By Ronron
April 7, 2007
A candidate for governor in Kalinga province was shot dead on Saturday afternoon by an unidentified suspect in Tabuk town, police officials said.
Incumbent vice governor Rommel Diasen was shot by an unidentified male suspect past 1pm yesterday using a caliber 45 handgun while he was delivering a talk in public in Barangay Magnao, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Police Director Chief Supt. Raul Gonzales said.
Diasen, who is the Lakas’ candidate for Governor, sustained two gunshot wounds in the body.
He was rushed to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital for medical treatment but expired at around 2pm.
The suspect, meanwhile, managed to escape on foot.
Gonzales said the incident is most likely a result of a tribal conflict, more than being election-related.
“As of now, we cannot consider it as an election-related violent incident (ERVI) because we have not yet seen any evidence that directs to politics,” Gonzales told Manila Shimbun in a phone interview.
“We are leaning more on the tribal war angle. This could be related to the killing about two years ago of Judge (Minar) Lammawin,” he added.
Gonzales pointed out that Diasen was holding his talk yesterday at a place that local people describe as “Lammawin” territory.
“He (Diasen) was being accused by the tribemates of Judge Lammawin of not helping in the solution of the crime (killing of Lammawin). So he was explaining to the people yesterday his side, while he was also campaigning for the forthcoming election,” Gonzales said.
The police officer said the suspected gunman could be a member of Lammawin’s tribe.
“It could be revenge,” Gonzales said of the incident.
As to the possible political angle, Gonzales said it could be remote because there is no heated rivalry between Diasen and fellow gubernatorial candidate Laurence Wacnang.
Wacnang is currently the Representative of Kalinga at the Lower House of Congress. He belongs to the Liberal Party.
“There is no reason for them to have a rift because they belong to a coalition in support of the administration. In fact, they were seen together lately,” Gonzales said.
“We don’t really see this as politically-motivated,” he added.
So far, Diasen is the high-ranking victim of violence during the election season, as far as position is concerned.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has already recorded 26 killed victims of election-related violent incidents since the start of the election period on January 14 until April 6th.
Most of the victims are either supporters of candidates or election officers.
PNP Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) commander Deputy Director Gen. Antonio Billones maintained that the recent figure of election-related violent incidents are lower compared to the previous elections.
He said any possible administrative action against local police commanders in Kalinga will depend on the outcome of the investigation.
Gonzales has immediately created yesterday Task Force Diasen to focus on the case for the possible identification and arrest of the suspect.
The Task Force is composed of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office, the regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and local members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“We are still looking at the actions of the provincial director, if he had taken preventive measures against these kinds of violent incidents. We are still assessing it,” Gonzales said when asked if the chief of Kalinga Police will be sacked.
He said the matter of recommending the province to be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be determined also after the investigation, especially if the incident is proven to be election related.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Calderon already ordered the immediate dispatch of Special Action Force (SAF) troopers to the province “to help stabilize the situation and prevent the escalation of violence.”
More checkpoints were ordered established as well to prevent movement of firearms and partisan armed groups in the province, Pagdilao said.
The mid-term elections will be held in the country on May 14./DMS
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Over 1,200 families left homeless as fire engulfs squatters’ area in Mandaluyong City
By Ronron
April 7, 2007
More than 1,200 families were rendered homeless by a fire that struck dawn of Black Saturday at a slum area in Mandaluyong City, a fire official said.
SFO3 Avelino Caya, Arson Division chief of the Mandaluyong City Fire Department, said the blaze started at 3 am at Block 39, Welfare Ville Compound, Martinez corner Pavillo Streets in Barangay Addition Hills of said city.
“It took our firemen a while to put the fire under control because of the very narrow streets and the residents were blocking our way as they were busy saving their personal belongings,” Caya said in Filipino in a phone interview with Manila Shimbun yesterday.
Caya said the fire reached Task Force Echo, the highest of 10 alarm levels, and was put under control only at around 8:30 am. It was put out more than three hours later, or at 12:05 noon.
He said an estimated 400 shanties, mostly made of light materials, were burned down, resulting in estimated damage cost of more or less P6 million.
Two ladies, a 24-year-old and a 32-year-old, were slightly wounded in the incident and were brought to the Mandaluyong Medical Center for medical treatment.
Caya said initial investigation disclosed that the fire started from the house of a certain Aliw Vizmanos, located in the middle portion of the slum area.
“Allegedly, a candle was lighted at the second floor because it was dark. The owner did notice that the candled tipped over, causing the blaze,” he said.
The Vizmanos’ are now under investigation./DMS
April 7, 2007
More than 1,200 families were rendered homeless by a fire that struck dawn of Black Saturday at a slum area in Mandaluyong City, a fire official said.
SFO3 Avelino Caya, Arson Division chief of the Mandaluyong City Fire Department, said the blaze started at 3 am at Block 39, Welfare Ville Compound, Martinez corner Pavillo Streets in Barangay Addition Hills of said city.
“It took our firemen a while to put the fire under control because of the very narrow streets and the residents were blocking our way as they were busy saving their personal belongings,” Caya said in Filipino in a phone interview with Manila Shimbun yesterday.
Caya said the fire reached Task Force Echo, the highest of 10 alarm levels, and was put under control only at around 8:30 am. It was put out more than three hours later, or at 12:05 noon.
He said an estimated 400 shanties, mostly made of light materials, were burned down, resulting in estimated damage cost of more or less P6 million.
Two ladies, a 24-year-old and a 32-year-old, were slightly wounded in the incident and were brought to the Mandaluyong Medical Center for medical treatment.
Caya said initial investigation disclosed that the fire started from the house of a certain Aliw Vizmanos, located in the middle portion of the slum area.
“Allegedly, a candle was lighted at the second floor because it was dark. The owner did notice that the candled tipped over, causing the blaze,” he said.
The Vizmanos’ are now under investigation./DMS
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Two militants found dead in Cagayan
By Ronron
April 4, 2007
Two militant leaders in Cagayan province were found dead on Wednesday morning along a river in Lallo town.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) spokesman Carl Ala said Arthur Orpilla and Dionisio Battag, both 50 years old and officers of KMP and Anakpawis, were found with stab wounds and gunshot wounds, respectively, in their bodies at around 8 am yesterday.
Their bodies, Ala said, were discovered by vendors along the Cagayan River near the Magapit Bridge.
Ala said the two were allegedly abducted last March 27 by unidentified men believed to be members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Orpilla and Battag are residents of Barangay Bagunot in Baggao town of said province.
Contacted by phone, the Region II Police Office said it has yet to receive an official report about the incident from the Cagayan Police Provincial Office.
But already, Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force USIG commander Chief Supt. Geary Barias said yesterday that he has ordered the mobilization of “all resources and personnel of the Regional Task Force USIG in Cagayan Valley to lead the investigation into the deaths” of Orpilla and Battag.
Barias said the probe will be in coordination with the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Office, the Crime Laboratory, the Intelligence community and the local police units.
He said he will fly to Cagayan tomorrow “to confer with authorities of the Police Regional Office II under Chief Supt. Ameto Tolentino.”
“I will also take the opportunity to talk to the victims’ colleagues form the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas to possibly get more leads and information that will help us inn the investigation,” Barias said.
Barias surmised that is possible Orpilla and Battag were killed somewhere else, but their bodies were abandoned at the site were they were found yesterday.
“The PNP Task Force USIG condemns in the strongest terms the slaying of Arthur Orpilla and Dionisio Battad,” Barias said.
“Let me assure the victims’ families and their colleagues of swift police action to identify and prosecute those behind this dastardly murder,” he added.
Ala was quick to blame the killing to the military, he even identified the Philippine Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion headed by a certain 2Lt. Johnny Calob as the culprit behind the shooting to death of Battad.
“The AFP cannot really stop attacking our ranks, even at this time of the Lenten season. They don’t care even a bit. This looks like the birthday gift of the death squad to Gloria,” Ala said, referring to the President.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who will celebrate her 60th birthday today (Thursday), has been accused by militant groups to have sanctioned the spate of killings of militants and journalists in the country so she could hold on to power.
She has denied the allegation. In May last year, she created the TF USIG to investigate said killings./DMS
April 4, 2007
Two militant leaders in Cagayan province were found dead on Wednesday morning along a river in Lallo town.
Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) spokesman Carl Ala said Arthur Orpilla and Dionisio Battag, both 50 years old and officers of KMP and Anakpawis, were found with stab wounds and gunshot wounds, respectively, in their bodies at around 8 am yesterday.
Their bodies, Ala said, were discovered by vendors along the Cagayan River near the Magapit Bridge.
Ala said the two were allegedly abducted last March 27 by unidentified men believed to be members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Orpilla and Battag are residents of Barangay Bagunot in Baggao town of said province.
Contacted by phone, the Region II Police Office said it has yet to receive an official report about the incident from the Cagayan Police Provincial Office.
But already, Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force USIG commander Chief Supt. Geary Barias said yesterday that he has ordered the mobilization of “all resources and personnel of the Regional Task Force USIG in Cagayan Valley to lead the investigation into the deaths” of Orpilla and Battag.
Barias said the probe will be in coordination with the Regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Office, the Crime Laboratory, the Intelligence community and the local police units.
He said he will fly to Cagayan tomorrow “to confer with authorities of the Police Regional Office II under Chief Supt. Ameto Tolentino.”
“I will also take the opportunity to talk to the victims’ colleagues form the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas to possibly get more leads and information that will help us inn the investigation,” Barias said.
Barias surmised that is possible Orpilla and Battag were killed somewhere else, but their bodies were abandoned at the site were they were found yesterday.
“The PNP Task Force USIG condemns in the strongest terms the slaying of Arthur Orpilla and Dionisio Battad,” Barias said.
“Let me assure the victims’ families and their colleagues of swift police action to identify and prosecute those behind this dastardly murder,” he added.
Ala was quick to blame the killing to the military, he even identified the Philippine Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion headed by a certain 2Lt. Johnny Calob as the culprit behind the shooting to death of Battad.
“The AFP cannot really stop attacking our ranks, even at this time of the Lenten season. They don’t care even a bit. This looks like the birthday gift of the death squad to Gloria,” Ala said, referring to the President.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who will celebrate her 60th birthday today (Thursday), has been accused by militant groups to have sanctioned the spate of killings of militants and journalists in the country so she could hold on to power.
She has denied the allegation. In May last year, she created the TF USIG to investigate said killings./DMS
Comelec officer in Palawan killed; Another election officer in Marawi City threatened
By Ronron
April 4, 2007
A Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer in Palawan province was killed on Tuesday night in Puerto Princesa City by unidentified suspects, police said.
Reports reaching Camp Crame identified the victim as Petronilo Amorin, Jr., 40, resident of Narra town, same province, an assistant city election officer of Puerto Princesa City.
Amorin was shot dead along the national highway in front of the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in Barangay San Pedro at around 7:15 pm by two male suspects.
The gunman allegedly approached him first before opening fire at close range. Amorin at that time had just taken dinner after finishing his work at the Comelec office which is located only a few meters away.
Amorin sustained four gunshot wounds – two in the head, one in the stomach, and one on the leg, caused by a caliber 45 pistol.
The gunman immediately escaped together with his accomplice who was waiting aboard a yellow Honda motorcycle.
A witness to the crime described the suspected gunman to be at least 40 years old, 5’4” to 5’6” tall, slim built, with curly hair, wearing maong pants and light blue t-shirt with collar.
Police is still investigating the motive of the incident, which could be work-related or personal in nature.
“Right now, we have formed a special investigating task group comprised by different agencies to speed up the resolution of the case… We are pursuing two leads, which are, maybe political or personal,” Palawan Police Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Dennis Peña said in a phone interview.
He said a witness has given a statement that indeed, there was a threat against Amorin prior to the incident, which is personal in nature.
The possible political motive, said Peña, stemmed from the fact that he works for the Comelec.
Peña said he heads the task group, which has representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation, the City Prosecutor’s Office, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Crime Laboratory, and the Traffic Management Group.
“This is an isolated case, not enough to declare the city as an area of immediate concern this coming elections. And there is no historical basis for that. We don’t even know yet if this is election-related,” Peña said.
In Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province, an election officer was threatened by an unknown suspect by bombing her residence before dawn of Tuesday.
According to a police report, a hand grenade was lobbed outside the compound of election officer Diana Titiban, 52, at around 12:25 am the other day (Tuesday) at Barangay Panggao, Saduc District, Marawi City.
No one was hurt in the incident.
“Initial investigation disclosed that the election officer was busy preparing the election data at her room when she heard the explosion,” the police report said.
Responding policemen found later at the site another hand grenade that did not explode. It was safely detonated.
Police security was immediately provided to Titiban.
The motive for the blast is also still being investigated./DMS
April 4, 2007
A Commission on Elections (Comelec) officer in Palawan province was killed on Tuesday night in Puerto Princesa City by unidentified suspects, police said.
Reports reaching Camp Crame identified the victim as Petronilo Amorin, Jr., 40, resident of Narra town, same province, an assistant city election officer of Puerto Princesa City.
Amorin was shot dead along the national highway in front of the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in Barangay San Pedro at around 7:15 pm by two male suspects.
The gunman allegedly approached him first before opening fire at close range. Amorin at that time had just taken dinner after finishing his work at the Comelec office which is located only a few meters away.
Amorin sustained four gunshot wounds – two in the head, one in the stomach, and one on the leg, caused by a caliber 45 pistol.
The gunman immediately escaped together with his accomplice who was waiting aboard a yellow Honda motorcycle.
A witness to the crime described the suspected gunman to be at least 40 years old, 5’4” to 5’6” tall, slim built, with curly hair, wearing maong pants and light blue t-shirt with collar.
Police is still investigating the motive of the incident, which could be work-related or personal in nature.
“Right now, we have formed a special investigating task group comprised by different agencies to speed up the resolution of the case… We are pursuing two leads, which are, maybe political or personal,” Palawan Police Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Dennis Peña said in a phone interview.
He said a witness has given a statement that indeed, there was a threat against Amorin prior to the incident, which is personal in nature.
The possible political motive, said Peña, stemmed from the fact that he works for the Comelec.
Peña said he heads the task group, which has representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation, the City Prosecutor’s Office, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Crime Laboratory, and the Traffic Management Group.
“This is an isolated case, not enough to declare the city as an area of immediate concern this coming elections. And there is no historical basis for that. We don’t even know yet if this is election-related,” Peña said.
In Marawi City, Lanao del Sur province, an election officer was threatened by an unknown suspect by bombing her residence before dawn of Tuesday.
According to a police report, a hand grenade was lobbed outside the compound of election officer Diana Titiban, 52, at around 12:25 am the other day (Tuesday) at Barangay Panggao, Saduc District, Marawi City.
No one was hurt in the incident.
“Initial investigation disclosed that the election officer was busy preparing the election data at her room when she heard the explosion,” the police report said.
Responding policemen found later at the site another hand grenade that did not explode. It was safely detonated.
Police security was immediately provided to Titiban.
The motive for the blast is also still being investigated./DMS
One killed, 14 injured after bus falls in Quezon province
By Ronron
April 4, 2007
A woman died and 14 other persons were injured after the bus they were riding fell onto a ravine in Quezon province dawn of Wednesday.
The Executive Carrier bus (Body Number 8098, Plate Number PPT-204) was heading for Manila from Daraga, Albay when it allegedly lost brakes at the New Diversion Road in Sitio Amaw, Barangay Silangang Malikbuy, Pagbilao town at around 3am yesterday (Wednesday), causing it to plunge into a 20-meter deep ravine at the side of the road.
SPO4 Eladio Merle of the Pagbilao Municipal Police Station said the bus was descending when the mechanical failure occurred, causing it to turn-turtle, hitting trees along the way and finally landing in upside down position.
Passenger Aileen Siba, 23, of Iriga City, died on the spot.
Fourteen others, including five minors, were injured and are now being treated at the Jane County Hospital in the same town. All sustained minor injuries only, said Merle.
The bus driver, Francisco Jaques, of Project 8, Quezon City, escaped after the accident, but his companion, Roderick Juan, 36, remained to attend to the wounded passengers.
Merle said charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and multiple physical injuries are being prepared against Jaques.
Merle admitted the site is really an accident-prone area because of the road’s slope and zigzag route./DMS
April 4, 2007
A woman died and 14 other persons were injured after the bus they were riding fell onto a ravine in Quezon province dawn of Wednesday.
The Executive Carrier bus (Body Number 8098, Plate Number PPT-204) was heading for Manila from Daraga, Albay when it allegedly lost brakes at the New Diversion Road in Sitio Amaw, Barangay Silangang Malikbuy, Pagbilao town at around 3am yesterday (Wednesday), causing it to plunge into a 20-meter deep ravine at the side of the road.
SPO4 Eladio Merle of the Pagbilao Municipal Police Station said the bus was descending when the mechanical failure occurred, causing it to turn-turtle, hitting trees along the way and finally landing in upside down position.
Passenger Aileen Siba, 23, of Iriga City, died on the spot.
Fourteen others, including five minors, were injured and are now being treated at the Jane County Hospital in the same town. All sustained minor injuries only, said Merle.
The bus driver, Francisco Jaques, of Project 8, Quezon City, escaped after the accident, but his companion, Roderick Juan, 36, remained to attend to the wounded passengers.
Merle said charges of reckless imprudence resulting to homicide and multiple physical injuries are being prepared against Jaques.
Merle admitted the site is really an accident-prone area because of the road’s slope and zigzag route./DMS
Police lacks evidence against Ducat, Carbonell
By Ronron
April 4, 2007
The Manila Police District (MPD) failed to present necessary pieces of evidence against accused hostage takers Armando Ducat, Jr. and Caezar Augusto Carbonell during Wednesday’s preliminary investigation at the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.
