Martial Law: Lessons Learned Part 2

This is not only the last blog post of 2019 but it is the last blog post about martial law in Mindanao and the last post about lessons learned during martial law. The remaining categories to look at are Policy, Foreign Assistance, and Marawi and Mindanao.

3. Policy

Duterte's decision to extend martial law a third time for the whole of 2018 was the spark that caused certain Senators to bring a suit before the Supreme Court.  Those who supported martial law thought the suit was stupid and superfluous but they were wrong because the verdict set a stunning legal precedent.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/966785/sc-congress-may-indefinitely-prolong-martial-law

“The Constitution is silent on how many times Congress may extend a proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus,” the court said in a decision written for the majority by Associate Justice Noel Tijam. 

“The manner of Congress’ deliberation with respect to the President’s request for extension of martial law in Mindanao for one year is not subject to judicial review,” it added. 

The court said the 30-year-old Constitution “does not fix a period for the duration of any extension of a proclamation or suspension but expressly leaves the matter to Congress.” 

“Congress has the power to extend and determine the period of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus under Article VII, Section 18 of the 1987 Constitution,” the court said. 

“If the Constitutional Commission had intended to limit any extension to 60 days, it would have been expressly stated and would not have been left to Congress,” it ruled.

Like it or love it, indefinite martial law via extension is now 100% constitutional. Future presidents who decide to impose martial law can do so with impunity as long as Congress concurs with them. Surprisingly enough in the proposed federal constitution the statement about martial law is given word for word as in the current constitution with no change to reflect this ruling from the Supreme Court.

(b) In case of invasion, rebellion, or lawless violence, when the public safety requires it, he may, for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days, suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus or place the Philippines or any part thereof under martial law. Within forty-eight (48) hours from the proclamation of martial law or the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, the President shall submit a report in person or in writing to the Congress. The Congress, voting jointly, by a vote of at least a majority of all its Members in regular or special session, may revoke such proclamation or suspension, which revocation shall not be set aside by the President. Upon the initiative of the President, the Congress may, in the same manner, extend such proclamation or suspension for a period to be determined by the Congress, if the invasion or rebellion shall persist and public safety requires it.

https://pederalismo.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Concom-Final-Official-Copy-Proposed-Federal-Constitution.pdf

Maybe legal precedent precludes any need to change the wording in this part of the constitution.

Another policy change is the imposition of martial law itself which is to say the way it was carried out.  Last week I wrote that Mindanao was under the rigorous military rule of martial law but that is not exactly true. From the beginning we were told this would be a different kind of martial law.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/615054/afp-on-duterte-s-marcos-type-martial-law-nationwide-but-sans-abuses/story/

Padilla said the military is making sure human rights are not violated during the current implementation of martial law in Mindanao, based on Duterte’s Proclamation No. 216. 

“You can see how the military is implementing martial law now, its complete regard for human rights and IHL [International humanitarian law] and the other protocols that have been established. So if there are any complaints, we are open to receiving those complaints and acting on it immediately,” Padilla said. 

“And that is also one of the instructions of the President previously that you also may have heard that he must ensure we are able to protect and save lives,” he added, referring to Duterte’s statement that law-abiding citizens need not worry about martial law.

Aside from vowing to implement an abuse-free martial law it seems the AFP put in place an invisible martial law.

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/philippine-officials-consider-extending-martial-law-mindanao

Martial law lets troops and police work together without normal legal checks and balances. Authorities can also enforce curfews and randomly search vehicles. 

But in much of Mindanao, martial law is hardly noticeable. Around the port city Cagayan de Oro, for example, cars stop only between the domestic airport and downtown for routine checks. Police do not enforce curfews in the downtown mega-malls, upscale restaurants and major high-rise hotel. 

Road checkpoints turn up more often on highways around the Bangsamoro region, home to some 3.8 million mostly Muslim Filipinos. 

Just how was martial law implemented in Mindanao? LGU's and the PNP claimed the crime rate dropped during martial law but that may be due to the psychological effects of knowing martial law has been declared rather than the heavy presence of AFP troops and PNP officers. Attacks continued to happen even with martial law in place. These attacks include NPA, ISIS suicide bombings, and armed ridos or clan wars.  The AFP should look in depth at how martial law was implemented and at it's true effectiveness or ineffectiveness.

4. Foreign Assistance

When the Marawi siege ended Duterte thanked the Chinese for sending the gun that killed Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon. It was all a lie. 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-militants-killing/doubts-about-smoking-gun-as-duterte-lauds-china-role-in-rebel-killing-idUSKBN1CP19W

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was eager to credit new ally Beijing in the death of militant leader Isnilon Hapilon, saying it was a Chinese rifle that fired the bullet that finished off Islamic State’s “emir” in Southeast Asia. 

The smoking gun that took out the region’s most feared insurgent on Monday was one of the 100 sniper rifles donated by China, Duterte said, although the ranger unit conducting the operation said the shot was fired from a heavier weapon mounted on an armored vehicle.  

“I would like to officially inform you, Ambassador Zhao, that the rifle that killed Hapilon was a sniper rifle made in China,” Duterte announced late on Thursday, to warm applause from the crowd.  

But the version of the final hours of the life of Hapilon and another rebel leader, Omarkhayam Maute, posted on the Facebook page of a member of the Army Scout Rangers, tells a different story.  

