COTABATO CITY,Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / December 1, 2009)– Philippine government prosecutors filed Tuesday 25 new cases of murder charges against the scion of a powerful Muslim clan linked to the brutal slayings of 57 people in the southern Maguindanao province.
The prosecutors presented more pieces of evidence that implicated Andal Ampatuan Jnr, the mayor of Datu Unsay town, in the November 23 killings of wife and two sisters and supporters of political rival Esmael Mangudadatu, the vice mayor Buluan town, who were to file his nomination paper for governor of Maguindanao in next year’s elections.
At least 30 journalists, who were to cover the event, were among those mercilessly killed, but as many as 34 media workers are believed to be in the group whose caravan was intercepted in the Ampatuan stronghold of Shariff Aguak town by more than 100 gunmen. All 57 people, including women, were herded into a small hillside village in nearby town of Ampatuan and executed.
Ampatuan Jnr, who is also eyeing the gubernatorial post, denied all the accusations against him and blamed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front for the attack, an allegation denied by the rebel group which is currently negotiating peace with Manila.
Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said there were witnesses who pointed to the politician as the alleged leader of the group that abducted and killed the 57 people. Devanadera said they are also investigating the mayor’s father Andal Ampatuan Snr, the governor of Maguindanao, and his elder brother, Zaldy Ampatuan, the governor of the Muslim autonomous region, and five more clan members in connection with gruesome killings. The Ampatuans are key political allies of Arroyo in the southern Philippines.
Police earlier said it filed seven counts of murder against the mayor, who surrendered three days after the massacre to Arroyo’s aide Jesus Dureza after a series of negotiations.
Dureza recollected how he convinced the Ampatuan clan to surrender the mayor so he could clear his name of all the accusations against him. Below is Dureza's account of the four critical days that led to the surrender of Ampatuan Jnr.
DAY ONE - November 23 (Monday)
I was monitoring closely reports about a missing convoy in Maguindanao with media friends. Later in the day, reports of mass murder of the Mangudadatus were confirmed. Allegedly by Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr., and others. My instincts told me this could very well be a very explosive situation. When media called, I said I would recommend proclaiming a state of emergency. At 8 p.m. Secretary of National Defense Norberto Gonzales and I met. He told me the President had directed that I act as “crisis manager.”
DAY TWO – November 24 (Tuesday)
Bert and I took the earliest flight to General Santos City. At the headquarters of the 601st Infantry Brigade in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat town briefings were held. Initial photos of the carnage were flashed on the screen. Gruesome! Next we met with the Mangudadatus, many of them my personal friends.
They were tense and angry. They wanted to retrieve the bodies immediately. They demanded justice, immediately. The Ampatuans did it, they said. After Bert and I expressed government’s resolve to do everything possible, Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu said they will cooperate. No retaliatory action but government must give justice.
12 Noon – A teleconferencing call connected Bert and me to the Palace where the President was presiding over a hastily called security meeting. We were getting specific instructions from her. So did Bert, Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza and Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang who arrived with us. Her voice had that sense of urgency. Inputs from the other cabinet members were also relayed.
1:00 p.m. – The crisis management committee was activated. Assisting me were Eastern Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer and Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio.
2:00 p.m. – Bert left to fly back to Manila. Colonel Medardo Geslani, 601st infantry Brigade commander, assisted in setting up the command center. It was at this time that I operationalized an action plan I quietly formulated in my mind. It was a simple plan drawing lessons from past experiences.
3:00 p.m. – Having talked with the Mangudadatus, I decided to go see the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao. I felt confident. Both families were my friends. And I had direct access to them. With my staff and without military escorts, except for one military officer, Colonel Macario as guide, I motored to the Ampatuan residence.
3:45 p.m. - I entered the Ampatuan fenced premises and the patriarch Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Snr was there waiting for me. With him seated in a “bahay kubo” on the sprawling grounds were several Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Maguindanao officials and relatives. Armed followers were everywhere.
After informing Gov. Andal that my purpose in coming was because of the incident and that his son, Mayor Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr. was implicated, I told Bapa Andal that it would be best that the Ampatuans also cooperate.
I said that Datu Unsay should submit to an investigation. He immediately said: “OK. Kausapin mo sya. Ipatawag ko si Datu Unsay. Basta kayo Secretary walang problema.” I told him I wanted to see Datu Unsay as I got reports that he was missing or had escaped. Bapa said: “Hindi yan totoo. Darating si Datu Unsay. Magpakita sya sayo Secretary.”
Bapa Andal as usual, was a man of few words. We then went inside the house to wait for the son’s arrival. In the meantime, ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Rep. Didagen Dilangalen arrived from the airport. Energy Undersecretary Zamzamin Ampatuan, Atty. Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, the ARMM Solicitor-General, among others were there too. I felt a bit tense and uncomfortable. I did not want to start talking about the incident until Unsay would arrive. We were chatting for about an hour trying to divert the issue and loosen up. A lively conversation centered on how many children some of their relatives had. One relative had 70 children. Of course from several mothers, etc.
4:30 p.m. – We waited. I noticed that Atty. Cynthia was using her cell phone and taking pictures while we were chatting. Unsay arrived and got seated on my left. We continued a bit about our light banter until Unsay settled down. (GMA7 later that same evening showed some pictures on TV. My wife Beth texted me and called my attention immediately when she saw it: “Bakit ka smile kasama mga Ampatuan. Not proper.” I agreed. But I was puzzled where the pictures came from and who sent them. There were no media people around. I surmised Cynthia did it.)
5:00 p.m. – I was becoming worried that darkness would overtake my return trip to Sultan Kudarat province. Many armed and uniformed men on the highway. One could not tell what group or unit. So when Unsay got seated, I immediately told him that I came because of the serious incident and that initial reports mentioned his name as involved. I told him my purpose in coming was only to be assured that he would cooperate and submit himself to any investigation. He looked at the direction of Gov. Andal who spoke first: “Gaya ng sinabi ko sayo kanina, magcooperate kami, Secretary.” Then Unsay himself echoed saying: “Mag cooperate po kami Secretary.” I then stood up and said I would contact them again soon. We arrived in Marbel town already dark and stayed there for the night.
DAY THREE - November 25 (Wednesday)
8:30 a.m. - I visited a funeral parlor in Marbel. Some bodies not identified yet. I then directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 12 to attend to the immediate needs of the families, and that Department of Health Region 12 and Office of the Civil Defense Region 12 were to assist. I motored to Tacurong at the 601st Infantry Brigade and met the National Bureau of Investigation team that just arrived from Manila.
I reconvened the crisis committee and mapped up moves on how to fast track work. A team of Philippine National Police investigators were sent to the residence of Buluan Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu to get statements but they were told that affidavits of their witnesses would be submitted instead perhaps the following day. I was already aware that the outrage over the killings mounted. And government was being criticized for slow action.
12 NOON – Over lunch at the brigade, I consulted with the crisis committee on my plan: it was time to contact the Ampatuans and call in Datu Unsay to voluntarily surrender as they committed to me yesterday. I was also quietly informed that an operational plan was underway to forcibly take custody of him.
2:00 p.m. – On my way to Marbel to dialogue with all the families of the victims, I made several calls. First with ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. I told him it was time to bring in Datu Unsay. He told me he would consult the father, Gov. Andal. I said I had only until 5 p.m. that day to work on this plan. After 5 p.m., the scenario would no longer be the same, I told him.
4:00 p.m. – While meeting the families of victims in downtown Marbel, I got a call from the father, Gov. Andal telling me that he would turnover to me Datu Unsay but requested that the deadline be moved from 5 p.m. today to 10 a.m. the following day. I immediately told him I could not guarantee things if the deadline was moved. He said the Ampatuan clan would meet that evening and discussed things and bid goodbye to Datu Unsay. I told him I would get back to him by phone. I made calls and informed some of my colleagues (with whom I had been consulting from the beginning) of the request.
There were objections. Understandable reservations: What if the extension was a ruse to escape that evening? What were the guarantees that he would voluntarily surrender during the new deadline? People were becoming outraged not only on the crime but on the perceived slowness of government, so why waste more time? The forces were ready to strike, so why delay?
But I also reasoned back: How sure are we that we would get Datu Unsay in the operations? (From yesterday’s visit to the Ampatuans, I was certain that he was not there in the immediate vicinity, but came from somewhere far.) An assault would surely cost lives knowing the armaments, the culture and the situation. People were crying for swift action, but I would not agree to precipitate action. I also said I believed Gov. Andal was sincere when he told me he would bring out his son when needed. To wrap up my point, I said: I would take full responsibility for whatever outcome.
My new timeline was adopted. I moved the deadline to 10:00 a.m. the following day.
That night, we reviewed the “pickup” scenario several times and mapped out contingencies just in case things would not go as planned. In the meantime, government troops moved according to operational plans. That evening, I got a call from Atty. Cynthia getting an assurance from me that nothing would be launched that evening until the 10 a.m. pickup time the following day. I told her if there were troop movements, these were in support of the 10 a.m. “pickup.”
Later in the night, another complication suddenly arose. Chief Supt. Serapio and Col. Geslani informed me that they got information that Toto Mangudadatu would motor with his followers to file his certificate of candidacy the following morning in Shariff Aguak. I immediately called Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu. I told him that there was something afoot the following morning and that without disclosing what it was all about, I requested if he could convince Toto to move his filing to another day. A few minutes later, Gov. Teng called and said the clan agreed.
D-DAY, Nov.26 (Thursday)
6:00 a.m. - Early morning, government forces took over and occupied the ARMM facilities and other buildings and premises in Maguindanao province. Armed elements loyal to the Ampatuans were taken by surprise and gave up their firearms without resistance.
I was nervous a bit, but confident. The “what if” scenarios kept popping up in my mind. I motored to the 601st Infantry Brigade for the final briefings. The choppers would pick me up from there. Gen. Ferrer and I watched as more newly arrived troops were jumping off towards designated areas.
9:00 a.m. – I was informed that something went wrong with the Philippine Air Force Huey helicopters coming from Cotabato. The Davao choppers were instead dispatched, but would not be able to arrive by 10 a.m.
9:55 a.m. – I got a call from Col. Geslani whom we tasked to liaison with the Ampatuans that they were requesting for a little time as they were waiting for their lawyer who was still on the road to arrive. That was a break I needed. The 2 choppers arrived. We discussed with the pilot and crew contingencies and procedures.
