Negosasyon sa paglaya ng dinukot na anak ng Comelec brass, nagsimula na!

ILIGAN CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 22, 2010) – Isa umanong negosasyon ang nagaganap upang mapalaya sa lalong madaling panahon ang dinukot na anak ni Commission on Elections Commissioner Elias Yusoph sa Lanao del Sur.

Hindi naman makunan ng detalye si Yusoph o ang Crisis Management Committee ukol sa paguusap, subalit kinumpirma ng pulisya na may negosasyon na nga sa paglaya ni Nuraldin Yusoph, 22.

Si Nuraldin ay dinukot ng mga armado kalalakihan kamakalawa sa mosque sa Marawi City at agad na tinawagan ng mga ito ang ama ng biktima upang sabihing nasa kanila ang anak. Hiling ng mga kidnappers ay ibasura ni Yusoph ang resulta ng nakaraang halalan sa apat na bayan sa lalawigan.

Kinumpirma naman ito ng pulisya at sinabi ni Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, ang hepe ng pulisya sa Muslim autonomous region, na ang Crisis Management Committee sa pangunguna ng mga opisyal ng Lanao del Sur ang siyang inatasang lumutas sa pagdukot.

Sinabi pa ni Latag na hinihingi nga ng mga kidnappers na ibasura ang resulta ng eleksyon sa bayan ng Malabang, Taraka, Pikong at Masiu kapalit ng paglaya ni Nuraldin.

May hinala naman ang pulisya na kamag-anakan rin ni Yusoph ang nasa likod ng pagdukot sa akalang may kapangyarihan ito na i-annul ang resulta ng halalan sa nasabing mga bayan.

Tikom rin ang bibig ni Yusoph ukol sa kaso, ngunit may komunikasyon umano ito sa mga kidnappers. Isa lamang si Nuraldin sa 10 anak ni Yusop.

Talamak sa dayaan at vote-buying ang halalan nuong Mayo 10 sa Lanao kung kaya't ilang lugar dito ay napostpone ang botohan at itinuloy nitong buwan lamang. Walang umako sa pagdukot kay Nuraldin, ayon sa pulisya. (Mindanao Examiner)

Philippine security forces pursue Sayyaf, JI terrorists

A police commander talks on his radio as they prepare to patrol Sulu province in the southern Philippines, where security forces are pursuing al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf militants blamed for the spate of attacks that had killed and injured civilians in the past. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)

SULU, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 3, 2010) – Security forces have stepped up its patrol in the southern province of Sulu as police and military continue operations against the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Wednesday.

Officials said the operations are aimed at capturing senior leaders of the militant group blamed for the spate of attacks in Sulu, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

“We have increased our patrol to protect villagers from possible attacks by the Abu Sayyaf, especially now that many terrorist leaders had been killed in past and recent operations,” said Senior Superintendent Joseph Ramac, the provincial police chief.

Police last week captured a senior Abu Sayyaf member Mujibar Amon in Indanan town after villagers secretly tipped off authorities about his presence.

Amon is one the country’s most wanted terrorists who was involved in last year’s kidnappings of three Red Cross workers and many more, including the cross-border raid in Malaysia’s Sipadan island report where 21 mostly European and Asian holidaymakers were abducted and brought to Sulu in 2000.

He was tagged as among those who also kidnapped US tourist Jeffrey Shilling in 2000 in Sulu.

Authorities are also tracking down members of the Indonesian militant group Jemaah Islamiya who are believed hiding in Sulu and among them are Dulmatin, Umar Patek and Mauiya – all wanted for the Bali bombings in 2002 that killed over 200 people, mostly Australian holidaymakers.

Last month, an Abu Sayyaf commander Albader Parad, who was involved in the kidnappings of three Red Cross workers last year, was killed in a military raid in his hideout in Sulu’s Indanan town.

Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the regional police chief, said the killing of Parad and the capture of Amon was a big to the Abu Sayyaf. “This is another blow to the terrorist group and we will continue to pursue the terrorists no matter where,” Latag said.

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan said he is supporting the government offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiya. “Sulu is a peaceful province. It is only these terrorists groups which are destroying our beautiful province. My people are fed up with their atrocities,” he said.

Tan put Sulu under a state of emergency last year after Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped the aid workers. He also ordered security forces to dismantle all private armies of political warlords in the province.

Last year, police also recruited some 2,000 civilians to form part of the Police Auxiliary Unit to help authorities fight terrorism and guard villages against rebel attacks.

Police and military also linked the Abu Sayyaf to Tan’s failed assassination last year outside his office in Patikul town. Militants bombed Tan’s convoy on May 13 that wounded 10 people, including a local town mayor Hatta Berto.

