It seems there are some contradictions going on with the AFP's intel.
“Certain conditions indicate that the enemy’s recruitment has significantly slowed down following the surrender of Maute-IS remnants,” said Col. Romeo Brawner Jr, spokesperson of Joint Task Force Ranao in a statement.
“According to surrenderers, most of the remnants have been isolated and have lost their will to fight following the series of military operations conducted by the 103rd Brigade in Lanao del Sur,” he added.
Lost the will to fight? Really? If that is the case then where are all the foreign fighters entering the country going? Which groups are they joining?
Professor Rommel Banlaoi, chair of Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said the foreign terrorist fighters monitored to have entered Mindanao came from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Morocco, Spain, France, Tunisia, Iraq, Somali, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China.
But the bulk of the foreign fighters came from Indonesia and Malaysia, which both share maritime borders with the Philippines.
“The [foreign fighters] regard Mindanao as the new land of jihad, safe haven and alternative home base,” Banlaoi said.
Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command, said the Islamic State continued to inspire local sympathizers despite their failure to establish an Islamic territory in Marawi during their five-month siege of the Islamic city last year.
So Maute recruitment is down according to the AFP but ISIS continues to inspire local sympathisers? If it's not Maute then who is it?
Rasco said the team recovered two suspected improvised explosive devices, a kilogram of black powder, electrical wires, a blasting cap, cellular phones and two t-shirts printed with symbols of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Pursuit operations are ongoing against Nilong and his cohorts, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement units, the police official added.
Supt. Aldrin Gonzales, PRO-12 public information officer, said the armed group was linked to terror group Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines (AKP), which had pledged support to the ISIS.
AKP, which originated in Sarangani Province, was reportedly a part of the local network of the Maute Group.
The group supposedly merged with the armed elements based in Polomolok after its leader, Tokboy Maguid, was killed in an encounter with joint operatives in Kiamba, Sarangani in January last year.
So this local group is affialted with both ISIS and Maute! But Maute has lost the will to fight. Too bad for them. MILF will take over the Bangsomoro Region and Maute will have nothing. What is left for them?
“Surrender and live normal lives with your families.”
With these words, Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, police regional director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), appealed Wednesday to remaining members of the Islamic State-linked Maute terrorist group in Lanao del Sur to choose the right path of life.
Surrender and live a normal life with your family? Do these men even have families? Are there women and children waiting at home for them to come back from fighting the infidels? I suppose it could be just that easy. One day you are a terrorist making bombs and fighting the jihad. Next day you are a pedicab driver just trying to make a few pesos for your family. Happens all the time right?
It's not as if Maute members aren't surrendering.
That is just from this month alone. Looking at those stories one would think Maute is slowly turning themselves in. But just what is the truth? The AFP says Maute recruitment is falling but they also say foreign fighters are making their way to the country. I suppose they will have to rack their brains studying this issue.
Galvez said that even if they already talked to some of the religious groups and local government units (LGUs) in the region about extending martial law in Mindanao, the military still needs to conduct further assessment before they submit their recommendation on the matter to President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Next week we will start the assessment with the visitation of EastMinCom (Eastern Mindanao Command) and WestMinCom (Western Mindanao Command),” Galvez said.
“We have already asked some religious (groups) and also some of the LGUs but we need to assess further considering that the assessment will be coming from the AFP should be jointly with the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he added.
WHY ARE THEY CONSULTING WITH RELIGIOUS GROUPS?? There are very specific reasons to declare marital law. These reasons are objective. They are as follows:
The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines and whenever it becomes necessary, he may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion. In case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-vii/
Invasion. Rebellion. Or to protect the public safety. Those are objective reasons. Currently there is no rebellion or invasion. Or is there? There are groups in Mindanao at war with the government. But this has been happening for decades now. There is nothing fundamentally different about the situation in Mindanao now than before the Marawi siege. Terrorist groups still abound. Private armies still roam about. Violence continues to happen. If the AFP decides the public safety requires it then why was there no martial law all this time while Mindanao has been filled with violence?