The blow-by-blow account on “Scout Ranger Books”, posted the day Hapilon was killed, tells of how the 8th Scout Ranger Company was engaging militants and was not aware the rebel commanders were among those they killed, until fleeing hostages told them.  

The soldiers operating at night used thermal imaging on an armored vehicle and the shot that killed Hapilon came from a gun mounted on top of it, according to the account. No mention was made of Chinese weapons or snipers.

A complete and total lie. The news about American involvement was also a lie. It started out by Duterte saying he was unaware the Americans were helping in Marawi.

http://davaotoday.com/main/politics/duterte-unaware-of-us-role-in-marawi-admits-philippine-army-is-pro-american/

President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday said he is not aware of the role played by the US Special Forces in Marawi City. 

“I am not aware of that until they arrived,” Duterte said in an interview with the press inside the Camp Brig. General Edilberto Evangelista on Sunday afternoon. 

Duterte also added that he has not approached any country, not even from the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which he heads, to ask for help in fighting terrorism in Marawi. He said the government forces is capable of fighting. 

“Wala, wala. I have not done that. I have not made an appeal. I said I did not even know that the American government has been providing technical… So we better see to our own… I never approached any American to say that, “Tumulong kayo.” (No, no, I have not done that. I have not made an appeal… I never approached any American to say “help us”)” Duterte said.

What a bold faced lie.  A lie of omission. Duterte does not need to ask the Americans for assistance because they are always providing assistance. Weapons, training, intelligence, the whole she-bang. It is also inconceivable that the commander-in-chief would not know if a foreign military was assisting his own.  DND Secretary let the cat out of the bag a few months later.

It has always been the US helping the Philippines. Not long after the Marawi siege Operation Enduring Freedom morphed into Operation Pacific Eagle. This operation is a collaboration between the US military and the AFP.  The US provides weapons, training, and intelligence assistance. While the Philippines has received weapons from China and Russia and even Israel the USA remains the primary partner of the Philippines regarding national security.

This partnership will remain intact for the foreseeable future no matter what bad things Dutere says about America. The AFP should take advantage of the Americans by learning all they can and applying it properly.

5. Marawi and Mindanao

We all know that martial was declared over the whole of Mindanao because of the Marawi siege. Martial was kept in place so the AFP could wipe out the rest of the terrorist forces.  While the AFP has not let up in the war against terrorism some of these groups have continued to wreck havoc in the region. Most recently is the attack in North Cotabato allegedly but the BIFF which is aligned with ISIS.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1205167/afp-blames-biff-for-mindanao-blasts-that-wounded-23-people

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) for the series of explosions that rocked central Mindanao on Sunday night, wounding 23 people, including nine soldiers.

But the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) splinter group denied it had a hand in the explosions, saying it does not attack civilians.

Why is the MILF apologising for the BIFF?  The point here is that despite martial law attacks have continued to happen. Under martial law suicide bombers became a reality for the first time. One of this bombers was a Filipino despite the fact that the public was repeatedly told that would never happen because Filipinos are not disposed to commit such an attack.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1813641

Lasuca was the first Filipino who was reported to have carried out a suicide bombing. He was responsible for the first blast on June 28 which also resulted in the killing of three soldiers.

Even though terrorism continued the PNP claimed that regular types of crime dropped substantially each year martial law was in effect.

Citing crime data, Corpus said that the region registered an eight percent reduction for 2017, 30.06 percent reduction in 2018 and 27.04 percent from January to October this year. 

The decrease covers the Eight Focus Crimes such as Murder, Homicide, Rape, Physical Injury, Robbery, Theft, carnapping and stealing of motorcycles and also on crimes covered by special laws and ordinances. 

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/11/23/police-commanders-in-central-mindanao-favor-martial-law-extension/

The people claimed they felt safer and that they loved martial law.  "Martial law forever," said some Mindanaoans proving that Mindanao is such a wild place that martial law is necessary to tame it.

Marawi has not fared well at all since the end of the siege. After several false starts the rubble was cleared paving the way for rebuilding the city. However the rebuilding is going with no input from residents. Problems abounded with a lack of property permits so that demolition of buildings and compensation to owners was largely impossible.  The people of Marawi have rightly complained that they have been forgotten by the government. Eventually the city will be rebuilt but likely not by the target year of 2020.  

Mindanao has calmed down since the Marawi siege and the number of ISIS followers has decreased  but the island is basically right back where it was before martial law. It remains a land of lawless violence which foreign countries have warned their citizens not to visit. Islamic terror groups as well as clan warfare between private families with their large private armies continue to endanger the populace. It seems martial law has had little effect on Mindanao. Only a comprehensive study by the AFP would reveal the total effects martial law had on Mindanao.

So what can we learn from two and a half years of martial law in Mindanao? I think the biggest lesson is that the AFP is inconsistent in the way it has prosecuted the war on terrorism. They are eager for the fight but underestimate ISIS. They set deadlines and then they move the goalposts saying the previous deadline was impossible. They declare the terrorist groups to be irrelevant but each group is able to attract new members and wage campaign against the government. And this has been standard operating procedure for years for the AFP. In 50 years of fighting against communists and Muslims the AFP continues to make the same mistakes. Without a serious and thorough change in the way the AFP fights the war on terrorism will last another 50 years. It's not impossible that the AFP will change but it's not likely. Now after this fiasco with doctored photographs the AFP is not going to start 2020 off on a positive note.

