MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Sept. 28, 2008) - The Alliance of Concerned Teachers asked the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee on the Visiting Forces Agreement (LOCVFA) to investigate the direct involvement of United States troops in the operation that killed Abu Sayyaf leader Aldam Tilao, also known as Abu Sabaya, in June 2002.
Tilao was killed in an operation believed led by the US forces while trying to escape a massive government manhunt in Zamboanga del Nortye province. A video footage taken by a thermal camera mounted on a US spy plane recorded the operation and has been posted in the Internet.
The group urged the Senate to summon two Philippine Marines officers, Major General Juancho Sabban and Major Gieram Aragones to shed light on the participation of US soldiers in the said operation. Sabban is currently the commander of the Joint Task Force Comet based in Sulu while Aragones is a Marine intelligence officer.
“These two officers gave the American journalist Mark Bowden extensive interviews in which they openly acknowledged working with the US Central Intelligence Agency and the US Navy SEALs in an operation to track down and eventually eliminate Abu Sabaya,” Antonio Tinio, ACT chairman, said in a statement.
Tinio noted that Sabban and Aragones provided much of the source material for Bowden’s article entitled “Jihadists in Paradise,” which appeared as the cover story of the U.S. magazine The Atlantic in March 2007.
The article recounts the roles played by the Philippine military, US commandos, and the CIA in hunting down the Abu Sayyaf, the bandit group that kidnapped 20 tourists from the Dos Palmas resort in 2001.
The hostages included three Americans—Guillermo Sobero and Martin and Gracia Burnham. Bowden’s piece served as the basis for the documentary “Stalking Jihad,” which was first aired on the US cable channel The History Channel last October 2007. Sabban and Aragones likewise make appearances in the TV documentary.
Bowden is the best-selling author of Black Hawk Down, which recounts the US military’s debacle in Somalia . The book was subsequently turned into a Hollywood movie.
“Bowden's article recounts that two US Navy SEAL teams participated in the mission that resulted in the killing of Abu Sabaya. They served as backups to the team led by then Capt. Aragones. That wasn’t just a training exercise, it was a combat mission,” said Tinio.
“The candid revelations made by Sabban and Aragones in the article are clear evidence that US troops directly participated in combat operations in Philippine territory, in direct violation of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the Philippine Constitution.” The RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty and the VFA only allow the presence of US troops on Philippine territory for joint military exercises.
Tinio said the Atlantic article raised wider questions regarding violations of Philippine sovereignty.
“We’re not just talking about violations of the terms of the VFA. The article confirms that the CIA, US military intelligence, and even the FBI have been operating freely in the south in the name of the so-called war on terror, with the full consent and cooperation of our government."
"It also confirms that the many joint exercises being conducted in Mindanao are used as a cover for US military operations in the area. This is making a mockery of the Constitution.”
ACT has urged Filipino lawmakers to scrap the VFA.
Showing posts with label Abu Sabaya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abu Sabaya. Show all posts
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Operasyon Ng CIA Sa Pinas, Sunog Dahil sa Jihadists!
SULU (Mindanao Examiner / 21 Peb) – Posibleng masunog ang anumang sikretong operasyon ng Estados Unidos sa bansa matapos na ibunyag ng isang tanyag na correspondent ng Atlantic Monthly ang umano'y pagkakasanggkot ng Central Intelligence Agency o CIA sa pakikibaka sa Abu Sayyaf.
Sa panimula ng "Jihadists in Paradise" ay nakapaloob doon ang ginawang sikretong operasyon ng CIA upang mapatay an glider ng Abu Sayyaf na si Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya na siyang utak sa pagdukot sa 20 katao, kabilang ang 3 Kano, sa Dos Palmas Resort sa Palawan province.
Isasapelikula rin umano ng Pirates of the Caribbean team ng Disney at tanyag na producer Jerry Bruckheimer ang Jihadists in Paradise."
