On December 23, 2010, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo finally received a reply from his official letter to his American counterpart, Commandant, Admiral Robert J.Papp Jr. On September 19th the Commodore had expressed a deep desire to re-initiate an educational agreement between the 2 entities so that Philippine cadets may once again attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. The co-operative agreement ended in 1992 as US/GRP relations hit an all time low over the loss of the American footholds at Clark Airbase and Subic Naval Station, both in Central Luzon. Though the programme ended in 1992, those cadets then in attendance were of course allowed to complete their studies with the last Filipino graduating in 1997. Currently only 3 alumni of the American school remain in the PCG, Tamayo being one of them.
Tamayo graduated in 1979, while the other two,:
1) Commodore Gilbert Rueras who currently holds Command of PCG's MSSC (Maritime Safety Services Command) who graduated in 1986
2) Commodore Aaron Reconquista, currently in Command of PCG's Airgroup who also graduated in 1986.
In addition there are also 4 other Alumni who later transferred into the Navy so that there is a total of 7 alumni between the 2 branches. Tamayo says that he will choose from amongst the strongest performing 1st Year cadets at the PMMA (Philippine Merchant Marine Academy) since there is no Philippine Coast Guard Academy. One would imagine that in a nation made up of several thousand islands in which smuggling and piracy runs rampant that greater care would be given towards training the Coast Guard.
Lately I have devoted quite a bit of space to ex-AFP Comptroller, Major General Carlos F.Garcia and his fall from grace. To recap, Garcia had managed to amass hundreds of millions of pesos by embezzling, and to a lesser extent soliciting bribes over AFP tenders and timely disbursements to contractors. His world began to unravel in 2003 when 1 of his 3 sons was detained by US Customs and Immigration for importing 100,000 US (4.75 Million Pesos) into the US without declaring it. Under US Federal Law anything over 9,999 US must be declared for purposes of taxation. In 2004 Garcia's wife Clarita stupidly filed an affadavit with US Customs trying to recover that cash. In her statement Clarita Garcia incredibly stated that as the wife of an AFP General she was always receiving "large sums of cash as gratuities" from contractors who wished to express their sincere and heartfelt sentiments to her husband for his having helping them wrangle plush military contracts as well as for expediting disbursements for those contracts after they were awarded.
Inexplicably Ms.Garcia also described how she had 5 AFP drivers, 5 AFP vehicles and a 4,000 gallon gasoline allowance MONTHLY. She also told US Customs how she had an AFP cook who played the piano for her, "when asked." Mrs.Garcia's insane admissions were all typed neatly on her affidavit, which was then forawded to the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, California, the city where here son was pinched by Customs. By late 2004 the case was passed to JAGO (AFP speak for Judge Advocate General's Office), the AFP equivalent to a chief state prosecutor in the non-military justice system. The paperwork held other suprises as well, not least of which was Major General Garcia having obtained Permanent Residency status in the US for himself and his family. This is verboten within the AFP, being viewed as a compromising of allegiance to the Philippines.
By 2005 Garcia was dishonourably discharged and in jail, the jist of which I have covered in my other recent AFP entries. On December 17 Secretary De Lima (Department of Justice) announced that in her review of Garcia's highly controversial plea bargain she had found a 5 year old outstanding Tax Evasion case against the disgraced ex-officer. The case covers undeclared income for years 2000 through 2003 in the amount of 3.4 Million Pesos (roughly 64,000 US). In addition, his wife Clarita, who listed her occupation as "Homemaker," had undeclared stock and currency transactions worth 7.88 Million Pesos (roughly 150,000 US). These new discoveries resulted in a second Immigration Hold Order being placed on Garcia, preventing him from leaving via a commercial flight should he try to go abroad before his sentencing is concluded. He had been under an initial Hold Order after being bailed out of jail but each order expires in 60 days and De Lima said she wanted to ensure no lapse would take place as she tries her best to have Garcia's plea bargain voided. De Lima is also angrily vowed to find out why the Tax Evasion case apparently slipped between the cracks (cough...bribe...cough).
On December 13, 2010, at Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao's residence in Makati's Das Marinas a select group of visitors listened as the Ambassador gushed about a new age of co-operation between the AFP and the Chinese military. However Ambassador Jiancho said that the first steps would be moderate and involve , perhaps, joint maritime search and rescue operations and/or counter-narcotics activities. The ambassador also mentioned Human Trafficking as an area China would like to jointly coordinate on. The small discussion came on the heels of AFP Chief of Staff, General Ricardo David's official trip to China where he inked a deal worth 24 Million Yuan (150 Million Pesos/roughly $2.8 Million) in Military Engineering Equipment.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Developments Within the Military,Last Quarter 2010,Part II:Carlos Garcia's Woes Continue, Dolorfino Retires and Nonoy does Nam
On December 30, 2010 4ID (Infantry Division) gave the CPP-NPA (Communist Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army) an anniversary present to commemorate the CPP having turned 42 on December 26. What did the Division offer? The same hokey propaganda that makes most rational people not listen to a word the AFP says. The Armed Forces of the Philippines are its own worst enemy and the best weapon the Maoist Insurgency could hope for. New CO (Commanding Officer), Major General Victor Felix released the year end statistics for his IBs (Infantry Battalions). According to the Major General Felix, his men have killed 22 NPA guerillas this year (almost true), wounded 27 (purely an arbitrary number from supposed "bloodstains" seen in fire zones, 38 captures (absolute lie), 76 surrenderees (another absolute lie, even with the non-NPA members they convince to pose as guerillas). In addition, the esteemed General captured 78 camps (lying through their teeth, ask the CMO,the Civil-Military Officer, how many guerillas were captured or killed in those camps,then ask for their locations and see the huge discrepancies, most camps are non existent since the NPA does not engage in static encampments), and best of all, among the many dozens of weapons vouchsafed during the year the Division claims it captured 16 anti-personnel mines, 15 Claymores and 10 anti-tank mines. I have just one small acronym to lay down: IED. As long as the AFP insists on labeling IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, as a "mine" of any kind noone with even a cursory knowledge of the Philippine Insurgency(ies) us going to 86 even the most basic claims made by the AFP as baseless military propaganda.
The word"Mine"in and of itself really isn't the problem.The crux of the issue is"Detonation," or to be more specific,"Command Detonation."The central thesis of the AFP is that "NPA mines" are an overt contravention of the Ottawa Treaty, ergo a violation of LOAC/IHL (Laws of Armed Conflict/International Humanitarian Law). The central problem is that the Ottawa Treaty is only binding upon those entities that have signed and than ratified the document, all of whom are sovereign nations. The NPA of course is a Non-State Actor. More to the point, the treaty addresses Anti-Personnel Mines, not Anti-Armour Mines,etc.,etc. Finally, the NPA uses Command Controlled Detonation. Its IEDs. Are wired so that a guerilla must actually flip the circuit before the device detonates. Using a detonating cable they are on site, watching and waiting and they therefore control the detonation so that it only assaults security personnel. The NPA utilises its IEDs as the initial primer of a classic 2-Step Ambush. 1 guerilla detonates the IED just as an AFP or PNP vehicle or element passes by and then barrels into a salvo with long arms, strafing survivors. The NPA doesn't bury an IED in the dirt to be tripped by pressure, etc.
Though my preceding paragraph was quite caustic I am by no means an NPA supporter (perish the thought). Indeed they are just as full of shi*. It is simply that the Filipino People do not need more fairytales. The people need truth, which is the main reason why I began this endeavour. However, when the AFP actually releases statisticss showing anti-personnel mines having been captured from the NPA, well that needs to be exposed as the boldfaced lie it is. The NPA has no external conduit for weapons. Ergo. It obtains virtually all its arms from its tactical (and rarely its defencive) operations against the AFP. IF the NPA has mines it would have had to have gotten them from the AFP, PNP or the Philippine Government..
The 4ID is headquartered at Camp Evangelista in Barangay Patag, CDO (Cagayan del Oro City) in Misamis Oriental Province. It is 1 of 4 IDs on Mindanao, the others being the 1st, 6th and the 10th. 4th AOR (Area of Responsibility) covers its home province, Agusan del Norte. Agusan del Sur (most), Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte (including Siargo Island which is no longer a province after a recent Supreme Court Ruling), and part of Bukidnon Province. In terms of overall area it covers the largest patch but within this AOR 2 provinces are entirely pacified (Surigao del Norte and Misamis Oriental), at least in official terms. Though the base (Evangelista) abuts the border of the MILF 102 Base Command's AOR, the Division only deals with the NPA (since the other Communist Insurgency,the RPM-M signed its Final Peace Agreement more than 3 years ago). As for the NPA, there are 2 Regional Commands within that AOR, NCMRC (North Central Mindanao Regional Command which is on shaky legs at the moment, barely fielding 2 Fronts (a "Front" is a military detachment, for the sake of all precious brevity I will leave it at that) and NEMRC (Northeast Mindanao Regional Command). NEM holds the largest number of Fronts (NPA detachments) on the island.
In my previous AFP entry I had very briefly mentioned the retirement of Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino. Benjamin Mohammad Dolorfino is proof positive that despite the AFP being decrepid to the point of being years past euthanasia, it can still produce true military icons (or perhaps the more likely scenario is that DESPITE the AFP these men rise to the top).
On November 10, 2010 Lieutenant Dolorfino retired having reached the AFP's mandatory age of retirement on his 56th birthday. At retirement he concurrently held Command of the Marine Corps as well as being in Command at WESMINCOM, 1 of 2 Mindanao Regional Commands. He had only been at WESMINCOM for a bit more than a year but had still managed to piss the right people off (in Command, if you aren't making enemies you aren't doing your job correctly). His most controversial move came during Eid al Fit'r when Dolorfino, a convert to Islam, ordered a heavy aerial bombing over Jolo Island in Sulu Province. While the OV-10s did strike known ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) position the MNLF's Kummander Ustadz Habir Malik insists that the bombs were meant for him. Malik after all had taken Dolorfino hostage back in 2007.
Though Asked his plans upon retirement Dolorfino swore that it would not involve actual participation in the political system since he doesn't want his hands "tied by politicians." He is sure that his future lies with an NGO committed to bringing peace to Mindanao though as yet he doesn't have a particular one in mind. Asked what stands out most from his long service with the AFP and he recalls the name of a mate from his Class at PMA (Philippine Military Academy), Class of 76. The classmate, 1st Class Cadet, Jan Efre Muyargas was killed soon after their graduation during their 1st Tour together on Basilan. Dolorfino dedicated his recent book, "Peacemakers, Peacekeepers and Peacebuilders" to Muyargas. Lieutenant Arthur Tabaquero has since been named Dolorfino's successor at WESMINCOM, the OIC (Officer in Charge, aka "Acting Commander") was Major General Romeo Lustestica, CO of 1ID, a choice of utility more than anything else since 1st Division is HQd in that same municipality, Zamboanga City.
That same day, November 10, 2010 it was revealed that President Aquino's recent trip to Vietnam has paid off with a Defence Pact that involves both Expert and Educational Exchanges. Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin accompanied the President on the 2 day State Visit that took place on October 25 and 26. Gazmin concluded the afore mentioned MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) with his counterpart, Minister of Defence , General Phung Quang. The 2 men also discussed contentions over the Spratly Islands, a group of mostly uninhabited atolls and reefs that are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, China and Vietnam.
The day before the Agreement was announced, November 09, Gazmin was forced to abort a landing in 1 of the AFP's 3 functioning C130s on one of the Spratlys, Pagasa Isle due to a badly deteriorating airstrip. It was to be Gazmin's 1st trip while serving as Secretary of National Defense. With him was AFP Chief of Staff, General Ricardo David and WESCOM CO, Lieutenant General Juancho Sabban Upon landing at WESCOM headquarters on Palawan he said that he will priortise an upgrade and rehab of facilities in Pagasa so as to consolidate GRP claims on the group of islands. Back at WESCOM Gazmin mentioned that his Department is currently working on a multi-year budget to the tune of 5 Billion Pesos for modernisation of the entire AFP. He also revealed that talks are ongoing with DOE (Department of Energy) as to whether his Department will receive royalties from the MGPP (Malampaya Gas Pipeline Project) on Palawan. Secretary Gazmin hopes to use such royalties to help fund the AFP's push for modernisation.
The word"Mine"in and of itself really isn't the problem.The crux of the issue is"Detonation," or to be more specific,"Command Detonation."The central thesis of the AFP is that "NPA mines" are an overt contravention of the Ottawa Treaty, ergo a violation of LOAC/IHL (Laws of Armed Conflict/International Humanitarian Law). The central problem is that the Ottawa Treaty is only binding upon those entities that have signed and than ratified the document, all of whom are sovereign nations. The NPA of course is a Non-State Actor. More to the point, the treaty addresses Anti-Personnel Mines, not Anti-Armour Mines,etc.,etc. Finally, the NPA uses Command Controlled Detonation. Its IEDs. Are wired so that a guerilla must actually flip the circuit before the device detonates. Using a detonating cable they are on site, watching and waiting and they therefore control the detonation so that it only assaults security personnel. The NPA utilises its IEDs as the initial primer of a classic 2-Step Ambush. 1 guerilla detonates the IED just as an AFP or PNP vehicle or element passes by and then barrels into a salvo with long arms, strafing survivors. The NPA doesn't bury an IED in the dirt to be tripped by pressure, etc.
Though my preceding paragraph was quite caustic I am by no means an NPA supporter (perish the thought). Indeed they are just as full of shi*. It is simply that the Filipino People do not need more fairytales. The people need truth, which is the main reason why I began this endeavour. However, when the AFP actually releases statisticss showing anti-personnel mines having been captured from the NPA, well that needs to be exposed as the boldfaced lie it is. The NPA has no external conduit for weapons. Ergo. It obtains virtually all its arms from its tactical (and rarely its defencive) operations against the AFP. IF the NPA has mines it would have had to have gotten them from the AFP, PNP or the Philippine Government..
The 4ID is headquartered at Camp Evangelista in Barangay Patag, CDO (Cagayan del Oro City) in Misamis Oriental Province. It is 1 of 4 IDs on Mindanao, the others being the 1st, 6th and the 10th. 4th AOR (Area of Responsibility) covers its home province, Agusan del Norte. Agusan del Sur (most), Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte (including Siargo Island which is no longer a province after a recent Supreme Court Ruling), and part of Bukidnon Province. In terms of overall area it covers the largest patch but within this AOR 2 provinces are entirely pacified (Surigao del Norte and Misamis Oriental), at least in official terms. Though the base (Evangelista) abuts the border of the MILF 102 Base Command's AOR, the Division only deals with the NPA (since the other Communist Insurgency,the RPM-M signed its Final Peace Agreement more than 3 years ago). As for the NPA, there are 2 Regional Commands within that AOR, NCMRC (North Central Mindanao Regional Command which is on shaky legs at the moment, barely fielding 2 Fronts (a "Front" is a military detachment, for the sake of all precious brevity I will leave it at that) and NEMRC (Northeast Mindanao Regional Command). NEM holds the largest number of Fronts (NPA detachments) on the island.
In my previous AFP entry I had very briefly mentioned the retirement of Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino. Benjamin Mohammad Dolorfino is proof positive that despite the AFP being decrepid to the point of being years past euthanasia, it can still produce true military icons (or perhaps the more likely scenario is that DESPITE the AFP these men rise to the top).
On November 10, 2010 Lieutenant Dolorfino retired having reached the AFP's mandatory age of retirement on his 56th birthday. At retirement he concurrently held Command of the Marine Corps as well as being in Command at WESMINCOM, 1 of 2 Mindanao Regional Commands. He had only been at WESMINCOM for a bit more than a year but had still managed to piss the right people off (in Command, if you aren't making enemies you aren't doing your job correctly). His most controversial move came during Eid al Fit'r when Dolorfino, a convert to Islam, ordered a heavy aerial bombing over Jolo Island in Sulu Province. While the OV-10s did strike known ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) position the MNLF's Kummander Ustadz Habir Malik insists that the bombs were meant for him. Malik after all had taken Dolorfino hostage back in 2007.
Though Asked his plans upon retirement Dolorfino swore that it would not involve actual participation in the political system since he doesn't want his hands "tied by politicians." He is sure that his future lies with an NGO committed to bringing peace to Mindanao though as yet he doesn't have a particular one in mind. Asked what stands out most from his long service with the AFP and he recalls the name of a mate from his Class at PMA (Philippine Military Academy), Class of 76. The classmate, 1st Class Cadet, Jan Efre Muyargas was killed soon after their graduation during their 1st Tour together on Basilan. Dolorfino dedicated his recent book, "Peacemakers, Peacekeepers and Peacebuilders" to Muyargas. Lieutenant Arthur Tabaquero has since been named Dolorfino's successor at WESMINCOM, the OIC (Officer in Charge, aka "Acting Commander") was Major General Romeo Lustestica, CO of 1ID, a choice of utility more than anything else since 1st Division is HQd in that same municipality, Zamboanga City.
That same day, November 10, 2010 it was revealed that President Aquino's recent trip to Vietnam has paid off with a Defence Pact that involves both Expert and Educational Exchanges. Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin accompanied the President on the 2 day State Visit that took place on October 25 and 26. Gazmin concluded the afore mentioned MoA (Memorandum of Agreement) with his counterpart, Minister of Defence , General Phung Quang. The 2 men also discussed contentions over the Spratly Islands, a group of mostly uninhabited atolls and reefs that are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, China and Vietnam.
The day before the Agreement was announced, November 09, Gazmin was forced to abort a landing in 1 of the AFP's 3 functioning C130s on one of the Spratlys, Pagasa Isle due to a badly deteriorating airstrip. It was to be Gazmin's 1st trip while serving as Secretary of National Defense. With him was AFP Chief of Staff, General Ricardo David and WESCOM CO, Lieutenant General Juancho Sabban Upon landing at WESCOM headquarters on Palawan he said that he will priortise an upgrade and rehab of facilities in Pagasa so as to consolidate GRP claims on the group of islands. Back at WESCOM Gazmin mentioned that his Department is currently working on a multi-year budget to the tune of 5 Billion Pesos for modernisation of the entire AFP. He also revealed that talks are ongoing with DOE (Department of Energy) as to whether his Department will receive royalties from the MGPP (Malampaya Gas Pipeline Project) on Palawan. Secretary Gazmin hopes to use such royalties to help fund the AFP's push for modernisation.
Developments Within the Military,Last Quarter 2010,Part IV:Combat Pay is Doubled,Feliciano Angue Commits Career Suicide, the New Face of TF Basilan and Pacquiao joins Peace Panel
On Tuesday, December 21, 2010 the AFP got some additional holiday cheer as President Aquino unveiled his new anti-coup measure (sarcasm).The life-long bachelor's brainstorm was revealed during the 75th Anniversary of the AFP festivities at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City,Metro Manila.During the President's speech he revealed that just the day before he had signed an Amendment to Executive Order #658 which will raise the Combat Bonus from 240 Pesos a month ($6) to 500 Pesos A MONTH ($11), which ends up coming to 2.65 US Dollars A WEEK to dodge bullets, RPGs, IEDs and abductions, oh goody.The bonus,which is doled out on the 15th of the month,hadn't been raised since March 22, 1985.Yep, that is correct, under Marcos (via EO #1017).
The good news (though it is seriously a tragedy if you think about it,is that almost 70% of the AFP will get the raise. OK, you still can't figure out the tragedy? More that 110,000 soldiers,sailors,marines and airmen are in combat situations.In any event,it will be effective as of January 01,2011 and will be funded via outlay from Personnel Service savings for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011.Alhough President Aquino is being credited it actually arose out of the Senate's Committees on Defense and Finance"Joint Resolution #8."
Last Summer (July,2010) Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue was given a technically lateral transfer from Command of NCRCOM (National Capitol Region Command, aka Manila) to WESCOM (Western Command, HQd in Puerto Princessa,Palawan,not to be confused with WESMINCOM,aka Western Mindanao Command HQd in Zamboanga City on Mindanao).Angue is a Rear Admiral,a 2 Star Rank.NCR is a 3 Star Command.WES is a 2 Star Command.Angue,who never received his 3rd Star saw that he was being transferred to a 2 Star Command,meaning that getting a 3rd Star would have to wait at least 1 more rotation.
Technically, as I have noted, Angue was getting a lateral transfer,neither up nor down,simply a 2 Star Officer going to a 2 Star Command.Angue however felt it was about time that the AFP recognised what he's made of and so he did the unthinkable (for a career officer),he ran to the media and blamed his Superiors for politicking (meaning they were playing "personality" over "potential").Then he quickly went one further and inferred that Superiors had connived with former President Arroyo in her manipulation (let us be honest, STEALING ) of the 2004 Election when he was deployed on Tawi Tawi. He also accused Superiors of doing the same in the 2010 synchronised Local/National Elections (May 10, 2010).
