Philippine Balita Atbp

Monday, February 9, 2015

The war in Mindanao will continue if BBL is not passed, Sulu congressman warns

The long-running war in Mindanao will continue if Congress fails to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the House of Representatives said on Tuesday.

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MILF’s alleged ties with terrorists raised during Senate hearing

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) alleged ties with terrorist groups was brought up during Tuesday's Senate hearing on the deadly January 25 Mamasapano clash.

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Napeñas: Purisima brought us to Malacañang for Oplan Exodus briefing

Relieved PNP-Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napenas said Tuesday it was then- suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima who brought him and other officials to update President Benigno Aquino III on Oplan Exodus.

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Govt peace negotiator: PHL, MILF truce panels acted immediately to stop clash

Government peace negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer on Tuesday said the joint ceasefire mechanism of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) responded immediately upon learning about the bloody clash in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

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Iqbal: MILF still a ‘revolutionary organization’

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No request for reinforcement during Mamasapano clash –military official

A ranking military official on Tuesday disclosed that the Philippine National Police did not request for reinforcement on the morning of January 25 when close to 300 of its elite personnel figured in a clash with Moro guerillas in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, while on operation to arrest two suspected terrorists.

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Napeñas: PNoy, Purisima gave ‘implied’ order to continue Mamasapano ops

President Benigno Aquino III and resigned PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima "implied" that the Jan. 25 operations to get two wanted suspected terrorists in Mamapasano, Maguindanao should continue, relieved PNP-Special Action Force commander Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. said Tuesday.

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Letter of MILF’s Iqbal to Senate requesting for executive session

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Tuesday sent the Senate committee probing the Mamasapano clash a letter saying it wants to have an executive session with the Senate instead of appearing in a congressional inquiry, even as it reiterated its assurance that the firearms of the 44 fallen Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos will be returned.

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MILF to return firearms of fallen 44 SAF troopers

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front will return the firearms of 44 Special Action Force police troopers killed in a clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

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Still no word if MILF leaders will attend Mamasapano clash hearing at the Senate

There is still no word from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front if their leaders will attend the Senate probe on Mamasapano clash which resulted to the deaths of 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos and 17 MILF fighters.

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This week's fuel price hikes, cold weather could send flower prices rising

Bad news for lovers this Valentine's: fuel price hikes this week could send flower prices rising.

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Senate hearing reveals communication gaps, reliance on SMS in Mamasapano ops

During the Mamasapano operations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines lacked communications “interoperability”, used different radio systems, and relied more on text messages than on calls and radio during their exchanges while the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos were pinned down and dying.

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WATCH: SAF team leader's account vital to Mamasapano probe – Board of Inquiry

Special Action Force (SAF) assault team leader Supt. Raymond Train's account of the Mamasapano clash was vital to the investigation into the gunbattle, Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief and Board of Inquiry chairman, Director Benjamin Magalong, said on Monday.

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TIMELINE: Scrambling for a ceasefire in Mamasapano

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Questions of fallen SAF troopers' kin still unanswered after Senate hearing

Some of the families of 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) killed in the Mamasapano clash on Jn. 25 found statements from officials at a Senate hearing on the incident lacking.

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MILF spokesman counters Napeñas’ claim of 250 rebels killed in Mamasapano clash

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front stood firm on its earlier statement that fewer than 20 of its members were killed on the January 25 operation of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.

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Lacson open to running for national position in 2016

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson is giving himself until later this year to decide on running in the national elections in 2016, saying he has yet to reach that fork in the road.

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Palace: Nothing wrong with PNoy conferring with suspended PNP chief

Malacañang sees nothing wrong with President Benigno Aquino's meeting with then-suspended Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima in early January on the Mamasapano operation, which left 44 police commandos dead.

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Biazon wants contingency plan in case BBL ‘fails’

There is a need for a contingency plan in case the Bangsamoro Basic Law “fails” as a result of the January 25 Mamasapano clash, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said Monday.

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Ex-SAF chief blames military for bungled operations vs. Marwan in the past

Relieved police Special Action Force chief Director Getulio Napeñas on Monday blamed the military for several unsuccessful operations to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan in the past.

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Lack of coordination led to bloody Mamasapano clash, Lacson says

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson, also a former national police chief, on Monday said the bloody clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao was caused by lack of coordination among security forces.

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Deliberations on Bangsamoro law will resume, House panel head promises

The ad hoc panel deliberating on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law will convene again after the House of Representatives wraps up its own investigation on the covert police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that ended in the death of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members.

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Appeals court junks PNP official’s plea vs. suspension

The Court of Appeals has junked a petition filed by a ranking police official contesting his preventive suspension over the missing high-powered AK-47 and Armalite rifles that were allegedly sold to the New People’s Army (NPA).

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Indonesian President Widodo pays courtesy call on PNoy

Indonesian President Joko Widodo paid a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III on Monday afternoon, as the Philippines seeks a review of the case of a Filipina convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia.

