Cordi activists file RTC petition vs terrorist tag

   

By Aldwin Quitasol

BAGUIO CITY - Four Cordillera activists tagged “terrorists” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) filed a petition at the Baguio Regional Trial Court here Nov. 23 challenging the ATC's designation against them.
    Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) leaders Windel Bolinget, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennifer Awingan-Taggaoa, and Stephen Tauli in the first legal action filed in court sought to overturn the “terrorist” designation citing infringement of their constitutional rights.
    On July 10, 2023, an ATC Resolution 41, signed June 7, 2023 designated them as terrorists.
    CPA chairperson and petitioner Bolinget described the designation “assault to their basic rights” as it has effectively frozen their bank accounts and other assets including the CPA itself, “deprived them of fully practicing their work and advocacy and ultimately subjected them to further harassment, humiliation, and threats.”
    The legal initiative renewed calls for junking of the Anti-Terror Law (ATL) following 37 petitions filed in 2020 before the Supreme Court by various groups and individuals of which Bolinget himself was one of petitioners against the ATL.
    “We knew from the start that this law would only be weaponized in silencing dissent. They try to make us falter; we, indigenous peoples and human rights defenders. But we will never deter. This legal action is a testament to our unwavering resolve and unity in standing up for our civil liberties. CPA is a legal and legitimate organization. I am a proud Igorot activist, not a terrorist,” said Bolinget.
    Before the terrorist designation, Bolinget, Abellon-Alikes, Awingan-Taggaoa, and Tauli had reportedly been subjected to relentless harassment and threats by state security forces–varying from filing of trumped-up charges, illegal arrest and detention and abduction.
    This was alongside other harassment and false charges filed against other CPA members and leaders throughout the region despite CPA’s long track record in the defense of indigenous peoples’ rights, recognized both locally and internationally.
    The petition was crafted by a team of esteemed lawyers and groups including the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) which included attorneys Tony La Viña, Carlos Zarate, Ayangwa Claver, Marben Panlasigui with Baguio city councilor Jose Molintas as lead counsel.
 

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UN rapporteur calls for repeal of anti-terror law, ELCAC abolition

The United Nations Special Rapporteur Ian Fry urged the government on Wednesday to revoke the Anti-Terrorism Act and abolish its anticommunist task force, noting how both were facilitating human rights violations and harassment of environmental defenders.
    “The government needs to create a clean slate around its approach to antiterrorism and revise the laws to make them appropriate for the circumstances occurring now, and not to use the laws to harass, vilify and kill environmental human rights defenders,” Fry said in a press briefing.
    The international environmental law and policy expert spoke on the last day of his 10-day visit to the country to study and identify how the adverse impacts of climate change were affecting the “full and effective enjoyment of human rights.”
    Citing “horrific stories” from civil society groups and indigenous peoples (IPs) organizations who were subjected to attacks, he urged government to disband the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) “because it is operating beyond its original mandate and is Red-tagging people from the community.”
    Fry said that during his consultations, he heard testimonies from civil society organizations and even church leaders who were attacked, Red-tagged and their assets ordered frozen—actions by the military which the UN expert said were “totally unreasonable.”
    He cited the need to investigate previous NTF-Elcac operations in addition to reported cases of extrajudicial killings.
    Fry also recommended the formulation of a truth and reconciliation process, noting that “there [were] clearly people who suffered dramatically as a consequence of the persecution of environmental rights defenders and there needs to be a process to properly review effects of the actions of the military.”
    The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, he added, must be reformed, as he suggested the establishment of a grievance mechanism to hear the harm that IPs suffered due to “inappropriate” development projects and military action.
Fry noted that the country was “under a lot of pressure” to provide to the international economy minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and gold in support of renewable energy initiatives.
    In turn, the opening of more mines led to more human rights violations such as displacement of IPs and serious contamination of river systems, resulting in reduced water supply for affected communities, he said.
Fry’s other recommendations included enforcement of a moratorium on all reclamation projects in the country and the revision of the Climate Change Act.
“    The government needs to take strong heed of the Commission on Human Rights’ Report on climate change and hold ‘carbon majors’ accountable for the greenhouse gas emissions they are responsible for,” he said in his interim report.
    Fry will present his formal report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2024, which will provide feedback to the government through communication or exchange of letters.
    He added that while it was still up to the government to heed the recommendations, failure to do so would have its “biggest impact” on the country’s international image.

