Another Six Maute ISIS Remnants; Surrenders in Lanao del Sur

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Oct. 24, 2018) – Another Six Maute ISIS remnants surrendered to Joint Task Force Ranao in Municipal hall, Sultan Dumalungdong of Lanao del Sur Monday. (October 22, 2018), military official said.

Capt. Clint Antipala, Acting Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) Chief disclosed that the six Mautes ISIS was yielded to the 49th Infantry Battalion thru the efforts of PNP, Sultan Dumalongdong municipal Mayor Jamel Kurangking and Brgy. Malalis Chairwoman Mohammad Saber D Solaiman,.

Capt. Antipala said that the surrenderees brought along with them five high powered firearms; one caliber 50. barret rifle, three M79 grenade launcher and one carbine rifle. Custodial debriefing still on-going as of this posting.

“The six remnants were under Sub-leader Mubarak Manalo who were involved in harassing Pantar detachment September last year as diversion while bulk of Maute ISIS were fighting in the main battle area,” said Lt. Col Edgar Allan Villanueva, 49th Battalion Commander.

Army’s Premier Ddivision Chief Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, Joint Task Force Zampelan commander, commended the troops, PNP and local officials that facilitated the surrender of the remnants.

“The continuous surrender of Maute ISIS remnants were the effects of dwindling of their organization, leadership and capabilities,” Maj. Gen. Murillo added. (By JONG CADION)

16 NPA Militia Surrenders in Zamboanga Sibugay

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Oct. 21, 2018) – A total of sixteen Communist NPA Terrorist (CNT), 15 Militia ng Bayan and one regular member, surrenders to 102nd Infantry Brigade in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay Saturday (October 20, 2018), military official said.

Capt. Clint Antipala, Acting Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) Chief disclosed that the CNTs was yielded to Col. Bagnus Gaerlan, 102nd Brigade Commander, together with three firearms, one caliber 45 and two shotguns.

Capt. Antipala said that all of the 15 Militia ng Bayan were operating and residents of Barangay Balagon, Siay, in the neighboring province of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Capt. Antipala added that their surrender was facilitated by Siay municipal Mayor Jarvis M. Acosta and Lt. Col. Jonathan Obena, 44th Infantry Battalion Commander and pledge for their loyalty to the government thru an oath of allegiance.

“Their surrender will minimize the violent incident and atrocities in our area of responsibility and will weaken the CNTs mass base support,” said Col. Gaerlan.

 “We will facilitate and collaborate with other stakeholders for their enrollment to Enhance Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) of the government,” Col. Gaerlan added.

Army’s Premier Division Chief Major General Roseller Murillo, Joint Task Force Zampelan commander, commended the efforts of 102nd brigade, 44IB and the stakeholders who were involved and facilitated the successful surrender.

“We encourage other CNTs to return to the folds of law and take advantage of the E-CLIP.” Maj. General Murillo added. (By JONG CADION)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (Oct. 20, 2018) – Another three Maute ISIS remnants surrendered to Joint Task Force Ranao in Masiu Lanao del Sur Thursday. (October 18, 2018), military official said.

Capt. Clint Antipala, Acting Division Public Affairs (DPAO) Chief disclosed that the three was yielded to Lt. Col Edgar Villanueva, 49th Infantry Battalion Commander, thru the efforts of Hon. Alonto Gubar, ABC President, Brgy Chairman Hamil Gubar of Sawir, Masiu and Maliksaif Masjida, Afgani Deputy Base Commander NDBC BIAF-MILF/JCMP member.

Capt. Antipala said that they also surrendered one RPG, one caliber 45 pistol, magazines and ammunitions. Custodial debriefing still on-going as of this posting.

“They were recruited during the Marawi Siege. However, they were not able to insert in the main battle area due to the relentless security efforts and checkpoints around the lake”, said Lt. Col Villanueva.

“One of them was involved in Pagayawan clash last June 2018”, he added.

Army’s Premier Division Chief Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, Joint Task Force Zampelan commander, commended the troops, local officials and the peace-inclined BIAF-MILF member that facilitated the surrender of Maute ISIS remnants.

