OFW Filipino Heroes

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

40 innocent Civilians in Sabah MASSACRED by Malaysian Forces report: UN / Sulu Sultan Kiram call for immediate ceasefire

Sultanate of Sulu & North Borneo (Filipino) Symbolic 33rd Sultan Jamalul Kiram III listens at the Blue Mosque in Manila suburb, Philippines, after undergoing dialysis at a nearby hospital Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Unlike many other Muslim royalties basking in grand palaces and opulent lifestyles, Kiram's kingdom sits in a rundown two-story house in a poor Islamic community in Manila, the only hint of power and glory the title attached to his name. AP/Aaron Favila

The Sulu sultanate has called for an immediate ceasefire to the standoff in Sabah following calls by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to end violence in Sabah and start holding dialogues.

"The Sultan (Jamalul Kiram III) is calling for a unilateral ceasefire of the sultanate of Sulu effective this hour, 12:30 in the afternoon of Thursday," spokesperson Abraham Idjirani said, according to ABS-CBNnews.com.

He said this is out of respect to the call of the United Nations Secretary-General to end the violence there. He said this is "in order to reciprocate the call of the UN to preserve lives."

"The call for the unilateral ceasefire of his royal highness Sultan Jamalul Kiram III is in view of the reported massacre committed by the Malaysian authorit[ies] against 40 innocent civilians in Lahad Datu yesterday (Wednesday)…," Idjirani said.

The UN chief also expressed concerned about the impact of the standoff on the civilian population, including migrants in the region.

Ban is closely monitoring the situation in Sabah and would like to see all parties engage in talks for the peaceful resolution of the issue, a UN statement said.

He also urged all parties to "facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and act in full respect of international human rights norms and standards."

Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III on Thursday called for a ceasefire with Malaysian forces in Sabah.

With report from ABS-CBN, INQUIRER Global Nation and the Star Online Malaysia

Nur Misuari visits Sulu sultan but denies hand in standoff except his freedom fighters

Former MNLF chairman Nur Misuari visits Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III at his residence in Maharlika Village in Taguig City yesterday. With them are Misuari's wife Tarhata and Kiram's wife Fatima Celia. EDD GUMBAN

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari yesterday volunteered to serve as emissary to Kuala Lumpur and help in talks to resolve the violence in Sabah peacefully.

Misuari visited Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III at his house in Maharlika Village, Taguig City yesterday.

The MNLF chief told reporters that he is willing to sit down with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to help end the crisis in Sabah.

"For the sake of peace, and to save the lives of the young Muslims who had joined the Sabah incursion as well as of the Malaysian soldiers, Muslims should not be fighting," he said. "If there is a need for me to visit Kuala Lumpur and possibly iron out differences between the Bangsamoro nation and the Malaysian people, I am willing to do that at my own expense."

Misuari criticized President Aquino for taking the side of Malaysia on the Sabah incursion issue.

He said the Aquino administration handled the situation "badly."

"What the President did was unbecoming of a head of state. Why is he siding with the enemy of his own people? I don't know who is advising him. I hope the President is properly advised and would recant so we could forgive him," he said.

Misuari warned the President against arresting the sultan of Sulu.

"The country will be in total chaos if they do that. The President should be calm and quiet. If he has nothing to say, he should not open his mouth anymore," he added.

Misuari reiterated that he and the MNLF had nothing to do with the Sabah incursion.

"There has been speculation about my supposed involvement in the incursion. These are all wild speculations. I cannot preempt the role of the sultan," he added.

Misuari also denied allegations that he financed the armed men who intruded Sabah.

"If indeed I am that well-off, why should I finance this adventure of the sultan's men? They are only about 200 people. That is not my way of doing things," he said.

But Nur Misuari, who founded the Moro National Liberation Front in the late 1960s, confirmed "freedom fighters" from his group were part of the militia sent by a self-proclaimed sultan to claim the Malaysian state of Sabah.

"I cannot deny that some of them are known to be MNLF freedom fighters," Misuari told a news conference in Manila, although he insisted he was not personally involved.

"They went there without my knowledge. I have not ordered anyone to join them. It would be very irresponsible for anybody to implicate us."

Noy lawyering for Malaysia

MNLF legal counsel and spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla said yesterday that President Aquino acted as lawyer for Malaysia when he declared that Sabah belongs to Malaysia.

Fontanilla said the President's statement jeopardized the possible action against Malaysia by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"We regret the pronouncement of the President that the actions of Sultan Kiram are unlawful, thus negating our stand in the ICJ," he said.

