Philippine talks with Maoist rebels hit an impasse

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Negotiations to end one of Asia's longest-running Marxist insurgencies have stalled in the Philippines after Maoist rebels insisted jailed comrades be released and escalated attacks on government troops and mining companies, the government said Wednesday.

The guerrillas wanted several more comrades freed after the government released five in recent months, one of whom is believed to have returned to fight with the rebels, government negotiator Alexander Padilla said. He said the government would not release more rebels.

Padilla called on the guerrillas to return to the negotiating table and said both sides may miss the mid-2012 deadline to complete the talks.

"We're no longer advancing because we keep going in circles," Padilla said in a news conference.

Norway, which has been brokering the talks, has tried to bridge differences between the Manila government and the guerrillas but has not brought them back to the negotiating table.

Rebel negotiators refused to meet government counterparts in June and last month, demanding the release of 13 more jailed guerrillas. They said the 13 are consultants in the peace talks and are covered by a 1995 agreement that provided them immunity from prosecution and arrest.

Padilla said the rebels failed to produce proof the detainees are covered by the agreement.

A recent wave of rebel attacks, including an assault by more than 200 New People's Army guerrillas that devastated three nickel mining complexes in southern Surigao del Norte province in October, has also damaged efforts to build trust, Padilla said.

"These attacks are not helping to create a conducive atmosphere for the negotiations," he said.

Military officials have said the attacks were part of rebel extortion attempts. The guerrillas, however, accused the mining firms of causing massive environmental pollution and exploiting Filipino workers by paying them cheap wages in dangerous work conditions.

The rebels have been fighting for a Marxist state since 1969, accusing successive Philippine administrations of subservience to U.S. interests and failing to improve the lives of the poor. Their numbers have dwindled to an estimated 4,000 fighters amid battle setbacks, surrenders and factionalism. They are listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union.

-------------------------------

By JIM GOMEZ - Associated Press | AP

Source

Arroyo opens Malacañang for ‘Ondoy’ relief ops

09/28/2009 | 03:59 PM

In the wake of rescue and relief efforts for the victims of tropical storm "Ondoy," President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday opened the doors of Malacañang Palace for the setting up of a relief operations center.

"The President (said) na gawing sentro ng relief operations ang Malacañang, even if kailangan mag-move out ng First Family dito," Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said in an interview on dzBB radio.

(The President said that Malacañang be the center of relief operations, even if the First Family had to move out.)

A separate radio report said the center would help government agencies pitch in their efforts for faster coordination of their services to the storm’s victims.

The report added that Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Remonde were finalizing plans for the installation of an emergency assistance center at the Palace.

Ondoy battered Metro Manila and the Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions on Saturday – its torrential rains left thousands displaced and about a hundred dead, as of Monday noon.

On Sunday, President Arroyo visited the Ortigas Extension in Pasig City to extend her sympathies to the flood victims in the affected area. She later went to Arayat town in Pampanga to commiserate with the victims in her home province.

The radio report said that on Monday, Mrs. Arroyo went to Marilao, Bulacan to distribute relief goods. Her trip was cut short due to strong rains.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ondoy will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring occasional rains over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon on Monday. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173321/arroyo-opens-malacantildeang-for-ondoy-relief-ops

Pagasa: 2 more tropical depressions may hit RP this week

09/28/2009 | 10:11 AM

Barely had Luzon recovered from the destruction wrought by tropical storm "Ondoy," a state weather forecaster on Monday said two tropical depressions threaten to enter the country later this week.

In an interview on dwIZ radio, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecaster Connie Dadivas said the two weather disturbances are likely to enter Philippine territory late Wednesday or Thursday.

"May dalawang tropical depression sa labas ng Philippine area of responsibility. Ine-expect natin na papasok sa bansa, papasok ito sa boundary by Wednesday hapon or Thursday (We see two tropical depressions outside the Philippine area of responsibility. We expect them to enter Philippine boundary by late Wednesday or Thursday)," Dadivas said.

But another Pagasa forecaster Joel Jesusa, in a separate radio interview, said the two LPAs are still far away to affect any part of the country for now.

"Malayo pa po, sobrang layo pa ang binabanggit nating dalawang LPA, 1,000 km pa ito (The two LPAs are still too far away, they are about 1,000 km away)," he said on dzXL radio. He added that the two LPAs were moving west-northwest as of Monday.

Earlier, Pagasa said Ondoy continued to move farther away from the country Sunday night, and was 560 kilometers west of Iba, Zambales as of 10 p.m. Sunday.

It packed maximum winds of 110 kilometers-per-hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph, and was moving west-northwest at 17 kph.

However, Pagasa said Ondoy will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring occasional rains over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon.

"Luzon will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms while Visayas and Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin Monday.

Ondoy struck Luzon on Saturday, bringing epic proportions of floodwater in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. [See: Epic flood in Metro Manila caused by record rainfall]

As of 6 a.m. Monday, the death toll from Ondoy has reached 86 based on the tally by the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC). The figure, however, does not include 12 reported deaths in Antipolo City, 29 in Quezon City, and 58 in Marikina City as announced by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. [See: Death toll from storm 'Ondoy' continues to rise - NDCC] - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173302/pagasa-2-more-tropical-depressions-may-hit-rp-this-week

Death toll from storm 'Ondoy' continues to rise - NDCC

09/28/2009 | 07:59 AM

The death toll from tropical storm "Ondoy" (international name Ketsana) rose to 86 as of early Monday morning, but may go much higher as authorities verify reports of more deaths caused by the cyclone.

As of 6 a.m., the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) also shifted the focus of its efforts from search-and-rescue to relief work.

