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Philippine clash kills 9 suspected militants
MANILA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops killed nine suspected militants in a clash in Lanao del Sur province in the southern Philippines, a military spokesperson said Saturday. Colonel Louie Dema-ala of the Philippine Army said government forces killed the alleged members of Dawlah Islamiyah, an Islamic armed group, in fighting in a town in the province located in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim.....»»
AFP cites Basilan local government’s peace, security efforts
Residents of Basilan province in the Bangsamoro region were elated over the grant it received from the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday......»»
Villagers displaced by gunfight in Maguindanao del Norte
COTABATO CITY --- The police and military have urged the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to disengage and reconcile two of its groups that clashed on Monday morning in Maguindanao del Norte, causing the displacement of about a hundred villagers. The two groups figured in running gunfights for about four hours in Linib and Tinindanan areas in Barangay Bugawas in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, the local police stated in a report on Tuesday to Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Lt. Col. Esmael Madin, chief of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station, and officials of the Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Police Office identified the leaders of the feuding groups as Commanders Salim and Adam, who has more than 30 followers each, armed with assault rifles and grenade launchers. Evacuees from the conflict-torn villages are convinced the hostilities were related still to the October 30 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, where both groups had favored candidates. Talks are spreading around Datu Odin Sinsuat and in this city hinting that the incident, which affected more than 30 families, could be connected to the gun attack on Monday morning in the same barangay that resulted in the death of two residents, Juhaimen Ube and Mistah Alon and left four others wounded. The slain duo, who were attacked while on their way to a polling site, campaigned for certain candidates for barangay elective posts, according to their relatives. They are both related to members of one of the two groups that clashed in Linib and Tinindanan on Monday, according to traditional community Moro leaders. Army Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said he has directed their units in Datu Odin Sinsuat and nearby towns to secure Barangay Bugawas to prevent a repeat of Monday’s skirmishes in the area. The two groups scampered away when they sensed that soldiers backed by armored combat vehicles dispatched to secure Barangay Bugawas were closing in......»»
NPA leader killed in Misamis encounter
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Soldiers killed the leader of the Sendong guerilla front of the New People’s Army and captured another during an encounter in the forested areas of Jimenez town in Misamis Occidental. The soldier also recovered several high-powered firearms at the encounter site in Barangay Carmen, Jimenez. Tabak Division Commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III said yesterday that soldiers from the 10th Infantry Battalion, operating under the Task Unit “Eradicator” of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, engaged the rebels in a firefight. Viray identified the leader of the guerilla front as Michael Cabayag, also known as “Teddy.” He was killed during the encounter. Viray also identified the arrested NPA as Armida Nabicis, alias “Yumi.” Among the high-caliber firearms recovered by the military at the encounter site were an M16 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, one CZ rifle, and one M653 carbine. Also recovered were the personal belongings of the NPA rebels. According to Viray, soldiers acted on a report of armed men roaming around the village. Lt. Col. Jose Andre R. Monje immediately dispatched a team of soldiers to the area, and an encounter immediately ensued between the NPA and the soldiers. “Our commitment goes beyond the battlefield. We will ensure that alias Teddy is properly turned over to his family, respecting the principles of compassion and humanity in this challenging situation,” Monje said. Viray also expressed his gratitude to the concerned citizen for providing the soldiers with critical information about the NPA-Terrorist presence in their area. The post NPA leader killed in Misamis encounter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Colombian gets life sentence in US over killing of Haiti’s president
A US court sentenced a retired Colombian military officer to life in prison for his role in the assassination of Haiti's president in 2021. The United States says it has jurisdiction in the case because it alleges the plot to kill President Jovenel Moise was hatched in part in the US. German Rivera, considered one of the leaders of the mercenary squad that shot and killed Moise in his residence outside Port au Prince, appeared before Judge Jose Martinez to hear the sentence. Rivera, a retired captain, pleaded guilty last month to taking part in the plan. On Friday, dressed in brown prison garb, with his feet and wrists bound, Rivera passed on an opportunity to address the court before the sentence was read out. He was the second person convicted in the United States over the assassination, which plunged Haiti -- already plagued by poverty, gang violence, natural disasters, epidemics, and a weak government -- further into crisis. In June, another member of the conspiracy, Haitian-Chilean Rodolphe Jaar, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison for his role in supplying weapons to carry out the