IamVietnamese
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Ah, sorry. It is just our Vietnamese's habit.
That is what we're discussing about this incident in our VN forum.
30 Filipino police commandos killed in clash with rebels
- Thread starter Raphael
- Start date
That is what we're discussing about this incident in our VN forum.
Pinoy
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After Fsjal, opruh here comes IamVietnamese.
For obvious reason we know where they really come from. Certainly they can fool others here in PDF but not us.
Anyway keep going fools.
No amount of peace effort will succeed in dealing with only one group (MILF) to the EXCLUSION of MNLF, BIFF & other splintered Muslim groups. The only way to deal with the Muslims is TO REQUIRE their respective leaders to ORGANIZE into one group which will represent all the interests and aspirations of our MUSLIM brothers. In short, NO DEAL if they cannot organize into one group.
IamVietnamese
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There are many Vietnameses in this forum. You can ask them.
Pinoy
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You just joined last Saturday. Now you want me to ask them to prove if you're Vietnamese as if they know you well with your few post lolThere are many Vietnameses in this forum. You can ask them.
IamVietnamese
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No, I am talking about how Vietnameses discussed about this incident in our forums.
This incident reminded us about the bus incident 5 years ago, which proved Filipino police incapacity.
Pinoy
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PNoy can be blame for almost everything that contributed to what happened there.
And rightly so being him at the top of the chain of command. I couldn't imagine sending the SAF to an open field with no artillery support, in case things get wrong is stupid. The SAF were clueless of what they find there…the planning was idiotic and catastrophic.
Still can't get enough with the bus incident eh? RIP to your fellowmen.
The situation is different. Here we're dealing with the rebel/terrorist group. Now If you like discuss the bus tragedy then make your own thread. Mind your own business.
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Massacre probe: Time for P-Noy to bare all
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 13, 2015 - 12:00am
It’s time for Noynoy Aquino to come clean about the Mamasapano fiasco. Testimonies have sprung from Congress inquiries that fault him in part for the Jan. 25 wipeout of 44 police commandos by Moro rebels. Outraged citizens want to hear his full account once and for all.
Worst of the avowals was by a Marine general. It would seem, from the general’s text to a subordinate, that the Commander-in-Chief feebly had sought a military rescue of the encircled cops. “Best effort,” the general quoted Aquino; meaning mere “resupply of ammo and food” but not their extraction to safety, as opposed to “at all costs.” Another text from the general was, “The President wants it tonight.” “Tonight,” as the public now knows, meant more than 15 hours after the battle began. By then, the 44 already had been killed, and 16 wounded. So who were to be rearmed and fed, the reinforcements and not the trapped troopers? Either the general didn’t brief Aquino fully, or the latter was too slow to act on a life-threatening emergency. Aquino needs to clear that up. No amount of shrieking by the presidential spokesman against “malicious” deductions can suffice.
Related are the Armed Forces chief’s words. After days of keeping details from the public hearings, he at last stated Aquino’s whereabouts during that 4 a.m.-6 p.m. slaughter. They happened to be together in Zamboanga City from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. With them were the Marine and other military and police generals, and the Secretaries of Interior and of Defense. The officers had been texted about the fighting in Mamasapano as early as 5-6 a.m., yet supposedly did not tell Aquino anything till 3 p.m. They swore the situation was hazy because the commando general Getulio Napeñas had not coordinated with police higher-ups and military counterparts. Yet it also could be that they have agreed to shield the C-in-C from liability: “I won’t volunteer any info, but I wouldn’t lie when asked either.” It’s been done before. Only Aquino can clear that up.
Aquino has made three public statements about the massacre. The first, three days after the flop, was to blame all on Napeñas’ non-coordination, and to lobby for Congress’ expansion of the Muslim autonomous region for the Moro separatists. It was too favorable to the very massacrers, and pre-empted a National Police inquiry that had yet to commence. Naturally it did not sit well with the bereaved families of the slain cops and the police officer corps.
Two nights later Aquino pep-talked the wounded survivors by praising them for engaging the “halang ang bituka (rogues).” Malacañang propagandists must have realized the negative implications only after posting the video on the Net. For questions arose why the President was negotiating at all a sub-state to be ruled by the rogues.
Aquino went on live TV hookup anew. That third time, it was to recount his long friendship with suspended and just resigned National Police chief Alan Purisima. He seemed to be pre-empting the questions that inevitably would be asked in Congress: why was the suspended Purisima overseeing the planning and implementation of the commando raid in Mamasapano? And why did the C-in-C let Purisima do so by organizing briefings in Malacañang by Napeñas and the National Police intelligence chief?
Napeñas now regrets ever heeding the suspended Purisima’s “advice” to cut out of the plan his next-in-command and the Secretary of Interior. Purisima claims in defense, from the justice secretary’s opinion, that he violated no chain of command since the police is civilian and not military. The Ombudsman believes that he criminally usurped authority by meddling in police operations while under six months’ suspension.
This brings up one more item for Aquino to explain: his apparent indiscretion of abetting his longtime friend Purisima’s usurpation.
