Palace confirms deaths of Omar Maute, Isnilon Hapilon

 Entertainment
Oct 212017
 

MANILA, Oct 16 (Mabuhay) — Malacañang on Monday confirmed the death of pro-ISIS Maute group leader Omar Maute and Abu Sayyaf subleader and supposed ISIS emir in Southeast Asia Isnilon Hapilon.

“We confirm that government forces killed Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon early morning today, Monday, the 16th of October in Marawi City,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement, which echoed the earlier announcement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

He said that an initial report from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ground commanders in Marawi mentioned that both Maute and Hapilon were neutralized while government troops were conducting an operation to retake the remaining stronghold of the terrorists in the city.

“Our operating units have already recovered their bodies… Mopping up operations are now underway. Details of the operation will be released by the AFP as soon as permissible,” Abella said.

He added that the termination of hostilities would be announced once government troops neutralize or capture the remaining terrorists holed up in Marawi and once they clear all structures of improvised explosive devices and other traps.

“Once the fighting stops and the clearing operations end, we will put our efforts and energies on the challenging task of rebuilding and rehabilitating Marawi,” Abella said. (MNS)

Duterte won’t allow civil war under his watch

 Entertainment
Jun 242017
 
Duterte won’t allow civil war under his watch

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte stresses that those who sow terror will receive a harsh response during his speech upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 on Wednesday (May 24, 2017). A day earlier, President Duterte declared Martial law in Mindanao and had to cut short his official visit to the Russian Federation to oversee the terror crisis which erupted in Marawi City. He also thanked Russia President Vladimir Putin and the Russian government for giving the Philippine delegation a warm welcome in Moscow. (MNS photo) MANILA, June 21 (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday, June 20, said his administration will not allow a civil war to break out among Filipinos suffering the brunt of war. “Ang malakas na driving force nila mapalitan na itong nationalism o ‘yung paghinakit nila nawalaan sila ng lupa at malipat doon sa ISIS na philosophy, gulo na ‘yan,” the Chief Executive told soldiers during his visit at Camp BGen. Edilberto Evangelista Station Hospital, 4th Infantry Division in Cagayan de Oro City. “Gulo na ‘yan kasi ang mga Kristiyano sa Mindanao, mag-a-armas rin. Iyan ang ating hindi na pwedeng payagan kasi ‘pag ang mag-armas na ang civilian rin, it will be a civil war,” the President noted. The Chief Executive visited wounded-in-action soldiers and awarded them Wounded Personnel Medals. They also received cash aid, among other assistance. “So ang trabaho natin dalawa na: How to hold itong mga Kristiyanos na may armas at ito namang IS sa Maute. Kaya ang Read More …

Kiko Pangilinan vows to oppose nationwide martial law declaration

 Entertainment
May 272017
 
Kiko Pangilinan vows to oppose nationwide martial law declaration

Pangilinan in 2015(Wikipedia) MANILA, May 25 (Mabuhay) — Senator Francis Pangilinan said Thursday there is no basis for President Rodrigo Duterte to raise the possibility of placing the entire Philippines under martial in order to defeat terrorist groups. “While there may be isolated terrorist acts in these areas, there exists no Visayas-wide nor a Luzon-wide invasion or rebellion to merit the declaration of martial law as allowed under our Constitution,” Pangilinan said. “Absent any nationwide rebellion or invasion, we will vigorously oppose a nationwide martial law declaration,” he added. Pangilinan said a nationwide martial law declaration would only bring more suffering to the people and would not address poverty and joblessness. At a news conference upon his arrival from Russia on Wednesday, Duterte pointed to the projected arrival of ISIS in the country and the open defiance of lawless armed groups in Marawi City led by Maute group as the “compelling reason” for his declaration of martial law in Mindanao. The President said he might also expand the coverage of martial law to cover the whole country “if ISIS has already taken foothold in Luzon and terrorism is really not far behind.” “While we have given our critical and guarded support for the martial law declaration in order to defeat the Maute/Hapilon group in Marawi, we do not believe that martial law should be declared in the Visayas or Luzon,” said Pangilinan, president of the former ruling Liberal Party.

