The Tawi Tawi island group, an offshore province of Mindanao, forms the southernmost province in the Philippines. Originally part of Sulu Province, gaining its independent provincial status in 1973, Tawi Tawi has developed a character all its own. The dominant ethnicity, the Sama, with all its disparate offshoots- from the Jama Mapun to the Sama Ubia- offer Tawi Tawi a distinctive character far different from Jolo, the central island in the adjacent province of Sulu. Jolo, and Sulu as a whole, is dominated by the Tausugs, a group that migrated from Butuan, by way of Basilan, six to seven centuries ago.
Tausug culture revolves around an honor code that governs mosy every aspect of male life. Known as "Adat" (akin to the "Kanun" of the Albanians or "Pashtunwali" of the Pashtun of Pakistan and Afghanistan), the code requires violent remedies for any afront to personal dignity or family honor. The result is a warrior culture, that has come to dominate not only the Tausug's adopted home of Jolo, but the offshore province of Basilan as well. The Sama, most offshoots anyway, are peaceful and seek co-existence with the Tausug at almost any cost. Tawi Tawi then has largely avoided the violence-including the Islamic Insurgencies- that have plagued both Jolo and Basilan for decades (actually centuries if one looks at the larger picture).
Piracy and KFR, or Kidnap for Ransom, have deep roots in the Tausug culture. This has been re-inforced by the introduction of Islam to the region just prior to the Tausu migration. Ransoming captives, non-Muslims anyway- is legal within Shari'a (Islamic Jurisprudence). Granted, most members of ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) can barely read and write in their native languages, let alone Arabic, but there ARE a few who are highly educated, usually via scholarships offered by Middle Eastern nations. Therefore, fluent in Arabic and well versed in Shari'a, they offer up a precious Islamic rationalization that segues perfectly with ingrained cultural practices. Within Islam, the operative issue is the faith of a potential captive (must be a non-Muslim), and the existence of a state of war. I think anyone would be hardpressed to deny that Mindanao has been in just such a state, albeit ebbing and flowing, since pre-history. Indeed, it was a war in Butuan that drove the Tausug out of Mainland Mindanao and into Basilan (and shortly thereafter, Jolo).
The Sama though, have a very different culture. Aside from the Sama Ubian, who are actually Dayaks from Borneo who adapated to Sama influences, the culture is one of appeasement, and in the case of Jolo, subservience (so much for the ridiculous myth of Bangsamoro peoplehood..). One exception to this "culture of appeasement" are the Balangingi, a Sama group from the island of Balangingi who managed to dominate piracy in the Sulu and Celebes Seas until a genocidal attack by the Spanish Military in 1848 virtually destroyed the group.
Although the Tausug did not settle in Tawi Tawi in any great numbers, they continued their political, economic and cultural domination of Tawi Tawi. The subsequent "culture of appeasement" that developed amongst the Sama has for the most part, rendered Tawi Tawi far more sedate, and offers visitors a much greater sense of security. So much so in fact, that intrepid travellers, including Westerners, continue to visit the small island group without bothering to arrange any special security detail, as would be par for the course in Sulu (Jolo included), Basilan, and even in many parts of Mainland Mindanao.
Such was the case of two European taxidermists who share a deep interest in Birding, a pasttime that most refer to as "Birdwatching." 52 year old Ewold Horn left his home in Den Andel, in Groningen, Holland and met his friend and professional colleague Lorenzo Vinciguerra for a long awaited trip to the Southern Philippines. Vinciguerra, aged 47, owns a profitable taxidermy business in the town of Grub, in Switzerland, and like Horn he enjoys Birding more than he did his chosen trade, stuffing dead animals into likelike poses.
They planned on spotting, and hopefully photographing, several rare Philippine birds in what was to be a 14 day vacation. The highlight of this dream get away was a little known bitd endemic to just two of the 307 islands in the Tawi Tawi island group (and Jolo, now only existing on Mainland Tawi Tawi in a tiny area), the Sulu Hornbill (Anthracoceros Montani). The bird is considered to be on the verge of extinction with an estimated population of 27 adults. Such rarity renders the bird a hot item in the world of Birding. Indeed, the two men had travelled to Tawi Tawi in 1996 in hopes of catching a glimpse only to have their hopes dashed due to the sector being made off limits to foreigners while the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines, undertook a security operation against the ASG.
Arriving in Zamboanga City on Saturday, January 28th, 2012, the two men rendevouzed with a Filipino Birding enthusiast, 32 year old Ivan Sardenas. Sardenas, a residentof Davao City had recently spent considerable time in Tawi Tawi as he sought to establish himself as a guide for nature enthusiasts. It was Sardenas who had put in the legwork in locating the latest sightings of the highly endangered bird and who then pre-arranged security for their expedition. Early Sunday morning, January 29th, the three men boarded a plane in Zamboanga City fora 45 minute flight to Bongao, the capital of Tawi Tawi.
