Election 2010 (May 10, 2010) was violent countrywide, as Elections always are in the Philippines. Of course Mindanao always bears the brunt of this violence and Misamis Occidental was no exception, sadly. Though less volataile than other parts of the island it still gained no immunity from the bloodletting. Located in North-Central Mindanao, bordering Misamis Oriental Province, the Zamobanga Peninsula, and Lanao del Norte Province the low intensity conflict is unavoidable, geography being what it is.
The first incident took place on December 5th, 2009 in the municipality of Concepcion when a Barangay Captain from the Nacionalista Party was killed by a man armed with a 45 pistol. In an unusual turn of events however the killer was arrested in March of 2010 in the province's Oroquieta City. The sad and highly predictable news is that he remained mum as to who had contracted the killing and the circumstances surrounding it.
On December 20th, 2009 in Barangay Tabo-o in the town of Jimenez local political affairs journalist Daniel "Danny" Pilar was feeding his chickens at the back of his home when an unknown attacker threw an M79 fragmentation grenade over his roof in an attempt to kill him. The grenade landed on the rear portion of the roff before rolling down the highly inclined tarpaper and landed between two slots in a large jalousie window. Unfortunately, Mr. Pilar's father in law, Rodolfo Dulam, was sitting in a chair next to that window reading a newspaper when it detonated. Critically wounded he was rushed to the hospital as the entire family immediately entered the government's brand new Witness Protection Program [sic] which operates very differently from Western programmes of that sort in that one need not be involved in a court proceeding to take advantage of it. Journalists, a very vulnerable demographic in the Philippines have become a hot item on the political agenda with the new Task Force 211 having been created for the investigation of violent crimes against them, thus enabling them to also take advantage of the aforementioned programme.
Mr.Pilar had voluntarily put his local television programme, "Analysis" on a 1 year hiatus and had just restarted production 2 weeks prior to the attack. He had been working on a story targeting a local politician and the Election being what it is, voila. His show, on Misamis Cable Channel #6 focuses on misdeeds of local politicians and overall corruption.
March 6th, 2010 in Barangay Maca-libre Bajo in Oroquieta City, Barangay Captain Lopez Jaena was shot to death by two men who were both armed with 45 pistols. On Election Day votes were still openly bought even though the incumbent was dead, showing just how deeply entrenched these practices really are.
April 13th, 2010 in the municipality of Plaridel a Lakas-KAMPI-CMD campaign organiser was killed by an unknown gunman with a 45 caliber pistol.
That same day in Ozamiz City's Barangay Bacolod the Barangay Captain shot a Liberal Party campaign worker to death in a fight over the Liberal Party candidate, his rival for higher office (Barangay Elections are in October).
The next day, April 14th, 2010, at 4PM on Don Anselmo Bernard Avenue on the borders of Barangays Catadman and Manabay, in Ozamiz City, Barangay Councilor and ex-radio journalist Edwin Sigue (sometimes misspelled as "Segue") was shot to death as he drove his SUV. The killer, riding tandem on a motorcycle shot him three times with a 45 caliber pistol as Mr.Sigue was en route to Clarin in that same province.
Though Mr.Sigue had resigned from his jounalism position after winning his seat as a Barangay Councilor in the previous election (2007), his show had been concentrating on political issues and the station carrying it, FM-DXDB, based in Ozamiz City, reported that they had still been receiving death treats over the issues he had discussed. He was also working as a part time Election Co-ordinator for a candidate running in the 2010 Election for Vice Governor with the campaign being based in Ozamiz City. Shortly before he was killed he had been pressured and threatened to stop his work for that candidate so that it is believed he was killied because of that other candidate and/or his past journalism work and not neccessarily because of his own position as a Councilor.
On April 16th, 2010 in Barangay San Isidro in the town of Calamba, Barangay Councilor and Lakas-KAMPI-CMD party organiser Luciano Sayson was killed making him the 5th Barangay official to be killed in Calamba this Election (I cannot give details on the others since I was unable to find any corroborative information). Reportedly, his death makes 2 Barangay Councilors and 3 Barangay Captains killed just in that 1 small community.
That same day in Barangay Upper Dapitan in the town of Concepcion, Barangay Captain Danny Elianic, a supporter of incumbent Mayor Pilota, was approached by Roldan Tinae, a well known gunman for (then) Vice Mayor Juanidy Vina who was hoping to unseat Mayor Pilota. Sensing that Vina wanted to do more than talk, Elianic made a run for it. As he correctly surmised, Tinae began unloading shots from his 45 caliber pistol causing Elianic to jump off a roadside cliff and into a steep ravine. Hitting the bottom, he escaped death by rolling as Tinae furiously took pot shots, luckily missing him.
Also in Concepcion, on April 23rd, 2010 in Barangay Marugang, Vina's gunmen terrorised most of the barangay, a strong support base for Mayor Pilota. Reading off of a list of addresses they began strafing particular homes. Luckily noone was killed but several children were badly injured in the stampede of frightened residents trying to escape the mayhem.
In this same town, on April 28th, 2010 a Barangay Councilor who supports Mayor Pilota was walking with his wife, heading to their home in the cool of the evening when 2 men riding tandem on a motorcycle rushed by, the man on the rear shooting the Councilor, Dario Elonor to death. Luckily his wife was uninjured.
