By Ronron
January 18, 2008
Two workers died while three others were hurt after they were caught in an accidental fire at a Korean shipyard firm in Subic, Zambales on Friday morning, police said.
SPO2 Nasser Abdurasul of the Subic Municipal Police said the victims were working at the rear part of Project Ship 001 at the Hanjin Shipyard Dock 5 when the accident happened past 11 am.
He said they were making finishing touches using a grinder when the sparks that came out of it ignited the oil lubricants present in said area.
Abdurasul said there was no explosion that happened.
He said two workers died due to third-degree burns while two of the three injured victims suffered second-degree burns. Another worker suffered bruises and slight injuries as he attempted to escape from the fire scene.
The injured victims are currently undergoing treatment at the St. Jude Hospital in Olongapo City.
Abdurasul said the fire was quickly put out and did not spread to other parts because the shipyard has its own emergency equipment and personnel.
Asked if police will file charges against the Hanjin management, Abdurasul said it will depend on the families of the victims.
“I don’t know if we can file charges because in the past, there were also accidents there and the victims just settled with the Hanjin management because they were offered compensation and assistance. So this time, it depends if the families of the victims will pursue charges of criminal negligence,” he said.
Because of the incident, the project at said ship was temporarily stopped./DMS
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Another destab suspect released as military chief reveals there is continuing recruitment among active soldiers to join coup plot against government
By Ronron
January 18, 2008
One of the five alleged destabilizers arrested last Tuesday in Quezon City was released on Friday upon the orders of the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to lack of evidence for the crime of illegal possession of firearm.
The release of Ex-Corporal Ramon Perania, a former Army Scout Ranger, from the custody of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) in Camp Aguinaldo came a day after Ex-Sgt. Orlando Valencia was also freed for the same reason.
Perania was supposed to have been released together with Valencia last Thursday, but the release order for Perania bore Valencia’s name too. Their lawyer, Atty. Trixie Angeles, said it was an inadvertent typographical error on the part of the DOJ.
Angeles and co-defense counsel Argee Guevarra personally brought the release order for Perania at the ISAFP compound yesterday afternoon.
The release order for Perania, which was signed by the panel of DOJ prosecutors and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, reads that the latter should be released because there “exists no probable cause on the basis of the evidence presented.”
Angeles explained that like Valencia, the DOJ was convinced that Perania was not also in possession of a firearm when they were accosted last Tuesday afternoon in Galas, Quezon City because there were only three firearms seized.
The three other accused, who have since been charged also with illegal possession of firearms, are ex-Cpl. Redante Maranan, ex-Cpl. Walter Franciso, and Kim Agas. Yesterday afternoon, Agas’ wife, Josephine, told reporters that her husband is not and was not a soldier, as alleged by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
All three remain inside the ISAFP compound.
According to the PNP complaint filed before the DOJ, Maranan was in possession of an AK47, Francisco of an M16, and Agas of another M16 when military intelligence operatives apprehended them.
The police alleged that the firearms were to be used in a destabilization plot against the government.
But Valencia and Agas, so far, have issued denials about the alleged plot.
Josephine said her husband is just a family driver who was in the company of Valencia last Tuesday. Both work for a certain Atty. Arcenas, a private civilian.
Josephine said her husband has been working as Arcenas’ driver since October 2007, while Valencia serves as bodyguard of Arcenas since two weeks ago. At the time of the arrest, the two were aboard Arcenas’ Honda civic.
“My husband and Valencia were supposed to pick up a child of Atty. Arcenas at UST campus (in Manila City). But Valencia asked my husband if they could drop by first in Galas so he could send money to his wife through a friend. When they arrived in Galas, they were immediately pushed down to the floor, blindfolded, and they did not know where they were taken,” Josephine narrated, quoting her husband whom she visited for the first time yesterday morning since the arrests were effected.
Quoting Valencia, Angeles said Maranan, Francisco and Perania were inside their boarding house at that time located at No. 94 N. Ramirez Street in Galas. Angeles said the four are renting together a room or two at said house while they were looking for job following their (except Maranan who has been on absence-without-official-leave since February 2006) dismissal from the service last year.
Josephine insisted that her husband is innocent of the charges both on illegal possession of firearm and about the destabilization plot. She said her husband is not even a part of the group of the four ex-soldiers as he is a stay-in driver of the Arcenas family.
“I just hope that the next time they arrest people, they make sure they have evidence against people. What they did to these people was a frame-up. It’s not true they have firearms… There is no destabilization plot,” Josephine said when asked of her message to the government.
Josephine sought the help of Angeles for her husband’s release.
Angeles said Agas was mistaken to be a former soldier because when they were being apprehended, the four ex-soldiers identified themselves as Scout Rangers personnel. He said this prompted Agas to also claim as a former Marine personnel.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Marine Corps, has yet to clarify if Agas is indeed a former Marine soldier or not.
The four others have been discharged from the service because of their alleged involvement in the alleged February 2006 coup plot that was supposed to be led by then Scout Rangers commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
Earlier in the day, AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. revealed that there is a continuing recruitment within the organization for soldiers to join destabilization efforts against the government.
“Indeed, there is already an evidence that firearms are being transported, some recruitments are ongoing, including inside the chain,” Esperon told reporters in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo.
He refused to say where the recruitment is happening, but hinted of some units like the Scout Rangers when he said “there are some favorite units.” The Scout Rangers regiment, which is based in Bulacan, had been implicated in past coup incidents and attempts.
While he said that they are not doing any loyalty check among soldiers, Esperon expressed confidence that the alleged destabilizers will not get any support from the military.
“I can assure you is our soldiers have learned some lessons. They are being recruited to join these activities but they know they will just be abandoned later,” Esperon said.
“What we can assure you is that we have always been ready for these kinds of activities. We can put down destabilization moves. After all, as you have noticed in the November 29 attempt in the Manila Peninsula, no one from the active soldiers joined them, nor did they see civilian support. So I can say, they can only keep on dreaming,” he added.
Esperon said the apparent lack of support makes destabilization attempts these days “weak.”
The military chief said that the arrest of the alleged destabilizers last Tuesday “is a major part of the accomplishment,” but it will not let down their guard.
When asked about the alleged financiers of the arrested persons, Esperon said the matter is yet to be established, but he raised questions on the capability of the group to pay for P15,000 for their monthly rent on their boarding house.
“It has been rented for sometime and so I don’t think some people out of job would have that kind of money to rent that kind of, to spend 15,000 pesos for apartment rental,” he said.
Esperon said the military is still investigating if the arrested persons have links with fugitive Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, or with Lim.
Meanwhile, Esperon admitted that Army Cpl. Jaime Dumagpi, the soldier who allegedly provided the police with information about the movement of the five, remains under military custody even if no charges have been filed against him yet.
“We are asking him some questions,” Esperon said of the soldier who serves as driver of detained rebel officer Capt. Montano Almodovar.
Asked if Dumagpi is a suspect or a witness, Esperon said: “It can work both ways.”
Angeles said if the military will not file charges against Dumagpi within 72 hours since his apprehension last Monday night inside Camp Aguinaldo, they will assume that the soldier will be used a witness by the military against the five.
On Angeles claim that the arrest of the five is just to substantiate the need to extend his term, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9, the military chief said: “They will always say that but can we keep quiet when we are indeed discovering caches or some plans to transport or preposition some firearms? It’s not us doing that.”/DMS
January 18, 2008
One of the five alleged destabilizers arrested last Tuesday in Quezon City was released on Friday upon the orders of the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to lack of evidence for the crime of illegal possession of firearm.
The release of Ex-Corporal Ramon Perania, a former Army Scout Ranger, from the custody of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) in Camp Aguinaldo came a day after Ex-Sgt. Orlando Valencia was also freed for the same reason.
Perania was supposed to have been released together with Valencia last Thursday, but the release order for Perania bore Valencia’s name too. Their lawyer, Atty. Trixie Angeles, said it was an inadvertent typographical error on the part of the DOJ.
Angeles and co-defense counsel Argee Guevarra personally brought the release order for Perania at the ISAFP compound yesterday afternoon.
The release order for Perania, which was signed by the panel of DOJ prosecutors and Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, reads that the latter should be released because there “exists no probable cause on the basis of the evidence presented.”
Angeles explained that like Valencia, the DOJ was convinced that Perania was not also in possession of a firearm when they were accosted last Tuesday afternoon in Galas, Quezon City because there were only three firearms seized.
The three other accused, who have since been charged also with illegal possession of firearms, are ex-Cpl. Redante Maranan, ex-Cpl. Walter Franciso, and Kim Agas. Yesterday afternoon, Agas’ wife, Josephine, told reporters that her husband is not and was not a soldier, as alleged by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
All three remain inside the ISAFP compound.
According to the PNP complaint filed before the DOJ, Maranan was in possession of an AK47, Francisco of an M16, and Agas of another M16 when military intelligence operatives apprehended them.
The police alleged that the firearms were to be used in a destabilization plot against the government.
