Army repels Abu Sayyaf attack

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - Abu Sayyaf militants attacked a military detachment in Sumisip town, Basilan but were repelled by government troops, a military official said.

The Abu Sayyaf militants led by Kumander Botong Aleman fired on the army detachment Monday about 9:20 a.m. at Barangay Candiis, triggering heavy exchange of firepower.

Capt. Alberto Caber, public affairs chief of the 1st Infantry Division (ID), said troops from the 64th Infantry Battalion and the Special Forces Team 1405 retaliated and repelled the militants.

He said the troops also unleashed rounds of mortar fire toward the position of the Abu Sayyaf group prompting the attacking militants to retreat in the deep forest.

Caber said no one was killed on the government troops' side during the attack.

“The soldiers have successfully defended the camp, which had been subjected to attacks for five times already by the Abu Sayyaf group,” Caber said.

Major Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, 1st ID chief, commended the troops in defending the detachment and ordered the soldiers to continue its Bayanihan works in Sumisip, Basilan to defeat the scourge of terrorism spawned by the Abu sayyaf group.

“The successful defense of the detachment by our foot soldiers is a pledge that our army is sincere and not tired in protecting the mixed Muslim-Christian community against rogue elements in Basilan.”

Caber said the attack revealed plans of the Abu Sayyaf group to regain possession of the area where the detachment was established.

“Evidently, the location served as the former militants’ observation post to provide them great tactical advantage in the area against government troops,” Caber said.

The military troops overrun the area in an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and the lost command Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) late last year after intelligence information revealed the group used the area as their planning and staging point against the civilians and military forces. 

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Roel Pareño | The Philippine Star | September 18, 2012 | Article Link

AFP, ABS-CBN turn over 50 classrooms in CDO, Iligan

MANILA, Philippines - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation have turned over a total of 50 classrooms in storm-ravaged areas of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro cities.

AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said the turnover was in line with efforts to reconstruct the areas hit by tropical storm “Sendong” last December.

The storm left more than 1,200 people dead and more than 6,000 others injured.

The 50 classrooms were turned over to school authorities in formal ceremonies held in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan last Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Burgos said 30 classrooms were constructed in different schools in Cagayan de Oro, and the rest in Iligan.

These structures were constructed by members of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and 52nd Engineer Brigade built the classrooms. 

The project was made possible by the partnership forged by the AFP National Development Support Command (Nadescom), the ABS-CBN Foundation and local officials. 

Burgos said the ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation also granted 300 scholarships to students in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan. 

“Numerous projects in other parts of the country are also being undertaken by soldiers as part of the focus in supporting the education sector and efforts on humanitarian assistance and disaster response of the AFP and OCD (Office of Civil Defense),” Burgos said. 

Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, Nadescom chief, said the efforts of ABS-CBN Foundation have inspired soldiers to continue serving the people.

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Alexis Romero | The Philippine Star | March 19, 2012 | Article Link

City, Army ink accord for SCAA renewal

ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Celso Lobregat and the Army's 1st Infantry Division (ID) represented by its commanding general, Brigadier General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to renew the presence of the Special Citizen Active Auxiliary (SCAA) unit in Zamboanga City.

The signing of the MOA was done during Cruz's courtesy call last week in City Hall and was witnessed by Task Force Zamboanga Chief Colonel Buenaventura Pascual and other Army officers.

Under the agreement, the City Government shall be responsible for the monthly allowance of the SCAA, which must be coursed through the commander of the military unit supervising the deployment of the militia force.

In addition, the City Government shall provide the SCAA with complete uniform and equipment, and shall also be responsible for any claim arising from personal injury, damages or death caused by or to any of the SCAA, when such injury or death is incurred in the course of lawful performance of duty.

The 1st ID, on the other hand, shall provide the City Government with SCAA in order to secure and maintain peace and order in the city against terrorists, insurgents and other lawless elements.

It shall also be responsible for the screening and selection of SCAA members, with the commanding general exercising direct control and supervision over the SCAA assigned in the city in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In the event of imminent or actual attack on the city by insurgents and lawless elements, the 1st ID shall have the authority to muster the other SCAA units under its operational control to secure the place.

Furthermore, the 1st ID shall also provide the SCAA with firearms and ammunitions during the conduct of the training until its actual deployment.

Nonetheless, due to budgetary constraints of the government, the City Government may, at its own expense, shoulder the necessary expenses for the purchase of ammunitions during the training and actual deployment of the militiamen.

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Bong Garcia | SunStar.Com.Ph | Wednesday, March 7, 2012 | Article Link