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CPA hits anti-terrorism council for branding four of their leaders ‘terrorists’

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera People’s Alliance, a federation of organizations in the region and abroad, assailed the government’s Anti-Terrorism Council for branding four of its leaders as “terrorists.”
    The CPA leaders were identified by the ATC as Windel Bolinget, Jen Awingan, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, and Steve Tauli.
    In a press statement released July 10, 2023, the ATC said it had approved a resolution designating the said individuals as “terrorists.”
    The resolution was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and National Security Adviser Vice Chairman Eduardo Año.
    “We condemn in the highest terms these relentless attacks against indigenous people’s activists,” the CPA said in a counter press statement Monday.  “Clearly, the ATA is used as an instrument to stifle dissent and target activists.”
    Earlier this year, the four CPA leaders were tagged Northern Luzon 7 after they were charged with what the CPA called “trumped-up case of rebellion.”
    The case was dismissed a few months ago.
    Following the “spate of attacks,” the CPA appealed to the Supreme Court for the Writ of Amparo filed to the Court of Appeals last year.
    CPA chairperson Windel Bolinget also filed a countercharge against those who were behind his trumped-up Tagum murder case.
    “While we at CPA continue to seek legal remedies to ensure our safety, security, and human rights in this shrinking democratic space, the state weaponizes everything at its disposal to silence us. We enjoin everyone to condemn this designation and call for the immediate retraction of the resolution and designation,” the CPA said in their press statement.
    The CPA urged junking of the Anti-Terror Law.  
    The group reposted the ATC's Resolution 41, which was published on an advertisement page in a national daily on Monday.
    In an advertisement and resolution posted in the national daily on Monday, the ATC had branded the four CPA leaders as members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kalinga: Justice for army officers ‘killed’ by cops

NBI summons cops in shooting 

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- Provincial constituents demanded justice for slain Maj. Marvin Indammog and three other intelligence officers of the Philippine Army even as the former was buried here at the Good Shepherd Cemetery at Mapaoay, Ipil.

Indammog, 39; Capt. Irwin Managuelod, 33; Sgt. Jaime Velasco, 38, and Cpl. Abdal Asula, 33, were on an anti-terrorism mission when they were allegedly flagged down by the police officers and shot to death.

This, as police officers accused of killing Indammog and the three others in Jolo, Sulu on June 29 were summoned by the National Bureau of Investigation Wednesday in Manila.

Senior M/Sgt. Abdelzhimar Padjiri, M/Sgt. Hanie Baddiri, Cpl. Sulki Andaki, Pat. Moh Nur  Pasani,  Pats. Alkajal  Mandangan and Rajiv Putalan and S/Sgts. Iskandar Susulan, Ernisar Sappal and Almudzrin  Hadjaruddin were accompanied by police escorts.

In Tabuk, the Armed Forces of the Philippines accorded Indammog funeral honors with the traditional 21-gun salute.

Indammog, was commanding officer of the Army’s 9th Intelligence Service Unit when he was slain with the three other soldiers by the alleged policemen.

His remains were first brought to the St. William’s Cathedral for the funeral mass. His classmates in the Philippine Military Academy Mandala Class of 2006 and siblings took turn giving eulogies. 

Hundreds of well-wishers from various walks-of-life and sub Kalinga tribes attended the ceremony.

His relatives and co-Mangali tribe members wore printed white T-shirts demanding justice for his death and his companions.
Before he was finally laid to his grave,   his four year old daughter Marian Thalia while tapping the coffin said "Hi, Daddy", her last greetings to her father.  

His wife, Jennifer, was silently grieving during the burial. 

Indammog’s father Cerilo received the Philippine flag from an Army officer.

 His parents recalled Marvin as responsible, the eldest of a brood of six, all males.

Indammog’s mother Violeta described him as strict imposing discipline on his younger brothers.

His co-officers in the Army said he was effective and efficient in his work while his men said he was brave, courageous, and their defender.

In Manila, NBI deputy director for regional operations service Antonio Pagatpat said the police officers, accused in the killing did not file their affidavits.

“We are in the final stage of our investigation and they were subpoenaed as part of due process and to give them a chance to explain their side. During the proceedings, they manifested that they will no longer submit their countervailing statements or affidavits,” Pagatpat said.

The police officers told NBI probers that they would file their affidavits only when a complaint is filed before the prosecutor’s office.

The wives of the slain soldiers had earlier filed a murder complaint against the police officers before the NBI.

Pagatpat said the evaluation of the evidence could be finished this week to determine whether the police officers would be charged with murder.

Among the pieces of evidence are the autopsy and ballistic findings, which showed that the Army intelligence officers were shot from behind. The body of one of the fatalities bore eight gunshot wounds in the back.

The suspects claimed the soldiers engaged them in a shootout.

Pagatpat said the NBI is confident that it has an airtight case against the police officers.

“Because they did not submit their affidavits, we’re confident we have a case,” he said.

President Duterte said he hopes the “isolated incident” would not spark animosity between the police and military.

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No Islamic State terrorists operating in Bulacan:PNP

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has not received any intelligence report on the alleged threat posed by a terror group affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) in Bulacan contrary to rumours.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde gave the assurance after a draft police memorandum warning the public that IS terrorists are moving to Bulacan was posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Albayalde urged residents of Bulacan to remain calm, saying the threats are confined in critical areas in Mindanao.

“We want to assure the public that government forces are doing everything to prevent a spillover,” Albayalde said.