At their hotel Ivan Sadenas called ahead to the municipality of Panglima Sugala, where four of the birds had been sighted in recent months. The Mayor's righthand man recommended that Sardenas employ Municipal Councilor Nestor
Camilo Cabarrubias Sr. as a local guide, and that the Councilor himself would then arrange the expedition's security using police officers from the MPO, or Municipal Police Office. Sardenas didnt have much choice in the matter but dis make the man aware that the expedition wasnt well funded and that the Security Detail would have to take this into account.
Leaving Bongao's Chinese Pier by motorbanca, Philippine speak for "motorized skiff," the group slowly skirted the coast of Mainland Tawi Tawi until reaching Panglima Sugala in the middle of the elongated island's coast. As the men disembarked and began wading through the surf the boat opetator repeated that he would be returning to that same spot to pick them up for their return trip on Wednesday, February 1st, three days hence. Casting off while wishing them luck, the party began carrying their gear through Barangay Bato Bato, the town center, or "Poblacion." As the group atrived at Municipal Hall they were greeted warmly by Councilor Cabarrubias and a lone UNARMED police officer who would be serving as the expedition's paltry "Security Detail."
After a very short meet and greet with town dignitaries the expedition piled into an SUV belonging to the Municipal Government, the expedition made its way to Tubig Malum, or as the Philippine Governmen refers to it, the Rio Hondo River. Parking the vehicle, to be retrieved later by other police officers, the group forded the river and began their tedious hike upcountry to Mount Balik Sampan where the expedition would sped the next three days encamped as the two Europeans and Ivan Sadenas would do their best to photograph their quarry, the Sulu Hornbill.
Wednesday, February 1st arrived and the expedition, having failed to even sight the elusive bird, re-packed their gear and began hiking back down to Tubig Malum where they were to part ways with their "Security Detail." Once at the river , Horn, Vinciguerra, and Sadenas began following it into Barangay Parangan. In that barangay's Sitio Luuk Luuk the three men were suprised, but elated to find the skiff was moored waiting for them, moored just off shore. It didnt take long at all to load the gear aboard and at just after 120PM the boat started its engine and turned back towards Bongao, where the three men hoped to spend a quiet evening back at the hotel, resting in comfort before the next day's flight back to Zamboanga City.
As the boat made its way offshore to skirt all the outriggers of fishermen and seaweed farmers, a pumpboat turned into the lane behind them. Within minutes everybody onboard the skiff was on edge, how much more so when the pumpboat pulled closer and Sadenas noticed the dual barrels of an M16 rifle fitted out with an M203 grenade launcher er. Before long the men in the pumpboat began screaming at the skiff and vigirously motioning with their arms, waving their assault rifles in a menacing fashion. However, it wasnt until a few rounds were fired over their heads that the skiff's operator began dejectedly easing off its throttle.
The pumpboat quickly pulled parallel before two men aboard it hooked the crafts together. Four gunmen quickly came aboard the skiff and pointed their barrels at all four men, motioning for Horn, Vinciguerra, and Sadenas to transfer themselves and their gear to the pumpboat. Forcing the fourth man, the boat opetator, to turn off his idling engine, they then snatched his keys, stole two of his batteries and forced him over the side at gunpoint.
Back aboard the pumpboat, the three captives were forced under a blue plastic tarp covering the foresection almost to.the bow. Quickly throttling up the pumpboat turned around as if to travel back towards Panglima Sugala. Before reaching that town's municipal boundry however, it veered into a "bakawan," or mangrove, where it rendevouzed with a second pumpboat with a markedly different appearance. Once again secured under a blue plastic tarp, the small craft turned out to sea and gunned its engines.
As the second pumpboat entered the waters off of the municipality of Languyan, an offshore islet came into view, pylling parallel to it the boat slowed considerably and finally began idling. Within ten minutes a third, larger pumpboat came at a high rate of speed from the fishing grounds just off of the town. Pulling abreast, the five gunmen aboatd received the three captives and their gear and as was the case twice before, Horn, Vinciguerra, and Sadenas wete forced out of sight under a blue plastic tarp. As this third pumpboat nosed itself out to sea the three captives took stock of their situation; with them under the tarp were three liter containers of fresh water and 55 gallon drums of fuel. With the boat heading out to the sealanes, and seeing a large cachet of fresh water and fuel, it was clear that they erre heading into a Sulu Province, and the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) base of operations, Jolo Island.
Ivan Sadenas knew well that it was the Europeans that their captors valued. Coming from a poor family and being a Christian Filipino, his life was worth practically nothing once the five gunmen handed them off to their cohorts on Jolo. Thinking fast, Sadenas told his two companions that he was thinking about making.a run for it by throwing himdelf ovrtboard. Promising the Horn and Vinciguerra that he would alert the authorities, he quietly lifted the edge of the tarp and saw that the five gunmen were busy amongst themselves. Making his way to the opposite side of the tarp he once again quietly lifted an edge and discovered that they were only 1,000 meters off of Mainland Tawi Tawi, smack dab in the middle of fishing grounds as the pumpboat sought cover as it made its way to a busier shipping lane.