The consequences were predictable.The Navy deployed a 4 man panel to conduct a preliminary investigation to help determine whether-or-not Angue should face a General Court Martial.The panel was Chaired by former Vice Commander of the Navy(Retired) Rear Admiral Roberto Estioko who over saw the 3 members:
I) Naval JAG (Judge Advocate General, equivalent to a Chief Prosecutor in the non-military justice system),Col.Al Pererras
II) Naval Deputy JAG,LTC.Jose Feliciano Loy
III) Naval Provost Marshal (CO of MPs,aka Military Police) , Col.Antonieto Ga
The panel made its determination in early November and recommended that Angue...BIG SUPRISE (not by a long shot) face a General Court Martial (though technically they can only recommend that a Second investigation take place,in reality that Second Investigation will absolutely come back recommending that General Court Martial).
Specifically they found grounds for 3 charges:
I) Article of War #65 (Insubordination)
II) Article of War #97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline)
III) Military Code of Ethics, exact determination not made (for running his insolent pouty mouth to the demon known as the media)
Not long before the panel submitted its findings,WESCOM the Command Angue whined about,ended up being handed to Major General Juancho Sabban (formerly the Marines CO,who was replaced in that Command by Brig.Gen.Rustico Guerrero after Brig.Gen.Alvio was passed over for being physically unfit).Angue's former Command,NCR,was given to Major General Arthur Tabaquero.Tabaquero only held it for a short while though,before getting WESMINCOM which itself had been vacated upon Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino's retirement from service (which I discussed in another current"AFP,Last Quarter 2010"entry).
Ironically Angue had only held Command of NCR since March,2010.Not only did he hold NCR for a mere 96 days before receiving this transfer,he knew that with former President Arroyo maxing out on her term limit that a change in Administration just wasn't probable,it was guaranteed.Unlike militaries in more stable nations,the AFP undergoes a thorough re-shuffling when Administrations change to try and stave off mutinies and coup attempts.How much more so when NCRCOM plays the top dog in guarding against military related threats to the Presidency?Total stupidity on Angue's part although I really do see his point on politicking,the 2004 Election and most of all his complaints (that I haven't touched upon) with regard to current Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin.Gazmin has been shuffling his former cronies (from his time in the AFP) to the top of the deck.In the AFP personality and connections (patronage) are everything.That is why the AFP,for the most part,is the most inept military in SE Asia.
On November 11, 2010 the 4th Special Forces Riverine Battalion,currently headquartered in Zamboanga City,took receipt of 13 Light Support Craft.The Riverine Force is comprised of soldiers specially trained for operating in estuaries,marshes and mangroves.The craft were locally made by Bajao and Sama (Samal) Tribesmen as part of the AFP's Oplan Condor (the AFP just can't get enough of those silly labels).Although the label is silly the plan itself is actually very intelligent. Utilising the skills of the nation's best boat builders who also happen to be among the country's most marginal of ethnicities the military comes off with a win:win situation.Empowering the poorest of the poor while engaging them in pro-government activities they do a whole lot more than the Basilan Circumfrential Road (a CMO Hearts and Minds Project that utilised 0% local labour and services thus far). Although Bajao aren't a demographic associated on the shooting end of insurgencies they ARE the epitome of a"Mass Base of Support."Sama on the other hand are sometimes found in the MILF and a whole of them were MNLF (some still are).
At the same time the AFP has saved a tonne of cash.Those 13 boats cost the army 10.56 Million Pesos ($220,000),roughly 10% of what the PA (Philippine Army) could expect to pay for commercially manufactured craft.Indeed,
the entire tab would have covered a single commercial Support Craft with a 25 man payload.The 22 artisans contracted received the order in early September so that time was also a huge advantage in the order.24 months would not be unusual commercially.12 of the boats are just short of 6 meters long and powered by 115hp inboard engines with a maximum speed of 39 knots.The 13th craft is nearly 18 meters long with a 250hp inboard engine with a maximum speed of 24 knots.Carrying a 5 man crew and up to half a Company (50 soldiers) it will serve as a Support Craft for the other dozen.Each of those 12 boats will carry a 2 man crew and 6 soldiers and function as Scout Craft.
A Riverine Force would seem to be a natural element for a nation spread out over 7,107 tropical islands but then a lot of obvious things seem to slip right by the powers that be in the AFP.It wasn't until early 2007 that this no brainer took shape.Utilising the 11th Anniversary of SOCOM (Special Operations Command) on June 01, 2007 to officially announce the formation of the first Riverine COY,analysts were suddenly optimistic that the AFP was finally going to try and re-shape itself into something more than just a police force.It is amazing how just a single sensible idea could make so many people buy into a false sense of expectation.Still,positivity should be acknowledged and re-inforced.In fact the PA did already have 2 Riverine COYs-at least in name:
1) COY 11
2) COY 18
also attached to SOCOM but de-activated during the SOCOM re-organisation that took place in 2004.Those 2 de-activated COYs only operated in Central Luzon which is about as asinine as it gets considering that the minimal insurgency taking place there (3 communist forces, only 1 of which,the NPA ranks above typical Peace and Order Operations,and THEY were NOT doing it in mangroves).With the 2007 formation a COY (designated 12th) would finally operate down south where it was actually crucially needed.
Speaking of SOCOM,Deputy CO (Commanding Officer),Col.Nicanor Dolojan was given the concurrent Command of TF Basilan (Task Force Basilan).The TF has recently been thoroughly re-organised as the Basilan Theater has been stripped of its Fleet-Marine Doctrine.Though Fleet-Marine HAS certainly shown improvements over the previous hydra of a pseudo-doctrine that held sway on that island province,it still wasn't able to do anything more than offer a more visible presence. The SOCOM TF,the new TF Basilan was specially created to pick up the slack once the Marines 1st Brigade rotated out.Making up the new and improved TF is the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne, as if PA soldiers will ever need to parachute somewhere),4th Scout Rangers Battalion (a newly raised battalion), and a single IB (Infantry Battalion), the 32nd.The re-deployment out of and into Basilan was supposed to have been completed within the 2nd week of November (after the earlier deadline of September 31st came and went without anyone blinking).Of course things being what they are in the Philippines it still hasn't been completed and New Year is upon us.Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz,newly installed CO at SOCOM was schedualed to preside at the Turn Over of Command Ceremony but instead merely oversaw the Activation of the afore mentioned 4th Scout Rangers Battalion.I also need to credit Lieutenant General Ortiz as the primary mover and shaker behind Oplan Condor.IF this is what the man is made of maybe SOCOM can have a reason to swagger.
The Marines aren't saying a thing but the Fleet Doctrine didn't pan out too well.Neither are they saying why they quickly rotated the Marine 1st Bde into 6ID (Infantry Division) AOR.Beginning with the Summer 2010 kidnapping of 2 Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) in Cotabato City,LGU (Local Government Unit,aka"municipal") executives there began screaming for another Marine deployment on to Central Mindanao (6ID AOR).Officially the shuffle was to take place on Sunday,September 31st, but as I mentioned above it is evidently taking longer than anticipated.MILF Spokesman (now "ex" since Eid Kabalu has been brought back) Von al Haq says that the MILF CCCH (a Ceasefire entity I have discussed in my MILF entries) will file an official complaint since according to the CCCH MoA (Memorandum of Agreement),any troop movements or rotations in or out of MILF AOR must abide by the terms spelled out in that bilateral agreement.According to al Haq the AFP hasn't said a word (via the GRP CCCH Panel (GRP being"Govt.of the Philippines") whose task it is to do so).Of course the MILF is always looking for problems where there aren't any.The MoA is supposed to address re-deployments over land so that there isn't an accidental Ground War when AFP and MILF elements physically trip over each other.This is besides the fact that the rotation was 4 months in the making,get a grip.
Most Filipinos are unaware but boxing champ and Mindanowan Congressman (Sarangani Province) Manny Pacquiao is ALSO an AFP Army Reservist.Holding the rank of a Master Sergeant,Manny brings great pride to the military,so much so that on November 14,2010. (Wait... I am trying to do a serious Blog...OK, thanks, back to our show) Col.Antonio Parlade Jr.,AFP Reserves Spokesperson revealed that just as soon as Pugilist cum Congressman slash Master Seargent of the Reserves Pacquiao returns from his sojourn to Mexico,the AFP will lobby for Mindanao's own Renaissance Man to gain a slot on the GRP Peace Panel. Of course Col.Einstein,I mean Parlade Jr,didn't deign to reveal WHICH Peace Panel Manny should sit on.Look, I am not a Filipino and even I beam with pride when Manny waxes some Mexican's as* but "Peace Panel?"
Of course the comment (or revelation) came almost immediately after the Congressman from Sarangani won his 8th World Title against Antonio Margarito so let's just do the good Colonel a favour and chalk it up to patriotism and booze,never a good combination but hey,better than the alternative (which would be complete and utter mental illness).
The good news (though it is seriously a tragedy if you think about it,is that almost 70% of the AFP will get the raise. OK, you still can't figure out the tragedy? More that 110,000 soldiers,sailors,marines and airmen are in combat situations.In any event,it will be effective as of January 01,2011 and will be funded via outlay from Personnel Service savings for Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011.Alhough President Aquino is being credited it actually arose out of the Senate's Committees on Defense and Finance"Joint Resolution #8."
Last Summer (July,2010) Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue was given a technically lateral transfer from Command of NCRCOM (National Capitol Region Command, aka Manila) to WESCOM (Western Command, HQd in Puerto Princessa,Palawan,not to be confused with WESMINCOM,aka Western Mindanao Command HQd in Zamboanga City on Mindanao).Angue is a Rear Admiral,a 2 Star Rank.NCR is a 3 Star Command.WES is a 2 Star Command.Angue,who never received his 3rd Star saw that he was being transferred to a 2 Star Command,meaning that getting a 3rd Star would have to wait at least 1 more rotation.
Technically, as I have noted, Angue was getting a lateral transfer,neither up nor down,simply a 2 Star Officer going to a 2 Star Command.Angue however felt it was about time that the AFP recognised what he's made of and so he did the unthinkable (for a career officer),he ran to the media and blamed his Superiors for politicking (meaning they were playing "personality" over "potential").Then he quickly went one further and inferred that Superiors had connived with former President Arroyo in her manipulation (let us be honest, STEALING ) of the 2004 Election when he was deployed on Tawi Tawi. He also accused Superiors of doing the same in the 2010 synchronised Local/National Elections (May 10, 2010).
The consequences were predictable.The Navy deployed a 4 man panel to conduct a preliminary investigation to help determine whether-or-not Angue should face a General Court Martial.The panel was Chaired by former Vice Commander of the Navy(Retired) Rear Admiral Roberto Estioko who over saw the 3 members:
I) Naval JAG (Judge Advocate General, equivalent to a Chief Prosecutor in the non-military justice system),Col.Al Pererras
II) Naval Deputy JAG,LTC.Jose Feliciano Loy
III) Naval Provost Marshal (CO of MPs,aka Military Police) , Col.Antonieto Ga
The panel made its determination in early November and recommended that Angue...BIG SUPRISE (not by a long shot) face a General Court Martial (though technically they can only recommend that a Second investigation take place,in reality that Second Investigation will absolutely come back recommending that General Court Martial).
Specifically they found grounds for 3 charges:
I) Article of War #65 (Insubordination)
II) Article of War #97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline)
III) Military Code of Ethics, exact determination not made (for running his insolent pouty mouth to the demon known as the media)
Not long before the panel submitted its findings,WESCOM the Command Angue whined about,ended up being handed to Major General Juancho Sabban (formerly the Marines CO,who was replaced in that Command by Brig.Gen.Rustico Guerrero after Brig.Gen.Alvio was passed over for being physically unfit).Angue's former Command,NCR,was given to Major General Arthur Tabaquero.Tabaquero only held it for a short while though,before getting WESMINCOM which itself had been vacated upon Lieutenant General Ben Dolorfino's retirement from service (which I discussed in another current"AFP,Last Quarter 2010"entry).
Ironically Angue had only held Command of NCR since March,2010.Not only did he hold NCR for a mere 96 days before receiving this transfer,he knew that with former President Arroyo maxing out on her term limit that a change in Administration just wasn't probable,it was guaranteed.Unlike militaries in more stable nations,the AFP undergoes a thorough re-shuffling when Administrations change to try and stave off mutinies and coup attempts.How much more so when NCRCOM plays the top dog in guarding against military related threats to the Presidency?Total stupidity on Angue's part although I really do see his point on politicking,the 2004 Election and most of all his complaints (that I haven't touched upon) with regard to current Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin.Gazmin has been shuffling his former cronies (from his time in the AFP) to the top of the deck.In the AFP personality and connections (patronage) are everything.That is why the AFP,for the most part,is the most inept military in SE Asia.
On November 11, 2010 the 4th Special Forces Riverine Battalion,currently headquartered in Zamboanga City,took receipt of 13 Light Support Craft.The Riverine Force is comprised of soldiers specially trained for operating in estuaries,marshes and mangroves.The craft were locally made by Bajao and Sama (Samal) Tribesmen as part of the AFP's Oplan Condor (the AFP just can't get enough of those silly labels).Although the label is silly the plan itself is actually very intelligent. Utilising the skills of the nation's best boat builders who also happen to be among the country's most marginal of ethnicities the military comes off with a win:win situation.Empowering the poorest of the poor while engaging them in pro-government activities they do a whole lot more than the Basilan Circumfrential Road (a CMO Hearts and Minds Project that utilised 0% local labour and services thus far). Although Bajao aren't a demographic associated on the shooting end of insurgencies they ARE the epitome of a"Mass Base of Support."Sama on the other hand are sometimes found in the MILF and a whole of them were MNLF (some still are).
At the same time the AFP has saved a tonne of cash.Those 13 boats cost the army 10.56 Million Pesos ($220,000),roughly 10% of what the PA (Philippine Army) could expect to pay for commercially manufactured craft.Indeed,
the entire tab would have covered a single commercial Support Craft with a 25 man payload.The 22 artisans contracted received the order in early September so that time was also a huge advantage in the order.24 months would not be unusual commercially.12 of the boats are just short of 6 meters long and powered by 115hp inboard engines with a maximum speed of 39 knots.The 13th craft is nearly 18 meters long with a 250hp inboard engine with a maximum speed of 24 knots.Carrying a 5 man crew and up to half a Company (50 soldiers) it will serve as a Support Craft for the other dozen.Each of those 12 boats will carry a 2 man crew and 6 soldiers and function as Scout Craft.
A Riverine Force would seem to be a natural element for a nation spread out over 7,107 tropical islands but then a lot of obvious things seem to slip right by the powers that be in the AFP.It wasn't until early 2007 that this no brainer took shape.Utilising the 11th Anniversary of SOCOM (Special Operations Command) on June 01, 2007 to officially announce the formation of the first Riverine COY,analysts were suddenly optimistic that the AFP was finally going to try and re-shape itself into something more than just a police force.It is amazing how just a single sensible idea could make so many people buy into a false sense of expectation.Still,positivity should be acknowledged and re-inforced.In fact the PA did already have 2 Riverine COYs-at least in name:
1) COY 11
2) COY 18
also attached to SOCOM but de-activated during the SOCOM re-organisation that took place in 2004.Those 2 de-activated COYs only operated in Central Luzon which is about as asinine as it gets considering that the minimal insurgency taking place there (3 communist forces, only 1 of which,the NPA ranks above typical Peace and Order Operations,and THEY were NOT doing it in mangroves).With the 2007 formation a COY (designated 12th) would finally operate down south where it was actually crucially needed.
Speaking of SOCOM,Deputy CO (Commanding Officer),Col.Nicanor Dolojan was given the concurrent Command of TF Basilan (Task Force Basilan).The TF has recently been thoroughly re-organised as the Basilan Theater has been stripped of its Fleet-Marine Doctrine.Though Fleet-Marine HAS certainly shown improvements over the previous hydra of a pseudo-doctrine that held sway on that island province,it still wasn't able to do anything more than offer a more visible presence. The SOCOM TF,the new TF Basilan was specially created to pick up the slack once the Marines 1st Brigade rotated out.Making up the new and improved TF is the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne, as if PA soldiers will ever need to parachute somewhere),4th Scout Rangers Battalion (a newly raised battalion), and a single IB (Infantry Battalion), the 32nd.The re-deployment out of and into Basilan was supposed to have been completed within the 2nd week of November (after the earlier deadline of September 31st came and went without anyone blinking).Of course things being what they are in the Philippines it still hasn't been completed and New Year is upon us.Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz,newly installed CO at SOCOM was schedualed to preside at the Turn Over of Command Ceremony but instead merely oversaw the Activation of the afore mentioned 4th Scout Rangers Battalion.I also need to credit Lieutenant General Ortiz as the primary mover and shaker behind Oplan Condor.IF this is what the man is made of maybe SOCOM can have a reason to swagger.
The Marines aren't saying a thing but the Fleet Doctrine didn't pan out too well.Neither are they saying why they quickly rotated the Marine 1st Bde into 6ID (Infantry Division) AOR.Beginning with the Summer 2010 kidnapping of 2 Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese) in Cotabato City,LGU (Local Government Unit,aka"municipal") executives there began screaming for another Marine deployment on to Central Mindanao (6ID AOR).Officially the shuffle was to take place on Sunday,September 31st, but as I mentioned above it is evidently taking longer than anticipated.MILF Spokesman (now "ex" since Eid Kabalu has been brought back) Von al Haq says that the MILF CCCH (a Ceasefire entity I have discussed in my MILF entries) will file an official complaint since according to the CCCH MoA (Memorandum of Agreement),any troop movements or rotations in or out of MILF AOR must abide by the terms spelled out in that bilateral agreement.According to al Haq the AFP hasn't said a word (via the GRP CCCH Panel (GRP being"Govt.of the Philippines") whose task it is to do so).Of course the MILF is always looking for problems where there aren't any.The MoA is supposed to address re-deployments over land so that there isn't an accidental Ground War when AFP and MILF elements physically trip over each other.This is besides the fact that the rotation was 4 months in the making,get a grip.
Most Filipinos are unaware but boxing champ and Mindanowan Congressman (Sarangani Province) Manny Pacquiao is ALSO an AFP Army Reservist.Holding the rank of a Master Sergeant,Manny brings great pride to the military,so much so that on November 14,2010. (Wait... I am trying to do a serious Blog...OK, thanks, back to our show) Col.Antonio Parlade Jr.,AFP Reserves Spokesperson revealed that just as soon as Pugilist cum Congressman slash Master Seargent of the Reserves Pacquiao returns from his sojourn to Mexico,the AFP will lobby for Mindanao's own Renaissance Man to gain a slot on the GRP Peace Panel. Of course Col.Einstein,I mean Parlade Jr,didn't deign to reveal WHICH Peace Panel Manny should sit on.Look, I am not a Filipino and even I beam with pride when Manny waxes some Mexican's as* but "Peace Panel?"
Of course the comment (or revelation) came almost immediately after the Congressman from Sarangani won his 8th World Title against Antonio Margarito so let's just do the good Colonel a favour and chalk it up to patriotism and booze,never a good combination but hey,better than the alternative (which would be complete and utter mental illness).
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Abu Sayyaf for the 4th Quarter of 2010: Abu Sayyaf Hates Christmas...I Mean Christians (Oooops)
I have been so preoccupied with the NPA Ceasefire lately that I almost neglected to mention the latest happenings from everybodys' favourite Islamo-fascists, the ASG, or the Abu Sayyaf Group. Of course there is no real chance of me doing that when Xmas rolls around. Just as the NPA has its cute little quirks that revolve around the calendar, so does the ASG. There are two times of year when the smart money is on the Abu Sayyaf grabbing some media attention. The first of those two times is Valentines Day, February 14th. While most Filipinos are keeping busy as they immerse themselves (and their pocketbooks) in the wonderfully stupefying stench of crass Western consumerism, those intellectually stunted fellows at ASG are deciding which community of Christians to terrorise. The second time of the year as I did mention, is Xmas Eve (Noche Buena in the Philippines) and Xmas Day (Pasko).
The obvious raison d'etre would be that the Philippines is a traditionally Catholic Nation and those two days are Catholic Holy Days (albeit days that have been twisted into plastic carticatures of themselves by greeting card companies, florists, etc. The Abu Sayyaf began life as a truly textbook example of Islamo-fascism. Abdurajak Janjalani, its main founder, was deeply committed towards an ideological end game which involved capturing all Philippine territory and the imposition of an Islamic political system. Although the scope is different, just to point out, the MILF and ASG aren't too far removed from each other in this main objective. Both Janjalani and the MILF's late founder Hashim Salamat saw politics and religion as inseparable. Put succinctly...
I) The purpose of humankind (in Islam its actually "mankind") is to honour the deity (Allah).