10:45 a.m. - We were ready to jump off upon cue from Col. Geslani. It would be a short 35 minute hop from the brigade to Shariff Aguak. My staff Cecil said she’s getting nervous but insisted on joining. My assistant, Yo, was busy texting. But wait, another problem suddenly cropped up. As we were boarding, one the 2 Philippine National Police officers tasked to escort the suspect said they could not use the handcuff on Ampatuan as the KEY WAS MISSING!
What about the other handcuff with your buddy, I asked. “Ganon din po sir”, he replied. I almost fell from my seat! But there was no more time. We then agreed that he would be strapped with the seat belt and the policemen would firmly clasp the buckles to prevent any unexpected situation while airborne. (When I was asked later by reporters why Ampatuan was not handcuffed, I had a ready curt answer with a straight face: “He is adequately restrained!” Secy. Agnes Devanadera promptly responded with the same line when she was asked upon landing in Manila.)
11:20 a.m. - Two Hueys landed on the Maguindanao province capitol grounds. The Huey engines were not shut off as agreed in case a sudden exit maneuver was necessary. I waited for 20 minutes on the ground. I was getting worried. Finally, I saw my staff, Ollie, with his thumbs up sign.
Col. Geslani signaled they were on their way. My “what if” scare disappeared. The capitol gates opened. The Ampatuan family arrived on board vehicles from another location nearby. Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan clasping my hand said: “Ipaubaya ni amah si Datu Unsay sa iyo” and turned over Datu Unsay to me. We boarded the aircraft with Atty. Cynthia, insisting she had to ride with him.
11:40 a.m. - Helis took off enroute General Santos City where Justice Secy. Agnes Devanadera and her crew were waiting for an inquest proceeding. But again something happened. About a few minutes airborne and while still climbing and gaining altitude, I first noticed some flapping sound outside. I thought, maybe some loose parts of the chopper. The noise kept coming, intermittent. I looked down and maybe I saw flashes but I was not sure. Suddenly the Huey banked sharply to the right and simultaneously, several short bursts from our two Huey gunners at the back. The bursts startled all of us. The evasive maneuver by the pilot also jarred us. All of us kept our heads low as the Huey steeply climbed. My staff Jerry and Col. Mac who was seated beside the open Huey doors ducked. The soldier at the back shouted, “ground fire, sir.”
We still climbed. The flapping sound from outside could not be heard anymore. The gunners later told me ground fire sounded like flapping from the air. The evasive action and the machinegun bursts were Standard Operating Procedures. At 2,000 feet altitude, we cruised. That’s when I saw on the Huey floor an empty shell from the bursts of the M-60 machinegun on board. I picked up the empty shell, and then pocketed it for good luck.
At the Gensan airport, I called the Boss: “Mission accomplished, Mrs. President.”
In the past, Dureza, a former journalist and a lawyer, had successfully handled crises situations notably the hostage-taking by Moro National Liberation Front rebel leader Habier Malik of Marine Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino, now the commander of military forces in Western Mindanao, and Undersecretary Ramon Santos, of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, in Sulu province in 2007.
And the handover of Moro National Liberation Front chieftain Nur Misuari from Malaysian authorities to face charges in 2002 when he escaped to Sabah after a failed rebellion in Sulu and Zamboanga City; the surrender of convicted Italian priest-killer who escaped from his prison cell, Norberto Manero in 2001; the release of captured Army Gen. Victor Obillo and Capt. Eduardo Montealto by New People’s Army rebel leader Commander Leoncio Pitao with the Capalla humanitarian team in 1999; the Cebu Pacific plane crash in Misamis Oriental province in 1998; the Mindanao El Nino crisis in 1998; and the Davao Penal Colony hostage situation in 1998. (With a report from Merlyn Manos)
Showing posts with label Secy. Jesus Dureza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Secy. Jesus Dureza. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Maguindanao massacre suspect faces more charges; behind-the-scene negotiations for his surrender revealed
Monday, November 30, 2009
'MAGUINDANAO MASSACRE: The Four Critical Days' By Secy. Jesus Dureza
Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr and Presidential Adviser Secy. Jesus Dureza and Justice Secy. Agnes Devanadera in General Santos City after the politician surrendered peacefully.A Recollection of Those Four Critical Days.
DAY ONE - November 23 (Monday)
I was monitoring closely reports about a missing convoy in Maguindanao with media friends. Later in the day, reports of mass murder of the Mangudadatus were confirmed. Allegedly by Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr., et al. My instincts told me this could very well be a very explosive situation. When media called, I said I would recommend proclaiming a state of emergency. At 8 p.m. Secretary of National Defense Bert Gonzales and I met. He told me the President had directed that I act as “crisis manager.”
DAY TWO – November 24 (Tuesday)
Bert and I took the earliest flight to General Santos City. At the headquarters of the 601st Infantry Brigade in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat briefings were held. Initial photos of the carnage were flashed on the screen. Gruesome! Next we met with the Mangudadatus, many of them my personal friends.
They were tense and angry. They wanted to retrieve the bodies immediately. They demanded justice, immediately. The Ampatuans did it, they said. After Bert and I expressed government’s resolve to do everything possible, Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu said they will cooperate. No retaliatory action but government must give justice.
12 Noon – A teleconferencing call connected Bert and me to the Palace where the President was presiding over a hastily called security meeting. We were getting specific instructions from her. So did Bert, Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza and Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang who arrived with us. Her voice had that sense of urgency. Inputs from the other cabinet members were also relayed.
1:00 p.m. – The crisis management committee was activated. Assisting me were Eastern Mindanao Command Chief Lt. Gen. Raymundo Ferrer and Directorate for Integrated Police Operations Chief Supt. Felizardo Serapio.
2:00 p.m. – Bert left to fly back to Manila. Colonel Medardo Geslani, 60ast infantry Brigade commander, assisted in setting up the command center. It was at this time that I operationalized an action plan I quietly formulated in my mind. It was a simple plan drawing lessons from past experiences.
3:00 p.m. – Having talked with the Mangudadatus, I decided to go see the Ampatuans in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao. I felt confident. Both families were my friends. And I had direct access to them. With my staff and without military escorts, except for one military officer, Colonel Macario as guide, I motored to the Ampatuan residence.
3:45 p.m. - I entered the Ampatuan fenced premises and the patriarch Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Snr was there waiting for me. With him seated in a “bahay kubo” on the sprawling grounds were several Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Maguindanao officials and relatives. Armed followers were everywhere.
After informing Gov. Andal that my purpose in coming was because of the incident and that his son, Mayor Datu Unsay Ampatuan Jr. was implicated, I told Bapa Andal that it would be best that the Ampatuans also cooperate.
I said that Datu Unsay should submit to an investigation. He immediately said: “OK. Kausapin mo sya. Ipatawag ko si Datu Unsay. Basta kayo Secretary walang problema.” I told him I wanted to see Datu Unsay as I got reports that he was missing or had escaped. Bapa said: “Hindi yan totoo. Darating si Datu Unsay. Magpakita sya sayo Secretary.”
Bapa Andal as usual, was a man of few words. We then went inside the house to wait for the son’s arrival. In the meantime, ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan and Cong. Didagen Dilangalen arrived from the airport. Energy Undersecretary Zam Ampatuan, Atty. Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, among others were there too. I felt a bit tense and uncomfortable. I did not want to start talking about the incident until Unsay would arrive. We were chatting for about an hour trying to divert the issue and loosen up. A lively conversation centered on how many children some of their relatives had. One relative had 70 children. Of course from several mothers, etc.
4:30 p.m. – We waited. I noticed that Atty. Cynthia was using her cell phone and taking pictures while we were chatting. Unsay arrived and got seated on my left. We continued a bit about our light banter until Unsay settled down. (GMA7 later that same evening showed some pictures on TV. My wife Beth texted me and called my attention immediately when she saw it: “Bakit ka smile kasama mga Ampatuan. Not proper.” I agreed. But I was puzzled where the pictures came from and who sent them. There were no media people around. I surmised Cynthia did it.)
5:00 p.m. – I was becoming worried that darkness would overtake my return trip to Sultan Kudarat province. Many armed and uniformed men on the highway. One could not tell what group or unit. So when Unsay got seated, I immediately told him that I came because of the serious incident and that initial reports mentioned his name as involved. I told him my purpose in coming was only to be assured that he would cooperate and submit himself to any investigation. He looked at the direction of Gov. Andal who spoke first: “Gaya ng sinabi ko sayo kanina, magcooperate kami, Secretary.” Then Unsay himself echoed saying: “Mag cooperate po kami Secretary.” I then stood up and said I would contact them again soon. We arrived in Marbel town already dark and stayed there for the night.
DAY THREE - November 25 (Wednesday)
8:30 a.m. - I visited a funeral parlor in Marbel. Some bodies not identified yet. I then directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 12 to attend to the immediate needs of the families, and that Department of Health Region 12 and Office of the Civil Defense Region 12 were to assist. I motored to Tacurong at the 601st Infantry Brigade and met the National Bureau of Investigation team that just arrived from Manila.
I reconvened the crisis committee and mapped up moves on how to fast track work. A team of Philippine National Police investigators were sent to the residence of Buluan Vice Mayor Toto Mangudadatu to get statements but they were told that affidavits of their witnesses would be submitted instead perhaps the following day. I was already aware that the outrage over the killings mounted. And government was being criticized for slow action.
12 NOON – Over lunch at the brigade, I consulted with the crisis committee on my plan: it was time to contact the Ampatuans and call in Datu Unsay to voluntarily surrender as they committed to me yesterday. I was also quietly informed that an operational plan was underway to forcibly take custody of him.
2:00 p.m. – On my way to Marbel to dialogue with all the families of the victims, I made several calls. First with ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan. I told him it was time to bring in Datu Unsay. He told me he would consult the father, Gov. Andal. I said I had only until 5 p.m. that day to work on this plan. After 5 p.m., the scenario would no longer be the same, I told him.
4:00 p.m. – While meeting the families of victims in downtown Marbel, I got a call from the father, Gov. Andal telling me that he would turnover to me Datu Unsay but requested that the deadline be moved from 5 p.m. today to 10 a.m. the following day. I immediately told him I could not guarantee things if the deadline was moved. He said the Ampatuan clan would meet that evening and discussed things and bid goodbye to Datu Unsay. I told him I would get back to him by phone. I made calls and informed some of my colleagues (with whom I had been consulting from the beginning) of the request.
