By Ronron
June 10, 2005
Army officer Col. Ricardo Morales was sacked from his post as commander of the 404th Infantry Brigade, based in Mindanao, for issuing “irresponsible statements” against a recreation project intended for the military and subsequently calling for a “coup” in protest of it.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Edilberto Adan said AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Efren Abu approved the relief of Morales after it was recommended by the Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga.
“Col. Morales published very critical article in the internet criticizing the policies and project of the (AFP)… As a responsible officer, he should have been aware that such message could reach the public, be misconstrued and subjected to a lot of misinterpretation,” Adan said.
In an e-mail message sent a few days ago to his fellow graduates from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Morales lambasted the construction of a resort house for the military in Boracay Island as he questioned the priorities of the higher-ups in the military in terms of addressing the needs of the ordinary soldiers.
“How can the 60-room resort in Boracay improve the AFP’s capability to fight? Who determined this priority? We have hospitals without medicine,” Morales, a member of the PMA class 1977, wrote.
“That the top leaders in the AFP, especially the Marine officer who commands two Army Divisions allowed this to happen shows their insensitivity to the needs and sufferings of the men in the field,” he added.
The project in Boracay was a brainchild of AFP Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio. In earlier interviews, Teodosio and other AFP officials emphasized the project is not an initiative of the military, but of a non-governmental organization.
“Enough of the leaders who talk about reforms but do not understand what they are saying. Enough of this organization stupidity… The time for talking is over. The time for action is now… The next coup will be peaceful and open,” Morales had said.
Adan said it was wrong for Morales to air his opinion, even if it is personal, in the internet because a website is a public domain.
Although it can not be interpreted as instigating rising up of arms against the AFP leadership, Abu, for his part, said it is still improper for Morales to talk about “coup,” whether he wanted it to be “peaceful and open” or not, because he is an officer.
Abu noted though that no sympathetic comments followed that statement of Morales in the e-group, which can be accessed by more than 600 PMA alumni and friends.
“As far as the Armed Forces is concerned, I don’t see it has any effect on our soldiers. If any, it could only be on people close to him, maybe his driver or security staff. I doubt if people like you will be encouraged by his statements,” Abu told reporters.
Adan said Morales was given the chance to explain his motives for doing so. Morales sent his explanation letter dated June 7 to Senga. However, his superiors did not find it satisfactory.
“Col. Morales was admonished by (Senga)… The AFP has established mechanisms for grievances, for getting feedback for policies by the leadership. Col. Morales did not avail of them,” said Adan.
“He is being relieved for his lack of good judgement and indiscretion as a senior officer who should set a good example to his officers and men,” added Adan.
The relief of Morales, Adan said, is without prejudice to the filing of appropriate charges against him in the military court. At the moment, the military is still checking what charges could be filed against Morales.
Adan said Morales will be given an assignment appropriate to his rank by the Philippine Army.
Following what happened to Morales, Abu, however, said it is not necessary to check or monitor other e-mail groups of active military members since any similar report can readily be received by him.
Besides, he expressed confidence that the Armed Forces is intact even amidst fresh talks of destabilization against the government.
“We are not monitoring any active member of the AFP now. It is not necessary because there is no threat from those in the active service… We are confident that in any destabilization plots, we are prepared to protect our countrymen and our government offices and our country. So we have nothing to worry about,” Abu said./DMS
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Military intelligence chief stays
By Ronron
June 8, 2005
The top military intelligence officer stays in his post.
This is what Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said on Wednesday amidst reports that Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP) Chief Brig. Gen. Marlowe Quevedo is already relieved.
“I would like to make it clear that Brig. Gen. Marlowe Quevedo is still the chief (of the) ISAFP. It came out in the print this morning that he is already relieved. There is no truth to it,” Pascual told reporters yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo.
The military spokesman said the reports on Quevedo’s relief, which is suspected to have something to do with the release of a taped conversation between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a Comelec official, may just be part of a series of disinformation being circulated to ride with the uncertainties of the times brought about by rumors of destabilization plots against the government.
“He is performing very well,” Pascual said of Quevedo.
When sought for comment, Quevedo only said he has not received any order yet for his relief./DMS
June 8, 2005
The top military intelligence officer stays in his post.
This is what Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said on Wednesday amidst reports that Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP) Chief Brig. Gen. Marlowe Quevedo is already relieved.
“I would like to make it clear that Brig. Gen. Marlowe Quevedo is still the chief (of the) ISAFP. It came out in the print this morning that he is already relieved. There is no truth to it,” Pascual told reporters yesterday at Camp Aguinaldo.
The military spokesman said the reports on Quevedo’s relief, which is suspected to have something to do with the release of a taped conversation between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and a Comelec official, may just be part of a series of disinformation being circulated to ride with the uncertainties of the times brought about by rumors of destabilization plots against the government.
“He is performing very well,” Pascual said of Quevedo.
When sought for comment, Quevedo only said he has not received any order yet for his relief./DMS
Military and police reaffirm support and loyalty to Arroyo
By Ronron
June 8, 2005
Different Philippine military units and the national police reaffirmed on Wednesday their support and loyalty to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amidst fresh destabilization plots hounding her administration which was fueled lately with the release of an alleged taped conversation that implies Arroyo’s manipulation of the 2004 Presidential elections to her favor.
The Philippine Army, Air Force, Navy and National Police issued separate statements yesterday to express their commitment to the duly constituted government under Arroyo and their firm belief that any destabilization plot will not prosper. (See separate story on the Philippine Army’s statement.)
“Your airmen and women stand squarely behind this legitimate government and prepared to defend it against those who would usurp the rule of law,” the PAF public information office said.
Navy chief Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon, for his part, said: “The navy assures the citizens that all its officers, sailors, marines and special operations personnel are prepared to thwart any attempt to bring down the government or any bid that will undermine the country’s democratic institutions.”
De Leon, an aspirant for the top post in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) once incumbent Chief of Staff Gen. Efren Abu steps down later this month when he reaches the mandatory age for retirement, assured that the Philippine Navy “remains solidly behind the national leadership of the Commander-in-Chief and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”
“In these trying times, the Navy is more persistent to prove to the people that it remains true to its oath and that its men and women are more emboldened to take on their task of averting vicious attempts that only do more harm and damage to the State we have sworn to defend,” said De Leon.
The AFP leadership has earlier acknowledged reports that retired generals are sowing disinformation at the lower level so as to discourage them from supporting the government.
But officials are quick to say that these plots will not prosper since they are countering it with information and education campaigns.
“At these times of uncertainty and heightened emotions, we call on our people to be discerning and not be deceived by plots to destabilize our government. We call on everyone to unite for the good and progress of our nation rather than for its disintegration,” the PAF said.
Trusting on the goodness and loyalty of his men, PNP Chief Gen. Arturo Lomibao wooed all policemen that they continue to join hands in assuming their responsibilities for peace and development.
“Let us all continue to serve our Almighty Father, our country, and our countrymen under leadership of our President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo… My request from you is that we continue to work faithfully, serve truthfully,” Lomibao said in Filipino.
The statements of support came a day after Arroyo hosted in Malacañang a dinner meeting with police and military officials who belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) classes of 1973 up to 1978./DMS
June 8, 2005
Different Philippine military units and the national police reaffirmed on Wednesday their support and loyalty to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amidst fresh destabilization plots hounding her administration which was fueled lately with the release of an alleged taped conversation that implies Arroyo’s manipulation of the 2004 Presidential elections to her favor.
The Philippine Army, Air Force, Navy and National Police issued separate statements yesterday to express their commitment to the duly constituted government under Arroyo and their firm belief that any destabilization plot will not prosper. (See separate story on the Philippine Army’s statement.)
“Your airmen and women stand squarely behind this legitimate government and prepared to defend it against those who would usurp the rule of law,” the PAF public information office said.
Navy chief Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon, for his part, said: “The navy assures the citizens that all its officers, sailors, marines and special operations personnel are prepared to thwart any attempt to bring down the government or any bid that will undermine the country’s democratic institutions.”
De Leon, an aspirant for the top post in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) once incumbent Chief of Staff Gen. Efren Abu steps down later this month when he reaches the mandatory age for retirement, assured that the Philippine Navy “remains solidly behind the national leadership of the Commander-in-Chief and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.”
“In these trying times, the Navy is more persistent to prove to the people that it remains true to its oath and that its men and women are more emboldened to take on their task of averting vicious attempts that only do more harm and damage to the State we have sworn to defend,” said De Leon.
The AFP leadership has earlier acknowledged reports that retired generals are sowing disinformation at the lower level so as to discourage them from supporting the government.
But officials are quick to say that these plots will not prosper since they are countering it with information and education campaigns.
“At these times of uncertainty and heightened emotions, we call on our people to be discerning and not be deceived by plots to destabilize our government. We call on everyone to unite for the good and progress of our nation rather than for its disintegration,” the PAF said.
Trusting on the goodness and loyalty of his men, PNP Chief Gen. Arturo Lomibao wooed all policemen that they continue to join hands in assuming their responsibilities for peace and development.
“Let us all continue to serve our Almighty Father, our country, and our countrymen under leadership of our President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo… My request from you is that we continue to work faithfully, serve truthfully,” Lomibao said in Filipino.
The statements of support came a day after Arroyo hosted in Malacañang a dinner meeting with police and military officials who belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) classes of 1973 up to 1978./DMS
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
AFP monitoring three retired military officials on alleged destabilization plots; recruitment within PNP also confirmed
By Ronron
June 7, 2005
The Philippine military identified three retired officers who allegedly have a role in the recent destabilization plots against the government based on their pronouncements to the public.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said military agents are already monitoring the activities of former Defense Secretary and Army chief Maj. Gen. Fortunato Abat, retired Commodore Ismael Aparri, and Brig. Gen. Angel Sadang.
"We’re cautious of their statements… Their activities are being monitoring," Pascual told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Abat is one of the leaders of the Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Soldiers (FORCES) and one of the convenors of the Coalition for National Salvation, a group launched in April that seeks for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Aparri is the spokesman of the Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military for Solidarity (YES-ARMS), while Sadang heads the Generals for Constitution.
Aparri and Sadang’s organizations are also critical of the Arroyo government.
"Their statement is a cause for concern for the Armed Forces because they are telling our soldiers to break the chain of command," Pascual said of the three, who are allegedly exploiting current issues within the military, such as the reported extravagant repair of the sidewalks inside Camp Aguinaldo and the construction of a resort house for the military in Boracay.
The AFP leadership had already explained that the cost of the sidewalks repair is only P5 million, and not P19 million as initially reported, and that the military resort house in the famous Boracay Island is an initiative of a non-governmental organization, and not of the AFP.
In a brief phone interview, Abat denied the allegation against him, and pointed instead to the government as the one responsible for its destabilized state now.
When asked if his and his group’s call for Arroyo to step down could be read as a form of destabilizing the government, Abat replied: "We are calling for her ouster because she is destabilizing the government through malgovernance."
Aparri, in a separate interview, also belied the destabilizer tag imposed upon him by Pascual.
"I am the one being recruited by the agitated soldiers to speak for them. They (soldiers) are the ones asking me to speak for them because they are voiceless. I’ve never recruited anyone," Aparri told reporters at his office at the Association of Generals and Flag Officers inside Camp Aguinaldo.
Aparri expressed disappointment over the fact that "in this country, when you speak against the government, you are a destabilizer."
"Is it wrong to speak for the unattended?… They can call me anything but we are not destabilizing the government," Aparri said.
He disclosed that soldiers are particularly concerned on the failure of the government to settle the P36 billion unpaid pension differentials to war veterans, and the issues of the military resort house in Boracay, the repair of the pavement in Camp Aguinaldo, the lack of equipment and facilities for soldiers in the field, and many others.
"What is his (Pascual) basis for calling me a destabilizer? Just because we are speaking for the soldiers who are voiceless? If that makes me a destabilizer, then I accept it. We are reformist, nationalist who take care of the veterans and the soldiers. We have not much to advertise for ourselves," Aparri said.
Pascual issued a warning to the three that the military has a very active internal counter-intelligence capability that could monitor very well their activities.
The recruitment activities conducted by some sectors outside the military service was already admitted by the AFP in earlier pronouncements.
But, according to Pascual, the plot is still in its initial stage since it is only limited to mind-setting or mental planning activities.
He said the AFP is countering these moves by informing and educating well their troops about the real score on certain issues, thereby discouraging the soldiers from joining possible military adventurism.
"We have a very stable command structure. The chain of command is intact," Pascual described the AFP at the moment in light of the alleged destabilization plots.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed yesterday that recruitment within the police ranks is also on going in support for the alleged destabilization plot against the government.
However, Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil refused to identify the recruiting party.
"The seat of government power is besieged anew by a malicious effort to throw it off balance by way of a seemingly elaborate and grand design at destabilization," PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said in a separate statement issued yesterday.
Quoting "highly reliable intelligence reports," Lomibao said the "latest uncovered attempt at destabilization could be part of a larger scenario that was preceded by an earlier series of deliberate disinformation efforts, and possibly including some sensationalized scandals, unfounded rumors and other manipulative means of spreading false information."
The PNP chief said key police officials met over the weekend to assess the recent developments.
But amidst the destabilization rumors, Lomibao assured that the PNP will stand "squarely behind the rule of law and will stay focused" on its "mission to protect and serve the people."
"The (PNP) under my leadership will insure that any further step at destabilization that borders on the illegal and with willful criminal intent shall be addressed accordingly by uncompromising police action consistent with existing laws," Lomibao said.
He stressed that the PNP will not be swayed by any motive and will remain faithful to the Constitution and to its sworn duty./DMS
June 7, 2005
The Philippine military identified three retired officers who allegedly have a role in the recent destabilization plots against the government based on their pronouncements to the public.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said military agents are already monitoring the activities of former Defense Secretary and Army chief Maj. Gen. Fortunato Abat, retired Commodore Ismael Aparri, and Brig. Gen. Angel Sadang.
"We’re cautious of their statements… Their activities are being monitoring," Pascual told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday.
Abat is one of the leaders of the Federation of Retired Commissioned and Enlisted Soldiers (FORCES) and one of the convenors of the Coalition for National Salvation, a group launched in April that seeks for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Aparri is the spokesman of the Young Enlisted Soldiers with Active and Retired Military for Solidarity (YES-ARMS), while Sadang heads the Generals for Constitution.
Aparri and Sadang’s organizations are also critical of the Arroyo government.
"Their statement is a cause for concern for the Armed Forces because they are telling our soldiers to break the chain of command," Pascual said of the three, who are allegedly exploiting current issues within the military, such as the reported extravagant repair of the sidewalks inside Camp Aguinaldo and the construction of a resort house for the military in Boracay.
The AFP leadership had already explained that the cost of the sidewalks repair is only P5 million, and not P19 million as initially reported, and that the military resort house in the famous Boracay Island is an initiative of a non-governmental organization, and not of the AFP.
In a brief phone interview, Abat denied the allegation against him, and pointed instead to the government as the one responsible for its destabilized state now.
When asked if his and his group’s call for Arroyo to step down could be read as a form of destabilizing the government, Abat replied: "We are calling for her ouster because she is destabilizing the government through malgovernance."
Aparri, in a separate interview, also belied the destabilizer tag imposed upon him by Pascual.
"I am the one being recruited by the agitated soldiers to speak for them. They (soldiers) are the ones asking me to speak for them because they are voiceless. I’ve never recruited anyone," Aparri told reporters at his office at the Association of Generals and Flag Officers inside Camp Aguinaldo.
Aparri expressed disappointment over the fact that "in this country, when you speak against the government, you are a destabilizer."
"Is it wrong to speak for the unattended?… They can call me anything but we are not destabilizing the government," Aparri said.
He disclosed that soldiers are particularly concerned on the failure of the government to settle the P36 billion unpaid pension differentials to war veterans, and the issues of the military resort house in Boracay, the repair of the pavement in Camp Aguinaldo, the lack of equipment and facilities for soldiers in the field, and many others.
"What is his (Pascual) basis for calling me a destabilizer? Just because we are speaking for the soldiers who are voiceless? If that makes me a destabilizer, then I accept it. We are reformist, nationalist who take care of the veterans and the soldiers. We have not much to advertise for ourselves," Aparri said.
Pascual issued a warning to the three that the military has a very active internal counter-intelligence capability that could monitor very well their activities.
The recruitment activities conducted by some sectors outside the military service was already admitted by the AFP in earlier pronouncements.
But, according to Pascual, the plot is still in its initial stage since it is only limited to mind-setting or mental planning activities.
He said the AFP is countering these moves by informing and educating well their troops about the real score on certain issues, thereby discouraging the soldiers from joining possible military adventurism.
"We have a very stable command structure. The chain of command is intact," Pascual described the AFP at the moment in light of the alleged destabilization plots.
Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed yesterday that recruitment within the police ranks is also on going in support for the alleged destabilization plot against the government.
However, Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil refused to identify the recruiting party.
"The seat of government power is besieged anew by a malicious effort to throw it off balance by way of a seemingly elaborate and grand design at destabilization," PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao said in a separate statement issued yesterday.
Quoting "highly reliable intelligence reports," Lomibao said the "latest uncovered attempt at destabilization could be part of a larger scenario that was preceded by an earlier series of deliberate disinformation efforts, and possibly including some sensationalized scandals, unfounded rumors and other manipulative means of spreading false information."
The PNP chief said key police officials met over the weekend to assess the recent developments.