He said any move to elevate the Sabah case to the United Nations will not prosper following Aquino's declaration.

He said the only option for the sultanate is to bring the case to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) through the MNLF, which has permanent observer status in the Islamic body.

'Sabah crisis should be resolved before UN'

Meanwhile, former Tawi Tawi governor Al Tillah yesterday said the Sabah conflict should be resolved before a world forum.

"The Sabah crisis is rooted historically in the just struggle of the sultanate through justice and the lofty ideals of the Muslim Filipinos. Any opinion to the contrary is null and void," said Tillah. "The resolution is between the Sulu sultanate and Malaysia before the United Nations."

Tillah added that what is happening in Sabah is not a rebellion by the sultan, but a defense of their historic rights over the territory.

He condemned President Aquino for his apparent reluctance to have the issue arbitrated before the international court.

He also assailed the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for trading the peace process with the Philippine government in exchange for Sabah.

"What did President Aquino trade to gain this peace process with the MILF?" he asked.

Tillah also questioned Aquino for not including the MNLF and the sultanate of Sulu in the peace process.

"Is this the kind of peace the MILF signed for? Born out of treachery?" he asked.  –

by:Mayen Jaymalin, Christina Mendez, Evelyn Macairan, Jose Rodel Clapano

with report from , MSN, RFTBP & philSTAR

Foreign Minister del Rosario takes responsibility for Sulu sultan’s ‘missing letter’; Apologized

Philippines Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario

Philippines Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has taken "full responsibility" for failing to attend to a letter that Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's brother had sent to President Benigno Aquino in 2010 to seek the Sulu sultanate's participation in peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In a statement early Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the "missing letter" of Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram had been found to be in the foreign office's keep.

The Rajah Muda is now at the lead of the Sulu group standing their ground in Lahad Datu, Sabah where gunfights erupted with security forces last week.

"On the issue of the missing letter written by Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram to the President days before the President took his oath in June 2010, that letter has been found with the DFA. The Secretary is taking full responsibility for the oversight," said the DFA.

The statement did not elaborate on the content of the letter and how it got "lost in the bureaucratic maze," as Aquino himself had said last week in explaining why the government had failed to respond to the sultanate's letter.

In addressing Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram on Feb 26, Aquino said, "There was no intention to ignore your letter."

The Kirams had said their group decided to pursue the Philippines' claim to Sabah last month as they felt left out of the peace negotiations between the government and the MILF.

The two sides had achieved strides last year, with the signing of a framework agreement for the establishment of a Bangsamoro entity.

The DFA said the Kirams' independent act in Sabah "should not affect the peace process with the MILF."

Foreign secretary to apologize to Sulu Sultanate for unanswered letter

Del Rosario is set to formally apologize to the heirs of the Sulu sultanate for failing to attend to a letter Rajah Mudah Agbimmudin Kiram, younger brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, had sent to the government in 2010.

The letter seeks the revival of the country's dormant claim to Sabah and a role in peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

In a text message, Del Rosario said he intends to write a letter expressing his regrets for overlooking the letter that Rajah Mudah Agbimmudin Kiram sent President Aquino just before he assumed office almost three years ago.

"I intend to write a letter of apology," said Del Rosario.

He earlier took "full responsibility for the oversight" of the letter, which the President earlier said was "lost in the bureaucratic maze."

Aquino earlier appealed to the Kirams not to feel ignored because of the unattended letter.

In a statement early Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the "missing letter" of Agbimuddin Kiram had been found to be in the foreign office's keeping.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

13 Sulu Royal Army bodies found after Air and ground Assault - pictured

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with a picture showing the bodies of Filipino militants found after the airstrikes. – Photo by Saw Siow Feng

LAHAD DATU, March 6 – Thirteen bodies of the Royal Sulu Army have been found after the authorities launched air strikes at the 200-strong Sulu group hiding in a village here yesterday, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

The defense minister showed the media two pictures of several corpses dressed in dark blue, lying facedown in a heap of dirt, saying that copies of the pictures would be distributed to the press later.

"This is a picture of a grave where the bodies were buried by the terrorists," said Ahmad Zahid, showing a picture of wooden planks placed over the ground.

He added that the forensic police were shot at this afternoon while they were looking at the bodies, but said that they were not wounded.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who was also at the press conference, stressed that the pictures showed the "reality on the ground."

Ahmad Zahid said that it was still unclear how the followers of the Sulu sultanate died, as the forensic police have yet to examine the bodies, but pointed out that one gunman was shot dead this morning.

