Groups seek aid for Zambo hostages (Unedited) Wed, Sept 11, 2013 By Titus Edison Calauor Several

Mindanao-based human rights groups on Wednesday called for a humanitarian corridor that will give aid to the hostages caught in the Zamboanga standoff between government forces and armed faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under chair Nur Misuari. The groups Alliance of Progressive Labor Davao, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), Peacebuilders Community, and SIMCARRD INC, called for the formation of humanitarian corridor in the war-stricken areas of Zamboanga. The groups said in a statement that the humanitarian corridor, a demilitarized peace zone, would allow the entry of humanitarian aid for the hostages caught between the warring forces. We call on both parties to immediately delineate a humanitarian corridor where civilians and injured combatants may be safely assisted with their humanitarian needs, the groups said. The human rights groups also called on the public to support humanitarian actions by allowing access and entry of humanitarian groups to the area in coordination with local government units and civil society groups in Zamboanga. "We are saddened that such a provocative event happened on the eve of the slated and historic 10-day talks between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," the group said. The groups also reiterated their continued support for the peace process in Mindanao between the Philippine government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the MNLF. We appeal to the Philippine government and its Office on the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) to translate its policy in addressing the fate of the MNLF peace process and their legitimate issues, the groups said.

Human shields beg for help (Banner Story, Edited) September 11, 2013 10:24 pm by Agence France Presse, Titus Calauor, Benjie Vergara Correspondents And Al Jacinto Senior Correspondent Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels took potshots at government troops on Wednesday as they hid behind hostages who were roped together pleading for mercy, on the third day of a deadly siege in a Zamboanga City. As the fighting intensified with soldiers backed by armored troop carriers hunting down snipers and rebels, an estimated 13,000 residents fled, many of them taking refuge in a sports stadium. In the nearby Santa Catalina district, troops confronted MNLF guerrillas hiding behind about 30 men who had been roped together and made to stand on the side of a street, Agence FrancePresse reporters witnessed. Stop firing! Stop firing! shouted the men while waving white blankets as the gunmen behind them took potshots at the soldiers. About 180 guerrillas poured into six of the port citys coastal neighborhoods, home to 160,000 mainly Muslim residents, before dawn Monday in a bid to derail peace talks. Three days of fighting has left 12 people dead, including two civilians, a police officer, a soldier and eight rebels, according to the latest official tally. Another 36 people have been wounded, including three policemen and 12 soldiers. Police also arrested two male MNLF suspects in Santa Catalina on Wednesday, wounding one of them. Officers told AFP the men were carrying bags of rice which they had scattered on the floor to reveal two hidden pistols. In Barangay Santa Barbara black smoke rose into the sky as a local government building burned, but sniper fire held back a convoy of firetrucks sent to put out the blaze, an AFP photographer said. Behind the burning building two suspected rebel snipers fell from the upper sections of a mosque after taking fire from an armored troop carrier. Soldiers later poured into the building. Police fired on rebels who managed to sneak into a neighborhood near Ciudad Medical along Mayor Vitaliano Agan Avenue, a kilometer from the village of Santa Catalina where troops also assaulted rebel positions.