There were objections. Understandable reservations: What if the extension was a ruse to escape that evening? What were the guarantees that he would voluntarily surrender during the new deadline? People were becoming outraged not only on the crime but on the perceived slowness of government, so why waste more time? The forces were ready to strike, so why delay?
But I also reasoned back: How sure are we that we would get Datu Unsay in the operations? (From yesterday’s visit to the Ampatuans, I was certain that he was not there in the immediate vicinity, but came from somewhere far.) An assault would surely cost lives knowing the armaments, the culture and the situation. People were crying for swift action, but I would not agree to precipitate action. I also said I believed Gov. Andal was sincere when he told me he would bring out his son when needed. To wrap up my point, I said: I would take full responsibility for whatever outcome.
My new timeline was adopted. I moved the deadline to 10:00 a.m. the following day.
That night, we reviewed the “pickup” scenario several times and mapped out contingencies just in case things would not go as planned. In the meantime, government troops moved according to operational plans. That evening, I got a call from Atty. Cynthia getting an assurance from me that nothing would be launched that evening until the 10 a.m. pickup time the following day. I told her if there were troop movements, these were in support of the 10 a.m. “pickup.”
Later in the night, another complication suddenly arose. Chief Supt. Serapio and Col. Geslani informed me that they got information that Toto Mangudadatu would motor with his followers to file his certificate of candidacy the following morning in Shariff Aguak. I immediately called Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu. I told him that there was something afoot the following morning and that without disclosing what it was all about, I requested if he could convince Toto to move his filing to another day. A few minutes later, Gov. Teng called and said the clan agreed.
D-DAY, Nov.26 (Thursday)
6:00 a.m. - Early morning, government forces took over and occupied the ARMM facilities and other buildings and premises in Maguindanao province. Armed elements loyal to the Ampatuans were taken by surprise and gave up their firearms without resistance.
I was nervous a bit, but confident. The “what if” scenarios kept popping up in my mind. I motored to the 601st Infantry Brigade for the final briefings. The choppers would pick me up from there. Gen. Ferrer and I watched as more newly arrived troops were jumping off towards designated areas.
9:00 a.m. – I was informed that something went wrong with the Philippine Air Force Huey helicopters coming from Cotabato. The Davao choppers were instead dispatched, but would not be able to arrive by 10 a.m.
9:55 a.m. – I got a call from Col. Geslani whom we tasked to liaison with the Ampatuans that they were requesting for a little time as they were waiting for their lawyer who was still on the road to arrive. That was a break I needed. The 2 choppers arrived. We discussed with the pilot and crew contingencies and procedures.
10:45 a.m. - We were ready to jump off upon cue from Col. Geslani. It would be a short 35 minute hop from the brigade to Shariff Aguak. My staff Cecil said she’s getting nervous but insisted on joining. My assistant, Yo, was busy texting. But wait, another problem suddenly cropped up. As we were boarding, one the 2 Philippine National Police officers tasked to escort the suspect said they could not use the handcuff on Ampatuan as the KEY WAS MISSING!
What about the other handcuff with your buddy, I asked. “Ganon din po sir”, he replied. I almost fell from my seat! But there was no more time. We then agreed that he would be strapped with the seat belt and the policemen would firmly clasp the buckles to prevent any unexpected situation while airborne. (When I was asked later by reporters why Ampatuan was not handcuffed, I had a ready curt answer with a straight face: “He is adequately restrained!” Secy. Agnes Devanadera promptly responded with the same line when she was asked upon landing in Manila.)
11:20 a.m. - Two Hueys landed on the Maguindanao province capitol grounds. The Huey engines were not shut off as agreed in case a sudden exit maneuver was necessary. I waited for 20 minutes on the ground. I was getting worried. Finally, I saw my staff, Ollie, with his thumbs up sign.
Col. Geslani signaled they were on their way. My “what if” scare disappeared. The capitol gates opened. The Ampatuan family arrived on board vehicles from another location nearby. Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan clasping my hand said: “Ipaubaya ni amah si Datu Unsay sa iyo” and turned over Datu Unsay to me. We boarded the aircraft with Atty. Cynthia, insisting she had to ride with him.
11:40 a.m. - Helis took off enroute General Santos City where Justice Secy. Agnes Devanadera and her crew were waiting for an inquest proceeding. But again something happened. About a few minutes airborne and while still climbing and gaining altitude, I first noticed some flapping sound outside. I thought, maybe some loose parts of the chopper. The noise kept coming, intermittent. I looked down and maybe I saw flashes but I was not sure. Suddenly the Huey banked sharply to the right and simultaneously, several short bursts from our two Huey gunners at the back. The bursts startled all of us. The evasive maneuver by the pilot also jarred us. All of us kept our heads low as the Huey steeply climbed. My staff Jerry and Col. Mac who was seated beside the open Huey doors ducked. The soldier at the back shouted, “ground fire, sir.”
We still climbed. The flapping sound from outside could not be heard anymore. The gunners later told me ground fire sounded like flapping from the air. The evasive action and the machinegun bursts were Standard Operating Procedures. At 2,000 feet altitude, we cruised. That’s when I saw on the Huey floor an empty shell from the bursts of the M-60 machinegun on board. I picked up the empty shell, and then pocketed it for good luck.
At the Gensan airport, I called the Boss: “Mission accomplished, Mrs. President.”
(Dureza had successfully handled past crises situations notably the “detention” by Moro National Liberation Front rebel leader Habier Malik of Marine Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Ramon Santos in Sulu province in 2007; the handover of MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari from Malaysian authorities to face rebellion charges in 2002; the surrender of convicted priest-killer escapee Norberto Manero in 2001; the release of Army Gen. Victor Obillo and Capt. Eduardo Montealto by New People’s Army rebel leader Commander Leoncio “Parago” Pitao with the Capalla humanitarian team in 1999; the Cebu Pacific plane crash in Misamis Oriental province in 1998; the Mindanao El Nino crisis in 1998; the Davao Penal Colony hostage situation in 1998. Ed)
Thursday, November 26, 2009
After massacre, witness surfaces and implicates scion of powerful political clan in Mindanao
A government photo shows Presidential Adviser for Mindanao, Jesus Dureza, presents Mayor Datu Unsay Andal Ampatuan, Jr. to Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera upon arrival at the General Santos City airport. Ampatuan, who is accused of masterminding the killings of 57 people, mostly supporters of his political rival and journalists, surrendered Thursday, November 26, 2009 to Dureza in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao province to answer accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner)
MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 26, 2009) – An alleged witness to the brutal killings of 57 political campaigners and journalists has surfaced in the southern Philippines and implicated a scion of a powerful Muslim clan as behind the crime, Al Jazeera TV reported on Thursday.
It said the man who claimed to have witnessed Monday’s carnage in Maguindanao province told Al Jazeera how he was ordered to kill members of a rival political clan -including women and children - and to make sure no evidence was left behind.
Below was the story filed by Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas, who traveled to the southern Philippines to cover the aftermath of the killings in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
The report can be accessed on this URL: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/11/2009112654959580381.html.
“The witness, who identified himself only as "Boy", said he was among more than 100 armed men who held up a convoy of political campaigners and journalists before taking them to a remote mountainous area where they were then killed.
Speaking to Al Jazeera's correspondent Marga Ortigas, "Boy" said the orders had come directly from Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor and a member of a politically powerful local with close ties to the Philippines president.
"Datu Andal himself said, he said to us: anyone from the Mangudadatu clan - women or children - should be killed... We don't ask why, we just followed orders."
At least 57 people died in the massacre, believed to be the worst ever politically-related killings in the Philippines.
"Boy", who is now in hiding fearing his life is in danger, said all of the women in the group had been raped before being killed.
Their bodies were then dumped in mass graves that had already been dug out in advance using an excavator.
He said that Ampatuan Jr had also ordered that the reporters accompanying the convoy should also be killed to cover-up what had happened.
"That too was ordered by Datu Andal… because they didn't want any evidence left behind," he said.
"Boy" said the whole process had lasted little more than an hour before the gunmen had to abruptly abandon the scene following a warning that members of the military were nearby.
"We didn't get to finish, which is why the excavator was left there," he said. Someone called and said soldiers were on their way. I feel they have connections among the soldiers."
Speaking with his face covered to his identity, "Boy" said he was supposed to have been an active participant in the massacre but did not actually kill any of the victims.
He said he would have been shot if he had tried to intervene. "I was just standing there," he said "I was all alone… I could only leave it up to my conscience."
The Al Jazeera report cannot be independently confirmed and security officials would not talk about the allegations. And there was no immediate statement from the Ampatuan clan about the report, but the young Ampatuan surrendered to Presidential assistant for Mindanao affairs, Jesus Dureza, on Thursday and was brought to General Santos City before heading to Manila for more investigations about the accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner)
It said the man who claimed to have witnessed Monday’s carnage in Maguindanao province told Al Jazeera how he was ordered to kill members of a rival political clan -including women and children - and to make sure no evidence was left behind.
Below was the story filed by Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas, who traveled to the southern Philippines to cover the aftermath of the killings in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.
The report can be accessed on this URL: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/11/2009112654959580381.html.
“The witness, who identified himself only as "Boy", said he was among more than 100 armed men who held up a convoy of political campaigners and journalists before taking them to a remote mountainous area where they were then killed.
Speaking to Al Jazeera's correspondent Marga Ortigas, "Boy" said the orders had come directly from Andal Ampatuan Jr., a local mayor and a member of a politically powerful local with close ties to the Philippines president.
"Datu Andal himself said, he said to us: anyone from the Mangudadatu clan - women or children - should be killed... We don't ask why, we just followed orders."
At least 57 people died in the massacre, believed to be the worst ever politically-related killings in the Philippines.
"Boy", who is now in hiding fearing his life is in danger, said all of the women in the group had been raped before being killed.
Their bodies were then dumped in mass graves that had already been dug out in advance using an excavator.
He said that Ampatuan Jr had also ordered that the reporters accompanying the convoy should also be killed to cover-up what had happened.
"That too was ordered by Datu Andal… because they didn't want any evidence left behind," he said.
"Boy" said the whole process had lasted little more than an hour before the gunmen had to abruptly abandon the scene following a warning that members of the military were nearby.
"We didn't get to finish, which is why the excavator was left there," he said. Someone called and said soldiers were on their way. I feel they have connections among the soldiers."
Speaking with his face covered to his identity, "Boy" said he was supposed to have been an active participant in the massacre but did not actually kill any of the victims.
