25 year old Alexander "Alex" Lim was spending June 8th much as he always did, supervising construction projects undertaken by the family firm, D L Construction. Based in Misamis Occidental Province's municipality of Ozamiz City, the company concentrates on Government projects such as the rehabilitation of Narciso Ramos National Hiway. In fact, it was that particular job that occupied Alex's mind that morning as he left the company compound. Driving the company's Toyota Fortuner was Alex's driver, Edgar Gomez. Along for the ride was Engineer Boyet "Henry" Alumbra, a private consultant contracted by the Government who was travelling with the pair in order to inspect D L's latest work on the road project. The trio planned to spend the morning inspecting work across the provincial line, in Lanao del Norte Province's town of Linamon. The company had just finished paving a stretch from that municipality's Barangay Samboron leading into the outskirts of Iligan City. Then, afterward, they planned to drop Mr.Alumbra off in the next province of Misamis Oriental, so that he could sign off on the work at the Regional DPWH, or Department of Public Works and Highways Office in Cagayan del Oro City.
By 925AM the group had entered Linamon and were just about to reach their destination in Barangay Samboron when they fell into line at a joint LTO/PNP (Land Transportation Office/Philippine National Police) checkpoint. As the SUV inched forward the three men hadn't noticed five men, all pointing M16s and in uniform surrounding their vehicle. Ordered to exit their vehicle the three were shunted towards a black Toyota Tamaraw FX and ordered to climb in. As two of the gunmen got into the D L Construction SUV the two vehicles left Linamon heading south.
Crossing the border into Lanao del Sur Province the two vehicles entered the municipality of Balo-i. Suddenly the vehicles pulled over in front of Balo-i Elementary School and after divesting him of his personal identification ordered Mr.Alumbra out and ordered him not to report the kidnapping to anyone lest they have to re-visit him under less amicble circumstances. Driving through Balo-i the vehicles again pulled over after entering Barangay Sarip Alawi. This time it was Mr.Gomez who was ordered out of the Tamaraw after being given that same threatening warning. Now only holding Mr.Lim the 2 vehicles proceeded on into Marawi City. On the edge of town the two vehicles pulled over once again. After setting the D L Construction SUV on fire the two gunmen who had occupied it got into the Tamaraw and drove with Mr.Lim into captivity.
From the typically ridiculous first demand of P20 Million ($475,000) negotiations for Mr. Lim's ransom ended up progressing very smoothly until, on July 9th, 2011 a representative of Lim's father handed over 1.5 Million Pesos ($33,000). On July 11th Alexander "Alex" Lim was released in the municipality of Saguiaran in Lanao del Sur Province.
Co-incidentally, this is the specific KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom that the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines' Colonel Daniel Lucero, Commanding Officer of the 103rd Brigade, has used as his rationale in pinning all recent KFRs within his AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation") on the Kuratong Baleng. As I noted in at least one recent KFR entry the Kuratong were a paramilitary, from Ozamiz City, who were co-opted by the AFP in the early-1980s in its COIN, or Counterinsurgency struggle against the NPA. After the group's de-activation at the end of the 1980s they fissured into roving criminal bands, almost all of whom operated on Luzon and to a lesser extent in the Visayas Region. Even if they were still in existence, and they are not, they could never operate in Muslim-dominated Lanao del Sur Province. They were Bisaya.
Showing posts with label 103 Brigade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 103 Brigade. Show all posts
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom for the Second Quarter of 2011, Part IX: Camal Tocal
On June 11th, 2011 after spending a rewarding but tiring day visiting his clan in his boyhood home of Barangay Bacolod I in the municipality of Lumba-Bayabao in Lanao del Sur Province 37 year old businessman Camal Tocal was relieved to be heading home to Marawi City. Looking at his wife Rocma beside him and in the rear view mirror at his 12 year old son Jabber and 11 year old daughter Rohaima he must have marvelled at how far apart their lives in Marawi's Barangay Wawalayan Marinaut were from his own hardscrabble youth in a rural settlement beset by open warfare. Perhaps he also began to wonder if their 35 year old yaya, or nanny would be required for much longer. In another year both his children would be high school students.