Rebels fired rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds at government positions. Two projectiles hit the open-air Catholic shrine Fort Pilar where soldiers were deployed. Sporadic clashes were reported near downtown Zamboanga where the heavily guarded City Hall is located. Rebels torched civilian houses in Santa Barbara to delay the advancing soldiers. The MNLF guerrillas, who are followers of Nur Misuari, herded more than 100 people and used them as a shield. Mayor Maria Isabelle Salazar said the MNLF freed nine hostages, including four children, in exchange for food. Salazar said negotiations were continuing for the release of the remaining hostages. We call on the OPAPP to address the demand and claims of the MNLF, Salazar said, referring to Secretary Teresita Deles, President Benigno Aquino 3rds peace adviser. Misuari has accused Manila of reneging on the 1996 peace deal it signed with the MNLF. Police said 4,000 villagers who fled Barangay Mampang were brought by military trucks to the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex in San Jose village where thousands have been encamped since Monday. Many villagers were pleading the truck drivers not to leave them behind fearing they would be held hostage by rebels. The fighting has shut down stores and other businesses in the city. Salazar has declared an 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. On Wednesday, government panel chairman Miriam Ferrer called the MNLF a spoiler of peace for trying to undermine negotiations with its rival faction, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Ferrer made the remark as the two panels issued a joint statement condemning the MNLF attacks in Zamboanga City that resulted in a standoff with government troops since Monday. Our response is simple. Will aborting this negotiation make other groups happy and stop their violent acts? Will preventing ourselves from finishing our work enable peace to prevail? Not at all, Ferrer said, as she emphasized that their leaders goal is to lead people back to the path of violence, using misinformation to justify the use of arms and attacks on civilians. She stressed that they cannot allow this process to fail. We regret that what some leaders cannot get through reason, they twist through misinformation. What they cannot achieve with circumspect and consistency, they attempt to wrestle through

force and endless demands. Positions that they cannot win in elections, they coerce on the table, or on the streets, taking with them hostages, she said. According to Ferrer, the MNLF members who occupied some coastal villages in Zamboanga were followers of MNLF chairman Nur Misuari and Ustadz Khabir Malik. The two panels on Wednesday condemned in the strongest terms the attack by members of the MNLF. In their joint statement, the negotiators said the perpetrators must be stopped and held accountable for their acts. Those behind the continued acts of violence in Mindanao do not want the current peace process between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to succeed. Their actions intend to derail the process using violence and disinformation to spread fear and chaos in Mindanao, they added. Work together The MILF urged their Muslim brothers to work together so that the Moro struggle will benefit all. The MILF founded by the late Salamat Hashim is a breakaway group of the MNLF, which Misuari formed in the early 70s. The negotiators are in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to thresh out the remaining details of the final agreement for the proposed Bangsamoro political entity. Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, chief, Public Affairs Office, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said government forces will remain on the defensive to give time to the Zamboanga Management Crisis Committee to end the crisis peacefully. Zagala said the safety of the 168 hostages remains the primary concern of the authorities. Nothing has changed. Its the same, still a standoff, Zagala said, adding that the Misuaris followers fire their guns from time and the soldiers were simply firing back. Zagala said he could not say when the standoff will end because it all depends on the outcome of the negotiations. The MNLF legal counsel and spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla said their forces will only release the hostages if the military withdrew from the area. Zagala said the proposal was untenable.

As many as 300 MNLF fighters arrived last Monday at the coastal barangay of Rio Hondo and fanned out to the villages of Sta. Barbara, Sta. Catalina and Talon-Talon. The military said the raiders broke up into four small groups led by Commander Ugong, Commander Ustadz Asamin Hussein, Commander Habier Malik and Commander Ismael Dasta. Ugong, with 30 fighters, is in Talon-Talon; Hussen with 18 men is in Sitio Salinas; Malik, who has 80 to 90 men, is in Sta. Barbara; and Dasta with 80 men is in Sta. Catalina. Humanitarian corridor Several Mindanao-based human rights groups called for a humanitarian corridor that will enable them to give aid to the hostages. The groups include the Alliance of Progressive Labor Davao, Initiatives for International Dialogue (IID), Mindanao Peoples Caucus (MPC), Peacebuilders Community, and SIMCARRD INC. They said in a statement that a demilitarized peace zone would allow humanitarian aid to reach the hostages. Zamboanga International Airport remained closed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. except to military aircraft, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said on Wednesday. Thirty commercial flights to and from Zamboanga were cancelled. The CAAP advised passengers affected by flight cancellations to contact their respective airlines/carriers for flight schedules. The aviation authorities said 16 flights of Cebu Pacific were called off. Cebu Pacific said in a statement that the airline passengers that had been affected by the two-day standoff, from September 9 to 10, had reached 3,000. Philippines Airlines said all PAL flights from Manila to Zambo and back were cancelled. The Department of Justice (DOJ) starts its probe to determine the criminal charges that can be filed against the MNLF fighters that attacked Zamboanga City. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima assigned Assistant State Prosecutors Niven Canlapan and Aristotle Reyes, Prosecutor Cesar Angelo Chavez III, Asst. Regional Prosecutor Ivy DamayoElvinas and Asst. City Prosecutor Edwinlino Custodio to the fact-finding panel. Among the crimes being studied is rebellion. The function of the team is to make sure the proper charges are based on facts and evidence because it would be hard to file rebellion or sedition, for example, without supporting facts and evidence, de Lima said.

