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AFP loses 2 Marines in blast & 1 Army trooper in Marawi clashes

June 20, 2017, 4:46 am
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From The Standard/Manila Standard (Jun 19): AFP loses 2 Marines in blast & 1 Army trooper in Marawi clashes 

Two more members of the Philippine Marines have been added to the list of fatalities in Marawi City.

Reports on the ground say, the soldiers were hit by landmines.

Another members of the Philippine Army was killed in the fighting between government forces and Maute group.

Meanwhile, about eleven (11) kilos of shabu were seized from a house that was previously occupied by the terrorists.

The illegal drugs were seized during a military operation on Sunday afternoon.

Government troops have also found shabu in other establishments in the city that were previously used by the terrorists as hideouts.

http://manilastandard.net/news/national/239741/afp-loses-2-marines-in-blast-1-army-trooper-in-marawi-clashes-.html
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NPA raids smack of opportunism, says Palace

June 20, 2017, 4:52 am
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From The Standard/Manila Standard (Jun 20): NPA raids smack of opportunism, says Palace

MALACAÑANG on Monday tagged the New People’s Army (NPA) as opportunists after they ransacked a police station in Iloilo over the weekend even though peace negotiators on both sides said they would refrain from attacking each other as a confidence-building measure.

“Although the attack was not in Mindanao, the act was opportunistic in nature and disregards the nature of the NDF declaration,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said, referring to the communist National Democratic Front.

“We ask the NDF to call on their armed comrades on the ground to walk the talk and to show genuine sincerity on the confidence-building measure initiated by the government,” he added.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla also said it was clear the NPA objective was to get more arms.

He also said the NPA forces knew the government defenses elsewhere were weakened because reinforcements were sent to Mindanao.

“One of the reasons they did the attack on Maasin [is that] many of our troops went to Mindanao. That’s why we say it’s very opportunistic on their part,” Padilla said.

At least 50 suspected members of the New People’s Army ransacked a police station in Maasin, Iloilo province on Sunday morning, taking away several firearms from the police station including eight M16 rifles, four Glock 9mm pistols, five handheld radios, a base radio, and two laptops. The rebels also took P25,000 from the police station and a patrol car.

The NPA Coronacion “Waling-Waling” Chiva Command in Panay issued a statement confirming the attack, with its spokesperson, Ka Julio Montana, accusing the municipal police force of extorting from small vendors and allowing the proliferation of illegal drugs and gambling.

Abella, however, questioned the timing of the NPA attacks, coming as they did as both sides were discussing a ceasefire.


Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella
Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza said that they will be pushing for a nationwide ceasefire amid the government’s resolve to end the longest communist insurgency in Asia.

“The NPA attack in Maasin, Iloilo and elsewhere must be dealt with accordingly and decisively by the AFP and the PNP with the cooperation of civilian agencies and the affected communities,” Dureza said in a statement.

“It is disheartening to note that such attacks provide a negative impact in our mutual commitment with the NDF to provide that enabling environment conducive to the continuation of peace negotiations with them.”

The public’s trust in rebel groups and armed movements remain “poor,” the latest Social Weather Stations survey showed.

The survey among 1,200 adult respondents, showed that some 28 percent of Filipinos expressed much trust and 38 percent showed little trust in the National Democratic Front (NDF), the revolutionary front organization of left-leaning groups, which included the Communist Party of the Philippines and their armed wing, the New People’s Army.

Trust in the CPP and NPA remained low at 21 percent while 48 percent expressed “little trust” in the communists.

The resulting net trust rating scores were a “poor” -10 for the NDF and a “poor” -27 for the CPP/NPA.

Among Moro groups, some 18 percent of Filipinos expressed “much trust” and 56 percent had “little trust” in the Moro National Liberation Front, resulting in a net trust rating of “bad” -38.

For the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, some 18 percent expressed “much trust” while 57 percent said they had “little trust” in the group, resulting in a net trust rating of “bad” -39.

The First Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey, conducted from March 25-28, 2017 has a nationwide sampling error margins of ±3 percent.

http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/239822/npa-raids-smack-of-opportunism-says-palace.html
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Army-NPA clash in Leon due to ops vs 'Maasin' raiders

June 20, 2017, 4:57 am
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From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 20): Army-NPA clash in Leon due to ops vs 'Maasin' raiders



The commander of the 61st BI here said the encounter Tuesday morning between his troops and New People's Army rebels was part of their ongoing "hot pursuit" against the raiders of the police station in Maasin Town last Sunday.

"We are receiving information from the civilians that they (NPAs) are just within the area so we are taking actions to it,"said 61st IB Commander Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando A. Magbalot, Jr. in an interview.

According to Magbalot, there are more or less 20 NPA members hiding in the mountainous area of Leon.

He added they were doing various operations in pursuit of the NPA rebels together with the Philippine National Police.

Magbalot also said that 53-year-old male barangay tanod identified as Romeo Cabalong was injured during the encounter of his troops and NPA rebels on Tuesday morning in Barangay Lampaya, Leon, Iloilo.

Magbalot said the barangay tanod sustained a non-fatal gunshot in the right shoulder.

The victim was immediately brought to the hospital by the responding soldiers after the incident, he added.

According to the information received by Magbalot from the residents, they suspected that the shot came from the rebels as Barangay Lampaya was against the NPA.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/996488
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Cops raid house of Maute supporter

June 20, 2017, 5:02 am
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From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 20): Cops raid house of Maute supporter

Police authorities raided the house of a Cotabato City government employee arrested last week for alleged involvement in the activities of Maute terrorist group, police here said today.

Chief Inspector Achmad Alibonga, police chief of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, said the raiding team was armed by a search warrant issued by Judge Alexandrex Betoya when police conducted search operation in the house of Nasser Dilangalen at SPDA subdivision in Barangay Broce, Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao.

Dilangalen, a foreman of the Cotabato City engineering office, was earlier arrested by police and military agents based on arrest and search order issued by Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana on personalities linked to Maute terror group.

Seized from Dilangalen’s house was an improvised explosive device made of live 40-mm high explosives with mobile phone as triggering device and a cal. 45 pistol with ammunition.

Dilangalen was said to be a recruiter for Ansar Al-Khilafa Philippines (AKP), an affiliate of Maute and Abu Sayyaf Group who seized Marawi City 29 days ago.

Another suspect, also in the DND list of wanted persons who voluntarily surrendered to police in South Cotabato, has been charged.

Engr. Talib Bayabao, provincial director of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), remained in police custody but was charged, according to Senior Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police director.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/996474
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Peace Corridor facilitates humanitarian assistance to conflict zone

June 20, 2017, 6:11 pm
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From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 21): Peace Corridor facilitates humanitarian assistance to conflict zone



The establishment of the Peace Corridor has been instrumental in providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to residents affected by the ongoing armed conflict in Marawi City and municipalities that straddle Lake Lanao.