But amidst the destabilization rumors, Lomibao assured that the PNP will stand "squarely behind the rule of law and will stay focused" on its "mission to protect and serve the people."
"The (PNP) under my leadership will insure that any further step at destabilization that borders on the illegal and with willful criminal intent shall be addressed accordingly by uncompromising police action consistent with existing laws," Lomibao said.
He stressed that the PNP will not be swayed by any motive and will remain faithful to the Constitution and to its sworn duty./DMS
Saturday, June 4, 2005
Gov’t forces top in human rights violations, says NDFP
By Ronron
June 3, 2005
Almost all complaints for violation of human rights and international humanitarian law that a joint committee of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) received from June 4 last year until today were allegedly done by government forces, the NDFP thus claimed.
NDFP Negotiating Panel chair Luis Jalandoni said in a statement that the Joint Secretariat (JS) of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP has received a total of 365 complaints for violation of human rights and international humanitarian law since the JS was opened exactly a year ago today.
The JS served as a physical base for the full operation of the (JMC), which completed the technical and administrative mechanism for the monitoring of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
“There was hope that CARHRIHL would help stem the tide of increasing human rights violations by the Arroyo government, if not, improve the overall human rights situation in the country which remains in an even worse state almost 20 years after the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship,” Jalandoni said.
But he expressed doubts on the government’s sincerity to abide with the CARHRIHL as he noted that 358 of the 365 complaints were filed against the Philippine government, while the remaining seven were with the NDFP.
Jalandoni enumerated the nature of the complaints to be ranging from disappearances to killings, to torture, illegal arrests and detention, to criminalization of political offenses. These also include abuses against women and children.
“The big number of complaints filed with the JS in a short period of one year not only underscores the worsened state of human rights in the country and the urgent need to address these, but also indicates the broad support for the peace negotiations and the strong desire of the people for the ultimate resolution of the root causes of the armed conflict,” said Jalandoni.
Jalandoni lambasted the Philippine government for not abiding with the mandated meeting of the JMC every after three months since it initially convened in April last year as it would have served to be a proper venue to discuss and act on the complaints.
The government, according to him, is reportedly insisting that the formal peace negotiations should first resume before the JMC holds its regular meeting. It can be recalled that the peace process between the NDFP-Communist Party of the Philippines(CPP)-New People’s Army(NPA) and the government bogged down in August last year after the United States listed again the CPP and the NPA in its list of foreign terrorist organizations.
“The GRP and the NDFP signified their will to implement and abide by the Agreement and to carry out, separately through their respective Monitoring Committees or jointly in the JMC, fact-finding investigations of complaints of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” Jalandoni reminded the government. The CARHRIHL was signed in March 1998 by both parties.
Jalandoni stressed the NDFP’s commitment to the resolution of the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines, saying that it even translated the CARHRIHL into various dialects, and engaged in various activities to educate their members all over the country.
“But it (NDFP) will never be pressured or inveigled into capitulation by the GRP through such means as the murder of legal progressive activists, the terrorizing and wholesale killing of civilians and non-combatants, and the unjustified terrorist labeling of the CPP, the NPA and the NDFP chief political consultant Prof. Jose Ma. Sison,” said Jalandoni.
“The government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is hardly in any position to impose preconditions on the NDFP in the peace negotiations,” he added.
Jalandoni, meanwhile, warned that Arroyo that her government “is vulnerable to being toppled by a popular uprising similar to those that brought down former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada since it has failed to alleviate the people’s socio-economic condition while callously increasing their tax burden.”
“Arroyo is no different from her corrupt predecessors in wanting to enrich her own family. The NDFP calls on the GRP to heed the people’s demands for social, economic, and political reforms in order to establish a just and lasting peace in the country,” Jalandoni said./DMS
June 3, 2005
Almost all complaints for violation of human rights and international humanitarian law that a joint committee of the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) received from June 4 last year until today were allegedly done by government forces, the NDFP thus claimed.
NDFP Negotiating Panel chair Luis Jalandoni said in a statement that the Joint Secretariat (JS) of the Joint Monitoring Committee (JMC) between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the NDFP has received a total of 365 complaints for violation of human rights and international humanitarian law since the JS was opened exactly a year ago today.
The JS served as a physical base for the full operation of the (JMC), which completed the technical and administrative mechanism for the monitoring of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
“There was hope that CARHRIHL would help stem the tide of increasing human rights violations by the Arroyo government, if not, improve the overall human rights situation in the country which remains in an even worse state almost 20 years after the downfall of the Marcos dictatorship,” Jalandoni said.
But he expressed doubts on the government’s sincerity to abide with the CARHRIHL as he noted that 358 of the 365 complaints were filed against the Philippine government, while the remaining seven were with the NDFP.
Jalandoni enumerated the nature of the complaints to be ranging from disappearances to killings, to torture, illegal arrests and detention, to criminalization of political offenses. These also include abuses against women and children.
“The big number of complaints filed with the JS in a short period of one year not only underscores the worsened state of human rights in the country and the urgent need to address these, but also indicates the broad support for the peace negotiations and the strong desire of the people for the ultimate resolution of the root causes of the armed conflict,” said Jalandoni.
Jalandoni lambasted the Philippine government for not abiding with the mandated meeting of the JMC every after three months since it initially convened in April last year as it would have served to be a proper venue to discuss and act on the complaints.
The government, according to him, is reportedly insisting that the formal peace negotiations should first resume before the JMC holds its regular meeting. It can be recalled that the peace process between the NDFP-Communist Party of the Philippines(CPP)-New People’s Army(NPA) and the government bogged down in August last year after the United States listed again the CPP and the NPA in its list of foreign terrorist organizations.
“The GRP and the NDFP signified their will to implement and abide by the Agreement and to carry out, separately through their respective Monitoring Committees or jointly in the JMC, fact-finding investigations of complaints of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law,” Jalandoni reminded the government. The CARHRIHL was signed in March 1998 by both parties.
Jalandoni stressed the NDFP’s commitment to the resolution of the roots of the armed conflict in the Philippines, saying that it even translated the CARHRIHL into various dialects, and engaged in various activities to educate their members all over the country.
“But it (NDFP) will never be pressured or inveigled into capitulation by the GRP through such means as the murder of legal progressive activists, the terrorizing and wholesale killing of civilians and non-combatants, and the unjustified terrorist labeling of the CPP, the NPA and the NDFP chief political consultant Prof. Jose Ma. Sison,” said Jalandoni.
“The government of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is hardly in any position to impose preconditions on the NDFP in the peace negotiations,” he added.
Jalandoni, meanwhile, warned that Arroyo that her government “is vulnerable to being toppled by a popular uprising similar to those that brought down former Presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada since it has failed to alleviate the people’s socio-economic condition while callously increasing their tax burden.”
“Arroyo is no different from her corrupt predecessors in wanting to enrich her own family. The NDFP calls on the GRP to heed the people’s demands for social, economic, and political reforms in order to establish a just and lasting peace in the country,” Jalandoni said./DMS
Military court tells Garcia lawyers to speed up
By Ronron
June 3, 2005
The military court trying retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia over his unexplained wealth and alleged possession of a “US green card” told the latter’s lawyers Friday to speed up the presentation of their defense as it postponed yesterday’s scheduled hearing to allow Garcia’s counsel to attend to his other cases at the Sandiganbayan.
“We advise the defense to be more direct in presenting their case so that next hearing, we will make headway in the proceedings,” General Court Martial presiding officer Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio said before adjourning the hearing held at Camp Aguinaldo.
The order came after Teodosio granted the motion of the defense to postpone the hearing yesterday afternoon on the grounds that Garcia’s lawyers have to attend to similar proceedings at the anti-graft court, also for Garcia.
But even as the court ordered the postponement, it reminded the defense that it should be able to reconcile their schedule at the military court with the Sandiganbayan hearings ahead of time, considering that there are more than one lawyer in Garcia’s defense.
“We view with concern the seemingly much delay in the proceedings. We’ve been here for so long, but we’re not substantially progressing,” Teodosio said.
But Col. Antonio Doronila, one of Garcia’s lawyers, insisted the defense is not intentionally creating any delaying tactics, saying they have been presenting witnesses and pieces of evidence every hearing period.
The defense has so far presented six witnesses, but, as Doronila admitted, they have not made any significant revelation or claims that support their defense.
“They’re not controverting what was said in the charge sheet. Like, did he (Garcia) file his (statements of assets and liabilities) honestly? That is what the court is waiting for. So far, they’re harping on technicalities and always far from the main issue,” Prosecutor Col. Al Perreras said of the defense.
Both sides, however, were of the same view that yesterday’s postponement was not a delaying tactic by the defense.
Doronila said his co-counsels attended yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan for Garcia’s cases of plunder and forfeiture of properties.
The military court set the next hearing for the cases of violation of Articles of War against Garcia on June 10, 15, and 24 of this year./DMS
June 3, 2005
The military court trying retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia over his unexplained wealth and alleged possession of a “US green card” told the latter’s lawyers Friday to speed up the presentation of their defense as it postponed yesterday’s scheduled hearing to allow Garcia’s counsel to attend to his other cases at the Sandiganbayan.
“We advise the defense to be more direct in presenting their case so that next hearing, we will make headway in the proceedings,” General Court Martial presiding officer Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio said before adjourning the hearing held at Camp Aguinaldo.
The order came after Teodosio granted the motion of the defense to postpone the hearing yesterday afternoon on the grounds that Garcia’s lawyers have to attend to similar proceedings at the anti-graft court, also for Garcia.
But even as the court ordered the postponement, it reminded the defense that it should be able to reconcile their schedule at the military court with the Sandiganbayan hearings ahead of time, considering that there are more than one lawyer in Garcia’s defense.
“We view with concern the seemingly much delay in the proceedings. We’ve been here for so long, but we’re not substantially progressing,” Teodosio said.
But Col. Antonio Doronila, one of Garcia’s lawyers, insisted the defense is not intentionally creating any delaying tactics, saying they have been presenting witnesses and pieces of evidence every hearing period.
The defense has so far presented six witnesses, but, as Doronila admitted, they have not made any significant revelation or claims that support their defense.
“They’re not controverting what was said in the charge sheet. Like, did he (Garcia) file his (statements of assets and liabilities) honestly? That is what the court is waiting for. So far, they’re harping on technicalities and always far from the main issue,” Prosecutor Col. Al Perreras said of the defense.
Both sides, however, were of the same view that yesterday’s postponement was not a delaying tactic by the defense.
Doronila said his co-counsels attended yesterday’s hearing at the Sandiganbayan for Garcia’s cases of plunder and forfeiture of properties.
The military court set the next hearing for the cases of violation of Articles of War against Garcia on June 10, 15, and 24 of this year./DMS
2 NPA’s killed in encounter in Isabela
By Ronron
June 3, 2005
Two communist rebels were killed in an encounter Friday morning between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troops in the northern Philippine province of Isabela.
Initial reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City said the two slain rebels were among the undetermined number of communist guerillas whom elements of the 52nd Reconnaissance Company under the Philippine Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion exchanged fires with at 7:05 am yesterday in Barangay Ara, Benito Soliven, Isabela.
No one was hurt from the government side.
The government troops, led by 2Lt. Albert Batinga, were conducting combat patrol then in response to intelligence reports about the presence of NPA rebels at said area.
The rebel group reportedly belongs to Platoon 1, Central Front of the NPA’s Cagayan Valley Regional Party Committee, headed by a certain Melecio Casisola, alias Ka Milis or Ka Jose.
The military recovered from the clash site two M16 rifles of the rebels.
A platoon from the same company immediately proceeded at the encounter site to reinforce the engaged government troops, while troops of the Alpha company, also of the 45th IB, established blocking positions at the possible withdrawal routes of the rebels./DMS
June 3, 2005
Two communist rebels were killed in an encounter Friday morning between the New People’s Army (NPA) and government troops in the northern Philippine province of Isabela.
Initial reports reaching Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City said the two slain rebels were among the undetermined number of communist guerillas whom elements of the 52nd Reconnaissance Company under the Philippine Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion exchanged fires with at 7:05 am yesterday in Barangay Ara, Benito Soliven, Isabela.
No one was hurt from the government side.
The government troops, led by 2Lt. Albert Batinga, were conducting combat patrol then in response to intelligence reports about the presence of NPA rebels at said area.
The rebel group reportedly belongs to Platoon 1, Central Front of the NPA’s Cagayan Valley Regional Party Committee, headed by a certain Melecio Casisola, alias Ka Milis or Ka Jose.
The military recovered from the clash site two M16 rifles of the rebels.
A platoon from the same company immediately proceeded at the encounter site to reinforce the engaged government troops, while troops of the Alpha company, also of the 45th IB, established blocking positions at the possible withdrawal routes of the rebels./DMS
P5.6 million worth of shabu recovered from Chinese
By Ronron
June 3, 2005
Police operatives recovered on Thursday afternoon four kilos of shabu, worth P5.6 million, from an undocumented Chinese national during an entrapment operation at the parking lot of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Chief Supt. Ricardo Dapat identified the suspect as Chi Hong Wong, 23, who was being tracked down initially for alleged gunrunning.
Dapat said CIDG operatives were about to approach Wong at the parking area of said mall past 5 pm the other day when the latter ran towards his Honda car, grabbed his Desert Eagle pistol caliber 99 mm, and tried to shoot it out with the law enforcers.
But the policemen responded quickly and subdued him, leading to his capture.
The CIDG operatives later found a bag inside Wong’s car that contained white crystalline substance, examined later to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
Wong was not able to present any document or passport when asked for any.
He was charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) and of the Dangerous Drugs Act at the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office, and was not granted bail by Prosecutor Elenita Dumaguile for his temporary freedom./DMS
June 3, 2005
Police operatives recovered on Thursday afternoon four kilos of shabu, worth P5.6 million, from an undocumented Chinese national during an entrapment operation at the parking lot of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Chief Supt. Ricardo Dapat identified the suspect as Chi Hong Wong, 23, who was being tracked down initially for alleged gunrunning.
Dapat said CIDG operatives were about to approach Wong at the parking area of said mall past 5 pm the other day when the latter ran towards his Honda car, grabbed his Desert Eagle pistol caliber 99 mm, and tried to shoot it out with the law enforcers.
But the policemen responded quickly and subdued him, leading to his capture.
The CIDG operatives later found a bag inside Wong’s car that contained white crystalline substance, examined later to be methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
Wong was not able to present any document or passport when asked for any.
He was charged for violation of Presidential Decree 1866 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) and of the Dangerous Drugs Act at the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office, and was not granted bail by Prosecutor Elenita Dumaguile for his temporary freedom./DMS
Friday, June 3, 2005
Garcia rushed to hospital for chest pains, turns out he’s OK
By Ronron
June 2, 2005
Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the embattled former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), was rushed Thursday morning to the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) in Camp Crame, Quezon City after complaining of chest pains but turned out he is just fine, police officials said.
According to PNP Headquarters Support Services Director Chief Supt. Geary Barias, Garcia was taken to the PNPGH at around 9 am, 15 hours since he arrived at the PNP Custodial Center in preparation for the trial of the plunder charge leveled against him and his family at the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for allegedly amassing more than P300 million from military funds.
Garcia, 56, underwent some medical check-up and tests at the hospital, and was back to his two-meter-by-three-meter detention cell about an hour later.
His hypertension was declared to be under control, based on his blood pressure, the results of his blood tests, and physical examination.
Barias assured that Garcia, just like the other 67 detainees at the PNP Custodial Center, can always avail of medical services of the PNPGH when necessary. “We had to take care also of the health of the detainees,” he said.
Barias stressed Garcia is not given special treatment at the detention facility which is housing suspects in high-profile cases, like former congressman Dennis Roldan and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Martin Soriano.
He said Garcia will be covered of the same rules and regulations imposed in the facility, specifically on visitation, food ration, and detention cell amenities.
Barias said Garcia’s lawyers could visit their client anytime they want to, but his relatives and friends will have to abide with the allowed visitation time.
The beleaguered retired official will not also be given access to the use of cellular phones, television, and air-conditioned units, and instead bear with his wooden bed and an electric fan.
And just like his co-detainees, Garcia will be eating the food served by the facility three times a day, which is all worth P30.00. “But it is not prohibited that (his relatives and friends) would bring food there, provided those are all inspected,” said Barias.
Garcia is staying alone in the detention cell that is good for four persons.
“He seems alright. In fact, he was surprised when he was brought here. He did not bring anything. He was wearing his barong, and I asked him about his other things. He told me, he left everything at the (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines). So, I advised him to get his things because we could not give him anything,” Barias said of Garcia.
Garcia had already been detained since late last year at the ISAFP inside Camp Aguinaldo upon the commencement of his trial at the military’s General Court Martial for the charges of violation of Articles of War leveled against him./DMS
June 2, 2005
Retired Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia, the embattled former comptroller of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), was rushed Thursday morning to the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) in Camp Crame, Quezon City after complaining of chest pains but turned out he is just fine, police officials said.
According to PNP Headquarters Support Services Director Chief Supt. Geary Barias, Garcia was taken to the PNPGH at around 9 am, 15 hours since he arrived at the PNP Custodial Center in preparation for the trial of the plunder charge leveled against him and his family at the Second Division of the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court for allegedly amassing more than P300 million from military funds.
Garcia, 56, underwent some medical check-up and tests at the hospital, and was back to his two-meter-by-three-meter detention cell about an hour later.
