On February 21, 2011 54 year old Frank Chung of Midsayap,North Cotabato must have experienced de ja vu as yet another KFR (Kidnap for Ransom) attempt was made against him.The owner of Midsayap's largest hardware store had managed to escape harm in the first attack which took place on September 17, 2010 and did it by outwitting his assailants.In the first case Mr.Chung had been opening his hardware store when gunmen suddenly grabbed him and tried to force him into an idling SUV.The Tsinoy (Chinese Filipino) then faked a heart attack and collapsed onto the sidewalk in front of his shoppe.Unable to lift Mr.Chung, who stands 6'2,"the would be kidnappers panicked and quickly left the scene.
In this latest case he was once again grabbed while opening his store,FMC Hardware,in Barangay Poblacion.Unbeknownst to Mr.Chung,as he was occupied with trying to open the metal gate in front of his business,a green pickup truck slowed as it approached him with the occupants craning their necks to scrutinise his actions.As the would be kidnappers examined Mr.Chung however,a CVO (Civilian Voluntary Organization,a CAA,or Civilian Active Auxiliary,element sublimated to municipal police departments in areas affected by Islamic Insurgencies) soldier was carefully watching their every move.As the pickup moved past the shoppe and was about to turn at the next corner the CVO soldier moved to stop the truck,having already radioed in his concerns.
Before the CVO soldier could reach the pickup truck a man wearing a black jacket jumped out of the passenger side door and began almost jogging to FMC and Mr.Chung.Other CVO soldiers ran to cut him off at which point the man in the black jacket had second thoughts and did his best to run back to the green truck.Seeing the other CVO soldier at the truck the man in the black jacket pulled out a 45 caliber pistol from his waistband and reeled around.Before the gunman could get a shot off however 3 CVO personnel began firing their M1 rifles.Still doing his best to reach the truck tand what he had hoped would be his escape he gunman was shot in his buttocks.The truck then gunned its gas pedal and drove around the single CVO soldier trying to stop it.The gunman, now moderately wounded then made a run for a petrol station at the corner nearest FMC.Running past a bedspacer (rooming house) he almost ran head on into an elderly occupant of that boarding house.At that point the gunman took the old man as a hostage,intending to use him as a human shield.Managing to flank the gunman though,a CVO soldier got behind him and shot him in the back,killing him.
By then the 40IB (Infantry Battalion) was rushing to the scene.Having heard about the truck's escape the army (40IB) sent several small detachments to act as Blocking Forces to prevent the rest of the kidnap team from disappearing into Ligusan Marsh.A composite Blocking Force of the 40IB and the village CAFGU (Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit, another CAA element,this one sublimated to the army) spotted the green pickup truck as it entered Barangay Pomologan,roughly 10km from the botched kidnapping. Pomolok is 1 of many towns that provide a route of entry into Ligusan Marsh and so that Blocking Force detachment moved into defencive positions only to have the truck come to a halt 1km away from the marsh due to its tires shaving been shredded by bullets.Five men quickly got out of the truck and engaged in a running firefight.Within minutes 3 of the 5 gunmen were laying dead,1 had disappeared into a canal leading into the marsh and the 5th man meekly surrendered to soldiers from the 40IB.
The captured man,21 year old Esmael Mamison,a Maguindanowan Tribesman with no understanding of Cebuano,Ilonggo,Tagalog OR English said that he had been recruited just that morning and therefore claimed he could offer little in the way of valuable information.The first man killed,the kidnapper in the black jacket was identified as the epononymously named Abubakar.According to municipal officials and the PNP (Philippine National Police) the assailents were BIFF guerillas (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the new MILF breakaway group led by Kumamder Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato).Kato himself denied the accusation.Inside the abandoned pickup truck authorities discovered one M16, two 45 caliber pistols and two M79 grenades.
Later,a local Islamic Cleric again accused the BIFF of having committed the attempted kidnapping.Ustadz Ome (sic) Ikhayr said that the kidnappers were new BIFF recruits who had been given the operation as a "Test Mission"before full membership.Of course noone has ever heard of this"cleric"so that noone awards the accusation any credibility.
On March 09, 2011 in Barangay Poblacion,Titay,Zamboanga Sibugay Province,9 year old Randelle Talania, son of Barangay Capt.Rose Marie Talania of Barangay Namnama in that same town was standing in front of the fence surrounding his school waiting for a ride home from school.as Randelle stood in front of Titay Central School's fence a white van pulled up next to him.Immediately two men opened the side panel of the cargo van,grabbed yound Randelle and threw him into the vehichle before getting in themselves.Driving off through Barangay Poblacion three eye witnesses alerted school officials of the kidnapping and mentioned that the van had taken off towards the town of Kalawit in that same province.By the time a composite force of PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) arrived in Kalawit the kidnappers had already arrived,switched vehicles,and set fire to their abandoned van before departing Barangay Marcelo.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom,First Quarter 2011,Part III: Cris Neil Gulfan,Aubrey Virtudez and Aiden Yu
On February 19, 2011, 24 year old Cris Neil Gulfan and his 19 year old girlfriend Aubrey Virtudez decided to spend a quiet afternoon in a computer cafe located just off of the Mindanao State University campus in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur Province. As Cris was walking Aubrey to her dormitory on 7th Street, Macarambon Cottage, a maroon coloured Isuzu Trooper skidded to a halt beside the couple and forced them into the SUV before speeding away. Mr.Gulfan is employed by AKIC (al Khawirizam International College, a new community college on National Hiway in Marawi City and is from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur Province. Ms.Virtuez hails from Tagoloan in Misaims Occidental Province and is studying Information Technology at Mindanao State University (MSU).
As with almost all Marawi City KFRs (Kidnaps for Ransom") the victims were held in and around the municipality of Poona Piagao. The last MSU students kidnapped were on December 10, 2010, the end of the last quarter. Those 2 students were taken by that same group in Poona Piagapo and just as in that case the release of the hostages was facilitated by the Mayor of Marawi City, Hadji Fahad Salic. Philippine Libel Laws being what they are (not to mention assassinations) let me just say that KFR is a huge source of revenue in some parts of the island, Marawi is certainly one of those areas. Likewise, executives of local government are almost always involved in one way or another, whether it be actual involvement or by simply looking the other way in exchange for "donations."
Within this first quarter of 2011 two former mayors have been subjected to manhunts over their involvement in KFR (both on Basilan Island, and both having been just as involved while they held public office). More informative perhaps is the current imbroglio with Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema of Cotabato City, in North Cotabato Province. Mr.Sema, who is also the Chairman of the MNLF's EC-15 faction (Executive Committee of 15, a Maguindanowan Tribal-centric faction that broke with the MNLF over Chairman Nur Misuari's ineptitude as Governor of ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao), had served as Mayor of his city before reaching the maximum limit of 9 years in 2010. More to the point, Vice Mayor Sema was formally charged in one of the most recent Tsinoy (Chinese-Filipino) KFRs that have been plagueing that city for more than 2 decades.
Sema wasn't the only public official charged but was specifically listed as the shot caller, the man pulling all the strings. Other local officials charged in this case are:
1) Esmael Dauley, a retired police officer and ex-city Administrator.
2) Sukarno Sema, aside from being the brother of the illustrious Muslimin Sema, this Sema slash Kidnapper is also a City Councilor for Cotabato City
3) Salaban Diocolano, Mayor of Kabantulan, Maguindanao Province, within shouting distance of Cotabato City
4) Rolly Solano
5) Alim Budi, the last 3 all being family members of Muslimin Sema. I never thought of Kidnapping as a family activity but hey, to each his own.
6) Mohaliden Baguilan
7) Musib Indal
8) Teng Sipe
9) Ustadz Jack Utto who is better known as "Randy Zamora"
10) Abusama Gumbay
11) Joemar Guiamat
12) Salindato Dimalin, #s 6 thru 12 being well respected businessmen and civic leaders in GenSan. They were arrested en masse on January 20th.
Charged by Cotabato City Prosecutor Wilfred Buyco in Regional Trial Court #13, in Cotabato City under Judge Bansawan Ibrahim, Vice Mayor Sema was joined by 22 more co-defendants:
1) Toks Datukan
2) Hadja Sittie Midtimbang
3) Khadaffy Guiamelon
4)_Nasrudin Sangko
5) Datu Boy Mastura
6) Lukman Mastura
7) Datu Lukman Mastura
8) Ali Tanto
9) Nasser Tanto
10) Nasser Kaunting
11) Kagui Manan Kaunting
12) Totoh Ulang
13) Hadji Ali Abas
14) Nasirin Unko
15) Tabe Sadat
16) Ustadz Norhan Kamad
17) Teng Osmena
19) Ryan Pua
20) Rashid Disumimba
21) Akmad Mahdi Dumasangkay
22) "John Doe"
The charges against Vice Mayor Sema and the last 22 co-defendants were initiated via an Ammendment to the original Charge Sheet. They didn't last long however because Judge Ibrahim handed out a Ruling citing "Insufficient Evidence" (pp7 of the 8pp Decison). The judge, in his infinte wisdom, declared that the 7 sworn Affadavits collected from a van full of gang members nabbed at a GenSan (General Santos City) checkpoints were riddled with both "Hearsay" and "Reasonable Doubt" as to their veracity. Prosecutor Buyco has filed a Motion for Reconsideration on that Decison AS WELL AS a Motion for Inhibition against Judge Ibrahim for what Buyco says is the judge's highly prejudicial verbiage as well as his having overstepped his legal authority in that he was supposed to merely rule oN the legality of the warrants, not judge the credibility of witnesses, so on and so forth. So, Vice Mayor Sema is once again unencumbered and free to "pull strings" until his heart's content. In the meantime, Prosecutor Buyco has appealed directly to Secretary of the Department of Justice Leila de Lima to quickly transfer him out of Mindanao citing credible threats agaimst his life. Gee, wonder who could be threatening the man. Buyco has since bowed out of the melodrama and has been replaced by his compatriot, Prosecutor Al Calica who is carrying on with Buyco's Motions of Reconsideration and Inhibition.
The original case, which included Sema, was Case #2011-4296 filed in Regional Trial Court #1 under Judge George Jabido. Judge Jabido then rescused himself for personal reasons and so the case ended up in front of the afore mentioned Judge Ebrahim in Regional Trial Court #13. In Prosecutor Buyco's appeal to Secretary de Lima he asked that she appoint a Special Prosecutor in the matter so as to avoid the inherent bias carried by any local prosecutor (a "bias" towards preserving one's life, not to mention that IF the prosecutor were to do his or her job, as Buyco and Calica have done, they would be risking not only thir own life but the lives of their families as well).
The case in question is the February 10, 2011 KFR of Yu Lo Yu Lim, better known as "Aidan Yu." In fact, Sema is also being accused of masterminding other Cotabato City KFRs, including the Attempted KFR of Eulogio Tan on January 08, 2011, a case I will discuss in a subsequent entry. The current case, that of Aidan Yu, was just one of many involving Cotabato City Tsinoy. Tsinoy (Chinese Filipinos) tend to use more Filipino sounding names when dealing with non-Chinese. It is also worth noting that for Chinese, the surname comes first so that Yu Lo Yu Lim's surname is "Yu," not "Lim."
On the day in question Aidan Yu and his wife Kathy Yu spent an hour gambling in the San Garden Hotel Casino on Governor Gutierrez Street, just meters from the entrance to the ARMM Capitol Comlex. In terms of personal security Mindanao doesn't offer much better than this. Aside from soldiers from the regular detachment of infantryman from the 6ID (Infantry Division), there were Marines from MBLT-7 (Marine Battalion Landing Team 7, a "Landing Team" is analogous to an army battalion in terms of strength, utilisation and so on. The Marines had recently deployed to Cotabato City at the insistence of that city's Tsinoy Community who form the municipality's economic backbone (just as Tsinoy do in most any Philippine city). The Tsinoy threatened to abandon the city unless it got a rapid Marine deployment. Aside from the Army and the Marines there were PNP (police) from various elements (Cotabato City Municipal, North Cotabato Provincial and ARMM Regional) who augment the 1 platoon from the provincial PMG (Police Mobile Group) in a dedicated deployment to the complex. To top it all off, the hotel maintains a small paramilitary who guard its perimeter ferociously, and yet on this night Aidan Yu was targeted directly in front of the well lit plaza in front of the Casino entrance.
Leaving via the front entrance at 9PM Mr.Yu waited for his wife who had tarried behind in need of the comfort room (Felipino term for loo, bathroom, etc.). As the 56 year old man stopped to light his cigarette a red Toyota Corolla barreled down Governor Guitierrez Street, screeching to a halt in the plaza just a couple of meters from the stunned Mr.Yu. 2 men who had been standing in the plaza pretending to be patrons of the hotel quickly grabbed Mr.Yu just as a 3rd man jumped from the vehicle with an M16. The two men, now brandishing 45 caliber pistols pushed the stunned Yu towards the car's open door. As the kidnappers were getting him into the car though, hotel guards (paramilitary soldiers) opened fire. It was at this point that 2 gunmen riding tandem on a single motorcycle sped across the plaza spraying pistol fire which offered covering fire and a diversion that then allowed the Corolla to escape with Mr.Yu. Quickly the car sped off in an easterly direction trying to reach the border of Ligusan Marsh.
Less than 30 minutes later the Corolla was found empty on Don Andres 0alonzo Street in Barangay Rosary Heights #11. Very worrisome was the massive amount of blood found staining the rear seat, the seat which had held Mr.Yu. Shortly afterward Mrs.Yu received the requisite demand for Ransom. The Yus together own the city's largest and oldest hawsware store, a baker and a cafe and so they were therefore gauged as "big fish." The initial demand was for 50 Million Pesos, roughly 1 Million Euros. Negotiations proceeded but when the requisite POL (Proof of Life, usually a video showing the kidnap victim standing and talking as he holds that day's newspaper in front of him so as to show he is alive and well on the day in question) was not forthcoming negotiations hit a wall. After all, there were those blood stains to worry about. The Philippines do not have much of a forensics capability and so they usually rely on the American FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to do the job for them. Ergo it wasn't until mid-March before DNA Testing showed that the massive amount of blood in the get away vehicle did indeed belong to Aidan Yu. Having gotten intelligence very early on that Mr.Yu had died in Ligusan Marsh from wounds received as he was being dragged across the hotel plaza, it is all but a closed case at this point, unfortunately.
As with almost all Marawi City KFRs (Kidnaps for Ransom") the victims were held in and around the municipality of Poona Piagao. The last MSU students kidnapped were on December 10, 2010, the end of the last quarter. Those 2 students were taken by that same group in Poona Piagapo and just as in that case the release of the hostages was facilitated by the Mayor of Marawi City, Hadji Fahad Salic. Philippine Libel Laws being what they are (not to mention assassinations) let me just say that KFR is a huge source of revenue in some parts of the island, Marawi is certainly one of those areas. Likewise, executives of local government are almost always involved in one way or another, whether it be actual involvement or by simply looking the other way in exchange for "donations."
Within this first quarter of 2011 two former mayors have been subjected to manhunts over their involvement in KFR (both on Basilan Island, and both having been just as involved while they held public office). More informative perhaps is the current imbroglio with Vice Mayor Muslimin Sema of Cotabato City, in North Cotabato Province. Mr.Sema, who is also the Chairman of the MNLF's EC-15 faction (Executive Committee of 15, a Maguindanowan Tribal-centric faction that broke with the MNLF over Chairman Nur Misuari's ineptitude as Governor of ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao), had served as Mayor of his city before reaching the maximum limit of 9 years in 2010. More to the point, Vice Mayor Sema was formally charged in one of the most recent Tsinoy (Chinese-Filipino) KFRs that have been plagueing that city for more than 2 decades.
Sema wasn't the only public official charged but was specifically listed as the shot caller, the man pulling all the strings. Other local officials charged in this case are:
1) Esmael Dauley, a retired police officer and ex-city Administrator.
2) Sukarno Sema, aside from being the brother of the illustrious Muslimin Sema, this Sema slash Kidnapper is also a City Councilor for Cotabato City
3) Salaban Diocolano, Mayor of Kabantulan, Maguindanao Province, within shouting distance of Cotabato City
4) Rolly Solano
5) Alim Budi, the last 3 all being family members of Muslimin Sema. I never thought of Kidnapping as a family activity but hey, to each his own.
6) Mohaliden Baguilan
7) Musib Indal
8) Teng Sipe
9) Ustadz Jack Utto who is better known as "Randy Zamora"
10) Abusama Gumbay
11) Joemar Guiamat
12) Salindato Dimalin, #s 6 thru 12 being well respected businessmen and civic leaders in GenSan. They were arrested en masse on January 20th.