"Right now we will concentrate really on providing food and other necessities," NDCC chairman and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said at the NDCC's 6 a.m. briefing.

Teodoro said that as of 6 a.m. Monday, NDCC figures showed "Ondoy" had affected 86,313 families or 435,646 people. Of these, 23,126 families or 115,890 people were brought to 204 evacuation centers.

Ondoy struck Luzon on Saturday, bringing epic proportions of floodwater in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon. [See: Epic flood in Metro Manila caused by record rainfall]

The death toll rose to at least 86, including seven in Metro Manila, 22 in Central Luzon, and 56 in Southern Luzon. Of the fatalities, five were military personnel trying to rescue residents affected by a landslide in Laguna province.

But Teodoro said the 86 does not include 12 reported deaths in Antipolo City, 29 in Quezon City, and 58 in Marikina City. At least 32 people remained missing, he added.

Damage to property was initially reported at P60 million, including P41.1 million in damage to infrastructure, P19.2 million in damage to schools, and P212,000 in damage to agriculture.

Blue alert

Meanwhile, dzBB reported the Department of Health placed all public hospitals placed on blue alert, meaning all medical personnel are to be on duty 24 hours a day.

Also, the DOH had medical personnel prepare anti-tetanus shots.

On the other hand, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAP) said at least 50 of its members in Metro Manila and Luzon were affected in Tanay and the cities of Marikina, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Parañaque.

"Baka mag-advance sila ng payment sa future claims namin para makabawi... para makaserbisyo (We hope PhilHealth can advance payments for our future claims so we can continue operating)," PHAP president Rustico Jimenez said on dzBB radio.

Also in Manila, the US Embassy said some of its units would be closed for Monday, including those for visa appointment.

In Pasig City, vendors at the Mutya ng Pasig market had to move their stalls to the nearby church, according to a report by dzBB’s Manny Vargas. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173297/death-toll-from-storm-ondoy-continues-to-rise-ndcc

Villagers flee as troops fight Cotabato raiders

MALU CADELIŇA MANAR, AP

06/13/2009 | 11:31 AM

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines– Hundreds of villagers in the southern province of North Cotabato fled their homes late Friday amid an offensive by government forces pursuing Moro rebels who raided the provincial jail.

Evacuees on Saturday said the affected villages were in parts of Kidapawan and the nearby town of Matalam.

Mortar shelling started Friday afternoon and continued until Saturday morning, said villagers from West Patadon in Matalam, who asked not to be named.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, confirmed that an offensive was under way by Army and Philippine National Police (PNP) operatives against suspected members of the 108th base command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Members of the group were earlier reported to have blasted their way into the provincial jail in Kidapawan on Thursday dawn to rescue jail comrades.

A jail guard was killed and three others, including the jail warden, were injured during the attack.

Ponce said troops are also hunting four MILF commanders, former inmates at the Cotabato provincial jail who posted bail in early March and were suspected to have led the daring raid.

He identified the leader as Noel Pedtamanan who was arrested in Kabacan town in North Cotabato in March 2009 for motorcycle theft case, but posted bail afterward.

Pedtamanan, also known as Lastikman, is also involved in high-profile crimes, including kidnapping and drug trafficking, according to Ponce.

With Pedtamanan during the attack were Kamid Mangagta, Mong Balalay, and Alex Gani, who were also given temporary liberty after posting bail early March.

The attackers, however, failed to rescue the 12 high-risk inmates, including Mansuri Salic and Ibrahim Sacandal, when operatives of the 1202nd Cotabato Provincial Police Mobile Group deployed inside the compound responded with gunfire.

Ponce said the attack last Thursday was a clear indication the MILF leadership is “a lame duck because it could no longer control their field commanders."

But MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu refuted such allegation saying the attack was not sanctioned by its hierarchy.

There is also no truth to the report Pedtamanan was out to rescue Salic and other MILF members.

“As far as I know, Salic is the only MILF member locked there at the provincial jail. He is just a plain member, not a commander as earlier reported. We will follow the due course of law. There’s no plan, whatsoever, to rescue him," said Kabalu in a radio interview.

Kabalu said what he knew was that the attackers belong to a powerful clan in North Cotabato whose kin were arrested this year for several crimes.

Because of the raid, the Sangguniang Panglungsod (city council) of Kidapawan passed an urgent resolution that called for an immediate transfer of high-risk inmates from the provincial jail to a prison in Metro Manila, which is more secured.

“We don’t want a repeat of this bloody incident," said City Vice-Mayor Joseph Evangelista, the presiding chair of the council.

The attack last Thursday was the second bloody raid since 2007.

In February 2007, gunmen attacked the provincial jail and rescued 43 inmates, including high-risk suspects.

Only 12 escapees have been re-arrested. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/164829/Villagers-flee-as-troops-fight-Cotabato-raiders

5 Marines killed in clash with Vagni captors

By Roel Pareño and Jaime Laude Updated June 14, 2009 12:00 AM

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=477414&publicationSubCategoryId=63

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least five Marines were killed while 12 others, including a member of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) and a civilian volunteer, were wounded after an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits holding an Italian Red Cross worker in Sulu, officials said yesterday.

The firefight erupted at about 9:20 a.m. in Barangay Sionugan, Indanan town when the combined forces of the Marines, SAF and the civilian emergency forces (CEF) encountered about 100 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula.

The government security forces came under heavy fire and grenades but managed to retaliate, according to Lt. Col. Stefani Cacho, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command.

Police Director Felizardo Serapio, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) Western Mindanao, said there were reports that the Abu Sayyaf group suffered 11 casualties.