His hypertension was declared to be under control, based on his blood pressure, the results of his blood tests, and physical examination.
Barias assured that Garcia, just like the other 67 detainees at the PNP Custodial Center, can always avail of medical services of the PNPGH when necessary. “We had to take care also of the health of the detainees,” he said.
Barias stressed Garcia is not given special treatment at the detention facility which is housing suspects in high-profile cases, like former congressman Dennis Roldan and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent Martin Soriano.
He said Garcia will be covered of the same rules and regulations imposed in the facility, specifically on visitation, food ration, and detention cell amenities.
Barias said Garcia’s lawyers could visit their client anytime they want to, but his relatives and friends will have to abide with the allowed visitation time.
The beleaguered retired official will not also be given access to the use of cellular phones, television, and air-conditioned units, and instead bear with his wooden bed and an electric fan.
And just like his co-detainees, Garcia will be eating the food served by the facility three times a day, which is all worth P30.00. “But it is not prohibited that (his relatives and friends) would bring food there, provided those are all inspected,” said Barias.
Garcia is staying alone in the detention cell that is good for four persons.
“He seems alright. In fact, he was surprised when he was brought here. He did not bring anything. He was wearing his barong, and I asked him about his other things. He told me, he left everything at the (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines). So, I advised him to get his things because we could not give him anything,” Barias said of Garcia.
Garcia had already been detained since late last year at the ISAFP inside Camp Aguinaldo upon the commencement of his trial at the military’s General Court Martial for the charges of violation of Articles of War leveled against him./DMS
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Japanese gov't orders recall of embassy staff from General Santos City amid security threats and unsuccessful mission to confirm presence of straggler
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Monday, May 30, 2005
Mediator willing to meet Tokyo-based official regarding alleged Japanese stragglers in Mindanao
By Ronron
May 29, 2005
General Santos City - The contact of the Japanese Embassy in Manila for the turn over of the two alleged Japanese war soldiers holed up in the mountains of this city expressed willingess to meet the Japanese official from Tokyo who is supposed to have arrived here already on Sunday.
In an interview with Manila Shimbun early last night, the go-between said he was waiting for a word from embassy personnel yesterday afternoon regarding the supposed meeting but to no avail.
Suminori Arima, from Japan's Ministry of Welfare, was expected to have arrived in this southern Philippine city yesterday morning but journalists who went to the airport here to meet the official returned to their bases empty-handed.
Arima, according to Japanese Embassy spokesman Shuhei Ogawa, was sent here "to help in their operation" to confirm the report about the two Japanese stragglers who, allegedly after failing to go home to Japan after the second World War in 1945, has since lived in the mountains here.
The report drew so much interest from the Japanese community, especially from Japanese newsmen who flew in here from Japan, because of its precedent that happened in 1974 involving Japanese soldier, Hiroo Onoda, who was found in Lubang Island, Mindoro Occidental.
"I am willing to meet him (Arima) anytime but up to late this afternoon, there was no contact made to me from the Japanese government side," the self-proclaimed mediator told Manila Shimbun yesterday in Japanese.
At the time he was being interviewed, the mediator claimed he just came from the mountain to meet supposedly the two alleged Japanese soldiers. However, he failed to do so because, according to him, when he had already reached some 800 meters high, he was stopped by some guerillas, and that rain was pouring very hard.
Ogawa, in an interview earlier in the day, refused to divulge when the last contact was made by the embassy with the go-between, who is described to be a Japanese businessmen in Mindanao, as well as the content of their recent conversations.
He also did not respond to queries as to whether or not Arima had already arrived here and where would he be staying.
Even as the third day in waiting ended yesterday, the Japanese Embassy still has yet to make proper coordination with the local authorities here for the verification about the existence of the stragglers.
Ogawa said seeking the participation of the authorities would only "complicate" their mission.
"If they come to us and seek for our help (in verifying the existence of the Japanese stragglers), we will do so. I am hopeful they will come to us," said Police Superintendent Alfredo Toroctocon, chief of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO).
Both the police and army units here have maintained that they have no knowledge as to the sightings of the alleged two Japanese war soldiers.
So far, the coordination was only limited to the security of the embassy people and the hordes of Japanese mediamen. The Japanese Embassy, quoting an advisory from the regional police here, warned last Saturday the newsmen not to go to the mountains due to security risks brought about by the presence of elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People's Army (NPA).
Asked what if media defy their advisory, Ogawa replied: "Well, we can't control that situation anymore."
Army Maj. Gen. Raul Relano, 6th Infantry Division Commander, expressed worries that newsmen, especially Japanese nationals, might risk their selves to communist guerrillas if they go up to areas where the stragglers are reported to have been sighted, such as Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, located just north of this city.
"I am worried about their (reporters) security if they go there because that is an NPA-infested area. They could be kidnapped," Relano told Manila Shimbun in Filipino.
Toroctocon, for his part, disclosed that their intelligence men continue to receive "tidbits of information" regarding terroristic threats on the city coming from the Jeemah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group, which, even if based in Western Mindanao, have their own sympathizers from here.
The most recent terroristic attack in this city happened last February 14 of this year, simultaneous with the bombings in Makati City in Luzon, and in neighboring Davao City. At least three people were killed and 16 others were injured when a bomb blast hit the Gaisano Mall here last Valentine's day.
Toroctocon said personnel of the police precinct nearest to Phela Grande Hotel, located on Magsaysay Avenue here where embassy officials and most of the media are billeted, have been alerted to secure the vicinity.
They are supported by members of the military's Joint Task Force General Santos.
The stay here of the embassy people remains open until they could confirm the report regarding the stragglers, which, until yesterday, remains unaccomplished, said Ogawa.
He said what has so far transpired until the third day in waiting was only their continuing arrangement for the planned meeting.
The spokesman said no cash demand, either for ransom or other purposes, have been received by the Japanese government from anyone or the mediator in particular in exchange for the turn over of the alleged stragglers./DMS
May 29, 2005
General Santos City - The contact of the Japanese Embassy in Manila for the turn over of the two alleged Japanese war soldiers holed up in the mountains of this city expressed willingess to meet the Japanese official from Tokyo who is supposed to have arrived here already on Sunday.
In an interview with Manila Shimbun early last night, the go-between said he was waiting for a word from embassy personnel yesterday afternoon regarding the supposed meeting but to no avail.
Suminori Arima, from Japan's Ministry of Welfare, was expected to have arrived in this southern Philippine city yesterday morning but journalists who went to the airport here to meet the official returned to their bases empty-handed.
Arima, according to Japanese Embassy spokesman Shuhei Ogawa, was sent here "to help in their operation" to confirm the report about the two Japanese stragglers who, allegedly after failing to go home to Japan after the second World War in 1945, has since lived in the mountains here.
The report drew so much interest from the Japanese community, especially from Japanese newsmen who flew in here from Japan, because of its precedent that happened in 1974 involving Japanese soldier, Hiroo Onoda, who was found in Lubang Island, Mindoro Occidental.
"I am willing to meet him (Arima) anytime but up to late this afternoon, there was no contact made to me from the Japanese government side," the self-proclaimed mediator told Manila Shimbun yesterday in Japanese.
At the time he was being interviewed, the mediator claimed he just came from the mountain to meet supposedly the two alleged Japanese soldiers. However, he failed to do so because, according to him, when he had already reached some 800 meters high, he was stopped by some guerillas, and that rain was pouring very hard.
Ogawa, in an interview earlier in the day, refused to divulge when the last contact was made by the embassy with the go-between, who is described to be a Japanese businessmen in Mindanao, as well as the content of their recent conversations.
He also did not respond to queries as to whether or not Arima had already arrived here and where would he be staying.
Even as the third day in waiting ended yesterday, the Japanese Embassy still has yet to make proper coordination with the local authorities here for the verification about the existence of the stragglers.
Ogawa said seeking the participation of the authorities would only "complicate" their mission.
"If they come to us and seek for our help (in verifying the existence of the Japanese stragglers), we will do so. I am hopeful they will come to us," said Police Superintendent Alfredo Toroctocon, chief of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO).
Both the police and army units here have maintained that they have no knowledge as to the sightings of the alleged two Japanese war soldiers.
So far, the coordination was only limited to the security of the embassy people and the hordes of Japanese mediamen. The Japanese Embassy, quoting an advisory from the regional police here, warned last Saturday the newsmen not to go to the mountains due to security risks brought about by the presence of elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the New People's Army (NPA).
Asked what if media defy their advisory, Ogawa replied: "Well, we can't control that situation anymore."
Army Maj. Gen. Raul Relano, 6th Infantry Division Commander, expressed worries that newsmen, especially Japanese nationals, might risk their selves to communist guerrillas if they go up to areas where the stragglers are reported to have been sighted, such as Columbio in Sultan Kudarat, located just north of this city.
"I am worried about their (reporters) security if they go there because that is an NPA-infested area. They could be kidnapped," Relano told Manila Shimbun in Filipino.
Toroctocon, for his part, disclosed that their intelligence men continue to receive "tidbits of information" regarding terroristic threats on the city coming from the Jeemah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf Group, which, even if based in Western Mindanao, have their own sympathizers from here.
The most recent terroristic attack in this city happened last February 14 of this year, simultaneous with the bombings in Makati City in Luzon, and in neighboring Davao City. At least three people were killed and 16 others were injured when a bomb blast hit the Gaisano Mall here last Valentine's day.
Toroctocon said personnel of the police precinct nearest to Phela Grande Hotel, located on Magsaysay Avenue here where embassy officials and most of the media are billeted, have been alerted to secure the vicinity.
They are supported by members of the military's Joint Task Force General Santos.
The stay here of the embassy people remains open until they could confirm the report regarding the stragglers, which, until yesterday, remains unaccomplished, said Ogawa.
He said what has so far transpired until the third day in waiting was only their continuing arrangement for the planned meeting.
The spokesman said no cash demand, either for ransom or other purposes, have been received by the Japanese government from anyone or the mediator in particular in exchange for the turn over of the alleged stragglers./DMS
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Scores of Japanese mediamen await development of stagglers report
By Ronron
May 28, 2005
General Santos City - Almost a hundred newsmen and crew, some of whom coming from Japan, are still awaiting here on Saturday the supposed turn over of two Japanese soldiers who have been in hiding and living in the mountains of this city for 60 years since the end of the second World War in 1945.
Despite several contacts made with a Japanese mediator since Thursday until yesterday, officials of the Japanese Embassy in Manila who were deployed here remains clueless as to when the turn-over of the two will take place.
Embassy spokesperson, Shuhei Ogawa, cited, among many things, the overwhelming presence of media practitioners here as a concern of the Mindanao-based mediator who is supposed to facilitate the turn over of the two war soldiers.
"We don't know the reason why they have not come out yet. But we hope to resolve this as soon as possible," Ogawa told reporters in an interview yesterday morning here at the East Asia Royale Hotel where the turn-over was supposed to take place.
Asked if they doubt the report, Ogawa replied: "It's too soon to judge. But we (embassy officials) were told to stay put here."
Four embassy officials arrived here last Friday morning to meet supposedly the mediator and the Japanese war soldiers, who are described to be in their 80's. But while some returned to the Japanese Consular office in Japan yesterday, officials from Japan's Ministry of Welfare are expected to arrive today.
"They will be coming here to help us in our operation here," Ogawa said of the Tokyo-based officials.
Ogawa said the purpose of their coming here is to verify the claim of the mediator who first called the Japanese Embassy in Manila last Thursday . According to the mediator, the two Japanese war veterans are seeking help to be able to go back to Japan.
"We are not asking for evidence from the mediator to support his claim. It's enough that he brings the two to us," said Ogawa. The mediator reportedly has not yet seen for himself the two stragglers.
The spokesman said he learned that the Ministry of Welfare of Japan has received letters from someone regarding the Japanese stragglers.
Until yesterday, Ogawa said they were still working out ways to bring out the alleged stragglers, even without the help of Philippine authorities.
"We will ask help (from the Philippine government) only when it is necessary," he said.
In separate interviews, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) District office here, the Army division in control of the area, and the city government admitted they still have to receive an official communication from the Japanese Embassy about its current undertaking. These agencies claimed of having no knowledge about the presence of Japanese stragglers here.
"The Philippine Army's sixth infantry division has been operating in the area of Mt. Matutum once in a while. We did not hear those names there, nor do we know the existence of Japanese war veterans," Army 6th ID Commander Maj. Gen. Raul Relano told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
The police, on the other hand, took the initiative of verifying the report through intelligence gathering.
It also warned the mediamen, especially those who came from Japan, not to proceed to the mountains because of the prevailig security threat brought about by the presence there of the Islamic secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the communist New People's Army (NPA), said Ogawa.
The arrival of several mediamen here has stirred excitement among local people, especially those who happen to pass by the hotels where reporters are on stand by. It also sent all hotels and lodging establishments here to full occupancy level./DMS
May 28, 2005
General Santos City - Almost a hundred newsmen and crew, some of whom coming from Japan, are still awaiting here on Saturday the supposed turn over of two Japanese soldiers who have been in hiding and living in the mountains of this city for 60 years since the end of the second World War in 1945.
Despite several contacts made with a Japanese mediator since Thursday until yesterday, officials of the Japanese Embassy in Manila who were deployed here remains clueless as to when the turn-over of the two will take place.
Embassy spokesperson, Shuhei Ogawa, cited, among many things, the overwhelming presence of media practitioners here as a concern of the Mindanao-based mediator who is supposed to facilitate the turn over of the two war soldiers.
"We don't know the reason why they have not come out yet. But we hope to resolve this as soon as possible," Ogawa told reporters in an interview yesterday morning here at the East Asia Royale Hotel where the turn-over was supposed to take place.
Asked if they doubt the report, Ogawa replied: "It's too soon to judge. But we (embassy officials) were told to stay put here."
Four embassy officials arrived here last Friday morning to meet supposedly the mediator and the Japanese war soldiers, who are described to be in their 80's. But while some returned to the Japanese Consular office in Japan yesterday, officials from Japan's Ministry of Welfare are expected to arrive today.
"They will be coming here to help us in our operation here," Ogawa said of the Tokyo-based officials.
Ogawa said the purpose of their coming here is to verify the claim of the mediator who first called the Japanese Embassy in Manila last Thursday . According to the mediator, the two Japanese war veterans are seeking help to be able to go back to Japan.
"We are not asking for evidence from the mediator to support his claim. It's enough that he brings the two to us," said Ogawa. The mediator reportedly has not yet seen for himself the two stragglers.
The spokesman said he learned that the Ministry of Welfare of Japan has received letters from someone regarding the Japanese stragglers.
Until yesterday, Ogawa said they were still working out ways to bring out the alleged stragglers, even without the help of Philippine authorities.
"We will ask help (from the Philippine government) only when it is necessary," he said.
In separate interviews, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) District office here, the Army division in control of the area, and the city government admitted they still have to receive an official communication from the Japanese Embassy about its current undertaking. These agencies claimed of having no knowledge about the presence of Japanese stragglers here.
"The Philippine Army's sixth infantry division has been operating in the area of Mt. Matutum once in a while. We did not hear those names there, nor do we know the existence of Japanese war veterans," Army 6th ID Commander Maj. Gen. Raul Relano told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
The police, on the other hand, took the initiative of verifying the report through intelligence gathering.
It also warned the mediamen, especially those who came from Japan, not to proceed to the mountains because of the prevailig security threat brought about by the presence there of the Islamic secessionist group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the communist New People's Army (NPA), said Ogawa.
The arrival of several mediamen here has stirred excitement among local people, especially those who happen to pass by the hotels where reporters are on stand by. It also sent all hotels and lodging establishments here to full occupancy level./DMS
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Turn-over of alleged Japanese stragglers hangs
By Ronron
May 27, 2005
General Santos City - The release here of two alleged Japanese stragglers hangs as of this writing after officials of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines failed until early Friday night to convince their contact to bring out the alleged World War II veterans.
Embassy officials yesterday told Japanese and local reporters at a hotel here that they were not sure if the mediator, who is also allegedly a Japanese, would be able to turn over the two old Japanese soldiers until last night.
The mediator, according to Embassy officials, contacted the Japanese Embassy in Manila first last Thursday about the existence of the two stragglers who were reported to have been in hiding in the mountains of this city since the second world war ended in 1945.
Historians have said that Japanese soldiers who invaded the Philippines in the 1930's and onwards retreated to the mountains when American soldiers returned in 1944. It was believed that some of these Japanese refused or forgot to return to the lowlands out of fear of being hit back by angry Filipinos whom they abused during the invasion period.
A newspaper in Japan said Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and Nakauchi Tsuzuki, 83, both of the old Japanese Army, hid in the mountains of this city after failing to escape after the war. They reportedly were not able to catch up with their fellow soldiers who were able to return to Japan.
The two are said to be in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as they wanted to go back to Japan.
However, NBI Sarangani District Director Atty. Boye Mama said he does not have any knowledge about the said report, adding that they did not even receive an official communication from embassy officials regarding the matter.
"I only learned about it today. Somebody, a Japanese man, called me up and my staff this morning and was asking about that report. I told him I don't know anything about it," Mama said in Filipino in an interview yesterday at his office on Tiongson St., Barangay Lagao of this city.
He said he also verified those two names at the local Immigration office but both were not in the latter's list.
The office of the city mayor here has also conducted verification actions on said report.