Charged by Cotabato City Prosecutor Wilfred Buyco in Regional Trial Court #13, in Cotabato City under Judge Bansawan Ibrahim, Vice Mayor Sema was joined by 22 more co-defendants:
1) Toks Datukan
2) Hadja Sittie Midtimbang
3) Khadaffy Guiamelon
4)_Nasrudin Sangko
5) Datu Boy Mastura
6) Lukman Mastura
7) Datu Lukman Mastura
8) Ali Tanto
9) Nasser Tanto
10) Nasser Kaunting
11) Kagui Manan Kaunting
12) Totoh Ulang
13) Hadji Ali Abas
14) Nasirin Unko
15) Tabe Sadat
16) Ustadz Norhan Kamad
17) Teng Osmena
19) Ryan Pua
20) Rashid Disumimba
21) Akmad Mahdi Dumasangkay
22) "John Doe"
The charges against Vice Mayor Sema and the last 22 co-defendants were initiated via an Ammendment to the original Charge Sheet. They didn't last long however because Judge Ibrahim handed out a Ruling citing "Insufficient Evidence" (pp7 of the 8pp Decison). The judge, in his infinte wisdom, declared that the 7 sworn Affadavits collected from a van full of gang members nabbed at a GenSan (General Santos City) checkpoints were riddled with both "Hearsay" and "Reasonable Doubt" as to their veracity. Prosecutor Buyco has filed a Motion for Reconsideration on that Decison AS WELL AS a Motion for Inhibition against Judge Ibrahim for what Buyco says is the judge's highly prejudicial verbiage as well as his having overstepped his legal authority in that he was supposed to merely rule oN the legality of the warrants, not judge the credibility of witnesses, so on and so forth. So, Vice Mayor Sema is once again unencumbered and free to "pull strings" until his heart's content. In the meantime, Prosecutor Buyco has appealed directly to Secretary of the Department of Justice Leila de Lima to quickly transfer him out of Mindanao citing credible threats agaimst his life. Gee, wonder who could be threatening the man. Buyco has since bowed out of the melodrama and has been replaced by his compatriot, Prosecutor Al Calica who is carrying on with Buyco's Motions of Reconsideration and Inhibition.
The original case, which included Sema, was Case #2011-4296 filed in Regional Trial Court #1 under Judge George Jabido. Judge Jabido then rescused himself for personal reasons and so the case ended up in front of the afore mentioned Judge Ebrahim in Regional Trial Court #13. In Prosecutor Buyco's appeal to Secretary de Lima he asked that she appoint a Special Prosecutor in the matter so as to avoid the inherent bias carried by any local prosecutor (a "bias" towards preserving one's life, not to mention that IF the prosecutor were to do his or her job, as Buyco and Calica have done, they would be risking not only thir own life but the lives of their families as well).
The case in question is the February 10, 2011 KFR of Yu Lo Yu Lim, better known as "Aidan Yu." In fact, Sema is also being accused of masterminding other Cotabato City KFRs, including the Attempted KFR of Eulogio Tan on January 08, 2011, a case I will discuss in a subsequent entry. The current case, that of Aidan Yu, was just one of many involving Cotabato City Tsinoy. Tsinoy (Chinese Filipinos) tend to use more Filipino sounding names when dealing with non-Chinese. It is also worth noting that for Chinese, the surname comes first so that Yu Lo Yu Lim's surname is "Yu," not "Lim."
On the day in question Aidan Yu and his wife Kathy Yu spent an hour gambling in the San Garden Hotel Casino on Governor Gutierrez Street, just meters from the entrance to the ARMM Capitol Comlex. In terms of personal security Mindanao doesn't offer much better than this. Aside from soldiers from the regular detachment of infantryman from the 6ID (Infantry Division), there were Marines from MBLT-7 (Marine Battalion Landing Team 7, a "Landing Team" is analogous to an army battalion in terms of strength, utilisation and so on. The Marines had recently deployed to Cotabato City at the insistence of that city's Tsinoy Community who form the municipality's economic backbone (just as Tsinoy do in most any Philippine city). The Tsinoy threatened to abandon the city unless it got a rapid Marine deployment. Aside from the Army and the Marines there were PNP (police) from various elements (Cotabato City Municipal, North Cotabato Provincial and ARMM Regional) who augment the 1 platoon from the provincial PMG (Police Mobile Group) in a dedicated deployment to the complex. To top it all off, the hotel maintains a small paramilitary who guard its perimeter ferociously, and yet on this night Aidan Yu was targeted directly in front of the well lit plaza in front of the Casino entrance.
Leaving via the front entrance at 9PM Mr.Yu waited for his wife who had tarried behind in need of the comfort room (Felipino term for loo, bathroom, etc.). As the 56 year old man stopped to light his cigarette a red Toyota Corolla barreled down Governor Guitierrez Street, screeching to a halt in the plaza just a couple of meters from the stunned Mr.Yu. 2 men who had been standing in the plaza pretending to be patrons of the hotel quickly grabbed Mr.Yu just as a 3rd man jumped from the vehicle with an M16. The two men, now brandishing 45 caliber pistols pushed the stunned Yu towards the car's open door. As the kidnappers were getting him into the car though, hotel guards (paramilitary soldiers) opened fire. It was at this point that 2 gunmen riding tandem on a single motorcycle sped across the plaza spraying pistol fire which offered covering fire and a diversion that then allowed the Corolla to escape with Mr.Yu. Quickly the car sped off in an easterly direction trying to reach the border of Ligusan Marsh.
Less than 30 minutes later the Corolla was found empty on Don Andres 0alonzo Street in Barangay Rosary Heights #11. Very worrisome was the massive amount of blood found staining the rear seat, the seat which had held Mr.Yu. Shortly afterward Mrs.Yu received the requisite demand for Ransom. The Yus together own the city's largest and oldest hawsware store, a baker and a cafe and so they were therefore gauged as "big fish." The initial demand was for 50 Million Pesos, roughly 1 Million Euros. Negotiations proceeded but when the requisite POL (Proof of Life, usually a video showing the kidnap victim standing and talking as he holds that day's newspaper in front of him so as to show he is alive and well on the day in question) was not forthcoming negotiations hit a wall. After all, there were those blood stains to worry about. The Philippines do not have much of a forensics capability and so they usually rely on the American FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) to do the job for them. Ergo it wasn't until mid-March before DNA Testing showed that the massive amount of blood in the get away vehicle did indeed belong to Aidan Yu. Having gotten intelligence very early on that Mr.Yu had died in Ligusan Marsh from wounds received as he was being dragged across the hotel plaza, it is all but a closed case at this point, unfortunately.
Friday, March 25, 2011
NPA Armed Contacts, First Quarter of 2011,Part I
As the NPA's 42nd Anniversary draws near, the time leading up to March 29, 2011 is bound to be filled with more misery and bloodshed, the top product sold by those ideological dinasours. The 18 day Ceasefire ended on January 03 and the NPA was off and running. Without further ado...
January 06, 2011, in Purok #4, Barangay Magdum, Tagum City, Davao del Norte Province, 3 soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) were riding on a single motorcycle en route to
The NPA captured 2 M16s and 1 M203 grenade launcher.
On January 08, 2011 in Sitio Darot, Barangay Libudon, Mabini, ComVal (Compstela Valley Province) a platoon from the 71st IB (Infantry Battalion) was ambushed by Front 2 of the Crucifino Uballas Command, killing 1 AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) soldier.
Also on January 08, 2011 in Barangay Datu Danwata, Malita, Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from Front 71 (Alex Ababa Command) abducted Susan Danwata and forced her to act as a decoy in luring her husband, Barangay Captain Ramon Danwata out of their house. Arriving at the couple's home the guerillas had Ms.Danwata loudly summon her husbans, telling him to quickly come outside. As Ramon stepped out of the house he was riddled with bullets and killed. A CVO (Civilian Auxiliary Organization, a CAA, or Civilian Active Auxiliary programme along the lines of the CAFGU except that the CVO is sublimated to the municipal PNP station and not the AFP. Getting almost no military training the garrisons are issued automatic weaponry. CVOs are almost always relegated to Muslim areas) soldier managed to quickly slip out of site.
Simultaneously the CVO garrison was stormed and its armoury captured. Taken were 3 M16s, 3 M14s, 1 M1, 3 12 gaguge rifles, 1 22 caliber rifle and 1 M79 grenade. Withdrawing with that haul the NPA Blocking Force situated in Barangay Bolila set an ambush for the large detachment from the 39IB that was en route in response to the attack (having ascertained the number of reinforcements, route of travel and an outline of intended response actions by an AFP ICOM transceiver that had been captured in a previous NPA attack.
Before long the reinforcements came barreling down the dirt road and rolled right into an ambush, causing a 1LT, 2 Sgts. And 2 PFCs to suffer serious shrapnel and bullet wounds. Barangay Captain Danwata was wanted by the NPA because of his crucial role in providing the AFP-IS (Military Intelligence Service) the necessary intelligence needed to capture high ranking guerilla Eliseo"Ka Bimbo"Tadam
January 18, 2011 in Sitio Guinobatan, Barangay Paquibato Proper, Paquibato District, Davao City in Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from PBC1 (Pulang Bagani Company #1) under Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao ambushed a composite force of 69IB, Bagani Long Range Platoon CAA and PNP SAF (Special Action Force) under AFP 1LT Bryan Malinao. After initial IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "bomb") detonation and subsequent 30 minute firefight 2 AFP killed,8 wounded (2 AFP, 1 CAA, 5 PNP). 2 of those 8 died during treatment:
1) PFC.Estancio
2) CAA (Bagani LRP) Paguilan
January 22, 2011, in Sitio Old Bantangan, BarangayLasak, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from the 27IB were harried (snipers shooting) by Front 76 resulting in an engagement in which 1 guerilla, "Ka Etoy" aka "Ka Bebe" was shot to death. The next day, January 23, aPDT from the 27IB took sniper fire without casualties.
On that same day, January 22, 2011, in Barangay Old Macopa, Manay, Davao Oriental, a composite force of the 67IB and 4th Scout Rangers Company engaged NPA with 1 AFP officer moderately wounded.
January 23, 2011 in Barangay Lebanon, Montevista, Com0val, PDT took sniper fire, without casualties.
January 26, 2011, in Malita, Davao del Sur Province, F71, with 2 guerillas killed and 1 captured. The 2 dead:
1) Jimboy"Ka Jemar"Liwantang Dayagan
2) Perjelio"Ka Sadam"Bautista
Bautista was CO (Commanding Officer) of Team #1, Platun (Platoon) #1. The captured guerilla is 18 year old Delie"Ka Emma" D. Lumayas of Barangay Pangaleon, Malita. Delie has a 3rd grade education and after dropping out of school at age 8 she became a maid to a wealthy family in Davao City in that same province, Davao del Sur. She dreamed of earning enough to return to school because her dream was to become a teacher. Instead, at age 13 and back in her village having lost her job she was recruited by a sectoral front organisation that trained Delie in the organisation of peasants like herself. By 16 she was recruited as a Regulae in the NPA, going into the bush on May 05, 2008. In August she finished her military training and has been taking part in the insurgency since that timezm
January 29, 2011 saw a fire fight on the border between Malapatan, Sarangani Province and Davao del Sur Province ib which Front 71's "Ka Kotray," shot to death by the 72IB.
On January 30, 2010, in Paquibato District, Davao City, Davao del Sur District, as the AFP began scouring the sector in anticipation of Mayor Sara"Inday"Duterte Carpio's visit to the Paquibato District Anniversary Fiesta in Barangay Paquibato Proper, an IED detonated in Purok #5 in Barangay Mapula,an ambush of a Supply Team from the 69IB. The AFP's 10ID (Infantry Division) tried to spin it as an assasination attempt on the mayor's life which is an even stupider claim than the usual AFPspin shlock. Mayor Carpio's father is her Vice Mayor, Rodrigo"Roddy"Duterte who is an NPA sympathiser and who has beein in a working relationship with the Pulang Bagani Company #1aks Commanding Officer Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao for well over a decade now. Mayor Carpio doesn't even need a. Security escort in NPA territory (the NPA holds full control of Paquibato, Toril and Baguio Districts in Davao City by agreement with Vice Mayor Duterte, in exchange for the NPA agreeing not to encroach on any other city districts).
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Asbangliok, Tagaytay, Davao del Sur Province the 6th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Cuenco encountered 7 guerillas from Front 72. After a short FF the NPA withdrew with the AFP in close pursuit. The next day, February 02, in Sitio Mauno, Barangay Maligaya, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, they were engaged a second time resulting in the capture of 1 hand grenade and a flash drive.
That same day, February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte, Front 33 attacked 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne), wounding 1 PFC.
On February 11 Ka Parago issued an official media release in which he pointed out that Mayor Carpio isn't even travelling outside of Barangay Paquibato Proper, let alone to Barangay Mapula which is in the mountains. He also pointed out that while the 10ID is telling anyone wjo will listen all about its new "humanistic approach" that involves an 80% effort on CMO (Civil Military Operations, a "community policing" type approach), it launched a wide scale tactical offencive in Paquibato and Toril Districts on January 10.
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Pulang Lupa, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province was the site of an ambush against a DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) Checkpoint. The site is part of OPLAN Bantay Kalikasan (Operational Plan Guarding Nature) to cut down on illegal logging. Manned by 2 police officers from the PPO (Provincial Police Officer who were backing 2 DENR officers. On the day in question 1 of the DENR officers, George Dimzon, was being visited by his 19 year old son, Fritz Dimzon, who was there to pick up his weekly allowance so as to pay the necessary fees for an AFP Entrance Exam. Fritz was shot to death as was another civilian, 39 year old Carlito Tumandang. The 2 PNP (Philippine Natiomal Police) officers were wounded, 1 critically. The more moderately wounded of the 2, PO3 Jorge Sabating, was taken prisoner by the NPA.
Vice Governor Santiago Cana of Agusan del Sur Province and Josefina Bajade, the SWD (Social Welfare and Development) Officer for the province entered the camp of Front 20, Conrado Heredia Command, for a "Peace Dialogue" with the NPA in light of the ongoing GRP (Ph.Govt.) -NDF (National Democratic Front, negotiating entity for the NPA and its political wing, CPP, aka Communist Party of the Philippines). The ACTUAL reason though was to seek the release of PO3 Jorge Sabating.Ms.Bajade is busy making a mess of things as she pushes a new scheme to "improve" the Livlihood Package given to NPA Surrenderees. All Surrenderees, even without a weapon, get an immediate cash grant of 20,000 Pesos (475 US) and then receive a Livlihood Package worth 50,000 Pesos. Thus far it has worked as a very, very strong incentive in the bid to seduce insurgents to return to the fold as it were. Ms.Bajade is apparently one of those people who can'teave well enough alone and so now she's trying to implement a protocol that would have the Livlihood Package of each Surrenderee pooled so as to force Surrenderees into co-operative ventures. In her view pooling those funds would provide greater opportunities. What she fails to realise though is that you cannot tie disparate people together, especially with a facet of their lives that is absolutely crucial. Business partnerships are fine IF individuals choose to enter into them. Sadly she recently got to tell her her cockamamie idea to representatives from OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor to the Peace Process), PNP, AFP and other stakeholders. No word on how many laughed at her.
To Ms.Bajade's credit though, Front 20 chose to release PO3 Sabating to her and Vice Gov.Cane in Sitio Cogonon, Barangay Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province on February.
Speaking of "Surrenderees," on February 23, 2011 the PPOC (Provincial Peace and Order Committee) of Surigao del Norte Province is considering building a "Peace Village" for ex-NPA guerillas to be located in Barangay Ipil in Surigao City, the provincial capitol. The idea is actually not new. In the mid-1950s then Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay did the exact same thing in trying to neutralise the Huk Insurgency, the nation's FIRST Communist Insurgency. Choosing plots in Westcentral Mindanao, built from scratch and giving each homesteader a small plot to farm it was probably the single nest idea in a Counterinsurgency full of good ideas. The problem today though is very different. The Huk were almost rotally confined to Luzon, 90Km to the north of Mindanao. In the 1950s there was no 1 hour plane ride between the 2 islands, Mindanao was truly a geographical cure. In addition the villages also contained homesteads for decommissioned and retired PNP and AFP which served as a stabilising force within thise comunities.
February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) encountered the NPA. After an intence 10 minute fire fight before they withdrew into Montevista, ComVal. 1 PFC was wounded with a bullet in the left knee.
On February 06, 2011 on the Bukidnon to Davao National Hiway, retired Master Sgt.Mario Veluz, age 56, was abducted by Front 53 (Herminio Alfonso Command) at an NPA checkpoint. Divested of his 45 caliber pistol, he was released on February 18 to North Cotabato Provincial Goverbor Emmy Lou T.Mendoza in Barangay Kagawa'an, Kibawe, North Cotabato Province. Sgt.Veluz had served as the Governor's bodyguard when she was serving as the Congresswoman representing North Cotabato's First District.
On February 07, 2011 in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur Province PNP officer PO1 Edwin Antipuesto stopped at an NPA checkpoint and was divested of his 45 caliber pistol. He was en route to his job at Magsaysay Municipal PNP.
That same day, February 07, 2011 yet another hapless PNP officer was divested of HIS sidearm at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. PO1 Ace Villapaz was at an NPA checkpoint implemented by Front 51 in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Peovince as a Weena Bus and a passenger van he was on were searched. His 45 caliber pistol was captured. Serving with PMG (Police Mobile Group) #1186 he had been heading into work.
Also February 07, 2011 in Barangay Maparat, Compostela, ComVal PFC El Bryan Canedo of 5th Scout Rangers Company was on a motorcycle when he was stopped at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. He was then abducted, taken from the scene in an Elf Truck (very small utility truck).
February 07, 2011 was DEFINITELY NOT the day to be up and about. At yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint in Barangay Pintatagan, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental Province, PNP PO2 Jerwel Montecillo Tugade of the PMG #1106 was abducted by Front 18 (Wilfredo Zapanta Command).