Interior Sec. Mar Roxas might want to explain himself too. It was clear from events that the President trusted suspended chum Purisima over his ruling Liberal Party head and Purisima’s superior Roxas. Aquino and Roxas were together in Zamboanga for 12 hours on Jan. 25. They were both told of the slaughter of the commandos. Yet it appears that the C-in-C kept his Cabinet point man for the police in the dark about the commando raid. So what is Roxas still doing in the Cabinet?
Massacre probe: Time for P-Noy to bare all | Opinion, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
GOTCHA By Jarius Bondoc (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 13, 2015 - 12:00am
It’s time for Noynoy Aquino to come clean about the Mamasapano fiasco. Testimonies have sprung from Congress inquiries that fault him in part for the Jan. 25 wipeout of 44 police commandos by Moro rebels. Outraged citizens want to hear his full account once and for all.
Worst of the avowals was by a Marine general. It would seem, from the general’s text to a subordinate, that the Commander-in-Chief feebly had sought a military rescue of the encircled cops. “Best effort,” the general quoted Aquino; meaning mere “resupply of ammo and food” but not their extraction to safety, as opposed to “at all costs.” Another text from the general was, “The President wants it tonight.” “Tonight,” as the public now knows, meant more than 15 hours after the battle began. By then, the 44 already had been killed, and 16 wounded. So who were to be rearmed and fed, the reinforcements and not the trapped troopers? Either the general didn’t brief Aquino fully, or the latter was too slow to act on a life-threatening emergency. Aquino needs to clear that up. No amount of shrieking by the presidential spokesman against “malicious” deductions can suffice.
Related are the Armed Forces chief’s words. After days of keeping details from the public hearings, he at last stated Aquino’s whereabouts during that 4 a.m.-6 p.m. slaughter. They happened to be together in Zamboanga City from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. With them were the Marine and other military and police generals, and the Secretaries of Interior and of Defense. The officers had been texted about the fighting in Mamasapano as early as 5-6 a.m., yet supposedly did not tell Aquino anything till 3 p.m. They swore the situation was hazy because the commando general Getulio Napeñas had not coordinated with police higher-ups and military counterparts. Yet it also could be that they have agreed to shield the C-in-C from liability: “I won’t volunteer any info, but I wouldn’t lie when asked either.” It’s been done before. Only Aquino can clear that up.
Aquino has made three public statements about the massacre. The first, three days after the flop, was to blame all on Napeñas’ non-coordination, and to lobby for Congress’ expansion of the Muslim autonomous region for the Moro separatists. It was too favorable to the very massacrers, and pre-empted a National Police inquiry that had yet to commence. Naturally it did not sit well with the bereaved families of the slain cops and the police officer corps.
Two nights later Aquino pep-talked the wounded survivors by praising them for engaging the “halang ang bituka (rogues).” Malacañang propagandists must have realized the negative implications only after posting the video on the Net. For questions arose why the President was negotiating at all a sub-state to be ruled by the rogues.
Aquino went on live TV hookup anew. That third time, it was to recount his long friendship with suspended and just resigned National Police chief Alan Purisima. He seemed to be pre-empting the questions that inevitably would be asked in Congress: why was the suspended Purisima overseeing the planning and implementation of the commando raid in Mamasapano? And why did the C-in-C let Purisima do so by organizing briefings in Malacañang by Napeñas and the National Police intelligence chief?
Napeñas now regrets ever heeding the suspended Purisima’s “advice” to cut out of the plan his next-in-command and the Secretary of Interior. Purisima claims in defense, from the justice secretary’s opinion, that he violated no chain of command since the police is civilian and not military. The Ombudsman believes that he criminally usurped authority by meddling in police operations while under six months’ suspension.
This brings up one more item for Aquino to explain: his apparent indiscretion of abetting his longtime friend Purisima’s usurpation.
Interior Sec. Mar Roxas might want to explain himself too. It was clear from events that the President trusted suspended chum Purisima over his ruling Liberal Party head and Purisima’s superior Roxas. Aquino and Roxas were together in Zamboanga for 12 hours on Jan. 25. They were both told of the slaughter of the commandos. Yet it appears that the C-in-C kept his Cabinet point man for the police in the dark about the commando raid. So what is Roxas still doing in the Cabinet?
Massacre probe: Time for P-Noy to bare all | Opinion, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com
Pinoy
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Cayetano: Mamasapano clash happened because MILF shot at govt forces
By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA NewsFebruary 12, 2015 9:52pm
The Mamasapano clash happened not because of lack of coordination but because the Moro Islamic Liberation Front fired on government forces who were there to arrest two terrorists, Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday.
“There is an exception sa rules n’yo mismo na kapag high-value target, hindi kailangan ng coordination. Stop saying that it is lack of coordination that caused this massacre. It was because Marwan was there and it was because MILF and BIFF started shooting at our people,” he told government lead negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer during the Senate hearing on Mamasapano clash.
The Philippine National Police's Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to arrest Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir (alias Marwan) and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman. In the ensuing firefight with MILF and BIFF forces, 44 SAF commandos were killed.
The MILF earlier claimed they fired on the police officers because they entered their area without prior notice. At least 18 MILF members were reportedly killed in the incident.
US concerns
Cayetano said he labelled MILF as a terrorist organization not as an insult, but because it was the international legal term.