The supposed memorandum from the Bulacan police office was dated Sept. 6. It said IS-inspired militants would attack religious communities as well as Catholic and Christian churches inthe province.

Col. Chito Bersaluna, provincial police director, said there was miscommunication with a PNP personnel who wrote the memo.

Bersaluna said a non-commissioned officer whom he did not identify misunderstood his verbal instructions. He said what should have been written is for police units to be on full alert following recent bombings in Mindanao.

“We had two major events in the province so we intensified our security measures,” he said, referring to the Singkaban Festival, which started on Monday, and the Iglesia ni Cristo’s Grand Baptism at the Ciudad de Victoria in Bocaue on Saturday.

Bersaluna said he relieved the non-commissioned officer. – Ramon Efren Lazaro

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Magalong downplays possible terror attack in Baguio City

BAGUIO CITY--Mayor Benjamin Magalong downplayed on Thursday the possible terror attacks here, assuring that the region's security forces are on top of the situation.

Magalong, the incoming Regional Peace and Order Council chairman, said both the military and the police have put in place necessary measures to counter any terrorist threat.

“We conferred with the military and PNP commanders...and we discussed the threat and there is no doubt that the memo is authentic but still subject for validation," he said on the sidelines of the 3rd quarter meeting of the Regional Development Council- RPOC, referring to the "leaked" memorandum from an intelligence officer of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).

Based on the supposed memo dated August 2, all military units are directed to heighten intelligence monitoring and issue a red alert status on August 11-12, as the alleged ISIS-led attack might be launched on business centers and churches in Laoag City, Vigan City, Manaoag Pangasinan, and Tuguegarao City.

While Baguio and the Cordillera were not mentioned, Magalong cited need for residents of Baguio, being the seat of power in the region, to stay calm and continue with their daily lives.

He also called on the public to be vigilant and report the presence of suspicious individuals in their communities to the nearest police station or to the military.

"Measures are already being undertaken to make sure that we are hardening our targets, making it difficult for the terrorists to launch an attack or its plans,” Magalong added.

In a separate interview, NolCom Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Arwel Oropesa the report should have been classified and only for the consumption of the military and police, which is subject for confirmation but urged the public to be cautious and report anything unusual and suspicious.

“The report should not cause alarm,” he said.

In terms of the peace and order situation in the Cordillera, Oroposa said the region’s situation is manageable, compared to other regions.

“What we just need in the Cordillera is to participate and cooperate in the maintenance of peace and order,” he said.

He also said the terror threat from the New People's Army is always there but the AFP is addressing the situation.

Meanwhile, Police Regional Office Cordillera Deputy Director for Operations Col. Madeline Bazar assured the public of the regional police's readiness to act against terror threats in Baguio City and the whole region. (PNA)

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Military belies alleged terror attack in Northern Luzon

There was no verified terror attack in cities with business centers and churches in Northern Luzon, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) clarified Monday.

Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesperson, issued the clarification amid the leak of an alert memo issued to intelligence units in Northern Luzon.

Last week, an alert memo issued to the intelligence units of the AFP-Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) showed they were directed to conduct heightened intelligence monitoring to verify a report about a “Crusader City” with business centers and “Crusader Churches” in their area of operation that are “being targeted for terror attack.”

The alert memo, issued on August 2 and signed by Col. Glenn Celebrado, assistant chief of the unified command staff (ACUCS) for intelligence, was apparently leaked and has since made the rounds of social media.

A crusader city is a term used by Islamic State (IS) in describing a “target area” to fuel what they call “Bandar Crusade” or a supposed “war between Muslims and Christians,” according to the alert memo.

Meanwhile, a crusader church is the IS’ generic term for all historic Catholic Churches, it added.

The military in the region was ordered to conduct heightened intelligence monitoring which fit the description of areas in the intelligence information including Laoag City; Vigan City; Manaoag in Pangasinan; and Tuguegarao City among others.

“The document is genuine but the intent for issuing it is primarily for verification as to the reliability of the source and the veracity of the information,” Arevalo said.

Lt. Gen. Ramiro Manuel Rey, commander of the AFP-Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), echoed Arevalo’s pronouncements, and said the intelligence information turned out to be “negative” upon validation.

“It’s authentic [memo]. It’s raw information given to our intelligence unit that’s why we want to verify it. It’s not an advisory, it was issued to confirm the authenticity of the information we received,” he explained.

“We advised our intel [intelligence] to confirm the report but walang kwan (there’s no truth to it). Kumbaga (It’s a) raw information,” he noted.

Rey further stated that it was a normal process within the organization to issue an alert memo if they receive intelligence information concerning the public’s safety.

“It’s a normal process that when we receive an information, you’ll get that [alert memo],” he said.

“Upon confirmation of the information, that’s the only time that we will make an announcement to the public,” he added.

Arevalo appealed to the public to remain calm but vigilant, and be actively involved in monitoring and reporting to authorities any suspicious people or activities in their communities.