The Nightcrawlers Documentary Review

Two documentaries about the Philippines' drug war have been released in 2019. The first one, On the President's Orders, caught the ire of the Palace with Panleo calling the film black propaganda before he even saw it. The second, The Nightcrawlers, appears to have slipped under Panelo's radar.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/films/the-nightcrawlers/#/

National Geographic, which is the studio releasing this documentary, describes the film thusly:

With unprecedented access, The Nightcrawlers is an unflinching exposé of Philippines President Duterte’s war on drugs, in which some claim over 20,000 people have been killed. RL, a former staff photographer for a prominent newspaper, leads the Manila Nightcrawlers, a small group of determined photojournalists on a mission to expose the true cost of the violent campaign. Through covering both sides of the conflict, The Nightcrawlers reveals a harrowing twist behind Duterte’s deadly crusade.

Just what they mean by "covering both sides  of the conflict" as well as the "harrowing twist" is not clear to me at all after having viewed the film.

Nightcrawler is the term for a photojournalist who works the night shift documenting crimes. In this movie there are two groups of nightcrawlers. The first is the group of the photojournalists. The second is a group of alleged assassins who call themselves "The Group." The film actually starts off on an island where members of The Group are preparing to go out on a mission.  We see them clean their weapons, sail to the mainland, and the camera follows their motorcycle as they ride into the city.

We then meet the real star of this picture, Raffy Lerma. He is racing to a scene to take pictures of another dead body. This time the victim is a 15 year old boy. Amazingly we even witness the moment he takes his world famous Pieta photograph.

With all the voice overs from Duterte about wanting to kill drug users and pushers and from various media reciting the body count one is left with the distinct impression that the man in this photo, Michael Siaron, is an EJK victim done in by the cops or The Group. The filmmaker never tells the audience that Michael was a drug pusher and that his killer was a man who worked for a drug syndicate named Nesty Santiago. Whether or not you buy the PNP's assertion of that the filmmaker should have included that information somewhere in the film.  Perhaps at the end where they include the following tidbits:

"Police collusion with extrajudicial killings was noted in Amnesty's 2017 report which cited senior police figures as the source."

As far as covering both sides of the conflict we never hear a single word from the police in their defence. We only hear from the journalists and the alleged assassins. At just past the thirty minute mark the film takes a surprising twist and leaves the Philippines altogether. We see Raffy Lerma as a guest on Democracy Now, a radio show out of NYC, and we see him at a bar speaking to the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok. The last 10 minutes of the film is basically Raffy Lerma the Crusading Journalist. His pictures will stop the killings.

At 30:25 the film shows us an art installation by Carlo Gabuco. On the wall are photographs of the dead. In the centre of the room is a blue chair.  You sit in the chair and listen to a girl all about the death of her father.  It is only then you realise the chair you are sitting in has a bullet hole and is the chair in which he was killed.

Curated by Erwin Romulo, with photography by Carlo Gabuco, music by Juan Miguel Sobrepeña, sound system design by Mark Laccay, and lighting design by Lyle Sacris, the chilling exhibit is set in a dimly lit room at the fair’s venue. The entire left side of the wall displays hundreds of Gabuco’s photos of various killings and the bloody aftermath of the president’s war on drugs. To recreate the feeling of stepping into a crime scene, Sacris hung up a few dangling lights that rotated and flickered, while Sobrepeña provided an eerie background noise to accompany the heart-wrenching scene in each of the photos and Laccay designed the sound system, which played Christine's voice recording.

https://www.townandcountry.ph/out-about/arts-culture/art-fair-philippines-2018-everyday-impunity-a00184-20180302

Exploitation or art?  You decide! It is certainly not nightcrawling.

The best parts of this entire film are the brief times we spend with The Group.  Who are these people? How did the filmmaker get access to them? Why did they give this access? Why isn't the film all about them? At one point we even get a first person perspective as they go on a mission to kill. The screen turns green as the night vision comes on.  The target is spotted. And then....I won't spoil it for you but this footage raises so many ethical and practical questions. Did the filmmaker supply them with a camera? Does The Group have their own cameras and do thy regularly film their work? Is it morally proper or even lawful for a documentarian to get an assassin squad to film their activities so he can use it in his documentary?

It is rather callous and hard-hearted to be making a documentary about the victims of the drug war and to film their alleged assassins prepping like beauty queens getting ready for a pageant. Other words spring to mind like disingenuous, exploitative, cynical. It is rather unbelievable that these men actually are a group of assassins one of whom claims to be working as a tour guide during the day. Take the testimony of "Blix."

Starting at 23:09 we here the following from "Blix" who is a member of The Group.

In the beginning it was still good. We took down many wanted people but there was one time the police covered up for us. We hit the wrong guy. It was a mistake. We planted drugs and guns on the victim so our group wouldn't be blamed. It was the police who created our group. They co-ordinate our operations. 

He then shows a video on his phone and says:

These are members of my group. They've been arrested on TV but it's just for the cameras. These guys are all back with us now. They're free. They were all set free. Those police operations - don't believe them. The news - it's all lies. 

The video "Blix" shows us is from CNN.  Here is what see in the film.