With reports from Catherine S. Valente, William B. Depasupil and Jomar Canlas

Group to sue soldiers for war crimes charge (Unedited) Sun - Sept 1, 2013 by Titus Edison Calauor A human rights group said on Monday that they are set to file charges of war crimes against soldiers involved in the alleged indiscriminate firing two years ago that killed a coal maker and wounded his son in Doa Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) chair Max de Mesa said the soldiers of 56th Infantry Battalion (IB) involved in the incident of July 19, 2011 should face charges of war crimes or violations of International Humanitarian Laws (IHL), as stated in Republic Act 9851 or the "Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law and Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity." PAHRA, who was monitoring the case, said that the victims were allegedly denied due process. They decried the that not only did the military kill the boy's father, they also set trumped-up charges against the son. "PAHRA will determinedly seek justice and reparation for the senseless killing of Nicanor Mariano as well as the violations perpetrated against the rights of Norman Mariano as a person and as Filipino citizen," de Mesa said. "Arrested without warrant, detained, interrogated, and intimidated without counsel as victimized by the military's disregard of its own rules of engagement and filing of trumped-up charges." The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 3 Division investigated the incident and furnished two reports dated August 08, 2011 and a progress report on August 16, 2011. CHRNCR said that their regional division is continuing their investigation of the case but declined to provide further information. Incident was an encounter Then AFP Commander Maj. Gen. Irineo Espino released a statement after the incident. It said that on July 19, 2011 the 56th Infantry "Tatag" Battalion encountered elements of the CPP-NPA operating the tri-boundary of Bulacan, Rizal and Quezon Province. They reported that rebels have extorted revolutionary taxes from mining companies, cement factories and wealthy businessmen in DRT. "One sec from Headquarters Company led by 1st Lt. Donald S. Frias and one section from Bravo Company led by 2nd Lt. Mark Anthony R. Pauig PA, all from 56IB, while conducting combat patrol, encountered more or less forty (40) combined fully-armed Communist Terrorists (CTs)

believed to be members of RYG and SPP Bulacan at Vicinity Sitio Batong Munti, Brgy Camachile, Doa Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan," he said. The statement said the patrol troops returned fire after the rebels shot at them. The exchange was said to have lasted thirty minutes. The rebels then fled and left a rifle, an improvised shotgun, live ammunition, medical paraphernalia and subversive documents. "The successful operation yielded to one (1) enemy killed later identified as Nicanor Mariano ("Alyas OYET"), member of Squad "Segunda" of SPP Bulacan, and the capture of another CT, Norman Mariano, who was wounded during the encounter," he said. Nicanor Mariano "Alyas Oyet" was turned-over to DRT Vice Mayor Jaybee Manalo while Norman Mariano was brought to V. Luna General Hospital and then transferred to Fort Bonifacio General Hospital for medical attention. CHR investigations Based on the investigation report of CHR Region 3 Division dated August 8 2011, the factfinding team composed of special investigators Elmer L. Maniego and Joel Boanjares T. Ocampo analyzed that the death of Nicanor and the wounding of Norman were possibly caused by the indiscriminate firing of the soldiers. The investigation report compiled the sworn affidavits of the survivors namely Norman, motherin-law Florita Verceles, and father-in-law Teofilo Esquivel Sr. It said that coal maker Nicanor, along with his son Norman and Verceles, were sleeping at their nipa hut in when they were fired at by soldiers around 5:00 am. Nicanor was killed while Norman sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The grandmother was unharmed. The firing only stopped when Verceles shouted that they were civilians. The soldiers then called for them to come out. Vercelez came out first while Norman, unable to walk, crawled out later. Verceles then begged the soldiers to let her call an ambulance in town. She was allowed but was unable to find help two hours later since their house was in a forested area away from town. Esquivel in his sworn affidavit said that he learned the incident from a neighbor since he was in town at a funeral. He borrowed a vehicle and met with a municipal councilor to check up on his family. When they arrived at the military checkpoint near their house, they were denied entry and was told his son-in-law was already dead. DRT mayor Ronaldo Flores was later informed of the incident and called the military officials based in Sapang Palay, San Jose del Monte city in Bulacan. Mayor Flores asked the officials to allow Esquivel to enter but his request was denied. Esquivel, along with a barangay captain and a councilor, was later permitted by the soldiers to enter. They arrived and found Norman to be seriously wounded. They carried Norman to an