“Terrorism will prosper only if we let our guards down,” he said.

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Bomb threat alarms UB; ‘terrorists’ eyed

BAGUIO CITY – A bomb threat alarmed students and faculty here Wednesday around 5 p.m. at the University of Baguio.

A police report said  a certain professor ( name wiitheld upon request) , received a text message from cellphone number 09197313466 that time with the message "May bomba sa Universidad niyo!

She immediately reported the same to the school security officer who called for police assistance.

Responding police checked the area around 10 a.m. saying it could have been a prank but were not ruling out it was the work of terrorists.

The cell phone number used was referred to city intelligence unit for tracking. 

Investigation disclosed the professor also received a text message on her cell phone which read, “Allahu Akbar! Receiving this message is a confirmation that I have 2 improvised explosive devises plated in two buildings of your university. This is an act for our beloved Allah and to raise awareness of this city reminding you that not everyday is peaceful in this world and in this country.

Police searched school premises but found no bomb, so they declared the area safe and clear.

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UN execs grateful to Cordi support vs DOJ terrorist tag

BAGUIO CITY – Two indigenous experts officials of the United Nations, who are natives of the Cordillera, expressed their gratitude to local governments in the region that passed resolutions that denounced the terrorist tag against them by the justice department.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Joan Carling, former indigenous expert member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, visited members of the local legislative body during their regular session Jan. 7 to personally express their gratitude to the support of the local government and the people against the terrorist tag on them by the justice department.

Earlier, a Manila-based court dismissed the terrorist tag imposed on Tauli and human rights lawyer Jose Molintas for lack of probable cause while Carling and other Cordillerans who were included in the terrorist tag filed a similar motion for the dismissal of the same on the same grounds.

“The support shown by the local government and other local governments in the region, like Sagada and Mountain Province, only shows the importance of the communities where we come from in vouching for our integrity and credibility as responsible citizens. It also shows that people who are being maligned could seek the help of the communities where they come from for the needed support to negate false accusations hurled against them,” Corpuz said.

Previously, seven Cordillerans, including Tauli and Carling, were included in the alleged terrorist list released by the justice department for reportedly being staunch allies of the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army because the groups they previously belonged to were linked with the communist movement.

However, the local governments of Baguio, Sagada town and  Mountain Province provincial governments passed separate resolutions that denounced the terrorist tag against the seven Cordillerans, claiming that those who were included in the government’s questionable terrorist list wee merely human rights and indigenous peoples rights advocates who had been working with the mainstream society over the past several decades.

The passed resolutions denouncing the terrorist take against the seven Cordillerans were transmitted to the justice department for the government’s information, guidance and further action and for the eventual removal of the terrorist tag against the natives of the Cordillera who were included in the controversial terrorist list.

Carling also expressed gratitude to local officials of Baguio, Sagada and Mountain Province for having stood behind them when they were unjustly tagged as terrorists by the justice department, saying that it is heart-warming to know that local officials and the Cordillerans are concerned about the welfare of their colleagues who are being maligned by the government that is supposed to protect them through the use of its vast resources.

Both UN experts urged the local legislatures in the different parts of the region to sustain what they are doing in fighting for the rights of the people who are being unjustly treated to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents that might affect the integrity and credibility of innocent individuals who are being tagged as terrorists. -- Dexter A. See

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CPA chair seeks removal of name from terrorist list

Cordillera Peoples Alliance chairperson Windel Bolinget, accompanied by his lawyer Atty. Jose Molintas, attended Sept. 21 a hearing at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 on the motion Bolinget filed last August 31 seeking removal of his name from the Dept. of Justice’s terrorist list and dismissal of the DOJ petition describing the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People’s Army  as terrorist organizations.

“We hope the court will immediately act favorably on the motion and dismiss the entire petition of the Dept. of Justice,” Bolinget said. “We reiterate that the DOJ petition is baseless, malicious, and puts at risk the safety and security of the names listed therein. We do not deserve to be criminalized and politically vilified when all we do is protect our rights as indigenous peoples, human rights, fundamental freedoms and the country’s democracy.”

Dept. of Justice’s Senior Assistant State Prosecutor, Peter Ong, was present during the hearing.

The DOJ was given two weeks to respond to the motion Bolinget filed along with previous motions filed by his colleagues Joanna Patricia Cariño, Jeannette Ribaya-Cawiding, Joan Carling, Beverly Longid who were also tagged as members of a terrorist organization.

After this, the court will come out with decisions on the motions,” Bolinget said.

Earlier statements released by the CPA and various groups stated that the DOJ proscription list was a clear attack on the CPA by naming seven previous and present leaders of the organization as terrorists .

“It (DOJ list) intends to quell legitimate dissent and threaten indigenous human rights defenders in the region and across the country that staunchly assert their right to self-determination, defend their ancestral lands and the environment.”

For nearly four decades, he said, the CPA has been in the forefront of the Cordillera peoples’ struggle since the dark years of martial law under the Marcos dictatorship.