Quickly realizing that the fishing grounds represented a great opportunity since witnesses would inhibit a violent reaction from his captors...at least he prayed it would...Sadenas lifted the tarp enough to climb up over the side of tge boat and quickly dove into the azure sea. Diving down as far as he could Ivan Sadenas furiously swam as far as he could until he felt his lungs would burst. Surfacing, desperate for air, he was shocked (and relieved) to find that the boat hadnt even slowed down. He was free, if he could make his way to shore anyway.
Waving his arms as he bobbed in the water, Sadenas quickly caught the attention of an outrigger crewed by three fishermen. Dragging the elated man aboard, the fishermen were able to piece together Sadena's story through gestures and.a few mutually intelligible words. The outrigger made its way to Panglima Sugala where Ivan Sadenas quickly summoned the police. Taking his report the MPO quickly notified the Police Provincial Office, or PPO. Per protocols, PPO-Tawi Tawi immediately notified the AFP's Naval Task Force 62 (TF-62) which handles all seaborne incidents in Tawi Tawi and the waters seperating that province from Borneo.
TF-62 consists of a tender and four patrol boats, along with personnel from MBLT-5 (Marine Battalion Landing Team #5). Despite this capable force, and.cordon it implenented around Mainland Tawi Tawi's eastern and northern coasts, the third pumpboat and the two Europeans, Ewold Horn and Lorenzo Vinciguerra, remained undiscovered. Within two days Governor Sadikul Sahali deployed a 2,000 man search party to comb Mainland Tawi Tawi's 275 square kilometers of jungle, within which Panglima Sugala sits. PPO-Tawi Tawi Director, Superintendent Rodelio Jocson, Chairperson of the Governor's Crisis Management Committee, the requisite entity empaneled to co-ordinate all Governmental responses to the kidnapping, wasted no time in going to the media and accusing Councilman Nestor Camilo Cabarrubias Sr. and his handpicked municipal police officer were pulling the strings on an "inside job."
Superintendent Jocson was naturally asked to elaborate. His bombshell? With a snide conspiratorial grimace, Jocson observed that when the expedition's motorbanca was overtaken by the first pumpboat, neither Councilor Cabarrubias nor the police officer were present, having left the expedition at the river. Of course that is absolutely ridiculous given the fact that the abduction occurred as the men were returning to Bongao. Why would Cabarrubias and the officer be aboard when their "services" had only been secured for Panglima Sugala?
The actual culprit was MNLF-Misuari officer, Kumander Sahi Tali, via his footsoldiers in and around Panglima Sugala. There arent many employment opportunnities in the province and the tourists coming to Panglima Sugala have helped to spawn a healthy cottage industry amongst young men from the immediate area. amany such youth are members of the MNLF-Misuari, a group ostensibly at peace with Manila although it is tenuous, if not an outright fantasy. One of tgese young men, Mustapha Muallam, bent at losing his P250 ($5.50) fee, contacted his immediate superior within the MNLF, who in turn got the go ahead from an underling of Kumander Tali. Tali's own superior, Kumander Habir Malik on Jolo, wanted to turn an easy profit.
The official narrative has the third pumpboat having turned back to Mainland Tawi Tawi after rough seas and a shortage of fuel convince the MNLF guerillas to try again another day. In reality there was no shortage of fuel as the vessel carried several spare drums. Moreover, people on Jolo saw the pumpboat land off of the municipality of Patikul on Jolo. Once on Jolo, Kumander Tali quickly sold both Europeans to Kumamder Yasset Igasan, leader of an ASG faction operating in the hills around Patikul.
Having only found the burned remnants of that first pumpboat in the mamgrove where it had transferred the captives, Governor Sahali finally conceeded that even the Dutch and Swiss Embassies no longer believed that thetwo men remained on Tawi Tawi. Sheepishly demobilizing the Crisis Management.Committee, the Governor them tossed the ball to his counterpart in Sulu, Governor Abdursakur Tan. PPO-Sulu however refused to even consider the possibility.
Showing posts with label MBLT-5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MBLT-5. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Friday, October 7, 2011
Abu Sayyaf Armed Contacts for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part I: Abu Sayyaf Decapitates Two Marines
Soldiers dying in defence of their dury is always poigbant but many, if not most, take some measure of comfort knowing that such men have not died in vain...but what about when soldiers die needlessly?
Sitio Tubig Magtuh in the municipality of Patikul's Barangay Panglayahan sits in between two sheer-faced peaks, Mount Tunggol and Mount Gasam. Towards the rear of the sitio going upland there is a very sharp incline, heavily forested with successive ridgelines. The only way in is by foot and going uphill. Above the third ridgeline the land takes a more gentle slope and it is there that the Abu Sayyaf's Kumander Radullan "Putol" Sahiron established a well entrenched encampment.
On July 27th, 2011 the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines, implemented its OPlan (Operational Plan)_ Wild Finger, the latest facet of its more comprehensive OPlan Five Fingers. Wild Finger aimed to de-stabilise the ASG, or Abu Sayyaf Group infrastructure by putting all its numerous Jolo-based factions on the defencive with an aggressive and concerted Fleet-Marine push ("Fleet Marine" being the inclusive Naval-Marine intertwined operational doctrine implemented by the AFP in 2006). Marine Battalion Landing Team #5, or MBLT-5, 311th Company divided itself into three platoons of thirty-two riflemen and one commanding officer and divvied up its given AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation").