Cayetano said that he obtained a report, updated on August 10, 2007, stating that “the Bush administration...expressed growing concern about MILF links with JI (Jemaah Islamiyah), and the JI’s use of the Mindanao Sulawesi corridor as well as doubts about the RP government’s ability to end Muslim terrorism in Mindanao.”
He said the US government considered placing the MILF on the list of terrorist organizations but that the Arroyo administration opposed the move as it would have jeopardized the peace negotiation.
The senator said he also got hold of a PNP intelligence report, made public in 2007, showing the financial links of terrorism groups.
“I stand by my word and my accusation that we shouldn’t continue the negotiations for peace with the MILF but we should continue the quest for peace unless talikuran ng MILF ang terrorism,” Cayetano said.
“I’m thankful that Chairman Mohagher Iqbal is saying that they are against terrorism,” he added.
The senator then asked Iqbal if the MILF is fighting only for its members or for all Bangsamoro people, to which the latter replied, “The Bangsamoro Basic Law is for all.”
Cayetano, however, decried the MILF's use of "terrorist acts."
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na walang injustice sa Bangsamoro, pero mayroon din yan sa Luzon at Visayas at sa Mindanao. Pero kayo ang nagbibigay ng injustice sa mga kapwa ninyo Filipino dahil gumagamit kayo ng power of the gun. Kung hindi kayo gumamit ng dahas sa inyong struggle for self-determination, equal naman dapat ang Mindanao. Pero ang pinili n’yo kasi ay gumamit hindi lang ng dahas, hindi lang arms struggle, pero terrorist acts like bombing, arson and destruction,” he said.
“In the last 20 years ng rebellion n'yo ang nagdusa ay mga kapwa sa Mindanao. Kung kayo ang humaharang, sumusunog sa equipment and you will say that there is no peace, you are negotiating with the barrel of the gun. You are saying you are for peace pero kayo ang nagwa-war sa amin,” the senator added.
Hataman responds
At this point, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Mujiv Hataman asked the committee to let him speak.
“Alam mo Alan, matagal na tayong magkasama sa Congress at naniniwala rin po ako na…” Hataman choked, unable to finish his speech.
After several seconds, the ARMM official continued, his voice breaking: “Marami kang constituents sa Taguig pero akin lang ang application natin sa halimbawa tulad ng terorismo, hindi ko kinakampihan ang MILF dito. Tinatanong ko lang tinag ba natin ang NPA kung nagsusunog sila ng equipment? Kung nambobomba sila?”
He also lamented the hate the Muslim people are receiving because of the incident.
“Sa lahat ng social media, pag may nagsalita against the Bangsamoro, lahat ng laman ng social media parang ang kasalanan na ito ay kasalanan ng buong mamamayang Moro,” he said.
Cayetano replied that he was not describing all Muslims as terrorists since there are Christian terrorists, but that he was only referring to the MILF.
“We are here to protect the peaceful Musiims,” he said.
Hataman said he was just worried about tagging the MILF as a terrorist group just because the US government wanted to.
The senator then apologized to Hataman.
“if you are offended, I’m sorry sir, you’re my friend. In fact, ang tingin ko mas marami pang Kristiyanong terorista. I’m just taking advantage na may articulate na MILF leader na kasama tayo, maganda ang kanyang demeanor dito dahil kung iba 'yan ay baka barilan na,” said Cayetano.
'Nag-organize kami dahil hindi patas ang laban'
Iqbal, for his part, narrated the history of the Muslim people and their struggles which made them decide to take arms.
“Nakita ng mga leaders ng Moro na wala nang future sa Philippine government. Maraming massacre at yung Ilaga, marami ang pinatay sa amin. This time wala pong hustisya. Nakita ng mga Moro na ang laban hindi patas so hindi sila makapag-argue dahil talo sila. Doon sila gumamit ng armas. Nag-organize kami ng Moro independence dahil hindi patas ang laban, patas ang laban kung armas ang gagamitin namin,” he said.
He said when they saw opportunity for peace, they took it.
“Kaya nang imbitahan ang MILF noong 1997 para mag-usap para sa kapayapaan, nagrespond ang MILF hanggang sa nagkaroon ng ceasefire agreement; hanggang sa dumating tayo sa pagkakataon ngayon kay President Aquino. Nakita namin ang sincerity ng President. Malayo na ang narating natin, nasulat na ang BBL. 'Yan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi na natin babalikan ang nakaraan. Yan ang sagot ko kay Sen. Cayetano na hindi tama ang sinasabi na ginagamit namin ang armas,” Iqbal said.
Cayetano then asked him what the MILF would do if it loses in the election for the Bangsamoro government that will be established.
“Kung may eleksyon tayo sa 2016 hopefully, nag-decommission na po ang MILF. Wala na pong armas ang MILF. [Kung natalo], e di talo. Hindi na kami babalik sa gyera. Kung manalo e di mas maganda,” the MILF official said.
He added that the passage of the BBL would address the legitimate concerns of the Bangsamoro people.
“Nakita na namin na ang BBL ay na-address ang concerns ng Bangsamoro. Wala nang lalaban nang may legitimacy. Yung mga lalaban illegitimate kasi the goverment has already addressed the legitimate grievances,” he said.