ambulance and transported him from DRT to V. Luna Hospital in Quezon city eleven hours after the shooting. The autopsy report by CHR dated July 23, 2011 classified the death of Nicanor as homicide due to hemmorhagic shock secondary to a gunshot wound to the chest. In the sworn affidavit of Norman he said that while confined, two soldiers from the 56th IB investigated and allegedly forced him to admit that he was a member of the New People's Army (NPA) but he refused. He was released July 22, 2011 from V. Luna Hospital and was transferred to Fort Bonifacio General Hospital where he was again allegedly forced to admit that he is a communist rebel. He told them that he was not an NPA but an ordinary coal maker. On the CHR progress report dated August 16, 2011, the fact-finding team found that the hut sustained a total of 87 bullet holes from all sides. The team also found 43 empty shells eight meters away from the hut. The casings were then subjected to testing by police crime laboratory on September 20, 2011 at Camp Olivas in Pampanga. This was to check if the guns carried by the soldiers matched the shells in Marianos hut. The rifles submitted for testing totaled 37 and were all 5.56m Colt rifles. Ballistics report showed that none of the firearms submitted for testing matched the casings recovered in the crime scene. The ballistics report on the bullets that were recovered from the bodies of Nicanor and Norman were yet to be released. Denied due process Bulacan provincial prosecutor through an interim request resolution dated July 25, 2011 recommended the charges of 1st Lt. Frias against Norman, who was then confined in Fort Bonifacio, and 40 other John Does. Norman was charged for illegal possession of firearms, attempted murder, and violation of Human Security Act. Norman, who was still unaware that charges have been filed against him, was subpoenaed to submit a counter-affidavit for preliminary investigation set on August 4, 2011. He was released and returned to DRT, still uninformed of the pending case. A military fact-finding team headed by Lt. Col. Pedro Bedona on Septmber 23, 2011 was sent to interview the family of the survivors. They met with Malou Mariano, wife of Nicanor, Verceles, and Esquivel. A PAHRA member was present in the meeting. The soldiers agreed to let the advocate to stay on the condition that he is only to observe. Before the interview, Bedona asked one of his companions named Capt. Reyes about the charges. Captain Reyes, di ba may nakasampang kaso na sa kanila?" he asked. (Captain Reyes, there's a case already file against them, right?)