On May 03, 2010 in this same town, Concepcion, Mayor Benjamin Dequina Pilota Jr., a retired AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) Colonel formally requested that COMELEC (Election Authority) place the town under its control so as to avoid predicted violence. Cognisant of the issues involved at Election Time Mayor Pilota specifically requested that any AFP detachments deployed be posted outside of affected barangays so as to avoid a uniformed presence that might intimidate prospective voters. His request also specifically mentioned Vice Mayor and rival for the Mayoralty, Juanidy Vina, and alleges that Vina is in violation of the COMELEC imposed maximum on number of Armed Men in a Security Detail.
His request was denied but the extra attention apparently ended up doing the trick because after the earlier bursts of violence Vina left well enough alone and refrained from acting out again.
Friday, May 7th, 2010 in the municipality of Sincaban, incumbent Mayoral candidate Dello Lood found himself the subject of a PNP SAF (Special Action Force) raid on his compound, supposedly for weapons related to a small paramilitary commanded by Lood.The Warrant, issed by Judge Rio Concepcion Anchas of Ozamis City in that same province was for a single residence, only for firearms but when the Warran was executed it was done so by a single PNP officer, Amazingly, this single officer was a PO1, the lowest rank in the PNP.
The PNP PO1 whose name was never released, as is often the case when such things are swept under the rug didnt pay more than a glance at Lood's own house but instead scoured the home of Lood's aunt who resides next to Lood, within that same compound. As the PNP officer exited the aunt's home Lood, who had been summoned by one of his servants who wasted no time in calling the Mayor, led a boisterous crowd who could fairly be described as a howling mob. They deamnded that the officer drop the bag he was carrying out of the aunt's home. The officer refused, made a dash for his official vehicle and quickly locked himself inside as the crowd nearly over-turned the auto.
The terrified officer summon allied municipal officials who managed to negotiate a deal with the crowd that allowed them to search the bag. Searching the bag they were stunned to find nearly 300,000 Pesos. Lood quickly checked his cash reserves of nearly 1 million Pesos (roughly 20,000 US) and found almost 700,000 missing. At that point the officer knew he'd been had and begged to be allowed to surrender with some semblance of safety. The municipal officials on site negotiated the issue and the officer was escorted to Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos and permitted to surrender to him.
It is worth noting that not only were no firearms found in either of the two homes searched, Lood's and his aunts, the Warrant was not executed properly, nor was it issued properly since the Judge in question, Rio Concepcion Anchas, did not have jurisdiction over Sinabacan. His powers of authority ended in the neighbouring municipality of Jimenez.
That weekend on Camiguin Island, off the coast of Misamis Oriental Province, some journalists ran into a very worrying situation. Long the bastion of the Romulado Clan it is extremely well known as being rife with political corruption though actual violence is rare owing to the vice like grip, almost dictatorial, exerted by that family. The journalists in question are all local stringers who sell footage and/or reports based upon predicted public interest. What better way to make some money then than to take a short ferry ride out to Camiguin?
It began with a mysterious SMS (text) message from Rolando Gono, a news jock on 106.3 FM in Cagayan de Oro City, in Misamis Oriental Province. The SMS, sent to friends and fellow journalists, father and son Herbert Hugo Dumaguing, 43, and Hubert Junior, in which Gono said that he was surrounded by Romulado paramilitary soldiers who were man handling him and he felt imminent danger was at hand. The Dumaguins who freelance video news footage with the father as anchor and Hubert on camera then rushed to their comrade's aid.
A truly news worthy issue in the province was the victory of a member of the famed Jalosjos Clan of Zamboanga del Sur Province who won the Mayoralty of Baliango, in Misamis Occidental Province. The Jalosjos are a political dynasty I had talked about when I did my entry on Zamboanga and its extra-heavy Election Related Violence. The Clan Patriarch Romeo (his actual name) fell from grace when convicted in 1995 of Statutory Rape against a 13 yearold girl. Sentenced to 2 Life Sentences his ally, former-President Gloria M. Arroyo commuted his sentence to Time Served, 13 years, 5 months and 5 days citing his "Good Time Allowance" (Hey! I thought he used THAT allowance in 1995!).
He was released in time to see two sons unseat the Hofer Dynasty, the Clan ruling neighbouring Zamboanga Sibugay Province, an upset most (including myself) did not see coming. More to the point, THIS Jalosjos, daughter Sveltana, caused alot of controversy since according to all but her closest supporters, she has never lived in Misamis Occidental. As expected people filed Grievances with COMELEC on this issue and on July 30th, 2010 COMELEC ruled that indeed she had failed to prove residency and so she has been unseated.
Showing posts with label Election Violence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election Violence. Show all posts
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Politics,the Second Quarter of 2010:The Pacman Tries for Another TKO in Sarangani
On Monday, 4/26/2010, the day after the 5 Pacquiao campaign workers were arrested in the kidnapping attempt on Mayor Enrique Yap of G'laan,Sarangani Province,Provincial Governor Rene Miguel Dominguez travelled to visit his partymate and close ally,Mayor Yap. After all, with their close alliance,the attempt on Mayor Yap MIGHT have been a potshot at the Governor.Spending about an hour in G'laan,Governor Dominguez's convoy then began the return trip to GenSan (General Santos City) for a meeting with Presidential candidate Gilbert"Gibo"Teodoro who was scheduled to give a speech at Mindanao Polytechnic.
Governor Dominguez's SUV had just passed the foot of Lun Masla Bridge in Mapalatan when a powerful IED partially detonated.The device,centered upon a 105 MM Howitzer shell wired to a Motorola cellular phone was attached to an abandoned motorcycle parked near the shoulder of the road.Detonating at partial strength due to a problem with the shell, no casualties were reported and the convoy continued unscathed onto GenSan.