After midnite Company 311's Platoon 30, under Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, cautiously entered the upland barangay of Panglayahan and began advancing very slowly as the barangay is ASG-controlled in its upper environs. At 315AM, as the thirty-three men began moving painstakingly slow, advancing up a steep rise, the skies opened up with a torrential thunderstorm. As the men stopped to quietly switch into their rain gear the jungle uphill and to the sides of them came alive with automatic rifle fire.
Immediately Second Lieutenant Baladad and the man closest to him, his second in command, Seargant Desiderio Serdan Jr., who was carrying the platoon's ICOM radio, fell, both instantly killed in the initial fusiilade. The remaining thirty-one men, now rudderless, devoid of command, spread out and fell to their stomachs as their years of training kicked in. Unable to even crawl to Seargant Serdan to call in on the ICOM for assistance the marines concentrated their fire, ever mindful of conserving ammunition. Holding their positions they continued inching to the sides to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from encircling them. Applying pressure on both flanks the marines were slowly able to force the ASG guerillas into a short retreat uphill, albeit to a posiion still very well within firing range.
With rain subsiding just after daybreak the Abu Sayyaf began re-gaining what little ground they had lost. Outnumbering their Marine counterparts by a factor of two and using well honed tactics the guerillas soon had the platoon retreating down hill though very slowly. Seven dead Marines were left where they had died, as the twenty-six survivors, all wounded to the last man themselves, maintained a cohesive formation and repelled numerous attempts to outflank their position. By 7AM the ASG firepower diminished and then quickly subsided as the guerillas retreated further into the mountains.
Slowly the platoon re-climbed the slope to retrieve the bodies of their fallen comrades and any equipment they might salvage. Not only were all seven corpses stripped of everything but their underwear, four of the corpses had been defiled. Second Lieutenant Baladad and another of the fallen, Corporal Freddie Castellano Jr., had been decapitated and their hads had been taken with the retreating guerillas. Two other corpses had been mutilated with a sword. With the ICOM now captured by the Abu Sayyaf the twenty-six surviving- but wounded- members of Platoon 30 realised that they were ill equipped to negotiate the very steep, and now muddied slopes while carrying their fallen comrades. Therefore they reluctantly made their way downhill without the seven and threaded their way into the town proper. There a corporal phoned in a status report to Brigade Headquarters and tended to the most seriously injured amongst them.
It was late in the afternoon before two UH-1H helicopters, popularly known as "Hueys," landed near the town's municipal compound. Taking two of the least injured Marines aboard, one in each helicopter, they lifted off covered by two MG-520 helicopter gunships hovering on their flanks for aircover. The Hueys disgorged portions of MBLTs 5 and 10, the other two battalions engaged in OPlan Wild Finger, and the tedious and painstaking recovery effort began. By night fall the seven bodies of the fallen Marines. The casualties:
1) Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, the platoon leader, of Quezon City in Metro Manila. He left behind his wife Michelle and their two young children, Macky, age 6, and Mikayla, age 2. Michelle had spoken to her husband just before he led his men into the jungle. They had discussed his upcoming R and R (Rest and Relaxation, aka "Leave") just a week away and how they were going to take the kids to the Manila Zoo. Sadly, she had last seen her husband in March when they had gotten married.
2) Seargant Desiderio Serdan Jr., a resident of Iriga City in Camarines del Sur Province on Luzon.
3) Corporal Freddie Castellano Jr., a lifelong resident of Sitio Mercedes in the municipality of La Castellana's Barangay Sag-ang. He and his family lived on Hacienda Mercedes, a sugar plantation where Corporal Castellano had laboured before entering the military.
4) Corporal Claro Lapasaran III, a resident of the municipality of Barotac's Barangay Licuan in Nuevo Iolio Province in the Central Philippine's Visayas Region.
5) Corporal Ramsel Laynesa, a resident of the municipality of Nabua in the province of Camarines del Sur on Luzon.
6) Private First Class Juanito Evasco Jr., also a resident of Nabua.
7) Private Nico Tinambunan, a lifelong resident of Lamitan City in Basilan Province.
All seven bodies were immediately brought to Camp Bautista in Jolo City on that same island of Jolo where they were stored as arrangements were made. Early Saturday morning, July 30th, they were transported to Camp Erwin Andrews in Zamboanga City where Private Tinambunan's body was offloaded. As a Muslim his funeral had to take place as soon as possible. Ideally a Muslim must be interred before sunset on the day of his or her death but in this case not much could be done. As his body was flown across the strait to Basilan the C-130 lifted off for the flight to Manila where the six remaining corpses would be given a military funeral. Upon landing each white enameled coffin was loaded onto six separate hearses and driven to the auditorium at Marine Headquarters at Fort Bonifacio.