February 14, 2011, the municipality of Maco in ComVal Province held a "Community Peace Rally" at the town's municipal basketball courts in Barangay Poblacion. Over 1,000 townspeople gathered to hear the provincial governor, Arturo Uy, speak about how much he has done for the town and how much the PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from 10ID have bettered the town and so on. At 445PM the fun fest broke up and people went their separate ways. As 1 small group began making their way down a thoroughfare in Purok #6 in Barangay Libay-libay a powerful IED detonated and killed 1 civilian, 56 year old Nicholas Paquin, a resident of Barangay Dumlan was in a group of 5 men. The other 4 were critically wounded, with 2 of those 4 dying at the hospital during treatment:
1) Juanito Cabarobias, 52 years old
2) Angelito Comayas Jr., 42 years old
On February 22, 2011 in Purok #4, Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City, Davao del Sur Province, as Barangay Captain Alfredo B.Austral attended a Barangat meeting NPA uder "Ka Bobby' entered his home and captured the city issued 12 gauge issued to all Barangay Captains.
On February 25, 2011 in Barangay Sinuron, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, a SPARU (Special Armed Partisan Unit, the assasination arm of the NPA) killed Roldan Quintoa. Quintoa, a former NPA guerilla had surrendered to the government in 2008. Since leaving the NPA Quintoa busied himself by working on his father's upland farm. Indeed, it was that farm that he was walking to when killed. The NPA doesn't target Surrenderees as a rule, relegating such decisive treatment to those ex-guerillas who serve as AFP-IS (Military Intelligence) assets.
February 26, 2011 in Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanoa, Davao del Sur, a SPARU team from Mt.Alip Command killed AFP-IS asset Jun Sal and captured a 45 caliber pistol before escaping. Sal wasn't an NPA Surrenderee, merely an informer.
March 06, 2011, on the borders of Barangays Mapayag and Bendolan in Malaybalay City near the border of the municipality of Lantapan in Bukidnon Province, at 8AM Front 89 killed an ex-barangay captain, Antonio Pechora of Barangay Mapayag, in his home, and then withdrew. At 1130AM the Malaybalay City PNP and PNP SOCO (Scene of Crime Operations) travelled to the outlying area to recover the man's body and to do a cursory crime scene investigation. Travelling in 2 vehicles the SOCO van followed closely behind the PNP SUV and had just crossed into Sitio Tamugawi, Purok #3, Barangay Mapayag and were at the foot of Bundok Kitanglad (Mt.Kitanglad) when an IED detonated, followed by a barrage of rifle grenades. 2 PNP and 1 civilian employee of SOCO were killed instantly:
1) PO1 Ronel Bayta
2) PO1 Jimmy Napil Jr
3) Rodel Dangop (SOCO)
5 PNP were wounded with 1 of them dying during treatment: PO1 Xerxes Von Palasol. The NPA captured 1 M16 and 3 9MM pistols.
March 09, 2011 in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Mipingi, Nabunturan, ComVal Province, a firefight left 1 guerilla dead. On March 11 a detachment from the 101 DRCOY (Division Recon Company, in this case the 10ID's) under 1LT.Godofredo A.Despojo recovered the guerilla's cadaver and had just entered Sitio Tanawan, Barangay Malinswon, Mawab when an IED detonated followed by a 15 minute firefight with Front 33. Though the NPA is claiming it killed 3 AFP in that ambush. In reality they only killed 1, 1LT. Despojo, the detachment CO. In addition there were 12 AFP wounded.
On March 11, 2011 in Barangays Danuman and Nueva Gracia in Loreto, Agusan del Sur Province Front 34 launched 2 simultaneous assaults on those barangay's respective CAA posts.
That same day, March 11, I Sitio Kilometer #19, Barangay Del Monte, Veruela, Agusan del Sur Province, Front 3 attacked. Bagani Long Range Platoon post, and not long after a Bagani Long Range Platoon post in Barangay Sinubong.
On March 12, 2011. In Sitio Tibungco, Barangay San Jose, Montevista, ComVal Province, a truck carrying a detachment from the 25IB was strafed by M1/ fire without casualties.
That same day, March 12, 2011 in Barangay Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte Peovince, Front 35 (Danilo Villacorta Command) was engaged by the 60IB resulting in 1 AFP killed, 4 wounded.
March 13, 2011 in Barangay Lataban, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, an NCO (Non Commisioned Officer, aka Corporal or Sergeant) from the 3rd Special Forces (Airborne) Battalion was wounded by a sniper.
On March 15, 2011 in Sitio Bagtok, Barangay San Vicente, Montevista, ComVal Province, an NPA snper killed 1 soldier from the 25IB.
On Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2011 a young woman approached the jeepney stand ("jeepneys" are a low cost form of public transport) at Davao City's Gaisano Mall. Searching for 2 passenger vans to charter for a family wedding that evening, she finally found 2 drivers with Mitsubishi L3000 vans who agreed to do so for a cost of 4,500 Pesos per van (95 US each), with a down payment of 2,500 each (55 US each). Counting out the money the woman assured the drivers that 2 guides would be along straight away to direct the vans to her family's residence. Within the hour 2 young men did indeed show up and so the vans departed to the municipality of Panabo City in Davao del Norte Province to pick up the family members. Arriving in Panabo, just outside the Davao City limits the drivers were told to proceed to an outlying barangay. Driving down an unpaved road they were forced to stop as 20 well armed guerillas in military fatigues and bonnets (baclavas) blocked their way. Quickly getting in both vans and brusquely directed the terrified drivers to drive to an outlying Panabo City Municipal PNP Station in Barangay Maduwaw.
Entering the PNP Compound the officer guarding the front door (they stupidly don't employ guards on the perimeter or even its main gate) waved to the new arrivals, apparently believing them to be AFP soldiers despite regional directives warning all security forces NOT to allow anyone entry without prior notification and confirmation of identity owing to a rash of military and PNP impersonations by the NPA. PBC1 utilises this ruses every 3 or 4 months and indeed, the new arrivals were PBC1. The friendly guard, PO3 Narciso Pakiwag continued his smiling and waving but a more alert PNP officer on the 2nd floor wasn't fooled at all and immediately shouted to alert his mates. Ideally the NPA would have gained entry to the building so as to capture its weaponry, uniforms and intelligence but the station went into defencive mode so the guerillas threw a hand grenade into the doorway and opened up with 2 M16s killing PO3 Pakiwag immediately. A CVO (Civilian Volunteer Officer, a form of Civilian Active Auxiliary attached to municipal PNP) soldier, Raymond Minoza, was killed as well in that initial fusillade. The other 13 Officers all withdrew to the 2nd floor, where the armoury and nerve centre are and an intence fire fight broke out, only subsiding 30 minutes later when the guerillas received notification that reinforcements were en route.
Jumping in both vans the guerillas, habing only captured 1 M16 sped out of the compound but hadn't gone very far, less than 400 meters when 1 of the vans got bogged down, the NPA having failed to plan for inclement weather and its effect on unpaved roads. Piling into the 2nd, now dangerously overloaded van, they made it over the border of Davao City, into Lasang District when the 2nd van skidded into an irrigation canal. Leaving behind 1 critically wounded guerilla, 41 year old Eliseo Mariano of Barangay Longaog, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte Province. Mariano was taken into custody by units scouring the Davao City border 3 days later, March 22. Critically wounded in the right thigh and right hand he had been abandoned by the NPA, near death from. Loss of blood and dehydration.After initial treatment he quickly showed improvement and so was fit for torture, I mean "interrogation."Under "interrogation" he provided 4 full names of squadmates, including the leader of the Panabo attack, Lucio"Ka Bungot"Bustamente.
This week the 13 surviving PNP received Medals of Valour, which just goes to show you how worthless the ribbon is. The highest award in the Philippine security services it is akin to the American "Medal of Honor." WR men simply repelled 22 guerillas who ALWAYS withdraw when faced with nominal resistance (it is part and parcel of NPA tactical doctrine) and so they get the HIGHEST ribbon? PO3 Pakiwag also received the ribbon. Post humously of course, along with a promotion to SPO1. The 2 PNP wounded in the assault, including the station shift CO (Commanding Officer) also received ribbons for having been wounded in action.
March 20, 2011 in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur Province, the 29IB uncovered a Front 19A cache containing 2 M1s, 2 M16s and vital repairs in addition to ammo.
On March 21, 2011 in Barangay Casoon, Monkayo, ComVal Province, the 5th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Mark Steve Cimini engahed Front 3 under "Ka Ondo" in a running firefight, wounding 2 NPA and 1 AFP.
That same day, March 21, 2011 on the borders of Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanao, Davao del Sur Provinceand Barangay Sinapulan, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province was the site of a fierce firefight as 6th Scout Rangers under 1LT.Romeo Ferdinand Bautista were suprised by an encounter with Front 72 as the AFP scoured the sector prepping it for PDT deployment.
Also on March 21, 2011 in Sitio Tagtaytay, Barangay Mipangi, ComVal Province, 101 DRCOY under 1LT.Herold Ambrocio engaged NPA, killing 1 guerilla and captured his M16.
March 23, 2011 in Sitio Gureim, Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, 39IB detachment under Sgt.Ranie Fuentes ambushed via IED killing 2 PFCs;
1) PFC.Salva
2) PFC.Centina
Originally the AFP was telling the world that the detachment was PDT but finally relented and admitted that it was a combat detachment that was trying to soften up the environs FOR PDT.
That same day, March 23, 2011 an SCAA. Garrison in Lianga, Surigao del Sur was attacked but managed to repell the NPA after a 10 minute firefight.
March 24, 2011, at Sanglay Wood Processing Plant in Barangay Amparo, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte Province, 50 NPA attacked the plant perimeter targetting the Blue Security (private security, not SCAA), disarming 3 guards employed by "Al Nino Security Agency." After capturing the guards' 2 shotguns and 1 9MM pistol.
On that same day, March 24, 2011, in Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Daval del Sur Province, a detachment from the 101 DRC (Division Recon Company, 10ID) was clearing a sector ahead of PDT deployment when a primed IED buried in the dirt road detonated killing 1 of the soldiers.
March 25, 2011 in Barangay Datal Biao, Tampakan, South Cotabati Province, a 5 vehicle convoy of tandem dumptrucks owned by LVE Construction was ambushed via IED. In the ensuing firefight 1 driver and 2 labourers riding in his lorry (truck) were killed:
1) Oscar Panisana (Driver)
2) Romel Vega
3) Nelson Parasan
On that same day, March 25, 2011, in Barangay Suaon, Kapalong, Davao del Norte Province, the 60IB on patrol saw a lone guerilla priming a roadside IED and immediately engaged, killing the guerilla and recovering 2 IEDs. A small NPA detachment that hadn't been sighted opened fire upon the AFP but withdrew after.
January 06, 2011, in Purok #4, Barangay Magdum, Tagum City, Davao del Norte Province, 3 soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) were riding on a single motorcycle en route to
The NPA captured 2 M16s and 1 M203 grenade launcher.
On January 08, 2011 in Sitio Darot, Barangay Libudon, Mabini, ComVal (Compstela Valley Province) a platoon from the 71st IB (Infantry Battalion) was ambushed by Front 2 of the Crucifino Uballas Command, killing 1 AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) soldier.
Also on January 08, 2011 in Barangay Datu Danwata, Malita, Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from Front 71 (Alex Ababa Command) abducted Susan Danwata and forced her to act as a decoy in luring her husband, Barangay Captain Ramon Danwata out of their house. Arriving at the couple's home the guerillas had Ms.Danwata loudly summon her husbans, telling him to quickly come outside. As Ramon stepped out of the house he was riddled with bullets and killed. A CVO (Civilian Auxiliary Organization, a CAA, or Civilian Active Auxiliary programme along the lines of the CAFGU except that the CVO is sublimated to the municipal PNP station and not the AFP. Getting almost no military training the garrisons are issued automatic weaponry. CVOs are almost always relegated to Muslim areas) soldier managed to quickly slip out of site.
Simultaneously the CVO garrison was stormed and its armoury captured. Taken were 3 M16s, 3 M14s, 1 M1, 3 12 gaguge rifles, 1 22 caliber rifle and 1 M79 grenade. Withdrawing with that haul the NPA Blocking Force situated in Barangay Bolila set an ambush for the large detachment from the 39IB that was en route in response to the attack (having ascertained the number of reinforcements, route of travel and an outline of intended response actions by an AFP ICOM transceiver that had been captured in a previous NPA attack.
Before long the reinforcements came barreling down the dirt road and rolled right into an ambush, causing a 1LT, 2 Sgts. And 2 PFCs to suffer serious shrapnel and bullet wounds. Barangay Captain Danwata was wanted by the NPA because of his crucial role in providing the AFP-IS (Military Intelligence Service) the necessary intelligence needed to capture high ranking guerilla Eliseo"Ka Bimbo"Tadam
January 18, 2011 in Sitio Guinobatan, Barangay Paquibato Proper, Paquibato District, Davao City in Davao del Sur Province, 30 guerillas from PBC1 (Pulang Bagani Company #1) under Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao ambushed a composite force of 69IB, Bagani Long Range Platoon CAA and PNP SAF (Special Action Force) under AFP 1LT Bryan Malinao. After initial IED (Improvised Explosive Device, aka "bomb") detonation and subsequent 30 minute firefight 2 AFP killed,8 wounded (2 AFP, 1 CAA, 5 PNP). 2 of those 8 died during treatment:
1) PFC.Estancio
2) CAA (Bagani LRP) Paguilan
January 22, 2011, in Sitio Old Bantangan, BarangayLasak, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from the 27IB were harried (snipers shooting) by Front 76 resulting in an engagement in which 1 guerilla, "Ka Etoy" aka "Ka Bebe" was shot to death. The next day, January 23, aPDT from the 27IB took sniper fire without casualties.
On that same day, January 22, 2011, in Barangay Old Macopa, Manay, Davao Oriental, a composite force of the 67IB and 4th Scout Rangers Company engaged NPA with 1 AFP officer moderately wounded.
January 23, 2011 in Barangay Lebanon, Montevista, Com0val, PDT took sniper fire, without casualties.
January 26, 2011, in Malita, Davao del Sur Province, F71, with 2 guerillas killed and 1 captured. The 2 dead:
1) Jimboy"Ka Jemar"Liwantang Dayagan
2) Perjelio"Ka Sadam"Bautista
Bautista was CO (Commanding Officer) of Team #1, Platun (Platoon) #1. The captured guerilla is 18 year old Delie"Ka Emma" D. Lumayas of Barangay Pangaleon, Malita. Delie has a 3rd grade education and after dropping out of school at age 8 she became a maid to a wealthy family in Davao City in that same province, Davao del Sur. She dreamed of earning enough to return to school because her dream was to become a teacher. Instead, at age 13 and back in her village having lost her job she was recruited by a sectoral front organisation that trained Delie in the organisation of peasants like herself. By 16 she was recruited as a Regulae in the NPA, going into the bush on May 05, 2008. In August she finished her military training and has been taking part in the insurgency since that timezm
January 29, 2011 saw a fire fight on the border between Malapatan, Sarangani Province and Davao del Sur Province ib which Front 71's "Ka Kotray," shot to death by the 72IB.
On January 30, 2010, in Paquibato District, Davao City, Davao del Sur District, as the AFP began scouring the sector in anticipation of Mayor Sara"Inday"Duterte Carpio's visit to the Paquibato District Anniversary Fiesta in Barangay Paquibato Proper, an IED detonated in Purok #5 in Barangay Mapula,an ambush of a Supply Team from the 69IB. The AFP's 10ID (Infantry Division) tried to spin it as an assasination attempt on the mayor's life which is an even stupider claim than the usual AFPspin shlock. Mayor Carpio's father is her Vice Mayor, Rodrigo"Roddy"Duterte who is an NPA sympathiser and who has beein in a working relationship with the Pulang Bagani Company #1aks Commanding Officer Leonicio"Ka Parago"Pitao for well over a decade now. Mayor Carpio doesn't even need a. Security escort in NPA territory (the NPA holds full control of Paquibato, Toril and Baguio Districts in Davao City by agreement with Vice Mayor Duterte, in exchange for the NPA agreeing not to encroach on any other city districts).
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Asbangliok, Tagaytay, Davao del Sur Province the 6th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Cuenco encountered 7 guerillas from Front 72. After a short FF the NPA withdrew with the AFP in close pursuit. The next day, February 02, in Sitio Mauno, Barangay Maligaya, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province, they were engaged a second time resulting in the capture of 1 hand grenade and a flash drive.
That same day, February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte, Front 33 attacked 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne), wounding 1 PFC.
On February 11 Ka Parago issued an official media release in which he pointed out that Mayor Carpio isn't even travelling outside of Barangay Paquibato Proper, let alone to Barangay Mapula which is in the mountains. He also pointed out that while the 10ID is telling anyone wjo will listen all about its new "humanistic approach" that involves an 80% effort on CMO (Civil Military Operations, a "community policing" type approach), it launched a wide scale tactical offencive in Paquibato and Toril Districts on January 10.