assassination. The 53-year-old Jovenel was gunned down on 7 July 2021 at his private residence by a hired group of about 20 military-trained Colombians. His security detail did not intervene to protect him. In February, US Attorney Markenzy Lapointe told a new conference that underlying the attack on Jovenel was a lust for money and power. Lapointe said two managers of a Miami security firm, CTU, devised a plan to kidnap Moise and replace him with Christian Sanon, a Haitian-American citizen who wanted to become president of the Caribbean country. In exchange for toppling Moise, they were promised lucrative contracts to build infrastructure and provide security forces and military equipment in a future government led by Sanon, also indicted in the United States, prosecutors said. The plot at first was aimed at kidnapping Moise, but then evolved to assassination, according to court filings. In Haiti a probe into the assassination has not led to anyone being put on trial. Haiti has spiraled into deeper chaos since Moise's death. No election has been held and he has not been succeeded. Gangs control around 80 percent of the Haitian capital, and violent crimes such as kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery and carjackings continue to escalate in the impoverished Caribbean nation. The post Colombian gets life sentence in US over killing of Haiti’s president appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner: Modern weapons ‘crucial’
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., on Tuesday said the military organization needs to acquire modern defense equipment and weapons so it can better protect and defend the country against external threats. Aside from modern weapons, Brawner cited the need to equip soldiers with the resources and skills to prepare them for any challenges in fighting and neutralizing threats. Brawner said the AFP also envisions the creation of “citizen warriors” or recruiting more reservists that can be readily tapped during emergencies. Asked if the AFP is ready to meet any external aggression, Brawner said: “When it comes to Filipinos’ fighting spirit, we are number one because, for the longest time, we have been fighting for years, so we are one of the most capable fighters in the world so we just need modern equipment, modern weapons and that’s what we are doing in our modernization effort.” Brawner said an allocation of huge funds is needed to acquire more modern defense equipment and weapons. He said the AFP is targeting to acquire “multi-role fighter aircraft, naval assets, command and control or C-2 systems, shore-based deterrent capabilities, submarines and the like” under the third Horizon of the AFP modernization program. Five-year program The Horizon 3 is slated for 2023 up to 2028. Horizon 2 was undertaken from 2018 to 2022, and Horizon 1 was pushed from 2013 to 2017. Brawner said such procurement tranches are designed to acquire equipment, weapons systems, and platforms to enhance the military organization’s external or territorial defense capability. The post Brawner: Modern weapons ‘crucial’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner: Modern weapons ‘crucial’ to combatting external threats
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday said the military organization needs to acquire modernized defense equipment and weapons so it can better protect and defend the country against any external threat. Aside from modernized weapons, Brawner also cited the need to equip soldiers with the resources and skills to prepare them for any challenges of fighting and neutralizing threats. Brawner said the AFP is also envisioning the creation of “citizen warriors” or recruiting more reservists that can be readily tapped during emergencies. “‘Yung taong bayan ay kailangang ihanda natin, tingnan nyo po yung nangyari sa Israel nung umatake yung Hamas, ang mga unang dumepensa sa bansa nila ay yung mga citizen warriors, yung mga reservists, yun din po ang gusto nating mangyari dito,” he said in an interview over the DZRH. “Gusto po natin talagang ihanda yung ating mga kababayan mga mamamayan for any eventuality whether it is man made or even natural,” he added. Asked if the AFP is ready for any external aggression, Brawner said: “When it comes to Filipinos’ fighting spirit, we number one, because for the longest time—we have been fighting for years, so we are one of the most fighters in the world so we just need modern equipment, modern weapons and that’s what we are doing in our modernization effort.” Brawner said an allocation of huge funds is needed to acquire more modern defense equipment and weapons. “Because really mahal po kasi yung mga kagamitan na kailangan natin but we have to invest in our defense kasi kung hindi po natin gagawin yan, kahit na anong gastos natin sa ibang mga bagay pero kung may mangyari man, kung may umatake sa atin mawawala lahat ito,” he added. Brawner earlier said the AFP is targeting to acquire “multi-role fighter aircraft, naval assets, command and control or C-2 systems, shore-based deterrent capabilities, submarines and the like” under the third Horizon of the AFP modernization program. The Horizon 3 is slated for 2023 up to 2028. Horizon 2 was undertaken from 2018 to 2022 and the Horizon 1 was pushed from 2013 to 2017. Brawner said such procurement tranches are designed to acquire equipment, weapons systems, and platforms geared at enhancing the external or territorial defense capability of the military organization. Among the platforms procured in the ongoing AFP Modernization Program include the S-70i "Black Hawk" combat utility helicopters, missile frigates, close air support aircraft, air defense surveillance radars, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, corvettes, anti-submarine helicopters, light tanks, tactical radios, amphibious assault vehicles, civil engineering equipment, and modern pistols......»»