The next morning, Sunday, July 31st, President Aquino made his appearance aa did all high ranking personalities in the military echelon. The President vowed revenge, and promised that each family of the deceased would receive P250,000 ($5,150), a vertible fortune in Philippine terms at nearly two times the annual salary of an enlisted man. The payouts will be sourced from the Presidential Social Fund, a euphanism for "Slush Fund." Considering that AFP personnel are dying in combat every month it seems a bit strange that President Aquino would offer such largesse when he never even raises an eyebrow when other soldiers or marines are killed. Photo opportunities make all the difference.
Each of the seven men received a promotion of a single rank which is a standard procedure and does help to boost the pension any spouse or primary survivor will receive. Also, President Aquino personally awarded- posthumously- the nation's second highest honour, the Gold Cross, for "Gallantry in Action." Again, plenty of people dying and noone bats an eye. On Tuesday, August 2nd, all bodies were released to their families with the AFP delivering them.
Some readers may have remembered that in my first paragraph I had inferred that these seven men gave up their lives for nothing. That seems extremely harsh, but I am sure that if you know the facts that you very well might agree with me.
That very same Abu Sayyaf camp in Sitio Tubig Magtuh? It has been overun and captured by AFP Marines no less than five times in the last seven years. It is true that in war a barren hill with no apparent utility tactically OR strategically can be taken, and re-taken, with great casualties incurred. However, in insurgency it is a different story. When a strategic position is captured, no matter the cost, it must be held and eventually consolidated with other similarly cleared assets. Realising that Sitio Tubig Magtuh holds extreme strategical value for Kumander Sahiron the AFP should have long ago capitalised on its gains there and at least biouvaced a CAA, or Civilian Active Auxiliary (as in CAFGU or CVO) detachment there to repel any future attempts at re-taking the site.
Sadly, each of the several AFP assaults on that particular camp have taken place at a particular time of year, late March. So, just about every Easter Week the AFP sends in a Marine detachment, usually from MBLT-5, to re-take this same camp. It borders on insanity. At least this time the AFP has learned a lesson or two and has installed a military post at the encampment site. Naming the post "Camp Baladad" in honour of Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, the fallen platoon leader, it is manned by a platoon from none other than MBLT-5.
Sitio Tubig Magtuh in the municipality of Patikul's Barangay Panglayahan sits in between two sheer-faced peaks, Mount Tunggol and Mount Gasam. Towards the rear of the sitio going upland there is a very sharp incline, heavily forested with successive ridgelines. The only way in is by foot and going uphill. Above the third ridgeline the land takes a more gentle slope and it is there that the Abu Sayyaf's Kumander Radullan "Putol" Sahiron established a well entrenched encampment.
On July 27th, 2011 the AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines, implemented its OPlan (Operational Plan)_ Wild Finger, the latest facet of its more comprehensive OPlan Five Fingers. Wild Finger aimed to de-stabilise the ASG, or Abu Sayyaf Group infrastructure by putting all its numerous Jolo-based factions on the defencive with an aggressive and concerted Fleet-Marine push ("Fleet Marine" being the inclusive Naval-Marine intertwined operational doctrine implemented by the AFP in 2006). Marine Battalion Landing Team #5, or MBLT-5, 311th Company divided itself into three platoons of thirty-two riflemen and one commanding officer and divvied up its given AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation").
After midnite Company 311's Platoon 30, under Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, cautiously entered the upland barangay of Panglayahan and began advancing very slowly as the barangay is ASG-controlled in its upper environs. At 315AM, as the thirty-three men began moving painstakingly slow, advancing up a steep rise, the skies opened up with a torrential thunderstorm. As the men stopped to quietly switch into their rain gear the jungle uphill and to the sides of them came alive with automatic rifle fire.
Immediately Second Lieutenant Baladad and the man closest to him, his second in command, Seargant Desiderio Serdan Jr., who was carrying the platoon's ICOM radio, fell, both instantly killed in the initial fusiilade. The remaining thirty-one men, now rudderless, devoid of command, spread out and fell to their stomachs as their years of training kicked in. Unable to even crawl to Seargant Serdan to call in on the ICOM for assistance the marines concentrated their fire, ever mindful of conserving ammunition. Holding their positions they continued inching to the sides to prevent the Abu Sayyaf from encircling them. Applying pressure on both flanks the marines were slowly able to force the ASG guerillas into a short retreat uphill, albeit to a posiion still very well within firing range.
With rain subsiding just after daybreak the Abu Sayyaf began re-gaining what little ground they had lost. Outnumbering their Marine counterparts by a factor of two and using well honed tactics the guerillas soon had the platoon retreating down hill though very slowly. Seven dead Marines were left where they had died, as the twenty-six survivors, all wounded to the last man themselves, maintained a cohesive formation and repelled numerous attempts to outflank their position. By 7AM the ASG firepower diminished and then quickly subsided as the guerillas retreated further into the mountains.