As Tocal's red Mazda 6-7 sped down Narciso Ramos National Hiway and crossed into Marawi's Barangay Gadongan a battered white pickup truck quickly passed him before swerving in front of him and making him slam on his brakes. As he sat there in utter shock six men poured out of the truck with M16s and surrounded Tocal's vehicle. Brusquely opening the driver's side door two of the gunmen grabbed Mr.Tocal and dragged him into the cab of the pickup truck. The other gunmen then rifled through Tocal's Mazda and his wife's purse taking anything of value before running back towards the idling pickup truck and then speeding off in the opposite direction, back out of Marawi City and towards the municipality of Marantao.
Looking at the clock in the automobile's dashboard Mrs.Tocal saw that the attack had only taken minutes. Having glanced at the clock just before the car had screeched to a halt she remembered having seen it read 1228PM. Now it had barely passed 1232, in four minutes all their lives had changed forever. Collecting herself she borrowed the cellphone of a good samaritan who had stopped to help what he had first believed to be a stranded motorist. Doing what someone should NEVER do the shaken woman dialed the number of the Marawi City CPO, or City Police office and reported a kidnapping.
Recording the time received as 1240PM the CPO quickly alerted the town of Marantao's MPO, or Municipal Police Office and asked it to implement a Blocking Force in that municipality's Barangay Maul, both on the hiway and just off it on any access roads. Meanwhile the Marawi City CPO also scrambled its own chase cars for a hot pursuit. At just after 1PM a Marawi City CPO vehicle spotted the pickup truck crossing the cityline into Marantao and the chase was on. At about that same time the pickup truck carrying the gunmen and Mr.Tocal ran right through a Blocking Force checkpoint on the hiway and turmed down a side road. With both Marawi City AND Marantao police vehicles in high speed pursuit the kidnappers' truck made a run for it. Unfortunately for them though they clipped a Mitsubishi L300 passenger van as they attempted to pass it at a very high rate of speed.
Aside from superficially injuring all the van's passengers it almost sent the pickup truck careening into an irrigation canal. Regaining traction the truck again picked up speed but the near collision had allowed some of the pursuing police vehicles to close the gap quite a bit. Two of the kidnappers in the bed of the pickup truck then engaged their pursuers, intermittingly firing their M16s. Though no police were wounded the two gunmen themselves were not as fortunate:
1) Jonivy "Joni" Sarabia Diaz, age 20, of Iligan City in the neighbouring province of Lanao del Norte
2) Jamil "Mel Mel" Bubong Macadato, age 26 of Marawi City
were both moderately wounded by return fire. Though both men were far from death they were covered in blood and going into shock. Shortly after the exchange of gunfire the pickup truck was lost in the maze of jungle trails on the outskirts of Marantao. Thinking the two wounded men were close to dying their confederates dumped them onto the side of the road where police, later scouring the sector, recovered them and brought them to a hospital in Marawi City. On June 13th both men were charged both in the KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom and Robbery as well as with the near collision with the Mitsubishi L300 passenger van and the injuries inflicted upon its passengers. However, whatever grain of intelligence both men MIGHT have produced was not forthcoming as neither one agreed to co-operate.
Having been counseled by those wiser than herself Mrs.Tocal broke off all contact with all law enforcement and the military and instead left it in the hands of her husband's clan. The Tocal Clan then employed the services of Mangombaya Mamasaranao to negotiate a reasonable ransom. On June 20th a ransom (undisclosed sum) was turned over to the representatives of the kidnappers and on June 21st Camal Tocal was released by his captors inside a courtyard on the Marawi City Campus of MSU, or Mindanao State University. That last fact is a bit ironic given the rash of KFRs targeting staff and students of the school. Though the university has made progress since the days when they hired KFR kingpings as Chiefs of Security the fact that a KFR group would be able to infiltrate campus security with a well publicised captive in tow is apalling to say the least. That they did so was a message to MSU brass, that they ought to finally pay the protection money long demanded.