But Valencia and Agas, so far, have issued denials about the alleged plot.
Josephine said her husband is just a family driver who was in the company of Valencia last Tuesday. Both work for a certain Atty. Arcenas, a private civilian.
Josephine said her husband has been working as Arcenas’ driver since October 2007, while Valencia serves as bodyguard of Arcenas since two weeks ago. At the time of the arrest, the two were aboard Arcenas’ Honda civic.
“My husband and Valencia were supposed to pick up a child of Atty. Arcenas at UST campus (in Manila City). But Valencia asked my husband if they could drop by first in Galas so he could send money to his wife through a friend. When they arrived in Galas, they were immediately pushed down to the floor, blindfolded, and they did not know where they were taken,” Josephine narrated, quoting her husband whom she visited for the first time yesterday morning since the arrests were effected.
Quoting Valencia, Angeles said Maranan, Francisco and Perania were inside their boarding house at that time located at No. 94 N. Ramirez Street in Galas. Angeles said the four are renting together a room or two at said house while they were looking for job following their (except Maranan who has been on absence-without-official-leave since February 2006) dismissal from the service last year.
Josephine insisted that her husband is innocent of the charges both on illegal possession of firearm and about the destabilization plot. She said her husband is not even a part of the group of the four ex-soldiers as he is a stay-in driver of the Arcenas family.
“I just hope that the next time they arrest people, they make sure they have evidence against people. What they did to these people was a frame-up. It’s not true they have firearms… There is no destabilization plot,” Josephine said when asked of her message to the government.
Josephine sought the help of Angeles for her husband’s release.
Angeles said Agas was mistaken to be a former soldier because when they were being apprehended, the four ex-soldiers identified themselves as Scout Rangers personnel. He said this prompted Agas to also claim as a former Marine personnel.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Philippine Marine Corps, has yet to clarify if Agas is indeed a former Marine soldier or not.
The four others have been discharged from the service because of their alleged involvement in the alleged February 2006 coup plot that was supposed to be led by then Scout Rangers commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
Earlier in the day, AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. revealed that there is a continuing recruitment within the organization for soldiers to join destabilization efforts against the government.
“Indeed, there is already an evidence that firearms are being transported, some recruitments are ongoing, including inside the chain,” Esperon told reporters in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo.
He refused to say where the recruitment is happening, but hinted of some units like the Scout Rangers when he said “there are some favorite units.” The Scout Rangers regiment, which is based in Bulacan, had been implicated in past coup incidents and attempts.
While he said that they are not doing any loyalty check among soldiers, Esperon expressed confidence that the alleged destabilizers will not get any support from the military.
“I can assure you is our soldiers have learned some lessons. They are being recruited to join these activities but they know they will just be abandoned later,” Esperon said.
“What we can assure you is that we have always been ready for these kinds of activities. We can put down destabilization moves. After all, as you have noticed in the November 29 attempt in the Manila Peninsula, no one from the active soldiers joined them, nor did they see civilian support. So I can say, they can only keep on dreaming,” he added.
Esperon said the apparent lack of support makes destabilization attempts these days “weak.”
The military chief said that the arrest of the alleged destabilizers last Tuesday “is a major part of the accomplishment,” but it will not let down their guard.
When asked about the alleged financiers of the arrested persons, Esperon said the matter is yet to be established, but he raised questions on the capability of the group to pay for P15,000 for their monthly rent on their boarding house.
“It has been rented for sometime and so I don’t think some people out of job would have that kind of money to rent that kind of, to spend 15,000 pesos for apartment rental,” he said.
Esperon said the military is still investigating if the arrested persons have links with fugitive Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, or with Lim.
Meanwhile, Esperon admitted that Army Cpl. Jaime Dumagpi, the soldier who allegedly provided the police with information about the movement of the five, remains under military custody even if no charges have been filed against him yet.
“We are asking him some questions,” Esperon said of the soldier who serves as driver of detained rebel officer Capt. Montano Almodovar.
Asked if Dumagpi is a suspect or a witness, Esperon said: “It can work both ways.”
Angeles said if the military will not file charges against Dumagpi within 72 hours since his apprehension last Monday night inside Camp Aguinaldo, they will assume that the soldier will be used a witness by the military against the five.
On Angeles claim that the arrest of the five is just to substantiate the need to extend his term, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9, the military chief said: “They will always say that but can we keep quiet when we are indeed discovering caches or some plans to transport or preposition some firearms? It’s not us doing that.”/DMS
Friday, January 18, 2008
AFP says destabilization threat against Arroyo government continues despite apprehension of five ex-soldiers; One of five released from detention
By Ronron
January 17, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said Thursday that the destabilization threat against the government continues despite the apprehension last Tuesday of discharged soldiers.
“That (destabilization threat) is continuing… But on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we are doing our best to prevent the probable participation of groups whom we consider as armed,” Bacarro told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday afternoon.
Bacarro clarified that only five former soldiers were apprehended by joint police and military operatives last Tuesday for illegal possession of firearms while aboard two vehicles in Quezon City.
He said the sixth that was identified by Atty. Trixie Angeles as Cpl. Jaime Dumagpi, is not yet considered as among the group.
“I have to check where he is under custody of now,” Bacarro said of Dumagpi, whom police have identified as a driver of detained rebel officer Captain Montano Almodovar.
According to a police report, it was Dumagpi who revealed about the planned transfer of firearms by the five, leading to the latter’s apprehension.
Bacarro belied the claim of the lawyers of the five that the firearms seized from them were planted evidence.
He said the lawyers should just contest that in court.
In a related development, one of the five former soldiers, Sgt. Orlando Valencia, was released yesterday afternoon from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Angeles, who represents the five, said Valencia, 37, a former Army Scout Ranger personnel, was released past 3pm upon the order of the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to lack of evidence against him.
Angeles said another suspect is also supposed to be released for the same reason but the DOJ inadvertently mistook to write his name in the release order. Angeles said what happened was two release orders were issued bearing the name only of Valencia.
“As of today, the recommendation to exonerate the two was already approved,” Angeles told reporters yesterday at the ISAFP gate immediately after Valencia’s release.
She said Valencia was found to have not held any of the three firearms that were seized, therefore he could not be charged with illegal possession of firearm. The same thing is true with the other suspect.
After his release, Valencia was subjected to medical examination at a hospital inside Camp Aguinaldo. Present to welcome him at the ISAFP gate was his wife and baby boy.
Angeles maintained that the five ex-soldiers are not involved in a plot to destabilize the government.
“They could not file rebellion or sedition because there is no overt act. This is just to substantiate an imaginary coup in order to aid an extension of the term of the chief of staff,” she said.
“There is no destabilization, there is no coup, there is no conspiracy,” she added.
But Bacarro said the investigation will proceed to find out the role of the five in planned destabilization plots, their possible affiliation with fugitive Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, and of the Magdalo group.
Valencia’s wife said the only possible reason why her husband is being linked to the destabilization plot is because her husband used to be a driver of detained rebel officer Captain Ruben Guinolbay.
But she said that since her husband was discharged from the service last December for allegedly being a part of the February 2006 coup plot, Valencia had been busy with their family and in finding a job.
She said her husband successfully got a job as a family driver. But she maintained that her husband was not issued a firearm by his employer.
She said that what she knew of her husband’s activity last Tuesday was that he was supposed to fetch the child of his employer at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila City.
Valencia was driving at that time the Mitsubishi L300 van of his employer. The said van is now under police custody as a piece of evidence against the five.
Angeles said the other ex-soldier who is due for release will have to await until the DOJ comes out with a corrected release order./DMS
January 17, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro said Thursday that the destabilization threat against the government continues despite the apprehension last Tuesday of discharged soldiers.
“That (destabilization threat) is continuing… But on the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we are doing our best to prevent the probable participation of groups whom we consider as armed,” Bacarro told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday afternoon.
Bacarro clarified that only five former soldiers were apprehended by joint police and military operatives last Tuesday for illegal possession of firearms while aboard two vehicles in Quezon City.
He said the sixth that was identified by Atty. Trixie Angeles as Cpl. Jaime Dumagpi, is not yet considered as among the group.
“I have to check where he is under custody of now,” Bacarro said of Dumagpi, whom police have identified as a driver of detained rebel officer Captain Montano Almodovar.
According to a police report, it was Dumagpi who revealed about the planned transfer of firearms by the five, leading to the latter’s apprehension.
Bacarro belied the claim of the lawyers of the five that the firearms seized from them were planted evidence.
He said the lawyers should just contest that in court.
In a related development, one of the five former soldiers, Sgt. Orlando Valencia, was released yesterday afternoon from the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Angeles, who represents the five, said Valencia, 37, a former Army Scout Ranger personnel, was released past 3pm upon the order of the Department of Justice (DOJ) due to lack of evidence against him.
Angeles said another suspect is also supposed to be released for the same reason but the DOJ inadvertently mistook to write his name in the release order. Angeles said what happened was two release orders were issued bearing the name only of Valencia.
