Battle casualties of Sulu encounter recognized

PAGADIAN CITY (Sept. 25, 2018) - Fourteen battle casualties of the Joint Task Force Sulu were accorded with the Order of Lapu-lapu level of Kampilan Medal by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his visit in Sulu yesterday, military official said.

LTC Gerry M. Besana, WesMinCom spokesperson disclosed that the said battle casualties are among the seventeen who incurred shrapnel wounds after battling with more or less one hundred fully armed Abu Sayyafs under senior leader Radullan Sahiron and sub leaders Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan and Idang Susukan at 1:30pm of September 14, 2018 in Barangay Bakong, Patikul, Sulu. Said encounter also resulted to 7 ASG members killed and wounding of 6 others including ASGSL Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.

Besana said that Second Lieutenant Manny Lonzanida, Corporal Rogen Baguio, Corporal Ruel Martinez, Private First Class Bryan Esmalana, Private First Class Jinker Rey Meneses, Private First Class Richard Corpin, Private First Class Richard Bagalay, Private First Class Marjon Fernandez, Private First Class Reynan Cale, Private First Class Johary Gempeso, Private First Class Romil Buno, Private First Class Jayson Andulana, Private First Class Jessie Steve Polinar, and Private First Class Merphy Raffy Elaydo were conferred at the Camp Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital, Jolo, Sulu.

Besana added that President Duterte was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana; General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; Lieutenant General Arnel B. Dela Vega, Commander, Western Mindanao Command; and other officers.

The other two battle casualties namely: Private First Class Jayson Cervantes and PO1 Richard Faryao, who were evacuated to the Camp Navarro General, Zamboanga City, were accorded with the Wounded Personnel Medal by none other than WestMinCom Chief Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega earlier today while Private First Class Ricky Cuñado was transferred to V-Luna Hospital, Quezon City for further medical attention, Besana also said. (By JONG CADION)

Medical supplies to treat wounded soldiers in Sulu

Photo credit: ICRC

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (June 2, 2018) - The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Camp Navarro General Hospital (CNGH) in Zamboanga City received last week medical supplies to treat people wounded in the recent clashes in Sulu.

Piotr Dregiel, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Zamboanga, said that as part of the ICRC’s humanitarian mandate to help people affected by armed conflicts, it provided intravenous fluids and wound-care materials to the military hospital, which serves as the main operating base for southwest Philippines. The medical supplies can cover the needs of 20-30 wounded people.

Lt. Col. Maria Victoria Mandin, commanding officer of the CNGH, expressed appreciation for the donation and the continuing support of the ICRC. “Their medical donations since 2016 have supplemented the supplies and medicines of the hospital which at times can become low due to increased patient needs especially during the height of military operations.”

The ICRC regularly supports five hospitals in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao through quarterly donations of medicines, vaccines and medical supplies. It also provides ad hoc assistance to hospitals during crises situations. In April, the ICRC donated medical items and jerrycans to the Integrated Provincial Hospital Office (IPHO) - Sulu Provincial Hospital in response to the diarrhea outbreak in Pata Island.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance, regardless of their political affiliation. It has an international mandate to promote knowledge for and respect of international humanitarian law. (By Allison Lopez)

Duterte trip to Kuwait not yet final

By Jelly Musico 

February 13, 2018

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte is still weighing whether to push through his plan to visit Kuwait, Malacanang said on Tuesday.

“As of now, there still no assurance if that trip to Kuwait will push through,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing held in Tabuk, Kalinga.

Roque said Duterte’s trip would depend on how the Kuwait government would act on the case of Filipinas who were maltreated and abused by their employers.

“That (trip) is still being studied because we are waiting for signs from Kuwait government on how they will provide justice for our countrymen who were victims of abuses in Kuwait,” he said.

Roque said under the international law, every country had an obligation to protect and give justice to the migrant workers.

He said the Philippines was now looking for alternative countries where the Filipinos who opted to leave Kuwait could find new jobs.

“Our priority are those countries who already signed International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention that recognize the rights of the migrant workers,” Roque said.

“We are looking for countries like Oman and Bahrain which have no records of abuses against our fellow Filipinos,” he added.

Roque, meanwhile, clarified that Duterte’s order to bring home Filipinos in Kuwait is not mandatory.

“If those who are working in Kuwait want to stay, the decision is up to them. But if they are maltreated, President Duterte will not allow foreigners to abuse them like animals,” Roque said.

Duterte is set to welcome 127 overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from Kuwait on Tuesday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

Duterte will lead the ceremonial distribution of PHP5,000 immediate financial assistance for each OFW amnesty availee.