“The situation is very fluid. There was heavy fighting on the ground,” Serapio said.

The fierce clashes have brought to seven the number of government troops killed and 15 wounded since last Thursday’s encounter when the security forces caught up with the Abu Sayyaf group in Mt. Timahu.

Parad and Jumdail’s group are believed to be holding Italian Eugenio Vagni, the remaining volunteer of the three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) abducted last Jan. 15 in Patikul town.

Vagni’s two other companions, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter, were freed last April 2 and 18 in Indanan town and the provincial government of Sulu had given the military the go-signal for the rescue of Vagni.

Two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) of the Marines were also immobilized in the attack staged on a police and Marine convoy.

“They were treacherously fired upon. Despite sustaining heavy casualties from the initial hail of bullets from high-powered firearms and grenades, our security forces returned fire forthwith and engaged the enemies,” added Task Force ICRC spokesman Marine Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo.

Prior to yesterday’s encounter, the Marines and SAF were out to conduct saturation drive within the Timahu complex.

On Thursday, two Marines and six Abu Sayyaf were killed as government security forces, out to rescue Vagni, attacked the terrorists’ lair in Timahu complex.

Among the Abu Sayyaf killed were two sons of Abu Jumdael and his grandson, who is the son of Parad from his (Jumdael’s) daughter Marina.

Meanwhile, the dead and wounded government troops were brought to the military’s trauma hospital inside the 3rd Marine Brigade headquarters in Busbus, Sulu prior to their transfer to Zamboanga City.

Another source in Sulu said yesterday that Vagni is still alive.

“He is just within the vicinity. Except for yesterday, he’s regularly contacting his family back in Italy,” the source said, adding that they have the ways and means to monitor Vagni’s text messages and telephone calls to his wife.

In a related development, Army troops killed 10 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in heavy fighting that separately broke out in Maguindanao on Friday, the military reported yesterday.

Fighting first occurred between elements of the Army’s 601st Brigade and about 100 MILF rebels at Barangay Kateman, Talayan town at about 11 a.m.

As the troops were about to subdue the rebels under the command of Ameril Umbra Kato after two hours of heavy fighting, heavy skirmishes between another group of MILF rebels and Army troops broke out in Barangay Ahan in Guindulungan town.

Twenty MILF rebels were also wounded in the encounter, the military said.

Abu Sayyaf threatens to kill hostage despite Pope's appeal

03/31/2009 | 09:15 AM

MANILA, Philippines — Al-Qaeda-linked militants in the southern Philippines said they will stick to a Tuesday deadline to behead a Red Cross hostage unless government troops withdraw from the area, raising stakes in the 10-week crisis despite appeals from Pope Benedict XVI and others to free the three captives.

"The decision of the group is to behead if there will be no pullout," Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Ali told The Associated Press in a cell phone text message Tuesday from the militant jungle stronghold on Jolo island.

"There will be no extension of the deadline for the pullout and we have no plan to release any hostage if there will be no pullout," he said.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Monday it was impossible for the government to vacate 15 Jolo villages by 2 p.m. Tuesday as demanded by the militants a day earlier. He said there was not enough time and that a wider pullout would leave the island's civilian population exposed to militant attacks.

Puno hinted the government was ready to use force if the militants harm any of the hostages. Some 120 gunmen have held the aid workers — Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba, Swiss Andreas Notter and Italian Eugenio Vagni — in a hilly jungle in Jolo's Indanan town since Jan. 15. Until a recent withdrawal, they were surrounded by more than 1,000 troops.

Conceding to earlier militant demands, the marines withdrew to their camp last week, and police and militiamen moved back from the Abu Sayyaf stronghold by six to nine miles (10-15 kilometers), hoping the group would release one hostage.

But the militants insisted the troops must pull back to two villages near the provincial capital — a demand the government says would lead to anarchy.

At the Vatican on Monday, the Pope appealed for the release of the hostages, urging that "humanitarian sense and reason win out over violence and intimidation." He called for authorities to work for a peaceful solution.

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross reiterated his appeals for the hostages' freedom.

"Our message to Abu Sayyaf is: Please spare and release Mary Jean, Eugenio and Andreas," said Jakob Kellenberger. "All they were doing was helping people in need in your area. There is no ideology or religious law that could justify killing them."

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's spokesman, Cerge Remonde, also said he hoped "these bandits have a sense of humanity" and release the hostages.

The hostages were seized after visiting a water project for a jail on Jolo, about 590 miles (950 kilometers) south of Manila.

The Abu Sayyaf group has beheaded hostages in the past, including an American in 2001 as well as seven Filipinos in 2007.

The US government has placed the Abu Sayyaf, which has about 400 gunmen, on its list of terrorist organizations. - AP

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154878/Abu-Sayyaf-threatens-to-kill-hostage-despite-Popes-appeal

Headline of the Week: Philippine Air Force C-130 Crash

Air Force: Missing C-130 plane did not carry explosives

08/30/2008 | 03:27 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Amid speculations that the missing C-130 aircraft exploded in mid-air, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Saturday said the plane was not carrying any explosives.

GMA News reporter Marisol Abdurahman, in her report over QTV’s Balitanghali , said that according to various accounts of fishermen, the plane hasn’t even risen that high yet when the aircraft exploded in mid-air last Monday night.

Although pieces of body parts, boots, pieces of aircraft material and uniform were found in the sea, the Air Force said that search and recovery teams still couldn’t conclude that the C-130 really did explode.