This was revealed by Wendell Orbeso, head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process’ (OPAPP) Cotabato Operations Office, which has Pbeen tasked to provide support to the GPH-MILF Peace Corridor initiative which began last June 4.

“Since the opening of the Peace Corridor, the flow of humanitarian assistance has been continuous in the affected areas,” Orbeso said.

The Peace Corridor is a safe and secure zone for civilians fleeing the conflict, as well as a reliable space where humanitarian assistance can pass through.

To date, the initiative has helped facilitate the rescue of 270 civilians who were trapped in the armed battle between government forces and members of the Maute group since the latter laid siege to the city last May 23.

The Peace Corridor was created through a collaborative effort of the Implementing Panels of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Under the Peace Corridor, two Joint Coordinating and Monitoring Action Centers (JCMAC) were established. One is located in Marawi, while the other is in Malabang, Lanao del Sur.

Orbeso noted that media coverage on the Marawi crisis should highlight the relief efforts being carried out by local and international humanitarian organizations on the Malabang portion of the corridor.

He said the Malabang Peace Corridor has made possible the unhampered entry of relief goods in the conflict zone, something that was not possible before the initiative started.

Orbesa said the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) provincial government, through its Humanitarian Emergency Action Response Team (HEART), wanted to make sure that the assistance it brought along reached all intended beneficiaries.

He explained that through the JCMACs, coordination between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the MILF was further strengthened, enabling the ARMM-HEART teams to successfully carry out relief efforts in the affected communities.

“If needed, the JCMAC, composed of unarmed members of the MILF and military, accompanies the ARMM-HEART convoy in bringing in the relief goods,” Orbeso said.

Based on the latest situational report of JCMAC, 17,507 foods packs, 5,587 pieces of Malong and 1,343 hygienic kits have been distributed by the ARMM-HEART in Marawi City and 20 other surrounding municipalities in Lanao del Sur.

The relief efforts were carried out by the ARMM-HEART in partnership with the International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC), Community, Family Services International (CSFI), Bangsamoro Development Authority (BDA) and other donor agencies.

In the meantime, OPAPP Undersecretary Nabil Tan, OPAPP Assistant Secretary Acel Papa and OPAPP Consultant Gerry Salapudin visited the JCMAC Office in Marawi and were briefed by Col. Cesar de Mesa, JCMAC officer-in-charge, on the relief and humanitarian efforts being undertaken through the Peace Corridor.

During the briefing, de Mesa emphasized that the Peace Corridor is a testament to “how far the Bangsamoro peace process has come and the partnership that has been established [between the Philippine government and the MILF].”

 For his part, OPAPP Assistant Secretary Dickson Hermoso explained to members of the JCMAC team that the purpose of Usec. Tan’s visit was to observe the operations of the center and gather inputs on how the delivery of its services can further be improved.

Hermoso said the JCMAC has already developed its operational “doctrine” which has enabled the center to function effectively both as a rescue and humanitarian unit.

“When we set up the JCMAC, we established the capability to move fast and communicate [with our partners on the ground],” he said, adding that these have been the key in the center’s ability to immediately respond to developments on the ground. (OPAPP)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2131497981406/peace-corridor-facilitates-humanitarian-assistance-to-conflict-zone
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President Duterte visits Marawi evacuees in Iligan City

June 20, 2017, 6:15 pm
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From the Philippine Information Agency (Jun 21): President Duterte visits Marawi evacuees in Iligan City

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited Iligan City on Tuesday, June 20, to personally check the condition of evacuees currently being housed at the Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Barangay Buru-un here.

In his speech, Duterte vowed to give assistance to families affected by the Marawi siege from their immediate needs up to rehabilitation and recovery phase.

“Most important thing is that matulungan ko kayo. Huwag kayong mag-alala, tutulungan ko kayo, hindi ko kayo pababayaan, hanggang relocation,” Duterte said.

The Chief Executive said the government will rehabilitate Marawi and will make it beautiful and livable again.

“But this I will promise you, I will set aside initially 20 billion para maumpisahan, ‘yung mga mahirap ang unahin ko,” he said.

The President also apologized to the Maranao people who have been affected by the attack of the Maute terror group.

“I would like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin,” he said.

"Sana kung madaling panahon, you will find a new heart to forgive my soldiers, ang gobyerno, pati ako for declaring martial law. Wala akong choice eh sinisira na ang Marawi. I have to drive them out. But I am very sorry," he added.

The Chief Executive provided financial assistance to the evacuees. Each family also received cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Meanwhile, the President reiterated his promise to establish federalism as an effort to solve conflict and achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.

During his visit, the President was accompanied by his Cabinet officials. Among them were Education Secretary Leonor Briones, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto, Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Concerns Abdullah Mamao, and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Chief Ricardo Jalad. (PND)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2131497984315/president-duterte-visits-marawi-evacuees-in-iligan-city
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Security tightened in Sultan Kudarat province due to ISIS

June 20, 2017, 6:25 pm
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From the Mindanao Examiner (Jun 20): Security tightened in Sultan Kudarat province due to ISIS

Police have tightened security in Sultan Kudarat province in southern Philippines following intelligence reports that were ISIS supporters in at least 3 towns.

Provincial police chief Raul Supiter said security forces were already alerted about the information, but he declined to names the town where these ISIS supporters are hiding so as not to jeopardize ongoing law enforcement operations in Sultan Kudarat.

He also appealed to the public to stay vigilant and help authorities by providing information on suspicious persons or groups in their community.

It was unknown whether these supporters came from other areas or locals, but Supiter assured citizens that police and military are on top of the situation.
Fighting between ISIS militants and security forces continue in Marawi in Lanao del Sur province since May 23 when jihadists occupied much of the city in an effort to make it a province of the Islamic State.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/security-tightened-in-sultan-kudarat-province-due-to-isis/
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Death toll rises

June 20, 2017, 8:18 pm
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From the Mindanao Tines (Jun 20): Death toll rises

7 fatalities in unabated AFP vs NPA clashes

 AMID calls by the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the government to stop offensives against each other and focus attention to fight terror groups, clashes between government forces and the communist rebels continue with seven deaths – two soldiers and three rebels — reported since Saturday in the region.

With this, officials of both police and military units in the region warned their subordinates not to let their guard down against the New People’s Army (NPA).

The latest incident that left fatalities happened on Sunday.

Two soldiers were killed while four others were wounded when troopers of the Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion (IB) encountered 35 rebels under the Sub Regional Committe (SRC) in Barangay New Barili, Maco, Compostela Valley at 11:26 a.m.