While things did manage to die down in G'laan, at least momentarily,the town was listed as an"Election Hotspot"by COMELEC (the governmental authority charged with overseeing all elections).On Election Day snafus resulted in a COMELEC decison to include G'laan on the list of municpalities to participate in the Re-balloting, yesterday, Thursday, June 3rd (re-edit: Mayor Enrique Yap is out of office and brother Victor James Yap has replaced him, while their sister Vivien is the Vice Mayor, noted on August 1, 2010). speaking of "Election Hotspots," most of the nation along with the very limited international coverage Mindanao receives have all focused on Maguindanao Province and the rest of the ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) because of the "Maguindanao Massacare"to be discussed in a subsequent entry. To a lesser degree Lanao del Sur Province has received attention as well but most people have not even considered that there may have been a much more violent section of the island that had managed to evade scrutiny.
Region IX, the Zamboanga Peninsula with its 3 provinces saw more than 32 deaths this election season (beginning in eary November when candidates begin registering with COMELEC to declare their candidacy up until 6/03/2010 when this election's Re-balloting took place. That number is pretty amazing when COMELEC is declaring that the entire island had only 27 deaths (of course not including the almost 60 deaths from the "Maguindanao Massacre").
Most deaths revolved around the mayoral race in Labangan in Zamboanga del Sur Province and most victims were members of the Liberal Party in that municipality. Vice Mayor Wilson "Kitty" Nandang, cousin of the current mayor, Abubakar Afdal was the central figure in all deaths in that area.
I) The first to die, on record at least, was Ensor Pakil, a Liberal Party organiser in Labangan. He was shot to death on 12/29/2010.
II) On 1/04/2010 "habal-habal" driver (motorised tricycle built from a motorcross "dirtbike") Rascal Afdal was letting his son drive, on National Hiway in Barangay Dao, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur Province. 48 year old Afdal was cut off by 2 men on a single motorcyle. Immediately the passenger on the rear of the motorcycle killed Afdal. Rascal Afdal is a supporter of Vice Mayor Wilson "Kitty" Nandang, as well as being his cousin and his personal driver (though by a stroke of co-incidence un-related to the mayor with whom he coincidentally shares a surname).
III) On 1/11/2010, Rosalinda "Rose" Pajente, an Operations Manager for the National Food Authority (Philippine equivalent to the American FDA) was on her way home and fast approaching a PNP (Police) checkpoint on National Hiway, in Barangay Tiguma, Pagadian City. 2 men on a motorcycle drove up on her left, the man on the rear shot her to death before fleeing. Rose was an organiser for the Liberal Party in neighbouring Labangan.
IV) On 1/16/2010, at 5PM, Hadja Anira Abdullah Agcong , a supporter Wilson "Kitty" Nandang and a major backer for his stab at the mayoralty was at Pagadian City's Gaisano Mall to purchase medicines for her ailing son, who waited in the SUV. As soon as Ms. Agcong stepped out of her vehicle she was shot in the chest and killed by an assailant holding a 45 caliber pistol. He then calmly walked away, hopped on the back of a motorcycle and drove off.
V) The next day, 1/17/2010, Motalliden "Steve" Pacman Tapodoc, a cadidate for Town Council in Labangan on the Liberal Party ticket was walking behind the Pagadian City Hall compound in Barangay Poblacion. As he neared the corner nearest the Philippine Independant Church 2 men on a motorcyle shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
VI) On 2/09/2010, incumbernt Barangay Councilor and former Barangay Captain on the Liberal Party ticket, Joel Autida of Barangay Cabgan in Tambulig, a municipality adjoining Labangan was shot to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
VII) On 3/09/2010, Liberal Party Organiser, 32 year old Jay Durangparang of Purok Bayabas, Barangay Kalubi, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur was shot to death by PNP (Police). 5 Police Officers and the chief of Aurora PNP have been arrested and charged with his murder.
VIII) On that same day, 3/09/2010, 42 year old Edilberto Monticillo was also killed, in Aurora. The Liberal Party campaign worker is believed to have been killed by the same officers charged in Mr. Durangparang's death but noone has been charged as of posting.
IX) On 3/14/2010 Liberal Party campaign worker Alfredo Labor Dalingding of Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur was killed by 45 caliber pistol.
X) The next day, 3/15/2010, Liberal Party campaign worker Tuaher Dakula was killed in his hometown of Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur.
XI) On 4/01/2010, 42 year old Habib "Andi" Maulana of Barangay Campo Islam, Labangan was taking his wife and young children for a ride in his "habal-habal" in Pagadian City"s Barangay Tiguma...when the Liberal Party organiser reached the intersection of National Hiway and the Access Road for the integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) his vehicle was cut off by 2 men on a motorcycle. The man on the rear calmly leaned over and shot Mr. Maulauna 5 times in the head with a 45 caliber pistol.
XII) On 4/03/2010, at 11AM, Victoriano "Jun" Olila of Somniot, Zamboanga del Sur Province and that town's Liberal Party coordinator was on his motorcycle when 2 men on a motorcycle pulled up next to him and shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
XIII) On 4/05/2010 in Purok African Daisy, Barangay Catibog in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province, a man on a motorcyle rode by the compound of radio station 103.1 FM, "Magic FM" and threw a hand grenade into the station's compound. The grenade hit a billboard and inadvertantly landed very near to the street where 1 hapless pedestrian was unluckily walking. The unidentified man was critically wounded. The station is owned by Zamboanga Sibugay's Governor, George Hofer, the patriarch of the Hofer political dynasty.