II) In order to properly honour the deity, humankind must congregate (the more the merrier so to speak).
III) When humans congregate they inevitably need a political system.
Another way to understand this rather simplistic proposition is to consider it thus: The purpose of political systems is to optimise humankind's ability to honour the deity. Ergo Islam is the endgame of any political system and there is absolutely no differentiation between so called "Church" and "State." "Ibada," as it is known in Arabic (ergo "in the Islamic worldview"), denotes the obesiance to Allah in all things. Proper Ibada requires an "Ummah," (a community of Muslims), and ANY community needs rules (aka "a political system"). The result is an unbroken circle of, Allah-Muslim-Allahs Law (aka "Shari'a"), THE perfect political system.
Though identical on this point, what I will call "form of governance," Janjalani and Salamat differed as to
"content of form." Both agreed that it should be based on the very basic Islamic principle of "Shura, (Arabic for "Consultative," which is identical to both mens' tribal perspectives as well. Salamat was a Maguindanowan Tribesman, Janjalani was a Yakan Tribesman though his mother was an Ilonggo, I'm sure her parents were just thrilled with how she turned out). They even agreed on the process to achieve this, the "Majlis" (Arabic word denoting an assembly of knowledgeable clerics). Where they differed was in scope. Janjalani saw no compromise and envisioned the Philippines as part of a worldwide system. His vision was devoid of etno-nationalism where as that of Salamat was not only deeply rooted in it, it absolutely revolved around the fantasy of, "Bangsamoro." The Bangsamoro is a non-existent People on par intellectually with the belief that "Palestinians" constituted an actual People prior to 1948. I use this analogy because just as with "Palestinians" one sees the manufacturing of not only an entire ethnicity but also a manufactured historical narrative that could not exist without a manufactured foil. With "Palestinians" this of course would be Zionists, and with the "Bangsamoro" this would be the... "Filipino." The parallels are very deep but I fear allowing such tangents to hijack what I hoped would be a relatively simple screed (hahaha, Shandyesque as always. Hey what good is a Blog if I can't use it to marry obscure political analogies, obscure literary references and obscure witticisms? Yay to obscurity!).
Salamat, like any capable leader, was a pragmatist to a large degree. Where Janjalani rooted himself in an extremist position out of utter conviction Salamat did so only in order to obtain and utilise an advantageous bargaining position. Once Salamt realised that Misuari's MNLF would leave Central Mindanowan Muslims (Maguindanowans, Maranaw, Iranun and Kagan Tribes) as marginalised as they had always been he used Islam as the ideological vehicle with which to differentiate his clque within the MNLF (basically the MNLF's "Kutawato Regional Committee" that Salamat had Chaired since the Committee's inception shortly after the MNLF was founded). It took a solid 5 years before the MILF was able to truly assert itself as an organisation independently of the MNLF (it left the MNLF in 1976 and formally declared itself extant in 1981). By the time the MILF was fully opetational Salamat had already, internally, abandoned the primary objective of a fully independent homeland, as well as the unilateral imposition of a universal system of Shari'a (Islamic Law). ASG could never compromise ideologically and this in turn led the organisation (actually there is no "organisation" at this point) to wallow in its current state of milquetoast mediocrity.
Enter, stage left, the actual reason why I began this long winded (hey, its a lot better than "foul winded") screed; The ASG and its propencity for violence on Valentines and Xmas. If you spent every Xmas sucking down boiled rice and cassava while your Christian neighbours got toys, candy and a luxurious meal I reckon you would have some issues as well (my chief complaint about the internet is that it is impossible to convey sarcasm, as I am so failingly attempting to do now). How else to rationalise what took place on Jolo Island early Xmas morning?
At 710AM Xmas morning, Father Bacolol was in the middle of performing Mass for roughly 100 worshipers at Evangelical
Chapel when an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "Bomb") detonated, wounding 11 worshippers. The device had been planted in between panels of the corrugated tin roof 3 meters from the right corner of the altar. Authorities are quite perplexed as to how the device was set because the chapel, in Jolo City's Barangay Asturias, sits smack dab in the middle of Camp Asturias, the Provincial PNP (Philippine National Police) installation. Also worth noting is that this compound is now guarded by Marines from 3rd Brigade's Recon (Reconaissance) Company. The Marines were deployed on December 22nd after the head priest, Father Romeo Villanueva, received a tip from a parishoner that the chapel was to be targetted. 1 possibility of course is that the IED was set prior to the Marine deployment. Another is that it was not an ASG action at all but rather an attention seeking act. I tend to believe the latter because the IED had no shrapnel payload (ASG usually includes sheetrock nails to do real damage, at least they don't use shredded razor blades as is done in the Middle East). The eleven wounded people were injured by building debris as the roof came down.
Also on Xmas, at 5AM, four men escaped from the Sulu Provincial Jail by breaking through their communal cell's antiquated ceiling. Of course the two guards on duty did not hear a thing. PNP Officers (the Philippines has no real correctional system and certainly has no specially trained guards. Wardens and most officials involved in that dynamic are entirely political appointees who receive that position in quid pro quo arrangements) PO1 Renomhar Undangan and PO1 Algamar Sahiron have been suspended pending the requisite investigation (I could add, "for not sharing their considerable bribe" but am trying to run a relatively serious Blog, work with me). If you notice the surname of that second police officer, Sahiron, a light bulb MAY suddenly go on and all things will become clear. No? The Sahiron Clan is neck deep in ASG with Clansman Radullan Sahiron serving as the major factional leader in Sulu.
One of the four men who escaped, Sulaiman Muin, was incarcerated for the IED attack against Sulu's Governor, Abdusakur Tan, on May 13, 2009. The attack on Governor Tan was one of two bombings directed against him in a 15 month time period. The second attack was the bombing at Zamboanga City Airpoty, which I will briefly discuss below.
The May 13 attack took place just as the governor's motorcade left the capitol complex in Patikul, en route to Sakur's residential compound for the mid-day meal. At roughly 1215PM a parked motorcycle rigged with a powerful IED just as Tan's SUV passed it. Thanks to a stroke of luck the governor merely suffered superficial injuries when the vehicle was lifted off the ground. Mayor Hatta Berto of Pandami was among the 9 individuals who were more seriously wounded, including 2 soldiers and 1 PNP officer in different vehicles.
The attempt was committed by ASG members but had been contracted by unknown parties. Ergo, some very important and powerful people have a lot to lose if the facts ever reach the light of day. Officially, Tan's political arch nemesis, NGO Chairman Cocoy Tulawie was blamed (as he was in the 2nd attempt as well) but the real culprit could be any one of a number of people. I will save the pondering for an entry devoted to the governor that I have been planning for awhile.
The 2nd attack, on August 05, 2010 took place just a couple of meters from the exit of Zamboanga City Airport's terminal. As Governor Tan, his son and a couple of close friends left the terminal after a flight from Manila, a man identified as Reynaldo Apilado of Zamboanga City's Barangay Maasin stepped towards him and detonated his back pack . Originally it was pegged as a so called "Suicide Bombing" but upon investigation a second theory emerged, one in which Mr. Apilado was given a backpack, the contents of which were unknown to him. The widowed, unemployed carpenter was simply instructed to "give it" to a 2nd individual. Standing outside the airport terminal Mr. Apilado was none the wiser when the "consignee" walked out the sliding glass doors.
Killed along with Mr. Apilado was his companion (or according to this 2nd theory, his "minder"), Hatamil Yakob, 30, of Barangay Baluk-Baluk, Lantawan, Basilan Island. Wounded were 24 civilians though the Philippine Media being what it is, only 1 of the 24 (not including Governor Tan and son) merited special notice, an elderly British expat living in the city with his young Filipina lover. Governor Tan was only moderately wounded with mostly superficial cuts on the left side of his abdomen, from Mr. Apilado's bone fragments. Supporting the afore mentioned 2nd theory, that Apilado had no idea he was part of a bombing plot was the fact that he detonated as he was facing the governor. The bomb in the backpack was absorbed by his Apilado's own body. Had he been intent on harming the governor he would have certainly been standing with his back towards the him or else facing him with the backpack slung over an arm, held in front of him, etc. Again, for brevity's sake I am omitting a lot of information that I will include in the entry devoted to Governor Tan.
Now here the story on the "Jail Escape" takes a turn that should really make things clear for you: It only took a few hours to get a bead on 3 of the 4 escapees. The 4th, Salipalo Pulalon, had left his 3 comrades as soon as they cleared the jail compound. The PNP team hunting the escapees, led by Inspector Abdulgafur Sahiron (notice the surname again) managed to sight the 3 men who remained together late Sunday evening, December 26. The OFFICIAL version of events is that of the 3, Sulaiman Muin refused to surrender. As the team moved towards Muin to subdue him the escapee grabbed for Inspector Sahiron's weapon. Naturally he was shot to death...with every shot in his back.
The other 2 escapees on scene, Khadaffy Askalani (carthief) and Nadzmir Amirul (I will explain his case) were returned to the Provincial Jail without further incident. Nadzmir Amirul has got to be 1 of the stupidest men on Jolo. He was in jail not because of any crime but because he had been threatened and the island has no sort of effective protection. The country itself only implemented its 1st Witness Protection Programme this year and seeing as to what happened with the first witness in the Ampatuan Case ("Maguindanao Massacre") when he trusted in it I don't think many Filipinos will allow themselves to be enrolled. I will spare those sordid details and instead save them for a series of Ampatuan related entries I plan to do as well. Even more ironically though, while Amirul wasn't in jail for a crime prior to his escape, he is now. Yep, poor Amirul has been charged for breaking out of the jail where he had been incarcerated WITHOUT charges.
On December 21, 2010 the Malaysian Government finally had to eat crow. Ever since 2 Malaysian-Chinese had been kidnapped by ASG in February 08, 2010, the Malaysians have been denying what everyone (regionally) knew, that ASG had managed ONCE AGAIN to enter Malaysian territory at will. The 2 men, Lai Wong Chun, 46, and Chen Yui Chung, 48 had been grabbed from a seaweed farm off of Pulao Sebangkit Island, which is itself off of Borneo's Sabah State. I have mentioned in my last MILF entry how Sabah is a contested territory and that the same ethnicities one finds here in the Southern Philippines are also sometimes found in Sabah. Ergo, people come and go at will travelling between 4 regional nations (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and in isolated cases Brunei as well). There are little known regional agreements that allow residents to do this without even having to show a school ID, let alone a passport and visa. Of course this is exploited by terrorists and smugglers but in truth it really doesn't matter because there are literally many thousands of islands in the region and scant ability to police them. The larger number of ASG guerillas are Tausug Tribesmen whose modern origin lies on Jolo Island, in Sulu Province. However, more Tausug live in Sabah than in all islands of the Philippines combined. ASG will be in Sabah as long as ASG exists.
The 2 men, cousins from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, were originally taken to Tawi Tawi, the southern most province in the Philippines and part of Mindanao, administratively. Due to the international nature of the offence little had been stated about this case, and despite what Malaysia may state publicly, it was no secret that they landed on Bonggao, Tawi Tawi. From there as pressure ebbed and flowed they were shuttled between islands in Sulu until finally this month, December, 2010, they returned to Bonggao. PNP SAF (Police Special Action Force, the PNP Special Force) laid an effective cordon around the sector in which the band of 10 ASG gueriilas had encamped. The official story is that the captors, under Kumander Ahmad fled knowing that they were surrounded and left their quarry in a standard diversionary tactic. In reality though, the PNP made a deal, leave the 2 victim and you are free to go. This is almost always the outcome in those rare instances when the PNP (or AFP, Armed Forces of the Philippines) manages to actually locate an encampment. Kidnappers tend to operate in the most economically depressed areas. They make big money, the biggest in a given area and as you see with the Sahiron Clan, are often the same legal authorities victims rely on to help protect them. Even when that is not the case, an AFP, or PNP Jr. Officer leading a detachment can have his career ruined if a captive is killed during a rescue attempt. Conversely, a kidnap victim rescued alive and well can make one's entire career depending upon the status (or nationality) of the victim(s). Therefore it behooves the young officer to play the game just so. The AFP oversees security in any insurgency prone area. AFP SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) requires notification to and coordination with an LGU (Local Government Unit, aka "municipality"). Even when LGU executives aren't actually related to kidnappers they are still going to be very susceptible to bribery (the "Siege of Lamitan" is a textbook example of the problems I am briefly discussing).
Indeed, the very same thing happened for a 2nd time this week in the case of young Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese, aka "Chinoy") Kenn "Kenny" Klefford Lao. I mentioned the 21 year old college student's case in a recent KFR ( Kidnap for Ransom) entry A 1st year student at Notre Dame College in Jolo City, on Jolo Island in Sulu Province he stupidly left the safety of his campus on October 07, 2010 to meet an anonymous text mate (I explained just what that is in that entry I mentioned) but he was instead waylaid by ASG guerillas who kidnapped him. He was "freed" on December 22, 2010 when again, a PNP SAF cordon was laid down around an isolated settlement in Sitio Kabbon, Barangay Langhob, in the town of Indanan. Only guarded by 2 young men at that point, the 2 abandoned their delightful meal of boiled rice and cassava (excuse me, I have to retch) and skedaddled to wherever ASG go when they are not making the world miserable. Kenny recognised the "opportunity" and ran for dear life,... Until he collided with an ensconced PNP SAF asset in a sniper blind (camoflauged site for snipers to conceal themselves in).
The 3rd ASG kidnap victim to find freedom this week is also a person I discussed in a recent KFR entry; 60 year old widow Rosabella "Rose" Barranda was returning to her home in Barangay Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan Island aboard a jeepney (puic transportation) from a Bible study group in the town of Lamitan when ASG gunmen from the Nurhasan Jamiri Faction kidnapped her at a checkpoint. Though she owns a small general store on a rubber plantation she struggled to make ends meet and so had no wealth for her family to ransom her with. Kidnapped on November 02, 2010 her captors lowered their ransom demands from 1 Million Pesos (22,000 US) to 700,000 Pesos (15,000 US) in addition to the 2 new M16s (meaning newly manufactured M16A2s as opposed to new model M16s which would be the almost impossible to access, M16A4s, which one never sees in the Philippines), both equipped with grenade. Launchers (M203s). Finally it was 500,000 Pesos (11,000 US) and Rose was free and on Xmas day no less. At 3PM she was released in Sitio Limbo Kassah, Barangay Magkawah, al Barka on Basilan Island.
Not a moment too soon either since Rose, who suffers from both diabetes AND hypertension could barely stand unassisted when picked up by authorities.
On December 21, 2010 in the Zamboanga City Public Market at almost 3PM an AFP detachment captured ASG guerilla Abu Isaac was nabbed on a Warrant issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of Regional Trial Court, Branch #1 on Basilan for his part in both the Sipadan Island Dive Resort near Sandakan Island, Malaysia Kidnapping in 2000 and the Dos Palmas Kidnapping in Puerto Princessa, Palawan Island in 2001. The former put ASG in the limelight and gave it its biggest pay day (20 Million US). The latter sealed its infamy as that was the 1 where 3 Americans were kidnapped and only 1 survived. The 1st, Guillermo Sobero, a dual Peruvian/American was beheaded days after the famous "Siege of Lamitan" which was subsequent to the landing on Basilsan from Palawan. The other 2, the American missionary couple Gracia and Martin Burnham spent a very trying 51 odd weeks being marched all over the mountains of Basilan, and in their las 2 weeks on the Zamboanga Peninsula. In the end, held by the infamous and very ambitious Abu Sabaya they were sighted by an AFP detachment of Scout Rangers, COY 15 (15th Company) led by 1stLt. Oliver Almonares, on its Test Mission (a very stupid AFP protocol that has combat elements undertake a very loosely defined tactical operation at the end of field training. The only way in which a detachment can pass is to make contact with the enemy. This naturally causes very reckless behavior). The 15th, along with a local CAFGU soldier as a guide (Citizens Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit, a form of Army Reserve manned by residents from a single municipal unit within which that CAFGU element is deployed. A unit may not operate outside of its official AOR, aka, "Area of Responsibility") ended up causing the deaths of both Martin Burnham and a Filipina captive, Ediborah Yap. Ms. Yap had been a nurse at the hospital occupied during the Siege of Lamitan and when the AFP connived with corrupt local officials to allow ASG to walk through a 5000 man cordon she and other hospital staff were added to the growing list of captives.
Lastly, on December 17, 2010 in a Federal Court Room in Washington D.C., in the US, 1 of ASG's 1st members finally faced justice. Madhatta "Kumander Haipe" Haipe was leading a band of 40 ASG guerillas in the backcountry around Lake Sebu, in South Cotabato Provibce when a group of vacationers had the very bad fortune to cross the band's path on December 27, 1995. The 1f tourists, all Filipinos and Filpino-Americans had been enjoying the beautiful vista offered at Trankini Falls, downstream from the lake. Kidnapping all 16, Haipe, formerly a Professor of Islamic Studies at MSU (Mindanao State University) then released a couple to arrange ransoms for the rest. By December 31 all were released and ASG had made 1.5 Million Pesos (56,000 US in 1995 but 34,000 US today).
He was extradited to the US on August 27, 2010 and arrested upon landing as is the American way in such things. Originally indicted in the US back in November, 2000 owing to the American citizenship of 4 of his 16 victims, he received 23 years in an American prison (which all things considered means 19 years of living conditions better than most Mindanowans will ever enjoy. This is America's weak spot, one of many. If a young Mindanowan who has been subsisting upon 1 meal a day for most of his life is made aware that should he somehow hold an American captive he can then expect to face 3 decent meals (relatively speaking), free medical and dental care and a warm bed IF caught, well you get the point).
The obvious raison d'etre would be that the Philippines is a traditionally Catholic Nation and those two days are Catholic Holy Days (albeit days that have been twisted into plastic carticatures of themselves by greeting card companies, florists, etc. The Abu Sayyaf began life as a truly textbook example of Islamo-fascism. Abdurajak Janjalani, its main founder, was deeply committed towards an ideological end game which involved capturing all Philippine territory and the imposition of an Islamic political system. Although the scope is different, just to point out, the MILF and ASG aren't too far removed from each other in this main objective. Both Janjalani and the MILF's late founder Hashim Salamat saw politics and religion as inseparable. Put succinctly...
I) The purpose of humankind (in Islam its actually "mankind") is to honour the deity (Allah).
II) In order to properly honour the deity, humankind must congregate (the more the merrier so to speak).
III) When humans congregate they inevitably need a political system.
Another way to understand this rather simplistic proposition is to consider it thus: The purpose of political systems is to optimise humankind's ability to honour the deity. Ergo Islam is the endgame of any political system and there is absolutely no differentiation between so called "Church" and "State." "Ibada," as it is known in Arabic (ergo "in the Islamic worldview"), denotes the obesiance to Allah in all things. Proper Ibada requires an "Ummah," (a community of Muslims), and ANY community needs rules (aka "a political system"). The result is an unbroken circle of, Allah-Muslim-Allahs Law (aka "Shari'a"), THE perfect political system.
Though identical on this point, what I will call "form of governance," Janjalani and Salamat differed as to
"content of form." Both agreed that it should be based on the very basic Islamic principle of "Shura, (Arabic for "Consultative," which is identical to both mens' tribal perspectives as well. Salamat was a Maguindanowan Tribesman, Janjalani was a Yakan Tribesman though his mother was an Ilonggo, I'm sure her parents were just thrilled with how she turned out). They even agreed on the process to achieve this, the "Majlis" (Arabic word denoting an assembly of knowledgeable clerics). Where they differed was in scope. Janjalani saw no compromise and envisioned the Philippines as part of a worldwide system. His vision was devoid of etno-nationalism where as that of Salamat was not only deeply rooted in it, it absolutely revolved around the fantasy of, "Bangsamoro." The Bangsamoro is a non-existent People on par intellectually with the belief that "Palestinians" constituted an actual People prior to 1948. I use this analogy because just as with "Palestinians" one sees the manufacturing of not only an entire ethnicity but also a manufactured historical narrative that could not exist without a manufactured foil. With "Palestinians" this of course would be Zionists, and with the "Bangsamoro" this would be the... "Filipino." The parallels are very deep but I fear allowing such tangents to hijack what I hoped would be a relatively simple screed (hahaha, Shandyesque as always. Hey what good is a Blog if I can't use it to marry obscure political analogies, obscure literary references and obscure witticisms? Yay to obscurity!).