A number of news reporters, mostly from Manila, arrived here yesterday morning to verify the report but were only left frustrated at the end of the day. They expect a major breakthrough to happen today./DMS
May 27, 2005
General Santos City - The release here of two alleged Japanese stragglers hangs as of this writing after officials of the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines failed until early Friday night to convince their contact to bring out the alleged World War II veterans.
Embassy officials yesterday told Japanese and local reporters at a hotel here that they were not sure if the mediator, who is also allegedly a Japanese, would be able to turn over the two old Japanese soldiers until last night.
The mediator, according to Embassy officials, contacted the Japanese Embassy in Manila first last Thursday about the existence of the two stragglers who were reported to have been in hiding in the mountains of this city since the second world war ended in 1945.
Historians have said that Japanese soldiers who invaded the Philippines in the 1930's and onwards retreated to the mountains when American soldiers returned in 1944. It was believed that some of these Japanese refused or forgot to return to the lowlands out of fear of being hit back by angry Filipinos whom they abused during the invasion period.
A newspaper in Japan said Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and Nakauchi Tsuzuki, 83, both of the old Japanese Army, hid in the mountains of this city after failing to escape after the war. They reportedly were not able to catch up with their fellow soldiers who were able to return to Japan.
The two are said to be in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as they wanted to go back to Japan.
However, NBI Sarangani District Director Atty. Boye Mama said he does not have any knowledge about the said report, adding that they did not even receive an official communication from embassy officials regarding the matter.
"I only learned about it today. Somebody, a Japanese man, called me up and my staff this morning and was asking about that report. I told him I don't know anything about it," Mama said in Filipino in an interview yesterday at his office on Tiongson St., Barangay Lagao of this city.
He said he also verified those two names at the local Immigration office but both were not in the latter's list.
The office of the city mayor here has also conducted verification actions on said report.
A number of news reporters, mostly from Manila, arrived here yesterday morning to verify the report but were only left frustrated at the end of the day. They expect a major breakthrough to happen today./DMS
Friday, May 27, 2005
3 government agents killed, one civilian injured in shoot-out in Batangas City
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Three persons, all government agents, were killed and a civilian was injured in a shoot-out before dawn of Thursday outside an entertainment establishment in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
The slain victims were identified as SPO1 Noel Mendoza, 42, of the Lipa City Police Station Investigation Unit; Sgt. Romeo Loresca, 39, of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) who is assigned at the Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF); and, a certain Andy Malabanan, 31, a civilian agent of the ACTF.
Civilian Arnold Padera, meanwhile, was hit by a stray bullet on his left leg.
According to a police report, the incident happened at around 1 am yesterday outside the Gimikero Videoke Bar in Barangay Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas.
Mendoza, with some company, was reportedly at the site for a certain mission when he encountered Loresca, Malabanan, and Sgt. Romeo Bautista, also of the PAF.
Just when Mendoza was about to enter the bar, Bautista reportedly approached him which later resulted to an altercation.
All parties were reportedly intoxicated at that time and were carrying their respective short firearms.
Quoting witnesses, the police said Bautista grabbed Mendoza until a shoot-out occurred.
Loresca and Mendoza were hit and died instantly, while Malabanan expired later at the hospital.
Padera was also rushed to the hospital after the incident.
Police arrested Bautista and detained him at the Lipa City Police Station. Charges of multiple homicide are being prepared against him for filing today (Friday). Police is also encouraging Padera to lodge an attempted homicide case against Bautista./DMS
May 26, 2005
Three persons, all government agents, were killed and a civilian was injured in a shoot-out before dawn of Thursday outside an entertainment establishment in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
The slain victims were identified as SPO1 Noel Mendoza, 42, of the Lipa City Police Station Investigation Unit; Sgt. Romeo Loresca, 39, of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) who is assigned at the Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF); and, a certain Andy Malabanan, 31, a civilian agent of the ACTF.
Civilian Arnold Padera, meanwhile, was hit by a stray bullet on his left leg.
According to a police report, the incident happened at around 1 am yesterday outside the Gimikero Videoke Bar in Barangay Balintawak, Lipa City, Batangas.
Mendoza, with some company, was reportedly at the site for a certain mission when he encountered Loresca, Malabanan, and Sgt. Romeo Bautista, also of the PAF.
Just when Mendoza was about to enter the bar, Bautista reportedly approached him which later resulted to an altercation.
All parties were reportedly intoxicated at that time and were carrying their respective short firearms.
Quoting witnesses, the police said Bautista grabbed Mendoza until a shoot-out occurred.
Loresca and Mendoza were hit and died instantly, while Malabanan expired later at the hospital.
Padera was also rushed to the hospital after the incident.
Police arrested Bautista and detained him at the Lipa City Police Station. Charges of multiple homicide are being prepared against him for filing today (Friday). Police is also encouraging Padera to lodge an attempted homicide case against Bautista./DMS
Two Dutchmen killed in anti-cybersex raid in Quezon City
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Two Dutch nationals who are allegedly engaged in the flesh trade on the internet were killed Wednesday night when authorities raided their dens in New Manila and Cubao, Quezon City.
The victims were identified as brothers Hendrikus Erik Van Engelenburg and Willen Cornelis Van Engelenburg who are accused of running the www.xxx.chat.com cybersex sites.
According to official reports, elements of the Presidential Task Force Hunter on Anti-Illegal Recruitment first swooped down on the first den on #6 Sixth Street near Balete Drive in New Manila, Quezon City at around 8 pm.
Task Force Chief Director Reynaldo Jaylo led the operation that resulted to the death of the brothers after the latter resisted arrest and engaged the authorities in a shoot-out.
Jaylo reportedly shot Hendrikus Erik at the den’s ground floor while other raiding operatives shot Willen Cornelis on the second floor. Both were allegedly armed with caliber 45 pistols.
They were rushed to the nearby St. Luke’s Hospital but were declared dead on arrival. Both were hit in the head.
After the shoot-out, government operatives rescued five female models, who claimed that were just forced to go into the illegal trade, allegedly due to poverty. Each of the ladies reportedly receives a monthly income ranging from P25,000 to P50,000 for either performing self-sex using gadgets, or engaging in sexual activities while being viewed by mostly foreign clients through the webcam.
The second raid was done in another den in Cubao, also ran by the brothers, at around 10 pm.
Task Forcer members caught two models at that time performing self-sex.
Arrested in that raid were the wife of Willen Cornelis, identified as Veronica Rellona, and the firm’s cashier.
The Task Force report said the arrested individuals will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 (An Act to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children).
Jaylo justified the raid, saying it was covered by a search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio, Jr./DMS
May 26, 2005
Two Dutch nationals who are allegedly engaged in the flesh trade on the internet were killed Wednesday night when authorities raided their dens in New Manila and Cubao, Quezon City.
The victims were identified as brothers Hendrikus Erik Van Engelenburg and Willen Cornelis Van Engelenburg who are accused of running the www.xxx.chat.com cybersex sites.
According to official reports, elements of the Presidential Task Force Hunter on Anti-Illegal Recruitment first swooped down on the first den on #6 Sixth Street near Balete Drive in New Manila, Quezon City at around 8 pm.
Task Force Chief Director Reynaldo Jaylo led the operation that resulted to the death of the brothers after the latter resisted arrest and engaged the authorities in a shoot-out.
Jaylo reportedly shot Hendrikus Erik at the den’s ground floor while other raiding operatives shot Willen Cornelis on the second floor. Both were allegedly armed with caliber 45 pistols.
They were rushed to the nearby St. Luke’s Hospital but were declared dead on arrival. Both were hit in the head.
After the shoot-out, government operatives rescued five female models, who claimed that were just forced to go into the illegal trade, allegedly due to poverty. Each of the ladies reportedly receives a monthly income ranging from P25,000 to P50,000 for either performing self-sex using gadgets, or engaging in sexual activities while being viewed by mostly foreign clients through the webcam.
The second raid was done in another den in Cubao, also ran by the brothers, at around 10 pm.
Task Forcer members caught two models at that time performing self-sex.
Arrested in that raid were the wife of Willen Cornelis, identified as Veronica Rellona, and the firm’s cashier.
The Task Force report said the arrested individuals will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9208 (An Act to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children).
Jaylo justified the raid, saying it was covered by a search warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Antonio Eugenio, Jr./DMS
Tornado hits golf course in Cavite, 40 trees uprooted and 26 cars damaged
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Weather experts confirmed yesterday that what hit a golf course in Cavite on Wednesday afternoon was a tornado.
This was based on the extent of damages left by the calamity, the account of witnesses, and the appearance of the affected place after the incident.
Weather Branch Chief Nathaniel Cruz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that what was perceived as a whirlwind at around 1pm the other day in Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Barangay Mabuhay, Carmona, Cavite was indeed a tornado.
The natural calamity, which lasted for more than a minute, resulted in the uprooting of around 40 trees, and the damage of 26 cars after these were run over by the fallen trees.
Fortunately, there was no casualty in the incident.
Cruz said the tornado was estimated to have a diameter of no more than a hundred meters based on the damaged area inside the golf course.
He said the circular formation of the fallen trees also affirmed their theory that what occurred was a tornado. “If it was just an ordinary wind, the fallen trees would be in a single, similar position,” Cruz explained.
“The security personnel of the golf course confirmed that there was a thunderstorm at that time and that the strong wind resembled to that of a tornado,” stated a police report.
Cruz said a tornado needs to have a severe thunderstorm and heavy gray cloud (cumulus nimbus). It is triggered by a difference in the wind strength at the land surface and on the atmosphere.
The strength of the tornado, however, was not immediately determined by the national weather bureau.
The Office of Civil Defense has last recorded a mini tornado incident on May 20 in Bamban, Tarlac which partially damaged six houses, affecting six families./DMS
May 26, 2005
Weather experts confirmed yesterday that what hit a golf course in Cavite on Wednesday afternoon was a tornado.
This was based on the extent of damages left by the calamity, the account of witnesses, and the appearance of the affected place after the incident.
Weather Branch Chief Nathaniel Cruz of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that what was perceived as a whirlwind at around 1pm the other day in Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Barangay Mabuhay, Carmona, Cavite was indeed a tornado.
The natural calamity, which lasted for more than a minute, resulted in the uprooting of around 40 trees, and the damage of 26 cars after these were run over by the fallen trees.
Fortunately, there was no casualty in the incident.
Cruz said the tornado was estimated to have a diameter of no more than a hundred meters based on the damaged area inside the golf course.
He said the circular formation of the fallen trees also affirmed their theory that what occurred was a tornado. “If it was just an ordinary wind, the fallen trees would be in a single, similar position,” Cruz explained.
“The security personnel of the golf course confirmed that there was a thunderstorm at that time and that the strong wind resembled to that of a tornado,” stated a police report.
Cruz said a tornado needs to have a severe thunderstorm and heavy gray cloud (cumulus nimbus). It is triggered by a difference in the wind strength at the land surface and on the atmosphere.
The strength of the tornado, however, was not immediately determined by the national weather bureau.
The Office of Civil Defense has last recorded a mini tornado incident on May 20 in Bamban, Tarlac which partially damaged six houses, affecting six families./DMS
Bank robbers attack thrift bank, business establishment in Antipolo City; cart away a million pesos
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
A thrift bank and a business establishment beside it in Antipolo City were robbed Thursday morning of around a million pesos by at least four thieves.
According to a police report, the burglary at Real Bank and its adjacent establishment, Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., both located at the Circumferencial Road in Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City, happened before 8 am yesterday, the time it was discovered by the security guard of the bank.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, one of whom is suspected to be a woman, holed first a concrete wall of the Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., using electric drill and crowbars.
They then ransacked the said establishment, destroyed the steel cabinet inside and carted away cash money amounting to P7,000.00.
Then, they made another hole using the same tools towards the adjacent Real Bank. Using acetylene, the suspects were able to open the vault from which they took more or less one million pesos in cash.
The report indicated that police already has an idea who the possible suspects are, and that they are now being pursued./DMS
May 26, 2005
A thrift bank and a business establishment beside it in Antipolo City were robbed Thursday morning of around a million pesos by at least four thieves.
According to a police report, the burglary at Real Bank and its adjacent establishment, Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., both located at the Circumferencial Road in Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City, happened before 8 am yesterday, the time it was discovered by the security guard of the bank.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, one of whom is suspected to be a woman, holed first a concrete wall of the Jianshe Power Cycle, Inc., using electric drill and crowbars.
They then ransacked the said establishment, destroyed the steel cabinet inside and carted away cash money amounting to P7,000.00.
Then, they made another hole using the same tools towards the adjacent Real Bank. Using acetylene, the suspects were able to open the vault from which they took more or less one million pesos in cash.
The report indicated that police already has an idea who the possible suspects are, and that they are now being pursued./DMS
Suspect in killing of Bicol journalist nabbed
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Police nabbed on Thursday morning an alleged killer of Bicol journalist Ruel Edrinal, an official said.
Sr. Supt. Pedro Tango, Task Force Newsman commander, said Clarito Arisobal fell into the hands of authorities at around 9 am yesterday in Legaspi City, Albay.
Tango said Arisobal is a suspect in the murder of Edrinal, a DZRC radio broadcaster, on February 11 of last year.
Arisobal is said to be a gun-for-hire and classified as the number one most wanted criminal in the Bicol region. He carries a P250,000-reward for his arrest.
Quoting police records, Tango said Arisobal was also allegedly responsible for the death of a father and son in Masbate on December 14, 2000.
"We are now conducting follow-up operations to arrest the remaining four suspects in connection with the Edrinal killing," Tango said.
Since 1986 when democracy was restored in the Philippines, a total of 68 journalists have been slain in line with their work, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). /DMS
May 26, 2005
Police nabbed on Thursday morning an alleged killer of Bicol journalist Ruel Edrinal, an official said.
Sr. Supt. Pedro Tango, Task Force Newsman commander, said Clarito Arisobal fell into the hands of authorities at around 9 am yesterday in Legaspi City, Albay.
Tango said Arisobal is a suspect in the murder of Edrinal, a DZRC radio broadcaster, on February 11 of last year.
Arisobal is said to be a gun-for-hire and classified as the number one most wanted criminal in the Bicol region. He carries a P250,000-reward for his arrest.
Quoting police records, Tango said Arisobal was also allegedly responsible for the death of a father and son in Masbate on December 14, 2000.
"We are now conducting follow-up operations to arrest the remaining four suspects in connection with the Edrinal killing," Tango said.
Since 1986 when democracy was restored in the Philippines, a total of 68 journalists have been slain in line with their work, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). /DMS
Policeman, assassin killed in Bulacan shoot-out
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
A policeman and his assailant were killed in a shootout Thursday afternoon in Bulacan province, initial reports said.
Chief Supt. Alejandro Lapinid, Region III Police Director, identified the slain cop as SPO1 Ramil Gutierrez of the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station in Bulacan.
His assassin who also died, however, is yet to be identified, while the latter’s accomplice got wounded in the shootout.
Quoting initial reports, Lapinid said the incident happened at 2:45 pm in Cruz na Daan intersection in San Rafael town, Bulacan.
No other details pertaining to the shootout is available yet as of press time.
Investigation is being conducted to ascertain the motive of the incident./DMS
May 26, 2005
A policeman and his assailant were killed in a shootout Thursday afternoon in Bulacan province, initial reports said.
Chief Supt. Alejandro Lapinid, Region III Police Director, identified the slain cop as SPO1 Ramil Gutierrez of the San Ildefonso Municipal Police Station in Bulacan.
His assassin who also died, however, is yet to be identified, while the latter’s accomplice got wounded in the shootout.
Quoting initial reports, Lapinid said the incident happened at 2:45 pm in Cruz na Daan intersection in San Rafael town, Bulacan.
No other details pertaining to the shootout is available yet as of press time.
Investigation is being conducted to ascertain the motive of the incident./DMS
Prosecution of Takemoto killers won’t be supported with fingerprint evidence
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
The prosecution of the suspected killers of Shinya Takemoto will no longer be relying on the results of the examination of the fingerprints lifted from the crime scene as against the index fingerprints of the crime witnesses and suspects.
Police Chief Insp. Jose Palpito, fingerprint examiner of the Region I Police Crime Laboratory, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview on Thursday that he did not come up with a significant result from the examination he conducted on the fingerprint samples related to the Takemoto case because of their unclear appearance.
“The questioned prints are blurred and fragmented prints. The identity of the suspects cold not be established for lack of basis,” Palpito said in his report dated May 18, 2005.
Palpito said he examined a total of 20 latent prints from the crime scene, and nine other sets of fingerprints from two crime witnesses and seven possible suspects.
The police took for examination the fingerprints of Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, and Josefina Juan, the latter’s mother, as well as the of the following suspected possible killers: Romulo Dichoso, Rene Gabriel, Gilbert Domingo, Renante Baltazar, Ariel Baltazar, Romualdo Dichoso, and Romeo Dichoso.
“This (fingerprint examination result) is already final. We could no longer do another examination because the crime scene must have been cleared already of the latent fingerprints. This means the case against the suspects will have to proceed without this physical evidence,” Palpito said.
Police Chief Inspector Joven Aldos, Chief of Solsona Municipal Police Station in Ilocos Norte, said what is important is that there is a confession from one of the suspects.
Rene Gabriel, 24, had admitted that he and his two other friends (Gilbert Domingo and Renante Baltazar), were plotted and carried out the killing of Takemoto, 59, on the evening of May 6, 2005 in his residence in Solsona.