"The mopping and searching operation that is being conducted at difficult terrain should not be taken lightly," he said.

Felda Sahabat here is about twice the size of Singapore with its 57 oil palm plantations spread across hilly terrain, connected through narrow, straight roads.

The Sulu gunmen have occupied Kampung Tanduo for almost a month, surviving clashes with the security forces in Lahad Datu, Semporna and Kunak that have left eight Malaysian policemen and some 20 Sulu Sultanate Royal Army dead.

Sultanate of  Sulu Princess Jacel Kiram was reported by Philippine media this morning as saying that the crowned Prince of Sulu Rajah Agbimuddin Kiram and his group have survived yesterday's aerial assault and search operations.

Ahmad Zahid said yesterday that three F-18 and five Hawk aircraft were used in the assault against the militants camped out in Kampung Tanduo, besides sending in five battalions of soldiers together with the police force.

A battalion is estimated to number between 300 and 1,300 men, but the authorities can choose to send certain numbers to go to the ground, or put others on stand-by.

The authorities have refused to specify the number of men deployed to flush out the Sulu militants, citing the need to keep tactical strategies secret.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said earlier today the security forces were carefully combing an area of four square kilometers in search of the Sulu Armed group.

Princess Jacel ― the daughter of the elderly Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, one of the nine claimants to the Sulu Sultanate ― said earlier today her uncle Agbimuddin was willing to release the four Malaysian hostages they claim to be holding captive, but wanted to do so in front of the international media and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Committee to prove they were unharmed.

After several clashes last weekend with the Malaysian police, the Sulu Royal Army claimed they had captured four Malaysians ― one policeman, two military personnel and a government official.

Their claims have yet to be verified.

Agbimuddin's group insists that Sabah is theirs as it had been granted to the Kiram family by the Brunei Sultan in the 17th century.

Sabah, however, joined Malaysia in 1963.

Malaysia reportedly pays an annual rental of RM5,300 to the Sulu sultanate on the basis of the its rights to the Borneo state.

with report from the Malaysian Insider

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

MNLF: Thousands of Armed Muslims departed for Sabah to Support Sultan Kiram

The Philippine Daily Inquirer is reporting that thousands of Suluk from Southern Philippines have sailed to Sabah to join forces with the militants.

Tausug are called Suluk in Sabah in Sabah, North Borneo.

Quoting a source from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) the report claims that many have made their way to Sabah in small boats to support the armed intrusion.

Habib Hashim Mudjahab, chair of the MNLF's Islamic Council Committee, told the Inquirer "Many of our people are going to Sabah to help the sultanate. They sailed in small numbers so they can easily penetrate Sabah unnoticed."

"The naval blockade is of no use" he said, referring to a naval blockade by the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard to ensure armed sympathizers do not joined the beleaguered men in Sabah as reinforcements.

"President (Benigno) Aquino kept issuing statements favouring the Malaysians, which made our people agitated. The President must realise that it is about pride and honor, and our people are ready to sacrifice," Mudjahab said.

Ajil Jaffar, 50, an oil palm plantation worker in Kota Kinabalu who was among those repatriated to the Philippines, said he wanted to return to Sabah.

"I want to help them. It's our honor to be with the sultan so that this deportation and abuses will stop," he said.

A retired educator in Tawi-Tawi, who asked not to be identified by name, said the sultanate of Sulu represents an extension of their rich heritage. "They are the first Filipinos. The sultanate of Sulu was already there even before Philippines existed," he said.

The Star online / Philippine Daily Inquirer 

Monday, March 4, 2013

Sulu Royal Army escaped; No Casualties in Malaysia’s air and ground assault

A Member of the MNLF commander killed by the angry teenage villager for creating a hostage drama

Malaysia launched airstrikes and mortar attacks against nearly 200 Sultanate of Sulu Royal Army occupying a Borneo seaside village Tuesday to end a bizarre three-week siege that turned into a security nightmare for both Malaysia and the Philippines.

The assault follows firefights in Malaysia's eastern Sabah state this past week that killed eight police officers and 19 Sulu Royal Army, some of whom were members of a Philippine Muslim clan that shocked Malaysia and the neighboring Sulu province of the Philippines by slipping by boat past naval patrols last month and storming an obscure village.

The clansmen, armed with rifles and grenade launchers, had refused to leave, staking a long-dormant claim to the entire state of Sabah, which they insisted was their ancestral birthright.

The Stand-off happened few months after Malaysia publicly announced for a mass deportation of hundreds of thousands settlers in Sabah who are originally from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Some of the Sabah residents held for deportation are Mykad residence card holder but still deported back to Sulu.