The names of the fallen soldiers were withheld pending notification of their relatives.

The encounter resulted to the recovery of one improvised explosive device (IED), six backpacks, around 200 pieces of assorted live ammunitions, and subversive documents belonging to the rebels.
 
Another encounter happened at 3:33 p.m. in the same barangay as government soldiers were chasing the rebels.

Capt. Jayrald Ternio, the 71st IB civil-military operations officer, said said the rebels apparently suffered undetermined numbers of casualties after being hit by reinforcing artillery fires.

Ternio said soldiers were deployed to New Barili after they received reports from the residents that NPAs were planning to initiate atrocities and extortion activities in the area.

NABBED

Earlier that day, at 8 a.m., in a security patrol in Barangay Kidawa, Laak, Compostela Valley, soldiers from 60th IB and 72nd IB arrested Randy Martin Magadan, alias Ka Andrew, who was bringing an IED intended to inflict damage to government troopers in Km. 26, Barangay Kidawa, Laak.
 
Magadan, 24, single, of Barangay Bollucan in Laak, is said to be the supply officer of Pulang Bagani Command (PBC) 4, Southern Mindanao Regional Command (SMRC).
 
The suspect was turned over to Laak Municipal police station.

TALAINGOD CLASH

Also on that hour, Alpha Company of 60IB soldiers were attacked by some 10 rebels, believed to be members of Guerilla Front 55, SMRC, in Barangay Sto. Niño, Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

The troopers, led by Corporal Mama Mama, were conducting checkpoint at the Talaingod-Bukidnon road in Sitio at Uraya when they were attacked.

The firefight lasted for 30 minutes.

Around 9 a.m. in Barangay, Marabatuan, Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, 73rd IB troopers were fired upon by unidentified perpetrators while conducting patrol. A five-minute firefight ensued but no casualty was reported in the Sitio Mamacao encounter.
MARILOG CLASH

That day, encounters were also reported in Davao Oriental and in Davao City.

In Davao City, the NPA’s PBC2 – South Regional Command 3 (SRC3) ambushed the scout platoon of the 3rd IB while passing along the national highway in Pagan Pequino, Barangay Tamugan in Marilog District.
 
The Army platoon pursued the attackers leading to almost an hour firefight. No casualty was reported.

In Davao Oriental, two encounters between government soldiers and the NPA rebels occurred in the towns of Cateel and Banaybanay.

The first encountered happened on Saturday around 7 a.m. when 67th IB soldiers encountered around 10 rebels in Sitio 35, Barangay Taytayan in Cateel. Three alleged members of NPA belonging to Manobo and B’laan tribe were killed in the encounter.
The second incident was in Barangay Causwagan in Banaybanay at 6:30 a.m. as 28th IB troopers encountered about 20 rebels.

On Saturday, an alleged high-ranking leader and another guerilla were killed in a 10-minute clash with government troopers in Barangay Araibo, Pantukan, Compostela Valley. One of the fatalities was identified as Ka Lepi, the secretary of SMRC Guerilla Front 27.
HEROISM

Lt. Col. Davice Christopher Mercado, the 71st IB commander, recognized the heroism of the soldiers.

Mercado also thanked the residents who gave them information that led to the “disruption of enemy’s larger and more violent hostile plan.”

“While we mourn for the death of our troops who died fighting for the safety of the civilians away from NPA violent actions, we remain steadfast and committed in performing our mandate to protect the people”, Mercado said in his closing statement.

PROACTIVE

Maj. Gen. Noel Clement, the newly appointed commander of 10th Infantry “Agila” Division, told TIMES that he has directed his brigade and battalion commanders to be proactive in the operations to prevent the NPAs from conducting atrocities against government forces and civilian populace.

“The encounters are results of this directive to ensure that we protect our communities,” Clement said.

Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO) XI, said he has a standing instruction to all provincial and city directors and other police heads to always be on lookout against communist rebels, especially those who are masquerading as human rights activists.

“All commanders are made aware that terrorists attack at the least expected, most opportune time favorable to them,” Gaerlan said. “Wala dapat patulog-tulog!”

On Friday, NDF consultant Fidel Agcaoili issued a statement confirming the order for its armed group to refrain from attacking government forces so they can “concentrate against Maute, Abu Sayyaf and Ansar Khalifa Philippines groups.” The order, however, came with the condition for the “AFP and PNP likewise to refrain from carrying out offensive operations against the NPA and people’s militia.”
 
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Civilians reported trapped as troops battle BIFF occupying village school in Cotabato province

June 21, 2017, 12:34 am
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From InterAksyon (Jun 21): Civilians reported trapped as troops battle BIFF occupying village school in Cotabato province



Google map showing Pigcawayan, Cotabato
 
A still unknown number of civilians are reportedly trapped as government troops battle gunmen of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who occupied a village school in Pigcawayan town, Cotabao province early Wednesday morning.

Chief Inspector Reylan Mamon, Pigcawayan police chief, said they are still coordinating with officials of Barangay Malagakit to determine how many people are trapped in the village and in the school.

“We have not yet determined kung sino at kung ilan ang na-trap sa area (who and how many are trapped in the area)” by the ongoing firefight he said in a phone patch interview.

Mamon said the BIFF gunmen occupied the school, which is in the middle of a residential area, around 5:45 a.m.

He added that they are also unsure how many gunmen are in the Malagakit school.

The BIFF, which broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front almost a decade go, is one of the armed groups in Mindanao that government claims have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

Mindanao has been under martial law since May 23, when fighting broke out in Marawi City between government forces and extremist gunmen from the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, who have been joined by a number of foreign terrorists.

http://www.interaksyon.com/civilians-reported-trapped-as-troops-battle-biff-occupying-village-school-in-cotabato-province/
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NDF: Lorenzana and Abella are out of bounds on Maasin, Iloilo raid

June 21, 2017, 12:40 am
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From ABS-CBN (Jun 20): NDF: Lorenzana and Abella are out of bounds on Maasin, Iloilo raid

Fidel Agcaoili NDF
Fidel Agcaoili (image from https://www.ndfp.org/)

The National Democratic Front (NDF) of the Philippines on Tuesday described the statements of Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella on the recent raid of a police station in Maasin, Iloilo by the New People’s Army as “baseless, unfair and unwarranted.”

First of all, NDF pointed out in a statement attributed to Fidel V. Agcaoili, NDF Panel Chairperson, “there is no cease fire in place between the forces of the GRP and NDFP in the Visayas and elsewhere in the country.

“What is in place are recommendatory gestures of goodwill by both Parties to refrain from carrying out offensive operations against each other’s forces in Mindanao. And Maasin, Iloilo is not in Mindanao.”