Palpito surmised the surface where the fingerprints were lifted must have been rough./DMS
May 26, 2005
The prosecution of the suspected killers of Shinya Takemoto will no longer be relying on the results of the examination of the fingerprints lifted from the crime scene as against the index fingerprints of the crime witnesses and suspects.
Police Chief Insp. Jose Palpito, fingerprint examiner of the Region I Police Crime Laboratory, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview on Thursday that he did not come up with a significant result from the examination he conducted on the fingerprint samples related to the Takemoto case because of their unclear appearance.
“The questioned prints are blurred and fragmented prints. The identity of the suspects cold not be established for lack of basis,” Palpito said in his report dated May 18, 2005.
Palpito said he examined a total of 20 latent prints from the crime scene, and nine other sets of fingerprints from two crime witnesses and seven possible suspects.
The police took for examination the fingerprints of Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, and Josefina Juan, the latter’s mother, as well as the of the following suspected possible killers: Romulo Dichoso, Rene Gabriel, Gilbert Domingo, Renante Baltazar, Ariel Baltazar, Romualdo Dichoso, and Romeo Dichoso.
“This (fingerprint examination result) is already final. We could no longer do another examination because the crime scene must have been cleared already of the latent fingerprints. This means the case against the suspects will have to proceed without this physical evidence,” Palpito said.
Police Chief Inspector Joven Aldos, Chief of Solsona Municipal Police Station in Ilocos Norte, said what is important is that there is a confession from one of the suspects.
Rene Gabriel, 24, had admitted that he and his two other friends (Gilbert Domingo and Renante Baltazar), were plotted and carried out the killing of Takemoto, 59, on the evening of May 6, 2005 in his residence in Solsona.
Palpito surmised the surface where the fingerprints were lifted must have been rough./DMS
2 rebels killed in AFP-NPA clash in Camarines Sur
By Ronron
May 26, 2005
Two suspected communist rebels were killed in a clash Thursday dawn in Camarines Sur between government troops and the News People's Army (NPA), a military spokesman said.
Philippine Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said a squad from the 42nd Infantry Battalion encountered 10 fully armed rebels at around 4:50 am yesterday at Sitio Mimaag, Higbas village in Caramoan town, Camarines Sur while they were conducting security operation in the area.
The brief firefight that ensued resulted in the death of two unidentified NPA members, while no one was hurt or killed on the government side.
The Army troopers recovered from the rebel group two M16 rifles, three bandoleers for M16, and a jungle pack containing subversive documents.
Bacarro said the fleeing rebels were being pursued by the government troops./DMS
May 26, 2005
Two suspected communist rebels were killed in a clash Thursday dawn in Camarines Sur between government troops and the News People's Army (NPA), a military spokesman said.
Philippine Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said a squad from the 42nd Infantry Battalion encountered 10 fully armed rebels at around 4:50 am yesterday at Sitio Mimaag, Higbas village in Caramoan town, Camarines Sur while they were conducting security operation in the area.
The brief firefight that ensued resulted in the death of two unidentified NPA members, while no one was hurt or killed on the government side.
The Army troopers recovered from the rebel group two M16 rifles, three bandoleers for M16, and a jungle pack containing subversive documents.
Bacarro said the fleeing rebels were being pursued by the government troops./DMS
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Hostage-drama in Western Mindanao ends after more than 24 hours in Zamboanga del Sur; 3 hostage-takers run away but being pursued by authorities
By Ronron
May 25, 2005
The hostage drama that began before noon Wednesday in Misamis Occidental ended peacefully yesterday afternoon in Zamboanga del Sur, leaving no one from among the 12 hostages and the volunteer priest-negotiator severely injured or killed by the three suspects.
Sr. Supt. Eduardo Gallego, Deputy Provincial Police Director of Zamboanga del Sur, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the crisis ended at around 3pm when the hostage-takers alighted from the Isuzu Fuego get-away vehicle at a remote area in Lakewood town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Gallego said the suspects were still holding up at that time three lady victims and Catholic Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar, who volunteered to drive the vehicle for their escape.
The suspects initially brought 12 victims, including a 10-year-old boy, when they transferred from the air-conditioned Rural Transit passenger bus to Cabajar’s vehicle at around 12:30 pm yesterday in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The hostage-takers, who are suspected to be members of the communist New People’s Army, had demanded during the stand-off at said place that they be provided a get-away vehicle.
“We gave in to their demand because in this kind of situation, what is paramount to us is the safety of the hostages,” Region IX Police Director Chief Supt. Prospero Noble said in a television interview. And this, according to him, is the same reason why the crisis stretched beyond 24 hours.
Gallego narrated that as the pick-up vehicle drove off outside Labangan and reached Dumalinao town, four hostages, including a 10-year-old boy, managed to escape by jumping off from the back. They were recovered by authorities and turned over to the Provincial Hospital of Zamboanga del Sur for treatment. Zamboanga del Sur Social Welfare officer Chit Sandiego described the escapees to be under trauma.
And upon reaching Lakewood town, the suspects reportedly released five other hostages, leaving three in their hands, plus Cabajar.
“They just wanted to escape. That was their only demand. They did not even divest the hostages of their personal belongings,” Gallego said.
The three armed men held the passengers of the Dipolog City-bound bus after they were cornered at a checkpoint at 11 am Tuesday at the town proper of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental.
According to Noble, the men were armed with three short firearms and four hand grenades, which they used to threaten to blow up the bus unless their demand was provided.
Noble and Gallego surmise that the suspects were NPA members since they allegedly claimed of being associated with the “leftist movement” and that they went down in a place believed to be influenced by the communist rebel group.
Noble said police and military operatives have immediately conducted pursuit operations against the three suspects in the mountain area of Lakewood./DMS
May 25, 2005
The hostage drama that began before noon Wednesday in Misamis Occidental ended peacefully yesterday afternoon in Zamboanga del Sur, leaving no one from among the 12 hostages and the volunteer priest-negotiator severely injured or killed by the three suspects.
Sr. Supt. Eduardo Gallego, Deputy Provincial Police Director of Zamboanga del Sur, told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview yesterday that the crisis ended at around 3pm when the hostage-takers alighted from the Isuzu Fuego get-away vehicle at a remote area in Lakewood town, Zamboanga del Sur.
Gallego said the suspects were still holding up at that time three lady victims and Catholic Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar, who volunteered to drive the vehicle for their escape.
The suspects initially brought 12 victims, including a 10-year-old boy, when they transferred from the air-conditioned Rural Transit passenger bus to Cabajar’s vehicle at around 12:30 pm yesterday in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.
The hostage-takers, who are suspected to be members of the communist New People’s Army, had demanded during the stand-off at said place that they be provided a get-away vehicle.
“We gave in to their demand because in this kind of situation, what is paramount to us is the safety of the hostages,” Region IX Police Director Chief Supt. Prospero Noble said in a television interview. And this, according to him, is the same reason why the crisis stretched beyond 24 hours.
Gallego narrated that as the pick-up vehicle drove off outside Labangan and reached Dumalinao town, four hostages, including a 10-year-old boy, managed to escape by jumping off from the back. They were recovered by authorities and turned over to the Provincial Hospital of Zamboanga del Sur for treatment. Zamboanga del Sur Social Welfare officer Chit Sandiego described the escapees to be under trauma.
And upon reaching Lakewood town, the suspects reportedly released five other hostages, leaving three in their hands, plus Cabajar.
“They just wanted to escape. That was their only demand. They did not even divest the hostages of their personal belongings,” Gallego said.
The three armed men held the passengers of the Dipolog City-bound bus after they were cornered at a checkpoint at 11 am Tuesday at the town proper of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental.
According to Noble, the men were armed with three short firearms and four hand grenades, which they used to threaten to blow up the bus unless their demand was provided.
Noble and Gallego surmise that the suspects were NPA members since they allegedly claimed of being associated with the “leftist movement” and that they went down in a place believed to be influenced by the communist rebel group.
Noble said police and military operatives have immediately conducted pursuit operations against the three suspects in the mountain area of Lakewood./DMS
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
181 enlisted military personnel vows allegiance to gov’t
By Ronron
May 23, 2005
The 181 enlisted military personnel who took part in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny vowed their allegiance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo administration on Monday morning during the flag ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, marking the start of their return to the fold of the military service.
Reading a prepared copy, the soldiers, who come from the Philippine Army, Marines and Navy SWAG, swore in Filipino that they “will obey the law and the reasonable and humane mandate that are legally enforced by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines, without any reservation or intention to defy.”
“To our President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, we would like to manifest our heartfelt support to her leadership and programs for peace and unity among all Filipinos,” Navy SWAG Chief Petty Officer Leonito Fernin said in Filipino in a short speech he delivered during the same rites on behalf of all 181 soldiers.
Fernin, who is the most senior in the group, thanked their families and the AFP leadership for their support to and understanding of the 181 EP’s.
“We would like to thank also all the Filipinos for giving us the second chance to be of service to you. I hope you will help us (181 soldiers) rise and move on, and forget what happened at Oakwood,” he said.
In their oath, the soldiers promised to religiously assume their responsibilities and perform their tasks as soldiers to the best of their abilities.
Likewise, they pledged to uphold and protect the Constitution, as well as abide by it.
Fresh from receiving their punishment for their participation in the Oakwood incident, the soldiers yesterday also expressed willingness to abide with the penalties for any wrongdoing under the rules and regulations of the AFP and the Philippine government.
The 181 soldiers have just been sentenced to a three-rank demotion and forfeiture of two-thirds of their salary after pleading guilty to the charge of violation of the certain Articles of War, except mutiny.
The soldiers were released last Friday after the court considered their detention for almost two years good enough to offset the one-year detention sentence. The Marines and Army soldiers were confined at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City while the Navy SWAG members were detained at the Naval Base in Sangley, Cavite.
After the oath-taking ceremony, the soldiers were immediately briefed about the two-week pre-deployment training that they need to undergo before they could be re-assigned to their respective mother units.
With the commencement yesterday of the two-week training, AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual asked that the case on the 181 enlisted military personnel be closed and the focus be shifted on the on-going case against the 99 officers and 11 other EP’s who also participated in the same mutinous activity.
In an earlier interview, Atty. Ruel Pulido, defense counsel of the suspected mutineers, said 67 of the 99 officers are already contemplating on entering into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution similar to what the 181 EP’s did.
The 11 remaining EP’s, for their part, are still awaiting the decision of the General Court Martial on the motion they filed for the re-investigation of their case, as they assert they were not in Oakwood at the time of the accident.
More than 300 military officers and soldiers took over Oakwood Premier hotel and condominium in Makati City on July 27, 2003 to air their grievances against the alleged corruption in the military service and the Arroyo administration./DMS
May 23, 2005
The 181 enlisted military personnel who took part in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny vowed their allegiance to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Arroyo administration on Monday morning during the flag ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, marking the start of their return to the fold of the military service.
Reading a prepared copy, the soldiers, who come from the Philippine Army, Marines and Navy SWAG, swore in Filipino that they “will obey the law and the reasonable and humane mandate that are legally enforced by the authorities of the Republic of the Philippines, without any reservation or intention to defy.”
“To our President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, we would like to manifest our heartfelt support to her leadership and programs for peace and unity among all Filipinos,” Navy SWAG Chief Petty Officer Leonito Fernin said in Filipino in a short speech he delivered during the same rites on behalf of all 181 soldiers.
Fernin, who is the most senior in the group, thanked their families and the AFP leadership for their support to and understanding of the 181 EP’s.
“We would like to thank also all the Filipinos for giving us the second chance to be of service to you. I hope you will help us (181 soldiers) rise and move on, and forget what happened at Oakwood,” he said.
In their oath, the soldiers promised to religiously assume their responsibilities and perform their tasks as soldiers to the best of their abilities.
Likewise, they pledged to uphold and protect the Constitution, as well as abide by it.
Fresh from receiving their punishment for their participation in the Oakwood incident, the soldiers yesterday also expressed willingness to abide with the penalties for any wrongdoing under the rules and regulations of the AFP and the Philippine government.
The 181 soldiers have just been sentenced to a three-rank demotion and forfeiture of two-thirds of their salary after pleading guilty to the charge of violation of the certain Articles of War, except mutiny.
The soldiers were released last Friday after the court considered their detention for almost two years good enough to offset the one-year detention sentence. The Marines and Army soldiers were confined at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City while the Navy SWAG members were detained at the Naval Base in Sangley, Cavite.
After the oath-taking ceremony, the soldiers were immediately briefed about the two-week pre-deployment training that they need to undergo before they could be re-assigned to their respective mother units.
With the commencement yesterday of the two-week training, AFP Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual asked that the case on the 181 enlisted military personnel be closed and the focus be shifted on the on-going case against the 99 officers and 11 other EP’s who also participated in the same mutinous activity.
In an earlier interview, Atty. Ruel Pulido, defense counsel of the suspected mutineers, said 67 of the 99 officers are already contemplating on entering into a plea bargaining agreement with the prosecution similar to what the 181 EP’s did.
The 11 remaining EP’s, for their part, are still awaiting the decision of the General Court Martial on the motion they filed for the re-investigation of their case, as they assert they were not in Oakwood at the time of the accident.
More than 300 military officers and soldiers took over Oakwood Premier hotel and condominium in Makati City on July 27, 2003 to air their grievances against the alleged corruption in the military service and the Arroyo administration./DMS
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Robles told to SHUT UP by AFP
By Ronron
May 18, 2005
A military spokesman on Wednesday told Rex Robles, a member of the executive council of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, to keep silent if he has nothing good to say about the country.
The reaction came a day after Robles, a retired senior commander of the Philippine military who figured in a successful coup against the government of the later President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, hinted of a possibility of military intervention if the present government fails to address the prevailing economic and social problems.
“To Commodore Robles: Shut up. You are doing disservice to the Armed Forces and the people whom you once served,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Col. Buenaventura Pascual said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Robles had raised fresh warnings on Tuesday about the inevitableness for disgruntled military men to link up with political groups to change the present administration unless the present problems are solved.
His statements came over a week since another retired military and government official, Fortunato Abat, threatened to overthrow the Arroyo administration in exchange for his proposed revolutionary government.
Pascual stressed the AFP is “solidly behind President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo” and that “there is no such group that will go against the chain of command.”
He just branded Robles’ statements as “a pigment of his imagination.”
“If he has any political ambition, he must join the elections. He might win there,” Pascual said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, cleared speculations of a coup d etat following Robles’ pronouncements, saying that it has not received any reports to that effect.
“Those are only allegations and we are always prepared for it,” said PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon./DMS
May 18, 2005
A military spokesman on Wednesday told Rex Robles, a member of the executive council of the Reform the Armed Forces Movement, to keep silent if he has nothing good to say about the country.
The reaction came a day after Robles, a retired senior commander of the Philippine military who figured in a successful coup against the government of the later President Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, hinted of a possibility of military intervention if the present government fails to address the prevailing economic and social problems.
“To Commodore Robles: Shut up. You are doing disservice to the Armed Forces and the people whom you once served,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer Col. Buenaventura Pascual said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Robles had raised fresh warnings on Tuesday about the inevitableness for disgruntled military men to link up with political groups to change the present administration unless the present problems are solved.
His statements came over a week since another retired military and government official, Fortunato Abat, threatened to overthrow the Arroyo administration in exchange for his proposed revolutionary government.
Pascual stressed the AFP is “solidly behind President (Gloria Macapagal) Arroyo” and that “there is no such group that will go against the chain of command.”
He just branded Robles’ statements as “a pigment of his imagination.”
“If he has any political ambition, he must join the elections. He might win there,” Pascual said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, cleared speculations of a coup d etat following Robles’ pronouncements, saying that it has not received any reports to that effect.
“Those are only allegations and we are always prepared for it,” said PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon./DMS
Tabloid columnist escapes ambush attempt in Valenzuela City
By Ronron
May 18, 2005
A columnist of Metro Manila-based tabloid Bulgar survived an ambush attempt against him Wednesday dawn by unidentified suspects, police said.
Pablo Hernandez III, 41, was on his way home with a companion and was cruising along Rosario St. in Valenzuela City on board a yellow car when he was fired upon at around 3:30 am by two motorcycle-riding men who were trailing them, said Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Col. Leopoldo Bataoil.
The car, a Toyota Corona with plate number NMS-287, was being driven by Hernandez’ driver, George Macalla, 32.
The suspects were on board an Enduro motorcycle, colored white and black with unspecified plate number, and were armed with an unknown handgun.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, coming from the back of the victims, overtook the car and blocked the latter before shooting Hernandez several times but missed.
The car was hit four times on its hood and wind shield.
Hernandez told Bataoil he was able to fire back using his Ingram pistol, prompting the suspects to withdraw towards the direction of Gen. T. de Leon Road of said city. Hernandez is said to be an authorized gun-carrier.
Police later recovered from the crime scene a spent shell for 9 mm caliber pistol and a ball cap believed to be owned by one of the suspects.
On February 8 of this year, Hernandez also survived an attack by a hired killer, the first attempt against his life.
Police is not yet certain whether or not the attacks were related to Hernandez’ profession but the columnist claimed in a radio interview the attacks were most likely related to his job.
“The PNP assures him (Hernandez) that we will look into the incident… The Valenzuela City Police will be patrolling the vicinity of his residence in Quezon City to ensure the security of Mr. Hernandez,” PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon said at a press conference later in the afternoon at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The attack on Hernandez came after a publisher-editor in Dingalan, Aurora was shot dead by assailants allegedly hired by the local chief executive there./DMS
May 18, 2005
A columnist of Metro Manila-based tabloid Bulgar survived an ambush attempt against him Wednesday dawn by unidentified suspects, police said.