“As of today, the recommendation to exonerate the two was already approved,” Angeles told reporters yesterday at the ISAFP gate immediately after Valencia’s release.
She said Valencia was found to have not held any of the three firearms that were seized, therefore he could not be charged with illegal possession of firearm. The same thing is true with the other suspect.
After his release, Valencia was subjected to medical examination at a hospital inside Camp Aguinaldo. Present to welcome him at the ISAFP gate was his wife and baby boy.
Angeles maintained that the five ex-soldiers are not involved in a plot to destabilize the government.
“They could not file rebellion or sedition because there is no overt act. This is just to substantiate an imaginary coup in order to aid an extension of the term of the chief of staff,” she said.
“There is no destabilization, there is no coup, there is no conspiracy,” she added.
But Bacarro said the investigation will proceed to find out the role of the five in planned destabilization plots, their possible affiliation with fugitive Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon, and of the Magdalo group.
Valencia’s wife said the only possible reason why her husband is being linked to the destabilization plot is because her husband used to be a driver of detained rebel officer Captain Ruben Guinolbay.
But she said that since her husband was discharged from the service last December for allegedly being a part of the February 2006 coup plot, Valencia had been busy with their family and in finding a job.
She said her husband successfully got a job as a family driver. But she maintained that her husband was not issued a firearm by his employer.
She said that what she knew of her husband’s activity last Tuesday was that he was supposed to fetch the child of his employer at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila City.
Valencia was driving at that time the Mitsubishi L300 van of his employer. The said van is now under police custody as a piece of evidence against the five.
Angeles said the other ex-soldier who is due for release will have to await until the DOJ comes out with a corrected release order./DMS
Australian security expert warns of more bombings, war in Mindanao if peace process with MILF remains stalled
By Ronron
January 17, 2008
An Australian security expert who has studied the situation in Mindanao for several years warned on Thursday of more bombing incidents and the escalation of a war in the south if the stalled peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will not move forward.
In a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Makati City, Dr. Kit Collier, a visiting fellow from the Australian National University, said foreign terrorists, whom he calls as “jihadists,” will always take advantage of the volatile situation.
“The jihadists will always seek to derail the peace process,” Collier said, because they can continue their links with some members of the MILF without the risk of being reported to authorities.
He said this is where the Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) between the government and the MILF particularly plays an important role. The AHJAG has yet to be re-activated since its expiration middle of last year.
The AHJAG is a mechanism that allows the MILF to coordinate with Philippine law enforcement agencies for the apprehension of criminal and terrorist elements that are hiding within the secessionist group.
Because of the lack of the AHJAG mechanism, Collier said “there is a danger of a drift to war this 2008” in Mindanao.
Collier said that based on interviews he made with local residents, MILF members, the police, and the military, foreign terrorists, particularly Malaysians, Indonesians and Singaporeans, continue to train local Moslems in the south.
“What’s worrying is the transfer of IED (improvised explosive device) technology, which is very potential for terrorist attacks,” he said.
Collier said the trainings continue in southern Maguindanao, Lanao areas, and in Jolo,_Sulu.
He would not say how many foreign terrorists are now hiding in Mindanao so as not to preempt his report that will come out in three weeks for the International Crisis Group.
Collier said the foreign terrorists have been there the past few years but their activities have been constricted by the peace process.
Collier said that if the peace negotiations resume and the AHJAG is re-established, the government could then map out the list of MILF commanders to find out and prosecute those who have links with the Jemaah Islamiyah and other extremist groups.
“That’s one (revive AHJAG) of the most important things that Manila can do. It’s easy to do, it’s not expensive. It simply requires the political moxie to get AHJAG up again and running so that we can work with the MILF to marginalize terrorists instead of by default allowing them to occupy center stage,” he said.
The peace talks between the government and the MILF bogged down in December last year after the latter protested the mention of “Constitutional process” in the provisions of the proposed ancestral domain agreement./DMS
January 17, 2008
An Australian security expert who has studied the situation in Mindanao for several years warned on Thursday of more bombing incidents and the escalation of a war in the south if the stalled peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will not move forward.
In a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Makati City, Dr. Kit Collier, a visiting fellow from the Australian National University, said foreign terrorists, whom he calls as “jihadists,” will always take advantage of the volatile situation.
“The jihadists will always seek to derail the peace process,” Collier said, because they can continue their links with some members of the MILF without the risk of being reported to authorities.
He said this is where the Adhoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) between the government and the MILF particularly plays an important role. The AHJAG has yet to be re-activated since its expiration middle of last year.
The AHJAG is a mechanism that allows the MILF to coordinate with Philippine law enforcement agencies for the apprehension of criminal and terrorist elements that are hiding within the secessionist group.
Because of the lack of the AHJAG mechanism, Collier said “there is a danger of a drift to war this 2008” in Mindanao.
Collier said that based on interviews he made with local residents, MILF members, the police, and the military, foreign terrorists, particularly Malaysians, Indonesians and Singaporeans, continue to train local Moslems in the south.
“What’s worrying is the transfer of IED (improvised explosive device) technology, which is very potential for terrorist attacks,” he said.
Collier said the trainings continue in southern Maguindanao, Lanao areas, and in Jolo,_Sulu.
He would not say how many foreign terrorists are now hiding in Mindanao so as not to preempt his report that will come out in three weeks for the International Crisis Group.
Collier said the foreign terrorists have been there the past few years but their activities have been constricted by the peace process.
Collier said that if the peace negotiations resume and the AHJAG is re-established, the government could then map out the list of MILF commanders to find out and prosecute those who have links with the Jemaah Islamiyah and other extremist groups.
“That’s one (revive AHJAG) of the most important things that Manila can do. It’s easy to do, it’s not expensive. It simply requires the political moxie to get AHJAG up again and running so that we can work with the MILF to marginalize terrorists instead of by default allowing them to occupy center stage,” he said.
The peace talks between the government and the MILF bogged down in December last year after the latter protested the mention of “Constitutional process” in the provisions of the proposed ancestral domain agreement./DMS
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Newsman helped Faeldon escape – PNP chief
By Ronron
January 16, 2008
A member of the media was allegedly a key to the escape of Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon last November 29, 2007 during the height of the Magdalo takeover of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.
Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said in a news conference at Camp Crame yesterday afternoon that the newsman actually facilitated the escape of Faeldon from the hotel, proof of which is a video footage and the testimony of a witness.
Razon opted not to disclose, however, the identity of the newsman, or even just the gender, saying that they have reasons “for higher consideration so we could get Faeldon.”
“Initially, we subjected that newsman to an investigation… And we were able to ascertain that … the newsman assisted Faeldon in leaving the hotel premises,” the PNP chief said.
The government had put up a P1 million bounty for the recapture of Faeldon, who had done the same escape in December 2005. He is facing charges before the civilian and military courts for his participation in the foiled 2003 Oakwood Mutiny in Makati City.
Razon said the act of the newsman to help Faeldon escape could actually make one liable for the crime of abetting a suspect and complicity to the crime of rebellion.
However, he said the police had decided not to pursue charges against the newsman, citing the same reason he gave why they are not identifying the said person./DMS
January 16, 2008
A member of the media was allegedly a key to the escape of Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon last November 29, 2007 during the height of the Magdalo takeover of the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City, the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.
Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said in a news conference at Camp Crame yesterday afternoon that the newsman actually facilitated the escape of Faeldon from the hotel, proof of which is a video footage and the testimony of a witness.
Razon opted not to disclose, however, the identity of the newsman, or even just the gender, saying that they have reasons “for higher consideration so we could get Faeldon.”
“Initially, we subjected that newsman to an investigation… And we were able to ascertain that … the newsman assisted Faeldon in leaving the hotel premises,” the PNP chief said.
The government had put up a P1 million bounty for the recapture of Faeldon, who had done the same escape in December 2005. He is facing charges before the civilian and military courts for his participation in the foiled 2003 Oakwood Mutiny in Makati City.
Razon said the act of the newsman to help Faeldon escape could actually make one liable for the crime of abetting a suspect and complicity to the crime of rebellion.
However, he said the police had decided not to pursue charges against the newsman, citing the same reason he gave why they are not identifying the said person./DMS
Catholic priest killed in Tawi-tawi after resisting kidnap attempt
By Ronron
January 16, 2008
A Catholic priest was shot dead after he allegedly resisted a group of armed men who wanted to abduct him last Tuesday night in Tawi-tawi province, police said yesterday.
Police identified the victim as Fr. Rey Roda, 53, who serves as Director of Notre Dame school in Barangay Tabawan, South Ubian town.
Roda died due to multiple gunshot wounds and a hack wound all over his body, provincial police director Sr. Supt. Wainwright Taup told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
Taup said Roda was talking to a teacher of his school, identified as Omar Taup, inside the convent located at the Notre Dame campus when some 10 armed men, who were wearing bonnets, arrived at around 9pm.