Surprised, the advocate asked the soldiers about the question. Ibig nyong sabihin, sir, na may nakasampang kaso na kayo laban sa kanila, at ngayong lang nyo sila kakausapin?," he asked. "Di kaya pagsasaayos na lang ito ng mga datos para sa inyong kongklusyon?" (You mean, you already have a case against them and you're only telling them this now? What if this interview are just a way to collect data for your conclusion?) The advocate only got mumbled protestations. He also noted that the questions were unfair to Verceles as they could be used to discredit her narrative. PAHRA was alarmed when they found that the family of Norman only received the subpoenas on February 2013 two years after the charges has been filed. The group then called on CHR Region 3 Director Jasmin Regino to assist in securing the copies of files needed to strengthen the defense of Norman. The provincial prosecutor in a resolution recommended the filing of charges against Norman and 40 other John Does on October 13, 2011. It tagged him as a rebel communist. Norman was indicted for rebellion and attempted homicide. The charge against RA 9372 or the Human Security Act was dismissed. "It is obvious that respondents groups known as Partido Sa Platun Sa Bulacan (SPP) and Rehiyong Yunit Gerilya (RYG) were armed combatants affiliated with the New People's Army who were publicly uprising against the government," the resolution said. The resolution also said that Norman failed to appear in the preliminary investigation despite the repeated subpoenas. A warrant of arrest was then filed against Norman for attempted homicide on March 11, 2013. He was out on bail for P12,000. Norman has a hearing September 5 at the Bulacan RTC for possession of illegal firearms. There is also a pending hearing for MR on Motion to Quash in the MTC regarding the attempted homicide case and a possible arraignment in September 27 if motion is denied. The human rights group said the they are determined to file the case as a violation of International Humanitarian Laws by the soldiers. They said that the case would have been legally stronger if they had the ballistics report on the bullets found on the victims' bodies as well as the resolution and recommendation by CHR Region 3. "It angers human rights defenders that one, like Janet Napoles, accused of unjustly detaining a kasambahay gets a Presidential audience and assurance of due process while an unknown Norman Mariano, wrongly wounded, deprived of liberty and of due process by soldiers - was intimidated criminally charged would be very hard to get even near the gates of the Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to present his own family's innocence," de Mesa said.

Rights group to sue soldiers for violation of IHL, war crimes (Edited - Regions) September 1, 2013 7:09 pm by TITUS EDISON CALAUOR CORRESPONDENT

A human rights group over the weekend declared that they are set to file charges for war crimes against soldiers involved in the alleged indiscriminate firing two years ago that killed a coal maker and wounded his son in Doa Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) chairperson Max de Mesa said that the soldiers of the 56th Infantry Battalion (IB) involved in the incident of July 19, 2011 should face charges for war crimes or violations of International Humanitarian Laws (IHL), as provided in Republic Act 9851 or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law and Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity. PAHRA, which is monitoring the case, said that the victims were allegedly denied due process. They claimed that the military also filed trumped-up charges against the son. PAHRA will determinedly seek justice and reparation for the senseless killing of Nicanor Mariano as well as the violations perpetrated against the rights of Norman Mariano as a person and as Filipino citizen, de Mesa said. Arrested without warrant, detained, interrogated, and intimidated without counsel as victimized by the militarys disregard of its own rules of engagement and filing of trumped-up charges, he added. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Region 3 Division investigated the incident and furnished two reports dated August 8, 2011 and a progress report on August 16, 2011. CHRNational Capital Region said that their regional division is continuing their investigation of the case but declined to provide further information.

Incident was an encounter Then Armed Forces of the Philippines Commander Maj. Gen. Irineo Espino earlier asserted that the incident was a legitimate encounter with communist rebels. He said that on July 19, 2011, the 56th IB encountered New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels operating in the tri-boundary of Bulacan, Rizal and Quezon Province. Espino said that the rebels were engaged in collecting revolutionary taxes from mining companies, cement factories, and wealthy businessmen in Doa Remedios Trinidad. The military official said that troopers returned fire after the rebels shot at them. The exchange was said to have lasted thirty minutes. The rebels then fled and left a rifle, an improvised shotgun, live ammunition, medical paraphernalia and subversive documents. The successful operation yielded to one enemy killed later identified as Nicanor Mariano, Alyas Oyet, member of Squad Segunda of SPP Bulacan, and the capture of another communistterrorist, Norman Mariano, who was wounded during the encounter, Espino said. Nicanor Mariano Alyas Oyet was turned-over to Vice Mayor Jaybee Manalo of Doa Remedios Trinidad while Norman Mariano was brought to V. Luna General Hospital and then transferred to Fort Bonifacio General Hospital for medical treatment. CHR investigations Based on the investigation report of CHR-Region 3 dated August 8 2011, the fact-finding team composed of special investigators Elmer Maniego and Joel Boanjares Ocampo surmised that the death of Nicanor and the wounding of Norman were caused by the indiscriminate firing of the soldiers. The investigation report compiled the sworn affidavits of the survivors, namely: Norman, Florita Verceles, Teofilo Esquivel Sr. The affidavits stated that coal maker Nicanor, along with his son Norman and mother-in-law Verceles, were sleeping in their nipa hut when they soldiers fired at them around 5 a.m. Nicanor was killed while Norman sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The firing only stopped when Verceles shouted that they were civilians. The soldiers then called for them to come out. Vercelez came out first while Norman, unable to walk, crawled out later.