As usual the authorities assume they are dealing with a retarded public by suggesting that the Kuratong Balaleng is behind this and other recent area KFRs. The Kuratong were a paramilitary formed by the Parijong Clan of Ozamiz City, in Misamis Occidental Province. Formed in the early 1980s as an anti-NPA force it was very quickly co-opted by the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines. When the NPA threat dissipated and its military patrons moved onto to other misery the group devolved into a score of unrelated criminal gangs all using the same name. However almost all operated outside of Mindanao. Moreover they were founded by and composed of Christian ethnicities, Cebuanos (Bisaya) and Ilonggo. Even if they were still in existence, and they aren't, they would never be able to operate in Lanao del Sur, let alone engage in KFR.
Just as in all other areas of Mindanao where KFR is endemic, Jolo, Basilan, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and Central Mindanao the KFR Industry, and that is EXACTLY what it is, is tired directly into the local political structure slash powerbase. It is no secret that nothing moves in Marawi without the Mayor getting a taste. Of course then the powers that be, in this case Colonel Daniel Lucero of the AFP's 103rd Brigade has a highly vested interest in making up ridiculous stories. In this way people have a culprit to blame, even if that culprit really doesn't exist.
As Tocal's red Mazda 6-7 sped down Narciso Ramos National Hiway and crossed into Marawi's Barangay Gadongan a battered white pickup truck quickly passed him before swerving in front of him and making him slam on his brakes. As he sat there in utter shock six men poured out of the truck with M16s and surrounded Tocal's vehicle. Brusquely opening the driver's side door two of the gunmen grabbed Mr.Tocal and dragged him into the cab of the pickup truck. The other gunmen then rifled through Tocal's Mazda and his wife's purse taking anything of value before running back towards the idling pickup truck and then speeding off in the opposite direction, back out of Marawi City and towards the municipality of Marantao.
Looking at the clock in the automobile's dashboard Mrs.Tocal saw that the attack had only taken minutes. Having glanced at the clock just before the car had screeched to a halt she remembered having seen it read 1228PM. Now it had barely passed 1232, in four minutes all their lives had changed forever. Collecting herself she borrowed the cellphone of a good samaritan who had stopped to help what he had first believed to be a stranded motorist. Doing what someone should NEVER do the shaken woman dialed the number of the Marawi City CPO, or City Police office and reported a kidnapping.
Recording the time received as 1240PM the CPO quickly alerted the town of Marantao's MPO, or Municipal Police Office and asked it to implement a Blocking Force in that municipality's Barangay Maul, both on the hiway and just off it on any access roads. Meanwhile the Marawi City CPO also scrambled its own chase cars for a hot pursuit. At just after 1PM a Marawi City CPO vehicle spotted the pickup truck crossing the cityline into Marantao and the chase was on. At about that same time the pickup truck carrying the gunmen and Mr.Tocal ran right through a Blocking Force checkpoint on the hiway and turmed down a side road. With both Marawi City AND Marantao police vehicles in high speed pursuit the kidnappers' truck made a run for it. Unfortunately for them though they clipped a Mitsubishi L300 passenger van as they attempted to pass it at a very high rate of speed.
Aside from superficially injuring all the van's passengers it almost sent the pickup truck careening into an irrigation canal. Regaining traction the truck again picked up speed but the near collision had allowed some of the pursuing police vehicles to close the gap quite a bit. Two of the kidnappers in the bed of the pickup truck then engaged their pursuers, intermittingly firing their M16s. Though no police were wounded the two gunmen themselves were not as fortunate:
1) Jonivy "Joni" Sarabia Diaz, age 20, of Iligan City in the neighbouring province of Lanao del Norte
2) Jamil "Mel Mel" Bubong Macadato, age 26 of Marawi City
were both moderately wounded by return fire. Though both men were far from death they were covered in blood and going into shock. Shortly after the exchange of gunfire the pickup truck was lost in the maze of jungle trails on the outskirts of Marantao. Thinking the two wounded men were close to dying their confederates dumped them onto the side of the road where police, later scouring the sector, recovered them and brought them to a hospital in Marawi City. On June 13th both men were charged both in the KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom and Robbery as well as with the near collision with the Mitsubishi L300 passenger van and the injuries inflicted upon its passengers. However, whatever grain of intelligence both men MIGHT have produced was not forthcoming as neither one agreed to co-operate.
