Maniolas

Memories of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolt are vivid in the memory of 58-year-old church volunteer Leo Mabansag.  He recalls telling his girlfriend back then that he will join the mass revolt to topple authoritarian regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos. “It’s still fresh to me, nandun sa lahat ng mga taong present yung emotions of fear at the same time yung excitement. Nasa gitna ka ng EDSA mismo, ang dami ninyo. Halos hindi ka makagalaw sa dami ng tao pero maayos,” Mabansag said to GMA News Online. Unknown to him, his girlfriend also went to EDSA to join the protesters. “I didn’t know that she went there also. Hindi kami nagkita dun pero nung  nagkwentuhan kami a few days after the event, dun namin nalaman na pareho pala kaming nagpunta,” Mabansag said. That same year of 1986, Mabansag, then a 28-year-old former seminarian, married his girlfriend. The couple was blessed with two children. Twenty-nine years after, Mabansag went back to EDSA Shrine – not to call for the resignation of any government leaders but just to offer a prayer and to remember those days. But Mabansag was quite surprised and a bit disappointed. When he arrived at EDSA Shrine to attend a Mass Wednesday morning, only a few people were there, mostly security personnel. It was then that he found out that the Mass usually held at the EDSA Shrine stage was now inside the EDSA Shrine chapel also known as the Mary Queen of Peace church, where Read More …

A former intelligence officer of the Philippine military is wondering why there were so many policemen involved in the January 25 operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.  In a phone interview, retired Navy commodore Rex Robles pointed out that troop movement of that size could easily catch the attention of the residents. “What were those people doing there? Those 300 or so?… Let’s say if you move 50 men in an enemy’s territrory, diba ang danger of detection is very high?… What were these men supposed to do according to operations order? ” Robles told GMA News Online.  The PNP also previously said that 392 SAF commandos were part of the operation to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan. Only 74 clashed with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,  Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups. “Ano ba ang scenario na prinoject nila para magkaroon sila ng ganoon karaming tao?” Robles further asked.  He also explained that the SAF needed at least 10 trucks to bring the police officers to the highway, “Let’s say 30 (people) per truck. You need 10 trucks to bring those people. Sampung truck na nagtatravel, hindi pa sila madedetect?”  He also said that for that kind of operation like Oplan Exodus, three teams of around 100 men are only needed to avoid unwanted attention.  “Troop movements of this size will have to pass through Army check points. The fact should have been reported to GHQ (general Read More …

popular Pregnancy out of wedlock not grounds for dismissal, says SC ‘SAF unit failed to follow plan’ Laughing in Mindanao LIVESTREAM: 29th Edsa People Power Anniversary No plea for ex-CJ Renato Corona in tax evasion cases Why Peping wants Aquino out Purisima admits informing Espina about Oplan Exodus later than Aquino’s order DOTC, Megawide ink deal videos PBA: Ginebra’s LA Tenorio comfortable on the floor with Emman Monfort PBA: Agustin credits good defense, big men performance for win over Purefoods PBA: Warner’s maturity big thing for Globalport, says coach Gonzales Crime watchdog wants advisory body composed of bishops, inter-religious leaders Former Tarlac Governor calls Aquino to resign MANILA, Philippines – The Embassy of South Korea in the Philippines will be imposing stricter requirements for tourist visa applications effective March 1, 2015. From the previous three documents, the Embassy now requires four,  all of which “must be issued within three months on the date of application.” RELATED STORY More Filipinos visiting South Korea—SoKor embassy Get Inquirer updates while on the go, add us on these apps: Related Stories: Australia investigates ‘paedophile’ father in Thai baby scandal Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About Read More …

popular Beermen try to sustain drive vs Road Warriors Mr. C: ‘Ultimate’ a dream show for me, with Martin, Gary, Regine, Lani Mayweather certain of winning super fight DFA clears US of involvement in Mamasapano Laughing in Mindanao While Estrada, Revilla don’t touch ‘jail food’, Enrile eats rationed meal well Message from Monique Wilson to Vice Ganda Albay gov fumes at actor Xian Lim for rejecting promo shirt, book videos PBA: Ginebra’s LA Tenorio comfortable on the floor with Emman Monfort PBA: Agustin credits good defense, big men performance for win over Purefoods PBA: Warner’s maturity big thing for Globalport, says coach Gonzales Crime watchdog wants advisory body composed of bishops, inter-religious leaders Former Tarlac Governor calls Aquino to resign MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino was sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was found guilty of terrorism related-charges, a report from LA Times said. The report said Ralph De Leon and Sohiel Omar Kabir, a 37-year-old Afghanistan-born US citizen, were convicted of plotting to aid jihadists overseas and to kill US soldiers. It said the two accused were guilty of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and conspiring to murder US military personnel as well as government personnel. De leon and Kabir were sentenced by US District Judge Virginia Phillips in Riverside, California on February 23. De Leon was also convicted of conspiring to murder, maim or kidnap overseas, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the US attorney’s office.In a handwritten letter, De Leon said to the court Read More …

Relieved SAF chief Getulio Napeñas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The United States indeed helped the Philippines in terms of intelligence sharing during the Mamasapano operation but not in actual combat operations, relieved Philippine National Police-Special Action Force head Director Getulio Napeñas told a Senate hearing on Tuesday. It was Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto who again brought up during the Senate hearing on incident the issue about the alleged US’ involvement in the operation, citing among others, the Google Maps and US drones that were allegedly used to guide the SAF troopers to locate Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan.” “Merong eropanong lumilipad na nagbibigay sa inyo ng aerial view sa command center n’yo that there are American operatives also in their command center na napanaoood n’yo in real time. ‘Yung 84th SAF habang binaril si Marwan, habang kinukuha n’yo ‘yung 84th SAF napapanood n’yo in real time e,” Recto said. (There was a drone which gave you an aerial view in your command center that there were also American operatives also in their command center whom could also see real time. You could also see in real time while Marwan was being shot and while 84th SAF men were being extracted.) “Tumulong ‘yung US counterpart dun sa intelligence but the details of intelligence sharing ay madi-discuss po ‘yan ni Senior Supt. Mendez,” Napeñas said, referring to PNP Intelligence Group Director Fernando Mendez. (Our US counterpart helped in the intelligence gathering, but the details of intelligence sharing will be discussed by Senior Supt. Mendez.) “Meron kaming isang US counterpart du’n sa Seaborn who’s working with them in terms of training…Kasama po na ibinibigay nila ‘yung Read More …