“We will continuously collaborate with different stakeholders and concerned citizens to encourage other Maute ISIS remnants to surrender and go back to mainstream society,” Maj. Gen. Murillo added. (By JONG CADION)

ARMM employees raise concerns on transition to Bangsamoro government

Cotabato City (October 18, 2018) – A number of employees of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) raised their concerns to members of the Coordination Team for Transition with respect to the transition to the new Bangsamoro government during a forum held here on Wednesday, October 17.

The transition process is provided for under Republic Act No. 11045, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law. Some of the matters discussed were the employment status of ARMM personnel who will be affected, once the transition period commences, and the incentives for personnel who would opt to retire, or be separated from service.

Commissioner Jose Lorena, a member of the Transition team, explained that Article XVI Section 10 of the R.A. No. 11045 states that “officials holding appointive positions shall continue to perform their functions in accordance with the phase-out schedule. Employees in the sectors of health, education, and social welfare shall be absorbed and transferred to the Bangsamoro Government.”

It also states that “the affected personnel who will not be absorbed in the positions of the new staffing pattern of the different offices in the Bangsamoro Government, whether hired on permanent, temporary, casual, or contractual basis and with appointments attested by the Civil Service Commission, shall be entitled to the applicable retirement, or separation benefits as provided in the Organic Law.”

When asked about the schedule of the gradual phasing-out of the offices of the ARMM, Commissioner Lorena said the Transition team is now preparing a draft plan that will be submitted to the appointed Chief Minister of the new government.

“The Chief Minister will have to review and submit it to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) within 60 days, the BTA will then approve the proposed plan within 10 days,” he said. “Assuming that the ratification is done on January 21, 2019, perhaps (the schedule of phasing-out) will be April 2019,” said Commissioner Lorena.

Among the representatives from other government agencies who also addressed the concerns of the ARMM employees were: Atty. Krunimar Escudero III, from the Civil Service Commission Central Office; Vilma Fuentes, Vice President for Visayas and Mindanao of the Government Service Insurance System; Rio Teves, Vice President for Members Services Operations of Pagtutulungan sa Kinabukasan: Ikaw, Bangko, Industria at Gobyerno under PAG-IBIG; and Herman Jumilla, Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary for Mindanao Concerns. (By JONG CADION with Bureau of Public Information)

Uncertainty looms large over thousands still displaced in Marawi

ICRC_Marawi end of fighting_MAA: The devastated area of Marawi City, 
Lanao del Sur, also known as the "most affected area." Reconstruction 
has not started and thousands of residents remain displaced, a year 
since the conflict ended. (Photo By ICRC/Jerome Guillaumot)

Manila (ICRC, 23 October 2018) – One year since fighting officially ended in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, the return home and certainty about the future continue to elude over 65,000 displaced people. They demand urgent action and support to overcome the burden left in the wake of the conflict.

“They struggle every day to make ends meet with whatever help they can get, as uncertainty about their homecoming adds to their worries,” said Meher Khatcherian, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Iligan City. “They deserve support and clarity about the future. Though there have been some positive developments, the people of Marawi had hoped for more to be done by now.”

Whether they are living with relatives, in evacuation centers or in transitional sites, the families that have been displaced do not have regular access to potable water and proper sanitation facilities. Adults lack adequate livelihood opportunities, while their children’s education remains disrupted.

Families of people who went missing in Marawi need to be accompanied during the process of clarifying the fate of their missing loved ones.

Having witnessed the plight of the people firsthand since clashes broke out in May 2017, Khatcherian and his team have worked to help the affected people from Marawi, bringing in whatever respite possible. Together with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), the ICRC continues to focus on the evolving needs of the people.

Addressing gaps while awaiting the start of the rehabilitation phase, in coordination with other aid organizations and the authorities, the ICRC and the PRC have distributed cash grants to thousands of returnee families, helping them restore their livelihoods.

Besides this, tools to repair their shelters have been given to residents through the PRC. The authorities have been provided with technical support to ensure smooth functioning and potential expansion of the city’s water network. Assisting the health-care facilities, essential medicines and supplies have been distributed to them in Lanao del Sur.