During the proceedings that was presided over by Assistant City Prosecutor Danilo Suarez, the MPD personnel failed to furnish the panel of prosecutors copies of the Certification from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on whether or not Ducat and Carbonell are exempted from the Comelec gunban, and Certification on whether or not the recovered grenades were capable of exploding.
Ducat and Carbonell’s lawyers insisted that the MPD should submit those documents since their client will base their counter-affidavits on the available evidence brought before them.
Ducat and Carbonell are facing charges of serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms and explosives, in relation to the Comelec-imposed gunban.
A separate charge for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law was filed against them last Monday by the social welfare office, but the lawyers of the two opposed its consolidation to the two original charges, saying it will further delay the resolution of the first two cases, thereby prolonging the detention of the accused.
Suarez then ordered the MPD to submit the required documents before 5pm yesterday (Wednesday), otherwise, they will no longer have any other chance to do it. Carbonell's lawyer, William delos Santos, confirmed to Manila Shimbun later in the evening that the MPD complied with Suarez' directive.
Suarez set the next hearing on April 10 at 10am, during which Ducat and Carbonell will have to submit their counter-affidavits.
After that, the panel of prosecutors is expected to come out with a resolution whether to file the cases in court or dismiss them by April 13 at the earliest.
Ducat and Carbonell arrived at the Prosecutor’s Office located at the third level of the Manila City Hall at around 10 am, handcuffed to each other’s right hands.
They wore white shirts, bearing the prints “STOP CORRUPTION, FREE EDUCATION.”
Their families and supporters were around during the one-and-a-half hours proceedings to provide moral support.
In an interview after the hearing, Ducat told Manila Shimbun that he is fine even if he just underwent angioplasty about two weeks before he and Carbonell held hostage last March 28 the 26 pupils and three teachers from the Musmos Day Care Center that he built in Parola Compound in Manila City.
“I’m just wondering why (Manila City) Mayor (Lito) Atienza is very mad at me that he wanted me in jail. Why can’t he put behind bars his son-in-law (Miles Roces) who failed to accomplish anything within three years?” Ducat said in Filipino.
Roces is the incumbent Representative of the 3rd District of Manila City at the House of Representatives. He is married to Atienza’s daughter, Arlene Maile.
When Ducat and Carbonell held hostage his victims inside a tourist bus right in front of the Manila City Hall, he had aired his grievance against corruption in government and demanded the government’s assurance that the graduates of his pre-school will make it through college.
He also demanded that the families of his students get free housing from the government.
After speaking to the public, Ducat and Carbonell eventually released their victims and surrendered to the police.
The two are now detained at the MPD headquarters./DMS
April 4, 2007
The Manila Police District (MPD) failed to present necessary pieces of evidence against accused hostage takers Armando Ducat, Jr. and Caezar Augusto Carbonell during Wednesday’s preliminary investigation at the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.
During the proceedings that was presided over by Assistant City Prosecutor Danilo Suarez, the MPD personnel failed to furnish the panel of prosecutors copies of the Certification from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on whether or not Ducat and Carbonell are exempted from the Comelec gunban, and Certification on whether or not the recovered grenades were capable of exploding.
Ducat and Carbonell’s lawyers insisted that the MPD should submit those documents since their client will base their counter-affidavits on the available evidence brought before them.
Ducat and Carbonell are facing charges of serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms and explosives, in relation to the Comelec-imposed gunban.
A separate charge for violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law was filed against them last Monday by the social welfare office, but the lawyers of the two opposed its consolidation to the two original charges, saying it will further delay the resolution of the first two cases, thereby prolonging the detention of the accused.
Suarez then ordered the MPD to submit the required documents before 5pm yesterday (Wednesday), otherwise, they will no longer have any other chance to do it. Carbonell's lawyer, William delos Santos, confirmed to Manila Shimbun later in the evening that the MPD complied with Suarez' directive.
Suarez set the next hearing on April 10 at 10am, during which Ducat and Carbonell will have to submit their counter-affidavits.
After that, the panel of prosecutors is expected to come out with a resolution whether to file the cases in court or dismiss them by April 13 at the earliest.
Ducat and Carbonell arrived at the Prosecutor’s Office located at the third level of the Manila City Hall at around 10 am, handcuffed to each other’s right hands.
They wore white shirts, bearing the prints “STOP CORRUPTION, FREE EDUCATION.”
Their families and supporters were around during the one-and-a-half hours proceedings to provide moral support.
In an interview after the hearing, Ducat told Manila Shimbun that he is fine even if he just underwent angioplasty about two weeks before he and Carbonell held hostage last March 28 the 26 pupils and three teachers from the Musmos Day Care Center that he built in Parola Compound in Manila City.
“I’m just wondering why (Manila City) Mayor (Lito) Atienza is very mad at me that he wanted me in jail. Why can’t he put behind bars his son-in-law (Miles Roces) who failed to accomplish anything within three years?” Ducat said in Filipino.
Roces is the incumbent Representative of the 3rd District of Manila City at the House of Representatives. He is married to Atienza’s daughter, Arlene Maile.
When Ducat and Carbonell held hostage his victims inside a tourist bus right in front of the Manila City Hall, he had aired his grievance against corruption in government and demanded the government’s assurance that the graduates of his pre-school will make it through college.
He also demanded that the families of his students get free housing from the government.
After speaking to the public, Ducat and Carbonell eventually released their victims and surrendered to the police.
The two are now detained at the MPD headquarters./DMS
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Defense chief “hurt” by SC ruling to grant Ocampo’s petition for bail; PNP won’t apologize to Ocampo
By Ronron
April 3, 2007
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. admitted that he was “hurt” with the Supreme Court decision to grant the petition for bail of Bayan Muna party-list group Representative Satur Ocampo on Tuesday.
In a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo, Ebdane said he just hopes that Ocampo, who was charged of multiple murder for the death of at least 15 former communist rebels in the mid-1980’s in Leyte province, would not flee abroad.
“I hope he will stay in the country,” Ebdane said of Ocampo.
The Defense Secretary confessed that indeed there was a lapse in the procedure in the filing of case against Ocampo, which merited the SC’s decision to grant his plea for temporary liberty.
“It will be a lesson learned. We have to comply with the rules of court so this will not be repeated,” Ebdane said.
Ocampo had argued before the SC that he was denied due process when the case against him was being heard at the prosecutor’s level. Ocampo was arrested last March 16, a few days after Judge Ephrem Abando in Hilongos, Leyte issued the warrant against him.
The case against the solon stemmed from allegations he ordered the purge of NPA members in Leyte in the mid-1980’s, whose remains were discovered in August last year in Inopacan town.
Although hurting, Ebdane said they just have “to abide by the law” and “comply with the orders of the court now.”
On the part of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the organization’s spokesman, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr., said they do not have to apologize to Ocampo for causing him so much inconvenience.
It can be recalled that the PNP hastily brought Ocampo to the airport from the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters last March 19 so he could be flown to Leyte for presentation to Abando.
Ocampo also said yesterday that the SC decision on his petition showed a weakness on the case the PNP built against him.
“What we did was well within the judicial process and there is nothing to apologize for us sticking to what the rules of criminal procedures tell every law enforcement agent to do,” Pagdilao said.
“I don’t think the (PNP) should apologize,” he added.
Pagdilao explained that the planned and aborted transfer of Ocampo to Leyte was in accordance with the rules of court.
But he said the even if the PNP submits to the “orders of the judicial authorities,” he warned Ocampo that the case against him stands.
“It (SC ruling) doesn’t mean that the trial against Mr. Satur Ocampo will no longer proceed,” Pagdilao said./DMS
April 3, 2007
Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. admitted that he was “hurt” with the Supreme Court decision to grant the petition for bail of Bayan Muna party-list group Representative Satur Ocampo on Tuesday.
In a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo, Ebdane said he just hopes that Ocampo, who was charged of multiple murder for the death of at least 15 former communist rebels in the mid-1980’s in Leyte province, would not flee abroad.
“I hope he will stay in the country,” Ebdane said of Ocampo.
The Defense Secretary confessed that indeed there was a lapse in the procedure in the filing of case against Ocampo, which merited the SC’s decision to grant his plea for temporary liberty.
“It will be a lesson learned. We have to comply with the rules of court so this will not be repeated,” Ebdane said.
Ocampo had argued before the SC that he was denied due process when the case against him was being heard at the prosecutor’s level. Ocampo was arrested last March 16, a few days after Judge Ephrem Abando in Hilongos, Leyte issued the warrant against him.
The case against the solon stemmed from allegations he ordered the purge of NPA members in Leyte in the mid-1980’s, whose remains were discovered in August last year in Inopacan town.
Although hurting, Ebdane said they just have “to abide by the law” and “comply with the orders of the court now.”
On the part of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the organization’s spokesman, Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr., said they do not have to apologize to Ocampo for causing him so much inconvenience.
It can be recalled that the PNP hastily brought Ocampo to the airport from the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters last March 19 so he could be flown to Leyte for presentation to Abando.
Ocampo also said yesterday that the SC decision on his petition showed a weakness on the case the PNP built against him.
“What we did was well within the judicial process and there is nothing to apologize for us sticking to what the rules of criminal procedures tell every law enforcement agent to do,” Pagdilao said.
“I don’t think the (PNP) should apologize,” he added.
Pagdilao explained that the planned and aborted transfer of Ocampo to Leyte was in accordance with the rules of court.
But he said the even if the PNP submits to the “orders of the judicial authorities,” he warned Ocampo that the case against him stands.
“It (SC ruling) doesn’t mean that the trial against Mr. Satur Ocampo will no longer proceed,” Pagdilao said./DMS
Siphoning in Guimaras ends
By Ronron
April 3, 2007
The siphoning operations in Guimaras province where an oil tanker sank in August 2006 ended over the weekend, recovering a volume of bunker fuel way below the expected.
Officials said only around 9,000 liters of bunker fuel were recovered from two of the eight compartments initially suspected to contain the remaining 1.3 to 1.6 million liters of said oil from the ill-fated M/T Solar 1.
“Twenty-one days after its arrival, the oil recovery ship Allied Shield contracted by Sonsub completed its mission to ensure that no oil was left on Solar 1… This brings the last phase of the clean-up to a close,” said a statement released by Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela.
Reached by phone, Coscolluela told Manila Shimbun that the siphoning operations formally ended last Saturday. The Allied Shield arrived in Bacolod City last March 10 from Singapore where its Italian company is based.
“We had a very successful operation since we were able to complete the oil retrieval without any problem. More importantly, we can be assured that there is no more oil left on Solar 1,” Sonsub’s Director for Special Operations Mark Phibbs said in the same statement.
Coscolluela described the entire operations as “incident-free,” with “absolutely no accident,” therefore, “no cause for anxiety” among the people of Guimaras.
Coscolluela said that the retrieval of only 9,000 liters of bunker fuel only shows that indeed, most of the oil contents spilled into the water, contrary to initial estimates that only 300,000 liters of the 2.1 million Petron product were released into the sea when M/T Solar 1 sunk on August 11, 2006.
The ill-fated ship has sank 640 meters deep some nine miles southwest of Guimaras Island after it was batted by big waves while enroute to Mindanao from Bataan.
Coscolluela said the retrieved oil has been turned over to Petron for proper disposition upon the approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It is being stored at Petron’s depot in Bacolod City.
He said the total cost of the operations, as relayed by Phibbs, could not be more than $6 million. Solar 1’s insurer, Protection and Indemnity (P&I), will pay the expenses.
“By and large, it gave a sense of relief to the people of Guimaras because the threat is already gone,” Coscolluela said of the effect of the completion of the siphoning operations to the locals of the province.
He said the Allied Shield already sailed to Singapore last Sunday evening.
With the completion of the siphoning operations, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Executive Officer retired Gen. Glenn Rabonza said the government can now “focus more on the rehabilitation efforts for Guimaras.”
“Part of the plan is a 50-million-peso science plan being organized by the Department of Science and Technology and UP (University of the Philippines) Visayas, led by Chancellor Glen Aguilar,” Rabonza said.
He disclosed that some P200 million from the P867 million supplemental budget intended for the rehabilitation of Guimaras had already been released to several agencies and the local government units.
“So, the work to rehabilitate Guimaras, particularly to the damaged environment is ongoing,” Rabonza said.
Petron Health, Safety and Environment Manager Caloy Tan also revealed that about P110 million has already been released as compensation to the affected fishermen of Guimaras.
“For the fishermen alone for the province of Guimaras, a little over 11,000 has been paid. Only 250 have yet to receive their check… For the province of Iloilo, 11,200 are due to be paid also after the Holy Week,” Tan said.
Resorts and pond owners in Guimaras and Iloilo will also be paid depending on their claims.
Tan said the payment will be sourced from the $330 million that is provided by the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund.
The oil spill in Guimaras has been regarded as the worst in Philippine history./DMS
April 3, 2007
The siphoning operations in Guimaras province where an oil tanker sank in August 2006 ended over the weekend, recovering a volume of bunker fuel way below the expected.
Officials said only around 9,000 liters of bunker fuel were recovered from two of the eight compartments initially suspected to contain the remaining 1.3 to 1.6 million liters of said oil from the ill-fated M/T Solar 1.
“Twenty-one days after its arrival, the oil recovery ship Allied Shield contracted by Sonsub completed its mission to ensure that no oil was left on Solar 1… This brings the last phase of the clean-up to a close,” said a statement released by Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela.
Reached by phone, Coscolluela told Manila Shimbun that the siphoning operations formally ended last Saturday. The Allied Shield arrived in Bacolod City last March 10 from Singapore where its Italian company is based.
“We had a very successful operation since we were able to complete the oil retrieval without any problem. More importantly, we can be assured that there is no more oil left on Solar 1,” Sonsub’s Director for Special Operations Mark Phibbs said in the same statement.
Coscolluela described the entire operations as “incident-free,” with “absolutely no accident,” therefore, “no cause for anxiety” among the people of Guimaras.
Coscolluela said that the retrieval of only 9,000 liters of bunker fuel only shows that indeed, most of the oil contents spilled into the water, contrary to initial estimates that only 300,000 liters of the 2.1 million Petron product were released into the sea when M/T Solar 1 sunk on August 11, 2006.
The ill-fated ship has sank 640 meters deep some nine miles southwest of Guimaras Island after it was batted by big waves while enroute to Mindanao from Bataan.
Coscolluela said the retrieved oil has been turned over to Petron for proper disposition upon the approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It is being stored at Petron’s depot in Bacolod City.
He said the total cost of the operations, as relayed by Phibbs, could not be more than $6 million. Solar 1’s insurer, Protection and Indemnity (P&I), will pay the expenses.
“By and large, it gave a sense of relief to the people of Guimaras because the threat is already gone,” Coscolluela said of the effect of the completion of the siphoning operations to the locals of the province.
He said the Allied Shield already sailed to Singapore last Sunday evening.
With the completion of the siphoning operations, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Executive Officer retired Gen. Glenn Rabonza said the government can now “focus more on the rehabilitation efforts for Guimaras.”
“Part of the plan is a 50-million-peso science plan being organized by the Department of Science and Technology and UP (University of the Philippines) Visayas, led by Chancellor Glen Aguilar,” Rabonza said.
He disclosed that some P200 million from the P867 million supplemental budget intended for the rehabilitation of Guimaras had already been released to several agencies and the local government units.
“So, the work to rehabilitate Guimaras, particularly to the damaged environment is ongoing,” Rabonza said.
Petron Health, Safety and Environment Manager Caloy Tan also revealed that about P110 million has already been released as compensation to the affected fishermen of Guimaras.
“For the fishermen alone for the province of Guimaras, a little over 11,000 has been paid. Only 250 have yet to receive their check… For the province of Iloilo, 11,200 are due to be paid also after the Holy Week,” Tan said.
Resorts and pond owners in Guimaras and Iloilo will also be paid depending on their claims.
Tan said the payment will be sourced from the $330 million that is provided by the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund.
The oil spill in Guimaras has been regarded as the worst in Philippine history./DMS
Masbate police commander asked to be relieved due to series of violence in the province
By Ronron
April 3, 2007
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to relieve Supt. Teodoro Caparroso as commander of the Masbate Police Provincial Office due to a series of violent incidents in the province.
In a statement, Calderon said he has recommended that Sr. Supt. Edgar Layon take over the position of Caparroso.
“I have already warned my commanders in Police Regional Office 5 that I will hold them responsible should violent incidents continue in their respective area of responsibility. I have directed them to establish effective counter measures to put an end to this escalating violence or face administrative sanctions or relief,” Calderon said.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said what sparked the relief of Caparroso is the ambush last Sunday of two supporters of a mayoralty candidate in the province. The victims, who were shot in Placer town, died in the incident.
Prior to that, Pagdilao said there was also an ambush incident against two supporters of San Jacinto town Mayor Leny Arcenas. The two victims also died.
“Despite the warning, violence continued in Masbate, thus leaving (me) no other recourse but to recommend the replacement of the provincial director with a more experienced and competent commander,” Calderon said.
Pagdilao said a company-size troops of the police Special Action Force (SAF) was already deployed in the province “to carry out aggressive action to crack down partisan armed groups (PAGS) suspected to be responsible for the election related violence.”
“The SAF company was given order to immediately fan out to the 21 towns of Masbate to hunt down PAGS and to ensure that the presence of the PNP will be felt seriously,” Pagdilao said.
Yesterday morning, elements of the SAF encountered suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members at 6am in Barangay Lahong, Baleno town, the Philippine Army reported.
A platoon of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion (IB) reinforced the SAF team and found two wounded SAF members and another one killed, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command spokesman Lt. Col. Rhoderick Parayno.
But police recovered three M16 rifles, an M79 grenade launcher, several ammunition and subversive document abandoned by the suspected rebels.
The NPA also attacked the Filmenera Company, a construction firm, in Barangay Puro, Aroroy town at around 7:10 am yesterday.