Blurring out the face of PNP Chief Bato is a rather strange editorial choice. I gather the CNN logo was blurred so CNN does not come around asking for money to use their video. Here is the original.

"Blix's" story is easily verifiable. All one has to do is check the jail records to find out whether or not Manuel Murillo, Marco Morallos, and Alfredo Alejan were released. The group these men claimed to be part of is the CSG or Confederate Sentinels Group. That would mean "Blix" is also a part of the CSG and that the PNP created the CSG. If I had the resources I would certainly check out his story. Did the filmmaker do that? I certainly challenge any journalist or anyone with the proper access who has watched this film or read this review to verify what Blix has told us. The truth or falsity of his story makes or breaks the conceit of this film which is that the PNP is behind all the killings. At least all the killings The Group claims to have committed.

Overall this film is a real disappointment. I was expecting an hour or so of gritty Manila nighttime shots with photojournalists crawling from crime scene to crime scene documenting the dead. What I got was Raffy Lerma boasting that he can change the world with his photographs and a lot of other pointless fluff. There is even a bit about press freedom. Why? In a movie that is supposed to be "an unflinching exposé of Philippines President Duterte’s war on drugs" it is completely out of place and that juxtaposition is the problem with the documentary as a whole. This film lacks focus. In contrast On the President's Orders found a subject and stuck with it. The filmmaker, Alexander Mora, was in the country for months documenting and it is difficult to believe this is the best of his hundreds of hours of footage. Perhaps the blame lies on the producer Joanna Natasegara.

A lot more could be said but I will end with one last thing. The film is available to stream on the National Geographic website but only if you live in the USA.

While I torrented my copy from the usual place not everyone knows how to do that. What is the point of this film and its accompanying discussion guide if Filipinos cannot watch it? On the Take Action page Rappler is listed as a resource to get information about the Philippines' war on drugs but Rappler would be insignificant to anyone outside the country. The film is clearly intended to be a rallying call that inspires people to take action so it seems rather odd to not make the film available in the Philippines.

Retards in the Government 134

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1203899/ca-restores-murder-case-vs-ex-palawan-gov-in-gerry-ortega-slay

The Court of Appeals (CA) has revived the murder charge against former Palawan Governor Mario Joel Reyes over the 2011 killing of broadcaster-environmentalist Gerry Ortega. 

In its 17-page amended decision dated November 28, the appellate court also ordered a Palawan court to issue a warrant of arrest against Reyes. 

Reyes and his brother, former Coron town mayor Mario Reyes, were among the primary accused in the death of Ortega, who was shot and killed by a lone assailant while shopping in a used-clothing store in Puerto Princesa City in 2011. 

The former Palawan governor was released from jail in January 2018, after the CA ruled to stop of the trial due to lack of evidence. 

However, the latest CA decision, penned by Associate Justice Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob, set aside its January 2018 ruling, reinstating the case and directing the Palawan Regional Trial Court (RTC) to issue a warrant of arrest against Reyes. 

In issuing the decision, Azcarraga-Jacob argued that it was too early for the Court to decide whether or not there was enough evidence to pursue the trial. 

“Thus, the proper course of action is not to dismiss the case but to proceed to trial. The Court, at this particular stage of the proceedings, cannot arrogate upon itself the task of dwelling on factual and evidentiary matters,” the decision reads.

First the CA says there is not enough evidence to go to trial.  Now they say it is too early to decide if there is not enough evidence and it's best to go to trial!  The flip-flopping of justice in the Philippines.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1203795/probe-sought-on-secret-pact-between-cadiz-water-district-and-villar-group

A former Negros Occidental congressman is asking President Duterte and the Ombudsman to investigate what he calls a “very anomalous” and “secretive” contract entered into by the Cadiz City Water District (CCWD) and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. of the Villar group. 

“I am having my legal consultants look into the possibility of also filing cases against those involved, before the Ombudsman,” said former second district representative Manuel Puey on Thursday. 

“I will use whatever resources I have to uncover whatever anomaly exists,” Puey added. 

Puey, a resident of Cadiz City, said what he found very anomalous was that the agreement “was so secretive nobody knew anything about it.” 

On Wednesday, he demanded a meeting with the officers of PrimeWater and CCWD, and among those present were the water district’s general manager Jesus Pedro Zaldarriaga, chairman of the board Sergio “Acute” Tabanao, and director Angelo Vargas. 

Puey said he did not know the contents of the contract since it was not made public during the meeting. No bidding was also conducted, he said. 

He said the CCWD officials intimated that they entered into a service contract, but no details were provided. 

“The water district officials are accountable to the people and should disclose what was contained in the contract they signed with PrimeWater,” Puey said.

The Villar Group is owned by Manule Villar who is the husband of Senator Cynthia Villar.  The Villars are oligarchs.  Since Duterte is against oligarch it would only seem to reason that he would go after them but in this case it is a former Congressman who has vowed to investigate this anomalous contract.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1204058/duterte-yet-to-choose-next-pnp-chief-before-2019-ends-go-says-he-is-looking-for-the-most-honest-candidate

Go admitted that the President is having difficulty in choosing the next PNP chief as all candidates are qualified. 

Duterte is not looking for the best one, but the most honest one, Go added. 

(All the candidates are qualified. The President is having a hard time choosing. He is looking for the almost perfect candidate, the most honest.)

