Maniolas

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

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Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Friday corroborated talk of a destabilization plot, pointing at members of the “political opposition” as organizers of rallies that are expected to start next week. Trillanes, who himself participated in failed mutinies against the Arroyo administration, said, though, that no members of the military have attended planning meetings. “Ang profile ay political oppositon, some civil society groups, Catholic church, some leftist groups,” he said but did not specify which groups. He also declined from naming the supposedly rich financier behind the plot. “Yung mayaman? Di natin puwedeng sabihin pero magkaka-konekonekta yan. Yung mga players na yan, magkakadikit sila,” he said. Asked whether the supposed plotters are associated with the Arroyo administration, Trillanes replied: “Lahat lahat na, sama sama na lahat ng against kay PNoy.” He stressed, though that nobody from the military is involved in the plans, which supposedly involve massive rallies to “ride on” public sentiment over the Mamasapano incident. “Pilit nilang ikino-konekta kay Pangulong Aquino ang insidente para ma-direct sa kanya ang galit . That is their formula,” he said. He said, though, that blame for the clash that killed 44 members of the elite police Special Action Force after a mission to get terrorists Zulkilfi Bin Hir (alias Marwan) and Abdul Basit Usman in a Maguindanao town rests with  Director Getulio Napeñas Jr., who was relieved as SAF chief after the Jan. 25 clash. “Sa amin (military) kasi, simple mag-isip. Sa mata ng isang opisyal, kapag binigyan ka ng misyon, bibigyan kang Read More …

The Philippine government is standing firm on diplomacy despite a US military official’s statement that China is preparing to use military force in disputed areas in the South China Sea. At a press briefing on Friday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippines is determined to settle its territorial dispute with China through international arbitration. “Hindi natitinag ang posisyon ng ating pamahalaan hinggil sa pangangailangan na pairalin ang isang rules-based approach sa pagharap sa mga usapin sa West Philippine Sea o South China Sea,” Coloma told reporters in Malacañang. The Palace official was reacting to a statement made by US Navy Captain James Fanell, the outgoing intelligence chief of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet, that China “has been and continues to prepare to use military force” in the South China Sea. The Philippines and China have been engaged in a territorial dispute over parts of the South China Sea , which Manila calls the “West Philippine Sea,” over the past years. The Philippines claims that the disputed territories are part of its exclusive economic zone under the international law. China, meanwhile, is asserting its historical claim over the area through the “nine-dash line.” Last year, the Philippines brought its territorial dispute with China before the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration. Beijing, however, has rejected the arbitration proceedings, repeatedly insisting on bilateral talks to settle to issue.  Coloma further said that the Philippines will continue to push a code of conduct with China and other Southeast Asian countries to resolve Read More …