"The government has to take the appropriate action to protect national pride and sovereignty as our people have demanded," Prime Minister Najib Razak said after the raid began in a statement issued through the national news agency, Bernama.

Authorities made every effort to resolve the siege peacefully since the presence of the group in Lahad Datu district became known on Feb. 12, including holding talks to encourage the intruders to leave without facing any serious legal repercussions, Najib said.

"The longer this intrusion persisted, it became clear to the authorities that the intruders had no intention to leave Sabah," Najib said. "As a peace-loving Islamic country that upholds efforts to settle conflicts through negotiations, our struggle to avoid bloodshed in Lahad Datu did not work."

Najib later said in a public speech that the offensive began with airstrikes followed by mortar attacks conducted by both the police and military.

The Sulu Sultanate Royal Army headed by the crowned Prince of Sulu who landed in Lahad Datu, a short boat ride from the southern Philippines, insisted Sabah belonged to their Royal Sultanate for more than a century. The group is led by a brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of the southern Philippine province of Sulu. Malaysia is still paying a yearly lease of $1,500 US Dollars to the Sultan heirs for the use of the Sabah territory.

No Casualties

After the air and ground assaults by Malaysian forces, Abraham Idjirani, a spokesman for the Sultanate of Sulu, told reporters in Manila that the group would not surrender and that their leader was safe.

Idjirani said he spoke by phone with Kiram's brother, who saw fighter jets dropping two bombs on a nearby village that he said the group had already abandoned the area.

"They can hear the sounds of bombs and the exchange of fire," Idjirani said. "The truth is they are nervous. Who will not be nervous when you are against all odds?"

He said they will "find a way to sneak to safety."

"If this is the last stand that we could take to let the world know about our cause, then let it be," Idjirani said, describing the assault as "overkill."

The Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Omar Ismail told reporters at 11.30am that there were no casualty among the Malaysian side but the casualty numbers for the gunmen is still unknown.

The situation in all parts of east coast Sabah was described as under control by the police and the army who are on high alert at strategic locations as there have been threats of retaliation from the Sulu Sultan's followers that there would be retaliation if the Sulu intruders are defeated.

De facto law minister Nazri said Tuesday the Lahad Datu incident was an intrusion not a war.

"This is an intrusion into our sovereignty not a war.

"Because it is an intrusion, the situation is better dealt by the police," he said.

Asked about how the Sulu gunmen would be treated, he said if it was a war, the Geneva Convention would come into play.

"If they've broke the laws of Malaysia, they can be charged in court," said Nazri.

He added they would definitely be charged for murder.

In the skirmishes between the Sulu armed intruders and the Malaysian security forces, eight policemen were killed.

The Philippine government had asked Malaysia to exercise maximum tolerance to avoid further bloodshed.

In Manila, presidential spokesman Ricky Carandang said Tuesday that Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario was in Kuala Lumpur meeting with his Malaysian counterpart.

"We've done everything we could to prevent this, but in the end Kiram's people chose this path," Carandang said.

An undetermined number of other armed Sulu Royal Army are suspected to have encroached on other districts within 300 kilometers (200 miles) of Lahad Datu.

Some activists say the crisis illustrates an urgent need to review border security and immigration policies for Sabah, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos have headed for decades — many of them are undocumented— to seek work and stability in Sabah State where they believed as a territory of the Sultan in Sulu.

For the second time in two days, Philippine President Benigno Aquino III went on national TV on Monday to urge the Filipino group in Lahad Datu to lay down their arms, warning that the situation could worsen and endanger about 800,000 Filipinos settlers there.

Filipinos residing in Sabah, North Borneo for several decades said "Before the Stand-off they were already maltreated by the Malaysian Police, beating them, asking cash for temporary freedom and even sexually abused thousands of undocumented Filipina teenager crossing the border by boat and now the Malaysian Government intensified in deporting them so better for them to fight until death with bullets than to die slowly from hunger when deported".

Aquino warned that the crisis could have wide-ranging political ramifications in both countries. Some fear it might undermine peace talks brokered by Malaysia between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the main Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines.

It also could affect public confidence in Malaysia's long-ruling National Front coalition, which is gearing up for general elections that must be held by the end of June. The coalition requires strong support from voters in Sabah to fend off an opposition alliance that hopes to end more than five decades of federal rule by the National Front.

Protests: Malaysian Embassy closed

The Malaysian Embassy in Makati, the Philippines has temporarily suspended its operations from today.