They say a good man is hard to find.  In the Philippines an honest public servant is impossible to find!

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1204996/57-cebu-city-employees-tested-positive-for-illegal-drug-use

The number of Cebu City Hall employees found positive for illegal drug use has reached 57. 

Jonah John Rodriguez, head of the Cebu City Office of Substance Abuse Prevention (Cosap), said 56 employees tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu while one tested positive for marijuana. 

The random drug test was conducted by the Cosap since Nov. 11. 

Rodriguez said they have submitted the results of the drug test to a laboratory in Manila for confirmation, as well as to the City Legal Office. 

“These employees will be called to the city legal office, and it is up to the city legal office what to do with them,” he said.

That's 57 people who will soon be out of a job.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1205154/bucor-workers-asks-duterte-to-fire-chief-for-corruption

In an open letter, unidentified and “concerned BuCor officials and employees” have called on President Duterte to fire Gerald Bantag for committing “other forms of graft and corrupt practices in the highest order,” citing instances in which he allegedly abused his authority. 

“This will be your greatest Christmas gift to BuCor, Mr. President, Sir!” they said. 

In particular, the group said they felt offended by Bantag’s “sweeping generalization” that “95 percent” of the around 31,000 BuCor officials and employees were corrupt, “without any bases or facts to support it.” 

According to them, during staff meetings, Bantag “keeps on cursing BuCor officials and employees and displays unprofessional and unethical conduct.” 

“Let it be known that the BuCor officials and employees fully support the changes that DG Bantag is undertaking. But equally, we resist and condemn the wanton violations that he committed and is continuously committing in carrying out said changes,” they said. 

Asked for comment, Col. Gabriel Chaclag, BuCor spokesperson, said they “would look into the group’s claims” although he dismissed the open letter as being written by “disgruntled [BuCor] officers who were relieved from their posts.” 

“The mere fact that they did not identify themselves make their claims questionable,” he stressed.

The BuCor chief accuses BuCor officials and employees of being corrupt and an anonymous group of BuCor employees accuses the BuCor Chief of being corrupt. The circle of life?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089462

Unidentified gunmen riding on a motorbike ambushed Tuesday Vice Mayor Akmad M. Ampatuan of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, police said. 

Technical Sgt. Omar Dirangaren, Shariff Aguak police desk officer, said Ampatuan, the father of Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan, was on board a red Toyota Innova(LFT-737) heading home from the town hall when the suspects opened fire around 1 p.m. along the national highway in Barangay Poblacion. 

Attempted assassination on a Vice Mayor by motorcycle assassins.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089438

A police chief and his driver were killed during an ambush by armed men past 6 p.m. Monday Pagayawan town, Lanao del Sur, an official said. 

Lanao del Sur police director, Col. Madzgani Mukaram, identified the police officer as Executive Master Sgt. Amen Lucman Macalangan, the police chief of Binidayan town, while the driver is identified as Ramel Pangcatan. 

Murakam said their two companions on the vehicle--police non-uniform personnel Asliah Adiong and another police, Patrolman Nasser Arafat-- were unhurt. 

Mukaram said the victims were returning to Binidayan from a weekly oversight meeting at the provincial police headquarters in Marawi City when they were waylaid. 

Ignes said few days after Macalangan was assigned as officer-in-charge of the Binidayan town police, the latter had sought help from the military after he received threats that his police station would be harassed because of the smuggled cigarettes and illegal logs the police had seized.

Police Chief assassinated likely because he confiscated smuggled cigarettes and illegal logs. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089475

A rookie police officer and his friend died in a shooting incident during a drinking and videoke session in Victorias City, Negros Occidental on Christmas Eve. 

Police identified the fatalities as Patrolman Dionel Lutao, a member of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion - Western Visayas Reconnaissance Company; and James Karl Sernal, both 26. 

Lt. Col. Mary Rose Pico, chief of the Victorias City Police Station, said witnesses told investigators that during the group’s get-together in a friend’s residence at about 8:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Lutao’s firearm went off, hitting Sernal in the process. 

Lutao then went outside, was heard firing his gun three times, and was found sprawled on the ground bloodied. 

“There was no exchange of words, argument, fight or commotion,” Pico said in a radio interview. 

Sernal’s body was still undergoing autopsy and post-mortem examination, but an initial report indicated that he was hit in the mouth. 

“So far, based on our investigation, nobody can tell how it happened. Nobody has seen how the gun was fired that led to the situation,” Pico said.

This is a rather strange case but the fact is this cop should not have been at a videoke bar and drinking while in possession of his gun. What was he thinking!?

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089372

A personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here died while another was wounded after they stabbed each other following the station’s Christmas party that ended around 2 a.m. on Monday. 

The fatality was identified as Isaac Cabana and the wounded, Cornelio Silva, who both have the rank of Fire Officer 3. 

Initial police investigation showed the two firefighters remained at the venue, just in front of the city fire station on San Juan Street, Barangay 8, after the celebration ended. 

Maj. Sherlock Gabana, chief of Police Station 2, said Cabana sustained a wound in the neck and was declared dead at a hospital. 

Silva is being treated for abdomen and back wounds, he added. 

Gabana said their other colleagues saw them “hugging” each other, and then found the two already injured.

