By Ronron
February 1, 2008
The defense and military prosecution agreed Friday to come up with proposals to fast track the court martial proceedings against the alleged coup plotters last February 2006.
This even as both sides agree that there is really no need to rush the arraignment of the 28 accused because they are charged with mutiny, which is not covered by the case prescription rule.
The accused Marine and Army officers, led by Marine Maj. Gen. Renato Miranda and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, are charged with Articles of War 67 (Mutiny or Sedition) and Articles of War 96 (conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman) over their alleged participation in an attempted power grab plot on February 24 and 26, 2006. Some of them are also facing other additional charges.
Under the prescription rule, a case, except of mutiny, may be dropped against a military personnel if no arraignment happens two years since the commission of the alleged crime.
At the opening of yesterday’s proceedings held at Camp Aguinaldo, lead prosecutor Lt. Col. Jose Feliciano Loy said that the main business for the day is the arraignment of Miranda, Lim, Marines Col. Ariel Querubin, Col. Orlando de Leon, Col. Januario Caringal, Col. Armando Bañez, and Army Lt. Col. Nestor Flordeliza.
Of the seven, only Lim, Caringal and Bañez were present since the four others, who are detained at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal are either sick or refused to be transported to Camp Aguinaldo.
But when Loy said that the arraignment of the seven can proceed, defense lawyer Vicente Verdadero, who represents Lim, stood up and moved for a suspension of the hearing.
Verdadero said he is proposing that the defense and prosecution should first meet so as to come up with an agreement on some ground rules that could fast track the proceedings.
The defense maintains that the accused cannot be arraigned until they are able to exercise their right to challenge for cause, and if other accused are not present.
“This is a case of conspiracy so you cannot arraign one without the others. The law states that an accused has to be present for every stage of his case,” defense lawyer Rodrigo Artuz, who represents Miranda, told reporters after the proceedings.
But the prosecution said the arraignment can proceed even if not all accused are present because it is an individual exercise.
After a sidebar discussion, the GCM granted the motion of the defense.
“The Trial Judge Advocate and the defense lawyers are directed until February 6 to come up with proposals and counter-proposals for a speedy conduct of the proceedings. Meantime, the next scheduled hearing is on February 7,” GCM president Maj. Gen. Jogy Fojas said before adjourning the proceedings.
Yesterday’s proceedings started past 11:30am and ended at around 12:15noon./DMS
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Police still unsure of motive behind GenSan blast, death toll climbs to four
By Ronron
January 31, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) cannot single out a possible motive yet for the blast on Wednesday night in General Santos City that killed four people already and hurt 29 others.
Region 12 police director Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview that investigation is still ongoing to determine the motive for the blast, even as he said that it was triggered “most probably by an improvised explosive device (IED).”
The explosion happened at around 6:45 pm outside the gate of the Philbest Canning Corporation in Barangay Tambler when employees were changing shift at work.
Serapio said investigators could not say yet if it was a terrorist attack because they noted that it happened away from the center of the city, about eight kilometers away.
He said they could not also relate it to possible extortion attempt from the tuna canning firm because according to the management, “they have not received any demand or calls for that matter.”
“They also said that there is no labor dispute in the company,” Serapio said. “So, it’s too early to say that the target was really Philbest Canning Corporation.”
But city police director Sr. Supt. Robert Po said that they found out there was actually a case filed against the company sometime last year by 18 dismissed employees, which was resolved by the National Labor Relations Commission in favor of the company.
“The company said they have a good working relation with their employees but with this previous case filed by 18 dismissed employees, we will look into it of course. We will try to interview the 18 individuals and find out if they are capable or have some connections,” Po said in a separate phone interview.
If the extortion and the labor issue are totally ruled out, Po said they can go explore again the terrorism angle.
“I really can’t say yet that terrorism is a very remote angle or a very possible one. But usually, if an explosion happens, the terrorist group or secessionist group behind it immediately admits it,” Po said.
Po said his investigators are still trying to ask witnesses, including those injured, about the person or persons who could have left behind the explosive device.
The IED, he said, was placed beside an electric post some 20 meters away from the gate of the canning corporation. He said the post blocked the view of the guards on duty at that time.
Based on the recovered debris, it is possible that the IED was wrapped in a pair of denim, said Po.
“Our post-blast investigators are having difficulty in determining the make up of the IED because they recovered very disintegrated parts. They can’t also say yet if it was a TNT or C4 that was used as main ingredient,” Po said.
Like Po, the Philippine Bomb Data Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City has yet to receive initial reports about the pieces of debris recovered from the blast site that could indicate the make-up of the IED./DMS
January 31, 2008
The Philippine National Police (PNP) cannot single out a possible motive yet for the blast on Wednesday night in General Santos City that killed four people already and hurt 29 others.
Region 12 police director Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview that investigation is still ongoing to determine the motive for the blast, even as he said that it was triggered “most probably by an improvised explosive device (IED).”
The explosion happened at around 6:45 pm outside the gate of the Philbest Canning Corporation in Barangay Tambler when employees were changing shift at work.
Serapio said investigators could not say yet if it was a terrorist attack because they noted that it happened away from the center of the city, about eight kilometers away.
He said they could not also relate it to possible extortion attempt from the tuna canning firm because according to the management, “they have not received any demand or calls for that matter.”
“They also said that there is no labor dispute in the company,” Serapio said. “So, it’s too early to say that the target was really Philbest Canning Corporation.”
But city police director Sr. Supt. Robert Po said that they found out there was actually a case filed against the company sometime last year by 18 dismissed employees, which was resolved by the National Labor Relations Commission in favor of the company.
“The company said they have a good working relation with their employees but with this previous case filed by 18 dismissed employees, we will look into it of course. We will try to interview the 18 individuals and find out if they are capable or have some connections,” Po said in a separate phone interview.
If the extortion and the labor issue are totally ruled out, Po said they can go explore again the terrorism angle.
“I really can’t say yet that terrorism is a very remote angle or a very possible one. But usually, if an explosion happens, the terrorist group or secessionist group behind it immediately admits it,” Po said.
Po said his investigators are still trying to ask witnesses, including those injured, about the person or persons who could have left behind the explosive device.
The IED, he said, was placed beside an electric post some 20 meters away from the gate of the canning corporation. He said the post blocked the view of the guards on duty at that time.
Based on the recovered debris, it is possible that the IED was wrapped in a pair of denim, said Po.
“Our post-blast investigators are having difficulty in determining the make up of the IED because they recovered very disintegrated parts. They can’t also say yet if it was a TNT or C4 that was used as main ingredient,” Po said.
Like Po, the Philippine Bomb Data Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City has yet to receive initial reports about the pieces of debris recovered from the blast site that could indicate the make-up of the IED./DMS
Authorities give P5 million reward to informant that led to arrest of alleged top CPP official
By Ronron
January 31, 2008
A man who provided authorities information about the presence of alleged Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) official Elizabeth Principe in Metro Manila late last year received on Thursday a P5-million reward money from the government.
The man, who did not show any skin from head to toe to protect his identity, received the cash money contained in a bag from National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias and National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in turn-over rites at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“It’s time that we give due reward to people risking their lives to apprehend and eventually prosecute enemies of the State,” Mesa told reporters after awarding the reward money to the informant.
Refusing to elaborate, Mesa said the informant “helped us” in getting Principe, 56, last November 28 in Cubao, Quezon City. Principe was arrested by joint operatives from the Philippine Army, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police.
“He is well-placed. He has good access to information,” Mesa said when asked to describe further the informant.
According to authorities, Principe has standing six arrest warrants issued by different courts in Region 2 for the following criminal cases: rebellion in Ilagan, Isabela; kidnapping with double murder in Ilagan, Isabela; robbery with murder in Bambang, Nueva Viscaya; robbery with murder in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya; robbery with murder in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Viscaya; and robbery with arson in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Viscaya.
She is described by both the military and police as a regular member of the CPP Central Committee, and the Secretary of the CPP’s Cagayan Valley Regional Committee.
But the CPP claimed that Principe is a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, therefore she must be immune from arrest by Philippine authorities.
“That is their allegation but she has arrest warrants. And nobody is above the law. So, it (her arrest) is a legal order,” Mesa insisted yesterday.
Mesa said the reward money came from the Department of National Defense and it is given “definitely” to encourage other informants to come out.
Mesa said the NCRPO and NCRCOM jointly remain on alert against the presence of CPP and NPA elements in the capital./DMS
January 31, 2008
A man who provided authorities information about the presence of alleged Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) official Elizabeth Principe in Metro Manila late last year received on Thursday a P5-million reward money from the government.
The man, who did not show any skin from head to toe to protect his identity, received the cash money contained in a bag from National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Geary Barias and National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in turn-over rites at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
“It’s time that we give due reward to people risking their lives to apprehend and eventually prosecute enemies of the State,” Mesa told reporters after awarding the reward money to the informant.
Refusing to elaborate, Mesa said the informant “helped us” in getting Principe, 56, last November 28 in Cubao, Quezon City. Principe was arrested by joint operatives from the Philippine Army, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police.
“He is well-placed. He has good access to information,” Mesa said when asked to describe further the informant.
According to authorities, Principe has standing six arrest warrants issued by different courts in Region 2 for the following criminal cases: rebellion in Ilagan, Isabela; kidnapping with double murder in Ilagan, Isabela; robbery with murder in Bambang, Nueva Viscaya; robbery with murder in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya; robbery with murder in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Viscaya; and robbery with arson in Dupax del Sur, Nueva Viscaya.
She is described by both the military and police as a regular member of the CPP Central Committee, and the Secretary of the CPP’s Cagayan Valley Regional Committee.
But the CPP claimed that Principe is a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, therefore she must be immune from arrest by Philippine authorities.
“That is their allegation but she has arrest warrants. And nobody is above the law. So, it (her arrest) is a legal order,” Mesa insisted yesterday.
Mesa said the reward money came from the Department of National Defense and it is given “definitely” to encourage other informants to come out.
Mesa said the NCRPO and NCRCOM jointly remain on alert against the presence of CPP and NPA elements in the capital./DMS
ASG sub-leader believed to be involved in slay of Fr. Roda killed in encounter in Tawi-tawi
By Ronron
January 31, 2008
An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-leader believed to be involved in the abduction attempt and slay of a Catholic priest in Tawi-tawi last January 15 was killed in an encounter Thursday against Marine elements.
Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino identified the slain bandit who has a P2.5 million bounty on his head as Wahab Opao.
Dolorfino said Opao died in an encounter against elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 at around 5:30 am yesterday at Sitio Luboc-luboc, Barangay Buan, Panglima Sugala town.
His body was recovered, along with an M14 rifle, a bandoleer of ammunition, and alleged ASG document, said Dolorfino.
“It is confirmed that Wahab Opao is an ASG high-value target with P2.5 million reward. He was involved in the Sipadan (kidnapping) incident (in 2000) and some bombings in Zamboanga City,” Dolorfino said.
Dolorfino said elements of the MBLT 2’s Special Operations Platoon and Force Reconnaissance Company were in pursuit against the killers of Fr. Rey Roda who also abducted Omar Taup, a teacher in Roda’s Notre Dame school in South Ubian town, when they encountered Opao’s group.
Opao was allegedly joined by the group of ASG sub-leader Asman Wajan at that time. Their strength, however, could not be ascertained by the Marine fighters because it was still dark at that time.
The encounter lasted for one hour, said Dolorfino, leaving Opao killed as the others scampered to escape.
Dolorfino said because of the dimness, the Marines were not able to find out also if Opao’s group brought Taup along with them.
Dolorfino said the military suspects that Opao’s group was really involved in the attempted abduction of Roda at the Notre Dame campus in Barangay Tabawan because there is no other bandit group that operates on the islet.
But he admitted that there is no witness who could positively identify Opao because the perpetrators were wearing bonnet when they raided the campus.
Dolorfino said the death of Opao is “a big blow to their organization as far as Tawi-tawi is concerned.”
On Wednesday, the police had said that the abductors of Taup demanded P1 million from the teacher’s family in exchange for his release.
Tawi-tawi Police Director Sr. Supt. Wainwright Taup said he also received information that the abducted teacher was already brought to Sulu by his captors.
Roda was brutally killed by the suspects after he allegedly refused to be taken along. When he was killed, the suspects brought instead Taup to shield them from possible attack by responding policemen.
Roda, who serves as Director of Notre Dame in South Ubian, had been living on the islet for over 10 years already, according to police./DMS
January 31, 2008
An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) sub-leader believed to be involved in the abduction attempt and slay of a Catholic priest in Tawi-tawi last January 15 was killed in an encounter Thursday against Marine elements.
Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino identified the slain bandit who has a P2.5 million bounty on his head as Wahab Opao.
Dolorfino said Opao died in an encounter against elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 at around 5:30 am yesterday at Sitio Luboc-luboc, Barangay Buan, Panglima Sugala town.
His body was recovered, along with an M14 rifle, a bandoleer of ammunition, and alleged ASG document, said Dolorfino.
“It is confirmed that Wahab Opao is an ASG high-value target with P2.5 million reward. He was involved in the Sipadan (kidnapping) incident (in 2000) and some bombings in Zamboanga City,” Dolorfino said.
Dolorfino said elements of the MBLT 2’s Special Operations Platoon and Force Reconnaissance Company were in pursuit against the killers of Fr. Rey Roda who also abducted Omar Taup, a teacher in Roda’s Notre Dame school in South Ubian town, when they encountered Opao’s group.
Opao was allegedly joined by the group of ASG sub-leader Asman Wajan at that time. Their strength, however, could not be ascertained by the Marine fighters because it was still dark at that time.
The encounter lasted for one hour, said Dolorfino, leaving Opao killed as the others scampered to escape.
Dolorfino said because of the dimness, the Marines were not able to find out also if Opao’s group brought Taup along with them.
Dolorfino said the military suspects that Opao’s group was really involved in the attempted abduction of Roda at the Notre Dame campus in Barangay Tabawan because there is no other bandit group that operates on the islet.
But he admitted that there is no witness who could positively identify Opao because the perpetrators were wearing bonnet when they raided the campus.
Dolorfino said the death of Opao is “a big blow to their organization as far as Tawi-tawi is concerned.”
On Wednesday, the police had said that the abductors of Taup demanded P1 million from the teacher’s family in exchange for his release.
Tawi-tawi Police Director Sr. Supt. Wainwright Taup said he also received information that the abducted teacher was already brought to Sulu by his captors.
Roda was brutally killed by the suspects after he allegedly refused to be taken along. When he was killed, the suspects brought instead Taup to shield them from possible attack by responding policemen.
Roda, who serves as Director of Notre Dame in South Ubian, had been living on the islet for over 10 years already, according to police./DMS
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Yano “honored” by appointment as next military chief, vows support to Esperon until May
By Ronron
January 30, 2008
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano broke his silence Wednesday on his appointment as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. ends his extended term in May.
“It’s an honor not just for me but for the entire Philippine Army, being the chief of the biggest service branch. To me, this (appointment) is a challenge and sacrifice more than a victory or a source of jubilation,” Yano said.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be given such privilege. So I thank the President for this honor and the trust entrusted to me,” he added.
Yano did not mind the delay by three months of his rise to the top military post, saying that he is certain the decision to extend Esperon’s term is “well-advised.”
“The President, our commander-in-chief, has exercised her prerogative… I’m sure and confident it was a well-studied decision for the good and interest of the nation,” he said.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo extended Esperon’s term for three months, or until May 9, to allow the military to sustain the momentum in its fight against communist insurgency.
Esperon will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9.
Being a decision of their commander-in-chief, the extension of Esperon, said Yano, must be respected and followed by every soldier.
“Every soldier must follow and respect the decision. I am confident that the soldiers will follow the decision of the President,” he said.
Pressed to comment on observations that Esperon’s extension could demoralize the soldiery, Yano said: “I can confidently say that there is no and there would be no demoralization because the soldiers will follow the chain of command.”
He said he may have heard rumors about the reported demoralization, but he did not feel “a sound within the Philippine Army,” which has 80,000 personnel out of the 120,000-strong AFP.
Yano said that until Esperon’s term ends on May 9, the Philippine Army will be “very supportive” of his leadership.
“For as long as Gen. Esperon is the chief of staff, we will all give our input in support of Team AFP,” he said./DMS
January 30, 2008
Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano broke his silence Wednesday on his appointment as the next chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) when Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. ends his extended term in May.
“It’s an honor not just for me but for the entire Philippine Army, being the chief of the biggest service branch. To me, this (appointment) is a challenge and sacrifice more than a victory or a source of jubilation,” Yano said.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be given such privilege. So I thank the President for this honor and the trust entrusted to me,” he added.
Yano did not mind the delay by three months of his rise to the top military post, saying that he is certain the decision to extend Esperon’s term is “well-advised.”
“The President, our commander-in-chief, has exercised her prerogative… I’m sure and confident it was a well-studied decision for the good and interest of the nation,” he said.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo extended Esperon’s term for three months, or until May 9, to allow the military to sustain the momentum in its fight against communist insurgency.
Esperon will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on February 9.
Being a decision of their commander-in-chief, the extension of Esperon, said Yano, must be respected and followed by every soldier.
“Every soldier must follow and respect the decision. I am confident that the soldiers will follow the decision of the President,” he said.
Pressed to comment on observations that Esperon’s extension could demoralize the soldiery, Yano said: “I can confidently say that there is no and there would be no demoralization because the soldiers will follow the chain of command.”
He said he may have heard rumors about the reported demoralization, but he did not feel “a sound within the Philippine Army,” which has 80,000 personnel out of the 120,000-strong AFP.
Yano said that until Esperon’s term ends on May 9, the Philippine Army will be “very supportive” of his leadership.
“For as long as Gen. Esperon is the chief of staff, we will all give our input in support of Team AFP,” he said./DMS
Five soldiers killed, six wounded in clash with NPA in Davao Oriental
By Ronron
January 30, 2008
Five soldiers died while six others were wounded after they clashed Wednesday morning against suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Davao Oriental province, a military spokesman said.
Col. Benito de Leon, spokesman and chief of staff of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said in a phone interview that the incident happened at around 10 am at Sitio San Francisco, Barangay Campawan in Baganga town.
He said the elements from the Bravo Company of the Philippine Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion were on combat operation when they encountered more or less 70 armed rebels.
The firefight, he said, left five soldiers killed and six others injured, and undetermined number of casualty on the side of the NPA.
“Pursuit operations are still ongoing,” said de Leon at around 2pm.
On Tuesday, the NPA also struck in the neighboring province of Compostela Valley, killing two policemen and hurting some civilians.
The attacks happened even as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed to sustain the momentum in its fight against the NPA, particularly to dismantle 17 guerilla fronts by March of this year.
The AFP has claimed to have reduced the NPA strength by the end of December 2007 to 5,760, the lowest in two decades.
By 2010, the government hopes to render the almost four-decade-old movement “inconsequential” as ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo./DMS
January 30, 2008
Five soldiers died while six others were wounded after they clashed Wednesday morning against suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Davao Oriental province, a military spokesman said.
Col. Benito de Leon, spokesman and chief of staff of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said in a phone interview that the incident happened at around 10 am at Sitio San Francisco, Barangay Campawan in Baganga town.
He said the elements from the Bravo Company of the Philippine Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion were on combat operation when they encountered more or less 70 armed rebels.
The firefight, he said, left five soldiers killed and six others injured, and undetermined number of casualty on the side of the NPA.
“Pursuit operations are still ongoing,” said de Leon at around 2pm.
On Tuesday, the NPA also struck in the neighboring province of Compostela Valley, killing two policemen and hurting some civilians.
The attacks happened even as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed to sustain the momentum in its fight against the NPA, particularly to dismantle 17 guerilla fronts by March of this year.
The AFP has claimed to have reduced the NPA strength by the end of December 2007 to 5,760, the lowest in two decades.
By 2010, the government hopes to render the almost four-decade-old movement “inconsequential” as ordered by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo./DMS
Ransom sought for release of abducted Tawi-tawi teacher
By Ronron
January 30, 2008
The group of armed men that could include Abu Sayyaf elements had asked money and some goods from the family of a teacher they abducted last January 15 after killing a Catholic priest in a school in Tawi-tawi province, police said Wednesday.
Sr. Supt. Wainwright Taup, police director of Tawi-tawi, said the family of Omar Taup had been receiving ransom demand from the latter’s abductors since last week, the highest amount was P1 million.