Slowly the platoon re-climbed the slope to retrieve the bodies of their fallen comrades and any equipment they might salvage. Not only were all seven corpses stripped of everything but their underwear, four of the corpses had been defiled. Second Lieutenant Baladad and another of the fallen, Corporal Freddie Castellano Jr., had been decapitated and their hads had been taken with the retreating guerillas. Two other corpses had been mutilated with a sword. With the ICOM now captured by the Abu Sayyaf the twenty-six surviving- but wounded- members of Platoon 30 realised that they were ill equipped to negotiate the very steep, and now muddied slopes while carrying their fallen comrades. Therefore they reluctantly made their way downhill without the seven and threaded their way into the town proper. There a corporal phoned in a status report to Brigade Headquarters and tended to the most seriously injured amongst them.
It was late in the afternoon before two UH-1H helicopters, popularly known as "Hueys," landed near the town's municipal compound. Taking two of the least injured Marines aboard, one in each helicopter, they lifted off covered by two MG-520 helicopter gunships hovering on their flanks for aircover. The Hueys disgorged portions of MBLTs 5 and 10, the other two battalions engaged in OPlan Wild Finger, and the tedious and painstaking recovery effort began. By night fall the seven bodies of the fallen Marines. The casualties:
1) Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, the platoon leader, of Quezon City in Metro Manila. He left behind his wife Michelle and their two young children, Macky, age 6, and Mikayla, age 2. Michelle had spoken to her husband just before he led his men into the jungle. They had discussed his upcoming R and R (Rest and Relaxation, aka "Leave") just a week away and how they were going to take the kids to the Manila Zoo. Sadly, she had last seen her husband in March when they had gotten married.
2) Seargant Desiderio Serdan Jr., a resident of Iriga City in Camarines del Sur Province on Luzon.
3) Corporal Freddie Castellano Jr., a lifelong resident of Sitio Mercedes in the municipality of La Castellana's Barangay Sag-ang. He and his family lived on Hacienda Mercedes, a sugar plantation where Corporal Castellano had laboured before entering the military.
4) Corporal Claro Lapasaran III, a resident of the municipality of Barotac's Barangay Licuan in Nuevo Iolio Province in the Central Philippine's Visayas Region.
5) Corporal Ramsel Laynesa, a resident of the municipality of Nabua in the province of Camarines del Sur on Luzon.
6) Private First Class Juanito Evasco Jr., also a resident of Nabua.
7) Private Nico Tinambunan, a lifelong resident of Lamitan City in Basilan Province.
All seven bodies were immediately brought to Camp Bautista in Jolo City on that same island of Jolo where they were stored as arrangements were made. Early Saturday morning, July 30th, they were transported to Camp Erwin Andrews in Zamboanga City where Private Tinambunan's body was offloaded. As a Muslim his funeral had to take place as soon as possible. Ideally a Muslim must be interred before sunset on the day of his or her death but in this case not much could be done. As his body was flown across the strait to Basilan the C-130 lifted off for the flight to Manila where the six remaining corpses would be given a military funeral. Upon landing each white enameled coffin was loaded onto six separate hearses and driven to the auditorium at Marine Headquarters at Fort Bonifacio.
The next morning, Sunday, July 31st, President Aquino made his appearance aa did all high ranking personalities in the military echelon. The President vowed revenge, and promised that each family of the deceased would receive P250,000 ($5,150), a vertible fortune in Philippine terms at nearly two times the annual salary of an enlisted man. The payouts will be sourced from the Presidential Social Fund, a euphanism for "Slush Fund." Considering that AFP personnel are dying in combat every month it seems a bit strange that President Aquino would offer such largesse when he never even raises an eyebrow when other soldiers or marines are killed. Photo opportunities make all the difference.
Each of the seven men received a promotion of a single rank which is a standard procedure and does help to boost the pension any spouse or primary survivor will receive. Also, President Aquino personally awarded- posthumously- the nation's second highest honour, the Gold Cross, for "Gallantry in Action." Again, plenty of people dying and noone bats an eye. On Tuesday, August 2nd, all bodies were released to their families with the AFP delivering them.
Some readers may have remembered that in my first paragraph I had inferred that these seven men gave up their lives for nothing. That seems extremely harsh, but I am sure that if you know the facts that you very well might agree with me.
That very same Abu Sayyaf camp in Sitio Tubig Magtuh? It has been overun and captured by AFP Marines no less than five times in the last seven years. It is true that in war a barren hill with no apparent utility tactically OR strategically can be taken, and re-taken, with great casualties incurred. However, in insurgency it is a different story. When a strategic position is captured, no matter the cost, it must be held and eventually consolidated with other similarly cleared assets. Realising that Sitio Tubig Magtuh holds extreme strategical value for Kumander Sahiron the AFP should have long ago capitalised on its gains there and at least biouvaced a CAA, or Civilian Active Auxiliary (as in CAFGU or CVO) detachment there to repel any future attempts at re-taking the site.