“The DOJ petition, various trumped-up charges filed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines against indigenous human rights defenders and activists, militarization of Cordillera communities and human rights violations, coupled with various applications for mining, dams and other energy projects clearly show that we are currently under a de facto martial law. Our ancestral lands are under attack and the people who have the courage to stand up are being criminalized, tagged as terrorists and politically vilified,” said Bolinget.

The hearing coincided with the commemoration of Martial Law.

 “The Cordillera people will resist Duterte’s dictatorship, as we did during the Martial Law years,” Bolinget said. “We enjoin concerned citizens to be vigilant and continue to defend the people from any form of human rights violations and oppression. Never again to martial law”

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Manila trial court clears 2 Cordillerans of terrorist tag

BAGUIO CITY -- A Manila court has cleared two Cordillerans of terrorist tag.
Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 19 Judge Marlo Magdoza-Malagar last week cleared and removed the names of UN rapporteur Vicky Tauli Corpuz and lawyer Jose Molintas, a former Baguio City councilor from the Department of Justice terror list.

Councilors Art Allad-iw and Faustino Olowan in a joint statement said they welcomed the court decision.

The government through the DOJ earlier filed a petition to declare the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as terrorist organizations under the Human Security Act and listed over 600 names alleged to be officers and members of the CPP/NPA.

“The dropping of names of Molintas and Tauli- Corpuz is a vindication,” said the joint statement, adding the previous resolution asking the government to drop the tag insists the tagged individuals are residents of the city and have never joined the revolutionary groups but are passionate and active with their advocacy on human rights and indigenous peoples rights both locally and internationally.

Others from the Cordillera included in the terrorist tag were Joan Carling, a Kankanaey from Sagada, former CPA Chairperson, and former Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) Secretary-General; Beverly Longid, a Bontok-Kankanaey activist from Cordillera, and the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL) Global Coordinator, and Katribu International Solidarity Officer; Joanna Cariño, an Ibaloi elder and activist, SANDUGO co-chairperson; Windel Bolinget, a Bontok-Kankanaey, Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) chairperson, and Katribu National Convener; and Jeanette Ribaya Cawiding, a Kankaney from Besao Mountain Province and former chairman of Tontongan Ti Umili.

Allad-iw and Olowan urged the court to drop the names of the other Cordillerans.

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Who’s behind the Marawi attack?

PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz   

Like most rebellions, the Marawi rebellion couldn’t have happened without the financial support of someone who has the wherewithal to sustain a long siege.  More than six weeks after the attack, the militants are still entrenched in Marawi City.  No amount of ground assault by the Philippine Marines or bombing by Philippine Air Force warplanes could dislodge the militants consisting of members of the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).        

The Philippine military had been after the ASG terrorists for several years now.  Yet, most of the leaders of the ASG managed to evade capture.  The most recent one was Isnilon Totoni Hapilon, also known as Abu Abdullah al-Filipini.  He is believed to be linked to ISIS.  He was formerly leader of ASG before its battalions pledged their allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.   An April 2016 issue of ISIS' weekly newsletter Al Naba said that Hapilon had been appointed as "emir of all Islamic State forces in the Philippines." [Source: Wikipedia]

What is interesting to note is the role of the Maute matriarch, Ominta “Farhana” Romato-Maute, mother of the Maute founders Omar and Abdullah.  Last June 7, she was arrested in Masiu, a town about 34 kilometers from Marawi City, as she and two wounded men and seven women were trying to escape the government troops.  

She is believed to be the “heart of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group,” directing its movement and operations and taking care of finances and international networking.  She and her husband Cayamora are said to be the “masterminds” behind the Maute attack.  Farhana is reputed to be a “fiercely astute” businesswoman and politician.  

She manages several business interests including several rental houses in Quezon City, Iligan, Catabato City, and Davao City.  She once served as assemblywoman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

 Before her capture, Farhana tried calling President Rodrigo Duterte to talk about peace and negotiate a ceasefire after the heavy bombing and fighting in Marawi City.  Duterte turned her offer down, saying the government forces have lost too many soldiers in the Marawi attack.  The question is: Is Farhana really the mastermind of the Maute group or is someone much higher in the food chain calling the shots?

 Last July 5, government forces foiled a possible bombing in Cagayan de Oro when they arrested Farhana’s niece Monaliza “Monay” Solaiman Romato.  Monay reportedly replaced Farhana as the Maute’s matriarch.  However, it didn’t take too long for the government forces to capture Monay, which begs the question: With Farhana and Monay in detention, who would take over the Maute’s financial operations?  

Or could it be that Farhana and Monay were just figureheads?  Is the matriarch’s role to shield the real power behind the group?  Meanwhile, the real power can lead a normal life conducting his business empire – probably illegal drug trade -- out in the open without any fear of scrutiny from the government.     