Having been counseled by those wiser than herself Mrs.Tocal broke off all contact with all law enforcement and the military and instead left it in the hands of her husband's clan. The Tocal Clan then employed the services of Mangombaya Mamasaranao to negotiate a reasonable ransom. On June 20th a ransom (undisclosed sum) was turned over to the representatives of the kidnappers and on June 21st Camal Tocal was released by his captors inside a courtyard on the Marawi City Campus of MSU, or Mindanao State University. That last fact is a bit ironic given the rash of KFRs targeting staff and students of the school. Though the university has made progress since the days when they hired KFR kingpings as Chiefs of Security the fact that a KFR group would be able to infiltrate campus security with a well publicised captive in tow is apalling to say the least. That they did so was a message to MSU brass, that they ought to finally pay the protection money long demanded.
As usual the authorities assume they are dealing with a retarded public by suggesting that the Kuratong Balaleng is behind this and other recent area KFRs. The Kuratong were a paramilitary formed by the Parijong Clan of Ozamiz City, in Misamis Occidental Province. Formed in the early 1980s as an anti-NPA force it was very quickly co-opted by the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines. When the NPA threat dissipated and its military patrons moved onto to other misery the group devolved into a score of unrelated criminal gangs all using the same name. However almost all operated outside of Mindanao. Moreover they were founded by and composed of Christian ethnicities, Cebuanos (Bisaya) and Ilonggo. Even if they were still in existence, and they aren't, they would never be able to operate in Lanao del Sur, let alone engage in KFR.
Just as in all other areas of Mindanao where KFR is endemic, Jolo, Basilan, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and Central Mindanao the KFR Industry, and that is EXACTLY what it is, is tired directly into the local political structure slash powerbase. It is no secret that nothing moves in Marawi without the Mayor getting a taste. Of course then the powers that be, in this case Colonel Daniel Lucero of the AFP's 103rd Brigade has a highly vested interest in making up ridiculous stories. In this way people have a culprit to blame, even if that culprit really doesn't exist.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom,First Quarter of 2011,Part VI:Fatima Angni,Nadja Saldivar and Maria Elda Senedo
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Political Developments,Second Quarter of 2010,Part III:The June 3rd Re-Balloting in Lanao del Sur Province
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Thursday, June 24, 2010
Political Developments for the Second Quarter of 2010, Part II: 2010 Election and Election Related Violence in Lanao del Sur Province
Lanao, both de Sur and de Norte Provinces are the traditional lands of the Maranao (Maranaw) Tribe and their myriad of principalities, the equivalent of "Sultunates." To most non-Muslim Filipinos however the two provinces are known as being a hotbed of insurgency and violence. In fact, they are downright famous for Election Related Violence along with political dishonesty, typified by the Hello Garci scandal (in 2004 President Arroyo was audio taped during an NBI, or National Bureau of Investigation, voice recording as she made a phone call to a COMELEC Commissioner in which the two discussed padding and shaving votes). Sadly, Election Day 2010 was no different with seven communities in Lanao del Sur being declared "Failed Elections" by the national electoral authority, COMELEC. As I mentioned in an earlier entry there was a re-balloting on June 3rd but even at this late date (June 24th at posting), only one of the seven towns given a re-balloting on June 3rd have even come close to having a final tally.
On Sunday, June 20th, the son of COMELEC Commissioner Elias Yusoph , 22 year old Nuralden Yusoph, was kidnapped in Lanao del Sur's Marawi City. On his third day in town, killing time as he awaits a visa to take additional religious studies in Saudi Arabia, he was grabbed, just as he left Bato Ali Mosque at Fourth Prayer. The kidnappers of the younger Yusoph then contacted his family at 10PM with their demands. Instead of a large amount of money, the usual demand, the kidnappers instead are asking for a nullification of the voting tallies in four Lanao del Sur communities:
1) Masiu
2) Taraka
3) Malabang
4) Pikong
The NBI deployed a top investigative team from Manila to its regional office in Iligan City (Lanao del Norte Province). The four investigators arrived on Tuesday, June 22nd. The Marawi City Council of Elders under Sheikh Guru are also attempting to mediate a settlement but already the PNP (Philippine National Police) is telling the press that it is "probablly" due to "Rido" (Clan Feud). Of course noone has even wasted time asking the PNP why a Rido would involve the nullification of votes but...