Prior to the attack the station had been receiving threatening text messages warning it to ease up against a comepeting political dynasty, the Jalosjos clan. the Jalosjos had been unseated by the Hofers roughly 10 years before but are running in this year's election despite their patriarch Romeo Jalosjos just being released from prison this past March (2010). Romeo Jalosjos, a former Congressman from Zambonga del Norte Province spent the past 16 years serving time for the rape of a child. His original sentence of Life was commuted by President Arroyo.
Governor George Hofer is reaching the end of his term limit and is now running for mayor of Ipil, the second major Christian* town in Region IX. Daughter Dulce Ann Hofer, who usually goes by her middle name (Ann) is running for her father's gubneratorial seat. Her brother Jet Hofer is running for the 2nd District Zambomga Sibugay congressional seat, vacated by sister Dulce Ann so that she might in turn fill their father's surrendered gubneratorial seat. "Musical Chairs."
*"Christian" in the South Philippines is an ethnicity as well as a religious label.
Running againt Jet Hofer is John John Jalosjos, son of former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, and brother to Rommel Jalosjos who is himself running for Governor against Ducle Ann Hofer.
In 2/2010 Jet Hofer supported the allegations of the Barangay Captain* of Barangay Veterans, Dan Erasmo who filed a petition with COMELEC, the Philippine 's Election Authority, with regard to Rommel, accusing the older son of Romeo Jalosjo of lying on his COMELEC application when he claimed to be residing with his brother in Ipil.
XIV) On 4/08/2010 in Barangay Poblacion, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay a senior PNP (Police) officer and campaign worker for the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD* Party had 2 grenades thrown at his house. Only 1 detonated but luckily, apart from shock there were no casualties.
*Lakas-KAMPI-CMD is the ruling party.
XV) On Sunday, 4/11/2010, Liberal Party Organiser Bernardo Aying of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur was shot to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
XVI) On Monday, 4/12/2010 Rolando Mayormita, a Liberal Party campaign worker in Labangan was shot to death, by 45 caliber pistol in adjoining Pagadian City.
XVII) That same day, 4/12/2010, also in Zamboanga Sibugay, a Liberal Party campaign rally a grenade attack left 4 people seriously wounded, 1 critically. 3 of those people were young children.
XVIII) On Tuesday, 4/13/2010, a convoy of Lakas-KAMPI-CMD workers in the hinterlands of Zamboanga Sibugay Province were strafed with automatic gunfire but luckily incurred no casualties.
XIX) That same day, 4/13/2010, in Zamboanga Sibugay Province a gathering of politicians at the barangay level were fired upon, wounding 1 of them moderately.
XX) At 8PM on Thursday, 4/15/2010, Mayoral candidate Gerge Castillo (Lakas-KAMPI-CMD), of Barangay Poblacion in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay found a primed IED at his doorstep. Luckily authorities sapped it prior to detonation.
XXI) That same day, 4/15/2010, at 830 PM a Lakas-KAMPI-CMD rally in the Barangay Hall of Titay's Barangay San Antonio was the scene of a stampeding mob after the PNP (Police) discovered an IED inside a plastic bag in the hall's phone booth. The bomb consisted of PVC and black powder (gun powder),i.e. a "pipe bomb."
XXII) That night, in the overnight hours between 4/15/2010 and 4/16/2010 fisherman Jun Borja of Olutanga on Olutanga Island in Zamboanga Sibugay was readying his gear when a gunman approached him and shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol. Mr. Borja was an organiser for an Olutanga (Olutanga is also the name of 1 of 3 municipalities on the small island) candiate for mayor.
XXIII) On Sunday, 4/18/2010, at 730 PM in Barangay Poblacion, Kabansalan, Zamboanga Sibugay a Lakas-KAMPI-CMD rally in the town gymnasium was the scene of yet another hand grenade attack. The group of 4 young men gravely wounded woman and her young child were seriously wounded.
XXIV) At 8AM on Tuesday, 5/04/2010 Liberal Party Organisers and assistants were riding in 2 flatbed trucks owned by Mayoral candidate Wilson "Kitty" Nandang, en route to Labangan's isolated Barangay Langatod when they were forced to stop at an impromptu checkpoint by armed men. The gunmen made everyone dismount and walk home (roughly 20 kilometers through the bush). As the passnegers began walking the gunmen shot and killed both drivers (Bakel Samal, of Labangan and an employee of candidate Nandang, and an unidentified 2nd man) and then set both trucks and bodies on fire.
XXV) On Friday, 5/07/2010 , Purok Gin-awa, Barangay Tawagan Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, gunmen with M16s set upon a roup of habal-habal drivers who supported Wilson "Kitty" Nandang and killed 2 of them: Hashim Abang Maguindra and Hussain Maguindra Manarasol (no blood relation), and wounding a 3rd unidentifed driver.
XXVI) On Sunday, 5/09/2010, the night before election an IED detonated 3 meters from the mayoral office in Ipil's Barangay Poblacion, at the War Monument on Rizal Street. Because of the late overnight hour nobody was present . The Ipil Department of Education building was severely damaged.
XXVII) At just after midnite, 5/10/2010, Election Day, 2 men on a motorcycle shot and killed the brother of the provincial vice governor in Zamboanga City.