He said he would have been shot if he had tried to intervene. "I was just standing there," he said "I was all alone… I could only leave it up to my conscience."
The Al Jazeera report cannot be independently confirmed and security officials would not talk about the allegations. And there was no immediate statement from the Ampatuan clan about the report, but the young Ampatuan surrendered to Presidential assistant for Mindanao affairs, Jesus Dureza, on Thursday and was brought to General Santos City before heading to Manila for more investigations about the accusations against him. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Philippine Troops Begin Hunt For MILF Raiders
Government troops patrol Lanao del Norte province in Southern Philippines where Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels killed dozens of civilians in simultaneous attacks. The Philippine military on Tuesday begin the hunt for hundreds of MILF rebels under Abdul Rahman Macapaar blamed for the traitorous attacks on unprotected civilians. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Mark Navales)LANAO DEL NORTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 19, 2008) – Philippine troops on Tuesday hunted Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels blamed for a bloody rampage in Mindanao that left dozens of people dead and the peace talks in peril.
Troops begin tracking down hundreds of rebels led by Abdul Rahman Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, a known hardcore leader of an MILF command, blamed by Manila also for previous deadly attacks against civilians and military in the troubled island of Mindanao.
As many as three dozen civilians were killed, including an army colonel and two soldiers, who were ambushed in Lanao del Norte province. Rebel forces launched simultaneous attacks on civilian targets before dawn Monday pillaging villages in Lanao del Norte, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Troops begin tracking down hundreds of rebels led by Abdul Rahman Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, a known hardcore leader of an MILF command, blamed by Manila also for previous deadly attacks against civilians and military in the troubled island of Mindanao.
As many as three dozen civilians were killed, including an army colonel and two soldiers, who were ambushed in Lanao del Norte province. Rebel forces launched simultaneous attacks on civilian targets before dawn Monday pillaging villages in Lanao del Norte, Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat provinces.
Television footages on Monday showed several houses and vehicles still burning in Kolambugan town in Lanao del Norte and the body of a man left near the road where rebels had passed. News video also showed civilians running away from a village in the town bringing nothing but bundles of clothes. The fighting turned Kolambugan into a virtual ghost town.
In Kauswagan town, at least 16 people were reported killed by rebels in the village of Lapayan. Witnesses said some areas in the occupied towns were burning after rebels torched houses and buildings as the fighting was raging. Radio reports said rebel forces burned down markets and set on fire small government buildings in the towns.
“The Western Mindanao Command will continue military actions to catch and neutralize those who are responsible for the violence in Lanao del Norte,” a military statement said on Tuesday.
“Troops from the Western Mindanao Command have cleared Kolambugan town in Lanao del Norte of Moro Islamic Liberation Front as the military continue to pursue the fleeing bandits taking with them innocent civilians the rebels used as human shields,” said Marine commander Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga.
The MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, said the attacks were carried out by rebels disgruntled over the slow pace of the talks and the failure of both sides to sign the ancestral domain agreement.
Peace negotiators have reached a deal in July on the ancestral domain, but the Supreme Court stopped the formal signing of the accord after politicians and lawmakers opposed to the deal filed their petitions and asking Manila to make public the rest of the agreement.
Ancestral domain is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before the rebel group can reach a political settlement with the Philippine government.
Manila said there is need to amend the Constitution to allow plebiscite on areas under the ancestral domain that would make up the so-called Bangsamoro Juridical Entity and give Muslims their own homeland.
“We will have to await the ruling of the Supreme Court. The President has made it very clearly that she is looking at all option possible to bring peace in Mindanao,” Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said on Tuesday.
He said the MILF attacks could jeopardize the peace talks. “The unauthorized MILF attack is jeopardizing the peace talks, creating havoc and atrocities, so how can we say that there will be peace in Mindanao?”
“It would appear as if they (MILF rebels) are threatening government to fast track (the signing of the ancestral domain agreement) but that has to go still to our processes, we have the Supreme Court process, it will go to Congress, we will have to call for a plebiscite and they will have to be patient. If they are unleashing their dogs (of war) then they are entirely wrong because they are jeopardizing the peace talks.”
Dureza said the government is currently assessing the situation in Mindanao after the MILF raids in the provinces.
“We are assessing all of these events now, how the MILF operates as an organization and how their troops operate whether they are under their control or not and ultimately how the MILF will take care of its own internal organization. We will also determine how we will ultimately deal with this whole issue of negotiations with them,” he said.
He said there was no justification for the rebels to mount attacks on civilian targets just because the signing of the ancestral domain was temporarily stopped by the High Court.
“I compared these (rebel attacks) to a shattered glass and it is going to be very difficult to put them back together; small pieces (of shattered glass) are very difficult to put back together, but despite of that difficulty, it is very important to bring back that small pieces of shattered glass together because peace is the only option we have.”
“There is totally no justification for armed groups without warning in a traitorous manner attacked unprotected civilians in many areas in Lanao del Norte and some other areas. There is no justification at all that armed groups invade areas, destroying communities, commit murder and violate the law whether they are uncontrolled people by the MILF,” Dureza said.
“With all these incidents, how can we say that everything is normal or that everything is business as usual? We are monitoring all of these because there are so many incidents already. Are people playing games with government? Government is very sincere in the effort to bring sustainable peace to Mindanao.”
Dureza said the MILF should punish those responsible in the attacks. “All we want to see is that no armed group, such as the group of Commander Bravo, be allowed to go unpunished and that is the exact statement of the President.”
“We need to have peace in Mindanao and all of these events now are glitches already on the radar screen. But we have to work towards sustainable peace as what the President has always clearly stated the alternative to peace is war and war is unimaginable scenario in Mindanao.”
Philippine military chief Gen. Alexander Yano said the MILF attacks violated the cease-fire agreement. “We have filed a formal protest (with the cease-fire committees) against the MILF for these attacks,” he said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro also branded the rebel attacks in the provinces as a criminal act.
“This is plain and simple violations of the law and we cannot put any justification as to their actions, like they can be frustrated with the issuance of the TRO (Supreme Court's temporary restraining order on the signing of the ancestral domain deal between Manila and the MILF). This is not sufficient reasons or justification to commit an illegal act,” he said.
Manila opened peace talks in 2001 with the MILF, the country's largest Muslim rebel group which is fighting for the establishment of a separate Muslim homeland. And the ancestral domain covers the whole of the Muslim autonomous region – Sulu, Tawi-Tawi-, Basilan, Maguindanao and Lanao, including Marawi City. And some areas in Zamboanga Peninsula, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces in Mindanao where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes. And also Palawan Island, off Mindanao.
Mohagher Iqbal, the chief MILF peace negotiator, admitted on Tuesday that there are factions in their group which is skeptical on government sincerity to the peace process, especially after the failed signing of the ancestral domain deal.
“We have been saying this repeatedly, even right at the beginning of the peace process, that there are sectors in the MILF, both political and military, which are against in negotiating peace with the government because their argument is the government is not sincere in finding just and lasting solution to the problems of Mindanao,” Iqbal said.
Iqbal said that Macapaar’s group is so frustrated with the slow pace of the peace talks that they launched unauthorized attacks in Mindanao. “MILF members are so frustrated with what’s going on. They believed that the government is insincere,” he said.
Iqbal also suggested that Manila make the peace process a national agenda, saying, the MILF cannot guarantee that similar attacks by disgruntled rebels would not occur in Mindanao.
“Some members and other groups are disgruntled with the peace process and they can mount future attacks even without telling the MILF leadership, otherwise, we will stop them,” Iqbal said.
Iqbal maintained the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain it initially signed with government peace negotiators on July 16 in Malaysia is a done deal. “As far as the MILF is concerned, the ancestral domain agreement is a done deal. We will not agree to renegotiate the MOA-AD,” he said.
Aside from the ancestral domain deal, peace negotiators last month also signed an agreement that will empower the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity to build, develop and maintain its own institutions, inclusive of civil service, electoral, financial and banking, education, legislation, legal, economic, police and internal security force, judicial system and correctional institutions necessary for developing a progressive Muslim society.
The MILF previously said it will not sign any peace deal with the Arroyo government unless its demand for self-determination is granted. Peace talks were also stalled last year after government negotiators reneged on the same deal. (With reports from Mark Navales and Merlyn Manos)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
President Arroyo To Preside Over Military Conference In Zamboanga
Basilan island Gov. Jum Akbar speaks as Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, left, and Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza listen during a meeting Thursday July 26, 2007 in Zamboanga City. Security forces are preparing for punitive actions against Moro rebels behind the beheading of ten soldiers on Basilan island on July 10. (Mindanao Examiner Photo Service)
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 26 Jul) – Philippine President Gloria Arroyo is to preside Friday a closed-door conference with senior military and police commanders in the southern port city of Zamboanga.
Arroyo’s meeting with security officials came ahead of a planned government offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels tagged as behind the beheading of ten marines who were part of 14 soldiers killed in nearby island of Basilan last week.
Security is already tight in Zamboanga City and soldiers were spotted guarding roadblocks and checkpoints near the Western Mindanao Command headquarters where Arroyo will hold the conference.
More than 2,000 soldiers were sent to Basilan island to hunt for the rebels, but the MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, warned that any attacks on its forces could spark an all-out war and trigger a deadly retaliation that may hurt the peace talks.
The MILF defied a one-week military ultimatum for rebels to surrender peacefully, saying, the fighting on July 10 in Al-Barka town was a legitimate encounter after some 100 marines entered a rebel stronghold.
Marine Col. Ramiro Alivio, Basilan military chief, said the soldiers were searching for a kidnapped Italian Catholic priest Giancarlo Bossi when rebels attacked them.
Bossi, seized by rogue MILF rebels led by brothers Akiddin and Wanning Abdusallam in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Payao town, was released in Karomatan town in Lanao de Norte province in Mindanao island.
The 57-year old priest said he was never taken to Basilan island and that a wrong intelligence allegedly provided by politicians in Basilan island had led the soldiers into a death trap.
Philippine media on Thursday reported that Japan and Canada, and the World Bank have expressed serious concern over a possible outbreak of hostilities between security and rebel forces in the volatile region of Mindanao.
They urged the Filipino government and the MILF to exercise restraint to save the six-year old peace talks. Malaysia is brokering the peace negotiations and has sent truce observers on Basilan to help investigate the beheading of the ten soldiers.