The autopsy report filed by the CHR on July 23, 2011 classified the death of Nicanor as homicide due to hemmorhagic shock secondary to a gunshot wound to the chest. Meanwhile, Norman, in a sworn affidavit, said that two soldiers from the 56th IB allegedly forced him to admit that he was a member of the NPA. He was released on July 22, 2011 from V. Luna Hospital and was transferred to the Fort Bonifacio General Hospital where he was again allegedly forced to admit that he is a communist rebel. He told them that was only an ordinary coal maker. Denied due process Norman was subsequently charged for illegal possession of firearms, attempted murder, and violation of Human Security Act. PAHRA, however, was alarmed when they found that Normans family only received the subpoenas on February 2013 two years after the charges were filed. A warrant of arrest was then filed against Norman for attempted homicide on March 11, 2013. Posting a P12,000-bail, Norman was provisionally released. PAHRA said that they are determined to file a case for violations of IHL by the soldiers. They said that the case would have been stronger if they had the ballistics report on the bullets found on the victims bodies as well as the resolution and recommendation by CHR-Region 3. Sagada air strikes destroyed livelihood farms, ancestral lands IP group (Unedited) September 3, 2013 10:49 am THE air strike operations in Mt. Province last week, intended to flush out communist rebels, allegedly destroyed livelihood farms and ancestral hunting grounds, an indigenous group reported on Tuesday. Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) Chairman Piya Macliing Malayao said that the aerial bombings by the Philippine National Police (PNP)- Cordillera allegedly caused collateral damage to the local residents, contrary to the earlier announcements of the regional police.

They caused damages to the peoples land, livelihood, and environment, Malayo said. They also caused immeasurable damage to the psychological and emotional stress on the people. How could police dare say that there are no collateral damages? she added. Malayao said that the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) reported that the bombings lasted seven hours. She claimed the group reported massive damage to the areas communal hunting grounds, forest area, coffee and swidden farms, and watershed areas. She said that the bombings affected many municipalities in the Cordillera region namely: Sagada, Besao and Bontoc. She said that the residents were from the Fidelisan, Dallic and Bontoc tribes whose livelihoods were mainly farming and hunting. Reports last week said that the aerial attacks in Benguet were launched by two police helicopters against a suspected rebel hideout on Friday morning. A TV report also said that the attacks was also an operation in clearing landmines in the area. Two soldiers were reportedly killed over the weekend while three more were wounded as the fight with communist rebels continued. Meanwhile, local government in Sagada suspended all tours to the Bomod-ok Falls due to the ensuing firefight. Residents were also warned to stay away from their farms to avoid the ongoing military operations. KAMP said that air strikes should not be used in military operations to ensure that human rights and international humanitarian laws were upheld. It is disastrous to the welfare of the people, Malayao said. The local government must heed the human rights of its constituents as a primary concern and condemn these air strikes. TITUS EDISON CALAUOR No civilian casualties in Sagada air strikes PNP (Edited) September 3, 2013 8:40 pm by WILLIAM B. DEPASUPIL REPORTER MILITARY helicopters in support of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have launched aerial attacks against elements of the communist New Peoples Army (NPA) in Sagada, Mount Province that resulted in the capture of the rebels camp.