Philippine Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said around 60 suspected communist guerillas burned five buildings and two heavy equipments (a backhoe and a grader) of the private firm.
Members of the 2nd IB who also responded to the site found improvised landmines, grenades without pins, and 12 molotov bombs on the way to the company.
Parayno said that while one of the grenade was being disposed of, it exploded, slightly grazing the neck of one soldier.
At Camp Crame, PNP Deputy chief for Administration Dep. Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. called the NPA as the biggest partisan armed group for its extortion activities like permit-to-campaign, and permit-to-win fees.
“Gen. Calderon directed Deputy Director General Antonio Billones (National Task Force HOPE Commander) to initiate and supervise several dialogues between and among political rivals for the purpose of forging peace covenants in coordination with the church and the Commission on Elections and to adopt effective measures to ensure that rival politicians will honor the peace accord,” Pagdilao said.
The PNP is under the Comelec control for the entire election period from January 14 until June 13, 2007./DMS
April 3, 2007
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to relieve Supt. Teodoro Caparroso as commander of the Masbate Police Provincial Office due to a series of violent incidents in the province.
In a statement, Calderon said he has recommended that Sr. Supt. Edgar Layon take over the position of Caparroso.
“I have already warned my commanders in Police Regional Office 5 that I will hold them responsible should violent incidents continue in their respective area of responsibility. I have directed them to establish effective counter measures to put an end to this escalating violence or face administrative sanctions or relief,” Calderon said.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said what sparked the relief of Caparroso is the ambush last Sunday of two supporters of a mayoralty candidate in the province. The victims, who were shot in Placer town, died in the incident.
Prior to that, Pagdilao said there was also an ambush incident against two supporters of San Jacinto town Mayor Leny Arcenas. The two victims also died.
“Despite the warning, violence continued in Masbate, thus leaving (me) no other recourse but to recommend the replacement of the provincial director with a more experienced and competent commander,” Calderon said.
Pagdilao said a company-size troops of the police Special Action Force (SAF) was already deployed in the province “to carry out aggressive action to crack down partisan armed groups (PAGS) suspected to be responsible for the election related violence.”
“The SAF company was given order to immediately fan out to the 21 towns of Masbate to hunt down PAGS and to ensure that the presence of the PNP will be felt seriously,” Pagdilao said.
Yesterday morning, elements of the SAF encountered suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members at 6am in Barangay Lahong, Baleno town, the Philippine Army reported.
A platoon of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion (IB) reinforced the SAF team and found two wounded SAF members and another one killed, said Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command spokesman Lt. Col. Rhoderick Parayno.
But police recovered three M16 rifles, an M79 grenade launcher, several ammunition and subversive document abandoned by the suspected rebels.
The NPA also attacked the Filmenera Company, a construction firm, in Barangay Puro, Aroroy town at around 7:10 am yesterday.
Philippine Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said around 60 suspected communist guerillas burned five buildings and two heavy equipments (a backhoe and a grader) of the private firm.
Members of the 2nd IB who also responded to the site found improvised landmines, grenades without pins, and 12 molotov bombs on the way to the company.
Parayno said that while one of the grenade was being disposed of, it exploded, slightly grazing the neck of one soldier.
At Camp Crame, PNP Deputy chief for Administration Dep. Dir. Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. called the NPA as the biggest partisan armed group for its extortion activities like permit-to-campaign, and permit-to-win fees.
“Gen. Calderon directed Deputy Director General Antonio Billones (National Task Force HOPE Commander) to initiate and supervise several dialogues between and among political rivals for the purpose of forging peace covenants in coordination with the church and the Commission on Elections and to adopt effective measures to ensure that rival politicians will honor the peace accord,” Pagdilao said.
The PNP is under the Comelec control for the entire election period from January 14 until June 13, 2007./DMS
Police finds three lapses in MPD response to March 28 hostage drama
By Ronron
April 3, 2007
An internal investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) has initially found three lapses in the handling by the Manila Police District (MPD) of the March 28 hostage-taking incident in Manila City.
In the weekly press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. said the National Capital Region – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (NCR-CIDG) initially found the following lapses: 1) Failure to control the crowd; 2) Improper Media Handling; and, 3) Breakdown of Communication among members of the Crisis Management Committee.
Razon said the investigation, which is still ongoing, is spearheaded by NCR-CIDG Director Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, and conducted jointly by the Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management (DIDM).
“The investigation is not yet finished. But the initial findings of the investigator… is that indeed, there were lapses,” Razon said.
He said the failure of the police officers at the hostage site to control the movement of the public and the media covering the event was vividly captured in the media.
As to the communication breakdown, wherein the orders of the crisis management committee down to the ground commander and subordinate units were not properly relayed, Razon said it will be elaborated to the media when the investigation wraps up.
A day after the 10-hour long incident, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno recommended the administrative relief of MPD acting Director Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza and his subordinates for allegedly not following the orders of Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, the crisis manager.
But PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon withheld the relief until the internal probe is completed.
A separate interview with the chief negotiator of the incident, Supt. Orlando Yebra, revealed that they were all actually taking orders from Atienza. Yebra said Puno must have not been briefed well about what really happened.
Asked if the investigation body was already enlightened on whether or not Atienza acted as crisis manager, Razon said: “Well, the investigation of the PNP is limited to the police operational procedures. So the implementation of that by the police is the main point of this probe, and not the entire Crisis Management Committee.”
Razon said they expect to finish the investigation before Good Friday.
“We are looking closely at what really happened, what were the participation of these officers, their decisions, and the actions of the key players… And from there, we will find out what actions to be taken against these personnel,” Razon said.
Initially, the investigators came up with three recommendations: 1) filing of administrative charges against police officers who violated the Police Operational Procedures for Hostage Negotiations; 2) submission of the entire National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), starting with the MPD, to a Hostage-Taking Crisis Management Seminar; and, 3) a review by the Directorate for Operations of the current Police Operational Procedures on Hostage Negotiations for further improvement.
But even without these recommendations, Razon said Calderon already ordered all regional offices, especially city police offices, to conduct Hostage Negotiation Seminars or Trainings to avoid the above-mentioned lapses should a situation happen there.
“Even with the media, the chief PNP said that if possible, we could sit down with our media friends and discuss with them how could they best help in situations like that,” Razon said.
Armando Ducat, Jr., together with his associate, Cezar Carbonell, held hostage 26 pupils and three teachers inside a bus last March 28 from 9am to 7pm as he complained against corruption in the government.
Parking the bus near the Manila City Hall, Ducat asked the government to assure that the graduates of the Musmos Day Care Center in Parola Compound, Binondo, Manila City go through college and their families get housing units.
Ducat and Carbonell were armed at that time with a sub-machine gun, a caliber 45 pistol, and two hand grenades.
The incident ended peacefully after the two suspects released their victims, and then voluntarily surrendered./DMS
April 3, 2007
An internal investigation by the Philippine National Police (PNP) has initially found three lapses in the handling by the Manila Police District (MPD) of the March 28 hostage-taking incident in Manila City.
In the weekly press briefing at Camp Crame, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr. said the National Capital Region – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (NCR-CIDG) initially found the following lapses: 1) Failure to control the crowd; 2) Improper Media Handling; and, 3) Breakdown of Communication among members of the Crisis Management Committee.
Razon said the investigation, which is still ongoing, is spearheaded by NCR-CIDG Director Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, and conducted jointly by the Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management (DIDM).
“The investigation is not yet finished. But the initial findings of the investigator… is that indeed, there were lapses,” Razon said.
He said the failure of the police officers at the hostage site to control the movement of the public and the media covering the event was vividly captured in the media.
As to the communication breakdown, wherein the orders of the crisis management committee down to the ground commander and subordinate units were not properly relayed, Razon said it will be elaborated to the media when the investigation wraps up.
A day after the 10-hour long incident, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno recommended the administrative relief of MPD acting Director Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza and his subordinates for allegedly not following the orders of Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, the crisis manager.
But PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon withheld the relief until the internal probe is completed.
A separate interview with the chief negotiator of the incident, Supt. Orlando Yebra, revealed that they were all actually taking orders from Atienza. Yebra said Puno must have not been briefed well about what really happened.
Asked if the investigation body was already enlightened on whether or not Atienza acted as crisis manager, Razon said: “Well, the investigation of the PNP is limited to the police operational procedures. So the implementation of that by the police is the main point of this probe, and not the entire Crisis Management Committee.”
Razon said they expect to finish the investigation before Good Friday.
“We are looking closely at what really happened, what were the participation of these officers, their decisions, and the actions of the key players… And from there, we will find out what actions to be taken against these personnel,” Razon said.
Initially, the investigators came up with three recommendations: 1) filing of administrative charges against police officers who violated the Police Operational Procedures for Hostage Negotiations; 2) submission of the entire National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), starting with the MPD, to a Hostage-Taking Crisis Management Seminar; and, 3) a review by the Directorate for Operations of the current Police Operational Procedures on Hostage Negotiations for further improvement.
But even without these recommendations, Razon said Calderon already ordered all regional offices, especially city police offices, to conduct Hostage Negotiation Seminars or Trainings to avoid the above-mentioned lapses should a situation happen there.
“Even with the media, the chief PNP said that if possible, we could sit down with our media friends and discuss with them how could they best help in situations like that,” Razon said.
Armando Ducat, Jr., together with his associate, Cezar Carbonell, held hostage 26 pupils and three teachers inside a bus last March 28 from 9am to 7pm as he complained against corruption in the government.
Parking the bus near the Manila City Hall, Ducat asked the government to assure that the graduates of the Musmos Day Care Center in Parola Compound, Binondo, Manila City go through college and their families get housing units.
Ducat and Carbonell were armed at that time with a sub-machine gun, a caliber 45 pistol, and two hand grenades.
The incident ended peacefully after the two suspects released their victims, and then voluntarily surrendered./DMS
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
No pull out, no addition, just improved security measures for troops deployed in MM following death of soldier last Saturday
By Ronron
April 2, 2007
There will no pull out of troops, or addition of the same to those deployed in slum areas in Metro Manila following the killing last Saturday of a soldier in Tondo District, Manila City.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said Monday the security measures for the 26 teams of nine to 10 soldiers each deployed in 19 barangays all over the capital will just be enhanced in response to the incident.
“On our part, we issued additional security guidelines. They don’t necessarily have to bring long firearms. But, in terms of being security conscious, (just) for them to be with somebody else if they go to a delicate place,” Dolorfino said.
“Then, also (for them) to be vigilant always because of the intelligence report that the New People’s Army is planning to reactivate their sparrow units,” he added.
Staff Sergeant Rowell Papa-an was shot dead by suspected criminals last Saturday afternoon after responding to a reported hold-up incident in Parola Compound in Tondo.
The suspects managed to escape after the incident.
Dolorfino said Papa-an at that time was not armed because he was carrying some materials to his jeep. He said the soldier was also confident he could physically subdue any criminal since he is a martial arts expert.
He hailed Papa-an’s courageous act as that of a hero since it showed the AFP’s “sincere commitment to serve and protect our countrymen in the depressed communities.”
“He did not act only as a soldier but more than that. As a responsible citizen of this country, he effected what is called Citizen’s Arrest. That is the heroism he showed the entire nation,” Dolorfino said of Papa-an.
Dolorfino said the killing of Papa-an in fact boosted the morale of other soldiers.
Asked if the incident should be cause for the pull-out of the troops or their augmentation, Dolorfino said: “I don’t think so. We will continue on having the same number of personnel in these areas.”
But he said come election day on May 14, the AFP leadership might consider recalling the soldiers temporarily.
“Our plan is if we will pull them out, we will conduct refresher training. We will have a critique of what they have been doing so we can further improve our operations,” said Dolorfino.
The government soldiers, who are under the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations (CMO) battalion, have been deployed in 19 slum areas in Caloocan, Taguig, Quezon and Manila cities since November of last year.
Their deployment was criticized by some sectors as it allegedly violates civil liberties of the people.
But barangay chairmen in the areas were the soldiers are deployed, as well as some residents, have sought for their continued stay, saying it is doing good for the communities./DMS
April 2, 2007
There will no pull out of troops, or addition of the same to those deployed in slum areas in Metro Manila following the killing last Saturday of a soldier in Tondo District, Manila City.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said Monday the security measures for the 26 teams of nine to 10 soldiers each deployed in 19 barangays all over the capital will just be enhanced in response to the incident.
“On our part, we issued additional security guidelines. They don’t necessarily have to bring long firearms. But, in terms of being security conscious, (just) for them to be with somebody else if they go to a delicate place,” Dolorfino said.
“Then, also (for them) to be vigilant always because of the intelligence report that the New People’s Army is planning to reactivate their sparrow units,” he added.
Staff Sergeant Rowell Papa-an was shot dead by suspected criminals last Saturday afternoon after responding to a reported hold-up incident in Parola Compound in Tondo.
The suspects managed to escape after the incident.
Dolorfino said Papa-an at that time was not armed because he was carrying some materials to his jeep. He said the soldier was also confident he could physically subdue any criminal since he is a martial arts expert.
He hailed Papa-an’s courageous act as that of a hero since it showed the AFP’s “sincere commitment to serve and protect our countrymen in the depressed communities.”
“He did not act only as a soldier but more than that. As a responsible citizen of this country, he effected what is called Citizen’s Arrest. That is the heroism he showed the entire nation,” Dolorfino said of Papa-an.
Dolorfino said the killing of Papa-an in fact boosted the morale of other soldiers.
Asked if the incident should be cause for the pull-out of the troops or their augmentation, Dolorfino said: “I don’t think so. We will continue on having the same number of personnel in these areas.”
But he said come election day on May 14, the AFP leadership might consider recalling the soldiers temporarily.
“Our plan is if we will pull them out, we will conduct refresher training. We will have a critique of what they have been doing so we can further improve our operations,” said Dolorfino.
The government soldiers, who are under the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations (CMO) battalion, have been deployed in 19 slum areas in Caloocan, Taguig, Quezon and Manila cities since November of last year.
Their deployment was criticized by some sectors as it allegedly violates civil liberties of the people.
But barangay chairmen in the areas were the soldiers are deployed, as well as some residents, have sought for their continued stay, saying it is doing good for the communities./DMS
PNP goes on heightened alert for Holy Week celebration
By Ronron
April 2, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) went on heightened alert on Monday noon for the Holy Week celebration.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Calderon said the second of three alert levels took effect at 12 noon “to ensure the availability of personnel and resources for police security and public safety operations during the traditional observance of the Holy Week.”
“Our job is to make sure that the people will be safe and secure while enjoying the Lenten holiday,” Calderon said in a statement.
“The upgrading of the alert level is aimed at maximizing effectiveness of security measures in airports, seaports, land transport terminals, major thoroughfares, and traditional retreat destinations and resort zones,” he added.
If necessary, Calderon said the different regional directors can further upgrade the alert status in their areas of responsibility to the highest level.
The PNP has launched Operation Plan (OPLAN) Lakbay Tulong “to ensure a safe and uneventful observance of the Holy Week when most people go home to the provinces or vacation destinations for the long holidays.”
In a separate news conference at Camp Crame, PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) Director Chief Supt. Errol Pan said that the entire force under him will be on 24-hour duty nationwide starting Monday.
Pan said the more than 1,000 TMG personnel will not be allowed to go on leave from work so they could provide “traffic assistance” and perform “anti-criminality, anti-hijacking and anti-carnapping” functions to the public.
He said the TMG’s Oplan SUMVAC (Summer Vacation) takes effect Monday until Easter Sunday.
“This is in preparation for the movement of vacationers, those who will go home to the provinces or the cities, which happens yearly, in coordination with civic groups, (and) gasoline corporations that set up assistance centers along the national highways,” Pan said.
For monitoring purposes in Metro Manila, he said the TMG will use 16 motorcycles that were used by the PNP during the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit last January in Cebu, as well as their eight mobile cars.
Pan said the TMG personnel will be visible along EDSA, at the Southern Luzon Expressway, and Northern Luzon Expressway.
“We also provided additional services along the national highways. In fact, the TMG nationwide is being mobilized for this purpose, in all regions, throughout the archipelago,” he said.
This Catholic-dominated country celebrates the culmination of the Lenten Season starting Holy Wednesday until Easter Sunday, in observance of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The religious activity has been traditionally marked with long holidays. But for this year, the vacation extends until Monday next week as the country celebrates the Araw ng Kagitingan./DMS
April 2, 2007
The Philippine National Police (PNP) went on heightened alert on Monday noon for the Holy Week celebration.
PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Calderon said the second of three alert levels took effect at 12 noon “to ensure the availability of personnel and resources for police security and public safety operations during the traditional observance of the Holy Week.”
“Our job is to make sure that the people will be safe and secure while enjoying the Lenten holiday,” Calderon said in a statement.
“The upgrading of the alert level is aimed at maximizing effectiveness of security measures in airports, seaports, land transport terminals, major thoroughfares, and traditional retreat destinations and resort zones,” he added.
If necessary, Calderon said the different regional directors can further upgrade the alert status in their areas of responsibility to the highest level.
The PNP has launched Operation Plan (OPLAN) Lakbay Tulong “to ensure a safe and uneventful observance of the Holy Week when most people go home to the provinces or vacation destinations for the long holidays.”
In a separate news conference at Camp Crame, PNP Traffic Management Group (TMG) Director Chief Supt. Errol Pan said that the entire force under him will be on 24-hour duty nationwide starting Monday.
Pan said the more than 1,000 TMG personnel will not be allowed to go on leave from work so they could provide “traffic assistance” and perform “anti-criminality, anti-hijacking and anti-carnapping” functions to the public.
He said the TMG’s Oplan SUMVAC (Summer Vacation) takes effect Monday until Easter Sunday.
“This is in preparation for the movement of vacationers, those who will go home to the provinces or the cities, which happens yearly, in coordination with civic groups, (and) gasoline corporations that set up assistance centers along the national highways,” Pan said.