"A kidnapping at a Philippine resort triggered a yearlong hunt for pirate terrorists and their American hostages. A behind-the-scenes tale of intrigue, spycraft, and betrayal," ani Mark Bowden sa pambungad ng isinulat nitong Jihadists in Paradise na ngayon ay nasa website ng Atlantic Monthly.
Binili umano ng Disney at ni Bruckheimer ang rights upang maisapelikula ang Jihadists in Paradise, na lumabas nuong March issue ng Atlantic Monthly.
Si Bowden, national correspondent ng Atlantic Monthly, ay nakasulat na ng ilang mga libro at artikulo na isinalim sa Hollywood films at kabilang dito ang napakagandang pelikulang "Black Hawk Down," na kung saan ay kasama rin si Bruckheimer.
Mariing tinututulan naman ng mga militanteng grupo ang pagpapalabas sa pelikula ng Jihadists in Paradise dahil maituturing umanong propaganda ito ng Estados Unidos upang lalong mapalawak ang saklaw ng kapangyarihan nito sa bansa.
Sa review ng Jihadists in Paradise ay idinetalye ditto ang pagsulpot ng Abu Sayyaf at ni Tilao bilang isa sa mga notoryosong lider ng teroristang grupo na iniuugnay ng U.S. sa al-Qaeda ni Usama bin Laden.
Ipinanganak si Tilao sa Basilan province at nag-aral sa Zamboanga City bago ito nag-abroad sa Saudi Arabia at bumalik ng Mindanao.
Kabilang sa dinukot ni Tilao sa Dos Palmas resort ay si Guillermo Sobero, California, at mag-asawang misyonaryo na sina Martin at Gracia Burnham, ng Kansas.
Pinigutan ng ulo ng Abu Sayyaf si Sobero at iniwan ang bangkay nito na lamunin ng mga hayup sa kagubatan ng Basilan na kung saan dinala ang mga bihag. Inabot ng halos isa at kalahating taon ang paghahanap kay Tilao hanggang sa matunton ito ng CIA at mapatay sa tulong ng Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Napatay naman si Martin Burnham at sugatan ang asawa nito sa isinagawang rescue mission sa Zamboanga del Norte na kung saan ay ipinuslit ni Tilao ang mga bihag.
Mariing itinanggi ng military ang anumang partisipasyon ng CIA o anumang ahensya ng Estados Unidos sa operasyon kontra kay Tilao.
Pero lumabas noon ang isang video na kuha ng isang U.S. spy plane na kung saan ay ipinakita kung paano binuntutan ng CIA ang grupo ni Tilao sa kanyang pagtakas sa Zamboanga del Norte hanggang sa ito'y mapatay. Nakunan ito sa pamamagitan ng thermal imaging system.
Nasa website rin ng Atlantic Monthly ang nasabing CIA video at makikita sa URL na ito: http://www.theatlantic.com/movies/bowden/surveillance-9.mhtml.
Doon makikita ang 6 na na black figures, na pinaniniwalaang kabilang si Tilao, na naglalakad patungo sa naghihintay na speedboat na binabantayan ng isang pa hanggang sa pagtakas nito sa kadiliman.
Iginiit ng military na napatay ng mga sundalo si Tilao sa isang enkuwentro sa karagatan ng Zamboanga del Norte province. (Mindanao Examiner)
Sa panimula ng "Jihadists in Paradise" ay nakapaloob doon ang ginawang sikretong operasyon ng CIA upang mapatay an glider ng Abu Sayyaf na si Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya na siyang utak sa pagdukot sa 20 katao, kabilang ang 3 Kano, sa Dos Palmas Resort sa Palawan province.
Isasapelikula rin umano ng Pirates of the Caribbean team ng Disney at tanyag na producer Jerry Bruckheimer ang Jihadists in Paradise."
"A kidnapping at a Philippine resort triggered a yearlong hunt for pirate terrorists and their American hostages. A behind-the-scenes tale of intrigue, spycraft, and betrayal," ani Mark Bowden sa pambungad ng isinulat nitong Jihadists in Paradise na ngayon ay nasa website ng Atlantic Monthly.