Pablo Hernandez III, 41, was on his way home with a companion and was cruising along Rosario St. in Valenzuela City on board a yellow car when he was fired upon at around 3:30 am by two motorcycle-riding men who were trailing them, said Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Col. Leopoldo Bataoil.
The car, a Toyota Corona with plate number NMS-287, was being driven by Hernandez’ driver, George Macalla, 32.
The suspects were on board an Enduro motorcycle, colored white and black with unspecified plate number, and were armed with an unknown handgun.
Initial investigation revealed that the suspects, coming from the back of the victims, overtook the car and blocked the latter before shooting Hernandez several times but missed.
The car was hit four times on its hood and wind shield.
Hernandez told Bataoil he was able to fire back using his Ingram pistol, prompting the suspects to withdraw towards the direction of Gen. T. de Leon Road of said city. Hernandez is said to be an authorized gun-carrier.
Police later recovered from the crime scene a spent shell for 9 mm caliber pistol and a ball cap believed to be owned by one of the suspects.
On February 8 of this year, Hernandez also survived an attack by a hired killer, the first attempt against his life.
Police is not yet certain whether or not the attacks were related to Hernandez’ profession but the columnist claimed in a radio interview the attacks were most likely related to his job.
“The PNP assures him (Hernandez) that we will look into the incident… The Valenzuela City Police will be patrolling the vicinity of his residence in Quezon City to ensure the security of Mr. Hernandez,” PNP Acting Chief Dep. Dir. Gen. Ricardo de Leon said at a press conference later in the afternoon at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The attack on Hernandez came after a publisher-editor in Dingalan, Aurora was shot dead by assailants allegedly hired by the local chief executive there./DMS
Fight vs. loose firearms now a priority by PNP
By Ronron
May 18, 2005
Citing statistics in previous years showing an overwhelming number of unlicensed firearms used in criminal cases, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership on Wednesday announced that the fight against loose firearms will already be considered "a priority matter."
PNP Acting Chief Deputy Director General Ricardo De Leon told a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday that the police has stepped up its campaign against loose firearms as it also thinks of ways to account all firearms.
"Out of last year's 1,731 firearms involved in criminal cases, only 12 are licensed while all the rest are unlicensed," de Leon disclosed.
Records showed that from 1993 until 2003, a total of 11,412 unlicensed firearms were used out of the 13,365 firearms used in different criminal cases. Only 1,953 were properly documented.
The PNP admitted that the sudden spate of killings, especially on high profile personalities, may be attributable to the continued proliferation of loose firearms.
In the first quarter of this year, a total of 1,477 reported crime incidents involved the use of 1,893 loose firearms, official police records show.
"We are looking into some options of the ballistics information management system. Since we have not started the program and we are now doing a manual, it has to be computerized," de Leon said.
Without giving an estimated timeframe, de Leon said the PNP will fast-track its schedule of implementing a computerized system for all licensed firearms, including the renewables, "so we'll have a computerized record of the ballistics."
He also encouraged carriers of loose firearms to avail of the government's amnesty until September.
To show the PNP's seriousness in this fight, de Leon reported that from January until May 15 of this year, a total of 817 loose firearms have already been confiscated, quite an "accomplishment" when compared to the 903 recovered in the entire year of 2004./DMS
May 18, 2005
Citing statistics in previous years showing an overwhelming number of unlicensed firearms used in criminal cases, the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership on Wednesday announced that the fight against loose firearms will already be considered "a priority matter."
PNP Acting Chief Deputy Director General Ricardo De Leon told a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday that the police has stepped up its campaign against loose firearms as it also thinks of ways to account all firearms.
"Out of last year's 1,731 firearms involved in criminal cases, only 12 are licensed while all the rest are unlicensed," de Leon disclosed.
Records showed that from 1993 until 2003, a total of 11,412 unlicensed firearms were used out of the 13,365 firearms used in different criminal cases. Only 1,953 were properly documented.
The PNP admitted that the sudden spate of killings, especially on high profile personalities, may be attributable to the continued proliferation of loose firearms.
In the first quarter of this year, a total of 1,477 reported crime incidents involved the use of 1,893 loose firearms, official police records show.
"We are looking into some options of the ballistics information management system. Since we have not started the program and we are now doing a manual, it has to be computerized," de Leon said.
Without giving an estimated timeframe, de Leon said the PNP will fast-track its schedule of implementing a computerized system for all licensed firearms, including the renewables, "so we'll have a computerized record of the ballistics."
He also encouraged carriers of loose firearms to avail of the government's amnesty until September.
To show the PNP's seriousness in this fight, de Leon reported that from January until May 15 of this year, a total of 817 loose firearms have already been confiscated, quite an "accomplishment" when compared to the 903 recovered in the entire year of 2004./DMS
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Plane crashes in Rizal, one killed
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
A Bonanza V35 aircraft carrying loads of fish from Palawan crashed Tuesday evening in a mountainous area in Morong, Rizal.
The pilot, Capt. Felimon Mendoza, was instantly killed while the plane was in total wreck, said Rizal Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Leocadio Santiago.
Mendoza's body was said to be crushed.
The eight-seater fixed wing aircraft, with tail number RP C639, showed signs of engine trouble or loss of fuel, said Santiago, based on accounts of local residents who heard the engine conked before plunging into the hilly area of Sitio Agas, Barangay San Guillermo, Morong at around 6:20 pm.
But Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla theorized the plane could have crashed due to the severe weather disturbance prevailing at the place of accident.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Rizal, Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces yesterday evening after long weeks of extremely dry season.
Padilla said the rescue team of the Air Force were not even able to land at the crash site last night due to the weather.
The aircraft, owned and operated by Bonanza Air Services, came from Sandoval, Palawan and was bound for Manila.
Yesterday's crash came a day after a Cessna plane ditched into the waters of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, killing two people.
On May 8, four persons were also killed when another aircraft crashed in a hilly portion of Tanauan City, Batangas.
And two weeks earlier, a military chopper crashed in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija while conducting aerial survey. Nine people died in that accident, including the country's famous seismologist, Dr. Raymundo Punongbayan./DMS
May 17, 2005
A Bonanza V35 aircraft carrying loads of fish from Palawan crashed Tuesday evening in a mountainous area in Morong, Rizal.
The pilot, Capt. Felimon Mendoza, was instantly killed while the plane was in total wreck, said Rizal Provincial Police Director S/Supt. Leocadio Santiago.
Mendoza's body was said to be crushed.
The eight-seater fixed wing aircraft, with tail number RP C639, showed signs of engine trouble or loss of fuel, said Santiago, based on accounts of local residents who heard the engine conked before plunging into the hilly area of Sitio Agas, Barangay San Guillermo, Morong at around 6:20 pm.
But Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Restituto Padilla theorized the plane could have crashed due to the severe weather disturbance prevailing at the place of accident.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Rizal, Metro Manila and other neighboring provinces yesterday evening after long weeks of extremely dry season.
Padilla said the rescue team of the Air Force were not even able to land at the crash site last night due to the weather.
The aircraft, owned and operated by Bonanza Air Services, came from Sandoval, Palawan and was bound for Manila.
Yesterday's crash came a day after a Cessna plane ditched into the waters of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, killing two people.
On May 8, four persons were also killed when another aircraft crashed in a hilly portion of Tanauan City, Batangas.
And two weeks earlier, a military chopper crashed in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija while conducting aerial survey. Nine people died in that accident, including the country's famous seismologist, Dr. Raymundo Punongbayan./DMS
21 downed, one of whom died, in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Twenty-one people were downed, one of whom died, since last weekend in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning.
Seven of the victims were only reported yesterday, but no other details were made available to Manila Shimbun during several interview attempts at the city police and Integrated Provincial Hospital (IPH).
Five other victims were also reported last May 15. They were identified in a police report as: Jason Sonio, 11; Pinky Paran, 8; Andreta Paran, one year old and eight months; Faith Salavante, 12; and Ral John Salavante, 10.
The five were allegedly part of the same group that ate the previous day (May 14) two kinds of locally sold fish that were no longer fresh. Police identified the fish as galunggong and lambiyaw.
On that day (May 14), eight persons were sent to the hospital after eating the same set of fish. One of the victims, a nine-year-old boy, died upon arrival at IPH, said police.
IPH Chief Dr. Ma. Estrella Ledesma said the victims were all diagnosed to have suffered "acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration."
The fish was allegedly brought from an ambulant vendor in Sitio Patag Diutay, Barangay Patag, SilayCity, about 30 kilometers away from the city proper./DMS
May 17, 2005
Twenty-one people were downed, one of whom died, since last weekend in Silay City, Negros Occidental due to alleged food poisoning.
Seven of the victims were only reported yesterday, but no other details were made available to Manila Shimbun during several interview attempts at the city police and Integrated Provincial Hospital (IPH).
Five other victims were also reported last May 15. They were identified in a police report as: Jason Sonio, 11; Pinky Paran, 8; Andreta Paran, one year old and eight months; Faith Salavante, 12; and Ral John Salavante, 10.
The five were allegedly part of the same group that ate the previous day (May 14) two kinds of locally sold fish that were no longer fresh. Police identified the fish as galunggong and lambiyaw.
On that day (May 14), eight persons were sent to the hospital after eating the same set of fish. One of the victims, a nine-year-old boy, died upon arrival at IPH, said police.
IPH Chief Dr. Ma. Estrella Ledesma said the victims were all diagnosed to have suffered "acute gastroenteritis with severe dehydration."
The fish was allegedly brought from an ambulant vendor in Sitio Patag Diutay, Barangay Patag, SilayCity, about 30 kilometers away from the city proper./DMS
Japanese killing suspect confesses
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday with Manila Shimbun the confession of suspect Rene Gabriel before him last Friday morning about his participation in the killing of Takemoto.
Meanwhile, Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, was delighted about the positive development of her husband’s case, especially that it cleared her from being the prime suspect.
Mary Jane, in a phone interview also with Manila Shimbun yesterday, said the identification of the suspects and the arrest of one eased the pain she was carrying in her heart.
“At least, the death of my husband will be given justice already and the accusations against me will be cleared,” she said in Filipino.
But she stressed she is still lonely and sad because said development will not bring her husband back to life.
The suspects, according to Mary Jane, are not known to the Takemoto’s although she already heard their nicknames before.
Mary Jane said she met Gabriel last Monday at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office but they did not exchange words and come near to each other, as advised by the police.
“I was told not to approach him because I might say bad words against him, he might back out from testifying,” she said.
Mary Jane disclosed that Takemoto’s body was already autopsied Wednesday last week by the medico-legal team from the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 1.
His body will be buried tomorrow (Thursday) in the same locality./DMS
May 17, 2005
Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara confirmed in a phone interview Tuesday with Manila Shimbun the confession of suspect Rene Gabriel before him last Friday morning about his participation in the killing of Takemoto.
Meanwhile, Mary Jane Takemoto, the victim’s wife, was delighted about the positive development of her husband’s case, especially that it cleared her from being the prime suspect.
Mary Jane, in a phone interview also with Manila Shimbun yesterday, said the identification of the suspects and the arrest of one eased the pain she was carrying in her heart.
“At least, the death of my husband will be given justice already and the accusations against me will be cleared,” she said in Filipino.
But she stressed she is still lonely and sad because said development will not bring her husband back to life.
The suspects, according to Mary Jane, are not known to the Takemoto’s although she already heard their nicknames before.
Mary Jane said she met Gabriel last Monday at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Office but they did not exchange words and come near to each other, as advised by the police.
“I was told not to approach him because I might say bad words against him, he might back out from testifying,” she said.
Mary Jane disclosed that Takemoto’s body was already autopsied Wednesday last week by the medico-legal team from the National Bureau of Investigation-Region 1.
His body will be buried tomorrow (Thursday) in the same locality./DMS
Four newly-repaired Navy vessels to be deployed starting today (Wednesday)
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
The Philippine Navy will deploy starting today (Wednesday) four newly-repaired vessels at its different Naval Forces around the country as part of the agency’s 107th anniversary celebration this week.
In a statement released yesterday, Navy Public Information Officer Capt. Geronimo Malabanan said BRP Quezon (Patrol Ship 70) will be sent to Naval Forces West based in Zamboanga City.
BRP Cebu (PS28) and BRP Simeon Castro (Patrol Gunboat 374) will go to the Naval Forces in Southern Luzon, located in Legaspi City, Albay.
And the fourth surface asset, BRP Bagong Lakas (PG 102), will be deployed to the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Davao City.
Malabanan said the deployment of the four vessels is aimed as sustaining the conduct of the naval and maritime operations of the respective Naval Forces.
The Philippine Navy has a little over a hundred patrol ships and gunboats, according to Malabanan.
A send-off ceremony for the four vessels will be held at 10:30 am today at the Philippine Navy headquarters along Roxas Boulevard in Manila City./DMS
May 17, 2005
The Philippine Navy will deploy starting today (Wednesday) four newly-repaired vessels at its different Naval Forces around the country as part of the agency’s 107th anniversary celebration this week.
In a statement released yesterday, Navy Public Information Officer Capt. Geronimo Malabanan said BRP Quezon (Patrol Ship 70) will be sent to Naval Forces West based in Zamboanga City.
BRP Cebu (PS28) and BRP Simeon Castro (Patrol Gunboat 374) will go to the Naval Forces in Southern Luzon, located in Legaspi City, Albay.
And the fourth surface asset, BRP Bagong Lakas (PG 102), will be deployed to the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Davao City.
Malabanan said the deployment of the four vessels is aimed as sustaining the conduct of the naval and maritime operations of the respective Naval Forces.
The Philippine Navy has a little over a hundred patrol ships and gunboats, according to Malabanan.
A send-off ceremony for the four vessels will be held at 10:30 am today at the Philippine Navy headquarters along Roxas Boulevard in Manila City./DMS
Official says verdict on mutineers not assurance of non-recurrence of military uprisings in the future
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Any verdict on the more than 300 government soldiers who attempted to grab power from the Arroyo administration on July 27, 2003 does not ensure that the country will be free from future military uprisings.
Thus said UP Professor Carolina Hernandez, a member of the Feliciano Commission that investigated the so-called failed Oakwood Mutiny two years ago and who now serves as Presidential Adviser on the Implementation of the Recommendation of the Feliciano Commission.
“I can not say it will stop because a coup d etat or a coup attempt is a result of many factors… The enforcement of the law to discipline those erring soldiers is only one component of the many factors,” Hernandez told reporters on Tuesday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The military court last week has sentenced the 184 enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who took part in the Oakwood Mutiny to a demotion in their respective ranks, forfeiture of a percentage of their salary and a detention for a year with hard labor as penalty after pleading guilty to three lesser charges.
On the other hand, majority of the officers, excluding the core group headed by Lt. (SG) Antonio Trillanes IV and Capt. Milo Maestrocampo, have sent feelers for a plea bargain, wherein they are expected also to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for the dropping of the mutiny charge against them.
Hernandez, in an earlier interview with Manila Shimbun, had welcomed the decision of the AFP tribunal as regards the cases of the EP’s.
“In this case, there are legal processes that are going on both the civilian and the military courts. And you know, the judicial process allows plea bargaining. So, you have to support that kind of approach,” Hernandez said yesterday.
She said that what is important is that the law in this particular case was enforced, “consistent with the recommendation, with the sense of the (Feliciano) Commission that the law has to be enforced.”
But Hernandez is hopeful that with the enforcement of the law on the EP’s, the July 2003 incident will no longer be replicated.
“It (handing down the verdict) is probably one of the important components for deterring future coup attempts but it is not the only one,” she said.
Asked what she thinks is the appropriate punishment for the mutiny leaders, Hernandez replied: “There is a coup d etat law, there is a law prohibiting mutiny. So they (courts) will know what to do. In the case of the Articles of War, there is also a range of penalties for certain violations of certain articles. And I think the General Court Martial will know what to do. So it’s not a good idea if I would be answering that question.”/DMS
May 17, 2005
Any verdict on the more than 300 government soldiers who attempted to grab power from the Arroyo administration on July 27, 2003 does not ensure that the country will be free from future military uprisings.
Thus said UP Professor Carolina Hernandez, a member of the Feliciano Commission that investigated the so-called failed Oakwood Mutiny two years ago and who now serves as Presidential Adviser on the Implementation of the Recommendation of the Feliciano Commission.
“I can not say it will stop because a coup d etat or a coup attempt is a result of many factors… The enforcement of the law to discipline those erring soldiers is only one component of the many factors,” Hernandez told reporters on Tuesday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The military court last week has sentenced the 184 enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) who took part in the Oakwood Mutiny to a demotion in their respective ranks, forfeiture of a percentage of their salary and a detention for a year with hard labor as penalty after pleading guilty to three lesser charges.
On the other hand, majority of the officers, excluding the core group headed by Lt. (SG) Antonio Trillanes IV and Capt. Milo Maestrocampo, have sent feelers for a plea bargain, wherein they are expected also to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for the dropping of the mutiny charge against them.
Hernandez, in an earlier interview with Manila Shimbun, had welcomed the decision of the AFP tribunal as regards the cases of the EP’s.
“In this case, there are legal processes that are going on both the civilian and the military courts. And you know, the judicial process allows plea bargaining. So, you have to support that kind of approach,” Hernandez said yesterday.