 Back-channel talks

 Recently, Reuters reported that President Duterte initiated a move to negotiate an end to the conflict with the Maute group.  However, Malacañang said that it has no information on Duterte’s reported attempt to hold back-channel talks with the Maute terrorists. The Reuters report said a senior Duterte aide approached Agakhan Sharief, a prominent Muslim leader, to use his connections with the Maute group’s leaders to start back-channel talks.

The report said the talks failed as the Maute leaders “did not show sincerity and continued to attacks on government forces.”  Two other sources familiar with the matter confirmed that Duterte had worked behind the scenes to hold talks with the Maute brothers, Omarkhayam and Abdullah. Marawi City Mayor Majul Usman Gandamra also confirmed that back-channel talks were started but said he was not privy to details.

The back-channel talks did not push through when Cayamora was caught on June 6 in Davao City, three days before Farhana’s arrest in Lanao del Sur.   

Chinese financier

A few days ago, I received an interesting – and intriguing – information from one of my sources in Manila.  He said, “How can you crush the ASG (Abu Sayyaf aka Abu Shabu) when it’s an open secret that the Chinese financier of these bandits is close to so many powerful people?  He's believed to instigate the Mautes to create a situation in Marawi to divert the attention of the AFP who are almost done in apprehending all of them to put closure to ASG. This Chinese who uses his being a converted Muslim to lord it over basically owning all big businesses Sulu and Mindanao wide, wants to protect his puppet Hapilon by floating the disinfo that he escaped the military cordon in Marawi.

“If the concerned people of Marawi is serious in finishing this tragedy, they should act asap like the Boholanos helping the PNP and AFP in getting all the remnants of ASG.  Huwag na tayo maglokohan, kawawa mga sundalo at peaceful Muslims na nadadamay sa kalokohan ng iilan na may hidden agenda.  Sobra na. (Let’s not fool with ourselves.  It’s a pity the soldiers and peaceful Muslims are dragged into this foolishness of a few people with hidden agenda.  It’s too much).”

Link to drug lords

My source also said that some of these militants have business relationships with some government officials, which makes one wonder:  Are the Maute militants working as mercenaries for those behind the Marawi attack and are paid through the “matriarch”? 

During a recent media briefing, PNP Chief Ronald ”Bato” dela Rosa confirmed the Maute group’s link to drug lords.  He said that the Maute group is known to have “protected” the drug lords as early as last year. He said that he received information that majority of the drug lords in Metro Manila, Luzon and Visayas went to Marawi City a year ago to hold a “drug summit.”  He added that the drug lords were protected by the Maute group and narco-politicians.  Surmise it to say, Marawi appears to be the “Vatican” of the illegal drug cartel in the country.   

Underground fortifications

When the government forces breached the Maute’s defensive positions, they discovered bombproof tunnels used by the militants as bunker and bomb shelters.  The military spokesman said that the roughly 10 percent of Marawi held by the Maute militants has many tunnels and basements that can withstand 500-pound bombs. 

Clearly, the underground fortifications couldn’t have been built in the short time since the “Marawi attack” commenced last May 23.  They must already have been constructed long before that date, which is to suggest that the Maute’s presence in Marawi may have been a common knowledge to the city residents.  

The question is: Is the military aware of their presence long before the siege?  I believe so.  But for as long as the Maute group stays out of “trouble,” the military would stay out of their way.  It was a de facto coexistence between the Maute group and government forces.

But on May 23, the military decided to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, who was believed to be in Marawi City.  Hapilon is on the FBI’s “most wanted terrorists list” with a $5 million bounty offered for his capture, which was a good enough reason to arrest him.  It was then that the Maute group purportedly “entered” Marawi and clashed with government troops. 

The botched attempt to arrest Hapilon led to open warfare between government forces and the Maute group.  With Hapilon out of sight -- either dead or out of the country -- and the Maute group leaderless and in disarray, it’s just a matter of time for the fighting to come to an end.  But it would a devastated city and grieving people that would suffer for a long time from the atrocity of the “Marawi attack.” 

(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

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Cop denies presence of terrorists in Pampanga

By Ding Cervantes

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Central Luzon police has described as fake news a report being circulated on social media about the alleged presence of foreign terrorists in the province.

The report said that the terrorists are preparing for the arrival of the heads of states for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) event at the Clark Freeport in November.

Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Aaron Aquino urged residents to be intelligent in using the social media and not to believe any information coming from unverified sources.

“Such information do not serve any purpose but to sow fear and alarm the public,” Aquino said.

The fake news, reportedly written in Kapampangan, said that terrorists from Pakistan and Bangladesh have settled in Muslim communities in Angeles City and in the towns of Porac and Mabalacat.

It reportedly said that police thwarted a recent attempt to blow up a gasoline tanker and warned people from frequenting local malls.

Aquino said the report was baseless and that authorities are now tracking down the source of the information, which was initially circulated through text messages and now being spread through Facebook and Messenger.