EU mulls more engagements with Phl
The European Union is mulling to increase its engagements with the Philippines. This was confirmed by EU Ambassador to the Philippines, Luc Véron, during his meeting with Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romeo Brawner Jr. at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City over the weekend. AFP Public Affairs chief Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto said Véron has reiterated the EU’s desire to remain the country’s partner in cultivating the potentials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, by providing institution-building and socio-economic programs in the area. Ileto said Brawner has expressed his “profound gratitude” to the EU’s plan with the region. “The ambassador relayed their side’s intention to increase engagement with the Philippines due to its geopolitical importance to the EU and significance to the protection of its interests in the region,” Ileto said. “General Brawner Jr. in turn committed its support to EU’s programs in the Philippines and praised their clear positive effects on the development and improved security in Mindanao,” he added. The post EU mulls more engagements with Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSKE 2023 still a go, says PNP
The Philippine National Police on Monday stressed that it is not seeing any postponement of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled on 30 October amid the reported 2,594 areas of concern. PNP chief Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said that the PNP has recorded 246 “areas of grave concern” or under the red category while 1,248 villages are under the orange category and 1,100 are under the yellow category. “So far, we are not seeing any areas that may postpone the polls. All areas will be simultaneously doing or conducting the BSKE as scheduled. There are some areas that we think that needs additional troops like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” Acorda said. “We have to send additional forces there and our deputy chief for operations are also preparing in coordination with the other agencies. If some areas will be challenging, we will render the appropriate measures,” he added. Areas listed under the red category would be under the Commission on Elections’ control and the poll body has the authority to augment security forces in the said areas. “With regards to the preparations for the barangay elections to our assessment and after the presentation of all the regional directors and after their meeting with the different Regional Joint Security Control Center, provincial JSCCs and of course on the national level, it’s a go for all of us,” said Acorda. The PNP chief revealed that the 246 “areas of grave concern” for the BSKE are mostly from Bicol, Eastern visayas and BARMM. “In BARMM alone we have 151, in Region 8 we have 60 and in Region 5 we have 21 this list is fluid, it may change anytime depending on the political climate in the area and these are being constantly monitored through our coordination with the Comelec, Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” said Acorda. He also said that the PNP keeping a close watch on 38 potential PAGs and four active PAGs ahead of the BSKE this year. The election period for the BSKE started on 28 August and will end on 29 November 2023. During this period, the Comelec mandates the suspension of activities involving the carrying of firearms or other deadly weapons and the employment of security personnel or bodyguards by incumbent public officials, whether elected or appointed, as well as private individuals. The post BSKE 2023 still a go, says PNP appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
4 ASG members wave white flag
ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Naval Forces Western Mindanao on Sunday revealed that four individuals believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group operating in Sulu province surrenders to authorities and turned over their high-powered firearms here. NFWM commander Rear Adm. Donn Anthony Miraflor said on Sunday that the surrender of the four former ASG gunmen on Friday was the result of the combined efforts of NFWM, Joint Task Force Orion and Ministry of Public Order and Safety in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Miraflor identified the four ASG members as Jimmy Ibnohajar, Jul-Amin Subuhani, Juksin Subuhani and Dhenmar Patta Jamiul, adding that they turned over one Cal. 50 Barrett Rifle, two Springfield M1 Garand Rifle, one M16A1 Rifle and assorted live ammunition and magazines. He presented the four former ASG along with their high-power firearms to Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. and was witnessed by representatives of the MPOS-BARMM. Following their surrender, the alleged ASG members underwent medical check-ups at Camp Navarro General Hospital. They were later turned over to the JTF-Orion and MPOS-BARMM, for proper documentation, and the possible inclusion in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program for ASG in Sulu province and their appropriate disposition. “The successful surrender demonstrates the relentless efforts made by the NFWM in maintaining security and peace, ensuring the safety and well-being of the people within the NFWM area of responsibility,” Miraflor said. To recall, that the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command recently activated the JTF-Orion, a multi-service, multi-domain task force task to support and participate in the implementation of various government peace programs through peace process mechanisms in Mindanao. AFP-WesMinCom chief Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo said JTF-Orion was organized to address and provide unity of command in confronting the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu and in other parts of Mindanao. The post 4 ASG members wave white flag appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Son of a gun