Cayetano then raised the supposed presence of MILF firearms factory in Brgy. Katol, Gen. Pendatu, Maguindanao and a "Bangsamoro Military Industries," which includes three facilities that supposedly manufacutre the MILF's firearms.
Iqbal said he was not aware of that.
No to watered-down BBL
Senator Ralph Recto then asked Iqbal if he would accept the BBL that will be passed by the Congress, to which the latter said the MILF will trust the collective wisdom of the lawmakers, but not to the extent of the BBL being watered down.
“A watered-down BBL won't address grievances of our people. Pag tatanggapin namin, we'll be irrelevant, tuloy ang problema,” Iqbal said.
Recto then noted that some P75 billion will be needed for the first year of Bangsamoro government, similar to the budget allocated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the conditional cash transfer program.
'Revolutionary organization'
Meanwhile, Presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles explained the relationship between the revolutionary organization and terrorism.
“Sen. Cayetano said that US government want to put MILF sa terrorist list. The US government also decided eventually that the best way is the peace process. 'Yun ang sinabi na ang mabisang paraan para ma-disconnect mo ang revolutionary government sa terrorism ay through peace process,” she said.
She noted that Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress and Irish Republican Army were once tagged as terrorists of the US government. Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
“Kailangang tignan itong mga organisasyon in a narrative. Ang evolution ng revolutionary organization ay hindi napapako sa isang sandali at kung ano ang ginagawa ngayon ay dapat na iangkop,” Deles said. — BM, GMA News
NBI tracks down place where viral Mamasapano clash video came from
By MARK MERUEÑAS,GMA News
February 13, 2015
The National Bureau of Investigation has already tracked down the place where a video of a purported PNP-Special Action Force commando being shot at close range was uploaded.
At the same time, investigators from the NBI Anti-Cybercrime Division are starting to identify the people in the video that had already gone viral on the Internet.
"They were able to trace already kung saan iyon na-upload, what area na-upload," De Lima told reporters on Friday.
"Then iyong mga faces unti-unti na nilang ina-identify, iyong faces na nakita sa video," she added.
The Justice secretary, however, refused to give further details since the probe is still ongoing.
De Lima earlier said the video, once authenticated, could be used as evidence against the people behind the deaths of 44 police commandos who were serving arrest warrants against two suspected terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
"It is certainly part of the evidence already. It is just being evaluated," De Lima reiterated.
De Lima had said the video, once authenticated, is admissible in court.
"There are rules (on admissibility). Kailangang ma-trace sino 'yung nag-take ng video na 'yan. 'Yan ang makaka-validate kung anong oras 'yung pagkuha ng video," she earlier said.
De Lima said the shooting, showing a wounded man twitching in pain before being shot, was akin to a summary execution.
She said that under the International Humanitarian Law, "circumstances" like an armed conflict cannot be used as an excuse to justify such "barbaric and cruel" acts that remain punishable by law. — RSJ, GMA News
NBI tracks down place where viral Mamasapano clash video came from | News | GMA News Online
Deadly Clash in Philippines Jeopardizes Peace Process
Simone Orendain
February 12, 2015
MANILA— Last month, a police raid in the southern Philippines targeting two internationally-wanted terrorists ended in disaster when clashes left about 70 people dead, including 44 police officers. Philippine lawmakers are now holding inquiries into the raid and suspending work on a landmark peace agreement for a self-governing area in the country’s Muslim-majority south.
Lawmakers this week were supposed to be deliberating the merits of a proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which is based on an agreement signed last March between the government and the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Instead, those talks have been indefinitely suspended while lawmakers investigate the 12-hour gun battle which took place in Mamasapano town, a marshland area on rebel turf. It was the first time in three years the cease-fire between both sides was broken. Although the raid succeeded in killing Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, a militant on the FBI’s most wanted terrorists list, the execution-style killings of several police officers have enraged the public.
The congressional investigative sessions have been tense and highly emotional with lawmakers pressing for answers about the January 25 operation. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said lawmakers will not pick up deliberations on the proposed peace law known as the BBL until they finish investigating the deadly police raid.
“We had pinned our hopes on the BBL as bringing peace to Muslim Mindanao. It would seem that now the lesson that we learned is that that may not be sufficient. That maybe there are elements that we have to examine,” said Marcos.
Marcos now calls the proposed law just “one part” of what could lead to peace in the restive region. And he added that its passage by the March 20 session recess would not happen.
Since the January raid, Marcos and other lawmakers have raised questions about the peace agreement’s plan for local law enforcement and national defense.
The government’s chief peace negotiator, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, said that could lead to changes in the deal that fall short of what was discussed in the original proposal between rebels and government negotiators.
“Even more worse is that we will have a law that is very, very far from the expressed aspirations that are already embodied in the draft, or let’s say, bottom line, the aspirations that are embodied in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” said Ferrer.
The comprehensive agreement is the product of nearly 20 years of talks and is meant to end four decades of fighting that has left more than 120,000 dead. The rebels say it addresses their aspiration for self-determination.