Japan said it would temporarily pull out aid workers in Mindanao for security reason if fighting erupts between soldiers and rebels.
Tokyo last year launched the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development, or J-BIRD, as part of its commitment to support peace and development efforts in Mindanao.
These projects include the construction of school buildings funded through Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and post-harvest facilities funded through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
Jesus Dureza, Presidential adviser for the peace process, said Arroyo is dealing the problem in Basilan in an appropriate manner and told donor countries that the government adheres to the primacy of the peace process in Mindanao.
“Other countries should not show that they are more concerned than we are by these statements. You must trust President Arroyo that she will do the most appropriate thing here because she has shown that she has the political will despite of the great odds in the past.”
“The President, by her own acts, has shown that she adheres to the primacy of the peace process. So let no one doubt that she knows exactly how to deal with these in the most appropriate manner. We welcome those (statements by donor countries), but they don’t have to tell us that because we are more concerned than they are,” Dureza said.
Dureza was in Zamboanga on Thursday and met with Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar and some of the island’s mayors to discuss about the arrest of rebels behind the killing of the soldiers.
Murad Ebrahim, the MILF chieftain, also ordered its forces in Mindanao to observe maximum restraint in the face of standoff in Basilan island.
Ebrahim issued the order after meeting on Wednesday with Datuk Othman bin Abdu’ Razak, chief Malaysian facilitator of the peace talks.
The rebel leader assured Kuala Lumpur that the MILF is fully committed to the primacy of the peace process and to the various mechanisms of the ceasefire agreement, especially in determining the culpability of violators of the truce.
He told the Malaysian peace brokers that the MILF has always maintained defensive posture in the southern Philippines, but warned that rebel forces will fight back if attack by government troops.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, has accused the Philippine military of violating the cease-fire after soldiers entered a rebel territory without coordination.
The MILF has repeatedly denied beheading the soldiers and is currently investigating the fighting in Basilan.
Sattar Alih, head of the MILF cease-fire monitoring team in Basilan island, said rebel forces withdrew from the battle scene, leaving the bodies of soldiers behind, after military and rebels agreed to a cease-fire.
It was unknown who were behind the decapitation, but intelligence sources in Basilan have implicated unnamed politicians who allegedly supplied the Abu Sayyaf and with mortar rockets, weapons and munitions during the fighting.
Their private armies allegedly fought against the military forces side-by-side with the MILF and that two gunmen had died in the skirmishes. The gunmen were believed behind the mutilation of the slain soldiers.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting the past three decades for the establishment of a strict Islamic state in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
Arroyo’s meeting with security officials came ahead of a planned government offensive against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels tagged as behind the beheading of ten marines who were part of 14 soldiers killed in nearby island of Basilan last week.
Security is already tight in Zamboanga City and soldiers were spotted guarding roadblocks and checkpoints near the Western Mindanao Command headquarters where Arroyo will hold the conference.
More than 2,000 soldiers were sent to Basilan island to hunt for the rebels, but the MILF, which is currently negotiating peace with Manila, warned that any attacks on its forces could spark an all-out war and trigger a deadly retaliation that may hurt the peace talks.
The MILF defied a one-week military ultimatum for rebels to surrender peacefully, saying, the fighting on July 10 in Al-Barka town was a legitimate encounter after some 100 marines entered a rebel stronghold.
Marine Col. Ramiro Alivio, Basilan military chief, said the soldiers were searching for a kidnapped Italian Catholic priest Giancarlo Bossi when rebels attacked them.
Bossi, seized by rogue MILF rebels led by brothers Akiddin and Wanning Abdusallam in Zamboanga Sibugay’s Payao town, was released in Karomatan town in Lanao de Norte province in Mindanao island.
The 57-year old priest said he was never taken to Basilan island and that a wrong intelligence allegedly provided by politicians in Basilan island had led the soldiers into a death trap.
Philippine media on Thursday reported that Japan and Canada, and the World Bank have expressed serious concern over a possible outbreak of hostilities between security and rebel forces in the volatile region of Mindanao.
They urged the Filipino government and the MILF to exercise restraint to save the six-year old peace talks. Malaysia is brokering the peace negotiations and has sent truce observers on Basilan to help investigate the beheading of the ten soldiers.
Japan said it would temporarily pull out aid workers in Mindanao for security reason if fighting erupts between soldiers and rebels.
Tokyo last year launched the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development, or J-BIRD, as part of its commitment to support peace and development efforts in Mindanao.
These projects include the construction of school buildings funded through Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and post-harvest facilities funded through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
Jesus Dureza, Presidential adviser for the peace process, said Arroyo is dealing the problem in Basilan in an appropriate manner and told donor countries that the government adheres to the primacy of the peace process in Mindanao.
“Other countries should not show that they are more concerned than we are by these statements. You must trust President Arroyo that she will do the most appropriate thing here because she has shown that she has the political will despite of the great odds in the past.”
“The President, by her own acts, has shown that she adheres to the primacy of the peace process. So let no one doubt that she knows exactly how to deal with these in the most appropriate manner. We welcome those (statements by donor countries), but they don’t have to tell us that because we are more concerned than they are,” Dureza said.
Dureza was in Zamboanga on Thursday and met with Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar and some of the island’s mayors to discuss about the arrest of rebels behind the killing of the soldiers.
Murad Ebrahim, the MILF chieftain, also ordered its forces in Mindanao to observe maximum restraint in the face of standoff in Basilan island.
Ebrahim issued the order after meeting on Wednesday with Datuk Othman bin Abdu’ Razak, chief Malaysian facilitator of the peace talks.
The rebel leader assured Kuala Lumpur that the MILF is fully committed to the primacy of the peace process and to the various mechanisms of the ceasefire agreement, especially in determining the culpability of violators of the truce.
He told the Malaysian peace brokers that the MILF has always maintained defensive posture in the southern Philippines, but warned that rebel forces will fight back if attack by government troops.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, has accused the Philippine military of violating the cease-fire after soldiers entered a rebel territory without coordination.
The MILF has repeatedly denied beheading the soldiers and is currently investigating the fighting in Basilan.
Sattar Alih, head of the MILF cease-fire monitoring team in Basilan island, said rebel forces withdrew from the battle scene, leaving the bodies of soldiers behind, after military and rebels agreed to a cease-fire.
It was unknown who were behind the decapitation, but intelligence sources in Basilan have implicated unnamed politicians who allegedly supplied the Abu Sayyaf and with mortar rockets, weapons and munitions during the fighting.
Their private armies allegedly fought against the military forces side-by-side with the MILF and that two gunmen had died in the skirmishes. The gunmen were believed behind the mutilation of the slain soldiers.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting the past three decades for the establishment of a strict Islamic state in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
Monday, July 23, 2007
After Threatening To Attack MILF Rebels In Basilan Island, Manila Now Appeals To Preserve Peace Talks
BASILAN ISLAND (Mindanao Examiner / 23 Jul) – After threatening to attack Moro Islamic Liberation Front gunmen involved in the beheading of ten marine soldiers in the southern island of Basilan, Manila now said there is a need to preserve the peace talks with the country’s largest Muslim rebel group.
“We have to exhaust all means to preserve our gains in the peace process and we should not allow the Basilan incident to squander the gains that we have all achieved so far,” said Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
Dureza also called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to refrain from making public statements about the tense situation in Basilan island.
Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon last week warned security forces would launch punitive actions if the MILF fails to surrender rebels involved in the beheading and mutilation of the soldiers, who were among 14 killed in fierce fighting on July 10 in Al-Barka town.
Dureza appealed for sobriety, saying, the cease-fire committees of the government and rebel peace panels were investigating the beheading of the soldiers in Basilan.
”We call on all concerned groups to properly respond to the unfolding events with informed and engaged actions towards the preservation of peace,” he said.
The soldiers were searching for a kidnapped Italian Catholic priest Giancarlo Bossi in the village of Guinanta, a known MILF stronghold, when the rebels attacked them.
Bossi, kidnapped by rogue MILF rebels on June 10 in Payao town in Zamboanga Sibugay province, was freed in the town of Karomatan in Lanao del Norte province on June 19.
The 57-year old priest said he was never brought to Basilan, but false intelligence reports fed the military led the soldiers into the rebel stronghold.
Even President Gloria Arroyo ordered troops to hunt down the attackers. More than 2,000 soldiers, including dozens of elite Presidential guards, are helping in the hunt for rebels.
The MILF, which is negotiating peace with Manila, has repeatedly denied beheading the slain soldiers and said rebel forces are ready to defend themselves should the government launch a punitive attack.
The military has formed Monday a new anti-terror task force to run after MILF rebels who beheaded the soldiers.
Maj. Eugene Batara, a regional army spokesman, said the new group called Joint Task Force Meteor will be headed by Marine Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban.
“It will be tasked to conduct operations and effect punitive action against those involved in the beheading and mutilation of marines in Guinanta.”
“The task force will coordinate with the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice,” Batara said.
The military demanded the MILF to surrender the rebels who decapitated the soldiers and it also linked Abu Sayyaf militants whose group is tied al-Qaeda in the beheading.
The rebel group defied a one week ultimatum that ended Sunday and is bracing for military attacks. Security forces have surrounded the stronghold of the MILF in Basilan island.
Sattar Alih, head of the MILF cease-fire monitoring team in Basilan island, said rebel forces withdrew from the battle scene, leaving the bodies of soldiers behind, after military and rebels agreed to a cease-fire.
It was unknown who were behind the decapitation, but intelligence sources in Basilan have implicated unnamed politicians who allegedly supplied the Abu Sayyaf and with mortar rockets, weapons and munitions during the fighting.
Their private armies allegedly fought against the military forces side-by-side with the MILF and that two gunmen had died in the skirmishes. The gunmen were believed behind the mutilation of the slain soldiers.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief MILF peace negotiator, said any attack on MILF forces in Basilan could spark an all-out war and may hurt the peace talks.
He said the MILF will not surrender any of its members because the clashes, sparked by the soldiers’ intrusion into a rebel stronghold, violated a six-year old cease-fire agreement.
A senior MILF leader Abdurahman Macapaar, commander of the 2nd Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, warned that any attack against the rebel group, could escalate and spark fighting in other areas.
The MILF is the Philippines’ largest Muslim rebel group fighting the past three decades for separate homeland in Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
MILF Tags 2 Arroyo Advisers As Behind Resignation Of Peace Negotiator
COTABATO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 19 Jun) – Two senior Arroyo government advsiers were said to be behind the resignation of the country’s chief peace negotiator with Muslim rebels in the restive southern Mindanao region.