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Digong’s ‘new’ friends

PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz   

On May 23, 2017 while President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte was enroute to Moscow for a five-day visit, the rebel group Maute struck.  At about 2 p.m., the Battle of Marawi began.  At least 500 members of Maute attacked a Philippine Army brigade stationed at Camp Ranao in Marawi City.  

They were seen rampaging through the streets waving ISIS black flags.  While in Moscow, Duterte declared martial law at 10 p.m. that same day. He cut short his visit after meeting his new friend Russian President Vladimir Putin for a short time. 

 Last June 2, Duterte complained about the quality of “secondhand” American military hardware. “I will not accept any more military equipment that is secondhand. The ones the Americans are giving, I do not want that anymore,” he said.   He threatened to form alliances with China and Russia and asked them to provide weapons to the Philippine military. 

But a few days later, on June 5, the U.S. handed over  – I mean, given free -- $150 million worth of brand-new weapons that included 300 M4 assault rifles, 100 grenade launchers, and four M134D Gatling-style machine guns that can fire thousands of rounds a minute.  The U.S. Embassy issued a statement, saying: “This equipment will enhance the [Philippine Marines'] counterterrorism capabilities, and help protect [troops] actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines." 

The Pentagon also confirmed the presence of 50 to 100 special-operations forces that were providing technical support to the Philippine Marines.  Another force of 300 to 500 U.S. military personnel are involved in providing regular bilateral training, exercises, and other activities.  However, in a press conference, Duterte claimed that he didn’t ask for the American weapons and found out their presence in Marawi after they had arrived.

Battle of Marawi

Today, with the battle of Marawi intensifying, the Philippine spokesman confirmed the Philippine military’s deaths amounted to the biggest single-day loss in the fighting. "There were intense firefights, house-to-house gun battles," the spokesman revealed during a press conference in Marawi. He added that the government suffered 58 casualties and more than 20 civilians killed.  It was estimated that 10% of Marawi is still under the Maute group’s control.   

Tens of thousands have fled the city, with more than 200,000 people displaced.  About 2,000 people are believed to have been trapped in insurgent-held areas.  Duterte believed that the militant attack was part of a wider plot by ISIS to establish a base in Mindanao.  

He declared martial law hoping to quell the threat, which begs the question:  Does Duterte have sufficient military personnel and weaponry to stop what seems to be cancerous spread of hatred and violence?  Or does it take more than a military remedy to remove the cancer? 

Military solution

By virtue of Duterte’s declaration of martial law, it is presumed that he believes the Marawi problem can be solved militarily.  He even suggested that he just might declare martial law nationwide to deal with the threat of “Islamist” militancy.  But some social scientists would disagree with Duterte’s approach in solving the Marawi problem; that is, to apply military solution to a social problem.  And as most of us know, Mindanao is the hotbed of social unrest ever since the Spaniards arrived in this country.

For one thing, Mindanao – or more specifically, the Muslim region of Mindanao – is the poorest region in the country.   The bigger the Muslim population is, the poorer the region.  Why so?  This has baffled social scientists ever since the country gained her independence.   So should it be fair to presume that the Muslims of Mindanao aren’t self-sufficient enough to maintain a higher economic production? 

That’s farthest from the truth.  On the contrary, Mindanao is the richest region in terms of natural resources and agricultural productivity.  So, what’s the problem?  How can Mindanao’s calculus change to make it as rich as Luzon or Western Visayas?  Let’s use a simple example of how productivity works: A small city’s production output is P500 million, which she turns over to the central government in Manila, who in turn allots P50 million back to the small city and puts the remaining P450 million in the national treasury.  

As you can see, for every 10 pesos generated by the small city, the central government allots only 10% back to the small city.  Meanwhile, the central government spends the money earned by the small city on projects or programs that don’t benefit the small city.  What results is a disproportionately funded small city who has no other source of income.  

Interestingly, the regions closest to the central government are where most economic projects and programs are being spent.  Out of the 10 poorest provinces in the country, seven are predominantly Muslim: Lanao del Sur (poorest), Sulu, Sarangani, Maguindanao, Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, and Zamboanga del Norte.  Marawi City is located in the province of Lanao del Sur.  Which makes one wonder: Is poverty the catalyst to social unrest?  You betcha! 

Dutertenomics

So what is Digong doing to solve the poverty in Muslim Mindanao?   We all know that military solution doesn’t relieve the plight of the poor.  On the contrary, it puts the poor in a worse situation. 

Meanwhile, what are Duterte’s economic projects that would uplift the poor in Mindanao?  Last April, Duterte’s economic team announced several big-ticket projects aimed to reduce poverty and fill the country’s infrastructure gap.  They call it “Dutertenomics,” whose 10-point socioeconomic agenda primarily aims to reduce poverty from 21.6 percent in 2015 to 13 to 15 percent by 2022.

In addition to the poverty reduction, a major plank of Dutertenomics will be a big infrastructure push, which they said would usher a “golden age of infrastructure” in the Philippines that includes a railway system for Mindanao.  But what does Dutertenomics do for the Muslims of Lanao del Sur and the six others that are high on the poverty list?  Is Dutertenomics going to change how provincial revenues are distributed?