However, an indigenous group reported on Tuesday that the attacks allegedly destroyed livelihood farms and ancestral hunting grounds even as Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala clarified that no civilians were hurt or injured from the two bombing sorties initiated by military helicopters on request of the local police. They were guided air strikes coordinated with police troops on the ground. There were no civilian casualties, Zagala said. The encounter, he added, started on August 29 where two policemen were killed; the firefight ended the following day. It was a purely police operation, Zagala pointed out, adding that the military only came into the picture on the second day after the police requested for aerial support. He said the air strike caused undetermined number of casualties on the rebel side that led to the capture of their camp. According to Zagala, the Maoist rebels should not have been in Mt. Province as it was declared a national peace zone. Collateral damage Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP) chair Piya Macliing Malayao said the aerial bombings caused collateral damage to the local residents, contrary to the earlier announcements of the regional police. They caused damages to the peoples land, livelihood and environment, Malayao said. They also caused immeasurable damage to the psychological and emotional stress on the people. How could police dare say that there are no collateral damages? she added. Malayao said that the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) reported that the bombings lasted seven hours. She claimed the group reported massive damage to the areas communal hunting grounds, forest area, coffee and swidden farms, and watershed areas. She said that the bombings affected many municipalities in the Cordillera region namely, Sagada, Besao and Bontoc. She said that the residents were from the Fidelisan, Dallic and Bontoc tribes whose livelihood were mainly farming and hunting. Reports last week said that the aerial attacks in Benguet were launched by two police helicopters against a suspected rebel hideout on Friday morning. A television report also said the attack was

also an operation in clearing landmines in the area. Two soldiers were reportedly killed over the weekend while three more were wounded as the fight with communist rebels continued. The Sagada local government suspended all tours to the Bomod-ok Falls because of the firefight. Residents were also warned to stay away from their farms to avoid the ongoing military operations. KAMP said that air strikes should not be used in military operations to ensure that human rights and international humanitarian laws were upheld. It is disastrous to the welfare of the people, Malayao said. The local government must heed the human rights of its constituents as a primary concern and condemn these air strikes. WITH REPORT FROM TITUS EDISON CALAUOR

MNLF tagged ASG to sabotage peace process (Unedited) August 14, 2013 1:30 pm The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have now tagged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to sabotage the on-going Bangsamoro peace process in Mindanao, a peace activist said on Wednesday. Peace activist Jun Aparece said that a reliable source among the groups revealed that the recent bombings in Mindanao are actions by the MNLF and the BIFF, motivated in derailing the ongoing peace process in the region. President Benigno Aquino 3rd earlier confirmed reports that the three groups have banded to disrupt the peace negotiations in Mindanao. The recent bombings are handy work of those who oppose the MILF peace talks, Aparece said through a text message. We learned that several ASG members joined MNLF. These ASG members could be utilised by this MNLF faction to execute the bombings and discredit [and] frustrate the MILF peace talks which is gaining positive strides, Aparece added. He identified two terrorist-turned-witnesses that participated in the recent attacks. Robin Sahiyal and Jul Ahmad Ahadi, earlier detained in suspicion of being high-value ASG members, were released in February upon the recommendation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for mistaken identity and lack of probable cause.