It is learnt that several groups had protested outside the embassy due to the Sabah stand-off.

The embassy closure coincided with the assault on the Lahad Datu intruders in Kampung Tanduo.

According to ABS-CBN News, there were at least 100 Catholic and Muslim protesters gathered in front of the embassy along Tordecillas Street in Salcedo Village.

The protesters were calling for an end to the violence, while some were seen voicing their support for Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III.

They were led by umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and marched to the embassy but the police had blocked them before they could reach the premises.

Meanwhile, several photos were posted on ABS-CBN News' Twitter account showing that police were blocking the entrance to the embassy, whilst protesters held up banner that said: "Stop Military Offensive! Resolve Sabah Standoff Peacefully."

With reports from RFTBP, Washington Post, Asia One, ABS-CBN, NewStraitsTimes, and AFP 

Malaysian fighter jets bomb Sabah camp of Sultan's men; Heavy weapon ground attack Launched

(Updated 11:55 A.M. +8GMT) – Malaysian jets bombed targets in Sabah Tuesday morning and hundreds of troops have moved into areas occupied by followers of Jamalul Kiram III, escalating the violence intended to end the three-week standoff between Kiram's men and Malaysian security forces.

"The latest news is that at 10am just now, Malaysian security forces launched a large-scale operation to defeat the intruders in Lahad Datu," said Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, quoted by Malaysiakini news site as Razak addressed a rally of ulamas and administrators in Bukit Jalil.

"We started with air strike by jet fighters of Royal Malaysian Air Forces, followed by mortar strike and as I'm speaking, the army and police forces, along with other members (of the security forces) following behind, are taking action to arrest and destroy the group which has breached the nation's sovereignty," Razak said.

The operation to take over an area occupied by about 180 Filipinos, dozens of them armed, began at 7 a.m. (2300 GMT Monday), a spokesman for Malaysian Prime Minister said. The government sent seven army battalions to the area in eastern Sabah state on Monday to reinforce the police.

A report on Malaysia's The Star Online said ""gunshots were heard" and fighter jets were seen early Tuesday circling the Felda Sahabat area in Lahad Datu town where followers of a Sulu sultan have been holed up for three weeks.

"Gunshots were heard and fighter jets were seen circling around the Felda Sahabat area. Four (explosions) were also heard in Kampung Tanduo," the report said.

In Manila, Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said the Philippine government tried everything to prevent such incident "but in the end, Kiram's people chose this path."

Carandang added that Foreign Affairs chief Albert del Rosario is still in Kuala Lumpur discussing the crisis with his Malaysian counterpart.

Heavy weapons

The reported resumption of hostilities came a day after Malaysian forces started bringing in heavy weapons to the site of the three-week standoff.

An earlier report on Malaysia's The Star Online said the Malaysian security forces rolled the heavy equipment to a remote area of the Felda Sahabat plantation in Lahad Datu, and are "poised to attack anytime."

It said the heavy artillery included six military armored personnel carriers (APCs), which were ferried on transporter trucks in Cendawasih town en route to Kampung Tanduo Monday afternoon.

"We are working with the Armed Forces to protect Sabah ... We have to move in a well-planned way," Police Inspector-General Tan Sri Ismail Omar said.

He added police and military officers were finalizing their tactical plans, saying police under him and the military under Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin are in close coordination.

Ismail also said military personnel are helping police force hunt a group of armed men believed to be followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, spotted at two villages in Kunak last Saturday.

Also, he said police are sharing information with other government agencies to resolve the standoff.

Lahad Datu was the site of a bloody clash between Kiram's followers and Malaysian security forces last Friday. At least 12 Filipinos and two Malaysian commandos were killed in the March 1 encounter when Malaysian security forces tried to tighten a cordon around the armed group.

Following Friday's encounter, another clash occurred Saturday in Semporna, killing six Malaysian policemen and at least six Filipinos, raising concerns the violence was spreading.

Malaysia has pronounced an all-out military solution against followers of Jamalul Kiram III who have defied President Benigno Aquino III's call for them to surrender without conditions.

"After the first attack, I have asserted that the intruders must surrender and if they refuse the authorities of this country will take action," Najib said in a statement.

"The government has to take the right action in order to preserve the pride and sovereignty of this country."

The group, which arrived by boat about three weeks ago, say they are descendants of the sultanate of Sulu in the southern Philippines, which ruled parts of northern Borneo for centuries. They are demanding recognition and an increased payment from Malaysia for their claim as the rightful owners of Sabah.

Malaysia has refused their demands and along with the Philippine government had urged the group to return home.