XXVIII) On Election Day, Monday, 5/10/2010 at 215 AM in Barangay Poblacion, R.T. Lim (town, a.k.a. Roseller Town) in Zamboanga Sibugay , a convoy of campaign workers and Organisers for mayoral candidate Rogelio Lopez refused to stop at a PNP/AFP (Police/Army) checkpoint. As the AFP went in pursuit the convoy began firing at the pursuing soldiers. Reaching Lopez's compound in Barangay Surabay the fleeing men piled out of their SUVs and began fanning out taking up defencive positions. As the AFP, and then the PNP quickly arrived a 3 hour firefight broke out. After the smoke cleared 3 of Lopez's men were killed and 8 people were wounded, 3 of whom were PNP officers.
Not suprisingly, the local and national media reported that it was a "peaceful election." an additional Liberal Party campaign worker, Toto Lagana of Labangan was shot to death by a 45 caliber pistol but scant information, including the date of his death are available.
Governor Dominguez's SUV had just passed the foot of Lun Masla Bridge in Mapalatan when a powerful IED partially detonated.The device,centered upon a 105 MM Howitzer shell wired to a Motorola cellular phone was attached to an abandoned motorcycle parked near the shoulder of the road.Detonating at partial strength due to a problem with the shell, no casualties were reported and the convoy continued unscathed onto GenSan.
While things did manage to die down in G'laan, at least momentarily,the town was listed as an"Election Hotspot"by COMELEC (the governmental authority charged with overseeing all elections).On Election Day snafus resulted in a COMELEC decison to include G'laan on the list of municpalities to participate in the Re-balloting, yesterday, Thursday, June 3rd (re-edit: Mayor Enrique Yap is out of office and brother Victor James Yap has replaced him, while their sister Vivien is the Vice Mayor, noted on August 1, 2010). speaking of "Election Hotspots," most of the nation along with the very limited international coverage Mindanao receives have all focused on Maguindanao Province and the rest of the ARMM (Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) because of the "Maguindanao Massacare"to be discussed in a subsequent entry. To a lesser degree Lanao del Sur Province has received attention as well but most people have not even considered that there may have been a much more violent section of the island that had managed to evade scrutiny.
Region IX, the Zamboanga Peninsula with its 3 provinces saw more than 32 deaths this election season (beginning in eary November when candidates begin registering with COMELEC to declare their candidacy up until 6/03/2010 when this election's Re-balloting took place. That number is pretty amazing when COMELEC is declaring that the entire island had only 27 deaths (of course not including the almost 60 deaths from the "Maguindanao Massacre").
Most deaths revolved around the mayoral race in Labangan in Zamboanga del Sur Province and most victims were members of the Liberal Party in that municipality. Vice Mayor Wilson "Kitty" Nandang, cousin of the current mayor, Abubakar Afdal was the central figure in all deaths in that area.
I) The first to die, on record at least, was Ensor Pakil, a Liberal Party organiser in Labangan. He was shot to death on 12/29/2010.
II) On 1/04/2010 "habal-habal" driver (motorised tricycle built from a motorcross "dirtbike") Rascal Afdal was letting his son drive, on National Hiway in Barangay Dao, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur Province. 48 year old Afdal was cut off by 2 men on a single motorcyle. Immediately the passenger on the rear of the motorcycle killed Afdal. Rascal Afdal is a supporter of Vice Mayor Wilson "Kitty" Nandang, as well as being his cousin and his personal driver (though by a stroke of co-incidence un-related to the mayor with whom he coincidentally shares a surname).
III) On 1/11/2010, Rosalinda "Rose" Pajente, an Operations Manager for the National Food Authority (Philippine equivalent to the American FDA) was on her way home and fast approaching a PNP (Police) checkpoint on National Hiway, in Barangay Tiguma, Pagadian City. 2 men on a motorcycle drove up on her left, the man on the rear shot her to death before fleeing. Rose was an organiser for the Liberal Party in neighbouring Labangan.
IV) On 1/16/2010, at 5PM, Hadja Anira Abdullah Agcong , a supporter Wilson "Kitty" Nandang and a major backer for his stab at the mayoralty was at Pagadian City's Gaisano Mall to purchase medicines for her ailing son, who waited in the SUV. As soon as Ms. Agcong stepped out of her vehicle she was shot in the chest and killed by an assailant holding a 45 caliber pistol. He then calmly walked away, hopped on the back of a motorcycle and drove off.
V) The next day, 1/17/2010, Motalliden "Steve" Pacman Tapodoc, a cadidate for Town Council in Labangan on the Liberal Party ticket was walking behind the Pagadian City Hall compound in Barangay Poblacion. As he neared the corner nearest the Philippine Independant Church 2 men on a motorcyle shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
VI) On 2/09/2010, incumbernt Barangay Councilor and former Barangay Captain on the Liberal Party ticket, Joel Autida of Barangay Cabgan in Tambulig, a municipality adjoining Labangan was shot to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
VII) On 3/09/2010, Liberal Party Organiser, 32 year old Jay Durangparang of Purok Bayabas, Barangay Kalubi, Aurora, Zamboanga del Sur was shot to death by PNP (Police). 5 Police Officers and the chief of Aurora PNP have been arrested and charged with his murder.
VIII) On that same day, 3/09/2010, 42 year old Edilberto Monticillo was also killed, in Aurora. The Liberal Party campaign worker is believed to have been killed by the same officers charged in Mr. Durangparang's death but noone has been charged as of posting.
IX) On 3/14/2010 Liberal Party campaign worker Alfredo Labor Dalingding of Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur was killed by 45 caliber pistol.