“The abductors had called and written the family of Omar Taup. They and even Taup particularly called the latter’s brother-in-law,” the police officer said in a phone interview.
“They initially demanded P1 million but the family attempted to reduce it to P100,000 because they said they don’t have money,” he went on.
Taup said he only learned last Tuesday of the communication made by the abductors after the victim’s family sought the help of police.
Aside from the P1 million demand, the abductors also asked for coffee, cellphone batteries and flashlight, among others, from the victim’s family. But the family has yet to give in to any of those demands, said Taup.
Taup said the victim had talked himself to his brother-in-law in one of the mobile phone conversations last week, wherein he assured he is “in good health” and was not being maltreated.
Taup said the abductors did not mention any deadlines for their demand, as well as what would be done to their hostage if the demand is not granted.
“These demands are just like accommodation fee of their hostage,” Taup said.
Having received the report now about the ransom demand, Taup said they will take advantage of the contact established with the abductors by the victim’s families.
But he stressed that they will comply with the government’s no-ransom policy in this incident.
“We will try our best to really get the victim and apprehend the abductors,” Taup said.
Latest information reaching him reveals that the suspects are allegedly in Sulu already. “I received information that they could already be in Jolo so we are now coordinating with the police and military there to verify this information,” Taup said.
The victim was taken by around 10 men who barged into the Notre Dame campus in Barangay Tabawan, South Ubian town in Tawi-tawi on the night of January 15. It is believed that he was used as a shield as the suspects escape after killing Fr. Rey Roda, the director of said school.
Roda of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation was brutally killed by the suspects after allegedly refusing to go with them./DMS
January 30, 2008
The group of armed men that could include Abu Sayyaf elements had asked money and some goods from the family of a teacher they abducted last January 15 after killing a Catholic priest in a school in Tawi-tawi province, police said Wednesday.
Sr. Supt. Wainwright Taup, police director of Tawi-tawi, said the family of Omar Taup had been receiving ransom demand from the latter’s abductors since last week, the highest amount was P1 million.
“The abductors had called and written the family of Omar Taup. They and even Taup particularly called the latter’s brother-in-law,” the police officer said in a phone interview.
“They initially demanded P1 million but the family attempted to reduce it to P100,000 because they said they don’t have money,” he went on.
Taup said he only learned last Tuesday of the communication made by the abductors after the victim’s family sought the help of police.
Aside from the P1 million demand, the abductors also asked for coffee, cellphone batteries and flashlight, among others, from the victim’s family. But the family has yet to give in to any of those demands, said Taup.
Taup said the victim had talked himself to his brother-in-law in one of the mobile phone conversations last week, wherein he assured he is “in good health” and was not being maltreated.
Taup said the abductors did not mention any deadlines for their demand, as well as what would be done to their hostage if the demand is not granted.
“These demands are just like accommodation fee of their hostage,” Taup said.
Having received the report now about the ransom demand, Taup said they will take advantage of the contact established with the abductors by the victim’s families.
But he stressed that they will comply with the government’s no-ransom policy in this incident.
“We will try our best to really get the victim and apprehend the abductors,” Taup said.
Latest information reaching him reveals that the suspects are allegedly in Sulu already. “I received information that they could already be in Jolo so we are now coordinating with the police and military there to verify this information,” Taup said.
The victim was taken by around 10 men who barged into the Notre Dame campus in Barangay Tabawan, South Ubian town in Tawi-tawi on the night of January 15. It is believed that he was used as a shield as the suspects escape after killing Fr. Rey Roda, the director of said school.
Roda of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation was brutally killed by the suspects after allegedly refusing to go with them./DMS
Village councilor killed, another hurt in shooting incident in Guimaras
By Ronron
January 30, 2008
A village councilor died while another was hurt after they were shot by undetermined number of suspects Tuesday night in Guimaras province in central Philippines, police said Wednesday.
The slain victim was identified as Efren Gajardo, 40, councilor of Barangay Bulwangan in Jordan town, while his wounded colleague was identified as Vicente Magpusao, 35.
Jordan Municipal Police chief Insp. Raymond Cruz said the two councilors were riding a motorcycle when shot at around 6:30 pm Tuesday in Barangay Bulwangan. Magpusao was driving the motorcycle, while Gajardo was the back-rider.
Cruz said the gunfire came from higher ground, beside the road. “The suspect or suspects must have hid in the bushes because no one saw him or them,” he said.
Cruz said Gajardo died on the spot due to a fatal gunshot wound on the head, while Magpusao sustained a slight injury in the head.
He said recovered from the crime scene were 13 empty shells for an M16.
Cruz said they are initially looking at revenge against Magpusao as the motive for the attack because the said councilor claimed to be involved in a land dispute.
“We believe he (Magpusao) is the target… He said that three days ago, he sensed that somebody was following him,” Cruz said.
Based on Magpusao’s claim, Cruz said the police invited three persons who are involved in the land dispute against the councilor.
“We subjected them to paraffin test just to make sure if any of them fired a gun,” he said. The result has yet to come out.
But Cruz said they are also not dismissing the possibility that Gajardo could be the target because the latter’s family has yet to give their statement to police.
“We don’t know yet if Gajardo has enemies too,” Cruz said./DMS
January 30, 2008
A village councilor died while another was hurt after they were shot by undetermined number of suspects Tuesday night in Guimaras province in central Philippines, police said Wednesday.
The slain victim was identified as Efren Gajardo, 40, councilor of Barangay Bulwangan in Jordan town, while his wounded colleague was identified as Vicente Magpusao, 35.
Jordan Municipal Police chief Insp. Raymond Cruz said the two councilors were riding a motorcycle when shot at around 6:30 pm Tuesday in Barangay Bulwangan. Magpusao was driving the motorcycle, while Gajardo was the back-rider.
Cruz said the gunfire came from higher ground, beside the road. “The suspect or suspects must have hid in the bushes because no one saw him or them,” he said.
Cruz said Gajardo died on the spot due to a fatal gunshot wound on the head, while Magpusao sustained a slight injury in the head.
He said recovered from the crime scene were 13 empty shells for an M16.
Cruz said they are initially looking at revenge against Magpusao as the motive for the attack because the said councilor claimed to be involved in a land dispute.
“We believe he (Magpusao) is the target… He said that three days ago, he sensed that somebody was following him,” Cruz said.
Based on Magpusao’s claim, Cruz said the police invited three persons who are involved in the land dispute against the councilor.
“We subjected them to paraffin test just to make sure if any of them fired a gun,” he said. The result has yet to come out.
But Cruz said they are also not dismissing the possibility that Gajardo could be the target because the latter’s family has yet to give their statement to police.
“We don’t know yet if Gajardo has enemies too,” Cruz said./DMS
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
RP military chief says militias securing private firms too
By Ronron
January 29, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. revealed Monday night that special militiamen are securing a few firms and local government units in various parts of the country that are vulnerable to attack, especially by communist rebels.
In a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at his official residence in Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon said there are now 10 special companies of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) performing that task.
Esperon said the 10 are deployed in local government units in General Santos City, Davao City and Maguindanao; in plantations in Davao and Sultan Kudarat; and in mining firms in Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, and Surigao.
He said the Australian Xstrata firm in Tampakan, South Cotabato, which was attacked last New Year’s Day by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA), has a pending application to hire a similar security force.
The AFP currently has about 54,000 regular CAFGU personnel, which supports the 80,000-strong Philippine Army. Each gets a P90 daily subsistence allowance.
Esperon admitted though that the hiring of special CAFGU companies by private firms and LGU’s is no longer new, the first in fact was in the late 1980’s.
According to AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, each company consists of 80 CAFGU personnel. But Esperon said some companies have as high as 120 personnel.
Esperon said the members of the special CAFGU companies are trained for three months by the military and placed under the command of the military officer assigned in the area.
The military chief said that while they provide the training for the special CAFGUs and have operational control over them, it is the LGU or the private firm that pays for them.
He said the AFP also provides the special CAFGU”s uniforms and firearms.
“Instead of us physically contributing our men to the companies, it is them coming up with guards or having them get assistance form us, or training for that matter from us,” Esperon said.
Esperon said “it is a cheap way of securing businesses” in the countryside in exchange for the taxes that the private firms pay the government.
Esperon said the utilization of special CAFGU companies works well for the military because he said the entire 120,000 AFP personnel is not sufficient to cover the entire archipelago.
In fact, only 60 percent of the AFP-strength is in the field as the remaining 40 percent are utilized for support services only.
Esperon said that except for the request from Xstrata, the AFP has not received any request for special CAFGU companies in the last six months.
The military estimates the current strength of the NPA at 5,760, the lowest strength level in two decades. It hopes to further reduce it this year by targeting to dismantle 17 guerilla fronts just in the first quarter.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades already. But the government targets to make it an “inconsequential” force by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term./DMS
January 29, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. revealed Monday night that special militiamen are securing a few firms and local government units in various parts of the country that are vulnerable to attack, especially by communist rebels.
In a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) at his official residence in Camp Aguinaldo, Esperon said there are now 10 special companies of Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) performing that task.
Esperon said the 10 are deployed in local government units in General Santos City, Davao City and Maguindanao; in plantations in Davao and Sultan Kudarat; and in mining firms in Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, and Surigao.
He said the Australian Xstrata firm in Tampakan, South Cotabato, which was attacked last New Year’s Day by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA), has a pending application to hire a similar security force.
The AFP currently has about 54,000 regular CAFGU personnel, which supports the 80,000-strong Philippine Army. Each gets a P90 daily subsistence allowance.
Esperon admitted though that the hiring of special CAFGU companies by private firms and LGU’s is no longer new, the first in fact was in the late 1980’s.
According to AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Bartolome Bacarro, each company consists of 80 CAFGU personnel. But Esperon said some companies have as high as 120 personnel.
Esperon said the members of the special CAFGU companies are trained for three months by the military and placed under the command of the military officer assigned in the area.
The military chief said that while they provide the training for the special CAFGUs and have operational control over them, it is the LGU or the private firm that pays for them.
He said the AFP also provides the special CAFGU”s uniforms and firearms.
“Instead of us physically contributing our men to the companies, it is them coming up with guards or having them get assistance form us, or training for that matter from us,” Esperon said.