February 01, 2011 in Barangay Pulang Lupa, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province was the site of an ambush against a DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) Checkpoint. The site is part of OPLAN Bantay Kalikasan (Operational Plan Guarding Nature) to cut down on illegal logging. Manned by 2 police officers from the PPO (Provincial Police Officer who were backing 2 DENR officers. On the day in question 1 of the DENR officers, George Dimzon, was being visited by his 19 year old son, Fritz Dimzon, who was there to pick up his weekly allowance so as to pay the necessary fees for an AFP Entrance Exam. Fritz was shot to death as was another civilian, 39 year old Carlito Tumandang. The 2 PNP (Philippine Natiomal Police) officers were wounded, 1 critically. The more moderately wounded of the 2, PO3 Jorge Sabating, was taken prisoner by the NPA.
Vice Governor Santiago Cana of Agusan del Sur Province and Josefina Bajade, the SWD (Social Welfare and Development) Officer for the province entered the camp of Front 20, Conrado Heredia Command, for a "Peace Dialogue" with the NPA in light of the ongoing GRP (Ph.Govt.) -NDF (National Democratic Front, negotiating entity for the NPA and its political wing, CPP, aka Communist Party of the Philippines). The ACTUAL reason though was to seek the release of PO3 Jorge Sabating.Ms.Bajade is busy making a mess of things as she pushes a new scheme to "improve" the Livlihood Package given to NPA Surrenderees. All Surrenderees, even without a weapon, get an immediate cash grant of 20,000 Pesos (475 US) and then receive a Livlihood Package worth 50,000 Pesos. Thus far it has worked as a very, very strong incentive in the bid to seduce insurgents to return to the fold as it were. Ms.Bajade is apparently one of those people who can'teave well enough alone and so now she's trying to implement a protocol that would have the Livlihood Package of each Surrenderee pooled so as to force Surrenderees into co-operative ventures. In her view pooling those funds would provide greater opportunities. What she fails to realise though is that you cannot tie disparate people together, especially with a facet of their lives that is absolutely crucial. Business partnerships are fine IF individuals choose to enter into them. Sadly she recently got to tell her her cockamamie idea to representatives from OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Advisor to the Peace Process), PNP, AFP and other stakeholders. No word on how many laughed at her.
To Ms.Bajade's credit though, Front 20 chose to release PO3 Sabating to her and Vice Gov.Cane in Sitio Cogonon, Barangay Salvacion, Trento, Agusan del Sur Province on February.
Speaking of "Surrenderees," on February 23, 2011 the PPOC (Provincial Peace and Order Committee) of Surigao del Norte Province is considering building a "Peace Village" for ex-NPA guerillas to be located in Barangay Ipil in Surigao City, the provincial capitol. The idea is actually not new. In the mid-1950s then Secretary of National Defense Ramon Magsaysay did the exact same thing in trying to neutralise the Huk Insurgency, the nation's FIRST Communist Insurgency. Choosing plots in Westcentral Mindanao, built from scratch and giving each homesteader a small plot to farm it was probably the single nest idea in a Counterinsurgency full of good ideas. The problem today though is very different. The Huk were almost rotally confined to Luzon, 90Km to the north of Mindanao. In the 1950s there was no 1 hour plane ride between the 2 islands, Mindanao was truly a geographical cure. In addition the villages also contained homesteads for decommissioned and retired PNP and AFP which served as a stabilising force within thise comunities.
February 02, 2011 in Barangay Mambing, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, 3rd Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) encountered the NPA. After an intence 10 minute fire fight before they withdrew into Montevista, ComVal. 1 PFC was wounded with a bullet in the left knee.
On February 06, 2011 on the Bukidnon to Davao National Hiway, retired Master Sgt.Mario Veluz, age 56, was abducted by Front 53 (Herminio Alfonso Command) at an NPA checkpoint. Divested of his 45 caliber pistol, he was released on February 18 to North Cotabato Provincial Goverbor Emmy Lou T.Mendoza in Barangay Kagawa'an, Kibawe, North Cotabato Province. Sgt.Veluz had served as the Governor's bodyguard when she was serving as the Congresswoman representing North Cotabato's First District.
On February 07, 2011 in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur Province PNP officer PO1 Edwin Antipuesto stopped at an NPA checkpoint and was divested of his 45 caliber pistol. He was en route to his job at Magsaysay Municipal PNP.
That same day, February 07, 2011 yet another hapless PNP officer was divested of HIS sidearm at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. PO1 Ace Villapaz was at an NPA checkpoint implemented by Front 51 in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Peovince as a Weena Bus and a passenger van he was on were searched. His 45 caliber pistol was captured. Serving with PMG (Police Mobile Group) #1186 he had been heading into work.
Also February 07, 2011 in Barangay Maparat, Compostela, ComVal PFC El Bryan Canedo of 5th Scout Rangers Company was on a motorcycle when he was stopped at yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint. He was then abducted, taken from the scene in an Elf Truck (very small utility truck).
February 07, 2011 was DEFINITELY NOT the day to be up and about. At yet ANOTHER NPA checkpoint in Barangay Pintatagan, Banaybanay, Davao Oriental Province, PNP PO2 Jerwel Montecillo Tugade of the PMG #1106 was abducted by Front 18 (Wilfredo Zapanta Command).
February 14, 2011, the municipality of Maco in ComVal Province held a "Community Peace Rally" at the town's municipal basketball courts in Barangay Poblacion. Over 1,000 townspeople gathered to hear the provincial governor, Arturo Uy, speak about how much he has done for the town and how much the PDTs (Peace and Development Teams) from 10ID have bettered the town and so on. At 445PM the fun fest broke up and people went their separate ways. As 1 small group began making their way down a thoroughfare in Purok #6 in Barangay Libay-libay a powerful IED detonated and killed 1 civilian, 56 year old Nicholas Paquin, a resident of Barangay Dumlan was in a group of 5 men. The other 4 were critically wounded, with 2 of those 4 dying at the hospital during treatment:
1) Juanito Cabarobias, 52 years old
2) Angelito Comayas Jr., 42 years old
On February 22, 2011 in Purok #4, Barangay Carmen, Baguio District, Davao City, Davao del Sur Province, as Barangay Captain Alfredo B.Austral attended a Barangat meeting NPA uder "Ka Bobby' entered his home and captured the city issued 12 gauge issued to all Barangay Captains.
On February 25, 2011 in Barangay Sinuron, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, a SPARU (Special Armed Partisan Unit, the assasination arm of the NPA) killed Roldan Quintoa. Quintoa, a former NPA guerilla had surrendered to the government in 2008. Since leaving the NPA Quintoa busied himself by working on his father's upland farm. Indeed, it was that farm that he was walking to when killed. The NPA doesn't target Surrenderees as a rule, relegating such decisive treatment to those ex-guerillas who serve as AFP-IS (Military Intelligence) assets.
February 26, 2011 in Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanoa, Davao del Sur, a SPARU team from Mt.Alip Command killed AFP-IS asset Jun Sal and captured a 45 caliber pistol before escaping. Sal wasn't an NPA Surrenderee, merely an informer.
March 06, 2011, on the borders of Barangays Mapayag and Bendolan in Malaybalay City near the border of the municipality of Lantapan in Bukidnon Province, at 8AM Front 89 killed an ex-barangay captain, Antonio Pechora of Barangay Mapayag, in his home, and then withdrew. At 1130AM the Malaybalay City PNP and PNP SOCO (Scene of Crime Operations) travelled to the outlying area to recover the man's body and to do a cursory crime scene investigation. Travelling in 2 vehicles the SOCO van followed closely behind the PNP SUV and had just crossed into Sitio Tamugawi, Purok #3, Barangay Mapayag and were at the foot of Bundok Kitanglad (Mt.Kitanglad) when an IED detonated, followed by a barrage of rifle grenades. 2 PNP and 1 civilian employee of SOCO were killed instantly:
1) PO1 Ronel Bayta
2) PO1 Jimmy Napil Jr
3) Rodel Dangop (SOCO)
5 PNP were wounded with 1 of them dying during treatment: PO1 Xerxes Von Palasol. The NPA captured 1 M16 and 3 9MM pistols.
March 09, 2011 in Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Mipingi, Nabunturan, ComVal Province, a firefight left 1 guerilla dead. On March 11 a detachment from the 101 DRCOY (Division Recon Company, in this case the 10ID's) under 1LT.Godofredo A.Despojo recovered the guerilla's cadaver and had just entered Sitio Tanawan, Barangay Malinswon, Mawab when an IED detonated followed by a 15 minute firefight with Front 33. Though the NPA is claiming it killed 3 AFP in that ambush. In reality they only killed 1, 1LT. Despojo, the detachment CO. In addition there were 12 AFP wounded.
On March 11, 2011 in Barangays Danuman and Nueva Gracia in Loreto, Agusan del Sur Province Front 34 launched 2 simultaneous assaults on those barangay's respective CAA posts.
That same day, March 11, I Sitio Kilometer #19, Barangay Del Monte, Veruela, Agusan del Sur Province, Front 3 attacked. Bagani Long Range Platoon post, and not long after a Bagani Long Range Platoon post in Barangay Sinubong.
On March 12, 2011. In Sitio Tibungco, Barangay San Jose, Montevista, ComVal Province, a truck carrying a detachment from the 25IB was strafed by M1/ fire without casualties.
That same day, March 12, 2011 in Barangay Pinamuno, San Isidro, Davao del Norte Peovince, Front 35 (Danilo Villacorta Command) was engaged by the 60IB resulting in 1 AFP killed, 4 wounded.
March 13, 2011 in Barangay Lataban, New Corella, Davao del Norte Province, an NCO (Non Commisioned Officer, aka Corporal or Sergeant) from the 3rd Special Forces (Airborne) Battalion was wounded by a sniper.
On March 15, 2011 in Sitio Bagtok, Barangay San Vicente, Montevista, ComVal Province, an NPA snper killed 1 soldier from the 25IB.
On Saturday afternoon, March 19, 2011 a young woman approached the jeepney stand ("jeepneys" are a low cost form of public transport) at Davao City's Gaisano Mall. Searching for 2 passenger vans to charter for a family wedding that evening, she finally found 2 drivers with Mitsubishi L3000 vans who agreed to do so for a cost of 4,500 Pesos per van (95 US each), with a down payment of 2,500 each (55 US each). Counting out the money the woman assured the drivers that 2 guides would be along straight away to direct the vans to her family's residence. Within the hour 2 young men did indeed show up and so the vans departed to the municipality of Panabo City in Davao del Norte Province to pick up the family members. Arriving in Panabo, just outside the Davao City limits the drivers were told to proceed to an outlying barangay. Driving down an unpaved road they were forced to stop as 20 well armed guerillas in military fatigues and bonnets (baclavas) blocked their way. Quickly getting in both vans and brusquely directed the terrified drivers to drive to an outlying Panabo City Municipal PNP Station in Barangay Maduwaw.
Entering the PNP Compound the officer guarding the front door (they stupidly don't employ guards on the perimeter or even its main gate) waved to the new arrivals, apparently believing them to be AFP soldiers despite regional directives warning all security forces NOT to allow anyone entry without prior notification and confirmation of identity owing to a rash of military and PNP impersonations by the NPA. PBC1 utilises this ruses every 3 or 4 months and indeed, the new arrivals were PBC1. The friendly guard, PO3 Narciso Pakiwag continued his smiling and waving but a more alert PNP officer on the 2nd floor wasn't fooled at all and immediately shouted to alert his mates. Ideally the NPA would have gained entry to the building so as to capture its weaponry, uniforms and intelligence but the station went into defencive mode so the guerillas threw a hand grenade into the doorway and opened up with 2 M16s killing PO3 Pakiwag immediately. A CVO (Civilian Volunteer Officer, a form of Civilian Active Auxiliary attached to municipal PNP) soldier, Raymond Minoza, was killed as well in that initial fusillade. The other 13 Officers all withdrew to the 2nd floor, where the armoury and nerve centre are and an intence fire fight broke out, only subsiding 30 minutes later when the guerillas received notification that reinforcements were en route.
Jumping in both vans the guerillas, habing only captured 1 M16 sped out of the compound but hadn't gone very far, less than 400 meters when 1 of the vans got bogged down, the NPA having failed to plan for inclement weather and its effect on unpaved roads. Piling into the 2nd, now dangerously overloaded van, they made it over the border of Davao City, into Lasang District when the 2nd van skidded into an irrigation canal. Leaving behind 1 critically wounded guerilla, 41 year old Eliseo Mariano of Barangay Longaog, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte Province. Mariano was taken into custody by units scouring the Davao City border 3 days later, March 22. Critically wounded in the right thigh and right hand he had been abandoned by the NPA, near death from. Loss of blood and dehydration.After initial treatment he quickly showed improvement and so was fit for torture, I mean "interrogation."Under "interrogation" he provided 4 full names of squadmates, including the leader of the Panabo attack, Lucio"Ka Bungot"Bustamente.
This week the 13 surviving PNP received Medals of Valour, which just goes to show you how worthless the ribbon is. The highest award in the Philippine security services it is akin to the American "Medal of Honor." WR men simply repelled 22 guerillas who ALWAYS withdraw when faced with nominal resistance (it is part and parcel of NPA tactical doctrine) and so they get the HIGHEST ribbon? PO3 Pakiwag also received the ribbon. Post humously of course, along with a promotion to SPO1. The 2 PNP wounded in the assault, including the station shift CO (Commanding Officer) also received ribbons for having been wounded in action.
March 20, 2011 in Barangay Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur Province, the 29IB uncovered a Front 19A cache containing 2 M1s, 2 M16s and vital repairs in addition to ammo.
On March 21, 2011 in Barangay Casoon, Monkayo, ComVal Province, the 5th Scout Rangers Company under 1LT.Mark Steve Cimini engahed Front 3 under "Ka Ondo" in a running firefight, wounding 2 NPA and 1 AFP.
That same day, March 21, 2011 on the borders of Barangay Colon Sabac, Matanao, Davao del Sur Provinceand Barangay Sinapulan, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat Province was the site of a fierce firefight as 6th Scout Rangers under 1LT.Romeo Ferdinand Bautista were suprised by an encounter with Front 72 as the AFP scoured the sector prepping it for PDT deployment.
Also on March 21, 2011 in Sitio Tagtaytay, Barangay Mipangi, ComVal Province, 101 DRCOY under 1LT.Herold Ambrocio engaged NPA, killing 1 guerilla and captured his M16.
March 23, 2011 in Sitio Gureim, Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur Province, 39IB detachment under Sgt.Ranie Fuentes ambushed via IED killing 2 PFCs;
1) PFC.Salva
2) PFC.Centina
Originally the AFP was telling the world that the detachment was PDT but finally relented and admitted that it was a combat detachment that was trying to soften up the environs FOR PDT.
That same day, March 23, 2011 an SCAA. Garrison in Lianga, Surigao del Sur was attacked but managed to repell the NPA after a 10 minute firefight.
March 24, 2011, at Sanglay Wood Processing Plant in Barangay Amparo, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte Province, 50 NPA attacked the plant perimeter targetting the Blue Security (private security, not SCAA), disarming 3 guards employed by "Al Nino Security Agency." After capturing the guards' 2 shotguns and 1 9MM pistol.
On that same day, March 24, 2011, in Barangay Sibulan, Santa Cruz, Daval del Sur Province, a detachment from the 101 DRC (Division Recon Company, 10ID) was clearing a sector ahead of PDT deployment when a primed IED buried in the dirt road detonated killing 1 of the soldiers.
March 25, 2011 in Barangay Datal Biao, Tampakan, South Cotabati Province, a 5 vehicle convoy of tandem dumptrucks owned by LVE Construction was ambushed via IED. In the ensuing firefight 1 driver and 2 labourers riding in his lorry (truck) were killed:
1) Oscar Panisana (Driver)
2) Romel Vega
3) Nelson Parasan
On that same day, March 25, 2011, in Barangay Suaon, Kapalong, Davao del Norte Province, the 60IB on patrol saw a lone guerilla priming a roadside IED and immediately engaged, killing the guerilla and recovering 2 IEDs. A small NPA detachment that hadn't been sighted opened fire upon the AFP but withdrew after.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Development Aggression,First Quarter of 2011,Part I:Geothermal Energy on Mt.Apo
Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco of Kidapawan City in South Cotabato Province has reversed his earlier decision and has decided to grant EDC (Energy Development Corporation) permission to construct a new 50 megawatt powerplant on Mt.Apo. Not only has he changed his mind, be is expediting the process after he and EDC came to an "understanding." EDC already operates 2 geothermal plants on the slopes of Mt.Apo. Located in the municipality's Barangay Ilomavis within the PAMB (Protected Area Management Bureau) enclosure. Most of Mt. Apo, the nation's highest peak, is included in the PAMB.
EDC ran afoul of Mayor Ganutuamgco and virtually the entire LGU when it was granted a full exemption on real property taxes. Taxes generated by the 2 existing plants had been used to pay the salaries of 189 public school teachers via the city's SEF (Special Education Fund) and the sudden issuance of the exemption created bedlam. The Mayor and EDC came to a compromise where the corporation will pay 48 Million Pesos (close to 1 Million US), the amount that had been lost to the city since the exemption was granted. Of this amount roughly 1.9 Million Pesos (36,000 US Dollars) will be paid directly into the SEF, ergo pay the salaries of those 189 teachers. EDC has guaranteed the city those salaries for 36 months.
Throwing a potential wrench into the arrangement is the Mayor's arch nemesis, Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista says that the Mayor's "deal" is far from a sure thing and is examining the issue extremely closely. Furthermore he says, he's talking with COTELLO (Cotabato Electric Corporation) about feeding off the proposed plant IF it ends up being built. EDC is eyeing December, 2014 as the timeframe for going on line.