But following the deadly police raid, there may be public pressure to scale back the provisions of the proposed law.
Ferrer said she prefers no law to a watered down one. Her counterpart in the MILF, chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, said in a text message to VOA that his group is still backing the original law but will “see what happens” after it is debated by Philippine lawmakers.
In his opening statement before a senate panel Thursday, Iqbal enumerated the several components of the peace pact that were signed by both sides and made a heartfelt plea for peace.
“It contains our hopes and dreams, if not for us, for our children. We have waited for this opportunity for 17 years. We promised our people that peace will be our legacy. We seek your help in making this promise possible,” said Iqbal.
Ramon Casiple, head of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, said public trust in the peace process is now shaky. He said that loss of trust could lead to significant changes in the final law.
“The reading there among legislators [is they] would rather risk a war if the MILF wants that or an extended peace process extending to the next administration rather than approve an arrangement, which does not have the trust of the body politic,” said Casiple.
Casiple called the situation a “slow-burning fuse” and that scenarios for the future are “wide open.” He said “it will take time to calm things down.”
Deadly Clash in Philippines Jeopardizes Peace Process
By AMITA LEGASPI, GMA NewsFebruary 12, 2015 9:52pm
The Mamasapano clash happened not because of lack of coordination but because the Moro Islamic Liberation Front fired on government forces who were there to arrest two terrorists, Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday.
“There is an exception sa rules n’yo mismo na kapag high-value target, hindi kailangan ng coordination. Stop saying that it is lack of coordination that caused this massacre. It was because Marwan was there and it was because MILF and BIFF started shooting at our people,” he told government lead negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer during the Senate hearing on Mamasapano clash.
The Philippine National Police's Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) were in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to arrest Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir (alias Marwan) and Filipino Abdul Basit Usman. In the ensuing firefight with MILF and BIFF forces, 44 SAF commandos were killed.
The MILF earlier claimed they fired on the police officers because they entered their area without prior notice. At least 18 MILF members were reportedly killed in the incident.
US concerns
Cayetano said he labelled MILF as a terrorist organization not as an insult, but because it was the international legal term.
Cayetano said that he obtained a report, updated on August 10, 2007, stating that “the Bush administration...expressed growing concern about MILF links with JI (Jemaah Islamiyah), and the JI’s use of the Mindanao Sulawesi corridor as well as doubts about the RP government’s ability to end Muslim terrorism in Mindanao.”
He said the US government considered placing the MILF on the list of terrorist organizations but that the Arroyo administration opposed the move as it would have jeopardized the peace negotiation.
The senator said he also got hold of a PNP intelligence report, made public in 2007, showing the financial links of terrorism groups.
“I stand by my word and my accusation that we shouldn’t continue the negotiations for peace with the MILF but we should continue the quest for peace unless talikuran ng MILF ang terrorism,” Cayetano said.
“I’m thankful that Chairman Mohagher Iqbal is saying that they are against terrorism,” he added.
The senator then asked Iqbal if the MILF is fighting only for its members or for all Bangsamoro people, to which the latter replied, “The Bangsamoro Basic Law is for all.”
Cayetano, however, decried the MILF's use of "terrorist acts."
“Hindi ko naman sinasabi na walang injustice sa Bangsamoro, pero mayroon din yan sa Luzon at Visayas at sa Mindanao. Pero kayo ang nagbibigay ng injustice sa mga kapwa ninyo Filipino dahil gumagamit kayo ng power of the gun. Kung hindi kayo gumamit ng dahas sa inyong struggle for self-determination, equal naman dapat ang Mindanao. Pero ang pinili n’yo kasi ay gumamit hindi lang ng dahas, hindi lang arms struggle, pero terrorist acts like bombing, arson and destruction,” he said.
“In the last 20 years ng rebellion n'yo ang nagdusa ay mga kapwa sa Mindanao. Kung kayo ang humaharang, sumusunog sa equipment and you will say that there is no peace, you are negotiating with the barrel of the gun. You are saying you are for peace pero kayo ang nagwa-war sa amin,” the senator added.
Hataman responds
At this point, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao governor Mujiv Hataman asked the committee to let him speak.
“Alam mo Alan, matagal na tayong magkasama sa Congress at naniniwala rin po ako na…” Hataman choked, unable to finish his speech.
After several seconds, the ARMM official continued, his voice breaking: “Marami kang constituents sa Taguig pero akin lang ang application natin sa halimbawa tulad ng terorismo, hindi ko kinakampihan ang MILF dito. Tinatanong ko lang tinag ba natin ang NPA kung nagsusunog sila ng equipment? Kung nambobomba sila?”
He also lamented the hate the Muslim people are receiving because of the incident.
“Sa lahat ng social media, pag may nagsalita against the Bangsamoro, lahat ng laman ng social media parang ang kasalanan na ito ay kasalanan ng buong mamamayang Moro,” he said.
Cayetano replied that he was not describing all Muslims as terrorists since there are Christian terrorists, but that he was only referring to the MILF.
“We are here to protect the peaceful Musiims,” he said.
Hataman said he was just worried about tagging the MILF as a terrorist group just because the US government wanted to.
The senator then apologized to Hataman.