“But there is one thing that remains a top priority for the displaced families and it’s the need to get clarity about their future so that they can move ahead. After having their lives completely disrupted by the five-month conflict, and their properties destroyed, they need to regain a sense of ownership about their future. Their voices need to be heard,” Khatcherian concluded.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization working to prevent and alleviate suffering during armed conflict and other situations of violence. It also visits people detained in relation to the conflict to monitor their treatment and living conditions, and facilitates visits from their families. 

ICRC_Marawi end of fighting_Bito: Around 3,500 displaced people 
staying in Bito Buadi Itowa evacuation center still get water from daily 
trucking by the Philippine Red Cross with ICRC support. The ICRC 
is currently drilling two boreholes to improve the water supply here. 
(Photo By ICRC/Jerome Guillaumot)

PRO-9 Awards Medalya ng Kagalingan to Performing Police Personnel

PAGADIAN CITY (Oct. 118, 2018)_- At least Fifteen uniformed personnel of Police Regional Office 9 were given the PNP Merit Medal “Medalya ng Kagalingan” during the traditional Monday Flag-raising ceremony held at PRO-9 Parade Ground, Camp Col Romeo A Abendan, Mercedes, Zamboanga City on October 15, 2018.

PCSUPT Emmanuel Luis D Licup, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 9 (PRO-9) led the awarding ceremony of 15 PNP personnel coming from the different police units in PRO9, Six of them Police Commissioned Officer. The Regional Director commended the PNP personnel for their noteworthy operational accomplishment in their respective assigned field.

Among the awardees are: PSUPT Stephen B Daang, PO1 Mario Manahan Jr. and PO1 Bryan Galea, all from Zamboanga Del Norte Police Provincial Office. They were recognized for meritorious conduct and devotion to duty during the conduct of joint intel driven operation on August 15, 2018 at Liloy Bus and Food Terminal, Barangay Baybay, Liloy, Zamboanga Del Norte which resulted to the arrest of suspect identified as Erlinda Sangcom Dalagon aka Linda/Ritzel, member of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and Liaison Officer of Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC

PCINSP Oscar Buenaobra, SPO2 Abraham Apat and PO3 Philip Apat, all from the Zamboanga Del Sur Police Provincial Office, cited for meritorious conduct and devotion to duty during the conduct of joint manhunt operation on October 3, 2018 at Deca Homes, Mactan 4, Barangay Bangcal, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City for the crimes of murder and robbery which resulted in the firefight that led to the eventual death of the suspect identified as Crisolito Unito, Top 6 most wanted person (Regional Level).

PCINSP Heidel Te-elan, PSINSP Meshel Baclayo and PO2 Noriel Laureta, all from Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Mobile Company, cited for the commendable accomplishment during the conduct of law enforcement operation that resulted to the arrest of two criminal gang members affiliated with Tenan Criminal Gang

under Barahama Alih Group identified as Rasul Nandang Wahab and Jemhar Candan Mohammad on September 25, 2018 at Purok Marang, Barangay Tenan, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay.

PCINSP Robert Agda, SPO2 Fernando Gomolon and PO1 Johnly Cuenco, all from Zamboanga Del Norte Police Provincial Office. They were cited for their exemplary performance and invaluable services during the conduct of joint manhunt operation against wanted person for the crime of robbery which resulted in the neutralization of the suspect identified as Carlos Baguio Baculong, Top 6 most wanted person (Municipal Level) on June 29, 2018 at San Idefonso, Bulacan.

PSINSP Glenn Pollescas, SPO3 Dexter Dalena and PO3 Erwin Andale, all from the Zamboanga Del Sur Police Provincial Office. They were cited for     meritorious conduct and devotion to duty during the conduct of joint manhunt operation on September 25, 2018 at Barangay Village, San Pablo, Zamboanga Del Sur against wanted person for the slight physical injuries which resulted in the neutralization of the suspect identified as Jonathan Poncardas, High Value Target (HVT) in illegal drugs and member of Dragon under the Parojinog Crime Group of Ozamis City.

PCSUPT Licup said that the above-named personnel have brought honor and prestige, worthy of praise and emulation by their peers in particular and the entire PNP organization in general. (By JONG CADION with PRO9 PIO press release)