The suspects allegedly dragged Roda outside of the convent, but the priest was resisting.
Because of this, the suspects allegedly shot Roda using a long firearm until he died.
Taup said members of the South Ubian Municipal Police Station were already on their way to the convent to respond to the incident when they heard the sound of gunfire that allegedly killed Roda.
Witnesses told police that they saw the suspects take the teacher instead as they escaped towards a waiting speedboat docked at the shore about a kilometer away.
Taup said when the responding policemen arrived at the convent, the suspects were no longer there. The same thing happened when they went to the shore to run after the suspects.
“Our policemen saw the dead body of Fr. Roda at the basketball court of the Notre Dame school. Based on the wounds, we can assume that the suspects got mad at him probably because he was fighting back,” Taup said in Filipino.
Taup joint police and military operatives, particularly from the Marines and Navy, have already conducted pursuit operations against the suspects.
He disclosed that the abducted teacher is his second cousin.
As of yesterday afternoon, Taup said he has no information yet where the suspects went after the incident.
Initial information reaching him indicated that the suspects came from Bongao in the mainland of Tawi-tawi prior to the incident. He said Tabawan is a separate islet in the province that can be reached by boat within three to four hours from Bongao, the capital town of the province.
Taup said that most probably, the motive for the abduction of Roda was just for ransom. He said there is no information reaching him that the priest was under threat or has personal disputes with local residents.
“He is well-loved here. He has been here for more than 10 years already,” Taup said of Roda.
He also ruled out that Roda could be a casualty of Christian-Moslem rivalry in the province, saying that Christians and Moslems there have a good relationship.
While Taup refused to say about the affiliation of the suspects, the military, for its part, was quick at implicating the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
“There had been previous kidnapping attempts on prominent personalities by the ASG in Tawi-tawi but was successfully foiled by the military and police operatives,” Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara said in a statement.
Taup disclosed that based on the dialect of the suspects, they assume that the latter are Moslems. “Witnesses heard them talk in Tausug and Samal vernacular,” he said.
National Police chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame that he already directed the Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management (DIDM), and Regional Police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao to investigate the incident./DMS
January 16, 2008
A Catholic priest was shot dead after he allegedly resisted a group of armed men who wanted to abduct him last Tuesday night in Tawi-tawi province, police said yesterday.
Police identified the victim as Fr. Rey Roda, 53, who serves as Director of Notre Dame school in Barangay Tabawan, South Ubian town.
Roda died due to multiple gunshot wounds and a hack wound all over his body, provincial police director Sr. Supt. Wainwright Taup told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
Taup said Roda was talking to a teacher of his school, identified as Omar Taup, inside the convent located at the Notre Dame campus when some 10 armed men, who were wearing bonnets, arrived at around 9pm.
The suspects allegedly dragged Roda outside of the convent, but the priest was resisting.
Because of this, the suspects allegedly shot Roda using a long firearm until he died.
Taup said members of the South Ubian Municipal Police Station were already on their way to the convent to respond to the incident when they heard the sound of gunfire that allegedly killed Roda.
Witnesses told police that they saw the suspects take the teacher instead as they escaped towards a waiting speedboat docked at the shore about a kilometer away.
Taup said when the responding policemen arrived at the convent, the suspects were no longer there. The same thing happened when they went to the shore to run after the suspects.
“Our policemen saw the dead body of Fr. Roda at the basketball court of the Notre Dame school. Based on the wounds, we can assume that the suspects got mad at him probably because he was fighting back,” Taup said in Filipino.
Taup joint police and military operatives, particularly from the Marines and Navy, have already conducted pursuit operations against the suspects.
He disclosed that the abducted teacher is his second cousin.
As of yesterday afternoon, Taup said he has no information yet where the suspects went after the incident.
Initial information reaching him indicated that the suspects came from Bongao in the mainland of Tawi-tawi prior to the incident. He said Tabawan is a separate islet in the province that can be reached by boat within three to four hours from Bongao, the capital town of the province.
Taup said that most probably, the motive for the abduction of Roda was just for ransom. He said there is no information reaching him that the priest was under threat or has personal disputes with local residents.
“He is well-loved here. He has been here for more than 10 years already,” Taup said of Roda.
He also ruled out that Roda could be a casualty of Christian-Moslem rivalry in the province, saying that Christians and Moslems there have a good relationship.
While Taup refused to say about the affiliation of the suspects, the military, for its part, was quick at implicating the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
“There had been previous kidnapping attempts on prominent personalities by the ASG in Tawi-tawi but was successfully foiled by the military and police operatives,” Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara said in a statement.
Taup disclosed that based on the dialect of the suspects, they assume that the latter are Moslems. “Witnesses heard them talk in Tausug and Samal vernacular,” he said.
National Police chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame that he already directed the Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management (DIDM), and Regional Police director Chief Supt. Joel Goltiao to investigate the incident./DMS
Six active and former soldiers nabbed for alleged plot to destabilize the government
By Ronron
January 16, 2008
Police and military operatives nabbed six active and discharged soldiers on Monday and Tuesday due to their alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo government, various sources said yesterday.
According to Atty. Trixie Angeles, a lawyer of some military rebels, the first to be taken into military custody was Army Cpl. Jaime Dumagpi of the Scout Rangers unit.
Angeles said Dumagpi was accosted last Monday.
Dumagpi then led to the apprehension on Tuesday afternoon in Quezon City of five former soldiers, identified as Cpls. Ramon Perania, 37; Redante Maranan, 32; Kim Agas, 37; and Walter Francisco, 35; and Sgt. Orlando Valencia, 37, said Angeles.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Perania, Maranan, Francisco and Valencia are formerly with the Army Scout Ranger unit, while Agas was a former Marines personnel.
Torres said Perania, Francisco and Valencia were among the enlisted personnel discharged late last year from the service due to their alleged involvement in the February 2006 coup plot.
Maranan, on the other hand, had been on absence-without-official-leave since February 2006, said Torres.
Angeles said the five were supposed to go to Valencia’s residence last Tuesday when they were nabbed by persons who identified themselves as military intelligence operatives.
A police report said the apprehension was made at around 2:30 pm along Cordillera St. and N. Ramirez St. in Galas, Quezon City.
The former soldiers, whom the report identified as members of the Para sa Bayan (PSB) Destabilization Group, were allegedly aboard a Mitsubishi L300 van and a Honda Civic. Authorities have described PSB as allegedly being led by alleged coup plotter Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
The report said the five were caught after getting information from Dumagpi, an active member of the AFP who is serving as driver of alleged coup plotter Army Capt. Montano Almodovar.
“Dumagpi disclosed that he was instructed by Capt. Almodovar to monitor the transport of assorted high powered firearms by PSB members. Said firearms were supposed to be delivered to a yet undisclosed safehouse, which will be identified later on to him by Capt. Almodovar,” the report said.
During the operation last Tuesday, the arresting personnel from the criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) allegedly found one Colt M16 rifle with one magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition, one AR15 assault rifle with one magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition, and one AK 47 from the suspects’ vehicles.
But as per the account of some of the wives of the nabbed persons, Angeles said the latter did not have firearms in their possession when accosted.
“They were already gainfully employed. They were working as security staff. There was no arrest warrant when they were taken. So, there was no basis for their arrest,” Angeles said.
Angeles said only a crazy person would be bringing an AK47 firearm in broad daylight.
“I want to tell the military that it’s too perfect a script,” Angeles said, apparently implying that the firearms were planted just to provide basis for the apprehension of the five.
Earlier yesterday, Angeles told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo that Atty. Argee Guevarra first verified with the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) on Tuesday night if Dumagpi, whom he is representing, was really arrested.
Angeles said the ISAFP confirmed with Guevarra that Dumagpi was indeed detained but they would not say where.
During a visit yesterday morning at ISAFP, Angeles was told by an ISAFP personnel that indeed, they have taken into custody five persons, but the five were already transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame, Quezon City for the preparation of charges against them.
The five, however, does not include Dumagpi. Until 5pm yesterday, Angeles said Dumagpi remains unaccounted for.
From the CIDG, the five were brought to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila City where they were subjected to inquest proceedings.
The five were initially charged with illegal possession of firearms.
The police report said a continuing intelligence build-up and follow-up operations is being undertaken by the CIDG, in coordination with the ISAFP, to track the other PSB members.
“If we will see that there are still others who may be involved or who have complicity, we will effect their arrest,” PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters yesterday afternoon at Camp Crame.
Angeles said a preliminary investigation on the case will be held on January 23.
In the meantime, the five will be detained at the ISAFP compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Angeles said.
The government has been saying in the past weeks that a destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration continues to hound the country. The destabilizers will allegedly take advantage of the mass actions that will be held on January 18th and 22nd as militants commemorate the EDSA II People Power Revolution and the 1987 Mendiola Massacre, respectively./DMS
January 16, 2008
Police and military operatives nabbed six active and discharged soldiers on Monday and Tuesday due to their alleged plot to overthrow the Arroyo government, various sources said yesterday.