“if you are offended, I’m sorry sir, you’re my friend. In fact, ang tingin ko mas marami pang Kristiyanong terorista. I’m just taking advantage na may articulate na MILF leader na kasama tayo, maganda ang kanyang demeanor dito dahil kung iba 'yan ay baka barilan na,” said Cayetano.
'Nag-organize kami dahil hindi patas ang laban'
Iqbal, for his part, narrated the history of the Muslim people and their struggles which made them decide to take arms.
“Nakita ng mga leaders ng Moro na wala nang future sa Philippine government. Maraming massacre at yung Ilaga, marami ang pinatay sa amin. This time wala pong hustisya. Nakita ng mga Moro na ang laban hindi patas so hindi sila makapag-argue dahil talo sila. Doon sila gumamit ng armas. Nag-organize kami ng Moro independence dahil hindi patas ang laban, patas ang laban kung armas ang gagamitin namin,” he said.
He said when they saw opportunity for peace, they took it.
“Kaya nang imbitahan ang MILF noong 1997 para mag-usap para sa kapayapaan, nagrespond ang MILF hanggang sa nagkaroon ng ceasefire agreement; hanggang sa dumating tayo sa pagkakataon ngayon kay President Aquino. Nakita namin ang sincerity ng President. Malayo na ang narating natin, nasulat na ang BBL. 'Yan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi na natin babalikan ang nakaraan. Yan ang sagot ko kay Sen. Cayetano na hindi tama ang sinasabi na ginagamit namin ang armas,” Iqbal said.
Cayetano then asked him what the MILF would do if it loses in the election for the Bangsamoro government that will be established.
“Kung may eleksyon tayo sa 2016 hopefully, nag-decommission na po ang MILF. Wala na pong armas ang MILF. [Kung natalo], e di talo. Hindi na kami babalik sa gyera. Kung manalo e di mas maganda,” the MILF official said.
He added that the passage of the BBL would address the legitimate concerns of the Bangsamoro people.
“Nakita na namin na ang BBL ay na-address ang concerns ng Bangsamoro. Wala nang lalaban nang may legitimacy. Yung mga lalaban illegitimate kasi the goverment has already addressed the legitimate grievances,” he said.
Cayetano then raised the supposed presence of MILF firearms factory in Brgy. Katol, Gen. Pendatu, Maguindanao and a "Bangsamoro Military Industries," which includes three facilities that supposedly manufacutre the MILF's firearms.
Iqbal said he was not aware of that.
No to watered-down BBL
Senator Ralph Recto then asked Iqbal if he would accept the BBL that will be passed by the Congress, to which the latter said the MILF will trust the collective wisdom of the lawmakers, but not to the extent of the BBL being watered down.
“A watered-down BBL won't address grievances of our people. Pag tatanggapin namin, we'll be irrelevant, tuloy ang problema,” Iqbal said.
Recto then noted that some P75 billion will be needed for the first year of Bangsamoro government, similar to the budget allocated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the conditional cash transfer program.
'Revolutionary organization'
Meanwhile, Presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles explained the relationship between the revolutionary organization and terrorism.
“Sen. Cayetano said that US government want to put MILF sa terrorist list. The US government also decided eventually that the best way is the peace process. 'Yun ang sinabi na ang mabisang paraan para ma-disconnect mo ang revolutionary government sa terrorism ay through peace process,” she said.
She noted that Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress and Irish Republican Army were once tagged as terrorists of the US government. Mandela received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
“Kailangang tignan itong mga organisasyon in a narrative. Ang evolution ng revolutionary organization ay hindi napapako sa isang sandali at kung ano ang ginagawa ngayon ay dapat na iangkop,” Deles said. — BM, GMA News
NBI tracks down place where viral Mamasapano clash video came from
By MARK MERUEÑAS,GMA News
February 13, 2015
The National Bureau of Investigation has already tracked down the place where a video of a purported PNP-Special Action Force commando being shot at close range was uploaded.
At the same time, investigators from the NBI Anti-Cybercrime Division are starting to identify the people in the video that had already gone viral on the Internet.
"They were able to trace already kung saan iyon na-upload, what area na-upload," De Lima told reporters on Friday.
"Then iyong mga faces unti-unti na nilang ina-identify, iyong faces na nakita sa video," she added.
The Justice secretary, however, refused to give further details since the probe is still ongoing.
De Lima earlier said the video, once authenticated, could be used as evidence against the people behind the deaths of 44 police commandos who were serving arrest warrants against two suspected terrorists in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
"It is certainly part of the evidence already. It is just being evaluated," De Lima reiterated.
De Lima had said the video, once authenticated, is admissible in court.
"There are rules (on admissibility). Kailangang ma-trace sino 'yung nag-take ng video na 'yan. 'Yan ang makaka-validate kung anong oras 'yung pagkuha ng video," she earlier said.
De Lima said the shooting, showing a wounded man twitching in pain before being shot, was akin to a summary execution.