Aside from PHP5,000, Roque said OFWs who voluntarily opt to be repatriated would receive an additional PHP20,000 as livelihood aid from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

On Friday, the President ordered the ban on deployment of OFWs to Kuwait after the body of a migrant Filipina worker Joanna Daniela Demafelis was found in a freezer.

Duterte made the decision three days after he met with Kuwait ambassador to the Philippines Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh at Malacanang Palace. (PNA)

Duterte, Modi agree to expand trade, security cooperation

By Jelly Musico 

January 25, 2018

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to expand bilateral ties particularly on trade and security cooperation.

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Presidential Photo)

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the two leaders met for more than

one hour right after President Duterte arrived in New Delhi Wednesday night to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit and India’s Republic Day celebration.

“The two heads of states agreed that relations, while already very good, will even be better and that there will be further bilateral negotiations on issues involving trade and even military cooperation in the next two months,” Roque said in a press conference at the International Media Center in New Delhi.

Roque said President Duterte has emphasized that India and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) must cooperate militarily in combating modern-day terrorism and threat of piracy.

He said Duterte has manifested his interest to purchase Indian weapons after Modi told him that India have expertise in ships and other military hardware.

“There was a commitment, in fact, for the Philippines to purchase Indian military hardware,” Roque said.

Roque added that the Filipino leader took some time explaining his war on drugs to the Indian Prime Minister who “responded very positively.”

“When the Prime Minister expressed his support for the ongoing concern of Philippine President Duterte against drugs. He in fact said that there might be a need for international cooperation to deal with the menace of drugs,” Roque said.

He said the Philippine President highlighted that the threat to terrorism in the Philippines and in the region is also financed partly through the trafficking in drugs.

“In particularly, the Prime Minister said that he realizes that the threat of drugs to young people is very, very serious. He said that he has in fact raised the issue of the drug menace in the G13 Summit emphasizing that drug traffickers used proceeds from their illicit trade to fund terrorist activities,” Roque told the media.

Roque said Duterte also raised with Modi the idea of coming out with a platform to combat terrorism and piracy.

“He says that ASEAN should not just be an economic body, that ASEAN should consider being active militarily to combat the threat of modern-day terrorism. He was referring, of course, to both ISIS- type of terrorism which is a problem to the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and even southern Thailand and he was talking about international terrorism at sea which is piracy in the Indo-Pacific navigation route,” he said.

Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the Philippines has submitted seven Letters of Intent and two Memoranda of Understanding to India.

“We had basically about nine agreements with them on how we can expand and strengthen our trade and investment relationship,” Lopez said in the same press briefing.

Lopez said the nine agreements will cover affordable medicines, renewable energy, infrastructure, and IT-Business Process Management which is expected to generate at least 100,000 jobs per year in the next six years. (PNA)

Pres. Duterte 'serious' in implementing Kuwait deployment ban: Bello

By Ferdinand Patinio 

January 26, 2018

MANILA — Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said that President Rodrigo Duterte is serious in considering a total deployment ban of workers to Kuwait.

In a statement Thursday, the DOLE chief noted that such action would depend if the investigation on the recent deaths of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were caused by maltreatment and abuse.

“The major concern of the President is the welfare of our OFWs. And he is serious about his threat of total ban if the investigation would point to violent maltreatment and exploitation as the cause of death,” he said.

The President threatened to withdraw all OFWs in Kuwait if another migrant Filipina worker dies from abuse during his pre-departure speech before he left for India on Wednesday.

With this, Bello added that the government is ready in case of total deployment ban.

“Kung matutuloy, we have alternative markets. Nandyan ang China, Canada and UK. Our country has also an increasing demand for workers so we could actually ask our OFWs to go back home,” he said.

Last week, the labor secretary ordered the suspension of deployment of workers to Kuwait on orders of the President.

“We have to ensure full protection and security of our OFWs before sending them that’s why we ordered the suspension. The result of the investigation will be out after 15 days,” Bello said.

At the same time, the DOLE expressed concern over the increase of cases of abuse of Filipinos workers in the Arab nation.

Bello said his office received reports of 1,447 cases of maltreatment, 2,959 cases of contract violation, 227 sexual abuses and 63 cases of rape of Filipino workers for just a period of one year from 2016. (PNA)

Duterte orders suspension of logging concessions in Zamboanga

By Jelly Musico 

January 9, 2018

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the suspension of several logging concessions in Zamboanga Peninsula due to displaced indigenous populations.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during a Palace briefing on Tuesday that Duterte made the announcement during Monday afternoon’s Cabinet meeting.