X) The next day, 3/15/2010, Liberal Party campaign worker Tuaher Dakula was killed in his hometown of Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur.
XI) On 4/01/2010, 42 year old Habib "Andi" Maulana of Barangay Campo Islam, Labangan was taking his wife and young children for a ride in his "habal-habal" in Pagadian City"s Barangay Tiguma...when the Liberal Party organiser reached the intersection of National Hiway and the Access Road for the integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) his vehicle was cut off by 2 men on a motorcycle. The man on the rear calmly leaned over and shot Mr. Maulauna 5 times in the head with a 45 caliber pistol.
XII) On 4/03/2010, at 11AM, Victoriano "Jun" Olila of Somniot, Zamboanga del Sur Province and that town's Liberal Party coordinator was on his motorcycle when 2 men on a motorcycle pulled up next to him and shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
XIII) On 4/05/2010 in Purok African Daisy, Barangay Catibog in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay Province, a man on a motorcyle rode by the compound of radio station 103.1 FM, "Magic FM" and threw a hand grenade into the station's compound. The grenade hit a billboard and inadvertantly landed very near to the street where 1 hapless pedestrian was unluckily walking. The unidentified man was critically wounded. The station is owned by Zamboanga Sibugay's Governor, George Hofer, the patriarch of the Hofer political dynasty.
Prior to the attack the station had been receiving threatening text messages warning it to ease up against a comepeting political dynasty, the Jalosjos clan. the Jalosjos had been unseated by the Hofers roughly 10 years before but are running in this year's election despite their patriarch Romeo Jalosjos just being released from prison this past March (2010). Romeo Jalosjos, a former Congressman from Zambonga del Norte Province spent the past 16 years serving time for the rape of a child. His original sentence of Life was commuted by President Arroyo.
Governor George Hofer is reaching the end of his term limit and is now running for mayor of Ipil, the second major Christian* town in Region IX. Daughter Dulce Ann Hofer, who usually goes by her middle name (Ann) is running for her father's gubneratorial seat. Her brother Jet Hofer is running for the 2nd District Zambomga Sibugay congressional seat, vacated by sister Dulce Ann so that she might in turn fill their father's surrendered gubneratorial seat. "Musical Chairs."
*"Christian" in the South Philippines is an ethnicity as well as a religious label.
Running againt Jet Hofer is John John Jalosjos, son of former Congressman Romeo Jalosjos, and brother to Rommel Jalosjos who is himself running for Governor against Ducle Ann Hofer.
In 2/2010 Jet Hofer supported the allegations of the Barangay Captain* of Barangay Veterans, Dan Erasmo who filed a petition with COMELEC, the Philippine 's Election Authority, with regard to Rommel, accusing the older son of Romeo Jalosjo of lying on his COMELEC application when he claimed to be residing with his brother in Ipil.
XIV) On 4/08/2010 in Barangay Poblacion, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay a senior PNP (Police) officer and campaign worker for the Lakas-KAMPI-CMD* Party had 2 grenades thrown at his house. Only 1 detonated but luckily, apart from shock there were no casualties.
*Lakas-KAMPI-CMD is the ruling party.
XV) On Sunday, 4/11/2010, Liberal Party Organiser Bernardo Aying of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur was shot to death with a 45 caliber pistol.
XVI) On Monday, 4/12/2010 Rolando Mayormita, a Liberal Party campaign worker in Labangan was shot to death, by 45 caliber pistol in adjoining Pagadian City.
XVII) That same day, 4/12/2010, also in Zamboanga Sibugay, a Liberal Party campaign rally a grenade attack left 4 people seriously wounded, 1 critically. 3 of those people were young children.
XVIII) On Tuesday, 4/13/2010, a convoy of Lakas-KAMPI-CMD workers in the hinterlands of Zamboanga Sibugay Province were strafed with automatic gunfire but luckily incurred no casualties.
XIX) That same day, 4/13/2010, in Zamboanga Sibugay Province a gathering of politicians at the barangay level were fired upon, wounding 1 of them moderately.
XX) At 8PM on Thursday, 4/15/2010, Mayoral candidate Gerge Castillo (Lakas-KAMPI-CMD), of Barangay Poblacion in Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay found a primed IED at his doorstep. Luckily authorities sapped it prior to detonation.
XXI) That same day, 4/15/2010, at 830 PM a Lakas-KAMPI-CMD rally in the Barangay Hall of Titay's Barangay San Antonio was the scene of a stampeding mob after the PNP (Police) discovered an IED inside a plastic bag in the hall's phone booth. The bomb consisted of PVC and black powder (gun powder),i.e. a "pipe bomb."
XXII) That night, in the overnight hours between 4/15/2010 and 4/16/2010 fisherman Jun Borja of Olutanga on Olutanga Island in Zamboanga Sibugay was readying his gear when a gunman approached him and shot him to death with a 45 caliber pistol. Mr. Borja was an organiser for an Olutanga (Olutanga is also the name of 1 of 3 municipalities on the small island) candiate for mayor.
XXIII) On Sunday, 4/18/2010, at 730 PM in Barangay Poblacion, Kabansalan, Zamboanga Sibugay a Lakas-KAMPI-CMD rally in the town gymnasium was the scene of yet another hand grenade attack. The group of 4 young men gravely wounded woman and her young child were seriously wounded.