But Dutertenomics has hit a snag before it could even take off.  That “snag” is the Battle of Marawi and it seems that it is getting bigger and bigger and getting out of control.  With foreign fighters from the Middle East joining the ranks of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf militants, the rebellion is escalating to a point where America might find herself directly fighting the militants in support of Philippine troops – not just technical support but “boots on the ground” as well. 

But military operation alone would only exacerbate the poverty situation of Muslim Mindanao.  What Digong should do is find ways constitutionally or by congressional fiat to alleviate the poverty situation.  The bottom line is: the central government should – nay, must! – find ways to stimulate the economy in Muslim Mindanao to sustain a healthy development of the region.  

At the end of the day, the timely arrival of Duterte’s “new” friends – the Americans—to help quell the Maute rebellion is a quantum improvement in U.S.-Philippine bilateral relations.  It is also a great opportunity for him to pursue structural and economic reforms and to defeat poverty -- which is the real enemy – and achieve social justice for the poor.  Failure to do so would only perpetuate the simmering social discontent in the region that could explode into another – if not larger – uprising.  Duterte has his work cut out for him.  (PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

     

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Rebellion, banditry and terrorism

BANTAY GOBYERNO

Ike Señeres

From all indications, it appears that the members of the Maute Group are actually terrorists, and are neither rebels nor bandits. To say that they are rebels would in fact dignify them, because that would mean that they have a cause that they are fighting for, and that they are directly aiming to bring down the government of the Philippines.

To say that they are bandits would in fact marginalize them, making them appear that they have no other goal but to plunder and steal. As we now see it however, they do not seem to be wanting in money and resources at all.

If in fact they are actually bandits that would mean that they are merely and simply criminals, and nothing more. That would also mean that the problems they are causing are merely and simply civilian matters, and would only require police actions, and not military interventions.

It seems that early on, the government has already determined that these people are not merely and simply criminals, and thus it was deemed necessary to call for military interventions. As of now however, the government has been saying that these people are terrorists, but no formal declaration to that effect has been made so far.

An insurgency is a rebellion against an authority, such as the authority of the Philippine Government. There is a condition however that those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents. According to Wikipedia, “A state of belligerency may also exist between one or more sovereign states on one side and rebel forces, if such rebel forces are recognized as belligerents. If there is a rebellion against a constituted authority and those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents, the rebellion is an insurgency”.

It is interesting to note that during the American Civil War, the Confederate States of America was recognized as a belligerent power by some countries, even if it has not yet gained sovereign status. According to international law, once the status of belligerency is established between two or more states, their relations are governed by the rules of war, and that includes protection of the rights of combatants on both sides of the conflict. At this juncture, we should point that up to now, the long running communist rebellion is considered as an insurgency up to now, and a state of belligerency is not even hinted.

Up to now, it is not really clear whether the members of the Maute Group are simply just sympathizers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), meaning that they are simply trying to get the attention so that they could be recognized by ISIS as a branch, a cell or anything to that effect. Based on the fact that the group seems to have access to large amounts of money, it would not be farfetched to theorize that actual contact has already been made between the two groups, and that money has already flowed between their two sides. Tacit or not, there is reason to believe that one way or the other, ISIS has already recognized the local group.

Practically all over the world, authorities have already declared and categorized ISIS as a terrorist group, thus leaving out the possibility of classifying them as either bandits or rebels. Not being classified as rebels, they also have no chance of achieving a belligerent status between them and their state enemies.

At this point, it is important to note that from the outset, ISIS has introduced itself not as a mere organization, but as a Caliphate, in other words a sovereign state, supposedly that is. According to some reports, the leader of the local group has already introduced himself as an Emir of that supposed Caliphate, probably suggesting that on their part, they would want to establish some kind of a vassal state or a tributary state.

Very clearly, the local communist rebels have not been categorized as a terrorist group, and it is for that reason that the government could still negotiate with them, because the government is not supposed to negotiate with terrorists. On the other hand, the Abu Sayaf Group (ASG) appears to be classified up to now as a bandit group, and therefore they are neither rebels nor terrorists, at least in theory. Because of recent reports that the ASG has come to the aid of the Maute Group, it may now be necessary to declare the ASG as a terrorist group as well.

Based on the behavior of many other countries, any action against terrorists is already as a military matter, and no longer a police matter per se. At this point, declaring the local communist rebels as a terrorist group is out of the question, because the government is already negotiating with them.

Based on the will power demonstrated by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, it is clear that negotiating with the Maute Group is also out of the question. It is also clear that they are not simply bandits, but they could still claim to be insurgents, hoping perhaps to get some favorable treatment if caught. Before any form of belligerent status is hinted, it appears necessary to already declare them officially as terrorists.

For feedback email iseneres@yahoo.com or text +639956441780

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