Tan just came from his office and on his way home when a motorcycle bomb exploded near his vehicle. Police later captured two Abu Sayyaf bombers Juhan Alimuddin and Sulayman Muin who confessed to investigators that they were hired by Tan’s political foe to kill the governor. (Mindanao Examiner)

Al-Qaeda-linked militant captured in the Southern Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 25, 2010) – A senior member of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group was captured by Filipino police forces in the southern island of Sulu, officials told the Mindanao Examiner on Thursday.

Regional police chief Bienvenido Latag said Mujibar Amon was arrested late Monday near his house in Ummul Quran village in Indanan town. He did not give details about the capture of the 26-year old militant, but said Amon’s arrest was the result of a long intelligence operation.

“This is another blow to the terrorist group and we will continue to pursue the terrorists no matter where,” Latag said.

Amon is one the country’s most wanted terrorists who was involved in last year’s kidnappings of three Red Cross workers and many more, including the cross-border raid in Malaysia’s Sipadan island report where 21 mostly European and Asian holidaymakers were abducted and brought to Sulu in 2000.

He was tagged as among those who also kidnapped US tourist Jeffrey Shilling in 2000 in Sulu, one of the five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Amon was also linked by Philippine authorities to the spate of bombings in Sulu, where Patek, Dulmatin, Mauiya and other Jemaah Islamiya terrorists are believed to be hiding.

Last week, authorities killed Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad and five of his men in a clash in Sulu’s Indanan town. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police orders probe of detained Malaysian trawlers in Tawi-Tawi

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 22, 2010) – Filipino authorities ordered an investigation into reports that police had detained 14 Malaysian trawlers and released the boats in exchange for money in the southern Philippines.

Police allegedly released a dozen Malaysian trawlers after its owners paid thousands of dollars in exchange for the boats. But two other trawlers are still being held in the southern island of Taganak near the Sabah border, Malaysian media reported on Monday.

It said the trawlers were seized by the police after allegedly straying into Philippine waters on February 14 and 15 and its crew of about 50 people had been detained.

Police released the 12 trawlers after its owners paid fines of up to RM40,000, it said.

“Philippines border officials based in Taganak Island under the Tawi-Tawi province released the trawlers after the owners paid “fines” ranging from RM13,000 to RM40,000 for allegedly encroaching into Phi¬lippines waters,” the Star Online reported.

But the Philippine Navy said it did not receive any reports about the apprehension of any Malaysian fishing boats in Taganak, an island town of Tawi-Tawi province. “We have no reports about it,” said Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, who heads the naval forces in the southern Philippines.

Reports said owners of the two remaining Malaysian trawlers were working for the release of the boats. It said Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sa¬hali assured that he would try to secure an early release for the remaining Malaysian trawlers. He said he would discuss with the Philippine Navy and the police to resolve the problem quickly.

“The owners are in the process of getting the trawlers released in the next few days,” the Star said.

But Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, chief of the regional police force, said he already relieved the police chief of Taganak Island after receiving reports about the trawlers.

“I have relieved the chief of police of Taganak Island after receiving this disturbing report that Malaysian trawlers were apprehended and released in exchange for money. He is being investigated. We will not tolerate this kind of malpractice and even the governor of Tawi-Tawi, Sadikul Sahali, was angry with this incident because it is so embarrassing,” Latag told the Mindanao Examiner.

“We are trying to reform the police forces into a professional organization and we will not allow this kind of incident to ruin the clean image of the Philippine National Police,” he said.

Latag, a decorated officer, assumed last year as the new police chief of the Muslim autonomous region who has jurisdiction over the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao and Lanao.

Malaysian fishermen previously detained in southern Philippines for poaching had accused authorities of extortion. The southern Philippines is a favorite fishing grounds, but is also considered dangerous because pirates and Abu Sayyaf militants are actively operating in the area. (Mindanao Examiner)

Police orders investigation on Sulu weapons landing

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 11, 2010) – Philippine police is investigating reports of landing of hundreds of illegal weapons in the southern province of Sulu, where security forces are battling Abu Sayyaf militants.

Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the regional police chief, has ordered the investigation into the reports that some 300 firearms landed in the coastal town of Luuk.

“We are investigating reports that 300 illegal weapons landed in the town of Luuk” Latag told the independent regional newspaper, the Mindanao Examiner.

Sulu Governor Sakur Tan, citing intelligence reports, said the weapons were smuggled into Luuk by a still unidentified armed group days after President Gloria Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao province where security forces recovered huge caches of light infantry and heavy artillery weapons allegedly owned by the powerful Ampatuan clan.

It was unknown whether the weapons came from Maguindanao or who owns arms cache.