Salamat, like any capable leader, was a pragmatist to a large degree. Where Janjalani rooted himself in an extremist position out of utter conviction Salamat did so only in order to obtain and utilise an advantageous bargaining position. Once Salamt realised that Misuari's MNLF would leave Central Mindanowan Muslims (Maguindanowans, Maranaw, Iranun and Kagan Tribes) as marginalised as they had always been he used Islam as the ideological vehicle with which to differentiate his clque within the MNLF (basically the MNLF's "Kutawato Regional Committee" that Salamat had Chaired since the Committee's inception shortly after the MNLF was founded). It took a solid 5 years before the MILF was able to truly assert itself as an organisation independently of the MNLF (it left the MNLF in 1976 and formally declared itself extant in 1981). By the time the MILF was fully opetational Salamat had already, internally, abandoned the primary objective of a fully independent homeland, as well as the unilateral imposition of a universal system of Shari'a (Islamic Law). ASG could never compromise ideologically and this in turn led the organisation (actually there is no "organisation" at this point) to wallow in its current state of milquetoast mediocrity.
Enter, stage left, the actual reason why I began this long winded (hey, its a lot better than "foul winded") screed; The ASG and its propencity for violence on Valentines and Xmas. If you spent every Xmas sucking down boiled rice and cassava while your Christian neighbours got toys, candy and a luxurious meal I reckon you would have some issues as well (my chief complaint about the internet is that it is impossible to convey sarcasm, as I am so failingly attempting to do now). How else to rationalise what took place on Jolo Island early Xmas morning?
At 710AM Xmas morning, Father Bacolol was in the middle of performing Mass for roughly 100 worshipers at Evangelical
Chapel when an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "Bomb") detonated, wounding 11 worshippers. The device had been planted in between panels of the corrugated tin roof 3 meters from the right corner of the altar. Authorities are quite perplexed as to how the device was set because the chapel, in Jolo City's Barangay Asturias, sits smack dab in the middle of Camp Asturias, the Provincial PNP (Philippine National Police) installation. Also worth noting is that this compound is now guarded by Marines from 3rd Brigade's Recon (Reconaissance) Company. The Marines were deployed on December 22nd after the head priest, Father Romeo Villanueva, received a tip from a parishoner that the chapel was to be targetted. 1 possibility of course is that the IED was set prior to the Marine deployment. Another is that it was not an ASG action at all but rather an attention seeking act. I tend to believe the latter because the IED had no shrapnel payload (ASG usually includes sheetrock nails to do real damage, at least they don't use shredded razor blades as is done in the Middle East). The eleven wounded people were injured by building debris as the roof came down.
Also on Xmas, at 5AM, four men escaped from the Sulu Provincial Jail by breaking through their communal cell's antiquated ceiling. Of course the two guards on duty did not hear a thing. PNP Officers (the Philippines has no real correctional system and certainly has no specially trained guards. Wardens and most officials involved in that dynamic are entirely political appointees who receive that position in quid pro quo arrangements) PO1 Renomhar Undangan and PO1 Algamar Sahiron have been suspended pending the requisite investigation (I could add, "for not sharing their considerable bribe" but am trying to run a relatively serious Blog, work with me). If you notice the surname of that second police officer, Sahiron, a light bulb MAY suddenly go on and all things will become clear. No? The Sahiron Clan is neck deep in ASG with Clansman Radullan Sahiron serving as the major factional leader in Sulu.
One of the four men who escaped, Sulaiman Muin, was incarcerated for the IED attack against Sulu's Governor, Abdusakur Tan, on May 13, 2009. The attack on Governor Tan was one of two bombings directed against him in a 15 month time period. The second attack was the bombing at Zamboanga City Airpoty, which I will briefly discuss below.
The May 13 attack took place just as the governor's motorcade left the capitol complex in Patikul, en route to Sakur's residential compound for the mid-day meal. At roughly 1215PM a parked motorcycle rigged with a powerful IED just as Tan's SUV passed it. Thanks to a stroke of luck the governor merely suffered superficial injuries when the vehicle was lifted off the ground. Mayor Hatta Berto of Pandami was among the 9 individuals who were more seriously wounded, including 2 soldiers and 1 PNP officer in different vehicles.
The attempt was committed by ASG members but had been contracted by unknown parties. Ergo, some very important and powerful people have a lot to lose if the facts ever reach the light of day. Officially, Tan's political arch nemesis, NGO Chairman Cocoy Tulawie was blamed (as he was in the 2nd attempt as well) but the real culprit could be any one of a number of people. I will save the pondering for an entry devoted to the governor that I have been planning for awhile.
The 2nd attack, on August 05, 2010 took place just a couple of meters from the exit of Zamboanga City Airport's terminal. As Governor Tan, his son and a couple of close friends left the terminal after a flight from Manila, a man identified as Reynaldo Apilado of Zamboanga City's Barangay Maasin stepped towards him and detonated his back pack . Originally it was pegged as a so called "Suicide Bombing" but upon investigation a second theory emerged, one in which Mr. Apilado was given a backpack, the contents of which were unknown to him. The widowed, unemployed carpenter was simply instructed to "give it" to a 2nd individual. Standing outside the airport terminal Mr. Apilado was none the wiser when the "consignee" walked out the sliding glass doors.
Killed along with Mr. Apilado was his companion (or according to this 2nd theory, his "minder"), Hatamil Yakob, 30, of Barangay Baluk-Baluk, Lantawan, Basilan Island. Wounded were 24 civilians though the Philippine Media being what it is, only 1 of the 24 (not including Governor Tan and son) merited special notice, an elderly British expat living in the city with his young Filipina lover. Governor Tan was only moderately wounded with mostly superficial cuts on the left side of his abdomen, from Mr. Apilado's bone fragments. Supporting the afore mentioned 2nd theory, that Apilado had no idea he was part of a bombing plot was the fact that he detonated as he was facing the governor. The bomb in the backpack was absorbed by his Apilado's own body. Had he been intent on harming the governor he would have certainly been standing with his back towards the him or else facing him with the backpack slung over an arm, held in front of him, etc. Again, for brevity's sake I am omitting a lot of information that I will include in the entry devoted to Governor Tan.
Now here the story on the "Jail Escape" takes a turn that should really make things clear for you: It only took a few hours to get a bead on 3 of the 4 escapees. The 4th, Salipalo Pulalon, had left his 3 comrades as soon as they cleared the jail compound. The PNP team hunting the escapees, led by Inspector Abdulgafur Sahiron (notice the surname again) managed to sight the 3 men who remained together late Sunday evening, December 26. The OFFICIAL version of events is that of the 3, Sulaiman Muin refused to surrender. As the team moved towards Muin to subdue him the escapee grabbed for Inspector Sahiron's weapon. Naturally he was shot to death...with every shot in his back.
The other 2 escapees on scene, Khadaffy Askalani (carthief) and Nadzmir Amirul (I will explain his case) were returned to the Provincial Jail without further incident. Nadzmir Amirul has got to be 1 of the stupidest men on Jolo. He was in jail not because of any crime but because he had been threatened and the island has no sort of effective protection. The country itself only implemented its 1st Witness Protection Programme this year and seeing as to what happened with the first witness in the Ampatuan Case ("Maguindanao Massacre") when he trusted in it I don't think many Filipinos will allow themselves to be enrolled. I will spare those sordid details and instead save them for a series of Ampatuan related entries I plan to do as well. Even more ironically though, while Amirul wasn't in jail for a crime prior to his escape, he is now. Yep, poor Amirul has been charged for breaking out of the jail where he had been incarcerated WITHOUT charges.
On December 21, 2010 the Malaysian Government finally had to eat crow. Ever since 2 Malaysian-Chinese had been kidnapped by ASG in February 08, 2010, the Malaysians have been denying what everyone (regionally) knew, that ASG had managed ONCE AGAIN to enter Malaysian territory at will. The 2 men, Lai Wong Chun, 46, and Chen Yui Chung, 48 had been grabbed from a seaweed farm off of Pulao Sebangkit Island, which is itself off of Borneo's Sabah State. I have mentioned in my last MILF entry how Sabah is a contested territory and that the same ethnicities one finds here in the Southern Philippines are also sometimes found in Sabah. Ergo, people come and go at will travelling between 4 regional nations (Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and in isolated cases Brunei as well). There are little known regional agreements that allow residents to do this without even having to show a school ID, let alone a passport and visa. Of course this is exploited by terrorists and smugglers but in truth it really doesn't matter because there are literally many thousands of islands in the region and scant ability to police them. The larger number of ASG guerillas are Tausug Tribesmen whose modern origin lies on Jolo Island, in Sulu Province. However, more Tausug live in Sabah than in all islands of the Philippines combined. ASG will be in Sabah as long as ASG exists.
The 2 men, cousins from Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, were originally taken to Tawi Tawi, the southern most province in the Philippines and part of Mindanao, administratively. Due to the international nature of the offence little had been stated about this case, and despite what Malaysia may state publicly, it was no secret that they landed on Bonggao, Tawi Tawi. From there as pressure ebbed and flowed they were shuttled between islands in Sulu until finally this month, December, 2010, they returned to Bonggao. PNP SAF (Police Special Action Force, the PNP Special Force) laid an effective cordon around the sector in which the band of 10 ASG gueriilas had encamped. The official story is that the captors, under Kumander Ahmad fled knowing that they were surrounded and left their quarry in a standard diversionary tactic. In reality though, the PNP made a deal, leave the 2 victim and you are free to go. This is almost always the outcome in those rare instances when the PNP (or AFP, Armed Forces of the Philippines) manages to actually locate an encampment. Kidnappers tend to operate in the most economically depressed areas. They make big money, the biggest in a given area and as you see with the Sahiron Clan, are often the same legal authorities victims rely on to help protect them. Even when that is not the case, an AFP, or PNP Jr. Officer leading a detachment can have his career ruined if a captive is killed during a rescue attempt. Conversely, a kidnap victim rescued alive and well can make one's entire career depending upon the status (or nationality) of the victim(s). Therefore it behooves the young officer to play the game just so. The AFP oversees security in any insurgency prone area. AFP SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) requires notification to and coordination with an LGU (Local Government Unit, aka "municipality"). Even when LGU executives aren't actually related to kidnappers they are still going to be very susceptible to bribery (the "Siege of Lamitan" is a textbook example of the problems I am briefly discussing).
Indeed, the very same thing happened for a 2nd time this week in the case of young Tsinoy (Filipino-Chinese, aka "Chinoy") Kenn "Kenny" Klefford Lao. I mentioned the 21 year old college student's case in a recent KFR ( Kidnap for Ransom) entry A 1st year student at Notre Dame College in Jolo City, on Jolo Island in Sulu Province he stupidly left the safety of his campus on October 07, 2010 to meet an anonymous text mate (I explained just what that is in that entry I mentioned) but he was instead waylaid by ASG guerillas who kidnapped him. He was "freed" on December 22, 2010 when again, a PNP SAF cordon was laid down around an isolated settlement in Sitio Kabbon, Barangay Langhob, in the town of Indanan. Only guarded by 2 young men at that point, the 2 abandoned their delightful meal of boiled rice and cassava (excuse me, I have to retch) and skedaddled to wherever ASG go when they are not making the world miserable. Kenny recognised the "opportunity" and ran for dear life,... Until he collided with an ensconced PNP SAF asset in a sniper blind (camoflauged site for snipers to conceal themselves in).
The 3rd ASG kidnap victim to find freedom this week is also a person I discussed in a recent KFR entry; 60 year old widow Rosabella "Rose" Barranda was returning to her home in Barangay Tumahubong, Sumisip, Basilan Island aboard a jeepney (puic transportation) from a Bible study group in the town of Lamitan when ASG gunmen from the Nurhasan Jamiri Faction kidnapped her at a checkpoint. Though she owns a small general store on a rubber plantation she struggled to make ends meet and so had no wealth for her family to ransom her with. Kidnapped on November 02, 2010 her captors lowered their ransom demands from 1 Million Pesos (22,000 US) to 700,000 Pesos (15,000 US) in addition to the 2 new M16s (meaning newly manufactured M16A2s as opposed to new model M16s which would be the almost impossible to access, M16A4s, which one never sees in the Philippines), both equipped with grenade. Launchers (M203s). Finally it was 500,000 Pesos (11,000 US) and Rose was free and on Xmas day no less. At 3PM she was released in Sitio Limbo Kassah, Barangay Magkawah, al Barka on Basilan Island.
Not a moment too soon either since Rose, who suffers from both diabetes AND hypertension could barely stand unassisted when picked up by authorities.
On December 21, 2010 in the Zamboanga City Public Market at almost 3PM an AFP detachment captured ASG guerilla Abu Isaac was nabbed on a Warrant issued by Judge Leo Jay Principe of Regional Trial Court, Branch #1 on Basilan for his part in both the Sipadan Island Dive Resort near Sandakan Island, Malaysia Kidnapping in 2000 and the Dos Palmas Kidnapping in Puerto Princessa, Palawan Island in 2001. The former put ASG in the limelight and gave it its biggest pay day (20 Million US). The latter sealed its infamy as that was the 1 where 3 Americans were kidnapped and only 1 survived. The 1st, Guillermo Sobero, a dual Peruvian/American was beheaded days after the famous "Siege of Lamitan" which was subsequent to the landing on Basilsan from Palawan. The other 2, the American missionary couple Gracia and Martin Burnham spent a very trying 51 odd weeks being marched all over the mountains of Basilan, and in their las 2 weeks on the Zamboanga Peninsula. In the end, held by the infamous and very ambitious Abu Sabaya they were sighted by an AFP detachment of Scout Rangers, COY 15 (15th Company) led by 1stLt. Oliver Almonares, on its Test Mission (a very stupid AFP protocol that has combat elements undertake a very loosely defined tactical operation at the end of field training. The only way in which a detachment can pass is to make contact with the enemy. This naturally causes very reckless behavior). The 15th, along with a local CAFGU soldier as a guide (Citizens Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit, a form of Army Reserve manned by residents from a single municipal unit within which that CAFGU element is deployed. A unit may not operate outside of its official AOR, aka, "Area of Responsibility") ended up causing the deaths of both Martin Burnham and a Filipina captive, Ediborah Yap. Ms. Yap had been a nurse at the hospital occupied during the Siege of Lamitan and when the AFP connived with corrupt local officials to allow ASG to walk through a 5000 man cordon she and other hospital staff were added to the growing list of captives.
Lastly, on December 17, 2010 in a Federal Court Room in Washington D.C., in the US, 1 of ASG's 1st members finally faced justice. Madhatta "Kumander Haipe" Haipe was leading a band of 40 ASG guerillas in the backcountry around Lake Sebu, in South Cotabato Provibce when a group of vacationers had the very bad fortune to cross the band's path on December 27, 1995. The 1f tourists, all Filipinos and Filpino-Americans had been enjoying the beautiful vista offered at Trankini Falls, downstream from the lake. Kidnapping all 16, Haipe, formerly a Professor of Islamic Studies at MSU (Mindanao State University) then released a couple to arrange ransoms for the rest. By December 31 all were released and ASG had made 1.5 Million Pesos (56,000 US in 1995 but 34,000 US today).
He was extradited to the US on August 27, 2010 and arrested upon landing as is the American way in such things. Originally indicted in the US back in November, 2000 owing to the American citizenship of 4 of his 16 victims, he received 23 years in an American prison (which all things considered means 19 years of living conditions better than most Mindanowans will ever enjoy. This is America's weak spot, one of many. If a young Mindanowan who has been subsisting upon 1 meal a day for most of his life is made aware that should he somehow hold an American captive he can then expect to face 3 decent meals (relatively speaking), free medical and dental care and a warm bed IF caught, well you get the point).
Friday, December 24, 2010
NPA,Last Quarter of 2011:The Xmas Ceasefire Struggles On and Two Cases of Poetic Justice
In my most recent NPA entry I discussed the acceleration of NPA Tactical Offencives that always takes place during the interim period between the announcement of their annual,unilaterally declared holiday season ceasefire and its commencement.I mentioned that the weeks during that short window are usually extra bloody.The bad news of course is that I was correct,people died and were otherwise maimed.The good news,if there can indeed be any good news when non-combatants lose their lives,is that none of it took place here on Mindanao.
The AFP has screamed to anyone willing to listen that the engagement in Las Navas,Northern Samar Province, Samar Island, on Tuesday, December 14,2010 was a blatant violation of that afore mentioned ceasefire,despite the ceasefire not beginning until Thursday,December 16.A 12 man detachment from the 63IB (Infantry Battalion) was en route to its garrison when ambushed by the NPA .Of the 12 men,10 died almost immediately from the IED (Improvised Explosive Device, i.e. "Bomb") which precipitated the by the books ambush while the 2 survivors were badly wounded. Perhaps the saddest part is that a 9 year old boy was also killed.The boy,Joven Cabe,died from shrapnel generated by the IED.The NPA captured 10 M16s,every weapon in that detachnent.
0n December 10,just 4 days before this ambush the NPA ambushed a pump boat (local type of small inter-island ferrying craft) with a detachment of 6 soldiers aboard from the 83rd CMOU (Civil-Military Operations Unit) who boarded in Barangay Poblacion and were en route to Barangay Poponton. After the craft had just crossed the border of Barangays Taylor and Victory along the Hinaga River it was ambushed by the NPA. 5 soldiers immediately dived into the river as civilian passengers aboard the small craft took the brunt of the attack.2 of those non-combatants were killed,1 of which,Edward Gugdad,was a 15 year old young man.
In July the AFP proudly announced that pacification of Northern Samar was rolling right along and recommemded that the provincial government launch a tourism campaign.Less than a month later,on August 21,2010,the NPA slaughtered an 8 man PNP (Philippine National Police) detachment.As a rule I only discuss Mindanao but the last attack on Samar,2 days prior to commencement of the ceasefire,became a major issue with regard to AFP Propaganda that accuses the NPA of"violating"a ceasefire that IT conceived and implemented.
Although nobody was killed on Mindanao during the interim,the NPA here was by no means dormant (and neither was the AFP). On the same day that those 10 soldiers in Northern Samar were killed,Tuesday,December 14,the NPA again dressed in AFP uniforms and by subterfuge,and without firing a shot,were able to capture 2 M16s, 2 pump shotguns and 2 45 pistols.Clad in their army fatigues the 30 guerillas made their way to Barangay San Ignacio in Manay,Davao Oriental Province.Approaching an IFM (Integrated Forest Management) office the disguised guerillas managed to wrangle a truck.Using the truck they made their way to Barangay Old Macopa in that same town and split into 2 smaller detachments and then approached the home of Barangay Captain Romeo Antoling.Upon their arrival at the Antoling home the guerillas announced that their detachment was on a Hot Pursuit Operation in search of an NPA detachment.Simultaneously,the 2nd NPA detachment did the very same thing at the home of the Barangay Captain's son,Romeo Antoling Jr.,who lost 1 40 caliber pistol and two 12 gauge shotguns.
Romeo Antoling Sr.is lucky not to have been executed given his personal history.On June 13, 2010 Antoling Sr.had invited local radio commentator Desidario "Jessie" Camangyan to emcee a barangay kareoke contest.At 11PM that evening as the finalists were giving it their all his live-in girlfriend (the Philippines does not recognise Common Law Marriage) was holding their baby and watched in horror as a man stepped out of the crowd,raised his 45 caliber pistol and shot Jess to death.
At a meeting about the death days later at the Manay town hall, his grieving lover looked up as the municipality's PNP (Philippine National Police) officers entered the room to update the gathering on the nascent investigation.All of a sudden a shriek pierced the room as she became hysterical.When she had sufficiently re-gained her composure she pointed to 1 of the PNP officers,PO1 Dennis"Jess"Esteban Lumikid and said that he was the killer she had personally witnessed.The deceased radio commentator had been critical of both illegal logging and illegal gambling and Antoling Sr.,who has his own small paramilitary to protect his illegal logging operation,decided to silence the 52 year old broadcaster.Knowing that the deceased was in dire straits since his station,"Sunshine FM,"in the neighbouring town of Mati placed him on hiatus,he offered him 3,000 Pesos for a nights works ($70,half a months pay for a labourer) along with a pump shotgun (aaaaaah, "guns and Mindanao," I think it would make a bloody good tourism slogan).
Officer Lumikid was formally charged on July 05,2010 by a dedicated (in the sense that they were especially empanelled to investigate only this case) task force but had been detained since June 23 when the investigatory panel,Task Force Camangyan,initially filed the charges with the Davao Oriental Provincial Prosecutor.Since June 23rd he had been kept in the custody of his superiors at PNP Provincial Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (where he had been transferred since June 24).Antoling was charged by the Task Force on that same day, June 23rd.On November 10, 2010,Lumikid was finally arraigned but Antoling had his charges dismissed for lack of evidence,at the end of August.
Ergo, having your weapons stolen instead of being shot to death for being the loser you are COULD be seen as a stroke of luck.Just depends on perspective I guess.
