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AFP: Sulu now Abu Sayyaf-free
After more than two decades, Sulu has been cleared of Abu Sayyaf bandits, according to the military......»»
PBBM lifts state of national emergency in Mindanao
Malacañang on Thursday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has lifted Proclamation No. 55, which declared a state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao, after the peace and order situation in the region has significantly improved. Proclamation No. 298 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on 25 July 2023 stated that the conditions then prevailing for which Proclamation No. 55 was issued in 2016 have been significantly mitigated or reduced. “The lifting of Proclamation No. 55 (s. 2016) will boost economic activity and hasten the recovery of the local economy,” the proclamation read. “Through successful focused military and law enforcement operations and programs that promote sustainable and inclusive peace, the government has made significant gains in improving and restoring peace and order in the region,” it added. Former President Rodrigo Duterte issued Proclamation No. 55 on 4 September 2016 in view of the lawlessness violence perpetrated by private armies and local warlords, bandits, criminal syndicates, terrorist groups and religious extremists across the island group. The post PBBM lifts state of national emergency in Mindanao appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tribune, Marcos share good gov’t journey (6)
Allegations that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has evaded transparency do not have a leg to stand on based on his stand on issues, as reported by Daily Tribune. During his stint as a senator, Marcos demanded from the Armed Forces of the Philippines the disclosure of the details of an encounter in Basilan in 2016, amid reports that the military had imposed a news blackout. A clash in Basilan between soldiers and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group left at least 18 soldiers dead and some 80 others wounded. The incident happened a year after the Mamasapano debacle, in which 44 Special Action Force troopers were massacred. The AFP, Marcos said, had to make public who led the operation and the exact purpose of the mission in an area controlled by the armed group. “Who was in charge of the operation? What was the exact objective of the operation? We need answers because this is something that strikes a chord with every Filipino because of the Mamasapano incident a year ago,” he had said. “Here we go again. We are again in the dark about what happened,” Marcos said, referring to the confusion that followed the tragic Oplan Exodus that neutralized Malaysian terrorist Marwan. Marcos expressed concern over the silence of the AFP, and noted a similarity to the ill-fated Mamasapano operation. It took a series of Senate investigations before the public got details of the operation and the officials involved. Then Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and AFP Chief of Staff Hernando Iriberri were found to have flown to Zamboanga City and Basilan province to meet with ground commanders regarding the disclosure of details of the encounter. A 10-hour firefight erupted a day after Italian hostage, former missionary Rolando del Torchio, was released by the ASG. Transparency as a practice Marcos said the entire nation and the families of the slain soldiers deserved full transparency on the military operation against the international terrorist group. “We need a full picture of the encounter. We should not hide these details. The Filipino people and most especially the families of the soldiers killed and wounded deserve to know the whole truth,” he said. Reports said government forces were deployed to hunt down ASG commander Isnilon Hapilon who was involved in several terrorist attacks. About 100 ASG bandits were involved in the clash with the government troops. Four soldiers were decapitated. The ASG had launched a kidnapping spree then, snatching 10 Indonesian fishermen, followed quickly by four more hostages. The four were Dutch Ewold Hurn, Canadians John Ridsdel and Robert Hall and Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad. Marcos and the other senators honored the slain soldiers, citing their bravery. (To be continued) The post Tribune, Marcos share good gov’t journey (6) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
4 Sayyaf-linked gang members arrested in Zamboanga Sibugay
A leader of a criminal gang and his three followers said to have links with Abu Sayyaf bandits were arrested in Zamboanga Sibugay on Friday......»»
Basilan ASG members killed
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two individuals believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were killed in a fresh encounter with government forces in Basilan province, military officials said Thursday. Joint Task Force Basilan acting commander Col. Frederick Sales disclosed that the clash transpired around 6 a.m. Tuesday in Sitio Talisay, Barangay Upper Benembengan, Sumisip town. The slain extremists were identified only as a certain “Dodong,” a follower of Mudzrimar Sawadjaan, a known bomber and Sulu-based ASG sub-leader, while the other, a certain “Boy,” is a follower of Basilan-based ASG leader Pasil Bayali. Sales said the troops recovered the remains of the two bandits in Barangay Pamatsaken, although the clash occurred in the adjacent village of Upper Benembengan. Their remains were turned over to the village chief of Upper Benembengan and Sumisip police for proper burial. The clash broke out when the troops chanced upon the ASG bandits while they were tracking down the group of Sawadjaan and Bayali. The government did not suffer any casualty or wounded soldier, according to Sales. To recall, the military was able to locate the harboring position of Mundi Sawadjaan on Saturday. The operation resulted in the rescue of an Indonesian teenager Abbang Rullie, the son of the Jolo Cathedral suicide bomber Rullie Rian Zeke. “Your armed forces will not stop its military operations until the terror groups are completely crushed,” said Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Western Mindanao Command. The post Basilan ASG members killed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 Abu bandits slain in Basilan
Two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in an encounter with soldiers in Sumisip, Basilan on Tuesday......»»
8 Abu bandits tagged in kidnappings surrender
Eight Abu Sayyaf bandits whose leaders were involved in cross-border kidnappings of foreigners have surrendered in Luuk, Sulu......»»
2 Abus surrender; 11 guns turned over in Basilan
Two Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered as residents turned over 10 unlicensed guns to the military in Basilan on Tuesday......»»
Rebirth stories
As in past years during Easter, I’ve asked my son Roel, a literature/writing teacher, to share some reflections: Back then, in the days leading up to Easter Sunday, I remember walking along the eerily deserted streets of the relatively small commercial area outside the gated community in which I grew up. I’d imagine tumbleweed languidly rolling alongside me, and Mr. Weng on horseback in 1982’s D’Wild Wild Weng, about to take on a gang of bandits and sinister ninjas in 18th century California. B.....»»
6 Abu Sayyaf, 7 BIFF bandits surrender
Six Abu Sayyaf and seven Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters bandits surrendered in Sulu and Maguindanao del Sur, respectively, on Wednesday......»»
4 BIFF bandits surrender
Four members of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters surrendered to the military in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday......»»
23 Abu bandits surrender in Sulu
Twenty-three Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered to the military in Indanan, Sulu on Saturday......»»
3 BIFF bandits slain in Maguindanao AFP ops
Three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed in a military offensive in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday......»»
7 ‘bandits’ slain in Sulu encounter
Seven men with alleged links to the Abu Sayyaf bandit group were killed while two others were arrested following an encounter in Parang, Sulu before dawn yesterday......»»
5 bandits surrender in Basilan
Five alleged Abu Sayyaf bandits surrendered to authorities in Basilan on Saturday......»»
2 Abu bandits killed in Basilan military ops
Two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed in an encounter with soldiers in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan on Tuesday......»»
4 ‘bandits’ surrender in Sultan Kudarat
Four alleged members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter surrendered to the military in Sultan Kudarat over the weekend......»»
Army chief lauds troops for campaign vs Abu bandits
Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner has commended the 11th Infantry or Alakdan Division for sustaining peace in Sulu and decimating Abu Sayyaf bandits......»»
2 ‘bandits’ slain in Maguindanao clash
Two alleged members of the lawless group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed in an encounter in Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday......»»
13 BIFF bandits surrender
Thirteen members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters , five of them said to be experts in bombmaking, have surrendered and pledged allegiance to the government......»»