What is it about carrying around a firearm that transforms a Dr. Jekyll into a Mr. Hyde? Lately, the public has been treated (if that is the right word) to a slew of spectacles showing ordinary citizens involved in gun-toting road rage incidents. There would be a traffic altercation, it would turn confrontational, one person would alight from his vehicle, pull out a gun and point it at his adversary to intimidate him. Unfortunately for these “kawawang” cowboys (to borrow the song lyrics of the late Fred Panopio), they forget that the entire population these days is armed with phone cameras. Their gung-ho attitude is caught on camera and posted online, going viral among a population looking for sensational footage. Worse for the bully, since there are a lot of reelectionist senators, such videos invariably trigger a Senate inquiry supposedly in aid of legislation, never mind if our country already has strict gun laws. This would inevitably give the anti-gun advocates another chance to restate their mantra of “guns are evil,” disregarding the fact that firearms are inanimate objects that do not spontaneously pull their own triggers without human intervention. Those like us who are in favor of the right to carry arms — under the proper legal regulations, of course — would then counter with our own mantra: “Guns don’t kill; people do.” The debate is monotonously repeated every time there are morons such as that bald Gonzales character, who unlawfully use guns. The call for a total gun ban to address the issue is a knee-jerk reaction by jerks. For every a-hole who pulls out his gun out of pique, there are tens of thousands like me who have never used their firearm even under pressure. I believe that the safeguards now in place for applicants for gun licenses have been effective in filtering out the vast majority of psychos who cannot handle the perceived “power” born out of carrying a gun. To call for a firearms ban just because some weirdos out there abuse their privilege to carry guns is like calling for a total ban on cars simply because there are a few drivers who get into accidents due to their lack of driving skills. In this connection, I have been wondering why my proposal to test drivers’ IQs, and if it is low, to put a notice on their cars saying “Warning: Stupid Driver” (much like the notice on beginners’ cars, “Warning: Student Driver”) has fallen on deaf official ears. My best friend, Dr. Francis Aquino, a psychology major before becoming an anesthesiologist, once told me that those who swagger around, gun in hand, are covering up for something. The psychoanalytic term he used was “compensation.” It may be for lack of parental affection when an infant, lack of wealth or power, a timid nature, or even — seriously — a small penis. Doc Francis added that sometimes those who drive the biggest cars or pack a gun with the longest barrel are those with the smallest dicks. Well, I drive a compact car and have a snub-nose revolver, so draw your own conclusions. Reminds me of that famous quote from Mae West: “Is that a gun in your pants, or are you just happy to see me?” Levity aside, a legal gun-carrying citizen should always possess the proper mindset when lugging around his weapon for protection. He should be aware of the multitude not only of the online hatred that he will be getting when he unlawfully unholsters his firearm and uses it to threaten someone but of the legal problems he will face afterward. And then there is the possibility of encountering someone who also has a gun, or who has armed bodyguards, in which case the resulting shootout will definitely result in casualties, both on the part of the combatants and, worse, of innocent bystanders. In this case, one might end up being a dead son of a gun. The post Son of a gun appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP tags 246 ‘areas of concern’ ahead of BSKE
Some 246 "areas of grave concern" are initially being monitored for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 30 October, the Philippine National Police said Monday. In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said these areas are classified under the red category of the election hotspot list and are mostly from Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. These would be put under the control of the Commission on Election. “The poll body has the authority to augment security forces in these areas,” she added. The PNP also categorized other hotspot areas under green, yellow, and orange lists. Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly. Fajardo said there are 1,100 villages under the yellow list which are “areas of concern” due to having a history of election-related incidents in the last elections, possible employment of partisan armed groups, occurrence of politically motivated election-related cases, and having been previously declared under Comelec control. The PNP also listed 1,248 villages under the orange list refers to “areas of immediate concern” where there is a serious armed threat. Fajardo said the PNP and the military will soon convene the National Joint Security Control Center to reconcile their records regarding the election hotspot list. The recommendation on the hotspot list would be then submitted to the Comelec en banc for final approval. The post PNP tags 246 ‘areas of concern’ ahead of BSKE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Walang (Mag)saysay