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) tagged Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales as behind the replacement of Silvestre Afable as head of the government peace panel.
A Catholic priest, Eliseo Mercado, is named new government peace negotiator.
“We have unimpeachable sources from the Palace that told us the two – Dureza and Gonzales – are behind Afable’s sudden resignation,” the head of the MILF peace panel, Mohagher Iqbal, told the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.
Iqbal said the two officials, with the participation of an unidentified, but influential religious group, hatched the plan to remove Afable last week for still unknown reasons.
“Afable’s resignation is a set back to the peace process. Afable has done so much for the peace process,” he said.
He called Dureza and Gonzales as “gigolo and spoilers of the peace process.”
Dureza was a former lead government negotiator with the MILF, but had resigned after rebel leaders accused him of secretly inserting a provision on a previously signed agreement.
The two officials were not immediately available to comment on the allegations.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for a separate homeland in the troubled, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) tagged Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza and National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales as behind the replacement of Silvestre Afable as head of the government peace panel.
A Catholic priest, Eliseo Mercado, is named new government peace negotiator.
“We have unimpeachable sources from the Palace that told us the two – Dureza and Gonzales – are behind Afable’s sudden resignation,” the head of the MILF peace panel, Mohagher Iqbal, told the regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.
Iqbal said the two officials, with the participation of an unidentified, but influential religious group, hatched the plan to remove Afable last week for still unknown reasons.
“Afable’s resignation is a set back to the peace process. Afable has done so much for the peace process,” he said.
He called Dureza and Gonzales as “gigolo and spoilers of the peace process.”
Dureza was a former lead government negotiator with the MILF, but had resigned after rebel leaders accused him of secretly inserting a provision on a previously signed agreement.
The two officials were not immediately available to comment on the allegations.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for a separate homeland in the troubled, but mineral-rich region of Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Rift Between Military And MNLF Worsens In Jolo Island
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 06 Feb) – Philippine soldiers warned Muslim rebels who held hostage senior Philippine defense officials and soldiers in Jolo island to stay inside their camps or risk being shot if caught carrying illegal weapons in public places.
“The MNLF rebels should stay inside their camps. If we see armed men outside these camps, then we will engage them,” said Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade on Jolo island.
A faction of MNLF rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun held Friday a government peace mission composed of Maj. Gen. Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Cipriano Bayan (earlier identified as Sibayan), of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
The rebels signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but the government allowed them to keep their huge inventory of high-power weapons, mostly automatic rifles, anti-tank rockets and machine guns. They later accused the Arroyo government of failing to comply with the accord.
Dolorfino’s group was seized after reports of a scheduled tripartite meeting between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Philippines on Feb. 6-8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had been shelved off by the Arroyo government.
The hostages were freed on Sunday after Manila has agreed to proceed with the conference next month. The OIC, which brokered the peace talks, organized the tripartite meeting to discuss the full implementation of the agreement.
The gunmen earlier demanded Manila to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to the tripartite conference.
Dureza said relations between Manila and the MNLF had been damaged following the detention by rebels of senior military and defense officials in Jolo. Dureza said Malik’s group may face charges for seizing the peace mission.
Malik insisted that Dolorfino’s group was not only invited to stay longer inside the rebel base in Bitan-ag village in Panamao town to further negotiate the holding of the tripartite conference.
“We merely invited General Dolorfino’s group to stay longer until we agreed on the resumption of the tripartite meeting. And if Dureza wants to file charges against us, then that’s fine with me. No problems with us even if he files 100 charges.”
“We did nothing wrong, so why blame us. If there is somebody to blame, then it should be the military because they intruded inside our areas and massacred innocent Muslims,” Malik told a Manila-based radio network dzRH on Tuesday.
He said marine soldiers killed 10 MNLF members, including a boy, on Jolo island during a firefight last month with Abu Sayyaf militants. Three soldiers were also killed in the clash.
Sabban said those killed were Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda terror network.
MNLF forces retaliated the slaying of its members days later and ambushed an army convoy, killing ten soldiers. Six rebels had been arrested, but local government officials with links to the MNLF, interceded for their release and freed them.
Police and military later said it had no evidence to link the six rebels to the ambush.
Malik said Dureza’s group paid blood money to the families of the slain rebels and returned their weapons seized by troops as part of a deal before the MNLF freed the hostages. “They paid us blood money and returned our weapons,” Malik said.
Dureza confirmed that blood money was paid, but did not say how much. Other reports said as much as P450,000 had been paid to the MNLF.
Malik said the tripartite meeting should be held inside the MNLF base in Jolo island instead of Saudi Arabia and invite representatives from the OIC and the Philippine government and for Manila to free Misuari to allow him to attend the conference.
Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited Jolo island in May last year. Masry said the Philippines and MNLF leaders must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord.
The OIC also wanted Misuari freed from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the tripartite meeting. He said the tripartite meeting is important to finally settle the problems.
Malik said only Misuari can represent the MNLF. “He is our leader and must be freed so he can lead the MNLF in the tripartite conference in the MNLF camp in Bitan-ag,” he said.
He said only if Manila is sincere in implementing the 11-year old peace accord with the MNLF the problems of insurgency and terrorism in Jolo island would be finally resolved.
After the peace agreement was signed, Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the agreement, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines.
Dureza said the good relationship between the Philippine government and the MNLF was affected by the incident. He said the government would take precaution in dealing with the rebels in the future.
"This (hostage-taking) is a setback to their jobs in ensuring that what were agreed upon in the 1996 peace agreement were carried out accordingly,” Dureza said. "It was realistically eroded, not shattered. It would take a lot of work to bring back (that trust and confidence between us and the MNLF) to where it was."
Santos said he was willing to go back to the island and continue the government’s peace efforts with the rebels. “I am willing to return to Jolo, so we can continue what we have started,” he said. "In fact, we will use the opportunity to upgrade our work in Sulu. We will not be deterred; this will not lessen our determination. In fact, we will use this as an impetus to work more, to do a better job." (Mindanao Examiner)
“The MNLF rebels should stay inside their camps. If we see armed men outside these camps, then we will engage them,” said Brig. Gen. Juancho Sabban, commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade on Jolo island.
A faction of MNLF rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun held Friday a government peace mission composed of Maj. Gen. Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Cipriano Bayan (earlier identified as Sibayan), of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
The rebels signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, but the government allowed them to keep their huge inventory of high-power weapons, mostly automatic rifles, anti-tank rockets and machine guns. They later accused the Arroyo government of failing to comply with the accord.
Dolorfino’s group was seized after reports of a scheduled tripartite meeting between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Philippines on Feb. 6-8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had been shelved off by the Arroyo government.
The hostages were freed on Sunday after Manila has agreed to proceed with the conference next month. The OIC, which brokered the peace talks, organized the tripartite meeting to discuss the full implementation of the agreement.
The gunmen earlier demanded Manila to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to the tripartite conference.
Dureza said relations between Manila and the MNLF had been damaged following the detention by rebels of senior military and defense officials in Jolo. Dureza said Malik’s group may face charges for seizing the peace mission.
Malik insisted that Dolorfino’s group was not only invited to stay longer inside the rebel base in Bitan-ag village in Panamao town to further negotiate the holding of the tripartite conference.
“We merely invited General Dolorfino’s group to stay longer until we agreed on the resumption of the tripartite meeting. And if Dureza wants to file charges against us, then that’s fine with me. No problems with us even if he files 100 charges.”
“We did nothing wrong, so why blame us. If there is somebody to blame, then it should be the military because they intruded inside our areas and massacred innocent Muslims,” Malik told a Manila-based radio network dzRH on Tuesday.
He said marine soldiers killed 10 MNLF members, including a boy, on Jolo island during a firefight last month with Abu Sayyaf militants. Three soldiers were also killed in the clash.
Sabban said those killed were Abu Sayyaf militants, whose group is tied to al-Qaeda terror network.
MNLF forces retaliated the slaying of its members days later and ambushed an army convoy, killing ten soldiers. Six rebels had been arrested, but local government officials with links to the MNLF, interceded for their release and freed them.
Police and military later said it had no evidence to link the six rebels to the ambush.
Malik said Dureza’s group paid blood money to the families of the slain rebels and returned their weapons seized by troops as part of a deal before the MNLF freed the hostages. “They paid us blood money and returned our weapons,” Malik said.
Dureza confirmed that blood money was paid, but did not say how much. Other reports said as much as P450,000 had been paid to the MNLF.
Malik said the tripartite meeting should be held inside the MNLF base in Jolo island instead of Saudi Arabia and invite representatives from the OIC and the Philippine government and for Manila to free Misuari to allow him to attend the conference.
Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited Jolo island in May last year. Masry said the Philippines and MNLF leaders must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord.
The OIC also wanted Misuari freed from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the tripartite meeting. He said the tripartite meeting is important to finally settle the problems.
Malik said only Misuari can represent the MNLF. “He is our leader and must be freed so he can lead the MNLF in the tripartite conference in the MNLF camp in Bitan-ag,” he said.
He said only if Manila is sincere in implementing the 11-year old peace accord with the MNLF the problems of insurgency and terrorism in Jolo island would be finally resolved.
After the peace agreement was signed, Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the agreement, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living. They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines.
Dureza said the good relationship between the Philippine government and the MNLF was affected by the incident. He said the government would take precaution in dealing with the rebels in the future.
"This (hostage-taking) is a setback to their jobs in ensuring that what were agreed upon in the 1996 peace agreement were carried out accordingly,” Dureza said. "It was realistically eroded, not shattered. It would take a lot of work to bring back (that trust and confidence between us and the MNLF) to where it was."
Santos said he was willing to go back to the island and continue the government’s peace efforts with the rebels. “I am willing to return to Jolo, so we can continue what we have started,” he said. "In fact, we will use the opportunity to upgrade our work in Sulu. We will not be deterred; this will not lessen our determination. In fact, we will use this as an impetus to work more, to do a better job." (Mindanao Examiner)
Monday, February 05, 2007
Jolo Hostage Crisis Adds Crack On Already Damaged GRP-MNLF Peace Deal
MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Feb) – A senior adviser of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo on Monday admitted relations between Manila and the Moro National Liberation (MNLF) had been damaged following 3 days of detention of senior military and defense officials by rebels in Jolo island.