“Kung sasabog ho ang engine, dapat may makikita tayong mga (If it really did explode then we would have seen an) explosion o kung sakali mang sumabog iyon, dapat may (if it did explode) pieces of evidence na marerecover (would be recovered)," said Major General Jobito Gammad, head of PAF’s investigating team, in a press conference.

The Air Force also assured the public that the missing aircraft was not carrying any explosives.

It added that the two army soldiers who were on board the C-130, Corporal Bernie Sabangan and Master Sergeant Remijio Libres, were not carrying explosives either. The two were not included in the first list of passengers given to the media.

Authorities earlier identified those on board the plane were Maj. Manuel A. Zambrano, pilot; Capt. Adrian de Dios, co-pilot; and its crew members — Technical Sergeant Lobregas Constantino and Staff Sergeants John Ariola, Gerry Denioso, Felix Patraica, Pedronelo Fernandez, Patricio Romeo Gaor, and Aldrin Illustrisimo.

Sabangan and Libres were reported to have been only in charge of transporting portable communication equipment from Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija to the Davao International Airport.

“Hindi sila bababa dahil ang role nila (They wouldn’t go down because their role) is to go back. ’Yun lang ang ang role nila, mag-escort ng (That’s their only role, to escort) equipment," said Colonel Roy Deveraturda, PAF operations officer.

Meanwhile, Task Force Hercules is focused on the rescue and retrieval of possible survivors and of the aircraft itself. A fish company also recently lent its echo finder to the navy which can help detect entities up to 2,000 feet underwater.

According to the map that the task force plotted, their search would cover the area between Davao Del Sur and Samal, an island city of Davao Del Norte.

A left foot with a pilot’s shoe was found in Davao del Sur while a right foot was found in Samal Island. Tire debris and oil slick were also found, making the task force believe that the crash site might be between the two areas, officials have said.

Navy Captain Arnel Gonzales, in charge of the search operations, said that the debris found may have been carried by the high tide. - Kimberly Jane Tan, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/117191/Air-Force-Missing-C-130-plane-did-not-carry-explosives

Missing PAF C-130 plane’s location may have been found - report

08/30/2008 | 02:20 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The search and retrieval team on Saturday said that they may have found the location of the wreckage of the missing C-130 plane of the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

According to GMA 7’s Flash Report, the plane’s suspected location was found after a navy ship, attached with an echo sounder, patroled the Davao Gulf on Friday.

However, the group is still not sure if what they found was really the missing plane.

The C-130 aircraft was said to have left the Davao International Airport at about 8:50 p.m. on Monday to pick up people from the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in Ilolilo City and then bring them back to Manila.

The plane carried two pilots, seven crewmen and two army soldiers. Officials reportedly lost contact with the aircraft 10 minutes after its take off and has since then been feared to have crashed.KJ Tan, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/117187/Missing-PAF-C-130-planes-location-may-have-been-found---report

US navy to help retrieve downed PAF plane

08/30/2008 | 04:21 AM

MANILA/DAVAO, Philippines — he United States’ Navy service ship USNS McDonnell is expected to arrive Saturday afternoon (Aug. 30) to help the Philippine military in the retrieval of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130 cargo plane, which crashed on Monday and is now resting 600 meters below the Davao Gulf.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DoH) assured Davao residents that the risk to marine life and health from the downed plane is close to zero, this after the wreckage of the cargo plane, carrying at least 14,800 liters of A-1 jet fuel, started to leak oil.

Lt. Gen. Pedrito S. Cadungog, commanding general of the PAF, told reporters Friday that the USNS McDonnell, a service ship that is "equipped with side scanning radar," would probably be coming from Hawaii, where the United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) is based.

Side scan radar is used for locating shipwrecks, downed aircraft, drums, tires, pipelines and other items in rivers, lakes, or ocean floors.

The USNS McDonnell will be reporting directly to Col. Isagani Silva, commander of the PAF’s Tactical Operations Group once it arrives.

A statement from the Air Force said the USPACOM move to send the McDonnell was in response to the Philippines’ request for assistance to recover the C-130. Earlier this week, Mr. Cadungog said even with the modern equipment that the divers used in their search, rescue and retrieval operations for the past few days, it still wasn’t enough to reach the bottom of the gulf where the wreck was believed to be located.

He said the depth of the area was about 600 to 800 feet, while divers are only capable of reaching a depth of 200 to 300 feet below sea level.

The wreckage is found between the waters of Barangay Bukana on the Davao shoreline and Samal Island. No health risks

Meanwhile, the health department in the Davao region has assured the public that the toxicity risk to Davao Gulf’s marine life and health due to the crash is close to zero.

Dr. Pauline Jean R. Ubial, regional director of the DoH-XI, said the large volume of water in the Davao Gulf would dissipate the effects of any oil spill before it could pose a danger to the health of the people and marine life.

In fact, she said, the government has not issued a fish ban in Davao City and the fishermen are allowed to continue to catch fish in the gulf. This came after the department had consulted with the University of the Philippines-National Toxicology Center and the National Epidemiology Center.

The Davao Gulf supplies about 22,000 metric tons of fish per year to the local market, data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-XI (BFAR-XI) showed.

Margarita Moran-Floirendo, executive director of the Save the Davao Gulf Foundation, said that the Davao Gulf remains the second largest in terms of marine biodiversity in the country, with 11 marine mammal species. However, as a precautionary measure, the Health department has issued an advisory asking the public, among others, to: stay at least 25 to 50 meters away from the fuel spill site; not to light cigarettes, torches, or open fires on the shorelines within a 50-meter radius of the site; and stay upwind.