The love affair between Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City and Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao,CO (Commanding Officer) of the NPA's Merardo Arce Command continues this holiday season.As I had written in at least one recent NPA-themed entry, Duterte and his daughter,Mayor Sarah"Inday"Duterte Carpio have been whispering sweet nothings to Ka Parago as they practically beg the guerilla leader to come out of the mountains and enjoy Xmas in the city.Parago of course refused the kind offer and instead invited both father AND daughter up to his mountain lair.Sunday,December 26 will mark the 42nd Anniversary of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) and all NPA Regional Commands hold large gatherings.The 2 strongest Regional Commands,NEMR (North East Mindanao Region) and Parago's,SMR (Southern Mindanao Region) have the largest of these get-togethers.Indeed,on December 20th as Vice Mayor Duterte ordered Davao City PNP not to arrest Parago,et al the Vice Mayor announced he WOULD in fact be going to Parago's camp to be spending at least a part of the Xmas holiday.
Speaking of Ka Parago's Merardo Arce Command,on December 17,1 day after the ceasefire began,the NPA was forced to very quickly re-position itself when the 1003Bde (Brigade) began heavy troop movements as it Forward Deployed in Davao City's Paquibato District.The AFP is feigning innocence,claiming it was NOT a tactical deployment at all but rather a large logistical shift to ready the district for CMO/PDT actions (Civil-Military Operations such as medical outreaches and the cobstruction of school buildings,and of course the latest Hearts and Minds weapon,"Peace and Development Teams".PDTs as they are called in military shorthand are day-to-day CMO liasons and actors who spend weeks in a given barangay.On the other hand,CMO elements rarely spend a single week in 1 locale).
Parago is on everbody's mind these days...On Friday,December 17,2010,Sheriff Abe Andress told a Davao City Court that try as he might,he just could not find Parago's camp (riiiight, as if he even entered an NPA held district).Sheriff Andress had been"looking"to serve a subpoena to Ka Parago over a Writ of Amparo filed by local woman,Juanita Gomez.Juanita's husband,Jerry Gomez,had been selling ice cream for 4 years in an NPA controlled area when Merardo Arce Command's PBC1 (Pulang Bagani Command #1, the company sized element that Parago personally comands) abducted him in late August,2010.A Writ of Amparo is designed to offer families relief in cases of enforced disappearances.Primarily designed to be utilised by people having good cause to believe the GOVERNMENT has abducted a loved one,the Writ,if granted by a court,compels the entity so charged to produce the missing person post haste.It can also be utilised by the family to gain protection from retaliatory intimidation and/or violence.To my knowledge this is the first attempted utilisation of a Writ of Amparo against a non-governmental entity.Ms.Gomez says she received a phone call on December 01,from the NPA telling her not to worry,that her husband is OK and will be returning home shortly.
That same day,December 17,one day after the ceasefire began,a joint AFP/PNP checkpoint in Barangay Pili,Bayugan,Agusan del Sur Province,a car carrying 5 men was flagged for inspection and searched.Upon identifying the 5 men in the vehicle it was discovered that all 5 were NPA guerillas from NCMR (North Central Mindanao Region).1 of the 5 is a High Value Target, 67 year old Pedro"Ka Gonyong"Codaste.Codaste was en route to Butuan City in Agusan del Norte Province to spend Xmas with his family.Codaste was nabbed on a Warrant out of Regional Trial Court,Branch 8,in Malaybalay City,Bukidnon Province.The charges,Multiple Murder and Frustrated Multiple Murder,stem from tactical operations.The NPA,CPP and NDF (National Democratic Front) each condemned the arrests,especially Codaste's,as a violation of the ceasefire.The AFP maintains that since he had a Warrant it was an act of Law Enforcement.By the end of he week the NDF claimed Codaste was a member of the NDF negotiating team though they didn't specify as to when he joined that effort (seeing as how his name has never appeared on any NDF lists submitted to either GRP OR Norway,the Facilitating Nation.The claim of an arrestee being from either the NPA OR CPP belongs to the NDF Peace Process is extremely relevant since any person belonging is automatically imbued with immunity from arrest,detention and prosecution.
On December 18,2010 an ex-NPA guerilla who withdrew from the movement in 2006 was shot to death by a SPARU (Special Partisan Armed Revolutionary Unit,3 to 5 person assasination squads) for being an IS-AFP (AFP Intelligence) asset.Randy Acao Umpo,a farmer,was alone and listening to the radio at his home in Sitio Mamaon,Barangay Sibula,Toril District,Davao City when shot on the right side of his chest and died instantly.Ironically he had belonged to a SPARU Team himself.
The AFP has screamed to anyone willing to listen that the engagement in Las Navas,Northern Samar Province, Samar Island, on Tuesday, December 14,2010 was a blatant violation of that afore mentioned ceasefire,despite the ceasefire not beginning until Thursday,December 16.A 12 man detachment from the 63IB (Infantry Battalion) was en route to its garrison when ambushed by the NPA .Of the 12 men,10 died almost immediately from the IED (Improvised Explosive Device, i.e. "Bomb") which precipitated the by the books ambush while the 2 survivors were badly wounded. Perhaps the saddest part is that a 9 year old boy was also killed.The boy,Joven Cabe,died from shrapnel generated by the IED.The NPA captured 10 M16s,every weapon in that detachnent.
0n December 10,just 4 days before this ambush the NPA ambushed a pump boat (local type of small inter-island ferrying craft) with a detachment of 6 soldiers aboard from the 83rd CMOU (Civil-Military Operations Unit) who boarded in Barangay Poblacion and were en route to Barangay Poponton. After the craft had just crossed the border of Barangays Taylor and Victory along the Hinaga River it was ambushed by the NPA. 5 soldiers immediately dived into the river as civilian passengers aboard the small craft took the brunt of the attack.2 of those non-combatants were killed,1 of which,Edward Gugdad,was a 15 year old young man.
In July the AFP proudly announced that pacification of Northern Samar was rolling right along and recommemded that the provincial government launch a tourism campaign.Less than a month later,on August 21,2010,the NPA slaughtered an 8 man PNP (Philippine National Police) detachment.As a rule I only discuss Mindanao but the last attack on Samar,2 days prior to commencement of the ceasefire,became a major issue with regard to AFP Propaganda that accuses the NPA of"violating"a ceasefire that IT conceived and implemented.
Although nobody was killed on Mindanao during the interim,the NPA here was by no means dormant (and neither was the AFP). On the same day that those 10 soldiers in Northern Samar were killed,Tuesday,December 14,the NPA again dressed in AFP uniforms and by subterfuge,and without firing a shot,were able to capture 2 M16s, 2 pump shotguns and 2 45 pistols.Clad in their army fatigues the 30 guerillas made their way to Barangay San Ignacio in Manay,Davao Oriental Province.Approaching an IFM (Integrated Forest Management) office the disguised guerillas managed to wrangle a truck.Using the truck they made their way to Barangay Old Macopa in that same town and split into 2 smaller detachments and then approached the home of Barangay Captain Romeo Antoling.Upon their arrival at the Antoling home the guerillas announced that their detachment was on a Hot Pursuit Operation in search of an NPA detachment.Simultaneously,the 2nd NPA detachment did the very same thing at the home of the Barangay Captain's son,Romeo Antoling Jr.,who lost 1 40 caliber pistol and two 12 gauge shotguns.
Romeo Antoling Sr.is lucky not to have been executed given his personal history.On June 13, 2010 Antoling Sr.had invited local radio commentator Desidario "Jessie" Camangyan to emcee a barangay kareoke contest.At 11PM that evening as the finalists were giving it their all his live-in girlfriend (the Philippines does not recognise Common Law Marriage) was holding their baby and watched in horror as a man stepped out of the crowd,raised his 45 caliber pistol and shot Jess to death.
At a meeting about the death days later at the Manay town hall, his grieving lover looked up as the municipality's PNP (Philippine National Police) officers entered the room to update the gathering on the nascent investigation.All of a sudden a shriek pierced the room as she became hysterical.When she had sufficiently re-gained her composure she pointed to 1 of the PNP officers,PO1 Dennis"Jess"Esteban Lumikid and said that he was the killer she had personally witnessed.The deceased radio commentator had been critical of both illegal logging and illegal gambling and Antoling Sr.,who has his own small paramilitary to protect his illegal logging operation,decided to silence the 52 year old broadcaster.Knowing that the deceased was in dire straits since his station,"Sunshine FM,"in the neighbouring town of Mati placed him on hiatus,he offered him 3,000 Pesos for a nights works ($70,half a months pay for a labourer) along with a pump shotgun (aaaaaah, "guns and Mindanao," I think it would make a bloody good tourism slogan).
Officer Lumikid was formally charged on July 05,2010 by a dedicated (in the sense that they were especially empanelled to investigate only this case) task force but had been detained since June 23 when the investigatory panel,Task Force Camangyan,initially filed the charges with the Davao Oriental Provincial Prosecutor.Since June 23rd he had been kept in the custody of his superiors at PNP Provincial Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (where he had been transferred since June 24).Antoling was charged by the Task Force on that same day, June 23rd.On November 10, 2010,Lumikid was finally arraigned but Antoling had his charges dismissed for lack of evidence,at the end of August.
Ergo, having your weapons stolen instead of being shot to death for being the loser you are COULD be seen as a stroke of luck.Just depends on perspective I guess.
The love affair between Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City and Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao,CO (Commanding Officer) of the NPA's Merardo Arce Command continues this holiday season.As I had written in at least one recent NPA-themed entry, Duterte and his daughter,Mayor Sarah"Inday"Duterte Carpio have been whispering sweet nothings to Ka Parago as they practically beg the guerilla leader to come out of the mountains and enjoy Xmas in the city.Parago of course refused the kind offer and instead invited both father AND daughter up to his mountain lair.Sunday,December 26 will mark the 42nd Anniversary of the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) and all NPA Regional Commands hold large gatherings.The 2 strongest Regional Commands,NEMR (North East Mindanao Region) and Parago's,SMR (Southern Mindanao Region) have the largest of these get-togethers.Indeed,on December 20th as Vice Mayor Duterte ordered Davao City PNP not to arrest Parago,et al the Vice Mayor announced he WOULD in fact be going to Parago's camp to be spending at least a part of the Xmas holiday.
Speaking of Ka Parago's Merardo Arce Command,on December 17,1 day after the ceasefire began,the NPA was forced to very quickly re-position itself when the 1003Bde (Brigade) began heavy troop movements as it Forward Deployed in Davao City's Paquibato District.The AFP is feigning innocence,claiming it was NOT a tactical deployment at all but rather a large logistical shift to ready the district for CMO/PDT actions (Civil-Military Operations such as medical outreaches and the cobstruction of school buildings,and of course the latest Hearts and Minds weapon,"Peace and Development Teams".PDTs as they are called in military shorthand are day-to-day CMO liasons and actors who spend weeks in a given barangay.On the other hand,CMO elements rarely spend a single week in 1 locale).
Parago is on everbody's mind these days...On Friday,December 17,2010,Sheriff Abe Andress told a Davao City Court that try as he might,he just could not find Parago's camp (riiiight, as if he even entered an NPA held district).Sheriff Andress had been"looking"to serve a subpoena to Ka Parago over a Writ of Amparo filed by local woman,Juanita Gomez.Juanita's husband,Jerry Gomez,had been selling ice cream for 4 years in an NPA controlled area when Merardo Arce Command's PBC1 (Pulang Bagani Command #1, the company sized element that Parago personally comands) abducted him in late August,2010.A Writ of Amparo is designed to offer families relief in cases of enforced disappearances.Primarily designed to be utilised by people having good cause to believe the GOVERNMENT has abducted a loved one,the Writ,if granted by a court,compels the entity so charged to produce the missing person post haste.It can also be utilised by the family to gain protection from retaliatory intimidation and/or violence.To my knowledge this is the first attempted utilisation of a Writ of Amparo against a non-governmental entity.Ms.Gomez says she received a phone call on December 01,from the NPA telling her not to worry,that her husband is OK and will be returning home shortly.
That same day,December 17,one day after the ceasefire began,a joint AFP/PNP checkpoint in Barangay Pili,Bayugan,Agusan del Sur Province,a car carrying 5 men was flagged for inspection and searched.Upon identifying the 5 men in the vehicle it was discovered that all 5 were NPA guerillas from NCMR (North Central Mindanao Region).1 of the 5 is a High Value Target, 67 year old Pedro"Ka Gonyong"Codaste.Codaste was en route to Butuan City in Agusan del Norte Province to spend Xmas with his family.Codaste was nabbed on a Warrant out of Regional Trial Court,Branch 8,in Malaybalay City,Bukidnon Province.The charges,Multiple Murder and Frustrated Multiple Murder,stem from tactical operations.The NPA,CPP and NDF (National Democratic Front) each condemned the arrests,especially Codaste's,as a violation of the ceasefire.The AFP maintains that since he had a Warrant it was an act of Law Enforcement.By the end of he week the NDF claimed Codaste was a member of the NDF negotiating team though they didn't specify as to when he joined that effort (seeing as how his name has never appeared on any NDF lists submitted to either GRP OR Norway,the Facilitating Nation.The claim of an arrestee being from either the NPA OR CPP belongs to the NDF Peace Process is extremely relevant since any person belonging is automatically imbued with immunity from arrest,detention and prosecution.
On December 18,2010 an ex-NPA guerilla who withdrew from the movement in 2006 was shot to death by a SPARU (Special Partisan Armed Revolutionary Unit,3 to 5 person assasination squads) for being an IS-AFP (AFP Intelligence) asset.Randy Acao Umpo,a farmer,was alone and listening to the radio at his home in Sitio Mamaon,Barangay Sibula,Toril District,Davao City when shot on the right side of his chest and died instantly.Ironically he had belonged to a SPARU Team himself.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Development,Last Quarter of 2010:Mindanao 2020 Developmental Framework,MSDF 2010-2020 and Push for Creation of 4th Congressional District in Bukidnon Province
As I had mentioned in my first Development entry, "Development: How Much is Too Much," the word "Development" is hummed like a mantra non-stop by a government drunk on corruption and inefficiency. Likewise I acknowledged that Development need not be a dirty word or something to fear as long as it is handled in a sustainable and socially/culturally sensitive manner. This has rarely, if ever the case. The new Administration (President Aquino) seems to have his heart in the right place though he has an awful lot on his plate, naturally.If President Aquino can walk the walk, not just talk the talk things will behin to look a lot better.
On November 29. 2010,President Aquino was presented with a briefing paper on the new Mindanowan framework for Development. Entitled,"Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan."This new framework is being touted as the direct successor to"Mindanao 2000"(launched during the Ramos Presidency),which is set to expire at midnite,New Years Eve and like its predecessor isn't a "plan" per se,but rather serves as a touchstone for subsequent planning."Mindanao 2020"will last for the duration of the Presidential term,and unless superceded by the plan of a successive administration,until the year 2020.
The jist of the "plan" revolves around 10 central points:
I) Dismantlement of PAGs (Private Armed Groups,aka"paramilitaries") which will help towards a"gunless"Mindanao.
II) A first tier infrastructural and transportational system that will efficiently move goods as well as people.
III) Reasonable and sustainable development of,and maintenance of Mindanowan natural and cultural resources.Such interaction with the island's resources will be approached with respect and ultimate concern for the environment as well as of respect for ways in which to maximise benefits for islanders themselves.
IV). Institutions will be rebuilt,or otherwise developed to be field natural illness,disease and other dangers.
V) Strengthening of intra-regional links culturally,socially and economically with special consideration towards ASEAN Nations so as to strengthen existing cooperative relationships.
VI) A strong, competitive economy with inter-cooperative elements that are up to date technologically and industrially. Mindanao will be positioned as both a national and regional leader economically.
VII) Respect for all Mindanowans' personal as well as cultural dignity.
VIII) More culturally sensitive education without necessarily relying upon the orthadox Philippine model used here to fore.
IX) Respect for cultural diversity
X) All Mindanowans will enjoy marked materiel and cultural improvements in their lives.
Number III makes me sincerely and incredibly happy simply because the President is paying it lipservice though it is a totally meaningless gesture.The paper is meant to covey a framework, a methodology for change.Instead it is simply a child's wish list for acid washed change.All the Politically Correct bile makes me want to hurl my kalamansi (for foreigners, it is tiny sour citrus fruit that together with soy sauce forms THE Philippine's most popular condiment. Please don't ask me about "banana ketchup").It is exceedingly easy to articulate a list for Santa Claus (getting off some holiday themed comments) but much more difficult to figure out a way in which to obtain these things for ourselves.This "framework"doesn't offer a single piece of substantiative information.I did a manage to squeeze a great laugh though out of MinDA's (Mindanao Development Authority) Luwalhati Antonino's comments post-ceremony.First I need to say that I acrually respect the woman a great deal.As I have mentioned in at least one other entry,Mrs.Antonino together with Congresswoman Daisy Fuentes of South Cotabato Province and the late Mayor of Zamboanga City (and mother to its current mayor) Clara Lobregat formed an informal political alliance against the MNLF,and later MILF political depradations.Many probally recall the Pinol brothers of Cotabato,(then) Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan City,Lanao del Norte Provibce and Ms. Lobregat's son,Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City.These men,great heroes in my perspective,alone were responsible for saving the nation from a midnite dissection via MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain).That terribly flawed document which directly violated the Philippine's 1987 Constitution would have allowed the MILF to build a direct launching pad for their rape of the entire island.Without the Emergency Petition by those 4 Mindanowan politicians the Arroyo Government would have crossed the proverbial Rubicon and all hope for Mindanao would have been lost.Is is THAT serious.The Petition was accepted by the Supreme Court who then immediately granted the Petitioner's request for a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order),which was issued in August of 2008.Immediately afterwards the Court set about determining the legality of the Moa-AD and eventually issued its Ruling that October,negating the document as Unconstitutional.The 3 afore mentioned women,Clara Lobregat,Daisy Fuentes and Luwalhati Antonino similarly took action over very serious issues and did so almost 20 years before those men did.Like those men they deserve so much more than a little seen footnote in Philippine History.
OK, with that out of the way... After the unveiling of the briefing paper I just discussed Ms. Antonino was asked to offer. some more information on "Mindanao 2020." Offering her comments on the fly, via SMS (texting) she offered that the projected outlay (cost) is pegged at a whopping 60 Billion Pesos over the course of those 5 projected years. That really wouldn't be much of an issue, certainly not at this pre-implementation/pre-allocation stage BUT...as I have pointed out, that "plan" was nothing but fluff!What was it that the Bard said about Denmark (no offence to any Danish readers, Hey, what makes you think that 1 of the 3 people who will ever read this wouldn't be Danish?).
I should segue into a riff about the great accounting skills displayed by General Garcia (in a recent AFP entry) but intelligent people should have gotten my inference by now.
Speaking of"Mindanao 2020,"last week in Cagayan del Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province,a second Developmental framework was released.At a special gathering of 100 varied stakeholders organised by NEDA (National Economic Development Authority).NEDA has 5 Regional branch offices on Mindanao corresponding to the island's 5 Regions (the 6th, "ARMM," or, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has its own version of NEDA due to that Region's highly autonomous nature).
Known as,"MSDF 2010-2020"(Mindanao Strategic Framework for Development),it wad spearheaded by NEDA-RDO (NEDA Regional Development Office) Assistant Director Marcelina Bacani.ARMM's"RED and PB"(Regional Economic Development and Planning Board) offered significant input as did all 5 NEDA branches on Mindanao.Basically,there are 5 main areas of focus:
I) Peace Building
II) Good Governance with strong partnerships in both the public and the private sector.
III) Industrialisation based upon sustainable resources
IV) Social Equity
V) Capable Logistical Support
As unveiled by Leon M. Dacanay Jr.,Director of NEDA Region 10 (the region covering Misamis Oriental Province,where this unveiling took place),with the keynote speech given by Secretary of SEP (Socio-Economic Planning) Cayetano W. Paderanga the "plan"has a 9 year shelf life,expiring in 2021.Like the preceeding"plan"this too is meant only as a touchstone for planning.Since I have a Shakespearean theme going (the "Bard" of course being William Shakespeare),I will simply say, "Much Ado about Nothing."
Also last week, MinDA announced that it was partnering with NAMRIA (National Mapping and Resource Information Agency) and JICA (Japan International Cooperative Agency), which is largely equivalent with the American USAID programme.The 3 entities will work on the production of a digital topographic map of the entire island in 1:50,000 scale.Not only will this be the first digital map of the entire island,it is Mindanao's first topographic map as well-as the first governmentsl mapping since the 1950s.Of course up until the present we have portions of the island that are completely untouched and unexplored.If you notice, NAMRIA's full title includes the phrase,"Resource Information."This of course infers that Japan is not engaging in this endeavor out of altruism but out of a concerted effort to be the first foreign power to exploit here to fore pristine portions of the island.This becomes a lot more apparent when you find that Japan is entirely footing the bill to the tune of 690 Million Pesos (almost $14 Million).