Esperon said “it is a cheap way of securing businesses” in the countryside in exchange for the taxes that the private firms pay the government.
Esperon said the utilization of special CAFGU companies works well for the military because he said the entire 120,000 AFP personnel is not sufficient to cover the entire archipelago.
In fact, only 60 percent of the AFP-strength is in the field as the remaining 40 percent are utilized for support services only.
Esperon said that except for the request from Xstrata, the AFP has not received any request for special CAFGU companies in the last six months.
The military estimates the current strength of the NPA at 5,760, the lowest strength level in two decades. It hopes to further reduce it this year by targeting to dismantle 17 guerilla fronts just in the first quarter.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades already. But the government targets to make it an “inconsequential” force by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term./DMS
RP, US military forces set exercises next month
By Ronron
January 29, 2008
Military forces of the Philippines and the United States will hold the yearly Balikatan exercises next month until March in various areas of the country, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Monday night.
Esperon told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Camp Aguinaldo that the large-scale exercise will be held from February 18 until March 3 in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Basilan, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, and Midsayap town in North Cotabato.
He said the US will send in at least 5,000 personnel while the Philippine contingent will have about 2,000 forces.
“The Balikatan is just one of close to 200 activities authorized by the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board year round. The others are table-top exercises, field exercises, civic actions and exchange of visits,” Esperon said.
“We hope to have the opening here in Camp Aguinaldo. Then, we will go to the other areas,” he added.
Esperon said Marawi City, Tacurong City and Midsayap were included in this year’s Balikatan exercises venue because they need “some development programs” like medical and engineering civic activities.
The said areas are first-time venues for the Balikatan.
The first RP-US Balikatan exercise was held in 1991, although it went large-scale in 2001 and onwards.
This year’s Balikatan exercises would be the 24th./DMS
January 29, 2008
Military forces of the Philippines and the United States will hold the yearly Balikatan exercises next month until March in various areas of the country, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Monday night.
Esperon told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Camp Aguinaldo that the large-scale exercise will be held from February 18 until March 3 in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Basilan, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, and Midsayap town in North Cotabato.
He said the US will send in at least 5,000 personnel while the Philippine contingent will have about 2,000 forces.
“The Balikatan is just one of close to 200 activities authorized by the Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board year round. The others are table-top exercises, field exercises, civic actions and exchange of visits,” Esperon said.
“We hope to have the opening here in Camp Aguinaldo. Then, we will go to the other areas,” he added.
Esperon said Marawi City, Tacurong City and Midsayap were included in this year’s Balikatan exercises venue because they need “some development programs” like medical and engineering civic activities.
The said areas are first-time venues for the Balikatan.
The first RP-US Balikatan exercise was held in 1991, although it went large-scale in 2001 and onwards.
This year’s Balikatan exercises would be the 24th./DMS
14 killed, 17 hurt in vehicular accident in North Cotabato
By Ronron
January 29, 2008
Fourteen people died while 17 others were hurt in a head-on collision involving a passenger jeepney and a 10-wheeler truck Tuesday morning in North Cotabato province, police said.
The incident happened at around 8:45 am along Sayre National Highway in Barangay Gen. Luna, Carmen town while the passenger-filled jeepney (plate number DTW-743) was about to leave said town and the truck (RFM-365), loaded with cement, was going the opposite direction.
Carmen police chief Chief Insp. Renante Cabico said in a phone interview that the jeepney, driven by Allan Balunod, had just overtaken a truck when it collided with the oncoming 10-wheeler truck, driven by Jerry delos Reyes.
“The driver of the jeepney apparently lacked time and space to go back to its original lane after overtaking a truck ahead of it because the 10-wheeler truck was already approaching fast,” Cabico told Manila Shimbun in Filipino.
He said the collision was so strong it left the jeepney in total wreck.
Thirteen passengers of the jeepney, including Balunod, died on the spot, while 18 others were injured and immediately rushed to two hospitals in neighboring Kabacan town for medical treatment.
But at 10:45 am, one of the injured victims expired while being treated at the Kabacan Polymedic Hospital, Cabico said.
Cabico said aside from the Kabacan Polymedic Hospital, the Kabacan Medical Specialist Hospital is also treating injured victims from said accident.
He said delos Reyes voluntarily surrendered to the Carmen Police Station, but they are not yet certain if criminal charges will be filed against him.
“Usually here, the victims just enter into an amicable settlement with drivers so the filing of case will really depend on the victims,” Cabico said.
But he said that should the victims pursue a case, delos Reyes could be held liable for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple serious physical injuries./DMS
January 29, 2008
Fourteen people died while 17 others were hurt in a head-on collision involving a passenger jeepney and a 10-wheeler truck Tuesday morning in North Cotabato province, police said.
The incident happened at around 8:45 am along Sayre National Highway in Barangay Gen. Luna, Carmen town while the passenger-filled jeepney (plate number DTW-743) was about to leave said town and the truck (RFM-365), loaded with cement, was going the opposite direction.
Carmen police chief Chief Insp. Renante Cabico said in a phone interview that the jeepney, driven by Allan Balunod, had just overtaken a truck when it collided with the oncoming 10-wheeler truck, driven by Jerry delos Reyes.
“The driver of the jeepney apparently lacked time and space to go back to its original lane after overtaking a truck ahead of it because the 10-wheeler truck was already approaching fast,” Cabico told Manila Shimbun in Filipino.
He said the collision was so strong it left the jeepney in total wreck.
Thirteen passengers of the jeepney, including Balunod, died on the spot, while 18 others were injured and immediately rushed to two hospitals in neighboring Kabacan town for medical treatment.
But at 10:45 am, one of the injured victims expired while being treated at the Kabacan Polymedic Hospital, Cabico said.
Cabico said aside from the Kabacan Polymedic Hospital, the Kabacan Medical Specialist Hospital is also treating injured victims from said accident.
He said delos Reyes voluntarily surrendered to the Carmen Police Station, but they are not yet certain if criminal charges will be filed against him.
“Usually here, the victims just enter into an amicable settlement with drivers so the filing of case will really depend on the victims,” Cabico said.
But he said that should the victims pursue a case, delos Reyes could be held liable for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple serious physical injuries./DMS
Old Lamitan City Hall razed by fire, probers eyeing arson in relation to pending electoral protests
By Ronron
January 29, 2008
The old city hall building of Lamitan in Bailan province was eaten by fire before dawn Monday with no casualties reported, police said yesterday.
Chief Insp. Rolando Democrito, Lamitan City police chief, said in a phone interview that initial investigation point to arson as the probable cause of the incident and not accidental by faulty electrical wiring.
According to a report reaching Camp Crame, the fire started at 1:30 am and was extinguished at around 3am. The old city hall building is located along Rizal Avenue in Barangay Maganda, about a kilometer away from the new city hall building.
Democrito said razed to the ground were the old city hall building and its annex building, both built with light materials.
He said there was a security guard on duty at that time who was posted in front, but he claimed he did not notice any person who went inside the building.
Democrito said the fire reportedly started at the floor area of the Treasurer’s Office of the building, located at the ground floor. This is where ballot boxes in relation to pending electoral protests over the barangay polls last year are being stored.
Aside from the Treasurer’s Office, the old city hall building also houses the Municipal Circuit Trial Court , while the annex building houses an office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Local Civil Registrar’s Office, among others, said Democrito.
The estimated cost of damages is pegged at P4.86 million, Democrito said.
“Based on the findings of arson investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the probable cause is arson because it started on the ground of the Treasurer’s Office where, incidentally, ballot boxes used in the last barangay elections are stored,” Democrito said.
“If it was electrical wiring, the fire should have started on the ceiling,” he added.
Democrito said investigation is still ongoing to determine the suspects in the incident and ascertain the real motive./DMS
January 29, 2008
The old city hall building of Lamitan in Bailan province was eaten by fire before dawn Monday with no casualties reported, police said yesterday.
Chief Insp. Rolando Democrito, Lamitan City police chief, said in a phone interview that initial investigation point to arson as the probable cause of the incident and not accidental by faulty electrical wiring.
According to a report reaching Camp Crame, the fire started at 1:30 am and was extinguished at around 3am. The old city hall building is located along Rizal Avenue in Barangay Maganda, about a kilometer away from the new city hall building.
Democrito said razed to the ground were the old city hall building and its annex building, both built with light materials.
He said there was a security guard on duty at that time who was posted in front, but he claimed he did not notice any person who went inside the building.
Democrito said the fire reportedly started at the floor area of the Treasurer’s Office of the building, located at the ground floor. This is where ballot boxes in relation to pending electoral protests over the barangay polls last year are being stored.
Aside from the Treasurer’s Office, the old city hall building also houses the Municipal Circuit Trial Court , while the annex building houses an office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Local Civil Registrar’s Office, among others, said Democrito.
The estimated cost of damages is pegged at P4.86 million, Democrito said.
“Based on the findings of arson investigators from the Bureau of Fire Protection, the probable cause is arson because it started on the ground of the Treasurer’s Office where, incidentally, ballot boxes used in the last barangay elections are stored,” Democrito said.
“If it was electrical wiring, the fire should have started on the ceiling,” he added.
Democrito said investigation is still ongoing to determine the suspects in the incident and ascertain the real motive./DMS
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Esperon invites Yano to join top-level meetings for smooth transition
By Ronron
January 28, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has invited Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano to join the meetings of the joint staff for a smooth transition in May.
Yano was named by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Esperon’s successor when his extended term ends on May 9th.
“I intend to and I have in fact discussed this already with Gen. Yano that I have authorized him to meet with my joint staff every now and then so we can have a smooth transition,” Esperon told reporters Monday at his office in Camp Aguinaldo.
The joint staff Esperon is talking about consists of the military deputy chief of staff for personnel (J1), deputy chief of staff for intelligence (J2), deputy chief of staff for operations (J3), deputy chief of staff for logistics (J4), deputy chief of staff for plans (J5), deputy chief of staff for communications, electronics, and information system (J6), deputy chief of staff for civil military operations (J7), and the deputy chief of staff for reservist and retirees affairs (J8).
Esperon said that even if Yano is already aware of the battle plan of the military leadership in the coming years, his attendance in meetings with the joint staff will prepare him some more for the chief of staff post.
Among the goals of the military is to defeat the New People’s Army (NPA) by 2010, decimate the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and their allies, and give primacy to the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He said that in his three-month extension, the scenario could be “bloody” in their attempt to achieve said goals.