According to Atty. Trixie Angeles, a lawyer of some military rebels, the first to be taken into military custody was Army Cpl. Jaime Dumagpi of the Scout Rangers unit.
Angeles said Dumagpi was accosted last Monday.
Dumagpi then led to the apprehension on Tuesday afternoon in Quezon City of five former soldiers, identified as Cpls. Ramon Perania, 37; Redante Maranan, 32; Kim Agas, 37; and Walter Francisco, 35; and Sgt. Orlando Valencia, 37, said Angeles.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Perania, Maranan, Francisco and Valencia are formerly with the Army Scout Ranger unit, while Agas was a former Marines personnel.
Torres said Perania, Francisco and Valencia were among the enlisted personnel discharged late last year from the service due to their alleged involvement in the February 2006 coup plot.
Maranan, on the other hand, had been on absence-without-official-leave since February 2006, said Torres.
Angeles said the five were supposed to go to Valencia’s residence last Tuesday when they were nabbed by persons who identified themselves as military intelligence operatives.
A police report said the apprehension was made at around 2:30 pm along Cordillera St. and N. Ramirez St. in Galas, Quezon City.
The former soldiers, whom the report identified as members of the Para sa Bayan (PSB) Destabilization Group, were allegedly aboard a Mitsubishi L300 van and a Honda Civic. Authorities have described PSB as allegedly being led by alleged coup plotter Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
The report said the five were caught after getting information from Dumagpi, an active member of the AFP who is serving as driver of alleged coup plotter Army Capt. Montano Almodovar.
“Dumagpi disclosed that he was instructed by Capt. Almodovar to monitor the transport of assorted high powered firearms by PSB members. Said firearms were supposed to be delivered to a yet undisclosed safehouse, which will be identified later on to him by Capt. Almodovar,” the report said.
During the operation last Tuesday, the arresting personnel from the criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) allegedly found one Colt M16 rifle with one magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition, one AR15 assault rifle with one magazine containing 30 rounds of ammunition, and one AK 47 from the suspects’ vehicles.
But as per the account of some of the wives of the nabbed persons, Angeles said the latter did not have firearms in their possession when accosted.
“They were already gainfully employed. They were working as security staff. There was no arrest warrant when they were taken. So, there was no basis for their arrest,” Angeles said.
Angeles said only a crazy person would be bringing an AK47 firearm in broad daylight.
“I want to tell the military that it’s too perfect a script,” Angeles said, apparently implying that the firearms were planted just to provide basis for the apprehension of the five.
Earlier yesterday, Angeles told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo that Atty. Argee Guevarra first verified with the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) on Tuesday night if Dumagpi, whom he is representing, was really arrested.
Angeles said the ISAFP confirmed with Guevarra that Dumagpi was indeed detained but they would not say where.
During a visit yesterday morning at ISAFP, Angeles was told by an ISAFP personnel that indeed, they have taken into custody five persons, but the five were already transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame, Quezon City for the preparation of charges against them.
The five, however, does not include Dumagpi. Until 5pm yesterday, Angeles said Dumagpi remains unaccounted for.
From the CIDG, the five were brought to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila City where they were subjected to inquest proceedings.
The five were initially charged with illegal possession of firearms.
The police report said a continuing intelligence build-up and follow-up operations is being undertaken by the CIDG, in coordination with the ISAFP, to track the other PSB members.
“If we will see that there are still others who may be involved or who have complicity, we will effect their arrest,” PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. told reporters yesterday afternoon at Camp Crame.
Angeles said a preliminary investigation on the case will be held on January 23.
In the meantime, the five will be detained at the ISAFP compound in Camp Aguinaldo, Angeles said.
The government has been saying in the past weeks that a destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration continues to hound the country. The destabilizers will allegedly take advantage of the mass actions that will be held on January 18th and 22nd as militants commemorate the EDSA II People Power Revolution and the 1987 Mendiola Massacre, respectively./DMS
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Outsourcing industry hopes to tap more engineering and architectural talents
By Ronron
January 15, 2008
The Philippine outsourcing industry is looking at exploring engineering and architectural talents in the country as it seeks to expand the industry in the coming years.
Oscar Sañez, Chief Executive Officer of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum at Makati City in Tuesday morning that the engineering and architectural services are just among those that have to be tapped in the industry.
Sañez said that of the close to 320,000 employees in the Business Processing Outsourcing industry in 2007, engineering and architectural talents only account for less than five percent.
The bulk, he said, consists of call center agents.
“By 2010, these sectors should account for more than five percent already of our targeted 920,000 employees in the industry,” Sañez said.
Year 2007 brought $5 billion revenue for the industry, accounting for six percent share of the global outsourcing industry.
If they meet their 2010 target, Sañez said the industry should bring $13 billion revenue in the country, comprising 10 percent of the global revenue.
“This is a fast growing industry. And we still have lots of sectors in the BPO that have yet to be tapped. The new players are actually discovering new services that we can offer like architectural drafting and designs, engineering or computer-aided designs,” Sañez said.
Jose Isidro Camacho, managing director of Singapore-based Credit Suisse and former Finance Secretary, said in the same forum that the BPO is among the industry that has bright prospects for 2008.
This is based on the fact that the country is rich in human resources, equipped with the natural character of being hospitable and have good basic English./DMS
January 15, 2008
The Philippine outsourcing industry is looking at exploring engineering and architectural talents in the country as it seeks to expand the industry in the coming years.
Oscar Sañez, Chief Executive Officer of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in a forum at Makati City in Tuesday morning that the engineering and architectural services are just among those that have to be tapped in the industry.
Sañez said that of the close to 320,000 employees in the Business Processing Outsourcing industry in 2007, engineering and architectural talents only account for less than five percent.
The bulk, he said, consists of call center agents.
“By 2010, these sectors should account for more than five percent already of our targeted 920,000 employees in the industry,” Sañez said.
Year 2007 brought $5 billion revenue for the industry, accounting for six percent share of the global outsourcing industry.
If they meet their 2010 target, Sañez said the industry should bring $13 billion revenue in the country, comprising 10 percent of the global revenue.
“This is a fast growing industry. And we still have lots of sectors in the BPO that have yet to be tapped. The new players are actually discovering new services that we can offer like architectural drafting and designs, engineering or computer-aided designs,” Sañez said.
Jose Isidro Camacho, managing director of Singapore-based Credit Suisse and former Finance Secretary, said in the same forum that the BPO is among the industry that has bright prospects for 2008.
This is based on the fact that the country is rich in human resources, equipped with the natural character of being hospitable and have good basic English./DMS
AFP maintains there is destabilization report but would not connect it to rumored term extension of Esperon
By Ronron
January 15, 2008
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintained on Tuesday that there is really a destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration.
But it was quick to say that it not a serious one, nor is it related to rumors that AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. will be extended beyond his term on February 9 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
“The threat is there but it’s not that serious. It’s (something) that we can handle,” AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Bacarro said they are looking at the probable collusion of Leftists and rightists in the attempt to grab power from the incumbent, similar to what happened in February 2006.
“Definitely, the threat was not imagined by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This has basis. There are developments that would lead to the possibility of a destabilization effort,” he said.
He refused to say, however, when is the target date to execute the plot, and how it will be carried out for security reasons.
But he admitted that the destabilizers “can take advantage of situations like on January 22” wherein there are scheduled mass rallies by militant groups.
“They can ride on the massing people,” Bacarro said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said that it is prepared to deploy 10,000 cops to secure the metropolis starting January 18 when militants will start taking the streets to commemorate the EDSA II People Power Revolution that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency.
“We can deploy up to at most 10,000 cops because our concern here is public safety. We will provide security to everyone, including those in the rally,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said.
The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will be the group leading the mass action on January 18, while the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) will lead the activity on January 22 to commemorate the 1987 Mendiola Massacre.
Bacarro said elements from the AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will also be ready to assist the PNP if necessary.
Meanwhile, asked about rumors that the destabilization effort is being floated by government to justify an extension of Esperon’s term, Bacarro said: “To link with the rumors that the chief of staff would be extended, I think it’s not connected really.”/DMS
January 15, 2008
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintained on Tuesday that there is really a destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration.
But it was quick to say that it not a serious one, nor is it related to rumors that AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. will be extended beyond his term on February 9 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
“The threat is there but it’s not that serious. It’s (something) that we can handle,” AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Bacarro said they are looking at the probable collusion of Leftists and rightists in the attempt to grab power from the incumbent, similar to what happened in February 2006.
“Definitely, the threat was not imagined by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This has basis. There are developments that would lead to the possibility of a destabilization effort,” he said.
He refused to say, however, when is the target date to execute the plot, and how it will be carried out for security reasons.
But he admitted that the destabilizers “can take advantage of situations like on January 22” wherein there are scheduled mass rallies by militant groups.
