Filipino.
Pacquiao said that even if it was already difficult to sustain the fight on the ring due to his injuries near the eye, he did not entertain the thought of giving up so as not to frustrate his countrymen.
“Even if I was hurt already, I endured the pain because, as I said, this fight is not just for my family, or for myself, but also for the Filipino people. As I have said, I will put my life on the line for the honor of our country and if only to make my countrymen happy,” he said.
Pacquiao said he is now prepared to take his boxing career to a higher level, the 135-pound category, and opts not to entertain anymore a rematch with Marquez, a move the latter did not welcome./DMS
March 16, 2008
Filipino boxing champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is the new World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight (130-pound category) champion after he beat defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in a 12-round bout held in the United States Saturday night (Sunday noon in Manila).
The 29-year-old Filipino champion won by split decision by judges Jerry Roth (115-112 in favor of Marquez), Duane Ford (115-112 in favor of Pacquaio), and Tom Miller (114-113 in favor of Pacquiao).
“I suffered two cuts in the eye. It was tough and I got bothered, I could no longer concentrate because I could not see his (Marquez) punches anymore. I just survived through the 12 rounds,” Pacquiao, a native of the southern Philippine city of General Santos, said in Filipino in a televised interview after his victory was announced.
Pacquiao said that even if Marquez also suffered a cut in the face, he felt it was not as terrible as the ones he sustained because it affected his lead sight. “I just punched every time I could sense he was near me,” he revealed how he managed to pull it off.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo personally called Pacquiao over the phone after the fight and congratulated him for his victory.
In a statement to the media, Arroyo said she joins “the Filipino people in savoring this sweet moment of sweet victory and national unity prompted by the courage, discipline and fighting heart of our boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao.”
“Manny Pacquiao has again brought immense glory to the Flag and Filipino people with his hard fought victory today. Once more, he has inspired us with his big fighting heart, his determination and grit,” Arroyo said.
The President called Pacquiao as “one of our nation’s heroes who can unite us even in times of divisiveness.”
“Like him, we, too, shall overcome the battles ahead, with courage and a steadfast faith in ourselves, our country and the Lord Almighty,” she said.
“An icon of the masses, Manny Pacquiao mirrors the champ within every Filipino, here and abroad,” she added.
Pacquiao, himself, appealed to his countrymen “to unite” at all times, and not only when he wins a fight in the ring.
“I really exercised hard for this fight because first and foremost, whatever problems our country is facing, I take them as my own too. So I strived hard and took it as an inspiration to win the fact that this could unite my countrymen,” he said in Filipino.
Pacquiao said that even if it was already difficult to sustain the fight on the ring due to his injuries near the eye, he did not entertain the thought of giving up so as not to frustrate his countrymen.
“Even if I was hurt already, I endured the pain because, as I said, this fight is not just for my family, or for myself, but also for the Filipino people. As I have said, I will put my life on the line for the honor of our country and if only to make my countrymen happy,” he said.
Pacquiao said he is now prepared to take his boxing career to a higher level, the 135-pound category, and opts not to entertain anymore a rematch with Marquez, a move the latter did not welcome./DMS
Friday, March 14, 2008
Defense chief says US assessment on extrajudicial killing cases in RP is “unfair and not true”
By Ronron
March 14, 2008
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. on Friday tagged as “unfair and not true” allegations of some international entities, like the US State Department, that Philippine authorities are remiss in addressing extrajudicial killing and other human rights violation cases.
Teodoro told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo that it is so convenient for others to accuse the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be behind some cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances only because they perceive the perpetrators as “military-looking.”
“We are dealing with the issue of extrajudicial killing structurally in the department. So it will be on our own pace, on our terms, in our own programs… We cannot allow the agenda, the policy, and the pace of the reforms with respect to extrajudicial killings and all other forms of lawlessness to be dictated by outside events or outside pressures,” Teodoro said.
In its 2007 country report on human rights in the Philippines, the US State Department said that despite intensified government efforts to investigate and prosecute extrajudicial killing cases, many went unresolved and unpunished.
Teodoro said that while that was the assessment of the US State Department, he feels otherwise.
“I’ll read it (US State Department report) first, then I’ll judge. But right now, really, I feel that the incidents of reported political killings has gone down drastically,” he said without citing figures.
He said that among the measures taken by the military to strengthen their adherence to human rights policies is the recent seminar on the writ of habeas data held last Wednesday by senior commanders.
“The purpose of that is to let the senior commanders factor in to their operational planning, their SOP’s (standard operating procedures), the observance of new dictates and new rules of law, and the awareness of the public as to the effect of these laws and regulations on military operations,” Teodoro said.
He said the defense establishment “will comply with all those laws and rules and regulations.”
“We have set the agenda, directed as a matter of fact the Armed Forces a thorough review of their procedures to find out whether or not the adequate observance of human rights standards are factored in. And they’re coming out with it soon,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro conceded that while there may be some officials who violate human rights in the country, allegations that the “institution condones or even perpetrates it as a matter of policy” is “very unfair.”
“It is not true,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force USIG has taken cognizance of over 100 cases of killings of political activists and journalists since 2001, but it noted that most of these were perpetrated by the communist movement.
Local human rights group “Karapatan,” however, say that the number of cases since 2001 has already gone up to close to 900. This is on top of the more than 100 alleged cases of enforced disappearances during the said period./DMS
March 14, 2008
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. on Friday tagged as “unfair and not true” allegations of some international entities, like the US State Department, that Philippine authorities are remiss in addressing extrajudicial killing and other human rights violation cases.
Teodoro told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo that it is so convenient for others to accuse the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to be behind some cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances only because they perceive the perpetrators as “military-looking.”
“We are dealing with the issue of extrajudicial killing structurally in the department. So it will be on our own pace, on our terms, in our own programs… We cannot allow the agenda, the policy, and the pace of the reforms with respect to extrajudicial killings and all other forms of lawlessness to be dictated by outside events or outside pressures,” Teodoro said.
In its 2007 country report on human rights in the Philippines, the US State Department said that despite intensified government efforts to investigate and prosecute extrajudicial killing cases, many went unresolved and unpunished.
Teodoro said that while that was the assessment of the US State Department, he feels otherwise.
“I’ll read it (US State Department report) first, then I’ll judge. But right now, really, I feel that the incidents of reported political killings has gone down drastically,” he said without citing figures.
He said that among the measures taken by the military to strengthen their adherence to human rights policies is the recent seminar on the writ of habeas data held last Wednesday by senior commanders.
“The purpose of that is to let the senior commanders factor in to their operational planning, their SOP’s (standard operating procedures), the observance of new dictates and new rules of law, and the awareness of the public as to the effect of these laws and regulations on military operations,” Teodoro said.
He said the defense establishment “will comply with all those laws and rules and regulations.”
“We have set the agenda, directed as a matter of fact the Armed Forces a thorough review of their procedures to find out whether or not the adequate observance of human rights standards are factored in. And they’re coming out with it soon,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro conceded that while there may be some officials who violate human rights in the country, allegations that the “institution condones or even perpetrates it as a matter of policy” is “very unfair.”
“It is not true,” he said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force USIG has taken cognizance of over 100 cases of killings of political activists and journalists since 2001, but it noted that most of these were perpetrated by the communist movement.
Local human rights group “Karapatan,” however, say that the number of cases since 2001 has already gone up to close to 900. This is on top of the more than 100 alleged cases of enforced disappearances during the said period./DMS
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