She said that what is important is that the law in this particular case was enforced, “consistent with the recommendation, with the sense of the (Feliciano) Commission that the law has to be enforced.”
But Hernandez is hopeful that with the enforcement of the law on the EP’s, the July 2003 incident will no longer be replicated.
“It (handing down the verdict) is probably one of the important components for deterring future coup attempts but it is not the only one,” she said.
Asked what she thinks is the appropriate punishment for the mutiny leaders, Hernandez replied: “There is a coup d etat law, there is a law prohibiting mutiny. So they (courts) will know what to do. In the case of the Articles of War, there is also a range of penalties for certain violations of certain articles. And I think the General Court Martial will know what to do. So it’s not a good idea if I would be answering that question.”/DMS
Four killed in robbery-slay in Lipa City, Batangas
By Ronron
May 17, 2005
Four persons were killed in a robbery-slay incident early Tuesday morning in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
According to the Lipa City Police Station, the incident happened at around 4 am when an unidentified male robber barged into the residence of the three slain victims located in Levitown Subdivision, Barangay Marauoy, Lipa City.
The robber was killed later when police responded to the alarm.
The dead victims were identified as Rodoflo Lunar, 62; his alleged live-in partner, Editha Tapalla, 39; and the household helper, Sophia Encernado, 21. They sustained multiple stab wounds, according to police.
It was not yet known if the suspect was able to get anything from the victims’ house but what was certain was that the suspect stabbed the victims to death before fleeing.
The mobile patrol of the Lipa City Police was able to respond promptly because of the alarm raised by the children of Tapalla who escaped the attack. They were identified as Judith, 10, and Dantes, 17.
Police said the suspect was shot dead by the authorities near the victims’ residence when he tried to escape and refused to surrender.
Investigation on the case is still going on as of this writing./DMS
May 17, 2005
Four persons were killed in a robbery-slay incident early Tuesday morning in Lipa City, Batangas, police said.
According to the Lipa City Police Station, the incident happened at around 4 am when an unidentified male robber barged into the residence of the three slain victims located in Levitown Subdivision, Barangay Marauoy, Lipa City.
The robber was killed later when police responded to the alarm.
The dead victims were identified as Rodoflo Lunar, 62; his alleged live-in partner, Editha Tapalla, 39; and the household helper, Sophia Encernado, 21. They sustained multiple stab wounds, according to police.
It was not yet known if the suspect was able to get anything from the victims’ house but what was certain was that the suspect stabbed the victims to death before fleeing.
The mobile patrol of the Lipa City Police was able to respond promptly because of the alarm raised by the children of Tapalla who escaped the attack. They were identified as Judith, 10, and Dantes, 17.
Police said the suspect was shot dead by the authorities near the victims’ residence when he tried to escape and refused to surrender.
Investigation on the case is still going on as of this writing./DMS
Saturday, May 14, 2005
Police almost zeroing in on killer of Aurora publisher-editor
By Ronron
May 13, 2005
Police investigators are already closing in on the alleged killer of Aurora local daily publisher-editor Philip Agustin three days past the commission of the crime.
“Before night time today (Friday) until tomorrow, the investigation report might already by completed,” Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Arturo Lomibao told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
While Lomibao refused to identify the suspects, a separate police report from the Region III Police revealed the names of the suspected assailants who are now being traced.
They were identified as Boyet Morete, a known gun-for-hire, and Anuel Alday, an alleged municipal employee of Dingalan, Aurora.
“The suspects were seen using two motorcycles at their staging point at PONGS Videoke in Dingalan prior to their approach on the target (Agustin), wherein they pre-positioned themselves as early as 9pm (of May 10),” Region III Police Chief Investigator Supt. Pierre Bucsit said in his report yesterday.
Agustin, who is connected with Starline Times Recorder, was shot dead at around 11:45 pm last Wednesday at the house of his daughter in Barangay Paltik, Dingalan, Aurora.
Some neighbors “accounted the identity and action of the suspects,” Bucsit noted.
Morete is said to be responsible for the killing of a certain PO3 Pelaez in 1993 but the case was amicably settled. He was also the primary suspect in the killing of Private First Class Edwin Baldana at Dingalan on November 12, 2003.
Police investigators are eyeing two possible motives in the murder of Agustin. First is retaliation because of his hard-hitting criticisms against the local government of Dingalan. The other one is on his alleged involvement in the sale of parcels of land that does not belong to him./DMS
May 13, 2005
Police investigators are already closing in on the alleged killer of Aurora local daily publisher-editor Philip Agustin three days past the commission of the crime.
“Before night time today (Friday) until tomorrow, the investigation report might already by completed,” Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Arturo Lomibao told reporters yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
While Lomibao refused to identify the suspects, a separate police report from the Region III Police revealed the names of the suspected assailants who are now being traced.
They were identified as Boyet Morete, a known gun-for-hire, and Anuel Alday, an alleged municipal employee of Dingalan, Aurora.
“The suspects were seen using two motorcycles at their staging point at PONGS Videoke in Dingalan prior to their approach on the target (Agustin), wherein they pre-positioned themselves as early as 9pm (of May 10),” Region III Police Chief Investigator Supt. Pierre Bucsit said in his report yesterday.
Agustin, who is connected with Starline Times Recorder, was shot dead at around 11:45 pm last Wednesday at the house of his daughter in Barangay Paltik, Dingalan, Aurora.
Some neighbors “accounted the identity and action of the suspects,” Bucsit noted.
Morete is said to be responsible for the killing of a certain PO3 Pelaez in 1993 but the case was amicably settled. He was also the primary suspect in the killing of Private First Class Edwin Baldana at Dingalan on November 12, 2003.
Police investigators are eyeing two possible motives in the murder of Agustin. First is retaliation because of his hard-hitting criticisms against the local government of Dingalan. The other one is on his alleged involvement in the sale of parcels of land that does not belong to him./DMS
Robbery-murder of Filipino-Chinese couple declared solved with arrest of 4 suspects
By Ronron
May 13, 2005
The robbery and murder of a Filipino-Chinese couple last week in Quezon City was declared solved on Friday by the Philippine National Police (PNP) after the arrest this week of four suspects involved in the crime who are believed to be members of the Waray-waray gang.
PNP Chief Gen. Arturo Lomibao presented to the media yesterday in Camp Crame, Quezon City the arrested suspects, identified as Gerson Garcia, Gener Castro, Danilo Milante, and Erlinda Lachica.
The group was positively identified by three witnesses as the ones who robbed and shot to death Ephraim and Wendalyn Young last May 5 after the couple came out from China Bank on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.
“The families of the two victims are very happy that the police is doing its best on this case and have been able to do a speedy investigation on the matter,” said Frederick Young, elder brother of Ephraim.
The Young couple left a two-year-old daughter.
The suspects were arrested on separate occasions by elements of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) and Central Police District (CPD), beginning with Garcia last Tuesday.
Castro and the rest were nabbed on the following day.
“The arrest of the suspects is based on the information of a concerned citizen, and the positive identification by our witnesses (vendors stationed at the crime scene),” TMG Director Chief Superintendent Ricardo Quinto told reporters during the presentation of the suspects.
Quinto bared that when Garcia was arrested, he was in possession of a caliber .45 pistol, which is believed to be the same weapon he used to shot the Young couple, and three sachets of suspected methamphetamine hyrdrochloride (shabu). Police recovered also from him a motorcycle that he used as a getaway vehicle after the crime. Police learned later that said motorcycle, a black Yamaha 125, was carnapped on February 5 of this year.
The TMG chief also disclosed that Castro served as driver of the other getaway vehicle, an owner-type jeepney; Milante as the look-out; and Lachica as the suspected financier of the gang.
According to Quinto, Garcia and Castro have records of being arrested a few years back by the CPD because of a robbery case (akyat-bahay).
The two also claimed of getting for each other a P150,000 share of the total amount they got from the Young couple, believed to be over P300,000. But police no longer found any money from the two.
Quinto said four other cohorts of the arrested persons, including their leader identified as Noli Casuela, remain at large as of yesterday. One of the four is a woman, identified only as Alma, who served as tipster at the time of commission of the crime.
“The modus operandi of the gang is they use a woman tipster who is tasked to go to the bank to pinpoint a target. Then, if she finds a target, she calls their players who will execute the hold-up, which is what happened to the Young couple,” Quinto said.
The informant will receive the P100,000 cash reward that the Filipino-Chinese business community put up and offered following the arrest of the four suspects.
The same group will also donate to the PNP 10 motorcycles as a sign of gratitude for the speedy solution of the Young case./DMS
May 13, 2005
The robbery and murder of a Filipino-Chinese couple last week in Quezon City was declared solved on Friday by the Philippine National Police (PNP) after the arrest this week of four suspects involved in the crime who are believed to be members of the Waray-waray gang.
PNP Chief Gen. Arturo Lomibao presented to the media yesterday in Camp Crame, Quezon City the arrested suspects, identified as Gerson Garcia, Gener Castro, Danilo Milante, and Erlinda Lachica.
The group was positively identified by three witnesses as the ones who robbed and shot to death Ephraim and Wendalyn Young last May 5 after the couple came out from China Bank on Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.
“The families of the two victims are very happy that the police is doing its best on this case and have been able to do a speedy investigation on the matter,” said Frederick Young, elder brother of Ephraim.
The Young couple left a two-year-old daughter.
The suspects were arrested on separate occasions by elements of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) and Central Police District (CPD), beginning with Garcia last Tuesday.
Castro and the rest were nabbed on the following day.
“The arrest of the suspects is based on the information of a concerned citizen, and the positive identification by our witnesses (vendors stationed at the crime scene),” TMG Director Chief Superintendent Ricardo Quinto told reporters during the presentation of the suspects.
Quinto bared that when Garcia was arrested, he was in possession of a caliber .45 pistol, which is believed to be the same weapon he used to shot the Young couple, and three sachets of suspected methamphetamine hyrdrochloride (shabu). Police recovered also from him a motorcycle that he used as a getaway vehicle after the crime. Police learned later that said motorcycle, a black Yamaha 125, was carnapped on February 5 of this year.
The TMG chief also disclosed that Castro served as driver of the other getaway vehicle, an owner-type jeepney; Milante as the look-out; and Lachica as the suspected financier of the gang.
According to Quinto, Garcia and Castro have records of being arrested a few years back by the CPD because of a robbery case (akyat-bahay).
The two also claimed of getting for each other a P150,000 share of the total amount they got from the Young couple, believed to be over P300,000. But police no longer found any money from the two.
Quinto said four other cohorts of the arrested persons, including their leader identified as Noli Casuela, remain at large as of yesterday. One of the four is a woman, identified only as Alma, who served as tipster at the time of commission of the crime.
“The modus operandi of the gang is they use a woman tipster who is tasked to go to the bank to pinpoint a target. Then, if she finds a target, she calls their players who will execute the hold-up, which is what happened to the Young couple,” Quinto said.
The informant will receive the P100,000 cash reward that the Filipino-Chinese business community put up and offered following the arrest of the four suspects.
The same group will also donate to the PNP 10 motorcycles as a sign of gratitude for the speedy solution of the Young case./DMS
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Police monitors activities of three local men for possible involvement in murder of Japanese in Ilocos Norte
By Ronron
May 10, 2005
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte - The local police of Solsona town in Ilocos Norte is monitoring the movements of three local men who were among the six they invited earlier for questioning for possible involvement in the murder last weekend of a Japanese national there.
Solsona Chief of Police Chief Inspector Joven Aldos told Manila Shimbun in an interview Tuesday that the three were being monitored because of their claim that they left for another place on Friday night after having a drinking session with two other companions.
The three, however, are still not being considered suspects in the murder of Shinya Takemoto, 59, who was discovered by his wife dead already before dawn of May 7. Takemoto was found with multiple hacked and incise wounds inside his bedroom at their residence in Sitio Cabaruan, Barangay Mariquet, Solsona, Ilocos Norte.
“They were just being invited for questioning on the basis that the timing of their departure from the barangay is quite suspicious since it was on the same day that the incident happened,” Aldos said of the six jobless locals.
Aldos finished questioning the six, aged 22 – 24, last Monday.
According to him, five of the six men had a drinking session at the residence of one of the five in Barangay Mariquet from the afternoon until late evening of May 6, Friday.
When they called off at 11 pm, the three who are now being monitored left for another place, but still in the same village, where they decided to sleep. One of the three resides in that place where they slept, together with his mother.
Then, in the afternoon of the following day, May 7, the five, and another colleague, left for this city, located some 37 kilometers westward, to apply for work. (Aldos yesterday corrected the information he shared with Manila Shimbun during Monday’s interview. He earlier said the six immediately left for Laoag City on Friday afternoon after five of the six had a drinking session.)
Aldos said the six men boarded a Manila-bound bus at around 5:30 pm of Saturday.
Quoting the six, Aldos said they took the said bus at that time to avail of the free ride. Upon arrival at Laoag City forty minutes later, the six slept at the house of a relative of one of the six.
Then, on Sunday morning, four of the six went to a hardware shop in this city to apply as laborers, while the two others went to another shop.
After lunchtime of the same day, three of the six decided to go home to Solsona. The remaining three, who were the same persons who left for another place after their drinking session on May 6, followed on Monday morning.
“It’s hard to believe what they have said that’s why we will continue monitoring them, especially the last three who came home only yesterday (Monday) because they were the same group that slept together after their drinking session last Friday,” Aldos said.
According to him, the five who drunk last Friday were very intoxicated that night. One of the three who transferred to another place later that night is also rumored to have “tasted” illegal drugs.
But even if the six were familiar about the presence of Takemoto in their village, they claimed to have no reason to be hostile to the Japanese or to the latter’s family, said Aldos.
A check on Monday at the house where the three men slept yielded negative for possession of blood-stained weapon and clothes. It can be recalled that no weapon was found at the crime scene by responding policemen.
The mother of one of the three also confirmed that the three men arrived at said place at past 11 pm of Friday, slept there, and never left the house until morning of Saturday.
“The information we got from them is not sufficient to link them to the case. So we will continue to monitor their activities and to gather information from other people in the vicinity,” Aldos said.
He admitted that despite their questioning of the six, the police is still facing a blank wall in its investigation because of the absence of any idea as to the motive of the crime, and of any lead that would track down the suspects.
Aldos will await the result of the comparison test on the fingerprints of the six and the fingerprints lifted from the crime scene. The fingerprints of the six were submitted yesterday morning to the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Crime Laboratory located in this city./DMS
May 10, 2005
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte - The local police of Solsona town in Ilocos Norte is monitoring the movements of three local men who were among the six they invited earlier for questioning for possible involvement in the murder last weekend of a Japanese national there.
Solsona Chief of Police Chief Inspector Joven Aldos told Manila Shimbun in an interview Tuesday that the three were being monitored because of their claim that they left for another place on Friday night after having a drinking session with two other companions.
The three, however, are still not being considered suspects in the murder of Shinya Takemoto, 59, who was discovered by his wife dead already before dawn of May 7. Takemoto was found with multiple hacked and incise wounds inside his bedroom at their residence in Sitio Cabaruan, Barangay Mariquet, Solsona, Ilocos Norte.
“They were just being invited for questioning on the basis that the timing of their departure from the barangay is quite suspicious since it was on the same day that the incident happened,” Aldos said of the six jobless locals.
Aldos finished questioning the six, aged 22 – 24, last Monday.
According to him, five of the six men had a drinking session at the residence of one of the five in Barangay Mariquet from the afternoon until late evening of May 6, Friday.
When they called off at 11 pm, the three who are now being monitored left for another place, but still in the same village, where they decided to sleep. One of the three resides in that place where they slept, together with his mother.
Then, in the afternoon of the following day, May 7, the five, and another colleague, left for this city, located some 37 kilometers westward, to apply for work. (Aldos yesterday corrected the information he shared with Manila Shimbun during Monday’s interview. He earlier said the six immediately left for Laoag City on Friday afternoon after five of the six had a drinking session.)
Aldos said the six men boarded a Manila-bound bus at around 5:30 pm of Saturday.
Quoting the six, Aldos said they took the said bus at that time to avail of the free ride. Upon arrival at Laoag City forty minutes later, the six slept at the house of a relative of one of the six.
Then, on Sunday morning, four of the six went to a hardware shop in this city to apply as laborers, while the two others went to another shop.
After lunchtime of the same day, three of the six decided to go home to Solsona. The remaining three, who were the same persons who left for another place after their drinking session on May 6, followed on Monday morning.
“It’s hard to believe what they have said that’s why we will continue monitoring them, especially the last three who came home only yesterday (Monday) because they were the same group that slept together after their drinking session last Friday,” Aldos said.
According to him, the five who drunk last Friday were very intoxicated that night. One of the three who transferred to another place later that night is also rumored to have “tasted” illegal drugs.
But even if the six were familiar about the presence of Takemoto in their village, they claimed to have no reason to be hostile to the Japanese or to the latter’s family, said Aldos.
A check on Monday at the house where the three men slept yielded negative for possession of blood-stained weapon and clothes. It can be recalled that no weapon was found at the crime scene by responding policemen.
The mother of one of the three also confirmed that the three men arrived at said place at past 11 pm of Friday, slept there, and never left the house until morning of Saturday.
“The information we got from them is not sufficient to link them to the case. So we will continue to monitor their activities and to gather information from other people in the vicinity,” Aldos said.
He admitted that despite their questioning of the six, the police is still facing a blank wall in its investigation because of the absence of any idea as to the motive of the crime, and of any lead that would track down the suspects.