“Bloody doesn’t necessarily mean blood. It means more sweat, and more impact, and we intend to route them,” Esperon said.
He said the military approach will be coupled with developmental efforts.
And he hopes his successor will do the same.
“They could even be better… I believe in the potential of my successor,” Esperon said.
Yano has yet to issue a statement on Esperon’s term extension and his appointment as next AFP chief of staff./DMS
January 28, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. has invited Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano to join the meetings of the joint staff for a smooth transition in May.
Yano was named by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Esperon’s successor when his extended term ends on May 9th.
“I intend to and I have in fact discussed this already with Gen. Yano that I have authorized him to meet with my joint staff every now and then so we can have a smooth transition,” Esperon told reporters Monday at his office in Camp Aguinaldo.
The joint staff Esperon is talking about consists of the military deputy chief of staff for personnel (J1), deputy chief of staff for intelligence (J2), deputy chief of staff for operations (J3), deputy chief of staff for logistics (J4), deputy chief of staff for plans (J5), deputy chief of staff for communications, electronics, and information system (J6), deputy chief of staff for civil military operations (J7), and the deputy chief of staff for reservist and retirees affairs (J8).
Esperon said that even if Yano is already aware of the battle plan of the military leadership in the coming years, his attendance in meetings with the joint staff will prepare him some more for the chief of staff post.
Among the goals of the military is to defeat the New People’s Army (NPA) by 2010, decimate the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and their allies, and give primacy to the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He said that in his three-month extension, the scenario could be “bloody” in their attempt to achieve said goals.
“Bloody doesn’t necessarily mean blood. It means more sweat, and more impact, and we intend to route them,” Esperon said.
He said the military approach will be coupled with developmental efforts.
And he hopes his successor will do the same.
“They could even be better… I believe in the potential of my successor,” Esperon said.
Yano has yet to issue a statement on Esperon’s term extension and his appointment as next AFP chief of staff./DMS
Army personnel killed as NPA harass military detachment in Davao Oriental
By Ronron
January 28, 2008
A member of the Philippine Army was killed after suspected communist rebels harassed a military detachment on Sunday morning in Davao Oriental province, police said.
A belated report reaching Camp Crame identified the killed soldier as Private First Class Tito Miranda of the Philippine Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB).
The report said some 50 fully armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) harassed the Army/CAFGU patrol base under the 72nd IB at Sitio Limbog, Barangay Carmen in Boston town at around 8:10 am the other day (Sunday).
The rebels were reportedly led by Africa Alvares Rosete, alias Ka Lalay, and a certain Ka Glen of the Front Committee 20, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA.
The report said personnel at the Army patrol base fought back, ensuing a 35-minute firefight until the guerillas withdrew heading the direction of Sitio Kagaran, Barangay San Jose in said town.
The report said Miranda was killed during the course of the firefight.
Elements of the Police Special Action Force stationed at Barangay Sta. Felimona in Cateel town reinforced the harassed unit, while other personnel from the Boston and Cateel Police Stations were placed on alert, the report said.
Checkpoints were also set up in strategic places in said province, while inspections were made at different hospitals and clinics for possible interception of injured rebels.
The NPA, which has over 5,000 members, has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades already.
The military aims to make the insurgents inconsequential by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term./DMS
January 28, 2008
A member of the Philippine Army was killed after suspected communist rebels harassed a military detachment on Sunday morning in Davao Oriental province, police said.
A belated report reaching Camp Crame identified the killed soldier as Private First Class Tito Miranda of the Philippine Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB).
The report said some 50 fully armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) harassed the Army/CAFGU patrol base under the 72nd IB at Sitio Limbog, Barangay Carmen in Boston town at around 8:10 am the other day (Sunday).
The rebels were reportedly led by Africa Alvares Rosete, alias Ka Lalay, and a certain Ka Glen of the Front Committee 20, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines - NPA.
The report said personnel at the Army patrol base fought back, ensuing a 35-minute firefight until the guerillas withdrew heading the direction of Sitio Kagaran, Barangay San Jose in said town.
The report said Miranda was killed during the course of the firefight.
Elements of the Police Special Action Force stationed at Barangay Sta. Felimona in Cateel town reinforced the harassed unit, while other personnel from the Boston and Cateel Police Stations were placed on alert, the report said.
Checkpoints were also set up in strategic places in said province, while inspections were made at different hospitals and clinics for possible interception of injured rebels.
The NPA, which has over 5,000 members, has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades already.
The military aims to make the insurgents inconsequential by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term./DMS
At least three killed, 10 others wounded in blast in Rosario, Cavite
By Ronron
January 28, 2008
At least three persons died and 10 others were wounded in a blast at noon yesterday inside an apartment building in Rosario, Cavite believed to be caused by piled dynamites used in illegal fishing, town officials said.
Rosario Mayor Jose Ricafrente, Jr. said in a radio interview that the incident happened at around 12:30 pm in Barangay Wawa I, killing instantly three occupants of the residential building where the blast emanated.
Town police chief Supt. Edgar Roquero said in a phone interview that the blast happened inside a two-storey concrete building that have three adjacent apartment units.
The seat of explosion was particularly at the ground floor of the apartment unit in the middle, he said. The blast left this particular unit totally wrecked.
Both Ricafrente and Roquero theorize that the cause of the explosion is dynamite because of the recovered blasting caps and detonators, and the smell of black powder at the site.
Roquero said personnel from the Crime Laboratory and the Explosives Ordnance Division have begun investigation on the actual cause of the incident.
Ricafrente suspect that the two men whose bodies were found under the rubbles could be illegal fishermen who were preparing dynamites then.
Barangay Wawa I is near the shoreline, Ricafrente noted.
While Ricafrente said the death toll later rose to five, Roquero said he has yet to validate if indeed there were additional fatalities to the original three. Both agree, though, that 10 were hurt in the incident.
The injured victims were brought to at least two hospitals for medical treatment./DMS
January 28, 2008
At least three persons died and 10 others were wounded in a blast at noon yesterday inside an apartment building in Rosario, Cavite believed to be caused by piled dynamites used in illegal fishing, town officials said.
Rosario Mayor Jose Ricafrente, Jr. said in a radio interview that the incident happened at around 12:30 pm in Barangay Wawa I, killing instantly three occupants of the residential building where the blast emanated.
Town police chief Supt. Edgar Roquero said in a phone interview that the blast happened inside a two-storey concrete building that have three adjacent apartment units.
The seat of explosion was particularly at the ground floor of the apartment unit in the middle, he said. The blast left this particular unit totally wrecked.
Both Ricafrente and Roquero theorize that the cause of the explosion is dynamite because of the recovered blasting caps and detonators, and the smell of black powder at the site.
Roquero said personnel from the Crime Laboratory and the Explosives Ordnance Division have begun investigation on the actual cause of the incident.
Ricafrente suspect that the two men whose bodies were found under the rubbles could be illegal fishermen who were preparing dynamites then.
Barangay Wawa I is near the shoreline, Ricafrente noted.
While Ricafrente said the death toll later rose to five, Roquero said he has yet to validate if indeed there were additional fatalities to the original three. Both agree, though, that 10 were hurt in the incident.
The injured victims were brought to at least two hospitals for medical treatment./DMS
3 suspected criminals killed in shootout with police in Laguna
By Ronron
January 28, 2008
Three suspected robbers died in a shootout with police before dawn Monday in Laguna province, an official said.
Sr. Supt. Mark Edison Belarma, chief of the Region IV-A Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the incident happened at around 12:15 am yesterday outside the Laguna Hills Subdivision in Calamba City.
Belarma said his personnel received a tip on Sunday night that suspicious men were staying outside the subdivision, prompting them to go to the site.
The responding cops, led by Supt. Leo Quevedo, then saw a white MUNICH taxi (plate number TWG-524) parked at a dark and uninhabited part of the village.
Belarma said Quevedo was supposed to approach the taxi and check on the people aboard it when he was met with gunfire.
This prompted Quevedo and his men to fire at the taxi, which they found later to be occupied with three men.
After the brief exchange of gunfire, police found the dead bodies of Romeo Valory, 34, a resident of Barangay Malamig in Biñan town, and George Villamor of Barangay Bucal in said city, at the taxi.
Another person, identified as Reynaldo Ibarra, 46, a resident of Marulas, Valenzuela City, was initially suffering from gunshot wounds, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the JP Rizal Hospital later.
No one from the police was hurt in the encounter.
Belarma said his men recovered from the suspects one fragmentation grenade, two caliber 38 revolvers, a sketch of the village, a bolt cutter and adhesive tapes after the shootout.
Based on the plan of the suspects, Belarma said the police believe they belong to the Waray-Waray Group that is involved in robbery activities in Laguna and Rizal provinces, targeting wealthy people.
“We already sent communication to the National Bureau of Investigation and to Camp Crame to find out if these men have existing criminal records, particularly their membership with the Waray-Waray Group,” Belarma said./DMS
January 28, 2008
Three suspected robbers died in a shootout with police before dawn Monday in Laguna province, an official said.
Sr. Supt. Mark Edison Belarma, chief of the Region IV-A Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said the incident happened at around 12:15 am yesterday outside the Laguna Hills Subdivision in Calamba City.
Belarma said his personnel received a tip on Sunday night that suspicious men were staying outside the subdivision, prompting them to go to the site.
The responding cops, led by Supt. Leo Quevedo, then saw a white MUNICH taxi (plate number TWG-524) parked at a dark and uninhabited part of the village.
Belarma said Quevedo was supposed to approach the taxi and check on the people aboard it when he was met with gunfire.
This prompted Quevedo and his men to fire at the taxi, which they found later to be occupied with three men.
After the brief exchange of gunfire, police found the dead bodies of Romeo Valory, 34, a resident of Barangay Malamig in Biñan town, and George Villamor of Barangay Bucal in said city, at the taxi.
Another person, identified as Reynaldo Ibarra, 46, a resident of Marulas, Valenzuela City, was initially suffering from gunshot wounds, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the JP Rizal Hospital later.
No one from the police was hurt in the encounter.
Belarma said his men recovered from the suspects one fragmentation grenade, two caliber 38 revolvers, a sketch of the village, a bolt cutter and adhesive tapes after the shootout.
