Large portions of Mindanao exist entirely off of the grid. By "grid" I mean modernity, life's luxuries like running water, and running electricity. Filipinos have been labeled the highest cellphone users in the world on a per capita basis, with SMS, or, "Text Messaging" being the primary form of communication. Imagine then, how frustrating it must be for the soldiers coming south from Luzon, who are already having to adjust to language and cultural differences on top of being dropped into a remote corner of Mindanao, one without cellular signals. One such maddening post is the 57IB (Infantry Battalion) garrison in the municipality of Makilala's Barangay Batasan. The detachment's post, in that barangay's Purok #6, is without running water, electricity, and yes, also without a cellular signal.
So it was on Friday, November 11th, 2011, when Corporal (Cpl.) Hassan Sarif was tasked with picking up the next three days worth of supplies, not one but two Privates First Class (Pfc.), volunteered to accompany Cpl.Sarif on the supply run. Like their Corporal, Pfc.Dandie Garbo and Pfc.Alex Calon changed into civilian attire. Although on duty, they would be trekking 6 kilometers to the main sector garrison for their supplies, as well as charging their cellphone batteries for those rare times when the unit moved through the hills near their post, locales that offered intermittent cellphone signals. The civilian attire is meant to remove the giant bullseye taped to their foreheads since they operate in one of the most dangerous sectors on Mainland Mindanao. Aside from the BIAF, or, Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, as the military wing of the MILF is known, there are two competitive factions of the MNLF/BMA (BMA being the Bangsamoro Army, the military half of the MNLF equation), the MNLF-Misuari, and the MNLF-EC15 (Executive Council of 15, led by the Vice Mayor of Cotabato City, Muslimin Sema). Additionally, there are the three Communist Insurgencies, the CPP/NPA, the RPM-M/RPA, and the Black Fighters. The second, Rebolusyonaryong Partido Manggagawa (Revolutionary Worker's Party), and its armed wing, the Revolutionary Proletariat Army, are at the tail end of a Peace Process and for all effective purposes, have been neutralised. The last group, the Black Fighters, are a B'laan Lumad group with roughly three dozen guerillas whose chief aim seems to be cattle rustling and cannabis trafficking, luckily for the Government.
The CPP/NPA however, remains a force to be reckoned with. Although the original NPA Regional Command covering that sector- the Second Congressional District of North Cotabato Province, the Central Mindanao Committee, or CMC, disintegrated under the internal pressures wrought by what the CPP now calls, its "Second Great Rectification," when the CMC rejected CPP founder and chief ideologue Jose Maria "Joma" Sison's strict "My way or the hiway" ethos vis a vis Orthadox Maoism, the sector has bounced back under NPA control quite strongly. Today the sector is controlled by the SMRC, or, Southern Mindanao Regional Committee. The SMRC, whose AOR, or Area of Responsibility (as in "Area of Operation") is concentrated on Region 11, the Davao Region, but also covers what remains of the NPA's once extremely formidable presence in that province, North Cotabato. The specific Front, or guerilla unit operating in Makilala is Front 51, the Matanggol Roque Command. Covering Antipas, Arakan, and M'lang, as well as Makilala, Front 51 has proved itself equipped to dance toe to toe with the AFP for the long haul.
As Cpl.Sarif and Pfcs.Garbo and Calon left their post, they made a mistake all too common of lax soldiers, and stuck to a regular routine. Instead of following the ridge line, slowly, they traipsed down the footpath meandering next to a creek on the valley floor. Approaching them from the opposite direction was a 16 year old B'laan Tribesmen leading his goats to a higher pasture. The young shepard would later recall that Pfc.Calon, the only one of the three carrying a weapon, was walking to the rear as Cpl.Sarif and Pfc.Garbo were deep in conversation. The report of a rifle echoed all through the mountain valley.
Pfc.Alex Calon was killed instantly by a aniper's bullet that tore through the side of his head. As the shepard scrambled with his goats, Cpl.Sarif and Pfc.Garbo helplessly fell to their bellies, with no idea where the shot came from. In quick sucession both men were critically wounded as well. Playing dead, the two surviving men were able to recover Pfc.Calon's M16 and service issued 45 caliber pistol, before escaping under the cover of darkness. Almost always, NPA sniping incidents are the result of Irregulars, members of the NPA Irregular Force, "Milisya ng Bayan," or, "Village Militia."
Showing posts with label MNLF-Misuari. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MNLF-Misuari. Show all posts
Friday, December 16, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Abu Sayyaf Armed Contacts for the Fourth Quarter of 2011, Part II: MBLT-10 Attacked by 150 Abu Sayyaf in
With great aplomb the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP, announced that one of its garrison in Sulu Province was attacked by a new Islamo-fascist organisation. Ominously we learned that "several foreigners" had been sighted in amongst the 150 guerillas who swarmed MBLT-10's 30th Company post in the municipality of Talipao's Barangay Kabungkol, on Jolo Island. When the smoke cleared some 4 hours after the shooting began thirteen bodies laid sprawled around the perimeter of the Marine compound. Of seven unidentified bodies there was one who didn't "look Filipino."