During one of the many well-publicized Senate hearings in the aftermath of the infamous Mamasapano Massacre in 2015 that led to the murder of 44 Special Action Force troopers, one Miriam Coronel-Ferrer was grilled by an irate Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Coronel-Ferrer was then chairman of the Aquino Government’s peace panel that had signed an accord with the Muslim rebels on the establishment of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, an agreement widely regarded as having signed away a lot of our Republic’s prerogatives in favor of armed Islamic insurgents. Senator Cayetano demanded to know from Coronel-Ferrer why the government dragged its feet in providing artillery support and reinforcements to the trapped policmen, to which she notoriously replied, “The policy of the government is to first negotiate with the armed groups fighting with state forces.” To this, Cayetano replied, “No government in the world negotiates with terrorists.” Coronel-Ferrer’s response left most in the Senate gallery dumbfounded when she said, “I know of no such policy.” Yet here she is, one of this year’s Magsaysay Awardees. Ironic it is that an award founded in honor of one of the best-loved Presidents this country has ever had, would be given to an underling of someone who would become one of the most hated in Philippine history (after a string of scandals such as the Luneta hostage fiasco, “Yolanda” and Dengvaxia, among many others). Even more ironic is that she is being given the award for her supposed “transformative power of non-violent strategies,” when all that she succeeded in transforming was forty-four elite police personnel into corpses due to the appalling display of violence of a rebel movement she greatly enabled. She also almost transformed our Republic into a dismembered state; thank heavens the backlash from the massacre caused the agreement she brokered to be shelved in favor of one much less onerous to the Philippines. But what is to expected of an award-giving body co-opted by Yellowtards, as a quick look at the roster of its chairman and trustees will readily reveal. Composed of men and women with strong ties either to Mrs. Cory Aquino and/or her anointed successor, Fidel Ramos, these people either served in the Cabinet or important agencies of one or the other President; or had enjoyed — or are still enjoying — high positions in big corporations supportive of the Aquino Yellow narrative. So it should be of no wonder that these denizens of the same echo chamber would exhibit the proclivity, remarkably endemic to the Aquino clique, of giving awards and accolades to each other. As if that would somehow compensate for the fact that the narrative that has kept them in power for more than 30 years had been totally demolished. Just note the decorations given to Leni after she lost, from fellowships to doctor’s degrees honoris causa to trophies for this and that dubious achievement. Such a pity that the Magsaysay Awards should so decline in prestige. It used to be an important recognition for Asian leaders, counting among its Filipino awardees the likes of Francisca Aquino, Rosa Rosal, F. Sionil Jose, Lino Brocka, Dr. Fe del Mundo, Nick Joaquin, James Reuter, Bienvenido Lumbera and Miriam Defensor-Santiago. Yet, like many others touched by the Yellow reverse-Midas touch, what used to be gold is turning to crap, with Yellow stalwarts Jesse Robredo, Sheila Coronel, Conchita-Carpio Morales, Haydee Yorac and Hilario Davide among the list. Cringy, especially since among those who have previously received the honor were the Dalai Lama, Thai Premier Anand Panyarachun, Mochtar Lubis, Akira Kurosawa, Ravi Shankar and Mother Teresa. To use an overworn cliché, President Magsaysay would be turning in his grave to know that his eponymous award has become another way for those in the same political group to pat themselves on the back. Its value has depreciated and, if the trend is not arrested, it will soon be irrelevant, a case of walang saysay. The post Walang (Mag)saysay appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CA confirms Brawner, 29 military officers
The Commission on Appointments, led by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, confirmed Wednesday the ad interim appointment of Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines with the rank of four-star general and the nomination of other 29 generals, flag officers, and senior military officers. Zubiri lauded the soldiers for their loyalty to the Philippine flag and their willingness to make sacrifices for the country. “Once again, you are the vanguards of democracy in our country. We cannot have hearings today, we cannot have these institutions in place without the brave men and women of the Armed Forces,” Zubiri said. During the bicameral CA deliberation of his appointment, Brawner vowed the AFP military officials are ready to defend and protect the country and Filipino people against any security threats. Senator Risa Hontiveros started the deliberation by asking Brawner about his primary objectives intended to be accomplished through the AFP's revolving door policy and Republic Act 11939. Brawner responded by enumerating his priority thrusts for the armed forces embodied in an acronym U.N.I.T.Y, which stands for unification, normalization, territorial defense, internal security operations and youth programs. Brawner said the AFP will focus on the the normalization of the Bangsamoro region, particularly the decommissioning, disarmament and reintegration of the former combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. “Now that we believe that we are winding down with our internal security operations, we will have to sustain the gains that we had,” he added. Brawner also noted that the AFP will have to recalibrate its doctrines, training and the entire organization in order to be able to cope with the demands of defending the country’s territory. The AFP, he added, will focus on developing the Filipino youth through programs such as the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Brawner said the AFP will make sure that those who will handle the ROTC activities “are prepared and are professional” to prevent a repeat of abuses, including grades for sale, hazing and maltreatment of students. “We are anticipating the passing of that bill for the mandatory ROTC. Naghahanda na po ang inyong armed forces and we want to make sure that we will not repeat