Interviewed by reporters, Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III of the committee on environment said any volatile liquid like high-octane gas would only be dangerous in a small body of water, which is not the case in Davao Gulf. He said the local government unit is coordinating with the Philippine Coastguard and the BFAR-XI to check their monitoring mechanisms to see if there are any adverse effects from the oil spill. Plane crash

The C-130 cargo ship got lost on Monday minutes after taking off from the Davao International Airport. It was supposed to go to Iloilo City to pick up members of the Presidential Security Group to be brought to Manila.

The cargo ship was reportedly carrying two pilots, seven crew members, and two unidentified Philippine Army personnel.

They were pilot Maj. Manuel A. Zambrano, co-pilot Captain Adrian B. de Dios, T/Sgt. Constantino Enrique R. Lobrigas (flight engineer), S/Sgt. John M. Areola (student flight engineer), S/Sgt. Gary T. Dinoso (crew chief), S/Sgt. Felix Pedro M. Patriarca (flight mechanic), S/Sgt. Petronilo F. Fernandez (load master), S/Sgt. Patricio R. Claur, Jr. (load master), S/Sgt. Aldrin A. Illustrisimo (student load master).

No survivors have been found. — Aizel Joyce A. Catipay and Joel B. Escovilla, BusinessWorld

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/117101/US-navy-to-help-retrieve-downed-PAF-plane

Authorities broaden C-130 search to cover Davao del Norte

08/29/2008 | 01:15 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Rescuers have now broadened their search area for the bodies of the crew and parts of the ill-fated plane to include waters off Davao del Norte, as search and retrieval operations continued on its fourth day.

In a report aired over QTV's Balitanghali, GMA News reporter Raffy Tima said as of Friday morning, authorities have found more body parts, shoes and parts of the aircraft as authorities abandoned hopes of anyone surviving the crash.

The report noted that aside from the Philippine Navy ships that circle the area, a Philippine Air Force chopper also hovers above the waters twice a day along with a Nomad plane from the Philippine Coast Guard in search for plane debris and the crewmen's remains.

Rescuers are also currently coordinating with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) following a witness’ statement that a ship passed by the plane’s crash site shortly after the plane plummeted to the waters.

The exact site of the crash may be determined based on the route of the ship, said the rescue team’s commander, Navy Captain Arnel Gonzales.

“So ito ngayon yung vine-verify namin with Commodore Dabin, yung Coast Guard district commander. Makita sana kung anong barko yung time na yun na papasok o papalabas para at least pwede natin makuhanan ng information kasi itong channel na to, piloting waters so most likely manned yung ano niya, yung piloting house. So any incident na diyan sa, surrounding that area, maoobserbahan," said Gonzales.

A separate report by GMA News reporter Marisol Abduhraman said the Air Force has dismissed sabotage and inclement weather as the reasons for the plane crash, saying the weather was stable and security tight during the plane’s take off in the Davao International Airport .

Instead, the Air Force is now investigating possibilities of human error – not just on the crew’s part but also on the team that helped them take off – and material failure.

Authorities will closely inspect the recovered plane parts to determine if there was damage before the plane crashed, said the report.

The report added that the Air Force also confirmed Thursday that two Army soldiers were also on the plane aside from the nine Air Force troops earlier named.

Corporal Benjie Sabangan and Master Sergeant Remigio Libres reportedly got on the plane at Fort Magsaysay and was on it all the way to Manila .

The soldiers reportedly guarded portable communication equipment transferred to Davao .

“We are still in the process of info gathering, pieces we are gathering, wala pang talagang analysis on what we have gathered kasi bits and pieces pa lang," said Major General Jovito Gammad, head of the Air Force investigating team.

In a separate report, GMA News reporter Tek Ocampo said there was no indication that the plane’s fate would be tragic based on the transcripts of communications between the C-130 crew and the control tower at the Davao International Airport .

The plane took off at 8:54 pm Monday, with the crew’s last words to the people at the tower were “Good night, ma’am."

Four minutes later, however, there was no answer from the crew when the tower tried to call them twice. Another call at 8:59 p.m. was likewise unanswered, but “unintelligible sounds" could be heard, said the report.

The tower reportedly shifted to another frequency in its effort to get hold of the crew but there was still no response.

The ill-fated C-130 aircraft was supposed to pick up members of the Presidential Security Group in Iloilo but eventually lost contact with the command center minutes after it took off from the Davao City International Airport .

Authorities said the cargo plane may have crashed about 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Davao City and three nautical miles southwest of the Island Garden City of Samal. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116912/Authorities-broaden-C-130-search-to-cover-Davao-del-Norte

Search for missing C-130, crewmen continues for 3rd day

08/28/2008 | 01:14 PM

MANILA , Philippines – Authorities continued the search and retrieval operations for the missing C-130 aircraft and its crewmembers for the third day, as investigators remain clueless on the cause of the plane crash.

QTV's Balitanghali reported that rescue divers continued their search and retrieval operations for the missing C-130 aircraft and its crewmen despite strong currents that are hampering their operations.

Rescuers used small naval boats with sonar underwater radars to detect the plane’s fragments and the victims’ body parts.

Earlier in the day, rescuers have abandoned hopes of finding survivors as efforts have refocused on recovering body parts of victims.

The report also said the task force overseeing the search and retrieval operations transferred its command center from Bucana village near the crash site to the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard at the Sta. Ana Wharf.

This is to ensure better security and a wider space to conduct an inventory of recovered human parts and plane debris, the report said.

Lack of search and rescue facilities also prompted the Air Force to ask from the United States more advanced sonar detectors to fast-track arrangements in acquisition of the plane.

Also, authorities are looking into reports that the aircraft had eleven passengers instead of nine.