For monitoring purposes in Metro Manila, he said the TMG will use 16 motorcycles that were used by the PNP during the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit last January in Cebu, as well as their eight mobile cars.
Pan said the TMG personnel will be visible along EDSA, at the Southern Luzon Expressway, and Northern Luzon Expressway.
“We also provided additional services along the national highways. In fact, the TMG nationwide is being mobilized for this purpose, in all regions, throughout the archipelago,” he said.
This Catholic-dominated country celebrates the culmination of the Lenten Season starting Holy Wednesday until Easter Sunday, in observance of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The religious activity has been traditionally marked with long holidays. But for this year, the vacation extends until Monday next week as the country celebrates the Araw ng Kagitingan./DMS
Military exhumes 13 skeletal remains in Southern Leyte believed to be victims of NPA purging
By Ronron
April 2, 2007
Police and military forces unearthed over the weekend another batch of remains of suspected purging victims of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Leyte province.
Lt. Col. Mario Lacurom, commander of the Philippine Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion which is based in said province, said in a phone interview Monday that 13 skeletal remains have so far been exhumed since Friday last week from a suspected mass grave site in Sitio Mahangin, Barangay San Antonio in Hilongos town.
The search and exhumation was still going on yesterday, with the presence of Maj. Gen. Armando Cunanan, commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division; Chief Supt. Eliseo dela Paz, chief of the Region VIII Police; and Brig. Gen. Allan Ragpala, chief of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade.
Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) from the Region VIII police were also at the site to conduct forensic investigation.
Lacurom said they estimate a total of 26 to 28 bodies at the site as testified by former NPA members, residents in the area, and relatives of alleged purge victims.
He described the site to be as big as half the size of a basketball court.
The victims buried there were believed to be villagers of San Antonio who were abducted by communist rebels on June 12, 1985, a day before Hilongos celebrated its annual town fiesta.
“They were suspected military informants and were sentenced to death by the NPA kangaroo court,” said Lacurom.
He said the skeletal remains recovered were found with blindfolds still, while some had their skull at the feet portion. Some of them were found alone, while others were found in groups of two or three.
Asked how far is the site, Lacurom said it takes eight hours by foot to reach it from the foot of the mountain. Relative to the mass grave site in Inopacan town that was discovered last year, Lacurom said the new site can be reached by foot within one to two days.
“This means it would be impossible for the skeletons to be planted by us,” said Lacurom when told that the militant groups sympathetic to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) could accuse the military again of manufacturing evidence against former and present communist leaders and personalities, including Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo.
Ocampo is under arrest for the Inopacan grave site, called The Garden, after he was implicated by witnesses of the military and police. As a member then of the CPP’s Central Committee, Ocampo allegedly ordered the killing of NPA members suspected of spying for the government in the mid-1980’s.
Asked if the militant congressman has any hand in the new grave site, Lacurom said: “As of now, that’s speculation.”
Lacurom said the search and digging at the new grave site will continue until they are satisfied to have recovered already all the suspected purge victims buried there./DMS
April 2, 2007
Police and military forces unearthed over the weekend another batch of remains of suspected purging victims of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Leyte province.
Lt. Col. Mario Lacurom, commander of the Philippine Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion which is based in said province, said in a phone interview Monday that 13 skeletal remains have so far been exhumed since Friday last week from a suspected mass grave site in Sitio Mahangin, Barangay San Antonio in Hilongos town.
The search and exhumation was still going on yesterday, with the presence of Maj. Gen. Armando Cunanan, commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division; Chief Supt. Eliseo dela Paz, chief of the Region VIII Police; and Brig. Gen. Allan Ragpala, chief of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade.
Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) from the Region VIII police were also at the site to conduct forensic investigation.
Lacurom said they estimate a total of 26 to 28 bodies at the site as testified by former NPA members, residents in the area, and relatives of alleged purge victims.
He described the site to be as big as half the size of a basketball court.
The victims buried there were believed to be villagers of San Antonio who were abducted by communist rebels on June 12, 1985, a day before Hilongos celebrated its annual town fiesta.
“They were suspected military informants and were sentenced to death by the NPA kangaroo court,” said Lacurom.
He said the skeletal remains recovered were found with blindfolds still, while some had their skull at the feet portion. Some of them were found alone, while others were found in groups of two or three.
Asked how far is the site, Lacurom said it takes eight hours by foot to reach it from the foot of the mountain. Relative to the mass grave site in Inopacan town that was discovered last year, Lacurom said the new site can be reached by foot within one to two days.
“This means it would be impossible for the skeletons to be planted by us,” said Lacurom when told that the militant groups sympathetic to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) could accuse the military again of manufacturing evidence against former and present communist leaders and personalities, including Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo.
Ocampo is under arrest for the Inopacan grave site, called The Garden, after he was implicated by witnesses of the military and police. As a member then of the CPP’s Central Committee, Ocampo allegedly ordered the killing of NPA members suspected of spying for the government in the mid-1980’s.
Asked if the militant congressman has any hand in the new grave site, Lacurom said: “As of now, that’s speculation.”
Lacurom said the search and digging at the new grave site will continue until they are satisfied to have recovered already all the suspected purge victims buried there./DMS
Indonesian Catholic priest shot dead in Kalinga province
By Ronron
April 2, 2007
An Indonesian Catholic priest was shot dead on Sunday afternoon in Kalinga province in the northern Philippines by a locale for a still unknown reason.
Police identified the victim as Fr. Franciscos Madhu, 31, native of Flores, Indonesia, and assistant parish priest of St. Paul and St. Peter Parishes in Kalinga.
According to a police report, Madhu was first seen having a heated argument with suspected gunman Nestor Wailan before he was shot at around 5:30 pm last Sunday at the Mabungtot Primary School in Lubuagan town.
Police though has yet to ascertain what the argument was all about.
Wailan, a resident of Sitio Dugnac, Barangay Antonio Canao in Lubuagan, used an M16 rifle in shooting Madhu at close range.
Madhu sustained five gunshot wounds in the stomach, causing his instantaneous death.
Wailan then escaped with three companions, two of whom were identified as Joel Awingan and Acmor Bonggawon.
“It was later learned that the suspects were under the influence of liquor,” a police report said.
Responding policemen recovered from the crime scene six empty shells of caliber 5.56.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force USIG Commander Chief Supt. Geary Barias said the TF USIG in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was immediately alerted “to possibly intercept the suspects.”
“They are now the subjects of a region-wide manhunt operation being carried out by tracker teams from the regional intelligence community of Police Regional Office Cordillera,” Barias said.
“We are considering the option to widen the dragnet operations to Regions I and II to get the suspects,” he added.
Barias said the investigation on the incident is headed by the Regional TF USIG, supported by the Kalinga Police Provincial Office, the Cordillera Criminal Investigation and Detection Office, the Crime Laboratory, and the Regional Intelligence Office.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, thru the local diocese in Cordillera, as well as the Indonesian Embassy in Manila were already informed of the incident, said Barias.
“I assure both the CBCP and the Indonesia Embassy of swift police action to solve the case, arrest the perpetrators, and serve the ends of justice to the late Fr. Madhu,” said Barias, who also heads the PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management.
TF USIG was created in May last year to investigate killings of activists, journalists, and government employees./DMS
April 2, 2007
An Indonesian Catholic priest was shot dead on Sunday afternoon in Kalinga province in the northern Philippines by a locale for a still unknown reason.
Police identified the victim as Fr. Franciscos Madhu, 31, native of Flores, Indonesia, and assistant parish priest of St. Paul and St. Peter Parishes in Kalinga.
According to a police report, Madhu was first seen having a heated argument with suspected gunman Nestor Wailan before he was shot at around 5:30 pm last Sunday at the Mabungtot Primary School in Lubuagan town.
Police though has yet to ascertain what the argument was all about.
Wailan, a resident of Sitio Dugnac, Barangay Antonio Canao in Lubuagan, used an M16 rifle in shooting Madhu at close range.
Madhu sustained five gunshot wounds in the stomach, causing his instantaneous death.
Wailan then escaped with three companions, two of whom were identified as Joel Awingan and Acmor Bonggawon.
“It was later learned that the suspects were under the influence of liquor,” a police report said.
Responding policemen recovered from the crime scene six empty shells of caliber 5.56.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Task Force USIG Commander Chief Supt. Geary Barias said the TF USIG in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was immediately alerted “to possibly intercept the suspects.”
“They are now the subjects of a region-wide manhunt operation being carried out by tracker teams from the regional intelligence community of Police Regional Office Cordillera,” Barias said.
“We are considering the option to widen the dragnet operations to Regions I and II to get the suspects,” he added.
Barias said the investigation on the incident is headed by the Regional TF USIG, supported by the Kalinga Police Provincial Office, the Cordillera Criminal Investigation and Detection Office, the Crime Laboratory, and the Regional Intelligence Office.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, thru the local diocese in Cordillera, as well as the Indonesian Embassy in Manila were already informed of the incident, said Barias.
“I assure both the CBCP and the Indonesia Embassy of swift police action to solve the case, arrest the perpetrators, and serve the ends of justice to the late Fr. Madhu,” said Barias, who also heads the PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management.
TF USIG was created in May last year to investigate killings of activists, journalists, and government employees./DMS
4 killed, 33 injured as passenger jeepney falls from bridge in Agusan del Norte province
By Ronron
April 2, 2007
Four persons were killed, while 33 others were injured after the jeepney they were riding fell from a bridge they were passing along in Agusan del Norte province in Mindanao early Monday morning.
Police said the Cuesta Express passenger jeepney, with plate number GRF-270, was heading for Butuan City proper from Las Nieves town of the same province when it fell to the Bukla River in Purok 10, Sitio Bukla, Barangay Maguinda, Butuan City at around 5:30 am yesterday.
The jeepney, driven by a certain Mario Cuesta, was going uphill but encountered mechanical problem, causing it to roll back and go past the bridge guard, falling down to the Bukla River.
Police in Butuan City do not know yet the height of the bridge from the jeepney’s landing point.
Killed on the spot were four passengers, including a three-year-old girl, and seriously injured were eight others and Cuesta. Twenty-four other passengers sustained minor injuries.
Police said the injured victims were brought to three different hospitals in Butuan City for medical treatment.
The place of accident is estimated to be around 15 kilometers away from the Butuan City proper./DMS
April 2, 2007
Four persons were killed, while 33 others were injured after the jeepney they were riding fell from a bridge they were passing along in Agusan del Norte province in Mindanao early Monday morning.
Police said the Cuesta Express passenger jeepney, with plate number GRF-270, was heading for Butuan City proper from Las Nieves town of the same province when it fell to the Bukla River in Purok 10, Sitio Bukla, Barangay Maguinda, Butuan City at around 5:30 am yesterday.
The jeepney, driven by a certain Mario Cuesta, was going uphill but encountered mechanical problem, causing it to roll back and go past the bridge guard, falling down to the Bukla River.
Police in Butuan City do not know yet the height of the bridge from the jeepney’s landing point.
Killed on the spot were four passengers, including a three-year-old girl, and seriously injured were eight others and Cuesta. Twenty-four other passengers sustained minor injuries.
Police said the injured victims were brought to three different hospitals in Butuan City for medical treatment.
The place of accident is estimated to be around 15 kilometers away from the Butuan City proper./DMS
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Revilla, Singson did not have hostage negotiator’s permission to go up Bus 914
By Ronron
March 31, 2007
The crisis committee that handled the March 28 hostage drama in Manila City did not permit Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson to go up the bus to personally negotiate for the release of all hostage victims.
This was revealed Saturday by the chief negotiator of the incident, Supt. Orlando Yebra of the Manila Police District (MPD), in an interview on DZMM.
“I wasn’t able to stop them. That I will admit,” Yebra said in Filipino.
Yebra said that in accordance with police operating procedures in handling hostage-taking incidents, any outsider is not allowed to communicate with the suspect unless permitted by the crisis committee, which is headed by the local chief executive. In the latest case, it was Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza.
Revilla was only allowed to communicate through cellular phone with hostage taker Armando Ducat, Jr. starting in the morning because he was requested by Ducat, Yebra said.
Ducat is a godfather to one of Revilla’s children.
But he was not allowed by the crisis committee to go up the bus where Ducat held hostage the 26 pupils and three teachers of the Day Care Center he built in Parola Compound, Binondo District, Manila City.
The same is true with Singson, who arrived at the site in late afternoon without prior knowledge by the police.
“Before they boarded (the bus), I reminded them again that that was not our agreement when we were at the command post. Nobody is boarding the bus. But they really wanted to… So, we had no other choice. We just hoped for the best, that nothing bad will happen,” Yebra recalled.
Revilla boarded the bus past 11 am, while Singson did the same at around 5:30 pm. Singson only alighted at around 7pm, together with Ducat and his fellow hostage-taker, Cezar Carbonell.
All victims were first released before the surrender of the two suspect.
Yebra said Singson was insistent to board the bus when they went near supposedly only to talk to Ducat.
“From the start, he wanted to board the bus. But I did not allow him. So, when we were near the bus already, I reminded him that our agreement is he will not board it. But he said, he was going inside, that it’s ok, and that nothing bad will happen to him,” Yebra said.
In an earlier interview, Singson, who is running under the administration’s Team Unity ticket, said he went to the site after receiving information that Carbonell looked for him. Carbonell used to take Singson’s photographs when the former was still working as a member of the press, said Singson.
Upon arrival at the site, Singson said he volunteered to go up the bus, confident that he will handle the situation well being a former policeman, to help secure the release of the children.
He maintained that his intention was to help, and not to promote his self for the upcoming election. If he wanted fame and credit, Singson said he should have raised the firearms and explosives he got from Ducat for photo opportunities, and then granted media interviews after the incident. But those things he did not do.
Asked if he saw any political color in Singson’s participation, Yebra said: “I can’t answer that because I am not a politician. I don’t know how politics go about.”
Aside from the lapse in failing to stop Revilla and Singson from boarding the bus, Yebra admitted to have also failed in containing the crowd, including the media.
But he belied the allegation of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno that they were not acting outside of the orders of Atienza.
“He (Atienza) was the one who approved all our concessions with Ducat, like food, water, as well as the people who could talk to Ducat on the phone,” Yebra said.
He surmised that Puno must not have been properly briefed about the incident, especially that Atienza was not very visible in the media coverage since the media was focused on the bus and Revilla.
Yebra said he hopes that the higher ups in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be enlightened about what really happened with the investigation on the incident will start this coming week.
Puno last Thursday has ordered the relief of Manila Police District (MPD) acting Director Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza and two other police officers for allegedly mishandling the crisis by not taking orders from Atienza.
Abarsoza, at that time, was the ground commander.
But PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon prevailed upon his request not to push thru with the administrative sanction against Abarsoza, saying they have yet to hear their explanation.
The 10-hour hostage drama ended peacefully after Ducat got his request to air to the public his grievance against corruption in the government, his demand for an assurance from the government that the graduates of his pre-school will make it through college, and for the public to light candles in front of the bus to symbolize oneness in the fight against corruption.
He and Carbonell were already charged of serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office./DMS
March 31, 2007
The crisis committee that handled the March 28 hostage drama in Manila City did not permit Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. and senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson to go up the bus to personally negotiate for the release of all hostage victims.
This was revealed Saturday by the chief negotiator of the incident, Supt. Orlando Yebra of the Manila Police District (MPD), in an interview on DZMM.
“I wasn’t able to stop them. That I will admit,” Yebra said in Filipino.
Yebra said that in accordance with police operating procedures in handling hostage-taking incidents, any outsider is not allowed to communicate with the suspect unless permitted by the crisis committee, which is headed by the local chief executive. In the latest case, it was Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza.
Revilla was only allowed to communicate through cellular phone with hostage taker Armando Ducat, Jr. starting in the morning because he was requested by Ducat, Yebra said.
Ducat is a godfather to one of Revilla’s children.
But he was not allowed by the crisis committee to go up the bus where Ducat held hostage the 26 pupils and three teachers of the Day Care Center he built in Parola Compound, Binondo District, Manila City.
The same is true with Singson, who arrived at the site in late afternoon without prior knowledge by the police.
“Before they boarded (the bus), I reminded them again that that was not our agreement when we were at the command post. Nobody is boarding the bus. But they really wanted to… So, we had no other choice. We just hoped for the best, that nothing bad will happen,” Yebra recalled.
Revilla boarded the bus past 11 am, while Singson did the same at around 5:30 pm. Singson only alighted at around 7pm, together with Ducat and his fellow hostage-taker, Cezar Carbonell.
All victims were first released before the surrender of the two suspect.
Yebra said Singson was insistent to board the bus when they went near supposedly only to talk to Ducat.
“From the start, he wanted to board the bus. But I did not allow him. So, when we were near the bus already, I reminded him that our agreement is he will not board it. But he said, he was going inside, that it’s ok, and that nothing bad will happen to him,” Yebra said.
In an earlier interview, Singson, who is running under the administration’s Team Unity ticket, said he went to the site after receiving information that Carbonell looked for him. Carbonell used to take Singson’s photographs when the former was still working as a member of the press, said Singson.
Upon arrival at the site, Singson said he volunteered to go up the bus, confident that he will handle the situation well being a former policeman, to help secure the release of the children.
He maintained that his intention was to help, and not to promote his self for the upcoming election. If he wanted fame and credit, Singson said he should have raised the firearms and explosives he got from Ducat for photo opportunities, and then granted media interviews after the incident. But those things he did not do.
Asked if he saw any political color in Singson’s participation, Yebra said: “I can’t answer that because I am not a politician. I don’t know how politics go about.”
Aside from the lapse in failing to stop Revilla and Singson from boarding the bus, Yebra admitted to have also failed in containing the crowd, including the media.
But he belied the allegation of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno that they were not acting outside of the orders of Atienza.