the mistakes that we had, the abuses that happened during the past when we had the ROTC program,” he said. On sending military officers to China Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino scrutinized the AFP’s engagements with China, particularly the sending of senior officials and cadets to Chinese military schools. Brawner explained that the Philippines’ military-to-military relationship with China is covered by a memorandum of agreement on Defense Cooperation that was forged in 2004. “That is why we are allowed to send officers to China to study and vice versa, they are sent here because we find value in sending our officers abroad not just to China but in fact to so many countries in order for them to train and to bring back the knowledge that they gain so that we can learn from them and probably apply the best practices that they are applying in other countries,” he said. However, Brawner noted that the AFP is currently studying the revisitation of the memorandum following the blocking and water cannon actions by Chinese vessels against Philippine ships last 5 August in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. “I ordered the temporary stop to sending officers to China. Just last week there was a communication, an invitation from China for us to send cadets to China to join a conference of cadets from all over the world,” he said. Tolentino urged Brawner to provide updates on the results of the study. Senator Imee Marcos also pushed for the local production and procurement of firearms and equipment for the AFP to lessen the country's dependence on foreign suppliers for its national defense. Brawner said the AFP is eyeing the revival of the country’s Self-Reliant Defense Posture program. Meanwhile, the number of military personnel filing for early retirement has increased due to the bill on the reform of the pension system for military and uniformed personnel. "Tumaas po 'yung nagfa-file ng early retirement dahil nga po they are anticipating na kapag lumabas yung batas, 'yung unang version po, they are basing it on the early versions (The number of personnel filing for early retirement increased because they are anticipating the law on the reform of the MUP pension system. They are basing it on the early version),” the AFP chief. "Gusto nila na mapaloob pa sila sa lumang sistema (They want to be covered by the old system). They want to avail of the old system wherein they will receive one-rank higher pay when they retire and indexation,” he added. However, Brawner said there is no cause for concern as many Filipinos are willing to join and apply for the AFP service. "The alarming situation would be 'yung mawawala po 'yung ating senior non-commissioned officers. So kung puro bata naman yung ating Armed Forces, it will not be a healthy organization (The alarming situation would be when our senior non-commissioned officers leave the AFP. So we will be left with mostly young personnel, it will not be a healthy organization),” Brawner said, noting that the military organization also needs the leadership of its non-commissioned officers. According to Brawner, he already advised AFP personnel “to just wait for the final version of the law before making a decision on their retirement.” He added that soldiers are always willing to sacrifice a portion of their pay for the country's benefit. Brawner stressed the Department of National Defense has developed a plan that would enable the AFP to generate pension funds, including utilizing available real estate assets. The post CA confirms Brawner, 29 military officers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM designates Crespillo as new WesMinCom chief
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated MGen. Steve Crespillo as the 17th Commander of the Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense announced Saturday. Crespilllo is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990. Before his new designation, Crespillo served as the vice commander of the Philippine Army. He also chaired various boards and committees of the Philippine Army and performed oversight functions on the Army’s key policies, plans, and programs. Crespillo was a former commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade, leading troops in efforts to end the local communist armed conflict in Apayao and Cagayan. He was also designated as chief of staff and assistant division commander for reservist and retiree affairs of the 6th Infantry Division, and acting commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade. Crespillo previously served the WesMinCom as the chief of the Unified Command Staff—overseeing operations in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The post PBBM designates Crespillo as new WesMinCom chief appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 Maute members surrender
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two members of the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group surrendered to government security forces in Lanao del Norte, saying they no longer believed in the group’s ideologies. The two men, identified as Abu Talha and Abu Anas, gave themselves up to soldiers of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade. They also surrendered one Cal. 45 pistol and one Cal. 9mm pistol. Bangsamoro Transition Authority Commissioner Al-Haj Abdullah Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, and the representative of Munai, Lanao del Norte Mayor Racma Andamama accompanied the two men in their surrender. The two men said they decided to surrender after realizing that the group’s ideologies were not worth fighting for. They also said they were convinced by the government’s programs for former outlaws and the continuous dwindling of their group. Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido welcomed the surrender of the two men and reiterated his call to the remaining members of the Daulah Islamiyah to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law. Galido also commended the soldiers for their efforts to intensify intelligence, combat, and civil-military operations in the area. The post 2 Maute members surrender appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Barangay, SK poll hotspots known