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House panel OKs proposal to build senior high schools nationwide

The House committee on appropriations has approved a proposal to establish a senior high school for each of the country’s legislative districts in pursuance of the implementation of the government's K-12 Enhanced Basic Education program.

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Palace downplays info on Marwan’s plot vs. Pope Francis

Malacañang on Monday downplayed the intelligence information that suspected terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan planned to bomb Pope Francis' convoy in Manila on Jan. 25.

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Appeals court clears 2 more cops in PNP chopper mess

The Court of Appeals has cleared two more ranking officials of the Philippine National Police implicated in the allegedly anomalous P105-million purchase of second-hand helicopters.

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Marwan killed in BIFF area, not MILF territory —MILF

Suspected terrorist Zulkfli bin Hir alias Marwan was killed in an area controlled by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, an official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front told a Senate inquiry on the Mamasapano clash on Monday.

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Purisima: I did not order Mamasapano operations

Embattled former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Alan Purisima on Monday reiterated that he did not give the go-signal for the Mamasapano operations that left 44 elite policemen dead.

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250 MILF, BIFF dead in Mamasapano clash —Napeñas

At least 250 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups were killed by the Special Action Force commandos who went to Mamasapano, Maguindanao to arrest terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman, suspended SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas said Monday.

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Purisima asked AFP for support during Mamasapano clash – general

Former Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima sent texts to a member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines seeking reinforcements for the PNP Special Action Force members who clashed with rebels in a heavy firefight in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last month.

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MILF leaders skip Senate probe on Mamasapano clash

No ranking official of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) attended Monday's Senate hearing on the January 25 Mamasapano clash.

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FULL TEXT: Ex-SAF chief Napeñas' prepared statement at Senate hearing on Mamasapano clash

Below is the prepared statement read by former Philippine National Police-Special Action Force head police director Getulio Napeñas Jr. during the Senate hearing on the Mamasapano clash on Monday.

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Ex-SAF chief blames late reinforcement for deaths of PNP-SAF 44

Relieved PNP-SAF head Director Getulio Napeñas Jr. on Monday blamed late reinforcement for the deaths of 44 elite police officers during the Mamasapano clash last month.

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Full Presentation: PNP Board of Inquiry fact file on Mamasapano killings

The PNP's Board of Inquiry has released its compilation of facts on the Mamasapano incident, in which 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force were killed last January 25.

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Napeñas: Marwan planned to bomb Pope Francis’ convoy

Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan had planned to bomb the convoy of Pope Francis during the pontiff's visit to the Philippines last month, a police official said Monday.

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‘Marwan was killed around 4:15 a.m.’ —PNP director Magalong

Wanted terrorist Jemaah Islamiyah member Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Marwan was killed around 4:15 a.m. on Jan. 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, Philippine National Police Director Benjamin Magalong, chair of the PNP Board of Inquiry, told a Senate committee hearing on Monday.

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Senators express concern on security of Mamasapano clash survivors

Senators on Monday expressed concern on the security of the survivors in the Mamasapamo clash and their families over what they would be disclosing during the Senate probe on the bloody encounter that left 44 PNP-Special Action Force personnel dead.

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MILF tells fighters to go after Usman, other terrorists

In line with its agreement with the government, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has reminded its base commanders to arrest terrorists and criminals who will enter their territory, including suspected bomber Basit Usman.

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Military helps MILF men besieged by Abu Sayyaf – AFP

Soldiers rescued members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) from an attack by the Abu Sayyaf despite frayed ties over the killing of 44 policemen last month, a military report said Sunday.

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Lacson: No plans to file case vs Mancao

Reiterating that all is forgiven, former Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said that he will not be filing charges against former policeman Cezar Mancao II for implicating him in the deaths of a publicist and his driver in 2000.

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Widodo in PHL as fate of Filipina on death row lingers

New Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived on his first state visit to the Philippines Sunday, as the fate of a Filipina facing execution for drug smuggling in his country hovers over planned talks.

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Bangsamoro bill needs better guidelines on law enforcement, House panel chair says

There should be clearer guidelines on law enforcement in the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the chairman of the House panel tackling the bill said Sunday in light of the bloody Mamasapano clash.

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Indonesian President Widodo now in PHL for state visit

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Sunday afternoon for a three-day visit to the Philippines.

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LOOK: Binay, family visit wounded SAF men at Camp Crame

Vice President Jejomar Binay and members of his family on Sunday afternoon visited some of the Special Action Force members wounded in an encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

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Lacson advises Napeñas: Just tell the truth

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson on Sunday revealed that sacked PNP Special Action Force head P/Dir. Getulio Napeñas Jr.turned to him for advice in the aftermath of the deadly Mamasapano clash in which 44 elite policemen were killed.

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House ad hoc panel indefinitely suspends discussions on BBL

The ad hoc panel of the House of Representatives tackling the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law bill has decided to suspend its deliberations starting Monday, until the results of the various investigations on the tragic anti-terror operation in Maguindanao shall have been evaluated by its members.

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Monday, February 9, 2015

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Saturday, February 7, 2015