by magnolia_eic | Jun 17, 2010 | Headlines
PHILIPPINE troops rescued a Filipino businessman of Swiss descent Wednesday as suspected Muslim guerrillas who abducted him two months ago were moving him to a coastal village in the country’s south, officials said.
Several guerrillas fled after they landed onshore in Labuan township in the outskirts of Zamboanga city with their ailing captive, Charlie Reith, and saw government forces approaching before dawn, regional military commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Dolorfino said.
Reith was taken to a military camp, where he was given porridge and checked by doctors. Navy men and army troops tried to track down his captors, some of whom escaped onboard two motor boats, Rear Adm. Alex Pama said.
Gunmen seized Reith, 72, from a beach resort in Zamboanga on April 4 and whisked him off onboard three outrigger boats. They also tried to kidnap his German friend, Karl Reichling, but he resisted and managed to get away.
Earlier, police tagged the Abu Sayyaf behind the kidnapping, while local military leaders said Moro Islamic Liberation Front sub-leader Malista Malanca and Abu Sayyaf leader Khair Mundos planned the kidnapping in Al-Barka, Basilan. Abductors supposedly carried out the kidnapping by disguising as policemen and threatening to arrest Reith over drug charges. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Mar 19, 2010 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday assured her government’s resolve to broker peace in the strife-torn southern Philippines, citing that it has “taken heavy political risks” to achieve lasting peace in the region, as she also encouraged fellow NAM member-states to pursue interfaith dialogue to promote peace and development globally.
But the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it is not likely to sign a peace deal with President Arroyo, who is to step down in May when her term ends, Ghazali Jaafar, the MILF’s deputy chieftain, said.
Speaking before the 123 foreign and local delegates participating in the Special Non-Aligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development (SNAMMM), including 83 foreign ministers from the influential group, Mrs. Arroyo laid down her government’s relentless peacekeeping initiatives in the South, as she noted that interfaith dialogue has been substantial element to the Mindanao peace process.
President Arroyo explained that her government is not just resorting into military solution in addressing armed conflict in Mindanao, but also sticking with “a solution of dialogue, a solution of community development, a solution of talking peace.”
Jaafar said there is not enough time to strike a final peace deal with the present dispensation, but he expressed optimism the next president will honor all agreement signed under the outgoing leadership. (PIA-Bohol)
by anyajulia | Oct 13, 2008 | Headlines, National News
Col. Nicanor E. Dolojan, Commanding Officer of the 403rd Brigade of the Philippine Army clarified that the AFP has not issued an official statement branding the lawless MILF group as terrorists.
“However, they are branded as criminals,” he added.
He stressed that they are criminals for the atrocities they committed and that they should be made answerable for what they’ve done.
The AFP does not have the power to declare or recommend to the government that this or that group is a terrorist.
It must undergo due process before it is forwarded to and decided upon by the National Anti-Terror Council as sanctioned by the United Nations (UN), the army officer added.
Commander Bravo and his men have been charged with the crime of murder, frustrated murder, physical injuries, and arson among others. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 12, 2008 | Headlines, National News
Usa ka masusing imbestigasyon ang gimando sa Malakanyang kahabin sa pag-pamomba sa usa ka eroplano sa militar sa mga suspetsadong grupo sa MILF sa Mindanao. Sumala pa sa taho, unom ka sibilyan ang nanga-angol.
Matud pa ni Kalihim sa Prensa Jesus Dureza, tan-awon kon aduna bay “extreme need” o gikinahanglanon ba gyud ang pag-gamit ug kusog sa militar nga ila mang gi-labag ang “operational guidelines.”
Adunay “operational guidelines” nga gi-dili ang paggamit ug bomba ug dagkong kalibreng armas sa panahon sa Ramadad.
Kon gamiton man gani ang ing-ining kusog sa militar, gitu-ohan nga adunay “extreme need” nga nakita. Kon wala, ang palisiya nga dili mogamit og bomba maoy tumanon, apas sumpay ni Dureza.
Sumala sa pasi-unang taho migawas nga mipa-ulan ug bala ang grupong MILG lulan sa 10 ka pumpboats sa milabay nga abyon sa militar, gumikan nga kini mibalos.
Bisan pa sa maong taho, kinahanlan gihapong imbestigahan ug susihon kon adunay bay sayop nga nahimo sa militar o napugos lang ba sa maong sitwasyon. (PIA/Bohol)
by anyajulia | Sep 11, 2008 | Headlines, National News
Si Major Gen. Nehemias Pajarito, Commanding General, sa 1ID, mapasaligon nga ilang ipatuman ang palisiya sa Armadong Kusog nga respetahan ang Ramadan, bisan kon gipadayon ang walay pu-as nga nga pag-gukod ug pagpukan sa mga rebeldeng MILF nga gipamunuan ni Kumander Bravo.
Gi-awhag usab ni Gen. Pajarito ang mga sumusunod ni Bravo nga mo-ampo sa sabakan sa balaud tungod kay sila gi-ilad lamang sa sayop nga pagtu-o ug panulun-an. Kon ang inyong tinguha mao ang kalinaw ug panaghi-usa tali sa Muslim ug Kristiyano, amo kamong gi-awhag mo-surender, dugang ni Pajarito.
Gipasalig usab sa Heneral nga sa pag-gukod sa mga rebelde, ipatuman gayud sa AFP ug PNP nga walay katungod sa mga katawhan nga mayatakan. (PIA-Bohol)