The Philippine National Police on Tuesday revealed that it has monitored 27 areas that needed to be be placed under the red category or areas of concern ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October this year. PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria explained that they have four categories for considering election hotspots — green, yellow, orange and red. Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly, while Yellow are areas of concern, which means that these have a history of election-related incidents in the last elections, possible employment of partisan armed groups, the occurrence of politically motivated election-related incidents and had been previously declared under the Commission on Elections control. Orange, meanwhile, means areas of immediate concern where there is a serious armed threat while Red means areas of grave concern, which exhibit combined factors under the Yellow category with serious armed threats that may warrant the motu proprio declaration of Comelec control. “We have some figures here but this is still to be submitted to the Comelec en banc for approval but for a bird’s eye view of our election areas of concern we have category green which has 37,683, that is election with no area of concern. For Yellow, we have 4,085, for Orange, we have 232 and for Red, we have 27 but these figures were based from the past elections,” Dubria said. “So these is just a ballpark figure that supposed to validate some more together, we have to get the approval of the Comelec en banc. So as of the moment that is the information that we can provide,” he added. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., meantime, said that they are still monitoring Negros Oriental and areas in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and added that the PNP started identifying policemen whose family members and other relatives are planning to run for the BSKE elections in October this year. The post Barangay, SK poll hotspots known appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ungkaya Pukan tensions intensify
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities on Monday revealed that tension continues to mount in Barangay Ulitan and in the adjacent villages of Ungkaya Pukan town in Basilan Province after a convoy of the Joint Peace and Security Team were ambushed by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group which left a soldier dead while nine others were injured. The JPST team — led by Ahmadin T. Barahim — was on its way to an area where a government outreach program will be held on Friday when they were ambushed by the ASG. The team was backed by troops of the 64th Infantry Battalion and policemen who are all members of the JPST. They were onboard two KM450 and two civilian vehicles when they were ambushed by at least 10 suspected ASG gunmen. Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido condemned the inhumane acts of terrorism perpetrated by suspected members of the ASG terrorists group against the JPST. “Our soldiers fought back, resulting in a firefight which lasted for five minutes. The firefight has killed one of our soldiers identified as Pvt. Marjohn Tenido and wounded seven others and one police personnel,” Galido said. Those injured were identified as Corporals Olismador Palomares and Elias Lomoljo; Privates Wowie Penista, Frances Capilitan, and Carlo Jimenez, Private First Class Nestor Tampos, S/Sgt. Rosario Bisara Jr. and Abdurafiq Gafor Akalun, a police officer. Akalun is the brother-in-law of Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Hadji Dan Asnawi, a former member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. “This act is a clear manifestation of disrespect to their local government officials and we will not stop until these heartless individuals are identified and neutralized,” Galido said. Meanwhile, some residents of Barangay Ulitan, Ungkaya Pukan have started to flee their homes in anticipation of a possible “armed showdown between the ASG and the military” in some identified villages where the ASG terrorists are holding camps. The boundaries of Ungkaya Pukan and Sumisip are considered the home of notorious ASG terrorists and the military is having difficulty in reaching the camps of these terrorists due to the treacherous terrain of the forested mountains. The post Ungkaya Pukan tensions intensify appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DSWD hands out socio-economic aid to 500 former violent extremists in Sulu
The Department of Social Welfare and Development reported over the weekend that it has initiated a Peace Caravan in Maimbung, Jolo, Sulu on Wednesday to provide cash assistance and welfare goods to former violent extremists in the area. DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns (ISPSC) Alan A. Tanjusay, together with Assistant Secretary for ISPSC Arnel B. Garcia and Field Office IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) Director Riduan Hadjimuddin, led the provision of the socio-economic packages to around 500 FVEs. The FVEs, who willingly surrendered and wished to be reintegrated into their respective communities, were provided with food packs, hygiene kits, and one-time cash assistance amounting to P10,000 each through the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). Other government agencies which participated in the Peace Caravan and provided services to the beneficiaries were the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), and Sulu Police Provincial Office. The DSWD officials also engaged in an open dialogue with the FVEs to discuss their concerns and challenges