The report said that the Air Transportation Office will verify the reports by recovering radio transmissions between the Davao International Airport and the C-130 plane before it crashed.

The C-130 Hercules cargo airplane crashed into the Davao Gulf on Monday evening. The ill-fated aircraft was supposed to pick up members of the Presidential Security Group in Iloilo but eventually lost contact with the command center minutes after it took off at the Davao City International Airport.

Authorities said the plane crash-landed about 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Davao City and three nautical miles southwest of the Island Garden City of Samal.

Authorities earlier identified the plane's pilot as Maj. Manuel A. Zambrano and his co-pilot as Capt. Adrian de Dios. The crew members were Technical Sergeant Lobregas Constantino, and Staff Sergeants John Ariola, Gerry Denioso, Felix Patraica, Pedronelo Fernandez, Patricio Romeo Gaor, and Aldrin Illustrisimo. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116645/Search-for-missing-C-130-crewmen-continues-for-3rd-day

Lightning may have caused C-130 crash - PAF chief

08/27/2008 | 04:53 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is not dismissing the possibility that lightning could have caused the crash of a C-130 transport plane off Davao last Monday despite the fact that it was equipped with a lightning arrester.

“Although it has an arrester, we will investigate the degree of the lighting... because that is a possibility,” said PAF chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog, who flew to Mactan airbase in Lapu-Lapu City Wednesday aboard a commercial plane to personally attend to the grieving family of the pilots and crewmembers of the aircraft.

Cadungog said they will pursue the angle based on an eyewitness account that said lightning struck the area shortly before the burning aircraft was seen plummeting into the water.

“He (witness) said that a lightning struck and he saw the plane into flames before it crashed. All of that will be subjected to scientific expert evaluation by our investigation team,” Cadungog said.

He said other angles that investigators are considering are pilot factor and materiel failure.

The plane, acquired in 1983 through the United States financing program, had taken off from the Davao City airport and was on its way to Iloilo City to fetch personnel from the Presidential Security Group when it met the tragedy.

It was being piloted by Maj. Manuel Zambrano and Capt. Adrian de Dios and had seven crewmembers.

Asked if there was an indication that there was an explosion prior to the crash, the Air Force chief said, “None, none.”....

“Even the eyewitness did not describe it (aircraft) as exploding. What he said is that there was lightning,” he said. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116438/Lightning-may-have-caused-C-130-crash---PAF-chief

Task force begins underwater search for missing C-130 crew

08/27/2008 | 09:16 AM

MANILA, Philippines - A task force searching for missing crew members of a C-130 cargo plane that crashed off Davao Gulf started an underwater search Wednesday morning using a specialized camera to look for traces of the victims.

Radio dzBB reported that as of 9 a.m., members of Task Force C-130 lowered an underwater closed-circuit camera to look for traces of the crew, but have so far found nothing positive.

The task force centered its operations on Davao Gulf, where the C-130 was believed to have crashed shortly after takeoff Monday night.

Earlier in the day, Coast Guard rescuers prepared to dive into the waters of Davao Gulf and received last-minute instructions before starting the search operations.

Listed as passengers of the ill-fated C-130 plane were:

• Maj.Manuel Sambrano, the plane’s pilot;
• Capt. Adrian de Dios, co-pilot;
• Flight Technical Sergeant Constantino Lobregas;
• Staff Sergeant Petronilo Fernandez,
• Staff Sergeant John Arriola;
• Staff Sergeant Gerry Delioso;
• Staff Sergeant Felix Pedro Patriarga;
• Staff Sergeant Patricio Claur Jr; and
• Staff Sergeant Aldrin Ilustrisimo.

Navy Capt. Rosauro Gonzales, who is in charge of the ongoing search for the ill-fated aircraft, had earlier said that the wreck was traced about 2.5 nautical miles southwest of Samal Island and is about 600 feet under water. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116346/Task-force-begins-underwater-search-for-missing-C-130-crew

PAF grounds remaining C-130 planes for scrutiny

08/27/2008 | 08:37 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Following the crash of a C-130 cargo plane off Davao Monday night, the Philippine Air Force has grounded the rest of its C-130 fleet pending a comprehensive inspection.

PAF commanding general Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog said Wednesday he expects the inspection of the fleet, which presently has only one working plane, to be finished within the day (Wednesday).

"(The grounding will be in effect) until such time we have conducted a comprehensive inspection. Probably today matatapos ang inspection (The inspection will probably be completed today)," Cadungog said in an interview on dzXL radio.

He also said the loss of the C-130 plane will have a big effect on PAF operations, especially in the ferrying of troops, cargo and relief goods.

Cadungog said he is "hoping" the grounding of the C-130 fleet will be brief.

"When it comes to emergencies we will immediately perform the mission (but) I'm hoping sandali lang pag-ground (I'm hoping the grounding will be for a short time)," he said.

On the other hand, he said the loss of the C-130 plane will have little, if any effect, on ongoing operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao.

Earlier, PAF spokesman Maj. Gerry Zamudio admitted the loss of the C-130 cargo plane will leave the PF) with only three working cargo planes at most.

In an interview on dzBB radio, Zamudio said said two more C-130 planes are due for repair (and be operational) "in a few weeks and (be operational) in months."

But he said that with the missing C-130 plane, the government will only have three working C-130 planes at most. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116333/PAF-grounds-remaining-C-130-planes-for-scrutiny

Davao residents report seeing ‘something big’ crash into sea

08/26/2008 | 10:37 AM

MANILA , Philippines – In the heels of a military C-130 plane gone missing, two residents of a coastal village in Davao City on Tuesday reported seeing “a huge object" crash into the Davao Gulf but did not confirm it was an aircraft.