Speaking of new power plants, on March 01, 2011 the Davao City Council passed the Resolution endorsing Aboitz Power Corporation's proposed 300 megawatt coal fired power plant slated for Barangay Binugan in Toril District despite vehement opposition from the local population and much of that barangay's government. The Council's endorsement is crucial though its passing was a sure thing ever since Vice Mayor Rodrigo"Roddy"Duterte reversed his early opposition to the plant after taking part in an Aboitz junket to a coal fed plant in Misamis Oriental. The 232 megawatt coal fired plant owned by Steag State Power Inc.in Villanueva impressed Duterte, supposedly, with its low noise and emissions.
The plant has a projected cost of 25 Billion Pesos and will represent the biggest single investment ever made in the Davao Region. This factor certainly makes it an attractive proposition to many in the LGU (Local Govt. Unit aka barangay, town, city and provincial governments) but few seem capable, or perhaps willing to listen and understanding that this investment will not trickle down. It only benefits Aboitz share holders. Now that it rolled through the City Council it gets passed onto the Council's Committee on Energy, Transport and Communications chaired by Councillor Pilar C. Braga. Assuming the Committee passes it, and of course it will, it gets tossed back to the City Council for a 2nd Reading.
Aboitz President and CEO Erramon I. Aboitz says that if he gets his paperwork finished on time that he expects the plant to be online by the middle of 2014. Currently Aboitz subsidiary Therma South Inc, the entity actually handling this project os keeping itself busy trying to pull the wool over peoples' eyes, I mean "handling public relations." I mean, everyoneknows giant smokestacks emitting coal emissions don't harm the environment, and people? Naaaaaah.
In other news:
Sun Cellular has vowed to put up an additional 500 cellular sites on mainland Mindanao and Sulu. At a Zamboamga City press conference on March 11 it unveiled its "Sun Magic Zone Mindanao," a discount for customers only in Mindanao. The 500 new sites will double the islands sites to 1,000.
A local journalist has been slapped with a Libel charge over a piece in which he discussed problems in the issuance of 10 timber permits, within a particular official's AOR (Area of Responsibility). The reporter, Edgardo Maliza of the "Gold Star" based in Cagayan del Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province was arrested earler this month on charges fired by a former DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) Regional Director Ernesto Adobo Jr. The article merely discussed 10 very problematic permits issued under Adobo's watch. Sadly integrity isn't a big thing in the Philippines. Passing the buck is a well enshrined way of life and with officials like Adobo such a horrid system is assured of a long life. Luckily for the people and resource of Northern Mindanao Adobo is now out to pasture. Maliza on the other hand had to be bailed out of jail on a 10,000 Peso Bond (230 US). Though foreigners may find that a trivial amount is the MONTHLY salary of a middle class white collar worker in the Philippines.
This arrest comes as Maliza's colleague, fellow Gold Star scribe Edwin Iyo began getting death threats. Iyo had been investigating extortion and bribery in the Gingoog City CENRO branch (Community Energy and Natural Resources Office). Logging is big business here, especially the illegal side and people are killed over it ever few weeks.
EDC ran afoul of Mayor Ganutuamgco and virtually the entire LGU when it was granted a full exemption on real property taxes. Taxes generated by the 2 existing plants had been used to pay the salaries of 189 public school teachers via the city's SEF (Special Education Fund) and the sudden issuance of the exemption created bedlam. The Mayor and EDC came to a compromise where the corporation will pay 48 Million Pesos (close to 1 Million US), the amount that had been lost to the city since the exemption was granted. Of this amount roughly 1.9 Million Pesos (36,000 US Dollars) will be paid directly into the SEF, ergo pay the salaries of those 189 teachers. EDC has guaranteed the city those salaries for 36 months.
Throwing a potential wrench into the arrangement is the Mayor's arch nemesis, Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista says that the Mayor's "deal" is far from a sure thing and is examining the issue extremely closely. Furthermore he says, he's talking with COTELLO (Cotabato Electric Corporation) about feeding off the proposed plant IF it ends up being built. EDC is eyeing December, 2014 as the timeframe for going on line.
Speaking of new power plants, on March 01, 2011 the Davao City Council passed the Resolution endorsing Aboitz Power Corporation's proposed 300 megawatt coal fired power plant slated for Barangay Binugan in Toril District despite vehement opposition from the local population and much of that barangay's government. The Council's endorsement is crucial though its passing was a sure thing ever since Vice Mayor Rodrigo"Roddy"Duterte reversed his early opposition to the plant after taking part in an Aboitz junket to a coal fed plant in Misamis Oriental. The 232 megawatt coal fired plant owned by Steag State Power Inc.in Villanueva impressed Duterte, supposedly, with its low noise and emissions.
The plant has a projected cost of 25 Billion Pesos and will represent the biggest single investment ever made in the Davao Region. This factor certainly makes it an attractive proposition to many in the LGU (Local Govt. Unit aka barangay, town, city and provincial governments) but few seem capable, or perhaps willing to listen and understanding that this investment will not trickle down. It only benefits Aboitz share holders. Now that it rolled through the City Council it gets passed onto the Council's Committee on Energy, Transport and Communications chaired by Councillor Pilar C. Braga. Assuming the Committee passes it, and of course it will, it gets tossed back to the City Council for a 2nd Reading.
Aboitz President and CEO Erramon I. Aboitz says that if he gets his paperwork finished on time that he expects the plant to be online by the middle of 2014. Currently Aboitz subsidiary Therma South Inc, the entity actually handling this project os keeping itself busy trying to pull the wool over peoples' eyes, I mean "handling public relations." I mean, everyoneknows giant smokestacks emitting coal emissions don't harm the environment, and people? Naaaaaah.
In other news:
Sun Cellular has vowed to put up an additional 500 cellular sites on mainland Mindanao and Sulu. At a Zamboamga City press conference on March 11 it unveiled its "Sun Magic Zone Mindanao," a discount for customers only in Mindanao. The 500 new sites will double the islands sites to 1,000.
A local journalist has been slapped with a Libel charge over a piece in which he discussed problems in the issuance of 10 timber permits, within a particular official's AOR (Area of Responsibility). The reporter, Edgardo Maliza of the "Gold Star" based in Cagayan del Oro City in Misamis Oriental Province was arrested earler this month on charges fired by a former DENR (Department of Energy and Natural Resources) Regional Director Ernesto Adobo Jr. The article merely discussed 10 very problematic permits issued under Adobo's watch. Sadly integrity isn't a big thing in the Philippines. Passing the buck is a well enshrined way of life and with officials like Adobo such a horrid system is assured of a long life. Luckily for the people and resource of Northern Mindanao Adobo is now out to pasture. Maliza on the other hand had to be bailed out of jail on a 10,000 Peso Bond (230 US). Though foreigners may find that a trivial amount is the MONTHLY salary of a middle class white collar worker in the Philippines.
This arrest comes as Maliza's colleague, fellow Gold Star scribe Edwin Iyo began getting death threats. Iyo had been investigating extortion and bribery in the Gingoog City CENRO branch (Community Energy and Natural Resources Office). Logging is big business here, especially the illegal side and people are killed over it ever few weeks.
Abu Sayyaf, First Quarter Engagements, 2011
As I noted in my previous entry ("Abu Sayyaf Interdiction, First Quarter 2011") the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) would appear to some as if it has finally been making much needed headway against ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group). It has roped in several high profile arrests in the most notorious incidents ("Sipadan Island," "Dos Palmas," Siege of Lamitan" and "Golden Harvest Plantation") and has finally moved forward in the assasination of Congressman Wahab Akbar in the 2007 bombing of the Congressional Complex that killed Rep.Akbar and 4 others.
As the AFP readied itself to go mano a mano with ASG on Basilan LGUs (Local Govt. Units, barangay, town, city and provincial govts.) in the Visayas (Central Philippines) began getting very nervous about the possibility of ASG heading north to their shores. Though historically in the early Spanish Era Muslims would indeed push north, raping, pillaging and enslaving as they moved through the islands, in the present its not likely to happen. ASG goes no further north than the Zamboanga Peninsula (excepting its infamous and singular foray into Palawan in 2001) and even then it does so only out of absolute necessity, the Sulu archipelago being their preferred destination. As if unsteady nerves weren't bad enough, AFP Intelligence warned of an impending attack in Negros, Bohol and/or Siquijor Islands. On January 03, 2011 Intelligence had warned of a large detachment of ASG leaving Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte Province and heading to Negros Oriental Province on the island of Negros. A week later, after the first warning amounted to nothing, ASG was said to be departing Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Norte Province en route to Dumaguete on Negros Island. On January 14 the attack was said to be impending on Bohol Island. The Alert ended February 01.
January 07 five members of ASG were charged in the "Camp Asturias Chapel" bombing that took place during Xmas Mass in 2010, wounding 11 people including 2 Roman Catholic priests. The 5 charged are;
1) Alhabsy Misaya
2) Dodong Tarik
3) Sali Sa'id
4) Arola (epnonymously named)
5) Gafur (epononymously named)
Number 3, Sali Sa'id, was nabbed on February 01,as I discussed in my previous entry. He was on Chinese Wharf in Jolo City shortly after disembarking from am inter-island ferry.
On January 09,2011 a group of ASG under sub-Kumander Patti Kabulot of the Jamiri Faction ambushed the AFP in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo Tipo on Basilan Island. 2 guerillas were killed in the 45 minute fire fight, one of which was Kabulot himself. A third was captured alive along with two M16s and one RPG, along with two RPG shells.
January 14, in Sitio Fuente, Barangay Sapa Bulag, Sumisip on Basilan Island, Cpl.Haber Akil of the 32IB (32nd Infantry Battalion) was en route to Tumahubong from Isabela City on a motorcycle while on duty. A sniper took his life with a shot to the chest.
January 19, in Sitio Kurellem, Barangay Silangkum, Tipo Tipo on Basilan Island, ASG Factional Leader Nurhusin Jamiri was with at least 50 gunmen when the 4th Scout Rangers Battalion, COY (Company) 13 accidentally found him while scouring the sector. In the ensuing fire fight 1 Scout Ranger was critically wounded and died after being helicoptered out to Zamboanga City for treatment.
January 21 in Barangay Macalang, al Barka, the 4th Scout Rangers Battalion entered a recently abandoned ASG Camp where they discovered 2 IEDs (though not primed as booby traps, merely being stored after manufacture), 50 grammes of ammonium nitrate (an ingredient in IED payloads) and 14 rounds of M60 (large crew fired weapon) ammunition. The camp wad comprised of 4 "nipas" (single roomed bamboo framed palm thatched huts, the average home in the Philippines) that could have held 20 men. The camp was discovered by accident during a scour (meter by meter search within established co-ordinates).
Barangay Maclang is 1 of several al Barka barangays whose residents have fled en masse during the afore mentioned tactical push against ASG. Roughly 6,000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons, aka"Refugees") from Barangays Macalang, Danapa and Ka'ilih took refuge in and around Danapa Elementary School in the barangay of the same name. As Febuary began the AFP and LGU (Local Government Unit tried their best to persuade the terrified villagers to go back to their homes and farms but to no avail. Almost all refused to move back home or even tend their farms for as long as the AFP continued its tactical operations in the town.
On February 12 in Barangay Baiwas in Sumisip, Basilan, the 4th Scout Rangers Battalion launched a direct assault on the camp of ASG sub-Kumander Juhaiber"Abu Kiks"Alamsirul of the Janatul Faction. The operation, which began at daybreak was difficult as the camp clings to a very steep mountainside but was deemed high priority after receiving intelligence that the factional leader, Kumander Radzmil Janatul had stayed there overnight with 30 of his best men. A single platoon under Captain Daet was all that Task Force Headquarters could muster on such short notice though all things considered, a platoon of Scout Rangers are worth at least 2 companies of regular AFP Infantrymen (a platoon averages 30 men while a company nets 100 to 120 men). The attack lasted until 3 hours, until 730AM and left 2 soldiers dead, 5 wounded. Upon ASG withdrawing the Scout Rangers entered the camp and secured it, discovering 7 earthen bunkers.
On March 06 in Barangay Santa Barbara, Isabela City, Basilan, PNP PO1 (PNP officers are ranked by a 1,2 or 3 depending upon their seniority, with "1" being the lowest rank equivalent to a "Private" in the Army,with "PO" signifying "Police Officer") Dennis Aquino, Barangay Captain Noel Mirasol and 3 Barangay Kagawads (Barangay Councillors) were walking through the barangay when they were ambushed by snipers. Mirasol and Aquino were critically wounded as the 3 Barangay Kagawads returned fire and killed 2 of the gunmen, epononymously named Baljubir and Nadjar.Though the officials were Cebuanos and Chavacanos (non-Muslim) and the gunmen were Muslim there are rumours that this didn't involve ASG per se and wasn't even political in nature. Aquino and Mirasol are said to be neck deep in the drug trade and since this is the Southern Philippines "drugs" are synonymous with "Shabu," highly pure smokable methamphetamine.
March 09, an IED placed inside a triksiad (ubiqitous form of Philippine public transport constructed out of a motorcycle dirt bike with an aluminum body constructed around it, inside of which there are 2 bench seats hold passengers) detonated as a group of triksiads idled in front of the Sulu Peovincial Board of Education building in Jolo City, on Jolo Island. The blast, timed for afternoon rush hour killed 5 drivers and wounded 11, including passerby. The blast seems to have been aimed for a PNP transport carrying a detachment of SAF (Special Action Force, the PNP's Special Operations element) which had just passed by when detonation occurred. The group of drivers were parked against the fence around Salih Ututalum Elementary School where 2 men were immediately killed. The other 3 deaths occurred during treatment at a nearby hospital. The initial 2 fatalities are unidentifiable because of the damage to their bodies from the powerful blast. The 3 men who died during treatment are:
1) Habir Sabri
2) Abdulmajid Ibrahim
3) Aleson Ma'ing
On that same day, March 09 the AFP threw all progress they had made thus far in 2011 out the proverbial window when they played the "Keystone Cops, Philippine Style" in an episode we will call, "Sacol Island: Whose on First?" In a Top Secret Operation so hush hush that Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin had no idea it was even planned, never mind dumbfounded LGUs who have been railing against this breech of protocol.
Acting upon intelligence that ASG-Basilan Factional Leader Khair Mundos was ensconced on an isolated tract on Sacol Island, possibly wit the other major factional leader on Basilan, Nurhusin Jamiri, the AFP's TF Basilan launched a massive air/amphibious operation. Using Hueys (helicopters) to insert Airborne soldiers from 3rd Special Forces Battalion, covered by 2 MG-529s (helicopter gunships) on the far side of the very small islet. On the tract where ASG was supposed to be dug in, those Gun Ships softened the ground with 8 missiles launched as the soldiers were scouring from the other coast. The problem however is that that ASG "camp"? The one containing Khair Mundos and Nurhusin Jamiri? It was an empty mangrove. If ASG had ever been there they weren't now. Sadly it took the AFP NINE HOURS to discover they were killing...a...MANGROVE. I need to also add that the missile strikes were supposed to be kilometers away from the nearest civilians but residents of Barangay Landang Laum note that the strikes hit mere meters from their village which abuts that mangrove. Perhaps the AFP should be happy people are laughing at them as opposed to calling them "mass murderers."
March 17 the AFP seems to have caught with its pants down AGAIN. Scout Rangers set a cross fire ambush along a main road to try and interdict ASG. It ended up instead critically wounding a PNP (Pgilippine National Police) officer who was operating a motorcycle and his civilian passenger. In its own defence the Scout Ranger Team in question claimed it had thought the motorcycle was carrying Barangay Captain Nat Haddalam, a member of ASG. In other words, the AFP's elite units see the need to lay a cross fire ambush rather than to try and LAWFULLY stop and arrest the subject they were after. Even more disgustingly, both men on the motorcycle were shot in the back!
On Saturday, March 19 off of Menes Island, part of the island municipality of Hadji Panglima Tahil, formerly known as "Marunggas," yet another case of "Ambak Pare" took place. The phrase is Cebuano and idiomatically is akin to, "You better jump dude!" It denotes piracy, almost always by ASG, where if you aren't kidnapped you are told, "Ambak Pare!" It is prevalent on Mindanao's southwestern coast and Zamboanga Peninsula. Less often it happens like Saturday's case, in the Sulu archipelago and Tawi Tawi, the Philippines' southern most island. This last case revolved around the typical ASG extortion aimed at small to medium sized fishing companies. The vessel "M/V Mega VIII" was manned by 3 men, who are missing:
1) Captain Renato Panisales
2) Wennie Ferrer
3) Jonald Ocsimar
The 3 men were initially believed to have been killed but 2 days after their disappearance the Jamiri Jawari Faction of ASG made contact with the fishing company and demanded 10 Million Pesos in Ransom. From then until March 31 nothing else was known though the AFP concentrated its search in and around the factional territory near the municipality of Patikul on Jolo Island. On the day in question, March 31, the military entered an outlying barangay within Patikul and came under fire from Abu Sayyaf. During intence fighting the AFP killed 3 guerillas but failed to sight the 3 captives. When ASG withdrew from the village 50 minutes later the soldiers found the Seaman Book (a work permit issued to maritime workers) issued to the fishing boat captain, Renato Panisales. As for the island municipality where this incident initially took place, took place, Hadji Panglima Tahil, the town is spread out over several tiny islets and is an MNLF-Misuari Faction stronghold now mainly populated by MNLF guerillas who sought land after the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. Led by Kumander Elol Salim, the 417 guerillas now put their energy into an abalome co-operative and a seaweed farming operation funded by ELAP (Emergency Livlihood Assistance Program) and its evolved form, LEAP (Livlihood Enhancement and Peace Pogrsmme). LEAP is funded by USAID's GEM (Growth with Equity in Mindanao), a programme meant to help de-programme MNLF guerillas.