Kiko Pangilinan vows to oppose nationwide martial law declaration

 Entertainment
May 272017
 
Kiko Pangilinan vows to oppose nationwide martial law declaration

Pangilinan in 2015(Wikipedia) MANILA, May 25 (Mabuhay) — Senator Francis Pangilinan said Thursday there is no basis for President Rodrigo Duterte to raise the possibility of placing the entire Philippines under martial in order to defeat terrorist groups. “While there may be isolated terrorist acts in these areas, there exists no Visayas-wide nor a Luzon-wide invasion or rebellion to merit the declaration of martial law as allowed under our Constitution,” Pangilinan said. “Absent any nationwide rebellion or invasion, we will vigorously oppose a nationwide martial law declaration,” he added. Pangilinan said a nationwide martial law declaration would only bring more suffering to the people and would not address poverty and joblessness. At a news conference upon his arrival from Russia on Wednesday, Duterte pointed to the projected arrival of ISIS in the country and the open defiance of lawless armed groups in Marawi City led by Maute group as the “compelling reason” for his declaration of martial law in Mindanao. The President said he might also expand the coverage of martial law to cover the whole country “if ISIS has already taken foothold in Luzon and terrorism is really not far behind.” “While we have given our critical and guarded support for the martial law declaration in order to defeat the Maute/Hapilon group in Marawi, we do not believe that martial law should be declared in the Visayas or Luzon,” said Pangilinan, president of the former ruling Liberal Party.

Duterte meets Putin at Kremlin before heading to PH

 Entertainment
May 272017
 
Duterte meets Putin at Kremlin before heading to PH

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte meets with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow prior to his return to the Philippines. President Duterte on May 24, 2017 opted to skip his scheduled engagements and cut short his official visit to the Russian Federation immediately after declaring a state of Martial Law in Mindanao due to the terror crisis that gripped Marawi City.(MNS photo) MOSCOW, May 25 (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin shortly before his scheduled departure for the Philippines. The two leaders smiled and shook hands with each other upon meeting. Putin returned to Moscow Tuesday evening to meet the Philippine President, who cut short his visit because of a terror attack in Marawi. Duterte explained the reason for his abrupt departure, saying he had a problem with the ISIS and had to head home to attend to the urgent matter. He offered friendship to Putin and assured the Russian President that the Philippines has gone beyond the ambit of western influence. He asked for a soft loan as well, saying the United States had cancelled the Philippines’ arms purchase from it. Putin, in turn, condoled with Duterte for the Marawi attack and hoped that it would be resolved with minimum losses. He also vowed improved relations with the Philippines. They could cooperate in the military sphere, he said. Other promising areas of cooperation were energy, machine building, and infrastructure, he said. (MNS)

Duterte meets Putin at Kremlin before heading to PH

 Entertainment
May 272017
 
Duterte meets Putin at Kremlin before heading to PH

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte meets with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow prior to his return to the Philippines. President Duterte on May 24, 2017 opted to skip his scheduled engagements and cut short his official visit to the Russian Federation immediately after declaring a state of Martial Law in Mindanao due to the terror crisis that gripped Marawi City.(MNS photo) MOSCOW, May 25 (Mabuhay) — President Rodrigo Duterte met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin shortly before his scheduled departure for the Philippines. The two leaders smiled and shook hands with each other upon meeting. Putin returned to Moscow Tuesday evening to meet the Philippine President, who cut short his visit because of a terror attack in Marawi. Duterte explained the reason for his abrupt departure, saying he had a problem with the ISIS and had to head home to attend to the urgent matter. He offered friendship to Putin and assured the Russian President that the Philippines has gone beyond the ambit of western influence. He asked for a soft loan as well, saying the United States had cancelled the Philippines’ arms purchase from it. Putin, in turn, condoled with Duterte for the Marawi attack and hoped that it would be resolved with minimum losses. He also vowed improved relations with the Philippines. They could cooperate in the military sphere, he said. Other promising areas of cooperation were energy, machine building, and infrastructure, he said. (MNS)