They are among the 18 released after the DOJ dropped the criminal charges against them. The two witnesses then testified a month later against human rights advocate Cocoy Tulawie, tagging him as the alleged mastermind of the 2009 assassination attempt on Governor Sakur Tan of Sulu province. The source said the Sahiyal and Ahadi are now active members of the MNLF faction, along with other ASG members, and are currently operating in areas near Marawi City. TITUS EDISON CALAUOR

MNLF, Abu Sayyaf tagged in Mindanao bombings (Edited) August 14, 2013 10:48 pm by TITUS EDISON CALAUOR

A faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had allegedly tapped members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) to conduct bomb attacks in Mindanao in their bid to sabotage the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Peace activist Jun Aparece, quoting a reliable source in the MNLF, on Wednesday said that the recent bombings in Mindanao were ordered by leaders of the MNLF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to derail the peace process. He said the MNLF, BIFF and ASG were the three groups President Benigno Aquino 3rd was referring to when he earlier confirmed reports that there was a deliberate plot to disrupt the peace negotiations in Mindanao. The recent bombings are the handiwork of those who oppose the MILF peace talks, Aparece said. We learned that several ASG members joined MNLF. These ASG members could be utilized by this MNLF faction to execute the bombings and discredit [and] frustrate the MILF peace talks which is gaining positive strides, he added.

He identified two terrorist-turned-witnesses who participated in the recent attacks as Robin Sahiyal and Jul Ahmad Ahadi, who were previously detained on suspicion of being high-value ASG members. The two were released in February upon the recommendation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for mistaken identity and lack of probable cause. Besides Sahiyal and Ahadi, there were 16 others who were released after the DOJ dropped the criminal charges against them. The two witnesses testified a month later against human rights advocate Cocoy Tulawie, tagging him as the alleged mastermind in the 2009 assassination attempt on Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan. The source said Sahiyal and Ahadi are now active members of the MNLF faction, along with other ASG members, and are currently operating in areas near Marawi City.

CHR to launch forest museum in honor of Martial Law victims (Unedited) September 19, 2013 1:31 pm The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday said that they will launch a commemorative Forest Museum in the Quezon Protected Landscape (QPL) in Atimonan town, Quezon province on Friday in honor of martial law heroes who were tortured, missing and killed during the Marcos regime. CHR Chairman Loretta Ann Rosales said in a statement that the forest museum, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), will implement their mandate in preserving the forest ecosystems and upholding human rights and the dignity of the Filipinos. Naming each tree per victim of martial law atrocities will immortalize the memory and the stories of every martial law hero who was tortured and killed during the time of Marcos, Rosales told the 17-member board of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) who unanimously approved the museum. She said that the forest museum will be an extended museum of the Martial Law Heroes Museum that will be launched in Manila soon.

The human rights chair said that representatives of government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations and martial law survivors will tie white ribbons around 25 century-old trees in memory of the martial law heroes. She added that the event was in commemoration to honor victims of Pinagbanderahan in Atimonan where freedom fighters fought and died to raise the Philippine flag on September 21 1972 during World War 2. Martial Law Files Manager Myrna Jimenez named three trees in the forest museum the Trees of Valor. They were the 192-year-old Tanguile, 176-year-old Arangan and 159-year-old Balete trees. The virtues the trees represent are our legacy to the future generations of Filipinos who will ensure that martial law will never happen again, Jimenez said. Rosales said that the protection of natural resources and biodiversity of flora and fauna in QPL reflect the appreciation of the Filipino cultural heritage. The rich literature, songs and music of Quezon against one-man-rule will be collected and placed in the forest museum for the students of today to understand the past, Rosales explained. The forest museum will be linked to elementary, secondary and tertiary schools in Quezon Province to cultivate the human rights consciousness and love of country, she added. TITUS EDISON CALAUOR FOREST MUSEUM HONORS MARTIAL LAW VICTIMS (Edited) September 19, 2013 9:53 pm by TITUS EDISON CALAUOR The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Thursday said that they will launch a commemorative Forest Museum in the Quezon Protected Landscape of Atimonan, Quezon on Friday in honor of martial law heroes who were tortured, missing and killed during the Marcos regime. CHR chair Loretta Ann Rosales said in a statement that the forest museum, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, will implement their mandate in preserving the forest ecosystems and upholding human rights and the dignity of the Filipinos. Naming each tree per victim of martial law atrocities will immortalize the memory and the stories of every martial law hero who was tortured and killed during the time of Marcos, Rosales told the 17-member board of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau who unanimously approved the museum.