The Philippine Left (and often the Right as well) are perrenially obsessed with American exploitation of Mindanowan resources,and to a lesser degree,with Aussie (Australian),Canadian and Western European designs.One never hears about the Japanese and they have almost a large as hold in terms of volume,economic investment in exploitable segments and in positioning themselves as widely as possible,sans the American PR machine that spouts off everytime USAID or its subsidiary GEM (Growth in Equity Mindana) unveils another foot bridge.
In December, 2006 Japan began laying it on hot and heavy in Morolandia (MILF environs) with the implementation of "J-BIRD" (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development),which by the way has a portion of the map project as well (MILF slush fund).
When discussing Development a common misconception is that it only applies to physical or economic issues. Development of course also covers the political spectrum.Case in point, Bukidnon Province's Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) will once again bandy about the controversial,yet increasingly unavoidable subject of expansion (and contraction) when it resumes post-Xmas.On the scheduale for that 1st post-holiday session,January 06,2111 will be the long discussed creation of the Province's 4th Congressional District. Bukidnon Province has 2 cities (Malaybalay and Valencia),20 towns and 464 barangays.By Mindanowan standards this qualifies it for "bursting at the seams,"though when compared with Central and Southern Luzon that becomes downright laughable.The proposed 4th District will take Pangan-tucan and Kalilangan from their current 1st District,Valencia City from its current 2nd District,and Kadingilan from its current 3rd District.
The current initiative was generated by a Resolution authored by the Majority Leader of the Floor,Nemesio Beltran Jr.in early 2010.The SP (Council) will hold a Public Consultation and has requested all LGU Executives (Local Government Unit Executives,equals municipal officials) down to the Barangay Captain level.Also on tap is another re-generated proposal that has the province being divided into 2 provinces along the lines of Agusan and Lanao Provinces.This idea was first introduced in the 1980s by current Vice Governor Jose Maria R.Zubiri Jr. The" LGU Code of 1991"allows for the creation of a new province when the proposed new province will encompass a contigious area of at least 2000 square kilometers,with a minimum population of 250,000 and with a generated income of at least 20 Million Pesos.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also developed a very similar plan while a Congressman representing Bukidnon's 3rd District (1998 to 2001).I suppose its a popular subject at the Zubiri diningroom table.At the time Zubiri had been blocked by fellow Bukidnon Congressman (at the time),Neric Acosta.Acosta represented the 1st District and feared weakening his own baliwick. In 2006, by then a Senator, he tried for a 2nd time and once again found Acosta blocking the way.
On November 29. 2010,President Aquino was presented with a briefing paper on the new Mindanowan framework for Development. Entitled,"Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan."This new framework is being touted as the direct successor to"Mindanao 2000"(launched during the Ramos Presidency),which is set to expire at midnite,New Years Eve and like its predecessor isn't a "plan" per se,but rather serves as a touchstone for subsequent planning."Mindanao 2020"will last for the duration of the Presidential term,and unless superceded by the plan of a successive administration,until the year 2020.
The jist of the "plan" revolves around 10 central points:
I) Dismantlement of PAGs (Private Armed Groups,aka"paramilitaries") which will help towards a"gunless"Mindanao.
II) A first tier infrastructural and transportational system that will efficiently move goods as well as people.
III) Reasonable and sustainable development of,and maintenance of Mindanowan natural and cultural resources.Such interaction with the island's resources will be approached with respect and ultimate concern for the environment as well as of respect for ways in which to maximise benefits for islanders themselves.
IV). Institutions will be rebuilt,or otherwise developed to be field natural illness,disease and other dangers.
V) Strengthening of intra-regional links culturally,socially and economically with special consideration towards ASEAN Nations so as to strengthen existing cooperative relationships.
VI) A strong, competitive economy with inter-cooperative elements that are up to date technologically and industrially. Mindanao will be positioned as both a national and regional leader economically.
VII) Respect for all Mindanowans' personal as well as cultural dignity.
VIII) More culturally sensitive education without necessarily relying upon the orthadox Philippine model used here to fore.
IX) Respect for cultural diversity
X) All Mindanowans will enjoy marked materiel and cultural improvements in their lives.
Number III makes me sincerely and incredibly happy simply because the President is paying it lipservice though it is a totally meaningless gesture.The paper is meant to covey a framework, a methodology for change.Instead it is simply a child's wish list for acid washed change.All the Politically Correct bile makes me want to hurl my kalamansi (for foreigners, it is tiny sour citrus fruit that together with soy sauce forms THE Philippine's most popular condiment. Please don't ask me about "banana ketchup").It is exceedingly easy to articulate a list for Santa Claus (getting off some holiday themed comments) but much more difficult to figure out a way in which to obtain these things for ourselves.This "framework"doesn't offer a single piece of substantiative information.I did a manage to squeeze a great laugh though out of MinDA's (Mindanao Development Authority) Luwalhati Antonino's comments post-ceremony.First I need to say that I acrually respect the woman a great deal.As I have mentioned in at least one other entry,Mrs.Antonino together with Congresswoman Daisy Fuentes of South Cotabato Province and the late Mayor of Zamboanga City (and mother to its current mayor) Clara Lobregat formed an informal political alliance against the MNLF,and later MILF political depradations.Many probally recall the Pinol brothers of Cotabato,(then) Mayor Lawrence Cruz of Iligan City,Lanao del Norte Provibce and Ms. Lobregat's son,Mayor Celso Lobregat of Zamboanga City.These men,great heroes in my perspective,alone were responsible for saving the nation from a midnite dissection via MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain).That terribly flawed document which directly violated the Philippine's 1987 Constitution would have allowed the MILF to build a direct launching pad for their rape of the entire island.Without the Emergency Petition by those 4 Mindanowan politicians the Arroyo Government would have crossed the proverbial Rubicon and all hope for Mindanao would have been lost.Is is THAT serious.The Petition was accepted by the Supreme Court who then immediately granted the Petitioner's request for a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order),which was issued in August of 2008.Immediately afterwards the Court set about determining the legality of the Moa-AD and eventually issued its Ruling that October,negating the document as Unconstitutional.The 3 afore mentioned women,Clara Lobregat,Daisy Fuentes and Luwalhati Antonino similarly took action over very serious issues and did so almost 20 years before those men did.Like those men they deserve so much more than a little seen footnote in Philippine History.
OK, with that out of the way... After the unveiling of the briefing paper I just discussed Ms. Antonino was asked to offer. some more information on "Mindanao 2020." Offering her comments on the fly, via SMS (texting) she offered that the projected outlay (cost) is pegged at a whopping 60 Billion Pesos over the course of those 5 projected years. That really wouldn't be much of an issue, certainly not at this pre-implementation/pre-allocation stage BUT...as I have pointed out, that "plan" was nothing but fluff!What was it that the Bard said about Denmark (no offence to any Danish readers, Hey, what makes you think that 1 of the 3 people who will ever read this wouldn't be Danish?).
I should segue into a riff about the great accounting skills displayed by General Garcia (in a recent AFP entry) but intelligent people should have gotten my inference by now.
Speaking of"Mindanao 2020,"last week in Cagayan del Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province,a second Developmental framework was released.At a special gathering of 100 varied stakeholders organised by NEDA (National Economic Development Authority).NEDA has 5 Regional branch offices on Mindanao corresponding to the island's 5 Regions (the 6th, "ARMM," or, Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao has its own version of NEDA due to that Region's highly autonomous nature).
Known as,"MSDF 2010-2020"(Mindanao Strategic Framework for Development),it wad spearheaded by NEDA-RDO (NEDA Regional Development Office) Assistant Director Marcelina Bacani.ARMM's"RED and PB"(Regional Economic Development and Planning Board) offered significant input as did all 5 NEDA branches on Mindanao.Basically,there are 5 main areas of focus:
I) Peace Building
II) Good Governance with strong partnerships in both the public and the private sector.
III) Industrialisation based upon sustainable resources
IV) Social Equity
V) Capable Logistical Support
As unveiled by Leon M. Dacanay Jr.,Director of NEDA Region 10 (the region covering Misamis Oriental Province,where this unveiling took place),with the keynote speech given by Secretary of SEP (Socio-Economic Planning) Cayetano W. Paderanga the "plan"has a 9 year shelf life,expiring in 2021.Like the preceeding"plan"this too is meant only as a touchstone for planning.Since I have a Shakespearean theme going (the "Bard" of course being William Shakespeare),I will simply say, "Much Ado about Nothing."
Also last week, MinDA announced that it was partnering with NAMRIA (National Mapping and Resource Information Agency) and JICA (Japan International Cooperative Agency), which is largely equivalent with the American USAID programme.The 3 entities will work on the production of a digital topographic map of the entire island in 1:50,000 scale.Not only will this be the first digital map of the entire island,it is Mindanao's first topographic map as well-as the first governmentsl mapping since the 1950s.Of course up until the present we have portions of the island that are completely untouched and unexplored.If you notice, NAMRIA's full title includes the phrase,"Resource Information."This of course infers that Japan is not engaging in this endeavor out of altruism but out of a concerted effort to be the first foreign power to exploit here to fore pristine portions of the island.This becomes a lot more apparent when you find that Japan is entirely footing the bill to the tune of 690 Million Pesos (almost $14 Million).
The Philippine Left (and often the Right as well) are perrenially obsessed with American exploitation of Mindanowan resources,and to a lesser degree,with Aussie (Australian),Canadian and Western European designs.One never hears about the Japanese and they have almost a large as hold in terms of volume,economic investment in exploitable segments and in positioning themselves as widely as possible,sans the American PR machine that spouts off everytime USAID or its subsidiary GEM (Growth in Equity Mindana) unveils another foot bridge.
In December, 2006 Japan began laying it on hot and heavy in Morolandia (MILF environs) with the implementation of "J-BIRD" (Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development),which by the way has a portion of the map project as well (MILF slush fund).
When discussing Development a common misconception is that it only applies to physical or economic issues. Development of course also covers the political spectrum.Case in point, Bukidnon Province's Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) will once again bandy about the controversial,yet increasingly unavoidable subject of expansion (and contraction) when it resumes post-Xmas.On the scheduale for that 1st post-holiday session,January 06,2111 will be the long discussed creation of the Province's 4th Congressional District. Bukidnon Province has 2 cities (Malaybalay and Valencia),20 towns and 464 barangays.By Mindanowan standards this qualifies it for "bursting at the seams,"though when compared with Central and Southern Luzon that becomes downright laughable.The proposed 4th District will take Pangan-tucan and Kalilangan from their current 1st District,Valencia City from its current 2nd District,and Kadingilan from its current 3rd District.
The current initiative was generated by a Resolution authored by the Majority Leader of the Floor,Nemesio Beltran Jr.in early 2010.The SP (Council) will hold a Public Consultation and has requested all LGU Executives (Local Government Unit Executives,equals municipal officials) down to the Barangay Captain level.Also on tap is another re-generated proposal that has the province being divided into 2 provinces along the lines of Agusan and Lanao Provinces.This idea was first introduced in the 1980s by current Vice Governor Jose Maria R.Zubiri Jr. The" LGU Code of 1991"allows for the creation of a new province when the proposed new province will encompass a contigious area of at least 2000 square kilometers,with a minimum population of 250,000 and with a generated income of at least 20 Million Pesos.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also developed a very similar plan while a Congressman representing Bukidnon's 3rd District (1998 to 2001).I suppose its a popular subject at the Zubiri diningroom table.At the time Zubiri had been blocked by fellow Bukidnon Congressman (at the time),Neric Acosta.Acosta represented the 1st District and feared weakening his own baliwick. In 2006, by then a Senator, he tried for a 2nd time and once again found Acosta blocking the way.
AFP,Last Quarter of 2011,Part V:The First Taste of Freedom for Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV
As I have been discussing in my other recent AFP (Armed Forces of the Phillipines) entries,Congress is about to offer Concurrence to Presidential Proclamation #75 (the revised version of Presidential Proclamation #50,the Presidential Amnesty for the GMA Era Coup and Mutiny Attempts).In light of this impending Concurrence,the case in Makati Regional Trial Court,Branch #148,where 22 of the Oakwood plotters have been going mano to mano (double entendre for Tagalog,Bisaya and English speakers,but only if you are at least bilingual) with presiding Judge Oscar B.Pimentel is sputtering to an anti-climatic ending.On Monday,December 20,2010 Judge Pimentel decided to finally take Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on an offer Enrile had made way back in October,when Enrile had offered to have the Senate take custody of Senator Trillanes.
Judge Pimentel is a man who apparently enjoys thinking long and hard about every decison he makes.It probably takes him 2 days to pick his socks.Remebering what I had mentioned in my last AFP entry,it took him 2 months to compose a voluminous Ruling on the Oakwood Case.In any event the good judge,as I mentioned in my previous paragraph,finally agreed to release Senator Trillanes to the Senate's custody on Monday,December 20,2010 .Enrile welcomed his comrade to the Senate for an impromptu tour on Wednesday,December 22.After the short tour Enrile assigned 2 officers from the Senate's Sergeant at Arms to act as "Security Guards".Asked if he did so out of concerns that Trillanes would flee,Enrile answered that that would be insane given his impending Amnesty,but then failing to answer as to why he bothered assigning the 2 men.
There are no restrictions on Senator Trillanes'freedom aside from the requirement of gaining Enrile's clearance should Trillanes somehow decide he wished to travel abroad prior to the President signing off on his application for Amnesty.It is expected that Trillanes,who has held a seat in the Senate for 3.5 years but never even been inside the Senate Building prior to Wednesday,will attend his first Session on January 17,2011 when the Senate resumes after Xmas Vacation.
Oakwood took place long enough ago that a good many Filipinos might not know much about it,to say nothing of foreigners. In discussing it one needs to remember the state of the nation in the Summer of 2003,when the coup attempt transpired.In 2001 GMA (President Gloria M. Arroyo) came to power in a military sponsored coup against President Joseph"ERAP"Estrada. Immediately she ran into resistance from large segments of society who saw no real difference between her and Estrada, both were corrupt puppets out for self enrichment.Coincidentally,a large clique within the AFP began coallescing around PMA (Philippine Military Academy) Class of 1995 who at this time were still Junior Officers (Captains or below).The clique,led by the most charismatic of these Junior Officers,1stLt.Gerardo Gambala,Class Valedictorian and serving in the Army,and the afore mentioned Antonio Trillanes who was then an extroverted Naval Lieutenant,Senior Grade.
Fashioning themselves true patriots,they were disgusted by the gross incompetence and flagrant corruption that typified AFP Senior Officers (and sadly,still does to a high degree).Chief amongst their very long list of complaints was the theft of the military's best Infantry equipment which was often sold directly to various insurgent organisations.Imagine yourself a platoon leader,you have 30 young men whose lives (as well as the living conditions of all their families) directly depends on your leadership.You are struggling to make ends meet yourself.You see your Superiors blatantly stealing 120 new rifles meant to replace your unit's 40 year old equipment.Your Superiors flaunt the wealth generated by their blatant thefts and THEN sends you into a place like Basilan where your young men are dying at the hands of people firing those same stolen rifles.I dare say it is enough to drive a great many idealistic and capable young men over the edge.
Fashioning an insignia closely modeled on Aguinaldo's factional emblem,a 16 rayed sun on a red background, 337 men ensconced themselves in Makati's luxurious Oakwood condominiums ("The Oakwood Premier,Ayala Center,Makati,since renamed, "Ascott, The Residence, Makati"[sic]) on July, 27, 2003.Aside from their disatisfaction with the status quo within the AFP they demanded GMA's ouster insisting that they had discovered an insidious plot by which GMA played up fears in Mindanao, specifically the (then) recent bombings in Davao City.The clique insisted that they had proof that those bombings were committed by elements within the AFP with the 2 pronged aim of enrichment via US anti-terrorism funds (this was in the days of America's bottomless pockets as it flailed left and right against anything having to do with Bin Laden) but more importantly so that she could use the bombings as a pretext with which to declare Martial Law.Once Martial Law was in effect they said,GMA would co-opt dictatorial powers along the lines of former President Marcos,post-1972.
It was in the late afternoon when an ignorant journalist (don't know many of them, do we?) mistook that catchy emblem, worn on the arm,as the"Katipunan"emblem of Bonifacio,another hero of Philippine Independance.Bonifacio's faction was called,"Magdalo."With that pronouncement the clique instantaneously became the,"Magdalo Soldiers,"a name they retain until the present.
This was not the first plot against GMA,in fact every post-Marcos Presidency has been wracked by mutinies and coup attempts with the exception of the current President Aquino but then he is barely 6 months into his 6 year term,give him time.GMA however was shocked at the widespread support the Magdalo Soldiers instantly generated.She deployed a negotiating team led by former AFP Chief of Staff,General Roy Cimatu.General Cimatu has been widely regarded as a straight shooter, a good man within a perverted system and so he quickly made headway with the 5 Junior Officers who formed the command and control nuclei as it were:
I) Lieutenant Gerardo Gambala (Army)
II) Lieutenant, Sr. Grade, Antonio F. Trillanes (Navy)
III) Captain Milo Maestrecampo (Army)
IV) Captain Gary Alejano (Marines)
V) Lieutenant, Sr. Grade, James Layug (Navy)
General Cimatu gave them his word as a man of honour,an officer and a hentleman (that movie was just so-so,didn't really like it,Debra Winger isn't my cup of tea) that only these 5 leaders would be tried at all,and that they would be relegated to the Military Justice System where he strongly inferred it would be whitewashed.He even thanked the leaders for being brave and patriotic enough to take this much needed stand.The rest of the group would be given an Article #105 (of the Rules of War),known as an "Admonishment" (akin to written warning).The 5 agreed and ordered the rest of the men to promptly return to Camp Aguinaldo for deployment back to their respective units.The very next morning GMA showed her true colours by having every last one of them imprisoned on the harshest charges possible,in the civilian courts.Trillanes, Gambala and 29 others (including 2 Enlisted Men) were charged with"Rebellion"and this is the case now being shelved by Judge Pimentel in Makati.In the end,General Cimatu said nothing (thus proving what a loser he really is).
Judge Pimentel is a man who apparently enjoys thinking long and hard about every decison he makes.It probably takes him 2 days to pick his socks.Remebering what I had mentioned in my last AFP entry,it took him 2 months to compose a voluminous Ruling on the Oakwood Case.In any event the good judge,as I mentioned in my previous paragraph,finally agreed to release Senator Trillanes to the Senate's custody on Monday,December 20,2010 .Enrile welcomed his comrade to the Senate for an impromptu tour on Wednesday,December 22.After the short tour Enrile assigned 2 officers from the Senate's Sergeant at Arms to act as "Security Guards".Asked if he did so out of concerns that Trillanes would flee,Enrile answered that that would be insane given his impending Amnesty,but then failing to answer as to why he bothered assigning the 2 men.
There are no restrictions on Senator Trillanes'freedom aside from the requirement of gaining Enrile's clearance should Trillanes somehow decide he wished to travel abroad prior to the President signing off on his application for Amnesty.It is expected that Trillanes,who has held a seat in the Senate for 3.5 years but never even been inside the Senate Building prior to Wednesday,will attend his first Session on January 17,2011 when the Senate resumes after Xmas Vacation.
Oakwood took place long enough ago that a good many Filipinos might not know much about it,to say nothing of foreigners. In discussing it one needs to remember the state of the nation in the Summer of 2003,when the coup attempt transpired.In 2001 GMA (President Gloria M. Arroyo) came to power in a military sponsored coup against President Joseph"ERAP"Estrada. Immediately she ran into resistance from large segments of society who saw no real difference between her and Estrada, both were corrupt puppets out for self enrichment.Coincidentally,a large clique within the AFP began coallescing around PMA (Philippine Military Academy) Class of 1995 who at this time were still Junior Officers (Captains or below).The clique,led by the most charismatic of these Junior Officers,1stLt.Gerardo Gambala,Class Valedictorian and serving in the Army,and the afore mentioned Antonio Trillanes who was then an extroverted Naval Lieutenant,Senior Grade.
Fashioning themselves true patriots,they were disgusted by the gross incompetence and flagrant corruption that typified AFP Senior Officers (and sadly,still does to a high degree).Chief amongst their very long list of complaints was the theft of the military's best Infantry equipment which was often sold directly to various insurgent organisations.Imagine yourself a platoon leader,you have 30 young men whose lives (as well as the living conditions of all their families) directly depends on your leadership.You are struggling to make ends meet yourself.You see your Superiors blatantly stealing 120 new rifles meant to replace your unit's 40 year old equipment.Your Superiors flaunt the wealth generated by their blatant thefts and THEN sends you into a place like Basilan where your young men are dying at the hands of people firing those same stolen rifles.I dare say it is enough to drive a great many idealistic and capable young men over the edge.