She said that under the International Humanitarian Law, "circumstances" like an armed conflict cannot be used as an excuse to justify such "barbaric and cruel" acts that remain punishable by law. — RSJ, GMA News
NBI tracks down place where viral Mamasapano clash video came from | News | GMA News Online
Deadly Clash in Philippines Jeopardizes Peace Process
Simone Orendain
February 12, 2015
MANILA— Last month, a police raid in the southern Philippines targeting two internationally-wanted terrorists ended in disaster when clashes left about 70 people dead, including 44 police officers. Philippine lawmakers are now holding inquiries into the raid and suspending work on a landmark peace agreement for a self-governing area in the country’s Muslim-majority south.
Lawmakers this week were supposed to be deliberating the merits of a proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which is based on an agreement signed last March between the government and the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Instead, those talks have been indefinitely suspended while lawmakers investigate the 12-hour gun battle which took place in Mamasapano town, a marshland area on rebel turf. It was the first time in three years the cease-fire between both sides was broken. Although the raid succeeded in killing Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, a militant on the FBI’s most wanted terrorists list, the execution-style killings of several police officers have enraged the public.
The congressional investigative sessions have been tense and highly emotional with lawmakers pressing for answers about the January 25 operation. Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said lawmakers will not pick up deliberations on the proposed peace law known as the BBL until they finish investigating the deadly police raid.
“We had pinned our hopes on the BBL as bringing peace to Muslim Mindanao. It would seem that now the lesson that we learned is that that may not be sufficient. That maybe there are elements that we have to examine,” said Marcos.
Marcos now calls the proposed law just “one part” of what could lead to peace in the restive region. And he added that its passage by the March 20 session recess would not happen.
Since the January raid, Marcos and other lawmakers have raised questions about the peace agreement’s plan for local law enforcement and national defense.
The government’s chief peace negotiator, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, said that could lead to changes in the deal that fall short of what was discussed in the original proposal between rebels and government negotiators.
“Even more worse is that we will have a law that is very, very far from the expressed aspirations that are already embodied in the draft, or let’s say, bottom line, the aspirations that are embodied in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro,” said Ferrer.
The comprehensive agreement is the product of nearly 20 years of talks and is meant to end four decades of fighting that has left more than 120,000 dead. The rebels say it addresses their aspiration for self-determination.
But following the deadly police raid, there may be public pressure to scale back the provisions of the proposed law.
Ferrer said she prefers no law to a watered down one. Her counterpart in the MILF, chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, said in a text message to VOA that his group is still backing the original law but will “see what happens” after it is debated by Philippine lawmakers.
In his opening statement before a senate panel Thursday, Iqbal enumerated the several components of the peace pact that were signed by both sides and made a heartfelt plea for peace.
“It contains our hopes and dreams, if not for us, for our children. We have waited for this opportunity for 17 years. We promised our people that peace will be our legacy. We seek your help in making this promise possible,” said Iqbal.
Ramon Casiple, head of the Manila-based Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, said public trust in the peace process is now shaky. He said that loss of trust could lead to significant changes in the final law.
“The reading there among legislators [is they] would rather risk a war if the MILF wants that or an extended peace process extending to the next administration rather than approve an arrangement, which does not have the trust of the body politic,” said Casiple.
Casiple called the situation a “slow-burning fuse” and that scenarios for the future are “wide open.” He said “it will take time to calm things down.”
Deadly Clash in Philippines Jeopardizes Peace Process
Cossack25A1
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DFA looking into US role in Mamasapano mission
By MICHAELA DEL CALLAR | February 16, 2015 | 4:25pm
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said it was looking into reports that the United States allegedly supervised the covert operation to seize Southeast Asia’s most wanted terror suspect, which eventually led to the death of 44 elite Filipino commados in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.
Since the incident, several reports suggested US combat role in the operation to take out Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. American officials in Manila have repeatedly denied the information.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose, at a press briefing, said the DFA’s Office of American Affairs is in touch with US Embassy representatives on the matter.
But in previous communications with the DFA, Jose said the Americans had denied involvement in the operation in Mamasapano, where Marwan was believed killed by Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos on Jan. 25.
The US has offered a $5-million bounty for Marwan’s capture.
The SAF’s raid on Marwan’s hideout resulted in the death of 44 SAF troopers after coming under intense gun battle with Muslim rebels in the area. The incident is said to be the worst single-day combat loss for Philippine troops in recent history.
“We asked the US Embassy and they say they were not involved,” Jose said.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima earlier on Monday said the alleged US role in the infamous clash will be covered by the ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Definitely,” De Lima said, answering questions on whether the DOJ will look into the alleged US role in the clash. “That would be unavoidable to look into.”
“May reported or alleged involvement of the US and the extent and scope of involvement na lumalabas ngayon sa ibang mga news items, so it may be unavoidable to look into,” she added.
("There was a reported or alleged involvement of the US and the extent and scope of involvement that are now being released to the news items, so it may be unavoidable to look into,”)
Jose said the US could provide assistance to Philippine forces under existing security arrangements between Manila and Washington, but limited to training, intelligence, and equipment.
Since 2002, hundreds of US Special Forces have been deployed and scattered in the Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Central Mindanao on a rotation basis to provide combat training and weapons to the Philippine military fighting extremist groups blamed for the country's worst terrorist attacks.
“There is regular intelligence sharing between the Philippines and the United States,” he said.