Whatever happened alcohol was probably involved. I don't know for sure but I would imagine firefighters are not allowed to consume alcohol at the station. What if a call comes in and they have to break up the party to go fight a fire?

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/12/25/1979632/more-2000-heinous-crime-convicts-released-through-gcta

A total of 2,352 inmates convicted of heinous crimes and ordered by President Duterte to surrender have been released through the good conduct time allowance (GCTA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) said yesterday. 

The number of inmates released was 428 more than the original list of 1,914 names provided by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor).  

“Of that number, the DOJ assisting the BuCor confirmed the release of 463 PDLs (persons deprived of liberty). BuCor, based on their own assessment released 364 (PDLs). So, in total, 827 have been actually released from the 2,352 who surrendered,” DOJ Assistant Secretary Neal Vincent Bainto said. 

However, Bainto said he could not confirm if the remaining 1,525 PDLs were unqualified to benefit from the GCTA.  

“Actually the process is still ongoing. But we think that probably a good number of the remaining surrenderers will be re-incarcerated,” he added. 

That is a lot of criminals released and then surrendered.  And out of this number only 825 have been re-released.  But that is not the whole story.  Rappler wrote a whole exposé on this travesty of justice. The BurCor was overwhelmed and many surrenderers have died in custody.  Read it here.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/247136-bilibid-returnees-die-duterte-administration-blunders-part-1

The original number on the return list was 1,914. As of December 13, there were 2,352 who returned to prison. Of them, 827 were set free – some just a week ago – because they turned out to be qualified for freedom after all. 

The implementation of Duterte's arrest order was doomed from the beginning. 

At the BuCor offices in Bilibid, documentation chief Ramoncito Roque and his staff scrambled to prepare a list of prisoners who should be returned to prison. They had to comb through over 22,000 names who were granted GCTA. 

Duterte gave them 15 days. 

Meanwhile, cops who had watched the broadcast waited. The President was unequivocal in saying that they could only make arrests 15 days later. But when the deadline came and cops began their hunt at midnight, the list they had been given led them mostly nowhere. 

Tagged by a squad of reporters, the cops dove into a maze of shanties, knocking and pleading for information. By sunrise, they found only one. Another's home had already been torn down years before. One was already living in Bulacan, according to residents who knew him. Another one was dead.

There is too much to quote from here.  Read it.

Standing in Trucks 11

No matter where you go you see them. Pinoys standing or sitting in the beds of trucks or on top of trucks. 

It's very dangerous and foolish as this video from India shows.

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Martial Law: Lessons Learned Part 1

Martial law in Mindanao is set to end at the end of the year. For 135 weeks Mindanao has been subjected to the rigorous military rule of the AFP. At this point it would be a good idea to look back and see what lessons have been learned. Surely the AFP learned a few things? I know I did and I hope anyone who has been reading this series has also. To make it easier and organised I will only cover five points: ISIS, Security/Borders, Policy, Foreign Assistance, and Marawi and Mindanao. 

1. ISIS

At the beginning of the Marawi siege terrorists drove around with black ISIS flags. They declared it was a victory for ISIS. The Palace and the AFP both denied any ISIS involvement in the siege and any ISIS presence in the country.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/611906/no-isis-presence-in-phl-afp-pnp/story/

"We don't have ISIS in the Philippines," Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief, told reporters. 

Arevalo said what the government troops encountered in Marawi City was a local terror group which is using the incident to get recognition from ISIS. 

"Ginagamit nila ang mga insidenteng ito upang sila ay i-recognize. These groups who are claiming to be ISIS, they are merely courting the acclamation of ISIS na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nila nakukuha kaya patuloy ang kanilang ginagawang atrocities," he said. 

In a separate press briefing, PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the Maute group is not an ISIS group. 

"It is not an ISIS group, it is a local terror group. Walang ISIS dito. They are not even recognized yet by ISIS," he said.

Funnily enough the next day they changed their tune all because Duterte contradicted them.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/612073/afp-to-follow-duterte-s-assertion-of-isis-presence-in-phl/story/

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday said it will follow the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte saying that ISIS has a presence in the country. 

"Our commander in chief has already made a pronouncement na ito po ay grupo na ng ISIS, so we are making adjustment accordingly sapagkat our President and commander-in-chief has access to other information that initially the AFP might not have," Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP public affairs office chief, said in an interview on Unang Balita. 

"It's already the commander-in-chief na nagsabi, so we subscribe to that pronouncement," Arevalo added. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday admitted the presence of ISIS despite the denials from PNP and AFP. 

In a statement posted on its Twitter account, the DFA said the Philippine government is "fully aware that the Maute Group / ISIS groups have the capability (although limited) to disturb the peace..."

Duterte might have information the AFP dos not? Makes sense right? No. It's a straight up lie.  The AFP lied to the country for several years about the presence of ISIS in the country. Here is a press release from the AFP with no date but which shows up in the internet archive or Wayback Machine  for the first time on May 22, 2016.

https://www.afp.mil.ph/index.php/news/8-afp-news/346-afp-statement-on-alert-vs-terrorism-in-the-philippines

We have not received any report pertaining to the presence of ISIS or their legitimate sympathizers in the Philippines. There is no authentic link or relationship between the ISIS and the ASG in Mindanao.