In an interview with dzBB, Robert Olan-Olan, village chairman of Brgy. Bucana, said that one resident and one fisherman claimed to have seen the crash incident on Monday night.

“So far, dalawang tao ang nag-confirm ngayon. Yung isa, ilang meters nandoon siya kung saan bumagsak, at saka yung isang mangingisda na taga rito sa amin. Sabi na may nakita doon sa laot (So far, two have already reported the information. One of them claimed being only meters away from the crash site, while a fisherman claimed seeing something in the deep sea)," Olan-Olan said.

"Di na-recognize ng tao dahil umuulan (Many could not recognize it because it was raining)," he added.

As of posting time, search-and-rescue choppers from the Philippine Air Force (PAF) are verifying the information from the witnesses by taking them to the reported crash site.

In the interview, Olan-Olan said based on the residents' reports, debris were found on the surface of the Davao Gulf. “Bumagsak sa hulihan ng isda, sa dinadaanan ng barko ... Malalim, di namin makita kung may lumulutang, wala kaming makita (The plane supposedly fell into the water, but it was too deep. We could not see if anything was floating)," he said.

Olan-Olan said local police rushed to the area to check the reported sighting. But he said many residents could not be sure if it was the plane that crashed because it was raining Monday night.

He added that more authorities arrived in the area to verify the claims that the plane crashed
there.

“Andito ang Philippine National Police City director namin and yung station commander at saka yung mga Air Force, nandito lahat (The city police director is here, the station commander and those from the Air Force. They are all here)," Olan-Olan said.

He added that local officials and policemen are also helping out in the Air Force’s rescue operations. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116095/Davao-residents-report-seeing-something-big-crash-into-sea

Hundreds flee as gunmen attack 4 villages in NCotabato

BY MALU CADELINA MANAR, GMANews.TV

07/28/2008 | 05:32 PM

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines – Four villages in Aleosan and Midsayap towns in North Cotabato have fallen victims to attacks since Sunday afternoon staged by suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, who were also accused of burning around 30 houses made of light materials.

The attacks triggered the evacuation of some 2,000 villagers from barangays Dualing and Tapudok in Aleosan and Baliki, Rangaban, and Mudseng in Midsayap to the poblacion and barangay Central Bulanan of the same town, reports from the provincial social welfare office said.

Reports from the provincial police office said the rebels first attacked sitio Mampurok, barangay Dualing in Aleosan, around 2 p.m., Sunday.

They then proceeded to sitio Puypuyon, also in Dualing, and burned at least 20 houses owned by settlers, the reports added.

Another group of MILF rebels raided another village in Midsayap and burned houses there Monday morning, a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) said.

The militiaman, who refused to be identified, claimed in a radio interview that they engaged the rebels in a firefight starting 8:30 a.m.

As of 11:00 a.m., the fighting was still going on, he said.

MILF chief of civil-military affairs Eid Kabalu has denied allegations the rebel leadership sanctioned the attacks.

"We did not sanction the attack, much less the torching of houses in those villages," he said.

The MILF spokesman said the houses were hit by M79 grenade launchers and that because most of these structures were made of light materials, they easily caught fire.

But he could not say who could have fired the projectiles.

None was reported killed or injured in the fighting, according to Midsayap Mayor Manuel Rabara.

Troops from the 40th and 38th Infantry Battalions, Cafgus, and so-called "force multipliers" in five villages in Aleosan and Midsayap were deployed to repulse the suspected rebels.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109855/Hundreds-flee-as-gunmen-attack-4-villages-in-NCotabato

Headlines - July 27,2008

Govt claims breakthrough in peace talks with MILF in KL

07/27/2008 | 09:28 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Government peace negotiators on Sunday night claimed to have made a breakthrough in peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) on ancestral domain.

Presidential peace process adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said the "breakthrough" was achieved at 8:15 p.m., and would pave the way for the signing of a framework next month.

"With this positive development in the negotiations, the signing of the framework on ancestral domain is tentatively set early August this year," Esperon said.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109690/Govt-claims-breakthrough-in-peace-talks-with-MILF-in-KL

2 Marines wounded in Sulu clash

07/27/2008 | 07:28 PM

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least two Marines were wounded in a clash Sunday with unidentified gunmen in the southern Philippine island of Pangutaran off Sulu province.

Authorities did not give any statement about the fighting and spokesmen and security officials ignored calls by journalists who were verifying the report.

The names of the two Marines who suffered gunshot wounds in the firefight on the island, a known hideout of pirates and Abu Sayyaf militants, were unavailable.

Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan said the island's leaders sought the help of the military to run after the gangs who were behind extortion activities and attacks on fishermen and ferries at sea.

"There is an operation in Pangutaran and we are supporting the ongoing military and police operation aimed at neutralizing lawless elements," Tan told GMANews.TV.

Police said it would deploy more forces on the island to secure civilians and protect them from possible attacks by lawless groups. Senior Superintendent Julasirim Kasim vowed to “enforce law and order on the island."

Kasim said he would replace the current police chief on the island.

The fighting occurred as politicians running for the August 11 elections in the Muslim autonomous region were campaigning. Sulu is one of five provinces that comprise the autonomous region.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109671/2-Marines-wounded-in-Sulu-clash

Bishop wants religious leaders to mediate in GRP-MILF talks

07/27/2008 | 04:30 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The presence of a third party would be helpful for the success of the peace talks between the government and the Moro International Liberation Front (MILF), a senior member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Sunday.