Sadly, each of the several AFP assaults on that particular camp have taken place at a particular time of year, late March. So, just about every Easter Week the AFP sends in a Marine detachment, usually from MBLT-5, to re-take this same camp. It borders on insanity. At least this time the AFP has learned a lesson or two and has installed a military post at the encampment site. Naming the post "Camp Baladad" in honour of Second Lieutenant Michael Baladad, the fallen platoon leader, it is manned by a platoon from none other than MBLT-5.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom for the Third Quarter of 2011, Part IV: The Release of Nelson Lim
Late in the afternoon on April 29th, 2011 Nelson Lim told his son to man the fort as he and his wife decided to leave a bit early on their long walk home. The "fort," Times Hardware, in Jolo City's bustling downtown area is one of several hardware businesses in the city owned by Tsinoy, as Filipinos of Chinese descent are commonly known. After the Battle of 1974 during the MNLF Insurgency most Tsinoy had abandoned Jolo City turning a vibrant storied city into a shell of its former self. The city's economy never recovered and with each passing year more and more Tsinoy moved away, unwilling to shoulder the risk posed by the next generation of insurgents, ASG, or the Abu Sayyaf Group and other lawless elements. Kidnapping had become an epidemic over the last decade and no single group was targetted more than the Tsinoy.
As Mr.Lim and his wife left their store they were both looking forward to a relaxing evening at home. The next morning, Saturday, was the couples' turn at the family owned resturant Plaza Panciteria on Jolo City's Serantes Street. One of the island's oldest and most popular eateries it had been founded by Mr. Lim's late father in law. Upon his death shares in it were distributed amongst the extended family. Each share holder took a turn at managing its day to day operation. Still, th
at was tomorrow and for now the couple busied themselves with the long walk home to Barangay Bus Bus.
Concerned family members had tried to convince the elderly couple to ride to and from their downtown store but Mr.Lim would hear nothing of it. At the very least he argued, the walk provided him with a way in which to maintain the trim physique he took pride in. As for safety concerns, he maintained that noone would bother with such an old man. After all he reasoned, he had managed to survive nearly 70 years in Jolo without making a single enemy, no mean feat given local mores.
As the two walked through Barangay Bus Bus they failed to notice a navy blue Mitsubishi L300 van that had begun tailing them at a distance. Nearing their home in the barangay's Sitio Lambayong the van increased its speed to close the distance and just as the couple neared the front gate of their residential compound the van skidded to a stop beside them. Four ASG guerillas:
1) Asman Sawadjaan
2) Mudzrimar Sawadjaan
3) Jihad Naymel
4) sub-Kumander Ninok Sappari
jumped out of the van waving 45 caliber pistols and physically picked Mr.Lim up off the ground before depositing him in the rear of the van. Ignoring Lim's hysterical wife the van then took off at a high rate of speed. As the kidnapping had taken place at 530PM on one of the barangay's most travelled streets more than one bystander had reported it to authorities. The AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines scrambled MBLT-5, or Marine Battalion Landing Team #5 to the municipality of Patikul, the predicted destination of the kidnappers.
Jolo City's CPO, or City Police Office followed standard protocol and notified the Sulu PPO, or Police Provincial Office which in turn deployed an investigatory team to interview Mrs.Lim. In the interim though Mrs. Lim had callen her eldest son who as he rushed to the family home made sure that his mother would in no way co-operate with the authorities. As bad as a kidnapping can be, notifying the authorities only makes it so many times worse. If by some chance the police or military do find out about the kidnapping, totally ignoring them is the only sensible path.
MBLT-5 began scouring the town of Patikul with the assumption being that the victim had been abducted by one of two ASG factions, both operating within the borders of that municipality. Indeed the L300 van was found in that town's Barangay Sandah, having been abandoned. Quickly running a check on the vehicle it was found to be registered to a certain Laja Bagatsing. As in all other similar cases the van had been reported stolen shortly before the kidnapping although the owner is related to an ASG guerilla. After finding themselves unable to track the occupants of the van in the dark the Marines returned to their base at Camp Bautista. Meanwhile, Mr.Lim's kidnappers were joined by three other ASG guerillas who began marching their blindfolded victim uphill.
Eventually entering Barangay Tanum the group stopped for the night at the home of a fellow ASG guerilla. Early the next morning, before the sun appeared in the sky, the Abu Sayyaf guerillas led the still blindfolded Lim up country into that barangay's outermost sitio, Makayah, the last settlement before Mount Dahu. Resting a bit, they then continued upland and onto the slopes of the Abu Sayyaf controlled Mount Dahu. It was at various points on the mountain that Nelson Lim would spend the next three months, waiting and hoping to see his family again.
With the authorities out of the way the Lim family then went about negotiating a reasonable ransom. The man behind the kidnapping, sub-Kumander Jurim Hussin initially demanded P5 Million ($105,000) but by the end of June that figure had dropped to P3 Million ($62,000). Not satisfied with that amount the Lim family further whittled down the figure to P1.5 Million ($30,500) by mid-July. When, by July 19th they had failed to gain ground on a further reduction the family agreed to pay that amount and so final arrangements were made.