On Monday, March 21 ASG's Jamiri Faction kidnapped yet another person on Basilan Island. At 130 AM Rolando de la Cruz, caretaker for "Cawley Resturant" on Aguinaldo Street, Barangay Matibay, Lamitan City, was checking for intruders after his dogs began barking excitedly. As the 44 year old man stepped into the compound he was confronyed by ASG guerillas under sub-Kumander Ustadz Salim Tado. The kidnapper's forced de la Cruz into his own vehicle and sped off in the direction of that city's Barangay Bulanting. It was in that barangay's Sitio Libi that the SUV was found on fire. However, by early that evening the 32IB had brought that band of guerillas to heel and rather than be caught themselves the kidnappers simply release Mr.de la Cruz. It is a standard ASG diversionary tactic and for better or for worse there is an unwritten but well understood rule between the AFP and ASG. IF ASG releases a kidnapping victim without having harmed him or her the AFP allows a route for escape and does not attack. After being released by ASG in Barangay Sinulatan, Tuburan at 520PM the 32IB gave the kidnappers an hour to fully withdraw and so they recovered the victim alive and well at 620PM.
Ironically the kidnapping coincides with US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr's visit to the region. Arriving in Zamboanga City on the March 21 he will next head across the strait to Basilan and then to Jolo City where he will take part in a ceremony marking the US grant of more than 1 million US Dollars (23,000 Pesos) to local NGO, "LPDR" (Literacy for Peace and Development).
March 28, 2011 saw the closure of a case that had been vexing Philippine authorities for almost a decade. Javanese bomb expert Umar"Mike"Patek of the Indonesian terrorist organisation Jemaya'a Islamiyya ("JI"). Having been arrested by Pakistan's "Inter-Services Intelligence Agency" on information provided by the CIA (American Intelligence, isn't THAT an oxymoron?).For nearly a decade JI and ASG have been nearly synonymous with one another, ever since the aftermath of JI's "Bali Bombing." Patek, and by extension JI's first involvement with ASG first took place in 1995 when he arrived in Mindanao to relieve Nasir bin Abas as the CO (Commanding Officer" of JI's "Mantiki III," the label applied to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. In 1999 he returned to Jakarta and assumed a leadership role as the group began laying the ground work needed for the "Bali Bombing." The attack, which eventually transpired in 2002. The act killed 202 people, nearly half of them Australian, and thereby turned JI into the posterboy of SE Asian Terrorism. An international manhunt began with several relatively high ranking members choosing to capitalise on a long standing relationship with Mindanao and the Muslims living here. It was a natural thing to do given the common Malay ancestry, common physical appearance and of course, a common faith.
JI members like Patek, and his brother-in-law Joko"Dulmatin"Pitoyo originally came to teach at an MILF "academy" in a now defunct jungle stronghold, "Camp Hudaibiyah." Located in Pawas, Maguindanao, it trained MILF, ASG AND JI members. It was in Hudaibiyah that the 2 JI leaders would cultivate relationships and teach both ASG AND MILF members how to manufacture technically proficient IEDs.
After the bombing in Bali, in 2002, the Indonesian authorities, aided by Australian law enforcement began a relentless manhunt for not only the bombers but all Islamo-fascists in general. Patek decided to travel with Dulmatin north to Mindanao. With authorities all over the region on the look out this latest trip would have to take place off the grid; The Southern Philippines (Mindanao and its outlying island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi) have regional agreements concerning unfettered travel between ialands, regardless of international borders. One can take a ferry, freighter or fishing boat between Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. There is no need for Immigration OR Customs, one simply disembarks and isn't questioned or impeded. Still, it takes a bit of knowhow in choosing which craft from whatever port and so the duo had an acquaintance from the Islamo-fascist organisation "Darul Islam" to guide them on their journey north. The man chosen, Arham (a.k.a."Arnoldl) was a . Arriving in mid-2003 the duo immediately returned to Maguindanao Province and Camp Hudaibiyah.
Though their old protector, the MILF's Kumamder Abu Badrin Badruddin welcomed the 2 men back to Central Mindanao things had changed drastically. Since the Indonesians had left in 1999 the MILF had been badly beaten, almost to the point of destruction, during then President Estrada's "All Out War on the MILF." The war, in 2000, had been precipitated by an attack by an MILF unit on the town of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte Province. Occupying the Christian town in a show of strength the MILF hadn't been aware that that AFP AOR (Area of Responsibility) had received a Brigade strength deployment of Marines just 4 hours prior. Without even unpacking their kitbags the Marines rushed to Kauswagan from their new base in Cagayan del Oro City in the adjacent province of Misamis Oriental and freed the town by midnite. From that quick victory Estrada, capitalising on its momentum added 2 entire Infantry Divisions and in a pincer move began advancing up Narciso Ramos National Hiway from both its terminuses, clearing all MILF positions as they went. Within 3 months the government forces reached Camp Abubakar, the MILF nerve center, and leveled it. So total was the victory that Estrada himself hurried south by private jet and then helicoptered into Camp Abubakar in order to personally host a pigroast and beerbash. Edtrada's choice of refreshments being highly symbolic in what was here to fore a bastion of Islamic Power on the island. The President swilling beer and chewing pork cracklings in the MILF Central Mosque had its intended effect, the MILF almost collapsed.
In the nearly 3 years since, MILF Kumanders like Badruddin had reorganised their forces into highly mobile formationd known as "Base Commands" and operated without much of a power structure above them. This essentially meant that Patek and Dulmatin were incredibly vulnerable despite Camp Hudaibiyah having managed to survive largely unscathed within the impenetrable Ligusan Marsh. Within months of the pair's arrival the MILF came under intense political pressure from the Philippine Government.
In the Philippines it is the military that runs the country. Though Estrada's guidance had led to a massive victory for the AFP in the 2000 War, his corruption had reached epic proportions. This became the impetus for a strong faction within the Army to forment a coup to install then Vice President Gloria M.Arroyo in the Presidential Palace. Almost immediately after seizing power President Arroyo sought to solidify her position by reaching a Peace Agreement with at least 1 of the several insurgencies plagueing the nation. She decided that the MILF presented the strongest chance for a successful outcome. After enlisting the aid of Malaysia to Facilitate these Talks she and the MILF began aggressively negotiating. Just after the Indonesian's arrival in Mindanao the Philippine Government turned its attentions towards Camp Hudaibaya after Australian Intelligence ascertained that members of Indonesian terror groups (JI, Darul Islam, KOMPAK) and leaned on the MILF to shutter the encampment.
It was in mid-2004 then that Patel and Dulmatin took refuge with the Khadaffi Janjalani Faction of ASG on Basilan. On Basilan the conditions were deplorable, trekking deep in the isolated bush, always being pursued by the AFP and so by 2005 they had sailed south with part of the Janjalani Faction, taking refuge on Jolo Island with the Sadhiron Faction of ASG. From that point there are highly conflicting reports on his whereabouts. Readers might recall that in my ASG entry for the last quarter of 2010 that pundits were getting hot and bothered as they challenged each others' view concerning Patek's latest whereabouts. Some thought he was still in Sulu Province, others in Tawi Tawi Province (supported by a video of him there though not dated in any way), while others had him in Pakistan. Lo and behold, Pakistan was correct. No word on who gets to collect a 10 Million US Bounty.
Finally this quarter, just after New Year, skeletal remains of a decapitated male waa found in a cave in the hills above Tipo Tipo, in that municipality's Barangay Kabug Pababag. Forensics are being formed with American assistance to try and determine the identity of the deceased.
As the AFP readied itself to go mano a mano with ASG on Basilan LGUs (Local Govt. Units, barangay, town, city and provincial govts.) in the Visayas (Central Philippines) began getting very nervous about the possibility of ASG heading north to their shores. Though historically in the early Spanish Era Muslims would indeed push north, raping, pillaging and enslaving as they moved through the islands, in the present its not likely to happen. ASG goes no further north than the Zamboanga Peninsula (excepting its infamous and singular foray into Palawan in 2001) and even then it does so only out of absolute necessity, the Sulu archipelago being their preferred destination. As if unsteady nerves weren't bad enough, AFP Intelligence warned of an impending attack in Negros, Bohol and/or Siquijor Islands. On January 03, 2011 Intelligence had warned of a large detachment of ASG leaving Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte Province and heading to Negros Oriental Province on the island of Negros. A week later, after the first warning amounted to nothing, ASG was said to be departing Zamboanga City in Zamboanga del Norte Province en route to Dumaguete on Negros Island. On January 14 the attack was said to be impending on Bohol Island. The Alert ended February 01.
January 07 five members of ASG were charged in the "Camp Asturias Chapel" bombing that took place during Xmas Mass in 2010, wounding 11 people including 2 Roman Catholic priests. The 5 charged are;
1) Alhabsy Misaya
2) Dodong Tarik
3) Sali Sa'id
4) Arola (epnonymously named)
5) Gafur (epononymously named)
Number 3, Sali Sa'id, was nabbed on February 01,as I discussed in my previous entry. He was on Chinese Wharf in Jolo City shortly after disembarking from am inter-island ferry.
On January 09,2011 a group of ASG under sub-Kumander Patti Kabulot of the Jamiri Faction ambushed the AFP in Barangay Baguindan, Tipo Tipo on Basilan Island. 2 guerillas were killed in the 45 minute fire fight, one of which was Kabulot himself. A third was captured alive along with two M16s and one RPG, along with two RPG shells.
January 14, in Sitio Fuente, Barangay Sapa Bulag, Sumisip on Basilan Island, Cpl.Haber Akil of the 32IB (32nd Infantry Battalion) was en route to Tumahubong from Isabela City on a motorcycle while on duty. A sniper took his life with a shot to the chest.
January 19, in Sitio Kurellem, Barangay Silangkum, Tipo Tipo on Basilan Island, ASG Factional Leader Nurhusin Jamiri was with at least 50 gunmen when the 4th Scout Rangers Battalion, COY (Company) 13 accidentally found him while scouring the sector. In the ensuing fire fight 1 Scout Ranger was critically wounded and died after being helicoptered out to Zamboanga City for treatment.
January 21 in Barangay Macalang, al Barka, the 4th Scout Rangers Battalion entered a recently abandoned ASG Camp where they discovered 2 IEDs (though not primed as booby traps, merely being stored after manufacture), 50 grammes of ammonium nitrate (an ingredient in IED payloads) and 14 rounds of M60 (large crew fired weapon) ammunition. The camp wad comprised of 4 "nipas" (single roomed bamboo framed palm thatched huts, the average home in the Philippines) that could have held 20 men. The camp was discovered by accident during a scour (meter by meter search within established co-ordinates).
Barangay Maclang is 1 of several al Barka barangays whose residents have fled en masse during the afore mentioned tactical push against ASG. Roughly 6,000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons, aka"Refugees") from Barangays Macalang, Danapa and Ka'ilih took refuge in and around Danapa Elementary School in the barangay of the same name. As Febuary began the AFP and LGU (Local Government Unit tried their best to persuade the terrified villagers to go back to their homes and farms but to no avail. Almost all refused to move back home or even tend their farms for as long as the AFP continued its tactical operations in the town.
On February 12 in Barangay Baiwas in Sumisip, Basilan, the 4th Scout Rangers Battalion launched a direct assault on the camp of ASG sub-Kumander Juhaiber"Abu Kiks"Alamsirul of the Janatul Faction. The operation, which began at daybreak was difficult as the camp clings to a very steep mountainside but was deemed high priority after receiving intelligence that the factional leader, Kumander Radzmil Janatul had stayed there overnight with 30 of his best men. A single platoon under Captain Daet was all that Task Force Headquarters could muster on such short notice though all things considered, a platoon of Scout Rangers are worth at least 2 companies of regular AFP Infantrymen (a platoon averages 30 men while a company nets 100 to 120 men). The attack lasted until 3 hours, until 730AM and left 2 soldiers dead, 5 wounded. Upon ASG withdrawing the Scout Rangers entered the camp and secured it, discovering 7 earthen bunkers.
On March 06 in Barangay Santa Barbara, Isabela City, Basilan, PNP PO1 (PNP officers are ranked by a 1,2 or 3 depending upon their seniority, with "1" being the lowest rank equivalent to a "Private" in the Army,with "PO" signifying "Police Officer") Dennis Aquino, Barangay Captain Noel Mirasol and 3 Barangay Kagawads (Barangay Councillors) were walking through the barangay when they were ambushed by snipers. Mirasol and Aquino were critically wounded as the 3 Barangay Kagawads returned fire and killed 2 of the gunmen, epononymously named Baljubir and Nadjar.Though the officials were Cebuanos and Chavacanos (non-Muslim) and the gunmen were Muslim there are rumours that this didn't involve ASG per se and wasn't even political in nature. Aquino and Mirasol are said to be neck deep in the drug trade and since this is the Southern Philippines "drugs" are synonymous with "Shabu," highly pure smokable methamphetamine.
March 09, an IED placed inside a triksiad (ubiqitous form of Philippine public transport constructed out of a motorcycle dirt bike with an aluminum body constructed around it, inside of which there are 2 bench seats hold passengers) detonated as a group of triksiads idled in front of the Sulu Peovincial Board of Education building in Jolo City, on Jolo Island. The blast, timed for afternoon rush hour killed 5 drivers and wounded 11, including passerby. The blast seems to have been aimed for a PNP transport carrying a detachment of SAF (Special Action Force, the PNP's Special Operations element) which had just passed by when detonation occurred. The group of drivers were parked against the fence around Salih Ututalum Elementary School where 2 men were immediately killed. The other 3 deaths occurred during treatment at a nearby hospital. The initial 2 fatalities are unidentifiable because of the damage to their bodies from the powerful blast. The 3 men who died during treatment are:
1) Habir Sabri
2) Abdulmajid Ibrahim
3) Aleson Ma'ing
On that same day, March 09 the AFP threw all progress they had made thus far in 2011 out the proverbial window when they played the "Keystone Cops, Philippine Style" in an episode we will call, "Sacol Island: Whose on First?" In a Top Secret Operation so hush hush that Secretary of National Defense Voltaire Gazmin had no idea it was even planned, never mind dumbfounded LGUs who have been railing against this breech of protocol.
Acting upon intelligence that ASG-Basilan Factional Leader Khair Mundos was ensconced on an isolated tract on Sacol Island, possibly wit the other major factional leader on Basilan, Nurhusin Jamiri, the AFP's TF Basilan launched a massive air/amphibious operation. Using Hueys (helicopters) to insert Airborne soldiers from 3rd Special Forces Battalion, covered by 2 MG-529s (helicopter gunships) on the far side of the very small islet. On the tract where ASG was supposed to be dug in, those Gun Ships softened the ground with 8 missiles launched as the soldiers were scouring from the other coast. The problem however is that that ASG "camp"? The one containing Khair Mundos and Nurhusin Jamiri? It was an empty mangrove. If ASG had ever been there they weren't now. Sadly it took the AFP NINE HOURS to discover they were killing...a...MANGROVE. I need to also add that the missile strikes were supposed to be kilometers away from the nearest civilians but residents of Barangay Landang Laum note that the strikes hit mere meters from their village which abuts that mangrove. Perhaps the AFP should be happy people are laughing at them as opposed to calling them "mass murderers."
March 17 the AFP seems to have caught with its pants down AGAIN. Scout Rangers set a cross fire ambush along a main road to try and interdict ASG. It ended up instead critically wounding a PNP (Pgilippine National Police) officer who was operating a motorcycle and his civilian passenger. In its own defence the Scout Ranger Team in question claimed it had thought the motorcycle was carrying Barangay Captain Nat Haddalam, a member of ASG. In other words, the AFP's elite units see the need to lay a cross fire ambush rather than to try and LAWFULLY stop and arrest the subject they were after. Even more disgustingly, both men on the motorcycle were shot in the back!