“He (Atienza) was the one who approved all our concessions with Ducat, like food, water, as well as the people who could talk to Ducat on the phone,” Yebra said.
He surmised that Puno must not have been properly briefed about the incident, especially that Atienza was not very visible in the media coverage since the media was focused on the bus and Revilla.
Yebra said he hopes that the higher ups in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will be enlightened about what really happened with the investigation on the incident will start this coming week.
Puno last Thursday has ordered the relief of Manila Police District (MPD) acting Director Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza and two other police officers for allegedly mishandling the crisis by not taking orders from Atienza.
Abarsoza, at that time, was the ground commander.
But PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon prevailed upon his request not to push thru with the administrative sanction against Abarsoza, saying they have yet to hear their explanation.
The 10-hour hostage drama ended peacefully after Ducat got his request to air to the public his grievance against corruption in the government, his demand for an assurance from the government that the graduates of his pre-school will make it through college, and for the public to light candles in front of the bus to symbolize oneness in the fight against corruption.
He and Carbonell were already charged of serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office./DMS
Arroyo hints of continued stay of military in MM
By Ronron
March 31, 2007
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hinted on Saturday of the continued stay of military troops in Metro Manila following her visit at a slum area in Tondo District where the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was conducting civil military operations (CMO).
AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said yesterday that this was the impression he got when Arroyo told him: “Congratulations, keep up the good work!”
Dolorfino, who has supervisory and operational control over the deployed troops in Metro Manila, met with Arroyo when the latter checked on the medical and dental missions of the AFP in Barangay 649, Zone 68, District 5, Barangay Bagong Lupa in Tondo yesterday morning.
Barangay 649 is among the villages in the capital where members of the Philippine Army’s CMO battalion are deployed, under the military’s Community Development Program.
The program, however, was met with a lot of criticism and opposition from various sectors, including the Commission on Human Rights, as it supposedly smacks of Martial Law.
Asked if Arroyo directed him yesterday for the pull out of the troops, Dolorfino said: “There was none.”
Just last Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita disclosed that Malacañang ordered the AFP to prepare an exit plan for the soldiers “because it is causing disruptions.”
Dolorfino surmised that with Arroyo’s reaction yesterday, Ermita must have been misquoted about the exit plan.
“She said we were doing okay, especially that she saw for herself that we are a big help to the people,” Dolorfino said.
Aside from Barangay 649, the AFP also held medical and dental missions yesterday at the nearby Area 17 in Parola Compound, also in Tondo. They also held a dialogue (Talakayan sa Barangay) among local leaders and residents to make known their community programs.
“Your soldiers now are offering a better alternative for you… We are lighting the symbolic candle in your community… And we expect more to be lit,” Dolorfino said in the dialogue.
He said the deployment of troops is really supportive of the AFP’s Oplan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom Watch II), which seeks to free the community from insurgents.
“The communist terrorists are capitalizing on the problems of the people – poverty, education, injustice and diseases… With this, we hope to make the CPP/NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army) irrelevant,” Dolorfino said.
Some residents pointed out, however, that there are no communist rebels in their neighborhood, contrary to what is perceived by the people.
Nevertheless, they are thankful to the presence of the military because they said it has curbed the occurrence of ordinary crimes.
“As for me, their (military) deployment is acceptable to me because they help bring order to our community. Those jobless, bystanders, and snatchers have since behaved for fear that they will be apprehended by the soldiers,” said Lydia Bulleser, 51.
“Their projects are also beneficial to us like the building of day care centers, the medical and dental missions, and the free cutting of hair of young boys in the community,” added Josie Gaspar, 42.
Both Bulleser and Gaspar are residents of Area 17 in Parola Compound.
Dolorfino disclosed that four more barangays from Paco, Manila City have made the same request as that of the 19 barangays for the presence of military troops in their communities.
The request is now under study, he said.
The military has deployed 26 teams of nine to 10 members each to the 19 barangays since November of last year./DMS
March 31, 2007
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo hinted on Saturday of the continued stay of military troops in Metro Manila following her visit at a slum area in Tondo District where the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was conducting civil military operations (CMO).
AFP National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said yesterday that this was the impression he got when Arroyo told him: “Congratulations, keep up the good work!”
Dolorfino, who has supervisory and operational control over the deployed troops in Metro Manila, met with Arroyo when the latter checked on the medical and dental missions of the AFP in Barangay 649, Zone 68, District 5, Barangay Bagong Lupa in Tondo yesterday morning.
Barangay 649 is among the villages in the capital where members of the Philippine Army’s CMO battalion are deployed, under the military’s Community Development Program.
The program, however, was met with a lot of criticism and opposition from various sectors, including the Commission on Human Rights, as it supposedly smacks of Martial Law.
Asked if Arroyo directed him yesterday for the pull out of the troops, Dolorfino said: “There was none.”
Just last Wednesday, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita disclosed that Malacañang ordered the AFP to prepare an exit plan for the soldiers “because it is causing disruptions.”
Dolorfino surmised that with Arroyo’s reaction yesterday, Ermita must have been misquoted about the exit plan.
“She said we were doing okay, especially that she saw for herself that we are a big help to the people,” Dolorfino said.
Aside from Barangay 649, the AFP also held medical and dental missions yesterday at the nearby Area 17 in Parola Compound, also in Tondo. They also held a dialogue (Talakayan sa Barangay) among local leaders and residents to make known their community programs.
“Your soldiers now are offering a better alternative for you… We are lighting the symbolic candle in your community… And we expect more to be lit,” Dolorfino said in the dialogue.
He said the deployment of troops is really supportive of the AFP’s Oplan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom Watch II), which seeks to free the community from insurgents.
“The communist terrorists are capitalizing on the problems of the people – poverty, education, injustice and diseases… With this, we hope to make the CPP/NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army) irrelevant,” Dolorfino said.
Some residents pointed out, however, that there are no communist rebels in their neighborhood, contrary to what is perceived by the people.
Nevertheless, they are thankful to the presence of the military because they said it has curbed the occurrence of ordinary crimes.
“As for me, their (military) deployment is acceptable to me because they help bring order to our community. Those jobless, bystanders, and snatchers have since behaved for fear that they will be apprehended by the soldiers,” said Lydia Bulleser, 51.
“Their projects are also beneficial to us like the building of day care centers, the medical and dental missions, and the free cutting of hair of young boys in the community,” added Josie Gaspar, 42.
Both Bulleser and Gaspar are residents of Area 17 in Parola Compound.
Dolorfino disclosed that four more barangays from Paco, Manila City have made the same request as that of the 19 barangays for the presence of military troops in their communities.
The request is now under study, he said.
The military has deployed 26 teams of nine to 10 members each to the 19 barangays since November of last year./DMS
Friday, March 30, 2007
Puno says hostage incident was a terrorist act
By Ronron
March 29, 2007
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno described Wednesday’s hostage taking incident in Manila City as an act of terrorism.
In a press conference yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City, Puno said the 10-hour crisis is the “first occurrence of a hostage situation which we consider a terrorist act since the passage of the anti-terrorism law.”
Terrorism under the Human Security Act of 2007 includes “kidnapping and serious illegal detention,” among other crimes, coupled with the elements of “widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to force the government to give in to an unlawful demand.”
It was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo early this month.
Wednesday’s incident had 26 pupils and three children as hostage victims of a 56-year-old businessman who was complaining against corruption in the government that is causing other problems in the country like lack of access to quality education and housing.
But since the anti-terror law will only be in effect on July 14, 2007, the police only filed serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms against the main suspect, Armando Ducat, Jr., and his companion, Cesar Carbonell, 39, before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday night.
“We would like to serve notice to everybody that even if you get Robinhood and couch him in priestly robes, when he holds a grenade and keeps hostage children, he automatically becomes a terrorist. And we are going to deal with him as a criminal. He is a criminal not matter what his intentions are,” Puno said of Ducat.
He also called Ducat’s concerns as “crazy demands.”
“These two individuals should not be praised. They are the scum of the society because they held hostage an entire society,” Puno said./DMS
March 29, 2007
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno described Wednesday’s hostage taking incident in Manila City as an act of terrorism.
In a press conference yesterday at Camp Crame, Quezon City, Puno said the 10-hour crisis is the “first occurrence of a hostage situation which we consider a terrorist act since the passage of the anti-terrorism law.”
Terrorism under the Human Security Act of 2007 includes “kidnapping and serious illegal detention,” among other crimes, coupled with the elements of “widespread and extraordinary fear and panic among the populace, in order to force the government to give in to an unlawful demand.”
It was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo early this month.
Wednesday’s incident had 26 pupils and three children as hostage victims of a 56-year-old businessman who was complaining against corruption in the government that is causing other problems in the country like lack of access to quality education and housing.
But since the anti-terror law will only be in effect on July 14, 2007, the police only filed serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms against the main suspect, Armando Ducat, Jr., and his companion, Cesar Carbonell, 39, before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday night.
“We would like to serve notice to everybody that even if you get Robinhood and couch him in priestly robes, when he holds a grenade and keeps hostage children, he automatically becomes a terrorist. And we are going to deal with him as a criminal. He is a criminal not matter what his intentions are,” Puno said of Ducat.
He also called Ducat’s concerns as “crazy demands.”
“These two individuals should not be praised. They are the scum of the society because they held hostage an entire society,” Puno said./DMS
Singson says there is no politics, drama involved in his role in resolving the hostage incident
By Ronron
March 29, 2007
Administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson said Thursday that there was no political motivation in his participation in the other day’s hostage-taking of 26 pupils and three teachers in Manila City.
In a radio interview, Singson said all he wanted was to help in the resolution of the crisis for the sake of the children after he was contacted by one of the suspects, Cesar Carbonell.
Businessman Armando Ducat, Jr. held hostage the students and teachers of the Day Care Center he built in Parola Compound, Manila City to demand for educational and assistance for the graduates of his school. He also took advantage of the situation to air his grievance against the alleged massive corruption in the country.
Ducat yielded to authorities after releasing his captives after talking to Singson early Wednesday night. The drama dragged on for 10 hours.
“I was already aware that people would suspect my motivations for being there. That’s why I shunned attempts to interview me. My only purpose is to help,” Singson said in Filipino.
He disclosed that he learned of the incident at around 2:30 pm only after he was informed that his name was mentioned on the radio as among the persons the hostage-takers wish to talk to.
Upon arrival past 5pm at the site, Singson said he immediately conferred with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Metro Manila Police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla about his intention to help.
Singson said he first talked to Carbonell on the phone since the latter claimed that he has known Singson from the time he was still working as a photographer.
When Singson said he was willing to go inside the bus, Varilla expressed worries that Ducat could take him in as another victim.
But he said he insisted because he wants the kids to be set free.
Singson said he was also confident he will not sabotage the situation because he is used to such incidents, being a former chief of police in Vigan, Ilocos Sur back in his younger days.
“If I wanted to promote myself, I would have waved the Uzi and hand grenades when I stepped out of the bus for everyone to see… I would have granted interviews also. But I did not. After the incident, I immediately gave the firearms and grenades to the police and then I went home,” he said.
Singson said that from the time he stepped inside the bus at around 5:30 pm where the victims were held hostage, he observed that Ducat would not turn violent.
He said he was just worried about any accident that could lead to an explosion like the slip of the grenades from Ducat’s grip.
But Singson said that after Ducat’s request were granted, like the media access and the lighting of candles outside the bus, Ducat was prepared to talk about his surrender and exit plan.
“The person is not really a violent one. That’s my assessment of him. He just wanted to get his message across, and for the kids to get free education,” Singson said.
Ducat and Carbonell were subsequently arrested and brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.
Singson is among the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s Team Unity for the May 14 mid-term election./DMS
March 29, 2007
Administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson said Thursday that there was no political motivation in his participation in the other day’s hostage-taking of 26 pupils and three teachers in Manila City.
In a radio interview, Singson said all he wanted was to help in the resolution of the crisis for the sake of the children after he was contacted by one of the suspects, Cesar Carbonell.
Businessman Armando Ducat, Jr. held hostage the students and teachers of the Day Care Center he built in Parola Compound, Manila City to demand for educational and assistance for the graduates of his school. He also took advantage of the situation to air his grievance against the alleged massive corruption in the country.
Ducat yielded to authorities after releasing his captives after talking to Singson early Wednesday night. The drama dragged on for 10 hours.
“I was already aware that people would suspect my motivations for being there. That’s why I shunned attempts to interview me. My only purpose is to help,” Singson said in Filipino.
He disclosed that he learned of the incident at around 2:30 pm only after he was informed that his name was mentioned on the radio as among the persons the hostage-takers wish to talk to.
Upon arrival past 5pm at the site, Singson said he immediately conferred with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Metro Manila Police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla about his intention to help.
Singson said he first talked to Carbonell on the phone since the latter claimed that he has known Singson from the time he was still working as a photographer.
When Singson said he was willing to go inside the bus, Varilla expressed worries that Ducat could take him in as another victim.
But he said he insisted because he wants the kids to be set free.
Singson said he was also confident he will not sabotage the situation because he is used to such incidents, being a former chief of police in Vigan, Ilocos Sur back in his younger days.
“If I wanted to promote myself, I would have waved the Uzi and hand grenades when I stepped out of the bus for everyone to see… I would have granted interviews also. But I did not. After the incident, I immediately gave the firearms and grenades to the police and then I went home,” he said.
Singson said that from the time he stepped inside the bus at around 5:30 pm where the victims were held hostage, he observed that Ducat would not turn violent.
He said he was just worried about any accident that could lead to an explosion like the slip of the grenades from Ducat’s grip.
But Singson said that after Ducat’s request were granted, like the media access and the lighting of candles outside the bus, Ducat was prepared to talk about his surrender and exit plan.
“The person is not really a violent one. That’s my assessment of him. He just wanted to get his message across, and for the kids to get free education,” Singson said.
Ducat and Carbonell were subsequently arrested and brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.
Singson is among the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s Team Unity for the May 14 mid-term election./DMS
Two police officers sacked for mishandling hostage crisis in Manila City
By Ronron
March 29, 2007
The acting director of Manila Police District (MPD) and the commander of the police station where Wednesday’s hostage drama happened will be sacked from their posts for alleged mishandling of the incident.
Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) told a press conference yesterday in Camp Crame that he has recommended the administrative relief of Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza as acting MPD Director and Supt. Rogelio Rosales as MPD Station 5 Commander until the investigation on the incident is completed.
According to Puno, it appeared that the two police officers were not taking orders from the supposed crisis committee head, Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, when they were handling the 10-hour hostage taking of 26 pupils and three teachers along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
Instead, they “practically surrendered the entire thing to everybody else.” The Secretary did not elaborate, however.
During the incident, the first ground commander identified was Abarsoza. But when National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla arrived past 10 am, he took over.
Varilla would later be seen constantly conferring with Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., the first to negotiate with hostage taker Armando Ducat, Jr..
But Puno spared Varilla from any liability for the moment, saying he was following his orders to the letter.
“Unfortunately, by the time we started talking, a lot of things were already underway. But I cannot disclose all the instructions I gave to him,” Puno said.
The Secretary said Varilla virtually became the crisis manager, instead of Atienza, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“It is the responsibility of the ground commander of the Philippine National Police to report to the person in charge. And the person in charge, according to the Peace and Order Council structures, is the crisis management committee head, the Mayor. And it is the obligation of the ground commander to take his directions from the Mayor who has operational supervision over him,” Puno explained.
“The ground commander should have gone through channels, cleared with his superiors and made sure that this was something that was comfortable within the guidelines for the situation,” he added.
Puno criticized Atienza for looking “like he was besieged by everybody else.” He surmised that the Mayor must have been embarrassed by the incident, he did not want to flash his face in front of everybody.
Puno said that in delicate situations such as last Wednesday, the authorities should strictly follow the SOP.
“As an example, you know I think that people were moving in too close to the crisis area and if anything unfortunate or untoward happened, then the casualties might have been larger than they needed to be,” Puno said.
He said that he already asked PNP chief Gen. Oscar Calderon to form an investigative group to be headed by Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr.
The probe will “define the rules covering such situations, “identify rules that were violated,” “who violated these rules,” and what sanction will be imposed for “all of those PNP personnel who did not follow strictly the rules that govern this situation.”
Puno said he also directed the PNP leadership to “disseminate these rules on how these things are handled so that you will not wonder why there is a perimeter, for example.”
Puno admitted he was “incensed” with the way the incident was handled because the authorities present at the site were expected to be aware already of the SOP./DMS
March 29, 2007
The acting director of Manila Police District (MPD) and the commander of the police station where Wednesday’s hostage drama happened will be sacked from their posts for alleged mishandling of the incident.
Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) told a press conference yesterday in Camp Crame that he has recommended the administrative relief of Sr. Supt. Danilo Abarsoza as acting MPD Director and Supt. Rogelio Rosales as MPD Station 5 Commander until the investigation on the incident is completed.
According to Puno, it appeared that the two police officers were not taking orders from the supposed crisis committee head, Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza, when they were handling the 10-hour hostage taking of 26 pupils and three teachers along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
Instead, they “practically surrendered the entire thing to everybody else.” The Secretary did not elaborate, however.
During the incident, the first ground commander identified was Abarsoza. But when National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla arrived past 10 am, he took over.
Varilla would later be seen constantly conferring with Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., the first to negotiate with hostage taker Armando Ducat, Jr..
But Puno spared Varilla from any liability for the moment, saying he was following his orders to the letter.
“Unfortunately, by the time we started talking, a lot of things were already underway. But I cannot disclose all the instructions I gave to him,” Puno said.
The Secretary said Varilla virtually became the crisis manager, instead of Atienza, contrary to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“It is the responsibility of the ground commander of the Philippine National Police to report to the person in charge. And the person in charge, according to the Peace and Order Council structures, is the crisis management committee head, the Mayor. And it is the obligation of the ground commander to take his directions from the Mayor who has operational supervision over him,” Puno explained.