Still, the NDF claimed, “even in Mindanao and everywhere else in the country, the GRP military and police have been aggressively pursuing the all-out war policy against the people and the revolutionary forces, intimidating and suppressing legal democratic organizations in the urban areas while using all types of destructive weapons, including aerial and artillery bombardment and mortar fire against communities and the NPA in the countryside.”


According to the NDF, the martial law proclamation in Mindanao has led to the indiscriminate destruction of lives and property, as well as the displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians in Marawi City.

“It has also led to the suppression of democratic rights such as the dispersal of workers’ strikes, arbitrary zoning of communities, illegal searches, arrest and detention, food blockades, as well as aerial bombings and other atrocities against communities in the central and eastern parts of Mindanao.”

NDF mentioned that on Sunday, 18 June, the day of the GRP reciprocal announcement to refrain from conducting offensive operations against the NPA in Mindanao, the AFP publicly announced that their forces had killed four NPA fighters, including an alleged NPA Front Secretary, in three separate military operations conducted by the 67th Infantry Battalion, the 104th Division Reconnaissance Company and the 66th Infantry Battalion in the towns of Cateel and Banaybanay in Davao Oriental and the town of Pantukan in Compostela Valley.

Also, NDF said, teachers and students of a Lumad school in Kapalong, Davao del Norte, another province in Mindanao, “have been prevented from holding classes by the military under the Eastern Mindanao Command and the Alamara paramilitary group, who threatened to shoot them should they return to their communities to attend their school. They are accused of being members of the NPA.”

These violations of the GRP’s own pronouncement to refrain from offensive operations against the people and revolutionary forces in Mindanao, said NDF, “clearly manifest the need for the GRP to put words into actual deeds and eschew public relations gimmicks in the pursuit of a just and lasting peace in the country through agreements on social, economic and political reforms.

“The NDFP stands by its 17 June 2017 statement. Any suggestions to the contrary or accusations of bad faith are uncalled for, especially at this sensitive time when the two Parties are about to cooperate, in coordination with the Royal Norwegian Government (RNG), in the preparations to resume the 5th round of formal talks, which have been stalled by the martial law declaration in Mindanao.

http://www.interaksyon.com/ndf-lorenzana-and-abella-are-out-of-bounds-on-maasin-iloilo-raid/
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WATCH | Duterte fears Muslim-Christian ‘civil war’ if extremists not contained

June 21, 2017, 12:47 am
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InterAksyon (Jun 20): WATCH | Duterte fears Muslim-Christian ‘civil war’ if extremists not contained



Pres. Rodrigo Duterte speaks to evacuees from Marawi in Iligan City. (Presidential photo)

If the threat posed by extremists like the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups who have been battling government forces in Marawi City for a month now is not quelled, it could lead to a “civil war” pitting Muslims against Christians, President Rodrigo Duterte warned.

Speaking Tuesday in Iligan City, where he led the distribution of relief and financial assistance to evacuees from Marawi, Duterte said Mindanao’s choices were limited, with “mag-ubusan tayo (we wipe out each other)” the most likely if the problem of terrorism is not solved “kasi itong mga Kristiyanos ngayon nanenerbyos na rin (because these Christian now are also getting nervous).”

Duterte said the solution he saw is to fast-track the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front and set in place a federal system of government to allow more self-rule in the Bangsamoro, documents for which he said he would sign in the next few days.
CLICK THE IMAGE TO WATCH THE VIDEO REPORT BY NEWS5’S DINDO FLORA:



He also asked forgiveness from Maranaos for the crisis in Marawi and declaring martial law over Mindanao.

“I’d like to say to the Maranao people that I am very, very, very sorry na nangyari ito sa atin (that this has happened to us). Sana sa madaling panahon (I hope that soon) you will find a new heart to forgive my soldiers, ang gobyerno, pati ako (the government, and me) for declaring martial law,” he said.

In a subsequent visit to wounded soldiers in Cagayan de Oro City, Duterte justified the air strikes that have been pounding extremist positions in Marawi, saying he was forced to authorize these to prevent the loss of more soldiers.

http://www.interaksyon.com/watch-duterte-fears-muslim-christian-civil-war-if-extremists-not-contained/
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Philippines says Islamist militants withdraw from school, no casualties

June 21, 2017, 12:58 am
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From Reuters (Jun 21): Philippines says Islamist militants withdraw from school, no casualties

The Philippines military said Islamist militants who had holed up in a primary school in the south early on Wednesday with some civilians had retreated after a gunbattle with troops, and there were no casualties.

No students were taken hostage at the school in Pigcawayan town in North Cotabato province on Mindanao island, said Brigadier General Restituto Padilla, discounting earlier reports that some children were being held.

However, he said the military was investigating whether around five civilians were still with the militants.

"It's already resolved,"Padilla told a regular briefing. "They've withdrawn, they are no longer there. The school area is again safe. The troops are in pursuit mode."

Witnesses about a kilometer from the school said they could hear gunfire. Troops were preventing anyone from getting closer.

A police report said about 300 armed men, among them members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), stormed the school early on Wednesday. On another part of Mindanao, fighting between government troops and pro-Islamic State militants for control of Marawi City has entered its fifth week.

Pigcawayan is 190 km (120 miles) south of Marawi City.

Abu Misry Mama, a spokesman for the BIFF, told Reuters that the militants had taken civilians to a place safe from the crossfire, and did not intend to hold them hostage.

Asked if they would be freed, Mama said: "Yes. We're not kidnappers."

Padilla said the incident at Pigcawayan was not related to the fighting in Marawi. "This has come from a group that has long committed harassments," he said.

For a graphic on attack in Pigcawayan, click: tmsnrt.rs/2sOnEp8



https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-militants-idUSKBN19C062
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A Closer Look at the Philippine Peace Process With Communist Rebels

June 21, 2017, 1:06 am
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From The Diplomat (Jun 16): A Closer Look at the Philippine Peace Process With Communist Rebels (By Luke Lischin)

The crisis in Marawi has eclipsed another critical front in the government’s struggle against domestic threats.

After weeks of siege in Lanao del Sur’s Marawi City  and the declaration of martial law in Mindanao on May 23, the situation in the Philippines grows direr by the day. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have not yet subdued the Maute Group-led force of around five hundred militants, and much of the nation waits anxiously while President Rodrigo Duterte flirts with the declaration of martial law nation-wide. Even though news of Marawi City siege has understandably captured the public’s attention, we should not forget that although the Philippines struggles with jihadism and Southern Philippine Muslim (Moro) separatism partially resulting from the ailing Moro peace process, the government is still trying to end its other long campaign against the New People’s Army (NPA).