“The President also ordered several logging concessions in Zamboanga Peninsula to be suspended. This after he was apprised of concerns of indigenous populations that they have been displaced by logging operations of some companies,” Roque said.

Roque said the President had also observed that widespread logging was responsible for the flashfloods that hit Mindanao during the onslaught of tropical storm 'Vinta' last December.

Roque clarified that the President’s order was just suspension and not closure while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was investigating the allegations that indigenous people had been displaced by the logging operations.

“He has ordered the suspension without prejudice to the probe. But meanwhile, it should be suspended,” he explained. (PNA)

Abu Sayyaf beheads couple in Basilan

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr 

January 5, 2018

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) executed a couple by beheading in a remote area of Basilan province, a top police official disclosed Friday.

Senior Supt. Nickson Muksan, Basilan police director, identified the victims as Abdurahim Kitoh and his wife, Nadzwa Bahitla, whose decapitated remains were found one after the other.

Muksan said the remains of Nadzwa was found by militiaman Ibrahim Wahab at around 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Sitio Diangan, Barangay Mahatalang, Sumisip.

Muksan said Wahab, who was off-duty, heard five successive gunshots in the vicinity of Ismael Elementary School in Diangan that prompted the militiaman to verify.

“Upon verification, he found out a lifeless female body lying and decapitated,” Muksan added.

He said that the decapitated remains of Nadzwa’s husband, Abdurahim, was recovered also near the school at around 7 p.m. Thursday.

He said investigation showed that the suspect behind the couple’s beheading was Mahim Mustalim, an ASG member and half-brother of Abdurahim.

Mustalim belongs to the group of Usop Sandalan, a sub-leader of ASG leader Rhadsmil Janatul.

Muksan said information gathered that the motive of the incident was to sabotage the plan of other ASG members to surrender to the local government of Sumisip.

Almost a hundred members of the ASG have already surrendered to government authorities last year in Basilan province. (PNA

VM Duterte a big loss to city council

By Lilian Mellejor

January 5, 2018.

DAVAO CITY – A city councilor and political party-mate of resigned Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte finds it unfortunate to lose a good leader in the city council but, he is optimistic the councilors would stay united for the people of Davao City.

This developed after President Rodrigo Duterte finally accepted the resignation of his son, Vice Mayor Paolo. This was confirmed Friday afternoon by Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque, who said in a text message: “President Rodrigo Duterte has already accepted this afternoon the resignation of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.”

A letter signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea addressed to the vice mayor stated: "We refer to your letter tendering your resignation as Vice Mayor of Davao City. On behalf of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, this is to inform you that your resignation is hereby accepted , effective immediately."

The letter dated January 5 did not state any reason for the acceptance of the resignation.

Although he has yet to verify if the report is true, Councilor Conde Baluran finds it unfortunate considering the good legacy of the vice mayor.

Baluran also cited a number of programs initiated by the vice mayor to improve the work of the city council. He said Vice Mayor Paolo had instilled discipline in the city council, such as to always report on time during the council sessions.

The vice mayor was known to adjourn sessions after majority of the councilors were out of the session hall after a rolll call. City council sessions are held every Tuesday starting 9 a.m.

The vice mayor announced his resignation on December 25 during a special session called to tackle financial assistance for the relief of the flood victims.

The resignation letter was sent through LBC courier service on December 27. In an earlier interview, President Duterte said the resignation of his son was his own decision, admitting the vice mayor talked the matter with him.

The President recalled telling the vice mayor “Ikaw? You are in a position to do what is right. Kung ano lang ang tama sa iyo, gawin mo (Do what is right for you).”

“I never suggested any resignation,” he told reporters in an interview on the night he met with the families of the victims of the fire that hit NCCC mall at the Southern Philippines Medical Center.

Duterte said the vice mayor could have been fed up with the issues on his squabble with daughter Isabelle and her pre-debut photo shoot in Malacanang.

The President said the vice mayor could still be hurting over the insinuations he was involved in the smuggling scandal in the Bureau of Customs.

He stressed that Vice Mayor Paolo considered the issue linking his name to the scam as most unfair.

On the other hand, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she is with her brother to support him.

"There are things beyond my control. It is not my life. I can only be here for my brother to support him," the mayor earlier told reporters.

The mayor said she understands the vice mayor in emphasizing delicadeza and honor.

The mayor said the vice mayor announced his resignation during the special session on Christmas Day because it was his only chance to thank the councilors, the employees of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and the people of Davao City. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)