On Saturday, March 19 off of Menes Island, part of the island municipality of Hadji Panglima Tahil, formerly known as "Marunggas," yet another case of "Ambak Pare" took place. The phrase is Cebuano and idiomatically is akin to, "You better jump dude!" It denotes piracy, almost always by ASG, where if you aren't kidnapped you are told, "Ambak Pare!" It is prevalent on Mindanao's southwestern coast and Zamboanga Peninsula. Less often it happens like Saturday's case, in the Sulu archipelago and Tawi Tawi, the Philippines' southern most island. This last case revolved around the typical ASG extortion aimed at small to medium sized fishing companies. The vessel "M/V Mega VIII" was manned by 3 men, who are missing:
1) Captain Renato Panisales
2) Wennie Ferrer
3) Jonald Ocsimar
The 3 men were initially believed to have been killed but 2 days after their disappearance the Jamiri Jawari Faction of ASG made contact with the fishing company and demanded 10 Million Pesos in Ransom. From then until March 31 nothing else was known though the AFP concentrated its search in and around the factional territory near the municipality of Patikul on Jolo Island. On the day in question, March 31, the military entered an outlying barangay within Patikul and came under fire from Abu Sayyaf. During intence fighting the AFP killed 3 guerillas but failed to sight the 3 captives. When ASG withdrew from the village 50 minutes later the soldiers found the Seaman Book (a work permit issued to maritime workers) issued to the fishing boat captain, Renato Panisales. As for the island municipality where this incident initially took place, took place, Hadji Panglima Tahil, the town is spread out over several tiny islets and is an MNLF-Misuari Faction stronghold now mainly populated by MNLF guerillas who sought land after the 1996 Final Peace Agreement. Led by Kumander Elol Salim, the 417 guerillas now put their energy into an abalome co-operative and a seaweed farming operation funded by ELAP (Emergency Livlihood Assistance Program) and its evolved form, LEAP (Livlihood Enhancement and Peace Pogrsmme). LEAP is funded by USAID's GEM (Growth with Equity in Mindanao), a programme meant to help de-programme MNLF guerillas.
On Monday, March 21 ASG's Jamiri Faction kidnapped yet another person on Basilan Island. At 130 AM Rolando de la Cruz, caretaker for "Cawley Resturant" on Aguinaldo Street, Barangay Matibay, Lamitan City, was checking for intruders after his dogs began barking excitedly. As the 44 year old man stepped into the compound he was confronyed by ASG guerillas under sub-Kumander Ustadz Salim Tado. The kidnapper's forced de la Cruz into his own vehicle and sped off in the direction of that city's Barangay Bulanting. It was in that barangay's Sitio Libi that the SUV was found on fire. However, by early that evening the 32IB had brought that band of guerillas to heel and rather than be caught themselves the kidnappers simply release Mr.de la Cruz. It is a standard ASG diversionary tactic and for better or for worse there is an unwritten but well understood rule between the AFP and ASG. IF ASG releases a kidnapping victim without having harmed him or her the AFP allows a route for escape and does not attack. After being released by ASG in Barangay Sinulatan, Tuburan at 520PM the 32IB gave the kidnappers an hour to fully withdraw and so they recovered the victim alive and well at 620PM.
Ironically the kidnapping coincides with US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr's visit to the region. Arriving in Zamboanga City on the March 21 he will next head across the strait to Basilan and then to Jolo City where he will take part in a ceremony marking the US grant of more than 1 million US Dollars (23,000 Pesos) to local NGO, "LPDR" (Literacy for Peace and Development).
March 28, 2011 saw the closure of a case that had been vexing Philippine authorities for almost a decade. Javanese bomb expert Umar"Mike"Patek of the Indonesian terrorist organisation Jemaya'a Islamiyya ("JI"). Having been arrested by Pakistan's "Inter-Services Intelligence Agency" on information provided by the CIA (American Intelligence, isn't THAT an oxymoron?).For nearly a decade JI and ASG have been nearly synonymous with one another, ever since the aftermath of JI's "Bali Bombing." Patek, and by extension JI's first involvement with ASG first took place in 1995 when he arrived in Mindanao to relieve Nasir bin Abas as the CO (Commanding Officer" of JI's "Mantiki III," the label applied to the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. In 1999 he returned to Jakarta and assumed a leadership role as the group began laying the ground work needed for the "Bali Bombing." The attack, which eventually transpired in 2002. The act killed 202 people, nearly half of them Australian, and thereby turned JI into the posterboy of SE Asian Terrorism. An international manhunt began with several relatively high ranking members choosing to capitalise on a long standing relationship with Mindanao and the Muslims living here. It was a natural thing to do given the common Malay ancestry, common physical appearance and of course, a common faith.
JI members like Patek, and his brother-in-law Joko"Dulmatin"Pitoyo originally came to teach at an MILF "academy" in a now defunct jungle stronghold, "Camp Hudaibiyah." Located in Pawas, Maguindanao, it trained MILF, ASG AND JI members. It was in Hudaibiyah that the 2 JI leaders would cultivate relationships and teach both ASG AND MILF members how to manufacture technically proficient IEDs.
After the bombing in Bali, in 2002, the Indonesian authorities, aided by Australian law enforcement began a relentless manhunt for not only the bombers but all Islamo-fascists in general. Patek decided to travel with Dulmatin north to Mindanao. With authorities all over the region on the look out this latest trip would have to take place off the grid; The Southern Philippines (Mindanao and its outlying island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi Tawi) have regional agreements concerning unfettered travel between ialands, regardless of international borders. One can take a ferry, freighter or fishing boat between Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. There is no need for Immigration OR Customs, one simply disembarks and isn't questioned or impeded. Still, it takes a bit of knowhow in choosing which craft from whatever port and so the duo had an acquaintance from the Islamo-fascist organisation "Darul Islam" to guide them on their journey north. The man chosen, Arham (a.k.a."Arnoldl) was a . Arriving in mid-2003 the duo immediately returned to Maguindanao Province and Camp Hudaibiyah.
Though their old protector, the MILF's Kumamder Abu Badrin Badruddin welcomed the 2 men back to Central Mindanao things had changed drastically. Since the Indonesians had left in 1999 the MILF had been badly beaten, almost to the point of destruction, during then President Estrada's "All Out War on the MILF." The war, in 2000, had been precipitated by an attack by an MILF unit on the town of Kauswagan in Lanao del Norte Province. Occupying the Christian town in a show of strength the MILF hadn't been aware that that AFP AOR (Area of Responsibility) had received a Brigade strength deployment of Marines just 4 hours prior. Without even unpacking their kitbags the Marines rushed to Kauswagan from their new base in Cagayan del Oro City in the adjacent province of Misamis Oriental and freed the town by midnite. From that quick victory Estrada, capitalising on its momentum added 2 entire Infantry Divisions and in a pincer move began advancing up Narciso Ramos National Hiway from both its terminuses, clearing all MILF positions as they went. Within 3 months the government forces reached Camp Abubakar, the MILF nerve center, and leveled it. So total was the victory that Estrada himself hurried south by private jet and then helicoptered into Camp Abubakar in order to personally host a pigroast and beerbash. Edtrada's choice of refreshments being highly symbolic in what was here to fore a bastion of Islamic Power on the island. The President swilling beer and chewing pork cracklings in the MILF Central Mosque had its intended effect, the MILF almost collapsed.
In the nearly 3 years since, MILF Kumanders like Badruddin had reorganised their forces into highly mobile formationd known as "Base Commands" and operated without much of a power structure above them. This essentially meant that Patek and Dulmatin were incredibly vulnerable despite Camp Hudaibiyah having managed to survive largely unscathed within the impenetrable Ligusan Marsh. Within months of the pair's arrival the MILF came under intense political pressure from the Philippine Government.
In the Philippines it is the military that runs the country. Though Estrada's guidance had led to a massive victory for the AFP in the 2000 War, his corruption had reached epic proportions. This became the impetus for a strong faction within the Army to forment a coup to install then Vice President Gloria M.Arroyo in the Presidential Palace. Almost immediately after seizing power President Arroyo sought to solidify her position by reaching a Peace Agreement with at least 1 of the several insurgencies plagueing the nation. She decided that the MILF presented the strongest chance for a successful outcome. After enlisting the aid of Malaysia to Facilitate these Talks she and the MILF began aggressively negotiating. Just after the Indonesian's arrival in Mindanao the Philippine Government turned its attentions towards Camp Hudaibaya after Australian Intelligence ascertained that members of Indonesian terror groups (JI, Darul Islam, KOMPAK) and leaned on the MILF to shutter the encampment.
It was in mid-2004 then that Patel and Dulmatin took refuge with the Khadaffi Janjalani Faction of ASG on Basilan. On Basilan the conditions were deplorable, trekking deep in the isolated bush, always being pursued by the AFP and so by 2005 they had sailed south with part of the Janjalani Faction, taking refuge on Jolo Island with the Sadhiron Faction of ASG. From that point there are highly conflicting reports on his whereabouts. Readers might recall that in my ASG entry for the last quarter of 2010 that pundits were getting hot and bothered as they challenged each others' view concerning Patek's latest whereabouts. Some thought he was still in Sulu Province, others in Tawi Tawi Province (supported by a video of him there though not dated in any way), while others had him in Pakistan. Lo and behold, Pakistan was correct. No word on who gets to collect a 10 Million US Bounty.
Finally this quarter, just after New Year, skeletal remains of a decapitated male waa found in a cave in the hills above Tipo Tipo, in that municipality's Barangay Kabug Pababag. Forensics are being formed with American assistance to try and determine the identity of the deceased.
Abu Sayyaf Interdiction for the First Quarter of 2011
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Thursday, March 17, 2011
MILF Armed Engagements,First Quarter 2011
Of course the biggest news this quarter, by far, is the revolt against the MILF Central Committee by Ustadz Ameril Ombra Kato, much better known as the infamous "Kumander Kato." Kato, the Commanding Officer of the MILF's largest and most powerful Base Command, the 105th, has formally seperated from the MILF in a move I predicted in my last MILF entries for 2010. His new organisation, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, or "BIFF" is a force tp reckon with. BIFF is also central to the second leading topic related to the MILF, the GRP-MILF Peace Process. Both those very important issues fully deserve their own entries and so I will relegate this entry to discussion of MILF Contacts. For those unaware, a "Contact" is any armed confrontation between a targeted entity, in this cade the MILF, and any oppositional force.
On January 09,2011 in the municipality of Kabacan in North Cotabato Province, the MILF's Datu Kineg Imalang, much better know as "Kumander Kinang" ruined the lives of almost eight thousand people, par for the course when it comes to the MILF. Kumander Kinang is not formally a member of the BIAF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. The BIAF is the armed wing of the MILF. Most people are unaware that the BIAF even exists because when politicians and the media discuss the BIAF they refer to it as the MILF which is the name of the parent organisation, the political wing of the movement. Kinang is a member of the MILF, the MILF Governor for that part of North Cotabato Province since the MILF runs a well entrenched parallel government within most of its AOR (Area of Responsibility, synonymous with Area of Operations for all intencive purposes).
The MILF "Province" in question is named "Kapalawan," and Kinang is quite active in local affairs. His chief enforcer is his son,"Kumander Nano" of the BIAF. Unfortunately for the municipality of Kabacan it lies well within the Kapalawan AOR. In 2010 Kumamder Kineg set his sights on a very valuable tract of arable land spanning 2 of Kabacan's upcountry barangays, Nanga'an and Semone, and extending onto an adjacent mountain. Roughly 1,000 hectares, quite abit of money is at stake. Complicating Kineg's greedy plans however is the fact that a very strong MNLF-EC15 Kumander has a conflicting claim on the tract. The MNLF-EC15's Kumander Datu Dimalao"Aladin" Ambil has staked an earlier claim, though both say nothing about the local Lumad Tribe (Hill Tribe), the Semone Manobo who hold the tract under a CAD (Certificate of Ancestral Domain).
Though the fracas began in September, 2010 with the appearance of MILF Kumander Taya"Hanibbal"Abubakr on Bundok Marupayag, the issue first came to a head on October 06, 2010, on the afore mentioned mountain, Bundok Marupayag (Mt.Marupayag, or Mt.Eel, as in the fish). Actually beginning as a rido (Clan Feud) based conflict over an internal MILF issue. Kumander Kineg's father, Datu Amal Kugaw was shot to death by 3 MILF Kumanders, one of who is a member of the Pedtamanan Clan on April 05,1988. The actual shooter's son, Noel Pedtamanan is currently a low ranking BIAF guerilla. After the killing, almost 3 decades ago, the MILF Islamic Court (Shari'a Court) ruled that no Pedtamanan Clansman could enter the uplands of North Cotabato Province, i.e."Kapalawan." The rationale being that a separation of 2 large constituent clans in the MILF would stave off rido (Clan Feud) so that the MILF Islamic Court could adjudicate the case properly. The MILF of course is far from efficient and so the case has languished all these years. In the Court's defence, there have been 3 "wars" since the initial Ruling, "Estrada 2000," "Bunliok Complex 2003" and "MoA 2008-2009."
The 3 BIAF Kumanders charged with responsibility in the murder, the infamous "Jack" Abas (currently Kumander of the Mainlamd Mindanao Eastern Front of the BIAF), Taya"Hanibal"Abubakr (still an MILF Kumander but closely allied to MNLF-EC-15 Kumander Ambil) and...Sambuto Pendtamanan, father of the key actor in this case, Noel Pendtamanan. Ironically, it was Ambil who joined with Kineg in avenging Kineg's father's murder but who now is allied with 1 of the murderer's sons, Noel.
On the say in question, October 06, 2011,the afore mentioned BIAF guerilla Noel Pedtamanan crossed into "Kapalawan" AOR, atop Bundok Marupayag and linked up with BIAF sub-Kumander Matog Lumambas, aka "Kumander Cowboy." Lumambas was given the right to farm Semone Manobo Tribal lands atop the mountain by Manobo Datu Zamora Bandara in exchange for securing Manobo villages in that sector. On October 06 however MILF elements on the mountain began sniping at Manobo Tribesmen as they worked their abaca (hemp) plots, apparently for recreation. The sniping took place on and off until October 23 when Bagani Paramilitary (the word "Bagani" means "Warrior" and is used by NPA elements within the Southern Mindanao Regional Command, in the Davao Region,but this particular paramilitary is pro-Government, created by the Armed Forces of the Philippines under its Oplan Alsa Lumad, aka Operational Plan Hill Tribes Arise, the cornerstone of the Mindanowan COIN Programme) entered the sector and ensconced atop the mountain. A Bagani Blocking Force dug in at Sitios Demahuok and Malambeg in the neighbouring municipality of Matalam's Barangay Temped #2, also in North Cotabato Province and within the MILF's Kapalawan AOR.
Ironically Kineg had managed to establish a working relationship with the Bagani who are based over the border of Bukidnon Province, probably because the Bagani operated outside of any MILF-BIAF AOR. Kineg conferred with the Bagani Commanding Officer, Datu Ongelio "Bungalos" Mandatem and according to Bagani sources provided logistical support, aware that a Pedatamanan Clansman had contravened the agreed upon boundry issued by the MILF Islamic Court.
Between the end of October and New Year things were relatively calm although there were occaisonal trade offs of sniper fire on the mountain. In the interim additional Bagani Blocking Forces ensconced in the Barangays of Semone and Nanga'an in Kabacan, sometimes in conjunction with forces under BIAF sub-Kumander Nano, Kineg's son. Before daylight on January 09,2011 things got much worse. Kineg's son, BIAF sub-Kumander Nano directly joined the fray, linking with the Bagani still under Datu Bungalos. The joint force ascended the mountain on all sides and over ran Kumamder Cowboy's position, killing 2 of Cowboy's BIAF guerillas in the process. At 9AM that day the Bagani Blocking Force at a position situated directly on the border of Barangays Semone and Nanga'an was assaulted by an MILF element under Kumander Cowboy's Clansman, Salem Lumambas who approached through Barangay Semone. In Semone they linked up with a much larger force of MNLF under Kumander Datu Dimalao"Aladin" Ambil and surged forward. This full scale assault caused the terrified population of Barangay Semone to flee for their lives. All 673 families sought asylum in the municipality of Carmen, across the flooding Pulangi River (the Rio Grande de Cotabato headwaters). Setting up tarps in Carmen's upland barangays of Lanoon and Pebpuluan, they badly taxed the meagre resources of the already impovershed villagers living on that side of the Pulangi.
On January 27 fighting spread to Barangay Nanga'an when sub-Kumander Salem Lumambas' forces pushed through the Bagani/MILF lines. The result was that barangay's population of 600 families fled in batches until on January 28 only gunmen were left there, busy in house to house fighting. The IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons,aka "Refugees") from both barangays had by this time overwhelmed Carmen and were now encamped along National Hiway in Barangays Kayaga and Lumayong.
Later the next day, January 29, a high ranking delegation from the MNLF-EC15 was deployed to try and convince Datu Ambil to enter into a ceasefire. Trying to earn brownie points the MNLF-Misuari also deployed a small team to do the same later that night but to no avail. The MNLF-EC15, under delegation leader Romeo Sema, the brother of MNLF-EC15 Chairman Muslaman Sema (the Vice Moyor of Cotabato who is currently embroiled in a KFR Case which I will post about soon) was able to get Ambil to sign a letter to the MILF Central Committee in which Ambil stated his terms, which included that 1,000 hectare tract (he has already been soliciting "investors" for a palm oil plantation there). For its part, the MILF Central Committee delegation under Spokesman Eid Kabalu had begun parlezing with Kineg on January 12 but to no avail. The MNLF-EC15 and MILF, without talking to the combatants, decided amongst themselves to hold a joint meeting on February 06 to discuss the ceasefire and create a mechanism with which to jointly enforce it. Of course that is oh so typical of the MILF, waiting a week to talk peace as thousands of civilians suffer as refugees.
Ambil told Romeo Sema, and anyone who will listen that he wasn't trying to exert a claim on the tract for personal gain but rather because he intends to re-distribute the lands to "the people." Not saying word one about the Semone Manobo who have lived on the tract for hundreds of years until Muslims tried dispossesing them Ambil obviously uses "people" as a code word for "my family."