Those two sentences are a bold faced lie. The Consolidated Comments on Martial Law submitted by the OSG to the Supreme Court in 2017 tells a completely different story.

The Philippines as the extension of the ISIS caliphate Islamic groups worldwide. These groups commit atrocities in the name of the Islamic State in order to seek recognition and support—financial or otherwise—from ISIS. 

8. The notoriety of the ISIS in Middle East has attracted the attention of extremist groups in the Philippines. The AFP has obtained ISIS’ propaganda material, Dabiq, which reports that as early as November 2014, a number of groups in the Philippines had already pledged their allegiance to the caliphate. 

9. There are four ISIS-inspired groups that operate in different parts of Mindanao. These groups have formed alliances for the purpose of establishing a wilayah in Mindanao. The four (4) groups, which find their roots in different parts of Mindanao, are as follows: 

a. The Abu-Sayyaf Group (“ASG”) from Basilan, led by Isnilon Hapilon (“Hapilon”);  

b. Ansarul Khilafah Philippines (“AKP”) from Saranggani and Sultan Kudarat. The group is led by Mohammad Jaafar Maguid;  

c. The Maute Group from Lanao del Sur led by Omar Maute; and,  

d. Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (“BIFF”), based in the Liguasan Marsh, Maguindanao. 

10. These groups are notorious for committing numerous bombings, assassinations, and extortion activities in the country, especially in Mindanao. In the past, these groups had been operating separately and independently. Due to their uniform pledge of allegiance to ISIS and their support for the establishment of a caliphate, an alliance has been formed between and among these groups (for brevity,these groups are collectively referred to herein as “ISIS-inspired local rebel groups”). 

11. On April 2016, the ISIS’ weekly newsletter, Al Naba, announced the appointment of Abu Sayyaf leader Hapilon as the emir or leader of all ISIS forces in the Philippines. The appointment of Hapilon as its Philippine emir was confirmed in a 21 June 2016 video by ISIS entitled “The Solid Structure.” The video hailed Hapilon as “the mujahid” authorized to lead the soldiers of the Islamic State in the Philippines.” 

12. On 31 December 2016, Hapilon and about thirty (30) of his followers, including eight (8) foreign terrorists, were surveilled in Lanao del Sur. According to military intelligence, Hapilon performed a symbolic hijra or pilgrimage to unite with the ISIS-inspired groups in mainland Mindanao. This was geared towards realizing the five (5)-step process of establishing a wilayah, which are: first, the pledging of allegiance to the Islamic State; second, the unification of all terrorist groups who have given bay'ah or their pledge of allegiance; third, the holding of consultations to nominate a wali or a governor of a province; fourth, the achievement of consolidation for the caliphate through the conduct of widespread atrocities and uprisings all across Mindanao; and finally, the presentation of all of these to the ISIS leadership for approval or recognition. 

13. The appointment by ISIS of an emir in the Philippines is already the third step in the establishment of a wilayah in Mindanao. Moreover, these groups now have the unified mission of wresting control of Mindanaoan territory from the government for the purpose of establishing a wilayah. 

http://www.osg.gov.ph/documents/officeupdates/OSG%20Consolidated%20Comment%20on%20Martial%20Law.pdf

Before 2017 the AFP knew that several groups in the Philippines had pledged allegiance to ISIS and that in April 2016 Hapilon had been appointed the emir of the forces in the Philippines by ISIS. Yet they lied to the public and said there was no ISIS and only changed their tune when Duterte forced them to do so. Why did they do this?  Why have the never been held accountable for it? 

Incredibly enough long after the siege had ended, long after reports had been coming in about foreign jihadis flocking to the Philippines under the ISIS banner, the AFP continued to deny the presence or threat of ISIS to the stability and peace of Mindanao.

Remember the suicide bombing in Basilan which was carried out but a foreign jihadi under the banner of ISIS back in 2018? The AFP denied it was the work of both ISIS and a foreign suicide bomber. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/02/1838931/afp-chief-isis-not-behind-basilan-blast

The military yesterday dismissed claims that the Islamic State (IS) was behind the car bomb attack that killed 11 people in Basilan. 

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez said the IS was claiming every terror attack as part of its propaganda to gain more support. 

“They are claiming everything. Even what happened in Manila, they were claiming to have had a hand in it. They are doing it to heighten the support and to show that they are still there,” Galvez said. 

He also discounted the possibility that the supposed suicide bomber in last Tuesday’s attack was a foreigner. 

An anti-terror official, however, maintained the suicide bomber was a foreigner, bolstering claims and identifying the slain suspect as Abu Kathir Al-Maghrib, a Moroccan jihadist. 

But some officials stressed it might be possible that the driver of the van was just a courier of the bomb. 

“So it is not conclusive that it was a suicide bomber and it’s not conclusive the suspect was a foreigner,” Galvez said.

Galvez was wrong on both counts and it was just a few weeks later that Galvez, in a budget meeting, changed his story.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/210709-deadly-bombings-demonstrate-isis-tactics

“The greatest threat that we have now is really ISIS,” said Galvez during a budget hearing on Wednesday. He referred particularly to its adherents – the Maute Group and BIFF in Central Mindanao and the Abu Sayyaf Group in Western Mindanao. 

Since 2018 there have been six deadly suicide bombings including the blast at a cathedral in Jolo. Most of these have been carried out by foreigners with one confirmed Filipino. All claimed by ISIS.