The Election Season starts the spring before, when people begin testing the waters with grand proclamations to the media, and to the communities whom they hope to "serve." It really heats up when "Declarations of Candidacy" are filed at Regional COMELEC offices. In Lanao the first notable case of violence took place on October 29th, 2009, about a week before COMELEC even began accepting Declarations. On the day in question, at Marawi City Hall in Barangay Fort Bag-ong, a large group of "Flying Voters" (illegaly registered in a community not their own so as to be able to vote for a candidate who pays them) from Iligan City in the adjacent province of Lanao del Norte were lined up awaiting registration when two men casually walked over and tossed a hand grenade into the line. Three people died but only 22 year old Jeffrey Navarro from Iligan City had his name released. Twenty-one others were wounded, six critically.
The group in question had received a P100 down payment (less than 2 Euros), a snack and a jeepney (public transportation) ride to and from the city hall. If they had proven to have voted for the candidate who pays them they were to get P1,000 which is a very small amount considering some people can make P10,000 (per family). The price increases considerably as Election Day approaches.
On Election Day, Monday, May 10th, 2010 at 930AM, on Anai Pakpak Avenue, in Marawi City, three rifle grenades landed at a poll site situated at Amai Pakpak Elementary School (which is popularly known as the "Pilot School"). The nineteen clustered barangays that the school was servicing were unable to vote. Polls open at 7 AM, when possible, so the residents of those nineteen barangays had all of 2.5 hours to get their voices heard. Disenfranchisement is a huge and terrible problem in the Philippines and the problems becomes much worse the further you get from Manila.
With all the problems one faces in Mindanao, having had just since the end of November 2009, Martial Law, State of Emergency (ongoing) and State of Calamity, one might offer that Voter Disenfranchisement is a lesser problem, to say the least. For those of us well versed in insurgency however the story is much different. Lack of access to the democratic process is a driving force in illicit violence and terrorism as well (Dr. Abadi from the Kennedy School has done some great work and with regard to the Southern Philippines. Abadi served here with the US Special Forces so he has alot of insights to offer on other levels as well, but I will save that for a later entry).
Also in Marawi City on that same day, an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, as in "bomb") packed inside of a navy blue Isuzu SUV sitting 70 meters away from the polling site at Saduc Elementary School, in Barangay Saduc Proper, also in Marawi City, detonated. No casulaties reported but again, that poll site was closed as a result leading to more Voter Disenfranchisement. Car/Truckbombs, technically known as VBIEDS, or Vehicle Borne IEDs, are rare on Mindanao so that this particular detonation is especially worth noting.
Also on Election Day, at 1245PM in Barangay Parao, in the municipality of Kapai, in Lanao del Sur Povince, Kobaib Gauraki shot his cousin and political opponent Mamak Sangco to death with an M16.Gauraki is the son of mayoral candidate Kimal Gauraki and shot Sangco as he neared the polling site.
During polling at Tugaya Central Elementary School in the town of Tugaya in Lanao del Sur Province, an M16 sprayed waiting voters and wounded a 12 year old boy and 19 year old woman. Both were brought to Amai Pakpak Provincial Hospital in Marawi City. Sadly,the woman, Asila Panda, died on the operating table at 4PM that day, May 10, 2010.
The June 3rd re-balloting was free of notable violence but not of underhanded dealing. PNP, or the Philippine National Police from PRO-13, or Police Regional Office for Region #13, also known as PRO-Caraga (Region 13, in Northeast Mindanao is also known as Caraga) as well as PNP trainees from throughout the island were deployed as extra security in the 7 affected towns. To avoid the lack of BEIs (Board of Election Inspectors, the personnel who manually verify tallies and supervise the overall process, almost always performed by public school teachers who are compelled by law to do this for a very nominal fee), which is what caused six of the seven towns to fail on May 10th had COMELEC attorneys who were used instead of the usual local public school teachers. The PNP, via individual officers speaking unofficially, reports open cheating including offers of up to P300,000 (US6,500) for selling the remaining empty ballots. That amounts to roughly 1.5 years salary for a PO2, a medium level officer). To give one an even better idea, that is nearly two years salary for the public school teachers who usually fufill that role.