The violence has sparked a political crisis ahead of elections for both the Philippine and Malaysian governments and raised concerns of instability in resource-rich Sabah state.

Added battalions

The Star Online report quoted Defense Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying five more battalions had been sent to Sabah, aside from the two announced earlier.

One battalion each was sent to Sandakan and Tawau, while five were deployed to Lahad Datu. But Zulkifeli said this was more a confidence booster.

Coast Guard, Navy in Palawan join watch vs Kiram followers

In the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Navy in Palawan kept watch against possible moves by Kiram's followers to sneak to Sabah.

Naval Forces West head Commodore Joseph Peña and Coast Guard Palawan head Commodore Efren Evangelista are coordinating their watch, radio dzBB's Palawan affiliate James Viernes reported Tuesday.

Sultan leaves hospital for dialysis

Meanwhile, Sultan Kiram and wife Cecilia Fatima left their Taguig City residence early Tuesday for the sultan's dialysis at a Parañaque City hospital, radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported.

The report said the sultan, who undergoes dialysis twice a week, was expected to return home by noon. — (http://bit.ly/WJ7fOI )

With a report from RFTBP/ Reuters/KG/RSJ/HS, GMA News 

China Naval Fleet Haixun 21, 31, 166 Arriving West Philippines Sea; Warship BRP Alcaraz again delayed

Philippine Warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz

Despite the Philippines' repeated protests and condemnation of China's incursions into the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), a fleet of Chinese surveillance ships has again sailed into the contested waters on "regular patrol missions," Chinese state media reported.

The Maritime Safety Administration of Hainan said the fleet composed of the Haixun 21, the Haixun 31 and the Haixun 166 left the province's Sanya port for patrols in the disputed waters, according to a report in China's state-run Xinhua news agency.

"The missions will strengthen china's maritime law enforcement capacity and test the patrol team's rapid response abilities in the disputed Sea," the report said.

The patrols "will monitor maritime traffic safety, investigate maritime accidents, detect pollution, and carry out search and rescue work," it added.

The patrol is China's second known ship deployment in the West Philippine Sea. It previously dispatched two ships from the city of Guangzhou in southern China.

China earlier announced fishery patrols in the West Philippine Sea, prompting "strong objection" from the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs did not immediately issue any statement on Saturday but it had many times in the past condemned similar Chinese patrols as violations of the Philippines' established maritime borders.

The Philippine government in January went to a United Nations (UN) arbitral panel to put a stop to China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea. The legal action also seeks to invalidate China's nine-dash line claim, which places almost all of the West Philippine Sea islands within Chinese territory.

China has refused to participate in the compulsory process, a decision that could boost the Philippines' case before the ad hoc tribunal, says a world expert on international law.

"If China does not participate, it will not be able to submit evidence and make legal arguments. So it's really strengthening the Philippines' chances at the tribunal," said Tom Ginsburg, a professor of international law at the University of Chicago.

He conceded, however, that while any UN tribunal decision on the case would be binding, China's compliance would be another matter.

2nd PHL Warship Again delayed for more sophisticated Trainings for Mk38 Mod 2

The arrival of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the second warship acquired by the Philippines from the United States, has been moved to August due to the need to conduct more training for its crew.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said yesterday that the training of Filipino sailors and the refurbishment of the vessel are still ongoing.

"Their trainings are extensive, training in terms of equipment and shipboard evolution. The travel time takes about two months so it will arrive in August," Fabic said in Filipino.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz will have two Mk38 Mod 2 automatic cannon systems and will be among the first ships in the world to be equipped with state-of-the art cannon systems.

The Mk38 Mod 2 is designed to counter high-speed maneuvering surface targets which system would be installed also in almost all US surface ships by 2015.

Defense officials previously said the BRP Alcaraz would arrive in the country by January or February this year. The schedule was pushed back to April, with officials citing the same reason – the need for Navy personnel to undergo training.

Fabic noted that the use of the ship's equipment requires technical knowledge.

"The (pieces of) equipment are sophisticated like those used for navigation, fire control," he said.

RP Alcaraz was acquired from the US Coast Guard, after the acquisition of BRP Gregorio del Pilar in 2011, and was largely used for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement and search and rescue.

The acquisition of the naval assets was intended to enhance the military's maritime defense capability.

Security officials bared plans to fast-track the military's upgrade program amid efforts by China to shore up its presence in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). Officials, however, maintain that the upgrade efforts are not directed against any country.