Based on the plan of the suspects, Belarma said the police believe they belong to the Waray-Waray Group that is involved in robbery activities in Laguna and Rizal provinces, targeting wealthy people.
“We already sent communication to the National Bureau of Investigation and to Camp Crame to find out if these men have existing criminal records, particularly their membership with the Waray-Waray Group,” Belarma said./DMS
Monday, January 28, 2008
One killed, four hurt in vehicular collision in Manila City
By Ronron
January 27, 2008
A man died after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a taxi in Manila City on Sunday morning, traffic police said.
Four other persons were also hurt in the incident that happened at 6:55 am yesterday at the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and T. M. Kalaw Street in Ermita, Manila.
According to a police report, the motorcycle (plate number DI-2373) boarded by two men was heading towards Roxas Boulevard when it smashed against the taxi (plate number TVJ-241) that was heading towards Kalaw Street.
The taxi, driven by Dioscoro Segario, had three passengers then consisting of an adult male, an adult female, and a female minor.
Police said the collision caused one rider of the motorcycle, identified as Larry Boy Saday, to be thrown away. He would later die while being treated at the Manila Doctor’s Hospital, police said.
Saday’s companion on the motorcycle, and Segario’s passengers also sustained injuries due to the impact. They were treated at the Manila Doctor’s Hospital also.
Police said Segario will be charged with homicide for the incident. He is now detained at the Manila Police District./DMS
January 27, 2008
A man died after the motorcycle he was riding collided with a taxi in Manila City on Sunday morning, traffic police said.
Four other persons were also hurt in the incident that happened at 6:55 am yesterday at the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and T. M. Kalaw Street in Ermita, Manila.
According to a police report, the motorcycle (plate number DI-2373) boarded by two men was heading towards Roxas Boulevard when it smashed against the taxi (plate number TVJ-241) that was heading towards Kalaw Street.
The taxi, driven by Dioscoro Segario, had three passengers then consisting of an adult male, an adult female, and a female minor.
Police said the collision caused one rider of the motorcycle, identified as Larry Boy Saday, to be thrown away. He would later die while being treated at the Manila Doctor’s Hospital, police said.
Saday’s companion on the motorcycle, and Segario’s passengers also sustained injuries due to the impact. They were treated at the Manila Doctor’s Hospital also.
Police said Segario will be charged with homicide for the incident. He is now detained at the Manila Police District./DMS
21 workers of Korean firm hurt as police disperse picket in Laguna
By Ronron
January 27, 2008
Twenty one incumbent and former workers of a Korean garment factory in Laguna province were hurt as police dispersed them from their picket last Friday evening in Cabuyao town, their colleague said Sunday.
Some members and sympathizers of Aniban ng Manggawang Inaapi sa Hanjin (AMIHAN), the union of Hanjin Garments employees, were holding a rally outside their factory since dawn of Thursday when an order for their dispersal came on Friday afternoon, a union official and police said.
AMIHAN Vice President Christopher Capistrano, 26, a former employee of Hanjin Garments, said in a phone interview yesterday that some 37 union members, including him, were supposed to join their 49 colleagues near the factory gate at around 6pm last Friday when some 60 policemen met them with their wooden truncheons.
“They were hitting my colleagues because they were preventing us from holding a picket near the Hanjin gate. They said the owner of the subdivision ordered them to do so because it is a private area and other factories inside are bothered by our picket rally,” Capistrano said in Filipino.
Capistrano said the group of 37 were initially positioned at the main gate of the Gatchalian Industrial Subdivision in Barangay Banay-banay, Cabuyao.
The other group of 49, meanwhile, were already situated at the gate of Hanjin itself located some 200 meters away from the subdivision gate.
Cabuyao police chief Supt. Moises Pagaduan said the group started their picket at around 4am last Thursday over their unresolved issues with the Hanjin Garment management.
Capistrano said they are raising three issues with the management of the Korean firm: first is the regularization of workers; second is the re-hiring of 200 workers whose contracts were not renewed; and third, is the application of the minimum wage of P282 for the employees.
He said that in two previous meetings with the management, the latter denied the union’s demands citing the financial incapability of the company.
“We don’t believe them because we are witness to the production and exportation of Hanjin Garments. We know the company is doing well financially. They just don’t want to give in to our demands because it would mean lesser profit for them,” Capistrano said.
Pagaduan said the subdivision owner himself, Mr. Jaime Gatchalian, sent him a letter last Friday, asking police to disperse the employees of Hanjin who are holding the picket allegedly because other firms are complaining.
But Pagaduan said he did not act on the request because he respects the rights of the union members holding the picket, who, he said, were not really violating any law and have not turned violent.
“Except for harassing fellow workers who report to work by making verbal pressures, and the noise that emanate from their chants, they are not really violating any law. So we just let them be, but we have deployed policemen there in case something happens,” the police official said.
Pagaduan denied that they dispersed the demonstrators last Friday night, more so that they hurt them.
“If we dispersed them, then they should not have been able to enter the subdivision and joined their colleagues at the Hanjin gate,” he said.
Capistrano insisted, however, that they were hit by the policemen, and that the clash lasted in fact for 20 minutes.
“We can always present to the public our colleagues who were injured. Their injuries are enough proof. We also took pictures of them and we can show it to everyone,” he said.
He said that some policemen even touched the breasts of their female colleagues during the clash.
On Saturday, their hurt colleagues went to the Ospital ng Cabuyao for medical examination but they were not able to get medical certificates because the hospital management was collecting P180 from each patient, despite an assurance allegedly to the union by the town mayor that the consultation is free.
Nonetheless, Capistrano said they will pursue harassment charges against elements of the Cabuyao police because of the incident. He said they are still finalizing where to file the complaint.
Capistrano said they voluntarily dispersed from the picket site at around 6pm Saturday as they look forward to today’s (Monday) scheduled meeting between the employees’ union and the Hanjin Garments management at the Department of Labor and Employment’s National Conciliation Mediation Board office in Calamba City.
Capistrano disclosed that of the 874 incumbent employees of Hanjin Garments, 200 are members of the employees’ union./DMS
January 27, 2008
Twenty one incumbent and former workers of a Korean garment factory in Laguna province were hurt as police dispersed them from their picket last Friday evening in Cabuyao town, their colleague said Sunday.
Some members and sympathizers of Aniban ng Manggawang Inaapi sa Hanjin (AMIHAN), the union of Hanjin Garments employees, were holding a rally outside their factory since dawn of Thursday when an order for their dispersal came on Friday afternoon, a union official and police said.
AMIHAN Vice President Christopher Capistrano, 26, a former employee of Hanjin Garments, said in a phone interview yesterday that some 37 union members, including him, were supposed to join their 49 colleagues near the factory gate at around 6pm last Friday when some 60 policemen met them with their wooden truncheons.
“They were hitting my colleagues because they were preventing us from holding a picket near the Hanjin gate. They said the owner of the subdivision ordered them to do so because it is a private area and other factories inside are bothered by our picket rally,” Capistrano said in Filipino.
Capistrano said the group of 37 were initially positioned at the main gate of the Gatchalian Industrial Subdivision in Barangay Banay-banay, Cabuyao.
The other group of 49, meanwhile, were already situated at the gate of Hanjin itself located some 200 meters away from the subdivision gate.
Cabuyao police chief Supt. Moises Pagaduan said the group started their picket at around 4am last Thursday over their unresolved issues with the Hanjin Garment management.
Capistrano said they are raising three issues with the management of the Korean firm: first is the regularization of workers; second is the re-hiring of 200 workers whose contracts were not renewed; and third, is the application of the minimum wage of P282 for the employees.
He said that in two previous meetings with the management, the latter denied the union’s demands citing the financial incapability of the company.
“We don’t believe them because we are witness to the production and exportation of Hanjin Garments. We know the company is doing well financially. They just don’t want to give in to our demands because it would mean lesser profit for them,” Capistrano said.
Pagaduan said the subdivision owner himself, Mr. Jaime Gatchalian, sent him a letter last Friday, asking police to disperse the employees of Hanjin who are holding the picket allegedly because other firms are complaining.
But Pagaduan said he did not act on the request because he respects the rights of the union members holding the picket, who, he said, were not really violating any law and have not turned violent.
“Except for harassing fellow workers who report to work by making verbal pressures, and the noise that emanate from their chants, they are not really violating any law. So we just let them be, but we have deployed policemen there in case something happens,” the police official said.
Pagaduan denied that they dispersed the demonstrators last Friday night, more so that they hurt them.
“If we dispersed them, then they should not have been able to enter the subdivision and joined their colleagues at the Hanjin gate,” he said.
Capistrano insisted, however, that they were hit by the policemen, and that the clash lasted in fact for 20 minutes.
“We can always present to the public our colleagues who were injured. Their injuries are enough proof. We also took pictures of them and we can show it to everyone,” he said.
He said that some policemen even touched the breasts of their female colleagues during the clash.
On Saturday, their hurt colleagues went to the Ospital ng Cabuyao for medical examination but they were not able to get medical certificates because the hospital management was collecting P180 from each patient, despite an assurance allegedly to the union by the town mayor that the consultation is free.
Nonetheless, Capistrano said they will pursue harassment charges against elements of the Cabuyao police because of the incident. He said they are still finalizing where to file the complaint.
Capistrano said they voluntarily dispersed from the picket site at around 6pm Saturday as they look forward to today’s (Monday) scheduled meeting between the employees’ union and the Hanjin Garments management at the Department of Labor and Employment’s National Conciliation Mediation Board office in Calamba City.
Capistrano disclosed that of the 874 incumbent employees of Hanjin Garments, 200 are members of the employees’ union./DMS
16 mountain trekkers rescued in Quezon after getting stranded
By Ronron
January 27, 2008
Sixteen persons believed to be from Metro Manila were rescued by Air Force personnel on Sunday after being stranded at a mountain in Quezon province since Saturday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon command (Solcom) spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang said the 16 are employees of the Pencil Incorporated advertising firm who are first-time trekkers.
Cabangbang said the group, which include a few women, went on hiking at the Mount Santo Cristobal in Dolores, Quezon but suddenly got lost as they were nearing the summit.
He said the group was divided into two at that time.
And because of “exhaustion and injuries” sustained by two of them, they were no longer able to go down the mountain, Cabangbang said.