“The ground commander should have gone through channels, cleared with his superiors and made sure that this was something that was comfortable within the guidelines for the situation,” he added.
Puno criticized Atienza for looking “like he was besieged by everybody else.” He surmised that the Mayor must have been embarrassed by the incident, he did not want to flash his face in front of everybody.
Puno said that in delicate situations such as last Wednesday, the authorities should strictly follow the SOP.
“As an example, you know I think that people were moving in too close to the crisis area and if anything unfortunate or untoward happened, then the casualties might have been larger than they needed to be,” Puno said.
He said that he already asked PNP chief Gen. Oscar Calderon to form an investigative group to be headed by Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Avelino Razon, Jr.
The probe will “define the rules covering such situations, “identify rules that were violated,” “who violated these rules,” and what sanction will be imposed for “all of those PNP personnel who did not follow strictly the rules that govern this situation.”
Puno said he also directed the PNP leadership to “disseminate these rules on how these things are handled so that you will not wonder why there is a perimeter, for example.”
Puno admitted he was “incensed” with the way the incident was handled because the authorities present at the site were expected to be aware already of the SOP./DMS
Thursday, March 29, 2007
10-hour hostage drama in RP ends peacefully; 29 victims, mostly kids, safe, and two suspects arrested
By Ronron
March 28, 2007
The 10-hour hostage-taking drama in the Philippines ended peacefully on Wednesday night, as the 29 victims, mostly young children, were released safely and the two suspects landed in the hands of police authorities.
The incident began at around 9 am yesterday when the suspect, Armando Ducat, Jr., 56, a businessman residing in Las Piñas City, announced that he was taking hostage the 26 students and three teachers of his Day Care Center in the slum area of Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila.
The group was on a bus that was supposedly going to take them to Tagaytay City in Cavite for a planned field trip in celebration of the pupils’ graduation from Kinder 1 and Kinder 11.
Allegedly in collusion with his business associate, Cesar Carbonell, 39, also a resident of Las Piñas City, Ducat declared the hostage when the bus they were riding was parked in front of the Bonifacio Shrine along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
It was particularly stationed at the loading and unloading bay of the road, very near the Manila City Hall, leading to Quiapo District direction. The crisis resulted in the closing of traffic from the corner of Finance Road and Taft Avenue, both lanes, up to Lawton Area.
Earlier in the day, particularly at around 7am, the bus left Parola Compound where it picked up the Musmos Day Care Center students and teachers – two male and one female.
Police learned of the hostage drama at around 9:35 am after one policeman attempted to apprehend the bus driver for alleged illegal parking. At that time, the bus driver, Deogracias Bugarin, 51, had already alighted and a notice of the hostage incident was already posted in front of the bus.
Minutes later, Ducat was heard on various radio stations where he owned up the hostage-taking and cited his reasons for doing such.
“I am only asking the politicians now for a guarantee that the 145 pupils who recently graduated from my day care center be made to finish their studies until college. And then, I will surrender,” he said in Filipino.
The poster on the bus also disclosed that he was asking for housing for the families of the 145 children. To prove his genuine concern for the housing problem, Ducat disclosed he had with him 30 land titles from his properties in Cavite that he was willing to donate to the families of his school’s pupils.
Ducat went on to disclose also that he had hand grenades, an Uzi sub-machine gun, and a caliber 45 pistol in his and Carbonell’s possession.
But he said the that the children, aged five to seven years old, both boys and girls, are safe and were not aware of the crisis. “I love these children,” said Ducat.
The kids would then be heard occasionally singing children’s songs upon the prodding of their teachers.
Before lunchtime, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. arrived at the site to negotiate with Ducat for the safe release of the victims. Ducat is a godparent to Revilla’s youngest daughter.
Revilla then promised Ducat that he will make sure the graduates of his day care center will be able to go through college.
The concern regarding housing, meanwhile, was addressed by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, saying that they do something about Parola to make it “more livable.”
Through Revilla, Ducat also demanded that he be given airtime to the public, through the media, for his sentiments on the prevailing problem of corruption in the country.
The request was granted twice, first at around 1:50 pm, but was cut short due to technical problems; and then, at around 2:30 pm up to 3:07 pm.
“As long as graft and corruption in government is prevalent, our dream of having a better life will never be realized. We have in fact been branded as the number one most corrupt country in Asia. Should we not be ashamed of that? We should all unite to fight corruption,” Ducat lamented, speaking in Filipino.
“I am not calling for a revolution or uprising here. I am just explaining my point,” he added.
It was in his second public address that he hinted his intention to surrender to authorities at 7pm when the people around the hostage-taking site, estimated by police to be at most 15,000, participate in the mass lighting of candle as a symbol of unity in the fight against corruption.
At this time, the number of policemen, firemen, rescue teams, and first-aid personnel attending to the crisis situation swelled to at most 500.
To the surprise of everybody, administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson, former Governor of Ilocos Sur, arrived at the site at around 5:30 pm and a few minutes boarded the bus.
According to a police officer, Singson was not really requested by Ducat to be a part of the negotiating team. No authority has so far explained how Singson got in to it.
But, for some reasons yet to be known, it was Singson who accompanied Ducat when he gave up and alighted the bus at 7pm.
His surrender came after he made another public address that challenged people to unite against corruption, and then, telling the people how sorry he was for his action.
“To my God, I pray now for forgiveness for the sins I have done to these kids. I apologize to the policemen for being a nuisance to you. I am sorry for having done this violent means of expressing my sentiments. And most of all, I ask for the apologies of the parents of these children. I am sorry to all the people of Parola. Because of my great love for you, I have done this. Thank you, Lord. God bless you all,” Ducat said in Filipino.
Minutes later after he said that, the door of the air-conditioned tourist bus opened and the children started leaving one by one. The victims were met by social workers of the government and immediately brought to another bus waiting for them.
Last to come out, in the company of Singson, were Carbonell and Ducat, who were immediately brought to a patrol car that took them to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters on U.N. Avenue.
“Later in the afternoon, after he disclosed his intention to address the media through the public address system, and he called for a prayer, I saw that he was already decided to surrender, “ chief negotiator Supt. Rolando Yebra said when asked what made Ducat give up.
“From the start, when I first talked to him, I saw that he was not really that violent. But we did not dismiss the possibility that he would turn into one because he is armed,” he added.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla said they knew Ducat was really going to surrender because he was granted his request for a media access and public lighting of candles to go with prayers.
Asked for their feeling while the hostage taking was still on going, at least three parents of the pupils said they were not at all mad at Ducat since they knew he was a very good man.
But while they were confident he was not going to harm their children, they were a little worried because of the firearms and explosives inside the bus.
After the crisis was resolved, some residents of Parola expressed their support to Ducat by holding a rally outside the MPD and chanted his name.
The children of Ducat could not be more grateful to the residents of Parola, especially the families of the victims, for the great compassion for their father, instead of bearing grudge.
“It feels good inside that they are here, supporting my father, instead of denouncing him,” said Irene Ducat, 37.
But she said they are hurt by insinuations that her father was a crazy guy.
“That is not true. He is just a man of principle. Did we see any of our politicians do what my father did to raise national awareness against corruption?” said Irene.
Following the incident, police said Ducat and Carbonell could be charged for alleged illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comelec gun ban.
And, with complaints from the victims, the two could also face more serious charges of serious illegal detention and violation of the anti-Child Abuse Law.
“If only the anti-terrorism law is in effect now, this could also be slapped against them because of the presence of elements of public panic and fear, and unlawful demand from the government,” opined investigator Renato Garay from the MPD.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said Ducat was a “very angry man” who may have valid grievances, only that his means of complaining went against the normal way.
“The way he acted surely requires the use of a psychological assessment,” Cabral said of Ducat.
Both Cabral and Fernando had admitted the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed deep worries about the situation, especially that young lives were at risk.
Yesterday’s hostage drama placed the Philippines again in the international scene as the story saw publication and airing on international news agencies.
Just early this week, a serious hostage drama also happened in Taguig City that resulted in the death of the suspect, who is a stuntman in local movies./DMS
March 28, 2007
The 10-hour hostage-taking drama in the Philippines ended peacefully on Wednesday night, as the 29 victims, mostly young children, were released safely and the two suspects landed in the hands of police authorities.
The incident began at around 9 am yesterday when the suspect, Armando Ducat, Jr., 56, a businessman residing in Las Piñas City, announced that he was taking hostage the 26 students and three teachers of his Day Care Center in the slum area of Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila.
The group was on a bus that was supposedly going to take them to Tagaytay City in Cavite for a planned field trip in celebration of the pupils’ graduation from Kinder 1 and Kinder 11.
Allegedly in collusion with his business associate, Cesar Carbonell, 39, also a resident of Las Piñas City, Ducat declared the hostage when the bus they were riding was parked in front of the Bonifacio Shrine along Padre Burgos Avenue in Manila City.
It was particularly stationed at the loading and unloading bay of the road, very near the Manila City Hall, leading to Quiapo District direction. The crisis resulted in the closing of traffic from the corner of Finance Road and Taft Avenue, both lanes, up to Lawton Area.
Earlier in the day, particularly at around 7am, the bus left Parola Compound where it picked up the Musmos Day Care Center students and teachers – two male and one female.
Police learned of the hostage drama at around 9:35 am after one policeman attempted to apprehend the bus driver for alleged illegal parking. At that time, the bus driver, Deogracias Bugarin, 51, had already alighted and a notice of the hostage incident was already posted in front of the bus.
Minutes later, Ducat was heard on various radio stations where he owned up the hostage-taking and cited his reasons for doing such.
“I am only asking the politicians now for a guarantee that the 145 pupils who recently graduated from my day care center be made to finish their studies until college. And then, I will surrender,” he said in Filipino.
The poster on the bus also disclosed that he was asking for housing for the families of the 145 children. To prove his genuine concern for the housing problem, Ducat disclosed he had with him 30 land titles from his properties in Cavite that he was willing to donate to the families of his school’s pupils.
Ducat went on to disclose also that he had hand grenades, an Uzi sub-machine gun, and a caliber 45 pistol in his and Carbonell’s possession.
But he said the that the children, aged five to seven years old, both boys and girls, are safe and were not aware of the crisis. “I love these children,” said Ducat.
The kids would then be heard occasionally singing children’s songs upon the prodding of their teachers.
Before lunchtime, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. arrived at the site to negotiate with Ducat for the safe release of the victims. Ducat is a godparent to Revilla’s youngest daughter.
Revilla then promised Ducat that he will make sure the graduates of his day care center will be able to go through college.
The concern regarding housing, meanwhile, was addressed by Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, saying that they do something about Parola to make it “more livable.”
Through Revilla, Ducat also demanded that he be given airtime to the public, through the media, for his sentiments on the prevailing problem of corruption in the country.
The request was granted twice, first at around 1:50 pm, but was cut short due to technical problems; and then, at around 2:30 pm up to 3:07 pm.
“As long as graft and corruption in government is prevalent, our dream of having a better life will never be realized. We have in fact been branded as the number one most corrupt country in Asia. Should we not be ashamed of that? We should all unite to fight corruption,” Ducat lamented, speaking in Filipino.
“I am not calling for a revolution or uprising here. I am just explaining my point,” he added.
It was in his second public address that he hinted his intention to surrender to authorities at 7pm when the people around the hostage-taking site, estimated by police to be at most 15,000, participate in the mass lighting of candle as a symbol of unity in the fight against corruption.
At this time, the number of policemen, firemen, rescue teams, and first-aid personnel attending to the crisis situation swelled to at most 500.
To the surprise of everybody, administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson, former Governor of Ilocos Sur, arrived at the site at around 5:30 pm and a few minutes boarded the bus.
According to a police officer, Singson was not really requested by Ducat to be a part of the negotiating team. No authority has so far explained how Singson got in to it.
But, for some reasons yet to be known, it was Singson who accompanied Ducat when he gave up and alighted the bus at 7pm.
His surrender came after he made another public address that challenged people to unite against corruption, and then, telling the people how sorry he was for his action.
“To my God, I pray now for forgiveness for the sins I have done to these kids. I apologize to the policemen for being a nuisance to you. I am sorry for having done this violent means of expressing my sentiments. And most of all, I ask for the apologies of the parents of these children. I am sorry to all the people of Parola. Because of my great love for you, I have done this. Thank you, Lord. God bless you all,” Ducat said in Filipino.
Minutes later after he said that, the door of the air-conditioned tourist bus opened and the children started leaving one by one. The victims were met by social workers of the government and immediately brought to another bus waiting for them.
Last to come out, in the company of Singson, were Carbonell and Ducat, who were immediately brought to a patrol car that took them to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters on U.N. Avenue.
“Later in the afternoon, after he disclosed his intention to address the media through the public address system, and he called for a prayer, I saw that he was already decided to surrender, “ chief negotiator Supt. Rolando Yebra said when asked what made Ducat give up.
“From the start, when I first talked to him, I saw that he was not really that violent. But we did not dismiss the possibility that he would turn into one because he is armed,” he added.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Reynaldo Varilla said they knew Ducat was really going to surrender because he was granted his request for a media access and public lighting of candles to go with prayers.
Asked for their feeling while the hostage taking was still on going, at least three parents of the pupils said they were not at all mad at Ducat since they knew he was a very good man.
But while they were confident he was not going to harm their children, they were a little worried because of the firearms and explosives inside the bus.
After the crisis was resolved, some residents of Parola expressed their support to Ducat by holding a rally outside the MPD and chanted his name.
The children of Ducat could not be more grateful to the residents of Parola, especially the families of the victims, for the great compassion for their father, instead of bearing grudge.
“It feels good inside that they are here, supporting my father, instead of denouncing him,” said Irene Ducat, 37.
But she said they are hurt by insinuations that her father was a crazy guy.
“That is not true. He is just a man of principle. Did we see any of our politicians do what my father did to raise national awareness against corruption?” said Irene.
Following the incident, police said Ducat and Carbonell could be charged for alleged illegal possession of firearms and violation of the Comelec gun ban.
And, with complaints from the victims, the two could also face more serious charges of serious illegal detention and violation of the anti-Child Abuse Law.
“If only the anti-terrorism law is in effect now, this could also be slapped against them because of the presence of elements of public panic and fear, and unlawful demand from the government,” opined investigator Renato Garay from the MPD.
Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral said Ducat was a “very angry man” who may have valid grievances, only that his means of complaining went against the normal way.
“The way he acted surely requires the use of a psychological assessment,” Cabral said of Ducat.
Both Cabral and Fernando had admitted the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed deep worries about the situation, especially that young lives were at risk.
Yesterday’s hostage drama placed the Philippines again in the international scene as the story saw publication and airing on international news agencies.
Just early this week, a serious hostage drama also happened in Taguig City that resulted in the death of the suspect, who is a stuntman in local movies./DMS
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Pag-asa Island gets water treatment facility from MWSS
By Ronron
March 27, 2007
The remote island of Pag-asa in Palawan will receive a water treatment facility that could produce potable water for the soldiers and civilian people living there.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. will bring the brand new Mobile Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) to Pag-asa, which is part of the contested Kalayaan Group of Islands, via a C-130 plane.
The MWTP, which can produce 1,000 liters of drinking water using sea water, 2,000 liters using brackish water, and 4,000 liters using surface water, is a donation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). It is worth P13 million.
The formal turn-over of the equipment was done yesterday morning at the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.
“This mobile water treatment plant will help our soldiers on Pag-asa Island, by ensuring that the basic requirement of potable water is available to them while doing their job,” Ebdane said.
Living on the 32.6-hectare island are four policemen, seven Air Force personnel, nine Navy personnel, and 23 civilians. They all serve as watchers for the country against possible poachers, particularly from other claimant countries.
Vice Admiral Tirso Danga, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command based in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, said residents of the island have been producing drinking water only by boiling the ground water there.
But, he said, the water still has “a degree of salinity” even after going through that process.
MWSS Administrator Lorenzo Jamora said the donation is part of the agency’s commitment to look into the welfare of the AFP troops.
“I assure the good secretary that this will be a continuing effort (of assisting the AFP), as far as our pockets can afford it because we know that not only the people in Metro Manila would need water but also the environs all over the country,” Jamora said.
The equipment can store 10,000 liters of treated water, that can be consumed within three to four days. It has a dimension of eight feet high, 2.2 meters wide, and six meter long. It is also equipped with a 25-meter suction hose, and built-in diesel generator.
The water that passes through it go through the processes of sedimentation, filtration, reverse osmosis, and post-treatment.
Meanwhile, Danga disclosed that so far, there has been no incident of fresh fighting against the countries or territories claiming ownership either in whole or in part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands, namely Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
“I can tell you that the code of conduct of the claimant countries in that disputed area is working. As a matter of fact, we see no encroachment in the area and there is that mutual cooperation between the occupants,” Danga said.
He said they have not also observed any “additional fortification” by the claimant countries in the islands as “everything has remained in status quo.”/DMS
March 27, 2007
The remote island of Pag-asa in Palawan will receive a water treatment facility that could produce potable water for the soldiers and civilian people living there.
On Thursday, Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. will bring the brand new Mobile Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) to Pag-asa, which is part of the contested Kalayaan Group of Islands, via a C-130 plane.
The MWTP, which can produce 1,000 liters of drinking water using sea water, 2,000 liters using brackish water, and 4,000 liters using surface water, is a donation of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). It is worth P13 million.
The formal turn-over of the equipment was done yesterday morning at the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.
“This mobile water treatment plant will help our soldiers on Pag-asa Island, by ensuring that the basic requirement of potable water is available to them while doing their job,” Ebdane said.
Living on the 32.6-hectare island are four policemen, seven Air Force personnel, nine Navy personnel, and 23 civilians. They all serve as watchers for the country against possible poachers, particularly from other claimant countries.
