Maniolas

Instead of calling it a setback, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara sees the temporary suspension in deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as a chance for lawmakers to mull the possible impact of the measure. Angara said it is a good thing that the House of Representatives can take a breather from discussing the Bangsamoro bill considering the breakneck speed that the panel created to work on the bill has been holding discussions. “Maganda na ring nagkaroon ng break or tigil dito sa usapin ng BBL dahil parang tren itong BBL na napakabilis. Mga 20 hearing na sa Kamara at tatlo sa Senado. Mabuti nang nagkaroon muna ng tigil sa debate dito para mapag-isipan natin kung talagang gusto nating pasukin ito,” he told dzBB radio in an interview Sunday. Angara is one of the co-authors of the BBL at the Senate. Shortly after the bloody Jan. 25 clash, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito withdrew as co-authors of the bill. While stressing he supports the concept of peace “in general,” Angara said efforts to attain it should be balanced with justice, especially in light of the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos during a clash with Moro rebels last Jan. 25.  “Eh sa ngayon parang dehado pa ang estado eh, parang masama pa ang loob, so maghintay-hintay pa tayo. Sana ang MILF naman ay magpakita sila ng [participation] sa trust-building dahil nawala ang tiwala sa kanila eh. Makapagpakita man lang sila Read More …

Security forces are keeping an eye out against security threats, including possible retaliation by allies of Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan who was killed during an operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) in Mamasapano town last month, a Palace official said Sunday. “Patuloy ang mahigpit na pagmamanman at pagbabantay ng ating mga security authorities sa anumang banta sa seguridad ng buong bansa, kabilang na po rito ang Sandatahang Lakas, Pambansang Kapulisan, NBI at iba pang bahagi ng ating security authorities,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said on government-run dzRB. “Nananatiling naka-alerto ang buong Sandatahang Lakas at ang Pambansang Pulisya upang mapangalagaan ang katahimikan at kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan,” Coloma added. According to a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras,” two of Marwan’s students tried to detonate a bomb in Pikit, North Cotabato two days after the SAF reportedly killed Marwan during the Jan. 25 operation.  The elite police commandos went to Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last month to serve arrest warrants on Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Basit Usman. The Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this month said the DNA sample it received from Philippine authorities showed it came from Marwan. Security forces are hunting down Usman, who managed to escape during a clash between SAF troopers and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said Usman was reportedly wounded after the police operation, Read More …

DOH, WHO give update on MERS-CoV. Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin (left) gives an update on the first confirmed MERS-CoV case in the Philippines during a press conference at the DOH building in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Friday, February 13. She said at least three tests should be done to determine if the patient is positive of the dreaded virus. Also in photo are Dr. Julie Hall, country representative of the World Health Organization, and Lourdes Cataquis, mayor of San Pedro, Laguna, where the patient resides. Danny Pata At least two more people are being monitored for showing symptoms of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, the Department of Health said Sunday. GMA News reported the DOH indicated the two are co-passengers of the Filipino nurse who tested positive for MERS-CoV. It did not immediately provide further details on the two co-passengers. A separate report on dzBB radio said 11 people the nurse came into contact with tested negative for symptoms of the disease in the second round of tests. The MERS-CoV case had caused a scare last Friday in a Laguna hospital where the nurse was initially brought. It also caused alarm in a nearby school.   Also, last Friday the DOH asked the remaining 128 passengers abroad the Saudi Airlines flight 860 to come forward and agreed to be tested for precaution.   Moreover, it said 96 of the 220 passengers on the flight that the Filipina nurse was in had been located and all agreed to undergo Read More …

A former Arroyo administration official has met with members of the police Special Action Force to try to convince them to withdraw support for President Benigno Aquino III, a political strategist said. In a report on “24 Oras” aired on Saturday, political strategist and Council of Philippine Affairs secretary-general Pastor “Boy” Saycon said he was at the meeting with some of the elite Philippine National Police troopers who were in a Jan. 25 firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Saycon did not name the official allegedly meeting with SAF personnel.    He added he was invited to the meeting by former Tarlac Gov. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco. Cojuangco has said neither she nor Saycon are part of a rumored destabilization plot against Aquino. “Marami daw nag-iimbita…na mag-withdraw ng support. Sabi ko nga sa kanila, remain in the chain of command. Do not be enticed,” Saycon said. Talk of coup plots have been floating since 44 SAF troopers were killed in a clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, members of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups in the Mamasapano area. Also killed in the clash were 18 MILF fighters and seven civilians. On Friday, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV made a vague reference to the “political opposition” as being behind the supposed plot.  “Lahat lahat na, sama sama na lahat ng against kay PNoy,” he said. The Palace said on Thursday that the military is ready to thwart any coup attempt.  Earlier this month, the Department of National Defense Read More …

Malacañang on Saturday downplayed anew calls by some groups for President Benigno Aquino III to resign from office following the Jan. 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that killed 44 Special Action Force troopers. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that while the Palace will respect the sentiments of groups critical of Aquino, it will still wait for the Board of Inquiry findings on the Jan. 25 incident. “I suppose all these are demonstrations of free expression, and it’s something that is respect(ed). Again, we are in the midst of several inquiries. While we respect their choice to express themselves in those manners, we will wait for the results of the Board of Inquiry kasi dapat malaman ang katotohanan,” Lacierda said on government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. Lacierda’s statement was in response to a question regarding a group’s plan to hold protests on Feb 22. to call for Aquino’s resignation. At least one group – EDSA dos bente dos Coalition – has threatened to stage protests starting Feb. 22. It hinted at a “nationwide simultaneous event” involving motorcades and an “ecumenical Mass” in Metro Manila on that date. The Jan. 25 incident had triggered an outpouring of sympathy from Filipinos for the slain 44 and their families. It also triggered outrage and calls for accountability. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News