“They can ride on the massing people,” Bacarro said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said that it is prepared to deploy 10,000 cops to secure the metropolis starting January 18 when militants will start taking the streets to commemorate the EDSA II People Power Revolution that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency.
“We can deploy up to at most 10,000 cops because our concern here is public safety. We will provide security to everyone, including those in the rally,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said.
The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will be the group leading the mass action on January 18, while the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) will lead the activity on January 22 to commemorate the 1987 Mendiola Massacre.
Bacarro said elements from the AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will also be ready to assist the PNP if necessary.
Meanwhile, asked about rumors that the destabilization effort is being floated by government to justify an extension of Esperon’s term, Bacarro said: “To link with the rumors that the chief of staff would be extended, I think it’s not connected really.”/DMS
AFP maintains there is destabilization report but would not connect it to rumored term extension of Esperon
By Ronron
January 15, 2008
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintained on Tuesday that there is really a destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration.
But it was quick to say that it not a serious one, nor is it related to rumors that AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. will be extended beyond his term on February 9 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
“The threat is there but it’s not that serious. It’s (something) that we can handle,” AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Bacarro said they are looking at the probable collusion of Leftists and rightists in the attempt to grab power from the incumbent, similar to what happened in February 2006.
“Definitely, the threat was not imagined by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This has basis. There are developments that would lead to the possibility of a destabilization effort,” he said.
He refused to say, however, when is the target date to execute the plot, and how it will be carried out for security reasons.
But he admitted that the destabilizers “can take advantage of situations like on January 22” wherein there are scheduled mass rallies by militant groups.
“They can ride on the massing people,” Bacarro said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said that it is prepared to deploy 10,000 cops to secure the metropolis starting January 18 when militants will start taking the streets to commemorate the EDSA II People Power Revolution that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency.
“We can deploy up to at most 10,000 cops because our concern here is public safety. We will provide security to everyone, including those in the rally,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said.
The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will be the group leading the mass action on January 18, while the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) will lead the activity on January 22 to commemorate the 1987 Mendiola Massacre.
Bacarro said elements from the AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will also be ready to assist the PNP if necessary.
Meanwhile, asked about rumors that the destabilization effort is being floated by government to justify an extension of Esperon’s term, Bacarro said: “To link with the rumors that the chief of staff would be extended, I think it’s not connected really.”/DMS
January 15, 2008
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) maintained on Tuesday that there is really a destabilization plot against the Arroyo administration.
But it was quick to say that it not a serious one, nor is it related to rumors that AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. will be extended beyond his term on February 9 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
“The threat is there but it’s not that serious. It’s (something) that we can handle,” AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Bacarro said they are looking at the probable collusion of Leftists and rightists in the attempt to grab power from the incumbent, similar to what happened in February 2006.
“Definitely, the threat was not imagined by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This has basis. There are developments that would lead to the possibility of a destabilization effort,” he said.
He refused to say, however, when is the target date to execute the plot, and how it will be carried out for security reasons.
But he admitted that the destabilizers “can take advantage of situations like on January 22” wherein there are scheduled mass rallies by militant groups.
“They can ride on the massing people,” Bacarro said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, said that it is prepared to deploy 10,000 cops to secure the metropolis starting January 18 when militants will start taking the streets to commemorate the EDSA II People Power Revolution that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency.
“We can deploy up to at most 10,000 cops because our concern here is public safety. We will provide security to everyone, including those in the rally,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said.
The militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) will be the group leading the mass action on January 18, while the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) will lead the activity on January 22 to commemorate the 1987 Mendiola Massacre.
Bacarro said elements from the AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will also be ready to assist the PNP if necessary.
Meanwhile, asked about rumors that the destabilization effort is being floated by government to justify an extension of Esperon’s term, Bacarro said: “To link with the rumors that the chief of staff would be extended, I think it’s not connected really.”/DMS
Two soldiers hurt after armed men harass Army detachment in Maguindanao
By Ronron
January 15, 2008
Two government soldiers were hurt after their detachment was fired upon by armed men before dawn Tuesday in Maguindanao province, a military spokesman said.
According to Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, some 15 unknown armed men fired upon the detachment of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion – Bravo Company in Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan town at around 2:30 am yesterday.
Ando said the identities or affiliation of the attackers were not immediately known, although he pointed out that said area is occupied by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters.
Ando said Army personnel at the detachment, numbering to about 20, fired back at the suspects, ensuing a 45-minute exchange of gunfire.
The suspects, he said, used rocket-propelled grenades and other high-powered firearms that hurt Corporal Pilar and Private First Class Reporte. Both were immediately brought to the Camp Siongco Station Hospital in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Shariff Kabunsuan province for medical treatment.
Casualties on the side of the perpetrators are undetermined, said Ando.
“The moment we find out who are those perpetrators, we will take appropriate action. They should be made answerable,” he said.
If the suspects are from the MILF, then they will file the complaint before the ceasefire committee. If not, the complaint can be filed before the police.
Ando noted though that there have been no fighting between government troops and the MILF in the last 10 months.
“We are really showing them that we are sincere in the peace process. In fact, we have been conducting peace-building seminars among our troops to avoid conflict with the MILF,” Ando said.
The peace talks between the government and the MILF was stalled in December last year after the latter opposed to the Constitutional process that were included in the provisions for the ancestral domain agreement proposal./DMS
January 15, 2008
Two government soldiers were hurt after their detachment was fired upon by armed men before dawn Tuesday in Maguindanao province, a military spokesman said.
According to Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, some 15 unknown armed men fired upon the detachment of the Army’s 64th Infantry Battalion – Bravo Company in Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan town at around 2:30 am yesterday.
Ando said the identities or affiliation of the attackers were not immediately known, although he pointed out that said area is occupied by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters.
Ando said Army personnel at the detachment, numbering to about 20, fired back at the suspects, ensuing a 45-minute exchange of gunfire.
The suspects, he said, used rocket-propelled grenades and other high-powered firearms that hurt Corporal Pilar and Private First Class Reporte. Both were immediately brought to the Camp Siongco Station Hospital in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Shariff Kabunsuan province for medical treatment.
Casualties on the side of the perpetrators are undetermined, said Ando.
“The moment we find out who are those perpetrators, we will take appropriate action. They should be made answerable,” he said.
If the suspects are from the MILF, then they will file the complaint before the ceasefire committee. If not, the complaint can be filed before the police.
Ando noted though that there have been no fighting between government troops and the MILF in the last 10 months.
“We are really showing them that we are sincere in the peace process. In fact, we have been conducting peace-building seminars among our troops to avoid conflict with the MILF,” Ando said.
The peace talks between the government and the MILF was stalled in December last year after the latter opposed to the Constitutional process that were included in the provisions for the ancestral domain agreement proposal./DMS
Australian security expert not impressed with RP efforts in addressing terrorism
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Australian security expert not convinced of gas explosion findings of RP authorities on Glorietta 2 blast probe
By Ronron
January 15, 2008
An Australian academician who has focused most of his jobs to security-related issues in the Philippines and other countries in the region openly expressed his doubts Tuesday on the gas explosion findings of Philippine authorities on the Glorietta 2 blast incident last October 19 in Makati City.
Dr. Kit Collier, a visiting fellow from the Australian National University, said in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) yesterday that Philippine investigators have yet to put forward more convincing explanation to dispel suspicions that what happened was not triggered by a bomb or an improvised explosive device (IED).
“What is disappointing about the PNP (Philippine National Police) report, what disturbs me about this case is the number of mutually contradictory accounts,” Collier said.
He said that initially, authorities said there were traces of RDX found at the blast site, which led them to say that it was definitely an act of terrorism. However, they recanted by saying that it was an industrial accident particularly caused by methane gas and inflammable diesel fuel.
“We’re told later that RDX can be found in lipsticks or that it was planted by the Army,” Collier said, inciting laughter among the audience.
Because of these inconsistencies, Collier said no wonder, “there’s a very big sense of cynicism towards official authorities.”
And the cynic, he said, could not be blamed if they think that there is conspiracy theory on the part of the government to hide something, like if it was really a terrorist attack, or an inside job, or a destabilization effort, to avoid embarrassment.
Collier said it all boils down to politics.
“It’s very reminiscent of the Superferry (bombing incident in 2005), which, for eight months, we were told it was an accident, the air-conditioner-exploded-on-board theory,” Collier said, but only to be clarified later that it was an act of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Collier said he does not buy the explanation of the PNP that there were no remnants of a bomb, nor were there marks left by a bombing, that is why the bombing angle is ruled out.
He cited for example the possible effects when a C4 is blown off without a casing.
“It’s really important that this confusion is dispelled,” he said.
Asked what is his theory then about the real cause of the blast, the Australian expert, however, only said: “The possibilities I mentioned are more convincing than the accident finding.”
“My evidence (for doubting the PNP report) is the government’s lack of evidence,” he said.
Sought for comment, Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, chief of the Southern Police District who headed the Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force for the Glorietta 2 blast, told Manila Shimbun in an irked tone: “I have no comment… It’s a waste of time commenting when he had not investigated the incident.”