The new group we are told is "Team Awliya," or simply, "Awliya." In reality it was merely the usual ASG, or Abu Sayyaf Group combined with the usual gaggle of MNLF-Misuari via Kumander Ustadz Hatib Jakaria, closely allied with MNLF-Misuari Kumander Habier Malik whose main camp in Barangay Bitan-ag sits less than 2 kilometers from the Marine garrison in question. Malik is obsessed with Governmental infrastructual schemes recognising their dual use nature and their backing by the US Government. As the old adage tells us, "Insurgency begins where good roads end."
The attack in question took place on Sunday at 330AM on September 25th, 2011. With the Marines outnumbered nearly three to one the post was extremely vulnerable to being overun and captured. Indeed, the only thing that saved the post and most of its men was a bit of air support courtesy of a pair of MG520 helicopter gunships. Running low off of the ground and seemingly unconcerned about the danger posed by both RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) as well as by 90MM recoiless guns, the gunships pointed their own guns downward and swept the jungle clearing around MBLT-10's post.
When the smoke cleared the Marines had lost two men while the Abu Sayyaf, courtesy of the AFP's gunship, had lost at least 13 guerillas, with two villagers nearby having been killed by errand rounds as well. Usually AFP casualty counts need to be taken with a grain of salt. However, this time there were thirteen bodies laying in their blood and in grotesque countenances.
So what about Team Awliya? As noted, MNLF-Misuari Kumander Hatib Jakariya is attached to Kumander Ustadz Habier Malik who holds a deep loyalty to MNLF co-founder and Chairman Nur Misuari while not accepting the latter's political directives. When Misuari signed the 1996 Jakarta Agreement, a faux FPA or Final Peace Agreement, Malik went feral. Periodically Malik's large force lashes out against any nearby symbol of state authority.
Perhaps his most notable action was the audacious capture of retired Major General Mohammed Ben Dolorfino on February 2nd, 2007 when the latter entered Malik's camp under a flag of truce to hand over compensation for the AFP having "mistakenly" having killed several MNLF-Misuari guerillas. When Dolorfino and his entourage of 18 AFP and one very scared diplomat in way over his head attempted to leave Malik announced that they would be his guest until Nur Misuari, then under detention on Luzon, was allowed to attend an OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference, a Saudi-based entity that has served as the MNLF's most steadfast patron) meeting scheduled for April of that year.
In the end Malik was assured that Misuari would be allowed to go and so he released his 20 captives on February 5th. When the Government reneged in April of that year Malik led an assault against a Marine garrison in which two enlisted men were killed by 60MM mortar volleys. The AFP retaliated by deploying two brigades to capture Malik's camp in Barangay Bitan-ag but by the autumn of that year the OIC had twisted Manila's arm and so the AFP not only abandoned Malik's camp but also helped him transport men and equipment into it as he once again set up a state within a state (at least in his own mind). A good second as to Malik's most noteworthy acts would probably his killing of two American Special Forces soldiers in September of 2009, via IED (though it is never mentioned an AFP Marine was also killed when their Hummer was flipped by the blast).
As of late he has been taking potshots at AFP Engineer corpsmen who are working on a nearby bridge but a two story public school building has been eating at him.The objective in this attack is said to be MNLT-10s role as Security Escort to AFP Engineers working on that aforementioned public school. Compounding matters is the fact that America is funding the project. As noted Kumander Malik at least is steadfastly opposed to any and all Government initiatives.
Habier Malik's sub-Kumander, or second in charge, Ustadz Hatib Jakaria has co-opted a bit of Sufi theology in his quest to take a more active role in the island's insurgency. Team Awliya is his ballgame. Under Jakaria are, or rather WERE two sub-Kumanders:
1) Jawalibal Uhod
2) Sarip Jainal Kausi
Kausi however was one of the thirteen confirmed dead so that at least one important cog has been removed in what may have been a nascent faction.
Of the thirteen dead ASG, six have been identified:
1) Akman Badda
2) Bassar Abbur
3) Aksid Bassir
4) Innu Sadjari
5) Crispin Sadadji
6) sub-Kumander Salip Jainal Kausi
Seven others have been buried by Barangay Kabungol officials. The single civilian casualty was buried almost immediately according to Shari'a, or Islamic Law. The Marines, as noted, suffered two KIAs, or Kills in Action/
1) Corporal Rufino "Rufy" Fermin
2) Private First Class Richard Monte
In addition, 10 Marines were also wounded:
1) Second Lieutenant Arnel Arieta
2) Seargant Angelito Nier
3) Seargant Ricardo Necesario
4) Corporal Salvador Bausa
5) Corporal Juan Ibrando
6) Corporal Reysson Boriasa
7) Corporal Adrian Pis-an
8) Private First Class Roldan Bagares
9) Private First Class Eutiquio Nagales
10) Private Erven Dacumos
The new group we are told is "Team Awliya," or simply, "Awliya." In reality it was merely the usual ASG, or Abu Sayyaf Group combined with the usual gaggle of MNLF-Misuari via Kumander Ustadz Hatib Jakaria, closely allied with MNLF-Misuari Kumander Habier Malik whose main camp in Barangay Bitan-ag sits less than 2 kilometers from the Marine garrison in question. Malik is obsessed with Governmental infrastructual schemes recognising their dual use nature and their backing by the US Government. As the old adage tells us, "Insurgency begins where good roads end."
