25 | August | 2011 | kwento .. kwento

Philippines, US military relations up

August 25, 2011 kwento kwento Leave a comment

mb.com.ph

By ELENA L. ABEN

August 24, 2011, 6:54pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States leveled up its military relations, as discussed by defense officials from both countries at the 53rd PH-US Mutual Defense Board (MDB) and 6th Security Engagement Board (SEB) meetings in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Navy Flag Officer-in-Command (FOIC) Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said unlike in previous annual MDB and SEB meetings, this year saw more substantive discussions between defense officials from the two countries….read more

Categories: Philippines, politics

Army on standby for order on Kato

August 25, 2011 kwento kwento Leave a comment

By Dona Z. Pazzibugan

Philippine Daily Inquirer

August 24th, 2011

MANILA, Philippines—The military is not moving against Muslim rebel leader Ameril Umra Kato and his followers even after the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officially declared Kato a renegade.

A spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the AFP was waiting for word from the government negotiating panel on the status of Kato who has standing arrest warrants…read more

Categories: islamist, Mindanao, Muslim, Philippines, terrorism

Moro rebel group ‘splits into 5 factions’

August 25, 2011 kwento kwento Leave a comment

Sun Star

By Ben O. Tesiorna

August 25, 2011

DAVAO CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) problem on renegade commander Ameril Umbra Kato may not be unique as there are other field commanders who may pose same problem in the near future, a rebel group leader said.

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chieftain Nur Misuari said “the MILF is split into five factions, namely: Murad group, Aleem Abdulaziz group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters Group of Ameril Umbra Kato, Aleem Sawaf Group, and the Liguasan Marsh group.” read more

Categories: islamist, Mindanao, Muslim, Philippines, terrorism

Kato says BIFF expanding; renames group

August 25, 2011 kwento kwento Leave a comment

PhilStar

August 25, 2011 09:19 AM

MANILA, Philippines – Muslim rebel leader Ameril Umbra Kato said that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is continuing to expand, prompting him to rename the group.

Kato, former commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) 105th Base Command, said yesterday that his group’s new name is Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIMF).

He said that he and his subordinate leaders in the BIFF agreed to rename their group to BIFM due to the “continuing expansion” of its area of coverage and its membership…. read more

Categories: islamist, Mindanao, Muslim, Philippines, terrorism

August 2011
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Offensive against lawless elements to continue, Palace says

2011-10-25
Malacanang vowed that military operations against the killers of the 19 soldiers in Basilan will continue stressing, clarifying however that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is not being targeted as an entity and the offensive will only target lawless elements.

“The pursuit of the lawless elements will continue. The President is very categorical, ‘you cooperate or you stand aside.’ Dahil we are trying to make the distinction kung sino talaga ang gusto talaga ay kapayapaan at kung sino po yung nakikihalubilo lang at nagkukubli,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.

Going after the bandit groups is a different thing from the peace talks with the MILF, Valte said, adding that security forces know how to handle the offensive.

With regards to the population being displaced by the military operations, Valte said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is on the ground and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman was given instructions to help civilians affected by the military operations.

Reacting to reports that the MILF is providing sanctuary to criminal groups, Valte said it is prohibited in the ceasefire agreement with the government for the MILF to provide safe haven to lawless elements in its jurisdiction.

President Benigno S. Aquino III assured the nation on Monday that the government was exerting all necessary efforts to arrest the killers of the 19 soldiers in Basilan last week calling the offensive “all-out justice.”

In his message during a press briefing in Malacanang, President Aquino vowed to put the killers to justice and continuously attend to the needs of those people that may be affected by the operations.

He likewise noted that while there will be some who will use the incident to gain political leverage and further agitate the public, rash decisions fuelled by a thirst for vengeance can only serve to dishonor the memory of the 19 soldiers who died in the Basilan clash.

Statement of Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly on the Recent Incidents in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay

Bangsamoro Leaders' Assembly: In War There are No Victors, Only Victims
27 October, 2011
We, the 90 participants in the BANGSAMORO LEADERS’ ASSEMBLY , representing the different sectors and organizations of the BM in Mindanao-Sulu Palawan and Manila, under the auspices of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, a national network of Moro-led non-government organizations , are deeply saddened by the recent unfortunate incidents that took place in Albarka, Basilan and Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay that resulted in the loss of lives of men in uniform and the dislocation of the people in the areas amidst the ongoing peace process between the GPH and the MILF.
We sincerely condole and share the bereavement of the families of those who died in these incidents even as we sympathize with the displaced residents of the affected areas. These incidents could have been avoided if only the parties consciously adhered to the agreed peace mechanisms established by the peace process.
We appeal for sobriety and restraint as we demand from appropriate authorities like the CCCH, AHJAG and other authorities for an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation on the facts and circumstances surrounding the commission of these twin incidents to determine and punish the real culprits.
Incidence of this nature does not only victimize those who bear arms but including innocent civilians and the vulnerable members of the community like children, women and the elderly. We therefore implore the media for responsible and prudent reporting, and to avoid sensationalization that only inflame deep seated biases and historical prejudices.
We challenge the stakeholders to the on-going peace process not to allow these incidents to happen again through sincere efforts in reaching a final solution on the century old Moro question. The early conclusion of the peace process could save further loss of precious lives and bring the long needed development of Mindanao.
We support the move of our President Noynoy C. Aquino lll against an all-out war and continue the peace talks in spite of the incident in Basilan and Sibugay in consonance with the observation of the primacy of the peace process.
We call upon the GPH and the MILF to immediately return to the negotiating table to resume the talks in order to hammer out the gaps that led to the stalemate of the talks and continue find means for the peace talks to end in signing political agreement;
We call upon the GPH and the MILF to religiously abide with all interim agreements including those that bind the ceasefire in order to avoid unnecessary clashes that can result in loss of lives and properties and the displacement of communities;
We appeal to all not to be carried away by their emotions and make decisions that will only derail the peace talks towards a dead end.
Finally, we call on all the Filipino People to support the on-going peace talks and provide the necessary political environment conducive to the continuance of the peace processes.
IN WAR THERE ARE NO VICTORS, ONLY VICTIMS.

kwento .. kwento

Archive

Philippines, US military relations up

Army on standby for order on Kato

Moro rebel group ‘splits into 5 factions’

Kato says BIFF expanding; renames group

Blog Stats

Offensive against lawless elements to continue, Palace says

Top Posts

Statement of Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly on the Recent Incidents in Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay

Archives

Subscription

PresidentNoy’s Twits

ARMM News

Nation – Google News

Sharia News

INQUIRER.net

Unknown Feed

philstar.com – Nation

raïssa robles

Mindanao

sign in

Unknown Feed

Unknown Feed