Fashioning an insignia closely modeled on Aguinaldo's factional emblem,a 16 rayed sun on a red background, 337 men ensconced themselves in Makati's luxurious Oakwood condominiums ("The Oakwood Premier,Ayala Center,Makati,since renamed, "Ascott, The Residence, Makati"[sic]) on July, 27, 2003.Aside from their disatisfaction with the status quo within the AFP they demanded GMA's ouster insisting that they had discovered an insidious plot by which GMA played up fears in Mindanao, specifically the (then) recent bombings in Davao City.The clique insisted that they had proof that those bombings were committed by elements within the AFP with the 2 pronged aim of enrichment via US anti-terrorism funds (this was in the days of America's bottomless pockets as it flailed left and right against anything having to do with Bin Laden) but more importantly so that she could use the bombings as a pretext with which to declare Martial Law.Once Martial Law was in effect they said,GMA would co-opt dictatorial powers along the lines of former President Marcos,post-1972.
It was in the late afternoon when an ignorant journalist (don't know many of them, do we?) mistook that catchy emblem, worn on the arm,as the"Katipunan"emblem of Bonifacio,another hero of Philippine Independance.Bonifacio's faction was called,"Magdalo."With that pronouncement the clique instantaneously became the,"Magdalo Soldiers,"a name they retain until the present.
This was not the first plot against GMA,in fact every post-Marcos Presidency has been wracked by mutinies and coup attempts with the exception of the current President Aquino but then he is barely 6 months into his 6 year term,give him time.GMA however was shocked at the widespread support the Magdalo Soldiers instantly generated.She deployed a negotiating team led by former AFP Chief of Staff,General Roy Cimatu.General Cimatu has been widely regarded as a straight shooter, a good man within a perverted system and so he quickly made headway with the 5 Junior Officers who formed the command and control nuclei as it were:
I) Lieutenant Gerardo Gambala (Army)
II) Lieutenant, Sr. Grade, Antonio F. Trillanes (Navy)
III) Captain Milo Maestrecampo (Army)
IV) Captain Gary Alejano (Marines)
V) Lieutenant, Sr. Grade, James Layug (Navy)
General Cimatu gave them his word as a man of honour,an officer and a hentleman (that movie was just so-so,didn't really like it,Debra Winger isn't my cup of tea) that only these 5 leaders would be tried at all,and that they would be relegated to the Military Justice System where he strongly inferred it would be whitewashed.He even thanked the leaders for being brave and patriotic enough to take this much needed stand.The rest of the group would be given an Article #105 (of the Rules of War),known as an "Admonishment" (akin to written warning).The 5 agreed and ordered the rest of the men to promptly return to Camp Aguinaldo for deployment back to their respective units.The very next morning GMA showed her true colours by having every last one of them imprisoned on the harshest charges possible,in the civilian courts.Trillanes, Gambala and 29 others (including 2 Enlisted Men) were charged with"Rebellion"and this is the case now being shelved by Judge Pimentel in Makati.In the end,General Cimatu said nothing (thus proving what a loser he really is).
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
MILF,Last Quarter of 2010: Shifting from Marginal to Irrelevant
An old English adage tells us that when one has nothing intelligent to say,it is prudent not to say anything.In a recent entry I took aim at the MILF's interminable delaying tactics that have pushed the much awaited resumption of the GRP-MILF Peace Process from"After Ramadan"to "Who Knows When."I also discussed the central issue causing these delays,in the form of the individual serving as Facilitator of the Talks,Datuk Othman bin Abd' Razak of Malaysia.However I haven't really gone beyond the raison d'etre for Othman's biased positioning in favour of the MILF.In any event,Chairman of the MILF's Peace Panel Secretariat,Jun Mantawil has been so kind as to do this for me via his extremely caustic denigration of columinst Jarius Bondoc of the Mania daily,"Philippine Star."I would actually call the paper a tabloid but in the context of Philippine Journalism there isn't much disparity between the mainstream papers.
Bondoc ran afoul of the MILF by daring to support the government's lobbying for the removal of Abdurazak.In his column entitled,"Malaysian'Mediator'Marred Phl-MILF Talks,"that appeared in the December 17th issue of the paper,Bondoc makes a couple of valuable,albeit extremely minor points,the most pertinent of which was Abd' Razak's being an Intelligence Officer.Technically speaking, and Bondoc does note this,Abd' Razak is an EX-Intelligence Agent.Currently,Razak's official title is,"Special Advisor to the Prime Minister"but the position is sublimated to the Department of Research at the Prime Minister's Office.The Department of Research is an interfacial entity that is utilised as an Intelligence clearing house. Although Foreign and Domestic Intelligence entities (in Malaysia) report directly to the Prime Minister via a designated representative who is included amongst the Presidential Security Cluster,these representatives filter their output according to the various agendas of their respective agencies.Having an entity of his own to not only interface with, and develop a much better rapport with Security/Intel entities but to also posess the ability to gather in depth analysis (as does the Department of Research) is invaluable.
While there is nothing nefarious about having an Intelligence operative act as a Mediator or Facilitator in a 3rd Party capacity (think General Omar Suleiman of Egypt informally performing this very same function in the Israeli:HAMAS dynamic) there are things that become quite troublesome upon closer inspection;The MILF began life in 1975 as a coallescence of ethnic/tribal dissatisfaction,Islamo-fascist tendencies and a resolute opposition to the Libyan brokered "solution"(Tripoli 1976) within the upper echelons of the MNLF.Its founder,Hashim Salamat,was a member of the MNLF's famed "Batch 90,"who trained on the Malaysian island of Pulao Pangkor,in Sabah State,Malaysia.Though much of the hands on training was affected via ex-SAS (British Special Forces) the bulk of the theoretical facet of training,all equipment and all logistics was entirely handled by...Malaysian Intelligence.
Malaysian involvement with the MNLF was a no brainer.One must remember the threat Malaysia faced (at the time) in the form of a regionally aggressive,hyper-nationalist GRP under then-President Marcos.Basically the Philippine rationale runs along the lines of,"The Sultan of Brunei handed Sabah (and Palawan) to the Sultan of Sulu for the latter having assisted the former during a Bruneian civil war some 400 years ago.Since we,the Philippines,stole Sulu we own Sabah."Of course the geopolitical and historical realities are just a tad bit more complicated than that,yet never the less,there it is at its essence.A good decade before"Batch 90"there had been an intellectual fringe in the Philippines who were enamoured with "pan-Malayanism,"the belief that all Malayans (most Indonesians,Bruneians,most Filipinos and some Malaysians) must unite for the People as a whole to realise the full potential of the collective Malay People (again,very much over-simplified but sufficient enough for our needs in this diatribe).Ergo,if one was a Malaysian nationalist in the early-1970s he would support any cohesive element threatening Philippine regional dominance.At the same time,there were more Sama (Samal) and Tausug Tribesmen in Sabah then in their actual homeland,the Sulu archipelago.Amongst these kindred people was the Chief Minister (equivalent to a Provincial Governor in the Philippines but with far greater powers in governance) of Sabah, Tun Mustapha, a Tausug.
Fast forward to 2001,GMA (former President Gloria M.Arroyo) had just taken power via a coup against her former superior, ERAP (President Estrada) and was desperately trying to shore up support and negate her terrible political vulnerability. Almost immediately after becoming the new figurehead (she had no real power until late 2003) she was willing to do whatever it took to quiet at least 1 of the (then) 6 insurgencies afflicting the Philippines.Recognising the MILF as the perfect candidate (for a number of reasons,not the least of which was the 2000 War launched by ERAP in which the MILF's command structure and extencive infrastructure were obliterated).Naturally the MILF was still reeling from the afore mentioned conflict the year before.The MILF needed an out though,as a way to save face.It realised that coming to the table following such an out and out defeat would leave it in a hopelessly weak bargaining position and so it resisted face to face Talks.
Flailing as drowning people do,GMA practically begged Malaysia to accept its present role as Facilitator of the Peace Process.It accepted of course and in 2003 Razak became Malaysia's man in the hole.Initially there was no real problem with the arrangement because there was nothing of substance taking place.As I inferred earlier GMA did more than just delegate crucial tasks,she segued into abdication of responsibility by giving the GRP Panel free reign.Like anyone just handed a blank check problems soon arose.Without giving a play by play recording of the process,former GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (and concurrent Secretary of OPAPP as well as a retired AFP Chief of Staff) Hermogenes"Jun"Cendana Esperon Jr. was like a bull in a china shoppe).After the Supreme Court handed down a Temporary Restraining Order against the signing of the MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain) in early August,2008,GMA,et al screamed that they had had no idea, nothing more than the most scant consultation as to the exact nature of the proposed Agreement.Ignoring the fact that this translates into the same gross incompetence that characterised the entire career of a woman who should have never led a Girl Scout Troop,much less a nation in distress... This returns my screed to Razak,and his employer,the Government of Malaysia.
Though most would not know it,the problems with Razak date back to the tenure of former National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzalez.In 2007 Gonzalez affected a formal request to replace Razak via (then) GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (Retired AFP Chief of Staff) General Rodolfo Garcia.Then came the formal request by his successor,Rafael Seguis.Indeed it is ironic that one of the MILF's chief complaints about current GRP Peace Panel Chairperson Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen is that he went to the media about the entire Facilitation issue given the fact that former Chairperson Seguis did exactly th same thing in late-March,2009.Why then does Malaysia refuse to comply?I have already stated the actual reason,Razak is merely doing his master's bidding.Malaysia has no love for the Philippines,to say the least.On the record Malaysia,under Prime Minister Najib Razak (not to be confused with THE"Razak"I am discussing,Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak,and I need to also note that the Prime Minister's actual name,including honourifics,is" Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak") is simply maintaining the policy espoused by his predecessor,former Prime Minister 'Abdullah Badawi (again, sans honourifics).Former Prime Minister Badawi publicly took the position that the original request by former Panel Chairperson Garcia constituted a breech of ASEAN's long time policy of"Non-Intervention."Of course this is ridiculous given the fact that mere Facilitation is perpetually a case of"Interference,"albeit mutually consensual.
The whole"smiley-face"exchanging of pleasantries as Malaysia and the Philippines exchanged formal correspondence regarding Malaysia's continued central role as Facilitator (that took place over the Summer of 2010) hid very strained relations between both nations on at least this subject.President Aquino would have been in hog heaven had Prime Minister Razak and company begged off as the Facilitating Nation,but of course it didn't work out that way.Malaysia takes it upon itself to pay for,and choose all accomodations for both Panels.Though no conclusive proof has been made public the general consensus amongst GRP players is that said accomodations were/are bugged by Malaysian Intelligence.Subsequently key portions of GRP strategy were then dealt out to the MILF on a piecemeal basis.One well known (in certain circles) facet involved the Mineral/Natural Resources Sharing Ratio to have been included in the failed BJE (Bangsamoro Juridicial Entity,the label given to the theoretical MILF-administered territory in Central and Western Mindanao) that was nullified by the Supreme Court intervention over MoA-AD in Autumn of 2008.The final Ratio ended with an amicable 75:25 splitting,with GRP getting the 25%.Initially Razak sought to position the MILF at 90:10 (GRP with 10%) though they opened with a gambit of 85:15 (GRP with 15%),even the MILF couldn't say 90:10 with a straight face.This is how warped Razak's position is within the dynamic.
Some within the Presidential Security Cluster have opined that for Malaysia to be dangling such unacceptable Ratios it would have to be aiming for an end game of de-stabilisation,not simply a biased settlement.Whatever the motivation,and whether Razak is biased,or not,all that matters is that GRP perceives Razak to be working against its interests.A Facilitator acts as a foil for both sides.The simplest way to illustrate it might be to ask readers to picture 2 very young brothers and a caring father.The brothers argue,recrimination merely leads to recrimination and progress is impossible.Enter the father who asks both,one at a time and in each others' presence to explain their position.Not adding anything of his own the father makes gentle suggestions involving listening and communicating to one another,only interjecting himself when 1 brother talks over the other.This is "Facilitation."If instead the father plays 1 son against the other,well you get the point.Even if the father is indeed fair,if 1 of the brothers is convinced otherwise,this "Facilitation" has no chance of ever working.
Another issue on the front burners,vis a vis Malaysia,is the GRP's contention that Razak has been meeting with MILF figures independently of the Peace Process which should be verboten simply from a common sensical point of view.The problem though is the complete absence of a review process for the Talks' TOR (Terms of Reference) as well as a complete absence of TOR for the Facilitation process on its own,something very important in its own right.TOR is a set of guidelines that spell out the process as a whole,incorporating the process framework/blueprint as well as the responsibilities of each participating entity.As the process progresses as a whole it is only common sense that existing TOR should undergo review by both GRP and the MILF.
Also rankling the MILF,Jarius Bondoc was accused of misrepresenting the indigenous status of the Maguindanowan Tribe when he said that its roots lie in Johore,i.e. Malaysia.In truth Bondoc is not too far from being absolutely on point.Both the Maguindanowan and Maranaw (Maranoan) Tribes are rooted in the Iranun Tribe (another Mindanowan Tribe) and only began to differentiate themselves AFTER the vist of Shariff Kabansuan.Kabansuan,born in the Sultunate of Johore was the son of an Arab from what is now Yemen,and a woman of the Royal House of Johore.After Kabansuan's arrival in Mindanao he intermarried with women from at least 2 Mindanowan Tribes and their progeny figure in a number of Maguindanowan and Maranaw geneaologies.So Bondoc was correct,in essence.However his point was that this fact somehow should invalidate any claim of Malaysian objectivity,and that is stretching it to say the least (trying to be kind to Bondoc though I do agree with his central thesis,Malaysia is not engaging itself out of altruism).I would have hoped instead that Bondoc had been taking aim at MILF arrogance and chauvenism as in when they portray themselves as indigenous and their Ilonggo or Cebuano (Bisaya) neighbours as"settlers."Indeed,some Bisaya are more indigenous then the most partisan"Moro."
In other MILF news,life has not been entirely boring for all members of the organisation.As Jun Mantawil screams about the difference between"Mediator"and"Facilitator" (yep,I spared you that bout of intellectual gymnastics) other MILF members have been a bit more pro active.Take the gents in the 113 Base Command...On December 07 a group of fun loving guerillas had taken their motorbanca (local type of wooden boat) and attempted a kidnapping...I mean "fundraising" off of Zamboanga Sibugay Province.Landing on Olutanga Island the would be kidnappers entered Barangay Buhangin Mahaba in 1 of the islands 3 municipalities,Subanipa.Trying to make an easy payday as the same Base Command did back on April 12, 2010 when the 6 members kidnapped Nena Toremocha from her warehouse in Barangay Malinao,in the neighbouring municipality of Mabuhay. Ms.Toremocha, wife of a former mayor of the town was taken to the mainland and held for nearly 2 weeks under sub-Kumander Abral Abdursalam.After her son Reynante dropped off the tidy Ransom on April 25,Ms.Toremocha was released,found sitting unencumbered in an abandoned nipa (bamboo and thatched dwelling) on Narciso Ramos Hiway in the town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte Province (the center of 113 Base Command).
Back to the matter at hand,on December 07,the erstwhile kidnappers were interdicted by a CAFGU (Citizens Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit,an Army Reserve restricted to a single municipality within which all its manpower is derived) detachment.In the ensuing fire fight 3 MILF guerillas were killed and the kidnapping prevented from transpiring.
That same day,December 07,in SKP (town of S.K.Pendatun) in Maguindanao Province,yet another of the men wanted in connection for the attack on Maasim,Sarangani Province on August 18,2008,during the 2008 War,was taken into custody. Sub-Kumander (a Junior Officer) Datu Mama Abpa of the 107 Base Command was taken on a Warrant from Alabel (Sarangani Province) Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 and had a Bounty of 600,000 Pesos in effect ($5,000). Naturally MILF Spokesman Von al Haq labeled the action,"an illegal arrest"and demanded Abpa's immediate release.The day I see al Haq or a single ranking MILF member express remorse over the slaughter of non-Muslims in Maasim,or even an apology for the rank robberies that took place there,acts befitting common drug addicts (no offence to drug addicts since many are indeed superior to such miscreants and common thugs),THEN I will PERHAPS feel a modicum of sympathy for arrested MILF guerillas.
Coincidentally a 2nd guerilla wanted in that same Maasim attack,Mando Leonsili of Purok #4,Barangay Katubao,Kiamba, Sarangani Province was also targetted for arrest.Wanted on Warrant #10-21 issued by that same Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 on charges of Murder,Frustrated Murder,Arson and Robbery.As the cordon was placed around Leonsili's home by the 73IB (Infantry Battalion),the wanted man managed to escape (as is almost always the case).Soldiers did recover some low level ordnance (an RPG,3 rounds for it,4 rifle grenades and a PAL rifle with almost fully loaded clip) which for the AFP equals a"successful"operation".The problem here is that SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) involves full notification of LGU (Local Govt. Unit, aka municipal executives down to the barangay level).Not only are many LGU executives vulnerable to compromise via bribery and/or outright coercion,many have blood relations with targetted subjects (a huge risk in rural locations) or can even share membership in a targetted organisation.Leonsili,like Abpa,is with the MILF's 107 Base Command of whom 49 members have had Warrants issued over the attack in question.
Another 2 members of the 107 Base Command wanted in connection with the afore mentioned attack on Maasim on August 18, 2008 were taken into custody on November 28, 2010 when a composite force of the 73IB and CIDG (PNP's"Criminal Investigation and Detection Group") executed another couple of those Warrants I mentioned.Daud Binago and his son Rayan Binago were taken into custody along with a 3rd man who remains under investigation for possible involvement and for the time being epononymously listed as "Anderson."
I need to take time to point out,as I did in a very recent entry on KFR (Kidnap for Ransom),that Philippine authorities very often point their finger at anyone that suits them.A case in point would be that 1 of these Warrants that I am discussing has been taken out against Kumander (Senior Officer) Alo Binago of the 105 Base Command (though the attack he's charged with was executed by the 107 Base Command,Maasim is generally believed to have been conceptualised and planned by the 105 Base Command).This particular Binago is listed as the top man in that attack.The problem however is that he has been imprisoned since July 31, 2006,a fact attested to by his jailers in the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Jail (for among other things,his involvement in the well known kidnapping of a South Korean treasure hunter in 2002).
November 22, 2010 saw PNP (Philippine National Police) CO (Commanding Officer), Chief Director General Rene Bacalzo meet with Secretary of OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process), Teresita Quintos Deles in Manila as both tried to formulate a protocol with which to have the PNP seek the aid of the MILF in apprehending those former members of the Ampatuan Clan-controlled CVO and SCAA that are featured in outstanding Warrants relating to the Maguindanao Massacre.It is Bacalzo's firm belief that most of these wanted men have joined with the MILF's 105 Base Command or else with KFR/Extortion Groups like al Khobar.Of course Bacalzo is ignoring the platoon sized armed groups that are now roaming that same general area (Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces skirting Liguasan Marsh) of which ALL members are comprised of his targetted demographic.Task Force Alpha ring a bell General Bacalzo?
November 01, 2010 saw another Binago Clansman who is also a member of the MILF fall into the hands of authorities.Andaman Mukidin Binago,35,was taken into custody by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at the Davao City boarding residence he calls home on a Warrant for the "GenSan Pork Market Bombimg."On December 12, 2004 as residents of GenSan (General Santos City, Sarangani Province) readied themselves for Xmas Binago, et al are said to have planted a very powerful IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "Bomb") in the city's Public Market.To ensure that only non-Muslims would be killed and maimed the bombers placed their device in the market's pork section.14 people were killed and more than 30 seriously wounded (one of those killed was a Muslim woman,ooooops!).
Binago,who claims he is a simple farmer is also said to be behind the January 30,2007 IED detonation of a Lotto outlet on GenSan's Santiago Avenue in which 6 people died and dozens were wounded.Of course MILF Spokesman Von al Haq denies that THIS Binago is even a member of the MILF.
Although Von al Haq is still handling the media the General Staff member has passed the Spokesman's torch back to Eid Kabalu who was placed on a 6 month suspension on April 12,2010 for having gotten a bit too big for his britches after taking it upon himself to sign a political covenant in the name of the MILF.As if this transgression wasn't bad enough on its own,the covenant with Presidential candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva and his BPP (Bangon Pilipinas Party) was in an election in which the MILF stressed non-involvement even more than it usually does.What did the covenant hope to guarantee?The MILF agreed (according to Kabalu's signature) to fully engage BBP in the Peace Process and would agree to BPP's vision of a Fedaralist-type solution,should Villanueva take the May 10th Election.