A Process Eclipsed By Crisis 

As of this writing, talks between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) are in limbo. The GRP has officially cancelled their 5th round of formal talks under the Rodrigo Duterte administration, but negotiators have not yet given up. A coalition representing the interests of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the militant New People’s Army (NPA), the NDFP sought for decades to implement Maoist reforms in the Philippines through negotiations coerced by the NPA’s ceaseless guerrilla campaign, to little avail. Now that martial law has come to Mindanao for the third time since the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos, the CPP-NPA vows to increase its offensives and resist martial law while the NDFP exhorts them to stay their arms.

Some in Congress are unperturbed by the suspension of talks, believing negotiation to be a futile enterprise for numerous reasons, the foremost being widespread skepticism of the NDFP’s influence over the NPA in the field. On May 10 Professor Jose Maria Sison, a founding member of the CPP-NDFP-NPA, issued a cryptic warning to reporters after a spate of NPA attacks, saying “No one in Utrecht can give orders to the CPP [Communist Party of the Philippines], NPA [New People’s Army], NDFP in the Philippines…” Joma is likely correct when he says the NDFP does not directly control the NPA, but the NPA is not wholly disinterested in political developments outside of its cantonments.

Based on the data my Manila-Based colleagues, Angelica Mangahas, Jasmine Torres, and I collected, some of which is presented in the graphs that follow, the NPA commands of the Southern Philippines demonstrated a capacity and willingness to curtail its operations pursuant to the declaration of ceasefires and the resumption of formal talks by the GRP and NDFP. Though the preconditions for failure were building from September through December, it was only in mid to late January that the NPA resumed hostilities en masse. By April, incidents linked to the NPA declined in tandem with news that formal talks between the GRP and NDFP will resume, but violence continues nonetheless. Generalizing about a decades-long insurgency is an analytically reckless thing to do, but I believe these observations are borne out by the scrutiny of our data.

Admittedly, our data is little more than a snapshot of the region, and suffers from three notable limitations. First, it only covers the southern Philippines (Mindanao, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu). Our research was originally conceived as a database of Moro-related political violence, hence the focus on this region, but expanded to include other groups like the NPA. Second, the data is conservative, as it comes from national and local media sources, activist groups, and press releases from rebel and state authorities, but we lacked access to useful primary sources. Third, the incidents recorded in the data are only those in which the NPA was reasonably identified as a belligerent. The overwhelming majority of attacks we’ve recorded in the southern Philippines were attributed to unknown perpetrators. In these cases groups like the NPA may be suspected, but without additional evidence we consider these incidents to be separate from our NPA count. In sum, our data likely understates the violence perpetrated by the NPA.

The NPA in Numbers

From July 1, 2016, the day after President Duterte’s inauguration, to April 30, 2017, there were 128 incidents involving the NPA in the southern Philippines. These incidents resulted in between 104 to 133 injuries and 104 to 138 deaths among insurgents, soldiers, and civilians combined. Duterte, a self-proclaimed leftist originally from Mindanao whose election buoyed hopes of a successful peace process, has thus far failed to meet this lofty expectation.



Sixty-four percent of recorded incidents were armed assaults involving the exchange of small arms fire (at minimum) between the NPA and other actors, 19 percent were attacks on facilities or infrastructure such as mining sites, plantations, and vehicles, while the remaining incidents entailed abductions, arrests, and assassinations/executions.



Geographically, the provinces of Davao del Sur (including Davao City) suffered the highest number of incidents, though Cotabato and Bukidnon were not far behind. Davao Occidental and Lanao del Norte endured only singular incidents, while provinces like Sulu and Basilan recorded none.



Trends and Observations

Upon taking office President Duterte faced an active NPA. On July 5, the NPA and the AFP engaged in a firefight near Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur that killed two rebels and an AFP-aligned militiaman. Although Duterte declared a unilateral ceasefire on July 25, he revoked it as incidents occurred through July and into August. Violence for the remainder of August abated, and on August 20 the NDFP/NPA declared a unilateral ceasefire. Formal talks between the GRP and NDFP began on August 22, and an indefinite ceasefire deal was signed on the 26th. Subsequent incidents from September to December entailing an abduction, firefights, and attacks on property were very infrequent, and only one entailed any loss of life.



Between January 16 and February 1, the NPA was involved in 15 incidents, nine of which occurred on January 30. Around the same time, talks between the NDFP and GRP proceeded in Rome from January 19-25, which involved discussion of the implementation of the NDFP’s socioeconomic reform program. Though the talks were considered productive by all parties, it resulted in few concrete concessions by either side. In particular, the GRP still refused to release 392 NDFP prisoners from custody until the issue of amnesty was fleshed out.

On January 30, the NPA broke the ceasefire with simultaneous assaults in Mati, Surigao Del Norte, Valencia City, Bukidnon, Pag-asa, Lebe, Sarangani, Union, Compostella Valley, San Isidro, Mahayahay, and Hinambangan, Kitcharao, Agusan Del Norte. Subsequently, on February 1, the NPA called off its unilateral ceasefire, citing the failure of the GRP to release their political prisoners and generally abide by its ceasefire. By February 3, Duterte withdrew the GRP from its ceasefire in response.

From February (30 incidents) through March (26 incidents), violence occurred with almost daily regularity. Among the most significant was a February 16 encounter between the NPA and AFP within Davao City. By day’s end 14 to 15 soldiers were wounded and two were dead, while the NPA suffered between one and three fatalities. March was especially bloody due to a series of encounters in Kalamansig town, Sultan Kudarat that lasted from March 16 to 21. Following the Kalamansig clash, a two-day encounter spanning March 20 and 21 yielded nine injured NPA fighters and eight killed by firearms and artillery, while the NPA had eight wounded and eight killed. Afterwards, the casualty rates for March remained low but consistent.

April’s numbers of incidents and casualties declined substantially from the highs of the previous months. Nine out of the 14 incidents recorded in April occurred during the first two weeks of the month, while the rest were clustered from the March 22 to 29. Though it is difficult to prove, one explanation for the drop in violence was the bilateral interim truce negotiated in early April during a nonstop series of informal talks between the two parties. Whatever its impact, the truce did not last long given the almost daily frequency of firefights between the NPA and security forces during the first weeks of May. These incidents were low intensity, with the exception of a series of clashes in Davao City on May 10 through May 11, leading to the deaths of one soldier and two rebels, in addition to nine wounded soldiers. Incidents surged again after Duterte’s May 23 declaration of martial law with two bombings and six armed assaults that claimed no lives, but wounded several on both sides.