Binili umano ng Disney at ni Bruckheimer ang rights upang maisapelikula ang Jihadists in Paradise, na lumabas nuong March issue ng Atlantic Monthly.
Si Bowden, national correspondent ng Atlantic Monthly, ay nakasulat na ng ilang mga libro at artikulo na isinalim sa Hollywood films at kabilang dito ang napakagandang pelikulang "Black Hawk Down," na kung saan ay kasama rin si Bruckheimer.
Mariing tinututulan naman ng mga militanteng grupo ang pagpapalabas sa pelikula ng Jihadists in Paradise dahil maituturing umanong propaganda ito ng Estados Unidos upang lalong mapalawak ang saklaw ng kapangyarihan nito sa bansa.
Sa review ng Jihadists in Paradise ay idinetalye ditto ang pagsulpot ng Abu Sayyaf at ni Tilao bilang isa sa mga notoryosong lider ng teroristang grupo na iniuugnay ng U.S. sa al-Qaeda ni Usama bin Laden.
Ipinanganak si Tilao sa Basilan province at nag-aral sa Zamboanga City bago ito nag-abroad sa Saudi Arabia at bumalik ng Mindanao.
Kabilang sa dinukot ni Tilao sa Dos Palmas resort ay si Guillermo Sobero, California, at mag-asawang misyonaryo na sina Martin at Gracia Burnham, ng Kansas.
Pinigutan ng ulo ng Abu Sayyaf si Sobero at iniwan ang bangkay nito na lamunin ng mga hayup sa kagubatan ng Basilan na kung saan dinala ang mga bihag. Inabot ng halos isa at kalahating taon ang paghahanap kay Tilao hanggang sa matunton ito ng CIA at mapatay sa tulong ng Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Napatay naman si Martin Burnham at sugatan ang asawa nito sa isinagawang rescue mission sa Zamboanga del Norte na kung saan ay ipinuslit ni Tilao ang mga bihag.
Mariing itinanggi ng military ang anumang partisipasyon ng CIA o anumang ahensya ng Estados Unidos sa operasyon kontra kay Tilao.
Pero lumabas noon ang isang video na kuha ng isang U.S. spy plane na kung saan ay ipinakita kung paano binuntutan ng CIA ang grupo ni Tilao sa kanyang pagtakas sa Zamboanga del Norte hanggang sa ito'y mapatay. Nakunan ito sa pamamagitan ng thermal imaging system.
Nasa website rin ng Atlantic Monthly ang nasabing CIA video at makikita sa URL na ito: http://www.theatlantic.com/movies/bowden/surveillance-9.mhtml.
Doon makikita ang 6 na na black figures, na pinaniniwalaang kabilang si Tilao, na naglalakad patungo sa naghihintay na speedboat na binabantayan ng isang pa hanggang sa pagtakas nito sa kadiliman.
Iginiit ng military na napatay ng mga sundalo si Tilao sa isang enkuwentro sa karagatan ng Zamboanga del Norte province. (Mindanao Examiner)
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Jihadists In Paradise: The Untold Story
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE (Mindanao Examiner / 17 Feb) – Finally, the untold story of how a top leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, who held hostage three U.S. citizens, was tracked down by the CIA and eventually killed.
The Pirates of the Caribbean team of Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are teaming up once again to bring the “Jihadists in Paradise.”
“A kidnapping at a Philippine resort triggered a yearlong hunt for pirate terrorists and their American hostages. A behind-the-scenes tale of intrigue, spycraft, and betrayal,” wrote author, Mark Bowden, in his opening piece on his story Jihadists in Paradise posted on the Atlantic Monthly website.
Disney and Bruckheimer have bought the rights to make a movie based on Jihadists in Paradise, an article by Bowden from the March issue of Atlantic Monthly.
Bowden has a number of books and articles being developed into Hollywood films and box office hit “Black Hawk Down” is his biggest film to date. The deal will also see Bruckheimer re-team with Bowden, as the two worked together on Black Hawk Down.
A review of the Jihadists in Paradise details the emergence in the Philippines of the Abu Sayyaf and one of its leaders, Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya.