Vice Admiral Tirso Danga, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command based in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, said residents of the island have been producing drinking water only by boiling the ground water there.
But, he said, the water still has “a degree of salinity” even after going through that process.
MWSS Administrator Lorenzo Jamora said the donation is part of the agency’s commitment to look into the welfare of the AFP troops.
“I assure the good secretary that this will be a continuing effort (of assisting the AFP), as far as our pockets can afford it because we know that not only the people in Metro Manila would need water but also the environs all over the country,” Jamora said.
The equipment can store 10,000 liters of treated water, that can be consumed within three to four days. It has a dimension of eight feet high, 2.2 meters wide, and six meter long. It is also equipped with a 25-meter suction hose, and built-in diesel generator.
The water that passes through it go through the processes of sedimentation, filtration, reverse osmosis, and post-treatment.
Meanwhile, Danga disclosed that so far, there has been no incident of fresh fighting against the countries or territories claiming ownership either in whole or in part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands, namely Philippines, China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
“I can tell you that the code of conduct of the claimant countries in that disputed area is working. As a matter of fact, we see no encroachment in the area and there is that mutual cooperation between the occupants,” Danga said.
He said they have not also observed any “additional fortification” by the claimant countries in the islands as “everything has remained in status quo.”/DMS
MM barangay captains ask CHR for continued deployment of troops
By Ronron
March 27, 2007
Nineteen barangay captains in Metro Manila have jointly asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to allow the retention of government soldiers deployed in their areas of responsibility, saying it is doing good to the communities they are serving.
In a three-page letter dated March 25, 2007, the local leaders from the cities of Taguig, Manila, Caloocan, and Quezon said that contrary to claims of militant groups, the soldiers are not violating the civil liberties of their constituent, nor are they engaged in electioneering activities.
Written in Filipino, a part of the letter reads: “We are praying that those calling for the recall of the troops from our places be stopped. They (soldiers) have helped us a lot already, and they have a lot of good projects that they hope to finish for the betterment of our places.”
The signatories on the letter are the following: Ely Saluib of Barangay 20, Tondo, Manila; Atty. Henry Dueñas, Sr. of Signal Village, Taguig City; Benjamin Cruz of Lower Bicutan, Taguig City; Teresita Lumactud of Barangay 649, Tondo; Justo dela Cruz of Barangay 275, Binondo; Dorothea Mabanan of Barangay 630, Manila; Arturo dela Cruz of Barangay 865, Pandacan, Manila; Bonifacio Aragona, Jr. of Barangay 592, Manila; Andrea Paraiso of Barangay 591, Manila; Luisito Yumang of Barangay 593, Manila; Carmen Espino of Barangay 581, Sampaloc, Manila; Mario Dauz, Sr. of Barangay 590, Manila; Philip Manabat of Barangay 621, Manila; Rolito Inocencio of Barangay 629, Manila; Andres Mabagos of Barangay 176, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; Sabino Apo of Barangay Banlat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Jose Gaviola, Sr. of Barangay Unit 5, Commonwealth, Quezon City; Rosario Dadulo of Barangay Lupang Pangako, Payatas, Quezon City; and, Rolando Olazo of Barangay Hagonoy, Taguig City.
Copies of the letter were furnished to Camp Aguinaldo reporters yesterday by the Civil Relations Service (CRS) office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The CHR had earlier asked the AFP, in a letter dated March 16, 2007, to pull out its troops of 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, saying the peace and order situation in the capital does not call for the presence of the military.
CHR Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing addressed the letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.
But the barangay captains pointed out that in the first place, they were the ones who requested for the immersion of the soldiers in their respective communities.
And when the soldiers already arrived, not only did the peace and order situation improve, they also contributed to various developmental projects in their areas of responsibilities.
“Their stay in our places fostered peace in our respective community, and our constituent have slept soundly at night because we are aware that there are people watching for us. They are the ones who prevented criminals from doing anything bad in our communities,” the barangay captains said.
“We are very happy with the projects of our soldiers in our communities. Although not all of us received these developmental projects, we are sure that the time will come when we our communities will also benefit from their beautiful projects like Medical Missions, cleaning of our surroundings, and building and rehabilitation of Day Care Centers,” they added.
The local leaders also expressed elation about how the youth in their communities look upon the soldiers, especially with what they have done.
“Because of our interaction with the soldiers, our eyes were opened to the reality that there are groups that are inviting our youth to rebel against our government and overthrow it… through rallies and other protest actions. We realized that our people are only being used by these groups in advancing their personal interests,” they said.
The barangay captains denied allegations that the soldiers were telling people not to vote for any party-list organizations, saying that in fact, the soldiers were the ones avoiding issues related to the upcoming elections.
The same is true on allegations that the soldiers were curtailing the civil liberties of the people.
“They are not barring us from doing our daily activities. There is no truth to reports that our constituent is afraid of leaving their houses already because of the presence of the soldiers. If fact, before, our constituent could no longer leave their houses when evening sets in. Now, even at any time you leave your house, you know you are safe because there are soldiers watching for us, together with the village watchmen and policemen,” the barangay captains said.
They appealed that the CHR also hear their request as it did with the complaints against the troops deployment.
The barangay captains said they are prepared to face the CHR and meet with its officials to respond to the complaints.
In a separate interview yesterday, Ebdane said those complaining should be the ones leaving the community, and not the soldiers.
He surmised that the complaints against the troops deployment came about because the complainants like Bayan Muna and Gabriela are suffering out of it.
“This is actually a war for the hears and minds. Now, it is the moral obligation of the government to take care of its people. Now, it is not to the interest of the Leftist that the people will really support, fully support the government,” Ebdane said.
Earlier, the AFP leadership admitted that in a way, the troops deployment in Metro Manila is a part of the Oplan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom Watch II) anti-insurgency campaign of the military following reports that the communist movement is moving towards the urban communities from the countryside.
The deployment in Metro Manila of the troops, who come from the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations Battalion, began in November 2006./DMS
March 27, 2007
Nineteen barangay captains in Metro Manila have jointly asked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to allow the retention of government soldiers deployed in their areas of responsibility, saying it is doing good to the communities they are serving.
In a three-page letter dated March 25, 2007, the local leaders from the cities of Taguig, Manila, Caloocan, and Quezon said that contrary to claims of militant groups, the soldiers are not violating the civil liberties of their constituent, nor are they engaged in electioneering activities.
Written in Filipino, a part of the letter reads: “We are praying that those calling for the recall of the troops from our places be stopped. They (soldiers) have helped us a lot already, and they have a lot of good projects that they hope to finish for the betterment of our places.”
The signatories on the letter are the following: Ely Saluib of Barangay 20, Tondo, Manila; Atty. Henry Dueñas, Sr. of Signal Village, Taguig City; Benjamin Cruz of Lower Bicutan, Taguig City; Teresita Lumactud of Barangay 649, Tondo; Justo dela Cruz of Barangay 275, Binondo; Dorothea Mabanan of Barangay 630, Manila; Arturo dela Cruz of Barangay 865, Pandacan, Manila; Bonifacio Aragona, Jr. of Barangay 592, Manila; Andrea Paraiso of Barangay 591, Manila; Luisito Yumang of Barangay 593, Manila; Carmen Espino of Barangay 581, Sampaloc, Manila; Mario Dauz, Sr. of Barangay 590, Manila; Philip Manabat of Barangay 621, Manila; Rolito Inocencio of Barangay 629, Manila; Andres Mabagos of Barangay 176, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City; Sabino Apo of Barangay Banlat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City; Jose Gaviola, Sr. of Barangay Unit 5, Commonwealth, Quezon City; Rosario Dadulo of Barangay Lupang Pangako, Payatas, Quezon City; and, Rolando Olazo of Barangay Hagonoy, Taguig City.
Copies of the letter were furnished to Camp Aguinaldo reporters yesterday by the Civil Relations Service (CRS) office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The CHR had earlier asked the AFP, in a letter dated March 16, 2007, to pull out its troops of 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, saying the peace and order situation in the capital does not call for the presence of the military.
CHR Chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing addressed the letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Oscar Calderon, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr.
But the barangay captains pointed out that in the first place, they were the ones who requested for the immersion of the soldiers in their respective communities.
And when the soldiers already arrived, not only did the peace and order situation improve, they also contributed to various developmental projects in their areas of responsibilities.
“Their stay in our places fostered peace in our respective community, and our constituent have slept soundly at night because we are aware that there are people watching for us. They are the ones who prevented criminals from doing anything bad in our communities,” the barangay captains said.
“We are very happy with the projects of our soldiers in our communities. Although not all of us received these developmental projects, we are sure that the time will come when we our communities will also benefit from their beautiful projects like Medical Missions, cleaning of our surroundings, and building and rehabilitation of Day Care Centers,” they added.
The local leaders also expressed elation about how the youth in their communities look upon the soldiers, especially with what they have done.
“Because of our interaction with the soldiers, our eyes were opened to the reality that there are groups that are inviting our youth to rebel against our government and overthrow it… through rallies and other protest actions. We realized that our people are only being used by these groups in advancing their personal interests,” they said.
The barangay captains denied allegations that the soldiers were telling people not to vote for any party-list organizations, saying that in fact, the soldiers were the ones avoiding issues related to the upcoming elections.
The same is true on allegations that the soldiers were curtailing the civil liberties of the people.
“They are not barring us from doing our daily activities. There is no truth to reports that our constituent is afraid of leaving their houses already because of the presence of the soldiers. If fact, before, our constituent could no longer leave their houses when evening sets in. Now, even at any time you leave your house, you know you are safe because there are soldiers watching for us, together with the village watchmen and policemen,” the barangay captains said.
They appealed that the CHR also hear their request as it did with the complaints against the troops deployment.
The barangay captains said they are prepared to face the CHR and meet with its officials to respond to the complaints.
In a separate interview yesterday, Ebdane said those complaining should be the ones leaving the community, and not the soldiers.
He surmised that the complaints against the troops deployment came about because the complainants like Bayan Muna and Gabriela are suffering out of it.
“This is actually a war for the hears and minds. Now, it is the moral obligation of the government to take care of its people. Now, it is not to the interest of the Leftist that the people will really support, fully support the government,” Ebdane said.
Earlier, the AFP leadership admitted that in a way, the troops deployment in Metro Manila is a part of the Oplan Bantay Laya II (Operation Plan Freedom Watch II) anti-insurgency campaign of the military following reports that the communist movement is moving towards the urban communities from the countryside.
The deployment in Metro Manila of the troops, who come from the Philippine Army’s Civil Military Operations Battalion, began in November 2006./DMS
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Troops to stay around MM despite CHR request for pull-out
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
Elements of the Philippine military deployed in Metro Manila will remain in their respective assignments despite the request of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for their pull out.
Asked in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday if he will heed to the CHR’s recommendation, Esperon said, “No, we are still studying it.”
In its March 16 letter, the CHR asked no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Esperon, among others, to recall the deployment of military troops around the capital since the situation does not warrant for it.
Esperon said the military “is open to anything,” referring to the CHR recommendation, but maintained that it has to be studied well.
He reiterated that the deployed troops are “doing something that the people are accepting.”
The military has deployed 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, to different urban poor and Moslem communities in Caloocan, Taguig, Manila and Quezon cities since November of last year to carry out civil military operations, and as part of their training for peacekeeping missions.
The troops come from the Civil Military Operations Battalion of the Philippine Army, which is under the operational control of the AFP National Capital Region Command.
Militant groups have criticized the deployment, saying it could hinder the civil liberties of residents in Metro Manila. The military, however, remains unperturbed.
“Should we stop it just because some people, who are not even from the areas, are complaining?” Esperon said yesterday.
Even as it has recommended for the recall of the deployed troops, the CHR pointed out that it has not found any abuse of power by them on ordinary civilians.
The AFP has said that the move is a good deterrent to criminality and possible penetration in the urban areas by communist insurgents./DMS
March 26, 2007
Elements of the Philippine military deployed in Metro Manila will remain in their respective assignments despite the request of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for their pull out.
Asked in a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo yesterday if he will heed to the CHR’s recommendation, Esperon said, “No, we are still studying it.”
In its March 16 letter, the CHR asked no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Esperon, among others, to recall the deployment of military troops around the capital since the situation does not warrant for it.
Esperon said the military “is open to anything,” referring to the CHR recommendation, but maintained that it has to be studied well.
He reiterated that the deployed troops are “doing something that the people are accepting.”
The military has deployed 26 teams, composed of nine to 10 members each, to different urban poor and Moslem communities in Caloocan, Taguig, Manila and Quezon cities since November of last year to carry out civil military operations, and as part of their training for peacekeeping missions.
The troops come from the Civil Military Operations Battalion of the Philippine Army, which is under the operational control of the AFP National Capital Region Command.
Militant groups have criticized the deployment, saying it could hinder the civil liberties of residents in Metro Manila. The military, however, remains unperturbed.
“Should we stop it just because some people, who are not even from the areas, are complaining?” Esperon said yesterday.
Even as it has recommended for the recall of the deployed troops, the CHR pointed out that it has not found any abuse of power by them on ordinary civilians.
The AFP has said that the move is a good deterrent to criminality and possible penetration in the urban areas by communist insurgents./DMS
AFP discovers another mass grave site in Leyte; link of Cong. Ocampo yet to be determined
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
The Philippine military discovered another mass grave site allegedly of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Leyte province last week which yielded nine skeletal remains.
Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Monday that the site was found at around 10:30 am of March 21 at Sitio Can-isak, Barangay Utanan, Hilongos town by elements of the 43rd Infantry Battalion.
“The troops, led by Staff Sergeant Noli Silong, with the help of a civilian asset in pinpointing the exact location of the gravesite, found nine skeletal remains at the said area. Accordingly, there were 15 persons buried there,” Torres said.
“The mass grave was believed to be a site where NPA victims were killed during purging operations of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA in the late 1980’s,” he added.
Torres said witnesses also claimed that other bodies are buried in other gravesites nearby.
A big mass grave site, called The Garden, was unearthed last August 2006 in Inopacan town, bearing at least 67 skeletal remains, 15 of whom were identified by their relatives that is now the basis of the multiple murder charge against Bayan Muna Congressman Satur Ocampo, and more than 50 other communist personalities.
Torres said the exhumation of the nine skeletal remains at Barangay Utanan will be carried out in the coming days by the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives, in coordination with other stakeholders.
Asked if Ocampo is also involved in this newly discovered site, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said there is no proof at the moment.
“We will subject this to further analysis and investigation to find out if Mr. Ocampo is also involved in this new case,” Esperon said yesterday.
The military had said that the communist movement killed its own ranks in the 1980’s to get rid of those suspected to be spying for the government./DMS
March 26, 2007
The Philippine military discovered another mass grave site allegedly of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Southern Leyte province last week which yielded nine skeletal remains.
Army spokesman Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said Monday that the site was found at around 10:30 am of March 21 at Sitio Can-isak, Barangay Utanan, Hilongos town by elements of the 43rd Infantry Battalion.
“The troops, led by Staff Sergeant Noli Silong, with the help of a civilian asset in pinpointing the exact location of the gravesite, found nine skeletal remains at the said area. Accordingly, there were 15 persons buried there,” Torres said.
“The mass grave was believed to be a site where NPA victims were killed during purging operations of the Communist Party of the Philippines – NPA in the late 1980’s,” he added.
Torres said witnesses also claimed that other bodies are buried in other gravesites nearby.
A big mass grave site, called The Garden, was unearthed last August 2006 in Inopacan town, bearing at least 67 skeletal remains, 15 of whom were identified by their relatives that is now the basis of the multiple murder charge against Bayan Muna Congressman Satur Ocampo, and more than 50 other communist personalities.
Torres said the exhumation of the nine skeletal remains at Barangay Utanan will be carried out in the coming days by the Philippine National Police Scene of the Crime Operatives, in coordination with other stakeholders.
Asked if Ocampo is also involved in this newly discovered site, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. said there is no proof at the moment.
“We will subject this to further analysis and investigation to find out if Mr. Ocampo is also involved in this new case,” Esperon said yesterday.
The military had said that the communist movement killed its own ranks in the 1980’s to get rid of those suspected to be spying for the government./DMS
One soldier killed in clash against NPA in Iloilo
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
A government soldier was killed in a recent clash with communist insurgents in Iloilo province, a military spokesman said Monday.
Philippine Army public information officer Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the encounter happened at around 11:30 am yesterday (Monday) at Barangay Sagcop, Lambunao town.
Torres said elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Buenvenito Trero, encountered an undetermined number of armed rebels for 30 minutes, claiming the life of Private First Class Norly Camilon.
“Initial report from troops in the encounter site proves that there are undetermined casualties from the enemy as indicated by bloodstains seen in the area of encounter,” Torres said.
The government troops recovered from the site one M16 rifle, one caliber 30 carbine rifle, one garand rifle, numerous magazines and ammunitions, Torres said.
Torres said helicopters from the 6th Tactical Operations Group of the Philippine Air Force flew at the encounter site to participate in the pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels.
“This is the first time in more than one year that the government troops were able to encounter the communist terrorists in Panay Island, specifically in the province of Iloilo,” Torres said.
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now. It will celebrate its 38th founding anniversary on March 29th.
The government is working on crushing the movement by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the communist party of the Philippines bogged down in August 2004 after the group was tagged as terrorist group by foreign governments like the United States and the European Union./DMS
March 26, 2007
A government soldier was killed in a recent clash with communist insurgents in Iloilo province, a military spokesman said Monday.
Philippine Army public information officer Maj. Ernesto Torres, Jr. said the encounter happened at around 11:30 am yesterday (Monday) at Barangay Sagcop, Lambunao town.
Torres said elements of the 47th Infantry Battalion, led by Staff Sergeant Buenvenito Trero, encountered an undetermined number of armed rebels for 30 minutes, claiming the life of Private First Class Norly Camilon.