The Ampatuan clan is one of the most feared in Mindanao and also among the wealthiest in the impoverished Maguindanao province, whose governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., and his sons, Zaldy Ampatuan, the regional governor, and Andal Ampatuan Jr., and several family members and relatives were linked by authorities to the gruesome killings of 57 people on November 23.

Among those killed were 31 journalists and wife and relatives of Buluan vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, who is a candidate for governor of Maguindanao in next year’s polls.

The victims were on a political caravan when they were abducted and killed by more then 100 gunmen allegedly led by Ampatuan Jr. All of them were eventually arrested in connection with the brutal slayings. The Ampatuans denied all the accusations against them.

Tan put Sulu under a state of emergency last year after Abu Sayyaf militants kidnapped three Red Cross workers. He also ordered security forces to dismantle all private armies of political warlords in the province.

Last year, police also recruited some 2,000 civilians to form part of the Police Auxiliary Unit to help authorities fight terrorism and guard villages against rebel attacks.

On Sunday, a grenade exploded outside a Roman Catholic Church in Sulu’s capital town of Jolo. The blast damaged window panes of the Our Lady of the Mount Carmel cathedral, but there were no casualties in the attack.

On New Year’s Eve, a grenade also exploded in front of the church and wounding one government soldier guarding the cathedral. The church was also targeted twice last year. In October 27, a grenade was lobbed by an unidentified man the back of the cathedral and the explosion damaged several windows. Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants also detonated a homemade bomb in front of the church last year.

The Abu Sayyaf group was also linked to last year’s failed assassination attempt on Sulu governor Sakur Tan outside his office in Patikul town. Militants bombed Tan’s convoy on May 13 that wounded 10 people, including a local town mayor Hatta Berto.

Tan just came from his office and on his way home when a motorcycle bomb exploded near his vehicle. Police later captured two suspected bombers Juhan Alimuddin and Sulayman Muin who confessed to investigators that they were hired by Tan’s political foe to kill the governor. (Mindanao Examiner)

Grenade explodes outside Sulu Catholic church

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / January 10, 2010) – A grenade exploded early Sunday outside a Roman Catholic church in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, officials said.

Officials said the blast damaged window panes of the Our Lady of the Mount Carmel cathedral in the capital town of Jolo. “There were no reports of casualties in the explosion and authorities are still investigating the attack,” said Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the regional police chief.

He said the grenade exploded at around 5:40 a.m. at the church wall and no group or individual claimed responsibility for the blast, but previous attacks on the cathedral were largely blamed to the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.

“We still don’t know who was behind this latest attack,” Latag said.

On New Year’s Eve, a grenade also exploded in front of the church and wounding one government soldier guarding the cathedral.

The church was also targeted twice last year. In October 27, a grenade was lobbed by an unidentified man the back of the cathedral and the explosion damaged several windows. Suspected Abu Sayyaf militants also detonated a homemade bomb in front of the church last year.

Church officials in Sulu could not be contacted to comment on the latest attack, but soldiers and policemen have been guarding the cathedral in years because of threats of Abu Sayyaf attacks against priests and nuns.

The Abu Sayyaf group was also linked to last year’s failed assassination attempt on Sulu governor Sakur Tan outside his office in Patikul town. Militants bombed Tan’s convoy on May 13 that wounded 10 people, including a local town mayor Hatta Berto.

Tan just came from his office and on his way home when a motorcycle bomb exploded near his vehicle. Police later captured two suspected bombers Juhan Alimuddin and Sulayman Muin who confessed to investigators that they were hired by Tan’s political foe to kill the governor.

In 1997, Abu Sayyaf militants shot dead Sulu Bishop Benjamin de Jesus as he was walking in front of the cathedral. And three years later, militants also shot dead another priest Benjamin Inocencio in Jolo town. The Abu Sayyaf was also blamed for the kidnapping of two Spanish nuns and an American missionary in Jolo in the 1990s. (Mindanao Examiner)

Security tightened in 'Massacre Land'

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / November 30, 2009) – Philippine authorities have tightened security in the southern province of Maguindanao as police investigators continue searching for more evidence that would help resolve the grisly killings of 57 people blamed to the scion of a powerful Muslim clan in Mindanao.

Police have charged Datu Unsay town mayor Andal Ampatuan Jnr for the November 23 attack on a convoy of supporters of rival Buluan town deputy mayor Esmael Mangudadatu in Maguindanao, one of five provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

Security forces also raided Monday the house of a police officer in Cotabato City who is being sought by authorities in connection with the murders and seized assorted guns and munitions, GMA television reported.

It said the officer was not in the house when soldiers and policemen raided the place. It said the officer have not reported for work after his name was implicated in the killings.