“We should ask the intermediation of a third party to make sure both sides are really sincere and that they are sticking with the agreement,” said Cagayan de Oro Arhcbishop Antonio Ledesma.

Ledesma said the peace problem in Mindanao should not be considered as an internal issue since it also affects the peace process and situation in Southeast Asia.

“Even if it’s within the Philippine territory, Muslim communities have this sense of brotherhood all over the world. So this situation has also become the concern of many other countries,” said Ledesma.

Besides the participation of the Malaysian government, Archbishop Ledesma proposed to allow religious leaders to also act as mediators.

“They should get some religious leaders and look at the peace process itself, because it’s the religious leaders who can provide the moral and spiritual underpinnings of the peace process,” the prelate said.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109660/Bishop-wants-religious-leaders-to-mediate-in-GRP-MILF-talks

MILF told to control its troops amid snag in talks

07/27/2008 | 10:40 AM

MANILA, Philippines - The government has asked the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to rein in their forces to prevent hostilities in the light of the breakdown in the peace negotiations.

“It is incumbent upon them (MILF leaders), given that, to reign in their people under their control to prevent the outbreak of hostilities," Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr said in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo Sunday.

Teodoro however expressed optimism that the negotiations have just hit a minor snag and that it will prosper after consultations on both sides.

“It was quite close already, but there was some disagreement on one point so I think there are other efforts to review positions on both sides. But we are still confident that the talks will push through after proper consultation on both sides," he said.

Talks with the largest secessionist organization in the country collapsed Saturday when MILF negotiators walked out from the meeting after government negotiators insisted on changing some crucial points in the draft agreement regarding the ancestral domain provision.

Reports said government negotiators wanted to delay the conduct of a plebiscite for the inclusion of more than 700 villages in the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The draft agreement mentioned a six-month timeframe to hold the plebiscite.

Teodoro said government forces would remain on “active defense" despite the development on the talks.

“Our soldiers have shown admirable restraint already, professionalism in the face of these things because they know the greater objective," he said, adding that the deadlock would not translate into hostilities.

“We should never equate deadlocks in talks with resumptions of hostilities. I think that’s the worst thing that can happen," he said.

Before the breakthrough in the peace talks, MILF officials admitted that the successive attacks of its forces in Central Mindanao were led by some commanders who were disgusted with the progress of the peace negotiations.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano said the military has not monitored any unusual development on the ground since the talks broke down.

Incidentally, at around 2:40 p.m. Saturday, MILF rebels burned a number of houses in Aleosan, North Cotabato, and wounding three responding soldiers.

“There has been no abnormal situation. There is no abnormal situation since then. In fact, it was even worse before. We know that in the later part of June, there were a lot of reported hostilities. Now, for several days except for very few isolated incidents, we have not recorded any," Yano said in a separate interview.

On whether the fighting last Saturday was related to the breakdown of the talks, Yano said: “We cannot speculate...We have not really found (that) out in our investigation....We have not received any formal report yet, we will wait for the result of the investigation."

Yano said the Joint Coordinating Committee of the Cessation of Hostilities is presently looking into the incident.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/109626/MILF-told-to-control-its-troops-amid-snag-in-talks

Basilan Catholics get threats to convert

07/19/2008 | 06:04 PM

MANILA, Philippines — A man who took responsibility for sending extortion letters to residents of Basilan, including the Catholic bishop, claimed on Saturday that he is with the Abu Sayyaf extremist group.

The man who called himself Paruji Nur Hassan J. Kallitut confirmed writing letters to non-Muslims in the province, telling them to either convert to Islam or pay “Islamic taxes" if they don’t want to be harmed.

“Ginagawa namin ito kasi kayo, ang mga pamilya nyo pumasok dito sa lugar namin, alam nyo ang Basilan, lugar ito ng mga Muslim, lugar ng mga Yakan, inagaw lang ng mga ninuno nya sa mga ninuno namin…," Kalittut said in an interview with Radio Veritas on Saturday.

The interview followed that with Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad, who complained that the renewed threats has caused fear and panic among Catholics in Basilan.

Jumoad said the extortion letter he received on Friday was similar to those received by some families in Isabela, the capital of Basilan.

“This is a painful letter being addressed to the Catholic faithful of Basilan. It is okay to be poor and I could endure having no food for a day or two but to receive threat such as this is miserable because this is something psychological to spend sleepless night due to threats would be more dangerous than to have no food and to be poor," Jumoad said in the interview.

The letter said they were mujahidins or Islamic warriors who were carrying a supposed injunction of the Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, to convert every non-Muslim residing in the province.

“Ang kautusan ng Qur’an kung meron man na Christiano na nainirahan sa lugar ng mga Muslim kailangan nyo mag convert sa Islam, ‘pag ayaw n’yang mag convert sa Islam, kailangan nyong magbigay ng jizya (Islamic tax) kung ayaw magbigay ng jizya (Islamic tax) pwede silang gamitan ng dahas o sandata o gerahin! (The Qur’an’s instructions is that if there are Christians leaving in a place for Muslims, they have to be converted to Islam. If they don’t want to convert to Islam, they have to pay the Islamic tax. If they refuse to pay, they can be subjected to violence)," the letter said.

Recipients of the letter were given 15 days to respond, and that non-response would be considered a hostile response.

Jumoad said he contacted the mobile phone number listed in the letter and a man calling himself Nur Hassan said they were "Islamic warriors."

In the interview with Radio Veritas, Nur Hassan further said they were the Al-Harakatul Islamiyya, which he said is the Abu Sayyaf.

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/108033/Basilan-Catholics-get-threats-to-convert

I thought Islam is a religion of peace ( as some would say )... WTF