A faction of MNLF rebels under Habier Malik and Khaid Ajibun held Friday Major General Mohamad Dolorfino, of the Philippine Marines; Colonels Davy Ramon and Cipriano Bayan (earlier identified as Sibayan), of the Philippine Army; Defense Under Secretary Ramon Santos and 21 soldiers and staff of Presidential peace adviser, Jesus Dureza.
The rebels, who signed a peace agreement with Manila in September 1996, have previously accused the Arroyo government of failing to comply with the accord.
Dolorfino’s group was seized after reports of a scheduled tripartite meeting between the MNLF, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the Philippines on Feb. 6-8 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia had been shelved off by the Arroyo government.
The hostages were freed on Sunday after Manila has agreed to proceed with the OIC-led conference next month. The OIC, which brokered the peace talks, organized the tripartite meeting to discuss the full implementation of the agreement.
The gunmen earlier demanded Manila to free detained rebel chieftain Nur Misuari, who is facing rebellion charges in Manila, so he can lead the MNLF to the tripartite conference.
“How can the tripartite meeting proceed without our leader, Nur Misuari? Our leader must be present during the meeting,” Malik said.
But it was unknown if Manila would allow Misuari to Saudi Arabia to lead the MNLF in the meeting. Government officials fear that Misuari may escape while in Saudi or never return and seek political asylum with Arab countries sympathetic to his cause of putting up a strict Islamic state in Mindanao.
MNLF secretary general Muslimin Sema, also mayor of Cotabato City, said the incident in Jolo was not sanctioned by the group’s central committee. “It was a unilateral decision on the part of Malik. We were not even informed about his plan,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.
"This (hostage-taking) is a setback to their jobs in ensuring that what were agreed upon in the 1996 peace agreement were carried out accordingly," Dureza said in a televised news conference in Manila.
“Asked them if they are willing to go back. To be honest, do you think we will send them back tomorrow? Even if we want to, their parents loved ones, family members would not allow them to do that. The level of confidence has been eroded,” he said.
Dureza said the good relationship between the Philippine government and the MNLF was affected by the incident. He said the government would take precaution in dealing with the rebels in the future.
"It was realistically eroded, not shattered. It would take a lot of work to bring back (that trust and confidence between us and the MNLF) to where it was," he said.
Santos said he was willing to go back to the island and continue the government’s peace efforts with the rebels. “I am willing to return to Jolo, so we can continue what we have started,” he said.
"In fact, we will use the opportunity to upgrade our work in Sulu. We will not be deterred; this will not lessen our determination. In fact, we will use this as an impetus to work more, to do a better job," he said.
After the peace agreement was signed, Nur Misuari, chieftain of the MNLF, became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. Despite the accord, there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted.
Under the peace agreement, Manila would provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living.
They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
Many former guerrillas were disgruntled with the peace deal, saying, the Arroyo government failed to comply with some of its provisions and uplift their standards of living.
They accused Manila of failing to develop the war-torn areas in the south.
And in November 2001, on the eve of the elections in the Muslim autonomous region, Misuari accused the government of reneging on the peace agreement, and launched a new rebellion in Jolo island and Zamboanga City, where more than 100 people were killed. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, but had been arrested and deported to the Philippines.
The OIC also wanted Misuari freed from jail to head the MNLF delegation to Saudi Arabia for the tripartite meeting. Egyptian Sayed El-Masry, who is adviser to OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, visited Jolo island in May last year.
Masry said the Philippines and MNLF leaders must sit together and discuss the problems affecting the implementation of the peace accord. He said the tripartite meeting is important to finally settle the problems. (Mindanao Examiner)
Friday, December 15, 2006
Manila Backs Down On Misuari's Political Ambition
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 15 Dec) – The Philippine government said it had no hand on the decision of detained Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebel leader Nur Misuari to run for governor in Jolo island in next year’s polls.
Misuari was allowed to return to his hometown Jolo on Thursday and registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
A local court granted Misuari permission to register in Jolo island, about 950 km south of Manila. "He is running for governor (in) next year's elections," Jamasali Abdurahman, an aide of Misuari, said.
Secy. Jesus Dureza, Presidential peace adviser, facilitated Misuari’s trip to Jolo, but he was quick to say that the government had no hand about the political plan of the former rebel leader.
"We are not privy to or involved in Chairman Misuari’s future political plans. Our participation was only to uphold and ensure the exercise of his right to suffrage,” Dureza said.
He said Misuari previously requested to register at the COMELEC central office in Manila, but this had been turned down by poll officials, saying, he should register instead in Jolo where he resides.
Some supporters of the MNLF chieftain said the government could be behind Misuari's political ambition to influence or persuade Muslims to support President Gloria Arroyo in Jolo, a known opposition stronghold.
Authorities did not allow Misuari to speak to reporters and government escorts prevented journalists from interviewing him. Security was tight in Zamboanga and Jolo during Misuari’s brief stay.
Although Misuari has still a few hundred supporters in Jolo, his popularity is fast diminishing among the locals. They said Misuari failed to bring developments on the island and uplift the poor living standards of Muslims in Mindanao when he was governor of the five-province Muslim autonomous region.
Among the most prominent politician also running for governor in Jolo island is the influential Abdusakur Tan, who was the island's previous congressman and governor. It was unknown whether the incumbent governor, businessman Benjamin Loong, would seek reelection.
Misuari also returned Thursday in Manila, where he is facing rebellion charges after a failed MNLF uprising on Jolo island and Zamboanga City in 2001.
He fled to Malaysia in 2001 but was arrested and deported back to the Philippines.
The government accused Misuari of allegedly masterminding the attacks in Jolo and Zamboanga, but the former Libyan firebrand had repeatedly denied the accusations.
Misuari signed a peace agreement with Manila on Sept. 2, 1996, but many rebels were disgruntled with the accord and accused the Arroyo government of reneging on the peace deal and for failing to uplift the living standards of Muslims in the strife-torn Mindanao island. (Mindanao Examiner)
Misuari was allowed to return to his hometown Jolo on Thursday and registered with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
A local court granted Misuari permission to register in Jolo island, about 950 km south of Manila. "He is running for governor (in) next year's elections," Jamasali Abdurahman, an aide of Misuari, said.
Secy. Jesus Dureza, Presidential peace adviser, facilitated Misuari’s trip to Jolo, but he was quick to say that the government had no hand about the political plan of the former rebel leader.
"We are not privy to or involved in Chairman Misuari’s future political plans. Our participation was only to uphold and ensure the exercise of his right to suffrage,” Dureza said.
He said Misuari previously requested to register at the COMELEC central office in Manila, but this had been turned down by poll officials, saying, he should register instead in Jolo where he resides.
Some supporters of the MNLF chieftain said the government could be behind Misuari's political ambition to influence or persuade Muslims to support President Gloria Arroyo in Jolo, a known opposition stronghold.
Authorities did not allow Misuari to speak to reporters and government escorts prevented journalists from interviewing him. Security was tight in Zamboanga and Jolo during Misuari’s brief stay.
Although Misuari has still a few hundred supporters in Jolo, his popularity is fast diminishing among the locals. They said Misuari failed to bring developments on the island and uplift the poor living standards of Muslims in Mindanao when he was governor of the five-province Muslim autonomous region.
Among the most prominent politician also running for governor in Jolo island is the influential Abdusakur Tan, who was the island's previous congressman and governor. It was unknown whether the incumbent governor, businessman Benjamin Loong, would seek reelection.
Misuari also returned Thursday in Manila, where he is facing rebellion charges after a failed MNLF uprising on Jolo island and Zamboanga City in 2001.
He fled to Malaysia in 2001 but was arrested and deported back to the Philippines.
The government accused Misuari of allegedly masterminding the attacks in Jolo and Zamboanga, but the former Libyan firebrand had repeatedly denied the accusations.
Misuari signed a peace agreement with Manila on Sept. 2, 1996, but many rebels were disgruntled with the accord and accused the Arroyo government of reneging on the peace deal and for failing to uplift the living standards of Muslims in the strife-torn Mindanao island. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
GMA Adviser Sees Light At End Of Tunnel
MANILA (Uly Israel / 21 Nov) - Manila's new proposal to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) buoyed optimism that the impasse in the peace talks could be resolved sooner, Secy. Jesus Dureza, the presidential adviser on peace process, said.
He said the government is optimistic the MILF would accept the proposal. "We are hoping that the government proposal will pave the way for the resumption of the peace talks," he told the Mindanao Examiner.
Peace talks ended in September in Malaysia with both sides failing to sign any agreement on the most contentious issue -- ancestral domain -- which refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland. It is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before the rebel group can reach a political settlement.
The ancestral domain covers the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. And other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.
The MILF has rejected Manila's offer for a limited autonomy in the mineral-rich, but restive Mindanao island, home to about 4 million Muslims who want a separate Islamic state.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief rebel peace negotiator, said the Philippine government offered the MILF the 5-province Muslim autonomous region and 613 other Muslim villages in exchange for a peace deal.
"They offered the MILF the whole of the Muslim autonomous region and 613 other Muslim villages scattered in Mindanao, but all these are subject to Philippine legislation. The offer is just like a leopard skin and we did not agree with it." "Peace cannot be unilaterally imposed on the MILF and the Muslim people," Iqbal said.
The MILF warned that Manila should be blamed if the peace talks fail, saying, many rebels are slowly losing their patience on the five-year old peace talks. Dureza did not give details of the new proposal.
Dr Abraham Sakali, of the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines, proposed that the Mindanao conflict should be viewed with emphasis on the historical roots of the problem and on the ways by which the injustices could be corrected.
"Looking at the Muslim insurgency in its historical context could very well ease up the wrangling over the thorny issue of determining the size of Bangsamoro Homeland which has stalled the peace talks between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)," he said.
"The age-old injustices committed by the Philippine Government against the Muslim population should be given weight and form part of deliberations in the ongoing peace talk. A deeper understanding of the Muslim's cry for independence should give the government negotiating panel a clearer picture on what adequate measures could be adopted to address long-held grievances and ultimately put an end to protracted hostilities in Mindanao," Sakali said.
Malaysia has agreed to initiate another round of talks between the Philippines and the MILF after President Gloria Arroyo personally requested to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for help in getting back the negotiations.Abdullah is the chairman of the influential Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Peace talks between the government and MILF started in January 1997 but the absence of a neutral third party bogged down the initiative. It was only on March 24, 2001, after the all-out war against the MILF declared by former President Joseph Estrada that Malaysia, at the behest of the Philippine government, facilitated the talks.