Although February 03 saw an unexpected flareup that killed a combined total of 13 guerillas. Not much took place at the February 06 meeting between the MILF Central Committee and the MNLF-EC15 but after the recent deaths both actors (Kineg and Ambil) expressed a willingness to ratchet down the conflict. However, the very next day, February 07 hostilities erupted again. While no guerillas were killed 6 non-combatants were, including a 4 year old child, Lala Dalamanan. All 6 were sleeping in their nipa (a bamboo framed palm thatched dwelling, 1 room, most common type of house on the island). Ironically the family had built it next to an IDP centre, thinking that to be the safest place. Fighting contimued in spurts until on February 26 the Mayor of Kabacan, George Tan managed to gain an agreement between Ambil and Kineg to stop the bloodshed. Though a significant number of guerillas and paramilitary soldiers were killed between February 07 and the 2fth I don't have exact figures yet so I will withold numbers until I'm sure. I haven't gotten information on further civilian casualties as well.
The fighting which included 60MM guns and 81MM and 60MM mortars destroyed much of those 2 barangays, What wasn't damaged was burned deliberately. Barangays Simbuhay also suffered significant destruction as well. The final IDP tally was 1,782 families though last week saw the last large group returning to rebuild. As if they didn't have a hard enough task as it was the town is the epicentre of a rodent population explosion with the rice crop now totally destroyed.
On January 09,2011 in the municipality of Kabacan in North Cotabato Province, the MILF's Datu Kineg Imalang, much better know as "Kumander Kinang" ruined the lives of almost eight thousand people, par for the course when it comes to the MILF. Kumander Kinang is not formally a member of the BIAF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. The BIAF is the armed wing of the MILF. Most people are unaware that the BIAF even exists because when politicians and the media discuss the BIAF they refer to it as the MILF which is the name of the parent organisation, the political wing of the movement. Kinang is a member of the MILF, the MILF Governor for that part of North Cotabato Province since the MILF runs a well entrenched parallel government within most of its AOR (Area of Responsibility, synonymous with Area of Operations for all intencive purposes).
The MILF "Province" in question is named "Kapalawan," and Kinang is quite active in local affairs. His chief enforcer is his son,"Kumander Nano" of the BIAF. Unfortunately for the municipality of Kabacan it lies well within the Kapalawan AOR. In 2010 Kumamder Kineg set his sights on a very valuable tract of arable land spanning 2 of Kabacan's upcountry barangays, Nanga'an and Semone, and extending onto an adjacent mountain. Roughly 1,000 hectares, quite abit of money is at stake. Complicating Kineg's greedy plans however is the fact that a very strong MNLF-EC15 Kumander has a conflicting claim on the tract. The MNLF-EC15's Kumander Datu Dimalao"Aladin" Ambil has staked an earlier claim, though both say nothing about the local Lumad Tribe (Hill Tribe), the Semone Manobo who hold the tract under a CAD (Certificate of Ancestral Domain).
Though the fracas began in September, 2010 with the appearance of MILF Kumander Taya"Hanibbal"Abubakr on Bundok Marupayag, the issue first came to a head on October 06, 2010, on the afore mentioned mountain, Bundok Marupayag (Mt.Marupayag, or Mt.Eel, as in the fish). Actually beginning as a rido (Clan Feud) based conflict over an internal MILF issue. Kumander Kineg's father, Datu Amal Kugaw was shot to death by 3 MILF Kumanders, one of who is a member of the Pedtamanan Clan on April 05,1988. The actual shooter's son, Noel Pedtamanan is currently a low ranking BIAF guerilla. After the killing, almost 3 decades ago, the MILF Islamic Court (Shari'a Court) ruled that no Pedtamanan Clansman could enter the uplands of North Cotabato Province, i.e."Kapalawan." The rationale being that a separation of 2 large constituent clans in the MILF would stave off rido (Clan Feud) so that the MILF Islamic Court could adjudicate the case properly. The MILF of course is far from efficient and so the case has languished all these years. In the Court's defence, there have been 3 "wars" since the initial Ruling, "Estrada 2000," "Bunliok Complex 2003" and "MoA 2008-2009."
The 3 BIAF Kumanders charged with responsibility in the murder, the infamous "Jack" Abas (currently Kumander of the Mainlamd Mindanao Eastern Front of the BIAF), Taya"Hanibal"Abubakr (still an MILF Kumander but closely allied to MNLF-EC-15 Kumander Ambil) and...Sambuto Pendtamanan, father of the key actor in this case, Noel Pendtamanan. Ironically, it was Ambil who joined with Kineg in avenging Kineg's father's murder but who now is allied with 1 of the murderer's sons, Noel.
On the say in question, October 06, 2011,the afore mentioned BIAF guerilla Noel Pedtamanan crossed into "Kapalawan" AOR, atop Bundok Marupayag and linked up with BIAF sub-Kumander Matog Lumambas, aka "Kumander Cowboy." Lumambas was given the right to farm Semone Manobo Tribal lands atop the mountain by Manobo Datu Zamora Bandara in exchange for securing Manobo villages in that sector. On October 06 however MILF elements on the mountain began sniping at Manobo Tribesmen as they worked their abaca (hemp) plots, apparently for recreation. The sniping took place on and off until October 23 when Bagani Paramilitary (the word "Bagani" means "Warrior" and is used by NPA elements within the Southern Mindanao Regional Command, in the Davao Region,but this particular paramilitary is pro-Government, created by the Armed Forces of the Philippines under its Oplan Alsa Lumad, aka Operational Plan Hill Tribes Arise, the cornerstone of the Mindanowan COIN Programme) entered the sector and ensconced atop the mountain. A Bagani Blocking Force dug in at Sitios Demahuok and Malambeg in the neighbouring municipality of Matalam's Barangay Temped #2, also in North Cotabato Province and within the MILF's Kapalawan AOR.
Ironically Kineg had managed to establish a working relationship with the Bagani who are based over the border of Bukidnon Province, probably because the Bagani operated outside of any MILF-BIAF AOR. Kineg conferred with the Bagani Commanding Officer, Datu Ongelio "Bungalos" Mandatem and according to Bagani sources provided logistical support, aware that a Pedatamanan Clansman had contravened the agreed upon boundry issued by the MILF Islamic Court.
Between the end of October and New Year things were relatively calm although there were occaisonal trade offs of sniper fire on the mountain. In the interim additional Bagani Blocking Forces ensconced in the Barangays of Semone and Nanga'an in Kabacan, sometimes in conjunction with forces under BIAF sub-Kumander Nano, Kineg's son. Before daylight on January 09,2011 things got much worse. Kineg's son, BIAF sub-Kumander Nano directly joined the fray, linking with the Bagani still under Datu Bungalos. The joint force ascended the mountain on all sides and over ran Kumamder Cowboy's position, killing 2 of Cowboy's BIAF guerillas in the process. At 9AM that day the Bagani Blocking Force at a position situated directly on the border of Barangays Semone and Nanga'an was assaulted by an MILF element under Kumander Cowboy's Clansman, Salem Lumambas who approached through Barangay Semone. In Semone they linked up with a much larger force of MNLF under Kumander Datu Dimalao"Aladin" Ambil and surged forward. This full scale assault caused the terrified population of Barangay Semone to flee for their lives. All 673 families sought asylum in the municipality of Carmen, across the flooding Pulangi River (the Rio Grande de Cotabato headwaters). Setting up tarps in Carmen's upland barangays of Lanoon and Pebpuluan, they badly taxed the meagre resources of the already impovershed villagers living on that side of the Pulangi.
On January 27 fighting spread to Barangay Nanga'an when sub-Kumander Salem Lumambas' forces pushed through the Bagani/MILF lines. The result was that barangay's population of 600 families fled in batches until on January 28 only gunmen were left there, busy in house to house fighting. The IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons,aka "Refugees") from both barangays had by this time overwhelmed Carmen and were now encamped along National Hiway in Barangays Kayaga and Lumayong.
Later the next day, January 29, a high ranking delegation from the MNLF-EC15 was deployed to try and convince Datu Ambil to enter into a ceasefire. Trying to earn brownie points the MNLF-Misuari also deployed a small team to do the same later that night but to no avail. The MNLF-EC15, under delegation leader Romeo Sema, the brother of MNLF-EC15 Chairman Muslaman Sema (the Vice Moyor of Cotabato who is currently embroiled in a KFR Case which I will post about soon) was able to get Ambil to sign a letter to the MILF Central Committee in which Ambil stated his terms, which included that 1,000 hectare tract (he has already been soliciting "investors" for a palm oil plantation there). For its part, the MILF Central Committee delegation under Spokesman Eid Kabalu had begun parlezing with Kineg on January 12 but to no avail. The MNLF-EC15 and MILF, without talking to the combatants, decided amongst themselves to hold a joint meeting on February 06 to discuss the ceasefire and create a mechanism with which to jointly enforce it. Of course that is oh so typical of the MILF, waiting a week to talk peace as thousands of civilians suffer as refugees.
Ambil told Romeo Sema, and anyone who will listen that he wasn't trying to exert a claim on the tract for personal gain but rather because he intends to re-distribute the lands to "the people." Not saying word one about the Semone Manobo who have lived on the tract for hundreds of years until Muslims tried dispossesing them Ambil obviously uses "people" as a code word for "my family."
Although February 03 saw an unexpected flareup that killed a combined total of 13 guerillas. Not much took place at the February 06 meeting between the MILF Central Committee and the MNLF-EC15 but after the recent deaths both actors (Kineg and Ambil) expressed a willingness to ratchet down the conflict. However, the very next day, February 07 hostilities erupted again. While no guerillas were killed 6 non-combatants were, including a 4 year old child, Lala Dalamanan. All 6 were sleeping in their nipa (a bamboo framed palm thatched dwelling, 1 room, most common type of house on the island). Ironically the family had built it next to an IDP centre, thinking that to be the safest place. Fighting contimued in spurts until on February 26 the Mayor of Kabacan, George Tan managed to gain an agreement between Ambil and Kineg to stop the bloodshed. Though a significant number of guerillas and paramilitary soldiers were killed between February 07 and the 2fth I don't have exact figures yet so I will withold numbers until I'm sure. I haven't gotten information on further civilian casualties as well.
The fighting which included 60MM guns and 81MM and 60MM mortars destroyed much of those 2 barangays, What wasn't damaged was burned deliberately. Barangays Simbuhay also suffered significant destruction as well. The final IDP tally was 1,782 families though last week saw the last large group returning to rebuild. As if they didn't have a hard enough task as it was the town is the epicentre of a rodent population explosion with the rice crop now totally destroyed.
Kidnap For Ransom,First Quarter 2011,Part II: Ceekim Gomonit and Olivia Angeles Barredo
Another victim from late 2010 has finally found his way home. The tragic story of 10 year old Ceekim Gomonit began on October 30, 2010. That evening Ceekim and his grandmother Nenia "Babet" Candil Gomonit were enjoying a relaxing couple of hours in front of the television in their Pagadian City home in Zamboanga del Sur Province. Early in the evening a group from the MILF's 113th Base Command kicked in their front door and dragged both family members into oblivion. Initially, as I alluded to in a prior entry on this case, authorities were stymied because unlike the 113th Base Command's usual modus operandi this group were all Cebuano (Bisaya) speakers and included a woman. The 113th Base Command are ethnic Maranaw (Maranao) and Iranun Tribesmen. To boot, Bisaya speakers are non-Muslims. This led some, including myself, to believe that the case may have been Rido (Clan Feud) based.
Unfortunately this was disproved by the discovery of the grandmother's corpse buried in a very shallow grave in the jungle just outside of the municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte Province. The town, which sits just over the border from Zamboanga is the main base of the 113th Base Command. The group exerts total control over the municipality and more over Mrs. Gomonit was buried according to Islamic Law (Shari'a). Her remains were discovered in November after her son, Ceekim's father, received an SMS (text message) from the kidnappers earlier that week. They had included an MMS (video text message) of Ceekim as Proof of Life during the on going ransom negotiations. Sadly the messages also included co-ordinates for the body.
Immediately after digging up the cadaver, the son who was there on site turned to the media and offered that this wasn't going to change his decision NOT to pay ransom. I won't presume to judge anyone under a clear state of duress but it takes a unique type of individual to take that stance as his own mother's rotting corpse lays beside him. Knowing that his own 10 year old son was STILL being held, probably in a bamboo cage, can only make one wonder what goes through such a man's head. He closed out that media soundbite by telling the reporter that he was merely doing what his mother would have wanted him to do.
Fast forward to Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 8AM. 10 year old Ceekim was blindfolded, transported to Cotabato City and released in an empty lot in Barangay Mother. Having been given money and written instructions he made his way bravely to the city's Jeepney Terminal and took a passenger van directly to Pagadian City, arriving at that city's Jeepney Terminal at 230PM. He then made his way via triksiad (ubiqitous form of public transport here in the Philippines) to his extended family's home in Sunrise Village, a subdivision within the municipality's Barangay Tiguma.
March 03, 2011, just hours after Maricris Quatrocruz was released by the MILF's 113th Base Command, another victim was snatched into incognito. 36 year old Olivia Angeles Barrero, like Maricris, is a resident of Zamboanga City. At 615PM,having just left the pharmacy run by her family in the city's Barangay Labuan, Mrs. Barredo was with her husband next to their SUV when she was approached by 2 men riding tandem on a single Honda motorcycle. Stopping to answer a question she and her husband were quickly boxed in by several gunmen who quickly drove up in 2 SUVs. As Olivia screamed at startled bystanders she was dragged into 1 of the sports utility vehicles which then sped off towards the shoreline. Her husband, who had bravely tried to save her was unscathed by the 3 rounds fired at him by the fleeing kidnappers. At the shoreline, as she was being carried from the SUV to an idling pump boat (small motorised craft) her screaming drew the attention of a Barangay Tanod (an armed guard employed by the barangay). The Tanod, accompanied by a large group of residents rushed to aid her. Although the boat had already shoved off the mob did manage to capture 2 of the kidnappers, both MILF guerillas, who were turned over to Zamboanga City PNP (Philippine National Police) after having been beaten severely.
The pump boat was soon joined by 2 other pump boats and all 3 were seen heading towards the municipality of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte Province. As of posting Mrs. Barrero is still being held although ransom negotiations are on going. The 2 captured guerillas, Abdulsalih Esmsail Mindoon and Zaldy Daing Mindoon were both found with 45 caliber pistols and are being held in Zamboanga City Jail.
Unfortunately this was disproved by the discovery of the grandmother's corpse buried in a very shallow grave in the jungle just outside of the municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte Province. The town, which sits just over the border from Zamboanga is the main base of the 113th Base Command. The group exerts total control over the municipality and more over Mrs. Gomonit was buried according to Islamic Law (Shari'a). Her remains were discovered in November after her son, Ceekim's father, received an SMS (text message) from the kidnappers earlier that week. They had included an MMS (video text message) of Ceekim as Proof of Life during the on going ransom negotiations. Sadly the messages also included co-ordinates for the body.
Immediately after digging up the cadaver, the son who was there on site turned to the media and offered that this wasn't going to change his decision NOT to pay ransom. I won't presume to judge anyone under a clear state of duress but it takes a unique type of individual to take that stance as his own mother's rotting corpse lays beside him. Knowing that his own 10 year old son was STILL being held, probably in a bamboo cage, can only make one wonder what goes through such a man's head. He closed out that media soundbite by telling the reporter that he was merely doing what his mother would have wanted him to do.
Fast forward to Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 8AM. 10 year old Ceekim was blindfolded, transported to Cotabato City and released in an empty lot in Barangay Mother. Having been given money and written instructions he made his way bravely to the city's Jeepney Terminal and took a passenger van directly to Pagadian City, arriving at that city's Jeepney Terminal at 230PM. He then made his way via triksiad (ubiqitous form of public transport here in the Philippines) to his extended family's home in Sunrise Village, a subdivision within the municipality's Barangay Tiguma.
March 03, 2011, just hours after Maricris Quatrocruz was released by the MILF's 113th Base Command, another victim was snatched into incognito. 36 year old Olivia Angeles Barrero, like Maricris, is a resident of Zamboanga City. At 615PM,having just left the pharmacy run by her family in the city's Barangay Labuan, Mrs. Barredo was with her husband next to their SUV when she was approached by 2 men riding tandem on a single Honda motorcycle. Stopping to answer a question she and her husband were quickly boxed in by several gunmen who quickly drove up in 2 SUVs. As Olivia screamed at startled bystanders she was dragged into 1 of the sports utility vehicles which then sped off towards the shoreline. Her husband, who had bravely tried to save her was unscathed by the 3 rounds fired at him by the fleeing kidnappers. At the shoreline, as she was being carried from the SUV to an idling pump boat (small motorised craft) her screaming drew the attention of a Barangay Tanod (an armed guard employed by the barangay). The Tanod, accompanied by a large group of residents rushed to aid her. Although the boat had already shoved off the mob did manage to capture 2 of the kidnappers, both MILF guerillas, who were turned over to Zamboanga City PNP (Philippine National Police) after having been beaten severely.
The pump boat was soon joined by 2 other pump boats and all 3 were seen heading towards the municipality of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte Province. As of posting Mrs. Barrero is still being held although ransom negotiations are on going. The 2 captured guerillas, Abdulsalih Esmsail Mindoon and Zaldy Daing Mindoon were both found with 45 caliber pistols and are being held in Zamboanga City Jail.
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