“Initial report from troops in the encounter site proves that there are undetermined casualties from the enemy as indicated by bloodstains seen in the area of encounter,” Torres said.
The government troops recovered from the site one M16 rifle, one caliber 30 carbine rifle, one garand rifle, numerous magazines and ammunitions, Torres said.
Torres said helicopters from the 6th Tactical Operations Group of the Philippine Air Force flew at the encounter site to participate in the pursuit operations against the fleeing rebels.
“This is the first time in more than one year that the government troops were able to encounter the communist terrorists in Panay Island, specifically in the province of Iloilo,” Torres said.
The 7,100-strong NPA has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now. It will celebrate its 38th founding anniversary on March 29th.
The government is working on crushing the movement by 2010 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends her term.
Peace talks with the communist party of the Philippines bogged down in August 2004 after the group was tagged as terrorist group by foreign governments like the United States and the European Union./DMS
DND launches Text 2920 program to hear complaints of public
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
The Philippine Defense department launched on Monday its TXT 2920 program to provide the public and its stakeholders the medium for their complaints and other concerns.
Tied with the privately-owned Bidshot Wireless Services, the department’s program will allow anyone to get their messages to Defense officials and offices by texting “DND (space) (message)” to 2920. The service is available to Smart and Globe subscribers.
“DND TXT 2920 puts the DND in a pro-active mode, inviting citizens to work with us. This they can do by reporting community concerns, potential problems and even possible solutions to realities on the ground,” Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said.
“This is connectivity for accountability and responsiveness,” he added.
Bidshot Wireless Services is not charging the Defense department for the services. It will instead earn from the P2.50 per text that is charged against the sender of the message.
Brian Zialcita, product development manager of Bidshot, said his company will get 30 percent of P2.50, while either Smart or Globe will get the remaining 70 percent.
Ebdane said the program can definitely be used in the government’s anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism campaigns as it could invite the public’s cooperation to deter any attacks or pinpoint the whereabouts of different threat groups.
“DND TXT 2920 serves the myriad concerns of the DND. It is a direct line for the Human Security Act to be more vibrant and interactive, with an open avenue for reports from all over the country. It is a secure channel for Human Rights complaints, with immediate access to decision-makers. It is also another means for ensuring transparency in the AFP Modernization Program, reiterating our resolve to push our reforms forward. It is a one-on-one venue for our veterans and other constituents to talk to the DND, and know that they will get a response,” Ebdane said./DMS
March 26, 2007
The Philippine Defense department launched on Monday its TXT 2920 program to provide the public and its stakeholders the medium for their complaints and other concerns.
Tied with the privately-owned Bidshot Wireless Services, the department’s program will allow anyone to get their messages to Defense officials and offices by texting “DND (space) (message)” to 2920. The service is available to Smart and Globe subscribers.
“DND TXT 2920 puts the DND in a pro-active mode, inviting citizens to work with us. This they can do by reporting community concerns, potential problems and even possible solutions to realities on the ground,” Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said.
“This is connectivity for accountability and responsiveness,” he added.
Bidshot Wireless Services is not charging the Defense department for the services. It will instead earn from the P2.50 per text that is charged against the sender of the message.
Brian Zialcita, product development manager of Bidshot, said his company will get 30 percent of P2.50, while either Smart or Globe will get the remaining 70 percent.
Ebdane said the program can definitely be used in the government’s anti-insurgency and anti-terrorism campaigns as it could invite the public’s cooperation to deter any attacks or pinpoint the whereabouts of different threat groups.
“DND TXT 2920 serves the myriad concerns of the DND. It is a direct line for the Human Security Act to be more vibrant and interactive, with an open avenue for reports from all over the country. It is a secure channel for Human Rights complaints, with immediate access to decision-makers. It is also another means for ensuring transparency in the AFP Modernization Program, reiterating our resolve to push our reforms forward. It is a one-on-one venue for our veterans and other constituents to talk to the DND, and know that they will get a response,” Ebdane said./DMS
International people’s tribunal finds Arroyo government guilty of human rights violations; Defense chief, Dutch envoy call the body as “kangaroo court
By Ronron
March 26, 2007
An international people’s tribunal based in the Netherlands found Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government guilty of human rights violations following a three-day session at The Hague.
In a public forum on Sunday afternoon (Sunday evening, Manila time), Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) session President Francois Houtart read from the 13-page verdict: “The tribunal, having considered the evidence before it, is of the opinion that the reported killings, torture and forced disappearances fall under responsibility of the Philippine government and are by no way justified in terms of necessary measures against terrorism.”
The PPT, which is an international opinion tribunal composed of “law experts, writers and other cultural and community leaders from 31 countries, probed on the Philippine’s human rights situation after receiving complaints in “early 2006 by a broad coalition of social and religious organizations, based in the Philippines as well as in Europe and Canada.”
The seven-man jury, led by Houtart, heard a total of 21 witnesses and resource persons from the Philippines during its three-day session, held on March 21 to 23. The 21, however, did not include representatives from the Philippine government since the invitation coursed through the consular offices at The Hague and in Rome apparently were not heeded to.
On Monday morning, a video of the reading of the verdict at The Hague was shown at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City by the Philippine Coordinating Secretariat of the PPT. It was followed by a press conference by the following human rights advocate group: Hustisya, Desaparecidos, SELDA, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
“The extension and the systematic nature of the violations of the rights of the Filipino people committed by the governments of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and with the support and full awareness of the government of George Walker Bush, qualify the same violations as crimes against humanity, with all the consequences for the persons who are responsible for them,” Houtart said.
“Such violations must be stopped immediately,” he added.
The PPT received a total of 839 cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines from the year 2001 until the first quarter of this year, submitted by the various groups, headed by Karapatan.
It noted the participation of military men in some cases, and the “absence of any serious attempt to assure an investigation on the killings,” as claimed by the witnesses.
“The wealth and consistency of the oral and written documentation made available through witnesses and expert reports, has convinced the PPT that each and all of the three charges presented against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government, and against George Walker Bush and his government, are substantiated,” Houtart said.
“The PPT underlines that the charges cannot be considered separately nor independently. The atrocities of extra-judicial killings, of massacres, of tortures, of communities destroyed and dispersed are the visible and dramatic expression of one strategy… ,” he went on.
Houtart said the PPT found “unequivocal evidences that the militaries have a central role in the greatest majority of the scenarios of human rights violations in the Philippines.”
And “to justify all illegal actions and their impunity,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Houtart said, joined with the US government’s global war on terror.
“The Philippine government and the Bush administration have knowingly and willingly colluded with each other in implementing the US’s so-called “war on terror” in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines in violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, violating the Philippine Constitution which bans the presence of foreign troops and nuclear weapons on Philippines soil,” Houtart said.
And with all its findings, Houtart said “the PPT denounces as unacceptable the inclusion of the Government of the Philippines in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC).”
During the press conference, BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr. said the various cause-oriented groups will lobby for the delisting of the Philippines from the UN HRC following the PPT’s verdict against the Arroyo government.
“Though this is not legally enforceable, the PPT verdict is morally binding. This result will be forwarded to other international bodies like the European Union, the United Nations, and other international organizations to the embarrassment of the Arroyo government,” Reyes said.
He said to celebrate their victory, many cause-oriented groups will hold a rally today (Tuesday) at 1pm at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila City to make the verdict known to the wider public.
Further, should the opposition win in the upcoming mid-term elections and outnumber the allies of the administration in Congress, the verdict, Reyes said, can be used as ground to advance another impeachment move against Arroyo.
“Arroyo and Bush are criminals, according to the PPT. And she (Arroyo) could no longer redeem her self because the truth has already come out. This should lead to her removal from power,” Dee Ayroso of Desaparecidos said in the same conference.
Sought for comment on the PPT’s verdict, Philippine Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo: “What is that? A kangaroo court? An International kangaroo court?”
Ebdane said the it was not fair for the PPT to accuse the Arroyo government of violating human rights because it did not take the testimony of any government representative.
“We use to say that a person is presumed innocent until he is proven otherwise. Nowadays, it seems another thing. In the Hague, or even in other courts, they should first hear both sides. How can they conclude when they have not even talked to the organizations or the agencies concerned?” said Ebdane.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Manial Robert Vornis echoed the same comment: “It would seem to me that the verdicts of the tribunal was a foregone conclusion. And therefore, it is a tribunal that is, to me, at least, more of a political exercise than a judicial exercise.”
“So, from that perspective, I think, perhaps, we should think of it more as a kangaroo tribunal than anything else,” he added.
But Reyes said branding the PPT as a kangaroo court would not be appropriate because it was the Philippine government who opted not to send its representatives to the hearing of the charges.
“Why, when the Philippine government was not invited to the US Senate inquiry a few days back, we sent our officials there, but in this hearing, we did not despite the invitation? So the government should not take it against the tribunal or the complainants,” Reyes said.
Asked if the will take any action against the PPT, Ebdane said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be the better agency to decide whether to file a protest against the body or just ignore it.
The Philippines was earlier slapped with similar judgment by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Professor Philip Alston, and later by the Malacañang-created Melo Commission./DMS
March 26, 2007
An international people’s tribunal based in the Netherlands found Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government guilty of human rights violations following a three-day session at The Hague.
In a public forum on Sunday afternoon (Sunday evening, Manila time), Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) session President Francois Houtart read from the 13-page verdict: “The tribunal, having considered the evidence before it, is of the opinion that the reported killings, torture and forced disappearances fall under responsibility of the Philippine government and are by no way justified in terms of necessary measures against terrorism.”
The PPT, which is an international opinion tribunal composed of “law experts, writers and other cultural and community leaders from 31 countries, probed on the Philippine’s human rights situation after receiving complaints in “early 2006 by a broad coalition of social and religious organizations, based in the Philippines as well as in Europe and Canada.”
The seven-man jury, led by Houtart, heard a total of 21 witnesses and resource persons from the Philippines during its three-day session, held on March 21 to 23. The 21, however, did not include representatives from the Philippine government since the invitation coursed through the consular offices at The Hague and in Rome apparently were not heeded to.
On Monday morning, a video of the reading of the verdict at The Hague was shown at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City by the Philippine Coordinating Secretariat of the PPT. It was followed by a press conference by the following human rights advocate group: Hustisya, Desaparecidos, SELDA, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
“The extension and the systematic nature of the violations of the rights of the Filipino people committed by the governments of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and with the support and full awareness of the government of George Walker Bush, qualify the same violations as crimes against humanity, with all the consequences for the persons who are responsible for them,” Houtart said.
“Such violations must be stopped immediately,” he added.
The PPT received a total of 839 cases of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines from the year 2001 until the first quarter of this year, submitted by the various groups, headed by Karapatan.
It noted the participation of military men in some cases, and the “absence of any serious attempt to assure an investigation on the killings,” as claimed by the witnesses.
“The wealth and consistency of the oral and written documentation made available through witnesses and expert reports, has convinced the PPT that each and all of the three charges presented against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her government, and against George Walker Bush and his government, are substantiated,” Houtart said.
“The PPT underlines that the charges cannot be considered separately nor independently. The atrocities of extra-judicial killings, of massacres, of tortures, of communities destroyed and dispersed are the visible and dramatic expression of one strategy… ,” he went on.
Houtart said the PPT found “unequivocal evidences that the militaries have a central role in the greatest majority of the scenarios of human rights violations in the Philippines.”
And “to justify all illegal actions and their impunity,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Houtart said, joined with the US government’s global war on terror.
“The Philippine government and the Bush administration have knowingly and willingly colluded with each other in implementing the US’s so-called “war on terror” in Southeast Asia and in the Philippines in violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, violating the Philippine Constitution which bans the presence of foreign troops and nuclear weapons on Philippines soil,” Houtart said.
And with all its findings, Houtart said “the PPT denounces as unacceptable the inclusion of the Government of the Philippines in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN HRC).”
During the press conference, BAYAN Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr. said the various cause-oriented groups will lobby for the delisting of the Philippines from the UN HRC following the PPT’s verdict against the Arroyo government.
“Though this is not legally enforceable, the PPT verdict is morally binding. This result will be forwarded to other international bodies like the European Union, the United Nations, and other international organizations to the embarrassment of the Arroyo government,” Reyes said.
He said to celebrate their victory, many cause-oriented groups will hold a rally today (Tuesday) at 1pm at the Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila City to make the verdict known to the wider public.
Further, should the opposition win in the upcoming mid-term elections and outnumber the allies of the administration in Congress, the verdict, Reyes said, can be used as ground to advance another impeachment move against Arroyo.
“Arroyo and Bush are criminals, according to the PPT. And she (Arroyo) could no longer redeem her self because the truth has already come out. This should lead to her removal from power,” Dee Ayroso of Desaparecidos said in the same conference.
Sought for comment on the PPT’s verdict, Philippine Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo: “What is that? A kangaroo court? An International kangaroo court?”
Ebdane said the it was not fair for the PPT to accuse the Arroyo government of violating human rights because it did not take the testimony of any government representative.
“We use to say that a person is presumed innocent until he is proven otherwise. Nowadays, it seems another thing. In the Hague, or even in other courts, they should first hear both sides. How can they conclude when they have not even talked to the organizations or the agencies concerned?” said Ebdane.
The Netherlands Ambassador to Manial Robert Vornis echoed the same comment: “It would seem to me that the verdicts of the tribunal was a foregone conclusion. And therefore, it is a tribunal that is, to me, at least, more of a political exercise than a judicial exercise.”
“So, from that perspective, I think, perhaps, we should think of it more as a kangaroo tribunal than anything else,” he added.
But Reyes said branding the PPT as a kangaroo court would not be appropriate because it was the Philippine government who opted not to send its representatives to the hearing of the charges.
“Why, when the Philippine government was not invited to the US Senate inquiry a few days back, we sent our officials there, but in this hearing, we did not despite the invitation? So the government should not take it against the tribunal or the complainants,” Reyes said.
Asked if the will take any action against the PPT, Ebdane said the Department of Justice (DOJ) would be the better agency to decide whether to file a protest against the body or just ignore it.
The Philippines was earlier slapped with similar judgment by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Killings, Professor Philip Alston, and later by the Malacañang-created Melo Commission./DMS
Monday, March 26, 2007
Suspected Reds gun down two police officers in Samar
By Ronron
March 25, 2007
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked a police checkpoint in Samar province on Saturday night, killing two police officers.
Initial reports culled from the Samar Provincial Police Office said around six unidentified armed men were first seen walking in front of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint at Sitio Talahib, Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City at around 8 pm.
Without any warning, the suspects, all described to be below 20 years old, opened fire at the checkpoint using assorted types of firearms.
PO3 Valeriano Valenzuela died on the spot, while PO1 Ramil Beso sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Beso would later die upon arrival at a hospital in Catbalogan town of the same province.
The suspects were able to escape prior to the arrival of reinforcement troops from the city police station and the 809th Police Provincial Mobile Group.
They also managed to cart away the M16 and 9mm pistol of Valenzuela.
Police suspect that the attack was the handiwork of the NPA, which has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now.
The 7,100-strong NPA will mark its 38th founding anniversary this March 29th.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military and police to crush the insurgency movement by 2010 when she steps down from power./DMS
March 25, 2007
Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked a police checkpoint in Samar province on Saturday night, killing two police officers.
Initial reports culled from the Samar Provincial Police Office said around six unidentified armed men were first seen walking in front of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint at Sitio Talahib, Barangay Trinidad, Calbayog City at around 8 pm.
Without any warning, the suspects, all described to be below 20 years old, opened fire at the checkpoint using assorted types of firearms.
PO3 Valeriano Valenzuela died on the spot, while PO1 Ramil Beso sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Beso would later die upon arrival at a hospital in Catbalogan town of the same province.
The suspects were able to escape prior to the arrival of reinforcement troops from the city police station and the 809th Police Provincial Mobile Group.
They also managed to cart away the M16 and 9mm pistol of Valenzuela.
Police suspect that the attack was the handiwork of the NPA, which has been waging guerilla warfare in the countryside for almost four decades now.
The 7,100-strong NPA will mark its 38th founding anniversary this March 29th.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the military and police to crush the insurgency movement by 2010 when she steps down from power./DMS
7 family members killed in Cebu City fire
By Ronron
March 25, 2007
Seven people, five of whom are minors, were killed in a pre-dawn fire Sunday in Cebu City.
The Cebu City Fire Station (CCFS) reported that the incident happened past 1 am at the Eastern Enterprises commercial-residential building in Barangay Cogon, Pardo District.
The victims were identified as Yengyeng Chang, 70; Ellen Chua Tiu, 44; Ada Chua, 16; Karen Quie, 15; Arvin Chua, 13; Aljon Chua, 12; and, Kenneth Quie, 9. Their relationship with each other could not immediately be ascertained.
All victims were up in the building and were trapped when the flame ate up the establishment, the CCFS report said.
The CCFS said it received the fire alarm at around 1:12 am, and was put under control within 12 minutes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire investigators estimated the cost of damages at P900,000.
March is the Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines./DMS
March 25, 2007
Seven people, five of whom are minors, were killed in a pre-dawn fire Sunday in Cebu City.
The Cebu City Fire Station (CCFS) reported that the incident happened past 1 am at the Eastern Enterprises commercial-residential building in Barangay Cogon, Pardo District.
The victims were identified as Yengyeng Chang, 70; Ellen Chua Tiu, 44; Ada Chua, 16; Karen Quie, 15; Arvin Chua, 13; Aljon Chua, 12; and, Kenneth Quie, 9. Their relationship with each other could not immediately be ascertained.
All victims were up in the building and were trapped when the flame ate up the establishment, the CCFS report said.
The CCFS said it received the fire alarm at around 1:12 am, and was put under control within 12 minutes.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Fire investigators estimated the cost of damages at P900,000.
March is the Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines./DMS
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