Ticman said Collier should first read their report before issuing a statement.
“Our report is very convincing, if you look closely,” he said in a phone interview.
Ticman said it would be better if Collier visit his office “and talk with us” for him to get the PNP’s explanation.
The PNP had dislodged the RDX theory days after the incident, saying those were taken actually from the ground floor of Glorietta 2 and not from the basement where the blast happened.
In a separate phone interview, Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) spokesman Alfonso Reyes expressed elation over the statement of Collier.
“We have publicly stated our conclusion that it’s not a gas explosion so we are not surprised that other experts are coming out, expressing doubts on the PNP findings,” Reyes told Manila Shimbun.
He reiterated that they have presented “hard evidence” before the police and the public to back their theory that a gas explosion is unlikely to happen at Glorietta 2.
Criminal and administrative charges have been filed against at least 15 persons for negligence that resulted in the blast, killing 11 people and hurting 108 others./DMS
January 15, 2008
An Australian academician who has focused most of his jobs to security-related issues in the Philippines and other countries in the region openly expressed his doubts Tuesday on the gas explosion findings of Philippine authorities on the Glorietta 2 blast incident last October 19 in Makati City.
Dr. Kit Collier, a visiting fellow from the Australian National University, said in a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) yesterday that Philippine investigators have yet to put forward more convincing explanation to dispel suspicions that what happened was not triggered by a bomb or an improvised explosive device (IED).
“What is disappointing about the PNP (Philippine National Police) report, what disturbs me about this case is the number of mutually contradictory accounts,” Collier said.
He said that initially, authorities said there were traces of RDX found at the blast site, which led them to say that it was definitely an act of terrorism. However, they recanted by saying that it was an industrial accident particularly caused by methane gas and inflammable diesel fuel.
“We’re told later that RDX can be found in lipsticks or that it was planted by the Army,” Collier said, inciting laughter among the audience.
Because of these inconsistencies, Collier said no wonder, “there’s a very big sense of cynicism towards official authorities.”
And the cynic, he said, could not be blamed if they think that there is conspiracy theory on the part of the government to hide something, like if it was really a terrorist attack, or an inside job, or a destabilization effort, to avoid embarrassment.
Collier said it all boils down to politics.
“It’s very reminiscent of the Superferry (bombing incident in 2005), which, for eight months, we were told it was an accident, the air-conditioner-exploded-on-board theory,” Collier said, but only to be clarified later that it was an act of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
Collier said he does not buy the explanation of the PNP that there were no remnants of a bomb, nor were there marks left by a bombing, that is why the bombing angle is ruled out.
He cited for example the possible effects when a C4 is blown off without a casing.
“It’s really important that this confusion is dispelled,” he said.
Asked what is his theory then about the real cause of the blast, the Australian expert, however, only said: “The possibilities I mentioned are more convincing than the accident finding.”
“My evidence (for doubting the PNP report) is the government’s lack of evidence,” he said.
Sought for comment, Chief Supt. Luizo Ticman, chief of the Southern Police District who headed the Multi-Agency Investigation Task Force for the Glorietta 2 blast, told Manila Shimbun in an irked tone: “I have no comment… It’s a waste of time commenting when he had not investigated the incident.”
Ticman said Collier should first read their report before issuing a statement.
“Our report is very convincing, if you look closely,” he said in a phone interview.
Ticman said it would be better if Collier visit his office “and talk with us” for him to get the PNP’s explanation.
The PNP had dislodged the RDX theory days after the incident, saying those were taken actually from the ground floor of Glorietta 2 and not from the basement where the blast happened.
In a separate phone interview, Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) spokesman Alfonso Reyes expressed elation over the statement of Collier.
“We have publicly stated our conclusion that it’s not a gas explosion so we are not surprised that other experts are coming out, expressing doubts on the PNP findings,” Reyes told Manila Shimbun.
He reiterated that they have presented “hard evidence” before the police and the public to back their theory that a gas explosion is unlikely to happen at Glorietta 2.
Criminal and administrative charges have been filed against at least 15 persons for negligence that resulted in the blast, killing 11 people and hurting 108 others./DMS
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Militants belie power-grab plot this month
By Ronron
January 14, 2008
Militant groups admitted Monday that there will be mass actions on January 18th and 22nd but belied these are intended to overthrow the Arroyo government.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes said their organization will indeed hold a mass gathering on January 18 but it is just to commemorate the EDSA People Power II Revolution in 2001 that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to power.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), in a statement, said that its group also intends to do the same on January 22nd but it is to remember only the Mendiola Massacre in 1987.
“We are wondering why this government, the Arroyo administration, is saying that there are destabilization threats in the coming days when the activities are just yearly commemorative activities, which are part of our rights to express one’s self and to protest against this administration,” Reyes said in Filipino in a radio interview yesterday morning.
“That (destabilization plot) seems impossible to happen in the coming days, really. What will happen are just commemorative activities,” he added.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome on Sunday said authorities are always on alert for forthcoming mass actions because destabilizers, especially those involved in recently foiled coup plots, may take advantage of those.
A similar scenario was allegedly foiled in February 2006 when military officers led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim supposedly wanted to join the EDSA People Power II Revolution anniversary commemoration only to withdraw support from Arroyo.
Reyes said their activity on January 18 is to remind Arroyo of the promises she made when she was entrusted the Presidency on January 20, 2001 over Joseph Estrada, who was being accused then of massive corruption in government.
“Before, they are so happy about EDSA gatherings because it is for their benefit. Seven years later, now that they are already in power, it seems like they no longer want the people to reminisce and look back how they were placed in power and be held accountable for the seven years they have been in position,” he said.
KMP chairman Rafael Mariano, for his part, said they are not hiding their January 22 activity to prove that they have no motive other than calling for justice for the victims of the Mendiola Massacre and all other forms of so-called State terrorism.
“It is laughable though that Sec. (Raul) Gonzalez (of the Department of Justice) is making it as if we are going to take over Malacanang or something. He should stop making us as an excuse to hid his fascist bent in further restricting the media,” Mariano said.
Over the weekend, Gonzalez was reported to have issued an advisory to media practitioners that they will be arrested if they get in the way of legitimate police operations like what happened during the November 29, 2007 siege at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City by Lim, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and other Magdalo soldiers.
Gonzalez reportedly based his advisory on an intelligence report that there will be a destabilization plot on January 22.
The police and military, however, could not immediately confirm said report, saying they are still verifying it.
In an interview yesterday afternoon, PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said they have no holding of the report cited by the Justice Secretary and just insisted on their initial information that it is the Magdalo Group that continues to pose a threat to the current administration.
On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, chief of the National Capital Region Command, said what they are watching out is the infiltration by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the planned mass actions in the coming days, including that on January 22.
“We have some information that they are really out to do something, the CPP-NPA is really out to do something to destabilize our government,” Mesa said in a separate interview with Camp Aguinaldo reporters.
Mesa said the KMP should “look into their own organization” on January 22 “to find out if they are already infiltrated or not.”
It can be recalled that the government had also implicated the 39-year-old communist movement in the alleged power grab plot in February 2006. The government had said then that the Magdalo Group had been in touch with communist leaders in the outskirts of Metro Manila.
Amidst having such information, Mesa assured that their troops are ready to quell any violence that is intended to overthrow the government.
Razon, for his part, sounded more confident. “There will be no change in government. Any power grab plot will hurt the country economically,” he said.
Asked why then are government officials talking freely about alleged destabilization threats against the Arroyo administration this time, Razon said: “It is to empower the people. We’d rather inform the people of threats to society so they would be on alert and can help the agencies address these threats and prevent them from moving.”
But Bayan and KMP assured that there will be no violence or any move disruptive to peace when they hold their mass actions on the 18th and 22nd, respectively.
“On our part, we will definitely push through with our plan and not allow this psy-war tactic of the regime to hamper our demand for land and justice,” Mariano said.
“We are urging the Filipino people to join us and show this government that we are standing for our rights and are not afraid to struggle,” he added./DMS
January 14, 2008
Militant groups admitted Monday that there will be mass actions on January 18th and 22nd but belied these are intended to overthrow the Arroyo government.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes said their organization will indeed hold a mass gathering on January 18 but it is just to commemorate the EDSA People Power II Revolution in 2001 that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to power.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), in a statement, said that its group also intends to do the same on January 22nd but it is to remember only the Mendiola Massacre in 1987.
“We are wondering why this government, the Arroyo administration, is saying that there are destabilization threats in the coming days when the activities are just yearly commemorative activities, which are part of our rights to express one’s self and to protest against this administration,” Reyes said in Filipino in a radio interview yesterday morning.
“That (destabilization plot) seems impossible to happen in the coming days, really. What will happen are just commemorative activities,” he added.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome on Sunday said authorities are always on alert for forthcoming mass actions because destabilizers, especially those involved in recently foiled coup plots, may take advantage of those.