Jose confirmed that US military personnel of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines were spotted in Mamasapano after the deadly clashes between the SAF troopers and Muslim insurgents, but only to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in extricating the casualties.
“There are agreements and framework covering that,” Jose said. “They were not there during actual combat. They are not allowed to do so.”
The Philippine Constitution bars foreign troops from engaging in combat operation in the country. —NB, GMA News
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DFA looking into US role in Mamasapano mission | News | GMA News Online
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By MICHAELA DEL CALLAR | February 16, 2015 | 4:25pm
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said it was looking into reports that the United States allegedly supervised the covert operation to seize Southeast Asia’s most wanted terror suspect, which eventually led to the death of 44 elite Filipino commados in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.
Since the incident, several reports suggested US combat role in the operation to take out Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan. American officials in Manila have repeatedly denied the information.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose, at a press briefing, said the DFA’s Office of American Affairs is in touch with US Embassy representatives on the matter.
But in previous communications with the DFA, Jose said the Americans had denied involvement in the operation in Mamasapano, where Marwan was believed killed by Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos on Jan. 25.
The US has offered a $5-million bounty for Marwan’s capture.
The SAF’s raid on Marwan’s hideout resulted in the death of 44 SAF troopers after coming under intense gun battle with Muslim rebels in the area. The incident is said to be the worst single-day combat loss for Philippine troops in recent history.
“We asked the US Embassy and they say they were not involved,” Jose said.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima earlier on Monday said the alleged US role in the infamous clash will be covered by the ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Definitely,” De Lima said, answering questions on whether the DOJ will look into the alleged US role in the clash. “That would be unavoidable to look into.”
“May reported or alleged involvement of the US and the extent and scope of involvement na lumalabas ngayon sa ibang mga news items, so it may be unavoidable to look into,” she added.
("There was a reported or alleged involvement of the US and the extent and scope of involvement that are now being released to the news items, so it may be unavoidable to look into,”)
Jose said the US could provide assistance to Philippine forces under existing security arrangements between Manila and Washington, but limited to training, intelligence, and equipment.
Since 2002, hundreds of US Special Forces have been deployed and scattered in the Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Central Mindanao on a rotation basis to provide combat training and weapons to the Philippine military fighting extremist groups blamed for the country's worst terrorist attacks.
“There is regular intelligence sharing between the Philippines and the United States,” he said.
Jose confirmed that US military personnel of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines were spotted in Mamasapano after the deadly clashes between the SAF troopers and Muslim insurgents, but only to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in extricating the casualties.
“There are agreements and framework covering that,” Jose said. “They were not there during actual combat. They are not allowed to do so.”
The Philippine Constitution bars foreign troops from engaging in combat operation in the country. —NB, GMA News
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DFA looking into US role in Mamasapano mission | News | GMA News Online
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NarThoD
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i wont say that. Along with the Myanmar Army, Phil Army is one of the most experienced army. They experienced in battling insurgents in guerrilla warfare or urban warfare (Zamboanga). Although they equipment is limited, don't underestimate they skill
IamVietnamese
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In contrast, Philippines is an ally of US and is not banned from buying US weapon, unlike Vietnam. Most of Vietnam military weaponry are outdated and recycled. But it was enough to completely destroy Cambodian Polpot just in 2 weeks, as well as dissolved all rebels in the Highland. It is reported that we even helped Sri Lanka beat the Tamil Tigers.
Philippines poor equipments are not because of limited resource, but because of unimaginable corruption.
Also, a Vietnam's marine outpost
Philippines's marine outpost
NarThoD
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Yes they're suffer from widespread corruption, but that's not what i mean.In contrast, Philippines is an ally of US and is not banned from buying US weapon, unlike Vietnam. Most of Vietnam military weaponry are outdated and recycled. But it was enough to completely destroy Cambodian Polpot just in 2 weeks, as well as dissolved all rebels in the Highland. It is reported that we even helped Sri Lanka beat the Tamil Tigers.
Philippines poor equipments are not because of limited resource, but because of unimaginable corruption.
Also, a Vietnam's marine outpost
Philippines's marine outpost
I appreciate their efforts and nationalism although their country now just "being tested". Just like us Indonesia who feel the same situation in past.
Philippines is country of lions, unfortunately their leader is sheep
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I do respect some Filipino nationalists. But Filipino really embrassassed themselves in many occassions:
The above-mentioned bus rescue: Seriously, their SWAT officer couldn't even keep their hammer in their hands (2:06), not to mention they couldn't throw a light stick into the bus window (01:50).
They charged their own soldier for attacking an intruding Taiwanese boat, they had to sent a presidential representative to Taiwan for apologize for the incident, those Filipions in Taiwan hold protest against their own nation, and the government did nothing when Taiwaneses attacked Filipions in Taiwan. And it was Taiwan, the little kid, not China, the big bully.
Cossack25A1
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Past is past.
The Manila Hostage crisis is a failure but that incident has in no relation to the current incident save for a fact that it was done by the same law enforcement agency. The Taiwan fisherman incident is another blunder but again it has no relation to this incident. Why bring it up?
I guess it seems you really want to see our capabilities then. Don't worry, since a war is coming soon and you will see.
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