Hundred of supporters of the Ampatuan clan held a rally Sunday in Shariff Aguak town where the two governors met with their political allies. Police said the rally ended peacefully.

“We have put up many checkpoints and tightened security in the province to prevent the entry or exit of weapons. There is a total gun ban and we are enforcing the law,” said Senior Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, the regional police chief.

He said police and military are also gathering more information about the brutal killings and those who participated in the attack. “At the moment, we are gathering more intelligence about the killings and the perpetrators of these heinous crimes,” he said.

Of the 57 killed in the attack, at least 30 journalists and the Mangudadatu’s wife and two sisters were among those mercilessly killed. Ampatuan Jnr denied masterminding the attack, but 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.

The journalists were traveling in a convoy with the wife and relatives and supporters of Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu in Maguindanao’s Shariff Aguak town when they were held by more than 100 gunmen from a rival faction and herded to a remote hillside where they were executed.

Mangudadatu and the young Ampatuan are both running for governor in next year’s polls.

Those killed were buried in two mass graves, including the wreckage of two private cars and a media van, where at least four mangled bodies had been pulled out. A backhoe owned by the Maguindanao provincial government was recovered in the area and was believed used to excavate the graves in the town of Ampatuan.

The Philippine military relieved Major General Alfredo Cayton, chief of the 6th Infantry Division, and Colonel Medardo Geslani, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, for failing to prevent the gruesome killings. Both are under investigations in Manila.

Human rights activists also urged the police and the military to secure warrants from courts and search the mansions of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao province for illegal weapons after receiving reports that huge caches of firearms, munitions are allegedly being kept in arsenals inside the houses.

Arroyo placed Maguindanao under a state of emergency and security forces have taken control of the provincial capitol buildings and the town halls of Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan. Soldiers also dismantled 347 government militias under the control of the Ampatuan clan and recalled troops assigned with the Ampatuans as bodyguards.

Different media groups have condemned the killings of the journalists whose names were listed below and one more is still missing.

1. Adolfo, Benjie of Gold Star Daily, a regional newspaper; a resident of Koronadal City; 2. Araneta, Henry of Radio dzRH; a resident of General Santos City; 3. Arriola, Mark Gilbert (nickname Mac Mac) of UNTV, a local branch of a television channel; a resident of General Santos City; 4. Bataluna, Rubello of Gold Star Daily; a resident of Koronadal City; 5. Betia, Arturo of Periodico Ini, a community newspaper; a resident of General Santos City; 6. Cabillo, Romeo Jimmy of Midland Review, a community newspaper; a resident of Tacurong City; 7. Cablitas, Marites of News Focus; a resident of General Santos City; 8. Cachuela, Hannibal of Punto News; a resident of Koronadal City; 9. Caniban, John of Periodico Ini; a resident of General Santos City;10. Dalmacio, Lea of Socsargen News, a community newspaper; a resident of General Santos City.

11. Decina, Noel of Periodico Ini; a resident of General Santos City; 12. Dela Cruz, Gina of Saksi News; a resident of General Santos City; 13. Dohillo, Eugene of UNTV; a resident of General Santos City, 14. Duhay, Jhoy of Gold Star Daily; a resident of Tacurong City; 15. Jun Gatchalian of Davao City; 16. Legarte, Bienvenido, Jr. of Prontiera News; a resident of Koronadal City; 17. Lupogan, Lindo of Mindanao Daily Gazette, a community newspaper; a resident of Davao City; 18. Maravilla, Ernesto (nickname Bart) of Bombo Radyo; a resident of Koronadal City; 19. Merisco, Rey of Periodico Ini; a resident of Koronadal City; 20. Momay, Reynaldo (nickname Bebot) Momay of Midland Review; a resident of Tacurong City.

21. Montaño, Marife, of Saksi News; a resident of General Santos City; 22. Morales, Rosell of News Focus; a resident of General Santos City; 23. Nuñez, Victor of UNTV a resident of General Santos City; 24. Perante, Ronnie of Gold Star Daily; a resident of Koronadal City; 25. Parcon, Joel of Prontiera News; a resident of Koronadal City; 26. Razon, Fernando (nickname Rani) of Periodico Ini; a resident of General Santos City; 27. Reblando, Alejandro (nickname Bong) of Manila Bulletin; a resident of General Santos City; 28. Salaysay, Napoleon of Mindanao Gazette; a resident of Cotabato City; 29. Subang, Ian of Socsargen Today, a community newspaper; a resident of General Santos City; 30. Teodoro, Andres (nickname Andy) of Central Mindanao Inquirer, a community newspaper; a resident of Tacurong City; 31. Evardo, Jolito of UNTV; a resident of General Santos City, whose body up to now is still missing. (Mindanao Examiner)