Maniolas

Senate committee findings on Mamasapano clash bared. Senator Grace Poe on Tuesday shows the findings of the Senate committee on public order, which she heads, regarding its investigation on the January 25 Mamasapano incident. She said President Benigno Aquino III is responsible for the operation when he allowed suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima to oversee it. Benjie Castro The Senate report on the Mamasapno clash concluded that the ongoing peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was one factor that influenced the actions of the Philippine Armed Forces during the January 25 “misencounter.” “The AFP, as a party to the cessation of hostilities with the MILF may have been constrained by the peace process, considered as the centerpiece of our current national security program,” an executive summary of the Senate report on the Mamasapano clash read.  The report also concluded that had the AFP  been more aggressive and had fired white phosphorous and high explosive artillery rounds earlier during the encounter, “it is possible that the battle might have ended sooner” and loss of lives would have been minimized. The report noted that it was late on January 25, at 5:48 p.m. 11 hours into the firefight, when the AFP first fired white phosphorous rounds, which was seen as crucial in driving away the opposing force that engaged the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) commandos. Some 44 SAF police commados were killed in the clash. The report, however, also pointed out that the AFP could Read More …

PNoy visits wounded soldiers at V. Luna. President Benigno Aquino III visits wounded soldiers confined at the V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City on Monday afternoon, March 16. Aquino thanked the injured troopers for their gallantry and bravery during their separate encounters with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, and the Abu Sayaff in Jolo and Basilan. Benhur Arcayan Liberal Party (LP) executives have downplayed  the steep decline in President Benigno Aquino III’s trust and approval ratings as a minor dip in the public’s level of satisfaction in his performance and expressed confidence the public will still remember him for reforms than the Mamasapano incident.  LP whip for Visayas Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas said the 21-percent dip in Aquino’s trust and approval ratings isn’t a cause for alarm even if he acknowledged that the President’s numbers were affected by the public outcry over the Mamasapano incident.  “Until the people have clearer answers to the questions [about what happened in Mamasapano], I think public sentiment will continue to be high and affect the President’s rating in the survey,” he said. Asked if the drop in Aquino’s rating is a cause for concern, Treñas said: “I don’t think so. I think the Mamasapano will finally come to an end because conclusions will soon be arrived since we’re already waiting for the results of all the ongoing investigations… I believe the people will see through the results and realize the President has done everything correctly within his control.” Caloocan Read More …

The Philippines has called on the international community to press for a stop to massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea that could increase tension in the disputed area. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary Evan Garcia said at the 17th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held in New Delhi on March 14 that “such unbridled reclamation activity worsens an already sensitive geopolitical situation and raises the specter of increasing militarization.”  The DFA also said that Indian Minister of External Affairs Anil Wadha assured the Philippines “that India will encourage the peaceful resolution of the dispute.” On Thursday, the Philippines called on China to stop reclamation work in contested areas in the South China Sea, including in areas that Philippine officials say are within Manila’s territory. A latest surveillance photo of Burgos Reef (Gaven Reef), according to Philippine defense officials, showed that China has constructed a building as large as the Mall of Asia in Pasay City – Manila’s biggest shopping mall. “We are strongly opposed to the reclamation for several reasons because very clearly it is intended to change the status quo, the character and feature, including maritime entitlements, of features in the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose told reporters then. — JDS, GMA News

In light of recent disasters, especially Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, a non-governmental organization urged the Philippine government to pass a law to protect children during calamities and other emergency situations. Save the Children country director Ned Olney said in a statement this week that Senate Bill 2446 or the proposed Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act will “mitigate the impact of disasters on education” through proper planning and investments. “The [proposed act] is asking for investments to make school facilities safer, setting limits on the use of classrooms as displacement centers and in preparing children and teachers for disasters,” Olney said. If passed into law, the bill will: 1) Enhance and institutionalize protection of children affected by natural disasters and calamities; 2) Provide Congress a strengthened oversight mandate to ensure child protection in disasters; and 3) Address policy gaps in current laws of importance to child welfare. “Disasters have a huge impact on education. However, it does not have to be that way. Proper planning can help us to mitigate the impact of disasters on education,” Olney added. The psychological distress that children suffer after disasters, which affects their ability to learm,  will also be addressed. The House of Representatives approved its version of the bill on third reading in January. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a press statement in February that it would pass through the Senate soon and will be signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III “in due time”. Save the Children will call Read More …

Police investigators present Mamasapano report. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief and Board of Inquiry (BOI) chairperson Director Benjamin Magalong (center) holds up the BOI’s much-anticipated report on the Mamasapano clash. Looking on are his colleagues in the BOI, Directorate for Research and Development executive officer Chief Superintendent Catalino Rodriguez Jr. (L) and Directorate for Integrated Police Operations executive officer for Eastern Mindanao Chief Supt. John Sosito. Amanda Fernandez Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former national police chief, on Friday commended the Board of Inquiry for its report on the Mamasapano clash last January 25. “The BOI and the people behind it deserve commendation,” Lacson said on Twitter. “They did their job well, without fear or favor and according to their sworn duty.” Lacson also also left a message for Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group head Director Benjamin Magalong. “Your career ends when you retire; your character stays until the day you die. You can’t go wrong with the truth,” read his message. Prior to the release of the report, Magalong told reporters that the investigation panel could look “look straight into the eyes of the family members of the SAF 44.” “We are confident that we were able to seek out the truth,” Magalong said. “Haharap kami sa tao na hindi mahihiya, kasama sa mga pamilya ng namatayan,” he said. Forty-four members of the PNP-SAF were killed after one of its teams neutralized suspected international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in alleged MILF territory in Read More …