While the fortunes of ISIS continue to change in the Middle East and in the Philippines they still remain a force to be reckoned with. Given the right conditions they could once again be able to lay siege to a city the size of Mindanao. The AFP should not let up on their offences against the BIFF and Abu Sayyaf who remain the largest ISIS affiliated groups in the Philippines. Nor should they underestimate the threat ISIS poses to the security of the nation.

2. Security/Borders

During the Marawi siege DND Secretary Lorenzana admitted surprise that so many foreign fighters had made their way into the country.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/627258/lorenzana-admits-gov-t-clueless-how-thousands-of-maute-fighters-entered-marawi/story/

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted Tuesday that they still do not know how the Maute fighters and foreign terrorists laid siege to Marawi City and continue to battle government forces til now. 

“The Marawi is a class by itself because we have not yet found out how they got in, a lot of them coming from other places, from outside the Philippines, from Malaysia, Indonesia, from Jolo, Sulu, Basilan and other places in Mindanao,” Lorenzana said during a press conference on the recently concluded Tempest Wind drill. 

“So we are going to intensify our intelligence efforts, we are trying to upgrade our technical capabilities with the  help of the US and other countries [that] are capable of those technical capabilities,” he said. 

“I think we have no choice but to really solve this problem because if we will not, then it can happen in other places other than Marawi,” he added.

Could it be the porous borders of the Southern Philippines?  So said AFP Col. Arevalo.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/639350/afp-not-discounting-possibility-that-foreign-terrorists-are-in-phl/story/

“We cannot discount the possibility of foreign fighters surreptitiously able to enter the country given our vast and porous borders,” AFP spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo said in a press statement. 

That is certainly one idea. Anyone can take a boat from Indonesia and cross over to the Philippines unseen. Abu Sayyf abduct both fishermen and tourists regularly. What has happened since 2017 when Lorenzna said, "We have no choice but to really solve this problem?" Nothing it would seem. The term porous borders has consistently been used to describe the Philippines' southern costal areas by media and government officials.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/philippines-indonesia-11202019181356.html

The Philippines and Indonesia have agreed to intensify joint maritime security patrols to check the movements of terrorists across their porous borders, military officials from both nations said Wednesday. 

Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines began trilateral patrols in June last year after pro-IS militants launched a siege in the southern Philippine city of Marawi. Five months of vicious fighting ended in October 2017 and killed at least 1,200 people, mostly militants, including the acknowledged Philippine IS leader, Isnilon Hapilon, and several foreign fighters. 

Malaysia’s Sabah state is a short boat ride from islands in the Philippines’ Mindanao region, where pro-IS Muslim guerrillas and other armed Muslim groups operate. The waters between the two countries are extremely porous. According to analysts, the three nations share coastal borders that have long been used for smuggling routes.

The border remains wide open and a lot of that has to do with China's encroachment in the WPS preventing the Philippines from focusing as many resources as possible on maritime security in Mindanao.

https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/rich-media/139836-delfin-lorenzana-philippine-territorial-defense-priority

Lorenzana, however, hopes that China eventually honors and respects the decision of the tribunal as it will lessen the external threat the Philippines is facing.  

“If we can only get China to respect the ruling, it would be a big load from our back,” he said. “We could probably devote more of our resources to pressing problems at home. “ 

The second phase of the modernization program which starts in 2017 or early 2018 will be pursued as planned.  

Adjustments, however, will be made in line with the new administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“We may have to tweak it a little so that we can address the priority of the new president,” he explained. “He said in his pronouncement a couple of weeks ago that we need more helicopters and night flying capabilities so that we can pursue these mandates, criminals, and terrorists that are trying to create trouble in the South.” 

Talking to other countries is important because “the border is so porous and wide” and the Abu Sayyaf have shifted to kidnapping passengers of fishing boats. 

We all know China has not bothered to honour the ruling and Duterte has tossed it aside completely. The arbitral ruling over the WPS might as well not have happened. As such Philippine patrol boats and planes are regularly harassed by Chinese military from their newly built bases in Scarborough Shoal and the WPS. But how much does this interference impede the Philippines' ability to patrol their own costs?

I can't say but I can say for sure that there are foreign jihadis running around the country. The AFP knows this and claims they are keeping an eye on them. Back in September 2019 they said there  could be up to 60.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/militant-concerns-09042019124955.html

The military commander for Western Mindanao, meanwhile, said troops were searching the region for about 60 suspected foreign militants, including people from Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Afghanistan. 

“They are scattered in our areas. They don’t have popular support. In due time, using our capabilities, we will neutralize them,” Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said, reiterating an earlier pledge that the foreign fighters would be accounted for by year’s end. 

Now they say there are only 8.

Meanwhile, Arevalo said the AFP is still monitoring eight foreign terrorist groups and Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Hajan Sawadjaan of Sulu.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/11/improved-security-climate-in-mindanao-reason-for-non-extension-of-martial-law/

We also continue to read foreign analysis claiming the the Philippines is the new land of jihad and that more and more foreign jihadis will continue to make their way here. Whether they do or not it is imperative that the AFP secure the southern border and work closely with the BI to prevent would be terrorists from flying in through Manila.

Next week we will look at the remaining three areas of Policy, Foreign Assistance, and Marawi and Mindanao.