On October 14, 2010,exactly 6 months to the day the MILF's Central Committee unanimously passed a Resolution jointly authored by Vice Chairman for Political Affairs,Ghazali Jafaar and Chairman of the Central Committee Secretariat,Muhammad Ameen in which Kabalu's Suspension Order was lifted.Kabalu gained his position,which is formally known as,"Chairman of the Civil-Military Relations Department of the BIAF"(the BIAF,Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,is the armed wing of the MILF so that there is no actual Spokesman for the MILF,per se) during the War of 2000.His suspension has been a difficult time for him with his brother Nasser Kabalu having been murdered during this same period.
Nasser Kabalu had just been released from the Cotabato City Jail and was walking down a residential street in Purok Sampaloc in that city's Barangay Mother Bagua when a man known only by his nickname,"Abo,"walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head on September 26, 2010.
Ironically given the stated reason for Kabalu's suspension,on October 21, 2010,just after the MILF Central Committee hypocritically re-affirmed that stated reason in its lifting of Kabalu's Suspension Order the MILF CCCH met with its GRP counterparts at the Cotabato City headquarters of the IMT (International Monitoring Team,a multinational entity who does its best to safeguard extant GRP-MILF Ceasefires).The irony you ask?The 2 CCCH Panels (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) inked an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) relating to the October 25 synchronised Barangay and SK ELECTIONS.Entitled,"Guidelines for Mutual Understanding"in which both the MILF and GRP vow to take extra vigilance with regard to the Ceasefire so as to allow safe and orderly elections.Of course the MILF is careful to note that the MoU is ceasefire related so that isn't a"politically"related agreement in the strictest sense.I wonder what Eid Kabalu's perspective on THAT may be.Signing for the GRP was Chairperson of the GRP CCCH Panel,Major General Renaldo Sealana,while for the MILF,its Chairman of its CCCH Panel,Sa'id Sheikh signed on the dotted line.Witnessing the signing was Chairperson of the IMT,Major General Datuk Baharom bin Hamza of the Malaysian Army.The agreement will cover the period of October 23 to October 27, 2010.
Bondoc ran afoul of the MILF by daring to support the government's lobbying for the removal of Abdurazak.In his column entitled,"Malaysian'Mediator'Marred Phl-MILF Talks,"that appeared in the December 17th issue of the paper,Bondoc makes a couple of valuable,albeit extremely minor points,the most pertinent of which was Abd' Razak's being an Intelligence Officer.Technically speaking, and Bondoc does note this,Abd' Razak is an EX-Intelligence Agent.Currently,Razak's official title is,"Special Advisor to the Prime Minister"but the position is sublimated to the Department of Research at the Prime Minister's Office.The Department of Research is an interfacial entity that is utilised as an Intelligence clearing house. Although Foreign and Domestic Intelligence entities (in Malaysia) report directly to the Prime Minister via a designated representative who is included amongst the Presidential Security Cluster,these representatives filter their output according to the various agendas of their respective agencies.Having an entity of his own to not only interface with, and develop a much better rapport with Security/Intel entities but to also posess the ability to gather in depth analysis (as does the Department of Research) is invaluable.
While there is nothing nefarious about having an Intelligence operative act as a Mediator or Facilitator in a 3rd Party capacity (think General Omar Suleiman of Egypt informally performing this very same function in the Israeli:HAMAS dynamic) there are things that become quite troublesome upon closer inspection;The MILF began life in 1975 as a coallescence of ethnic/tribal dissatisfaction,Islamo-fascist tendencies and a resolute opposition to the Libyan brokered "solution"(Tripoli 1976) within the upper echelons of the MNLF.Its founder,Hashim Salamat,was a member of the MNLF's famed "Batch 90,"who trained on the Malaysian island of Pulao Pangkor,in Sabah State,Malaysia.Though much of the hands on training was affected via ex-SAS (British Special Forces) the bulk of the theoretical facet of training,all equipment and all logistics was entirely handled by...Malaysian Intelligence.
Malaysian involvement with the MNLF was a no brainer.One must remember the threat Malaysia faced (at the time) in the form of a regionally aggressive,hyper-nationalist GRP under then-President Marcos.Basically the Philippine rationale runs along the lines of,"The Sultan of Brunei handed Sabah (and Palawan) to the Sultan of Sulu for the latter having assisted the former during a Bruneian civil war some 400 years ago.Since we,the Philippines,stole Sulu we own Sabah."Of course the geopolitical and historical realities are just a tad bit more complicated than that,yet never the less,there it is at its essence.A good decade before"Batch 90"there had been an intellectual fringe in the Philippines who were enamoured with "pan-Malayanism,"the belief that all Malayans (most Indonesians,Bruneians,most Filipinos and some Malaysians) must unite for the People as a whole to realise the full potential of the collective Malay People (again,very much over-simplified but sufficient enough for our needs in this diatribe).Ergo,if one was a Malaysian nationalist in the early-1970s he would support any cohesive element threatening Philippine regional dominance.At the same time,there were more Sama (Samal) and Tausug Tribesmen in Sabah then in their actual homeland,the Sulu archipelago.Amongst these kindred people was the Chief Minister (equivalent to a Provincial Governor in the Philippines but with far greater powers in governance) of Sabah, Tun Mustapha, a Tausug.
Fast forward to 2001,GMA (former President Gloria M.Arroyo) had just taken power via a coup against her former superior, ERAP (President Estrada) and was desperately trying to shore up support and negate her terrible political vulnerability. Almost immediately after becoming the new figurehead (she had no real power until late 2003) she was willing to do whatever it took to quiet at least 1 of the (then) 6 insurgencies afflicting the Philippines.Recognising the MILF as the perfect candidate (for a number of reasons,not the least of which was the 2000 War launched by ERAP in which the MILF's command structure and extencive infrastructure were obliterated).Naturally the MILF was still reeling from the afore mentioned conflict the year before.The MILF needed an out though,as a way to save face.It realised that coming to the table following such an out and out defeat would leave it in a hopelessly weak bargaining position and so it resisted face to face Talks.
Flailing as drowning people do,GMA practically begged Malaysia to accept its present role as Facilitator of the Peace Process.It accepted of course and in 2003 Razak became Malaysia's man in the hole.Initially there was no real problem with the arrangement because there was nothing of substance taking place.As I inferred earlier GMA did more than just delegate crucial tasks,she segued into abdication of responsibility by giving the GRP Panel free reign.Like anyone just handed a blank check problems soon arose.Without giving a play by play recording of the process,former GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (and concurrent Secretary of OPAPP as well as a retired AFP Chief of Staff) Hermogenes"Jun"Cendana Esperon Jr. was like a bull in a china shoppe).After the Supreme Court handed down a Temporary Restraining Order against the signing of the MoA-AD (Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain) in early August,2008,GMA,et al screamed that they had had no idea, nothing more than the most scant consultation as to the exact nature of the proposed Agreement.Ignoring the fact that this translates into the same gross incompetence that characterised the entire career of a woman who should have never led a Girl Scout Troop,much less a nation in distress... This returns my screed to Razak,and his employer,the Government of Malaysia.
Though most would not know it,the problems with Razak date back to the tenure of former National Security Advisor Norberto Gonzalez.In 2007 Gonzalez affected a formal request to replace Razak via (then) GRP Peace Panel Chairperson (Retired AFP Chief of Staff) General Rodolfo Garcia.Then came the formal request by his successor,Rafael Seguis.Indeed it is ironic that one of the MILF's chief complaints about current GRP Peace Panel Chairperson Mario Victor"Marvic"Leonen is that he went to the media about the entire Facilitation issue given the fact that former Chairperson Seguis did exactly th same thing in late-March,2009.Why then does Malaysia refuse to comply?I have already stated the actual reason,Razak is merely doing his master's bidding.Malaysia has no love for the Philippines,to say the least.On the record Malaysia,under Prime Minister Najib Razak (not to be confused with THE"Razak"I am discussing,Datuk Othman bin 'Abd Razak,and I need to also note that the Prime Minister's actual name,including honourifics,is" Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak") is simply maintaining the policy espoused by his predecessor,former Prime Minister 'Abdullah Badawi (again, sans honourifics).Former Prime Minister Badawi publicly took the position that the original request by former Panel Chairperson Garcia constituted a breech of ASEAN's long time policy of"Non-Intervention."Of course this is ridiculous given the fact that mere Facilitation is perpetually a case of"Interference,"albeit mutually consensual.
The whole"smiley-face"exchanging of pleasantries as Malaysia and the Philippines exchanged formal correspondence regarding Malaysia's continued central role as Facilitator (that took place over the Summer of 2010) hid very strained relations between both nations on at least this subject.President Aquino would have been in hog heaven had Prime Minister Razak and company begged off as the Facilitating Nation,but of course it didn't work out that way.Malaysia takes it upon itself to pay for,and choose all accomodations for both Panels.Though no conclusive proof has been made public the general consensus amongst GRP players is that said accomodations were/are bugged by Malaysian Intelligence.Subsequently key portions of GRP strategy were then dealt out to the MILF on a piecemeal basis.One well known (in certain circles) facet involved the Mineral/Natural Resources Sharing Ratio to have been included in the failed BJE (Bangsamoro Juridicial Entity,the label given to the theoretical MILF-administered territory in Central and Western Mindanao) that was nullified by the Supreme Court intervention over MoA-AD in Autumn of 2008.The final Ratio ended with an amicable 75:25 splitting,with GRP getting the 25%.Initially Razak sought to position the MILF at 90:10 (GRP with 10%) though they opened with a gambit of 85:15 (GRP with 15%),even the MILF couldn't say 90:10 with a straight face.This is how warped Razak's position is within the dynamic.
Some within the Presidential Security Cluster have opined that for Malaysia to be dangling such unacceptable Ratios it would have to be aiming for an end game of de-stabilisation,not simply a biased settlement.Whatever the motivation,and whether Razak is biased,or not,all that matters is that GRP perceives Razak to be working against its interests.A Facilitator acts as a foil for both sides.The simplest way to illustrate it might be to ask readers to picture 2 very young brothers and a caring father.The brothers argue,recrimination merely leads to recrimination and progress is impossible.Enter the father who asks both,one at a time and in each others' presence to explain their position.Not adding anything of his own the father makes gentle suggestions involving listening and communicating to one another,only interjecting himself when 1 brother talks over the other.This is "Facilitation."If instead the father plays 1 son against the other,well you get the point.Even if the father is indeed fair,if 1 of the brothers is convinced otherwise,this "Facilitation" has no chance of ever working.
Another issue on the front burners,vis a vis Malaysia,is the GRP's contention that Razak has been meeting with MILF figures independently of the Peace Process which should be verboten simply from a common sensical point of view.The problem though is the complete absence of a review process for the Talks' TOR (Terms of Reference) as well as a complete absence of TOR for the Facilitation process on its own,something very important in its own right.TOR is a set of guidelines that spell out the process as a whole,incorporating the process framework/blueprint as well as the responsibilities of each participating entity.As the process progresses as a whole it is only common sense that existing TOR should undergo review by both GRP and the MILF.
Also rankling the MILF,Jarius Bondoc was accused of misrepresenting the indigenous status of the Maguindanowan Tribe when he said that its roots lie in Johore,i.e. Malaysia.In truth Bondoc is not too far from being absolutely on point.Both the Maguindanowan and Maranaw (Maranoan) Tribes are rooted in the Iranun Tribe (another Mindanowan Tribe) and only began to differentiate themselves AFTER the vist of Shariff Kabansuan.Kabansuan,born in the Sultunate of Johore was the son of an Arab from what is now Yemen,and a woman of the Royal House of Johore.After Kabansuan's arrival in Mindanao he intermarried with women from at least 2 Mindanowan Tribes and their progeny figure in a number of Maguindanowan and Maranaw geneaologies.So Bondoc was correct,in essence.However his point was that this fact somehow should invalidate any claim of Malaysian objectivity,and that is stretching it to say the least (trying to be kind to Bondoc though I do agree with his central thesis,Malaysia is not engaging itself out of altruism).I would have hoped instead that Bondoc had been taking aim at MILF arrogance and chauvenism as in when they portray themselves as indigenous and their Ilonggo or Cebuano (Bisaya) neighbours as"settlers."Indeed,some Bisaya are more indigenous then the most partisan"Moro."
In other MILF news,life has not been entirely boring for all members of the organisation.As Jun Mantawil screams about the difference between"Mediator"and"Facilitator" (yep,I spared you that bout of intellectual gymnastics) other MILF members have been a bit more pro active.Take the gents in the 113 Base Command...On December 07 a group of fun loving guerillas had taken their motorbanca (local type of wooden boat) and attempted a kidnapping...I mean "fundraising" off of Zamboanga Sibugay Province.Landing on Olutanga Island the would be kidnappers entered Barangay Buhangin Mahaba in 1 of the islands 3 municipalities,Subanipa.Trying to make an easy payday as the same Base Command did back on April 12, 2010 when the 6 members kidnapped Nena Toremocha from her warehouse in Barangay Malinao,in the neighbouring municipality of Mabuhay. Ms.Toremocha, wife of a former mayor of the town was taken to the mainland and held for nearly 2 weeks under sub-Kumander Abral Abdursalam.After her son Reynante dropped off the tidy Ransom on April 25,Ms.Toremocha was released,found sitting unencumbered in an abandoned nipa (bamboo and thatched dwelling) on Narciso Ramos Hiway in the town of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte Province (the center of 113 Base Command).
Back to the matter at hand,on December 07,the erstwhile kidnappers were interdicted by a CAFGU (Citizens Auxiliary Force Geographical Unit,an Army Reserve restricted to a single municipality within which all its manpower is derived) detachment.In the ensuing fire fight 3 MILF guerillas were killed and the kidnapping prevented from transpiring.
That same day,December 07,in SKP (town of S.K.Pendatun) in Maguindanao Province,yet another of the men wanted in connection for the attack on Maasim,Sarangani Province on August 18,2008,during the 2008 War,was taken into custody. Sub-Kumander (a Junior Officer) Datu Mama Abpa of the 107 Base Command was taken on a Warrant from Alabel (Sarangani Province) Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 and had a Bounty of 600,000 Pesos in effect ($5,000). Naturally MILF Spokesman Von al Haq labeled the action,"an illegal arrest"and demanded Abpa's immediate release.The day I see al Haq or a single ranking MILF member express remorse over the slaughter of non-Muslims in Maasim,or even an apology for the rank robberies that took place there,acts befitting common drug addicts (no offence to drug addicts since many are indeed superior to such miscreants and common thugs),THEN I will PERHAPS feel a modicum of sympathy for arrested MILF guerillas.
Coincidentally a 2nd guerilla wanted in that same Maasim attack,Mando Leonsili of Purok #4,Barangay Katubao,Kiamba, Sarangani Province was also targetted for arrest.Wanted on Warrant #10-21 issued by that same Regional Trial Court,Branch 38 on charges of Murder,Frustrated Murder,Arson and Robbery.As the cordon was placed around Leonsili's home by the 73IB (Infantry Battalion),the wanted man managed to escape (as is almost always the case).Soldiers did recover some low level ordnance (an RPG,3 rounds for it,4 rifle grenades and a PAL rifle with almost fully loaded clip) which for the AFP equals a"successful"operation".The problem here is that SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) involves full notification of LGU (Local Govt. Unit, aka municipal executives down to the barangay level).Not only are many LGU executives vulnerable to compromise via bribery and/or outright coercion,many have blood relations with targetted subjects (a huge risk in rural locations) or can even share membership in a targetted organisation.Leonsili,like Abpa,is with the MILF's 107 Base Command of whom 49 members have had Warrants issued over the attack in question.
Another 2 members of the 107 Base Command wanted in connection with the afore mentioned attack on Maasim on August 18, 2008 were taken into custody on November 28, 2010 when a composite force of the 73IB and CIDG (PNP's"Criminal Investigation and Detection Group") executed another couple of those Warrants I mentioned.Daud Binago and his son Rayan Binago were taken into custody along with a 3rd man who remains under investigation for possible involvement and for the time being epononymously listed as "Anderson."
I need to take time to point out,as I did in a very recent entry on KFR (Kidnap for Ransom),that Philippine authorities very often point their finger at anyone that suits them.A case in point would be that 1 of these Warrants that I am discussing has been taken out against Kumander (Senior Officer) Alo Binago of the 105 Base Command (though the attack he's charged with was executed by the 107 Base Command,Maasim is generally believed to have been conceptualised and planned by the 105 Base Command).This particular Binago is listed as the top man in that attack.The problem however is that he has been imprisoned since July 31, 2006,a fact attested to by his jailers in the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Jail (for among other things,his involvement in the well known kidnapping of a South Korean treasure hunter in 2002).
November 22, 2010 saw PNP (Philippine National Police) CO (Commanding Officer), Chief Director General Rene Bacalzo meet with Secretary of OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor on the Peace Process), Teresita Quintos Deles in Manila as both tried to formulate a protocol with which to have the PNP seek the aid of the MILF in apprehending those former members of the Ampatuan Clan-controlled CVO and SCAA that are featured in outstanding Warrants relating to the Maguindanao Massacre.It is Bacalzo's firm belief that most of these wanted men have joined with the MILF's 105 Base Command or else with KFR/Extortion Groups like al Khobar.Of course Bacalzo is ignoring the platoon sized armed groups that are now roaming that same general area (Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces skirting Liguasan Marsh) of which ALL members are comprised of his targetted demographic.Task Force Alpha ring a bell General Bacalzo?
November 01, 2010 saw another Binago Clansman who is also a member of the MILF fall into the hands of authorities.Andaman Mukidin Binago,35,was taken into custody by the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at the Davao City boarding residence he calls home on a Warrant for the "GenSan Pork Market Bombimg."On December 12, 2004 as residents of GenSan (General Santos City, Sarangani Province) readied themselves for Xmas Binago, et al are said to have planted a very powerful IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "Bomb") in the city's Public Market.To ensure that only non-Muslims would be killed and maimed the bombers placed their device in the market's pork section.14 people were killed and more than 30 seriously wounded (one of those killed was a Muslim woman,ooooops!).
Binago,who claims he is a simple farmer is also said to be behind the January 30,2007 IED detonation of a Lotto outlet on GenSan's Santiago Avenue in which 6 people died and dozens were wounded.Of course MILF Spokesman Von al Haq denies that THIS Binago is even a member of the MILF.
Although Von al Haq is still handling the media the General Staff member has passed the Spokesman's torch back to Eid Kabalu who was placed on a 6 month suspension on April 12,2010 for having gotten a bit too big for his britches after taking it upon himself to sign a political covenant in the name of the MILF.As if this transgression wasn't bad enough on its own,the covenant with Presidential candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva and his BPP (Bangon Pilipinas Party) was in an election in which the MILF stressed non-involvement even more than it usually does.What did the covenant hope to guarantee?The MILF agreed (according to Kabalu's signature) to fully engage BBP in the Peace Process and would agree to BPP's vision of a Fedaralist-type solution,should Villanueva take the May 10th Election.
On October 14, 2010,exactly 6 months to the day the MILF's Central Committee unanimously passed a Resolution jointly authored by Vice Chairman for Political Affairs,Ghazali Jafaar and Chairman of the Central Committee Secretariat,Muhammad Ameen in which Kabalu's Suspension Order was lifted.Kabalu gained his position,which is formally known as,"Chairman of the Civil-Military Relations Department of the BIAF"(the BIAF,Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces,is the armed wing of the MILF so that there is no actual Spokesman for the MILF,per se) during the War of 2000.His suspension has been a difficult time for him with his brother Nasser Kabalu having been murdered during this same period.
Nasser Kabalu had just been released from the Cotabato City Jail and was walking down a residential street in Purok Sampaloc in that city's Barangay Mother Bagua when a man known only by his nickname,"Abo,"walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head on September 26, 2010.
Ironically given the stated reason for Kabalu's suspension,on October 21, 2010,just after the MILF Central Committee hypocritically re-affirmed that stated reason in its lifting of Kabalu's Suspension Order the MILF CCCH met with its GRP counterparts at the Cotabato City headquarters of the IMT (International Monitoring Team,a multinational entity who does its best to safeguard extant GRP-MILF Ceasefires).The irony you ask?The 2 CCCH Panels (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities) inked an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) relating to the October 25 synchronised Barangay and SK ELECTIONS.Entitled,"Guidelines for Mutual Understanding"in which both the MILF and GRP vow to take extra vigilance with regard to the Ceasefire so as to allow safe and orderly elections.Of course the MILF is careful to note that the MoU is ceasefire related so that isn't a"politically"related agreement in the strictest sense.I wonder what Eid Kabalu's perspective on THAT may be.Signing for the GRP was Chairperson of the GRP CCCH Panel,Major General Renaldo Sealana,while for the MILF,its Chairman of its CCCH Panel,Sa'id Sheikh signed on the dotted line.Witnessing the signing was Chairperson of the IMT,Major General Datuk Baharom bin Hamza of the Malaysian Army.The agreement will cover the period of October 23 to October 27, 2010.
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