What is the AFP asking these religious groups? Which religious groups? Muslims? Christians? They literally have nothing to offer when it comes to the imposition of marital law since the imposition of marital law is not done by consensus.
Granted no one cares about the constitutionally valid reasons to declare martial law. Not even politicians who have sworn to uphold the law.
Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu of 2nd District has expressed support to the extension of martial law in Mindanao in the bid to recover all loose firearms.
Mangudadatu, who was here Friday to join the local wine tasting event of “Oktubafest”, said the government has to enforce martial law for another one to two years to achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.
“One to two years is enough to recover all loose firearms and disband private armies. I believe there are still a lot of unlicensed firearms in Mindanao because it is a culture of our Muslim brothers to own guns,” the congressman said.
“As a Muslim Filipino, my call is for us to be united. I want to change the impression of our Christian brothers and sisters about Muslims. We should not have segregation. We only have one government," he added.
Those are not valid reasons to extend martial law. The constitution does not say martial law is a tool that can be used to bring peace or collect firearms or disband private armies. If anything his list of reasons for extending marital law is a confession that Mindanao is a violent region.
Rep Zajid Mangudadatu must not be familiar with the political platform of his Muslim brethren. They want NOTHING to do with Christians or the Philippines. Their ultimate goal is separation. Secession. Their own state. That is what the BOL is all about. It's the first step in that direction.
“The MILF leadership will sustain the gains and products of Moro struggle for the Bangsamoro’s next generation to enjoy”, Hashim emphasized.
“Let us work together in establishing our government, the Bangsamoro Government”, Hashim said.
Eastern Mindanao Front Commander Amerudin “Jack” Abas said “We must fully support the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and ensure that ‘Yes’ votes win during the plebiscite.”
Abas said the Bangsamoro has the capability to govern themselves.
“The BOL is a result of our unity, determination, and steadfastness. As Bangsamoro, we shall continue to move forward for the betterment of our communities and people”, Abas underscored.
“We will act towards one direction for the interest of Bangsamoro people”, Abas concluded.
Read between the lines and never forget the Senate was blasted for including a provision in the BOL that residents of the BOL are Citizens of the Philippines.
“Most [of the original BBL provisions] were contentious,” said Sen. Ralph Recto who, along with Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, introduced most of the amendments.
“[Its] framework to begin with is forming a state, which is unconstitutional, until we adopt a federal form of government,” Recto said.
Drilon successfully moved for the inclusion of a provision reiterating “that the Bangsamoro people are citizens of the Republic of the Philippines.” Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the bill sponsor, said this was opposed by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.
The groundbreaking for Marawi's rehabilitation was supposed to happen already several times but was put on hold to accommodate Duterte's schedule. Now it's back on, without him.
After a dozen postponements, the recent ones due to unavailability of President Rodrigo Duterte, the groundbreaking rites in Marawi’s Ground Zero to signal the start of rehabilitation efforts in the most affected area will finally take place on October 30 but without the President.
Undersecretary Falconi Millar, Secretary-General of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and head of the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Secretariat told MindaNews on October 21 that the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) had confirmed Duterte’s attendance on October 31, exactly nine months and one day since his last visit to Marawi on January 30.
But Millar on Sunday told MindaNews that the PMS had sent word that the President can’t make and that instead of October 31, the groundbreaking rites would be on October 30, to be led by Housing Secretary and TFBM chair Eduardo del Rosario.
No explanation was given about the change in date and Duterte’s absence. “As per PMS, PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) would not be able to attend. Sec EDDR (Eduardo D. Del Rosario) to lead the groundbreaking,” Millar said in a text message to MindaNews.
“No explanation?” MindaNews asked. Millar replied: “No explanation.”
Hopefully they finally will get it underway. It will mark the beginning of more corruption from officials and more complaints from residents.
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