It was a good thing that one of the trekkers had a contact with an Air Force personnel at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force, whom they contacted for help.
The Air Force received the report at around 9:30 pm Saturday.
But because of poor visibility and strong winds, the Air Force rescue personnel from the 743rd Combat Squadron and the 505th Search and Rescue Group were only able to launch the rescue operations yesterday using Air Force choppers.
Cabangbang said the first batch of trekkers, consisting of 10 individuals, were rescued at around 10 am. Two of them – Eric Sanchez, 36, a resident of Las Pinas City, and Sony Angeles, 30, of Pasay City – were found to be injured.
Their six companions were picked up later at around 1pm at another site several meters away.
Cabangbang said that Sanchez and Angeles were airlifted to the Camp Nakar Station Hospital at the AFP Solcom headquarters in Lucena City, Quezon for medical treatment. He said Sanchez’ arm and Angeles’ leg were fractured after both allegedly fell on a shallow ravine.
The rest, on the other hand, were just escorted by PAF personnel on the way down the mountain./DMS
January 27, 2008
Sixteen persons believed to be from Metro Manila were rescued by Air Force personnel on Sunday after being stranded at a mountain in Quezon province since Saturday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon command (Solcom) spokesman Maj. Randolph Cabangbang said the 16 are employees of the Pencil Incorporated advertising firm who are first-time trekkers.
Cabangbang said the group, which include a few women, went on hiking at the Mount Santo Cristobal in Dolores, Quezon but suddenly got lost as they were nearing the summit.
He said the group was divided into two at that time.
And because of “exhaustion and injuries” sustained by two of them, they were no longer able to go down the mountain, Cabangbang said.
It was a good thing that one of the trekkers had a contact with an Air Force personnel at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force, whom they contacted for help.
The Air Force received the report at around 9:30 pm Saturday.
But because of poor visibility and strong winds, the Air Force rescue personnel from the 743rd Combat Squadron and the 505th Search and Rescue Group were only able to launch the rescue operations yesterday using Air Force choppers.
Cabangbang said the first batch of trekkers, consisting of 10 individuals, were rescued at around 10 am. Two of them – Eric Sanchez, 36, a resident of Las Pinas City, and Sony Angeles, 30, of Pasay City – were found to be injured.
Their six companions were picked up later at around 1pm at another site several meters away.
Cabangbang said that Sanchez and Angeles were airlifted to the Camp Nakar Station Hospital at the AFP Solcom headquarters in Lucena City, Quezon for medical treatment. He said Sanchez’ arm and Angeles’ leg were fractured after both allegedly fell on a shallow ravine.
The rest, on the other hand, were just escorted by PAF personnel on the way down the mountain./DMS
RP chopper crashes in Cebu
By Ronron
January 27, 2008
A chopper of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) crashed last Saturday afternoon at a mountainous village in Cebu province allegedly due to pilot error.
No one was hurt, the PAF and police said on Sunday.
According to a PAF statement, the aircraft involved was a UH-1H “Huey” helicopter with tail number 757 that came from Iloilo and was bound for PAF Air Base in Lapu-lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu.
The PAF information office said the crash happened at around 5:10 pm, while police said the place of accident is Sitio Mayana, Barangay Biasong in Balamban town.
The PAF said the ill-fated chopper was originally on test mission, particularly for a Flight Commander Qualification Course and Pilot Course Qualification Course Formation Flight, from Mactan to Iloilo.
It was piloted by Captains Nilo Arañez and Jackray Mosomos, with their crew members, Staff Sergeant Jose Marie Interado and Sgt. Leovigildo Depdera.
The chopper took off from Mactan at past 6am that day, and flew back to Mactan from Iloilo at around 3pm.
On its way back to Mactan, it had a jibed mission to pick up some soldiers bound for Cebu who will attend a wedding of a colleague with the PAF and the interment of another colleague who died. The PAF information office was not immediately aware, however, how many soldiers boarded the chopper as passengers.
It was when the chopper was hovering over Balamban area as it was heading back to Mactan that the accident happened.
“Initial findings disclosed that the pilot missed the right mix of the aircraft power to make a smooth landing during a training lesson for flight commander,” the PAF statement said.
It said that the supposed landing at said place was really part of the test mission.
Balamban town police chief Supt. Anthony Bagarinao said in a phone interview that the chopper landed in between two cliffs surrounded by trees. He noted that the area was already used in previous RP-US Balikatan exercises.
Bagarinao said the chopper was in total wreck – its blades twisted and its body distorted, after the accident. It is a good thing that the chopper did not blow up or went ablaze, he added.
Bagarinao said the pilots, crew members and their passengers managed to walk towards the village proper in Biasong, located some four kilometers from the crash site. It was during the course of their walk that barangay officials met and assisted them.
The PAF said the accident is somehow expected from said flight missions because “the pilots are using a helicopter instead of a simulator.”
“This usually happens in training lessons in which the result would be very expensive and even tragic,” the PAF said.
Meanwhile, pending completion of the investigation on the mishap, the PAF grounded the two pilots. The investigation is being conducted both by the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing Safety Board and the Air Force Safety Office.
And since it was an apparent pilot error, the remaining Huey choppers of the PAF will not be grounded, the PAF said.
To avoid possible intrusion of “non-friendly forces” that may attack the ill-fated chopper, the PAF said it sent three flights of security personnel – two from the Quick Reaction Force of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing and one from the PAF’s 710th Special Operations Wing – at the crash site./DMS
January 27, 2008
A chopper of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) crashed last Saturday afternoon at a mountainous village in Cebu province allegedly due to pilot error.
No one was hurt, the PAF and police said on Sunday.
According to a PAF statement, the aircraft involved was a UH-1H “Huey” helicopter with tail number 757 that came from Iloilo and was bound for PAF Air Base in Lapu-lapu City, Mactan Island, Cebu.
The PAF information office said the crash happened at around 5:10 pm, while police said the place of accident is Sitio Mayana, Barangay Biasong in Balamban town.
The PAF said the ill-fated chopper was originally on test mission, particularly for a Flight Commander Qualification Course and Pilot Course Qualification Course Formation Flight, from Mactan to Iloilo.
It was piloted by Captains Nilo Arañez and Jackray Mosomos, with their crew members, Staff Sergeant Jose Marie Interado and Sgt. Leovigildo Depdera.
The chopper took off from Mactan at past 6am that day, and flew back to Mactan from Iloilo at around 3pm.
On its way back to Mactan, it had a jibed mission to pick up some soldiers bound for Cebu who will attend a wedding of a colleague with the PAF and the interment of another colleague who died. The PAF information office was not immediately aware, however, how many soldiers boarded the chopper as passengers.
It was when the chopper was hovering over Balamban area as it was heading back to Mactan that the accident happened.
“Initial findings disclosed that the pilot missed the right mix of the aircraft power to make a smooth landing during a training lesson for flight commander,” the PAF statement said.
It said that the supposed landing at said place was really part of the test mission.
Balamban town police chief Supt. Anthony Bagarinao said in a phone interview that the chopper landed in between two cliffs surrounded by trees. He noted that the area was already used in previous RP-US Balikatan exercises.
Bagarinao said the chopper was in total wreck – its blades twisted and its body distorted, after the accident. It is a good thing that the chopper did not blow up or went ablaze, he added.
Bagarinao said the pilots, crew members and their passengers managed to walk towards the village proper in Biasong, located some four kilometers from the crash site. It was during the course of their walk that barangay officials met and assisted them.
The PAF said the accident is somehow expected from said flight missions because “the pilots are using a helicopter instead of a simulator.”
“This usually happens in training lessons in which the result would be very expensive and even tragic,” the PAF said.
Meanwhile, pending completion of the investigation on the mishap, the PAF grounded the two pilots. The investigation is being conducted both by the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing Safety Board and the Air Force Safety Office.
And since it was an apparent pilot error, the remaining Huey choppers of the PAF will not be grounded, the PAF said.
To avoid possible intrusion of “non-friendly forces” that may attack the ill-fated chopper, the PAF said it sent three flights of security personnel – two from the Quick Reaction Force of the 205th Tactical Helicopter Wing and one from the PAF’s 710th Special Operations Wing – at the crash site./DMS
Scrapping of bidding for acquisition of six night-capable attack helicopters will not deter government's drive against security threat groups
By Ronron
January 27, 2008
The Philippine defense department remains confident that the scrapping last week of the bidding for the acquisition of six night-capable attack helicopters (NCAH) due to some irregularities will not affect the government's operations against security threat groups.
Defense Undersecretary Ariston delos Reyes said that while it would have been better for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have the MD530F in its inventory, the current assets is sufficient to sustain the fight against communist insurgents and Moslem extremists in the countryside.
"I would say that it would have been better if we have those assets. However, it doesn't mean that the internal security operations will be adversely affected if we don't have these choppers because we still have in our inventory the likes of MG520 and the Hueys," delos Reyes said.
In a memorandum dated January 24, 2008, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. declared as "null and void" the bidding for six MD530F worth over P1.2 billion, wherein Asian Aerospace Corp. (AAC) pre-qualified, because of the company's failure to meet the 3,000-pounds minimum payload requirement and apparent intention to offer a highly excessive price. Further, there was a failure to actually test in the United States the capability of said chopper to meet the minimum payload requirement.
On those grounds, Teodoro recommended the filing of administrative and criminal cases against AAC, as well as the conduct of further investigation on the possible liabilities of members of the DND-AFP Bids and Awards Committee, headed by Defense Assistant Secretary Roberto Nuqui.
Delos Reyes said that since a re-bidding will have to be conducted following Teodoro's decision, then definitely, the acquisition process for said choppers will be delayed.
Sought for comment on the matter, AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said he is glad that the irregularity was discovered at an earlier stage, although he refused to describe it as anomalous.
For him, there were just procedural steps that were not followed to the letter, prompting the review and eventually, the scrapping of the bidding process, he said.
"I'm glad that this happened so as to maintain transparency," Esperon said.
The military chief sounded defensive when asked for his comment on the recommendation to investigate some officials of the AFP over the matter. "The DND Bids and Awards Committee is headed by an Assistant Secretary so it would be them who will conduct the re-bidding. That is not for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to do, although we have AFP officers who are members of that committee," he said.
Among the members of the committee who are from the AFP are Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero and Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ike Inserto, among others.