The attack in question took place on Sunday at 330AM on September 25th, 2011. With the Marines outnumbered nearly three to one the post was extremely vulnerable to being overun and captured. Indeed, the only thing that saved the post and most of its men was a bit of air support courtesy of a pair of MG520 helicopter gunships. Running low off of the ground and seemingly unconcerned about the danger posed by both RPGs (Rocket Propelled Grenades) as well as by 90MM recoiless guns, the gunships pointed their own guns downward and swept the jungle clearing around MBLT-10's post.
When the smoke cleared the Marines had lost two men while the Abu Sayyaf, courtesy of the AFP's gunship, had lost at least 13 guerillas, with two villagers nearby having been killed by errand rounds as well. Usually AFP casualty counts need to be taken with a grain of salt. However, this time there were thirteen bodies laying in their blood and in grotesque countenances.
So what about Team Awliya? As noted, MNLF-Misuari Kumander Hatib Jakariya is attached to Kumander Ustadz Habier Malik who holds a deep loyalty to MNLF co-founder and Chairman Nur Misuari while not accepting the latter's political directives. When Misuari signed the 1996 Jakarta Agreement, a faux FPA or Final Peace Agreement, Malik went feral. Periodically Malik's large force lashes out against any nearby symbol of state authority.
Perhaps his most notable action was the audacious capture of retired Major General Mohammed Ben Dolorfino on February 2nd, 2007 when the latter entered Malik's camp under a flag of truce to hand over compensation for the AFP having "mistakenly" having killed several MNLF-Misuari guerillas. When Dolorfino and his entourage of 18 AFP and one very scared diplomat in way over his head attempted to leave Malik announced that they would be his guest until Nur Misuari, then under detention on Luzon, was allowed to attend an OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference, a Saudi-based entity that has served as the MNLF's most steadfast patron) meeting scheduled for April of that year.
In the end Malik was assured that Misuari would be allowed to go and so he released his 20 captives on February 5th. When the Government reneged in April of that year Malik led an assault against a Marine garrison in which two enlisted men were killed by 60MM mortar volleys. The AFP retaliated by deploying two brigades to capture Malik's camp in Barangay Bitan-ag but by the autumn of that year the OIC had twisted Manila's arm and so the AFP not only abandoned Malik's camp but also helped him transport men and equipment into it as he once again set up a state within a state (at least in his own mind). A good second as to Malik's most noteworthy acts would probably his killing of two American Special Forces soldiers in September of 2009, via IED (though it is never mentioned an AFP Marine was also killed when their Hummer was flipped by the blast).
As of late he has been taking potshots at AFP Engineer corpsmen who are working on a nearby bridge but a two story public school building has been eating at him.The objective in this attack is said to be MNLT-10s role as Security Escort to AFP Engineers working on that aforementioned public school. Compounding matters is the fact that America is funding the project. As noted Kumander Malik at least is steadfastly opposed to any and all Government initiatives.
Habier Malik's sub-Kumander, or second in charge, Ustadz Hatib Jakaria has co-opted a bit of Sufi theology in his quest to take a more active role in the island's insurgency. Team Awliya is his ballgame. Under Jakaria are, or rather WERE two sub-Kumanders:
1) Jawalibal Uhod
2) Sarip Jainal Kausi
Kausi however was one of the thirteen confirmed dead so that at least one important cog has been removed in what may have been a nascent faction.
Of the thirteen dead ASG, six have been identified:
1) Akman Badda
2) Bassar Abbur
3) Aksid Bassir
4) Innu Sadjari
5) Crispin Sadadji
6) sub-Kumander Salip Jainal Kausi
Seven others have been buried by Barangay Kabungol officials. The single civilian casualty was buried almost immediately according to Shari'a, or Islamic Law. The Marines, as noted, suffered two KIAs, or Kills in Action/
1) Corporal Rufino "Rufy" Fermin
2) Private First Class Richard Monte
In addition, 10 Marines were also wounded:
1) Second Lieutenant Arnel Arieta
2) Seargant Angelito Nier
3) Seargant Ricardo Necesario
4) Corporal Salvador Bausa
5) Corporal Juan Ibrando
6) Corporal Reysson Boriasa
7) Corporal Adrian Pis-an
8) Private First Class Roldan Bagares
9) Private First Class Eutiquio Nagales
10) Private Erven Dacumos
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