Explaining Patterns

Although the data are drawn from a sample that is relatively small and geographically limited, there are prima facie correlations between the status of peace talks and incidents on the ground. First, incidents during the July/mid-August range plus Duterte’s aborted July ceasefire suggest that Duterte’s “good faith” toward the NDFP did not immediately translate into an abatement of NPA-related violence in the south. With the declaration of unilateral ceasefires on both sides and the commencement of formal talks, incidents dropped off precipitously into January. It should be noted that this period was not without tension. The NPA decried the presence of troops in territories they claimed to control, asserting that the AFP was exploiting the ceasefire to collect intelligence and gain a sturdier footing in rebel-claimed areas. The AFP, in turn, accused the NPA of continuing banditry, extortion, and the coercion of locals to prepare for another round of fighting.

Nevertheless, the recorded incidents did not become especially worrisome until the drastic escalation on January 30. These simultaneous attacks heralded the NPA’s decision to withdraw from the ceasefire the next day on February 1, which in turn prompted the GRP to abandon the ceasefire as well. With no ceasefires, the dramatic increase in incidents in February and March was predictable. Only through back channel talks, the resumption of official negotiations, and the announcement of a truce did the levels of violence subside slightly before escalating again in May. Preliminary data for June suggests that the NPA is curbing its aggression to sporadic skirmishes, while they assess the possibility of future talks, as well as the quality of AFP operations around Marawi City.

So long as the violence continues and official negotiations remain off the table, hope for a lasting settlement fades further and further away. As the data strongly suggests, the NPA of the Southern Philippines is clearly capable of abiding, for the most part, by the terms of a ceasefire. That said, NPA field commands have a limited tolerance for the presence of security forces within their “borders” and continue to subsist off of the extortion of populations therein.  Both of these factors motivate the NPA’s use of violence, making the brokering of a durable ceasefire without tangible political dispensation for a ceasefire almost impossible.

When the August 2016 ceasefires were called off, they were preceded by tensions on the ground and a lack of results at the negotiating table, in particular the failure of the negotiating panel to secure the release of political prisoners. Thus, we should not be surprised that the NPA has bucked NDFP pressure to accede to a formal truce. To make matters worse, Duterte oscillates his behavior towards the NDFP-NPA with threats and inducements. On one day he invited the NPA to come and join him at his dinner table, while on another he threatened to incarcerate members of the NDFP’s negotiating panel. Duterte’s madcap statecraft may be a methodical approach to negotiation, but to most observers Duterte is a manic strongman and an unreliable partner for peace. However unstable, even Duterte should understand that the AFP is stretched thin containing the Maute-led takeover of Marawi City, and is ill-prepared to counter an NPA offensive in Mindanao, to say nothing of the rest of the country. Should the peace degrade further and the NPA press the beleaguered AFP, the outcome will be assuredly tragic.   

[Luke Lischin is an academic assistant at the National War College.] 

http://thediplomat.com/2017/06/a-closer-look-at-the-philippine-peace-process-with-communist-rebels/
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NPA rebel in Compostela Valley caught planting IED

June 21, 2017, 1:12 am
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From the Sun Star-Davao (Jun 21): NPA rebel in Compostela Valley caught planting IED 

GOVERNMENT troops arrested an alleged member of a communist group after he was caught in the act of planting an improvised explosive device (IED) in Compostela Valley on Sunday, June 18.
 
In a statement of the 60th Infantry Batallion (IB) on Tuesday, June 20, the apprehended rebel was identified as Randy Martin Magadan alias Andrew, 24, a resident of Barangay Bollucan, Laak, Compostela Valley.
 
The incident occurred a day after the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) directed its armed wing to refrain from conducting offensives.
 
 Magadan was caught laying an IED at around 8 a.m., Sunday along a common route at Kilometer 26, Barangay Kidawa, Laak, Compostela Valley Province.
 
Magadan is the supply officer of the Pulang Bagani Command 4 under the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee of the New People's Army (NPA).
 
The combined operatives of the 72nd Infantry Battalion and 60th IB were conducting routine patrol and security operations at the area when they encountered Magadan and arrested him.
 
The army unit turned over the arrested NPA member to the Laak Municipal Police for blotter procedure and filing of appropriate charges and subjected him for a medical check-up to the Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital (Laak).
 
Charges are being prepared against the suspect for violating Republic Act (RA) 9516 or the law on the illegal possession, manufacture, dealing, acquisition or disposition of firearms, ammunition and explosives.
 
His act was also a clear violation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law or CARHRIHL (part III, Article II, 15), to which the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA-NDF is a co-signatory, and RA 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity.
 
 It strictly prohibits "all forms of economic blockades, indiscriminate bombings, shelling, strafing, gunfire and the use of landmines" since it has the "nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering or which are inherently indiscriminate in violation of the international law of armed conflict.

 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2017/06/21/npa-rebel-compostela-valley-caught-planting-ied-548633

 
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Duterte takes soldiers wounded in Marawi on presidential flight to Manila

June 21, 2017, 1:19 am
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From ABS-CBN (Jun 21): Duterte takes soldiers wounded in Marawi on presidential flight to Manila



9 wounded soldier aboard the Presidential Plane with President Rodrigo Duterte on their way back to Manila.Courtesy: PCOO
 
From the frontlines of battle to the presidential plane.

President Rodrigo Duterte took nine wounded soldiers with him aboard the presidential plane on the way to Manila after his visit to troops at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City Tuesday night.
Palace officials said the President himself walked with the soldiers and rode with them on an ambulance on the way to the airport. They then boarded the F-28 presidential aircraft.

The nine soldiers were among men who fought in Marawi City which has been besieged by terrorists belonging to the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups for nearly a month now.



9 wounded soldier aboard the Presidential Plane with President Rodrigo Duterte on their way back to Manila.Courtesy: PCOO
 
During his visit to soldiers at the camp, Duterte also expressed grief over the death of government troops in the nearly month-long clashes.

"I want just to express my sincerest condolences at ako man ang unang nasasaktan diyan. Ako ang commander-in-chief niyo, ayoko talaga mag martial law, napipilitan lang ako dahil ang gulo sa Mindanao," said Duterte.

As of Tuesday, the military said 66 troopers were among 360 who have been killed in the firefights, along with 26 civilians and 268 terror suspects.

The president has been making rounds of military camps in Mindanao to rally soldiers amid continuing offensives.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/21/17/duterte-takes-soldiers-wounded-in-marawi-on-presidential-flight-to-manila
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Vital aid reaches thousands of displaced people in Marawi, Philippines

June 21, 2017, 1:22 am
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Posted to the Relief Web (Jun 20): Vital aid reaches thousands of displaced people in Marawi, Philippines

Reportfrom UN Population Fund

Published on 20 Jun 2017 — View Original



A mother, displaced by fighting in Marawi, receives a UNFPA dignity kit containing crucial health, hygiene and safety-related supplies.
© UNFPA Philippines
Iligan, Philippines – With weary but firm arms, Tarhata Mostare cradles her newborn child at the sprawling Buru-un School of Fisheries evacuation centre in Iligan city, which is hosting women, men and children displaced by the fighting between government forces and members affiliated with the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups in neighbouring Marawi city on the long-troubled island of Mindanao.