XXIV) At 8AM on Tuesday, 5/04/2010 Liberal Party Organisers and assistants were riding in 2 flatbed trucks owned by Mayoral candidate Wilson "Kitty" Nandang, en route to Labangan's isolated Barangay Langatod when they were forced to stop at an impromptu checkpoint by armed men. The gunmen made everyone dismount and walk home (roughly 20 kilometers through the bush). As the passnegers began walking the gunmen shot and killed both drivers (Bakel Samal, of Labangan and an employee of candidate Nandang, and an unidentified 2nd man) and then set both trucks and bodies on fire.
XXV) On Friday, 5/07/2010 , Purok Gin-awa, Barangay Tawagan Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, gunmen with M16s set upon a roup of habal-habal drivers who supported Wilson "Kitty" Nandang and killed 2 of them: Hashim Abang Maguindra and Hussain Maguindra Manarasol (no blood relation), and wounding a 3rd unidentifed driver.
XXVI) On Sunday, 5/09/2010, the night before election an IED detonated 3 meters from the mayoral office in Ipil's Barangay Poblacion, at the War Monument on Rizal Street. Because of the late overnight hour nobody was present . The Ipil Department of Education building was severely damaged.
XXVII) At just after midnite, 5/10/2010, Election Day, 2 men on a motorcycle shot and killed the brother of the provincial vice governor in Zamboanga City.
XXVIII) On Election Day, Monday, 5/10/2010 at 215 AM in Barangay Poblacion, R.T. Lim (town, a.k.a. Roseller Town) in Zamboanga Sibugay , a convoy of campaign workers and Organisers for mayoral candidate Rogelio Lopez refused to stop at a PNP/AFP (Police/Army) checkpoint. As the AFP went in pursuit the convoy began firing at the pursuing soldiers. Reaching Lopez's compound in Barangay Surabay the fleeing men piled out of their SUVs and began fanning out taking up defencive positions. As the AFP, and then the PNP quickly arrived a 3 hour firefight broke out. After the smoke cleared 3 of Lopez's men were killed and 8 people were wounded, 3 of whom were PNP officers.
Not suprisingly, the local and national media reported that it was a "peaceful election." an additional Liberal Party campaign worker, Toto Lagana of Labangan was shot to death by a 45 caliber pistol but scant information, including the date of his death are available.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Politics,Second Quarter of 2010:the 2010 Election
As the 2010 election winds down with the last re-scheduled balloting on Mindanao taking place today, 6/03/2010,it is shaping up to be one of the most interesting races in recent memory.Aside from the requisite violence,intimidation and outright fraud the fact that both the Aquino AND the Marcos clans have been given yet another chance to run the country is fascinating in and of itself.
Though the tabulating continues it is assured that Benigno"Nonoy"Aquino III is the nation's next President.The Senator from Tarlac,in Central Luzon,is of course the son of the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. (the difference in speling in their monikers is deliberate),a noted Senator himself and a onetime Presidential hopeful before being murdered at Manila's International Airport that now bears his name as he returned from exile abroad,to challenge the Marcos dictatorship.His mother,the late Corazon Conjuangco Aquino instead became the 1st post-Marcos President.
As another Aquino assumes the Presidency,another Marcos becomes a freshman Congresswoman at the age of 80.Imelda Marcos,widow of the late dictator Ferdinand,has won election to Illocos Norte's 2nd District,a seat her family has controlled for most of the last 25 years.Indeed that slot was just vacated by son Ferdinand Jr.,better known as "Bong Bong,"who will himself ascend to the Senate.Bong Bong is a former Governor of Illocos Norte, the family stronghold.Now filling the Governor's seat is sister Imee Marcos who vacated the Senatorial seat Bong Bong is assuming, and so it goes,welcome to politics,Philippine style.
This is a country where nepotism is not only legal,it is something to be admired,.the Philippines is a nationn where cronyism is seen as normal and though there IS a Term Limit Law (3 Terms),there are no real Ethical Guidelines or Regulations in place.Nothing bars a politician reaching their Term Limit from running for an associated office,such as a govenor running for vice govenor.after winning an associated position and serving just a single term they are then free again to hold their former office for another 3 consecutive terms.Quite often a wife or child will hold the position to circumvent the Term Limit issue while ensuring familial control of the position.Illustrated simply: A mayor,upon reaching his limit runs for vice mayor while his wife simaltaneously runs for mayor.Both win,after 1 term the former mayor again runs for mayor and holds it for another 3 consecutive Terms.If such things are common in the Philippines,they are the rule of the day here on Mindanao where an almost feudal society prevails.
Such systems offer very little suprises. The biggest upset on Mindanao this election has been the loss of the Chingobian political dynasty to a political newcomer for the lone Congressional seat in Sarangani Province. More than a member of the Chingobians losing,it was the person who won that position that fueled most of the drama,.none other than famed boxer Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao had become the new congressman from Sarangani Province.His opponent,Roy Chingobian,was a political newcomer as well but in Mindanowan society,as I noted in my previous paragraphs,family is everything.The Chingobians,like almost all politicians on the national level,are fabulously wealthy.The bulk of their fortune rests with"Eastern Shipping Lines,"a Manila based,family owned company that specialises on shipping to Japan.
This was actually Congressman Pacman's second foray,having ran and lost against Congresswoman Nancy Antonio Custodio for the 1st District of South Cotabato Province and General Santos City (the latter being a municipality in the adjoining province of Saranagni) in the 2007 Election. Ms. Custodio is herself a member of yet another political dynasty, the Antonio family.Re-positioning himself in his wife Jinkee's home province of Sarangani,Pacquiao finally got his wish.