Finally, on July 2nd, 2010 the kidnappers of Nuralden Yusoph changed their demands and added P25 Million to their previous demand for nullification of votes in four Lanao del Sur municipalities. Shortly after that new demand the Kidnap Crisis Team launched a raid on a three story building in Marawi City, searching for the young man only to come away empty handed.
On July 19th, 2010 at 510PM in Barangay Carmen in Cagayan del Oro City, in the neighbouring province of Misamis Occidental, COMELEC Commissioner Yusoph's son Nuralden was finally released in good health. Officials are saying that the kidnappers delivered the young man by automobile from the location in Lanao del Sur where he was being secuestered. Hampered by heavy Monsoon rains that happened a bit later than planned, the authorities were unable to capture the automobile or its other occupants...COUGH.
Less than an hour after Yusoph was dropped off near the intersections of Macanhan and Masterson, the newly elected governor of Lanao del Sur made a televised appearance to applaud his own initiatives.This despite travelling time taking approximately 2.5 hours during dry season. The jist? Some have remarked that the "release" of the young man was entirely staged, as opposed to "stage managed," and that the governor might have had a connection to the incident.
Needless to say this is an extremely serious charge but as of late many serious accusations have been flying back and forth.
Nuralden himself remarked on how happy he was to be free, and that several times during his ordeal he was convinced that he would never see his 3 month old son again. The happy young man also said that he had been kept blindfolded the entire time and fed merely a single meal per day (nobody thought to inform him, at the press conference, that a single meal a day is just about what 90% of Mindanao gets to eat, and some get less than that. He also told the media that he had been threatened with imminent execution at least nine times during his captivity.
The leader of the group who had kidnapped and held Nuralden Yusoph was a Muslim paramilitary leader by the name of Dimaporo "Kumander Delta" Dimasacal, who happens to be the 1st cousin to ex-Congresswoman Bai Faiza Biston Maniri Dumarpa, whose husband Salic Dumarpa just ran for his wife's former Congressional seat, the 1st District of Lanao del Sur. Salic Dumarpa lost that race to Hussein Pangandaman, son of ex-DAR (Department of Agricultural Reform) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman by a margin of 3,401 votes.
The reason why this information is relevant is because it is now generally believed that Commissioner Yusoph was paid a series of bribes by candidates in Lanao del Sur. Some, like Salic Dumarpa, are less than happy about their having lost (some, unlike in Dumarpa's case, "massively lost") and are in the process of exacting refunds, money Yusoph reportedly has lost or is otherwise refusing to surrender. It turns out, according to "observers," that Salic was simply outbid by Hussein Pangandaman who paid Yusoph a much larger sum, ensuring his win in the Election.
In a recent edition of an online botique journal dedicated to armed conflict (NOT mine), Brigadier General Rey Ardo of the AFP's 103rd Brigade, which is Headquartered in Marawi City and has Operational Control (OPCON) of the entire Lanao del Sur Province, has added fuel to the flames of suggestion by openly declaring that the kidnapping was payback for people who bribed Commissioner Yusoph and then lost. Commissioner Yusoph is understandably livid and has threatened the General with civil action. Not suprisingly the general then went on the defencive denying that he had ever made those comments.
Prior to his appointment to COMELEC Elias Yusoph was a government Prosecutor for 32 years, most of which he spent working in Marawi City.