However, in February 2003, despite the avowed all-peace policy of President Arroyo, an all-out war was again declared against the rebels, but both sides later agreed to resume peace talks.
Just this year, President Arroyo said that 80% of the peace talks have been completed and that permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach.
MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim said the MILF will continue the peace talks, but warned the government that the rebel group would side with the Muslims should they decide on other means to continue their struggle for freedom.
"For the MILF, negotiation is still the best option to resolve the conflict in Mindanao. We have already spent so much time, efforts and resources for this," Ebrahim said. "However, if the government insists to dilly-dally and treat the peace talks as mere counterinsurgency tool, who can blame the Bangsamoro people if they choose other means to continue their legitimate struggle for freedom and self-determination? For the MILF, we will stand by our people." (Mindanao Examiner)
He said the government is optimistic the MILF would accept the proposal. "We are hoping that the government proposal will pave the way for the resumption of the peace talks," he told the Mindanao Examiner.
Peace talks ended in September in Malaysia with both sides failing to sign any agreement on the most contentious issue -- ancestral domain -- which refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland. It is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before the rebel group can reach a political settlement.
The ancestral domain covers the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. And other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes.
The MILF has rejected Manila's offer for a limited autonomy in the mineral-rich, but restive Mindanao island, home to about 4 million Muslims who want a separate Islamic state.
Mohagher Iqbal, chief rebel peace negotiator, said the Philippine government offered the MILF the 5-province Muslim autonomous region and 613 other Muslim villages in exchange for a peace deal.
"They offered the MILF the whole of the Muslim autonomous region and 613 other Muslim villages scattered in Mindanao, but all these are subject to Philippine legislation. The offer is just like a leopard skin and we did not agree with it." "Peace cannot be unilaterally imposed on the MILF and the Muslim people," Iqbal said.
The MILF warned that Manila should be blamed if the peace talks fail, saying, many rebels are slowly losing their patience on the five-year old peace talks. Dureza did not give details of the new proposal.
Dr Abraham Sakali, of the Institute of Islamic Studies of the University of the Philippines, proposed that the Mindanao conflict should be viewed with emphasis on the historical roots of the problem and on the ways by which the injustices could be corrected.
"Looking at the Muslim insurgency in its historical context could very well ease up the wrangling over the thorny issue of determining the size of Bangsamoro Homeland which has stalled the peace talks between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)," he said.
"The age-old injustices committed by the Philippine Government against the Muslim population should be given weight and form part of deliberations in the ongoing peace talk. A deeper understanding of the Muslim's cry for independence should give the government negotiating panel a clearer picture on what adequate measures could be adopted to address long-held grievances and ultimately put an end to protracted hostilities in Mindanao," Sakali said.
Malaysia has agreed to initiate another round of talks between the Philippines and the MILF after President Gloria Arroyo personally requested to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for help in getting back the negotiations.Abdullah is the chairman of the influential Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Peace talks between the government and MILF started in January 1997 but the absence of a neutral third party bogged down the initiative. It was only on March 24, 2001, after the all-out war against the MILF declared by former President Joseph Estrada that Malaysia, at the behest of the Philippine government, facilitated the talks.
However, in February 2003, despite the avowed all-peace policy of President Arroyo, an all-out war was again declared against the rebels, but both sides later agreed to resume peace talks.
Just this year, President Arroyo said that 80% of the peace talks have been completed and that permanent peace in Mindanao is within reach.
MILF chieftain Murad Ebrahim said the MILF will continue the peace talks, but warned the government that the rebel group would side with the Muslims should they decide on other means to continue their struggle for freedom.
"For the MILF, negotiation is still the best option to resolve the conflict in Mindanao. We have already spent so much time, efforts and resources for this," Ebrahim said. "However, if the government insists to dilly-dally and treat the peace talks as mere counterinsurgency tool, who can blame the Bangsamoro people if they choose other means to continue their legitimate struggle for freedom and self-determination? For the MILF, we will stand by our people." (Mindanao Examiner)
Friday, October 27, 2006
Caraga Infra Projects Almost Complete
DPWH Caraga regional director Romeo Momo, left, gestures during a meeting with Caraga chief executives in Butuan City about the progress of infrastructure projects in the region. Also in the photo are Jesus Dureza, provincial governors Erlpe John Amante of Agusan del Norte and Vicente Pimentel Jr. of Surigao del Sur and Virgilio Leyretana. BUTUAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 27 Oct) - The fight against poverty is gaining headway in the southern Philippine region of Caraga as big ticket infrastructure and development projects are underway to promote peace, trade and greater access to goods and basic services.
At the recently held Mindanao Super Region Forum-Caraga Leg here, the Department of Public Works and Highways revealed that the region's infrastructure development program is boldly making accomplishments.
The construction of the second Magsaysay Bridge worth more than P2 billion and Butuan City’s by-pass road project, are almost complete.
Presidential Peace Adviser and Mindanao Super Region Development head Jesus Dureza and Virgilio Leyretana, chairman of the Mindanao Economic Development Coucil, have recently inspected the Butuan projects in the village of San Vicente.
With a total span of 882 meters, the Magsaysay Bridge will become an alternative crossing in Agusan River to connect the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway (Surigao-Agusan-Davao Road) and the Butuan City-Cagayan City-Iligan City road.
"I remember two years ago when I visited here, this is still on the drawing board and now it's a dream fulfilled. This bridge is the most beautiful span we have seen that can compete architecturally with other infrastructure projects in other parts of Asia and it is to the credit of local leadership with the support of national government who made this project possible," Dureza said in a statement sent Friday to the Mindanao Examiner.
Dureza said aside from the bridge and road projects, two other infrastructure projects under the Mindanao Super Region Initiative of President Gloria Arroyo in Caraga, include the Dinagat Island Road Network, Butuan Airport, Surigao-Davao Coastal Road and Hawilian-Salug-Sinakungan Barangay (village) Road.
DPWH Caraga regional director Romeo Momo said an initial funding of P100 million was released recently to start the construction of the Dinagat Island Road Network. (With a report from the Mindanao Economic Development Council)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Peace Talks Maybe Imperiled, Says MILF After Chieftain Is Linked To Mindanao Bombings
MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu shows a complaint against North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pinol who accused the rebel group as behind the recent bombing in Makilala town in North Cotabato province. (Mindanao Examiner/Mark Navales)MAGUINDANAO (Mark Navales / 18 Oct) – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Wednesday warned that the peace talks with Manila may be imperiled after police filed criminal charges against its chieftain and two Jemaah Islamiya militants in connection with recent bomb attacks in the restive Mindanao region.
“This is a very serious development. We are now discussing this issue. This could imperil the peace talks,” Mohager Iqbal, the MILF chief peace negotiator, told the Mindanao Examiner.
Police linked Murad Ebrahim, chieftain of the MILF, and some of his commanders in the October 10 bombing in Makilala town in North Cotabato province where six people had died and more than two dozen others injured.
A bomb also exploded at a market in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province and in Cotabato City in Maguindanao province, killing several people.
Aside from Ebrahim, police also filed criminal charges against Indonesian JI bombers Dulmatin and Umar Patek, and a Pakistani national, Usman al Majad; and several MILF rebels.
It was not immediately known what evidence the police have on Ebrahim.
North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pinol earlier accused a top MILF commander, Basit Usman, as behind the Makilala bombing.
The MILF has previously denied any involvement in the bombings, but police said a former rebel, who surrendered to the government, implicated Ebrahim and the others.
Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said he was surprised to learn that Ebrahim was linked to the bombing. “I was really surprised to hear that they included MILF chairman Murad Ebrahim to the bombing. I have not seen any connection of the MILF leader to the bombing.”
“This development is very sensitive because this can have an effect to our peace efforts in Mindanao,” Dureza said, adding, he has to see the charge sheet against Ebrahim.
The MILF is the country’s largest Muslim rebel group fighting for a separate Islamic state similar to Iran.
Manila began peace negotiations with the MILF in 2001, but no major accord has been signed by both sides, except for a cease-fire agreement. And many rebels are slowly losing their patience on the five-year old peace talks.
Peace talks ended last month in Malaysia with both sides failing to sign any agreement on the most contentious issue -- ancestral domain -- which refers to the MILF demand for territory that will constitute a Muslim homeland. It is the single most important issue in the peace negotiations before the rebel group can reach a political settlement.
Malaysia, an influential member of the Organization of Islamic Conference, is brokering the peace talks.
Ebrahim this month warned that Manila should be blamed if the peace talks fail. He said the talks are now passing “a turbulent area” and that the Filipino government must take responsibility for the breakdown of the negotiations.
“This signals that we are now on the danger zone of the peace talks,” Ebrahim said, referring to the failure of the negotiations on Sept. 9 held in Malaysia, which is brokering the peace talks.
The MILF has rejected Manila's offer for a limited autonomy in the mineral-rich, but restive Mindanao island, home to about 4 million Muslims who want a separate Islamic state.
Iqbal previously said the Philippine government offered them the 5-province Muslim autonomous region and 613 other Muslim villages in exchange for a peace deal.
"They offered the MILF the whole of the Muslim autonomous region and 613 other Muslim villages scattered in Mindanao, but all these are subject to Philippine legislation. The offer is just like a leopard skin and we did not agree with it."
"Peace cannot be unilaterally imposed on the MILF and the Muslim people," Iqbal said.
The Muslim autonomous region is composed of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi -- which are among the poorest in the country torn by strife and clan wars since its creation in 1989.
The MILF previously proposed that the Muslims be given an option to choose in a referendum whether they wanted Mindanao to be an independent state or not.
The ancestral domain covers the five Muslim autonomous provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. And other areas in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces where there are large communities of Muslims and indigenous tribes. (Mindanao Examiner)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Photo: President Gloria Arroyo Hosts Iftar Dinner
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, right, joins the Muslim community in breaking the day’s feast for the Ramadan season by recently hosting an Iftar Dinner at the Malacanang Palace. Ramadan is a time of worship and contemplation in Islam wherein Muslims fast during daylight hours and breaks the fast at sun set also known as Iftar. The event was organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAP) Secy. Jesus Dureza, ledft, in support of the interfaith initiatives of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Photo also shows Jolo island Gov. Benjamin Loong, center, Muslim officials and other cabinet members. (Photo courtesy of OPAP)
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