Of course Pacquiao's election was not without its own bumps and bruises;
On Sunday, 4/25/2010 at a little after 10PM, Mayor Enrique Yap of G'laan,Sarangani Province was en route to a meeting with local supporters when 2 vans suddenly swung into the middle of the road to form an impromptu roadblock in Barangay Pang-yah.As men holding weaons piled out of the vans the mayor's driver swung hard and circumvented the ambush. Quickly making his way to safety he notified the G'laan PNP (police) who rather quickly caught the 2 vans and 5 men.Finding an M16 and a single 45 pistol the men were jailed.Upon further investigation however it was discovered that at least 1 of the Toyota L300 vans is registered to Jinkee Pacquiao,wife of Manny.This is in addition to the garbage bags full of Pacquiao campaign related material also found inside both vans.
Pacquiao disavowed any connection to the men or the incident though he decried the"dirty tricks"being used against him,via his attorney Orlando Santandre.
That Friday, 4/30/2010 at their 1st court appearance,lo and behold all 5 were represented by none other than Mr. Santandre who managed to get the case thrown out based upon Section 5, Rule 113 of the Revised Rules Criminal Procedure (in layman terms,"a bad search").This time Pacquiao lauded the Philippine justice system that vindicated these "innocent" men.
Aaaah,what a tangeled web we weave...
Though the tabulating continues it is assured that Benigno"Nonoy"Aquino III is the nation's next President.The Senator from Tarlac,in Central Luzon,is of course the son of the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. (the difference in speling in their monikers is deliberate),a noted Senator himself and a onetime Presidential hopeful before being murdered at Manila's International Airport that now bears his name as he returned from exile abroad,to challenge the Marcos dictatorship.His mother,the late Corazon Conjuangco Aquino instead became the 1st post-Marcos President.
As another Aquino assumes the Presidency,another Marcos becomes a freshman Congresswoman at the age of 80.Imelda Marcos,widow of the late dictator Ferdinand,has won election to Illocos Norte's 2nd District,a seat her family has controlled for most of the last 25 years.Indeed that slot was just vacated by son Ferdinand Jr.,better known as "Bong Bong,"who will himself ascend to the Senate.Bong Bong is a former Governor of Illocos Norte, the family stronghold.Now filling the Governor's seat is sister Imee Marcos who vacated the Senatorial seat Bong Bong is assuming, and so it goes,welcome to politics,Philippine style.
This is a country where nepotism is not only legal,it is something to be admired,.the Philippines is a nationn where cronyism is seen as normal and though there IS a Term Limit Law (3 Terms),there are no real Ethical Guidelines or Regulations in place.Nothing bars a politician reaching their Term Limit from running for an associated office,such as a govenor running for vice govenor.after winning an associated position and serving just a single term they are then free again to hold their former office for another 3 consecutive terms.Quite often a wife or child will hold the position to circumvent the Term Limit issue while ensuring familial control of the position.Illustrated simply: A mayor,upon reaching his limit runs for vice mayor while his wife simaltaneously runs for mayor.Both win,after 1 term the former mayor again runs for mayor and holds it for another 3 consecutive Terms.If such things are common in the Philippines,they are the rule of the day here on Mindanao where an almost feudal society prevails.
Such systems offer very little suprises. The biggest upset on Mindanao this election has been the loss of the Chingobian political dynasty to a political newcomer for the lone Congressional seat in Sarangani Province. More than a member of the Chingobians losing,it was the person who won that position that fueled most of the drama,.none other than famed boxer Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao had become the new congressman from Sarangani Province.His opponent,Roy Chingobian,was a political newcomer as well but in Mindanowan society,as I noted in my previous paragraphs,family is everything.The Chingobians,like almost all politicians on the national level,are fabulously wealthy.The bulk of their fortune rests with"Eastern Shipping Lines,"a Manila based,family owned company that specialises on shipping to Japan.
This was actually Congressman Pacman's second foray,having ran and lost against Congresswoman Nancy Antonio Custodio for the 1st District of South Cotabato Province and General Santos City (the latter being a municipality in the adjoining province of Saranagni) in the 2007 Election. Ms. Custodio is herself a member of yet another political dynasty, the Antonio family.Re-positioning himself in his wife Jinkee's home province of Sarangani,Pacquiao finally got his wish.
Of course Pacquiao's election was not without its own bumps and bruises;
On Sunday, 4/25/2010 at a little after 10PM, Mayor Enrique Yap of G'laan,Sarangani Province was en route to a meeting with local supporters when 2 vans suddenly swung into the middle of the road to form an impromptu roadblock in Barangay Pang-yah.As men holding weaons piled out of the vans the mayor's driver swung hard and circumvented the ambush. Quickly making his way to safety he notified the G'laan PNP (police) who rather quickly caught the 2 vans and 5 men.Finding an M16 and a single 45 pistol the men were jailed.Upon further investigation however it was discovered that at least 1 of the Toyota L300 vans is registered to Jinkee Pacquiao,wife of Manny.This is in addition to the garbage bags full of Pacquiao campaign related material also found inside both vans.
Pacquiao disavowed any connection to the men or the incident though he decried the"dirty tricks"being used against him,via his attorney Orlando Santandre.
That Friday, 4/30/2010 at their 1st court appearance,lo and behold all 5 were represented by none other than Mr. Santandre who managed to get the case thrown out based upon Section 5, Rule 113 of the Revised Rules Criminal Procedure (in layman terms,"a bad search").This time Pacquiao lauded the Philippine justice system that vindicated these "innocent" men.
Aaaah,what a tangeled web we weave...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)