On Sunday, June 20th, the son of COMELEC Commissioner Elias Yusoph , 22 year old Nuralden Yusoph, was kidnapped in Lanao del Sur's Marawi City. On his third day in town, killing time as he awaits a visa to take additional religious studies in Saudi Arabia, he was grabbed, just as he left Bato Ali Mosque at Fourth Prayer. The kidnappers of the younger Yusoph then contacted his family at 10PM with their demands. Instead of a large amount of money, the usual demand, the kidnappers instead are asking for a nullification of the voting tallies in four Lanao del Sur communities:
1) Masiu
2) Taraka
3) Malabang
4) Pikong
The NBI deployed a top investigative team from Manila to its regional office in Iligan City (Lanao del Norte Province). The four investigators arrived on Tuesday, June 22nd. The Marawi City Council of Elders under Sheikh Guru are also attempting to mediate a settlement but already the PNP (Philippine National Police) is telling the press that it is "probablly" due to "Rido" (Clan Feud). Of course noone has even wasted time asking the PNP why a Rido would involve the nullification of votes but...
The Election Season starts the spring before, when people begin testing the waters with grand proclamations to the media, and to the communities whom they hope to "serve." It really heats up when "Declarations of Candidacy" are filed at Regional COMELEC offices. In Lanao the first notable case of violence took place on October 29th, 2009, about a week before COMELEC even began accepting Declarations. On the day in question, at Marawi City Hall in Barangay Fort Bag-ong, a large group of "Flying Voters" (illegaly registered in a community not their own so as to be able to vote for a candidate who pays them) from Iligan City in the adjacent province of Lanao del Norte were lined up awaiting registration when two men casually walked over and tossed a hand grenade into the line. Three people died but only 22 year old Jeffrey Navarro from Iligan City had his name released. Twenty-one others were wounded, six critically.
The group in question had received a P100 down payment (less than 2 Euros), a snack and a jeepney (public transportation) ride to and from the city hall. If they had proven to have voted for the candidate who pays them they were to get P1,000 which is a very small amount considering some people can make P10,000 (per family). The price increases considerably as Election Day approaches.
On Election Day, Monday, May 10th, 2010 at 930AM, on Anai Pakpak Avenue, in Marawi City, three rifle grenades landed at a poll site situated at Amai Pakpak Elementary School (which is popularly known as the "Pilot School"). The nineteen clustered barangays that the school was servicing were unable to vote. Polls open at 7 AM, when possible, so the residents of those nineteen barangays had all of 2.5 hours to get their voices heard. Disenfranchisement is a huge and terrible problem in the Philippines and the problems becomes much worse the further you get from Manila.
With all the problems one faces in Mindanao, having had just since the end of November 2009, Martial Law, State of Emergency (ongoing) and State of Calamity, one might offer that Voter Disenfranchisement is a lesser problem, to say the least. For those of us well versed in insurgency however the story is much different. Lack of access to the democratic process is a driving force in illicit violence and terrorism as well (Dr. Abadi from the Kennedy School has done some great work and with regard to the Southern Philippines. Abadi served here with the US Special Forces so he has alot of insights to offer on other levels as well, but I will save that for a later entry).
Also in Marawi City on that same day, an IED (Improvised Explosive Device, as in "bomb") packed inside of a navy blue Isuzu SUV sitting 70 meters away from the polling site at Saduc Elementary School, in Barangay Saduc Proper, also in Marawi City, detonated. No casulaties reported but again, that poll site was closed as a result leading to more Voter Disenfranchisement. Car/Truckbombs, technically known as VBIEDS, or Vehicle Borne IEDs, are rare on Mindanao so that this particular detonation is especially worth noting.
Also on Election Day, at 1245PM in Barangay Parao, in the municipality of Kapai, in Lanao del Sur Povince, Kobaib Gauraki shot his cousin and political opponent Mamak Sangco to death with an M16.Gauraki is the son of mayoral candidate Kimal Gauraki and shot Sangco as he neared the polling site.
During polling at Tugaya Central Elementary School in the town of Tugaya in Lanao del Sur Province, an M16 sprayed waiting voters and wounded a 12 year old boy and 19 year old woman. Both were brought to Amai Pakpak Provincial Hospital in Marawi City. Sadly,the woman, Asila Panda, died on the operating table at 4PM that day, May 10, 2010.