BRP Alcaraz can accommodate up to 180 officers and sailors. The vessel was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Navy officer who commanded a patrol boat that shot three Japanese aircraft during World War II.

The government spent more than 600 million to acquire the ship.

The defense department plans to acquire two more warships within the first quarter.

Among the countries that are ready to provide defense assets are US, Italy, South Korea, Spain, Israel, Croatia and Australia.

With reports from RFTBP, philSTAR, and INQUIRER

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Sabah Death Toll “33” atrocities hinting Civil War: Villagers Attacking Malaysian Police killing 3

  • March 1: 12 Sulu Royal Army killed, and 2 Malaysian Police
  • March 2: 2 Malaysian Police killed by ambushed
  • March 3: 3 Malaysian Policed killed by Villagers, 3 other Malaysian Police killed by armed men, 5 Sulu Royal Army supporters killed by police, 1 armed man killed by villager, 1 Imam religious leader and his 4 sons killed by Malaysian Police

Death counts: [12+2+2+3+3+5+1+1+4=33]

Update as of March 4, 2013 8:50 AM +8 GMT

At least six followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and six Malaysian policemen were killed in clashes in Sabah over the weekend, following Friday's violent shootout that killed 12 Royal Sulu Army and two Malaysian commandos.

Sources from the Philippines authorities monitoring the Kampung Tanduo standoff said Friday's bloody clash that left 12 South Philippines gunmen dead may have provoked sentiments among their followers who have settled along the coastal villages between Tawau and Lahad Datu.

"These gunmen from the Sulu Sultanate are made up mainly of four tribes, namely the Tausug, Maguindanao, Badjao and Samal. These tribes have great brotherhood among them and regardless of their nationalities; they will rise in show of loyalty to their ethnicity.

"It will be no surprise if these tribes living in Malaysia join forces to fight the cause of their Sultanate of Sulu in the Southern Philippines counterparts.

"In Southern Philippines, these tribes also make up the bulk of MNLF, MILF and Abu Sayaf rebels, joining forces in an alliance of convenience to fight common causes. They are hardcore rebels who have battle in their blood and do not give up easily. It is not unusual for them fight to their death." said a source.

The sources said intelligence reports showed that the armed group of about 200 who are followers of the Sulu Ruler Sultan Jamalul Kiram III had planned of settling North Borneo for their claimed as their territory at least four months earlier.

" Sultan Jamalul Kiram III held a meeting with his followers, members of the MNLF and remnants of the Abu Sayaf rebels in October last year and offered them land in Sabah if they fought along to capture the state. They have been entering Sabah undetected since before the standoff on Feb 12, 2013. Other large groups had also attempted to penetrate the Sabah coast since the standoff but it was thwarted by the Philippines navy that has deployed seven ships to keep them away from Malaysian waters."

It is learnt that Sultan Jamalul Kiram III's brother, crowned prince Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram who is leading the armed group in Kampung Tanduo, had on Saturday pleaded for medical assistance for his injured men from the Philippines forces guarding their waters.

However, when he was told that aid would only be rendered if his group gave up their firearms and surrender, Azzimudie refused and remained defiant. It is also learnt that the group had been burying its dead members since Saturday.

Friday's clash ended the 16-day standoff that began on Feb 12 with two police commandos of the Malaysian General Operations Force elite VAT 69 killed and their three squad members severely injured.

Meanwhile, Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, the younger brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, claimed during a telephone interview with a Philippines radio station that his men had captured at least five Malaysian policemen and seized a cache of firearms. His claims have yet to be verified with police.

Sources also revealed that three of the five policemen who were killed in the ambush at Kampung Sri Jaya Siminul in Semporna were ruthlessly attacked with parangs and keris by a dozen of people said to be Tausug villagers living there.

It is learnt that a prominent and religious leader who was part of the group that was ambushed and shot by the police party was killed when police returned fire, and this infuriated the rest who went on a rampage with knives and sharp objects.

The superintendent had led three dozen police personnel in an operation at Kampung Sri Jaya Siminul, about 180km from the original area of the stand-off in Kampung Tanduo, Lahad Datu.

The operation was launched at 4pm on Saturday following intelligence reports of the existence of a cache of firearms in the village and that an uprising by certain groups of villagers believed to be of Southern Philippines origin and residing there was in the making.

About three hours into the operation, the team came under gunfire attack while it was scouring one village after another.

It is learnt that the superintendent who was the first to be hit by a hail of gunshots fired by hiding gunmen died moments later.  