A similar scenario was allegedly foiled in February 2006 when military officers led by Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim supposedly wanted to join the EDSA People Power II Revolution anniversary commemoration only to withdraw support from Arroyo.
Reyes said their activity on January 18 is to remind Arroyo of the promises she made when she was entrusted the Presidency on January 20, 2001 over Joseph Estrada, who was being accused then of massive corruption in government.
“Before, they are so happy about EDSA gatherings because it is for their benefit. Seven years later, now that they are already in power, it seems like they no longer want the people to reminisce and look back how they were placed in power and be held accountable for the seven years they have been in position,” he said.
KMP chairman Rafael Mariano, for his part, said they are not hiding their January 22 activity to prove that they have no motive other than calling for justice for the victims of the Mendiola Massacre and all other forms of so-called State terrorism.
“It is laughable though that Sec. (Raul) Gonzalez (of the Department of Justice) is making it as if we are going to take over Malacanang or something. He should stop making us as an excuse to hid his fascist bent in further restricting the media,” Mariano said.
Over the weekend, Gonzalez was reported to have issued an advisory to media practitioners that they will be arrested if they get in the way of legitimate police operations like what happened during the November 29, 2007 siege at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City by Lim, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and other Magdalo soldiers.
Gonzalez reportedly based his advisory on an intelligence report that there will be a destabilization plot on January 22.
The police and military, however, could not immediately confirm said report, saying they are still verifying it.
In an interview yesterday afternoon, PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said they have no holding of the report cited by the Justice Secretary and just insisted on their initial information that it is the Magdalo Group that continues to pose a threat to the current administration.
On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa, chief of the National Capital Region Command, said what they are watching out is the infiltration by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the planned mass actions in the coming days, including that on January 22.
“We have some information that they are really out to do something, the CPP-NPA is really out to do something to destabilize our government,” Mesa said in a separate interview with Camp Aguinaldo reporters.
Mesa said the KMP should “look into their own organization” on January 22 “to find out if they are already infiltrated or not.”
It can be recalled that the government had also implicated the 39-year-old communist movement in the alleged power grab plot in February 2006. The government had said then that the Magdalo Group had been in touch with communist leaders in the outskirts of Metro Manila.
Amidst having such information, Mesa assured that their troops are ready to quell any violence that is intended to overthrow the government.
Razon, for his part, sounded more confident. “There will be no change in government. Any power grab plot will hurt the country economically,” he said.
Asked why then are government officials talking freely about alleged destabilization threats against the Arroyo administration this time, Razon said: “It is to empower the people. We’d rather inform the people of threats to society so they would be on alert and can help the agencies address these threats and prevent them from moving.”
But Bayan and KMP assured that there will be no violence or any move disruptive to peace when they hold their mass actions on the 18th and 22nd, respectively.
“On our part, we will definitely push through with our plan and not allow this psy-war tactic of the regime to hamper our demand for land and justice,” Mariano said.
“We are urging the Filipino people to join us and show this government that we are standing for our rights and are not afraid to struggle,” he added./DMS
Monday, January 14, 2008
Japanese critical after being stabbed in Makati
By Ronron
January 13, 2008
A 43-year-old Japanese national is in critical condition after he was stabbed by alleged robbers in Makati City on Saturday night, police said yesterday.
Norihiko Kozuka sustained two stab wounds on the right side of his upper body that affected his liver and kidney after allegedly fighting it out with two to three suspects.
“He allegedly fought back when the suspects tried to rob him,” said a Makati civilian safety personnel who received Kozuka at the Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK).
Kozuka arrived at said hospital at around 9:15 pm or 15 minutes later since he was found lying with stab wounds at the corner of Salcedo and Aguirre Streets in Legazpi Village, Makati City.
A building security guard was the first to see him in said condition. He was immediately rushed to the hospital by two policemen and another security guard aboard a police car.
It was not clear, however, if the suspects managed to get anything from Kozuka since he had his three wallets with P9,663 cash in it, his Michelin wrist watch, assorted ATM cards, and Nokia 6600 cellphone when he was found.
Surgeon Raymond Mallari of OSMAK said Kozuka remained in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon due to immense loss of blood.
Embassy personnel said Kozuka’s wife is expected to arrive from Japan on Sunday night./DMS
January 13, 2008
A 43-year-old Japanese national is in critical condition after he was stabbed by alleged robbers in Makati City on Saturday night, police said yesterday.
Norihiko Kozuka sustained two stab wounds on the right side of his upper body that affected his liver and kidney after allegedly fighting it out with two to three suspects.
“He allegedly fought back when the suspects tried to rob him,” said a Makati civilian safety personnel who received Kozuka at the Ospital ng Makati (OSMAK).
Kozuka arrived at said hospital at around 9:15 pm or 15 minutes later since he was found lying with stab wounds at the corner of Salcedo and Aguirre Streets in Legazpi Village, Makati City.
A building security guard was the first to see him in said condition. He was immediately rushed to the hospital by two policemen and another security guard aboard a police car.
It was not clear, however, if the suspects managed to get anything from Kozuka since he had his three wallets with P9,663 cash in it, his Michelin wrist watch, assorted ATM cards, and Nokia 6600 cellphone when he was found.
Surgeon Raymond Mallari of OSMAK said Kozuka remained in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon due to immense loss of blood.
Embassy personnel said Kozuka’s wife is expected to arrive from Japan on Sunday night./DMS
Authorities on alert for November 29 power grab plot follow-through this month
By Ronron
January 13, 2008
Government security forces are on alert for a possible follow-through this month of the attempted power grab plot last November 29, 2007 in Makati City.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said in a radio interview Sunday that it is automatic on the part of the government to prepare for possible follow-through episodes of previous destabilization activities, especially if a mass action is forthcoming.
“If we have these activities (mass actions), people could take advantage of the situation. They (destabilizers) could take part in the activities for the day,” Bartolome said, referring to January 22 when Filipinos are expected to commemorate the EDSA II incident in 2001 that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency over Joseph Estrada.
In a separate interview by phone, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said that while they still do not have a complete picture of the alleged plot, he assured that his troops are prepared for any eventuality.
“That is still subject for verification… But what is important is we are ready,” he said.
Without citing which sector could the alleged destabilizers come from, Esperon displayed confidence that they will not be getting any support anymore.
“Last November 29, didn’t they look funny? Was that okay?” the military chief said, apparently pointing out the lack of support of those who marched to Ayala Avenue and took over the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City to call for the downfall of Arroyo.
The so-called November 29 Manila Pen siege was led by Senator Antonio Trillanes, IV, one of the core leaders of the Magdalo Group, and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
In February 2006, the group of Lim was also accused of plotting a coup d’ etat to be launched when people will take the streets to commemorate the EDSA 1 People Power Revolution that ended the dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 in favor of Corazon Aquino.
Bartolome said that as they continue to monitor any destabilization plots against the Arroyo administration, the PNP is also appealing to alleged destabilizers to quit from their plans.
“All our communities have a common aspiration, and that is to have a peaceful and quiet environment, without any apprehension about this kind of activities (destabilization), which will make the country’s situation worse. So, hopefully, for the year 2008, nothing will happen,” Bartolome said./DMS
January 13, 2008
Government security forces are on alert for a possible follow-through this month of the attempted power grab plot last November 29, 2007 in Makati City.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said in a radio interview Sunday that it is automatic on the part of the government to prepare for possible follow-through episodes of previous destabilization activities, especially if a mass action is forthcoming.
“If we have these activities (mass actions), people could take advantage of the situation. They (destabilizers) could take part in the activities for the day,” Bartolome said, referring to January 22 when Filipinos are expected to commemorate the EDSA II incident in 2001 that catapulted Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the presidency over Joseph Estrada.
In a separate interview by phone, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said that while they still do not have a complete picture of the alleged plot, he assured that his troops are prepared for any eventuality.
“That is still subject for verification… But what is important is we are ready,” he said.
Without citing which sector could the alleged destabilizers come from, Esperon displayed confidence that they will not be getting any support anymore.
“Last November 29, didn’t they look funny? Was that okay?” the military chief said, apparently pointing out the lack of support of those who marched to Ayala Avenue and took over the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City to call for the downfall of Arroyo.
The so-called November 29 Manila Pen siege was led by Senator Antonio Trillanes, IV, one of the core leaders of the Magdalo Group, and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim.
In February 2006, the group of Lim was also accused of plotting a coup d’ etat to be launched when people will take the streets to commemorate the EDSA 1 People Power Revolution that ended the dictatorial rule of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 in favor of Corazon Aquino.
Bartolome said that as they continue to monitor any destabilization plots against the Arroyo administration, the PNP is also appealing to alleged destabilizers to quit from their plans.
“All our communities have a common aspiration, and that is to have a peaceful and quiet environment, without any apprehension about this kind of activities (destabilization), which will make the country’s situation worse. So, hopefully, for the year 2008, nothing will happen,” Bartolome said./DMS
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