Aldos will await the result of the comparison test on the fingerprints of the six and the fingerprints lifted from the crime scene. The fingerprints of the six were submitted yesterday morning to the Ilocos Norte Provincial Police Crime Laboratory located in this city./DMS
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Suspect/s and motive in murder of Japanese in Ilocos Norte still unknown
By Ronron
May 9, 2005
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte – Police is facing a blank wall in its investigation on the murder last weekend of a Japanese national in Solsona town, located some 37 kilometers east of this city, as probers still could not ascertain the motive of the crime and the identities of the attackers.
This even as the Solsona Municipal Station invited yesterday six men for questioning on their possible involvement in the crime because of their suspicious timely disappearance from the town a day before Shinya Takemoto was found dead by his Filipina wife at the couple’s residence.
Takemoto, 59, was discovered dawn of Saturday by his wife, Mary Jane, lying lifeless on the floor of their bedroom located at the adjacent unit of their residence in Sitio Cabaruan, Barangay Mariquet in Solsona.
He sustained 11 hacked and incise wounds and two fracture wounds all over his body, according to Solsona Municipal Health Officer Dr. Ruth de Lara.
“We’re like in search for a piece of needle in a hill of rice stalk. That is the situation now,” Solsona Chief of Police Joven Aldos described to Manila Shimbun the state of their investigation on Takemoto’s case.
The only ray of hope seen by the family of the victim is that police is initiating a move towards the identification of the suspect/s through the questioning starting yesterday of six jobless male neighbors of the Takemoto’s.
“We invited six persons for questioning because that afternoon prior to the incident, they suddenly left the town all together. We will interview them one by one to find out if they will disclose similar accounts (about their activity that afternoon of May 6),” Aldos said.
The six, Aldos clarified, are not considered suspect as of this time.
According to him, the six guys, age ranging from 22 – 24, are residents of Barangay Mariquet and separately live about a kilometer away from Takemoto’s house.
Although there is no information that they were hostile to the Japanese and to the latter’s family, police are not discounting the possibility that it could be their “trip” to kill the foreigner borne out of alcohol-influence.
Police learned that five of the six who were invited by police had a drinking session that afternoon. Then, at about 5:30 pm, they, and the sixth person, left together for Laoag City by boarding a bus.
Two of the six reportedly came home only last Sunday, while the rest arrived in the town only yesterday.
Initial questioning revealed that the six just wanted to apply for a job vacancy as laborers in Laoag City.
“They all denied involvement in the killing of Takemoto when we asked them categorically,” Aldos bared, adding that the six have no criminal records at the police station.
Nonetheless, their fingerprints were taken yesterday for comparison to the set of 20 fingerprints lifted at the crime scene.
Aldos said the results of the comparative tests of fingerprints will surely lighten up their job, but as to when it will come out, he still does not know.
The fingerprints were taken to the Provincial Police crime laboratory in Laoag City, together with the blood samples.
Meanwhile, according to de Lara, Takemoto was already dead six hours or more from the time she examined his body at 10 am last Saturday because it was already stiff. Mary Jane saw his husband’s dead body at 3:55 am.
Neighbors, the closest of them were some 50 meters away from the Takemoto’s, insisted they have not heard any sound of commotion on the eve of May 7. Mary Jane issued the same claim.
They also could not identify any person/s hostile to the victim, or to his family, because the Takemoto’s rarely go out or invite visitors to their residence.
The Takemoto couple started to live permanently in Solsona in May 2004, after staying in Japan for two years since they were married in Las Pinas City on January 2002.
Takemoto, who used to work as manager at a paper manufacturing company in Chiba prefecture, decided to stay for good in the Philippines because “he liked it here, especially the weather,” said Mary Jane.
Mary Jane is all praises for her husband, whom she described to be a rare Japanese man for being so kind and respectful to women and responsible to his children.
She said Takemoto was just confined to their residence when he was still alive, and was already happy drinking his J&B scotch whisky alone.
The couple survived even without having any business through the savings of Takemoto from working in Japan.
Takemoto is divorced and has three kids in his previous marriage.
His remains will be buried in Solsona./DMS
Friday, May 6, 2005
Fishing vessel intercepted in Malampaya
By Ronron
May 5, 2005
A fishing vessel which accidentally intruded into the restricted area of Malampaya waters in Palawan was intercepted last Tuesday by the Philippine Navy.
In a statement, the Philippine Navy said MBCA Queen Mathet was spotted by Navy patrol gunboat BRP Heracleo Alano floating at 400 yards northwest off the Malampaya Natural Gas Power Project (MNGPP) platform which is considered an exclusion zone.
BRP Heracleo Alano is one of the Navy’s floating assets deployed in the waters of Palawan. The Navy has stepped up its security operations in said area which is believed to be vulnerable to terror attacks.
“(The owner’s) papers were found to be valid but (he) and the boat’s six-member crew were not aware of Malampaya’s exclusion zone. They were advised not to go fishing in the area again,” the Navy’s statement said.
MBCA Queen Mathet was escorted by the Navy gunboat to El Nido pier in Palawan.
Navy chief Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon had directed Navy intelligence units to sustain the conduct of intelligence operations to negate sea-bed attacks of terror and threat groups in the country, particularly at Malampaya.
The Malampaya natural gas project is the largest infrastructure project in the country and is currently supplying some 30 percent of the over-all power requirement in Luzon./DMS
May 5, 2005
A fishing vessel which accidentally intruded into the restricted area of Malampaya waters in Palawan was intercepted last Tuesday by the Philippine Navy.
In a statement, the Philippine Navy said MBCA Queen Mathet was spotted by Navy patrol gunboat BRP Heracleo Alano floating at 400 yards northwest off the Malampaya Natural Gas Power Project (MNGPP) platform which is considered an exclusion zone.
BRP Heracleo Alano is one of the Navy’s floating assets deployed in the waters of Palawan. The Navy has stepped up its security operations in said area which is believed to be vulnerable to terror attacks.
“(The owner’s) papers were found to be valid but (he) and the boat’s six-member crew were not aware of Malampaya’s exclusion zone. They were advised not to go fishing in the area again,” the Navy’s statement said.
MBCA Queen Mathet was escorted by the Navy gunboat to El Nido pier in Palawan.
Navy chief Vice Admiral Ernesto de Leon had directed Navy intelligence units to sustain the conduct of intelligence operations to negate sea-bed attacks of terror and threat groups in the country, particularly at Malampaya.
The Malampaya natural gas project is the largest infrastructure project in the country and is currently supplying some 30 percent of the over-all power requirement in Luzon./DMS
AFP counters US official’s assessment on Mindanao
By Ronron
May 5, 2005
The Philippine military countered on Thursday the statement of a visiting official of the United States that Mindanao remains to be a dangerous place.
“The situation in Mindanao, particularly in Central Mindanao and Sulu province, is generally peaceful,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Pascual said the AFP is continuing its operations against the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces to ensure that the region is terror-free.
He said the military is also working with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership when it conducts combat operations in MILF-known lairs in Central Mindanao.
“The government is pushing the peace negotiations with the MILF because we believe that it is the ultimate solution for a lasting peace in Central Mindanao,” Pascual said.
The military spokesman belied reports that MILF members have joined forces with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction under former MNLF leader Nur Misuari.
“Brig. Gen. Ramon Santos (co-chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) said that he clarified this matter to the MILF,” said Pascual, adding that the MILF leadership even offered assistance for mediation to resolve the conflict the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) in Sulu.
Pascual also expressed appreciation on the support being given by the US government for the development of Sulu.
“The AFP welcomes the US support in terms of training and humanitarian assistance to the people of Mindanao. We all know that these US engineering projects and medical-civic action groups complements the government and AFP’s program to alleviate the condition of our people in the area,” Pascual said.
A 25-man US contingent is now in Sulu, conducting humanitarian assistance assessment mission./DMS
May 5, 2005
The Philippine military countered on Thursday the statement of a visiting official of the United States that Mindanao remains to be a dangerous place.
“The situation in Mindanao, particularly in Central Mindanao and Sulu province, is generally peaceful,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Public Information Officer (PIO) Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
Pascual said the AFP is continuing its operations against the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and the Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces to ensure that the region is terror-free.
He said the military is also working with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership when it conducts combat operations in MILF-known lairs in Central Mindanao.
“The government is pushing the peace negotiations with the MILF because we believe that it is the ultimate solution for a lasting peace in Central Mindanao,” Pascual said.
The military spokesman belied reports that MILF members have joined forces with the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) faction under former MNLF leader Nur Misuari.
“Brig. Gen. Ramon Santos (co-chairman of the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) said that he clarified this matter to the MILF,” said Pascual, adding that the MILF leadership even offered assistance for mediation to resolve the conflict the Misuari Breakaway Group (MBG) in Sulu.
Pascual also expressed appreciation on the support being given by the US government for the development of Sulu.
“The AFP welcomes the US support in terms of training and humanitarian assistance to the people of Mindanao. We all know that these US engineering projects and medical-civic action groups complements the government and AFP’s program to alleviate the condition of our people in the area,” Pascual said.
A 25-man US contingent is now in Sulu, conducting humanitarian assistance assessment mission./DMS
43 civilians held for questioning after AFP-NPA clash in Bulacan
By Ronron
May 5, 2005
Forty-three men were held by the military on Thursday for questioning after government troops clashed earlier in the day with communist terrorists in San Miguel town, Bulacan.
The 11 residents of Masalipit village and 32 others from barangay Sta. Ines, both in the municipality of San Miguel, were brought to Camp Tecson, headquarters of the Army Scout Ranger in San Miguel, to find out if among them were the suspected seven communist rebels that the military chanced upon and exchanged fires with at around 5:30 am yesterday in Barangay Masalipit.
“There were 43 men that were interviewed and held for a while by the Army for questioning and identification by local barangay officials whether they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA) or just civilians,” Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said.
They were later released to their respective barangay captains and escorted back to their homes.
Pascual clarified that the death of a certain Patricio Deloroso, 70, resident of barangay Sta. Ines, was not related to the military operation.
Quoting Sta. Ines barangay captain Benjamin Aquino, Pascual said Deloroso died of old age and was not among the 43 males invited.
The military spokesman said the rounding up was coordinated with barangay officials, stressing the military’s awareness on their rules of engagement.
With the permission and presence of barangay officials, elements of the Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) entered barangay Sta. Ines and checked some houses for the possible presence of NPA rebels.
The military suspected that the rebels with whom government troops clashed with earlier in the day in Barangay Masalipit sought refuge in neighboring Barangay Sta. Ines.
According to Pascual, operating troops from Alpha Company, 48th IB of the Philippine Army engaged in a five-minute firefight around seven fully armed rebels in Barangay Masalipit at 5:30 am yesterday.
It is believed to be the same NPA group that elements of the Army’s 56th IB encountered with last April 24, 2005 in the same town. Six rebels were killed and one soldier was wounded in that encounter.
Then at 6:10 am yesterday, reinforcing troops from the 1st Platoon of the 71st IB encountered around seven armed rebels in Barangay Sta. Ines, believed to be the same group from barangay Masalipit. Firefight lasted for 10 minutes, until the enemy scampered towards different directions.
The government troops recovered one fragmentation grenade, two caliber .38 revolver, personal belongings, assorted ammunitions and subversive document at the encounter site./DMS
May 5, 2005
Forty-three men were held by the military on Thursday for questioning after government troops clashed earlier in the day with communist terrorists in San Miguel town, Bulacan.
The 11 residents of Masalipit village and 32 others from barangay Sta. Ines, both in the municipality of San Miguel, were brought to Camp Tecson, headquarters of the Army Scout Ranger in San Miguel, to find out if among them were the suspected seven communist rebels that the military chanced upon and exchanged fires with at around 5:30 am yesterday in Barangay Masalipit.
“There were 43 men that were interviewed and held for a while by the Army for questioning and identification by local barangay officials whether they are members of the New People’s Army (NPA) or just civilians,” Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual, Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said.
They were later released to their respective barangay captains and escorted back to their homes.
Pascual clarified that the death of a certain Patricio Deloroso, 70, resident of barangay Sta. Ines, was not related to the military operation.
Quoting Sta. Ines barangay captain Benjamin Aquino, Pascual said Deloroso died of old age and was not among the 43 males invited.
The military spokesman said the rounding up was coordinated with barangay officials, stressing the military’s awareness on their rules of engagement.
With the permission and presence of barangay officials, elements of the Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) entered barangay Sta. Ines and checked some houses for the possible presence of NPA rebels.
The military suspected that the rebels with whom government troops clashed with earlier in the day in Barangay Masalipit sought refuge in neighboring Barangay Sta. Ines.
According to Pascual, operating troops from Alpha Company, 48th IB of the Philippine Army engaged in a five-minute firefight around seven fully armed rebels in Barangay Masalipit at 5:30 am yesterday.
It is believed to be the same NPA group that elements of the Army’s 56th IB encountered with last April 24, 2005 in the same town. Six rebels were killed and one soldier was wounded in that encounter.
Then at 6:10 am yesterday, reinforcing troops from the 1st Platoon of the 71st IB encountered around seven armed rebels in Barangay Sta. Ines, believed to be the same group from barangay Masalipit. Firefight lasted for 10 minutes, until the enemy scampered towards different directions.
The government troops recovered one fragmentation grenade, two caliber .38 revolver, personal belongings, assorted ammunitions and subversive document at the encounter site./DMS
Dipolog journalist expires at hospital, police pursues work-related and personal grudge angle on shooting
By Ronron
May 5, 2005
Radio commentator Klein Cantoneros expired Wednesday night at the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Hospital in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte hours after he was shot by three unidentified gunmen.
Dipolog City Police chief Supt. Tomas Hizon said the 34-year-old broadcaster died at around 10:30 pm due to the six gunshot wounds he sustained from his attackers.
Cantoneros was hit three times at the back, twice on his thigh and once on his leg by the motorcycle-riding assailants while he was plying the national highway in barangay Sta. Filomena, Dipolog City.
He is the 67th journalist slain since 1986 when democracy was restored in the country, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
Hizon said investigators are now focusing on a work-related motive, compounded with a personal grudge, on their probe on the murder of Cantoneros.
“We are now concentrating on a specific personality,” said Hizon without elaborating.
Cantoneros is said to be a hard-hitting commentator on radio station DXAA.
Task Force Cantoneros, created by Region IX Police Director Vidal Querol, was not given a deadline to wrap up its investigation./DMS
May 5, 2005
Radio commentator Klein Cantoneros expired Wednesday night at the Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Hospital in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte hours after he was shot by three unidentified gunmen.
Dipolog City Police chief Supt. Tomas Hizon said the 34-year-old broadcaster died at around 10:30 pm due to the six gunshot wounds he sustained from his attackers.
Cantoneros was hit three times at the back, twice on his thigh and once on his leg by the motorcycle-riding assailants while he was plying the national highway in barangay Sta. Filomena, Dipolog City.
He is the 67th journalist slain since 1986 when democracy was restored in the country, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP).
Hizon said investigators are now focusing on a work-related motive, compounded with a personal grudge, on their probe on the murder of Cantoneros.
“We are now concentrating on a specific personality,” said Hizon without elaborating.
Cantoneros is said to be a hard-hitting commentator on radio station DXAA.
Task Force Cantoneros, created by Region IX Police Director Vidal Querol, was not given a deadline to wrap up its investigation./DMS
Sunday, May 1, 2005
US soldiers off to Sulu for assessment mission
By Ronron
April 30, 2005
A 25-man US military contingent is off to Sulu province in the next 24 hours for an assessment mission that will seek to determine areas where US humanitarian assistance is most needed.
Lt. Col. Greg Wilson, Commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) under the US Pacific Command, said in a phone interview Saturday that the mission is expected to last for two weeks in the towns of Panamao, Jolo, and Patikul.
"We will be going to Sulu for a civic monitoring operation assessment at the invitation of the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and in partner with our Philippine counterparts," Wilson said.
The team is expected to interact directly with local officials from the provincial government up to the barangay level, and even residents, to determine the needs of the people in those conflict-affected places.
"This is strictly a humanitarian activity. We want to find out in which areas can we help the people there, like in the medical aspect and small-scale engineering projects," Wilson said.
He added that as a standard operating procedure, his troops will be carrying their own weapons for forced protection. And should the need to defend their selves from rebels arise, they can always use their firearm.
The team will take off from the AFP Southern Command in Zamboanga City./DMS
April 30, 2005
A 25-man US military contingent is off to Sulu province in the next 24 hours for an assessment mission that will seek to determine areas where US humanitarian assistance is most needed.
Lt. Col. Greg Wilson, Commander of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) under the US Pacific Command, said in a phone interview Saturday that the mission is expected to last for two weeks in the towns of Panamao, Jolo, and Patikul.
"We will be going to Sulu for a civic monitoring operation assessment at the invitation of the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and in partner with our Philippine counterparts," Wilson said.
The team is expected to interact directly with local officials from the provincial government up to the barangay level, and even residents, to determine the needs of the people in those conflict-affected places.
"This is strictly a humanitarian activity. We want to find out in which areas can we help the people there, like in the medical aspect and small-scale engineering projects," Wilson said.
He added that as a standard operating procedure, his troops will be carrying their own weapons for forced protection. And should the need to defend their selves from rebels arise, they can always use their firearm.
The team will take off from the AFP Southern Command in Zamboanga City./DMS
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