With reports from the Sun Daily, NewStraitsTimes , ABS-CBN News & GMA News

Philippines’ elite swallow country’s new wealth

Optimism is soaring that the Philippines is finally becoming an Asian tiger economy, but critics caution a tiny elite that has long dominated is amassing most of the new wealth while the poor miss out.

President Benigno Aquino has overseen some of the highest growth rates in the region since he took office in 2010, while the stock market has hovered in record territory, credit ratings have improved and debt ratios have dropped.

"The Philippines is no longer the sick man of East Asia, but the rising tiger," World Bank country director Motoo Konishi told a forum attended by many of Aquino's economic planning chiefs recently.

However economists say that, despite genuine efforts from Aquino's team to create inclusive growth, little progress has been made in changing a structure that for decades has allowed one of Asia's worst rich-poor divides to develop.

"I think it's obvious to everyone that something is structurally wrong. The oligarchy has too much control of the country's resources," Cielito Habito, a respected former economic planning minister, told AFP.

He presented data to the same economic forum at which Konishi spoke, showing that in 2011 the 40 richest families on the Forbes wealth list accounted for 76 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth.

This was the highest in Asia, compared with Thailand where the top 40 accounted for 33.7 percent of wealth growth, 5.6 percent for Malaysia and just 2.8 percent for Japan, according to Habito.

According to the Forbes 2012 annual rich list, the two wealthiest people in the Philippines, ethnic Chinese magnates Henry Sy and Lucio Tan, were worth a combined $13.6 billion.

This equated to six percent of the entire Philippine economy.

In contrast, about 25 million people, or one quarter of the population, lived on $1 a day or less in 2009, which was little changed from a decade earlier, according to the government's most recent data.

Some of the elite families have dominated since the Spanish colonial era that ended in the late 1800s.

Prominent Spanish names, such as Ayala and Aboitiz, continue to control large chunks of the economy and members of the families are consistent high placers on Forbes' annual top-40 wealth list.

Their business interests range from utilities to property development to banking, telecommunications and the booming business process outsourcing industry.

Many of the ethnic Chinese tycoons, such as Sy and Tan, got their start soon after the country gained post-World War II independence from the United States.

The tendency for the same names to dominate major industries can be partly attributed to government regulations that continue to allow near monopolies and protections for key players.

For decades after independence from the United States in 1946, important sectors such as air transport and telecommunications were under monopoly control, according to a Philippine Institute for Development Studies paper.

Despite wide-ranging reforms since 1981, big chunks of the market remain effective oligopolies or cartels, it said.

Habito said the path to riches for the few is also helped by a political culture that allows personal connections to easily open doors.

The Aquino government's mantra since succeeding graft-tainted Gloria Arroyo's administration has been good governance and inclusive growth, and their efforts have been applauded by the international community.

The government is spending more than $1 billion this year on one of its signature programmes to bridge the rich-poor divide.

The conditional cash transfers programme will see 15 million of the nation's poorest people receive money directly in exchange for going to school and getting proper health care.

However Louie Montemar, a political science professor at Manila's De La Salle University, said little had been done at the top end to impact on the dominance of the elite.

"There's some sense to the argument that we've never had a real democracy because only a few have controlled economic power," Montemar told AFP.

"The country dances to the tune of the tiny elite."

Nevertheless, the government and economists say there are many other reforms that can be taken to bring about inclusive growth.

Analysts said the most direct path out of poverty was improving worker skills, using higher tax revenues to boost spending on infrastructure, and rebuilding the country's manufacturing sector.

To this end, many economists endorse the Aquino government's cash transfer programme as well as reforms to the education system, which include extending the primary and high school system from 10 to 13 years.

But for people such as mother-of-five Remy del Rosario, who earns about 1,500 pesos ($36) a week selling cigarettes on a Manila roadside, talk of structural reform and inclusive growth mean little.

With her bus driver husband out of work, the family has no savings and her income is barely enough to cover food, bus fare, and prescription medicines.

"Other people may be better off now, but we see no improvement in our lives," she said. (http://bit.ly/Ximlsw)

AFP/ INQUIRER Business 

LEARN FOREX TRADING AND GET RICH

Investment Recommendation: Bitcoin Investments

Live trading with Bitcoin through ETORO Trading platform would allow you to grow your $100 to $1,000 Dollars or more in just a day. Just learn how to trade and enjoy the windfall of profits. Take note, Bitcoin is more expensive than Gold now.


Where to buy Bitcoins?

For Philippine customers: You could buy Bitcoin Online at Coins.ph
For outside the Philippines customers  may buy Bitcoins online at Coinbase.com