for the next phase of the peace efforts. The FVEs have expressed their willingness to work closely with the DSWD on certain issues, especially with regard to their surrender and reintegration. Organized by DSWD Zamboanga Peninsula, the event dubbed as, “Hatid Serbisyo para sa Pangkapayapaan, tulay para sa nagkakaisang bayan”, was in collaboration with the 11th Infantry Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (11th ID, AFP) and the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The Peace Caravan was part of the Department’s commitment to the implementation of Executive Order No. 70's Whole-of-Nation Approach to serve former combatants and promote inclusive and sustainable peace. This caravan and other peace-promoting activities are a testament to the peace efforts of the department to transform more FVEs to work with the government as productive citizens. Social protection has been one of the fundamental pillars of the government in attaining a just and peaceful society that transforms former rebels, former violent extremists, and decommissioned combatants into peaceful and productive citizens. The DSWD, as the lead social protection agency, has been focusing on delivering socio-economic packages since the Philippine government embarked on a peace process and signed peace agreements with internal armed groups across the country. #In line with the Marcos administration’s peace agenda. The post DSWD hands out socio-economic aid to 500 former violent extremists in Sulu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Colombians in spotlight over Ecuador, Haiti assassinations
Two years after a Colombian squad allegedly shot dead the president of Haiti, authorities in Ecuador have accused a group of Colombians of being behind the assassination of a top presidential candidate, pointing to the export of a culture of political hit jobs. Colombia has a long history of politicians being assassinated by opponents, drug traffickers, or paramilitaries, and even its president, Gustavo Petro, campaigned before his election from behind a wall of bulletproof shields. After the shock assassination of Ecuador journalist and anti-corruption crusader Fernando Villavicencio on Wednesday, authorities released pictures of six Columbian suspects, one of them splattered with blood. A seventh suspect was killed in a shootout at the scene of the crime. The country's main newspaper, El Universo, reported Villavicencio was assassinated "hitman-style and with three shots to the head." Police said the suspects were arrested in a series of raids in which they also found a rifle, a machine gun, grenades, and ammunition. In a message of support to Ecuador, Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro drew a direct link to the murder of Haitian president Jovenel Moise in his home in July 2021 by a group of 17 Colombian mercenaries. "A gang of Colombian hitmen, mercenaries, went to Haiti to assassinate a president," he said during an official event. "These criminal gangs of hitmen are unfortunately taking this Colombian model of political assassinations outside of its borders." Jorge Mantilla, a Colombian investigator into organized crime, said that the arrests showed the "specialization among Colombian criminals in the use of violence" after six decades of armed conflict between the state and guerrillas, paramilitaries, and drug gangs. He said the two assassinations "show the capacity that these violence professionals have of connecting with transnational crime networks." Cross-border ties Villavicencio said last week he had received several threats from Los Choneros, one of Ecuador's most powerful criminal groups which the Insight Crime thinktank said became the armed wing of a Colombian drug cartel. It also has ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. Late Friday Villavicencio was buried in Quito during a private ceremony after hundreds of people paid tribute at an exhibition center, where his coffin was draped with the flag and a symbolic presidential sash with the words "My power is in the constitution." While there has been no clear claim of responsibility, the murder has highlighted the once-peaceful nation's decline into a violent hotbed of drug trafficking and organized crime. Wedged between the major cocaine producers Colombia and Peru, Ecuador -- seen as having laxer controls -- has in recent years attracted foreign drug cartels that have linked up with local gangs to move drugs through the country to the United States and Europe. Mantilla explains that Ecuador's drug gangs "acquired their power from working with Colombian organizations and later became independent" and grew stronger. On Thursday, Ecuador's Interior Minister Juan Zapata referred to the detainees simply as "foreigners," saying they were "members of a criminal group" that assassinated Villavicencio in an "attempt to sabotage" snap presidential elections due on August 20. Colombian media said the suspects had criminal records in their home country, including for arms manufacturing and trafficking, drug trafficking, murder, or domestic violence. Colombia partly 'responsible' After the Haiti assassination, a US investigation revealed that two men at the head of a Miami security firm had devised a plan to kidnap Moise and replace him with a Haitian-American citizen. In March this year, dual Haitian-Chilean citizen Rodolphe Jaar pled guilty in the United States to housing the Colombian commando team and giving them weapons. That same month Colombia's president Petro said his country was partly responsible for Moise's assassination. "Colombia has a co-responsibility... it was Colombian mercenaries who went to kill the president of Haiti, unleashing a crisis even worse than the one they were already going through," he said. Petro has not commented on the Ecuador assassination. The post Colombians in spotlight over Ecuador, Haiti assassinations appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»