Ms. Mostare, 19, gave birth to her third child in her home in Marawi on 23 May 2017, the same day violence erupted in the city. Three days after her delivery, she evacuated from Marawi together with her husband and three children, making the harrowing journey on foot and riding jeepneys when possible.

Despite her ordeal, she is thankful. “I was with a woman who had also just given birth, but she lost her child. I’m very grateful that my baby survived, and that we’re both strong,” she said.

As a result of the humanitarian crisis gripping Marawi and its environs, Ms. Mostare and thousands of other pregnant women, mothers and girls face hardships and challenges impacting their sexual and reproductive health needs, and their wider personal safety. They need urgent care and protection.

Of the more than 338,500 people displaced as of 18 June, based on data from the Disaster Response Operations and Monitoring Center of the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development, approximately 84,500 are women of reproductive age, with around 10,000 of them pregnant and around 6,700 lactating mothers with infants 0-6 months. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is supporting the humanitarian response to the crisis.

Upon the request of the Department of Health and with support from Australia, UNFPA has deployed 5,000 of its trademark dignity kits for pregnant and lactating women and 1,200 packs of clean delivery kits for emergency deliveries.

The dignity kits contain hygiene and protection items such as sanitary napkins, underwear, flashlights, whistle, soap and shampoo among others.

The clean delivery kits are part of 12 reproductive health kits used during emergencies to ensure that women are able to deliver safely even in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

Heroes amidst the crisis

“It has been challenging,” said midwife Mitzie Belasio, 45, who has monitored the health of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children at the Maria Cristina evacuation center in Iligan city since May 26. Ms. Belasio is part of the Department of Health’s Rural Health Midwives Placement Program, which recruits health professionals to complement the existing workforce of the rural health units. “It’s my first time to be deployed in an evacuation centre, but I enjoy the work. It is my profession,” she said.

Stationed at the facility’s health station, which offers vaccines and vitamins, Ms. Belasio went on to explain some of the challenges to providing care. There are language barriers. “Many of the evacuees do not understand us and we don’t understand them,” she said. “As a provider, we have to continuously have patience as we counsel and make them feel that we are there to help."

Looking to the future

“We hope the fighting ends soon,” said Maria Gina Cabanlit, 53, a member of the Women Welfare Program at the City Social Welfare and Development office at the Maria Cristina evacuation center.

There is growing uncertainty over the prolonged displacement of thousands of people, including pregnant women.

“In the beginning we received a lot of donations at the evacuation center, but as time passed this has declined,” she added.

For new mothers such as Ms. Mostare and for pregnant women affected by the crisis, access to reproductive health services remains critical to their survival as well as their children’s.

The UNFPA Philippines country office has long supported humanitarian response in the country, with a focus on the health, safety and overall well-being of women, girls and young persons.

For more information, please contact: Mario Villamor, UNFPA Philippines: Tel: +63 917 302 6699 (Manila) / e-mail: villamor@unfpa.org

http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/vital-aid-reaches-thousands-displaced-people-marawi-philippines
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Philippines: Returnees - DREF operation update No. 1 - DREF operation n° MDRPH025

June 21, 2017, 1:25 am
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Posted to the Relief Web (Jun 15): Philippines: Returnees - DREF operation update No. 1 - DREF operation n° MDRPH025

Report fromInternational Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies
 
Published on15 Jun 2017—View Original
 
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DREF update n° 1: 15 June 2017

Timeframe covered by this update: 31 March 2017 – 25 May 2017

This Operation Update informs the extension of the operation’s timeframe by two months (until 31 August 2017). The extension allows the chapter in providing support to the individuals who are not able to return within the initial timeframe of the operation due to issues on documentation and transportation.

A. Situation analysis

Description of the situation

Since 15 February 2017, there has been a rapid increase in the number of Filipino returnees from the state of Sabah in Malaysia arriving in Zamboanga City, Mindanao. Most of the returnees are coming from the eastern part of Sabah such as Semporna, Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Sandakan- Romero and Sandakan-Kumunak. While repatriations were procedural and common prior to the increase, the sinking of a vessel that previously transported the returnees prompted suspension of the exercise in September 2016. The suspension led to a backlog of repatriations of approximately 7,000 undocumented Filipino migrants in Sabah.

As of 26 May, a total of 2,382 returnees have arrived since the exercise started on 15 February.

Following the arrival of sixth batch of returnees on 22 March, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) leadership and Zamboanga City chapter determined that they needed to increase their capacity to respond to the needs of the returnees. On 23 March, the leadership of PRC communicated formally to seek support from the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). The request was made after a dialogue between the PRC national headquarters, PRC chapters in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga City, local government counter parts and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Based on assessments conducted through key informant interviews with returnees, the immediate needs were temporary accommodation, food, sleeping materials, hygiene items, medical support and psychosocial support.

By mid-April, the number of returnees began to slow down and PRC have now requested an extension of the operation timeframe until 31 August 2017. There are two main reasons. Firstly, the flow of returnees has slowed down due to congested shipping lines transporting the returnees from Sabah to Zamboanga and the expected number of 7,000 returnees is yet to be reached. Secondly, on 25 May, the Government of Philippines declared a state of Martial Law due to the Marawi crisis which may have an impact in the future.

The extension will also allow PRC to undertake an internal review of the response and lessons learnt workshop. Considering the local context of key information who will be involved in the review and lessons learnt workshop, it is appropriate that these activities are undertaken after the end of Ramadan.
http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-returnees-dref-operation-update-no-1-dref-operation-n-mdrph025
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Philippines: Marawi Conflict Displacement Snapshot (20 June 2017)

June 21, 2017, 1:30 am
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Posted to the Relief Web (Jun 21): Philippines: Marawi Conflict Displacement Snapshot (20 June 2017)

InfographicfromUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
 
Published on21 Jun 2017
 
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Download PDF (1.54 MB)
 
Almost one month after the Marawi armed conflict started, over 314,800 people are now displaced. 94 per cent are staying with host families, while 17,700 (6%) people are staying in 83 evacuation centres.
 
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit http://unocha.org/.

http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-marawi-conflict-displacement-snapshot-20-june-2017
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Aguirre replaces head of prosecutors handling Maute raps

June 21, 2017, 1:44 am
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From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 21): Aguirre replaces head of prosecutors handling Maute raps



Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II replaces the chairman of panel 2 of prosecutors that will conduct the inquest proceedings and preliminary investigations of all cases from Marawi and Lanao del Sur.