Tilao, born on Basilan island and studied in Zamboanga City, put his group on the map by sneaking by boat into the posh Dos Palmas resort in Palawan province in the central Philippines and took 20 Filipino hostages, including California man Guillermo Sobero and Kansas missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham.
Tilao and his group beheaded Sobero and left his body eaten by wild animals in Basilan island and dragged the Burnham couple and other hostages across the jungles for a year and a half until he was eventually tracked down and killed after a long search by the CIA and Filipino military forces.
Martin Burnham was shot and killed and his wife wounded during the U.S.-led rescue operation.The Philippine military have repeatedly denied U.S. involvement in the rescue of the hostages.
A video of the operation taken by a U.S. spy plane was shown to senior Filipino military commanders who likened the black and white footage to a Hollywood espionage movie. The video was taken using a thermal camera.
The website of the Atlantic Monthly posted a purported CIA video of the operation in the southern Philippines on this URL: http://www.theatlantic.com/movies/bowden/surveillance-9.mhtml.
It showed 6 black figures, believed to be Tilao and his group, walking to a waiting speedboat -- guarded by another figure - under the cover of darkness.The Philippine military said Filipino soldiers onboard several boats attacked Tilao’s group while trying to escape a remote coastal village in Zamboanga del Norte province.
Tilao had admitted responsibility in the murder of a local radio reporter, Candelario “Jun” Cayona, who was repeatedly shot in the head and chest by a gunman while on his way to work in Zamboanga City in May 30, 2001. (Mindanao Examiner)
The Pirates of the Caribbean team of Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer are teaming up once again to bring the “Jihadists in Paradise.”
“A kidnapping at a Philippine resort triggered a yearlong hunt for pirate terrorists and their American hostages. A behind-the-scenes tale of intrigue, spycraft, and betrayal,” wrote author, Mark Bowden, in his opening piece on his story Jihadists in Paradise posted on the Atlantic Monthly website.
Disney and Bruckheimer have bought the rights to make a movie based on Jihadists in Paradise, an article by Bowden from the March issue of Atlantic Monthly.
Bowden has a number of books and articles being developed into Hollywood films and box office hit “Black Hawk Down” is his biggest film to date. The deal will also see Bruckheimer re-team with Bowden, as the two worked together on Black Hawk Down.
A review of the Jihadists in Paradise details the emergence in the Philippines of the Abu Sayyaf and one of its leaders, Aldam Tilao alias Abu Sabaya.
Tilao, born on Basilan island and studied in Zamboanga City, put his group on the map by sneaking by boat into the posh Dos Palmas resort in Palawan province in the central Philippines and took 20 Filipino hostages, including California man Guillermo Sobero and Kansas missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham.
Tilao and his group beheaded Sobero and left his body eaten by wild animals in Basilan island and dragged the Burnham couple and other hostages across the jungles for a year and a half until he was eventually tracked down and killed after a long search by the CIA and Filipino military forces.
Martin Burnham was shot and killed and his wife wounded during the U.S.-led rescue operation.The Philippine military have repeatedly denied U.S. involvement in the rescue of the hostages.
A video of the operation taken by a U.S. spy plane was shown to senior Filipino military commanders who likened the black and white footage to a Hollywood espionage movie. The video was taken using a thermal camera.
The website of the Atlantic Monthly posted a purported CIA video of the operation in the southern Philippines on this URL: http://www.theatlantic.com/movies/bowden/surveillance-9.mhtml.
It showed 6 black figures, believed to be Tilao and his group, walking to a waiting speedboat -- guarded by another figure - under the cover of darkness.The Philippine military said Filipino soldiers onboard several boats attacked Tilao’s group while trying to escape a remote coastal village in Zamboanga del Norte province.
Tilao had admitted responsibility in the murder of a local radio reporter, Candelario “Jun” Cayona, who was repeatedly shot in the head and chest by a gunman while on his way to work in Zamboanga City in May 30, 2001. (Mindanao Examiner)
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