The June 3rd re-balloting was free of notable violence but not of underhanded dealing. PNP, or the Philippine National Police from PRO-13, or Police Regional Office for Region #13, also known as PRO-Caraga (Region 13, in Northeast Mindanao is also known as Caraga) as well as PNP trainees from throughout the island were deployed as extra security in the 7 affected towns. To avoid the lack of BEIs (Board of Election Inspectors, the personnel who manually verify tallies and supervise the overall process, almost always performed by public school teachers who are compelled by law to do this for a very nominal fee), which is what caused six of the seven towns to fail on May 10th had COMELEC attorneys who were used instead of the usual local public school teachers. The PNP, via individual officers speaking unofficially, reports open cheating including offers of up to P300,000 (US6,500) for selling the remaining empty ballots. That amounts to roughly 1.5 years salary for a PO2, a medium level officer). To give one an even better idea, that is nearly two years salary for the public school teachers who usually fufill that role.
Finally, on July 2nd, 2010 the kidnappers of Nuralden Yusoph changed their demands and added P25 Million to their previous demand for nullification of votes in four Lanao del Sur municipalities. Shortly after that new demand the Kidnap Crisis Team launched a raid on a three story building in Marawi City, searching for the young man only to come away empty handed.
On July 19th, 2010 at 510PM in Barangay Carmen in Cagayan del Oro City, in the neighbouring province of Misamis Occidental, COMELEC Commissioner Yusoph's son Nuralden was finally released in good health. Officials are saying that the kidnappers delivered the young man by automobile from the location in Lanao del Sur where he was being secuestered. Hampered by heavy Monsoon rains that happened a bit later than planned, the authorities were unable to capture the automobile or its other occupants...COUGH.
Less than an hour after Yusoph was dropped off near the intersections of Macanhan and Masterson, the newly elected governor of Lanao del Sur made a televised appearance to applaud his own initiatives.This despite travelling time taking approximately 2.5 hours during dry season. The jist? Some have remarked that the "release" of the young man was entirely staged, as opposed to "stage managed," and that the governor might have had a connection to the incident.
Needless to say this is an extremely serious charge but as of late many serious accusations have been flying back and forth.
Nuralden himself remarked on how happy he was to be free, and that several times during his ordeal he was convinced that he would never see his 3 month old son again. The happy young man also said that he had been kept blindfolded the entire time and fed merely a single meal per day (nobody thought to inform him, at the press conference, that a single meal a day is just about what 90% of Mindanao gets to eat, and some get less than that. He also told the media that he had been threatened with imminent execution at least nine times during his captivity.
The leader of the group who had kidnapped and held Nuralden Yusoph was a Muslim paramilitary leader by the name of Dimaporo "Kumander Delta" Dimasacal, who happens to be the 1st cousin to ex-Congresswoman Bai Faiza Biston Maniri Dumarpa, whose husband Salic Dumarpa just ran for his wife's former Congressional seat, the 1st District of Lanao del Sur. Salic Dumarpa lost that race to Hussein Pangandaman, son of ex-DAR (Department of Agricultural Reform) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman by a margin of 3,401 votes.
The reason why this information is relevant is because it is now generally believed that Commissioner Yusoph was paid a series of bribes by candidates in Lanao del Sur. Some, like Salic Dumarpa, are less than happy about their having lost (some, unlike in Dumarpa's case, "massively lost") and are in the process of exacting refunds, money Yusoph reportedly has lost or is otherwise refusing to surrender. It turns out, according to "observers," that Salic was simply outbid by Hussein Pangandaman who paid Yusoph a much larger sum, ensuring his win in the Election.
In a recent edition of an online botique journal dedicated to armed conflict (NOT mine), Brigadier General Rey Ardo of the AFP's 103rd Brigade, which is Headquartered in Marawi City and has Operational Control (OPCON) of the entire Lanao del Sur Province, has added fuel to the flames of suggestion by openly declaring that the kidnapping was payback for people who bribed Commissioner Yusoph and then lost. Commissioner Yusoph is understandably livid and has threatened the General with civil action. Not suprisingly the general then went on the defencive denying that he had ever made those comments.
Prior to his appointment to COMELEC Elias Yusoph was a government Prosecutor for 32 years, most of which he spent working in Marawi City.
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