In a one-page department order, Aguirre said acting on the letter of Senior Assistant Regional Prosecutor Merlynn Barola-Uy, over-all chairperson, centralized prosecution office for Lanao Del Sur and Marawi City that panel 2 OIC-PP Mangontawar Gubat will be replaced by Celso M. Sarsaba, Deputy City Prosecutor (Officer-in-charge Iligan City) and his members Assistant City Prosecutor Abdullah D. Macagaan (OCP-Cagayan De Oro City) and Assistant Provincial Presecutor Gerald Cecilio P. Roa (OPP-Misamis Oriental).

“Acting on the June 14, 2017 letter of Barola-Uy, over-all chairperson centralized prosecution office for Lanao Del Sur and Marawi City, in connection with the voluntary inhibition of OIC-PP Mangontawar Gubat, as chairperson of Panel 2. This order modified the Department Order nos.348-B dated June 8, 2017 and 348-D dated June 9, 2017 and takes effect immediately and shall remain in force until further,” read the order signed by Aguirre.

The creation of Centralized Prosecution Office for the province of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City will consist of four panels of prosecutors headed by one prosecutor per panel as chairperson.

Uy is one of the chairpersons, the others being City Prosecutor Eduardo Cueto of Iligan, Provincial Prosecutor Chuchi Azis of Misamis Oriental, and Senior State Prosecutor Lilian Doris Alejo of DOJ Manila.

Each panel would have two member-prosecutors and each group will take turns in handling inquest and preliminary investigations of all criminal complaints for rebellion involving the Maute Terror Group in the entire province of Lanao del Sur and Marawi City.

In a separate department order, Aguirre ordered additional of five prosecutors - three from Cagayan de Oro City and two from Misamis Oriental - due to difficulties in accommodating numerous respondents by existing panel of prosecutors.

The pool of prosecutors namely, Alfonso S. Vicente Jr., Louie L. Borja, Ansharey S. Lalia were all Assistant City Prosecutors of Cagayan De Oro City, Assistant Provincial Prosecutors Lito A. Sanchez and Tadeo V. Polestico were both from Misamis Oriental will be assisted in the inquest proceedings of rebellion cases involving the Maute group.

On Tuesday, around 12 suspected members of the Maute terrorist group, who were arrested last June 16 in a hospital in Pagadian City, underwent inquest proceedings for rebellion in Cagayan de Oro city.

Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said the 12 faced the prosecutors handling the case during the proceedings at the headquarters of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Camp Evangelista which was earlier designated by the Supreme Court for the trial of the cases against the Mautes and their supporters.

Balmes said originally 13 suspects would have to undergo the proceedings but one of them died in the hospital while undergoing treatment.

Facing charges of rebellion are Racma Macatuon Talib, Lambo Ampaso Ameril, Huwarda Macatuon Talib, Cosnia M. Talib, Sanabae Saliling Macatuon, Amerodin Capga Ameril, Yusoph Taha Halil, Dima Ampaso Ali, Sapacan Mustapha Talib also known as Sapacan Sabar Talibm Halil Saliliing Ali, Mansawi Imam Gumobat and Lanoden Macatuon Dimarugong.

Junaid A. Dimarugong, alias Ameodin Ameril, was also arrested with the 12, but according to Balmes, Dimarugong died in the hospital.

He said that after the inquest, the prosecutors would evaluate whether to elevate the case against the suspects to the regional trial court or not.

Earlier, the Department of Justice (DoJ) approved the filing of rebellion charges against Ominta Tamano "Farhana" Maute, mother of Mauter group leaders Abdullah and Omar, former Marawi City Mayor Fahad Salic and nine others in connection to the ongoing armed conflict in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur before the Cagayan De Oro City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

”The centralized Prosecution Office of Lanao Del Sure and Marawi City accuses [the 11 individuals] of the crime of rebellion under Article 134 of the Revised Penal Code,” read the four-page resolution dated June 13, 2017 was signed by Prosecutors Ramonchito Bienvenido Ocampo Jr. and Liezel Aquiatan.

Rebellion is a non-bailable offense.

Aside from Salic and Maute, also charged in court are Sumaya Bangkit Masakal, Radiea Tugosa Asire, Mariam Ibnu Abubakar, Zafeerah Rosales Musa, Nehreen Macaraya Abdul, Nora Moctar Limgas, Mardiyya Haji Ali, Sumayya Lawi Ali and Noronisa Haji Camal.

All 11 accused were included in the list of over 300 individuals identified as members of the Maute group, the Abu Sayyaf group, and their sympathizers earlier ordered arrested by the government for the crime of rebellion.

They were indicted after investigating prosecutors found probable cause to file the case in court following inquest proceedings held at their temporary detention cell in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan De Oro City.

Marawi city is the site of clashes between security forces and Maute members since the latter attacked the city last month.

DOJ records showed that there were 89 Maute members facing kidnapping and kidnapping with murder cases before the Malabang Regional Trial Court in Lanao Del Sur.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/996651
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Immigration tightens passenger-screening to thwart entry of foreign jihadists

June 21, 2017, 1:48 am
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From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 21): Immigration tightens passenger-screening to thwart entry of foreign jihadists

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday ordered its officers officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other ports of entry in the country to tighten screening of arriving foreign passengers, particularly from countries where jihadists came from.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente directed Marc Red Mariñas, the bureau’s port operations division chief, to subject all foreigner nationals to a stringent inspection, following reports that some of the terrorists fighting government troops in Marawi City are foreign nationals.

"Those who have questionable documents or doubtful purposes in coming to the country should be excluded and booked on the first available flight to their port of origin,” he said in a statement.

Morente noted that it was difficult to assess and establish if an arriving foreign visitor was a suspected terrorist, especially if the latter was completely documented and able to satisfactorily answer questions propounded to him by the immigration officer.

"That is why we have in our database the names of thousands of suspected international terrorists that were given to us by the different law enforcement and intelligence agencies here and abroad,” he said.

The BI chief explained that a foreign passenger whose name and description matches the person appearing in our derogatory list is immediately turned back and barred from entering the country.

On the other hand, Mariñas noted that aside from alerting BI personnel in all the international airports, he also issued a similar directive to immigration officers assigned to the southern seaports and border crossing stations in the South.

"They were instructed to coordinate with the military and police authorities in their areas in conducting border screening formalities for foreigners arriving in their respective ports,” he said.

Mariñas believed that most of the foreign jihadists now involve in the Marawi siege entered the country via the backdoor and did not pass inspection by immigration authorities, given the country’s long and porous shorelines.

On the other hand, BI Spokesperson Antonette Mangrobang did not identify the nations that have allegedly links to extremist organizations.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/996633
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