On Wednesday, July 20th the Lim family representative handed the cash to a middleman who relayed the sum, less his 10% commission, to sub-Kumander Hussin's representative. At 1PM the next afternoon, July 21st Nelson Lim was blindfolded and taken downhill off of the mountain, to a home in Patikul's Barangay Tanum where he was ordered to wash up and ready himself for release. By 9PM Mr.Lim was standing in Barangay Sandah waiting for Vice Mayor of Jolo City, Edsir "Eddie" Que Tan who finally arrived at 945PM to take custody of him and deliver Mr.Lim to his family.
As Mr.Lim and his wife left their store they were both looking forward to a relaxing evening at home. The next morning, Saturday, was the couples' turn at the family owned resturant Plaza Panciteria on Jolo City's Serantes Street. One of the island's oldest and most popular eateries it had been founded by Mr. Lim's late father in law. Upon his death shares in it were distributed amongst the extended family. Each share holder took a turn at managing its day to day operation. Still, th
at was tomorrow and for now the couple busied themselves with the long walk home to Barangay Bus Bus.
Concerned family members had tried to convince the elderly couple to ride to and from their downtown store but Mr.Lim would hear nothing of it. At the very least he argued, the walk provided him with a way in which to maintain the trim physique he took pride in. As for safety concerns, he maintained that noone would bother with such an old man. After all he reasoned, he had managed to survive nearly 70 years in Jolo without making a single enemy, no mean feat given local mores.
As the two walked through Barangay Bus Bus they failed to notice a navy blue Mitsubishi L300 van that had begun tailing them at a distance. Nearing their home in the barangay's Sitio Lambayong the van increased its speed to close the distance and just as the couple neared the front gate of their residential compound the van skidded to a stop beside them. Four ASG guerillas:
1) Asman Sawadjaan
2) Mudzrimar Sawadjaan
3) Jihad Naymel
4) sub-Kumander Ninok Sappari
jumped out of the van waving 45 caliber pistols and physically picked Mr.Lim up off the ground before depositing him in the rear of the van. Ignoring Lim's hysterical wife the van then took off at a high rate of speed. As the kidnapping had taken place at 530PM on one of the barangay's most travelled streets more than one bystander had reported it to authorities. The AFP, or Armed Forces of the Philippines scrambled MBLT-5, or Marine Battalion Landing Team #5 to the municipality of Patikul, the predicted destination of the kidnappers.
Jolo City's CPO, or City Police Office followed standard protocol and notified the Sulu PPO, or Police Provincial Office which in turn deployed an investigatory team to interview Mrs.Lim. In the interim though Mrs. Lim had callen her eldest son who as he rushed to the family home made sure that his mother would in no way co-operate with the authorities. As bad as a kidnapping can be, notifying the authorities only makes it so many times worse. If by some chance the police or military do find out about the kidnapping, totally ignoring them is the only sensible path.
MBLT-5 began scouring the town of Patikul with the assumption being that the victim had been abducted by one of two ASG factions, both operating within the borders of that municipality. Indeed the L300 van was found in that town's Barangay Sandah, having been abandoned. Quickly running a check on the vehicle it was found to be registered to a certain Laja Bagatsing. As in all other similar cases the van had been reported stolen shortly before the kidnapping although the owner is related to an ASG guerilla. After finding themselves unable to track the occupants of the van in the dark the Marines returned to their base at Camp Bautista. Meanwhile, Mr.Lim's kidnappers were joined by three other ASG guerillas who began marching their blindfolded victim uphill.
Eventually entering Barangay Tanum the group stopped for the night at the home of a fellow ASG guerilla. Early the next morning, before the sun appeared in the sky, the Abu Sayyaf guerillas led the still blindfolded Lim up country into that barangay's outermost sitio, Makayah, the last settlement before Mount Dahu. Resting a bit, they then continued upland and onto the slopes of the Abu Sayyaf controlled Mount Dahu. It was at various points on the mountain that Nelson Lim would spend the next three months, waiting and hoping to see his family again.
With the authorities out of the way the Lim family then went about negotiating a reasonable ransom. The man behind the kidnapping, sub-Kumander Jurim Hussin initially demanded P5 Million ($105,000) but by the end of June that figure had dropped to P3 Million ($62,000). Not satisfied with that amount the Lim family further whittled down the figure to P1.5 Million ($30,500) by mid-July. When, by July 19th they had failed to gain ground on a further reduction the family agreed to pay that amount and so final arrangements were made.
On Wednesday, July 20th the Lim family representative handed the cash to a middleman who relayed the sum, less his 10% commission, to sub-Kumander Hussin's representative. At 1PM the next afternoon, July 21st Nelson Lim was blindfolded and taken downhill off of the mountain, to a home in Patikul's Barangay Tanum where he was ordered to wash up and ready himself for release. By 9PM Mr.Lim was standing in Barangay Sandah waiting for Vice Mayor of Jolo City, Edsir "Eddie" Que Tan who finally arrived at 945PM to take custody of him and deliver Mr.Lim to his family.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Kidnap for Ransom,First Quarter of 2011,Part V:Renato Panisales,Wennie Ferrer,Jonald Oscimar and Ujain Arabain
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)