The bidding for the six NHAC units wad done in September last year, according to Delos Reyes./DMS
January 27, 2008
The Philippine defense department remains confident that the scrapping last week of the bidding for the acquisition of six night-capable attack helicopters (NCAH) due to some irregularities will not affect the government's operations against security threat groups.
Defense Undersecretary Ariston delos Reyes said that while it would have been better for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have the MD530F in its inventory, the current assets is sufficient to sustain the fight against communist insurgents and Moslem extremists in the countryside.
"I would say that it would have been better if we have those assets. However, it doesn't mean that the internal security operations will be adversely affected if we don't have these choppers because we still have in our inventory the likes of MG520 and the Hueys," delos Reyes said.
In a memorandum dated January 24, 2008, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. declared as "null and void" the bidding for six MD530F worth over P1.2 billion, wherein Asian Aerospace Corp. (AAC) pre-qualified, because of the company's failure to meet the 3,000-pounds minimum payload requirement and apparent intention to offer a highly excessive price. Further, there was a failure to actually test in the United States the capability of said chopper to meet the minimum payload requirement.
On those grounds, Teodoro recommended the filing of administrative and criminal cases against AAC, as well as the conduct of further investigation on the possible liabilities of members of the DND-AFP Bids and Awards Committee, headed by Defense Assistant Secretary Roberto Nuqui.
Delos Reyes said that since a re-bidding will have to be conducted following Teodoro's decision, then definitely, the acquisition process for said choppers will be delayed.
Sought for comment on the matter, AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said he is glad that the irregularity was discovered at an earlier stage, although he refused to describe it as anomalous.
For him, there were just procedural steps that were not followed to the letter, prompting the review and eventually, the scrapping of the bidding process, he said.
"I'm glad that this happened so as to maintain transparency," Esperon said.
The military chief sounded defensive when asked for his comment on the recommendation to investigate some officials of the AFP over the matter. "The DND Bids and Awards Committee is headed by an Assistant Secretary so it would be them who will conduct the re-bidding. That is not for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to do, although we have AFP officers who are members of that committee," he said.
Among the members of the committee who are from the AFP are Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Antonio Romero and Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ike Inserto, among others.
The bidding for the six NHAC units wad done in September last year, according to Delos Reyes./DMS
Esperon takes term extension as a form of “order” amidst personal inconveniences
By Ronron
January 27, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Sunday he took the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to extend his term as an “order” that any soldier must follow amidst some personal inconveniences.
In a radio interview, Esperon said he will just listen, respect and study the criticisms on his extension, rather than allowing those to “prevent me from doing my job.”
“I consider this not just as an order but I also take it as an honor to be able to continue serving for three more months as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Esperon said in Filipino.
Esperon is supposed to retire on February 9 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. But Arroyo extended his term until May 9 to allow the AFP to sustain the momentum in its fight against communist insurgency and terrorist groups in the country.
Esperon said that while there were feelers about his extension before, he only got the official announcement on Saturday morning from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita right after Arroyo disclosed it to reporters who accompanied her in Davos, Switzerland.
The military chief simply shrugged off comments of those opposed to his extension, saying he also had to go through personal sacrifices for this.
He disclosed that his siblings from the United States had already spent a lot by coming home just to attend his supposed retirement honors on February 9, and his plans after retirement are temporarily put on hold because of his extension.
Besides, Esperon said he sees no doctrine that was violated because of his extension because it merely falls within the prerogative of the President to do such.
As to comments that he remains answerable for the alleged electoral fraud in 2004 after his name was mentioned in the so-called “Hello Garci” tapes, Esperon reiterated yesterday his innocence to the allegation.
He said that during the 2004 President elections, even if he was the Deputy Chief for Operations of the AFP and the concurrent deputy commander of the military’s Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections), he has no power to remove a brigade commander from his post, as implied in the taped conversation.
In the “Hello Garci” tape, Esperon’s name was mentioned purportedly by then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano as having ordered the relief of a brigade commander in Lanao because of the latter’s alleged bias for then Presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., the closest rival then of Arroyo.
“That brigade commander was never relieved from his post. He was just called here in Manila because of an investigation on a shooting incident in the area of his responsibility on the night of the election where a young lady was killed. It is not my job to remove a brigade commander. So what irregularity are they talking about that I have done?” Esperon said.
Esperon said he does not believe also that the entire Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is opposed to his extension, pointing out that just last Saturday night, 13 bishops he had dinner with had a nice exchange of ideas with him.
As to the delay in the rise of other military generals in the AFP hierarchy because of his extension, Esperon is of the impression that this is never an issue within the organization.
Instead of their professional advancement, the other generals, he said, are more focused on the mission of the AFP.
“Let us not say that the younger generals are complaining about losing the chance to become chief of staff. They are not like that. They are more focused on our mission, and not on personal advancement,” Esperon said.
Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, who was named by Arroyo as Esperon’s successor, has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr., spokesman of the Philippine Army, said yesterday that they are holding off their comment yet on the matter because they are still awaiting the official communication from Malacañang.
“It may be presumptuous to comment on it at the moment. We will issue a statement accordingly,” Torres said.
But Esperon said it is good that Arroyo named his successor already because this gives him and Yano the chance to work together within his three-month extension for a smooth transition.
Esperon even expressed confidence on Yano’s capability to lead the 120,000-strong AFP and accomplish their mission.
He said that among his specific targets within the three-month period is the dismantling of at least 15 guerilla fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army, and the decimation of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jeemah Islamiyah (JI), particularly neutralizing the high-value targets.
“That is our priority because the Abu Sayyaf have no place in this world… We should not stop running after them. So, within three months, within my extension of three months, that is one aspect that I will really give emphasis on, focus on,” Esperon said.
At the same time, he said he will ensure that there will no more be a repeat of military adventurism. Although, at this time, he is confident that the entire force is loyal to the chain of command as shown by the failure of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim to muster support from the uniformed service last November 29, 2007 in Makati City.
Esperon said he hopes the people will support him and do their share in supporting the military’s drive against communist insurgency and the terrorist groups.
“Now that I was given a three month extension, more than ever, I am asking for your help not just for me as leader of the Armed Forces, but also for every member and unit of the Armed Forces. Be assured that topmost in our mission is to ensure your security and that we will not grab power from higher authorities,” he addressed the public./DMS
January 27, 2008
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said Sunday he took the decision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to extend his term as an “order” that any soldier must follow amidst some personal inconveniences.
In a radio interview, Esperon said he will just listen, respect and study the criticisms on his extension, rather than allowing those to “prevent me from doing my job.”
“I consider this not just as an order but I also take it as an honor to be able to continue serving for three more months as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Esperon said in Filipino.
Esperon is supposed to retire on February 9 when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. But Arroyo extended his term until May 9 to allow the AFP to sustain the momentum in its fight against communist insurgency and terrorist groups in the country.
Esperon said that while there were feelers about his extension before, he only got the official announcement on Saturday morning from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita right after Arroyo disclosed it to reporters who accompanied her in Davos, Switzerland.
The military chief simply shrugged off comments of those opposed to his extension, saying he also had to go through personal sacrifices for this.
He disclosed that his siblings from the United States had already spent a lot by coming home just to attend his supposed retirement honors on February 9, and his plans after retirement are temporarily put on hold because of his extension.
Besides, Esperon said he sees no doctrine that was violated because of his extension because it merely falls within the prerogative of the President to do such.
As to comments that he remains answerable for the alleged electoral fraud in 2004 after his name was mentioned in the so-called “Hello Garci” tapes, Esperon reiterated yesterday his innocence to the allegation.
He said that during the 2004 President elections, even if he was the Deputy Chief for Operations of the AFP and the concurrent deputy commander of the military’s Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections), he has no power to remove a brigade commander from his post, as implied in the taped conversation.
In the “Hello Garci” tape, Esperon’s name was mentioned purportedly by then Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano as having ordered the relief of a brigade commander in Lanao because of the latter’s alleged bias for then Presidential candidate Fernando Poe, Jr., the closest rival then of Arroyo.
“That brigade commander was never relieved from his post. He was just called here in Manila because of an investigation on a shooting incident in the area of his responsibility on the night of the election where a young lady was killed. It is not my job to remove a brigade commander. So what irregularity are they talking about that I have done?” Esperon said.
Esperon said he does not believe also that the entire Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is opposed to his extension, pointing out that just last Saturday night, 13 bishops he had dinner with had a nice exchange of ideas with him.
As to the delay in the rise of other military generals in the AFP hierarchy because of his extension, Esperon is of the impression that this is never an issue within the organization.
Instead of their professional advancement, the other generals, he said, are more focused on the mission of the AFP.
“Let us not say that the younger generals are complaining about losing the chance to become chief of staff. They are not like that. They are more focused on our mission, and not on personal advancement,” Esperon said.
Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano, who was named by Arroyo as Esperon’s successor, has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr., spokesman of the Philippine Army, said yesterday that they are holding off their comment yet on the matter because they are still awaiting the official communication from Malacañang.
“It may be presumptuous to comment on it at the moment. We will issue a statement accordingly,” Torres said.
But Esperon said it is good that Arroyo named his successor already because this gives him and Yano the chance to work together within his three-month extension for a smooth transition.
Esperon even expressed confidence on Yano’s capability to lead the 120,000-strong AFP and accomplish their mission.
He said that among his specific targets within the three-month period is the dismantling of at least 15 guerilla fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army, and the decimation of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Jeemah Islamiyah (JI), particularly neutralizing the high-value targets.
“That is our priority because the Abu Sayyaf have no place in this world… We should not stop running after them. So, within three months, within my extension of three months, that is one aspect that I will really give emphasis on, focus on,” Esperon said.
At the same time, he said he will ensure that there will no more be a repeat of military adventurism. Although, at this time, he is confident that the entire force is loyal to the chain of command as shown by the failure of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim to muster support from the uniformed service last November 29, 2007 in Makati City.
Esperon said he hopes the people will support him and do their share in supporting the military’s drive against communist insurgency and the terrorist groups.
“Now that I was given a three month extension, more than ever, I am asking for your help not just for me as leader of the Armed Forces, but also for every member and unit of the Armed Forces. Be assured that topmost in our mission is to ensure your security and that we will not grab power from higher authorities,” he addressed the public./DMS
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